Resources: • Adventist Mission Website: http://wjafc.globalmissioncenters.org/
This website is the new resource provided by the Office of Adventist Mission of the General Conference of the Seventh-day
• Website: www.jewishadventist.org
We pray every week for the leaders of the Jewish Ministry,
Shabbat Shalom Newsletter
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18th day of the Homer — Tazria-Metzora
29 April 2017 3 Iyar 5777
This issue
A must website. To subscribe to our newsletter. To download some resources (Hebrew Sabbath School, and other documents). To order the book “Comfort, Comfort my people…” and many other things. •
Professional Urban Development: The WJAFC provides:
Shalom Adventure Magazine online: www.ShalomAdventure.com
If you would like to read articles, watch videos, learn things about Judaism and Israel, this website is just for you.
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WJAFC: If you would like to share with people, this forum on facebook is a good place for that.
• Photos: https://get.google.com/albumarchive/1131446298409925652
- Professional Urban training for Jewish Ministry
91?source=pwa We have posted a lot of pictures on Internet during the last years. Don’t hesitate
- Teaching for theological students
• Russian Website: http://www.boruh.info/ This website is in Russian, many articles
- Help to plant new congregations. - Support for AdventistJewish dialogue with scholars and rabbis
WJAFC Paris
A weekly Journal of information and training published by the World Jewish Adventist Friendship Center Under the umbrella of the General Conference —Office of Adventist Mission
English Edition: Richard-Amram Elofer Russian Edition: Alexandra Obrevko French Edition: Sabine Baris Spanish Edition: Jael Wells Cuellar Portuguese Edition: Carlos Muniz Dutch Edition: Hubert Paulleta
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Weekly Jewish-Adventist Journal of Information
and the parasha are posted on it every week.
Carlos Muniz
Hubert Paulleta
News 1 Parasha’s comments 2-4 Haftarah 4-5 Apostolic Writings 5 Stories & Traditions 6 Inspirational Corner 6, 7
to look at them.
Journal of Information and Training — Issue 728 — 29 April 2017 / 3 Iyar 5777
Richard Amram Elofer
o∂rOxV;m-yAoyîr◊zAt
Emails: English: richard@elofer.com Russian: sashok_l@mail.ru French: sabinebaris@gmail.com Spanish: jael_wells@hotmail.com Portuguese: cdmuniz@gmail.com Dutch: hpauletta@hotmail.com
Credit photos: Richard Elofer, Alexandra Obrevko, Jael Wells Cuellar Hubert Paulleta, Laurent Baris and Advent Digital Media
for more information: contact us at www.jewishadventist.org
Alexandra Obrevko
Sabine Baris
We pray every week for the Jewish Friendship Ministry. I suggest our partners to pray from April 30 to May 6 for Olaf Clausen who is the Director of the World Jewish Adventist Friendship Center in Canada. He is located in Alberta where he is doing a very good work. Let’s pray for him and his wife.
News
General Conference Spring Meetings vThere are two great times of important
meetings at the General Conference: One in the Spring time (April) and the second one at the Fall time (October). Thus, on this month of April, all the directors of Global Mission were at the General Conference office, in Silver Spring (MD) to attend these meetings. The Global Mission Issues Committee is where each Director introduced to the SDA World leaders (General Conference and Divisions) some challenges they face. The World Jewish Adventist Friendship Center presented four challenges. 1. Identity and Worldview: place of the Biblical Feasts for the Jewish people, saying that the feasts are completely part of the Jewish identity and it is not reasonable to get friendship with Jews and to ignore the celebration of the feasts. 2. People group: It is important not to neglect in the Adventist work, at any level, to take interest in the Jewish people and to build a particular friendship with them, EGW said: “God expects His messengers to take particular interest in the Jewish people whom they find in all parts of the earth” (GW, 398). 3. Lack of Laborer: In this presentation, we presented the small number of workers among Adventists to take care of this ministry. The case study presented was the city of New York, where more than 2 millions Jews are living and where just one pastor is working, yet even not full time.
