Sign In Forgot Password

Ancient Rituals, Current Actions

02/10/2022 08:00:53 AM

Feb10

Rabbi Ron Segal

You shall all be for Me a kingdom of priests (kohanim) and a treasured people” (Exodus 19:6).  In his excellent sermon this past Shabbat evening, Rabbi Levenberg concluded with the final words of this verse (watch the sermon here at 1:03:55 mark).  It is to the first part of the verse, “You shall be a kingdom of priests,” that I turn our attention in this message.

A question: Other than the fact they are all bodily extremities, what do the ridge of the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot have in common?  A partial answer is found in the words of Torah we read this Shabbat, where we learn that, as the kohanim (the Israelite priests who performed the ancient sacrifices) were being ordained for service, the blood of an animal sacrifice was rubbed on the ridge of their right ears, the thumb of their right hands and the big toe of their right feet. What the Torah does not tell us, though, is “Why?”  Any explanation as to why these three specific body parts are chosen for this bizarre ritual is left to the reader’s imagination.

I have always found this passage intriguing and begging for interpretation.  What was so significant about the ear, thumb and big toe that they had to be distinctively marked before one could serve as a kohen?  Some sages contend the ritual was meant to signify that the kohanim of old had to be prepared for sacrificial service “from their head to their toes” (i.e. with their whole self).  In our day, though, is there wisdom we – a kingdom of priests – might derive from this ancient ritual?  When viewed more symbolically, perhaps the three designated body parts are intended to teach and remind us of the inherent power and the profound responsibility associated with each location.  Consider…

Our “ears”:  More than any other time in history it seems, the degree of vitriol, amount of noise, and extent of untruths with which we are confronted each day have reached a level that is deafening, driving us further and further into polarized echo chambers.  What and/or whom do we choose to listen to?  More importantly, why?  If we remember that giving something or someone an audience also gives it/them power, perhaps this ritual focused on the ear is an important reminder to be discerning as to what we lend an ear and what deserves our attention.

Our “thumbs”:  If we reflect upon the amount of toxic social media, email attacks, and online propaganda that fill our inboxes, we undoubtedly recognize the power in our fingers for good or evil.  Beyond the question of what we opt to read, what messages do we choose to write, type, or forward to others, and why?  Considering we can use our hands to draw others close or push them away, what will we choose?  Perhaps a ritual involving the thumb is meant to remind us to always “pause before hitting send.”

Our “toes”:  Put most simply, do we run (i.e. hasten) to perform deeds of kindness or engage in actions that can help to repair the world, or conversely, is our tendency to sit back, “kick the feet up,” and leave the difference-making to others?  Understood more symbolically, a ritual focused on the toe serves as a powerful reminder of our responsibility to choose actions that enable us to leave the world better than we found it.

Engaging ancient words of scripture with the aspiration of deriving wisdom for living today not only reinforces why the Torah is deemed a “Tree of Life,” doing so also teaches and reminds us time and again of our obligations “to pursue justice, love mercy, and walk humbly” (Micah 6:8) throughout our days, with our whole self.

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784