Raising
teen-age girls has made me extra sensitive to issues concerning self-image,
peer pressure, social cliques, and body image. Try as we might to create an
environment where are daughters will learn the tools to deal with the perils of
social cliques and peer pressure; all the social network apps that our daughter
“must be on” make our job that much more difficult. Try as we might to create
an environment where deeds, substance, effort and the content of character
receive more praise and are held in much higher regard than the superficiality
of physical appearance and fashion; television, fashion magazines and the
desire to fit in and be socially accepted makes our job more difficult. So what
does our fifteen year old do this week heighten my concern over the tumultuous
nature of teenagers, their self-image, popularity and sense of self-worth. She
decides to run for Vice President of Student Council. All week, she and several
friends have been making posters and videos, creating slogans and putting together
a campaign. With the advice of her older sister who is actually in the
political campaign business, the candidate has spent the week speaking to as
many of the students as possible. All of
her siblings have been helping on this campaign. So from that perspective it is
nice see our children working together so that one can accomplish something. On
the other hand I know that running for office in Student Council is not exactly
the same as running for office at the municipal, provincial/state or federal
level. Running for office at the student council level is far more brutally honest.
It is strictly a popularity contest. There are no real issues per se. And
certainly one can’t “buy” the election with Super-Pac money or millions of
small on line donations. What makes student council politics a brutal endeavor
is the fact that is a popularity contest. So who are the teen age girls that
tend to be the most popular? That’s right, the girls with the most pleasant and
appealing appearance tend to be considered popular. They might not necessarily
be well liked, but everyone know who they are. Needless to say, I can’t help
but notice the irony of the week. Our daughter who we raise to have a positive
self-image spent the week participating in a school activity that focuses upon
those very qualities that can demean self- image.
This
Shabbat we read from Parshat Emor. The four chapters that comprise Parsha Emor
focus on the various aspects of Perfection. First the Torah focuses upon the
importance of the spiritual perfection and purity of the Kohen. He must remain
in a perpetual state of purity. He is restricted in terms of whom he can marry.
He is restricted in regards for whom he can mourn. He cannot go to a cemetery.
He cannot make sacrificial offerings if he has physical abnormalities. The
second of the four chapters reminds B’nai Yisroel that when approaching God
with an offering, the individual must be spiritually pure and perfect and so
must the offering. These offerings must come directly from the individual
making them and not from “the hand of a stranger” (Lev.22:25). The third
chapter of the Parsha deals with the perfection and the purity of time. Time is
define as perfect in the season follow an order, the holidays such as Shabbat,
Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are designated to come in
a particular order. That order is both pure and perfect since time and the
designation of “Sacred” time comes from God. The fourth chapter speaks about
maintaining purity and the perfection of physical space in this case the
Mishkan, and all that is in the Mishkan. The Torah even deals with perfection
and purity of human relationships and the punishments meted out when that
perfection, purity and holiness is violated. In a sense, this last chapter
reminds us of God’s charge to B’nai Yisroel.
Like
running for student council places an emphasis upon physical appearance as it
relates to popularity; the Torah places an emphasis upon the physical
appearance of the Kohen as it relates to his spiritual purity and eligibility
of serving as the Kohen Gadol. The last
eight verses (21:16-24) explain all the physical abnormalities that exclude the
Kohen from assuming the position of Kohen Gadol. Blemishes, blindness, being
lame, having any broken bones, bad skin,
abnormally long eyebrows, a blemish in his eyed, are but a few of the physical
attributes that make a Kohen ineligible for the position of Kohen Gadol. How can
the Torah, with its primary focus upon Mitzvot (commandments) and the
importance of deeds and the Kavanah, the intentionality behind those deeds, now
focus upon something as superficial as appearance? Sefer HaChinuch comments: “At the root of the precept lies the reason
that most actions of people are acceptable, appealing to the heart of those who
see them, in accordance with the eminence of those who do them. For when a man
is distinguished in his appearance and good in his actions, he will find grace
and good understanding (Prov. 3:4). With all that he does in the eyes of all
who observe him. Should he be, however the opposite of this- inferior in his
form, or peculiar in his limbs then eve if he is correct in his ways, his
activities will not be so attractive to the hear…” (Emor 275). As upsetting
and politically incorrect as that sounds, the comment and the Torah text infer
a keen understanding of human nature. While watching the physically flawed
Kohen conducting the ritual slaughtering in a perfectly correct manner; our
attention would be upon the flaw in appearance, our Kavanah our intention would
be lacking and the sacrificial process would fail.
While
this line of reasoning doesn’t offer any solace to the Kohen with the physical
flaw or abnormality, and I don’t for a second agree with it; it is important to
remember that the goal is making sure that the offerings are accepted and the
Kavanah (the intention) behind the offering is pure and focused. The common
person making the offering would lose focus by concentrating more upon the
physical abnormality or flaw instead of the offering to God. Thankfully we don’t have a Third Holy Temple.
We have evolved beyond animal offerings as a means engaging God in a sacred
relationship. However, human nature has remained fairly consistent. All these decades later the Home Coming King
and Queen are still very good looking and popular, and running for Student
Council remains a popularity contest as well. Maybe what really matters is not
winning a popularity contest but rather, putting oneself out there as the
offering, external physical flaws and all, and showing people the good and the
pure within. Maybe having the courage to run and be exposed to the
vulnerability of losing truly is a measure of the content of character. Maybe
if the voters see that in a candidate, then running for Student Council isn’t
so bad.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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