Have you ever contemplated or wondered
the deeper meaning of the very cryptic Torah portion, which extends for nearly
two whole parshas, that describes in detail the spiritual cleansing and
atonement process for the metzora? This mystical procedure involves taking some
of the blood, from the korbon that is offered, and placing it on the right ear,
the thumb of the right hand and the big toe on the right foot. Then the
procedure is repeated applying (olive) oil at these very three same
places?  (Metzora  14:13-30). Let us ask a few more questions. What
could be the possible significance of these specific locations and is there any
way to relate to this supernatural “therapy” that not only heals the physical
tzaraas but most importantly “heals” the blemish on the soul?

              Lastly, why does this holistic healing therapy
literally need to extend from the “head to the toe” rather than focusing just
on the actual place of the physical tzaraas? Perhaps the Torah is teaching us here
that “healing” always needs to be holistic for true rebalancing. Here the Torah
guides the sincere penitent through a non-invasive esoteric transformation that has the power to not only revitalize
the life force of the body but to “heal” the underlying blemish at its root.

               Rav Hirsch explains beautifully
that the blood that is placed on these places of the body to symbolize that
from now on the metzora must improve himself in mind – which is located
opposite the ear, deed – the thumb representing action and effort – the big toe
representing forward movement.

                    Perhaps from this we can
add the following: The (olive) oil, which alludes to the illuminating wisdom of
the Torah, was specifically put at the same place as the blood – which
corresponds to the nefesh – to teach us that Divine healing and illumination
comes through “applying” the Torah to all of our faculties and phases of life:
as it is written “Nar mitzvah – Torah ohr”. 

                Therefore let us take this golden
opportunity, of the reading of these two Parshas of Tazria and Metzora to help
us to always “hear” our inner calling of what is the best thing to “do” at each
“step” of our lives, thereby bringing closer the footsteps of the final
redemption. 

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