Parashat 28 Portion 92 ‘’M'tzora’’ Vayikra 14:1-32 2Kings 3-11 +8:4-5

Blessed are You, Yahveh our Elohim, King of the universe, who has made us set apart through His commandments and commanded us to actively study Torah. Please Yahveh, our Elohim, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your desire. Blessed are You, Yahveh, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Blessed are You, Yahveh our Elohim, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, Yahveh, Giver of the Torah.

Introduction to Torah portion.

‘’This Torah portion has often escaped the understanding of even the most seasoned Jewish commentators and scholars throughout history.’’ The instruction given to us in this portion is often understood as containing some mystical hidden meaning regarding our ritual cleansing before YHVH in order that one may partake of the Temple service in order to come into the presence of YHVH.’’- 2Co 3:14  But their minds were hardened, for to this day, when the old covenant is being read, that same veil remains, not lifted, because in Messiah it is taken away. 2Co 3:15  But to this day, when Mosheh is being read, a veil lies on their heart.  Mat 23:39

One thing we can know for certain that before Messiah returns the instructions of this Torah portion will be clearly understood and once the altar has been rebuilt and a priesthood dedicated, strictly observed.

תורת המצרע

If Messiah took upon himself our infirmities to become our ‘’metzorah’’ then according to the scriptures (Rom 8:29) we too, who are being conformed into his image are called upon to take upon ourselves the infirmities of others, so that Messiah’s image can been seen by others in us.

Messiah takes upon himself the ‘’filth’’ of humanity in order not only to expose the ‘’filth’’ but to provide an opportunity for cleansing and healing for all within the camp of the redeemed community.

2Co 4:11  For we, the living, are always delivered to death for the sake of יהושע, that the life of יהושע might also be manifested in our mortal flesh, 2Co 4:12  so that death indeed is working in us, but the life in you. (Is Messiah the manifestation of the ‘’metzorah’’ in the flesh?)

Lev 14:1  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,

Lev 14:2  “This shall be the Torah(Mat 5:17-19) of the leper (המצרע)for the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest,

ב  זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְּצֹרָע, בְּיוֹם טָהֳרָתוֹ:  וְהוּבָא, אֶל-הַכֹּהֵן.

2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: he shall be brought unto the priest.

Note the future tense of the Hebrew verb – “ti heyeh.” Does this also imply some future application?

As long as we are dwelling on this present earth, we will be exposed to different forms of defilement (tamei).

We can defile ourselves. We can be defiled by others. We can also be defiled by demonic forces by yielding to temptation, yielding to unrighteous counsel and from demonic oppressions and strongholds.

The great yearning of our souls should be the return of the Temple service and the priesthood in order for us to fully obey all YHVH’s instructions regarding our preparation to be presented by the Messiah into the Father’s presence without spot or wrinkle and with exceeding joy. It is YHVH who has taken the initiative to accomplish this. No religion can show us the way back into His Presence – only the Torah gives us very clear instruction on how this is to be expedited and accomplished.

As we see in the following verse YHVH takes the initiative to solve our dilemma by sending His Son to us while still outside the ‘’camp’’ of the set apart to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness. -

Lev 14:3  and the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall look and see, if the leprosy is healed in the leper,

Lev 14:4  then the priest shall command, and he shall take for him who is to be cleansed two live and clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. See Ex 12:22; John 19:29-30.

The time is fast approaching when an end time remnant will have to separate themselves from anything and anyone who brings defilement into the camp of the righteous.

2Co 6:17  Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says יהוה, and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you. Eph 4:11 and Lev 10:10.

Isa 8:20  To the Torah and to the witness! If they do not speak according to this Word, it is because they have no daybreak.[a] Footnote: aOr light. 

In this regard there is a great deception amongst many believers. They will often typically say ‘’all we need is Jesus’’. The scripture says in Joh 3:36  “He who believes in the Son possesses everlasting life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Elohim remains on him.” 

YHVH presented Yahshua to the world according to the Torah – ‘’the volume of the Book’’ - Heb 10:7  “Then I said, ‘See, I come – in the roll of the book it has been written concerning Me – to do Your desire, O Elohim.’ ” Psa_40:6-8. 

Psa 40:7  Then I said, “See, I have come; In the scroll of the Book it is prescribed for me. 

Psa 40:8  I have delighted to do Your pleasure, O my Elohim, And Your Torah is within my heart.”b Footnote: b Psa_37:31, Psa_119:11, Isa_51:7, Heb_10:7-9.

If you believe and receive and proclaim a ‘’Jesus’’ that has not come and walked fully according to the Torah you could be in danger of bringing a curse upon yourself and those you minister too.

Gal 1:6  I marvel that you are so readily turning away from Him who called you in the favour of Messiah, to a different ‘Good News,’[a] Footnote: a 2Co_11:4. 

Gal 1:7  which is not another, only there are some who are troubling you and wishing to pervert the Good News of Messiah. 

