Tzara'at, Korbanot, and Brit Milah By Ethan Mauskopf (‘25)

5785/2025

In Parashat Tazria, we see that a woman has to bring a Korban Chatat after she gives birth. We also see some of the laws of Tzaraat. In Parashat Shemini, it talks about the Korbanot and the Mishkan. Why would the Parashah of Tzaraat be after the Mishkan, where in Acharei Mot it talks about the Mikdash again? 

Tzaraat is put on a person when he does something bad. It is most famously when he talks Lashon Harah. When he has Tzaraat, he needs to bring a Korban, which is similar to a Korban Chatat. Tzara’at manifests itself in different colors, but mostly as white, and has to be bigger than a bean. In addition, you can only get Tzaraat in Eretz Yisrael. Someone with the affliction has to go to a Kohen and ask him to examine it. Rabbi Tendler says that this is more positive than negative because it shows Hashem’s presence telling us to stop doing the bad we are doing. We have a less harsh punishment because it is in Eretz Yisrael and whenever we are in Israel, everything comes for the better. The punishment could have been something huge like a disaster or famine, but Hashem shows us that we did Teshuvah for our actions and not to degrade our time and actions in Eretz Yisrael. When a woman gives birth to a child, the Torah tells us she needs to give a Korban Chatat. But a Korban Chatat is to atone for an Aveirah, and giving birth is not an Averiah. It’s just the opposite, it's bringing a whole new soul into the world. Similar to Tzaraat, we see that the cause is Lashon Harah, as when a woman gives birth, she says things she may not mean out of pain. She needs to bring a similar Korban. That's why these two topics are combined. There are three Mitzvot that are Doche Shabbat: bringing a Korban,  Brit Milah, and Pikuach Nefesh. When the 8th day of a boy’s life falls on Shabbat, he receives a Brit Milah. Why does it override Shabbat?

One reason can be that it shows how important the Mitzvah is, which shows how we are connected to Hashem, through the covenant with Hashem. Alternatively, Rav Neventzal writes that these three Mitzvot override Shabbat because they correspond to the three big Aveirot: Avodah Zarah, Giluy Arayot, and Shefichut Damim. Shefichut Damim corresponds to Pikuach Nefesh. When someone is dying before you, it's equivalent to killing him. For Avodah Zara, we bring the Korban to make up for the Cheit HaEigel. And for Giluy Arayot, we give a baby a Brit Milah. We give the baby a Brit Milah on the eighth day almost no matter what. It shows the importance of Brit Milah, and why it interrupted the Parshi’ot of the Korbanot and Mishkan. Have an incredible Shabbat!

Looking Forward By Rabbi Joshua Kahn