This week’s Haftorah is named “the Four Metzoraim”. It is obvious that this Haftorah was chosen to be read because it discusses Metzoraim, the topic of this week’s Sedros. At first glance, the Haftorah seems not to have a real lesson for us. In Melachim (II Kings) this anecdote has a clear lesson, but we read it as an abstract clip out of context. Yet even in its context there seems to be little to be learned from the fact that some of the main characters were Metzoraim.

When we look at the story (both isolated and in context), we are told a tale of four metzoraim who were outside the camp because of their affliction. The persecutor of Israel at the time was Aram, and its king, Ben-haddad had laid siege to Samaria, causing large scale famine. The four Metzoraim consequently did not have what to eat. They went to the scout out the enemy camp of Aram in search of food. As they approached Hashem made a miracle. Hashem caused a great roaring sound that induced the armed camp of Aram to believe a large scale battle was upon them. This caused the entire camp to panic and flee for their lives. The Metzoraim were then able to come into the now deserted encampment and find food. Upon realizing the miraculous victory and the sudden source and availability of food – they ran to share the news with the entire Malchus Yisroel. Through their announcement of the good news Malchus-Yisroel witnessed Yeshuas Hashem.

The Metzoraim were at a low point in their lives. Not only were they suffering from famine like the rest of the nation, they were also suffering from being quarantined from the rest of the people. Nonetheless they did not give up. They persevered, found food, and eventually ended up saving Malchus-Yisroel.

The plague of Tzaraas seems overwhelmingly depressing. It is extremely disheartening to imagine being excommunicated in such an embarrassing way. The Haftorah tells us otherwise: the Haftorah tells us that there is no such thing as being cut off even temporarily. The Haftorah is telling us that sometimes even a Metzora can be the hero.

We all have a tendency to write ourselves off as being insignificant when it comes to the ultimate well-being of Am-Yisroel. Our Haftorah tells us otherwise – our Haftorah tells us that even at our lowest point we can still be Hashem’s emissary to save Am-Yisroel.