Childbirth, Children, Family, Generations, Komps Kaos, Leviticus, Maternity Leave, Offering, Parents, Parsha, Provision, Purity, Ritual, Separation, Skin Diseases, Tazria, Vayikra
Ancient Maternity Leave
Parashat Tazria consists of only two chapters, but they are packed to the gills with instructions about bodily purity. This year, the opening verses caught my attention – instructions for women following childbirth. The first mitzvah of bearing children comes at a certain cost for the parents: separation for the mother and an offering to thank G!d for provision and mark her return to society. (The next chapter leads many modern discussions about skin diseases, and goes on for fifty-nine verses…)
How was the Israelites’ ancient maternity leave different than parental leave today? How do we still offer thanks to G!d for the children who will continue our people? Beyond the discussion of purity laws, the difference between genders brought out by this separation, etc. – I noticed this time the normal idea of separating with a newborn. There’s a built-in bonding time in Leviticus 12, enclosed in the laws of ritual purity for the community.
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Komps kaos is counting down…I’m writing my first paper and kontinuing the konstant struggle to read and study.