Tazria Metzora Text message

Parashiot Tazria (When a woman conceives) and Metzorah (Leper)

Skin diseases for everybody!!!

These sections deal mainly with sacrifices and skin diseases.

The Torah (in the first parasha) starts describing the diseases that can affect a person (Adam) and ends with the diseases that can affect clothing (Begued).

This speaks about the downward spiral a person can experience.

Two interpretations.

At the beginning, a person is considered a person... at the end, a person is considered only what he or she wears.

Or all the way around... The decline occurs on those who judge others; one thing is to judge by who the person is and something completely different (and lower) is to judge someone by what he/she wears.

 

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Shemini Text Message

Parashat Shemini (The eighth day)

We read in Leviticus chapter 9:7 "Moses said to Aaron, 'Come up to the altar and perform your purification offering...' "

It was the day of the consecration of the Tabernacle and Moses tells Aaron:  "Come closer..." That is really weird...

Apparently, Aaron saw the horns of the altar and they reminded him of the horns of the Golden Calf and he felt ashamed. Therefore, he decided to keep some distance.

Aaron knew his faults and imperfections; he didn't very easily forget his mistake.

Sometimes mistakes are difficult to erase from our memories... When that happens, it is always good to keep some distance and react with humility.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Pesach Text message

Pesach eight day

When I was in Barranquilla, Colombia, it was extremely difficult to get Passover products.

Today the Passover products in Argentina are extremely expensive.

Here in the U.S., it is easier... The variety of products that is available is incredible and the prices are "reasonable."

I know we are about to finish the Holiday and you may start thinking how tired we are of the matzoth and the Passover food.

Before you complain, think of all the blessings, opportunities and accessibilities  you have today in this country.

I am sure you will change your mind and will not complain, backwards, take advantage and thank G-d for all you have.

This is what Pesach is about, remembering things could have been worse and enjoying the present.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Pesach Text message

The Haggadah is one of these mysterious items our tradition has.

I still remember the Haggadah my mother's uncle brought every year to the Seder.

Even though he visited us very frequently and always brought presents, I looked at that Haggadah with curiosity and special interest.

Now that I think back to those times, I think I understand why that green book was so particular.

The Haggadah tells us where we come from. Two nights in the year we sit down around the table to talk about our origins.

It is a mitzvah to speak about our origins, not just a social act.

This Pesach think of the Sedarim you remember from your childhood and thank G-d for all the accomplishments you personally and we as a people made.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Tzav text message

Parashat Tzav (Command)

Sacrifices are all over the book of Leviticus. The details and repetitions may make it look an arid and "boring" text.

Part of the richness of the repetitions lays in minor changes that may happen and sometimes are "invisible."

In this section we find again a list of the sacrifices that were brought at the Tabernacle.

There is a common ground among all of them but one. All the sacrifices are to be eaten on the day (and the night) they are brought.

The only exception is the "Zevah Shelamim." For that sacrifice, people had two days and one night of time to eat it.

Shelamim comes from the word "shalem" and "shalom" - wholeness and peace.

Sometimes we need more time to achieve wholeness and to make peace.

It is just a matter of time.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Vaykra Text Message

Parashat Vaykra (G-d called Moses)

The Book of Leviticus starts with the word Vayikrah. That word has a parculiarity, the letter Aleph is smaller than the rest of the letter.

As you may imagine, many explanations were given.

The one I like the most is that when Moses was writing the Torah up in Mount Sinai, a little bit of the ink spilled on his face.

Therefore two things: 1) His face was shining 2) He had less ink and the Aleph became smaller.

It would be great if we realize that in our daily tasks, we can "spill" some holiness and shine.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Vayakel - Pekudei Text Message

Vayakel (Moses assembled) - Pekudei (The reckonings of the Tabernacle)

With this Torah sections, we conclude the book of Exodus.

Towards the end of the book, we find the following words: (Exodus 40:34)

"When Moses had finished all the work, the cloud covered the meeting tent and the Lord’s glorious presence filled the dwelling. Moses couldn’t enter the meeting tent because the cloud had settled on it, and the Lord’s glorious presence filled the dwelling."

Moses could have acted differently. It was just a cloud. Clouds are accessible, penetrable and, therefore, Moses could have entered anyway.

But Moses knew there are spaces we are not supposed to invade. There are private spheres we should respect and never try to occupy.

Those are usually called sacred spaces.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L