Shabbat Handouts

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Shabbat Tazria-Metzora Parshah Summary
The Parshahs of Tazria and Metzora continue the discussion of the laws of tumah v’taharah, ritual impurity and purity. A woman giving birth should undergo a process of purification, which includes immersing in a mikvah and bringing offerings to the Holy Temple. All male infants are to be circumcised on the eighth day of life. Tzaraat (often mistranslated as “leprosy”) is a supra­natural plague, which can afflict people as well as garments or homes. If white or pink patches appear on a person’s skin (dark pink or dark green in garments or homes), a Kohen is summoned. Judging by various signs, such as an increase in size of the afflicted area after a seven­day quarantine, the Kohen pronounces it tamei (impure) or tahor (pure). Apparently, such illness must have been considered as contagious as a person afflicted with tzaraat must dwell alone outside of the camp (or city) until he is declared cured. The afflicted area in a garment or home must be removed; if the tzaraat recurs, the entire garment or home must be destroyed. When the metzora (“leper”) heals, he or she is purified by the Kohen and in gratitude the Israelite would bring sacrifices to G-d in the Sanctuary.  The Sidrah tries to teach us that how we live, what we eat, what we think, and how we act in our everyday lives are all part of a Jew’s religious life where physical and spiritual are intertwined.

Shabbat Shemini Parshah Summary
In the Sidrah, on the eighth day, following the seven days of their inauguration, Aaron and his sons begin to officiate as Kohanim (priests); a fire issues forth from G-d to consume the offerings on the altar and the divine presence comes to dwell in the Sanctuary.

Aaron’s two elder sons, Nadav and Avihu, offer a “strange fire before G-d, which He commanded them not” and die before G-d. Aaron is silent in the face of his tragedy. Moses and Aaron subsequently disagree as to a point of law regarding the offerings, but Moses concedes to Aaron that Aaron is in the right. G-d commands the kosher laws, identifying the animal species permissible and forbidden for consumption. Land animals may be eaten only if they have split hooves and also chew their cud; fish must have fins and scales; a list of non-kosher birds is given, and a list of kosher insects (four types of locusts).

Also in Shemini are some of the laws of ritual purity, including the purifying power of the mikvah (a pool
of water meeting specified qualifications) and the well spring. Thus the people of Israel are enjoined to “differentiate between the impure and the pure.”

Shabbat - Tzav Parshah Summary
   In the Sidrah, God instructs Moses to command Aaron and his sons regarding their duties and rights as Kohanim (priests) who offer the korbanot (animal and meal offerings) in the Mishkan (Sanctuary).  Beginning with the Exodus in 1220 B.C.E. and for some thirteen centuries later, the offering of sacrifices
was considered the way to worship God.
   The fire on the altar must be kept burning at all times. In it are burned the wholly consumed ascending offering; veins from the peace, sin and guilt offerings; and the “handful” separated from the meal offering.
   The Kohanim eat the meat of the sin and guilt offerings and the remainder of the meal offering. The peace offering is eaten by the one who brought it, except for specified portions given to the Kohen. The holy meat of the offerings must be eaten by ritually pure persons in their designated holy place and within their specified time.
   Aaron and his sons remain within the Sanctuary compound for seven days during which Moses initiates them into the priesthood

Shabbat - Vayikra Parshah Summary
In the Sidrah, God calls to Moses from the Tent of Meeting and communicates to him the laws of the korbanot, the animal and meal offerings brought in the Sanctuary. These include:
• The “ascending offering” (olah) that is wholly raised to God by the fire atop the altar;
• Five varieties of “meal offering”(minchah) prepared with fine flour, olive oil and frankincense; • The “peace offering” (shelamim), whose meat was eaten by the one bringing the offering, after parts are burned on the altar and parts are given to the Kohanim (priests);
• The different types of “sin offering” (chatat) brought to atone for transgressions committed erroneously by the high priest, the entire community, the king or the ordinary Jew;
• The “guilt offering” (asham) brought by one who has misappropriated property of the Sanctuary, who is in doubt as to whether he transgressed a divine prohibition, or who has committed a “betrayal against God” by swearing falsely to defraud a fellow man.