Tazria-Metzora

The International Classification of Diseases does not recognise the metzora as described in the Torah. The misnomers “leprosy”, and “leper” have plagued our understanding of this condition which simply does not match up with any known medical diagnosis. This is because tzara’at, the “disease” of the metzora, can be better understood as a sign rather than as a disease at all; the disease is the person and the tzara’at markings on the skin are essentially the symptoms.

Tzara’at plagued those who spoke lashon hara, slanderous or damaging speech. Famously, Miriam was affected after speaking about her brother Moses and his decision to separate from his wife.

The saying goes, “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events and small minds discuss people”. Lashon hara indicates a person’s focus on externalities — a small-mindedness that is unbecoming. And so the affliction begins with markings on the external frontiers of a person’s existence, on the walls of their home.

If the issue is not addressed and the individual does not change their ways, then the tzara’at will migrate to the sufferer’s clothing and eventually on to their skin, the outer barrier of their body. The message is clear: you are poisonously focused on externals and this needs to change.