B"H
Friday, Iyar 4, 5781 (19th day of the Omer)/ April 16, 2021
This Shabbat we read the two Parshiot, Tazria & Metzora, which are in the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra). Both Parshiot speak about the impurity caused by Tzaraat, commonly translated as leprosy. It’s a physical condition like leprosy; yet, its cause is a spiritual one, thus it causes spiritual impurity. Our sages say that it was caused by evil speech about others.
This Shabbat, the second Shabbat after Pesach, we recite the second chapter of the Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers), which we recite each Shabbat, during the summer months.
Q. Why is it that in certain years we combine two Parshiot together and in other years we do not?
A. There are 54 Parshiot in the Torah. We read the entire Torah each year. In non leap years, as this year, we combine more Parshiot together because we do not have enough Shabbatot to finish the entire Torah each year. However, in a Hebrew leap year we add an extra month, thus, we have more Shabbatot to read them individually. It also depends how many Biblical holidays fall on Shabbat.
In the second chapter of Pirkei Avot, we find the following advice: Rabbi Eliezer said, “Let your fellow man’s honor be as dear to you as your own; Do not be easily moved to anger.”
King Solomon says, “Anger rests in the lap of the fool.”
The Talmudic sage Reish Lakish says, “Any man who becomes angry – if he is wise, his wisdom leaves him; If he is a prophet, his prophecy departs from him.”
The Torah tells us that Moshe, the greatest leader of the Jewish people, became angry on three occasions and as a result each time it caused him to make a mistake. One of the mistakes was when Moshe became angry at the people who were asking for water. As a result of his anger, he made the mistake of hitting the rock instead of speaking to it, as G-d commanded him.
This mistake resulted in G-d’s refusal to let him go into the Promised Land. Moshe so much desired to go into the land of Israel. He pleaded with G-d to let him in. He prayed 515 prayers at different times, but to no avail and he died in the desert. Here we see the detrimental effect anger can have.
Aristotle said, “Anyone can be angry – that is easy, but to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not within everyone’s power and is not easy.”
It is told of a rabbi who would say, “When I feel that I am becoming angry at someone, I postpone my anger for another time. What will I lose if I leave it for later? If anything, I will probably have much to gain by it.”
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:24 / Shabbat ends: 8:31