Weekly Message 05.02.2025 Parashat Tazria - Metzora

Parashat Tazria (conceives) - Metzora (often translated as Leper)

Leviticus 12:1 - 15:33

HafTorah Kings II 7:3 - 20

TAZRIA - METZORA

Dear friends,

We have come to the end of April and an important week in the Hebrew calendar having observed Yom HaZikaron (Israel's Memorial Day) and celebrated Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel's Independence Day) which occurred on consecutive days.

Many thanks to those who attended and participated in the moving Yom HaZikaron program with our friends at Temple Beth David (TBD) this past Tuesday evening. It has been a wonderful and uplifting experience to share these observances with TBD, and we very much look forward to many more in the future, the next being on erev Shavuot (details below).

This Shabbat (services tonight at 7:30 pm and Saturday at 9:30 am in-person and virtually on Zoom), we continue our reading of the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra). Our triennial reading will cover Chapter 14, Verse 33 through Chapter 15, Verse 33 dealing with leprosy and other impurities, i.e. diseases, describing the purification of and the process of treating those infected with skin disease. As I recall, this portion is one of the least favorites for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs due to the excruciating unpleasant detail it contains. Who wants to spend one's very special day chanting about skin diseases from the Torah? However, we learn that despite the isolation from society that is prescribed, we are, each of us, so much more than our afflictions. To quote Hazzan David Berger "When we are seen in the right way, this Torah teaches, we can overcome the transactional nature of medical care and find the sacred at every stage of illness and the hopeful return to health". Just as the Kohanim visited those afflicted with disease, we need to care for and support all who are suffering. We chant a Mishabeyrach prayer for recovery, but we must supplement that with real care. One of the worst byproducts of illness is loneliness and isolation. Just one phone call or visit from a friend goes a very long way towards recovery!

Woman of Distinction 2025 Wendy Seldin

This Sunday, May 4th at 2 pm, we will gather at Temple B'nai Israel at 1685 South Belcher Road in Clearwater to honor our own Wendy Seldin together with women from the other synagogues, community centers, and volunteer organizations in our region as our "Woman of Distinction". Wendy has contributed so much to our synagogue and our community, so let's have a huge turnout to cheer her and the others and congratulate them for all they have done to support us. The guest speaker at the event will be Lizzy Savetsky an American social media activist known for her work fighting antisemitism, advocating for Israel, and empowering us to be proud of our identity and religion.

We will meet at the synagogue at 12:30 pm to carpool and rides will be provided for all those who need one. Registration for the program and refreshments is available through this link https://jewishgulfcoast.org/wod The cost is $36/person. Please sign up now and plan to attend and celebrate Wendy and our congregation!

And to repeat, on erev Shavuot, Sunday, June 1st at 7 pm, we will be joining our friends at Temple Beth David in a Tikkun Leil Shavuot , a centuries old tradition of studying together as part of our preparation for the holiday of Shavuot which among other things, celebrates our receipt of the Torah. Members of both synagogues will be delivering short talks on religious, historical, and cultural themes as we learn together from our own homes as we will all participate on Zoom. Last year, Eileen Hochstadt and I both presented, and we encourage all to tune in again this year for what promises to be a great opportunity to learn from each other. I will be speaking on the significance of the Puglia region in the boot of Italy to the Jewish people from the expulsion from the Holy Land by the Romans after the destruction of the Second Temple to the establishment of displaced person camps after the Holocaust which served as a springboard to emigration (both legal and illegal) back to the land Israel.

Shabbat Shalom!

Ron Becker,

Spiritual Leader