Parshas Tazria/Metzorah: Why You Should Wear Charles Tyrwhitt Shirts, Cole Haan Shoes, and Banana Republic Sweaters

Why People Dismiss This Parsha

People say it's highly technical. People say they get squeamish. People say it's not about anything more than bodily fluids and discharges and quarantines and childbirth and circumcision. So they say that they can't really connect with Parsha's Tezriya Mitsora. They write it off to be a long parsha, a double parsha, that discusses an ancient illness called Tsaras. But they fail to look a bit deeper, to see the MS and the lessons that jump off of the page. They fail to see the spiritual world come to life and how it manifests itself in the physical world in this week's parsha. They fail to see the Shoiresh of each mitzvah and the Haskaka that is prevalent when you pay attention to it, that is clearly evident from this week's Parsha. Today, on the weekly Parsha podcast, Thursday, April 16th, Parsha's Tazriya Mitsora, Rosh Kodesh, we're gonna look deeper into one of these well, intricate sugyos topics about bodily discharges, but see that it actually gives us the secrets to a good life. We're gonna see that it actually this topic of purity and impurity that we're about to focus in and shine a magnifying glass upon, it will tell us and tell you the shoes that you should wear, the brand of shirt that you should buy, the sweaters that you should adorn your body with, and even the singer that you should hire for your wedding or your children's wedding. So we begin, not with a posuk, but with a mitzvah from a pasuk in our parsha. It's a mitzva that's called the Tumas Zov Lius Tome Umitame. There's a commandment in our parsha about the matter of the impurity of a zov and a zova, and how they are to be impure and to render items impure as well. The Posik says Ishish Kiy Zov Mibisaro A person should have a discharge from his flesh. He should become impure because he sees this grossly looking barley dough like substance be excreted from his body. He becomes impure. A zava again also where a person sees a female sees a gross fluid, an inordinate and unique fluid flow from the person's body. It makes them impure. The Pasuk says, a man or a woman who should see this flow shall be rendered impure. And the halochos are debated at great length and clarified and codified, all about how a Zov and a Zova, how they can confirm that they truly are impure, and all the allochos about how they can purify themselves. After how many times do they see it do they need to bring a carbon? If they are lying on something, touching something, jumping onto something, leaning on something, does that item contract the tuma, the impurity? There's a whole tractate a Mesehta, the Yeser Puratim, Rabim Mivuarim, all of the great details of these halachos can be found in Mesehta Zuvim. You can figure out all the halachos, the intricate, highly technical, and squeamish inducing halachos of the Zuv and Zuva in the laws of the Rambam Hilchas Metame Mishkov Umoshov. You will be shocked as well to hear that this mitzvah of the Zuv and Zava is still No Hag is still practical nowadays. That's what the Sefer Hakenuk says. The Noege Ininze Shabal Zivo Nikratome Bekol Makim Ubekolzman And no matter whether it's Sukis, Shivuis, Tuesday or Wednesday, it applies the Halachos of the Zov and the Zava. Aval Achav Bavonosenu. However, continues the safe because of our sins. Sheinlanu Mikdosh Valo Tharos, we don't have a temple or pure objects. Ainlan Lak Shov. There's no reason to give significance or to consider, to count the Tumas Hazov Bimitsva no hegis. There's no reason to count the pure days until bringing a carbon to become totally spiritually pure from it. There's nothing for us to do. There's nothing that you need to be specially pure to enter or to do. Of course, in a perfect world, we pray for the Besamiglush to be rebuilt so that we can fully take on and pay attention to the laws of the Zuv and the Zava. But what I want to say is what the Sefrachinach says is beneath this Halacha. Misharsheha mitzvah. Zukt the Sefrachinah. Mitzvah 178. God distanced us immensely. Minhamosros from the extras, from the not neededs. Vitsivanuli Yos Kidoshim. He commanded us be holy people, the Asharim and straight people. Binyan when it comes to Hamikel Vamishta, what you eat and what you drink, how you eat and how you drink. Ubichal Shar Inane Hadam, all of the other human needs. And there is no doubt. There is no doubt, it is not the slightest wonder that the Zuv and Zova status happens because a person habituously, continuously goes out of the straight path of proper Jewish eating and drinking. So this excess makes it grow in your body this putrid and vile and disgusting impurity. And