“when a woman conceives and gives birth to a male child, she will be ritually impure for seven days… on the eighth day, he shall be circumcised.” (Vayikra 12:2-3)

This week, I would like to share an insight I heard from a Rebbe at Yeshiva Toras Chaim, which is the North Miami Beach branch of the Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva in Queens, NY. The Gemara in Sukkah on Daf 32a has a discussion regarding the type of branch to be used for a Lulav. The Gemara mentions a certain tree that could be a possibility, but it is immediately shot down because that particular branch scratches. The Gemara states, “the pleasant Torah would not require someone to use something that would scratch a person’s finger.” Look at how much care the Torah has for a human! The Torah does not want a person to even get scratched. How much does a scratch hurt? This is not a scratch which is deep and requires stitches. This is not a scratch that even needs a band-aid. It is just a simple scratch on a person’s skin that irritates him for a few moments. The Torah is so kind that it does not want a person to even feel this smallest amount of pain.

Not only does the Torah make sure we have no pain, but the Torah laws are made so people can have the ultimate amount of pleasure. A Bris Milah is performed on the eighth day after birth. Why isn’t it done earlier? A woman is ritually impure for seven days after giving birth to a baby boy. This impurity limits the activities a man and his wife can do together during that time period. According to Torah law, on the eighth day, the ritual impurity period is over and the husband and wife are allowed to perform those previously forbidden activities. This brings greater joy to the new father and mother. That eighth day when the parents are joyful is when the Bris Milah is to be performed. Our Sages point out the Bris should really be performed earlier. The Torah makes us push it off to the eighth day though so there is no lack of joy. Everyone should be able to celebrate with the ultimate happiness.

The Torah goes to the extreme to make sure we do not have unnecessary pain and so we can have the ultimate in happiness. Living a Torah lifestyle brings pleasure.

But people often argue against Judaism saying it has too many limits. If Judaism has such a focus on making people happy, why am I limited in what I can do? There are so many laws that forbid us to do so many pleasurable things. Well, for the answer to this, you will need to read part 2 – which will be written next week, b’ezras Hashem.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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