Tazria & Metzora

The Torah Portion of Tazria

Rav Chaim of Volozhin says: why does the declaration of impurity and purification from plagues need to be done specifically by the Cohen who will say "You are pure" or "You are impure"? The reason is that generally the habitual speakers of Lashon Hara (evil speech) speak about the chosen ones of the people and about great Rabbis, and the Cohanim are the chosen ones.

Mussar (ethical teachings) for guarding one's tongue:  

Rabban Gamliel said to his servant Tavi to bring him the most precious meat and he brought him an animal's tongue.  Another time he told him to bring the most simple meat, and he brought him an animal's tongue again.  Rabban Gamliel asked him, if a tongue is the most precious meat and also the most simple meat, isn't that a contradiction?  He answered him, the tongue is able to be used for the good and also for the opposite, and that is why it is written that "Life and death are in the hand of the tongue".

Mussar (ethical teachings) for guarding one's tongue:  

It's said that the tongue doesn't have within it bones, so that it is possible to turn it in any direction that one wants, and one needs to be concerned and guard it so that it will go in a good direction.

Mussar (ethical teachings) for guarding one's tongue:  

Parnassah (a livelihood) in Hebrew has the same letters as Peh Resen (reining in the tongue). Someone who want a livelihood should rein in (control) his tongue.

The Torah Portion of Metzora

"This shall be the Torah of the Metzora on the day of his purification." (Vayikra 14:2)  

It is written in the Chovot Halevavot (the Gate of Submission, chapter 7): Someone who speaks Lashon Hara (evil speech) about his fellowman, all of his Mitzvot (good deeds) go to his fellowman and he receives all of his fellowman's sins.  The Chatam Sofer (on the Torah portion of Tetzaveh) writes that if he repents, they (his Mitzvot) return to him.  And that is what is meant by "This shall be the Torah of the Metzora on the day of his purification" (Vayikra 14:2), that the Torah that he learned will return to him of the day of his purification, that is to say when he repents.

"This shall be the Torah of the Metzora on the day of his purification, he shall be brought to the Cohen." (Vayikra 14:2)  

The Chafetz Chaim wrote books on the topic of Lashon Hara (evil speech), and there is a hint here:  one who wants to do Teshuva (repent) for the sin of Lashon Hara, "he shall be brought to the Cohen", he should learn the books of Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaCohen (i.e. the Chafetz Chaim), and he will be healed.

The Torah Portion of Tazria has 67 verses, 5 positive commandments, and 5 negative commandments.  The Torah Portion of Metzora has 90 verses, and 11 positive commandments.

L'ilui Neshamat HaGaon HaTzaddik R' Gershon Avigdor ben R' Chaim ztz"l

Shabbat Shalom!