This week’s Sedra deals largely with the laws and particulars pertaining to Tzaraas (generally translated as ‘leprosy’). Leprosy is a form of a skin ailment that affects a person by causing that person to become Tamei (metaphysically impure). There are various Midrashim and Gemoros that explain Tzaraas as being in effect punishment of a sort.

The Medrash Tanchuma tells us Hashem is reluctant to punish people, and that consequently, prior to inflicting Tzaraas Hashem warns people in other ways to do Teshuva.  It is only after the individual in question has received these earlier Yesurin, or more minor punishments, and has not repented, that Hashem afflicts that individual with Tzaraas. Tzaraas is imposed first onto the person’s house, then on his clothing. It is only if none of these ‘messages’ have the desired effect that Hashem afflicts the individual’s body with Tzaraas.

The Medrash seems to have it a bit backwards. If, as is the case, Hashem is reluctant to punish, would it not make sense for Hashem to first make a person tamei –  the one who sinned – rather than bringing hardships upon that person?  It would be only if the individual in question does not then repent that Hashem would begin afflicting him with Yesurin.

When an individual is contaminated with Tzaraas that individual is not permitted in the camp and is placed at a great distance from all holy things.

The Medrash, it would appear, is teaching us more than the sequence of Divine Punishment.  It is teaching us an order of priorities. A person who is Tamei is physically OK, but is being tormented spiritually by needing to keep a distance from anything holy. The Medrash is coming to teach us that spiritual torment is far worse than physical suffering.

The Medrash is placing an emphasis on the importance of the spiritual and metaphysical.

A very warm Good Shabbos, Rabbi Y. Dov Krakowski