A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

3 Iyar 5773 / 12-13 April 2013

Parashat Tazria-Metzora

Torah: Leviticus 12:1 – 15:33
Haftarah: 2 Kings 7:3-20

 

Sundown Sunday through sundown Monday is Israel’s Memorial Day, Yom Hazikaron. May the memory of those who died defending the state of Israel be a blessing.

Sundown Monday through sundown Tuesday is Israel’s Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzma'ut. Yom huledet sameach, Israel! Happy 65th birthday!

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A Matter of Life and Death

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘This shall be the law of the metzora; on the day of his purification he shall be brought to the kohen (priest).’” Leviticus 14:1-2

Talmud: This is the law of the motzi shem ra (literally, one who brings forth a bad name).

The word “metzora” is usually and mistakenly translated as “leper”. But the Rabbis believed the “miraculous” disease of tzara’at (“leprosy”) to be something quite different - a punishment from God for engaging in slanderous speech. Thus, the word “metzora” is understood as an acronym for “motzi shem ra”.




The Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan, literally wrote the book on the laws of lashon hara (evil speech) and rechilut (gossip). He teaches that the metzora, who is placed in isolation and declares himself "unclean", cannot go to a doctor to be cured. The reason is that “the kohen’s lips keep knowledge, and they seek the Torah at his hand.” Malachi 2:7 It is the kohen who declares the metzora “clean”. Just as the punishment of the metzora arises from sins of the tongue, the Torah requires the healing to come through speech.

The Chofetz Chaim does not mean merely that the social life of the metzora, i.e., whether he is to be accepted back into society, is at issue. The matter is far more critical than that. Rather, the Chofetz Chaim teaches that if one engages in lashon hara, it is like murder – like the murder victim, the reputation of a slander victim cannot be brought back to life. That is what is meant by “death and life are at the control of the tongue”. Proverbs 18:21

Mind your tongue, or be treated like a leper.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom - ZSRS '00
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"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still." Isaiah 62:1
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Candlelighting: 7:04 pm

Rabbi Flom is conducting services this Shabbat at Congregation Beth Meier, 11725 Moorpark St., Studio City 91604. Shabbat evening is a Family-style service at 7:30 pm followed by Kiddush and “Meet, Greet, Q and A” with Rabbi Flom. Shabbat morning service is at 10:00 am, again followed by Kiddush and “Meet, Greet, Q and A” with Rabbi Flom.

Lunch and Learn is an ongoing program of Beit Midrash Shalom that meets Tuesdays to discuss Jewish texts and other topics of Jewish interest. It is open to all regardless of affiliation. Next meeting is Tuesday, April 16, 12:00 noon, at Congregation Beth Meier. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD UNLESS IT IS IN ITS ORIGINAL SEALED CONTAINER AND BEARING A HEKHSHER AS DAIRY OR PAREVE. Lunch will be provided by Congregation Beth Meier. Donations gratefully accepted.

 

The Days of Remembrance program conducted by the Burbank Human Relations Council will take place on Tuesday, April 23. A brief program and presentation will be held at the Burbank City Council meeting at 6:30 pm, followed by a full program and speaker at 7:30 pm at Temple Beth Emet, 600 N Buena Vista St., Burbank.

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Deb Berenbach, Gabor ben Devorah, Selby Horowitz, Pamela Huddleston, Micah Kosche, Sara Lanxner, Emily Levin, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Gil Robbins, Rachel Robbins, Judith Sakurai, and Kitty Schmerling.

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