Tzaraath - Encyclopedia

Tzaraath (tzaraas, tzaraat, tsaraas, tsaraat; Hebrew צרעת) was an affliction mentioned in the Tanach and other Jewish sources, starting in Leviticus chapters 13–14.

Although the term is commonly mistranslated leprosy, tzaraath was not leprosy. It affected primarily the afflicted person's skin, but sometimes his clothes and/or house. It is traditionally believed to have come not through natural means but as a punishment for sin, and to have been cured not through natural means but through repentance and forgiveness. There are no reported recent cases.

The Talmud (Babylonian Talmud Arachin 16a) lists seven causes for tzaraath: (1) lashon hara (speaking negatively of others), (2) murder, (3) a vain oath, (4) illicit sexual intercourse, (5) pride, (6) theft and (7) stinginess. However, other midrashic sources add other reasons, and one source states categorically that tzaraath appeared only as punishment for lashon hara.

Midrash Rabbah states that tzaraath initially affected a person's house. If he repented, it required only the removal of affected stones; if not, it required tearing down the entire house (as the tzaraath would not go away). Then the plagues came upon one's clothes. If he repented, they only required washing; if not, they required burning. Then the plagues would come upon a person's body. If he repented, he underwent purification; if not, "he shall dwell alone" (Leviticus 13:46).

Tzaraath could appear upon any article made of wool, linen, or leather, not only garments; however, as most such items are garments, this form of tzaraas is commonly referred to as that of garments.

If tzaraath were to appear upon the bricks of a house, everything in the house would be removed from the house, and a kohen would then examine the bricks. Depending on the severity of the tzaraath, the bricks may need to be removed, or the house demolished.

Tzaraath of houses is viewed by some as a punishment, by others as a reward or blessing, as follows.

It may be a punishment for stinginess. Suppose someone's neighbors ask him for the use of some item — a tool, perhaps — and he replies that he has no such item. Tzaraath may appear upon his house, so that all of his possessions are laid outside (see above), his neighbors will be able to look and see that he does indeed have whatever he would not lend them.

On the other hand, Rashi states (basing himself on a Midrashic source) that tzaraath of houses was a blessing on the Israelites when they entered Canaan in the thirteenth century BC. The Canaanites had hid their gold and other valuables in the walls of their houses. When tzaraath appeared on a house and the bricks were removed, the homeowner would find the treasures that had been hidden.

Categories: Jewish law and rituals | Hebrew words

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Tzaraath", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page