Tyler’s Torah Thoughts of 10 Sivan, 5783

Today the Torah talks about sickness.  And this year, as I read these passages, I read them a bit differently than the past.  It felt so “harsh” reading these passages – thinking that when someone is sick, we should “kick them out” of the camp. Like they aren’t welcome.

Having gone through COVID the past three years?  Isolation isn’t something negative – it’s a way to protect the population.  It was compassionate.

And. The story as I read it changes the meaning for me if I humanize the context.  If one of my children got sick, and they were required to go outside the camp? I would NOT let them go alone.  I am imagining, and the Torah doesn’t tell people who are Healthy NOT to leave the camp.  But if someone I cared about was sick – I would like to think I would go outside the camp to be with them as they recover.  We aren’t be asked to abandon sick people – we are just trying to protect the community.  It’s a both/and situation.

Compassion. Kindness.  This is what we often think the Torah lacks.  Yet, it is there for us to find.  What are your thoughts?

Here is my commentary from a year ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 8 Sivan, 5782

Todays portion starts with those in the camp with Tzara’at – basically those who are sick should go outside the camp.

So as we’ve been talking about our spirit, bodies, and emotions, one of the things I’m reflecting on here is the idea of rest when we are sick. It feels a little bit like punishment to send those who are sick Outside the camp. But I wonder instead if it was rest.

Just something I’m reflecting on.

Next we talk about men and woman who commit the sin of dishonesty and they are found guilty – they should confess the sin they committed, and pay back the amount they are guilty of, adding 20%. And give it to who they are guilty against.

But if they die, and there is no relative who can pay it back? the debt is returned to God.

So again; I’m a healthy body, mind, soul – when a mistake is made, the goal is to return and recover.

The portion closes with whatever is brought to the priests belongs to the priests.

That means that what we give to God and his people belongs to them.

What are your thoughts?