APRIL 7 • 2022 | 41

soul but our main identity is 
the body, or we can view the 
soul as our main identity 
and the body as merely the 
house for the soul. 
If our whole self-
definition is based solely 
on “body,” then we are 
saying that we are not 
superior to the animal 
kingdom. Therefore, God 
reminds us that even the 
mosquito was created before 
humankind. But if the soul 
is the main focus, then 
man is truly superior; the 
soul, being a Divine spark 
of God Himself, preceded 
all of Creation. The soul 
and the intellect are the 
key differentiating factor 
between human beings and 
animals.
On a physical level, we are 
no match for the animals: 
even a simple mosquito can 
beat us. Look how much 
trouble we go through to 
fight off the mosquitoes: 
we have developed drugs 
and all kinds of creams 
and insecticides to fight 
them off. Physically, we are 
weaker. 
It is only with the 
spiritual and intellectual 
dimension of the neshamah, 
the soul, that we are 
elevated above the animal 
kingdom. We were created 
last to remind us that if 
we are going to behave 
like animals, then even the 
mosquito is better than us; 
it preceded us.
• The third reason the 
Gemara gives for human 

beings created last is so that 
they would be created on 
Friday and go straight into 
Shabbos, straight into doing 
a mitzvah. 
• The fourth reason 
human beings were created 
at the end is because 
God wanted the world to 
be ready for them, like 
a bride and groom who 
enter the wedding hall last; 
everything is ready and 
everyone is waiting just for 
them because they are the 
most important part of the 
celebration.

THE MEANING OF LIFE
The third and fourth rea-
sons are actually connected. 
Human beings were created 
last so that they would enter 
a world ready and waiting for 
them, indicating that all of 
Creation was created just for 
them. 
 This relates to — and is 
dependent on — the third 
reason, namely, that human 
beings came last in order 
to go straight into a mitz-
vah; the purpose of creating 
human beings was for us to 
serve God. 
God created everything 
for human beings, in order 
that human beings would 
serve Him. That is the 
ultimate purpose of the 
world. 

Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein, who 

has a Ph.D. in Human Rights Law, is 

the chief rabbi of South Africa. A longer 

version of this article first appeared on 

aish.com.

“THE PURPOSE OF CREATING 
HUMAN BEINGS WAS FOR US 
TO SERVE GOD.” 

Divisiveness Is a Sickness 
T

he Torah portions from 
these two weeks speak 
about something we’re 
all too familiar with over the last 
two years: isolation. 
They teach us about the 
spiritual nature of isolation and 
what we can do to move 
forward. The parshah 
begins with the metzora’s 
purification process. A 
metzora is a person who 
was stricken with a spiri-
tual malady and condition 
called tzaraas, incorrectly 
identified as leprosy. The 
physical symptom is a very 
specific rash, sometimes 
boils or inflammation 
which erupts on the skin. 
The Torah says that 
this individual needs to 
leave the community and 
live outside the camp until the 
tzaraas goes away. He’s not even 
allowed to be in the company 
of other people who are impure 
with other impurities and are 
also outside the camp. He needs 
to be in complete isolation. 
Why? The sages say this was a 
punishment for speaking lashon 
hara, evil speech, which caused 
separation between man and 
wife, and between man and his 
friend. Therefore, it is only fit-
ting that he be punished through 
complete isolation from the soci-
ety he helped divide.
The purification process 
includes ingredients that are 
meant to help humble the 
person: cedar wood, a tall and 
imposing tree that symbolizes 
haughtiness; crimson thread 
(whose red dye comes from an 
insect, a lowly creature); and 
hyssop (a lowly bush), both 
symbolizing humility. The mes-
sage: My haughtiness and lack 
of humility led me to denigrate 
others.

When COVID first hit, 
humanity went into an intense 
period of isolation that probably 
had never been experienced 
recently. One couldn’t help but 
notice this was happening at a 
time when societal discourse had 
completely broken down. 
The inability to have civil 
discourse about any topic 
even slightly controversial 
left us with discussions 
that frequently ended in 
toxic territory. 
Social media has been 
weaponized to create a 
cancel culture movement 
that leaves people afraid 
to say anything for fear of 
being viciously attacked. 
People write things to 
each other online that 
they would never dare say 
face-to-face. I’ve seen many ugly 
fights on Facebook and have yet 
to see anyone actually “win” an 
argument.
This week’s parshah is both a 
wakeup call and a breath of fresh 
air. We are meant to use our 
words to bring people together, 
not to create division and chaos. 
Warmth and caring are what 
carry the day. It all starts with 
humility, with being able to see 
the humanity of those who may 
disagree with us. 
Ultimately, there is more that 
unites us than divides us. Almost 
everyone shares the basic values 
of life, liberty and the pursuit 
of happiness. The struggles of 
life are shared and experienced 
by people of all backgrounds. 
Knowing this is half the battle 
and can lead us to a needed new 
era of peace and harmony. What 
could be better than that? 

Rabbi Noam Gross works as an educa-

tor for the Young Professional Division 

of Partners Detroit.

TORAH PORTION

Rabbi Noam 
Gross

Parshat 

Metzora: 

Leviticus 

14:1-15:33; 

II Kings 

7:3-20.

