Cedar and Hyssop: The Metzora's Path to Humility

וְצִוָּה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְלָקַ֧ח לַמִּטַּהֵ֛ר שְׁתֵּֽי־צִפֳּרִ֥ים חַיּ֖וֹת טְהֹר֑וֹת וְעֵ֣ץ אֶ֔רֶז וּשְׁנִ֥י תוֹלַ֖עַת וְאֵזֹֽב׃ אֶת־הַצִּפֹּ֤ר הַֽחַיָּה֙ יִקַּ֣ח אֹתָ֔הּ וְאֶת־עֵ֥ץ הָאֶ֛רֶז וְאֶת־שְׁנִ֥י הַתּוֹלַ֖עַת וְאֶת־הָאֵזֹ֑ב וְטָבַ֨ל אוֹתָ֜ם וְאֵ֣ת ׀ הַצִּפֹּ֣ר הַֽחַיָּ֗ה בְּדַם֙ הַצִּפֹּ֣ר הַשְּׁחֻטָ֔ה עַ֖ל הַמַּ֥יִם הַֽחַיִּֽים׃

the priest shall order two live pure birds, cedar wood, crimson stuff, and hyssop to be brought for the one to be purified. and he shall take the live bird, along with the cedar wood, the crimson stuff, and the hyssop, and dip them together with the live bird in the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the fresh water.

תְּחַטְּאֵ֣נִי בְאֵז֣וֹב וְאֶטְהָ֑ר תְּ֝כַבְּסֵ֗נִי וּמִשֶּׁ֥לֶג אַלְבִּֽין׃

Purge me with hyssop till I am pure; wash me till I am whiter than snow.

דָּבָר אַחֵר, זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איוב כ, ו):

Another matter, “this shall be the law of the leper.” That is what is written: “Though his height [sio] ascends to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds [laav]” (Job 20:6); sio, to the heights, laav, to the clouds. “He will perish forever like his dung” (Job 20:7); just as dung is foul, so, too, he is foul. “They who see him will say: Where is he?” (Job 20:7).

אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: ״בָּשָׂר״ כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ ״וְנִרְפָּא״, ״אָדָם״ לָא כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ ״וְנִרְפָּא״. אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: כׇּל אָדָם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ גַּסּוּת הָרוּחַ לְסוֹף נִפְחָת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר:

Rabbi Zeira said: Concerning leprosy of the flesh, it is written in the verse with regard to it: “And when the flesh has in the skin thereof a boil, and it is healed” (Leviticus 13:18), but concerning the leprosy of a person, it is not written in the verse with regard to it: And it is healed. Both verses discussing leprosy of a person make no mention of healing (Leviticus 13:2, 13:9). This indicates that one who sees himself as flesh will be cured, but one who holds himself in high regard will not be cured. Rav Ashi says: Any person who has arrogance within him will ultimately be diminished in stature, as it is stated with regard to different types of leprosy:

״מַרְפֵּא לָשׁוֹן עֵץ חַיִּים״, וְאֵין לָשׁוֹן אֶלָּא לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״חֵץ שָׁחוּט לְשׁוֹנָם״, וְאֵין עֵץ אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ״, וְאִם עַם הָאָרֶץ הוּא יַשְׁפִּיל דַּעְתּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר:

Reish Lakish says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “This shall be the law of the leper [metzora] in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest” (Leviticus 14:2)? This means that this shall be the law of a defamer [motzi shem ra].

נָטַל עֵץ אֶרֶז וְאֵזוֹב וּשְׁנִי תוֹלַעַת וּכְרָכָן בִּשְׁיָרֵי הַלָּשׁוֹן, וְהִקִּיף לָהֶם רָאשֵׁי אֲגַפַּיִם וְרֹאשׁ הַזָּנָב שֶׁל שְׁנִיָּה.

Near to these were brought the tips of the wings and the tip of the tail of the second bird.

דָּבָר אַחֵר, אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר, עַל גַּסּוּת הָרוּחַ הַצָּרַעַת בָּאָה. שֶׁכֵּן אַתְּ מוֹצֵא בְּעֻזִּיָּהוּ כְּתִיב: וּכְחֶזְקָתוֹ גָּבַהּ לִבּוֹ עַד לְהַשְׁחִית (דה״ב כו, טז). וּכְתִיב: וּבְזַעְפּוֹ עִם הַכֹּהֲנִים, וְהַצָּרַעַת זָרְחָה בְמִצְחוֹ (דה״ב כו, יט). הָאֵזוֹב הַזֶּה אֵין בָּאִילָנוֹת שָׁפֵל מִמֶּנּוּ. וּלְפִי שֶׁהִשְׁפִּיל עַצְמוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ מִתְרַפֵּא עַל יְדֵי אֵזוֹב. וְשָׁחַט אֶת הַצִּפּוֹר הָאַחַת. לָמָּה שׁוֹחֵט אַחַת וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ אַחַת. אֶלָּא אִם עָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה, אֵין הַצָּרַעַת חוֹזֵר עָלָיו.

