impurity

Found 14 Search results

1. Of Death and Defilement (Audio)

   Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | 19 minutes

   Tazria, a parsha dealing with various cases of impurity as they pertain to the Mikdash, may appear to begin an interruption - why doesn't “Acharei Mot” come right after Shemini, the preceding (and related) narrative? This shiur argues that Tazria is a natural continuation to Shemini, presenting the proper way for priests to engage with God, tum'a and tahara and encounters with death.

2. Atoning for Impurity?

   Rabbi Ezra Bick | 15 minutes

   Parshat Metzora focuses on tzaraat, an extremely severe type of tum'a, with a detailed purification process. By seeing what the Metzora (the affected person) undergoes to remove, we can understand what he is removing and what the significance is of “kappara” (atonement) in a case which is apparently beyond one's control.

3. Be Holy, For I Hashem Am Holy

   Rabbi Yair Kahn | 17 minutes

   This shiur presents various ideas about what it means to "be holy" according to Parshat Kedoshim, and why the command needed to involve gathering the whole congregation of Israelites together (by exploring other instances of gathering the whole congregation). The content of the parasha is analyzed to shed some light on the above questions.

4. The Keys to Revealing Kohelet's Hidden Meaning

   Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky

   תאריך פרסום: תש"ע | |

   What is the book of Kohelet about? What does it teach us? This shiur explores these questions in order to understand Kohelet on a deeper level. By examining various stories in Tanach, such as Adam and Chava, Cain and Hevel, and Para Aduma we can gain a clear understanding of the essence of Kohelet - the ability to choose between good and evil, which is critical to understanding life in general. 

5. What is the Difference between Purity and Atonement?

   Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Brandes

6. Haftarat Para and Parshat Ki Tisa

   Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein | 23 minutes

   Parashat Para deals with the issue of tum’at met. The Haftara goes an additional step to compare sin to tuma (impurity) and uses the metaphor of tuma and tahara to relate to the sins and purification process  of Bnei Yisrael. Interestingly, the beginning of the haftara relates not to tumat met, but to nidda.  We compare the two types of impurity found in Vayikra and Bemidbar. We end with a message of hope that relates to the regular Parasha (Ki Tisa)-about the rehabilitation of the relationship between God and Israel after the Sin of the Golden Calf.

7. Parashat Para, Zachor, and Ki Tisa - Non-Intuitive Laws

   Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 21 minutes

   The two sections of Parashat Para end off in with a conclusion that they are "hukkat olam" - an eternal laws. Hazal say that the commandment of the Para Aduma (Red Heifer) was given to Bnei Yisrael before Mount Sinai - and before the Mishkan. If this is so, what could the significance and relevance of Parashat Para be to that generation? Parashat Para deals describes a purification process from impurity (which bars one from entering the Mikdash), ostensibly so that one could come to the Mikdash afterward. If there was no mikdash yet, why would they receive these laws? Hazal are saying that there is still something to learn from non-practical laws, like laws that are perhaps never to be performed - like Ben Sorer U-Moreh (the Wayward Son). Perhaps the law about Amalek can be viewed in a similar light today.  We also  relate to the Sin of the Golden Calf, the limits of teshuva and the challenges in facing evil.

    

8. Tazria-Metzora: Joy in Children

   Rabbi Jay Kelman

9. Laws of Animals: The impure and the pure that can and cannot be eaten

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   What is the significance of the order in which the impure animals are presented in Parshat Shemini? Through a close examination of the structure and content of the text, we can answer this question by understanding the various natures of impurity in animals.  

10. Impurity in Life and in Death

    Rabbi Dr. Yoel Bin Nun

    What is the common denominator linking all the various types of impurity listed in parshiot Tazria- Metzora? Through a close examination of the text we can understand that impurity is caused by the presence of or contact with different manifestations of death. 

11. Structure of Tazria- Metzora

    HaTanakh.com Staff

12. Metzora: "Healthy" Skin

    Rabbi David Silverberg

13. The Holy Constitution

    Rabbi Ezra Bick

    Through a close examination of the text of Parshiot Achrei-Mot and Kedoshim, we can notice that the structure of the social constitution outlined in the parshiot is twofold, divided between the two parshiot.  Acharei Mot contains the negative prohibitions of arayot (sexual transgressions), and Kedoshim contains the positive social practices which are meant to characterize Jewish society. 

14. Parshat Metzora Part 6: Chiastic Conclusion

    Shani Taragin | 10 minutes

    This podcast discusses the final three verses of Parshat Metzora which serve as a transition into Parshat Achrei Mot.

    Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com