Tazria: Resources For Parshat Tazria

Leviticus chs. 13 – 14

Making the right diagnosis

In the parashot of Tazria-Metzora we learn about the disease of tzara’at (Biblical leprosy) and how the individual suffering from it is purified. Although nowadays we have no way to actively observe the laws of tzara’at, nonetheless, the Ba’al Shem Tov taught us that every word of Torah has a practical application for every individual, at every location and at all times.

To Touch and be Touched

The two portions of the Torah, Tazria-Metzora deal with the laws concerning צרעת, tzara’at, a skin disease that required the afflicted person to separate from the community until he was completely healed. The Hebrew word for “disease” in this context is נגע, however, this root also has an apparently different meaning, “to touch” (לנגוע). Although these two meanings seem to be completely different, since Hebrew is the Holy Tongue, the fact that they share exactly the same root cannot be mere coincidence. Let’s see what the connection between these two words is.