RITSS HIGH SCHOOL

PRESENTS A D`VAR TORAH

ON TAZRIA METZORA

By Rabbi Moshe Heigh

A STYLE OF TZORA'AS TO FIT THE NEEDS OF ALMOST ANY SINNER

     Today we read numerous verses describing tzora'as, the supernatural disease which affected people who committed certain transgressions. To appreciate this unusual ailment, we will study the Gemara in Erchin 16A with the Maharsha. Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmaini said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan that forms of tzora'as ("nega'im") come because of seven sins: loshon hora (evil gossip), murder, false oaths, immorality, arrogance, robbery, and stinginess. Rashi says that the last one refers to a person who refuses to lend his possessions to neighbors.

     The Maharsha notices that this list contains sins which vary in their levels of severity. If some are worse than others, why do they all bring on the same punishment of tzora'as? Maharsha remarks that in truth, not all tzora'as is created equal; there are differing levels of intensity. We find numerous types of tzora'as, nega'im, mentioned in the psukim and clarified in the Oral Torah. An entire tractate called Nega'im is devoted to their dinim. These come as the result of the seven major transgressions listed in our Gemara Erchin. We will now list some (NOT ALL) major forms of tzora'as (see Rambam in Hilchos Tumas Tzora'as). Then, we will see how the Gemara associates the seven transgressions with seven cases of tzora'as.

     An acute case of tzora'as is a BAHERES, a very bright spot, white as snow. A second is S'AIS, a swelling or sore whose color resembles that of clean wool of a young lamb. "Sapachas" is a subcategory of baheres or of s'ais. Another variety is NESEK, discolored skin within a bald spot on the head or beard. An additional one is KORACHAS or GABACHAS. Korachas is tzora'as on the back of the head which has become entirely bald. Gabachas is similar, but it occurs on the front of the head. Another category are the tzora'as afflictions which break out on clothes - NIG'AI BEGADIM. Or else, the impurity of tzora'as on the walls of a house can be transmitted to the clothes and vessels inside, if they are not removed in a timely fashion. Finally, tzora'as can be found on houses themselves - NIG'AI BATIM.

     With these varieties of tzora'as in mind, we will move ahead on Erchin 16, incorporating the words of the Maharsha into our explanation of the Gemara. How do Chazal know that one who speaks loshon hora contracts tzora'as? A source is Tehillim 101:5, where Hashem says: "Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly, I will cut him off". Maharsha comments that loshon hora, in a certain sense, is the worst of the sins enumerated here. What does the pasuk in Tehillim mean, that Hashem will "cut off" the slanderer? Maharsha interprets that the person will become a METZORA MUCHLAT. This means there will be no doubt about his impure status when he reports to the kohen to have his tzora'as checked. He will immediately be declared tamai, with no need to close him up first to see if the affliction will heal. The ba'al loshon hora deserves to be "cut off", abruptly dismissed from his community. After living apart from society for awhile, he will need atonement - haircut and sacrifices. This is one degree of tzora'as.

     As we continue the Gemara, please refer back to the original list when each connection is made. From where do we know that a murderer will be stricken with tzora'as? This is found in Shmuel Bais 3. The beginning of that perek tells us that after the death of Shaul Hamelech, there was warfare between the house of Shaul and the house of Dovid. For reasons clarified in those psukim, the general who had always been loyal to Shaul, named Avner ben Nair, switched sides and became Dovid's ally. Yoav, Dovid's long-time general, killed Avner ben Nair (3:27). Outraged by this crime, Dovid stated that "I and my kingdom are guiltless before Hashem forever from the blood of Avner ben Nair; let it rest on the head of Yoav and on all his father's house; and let the house of Yoav never lack...those who are afflicted with tzora'as" (3:28-29). Yoav killed Avner because Avner had formerly killed his brother in battle, but Dovid ruled that this heinous act was murder. We see that this sin brings tzora'as. Maharsha says that this is called NESEK, one mentioned above. How does he know? Since it says that it should rest on the HEAD of Yoav and his father's house, it fits the description of nesek, as explained before.

     How about false oaths? What is the source that they cause tzora'as? Here is the background, found in Melachim Bais 5. Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was sick with tzora'as. The prophet, Elisha, told him to wash in the Jordan River seven times for relief. This miraculously healed him, and he offered a gift of gratitude to Elisha. Elisha refused, but his servant, Gaichazi, had different plans. He ran after Naaman and devised a scheme to obtain some of his wealth. Our Gemara explains that since Naaman was not sure about the truthfulness of Gaichazi's claim that Elisha had sent him to solicit silver and clothing, Naaman made Gaichazi swear. This was obviously a false oath. Elisha perceived Gaichazi's wrongdoing with his divine intuition, and he placed a curse upon him. "Naaman's tzora'as will cling to you and your children forever!" (Melachim Bais, 5:27). The pasuk then records that Gaichazi left him, stricken with tzora'as resembling the color of snow. We see that tzora'as can be precipitated by a false oath. The Maharsha feels that Gaichazi's tzora'as was BAHERES, since it was white as snow.

     The fourth transgression is sexual immorality. The basis for this resulting in tzora'as is Beraishis 12. When Avram descended to Egypt because of a famine in Canaan, Sarai was captured and taken to Paroh for promiscuous purposes. "And Hashem struck Paroh with great afflictions ('nega'im'), and his house, because of the matter of Sarai..." (12:17). Maharsha remarks that this tzora'as, indicated by the word "nega'im", was most likely the above mentioned S'AIS. How do we know? Since Paroh was struck with "nega'im", in the plural, this was probably s'ais, since s'ais by nature contains various strains of tzora'as. This is as we said before, that s'ais contains within it a subcategory called sapachas.

     Haughtiness is next on the list of sins which can cause tzora'as. The Gemara cites Divrai Hayamim Bais 26 for this. King Uziyahu, a non-kohen, brazenly entered the Kodesh (holy area in the Bais Hamikdash) to offer incense on the golden ketores altar. This stemmed from his trait of arrogance, as stated in 26:16. "The tzora'as broke out on his forehead" (26:19). Our Maharsha assumes that it could have been GABACHAS, since it occurred on the front of his head, as explained above in the list of tzora'as varieties.

     Robbery also brings tzora'as. The Gemara here points out that when a person reports possible tzora'as in his house, the kohen orders the house emptied of its contents (our parsha, 14:36). Why is this fitting? Since he stole money of others, the kohen comes and scatters HIS money. Maharsha clarifies that robbery can actually lead to the impurity of tzora'as affecting garments. If the building materials themselves were stolen, the house will be stricken, and the clothes inside can also contract the tumah. These are NIG'AI BEGADIM, tzora'as of clothing.

     Selfishness causes tzora'as. Someone who feels his house is only his, not allowing the poor to partake of his food and lodging, will end up with a dwelling infected with this ailment. It will show up on the very walls. That is classified as NIG'AI BATIM.

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