Parashat Emor: The Richest Jew

0:04The Gemara often teaches us that there are no superfluous words in the Torah. So we must carefully examine every phrase. In Sefer Vayikra, Parashat Emor, the Torah states regarding the Kohen Gadol, in Chapter 21, verse 10, that he is explicitly called one "who is exalted above his brethren." Now, if you just say "Kohen Gadol," we all understand the immense holiness and elevated status of his position. So, what is the deeper meaning behind this seemingly extra phrase, that he has to be exalted above his brothers? We are discussing the greatness of Yosef HaTzaddik, how he truly was 'top of the line,' the 'best of the best' amongst his generation. As we delve into the pesukim describing his elevated status, a significant question comes to mind regarding the precise wording. The Torah says, for example, that he is exalted. Why does the Torah have what seems to be an extra, superfluous word—a word that appears unnecessary? Specifically, that he has to be exalted above his brothers? If you just say that he's exalted, isn't that enough? We know it, obviously! This question, b'ezrat Hashem, will lead us to profound insights, uncovering the interesting information we get from the Torah, which is truly life-changing once we understand its deeper meaning.

1:05Good morning, dear talmidim and esteemed participants. We are gathered today to delve into the profound depths of Torah Sheb'al Peh, learning from the timeless wisdom of our revered Chazal. The sugya (topic) before us is indeed of the highest caliber; it presents some of the most profound teachings. These are some of the kashiyot (questions/difficulties) that have been raised regarding this topic, which, B'ezrat Hashem (with G-d's help), we will endeavor to address and clarify. Indeed, the deep insights one gleans from careful Torah study are profoundly transformative, bringing true chizuk (strengthening) and guidance once one truly grasps their meaning. It is with this perspective and reverence for the Torah that we now turn our attention to the Gemara, opening to daf yud ches alef (page 18a), where the Chazal teach us as follows regarding a specific pasuk. Good morning, talmidim, and welcome to our shiur today. We are continuing our discussion on the unique stature and responsibilities of the Kohen Gadol, particularly his requirement to be exalted above his brethren in various aspects. Let's delve into the words of our Sages in the Gemara on this matter. We open the Gemara to Sanhedrin, daf eighteen aleph. The Sages teach us as follows regarding the verse that speaks of the Kohen Gadol, Regarding the verse that speaks of the Kohen Gadol, "who is exalted above his brethren," the Gemara teaches us that the Kohen Gadol must be exalted above his brethren in strength, in beauty, wisdom, and wealth. To such an extent that if he does not possess wealth, then his brethren, the Kohanim, are obligated to make him exalted by giving him their own money. This is a Torah commandment; this is not a mere suggestion. It's not just a request to give him some tzedakah. No, no, it's an absolute obligation! Once he is chosen to become Kohen Gadol, he has to become the wealthiest Kohen of all the Kohanim.

2:31My dear students, we are delving into the profound halakhot concerning the Kohen Gadol. It is not merely a matter of spiritual distinction, but one that has practical implications for all the Kohanim. The Torah mandates a unique financial standing for the High Priest. Therefore, the other Kohanim should make him exalted by giving him their own money. Meaning, this is a Torah commandment. This is not a mere suggestion! It's not simply asking for some tzedakah; no, no, this is an absolute obligation! Once he is chosen to become Kohen Gadol, he has to become the wealthiest Kohen of all the Kohanim. This is an extraordinary requirement, highlighting the immense kedushah of his role. As our Sages explain, this ensures his focus remains solely on the sacred service without any worldly distractions or dependencies, for he represents all of Klal Yisrael before HaKadosh Baruch Hu. We understand, my dear students, that the spiritual elevation of the Kohen Gadol is paramount, yet our Chazal teach us that even his material standing must reflect his position. The Gemara is explicit that the Kohen Gadol must be the wealthiest of all Kohanim. This is a weighty responsibility for the entire Kehillah and particularly for the priestly tribe. So, how do we achieve this? How do we ensure that this requirement is met? It means that, and the Kohanim therefore have to pool their resources, selling stocks, bonds, and real estate, and even drawing from their savings accounts, to bring the money together. After they identify who the wealthiest Kohen is among them, they consolidate resources around him. Imagine, for instance, we are discussing a figure like Steve Cohen, who might be worth fifteen billion dollars. The mandate then is clear: the chosen Kohen Gadol must be demonstrably wealthier. This numerical target, this immense sum, is not merely a financial exercise; it is a profound mitzvah that reinforces the unique sanctity and authority of the Kohen Gadol. It means we are aiming for at least 15.1 billion, because he must be demonstrably richer than even someone of Steve Cohen's immense fortune. This is precisely why, as our Sages teach, the one who serves in this sacred role must not only possess wisdom and strength, but also the greatest material standing among his peers, truly embodying the Torah's ideal of the Kohen Gadol.

