The second Parsha of this double Parsha, Parshat Metzora introduces us to the fascinating subject of leprosy of the house. The Bnei Yisrael were informed that upon entry into the Land of Canaan, there could be a possibility that their houses could become leprous. If there was discoloration of the walls, that could spell the ultimate scenario in which a house would have to be raised to the ground.
As can be expected, the Midrash Tanchuma explains that this would come as a punishment for a serious sin that the householder would have committed. The Gemara in Masechet Erchin identifies that sin as dishonesty.
The Midrash Rabbah tells us that actually this would come as a punishment for somebody who was wealthy and yet acted in a miserly way, always claiming that he had nothing to give to charity. As part of the process of leprosy of the house, he would need to take all of his possessions outside his front door, and therefore everybody would see how wealthy he actually was.
Fascinatingly, the Midrash in Vayikra Rabbah tells us that leprosy of the house comes as a reward. Now how can this be possible? You lose your home and it’s a reward? Explains the Midrash. When the Canaanim were fleeing from the Holy Land, they hoped that one day they would return to their homes. And so they hid their most valuable possessions inside the walls of those homes. And so Hashem identified those homes by placing the discoloration on the walls.
Consequently, once the homes were raised to the ground, the owners were able to find that hidden treasure.
‘Sometimes the greatest of treasures in life come through difficulty and travail.’
I believe that there is a powerful message here for all of life. Sometimes things go wrong, and we cry out to Hashem and we say: ‘Why have you cursed us in this fashion?’ Little do we realize that actually we are taking a few steps backwards in order to move hundreds of steps forwards. Sometimes the greatest of treasures in life come through difficulty and travail. This is how the Gemara in Masechet Brachot puts it, kol d’avid Rachmana l’tav avid. Whatever G-d does, He does for the good.
So let’s try to see everything for the good and let’s pray with all our hearts, for the healing of all those injured, for the safe return of those taken as hostages, as well as Divine Protection for our brave IDF soldiers, police officers, medical professionals, firefighters, ZAKA members, security personnel and all those citizens protecting us in Israel as well as around the world, and for those who need healing, shidduchim, children or parnassah and may we be blessed to have the most awesome, gorgeous, beautiful, peaceful, healthy, amazing, relaxed, spiritual, safe, quiet and sweet Shabbat.
