Tazria Metzora - Confronting Our Fears

My Dear Friends,

This week’s Torah portion, Tazria Metzora is difficult. It also has a reputation for inspiring fear and dread of any bar or Bat Mitzvah student who receives it for their shabbat service.  Tazria Metzora speaks of bodily functions, illness and quarantine.  It talks about:

o   Childbirth

o   Disease

o   Contact with bodily fluids

o   Afflictions of the skin

It also speaks of how, when a person contracts this condition, they need to go through a series of ritual cleansings, inspections and separation before they are allowed back into the community.

The disease, Tzaraat (which I’ll talk more about below) is not only a human disease – it can affect the walls of people’s homes as well – thereby giving it another dimension that expands its reach from that of a human disease – to a more global condition

It’s tempting to try and draw parallels from the fact that these two torah portions speak of disease and quarantine while our community, state, nation and, indeed, the entire world is coping with the corona virus – but, rather than succumbing to this temptation, I want to talk instead about why these chapters are included in our sacred text in the first place.  What lessons can we learn – not only from the content of our parasha, but the context in which the discussion takes place? You see, I don’t think that all of these laws about tzaraat – which we translate as leprosy – but clearly is something else – are included in the narrative to teach us about cleanliness, diagnosis or medical care, rather, I think they are about our fears.

Tzaraat, in our text, is a disease that clearly has a powerful impact on the Ancient Israelite community. It is not only experienced physically, but spiritually.  The fact that houses can be infected as well as humans should give us a clue that there is more going on beneath the surface than is readily apparent.

This past month has taken its toll on all of us. The facts that we cannot be physically close to one another; that our economy is suffering; that our national political discourse has become so toxic are taking a toll on us physically, emotionally and spiritually. We do not know how long this will continue. We worry about our health and those of our loved ones – some of whom are dealing with the virus, others who are vulnerable, and others who are on the front lines providing medical care, research, support and other crucial services that allow us to function. We worry about how we will emerge from our isolation and what our world will look like once we do.

In Tazaria Metzora, our ancestors had to deal with the unknown. They were afraid of something over which they had no control. The rituals of isolation, immersion, and re-entry were designed to provide a safe framework for the people to feel that they were not endangered by this unseen enemy.

I’ve been reading a lot lately about how psychologists and other mental health professionals are keenly aware of the fact that everyone is affected (infected?) by COVID-19 – regardless of whether or not they contract the virus. The radical overturning of our daily lives that we are experiencing is enough to shift our emotional equilibrium.  This can manifest itself in many different forms – from depression to compulsive behaviors, to denial, revolt and even other physical ailments.

Perhaps one of our key tasks at this time is to try to understand and anticipate our fear of the unknown and our reactions to it. As such, I want to propose the following 7 questions for us to explore as we continue on our journey:

1.  Research has shown that staying physically active during quarantine is an essential part of staying healthy. Am I engaging in enough physical activity?
2.  For those who are in quarantine with others: Am I aware of the needs of others in my home? Am I doing all that I can to understand what they are going through as well me? Am I tolerant of my own missteps as well as those of those with whom  am living?
3. Am I doing all that I can to be productive during this time? Are there tasks that need to be completed? Do I have outlets for creativity and meaningful outlets other than Television, the internet and other passive activities?
4. Am I looking for ways to help others? Are there ways that I can volunteer my time or expertise as well as my financial resources?
5. Am I willing to receive help from others?
6. Psychologists teach us that it is important that we not dwell too long on the length of time that we have been – or will be – socially distant. We need to remind ourselves that this is a temporary situation that will be resolved someday. We also need to be “in the moment” as much as we can.
7. There will be times when our fears will get the best of us. No one can be strong all the time. Have I been able to forgive myself for those moments when I don’t feel productive or give into the despair of the moment?

Again - these are only a few questions designed to help us process our fears of the unknown. Like our ancestors wandering in the Wilderness, there is much that we do not know. At the same time, however, we also have the blessing of being part of a sacred community that cares for one another.

If there is anything that I – or any of us at Temple  - can do for you – now or in the future; or if you need a referral for help – please let us know.  Send an email to Shalom@EmanuelDenver.org and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

I look forward to seeing you soon!

L’Shalom,

Rabbi Joseph R. Black