Some
Questions to Ponder:
1.
From all the readings for this
Shabbat, what verse or verses touched your heart and fired your imagination?
Giberet Eleshevah’s observation on I
Tsefet 5:1, that the disputed last clause is correct because of its verbal
tally with the Ashlamata.
2.
What are the main topics and
divisions of the Torah Seder for this Shabbat?
Plague on the head or in the beard –
Vayikra 13:29-37
Plague in the skin – Vayikra 13:38-46
Plague in a garment – Vayikra 13:47-59
3.
What questions were asked of
Rashi regarding Vayiqra 13:29?
on the head or on the beard [area] – Why mention these hairy areas?
4.
What questions were asked of
Rashi regarding Vayiqra 13:42?
a reddish-white lesion - How do we know [that the lesion is also unclean if it has] other
colors?
5.
What questions were asked of
Rashi regarding Vayiqra 13:46?
He shall dwell isolated - Why is he different from other unclean people, that he must remain
isolated?
outside the camp – Outside which camp?
6.
What questions were asked of
Rashi regarding Vayiqra 13:55?
after [the lesion] has been washed – What does the Hebrew “hukabesh” expression mean?
the lesion has not changed in appearance
– What kind of a change are we looking for?
and the lesion has not spread – What do we understand from this clause?
it is a penetrating lesion – What does the expression “it is a penetrating lesion” mean?
on the worn or new [article] - Does the phrase בְּקָרַחְתּוֹ
אוֹ בְגַבַּחְתּוֹ have other explanations?
the worn – What do we learn from this word (worn)?
7.
What questions were asked of
Rashi regarding Vayiqra 13:58?
and the lesion disappears from them – Is this before ar after cleaning?
shall be immersed a second time – What does v’kubas (וְכֻבַּס) mean?
8.
What Peshat Hermeneutical
principle does Rashi employ in answering a question raised with regards to the
contents of Vayiqra 13:44?
Binyan ab mi-shene
ketubim: The same as the preceding, except that the provision is generalized
from two Biblical passages.
9.
What important principle can we
deduce from Rashi’s explanation of Vayiqra 13:46?
Lashon hara is not only speaking
evil. It is relating any information
that might damage another person’s character. HaShem deals with us
mida-kneged-mida (measure for measure).
10.
Where in the readings for this
Shabbat is it insinuated that we are in a period of consolation/strengthening
and returning to G-d?
In 1 Tsefet 5:1 we have the word
“exhort” Gk. parakaleō i.e. to
call near, invite, comfort etc… with this thought in mind it seems to elude to
us still being in the midst of the seven weeks of consolation, and also as His
Eminence pointed out the Latin for Exhort has its roots in the word for
“encourage, urge ,fortify and strengthen. Combining these two meanings
together, results in a clarification that this text directly points to the
seven weeks of consolation and is a continuation of Tsefet’s work of
strengthening the newly forming Netzarean communities.
Vayikra 13:29-59 speaks of HaShem’s
reconcilliation process.
Isa 54:2-3 - 2. Enlarge the place of
your camping, and cause the cities of your land to be inhabited; hold not back,
increase the people of your armies and strengthen your rulers.
3. For you will be strengthened to the
south and to the north, and your sons will possess peoples and will cause
desolate cities to be inhabited. The comfort and consolation can also be seen
again by using the specific word “strengthen”.
v.35 of our Psalm: 35. And they remembered, for God is their strength, and the Most
High God is their Redeemer. (We recall that strengthening is a form of
consolation, from a few weeks back.)
11.
How is the Torah Seder related to
our reading of Psalm 78:32-39 both by verbal tally and thematically?
The verbal tally
between the Torah portion and the Psalm is:
Days - יום,
Strong’s number 03117.
Vayikra 13:31
31
And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, it be
not in sight deeper than the skin, and
that there is no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up him that hath
the plague of the scall seven days <03117>:
Tehillim (Psalm)
78:33 Therefore their days
<03117> did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
Thematically, they both speak of the
consequence of sins of the mouth (v.36).
12.
How is the Torah Seder related
both by verbal tally and thematically to our Ashlamatah of 7:20ff?
The verbal tallies
between the Torah portion and the Ashlamata are:
Man - איש,
Strong’s number 0376.
Head - ראש,
Strong’s number 07218.
Beard - זקן,
Strong’s number 02206.
Priest - כהן,
Strong’s number 03548.
Hair - שער,
Strong’s number 08181.
Vayikra 13:29-31 If a
man <0376> or woman <0802> have a plague <05061> upon the
head <07218> or the beard <02206>;
30
Then the priest <03548> shall see <07200> (8804) the plague
<05061>: and, behold, if it be in sight <04758> deeper
<06013> than the skin <05785>; and there be in it a yellow <06669>
thin <01851> hair <08181>; then the priest <03548> shall
pronounce him unclean <02930> (8765): it is a dry scall <05424>,
even a leprosy <06883> upon the head <07218> or beard
<02206>.
