Hamaayan/The Torah Spring Edited by Shlomo Katz Parashat Metzora Volume VI/Number 28(262) 8 Nisan 5752/April 11, 1992 Shabbat Hagadol Parasha Overview This Parasha continues the laws of "Tzara'at". One of the signs of Tzara'at - whether on a person, garment, or house - is the fact that is spreads. The end of the Parasha deals with the laws of "Zav", Zavah", an "Niddah" - also forms of "Tum'ah" (ritual impurity) which are easily spread. One part of our mission as Bnei Yisrael is to rein in the impurity which is found in the world, and to prevent its spread. As noted above, Tzara'at can strike not only a person, but his clothes, and even his house. Sometimes, Chazal explain, this last type is not a punishment, but a reward. The Canaanites who fled Eretz Yisrael could not take all of their riches with them; instead they buried them under their homes. When a house is stricken with Tzara'at, it must be partially torn down, and thus, this buried treasure would be discovered. Commentaries note that this is also a metaphor for the Kabbalistic idea of releasing the sparks of holiness which are hidden within every object. Thus, paralleling the idea of restricting the spread of Tum'ah, we find in this Parasha the idea of aiding the spread of "Kedushah" - holiness. (Bedibur Echod) Sefat Emet notes that the word "Negah" - the Tzara'at sore - shares the same letters as "Oneg" - the joy one experiences on Shabbat. Our day of rest also plays a role in spreading Kedushah in the world, for it refreshes us (spiritually, as well as physically) and gives us the strength we need to fulfill our divine missions for another week. This is particularly true of "Shabbat Hagadol" - the Shabbat before Pesach. One reason that it is called "Shabbat Hagadol" (the "Great Shabbat") is that it was the first Shabbat when there was a "Klal Yisrael" (for on that day they set aside animals for the Korban Pesach, in preparation for leaving Egypt), and it was thus the first Shabbat which performed the function of Shabbat described above (Ohr Gedalyahu). Also, notes R' Chaim Yishayahu Hardari, Shlita, on that Shabbat the Jews were given their first Mitzvot, and thus their power to spread Hashem's name in the world became greater. ************************************ Laws of the "Korban Pesach" The Korban is brought on the afternoon of the 14th of Nisan, after the second "Korban Tamid" (daily sacrifice). When Erev Pesach falls on Friday, the Tamid is brought an hour early to allow more time to slaughter and roast the Korban Pesach before Shabbat. Before bringing the Korban, one must be sure that he has no Chametz in his possession. Also, one's guest list for the Seder must be finalized before the Korban is slaughtered, for it may not be changed afterwards. The Korban may be a sheep or a goat. In either case it must be an unblemished, one year-old male. Those bringing the Korban are divided into three shifts, and the first shift enters the Bet Hamikdash. (A shift may not have fewer than thirty people, but the Gemara says that it often numbered hundreds of thousands.) While the animals are slaughtered, and their blood and fats sacrificed on the "Mizbeach" (altar), the Levi'im recite Hallel. If the group is large, Hallel is repeated as many times as necessary. When one shift is finished, the next one enters. Each person takes his Korban home and roasts it on a pomegranate-wood spit, in an oven. After dark, [the Seder is held and] the Korban is eaten together with Matzah and Maror, and while it is eaten, the assembled recite Hallel. The meal must be finished by midnight. (Based on R' Aharon Cohen: Avodat Hakorbanot) ************************************ R' Moshe Isserles ("Rema") writes (O.C. section 430) of a custom to read part of the Haggadah on the Shabbat before Pesach. Why? The Vilna Gaon answers that it was on that day that our ancestors set aside animals for the "Korban Pesach"; thus, it can be considered the beginning of their redemption. However, the Vilna Gaon then rejects this answer based on the following Midrash (which is quoted in the Pesach Haggadah). "I might think that one can fulfill his obligation to read the Haggadah on the first day of Nissan...but the Torah teaches me that the Mitzvah of Haggadah applies at the same hour as the Mitzvah of Matzah and Maror." If the Shabbat before Pesach has