May 6, 2023; 15 Iyar, 5783
Parsha
This week’s parsha begins with a special Mitzvah, a commandment to tell the Kohanim, the descendants of Aharon, to observe the special purity rules that only apply to them. A Kohain must maintain his special status and may not become impure through any contact with a corpse or even be under the same roof as a corpse. This should not be viewed as an onerous restriction. On the contrary, it is a remarkable badge of honor that is a testament to his special status.
The Midrash (Vayikrah Rabbah 26:6) explains that this special set of purity laws must be kept forever – by Aharon, his sons and grandsons until the end of all generations. But how did Aharon earn this special set of purity laws?....