Parashat Emor- One Law for All

Vayomer Hashem el Moshe, “Emor…”

And Hashem spoke to Moshe, “Speak…”

While it is not until the end of the book of Vayikra that we have a parasha called Emor, meaning Speak, it is a theme throughout the Torah.  This text is not a secret code for the Kohanim, our priests, or even only for the Israelites.  It is a spoken text passed on from generation to generation among all of Israel and beyond to the world.  As a people we have referred to ourselves as the Chosen People, meaning chosen to receive God’s word in order to share it with the world.  Torah and God’s law was never seen as the Israelites sole possession.

Mishpat echad yi’h’yeh lachem kager kaezrach yi’h’yeh ki Ani Hashem Ehloheichem.

You will have one law for the stranger and for the home-born for I am Hashem your God.

With words like these the Torah becomes a unique text for a unique people. Until this point law depended upon status, whether it be gender, social standing, or citizenry. Even after the receiving of the Torah, law throughout the world did not change much.  Until recently, and even now in some areas of the world, there are different codes for men and women. Citizens, whether of the land or the religion, fall under different rules, and social standing, based on title or land ownership, allows individuals to manipulate the rule of law for one’s own purpose. 

The Torah is for all people, one law for the Israelite and the stranger.  When we can respect each other, seeing each of us as equals under the law even through the lens of our differences, we can seek peace for us and for the world.