MATZAH – THE ORIGINAL SOUL FOOD

Parashat Metzora (Shabbat HaGadol)

Nisan 12, 5784 / April 19-20, 2024

Torah: Leviticus 14:1 - 15:33

Haftarah (Shabbat HaGadol): Malakhi 3:4-24

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PESACH IS COMING!

My 5784 Pesach Resources sheet is available at:

https://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2024/04/pesach-resources-5784.html  

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This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire.

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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. There is NO Lunch and Learn on April 22 or April 29. We'll resume on May 6. On May 6, we'll be at BT Shabbat 152a, page 209 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 - 

 '...א"ל רבי לר"ש בן חלפתא מפני מה לא הקבלנו פניך'  

"Rabbi said to R. Simon b. Chalafta: why were we not permitted to see you…”

Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at: https://hebrewbooks.org/9630  

A pointed Hebrew text version with different pagination is available at Sefaria:

https://www.sefaria.org/Ein_Yaakov?tab=contents  

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Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at:

https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/  

Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you should read at: 

https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com  

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Please pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source.

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MATZAH – THE ORIGINAL SOUL FOOD

“Then the priest will command for the one who is to be cleansed two pure living birds, cedar wood, scarlet thread and hyssop.” Leviticus 14:4

Rashi – “Because plagues come from pride. What is his remedy, that he should be cured? He should lower himself from his pride like a worm (a play on the Hebrew word for scarlet thread) and hyssop (a low bush).”

For the Rabbis, the “leprosy” (tzara’at) visited on the Israelites was the symptom of a spiritual disorder. The ritual discussed in our portion was carried out only after the victim had been separated from the community, and had taken time to reflect upon his sins and to change his ways.

There is another ritual which symbolizes the elimination of haughtiness and pride, and that is the observance of Pesach.

“For seven days, chametz (leavening) shall not be found in your houses - anyone who eats chametz, that soul shall be cut off from the assembly of Israel ...” Exodus 12:19

Chametz, such as yeast, causes dough to bubble and rise, and is symbolic of the inflation of one’s ego. The commandment to remove all of the chametz from our homes may be seen as an instruction to remove pride from our lives. By reducing ourselves to eating matzah for the Passover holiday, we remind ourselves of the sin of pride and the need to deflate our egos. Pesach is "The Festival of Freedom", and matzah is food for freeing the soul.

Remove the chametz from your home and your life for a time; attend a Seder (or two!), and learn about freedom from the slavery of self-importance; eat only “the bread of affliction” for the duration of the holiday; take the hot air out of yourself. Removing chametz from your life can be a spring cleaning of both the physical and the spiritual.

Shabbat shalom - a Shabbat of peace!

Chag Pesach Sameach! Happy Passover!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim

הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם

Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.

Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1

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My weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No salesman will call! Cyber Torah list management:

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”.

To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah”.

To dedicate a Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Dedicate Cyber Torah” and provide details in the message body.

AN ANCIENT PLAGUE

Nisan 5, 5784 / April 12-13, 2024

Parashat Tazria

Torah Leviticus 12:1 – 13:59

Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:42 – 5:19

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PESACH IS COMING!

My 5784 Pesach Resources sheet is available at:

https://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2024/04/pesach-resources-5784.html  

-------------------------------------------------------

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. There is NO Lunch and Learn on Monday, April 22. On Monday, April 15, we'll be at BT Shabbat 152a, page 209 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 - 

 '...א"ל רבי לר"ש בן חלפתא מפני מה לא הקבלנו פניך' – "Rabbi said to R. Simon b. Chalafta: why were we not permitted to see you…”

Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at: https://hebrewbooks.org/9630  

A pointed Hebrew text version with different pagination is available at Sefaria:

https://www.sefaria.org/Ein_Yaakov?tab=contents  

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at:

https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/  

Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you should read at: 

https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com  

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Please pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source

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AN ANCIENT PLAGUE

'And the one with leprosy in whom the plague is, his/her clothes shall be torn, his/her hair shall be uncut, and s/he shall cover his/her lips, and shall cry: "Impure! Impure!" All the days that the plague is in him/her, s/he shall be impure; s/he is impure; s/he shall dwell alone; outside the camp will be his/her dwelling.' Leviticus 13:45-46

The Torah goes to great lengths to describe tzara'at, the ailment generally mistranslated as "leprosy". It does not appear to be any known physical disease. This seems obvious from a close reading of the text. The Talmud says that "metzora", "leper", is really a contraction of "motzi shem ra" - one who brings forth a bad name, i.e., a slanderer.

