Parsha Tazria and Metzora
This week is a double Parsha, Tazria and Metzora, It talks about Tzaara’as- (which is often translated as a kind of leprosy.) It was like a skin disease. If you you had a red spot or a white spot on your face or a part of your body, you would come before the Kohen Gadol or his sons he would examine it and check to see if it was a tzaraas affliction or infection or not. If it looked suspect- you would have to go into quarantine for 7 days, then the Kohen came to check it again and if it wasn’t better, you had to go into quarantine for another 7 days. the Kohen Gadol would come along and declare it Tahor, or Tamei- Pure or Impure! These marks could also appear on your clothers or the walls of your house. The white or pink patches appear on a person’s skin and dark pink or dark green in garments or homes. A person afflicted with tzara’as must dwell alone outside of the camp (or city) until he is healed. The afflicted area in a garment or home must be removed; if the tzara’as reappears, the entire garment or home must be destroyed. When the metzora (“leper”) heals, he or she is purified by the Kohen with a special procedure. This is a forgiveness offering. The person brings this offering which consists of two birds, spring water in an earthen vessel, a piece of cedar wood, a scarlet thread and a bundle of hyssop.
The Talmud says that one of the reasons a person would be afflicted with tzara’as was if he had been
gossiping and talking ‘Lashon Hara’. These spots or marks were signs of your inner spirituality- what state your Neshama was in, you were doing what you were supposed to do or not. The affliction could out came out either on the walls of your house, your skin, your clothing.
Our sages have explained that Tzara’as is from Lashon Hara. It literally means ‘bad talk’ It means that it is forbidden to speak negatively about someone else even if it is true. It is also forbidden to repeat what you heard about someone. “Lashon Hara (or loshon horo) (Hebrew: לשון הרע; “evil tongue”) is the halakhic term for derogatory speech about a person, which emotionally or financially damages them or lowers them in the estimation of others. Lashon hara differs from defamation in that lashon hara is truthful speech rather than lies.” (Wikapedia definition)
We learn in Metzorah that in order for the Kohen to pronounce that someone had tzaraat they would need to examine the person not once but twice. We can learn from this that a wise person doesn’t judge people or things by the way they first appear. It says in ‘Pirkei Avot’, ‘Ethics of our Fathers’ Chap 1 Verse 6, ‘Hevey don et kol ha’adam lecaf zechut’. ‘Judge every man favourably’. Often our first impressions are inaccurate.
Rabbi Silverberg, explains in the name of the Ba’al Shem Tov that we are still in galut, because we have not concentrated on ‘Ahavah Rabbah’ . This Bracha is like a tikkun/ correction/ repair for Lashon Hara. Ahavah Rabbah is a prayer that focuses on the great love that Hashem has for the Jewish people, and finishes with the words Habocher be’amo Yisrael Be’Ahava’- (who chooses His people Israel with love.)
Interesting facts ;
Hyssop, (Hyssopus officinalis), evergreen garden herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae), grown for its aromatic leaves and flowers. The plant has a sweet scent and a warm bitter taste and has long been used as a flavouring for foods and beverages and as a folk medicine. Cedar trees are known for their the strength, beauty, and durability, and are mentioned in the Torah for the building of the Mishkan.
Fun Activities
Be Aware of LASHON HORA; Be more careful about your what comes out of your mouth. When you think about it – we are still automatically wearing masks as protection against Covid…… covering our mouths, because we have to, maybe we should make it more intentional and think before we talk, and make sure we don’t talk Lashon Hara So- an activity is to decorate your mask, draw on it, and wear it mindfully and be careful with your words. Singing songs at the Shabbat table about being together, and seeing people in a positive light. A great song is ‘Ve’ahavta Lereiacha, Kamocha’ ‘Loving your neighbor as you love yourself’. (If you do not know the tune to this song it is on You Tube.)
It’s also fun to use a Magnifying glass to check things, look around, and examine things in more detail. Our eyes see things, notice things, and often we say things as we see them. Clean your glasses, put on different colored glasses, change what we see and how we see things…- it’s a work in progress…..So if we see the ‘good and positive’ in people, we will say something positive to them, or positive about them , rather than something negative!
We need to have an ‘Eyin Tov’, a good eye to see things in a positive light and that we we won’t see the ‘bad’ and that will also help us to NOT speak Lashon Hara!?! It says in Mishlei, ‘Tov ayin hu yevorach’- A good eye will be blessed. Look around us and see the blessings and positive things in our lives and thank Hashem!
Another great activity is to try and find the HYSSOP PLANT mentioned in this weeks Parsha. – Smell it, Taste it and look at its interesting features.
Fun Foods
Serve ‘Lashon” – Tongue for Shabbat dinner. Many people enjoy it with a good sweet and sour sauce, mustard sauce ( check the internet, recipe books for great recipes. )
Make a cake in the shape of ‘an EYE, or a MOUTH and decorate it. They are both oval in and very similar in shape- play with it, be creative….
This week was a special time in Israel because we celebrated Yom Haatzmaut- The day of Independence-Israel’s Birthday! Israel is 73 years old- the miracle country.! The theme color is blue and white. Make cakes, cookies, biscuits iced with blue and white and enjoy!
Wishing you all a Good Chodesh of Iyar, – the Healing month and wishing you a Shabbat Shalom from Safta Laya!
Very interesting…
Shabbat shalom