Torah Tidbit

Parshah Emor (speak)  Leviticus 21:1-24:23
Up to this point Leviticus has mainly focused on the duties and activities in the tabernacle/courtyard.  The focus appears to be interrupted at the end of Emor with an incident of God’s name being degraded publicly and Israel’s response to the sin.  Blasphemy, other than being a great word used in movies to create a gasp effect, is when we cause ourselves and/or others to think less of God.  It’s very similar to gossiping, but instead of talking poorly of a person, we talk poorly of God.  
But why is this story placed towards the end of the commandments about tabernacle activities?  
The tabernacle/courtyard, with its activities, is to be both literally and figuratively at the core of the Israeli nation’s life and activities.  It reminds, instructs and encourages Israel on how they are to walk with their God.  When doing so, Israel naturally reflects an uplifting perception of God to the rest of the world.  And when they are not walking with God, they lower the “image” of God in the eyes of the nations.

Walking the Walk

We too have opportunities every day to exemplify or denigrate His ways to the world.  Although the prohibition (for both gentiles and Jews) against blasphemy mostly concerns what we say, still we don’t realize how often our actions can speak as loudly as words.   And as a counter-balance to the prohibition, we are expected to actively uphold His ways and our perception of Him.  The opportunities are endless, especially in these unsettled times.  All of us are looking for hope, assurance and direction.  Such things naturally result when we keep God in mind – we “see” Him as it were – as we make numerous daily decisions and act upon them.