By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
SAN DIEGO –The combined parshiot of Tazria and Metzora deal with different types of skin disease that are found on people and fungus that grows in their homes. The Torah tells us that these afflictions are sources of ritual impurity and designates the different rites that must be carried out in order to “cure” the ailments and purify the person or dwelling.
The rabbis of the Talmud did not have access to the scientific knowledge we have today so they believed that these afflictions were spiritual, rather than biological, in nature. Specifically, they believed these conditions were punishment for lashon hara, slanderous speech and idle gossip. Since they believed the source of these maladies was moral and spiritual they also saw the purification rituals as reflecting these same concerns.
One example is found in the purification rite of the leper. In addition to offering sacrifices and bathing in water, the afflicted person also had to shave off all of their hair, specifically, “…of head, beard, and eyebrows…” (Lev. 14:9)
The commentator known as the Kli Yekar (Rabbi Shlomoh Efraim of Luntchitz, 1550 -1690) explained why the Torah specified these three parts of the body for special attention. He wrote that the hair of the head is shaved off to atone for the purveyor of lashon hara having a swelled head and thinking that he or she was better than everyone else. The beard is shaved to atone for the mouth that spoke gossip and slander. And finally, the eyebrow is shaved to atone for the person who looked at the world with ‘tzarot ayin.’
The last phrase is particularly interesting. Tzarot ayin literally means “with narrowed vision.” It refers to the predilection of some to see the world in a cynical and narrow way. If one sees the world as an inhospitable place, then one is also more apt to denigrate its inhabitants through hateful speech and action.
The Kli Yekar’s explanation of the purification rites for the one who indulges in lashon hara echos the teaching of Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakai in Pirkei Avot. Rabbi Yochanan asked his students: “What is a good way for a person to live their life?”
One student answered: “It is to have a good eye.” That is, to look at the world through a positive and broad lens rather than a negative and constricted one.
A second student answered: “It is to be a good friend,” to always be available and supportive to those in need.
Rabbi Elazar said, “It is to have a good heart.”
Rabbi Yochanan replied, “I prefer Rabbi Elazar’s answer, for those who have a lev tov, a good heart, also possess the other qualities” (Pirkei Avot 2:13)
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Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego.