The Bigness of Little Things - Parshat Tazria-Metzora

We tend to care for the expensive items we have at home. We insure our jewelry, put money in safes, build cabinets for silver candlesticks, etc. There is even a special Muktza1 category for expensive items - "muktza due to possible loss of money".

The Torah however, shows interest in a person's simple possessions as well. In Parshat Metzora, the Torah tells us that leprosy can strike a person's home. One of the laws mentioned is that the priest who checks the home for leprosy must order that all items be removed from the house. Only then may he enter the house to determine if the house indeed needs to be declared a 'house inflicted with leprosy'2. Rashi in his commentary on the sentence points out that the main reason for the removal of utensils from the house is to prevent the simplest pottery cups from becoming defiled by the presence of the leprosy. If that were to happen, these simple vessels would need to be burnt or broken. Fascinating that even for the simplest of earthenware vessels, the Torah is careful to teach us that they, too, have value.

Why does the Torah even care? If a person has halachic leprosy in his home it is a sign that the person has spoken lashon hara - spoken ill of his fellow human. Maybe he should deserve to have his vessels defiled and in some cases destroyed. Au contraire, the Torah says. He is being punished enough by having his house afflicted with leprosy. Allow him to save even his simple utensils. Be aware of, and care for, those little things. Everything has value.

There are lessons to be learned even from the little things. The lesson may be very personal. That lesson may be general. It may have deep implications or seem quite trivial. It may just be that we learn to value the little things. Let us be open to note those little things for they, too, have meaning.

This is not to belittle the big things. They are quite obvious and shout out "I have value!" Rather it is to become aware that little things are important whether they be material or ethereal. It can be that little cup with the chip on it (remember Chip from Disney's Beauty and the Beast?) or a report card from grade 3. It can be the same street you’ve walked on before and suddenly noticed a flower in someone's window sill or a 10 meter high replica of the Eifel tower in someone's yard. It can even be a friend's smile. How precious these things can be - the little things.

T'is fascinating how such little things can have such experiential meaning.3 How wonderful and great those little things are!

Notes

  1. Muktza is a category of items whose use on Shabbos is restricted.
  2. Vayikra 14:36
  3. Viktor Frankl, author of Man's Search for Meaning, describes the ability of certain experiences including sunsets or beautiful music to imbue our lives with meaning.

 

Have A Great Shabbat!laughing

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