27 Adar II 5774 / 28-29 March 2014
Parashat Tazria (Shabbat Hachodesh)
Torah: Leviticus 12:1-13:59
Maftir (Hachodesh): Exodus 12:1-20
Haftarah (HaChodesh): Ezekiel 45:16-46:18
Dedications and Beth Meier Upcoming Events follow. For
more information about our community, please visit: http://bethmeier.org
Please feel free to pass this on this to a friend, and
please cite the source.
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HOLD THAT THOUGHT - REALLY!
‘And the person with tzara’at, in whom there is affliction, his clothes shall be torn, his hair shall go uncut, and he shall cover over his lips; and “Contaminated! Contaminated!” he will call out. All the days the affliction is in him, he will be contaminated, he is contaminated; he will dwell in isolation, his dwelling will be outside the camp.’ Leviticus 13:45-46
The term tzara’at is often mistranslated as “leprosy”, but it is obvious from a close reading of the text that this is no typical physical disease. The person with tzara’at is called a “metzora”, and the Rabbis taught that this is a contraction for “motzi shem ra” - one who brings forth a bad name, i.e., a slanderer or gossip. Slander itself is referred to as “lashon hara” - evil language.
In Jewish tradition, this is a spiritual disease, one that each and every one of us contracts from time to time - some seem to have a chronic condition! It is a highly contagious disease that is difficult to stop from spreading. The story is told of a man who repented of lashon hara. He asked a rabbi how to atone. The rabbi said, “Cut open a feather pillow, and empty it out into the wind. Then go and collect all of the feathers.”
The Torah’s “cure” is to require one to separate oneself from the community for a time, cover up the lips, and cry out “Contaminated!” Rabbi Israel Salanter says that the metzora is told, “If you are so good at finding fault in others, separate from the community, live in isolation and search out your own faults!”
How can we cry out when our lips are sealed? We must cry within. Consider the meditation, following the Amidah, which begins: “My God, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking guile.”
This is a form of self-inoculation. If we isolate ourselves from slander and gossip by covering our ears, if we cover our mouths before we speak, if we examine ourselves before criticizing others, and if we cry out from the heart, then we can eliminate the contagion of lashon hara. Don't speak your mind - hold that thought!
Shabbat shalom v'lashon tovah - a Shabbat of peace and good language.
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HOLD THAT THOUGHT - REALLY!
‘And the person with tzara’at, in whom there is affliction, his clothes shall be torn, his hair shall go uncut, and he shall cover over his lips; and “Contaminated! Contaminated!” he will call out. All the days the affliction is in him, he will be contaminated, he is contaminated; he will dwell in isolation, his dwelling will be outside the camp.’ Leviticus 13:45-46
The term tzara’at is often mistranslated as “leprosy”, but it is obvious from a close reading of the text that this is no typical physical disease. The person with tzara’at is called a “metzora”, and the Rabbis taught that this is a contraction for “motzi shem ra” - one who brings forth a bad name, i.e., a slanderer or gossip. Slander itself is referred to as “lashon hara” - evil language.
In Jewish tradition, this is a spiritual disease, one that each and every one of us contracts from time to time - some seem to have a chronic condition! It is a highly contagious disease that is difficult to stop from spreading. The story is told of a man who repented of lashon hara. He asked a rabbi how to atone. The rabbi said, “Cut open a feather pillow, and empty it out into the wind. Then go and collect all of the feathers.”
The Torah’s “cure” is to require one to separate oneself from the community for a time, cover up the lips, and cry out “Contaminated!” Rabbi Israel Salanter says that the metzora is told, “If you are so good at finding fault in others, separate from the community, live in isolation and search out your own faults!”
How can we cry out when our lips are sealed? We must cry within. Consider the meditation, following the Amidah, which begins: “My God, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking guile.”
This is a form of self-inoculation. If we isolate ourselves from slander and gossip by covering our ears, if we cover our mouths before we speak, if we examine ourselves before criticizing others, and if we cry out from the heart, then we can eliminate the contagion of lashon hara. Don't speak your mind - hold that thought!
Shabbat shalom v'lashon tovah - a Shabbat of peace and good language.
Congregation Beth Meier
Studio City
http://www.bethmeier.org
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"For the sake of Zion I
will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem
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Candlelighting: 6:52 pm
Friday: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat
follows.
Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch
follows.
Sunday: Religious
School
Tuesday: Lunch and Learn - noon.
Wednesday: (Re)Introduction to Judaism Class – 7:30 pm. This is a
special session – “A Stroll Through the Seder” - all are invited to
attend, as we study the Hagaddah shel Pesach in preparation for the Passover
Seder. If you want, bring a copy of the hagaddah you’ll be using at your seder
– otherwise, we’ll provide for the class.
This d'var torah is offered in
memory of Zoe Sorkin, who passed away on Tuesday. Funeral is Friday, March 28,
at Mount Sinai Memorial Park
This d'var torah is offered for a
refuah shleimah for Blimah Reizel bat Ruchel, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya,
Serach bat Miriam, Eve Beatty, Howard Ehrlich, Leonard Foint, Jerry Forman,
Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Steven Kleiger, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider,
Marguerite Rassiner, and Neil Turbov.
Please let me know if there is
anyone you would like to add to the refuah shleimah list or if there is anyone
who may be removed from the list.
My divrei torah are also
available via e-mail from the Cyber Torah
list.
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