METSOR'A

Speech is the human, G-d-reflecting shape
Transposed to vocal sounds that carry sense;
It is the dress of thought, the dwelling-space
Of all our social being. Hence
When Israel was brought to Israel's land,
And when the Temple was set up to link
That earth with heaven, so that matter and
Spirit were for a time in perfect sync,
Then if anyone misused their speech
To take away the honor of the human,
To stir up quarrels, or to cause a breach
In the good feeling between man and woman,
Their body, clothes, and house, for all to see,
Showed signs that got them quarantined for leprosy.