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Tazria - Metzora /
תזריע - מצורע
Tazria - Metzora /
תזריע - מצורע
Rashi explains that,
if one did not have
both signs of צרעת,
and he is
quarantined for the
week, if the white
on the skin does not
diminish, that
person is deemed a
מצורע. The רמב"ן
counters that the
Gemora implies only
if it should spread.
ר' משה ז"ל suggests
that Rashi, perhaps,
is reading into the
simple p’shat of the
possuk. Although it
is not the real
interpretation, it
is at least implied
to be a lesson to
us. The spreading
indicates the ill
effect one has upon
a friend when he
does not conduct
himself properly.
The sign of not
spreading, but also
not diminishing is a
reference to one who
is also a מצורע and
must be thought of
as such, but since
he doesn’t affect
others, he doesn’t
receive the full
punishment of
isolation, etc. So
the Torah has driven
home this message by
its choice of words.
The Chofetz Chaim
once gave a pithy
moshol about the
power of the tongue
to convolute ones
actions or to
control ones
actions. A person
enters a factory
which has 248
different pieces of
machinery. After
being impressed by
all the ingenious
work of the
machinery and also
the expense, he is
shown the most
important machine,
which is the power
source for all the
other machines. So,
he said, the tongue
is the power switch
for all our limbs
and controls all our
actions.
The possuk implies
that if the צרעת
spreads over the
whole body the
person is, on the
contrary, טהור. It
seems to defy logic.
The אזנים לתורה
offers a solution.
There is an internal
sickness called צרעת
and there are the
external signs of
צרעת which indicate
a spiritual dilemma.
For a person to have
every limb filled
with צרעת indicating
that he has no
mitzvos, nothing
positive to redeem,
at least one limb,
is hard to believe.
Every Jew has some
mitzvos. Therefore
we attribute the
malady to a real
sickness, not a
spiritual one.
The Zohar relates
that one who is not
careful with oneg on
Shabbos will cause a
reversal of the
letters to spell “negah”,
or tzoraas. The Sfas
Emes traces the
letters to “Eden”
“Na’har” “Gan” the
reference to Adam
being placed to
guard the Gan Eden.
Likewise man is to
be in control of his
mind, body and
speech. Therefore,
part of the
purification process
of the metzora is to
sprinkle onto the
hand, ear, and foot
to dedicate his
whole being to
restoration of their
sanctity. So also
the opposite of the
“closing” or
quarantine of the
metzora is the
expansion on Shabbos
of the Neshama to
include the Neshama
Yesira, the extra
neshama of Shabbos.
Possuk 33 is the
possuk directing the
one whom has tzoraas
on the place of hair
to shave around it.
This could alude to
the custom to shave
on the 33rd day of
the Omer. The
“Gimmel” is large
alluding to the
three days before
Shavuos when some
have the custom to
complete their sfira
and shave. The
psukim 13-14-15 have
49 words referring
to the custom not to
shave the entire
time of sfira. (Pardes
Yosef)
The Chasam Sofer
explains the need
for the process of
the birds and all
the karbonos even
after the metzora
has experienced the
pain and humility of
the sickness itself.
He says that since
the person did not
initiate his own
path of tshuva but
rather needed the
intervention of
Hashem and His
punishment, for that
alone he requires an
extra and added
atonement, supplied
by the purification
process.
Rashi emphasizes the
fact that the
creatures were
created before man
to temper the
arrogance of man –
“see even the fly
was before you”. On
the other hand, man
was created with a
“prepared table” - a
complete world at
his disposal. The
Ksav Sofer explains.
The Mishna says “one
who honors the
Torah, he is honored
by the creatures”.
In reality the
animals are
stronger, faster and
more independent
than man. In this
respect mankind has
difficulty in
boasting. However,
man has a higher and
nobler calling. His
is the task of
perfection through
performance of Torah
and mitzvos. This
then is the meaning.
One who honors the
Torah is
automatically
elevated over all
the other creatures.
However, if he
chooses to follow
their lifestyle
then, we say to him,
even the fly was
created superior.
Previous Parshos
Tazria
Metzora
Achrei Mos
Kedoshim
Emor
Behar
Bechukosai
Bamidbar
Shavuos
Naso
Behalosicha
Shilach
Korach
Chukas-Balak
Pinchos
Matos-Masei
Devorim
Voeschonon Ekev
Reah
Shoftim
Ki Seitzei
Ki Savo
Nitzovim
- Vayelech Rosh
HaShana Haazinu-Yom
Kippur Sukkos V'zos
HaBrocha
Breishis
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