This week, I make my debut in the world of online video Torah commentary. I am featured on Israeli journalist Shmuel Rosner’s “Torah Talk” featured on his blog hosted by the Los Angeles Jewish Journal.
See here for the video.
For a more traditional medium, here is my weekly Taste of Torah sent to the KJ Beginners Program. Shabbat Shalom!
"V'hisgir ha-kohen et ha-nega shiv'at yamim - The kohen shall quarantine the affliction for seven days." (Vayikra/Leviticus 13:4)
This week's Torah portion discusses the Jew who is afflicted with tzara’at because of the sin of lashon ha-ra (evil or inappropriate speech). Rabbi Pinchas Menachem of Piltz explores some of the reasons that the sinner is isolated for seven days. One of the intentions is to ensure that the person will experience one Shabbat during his time of atonement. There is an idea in the Kabbalistic "Sefer Yetzira" that "v'karata la-Shabbat oneg - You shall call the Sabbath a delight." The Hebrew word for affliction (nega) has the same Hebrew letters as delight (oneg). Shabbat has the power to change the "nega" to "oneg" and to help the afflicted individual achieve perspective of what has happened.
One of the most important lessons from the discussion of Lashon Ha-ra and the spiritual affliction of tzara’at is to focus on not only on avoiding the evil speech but to learn how to change our perspective from negative to positive.
The number "7" biblically applies to the natural order. Man's role in life is to lure God into the natural order through pious conduct. This conduct is significantly expressed via speech. Speech is a primary Divine trait and arguably the most significant way man was created in God's image. Thus, the misuse of speech in this world is a hilul hashem deserving a measure for measure punishment signifying a sin within the natural order (ie "7").
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