Parashat Emor: The Richest Jew

The Torah says that the Cohen Gadol in verse number 10, chapter 21 that the Cohen Gadol who is exalted above his brethren Now, if you just say a Cohen Gadol we all understand that he is exalted. Why does the Torah have the what seems to be like an extra superfluous word? A word that seems unnecessary. That he has to be exalted above his brothers. If you just say Cohen Gadol that's exalted. It's enough. We know obviously. He's a top of the line. He's the best of the best. These are some of the questions that were asked that we shall be answered. And the interesting information you get from the Torah is truly life-changing once you understand it. The Gemara in Maseches Yoma page 18A This is the Gemara. And we open to page 18A. The sages teach us as follows. In regards to this verse that says the Cohen Gadol who is exalted above his brethren it teaches us that the Cohen Gadol must be exalted above his brethren in strength in beauty wisdom and wealth. To such an extent that if he does not possess wealth then his brethren, the Kohanim should make exalted by giving him their own money. Meaning this is a Torah commandment. This is not a suggestion. Please give him some tzedakah. No, no, no. Obligation. Once he was chosen to become Cohen Gadol he has to become the wealthiest Cohen of all the Kohanim. And the Kohanim therefore have to pool their resources sell some stock, sell some bonds sell some real estate get rid of some of the uh savings accounts pool the money together. After they find out who's the wealthiest Cohen right now Oh, we have uh Steve Cohen. How much he's worth? He's worth 15 billion. All right, guys. We got to get at least 15.1 billion right now. He's got to be richer than Steve Cohen. What do you mean 15.1? I'm going to have to sell my entire portfolio. Well, you and a bunch of other people have to sell stuff because you have to make the the Cohen Gadol, the new Cohen Gadol the richest Cohen. Now, he's wise, he's strong wealthy but why on my dime? Why do I have to make him wealthy? Asked the Cohen. Right, that's that's the natural question. Day before he was chosen to be Cohen he's a regular Avrech. Regular simple Torah scholar, tzaddik extraordinary wisdom, righteousness. That's why he was chosen. At least during the first Beis Hamikdash, second Beis Hamikdash there was a bunch of corruption there where people would buy the Kehuna. That's why each year the Cohen would die. Because he wasn't the right one that uh Hashem did not choose him. But the question begs why? Before we answer why there's a Gemara in Maseches Yoma tells a story of Pinchas Ish Chavata. Pinchas Ish Chavata was a tzaddik, was a chacham was also Ish Chavata. What's Ish Chavata? Used to work in the fields to clear out the rocks and the boulders. Worked very, very hard. Hard work. Wasn't like today we have tractors and uh all types of machines that move the stuff. No, he had to do by hand. He had to do it all the machinery of that day. And one day he was chosen to be the Cohen Gadol. So the Beis Hamikdash sent the dignitaries, the honorable people to go and tell Pinchas Ish Chavata, he's the new Cohen Gadol. When they got there they saw him working in a ditch trying to get a boulder out of there. And they said, "Kavod You have been chosen to be the Cohen Gadol." And Pinchas Ish Chavata says to them "Cohen Gadol? No, no, I I can't do it. Who's going to work the field? Who's going to feed my family?" They went and got enough gold coins to fill up the whole ditch that he was in making him extraordinarily wealthy, a billionaire in 1 second. "You don't have to worry about money anymore or the field. Here. You have more than enough money." And he became Cohen Gadol. In regards to him being above his brethren, he also had to be tallest. And the Chachamim teach that as soon as the special oil was nimshach alav, they would put this special oil on him that's where the word Mashiach comes from. He would actually get taller. He would become more handsome. And he would suddenly become extraordinarily strong. And his wisdom grew tremendously. All of this miracle in front of everyone. You see this guy is 5'9" regular, average built sometimes has a hard time getting out of bed. They put the oil on him all of a sudden 6'6" above everyone. Muscles sticking out of his shirt already. He's so big and bulky and strong. And all of a sudden he's beautiful. Yesterday you were barely able to look at him. Today you can't get enough. Wow, he's so handsome. You ask him a question right now it's like asking AI Rabbi. Get your answers with sources. We are meant to be a light unto the nations. Not to follow their misguided practices. Remember every Jew has to remember [music] that he's a Jew and she's a Jew. We don't celebrate non-Jewish holidays even if they seem harmless. It's a zilzul, [music] disrespect to the Torah.