2021/5781
At first glance, Tzara’at seems like a normal disease that’s spreading. Of course stopping the spread in the Midbar is extremely important, so anyone showing any symptoms would need to quarantine and those who test positive would have to isolate. That’s the whole goal, right? To stop the contagious disease from spreading by quarantining the Metzora? Well kind of, but not really.
The Mishnah in Nega’im (3:2) says, “Chatan SheNir’eh Bo Nega, Notnin Lo Shiv’at Yemei HaMishteh, Lo ULeBeito VeLeChsuto,” “A bridegroom on whom a nega has appeared is given the seven days of the marriage feast [in which he is not examined]”, “VeChein BaRegel, Notnim Lo Kol Yemot HaRegel,” “Similarly during a festival, one is granted exemption from inspection during all the days of the festival”. If there were some sort of global pandemic going around, would we say that newlyweds who are showing symptoms do not need to get tested because they are in the middle of Sheva Brachot? If someone is not feeling well over Yom Tov, should they not get tested after Chag? Of course not! If the affliction of Tzara’at was exclusively a bodily disease, we must take all precautions to ensure others do not get infected! It would seem that Tzara'at is more than just a bodily disease, rather it is a physical representation of a spiritual disease.
In the Gemara in Arachin, Reish Lakish questions what “Zot Tihyeh Torat HaMetzora,” (Vayikra 14:12) “this will be the law of the Metzora” means. He answers “Zot Tihyeh Torato Shel Motzi Shem Ra” “this will be the law for one who slanders (Motzi Shem Ra)”. The Gemara later in the Masechta teaches that Tzara’at was also a punishment for those who commited sins (Bein Adam LaChaveiro) such as killing, sexual immorality, pride, robbery and selfishness.
Although some of these sins are punishable by court and others aren’t, Hashem still feels the need to step in and do something. These sins show the Metzora’s lack of empathy for the congregation, which Hashem takes great offense to. The anti-social behaviors of such an individual force them to be quarantined outside the camp for seven days and force them to practice social distancing with their families upon their return, because they cannot function in a normal society filled with normal socializing. In their quarantine and isolation, they are given the time and opportunity to repent for their sins and learn how to be a good social person. And when the Kohein returns later that week to see that the person did not do Teshuvah and the affliction worsened, the Metzora will be forced back into his quarantine to start over.
While today we are asymptomatic for Tzara’at, we still commit sins that would have given us Tzara’at . We should always be developing our “vaccine” to prevent us from doing such horrible things.
As we get deeper into Sefirat Ha’Omer, now is the perfect time to improve our relationships . One of the reasons given for our mourning during Sefirah is that Rabi Akiva’s 24,000 students died “SheLo Nahagu Kavod Zeh LaZeh” “because they did not treat each other with proper respect.”
Perhaps if we take the lessons from the “Torat HaMetzora” to heart, Hashem will rebuild the Beit HaMikdash (which was destroyed over baseless hatred) in time for us all to worship Him there on Shavu’ot.