Parashat Emor, May Day, and Pesach Sheni

This Shabbat, we read the Torah portion called “Emor”. Parashat Emor is like the ancient calendar of the Jewish people. It lists all our holidays in order: Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur.

But if we look at it from a non-religious view, it’s not just about God. It’s about time, farming, and hard work. These holidays are deeply connected to the seasons and to working the land, like planting and harvesting.

This connects perfectly to today, Friday, May 1st—International Workers’ Day. Before the Torah even lists the holidays, the very first holy day it mentions is Shabbat. Thousands of years before labor unions fought for the weekend, the Torah said: A human being is not a machine. We have a basic right to stop working, put down our tools, and rest.

Here in Costa Rica, surrounded by nature, cacao plantations, and people working the land, this message feels very real. May 1st reminds us that work is important, but Shabbat—resting our body and mind—is just as important. And let’s be honest, the vibe here in Puerto Viejo is the perfect place to learn how to rest and take things slowly.

But, there is also something in this Torah portion that feels a bit strange to us today. The first part talks about the Kohanim, the priests, who were the leaders back then. The Torah says they must be physically “perfect.” Anyone with a physical disability couldn’t work in the temple. This is an elitist idea. It says that physical perfection equals spirituality, and it pushes away people who are different.

Luckily, there is a beautiful mini-holiday that we celebrated just yesterday that balances this out. It’s called “Pesach Sheni” or Second Passover.

What is Pesach Sheni? When the Jewish people were in the desert, some people couldn’t celebrate Passover. Some were impure (because they touched a dead body), or they were far away traveling. Instead of just giving up, they went to Moses and asked an amazing question: “Lama Nigara?” – “Why should we be left out?” Moses asked God, and God did something special. He gave them a “make-up date” exactly one month later, so they could celebrate too.

Pesach Sheni is the holiday of second chances. It is the exact opposite of the “perfection” the priests needed. It tells us that we don’t need to be perfect. Sometimes we get our hands dirty, sometimes we are far away, or a little late. But there is always a chance to fix things, and there is room for everyone in our community. The question “Lama Nigara?” (Why should we be left out?) is the heart of every fight for equal rights, just like the workers’ struggle on May 1st.

So, as we welcome Shabbat, let’s hope to take the best of both worlds. Let’s know how to value our time, how to work, but also how to truly rest. Let’s not look for perfection. Instead, let’s give second chances, open doors, and make sure that no one is ever left out.

Shabbat Shalom!