The Messiah & Bandages (Parshat Tazria)
A few thoughts from Jewish storytelling and the elephant in the room
Week 26: Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59
Haftarah Portion: II Kings 4:42 - 5:19
Summary: The laws regarding childbirth, skin diseases, and bodily discharges are outlined. The Haftarah narrates Elisha's miracles, emphasizing the importance of spiritual and physical healing through faith and obedience.
Thematic Connection: Healing and Faith
By Rabbi Patrick Beaulier
Let’s just go for it. Lev. 13:5-8:
וְרָאָ֣הוּ הַכֹּהֵן֮ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי֒ וְהִנֵּ֤ה הַנֶּ֙גַע֙ עָמַ֣ד בְּעֵינָ֔יו לֹֽא־פָשָׂ֥ה הַנֶּ֖גַע בָּע֑וֹר וְהִסְגִּיר֧וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֛ן שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים שֵׁנִֽית׃
On the seventh day the priest shall conduct an examination, and if the affection has remained unchanged in color and the disease has not spread on the skin, the priest shall isolate that person for another seven days.
וְרָאָה֩ הַכֹּהֵ֨ן אֹת֜וֹ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי֮ שֵׁנִית֒ וְהִנֵּה֙ כֵּהָ֣ה הַנֶּ֔גַע וְלֹא־פָשָׂ֥ה הַנֶּ֖גַע בָּע֑וֹר וְטִהֲר֤וֹ הַכֹּהֵן֙ מִסְפַּ֣חַת הִ֔וא וְכִבֶּ֥ס בְּגָדָ֖יו וְטָהֵֽר׃
On the seventh day the priest shall again conduct an examination: if the affection has faded and has not spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce the person pure. It is a rash; after washing those clothes, that person shall be pure.
וְאִם־פָּשֹׂ֨ה תִפְשֶׂ֤ה הַמִּסְפַּ֙חַת֙ בָּע֔וֹר אַחֲרֵ֧י הֵרָאֹת֛וֹ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֖ן לְטׇהֳרָת֑וֹ וְנִרְאָ֥ה שֵׁנִ֖ית אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן׃
But if the rash should spread on the skin after the person has been seen by the priest and pronounced pure, that person shall again report to the priest.
וְרָאָה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהִנֵּ֛ה פָּשְׂתָ֥ה הַמִּסְפַּ֖חַת בָּע֑וֹר וְטִמְּא֥וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן צָרַ֥עַת הִֽוא׃ {פ}
And if the priest sees that the rash has spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce that person impure; it is tzarat [sometimes translated leprosy].
Gross.
And the curatives during this time are folk medicine, faith healing, quarantine and wrapping bandages.
And the bandages part is oddly interesting,
because then, there’s the Messiah and wounds!
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