Parsha Metzora
This we continue with our
moving away from the death of the two sons of Aaron. We continue this week with
more Negaim (or diseases or fungi infections on a person, house or clothing) as
we stopped in the middle last week.
14:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 This shall
be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: he shall be brought unto
the priest. 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the
priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the
leper;
First the Cohain
must declare the man clean.
4 then shall
the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two living clean
birds, and cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. 5 And the priest
shall command to kill (perform Melecha on the bird – special slaughter with the Cohain's
finger nail) one of the birds in an earthen
vessel over running water. 6 As for the living bird, he shall take
it, and the cedar-wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and
the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running
water. 7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from
the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let go the
living bird into the open field.
All I can tell you
is that Dr. Vilna Zal of Tel HaShomer Hospital told me that as strange as it
sounds to us, for a person with jaundice a similar procedure is used. He saw
twins and one was modern and trusted in science ad the other more primitive and
he snuck in a pigeon or two and was cured days before his modern brother.
8 And he that
is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe
himself in water, and he shall be clean; and after that he may come into the
camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days.
He is still Tumay
at this time.
9 And it
shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and
his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off; and he shall
wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and he shall be
clean.
With this
procedure and the Mikvah he becomes Tahor again and then on the eight day can
bring a Korban.
10 And on the
eighth day he shall take two he-lambs without blemish, and one ewe-lamb of the
first year without blemish, and three tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for
a meal-offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. 11 And the
priest that qcleanses him shall set the man that is to be cleansed, and those
things, before the LORD, at the door of the tent of meeting. 12 And
the priest shall take one of the he-lambs, and offer him for a guilt-offering,
and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave-offering before the LORD.
After
all this he should be clean. However,
13
then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his
flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague; it is all turned
white: he is clean. 14 But whensoever raw flesh appears in him, he shall be
unclean. 15 And the priest shall look on the raw flesh, and pronounce him
unclean; the raw flesh is unclean: it is leprosy.
If
this happens, we have to start at square one and redo the whole process until
the Cohain declares him clean.
16
But if the raw flesh again be turned into white, then he shall come unto the
priest; 17 and the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the plague be
turned into white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the
plague: he is clean.
If he
turns completely white, he is clean otherwise he is in a contamination stage.
Or that the size of the blister(s) have stopped growing.
18
And when the flesh hath in the skin thereof a boil, and it is healed, 19 and in
the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a bright spot, reddish-white,
then it shall be shown to the priest. 20 And the priest shall look; and,
behold, if the appearance thereof be lower than the skin, and the hair thereof
be turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague
of leprosy, it hath broken out in the boil. 21 But if the priest look on it,
and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and it be not lower than the
skin, but be dim, then the priest shall shut him up seven days.
The
Cohain turns into a dermatologist in essence to determine if it be Tsoras or
Psoriasis.
… 4
Or when the flesh hath in the skin thereof a burning by fire, and the quick
flesh of the burning become a bright spot, reddish-white, or white; … 25 then
the priest shall look upon it; and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be
turned white, and the appearance thereof be deeper than the skin, it is
leprosy, it hath broken out in the burning; and the priest shall pronounce him
unclean: it is the plague of leprosy. 26 But if the priest look on it, and,
behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the
skin, but be dim; then the priest shall shut him up seven days.
Skin
disease after disease.
27
And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day; if it spread abroad in the
skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
28 And if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread in the skin, but
be dim, it is the rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him
clean; for it is the scar of the burning.
The
Priest had to learn to be a master of this skin disease.
29
And when a man or woman hath a plague upon the head or upon the beard,
“The
glory of a man is he beard” – Rabbi Akiva Shabbos Daf 157A bottom of the page
to 157B.
30 then the priest shall
look on the plague; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be deeper than the
skin, and there be in it yellow thin hair, then the priest shall pronounce him
unclean: it is a scall, it is leprosy of the head or of the beard. 31 And if
the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, the appearance thereof
be not deeper than the skin, and there be no black hair in it, then the priest
shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days. 32 And in the
seventh day the priest shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the scall be
not spread, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the appearance of the scall
be not deeper than the skin, 33 then he shall be shaven, but the scall shall he
not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days
more. 34 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall; and,
behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, and the appearance thereof be
not deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; and he
shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
The disease has stopped
spreading and he is clean. The beauty of the woman is in her hair and therefore
married women are required to be modest and only their husbands should be
allowed to see their hair that is considered part of the body to be covered.
Unmarried females show their beautiful hair to attract men. Now these parts
have become infected with Tsaras and have to be hidden 7 days.
35
But if the scall spread abroad in the skin after his cleansing, 36 then the
priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the
priest shall not seek for the yellow hair: he is unclean. 37 But if the scall
stay in its appearance, and black hair be grown up therein; the scall is
healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
The
rule is no more growth or less appearance and the boil, scall, etc. is clean.
