Tazria: Chapter 27

Plagues of houses

Synopsis

We learn that when Yisrael came into the land of Canaan, they demolished the houses that had plague in them, and then found treasures hidden there. Rabbi Shimon talks about how the words uttered over a work in progress bring the spirit of holiness or the spirit of defilement over it. By breaking down the contaminated houses, the land was sanctified as before and the spirit of impurity was removed. Then Yisrael dwelled in holiness with the Shechinah among them.