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Parsha Insights
By Rabbi Moshe Lichtman

The main topic of this week's parashah is the disease of tzara'at. Most people mistakenly translate this word as leprosy. Why do I say "mistakenly"? Well, for one thing, if it is a regular, pathological condition, why do Chazal say that it is caused by spiritual maladies such as slander, haughtiness, and promiscuity (see Arachin 16)? Also, how can "medical laymen" - i.e. kohanim - diagnose it, and how can it be cured by being sent into isolation? Moreover, how can it affect clothing and houses?

There is one more proof that tzara'at is not leprosy: the fact that it applies only in Eretz Yisrael. I am not referring to the fact that many of its halachot apply only in the Holy Land (for example: entering the Sanctuary in a state of tum'ah, leaving the three camps, offering sacrifices after being cured). Rather, I mean the disease itself strikes only in Eretz Yisrael (at least the clothing and house varieties). The source of this notion is the Ramban on the verse When there shall be a tzara'at affliction on a garment.. (VaYikra 13:47):

"This is not natural at all and does not exist in the [natural] world. The same is true of house afflictions. Rather, when the Jewish people perfect [their ways] before HaShem, the spirit of the Lord rests upon them constantly, to keep their bodies, clothing, and houses looking good. However, when one of them sins, an ugliness [i.e., a disease] arises on his body, clothing, or house, to show that G-d has left him. Therefore, the verse says, I [G-d] will place a tzara'at affliction on a house in the Land of your possession (ibid. 14:34), for it is a divine plague upon that house. And behold, this applies only in the Land which is HaShem's portion, as it says, When you come into the Land of Canaan which I give you as a possession (ibid.). The reason for this is not because [this mitzvah] is a land-oriented obligation. Rather, it is because this [disease] will only occur in the Chosen Land, where the eminent Lord dwells. Chazal further teach in Torat Kohanim [Sifra] that houses can become impure [because of tzara'at] only after [the Jews] conquer and divide [the Land among the tribes] and everyone recognizes his own portion. The reason being, because then their minds are settled enough to recognize HaShem, and the Shechinah will dwell in their midst. I also believe that clothing afflictions apply only in the Land. The Torah did not need to exclude Chutz LaAretz from [these types of afflictions] because they will never appear there."

In other words, tzara'at is G-d's way of telling a person that his deeds leave much to be desired. Through it, G-d distances the person from His Divine Presence. However, one cannot be distanced from HaShem unless he is usually close to Him. The Ramban teaches us that only one who dwells in Eretz Yisrael is "worthy" of being banished from G-d's presence, because he dwells in the King's Palace.

This can be compared to a person who lives in a deep, dark dungeon. If one would want to punish him, it would be futile to inflict him with a "plague of darkness," because he already suffers from that. However, if he lives in a well-lit house, darkness would be a very effective measure against him. Similarly, Chutz LaAretz, to a large degree, is devoid of G-d's divine light. Therefore, were G-d to remove His light from a person living there, it would be an indiscernible punishment, because His light does not really exist there to begin with. Eretz Yisrael, in distinct contrast, abounds with divine light. Therefore, spiritual darkness is a very effective punishment there.

One might say, "That is fine with me; I'll forgo the 'privilege' of getting tzara'at or any other divine affliction." The answer to this attitude is obvious but bears reiteration: G-d's commandments - and yes, even His punishments - are meant for our benefit. Just as a parent punishes his or her child out of love - in order to teach him the proper derech; so too, HaShem punishes His children in order to set them straight. His commandments are like preventative medicine, while His punishments are like emergency medical treatment after the fact.

Tzara'at is a wake-up call to do teshuvah. Fortunate is he who is close enough to HaShem to get this wake-up call when needed.