This week, we read Parshas Tazria, the
first of two parshiyos dealing with the halachos of tzara’as. While next week’s
parsha deals with what to do once you have tzara’as, this week, we discuss how
it comes about. While tzara’as is commonly translated as leprosy, it is not
actually a physical disease. While it might share some of the same
characteristics, unlike leprosy, tzara’as can effect more than the human body. In
addition to appearing on your body, tzara’as can also appear on clothing and
the wall of a house. According to some opinions, each type of tzara’as comes as
a result of a different sin. But everyone agrees that it appears on your body
as a result of speaking lashon hara.
The three types of tzara’as correspond
to the three layers of protection a person places over themselves. First, a
person’s body protects itself. Next, we use clothing as protection from the
environment. Lastly, your shelter protects you from greater dangers, and also provides
comfort. The infection of tzara’as represents the removal of these coverings. As
the tzara’as affects more and more of your personal space, more of you is
revealed. It is for this reason that someone with tzara’as, when he is declared
tamei, is obligated to leave his head bare (See Vayikra 13:45); in full
symbolism of how his private actions have been laid bare before everyone.
The Kli Yakar looks at the development
of the tzara’as and says an idea from the medrash. The actual order of how a
person is affected by tzara’as is it first appears on his house, then his
clothing, and only afterwards, if he still doesn’t do teshuva, does it appear
on his body. Having it appear on your body seems to be the most embarrassing or
unsightly, and therefore, says the Kli Yakar, there’s no way that the merciful
Hashem would give the worst punishment first. Rather, first it appears on his
house. If he doesn’t do teshuva, it comes on his clothing, and if he still doesn’t
repent, it appears on his body.
If this is the proper order, how come
the Torah presents the three levels in the opposite order, with the body coming
first, then the clothing, and finally the house? The Kli Yakar explains that
this is a show of the mercy of Hashem. When He warned Paroh about the upcoming
makkos, Hashem warned him about Makkas Bechoros before even the makkah of Blood
appeared. This was because Hashem first sends a warning with the worst possible
punishment in order to motivate you to repent before any punishment begins. Then,
He actually sends the easiest punishment in order not to harm you too badly. It
is only if you don’t listen to the repeat warnings that He finally brings the
worst punishment applicable; in our case, tzara’as on your body. The way that
Hashem acted mercifully with Paroh, He did the same with the punishment of
tzara’as.
Shabbat Shalom!
Click here for last year's Dvar Torah for Parshas Tazria
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