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Parshat Tazria/Metzorah
For the week ending 5 Iyar 5761 / April 27 & 28, 2001
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Explanation of these symbols
Answers | Contents
TAZRIA
- "Any holy thing she shall not touch." In this context, what does "touch" mean?
- After a woman gives birth she is required to offer two types of korbanot. What are they?
- Who declares whether an affliction of tzara'at is impure or pure?
- How many hairs in a suspected area must turn white before the kohen can declare a person tamei?
- What disqualifies a kohen from being able to give a ruling in a case of tzara'at?
- In areas of the body where collections of hair grow (e.g., the head or beard), what color hair indicates tumah?
- What is the name for tzara'at of the scalp or beard area?
- What signs of mourning must a metzora display?
- Why must a metzora call out, "Tamei! Tamei!"?
- Why is a metzora commanded to dwell in isolation?
METZORAH
- When may a metzora not be pronounced tahor?
- In the midbar, where did a metzora dwell while he was tamei?
- Why does a metzora require birds in the purification process?
- In the purification process of a metzora, what does the cedar wood symbolize?
- When the metzora was presented "before Hashem" (14:11) in the Beit Hamikdash, where did he stand?
- Toward what direction does the kohen sprinkle the oil from the metzora's korban?
- How was having tzara'at in one's house sometimes advantageous?
- When a person enters a house that has tzara'at, when do his clothes become tamei?
- A zav sat or slept on the following:
- a bed
- a plank
- a chair
- a rock
If a tahor person touches these things, what is his status?
- What does the Torah mean when it refers to a zav who "has not washed his hands"?
"He shall shave, but the netek-affliction he shall not shave..." (13:33)
When a netek-affliction, a particular form of tzara'at on a person's hair, requires that he shave, the actual netek itself was left unshaved. This hints to the idea that a person should accept Divine punishment and not try to deny it or hide it.
Sefer Hachinuch
- TAZRIA
- Ramban
- 12:2
- Procreation
- 12:7
- The "Sin" of Childbirth
- 13:47
- The Greatness of Tzara'at
- Sefer Hachinuch
- 167
- Respect for Kedusha
- 168
- A Gift of Thanks
- Sforno
- 12:8
- Self Involvement
- 13:47
- Garments
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- METZORA
- Ramban
- 14:2
- Compulsive Cleanliness
- 15:11
- The Zav
- Sefer Hachinuch
- 174
- Purification and Rebirth
- 175
- Cleansing Waters
- Sforno
- 14:12
- The Asham of the Metzora
- 14:36
- The Reason for Waiting
- 15:2
- The Zav
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Questions | Contents
All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated
TAZRIA
- "Any holy thing she shall not touch." In this context, what does "touch" mean?
12:4 - Eat.
- After a woman gives birth she is required to offer two types of korbanot. What are they?
12:6 - An olah and a chatat.
- Who declares whether an affliction of tzara'at is impure or pure?
13:2 - A kohen.
- How many hairs in a suspected area must turn white before the kohen can declare a person tamei?
13:3 - At least two.
- What disqualifies a kohen from being able to give a ruling in a case of tzara'at?
13:12 - Poor vision.
- In areas of the body where collections of hair grow (e.g., the head or beard), what color hair indicates tumah?
13:29 - Golden.
- What is the name for tzara'at of the scalp or beard area?
13:30 - Netek.
- What signs of mourning must a metzora display?
13:45 - He must tear his garments, let his hair grow and enshroud his face.
- Why must a metzora call out, "Tamei! Tamei!"?
13:45 - So people will know to keep away from him.
- Why is a metzora commanded to dwell in isolation?
13:46 - Since tzara'at is a punishment for lashon harah (evil speech) which divides people, he is isolated measure-for-measure.
METZORA
- When may a metzora not be pronounced tahor?
14:2 - At night.
- In the midbar, where did a metzora dwell while he was tamei?
14:3 - Outside the three camps.
- Why does a metzora require birds in the purification process?
14:4 - Tzara'at comes as punishment for lashon harah. The metzora offers birds, who chatter constantly, to atone for his sin of chattering.
- In the purification process of a metzora, what does the cedar wood symbolize?
14:4 - The cedar is a lofty tree, hinting that tzara'at is a punishment for haughtiness.
- When the metzora was presented "before Hashem" (14:11) in the Beit Hamikdash, where did he stand?
14:11 - At the gate of Nikanor.
- Toward what direction does the kohen sprinkle the oil from the metzora's korban?
14:16 - Westward, toward the Holy of Holies.
- How was having tzara'at in one's house sometimes advantageous?
14:34 - Fearing Jewish conquest, the Amorites hid their valuables in their walls. After the conquest, tzara'at would afflict a house and the Jewish owner would tear down the wall and find the treasure.
- When a person enters a house that has tzara'at, when do his clothes become tamei?
14:46 - When he remains in the house long enough to eat a small meal.
- A zav sat or slept on the following:
- a bed
- a plank
- a chair
- a rock.
If a tahor person touches these things, what is his status?
15:4,5 - Only a type of object that one usually lies or sits upon becomes a transmitter of tumah when a zav sits or lies upon it. A tahor person who subsequently touches the object becomes tamei and the garment he is wearing also becomes tamei. Therefore:
- Tamei
- Tahor
- Tamei
- tahor
.
- What does the Torah mean when it refers to a zav who "has not washed his hands"?
15:11 - One who has not immersed in a mikveh.
Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane &
Rabbi Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Michael Treblow
© 2001 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.
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