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.
THE SCULPTOR
This week’s Parsha, Tazria, begins with the mitzvah of performing a Bris Milah on every Jew boy on the eighth day from his birth. I would like to discuss the purpose of Bris Milah and its implications.
The Ramban explains the reason for the Torah’s prohibition of mixing species such as breeding a horse with a donkey is because we are interfering with HaShem’s creation. If HaShem wanted there to be a mule, the product of this mixed breed, He would have created it. Evidently, He does not wish for there to be mules. The question we may ask on the Ramban is from the mitzvah of Bris Milah, in which we find that we are specifically instructed to alter the form of man in a way that he was not originally designed.
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.
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.
REB CHAIM & THE KEDUSHA WITHIN
This Shabbos we will read Parshas Para, the additional Parsha of the Red Heifer. This Parsha teaches us the many laws that relate to tumas meis, the impurity that comes from the body of a Jew who has died. The Parsha opens with the introductory statement; “This is the Law of the Torah.” The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh asks how are these laws The Laws of the Torah any more than the laws regarding other mitzvos? Just as the Parsha of the korban Pesach opens with “These are the laws of the Pesach”, this Parsha should open with “These are the laws of Tuma”.
HOW VALUABLE IS MONEY?
As we are currently in the interim between Pesach and Shavuous we find our-selves counting the Omer from day one moving up to day 49 after which we celebrate Shavuous. The idea of counting every day reflects our anticipation for the great day on which HaShem will give us the Torah. Although normally one counts down to the day of great anticipation we count up. The reason for this is parallel to the counting that the chosson and kallah count towards their wedding day. Before the couple counts down to the wedding day there are prerequisites that need to be put in order. They need a venue, a caterer, a band, a florist, a photographer, a videographer and so on. Only after those needs are in order can they begin to count down. So we can actually call the days preceding the countdown as the count up where they collect all the necessary components to make the wedding.
Continue reading Shmini 5781THE PRESENT OF HIS PRESENCE
The Jewish people reached their apex in this week’s Parsha, Shmini, with the completion and inauguration of the Mishkan. Finally, after all the preparations and building and practice, the first day of Nissan arrived and HaShem’s Presence will fill the Mishkan, the handiwork of our people. At every step of the process, the Torah testifies that it was all done according to the strict rules and instructions and the proper intentions that HaShem instructed Moshe. In spite of their conscientious dedication to all the details, nevertheless, once everything was done and the inaugural offerings were brought, HaShem’s Presence was nowhere to be seen. Our Sages teach that Aaron was shamefaced. He was certain that HaShem had not accepted his offerings and that the sin of the Golden Calf still hung over him. At that point Moshe and Aaron entered the Mishkan and davened to HaShem that He have mercy on them and rest His Presence on the Mishkan. After that prayer the Shechina descended.
Continue reading Shmini 5779BURNT BY THE SUN
This past Shabbos we read Shir HaShirim in which Shlomo Hamelech depicts the Jewish people as a beautiful woman whose husband sent her away. She finds herself alone among other women who look at her in her desolate state of exile. She tells these other women ‘Although I am blackened, I am truly beautiful. It is the exposure to the sun that blackened me. Once I will retreat into the shade my beauty will shine forth.’ This is King Solomon’s depiction of our depressed state in exile.
Continue reading Shmini 5778IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT OF THE UNIVERSE
With Pesach behind us, we are in our second week of our ascent from the depravity of Egypt to the heights of spiritual purity of Mount Sinai. In this state we are presented with this week’s Parsha, Shmini. Shmini introduces us to the laws governing which animals are permitted for us to eat and which are not. Regarding non-kosher mammals the Torah writes “These animals are unclean for you” . Regarding non-kosher fish the Torah writes “all fish that do not have fins and scales are detestable to you” regarding the non-kosher birds the Torah writes “The following birds are detestable to you”.
Continue reading Shmini 5777CLOUDS ARE HIGH BUT MOUNTAINS ARE HIGHER
Pictured: Venezuela’s Mount Roraima Rising High Above the Clouds
The Malbim (Tehillim 34:4) notes that while many nations recognize Ha-Shem as the Creator, nevertheless He is ‘rum’; He is high up and out of reach of Man. The nations see HaShem as being detached from this world. For this reason they see no purpose in serving Him or obeying Him. He is so high up and removed that His Presence is not felt in this world.