At a personal level, it was a very sad week for us, due to the passing away of a very close friend, after a short but very cruel illness. Being close to death affects us at various levels.
Last week's Torah reading related to the tragic death of Aharon's sons as well as to the Red Heifer, used as a ritual of purification from closeness to death. This Shabbat we'll read about other forms of impurity and purification and also about the initial stages of Liberation, starting with the setting of the lunar calendar. Human beings or nations that are enslaved or oppressed aren't in control of Time. I guess there must be some relation between impurity, slavery-oppression and death versus purification and liberation and life.
Shabbat Shalom – Hodesh Tov to all,