Parshas Tazria 5765

The Torah discusses various conditions of spiritual impurity. One of these involves the person who develops a skin condition called "tzara'as". The Talmud explains that tzara'as is a physical manifestation of a spiritual deficiency, usually coming as a result of specific sins, such as lashon hara (negative speech about others), arrogance and stinginess. Different forms of tzara'as, i.e. on one's skin or hair or on a burn, denote different sins so a person could understand clearly where his faults lie.

The tzara'as must be diagnosed by the kohen. The person is then isolated outside of the camp, until he is again visited by the kohen. The isolation is more stringent than that of any other impurity. The reason for this is that since he spoke words that create a rift between others, he is separated from other people. Only after the kohen determines that the person has been healed is he allowed to begin the purification process. This involves shaving his hair, sprinkling of water, sacrifices and immersions.

The Torah also discusses various types of tzara'as that do not even affect a person's skin, but rather his clothing and even his house.

The reason why the Torah devotes such great detail to the different types of tzara'as, their diagnoses and the purification processes involved, is to teach us a lesson about the causes of tzara'as and its rectification. There is something unique about lashon hora that makes it more severe than many other sins. With just a few words or even a facial expression, a tremendous amount of damage can be inflicted upon another person, or people--financial emotional, and even physical. People may not realize the destructive power of the tongue; however, the whole fabric of society can be torn apart by the choice of a few ill words.

The Talmud comments that lashon hara is so commonplace, almost everyone transgresses it regularly. Accordingly, the Torah goes into such great detail about the Metzora's isolation from society and the process how he must do teshuva to regain entry back into the community.

Even though tzara'as no longer exists after the Temple was destroyed, the lessons about the severity of lashon hara must still be taken to heart.

...and the kohain shall see the blemish... (Lev. 13:3)

Rav Asher Stoliner would lament that his followers would try to impress him with their accomplishments, yet hide their faults from him. That is not the purpose of a Rebbe, he explained. The Torah instructs a person with tzara'as to bring his blemishes to the kohain to examine them and instruct him how to conduct himself. This teaches us that the Rebbe need not be told one's good deeds and accomplishments: after all, he is not capable of rewarding them anyway. Rather his primary purpose is to assist a person in fixing his faults.

Did You Know...

There is a requirement to lean while eating the matza and drinking the wine at the Seder as a sign of freedom. Women are not obligated to lean, however they must eat and drink sitting down and not standing.

If one forgot to lean for the first two cups of wine or for the matza eaten before the meal he should drink or eat over again without reciting another blessing. However, for the last two cups and for the Afikoman matza eaten after the meal, he need not repeat them.

The leaning must be to one's left and on a pillow or some other surface. Leaning on the air is not considered leaning. During the meal it is not necessary to recline, although some authorities recommend it.