This week's parsha
Unless otherwise noted, "This week's Parsha" comprises articles taken from contributors to the Chabad.org website. We show the original author's name here, so that proper attribution is given. For the sake of brevity, footnotes cited in the original author's writings are omitted from this website. If you need to see the citations, please refer to the original articles on the Chabad.org website.
The Power of the Spoken Word
Did you know that it is possible for a person to be murdered and not even know about it, even carrying on life as usual?
How can this be? This week's Torah reading speaks of the affliction known as tzara'at. The commentators explain that tzara'at was a punishment for the transgression of speaking lashon hara. Lashon hara, which translated literally means "the evil tongue" or "evil speech," includes slander, gossip and rumors, among other things.
As the old British wartime adage goes, "Careless talk costs lives." The Talmud relates in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani: "Why is the evil tongue called a thrice-slaying tongue? Because it kills three people: the person speaking, the person spoken to, and the person being spoken about." It may not kill them physically, but it is character assassination.
How can this be? This week's Torah reading speaks of the affliction known as tzara'at. The commentators explain that tzara'at was a punishment for the transgression of speaking lashon hara. Lashon hara, which translated literally means "the evil tongue" or "evil speech," includes slander, gossip and rumors, among other things.
As the old British wartime adage goes, "Careless talk costs lives." The Talmud relates in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani: "Why is the evil tongue called a thrice-slaying tongue? Because it kills three people: the person speaking, the person spoken to, and the person being spoken about." It may not kill them physically, but it is character assassination.
Birth and Rebirth
Birth and rebirth are the themes of this Shabbat. This is both because of the content of the Torah reading and because of the time of the year on the Jewish calendar.
The parshah opens with the laws concerning a woman who conceives and bears a child. The ceremonies surrounding the great event and the idea of the brit milah, the Covenant of Circumcision, which brings a Jewish infant boy into his special bond with G-d, are explained. The sages tell us that a girl is considered to have been born circumcised. Thus every Jew enters the world with a special Divine bond and responsibility.
The joy of birth is expressed by the fact that in Temple times, the happy mother would bring an offering to the Temple as thanksgiving to G-d, as described in the parshah.
The parshah opens with the laws concerning a woman who conceives and bears a child. The ceremonies surrounding the great event and the idea of the brit milah, the Covenant of Circumcision, which brings a Jewish infant boy into his special bond with G-d, are explained. The sages tell us that a girl is considered to have been born circumcised. Thus every Jew enters the world with a special Divine bond and responsibility.
The joy of birth is expressed by the fact that in Temple times, the happy mother would bring an offering to the Temple as thanksgiving to G-d, as described in the parshah.
Dwarves on Giants' Shoulders
This week's Parshah, Shemini, describes events of the eighth day following the seven days of inauguration of the Tabernacle. It was also a day, our sages tell us, which possessed many "firsts": it was a Sunday, the first day of the week; it was the 1st of the month of Nissan, marking the beginning of a new year, it was the first day that the Divine Presence came to dwell in the Sanctuary, the first day of the Priesthood, the first day of the service in the Sanctuary, and so on. With so many "firsts" why does the Torah refer to it –- and by extension, to the entire Parshah –- as "the eighth day"?
The answer is that the number "eight" defines certain qualities. Seven is the order of nature –- represented in the seven days of the week; eight is "higher than nature." On the other hand, the Torah is connecting this day to the seven days that preceded it –- it is not just a day in its own right, but the "eighth day" following a cycle of seven. This teaches us that an event or concept does not just exist in its own right, but has a link to the preceding events.
The answer is that the number "eight" defines certain qualities. Seven is the order of nature –- represented in the seven days of the week; eight is "higher than nature." On the other hand, the Torah is connecting this day to the seven days that preceded it –- it is not just a day in its own right, but the "eighth day" following a cycle of seven. This teaches us that an event or concept does not just exist in its own right, but has a link to the preceding events.
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