Zavah
Encyclopedia
The Hebrew term zavah is a state of ritual impurity applicable to females arising from vaginal blood discharges not during the usually anticipated menstrual cycle
.
In the realm of tumah and taharah, the zavah has the ability to create a midras
, ' onMouseout='HidePop("47572")' href="/topics/Kareth">kareth
for willfully engaging in forbidden sexual intercourse.
According to textual scholars
, the regulations concerning childbirth, which have a similar seven-day waiting period before washing, and the sin and whole offerings, were originally suffixed to those concerning menstruation, but were later moved.
; Orthodox Judaism
views the Shulchan Aruch
as being particularly authoritative on these matters, and it has extensive discussion about the subject.
period, notices an abnormal blood discharge. This one time discharge deems her a zavah ktanah (minor zavah) and brings the requirement for her to verify that the next day will show no discharge. Provided the next day is clean, her immersion in the mikveh prior to sunset makes her tahor (pure) after sunset.
on the eighth.
stipulate - although uncommon - that a female must be at least ten days old to be eligible for zavah status. According to the Talmud
, the law of zavah is applicable if the discharge in question had happened (at least) three times over three consecutive days.
stipulates that the zavah is required to immerse in a spring
(as opposed to the standard mikveh bath) to obtain taharah (purification).
(sacrifice) post the purification process (Rashi
on Makkoth 8b) The korban consists of both a sin offering and a whole offering
, each involving a dove
.'.
reasons that the zavah gedolah state is a divine consequence to alert the woman from acting in a manner comparative to Chava (Eve
). This unpleasant consequence is implied by God's message to Chava in the verse "I will increase and multiply your discomfort" (Genesis 3:16), with the seven day waiting period intended to allow a spirit of repentance and purity to enter her will. Her bringing of a dual sacrifice, the Chatat and Olah
, are to rectify her negative action and thought, respectively.
Targum Yonathan describes the zavah state as a divine consequence to a woman who neglects the requirement to take adequate precautions involving the laws and nuances of menstrual impurity
.
Although the zavah regulations clearly have a sanitary benefit in the light of modern medical knowledge, Biblical scholars
see these regulations as having originally derived from taboo
s against contact with blood
and semen, because they were considered to house life and were consequently considered sacred; the seven day period is thought to exist to ensure that the abnormality has genuinely ceased, the sin offering is considered to have originally been made as an apology for violating the taboo, and the whole offering is regarded as a later addition (before the Priestly Code was written).
, Judaism regards the sacrificial regulations as being in abeyance; rabbinical tradition subsequently differentiated less between the regulations of zavah and those for niddah.
In modern Orthodox Judaism, women who experience normal menstruation are required to obey the non-sacrificial regulations for zavah, namely that they must immerse in a mikveh after waiting seven clean days.
Conversely, Reform Judaism
regards such regulations as anachronistic
; adherents of Conservative Judaism
take a view somewhere between these views.
Menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle is the scientific term for the physiological changes that can occur in fertile women for the purpose of sexual reproduction. This article focuses on the human menstrual cycle....
.
In the realm of tumah and taharah, the zavah has the ability to create a midras
Midras
The term midras uncleanness or pressure uncleanness is used for uncleanness transmitted by either an object or person in Judaism....
, ' onMouseout='HidePop("47572")' href="/topics/Kareth">kareth
Kareth
In Judaism, Kareth is a divine punishment for transgressing Jewish law.It is the punishment for serious crimes that were not brought to justice by a human court...
for willfully engaging in forbidden sexual intercourse.
Hebrew Bible
Torah sources for the zavah are sourced in the book of LeviticusLeviticus
The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, and the third of five books of the Torah ....
According to textual scholars
Textual criticism
Textual criticism is a branch of literary criticism that is concerned with the identification and removal of transcription errors in the texts of manuscripts...
, the regulations concerning childbirth, which have a similar seven-day waiting period before washing, and the sin and whole offerings, were originally suffixed to those concerning menstruation, but were later moved.
