For the week of Friday, April 19, 2024

This Torah reading occurs on the great Sabbath before Passover, known as Shabbat HaGadol. This is a period of preparation for the first Seder, and a time for repentance and tzedakah, in order to bring about a greater redemption of the Israeli captives in the Middle East. Our task is to work to improve and inspire our fellow citizens to create more understanding and peace in our community.

Metzora comes from the Hebrew term, “zera,” i.e. zayin, resh, ayin, which symbolically refers to skin ailments, usually mis-translated as”leprosy.” So the opening verse begins: ‘this is the priestly instruction fo the leper in the day he is cleansed from his illness.’ Why such great concern for skin maladies? Because such illnesses were thought to be a punishment for the destructive use of speech. So a person who engaged in slander or libel, or the destruction of another’s reputation, was thought to potentially suffer from such illnesses. The opening chapter speaks of the priestly instructions that allow the Levites to help cleanse and repair the situation for one who is suffering from such maladies.

The Haftorah for this special Sabbath is from the book of Malachi, the final words of the last prophet who lived in ancient Israel. Malachi preaches this text:  “Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.” These words foreshadow the idea that Elijah is the herald of the messianic time, and the prophet will predict the coming of the Davidic dynasty that shall encompass the messianic era.

Join us for Torah study this Shabbat morning at 9:30 a.m.