Devar/5769/Behar-Bechukotai
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< Devar | 5769
עברית
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English
Speak unto Aaron, saying: Whosoever he be of thy seed throughout their generations that hath a blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God (Lev 21:17)
From here we learn that there is a prohibition for a blemished Kohen to perform service inside the Temple: Any Kohen who is blemished, whether permanently or temporarily -- shall not enter into the Temple beyond the altar and further… and if he did perform service in the Temple -- he disqualified the offering and desecrated his service, and receives the punishment of stripes even for the service, as the verse states, "Whosoever … hath a blemish, let him not approach" (Laws of Entering the Temple 6:1).
It is difficult to understand why a blemished Kohen should be prohibited from service -- since the blemishes referred to are in the body of the Kohen (for example a broken arm or leg) -- and it would make more sense to prohibit one who had a spiritual blemish from entering inside the Temple!
There is a hint in these halachot: The only blemishes which disqualify a human [from serving] are those which are visible (ibid 7), and further: One whose spittle runs down his beard when he speaks, and similarly one who is blind in one eye -- [that Kohen] shall not raise his hands (to bless the people); and if he was active in his city and everyone used to seeing that blind man or the one whose spittle ran -- he may raise his hands, because the people will not stare at him (Laws of Prayer and Kohanic Blessing 15:3).
It is therefore understood why the blemished Kohen may not serve. Not because he himself is not worthy, but rather because the public whose emissary he is will stare at him in contempt and ridicule him, and come to ridicule also God's Temple -- and ultimately also God Himself, Heaven forbid.
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