31
And if the priest <03548> look <07200> (8799) on the plague
<05061> of the scall <05424>, and, behold, it be not in sight
<04758> deeper <06013> than the skin <05785>, and that there
is no black <07838> hair <08181> in it; then the priest
<03548> shall shut <05462> (8689) up him that hath the plague
<05061> of the scall <05424> seven <07651> days
<03117>:
Yeshayahu (Isaiah)
7:20-21 In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is
hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head
<07218>, and the hair <08181> of the feet: and it shall also
consume the beard <02206>.
21 And it shall come to pass in that
day, that a man <0376> shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;
Yeshayahu (Isaiah)
8:2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the
priest <03548>, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
Thematically, they both speak of
shaving the head and beard, though for different purposes. They both speak also
of the consequences and the loss due to sins.
13.
How is the Torah Seder related
both by verbal tally and thematically to our Special Ashlamatah of Isaiah 54:1-10?
The verbal tally
between the Torah portion and the Special Ashlamata are:
Woman - אשה,
Strong’s number 0802.
Vayikra 13:29-31 If a
man or woman <0802> have a plague upon the head or the beard;
Yeshayahu (Isaiah)
54:6 For the LORD hath called
thee as a woman <0802> forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife
<0802> of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
Thematically, They both speak of
shame, The Torah speaks of the shame of Lashon HaRa whilst the Ashlamata speaks
of the removal of shame.
14.
How is the reading of 1 Tsefet
5:1-4 related to each of the readings for this Shabbat?
Hakham Tsefet’s address is to the
Seven Hakhamim ruling the Esnoga who ruled in all the community’s legal matters
– The Torah Seder opens with and address to the Cohen who will determine legal
matters for the leper.
The Ashlamatah: Isa 7:20-8:3 + 9:6 is
connected by the witness of Isa 8:2 and Hakham Tsefet 5:1. Likewise, the idea of government found in Isa
9:6 is consistent with the Hakhamim of Hakham Tsefet 5:1
Special Ashlamatah: Isa 54:1-10 Through
the idea of strengthening and exhortation found in Hakham Tsefet 5:1 and Isa
54:2. Isa 54:3 is connected through the idea of inheritance. Hakham Tsefet’s klēros (5:3) is
consistent with the inheritance given specifically to the firstborn.
Hakham Tsefet uses the word
prothumōs to indicate the attitude required by a Hakham. Thie word prothumōs contains the idea of
passion and eager willingness. However,
the word is rooted in the thought of sacrifice. Therefore, I believe we can see a connection
in the compassion G-d has for his flock in Tsefet and the compassion he has for
“flesh” in Psalms.
15.
What important overall principles
are taught in 1 Tsefet 5:1-4?
The leaders of a congregation must act
selflessly to guide the congregation towards Torah scholarship. Rosh = Head = ARCHE
+ POIMENOS = Chief Shepherd.
16.
How is Pirqe Abot IV:13 related
to our readings for this Shabbat?
“Wander to a
place of Torah, and do not say that it [the Torah] will come after you or that
your associates will establish you in the possession of it” (Pirqe
Abot IV:13)! Lashon Hara is a form of involuntary man-slaughter because we are
killing with our tongue. The penalty for a manslayer is exile – he must flee to
a city of refuge. The cure for the manslayer is to learn Torah from the
Kohanim. The plagued man has an opportunity to learn unimpeded while separated
from the community.
In our Torah portion we are warned
against being separated from the community by becoming unclean, this can be
very detrimental. In the same way we are warned against becoming separated from
Torah scholars, which is also a great impedance and can also make it easier to
become unclean in our actions. Whereas there is strength in a community we are
also strengthened when at the feet of a torah scholar. Just as it takes
personal effort and soul searching to do tushuva in order for the leper to be
cleansed and joined to the community, it also takes effort on our part to study
and struggle to gain a better advantage from the teaching of our scholars that
we are joined to.
17.
How is Vayiqra 13:29-30 related
to Varyiqra 13:58-59?
They both speak of fibers – hair and
fabric. They both speak of the Kohen’s job to declare clean and unclean. 13:20
speaks of what to do once one discovers a lesion 13:59-59 speaks of what to do
once the lesion has been healed.
18.
In your opinion, and taking into
consideration all of the above readings for this Sabbath, what is the prophetic
message for this week?
This is a time to choose your words
and your actions carefully, as you prepare for the coming of The King.
The overall message that I received
from this week’s pericope is to see the importance of growth into leadership
and the different aspects of the journey; especially the need for taming the
yetzer hara. One can never be a good leader until the yetzer hara has been
tamed. Thus, prophetically this week, it is of extreme importance to be
carefully mindful of every word that comes out of our mouth. We should be fast
to think and slow to speak.
Do not become separated from the community
i.e. become unclean, else you will lose the company/teachings of Torah
scholars. At the same time do not just wait to be fed by your teachers but
apply your self to the work of understanding and doing the Will of our Father,
for in this comes true consolation/strengthening.