Weekly D'Var Torah

D'var Torah for April 19

Parashat Metzora

by Jake Rose, Bar Mitzvah

My Torah portion is from the book of Leviticus and is called Metzora. The metzora was a person stricken with a scaley skin disease. Many people misunderstood this disease to be leprosy but that is actually wrong. We know this is not a real disease that can be treated with medicine because it didn’t just affect people but also affected clothing and even houses. To cure this disease the priest was brought in to examine the person or the house. The person was sent outside the camp for 7 days, and then the priest would come and examine the person and perform a ritual with two birds. One was sacrificed and one was set free. The rabbis interpreted this skin disease to be caused from using hurtful speech, speaking badly about others. Jewish tradition calls this lashon ha-ra – which literally means evil language. With this portion of metzora, the Torah is trying to tell us that evil speech, like gossip or fearful talk is very dangerous; the more you do it, the more it can spread and affect other things and get out of control.

This talk of hurtful speech is especially relevant right now especially after the attack in Israel on October 7th. Right now people are saying so many things and a lot of it is hurtful about Israel and the Jewish people. Some people are even using words that cross the line into antisemitism without even knowing what they are saying, and they don’t think about how we as Jews will feel hearing these words.

I agree with the rabbis’ interpretation that gossip and evil speech is very dangerous. I have seen people get really upset in school when rumors have spread about them because it makes them look different in a bad way, and then no one wants to be around them. Even if the rumor isn’t true it still spreads like wildfire. When this happens, I find myself focusing even more on what I say, so that I don’t say anything that can hurt other people because I see what a big impact our words can have. Now that I am bar mitzvah I will be more cautious of what I do and say in the community. I realize my actions have impact and can make a real difference.

One way I make a difference in the community is through my bar mitzvah project. For my Bar Mitvzah project, I sold bracelets to support Israel with the words Oseh Shalom written on them which means Maker of Peace. All the money raised has been donated to Magen David Adom which is the Red Cross of Israel whose motto is “Giving Life, Changing Lives, Improving Lives and Saving Lives – every minute of every day.” I have sold more than 350 bracelets at my school, in my neighborhood, and at Darchei Noam. I have raised a total of $1800.  After the attack on October 7th I decided to do whatever I could to support Israel. I chose to put the words Oseh Shalom or Maker of Peace on the bracelets because people should know that there can be peace and it is okay to still dream of peace. I like to think that by writing the words Oseh Shalom on the bracelets, I am using my words to spread awareness and help create unity.

The process of becoming a bar mitzvah has been challenging but still fun. During this process I learned a lot about myself and am proud that I can now read from the Torah. I most enjoyed practicing my prayers with Hazzan, and found it interesting to go through this life cycle event with my family, and be part of all the planning that it entails. Now that I am a bar mitzvah I look forward to being an adult member of the Jewish community.

Shabbat Shalom!