38
And if a man or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even
white bright spots; 39 then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the bright
spots in the skin of their flesh be of a dull white, it is a tetter, it hath
broken out in the skin: he is clean. 40 And if a man's hair be fallen off his
head, he is bald; yet is he clean. 41 And if his hair be fallen off from the
front part of his head, he is forehead-bald; yet is he clean.
The
priest sees that he is clean by virtual of the shrinking of changing of the
color of the disease.
42
But if there be in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague,
it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead. 43 Then the
priest shall look upon him; and, behold, if the rising of the plague be
reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the appearance of
leprosy in the skin of the flesh, 44 he is a leprous man, he is unclean; the
priest shall surely pronounce him unclean: his plague is in his head.
However,
in this case he has the disease growing and he is Tumay.
45
And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and the hair of
his head shall go loose, and he shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry:
'Unclean, unclean.' 46 All the days wherein the plague is in him he shall be
unclean; he is unclean; he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his
dwelling be.
With
his Lashon Hara, he has embarrassed others so now he/she is isolated and
declared “unclean”. Maybe in the first place somebody would have said Lashon
HaRa they would have stopped it.
47
And when the plague of leprosy is in a garment, whether it be a woolen garment,
or a linen garment; 48 or in the warp, or in the woof,
whether they be of linen, or of wool; or in a skin, or in any thing made of
skin. 49 If the plague be greenish or reddish in the
garment, or in the skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of
skin, it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown unto the priest. 50 And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up that
which hath the plague seven days.
The
plague is a mold that develops on the garment. It is partially due to Lashon
HaRa but aeration of the garments and keep them in a dry area prevent such a
mold. In FL I found a white mold on leather shoes that were not aerated and I
assume that had I had a woolen garment, the color mold would appear. That was
due to a natural process and Lashon HaRa only speeds up such things.
15:1
And the LORD spoke unto Moses and to Aaron, saying: 2 Speak unto the children
of Israel, and say unto them: When any man hath an issue out of his flesh, his
issue is unclean. 3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his
flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his
uncleanness.
The
issue is not that the man had a ‘wet dream’ as happens to teens or that he
purposely released seed but that it flowed a few times and three times
involuntary seed release or gonorrhea. He is called a Zav.
4
Every bed whereon he that hath the issue lies shall be unclean; and everything
whereon he sits shall be unclean. 5 And whosoever touches his bed shall wash
his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
This
is not your average Tuma as sitting down does not impart such Tuma, this is
worse.
6 And
he that sits on anything whereon he that hath the issue sat shall wash his
clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 7 And he
that touches the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and
bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 8 And if he that hath
the issue spit upon him that is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and
bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
This
goes for a wagon, bus, train, ferry or car seat.
9 And
what saddle soever he that hath the issue rides upon shall be unclean. 10 And
whosoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the even;
and he that bears those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in
water, and be unclean until the even.
Even
the cleaner of such cushions from cars, boats, wagons etc. has to wash his own
clothing and go to the Mikvah.
11
And whomsoever he that hath the issue touches, without having rinsed his hands
in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean
until the even. 12 And the earthen vessel, which he that hath the issue touches
shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water. 13 And when
he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue, then he shall number to himself
seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his
flesh in running water, and shall be clean. 14 And on the eighth day he shall
take to him two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD
unto the door of the tent of meeting, and give them unto the priest.
As
one kosher vessels and clothing for use or wearing in the Mikdash.
15
And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for
a burnt-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD
for his issue. {S} 16 And if the flow of seed go out from a man, then he shall
bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. 17 And every
garment, and every skin, whereon is the flow of seed, shall be washed with
water, and be unclean until the even. 18 The woman also with whom a man shall
lie carnally, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until
the even.
Unlike
the state of Niddah, this woman is only unclean until bathing in the Mikvah and
that night she is clean and can prepare food in a Tahor manner. The blood that
the Zava sees also comes from the womb and not a bleeding wound on the side of
the walls of the passage to the womb.
19
And if a woman has an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be
in her impurity seven days; and whosoever touches her shall be unclean until the even. 20 And everything that she
lies upon in her impurity shall be unclean;
everything also that she sits upon shall be
unclean. 21 And whosoever touches her bed shall wash
his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 22 And
whosoever touches anything that she sits upon shall wash
his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 23 And
if he be on the bed, or on anything whereon she sits, when he touches it, he shall be
unclean until the even. 24 And if any man lie with her, and her impurity be
upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lies shall
be unclean.
During
the times of the Temple, women marked off their periods from the day they got
the first one. Example Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Between 7 to 11 days in the month
is considered a Zava. If they occur three days in a row, then the woman is a
Zava. Since we don’t record when I daughters had their first period and
calculate periods from there, we observe 7 clean days and don’t know when a
Zava starts.
