This week’s Parsha follows upon the last, and describes the purification process of a cured Metzora – one who fell victim to the illness of tzara’as. At the conclusion of the process, he or she must bring sacrifices to the Temple, which are ordinarily two male and one female lambs. If, however, this is beyond what the individual can afford, the requirement is reduced to one male lamb and two doves or pigeons.

Rabbi Yisroel Mayer Kagen, known as the Chofetz Chaim, derives a lesson from this passage that is especially appropriate to those of us living outside large Jewish communities. He says that many people pray, learn and do Mitzvos, and they say to themselves, “well, if I’m not doing things so perfectly, at least I’m doing a great deal better than my friends and neighbors!”

They fail to realize – writes the Rabbi – that they are rich in knowledge that their friends lack. A poor person can bring two doves or pigeons, but a rich person who brings a poor man’s sacrifice has not fulfilled his obligations. So too, while those who lack knowledge may be able to satisfy their Creator with minimal performance of the Mitzvos, those who “know better” are expected to act accordingly.

Text Copyright © 1995 Rabbi Yaakov Menken and Project Genesis, Inc.

The author is the Director of Project Genesis.