Parashah Tazria teaches that a speaker of lashon hara who contracted tzaraas was quarantined outside the camp (13:46). What was the purpose of this quarantine? Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin explains that a common reason why one speaks lashon hara is because they fail to see the good in their companions and instead badmouth them.
When they are quarantined and are forbidden to have contact with anyone else, including other people who are tameh, it will give them an opportunity to appreciate what it means to have human company. Loneliness is extremely painful, and the metzora will be led to be grateful for all those around him, focusing on their good. Furthermore, the only way they can survive is dependence on others, e.g., people bringing them food and water. All this will lead them to appreciate their friends and realize their good traits; consequently, this will cause them to repent.
Everyone has so much good, and it is essential that we focus on it, despite their shortcomings. It is a mitzvah from the Torah to emulate Hashem, ‘And you should walk in His ways’ (Devarim 28:9). The Tomer Devorah teaches how Hashem focuses on the good we do, overlooking our defects. Someone who has committed many sins yet performs acts of kindness, Hashem doesn’t punish him since he loves those who perform acts of kindness! So too, we must do whatever we can to try to appreciate the good in our companions, despite their shortcomings. Our Sefarim teach that when we focus on the good in others, it actually helps bring out the good in them, helping them become better people.
The Gemara recounts how Rabbi Chiya’s wife was a very challenging person, constantly causing her husband a lot of distress. Yet, whenever Rav Chiya found something he thought she would appreciate, he wrapped it up nicely and gave it to her as a gift. He exclaimed, “Is it not enough that she raises our children and protects us from sin?” (Yevamos 63a)
