Chumash Classes: Tazria

Chp. 12 verses 1 - 3: Introduction to the portion, The laws of a woman who gives birth to a male child, her spiritual defilement remains for seven days just as if she was a menstruant. Continues with commandment of circumcision performed on the eighth day.

Chp. 12 verses 3 - 8: Continues with the deeper meanings in the ritual of circumcision. The laws of different degrees of spiritual defilement experienced by the mother who gives birth to either a male or a female child. The sacrifices that she would be obligated to bring depending on her financial status, that would allow her to obtain a state of complete purity. She would then be able to enter the temple precincts and eat from the sacrifices.

Chp. 13 verses 1 - 3: What is leprosy, who contracts it, and why do they contract it. What are the signs of leprosy. And who had the power to declare someone a leper.

Chp. 13 verses 4 - 23: Continues with the description of the process of the priest inspecting the person with signs that may or may not be called leprosy. If there is a question the person may be sequestered for a week or two before the priests declares him pure or impure. Interestingly enough if the person is covered with signs of leprosy from head to toe he is pure.