This week’s Torah portion is “Tazria” (Leviticus 12:1-13:59) and in it we read about a mysterious skin disease known as “tzara’at,” often (and usually incorrectly), translated as “leprosy” or “a leper.”

We are told that tzara’at would befall a person who committed certain sins, primary among them, slander and forbidden speech.

When a person saw that he was developing what appeared to be a tza’arat-like skin condition, he or she was to go immediately to the High Priest. The High Priest was the only one who was authorized to diagnose and treat the tzara’at. This was not a medical condition…it was a spiritual one! Medical illnesses require doctors but spiritual illnesses requires rabbis!