This week’s Torah reading (Leviticus 12:1-15:33) might seem far removed from our daily lives. It deals with ritual purity, skin diseases, and bodily discharges – topics that feel ancient and perhaps a little unsettling. But beneath the surface, there’s a profound message about recognizing imperfections and striving for wholeness that speaks directly to our modern struggles.
These chapters teach us about identifying what makes us “unclean” – whether it’s a physical condition or a bodily process – and the steps needed to restore purity. But what about the “impurities” we carry within – the negative thoughts, the harsh judgments, the whispered gossip that can pollute our inner landscape?
The Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidic Judaism, taught a remarkable lesson about this. He said that the world acts as a mirror – when we see faults in others, we’re actually seeing reflections of our own imperfections. Modern psychology calls this phenomenon “projection” – our tendency to unconsciously attribute our own unacceptable thoughts or qualities to other people.
Just as the priests of old had to carefully examine the skin for blemishes, we too must examine our hearts and minds for these “blemishes” of negativity. That cutting remark about someone’s arrogance? Perhaps it reflects our own struggle with feelings of inadequacy. Those whispered criticisms of another’s shortcomings? They might be mirror images of our own insecurities. When we gossip about others’ faults, we’re often unconsciously revealing what we least like about ourselves.
The good news is that, just as the Torah provides a path to physical purification, it offers a path to inner purification, as well. Every time we catch ourselves about to speak ill of others or judge them silently, we can pause and ask: “What am I really seeing here? Is this about them, or is it about me?” This self-reflection turns moments of potential negativity into opportunities for growth.
True wholeness encompasses both body and soul. The question isn’t just about identifying external impurities – it’s about examining the “blemishes” within and striving to purify our thoughts, our words, and our hearts. When we understand that our judgments of others are often reflections of our own inner struggles, we can transform criticism into compassion – both for others and for ourselves.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yonatan Hambourger
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