>> Torah portion

A

When Acting Rash

004

Parshat Tazria-Metzora: Leviticus
12:1-15:33; II Kings 7:3-7:20.

T

his week's parshah is Tazria-
Metzora, Leviticus 12-15. The
spiritual malaise
of tzaraas, not to be con-
fused with tzores (Yiddish
for trouble), was meted out
for noncompliance of good
character traits. Greed, idle
chatter, slander, bearing a
grudge and arrogance were
all causes for a person to
break out in white spots.
Tzaraas has been incor-
rectly translated as lep-
rosy. It is not, as leprosy
is, contagious. Tzaraas is
not. Leprosy could be fatal,
tzaraas was not. If someone's entire
body was covered with what looked
like tzaraas, it was not tzaraas.
The Torah introduces the concept
of tzaraas with the verse, "When a
person, adam in Hebrew, will have a
plague on his flesh:' There are four
Hebrew words for person: adam, ish,
gever and enosh.
Adam refers to the intellectual
prowess of individuals and their supe-
riority over all of creation. Ish refers to
emotion development beyond animal
instinct and pleasure. Geyer refers to
strength and enosh refers to weakness.
If tzaraas were an affliction for poor
character traits, the verse should have
used another name, certainly not
adam, the highest term.
This complexity can be explained
by first discussing why people are not
afflicted with tzaraas in this day and
age. The Talmud relates that tzaraas
stopped when gossips increased.
The purpose of the affliction was to
force sufferers to analyze their deeds
and correct any character flaws. Were
it to be that we were to be quarantined
or forced out of a city every time we
gossiped, there would be no one left

to operate things. We would all be out
of town.
When people stopped
being spiritually sensitive,
tzaraas no longer worked.
Such spiritual sensitivity
is indicative of an adam, a
person who has reached the
status of "Let us make man,
adam, in our image"
When a person emulates
the Almighty, a small skin
eruption is enough to set
them back on the right
path. Our generation, the
heels of Mashiach, does
not merit to be reminded
in such a clear and apparent manner.
(Note: the term "heels of Mashiach"
derives from the concept of the
Jewish people as one large body. The
Patriarchs and Moses comprised the
head. Our lowly generation comprise
the heel. The next step after our gen-
eration is Mashiach, the Messiah.)
We can only pray that Mashiach will
soon come and cause the Almighty to
wipe away impurity from the world.
Then we will merit to never have to be
reminded of our character flaws as we
will have none. ❑

Rabbi Herschel Finman has been a teacher
of Judaism for 36 years and is host of

"The Jewish Hour" radio show, heard
Sundays, 11 a.m.-noon, on WLQV 1500 AM

and www.wlqv.com.

Converstions

• Compare Divine retribution vs.
cause and effect.
• Is it a good thing that tzaraas
no longer exists?
• Consider the nuclear family vs.
the extended family.

s

,
,Il
Farmington Hi li Inn

ASSISTED ‘--'LIVING FOR SENIORS

24-Hour Personal Care Staff 3 Delicious Meals Daily
Individually Tailored Care Plans
Medication Administration Bathing Assistance
Daily Housekeeping Weekly Laundry
Full Calendar of Activities Visiting Physician
Physical Therapy Services Satellite TV Free Wi-Fi
Single Story Building Backup Generator

Quality, Affordable Assisted Living
and Memory Care

All Services and Amenities in
at one low monthly price!

•

41

Private Studios $2,820/month
Semi-Private $1,895/month

Call today
to schedule
a tour!

30350 W. 12 Mile Rd.,
Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334
248-851-9640
www.FarmingtonHillsInn.com

VA Benefits and Long Term Care Insurance Accepted
Locally owned and operated • Licensed by the State of Michigan •

1982620

CONGRATULATIONS
GLASSMAN SUBARU

A division of

VACS S
I
AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Rated #1
In Best Purchase Experience
in the Midwest
2013 and 2014

Jeff Stewart

Assistant New Car
Sales Manager

248-636-2736

cowci-Ry

SUBARU

HYUI1DRI

■ Ilr5V PROGRAM

Serving Our Community For Over 45 Years!

28000 Telegraph Rd • Southfield

1998840

April 23 • 2015

49

