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Rabbi Joseph Dweck בס"ד OnegShabbosarmest Mazal Tov W oneg edito w r-in-c ish hief es Rabbi Yonasan R to North West London’s Weekly and Fam oo n the birth on ily dy Torah & Opinion Sheets o his da n ugh A Torah publication that enables local Rabbonim and ter Avreichim to share their insights and Divrei Torah on a variety of different levels, to provide something for everyone For questions on Divrei Torah ,29TH APRIL 2017 please contact the Editor in Chief | ג' אייר תשע”ז | פרשת תזריע-מצורע Rabbi Yonasan Roodyn LONDON MANCHESTER GATESHEAD [email protected] Shabbos Times To receive this via email please email PM 8:19 PM 8:21 PM [email protected] 8:04 הדלקת נרות PM 9: 39 PM 9:43 PM 9:19 מוצש’’ק To Sponsor a Week KINDLY SPONSORED please email [email protected] לעילוי נשמת הש"ץ שלמה בן אברהם משה ז"ל לעילוי נשמת חנה בת אלעזר ע"ה (Cost per week: £500, which covers production costs) לרפואת אריאל יהודה בן יהודית נ" י Rabbi Joseph Dweck Senior Rabbi of The S&P Sephardi Community Parshah Tazria begins with instructions for ritual purification after a woman has given birth; commanding that she must bring korbanot (offerings) in the Bet HaMikdash. Two korbanot are brought: one is an Olah (completely burnt on the altar) in thanks to Hashem for saving her from the dangers of childbirth. The other is, interestingly, a korban hatat or sin offering. The hakhamim question this strange korban; why is incredibly humbling. How much more so for a must a woman who has just given birth bring a sin mother who has carried the developing life in her offering? An amusing answer is offered by Rabbi womb for nine months? Shimon in the Talmud (Nidah, 31b) explaining When we are aware of, and involved with, such that at some point during childbirth every woman wonders we tend to become awe-stricken, humbled swears never to bear more children!! The sin and grateful. The grandeur of life impinges upon our offering, says Rabbi Shimon, is brought to atone for spirits and we are, if even for just a time, changed swearing falsely. This answer is refuted, however, by it. by Rabbi Yosef who says that if that were the case, a sin offering is not appropriate. Rather, a korban When we find ourselves in such a precious state of shebuah (a sacrifice specifically brought to atone consciousness we tend to see our own lives through for swearing falsely) should be brought instead. The that wondrous lens. As a result, aspects of our lives Talmud leaves us unclear as to the reason for a post- are illuminated differently and it is not uncommon partum sin offering. for us to see certain elements that we might have There is something special, though, about the treated lightly becoming more meaningful. words of the Hakhamim in their commentaries on our Torah, therefore, may command a woman to bring parasha. It is in perashat Tazria that they expound a sin offering after the birth of every child in order to on the wonders of pregnancy and childbirth. It is actively acknowledge that, through the profoundly here that they elaborate on the insignificance of man beautiful experience of childbirth, they recognise the SEDRA SUMMARY in relation to G-d. aspects of life they may previously have made light  The laws of childbirth of and bring a sin offering as an act of repentance. From a microscopic zygote a new, complex  Loshon Hora, Mozi Shem Rah human life emerges after nine months of growth In a sense the sin offering punctuates the moment of & Rechilus and billions of instructions — all contained in that wonder and utilises it in order to bring our own lives  Tzaraas of the house, clothes & body up to the level of beauty and meaning that childbirth original zygote — have been activated. Even as  Tahara of the Metzora bystanders, witnessing the miracle of childbirth reveals.  Going out the camp Yerushalayim, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Baltimore, Beit- Shemesh, Birmingham, Borehamwood, Budapest, Cancun, Detroit, Edgware, Elstree, Gateshead, Gibraltar, NOW IN THE Glasgow, Hale, Henderson, Hong Kong, Ilford, Johannesburg, Lakewood, Larnaca, Las Vegas, Leeds, London, Los Angeles, Manchester, Melbourne, Miami, FOLLOWING PLACES Milan, New York, Oslo, Paris, Petach Tikva, Philadelphia, Radlett, Ruislip, Santiago, Sao Paulo, Southend, Tallinn, Tarzana, Toronto, Uman, Vienna, Zurich Rabbi David Etengoff 2 Talmid and Musmach of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik ztl Parshah The Metzora and His Transformation Our second parasha begins with the laws of the metzora and his purification process. The metzora is afflicted withtzaraas. This disease is unidentifiable with any of the many skin ailments that exist in our own time. As such the Rashbam introduces our topic in the following manner: All of the sections dealing with the afflictions