R. Isaac said: ‘We have learnt as follows. “Plague” means stern judgement impending over the world. “Leprosy” means the shutting out from the world of the supernal light and goodness. “When it shall be in a man”: this is he that is called “man”. “He shall be brought unto the priest”: this is the earthly priest, who is qualified to open what has been shut up and to kindle the lights, that blessings may through him be spread above and below, and the plague be removed and the light of mercy rest upon all.’
R. Abba said: ‘I am struck by the way in which men neglect the honour of their Master. It is written concerning Israel: “I have separated you from the peoples to be mine” (Lev. 20, 26), and again, “Ye shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I the Lord am holy” (Ibid. 7).
אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, וְהָא כְּתִיב נֶגַע צָרַעַת כִּי תִהְיֶה בְּאָדָם וְהוּבָא אֶל הַכֹּהֵן, אִי הָכִי דָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. אָמַר לֵיהּ אִין. בְּגִין דְּבֵיהּ תַּלְיָא כָּל דַּכְיוּתָא וְכָל קְדוּשָּׁה. אָמַר לֵיהּ, אִי הָכִי, אֲמַאי וְהוּבָא, וְהוּעֲלָה מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ. אָמַר לֵיהּ, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר (שמות כ״ז:ז׳) וְהוּבָא אֶת בַּדָּיו בַּטַּבָּעוֹת, דְּעָיִיל דָּא בְּגוֹ דָּא. אוּף הָכָא וְהוּבָא, דְּיִכָּנְסוּן לֵיהּ לְכַהֲנָא, לְדַכְּאָה לֵיהּ (כד אהדר ביה) וְיֵעָלוּן מִלָּה קַמֵּיהּ.
R. Isaac said: ‘We have learnt as follows. “Plague” means stern judgement impending over the world. “Leprosy” means the shutting out from the world of the supernal light and goodness. “When it shall be in a man”: this is he that is called “man”. “He shall be brought unto the priest”: this is the earthly priest, who is qualified to open what has been shut up and to kindle the lights, that blessings may through him be spread above and below, and the plague be removed and the light of mercy rest upon all.’
אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, הָכִי תָּנֵינָן, נֶגַע צָרַעַת. נֶגַע הוּא דִּינָא תַּקִּיפָא שַׁרְיָא בְּעָלְמָא. צָרַעַת: סְגִירוּ. כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, סְגִירוּ דִּנְהוֹרָא עִלָּאָה. סְגִירוּ דְּטִיבוּ עִלָּאָה, דְּלָא נָחִית לְעָלְמָא. כִּי תִהְיֶה בְּאָדָם, בְּאָדָם סְתָם. וְהוּבָא אֶל הַכֹּהֵן. דָּא כֹּהֵן דִּלְתַתָּא, דְּהוּא אִתְתְּקַּן לְמִפְתַּח הַהוּא סְגִירוּ, וּלְאֲדְלָקָא בּוּצִינִיָא דְּיִשְׁתְּכָחוּ עַל יְדוֹי בִּרְכָן לְעֵילָּא וּלְתַתָּא. וְיִתְעֲבָר וְיִסְתָּלַק הַהוּא נֶגַע, וְיִשְׁרֵי נְהִירוּ דְּרַחֲמֵי עַל כֹּלָּא, וּבְגִין כָּךְ וְהוּבָא אֶל הַכֹּהֵן.
R. Abba said: ‘I am struck by the way in which men neglect the honour of their Master. It is written concerning Israel: “I have separated you from the peoples to be mine” (Lev. 20, 26), and again, “Ye shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I the Lord am holy” (Ibid. 7).