Met Mitzvah, is one of the greatest Mitzvahs we can ever fulfil.
It refers to a situation in which a deceased person is found unattended, with no one responsible for their burial, and must be laid to rest with dignity and respect in accordance with Halacha.
This Mitzvah is so extraordinary, it is called the “Ultimate kindness." It is so great that it overrides other prohibitions as well.
The Parsha this week speaks about the special role the Cohanim play in Jewish life. Along with the special privileges and honours they receive they also have some restrictions. One of these restrictions is not being in contact with a dead body, or partaking in the burial, even of a close friend.
The exception is the five close relatives, numerated in this Parsha. There is one more exception, the Met Mitzvah. Even if this is something that a Cohen would never do, and it may be a stranger, still the Cohen must get involved and do whatever it takes to bury the body.
This teaches us a valuable lesson in life. It teaches us to be ready to do things even when it’s out of our comfort zone. If a Mitzvah comes our way, and there is no one else there to do it, it’s a sign that we should do it.
Even though we may not be used to doing it or if we feel it’s not for us, we should still get involved and make sure the mitzvah gets done.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Zalman & Esty
