Receive Learning Materials
This week's Torah reading is in fact the combination of two portions. These two portions are often combined, since the system of dividing the Torah into portions is designed so that there will be enough portions for all of the Sabbaths of the year. The weekly portion is not read on holidays that come out on the Sabbath, and therefore, when there is a year during which many holidays do, some portions are joined together to that the Torah will still be completed during the year.
Tazria, literally "(a woman) who conceives", is thus named because it begins with the laws of the different offerings that a woman who gave birth must bring.
Mezora, literally a leper, is thus named because the portion includes different laws concerning leprosy.
Tazria: The portion begins with the laws of the different offerings that a woman who gave birth must bring. These offerings are part of the purification process she goes through in order to become purified after being unclean as a result of the birth. The rules for women who gave birth to boys are slightly different than those of the mothers of girls in terms of the length of time each part of the process takes.
The portion then goes on to discuss a matter which will be discussed even more at length in the next portion - leprosy. Basic definitions of biblical leprosy and the way it is to be diagnosed by the priests are given, as well as the process of monitoring the healing which includes quarantine.
Mezora: The portion contains a detailed description of all the sacrifices that a leper who has been healed must bring, when he brings which one of them and how the priest must handle them. The portion then continues to give precise instructions what is to be done in the case of a house that is diagnosed with leprosy. The portion ends with laws concerning impurity due to bodily discharge.
| 25 April 2009 | |
| 17 April 2010 | |
| 02 April 2011 (Tazria), 09 April 2011 (Mezora) |
eTeacher
|
|
|
|
My goal for studying was to understand the text as clearly as possible, and although the language seems strange and difficult at first the payoff is tremendous! This program with the cirriculum and live interaction, has given me the chance to reach...
I am thoroughly enjoying my Biblical Hebrew class with Beth. It has been very helpful for me to be able to work on this material without the pressure of grades or trying to take five other academic courses simultaneously.
