Thursday, April 26, 2012

Torah Trivia for Parshah 27. Tazria; 118.8.15


Torah Trivia for Parshah 27.  Tazria (Questions Only)

1.)  Can you describe:  a.)  the number of days a mor (mother) remains ritually unclean (as during her menstruation) after giving birth to a son;  b.)  on what day the son is circumcised;  and, c.)  the number of additional days the mor is to wait whilst continuing to be ritually unclean?

2.)  Can you describe:  a.)  the number of days a mor remains ritually unclean (as during her menstruation) after giving birth to a daughter;  and, b.)  the number of additional days the mor is to wait whilst continuing to be unclean?

3.)  Can you match the symptoms with the appropriately corresponding diagnoses and prescriptions:

          Symptoms:                                                    Diagnosis:


1.)  The person has sores/rash/swelling/ discolouration on the skin of the body, that penetrates beneath the skin, with white hairs within such areas;
2.)  The person has white discolouration on the surface of the skin, with “coloured” hairs;

a.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy and is isolated from the community;
b.)  The person is diagnosed with an infection and is quarantined for 7 days until further examination?


4.)  Can you match the 3 symptoms with the appropriately corresponding 3 diagnoses and prescriptions, for a person who is quarantined for an initial 7 days?
         

          Symptoms:

1.)  The scaly infection remains unchanged in colour and the disease abstains from spreading;
2.)  After an additional 7 days, the scaly infection fades and abstains from spreading;
3.)  After an additional 7 days, the scaly infection spreads;

Diagnoses and Prescriptions:

a.)  The person maintains the diagnosis of an infection and is quarantined for another 7 days;
b.)  The person is diagnosed with a rash, is deemed pure, and is instructed to wash that person’s clothes;
c.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy, and is isolated from the community?

         

5.)  Can you match the 2 symptoms with the appropriately corresponding 2 diagnoses, for a person with sores/rash that covers the person’s entire body?


          Symptoms:

1.)  A person becomes entirely white with a scaly infection covering the person, from foot to head;
2.)  A person has a scaly infection where there is some raw, exposed flesh;


Diagnoses:

a.)  The person is deemed to be pure;
b.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy?


6.)  Can you match the 4 symptoms with the appropriately corresponding 4 diagnoses and prescriptions, for a person who experiences a red or white sore/inflammation after having a previously healed infection?


          Symptoms:

1.)  The inflammation appears beneath the skin and the hair is turned white;
2.)  The inflammation fades, without appearing beneath the skin, and the hair abstains from turning white;
3.)  After a 7-day quarantine, the inflammation spreads within the skin;
4.)  After a 7-day quarantine, the discolouration remains stationary;

Diagnoses and Prescriptions:

a.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy and is isolated from the community;
b.)  The person is diagnosed with an inflammation and is quarantined for 7 days;
c.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy and is isolated from the community;
d.)  The person is deemed to be pure?


7.)  Can you match 4 symptoms with the appropriately corresponding 4 diagnoses and prescriptions, for a person who experiences red or white sores after experiencing a burn?


          Symptoms: 

1.)  The sores appear deeper than the skin and some hair turns white;
2.)  The sores are only on the surface and there is an absence of white hair;
3.)  After 7 days of quarantine, the sores spread throughout the skin;
4.)  After 7 days of quarantine, the sores remain stationary and are faded;

Diagnoses and Prescriptions:

a.)  The person is diagnosed with sores and is quarantined for 7 days;
b.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy and is isolated from the community;
c.)  The person is diagnosed with a scar, resulting from a burn, and is deemed to be pure;
d.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy and is isolated from the community?


8.)  Can you match 6 symptoms with the appropriately corresponding 6 diagnoses and prescriptions, for a person who experiences an infection upon the scalp or chin?


          Symptoms:

1.)  The infection penetrates the skin, and there is yellow hair;
2.)  The infection remains only on the surface of the skin, yet there is an absence of black hair;
3.)  After a 7-day quarantine, the infection abstains from spreading and from penetrating the skin, and there is an absence of yellow hair;
4.)  After a 2nd 7-day quarantine, the infection abstains from spreading or penetrating the skin;
5.)  After a 2nd 7-day quarantine, the infection spreads;
6.)  After a 2nd 7-day quarantine, the infection remains unchanged in colour, yet black hair grows in it;

Diagnoses and Prescriptions:

a.)  The person is diagnosed with an infection and is quarantined for 7 days;
b.)  The person is diagnosed with a leprosy of the chin or scalp and is isolated from the community;
c.)  The person is diagnosed with an infection, is instructed to shave off the person’s hair (except the area of the infection), and is quarantined for another 7 days;
d.)  The infection of the person is determined to be healed, and the person is deemed to be pure.
e.)  The person is diagnosed with a leprosy of the chin or scalp and is isolated from the community;
f.)  The person is deemed pure, and is instructed to wash the person’s clothes?





