השמר בנגע הצרעת לשמר מאד ולעשות ... (כד-ח)
MASHAL: It is said, that R’ Aharon Kotler zt”l would tell over the following story many times as it had a profound effect on him when it occurred. He didn’t quite remember if it took place before his marriage or immediately after his marriage, but it seemed to him that it was before.
One day, his future father-in-law, R’ Isser Zalman Meltzer zt”l, took him along to visit a certain sick man; a simple Yid who lived in Slutsk. On the way, R’ Isser Zalman explained to R’ Aharon that the doctor told him the man was suffering unimaginable pain. R’ Isser Zalman assumed it would probably mean the world to him if he, the Rosh Yeshivah, paid him a visit. This was the intention of his visit.
When they got there, the sick man greeted his two distinguished visitors with a smile and seemed to be very content despite his terrible predicament. Taken aback by the sick man’s appearance, R’ Isser Zalman asked him how he could be so happy while suffering.
The man replied, “Imagine if I had been sentenced to die but was ‘let off’ with a beating instead. Wouldn’t I be full of joy?”
R’ Aharon would constantly repeat this story to numerous people with tremendous emotion.
NIMSHAL: According to Rashi, the Torah warns us to be careful not to tamper with the infliction of tzara’as, lest you alter it from an impure status and resolve yourself of all the obligations that come along with tzara’as (e.g. leaving town, bringing offerings etc.)
Even today when we don’t have the process of tzara’as, the lesson is eternal. We are obligated to accept Hashem’s messages with joy and mend our ways. Resisting them will only bring more tragedies.
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