The bulk of this week’s parsha, Metzorah, deals with the various physical afflictions and the process of restoration for anyone who habitually engages in lashon harah – evil speech. In the Mishnah Torah, Rambam tells us that lashon harah is a great sin which ends up destroying three people: the speaker, the one spoken about, and the listener. But the listener, teaches Rambam, is harmed even more than the speaker. What does the Rambam mean?
This Shabbat in addition to reading this week’s parsha, Tazria, we read the special parsha known as Ha’Chodesh. It begins by instructing B’nai Yisrael to designate the month of Nisan as the first month in the monthly cycle of the year. Parshat Ha’Chodesh continues with all the specific regulations involved with the Pesach sacrifice and the very first seder held in Egypt. However, this Shabbat also happens to be Rosh Chodesh Nisan. These two special days, Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh, bring together an important confluence of ideas.
In the world at large, many people know or have heard that Jews have special dietary laws. For example, many non-Jews are aware that Jews, as part of their religious practice, don’t eat bacon, ham, or other pork products. Most Jews don’t know that there are many commands regarding eating. The Rambam lists 28 mitzvot related to eating, sprinkled throughout the Torah. What is the reason that the Torah places such great emphasis on legislating what and how we eat?
This week’s parasha, Tzav, the second in Sefer Vayikra completes the Torah’s description of the various sacrifices to be offered in the Mishkan and later in the Holy Temples in Jerusalem. Yet the sacrificial service was not an end in itself or even the primary object of these commandments. Instead, the many rules and restrictions created the means by which mankind could harness powerful instinctual emotions of sacrifice without falling into idol worship. The ultimate goal of the sacrificial service is thus most closely related to prayer, supplication, and activities that lead to true knowledge and recognition of God.
Next Wednesday night and Thursday, Jews around the world will gather to read and hear Megilat Esther, the Scroll of Esther. This book of the Tanakh relates events in Jewish history that took place over an 11-year period. Are we to see the events depicted in the Megillah as natural occurrences or as miracles?
The Jewish religion is often misunderstood and disparaged. Why do we have a system of 613 individual commands, each with its own intricate structure of law? Why are we so focused on the details.
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