Weekly Sidra: Tazria-Metzora (Conceived-Leper)
Torah Portion: Vayikra / Leviticus 12:1-15:33
Haftorah: Melachim Bet / II Kings 7:3-7:20

Parashat Tazria – Metzora. The Parshahs of Tazria and Metzora continue the discussion of the laws of Tumah v’Taharah, ritual impurity and purity. A woman giving birth should undergo a process of purification, which includes immersing in a mikvah (a naturally gathered pool of water) and bringing offerings to the Holy Temple. All male infants are to be circumcised on the eighth day of life and much more….

The lunisolar Hebrew calendar contains up to 55 weeks, the exact number varying between 50 in common years and 54 or 55 in leap years. In leap years, parshah Tazria is read separately. In common years, parshah Tazria is combined with the next parshah, Metzora, to help achieve the number of weekly readings needed.

Tazria: The name of the twenty-seventh reading from the Torah is Tazria (תזריע), which means “she conceived.” The name is derived from the words of Leviticus 12:2, where HaShem says to Moses, “When a woman [conceives] and bears a male child …” Leviticus 12 discusses the laws of purification after childbirth. Leviticus 13 introduces the laws for diagnosing and quarantining lepers. Except in biblical calendar leap years, Tazria is read together with the subsequent Torah portion, Metzorah, on the same Sabbath.

Metzora: The twenty-eighth reading from the Torah is Metzora (מצורע), a word that means “leper.” The word appears in the second verse of the reading, which says, “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing” (Leviticus 14:2). Leviticus 14 spells out the complex purification rituals for the cleansing of a leper and a leprous home. Leviticus 15 briefly covers the laws regarding ritual unfitness stemming from bodily emissions. Except in biblical calendar leap years, Metzora is read together with the previous Torah portion, Tazria, on the same Sabbath.

Note: On the Shabbat the Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person "goes up" to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading. Here are this week`s aliyot:

When parshah Tazria is combined with parshah Metzora (as it is in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2015) and the parshah does not coincide with a special parshah, the haftarah is the haftarah for parshah Metzora, 2 Kings 7:3–20.

1st Aliya: The laws of purity and impurity as they pertain to child-birth are discussed. The basic laws of Tzaraat involving the diagnosis of the Kohen and possible quarantine, as well as the laws of Tzarrat as it relates to healthy skin and infection are stated.

2nd and 3rd Aliya:The laws of Tzaraat as it relates to burns, a bald patch, dull white spots, and the presence of a blemish on clothing is discussed.

4th Aliya: The purification process of the Metzora involving two Kosher birds, a piece of cedar, some crimson wool, a hyssop branch, fresh spring water, s clay bowl, a Kohen, the Mikveh, seven days, a haircut and a Korban with its Mincha offering is detailed.

5th Aliya: The Korban of a Metzorah who is poor is discussed.

6th and 7th Aliya:The laws dealing with blemishes that appear on a house are detailed. Following the laws of Tzara’at, the Torah turns is attention to various laws dealing with bodily discharges that render the individual Tameh. Male discharges, seminal discharges, menstruation, and other female discharges are detailed. Note that the basic laws of Family Purity are stated in verses 15:19-26.