25
And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days not in the time of her
impurity, or if she have an issue beyond the time of her impurity; all the days
of the issue of her uncleanness she shall be as in the days of her impurity:
she is unclean. 26 Every bed whereon she lies all the days of
her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her impurity; and everything whereon she sits shall be unclean, as
the uncleanness of her impurity. 27 And whosoever touches those things shall
be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be
unclean until the even.
Towards
the end of the first chapter of Tractate Shabbos the Rabbis issued a Gezaira.
“A Zav should not sit down to eat with a Zava – (lest they get together as both
being Tumay).”
28
But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven
days, and after that she shall be clean. 29 And on the eighth day she shall
take unto her two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the
priest, to the door of the tent of meeting. 30 And the priest shall offer the
one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering; and the priest
shall make atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.
Both
for the Zav and the Zava, the purification is 7 days.
31 Thus shall ye
separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in
their uncleanness, when they defile My tabernacle that is in the midst of them.
32 This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him from whom the flow of
seed goes out, so that he is unclean thereby; 33 and of her that is sick with
her impurity, and of them that have an issue, whether it be a man, or a woman;
and of him that lies with her that is unclean.
Since the woman had
Gonorrhea, I left the translation of sickness and the object here is that Am
Yisrael should be pure.
Sfiras HaOmer starts Motzei
Seder in Israel Second Seder in Gallus April 16 this year.
The Practical Seder: Practical
Halacha by Richard B. Arkin https://www.ou.org/holidays/passover-seder-practical-halacha/
I am bringing this down again for
potential converts, Baalei Teshuva and a review of the general public. The
recipe for Making Charoses from nuts, wine, raisins, dates, cinnamon and ginger
(also acceptable figs and pomegranates) is not brought down here like the
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law). The author used Chassidic
pronunciation and a mix of modern Hebrew Pronunciation. I am using the
international Sav or Saf often even though in Israel we use Tav or Taf in our
pronunciation. The idea is to stay consistent with my other writings. The
writing is therefore for an English Speaking Gallus and not how I talk at my
own Seder Table in Tav and not Sav. - RP
Principles
It is praiseworthy to tell the story of Passover even
if you know all the details and interpretations (as did the great rabbis of the
Talmud), because of the principle of “in order to remember” (lema’an tizkor):
that we should remember everything God did for us when taking us out of Egypt.
The Three Discussion
Points
The most important part of the seder is discussing:
- Passover offering (Pesach),
- Unleavened bread (matza), and
- Bitter herbs (Maror).
These three segments should be read from the Passover
hagada in the Hebrew. If anyone does not understand the Hebrew, these
paragraphs and the concepts they express must be explained in whatever language
he or she can understand.
Children at the Seder
Children are an integral part of the seder. We try to
get children to ask questions and then we teach them the answers. The Torah
says to do this!
Acknowledging God’s
Miracles
We acknowledge God’s miracles in sending the plagues
against the Egyptians and their gods and in taking the Children of Israel out
of slavery and Egypt.
Telling Our History
We tell our history beginning with Jacob (Yaakov) and
Laban (Lavan) and on to slavery and, finally, to achieving freedom.
Halachot
Every male (13 years old and above) at the seder is
required by halacha to lean to the left side while:
- Drinking each of the four cups of wine.
- Eating matza for each of these mitzvot:
motzei, matza, korech, Afikoman.
Ideally, lean onto something to your left, such as a
chair or couch. A pillow is nice but optional.
Note: Women and girls are not required to lean at any time
during the meal.
Customs
Here are some Seder customs:
- Have someone else pour the water over your
hands for washing before karpas.
- Have someone else pour your wine for you.
Seder Plate
Seder plate consists of five foods:
Shank Bone
Shank bone, meat, or a neck represents the Passover
lamb offering.
Note: Any part of any kosher animal or bird may be used for this
purpose except liver. You may even use roasted lamb, but you may not eat it.
Egg
Egg represents the holiday offering (chagigah).
Bitter Herbs
Bitter herbs (Maror), such as romaine, horseradish,
or endive, represent the bitterness of slavery.
Charoset
Charoset (sweet mixture of nuts and fruits) reminds
us of the mortar the Jews used to build the Egyptian storage cities.
Vegetable
Vegetable such as celery, parsley or potato (Karpas). The
vegetable does not represent anything and is there to motivate the children to
ask questions. I use a sliver of each three.
Three Matzas
The seder table also has a stack of three matzas (matzos),
representing, among other meanings:
* Cohen-Levi-Yisrael: The three divisions of Jews
* Abraham-Isaac-Jacob: The three forefathers
These matzos are used later in the Seder for the
steps of Motzei and Matza (top and middle matzas); the middle matza becomes the
“Afikoman.”