4. Use of Resources: It is very easy to take interest and have friendship with insider people and institutions, but what do we do for small groups of people we have around us? The Jewish people is a very small group in the world, in many countries it is only a matter of a few thousands of people, what do we do to engage in friendship with Jews even though they are a small group, during this part of the presentation a video produced by Jennifer Betham-Lang from New Zealand was shown, which was very much appreciated.
Spring Executive Committee vIn addition to the Global Mission Execu-
tive Committee, several other meetings were organized during the two weeks of Spring meetings. But certainly the main one was the Spring Executive Committee. This meeting is much more about reports of the officers especially the financial report for the year 2016. Other reports and project were presented by the Departments: The next world congress of Religious Liberty in Miami in August. A new global visual identity system with the current logo, and a document on statement on transgenderism was voted.
Parasha Overview:
Tazria
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he Torah commands a woman to bring a korban after the birth of a child. A son is to be circumcised on the eighth day of his life. The Torah introduces the phenomenon of tzara’at (often mistranslated as leprosy) — a miraculous disease that attacks people, clothing and buildings to awaken a person to spiritual failures. A kohen must be consulted to determine whether a particular mark is tara’at or not. The kohen isolates the sufferer for a week. If the disease remains unchanged, confinement continues for a second week, after which the kohen decides the person’s status. The Torah describes the different forms of tzara’at. One whose tzara’at is confirmed wears torn clothing, does not cut his hair, and must alert others that he is ritually impure. He may not have normal contact with people. The phenom-
“G-d spoke to Moses, telling him: ‘Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child (…) And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised’.” (Leviticus 12:1-3)
Parasha for this Week
Tazria-Metzora
o∂rOxV;m-yAoyîr◊zAt Leviticus 12:1 - 15:33 Cleanness and uncleanness
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hese parashot (Tazria and Metsora) continue the teaching of purification and teme’ah (ritually uncleanness). According to Rabbi Hirsch these chapters discuss conditions that Jeopardize — to an even greater degree — the consciousness of moral freedom. For these conditions represent the bodily submission of living man. They show as it were, the death of moral freedom in the midst of life itself; consequently, they require a special demonstration of the truth that contradicts this. The laws of purity of these parashot are among the most difficult to understand. Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks wrote “The first principle essential to understanding the laws of ritual purity and impurity is that G-d is life. Judaism is a profound rejection of cults, ancient and modern, that glorify death. The great pyramids of Egypt were grandiose tombs. Arthur Koestler noted that
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without death ‘the cathedrals collapse, the pyramids vanish into the sand, the great organs become silent.’” and he continues saying “Judaism is a protest against deathcentred cultures. ‘It is not the dead who praise the L-rd, nor those who go down into silence’ (Psalm 115) ‘What profit is there in my death, if I go down into the pit? Can the dust acknowledge You? Can it proclaim your truth?’ (Psalm 30). As we open a sefer Torah we say: ‘All of you who hold fast to the L-rd your God are alive today’ (Deut. 4:4). The Torah is a tree of life. G-d is the G-d of life. As Moses put it in two memorable words: ‘Choose life’ (Deut. 30: 19). It follows that kedushah (holiness) — a point in time or space where we stand in the unmediated presence of G-d — involves a supreme consciousness of life. That is why the paradigm case of tumah is contact with a corpse. Other cases of tumah include diseases or bodily emissions that remind us of our mortality. God’s domain is life. Therefore it may not be associated in any way with intimations of death.”
Pregnant Woman
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arshat Shemini concludes with the topic of kosher and non-kosher foods. And then start with the women who give birth to a child: “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean.” (Leviticus 12:1–2). Do we have a connection between Kosher food and child birth? The Torah is teaching us that the parents’ obligation to a child does not begin when he is born, the Jewish tradition has seen parents’ obligation even when the fetus is in his mother’s womb. The pregnant mother must be careful with the food she eats, because it can have a positive or negative effect on the child, depending on whether it is kosher or not. But modern scientists give more information today, not only what we eat, but also what we drink, what we see and hear, and of course smoking is criminal when women are pregnant. It is important to give to the baby every opportunity to grow in
harmony with the blessing of the Lord.
