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Which shades of white were considered tzaraat?

by Rabbi Yossi Marcus

  

Library » Miscellaneous » Health Issues » Tzaraas ("Leprosy") | Subscribe | What is RSS?

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There were actually four shades. The whitest shade was that of snow. This is referred in the Torah as baheret. The second shade was slightly duller than snow and was like the clean natural wool of a lamb on the day it is born. This the Torah calls se’et. The third shade is that of the plaster in the Temple. This the Torah calls sapachat. The final and dullest shade is that of the membrane of an egg, and it too is called sapachat.

Anything duller than the membrane of an egg is not tzaraas.


Source: Rambam, laws of Tzaraas 1:2.
TAGS: tzaraas, leprosy

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Torah
Torah is G–d’s teaching to man. In general terms, we refer to the Five Books of Moses as “The Torah.” But in truth, all Jewish beliefs and laws are part of the Torah.
Rambam
Acronym for Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, widely known as Maimonides. Born in Spain in 1135, died in Egypt in 1204. Noted philosopher and authority on Jewish law. Also was an accomplished physician and was the personal doctor for members of the Egyptian royalty. Interred in Tiberius, Israel.
Temple
1. Usually a reference to the Holy Temple which was/will be situated in Jerusalem. 1st Temple was built in 825 BCE and was destroyed in 423 BCE. The 2nd Temple was built in 350 BCE and was destroyed in 70 CE. The 3rd Temple will be built by the Messiah. 2. A synagogue.