A friend of mine recently shared with me his lingering frustrations, over a fallout with a dishonest business partner years back, which made their entire business tank. Interestingly, as a result of that mess, he went out on his own and built a thriving business, going on to achieve a level of success he never could have, if not for the bitter breakup with his former partner.
Isn’t it fascinating how some of the most effective solutions and big breakthroughs come about as a direct result of a problem or ‘mess up’.
Like the story of a chemist who attempted to create a strong adhesive. However, the result was a weak adhesive that wouldn't stick well. Instead of viewing this as a failure, the chemist saw an opportunity. He realized that the weak adhesive could be used to create a reusable, removable note. And thus, the Post-it note was born.
This week we study the phenomenon of ‘Tzarat’, which was an ancient spiritual ailment of ‘leprosy’. These lesions would break out as a result of a person engaging in excessive gossip. The disease and its aftermath, required the afflicted person to quarantine in solitary confinement. This very experience, as painful as it was, set the individual on a path of rehabilitation, ultimately allowing him or her to turn a page, starting fresh with a clean slate.
Interestingly, this section in the Torah is named ‘Tazria’ which connotes conception, birth and renewal. Because the hope for a better future starts from the actual disease itself.
The message is clear: Oftentimes in life, the problem itself is the solution. While it may be bumpy and painful, it also has the potential to give birth to something great, beyond our imaginations.
We thank ourlead Passover sponsors: Abby and Tomas Ackerman; Jim Adler; James Crawford; Gary Davis and Family; Dr. Allen Deutsch; Larry and Lynn Friedman; David and Elizabeth Grzebinski; Kenneth and Dana Katz; Marshall and Doreen Lerner; Lynn Levit; Howard and Barbara Weiner and many others… we thank you very much!