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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ki Tetze
A primitive vessel is not significantly affected by a flaw in one of its sections. The more delicate and complex the utensil and its mechanism, the more significance each of its parts has. In fact sometimes the smallest parts have the greatest significance. We cannot measure the mitzvot and sins found in the Torah, yet we learn something about their value from their results. If the Torah commanded the whole nation to remember Miriam’s mistake, we could learn something about the severity of that type of speech.
Tzara’at comes as a result of lashon hara (Arachin 15b), and the remedy for the sin is, "In solitude he shall sit outside the encampment" (Vayikra 13:46). He who separates between people by telling venomous stories that arouse people’s jealousy and hatred deserves specifically to himself be separated from people.
There is also a special prohibition in regard to tzara’at: it is forbidden to cut off a tzara’at lesion (Devarim 24:9; Makkot 22a). Just as speech and thought can impact the body, so can sin find expression on the body. The impurity ruins the flow of the blood and causes damage to the skin. Yet the one who would cut off the tzara’at does not want to deal with the root cause and regret his actions. Instead of going into temporary solitude, he would try to run away from the consequences. How much damage does this type of person cause to those around him and actually to himself?! When the affliction is in the open it is easier to keep one’s distance from it, literally and figuratively. The way of dealing with it must be internal, as Judaism generally prescribes, not by artificially removing it or by covering it up.
[This derasha was given in 1938, apparently in response to some local issue that Rav Yisraeli took very seriously]. What is European culture? What is hiding under the overflowing cosmetics, impressive rhetoric, and artificially flashy intellectuality? It is an attempt to "purify the sheretz (impure animal) with 150 arguments." It is to cover up human flaws, primitive instincts, and base desires with fancy but hollow explanations. When you try to cover things up, they are liable to grow and expand until one finally cannot hide them anymore.
Sometimes we suffice by "putting up posters," posters that announce that we are good and thereby hide our shortcomings. We show off the poster of being religious laborers, and then we do not have to deal with our moral shortcomings. "One can see all flaws except for the flaws that afflict himself" (Negaim 2:5). Let us look at ourselves and check the "storage chambers" of our souls by the light of the Torah and mitzvot.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
