(א) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (ב) זֹ֤את תִּֽהְיֶה֙ תּוֹרַ֣ת הַמְּצֹרָ֔ע בְּי֖וֹם טׇהֳרָת֑וֹ וְהוּבָ֖א אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ (ג) וְיָצָא֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אֶל־מִח֖וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה וְרָאָה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהִנֵּ֛ה נִרְפָּ֥א נֶֽגַע־הַצָּרַ֖עַת מִן־הַצָּרֽוּעַ׃ (ד) וְצִוָּה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְלָקַ֧ח לַמִּטַּהֵ֛ר שְׁתֵּֽי־צִפֳּרִ֥ים חַיּ֖וֹת טְהֹר֑וֹת וְעֵ֣ץ אֶ֔רֶז וּשְׁנִ֥י תוֹלַ֖עַת וְאֵזֹֽב׃
(1) יהוה spoke to Moses, saying: (2) This shall be the ritual for a leper at the time of being purified. When it has been reported to the priest, (3) the priest shall go outside the camp. If the priest sees that the leper has been healed of the scaly affection, (4) the priest shall order two live pure birds, cedar wood, crimson stuff, and hyssop to be brought for the one to be purified.
Responsibility of the Metzora
וטעם והובא. כמו חביריו כי אחר שיסור נגע הצרעת לא ירצה להביא מה שמחוייב
"Human nature's control over a person is compelling. The moment that he is healed from his illness, he no longer senses the urgency to attain his purity. Thus, he must be brought to the Kohen" even if by force. (Peninim on the Torah, 9th Edition, pg 205)
Nowadays, when we do not have priests who can perform the steps leading to the rehabilitation of an afflicted person (including the sacrifices), repentance is the only instrument by which we can cleanse ourselves. The right hand of G'd is always stretched out to welcome penitent sinners.
Shem M'Shmuel
"When the metzora is ourside of the camp, he should make every effort to come closer to the Kohen -- his lifestyle, his way of thinking, his total demeanor. By advancing towards the Kohen, the metzora purifies his heart and mind. When he has succeeded in motivating himself forward, then the Kohen will approach him. The sinner has to make the first move and demonstrate his true conviction. Only at such time will his teshuvah be accepted."
"When the metzora is ourside of the camp, he should make every effort to come closer to the Kohen -- his lifestyle, his way of thinking, his total demeanor. By advancing towards the Kohen, the metzora purifies his heart and mind. When he has succeeded in motivating himself forward, then the Kohen will approach him. The sinner has to make the first move and demonstrate his true conviction. Only at such time will his teshuvah be accepted."
Responsibility of the Kohen
Siach Ha'sadeh
"The Kohen is the righteous leader of the generation. On his plateau of virtue, the most minor infraction is viewed as a grave sin. Hence, he might look at the average Jew with derision. He will abhor his sins, not realizing that he is simply not on the same spiritual level as the Kohen. He must learn to view the actions of the simple Jew in a positive light. The tzaddik/Kohen must recognize that if he were outside of the camp, away from the safety and shelter of the four cubits of Torah; if he were out in the market place dealing with people of diverse backgrounds and perhaps, base character, he might not be so virtuous himself. Consequently, the Torah tells the Kohen: Image yourself out of the camp. Remove yourself from your protective environment and look at what the man in front of you has to experience. Look at those with whom he must come in contact; take into consideration the type of life to which he has been exposed. Now the Kohen is prepared to observe the plague and heal the metzora." (Peninim on the Torah, 7th Edition, pg 202
Siach Ha'sadeh
"The Kohen is the righteous leader of the generation. On his plateau of virtue, the most minor infraction is viewed as a grave sin. Hence, he might look at the average Jew with derision. He will abhor his sins, not realizing that he is simply not on the same spiritual level as the Kohen. He must learn to view the actions of the simple Jew in a positive light. The tzaddik/Kohen must recognize that if he were outside of the camp, away from the safety and shelter of the four cubits of Torah; if he were out in the market place dealing with people of diverse backgrounds and perhaps, base character, he might not be so virtuous himself. Consequently, the Torah tells the Kohen: Image yourself out of the camp. Remove yourself from your protective environment and look at what the man in front of you has to experience. Look at those with whom he must come in contact; take into consideration the type of life to which he has been exposed. Now the Kohen is prepared to observe the plague and heal the metzora." (Peninim on the Torah, 7th Edition, pg 202
Our Responsibility
Rabbi Dr. Dvora Weisberg (http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/reaching-out-to-the-isolated/)
The metzora, as a result of contracting a disfiguring disease, has been exiled from the community. While this precaution may have risen from the desire to prevent the spread of a contagious disease, it undoubtedly left the metzora feeling emotionally, as well as physically, alone.
Cured of his illness, the metzora is now permitted to rejoin the community, but the period of isolation may have left him angry and withdrawn. The priest goes out to meet the metzora in part to draw him back into the community. Reentering the community is a gradual process, reflecting the difficulty the metzora experiences reconnecting with other human beings.
Our communities include individuals who for one reason or another feel isolated. We cannot ignore these people or contribute to their feelings of estrangement. Fear of their afflictions is no excuse for causing them further pain. Just as the priest goes out to meet the metzora, so too we must reach out to those in our midst who have been excluded, drawing them back into a caring community.
Rabbi Dr. Dvora Weisberg (http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/reaching-out-to-the-isolated/)
The metzora, as a result of contracting a disfiguring disease, has been exiled from the community. While this precaution may have risen from the desire to prevent the spread of a contagious disease, it undoubtedly left the metzora feeling emotionally, as well as physically, alone.
Cured of his illness, the metzora is now permitted to rejoin the community, but the period of isolation may have left him angry and withdrawn. The priest goes out to meet the metzora in part to draw him back into the community. Reentering the community is a gradual process, reflecting the difficulty the metzora experiences reconnecting with other human beings.
Our communities include individuals who for one reason or another feel isolated. We cannot ignore these people or contribute to their feelings of estrangement. Fear of their afflictions is no excuse for causing them further pain. Just as the priest goes out to meet the metzora, so too we must reach out to those in our midst who have been excluded, drawing them back into a caring community.