Parshas Tazria -Metzorah

1. In the Parsha read last week, ( Parshas Shimini) the instructions for tamei animals were discussed.

2 In this week's Parsha the instructions of Tumah regarding humans are discussed.

3. Q.Why are the instructions regarding animals discussed before those regarding human beings?

A.The Torah is following the order of creation. Man was created after the animals.

4.This order (first the animals , then man) contains a lesson the egotistical.

If a person becomes too full of himself,

he can remind himself that man was created after the insects in the order of creation.

The main advantage that man has over animals is his intellect and ability to speak.

If he uses those abilities to learn Torah (which is the way that HaShem communicates to man)

and uses those abilities to daven (which is the way that man communicates to HaShem),

then man takes a greater importance over not only the animals but even over the melachim.

But if he uses those unique gifts to speak lashon Horah or foul language, or meaningless talk

then even the animals take precedence over man because they are silent

and don't have the ability to cause harm or waste time through their speech.

5.One of the most basic lessons in the Torah

is to live life knowing that not only does HaShem oversee the entire world

but that He watches over each individual

and responds to the choices that each person makes in his life.

This concept (known as hashgachas pratis) reminds us

that if we experience a property loss, or a loss of good health with our bodies

that loss comes as a result of a certain undesirable behavior we have chosen to practice

or a negative character trait that we have chosen to adopt.

HaShem is full of compassion. When HaShem sends a person troubles,

he is like a father who is correcting his child's behavior.

First a person's property might be effected.

If a person reevaluates his life and corrects the behavior that needs to be changed

then all is fine

If not his body might be effected

6.When the Beis HaMikdash stood, and someone practiced a certain behavior,

HaShem would send a certain condition that would first affect the walls

of his house causing a discoloration.

7.If a person would change his ways, all would be good.

If not, then his clothing would be effected because his clothing is closer to his body.

8. If the person still did not change his behavior

then the condition would affect the skin on his body.

9. In order to make sure that we understand that this condition came direct;y from HaShem,

HaShem conducted the healing process to be carried out in a way that one wouldn't expect.

If a person saw the condition on his skin he would have to be examined by a Cohen.

The Cohen would examine him and then would put him in quarantine.

By being placed in isolation,the person effected would be in space in which he could reflect

and figure out what behaviors had he done to bring him to this place to begin with.

The person would understand that his the ultimate cause of his condition was spiritual

even though his symptoms were physical

10. The Torah says that someone who has been declared tamei due to tzaras

must behave like he is a mourner

First he must tear his clothing. He must not have his hair cut.

In addition he must cover his head down to his lips and warn people that he is tamei

so that people will know that he is unclean.

He must remain out of all three camps.

This is because one of the reasons why a person is struck with this condition

is because he spoke lashon harah.

When people badmouth others

they separate a man from his friend and a husband from his wife.

Now he must be separated from others.

11. A person who suspected that he had tzaraas

was declared by the Cohen first as a Metzorah Musgar.

He was quarantined.

At the end of seven days, if it was determined that he was tahor by the Cohen,

he merely had to immerse himself and his clothing in the mikvah.

However if he was declared tamei due to the appearance of certain symptoms

then he had the status of a Metzorah Muchlat.

He would then have to practice the behavior of a mourner described above.

12. There are seven aveiros that bring to the person tzaraas.

There are seven parshios in the Torah that discuss the laws of tzaraas.

The term nega tzaraas (which means the mark of Tzaraas) is found seven times in the Torah.

They parallel the seven aveiros that bring Tzaraas

They are:

Lashon Harah

Murder

Taking an unnecessary oath and mentioning HaShem name without cause

Forbidden sexual relations

Pride

Robbery

Stinginess and avoiding Tzedakah