LEAD TIDBIT:
Pesach Prep in the Parsha
On page 28, you can find the “story” of Parshat Tazri’a (without stats, this time). There you will see that Tazri’a is most often (63% of the time) after Pesach, and combined with M’tzora. But in a not-insignificant 37% of the years, all the 13-month two Adar years, Tazri’a stands on its own and is read around Rosh Chodesh Nissan - a bit before, on Rosh Chodesh, or a couple of days later.

Chagim don’t match Parshat HaShavua. That’s why we suspend the regular Parshat HaShavua and have special Torah readings for the Chagim from elsewhere in the Torah. Pesach does not fall near Parshat Bo, nor does Shavuot fall near Parshat Yitro.

Nevertheless, it is interesting to take a peek at Parshat HaShavua and see if we can connect it to the Calendar.

What jumps out of Parshat Tazri’a, Pesach-wise, is the opening issue of birth - specifically, Brit Mila. Circumcision of the males of one’s household is a required pre-requisite for Korban Pesach. Not only may one not bring the K.P. with an uncircumcised male in his house, but an uncircumcised individual may not eat of Korban Pesach. (This includes one who remains uncircumcised for health reasons.)

The common factor between BRIT and Korban Pesach is the role of each as something akin to a membership rite in the Jewish Nation. It is true that a boy born to a Jewish mother is Jewish from birth, even without a BRIT MILA, but the second bracha at a BRIT indicates that the baby is being “entered into the covenant of Avraham Avinu” with the performance of the MILA.

Also, a non-Jew who wants to become Jewish must undergo MILA (or the token letting of a drop of blood from the place of Mila, if he was previously circumcised) in order to become Jewish.

There are only two positive mitzvot that carry with them the punishment of KAREIT (being cut off from the Jewish People) for non-performance. Usually, such a terrible punishment requires an act of grave sin. In the case of MILA and K.P., the passive non-fulfillment is considered by G-d, so to speak, to be an expression of the individual’s desirte not to have anything to do with being Jewish. And his wish is granted with the penalty of KAREIT. (Of course, KAREIT is the punishment only for the willful, spiteful non-performance.)

Blood is associated with both BRIT MILA and KORBAN PESACH. At a Brit and during the Pesach Seder we recite the same verse, Yechezkel 16:6, in which G-d says that He saved (and will save) the Jewish People in the merit of their shed blood - Midrashically, the blood of Mila and the blood of K.P.