PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE

No one was ever bored in Ms. Stern’s Parsha class. She never failed to find ingenious ways of presenting the lessons, which made them unforgettable. This morning was a perfect example.

When the eighth graders came to their classroom, they discovered a sign on the door: Tzaraas Clinic – Cohen Stern, licensed practitioner, specializing in diagnosis and treatment of underlying causes of Biblical Tzaraas.

As they entered, the girls almost didn’t recognize their classroom. It had been transformed into a doctor’s waiting room. There were illustrated charts on the walls depicting all of the different types of nega’im and the Torah’s instruction for each case.

Ms. Stern, wearing a doctor’s white coat, and holding a clipboard, welcomed her students and gave instructions. “Today you are all Kohanim, training to recognize possible Tzaraas, and finding out how to declare it Tamay or Tahor. As Kohanim, who are rooted in chesed, and responsible for the spiritual welfare of the people, your training will include how to rectify the underlying deficiency that causes the symptoms of Tzaraas.”

Ms. Stern paused to make sure that all of the girls were ready to hear what they needed to do. “There are task sheets on each chair. Please take one of each, and fill in the missing information, using the charts on the wall for reference. When you finish, you will put your papers into your schoolbags. At home, I would like you to take a Chumash and find the p’sukim that discuss each type of nega and mark them down on your paper on the appropriate lines.”

After the girls finished their task, Ms. Stern called for their attention. “Now that you know about the different categories of Tzaraas, we are going to talk about who it affects and why.” Using the whiteboard to write the key words, she asked her students: “Who would have been more likely to get Tzaraas – a Tzaddik or a Rasha? All those who say Tzaddik raise your hands.” Two hands went up. “Who says that a Tzaraas patient is more likely to be a Rasha?” The majority of the students raised their hands.

Ms. Stern called on one of the girls who had raised her hand for “Tzaddik.” “So, Chavie, why do you say it’s the Tzaddik who is more likely to get Tzaraas?”

“I don’t really know, but I saw Malky’s hand up, and she usually has the right answer.” Her classmates giggled.

“Malky, how about you? Why did you choose Tzaddik?”

“Morah, I just figured that the less likely answer must be the right one…” Everyone giggled again.

Ms. Stern gave a mock sigh, “Oh dear, you both happen to have chosen the correct answer, that the good person is more likely to get Tzaraas, but we still have to find out why this is so.

“The Rambam tells us that Tzaraas only existed in the time of the Beis HaMikdash, when the Yidden were on a higher level. The Alter Rebbe explains that this is because only someone on a very high level, a Tzaddik who has purified his inner self, can get Tzaraas. Just as Tzaraas only affects the skin, the outside surface of the person, the deed that causes it is also superficial.”

At this point Rina raised her hand, and Ms. Stern gave her permission to speak. “But Morah, doesn’t it say that Tzaraas is a punishment for Lashon Hara? Lashon Hara is compared to the worst sins. How can you say that Lashon Hara is a superficial sin?”

“Excellent question, Rina. The Rebbe explains this very point in a sicha. As a prime example of the Lashon Hara that causes tzaraas, the Rambam brings the incident with Miriam. She did not have bad intentions when she spoke about her brother Moshe’s personal business. Moshe himself was not upset by her words. Then the Rambam goes on to describe what happens when people waste time, talking about meaningless things, and how it leads to worse and worse topics. This is the Lashon Hara – bad talk that can affect even a person who has perfected his inner self.

“Have you ever sat around with friends talking about nothing important, and eventually discovered yourself saying something that you never should have said? This is the type of Lashon Hara that brought Tzaraas. Sure you didn’t mean any harm, it’s superficial, but then Tzaraas too is only skin deep. Yet it indicates a deficiency hidden deep inside. The Tzaraas is a warning to the good, well meaning person to stay away from chatter that may lead to harm.”

Ms. Stern paused before concluding: “I would tend to think that this would apply to conversation by electronic means, as well. Make sure that whatever you say or send will not lead to harm.”

The class was over, but the lesson would remain with them forever.

The above lesson is based on Likkutei Sichos Vol. 22 p. 65-69.