This week, we’re reading a double perasha of Tazria. And Mesorah. These are two parshiyot that, at first glance, seem… not exactly glamorous. 

(Based on the Teachings of the Shvilei Pinchas, our teacher, Rabbi Pinchas Friedman) 

 They’re all about strange skin conditions — tzara’at — rituals of impurity, offerings involving birds and wood and wool and hyssop. 

  But hidden within all this is a breathtaking teaching — a teaching about speech, pride, humility, and ultimately: finding our center point. 

First, a little background: 

The Torah teaches    

אָדָ֗ם כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֤ה
בְעוֹר־בְּשָׂרוֹ֙ שְׂאֵ֤ת אֽוֹ־סַפַּ֙חַת֙ א֣וֹ בַהֶ֔רֶת וְהָיָ֥ה בְעוֹר־בְּשָׂר֖וֹ
לְנֶ֣גַע צָרָ֑עַת וְהוּבָא֙ אֶל־אַהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֔ן א֛וֹ אֶל־אַחַ֥ד מִבָּנָ֖יו הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ 

When a person has on the skin of the body a swelling, a rash, or a discoloration, and it develops into a scaly affection on the skin of the body, it shall be
reported to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests.