B"H
Friday, Nissan 30, 5783 (Hakhel Year) 15th Sefirah / April 21, 2023
Today (Friday) is the first day Rosh Chodesh of the new Hebrew month, Iyar. Shabbat will be the second day Rosh Chodesh. As a result, on Shabbat two Torahs are taken out of the ark. In the first Torah the weekly Parsha is read. In the second one the Maftir, which is about Rosh Codesh, is read.
This Shabbat the two Parshiot Tazria and Metzora, are read. They both deal with the laws of "Tzara’at" which results in spiritual impurity when it afflicts a person.
"Tzara’at" is an ailment with physical symptoms similar to leprosy. During the time of the Bet HaMikdash (Holy Temple) the Kohen (priest) would have to investigate the condition of the one afflicted with Tzara’at and declare the person spiritually "clean" or "unclean." The laws of "Tzara’at" applied only during the time of the Holy Temple.
Our sages explain that "Tzara’at" was inflicted upon a person as a punishment for speaking "Lashon Hara" – talking badly and slandering others. Speaking ill about others is an extremely grave sin.
According to our sages, slander hurts three people; the one who speaks, the person who listens and the person spoken about! Since we do not have the Bet HaMikdash (Holy Temple) today, the laws of Tzara’at do not apply, yet the prohibition to speak evil about people is nevertheless the same.
Our sages have often emphasized the need for a person to be very careful when speaking about others. In fact, we are advised in some cases to refrain from speaking about others even when our intention is to say nice things, for in the course of the conversation one may come to say something negative.
The importance of refraining from speaking about others can also be seen from the commandment of the Torah, "Remember what the L-rd your G-d did unto Miriam on the way, as you came out of Egypt." Miriam spoke negatively about her brother Moshe and she became leprous (Tzara’at). The Torah commands us to remember this episode so that we, too, should refrain from speaking bad about others.
Our sages compare the damage inflicted through Lashon Hara to a person shooting an arrow at somebody else. As soon as the arrow leaves the person who shot it, they have no control over it anymore. Similarly, as soon as a person utters negative words about others, he loses control over them and there is no telling how far they may travel and how much damage they may inflict.
The Midrash tells that Rabbi Shimon sent his servant to the market, “Bring me the best thing you can find in the market.” He brought back a tongue. Sometime later Rabbi Shimon said to him, “Go to the market and bring me back the worst thing you can find.” Again, he brought back a tongue.
Rabbi Shimon said to him, “How is it that when I asked you to bring the best thing from the market you brought a tongue and when I asked for the worst thing you also brought a tongue?” The servant replied, “There is nothing better than a tongue when it says good things and there is nothing worse than the tongue when it speaks evil!”
SHABBAT SHALOM & CHODESH TOV – A HAPPY AND HEALTHY MONTH
Montreal Shabbat candle lighting time: 7:30 / Shabbat ends: 8:38