Metzorah: Amudei Shmuel

The 2nd of Nisan is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Nachman Shmuel Yaakov Meyudesar (1872-1948). Born in Warsaw, he became Rav and Rosh Yeshiva in Brok, Poland. While there, he published his sefer Amudei Yehonasan, named after his grandfather, Rav Yehonasan Eibishitz. After thirty years, he realized his dream to move to Eretz Yisrael and became the second Rav of Bnai Brak.

The Metzorah brings to birds as his offering; one that is actually offered, and the second is set free. This is related to a debate in the Talmud (Eiruvin 18a): “and the Lord built the rib,” was debated by Rav and Shmuel. One taught that Adam and Eve were connected face to face, the other taught that the “rib” was actually a tail.

This is related to another teaching of the Sages that God said to Man: “if you are meritorious, then you will be the crown of creation; you were created last because all was created just for you. However, if you are not meritorious, then I will say, look how lowly you are that even the gnat was created before you.”

When we are meritorious, the crown of creation, and can say that all was created for us, then we are the picture of Adam and Eve connected face to face. If we are not meritorious, and are considered even less than the gnat that serves its purpose in creation, we are the picture of Adam’s tail.

The person who is coming for purification and atonement must remember this choice between the crown of creation and the tail: he can be consumed on the Altar, or he can soar as the bird who goes free. (Amudei Yehonatan – Amudei Shmuel)