a claim to being the beginning of the redemption, asks the Vilna Gaon, why does the Midrash, which considers several possibilities for when the Seder should be held, not entertain a suggestion that it should be on Shabbat Hagadol?! R' David Cohen, Shlita, answers this question as follows: The Halacha states that the Haggadah should begin with the low point of Jewish history and build up to the redemption. What is that low point? Rav (a Talmudic sage) says, "In the beginning, our ancestors were idol worshippers." Shmuel (another sage) says, "We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt." What is the basis of their dispute? R' Cohen suggests that they disagree whether the primary redemption was spiritual (Rav) or physical (Shmuel). Such a disagreement would be consistent with other disputes between them, such as whether the Mashiach will come as a result of our repentance (Rav) or suffering (Shmuel). Ramban, in his Torah commentary, appears to accept Rav's view, for he writes as follows (in explaining why the building of the Mishkan is described in the book of Exodus): "Even though our ancestors had left Egypt, they were not yet free until they had built a Mishkan and Hashem's Presence rested among them." When did the redemption start? Perhaps Rav would say that it started on the day when the Korban Pesach was set aside (i.e. Shabbat Hagadol), since the purpose of the Korban Pesach was to free Bnei Yisrael from their spiritual bondage. When Rema writes of the custom to read the Haggadah on Shabbat Hagadol, he is accepting the view of Rav, as Ramban did before him. As for the Midrash which troubled the Vilna Gaon, perhaps that is the opinion of Shmuel and others who disagree with Rav. (Mas'at Kapi II, p.60) ************************************ A Pesach Story The preparations of R' Yisrael of Vizhnitz (known as "Ahavas Yisrael") for "Bedikat Chametz" were lengthy, and he approached the Mitzvah with great feeling. He said the "Berachah" with great fervor. Then, while searching all of the cracks by candlelight, he beat his chest like one reciting "Vidui", and called out "Oy, oy, oy!" All who heard him trembled, and their hearts broke at the sound of his groans. When he had completed the search, he turned to his faithful Chassid, R' Mordechai Chaneh, and standing before him, tore open his shirt and said, "Now, search out the Chametz in my heart," [The Gemara and other works refer to the "Yetzer Hara" - evil inclination- as "Chametz."] R' Mordechai did not lose his presence of mind, and replied, "Rebbe, the Halacha instructs us that we need not search a place where Chametz has not entered." (R' Natan Elya Roth: Kedosh Yisrael) ************************************ The Gemara states that Chametz which is found during the search must be set aside in a place where rodents cannot find it and spread it about. On this R' Chaim M. Hager (son of the "Ahavas Yisrael") commented: "Chametz" signifies pride. It rises and we must get rid of it. But, as with Chametz [some of which is left over for the Mitzvah of "Biur" - burning], we must leave something. Pride is sometimes needed in our service of Hashem. (See Divrei Hayamim II 17:6) Yet man must take care that the small measure of pride which he leaves over be kept in a hidden place. He should take care lest a "rat" comes and spreads it about - lest the Yetzer Hara persuade him to make his pride public. ************************************ The learning schedule for this Shabbat is: Mishnah Yomit Ohalot 2:2-3 (Learn two Mishnayot every day) Halacha Yomit OC/MB 372:9-11 (Learn three paragraphs every day) Daf Yomi Megilah 7 (Learn two sides of a page every day) Rambam Chapter/Day: Hilchot Sechirut - Chapter 10 3 Chapters/Day: Hilchot Temurah - Chapter 1-3 Sefer Hamitzvot Sh:N106,P87; Su:N107,P107; M:P107; Tu:P107; W:P107; Th:P107; F:P107 ************************************ The hard copy distribution of this week's Hamaayan is sponsored by: Drs. Menacham and Moshay Cooper and family in honor of the 45th wedding anniversary of Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Cooper In honor of Eva Youlus' birthday by her family ************************************ Note: Hamaayan will not appear during Pesach. Publication will resume for Parashat Achrei Mot (29 Nisan/May 2). Our regular biographies will resume at that time.