The Torah speaks of a plague so bad that any individual afflicted with the disease would be forced into isolation from the rest of the Jewish nation. This plague, known as tzoraas and similar to leprosy, afflicts those who are guilty of certain sins. With this affliction, the offender acquired the status that went beyond that of a tomei (defiled) person. His impurity was so intense that the Torah says: "He shall dwell alone; outside the camp shall be his dwelling place" (Vayikra 13:46).  

Rashi explains that the guilty person is deprived of all forms of contact, even with others who are deemed to be spiritually impure. This leads us to wonder:  what sins could prompt such a harsh punishment?  

The Gemara (Arachin 16b) tells us that the plague of tsoraas afflicts a person because of loshen horah (gossip or slander) and theft. Rashi refers to our sages who explain that this punishment is, in fact, measure-for-measure. Since slander causes people to become divided from one another, so too must he be separated from others.

The Sifsei Chachomim explains the word metzora to mean motzei rah (one who causes evil to come forth for someone else). Whether it is caused by slander, stealing, or any of the other sins toward someone, the sinner "brings forth evil" upon another person. Therefore, he is punished by being placed in isolation. 

Many commentaries say the plague of tzoraas is designed to force the sinner to repent. He is held in isolation with the hope that, when he has the opportunity to reflect upon the reason for the harsh consequences of his sin, he will begin to acquire sensitivity toward others. Furthermore, the imposed isolation also serves the purpose of prevention and protection. By isolating the tzoraas stricken person, he is being prevented from further committing these sins against others.  

In recent months, the State of Israel has received untold harsh criticism from throughout the world. These enemies use every action that Israel takes to defend its population from terror as an excuse to vent their hatred of Jews. When our own Jewish brothers and sisters join forces with our enemies and accept the lies and anti-Semitic propaganda that is spread by the news media, then we must declare to those traitors:  "your dwelling place shall be outside the Jewish camp!" This certainly applies to those who publish articles in Jewish weekly newspapers that echo the views of those who hate the Jewish people. This is slander at its worst.  

And what about "theft?"  

When a leading philanthropist uses a fraudulent investment scheme that involves stealing large sums of money from trusting investors, among whom are numerous  charities, such a person must remain "outsidethe Jewish camp" as well.   

In this week's parasha, the words of the Torah cry out to rabbis and lay leaders of congregations to take action against slanderers and thieves and bar them from any leadership role and to keep them from receiving any honors. The evil perpetrated by those who would join our enemies, as well as by those who would use their greed to defraud and steal, must be dealt with.

It is our hope that we will see the day when such offenders fully repent and will, once again, have earned the right to be embraced as part of our holy nation. Until then, we must have the courage to impose their distance from us, just as our ancestors did when the plague of tsoraas brought about this justifiable distance from such sinners. 

Shabbat Shalom.

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