The mitzvot of Tazria

The commandment of the matter of the impurity of a woman who has given birth

Positive · Leviticus 12:2

Human illnesses come from an excess or a lack in the body, and God kept His people away from everything that harms the body, since the body is the vessel of the soul. From this root the Torah set apart a woman after childbirth for a number of days, until her body is cleansed of the excess in it, which is harmful and brings illness. That is why a longer time is set after the birth of a girl, since in the Chinuch's view the excess is then greater.

That one impure not eat consecrated foods

Negative · Leviticus 12:4

Awe of the Temple and its holy things must be deeply fixed in our souls. Therefore it is not fitting that anyone but the pure should eat of the holy offerings, for purity is a distinction and an honour in a person, as every understanding person knows.

The law of the sacrifice of the woman that has given birth

Positive · Leviticus 12:6

Childbirth carries danger, and a woman who has been saved from its pangs should give thanks to God for the miracle done for her; the act of the offering stirs her to this thanksgiving. The Sages add that in the hour of her pain a woman may rashly vow never to give birth again, so she also needs atonement, and that is why part of her offering is called a sin offering.

The commandment of the matter of the impurity of a metsora

Positive · Leviticus 13:2

The mitzvah comes to fix in our souls that God's providence extends to each individual person and His eyes are open to all his ways. Therefore the metzora does not see his illness as chance, but understands that sin brought it about - above all the sin of evil speech - and comes to the kohen, who stands to bring atonement for sinners. And in the days of his isolation he has time to reflect calmly on his deeds and return in complete repentance.

To not shave the hair of the scab

Negative · Leviticus 13:33

The mitzvah hints that a person should bear the suffering and afflictions God brings upon him and not kick against them. Let him not think it is in his power to cancel them or hide them from people's eyes; rather let him plead for mercy from God to heal his wound.

The practice of wildness and rending of a metsora and all who render a person impure

Positive · Leviticus 13:45

The metzora keeps away from people and tells them to move away from him, so that he pictures in his soul that sin distances a person from all good, and returns from his way. The Sages said that by evil speech he separated a man from his fellow, so he too is separated from the camp - measure for measure. This does not mean, God forbid, that God repays evil, for God desires only good; rather a person himself, by turning from the straight path, removes from himself the readiness to receive good.

The commandment of the matter of ailments of clothing

Positive · Leviticus 13:47

Afflictions of garments are not a natural thing, but a sign that God in His goodness placed among the holy nation, to discipline them as a man disciplines his son. When garments of wool and linen, which people use more than anything, change, they learn a lesson from it and return from their bad ways before the affliction reaches their bodies.