Seder: Steps
- Kadesh
- U’rchatz
- Karpas
- Yachatz
- Maggid
- Rachtza
- Motzei
- Matza
- Maror
- Korech
- Shulchan Orach
- Tzafun
- Berech
- Hallel
- Nirtza
Kadesh: Making Kiddush
Passover, like all Jewish festivals, is
differentiated from weekdays by saying kiddush.
At the Passover Seder, all Jews above the age of bar
mitzva or bat mitzva (including women–unlike on other Jewish festivals) must
drink wine for kiddush and for the other three times in the Seder when the Borei
Pri HaGafen blessing is said.
Note: On the other Jewish festivals, only one person needs to
drink the wine when kiddush is said, and that will cover and fulfill everyone
else’s requirement for that kiddush.
Note: Only children and people who will get sick if they drink
alcohol are permitted to drink grape juice at Seder.
You may dilute the Seder wine to a minimum of 4%
alcohol.
If you have equally good red wine and white wine, the
red is preferred for the four cups at the Seder. If your white wine is better
or if you prefer white wine, use that.
You may drink more wine between the first and second
cups, between the second and third cups, but not between the third and fourth
cups.
Four Cups, Four Roles
Each of the four cups has a different role:
- First Cup: Kiddush to sanctify the
holiday.
- Second Cup: Sanctifying the Haggadah.
- Third Cup: Sanctifying Birkat Hamazon.
- Fourth Cup: Sanctifying Hallel.
Four Cups, Four Expressions
The four cups of wine relate to the four expressions
God used when telling what he would do to bring the Israelites out of Egypt:
- V’hotzeiti I will send them out.
- V’hitzalti I will save them.
- V’ga’alti I will redeem them.
- V’lakachti I will take them.
Fifth Cup
The fifth cup of wine at Seder, for Eliyahu (Elijah)
the prophet, symbolizes v’heiveiti–“I will bring them.”
Reason: In the future, everyone will drink five cups of seder
wine. (Some say the term v’heiveiti is not part of the redemption and some say
it is a stage that has not happened yet.)
The cup of Eliyahu (which is not intended to be drunk
by Eliyahu) should be used for kiddush the next morning. Various customs
dictate when to fill Eliyahu’s cup; it may be filled anytime from the beginning
of the seder.
How Much To Fill and Drink
Minimum wine to fulfill the seder mitzva:
- Each person must drink four cups of wine
at the seder;
- Each cup must hold at least 4 fl. oz. (119
ml);
For each blessing on the wine, you must drink at
least 2 fl. oz. (59 ml) within 30 seconds of when you begin to drink each cup.
The seder is the only time in the year that you must
drink most of your cup (rov kos) of kiddush wine. (For kiddush on Shabbat and
Jewish festivals, you need drink only 2 fl. oz., or 59 ml). So if you have a
cup larger than 4 fl. oz. (119 ml), you may have to drink a lot of wine–more
than half of each cup for four cups!
Note: You may drink other liquids between the first and second
cups of wine at the seder, but it is not recommended.
Leaning To Left
Every male at the Seder is required to lean to the
left side while drinking each cup of wine.
U’rchatz: Wash Hands (No blessing)
Wash hands from a cup of water but do not say a
blessing on washing.
Reason: We are about to eat food that is wet and Jews may not eat
wet food if their hands have spiritual impurity (Tuma).
Karpas: Eat the Vegetable
Dip the Karpas in the salt water and say the blessing
borei pri HaAdama; keep in mind that this blessing will also apply to the
bitter herbs you will eat later in the Seder.
Eating any amount of Karpas fulfills the mitzva of
eating Karpas at seder, but you may not eat more than 0.6 fl. oz. (17 ml, or
1/12 cup).
Yachatz: Break the Matza
Break the middle of the three matzas and hide the
larger part.
Reason: As with most of the actions we do at the Seder, this is to
evoke curiosity in children. It also represents the idea that poor people can’t
afford a whole loaf of bread or might save some food for the next day.
Maggid: Tell the Story
The Four Questions are actually only one question and
that question is:
Why is this night different from all other nights?
The teachers in Bnei Brak were so engrossed in
telling the Passover story that they did not notice that it was after sunrise.
Reason: They may have been in a windowless room since they were
risking their lives by celebrating Passover, against Roman law.
Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria says he is “like 70 years
old” because even though he was only 18 years old, his hair turned white
overnight as if God approved his appointment as Sanhedrin head.
Only three of the Four Sons’ questions are mentioned
in the Torah (which all related to the Passover sacrifice), since the fourth
(smallest) child cannot ask questions. Regarding this child, the Haggadah says,
“Atah p’tach lo” (in the
feminine).
