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This is the law for every tzaraas affliction… to rule/teach about which day it is impure and on which day it is purified. (14:54,57)

Toras Kohanim quotes Chanina ben Chachinai who asks why the Torah uses the word, l’horos,  which primarily means “to teach.” He explains that a Kohen  may not  view and determine the contamination of a plague unless he had first been taught by his rebbe. It is no different than a medical student who must be taught the various intricacies of medicine “hands on”. The above issue is reflected in recent rabbinic discussions concerning the halachic attitude towards the time-honored approach to medical education of bedside rounds. This involves performing activities of clinical care at a patient’s bedside. The Netziv, zl, focuses on…

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This shall be the law of the Metzora. (14:2)

There is a famous Chassidic tale which addresses the ramifications of lashon hara, slanderous speech, that is well worth repeating: In a small town in Eastern Europe a fine man lived who had one failing: he talked too much. He was well-liked and, thus, successful in his business endeavor. The problem was that when one is successful due to his personality, obviously a lot of talking is involved. Inevitably, it leads to talking about people, with the details often embellished to garner greater interest. This is lashon hara. Otherwise, the fellow was a real “nice guy.” One day, this “nice…

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This shall be the law of the metzora. (14:2)

Parshiyos Tazria and Metzora are dedicated primarily to the deleterious effects of an uncontrolled, slanderous tongue. Various plagues which strike the human body – and even the individual’s house and possessions – are all attributed in some way to lashon hara, evil speech, and its “derivatives.” The Torah does not come out and clearly present the connection between lashon hara and tzaraas; rather, it alludes to it in Sefer Devarim 24:8, 9: “Beware of a tzaraas affliction, to be very careful and to act… Remember what Hashem, your G-d, did to Miriam.” According to Rashi, a distinct connection exists between…

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