Parsha Summary Parshas Metzorah details the process by which the metzorah becomes tahor , or spiritually re-energized, after the tzora’as has gone away. Included in this process are immersions, special offerings and shaving of the entire body. The final chapter of the portion discusses different conditions that render a person tamei (impure), to varying degrees. The Economics of Passover Shopping When doing Passover shopping or just picking up some staples at the local supermarket, we grudgingly accept the fact that the price of many items has risen, even since our last shopping trip the previous week. It seems that each day brings another price hike, pinching our pockets and leaving us to wonder how much longer this will continue before prices begin to stabilize or decrease. The economists tell us the logical reasons: the global economy is pushing up demand; there’s a drought in Australia’s wheat growing region; demand is growing for corn-based ethanol, which raises the price of both corn and grain simultaneously; and increased demand for oil affects every link in the food chain. This week’s haftorah helps illustrate that perhaps there’s a method to the madness. (The haftorah, culled from the books of the prophets, is read after the weekly Torah portion and they share a common theme.) This week’s haftorah tells the story from the book of Melachim, Kings, of four people afflicted with leprosy who were living outside the city wall (hence the connection to the Torah portion). They, like the rest of the besieged city’s inhabitants, were suffering from hunger, and took the chance of approaching the Aramite army that was surrounding the city. They were suffering enough that they figured they had nothing to lose in asking the enemy for food. They arrived at the camp, expecting the worst, and, surprisingly, didn’t find anybody there! G-d had caused the enemy to hear sounds that night that resembled an oncoming army. Hearing these sounds, the Aramites fled in fear and left everything behind. The four lepers quickly satiated themselves, and then sent a message into the city that an abundance of food was available. The city dwellers came out to the Aramite camp and helped themselves. Except for one person. The day before this episode took place, the prophet had announced that the next day, food would be so plentiful that it would sell at rock-bottom prices. One person disputed that assertion. “We’re in middle of a massive hunger,” he said. “Even if it would rain heavily until tomorrow, we wouldn’t be able to produce so much food!” The navi (prophet) replied, “You will see it with your own eyes, but won’t be able to partake.” This person saw how indeed, the prophet’s words rang true. He was installed as the watchman at the city gate, and in the rush to get to the food, the townspeople trampled him; he died from his injuries. What’s the point of this story? The obvious message is that we should heed words of a prophet. Another lesson, perhaps the one that’s most timely for us, is that it demonstrates how G-d controls the laws of nature. He brings the famine, and He sets the wheels in motion to bring down prices as well. The haftorah shows us G-d’s way of demonstrating who truly runs the world. There are, of course, many logical reasons why the world economy is reeling, but the confluence of all these factors, doubling the price of a loaf of bread and then some, is the sign of a Higher Authority reminding us who is truly minding the store. Passover is the time when we retell the story of how G-d manipulated the laws of nature through the Ten Plagues to bring about the Exodus. Each of the plagues demonstrated His mastery over a different force of nature, i.e., water turning into blood, or animals that normally prey on each other walking side by side. This helps us understand today, long after those miracles took place, how it is He who controls our destiny, from the trips to the supermarket to the bigger decisions in life. May we internalize this message and once again enjoy the blessings of a healthy economy and abundant supplies to satisfy all our needs, just as in the days of the prophets. Dedication Opportunities Phone: 888-374-2870 ext. 11 ¨ E-mail: mail@torahlinks.org |