Reason: The mother is supposed to be a child’s primary teacher while the
child is young.
There is a difference in attitude between the wise
son and the evil son: The wise son says “ELOKAYNU” (OUR G-d); he is asking a question and seeking and answer. The
evil son makes a statement (sort of a rhetorical question), instead of asking a
question for which he seeks an answer. Yet, regardless of the sons’ level of
observance, it is a commandment to teach them about going out of Egypt.
God told Avraham (Abraham) that his children would be
living in “lands not their own” and would be enslaved for 400 years, yet the
Torah states that the Israelites were in Egypt for 210 years. So we say God
“calculated the end” (chisheiv et ha’keitz) of the enslavement: He started the
counting from the birth of Avraham’s son, Yitzchak (Isaac), until the Exodus (a
total of 400 years), as follows:
Time from Birth of Avraham’s Son
to Going Down to Egypt
Yaakov (Jacob) was born when Yitzchak was 60 years
old.
Yaakov told Par’o (Pharaoh) (when he and the rest of
his family entered Egypt) that he was 130 years old.
60 + 130= 190 years before going down to Egypt
Time in Egypt
210 years in Egypt
Time from Birth of Avraham’s Son
to Exodus
190 Before going down to Egypt
+ 210 In Egypt
= 400 years from Yitzchak’s birth to the Exodus.
Note: Yitzchak and Yaakov did not yet “own” Eretz Yisrael. Since
the Israelites were not given Eretz Yisrael until after the Exodus, Avraham’s
offspring were living in “lands not their own” for 400 years.
When we lift up our wine cups at v’hi she’amda and at
lefichach, we cover the matza.
Reason: So the matza won’t feel “embarrassed,” since bread/matza
is more important than wine.
Hava nitchakma (let us deal cleverly) was an attempt
at a clever way to keep the Israelites as slaves.
Reason: The Egyptians were afraid the Israelites might join the
Egyptians’ enemies in a war.
Each of the plagues was against one of the Egyptian
gods, to show that they were actually powerless.
We spill 10 drops of wine when reading the list of
plagues.
Reason: Wine symbolizes happiness and so we drink less wine to
show that we are sad that the Egyptians suffered.
In “the plague of the first-borns” (Makkos Bechoros),
did the first-borns suffer by dying or did their families suffer more?
In Rabbi Yehuda’s abbreviations of the ten plagues,
d’tzach-adash-b’achav, the abbreviation ends with the Hebrew letter “vet” for Bechoros
(first-borns), implying that it was the families who suffered, since if it
ended with a “mem” for makat Bechoros, it would have been the first-borns who
suffered.
In dayenu, we say that at each level of what God did
for us, it would have been enough. Since we didn’t get the Torah until one of
the last stages, this seems incorrect, since of what value is money, wandering in
the desert, and all of the other details if we don’t have the Torah?
The answer is that we need to be grateful to God for
each miracle that we received, and that at each stage, we owe praise and thanks
to God.
Also, in one sense, we already had the Torah (in some
version, even though not in the form in which Moses/Moshe wrote it later).
Pesach, Matza, and Maror should be read and explained
with special attention.
Reason: They are the main parts of the seder and of the
commandment to have a seder.
Question: Why didn’t the Israelites bake bread (the Torah says that
they did not have time for the dough to rise)? They knew 14 days ahead of time
(on Rosh Chodesh Nisan) that they would be leaving, and they knew it would be
middle of night (since God said that is when they would leave).
Answer: The Israelites did not do anything to prepare, except what
God told them to do: the Passover offering and putting blood on their
doorposts.
Rachtza: Wash Hands (With a blessing)
To wash hands for Rachtza:
Fill the washing cup with at least 3.3 fl. oz. (99
ml) of water.
Pour enough water (may be as little as 1.3 fl. oz.–39
ml, or 1/6 cup) from the washing cup to completely cover your entire first hand
(either hand may be first, but it is the custom to wash your right hand first).
Pour enough water to completely cover the second
hand.
You do not need to pour more than once per hand and
you do not need to break up the revi’it into more than one pour for each hand.
Say the blessing on washing hands, ending in al Netillas
Yadayim.
Motzei Matza: Bless on/Eat Matza
Matza represents:
* Food of poor people, and
* The unleavened bread that the Israelites ate when
leaving Egypt.
Note: A pun reflects this dual meaning of poor bread plus the
story of leaving Egypt, since “lechem oni” may mean “bread of poor people” or
“bread of (many) answers.”
Matza: What Kind
The only time you must use Shmura Matza is for the
four commandments of Motzei, Matza, Korech, and Afikoman.
Note: You may use any other kosher for Passover matza, even for
the rest of seder. There is no need for using Shmura Matza for the other days
of Passover.
