Family Parshah
Tazria-Metzorah Q & A

He shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. (13:2)

Question: Since every priest is qualified to rule on leprosy, why is Aaron specified in addition to all the other priests?

Answer: Aaron epitomized the love of people and the pursuit of peace.1 When he knew of a quarreling family or friends, he would work tirelessly to reconcile them. At times it would be necessary to conceal information or even deviate somewhat from the truth. He would tell each estranged friend of the other's deep regrets and desire to renew the friendship.

Leprosy is caused through evil talk against a person.2 Often, a tale-bearer justifies his actions, claiming that he is actually performing a mitzvah by telling the truth and that he is motivated by love and concern. Thus, he rationalizes that he is causing no harm and indeed, the individual ultimately will rectify his ways.

Therefore, the Torah prescribes bringing the leper to Aaron to learn the lesson that the greatest lover of peace did not accomplish it through evil talk. It is also a message to the sinner that G-d prefers the ways of Aaron, which bring peace, over the "truth" of the tale-bearer, which destroys families and relationships.

If hair in the plague is turned white... it is a plague of leprosy; and the priest shall look on him and pronounce him unclean. (13:3)

Question: The color white is usually considered a sign of purity and cleanliness (Taharah). Why is it a sign of defilement (Tumah) in leprosy?

Answer: According to the Talmud3 one of the reasons for which a person may get leprosy is stinginess. A person who is stingy does not give charity whole-heartedly, often embarrassing the poor man with his attitude.

The Talmud4 says that if someone causes his friend to be embarrassed in public, it is as though he killed him, because the one who is embarrassed blushes, and blood rushes to his face (as if trying to leave the body). Then his face pales as blood rushes to other parts of the body, and it takes on the ashen, pallid appearance of a corpse.

Since a punishment is similar to the crime ("Midah Keneged Midah"): when he becomes white, it is a sign that his repentance is incomplete and he is still being punished for making a person turn pale.

And it shall be on the seventh day, he shall shave off all his hair: his head, and his beard, and his eyebrows. (14:9)

Question: Since it says "all his hair," why are three areas of hair growth singled out?

Answer: There are three causes for leprosy:

1. Arrogance, 2. evil talk, 3. stinginess, reluctant to share with others or help them.

The shaving of the hair reminds the one with leprosy that he must be extremely careful in specific areas to prevent the recurrence of the spiritual illness that leads to leprosy. Shaving his head reminds him never again to walk around with his head up, looking down at other people. Cutting the hair of his beard reminds him not to open his mouth to utter evil talk. Removing the hair of his eyebrows, warns him to henceforth use his eyes to look at another Jew with kindness.

The one to whom the house belongs shall come and declare to the priest, saying, 'Something like a plague has appeared to me in my house.'(14:35)

Question: Why must the homeowner say to the priest "something like a plague" and not "a plague"?

Answer: In the Polish city of Radin there lived a righteous and brilliant rabbi, R. Yisrael Meir Hapriest, known as the "Chafetz Chaim." An individual who had heard many intriguing stories about him decided to visit the city and see him personally. Upon arrival, he met an elderly bearded Jew in the street and asked him, "Could you please guide me to the home of the righteous and brilliant Chafetz Chaim?" Graciously, the man told him to turn right at the corner and look for the first house on the second block. Then he said, "Incidentally, he is not such a righteous man, nor is he so brilliant." The visitor became enraged and slapped the elderly man across the face: "What audacity you have to speak in such a manner!"

When the visitor arrived at the home of the Chafetz Chaim and was let into his study, he was horrified to learn that the man he had slapped earlier was the Chafetz Chaim himself. Immediately he broke out in tears, apologized, and begged for forgiveness.

The Chafetz Chaim smiled warmly and said, "There is no need to apologize; I deserved the admonition. I have dedicated my entire life to informing Jewry about the terrible sin of evil talk (slander). Today, I gained a new insight: not only is evil talk about others prohibited, but a Jew should not even speak negatively about himself."

In light of the above, we can understand why the person says "something like a plague." When one sees a blemish in his house he should not jump to the conclusion that it is bad, but he should be patient and say, "It appears that there may be a problem" and seek a solution.