Gal 1:8  However, even if we, or a messenger out of heaven, bring a ‘Good News’ to you beside what we announced to you, let him be accursed. 

Gal 1:9  As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone brings a ‘Good News’ to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed. 

Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or Elohim? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I should not be a servant of Messiah. 

Remember ‘’half a truth can be a whole lie’’.

Lev 14:5  “And the priest shall command, and he shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water.

Lev 14:6  “Let him take the live bird and the cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop, and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water.

The Hebrew word for ‘’running water’’ is ‘’מים חיים’’ or ‘’waters of life’’ our ‘’born from above’’ encounter with Messiah was always meant to be ‘’fresh and living’’ and ongoing, too often we hear testimonies of how believers responded to YHVH’s call that happened long ago and have lost their ‘’freshness’’ and ability to bring revelation of His righteousness to a lost and dying world who desperately are in search for that which is authentic and eternal.

YHVH has called a set apart remnant to walk in a fresh and living and ongoing revelation of His redemption that will cause them to separate themselves from anything or anyone who will bring any form of defilement into the camp of His Called Set Apart ones.

This form of revelation is revived and grows when we study and embrace the weekly Torah portions that were meant to be taught and received under the anointing and guidance of the Set Apart Spirit.

According to Rashi the Hebrew words “yikach otah” – “he shall take it” says the bird is singled out to indicate that it is treated separately from the three other items used in this ritual. The cedar wood and the hyssop are tied together with the red thread. Then the bundle is held together in the right hand together with the bird and they dipped into the blood water mixture.

It appears that Messiah has also signalled out a small remnant of his disciples to accomplish his mission on earth. Mat 22:14  “For many are called, but few are chosen. Mt 4:4

How do we know when a revelation from YHVH is fresh and life changing”?

When spiritually hungry people embrace the message and religious people will reject the message and persecute the messenger.

This Messianic message of cleansing is also found in the mysterious “chok” of the Parah Adumah - the statute of the ashes of the Red Heifer. We find this in Numbers 19:2 - Parashat 39 – “Chukat” vs 10 of the same chapter says this is a statute forever – “le chukat olam.”- Num 19:6  And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and throw them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer. 

There are unconfirmed reports that a pure red heifer was found in Israel in October 2023.

Lev 14:7  “And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the live bird loose in the open field.

Lev 14:8  “And he who is to be cleansed shall wash his garments, and shall shave off all his hair and wash himself in water, and shall be clean. Then after that he comes into the camp, but shall stay outside his tent seven days.

Lev 14:9  “And on the seventh day it shall be that he shaves all the hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shaves off. And he shall wash his garments and wash his body in water, and shall be clean.

This was to make sure that absolutely no trace of ‘’tzra at’’ was present on the ‘’metzorah’s’’body.

Lev 14:10  “And on the eighth day he takes two male lambs, perfect ones, and one ewe lamb a year old, a perfect one, and three-tenths of an ĕphah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and one log of oil.

Lev 14:11  “And the priest who is cleansing shall present the man who is to be cleansed, with these offerings, before יהוה, at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

Lev 14:12  “And the priest shall take one male lamb and bring it as a guilt offering, and the log of oil, and wave them as a wave offering before יהוה.

Lev 14:13  “And he shall slaughter the lamb in the place where he slaughters the sin offering and the burnt offering, in a set-apart place. For the guilt offering, like the sin offering, belongs to the priest. It is most set-apart.

Lev 14:14  “And the priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and the priest shall put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.

Lev 14:15  “And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand.

Lev 14:16  “And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before יהוה.

Lev 14:17  “And of the rest of the oil in his hand, the priest puts some on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the blood of the guilt offering.

Lev 14:18  “And the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he puts on the head of him who is to be cleansed. And the priest shall make atonement for him before יהוה.

Lev 14:19  “And the priest shall make the sin offering, and make atonement for him who is to be cleansed from his uncleanness. Then afterwards he slaughters the burnt offering.

Lev 14:20  “And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. And the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

Lev 14:21  “But if he is poor and is unable to afford it, then he shall take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one-tenth of an ĕphah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and a log of oil,

Lev 14:22  and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, such as he is able to afford, and one shall be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.

Lev 14:23  “And he shall bring them to the priest on the eighth day for his cleansing, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, before יהוה.

Lev 14:24  “And the priest shall take the lamb of the guilt offering and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them as a wave offering before יהוה.

Lev 14:25  “And he shall slaughter the lamb of the guilt offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.

Lev 14:26  “Then the priest pours some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand.

Lev 14:27  “And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before יהוה.

Lev 14:28  “And the priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the place of the blood of the guilt offering.

Lev 14:29  “And the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he puts on the head of him who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before יהוה.

Lev 14:30  “And he shall prepare one of the turtledoves or young pigeons, such as he is able to afford,

Lev 14:31  that which he is able to afford, the one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, with the grain offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him who is to be cleansed before יהוה.

Lev 14:32  “This is the Torah for one who had an infection of leprosy, who is unable to afford for his cleansing.”

