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.