Parsha Corner: Tazria / Metzorah — It Doesn’t Make a Difference
In Parshas Metzora, the Torah teaches that one afflicted with tzara’as must call out:
“טָמֵא טָמֵא” — “Impure! Impure!” (Vayikra 13:45).
On a practical level, this alerts others to stay away to avoid becoming spiritually impure.
But Chazal uncover a deeper layer: the metzorah calls out not only to warn others, but so that people will have mercy on him and daven on his behalf.
Chazal raise a sharp question:
If someone has tzara’as, it must be due to serious sins, such as lashon hara.
If he brought this suffering upon himself—perhaps even by speaking lashon hara about me—why should I pray for him? Isn’t he simply getting what he deserves?
The Yesod Yisroel gives a profound answer:
Yes, he may have caused this himself. But the Torah still expects me to care.
Even if he wronged me, I am still called to feel his pain and pray for his healing.
This teaches a powerful lesson in compassion and unity:
Even when someone is at fault, even when they’ve hurt us, our response should not be vengeance or indifference—but empathy and prayer.
The metzorah’s cry is not just a warning—it’s a plea for connection and heart.
A Story from Vilna
There was once a man in Vilna who publicly opposed Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, speaking harshly against him in both private and public settings.
Many people were aware of the insults he had hurled at the Rav.
One day, this same man fell seriously ill.
When Rav Chaim Ozer heard, he immediately asked for the man’s name—and began to daven intensely for his recovery.
Those around him were stunned.
Someone asked, “Rebbe, this is the man who publicly humiliated you. Why are you praying for him?”
Rav Chaim Ozer replied simply:
“He is sick. What does that have to do with what he said about me?”
Have a wonderful Shabbos!
Rabbi Anton