Show DZ reading video

Hebrew translation:

.

Zohar Balak
Continued from previous DZ
#385
While they were walking, Rabbi Abba said, we learned about eleven things that bring plagues to people. And these are Idolatry, blasphemy, adultery, theft, slander, false testimony, a judge who corrupts the law, false oath, the one who enters the domain of his friend, one who thinks evil thoughts, and the one who causes judgments and conflicts between brothers. And some say, even on the evil eye. We study all of them in the Mishna.

#386
How do we know that plagues are coming because of Idolatry? It is written;
Exodus 32:25
“וַיַּרְא מֹשֶׁה אֶת הָעָם כִּי פָרֻעַ הוּא כִּי פְרָעֹה אַהֲרֹן לְשִׁמְצָה בְּקָמֵיהֶם.”
“Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained, for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies.”
This verse comes immediately after the nation made the Golden Calf their god. “The people were unrestrained (פָרֻעַ)” means that the people were struck with leprosy. The Zohar connects the word “פָרוּעַ” in this verse to leprosy because the leper is mentioned with the same word as we read;
Leviticus 13:45
“וְהַצָּרוּעַ אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ הַנֶּגַע בְּגָדָיו יִהְיוּ פְרֻמִים וְרֹאשׁוֹ יִהְיֶה פָרוּעַ וְעַל שָׂפָם יַעְטֶה וְטָמֵא טָמֵא יִקְרָא.”
“Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn, and his head will be wild (פָרוּעַ); and he shall cover his mustache and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!'”
Goliath, the Philistine, cursed God and King David knew that Hashem would not let Goliath go without punishment, so before he killed him, he said;
1 Samuel 17:46
“הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְסַגֶּרְךָ יְהוָה בְּיָדִי וְהִכִּיתִךָ וַהֲסִרֹתִי אֶת רֹאשְׁךָ מֵעָלֶיךָ וְנָתַתִּי פֶּגֶר מַחֲנֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה לְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וּלְחַיַּת הָאָרֶץ וְיֵדְעוּ כָּל הָאָרֶץ כִּי יֵשׁ אֱלֹהִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל.”
“This day, YHVH will deliver you (יְסַגֶּרְךָ) into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day, I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”
We learn that in both cases, it is leprosy because it says, “YHVH will deliver you (יְסַגֶּרְךָ),” and the word with the same root appears related to leprosy as we read in (Leviticus 13:5) “וְהִסְגִּירוֹ הַכֹּהֵן שִׁבְעַת יָמִים” “the priest shall isolate (הִסְגִּירוֹ) him.” Because it is the same decree, leprosy is the outcome in both cases of Idolatry and blasphemy.

Friday, and more so when today is also Rosh Chodesh, it would be a best time to make a ** Donation, especially if you didn’t donate in the past week. Giving on Friday, which is an aspect of Yessod, expands the vessel for the Light and honor of Shabbat, and month.
** Your donation doesn’t have to be given to the same place every week. You can alternate or split your donation among those who benefit you spiritually.