Devar/5770/Tazria-Metsora
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עברית
English
And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised (Lev 12:2)
The commandment of circumcision is the most ancient one specific to our people, as Abraham our forefather was told: And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people (Gen 17:14). All of Abraham's descendants are included, but the Jewish people in particular.
Any male who wishes to convert to Judaism must undergo circumcision as part of the process of conversion. It is forbidden for one who is uncircumcised to eat of the Passover sacrifice. Moses our teacher, of blessed memory, was almost killed because of circumcision, as the verse says: And it came to pass on the way at the lodging-place, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him (Gen 4:24). Why is circumcision considered so important?
It seems to me that the halachah has an answer: The foreskin is considered revolting, since evildoers are denigrated by calling them uncircumcised, as the verse states "for all the nations are uncircumcised" (Jer 9:25). But circumcision is considered great, as Abraham our forefather was not called "whole" until he circumcised, as the verse states "walk before Me, and be thou wholehearted. And I will make My covenant between Me and thee" (Gen 17:1-2). From here one may learn that removing the foreskin is not just a symbolic act, rather it serves to remind the one who is circumcised that he should remove from his heart all manner of barriers between him and the Holy One, blessed is He, as the verse continues: …but all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart (Jer 9:25). May it be His will that we remove from ourselves all manner of "foreskin" barriers, and in that manner become very close to our Creator.
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