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The bulk of this weeks Torah portion discusses the details of the affliction of Tzara’at. It is a common misconception that Tzara’at is the disease of leprosy, or is some sort of bodily infection that can be cured by medical means. However, after reviewing this week’s parshah, even on a superficial level, one can be certain that the “disease” of Tzara’at is far removed from any sickness that exists within the realm of nature.

The Torah starts off describing the different forms of Tzara’at that one may find on his body. One who notices a lesion on his skin and suspects that he may have contracted the disease would notify a Kohen (Jewish priest) in order to arrange for an examination. If it turns out that the blemish is in fact Tzara’at, the Torah tells us:

“…The Kohen shall look at it (the affliction) and declare him impure” [Leviticus: 13: 3]

Now, if we were dealing with a medical issue, why would the “patient” be declared impure? What does ritual purity have to do with disease? Furthermore, as we move through the parsha, the Torah goes on to describe that the affliction of Tzara’at is not restricted to the body alone. We learn that Tzara’at can appear on one’s garments (13: 47-59) and even on the walls of ones house (14: 33-53)! How can this be!? If this were some sort of severe medical illness, how can it infect a piece of clothing or a building!?

With all these difficulties and questions, we must say that Tzara’at is a very special form of infection that lies outside the scope of our regular understanding. Although there are physical symptoms of the “illness” (e.g. blemishes, lesions…), it is clear that Tzara’at is not rooted in the physical, but the spiritual realm of life.

But what causes this disease? Because we are dealing with a spiritual illness, one must examine his spiritual self to determine the cause of his illness. A considerable of time need not be spent to realize that the spiritual bacteria that has contaminated his soul is sin. In this way, Tzara’at acts a spiritual barometer in our service to God. If our sins have gone too far and the blemish on our soul has sunk in too deep, then this blemish will manifest itself onto our outer selves: our body, our clothing, and our house.

The fact that the stain on our soul has spread itself onto these three physical extensions of ourselves should be quite frightening. But while one is so focused on removing this terrible “disease” from his body, or while one is losing sleep over the fact that he must burn his clothes and tear down his house to remove it from his surroundings, does he stop to think why it’s all happening? The purpose of Tzara’at is to awaken our souls and to correct the spiritual and religious flaws we have lived with for so long. Our test is to look beyond the blemish of Tzara’at and see the blemish on our souls.

It is interesting to note that this “body, clothing, house” trio has made its way to other aspects of Jewish life as well. One of the most important and focal points of our daily prayers is the prayer of “Shma Yisrael”. Twice a day, in the paragraphs following our recitation of “Shma Yisrael”, we read about three separate commandments: Tefillin (small cases, containing holy scripture, that are connected to straps), Mezuzah (holy parchment enclosed in a usually-rectangular-shaped small container), and Tzitzit (fringes placed at the edges of a four-cornered garment).

We are have been commanded that the Tefillin be strapped around our body, on our arms and on our head (*See footnote*), the Mezuzah must be affixed to the doorposts of every threshold in our house, and that the Tzitzit be placed on clothing possessing four corners. In order to ensure that we maintain a daily spiritual lifestyle, God has commanded that we infuse holiness into the physical areas of our lives: our bodies, our clothes, and our houses. These commandments are meant to be for us as reminders of our spiritual and religious commitment to God on a daily basis. But how often do we really remind ourselves? Sure, we (hopefully) make sure to follow these commandments, but while we get so caught up in trying to have the fanciest Mezuzah and nicest Tefillin, or while we behave so scrupulously in taking precaution that our Tzitzit our made according to the exact letter of the law, do we stop to think why we’re keeping these commandments? It is amazing to spread holiness throughout our homes, and onto our clothes, and onto our bodies, but if it never spreads onto our souls then have we really accomplished anything?

Too often we think that we fulfill our religious responsibilities by serving God from the outside, but it is not enough. The ultimate goal of Jewish ritual and practice is to touch our hearts, pierce our souls, and permeate every fiber of our being.

Good Shabbos,

NZL

*The straps must be in complete contact with our skin. If, for instance, our shirt sleeve happens to fall between the straps of the arm-Tefillin and our skin, then it is as if we are not wearing the Tefillin altogether. They must be touching our bodies directly!