5783/2023
In this week's Parashiyot, we discuss Brit Milah and the laws
and purification process of someone with Tzara’at. On the last
day of the purification process, the person with Tzara'at has to
bring three Korbanot: a Korban Asham, Korban Chatat, and
Korban Olah.
When describing the Korbanot, the Torah gives an
interesting obligation to the poor man: “משגת ידו ואין הוא ואם־דל
ולקח כבש אחד אשם לתנופה לכפר עליו ועשרון סלת אחד בלול בשמן למנחה ולג
שמן,” “If, however, one is poor and without sufficient means,
that person shall take one male lamb for a guilt offering, to be
elevated in expiation, one-tenth of a measure of choice flour
with oil mixed in for a meal offering, and a log of oil” (VaYikra
14:21).
Why wouldn’t the rich man just want to take on the obligation
that the poor man has?
The Gemara (Arachin 17a-b) says that if the person is wealthy,
he has to bring three lambs as Korbanot. If the person is poor,
he can substitute two birds instead of lambs for the Korban
Olah and Korban Chatat. My great great grandfather the
Chafetz Chaim adds that they are not equal and that the
wealthy man brings that which is in accordance with his
wealth, and a poor man gives anything within his means. And
they can't take on each other’s Korbanot, as stated in Masechet
Nega’im (14:12): If the rich man takes on the poor man's
Korbanot, he doesnt fulfill the obligation. In contrast, if the
poor man takes on the rich man's Korbanot, the Gemara says
the poor man has to bring three animals, not birds, to complete
the obligation.
According to Rav Aryeh Leib Lopiansky, the Gemara
says that one reason for Tzara'at is a punishment for greed.
Therefore, if the wealthy person gives a cheaper Korban, it
shows that he doesn't care about repenting for his sin and is
not forgiven. The Chafetz Chaim compares the concept of the
rich man not fulfilling his obligation when giving the Korbanot
of the poor man to a Jew’s spirituality. A Jew has to use
everything Hashem offered him and do everything he can to
serve Hashem in the best way possible. Hashem demands more
from a Talmid Chacham than an ignoramus in their Torah
Learning. Rav Yisrael Bronstein adds to this idea and says there
can be times when you daven or learn and think that you may
not be the most focused, but it’s acceptable because you are
superior to someone else. This is a thought that should not
enter one’s mind. This person you compare yourself to may be
compared to the poor man spiritually: he has never davened
right and doesn’t have the same abilities as you. To you, he
appears less spiritual, but to Hashem, who understands
everyone's hearts, he is doing the best he can, which is all
Hashem expects from him. Maybe, in the end, the other person
is superior to you.
We see something a similar concept in the first of this
week Parshiyot, Parashat Tazria. Parashat Tazria talks about
the Chiyuv to give a Brit Milah, which is a Mitzvah compared to
entering under the Kanphei HaShechinah. The Ba’al HaTurim
לא בשמים הוא לאמר מי יעלה־לנו” 30:12: Devarim from this derives
ונעשנה אתה וישמענו לנו ויקחה השמימה,” “It is not in the heavens, that
you should say, ‘Who among us can go up to the heavens and
get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?’” The
words “השמימה יעלה־לנו מי “have the initials Milah.
This shows that we need to do everything to the
fullest to show how special we are to Hashem and do
everything in our effort to respect and repay Hashem for all He
has given us.