Therefore, the text says that his sacrifice is two birds, because they (like slanderers) carry their voices. (Lev. 14:4, cont.:) “And cedar wood.” In the case of the cedar, no tree is taller (gevoha) than that one; so because [the leper] has exalted (gevoha) himself like a cedar, [he has had] the leprosy come upon him. Thus Simeon ben Eleazar has said, “Leprosy comes on account of haughtiness, for so you find in the case of Uzziah (in II Chron. 26:16), ‘But when he was strong, he grew so arrogant that he acted corruptly,’ and it is written (in II Chron. 26:19), ‘but during his anger with the priests, leprosy appeared on his forehead.’” (Lev. 14:4 cont.:) “And with hyssop.” Among the trees there is none [as short] as the hyssop. Because [the leper] has lowered himself, [leprosy] is therefore cured through the hyssop. (Lev. 14:5:) “[Then the priest shall give a command] to kill one bird.” Why kill one and release one?

ועץ ארז ושני תולעת ואזוב. אחז הכתוב הגדול והקטן שבכל מיני הצמחים, וכן הזכיר הכתוב בשלמה (מלכים א ה׳:י״ג) מן הארז אשר בלבנון ועד האזוב אשר יוצא בקיר, ודרשו רבותינו ז"ל מה תקנתו של זה שמתגאה וגבה כארז ישפיל עצמו כאזוב ויתכפר לו.

ועץ ארז ושני תולעת ואזוב, “and cedarwood, crimson thread and hyssop.” The verse mentioned both the most precious and the lowliest of plants. Solomon did the same thing in Kings I, 5,13 when he was described as lecturing about the cedars of the Lebanon and the hyssop. Our sages comment that the inclusion of both types of plants in the same breath teach that if one had arrogated to oneself the mien of something superior to oneself, i.e. given oneself a title that one had not earned, the only way to atone for this and to regain one’s true station in life is to demean oneself to the level of the lowest in the social order, the hyssop (compare Rashi).

הָאָדָם רָאוּי שֶׁיִּתְדַּמֶּה לְקוֹנוֹ וְאָז יִהְיֶה בְּסוֹד הַצּוּרָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה צֶלֶם וּדְמוּת, שֶׁאִלּוּ יְדֻמֶּה בְּגוּפוֹ וְלֹא בִּפְעֻלּוֹת הֲרֵי הוּא מַכְזִיב הַצּוּרָה וְיֹאמְרוּ עָלָיו צוּרָה נָאָה וּמַעֲשִׂים כְּעוּרִים. שֶׁהֲרֵי עִיקָר הַצֶּלֶם וְהַדְּמוּת הָעֶלְיוֹן הֵן פְּעֻלּוֹתָיו, וּמַה יוֹעִיל לוֹ הֱיוֹתוֹ כְּצוּרָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה דְּמוּת תַּבְנִית אֵבָרָיו וּבַפְּעֻלּוֹת לֹא יִתְדַמֶּה לְקוֹנוֹ. לְפִיכָךְ רָאוּי שֶׁיִּתְדַּמֶּה אֶל פְּעֻלּוֹת הַכֶּתֶר שֶׁהֵן י"ג מִדּוֹת שֶׁל רַחֲמִים עֶלְיוֹנוֹת. וּרְמוּזוֹת בְּסוֹד הַפְּסוּקִים (מיכה ז, יח) מִי אֵל כָּמוֹךָ. יָשׁוּב יְרַחֲמֵנוּ.

Chapter 1 - That it is fitting for a person to resemble his Creator: It is fitting for a person to resemble his Creator and then he will be [configured] in the secret of the Highest Form, [both] in image and likeness. As if he is alike in his body but not in his actions, he betrays the Form; and they will say about him, "A lovely form, but ugly deeds." As behold, the essence of the Highest Image and Likeness is His actions. And what will it benefit him to have the structure of his limbs like the Highest Form, but not resemble his Creator in his actions? Therefore it is fitting that he should [make his actions] resemble the actions of the Crown (Keter), which are the thirteen highest traits of mercy.