3:26My dear students, we are delving into the profound requirements for the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest in the Beis Hamikdash. Beyond his spiritual purity and lineage, the Sages teach us a fascinating, almost paradoxical, condition: that the Kohen Gadol was expected to be the wealthiest man of his generation. This isn't merely a casual observation; it speaks to the immense esteem and support he commanded from the entire nation. Now, let us imagine for a moment what this would mean in contemporary terms, to truly fulfill such an expectation in our modern financial landscape. We would be looking at figures that would astound us, perhaps saying something like: "we have to ensure he possesses at least fifteen point one billion dollars right now. He has to be richer than, say, a Steve Cohen. What do you mean, fifteen billion? I am going to have to sell my entire portfolio!" A student might exclaim. "Well," I would respond, "you and many other people would have to sell holdings because we would have to make the Kohen Gadol, the new Kohen Gadol, the richest Kohen. Now, he is wise, he is strong, and possesses virtues far beyond mere material wealth. This leads us to the deeper point, my friends. Before he was chosen to be Kohen, he was a regular, simple Torah scholar, a tzaddik of extraordinary wisdom and righteousness. That is why he was truly chosen." "We've been discussing the grave issues of corruption during the times of the Beit Hamikdash, specifically concerning the kehuna and how unworthy individuals would sometimes acquire the high office through monetary means. This naturally led to questions among the people, questions like: 'He may be the Kohen Gadol, but why should he become wealthy, but why on my dime? Why do I have to make him wealthy?' That's the Kohen Gadol, right? That's, that's the natural question. A day before he was chosen to be Kohen Gadol, he was a regular, simple Torah scholar, a tzaddik of extraordinary wisdom and righteousness. That's why he was chosen. So, we must distinguish between the Kohen Gadol chosen by Hashem for his true merit, and those who gained the office through improper means. This distinction is crucial for understanding the sanctity of the office and the people's obligations."

4:28Shalom Aleichem, dear talmidim! Tonight, we're delving into a profound aspect of our history, particularly the spiritual challenges faced during the era of the Batei Hamikdash. It is a stark reminder of the importance of purity and devotion. We learn that, tragically, even during the First Beis Hamikdash, and certainly more so during the Second Beis Hamikdash, there was much corruption where people would buy the Kehunah, the sacred position of Kohen Gadol. This, as we know, is precisely why each year the Kohen Gadol would die; because he was not the one chosen by Hashem. But the pressing question that arises, my friends, is why? And before we delve into answering this profound question, let us consider... We find in the holy sefarim, a truly inspiring detail about Pinchas HaKohen. We know that he wasn't always the Kohen Gadol; his background was one of great physical labor and toil. The holy texts tell a story of how he used to work in the fields, tirelessly, to clear out the rocks and the boulders. He worked very, very hard; indeed, it was truly demanding, physical labor. Imagine, my dear brothers, a life spent moving these colossal stones by hand, day in and day out, with no modern machinery. It was precisely this man, devoted to his sacred task, however mundane it appeared, whom Hashem chose to elevate to the holiest position in Klal Yisrael, the Kohen Gadol. And as the posuk describes, when the honored representatives arrived to inform him of his divine appointment, they found him still engaged in this very work, demonstrating his unwavering dedication.

5:21My dear talmidim, we often speak of the importance of anivut, of humility, and how it is a prerequisite for true greatness. Let us consider a powerful example from our tradition, which illustrates this very point. There was once a righteous man who worked tirelessly to provide for his family through the arduous labor of the land. Now, farming in those days was truly backbreaking work. It wasn't like today, where we have tractors and all sorts of sophisticated machinery. No, he had to do it by hand. He had to do it with the rudimentary tools of that era. And one day, this righteous man, whose name was Pinchas, was chosen to be the Kohen Gadol. So the Beit HaMikdash sent dignitaries to go and inform him that he was the new Kohen Gadol. When they got there, they saw him working in a ditch, trying to get a boulder out of there. Indeed, this holy man was completely absorbed in his physical labor, far removed from the grandeur of the Beit HaMikdash. When the dignitaries finally conveyed their message to him, he was utterly astonished. "No, no, I cannot possibly do this!" he exclaimed. "Who will work the field? Who will feed my family?" His immediate concern was for his livelihood and his family's sustenance, completely unaware of the spiritual honor that awaited him. But the emissaries were not to be deterred... When they informed him of the decree to elevate him to such a position, he was filled with trepidation, for his humble circumstances weighed heavily on his mind. He immediately says to them, "I'm not going to! No, no, I can't do it! Who's going to work the field? Who's going to feed my family?" Yet, the divine will was absolute, and they went and got what was destined for him. In a flash, a vast quantity of gold coins, enough to fill the entire ditch he was standing in, appeared before him, transforming him into an extraordinarily wealthy man, a billionaire, in one second. Suddenly, he had no reason to worry about money anymore, nor the field; indeed, he had more than enough to provide for countless generations. And thus, he became prosperous. In addition to this immense fortune, to signify his distinct elevation above his brethren, he was also blessed to be the tallest amongst them.

6:15enough gold coins to fill the entire ditch he was standing in, making him extraordinarily wealthy, a billionaire, in one second. He had no reason to worry about money anymore, nor the field; indeed, he had more than enough to provide for countless generations. And thus, he became prosperous. In addition to this immense fortune, to signify his distinct elevation above his brethren, he was also blessed to be the tallest amongst them. My dear talmidim, we're continuing our shiur on the profound aspects of Mashiach. The Gemara and midrashim describe many miraculous attributes associated with the Anointed One. For instance, concerning his physical being, it is taught that the Chachamim teach that as soon as he was anointed with the special oil—the very source of the term Mashiach, meaning 'The Anointed One'—he would actually get taller and become more handsome. This is a dramatic transformation, not merely a subtle change. Imagine, a person undergoing such a profound, almost instant, metamorphosis... My dear talmidim, we often discuss the wondrous ways in which HaKadosh Baruch Hu reveals His power in this world. Sometimes, this revelation comes through a profound transformation of an individual, seemingly in an instant, demonstrating that true strength and wisdom emanate from a higher source. We see this vividly in our holy Tanach: A person, who by all outward appearances was unremarkable, suddenly becomes an instrument of Divine will, and he would suddenly become extraordinarily strong, and his wisdom grew tremendously. All of this was a visible miracle, right there in front of everyone! You see, this guy, he's five-foot-nine, with an average build, sometimes even has a hard time getting out of bed. But then, they put the special anointing oil upon him, and from that moment, he was imbued with a strength and presence that was truly awe-inspiring. It was a profound change, a testament to the incredible power of HaKadosh Baruch Hu to elevate and transform a person for His holy purpose.

7:37My dear Yidden, we speak so much about our mission, about being an ohr lagoyim – a light unto the nations. But what does it truly mean? It means not to be swayed by every wind that blows, not to be drawn after every fleeting beauty that the outside world presents. The yetzer hara, the evil inclination, is a master of disguise. It doesn't always come with an ugly face. Sometimes, it comes disguised, looking incredibly appealing. Like someone who, one day, seems utterly transformed: oil on him, all of a sudden, six feet, six inches, above everyone. Muscles sticking out of his shirt already, so big and bulky and strong. And all of a sudden, he's beautiful. Yesterday, you were barely able to look at him. Today, you can't get enough. Wow, he's so handsome. And that, my dear brothers, is how the yetzer hara works. It takes something that yesterday seemed unremarkable, perhaps even something we would ignore, and suddenly, it's infused with an alluring, almost irresistible glow. It makes aveirot appear attractive; it makes alien practices seem 'harmless,' even 'beautiful.' But we must remember, a Jew's beauty comes from within, from our neshamah, from our connection to HaKadosh Baruch Hu and His Torah. We must never be fooled by the superficial 'beauty' of the outside world, by its misguided practices, or its so-called 'harmless' holidays. Our truth, our emes, lies in our mesorah, in what HaKadosh Baruch Hu commanded us. Chazak u'baruch. You ask a she'eilah to such a source right now, it's like asking an AI rabbi. Where is the mesorah? Where is the Da'as Torah? You want to get your answers with proper mekorot and guidance from our Gedolei Yisrael. We are meant to be an Or LaGoyim, a light unto the nations, not to follow their misguided practices. Remember, every Jew must internalize their Yiddishkeit and their identity as a Yehudi and a Yehudiyah. We certainly do not celebrate holidays of the goyim, even if they seem harmless. Such practices only serve to distance us from our true heritage and our connection to HaKadosh Baruch Hu, Rachmana Litzlan.

8:29It's a zilzul, disrespect to the Torah.