After seeing what Tzaraat is about (in Part 1),
and how it applies to Messianic Times (in Part 2),
we now deal with the case of when the whole skin turns white.
2. Normal Tzaraat
• The Tzaraat we’ve seen in Part 1 and Part 2 –
• Let’s call it “Normal” Tzaraat.
• It becomes impure when spots in the skin turn
white
• And keep spreading.
(Leviticus 13:1-8)
3. What happens if the whole skin turns white?
You would think the person has reached the
peak of impurity, right?
7. Initial Observations
• At first, you can’t tell.
• All Tzaraat cases start with white spots.
• If those white spots keep spreading,
• The Metzora is declared impure
• And removed from the
community.
8. • All Metzora cases are rejected
• But we hope they’d recover.
• Especially after learning (in Part 1) of the great
potential hidden in Tzaraat.
Hopes of Recovery
9. False Hopes
• And then something strange happens:
• This type of Tzaraat gets worse and worse,
• Until it spreads to cover the whole body.
• Not one inch of normal flesh!
• His normality is totally lost.
• And so too any hope of recovery.
• Devastating.
12. What’s Fallen Apart?
• This completely-white Metzora
• Together with all the aspirations we had for
him.
• We feel very bad for that Metzora,
• And for ourselves, having invested our hopes
in him.
13. What’s Fallen into Place?
• We disassociate ourselves from that Metzora
• Close that chapter.
• And move on to reinvest our hopes in a
worthier cause.
14. He is Neutralized
• Look at him – he’s white from head to toe
• His abnormality can no longer be disguised.
• His fan-base has diminished.
• Who’s going to vouch for him now?!
• His harmful energies
are thus neutralized.
• No longer does he
pose danger to the
community.
15. He is “Pure”
• The Completely-White Metzora is now pure,
• But this status isn’t testimony of good nature.
• Rather of his inability to adversely impact
(impurify) others.
16. The Difference
• Normal Tzaraat is applicable to people of
internal perfection
• Hence it eventually heals and with flying
colors.
• Completely-White Tzaraat is applicable to
people who are rotten to the core.
• Hence it’s terminal in its very nature
17. Example
It’s really wicked people like Pharaoh
who had such Tzaraat.
(Exodus 2:23, Midrash Rabba 1:34)
More about Pharaoh and
his Tzaraat later.
18. Summary
Normal Tzaraat Completely-White Tzaraat
Real Cause Perfection Rotten
Apparent Condition Impure – reject Impure – reject
Extent of Condition Some spots The whole body (eventually)
Assessment Fixable – there’s hope Unfixable – hopeless
Remedy /Prescription Fix by Torah & humility Forget and move on
Examples Moses, Miriam, David Pharaoh
19. Normal Tzaraat has a central role in the
Messianic Process
(As explained in Part 2).
Completely-White Tzaraat
has a pivotal role as well.