Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Tazria - Metzora
concept of Niddah. When a woman begins to
menstruate & cannot conceive, she enters the
Niddah state and separates from her husband for a
period of 7 days (biblically, that is;
the Rabbis tacked on 5 more days for a total of 12 days).
These 7 days connect to the 7 days of mourning.
In both cases, death is present: actual death for
the mourner; potential death for the woman who
did not conceive. When we confront death, we
temporarily move away from pleasure – such as
relations with our spouse - in order to
contemplate life, loss, G-d & our role in the universe.
Both the state of mourning (aveilut) & that of
niddah are what the Torah calls Tumah: a
progression away from life - real or possible -
and a somber reaction to demise. Man is meant to
create - just as G-d is the ultimate Creator - &
when life is destroyed, rather than created, we mourn.
Yet after the obligatory mourning period comes
renewal, hope & joy. The waters of the Mikva
purify us; water is the ultimate symbol & source
of growth & new life. The very fact that we
grapple with loss inspires us to appreciate life
even more, & pursue it with greater zeal.
7 days can also connect to 7 weeks. The 7 weeks
from Pesach to Shavuot represent a progression
from the death, degradation & impurity of
Egyptian slavery to the life & pleasure of the
Torah, which is always symbolized by water - mayim chaim - Torat chaim.
The trauma of war confronts us on a daily basis.
Like aveilut, this must give us pause as we ask
the deepest questions: Why do we suffer? For what
cause do we die & more importantly, for what
cause do we live? What can I create & build that
will be a pure & lasting source of life?
The most potent tumah/impurity is that of a
corpse, in Hebrew a chalal, or empty space. That
which once held a precious soul/neshama, & is now
empty of that neshama, is supremely impure.
Challal is also connected to the word chillul -
desecration, as in chillul Hashem, the profaning
of G-d’s name. A person - or a nation! – that
lacks a neshama sullies G-d’s name. Whenever Jews
die at the hands of an enemy that, too, is a
chillul Hashem. We must all stand in awe of our
holy, pure soldiers, for they guard us from death
& bring us life. They are, literally, a Kiddush
Hashem & it is to them that we should raise our
glasses & drink l’Chayim. Let us honor them by
keeping them in mind each time we make Kiddush, &
by this simple act remember these brave men &
women who are truly the "Kiddush of Hashem."
Blood and (re)birth
Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Nisaan 5783
The Childrens Prosperity
Rabbi Berel Wein zt"l | Iyar 4 5781
Is there such a thing as Lashon Tov?
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | 2 Nissan 5784
Medical Procedures on a Parent
Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | 3 Nissan 5784
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
Iyar 5783
Parasha Summary - Beha'alotcha
An Overview of the Torah Portion
When silence is not golden!
20 Sivan 5784
