Parshat Metzora begins with the description of the purification process for a person who became impure because of tzaraat, a skin condition resembling leprosy. It is an ailment that comes about because of a person’s conduct. Because he spread lashon hara, malicious gossip about another person, his own body is affected and his skin begins to decay.
The Transgressor Deserves His Punishment
How can he correct himself? After the kohen (priest) determines him to be impure, he is told to go outside the city limits and live alone, distant from others. As our Sages explain: “Since he created separation among others, he is forced to live alone.” As he lives his solitary existence, he hopefully learns the severity of his transgression and in this way, expiates his sin.
How does he become pure? A kohen comes out beyond the city limits and inspects his body to see if his skin ailment has healed. Now usually a kohen is not allowed to become impure himself; he must take utmost care in this regard. This is of essential importance to him. For if a kohen becomes impure, he may not serve in the Temple for the duration of his impurity. It is highly likely that impure objects will be located in the place where the person afflicted with tzaraat stays. And yet, the kohen makes an exception and goes out to help this person.
His conduct is an example for us in our present-day lives. Showing us the extent of the commitment that we must make, extreme efforts are necessary, even when there is a risk to our own personal selves. Even though we may be prevented from entering G-d’s Temple as a result, we have to do what we can to enable another person to attain purity and resume normal social relations with his fellow men.
Reprinted from the Chabad.Org website article “Five Powerful Insights from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, zt”l, on Tazria-Metzora” compiled by Rabbi Mordechai Rubin.
