Parsha Halacha

Parsha Halacha – Parshat Tazria-Metzora

When Heresy Spreads, Expect Moshiach!

Lessons from a White Leper

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The Torah portion of Tazria-Metzora discusses the laws of a Metzora, loosely translated as a leper. One of the indicators that the Metzora is tahor, ritually pure, is if the tzara’at (leprosy-like disease) spreads and covers the entire body. As the verse says,^[1] “If the (tzara’at) erupts all over the skin to the extent that the tzara’at covers all the skin of the person with the lesion from his head to his feet, wherever the eyes of the priest can see it, then the priest must examine it. If the tzara’at has indeed covered all his flesh, he must pronounce the person with the lesion rid of this defilement. The fact that he has turned completely white indicates that he is ritually pure.”

It's difficult to understand why tzara’at spreading on the entire body is a sign of ritual purity.

Several commentaries offer reasons as to why this is so:

●      A Sign that the Healing will Begin

The Ibn Ezra^[2] says that when the tzara’at has spread throughout one’s body it indicates that the body has succeeded in expelling all of the (inner) disease to the surface and that the healing process will now begin.

●      Time for Teshuvah

From a spiritual perspective, a person whose disease has spread over one’s entire body will certainly repent from the sins which caused the disease.^[3] One who is on the path to repentance can already be considered ritually pure.^[4]

●      Has become Natural

The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains^[5] that when the person’s entire skin changes color, that color is no longer considered a disease but is rather considered his natural color. This is similar to the explanation given by the Maharal^[6] that tzara’at only renders a person impure when he is somewhat healthy as it indicates that there is disease where there should be health. Whereas a person who has turned completely white is no longer expected to be healthy so there’s no reason to treat him as impure. 

"Moshiach Only Comes when the Government Turns to Heresy"

The Talmud says^[7] that (Moshiach) ben David will only come when the entire government (of the host country of the exiled Jewish people) becomes heretical. This is based on the verse^[8] (regarding a person with tzara’at) that, “When he has turned completely white; he is ritually pure.”

The Maharsha explains that the four colors of Tzara’at are compared (in the Midrash^[9]) to the four exiles which the Jewish people have experienced (Babylonia, Media [and Persia], Greece, and Rome). The Jewish people who are exiled to the countries are like a leper who is in quarantine. When these countries turn completely white (heretical), then the Jewish people (the “leper”) is declared “pure” and is released from exile.

Since heresy is completely antithetical to the values that will be taught by Moshiach,^[10] we need to understand how the spreading of heresy can be an indication of Moshiach’s imminent arrival.

I have found six explanations among the commentaries, as follows:

1)     Will Spur to Teshuvah

When the Jewish people see that they have no allies since the entire government has become heretical, they will be spurred to do Teshuva, which will lead to the coming of Moshiach.^[11]

2)     Wicked like Haman

The Chatam Sofer points out that^[12] historically when the host nations of the Jews are kind to us, it leads to assimilation.^[13] Whereas when they are cruel to us, our reaction is to draw closer to our religion.^[14] As such, when the government becomes heretical and concocts libels against the Jewish people, we will respond by doing Teshuvah and returning to the Almighty, in which merit Moshiach will come. 

3)     Destruction Heralds the Rebuild

According to the Maharal,^[15] in order for a new era to begin, the previous era must be completely obliterated. The government turning heretical indicates that it’s completely rotten and will necessarily soon be replaced. This is similar to a seed which must rot in the ground before it can sprout.^[16] Rabbi Avrohom Mordechai Alter, the third Rebbe of Ger, compares this to the thick darkness that is present before the revelation of a great light.^[17]

4)     A Generation that Is Completely Wicked

The Talmud says^[18] that Moshiach will come in a generation that is either completely wicked or completely good. If the generation is completely wicked, G-d will, so to speak, be forced to bring Moshiach before the Jewish people completely disintegrate, G-d forbid. Similarly, it can be said that if the entire government will become heretical, G-d will be “forced” to bring Moshiach in order that the Jewish people not be annihilated, G-d forbid.^[19]

5)     Realizing the Heresy

The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that “the son of David will only come when the entire government turns to heresy” can be interpreted to mean that, when the Jewish people finally realize that all of the belief systems other than true Monotheism are heretical and useless, they will merit the redemption and will then proceed to replace the other belief systems with the correct one.

 6)     Denying Religion

 According to the Abarbanel,^[20] heresy refers to a rejection of all religion, in other words, atheism or agnosticism. He points out that we see this phenomenon in the Christian nations where many people are rejecting the beliefs of Christianity or any religion. And that even the priests in Rome are money-hungry and accept bribes without any regard to their religion. (He wrote this in the 1500’s!)

When a person lacks any religious beliefs, it is easier to influence him towards the true religion, whereas if he is entrenched in the beliefs of another religion, it’s difficult to get him to reject those beliefs. This is similar to the color white, upon which one can apply any other color as opposed to other colors upon which it’s difficult to superimpose another color.

As such, when the government and populace reject their false religion, it becomes a perfect time for Moshiach to come and convince them about the truth of the one G-d and His Torah. 

May We Soon Merit the Revelation of the Great Light of Moshiach!

[1] Levit. 13:12-13

[2] The Abarbanel and Ralbag echo this point. Similarly, the Pane’ach Raza says that the wide spreading of the disease indicates that it’s only a surface level ailment. Whereas a small patch of tzara’at indicates that the disease runs deep (Tur).

[3] See Arakhin 16a that there are seven sins on account of which one may be afflicted with Tzara’at.

[4] Kli Yakar.

[5] Likutei Sichot vol. 32 page 80 and on.

[6] Chidushei Aggadot on Sanhedrin 97a

[7] Sanhedrin 97a.

[8] Leviticus 13:13.

[9] Vayikra Rabbah 15:9.

[10] See Tzephania 3:9, “For then I will convert the peoples to a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the L-rd, and serve Him in unison.”

[11] Kli Yakar on Levit. 13:7.

[12] On Levit 13:13.

[13] For example, when Achashverosh invited the Jewish people to his royal party, they attended in a manner considered inappropriate. 

[14] E.g., after the decree of Haman and Achashverosh, the Jewish people renewed their commitment to the Torah and Mitzvot.

[15] Chidushei Aggadot, ibid. 

[16] Divrei Yosher (Jerusalem 2006) by Rabbi Yitzchak Ben Shoshan, on Sanhedrin, ibid.

[17] Imrei Emet, Likutim on Tractate Sanhedrin page 82.

[18] Sanhedrin 98a.

[19] Likutei Sichot ibid, page 82.[20] Yeshu’ot Meshicho, Chapter 5 of the section called Ha’iyun HaRishon 

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom Umevorach!