Parashat Emor 5785, 2025: "These Are My Holy Days"

 
Rabbi David Etengoff
 
 
ה' יעזור וירחם על אחינו כל בני ישראל בארץ ישראל ובכל חלקי הארץ
 
One of the best-known sections of our sidrah is Parashat HaMoadim. Its 44 pasukim comprise the 23rd chapter of Sefer Vayikra and serve as an encyclopedic presentation of the Moadim, that are introduced in this manner: “And Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: Hashem’s appointed [holy days] that you shall designate as holy occasions. These are My appointed [holy days].’” (23:1-2, this and all Tanach and Rashi translations, The Judaica Press Complete Tanach) Following the words, “these are my appointed [holy days],” we would expect a discussion of the Moadim, beginning with Pesach and concluding with Succot. According to Rashi zatzal (1040-1105), however, the next pasuk refers to Shabbat: “[For] six days, work may be performed, but on the seventh day, it is a complete rest day, a holy occasion; you shall not perform any work. It is a Shabbat to Hashem in all your dwelling places.” (23:3) It is only after this pasuk that we find the introduction to the Moadim: “These are Hashem’s appointed holy occasions, that you [that is, the Sanhedrin] shall designate in their appointed time.” (23:4)
 
Rashi, based upon several midrashic passages, notes the anomalous nature of the inclusion of Shabbat amid the Moadim and asks: “Why does Shabbat [designated by Hashem,] appear here amidst the Moadim [designated by man, the Sanhedrin?]” (23:3) His answer is a classic example of Rabbinic analysis: “To teach you that whoever desecrates the Moadim is considered [to have transgressed as severely] as if he has desecrated Shabbat, and that whoever fulfills the Moadim is considered as if he has fulfilled Shabbat [and his reward is as great].” As such, the placement of Shabbat at the beginning of our chapter connotes the singular import of the Moadim and underscores their close connection to Shabbat.
 
The Vilna Gaon zatzal (the Gra, 1720-1797) follows a very different approach regarding Shabbat and its linkage to Parashat HaMoadim. However, he also asks, “mah inyan Shabbat l’poh—what is the relevance of Shabbat to the Moadim here?” (The following presentation is based on an oral tradition cited in Chumash HaGra, Parashat Emor, 23:3) In his response, he maintains that the phrase, “[for] six days, work may be performed” does not refer to Shabbat, but rather to to the Moadim. The Gra derives this chiddush based on the following analysis: On the Torah level, there are two days of Pesach, one day of Shavuot, two days of Succot (inclusive of Shemini Atzeret) and one day of Rosh HaShanah, yielding the number “six” in our phrase. What, however, is the status of Yom Kippur since it is not included in the six? The Gra notes that it is different in kind and degree from the Moadim since:
​
On these six days, one is allowed to perform melechet ochel nefesh, that is, to cook and to bake. In contrast, Yom Kippur’s laws are similar in kind to Shabbat wherein these actions are proscribed. This, then, is why the text states, “six days,” regarding the above-cited Moadim. Moreover, “work may be performed,” refers to melechet ochel nefesh. The phrase, “but on the seventh day, it is a complete rest day, a holy occasion; you shall not perform any work. It is a Shabbat to Hashem in all your dwelling places,” must, therefore, be understood in contrast to the six Yamim Tovim and as a direct reference to Yom HaKippurim, wherein the text states: “It is a Shabbat of Shabbatot and mikra kodesh—it is called holy, wherein all prohibited melachot may not be performed, inclusive of ochel nefesh… (Translation and underlining my own)
 
The Gra concludes his presentation by citing sections of additional pasukim as powerful proof that Parashat HaMoadim refers exclusively to the Moadim: “These are Hashem’s appointed [holy days] that you [klal Yisrael] shall designate as holy occasions… apart from Hashem’s Shabbatot.” (23:37-38)
 
With Hashem’s help may we soon celebrate the Moadei Hashem in the newly rebuilt Beit HaMikdash. V’chane yihi ratzon.
 
Shabbat Shalom
​
Past drashot may be found at my blog-website: http://reparashathashavuah.org
 
The email list, b’chasdei Hashem, has expanded to hundreds of people. I am always happy to add more members to the list. If you have family or friends you would like to have added, please contact me via email mailto:[email protected].
 
*** My audio shiurim on the topics of Tefilah and Tanach are found at: http://tinyurl.com/8hsdpyd
 
*** I have posted 164+ of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s English language audio shiurim (MP3 format) spanning the years 1958-1984. Please click on the highlighted link.

---