This week, we’re reading a double perasha of Tazria. And Mesorah. These are two parshiyot that, at first glance, seem… not exactly glamorous.

(Based on the Teachings of the Shvilei Pinchas, our teacher, Rabbi Pinchas Friedman)

They’re all about strange skin conditions — tzara’at — rituals of impurity, offerings involving birds and wood and wool and hyssop.

But hidden within all this is a breathtaking teaching — a teaching about speech, pride, humility, and ultimately: finding our center point.

First, a little background:

The Torah teaches

אָדָ֗ם כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֤ה
בְעוֹר־בְּשָׂרוֹ֙ שְׂאֵ֤ת אֽוֹ־סַפַּ֙חַת֙ א֣וֹ בַהֶ֔רֶת וְהָיָ֥ה בְעוֹר־בְּשָׂר֖וֹ
לְנֶ֣גַע צָרָ֑עַת וְהוּבָא֙ אֶל־אַהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֔ן א֛וֹ אֶל־אַחַ֥ד מִבָּנָ֖יו הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃

When a person has on the skin of the body a swelling, a rash, or a discoloration, and it develops into a scaly affection on the skin of the body, it shall be
reported to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests.

Chag Haatzma'ut Same'ach inspired by an essay by Rabbi Shabtai Sabato

YOM HAATZMA’UT page 297

Today, we celebrate not only a date on the calendar or a declaration from 1948—we celebrate the beginning of the fulfillment of a 2,000-year-old dream. A dream born in the heart of Yaakov Avinu. Carried by David HaMelech. Whispered in the wind of every exile. And now, with Hashem’s kindness, unfolding before our very eyes in Eretz Yisrael.

Let us journey together through history, Torah, exile, and return, guided by the
teachings of HaRav Rabbi Shabtai Sabato . His powerful words help us understand what we’re really celebrating today.