TO BE PC OR NOT TO BE
This week, in addition to reading the Parsha of Vayikra, we will read Parshas Hachodesh in honor of this Shabbos being Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Parshas Hachodesh is the chapter in the Torah where HaShem grants authority to His people, through our court system, to adjust the calendar. Within certain parameters the Beis Din, the Jewish court, can decide when the month should begin. Although HaShem decided that You Kippur will be on the 10th day of Tishrei, His people are the ones to decide when the first day of Tishrei will be. HaShem gave His control over time to the Jewish people! This is the very first mitzvah we received as a nation. The demonstration of His trust in us is awesome.
The question is, that this incredible mitzvah and authorization is written in the same paragraph with the instructions to prepare the Pesach offering. There seems to be no apparent connection. It is common for the Torah to separate different mitzvos into separate paragraphs. Yet, here the Torah places these mitzvos in same paragraph, indicating a close relationship between these mitzvos. What is the connection?
Let us look at the mitzvos that follow. Moshe instructs us to withdraw ourselves from the prevailing Egyptian culture of idol worship and take a lamb for a Pesach offer-ing. The significance of the lamb was that this was the animal which the Egyptians worshiped. In other words, we are to detach ourselves from the prevalent culture of worshiping sheep and take that sheep and slaughter it to HaShem in the presence of the Egyptians! Why was it necessary to create such a blatant politically incorrect provocation? What is the purpose of demonstrating to our fellow citizens that we are different?
Presumably, it was because HaShem wanted us to demonstrate our commitment to Him. He wanted us to practice what our father Avraham demonstrated 500 years earlier. He was known as “ha-ivri”, from the other side. He adopted a philosophy and behavior that did not conform with the prevalent norms of his day. He was from the “other side” of the river.
The Talmud teaches us that our ability to control the calendar comes from a kedusha (Holiness) with which HaShem endowed us. Being endowed with that kedusha gives us influence over time. Kedusha means to be designated for something distinct. The general populous of the world focus their goals and aspirations on anything they wish. They are not designated for one specific purpose. Kedusha, however, requires dedication and focus on only one goal – to bring the Presence of HaShem to this world.
This does not mean that our people should be carbon copies of each other. Quite the opposite is true. In order to bring the Presence of HaShem to this world we must represent every area of endeavor. We must have scholars and businessmen, doctors and teachers, engineers and mathematicians as well every other profession. We must represent the whole spectrum of human endeavor with the single goal of bringing HaShem’s Glory to this world. Only when this diverse people, representing HaShem’s Honor are dedicated to nothing other than HaShem, will the world be able to point with clarity to HaShem’s overwhelming Glory.
Before endowing us with the necessary kedusha, HaShem gave us the exercise to separate ourselves from the prevalent societal norms. It was not enough that we bring the Pesach offering by itself. It was equally necessary that we draw ourselves away from everyone else. It was critical that we follow our father Avraham’s lesson and place ourselves on the other side of the river. We do not strive to be politically correct – we strive only to bring HaShem’s Glory to this world.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind