Weekly Torah Study is Saturday morning at 9. We meet in the Room 202 of Temple Brith Kodesh (enter by Door A). We decide year by year how we’ll approach the weekly portion. Last year we used the weekly d’var Torah from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks as a jumping off point. This year, we’re going to consider each parsha from a Mussar perspective. Each week an email is sent out (usually on Thursday) to anyone who may be interested. You’re welcome on Saturday, whether or not you got the email or had time to read it. Discussions are generally lively.
Parshat Tazria-Metzora
In the rabbinic tradition, the text of Tazria-Metzora presents a cascade of punishments for sins related to our treatment of others: haughtiness, selfish manipulation, slander, and lashon hara, among others. The nature of the punishments is that they are graduated, which gives the sufferer several opportunities to repent. Also, the final form of punishment (a disgusting skin disease) leads to separation from others, which provides the sinner space to reset their social relationships. The rituals associated with the metzora allow a repentant sinner to reintegrate with society cleaned-up, so to speak. The implication, which the tradition highlights, is that surface problems can be blessings because they can lead to the sufferer to correct deeper causes.
Leviticus (13: 46)
He shall be unclean as long as the disease is on him. Being unclean, he shall dwell apart; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.
Rashi
Because he, by slanderous statements, parted man and wife, or a man from his friend, he must be parted from everybody.
Rabbi Henach Leibowitz
A person with tzara’as must live me’chutz la’machaneh — outside the camp … a person with tzara’as is considered a dead person. He is thought of as such due to the fact that his isolation causes him to lose his ability to give.
The punishment reflects the form of the sin. Why is haughtiness and lashon hara associated with isolation? How is the punishment reflecting the sin? Why is the ability to give so essential to being alive?
Torah Study Archive
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Parshat Tazria-Metzora April 19, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shemini April 12, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Tzav March 22, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudi March 6, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayikra March 6, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Ki Tisa March 1, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Tetzaveh February 22, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Terumah February 15, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Mishpatim February 8, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Yitro February 1, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Beshalach January 24, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Bo January 19, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vaeira January 11, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shemot–How did Moses become Moses? January 5, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayechi 5778 December 28, 2017 by Office Filed as: Latest News, Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayigash December 22, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Mikeitz December 14, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayeshev December 8, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayishlach November 29, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayeitzei November 24, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Toldot November 16, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Chayei Sarah November 9, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayera 5778 November 2, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Lech Lecha October 26, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Sukkot October 5, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Ki Teitzei August 31, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shoftim August 24, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Re’eh August 17, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Eikev August 10, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vaetchanan August 3, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Devarim July 27, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Matot-Masei July 20, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Pinchas July 13, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Balak July 7, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Chukat June 29, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Korach June 23, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shelach June 15, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Beha’alotecha June 9, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Naso June 1, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Behar-Bechukotai May 18, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Emor May 11, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshotim Acharei Mot-Kedoshim May 4, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Tazria-Metzora April 28, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shemini April 21, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shemini April 13, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Tzav April 6, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayikra March 31, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshot Vayakhel-Pekudi March 26, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Tetzaveh March 10, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Beshelach February 9, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Bo February 2, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vaera January 26, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shemot January 20, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayechi January 12, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayigash January 5, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Mikeitz December 29, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayeishev December 22, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayishlach December 15, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parsha Vayeitzei December 8, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Chayei Sarah November 25, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayera November 18, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Lech Lecha November 16, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Noach November 3, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Bereshit October 27, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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The Spirituality of Song — Ha’azinu October 13, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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To Renew Our Days — Vayelech October 5, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Not In Heaven — Nitzavim September 29, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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The Limits of Love – Ki Teitse September 14, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Keeping Our Word (Matot 5776) — August 6, 2016 August 17, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Devarim August 17, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parsha Korach July 7, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shelach Lecha June 30, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Beh’alotecha June 30, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |