Parashat Emor

Parashat: Emor

Haftara: Vehakohanim

The Midrash says, Before discussing the festivals, the Torah in this parasha mentions that we must observe the Shabbat as a day of rest after six work days (Vayikra 23.3).

Why does the mention of Shabbat precede the Festivals?

There is a basic difference between Shabbat and Yom Tov.  While the sanctity of every seventh day was proclaimed, at the time of creation by the Creator in the heaven, once and for all, the day on which a Yom Tov occurred in the times of the Bet-Hamikdash varied from year to year.

The beginning of a new Jewish month was determined by Bet-Din depending on a satisfactory report received by two reliable witnesses who had observed the appearance of the new moon. 

Accordingly, the beginning of the festival depended on weather that Rosh-Hodesh began on the twenty ninth or the thirtieth day of the lunar month.  Moreover, it depends upon the Bet-Din’s decision whether or not to intercalate the year with an extra month.

Hashem assured us that whatever day would be proclaimed as a Yom-Tov, by the Bet-Din, was sanctioned by Him in heaven.

We might assume that a profanation of Yom-Tov can be taken lightly since its sanctity was put into effect by man.  The Torah therefore juxtaposed the two, to teach us that the desecration of both, is equally forbidden.

“from the Midrash”