Parashat Tazria (Leviticus 12-13)
Leviticus 12
12:8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
Comment: The origin of a woman’s child-birth uncleanliness and her need for a sin offering may be from Eve’s sin in the garden of Eden. https://www.torahmusings.com/2013/04/maternity-sacrifice/
The Messiah born from a woman will lead to the final defeat of sin and uncleanliness. The mother of the messiah observed the commandments from the current verse after his birth. It is notable that the Messiah was born into a poor family “not able to bring a lamb” but using two birds instead. See Luke 2:21-24: “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
See also https://bible-studys.org/leviticus-chapter-12/
Leviticus 13
13:45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
Comment: “put a covering upon his upper lip”: This reminds me of the mask policy implemented during COVID-19.
13:46 All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.
Comment: This is similar to the quarantine or isolation policy used during the pandemic of COVID-19. In addition to expulsion from the camp, the biblical ritual here also involves rending the garment, bearing head, mouth covering, and self proclamation of uncleanliness. I think all these imply that the biblical plague of leprosy may be related to the spiritual disease of haughtiness. (See also https://ohr.edu/this_week/letter_and_spirit_/9324)
COVID-19 has a scientific origin, however, it changed the world so rapidly and profoundly, that I think without Gd behind it, it couldn’t have happened. The country that boasted of being the most powerful or most technologically advanced suffered most. Instead of over emphasizing vaccination, I think we should all humble down ourselves first before Gd.