The First Mitzvah
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he Torah States: “And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.” (Leviticus 12:3), in orthodox homes the father is preparing his son very carefully for the circumcision. Due to his young age, his parents must take an active role in the planning and preparation of this mitzvah. When it comes to Judaism, many parents tend to say, “When our child will become older, he will make his own decisions.” God asked us in the Torah to teach our children from their birth to adulthood. If we don’t educate our children in the faith of God, it is very rare that they will get it without their parent’s help. The circumcision is the first mitzvah a boy will perform, he is only eight day old. But a wrong understanding of this fact could be in the heart of everyone, thinking that heaven is won through the achievement of the mitzvoth when it is not. The Jewish people
are far from salvation by works. Salvation is a pure grace of G-d not according to our achievement. That is why it is customary to recite the Shema Israel to a baby on the night before his brit (circumcision). The Gemara (Berachot 13a) explains that we recite the portion of Shema Yisrael before the circumcision so that one should first accept upon himself “Heaven” (grace) and afterwards the yoke of mitzvot. The following morning the child will be performing his first mitzvah, the mitzvah of circumcision; therefore, the Shema Israel is recited the night before, so that he should accept God’s grace before accepting the yoke of mitzvot.
Metzorah
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he Torah states: “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing.” (Leviticus 14:1–2) It is interesting to notice that the leper in this verse is called a “metzora”, how can we understand this Hebrew word? The Gemara (Arachin 15b) says that the
word “metzora” is a combination of two words: “motzi ra” — “one who brings out evil” [about another person]. The punishment for this is nega tzara’at — plague of leprosy.
Evil Talk or Slander
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arasha Metzora starts saying: “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest,” (Leviticus 14:1–2), before any discussion we have to know that for the Jewish tradition this disease is not what we know today as the leprosy, but rather a form of punishment to those guilty of lashon hara — evil talk or gossip (Arachin 15b). The origin of this tradition come certainly from the experience of Miriam and Aharon, Moses siblings who spoke lashon hara about Moses’s wife: “Miriam and Aharon spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman.” (Numbers 12:1), G-d rebuked them and Miriam was punished with this kind of leprosy “When the cloud removed from over
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enon of tzara’at on clothing is described in detail.
Metzora
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he Torah describes the procedure for a Metzora’ (a person afflicted with tzara’at) upon conclusion of his isolation. This process extends for a week, and involves offerings and immersions in the mikveh. Then, a kohen must pronounce the Metzora’ pure. A Metzora’ of limited financial means may substitute lesser offerings for the more expensive animals. Before a kohen diagnoses that a house has tzara’at, household possessions are removed to prevent them from also being declared ritually impure. The tzara’at is removed by smashing and rebuilding that section of the house; if it reappears, the entire building must be razed. The Torah details those bodily secretions that render a person spiritually impure, thereby preventing his contact with holy items, and how one regains a state of ritual purity.
