Metzora 2018: Neutralizing Our Negativities

Parshas Metzora 2018

Neutralizing Our Negativities

Parshas Metzora, like Tazria also discusses the laws of Tzaraas and one who is contaminated is called a “Metzora”.

The Torah forbids us from speaking Lashon Hara (gossip). Slandering another with words is a great sin and is in fact, a primary reason developing Tzaraas.

A person who is a Baal Lashon Hara (habitual speaker of lashon hara) can also be referred to as a “motzee shem ra” which literally translates to “one who give someone else a bad name”. Just as one’s personal feelings toward his fellow Jew surfaced into gossip and slander; the Metzora’s body surfaced with Tzaraas.

To eradicate Tzaraas, proper teshuva (repentance) is needed. One of the steps in teshuva is committing to never transgress that sin again.

We are taught, mitzvos attract mitzvos and avairos (sins) attract avairos. Good deeds attract positive energy and misdeed deeds attract negative energy.

When we repent and attempt to change our ways, it’s not sufficient enough to just stop doing the bad. One must neutralize his sins and negative behaviors.

With lashon hara; gossip and slander are a result of an excessive amount of speech. Therefore, a way to rectify this (once the other steps of teshuva are performed) is to speak words of Torah excessively.

Everybody has negative traits that can be corrected. It’s ideal to keep in mind, when attempting to do something like change a behavior, there is an additional method that can help. Don't just stop the misdeed and move on. Stop it and fill your life with positive new energy by doing mitzvos. Do so many mitzvos that you drown out your old ways of sinning. This is something we all should do and if so, it will bring us incredible amounts of reward and satisfaction!

Have a wonderful Shabbos and weekend!

Maverick V. Peters

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