Shabbat Tazria - תזריע

2 Kings 4:42–5:19 (Other opinion: Isaiah 66:7-66:24 and repeat 66:23)

2013- When Tazria-Tahor are combined (Leviticus 12:1-15:33), (1) Maqam SABA should be applied, because the perasha commences with the circumcision of the baby boy on the eighth day. In our tradition, Saba ("Sabi" in Arabic means 'boy') is reserved for the Berit Milah. Other opinions include: (2) Maqam SIGAH, because the perasha deals with holiness rituals, and Sigah is used for rituals. (3) Maqam NAHWAND, because leprosy is traditionally associated with Lashon HaRa’ (evil tongue), and Nahwand is reserved for disharmony. In addition, for the Shabbat prior to Israel Independence Day, some apply Maqam Nahwand and transpose the Tiqvah (Israel's national anthem) to the prayers. (4) Maqam BAYAT, because the birth of a baby girl is also mentioned in the beginning of the perasha, and Bayat is reserved for celebrating the baby girl (as "Bat" sounds like "Bayat"). ALIYOT: Being that there is a tradition to label this 'Shabbat Tahor," most aliyot end with a derivation of the word "Tahor" (12:8, 13:13, 13:17, 13:23, 13:34, 13:39, 14:9, 14:53). MISHMARA: Tractates Niddah & Zabim (Sephardic Pizmonim Project, www.pizmonim.com).

2012- When Tazria-Tahor are combined (Leviticus 12:1-15:33), Maqam Saba should be applied, because the perasha commences with the circumcision of the baby boy on the eighth day. In our tradition, Saba ("Sabi" in Arabic means 'boy') is reserved for the Berit Milah. Other opinions include: (1) Maqam Sigah, because the perasha deals with holiness rituals, and Sigah is used for rituals. (2) Maqam Nahwand, because leprosy is associated with Lashon HaRa’ (evil tongue), and Nahwand is reserved for disharmony. (3) Maqam Bayat, because the birth of a baby girl is also mentioned in the beginning of the perasha, and Bayat is reserved for celebrating the birth of a baby girl. Mahzor Aram Soba (1560) refers to Tazria as "Shabbat Isha" and Mesora as "Shabbat Zot Tihyeh." Subsequent sources refer to the later as "Shabbat Tahor," which means 'pure'. ALIYOT: Most aliyot end positively with a derivation of the word "Tahor" (12:8, 13:13, 13:17, 13:23, 13:34, 13:39, 14:9, 14:53). MISHMARA: Tractates Niddah & Zabim (Sources: Mordechai Nadaf, Haim Shayo, Sephardic Pizmonim Project, www.pizmonim.com).

2011- For Shabbat Tazria, Maqam Saba ("Sabi" in Arabic is baby boy) is applied, because Tazria commences with the birth of a baby boy and his circumcision on the eighth day. In our tradition, Maqam Saba is reserved for the Brit Milah. Another opinion listed in the Red Book is Bayat, because the birth of a baby girl is also mentioned in the beginning of the perasha. The opinion of H. Moshe Ashear is to apply Maqam Bayat-Hoseni for Shabbat HaHodesh.