[go around the virtual room and do introductions. This is designed to be a Hillel class. Depending on interest, I may actually give this class at Oklahoma University Hillel as part of my "From Maisel to Moses: a Deeper Dive into Judaism" series, which is an intro to Judaism/Jewish learning course I gave virtually in the Spring semester until I got COVID. I am planning to offer at least one more session this semester.]
Ritual impurity: "The bulk of the biblical purity laws concerns the situations and substances that render one ritually impure, and therefore temporarily unfit to encounter the sacred. Ritual impurity results from direct or indirect contact with any number of natural sources or processes including childbirth (Lev. 12.1-8), certain skin diseases (13.1-46; 14.1-32), funguses in clothes (13.47-59) and houses (14.33-53), genital discharges (15.1-33), the carcasses of certain impure animals (11.1-47), and human corpses (Num. 19.1-22)....The durations of these impurities differ, as do the requisite cleansing processes. In general, however, there are three distinct characteristics of ritual impurity: (1) The sources of ritual impurity are natural and more or less unavoidable. (2) It is not sinful to contract these impurities. (3) These impurities can convey an impermanent contagion to people (priests and Israelites) and to many items within close proximity." (Jonathan Klawans, page 2042, Concepts of Purity in the Bible)
Moral impurity: "results from committing certain acts so heinous that they are considered defiling. Such behaviors include certain sexual sins (e.g., Lev. 18.24-30), idolatry (e.g., 19.31; 20.1-3), and bloodshed (e.g., Num. 35.33-34). These "abominations" bring about an impurity that morally--but not ritually--defiles the sinner (Lev. 18:24), the land of Israel (Lev. 18.25; Ezek. 36.17), and the sanctuary of God (Lev. 20.3; Ezek. 5.11). This defilement, in turn, leads to the expulsion of the people from the land of Israel (Lev. 18.28; Ezek. 36.19)." (Jonathan Klawans, page 2044, Concepts of Purity in the Bible)
Sin: induced by garden variety wrong doing (not the big three of idolatry, murder, or forbidden sexual relations). Defiles the person and the altar. The impurity on the altar can be cleansed through a hatat offering.
| Type | Source | Contagious | Timeframe | Effect | Resolution |
| Ritual | Natural, unavoidable states of human bodies | Yes | Temporary | Defilement of people and objects | Cleansing, separation, waiting |
| Sin | committing (less serious) forbidden actions | No | Long-lasting | Defilement of person and altar | Atonement, punishment, cleansing altar through sacrifice |
| Moral | Committing idolatry, sexual transgression, murder | No | Permanent | Defilement of person, altar, and land | Atonement, punishment, death/exile |
- These categories are difficult to understand. Today we're going to focus on Ritual Impurity. What are the big picture differences between Ritual Impurity and the other two categories?
When a person develops a skin disease that might cause her impurity and might be contagious to others, she goes to the expert for a diagnosis.
(2) When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling, a rash, or a discoloration, and it develops into a scaly affection on the skin of his body, it shall be reported to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests. (3) The priest shall examine the affection on the skin of his body: if hair in the affected patch has turned white and the affection appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a leprous affection; when the priest sees it, he shall pronounce him impure. (4) But if it is a white discoloration on the skin of his body which does not appear to be deeper than the skin and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall isolate the affected person for seven days. (5) On the seventh day the priest shall examine him, and if the affection has remained unchanged in color and the disease has not spread on the skin, the priest shall isolate him for another seven days. (6) On the seventh day the priest shall examine him again: if the affection has faded and has not spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce him pure. It is a rash; he shall wash his clothes, and he shall be pure. (7) But if the rash should spread on the skin after he has presented himself to the priest and been pronounced pure, he shall present himself again to the priest. (8) And if the priest sees that the rash has spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce him impure; it is leprosy.
- When the priest is unsure whether or not the skin disease is Tzarat, what must the afflicted person do?
- God commands the people to report skin afflictions to the priest. What does this imply about the attitude towards people who contract this type of impurity? Does it carry shame? Why/why not?
