Holier Than Thou (Not!)

'So, you're a Cohen, aye? Well, whadaboudit? You think that just because your great-great-grandfather was the humblest-man-who-ever-lived's brother that you're something special? Huh? Because you get to strut around in fancy clothes, a bunch of jewels strapped to your chest and gold across your forehead that you're better then the rest of us? Walking around on the holiest ground on the planet make you feel more exclusive then the common folk? All that fat meat and first fruits going to your head? Or how about every time there's a public Torah reading and they give you the honorable first call-up, that make you walk a bit taller? And where do you get off standing up there on that podium giving us blessings? What are you, the sensation of the generation?'
Unlike the competitive, throat slashing, rival gangster style marketplace we call the social arena of our world today, the seeming caste-system within Judaism is not about, 'he who has the more prestigious job gets the better slice of life's benefits package.' Not at all. It's not even about, 'he who has more talents and potential will be allotted the higher positions.' Rather, every individual is uniquely suited for the job he was born into. Every soul descends into this world through specialized channels that direct it to emerge from the womb of a specific Mommy, into a specific family, at a specific time. There are no greater or lesser positions. To complain about your lot is to be blind to the plot.
The Cohanim are hired help. Hired by the people to remain in a constant state of purity. A purity of body, mind, heart and spirit. A purity that many may aspire to, but one that, and I will be the quickest to admit, is seemingly impossible to maintain for any substantial duration of time.
It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it. It demands constant awareness of one's surroundings, razor sharp decisiveness, dedication and unlimited love for the betterment of humanity. Not to mention humility, a state of happiness which transcends self-criticism and being continuously tried in the face of shortcomings and competence checks.
Many times we feel like our goals are unrealistic. Like there's no hope of ever really becoming whom we believe we could and should become. So what's the point of striving? Why not just settle for mediocre? Hey, I'm not looking for a hassle or nothin', so I won't be holy or righteous. As long as I don't hurt anybody, right?
!!!WRONG!!!
This week's parsha is called Emor, or, Tell 'em. Yeah, that's right. Rashi on verses 8 and 24 informs us that the courts have the obligation to see to it that the Cohanim live up to their God given task.
We can take a lesson from this to encourage our fellow man to live up to his/her potentials to be themselves without falling into the trap of accusing those who actually are being themselves of being haughty. If you can't live up to the heights that your imagination conceives of, then encourage those who can to do so, and you will have a share in their success. Don't try being a Cohen if you're a Rosenstein. Yeah. You tell 'em son!