The Torah authorizes only the Kohen to pronounce a plague as Tzaraas. Only the Kohen can render a plague tamei, spiritually impure. Chazal (Mishnah Negaim 3:1) teach that all are fit to view or diagnose a nega. Only a Kohen can make the pronouncement of tamei or tahor. If a Kohen is (sadly) not knowledgeable in the laws pertaining to Tzaraas, we seek a talmid chacham, Torah scholar, who is proficient in recognizing the purity or impurity of a given plague, and he instructs the Kohen concerning what pronouncement to make.
The Tolna Rebbe, Shlita, quoted his grandfather Horav David, zl, m’Tolna who cited the Midrash (Tehillim) that David HaMelech petitioned Hashem that whoever recites Tehillim should be viewed (on the same level) as if he were studying the most difficult topics of Negaim and Ohalos. This means, explains the Rebbe, that even a simple Jew, who is not erudite and may not know the meaning of the words that he is reciting, should nonetheless be considered as if he were studying the most complex issues of Torah law. He explained that David HaMelech specifically selected Negaim as his example. Just as regarding rendering a person tamei, a kohen who is not a scholar and on his own is unable to designate tamei or tahor, can be assisted by a Torah scholar who instructs him what to say. This teaches us that, at times, uttering “words” without really understanding their depth has efficacy. So, too, surely reciting Tehillim – even without a proper understanding of the meaning of the words – should, nevertheless, be efficacious and serve as a merit for the person.
To explain this idea further, it is critical that one understands the nature of Sefer Tehillim. David HaMelech wrote these heartfelt tefillos from the depths of his soul. They express every human emotion – happiness, fear, sorrow, and repentance. Reciting Tehillim grants us the opportunity to channel these emotions in times of need or gratitude. One need not be an erudite Torah scholar to express his heartfelt feelings while reciting Tehillim. We join with Jews throughout the millennia, who have used this prayer book as a means to connect to and bond with Hashem.
