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Is tzaraat ("leprosy") a hygienic problem or is it something spiritual?

by Rabbi Yossi Marcus

  

Library » Miscellaneous » Health Issues » Tzaraas ("Leprosy") | Subscribe | What is RSS?

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Here are a number of facts that make it pretty clear that the Torah is talking about a spiritual malady that causes a the appearance of a white spot on the skin and that it has nothing to do with hygiene:

· In Torah law, the appearance of regular skin within the white spot is considered a sign of impurity, not a sign of recovery.

· By contrast, if the whiteness spread to that clear area, the individual was declared to be cured!

· If a person’s entire body was covered with white, he was considered pure!

· There were certain times when no examinations were performed, such as on festivals. Now these were times when thousands of Jews gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the festival. If the Torah were concerned with the spread of disease, wouldn’t the festival be a time to be especially vigilant?

These and other details make it abundantly clear that the white spots spoken of the in the Torah have nothing to do with any medical disease and they are not “leprosy”—though they are often referred to as such.
· Before a house was examined to see if its white spot rendered the home impure, all of the furniture was removed. The reason for this was because if it was pronounced impure, everything inside it would also be impure. So by first removing the furniture, the owner “saved” them from impurity. If this had anything to do with hygiene, what would it help to remove them before the pronouncement?

These and other details make it abundantly clear that the white spots spoken of the in the Torah have nothing to do with any medical disease and they are not “leprosy”—though they are often referred to as such.

What’s happening here according to some commentaries is that the white sign shows that the person needs some spiritual work to be done. He needs introspection and healing. The various signs or lack thereof are expressions of whether he’s making spiritual progress, etc. That’s why he’s isolated so that he can introspect and perhaps be shocked into clearing up his spiritual roadblocks. When this is done he becomes pure.


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Torah
Torah is G–d’s teaching to man. In general terms, we refer to the Five Books of Moses as “The Torah.” But in truth, all Jewish beliefs and laws are part of the Torah.
Jerusalem
Established by King David to be the eternal capital of Israel. Both Temples were built there, and the third Temple will be situated there when the Messiah comes.