Feeling the Pain of Others

There is a Pasuk in פרשת תזריע that is really kind of sad. It is regarding the diagnosed leper, that he is supposed to call out “טמא טמא.” The Torah is telling us that whenever someone gets near to him, he must shout out twice, “Unclean, unclean!”

The Talmud in מועד קטן discusses why the word, “טמא” is said twice. The first time is to warn people not to get too close as he is not allowed to have any physical contact with anyone.

He also lets others know of the pain that he’s in, being quarantined, and he’s also asking for others to ask for mercy and pray for the leper.

Many are unaware that this status of leprosy can last for a long time. This separation from society lasts as long as the disease lasts. It could even last for years.

Rav Aryeh Levin, known as a great Tzaddik, was very sympathetic to the lepers that were in Jerusalem. He visited the suffering lepers every Friday. There were twelve Jews and 300 Arabs suffering from this condition. He came encouragement to both the Jews and Arabs. His wife cooked food for them, and he made sure there was someone to blow the Shofar for them on Rosh Hashanah.

We are to always feel compassion for the suffering of others. This is especially true for those who are otherwise forgotten. This is the trait that characterizes the nature of the Jews. They are ביישנים, רחמנים, גומלי חסדים, shy, merciful, and are involved in acts of kindness.