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The Torah explicates how the high priest undertakes the task of declaring someone a metzora (a person afflicted with a rare skin disease): “And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the ...

For the past eight years, I have led a study group for physicians from my congregation. Every few months, we get together for good food, some wine (OK, lots of wine) and to discuss issues like medical ...

Our guest this week is Rabbi Elie Weinstock, Associate rabbi and Director of Outreach and Education at Kehilat Jeshurun in New York City. A Yeshiva University graduate, Rabbi Weinstock received his ...

In our Parasha, we read of the windrous affliction of Tsaraat, which, as our Sages explain, usually came about due to a number of sins, most notably the sin of lashon ha’ra, which causea the afflicted ...

Today marks the day when I have finally finished teaching the book of Job which we started studying in November 2022. Job’s body was assaulted by a very difficult skin disease. So reading parshat ...

This week’s Parshah, Parshat Tazria, contains the direct commandment to perform one of the most integral Mitzvot for a Jew—the Mitzvah of Brit Milah [circumcision]. The Possuk states [Vayikra 12’ 3’], ...

The brit mila ceremony and simchat bat celebration can be very difficult ceremonies to attend for couples suffering from infertility. This Shabbat, Parshat Tazria, we read about the birth of a baby ...

Parashat Tazria-Metzora: Clean living The law of ritual circumcision and the laws of ritual purity which involve a woman immersing herself in a mikve are at one and the same time among the most ...

After explaining the laws of childbirth, the laws of the metzora are presented (Leviticus 13). While many translate metzora as leprosy, in truth there is no exact English equivalent. In general, it ...

I have Tazria! Great! I am the rabbi that gets to write about the diseases of the Bible. Even though, in a year like this one, we can connect even deeper with the idea of infectious diseases, ...