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Vol 32.14 - Metzora Spanish French Audio Video |
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Summary: (5747) Rashi (14:34): "I will place a lesion of Tzora'as etc." And the differences with regard to the wording of Vayikra Rabba (17:6). The difference between the view of the Midrash and the view of Rashi in the reason for the hiding of the money by the inhabitants of the land. The difference between "Caananites" and "Emorites" in Rashi according to Remez (Allusion)
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Synopsis: ויקרא י"ד – ל"ד: כִּי תָב ֹאּו אֶל אֶרֶ ץ כְּנַעַן אֲשֶר אֲנִּי נ ֹתֵן לָכֶם לַאֲחֻזָה וְּנָתַתִּי נֶגַע צָרַ עַת בְּבֵית אֶרֶ ץ אֲחֻזַתְּכֶם: Vayikra 14:34: When you come to the land of Canaan which I am giving you as a possession, and I will place a lesion of Tzora'as upon a house in the land of your possession … Rashi Heading – and I will place a lesion of Tzora’as: This is good news for them that lesions of Tzora’as will come upon them, because the Emorites had hidden away treasures of gold inside the walls of their houses during the entire forty years that the Jews were in the desert. Through the lesion he will demolish the house (see verses 43-45) and find them. This week's Torah portion, Tazria-Metzora tells us at great length of the disease called Tzora’as1. The Torah tells us that this lesion can affect a person, a garment or a house. The Torah announces that upon conquering and possessing the land of Canaan there will be houses which will have this affliction. Rashi explains to us why this is a positive thing. He explains that throughout the forty years that the Jews were wandering in the desert, the Emorites were hiding treasures of gold within the walls of their homes. As a result of those homes being stricken with Tzora’as when the Jews took possession of them they would need to be demolished in order to be purified2. Hence the new Jewish owners would find the gold which had been hidden within the walls. The Torah says that when the Jews come to Canaan Hashem will place a lesion of Tzora’as upon the ouses. However Rashi, who is explaining Peshat, tells us that the Emorites were hiding gold within the walls of their houses. Why single out the Emorites who were only one of the Canaanite nations? It has been explained many times that Rashi wrote his commentary in a manner that there is no need to search for any information elsewhere. In an instance where it seems that such a need arises, in fact it was explicitly explained earlier either in the Torah or in Rashi’s comments. This is such an instance. In Hashem’s covenant with Avrohom, Hashem said that3 “the fourth generation will return here4 , for the iniquity of the Emorites will not be complete until then." Rashi explains the meaning of this. Our forefather Yaakov went down to Egypt. His son Yehudah was the first generation, Peretz was the second and Chetzron was the third. The fourth generation, Kaleiv the son of Chetzron, was among those who entered Israel. However, Rashi goes on to explain that we could not enter the land until the sin of the Emorites was complete; i.e. until they were fully deserving of punishment. As the Torah continues telling us of G-d’s covenant with Avrohom, it specifies ten nations who the Jews will conquer5 , all of whom are included in the general term Canaanites. Nonetheless, the Emorites were those who would determine the time which the Jews will settle Israel. This is what Rashi hints at by saying that the Emorites were hiding gold within the walls of their houses throughout the forty years that the Jews were in the wilderness. They knew that at the time of the Exodus that their sin was complete, and it was time for them to be sent out of their land. Hence they were the first of the Canaanite nations to begin hiding their gold. That is the reason that Rashi singles them out. This week's Torah portion, Tazria-Metzora, dwells at great length on the disease of Tzora’as1 . It defines three different types of Tzora’as. It also tells us how one can become healed (or more accurately purified) from it. Early on in the Parshah it teaches us of Tzora’as that affects a person’s body. It then defines Tzora’as lesions which affect clothing. Then, somewhat later, the Torah tells us how Tzora’as lesions can attack a house. The Torah begins by telling us that6 “When you come to the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as a possession, and I will place a lesion of Tzora'as upon a house in the land of your possession …” From the Torah’s words, one could think that