Parshat Tazria – Parshat Hachodesh
Rabbi Jablinowitz
This week's parsha teaches the laws of Negaim, the impure blemishes which appear on one's skin. The Medrash Rabbah (15,4) on our parsha gives a parable of a Matron who enters the king's palace and sees straps and sticks meant for lashes hanging on the wall. Upon seeing her concern, the King tells her that those are meant for his slaves but she shall eat, drink and be joyous with the King. Similarly, Bnei Yisrael reacted with fear to the laws of Negaim whereupon Moshe responds don't fear, this is for the non-Jews but you shall eat and drink and rejoice.
This Medrash seems quite difficult. Surely the laws of Negaim are meant for Clal Yisrael. What does it mean they are for the nations of the world?
Rav Tzadok HaKohen answers this question in the following manner. The pasuk says by Yetzias Mitzrayim (Shmos, Chapter 15, Pasuk 26),Vayomer Im Shamoa Tishma L'Hashem Elokecha… Kol HaMachalah Asher Samti V'Mitzrayim Lo Asim Alecha Ki Ani Hashem Rofecha. Gd tells Bnei Yisrael that if they follow in His ways and listen to Him, He will not bring on them the various illnesses which He brought in Egypt. The reward doesn't seem commensurate with the action. If we follow in the ways of Hashem we won't receive the punishments the Egyptians suffered in Mitzrayim? Surely Bnei Yisrael deserve more for keeping the mitzvos than not being punished.
When Hashem announces that He is about to bring about a devastating blow to Mitzrayim the pasuk says (Shmos, Chapter 11, Pasuk 11), Od Nega Echad Avi al Pharaoh V'al Mitzrayim. The ultimate plague brought on the Egyptians is referred to as a "Nega". And yet these devastating blows for the Mitzrim were healing for Clal Yisrael as the pasuk says (Yeshayahu, Chapter 19, Pasuk 22) V'Nagaf Hashem es Mitzrayim Nagof V'Rafo. Chazal explain that the Nagof, the affliction for Mitzrayim, was a Rafo, a healing for Bnei Yisrael.
The Medrash Rabbah on Shmos teaches (27,9), Shevartem Na'ase, Hizaharu B'Nishma. You sinned with the Eigel and ruined your statement ofNa'ase, we will keep the laws. At least be careful with V'Nishma, we will listen. Hashem tells Bnei Yisrael in the pasuk we quoted above, Im Shamoa Tishma L'Hashem Elokecha if you listen to Hashem I will not bring the afflictions I brought on the Egyptians upon you for I will heal you. When you try to keep the mitzvos, then even if you fail, your punishments won't have the destructive effect of that which I brought in Egypt. Ani Hashem Rofecha, everything I bring upon you will be in order to heal you. This is the reward for Bnei Yisrael; receiving punishments out of love which will ultimately heal you.
When the Medrash Rabbah teaches that the Negaim are for the Umos Ha'Olam, the nations of the world, it is referring to the Negaim of the sort that Hashem brought in Egypt, the Od Nega Echad of Makas Bechoros. The King tells the Matron, don't be afraid those Negaim are for the slaves, just as Moshe tells Bnei Yisrael they are for the nations of the world. But you will merit eating and drinking and being joyous. What does eating and drinking have to do with Bnei Yisrael not receiving devastating Negaim?
The Zohar Hakadosh teaches that one who has the means to fulfill the mitzvah of Oneg Shabbos and doesn't do so, his Oneg reverts to Nega Tzara'as. The letters of the words Oneg and Nega are the same; violating the one brings about the punishment of the other.
A common theme of Chazal (see the Rambam in the end of Hilchos Tumas Tzara'as) is that Negaim are a positive phenomena meant to bring a person to Teshuva. The Sfas Emes brings that the word Metzora, the one who has Negaim, is a contraction of the words Motzei Ra. The whole point of this process is to remove the evil within us and purify us. Our Negaim are in contrast to those of the Umos Ha'Olam; theirs are destructive while are ours are positive and constructive.
This is why Negaim for Bnei Yisrael are a positive occurrence and this is our reward for wanting to keep the mitzvos of Hashem. For when we fall short and need a reminder to repent, Hashem will bring Negaim upon us. Not the devastating force brought upon the Egyptians, but one that will temporarily isolate us and give us cause to introspect and change. And if Chazal teach that for not performing the mitzvah of Oneg we receive Nega, then our Teshuva will be to revert the Nega to Oneg, and then we will eat and drink and be joyous on Shabbos with the King.
Good Shabbos
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