Metzora

Metzora begins with the laws concerning the purification of the leper. The Rebbe begins with the question, why should we call this Sidra Metzora, “the leper,” a name with unpleasant connotations? Especially when an earlier generation of Rabbis called it, ...

How the purification of spiritual impurities reveals hidden treasure.

The term metzora refers to a person afflicted with tzaraas, a skin condition which resembles leprosy. The question arises: Why does such a negative subject feature in the name of a Torah reading? Chassidus explains that tzoraas stems from intense spiritua...

Adapted from Likkutei Sichos, Vol. VII, p. 100ff; Vol. XXII, p. 77ff; Parshas Tazria, 5751; Sefer HaSichos 5751, p. 491ff Consummate Perfection and Superficial Flaws Our Sages ask:Sanhedrin 98b. “What is Mashiach’s name?” and reply “The leper of the House...

Causes of Impurity This week's Torah reading speaks about the ritual impurity imparted by a woman in the niddah state. Our Sages explainEruvin 100b. that this impurity came as a result of G-d's curse after the Sin of the Tree of Knowledge. This implies th...

Introduction Each one of us wants more blessings in life. It’s natural. No matter how abundant the Divine munificence we have been granted, we are not satisfied. At the conclusion of the sichah that follows the Rebbe gives advice how to make that possible...

Introduction In the sichah to follow, the Rebbe discusses the appearance of tzaraas blemishes on the walls of homes. He quotes the Zohar Zohar, Vol. III, p. 50a. and other sources which explain that there are two reasons why these blemishes appeared: a) T...

Continuing the content of the preceding section, the fifth section of the Book of Leviticus opens with the rituals that someone who was afflicted with tzara’at (Metzora, in Hebrew) must undergo in order to be allowed into the Tabernacle again. It then des...

The Torah portion Metzora begins by stating: “This shall be the law of the metzora : he shall be brought to the kohen, the priest.”Vayikra 14:2. The verse then goes on to say,Ibid. verse 3. “The kohen shall go out of the camp” and inspect the metzora. Sin...

See how a nuance in a simple one-line Rashi can be examined, unpacked, and understood in an entirely new light.