As we approach this week’s double Parsha of Tazria-Metzora, it is impossible to escape the analogy to
what we are currently experiencing during the Coronavirus pandemic. The metzora is infected with a –
mysterious disease and he is forced to self-quarantine; he is sent out of the camp of Israel to dwell
alone!
Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz has a powerful perspective on what makes this punishment so painful. He
cites Tractate Nedarim 64B, “The Breisa taught, there are four who are considered as if they are dead:
the pauper, the metzora, the blind, and the childless.”
What is so terrible about each of these four that they are considered as though they are lacking life itself? Furthermore, why does the Gemara exclude the many other tragic circumstances that people experience (may Hashem spare us from them!)?
Rabbi Shmuelevitz begins with the metzora and he proves that the discomfort that a tzaraas infection causes is
not what the Talmud is referring to; rather, it is the requirement that the metzora must dwell alone.
We can understand that dwelling alone is difficult, it has been difficult for all of us, but why does the Talmud
go so far as to say that it is comparable to death?
Rabbi Shmuelevitz points to the other members of the list. He explains that this is not a list of four
different conditions each so terrible in its own right that it is tantamount to death; rather, one
condition! All four of the circumstances listed share one common deficit that is such a fundamental part
of life that to be without it is to be missing life itself! That is the ability to give, to nurture, and to
comfort another person.
The pauper lives a life without luxury, struggling even to get by, but that is still living. What the pauper
is most deprived of is the ability to give; he is lacking the financial resources to provide assistance to
others.
Living a life without children is painful and lonely, but what is missing most is the opportunity to
nurture, to devote so much of oneself to another human being, from diapers to college, a constant shower of love and giving.
The blind is not able to see, but this is only one of the senses. Rabbi Shmuelevitz proves from the Torah itself that the sense of sight is our most powerful tool to connect to others, to feel their sorrow. The blind is alone in the word, handicapped in his ability to see the look on someone’s face, to read their body language and feel what they are feeling.
The metzora is sent out of the camp, cut off from the rest of the people. Even more difficult than being alone, with nobody to offer a helping hand, is being put in a place where he is not able to offer a helping hand to others.
The most difficult part of the isolation we find ourselves in is not missing the friendly smile of others and
the listening ear of a friend, but rather the inability to offer our comforting smile and listening ear to the
many friends we come in contact with throughout our week.
I am reminded of the message I shared at that painful moment when I had to announce that our minyan
would be disbanded for an unknown period of time. I shared a comment that the Chofetz Chaim
Heritage Foundation publicized in the name of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky Shlit”a, may he be healthy and
well. Reb Chaim cited Tractate Aruchin 16B.
After teaching that lashon hora (negative speech) causes tzaraas, the Gemara makes the following comment, “What distinguishes the metzora, that upon him the Torah states, “He shall dwell outside of the camp”? The metzora separated between husband and wife and between man and his fellow, therefore the Torah says he must dwell in isolation.”
Reb Chaim suggested that if we will use our words to bring people together instead of break them apart, then
Hashem, in turn, will bring us back together.
The Chidushei HaRi”m (the first Gerrer Rebbe) once commented that the word “nega”, a blemish of
tzaraas, and “oneg”, delight, are both spelled with the same three letters, nun, gimel, and ayin. The
difference between the two words is where you place the “ayin” (which means “eye”).
A blemish can be transformed into delight depending on how you look at it. Hashem has placed us in isolation making it harder for us to help and support each-other. But we haven’t been robbed of our ability to give, it may
take extra effort, but there is no shortage of ways to help. We can help others get groceries and needed
supplies, we can contribute to local, national, and international funds that provide relief to the many
victims of COVID-19, we can reach out to friends and family that need a phone call. I
It takes a little more time and effort than it did previously, and we are required to be more proactive. But when we push ourselves to go the extra mile, the message of care and kindness comes through stronger than before.
May we use this time to guard our speech, and digital communications, from anything harmful, and go
the extra mile to tell others that we care and we want to help. May Hashem see our sincere desire to
support each other with care and compassion, and may He bring us back together again.