Torah
Parshat Tazria – The Void Waiting to Be Filled
By: Mrs. Dara Knapel
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The Torah describes that after a mother gives birth to either a boy or girl there is a certain time period of Tumah (that is followed by a period of Tahara). What is the source of this Tumah that lasts for either 7 or 14 days?
The Kotzker Rebbe explains that birth is one of those things that HaKadosh BaRuch Hu does not give to a messenger (a malach) but He Himself is in control of. This means that at the time of birth the Shechinah descends upon the woman. Upon giving birth the presence of the Shechinah goes away.
The Kotzker explains that whenever Kedusha leaves – tumah comes in to fill the void and therefore there is a period of Tumah after birth.
Perhaps we can expand upon the idea of the Kotzker and say that life is like a void waiting to be filled. If we fill it with Kedusha then there is no room for the Tumah, however when we do not fill it with Kedusha it will be filed with Tumah.
This lesson is exceedingly relevant at the beginning of a child’s life and maybe even more importantly at the beginning of one’s life as a parent. What will we fill our children’s lives with? For most parents in today’s day and age there is the feeling that we must fill up a child’s day – but what is the content. Are we putting the child in front of the computer (an electronic babysitter) or are we filling the child’s life with Divrei Kedusha or meaningful productive activity?
The same question obviously applies to all of us as we try to fill in our day. The more we fill up our days with Kedusha the less room there is for anything negative. May we all be zocheh to lead meaningful lives filled with Kedusha and Tahara!
| Additional shiurim
from this category can be found in: |
Parshat Shavua (Tazria) |
| Uploaded: | Thursday, April 7, 2016 |