The Power of Speech

Humans are called Midabrim-speakers. There is no more human quality and gift than the ability to communicate our ideas and feelings through speech. We should use it wisely. METZORA METZORA

Checking our Speech

Whenever we read the Torah portion of Tazria and Metzora we are reminded of the power of speech. Our sages tell us that the form of skin disorder that the Torah describes — tzara’as — was not a natural condition. Despite the superficial resemblance to leprosy, tzara’as — as the Bible calls it — is simply not leprosy or any other skin disease known to modern medicine.

It was not contagious. The person stricken by this malady was not isolated, despite the presence of this disorder, unless a Kohain declared it as such. It would come and go and there was no treatment for it.

Our sages inform us that tzara’as was a reminder that he or she has spoken ill of another. By slandering another person we METZORA create separation and discord between people. The slanderer who would “break out” would himself/herself be separated as a way of reminding him/her that words do hurt and cause separation among people.

This week’s Torah portion is thus first-andforemost a reminder for us to check our speech and refrain from slanderous talk.

The power of speech is usually portrayed in the following manner: One says something in confidence to a friend, almost immediately it is transmitted to others, who, in turn, pass it on — with additional tidbits — to yet others. In just a brief period, an entire community can be accepting rumors about one of their members. This can obviously lead to the destruction of the reputation of that person and destroy his or her entire life.

The Mystical Power of Lashon Hara

Chassidic thought delves even more deeply into the power of lashon hara - evil speech and derives a lesson about lashon tov positive speech as well.

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Speech, the Ba’al Shem Tov teaches us, has the power to reveal. Speech is a G-d given instrument to humans with which they can express their thoughts and feelings in ways that cannot be expressed otherwise.

When a person says “I love you” it is so much more powerful and meaningful than just thinking words of love or even embracing the other. When we verbally confess our sins it reveals a deeper sense of contrition than if we had just thought those same words.

Speech has the power to expose some of the deepest resources that we were not even privy to before we vocalized those ideas or sentiments.

When we speak about another person’s moral weaknesses, we cause these weaknesses to be exaggerated and brought closer to the surface. Faults that were mostly beneath the surface suddenly become manifest. If one had not spoken ill of the other, the other could have managed that evil. Now that it is out in the open it can become unmanageable.

Speaking ill of another person, thus, has the capacity to actualize that person’s METZORA shortcomings, which can lead to that person’s spiritual degradation.

Positive Speech

If this is true with regard to the negative sphere of speech, it is certainly valid with regard to one who speaks positively of another. By speaking about and focusing on a specific quality that another individual possess in small measure, that quality actually becomes magnified and is given the ability to become his/her dominant characteristic.. Positive speech in and of itself has a positive effect on others.

Enlisting Thought, Action and Speech for Moshiach

For thousands of years Jews have been yearning for the Messianic Age. Yet, yearning alone is not sufficient. It is the actions that we do that change the world and make it the “dwelling place” G-d had sought from the beginning of time.

In addition to the yearning (thought) and the

METZORA actions (deed) that are crucial for the Redemption, it is also crucial that we articulate our desire for the Redemption (speech) . Expressions such as “Ad Masai-how much longer” (a Biblical expression), when verbalized, actually have the power to elicit the Redemptive powers that are hidden beneath the surface. For Redemption is not something that we create; it is something that exists in potentia, waiting for the beckoning call for it to appear in all its glory.

This week should thus be dedicated to the evocation of positive energies by speaking about the good in everyone and everything. This includes the hidden powers of Redemption that are contained within each and every one of us that awaits our powerful words of faith and prayer to make it a complete reality.

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From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Tazria-Metzora by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.