Leprosy, the subject of our parsha, is traditionally associated with the sin of slander. Thus, there is a similarity between the Hebrew word for leprosy-metzora-and the Hebrew words for speaking evil about another-motze shaim ra. The Torah reminds us of the danger of bad speech.

The ability to speak has the capacity to raise a human being above the lower animal world. Hence, Rabbi Yehudah Halevi labels the human being as medaber, one who speaks. Speech is what sets the human being apart.

But, the greater the potential to do good, the greater the possibility for that potential to turn into evil. Speech can raise one to the highest level, but if abused, it can sink us to the lowest depth.

Indeed, injurious speech has enormous ramifications. Although when we were kids, we would say "sticks and bones can break my bones, but names can never harm me," it is actually not true. Words and name-calling can actually hurt deeply. It also should be remembered that while a word is a word and a deed is a deed, words lead to deeds. Once a word has been said, it is almost impossible to take back, for a spoken word spreads to others in ways that can never be undone.

A few years back, Charlie Ward, the New York Knickerbocker basketball player, uttered words that really hurt. He repeated the often-heard lie that it was the Jews who murdered
Jesus. He compounded his mistake by adding that even today Jews continue to persecute Christians.

Not only did those words lead to great pain, they can lead to, and have led to, tragic ramifications. Such comments have been used historically to justify Christian anti-Semitism. When, during the Crusades, Jews were murdered, Christians claimed that it was in retribution for the Jewish murder of Jesus. The Jews, they reasoned, had to be punished.

These words not only spread to so many in those times, but their consequences have been felt through the generations. Professor Raul Hilberg in the Destruction of the European Jews, noted the parallel between Nazi anti-Semitism, and anti-Jewish legislation practiced by the Church. Hilberg refers to the churches anti-Jewish legislation as “fifteen hundred years of destructive activity.”

A rabbinic tale: A rabbi was once asked, what is the most expensive meat. He responded, "tongue." And the next day the rabbi was asked what is the least expensive meat. Here too he responded, "tongue." Such is the challenge of speech. One that the Torah reminds us about this week, and one that we should all take to heart.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Avi Weiss