(Dedicated to the memory of Sgt. Shmuel Akiva Weiss, Hy"d, who fell ?al kidush Hashem [sanctifying God?s name] in Jenin this week.)
One of the strangest, most perplexing events in the Torah occurs in our Sedra. We are told that if the plague of tzara'at is found in the walls of a person's home, that home may ultimately have to be destroyed. Yet, says Rashi, the demolition is a b'sora tova - good news - that results in the discovery of gold, silver and other valuables, secreted there by previous residents.
Two things about this scenario bother me. First of all, I thought that tzara'at was a physical punishment for the spiritual offense of lashon hara (improper speech). What does the demolishing of a house have to do with improper speech? If a human being sins, let him be punished, not his house! Secondly, it's quite wonderful that the broken-down walls of the home yield a treasure, but couldn't a less traumatic, more pleasant way be found to unearth the gems? Why can't the kohen be told by Hashem that ?there?s gold in them ?thar walls!? and then inform the owners?
The Kli Yakar addresses the first problem: The pasuk begins, ?Ki tavo'u el Eretz Cana?an asher ani notein lachem?? ? ?When you come to Israel which I give you to possess.? Yet, then it says, ??v'natati nega? tzara'at b'bayt eretz achuzatchem...? ? ?And I shall place the affliction in the house in the land of your possession.? If we stop acknowledging that G-d gave us this land and that we are here by His kindness, instead telling everyone that we created all this, that we alone built all these homes, then Hashem will cause those homes to crumble and our cherished edifices to fall. Only a humble appreciation of the Divine hand invisibly propping up our Land will ensure its safety and survival.
As for our having to wait until the walls fall before we receive our windfall, isn't that simply the way Hashem works? Didn't we suffer in slavery for more than a century (117 years, to be exact) before experiencing Geula (Redemption)? Didn't we fight and cry and undergo enormous anxiety before defeating our enemies in 1948, 1967 and 1973? Doesn't Hashem always bring the dawn only after the darkest night? Like the rofeh ne'eman (faithful healer) that He is, G-d decrees that the path to health is often via complex, painful, but precise, surgery.
Ribono Shel Olam (Master of the World), if You are reading this, and I believe You are, I pray to You: Enough walls have fallen upon our fragile bodies; enough pain and trauma and destruction has been visited upon Your Chosen People. Isn't it time to bring those b'sorot tovot we so desperately await? Please, bring Shalom and Geula Shleima. Bring it now.
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Rabbi Weiss is Director of the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra?anana.
One of the strangest, most perplexing events in the Torah occurs in our Sedra. We are told that if the plague of tzara'at is found in the walls of a person's home, that home may ultimately have to be destroyed. Yet, says Rashi, the demolition is a b'sora tova - good news - that results in the discovery of gold, silver and other valuables, secreted there by previous residents.
Two things about this scenario bother me. First of all, I thought that tzara'at was a physical punishment for the spiritual offense of lashon hara (improper speech). What does the demolishing of a house have to do with improper speech? If a human being sins, let him be punished, not his house! Secondly, it's quite wonderful that the broken-down walls of the home yield a treasure, but couldn't a less traumatic, more pleasant way be found to unearth the gems? Why can't the kohen be told by Hashem that ?there?s gold in them ?thar walls!? and then inform the owners?
The Kli Yakar addresses the first problem: The pasuk begins, ?Ki tavo'u el Eretz Cana?an asher ani notein lachem?? ? ?When you come to Israel which I give you to possess.? Yet, then it says, ??v'natati nega? tzara'at b'bayt eretz achuzatchem...? ? ?And I shall place the affliction in the house in the land of your possession.? If we stop acknowledging that G-d gave us this land and that we are here by His kindness, instead telling everyone that we created all this, that we alone built all these homes, then Hashem will cause those homes to crumble and our cherished edifices to fall. Only a humble appreciation of the Divine hand invisibly propping up our Land will ensure its safety and survival.
As for our having to wait until the walls fall before we receive our windfall, isn't that simply the way Hashem works? Didn't we suffer in slavery for more than a century (117 years, to be exact) before experiencing Geula (Redemption)? Didn't we fight and cry and undergo enormous anxiety before defeating our enemies in 1948, 1967 and 1973? Doesn't Hashem always bring the dawn only after the darkest night? Like the rofeh ne'eman (faithful healer) that He is, G-d decrees that the path to health is often via complex, painful, but precise, surgery.
Ribono Shel Olam (Master of the World), if You are reading this, and I believe You are, I pray to You: Enough walls have fallen upon our fragile bodies; enough pain and trauma and destruction has been visited upon Your Chosen People. Isn't it time to bring those b'sorot tovot we so desperately await? Please, bring Shalom and Geula Shleima. Bring it now.
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Rabbi Weiss is Director of the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra?anana.