The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (December 31, 2017)
If a woman conceives—R. Simlai said: Even as the formation of man took place after that of every cattle, beast and fowl when the world was created, so, too, the law regarding him is stated after the law regarding cattle, beast and fowl (contained in the previous chapter) (Leviticus Rabbah 14:1).
As in the days of her menstrual flow—According to the regulation of every uncleanness which is mentioned in the case of a × Ö´×“Ö¼Ö¸×” does she become unclean in respect to the uncleanness resulting from child-birth—even though the womb opened without any issue of blood (cf. Niddah 21a).
Flow—Heb. דְּוֹתָהּ This is an expression for anything which flows from her body. Another explanation is: it has the same meaning as מַדְוֶה, malady and sickness, because no woman seÄ—s an issue of blood from herself except that, as a result of it, she becomes unwell and her head and limbs feel heavy (cf. Niddah 9a).
3 On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
4 Then she must wait in the blood of her cleanliness for thirty-three days [even though she sees blood, she is clean]. She must not touch [an exhortation against eating the heave offering] [for her immersion does not “take” until sunset of the fortieth day, on the following day of which she brings her atonement offering] anything sacred [including the heave offering] or enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification are completed.
Rashi’s Commentary
In the blood of her cleanliness—Even though she see an issue of blood she is nevertheless clean (Torath Kohanim 12:15).
In the blood of her cleanliness—There is no dot in the last ×” of טָהֳרָה (as there is in the last word of this verse): it (the word) is an uninflected noun similar in meaning to טֹהַר (being a feminine form of it).
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25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him the custom of the Law,
28 he took him in his arms and praised God, and said:
29 “Now Lord, you are releasing your servant to depart in peace,
according to your word.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 And his father and mother marveled at the things which were being said about him.
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34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against,
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35 and a sword will pierce your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
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36 And there was a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
37 and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped God night and day with fastings and prayers.
38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When they had done everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
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40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.
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"Lev 12:2-6" is a derivative of "The Rashi Chumash" by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein used under CC BY 3.0
Gospel (Luk 2:22-40)
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 And when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
Lev 12:2-6
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying: “If a woman conceives [just as man’s creation followed that of beast and fowl, so his law follows that of beast and fowl] (“If a woman conceives”) [even if she bore something pulpy and semen-like, she becomes unclean with childbirth-uncleanliness] and gives birth to a male child, she will be unclean for seven days, as in the days of her menstrual flow [even if her womb opened without blood] she will be unclean.
Rashi’s Commentary
If a woman conceives—Heb. ×›Ö¼Ö´×™ תַזְרִיעַ. These words are stated to include the case of a woman who gave birth to him (the male child) as a pulpy mass which had dissolved, having become liquified like seed, even then its mother becomes unclean as though it were a normal birth (Niddah 27b).
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The days of her purification—Heb. טָהֳרָהּ. Here, this is an aspirate “hey,” meaning “the days of her purification.”
She must not touch anything sacred—This is a prohibition addressed to anyone who would eat sacred things in a state of uncleanness, as it is stated in a Baraitha in Yevamot 75a.
5 And if she gives birth to a female child, she will be unclean for two weeks, like her menstruation period. And she must wait in the blood of her purification sixty-six days.
6 “When the days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a one year old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering.
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23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),
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24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”