Tzora’as is beneficial. It sounds as if Hashem is announcing that He is giving us this wonderful land. Together with this gift He is giving us Tzora’as. This is a spiritual disease! What is the reason for this announcement? Rashi cites the words from the verse “and I will place a lesion of Tzora’as.” He then explains that “this is good news for them that lesions of Tzora’as will come upon them, because the Emorites had hidden away treasures of gold inside the walls of their houses during the entire forty years that the Jews were in the desert. Through the lesion he will demolish thehouse (see verses 43-45) and find them.” This is how Rashi explains that finding Tzora’as on our houses in the Holy Land would indeed be beneficial. Difficulties in Understanding Rashi Rashi is explaining a verse in the Torah which tells us what will happen when we come to the land of Canaan which G-d is giving us. Yet his explanation singles out the Emorites. Hashem promised to give us the land of ten nations7 . Collectively they were called the Canaanites. The Emorites are just one of these ten nations. Why does Rashi, who is explaining Peshat, not discuss all of the Canaanites? The Explanation It is known that Rashi wrote his commentary to the Torah in a manner that there would never be a need to consult with another book or commentary. What about times such as this when there does appear to be a question on something which Rashi wrote? It was answered earlier by an explicit statement of the Torah (with Rashi’s commentary). We see from the above that from among all of the Canaanite nations it was the Emorites who were the first to reach their breaking point. They were the first to have accumulated so much sin that they deserved to be exiled from their land before any of the other Canaanite nations. Being aware that they deserved to be conquered by the Jews at the time of the Exodus, they immediately began hiding money in their walls. They knew what their fate was, but they hoped to ultimately reconquer their land and reclaim their gold. However, Hashem had other plans for them. That is why Rashi singled out the Emorites for special mention. They were the first to have reached the full level of iniquity. They could have lost their land at any point following the Exodus. A Deeper Lesson from Rashi Rashi is providing us with a much deeper lesson here as well. Rashi has told us that the cause of Tzora’as is the sin of Loshon Hora – Gossiping about a fellow Jew12. The Rambam carries this a step further. He says that the cause is not necessarily actual Loshon Hora. He says that what he calls “speech of the wicked” can cause the impurity of lesions. He explains at length that this includes all sorts of idle and pointless chatter13. This is the impurity of the Emorite nation. The Hebrew word for Emorite - אמורי ,is from the same root as the Hebrew verb to say - אמר .That is the reason that Rashi singles out the Emorite nation in regard to Tzora’as; they are both essentially the same concept. However, Rashi also tells us of the treasures of gold which could be found within the Emorite homes. By changing from slanderous, or even idle speech to words of Torah, Prayer and Mitzvos, we can find the greatest, most valuable treasures! That is why after discussing “speech of the wicked” at length, the Rambam goes on at such length describing proper, holy speech14. He concludes this section by writing that “In contrast, the speech of proper Jewish people only concerns words of Torah and wisdom. Therefore Hashem assists them and grants them merit because of it, as it is written15, ‘Then those who fear G-d conversed, each person with his fellow. Hashem listened and paid heed. And a book of remembrance was composed before Him for those who fear G-d and contemplate His name.’" (Adapted from a talk given on Shabbos Parshas Metzora 5741) Likkutei Sichos Volume 32, Pages 91 – 97. From www.RebbeTeachesRashi.org. Footnotes: 1. Tzora’as was not a typical physical illness which was caused by bacteria or the like. Rather it had a spiritual cause; it resulted from gossiping about others. The affect it had was very fitting. The afflicted was declared impure, hence separated from the community. The result of slandering another, thereby bringing division among the Jewish people caused the guilty party to be cast apart from others. This sickness, which no longer exists, could only be diagnosed by a Kohen. Likewise its cure, the process which would purify the “patient” and allow him to re-enter the community was performed by a Kohen. Translation:
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