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Following childbirth, a woman must undergo a cleansing process,
culminating in her offering two korbonos - an olah (burnt offering) and
a chattas (sin offering). Why must a chattas be brought?
Was any sin committed?
The Gemara (Niddah
31b) relates that this question was asked of Rabbi Shimon b. Yochai, who
explained that - in the pangs of labor - a woman (prohibitively)
swears never to be in such a situation again, and she is thus bound to
bring a chattas. The Gemara records that Rav Yosef thereupon argued,
countering that a korbon could not be mandated for taking such a
deliberate oath, as the only way to get out of such an oath is to have
it rescinded. Furthermore, argued Rav Yosef, the chattas cannot be for
taking a sinful oath, as - if so - the Torah should have commanded a
different korbon, namely one brought for false oaths.
The strange thing
about this Gemara is that Rav Yosef only negates Rabbi Shimon's opinion,
without offering one of his own as to why a childbearing woman must
offer a chattas. So, too, Rabbi Shimon does not provide a rebuttal. The
entire exchange is very unusual.
Perhaps we can
explain that Rabbi Shimon agreed in theory to Rav Yosef; thus, there was
no need for a rebuttal or for a new explanation. Rather, all that Rabbi
Shimon meant to say (and Rav Yosef
held) was that the woman brings the sacrifice for her short-lived
attitude of regretting the whole thing or
seeking to never have it occur again. In other words, the sin is
not in the woman's words per se, but in her momentary lack of
appreciation for having a baby.
The
Torah's lesson is very clear and needs constant reinforcement. We often
take things for granted, focusing on relatively minor negatives, while
overlooking the larger picture. Having a baby - as any major joyous
life-cycle event - is a blessing beyond imagination. To complain about a
painful part of it and therefore condemn
the entire occasion is chutzpa, although it is human nature.
The Torah is
reminding us to look beyond the immediate present into the entire scope
of things. Appreciation is not based on evaluating the circumstances
of each second or even each day; it is based on assessing the overall
scene and realizing that it is a divine brocho.
May Hashem, the
source of all life and blessing, enable us to realize and truly
appreciate all that we have.
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