Parashat Emor details laws pertaining to the kohanim (priests), emphasizing their need for heightened holiness, including restrictions on contact with the dead and marriage prohibitions. It outlines the physical perfection required for sacrificial service and lists blemishes disqualifying kohanim. The parasha then presents the Jewish holiday cycle—Shabbat, Pesach, Sefirat HaOmer, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot—specifying their dates, offerings, and observances. It concludes with laws of the menorah, showbread, and the episode of the blasphemer, who is punished for cursing God’s name. The portion underscores the sanctity of God’s name and the importance of maintaining holiness in time, space, and conduct.
