Why man’s status of purity can change, even if no other creature’s can

“This will be the law of the metzora, on the day of his purification he should be brought to the Kohein.” (Vayikra 14:2)

It’s interesting how man differs from animals in the laws of purity. Animals, birds, and reptiles each have a specific status — they are pure or impure — that never changes. It’s only man who can change his state of purity.

Moreover, man’s impurity is more severe than other creations, even insects. Other living creations can transmit impurity only after death, but a person can transfer impurity to another person, or even an inanimate object, while he’s alive. (Rav Yosef Tzvi Salant, Be’er Yosef)

When you live in an apartment building, you get used to dealing with neighbors who are literally right on top of you. Each building has its own rhythm, dynamics, and bungalow-colony-type complications.

I got along great with some of my neighbors. Other relationships were more challenging, but we tried for friendly familiarity with all. After all, these people know a lot about what goes on behind your closed doors.

Years ago though, I had neighbors who defied the definition of neighborly. The Kvetches (name changed to protect me) seemed to have accepted upon themselves the mission of making everyone else miserable. They refused to pay building fees, had a rooster that habitually escaped their yard, and their kids were the type even the Israeli cats were afraid of.

At first we tried to be friendly. Then we tried to be civil. But eventually we just tried to stay clear. Apparently to be a good neighbor, you have to have good neighbors.

The Midrash quotes Rabi Shmalay saying that just as man was created after all the animals, so too the laws pertaining to his purity are explained after the laws pertaining to animals are explained. Why?

The Zohar explains that man was created last because Hashem included in him the characteristics and strengths of all other creations. In Avos D’Rabi Nasan (31), Chazal tell us that everything that Hashem created in the world, He also created within man. Each person is a small world unto himself.

The Nefesh Hachaim (1:6) explains that before the sin of Adam Harishon, a person contained only holy powers — but after the sin, he had the powers of bad as well. Since then, most of man’s actions are comprised of this combination of good and evil. It’s rare for a person to act or be completely good or completely bad.

Years went by while we dodged altercations and the occasional intentional bag of trash in our yard. And then the news hit. The Kvetches were moving. I tried not to do a happy jig. I mean, I wished them well, so long as they were far away from me.

That Purim, as I prepared my mishloach manos for my neighbors, I tied the ribbon on the one earmarked for the Kvetches and was silently relieved that this would be the last time I’d be sending them this missive of goodwill that had never been reciprocated.

Now we can understand why man’s status of purity can change, even if no other creature’s can. All other creations are always static in their essence. But a person has blended within him so many different characteristics and strengths — the pure and the impure. His status therefore changes according to his actions. He has the potential to reach greater heights than the angels — or to fall lower than a fly.

Purim morning is always flying. As I glued Binyamin’s mustache and found the card for Avi’s rebbi, the doorbell rang. Flinging it open with a ready smile, I almost gaped in astonishment at the sight of Mrs. Kvetch standing there, holding a plate covered with a paper napkin.

“I just baked fresh pita and I thought you’d like some.” She thrust the plate at me and turned quickly to go. “Purim Samei’ach.” A moment later, she’d disappeared up the steps, leaving me with fragrant steam mingling with my bewilderment.

To this day I’m not sure what promoted that gesture of friendliness. A desire to make amends before she moved away? Or was it more nebulous, a whim to somehow connect in friendship despite so many years of discomfort?

I have no idea where she is now and what she was thinking then. Yet I still often ponder how it took something as simple as fragrant homemade bread to make me realize how complicated people are.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 689)