Torah Tidbits This 'n That Phil Chernofsky

Concerning Tzoraat and Corona A number of weeks ago - but I don't know how many, because time has been distorted by the 'current situation' - I wrote about Social Distancing in Parshat Tazri'a. (Okay, I looked it up - TT1364 - but how long ago was that?) Now, with Tazri'a-M'tzora being read this Shabbat, I would like to revisit the topic. Tzoraat is NOT leprosy. That common misconception comes from the Greek word that is the root of leprosy but also refers to certain skin afflictions - which Tzoraat is. I'm using Tzoraat and Nega'im interchangeably. The many mitzvot related to Nega'im apply when we have Kohanim who are expert in determining what afflictions he will declare the person as TAMEI, or TAHOR, or require a week's quarantine or two weeks. This is different from most other mitzvot, which apply in all times, or in the time of the Beit HaMikdash, or other specific time designations. The applicability of the mitzvot of Tzoraat is less specific. But that will not concern us for now. What will concern us is the idea that at certain periods of Jewish Life, there

was a physical manifestation of a spiritual defect in the afflicted person. What sin brought on Tzoraat? Our sources say that it usually was 'caused' by Lashon HaRa. Usually. Meaning there could have been other causes. The metzora was given ample time and counseling by a kohen to seriously repent and change his ways. Which brings us to now - or any time that Tzoraat is not an active issue. We still have blemishes and burns and other health problems. We have tragedies that occur to individuals, and national or worldwide plagues, such as you know what. The metzora was forbidden to shave or pluck the hairs from a nega. He was forbidden to remove signs of Tzoraat. To do so and chalk up his problems to chance, was sinful and prevented T'shuva and self-improvement. Even the metzora, as mentioned earlier, did not know for sure what brought on his affliction. But he had an agenda of introspection and T'shuva. Not the same, but not far off, is our situations of personal maladies, injuries, tragedies and national and worldwide troubles - as mentioned above. We certainly cannot know why something happens. But we dare not chalk it up to chance. We too have an agenda. Governments, health professionals, and scientists are working on the physical side; we must use our down time for serious introspection and self-improvement.