Taharah is a state of being ritually pure and contrasts to tumah, ritual impurity.
While the Temples stood, one needed to be in a state of ritual purity to enter the Temple and offer a sacrifice. In order to attain such a status, depending on the nature of the impurity contracted, the purification process may have entailed a waiting period, sprinkling with the ashes of a red heifer, and immersion in a mikveh. Purity and impurity are the focus of Seder Toharot. While most of these laws are no longer observed in the absence of the Temple, some are still observed.
Zav is a halakhic term for a woman with a genital discharge.
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