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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>RMB wrote:<BR><BR>>>All human beings are finite. Some may be
limited in more obvious ways,<BR>or even more limited than others, but that's a
matter of degree not<BR>kind.<BR><BR>RSRH is saying, kedarko beqodesh, that
someone who is blatantly<BR>handicapped, or perhaps only someone who is
distractingly handicapped,<BR>is a symbol of inferior avodah. Kayin's qorban of
reject vegetables<BR>rather than Hevel's offering of his finest.<BR><BR>HOWEVER,
this just begs the question.<BR><BR>Why not allow the handicapped kohein serve,
and use it as an<BR>opportunity to teach the idea that we are all limited,
finite, and<BR>thus puny in comparison to the task of avodas Hashem. That we all
have<BR>a role to play WRT that which we do bring to the table.<BR><BR>The fact
is that HQBH didn't choose to symbolize this message, but<BR>rather bowed to the
least common denominator of people's perceptions<BR>of the handicapped. And so,
I repeat, that it is not obvious why.<<<BR><BR>Micha
Berger
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<DIV>>>>>></DIV>
<DIV>It is strange that you say HKBH "bowed to people's perceptions" -- as if He
was forced, like a modern-day politician, to go along with the prejudices of the
people. Did He also "bow" to unenlightened public opinion when He excluded
women and people over the age of fifty from the Avodah? (Not to mention
eleven tribes and gerim, too.)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Was He sexist, age-ist and racist as well as handicap-ist?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>You want to know "Why not allow the handicapped kohein serve, and use it as
an opportunity to teach the idea that we are all limited, finite, and thus puny
in comparison to the task of avodas Hashem."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Yup, HKBH missed an opportunity all right. Just think what He could
have accomplished if He had just allowed handicapped kohenim to serve (and women
and old folks). </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Or maybe there is a different message there, that you are
missing? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>And that is, every one of us has a mission to perform on this earth -- but
we don't all have the SAME mission. Maybe a woman, an elder -- and yes, a
handicapped person -- was put on earth to fulfill some OTHER mission that Hashem
had in mind, besides the Avodah. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Why assume that everyone is fit to do every job? That is a modern-day
PC prejudice of its own -- the assumption that everyone can do anything.
Would you want to see handicapped people in the army? Blind men leading
troops into battle, with seeing-eye dogs? Women in the NBA ?
Elderly quarterbacks playing in the Super Bowl? Old ladies as
cheerleaders? Rockettes at Radio City doing their kicks in
wheelchairs?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The Torah is full of exhortations to protect the rights and
the feelings of the weak and the vulnerable -- the poor, widows, orphans,
converts. The Torah does provide for handicapped kohanim (not to mention
kohanim who have "aged out" of service -- over age 50). And the wives and
daughters of kohanim. All of the above share in the matnos kehunah and eat
the same food as the kohanim who are in full service.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So what is the purpose of a handicapped kohen, if he can't run up the ramp
and can't bring korbanos? Well, he could be a talmid chacham and teach
others. He could be a teacher, a guide, a wise counselor. Or he
could do some other job -- he could tend the private vegetable gardens in the
cities of the Levi'im. He could be a wonderful father to some young newborn
kohanim! There are lots of things he could do.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I once wrote before that the major ideas of both major factions in
America -- the liberals and the conservatives -- derive from the
Torah. The idea of hierarchy derives from Torah -- some can serve in the
BHM'K while others cannot, the melech can do things that commoners cannot, and
so on. But the idea of equality also derives from the Torah -- not to
favor the wealthy in a court case, not to oppress the poor and the widow, etc
etc. (BTW I can't find this post of mine in the archives, if
anyone can remember what the thread was and help me find it, I would be very
grateful.)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>A ba'al mum can't do the Avodah but if he is a talmid chacham, he must be
treated with the greatest respect and honor. I am not absolutely certain
what the Torah's message is, but it seems to me that at least one message is
-- for a handicapped person (or another disqualified person, such as a
Yisrael, old man, ger or woman) -- that one should not pine for the other guy's
tafkid but should strive to fulfill his own tafkid in this world,
to the best of his ability.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><B><BR></B><BR><B>--Toby Katz<BR>=============<BR></B>Romney -- good
values, good family, good hair<BR>Best hope against
Hillary</FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Who's never won? <A title="http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300000002548" href="http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300000002548" target="_blank">Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music.</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>