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General Overview:<\/strong> The bulk of this week's portion, Tazria<\/em>, discusses various forms of tzara'at<\/em>, skin maladies which are contracted as a result of engaging in forbidden gossip. Also discussed are certain garment discolorations which constitute \"clothing tzara'at<\/a><\/em>.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n First Aliyah<\/a>: The Jewish people are instructed regarding the ritual impurity contracted by a woman who gives birth. The timeframe of this period of impurity differs depending whether the child is a boy or girl. At the conclusion of this period, the woman immerses in a mikvah <\/em>and is required to bring certain offerings in the Temple. Incidentally, the Torah mentions the obligation to circumcise a male child on the eighth day of his life. The Torah<\/a> then begins discussing the laws of tzara'at<\/em>, a skin discoloration \u2014 often inaccurately translated as \"leprosy\" \u2014 which renders a person ritually impure. This aliyah discusses various forms of white skin discolorations. A person who has the symptoms of tzara'at<\/em> must be seen by a priest. If the discoloration is deemed \"suspicious,\" the priest will immediately declare the individual impure or quarantine him for up to two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second Aliyah<\/a>: At the conclusion of the quarantine period, the priest either declares the individual pure or impure. The Torah then discusses what is done in the event that the tzara'at<\/em> spreads after the individual was declared pure, or if there is raw skin within the tzara'at<\/em>, or if the tzara'at<\/em> has spread over the entire body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third Aliyah<\/a>: We learn the laws of tzara'at<\/em> which appears following an inflammation on the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fourth Aliyah<\/a>: We learn the laws of tzara'at<\/em> which appears following a burn to the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fifth Aliyah<\/a>: In this aliyah<\/a> we discover that tzara'at<\/em> can also affect the areas on the body covered by hair. The symptoms and laws of such a tzara'at<\/em> are quite different than standard tzara'at<\/em>. This section concludes with the laws of a person afflicted by multiple dull white areas on his skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sixth Aliyah<\/a>: This section discusses tzara'at<\/em> which appears on a bald spot, as well a white discoloration streaked with red, which can appear anywhere on the body. Also discussed is the procedure followed by an individual who is afflicted with tzara'at,<\/em> the main requirement being that he must remain outside the city until his condition clears up. The Torah then discusses \"clothing tzara'at,<\/em>\" a green or red discoloration which can affect certain types of materials. The garment is shown to a priest who quarantines it for up to two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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