Haftarah Overview 2 Kings 4:42-5:19
“And anyone who touches his bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.” (Leviticus 15:5)
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n the text of parashah Tazri’a we have the description of “tzara’at”. Even though the Jewish tradition says that it is not leprosy all the symptom of this sickness look like leprosy The old Jewish tradition has seen this parasha in connection with leprosy, that’s why the corresponding text in the Haftara is about Naaman, a Syrian who got leprosy. “Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the L-RD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.” (2 Kings 5:1) . This man was highly appreciated, by men and by G-d. In his house was a young Jewish girl who served his wife. This young girl believed with all her heart in the G-d of Israel, she was sure that her master could be healed by G-d and his prophet. There is no discrimination of person for G-d, Jews and Gentiles are loved and receive blessings if they are faithful people. Naaman went to the king of Israel and then to the prophet Elisha. Elisha sent him to the Jordan river to be immersed seven times, then he was healed, (2Kings
the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.” (Numbers 12:10). The first verse of the parasha says: , “This shall be the law of (Torat)” According to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi in Midrash Rabbah (16:6), the word “Torat” — “law of ” — is mentioned five times in regard to the leper. This teaches that one who speaks lashon hara commits a grave sin, equivalent to violating the five books of the Torah. Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky asks the question: What is the link between lashon hara (gossip) and the five books of the Torah? Here is his answer: In Chumash Bereishit (Genesis) the serpent encourages Chava (Eve) to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge by speaking lashon hara (Gossip) about Hashem. He tells Chava, “Hashem forbids you to eat the fruit because a craftsman hates competitors. He, too, was able to create the world, only after gaining wisdom through eating this fruit” (Rashi 3:5). In Chumash Shemot (Exodus) Hashem tells Moshe to put his hand into his bosom. When he takes it out it is white as snow with leprosy. This happens to Moshe because of speaking lashon hara (evil
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talk) against the Jewish people when he says, “They will not believe me” (Rashi 4:6). In Chumash Vayikra (Leviticus) the Torah clearly states the prohibition of speaking lashon hara (evil talk): “You shall not be a talebearer among your people” (19:16). In Chumash Bamidbar (Numbers) we learn about Miriam’s affliction with leprosy for talking lashon hara about Moshe (12:10). In Chumash Devarim (Deuteronomy) the Torah warns: “Take heed of the plague of leprosy... remember what Hashem did to Miriam on the way as you came out of Egypt” (24:8-9). Since lashon hara (evil talk) is alluded to in each of the five books of the Torah, the leper who speaks lashon hara (evil talk) is considered to have violated all of them.
Total Immersion
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n the Torah, purification is through water, and ritual immersion: “he shall bathe his whole body in water and be unclean until the evening.” (Leviticus 15:16). The Gemara (Eruvin 4b) explains that this refers to a Mikveh (ritual bath for immersion) of at least 40 se’ah of water (approximately 120 gallons or 455 liters). The mikveh serves for purification. A gentile woman considered becoming a giyoret (convert to Judaism). She con-
tacted a Rabbi, who informed her of the requirements and mentioned immersion in a mikveh. She was ready to do everything except for the mikveh or ritual immersion, which she found difficult to comprehend. He advised her to write her dilemma to the Lubavitcher Rebbe. She received the following response: According to the Gemara (Yevamot 22a), a person who undergoes conversion is considered a newborn. When an embryo is formed in the mother’s womb, it is in a placenta surrounded by water on all sides. Similarly, the convert immerses himself entirely in the waters of the mikveh and emerges a newborn person. According to the Jewish tradition, when a person enters the Mikveh for a purification, and as he is immersing himself he pronounces these words: “Create in me a clean heart, O G-d, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10). The Rebbe’s reply provides an insight into Mikveh purification in general. Every person is pure at birth. Afterwards he may do things which defile himself. Immersion in the mikveh is a form of rebirth and through it he returns to his original state of purity.
