10 April 2018

Liberal Judaism will be raising awareness of modern day leprosy over Shabbat as the Torah portion – Tazria-Metzora – deals with the disease.

Our movement was proud to be the only Jewish organisation at a House of Lords event in February to observe World Leprosy Day. The evening was organised by Lepra, the UK-based international charity that has been working to beat the disease for almost 100 years.

Although largely forgotten in Britain, seven million people are currently affected by leprosy in the developing world with more than 200,000 new cases detected and diagnosed each year.

The disease is curable, yet it still devastates the lives of millions of people due to delayed treatment leading to life-long disabilities and stigma.

One major issue raised by Lepra is that a new Government programme to combat neglected tropical diseases does not currently include leprosy – meaning that efforts to beat it will not be included in funding.

Before Shabbat Tazria-Metzora, Liberal Judaism will send resources from Lepra to rabbis for incorporation into sermons, discussions and campaigns.

Liberal Judaism officer Ros Clayton, who attended the House of Lords event, said: “Leprosy is the world’s oldest recorded disease – even appearing pre-Torah – and still has a great stigma attached to it.

“Since the 1940s it has been completely curable, though sadly it is endemic, especially in India, which is home to one third of the world’s poorest people and the majority of the world’s leprosy cases.

“Leprosy is not something often talked about in Jewish communities, so hopefully the opportunity to discuss it when we read Parashat Tazria-Metzora will bring awareness and help for those suffering.”

Here is a short video from Lepra about modern day leprosy and how they are helping those affected:

For more information on leprosy, please visit www.lepra.org.uk