April 12, 2024 · ד' ניסן תשפ״ד
Parashat Tazria · פרשת תזריע
A PEEK AT THE PARSHA Parshat Tazria begins by discussing the Tahara (purification) process for a woman after childbirth. A woman who gives birth to a son is tamei (impure) for seven days, and she may not do certain activities that require her to be tahor, such as entering the Beit Hamikdash. On the eighth day, the baby boy gets a Brit Milah, and the mother continues to be tamei for an additional 33 days. If she gives birth to a daughter, her period of tumah is doubled, lasting 66 days. After either 40 days for a boy or 80 days for a girl, the woman brings a korban, goes into a mikvah, and is then tahor.
ONE BIG IDEA A Metzora, someone who becomes tamei (impure) with Tzara’at, is sent away from the people. Why is the Metzora removed while other people who are tamei are not? A person receives Tzara’at for speaking Lashon Hara (evil speech). We remove the Metzora to teach them, and all of us, that just as speaking Lashon Hara causes people not to get along and separate from one another, so too we separate the Metzora from everyone else.
The parsha continues with the laws of Tzara'at. Tzara’at is often incorrectly translated as Leprosy: a skin disease. Tzara’at was a spiritual disease that would affect someone if they did certain aveirot (sins) such as Lashon Hara (evil speech). Tzara’at could appear on a person’s house, clothing and/or skin. When a person would see something strange on their skin, such as a rash, bruise, or discoloration, they would go to the kohen for assistance. The kohen would examine it and decide if it was Tzara’at or not. If in fact it is Tzara’at, the person must leave their neighborhood and live by themself for seven days. During that time, they must tear their clothing, cover their mouth and announce to anyone who comes close to them that they are tamei. Similarly, if a person sees a strange red or green dot on their clothing they take it to the kohen to see if it’s Tzara’at. If in fact it is Tzara’at then the kohen would burn the clothing. If it was not Tzara’at, then the clothing would be washed and then it’s tahor and can be worn again.
TIMES - זמנים Candle-lighting: 7:14pm Havdalah: 8:12pm allah: 5:25pm