The Torah relates a form of disease which can afflict the Jewish home. The Torah refers to this disease as tzara’as, a sort of spiritual leprosy within the walls of the house. The Torah details specific instructions for the Kohen and the owner of the house regarding the procedure for dealing with this “affliction”. Chazal emphasize the Torah’s choice of the word in the house. Indeed, as they note, “tumah is declared only if the rot appears inside the house.” One’s internal life is expected to be in order.
The hypocrisy to which children are sensitive must not exist. There must be honesty between man and Hashem, between husband and wife, and between sons and daughters. Children emulate what they see. What the father does, the son will do. That which the father refrains from doing, the son will likewise refrain from doing. The tznius which is reflected in a mother’s demeanor will be mirrored by the daughter. If the inside of the house is strong and pure, no outside disease will be able to penetrate its walls. The disease only contaminates from within, not from without.
To advance this idea, Moreshes Moshe notes the opening pesukim of Parashas Tazriah, which deal with childbirth. We notice that the Torah does not initially refer to children as sons or daughters. Rather they are described as male or female. It is only after the days of (the mother’s) purity are fulfilled, that they become sons or daughter. In those homes in which charity, prayer, Torah study and community involvement are the accepted norm, the children are truly the “heirs” to their parents. When these sublime spiritual endeavors are not observed in a home, the children remain male and female without any link to the previous generation. Relationships dissipate, and the link is broken. If this does not occur immediately, then it will in due time. When the home is internally pure, our children will continue to remain “our” children.
