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Torah Portion

Ronald H. Bergman M.D.

Proudly announces
the location of his new practice
and association with

Anthony C. Porretta M.D.

Conveniently located at the corner of
Inkster and Northwestern Highway
directly across from the
Providence Medical Building at
29990 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, MI 48334

Dr. Bergman will continue to provide
quality medical eye care
As well as Laser vision correction
Diabetic eye care
Glaucoma treatment and Cataract surgery.

Call today for an appointment
248-538-6463

David Klein Gallery

James Infante

present

an Exhibition of
20th Century Decorative Art

April 13-20, 2002

From Birth To Death,
Torah Teaches Holiness

being in a state of tumah; indeed,
tumah was often the result of fulfill-
ing great mitzvot, from giving birth
to burying the dead.
Being tamei (impure) simply pre-
vented one from entering the
Temple, just as our gardening sur-
geon couldn't enter the operating
room with dirty hands. The
Kohanim who served as all Israel's
magine a surgeon who loves to
agents in the Temple had to be on
spend his weekends during
call — and therefore to avoid tumah
this time of the year garden-
except for with their own immediate
ing. The same hands that
family.
remove and repair human organs are
The new Etz Hayim Torah com-
busy every weekend digging
mentary gives a positive
and pruning, weeding and
assessment to the Torah's
nurturing flowers and veg-
concept of impurity: "We
etables. There's nothing
can see the notion of
wrong with that, right?
tumah, then, as growing
Yet, we can all agree that
out of a sense of reverence
there must be a clear line
for the miraculous nature
differentiating these two
of birth, the awesome
activities. Dirt under the
power of death, and the
fingernails is fine for the
mysteries of illness and
garden, but forbidden in the
RABBI DANIEL recuperation."
operating room. And should
Yet, it can't be denied
NEVINS
this surgeon be on call, it
that tumah, impurity, has
Special to the
probably would be unwise
also acquired a negative
Jewish News
for him to get too immersed
moral valence, while puri-
in the garden, lest he find
ty has only positive associ-
himself unable to rush to assist in
ations. We rabbis often use Shabbat
an emergency surgery.
Tazria-Metzorah as the occasion to
I use this example to illustrate a
discuss gossip and slander, which are
truly perplexing but essential part of
traditionally associated with the
the Torah: the purity code. Our reli-
impurity of leprosy.
gion does not shy away from mat-
Although this interpretive tradi-
ters of life and death. But it does try
tion is well established, it comes
to distinguish between them. It was
with risks. We must be cautious to
a great mitzvah to worship God by
avoid viewing illness today as the
offering sacrifices in the Tabernacle
consequence of moral failure. Only
and then the Temple. This worship
God can understand the ultimate
served to bring God's presence into
consequences of our conduct; for us,
the very midst of the nation, there-
the task is to respond to illness and
by protecting the life of all Israel.
death with total compassion.
It is an even greater mitzvah to
Rather, let us look to the Kohen
tend to the dead, whether they are
as our role model: though barred
one's family or even an unknown
from the cemeter-y, it was the Kohen
stranger. We should drop everything
who visited lepers, tended to their
in order to assist someone who
illness, and brought them back to
needs to be buried. This is the ulti-
the camp. That essential service cre-
mate act of kindness, the chesed shel
ated a type of purity to which we
emet. Yet, these two meritorious cat-
can all aspire. ❑
.
egories of mitzvot cannot mix.
There is a time for the cemetery,
and there is a time for the sanctuary.
The Torah teaches us with its elabo-
rate system of tumah (impurity) and
toharah (purity) to keep these two
spheres distinct.
Judaism lacks a blessing to recite
Tumah results from certain types
over the mitzvah of visiting the
of contact with illness and death,
sick (bikur cholim). Why might
blood, and various bodily secretions.
this be? What type of prayer
There was nothing wrong with
might be appropriate for a care-
giver to utter before visiting a
Daniel Nevins is spiritual leader at
patient?
Adat Shalom Synagogue.

Shabbat Tazria-
Metzorah:
Leviticus 12:1-15:33,
Numbers 28:9-15;
Isaiah 66:1-24.

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Conversations

Opening reception
Saturday, April 13, 1-4 pm

4/12
2002

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163 TOWNSEND BIRMINGHAM MI 48009
TELEPHONE 248.433.3700 FAX 248.433.3702
HOURS: MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 11 - 5:30