Welcome to Torah Thoughts from the Jewish Congregation or Northern Iowa, Adas Israel located in Mason City. Thanks for coming by. Before we launch into our Torah Portion for this week let us remind you of the Community Passover Seder that will take place on Saturday the 20th of April starting at 6pm. Details:
You've waited all year...right? We will be holding a Community Seder for Passover on April 20th starting with services at 6:00pm. Admission for the seder is $20 for adults and $10 for children. We are now taking reservations for you and your family. You can call us at 641-903-3575 or text our president, Alan Steckman at 641-420-7551. Advance payment can be made and sent to us by mail: Adas Israel Synagogue, PO Box 621, Mason City, Iowa 50402.
Shabbat Ha Gadol
This week we not only read from the Torah we also celebrate Shabbat Ha Gadol or "The Great Sabbath". It is the Shabbat before the exodus from Egypt and according to tradition falls on the 10th day of the Hebrew Month of Nisan and in the year of the Exodus it truly was a great sabbath!
It was considered a great event, in fact a miracle, that the Israelites could on that day select a lamb for sacrifice without being molested by their Egyptian masters, who, at other times, would have stoned them for such daring.
Another possible reason for the name is that the haftarah (Malachi 3:4-24), the prophetic portion, speaks of the “great day” of G-d on which the Messiah will appear. A novel explanation for the name of Shabbat HaGadol is that the people used to return from the synagogue later than usual on this Sabbath because of the unusually long divar torah (Sermon) that was customary on this day. Now you know!
Parsha Metzora
This Tora reading is Vayikra (Leviticus) 14 - 15 and is called Metzora because it is the 8th Hebrew word in the reading, "Hashem spoke to Moses saying, 'This shall be the law of the metzora on the day of his purification:"
Metzora is Hebrew for "one who is diseased" and we focus this week on the ritual purification. The focus of this portion is upon tzora'as, a supernatural physical affliction sent to warn someone to refrain from speaking badly about others. The disease progressively afflicted home, clothes and then one's skin -- unless the individual corrected his ways and followed the purification process stated in the Torah.
It is interesting that the Torah says, "...and he shall be brought to the Kohen." Wouldn't you think that if you were afflicted with some disease that you might go to the Kohen (or Doctor) on your own? Why was he "brought"?
The rabbis have an interesting answer: When a person has tzora'as, he will definitely claim that of course he will bring the necessary offerings when the tzora'as clears up. Once he is cured, he can easily forget his obligations. Now that nothing is pressing him, he will focus on other things and not on meeting his obligations. (It's kind of like not paying pledges after the person gets well...)
Some people find it difficult to meet their responsibilities. When they need favors from someone or want to impress someone, they might make many promises. When the time comes to keep their obligations, they do all they can to avoid meeting them. A person with integrity will derive pleasure from meeting his responsibilities and will not need others to coerce him to keep them. The more pleasure you feel when meeting your obligations, the more motivated you will be to meet them.
Makes sense...right?
Hope to see you in Shul for our Passover Seder have a wonderful Shabbat!