The Rabbis taught that tzara'at was a "miraculous" disease, inflicted by God as punishment for slander, which could not be cured by physicians. Indeed, the Torah describes no cure for the disease, merely the acts one must take while suffering from it - covering the mouth, warning others and separating from the community - and the rituals for when the disease disappears.

How can a punitive ailment inflicted by God disappear?  The cure, or at least the possibility of a cure, is within the individual suffering from tzara'at. Tzara'at is the physical manifestation of a spiritual ailment - the haughtiness and false sense of superiority of the person who slanders another. Once the slanderer realizes this, s/he is required to publicly confess through self-denunciation, and then do penance, alone, until the disease is gone. The slanderer is "treated like a leper".

What do the Torah and the Rabbis know that seems so difficult for us to grasp? Why is slander/gossip a growth industry in our society, when it has been recognized as a contagious plague for 3500 years? How many of us ask ourselves, "Did I do or say anything today which makes me impure? Am I fit to be with other people?"

It has been said that what comes out of one's mouth is as important as what goes in. If you are what you eat, perhaps you are what you say. Time maybe for all of us to go on a verbal diet.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim

הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם

Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.

Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1

------------------------------------------------------

Cyber Torah list management (no salesman will call!):

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net 

Send requests for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net 

To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net 

THE ORDER OF THE TORAH

Adar Hasheni 27, 5784 / April 5-6, 2024

Parashat Sh'mini (Shabbat Hachodesh)

Torah Leviticus 9:1 - 11:47

Maftir: Exodus 12:1-20 (Hachodesh)

Haftarah: Ezekiel 45:16 – 46:18 (Ashkenazim - Shabbat Hachodesh); Ezekiel 45:18 – 46:15 (Sephardim - Shabbat Hachodesh)

Mevarkhim Hachodesh (Blessing of the New Month)

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PESACH IS COMING!

My 5784 Pesach Resources sheet is available at: 

https://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2024/04/pesach-resources-5784.html 

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This d’var torah is offered in honor of the best wife and mother ever, Lynn Kronzek, on the occasion of her birthday, April 8. Ad me’ah v’esrim – until 120!

This d’var torah is offered in memory of Lynn’s father, Abraham Kronzek, whose yahrzeit falls on Rosh Chodesh Nisan, Tuesday, April 9. Y’hi zikhro barukh – his memory is a blessing.

This d’var torah is offered in memory of the seven World Central Kitchen workers who were killed in an Israeli missile strike. May their holy work continue.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. There is NO Lunch and Learn on Monday, April 8 or on Monday, April 22. On Monday, April 15, we'll be at BT Shabbat 152a, page 209 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 - 

 '...א"ל רבי לר"ש בן חלפתא מפני מה לא הקבלנו פניך' – "Rabbi said to R. Simon b. Chalafta: why were we not permitted to see you…”

Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at: https://hebrewbooks.org/9630  

A pointed Hebrew text version with different pagination is available at Sefaria:

https://www.sefaria.org/Ein_Yaakov?tab=contents 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at:

https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 

Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you should read at: 

https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com 

------------------------------------------------------

Please pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE ORDER OF THE TORAH

“This is the law (torah) of the beast, of the fowl, and of every living creature that moves in the waters and of every creature that swarms upon the earth. It is to separate between the impure and the pure, and between the living thing which may be eaten and the living thing which may not be eaten.” Leviticus 11:46-47

Rabbi Simlai taught that just as the creation of humanity came after that of all the animals, the Torah of humans comes after the Torah of the animals. He was referring to the readings for the next two weeks, Tazria and Metzora, as well as to this week’s reading. Here, the kosher (clean; permitted to be eaten) and tahor  (ritually pure) animals, on the one hand, and the treif (unclean; forbidden to be eaten) and tamei (impure) animals are discussed. In Tazria-Metzora, various conditions of ritual purity and impurity of human beings are described. For each condition, just as with the animals, the Torah concludes with the words “this is the law” - “zot hatorah”.

