Parsha:

Emor 

Description

The beginning of Parshat Emor deals with laws that are directed at the kohanim, the priests, and then focus on the even more stringent restrictions on the High Priest. He is called the kohain gadol, the "great"priest who is above his brothers. What constitutes this greatness that should elevate him above his brother priests? Why can the other priests, for example, go to the funerals of the seven members of their immediate family, for example, while he cannot contaminate himself even with the death of his parents? How do we define greatness, especially since at a bris we wish the little infant that he should become "gadol/big/great".