This Shabbat is Shabbat Hagadol, the great Sabbath. It is believed that it received that title because of the importance of the approaching holiday, Pesach or Passover. Some scholars feel that all the holidays had a Shabbat Hagadol preceding it. It was called great because there were so many instructions about observance that had to be given before the holiday. It has only remained for the Sabbath before Passover. Many feel that it remained for the Shabbat before Passover because Passover has more instructions than any other holiday. Perhaps, it has remained because there are so many questions asked before Passover.

Another explanation is that in the Haftarah portion for this Shabbat it mentions the “great day” of God on which the Messiah will appear.

Some say that the people would return home from synagogue later than usual on this Shabbat because of the unusually long discourse that was customary on this day. Therefore, it was “great” because it was longer than the other Shabbats.
As we ready ourselves for Passover, my whole family and I want to wish you all a ziessen Pesach, a sweet and meaningful Passover.

Tazria, this week’s Torah portion is part of a double portion Tazria/M’tzora. Most years we read both these portions on the same Shabbat, this year however, we do not because we have an extra month Adar II to fill with weekly Torah portions. We have Adar II because as Jews we use a lunar calendar and every 7 years we add an extra month, so that Passover is always in the spring and Rosh Hashana is in the fall. This year is one of those years.

In Tazria we read about skin afflictions and diagnosis of all these ailments. It is not serendipitous that we have so many Jewish Doctors. One reason we do, is because the Kohanim acted as true doctors. Even in the Torah the Kohanim made scientific examinations and kept patients under observation. The Kohanim evaluated symptoms and acted accordingly. We always tried to approach illness as objectively as we could and use the best science that was available at the time. Not all societies are like that, even in Torah times we Jews did not have magic-workers we had doctors. The Torah describes specific symptoms by which the Kohanim were able to diagnose the disease.

Even though we pray to God heal us, we also pray that our doctors are wise and knowledgeable. Jews have always been very realistic about illness and the effects of good medicine.

In this week’s Torah portion Tzav Aaron must remove ashes from the Tent of Meeting. Aaron wears special clothing for the menial task of removing ashes. When the ashes are removed from the altar Aaron is to wear linen garments. For carrying the ashes outside of the Tent of Meeting Aaron is to wear less formal clothing. The Rabbis derived two lessons from this. The Priestly vestments are worn even for lowly tasks because they are performed for the service of God and the Jewish People. We learn that putting on special clothes for worship can heighten the experience. A second lesson is that all tasks even the most lowly, if done in the service of God and the Jewish People should not be considered beneath anyone’s dignity. Even Aaron the Priest was obligated to remove ashes.

All that we do for TSS is important work and is appreciated by the community. Just as Aaron removed the ashes, so should we volunteer our time and energies to keep TSS running smoothly.

When the work of building the Mishkan is completed, as recounted in this week’s Torah portion P’kudai, a cloud descends over the Tent of Meeting as a symbol of God’s Presence in the Mishkan. This fulfills the purpose of the portable sanctuary as expressed in Ex. 25:8, ” and let them make Me a sanctuary so that I may dwell among them”. At night a fire shines forth from within the cloud making it visible even in the dark and reassuring the people that God’s glory is always in their midst. The cloud served an important purpose. So long as it enveloped the Mishkan the people camped where they were. But when it rose the people resumed their march toward the Promised Land following the cloud.

I always found this portion of the Torah to be beautiful and poetic in nature. The People of Israel guided by the cloud felt engulfed in God’s Presence. The cloud gave them comfort. So too when we search for God we can feel God’s Presence almost like a cloud. If we open ourselves up to feel God, God can enter into our lives.

Last Friday our family celebrated the engagement of our son Jeremy to Meidan Keidar. Blessing our children in the presence of our congregation added to the joy of the moment. Blessing our children at a service invited God to enter into their relationship. It made us remember that marriage is a holy union sanctified by God.

We want to thank all those who shared our simcha with us. And we want to especially thank those who baked, brought goodies and set up the oneg. It was a wonderful weekend for our entire family.