What is the מדה כנגד מדה of Tzaraas? Why does speaking Lashon Hara bring this skin affliction??
What is Lashon Hara?? A human being is a VERY complex entity. He possesses a G-dly soul, has a lifetime of experiences which affected him in a myriad of ways. He has hopes, fears, frustrations, sadness, joy, excitement, nervousness, stress, love, hate, doubt that turns into certainty and certainty that turns into doubt, he has fluctuations of mood and circumstances, he is often tired both physically and emotionally, he is at times more self aware sometimes less, he is sensitive and vulnerable to hurt. He thinks tens of thousands of thoughts a day and says many thousands of words. He has dreams that both affect him and reveal what is going on in the inner recesses of his psyche. In short - there is SO MUCH of which a human being is comprised.
Then someone comes and points out a flaw. Even ONE flaw. So much there. So much GOOD. This person could be loving, generous, kind, spiritual, thoughtful, sensitive etc. etc. But - he is not so bright. Or he misses minyan sometimes. Or anything. A person takes that flaw and characterizes the person based on that flaw. Or maybe one thing the person said or did.
The punishment? Tzaraas. One TINY discoloration of the skin with two little hairs inside and BOOM - the ENTIRE person becomes impure. He made one flaw into a generalization of who the other guy is - now one little skin problem is going to render him COMPLETELY Tamei.
Even if one says "He is a great guy, but...." It is what comes after the "but" that stands out in peoples minds.
