This Shabbat is a special Shabbat called Shabbat Hachodesh. In the maftir of Torah reading, Hashem says to Moshe and Aaron, ״החדש הזה לכם ראש חדשים״ (this month will be for you the first of all the months). Seforno (an Italian commentary) teaches that לכם, for you, is teaching us that the first time that the Jews actually had mastery over their own time was now. The Jews had been enslaved in Egypt for so long and they did not get to choose how to spend their time, but now, starting in this month, Nisan, Bnei Yisrael own their time.

In this week’s parsha, Tazria, the laws of what is considered tzaraat (leprosy) and what to do when someone or something has it was established. Tzaraat is something that can appear on a person or their belongings for many different reasons. Whatever the reason is, it is for something bad that was done. One example is shown by Miriam, Moshe and Aaron’s sister. Miriam may have been jealous or misunderstood what her brother Moshe had done, and she told Aaron what she deemed bad about Moshe’s affairs. This lashon hara caused Miriam to get tzaraat.

To tie this back to Shabbat Hachodesh, we all need to realize that, thank God, we are not slaves in Egypt or anywhere else (I hope). We all can choose what to do and not to do. Time is ours! It is up to us to use it correctly. The next time you want to say lashon hara, make fun of someone or do something bad, realize that time is yours and what you make of it. Time is precious; use it to elevate others and yourself instead of bringing people down. Use it to make a kiddush Hashem (sactify Hashem) and be a guide for others.

By Shira Sedek