Once the Torah completes the diagnostic process, the second parsha, Metzora, goes on to describe the three stage purification process. First, the metzora must take שתי צפרים , two birds. Rashi explains than one develops tzaraas birds because of lashon hara which is an act of verbal twittering. The birds that he is required to take constantly twitter to remind him of what he did. Next he takes עץ ארז , cedarwood, which Rashi says is a tall & beautiful tree because tzaraas develops from haughtiness & the cedarwood reminds the sinner that he considered himself high & mighty.
How does one remedy his arrogance? He brings the שני התולעת ואת האזב., the crimson tongue of wool & the hyssop Rashi explains that the remedy for one who gossips or displays haughtiness is to lower himself like a תולעת , which also means a worm & like a אזב which, in contrast to the cedar, does not grow tall.
The אמרי אמת asks an interesting question on Rashi explanation of the remedy. At this time when he's bringing the korbanos & going through the process of purification, he's already healed, for you can't do the purification process until the Kohen renders you pure. How does one explain Rashi saying that this is the way to get healed by lowering yourself like a worm & hyssop? He’s already been healed.
He answers that this isn't just a remedy for this instance of tzaraas; rather it's a remedy for the long term. It's the way a person must always view himself, for it is the ultimate cure. If one views himself with humility, then he will never succumb to the sins of gossip or haughtiness. Only one who views himself above everyone else would talk bad about them.
Unfortunately for us, it's not so easy to stay away from these sins. This story may give us a perspective to assist us in staying away from haughtiness even for the noteworthy things we do. רבי זוסיא מאניפולי was a very poor man, yet he didn't worry about anything & had total faith in Hashem. When his daughter became of age & he had no money to marry her off, he didn't worry. He knew that Hashem would help him. When he went to visit his Rebbi, the Maggid of Mezridge, the Maggid said to him, “I know you have no money to marry off your daughter; here's five hundred ruble”. On his way home, Reb Zushia stayed at an inn where he suddenly heard cries coming from outside. He asked what was going on & was told that there was a wedding of an orphan girl about to happen & the five hundred ruble that was for the wedding was lost & the wedding couldn't go on.
Abruptly, Reb Zushia was at the wedding holding up an envelope saying, “I found the money. I found it!” Everyone was so excited that the wedding could go on. However, Reb Zushia demanded a fifty ruble finder’s fee. The people were astounded. Since this was the money of a poor orphan girl, how could he take her money? However, he was insistent until they brought him to the rabbi of the town who made him give back the full amount. Reb Zushia was unceremoniously escorted out of the town.
A little while later, the Maggid heard what happened & asked Reb Zushia why he did that? Reb Zushia answered, “when I heard the plight the the poor girl, I was filled with pity & was going to give the money you gave me for my daughter, to her. Then, my Yetzer Hara started talking to me, saying, “Zushia, you’re so great. Your self-sacrifice has placed you on the level of the Avos.” I responded to him, “Do you think you can trick me into being haughty? You'll see how they will treat me when I give the money!”
The lengths he went to not to be seen as the hero nor be filled with the pride of one who saved the day is a madrega (level) that's not a realistic goal for us. However, just knowing that this humility is what we should strive for, might help us take down our pride a notch & be more careful when we talk not to gossip or say anything bad about anyone else!
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