Tazria-Metzora : Zemer of The Week
Parshat Tazria – “Ki Karov” (Eitan Katz)
כִּי קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד
בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ
For the matter is very close to you –
in your mouth and in your heart, to do it.
As described in the Word of the Week, the kohen’s role is not just to declare status, but to guide a person back – toward growth and responsibility.
This song captures that same idea:
Growth is not distant or unreachable
It is “very close to you”
In your speech (“בפיך”) and in your inner self (“בלבבך”)
That mirrors the Kohen’s message:
You are not defined by where you are now.
You are capable of returning, growing, and becoming better.
The Kohen doesn’t just judge – he helps bring someone back. Growth is accessible.
Parshat Metzora – “Vzakeini” (Benny Friedman / Baruch Levine)
וְזַכֵּנִי לְגַדֵּל בָּנִים וּבְנֵי בָנִים
חֲכָמִים וּנְבוֹנִים
Grant me the merit to raise children and grandchildren
who are wise and understanding.
The central idea of Word of the Week is: The goal is not to eliminate a strength, but to redirect it toward something constructive.
“Vzakeini” is a tefillah that embodies that transformation. It takes natural human drives (family, ambition, expression) and channels them toward purpose, wisdom, and growth
Just like the two birds, one of which represents misuse and the other that is sent back into the world refined and elevated
This song reflects that same movement: Take what we are given – and use it for something higher.
If you want a more-traditional zemer related to both parshiyot:
The zemer for this week: מה ידידות
This zemer first appeared in 1545. Its author, Menachem, modestly hid the acrostic of his name at the beginnings of the second, third, fourth, and sixth stanzas. The zemer begins and ends with praise for Shabbat and Shabbat observers, and the middle stanzas cover a wide variety of Hilchot Shabbat.
Central elements of this parsha include how a new mother should purify herself after childbirth and the korbanot brought by a metzora.
Some of the connections to the parsha:
· Last line of 5th stanza:
“ובו ינוחו בן ובת” (“On it will rest sons and daughters”) – The opening pesukim of the parsha describe a mother’s purification after giving birth to a son (Vayikra 12:1-12:4) and a daughter (Vayikra 12:5), followed by the korbanot she should bring for either a son or a daughter (Vayikra 12:6-12:8).
· 2nd line of 3rd stanza:
“ויכבדוהו עשיר ורש” (“Both the rich man and the pauper will honor it”) – The parsha describes the korbanot that should be brought by both a metzora who can afford lambs (Vayikra 14:10-20) and a poor metzora who can only afford birds (Vayikra 14:21-23).
· Chorus and 2nd line of 2nd stanza:
“ ברבורים ושליו” and
“תרנגולים מפוטמים” (“Fatted fowl and quail” and “Fattened chickens”) – The variety of birds in the zemer echoes the multiple bird korbanot in this parsha (e.g., Vayikra 12:8, 14:22, 15:14, 15:29).