2020/5780
Parashat Emor teaches a great deal about how to bring Korbanot to Hashem effectively. Perek 22, Pasuk 28 states: “VeShor Oh-Seh Oto V’Et Beno Lo Tishchatu BeYom Echad,” “An ox or sheep you shall not slaughter it and its offspring in one day.“ Rashi comments and says that it is forbidden to offer the child and then its mother. We learn many lessons from this case as Shadal points out. He states that we refrain from bringing the mother and child on the same day not due to Rachamim on the animals, but for what it teaches us. We learn from this not to be cruel, to care for others, and always show compassion. This seemingly cruel act of bringing a sacrificial lamb is meant to humble us and to be merciful to others.
Rabbeinu Bachya adds by noting a Midrashic approach. He points out that this Pasuk highlights a difference between the righteous and the wicked. We find a parallel to the story of Purim. Hamman HaRasha plotted to massacre all the Jews on one day, unlike the righteous who do not kill the mother and child on the same day. Likewise, we send away the mother bird when performing Shiluach HaKen to show righteousness and mercy whereas Sancheirev ordered his soldiers to kill all mothers and children showing true evil. We learn what makes someone a true Tzaddik when he takes the uttermost care even regarding a seemingly cruel act. We see the importance of mercy and how it can distinguish a righteous person from a wicked one.
This important lesson of Rachamim is extremely important, especially when it comes to helping others. The lesson of Rachamim and how to treat others properly seems to be an aspect of last week’s Parashah as well. In Parashat Kedoshim it states, “V’Ahavtah L’Reiacha Kamocha,” “You shall love your brother like yourself” (Vayikra 19:18) and builds into Sefirat HaOmer and Lag BaOmer when Rabi Akiva’s students stopped dying, due to lack of respect for one another. This is especially applicable to the current events forcing us to be apart from our friends. When it seems like we cannot help others, in reality, we can now demonstrate more than ever how much we care for others by helping them buy food and visiting even though we need to stay six feet apart. We see from this week's Parashah that we can learn important life lessons even in such unexpected places. We learn the importance of Rachamim and how important of a role it plays in daily life; that even while we give a Korban we must remember the importance of Rachamim.