Derasha 3 — Metzora 15:11

וְכֹ֨ל אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִגַּע־בּוֹ֙ הַזָּ֔ב וְיָדָ֖יו לֹא־שָׁטַ֣ף בַּמָּ֑יִם וְכִבֶּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב׃

Source Citation

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text

וְיָדָיו לֹא שָׁטַף — תַּנְיָא, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲרָךְ: וְיָדָיו לֹא שָׁטַף בַּמַּיִם — מִכָּאן סָמְכוּ חֲכָמִים לִנְטִילַת יָדַיִם מִן הַתּוֹרָה.

English: “And his hands he did not rinse” — it was taught: R’ Elazar ben Arach said: “And his hands he did not rinse in water” — from here the Sages supported netilas yadayim from the Torah.

What Is Learned

Chazal cite this verse as a scriptural support (asmachta) for the practice of washing the hands.

Derasha 3 on Metzora 15:11

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Core Text of Chazal

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What Is Learned