In Chassidic circles it is often referred to as ‘Parshat Tahara’ — the parsha of purification.

It begins with an account of the procedure of the ritual purification of a metzora at the conclusion of his period of defilement.

Only a Kohen could decide that he was truly ‘cured’. The ritual included offering sacrifices.

Blood from some of the sacrifices was to be sprinkled over the erstwhile metzora. A bird was released into an open field. On the seventh day of the purification, he had to immerse in a mikva and symbolically wash his clothes. He also had to shave off all his facial hair, including his beard and eyebrows. The ritual ended on the eighth day with yet more sacrifices and rituals.

The next part of the sedra deals with the third and final type of tzaraat — that which afflicted a house — necessitating the house to be demolished.

Interestingly, as mentioned last week, the rabbis relate that people used to find hidden Amorite treasure when their house was demolished.

I once read of someone in Paris who found an old masterpiece worth £100 million while repairing their roof. As we all do our Pesach cleaning here’s hoping . . .

The sedra ends with a discussion of certain other kinds of tuma (ritual impurity).

As this is the last Shabbat prior to Pesach, it is known as Shabbat Hagadol — the ‘Great Shabbat’. Although there is no special maftir, the haftora is the one designated for this Shabbat. Thus only one scroll is taken out.

First seder night is Monday. The search for chametz is performed on Sunday evening and Monday — erev Pesach — is the Fast of the Firstborn. Consult the luach for the latest times for eating and burning chametz.

Ensure mechirat chametz (the sale of chametz you put away) is done prior to erev Pesach.

Good luck with the cleaning.

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