Parshat Tazria (Vayikra 13:47-48) speaks about Tzaraat of the garment, where we can gain insight into which materials clothing was made out of in Biblical days: If there shall be a skin eruption of Tzaraat in a garment, in a woolen garment, or a linen garment, or...
The concept of women being taken hostage is sadly not new and goes back to the days of the Tanach. In fact, we encounter such a case in the Haftara for Parshat Tazria, Melachim II 4:42-5:19.In Melachim II 5:2 we read:Aram had gone out in “gdudim,”...
In Parshat HaChodesh, we learn that what is known today as the month of Nisan is the first month on the Biblical calendar. The first Pesach and the Exodus from Egypt take place in Nisan, the month that B’nai Yisrael officially became freed from Egyptian...
For the past month, we have been reading Sefer Vayikra which describes the sacrifices which are brought on different occasions, first to the Mishkan, the temporary Tabernacle and later to the Beit HaMikdash (Temple) in Jerusalem.After the Temples were destroyed, we...
Sponsored by Rachel and Simcha Gluck Commemorating the yahrzeit of Rafael Lev z”l, 27 AdarThis Shabbat, Parshat Tazria, we read about the birth of a baby boy or girl, the procedures of purification after birth and the commandment to give the baby boy...
In the Maftir for Parshat HaChodesh, we read about the first Pesach that was to be celebrated in Egypt and the subsequent holiday to remember the Exodus that would be celebrated annually. There is an explicit commandment not to eat Chametz, yet we see no Biblical...
This Shabbat in Israel we will read the double parsha of Tazria-Metzora while in Chutz La’aretz (outside of Israel) Parshat Shmini will be read. How did this happen? Why are we reading different Parshiot? Since Israel’s last day of Pesach was...
What is the most important holiday- Pesach…Shavuot…Sukkot…Rosh Chodesh? Believe it or not it is Rosh Chodesh! The Maftir which is read this Shabbat “Hachodesh” comes from Shmot 12:1-20 and states in sentence 2: “This...
After a woman gives birth and completes her ritual purification process, she is instructed (Vayikra 12:6) to bring two korbanot, a burnt offering (olah) and a sin offering (chatat).Why would a woman who just gave birth be required to bring a sin offering?Ramban...
In Parshat Tazria, Vayikra 12:3, we learn about the mitzvah of brit milah, circumcision: "And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised."Why is the Torah repeating the mitzvah of brit milah here when it has already been commanded to Avraham...