Rabbi Jon’s Reflection on This Week’s Torah Portion
4.19.2024
Metzora 2024: I Have a Sick House!
A short reflection on Metzora (Leviticus 14:1 - 15:33)
In today’s Torah portion, Metzora, we learn all about sick houses. Yes, sick houses.
God says to Moses and Aaron, “When you enter the land of Canaan that I give you as a possession, and I inflict an eruptive plague upon a house in the land you possess, you shall…. (Lev 14:34)” Shall what? How do you deal with a house that’s sick? More importantly, why would God INFLICT a plague upon a house. It’s a little strange. Does God think the house is evil? Why INFLICT something upon a benign structure?
The Rabbinic Commentator Rashi thought that INFLICTING an eruptive plague on a house was actually a good thing. He believed that the Amorites had hidden golden treasure inside the walls of their houses during the 40 years the Israelites wandered the desert. God was just pointing out where the buried treasure could be found once they conquered the land of Canaan. I wonder if the finder would share the gold with the rest of the Israelite community?
Hizkuni (France, 1200’s), another famous rabbi, believed that God inflicted a plague upon the house to identify which homes had been used for idol worship. It was a big warning sign – do not enter these premises because you’ll be entering a facility where something bad has occurred. Idol worship, in those days, was a big no-no. You wanted to avoid entering or living in a house where idol worship had once occurred at all costs.
Maimonides believed that because a sick house is not a natural phenomenon it must be a sign for the people of Israel. He viewed it as a warning. If your house is infected, you are being told that something is wrong in your life, that you were doing something wrong. It was up to you to attempt to change and, by changing your ways, the house would heal. The sick house is a warning sign – you need to change your ways. Wouldn’t it be great if we could wake up every morning and decide whether we were on the right ethical path by looking at the walls of our houses? Look at that ooze! I better say I’m sorry to my wife for acting so badly yesterday!
Yes, our houses can become sick with mold. But this Torah portion isn’t talking about physical ailments. It’s talking about how our sins are absorbed by those around us. The house is a metaphor for family and community. If we are treating others poorly, doesn’t it cause a chain reaction? How long does it take for our house – our family and community – to heal after we let evil actions loose into society? Everyone can change their ways, everyone can repent but it is not easy.
So please – be kind… spread kindness… and allow kindness be given to you in abundance…. so that your households will remain healthy.
Enjoy your seders!
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METZORA SUMMARY FROM THE URJ
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Priestly rituals to cure tzaraat (a skin condition) when it afflicts humans are described. (14:1-32)
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Rituals to rid dwelling places of tzaraat are presented. (14:33-57)
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The parashah denotes male impurities resulting from a penile discharge or seminal emission. (15:1-18)
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The parashah concludes with accounts of female impurities caused by a discharge of blood. (15:19-33)
For more information on this Torah portion go to: https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/mtzora
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