Parsha Tazria-Metzora: Leviticus 12:1-15:33

Parsha Tazria-Metzora Day 1 (Part 2): Leviticus 13:1-23 (Study Notes)

(Leviticus 13) Various forms of Skin Affections

After discussing the state of a woman after giving birth, we are immediately told about various skin affections and infections that can grow in wounds. While we can skip past the order of informmation given, we must understand that in Hashem’s wisdom, the order of information matters.

When we pause and consider why the discussions and commands about leprosy are given after the information about the birth of seeds, it follows the pattern in creation. Havah is the mother of all living. Her seeds, however, were born after her being was changed due to sin. This changed body is capable of developing diseases, illnesses, and death.

Thus, by pondering the order of information given here in Leviticus, we can understand better the isolation period of a woman after birth for the reasons stated…

Parsha Tazria-Metzora:

Day 1 (Part 1): Leviticus 12

(Study Notes)

The name of the first part of this double parsha is Tazria. Tazria means “bringing forth seed”, which is commonly translated as “childbirth.”

The Parsha’s name gives meaning to the “seed” we have learned about thus far in our studies. In our last parsha study, we discussed how a seed could become unclean if the carcass of a dead animal fell on it and water was then placed on the seed. We mentioned that this scenario could be understood as a picture of the lost ten tribes of Judah—or the Jews who may not know they are Jews and have found themselves in false religious circles.

We mentioned that if a Lost Jew is in such a situation, Hashem has mercy. But, once Hashem puts His water (ie: Torah teachings) on the seed, that soul becomes unclean if he or she…

Parsha Tazria-Metzora: Day # 2 (Leviticus 13:24-39)

(Study Notes)

As with the last portion of the Parsha, this section discusses additional skin afflictions and the accompanying examinations that are commanded to determine if a person has a disease or if the person is clean and is affected with a normal (not due to disease) skin abnormality.

(Leviticus 13:24-28) Skin Afflictions: Burns

This section, like the section on scars, provides the examination that must take place after a person has healed from a burn.

If you have ever suffered a burn, you may well know that a new patch of skin will form that does not look like the rest of your skin.

Parsha Tazria-Metzora: Day # 3 (Leviticus 13:40-54)

(Study Notes)

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.

Parsha Tazria-Metzora: Day 4

(Leviticus 13:55-14:20)

(Study Notes)

(Leviticus 13:55-58)

Moshe Rabbeinu declares that if after washing in water and remaining in isolation for the second seven day separation period the affection in the cloth:

1. Has not changed and has not spread: the cloth is unclean. Even though the red and green affliction did not spread, there is also no healing nor fading. Since the affected area did not improve, the entire cloth must be consumed by fire. The diagnosis is “Fret”

Leviticus 12:1-13:23

Leviticus Chapter 12

Tazria

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:

דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אִשָּׁה֙ כִּ֣י תַזְרִ֔יעַ וְיָלְדָ֖ה זָכָ֑ר וְטָֽמְאָה֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים כִּימֵ֛י נִדַּ֥ת דְּוֺתָ֖הּ תִּטְמָֽא׃

Leviticus 13:24-39

א֣וֹ בָשָׂ֔ר כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֥ה בְעֹר֖וֹ מִכְוַת־אֵ֑שׁ וְֽהָיְתָ֞ה מִֽחְיַ֣ת הַמִּכְוָ֗ה בַּהֶ֛רֶת לְבָנָ֥ה אֲדַמְדֶּ֖מֶת א֥וֹ לְבָנָֽה׃

24 Or when the flesh hath in the skin thereof a burning by fire, and the quick flesh of the burning become a bright spot, reddish-white, or white;

וְרָאָ֣ה אֹתָ֣הּ הַכֹּהֵ֡ן וְהִנֵּ֣ה נֶהְפַּךְ֩ שֵׂעָ֨ר לָבָ֜ן בַּבַּהֶ֗רֶת וּמַרְאֶ֙הָ֙ עָמֹ֣ק מִן־הָע֔וֹר צָרַ֣עַת הִ֔וא בַּמִּכְוָ֖ה פָּרָ֑חָה וְטִמֵּ֤א אֹתוֹ֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן נֶ֥גַע צָרַ֖עַת הִֽוא׃

25 then the priest shall look upon it; and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and the appearance thereof be deeper than the skin, it is leprosy, it hath broken out in the burning; and the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.

וְאִ֣ם ׀ יִרְאֶ֣נָּה הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֵֽין־בַּבַּהֶ֙רֶת֙ שֵׂעָ֣ר לָבָ֔ן וּשְׁפָלָ֥הֿ אֵינֶ֛נָּה מִן־הָע֖וֹר וְהִ֣וא כֵהָ֑ה וְהִסְגִּיר֥וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים׃

Leviticus 13:40-54

וְאִ֕ישׁ כִּ֥י יִמָּרֵ֖ט רֹאשׁ֑וֹ קֵרֵ֥חַ ה֖וּא טָה֥וֹר הֽוּא׃

40 And if a man’s hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.

וְאִם֙ מִפְּאַ֣ת פָּנָ֔יו יִמָּרֵ֖ט רֹאשׁ֑וֹ גִּבֵּ֥חַ ה֖וּא טָה֥וֹר הֽוּא׃

41 And if his hair be fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead-bald; yet is he clean.

וְכִֽי־יִהְיֶ֤ה בַקָּרַ֙חַת֙ א֣וֹ בַגַּבַּ֔חַת נֶ֖גַע לָבָ֣ן אֲדַמְדָּ֑ם צָרַ֤עַת פֹּרַ֙חַת֙ הִ֔וא בְּקָרַחְתּ֖וֹ א֥וֹ בְגַבַּחְתּֽוֹ׃

Leviticus 13:55-14:20

וְרָאָ֨ה הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אַחֲרֵ֣י ׀ הֻכַּבֵּ֣ס אֶת־הַנֶּ֗גַע וְ֠הִנֵּ֠ה לֹֽא־הָפַ֨ךְ הַנֶּ֤גַע אֶת־עֵינוֹ֙ וְהַנֶּ֣גַע לֹֽא־פָשָׂ֔ה טָמֵ֣א ה֔וּא בָּאֵ֖שׁ תִּשְׂרְפֶ֑נּוּ פְּחֶ֣תֶת הִ֔וא בְּקָרַחְתּ֖וֹ א֥וֹ בְגַבַּחְתּֽוֹ׃

55 And the priest shall look, after that the plague is washed; and, behold, if the plague have not changed its colour, and the plague be not spread, it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is a fret, whether the bareness be within or without.

וְאִם֮ רָאָ֣ה הַכֹּהֵן֒ וְהִנֵּה֙ כֵּהָ֣ה הַנֶּ֔גַע אַחֲרֵ֖י הֻכַּבֵּ֣ס אֹת֑וֹ וְקָרַ֣ע אֹת֗וֹ מִן־הַבֶּ֙גֶד֙ א֣וֹ מִן־הָע֔וֹר א֥וֹ מִן־הַשְּׁתִ֖י א֥וֹ מִן־הָעֵֽרֶב׃

56 And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be dim after the washing thereof, then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof.

וְאִם־תֵּרָאֶ֨ה ע֜וֹד בַּ֠בֶּ֠גֶד אֽוֹ־בַשְּׁתִ֤י אֽוֹ־בָעֵ֙רֶב֙ א֣וֹ בְכׇל־כְּלִי־ע֔וֹר פֹּרַ֖חַת הִ֑וא בָּאֵ֣שׁ תִּשְׂרְפֶ֔נּוּ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־בּ֖וֹ הַנָּֽגַע׃