Dear Friends,
What a week it has been!
Massachusetts has been one of the hotspots for Coronavirus in the country but thank G-d at least it is predicted that the number of virus cases will begin to start going down.
We consistently pray to G-d for those who need to get better.
At the same time we are told it’s time for the rest of us who remain mostly indoors to build up our immune systems. Exercise, vitamins, good rest and healthy choice foods are the call of the day, as are having a schedule to follow and keep us moving.
Immune system? Where in this weeks Torah portion do we find talk about beefing up an immune system? And what spiritual immune system message could there be?
Our Torah Portion this week tells us about a mysterious colored blotch called “Tsoraas“ that suddenly appeared and stayed upon the walls of various homes when the Jewish people entered the land of Canaan.
According to the biblical directive, if the walls of the home contained this impurity, then under the right conditions, the biblical commandment required them to break down the actual walls and only afterwards rebuild it.
The midrash relates that amidst the many unusual and miracle occurrences that happened at the time, was also the fact that when they did break down the walls, they discovered treasures of gold and silver that the enemy nation called Emori had previously hidden and stored behind those walls. More curiously, they were actually told beforehand that there was a “good tiding waiting for them“ as they fulfilled the details of this commandment relating to “impurity”.
What was the message G-d wanted to relate by first placing “an impurity“ on the walls, one that required them first to quarantine the home, and then only later, through the ensuing process, to discover that there was really a treasure there?
The message was clear: One of the healthiest things one can do to build an inner immune system at challenging times even when he/she must go through a long quarantine process, is to know that if we choose to, there can be an unexpected treasure we are uncovering along the way.
We can live in these times with positivity, conviction, and confidence and make our own home a “treasure” home.
We can do this by fulfilling and learning about the eternal and basic Mitzvot that have been the foundation of Jewish homes for thousands of years.
The Jewish family and the Jewish home have been blessed with a strong immune system able to withstand the many unfortunate illnesses and "isms" of time immemorial.
I am considering beginning a 5 week course on Zoom "Judaism at Home", on the meaning of what we do and how we do it, in building a beautiful strong Jewish home.
Please let me know if you are interested in this course by emailing me at [email protected]
With G-d's help we will together discover a treasure behind the walls of our own homes that has been there for thousands of years.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Levi Fogelman
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