VOLUME 110 NUMBER 4
Nissan 4, 5784
April 12, 2024
PARSHAS TAZRIA
Candlelighting Time 7:17 PM
The main cause for the appearance of tzora’as, a skin infection, is due to loshon hora, or slanderous speech. The offender is sentenced to remain isolated outside the entire camp of Israel until he repents and then miraculously, the malady will disappear and he will be allowed to enter. Why is his punishment so severe? The Sages explain that through his invective vernacular he created dissension between people and therefore he is penalized and separated from the entire community.
However, the concept of separation due to inappropriate speech actually has a much deeper message. Meshech Chochma delivers an unbelievable insight to this parsha. Only Kohanim can indict the metsorah to his isolation. Although this protocol doesn’t involve anything per se with the Mishkan or the Beis Hamikdash besides the sacrifices that are brought at the end, nonetheless the judgement can only be governed by a Kohen. Of course, the entire episode is of miraculous nature as discussed by Nachmonides, however that should not preclude that others besides Kohanim should not be able to render their judgement on the tzora’as as to whether or not the person indeed requires seclusion. He explains that tzora’as is actually highly contagious and therefore one who bears this ‘illness’ should be distanced from others to avoid the spread of this sickness albeit one of spiritual nature. The question now is why can Kohanim risk being infected and not others?
We must first realize the incredible display of Hashem’s totalitarian gaze with which the Heavenly Court decides who should be stricken with tzora’as. Secondly, only those who are indeed separated from the rest of the nation and intensely involved only with the operation of the Mishkan and Beis Hamikdash can be viewed as under the microscopic attention of Hashem and therefore secure and safe from contracting the tzora’as. Therein lies a tremendous dichotomy exhibiting two distinct and totally different types of isolation. The metzorah on the one hand on account of his aberrant behavior is removed from the entire populace and quarantined until later notice. The Kohanim are also separated from the majority of the populace but not in a negative fashion rather with positivity because of their elevated station.
Although Meshech Chochma does not denote the above mentioned disparity nonetheless this message is a direct result of his insight. Tzora’as is deemed by Hashem to occur on the body of verbal sinners and therefore requires an astute understanding of the nature of this disease realizing its innate origin, precise appearance and progression as explained in the parsha, all exceeding human comprehension. At the root of this Heavenly reprimand is a comprehensive scrutinizing of each person’s actions and especially his oral remarks directed at others. As Sforno points out, this entire rebuke is actually extreme kindness displayed by Hashem. Whereas others may be cautious in their speech and this particular individual is not, he is restrained and forced to rectify his careless behavior all with the intent that he will rise to the occasion.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
The laws of defilement applicable to man are mentioned at the end after the laws pertaining to defilement through animals because the entire creation and its fulfillment rests upon the shoulders of mankind, specifically the Jewish nation. Therefore, we control the entire universe and all that is within.
S’FAS EMES
GOOD SHABBOS
IRAN THREATENS TO PUNISH THE JEWISH NATION FOR DEFENDING ITSELF AGAINST ITS REIGN OF TERROR. DO THEY NOT REALIZE THAT ALL THEIR ARMAMENTS AND POWER ARE USELESS AGAINST THAT OF HASHEM? BUT WE DO KNOW THE POWER OF RECITING TEHILLIM, DAVENING AND STUDY OF TORAH. IN THAT MERIT WE WILL OUTLIVE THIS PERIL AS WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ENDURED OTHERS IN THE PAST!