In this study

Toxic mold of the soulHair of the metzora and the nazirBow to Leper Messiah (Isaiah 52:13–53:123 Jewish views of the ‘Suffering Servant’ prophecyTongue got your tzaraʿat?

The Torah reading מְּצֹרָע Metzora (“leper,” Leviticus 14–15) is not primarily a discourse on public health, although the “in your face” about physical processes both normal and abnormal for men and can be distasteful. As we explored in the previous reading, תזריע Tazria, there is a level of understanding beneath the physical, with spiritual applications we can apply to our lives today. 

Here’s a list of the most important vocabulary words for Vayiqra generally and Tazria–Metzora specifically:

* offering, gift = קָרְבָּן qorban (H7133a) = what approaches (the Presence)* holy = קֹדֶשׁ qodesh (H6944) = set apart for…* clean = טָהוֹר tahor (H2889) = fit to approach the Presence* unclean = טָמֵא tamé/tamei (H2931) = unfit to approach the Presence, not necessarily because of unworthiness* leprosy = צָרַעַת tzaraʿat (H6883)* the leper = הַמְּצֹרָע ha-metzorah (H6879)

Vayiqra (book of Leviticus) was written primarily for the priesthood, so they could understand how to perform their duties. The Levites and priests were called upon not only to maintain the Tabernacle services, but they were also called up on to teach nation as a whole how to R