Parashat Tazria/Metzorah (Leviticus 12:1-15:33)

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

This week we are in Tazria/Metzora (Lev. 12:1 - 15:33) one of the times during the year when the Torah portion is actually a double portion. In these two parashiyot we learn about laws of ritual cleanliness, handling of a dead body and, leprosy as well as other things. These parashiyot are challenging and can at first glance seem to not speak to us today. The challenge as always is to find those lines that have relevance today and to use them as our doorway into the entire parasha.

If someone is suspected of having leprosy, they are to go to the Kohen to be checked. Why did God appoint the Kohanim to be the experts in this area. What about their other service to God might make them uniquely qualified for such a difficult task? To whom else might the people have been referred?
After the person is diagnosed with leprosy they must spend time outside of the community. The Kohanim were charged with getting the people back into the community as soon as possible. What does it show that we want to include and not exclude people with a serious condition like this? How do we treat people today who suffer from serious (possibly contagious) diseases? Do we welcome them into our midst as quickly as possible? What can you do to help reintegrate those people into our communities?
The Kohanim perform the ritual that brings the people back to the community only after the affliction is completely gone. Why should they wait until then? Why not do it sooner? What might the people think if the act is done while there is still some affliction? What might God be trying to avoid it looking like?
We learn in 13:45 that the person with the affliction must call out to the community, "Impure! Impure!" Why? Why should they have to call attention to their own condition? How could this be a good thing? Do we always know when someone is sick, or needs help? How would you react if someone told you that they were really sick? Why don't people always tell us when they are really sick or in need of serious help?
These parashiyot talk about some pretty personal stuff. They touch on areas of personal hygiene and the different fluids that might flow out of a human body. Are you shocked that the Torah gets this personal? Are there certain things that are just too personal to be ruled by Jewish Law? The Torah is not a science textbook, and doesn't pretend to be, so what are these issues doing in the Torah? What lessons do we draw from studying such personal issues from this perspective?