When describing how the Kohen would examine the presentation of Tzaraas, the Torah describes והנה הנגע עמד בעיניו, “behold the נגע stood (present) in his eyes”. Literally this refers to the Kohen looking at the Tzaraas after the week of isolation. But on a deeper level, the verse is hinting to us that the presence of the נגע exists in our eyes.
Similarly, when determining whether the Tzaraas found in clothing has been cured or not, the Torah says והנה לא הפך הנגע את עינו... טמא הוא, “and behold the נגע did not change its colour... it is impure.” The word עינו means its colour. But it can also mean “its eye”. If our perspective does not change and we continue to see only the bad, this is impure and we will be stuck in the impurity.
In Kabbalah, the right-side is associated with goodness and positivity. The left-side represents negativity. Seeing with our right eye means to see the good. Seeing with the left eye means to see the bad. When our Ayin - our eye - is on the left, we will see נגע, which is spelled with the letter Ayin on the left. But if we look with our Ayin on the right, when we look to find the positive, we are able to see ענג.
When things are not going well, when we suffer misfortune, hardship and challenges, we can choose to see the נגע. We can choose to wallow in the darkness and sadness, to focus on the negativity and bemoan the terrible situation. This may be the natural reaction, but no good can come from it. Like the Metzora, seeing a נגע leaves us isolated, trapped and held back from living a happy, meaningful life.
Instead, we must choose to be optimistic and see the positive and the opportunity in everything. We can choose to see the light within the darkness and to focus on the good. By no means is this easy. This is Avodah and to do it, we need strong Bitachon, trust and faith in Hashem.
So perhaps this is the lesson that we are supposed to learn when we can’t make sense of what we are seeing and all we see seems terrible, leaving us demoralized and fearful. Every נגע can be ענג. We can’t control the situation, but we can control our perspective to be positive.
In the Talmud, Eliyahu Hanavi describes Moshiach as appearing like a Metzora. If we seek him out, in the pain, negativity and lowliness of Tzaraas, we will find and come to the ultimate delight of redemption.
