(2003/5763)

In Parshat Emor 21:1, the Torah says, “Hashem said to Moshe:  Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and you shall say to them:  to a dead person [the Kohen] should not become impure among his people.”  This Pasuk seems repetitive – why does the Torah have to tell us “say to the Kohanim” and then “and you shall say to them”?

The Gemara in Yevamot 114a explains that the Torah is obligating the Kohanim to watch their children’s impurity.  The Pasuk is actually saying, “say to the Kohanim that they should tell their children not to come in contact with the dead.”

A very valuable lesson can be learned here.  Everyone can teach their children how to do Mitzvot, but how can anyone inspire their children to do Mitzvot on their own?  If the children see their parents refraining from coming in contact with the dead or refraining from eating a food with a questionable Kashrut, they will look up to them and be influenced to also watch themselves from coming in contact with the dead, like in this week’s Parsha.