Parashat Tazria-Metzorah 5785

by Rabbi Margie Cella

This week we have a double parashah that discusses various states of impurity that could be experienced by individuals or found in dwellings, as well as the methods of purification for each.

Following childbirth, a woman was required to isolate for an extended period before bringing sacrifices to be declared pure again.

Anyone who had a blemish on their body had to be examined by the priest to determine if they were afflicted with tsara’at, leprosy. An individual declared unclean was required to isolate before reexamination. Upon being declared clean, one had to bring two birds for a sacrifice, wait another seven days, wash their clothes, shave their hair, and bathe, and finally bring two lambs to the priest for sacrifice before being declared pure once again.

Leprosy could appear in garments, which were required to be burned if they could not be cleansed in seven days. Houses that contracted tsara’at were locked up for seven days before reexamination, followed by a cleansing ritual if it was declared clean, or demolition if it was still unclean.

Men who had seminal discharges or women after their menstrual flow required washing, sacrifices, and bathing, to once again be deemed clean.

Clearly, this leprous condition was believed to be highly contagious and a major threat to the community. Thankfully, we do not have to deal with this today.

Positivity can be equally as contagious as negativity. This has been especially true in the last year and a half. Uniting in the face of rising antisemitism to show our support for each other and our beloved Eretz Israel is what we need now more than ever. 

Am Yisrael Chai! All people of Israel Live!