In this week's parsha it says in Vayikra Perek Yud Bet, Pasuk Bet
דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אִשָּׁה֙ כִּ֣י תַזְרִ֔יעַ וְיָלְדָ֖ה זָכָ֑ר וְטָֽמְאָה֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים כִּימֵ֛י נִדַּ֥ת דְּוֺתָ֖הּ תִּטְמָֽא׃
Speak to the Israelite people thus: When a woman at childbirth bears a male, she shall be unclean seven days; she shall be unclean as at the time of her menstrual infirmity.
Questions: What is the meaning/ function of the word תזריע? Or what is the function of her being unclean for 7 days? What is the difference between if she has a girl or a boy? Why does childbirth lead to tuma?
Ibn Ezra says that Tazria literally means “yields seed” because a woman resembles the earth when it comes to her reproductive abilities. He also says the reason for her being unclean for 7 days is to wait for her to enter the next lunar quarter. (Also when someone is sick, there are usually changes about 7 days in).
Lilly fuchs
ReplyDeleteOr Hachaim says that the words כי תזריע seem extra but they are actually there to specify which kind of childbirth leaves you impure. He explains that a caesarean incision would not leave you impure. In order to be considered impure the woman must give birth from the same place the sperm entered so the pasuk “adds” these words
The Chizkuni writes that "she will be unclean" its emphasis here is on the suffix ה meaning only the mother, not her child will become unclean as a result of that birth. I like this answer because women would understand that they are unclear and know how to become clean again versus a baby wouldnt understand that they are unclean. like it doesnt impact them at all.
ReplyDelete-Meira BOok
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ReplyDeleteSeforno says that Tazria means when a woman finishes before her partner, the child born from a union like this would be a male. Additionally, after she gives birth, she is unclean and she is like a menstruating woman regarding her status.
ReplyDelete-Ayala Kilimnick
Miriam Hoffmann
ReplyDeleteRashi says that the reason the words כי תזריע are included is to teach us that even if she miscarries the woman still becomes unclean. His reasoning being that כי תזריע means “if she brings fourth seed”. Even if the mother doesn’t give birth to a functioning healthy baby and instead it’s a mass of seed meaning totally undeveloped, she still is unclean.
I think this is an important thought. This answer brings in information that may not have been clear or strait out.
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ReplyDeleteEsther Avidan:
ReplyDeleteThe JPS provides the explanation that the
Heb. tazria‘, lit. means “brings forth seed.” I like this idea because after reading many drashic answers it was refreshing to hear a simple - straightforward- directly from the text explanation of the word, that fits well with what is going on. Also, side point, one drashic answer that I thought was really interesting, is that it is talking about niddah, but ultimately I think this is the most accurate answer.