55 Lessons
Tazria "NOT ALL HATE IS CREATED EQUAL"- p. Tazria-Metzora
The parsha teaches the tragedy of being alone and separate, but our 2,000 year galut is exactly that. Because of the universality of anti-Semitism, we unfortunately sometimes tend to make simplistic associations, & lump all this hatred together, as if it's the same. Yes, Iran hates us like the Nazis did, but today's war on all accounts is totally different, and we must thank G-d on Yom HaAtzma'ut for all those differences.
Tazria Brit Milah: It's OK for Gentiles Not to Understand
...The Jew has always been something of a mystery to the non-Jews; they have never really understood us or what majkes us tick. This is especially true regarding the mitzvah of circumcision (brit milah) - and this does not bother us. The non-Jew is not bound by this mitzvah, and he has no need, or ability, to comprehend it...
Tazria The Special Power of Women
This week's Torah portion of Tazria tells us that when a boy is born, the schedule is as follows: The mother is in a state of Niddah – ritual impurity – for seven days; on the eighth day, the baby is circumcised, and the mother begins a period of 33 days in which she is pure despite any discharge (although she may not touch something holy or enter the sanctuary). If a girl is born, the mother is impure for 14 days and pure for 66. The question begs itself: Why is everything doubled when a girl is born?
Tazria The Source of Jewish Strength
"What is the source of Jewish strength? Let us be clear that we're not talking about military prowess, strong abilities in various fields, charisma, or even the strength to endure difficulties. Jewish power is of a totally different nature. It has a bit of all the above, but it also has an extra element, something wondrous and different – even bordering on a craziness..."
Tazria Flesh Pact
The circumcision ceremony itself is called a brit – a covenant. It is the dedication of Jews to their faith and tradition that has remained.
Tazria The Circumcision of Desire
Brit milah helps transform the male from baal to ish, from dominant partner to loving husband, just as God tells Hosea that this is what He seeks in His relationship with the people of the covenant.
Parashat Hashavua Ketoret, Tzara’at, and Uziya
We will try to prove now that tzara’at is also the result of lacking between man and his fellow man. At first glance, this is almost a trivial task, as Chazal teach us that the main cause of tzara’at is lashon hara, one of the most basic interpersonal sins.
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).
Tazria 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!
Tazria 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?
Tazria 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?
