Tazria-Metzora (2025)

Shabbat Parshat Tazria-Metzora

Dvar Torah
Tazria deals primarily with the laws of Tzara’at, the spiritual leprosy-like skin affliction which according to the Talmud (Erchin 16a) is a punishment for Lashon Harah - needlessly spreading damaging information about others (in circumstances of need however this can actually be an obligation).
The recovery from Tzara’at is very arduous, to the point that the Talmud even equates the afflicted with the dead. For example, the Torah tells us that someone afflicted with Tzara’at must leave town and live in solitude until their illness passes. The Talmud (Erchin 16b) relates that this is measure for measure – just as Lashon Harah incites strife and causes division between family and friends – so to the speaker is condemned to solitude.
I think I'm not alone in being struck every year by the severity the Torah attributes to Lashon Harah - something that so many of us (myself included) are very very far from perfect. In our contemporary society ill speech both true and slanderous is almost taken for granted. However, as it often does, the Torah demands more of us and instills the importance of speech as a G-d given gift to be used carefully. Speech is a powerful tool both for good (e.g. Ketuvot 111b) and bad (e.g. Avot 13:3), and this weeks Parsha is an annual reminder for what we can all aspire to.

Bonus: An interesting secular perspective on the topic from NYT

Shabbat in/out times
Yerushalayim 18:44/20:00
Nahariya 18:52/20:03
London 30:07/21:27
NYC 19:35/20:40
More shabbat times here

Shabbat Shalom!

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