36 April 4 • 2019
jn

H

arry Potter. The Wheel of Time. 
The Lord of the Rings. These 
are three widely read fantasy 
novels, with magic seeping 
through every page. All are per-
sonal favorites of mine as well.
Years ago, when I read works 
of fantasy, I was struck by the 
accepted fact that in the realm 
of magic, words themselves had 
power. 
Could this be true? Do 
words have power? We know in 
Genesis God created the world 
by speaking: “Let there be light.
” 
Would that indicate words have 
the capacity to create? Does 
the Harry Potter killing curse 
“
Avada Kedavra” come from 
“
Abra Cadabra” and originally 
from Avda Ke’
adabra Kezu, 
Hebrew for “It shall be done, 
just like I say”?
In this week’
s portion, we 
meet the Metzorah, the spiritual 
leper. Cast out from the communi-
ty, marked by spiritual leprosy, the 
Metzorah spends a week in solitary 
introspection, reflecting on his deci-
sion to use his mouth for evil speech 
(Lashon Hara) about his fellow man. 
This “time out” period for the 
Metzorah is designed to bring home 
the message that words do indeed have 
power. The only way a person marked 
by this leprosy can become officially 
ostracized is for the Kohen to speak 
out loud the words “You are impure.
” 
When the Metzorah has repented and 
been forgiven, it is only by the Kohen’
s 
verbal statement of “You are now pure” 
that he is released from this status. 
Furthermore, it is incumbent upon 
the Metzorah to have others pray for 
him, using their words as the vehicle 
through which he is healed — yet 
another reminder to the Metzorah of 
the power of words.
A story is told of a man who visited 
the Great Sage Rabbi Yisroel Meir 
Kagan (1839-1933), also known as the 
Chofetz Chaim (desirer of life).

“I have spoken much Lashon Harah 
in my lifetime,
” the man said. “How 
can I repent for this?”
The Chofetz Chaim instruct-
ed him to take a down pillow 
to the marketplace, cut it open 
and leave it there. When the 
man returned and reported that 
he had done so, the great sage 
instructed him to return and 
gather up all the feathers.
“What!” exclaimed the man. 
“How can I possibly find every 
feather? They are scattered 
across the entire town!”
“Exactly” said the Chofetz 
Chaim. “Now do you realize 
how damaging each word of 
evil speech can be? How can 
you possibly undo the dam-
age?” 
With the point driven home, 
the man understood the true 
extent of the damage done with 
his words and was ready to 
begin his repentance.
On the other hand, the potential of 
words to heal and create positivity is 
also unlimited. 
The Talmud (Berachot 55b) tells 
us that if a person were to have a sad 
dream, he should recount it to three 
friends, who should then say, “Good 
it was and good it will be,
” because 
the very act of saying it was a positive 
dream makes it so. 
Think of the incredible possibilities 
to create peace and positivity in the 
world. Wishing someone a “good day” 
is much more than a pleasantry; it 
changes the day for the better. A “good 
morning” makes it so, and an excla-
mation of l’
chaim! (to life) can extend 
life itself.
Let us all join to ensure that every 
word is a positive word, building a 
more positive and peaceful world 
together. ■

Rabbi Shragie Myers is an adult com-
munity educator and the executive 
director of Yeshiva Beth Yehudah.

Rabbi Shragie 
Myers

Parshat 

Tazria: 

Leviticus 

12:1-13:59; 

Numbers 

28:9-15; 

Ezekiel

12:1-20. 

(Shabbat 

HaChodesh).

The Magic Of Words

spirit

torah portion

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