Metzorah (Shabbat HaGadol)
Lev. 14:1 – 15:33 

Rabbi Gary Pokras 

Shabbat HaGadol is the Shabbat immediately preceding Pesach; and Pesach commemorates the Exodus from Egypt and the beginning of our long journey to the Promised Land. Parashat Metzorah describes the laws for reintegrating a metzorah into the camp. A metzorah is someone who manifests symptoms on their skin resulting from a condition called tzara’at, often mistaken for leprosy. When a priest examines a person for tzara’at and finds the symptoms as described in the text, that person must leave the camp and live in isolation until it is safe for them to return. The rabbinic tradition interpreted the word metzorah as an acronym for the phrase motzi shem ra (bringing forth an evil name – slander or gossip). The symptoms of skin disease were a physical manifestation of a deeper spiritual malady, using speech to cause harm. Rumor mongering and gossiping is judged to be so toxic that its source must be removed from the camp.

However, such separation does not have to be permanent. Our parashah explains that if the spiritual disease heals then the external symptoms will also heal. In this case the metzorah becomes whole again, then and is reintegrated into the camp by none other than the High Priest himself (so that none can doubt the legitimacy and safety of their return). The famous rabbinic commentator known as the Sefat Emet expands the definition of the metzorah to include anyone who has wandered far from God through misguided action. For the Israelites, through their misguided actions, had to wander instead of travelling by a direct route to the Promised Land. When we act against God (and therefore against each other), we sometimes require distance to evaluate and reevaluate our actions and their impact. Then, only from a distance, can we eventually return.  

It can be difficult to welcome back those who have erred, wandered, and found their way back. The Sefat Emet teaches that we should see their wandering as part of a divine intervention – helping the person who needed to travel far enough to uncover their brokenness and find a way to heal and become whole again. We no longer have the High Priest to filter and reinstate the errant. Yet, we are a nation of priests, and perhaps if we look for the hand of God in these journeys, we may find the wisdom, the compassion, the empathy, and the patience to help them return.