This week’s Parash

This week’s Parasha reading (weekly Torah portion) was taken from Leviticus (Vayikra), chapters 14 – 16 and speaks mostly about the laws concerning a person having Leprosy. It’s amazing how Torah portions are so often linked with what is actually going on at the time, and this portion is certainly no exception. Leprosy is a just one of the symbols used to illustrate sin, and although leprosy is very obviously visible, sin often is not. This passage teaches us that we should examine ourselves for it and if we do find it, then it is something that can’t be dealt with alone but need to seek help of one in trusted position to help. After dealing with the matter, we then need to wait for a certain amount of time in order to be sure that the problem has been dealt with. This so wonderfully ties in with the time leading to Pesach, when we clean out our houses from top to bottom in order to rid them of trace of Chametz (another symbol of sin). In this incredibly special time we also search ourselves and our lives for any sign of sin that needs to be dealt with that will hinder us being ready for the moment when the Eternal one made death pass over us.

Here at Ulpan Aviv, we are not only furiously working on the website and conducting interviews to find just the right teacher to add to our great team, but we also busily preparing both ourselves and our students for Pesach with the materials that we have specially prepared for them for this time. In Israel in the last few days we have had many concrete opportunities to reflect on Chag Pesach. Due to the escalation of violence and the arrival of countless mortars and missiles in to Israel from Gaza, we are daily faced with the wonder of HaShem making death pass over us! With well over 100 rockets etc., arriving in Israel from Gaza in the last 48 hours, it has been miraculous that up until me writing this, not one person has lost there life. A real reminder of what Pesach stands for to us as a nation.
Well must go. No time to waste. Just off to re-stock on Cif, bleach etc….
Gil Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv director