Timeless Torah

The titles of the weekly Torah portions are not merely labels to differentiate one portion from the next. Each title written in Hebrew, the holy language, clues us in to the essential theme of the Parsha. It is then surprising to discover that the name of this week's Biblical section is Tazria and not Isha.

Let me explain. The opening verse usually provides the title word. The first sentence this week is, "If a woman (Isha) conceives (Tazria) and bears a child..." Now, if we were to compare the contrast between the Biblical chapters of this week versus last week, we would realize that they both deal with the laws of purity. However, the previous week the subject was the law as it relates to animals. This week the same issues are dealt with except now we are discussing them in relationship to human beings.

Based upon this the more appropriate title should have been Isha (the woman). Instead, our sages chose the heading, Tazria, which means "conceives". How is it that Tazria embodies more completely the idea of man than Isha?

The Alter Rebbe in his famous work the Tanya, explains that in one sense man is lower than all other creatures. For not only does man sin whereas animals do not, he can sin, whereas they cannot. In potentiality then, as well as in actuality, sin is a reality for man but not for the animal.

This is why the laws concerning animals were placed first and separately in the Torah. To sanctify the animal world by distinguishing the pure from the impure is relatively simple. The problem of sin does not arise in their case. But for man to sanctify himself, given his capacity for wrongdoing, is far harder.

Still man does contain qualities unmatched by any creature. If he is the only being that can sin, he is also the only one that can do good. But what truly identifies man is not his innate virtues. Rather it is his accomplishments which by sheer determination and hard work he creates on his own, that best testifies to the greatness of man.

That is why Tazria is the title. Isha (the woman) does not truly reveal the greatness of man. Tazria on the other hand, is what man conceives and plans. There, in man's initiative lies the real story of human progress.