9.)  Can you match the 3 symptoms with the appropriately corresponding 3 diagnoses, for a person who experiences an infection within a balding area?


          Symptom:

          1.)  A man becomes bald;
2.)  A man becomes bald within the forehead;
3.)  A man experiences red and white swollen sores within a balding area;
         
Diagnoses:

a.)  The man is pure;
b.)  The man is pure;
c.)  The man is diagnosed with leprosy?

10.)  Can you describe what a person, who is diagnosed with leprosy, is commanded to declare after receiving such a diagnosis: 

a.)   “Let’s pop the bubbly:  Party over here!”;
b.)   “Impure!  Impure!”;
c.)   “Please pass the soap and water.”;
d.)   “Let’s wait and sit,
 abstain from spit,
 get the sacrifice lit,
 ‘til all my bits are fit.”;
e.)   “I would like to receive a second opinion from another כהן, thank you.”
f.)    “How much is this going to cost me?”

11.)  Can you describe where a person, who is diagnosed with leprosy, is commanded to reside after receiving such a diagnosis?

a.)   Lepers are to live outside the camp;
b.)   Lepers are to live in palaces on the tops of hills;
c.)   Lepers are to live in Monasteries within a quiet enclave in the woods;
d.)   Lepers are to live in a level 3, maximum security, penitentiary;
e.)   Lepers are to live in undisclosed sanatorium
f.)    Lepers are to live in distant, outer-hemispheric colonies beyond the Earth;
g.)   Lepers are to live within animated cartoon metropolises at the bottom of the oceans;
h.)   Lepers are to live exclusively within penthouse apartments;
i.)     Lepers are to live in outer-beltway suburban cul de sacs;
j.)    Lepers are to live in sewers;
k.)   Lepers are to live within fields amidst the wild animals;
l.)     Lepers are to live wherever lepers sho’ nuff please?



12.)  Can you match the 7 symptoms with 7 diagnoses and prescriptions, regarding a mildew infection occurring within cloth, wool, linen, or leather material?


          Symptoms:

1.)  An item has a green or red streak of mildew infection;
2.)  After a 7-day quarantine, the mildew infection spreads;
3.)  After a 7-day quarantine, the mildew infection abstains from spreading;
4.)  After being washed, and after a 2nd 7-day quarantine, the mildew infection remains unchanged in colour or size;
5.)  After being washed, and after a 2nd 7-day quarantine, the mildew infection is faded;
6.)  After having the infected portion of the material removed, the mildew infection reappears within the remaining material;
7.)  After having the infected portion of the material removed, the mildew infection disappears;

Diagnoses and Prescriptions:

a.)  The item is diagnosed with a mildew infection and is quarantined for 7 days;
b.)  The item is diagnosed with a malignant infection and is burned;
c.)  The item is diagnosed with a mildew infection, is washed, and is quarantined for another 7 days;
d.)  The item is diagnosed with a malignant infection and is burned;
e.)  The item is diagnosed with a mildew infection, and the portion containing the mildew infection is cut and removed from the item;
f.)  The item is diagnosed with a malignant infection and is burned;
g.)  The item is washed on a 2nd occasion and is deemed to be pure?

Torah Trivia for Parshah 27.  Tazria (with Answers)

1.)  Can you describe:  a.)  the number of days a mor (mother) remains ritually unclean (as during her menstruation) after giving birth to a son;  b.)  on what day the son is circumcised;  and, c.)  the number of additional days the mor is to wait whilst continuing to be ritually unclean?

          Answer: 

a.)   The mor is ritually unclean (as during her menstruation) for 7 days (Vayikra 12:2);
b.)   The son is circumcised on the 8th day (Vayikra 12:3);  and,
c.)   The mor remains in a state of blood purification for an additional 33 days (Vayikra 12:4);

“Speak to the Israelite people thus:  When a woman at childbirth bears a male, she shall be impure seven days;  she shall be impure as at the time of her menstrual infirmity.—On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.—She shall remain in a state of blood purification for thirty-three days:  she shall not touch any consecrated thing, nor enter the sanctuary until her period of purification is completed.”  (Vayikra 12:2 – 4).