The third and final stage of purification was the offerings. In this matter the metzorah is an exception to the rule, since sin and guilt offerings are not usually accompanied by meal offerings. According to Rashi it may be that the metzorah is accorded this honour as YHVH’s Own testimony to the sincerity of his or her repentance, as evidenced by the removal of their bodily affliction.

The grain offering can be compared to ‘’breaking bread’’ with someone. Perhaps more than we realize our walking in obedience to all of His Torah determines whether or not we will ‘’break bread’’ with YHVH in the ‘’eighth day’’ or ‘’Shemeni atzaret’’

Psa 24:3  Who does go up into the mountain of יהוה? And who does stand in His set-apart place? 

Psa 24:4  He who has innocent hands and a clean heart, Who did not bring his life to naught, And did not swear deceivingly. 

Psa 24:5  He receives a blessing from יהוה, And righteousness from the Elohim of his deliverance. 

Psa 24:6  This is the generation of those who seek Him; Ya‛aqoḇ, who seek Your face. Selah. 

 

The Torah is the Supreme Court of the Universe.

Blessed are you YHVH, our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have given us your Torah of truth, and have planted everlasting life within our midst. Blessed are you, YHVH giver of the Torah – Amein.

Parashat 27 Portion 91 (90) ‘’Tazria’’ Lev 13:29-59 Luke 5:12-15

Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, who has made us set apart through His commandments and commanded us to actively study Torah. Please YHVH, our Elohim, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your desire. Blessed are You, YHVH, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, YHVH, Giver of the Torah.

בראשׁ – on/with/in the head

Lev 13:29  “And when a man, or a woman, has an infection on the head or in the beard,

Lev 13:30  then the priest shall look at the infection and see, if it appears deeper than the skin, and there is thin yellow hair in it, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is an eruption, a leprosy of the head or beard.

This week’s Torah portion continues with the portion on ‘’tzra at’’ and the scribes give us a useful hint by beginning the portion with the word ‘’berosh’’ ‘’on the head’’ or ‘’on or ‘’in the beard’’ (‘’zaken’’)alluding to the reality that many of our difficulties can be traced back to authority figures in our community -  Pro 11:14  Without guidance the people fall, But in a great counsellor there is safety -  Isa 1:23  Your rulers are stubborn, and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes, and runs after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow reach them. 

‘’Berosh’’ or the head also brings us into the realm of man’s mind will and emotions – it is common knowledge that many sicknesses are found in the realm of thoughts, emotions and feelings generally termed as ‘’psychosomatic’’ A Psychosomatic disorder is a psychological condition that leads to physical symptoms, often without any medical explanation. Studies have found that certain circumstances in life may make people more likely to have somatic symptoms:

·        Chaotic lifestyle.

·        Difficulty recognizing and expressing emotions.

·        Childhood neglect.

·        History of sexual abuse.

·        Other psychological conditions, such as depression or personality disorders.

·        Substance abuse (such as alcoholism or drug addiction).

·        Unemployment.

As one grows older a sense of feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges face mankind.

The Torah stresses the need for laying down a Torah foundation from birth. It was not unusual for a Hebrew infant to start learning Torah at the age of 3 years after being weaned – Gen 21:8 2Sam 1:22

As modern-day believers we must return to a Scriptural world view on how to raise our children –

I Have Calmed and Quieted My Soul and returned to rest in YHVH.

Psa 131:1  O יהוה, my heart has not been proud, Nor have my eyes been haughty. Neither have I concerned myself with great matters, Nor with those too wondrous for me. 

Psa 131:2  Have I not calmed, and kept my being silent, Like one weaned by its mother? My being is like one weaned. Psa 131:3  O Yisra’ěl, wait for יהוה, Now and forever. 

Most people living on earth have been ‘’robbed’’ of a ‘’proper’’ Scriptural foundation. Praise YHVH He restores and heals.

Jer 30:17  For I restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ declares יהוה, ‘for they have called you an outcast saying, “This is Tsiyon, no one is seeking her.” ’ 

2Co 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah, he is a renewed creature – the old matters have passed away, see, all matters have become renewed![d] Footnote: d Rom_6:2-22, Gal_2:20, Eph_4:22-24, Col_3:10, 1Jn_3:9-10. 

Lev 13:31  “But when the priest looks at the infection of the eruption and sees that it does not appear deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up the one with the infection of the eruption seven days. (including millennium?)

Lev 13:32  “And on the seventh day the priest shall look at the infection and see, if the eruption has not spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the eruption does not appear deeper than the skin,

Lev 13:33  then he shall shave himself, but the eruption he does not shave. And the priest shall shut up the one with the eruption another seven days.

Lev 13:34  “And on the seventh day the priest shall look at the eruption and see, if the eruption has not spread over the skin, and does not appear deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. And he shall wash his garments, and he shall be clean.

Lev 13:35  “But if the eruption spreads further over the skin after his cleansing,

Lev 13:36  then the priest shall look at him and see, if the eruption has spread over the skin, the priest need not seek for yellow hair, he is unclean.

