General Overview<\/strong>: This week's reading, Emor<\/em>, discusses the laws which pertain to Kohanim (priests), and various laws which relate to sacrifices. These are followed by a lengthy discussion of the festivals. The portion concludes with the story of a blasphemer who was put to death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First Aliyah<\/a>: The aliyah<\/em> discusses the Kohen's obligation to maintain a high level of ritual purity, and the women he may marry. An ordinary Kohen<\/a> is prohibited to come in contact with a human corpse \u2014 except to attend the funerals of his next of kin \u2014 and may not marry a divorcee as well as some other women. The High Priest is not permitted to attend even family funerals, and is required to marry a virgin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second Aliyah<\/a>: This section discusses bodily blemishes and ritual impurities which disqualify a Kohen from performing the Temple priestly duties. The aliyah<\/a><\/em> then lays down the rules regarding who in the Kohen's household may eat terumah<\/em>, the tithe from produce given to the Kohanim<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third Aliyah<\/a>: Blemished animals are disqualified for sacrificial use. This aliyah<\/em> also forbids the castration of animals, sacrificing animals before they are eight days old, and slaughtering a mother animal and her child on the same day. The aliyah<\/a><\/em> concludes with the mitzvah of kiddush Hashem,<\/em> sanctifying G\u2011d's Name by giving one's life rather than transgressing certain cardinal sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fourth Aliyah<\/a>: This section begins a lengthy discussion about the Jewish holidays. After making brief mention of the Shabbat, the Torah talks about the holiday of Passover and the mitzvah<\/a> of eating matzah. On the second day of this holiday, an \"omer<\/em>\" barley offering is brought in the Temple. This is followed by a seven-week counting period that culminates with the holiday of Shavuot. After discussing the Shavuot<\/a> Temple service, the Torah<\/a> briefly interrupts the holiday discussion to mention the obligation, when harvesting fields, to leave certain gifts for the poor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fifth Aliyah<\/a>: The High Holidays are discussed. We are commanded to hear the shofar<\/em> (ram's horn) on Rosh Hashanah, and to \"afflict\" ourselves on Yom Kippur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sixth Aliyah<\/a>: The autumn holiday of Sukkot is now introduced. During this seven-day holiday we are commanded to sit in outdoor booths, take the Four Species (citron, palm branch, myrtles, and willows), and rejoice before G\u2011d<\/a>. The final holiday is Shemini Atzeret, a one-day holiday which immediately follows Sukkot<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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