True Servants of Hashem

Parshat Emor has many laws but is focused on the role of the Kohein. There are specific laws that apply only to him. The Prophet Isaiah, calls the Kohanim, משרתי ה׳, servants of G-d.

In recent years, they discovered that the Kohein had a recognizable DNA. This was known from biblical times that a Kohein was born with a special sanctity.

This explains why they must distance themselves from coming in contact with the dead, and being limited as to which women qualify to be the wives of a Kohein.

There is an interesting argument among the Rishonim regarding a Kohein who had served in the Temple, and offered many sacrifices, only to learn that he was a Chalal, a disqualified Kohein. He came from a forbidden union to Kohanim, where his father married a divorced woman or convert.

Many of the Rishonim felt that all of his sacrifices were retroactively nullified. The Rambam disagreed and only forbade him from future Temple service.

He reasoned that his essence was still holy. He served in good faith, which was enough for his previous work to be validated.

It is a privilege to be a descendant of Aharon the High Priest. There are responsibilities and restrictions that come with it. All of this is necessary in order to be “true servants of Hashem.”