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the korban in groups to reinforce unity among the people, which is a
condition for receiving the Torah. The sheep is specifically termed
“korban” Pesach, and not a Pesach “meal” to teach us that unity requires
self-sacrifice. Only when one is willing to sacrifice his personal desires in
order to accommodate his fellow’s needs is he able to acquire true unity.
This is hinted to by the fact that the word (sacrifice) has the same
root as (drawing close).
The purpose of marriage is to increase peace and harmony. Although
the anger of the woman giving birth is momentary, it leaves a lasting
impression, which must be removed. This parashah is read around the
time of Pesach in order to teach us the connection between the
sin-offering of the woman after birth, which is for the purpose of unity,
and the korban Pesach, which is also meant to unify the people.
Moreover, the word (Pesach) is a derivative of the words
(a mouth that speaks). This implies that one must be careful with the
words that he utters, so that ultimately he should not be stricken with
tzara’at.
We may wonder why parashat Tazria is called by this name, since only
the first part of the parashah discusses a woman who gives birth. The main
part of the parashah deals with the issue of the metzora. However, the
name Tazria alludes to an important lesson. The woman brings a
sin-offering after giving birth because it is likely that while experiencing
severe birth pains she spoke degradingly about her husband. If the Torah
is so exacting of a woman who unintentionally lashes out at her husband
from her agonizing pain, how much greater is the sin of one who
deliberately slanders.