Parshat Tazria-Metzora

This week we read two Torah portions, Tazria and Metzora. Tazria comes from the Hebrew word meaning "to plant seeds." Why does a farmer sow his field? For the purpose of obtaining a greater yield than he started with. It makes no sense to go to all that work if the end result will be quantitatively the same as before. Thus the whole point of planting seeds is to eventually harvest a larger crop of produce.

The Jewish soul, sent from the celestial spheres down into the physical world, is likened to a seed that is planted in the earth. Once enclothed within a physical body and able to perform practical mitzvot (commandments), the soul can obtain a very great "crop" from its service in this world.

Your Heart

So how's your blood pressure? Now is surely the time to be asking this question as May is National Blood Pressure Month in the United States. Whether your blood pressure is high, low, or thank G-d, normal, it couldn't hurt to say a few words about the heart.

On Shabbat afternoons beginning after Passover, it's customary to study one chapter each week from the tractate of the Mishna known as "Ethics of the Fathers," containing moral guidance from many of our greatest Sages. It is Ethics that contains the famous question of Hillel, "If not now, when?" And when if not now is a more appropriate time to begin reading Ethics on Shabbat afternoons?

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