Bohak, a shade of white lesser than the minimal shade of nega’im, is not an indicator of tumah -it is too weak in color. An important detail Bohak is fascinating in the aspect that although it is considered as arresting the advance of הפך כולו לבן since it isn’t white enough and thus can stop…read more
Michyeh, מחיה, is an area inside a nega (any of the four nega hues) that has an appearance of non-affected and healthy skin. Although the michyeh can make its appearance on the interior of the bahereth and its sapachath, it more often appears inside a se’eth nega. The minimal size of the michyeh is כעדשה…read more
Gabachat גבחת, a baldness at the back of the scalp due to natural causes. In the case of gabachat bladness, the nethek isn’t applicable as the afflicted person has no hair. Thus, the gabachat is susceptible to the standard tzoraath where one of four shades of white make an appearance. In the case of the…read more
Karachat קרחת a baldness at the back of the scalp due to natural causes. In this case, nethek isn’t applicable as the afflicted person has no hair. Thus, the Karachat is susceptible to the standard tzoraath where one of four shades of white make an appearance. In the case of the white appearing, it may…read more
On the Torah׳s wording וראהו הכהן ביום השביעי the Sifra interprets ביום literally, by day and not at night. Too, viewing isn’t done indoors nor on a cloudy day. The kohen’s POV There are a few rules any kohen viewing nega’im must be in the know about. Of them, timing -and more importantly proper lighting,…read more
Putuch פתוך introduces a whole new variable to any of the four chief nega’im being a sign of tumah. As the name implies “mixed” or “blended”, meaning any one of the big four can indicate tumah when appearing with a reddish hue. That’s right, the nega needn’t be bright white but even “creamed” with red/pink…read more
The mishna lists the minimal size of all skin nega’im is the size of a “griss HaKalki”., the “kalkilian groat” aka “Cilician bean”. This measurement is important since it is the standard minimal size of any and all skin tzoraath variations. So just how big is that? in short, the area covered by 36 hairs….read more
White hair, the sign of maturity and wisdom -well not always. Abnormal white-hair (on parts of the body other then the scalp and beard) is a telling sign in the Torah’s classification of Tzaraath. In terms of receiving a grace period, were the afflicted person already aged and white, this sign of 2 white hairs…read more
Bahereth, the whitest and brightest of all skin nega’im, is the color of snow -snow-white in its intensity. But, has a lesser form of bahereth that is listed in the mishna being as “white” as the limestone of the heichal. Thus, it is even brighter than se’eth and depending on its size, may be an…read more
ערים המוקפים חומה מימות יהושע בן נון לעניין טומאה וטהרה בימינו ובאופן ספציפי לקיום מצוות שילוח מצורעים מן ערים המוקפים חומה מימות יהושע בן נון.