There is hardly a more penetrating reminder of the sanctity of a Torah lifestyle and the values of our mesorah than the annual reading of tazria-metzorah. Is there another people who at least once a year focus on the evils of arrogance and slander; who come to appreciate the ugliness of loshon hara and the destructive web that it can weave through a survey of grotesque physical growths and the tumor like spread of negaim\leprosy.
Yet unlike any physical ailment with which we are familiar, and distinct from almost the entirety of Halocha, determining the status of a growth, whether it renders its bearer as a tzorua or not is entirely in the hands of a kohen. "(13:2 - 8) [The one who finds on a growth on his skin] will be brought to to Aharon Hakohen or to one of his children who are kohanim...and the kohen will study the growth... and the kohen will study it on the seventh day... and the kohen will isolate him for seven days...and the kohen will study again ...and the kohen will decide and make him tomeh" Clearly the expertise of a yisroel is put aside and a yisroel who may have mastered Maseches Negaim with all its commentaries must still submit to the judgment of a kohen. That is why one who reports his newly discovered growth found on the walls of his home, says to the kohen,(14:35)"Kanega- There seems to be a growth on the walls of our home". Why so circumspect - "kanega" ? Explains Rashi even a talmid chacham that is certain that the growth is a nega cannot render a definitive decision and must say, "kanega" Is it not strange that the one topic that has been described in Torah Shebichsav with such painstaking detail is relegated to the fewest to render a decision?? How can we account for this; something which we would not find in issur vaheter or in shaatnez or ishus??
Perhaps this is a process that would make the Metzorah aware of the vicious power of loshon hara. Now the way he will be seen by others and thus his ability to maintain friends and relationships for a period of time will all hang on one word that can be uttered by one kohen. Surely he will begin to feel the ugly results of his loose lip.
Furthermore the metzora will gain a new appreciation of the destructive course of labels. For a few weeks his entire life will be devoid of any complexity as it is simply and narrowly focused on one growth, its hairs and its changes, How often do we do the same, taking the liberty of summarizing the entirety and richness of another's personality, beliefs and challenges in one word. Our generation is almost trained to characterize and often dismiss lives full of genuineness and depth, passion and purpose via the texture, size and position of their head cover. As the metzora's well-being hinges on the summary judgment of the kohen or is indeed determined by a pronouncement, he must begin to recognize that labels usually close any chance of a colorful and meaningful relationship with another.
A similar instruction arises from the manner in which the kohen views the possible metzorah, (12:3) "and the kohen shall see the nega.... and [the kohen] shall see him and declare him tomeh" Based on the sifreiRav Meir Simcha points out in the Meshech Chochma, that first the kohen evaluates the nature of the nega to see if it must be declared tomeh, then the kohen judges whether the person can be declared tomeh; is he a chasan or is he exempt for a similar reason. I believe that in this counter intuitive order there lies a magnificent instruction. Should one notice the faults of another - the nega that we all harbor in varied fashion - then quickly put it into the appropriate perspective. Train oneself to view him, the person, and apply the "ayin tov" to the larger picture, his struggles and accomplishments into which that very human failing may fall. In that way we will not only refrain from any form of tale bearing and labeling but we will open ourselves up to the goodness which abounds around us.