The Costly Effects of Cheap Talk

The Costly Effects of Cheap Talk

“…A person to whom shall occur in the skin of his flesh a se’eis, or sapachas, or baheres [patches of varying degrees of whiteness], and it be in the skin of his flesh the plague of tzora’as…” – Vayikra 13:2 אָדָם כִּי יִהְיֶה בְעוֹר בְּשָׂרוֹ שְׂאֵת אוֹ סַפַּחַת אוֹ בַהֶרֶת וְהָיָה בְעוֹר בְּשָׂרוֹ לְנֶגַע צָרָעַת – ויקרא יג, ב The […]

April 5, 2016 at 5:54 PM 0 comments

The Hardest Thing to Change is Your Self

The Hardest Thing to Change is Your Self

“…If a woman conceives and gives birth to a male, she shall be unclean for seven days…” – Vayikra 12:2 אִשָּׁה כִּי תַזְרִיעַ וְיָלְדָה זָכָר וְטָמְאָה שִׁבְעַת יָמִים – ויקרא יב, ב Parshas Tazria addresses several impurities associated with the human body and teaches us their means of purification. Rashi notes that this discussion follows the discussion in the previous […]

April 4, 2016 at 6:03 PM 0 comments

Seeds of Rebirth

Seeds of Rebirth

“…If a woman conceives and gives birth…” – Vayikra 12:2 אִשָּׁה כִּי תַזְרִיעַ וְיָלְדָה – ויקרא יב, ב Parshas Tazria derives its name from the brief discussion at the start of the parsha about the laws pertaining to childbirth. The bulk of the parsha, however, deals with laws concerning tzora’as, a supernatural condition affecting one’s skin, clothing, or the walls […]

April 3, 2016 at 3:00 AM 0 comments

Fins and Scales

Fins and Scales

“…From all that are in the water, you may eat any (living creature) that has fins and scales, whether it lives in the waters, seas, or rivers; you may eat only these…” – Vayikra 11:9 אֶת זֶה תֹּאכְלוּ מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בַּמָּיִם כֹּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת בַּמַּיִם בַּיַּמִּים וּבַנְּחָלִים אֹתָם תֹּאכֵלוּ – ויקרא יא, ט Two distinctive features identify a […]

March 30, 2016 at 1:32 PM 0 comments

Precious Possessions

Precious Possessions

“…The kohen shall order that they clear out the house before the kohen comes to look at the lesion, so that everything in the house should not become unclean…” – Vayikra 14:36 וְצִוָּה הַכֹּהֵן וּפִנּוּ אֶת הַבַּיִת בְּטֶרֶם יָבֹא הַכֹּהֵן לִרְאוֹת אֶת הַנֶּגַע וְלֹא יִטְמָא כָּל אֲשֶׁר בַּבָּיִת – ויקרא יד, לו A house plagued with tzora’as remains pure and […]

April 23, 2015 at 1:30 PM 0 comments

The Mitzvos of a Bad Jew

The Mitzvos of a Bad Jew

“…But on the day that live flesh is seen in it, he shall become unclean…” – Vayikra 13:14 וּבְיוֹם הֵרָאוֹת בּוֹ בָּשָׂר חַי יִטְמָא – ויקרא יג, יד A person afflicted with tzora’as must be examined by a kohen to determine if his lesions indeed bear the signs of impurity. The Talmud notes that only certain days are valid for […]

April 21, 2015 at 2:47 AM 0 comments

Out of Control…. – Parashat Vayikra

Out of Control…. – Parashat Vayikra

“…For the children of Israel are servants to Me; they are My servants, whom I took out of the land of Egypt…” – Vayikra 25:55 לי בני ישראל עבדים עבדי הם אשר הוצאתי אותם מארץ מצרים…- ויקרא כב,נה The Jewish people accepted G-d’s kingship at their own volition,, stating their readiness “to obey” – na’aseh, even before “hearing” and understanding […]

March 17, 2015 at 8:55 PM 0 comments