This weeks Parsha, Metzora and last weeks Parsha, Tazria, both speak about the affliction of Tzaraat, which is commonly translated as, leprosy. However, Tzaraat may look like a form of leprosy, but it is not a medical kind of leprosy. It is not a contagious disease, nor is it something which would be treated medically. The Torah speaks about a Tzaraat which comes as punishment for a sin. Tzaraat can take on different forms. It can affect a person, it can affect clothing or it can even affect a house. These are symptoms of a deeper spiritual disease, which can be corrected through repentance. When a person was afflicted with Tzaraat, the Kohen (priest) had to be the one to determine his status. The Kohen would declare the person spiritually unclean, which would require him to be quarantined. Then the Kohen would determine when he was spiritually clean again. A person, who was afflicted with Tzaraat, would be sent out of the city and would have to stay in isolation for the duration of the affliction until the Kohen could determine that the Tzaraat was gone. Tzaraat does not apply today, after the destruction of the Temple. However, the lesson from this condition is everlasting. Our sages explain that one was afflicted with Tzaraat for the sin of slander and speaking badly (lashon hara) about others. When one spreads bad rumors about someone it causes others to isolate themselves from that person. It can cause separation between friends and even between husband and wife, when one spreads negative rumors about someones spouse. As a punishment measure for measure, the person who spoke slander was afflicted with Tzaraat and had to be isolated. When one experiences isolation, they realize the damage they have caused and repent. Words can do great harm. The sages say, If a word is worth one sela (a coin of those days), silence is worth, two. According to our sages, evil speech harms three people. It harms the one who spoke evil; the one who listens to the evil talk and the one about whom they are speaking. According to Torah speech is a powerful tool. G-d created the universe through speech, as related in the Book of Genesis (Breishis). The first sin came about because Eve talked Adam into eating the forbidden fruit. On the other hand, one of the greatest mitzvahs, studying Torah, is achieved through speech. The lesson of the Parsha is how much we have to be careful with our speech. Moshiach NOW!!!
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 05:21:37 +0000
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