Lev 13:37  “But if the eruption appears to have stayed, and there is black hair grown up in it, the eruption has healed. He is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Lev 13:38  “And when a man or a woman has bright spots on the skin of the body, white bright spots,

Lev 13:39  then the priest shall look and see, if the bright spots on the skin of the body are dull white, it is a white spot that grows on the skin, he is clean.

Lev 13:40  “And when a man loses the hair of his head, he is bald, he is clean. (‘’grass doesn’t grow on busy streets)

Lev 13:41  “And if the hair has fallen from his forehead, he is bald on the forehead, he is clean.

Lev 13:42  “And when there is on the bald head or bald forehead a reddish-white infection, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead.

Lev 13:43  “And the priest shall look at it and see, if the swelling of the infection is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy on the skin of the body,

Lev 13:44  he is a leprous man, he is unclean. The priest shall pronounce him unclean, without fail, his infection is on his head.

Lev 13:45  “As for the leper who has the infection, his garments are torn, and his head is uncovered, and he has to cover his upper lip and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ (tamei tamei)

When did man first become ‘’tamei or unclean’’? In the garden when man refused to listen and obey YHVH’s commandment not to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Why would YHVH issue such a commandment? It was YHVH’s intention from the beginning that man would live His life according to every word and desire that came from His Heart.

One of the first consequences for man’s disobedience was witnessed on his skin – ‘’they became aware of their nakedness’’

And so, when the skin infection has white hair, and you are declared ‘’tamei’’ or in need of healing, you are sent to a place of solitude for your restoration.

If the infection has black hairs, you remain in the community and receive ministry from the ‘’kehellah’’.

As long as we are unaware or ignorant of our condition, we will have great difficulty in hearing the Word of YHVH. That is why we need wise and righteous leaders to guide us. (Millennium?)

Isa 6:5  And I said, “Woe to me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean(tamei) lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips – for my eyes have seen the Sovereign, יהוה of hosts.” 

Isa 6:6  And one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the slaughter-place. 

Isa 6:7  And he touched my mouth with it, and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your crookedness is taken away, and your sin is covered.” 

The human condition recognized and explained:

Isa 6:8  And I heard the voice of יהוה, saying, “Whom do I send, and who would go for Us?” And I said, “Here am I! Send me.” 

Isa 6:9  And He said, “Go, and you shall say to this people, ‘Hearing, you hear, but do not understand; and seeing, you see, but do not know.’ 

Isa 6:10  “Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and shall turn and be healed.” (Today most human beings do not receive or understand YHVH’s prophetic warnings)

Isa 6:11  Then I said, “יהוה, until when?” And He answered, “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, and the houses are without a man, and the land is laid waste, a ruin, 

Isa 6:12  and יהוה has removed men far away, and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land. 

Isa 6:13  “But still, there is a tenth part in it, and it shall again be for a burning, like a terebinth tree and like an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. The set-apart seed is its stump!” 

 

Lev 13:46  “He is unclean – all the days he has the infection he is unclean. He is unclean, and he dwells alone, his dwelling place is outside the camp.

Lev 13:47  “And when a garment has an infection of leprosy in it, in a woollen garment or in a linen garment,

Lev 13:48  or in the warp or in the weft of linen or wool, or in leather or in any leather-work,

Lev 13:49  and the infection shall be greenish or reddish in the garment or in the leather, or in the warp or in the weft, or in any leather object, it is an infection of leprosy and shall be shown to the priest.

Lev 13:50  “And the priest shall look at the infection and shut up the infected one seven days.

Lev 13:51  “And he shall look at the infection on the seventh day. And when the infection has spread in the garment, or in the warp or in the weft, or in the leather or any leather-work, the infection is an active leprosy, it is unclean.

Lev 13:52  “And he shall burn that garment, or the warp or the weft, in wool or in linen, or any leather object in which the infection is, for it is an active leprosy. It is burned with fire.

Lev 13:53  “But if the priest looks and sees that the infection has not spread in the garment, or in the warp or in the weft, or in any leather object,

Lev 13:54  then the priest shall give command, and they shall wash that in which the infection is. And he shall shut it up another seven days.

Lev 13:55  “And the priest shall look at the infection after it has been washed and see, if the infection has not changed its appearance, though the infection has not spread, it is unclean, and burn it in the fire – it is eaten away, in its inside or outside.

Lev 13:56  “And if the priest shall look and see that the infection has faded after washing it, then he shall tear it out of the garment, or out of the warp, or out of the weft, or out of the leather.

Lev 13:57  “And if it is still seen in the garment, or in the warp or in the weft, or in any leather object, it is a spreading infection. Burn it with fire, that in which the infection is.

Lev 13:58  “And if you wash the garment, or the warp or the weft, or any leather object, if the infection has disappeared from it, then it shall be washed a second time, and shall be clean.

Lev 13:59  “This is the Torah of the infection of leprosy in a garment of wool or linen, or in the warp or in the weft, or in any leather object, to pronounce it clean or to pronounce it unclean.”

