Day 3: Leviticus 13:40-54 (Study Notes)
Parsha Tazria-Metzora: Day # 3 (Leviticus 13:40-54)
This section of our weekly double Parsha discusses various types of baldness: both those that are normal and those that become abnormal.
We also begin to learn about what to do when cloth or skins (hides) become affected by various molds, mildews, and spreading afflictions.
(Leviticus 13:40-44) Normal Baldness
After discussing the various scaly afflictions that arise on the head and beard, Moshe Rabbeinu discusses baldness and additional head afflictions.
Moshe Rabbeinu begins by telling us of the “normal” types of baldness. If a male is affected by either of these types of baldness, he remains clean. These include:
Male total baldness
Male pattern baldness of the front of the head
It is possible for women to have these types of baldness as well, they are, however, more prevalent in men.
(Leviticus 13:42-44) Unclean Baldness
If a person becomes bald, it is possible for the clean baldness to become unclean if certain skin conditions arise in the baldness. This is not hard to understand when we consider those close to us.
Think of your grandpa or another elderly person who has gone bald. Have you ever seen a dark, or red, or white patch of skin in the baldness? Do you know of anyone diagnosed with melanoma—a skin cancer that is not uncommon in areas of bald scalp that suddenly gets exposed to excessive amounts of sun.
If you can consider any of the above situations while you read the passages below, you might gain a better understanding of Hashem’s wisdom.
Moshe Rabbeinu teaches us about the signs which demarcate an abnormality in the baldness which Hashem made as part of His creation. Moshe Rabbeinu notes that:
If white patches appear in the baldness AND
The white patches have red streaking
THEN the person is pronounced unclean. The affected area in the baldness is diagnosed as a scaly affliction. The leprous appearance is enough for the priest to make such a declaration.
(Leviticus 13:45-45)
Moshe Rabbeinu then gives instructions for anyone who is deemed to have a leprous affliction. These commands are ordained no matter the form in which the diagnosed leprosy appears. There is one law for all afflicted peoples.
Hashem through Moshe Rabbeinu commands that the unclean person must:
Tear his or her clothing—a sign of grief and mourning.
Shave his or her head—the head is left bare.
Cover his or her upper lip.
Announce or call out “unclean, unclean” wherever he or she goes—this is so that others will know to avoid the unclean person so the unaffected person does not get infected with a possibly infectious illness or condition.
Dwell apart and outside the camp of the Israelite community while they are unclean.
The tearing of the clothing and shaving or uncovering one’s head are both signs of mourning. The uncovered and bald head harkens to Genesis 3 when Adam and Havah realized they were naked. From this tearing we can understand that sin separates just like leprosy separates.
But, we must remember that not all leprosy is caused by sin directly. We can say, however, that all sickness (globally) is a general consequence of man’s sin. When Adam and Havah sinned in Gan Eden, the entirety of Hashem’s creation was affected. Thorns grew on beautiful flowers, the ground became hard to till, and immortality was replaced with mortality.
Part of this change includes diseases that cause death to healthy cells, which are replaced by sick cells.
As we stated previously, sometimes illness does come as a consequence of our own sin; sometimes illness comes as a test of faith. In it all, Hashem is in control.
(Leviticus 13:47-54) Cloth or Hides with Affections
After discussing and providing laws regarding human uncleanliness due to various form of leprous conditions, Moshe Rabbeinu moves on to provide us instructions regarding cloth and skins that have become unclean.
Again, the order may seem inconsequential until we pair it with the interlude above. At the time when Adam and Havah first sinned, their nakedness was exposed. So, Hashem provided animal skins to cover their nakedness. These skins, which are ment to cover our nakedness can also become infected with various afflictions—pointing to the fact that these coverings are not a permanent nor perfect solution to sin. Rather, we must all search beyond the skins and look inside our hearts and minds. We must perform teshuvah if necessary instead of relying on a cloak of skin, or some other substitutionary facade to correct our uncleanness.
If we take accountability, we need not hide behind infected hides—we can again stand naked and unashamed before Hashem.
(Leviticus 13:47)
Moshe Rabbeinu declares that if the cloth in which the affliction breaks out is wool or linen, or if it is a skin or a hide of an animal, then we must look for specific signs of infection. Before we list the instructions of Moshe Rabbeinu consider the details.
Linen or wool cloth are the special types of fabrics commanded by Hashem to be used in the creation of the priestly garments. In general, these two types of fabrics are the halachically accepted and commanded materials for Jewish clothing. While other modern materials are acceptable, wool and linen are the “gold standard,” so long as they are not combined in a single garment.
Hides are part of the designated portions of the animal offerings given to priests as a gift. These hides come from thanksgiving and well-being offerings (see Leviticus 7).
Thus, the fact that these three types of fabrics are mentioned holds significance—priests, especially, must be on guard of these types of affections in their sacred garments. The fact that Hashem commands the priestly garments to made with fabrics that can be affected indicates something on a deeper level as well.
The priests must be on particular guard for sin just as they must be on meticulous guard for the following affections in their garments. Both sin and contaminated cloth cause separation from Hashem and the community—separations that devastate the roles of any Priest.
(Leviticus 13:48-49)
Moshe Rabbeinu provides the list of physical signs that a skin or cloth is contaminated:
The cloth or skin is streaked with green and/or red: the cloth has an “erruptive affection”.
(Leviticus 13:50-54)
Moshe Rabbeinu provides the steps for determining the correct course of action with such cloth:
The article of clothing or skin must be shown to a priest.
The article of clothing or skin must be isolated for 7 days and reexamined on the eighth day.
If upon reexamination:
The affection spread in the cloth: the cloth has a “malignant eruption. The item is unclean and must be consumed in fire.
The affection has not spread: the cloth must be washed in water and isolated for another 7 days and be reexamined again.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Kimberly Davis