Parshas Tazria 5770
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Loading ...In this week’s Parsha we discuss the purification process of a woman who has given birth. Why is it that this new life begins with spiritual contamination? The Torah is teaching us a fundamental lesson in life. I heard from R’ Oratz of Yerushalayim that When Chava gave birth to the first naturally born human being she called him Kayin saying I have acquired a man with Hashem (Bereishis 4:1) the term to describe Kayin is Ish-man. Kayin as we see from the Psukim became a murderer. When Chava had her next child (that had a continuation) she called him Sheis “Ki shus li elokim zera acher”(Bereishis 4:25). Rather than calling him Ish, she referred to this child as zera, seed. Chava had learned that it isn’t enough to just have a child, but that a child is a seed and each seed is unique, and when “watered” properly, given the individual care needed, he will “blossom” into a fine human being.
I once heard an impressionable story from one of my Rebbeim. There was once a couple that had given birth to a son. The father of the boy asked his Rav shortly after the child’s birth at what age should he start being Mechanech (educating) the child. His Rebbi’s reply was “about ten years ago!” This short story sheds a lot of light in the dark world of childrearing. It is not enough to have a child, and it is not enough to tell him to “be good”, and “do the right thing”. Rather, the child will learn from his parents, he will see how they act, and learn from their behavior patterns. That is why the Rav told him he should start the upbringing of their child ten years ago. Through the building of oneself, and the personal growth that they make in their lives, the way that they themselves behaved, is the main thing that will have a lasting effect on his child.
When a mother gives birth to a child, it begins with impurity to teach us that this child is not yet complete. When a father and mother unite, they become partners with Hashem in the creation of a child. A very holy act indeed, but all they have done, is made a man. What of the potential of this man? What will he do in life, what will he be like when he is older? What will become of this Ish? It is not enough to just be born, rather there is more to be done. The union of the husband and wife was just the beginning of the partnership, but the work must continue onward, till the child is old enough to learn and grow on his own with the tools he learned from his parents.
Categories: Parshas Tazria
