 APRIL 23 • 2020 | 29

W

hen the loss, the 
suffering, the sad-
ness and the anxi-
ety associated with the corona-
virus comes to an end, we will 
emerge on the other side. 
Perhaps it is foolish or 
even naive to look ahead 
to that moment. But I 
pray and believe that we 
will come out stronger, 
smarter and kinder; and I 
look forward to that time. 
It will be then that we are 
confronted with a pro-
found question of human 
need: how will we mark 
the transition from B.C. 
(Before COVID-19) to 
A.C. (After COVID-19)?
In some ways our 
world today echoes the 
double Torah portion we 
read this week. A conta-
gion exists that requires 
the sufferer to quarantine. 
After a time, the sufferer comes 
before the authorities and is 
assessed to be cleansed from 
the affliction. Then, rituals 
are performed that allow the 
sufferer to re-enter the Israelite 
encampment.
Through rituals, the laws 
and traditions of the Jewish 
people reveal the need to mark 
transition from one space to 
another whether that space is 
physical, temporal or meta-
physical.
A mezuzah on the doorpost 
marks the transition from 
home to the outside. A bar or 
bat mitzvah ceremony marks 
the transition from childhood 
to adulthood. A funeral service 
marks the transition of the 
deceased from this world to the 
next and for the mourner, from 
life with a particular loved one 
to life without that loved one. 
Returning to normalcy after 
this pandemic will require such 

a ritual. Of course, it will be 
hard to define “
A.C.
” until there 
is a cure or a vaccine. Perhaps, 
in a year or so, when COVID-
19 is officially defeated, we will 
sing like Moses and 
Miriam did when they 
crossed the Red Sea.
At some point much 
sooner, perhaps even 
by May 1, the governor 
will lift the stay-at-
home order and we will 
slowly begin to gather. 
The return to some 
sense of normalcy will 
be gradual rather than 
torrential, but we will 
feel its power; the free-
dom will be palpable. 
We will need, even in 
the short run, a ritual 
to mark the occasion.
When our ancestors 
re-entered society after 
suffering the plague of tzara-at, 
they ritually cleansed and puri-
fied their bodies, possessions 
and homes. Then they offered 
a sacrifice of thanksgiving. 
In the same way, perhaps we 
too will cleanse ourselves with 
a visit to the mikveh or the 
hairdresser. We will put on our 
High Holiday finest, gather 
in our synagogue sanctuaries, 
and in our gratitude invite our 
health care providers to ascend 
the bimah with honor. 
Then all of us together as 
Jews will proclaim in unison, 
Shehechyanu, v’
kiy’
manu, v’
higianu 
laz’
man hazeh ~ Thank You, 
God, for giving us life, sustain-
ing us and allowing us to reach 
that moment in time. Please, 
God, may that time come 
soon. 

Rabbi Aaron Starr is spiritual leader 

of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in 

Southfield.

Parshat 

Tazria/

Metzora: 

Leviticus 

12:1-15:33; 

Numbers 

28:9-15; 

Isaiah 

66:1-24. 

(Shabbat 

Rosh 

Chodesh)

Rabbi Aaron 
Starr

Spirit
torah portion

This Too Shall Pass

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