2.)  Can you describe:  a.)  the number of days a mor remains ritually unclean (as during her menstruation) after giving birth to a daughter;  and, b.)  the number of additional days the mor is to wait whilst continuing to be unclean?

          Answer:
         
a.)   The mor is ritually unclean (as during her menstruation) for 14 days (Vayikra 12:5);  and,
b.)   The mor remains in a state of blood purification for an additional 66 days (Vayikra 12:5);

“If she bears a female, she shall be impure two weeks as during her menstruation, and she shall remain in a state of blood purification for sixty-six days.”  (Vayikra 12:5).

3.)  Can you match the symptoms with the appropriately corresponding diagnoses and prescriptions:

          Symptoms:                                                    Diagnosis:


1.)  The person has sores/rash/swelling/ discolouration on the skin of the body, that penetrates beneath the skin, with white hairs within such areas;
2.)  The person has white discolouration on the surface of the skin, with “coloured” hairs;

a.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy and is isolated from the community;
b.)  The person is diagnosed with an infection and is quarantined for 7 days until further examination?


Answer:  The appropriate matches are:  1.)  a.);  and 2.)  b.):

“When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling, a rash, or a discoloration, and it develops into a scaly affection on the skin of his body, it shall be reported to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests.  The priest shall examine the affection on the skin of his body:  if hair in the affected patch has turned white and the affection appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a leprous affection;  when the priest sees it, he shall pronounce him impure.  But if it is a white discoloration on the skin of his body which does not appear to be deeper than the skin and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall isolate the affected person for seven days.”  (Vayikra 13:2 – 4).


4.)  Can you match the 3 symptoms with the appropriately corresponding 3 diagnoses and prescriptions, for a person who is quarantined for an initial 7 days?
         

          Symptoms:

1.)  The scaly infection remains unchanged in colour and the disease abstains from spreading;
2.)  After an additional 7 days, the scaly infection fades and abstains from spreading;
3.)  After an additional 7 days, the scaly infection spreads;

Diagnoses and Prescriptions:

a.)  The person maintains the diagnosis of an infection and is quarantined for another 7 days;
b.)  The person is diagnosed with a rash, is deemed pure, and is instructed to wash that person’s clothes;
c.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy, and is isolated from the community?



          Answer:  The appropriate matches are:  1.)  a.);  2.)  b.);  and, 3.)  c.):

“On the seventh day the priest shall examine him, and if the affection has remained unchanged in color and the disease has not spread on the skin, the priest shall isolate him for another seven days.  On the seventh day the priest shall examine him again:  if the affection has faded and has not spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce him pure.  It is a rash;  he shall wash his clothes, and he shall be pure.  But if the rash should spread on the skin after he has presented himself to the priest and been pronounced pure, he shall present himself again to the priest.  And if the priest sees that the rash has spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce him impure;  it is leprosy.”  (Vayikra 13:5 – 8).

5.)  Can you match the 2 symptoms with the appropriately corresponding 2 diagnoses, for a person with sores/rash that covers the person’s entire body?


          Symptoms:

1.)  A person becomes entirely white with a scaly infection covering the person, from foot to head;
2.)  A person has a scaly infection where there is some raw, exposed flesh;


Diagnoses:

a.)  The person is deemed to be pure;
b.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy?

          Answer:  The appropriate matching is:  1.)  a.);  and 2.)  b.):

“If the eruption spreads out over the skin so that it covers all the skin of the affected person from head to foot, wherever the priest can see—if the priest sees that the eruption has covered the whole body—he shall pronounce the affected person pure;  he is pure, for he has turned all white.  But as soon as undiscolored flesh appears in it, he shall be impure;  when the priest sees the undiscolored flesh, he shall pronounce him impure.  The undiscolored flesh is impure;  it is leprosy.  But if the undiscolored flesh again turns white, he shall come to the priest, and the priest shall examine him:  if the affection has turned white, the priest shall pronounce the affected person pure;  he is pure.”  (Vayikra 13:12 – 17).



6.)  Can you match the 4 symptoms with the appropriately corresponding 4 diagnoses and prescriptions, for a person who experiences a red or white sore/inflammation after having a previously healed infection?


