April 12, 2024
A PEEK AT THE PARSHA
Parshat Tazria begins by discussing the Tahara (purification) process for a woman after childbirth. A woman who gives birth to a son is tamei (impure) for seven days, and she may not do certain activities that require her to be tahor, such as entering the Beit Hamikdash. On the eighth day, the baby boy gets a Brit Milah, and the mother continues to be tamei for an additional 33 days. If she gives birth to a daughter, her period of tumah is doubled, lasting 66 days. After either 40 days for a boy or 80 days for a girl, the woman brings a korban, goes into a mikvah, and is then tahor
ONE BIG IDEA
A Metzora, someone who becomes tamei (impure) with Tzara’at, is sent away from the people. Why is the Metzora removed while other people who are tamei are not? A person receives Tzara’at for speaking Lashon Hara (evil speech). We remove the Metzora to teach them, and all of us, that just as speaking Lashon Hara causes people not to get along and separate from one another, so too we separate the Metzora from everyone else.
The parsha continues with the laws of Tzara'at. Tzara’at is often incorrectly translated as Leprosy: a skin disease. Tzara’at was a spiritual disease that would affect someone if they did certain aveirot (sins) such as Lashon Hara (evil speech). Tzara’at could appear on a person’s house, clothing and/or skin.
When a person would see something strange on their skin, such as a rash, bruise, or discoloration, they would go to the kohen for assistance. The kohen would examine it and decide if it was Tzara’at or not. If in fact it is Tzara’at, the person must leave their neighborhood and live by themself for seven days. During that time, they must tear their clothing, cover their mouth and announce to anyone who comes close to them that they are tamei
Similarly, if a person sees a strange red or green dot on their clothing they take it to the kohen to see if it’s Tzara’at. If in fact it is Tzara’at then the kohen would burn the clothing. If it was not Tzara’at, then the clothing would be washed and then it’s tahor and can be worn again.
TIMES -
Candle-lighting: 7:14pm
Havdalah: 8:12pm
allah: 5:25pm
PARSHA STATS DID YOU KNOW…?
..............128 (48th most) Pesukim .............................67 (48th most)
Words ................................1010 (48th most)
Letters................................3667 (48th most)
Year(s)................................2449
(Source: OU Torah Tidbits)
“April showers bring May flowers” means that since April is a typically rainy season, many flowers grow in May because of the rainwater. It is also a way of saying that sometimes difficult times (rainy days) help us grow. Did you know that on Pesach, we stop asking Hashem for rain (Mashiv haru’ach u’Morid hageshem, and v’ten tal u’matar) so that the crops we harvest now won’t get ruined in the rain? Sephardic Jews pray for dew (Morid hatal) because a little moisture is still good.
CHECKLIST
To be filled out after shabbat and brought in Monday.
Called someone to wish them a “Shabbat Shalom”
Went to shul
Participated in Hadlakat Nerot/Kiddush/ Hamotzi/Birkat Hamazon
Sang zemirot/songs
Wore Shabbat clothing
Helped prepare our home for Shabbat
Full Name: ______________________________
QUESTIONS
1. What effect does speaking badly about someone have on people?
2. Is Tzara’at a skin disease or a spiritual disease?
3. True or False: The kohen is the Tzara’at “doctor.”
4. Math question: How many years ago did the events of this parsha take place? Hint: The current year is somewhere in Shabbazine (and appears in every Shabbazine).
5. What do we stop praying for on Pesach? Why?
Parent Signature: