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Mi'Mizrach Shemesh Metzora
Mi'Mizrach Shemesh Metzora
Metzora
Friday, April 4, 2014 / ' "
The Metzora needs a certain amount of strength to begin the purification process with the Kohen. During that time period when they are not with anyone else, they have a time to reflect upon themselves and grow from their mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, but how we
" chose to deal with them makes us who we are. Once you learn from your sin, you will become a better person. Shabbat Shalom!
Human Nature
By Ben Jaffe
In this weeks Parashah, Parashat Metzora we read about the heavenly punishment of Tzaraat. Tzaraat is generally described as a disease consisting of white or light colored patches on the skin. Though often improperly translated as leprosy, we learn that Tzaraat is a physical illness that appears as the result of sin. Often we think of Tzaraat as the punishment for Lashon Harah or gossip. For example, in Parshat Behaalotcha, Moshes sister Miriam receives Tzaraat for speaking improperly about Moshe and the Kushit woman. However, the Ramban, Rav Moshe ben Nachman explains that in fact Tzaraat may be a punishment for multiple sins including murder, false oaths, immorality and even theft. It is clear that the punishment of Tzaraat has several unique traits, and it no longer exists in our time. It can only be diagnosed by a Kohen and not a doctor. It can appear on a person, clothing, or even a building. It goes away without any physical treatment. A Tzaraat victim is isolated, yet the disease was not contagious. Most interestingly, not everyone who committed the same sin even got Tzaraat. The story of Miriam highlights the significance of Tzaraat. Miriam was a righteous person. She is described favorably by many commentators. Yet, her illness from Tzaraat as described in Chumash made her fall down in the power rankings. Her vulnerability to sin, and the description of her punishment makes her more human to the rest of us. We are always challenged to avoid sin. Sometimes we dont even realize that our actions, or even our words, may cause unintentional consequences. The story of Miriam, and the public punishment of Tzaraat, reminds us to be ever cognizant of our behavior and how it impacts people around us. The description of Tzaraat serves as a reminder that nobody is perfect or immune, and that we must all work daily to avoid sin, and to avoid hurting otherseven unintentionally. If we keep this in mind then a world of a difference can be made.
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2 This shall be the law of the metzora, the person afflicted by tzaraat, in the day of his purification: he shall be brought unto the priest. 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of tzaraat be healed in the afflicted; Tzaraat we know is a sickness that comes from sin. For all other diseases, the Torah recommends treatment by physicians ,(Shemot 21:19). But tzaraat is not like other diseases. Rabbi Yonatan said: Seven sins are punished with tzaraatslander, bloodshed, a vain oath, incest and adultery, arrogance, robbery and greed. [Talmud, Arakhin 16a] Further, two
" Biblical episodes support the common linkage to slander, to 1 : ) the second of the signs which Moshe was commanded to make before Pharoah includes a hand, Moshes hand, terrifyingly infected by tzaraat because shortly before: Moshe answered and said: But, see, they will not believe me, nor will they listen to my voice; they will say, the Lord has not appeared to you. 2) When Miriam spoke against Moshe, she too was stricken briefly with tzaraat. Priests healing role arises then in the context of the unique disease of the soultzaraat. About that disease the Kohanim, the priests, are the experts. They are the doctors. A person with generally good character traits might neglect a mitzvah without our suspecting that they were profoundly soul sick. However, all of the sins mentioned in the Gemara in connection to Tzaraat (bloodshed, robbery, adultery, etc and of course evil talk) are mitzvot bein adam lchavero that are not committed except by an individual whose personality is not right. Such a person with bad personality traits would require according to the Rambam a doctor to souls just as a person who suffers from tzaraat, the outer infection that displays the inner corruption, requires a Kohena Priest for healing.
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Q3: Why is the color of Tzaraat different on skin than on clothing? (13; 49) A: So it can show up better, because skin is a different color than clothing. (Eli Meyers, 9th Grade)
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