Rabbi Frand on Parshas Metzora
These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: Tape # 369, Bris
Millah That Causes Chilul Shabbos. Good Shabbos!
Remember What G-d Did To Miriam
Both Parshas Tazria and Parshas Metzora deal extensively with the laws of
Tzaraas. The Talmud [Eruchin 15b] says that the plague of Tzaraas is a
consequence of the sin of Lashon Harah [improper speech]. Tzaraas was a
'miraculous' disease, which occurred when the Bais Hamikdash was still
standing. If a person spoke evil about someone else, first his home was
affected. If he did not repent, his clothes were affected. If he still did
not repent, his body was ultimately affected. He had to separate from
civilization. He was publicly proclaimed an "impure person" as a result of
his evil speech.
In Parshas Ki Teizeh, the Torah writes "Guard against the plague of
Tzaraas, guard exceedingly and do all that will be instructed to you by
the Kohanim, the Levites. As I commanded them, thus you shall observe to
do." [Devorim 24:8] Immediately after this pasuk, the Torah commands
[24:9] "Remember that which HaShem your G-d did to Miriam on the road at
the time you went out of Egypt."
Miriam spoke "lashon hara" about her brother. She was stricken with
"Tzaraas". As a result, she was sent outside the camp. The Torah is
reminding us about this event.
When Miriam was sent outside the camp as a result of her "Tzaraas", the
entire camp waited for her for seven days. No one traveled. No one moved
forward. Everyone waited for Miriam. [Bamidbar 12:1-16]
Why did they wait for her? Why didn't they move on and force her to catch up
with them later? Our Sages teach us that the Jewish people waited for Miriam
as a 'reward' or 'payback' to her for having waited for her brother, Moshe,
when his basket was placed in the Nile [Shmos 2:4]. Now the Jewish People
waited for her.
If we were in Miriam's shoes, we might very well have not wanted such a
'payback'. If she had the option, she might very well have preferred that
the Jewish nation travel on without her, with the intent of "catching up
with them" later. Most likely, the last thing she would have wanted would
have been to cause everyone to wait for a whole week with nowhere to go.
Everyone would be asking one another "Why aren't we moving?" The answer
would be "It is Miriam's fault. It is because she spoke evil words about her
brother." What kind of 'reward' or proper 'payback' is this for her?
The answer to this question can be found in a passage in Ramba"m in his Yad
HaChazakah [Tum'as Tzaraas 16:10]. The Rambam does not usually launch into
philosophical discussions in his legal code (Mishneh Torah), but in this
case he writes as follows:
"...and concerning this matter we are warned in the Torah. 'Remember that
which HaShem your G-d did to Miriam on the road'. The Torah is saying,
contemplate what happened to the prophetess Miriam. She spoke about her
younger brother who she loved and helped raise. She had endangered her own
life to save him from the Nile. She (furthermore) did not speak malicious
evil about him. She just erred by equating his greatness to that of other
prophets (who do not separate themselves from their wives). And Moshe was
not bothered by any of her comments, as it is written 'And the man Moshe was
extremely modest'. And nevertheless she was immediately punished with
Tzaraas. Kal v'Chomer [how much more so] how great a punishment will be
coming to those wicked fools who frequently speak great and wondrous
(criticisms).
The Rambam is saying that Miriam's Lashon HaRah is really not typical Lashon
HaRah. It was not said maliciously. It was not said to harm anyone. It did
not harm anyone. It was an innocent mistake. But such is the power of Lashon
HaRah -- whether it is ill intended or well intended, it is like poison.
Regardless of the reason why poison is taken, it kills. The same is true
regarding Lashon HaRah.
Therefore, when the Torah says "Sit out in the wilderness and remember
what Miriam did for Moshe (when she waited for his basket by the Nile),"
the Torah is not denigrating Miriam. She is not being criticized. She is
righteous. The Torah is saying, "while you are waiting for Miriam, keep
in mind the destructive power of Lashon HaRah." If what she just did is
considered Lashon HaRah and is deserving of such a punishment, certainly
how much more so regarding denigrating Lashon HaRah.
Miriam was truly righteous and had nothing about which to be embarrassed.
Her action was really not a sin at all. It was just a 'mistake'. And yet we
see the powerful consequences. This is the lesson of 'Remember that which
HaShem your G-d did to Miriam'.
This write-up was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tape series on the weekly Torah portion.
The complete list of halachic topics covered in this series for Parshas
Tazria are provided below:
Also Available: Mesorah / Artscroll has published a collection
of Rabbi Frand's essays. The book is entitled:
and is available through your local Hebrew book store or from
Project Genesis, 1-410-654-1799.
