Shabbat Metzora'a - Shabbat Hagadol
Before and After
The Midrash in last week's parasha – Parashat Tazria, quotes the passuk in Tehillim that says: "Achor vakedem tzartani" "You created me after [the rest of creation] and before [the rest of creation]". The mefarshim explain that this is a reference to the two components in a person; "achor" , the entity that was created last was the human body, and "kedem" is a reference to that which was created first,. the neshama – the soul of a person.
Parashat Tazria, which opens with the laws of a yoledet (a lady following childbirth) is an expression of where these two components the body and the soul, come into existence together, in the form of a new child.
Tzara'at – a Spiritual Impurity .
In both parshiyot Tazria and Metzora the Torah discusses in great detail the tumah of tzara'at (leprosy). The Gemara in Arachin explains that tzara'at comes as a punishment for "evil talk", lashon hara (slander).
The Ramban discusses the phenomenon of tza'raat on one's clothes or his house and says that tzara'at on both clothes and a house are supernatural events that are not supposed to occur, but when klal yisrael are on the correct spiritual level, then their bodies, clothes and houses have a good appearance. However, once an individual sins, a blemish (tzara'at) will appear on his body, clothes, or house as a sign that Hashem has removed His kedusha from this person.
In other words, tzara'at is a spiritual, not physical condition, and is a manifestation of the connection between Hashem and a person.
Speech and Tzara'at
We would like to suggest that it is specifically here, in the context of tzara'at, which comes as a result of forbidden speech that Hashem chose to demonstrate when He is displeased with an individual (and the individual is smitten with tzara'at) because speech is a special ability given only to man and this power of speech is supposed to reflect the unique spiritual status that man has over all other creatures. When a person abuses this unique privilege of speech and defiles his mouth with slander, it is appropriate that as a consequence he receives tzara'at which indicates that he is no longer worthy of this privilege.
This is why the Midrash specifically over here, in the parsha that describes the laws of tzara'at brings the passuk of achor v'kedem tzartani, which, as we have discussed above, is a reference to the body and the soul, because specifically in the context of tzara'at a person's body reflects and demonstrates the spiritual level of his neshama.
Verbal Declaration
The Chafetz Chayim, in his sefer on the Torah points out that since tzara'at comes as a result of a person's speech, it is only fitting that the status of the tzara'at is ruled by the Kohen verbally, and only once the Kohen declares that the tzara'at is tamei, will the tumah come into effect. Without this verbal ruling, the tzara'at is not considered tamei. In fact, this is the only area of Jewish law where a declaration is essential for the tumah to come into effect.
As we approach Pesach and are busy cleaning all chametz from our houses, let us keep in mind that the sefarim say that we are also simultaneously supposed to be "finding" and "destroying" the yetzer hara and all bad middots (bad character traits). Let us use this reminder from Parashat Metzora as a reminder about the consequences of forbidden speech and rid ourselves of this tendency.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Gad Bouskila
