Questions on Parshas Emor to think about and discuss:

1. What is the theme of the parsha?
2. What other times of the year do we read in the Torah from Parshas Emor?
3. Why are the Kohanim singled out for special additional mitzvos as well as limitations?
4. Why is it that Kohanim with a moum, blemish, cannot do the avoda? Is this fair when they are not in control having a moum that they are born with?
5. The Torah lists twelve mumim and then says a statement that Rashi (Emor, 21:21) learns comes to include all other mumim. Why not simply say one statement that includes all blemishes? Why additionally specify twelve?
6. Why does the parsha of Moadim come at all in Sefer Vayikra that is focused on the Kohanim and korbonous (as the main parsha that discusses the korbonous and the moiadim is in Parshas Pinchos)?
7. Why in the middle of discussing the Moiadim (between Shavuous and Rosh Hashana) does the Torah add in pesukim that discuss the mitzva of Peah, Leket and Shikcha – things that have already been mentioned in Parshas Kedoshim?
8. Some people read from Parshas Emor every Shabbos – which part and why?
9. Why are the festivals known as “moadim”?
10. Why are all the names of the festivals mentioned with the exception of Shavuos?

Ideas for answers:

1. The parsha is split into two main topics, with a few small topics following. Firstly it discusses the halochos involving the kohanim and korbonous, things that they cannot do like become tuma and moumim, blemishes. Then it goes on to list and discuss all the moiadim which is followed by the Menorah, Lechem Haponim and the Jew who blasphemes. How are all these connected? I heard from R’ Joseph Pearlman that the theme here is kedusha – the kohanim being holy require perfection as do the korbonous brought before Hashem. The moadim is holiness in time and then comes the Menorah that is holiness even during the weekday, as the menorah was lit everyday. This is spiritual. However, kedusha must even encompass the physical seen in the bread of the Lechem Haponim. The last parsha demonstrates to us the punishment of someone who leaves kedusha and blasphemes Hashem.
2. Since Parshas Emor discusses in depth the moiadim, it is read on Pesach and Sukkos.
3. A large part of Parshas Emor deals with Kohanim. These are the “elite” of Klal Yisroel. The greater a person is, the more is expected of them. A leader is chosen because he has qualities above the average person. He is given new higher levels of standards with additional bonuses but his movements are restricted from where he can go and exactly what he can do. The same is true of the Kohanim.
6. R’ Shimshon Refoel Hirsch explains the theme of Sefer Vayikra and how the moadim comes in. The sefer deals with all aspects of kedusha. Until Parshas Emor it deals with kedusha of mokom, space and place. With the parsha of the moadim it now follows on with discussing the kedusha of zman, time. The festivals are holier than weekday. The Ramban (23:2) answers that the festivals are mentioned here since these are days of special korbonos.
8. The parsha that discusses the Lechem HaPonim, showbread, since this was taken out each Shabbos and distributed to the Kohanim.
9. The word “moadim” is related to the word “vaad” that means “an appointed time” when the Jewish people achieve extra closeness with Hashem, by the festivals as we remember the great miracles Hashem performed for the Jewish People.
10. Each festival stands by itself as a special time. However, Shavuos is linked to the korban omer and is the fiftieth day from it and therefore is not named by itself. (Rabbeinu BeChai)