Rabbi Levin's Blog

“You shall not act on the basis of omens or lucky hours.”  “You shall not turn to [the sorcery of] Ov or Yid'oni” (forms of sorcery used to communicate with the dead).  These are just two of the Mitzvot in this week’s double Parsha, alongside “do not steal”, “do not withhold wages,” “do not embarrass anyone publicly,” “love your fellow” and many other person-to-person Mitzvot. The Mitzvot relating to sorcery and omens and psychic practices, etc., are always important, but they are especially relevant today.  There is a great spiritual awakening in our generation, and many people are seeking enlightenment and meaning in life.   I often hear about all kinds of new and imaginative practices which attempt to fill this need.  Some sound really good, and sometimes sound similar to Kabbalah, but they are rooted in idol-worship.  Spirituality is at the core of Judaism, yet the Torah warns us in the Parsha called “Kedoshim” – “Holy,” to stay away from practices...

  It sounds pretty harsh!  A person gets a white mark on their skin, and has to live in solitary confinement outside the town until it goes away.  That is one of the main themes of the double Parsha we read this week, Tazria and Metzora.  Perhaps because the early translators of the Torah did not study the Oral Torah, or maybe just ignored it, they translated tzara’at as leprosy, because it is a skin affliction which is contagious.  But contrary to leper colonies, a person with tzara’at had to be completely alone, not able to live with others with the same affliction.  In addition, tzara’at is an affliction that may affect a person’s skin, or a garment, or a house.  Clearly not a contagious skin disease.    (Pardon the interruption:  Camp Gan Israel, the most wonderful and meaningful Jewish summer experience you can give your child, is offering a special discount on Monday.  CGI is for children from Kindergarten to 6 th grade,...

There is one Holiday on the Jewish calendar when we don’t say the blessing Shecheyanu when we light the holiday candles or say Kiddush. This is a blessing of thanks to Hashem that we say whenever we reach an annual event, thanking Hashem for giving us another year and bringing us to this moment. Examples of when we say Shehecheyanu are when we eat a new seasonal fruit for the first time each year and for all Holidays except one. That is the final days of Pesach. Why not?  A basic explanation is that it is not a new event since it is a continuation of the Holiday that began six days ago. As opposed to Shmini Atzeret, the eighth day of Sukkot, which is actually a distinct Holiday from Sukkot. (Pardon the interruption. I am very much looking forward to teaching the course “Jewpernatural,” among other things discussing what Judaism teaches about the occult, evil eye, and supernatural things. Chabadpaloalto.com/JLI .) As in all Torah matters, there is also a deeper explanation that Chas...

  Dena and I wish you and your family a kosher and happy Pesach. May the spirit of the holiday and the message of freedom it brings permeate your entire year. We pray that in addition to the spiritual freedom that this holiday brings, as well as all the beautiful customs - the Matzah and wine, the reading of the Haggadah and the telling of the story of the exodus - that we also merit to see the physical redemption with Moshiach. Though the Seder concludes, "Next Year In Jerusalem," it does not mean that we have to wait till next year. Moshiach can come immediately and next year we will all be In Jerusalem celebrating Pesach together. If you have not yet done so, there is still time to sell your chametz here (until 10PM tonight), and feel free to reply to this email or call me if you have any questions. Enjoy your Pesach!