Navigating Ancient Traditions: The Surprising Role of Female Kohanim

When dealing with the biblical condition of tzara'at, a myriad of laws and regulations come into play. Known among Jewish laws, a metzora must be isolated, spreads impurity through contact, among other intricate commandments. But who determines if someone actually has tzara'at? Surprisingly, it’s not a doctor, a rabbi, nor a judge—only a Kohen can pronounce this judgment. The Torah mentions that when there's a potential plague in a house, first everything must be removed before the priest declares "impure." Even if a mark exists, no impurity arises unless proclaimed by the Kohen's declaration.

A puzzling passage from the Jerusalem Talmud, cited by Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky in his work on the Rambam’s laws of tzara'at, questions whether a woman can demonstrate symptoms of a plague: "Can a woman show symptoms of blemishes? As the Talmud states, she must be brought to the Kohen." What does this suggest? Clearly, the law of tzara'at applies equally to men and women, as seen explicitly in the Torah—after all, the prophetess Miriam was afflicted, and the entire nation of Israel waited seven days for her.

The Jerusalem Talmud might hint at a historical practice. To preserve modesty, a woman might explain her ailments by pointing to an anatomical model in a doctor's office, indicating "it hurts here." The Talmud notes that tzara'at isn't a medical diagnosis but purely law-bound, determined solely by the Kohen's visual confirmation of the blemish.

So, what should a woman with such a condition do? Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky offers that she can go to a Kohenet (a female Kohen). The Torah does not specify that only male Kohanim can make such determinations, thus allowing a Kohenet to recognize such blemishes. While it’s true that extensive study is necessary to perform this task, a female Kohenet can indeed learn these laws. Furthermore, she can defer the judgment to a knowledgeable scholar, as explained in the Talmud: a Kohen who is ignorant may consult a sage, and based on their guidance, declare "impure" or "pure." The essential aspect is that the Kohen or Kohenet inspects the blemish and makes the judgment, yet they may rely on scholars to learn the applicable rules.