Hamaayan/The Torah Spring Edited by Shlomo Katz Parashat Tazria Volume VI/ Number 27 (261) 1 Nisan 5752/April 4, 1992 Parashat Hachodesh Parasha Overview Most of this week's Parasha addresses the subject of "Tzara'at" (commonly translated as "leprosy"), a disease which comes about as a result of several sins. The most serious form of Tzara'at, the commentaries tell us, is a punishment for the sin of "Lashon Hara" - speaking ill of others. How does this punishment fit the crime? Because a "Metzora" (one afflicted with Tzara'at) must be quarantined outside the city's walls. Chazal explain: Let the one who broke up friendships and marriages with his tongue experience the interruption of his own friendships and marriage by this quarantine. The Midrash emphasizes the gravity of causing strife: When Pharaoh took Sarah from Avraham )B'reishit, ch. 12), Hashem punished him with Tzara'at. Why? Because, says the Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 16:1), he separated a husband and wife (Avraham and Sarah). We see, notes R' Henach Leibowitz, Shlita (Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Chafetz Chaim), that Pharaoh's sin in causing strife was viewed by Hashem even more seriously than the fact that he nearly committed adultery. The beginning of the Parasha deals with the ritual impurity associated with childbirth, and commands that a newborn boy be circumcised when he is eight days old. Why eight days? Because according to Torah law - we have accepted additional Rabbinic stringencies - the ritual impurity referred to lasts seven days. How can the guests at the "Brit Milah" celebrate when the mother and father are saddened [by their separation from each other due to their observance of the laws of family purity]? the Gemara (Nidah 31b) asks rhetorically. Here again, we see the Torah's concern for the sanctity of personal relationships. "Parashat Hachodesh" which is read this week (see box) speaks of, among other things, the Mitzvah of sanctifying the new moon. That celestial body was the first creation to experience jealousy (see Chulin 60b; Rashi, B'reishit 1:16). It is therefore fitting that the commandment to sanctify the new moon was taught to Moshe and Aharon jointly (see Sh'mot 12:1), for they had the best relationship two brothers could have. Although Aharon was older than Moshe and experienced prophecy before his brother did, he greeted Moshe with truly heartfelt happiness upon learning that the latter had been chosen to lead Bnei Yisrael out of Egypt. (This insight was heard from R' Kalman Winter, Shlita.) Here again we see the value that the Torah places on our personal relationships. The Haftara for Parashat Tazria (Melachim II 4:42-5:18) tells of the Tzara'at of Na'aman, an Assyrian general. After the prophet Elisha cured Na'aman, but refused all offers of reward, Elisha's servant, Gechazi, betrayed his master's trust and spoke "Lashon Hara" of him to Na'aman. (Chazal say that Gechazi is the Tzara'at- stricken person referred to in next week's Haftara.) The special Haftara which is read for Parashat Hachodesh (Yechezkel 45:16-46:18; Sephardim read 45:18-46:15) speaks of various sacrifices which will be brought when the Bet Hamikdash is rebuilt. One of these, writes R' Yehonatan Eyebschutz, will be a sacrifice to atone for Kayin's sin in killing his brother in a fit of jealousy. Here we see a tie to both Parashat Tazria and Parashat Hachodesh. ************************************ Parashat Hachodesh This section (Sh'mot 12:1-20) is read on Rosh Chodesh Nisan (if it falls on Shabbat) or on the immediately preceding Shabbat. It begins with the commandment that the Sanhedrin (supreme court) determine the beginning of each month (based on the testimony of witnesses who have seen the new moon) and fix other aspects of the Jewish calendar. The Parasha then continues with laws of the "Korban Pesach". This selection is read today because, as we read in verse 2, Nisan is considered the first of the months (even though the year started six months ago), and it is thus fitting that a special announcement should be made. Furthermore, we take special care to publicize the arrival of Nisan because of the many Mitzvot which it brings with it. These include several commandments which carry with them the penalty of "Karet" (untimely death for body and soul) such as eating Chametz and failing to bring the Korban Pesach. (Sefer Hatoda'ah) ************************************ Matzah In what way is Matzah connected with freedom? Matzah reminds us that the dough of our forefathers did not have time to rise. Matzah teaches that spiritual freedom requires mastery over time, as R' Yehuda Halevi (author of Kuzari) wrote: "A slave of time is a slave of a slave; a slave of Hashem is a free person." Matzah has the same ingredients as ordinary bread; the main difference is the attention to time which making Matzah requires. [If the Matzah is not completed in 18 minutes, it is presumed to have become Chametz.] Chazal often use "Chametz" as a metaphor for the evil inclination. Idleness and inattention to time allow spiritual "Chametz" to form. Positive spiritual activity, on the other hand, together with the pressure to watch and preserve valuable time, prevents this "fermentation." The Halacha requires that Matzah be made out of grains which have the potential to become Chametz. The same elements within man which often produce evil emotions are those which must be controlled by positive spiritual activity. (R' Aharon Soloveitchik, Shlita) ************************************ Maror Why do we always say "Pesach, Matzah, and Maror" (mentioning Maror last) when the Matzah and the Pesach sacrifice commemorate the redemption which came after the "bitterness" of the exile? We know that the exile in Egypt had a purpose. According to the "Chida" (R' Chaim Yosef David Azulai), it helped prepare Bnei Yisrael to receive the Torah. However, during the dark days of slavery, the Jews could undoubtedly not appreciate this. Only later, after the redemption, did they understand why the bitterness was necessary. To truly appreciate Maror we must discuss it after the Pesach and Matzah. (Bnei Yissachar) ************************************ Korech Hillel used to make a sandwich of the Pesach, Matzah, and Maror, in opposition to the Halachic view that the taste of each Mitzvah, canceled out the others. This is consistent with Hillel's custom of giving every meal the sanctity due the Shabbat meals. Since we do not know the relative importance of different Mitzvot, we must treat them all equally, and none can cancel out another. (Divrei Shaul) ************************************ A Pesach Story A man once came before R' Yisrael of Vizhnitz (1860-1936) and poured his heart out. He had arranged a match for his son some time before, but he had no money with which to meet the many wedding expenses. The Rebbe asked him if he had already set a date for the wedding. "No," replied the man, "I cannot pay for anything. How could I set a date?" "Look," said the Rebbe. "Our Torah demands of us that not a particle of Chametz be found in our homes on Pesach, and Pesach expenses are large. Now imagine that the Torah had not set a date for Pesach, and that we would only celebrate it when we had completed our preparations. We would never celebrate it! But since the Torah had established a specific date, a great wonder takes place. Everyone manages to clean his home, and all the needs of Pesach are filled. "Learn a lesson from the Torah: Set the wedding date and you will see that you will acquire whatever you need by then." (R' Natan Elya Roth: Kedosh Yisrael) ************************************ The learning schedule for this Shabbat is: Mishnah Yomit Kelim 29:8-30:1 (Learn two Mishnayot every day) Halacha Yomit OC/MB 370:2-4 (Learn three paragraphs every day) Daf Yomi Ta'anit 30 (Learn two sides of a page every day) Rambam Chapter/Day: Hilchot Sechirut - Chapter 3 3 Chapters/Day: Hilchot Bechorot - Chapter 8, Hilchot Shegagot - Chapters 1-2 Sefer Hamitzvot Sh:N109,P69; Su:P70; M:P70; Tu:P71; W:P72; Th:P68,P75,P76; F:P74,P77 ************************************ The hard copy distribution of this week's Hamaayan is sponsored by: Mr. Lewis Sosnowick in honor of the Lou Morris family Fran Broder and children in honor of Alan's birthday