Parashat Metzora (Leviticus 14-15)
(Note added in 2026: This year this portion Metzora is read together with the previous portion Tazria.)
Leviticus 14
14:3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;
Comment: “if the plague of leprosy be healed”: The Torah will describe in this chapter how a leper can become ritually clean AFTER being healed. However, it doesn’t tell WHO can heal a leper here, until in Number 12 where it is hinted that the LRD Himself heals the leperous Miriam. In the New Testament, the Messiah healed lepers many times, and he sometimes even touched the leper to cure the repugnant and possibly contagious disease (e.g., Matthew 2-3). In fact, we may also be very repugnant like the lepers, due to our ugly sins, and we lack means to heal ourselves to get rid of our sinful “old selves”. We need the LRD Himself to heal us and clean us.
14:6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 至于那只活鸟，祭司要把它和香柏木，朱红色线并牛膝草一同蘸于宰在活水上的鸟血中，
2025注释: 这是圣经里对已痊愈的麻疯病人所做的一种洁净仪式。其中所用的材料有象征意义(参见Rashi解经利未记14:4）。https://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_on_Leviticus.14.4.3?lang=bi
鸟是叽叽喳喳的，象征毁谤人的坏习惯需要解决，香柏木是高的，象征高傲的问题需要解决，要像朱红色线原文词根里所用的虫子תולעת和低矮的牛膝草那样谦卑下来。关于活水，因为是地下冒出的泉水，我觉得象征死里复活的基督，基督徒要通过洗礼把旧人与基督同埋葬，让新人与基督同复活，这样才能彻底改正旧人的坏习惯。
2025 Commentary:
This is a purification ritual prescribed in the Bible for someone who has recovered from leprosy. The materials used in the ritual carry symbolic meanings (see Rashi’s commentary on Leviticus 14:4: https://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_on_Leviticus.14.4.3?lang=bi).
The bird, which chirps incessantly, symbolizes the bad habit of slander that needs to be corrected. The cedar wood, being tall, symbolizes arrogance that must be humbled, just as the scarlet thread’s root word in Hebrew refers to a worm (תולעת) and the hyssop is a lowly plant, both symbolizing humility.
Regarding the running water, because it refers to water springing up from underground, I believe it symbolizes Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Christians, through baptism, are to be buried with Christ in the death of the old self, and raised with Christ as a new person—only then can the bad habits of the old nature be truly corrected.
Leviticus 15
15:13 And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.
2026 Comment: What is “running water”? The Hebrew says “mayim chayim” or living water, which should correspond to the spring water “Mayan” mentioned here:
https://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_on_Leviticus.11.36?lang=bi
The other kind of gathered rainwater from cisterns called Mikveh (referred to in the same verse Leviticus 11:36) seems to be not enough for cleansing the abnormal male “issue” (Zav https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zav).
Therefore, Mayan (spring water) seems stronger for purification than Mikveh (a kind of gathered rainwater).
15:19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
Comment: The Torah laws related to a woman’s menstruation involve a Hebrew word “niddah” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niddah Torah cares about every part of human life, since it is the words from the Creator of the human beings, Who cares about them. It is possible that observation of the niddah laws could lead to better marital relationship, easier conception, birth of healthier, smarter, and more devout descendants.
15:20 And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.女人在污秽之中，凡她所躺的物件都为不洁净，所坐的物件也都不洁净。
2025注释: 在现代，因为圣殿已被毁，犹太人不能去圣殿敬拜，对女人月经的仪式性不洁净可能不需要像以前那么小心。但很多犹太人仍然注意避免在月经期间过夫妻生活，因为圣经里对此有“剪除”的惩罚（利未记20:18），那是一类很严重的惩罚。参见
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niddah
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kareth
2025 Commentary:
In modern times, because the Temple has been destroyed and Jews cannot worship there, the ritual impurity associated with a woman’s menstruation may not require as much strict observance as before. However, many Jews still take care to avoid marital relations during a woman’s menstrual period, because the Bible prescribes the punishment of being “cut off” for such transgression (Leviticus 20:18), which is considered a very serious penalty. See:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niddah
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kareth
15:22 And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
2026 Comment: Why do Jewish women need immersion in water to be cleaned for menstrual impurity, even though this verse says the man who touched her needs to “bathe himself in water”, not the woman herself? This is because of a rabbinical principle of bible interpretation. If someone who touches her needs baptism for cleansing, all the more so should she need herself. See
https://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/117215/niddah-and-washing
However, here immersion does not have to be done in spring water. Even “mikveh” (some kind of naturally gathered rainwater in a cistern) may be enough.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikveh
This may be much easier than using spring water, since in the plain area, it is not easy to find springs.
Does Lake Michigan form a cleansing mikveh?
Yes. However, one should pay attention to safety and privacy for using it for purification rituals.
See some related links:
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4111608/jewish/Tevilat-Keilim-in-Natural-Water.htm
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C87HyqKx7wg/
https://www.theedencenter.com/post/a-mikveh-polar-plunge
https://consumer.crckosher.org/faqs/lake-michigan