I can remember times when as a child and I did not want to do something, say accompany my parents on a Sunday afternoon visit to an elderly relative, my parents would inform that I did not have a choice. Undoubtedly, I used that very response when my own children balked at participating in a family outing or gathering. I might not have said, "It will be good for you," but that was the import of the message. Sometimes you just have to plow through the unpleasant or uncomfortable, and trust that you will be better off, or, at least, not diminished by the time spent.  Anyway, that's the parenting narrative.

There are sections of the Torah that when we get there in our weekly reading may prompt the response: "Do I really have to do this?"  Yes, we do, and this week's parashah, Tazri-a, is likely to elicit this question from many of us. We read about various skin disorders and what it takes for the priest to declare a person as "clean" or "unclean." It does not seem overly relevant to our lives today, and certain descriptions can cause some discomfort. (Although, the good news for me in the parashah is that "If a man loses the hair of his head and becomes bald, he is clean.")

But, this is Torah and there is always a significance and relevance to it's words. For this week's reading, I am taken by the fact that it is the High Priest who needs to administer to and make determinations about the cleanliness of the individuals with the various skin conditions. Clearly, this is a function of enough importance that it merits the attention of this spiritual leader. The goal is to be able to include as many as possible in the community, regardless of physical aspects, and this merits time, effort, and the involvement of leadership. That is a valuable lesson for us all.    

Shabbat Shalom.