Shabbat Tazria Metsora
Written by Rabbi Dr Michael Shire Friday, 24 April 2009
A detailed discussion on skin diseases and bodily infections seems a strange inclusion in our Holy Scriptures. These portions, however, may teach us something about healing the body and soul.
The process of healing gives all who are ill or in mourning a means to attain recovery or solace. It also shows us how to help heal one another.
A person declared tsara’at (infected) was cast out of the community and regarded as ‘unclean’. After a period of isolation, the priest went out of the camp in order to prepare the tsara’at for re-entry into the community.
Empowered by his position, the priest enabled those outside the community to return and be welcomed.
His role was entirely ritual, but it was an important part of the healing process. In providing the means for a return, he offered the comfort and reassurance required in all healing processes of body or soul.
Through him, the sense of isolation diminished, and strength and consolation returned by means of renewed ties with the community.
This process of healing – of enabling people to return to their community, of reaching out to restore them to health and well-being – illustrates the continuing significance if these verses.
The rabbis understood this when they assigned the process to all who were able to help others, as shown in the Talmud (Berachot 5b).
The tractate relates that Rabbi Hiyya fell ill, and Rabbi Yohanan went to visit him. Rabbi Yohanan asked ‘Do you want to be sick? Is your suffering important to you?’
When Rabbi Hiyya replied that it was not, Rabbi Yohanan placed his hands on him and healed him.
Then Rabbi Yohanan fell ill, and Rabbi Hanina went to him, asking: ‘Is your suffering important to you?’ Rabbi Yohanan answered, ‘No’, whereupon Rabbi Hanina placed his hands on him and healed him.
Why, if Rabbi Yohanan could heal Rabbi Hiyya, could he not heal himself? Because, said the sages, prisoners cannot release themselves from their own confinement.
Rabbi Dr Michael Shire