Hand Shmura matza has some advantage in that it was
made with the intention of being for a mitzva, but machine Shmura matza has the
advantage of being less likely to become chametz since it is automated and not
touched by human hands.
Matza: How Much
Motzei, Matza
For motzei and matza together, you must eat at least
1.9 fl. oz. (56 ml) of matza within a 4-minute period from when you begin
eating.
Afikoman
For Afikoman, you must eat another 1.9 fl. oz of
matza; b’di’avad, at least 1.3 fl. oz. (39 ml, or 1/6 cup) is sufficient.
Note: This amount is about 1/2 of a machine Shmura Matza, or 1/3
of a hand Shmura Matza.
Note: If your mouth is too dry to eat that quickly, you may
drink water with the matza.
Motzei/Matza: Blessings
We say two blessings over the matza: Hamotzei Lechem
min HaAretz and Al Achilas matza.
Reason: The blessing on motzei is one of enjoyment (nehenin); the
blessing on matza is a blessing on a commandment (mitzva).
The seder leader says the blessing “Hamotzei” while
holding the three (which are now 2 1/2) shmura matzas, drops the bottom one,
and says the next blessing, al achilas matza. Everyone takes a small piece from
the two top matzas and eats it, along with enough additional shmura matza to
fulfill the minimum requirement.
Maror: Eat Bitter Vegetable
The ideal bitter vegetable for Maror at the Passover Seder
is horseradish. Horseradish for Maror:
- Must be fresh enough to be sharp.
- Should be ground (if ground ahead of time,
it must be stored in a covered container until the Seder).
- Must not have liquid (horseradish with
beets added is not suitable for use as Maror).
Note: Many people have the custom to use romaine lettuce for Maror
(be careful to check for bugs on the romaine).
The minimum amount to fulfill the mitzva of eating Maror
at Seder is 0.65 fl. oz. (19 ml), or about the volume of 1/3 of an egg.
Note: If you choose to use romaine instead of horseradish for Maror,
the minimum amount is about 2-3 stems (depending on their size), or enough
leaves if crushed to make up 0.65 fl. oz.
Note: It is even better to eat at least 1.3 fl. oz. (39 ml, or
1/6 cup).
Say the blessing “al achilas Maror.”
Dip the Maror into the Charoset and shake off all but
a little bit of the Charoset.
Do not lean when eating the Maror.
Note: The blessing for Maror was included in the Borei Pri HaAdama
blessing, which was said on the karpas earlier in the seder.
Korech: Eat the Sandwich
You need eat only 0.95 fl. oz. (28 ml) of matza
within four minutes of beginning to eat it to fulfill the commandment of
koreich.
For Korech, use the same amount of Maror as for the Maror
commandment.
To eat the Korech:
* Put some bitter herbs on the matza.
* Lean to the left when eating the Korech.
Shulchan Aruch: Eat the Festival Meal
Don’t eat roasted meat of any kind at the seder,
including roasted poultry.
Reason: So it will not be confused with the Passover offering.
Note: You may eat lamb as long as it is not roasted.
Meat is not considered to be roasted if, when the
baking began, there was at least 1/4″ of liquid in the cooking utensil with the
meat.
Tzafun: Hidden (Afikoman)
You should ideally finish Afikoman by midnight at the
Passover seder, but you may eat it later than midnight if you have not finished
(or even started!) your meal by then.
After eating the Afikoman on Passover, you may not
eat again until daybreak, but you will still drink two more cups of wine and
you may drink water anytime through the night.
Richard used the Yiddish word "Benesch" for Barech:
Say Birkat HaMazon
If you said Birkat Hamazon at the seder but had
forgotten to eat the Afikoman, you must:
* Wash your hands,
* Say Hamotzei,
* Eat at least 1.3 fl. oz. (39 ml, or 1/6 cup) of
matza,
* Say Birkat Hamazon again, and then
Drink the third cup of wine.
Open the door at this point.
Reason: To show our trust in God to protect us, since the first
night of Passover is called a night of watching (leil shimurim), when God
provides special protection for the Jewish people.
Note: You should open the door unless you are in an unsafe
neighborhood. If the neighborhood is dangerous, it may be forbidden by Jewish
law to live there at any time.
Hallel: Saying Hallel Psalms
At the Seder, Hallel is divided into two parts. The
first two psalms, read before the meal, deal with the exodus from Egypt. The
remaining psalms, read after the meal, concern other miracles and the future of
the Jewish nation.
There are many opinions as to why we read Hallel at
night: most are related either to praising God for saving the Jewish people or
to accompanying the Passover sacrifice in the Temple in Jerusalem.
Nirtza: Accepted
We hope that God accepts our Seder and all of the
commandments that we have done on this night.
Copyright 2015 Richard B. Aiken.
Halacha L’Maaseh appears courtesy of www.practicalhalacha.com Visit their web site for more information.