וְעֵץ אֶרֶז וּשְׁנִי תוֹלַעַת וְאֵזוֹב. הָיָה לוֹ לְהַסְמִיךְ עֵץ אֶרֶז לְאֵזוֹב, כִּי שְׁנֵיהֶם מִמִּין הַצּוֹמְחִים. מָה רָאָה לְהַכְנִיס שְׁנִי תוֹלַעַת בֵּינֵיהֶם. וּבְפָרָשַׁת חֻקַּת (יט ו) כְּתִיב: ״עֵץ אֶרֶז וְאֵזוֹב וּשְׁנִי תוֹלַעַת״, וְלָמָּה שִׁנָּה כָּאן. וְנִרְאֶה לְפִי שֶׁפָּרָשָׁה זוֹ מְדַבֶּרֶת בְּתִקּוּן לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, שֶׁהַמְסַפְּרוֹ אַף אִם יִהְיֶה שְׁפַל אֲנָשִׁים כְּתוֹלַעַת זֶה, מִכָּל מָקוֹם הוּא מַכֶּה בְּאָדָם גָּדוֹל שֶׁנִּמְשַׁל לָאֶרֶז, כִּדְמַסִּיק בַּיַּלְקוּט (ישעיה תנ) עַל פָּסוּק ״אַל תִּירְאִי תּוֹלַעַת יַעֲקֹב״ (ישעיה מא יד), עַל כֵּן כַּפָּרָתוֹ ״עֵץ אֶרֶז וּשְׁנִי תוֹלַעַת וְאֵזוֹב״, לְכַפֵּר עַל מָה שֶׁעָשָׂה מַעֲשֵׂה הַתּוֹלַעַת בָּאֶרֶז, וּתְרוּפָתוֹ שֶׁיַּשְׁפִּיל עַצְמוֹ כָּאֵזוֹב וְאָז לֹא יַחְפּוֹץ לְהָטִיל מוּם בַּקֳּדָשִׁים.

And cedar wood, crimson yarn, and hyssop. He should have placed cedar wood next to the hyssop since both are from the plant kingdom. Why did He insert the crimson [derived from a worm] yarn between them? And in Parashat Chukat (19:6), it is written cedar wood, hyssop, and crimson yarn. Why did it change here? It appears that this passage deals with the remedy for evil speech [lashon hara], for even if the one who speaks it is as lowly as this worm, nevertheless one strikes at a great person who is compared to a cedar, as concluded in Yalkut (Isaiah 450) on the verse Fear not, O worm Jacob (Isaiah 41:14). Therefore, one’s atonement requires cedar wood, crimson yarn, and hyssop, to atone for what one did — the act of the worm against the cedar. And one’s remedy is that one should humble oneself like the hyssop, and then one will not desire to cast blemish upon the holy ones.

ועוד, בעידנא וכו': ועוד אמר לי אליהו, בשעה שיקרה מגפה בבני אדם, ברית נכרת, וכרוז מעביר, על כל צבאות השמים, שאם בניו יכנסו בבתי כנסיות ובבתי מדרשות שבארץ, ויאמרו ברצון הלב ונפש, את הענין של קטורת הסמים, שהיו להם לישראל, יתבטל המגפה מהם.

במד' מצורע מוציא רע כו'. כי מה שנתן הש"י יצה"ר ג"כ לאדם כמו שהוא בכלל אינו מתנגד לעבודת הש"י כמ"ש בשני יצריך כו'. רק המוציאו מן הכלל. ואפשר שהשני צפרים חיות טהורות רומזים על ב' יצרים שכמו שנתנם הש"י הם טהורות כמ"ש נשמה שנתת בי טהורה כו'. א"כ יש די טהרה תוך האדם ורק שלא יוציא שום דבר משורשו כנ"ל:

The Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 16:4) explains that the word metzora is connected to the words motzi ra, meaning one who brings out evil. Hashem gave us both a good and an evil inclination, and the presence of the evil inclination does not inherently oppose the service of Hashem, as the Mishna (Brachos 9:5) states that one is commanded to serve Hashem with both inclinations. The issue arises when one takes the evil inclination out of its proper context and follows it, thus becoming a motzi ra. The purification process for a metzora involves two pure birds, symbolizing the two inclinations, both of which are pure in their original state. As we say in the Shacharis brachos, "the neshama that you have given me is pure." Therefore, there is inherent purity within man; the key is to ensure that nothing is taken out of its intended context and source.