Adamdam (vitiligo classification)

Adamdam is the Torah’s definition of vitiligo with a reddish tinge to it. The term is used to differentiate between the standard appearance of vitiligo; e.g.  in white shades comparable to that of a  moist egg membrane or whiter (up to and including snow white). Adamdam means that the entire vitiligo patch has a uniform reddish tinge or that the majority of the patch is white with only blotches or streaks of red – chazal compared the reddish color to either wine diluted in water or minute drops of blood diluted in milk. (Mishna, Nega’im)

Hebrew etymology

The term Adamdam means both reddish and reddest, let us explain: The the Maharsha (commentary on tractate sotah p. 12b) Ibn Ezra (commentary on vayikra 13:49 and shir hashirim 1:6), and Rashi (Shir HaShirim 1:6), point out how the adjective adamdam is comprised of a redundancy of the final two letter of the root word (in this case the root word is אדם meaning “red”), what baalei dikduk (hebrew grammarians) cal as כפל עי”ן למ”ד (double-up of the latter 2 letter of the word’s root trio of 3 letters as opposed to a double up of the first  2 letters). Ibn Ezra‘s logic is that כפל עי”ן למ”ד (doubling up of the latter 2 letters of a root word that contains a root letter e.g. ח ,ט ,ג ,ז ,ע ,ס ,פ ,ר ,צ ,ד ,ק imply a descriptive suffix (i.e.reddish), whereas a redundant פ”א עי”ן (first 2 characters of the 3 letters which comprise a root word) of a root word implies a superlative (This is also similar to the מיעוט אחר מיעוט logic where a broader meaning is implied due to again quantifying an already established quantification). Dunash, in his responsa– explains the ירקרק color as a non-superlative ‘greenish’ (quoted by Rashi to tehillim 68:14). Another variable to the argument include Rabbi Yonah ibn Janach who explains that Hebrew speakers give the redundant term to an approximate description. Sifra however, knew all this, but still wrote that the adamdam is “red of the reds”. Rabbi Yechiel Michel HaLevi Epstien explained that this does not imply a superlative but merely an exclusion from the four shades of red established by Chazal (in addition to standard red).

Conclusion

The Torah and Chazal give an accurate and relevant classification of vitiligo’s shades and appearances. The adamdam factor is an important clue used by the kohen to determine what the afflicted person needs to correct to merit to being healed by God.

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