Shabbos HaGadol Drasha
The Baal HaBeis or Master of the
Pesach Seder starts off with "All can come in and celebrate" – this
is grand to make the Master a big hearted person. However, if we had a Beis
HaMikdash today, the Master would have to go out and invite beforehand people
from the Market Place, Skid Row, etc. to come to his Seder. The reason being is
that Skid Row Sam (no offense to Shmuel or Shimshon = Samson) has a Korban
Pesach slaughtered in his name. It is time in history that Israel is rising to
its former glory and Nissim and Niflaos miracles and wonders will take place
for us like in the days of Moshe Rabbaynu.
Therefore, I brought down the
above. With no Korban we are forbidden to eat roasted meat on the night of
Pesach. We can have boiled, baked and fried lamb but not roasted or grilled
lamb for otherwise it would be like the Korban Pesach itself. The question that
was asked and brought down in the Gemara is "On all other nights we east
meat baked, fried, boiled meat, on this night only roasted?"
If you are like either my wife or
I, your refrigerator has the top shelves cleaned and with some Kosher LePesach
items like horseradish and some butter, cheeses and perhaps one or two of the
fruits and vegetable draws filled with apples, radish, carrots, etc. and
outside garlic, onions, potatoes and maybe sweet potatoes.
You may have rolled up the clean
rugs and put some of the Chametz items away maybe just leaving one
"LeChaim" bottle or so. Less items on the counter top and ready to
clean the stove Motzei Shabbos. The oven maybe koshered already. Motzei Shabbos
the stove tops are cleaned and the Passover cooking utensils are brought out.
Chametz leftovers are going to be
heated on a microwave oven that can be koshered Erev Pesach as we kosher 15
minute with a few cups of soap and water usually it is 5mins per cup and each
time renewed. Remember that special microwave disposables are available and
meat or milk products to be heated should be covered.
What does the Rabbi do the week
before Pesach, he goes to the Kosher LeShmita Store as he does not hold by the
'sale of the land of Israel to non-Jews during the Sabbatical Year' except in
life saving issues. So now the fruits and vegetables, Matzos, fruits, cleaning
products, jams, ketchup, etc. are ready. Now it is time to check the milk
products that their expiry date is after Pesach. Consider that special lactose
milk may have Kitniyos aka Legumes and per your customs should be avoided. So
by the middle of the week Cheeses with an expiry date after Pesach should be
bought and stored in the refrigerator.
NOTICE: DUE TO THE FACT THAT PASSOVER
IN ISRAEL ENDS ON FRIDAY AT SUNDOWN ONE STILL MUST EAT KOSHER LEPESACH. HOWEVER
THE TORAH PORTION IS ACHEREI MOS AND PUTS ISRAEL AHEAD. BLE NEDER (no vow) I
WILL PRODUCE NEXT WEEK'S BLOGSPOT WITH THIS PARSHA but nothing more on the laws
of Pesach unless a question pops up. In Israel, the Moshiach's Meal by Chabad
is on Friday afternoon and in Gallus the third Shabbos Meal.
Last Clean Cup by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1269-31
Every year, in honor of Passover, members of the Baal Shem Tov's
household purchased a large quantity of new cups to be used for the duration of
the holiday. Of course, the glasses that were to be used would first be
immersed in a mikvah, following Jewish law.
The glasses came in a variety of shapes and sizes. And in classic Jewish
legal sources, there is a system for measuring liquids, with specific names for
the various amounts. In the Baal Shem Tov's home, the glasses were referred to
by the Jewish name for the amount of liquid they were able to contain. Thus, a
glass that contained 3-4 ounces was called a revi'it glass,
etc.
Before Passover, the Baal Shem Tov would look through the glasses and instruct
which cups could be set upon the table and which should be set aside. He
provided no reasons for his directives, but everyone understood that his
reasoning was a product of his exalted spiritual level.
Thus passed the first seven days of Passover.
Then, the final meal on Passover,(1) known as "Moshiach's
meal," was special. It was open to the public; everyone who passed through
the sage's door was free to enter and partake of the festivities.
One year, before Moshiach's meal began, the Baal Shem Tov instructed that
a certain cup be removed from the table because it had not been immersed.
After, during the meal, a newcomer entered and asked for some wine.
"Sorry," he was told, "but there are no more clean cups."
"What do you mean?" he asked with surprise, pointing to the cup
that had been set aside. "I see a clean cup right over here that no one is
using!"
"Oh," he was told, "that cup has not been immersed in the
mikvah and must not be used."
"It doesn't matter," he replied dismissively, reaching for the
cup.
At that point, the Baal Shem Tov, who had been silent until this point,
interrupted. "He just testified about himself," he declared in a sad
tone.
The words were mysterious to everyone aside from the man himself. Hearing
the rebbe's caring words of rebuke, he admitted his shortcoming. It was true.
