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TAZRIA “She bears seed”
2 APRIL 2011
Shabbat Hahodesh
Leviticus 12:1-13:59
Exodus 12:1-20
2 Kings 4:42-5:19
Ezekiel 45:16-18
Mathew 8:1-4
Before we go into the Parashah for this week, I want to
inform you that this weekend is Shabbat Hahodesh. What this means is
that we are going into the Month of Nissan in which we remember that GOD
has rescued us from slavery to freedom, from death to life. 1 Peter 2:9
tells us that we have been called out of darkness into His marvelous
light. Shabbat Hahodesh is the Sabbath before the month of Nissan. This
month is considered to be most honored as it is the month that GOD came
to reveal himself as YHVH and proclaiming; I will deliver you, free you,
redeem you, and take you as My people, and I will be your GOD (Ex.6:6).
This special Shabbat (Hahodesh), is a reminder for us
that Passover is not far away. Therefore it is once again a time to
think about removing the leaven from our lives (1 Cor.5:7).
The term Leaven was primarily used as:
1
a remembrance to Israel of the haste of the Passover meal
before fleeing Egypt
2
a symbol of Israel being influenced to sin by surrounding
nations
3
a symbol of the body of Messiah being influenced by
world, false teachings
4
a symbol of the malchute (kingdom) of heaven which
will leaven the whole until it is brought to the fullness of the will of
HaShem.
Therefore, we are a symbol of being
set apart from the nations unto GOD, because we have been freed,
redeemed, rescued, and have been taken as His own Am Segulah
(treasured people).
Chapter12 of Leviticus begins with the laws of human
contamination, childbirth and purification. Then the Torah portion goes
on to tell us about the basic Tzaraas (white patch on the skin)
and the procedure to verification, Baheres-color of snow,
S’eis-color of natural wool, inflammations, burns, Tzaraas of
the head or face, baldness at the front and back of the head,
Metzora’s isolation, afflictions of garments.
From the Previous Portion, Shemini, we continue reading
laws of ritual cleanliness and purity as applied to animals. This
Portion, Tazria, applies to some concepts regarding cleanliness of men
and women.
The name of the portion is often the opening word, or
another word soon after, which more perfectly expresses the theme.
Tazria, the opening theme: If a woman be delivered and bear a male
child…Meaning: be delivered.
Man was created on the sixth day to immediately sanctify
the Shabbat, to go “into the banquet.” All nature was ready for man’s
use (Gen 1:29). Sin enters in (Gen 2:17 representing the bad leaven)
and there is warning of not eating of the Tree of Knowledge. On the day
that you eat, you shall die. We lost the right to be in GOD’s banquet
upon eating from the Tree.
Separation from GOD came because of sin and sinful
behavior. Rom 3:23-For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of
GOD. Isaiah 53:6-We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has
turned to his own way. Isaiah 64:6-All of us have become like one who is
unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags, we all shrivel
up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Recognizing this dilemma, GOD had in place from creation
a way for an individual to have a personal relationship with Him. The
way was through the death of His son. Rom 5:8 G-d demonstrates his love
for us: while we were still sinners, Messiah died for us. John 3:16 For
GOD so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes
shall not perish but have eternal life.
Each person must repent and personally believe to gain
entrance to Heaven (Back to the Garden). John 1:12 states that to all
who received Him and believed in His name, He gave the right to be
called children of GOD. Salvation is assured (1John 5:13) to you who
believe in the Name of Messiah Yeshua. Know that you have eternal life.
Rev 22:1-5 encourages us that we will return to Eden, Paradise. The New
Paradise, its river and Tree of Life.
Shavua Tov
Rabbi Z
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