by
Rabbi Michael Laitner

The Emperor’s Clothes?
Parshat Tazria

‘If there is an affliction of tzara’at in a garment of wool or of linen’ (Vayikra 13,47)

The mysterious, miraculous malady of tzara’at is something akin to leprosy. Its basic form consisted of various spots appearing on the body. It is not leprosy itself, as it also affected houses (ibid 14,34) and garments, in response to certain bad thoughts and actions, chiefly lashon ha’ra (slander).

Ramban (Rabbi Moses ben Nachman, 1194-1270), in his commentary to this verse, alludes to the spiritual foundations of tzara’at, illustrating that it was not a normal disease. The malady goes against the laws of nature and only affects Jews. Furthermore, tzara’at only affected houses in the Land of Israel.

Ramban explains that this malady illustrates the close and open spiritual relationship between G-d and the Jewish people, where individual actions have immediate, tangible effects and reactions. It is only houses in Israel that are affected as Israel is the place where G-d’s Presence ‘resides’ more than elsewhere, the Land where Judaism is experienced to its fullest.

For the same reason, Ramban states that tzara’at afflicts garments only in the Land of Israel. When we live in a heightened spiritual awareness, we understand that Halacha guides us in every decision that we make, encouraging us to make our lives as elevated as possible, both in our relationship with G-d, and in our relationship with other people. Tzara’at serves as encouragement to maintain our standards, to understand the consequences of our actions and keep striving to be as good as we can, each according to their own situation and ability.