it is from this matter that he is not impure from just one appearance, continues the safe Rachinach, as that fluid has not yet become so strong in his body. And so this small amount is not an indication of his being very habituated in leaving the straight path of proper eating, drinking, and normal human actions. And since that is so, it is not fitting to render him impure with a small amount, as a person is built in a way that it is impossible for him to prevent himself from not leaving the straight path even once. We all mess up from time to time. But in his leaving it much, he will be called guilty. In his leaving it much, he will be called guilty. And it is fitting that he should be impure. So as you can see, there's a lot here to unpack. What seemed on the outside to be nothing more than a highly technical, non practical halajos about something that we no longer can relate to? At the heart of it is Hashem really speaking back to a person in the way that his body tells him you've gone too far. The way that you're eating and drinking is over the line. And your extras and your over-the-line-ness has become extra in you, and now this extra thing needs to come out of you. And as you habitually and continuously do it, do you does it actually cause that second discharge that actually makes you impure? That requires you to do things that should impress upon your mind the ideas about purity and restraint and abstemiousness, which means to abstain and have discipline in the areas of food and drink, as per dictionary.com. So the whole suya of Zuv and Zuvah essentially is a Musar Sefer. But I want to dial it in even more, get nitty gritty even more. Shine the match, shine the light on one word that sticks out from the Sefer Hachenoch. Elaborate upon it based on the words of Ramchal in chapter 13 of Mesilas Yasharim, and conclude with the tiniest but most powerful paragraph from Rabinu Bakhaya and Parsh's Bayitse. The Sefer Achinoch said it. He said the lesson. He said it clearly. All of this happens, all this impurity happens because God set us away from Mosros from extras. But this person sadly took it too far, got involved in the extras, or got involved in what wasn't extra, but simply took it too far in this area, in this item, had too many pieces of khala, had too many pieces of salmon, too many drinks of wine. When you indulge in the most rows, it causes this tumma. The word here that I want to zoom in on is that God distanced us from the extras and commands us to be holy and straight in regards to the extras. God wants us to live holy and pure lives, and to be straight, maybe even to enjoy, but to refrain from the extras. And it's the extras, the most Vitsivanu, Lios Kidoshavisharm, and Odminha Mostros, that's what makes you holy, or God forbid when you indulge too much on the extras and the mostros, that you become impure. That's what seems to be at the heart of the mitzvah of Zav and Zuva. Too much indulgence, too much indulging, too much focusing on the extras. And who could possibly imagine that this wouldn't be applicable for a time and age such as now? When there's so much indulging in the extras, so much focusing on what is extra. This is what we call in basic terms in in the musser vernacular, perishus, abstination, self-control. It's where a Jew draws the line in the sand and says, I'll do this, I'll eat, I'll drink, I'll cohabit, I'll sleep. But there's a point. There's things I won't eat, things I won't drink, things I won't do, and times that I will wake up. And this is called precious. And precious, wait, let's say it the right way for what's the topic of this week's podcast? Proper precious is what stands as the shoiresh as the Zov and the Zuva. The impurity comes when you indulge too much in what you don't need. God commands us to even enjoy what we do have, but to not take part in anything that's taking it too far that we don't necessarily need. The Ramchal, chapter thirteen, Masilas Yasharim says the following It enlightens one and kind of broadens it, fleshes it out the topic, if you will. Kalal Hadavar. You gotta love when the Ramchal says Kalal Hadavar. The general rule is anytime you have the greatest sage of the sixteenth, seventeenth century, Remoshikhaim Lutzato give you a general rule, you should generally slap that on your locker or put it as a bumper sticker on your car. Klal Hadavar is as follows. The Ramakal's talking about precious since the whole world is nothing more than grave dangers. I guess you can become over involved and distracted from what's important if you become too hyper involved in many of the things of the world, hence it's very dangerous. Eichloy Yeshubach Mishi Mole Mehem, how can you not praise someone who wants