Female LessonParashat HashavuaSeries'LibraryPiskei Din (Hebrew)Test YourselfOur Sedra details the clothes worn by the Kohanim; one of them is the "mitznefet," assumed to be a turban made of fabric wound around & around, but which Rashi calls a "kipa" or tall hat. The tradition to wear a kipa is not derived from any biblical verse. Rather, it is a custom which evolved as a sign of our recognition that there is someone above us who watches our every act. This is the meaning of "yarmulka" – literally, "Yare Malka," or "fear of the King." The Gemara in Shabbat tells of a woman who was told by astrologers that her son would be a thief; she made sure that his head was always covered so he would overcome his urge to steal. In Talmudic times, wearing a head covering was reserved for men of great stature. In later generations, though, it became the accepted custom for all Jewish men to wear a kipa at all times, especially during prayer. As with all Jewish customs, once they become universally accepted practice, they take on a more obligatory status.
Explaining Tzni'ut in a Modern Appealing Way of Rav Kook
Tzni'ut or humility has a bad "rap" for it goes against many "givens" of the western world. Arrogant people who depend on the approval or (often cheap) attention of others, rather than working on their inner selves, actually lose their own self, and inside feel emptiness. Humility is externally mistaken for unhappiness, just as arrogance is mistaken for happiness. This class is a must for parents and educators, especially of teenage girls, but really for everyone.
Rav Kook innovatively explains why Kohanim are forbidden to come in contact with death and that Kabbalists say that all women are like Kohanim- for the highest level in Judaism is life. This has many interesting ramifications!
Even within arrogance there are different levels. Rav Kook explains the logical connection the Talmud makes between lack of humility, laziness and exile.
"FIRST 'THE NATIONS WILL SAY: 'G-D DID GREAT FOR [ISRAEL]' "
We don't always understand and sometimes Israel pays a price for being the closest nation to Hashem, but that is essentially part of our role. Rav Kook explains just like the prophets often suffered for saying uncomfortable G-dly messages, similarly Am Yisrael historically had to pay the prices as "the conscience of mankind", and the way Hashem is seen to the world. Recently, more and more gentile leaders are beginning to point out the unique and "Chosen" role of Israel, including a game-changing article by an editor of a leading British paper.
"NOT ALL HATE IS CREATED EQUAL"- p. Tazria-Metzora
The parsha teaches the tragedy of being alone and separate, but our 2,000 year galut is exactly that. Because of the universality of anti-Semitism, we unfortunately sometimes tend to make simplistic associations, & lump all this hatred together, as if it's the same. Yes, Iran hates us like the Nazis did, but today's war on all accounts is totally different, and we must thank G-d on Yom HaAtzma'ut for all those differences.