Peshat and Midrash Halakha

What are students of “pshat” (the “simple” reading of Tanakh) to do when one’s “pshat” reading of the Torah contradicts the “reading” of halakha? With examples from Parashat Emor and elsewhere, we explore the nature of pshat, and truth. We consider the potential for multiple levels of meaning. We find different views of the commentators on these issues, and various attempts of commentators to deal with the problem of halakha contradicting the “pshat.”