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Apostolic Writings — Luke 2:21-39
ur Parasha Tazriah, commands to circumcise every boy at the age of eight days. “On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised.” (Lev 12:3) and after forty days of purification there is another ceremony: the presentation of the boy to the Almighty “When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering.” (Lev 12 6). We should remember that Yeshua was born as a Jew and lived a Jewish life. That is why his parents who were orthodox Jews fulfilled these obligations of the Torah, and even though they were living in Nazareth and Yeshua was born in Bethlehem, they wanted to perform their religious duty in the Temple of Jerusalem. It is written in the Besorah of Luke “On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.” (Luke 2:21). Yeshua was born in a Jewish religious family. There should be no doubt about this point, because there are always people who are surprised to learn that Yeshua was a Jew, a practicing Jew, who was faithful to the Torah of Moshe Rabbenu. In fact, it was certainly one of the reasons of the choice of Miriam as his mother. It has already been explained in these columns about the incarnation of Yeshua. As the Jewish tradition teaches, the Messiah was in heaven in the presence of
Hashem, waiting for the right moment to come on the earth. This timing was the topic of the prophecy of the “seventyweeks” of Daniel 9:24-27. Thus, when the timing of this prophecy was fulfilled, Yeshua incarnated himself as a baby in the womb of Miriam (John 1:1-14). However, it would be impossible for G-d to entrust Yeshua to a woman or a family who would not teach him to be faithful to the Torah, all the purpose of G-d in sending the Messiah would be destroyed. That is why from the very beginning of his life on earth, the Bible tells us how faithful was Yeshua and his family to the Torah. It is also the reason why the text gives the narration of the presentation of Yeshua in the temple when he was 40 days. After Miriam’s purification time it is written “When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22). Circumcision and presentation of a baby have always been important ceremonies in a Jewish family. But it was much more important for Yeshua, because when they were in Yerushalayim they met two prophets: the first one called Simeon, who is presented in the Besorah as a Tsadik (a righteous) and someone who was waiting for the Mashiach. When he saw Yeshua baby he received a vision from the Ruach Hakodesh. He took the baby in his arms and said “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light
for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29–32). Miriam and Yoseph was amazed, “And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.” (Luke 2:33). Simeon blessed them: “And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed’.” (Luke 2:34–35). The second prophet is an old lady (eighty-four year-old), called Anna, she is presented as a very devout old widow who never left the Temple, praying day and night. It is written that when she saw Miriam, Yoseph and Yeshua: “Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38). It is then clear that she was visited by the Ruach Hakodesh, she received a vision or a revelation too, letting her know that this boy would bring redemption to Israel. We don’t know how many people took attention to her prophecy and her words in the Temple, but Yeshua’s parents did not want to much exposure, knowing that Herod was a crazy king who would kill anyone who would compete with him about the throne. In the Jewish tradition, the Messiah is a descendant of king David, and as such would be a good candidate to replace him as the king of Israel. That is why Yeshua’s family left Jerusalem as soon as they could after this presentation in the Temple.
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5:14; 15). Naamam wanted to reward the prophet of G-d, but Elisha refused (2Kings 5:16).
2 Kings 7:3 - 7:20
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eprous men (2 Kings 7) are ready to accept their fate and to die, but before dying they want to help G-d’s people in their war against the Syrians. (2Kings 7:34). Usually, in Israel leprous are unclean people. They are considered cursed by the L-rd. But the story of this Haftara shows us a complete different perception of leprous, and these four men are going to be used by the L-rd to deliver Israel from her enemy and their army. (2Kings 7:6-7). After eating and drinking in the tents of their enemies they decided to go to the Jewish camp and to say to the king of Israel what happened, “So the messengers returned, and told the king” (2Kings 7:15). Israel was saved. It is a great lesson for us, how many times we have some prejudices against some people, thinking that in their condition they cannot be blessed or even be a blessing for anyone. But the L-rd like to surprise us and to take some special ways we have not thought before.
Inspirational Corner v In the teaching that
G-d gave to Israel, the preservation of health received careful attention. The people who had come from slavery with the uncleanly and unhealthful habits which it engenders, were subjected to the strictest training in the wilderness before entering Canaan. Health principles were taught and sanitary laws enforced. Prevention of Disease Not only in their religious service, but in all the affairs of daily life was observed the distinction between clean and unclean. All who came in contact with contagious or contaminating diseases were isolated from the encampment, and they were not permitted to return without thorough cleansing of both the person and the clothing. (MH 277)
Stories and Traditions
Best and Worst thing
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he Midrash relates that Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel sent his servant to the market and said, “Bring me the best thing you can find. “ The servant came back with a tongue. Another time, Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel said to his servant, “Go to the market and bring me the worst thing you can find.” Again, the servant returned with a tongue. Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel was startled and asked his servant, “How is it that you brought me a tongue as the best thing you could find, and again a tongue as the worst?” The servant replied, “There is nothing better than a tongue that speaks good and nothing worse than a tongue that speaks evil.”
