40
Friday, April 26, 1985
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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The two Sedrahs of Tazria
and Mezorah deal almost
entirely with the care and
treatment of Leprosy. The Ko-
hen, or priest, was given the re-
sponsibility of making the diag-
nosis, of prescribing a quaran-
tine, and of monitoring the heal-
ing process of those afflicted
with this dreadful illness.
Later generations of rabbinic
commentators gave this text a
different dimension of meaning.
They intetpret the entire por-
tion as a metaphor. They say
that the Hebrew word for leper,
mezorah stands for motzi ra, one
who brings forth evil, one who is
morally diseased. This monstr-
ous evil which condemns its
perpetrator to quarantine is, in
the sages' view, lashon ha-rah,
wicked speech, the slanderous
tongue.
We view slander as uttering
lies or committing verbal ag-
gression against another. But
the rabbis go further, for they
declare that we can commit this
transgregsion even when telling
the truth, if that truth is spoken
with malicious intent.
Most of us engage in leshon
ha-ra so constantly that we have
lost our consciousness of its per-
nicious effect. In the crime of
gossip, it is difficult to find the
culprit. "They say" or "I heard
the other day" is a characteristic
beginning of character defama-
tion. Also, in this offense, the
victim need not be present and
indeed the task is much easier
when he is not in our midst. The
injury to the victim is greater
than theft, or even physical as-
sault, for as Shakespeare put it:
"Good name in man and woman,
dear my Lord, is the immediate
jewel of their souls . . . He that
filches from me .my good name,
robs me of that which not
enriches him, and makes me
poor indeed."
What is the cause of this so-
cial illness, so pervasive and so
destructive? Perhaps it is an
emptiness of soul. We have
nothing else to discuss so we
start talking about people and
sooner or later we talk against
people. Then there is the desire
to be the center of attraction.
One way to attract an avid
audience is to make a statement
critical of someone we know.
Some people with a sense of in-
feriority feel "elevated" by de-
meaning others. Finally, I note
that hostility from which none
of us is entirely free.
The rabbis view gossip and
slander as heinous offenses,
akin to the shedding of blood.
Evil talk, they declare, "kills"
three: the object of slander; the
tale-bearer; and the person who
listens.
Why was the Jewish tradition
so outraged about this prevalent
human weakness? I believe the
answer lies in the experience of
our people. We have been ac-
cused of every sin, every evil,
every moral deficiency. The
Holocaust was based on such
horrendous lies about us. Even
now, in the solemn halls of the
United Nations, Zionism is
called "racism" and Jews are ac-
cused of the most outrageous
crimes against humanity.
Thus, what the rabbis taught
so many centuries ago must be
learned again in each genera-
tion. He who has an "evil
tongue" breeds suspicion, and
enmity. He spreads a disease
that weakens society, that de-
stroys the social bonds of
mutual trust and respect.
Such a person is to be re-
garded as a spiritual leper. For
causing the separation of indi-
viduals, and the divisiveness of
society, he must bear the conse-
-
Tazria-Mezorah:
Leviticus 9:1-11:47.
I Samuel 20:18-42.
quences. Therefore, the "leper"
must go outside the camp. He no
longer is to share in the life of
the community. He is to endure
that which he sought to
engender / separation and
alienation.
In this forceful and vivid
commentary, we are .reminded of
the prayer that introduces the
silent devotion: "Oh Lord, guard
my tongue from evil, and my
lips from speaking falsely."
Israeli Film At SZ
To mark Israel's Independence
Day, Cong. Shaarey Zedek's cul-
tural commission will show Hill
24 Doesn't Answer on Tuesday
at 8 p.m. as the final film in its
spring film festival.
The film series is sponsored
by the Hermelin and Weinberg
Families under the auspices of
the synagogue's cultural com-
mission.
Adult Education
Lecture In Troy
The third lecture in the adult
education series presented by
the Troy Jewish Congregation
will be held on Sunday at 7 p.m.
at the Lutheran Church of the
Master, 3333 Coolidge, Troy.
The talk is entitled "Personal
Experiences with Extreme Per-
secution and Its Effects."
Maurice Janowski will be the
guest speaker. There is a
charge. For information, call
Phyllis Wenig, 879-2829.
Adult Education
Luncheon Planned
Temple Ernanu-El will have an
adult education luncheon at noon
Saturday in the temple.
Guest , speaker will be Dr.
Judith Elkin, professor of history
at the University of Michigan.
Her topic will be "The Jews of
Latin America."
For reservations, call the tem-
ple, 967-4020. There is a charge.