Adas Israel - Mason City, IA

Torah Thoughts - 20 April 2018

Welcome to our regular blog about the Torah Portion of the week. This week we've got two for you as we combine Parsha Tazria ("she conceives) Lev. 12:1 - 14:9 and Parsha Metzora ("one being diseased") Lev. 14:1 - 15:33. We are continuing on our journey through the issues of physical and spiritual purity.

Both of those topics often, in today's world, seem so out of place. But, is there a place for physical purity and how does that impact our spiritual nature?

In the Parsha Tazria we open up with childbirth which, as the rabbis say, is the most sublime phenomenon in the universe. How? Why? If we look at this through the eyes of a spiritual person we realize that when a man and woman create a child they are creating a new soul. Pretty heavy huh?  This new life begins with some impurity but if it is true that we are created to serve G-d the mere fact of being born isn't enough. We must evolve into the being that honors and uplifts G-d. 

Here we are also taught about the danger of speaking ill about another person. The affliction of tzora'as, a supernatural physical affliction sent to warn someone to refrain from speaking badly about others. The disease progressively afflicting home, clothes and then one's skin -- unless the individual corrected his ways and followed the purification process stated in the Torah.

There are three types of speech transgressions: 1) Lashon Hara (literally "evil tongue") -- making a derogatory or damaging statement about someone even though you are speaking the truth. 2) Motzie Shem Ra -- slander -- where what is spoken is negative and false. 3) Rechilus (literally "tale bearing") --telling someone the negative things another person said about him or did against him.

G-d warns us that once something is said it is very difficult to "take it back". Is it any wonder that so many people get caught up in some awful issues when using social media. Thinking before writing or speaking is critical.

Services This Week:

A reminder that we'll hold our Sabbath Service on Friday evening at 7:15 and our regular Midrash (Bible Study) on Saturday, Shabbat at 10:00 am both at the synagogue. In addition this past week we celebrated 70 years since Israel became a nation.

See you in Shul! 

 

Torah Thoughts - 13 April 2018

Welcome to our weekly (most of the time anyway we'll blame our absence last week on Passover) look at the Torah Portion of the week. Here we hope to offer you insights and inspiration and a little Hebrew from the Jewish Congregation of Mason City, Iowa. Yes...Jews in Iowa! Let's get started:

This week we read from the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) 9:1 - 11:47. The portion is called Shemini (eight) because it is named for the third word in the Parsha (portion) as it is the first descriptive word in the passage. Honest, this isn't really confusing at all. Go back and read that sentence and you'll get an insight into how we call each Torah Portion (Parsha) and the names of each Shabbat (Sabbath).

Big Stuff Here!

We start by recognizing that seven days have gone by as Moses and Aaron were instructed to perform the inauguration services. Each day, for those seven days, Moses erected the Tabernacle, performed the entire service himself and disassembled the Tabernacle. Lots of work... All of this climaxed on the eighth (shemini) day when the Aaron and his sons took over the services.

Here we read that Aaron, the High Priest, brings sacrifices for himself and the entire nation. Meanwhile two sons of Aaron, Nadav and Avihu get bold and bring an uninvited incense offering. They are "consumed by a heavenly fire! This is, perhaps the only time when someone did something wrong and was immediately hit by lightning.

Lots of Laws

Aaron and his family the Kohanim (priests) are commanded not to serve while intoxicated. Once the inaugural service is competed, G-d specifies what is kosher when it comes to things to eat. In simple terms we are told that mammals (who have cloven hoofs and chew their cud) are OK. Fish is find to eat as long as they have both fins and scales. Birds can be eaten but the birds must not be predators. Oh, and one other thing...we can eat (but not so much recommended) certain species of locusts.  No, really. We often get questions like, "Hey why is it you can't eat pork or other items?" And the answer is found in this Torah Portion.

The parsha (portion) concludes with the laws of spiritual defilement from contact with the carcasses of specific animals.

The Commandments

Most of you are familiar with The Ten Commandments...you know the "Big Ten" and often are surprised to learn that, in fact, there are 613 Commandments in the Torah. There are 248 positive commandments (do this stuff) and 365 negative commandments (don't do this stuff).  And, there are three areas of each section: 1) Between a person and G-d; 2) Between a person and others and 3) Between a person and himself. Some can be fulfilled through action, some through action and intent, some just through intent. What?  Sure, for example, you want to give charity, but the person refused to take your money. It's the intent. 

There are commandments that are obvious: not to kill, not to rob and there are commandments that on the surface don't seem to make sense like not wearing a garment made with wool and linen or to let the entire land of Israel lie fallow every seven years. 

Services and Midrash

Heads up!  Services at Adas Israel will be on Friday the 20th starting at 7:15pm and our Midrash (study session) will be on Saturday (Shabbat) 21 April starting at 10:00am in the Adas Israel Social Hall. Everybody is welcome to attend either.  And, don't worry, we won't try to convert you...that is not our job.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Shabbat!