Parshat Metzora

God spoke to Moses, saying “This shall be the law (the lesson derived) from the leper…”

Leviticus 14:1 - 2

Rabbi Yonatan said: Seven sins are punished with “Tzara’at”: Slander, bloodshed, vain oath, incest and adultery, arrogance robbery and greed

Arakhin 16a

Very seldom does Jewish thought suggest a direct link between a certain transgression and its specific divine punishment. Leprosy (Tzara’at) is the rare exception, being closely linked with the sin that caused it, namely, Lashon Hara, a term which covers slander, gossip tale-bearing and all the other forms of damage to the individual and society that may be caused by words.

Pinchas Peli

A peddler used to go round the towns in the vicinity of Sepphoris, crying out, “Who wishes to buy the elixir of life?” drawing great crowds around him. Rabbi Jannai was sitting and expounding in his room and heard him calling out…He said to him: “Come here, and sell me it.” The peddler said to him, “Neither you nor people like you require that which I have to sell.” The rabbi pressed him, and the peddler went to him and brought out the Book of Psalms and showed him the passage, “Who is the man that desires life? Keep your tongue from evil…”

Midrash Rabbah, Vayikra 16.

When we realize the historical setting of this story, we may assume that it is not as innocent as it may seem on the surface. The land of Israel, in particular the Galilee, was at that time in turmoil with revolts and insurrections in defiance of the Roman conquerors. The Roman legionnaires and their spies and informers were roaming the country constantly on the search for rebels and freedom fighters. The peddler must have surreptitiously been passing the word among the people of Sepphoris, that they should beware of speaking about certain persons or things that might lead to interrogation. Rabbi Yannai, by adding his own remarks to those of the peddler, made in known that he too supported the clandestine message transmitted on the people of Sepphoris – that is, “You who desire life, guard your tongues!.”

Pinchas Peli

* * * * * *

Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Yose ben Zimra: The retailing of evil talk is tantamount to denying God…Resh Lakish said, “What is the connotation of the phrase, “This is the Torah of the one stricken with Tzara’at? This shall be the law of him who spreads evil talk.”

Arakhin 15b

Why is the tongue compared to an arrow? Because if a man draws his sword in order to kill his fellow-man, but takes pity on him on hearing his pleas, h e sheathes his sword, and spares his fellow-man’s life. Not so an arrow, which once discharged, cannot be retrieved. The wicked man kills people with his tongue. Just as one is unaware of the arrow until smitten by it, one only becomes aware of the evil tongue when hit by its effect.

Midrash Shocher Tov 120.

NOTE: A special thanks to Gil Diamond, who in his research found that “Tza’ra’t,” the word we traditionally translate as “leprosy”, refers to other forms of skin disease. This renders the portions of “Tazria and Metzora more accessible to us.