Parshat Metzora discusses the subject of a supernatural discoloration of the walls of a house that renders the house and its contents ritually impure. An individual who suspects such a problem in his house must go to a kohen and say “it appears that I have a nega in the house.” They must go themselves, and cannot send an agent. The Ktav Sofer points out that the phrase “the house” is somewhat inappropriate in this context, especially given the fact that the owner must go himself.
We would have expected the phrase to read “in MY house” not “THE house.”
The Ktav Sofer explains the choice of words: Â The Sages teach that house discolorations is a punishment intended to help make stingy people more generous. Â Many details of its laws serve this purpose. Â Even the choice of words reinforces this message. To a stingy person, it is MY house, MY car, MY money. Â The Torah requires this person to say “in THE house” to begin teaching them that their possessions are not truly theirs, but rather gifts from G-d with which to do good.
