Torah Portion:  Emor; Leviticus 21:1-24:23

There is a great story that is often told during children's services at the High Holy Days about a debate that the different parts of the body get into. Each part tries to prove it is the strongest - the hands, the heart, the legs - but the tongue (with its wily ways) wins the debate hands down.  Our tongue may not seem to be that important, but the power of speech that the tongue commands is one of the most powerful tools we have in life.

That is why this week's Torah portion contains a troubling story about a man who blasphemes the name of God, and who is punished by being stoned to death.  Why such a strong punishment?  It seems, at first glance, to be an overreaction.  Yet the Torah portion is teaching us in a graphic way that our words are incredibly powerful--more powerful than we often believe.  We often do not think carefully about what we say or how we say it, but most of us have been in a situation when we got carried away by a discussion and said something we regret.  Words we wish we never said have the ability to haunt us and those we hurt.  Even after an apology, it's often impossible to "take back" our words and the impact they had.   Words have the power to cause irreparable harm, but they also have the power to bring healing and goodness.

That is why this portion, and Judaism in general, places such a strong emphasis on speech.  God created the world through speech--and we can destroy or bring peace to the world the same way. Parashat Emor reminds us to think before we speak, and to choose our words with care.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Annie