Why is the metzora excluded from our midst?

Sounds like he’s rejected, disrespected; dissed.

There may be another side at which it pays to look,

something deep, between these lines of our holy book.

The metzora is sent away, but also brought back,

which shows that respect is not something we lack,

For the metzora, as a person, a human, a Jew;

that’s why there’s a specific process we’re told to do.

If you look at the rituals, it’s fascinating to see,

that the metzora is treated much like a Kohen to be.

When a Kohen is inaugurated, there are things done to him from head to toe,

and it’s important that the details of this treatment are something we know.

He’s treated like a Kohen, brought totally in,

after purification he does not lose—his new life begins.

The metzora is not meant to be forever lost or sent away,

he’s brought in to live fully after his purification day.

He becomes not just someone regular and plain,

he’s treated like a Kohen, to sidestep disdain.

So the point of isolation is to be a temporary thing,

leading to the day when the metzora is brought back in.

Rabbi Neil Fleischmann, an ordained rabbi from RIETS, has taught Torah for over 30 years, primarily at The Frisch School, where he coached the award-winning poetry team. As an integral part of the Yeshiva Poetry Society, Fleischmann is a passionate advocate for the arts within the Torah world. He was named New York’s funniest rabbi and has performed stand up comedy, as well as presenting as scholar in residence, across the city and country. His literary work includes the haiku collection, “In The Field,” and he has contributed close to 20 poems to the “Stories of Our Lives” anthologies, parts 1 and 2. Currently, Fleischmann is working on a book of parsha poems that combines meaningful content with whimsical formatting. You can reach him at
[email protected].