Posted on 04/03/2011 8:54:29 AM PDT by jjotto
Parashat Metzora
[VaYikra - Book of Leviticus]
Kohen - first Aliya - 12 p'sukim - 14:1-12
The afflictions dealt with in Tazria are immediately dealt with by the procedures described in M'Tzora.
The main theme of M'tzora is the "ritual purification" of the one afflicted with Tzora'at. These procedures constitute a positive mitzva [173]. Two birds are to be taken, a ceremony is performed with them, one bird is offered as a sacrifice, and the other is set free. The person immerses in a mikve, he cleans his garments, and he shaves all the hair on his body [174]. The rules of ritual immersion in general, come from this context [175]...
Levi - second Aliya - 8 p'sukim - 14:13-20
The purification process is completed after bringing various korbanot, following a seven day period and the other procedures, as mentioned above [176]...
Sh'lishi - third Aliya - 12 p'sukim - 14:21-32
A person who cannot afford the animals for the sacrifices, is to bring one sheep and two birds as his offering. The Torah describes the rituals involved in these offerings.
It is not important how much the sacrifice is worth on a dollars and cents basis (shekels and agorot), but what is relative to the means of the atoner.
Thus ends the section of the Torah dealing with afflictions to the individual. ZOT TORAT... this is the body of law of one afflicted who cannot afford the full set of korbanot...
R'vi'i - fourth Aliya - 21 p'sukim - 14:33-53
The Torah next discusses Tzora'at that can afflict a person's house. This can only be in the Land of Israel, in a house made of specific materials, and under specific conditions [177]. Once again, it is the kohen who makes the determination as to whether Tzora'at does exist, or a professional house painter should be consulted. In the case of a "house plague", there are procedures to be followed and purification processes, including korbanot to be brought...
Chamishi- fifth Aliya - 19 p'sukim - 14:54-15:15
This portion begins with a summary of different types of NEGA'IM.
Smallest p'sukim in the Torah has 3 words. There are only 13 (maybe 14 if you consider a parsha break to actually split a pasuk into two p'sukim) in the whole Torah. Here in M'tzora are two 3-word p'sukim back-to-back. Is there anything special about these 3-word p'sukim? I don't know for sure, except that in some Sidurim there is the list of the 3-word p'sukim (plus some "special" p'sukim from elsewhere in Tanach) in the Motza'ei Shabbat readings (after the Z'mirot). It is probably Kabalistic.
Next the Torah speaks of the status of a man with an "unnatural discharge" (probably a form of venereal disease). In such cases, the Torah view matters as a combination of physical symptoms with spiritual causes - in the case of "Zav" and "Zava", most probably attributable to sexual misconduct. (As such, there is a close relationship between the different themes of the sedra. Interesting, is it not, that there are doctors and clinics today that specialize in dermatology and venereal diseases.) The one afflicted is himself "Tamei" as well as causing other people and objects to become "ritually impure" through contact, both direct and indirect [178]. The one afflicted, must bring special korbanot after a purification process [179]...
Shishi- sixth Aliya - 13 p'sukim - 15:16-28
There is also a "ritual impurity" (of a lesser degree - one-day type) in cases of normal seminal emissions [180].
A menstruating woman is "ritually unclean". This is counted as a positive mitzva [181]; its negative counterpart is in the next sedra.
A woman with an unnatural discharge has a specific set of rules. In the case of a Zava, there are differences in her status depending upon how many sightings of blood there are, and how frequent. These rules and procedures constitute a mitzva [182]...
Sh'vi'i - 7th Aliya - 5 p'sukim - 15:29-33
The requirement of the korbanot at the conclusion of the period of impurity [183]. The people of Israel have a great potential for attaining spiritual heights. They have an equally great potential for descending to low levels of spiritual impurity.
The last 3 p'sukim of the sedra (which are reread for Maftir) serve as a summary to the topics of ritual purity and impurity and present the challenge to the Jewish People to rise above mundane physical existence by scrupulously avoiding "impurity"...
If anyone knows of others interested, please PING them, keeping in mind this is a non-confrontational thread.
Incomplete Ping List ping!
´Hope ZC´s okay.
Thanks, jjotto.
THX FOR THE PING.
Thank you so much for posting these readings and the commentary that went with them.
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