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BARLEY IS FOR ANIMALS AND WHEAT IS FOR MAN

Nations identify their greatness and success in terms of their economic success. A strong economy spells a strong nation. Naturally, national pride runs parallel to this strength. For a nation whose economy is based on their agricultural output we could well imagine that the period of their harvest would be a period where national pride reaches a climax. And yet, as we see from the mitzvah of the Omer and the prohibition to harvest the new crop before the
second day of Pesach, our people have a different perspective.

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THE COST OF THE BRIDAL GOWN

In this week’s Parsha the Torah teaches us the concept of tzoras which is discoloration of the skin, of the walls of the house and on the clothing. When this discoloration occurs on the person, house or clothing it renders the person, house or clothing tamei, spiritually impure, and the laws of tuma apply to it. Our Sages teach us that tzoras is not a natural phenomenon, rather a supernatural phenomenon which is sent from HaShem as an indication to the recipient that he should correct his behavior. The Talmud teaches for which sins tzaraas occurs so that the afflicted person will understand the message he is being sent.

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END THE QUARANTINE BY COMING REAL CLOSE TOGETHER

In this week’s double Parsha, Tazria Metzora, we are taught that when a person contracts tzoras and is declared ‘tomei’ he is sent out of the city and must cry out “tomei, tomei”. The Talmud teaches us that the metzora must declare his state of “tomei” for people to know about his condition so that they will daven for him.

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SPEECH; LESS IS MORE

The Hebrew word (sefer, sipur and sapar) is the root word for ‘ ספר to relate’(as in, to relate a story). It is also carries the meaning of ‘border’. It is also used for ‘scissors’ as well as ‘story’ as well as ‘counting’ as well as ‘numbers’. If the same root is used for all these words they must share some essential aspect. Rav Moshe Shapiro of blessed memory explained that they all connote the idea of limiting, making something finite. This is certainly the case with scissors and border and counting and numbers. What is the association to ‘story’ and to ‘to relate’?
The reason why a picture is worth a thousand words is because no matter what words we use to describe something is limits the message to the words that are used. Each word has its defined definition which is inherently finite. Therefore when telling a story we limit its impact to the definition of the words that are used.

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PERFECT BALANCE

In this week’s Parsha, Tazria Metzorah, we find how severe the sin of lashon hara is. Lashon
hara is the sin of speaking gossip which at it’s lowest level damages a person’s reputation in
the eyes of at least one person. When one spoke lashon hara he contracted tzaraas, a severe
skin disease the resembled leprosy. This disease did not find its cause in a physical disorder
but rather a spiritual disorder. It rendered the speaker tamei, spiritually impure and he was required to live outside the community. If anyone wished to visit him he was required to inform them that they should keep their distance.