This week in Torah we read some of the finer details of bodily functions and ritual purity.
In the words of many a Bat or Bar Mitzvah student with this Torah reading, it is kind of gross.
One of the ways Rabbi Sarra Lev reframed the entire subject of ritual purity depicted it as a way of revering and respecting the times when we approached life and death. When life comes into being and when it departs we must take notice and set up rituals that acknowledge the importance and mystery of the source of all life.
And when life is at risk, when mystery imposes itself into our everyday life, we must be ever more respectful and vigilant.
Currently, we may have a better understanding of the fearsome nature of the presence of life and death in every moment.
Leviticus and Rabbi Lev remind us to recognize these moments, to notice the blessings and the dangers, and to use rituals that allow us to see when we move between safety and risk.
As we work to keep safe distances, wear masks, and take other protective measures for our families, the Torah continues to be relevant.