He and his wife were not particular about the laws of family purity, which
require a previously menstruant woman to immerse in a mikvah before being
intimate with her husband.
Inspired by this revelation of the Baal Shem Tov's extraordinary holiness,
the couple resolved to mend their ways.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1)At the end of the 7th day in
Israel; at the end of the appended 8th day outside of Israel.
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the translation on Chabad.org, based
on the writings & talks of Rabbi Yosef-Yitzchak Schneersohn, the sixth
Lubavitcher Rebbe, as printed in Sefer HaSichot, 5702.
Biographical note:
Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer [of blessed memory: 18 Elul 5458 - 6 Sivan 5520
(Aug. 1698 - May 1760 C.E.)], the Baal Shem Tov ["Master
of the Good Name"-often referred to as "the Besht" for short], a
unique and seminal figure in Jewish history, revealed his identity as an
exceptionally holy person, on his 36th birthday, 18 Elul 5494 (1734 C.E.), and
made the until-then underground Chasidic movement public. He wrote no books,
although many works claim to contain his teachings. One available in English is
the excellent annotated translation of Tzava'at Harivash, published by Kehos.
Milestone: Ethan Wertheimer, 70, Billionaire
founder of Iscar. https://www.timesofisrael.com/billionaire-businessman-eitan-wertheimer-dies-at-70/
Had two more names of people but US
tax deadline disturbed me.
Inyanay Diyoma
Due to internet connection
problems, I have condensed the news items.
Good News Israel's Reservoir almost at
capacity. https://www.timesofisrael.com/sea-of-galilee-nears-maximum-capacity-for-first-time-in-30-years/
Chametz not straw broke the back of the
coalition. https://www.debka.com/israels-coalition-loses-its-majority-with-whips-resignation/
Bennett: Former Coalition Whip quits after
abuse. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjoghboq9
Ganz could benefit from Whip's resignation. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjxqtesm5
Why not place the bodies of dead terrorists in
Pig Skins or even feed them to the pigs? https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkynv6d75
100,000 Muslims to be on Har HaBeis on Friday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325392
USN-Israel Navy conclude joint exercise. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325283
Ukraine Jewish Agency works 24/7 to rescue. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325410
Chief Rabbi Ed-Op why are Muslims desecrating
Ramadan? https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjtxnvomc
Shootout with terrorists injure Police Chief
Superintendent. https://www.debka.com/a-police-chief-superintendent-seriously-wounded-in-gun-battle-with-terrorists/
In an effort to save Freedom of Speech, Elan
Musk buys 9% of Twitter Shares. https://www.timesofisrael.com/elon-musk-acquires-9-stake-in-twitter-shares-skyrocket/
Haifa Arab given death sentence in UAE. https://www.timesofisrael.com/uae-sentences-israeli-woman-to-death-over-half-kilo-of-cocaine/
Bodies rotting for weeks in the Ukraine more
sanctions. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1xfglfx9
RINO's help Biden's Judge nominee. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325266
Immediate CPR saves man's life. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325265
Israeli Hummus Sprouts in Space. https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/b1zklpy7q#autoplay
Coffee Chain accidently serves man detergent
hospitalized. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/hyonbfdx5
Hispanic Husband kills Jewish Wife in JCC. https://www.timesofisrael.com/1-killed-in-domestic-shooting-at-miami-dade-jewish-center-suspect-in-custody/
Arab attack planner arrested on route 6: https://www.timesofisrael.com/counterterrorism-police-arrest-palestinian-on-route-6-suspected-of-planning-attack/
Conditions in hospital will drive you crazy. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325419
Arabs who placed explosive in health ministry
in north arrested. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325411
Arabs riot after Lapid visit. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325237
Hunter Biden may be the biggest scandal in
American History. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325219
Many House Dems condemn Iran Deal. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325372
Gulf States move towards China with senile
leader in W.H. https://www.debka.com/oil-gulf-states-pivot-toward-china-amid-sharpening-standoff-with-us/
Nir Orbach wants end to construction freeze and
electricity to new settlements or is out. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325413
New medical study on antibodies. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325403
Terror in Tel Aviv two dead. https://www.debka.com/sho
oting-attack-injures-8-two-critically-on-tel-avivs-dizengoff-st-gunman-at-large/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325457 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325450
US general opposes Al Quds. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-military-chief-opposes-terror-delisting-for-irans-quds-force
Victims: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325491
Temple mount prayers went off OK. Tel Aviv
Terrorist killed in shootout. https://www.timesofisrael.com/tel-aviv-terrorist-shot-and-killed-near-mosque-named-as-raad-hazem-from-jenin/
Have a wonderful, healthy and
peaceful Shabbos and a Chag Samayach,
Rachamim Pauli