(45) As for the person with a leprous affection, his clothes shall be rent, his head shall be left bare, and he shall cover over his upper lip; and he shall call out, “Impure! Impure!” (46) He shall be impure as long as the disease is on him. Being impure, he shall dwell apart; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.
- When a person has a confirmed case of the ritual impurity skin disease Tzarat, what must they do?
- How do you make sense of the patient calling out "Impure! Impure!"? How is this similar to/different from contact tracing with COVID-19?
(47) When an eruptive affection occurs in a cloth of wool or linen fabric, (48) in the warp or in the woof of the linen or the wool, or in a skin or in anything made of skin; (49) if the affection in the cloth or the skin, in the warp or the woof, or in any article of skin, is streaky green or red, it is an eruptive affection. It shall be shown to the priest; (50) and the priest, after examining the affection, shall isolate the affected article for seven days. (51) On the seventh day he shall examine the affection: if the affection has spread in the cloth—whether in the warp or the woof, or in the skin, for whatever purpose the skin may be used—the affection is a malignant eruption; it is impure. (52) The cloth—whether warp or woof in wool or linen, or any article of skin—in which the affection is found, shall be burned, for it is a malignant eruption; it shall be consumed in fire. (53) But if the priest sees that the affection in the cloth—whether in warp or in woof, or in any article of skin—has not spread, (54) the priest shall order the affected article washed, and he shall isolate it for another seven days. (55) And if, after the affected article has been washed, the priest sees that the affection has not changed color and that it has not spread, it is impure. It shall be consumed in fire; it is a fret, whether on its inner side or on its outer side. (56) But if the priest sees that the affected part, after it has been washed, is faded, he shall tear it out from the cloth or skin, whether in the warp or in the woof; (57) and if it occurs again in the cloth—whether in warp or in woof—or in any article of skin, it is a wild growth; the affected article shall be consumed in fire. (58) If, however, the affection disappears from the cloth—warp or woof—or from any article of skin that has been washed, it shall be washed again, and it shall be pure. (59) Such is the procedure for eruptive affections of cloth, woolen or linen, in warp or in woof, or of any article of skin, for pronouncing it pure or impure.
- Ritual impurity can spread to clothing. How is the diagnosis process for clothing similar to the process for people? How is it different?
- Do you have any COVID rituals to get rid of impurity on objects?
[After hevruta time, we will discuss the Leviticus texts as a group. I will use the questions on the sheet to guide the discussion, but will also ask for general reactions, ideas, questions from the group. After that we will break into new random hevrutas for 10 minutes and they will read through the COVID-19 material and watch the handwashing video. I will encourage them to read through the "sources" I pulled from the CDC website as well as click around the website for a few minutes and discuss what jumps out at them with their hevruta. The questions below the second "source" are meant for both sections.]
- Is this a cleansing ritual? Why or why not?
- What is the difference between impurity and disease?
The following source is pulled from the Center for Disease Control's website on COVID-19.
Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department.
Who needs to quarantine?
People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19—excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months.
People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.
What counts as close contact?
- You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
- You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
- You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)
- You shared eating or drinking utensils
- They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you
Stay home and monitor your health
- Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19
- Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19
- If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19
The following source is pulled from the Center for Disease Control's website on what to do if you are sick with COVID-19.
Stay home. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.
As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. If possible, you should use a separate bathroom. If you need to be around other people or animals in or outside of the home, wear a mask.
Tell your close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person has any symptoms or tests positive. By letting your close contacts know they may have been exposed to COVID-19, you are helping to protect everyone.
Monitor your symptoms
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your “sick room” and bathroom; wear disposable gloves. Let someone else clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas, but you should clean your bedroom and bathroom, if possible.
Clean and disinfect areas that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them.
- What are the similarities and differences between the laws of ritual impurity surrounding Tzarat and the guidelines from the CDC for COVID-19?
- Is the comparison to COVID-19 a helpful framework for understanding ritual impurity? Why/why not?
[We will come back as a group and discuss their thoughts and reactions to the COVID-19 material and how it relates (or doesn't) to ritual impurity. We will conclude by going around the virtual room and saying our names, pronouns, major, and answering the concluding ice breaker.]
What is one take-away you have from today about ritual impurity?