Tazria-Metzora
She will conceive/Leper — תַזְרִיעַ־מְּצֹרָע
Torah Portion: Leviticus 12:1 - 15:33
Haftarah: Isaiah 66:1-24
Shabbat: Leviticus 15:16-33
15:16 “‘If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening. 17 Every garment and every skin which the semen is on shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening. 18 If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening.
19 “‘If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days. Whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening.
20 “‘Everything that she lies on in her impurity shall be unclean. Everything also that she sits on shall be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 22 Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 23 If it is on the bed, or on anything she sits on, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the evening.
24 “‘If any man lies with her, and her monthly flow is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed he lies on shall be unclean.
25 “‘If a woman has a discharge of her blood many days not in the time of her period, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her period, all the days of the discharge of her uncleanness shall be as in the days of her period. She is unclean. 26 Every bed she lies on all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her period. Everything she sits on shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her period. 27 Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
28 “‘But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she shall count to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. 29 On the eighth day, she shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting. 30 The priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before Hashem for the uncleanness of her discharge.
31 “‘Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, so they will not die in their uncleanness when they defile My tabernacle that is among them.’”
32 This is the law of him who has a discharge, and of him who has an emission of semen, so that he is unclean by it; 33 and of her who has her period, and of a man or woman who has a discharge, and of him who lies with her who is unclean.
Today’s Meditation:
It’s all about not defiling the Tabernacle (verse 31) and separating from uncleanliness. Isn’t that what holiness is all about? We may not have a Tabernacle (Temple) yet, but we will someday. And all these laws will make sense to us. When we see the Holy One sitting on the Throne and His Shekinah glory emanating from the Temple, we will see every knee bow before the King, and we will want to be holy. I believe that every sin and every piece of dirt we carry will be exposed, and it will make us sad about what we have done. We will repent with all our hearts, immerse in a mikvah, and prepare to present ourselves to Hashem. Perhaps we should practice today and get ready for everything. It is time to begin separating ourselves from every unclean thing/issue in our lives.
Today’s Challenge:
I want to challenge you today to start making a change. Me too. As I write this, it makes me think of one continual sin in my life. No matter how I pray or try hard, it is challenging to overcome this sin. I really hope and pray that Hashem sees my heart and that I am trying. That is what you must do. Keep trying. When I quit smoking several years ago, it took me about 3 years to entirely stop. And it seemed like when I got the most desperate and ready to give up, that is when Hashem took away my desire for nicotine. He knows our hearts, and I believe He wants to help us to separate ourselves from uncleanliness. We all must persevere in cleaning up our lives. Ask Him to help. Ask others to help you or to make you accountable.
This Week’s Haftarah: Isaiah 66:1-24
66:1 Hashem says, “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool.
What kind of house will you build to me?
Where will I rest? 2 For My hand has made all these things,
and so all these things came to be,” says Hashem:
“but I will look to this man,
even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
and who trembles at My word. 3 He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man;
he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog’s neck;
he who offers an offering, as he who offers pig’s blood;
he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol.
Yes, they have chosen their own ways,
and their soul delights in their abominations: 4 I also will choose their delusions,
and will bring their fears on them;
because when I called, no one answered;
when I spoke, they didn’t listen;
but they did that which was evil in My eyes,
and chose that in which I didn’t delight. 5 "Hear Hashem’s word, you who tremble at His word:
“Your brothers who hate you,
who cast you out for My name’s sake, have said,
‘Let Hashem be glorified,
that we may see your joy;’
but it is those who shall be disappointed. 6 A voice of tumult from the city,
a voice from the temple,
a voice of Hashem that repays his enemies what they deserve. 7 “Before she travailed, she gave birth.
Before her pain came, she delivered a son. 8 Who has heard of such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Shall a land be born in one day?
Shall a nation be born at once?
For as soon as Zion travailed,
she gave birth to her children. 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to be delivered?” says Hashem.
“Shall I who cause to give birth shut the womb?” says your Elohim.
10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her. Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her; 11 that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts;
that you may drink deeply,
and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.” 12 For Hashem says, “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
and you will nurse.
You will be carried on her side
and will be dandled on her knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforts,
so I will comfort you.
You will be comforted in Jerusalem. 14 "You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice,
and your bones will flourish like the tender grass.
Hashem’s hand will be known among his servants, and he will have indignation against his enemies. 15 For, behold, Hashem will come with fire, and his chariots will be like the whirlwind;
to render his anger with fierceness,
and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For Hashem will execute judgment by fire and by his sword on all flesh;
and those slain by Hashem will be many.
17 “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens, behind one in the middle, eating pig’s meat, abominable things, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together,” says Hashem.
18 “For I know their works and their thoughts. The time comes that I will gather all nations and languages, and they will come, and will see My glory.
19 “I will set a sign among them, and I will send those who escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to far-away islands, who have not heard My fame, nor have seen My glory; and they shall declare My glory among the nations. 20 They shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to Hashem, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem, says Hashem, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into Hashem’s house. 21 Of them I will also select priests and Levites,” says Hashem.
22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me,” says Hashem, “so your offspring and your name shall remain. 23 It shall happen that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh will come to worship before Me,” says Hashem. 24 “They will go out, and look at the dead bodies of the men who have transgressed against Me; for their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”
Today’s Haftarah Meditation:
Here in Isaiah, we read about Hashem's desire to have a dwelling place on earth. Verse 1 says, “What kind of house will you build to Me?” I believe throughout Scripture we read that Hashem loves us and wants to be with us. But maybe He is waiting for us to welcome Him. Think of it. There has not been a holy Temple, a dwelling place, for Hashem in Jerusalem for over 2,000 years. The enemy has occupied this sacred mountain for all those years. Have we fought to get it back? Have we prayed to get it back? Are we supporting groups in Israel to rebuild the Temple? We should be giving money and offering prayers for the Temple's rebuilding. What could be more important? If you are not doing this, please consider doing so.
Today’s Haftarah Challenge:
There is an organization called the Temple Institute in Jerusalem. They have been preparing all the instruments and necessary artifacts for the Temple and the priests. I have visited their Institute many times, and it is incredible. But they need help and prayer to fulfill their mission. Please go to their website and consider supporting them today.
