RR Torah Portion Tazria-Metzora Leviticus 12:1-15:33 By Jeffery Freeman
Shabbat shalom,
Torah Portion Tazria-Metzora Leviticus 12:1-15:33
By Jeffery Freeman
This week we have a double portion. Tazria translates to “conceive” (become pregnant) and Metzorah which translates to “leper.” These two portions are chiefly about various means that one may become unclean (tamei) and the sacrificial requirements for restoring cleanliness (taher).
Biblical cleanliness and uncleanliness have nothing to do with being dirty. Nor is sin a necessary component. Rather, it is a state of ritual preparedness to appear before the LORD in the Tabernacle or Temple.
The offerings commanded here are in chapter 12, a chattat and in chapters 14 and 15 an asham. While chattat is commonly translated to “sin offering,” it can also mean a purification or cleansing offering and asham, a guilt offering. Yet sin or guilt are not necessarily involved in causing these unclean conditions.
John 9:2-3 – “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?” Yeshua answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned. This happened so that the works of God might be brought to light in him.”
What I find particularly interesting is that part of the cleansing ritual for tzara’at is that blood is applied to the right ear, thumb and big toe of the one being cleansed. The same procedure is used for ordaining priests.
Leviticus 14:14 – Then the kohen is to take some of the blood of the trespass offering and dab it on the tip of the right ear of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.
Exodus 29:20 – Slaughter the ram, take its blood and dab it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, on the tip of the right ears of his sons, on the thumb of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet.
What is this thing with dipping blood onto the ear, thumb and toe? How about a little midrash, a teaching built upon a section of the Bible, but not necessarily biblical on its own. Could it be that the ear symbolizes hearing and learning the Word. The thumb doing what the Word says. And the toe going out into the world and spreading the Word?
The ear - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in righteousness, so that the person belonging to God may be capable, fully equipped for every good deed.
The thumb - James 1:22 – Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.
The toe - Mark 16:15 – Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to every creature.
Matthew 28:19-20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Ruach ha-Kodesh, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
A continuous loop of hearing, doing, and spreading the Word. Sound like a job for us? Shabbat Shalom.
Day 14 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat18-Apr-2026 1st of Iyar, 5786
Parashat Tazria-Metzora Shabbat Rosh Chodesh
Le 15:16-33, Nu 28:9-15Isa 66:1-24Rev 21:1-8
Torah Portion Tazria-Metzora Leviticus 12:1-15:33
By Jeffery Freeman
This week we have a double portion. Tazria translates to “conceive” (become pregnant) and Metzorah which translates to “leper.” These two portions are chiefly about various means that one may become unclean (tamei) and the sacrificial requirements for restoring cleanliness (taher).
Biblical cleanliness and uncleanliness have nothing to do with being dirty. Nor is sin a necessary component. Rather, it is a state of ritual preparedness to appear before the LORD in the Tabernacle or Temple.
The offerings commanded here are in chapter 12, a chattat and in chapters 14 and 15 an asham. While chattat is commonly translated to “sin offering,” it can also mean a purification or cleansing offering and asham, a guilt offering. Yet sin or guilt are not necessarily involved in causing these unclean conditions.
John 9:2-3 – “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?” Yeshua answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned. This happened so that the works of God might be brought to light in him.”
What I find particularly interesting is that part of the cleansing ritual for tzara’at is that blood is applied to the right ear, thumb and big toe of the one being cleansed. The same procedure is used for ordaining priests.
Leviticus 14:14 – Then the kohen is to take some of the blood of the trespass offering and dab it on the tip of the right ear of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.
Exodus 29:20 – Slaughter the ram, take its blood and dab it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, on the tip of the right ears of his sons, on the thumb of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet.
What is this thing with dipping blood onto the ear, thumb and toe? How about a little midrash, a teaching built upon a section of the Bible, but not necessarily biblical on its own. Could it be that the ear symbolizes hearing and learning the Word. The thumb doing what the Word says. And the toe going out into the world and spreading the Word?
The ear - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in righteousness, so that the person belonging to God may be capable, fully equipped for every good deed.
The thumb - James 1:22 – Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.
The toe - Mark 16:15 – Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to every creature.
Matthew 28:19-20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Ruach ha-Kodesh, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
A continuous loop of hearing, doing, and spreading the Word. Sound like a job for us? Shabbat Shalom.
Day 14 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat18-Apr-2026 1st of Iyar, 5786
Parashat Tazria-Metzora Shabbat Rosh Chodesh
Le 15:16-33, Nu 28:9-15Isa 66:1-24Rev 21:1-8
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