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Orchard of Delights Tazria

the essence of Yom Kippur. The Zohar notes that the Hebrew name psychological, and spiritual causes, but also from the dramatic and
for Yom Kippur (Yom Hakippurim) – quite literally the Day of transformative healing process the afflicted individual underwent.
Atonement – can also be read as “the day like Purim.” This suggests The healing process leading to this genuine paradigm shift in relating
that not only are Yom Kippur and Purim alike, but that Purim is to the world occupies much of these two portions.
on an even higher spiritual level than Yom Kippur (Tikkunei Zohar Despite all the tremendous advances in medicine over the last
57b). This initially seems strange. How can the holiest day of the century, until very recently Western medicine was extremely
year – the “Shabbat of Shabbats” (Leviticus 16:31) – be compared reluctant to attribute illness or disease to non-physiological factors.
to a seemingly frivolous holiday like Purim?
The patient’s mental state was presumed irrelevant to the occurrence
The answer to this question reveals one of Judaism’s fundamental and prevalence of disease. But this attitude has begun to change as
principles. Yom Kippur would seem to be the zenith of spirituality more and more evidence attests to emotional, psychological, and
as we refrain from eating, drinking, bathing, sexual relations, the spiritual factors that lead to stress and unhealthy lifestyles, which
comfort of leather shoes, and anointing with oils, and in so doing subsequently cause disease.
set the stage for an experience that transcends the mere physical. Western medicine now recognizes that these non-physiological
Indeed, Yom Kippur lifts some people to heights of consciousness factors are major risk factors for the onset of a whole host of medical
unattainable the rest of the year. However, surprisingly, this is not conditions, including obesity, ulcers, migraine headaches, insomnia,
the state the Torah wishes us to be in all the time. While on Yom back pain, constipation and other digestive problems, as well as high
Kippur, we dress in white like angels and pray nearly the entire day, blood pressure and certain heart conditions. Many other serious
this is not what the Torah envisions for us: the Torah wants us to live medical conditions and diseases are now thought to stem, to some
as human beings in the physical world.
degree, from non-physiological factors as well. Cigarette smoking,
While the Yom Kippur experience is crucial to our religious lives, poor eating habits, alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise, now
the Torah and the Sages, as a rule, spurned all forms of asceticism recognized as major causes of ill health and disease, are, in turn,
and encouraged a well-rounded life incorporating all humanity’s largely caused by stressful, pressure-driven lifestyles.
drives and desires. This is Purim’s message: introduce holiness into The mind/body connection is receiving more and more attention
the mundane world and holistically unite the physical and the and credence while alternative healing methods, which treat the
spiritual. In light of this understanding, the Sages taught that even entire person (and not just the disease), are not only gaining in
after Mashiach comes and all the holidays are nullified, we will still popularity but are also making major inroads into the practice and
celebrate Purim (Midrash Shemuel 9:2), for Purim represents the discourse of conventional medicine. Not only are the causes of certain
ideal state of unifying the holy and the profane. medical conditions being attributed to the human psyche, but the

On the one hand, Nadav and Avihu’s passion and pure love for treatment and alleviation of these conditions are also often believed
God are priceless. Their intuitive performance of a climactic part of to depend on the patient’s attitude and his or her willingness to
the Yom Kippur service bordered on self-sacrifice and their intent change ingrained behavioral patterns.
transcends our comprehension. Where would we be without their These contemporary discoveries regarding the intrinsic connection
example of enthusiasm and fervor to unite with God? On the other between the spiritual and physical were already alluded to thousands
hand, their actions remain the exception rather than the rule. Nadav of years ago in the Torah’s depiction of tzara’at. One beautiful
and Avihu’ spiritual energy is essential for serving God, but by
allusion to this connection is found in the following verse: “If the
hair in the affliction has changed to white, and the affliction’s

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