bs'd

Dear Talmidot, Parents and Friends –

1)       This week at Midreshet Moriah

2)       Faculty Devar Torah – Rav Zvi Ron

3)       Mazel Tovs

4)       Mi She-Berach List

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

This Week at Midreshet

To all Alumnae -

A special "Haggadah" for Pesach has been written for you by our very own faculty.

Follow this link to view and print:

http://www.midreshetmoriah.org/uploads/files/Haggadah-_alumnae.doc

Wishing you all a Chag Kasher Ve' Sameach !

From the entire staff and faculty at Midreshet Moriah

Pictures from our year can be seen at http://midreshetmoriah.com/pictures/

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Parshat Metzora

The Metzora and Me

Rabbi Zvi Ron

In this week's parshah, we read about the purification process for the metzora, one stricken by the biblical disease, tzara’at. This involves two birds, one that is slaughtered and one that is set free. Ibn Ezra explains that the pasuk that introduces the two birds (14:4) can be understood in two ways: Either the metzora brings the birds to the cohen, or the cohen orders someone to bring birds using the money of the metzora[1]. Either way, the metzora is paying for the birds, so what would be the point of the cohen’s getting somebody else to bring the birds?

The Gemara (Arachin 15b-16a) lists many sins that caused tzara'at. The most well-known is lashon ha-ra (slander), but sexual infractions, robbery, bloodshed, false oaths, excessive pride, and selfishness are also listed. By declaring someone a metzora, the cohen was in effect telling him that he had committed an extremely serious sin and sentencing him to excommunication. The afflicted would live outside the camp and take on practices associated with mourning, wearing torn garments and not shaving (13:45-46). Ibn Ezra explains that the metzora is mourning for him self, lamenting his evil deeds that brought him to this awful state.  

This is why it's important for the cohen to send someone to purchase the birds for the metzora. The cohen had declared this metzora a sinner; now he performs a gesture to help the metzora become pure again, by helping to get the necessary birds. The cohen is showing us how to deal with a person who has strayed outside of society and is now ready to return. The role of the cohen is not only to condemn and expel the sinner, it is also to help reintegrate the ba'al teshuvah into the group.

 The purification process included the cohen’s applying blood from the sacrifices to the right earlobe, thumb and big toe of the metzora (14:14). Rav Sorotzkin points out that this is the same way the cohanim were first inaugurated into the priestly service. The idea is that the cohen now treats the purified metzora as someone who is the same as he is.  

The way that the cohen acts during the purification of the metzora teaches that we need to take an active role, helping those who want to return to Judaism, and as we help them we must keep in mind to treat them with kindness and respect, as our friends and equals.  

[1] See Ibn Ezra 14:4 in the Mossad HaRav Kook Torat Chaim Chumash, footnotes 8 and 9.

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

 Mazel Tov  

To Rav Eitan and Sally Mayer on the occasion of their son Avraham’s Bar-Mitzvah

Birth:

Devorah (Faculty) and Rav Ezra Starr (Faculty) on the birth of a girl

Yhi ratzon shetizku lgadla lTorah lChupa ulMa'asim tovim.

Ruthie Gershinsky (Staff) Ahituv Gershinsky on the birth of a grandson, first son to Hannani and Bat Chen Gershinsky

Yhi ratzon shetizku lgadlo lTorah lChupa ulMa'asim tovim. Kshem shenichnas lBrit kein yikanes lTorah lChupah ulMa'asim tovim.

Please help us stay informed - http://midreshetmoriah.org/send-mazaltov.asp 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Our Deepest Condolences to Ahituv Gershinksy (Husband of Ruthie Gershinsky) on the passing of his mother, Devorah Gershinsky z"l

HaMakom y'nachem et'chem b'toch sha'ar avelei Tzion v'Yerushalyim

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Mi SheBerach List

**** Due to the length of the list we started a NEW list.  Please email midmoriah@gmail.com if there is a name you would like to add or remove!  

Chaim ben Chashka (3/3/2011) – diabetes complications 

Matityahu Yaakov ben Gittel Rivka (3/5/2011)

Tziporah Feiga Bat Sima Sheindel (2/26/2011)

Shira bat Deena Miriam – premature baby on a ventilator (2/19/2011)

Noa Batya bat Daniella Rut – 7 month old with leukemia (2/5/2011)

Leah Alona Bat Tziporah (2/5/2011)

Leora bat Sarah (2/5/2011)

Frimit bat Devorah (2/5/2011)

Rivah bat Jane (1/29/2011)

Amitai Yaakov ben Bracha - a 16 yr. old just diagnosed with leukemia (1/29/2011)

Dina Eta bat Chaya Tzippora Sheva (1/22/2011)

Aharon Yitzchak ben Deena Yehudis (1/6/2011)

Adi bat Zahavit (twin baby who is sick)

Reut bat Zahavit (twin baby who is sick)

Chaim Yissachar ben Chaya Mushkit (26 year old with 2 children, leukemia)

Shraga Feivel ben Sasha

Ari ben Rivka (young husband with brain tumor)

Inbal bat Nelya

Zacharia Kalman HaCohen ben Yael Margalit

Shai Ben Meital - 4 yr old with brain damage and seizures

Aviva Miriam bat Esther - 9 month old baby with cancer going through chemo

Tzipora Fayga Bat Sima Shaindel- 33 year old mother of 3 with Leukemia(9/19/2010)

Tzvi Ilan ben Gita (8/12/2010)

Chaya Tziporah Sheva bat Faiga (8/12/2010)

Chisha Bayla bat Miriam

Chaya Meira Mindel bat Chava Golda - Midreshet alumna with cancer

Refael ben Nomi- 10 month old baby who has meningitis

Avraham ben Elka (5/21/10)

Rivka Bracha bat Yehudit - mother of 6 with cancer, doing better BH

Rivka Margalit bat Ita - 12 year old girl with a brain tumor (5/27/2010)

Rachel bat Re-ayah - mother of 7 with cancer that has spread

Batya Leah bat Sara - cancer

Noa Chaya bat Nava Yehudit - baby

Yehuda Moshe Yosef ben Miriam

Rayzel bat Rifka

_______________________________________________

Midreshet Moriah

The Educational Wing

Shaare Zedek Medical Center

P.O. Box 3235, Jerusalem, Israel

tel: 972-2-652-7449 fax: 972-2-651-1524

www.midreshetmoriah.com

?? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??????

--

Please contact midmoriah@gmail.com if you wish to no longer receive mail from Midreshet Moriah.

Update your email preferences
2227 : 4,2,3 : 46