Emor
The Bread of Presence
Adapted from The Five Books of
Miriam by Ellen
Frankel
Parshat Emor
tackles some very profound issues: the extreme self-restraint required for
holiness, the injunction against taking God's name in vain, the absolute value
of a human life, and the sacred uses of bread. Grain is set aside for the
poor, sheaves of barley are waved in the presence of God, and beautiful baked
loaves decorate the Sanctuary.
Beruriah the
Scholar teaches: In
the desert Sanctuary and later in the Jerusalem Temple, bread played a vital
part in cult ritual. Each week, twelve special loaves, called lekhem
panim,
"showbread," or literally "bread of the presence," were
baked and displayed on a table in the Sanctuary, then later eaten by the
priests. One of the principal sacrifices was the minchah, consisting of unleavened cakes made of
fine wheat or barley flour mixed with oil and frankincense, then baked, pan
fried, or deep fried, and salted. Leavened breads were presented to the
priests on other occasions.
Sarah the
Ancient One recounts:
When three unannounced guests appeared at my door, I prepared for them ugot, "cakes," made of fine flour
baked directly on coals or heated stones and covered with ashes.
The Rabbis
add: That is why
the book of Proverbs praises the "good wife," eshet hayil, because she "does not eat the
bread of idleness" (31:27).
Sarah adds: Of course not – she's too
busy baking!
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