Tzaraat of the Home: A Punishment and a Blessing

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...

Why Giving Birth Renders A Mother Impure

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...

Tzaraat: The Messiah’s Affliction?

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 28, 2022 | Israel, Messiah, Tazriah, Temple

The Torah portion of Tazria (Leviticus 12-13) deals with tzaraat, a disease usually mistranslated as leprosy. Tzaraat is a malady that afflicts the body, clothing, and the walls of houses. The afflicted is diagnosed by the priest and rendered impure. Tzaraat is...

Mikveh: Hoping for Purity

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 23, 2022 | Bible Study

After outlining which animals are permitted to be eaten, the Torah teaches that coming into contact with the carcasses of non-kosher animals is forbidden and renders a person impure (Leviticus 11). The Torah describes the process to remove the impurity which includes...

Why Was the Laver Made From the Mirrors of the Women?

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,...