          Symptoms:

1.)  The inflammation appears beneath the skin and the hair is turned white;
2.)  The inflammation fades, without appearing beneath the skin, and the hair abstains from turning white;
3.)  After a 7-day quarantine, the inflammation spreads within the skin;
4.)  After a 7-day quarantine, the discolouration remains stationary;

Diagnoses and Prescriptions:

a.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy and is isolated from the community;
b.)  The person is diagnosed with an inflammation and is quarantined for 7 days;
c.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy and is isolated from the community;
d.)  The person is deemed to be pure?


Answer:  The appropriate matching is:  1.)  a.);  2.)  b.);  3.)  c.);  and, 4.)  d.) (recognising, admittedly, that a.) and c.) are effectively identical):

“When an inflammation appears on the skin of one’s body and it heals, and a white swelling or a white discoloration streaked with red develops where the inflammation was, he shall present himself to the priest.  If the priest finds that it appears lower than the rest of the skin and that the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him impure;  it is a leprous affection that has broken out in the inflammation.  But if the priest finds that there is no white hair in it and it is not lower than the rest of the skin, and it is faded, the priest shall isolate him for seven days.  If it should spread in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him impure;  it is an affection.  But if the discoloration remains stationary, not having spread, it is the scar of the inflammation;  the priest shall pronounce him pure.”  (Vayikra 13:18 – 23).

7.)  Can you match 4 symptoms with the appropriately corresponding 4 diagnoses and prescriptions, for a person who experiences red or white sores after experiencing a burn?


          Symptoms: 

1.)  The sores appear deeper than the skin and some hair turns white;
2.)  The sores are only on the surface and there is an absence of white hair;
3.)  After 7 days of quarantine, the sores spread throughout the skin;
4.)  After 7 days of quarantine, the sores remain stationary and are faded;

Diagnoses and Prescriptions:

a.)  The person is diagnosed with sores and is quarantined for 7 days;
b.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy and is isolated from the community;
c.)  The person is diagnosed with a scar, resulting from a burn, and is deemed to be pure;
d.)  The person is diagnosed with leprosy and is isolated from the community?


          Answer:  The appropriate matches are:  1.)  b.);  2.)  a.);  3.)  d.);  and, 4.)  c.):

“When the skin of one’s body sustains a burn by fire, and the patch from the burn is a discoloration, either white streaked with red, or white, the priest shall examine it.  If some hair has turned white in the discoloration, which itself appears to go deeper than the skin, it is leprosy that has broken out in the burn.  The priest shall pronounce him impure;  it is a leprous affection.  But if the priest finds that there is no white hair in the discoloration, and that it is not lower than the rest of the skin, and it is faded, the priest shall isolate him for seven days.  On the seventh day the priest shall examine him:  if it has spread in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him impure;  it is a leprous affection.  But if the discoloration has remained stationary, not having spread on the skin, and it is faded, it is the swelling from the burn.  The priest shall pronounce him pure, for it is the scar of the burn.”  (Vayikra 13:24 – 28).



8.)  Can you match 6 symptoms with the appropriately corresponding 6 diagnoses and prescriptions, for a person who experiences an infection upon the scalp or chin?


          Symptoms:

1.)  The infection penetrates the skin, and there is yellow hair;
2.)  The infection remains only on the surface of the skin, yet there is an absence of black hair;
3.)  After a 7-day quarantine, the infection abstains from spreading and from penetrating the skin, and there is an absence of yellow hair;
4.)  After a 2nd 7-day quarantine, the infection abstains from spreading or penetrating the skin;
5.)  After a 2nd 7-day quarantine, the infection spreads;
6.)  After a 2nd 7-day quarantine, the infection remains unchanged in colour, yet black hair grows in it;

Diagnoses and Prescriptions:

a.)  The person is diagnosed with an infection and is quarantined for 7 days;
b.)  The person is diagnosed with a leprosy of the chin or scalp and is isolated from the community;
c.)  The person is diagnosed with an infection, is instructed to shave off the person’s hair (except the area of the infection), and is quarantined for another 7 days;
d.)  The infection of the person is determined to be healed, and the person is deemed to be pure.
e.)  The person is diagnosed with a leprosy of the chin or scalp and is isolated from the community;
f.)  The person is deemed pure, and is instructed to wash the person’s clothes?



