by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 5, 2022 | Chosen Nation, Holiness, Marriage and Relationships, Metzorah, Modesty, Purity
When a woman has her menstrual period she becomes ritually impure. The Torah laws concerning this (referred to as the laws of niddah) are the basis of family purity, one of the most important aspects of the Jews’ status as a holy nation. This Torah portion of...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 4, 2022 | Israel, Metzorah, Purity
After dealing with tzaraat, a spiritual affliction similar in presentation to leprosy, that appears on the body and clothing, the Torah goes on to describe the tzaraat that afflicts houses. If the walls became discolored with streaks of red or green and tzaraat was...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 30, 2022 | Purity, Tazriah
Leviticus (chapter 12) discusses the laws relating to a woman who has given birth. It mandates a seven-day period of impurity for a woman after giving birth to a male, during which she is forbidden to her husband and is not able to come in contact with sacred items...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 29, 2022 | Purity, Repentance, Responsibility, Tazriah
Leviticus introduces the affliction of tzaraat. Commonly mistranslated as leprosy, tzaraat can afflict the body, a home, or even clothing. Tzaraat only afflicts clothing made of three materials: wool, linen, or leather. Only sheep’s wool is susceptible to...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 20, 2022 | Marriage and Relationships, Purity, Temple, Vayakhel
At the beginning of the Torah portion of Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20), the Torah again described the materials that were collected for use in creating the Tabernacle (Exodus 35:4-9). In the case of the laver, the Torah even describes the source of the material,...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 11, 2022 | Chanukah, Miracles, Purity, Temple, Tetzaveh
When God instructs the Children of Israel to make the menorah, He tells them to gather oil “for kindling lamps regularly” (Exodus 27:20). Rashi explains that the light was to be lit all night, every night, though not necessarily during the day. The lights...
