One of the most unique traits of humankind is that we are created with the gift of speech and communication. How we use this gift can directly impact perception of ourselves, others and our world. 

The skin disease known as tzara’at, described in parshat Tazria, is associated with lashon ha’ra (evil speech) in Torah: When Miriam speaks badly about her brother Moshe, she gets tzara’at. When Moshe’s hand becomes leprous, Rashi explains that this is because he spoke badly about Bnei Yisrael. Just as the disease spreads across the body, critical and hurtful language spreads negativity and discord, and it can have disastrous consequences.

Speech is also a key element in the Pesach story. When the people were in Egypt, the midrash teaches that they had forgotten their language and that “speech was in exile.” The redemption, the Exodus, is characterized through Israel rediscovering their voice, through speech and song. Hence, Hasidic writings emphasize that Pesach can be read as “peh-sach,” “the mouth speaks.” And, the key mitzvah of the holiday is speaking – telling the story of redemption. This may also relate to Elijah’s connection with Pesach. He is harshly critical of Israel when he proclaims to God, “the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant…” In the Talmud, Elijah returns transformed and corrects false negative perceptions of the people. Rav Kook writes that he “perceives every spark of holiness in this world and redeems it.”  

This imperative of the parsha and Pesach feels particularly resonant for our world today. People have been moving further apart in their beliefs, making it harder to be able to disagree and debate ideas civilly. Also, we have seen how negative speech about the State of Israel quickly reverberates around the world. As it says in Mishlei: “There is blunt talk like sword-thrusts, but the speech of the wise is healing.” Shabbat Shalom -Karen Miller Jackson