Parshas Emor Erev Shabbos Shabbos Day Candle Lighting 5:03pm Shacharis 9:00am Mincha 5:03pm Latest time for Shema 9:44am Shkiya 5:20pm Shabbos Mincha 3:30pm & 4:50pm Shabbos Ends 6:03pm Avos Ubonim This week Avos Ubonim will take place at 7:05-7:50pm Special treat - Hot Potato Knish!!!! SHAAREI DAVENING TIMES NEXT WEEK Shacharis Mincha Maariv Sunday 8:00am 5:00pm* 8:30pm Monday 6:20 / 7:30am 5:00pm 8:30pm Tuesday 6:45 / 7:30am 5:00pm 8:30pm Wednesday 6:45 / 7:30am 5:00pm 7:00pm Thursday 6:30 / 7:30am 5:00pm 8:30pm Friday 6:45 / 7:30am 4:57pm *Mincha followed by Maariv Short Vort on the Parsha One of the many laws applicable to kohanim mentioned in this week's parsha, is the prohibition for a man with a physical blemish to serve in the Beis Hamikdosh: "He shall not come to the paroches, and he shall not approach the mizbeiach - and he shall not desecrate My sacred offerings" (Vayikra 21:23). Rashi comments that if a kohein with a blemish does serve in the Beis Hamikdosh, his service invalidates any korban he brought. What should this unfortunate kohein do? Is it his fault that he was born with a physical blemish? All of his fellow kohanim have the ability to serve Hashem in the holiest place on earth, and he has to watch from the sidelines. Why should he lose out because of a situation that is completely beyond his control? Rav Wolbe explains that the kohein with a blemish should joyfully accept his inability to serve Hashem. His refraining from serving in the Beis Hamikdosh brings kavod (glory) to Hashem. Moreover, the only reason that kohanim serve in the Beis Hamikdosh is because that is the will of Hashem. Likewise, the will of Hashem is that a kohein with a physical blemish should not serve in the Beis Hamikdosh. The kohein who could serve and does serve, and the kohein who can't serve and therefore doesn't serve, are both equally fulfilling the will of their Creator. Thus, he should feel joyous when he abstains from the service in the Beis Hamikdosh. People have their ideas of how it is best to serve Hashem. They think, "If only I had the money, brains, personality or charisma, then I would be able to serve Him in the best possible way." However, the truth is that Hashem's will is that just as one who is affluent should serve Him with his wealth, likewise, one who is poor should serve Him in his state poverty. We need to remember; Hashem wants us to serve Him exactly the way we are!