statements meant to dissuade us from the his neighbor, therefore said the Torah: “He shall (negayim) affecting people, garments, houses and grievous sin of speaking lashon harah. Instead, dwell alone.” (Talmud Bavli, Arachin 16b) the manner in which they appear as well as the they have deep and abiding halachic significance. In addition to his being forced to dwell number of days requiring sequestering, the white, For example, the Rambam states: alone, “…his garments shall be torn, his black, and golden identifying hairs may not in any Our Sages said: “There are three sins for head shall be unshorn, he shall cover himself way be understood by following the simple and which retribution is exacted from a person in this down to his mustache and call out, ‘Unclean! direct meaning of the text. Neither may we rely world and, [for which] he is [nonetheless,] denied Unclean!’” (Vayikra 13:45) Rashi explains in his upon standard human knowledge and expertise. a portion in the world to come: idol worship, commentary on this verse, that the metzora acts Instead, we must follow the analysis (midrash) forbidden relations, and murder. Lashon harah for all intent and purposes like an avel (mourner). of the Sages, their decrees, and the inherited is equivalent to all of them.” Our Sages also The Rambam in Mishneh Torah, Hilchos body of knowledge that they received from the said: “Anyone who speaks lashon harah is like Tumas Tzaraas, elaborates upon this thought- earliest Sages. This is the essence [of this matter]. one who denies Hashem as [implied by Psalms provoking theme: (Commentary to Sefer Vayikra 13:2) 12:5]: “Those who said: With our tongues we will It is a positive commandment for the In sum, tzaraas can only be understood from prevail; our lips are our own. Who is L-rd over sequestered metzora to completely cloak his head the Torah, rather than from a physiological or us?’” In addition, they said: “Lashon harah kills all the days of his enforced separation – up to medical perspective. This is because its origin three [people], the one who speaks it, the one who and including his moustache – like a mourner. is not biologically based. Instead, it is a spiritual listens to it, and the one about whom it is spoken. Moreover, he must disarrange his clothing and malady that manifests itself in a physical fashion. The one who listens to it [suffers] more than the inform all that pass by that he is ritually impure… Ever since Moshe’s sister Miriam was one who speaks it.” (Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Deos [In addition,] he is prohibited from greeting others punished with tzaraas for speaking lashon 7:3) all the days of his sequestering - like a mourner. We are now in an ideal position to ask a very harah (purposefully defamatory speech) against The metzora’s actions alter his very persona, him (Bamidbar 12:1-12:13), our Sages have fundamental question: “If according to Rashi and and drive a potentially permanent wedge between connected this deplorable act to this supernatural the Rambam, the metzora is an avel – for whom himself and the rest of the Jewish community. ailment. Given its singular import, Chazal spoke is he mourning?” Rabbi Yonasan Sacks, Rosh Little wonder, then, that he is forced to dwell alone about lashon harah throughout the Talmud. One Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan and Rov during the time that the tzaraas rages unchecked page, however, is a mini-encyclopedia of their of Agudas Yisroel of Passaic Park in Passaic, upon his body. This is a classic example of attitudes on this subject. Talmud Bavli, Arachin New Jersey, USA, suggested the following middah k’neged middah; just as his vicious words 15b presents numerous statements regarding fascinating answer: created horrible rifts between husbands and this most heinous of aveiros. Allow me to share Each member of Knesses Yisrael [the wives, friends and family members - and made a few examples with you: “Rabbi Yochanan said Congregation of Israel] possesses a twofold them feel bereft of all connections - so, too, must in the name of Rabbi Yossi ben Zimra: ‘Anyone kedushah [sanctity] - as an individual and as a vital he dwell alone and live literally outside the camp who speaks lashon harah is as if he has totally part of the collectivity of Bnei Yisrael [the Jewish of the Jewish people: rejected G-d Himself (kafar b’ikar).’” Rav Chisda people]. A metzora, through his callous slander, said in the name of Mar Ukba that: “Anyone who R. Samuel b. Elnadav asked of R. Chanina, or severs his bond with the collective kedushah speaks lashon harah is fitting to be put to death as others say. R. Samuel b. Nadav, the son-in-law [holiness] of Bnei Yisrael; it is as if part of him by stoning.” A second statement by Rav Chisda of R.
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