The Torah portions of “Tazria” and “Metzora” deal with the laws of skin afflictions (negaim) and the individual person afflicted by them, which, according to our tradition, come as a ...

That’s what some people say to excuse something they’ve said or done. The unstated assumption of this defense is that what’s natural is good. But this assumption is false. Many people gossip ...

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, This shall be the law of the person afflicted with tzara’ath, on the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the kohen. Rabbi Israel Salanter offers ...

Tazria deals with all the ways in which a person can become “impure,” with this particular passage focusing on leprosy caused by lashon hara – evil speech/gossip. When we speak ill of others ...

Similarly, this week’s Torah portion, Tazria, offers us insight into risks inherent in group decision-making, especially when participants are emotionally invested, opinions are strongly held, there ...

The Torah explicates how the high priest undertakes the task of declaring someone a metzora (a person afflicted with a rare skin disease): “And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin ...

The double Parasha of Tazria-Metzora provides a helpful frame. Whereas today we turn to medical professionals to address bodily concerns and questions, during the days of the Torah it was the ...

Tazria-Metzora “This shall be the ritual for the metzora at the time that he is to be cleansed. When it has been reported to the priest, the priest shall go outside the camp” Leviticus 14:2-3 ...