May 9, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at May 9, 2023
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Medication on Shabbat

A Medical Perspective Background The Gemara Shabbat (53) describes the difference between an animal or person suffering from some form of hematoma where a person can bathe on shabbat to treat his hematoma while an animal cannot. Olah explains that the animal cannot bathe due to a gezira of schikat […]
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May 9, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at May 9, 2023
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Metzora: Ralbag, Tzarat and Medicine

In today’s פרשיות, we encounter intricate instructions regarding the procedure for identifying a מצורע. Various verses elaborate on the specific criteria, such as changes in color, size, and hair, that must be met to diagnose someone as a מצורע. However, the practical applications of these regulations are not explicitly mentioned. […]
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May 9, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at May 9, 2023
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Kedoshim: The Ibn Ezra and Kelaim

קדושים תהיו, you should be holy, is understood by many ראשונים to highlight the value of a life not engaged in inappropriate relationships. It follows the prohibitions at the end of פרשת אחרי מות which list forbidden relationships and so it is logical that קדושים תהיו is a continuation of […]
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April 27, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at April 27, 2023
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HaChnassat Sefer Torah

Now that we have a ספר תורה, we should probably ask the question: did we just do a מצווה? The ספר החינוך counts the very last מצווה in the Torah as writing a ספר תורה. The רא”ש introduces the novel notion that writing other ספרים that we use more readily […]
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April 25, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at April 25, 2023
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Internal Pesach, External Sukkot

There is a puzzling distinction between Pesach and Sukkot. Pesach has a very clear reason for celebration, it commemorates the time we left Mitzrayim. Sukkot, while the Torah does provide a reason, the timing is not particularly clear. And yet, Pesach seems to be, externally at least, a much more […]
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April 25, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at April 25, 2023
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Vayakel Pekudi

Few times throughout the Jews’ journeys in the desert does Moshe Rabbenu gather the people to speak with them. We must therefore consider the purpose of such events each time they occur. Rav Aharon Lichtenstein proposes that each time such a gathering occurred it a momentous occasion where Moshe gathered […]
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April 25, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at April 25, 2023
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Parshat Zachor

Three prominent enemies of the Jewish people appear throughout the Torah but only one bears the title of eternal enemy of the Jewish people. The מצרים enslaved us for hundreds of years. They drowned our babies and tormented our people. And yet, of them the Torah tells us לא תתעב […]
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April 24, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at April 24, 2023
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The Physical Informs the Spiritual (Tazria-Metzora)

In today’s פרשיות, we encounter intricate instructions regarding the procedure for identifying a מצורע. Various verses elaborate on the specific criteria, such as changes in color, size, and hair, that must be met to diagnose someone as a מצורע. However, the practical applications of these regulations are not explicitly mentioned. […]
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