Shabbat Emor

What is an “unblemished” body in our Torah? Rabbi Dave Yedid addresses perfection, disability, and bodily miracles.

“I want to invite us—even though it’s hard—to shake off the shackles of perfection, which have done us no good, to notice the blemishes that we have been taught to hate,” Rabbi Yedid said.

“I want to invite us to see our bodies as holy vessels. Our bodies are portals to holiness, containers for holiness. And our bodies are amazing and frustrating as they may be, can inspire us to say, ‘Thank God it all works!’ No, ‘Thank God enough works.’”

Mazal tov to Rabbi Yedid, ordained May 19, 2022! Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern Rabbi Yedid delivered this drashah the Kabbalat Shabbat services just before his ordination, on Friday, May 13, 2022 (13 Iyyar 5782).