Torah Teasers
Parshas Tazria – Metzora

1. “And when the days of her purification are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for an Olah, and a young dove, or a turtle-dove, for a Chatos.” Why does a woman who gave birth have to bring a Korbon Chatos – a sin offering? What sin has she committed to require her to bring such a Korbon? Ans… Some Meforshim explain, “Since during her labor pains, she might have made an oath to never have another baby, she therefore brings a Korbon to atone for that oath and nullify it.” Kli Yakar offers a different explanation. He says, “The atonement is not for this woman, but rather for Chavah – the first woman. Since pain from pregnancy and labor is a punishment for Chavah’s sin, eating from the Aitz HaDaas, this woman brings a Korban now to atone Chava’s sin. After going through all the pain of her pregnancy and labor she wants to bring an end to this suffering and brings a Korbon for Chava’s Avayra.”
2. The Gemara (Sanhedrin 97) says that Moshiach will come when every government in the world turns to Apikursus. Rava says, “We see it from the pasuk (Tazria 13:13) ‘Kulo Hafach Lavan Tahor Hu;’ when a nega spreads through a person’s entire body he is tahor.” What is the connection? Ans… Rav Shamshon Rephael Hirsch says that white is a distinguished color, the color of purity, righteousness, and innocence. It is the color of a special breed. When every country turns to Apikursus and cloak themselves in righteousness, only then will Moshiach come and spread true purity on the world.
3. The halacha is that only a Kohen can declare a Nega to be Tamei. A Talmid Chochom who knows the halacha can give his opinion, but the tumah starts and ends with the declaration of the Kohen. Why? Ans… The Dubna Magid (Iturei Torah) explains that the reason we commit the terrible crime of speaking Lashon Hara is because we don’t understand the severity of it. After all what damage can our spoken word do? If we understood the gashmiyus and ruchniyus ramifications of our mere utterances we’d never dare speak lashon hara. Therefore, says the Dubno Magid, we teach the Mitzora this lesson with the Kohen. His Nega and all the halachos do nothing to him. It is only with a single word from the Kohen’s mouth that he is either spared the grave punishment of tzoraas and with a single word doomed to his bitter fate.
4. There are four words used in Tanach to classify man; Adam, Ish, Gever, and Enosh. Adam is the word used for the highest caliber of mankind. Interestingly, when talking about tzoraas, a terrible spiritual disease, the Torah refers to a person as Adam; “Adam Ki Yihiyeh B’Or Bisoroi.” (VaYikra 13:2) Shouldn’t a person with this awful disease be labeled with a lesser title? Ans… Rav Mordechai Yosef MiIzhbetza answers that one of the reasons for Tzoraas is talking Lashon Hara. The Torah is telling us that, unfortunately, this disease of Lashon Hara is very prevalent among the highest echelons of society. Their lofty status for some reason does not preclude them from gossiping about others. Even an Adam can get tzoraas.
5. When a Mitzora becomes Tahor he brings a Korban. A rich Mitzora brings three sheep. A poor man brings one sheep and two birds. The Gemara in Yuma 41b says that by all other korbanos which have provisions for the rich and the poor, if a rich man brings a poor man’s korban there is a machlokes if he is yotzei. By a Mitzora, everyone agrees that if a rich man brings birds instead of sheep, he is not yotzei. Why? Ans… The Meshech Chochma answers that one of the reasons tzora’as comes is because of stinginess. Therefore, if a rich man doesn’t want to spend money on sheep, and instead brings inexpensive birds, his experience as a Mitzora has obviously not taught him his lesson. How can we declare a person like that cured?
6. When the tzora’as is no longer deemed Tamei, the Mitzora brings among other things “Eitz Erez, Shni Tola’as, and Eizov.” The cedar tree represents haughtiness that caused his tzora’as in the first place, and the red thread and low grass represent his Tikun as he lowers himself from his high perch and is forgiven. Why does he need two items symbolizing modesty? Ans… The Maskil L’Dovid gives an explanation. He says, “A person can be prideful of his physical stature, such as his beauty, strength or wealth. He can also be full of pride over his spiritual stature, such as his wisdom. Therefore, the Torah tells the Mitzora that he must bring two humble items. The Eizov, which represents the lifeless grass growing from the wall, to remember to avoid haughtiness of his physical gifts, and the Shni Tola’as, to remind him that even in the spiritual realm, he should be humble like the lowest life form, the worm.”
7. What is pshat in the Pasuk (VaYikra 14:2). ‘Zos Tihiyeh Toras HaMetzora B’Yom Tohorosoi; This will be the fate of those who learn Torah together with a Mitzora in Kedusha and Tahara? Ans… This, says the Chasam Sofer, is pshat in the Pasuk. While other amoraim stayed far away from sick people so as not to catch their disease, Rebbi Yehoshua Ben Levi was not afraid. He would huddle together with people who carried the most dreaded diseases and learn Torah with them (Kesuvos 77b). He was confident that the zechus of Limud HaTorah would protect him. In the merit of this, he was taken to Gan Eden alive never to leave. This will be the fate of those who learn Torah together with a Mitzora in Kedusha and Tahara. V’Huva El HaKohen; He will be brought to the Kohen,’ meaning the Shechina, who will personally escort him to Gan Eden without any intervention from the Malach HaMaves.
Quote Of The Week **************************
“Armed Hamas goons murdered the suspects and dragged their bodies through Gaza streets to the cheers of passersby.” Human Rights Watch, on the Hamas terrorist organization for failing to investigate the gory public execution of seven Gaza Arabs accused and sentenced to death without a trial for helping Israel.

“”Plastic man” was making sure he would not come into contact with the woman sitting behind him, but that is doubtful since it is unlikely he carried a plastic covering “just in case.” El Al pilot referring to an Orthodox Jewish man, wrapped in a plastic bag in his airline seat, apparently did so because he was probably a Kohen who went to extreme lengths to make sure he would not be ritually impure if the plane flew over a Jewish cemetery.

“She counted a number of Jews among her closest advisers and confidants, and at one point nearly a quarter of her Cabinet were of Jewish origins.” Vivian Wineman, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, on former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s embrace of British Jews and insistent promotion of Jews in her Conservative Party that inspired an outpouring of tributes from Jewish and Israeli leaders following her death Monday at 87.

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