Answer:  The appropriate matches are:  1.)  b.);  2.)  a.);  3.)  c.);  4.)  f.);  5.)  e.);  and, 6.)  d.):

“If a man or woman has an affection on the head or in the beard, the priest shall examine the affection.  If it appears to go deeper than the skin and there is thin yellow hair in it, the priest shall pronounce him impure;  it is a scall, a scaly eruption in the hair or beard.  But if the priest finds that the scall affection does not appear to go deeper than the skin, yet there is no black hair in it, the priest shall isolate the person with the scall affection for seven days.  On the seventh day the priest shall examine the affection.  If the scall has not spread and no yellow hair has appeared in it, and the scall does not appear to go deeper than the skin, the person with the scall shall shave himself, but without shaving the scall;  the priest shall isolate him for another seven days.  On the seventh day the priest shall examine the scall.  If the scall has not spread on the skin, and does not appear to go deeper than the skin, the priest shall pronounce him pure;  he shall wash his clothes, and he shall be pure.  If, however, the scall should spread on the skin after he has been pronounced pure, the priest shall examine him.  If the scall has spread on the skin, the priest need not look for yellow hair:  he is impure.  But if the scall has remained unchanged in color, and black hair has grown in it, the scall is healed;  he is pure.  The priest shall pronounce him pure.”  (Vayikra 13:29 – 37).

9.)  Can you match the 3 symptoms with the appropriately corresponding 3 diagnoses, for a person who experiences an infection within a balding area?


          Symptom:

          1.)  A man becomes bald;
2.)  A man becomes bald within the forehead;
3.)  A man experiences red and white swollen sores within a balding area;
         
Diagnoses:

a.)  The man is pure;
b.)  The man is pure;
c.)  The man is diagnosed with leprosy?


          Answer:  The appropriate matches are:  1.)  b.);  2.)  a.);  and 3.)  c.):

“If a man loses the hair of his head and become bald, he is pure.  If he loses the hair on the front part of his head and becomes bald at the forehead, he is pure.  But if a white affection streaked with red appears on the bald part in the front or at the back of the head, it is a scaly eruption that is spreading over the bald part in the front or at the back of the head.  The priest shall examine him:  if the swollen affection on the bald part in the front or at the back of his head is white streaked with red, like the leprosy of body skin in appearance, the man is leprous;  he is impure.  The priest shall pronounce him impure;  he has the affection on his head.”  (Vayikra 13:40 – 44).

10.)  Can you describe what a person, who is diagnosed with leprosy, is commanded to declare after receiving such a diagnosis: 

g.)   “Let’s pop the bubbly:  Party over here!”;
h.)   “Impure!  Impure!”;
i.)     “Please pass the soap and water.”;
j.)    “Let’s wait and sit,
 abstain from spit,
 get the sacrifice lit,
 ‘til all my bits are fit.”;
k.)   “I would like to receive a second opinion from another כהן, thank you.”
l.)     “How much is this going to cost me?”

Answer:  A leper is commanded to declare:  b.)  “Impure!  Impure!”:

“As for the person with a leprous affection, his clothes shall be rent, his head shall be left bare, and he shall cover his upper lip;  and he shall call out. ‘Impure!  Impure!’”  (Vayikra 13:45).

11.)  Can you describe where a person, who is diagnosed with leprosy, is commanded to reside after receiving such a diagnosis?

m.) Lepers are to live outside the camp;
n.)   Lepers are to live in palaces on the tops of hills;
o.)   Lepers are to live in Monasteries within a quiet enclave in the woods;
p.)   Lepers are to live in a level 3, maximum security, penitentiary;
q.)   Lepers are to live in undisclosed sanatorium
r.)    Lepers are to live in distant, outer-hemispheric colonies beyond the Earth;
s.)   Lepers are to live within animated cartoon metropolises at the bottom of the oceans;
t.)    Lepers are to live exclusively within penthouse apartments;
u.)   Lepers are to live in outer-beltway suburban cul de sacs;
v.)   Lepers are to live in sewers;
w.)  Lepers are to live within fields amidst the wild animals;
x.)   Lepers are to live wherever lepers sho’ nuff please?

Answer:  Technically, lepers are to reside outside the camp, although perceivably amidst the temporal distinctions of circumstance since the original conveyance of the Torah, each of the subsequent responses (with perhaps the exception of “l.),” may also be applicable within the same, commanded requirements:

“He shall be impure as long as the disease is on him.  Being impure, he shall dwell apart;  his dwelling shall be outside the camp.”  (Vayikra 13:46).



