17.10.07

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When it comes to discussing the nega'im (spots/blemishes) of Tzara'at, the Torah speaks first about neg'aim on the person's body, then on the clothes and then on one's house. But this the opposite of what we would expect for we know that HaShem first warns someone of their misdeeds through their house and their clothes and only afterwards through bodily damage. Yet the Torah is teaching us an important lesson in approaching HaShem through holiness. First one must work on his middoth and his other limitations, represented here by his body. Afterwards he must work on his mitzwah performance to ensure it is pure and untainted by alternate motives, represented here by his clothing for the mitzwoth are our clothes. Finally he must work to perfect the part of the higher world which is related to his soul, this is represented by his house. Only then can a Tzaddik bring down blessing and infuse the world with Godliness.
(paraphrased from the Noam Elimelech, parashath Tazria)
The Noam Elimelech doesn't touch on why the Torah chooses to bring down this lesson through tzara'ath, which means it must be a fairly simple explanation. Let's attempt something of an answer.

Tzara'ath at it's core was essentially an aid in making people aware of their current predicament. This was a tool to enable people to improve their relationship with HaShem. Nowadays we no longer have Tzara'ath, but the Noam Elimelech is teaching us that we can still use it as a tool to become closer to HaShem.

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