There are many places in Tanakh which call upon us to open our eyes, our ears and our hearts to the bigger picture of our lives, as it says, "Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears" (Yeshiyahu 43:8). Too often, we view life through a narrow lens, seeing only ourselves, our actions and our speech in the way we wish, looking only at that which we want to see, hearing only that which we want to hear. But the truth is, if we go through life's journey unaware of the greater implications our words and actions have on others, we may forfeit our opportunity to correct unproductive, even detrimental behavior, as well as our chance to repair some of the hurt we've caused due our lack of greater vision. And we see an example of the importance of paying attention to the "red-flags" and "warning signs" of how our behavior impacts others from this week's double-parsha.

Parshat Tazria-Metzora continues the Torah's in-depth discussion about the laws of Tumah and Tahara (ritual impurity and purity), specifically focusing on tzara'at, a spiritual malady with severe physical symptoms, caused by one of seven things: "Reckless speech, murder, false oaths, immorality, arrogance, theft, and stinginess" (B. Talmud, Arachin 16a).  Tza'arat contaminates one's body, one's home and even one's clothes, as it says, "If there shall be a tzara'at affliction in a garment, in a woolen garment or a linen garment, or in the warp or the woof of the linen or of the wool...It is a tzara'at affliction, and it shall be shown to the Kohen" (Vayikra 13:47-9).

What is the significance of having tzara'at impact the clothes we wear? The Midrash Tadshe asks this very same question and focuses on the order in which clothing is affected, saying, "Why does a woolen garment precede a linen garment (in the aforementioned verses)? Rather, it is because woolen garments are (usually) worn as outer vestments, removed from the body. However, linen garments are (usually) worn close to the body. Therefore," the Midrash says, "the Holy One, Blessed be He, begins [showing problematic signs] with things that are more distant from the body."

The lesson we can learn from seeing tzara'at contaminate our "outer layers" first before it touches our "inner layers" is a very important one. If we do not realize that our actions and our speech have far reaching implications, if we do not understand that every word we say and every deed we do is connected to us, no matter far removed we may think we are from them, the negative consequences of those words and deeds will ultimately come back to impact our lives in the closest, most intimate ways. 

We should always keep our eyes and our ears open to see and hear the broader implications of the things we and do and say. When we see the warning signs of our behavior appear on the "clothing of our lives," on the "outer garments" of our being, let us heed them, and understand them as opportunities to change our ways and chart new courses for ourselves.

This Shabbat, let us reflect on the idea that before we speak or act, we should always try to consider the people our speech and actions will affect, and how those same words and deeds will affect us. If we can see our lives in their broadest contexts, we will be able to strengthen our personal and professional relationships, our community and ourselves, in order to make a better world for us all. 

Shabbat Shalom!

  -Rabbi Dan