Parshat Metzora

This week’s parsha provides the conclusion of the laws of tzara’at. We are taught the purification ritual followed when the metzora is healed and then we are taught the laws of nigei batim, in other words a house afflicted by tzara’at.

Chazal viewed nigei batim as a punishment for the sins of the home’s owner. In the Sifra (para. 79) it says that part of the kohen’s responsibility is to make the homeowner aware that his sins have brought the tzara’at into his house. The kohen is to emphasize that two sins in particular, slander and arrogance, cause nega’im.

There are two details in the ritual of nigei batim that seem designed to cure arrogance. One halacha (Sifra para. 78) requires that the home’s owner, and no one else, inform the kohen of the presence of what may be a nega. In most areas of Jewish law a person may authorize an agent to appear on his behalf in religious proceedings. So why can’t the homeowner send someone to speak to the kohen? It may be that the Torah does not allow this because it is the home’s owner whose sins created the situation and it is he, and no one else, who must hear the kohen’s words of rebuke.

A second halacha that appears designed to cure arrogance is mentioned by the Sifra (para. 80) and Rashi. The Torah says (14:35) that when the homeowner appears before the kohen, he is to say, “knega nira li babayit,” - “what may be a blight has appeared in my house.” Not even a scholar may make a definite assessment of the stain on the walls of the house. Again, this seems meant to bring a semblance of humility into the person’s life.

Chazal learned another lesson from nigei batim. In Pirkei Avot (1:7) we are told, “Avoid evil neighbors.” The Rambam in his commentary says that this is to prevent our being influenced by their behavior, and he rules according to this Mishna in Hilchot Deiot (6:1). What can the person who ignores this advice expect? Chazal have a saying, “Oy l’rasha v’oy l’shcheino” - “woe to the evil person and woe to his neighbor.” Chazal derived this idea from nigei batim. The Torah says that when the nega appears the affected area of the wall is to be removed. The Torah says (14:40)“they shall remove the stones.” Why is this verb (compare to pasuk 45)in the plural? Chazal (Sifra para. 93) say that this pasuk deals with a common wall shared by neighbors, and from here we learn oy l’rasha v’oy l’shcheino.