The Sfat Emet on Parshat Emor – read

(from Sfat Emet Vayikra Parshat Emor, year 5655, p. 184)
Three Aspects of Holiness

Our parsha discusses kedusha, holiness, with regards to the Kohanim and the holidays. The Sfat Emet describes three aspects of holiness, presenting us with a framework for understanding this fundamental concept. All three aspects are included in the fourth blessing of the Shemoneh Esrei, as follows.

1. “Ata kadosh – You are holy,” refers to G-d’s holiness, for He is above all and the source of all holiness.
2. “Veshimkha kadosh – and Your Name is holy,” refers to the Torah’s holiness. The Torah is the medium whereby G-d enables His holiness to come down to the lower worlds. G-d contracted His holiness into the Torah.
3. “Ukedoshim bekhol yom yehalelukha selah – and the holy ones praise you every day forever,” refers to the receivers of G-d’s holiness. This includes the people of Israel, who are able to tap into the holiness of the Torah, and the angels, who praise G-d’s holiness every day.

Each one of the three meals of Shabbat relates to one of these aspects of holiness. This is shown through the expressions from Tanach the Zohar attaches to each of the three meals.

1. “Az titaneig al Hashem – Then you will have pleasure with G-d,” relating to G-d’s own holiness, refers to the day meal;
2. “Vehaakhaltikha nachalat Yaakov avikha – I will give to eat of the inheritance of Yaakov your father,” relating to the Torah (Yaakov, the man of truth’s inheritance), refers to the third meal; and
3. “Vehirkavtikha al bamatei aretz – I will make you to ride on the high places of the earth,” relating to the receivers of holiness, refers to the nightmeal.

[prepared by Eliezer Kwass]