to maybe distance themselves or protect themselves from extra pleasures? You see someone who's protecting themselves from extra pres pleasures of the world, being extra scrupulous, perhaps a bit frum? How can you not praise him? Umishi Yarbel Hakmiham from someone who really excessively distances himself from any of these impurities. This is the good type of separation. There are two types. There's taking it too far in regards to your frumkeit, stepping away from things. You can't be too religious. And there's also, God forbid, taking it too far in the realms of impurity where you become a Zav and Azova. So what is the clear, proper precious? Let this be your bumper sticker and your billboard and your clarity as to everything that you think about in your life. Should I buy it? Should I wear it? Should I eat it? Should I do it? Should I dot dot dot? It all comes down to this rule. That you don't take from this world anything and all of the uses that a human can have. Only that which he needs. You take from this world what's muhrah, what's forced due to the needs of your nature. Everything extra you don't need. Everything you do need, mutter. This is a very clear guideline that a person needs to know. And you can't be obsessive about this. But you have to be clear about this. There are things in our lives that we need. Food and water, of course, but we're not great ascetic Nazirite like holy people that don't need anything. We're normal Americans, and you have to be honest and healthy. You can imagine that's what God wants from you. But you need to be honest in the way that you decide. I could use a coffee this morning, but taster's choice isn't gonna cut it. I need more today. That'll keep me healthy and happy. Then that's a beautiful thing that will help you to style then you should take it. But do you need the twenty-five dollar Starbucks frappuccino? If yes, you should take it. If it's kosher. If you don't need it, then it's indulging, it's taking it too far. A Jew needs to know that he needs to have what he needs to have in order to be a healthy, happy Jew. But taking it too far. That's where the lesson of the Zuv and the Zuva starts to happen. He doesn't need it. God wants us to distance from the extras. This comes up so many times. People, we all ask ourselves, what should I buy? What should I wear? What should I do? The answer is always the same. Whatever is muchrach, whatever you need to be a normal, happy, healthy Jew, take it. If it's gonna help you to be a normal, happy, healthy Jew, that you can serve Hashem properly, you need a Gemara, you need clothes, you need a sweater, you need to feel good in yourself. Sometimes that requires that you need to buy something nicer. Sometimes that requires that you need to have something that will make you feel comfortable. You need air conditioning, you need a normal house, you need to feel good about yourself. Great. You don't need Versace. You could wear Banana Republic. You don't need Gucci unless you do. You could wear Charles Tyrwhitt. You don't need Farragamo unless you do. You could wear Kolon. I say that to be a bit facetious, but I mean to make the point that as a Jew, we understand what we need and we try to be honest with what we don't need. And I'd also like to take the honest approach that for many of us, if a person could afford these things, and they do help a person to feel healthy and happy and normal, confident to be able to pray better, confident to be able to dance at a wedding better, confident to be able to do service of Hashem better, then maybe it's part of what he needs. Of what the Ramchal says is Muchrachbo Mipneh Hatsaira Hash Lobativo Elov. People have different dispositions and like different things. When it comes to sneakers, I feel better about myself when I wear Nikes. So maybe that's in line, inbounds with my precious. But some custom designer sneaker, it's most rose, it's extra. Hashem doesn't want us, doesn't let us, would highly educate us and advise us not to go after those things. They lead down dark paths, and eventually spiritual discharges that create impurity happen because too much indulging in the extras. Yaakov Avinu wakes up after his dream. This is clearly a holy place. Yaakov makes a neder and says, God, if you'll be with me, Ushmorani Badarach, and protect me in everywhere that I go, by doing the Lechem, protect me and give me bread, lachel to eat, ubeged lulbosh, and clothes to wear. Then the shavti bishallah based of hoya ashem lila kim. Rabbeinu Bekhaya makes a point, makes a nekuda, he points out here that Yaakob is staying to Hashem. If you give me what I need and protect me by giving me bread to eat and clothing to wear, says Rabbeinu Bekayah. This is an Vayetse, 