Tazria-Metzora (2026)

Shabbat Tazria-Metzora

Dvar Torah – The Power of WordsThis week, we read a double Torah portion, Tazria-Metzora, which dives into a concept that often puzzles the modern reader: Tzara’at.While often mistranslated as "leprosy," the Torah makes it clear that this wasn't a physiological disease. You couldn't catch it from a virus or a bacterium. Instead, it was a physical wake-up call for a spiritual lapse—specifically, Lashon Hara (harmful speech or slander).

In ancient times, if someone consistently used their words to tear others down or cause social discord, a physical mark would appear on their skin, their clothes, or even the walls of their home. The "cure" wasn't a cream or a pill; it was a period of isolation. The idea was simple: If you use your speech to isolate others, you must spend some time in isolation to reflect on the power of your words.

The laws of Tzara’at remind us that our words and expressions create the world we live in. In Pirkei Avot, we are taught that "whitening" someone’s face by publicly embarrassing them is akin to spilling blood. Conversely, the Talmud (Ketubot 111b) notes that "whitening" someone’s teeth and making them smile is even greater than a physical gift you can give them. Our words can wound as deeply as a weapon or build higher than anything tangible we can hold.

Shabbat Candle Lighting/Havdalah timesYerushalayim 18:29/19:48Metula 18:40/19:49Tel-Aviv 18:49/19:50Dubai 18:24/19:18Paris 20:27/21:38NYC 19:19/20:21More times here

Shabbat Shalom!

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