 

According to the sages these two Torah portions “tazria and metzorah” reveal great mysteries of the Messiah. These ancient sages believed that these two Torah portions had more to say about the Messiah than any other Torah portions in the Torah. The Sages believe that the one true evidence that the Messiah had come is that he would be the one to heal “leprosy” or “tzarat”.

Thus the Talmud (Sanhedrin 98b) describes Moshiach as a metzora, signifying that the messianic age is a time in which evils that have infested the world and mankind rise to the surface, so that they can be decisively overcome and cured.

Vs 48 introduces us to when certain objects are infected with this contagion – “the infection of leprosy in a garment of wool or linen, or in the warp or in the weft, or in any leather object…”

This are all about the covering of our skin. In the beginning of creation we believe Adam was covered in the light of YHVH’s esteem – Hebrew for light is “or” (aleph resh). When Adam sinned YHVH made an atoning cover for his skin – Hebrew “or” (ayin resh). Is there a connection?

The only disease discussed in the Torah that includes laws pertaining to its manifestation and cure is tzara'at. This renders tzara'at the archetypical, all-inclusive disease.

The sages go on to say that Tzaraat, is derived from a lack of humility, from the failure to yield one's own will to the will of one's Creator.

‘’Tzraat’’ is the only disease mentioned in the Torah and only the true Messiah as revealed by the Ruach of YHVH in all of scripture will be able to show and bring us into the path of healing and heal us from this archetypical disease – tzra at. In the last day’s signs before Messiah returns we may well see people being healed from tzra at.

Most of mankind are simply not going to listen. To those who are listening they will begin to hear and understand clearer than before the words of Yahshua’s first sermon:

Mat 5:3  “Blessed (contentment awaits) are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the reign of the heavens. 

Mat 5:4  “Blessed are those who mourn, because they shall be comforted. 

Mat 5:5  “Blessed are the meek, because they shall inherit the earth.[a] Psa_37:11. Footnote: a Psa_37:9, Psa_37:11, Psa_37:22, Psa_37:29, Psa_37:34. 

Mat 5:6  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,[b] because they shall be filled. Footnote: b Isa_55:1-2, Mat_4:4, Joh_6:48-51. 

Mat 5:7  “Blessed are the compassionate, because they shall obtain compassion. 

Mat 5:8  “Blessed are the clean in heart,[c] because they shall see Elohim. Footnote: c Psa_24:3-4. 

Mat 5:9  “Blessed are the peacemakers, because they shall be called sons of Elohim. 

Mat 5:10  “Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness’ sake,[d] because theirs is the reign of the heavens. Footnote: d 1Pe_3:14. 

Mat 5:11  “Blessed are you when they reproach and persecute you, and falsely say every wicked word against you, for My sake. 

Mat 5:12  “Rejoice and be glad, because your reward in the heavens is great. For in this way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

 

Blessed are you YHVH, our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have given us your Torah of truth, and have planted everlasting life within our midst. Blessed are you, YHVH giver of the Torah – Amein.

Parashat 27 ‘’Tazria’’Portion 89 - Tazria - Vayikra 12:1-13:28 Yesh 66:7-13 Jude 1:17-23

Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, who has made us set apart through His commandments and commanded us to actively study Torah. Please YHVH, our Elohim, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your desire. Blessed are You, YHVH, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, YHVH, Giver of the Torah.

Why do we pray this Torah blessing? - Rom 8:19  For the intense longing[a] of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of Elohim. Footnote: aLit. anxiously looking with outstretched head. Rom 8:22  For we know that all the creation groans together, and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

Isa 40:16  And Leḇanon (not just Lebanon) is not enough to burn, nor its beasts enough for an ascending offering. 

Isa 40:17  All nations before Him are as a non-entity, and they are reckoned by Him as less than a speck, and emptiness. (YHVH has mercy but will not forever tolerate Torahless people or nations)

Isa 40:18  And to whom would you liken Ěl? And what likeness would you compare to Him? 

Isa 40:19  The workman moulds a graven image, and the goldsmith overspreads it with gold, and the silversmith casts silver chains. 

Isa 40:20  He who is too poor for such an offering chooses a tree that does not rot. He seeks for himself a skilled craftsman to prepare a carved image that does not totter. 

Isa 40:21  Did you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 

Isa 40:22  It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in, 

Isa 40:23  who brings princes to naught, shall make the rulers of the earth as emptiness. 

Isa 40:24  Hardly have they been planted, hardly have they been sown, hardly has their stock taken root in the earth, when He shall blow on them and they wither, and a whirlwind take them away like stubble. 

Isa 40:25  “And to whom then do you liken Me, or to whom am I compared?” says the Set-apart One. 

