No Place Like Home

When the metzora is healed from his tzora’as he still needs to undergo a purification process to return home:

The Kohen shall command; and for the person being purified there shall be taken two live, pure birds, cedarwood, a crimson (tongue of) wool, and hyssop. Ch.14/4

The commentaries teach us that every facet of the meztora’s purification is designed to teach him how to live as a better person. What symbolic role do the birds play in this purification?

King Soloman said: Like a bird wandering from its nest – so is a man who wanders from his place. (Proverbs 27/8.)

The Ralbag interprets this verse to mean that just as a bird never leaves its nest unless absolutely necessary (e.g., seasonal migration), so too man should not leave his place except for vital reasons. Alas, this was not the behavior of the metzora, who was punished for being a habitual gossiper. As Rashi comments on the prohibition of gossipping:

I say because all who instigate bad will and who relate malicious talk go to their fellows’ houses to spy out what bad they may see or what bad they may hear to relate in the market. (Leviticus 19/16.)

So now the metzora must learn from the birds: there’s no place like home, and avoid all those places of gossip!

This Week In The Torah’s

Related posts:

1. Parshas Vayikra
2. Parshas Shemini
3. Parshas Vayeitzei
4. Parshas Tetzaveh
5. Parshas Vayeishev