parsha bit: Tazria-Metzora

[cellio]

This week's parsha tells us that a man afflicted with tzara'at, or leprosy, must cry out "unclean, unclean". One obvious reason for this is to advise others to keep away from him, but the talmud notes the repetition of the word and offers a second reason: that he should make his distress known so that others will pray for his recovery. The point is not to embarrass him but to help him recover and rejoin the community. (Mo'ed Katan 5a)

Comments

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

Did you ever wonder if, maybe, some of the guys who wrote the Talmud are trying a little too hard to wring something deep out of something simple?

Like "what if you didn't hear me the first time, idjiit" is just as good an explanation. :-)

I mean, what is the functional value of the SCA "Oye" being called twice? Once is to get attention, and the second is to ensure that you heard properly. Doing it once often leaves people going "what was that?"

Well, except when I do it. I tend to sing out "Oye" so that it lasts a good 10-15 seconds. No need to do that twice. :-)

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

Well, all the thoughts about repetition is interesting, but I've always thought that the most interesting part of this is that you are separated from the community by some inner illness, and Leprosy is the external sign of that internal problem. I can see the repetition to remind people to pray that he is healing inside.