Parshas Tazriah-Metzorah 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Apr 17
- 2 min read
אדם כי יהיה בעור בשרו שאת או ספחת או בהרת והיה בעור בשרו לנגע צרעת ... (יג-ב)
The Vilna Gaon zt”l writes powerfully about the importance of restraining oneself from speaking lashon hara. He explains that until a person’s final day in this world, one must self-train in spiritual discipline, not through fasting or physical affliction, but through restraint in both desire and speech. He expresses that true teshuva is achieved through "רסן פיו ורסן תאוותיו", limiting one’s mouth and one’s desires. Every moment a person holds back from speaking improperly, he merits an "אור הגנוז", a hidden light so great that even angels are not granted access to it. The Vilna Gaon concludes that this is one of the primary paths through which a person merits Olam Haba, "וזה יותר מכל התורה".
R’ Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zt”l would illustrate this idea with the following story. In Petersburg, there were two wealthy individuals. One, was known as a great Tzaddik and Yarei Shamayim, a respected leader in the community, named Ginzburg. The other was an am ha’aretz, rarely seen in shul or the Bais Medrash throughout the year. Once a year, however, on Yom Kippur, he would appear and each year, Ginzburg would purchase the honor of Pesichah for Kol Nidrei. One year, the other wealthy man decided that, regardless of cost, he would outbid Ginzburg and acquire the honor for himself. The bidding went higher and higher until finally the gabbai declared, “Zacha lo” - he had won. Ironically, almost comically, the man had to ask the Gabbai, “Please explain simply and practically what exactly I just bought and how it is done?”
The Gabbai explained, “You open the curtain, open the doors of the Aron Kodesh, take out the Sefer Torah and hand it to the rabbi.” He then asked, “But tell me, why did you spend such a handsome sum on something you don’t even know how to do?”
The gvir answered “I know that if it’s important to Ginzburg, it must be a good business deal.”
R’ Shapiro would conclude, if the Gaon and Dovid HaMelech teach us the immense value of guarding one’s speech, "מי האיש החפץ חיים", then we can be certain that its worth is beyond our comprehension.