The Kohen is the only individual which the Torah authorizes to render a decision regarding a person’s tzaraas. This is consistent with the pasuk in Devarim 21:5, “And according to his word, shall be every grievance and every plague.” Indeed, if for some reason the Kohen is not proficient in the area of negaim, plagues, Chazal state in Toras Kohanim, that a talmid chacham, Torah scholar, should be asked to observe the plague and instruct the Kohen “shoteh” in the decision to be rendered. The Kesef Mishneh notes the use of the word “shoteh,” fool, to describe a Kohen who is not schooled in hilchos negaim. He should be referred to as an am haaretz, illiterate. Why is he called a shoteh? He explains that he is a shoteh only in relation to the Yisrael talmid chacham. Yet, the term seems hardly appropriate, especially in light of the fact that throughout halachic literature one who is unschooled or illiterate is called an am haaretz.
Horav Zalman Sorotzkin, zl, offers an insightful response. Many people use the excuse of parnassah, the need to earn a living, as the reason for not designating time for Torah study. They are busy, involved, hard at work, under constant pressure. If they would only demonstrate the same resourcefulness for study as they do for making excuses, they would have sufficient time for Torah study. They, do, however, have a rationale, if not an excuse. What about the Kohen who has no worry about parnassah, who is to be involved in spiritual endeavor throughout the day? Why is he not involved in learning? How can he excuse himself from doing what he is assigned to do? He obviously has wasted his time, doing everything except what he was supposed to do. Such a person is a shoteh! Only a fool wastes his time. We are on this world for a purpose. If we take the precious time allotted to us and waste it, are we not being foolish?
While we do find the concept of a Kohen am ha’aretz in regard to one who is not meticulous in following the laws of tumah and taharah, the basic notion of an illiterate Kohen is described as a Kohen shoteh. This idea can be applied to all those who have time to study, but seek excuses to defer their obligation. They are not simply doing the wrong thing; they are actually foolish!
