Parshat Tazria-Metzora: Speak Positive

Leave a comment

Humankind is created with the gift of speech and communication. How we use this gift can directly impact perception of ourselves, others and our world. This lesson is conveyed in parshat Tazria-Metzora and in daily tefilla.

The skin disease known as tzara’at is associated with lashon ha’ra (evil speech) in Torah: When Miriam speaks badly about her brother Moshe, she gets leprosy. When Moshe’s hand becomes leprous, Rashi explains that this is because he spoke badly about Bnei Yisrael. Similarly, the name parshat “Me-tzo-ra” is linked by the midrash to the phrase “motzi-shem-ra,” spreading evil rumors. Just as the disease spreads across the body, critical and hurtful language spreads negativity and discord, and it can have disastrous consequences.

Using our mouths responsibly is a value expressed in tefillah too. The Amidah prayer closes with the request “Hashem, protect my tongue from bad”. But speech isn’t only about avoiding the negative. The Amidah also opens with the request: אֲדֹנָי שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח וּפִי יַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ – “Adonai, open my lips, and let my mouth declare Your praise.” Our prayers are a combination of praise, thanks, and requests for the wellbeing of ourselves, the Jewish people and the world. The focus on speech at the opening and closing of the Amidah is a reminder that in addition to avoiding bad speech and its consequences, using positive language spreads goodness and optimism. Appropriately, the source of the opening verse of the Amidah is Psalm 51, in which King David displays great humility and repentance through his speech. He admits his sins and prays for forgiveness.   

This emphasis on positive words is also seen in tefillat Yom Ha’atzmaut which also cites Tehillim, “Give thanks to God,” and “This is the day that the LORD has made, let us exult and rejoice on it.” This year in particular, amidst all the concern and disagreement, let’s focus on the praise, on speaking about the good in each other and in this precious country, our home. Shabbat Shalom, Chodesh tov and Yom Ha’atzmaut Sameach!! – Karen Miller Jackson

*photo Ben Gurion Declaration of Independence from https://main.knesset.gov.il/en/about/pages/declaration.aspx

Metzora: Positive Speech

Leave a comment

Parshat Metzora does not state explicitly whether tzara’at is a punishment, and if so what for. However, the commentaries understand tzara’at to be a punishment for lashon hara (speaking ill of others). I would like to share the following explanation for this, provided by the great Tanach scholar Nechama Leibowitz z”l, whose 25th yahrzeit was this past week. 

Nechama, as she was fondly called by her students, combined literary analysis with deep reading of midrash and medieval commentaries in her teaching. In her parsha books, which are a staple in many Modern Orthodox homes, she cites two other biblical stories and their interpretations, which link tzara’at with speaking lashon ha’ra. When tzara’at appears on Moshe’s hand in Shemot, it follows him speaking negatively about bnei Yisrael. In Bamidbar, when Miriam speaks badly about Moshe, she gets tzara’at. These literary connections support the association between tzara’at and slander.

The midrash reinforces this by reading the name “Me-tzo-ra” (one afflicted with tzara’at) as connected to “motzi-shem-ra,” spreading evil talk. The Talmud explains that the person afflicted with tzara’at must be isolated because speaking lashon ha’ra has potential dangers for human relationships and society. By remaining alone for at least seven days a person has time to internalize this. 

Negative speech can become viral and spread negativity like tzara’at. Conversely, positive speech leads to goodness and redemption. We can encourage, console, and strengthen each other through speech. Metzorah is read just before Pesach this year, when the haggada and its discussion is the paradigm of positive speech. The Hasidic masters read the word Pesach as “peh-sach,” the mouth speaks. In Egypt there was an “exile of speech”, an inability to express ourselves truly and positively. Pesach is the time of redemption of speech, speech which leads to friendships, strong communities, faith and commitment between God and the Jewish people. With prayers for healing and strength. Shabbat Shalom – Karen Miller Jackson