The Perpetual Merit of our Martyrs
A lesson from the Tiferes Shlomo Parshas Metzora
ואשה כי יזוב זוב דמה ימים רבים בלא עת נדתה
If a woman will have a flow of blood for many days, not at her regular time. And she shall count for herself seven days
If a woman will have a flow of blood for many days, not at her regular time. And she shall count for herself seven days
This verse alludes to Tzaddikim who give up their lives Al Kiddush Hashem, in sanctification of G-d’s Name. The woman is a metaphor for the Neshama and the flow of blood represents the spilling of Jewish blood.
This blood flows “not in her regular time”, alluding to their premature death at the hands of our oppressors.
The Tiferes Shlomo gives 2 explanations why the flow of blood is described as being “for many days”.
The Talmud teaches that when Rabbi Akiva was being executed by the Romans, he laughed. He explained that his entire life he had awaited the opportunity to sacrifice his life for Hashem. Since he lived his entire life prepared to die Al Kiddush Hashem, it is considered as though all of the days of his life were sacrificed.
The 2nd explanation of “many days”, is that the merit of those who die Al Kiddush Hashem, lives on for “many days”. Their sacrifice remains as an eternal merit for the Jewish people in future generations, to protect them and bring blessing, even in the dark days of exile.
The Zohar teaches that the cry of Rabbi Yishmael Kohen Gadol, one of the 10 Martyrs, will stand as a merit until the coming of Moshiach.
The word for counting - ספרה, also means to shine brilliantly. Through their Mesiras Nefesh, the souls of those who give up their lives for Hashem’s sake, for being Jewish, shine with the brilliance of “the light of the Seven Days”, the powerful Divine light that was created on the first day of Creation and shone for the first seven days.
This blood flows “not in her regular time”, alluding to their premature death at the hands of our oppressors.
The Tiferes Shlomo gives 2 explanations why the flow of blood is described as being “for many days”.
The Talmud teaches that when Rabbi Akiva was being executed by the Romans, he laughed. He explained that his entire life he had awaited the opportunity to sacrifice his life for Hashem. Since he lived his entire life prepared to die Al Kiddush Hashem, it is considered as though all of the days of his life were sacrificed.
The 2nd explanation of “many days”, is that the merit of those who die Al Kiddush Hashem, lives on for “many days”. Their sacrifice remains as an eternal merit for the Jewish people in future generations, to protect them and bring blessing, even in the dark days of exile.
The Zohar teaches that the cry of Rabbi Yishmael Kohen Gadol, one of the 10 Martyrs, will stand as a merit until the coming of Moshiach.
The word for counting - ספרה, also means to shine brilliantly. Through their Mesiras Nefesh, the souls of those who give up their lives for Hashem’s sake, for being Jewish, shine with the brilliance of “the light of the Seven Days”, the powerful Divine light that was created on the first day of Creation and shone for the first seven days.