Courtesy of Chabad.org
A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY
This week’s double Parsha (Tazria-Metzorah) speaks about various purities and impurities, detailing the atonement processes, mostly relating to Biblical times. The Torah references to purity here differ in an interesting way from those given in the times of Noah’s Ark, during which Noah is commanded to bring animals, kosher and non-kosher, into the ark. At that earlier point, the Torah says, “animals which are not pure,” which, we are taught, is a more refined way of speaking. Instead of saying bad, the thought goes, say not good. Instead of “hate,” try “don’t like,” and so forth. And yet in this week’s portion, the animals or situations are shortened to “impure.” It’s said straight out without working around it. Why so? Why was it so important to refine speech earlier in the Torah and now we disregard this important lesson?
The answer speaks to me personally. I don’t know about you but my personality is such that I’m not always super direct, sorry, you know what I mean, blunt. The Torah says that’s good, sometimes; when we are telling a historical narrative, we should say it gently and in a refined way (Noah). However, in this week’s Parsha, sorry, Parshas (see?), we are talking about situations that will have real, practical ramifications for people. May they be difficult ramifications? Sure. But sometimes it’s important to rip off that band-aid, leaving no room for doubt or misinterpretation. I recall hearing a story of a boss who was sent to fire his employee and went on about “company philosophy,” “cultural change,” and “needs for downsizing.” When the employee left the meeting, he simply went back to his desk and continued his work. The lesson? Sometimes we need to be direct. Yes, refined speech is important but oftentimes, when having a difficult conversation, the crucial component is clarity. So let us all learn from this, and may we be blessed with a Shabbat Shalom. Good Shabbos!