The Why, Where and When

In May 2011 my daughter, Judith Prays, suggested that we do some Torah study together. It was an exciting proposition for me. Undeterred by ...

27. V'yikra - Tazria (Delivery)

in which the process of purification after childbirth is described.


Question: Why does it take 7 days for a woman to purify after delivering a boy and 14 after a girl? Answer: Since the female child inherently carries a higher degree of holiness, due to her own biological, life creating capability, a greater void, or tumah, remains after her birth. Thus, the greater tumah after a baby girl\'s birth reflects her greater capacity for holiness (due to her creative powers) and necessitates the longer wait to remove this ritual impurity. Chana Weisberg for Chabbad.org