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Priestly Misconduct
As the news continues to focus its attention on the
scandals evoked by the behavior of Catholic priests, I turned my attention to a
mitzvah recorded in the weekly Torah portion of Emor concerning Jewish priests,
demonstrating Judaism's very sobering and realistic approach to the pitfalls of
human sexuality.
The Torah prohibits a Kohen, a priest in the Jewish
religion, from marrying a divorced woman. It also prohibits a Kohen Gadol, a
High Priest in the Jewish religion, from marrying a divorcee and a widow. (Lev.
21:7, 14)
Now, one can perhaps make sense out of the former
prohibition: Since a priest served as the spiritual agent of the Jewish people
in Divine service, he was required to live a life of complete innocence and
spirituality. Therefore, the Torah did not want him marrying a human being
involved in conflict and strife. But why could a High Priest not marry a widow?
What is it about her husband's death that makes her unqualified to enjoy a
blessed relationship with a Jewish High Priest?  | | " Judaism does not hide its face from the profound struggles confronting all human beings in the area of intimacy..." | | |
You may be surprised by the answer. But I have always
found this answer extremely comforting, as it depicts how Judaism does not hide
its face from the profound struggles confronting all human beings in the area of
intimacy. Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulaei, an 18th century sage and mystic known
in short as the " Chida"
presents the following interpretation in the name of
the great 12th century Jewish thinker, Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid :
The High Priest of Israel was given many great
spiritual powers. The most important of them was his duty on the holiest day of
the year, Yom Kippur, to enter into the Temple's Holy of Holies, a place where
no other living Jew was ever allowed to enter. On that charged day, the High
Priest would also pronounce the intimate 72-letter name of G-d, which contained
very profound powers. (The Jewish Sages intentionally ceased teaching that name
during the period of the Roman conquest of Jerusalem, and it has since been
forgotten.)
Now, the Torah is concerned that the High Priest may
experience infatuation with a particular married woman. What might he do about
the fact of her being married? Next Yom Kippur, he will utilize the moment when
he utters G-d's ineffable name in order to bring about a decree of death on
her husband. Thus he would be free to marry the widow. | | " Judaism...knows full well that sexuality holds all men - priests and lay men alike - captive in its extraordinary appeal..." | | |
It is as a result of this concern that the Torah
commands that a High Priest may not marry a widow. Even if he succeeds in
getting rid of the husband, he would not be able to marry the wife.
Judaism, in its reality-based approach to the human
psyche, knows full well that sexuality holds all men - priests and lay men alike
- captive in its extraordinary appeal. Even a High Priest, on the holiest day of
the year, while uttering the holiest word in the world, is capable of thinking
about how he can "bump a man off the road" so that he can lay his hands on his
woman. Judaism is keenly sensitive to the truth that every human being has a
demon lurking within. If you don't challenge it and tame it, it can turn you
into a monster.
So, the next time you are overtaken by particularly
dark cravings, do not fall into despair. Remember, you are no worse than the
High Priest of Israel! You, too, may struggle against horrible demons. But, you,
too, may still enter into the Holy of Holies.
My gratitude to Shmuel Levin, a writer and editor in
Pittsburgh, for his editorial assistance.
Footnotes:
Visitor Comments: 2
Anonymous, 5/3/2007
Questions:
(1) What otherAnonymous, 5/1/2007
i thought that article was ver
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