Parshat Metzora

                This week and last week the Parsha discusses the spiritual disease of tzara’at (often translated as leprosy but it is, in fact, something entirely different).  If a person found a certain type of blemish on their skin, clothing, or home, they would be taken to a cohen (Jewish priest) for the diagnosis.  If the diagnosis was that the blemish was tzara’at, part of the cure to this spiritual disease was for the person to be removed from society for a period of time.  What is the spiritual ailment that causes tzara’at and what does it have to do with being removed from society?

                The most dominant opinion in the Jewish tradition about the cause of this spiritual disease is that it is a result of speaking badly about other people and gossiping. There is a Midrash that broadens the explanation of tzara’at to a much larger scale.  The Midrash comments on the opening verse of this week’s Parsha (Leviticus 14:2), “This shall be the Torah of the one stricken with tzara’at.”, it says:

“this is in accordance with the verse, “there are six things which the Lord hates, and seven which are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked thoughts, feet that are swift in running to mischief, false witness that breathes out lies, and one that sows discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19).  Rabbi Yohanan said, “The punishment for all these is tzara’at.”

All of the things described in the Midrash above can be seen as things which undermine the cohesiveness of the community.  One possible lesson to take from this Midrash is that God hates a person who tears apart the fabric of society and causes rifts in community. 

                When a person acts in such a manner, it is clear that they are lacking an appreciation for the importance of the community and the responsibilities of every person in the community.  The lack of appreciation for the community is a disease which causes a person to act in ways that are in opposition to the betterment of their community.  In order for such a person to begin a healing process, the Torah is telling us that they should be removed from society.  Once they are no longer a part of the community, and they are forced to spend a considerable amount of time alone, then they might begin to reflect on the way they interact with society.

The loneliness of seclusion is supposed to give them a greater appreciation for the importance of a cohesive community.  Only once they appreciate the good that the community does for them and everyone else, will they desire to change the ways they act against that community.  This is how the process of healing begins. 

It is interesting to me how the intellectual experience of the person with tzara’at is such an important part of healing process.  It is not enough for the person to simply not do the despised act anymore.  In order for them to be healed from tzara’at, they needed to go through an intense process of introspection.  I think that this is an important tool that the Torah is giving us as a way to grow spiritually.  True spiritual growth is not a matter of changing the way we act; it is really a process of making sure that our perspective on the world is a spiritually healthy one.  Our actions should reflect a perspective on the world that we attain by careful and constant introspection.