The Chatam Sofer

The Chatam Sofer (Moses Schreiber, aka Moshe Sofer; 1762-1839), teaches that the reason the animals come first, in creation and in matters of purity, is to knock us humans down a peg. An animal can become impure only after it is dead, by happenstance. But we become impure (physically, ritually and spiritually) while we are alive, through our thoughts and deeds. It is our arrogance and our pride in believing and acting as if we are the rulers of the world and of all creation that cause our impurity. Not only do we treat animals in that way, but we all too often treat each other that way. Consider this: how do human violence, hate, pride, greed, narcissism, etc., make us superior to animals?

It's time to reorder our priorities. We cannot change the Torah to make ourselves come first. But we can change ourselves to make the ethics of the Torah come first.

Shabbat Shalom! Chodesh Nisan Tov!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim

הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם

Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.

Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1

------------------------------------------------------

Cyber Torah list management (no salesman will call!):

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net 

Send requests for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net 

To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net 

PESACH RESOURCES – 5784

PESACH RESOURCES – 5784

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Chaverim yekarim - Dear friends:
 
Well, it’s almost time for Pesach! You know, the “Festival of Freedom”, the holiday on which we celebrate our release from slavery to Pharaoh in Egypt by abiding by the very strict dietary and ritual rules created by the Rabbis and Jewish Tradition, including eating the hardtack called matzah for eight days. Freedom, you say? God said, “Send forth My people, so they may serve me.” That’s how it is typically translated. But the Hebrew word for “so they may serve me”, “v’ya’avduni”, might easily be translated as “so they will slave for Me”. The root for “serve”, “avad”, is also the root for “eved” – “slave”. So, how do you manage Pesach in such a way as to avoid complete slavery?
 
Here are some simple rules:
1. Accept that you are not perfect – and neither is anyone else! You don’t have to do it all! You can’t do it all!
2. Prepare the house by cleaning and removing the chametz. A short but very useful guide to kashering your kitchen and home and identifying foods that are or are not kosher for Passover can be found at: 

https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/pesah-guide-5784 

3. Prepare the food for the Seder.

4. Prepare the food for the remainder of the holiday by shopping for it before Pesach.
5. Prepare yourself and your family spiritually.
6. Prepare yourself and your family intellectually.
7. Do not drive yourself or anyone else crazy – see number rule #1.
8. Remember that Pesach really is about freedom; freedom is fun; have fun! See rule #7.
9. Any questions? Ask a rabbi!

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Shmurah Matzah - chabad.org

By RCB ** - https://www.flickr.com/photos/29233640@N07/3425839221/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=101979491

Are you looking for ways to make your Seder more meaningful, more accessible, more involving for children, more interesting, shorter, etc.? Then check out these resources on-line:

 
a. The Rabbinical Assembly’s Pesach Guide 5784 can be downloaded at the following site: 

https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/pesah-guide-5784 

a.1. The Rabbinical Assembly has published "A Prayer for the Hostages in Gaza" by our colleague Rabbi Maayan Belding-Zion of Rishon LeZion as as a hagaddah supplement. Please feel free to read/download at the following link. And please don't wait until your seder to offer this prayer:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AhsQSvgS6yc4StWUEwn09TMXX0b8zPot/view?usp=sharing  

b. Additional Pesach kashrut and other resources from the Rabbinical Assembly may be found at: 

https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/jewish-law/holidays/pesah/pesah-prep-and-resources  

c. Pesach kitchen kashering from a strictly Orthodox perspective can be found at:
 
https://artscroll.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/kosher-kitchen_ch-15.pdf
 
d. MyJewishLearning.com is, IMVHO, the best Jewish educational resource on the web, and has material on virtually everything you might ever want to know about Judaism, but don't know how or whom to ask. The homepage is easily navigable. For Pesach, explore this page, with its 33(!) additional pages of links to all kinds of information and resources:

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/category/celebrate/passover/    

 

e. Passover according to Chabad in a straightforward manner. Lots of useful material. Follow the various links on this page:
 
https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/default_cdo/aid/109747/jewish/Passover.htm  

f. Especially good for beginners, National Jewish Outreach Program’s extensive and accessible collection of how-tos, background materials and videos, from the folks who bring you Shabbat Across America (also has Shabbat and other holiday resources):
 
http://njop.org/resources/holidays/complete-guide-to-holidays/passover/passover-seder-101-web-series/ 

g. How about a downloadable Haggadah? Check out:

The Express Haggadah at: https://expresshaggadah.com 

A Google search for "free downloadable haggadah" will lead to many useful and many not-so-useful resources. If you go this route, be sure they are legitimate and not come-ons from missionary groups.

One of my seminary teachers suggested that, in addition to whichever Haggadah of choice you use for your Seder, you should every year acquire a new Haggadah with commentary and illustrations to help you prepare and make your Seder more enjoyable. Ask your local Jewish bookseller, consult with a rabbi, explore the web – there are beautiful and accessible Haggadot available. Here are some of my favorites for getting ready:

 

 
1. Passover Haggadah – The Feast of Freedom. The Rabbinical Assembly, 1982. Clear spiritual commentary. 

 
2. A Passover Haggadah – Go Forth and Learn. Rabbi David Silver. Jewish Publication Society, 2011. A new classic.
 
3. The Haggadah Treasury. Rabbi Nosson Scherman. Artscroll, 1978. Midrash and traditional teachings.
 
4. From Bondage to Freedom – The Passover Haggadah. Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. Shaar Press, 1995. Tradition blended with insights relating to addiction and dependency.
 
5. A Different Night – The Family Participation Haggadah. Noam Zion and David Dishon. Shalom Hartman Institute, 1997. Difficult to use at the seder, but lots of great ideas - especially in the leader's guide.
 
6. Studies on the Haggadah from the Teachings of Nechama Leibowitz. Urim Publications, 2002. Deep Torah from a great scholar.
 
7. The Hirsch Haggadah. Samson Raphael Hirsch. Feldheim Publishers, 1993. The 19th century voice of Orthodoxy.
 
8. A Feast of History. Chaim Raphael. Steimatzky’s, 1972. (Out of print but available used) The lengthy historical essay is interesting and useful.
 
9. The Origins of the Seder. Baruch Bokser. JTS Press, 2002 (Paperback edition). Not a Haggadah, but for those interested in an academic treatise that opens the eyes to history.
 
10. Passover – The Family Guide to Spiritual Celebration. Dr. Ron Wolfson. Jewish Lights Publishing, 2010 (2d edition) A straight-forward how-to guide with explanations and insights for the table.
 
Some other important reminders about Pesach and the lead-up to the holy days:
 
1. All first-borns (except Levi’im and Kohanim) are obliged to engage in a fast, called Ta’anit B’chorot, others say Ta'anit B'chorim, from pre-dawn until the seder on the 14th of Nisan, on Wednesday, April 22, in recognition of the 10th plague. To avoid the fast, the custom has become for the firstborn to engage in Torah study and then have a festive "meal" (a siyyum) at the completion of their study. Reb Jason will hold on-line  Torah study and siyyum on April 22, at 8:30 am, streaming at https://www.facebook.com/BnaiHayim/ and via Zoom - Zoom details will be in the synagogue e-mail notices, or you can contact me at:

ravflom@sbcglobal.net for the Zoom link.

 

2. Temple B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier is holding an in-person

Community Second Seder this year, Tuesday, April 23 at 6:30 pm.

For more information on the Community Second Seder, contact the synagogue at (818) 788-4664 or office@bethmeier.org  

3.  DON’T FORGET TO REMOVE AND SELL CHAMETZ!! – AUTHORIZE RABBI VAN LEEUWEN TO SELL ON YOUR BEHALF NO LATER THAN 3:00 pm, April 16, 2024.

A fillable on-line form is available here: https://forms.gle/jY2uUCbLaEGYQLRy6 

 
4. Kitniyot (beans, rice, corn) on Pesach? Yes! Read the latest from the Rabbinical Assembly at:
 
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/halakhah/teshuvot/2011-2020/Levin-Reisner-Kitniyot.pdf
 
I guess it's time to start thinking about Pesach!
 
Wishing you a Chag Pesach Sameach, Kasher U’Mashma’uti – A Passover that is Happy, Kosher and Meaningful!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim

הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם

Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.

Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1