Parshas Tazria: Time-out Just For a Breather

Parshas Tazria:  Time-out Just For a Breather
By Mordechai Dolinsky

The joy of birth, the simcha, the ecstasy, is broken by the sobering agent of ‘tumas adam’ that the ‘yoledes’ is subjected to after giving birth.  The laws of tumah and tahara are definitely  “chukim”, the area of Torah that is purely “gizeiras hakasuv” that there isn’t any open, apparent reason for.  There is however, a certain negativity always associated and connected with ‘tumah’; why should giving birth bring this on?

The supreme, ultimate goal of the human race is accomplishment.  Man harnesses his power, enlists what he has at his availability, accesses his accessibilites and surveys what he has in his arsenal.  With the event of the climax of his accomplishment there is certain frame of mind, a mentality, to which we are all prone.  All the energy is gathered and the cannon shoots the shell.  What power it takes, all the resources have been used, the maneuver worked and  “struck bull’s-eye”, but then comes the “burnt out” syndrome.  After all the energy and enthusiasm has been expended and the venture has ended as a great success story, there comes an aftermath of some kind of ‘down’.  I would like to share the thought of the possibility that the negativity of this P A D, Post Accomplishment “Down”, is related in a symbolic way to the “tumas hayoledes”.  Unfortunately there is a history of authors, artists, and other accomplished people who have fallen to this syndrome—and who knows if the post birth depression that affects many women isn’t also related to this.

The Mesilas Yesharim in chapter 7 explains the awesome danger of losing the opportunity of accomplishing some ‘mitzvah’ or other great act.  He points out how much of a great effort must be exerted to begin the act without procrastination, so as not to lose the chance of what presented itself.  The Mesilas Yesharim also explains as stage two the great effort one has to put in to ensure that he will finish the act.  I am introducing stage three.  After one has successfully attained the goal one wishes to accomplish one has to see to go on and maintain one’s motivation with continued enthusiasm.   Hatzlacha Rabba to you all.