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Slander
n the Polish city of Radin there lived the great tzaddik (righteous) and gaon (Academic Authority) Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen, known as the “Chafeitz Chaim.” An individual who had heard many intriguing stories about him decided to visit the city and see him personally. Upon arrival, he met an elderly bearded Jew in the street and asked him, “Could you please guide me to the home of the holy tzaddik and gaon the Chafeitz Chaim?” Graciously, the man told him to turn right at the corner and look for the first house on the second block. Then he said, “Incidentally, he is not such a tzaddik, nor is he a gaon.” The visitor
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became enraged and slapped the elderly man across the face: “What audacity you have to speak in such a manner!” When the visitor arrived at the home of the Chafeitz Chaim and was let into his study, he was horrified to learn that the man he had slapped earlier was the Chafeitz Chaim himself. Immediately he broke out in tears, apologized, and begged for forgiveness. The Chafeitz Chaim smiled warmly and said, “There is no need to apologize; I deserved the admonition. I have dedicated my entire life to informing K’lal Yisrael about the terrible sin of lashon hara (slander). Today, I gained a new insight: not only is lashon hara about others prohibited, but a Jew should not even speak negatively about himself.”
We lost Alamo
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n the early 1900s, a simple religious Russian Jew decided that he could no longer stand the Czar’s persecution. He would leave Russia to join his son who had settled in Houston, Texas, some twenty years earlier. The son, who had totally assimilated and was a successful oilman, was thrown into a panic. “Of course, you are welcome, Pa,” he cabled, “I will arrange a visa, your tickets and fares. But you must realize that I have a wonderful reputation here as an oil man. When you arrive, you must adapt to American culture or I will be destroyed. Upon arrival at the train station, the old man, dressed in his long coat and up-brimmed hat, was whisked to a haberdashery, where he was fitted with the lat-
est style fedora and a moderncut suit. But still, his father looked too Jewish. “Pa it’s not enough. I’ll take you to the barber.” The first thing that came off was the beard. The son looked on and said, “it’s not enough Pa. The peyot, they’ll have to go.” The barber cut off the right peya. While the son looked on proudly, his pa was becoming a real American. Then the second. And the old man began to weep. “Why are you crying, Papa?” the son asked incredulously. The father, resigned to his fate, simply answered. “I am crying because we lost the Alamo!”
Kids Parasha Tazria-Metzora
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Inspirational Corner
v
Spiritual Smell
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Talmudic sage was once walking with Eliyahu Hanavi (Elijah the Prophet). On the way, they passed a dead horse. The smell was unbearable so the sage held his nose with his fingers. However, the smell didn’t bother Eliyahu Hanavi. Then they walked by a man dressed very elegantly. He was wearing a wonderful perfume and held his head high, walking as if the whole world belonged to him. As the man passed, Eliyahu Hanavi held his nose. “When we passed the dead horse the smell didn’t bother you, yet, when this man walked by you held your nose! Tell me why?” asked the sage. Eliyahu Hanavi replied, “The spiritual smell of this haughty person “Baal Ga’avah” is much worse than the physical smell of the dead horse.”
Leviticus 12:1 - 15:33
“These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. But anything in the seas or the rivers that does not have fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you. You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses. Everything in the waters that does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.” (Leviticus 11:9–12)
http://www.bnai-tikkun.org.nz7
During the sojourn in the wilderness the Israelites were almost continually in the open air, where impurities would have a less harmful effect than upon the dwellers in close houses. But the strictest regard to cleanliness was required both within and without their tents. No refuse was allowed to remain within or about the encampment. (MH 279)