Standing Strong |
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Emor—Say
Leviticus 21:1– 24:23 Ezekiel 44:15– 31 Luke 14:13– 24 Revelations 4:1– 11 |
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Isaiah 11:6 2 Thessalonians 2:15 |
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I wish to focus on chapter 23 of this week’s Parasha. This chapter gives the specifications of date and observance for the Feasts of the L-rd. Each of the feasts are given their appointed time and each feast has specific actions and foods that relate to it. Why would there be such detail for foods and actions of these feasts? The Chumash gives some explanation that gives a deeper insight into the feasts.
Man has many feasts and in them he eats and drinks and celebrates. These feasts are common to almost all mankind and when taken to excess we end up with the gluttonous, drunken orgies of the latter days of the Roman Empire. What makes a Feast to the L-rd special are the detailed commandments connected with it. What makes the food prepared for the feast of the L-rd different than the feasts of men is the attention to detail in the preparation. This detail takes the focus off of personal gratification and puts the attention on worship, praise, and gratitude for the gifts of G-d, given to us each in its own season.
The preparation of the grain harvests took place even in the harvest itself. The harvest had about 1/50th of it given to the cohen (priest) as their portion and food. In addition to this portion set aside for the servants of the L-rd, the edges of the field were not harvested in order to leave it for the poor and the stranger. While the Chumash changes the word form “stranger” to “proselyte”, the older texts including the Septuagint clearly list the word as “stranger”. This makes more sense in that the proselyte was allowed a full portion of the harvest as a member of the people of Israel. The proselyte was not a person of second class status and in need. The stranger who was passing through the land would have need of food as he traveled.
This attention to detail in the harvest, the handling of the food for the feast, the selection of items without blemish … all raise the action of the participant to one of worship and recognition of G-d.
Who is allowed to observe the feasts of the L-rd is a point of contention of which I was unaware in years past. I was shocked to hear a man who sat next to me on a flight recently share that if a non-Jew observes the feasts of the L-rd, his soul is cut off from G-d. I had never heard it stated so strongly before and have spent a lot of time thinking and researching this.
There are some today who try to say that the Feasts of the L-rd are only for the Jewish people. I have heard this from Jews, who wish to exclude gentiles from participating, and I have heard it from gentiles who state these are Jewish feasts and not for gentiles to observe.
If we look to the scriptures for our answer, we will find that Gentiles who worshiped the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob partook in the Feasts of the L-rd. Chapter 22 verse 25 specifically states that animals with blemish or neutered animals will not be accepted from the hands of the stranger in offering to G-d. The Chumash clearly states that the animal being offered comes from the hand of a stranger, a non-Jew. Non-Jews were participating in the offerings to the L-rd and participating fully in the sacrifices and festivals.
Further proof of the non-Jew participating in the feasts of the L-rd can be taken from Chapter 23 verse 42 that states every native in Israel will dwell in booths. This is interesting in that it only calls for the native born to dwell in booths. In the Chumash, Rashi is cited as saying all Jews including converts are to dwell in booths. This verse and the response of Rashi shows interesting actions being taken. By Scripture alone it states that all natives will dwell in booths. It does not say that non-natives are not to dwell in booths but that this requirement is to point out that when G-d took his people out of Egypt that they had to well in temporary shelters as they traveled in the wilderness.
When we realize that this book is written in the hand of Moses and that he never made access to the Promised Land we find the requirement a little mystifying in that it is a requirement to the future. The entire mixed multitude that left Egypt with Moses were living in temporary shelters and shared in that experience. This requirement must refer to a future generation of people who would be joined with others who would choose to not dwell in booths.
We must note that there is no longer a requirement that non-Jews not observe the feast than there is for converts to not observe this feast. If Rashi clearly states that converts are to dwell in booths also, for the sake of equality with the adopted nation, and gentiles are allowed to make offerings to G-d, how can one make the statement that Gentiles are not to observe the Feasts of the L-rd?
If the Temple of G-d is to be a house of prayer for all people, and even had a court of the Gentiles to allow sacrifice and worship of the L-rd G-d, how can we, if we allow converts to participate for the sake of equality when the statement is for native born, choose to exclude our neighbors who seek to worship the one G-d, Maker of heaven and earth, and who also seek to please him?
Selah. |