


The Ritual Bath: A Spiritual Rebirth
In modern times, we rarely think of the state of our spiritual purity. We can go into a synagogue, travel where we want, handle fruits and vegetables and sit on any chair without thinking about the spiritual ramifications. But in ancient Israel, when the Temple stood,...
The Status of the Menstruant Woman
When a woman has her menstrual period she becomes ritually impure. The Torah laws concerning this (referred to as the laws of niddah) are the basis of family purity, one of the most important aspects of the Jews’ status as a holy nation. This Torah portion of...
Why Giving Birth Renders A Mother Impure
Leviticus (chapter 12) discusses the laws relating to a woman who has given birth. It mandates a seven-day period of impurity for a woman after giving birth to a male, during which she is forbidden to her husband and is not able to come in contact with sacred items...