Tazria - Metzorah Bar Mitzva of Daniel Lor

This week we will read about Tzaraas. Tzaraas is an affliction that discolors the skin, clothing or even walls. The parsha describes how to identify Tzaraas and how to treat it. If the Cohen identifies the Tzaraas the afflicted party is isolated outside the community for a week and maybe even two weeks during which he may not shave. Anyone who witnesses him must call out "impure! impure!"
Why is one afflicted with Tzaraas? The talmud tells us it may be the result of a variety of sins with loshon hora or evil speech being a primary culprit.
Can you imagine what a world with tzaraas is like. A person sins and is afflicted. Now everyone knows . What embarrassment , what disgrace. Earlier this week I was in NY. A man there told me about a great Chassidic Rebbe from Tosh. A follower came to see him and the rebbe refused to look at him until the man immersed in the mikva to cleanse himself from acts of impurity he had committed. Years ago in Israel i remember a certain kabbalist who the yeshiva students who visited him would wear their had brims pulled low over their brow. It seems that the kabbalist could read your recent activities on your forehead. What a terrifying world tolive in when one may be struck by tzaraas at any moment. Yet Ramban Nachmanedes in his comment on the parsha (13-47) says tzaraas was not a terror at all it was a blessing . The Torah states when you will enter the land I will send an affliction in your houses. Not if I send but I will send . Ramban explains that in ancient times the holiness of G-ds' presence was visible upon those that he dwelled among. As will happen in the course of life a person may do something that distances G-d from him. Tzaraas is the stain that is left behind when G-d removes his presence from a person or his possessions. The absence of the glow of the presence of G-d appears as a disfigurement. Tzaraas afflicted only those who enjoyed G-ds presence. This is why tzaraas only appeared in Israel. And this is why the afflicted are given the option of recognizing tzaraas or not. The Torah says if one is afflicted and brings it to the Cohen. If one chooses to ignore the tzaraas one may. Those who enjoyHashems presence are informed of his departure. This is done to give them the option of repairing the relationship before they drift apart and the relationship is irreparably destroyed.
The appearance of Hashem in our lives and even the evidence of His departure is precious because it shows us G-d cares about us and wants us close to him.
Now that we have lost the close proximity of Hashem as we live in this long exile we never experience tzaraas and hardly ever see evidence of G-d in our lives. Yet there are times when special people merit special signs. They are not always pleasant because tzaraas is not pretty but they are always precious.
Today we have Daniel Lor before us. he has read his Torah portion and last night led us in the services. He delivered a great dvar Torah which he prepared in conjunction with his father. Daniel is a good student at GHA. This is how one of his teachers Rabbi Karp characterised him
"It is a delight to have Daniel in out Kesher Group. He participates in all of our CPR (Circle of Power and Respect) activities and is never afraid to lead an activity or break the ice on an activity. He communicates with others in a respectful manner, and is an example of a true "Mensch"!" Daniel is a lights out pitcher at the JCC baseball games and it has been a delight to get to know him better these past few months. Daniel also shows us G-ds presence in our lives and that of his family. Some five years ago when the community had assembled for a pre pesach shabbos hagadol meal in shul Daniel had an accident. He sustained a small cut. The cut however was in the main artery in his leg. Contrary to what his parents were told within a few short moments Daniel lost almost all of his blood and started to go into shock. Mordechai Daneman, Drs. Dan Cohen and Eric Solomon hung onto Daniel and kept him alive. The ambulance arrived IVs were started. Daniel had surgery. When i saw him on Saturday night he looked not to much worse for the wear and in a few weeks he was pitching at the JCC . What happened? had we drifted apart from G-d? If so in what way? And why Daniel Lor? I would like to speculate that G-d sent His message through Daniel and chose him to be the representative of G-ds' hand in our midst because Daniels parents pray with devotion and feel Hashems presence. He cherishes their communication. And as much as they prayed before this event how much more did they pray after it. So thank you Daniel for reminding us always that Hahsem is in our midst. Thank you Marc and Rita for bringing the presence of Hashem to our community. Mazel Tov to the Saba and Savta Lor from New Orleans and of course to our dear Bubbie Kris Salutsky. To all the Aunts Uncles and cousins and friends let us always remember that the appearance of Hashems is a blessing and Daniel reminds us of that.