Welcome back! This week we read Tazria-Metzorah. This portion discusses ritual impurity, and how to return to purity after an illness occurs. It talks about how to handle the impurity of both people and objects. When a garment or home is afflicted with tzaraat (a supra-natural plague that is often mistranslated as leprosy) we are instructed to remove the part of it that is afflicted. If, however, the tzaraat returns we must destroy the entire object. If this supra-natural plague goes away after you’ve removed the afflicted part, then you’re all set. If it comes back, you’re in trouble and must take more serious measures.
Let’s focus on the way we handle objects when they are afflicted with this strange plague. The Torah makes the point to say that you first remove just the afflicted part of objects and then, when the plague comes back, you destroy the whole thing. We can relate this idea to the way we interact with others. Each of us has most likely had a relationship that can be considered “toxic”. The kind of relationship where we’re putting in more effort than the other person, where the other person acts in ways that just don’t sit right with us, or where that person even hurts us (physically and emotionally). Most of us don’t want to throw the entire relationship away after one little hiccup. We talk out our issues, we work to fix them, and we go on. Hopefully, the relationship is fixed and we can be happy. We removed the afflicted part of the relationship. We have a problem if, after several attempts to remove this afflicted part of the relationship, these problems reoccur. This could be the time to rid yourself of the whole “object”. Now, you must use your judgment and weigh the pros and cons of your relationship before “destroying” it. You need to stand up for yourself. If your relationship’s metaphorical “plague” comes back after several tries to remove it, it’s time to let go. No one deserves to be treated poorly and no one deserves to stay in a relationship with someone who isn’t respecting them.
Do you wanna know what’s fetch? The Mean Girls movie and musical. Do you wanna know what’s not fetch? Actual mean girls. That’s right folks, buckle your seatbelts because we’re headed to North Shore High, and it is going to be a bumpy ride.
As many of us know, Regina George and The Plastics rule North Shore High. Enter Cady Heron, the new girl from Africa. She quickly gets befriended by Janice and Damian who teach her all about the cliques and the law of the land. The Plastics soon sweep her up, and Cady begins to act like them to fit in, be popular, and try to get the guy she likes. This isn’t without consequences.
Now, how many of you have been personally victimized by Regina George?
Regina doesn’t play nice. She knows what she wants and does whatever it takes to get it. She looks down on others and makes them feel inferior. Gretchen does whatever Regina wants and needs so she can still stay afloat and avoid the wrath of Regina, she knows everything about everybody and uses that as her weapon. As for Karen…well, she’s just Karen (I once saw her put a “D” in the word “orange”). Janice and Damian try to warn Cady of this, but it doesn’t work.
The movie is full of backstabbing and betrayal and stereotypes and well, it’s just one big revenge party after another. It’s the perfect example of toxic relationships because it’s hard to see which friendships are genuine.
The Plastics, especially Regina, will do whatever it takes to keep them on top. Now, Janice and Damian aren’t exactly squeaky clean either. It can be argued that they used Cady as their pawn to try and take down Regina. They used her as a double agent. All Cady wanted was some friends. But, Cady isn’t exactly innocent either. She manipulated and lied her way to the top and for a while, didn’t care who she hurt in the process. She let herself be influenced by those around her and changed to fit in with them.
By the end of the movie, people learned their lesson. Cady learned to be careful of who she hangs out with and to not let them negatively influence her. She was stupid with love and driven by “calculust” but has since learned not to let that distract her from seeing and doing what’s right.
If there is someone in your life who doesn’t make you feel good or is trying to make you do things you don’t think are right, drop them. You don’t need that in your life. You are better than that and deserve better. It is important to surround yourself with people who love and support you but will put you in check when needed. It might seem hard, but trust us, you won’t regret it. Leaving toxic relationships in the dust feels so good. Treat yo’ self.
See you next week!
Love,
Amanda & Marissa
