Greetings from the Head of School - Parshat Tazriah Metzora - April 16th.
This week in school, at home and in our shuls we most likely were on a roller coaster ride of emotions. On Monday and Tuesday we celebrated Rosh Chodesh, especially joyous days for women. On Wednesday we were plunged into profound sadness commemorating Yom Hazikaron - remembrance day for those that died defending the Land, People and State of Israel as well as those that were killed through acts of terror. On Thursday, Yom Ha’atzmaut brought a renewed feeling of pride, happiness and hope. And here we are it is Friday again and we can feel the adrenaline calming down and a wave of peacefulness is enveloping us.
The parshiot we read this Shabbat, Tazria Metzora, continue to teach us the laws of holiness and unholiness. טומאה וטהרה. We are reminded that we are mortals, physical beings while Hakadosh Baruch Hu is immortal and completely spiritual. The acts or events that make us impure are all related to our physicality- birth, death, and other bodily changes.
The parshiot continue with the details of Tzaraat - which is usually translated as a form of leprosy. Tzaarat is the physical manifestation of a spiritual impurity. Most meforshim attribute tzaraat as a direct result of speaking Lashon Harah - slander, gossip. The word for the person afflicted with leprosy is Mesorah מצורע which may be thought of as the contraction of מוציא שם רע- one who spreads slander.
The power of speech elevates humans above animals. It is an expression of our intellect, our ability to think and communicate effectively. Speech is so powerful as a good word, a compliment, can raise a person’s energy level, yet a negative remark can be so hurtful. When we were little there was a nursery rhyme “Stick and Stones may break my bones, but names will never harm me” Unfortunately that is anything but true. Often we can recuperate from a physical wound, but an emotional hurt is much harder to mend. In fact, we learn that speaking Lashon Harah harms three people, the speaker, the recipient and the one spoken about.
The Chofetz Chaim in Hilchos Lashon Harah teaches us that Laws of Lashon Hara prohibits a Jew from degrading others through any means, including hand and facial gestures or the written word. Think about that when you roll your eyes at someone's remark or send a sharply worded text message.
With all that we know about how harmful Lashon Hara is-especially today with widely used social media it is like any other bad habit. We are almost addicted to it. When I was a 9th grader I had the privilege of working as a mother’s helper for the principal of my school, Rabbi Haskel and Mrs. Lookstein. There is so much to be learned in the home of an educator, even more than in school. The Rabbi once said to me that if you hold yourself back once a day from speaking Lashon Hara, you have fulfilled the entire mitzvah. Being a 13 year old I scoffed at the idea - what once a day, and then it is ok to keep on gossiping with my friends? But as I matured I understood the profundity of the statement - because if you can keep yourself back once a day, then you can restrain speaking twice a day, and then three times - until you have trained yourself not to gossip at all. Try it, it's hard but it works!
The ability to speak is a gift that we have received from Hashem. Someone who is careful with one’s words and uses the power of speech to heal and praise, derives a great deal of spiritual sustenance from this wonderful present. Our words can be used to spread peace, lift spirits and bring joy to our family, our friends and to ourselves. Just as words can harm so too can they help.
Give someone a call today - and wish them a Shabbat Shalom - you will see how beautiful those two words can feel.
Wishing you all a VERY Good Shabbos
Rochelle Brand, Ed.D.
Head of School
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