Tazria

To be a Free Nation in its Land

Parashat Tazria opens with the command to do a brit mila on a baby’s eighth day. It would seem that we thereby make a bodily sign of being like slaves of Hashem, which would indicate that we left the bondage of Egypt to be slaves to Hashem. So in what way did we become free men? We will investigate this matter as we go through, in the coming weeks, the holidays of spring (Pesach, Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron, Yom Ha’atzmaut, Lag Ba’omer, Yom Yerushalayim, and Shavuot).

A Skin Disorder...Only in Israel?!

Explaining why the fact that one can only get tzara'at - a biblical disease - in Israel is actually a good thing for Israelis!

Believing is Seeing

May I be mekadeish levanah now, although I am indoors, and I am also obviously looking at the moon through a window? The brocha of borei me’orei ha’eish on an electric light - could one do this when a lightbulb must be encased in glass for it to burn? What do the above questions have to do with this week’s parsha?

Comfort In Time Of Loss

When we lose someone close to us, the pain is almost unbearable. How can we find solace and comfort at such times?

Laws of Family Purity - Avoiding Misconceptions

The laws of purity and impurity are a part of the Torah that is seemingly beyond human conception. The Torah defines these laws in Bamidbar (19:2): “This is the chok of the Torah.” Rav, the great Amora, when discussing laws relating to our parasha, states: “It is one source – the Torah made it impure, and it made it pure” (Nida 35b). Nevertheless we will try to explain a few principles and what they are meant to teach us.

Must I Keep the Mohel?

Since the beginning of parshas Tazria discusses the mitzvah of bris milah, it is certainly an appropriate week to discuss:

Is there such a thing as Lashon Tov?

It’s In The Bloods