Emor-Remember!

THIS WEEK IN ISRAEL AND ELSEWHERE MANY WILL REFLECT ON THE SO-CALLED YOM-HAZIKORON, TO WHICH THIS AUTHOR QUESTIONS ITS' ULTIMATE TIME CHOICE AND RELEVANCE.
NONETHELESS, SINCE IT HAS THUSLY BEEN DESIGNATED IT IS REMARKABLE THAT THE DAY REFLECTS THE CONTENT OF THIS WEEK'S TORAH READING.

EMOR INSTRUCTS THE COHANIM=PRIESTS TO AVOID CONTAMINATION WITH THE DEAD EXCEPT FOR ONE'S IMMEDIATE RELATIVES. THE ORDINARY RULE PROHIBITING A COHEN FROM BEING WITH THE DEAD AND PARTICIPATING IN THE BURIAL IS SUSPENDED IN THESE CASES. NOW, THE SONS OF AHARON WERE NOT ABLE TO MOURN OR FOLLOW THE CASKETS OF THEIR BROTHERS WHEN THEY DIED.

ONLY NOW AFTER THE DUST HAD SETTLED WERE THEY PERMITTED TO MOURN FOR THE RELATIVES THEY LOST.WHY???
WE HAVE THE SAME SCENARIO WITH REGARDS TO THE VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST.MANY HAD NO SURVIVORS TO MOURN THEM. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT MANY OF US, MYSELF INCLUDED ADD A SPECIAL YIZKOR PRAYER FOR THE MARTYRS WHO HAD NO ONE TO MOURN OVER THEM. IN FACT EVEN IF THEY DID THE SURVIVORS COULD NOT STOP AND THINK ABOUT WHAT HAD OCCURED . FOR IN THE
RUSH TO SURVIVE THE NORMAL FEELINGS OF PITY AND PAIN ARE LOST. THE ONLY
MOTIVE IS TO SURVIVE.
ONLY AFTER WE BECAME SECURE IN OUR SURVIVAL COULD WE BEGIN TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO WERE SO VICIOUSLY MURDERED BY A PEOPLE WHO CLAIMED TO BE THE ULTIMATE OF HUMANITY! GERMAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DROVE THE ENGINES AND METHODS OF BRUTALITY AND MASS MURDER.
WE CAN REFLECT NOW , BUT ONLY BECAUSE WE HAVE BECOME SOMEWHAT SECURE IN OUR SURVIVAL. THAT SAID , IT PARALLELS THE EXPERIENCE OF AHARON'S SONS.
AS LONG AS THE INSTITUTIONS OF ISRAEL WERE FRAIL THEY COULD NOT MOURN
FOR THEIR PERSONAL LOSSES. THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY WERE PARAMOUNT.
ONLY AFTER THEY WERE ESTABLISHED IN THEIR POSITIONS COULD THEY BEGIN TO GRIEVE OVER THEIR PERSONAL LOSSES. AHARON, THE HIGH PRIEST COULD NEVER DO THIS FOR AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF ISRAEL HIS ROLE TRANCENDED HIS PERSON AND HE COULD SHOW NO PERSONAL AGENDA. HE BELONGED TO THE PEOPLE FOREVER.
YES THERE COMES A TIME TO REMEMBER, REFLECT AND CONTEMPLATE THE FUTURE.WHILE MANY OF US REMAIN STUCK WITH THE PAST, WE MUST FOCUS UPON THE LESSON FOR THE FUTURE. MEYER KAHANNA PROMOTED THE POPULAR SLOGAN-NEVER AGAIN!
WHILE THIS IS A NOBLE GOAL, THE ONLY WAY TO ASSURE NEVER AGAIN ,IS BY INSURING THE CONTINUITY OF OUR PEOPLE. THIS CAN ONLY BE ACCOMPLISHED BY TRUE JEWISH EDUCATION,BIBLE AND TALMUD STUDIES AS WELL AS JEWISH HISTORY .
THE SLOGAN THEREFORE SHOULD BE ALTERRED FROM NEVER AGAIN TO-
JEWS , NOW AND FOREVER!!! FOR IF THERE ARE NO JEWS NEVER AGAIN BECOMES MEANINGLESS!
CHAIM MOSHE, SON OF A SURVIVOR