2820 Chavesh Chaf. Zos Sheelas Hatsadikim. This is how the righteous Davin, Mees Hashem from God. Lo Yeshalua Mosos Rakadavar Hachrehi. They do not ask for the extras, rather, whatever they need, Bilvad. She echibel they only ask for what they need to be able to live. But I want to point out to you that this is the same aside about practical, proper precious in 2026. And the way now we're seeing it, this is the third step of our vart. We've seen, as we saw in the first step of our vart, that a Zavinzava happens when you step out of line and go for the extras. So extras enter you and then leave. The second thing that we saw was that Ramchal explained to us this exact Nikuda and how to define it practically. And now we're seeing that this is also how you should pray. You should davin for what you need and not for extras. Rabbeinu Bakayah explains that many people pray for huge 4,500 square foot houses, but it only ends up becoming a big worry and distraction. Rabinu Bekayah elaborates on how people could David and pray for millions and billions. He doesn't say these words exactly, but he says Davening for the extras is like Davening for your downfall. That's what keeps you focused. That's what's what keeps you healthy. The podcast will be titled Something Along the Lines of Wearing Kolhan Shoes, Charles Tierritz shirts, and Banana Republic sweaters, because I feel this is a way to just explain the concept of how that one needs to be healthy and wear brands that make him feel good, that are comfortable, that have squishy souls, warm merino wool cloths and fabrics to keep him warm in the wintertime and comfortable, enduring white shirts or blue shirts that button nicely in that last, but that overindulging in ridiculous pleasures that aren't needed are just most roaster extra. In my own service of Hashem, sometimes Kolhan won't cut it. I don't feel good in it. I'll wanna wear a Nike. I'll wanna save my money to buy one really nice Shabbos shoe because I feel good in it, and I'm proud of myself. And I don't know if Hashem wants us to be ultra obsessive about where to draw the line. One should feel happy, I'd imagine, confident, ready to go in his service of Hashem. And a person needs to be honest with himself that sometimes he needs to buy something that's maybe more pricey, save his money, do something nice, take the family out. Because that actually, if he's spiritually honest and intelligent and understands what he needs. That sometimes an extra is needed, but it needs to be with a Khejbin. You need to be honest with yourself. You have to dive in for what it is that will help you to serve Hashem. That's the lesson of the Zav and Zaba. There are too many people that are yelling abandoned ship on their lives because they're indulging too much on the extras. From the salad board to the fish board to the turkey board to the it just becomes extra. You have to ask yourself, is it muhrach? Is this proper precious? Is this needed? If we're honest, sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes we do need something nicer. Sometimes we do need a nice American, comfortable, comfortable house, some nicer things. But you can't let yourself go and just put no cap on it. It has to be within the guidelines of that I could use this. It helps me to feel good, to serve Hashem better. This is the lesson of the Zavansava, that indulging in the extras, the mosros that creates extra in you, an extra to be discharged from you. And that creates impurity after you see it a couple times. The Ramkal told us, take from this world that which you need. Remember these words atov, this is the good abstination. Shemenu, only take from this world, Elamalove, take whatever it is that your soul needs to feel spiritually calm and ready to serve Hashem. And some of us need some extras, but we need to be honest. And then lastly, don't Davin for the things that are just gonna take you down. Davin for the things that you need. Davin for the things that aren't extras. Daven for the things that you know will give you the spiritual mindfulness and pleasantness and open mindedness to be able to serve Hashem with energy and with simcha. This is what's at the heart of the mitzvah of the Indian Tuma Zov, Lios Tame, the Zov and the Zava, that there should be a place that a Jew draws the line, where he does things with intention, and he takes from this world that which he needs, and he repudiates, and he pushes away, and he abstains from all of the mosros, all of the extras. This is the precious Hatov. This is what you should divin for. This is what you should keep in mind before every brand that you buy and acquisition that you make to become a healthy, happy, and balanced Ever Hashem servant of God.