Parshat Tazria-Metzorah; Leviticus 12:1-15:32 By: Rabbi Denise L. Eger

This week’s double portion Tazria-Metzorah is all about spiritual defilement through various means from childbirth to skin diseases. These impurities are seen as keeping the individual from being near the Divine Presence or in even in communion with the community. Tazria-Metzorah speaks of the problem of Tzarat—which has been often mis-translated as leprosy. There is much discussion of what actually tzarat was. But it manifested itself as some kind of skin disease or affliction but this isn’t completely accurate because also in this week’s portion is the tzarat of fabric and houses. Whatever tzarat is or isn’t—it is clear that this condition isn’t just the result of some contagion. But tzarat is a spiritual condition that manifests itself physically.

Traditionally, tzarat is associated with the sin of lashon harah—gossip. If we turn elsewhere in the TaNaCh we see that Miriam, Moses’ and Aaron’s sister is afflicted with tzarat when she speaks ill of Moses’ wife –Tzipporah (Numbers 12:10). In the Talmud, this passage further reinforces the connection between tzarat and gossip or slander, “Resh Lakish said: This verse “This shall be the law concerning the metzora (one with the skin affliction) (Lev. 14:2) means: “This shall be the law concerning motzi shem ra (the one who speaks calumny.” (B.Ar 15b).
In the Midrash, Deuteronomy Rabbah, Rabbi Haninah said: Plagues of tzarat come only on the account of speaking calumny. For as the sages said, you can see for yourself that such plagues come on account of calumny. Even the righteous Miriam, who spoke slander against her brother Moses- plagues clung to her, as a sign and a warning to all given to speaking such slander. Hence the verse, “Remember what Adonai your God did unto Miriam (Deut. 24:9).
Slander and gossip eat away at the core of society and community. From the inside out they destroy the basic humanity of both the victim and the victimizer. But its reach is larger than that. It finally destroys the fabric of the community as trust is gone. No one can escape slanders effects. Whether true or not—the information and the way those now view the affected has changed forever.
In recent days, we have seen this in the world of radio. Don Imus, famous radio personality made awful slanderous comments about the Rutgers women’s basketball team. Here were young women, freshmen, who had taken a team that began with a losing season and they ended up in the championship game in NCAA Women’s Basketball. Their team ultimately lost to the University of Tennessee team who has been a powerhouse in women’s basketball for decades. The Rutgers women’s team had nothing to be ashamed of. They worked hard. They are scholar athletes. They are role models for everyone and yet, now Imus’ remarks like a plague of tzarat have descended not only upon Don Imus but upon these brave women, Rutgers University, all of women’s basketball and upon us as a society. Imus has apologized for his inappropriate words but the problem with slander, lies, and gossip is that once the words are spoken aloud they can never be retracted. Imus has a long history of misogyny, racism, and homophobia. But he is not alone. Many others including Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, Bam Magera, 50 Cents use the airwaves for shock value. And it is not radio alone.