Kedusha (holiness) is the theme opening again for this portion. Twice Moshe speaks, about this lifestyle required of them. A lifestyle with more required and more restrictions than the rest of the Israelites. The priests and high priests were more than just religious figures performing roles. They stood in for the people, made korbanot (sacrifices, better draw near offerings) for them, for the nation and more. It was expected that they maintain a high level of separateness (kedusha or holiness). This left them prepared to serve the Most High as their service times rotated throughout the year.

How does HaShem ask us to prepare to serve? We can serve learning and observing mitzvot (commandments), in our prayer, in our kindness to others. Some prepare to pray in quietness and mediation before even coming in prayer. Each of us is called to be a light to the nations and to not hide that light. Speak with those you trust, know you well and seek what paths the Most High may open to you as you seek the Derech HaShem (the path of life). Each of us begins where we are and today there is no Beit HaMikdash (Temple) to prepare for ritual holiness. Seek the Most High as to where you are, to begin in paths of righteousness and where the Most High will bring you. Seek companions along the way who may hold a light for you or for whom you may hold a light. Not one of us do this alone, it was given to a nation to be a light unto the nations.

There were laws for the perfection physically of the priests and the korban (loosely sacrifices). Who brought the offering needing to be acceptable and the korban being acceptable tells us that even without the Beit HaMikdash, HaShem cares about how someone comes before him. It is not a light and casual affair as dropping into friend’s and sharing the choice BBQ. There was protocol and as Aaron’s family learned early on, it was wise to follow the protocol the Most High set for coming before Him.

The festivals are established with Shabbos (Shabbat or Sabbath) being the first and Pesach, the Omer, the counting of the Omer, Shavout, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot all being explained. Shabbat is given precedence and comes weekly though the holy days each are yearly festivals. Weekly we are given a festival day to come and rest before our Creator, King and Father without other festival pilgrimages that are required. What a gracious gift to remind us of whose we are and who we are made in the image of today. In light of today’s world it is time set aside the daily grind and focus on who and whose we are uniquely in this world recharging for the interaction with the world the rest of the week in the most simplest of explanations.

The portion closes with laws of the ner tamid, (lamp of the mishkan), the showbread ( altar bread), and the severity and penalties of blasphemy. The people of Israel traveled by cloud and fire, (shelter from or protection of light) and now the tabernacle had laws for it’s lamp. The children of Israel were fed by HaShem in the desert and now had showbread upon the altar for the Most High. They came out of cultures who worshiped other gods and now had laws about treating HaShem lightly, worshiping other culture’s gods.

This is relevant today. All of it is relevant. We may not have the Beit HaMikdash for the light, and showbread, but we have Shabbat weekly and we have our path (derech HaShem) that is the light before the rest of the nations as we walk out our daily lives. The degree we choose to reflect the holiness of HaShem is the degree others will see the light we are to shine into the world bringing hope to the world. In these times of hardship for many and uncertainty for others may we each bring light to this world.

Rut Etalka