Written by Rabbi Aryeh Dachs
Tazria: The Life Monger
Parshas Tazria addresses the curious spiritual malady known as Tzaraas. Although Tzaraas would seem to resemble a skin condition of sorts, our sages of blessed memory assure us that at the core of this malady is an inner pollution primarily caused when one speaks ill about his fellow – lashon hara. The Medrash relates an incident by the great Tannaic sage R’ Yannai. A certain peddler arrives in the town of R’ Yannai and creates a stir. He shouts, “Who wants life? Who wants life?”, implying he has in his possession an elixir of life! Curious, R’ Yanai summoned this “life” monger and demanded he show his wares. The fellow simply opened a Tehillim and pointed to the verse which states, “Who is he that desires life, guard your tongue from evil...” R’ Yanai responded in awe, his whole life he had read that verse and never fully understood the meaning! This peddler’s shtick taught R’ Yanai the true intent of this verse. The Medrash is puzzling. As clever as the peddler may have been, what precisely did R’ Yannai glean from his gimmick? What was revealed from this verse that was not otherwise apparent?
The great R’ Isser Zalman Meltzer (1870–1953), in his approbation to Ikkrei Dinim (an abridged Sefer Chofetz Chaim written by R’ Shmuel Homminer) gives a novel explanation. He explains that the 613 Mitzvos in the Torah are divided by Mitzvos Aseh, positive commandments- activities we are obligated to actively do, and Mitzvos Lo Saaseh, activities we are meant to avoid. Although our Rabbis teach “when one stays put and avoids sin, it is as if he is actively performing a Mitzvah”, negative commandments function very differently from positive commandments. When we avoid a negative act, it is like avoiding danger, very important but not productive. As opposed to actively doing something to enhance or prolong our life, which we view as productive, they build. R’ Isser Zalman explains, R’ Yannai originally related to the sin of Lashon Hara as a harmful poison which must be avoided at all costs, vital but not life-giving or life-enhancing. This peddler understood that the mitzvah to abstain from speaking lashon hara is not like other negative commandments. Although we abstain from lashon hara it functions like the elixir of life; it is life-giving. R’ Yannai now had a new understanding of the message of the verse, abstaining from speaking ill about others is a productive act. When we are careful about the way we speak we change our essence, we become more holy and more spiritual, we significantly enhance and add more value to our lives.
The decision to be cautious about the way we speak about others is life-changing. It is a positive force for ourselves, our families and our relationship with the Almighty, of which the rewarding reverberations can be almost tangible.
