Guard Against the Modern Plagues

Metzorah
Leviticus 14:1-15:33

Précis: The parasha discusses laws for the purification of “lepers” with sacrifices and water. It also discusses growths on walls of a house which cause ritual impurity. The parasha concludes with dealing with another source of such impurity, bodily secretions.


Leviticus 15:31: "You shall put the Israelites on guard against their impurity, lest they die through their impurity by defiling My Tabernacle which is among them."


Near the conclusion of this week’s parasha, we find this very interesting verse about “impurity” and the Tabernacle. As we reviewed last week, “impurity” should be understood to be “ritual impurity,” meaning something which prevents the individual from participation in communal worship. In this verse, a careful reading suggests it is not impurity itself that incurs Divine wrath; retribution comes only when we fail to take the necessary steps to restore ourselves to ritual purity, so that we can rejoin the community.


This parasha had previously indicated (verses 14:34-35) that it was the Priests’ job to investigate a mysterious growth on the walls of a house that is “something like a plague.” We can therefore read this verse to mean that we have an obligation to “guard against” actions that result in “something like a plague.”


To me, this teaches that it is our responsibility as individuals and as communities, to “guard against” the modern “plagues” we face (war, poverty, political or religious intolerance and hatred, to name a few). Failing that, it is incumbent upon us to do whatever we can to restore our society to “purity” by ameliorating the impacts of these modern plagues by engaging in acts of chesed and loving kindness.

Shabbat Shalom.

"Coming Clean" with Ourselves and our Communities

Tazria
Leviticus 12:1-13:59

Précis: Tazria begins with laws concerning the need for ritual purification of women following the birth of children, and the laws of what is usually referred to as “leprosy” of the skin and on garments (although this translation is most certainly erroneous; it appears to refer to an affliction which renders the person, garment, or home ritually impure).

Leviticus 13:6 “He shall wash his clothes and he shall be clean.”

In this discussion of a recovery following exposure to a form of impurity, we see that after the priests have correctly diagnosed the condition, and the appropriate purification rituals have been made, the individual finally washes his clothing and is “clean.” It’s very important to stress that these rituals have a singular purpose: the individual who has become “impure” is restored to a state of ritual purity so that he or she can rejoin the community in religious worship.

This teaches a critical lesson which has applicability today. It is possible to transcend one’s past, to let things go (finally!), and to just be done with the issues and problems which previously seemed to be so paralyzing or difficult. From time to time, we all engage in actions creating embarrassment (or guilt) and lead us to be reluctant to remain involved in the community. There is a possibility for returning to the community if we are prepared to accept the “issues” which have separated us from the community.

On a personal and familial level, there are all too many adults who continue to blame their parents for “what they did to me” decades later. While certainly there are cases of parental abuse that are long-lasting (and can never be minimized), blaming one’s parents or teachers forever for one’s own inadequacies needs to end at some point.

It seems to me that we often use the easy approach of blaming others for our own shortcomings, whether in the work environment or within our families. This text teaches us that our ancestors saw that when an individual becomes estranged from the community, he or she has a responsibility to take appropriate actions to be restored to the community. The first part of that journey - one can say the first step - is an acceptance of personal responsibility.