Portion Emor gives a puzzling command to the priests among the Children of Israel: they are not to approach or touch a dead body. In answer to this command, Shmuel shares two vastly different perspectives on death.
Death plays an important role, as this week’s Torah portion coincides with Israel’s Memorial Day, Independence Day, and the memorial date for Shmuel’s late father.
Amid death, memory, and Emor, Shmuel shares hopeful insights into the human soul and the strength of the nation of Israel.