B"H
Friday, Nissan 4, 5784 / April 12, 2024
This Shabbat we read from the Book of Leviticus, Parshat Tazria.
This Parsha speaks about the laws of Tzara’at (a form of leprosy), which rendered a person spiritually impure. This law applied in the time of the Temple. Our sages tell us that it was a punishment for speaking Lashon Hara – derogatory talk about others.
In Deuteronomy, the Torah states, "When you go out in battle against your enemies, you shall keep away from every evil thing (Deut. 23:10)." In the Torah, there are no vowels. Words can be read in various ways. In this case, the two Hebrew words, "Davar Ra" (evil thing) can also be read as "Dibur Ra," which means, you shall keep away from "speaking evil."
One of the six remembrances we are commanded to remember each day is, "Remember what G-d did to Miriam on the way when you came forth from Egypt." Miriam spoke to Aaron against their brother, Moshe. Although Miriam didn't mean any harm, yet, because she spoke about him in a derogatory way, she was punished. This reminds us that gossiping and speaking evil about others is a grave sin.
The Talmud tells that Rabbi Alexandrai, would go around, and announce, "Who wants life? Who wants life?" Everyone would gather and reply, "We want life. Give us life!"
Rabbi Alexandrai would then recite the verse in Psalms 34: "Who is the man who desires life and who loves seeing good? Guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceitfully."
In Proverbs, King Solomon gives the following advice, "Whoever watches his mouth and tongue, protects himself from troubles."
A Seder question: The Seder plate consists of three matzot. At the beginning of the Seder, before reciting the Hagadah, we break the middle matzah. The bigger piece is hidden for the Afikoman and the smaller piece, which reminds us of the “bread of affliction,” is put back between the two whole matzot. Why do we break the middle matzah and not the top matzah?
A. There is a Halachic rule that when a mitzvah comes to your hand do not skip over it. Later, in the Seder when we will wash our hands and make the blessings over the matzah, we have to make the blessings over a whole matzah, not a broken one. If the top matzah would be the broken one, we would have to “skip” over that one and go for the next one to perform the mitzvah of eating matzah. This would constitute “skipping” over the mitzvah. Thus, we leave the top matzah whole and break the middle one.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:19 / Shabbat ends: 8:25
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.