Isa 40:26  Lift up your eyes on high and see. Who has created these? He is bringing out their host by number, He calls them all by name, by the greatness of ability and potent of power, a man is not lacking. (gathering together of all the Set Apart ones)

אשׁה כי תזריע- when a woman has conceived – this is the way life on earth was meant to be lived –

Lev 12:1  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,

Lev 12:2  “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘When a woman has conceived, and has given birth to a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days, as in the days of her monthly separation she is unclean - “Hifil” feminine verb – when a woman comes to term and delivers – literary, when a woman is caused to seed her seed.

Lev 12:3  ‘And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin is circumcised.

‘’The number seven represents completion of the natural, and the number eight represents the beginning of the eternal. This is why circumcision on the eighth day takes place even if it falls on the sabbath. The ‘’natural’’ must first be completed before the ‘’eternal’’ can begin.’’

Lev 12:4  ‘And she remains in the blood of her cleansing thirty-three days. She does not touch whatever is set-apart, and she does not come into the set-apart place until the days of her cleansing are completed.

Lev 12:5  ‘But if she gives birth to a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as in her monthly separation, and she remains in the blood of her cleansing for sixty-six days.

Lev 12:6  ‘And when the days of her cleansing are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she brings to the priest a lamb a year old, as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, to the door of the Tent of Meeting.

Lev 12:7  ‘And he shall bring it before יהוה, and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the Torah for her who has given birth to a male or a female.

Lev 12:8  ‘And if she is not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one as a burnt offering and the other as a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.’”

The sin offering was because we are born into a life of sin –  Psa 51:5  See, I was brought forth in crookedness, And in sin my mother conceived me.’’ (Religion has failed to deal with the most discussed topic of the scriptures)

This Torah portion instructs parents in the Torah community concerning their responsibility in laying down a righteous foundation when bringing their children into the world as well as preparing them for life within the Torah Israelite community – that brings life and blessing to the whole world.

Even our Messiah was inducted into Torah life according to the instruction found in this Torah portion.

‘’The event is described in Luke 2:22–40. Miriam and Yosef took Yahshua to the Temple in Yerushalayim forty days (inclusive) after his birth to complete Miriam's ritual purification after childbirth, and to perform the redemption of the firstborn son, in obedience to the Torah (Leviticus 12, Exodus 13:12–15, etc.). Luke explicitly says that Yosef and Miriam take the option provided for poor people (those who could not afford a lamb; Leviticus 12:8), offering "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Leviticus 12:1–4 indicates that this event should take place forty days after birth for a male child’’

Luk 7:35  “And wisdom is declared right by all her children.”    והחכמה נצדקה בכל־בניה׃ 

Hebrew - ‘’Wisdom is declared right by her assembly’’ ‘’It takes a village to raise a child.’’

 

Eph 3:10  so that now, through the assembly, the many-sided wisdom of Elohim might be known to the principalities and authorities in the heavenlies, (not yet but soom will be)

Eph 3:11  according to the everlasting purpose which He made in Messiah יהושע our Master, 

In the last days this assembly will return one by one to the ways and truth of the Torah - Isa 27:12  And in that day it shall be that יהוה threshes, from the channel of the River to the wadi of Mitsrayim. And you shall be gathered one by one,a O children of Yisra’ěl. Footnote: a Jer_3:14-15.

It appears that YHVH calls His people for special service at conception (tazria) even before they are born:

Jer 1:5  “Before I formed you in the belly I knew you, and before you came out of the womb I did set you apart – I appointed you a prophet to nations.” 

Isa 49:1  Listen to Me, O coastlands, and hear, you peoples from afar! יהוה has called Me from the womb, from My mother’s belly He has caused My Name to be remembered. 

Gal 1:15  But when it pleased Elohim, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me by His favour, 

Psa 22:9  For You are the One who took Me out of the womb; Causing Me to trust while on My mother’s breasts. 

Psa 22:10  I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s belly You have been My Ěl. 

Isa 46:3  “Listen to Me, O house of Ya‛aqoḇ, and all the remnant of the house of Yisra’ěl, who are borne from the belly, who are carried from the womb: 

Psa 139:16  Your eyes saw my unformed body. And in Your book all of them were written, The days they were formed, While none was among them. 

 ‘’ The number of sperm in a single ejaculate range from 40 million to 500 million cells—the average is about 182 million. For every ovum ovulated, about 1 billion sperm are produced’’ Each one of us is a limited edition of ‘’one’’ of those sperm cells.

This Torah portion reminds us of the importance of Colostrum and infant nurturing.

Many people know what breast milk is and where it comes from; but have you ever heard of colostrum? Did you know there is a difference between breast milk and colostrum? Colostrum is a milky substance that is produced by the breasts of mammals before birth and during the first few days following birth. Colostrum precedes the production of true milk, or breast milk. It's usually clear in appearance but may look slightly yellow. While breast milk is highly nutritious and immensely beneficial to newborns, colostrum is thicker, more concentrated in protein, and lower in fat than true breast milk.

Colostrum contains many nutritional benefits for the baby, including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and antibodies, which are important disease-fighting proteins produced by the immune system that attack and kill microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. The antibody level in colostrum can be as high as 100 times the level found in regular milk!