12.)  Can you match the 7 symptoms with 7 diagnoses and prescriptions, regarding a mildew infection occurring within cloth, wool, linen, or leather material?


          Symptoms:

1.)  An item has a green or red streak of mildew infection;
2.)  After a 7-day quarantine, the mildew infection spreads;
3.)  After a 7-day quarantine, the mildew infection abstains from spreading;
4.)  After being washed, and after a 2nd 7-day quarantine, the mildew infection remains unchanged in colour or size;
5.)  After being washed, and after a 2nd 7-day quarantine, the mildew infection is faded;
6.)  After having the infected portion of the material removed, the mildew infection reappears within the remaining material;
7.)  After having the infected portion of the material removed, the mildew infection disappears;

Diagnoses and Prescriptions:

a.)  The item is diagnosed with a mildew infection and is quarantined for 7 days;
b.)  The item is diagnosed with a malignant infection and is burned;
c.)  The item is diagnosed with a mildew infection, is washed, and is quarantined for another 7 days;
d.)  The item is diagnosed with a malignant infection and is burned;
e.)  The item is diagnosed with a mildew infection, and the portion containing the mildew infection is cut and removed from the item;
f.)  The item is diagnosed with a malignant infection and is burned;
g.)  The item is washed on a 2nd occasion and is deemed to be pure?


Answer:  The appropriate matches are:  1.)  a.);  2.)  b.);  3.)  c.);  4.)  d.);  5.)  e.);  6.)  f.);  and, 7.)  g.);  Vayikra 13:47 – 58.

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Discussion Questions:

What are the implications regarding the respective natures of a mor’s (mother’s) uncleanliness during the first 7/8 days after giving birth to a son (and 14 days after giving birth to a daughter), and the subsequent 33 days after that duration (66 days for the daughter)?

What are the implications regarding the distinctions of the mor’s cleanliness when giving birth to a boy compared with giving birth to a girl?   Do these distinctions imply an intrinsic ritual (or additionally inherent) difference between the son and the daughter?  If so, how are we to understand these distinctions within the aggregate context of the respective behaviour of, and interaction between, men and women?  Are there any limits to these distinctions, and if so, what is the applicability of these distinctions?  What rules are applied when a mor gives birth to both a son and daughter?

What is meant by the teaching within Vayikra 13:12 – 13, whereby if a rash covers the entire body of a person (turning the entire body white), then the person is deemed to be clean, whilst the previous teaching describes that a spreading rash/sore is a sign of leprosy;  and what is meant by “healthy skin” being “unclean”?  From what historical circumstances and experiences are these teachings derived;  and what may be some metaphysical explanations regarding the natural phenomena being described?

What are some implications regarding race and ethnicity, regarding the respective colours of skin and hair, amongst additional tribes throughout the Earth;  are the descriptions within Parshah Tazria “phenotypically specific” (predicated upon the presumption of having certain ethnic characteristics, particularly unwhite skin tone and black hair);  what may be some metaphysical considerations regarding the phenomenon of leprosy, including the colouration, discolouration, and/or “undiscolouration” of hair and skin?  Are these descriptions Universally applicable to all human beings, or simply amongst the “ethnotype” of people who are predominantly Semitic?

Is there an intrinsic/esoteric connexion between the phenomenon of physical uncleanliness and transgressive behaviour;  between extracting the leper and extracting the unrighteous person?  How do these teachings enlighten us to cultivate “cleanliness” and “righteousness” within our own respective selves (removing the “uncleanliness” and “unrighteousness” from within each of us, individually)?

Amidst the notion of leprosy being contagious, how does the phenomenon of leprosy actually originate, and how else might it spread?  Is physical isolation sufficient to suppress the experience of such disease?  Is there any legitimacy within the notion of physical “cleanliness” being directly connected with righteousness;  and if so, again, is physical separation of a leper an effective means of alleviating the experience of leprosy? 

How might contemporary physical ailments that challenge humanity, and life in general, be considered within the context of these teachings regarding leprosy?  What may be some direct and subtle (inherent/esoteric) connexions between these contemporary physical ailments and concurrent experiences of hunger, poverty, and violence within humanity?

Is there any significance within the practise of washing mildewed material only after waiting 7 days?  Does such an “examination period” have any applicability towards how we address the behaviour of other people:  abstaining from immediately “washing” behaviour of others and initially observing behaviour for a certain period, before making a determination of cleanliness, uncleanliness, and otherwise?

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