Parshas Tazria-Metzora 5767

Commentary by Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum

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The Torah discusses the different laws of spiritual contamination and their purification. One type of contamination comes as a result of childbirth. Although bringing a new life with an untarnished soul into the world is actually the highest expression of holiness and sanctity, the mother herself becomes impure. She must go through a purification process, lasting forty days upon the birth of a male, and eighty days upon the birth of a female. After that, she brings two sacrifices to the Temple, a burnt offering and a sin offering. Only then is she allowed to enter the Temple.

The Torah also discusses the nature of the tzara’as disease, its contamination, and the purification process. Tzara’as is a type of skin ailment that comes as punishment for various sins, most notably lashon hara and arrogance. The metzora was isolated from the rest of the community, outside of the camp. Because one who speaks lashon hara shows he cannot interact properly with others, he must be isolated from the rest of society.

In the purification process, the kohen prepared two birds, a piece of cedar wood, a piece of crimson-dyed wool, and a clump of a low-growing plant. Each of the needed materials symbolized one facet of the person’s sin and atonement. The chirping birds serve as a reminder of the idle chatter that tends to lead to slander and gossip, the primary cause of tzara’as. The cedar wood, a very tall tree, is a reminder of the speaker’s arrogance. The red wool, which is produced from a worm’s blood, and the lowly plant too, both serve as a reminder to be humble.

The Torah also introduces two other types of tzara’as, one that affects the person’s clothing another that affects the stones of one’s house. This condition, if it spreads, could result in having to tear down the entire house. These types of tzara’as, too, are meant as ways of dealing with the person who misuses his tongue.

Rashi points out that when a person would first sin, G-d would send the tzara’as to the stones of his house, merely causing an inconvenience, and perhaps a financial loss. If this did not succeed in arousing the person to improve his behavior, G-d would cause his clothing to become affected with tzara’as. If this too did not succeed, the person’s own body would be affected, until he would learn to be more careful with his speech.

The laws of tzara’as impress upon us the severity of lashon hara, and the importance of using one’s tongue properly and constructively.

...and the person being purified shall take two live, clean birds... (Lev. 14:4)

Rav Itzele Peterberger was once relating an incident that had occurred in his city to his Rebbe, Rav Yisrael Salanter. Rav Yisrael stopped his disciple and asked, “Does this story have any practical relevance to you?” Rav Itzele answered that it did, and he proceeded to explain how it affected him.

Rav Yisrael put his hand on his student’s hand and reassured him, “You don’t have to explain anything to me, as I surely believe you. I just wanted to make sure that this discussion was not merely needless chatter.”

Did You Know...

Any speech that could lead to negative gossip or ill will between people is prohibited, even if it is not negative. This is called avak lashon hara--the residue of gossip.

For example, praising a person’s merchandise in front of his competitor is prohibited, as it may lead to saying something derogatory.

Similarly, praising a person excessively will often lead to pointing out that person’s flaws. Praising a person’s generosity in front of his or her spouse could lead to an argument between the couple, and should be avoided.

Relating somebody’s secret is also prohibited, since the person will be resentful that his secret has been revealed.