Colostrum has an especially important role to play in the baby's gastrointestinal tract. ... Colostrum also contains high concentrations of leukocytes, protective white cells which can destroy disease-causing bacteria and viruses. The colostrum gradually changes to mature milk during the first two weeks after birth. (Infants would breastfeed until they were naturally weaned)

Lev 13:1  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying,

Lev 13:2  “When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, and it shall become on the skin of his body like a leprous infection,( צרעת) then he shall be brought to Aharon the priest or to one of his sons the priests.

Lev 13:3  “And the priest shall look at the infection on the skin of the body. And if the hair on the infection has turned white, and the infection appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a leprous infection.( צרעת) And the priest shall look at him and pronounce him unclean.

Lev 13:4  “But if the bright spot is white on the skin of his body, and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and its hair has not turned white, then the priest shall shut up the infected one seven days.

Lev 13:5  “And the priest shall look at him on the seventh day and see, if the infection appears to be as it was, and the infection has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall shut him up another seven days.

Lev 13:6  “And the priest shall look at him again on the seventh day and see, if the infection has darkened, and the infection has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. It is a scab, and he shall wash his garments and be clean.

Lev 13:7  “But if the scab spreads further over the skin, after he has been seen by the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen by the priest again.

Lev 13:8  “And the priest shall look and see, if the scab has spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is leprosy. צרעת

Lev 13:9  “When the infection of leprosy צרעת is on a man, then he shall be brought to the priest.

Lev 13:10  “And the priest shall look and see, if the swelling on the skin is white, and it has turned the hair white, and there is a spot of raw flesh in the swelling,

Lev 13:11  it is an old leprosy צרעתon the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He does not shut him up, for he is unclean. (possible sign of unresolved issues)

Lev 13:12  “And if leprosy צרעת breaks out all over the skin, and the leprosy צרעת shall cover all the skin of the infected one, from his head to his foot, wherever the priest looks,

Lev 13:13  then the priest shall look and see, if the leprosy has covered all his body, he shall pronounce the infected one clean. It has all turned white, he is clean.

Lev 13:14  “But the day raw flesh appears on him, he is unclean.

Lev 13:15  “And the priest shall look at the raw flesh and pronounce him to be unclean – the raw flesh is unclean, it is leprosy. צרעת

Lev 13:16  “Or when the raw flesh changes and turns white again, he shall come to the priest.

Lev 13:17  “And the priest shall look at him and see, if the infection has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce the infected one clean, he is clean.

Lev 13:18  “And when the body has a boil in the skin, and it is healed,

Lev 13:19  and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be seen by the priest.

Lev 13:20  “And the priest shall look and see, if it appears deeper than the skin, and its hair has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is a leprous infection which has broken out of the boil.

Lev 13:21  “But if the priest looks at it and sees no white hairs in it, and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall shut him up seven days;

Lev 13:22  and if it has spread further over the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is a leprous infection.

Lev 13:23  “But if the bright spot stays in its place, it has not spread, it is the scar of the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Lev 13:24  “Or when the body receives a burn on its skin by fire, and the raw flesh of the burn shall become a bright spot, reddish-white or white,

Lev 13:25  then the priest shall look at it and see, if the hair of the bright spot has turned white, and it appears deeper than the skin, it is leprosy broken out in the burn. And the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is a leprous infection.

Lev 13:26  “But if the priest looks at it and sees there are no white hairs in the bright spot, and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall shut him up seven days.

Lev 13:27  “And the priest shall look at him on the seventh day. If it spreads further over the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is a leprous infection.

Lev 13:28  “But if the bright spot stays in its place, and has not spread on the skin, but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn. And the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar from the burn.

‘’Thus the Talmud (Sanhedrin 98b) describes Moshiach as a metzora, signifying that the messianic age is a time in which the evils which have infested the world and mankind rise to the surface, so that they can be decisively overcome and cured. (The Lubavitcher Rebbe)’’

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98a) -Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi met Elijah [the Prophet] by the entrance of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s tomb… and asked him:

“When will the Messiah come?”
[Elijah responded:] “Go and ask him yourself.”
“Where is he?”
“At the entrance [of Rome].”
“And how will I recognize him?”
“He is sitting among the poor lepers,

This fascinating passage suggests that Mashiach is sitting at the gates of Rome (according to the Vilna Gaon’s commentary) among all the lepers expelled from the city- expelled from human religion

The Sages say that metzora means motzi ra, literally one who brings out evil. While this can be taken to mean one who brings out evil words about others, it can also be read as one who removes evil from the world, which is Mashiach’s ultimate purpose.

Chassidic teaching explains that the human soul is driven by two contrary forces: the drive to run or escape (ratzo), and the drive to settle (shov).

In a spiritually healthy soul, the will vacillates between ratzo and shov like the rise and fall of a well-balanced pendulum, or the contraction and expansion of a smoothly beating heart. The constraints of our place in the world, the finiteness of our nature and body, the boundaries of our very being—these impel us to escape them, to strive for the unbounded and the infinite. But our very escape brings us to a place from which we better appreciate the beauty and necessity of our existence. Thus the ratzo peaks and provokes a counteraction of shov, a return to oneself and one’s place in the world.

