Holy Defilement
Parshat Emor
In this week's Parshah of Emor, we read of the laws of the Kohanim (priests) and what they may do, who they may marry etc. One of these laws is that a Kohen may not become ritually defiled to a dead body. As a Kohen must always be ready to serve in the Bet Hamikdash, it is expected that he will maintain a higher level of ritual purity at all times. In modern times, while we do not have a Bet Hamikdash, nonetheless, Kohanim are careful with these laws, including not entering a cemetery unless it's the funeral of an immediate family member.
The exception to this law is something called a Met Mitzvah - a scenario where a body is found and there is no one to take care of it and bring it to burial. In that case, every person, even the Kohen Gadol (high priest) has the sacred obligation, and must tend to this body bringing it to a Jewish burial!
Parshat Emor
In this week's Parshah of Emor, we read of the laws of the Kohanim (priests) and what they may do, who they may marry etc. One of these laws is that a Kohen may not become ritually defiled to a dead body. As a Kohen must always be ready to serve in the Bet Hamikdash, it is expected that he will maintain a higher level of ritual purity at all times. In modern times, while we do not have a Bet Hamikdash, nonetheless, Kohanim are careful with these laws, including not entering a cemetery unless it's the funeral of an immediate family member.
The exception to this law is something called a Met Mitzvah - a scenario where a body is found and there is no one to take care of it and bring it to burial. In that case, every person, even the Kohen Gadol (high priest) has the sacred obligation, and must tend to this body bringing it to a Jewish burial!
This past Sunday evening, I received a phone call from a colleague in California who's congregant had lost a brother in Boerne. The deceased was found after about two weeks, and after finally tracking down his only relative in California, a cremation was going to be done because of cost and no one to deal with a burial. The rabbi pleaded with the relative not to do a cremation, as it is contrary to Jewish law, and that he would reach out to the local Chabad rabbi.
Over the next two days, with the help of the Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Service, and Congregation Agudas Achim, we were able to arrange a funeral. The plot was donated, the checks were written, and a Met Mitvzah was buried according to our Jewish traditions in a Jewish cemetery.
This entire experience left me extremely touched and reflective. The lessons I learned were (1) the power of community when we come together (2) the beauty of our traditions and Mitzvot, and (3) the relevance and importance of the work I strive to do in my capacity as a rabbi and shliach.
This entire experience left me extremely touched and reflective. The lessons I learned were (1) the power of community when we come together (2) the beauty of our traditions and Mitzvot, and (3) the relevance and importance of the work I strive to do in my capacity as a rabbi and shliach.
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