Tazria/Metzora: Understanding “Purity”

Introduction

Our double parsha is filled with details that articulate the Torah’s world of ritual purity and impurity -“Tumah” and “Taharah”. Why do we need these categorizations? How are these concepts relevant to our world? In this week’s parsha podcast on Tazria/Metzora, Rabbi Alex Israel offers several approaches to this topic.

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Credits:
Larry Kluger – Creative Consultant
Arlene Harel – Production Coordinator

Alex Israel

Rabbi Alex Israel teaches Bible at Pardes. Born and raised in London, he holds degrees from London School of Economics, the Institute of Education London and Bar-Ilan University. Alex studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion under Rav Aharon Lichtenstein and Rav Yehudah Amital, and gained Rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Rabbinate.

Alex has taught for twenty years in many top Jerusalem Yeshivot and Midrashot. He is also a volunteer for Tzohar, a group that seeks to bridge the gaps between religious and secular communities In Israel. Alex lives with his wife and 4 children in Gush Etzion.