Tzaraat is a condition in which this crucial balance is disrupted. The pendulum of the soul ascends in its ratzo arc, but fails to swing back in shov. The will escapes the self and fails to return, leaving behind a vacuum in which all sorts of undesirable elements can now take root, like weeds in an abandoned garden.

This is symbolized by the white patches and the white hairs that are the symptoms of tzaraat. A patch of white skin indicates that life and vitality have departed from (this part of) the body. Still, a white patch alone does not mean that the will’s failure to settle has resulted in any negative developments in the character and behavior of the person. But when we see white hairs sprouting in the white patch—when we see dead things feeding on this dead place—we have a full-blown case of tzaraat.

On the other hand, the existence of white hairs, in and of themselves, do not indicate tzaraat. These might represent the ordinary baggage that we lug through life, the run-of-the mill negative traits and experiences that actually have the positive function of challenging us and provoking our finest talents and most potent energies. It is only when the white hairs are caused by the white patch that something serious is afoot. Such a condition indicates that the person has run away with his escapist impulses so high and so far that he has completely abandoned his commitments to life and productivity, leaving behind a hollow and lifeless self that is a breeding ground for what is worst in human nature.

Hence the law that white hairs are a symptom of tzaraat only when the white patch precedes the white hair, indicating that this dead growth is the result of a certain area of the person’s life having been drained of its vitality.

Two Visions of Man

What is the root cause of tzaraat? Ratzo is the escape from self, while shov is the return to self. It would therefore seem that tzaraat—ratzo without shov—derives from excessive selflessness.

In truth, however, the very opposite may be the case. Ratzo is what the soul desires to do, while shov is what the soul is committed to do. Escapist behavior is the ultimate self-indulgence, while settling down is the ultimate submission. Tzaraat, then, derives from a lack of humility, from the failure to yield one’s own will to the will of one’s Creator.’’

‘’One of the unfortunate results of translation of ‘’tzaraat’’ to leprosy has been the overwhelming confusion on the nature of “leprosy.” Driven, perhaps, by the need to find a metaphorical connection between leprosy and sin in general, the Christian church has followed the ninth century Arab physician John of Damascus who referred to leprosy by the Greek le­pra and his mistake persists until today. The Hebrew term employed throughout our Torah section is תַעָרָצ ,tzara‘at. The Lxx regularly translates it with levpra, lepra, not with the Greek word that identifies what we know as leprosy (Hansen’s disease, ajlfov~, alphos). Indeed, when the Apostolic writings refer to “leprosy,” the Greek word is always lepra, which was (until the 9th century) described as a “skin disease which looks like scales.” Milgrom (An­chor Bible Comm., p. 816) asserts that the disease known today as leprosy (Hansen’s disease) did not exist in the Ancient Near East until it was brought there from India by the armies of Alexander the Great. So unfortunately, when we read “leprosy” in our English Bibles, we should most likely understand it rather to mean “psoriasis” or “fungal infection.”

But to identify תַעָרָצ is also difficult. Modern medicine cannot match the descriptions in our portion with any known diseases of modern times, primarily because skin disorders known today cannot be identified or quarantined in the short period of time prescribed in Leviticus (7 days, 2 weeks, etc.). Furthermore, the skin disorders which might fit are never found on woven material, leather, or other non-living substances. Many have concluded that the diseases described here were either peculiar to the ancient world or have grown into strains which have different properties. Perhaps the Hebrew term simply describes anything that appears as a growth, including mold or mildew on cloth, leather, and walls. What is more, the skin diseases referred to by the Hebrew תַעָרָצ tzara‘at do not seem to be necessarily contagious (though they could be). Na’aman lead his army, returned to his family, and even entered the temple of his god. Surely had he been an Israelite he would have been banished like Miriam (Num 12:14-16), the four outcasts (2 Kgs 7:3-10), and Uzziah (2Kgs 15:5). But this may be a result of ritual impurity, not a sense of a contaminating disease.

So, it is important that we not try to draw analogies between what this passage describes, and the characteristics of sin so often associated with the picture of leprosy. Whether or not the disease we are accustomed to calling leprosy (where the extremities of the body are eaten away) ever actually existed in the Ancient Near East, it seems highly unlikely that what is described in our passage is, in fact, “leprosy” as we have come to know it.’’ Tim Hegg

Six permutations of the root word ,tzara‘at – tzara –  psoriasis - tza'ar - hardship, pain sadness regret remorse - ra'atz - to smash – ratza- to smash – rtza - To pierce - inflict stripes (by whipping with a strap) – atzar- to halt or rule to prevent anarchic expansion- aratz- to respect (a tyrant) because of his power. See Is 53.

Blessed are you YHVH, our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have given us your Torah of truth, and have planted everlasting life within our midst. Blessed are you, YHVH giver of the Torah – Amein.