Mitzorah: celebrating the remission

The only medical intervention mentioned in relation to the maladies discussed in these parshioth is quarantine.  But much of this weeks parsha discusses the sacrificial rites associated with remission from these dermatological and venereal diseases. 

Despite  ( or, perhaps because of) the lack of therapy, the signs of these diseases would go away.  The parsha describes a ceremony related to the remission.  I imagine that it was both a celebration of the good fortune and a way to ward off a recurrence. It is presented as a thing to do without explanation.

I deal with  many diseases for which a remission is a surprise, an event that  comes despite therapies that work  less than 25% of the time, diseases for which patients often choose an earlier death over a hopeless situation of suffering.  Yet, even in the cases where remission is extremely improbable, sometimes it comes. And sometimes, even if the disease is relentless, there are moments of ecstasy.  Hope is always available.

When these miracle cures occur, sometimes there is an overwhelming sense of gratitude and it can be hard to know whom or what to credit.  Institutions like hospitals hope to glean some of the reward.  That happens.  Religious institutions are frequent beneficiaries.

Often people who are granted these wonderful surprises say that the experience of severe illness and recovery has changed their perspective.  They have rearranged priorities.  That usually does not last long. The forces dragging a person down to the mundane are more relentless than the fear of death.

Every day is a remission .  Do the important things. Don't be afraid