Difference between revisions of "Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Tazria/0/en"
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<category>Tzara'at: Natural Disease or Divine Punishment? | <category>Tzara'at: Natural Disease or Divine Punishment? | ||
− | <p>Among the many mysteries of Tanakh, Tzara'at ranks high on the list of unknowns. What is this malady? Why does a person get afflicted? Is it a natural disease that anyone can contract, or is it a Divinely sent, supernatural phenomenon, meant as punishment for sin? | + | <p>Among the many mysteries of Tanakh, Tzara'at ranks high on the list of unknowns. What is this malady? Why does a person get afflicted? Is it a natural disease that anyone can contract, or is it a Divinely sent, supernatural phenomenon, meant as punishment for sin?</p> |
<ul> | <ul> | ||
− | <li>Look at all the instances in Tanakh in which someone is plagued by tzara'at. | + | <li>Contrast the understandings of Chazal and Ralbag in <a href="Tzara'at" data-aht="page">Tzara'at</a>, and debate each position at your Shabbat Table.</li> |
+ | <li>Look at all the instances in Tanakh in which someone is plagued by tzara'at. Can you find a common offense perpetrated by each of those afflicted?  If the malady is indeed a punishment, what seems to be the crime?</li> | ||
<li>Why does tzara'at cause impurity? Compare the various cases of impurity in Torah. Is there any common denominator which might explain why specifically these conditions defile a person?</li> | <li>Why does tzara'at cause impurity? Compare the various cases of impurity in Torah. Is there any common denominator which might explain why specifically these conditions defile a person?</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> |
Version as of 03:21, 5 May 2017
Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Tazria
Tzara'at: Natural Disease or Divine Punishment?
Among the many mysteries of Tanakh, Tzara'at ranks high on the list of unknowns. What is this malady? Why does a person get afflicted? Is it a natural disease that anyone can contract, or is it a Divinely sent, supernatural phenomenon, meant as punishment for sin?
- Contrast the understandings of Chazal and Ralbag in Tzara'at, and debate each position at your Shabbat Table.
- Look at all the instances in Tanakh in which someone is plagued by tzara'at. Can you find a common offense perpetrated by each of those afflicted? If the malady is indeed a punishment, what seems to be the crime?
- Why does tzara'at cause impurity? Compare the various cases of impurity in Torah. Is there any common denominator which might explain why specifically these conditions defile a person?