Candelighting 4/04/08 - 7:06
PM (DST New York City)
Parshas Tazria/Shabbat
HaChodesh
Living Our Religion
Rabbi Chaim Lobel
YI of
Aberdeen, NJ
(Leviticus;
chapter 13, verse 2 - 3) "If a person will have on the skin of
his flesh a rising, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it forms a Tzoraas
(leprosy) affliction, he shall be brought to Aaron the Kohen
Gadol (High Priest), or to one of his sons, the Kohanim
(Priests). And the Kohein shall look at the plague in the skin
of his flesh; if the hair in the affliction has turned white,
and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the skin of his
flesh, it is the plague of Tzoraas; and the Kohein shall look on
plague, and pronounce the person Tamei (impure).”
It is clear
that the Kohanim (Priests) were given single authority in
judging the status of one stricken with Tzoraas. It was they who
determined if the individual was Tamei and needed to be
quarantined.
The Medrash
Tanchuma (Tazria 6) relates an incident regarding this matter.
It was when a specific Kohen, an expert regarding the matters of
Tzoraas, was looking to leave the land of Israel for purposes of
earning a livelihood. The Kohein told his wife, due to the fact
that the masses rely on his expertise, it would be difficult to
depart. The Kohein suggested that he teach his wife the proper
laws and she would replace him. He started by explaining how an
individual’s hair, which can be stricken with Tzoraas, is
judged. The Kohein explained, “with every single hair G-d also
created a source (Maayan) of where the hair receives its
nourishment. If the source is dry, not giving nourishment to the
hair, that means the hair and the person was stricken with
Tzoraas.”
Upon
completion of the lesson, the wife replied to her husband, the
Kohein, “If every hair created by G-d has its own source of
nourishment, so it can function, certainly G-d will provide a
proper living for a man who has many hairs, components, and,
most importantly, children relying on their father for
sustenance; a source, so they can receive proper nourishment.”
This logical response did not allow the wife to permit her
husband to leave Israel and look for livelihood.
It appears
the Kohein's wife needed to prove that G-d is the source of all
sustenance in order prevent her husband from leaving. Why was
this necessary to prove? Is it not the foundation of Jewish
knowledge that G-d “gives nourishment to all living, for his
kindness endures forever” (Psalms 136)?
Obviously,
such a learned priest knew that G-d is the source of all
sustenance. But he needed his wife to bridge what he “knew” to
what he “felt.” Through a simple logical proof, he understood,
on an emotional level, that G-d would provide for him and his
family.
Frequently, we
have knowledge and confidence in our minds but doubt in our
hearts. But if we take the time to understand what we already
know and believe, our hearts will follow our minds and our
actions will follow our beliefs.
Shabbat Shalom
***
Rabbi Chaim Lobel is the
Rabbi of Young Israel of Aberdeen, Congregation Bet Tefilah,
Aberdeen, NJ.
http://www.yiaberdeen.com/index.html
