This week is Parashat Tisaveh but today’s lesson will focus on Parashat Zachor.
Zachor, as we know, is one of the mitzvot that is possibly from the Torah, and possibly includes ladies as well, which is why it’s a good idea to come to shul to hear it. Parashat Zachor doesn’t stand on its own. It is one of the four special readings referred to as the Arba Parashiot that we read in preparation for Pesach.
The first is Parashat Shekalim, which discusses the half shekel, (zecher lemahasit hashekel)
Then comes Parashat Zachor, which is this week,
Next is Parashat Parah, which talks about the Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer that is burnt, and it’s ashes are sprinkled with water to purify the people. Reading this helps us to prepare and be purified.
Lastly, we have Parashat Hahodesh, which is החדש הזה לכם.
This month is for you, the month of Nissan, which is the beginning our calendar year.
Many people don’t see these as one unit. They see them as four different parshiyot that are read in Adar. So, we will explain the common theme of these four Parshiyot and connect it to Emunah.
First, we need to understand what Rav Chaim Vital, the great Kabbalist and student of the Arizal teaches, which we have previously mentioned: He says that all of our traits, whether good or bad, are based on the Arba Yesodot- the four fundamental building blocks of man. When G-d made man, the pasuk clearly says, He took dirt and water and mixed them together, then He blew a breath of life into man (It was almost like making dough). Then He added fire, which is the temperature that keeps man in proper health. So, these are the four Yesodot/foundations, and this term shows up in other philosophies and even in songs. Earth, wind, fire and water- the four basic principles that G-d used both in the of creation of the world, and to make man, like the table of elements.
We are now going to recreate ourselves, getting ready for the month of Nissan, which is when every one of us is born again.
We can start again and leave the past behind. To do that we have to refresh our four building blocks, and we do so with these four readings.
Each one of these building blocks is, as we’ve said, a source for bad middot, or good middot; they can be channeled either way. Fire can be the fire of anger, or the fire of arrogance (because fire lifts itself up). But fire can also be used to do something with passion and excitement. Afar/dirt, brings you down. It’s the heaviest of the foundations. It brings sadness and laziness. It has to be overcome.
Water symbolizes purity. We dip in a Mikveh, we sprinkle water on someone to make them pure. But watering plants so that they can grow, symbolizes desire.
Ruach, Wind or spirit, is a good thing. But it also says that when G-d blew spirit into man, it was the ability to talk, and that is where Lashon Hara comes from.
So, our different middot come from these four Yesodot. This is just a brief overview, in order to get to our point, which is:
If G-d is going to rebuild us. we are going to be rebuilt with the four powers of these four parshiyot. Besides listening, we have to also do the best we can, by doing.
The first thing to do, to get ourselves going, is to use our fire, our passion, the passion of giving, of generosity. It says when Moshe Rabbenu was told about the half coin, he said he didn’t understand. G-d said He’d show him a fiery coin מטבע של אש , to show how you could rebuild the Jewish people using the power of giving.
The passion of giving can rebuild the Jewish people. That’s the Mahasit Hashekel, Matanot LaEvyonim, and Mishloach Manot- We give with passion. That’s the coin of fire.
Next, we have to overcome our sadness and laziness. This is the power of Amalek, as we mentioned, who puts doubt into our minds about whether G-d is with us or not. Amalek came to attack as we were leaving Egypt, sowing doubt that G-d is in charge. We have to overcome these doubts that bring laziness and sadness and pick ourselves up with the help of that fiery passion.
Along with that fiery passion and energy, we have to have purity as well. We can’t use that middah for improper activities, so have to purify ourselves. For the we have the Parah Adumah, which is sprinkled in water.
So we have the fiery coin of giving ( Shekalim)
We overcame the dirt and dust of our sadness and laziness,
Amalek (Zachor)
we purify ourselves with the water ( Parah),
and then David HaMelech says,
לב טהור ברא לי אלוקים
Create for me a pure heart
ורוח נכון חדש בקירבי
And a steadfast spirit renew in me
We say this every month, when we say Birkat Levana- the Blessing of the Moon.
“Ruach Hadash- A new spirit” is the final piece, which relates to Parashat Hodesh. It talks about the moon, how it gets bigger and smaller, and its renewal. Our spirit becomes renewed with Parashat HaHodesh.
So, as we go through these four readings this season, we try to rebuild ourselves:
We take our fiery passion,
We overcome our sadness and our laziness,
We purify ourselves,
and then we renew ourselves with our commitment to Hashem, and we start the seder and Yetziat Mitzrayim.
That’s the process we go through over these four weeks.
Have a Shabbat shalom.