Shulchan Aruch
Further specification of these rules exist in the Oral LawOral law
An oral law is a code of conduct in use in a given culture, religion or community application, by which a body of rules of human behaviour is transmitted by oral tradition and effectively respected, or the single rule that is orally transmitted....
; Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
views the Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch
The Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
as being particularly authoritative on these matters, and it has extensive discussion about the subject.
Description
The zavah state is described as initiating itself post the cessation of the usual blood flow of the menstrual cycle. The woman is described as having already immersed in a mikveh and currently in a tahor (pure) state.Zavah ktanah
The woman, within an eleven day window of the completion of her base seven-day niddahNiddah
Niddah is a Hebrew term describing a woman during menstruation, or a woman who has menstruated and not yet completed the associated requirement of immersion in a mikveh ....
period, notices an abnormal blood discharge. This one time discharge deems her a zavah ktanah (minor zavah) and brings the requirement for her to verify that the next day will show no discharge. Provided the next day is clean, her immersion in the mikveh prior to sunset makes her tahor (pure) after sunset.
Zavah gedolah
In the zavah gedolah (major zavah) scenario, the woman, within an eleven day window of the completion of her base seven-day niddah period, notices an abnormal blood discharge. If the next day another discharge is noticed, followed by yet another discharge on the third consecutive day, she is deemed a zavah gedolah. She is then required to count seven clean days, immerse in a mikveh on the seventh day and bring a korbanKorban
The term offering as found in the Hebrew Bible in relation to the worship of Ancient Israel is mainly represented by the Hebrew noun korban whether for an animal or other offering...
on the eighth.
Specifics
ChazalChazal
Chazal or Ḥazal is an acronym for the Hebrew "Ḥakhameinu Zikhronam Liv'rakha",...
stipulate - although uncommon - that a female must be at least ten days old to be eligible for zavah status. According to the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, the law of zavah is applicable if the discharge in question had happened (at least) three times over three consecutive days.
Purification process
The SifraSifra
Sifra is the Halakic midrash to Leviticus. It is frequently quoted in the Talmud, and the study of it followed that of the Mishnah, as appears from Tanḥuma, quoted in Or Zarua, i. 7b. Like Leviticus itself, the midrash is occasionally called "Torat Kohanim" , and in two passages also "Sifra debe...
stipulates that the zavah is required to immerse in a spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
(as opposed to the standard mikveh bath) to obtain taharah (purification).
Korban requirement
The zavah is commonly known as one of four types of tumah that are required to bring a korbanKorban
The term offering as found in the Hebrew Bible in relation to the worship of Ancient Israel is mainly represented by the Hebrew noun korban whether for an animal or other offering...
(sacrifice) post the purification process (Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
on Makkoth 8b) The korban consists of both a sin offering and a whole offering
Korban Olah
Korban olah or olah was a twice-daily animal sacrifice offered on the altar in the temple in Jerusalem that was completely consumed by fire.The skin of the animal, however, was not burnt but given to the priests respective of their priestly division...
, each involving a dove
Dove
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
.'.
As consequence
Obadiah ben Jacob SfornoObadiah ben Jacob Sforno
Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno was an Italian rabbi, Biblical commentator, philosopher and physician. He was born at Cesena about 1475 and died at Bologna in 1550....
reasons that the zavah gedolah state is a divine consequence to alert the woman from acting in a manner comparative to Chava (Eve
Eve
Eve is the first woman created by God in the Book of Genesis.Eve may also refer to:-People:*Eve , a common given name and surname*Eve , American recording artist and actress-Places:...
). This unpleasant consequence is implied by God's message to Chava in the verse "I will increase and multiply your discomfort" (Genesis 3:16), with the seven day waiting period intended to allow a spirit of repentance and purity to enter her will. Her bringing of a dual sacrifice, the Chatat and Olah
Korban Olah
Korban olah or olah was a twice-daily animal sacrifice offered on the altar in the temple in Jerusalem that was completely consumed by fire.The skin of the animal, however, was not burnt but given to the priests respective of their priestly division...
, are to rectify her negative action and thought, respectively.
Targum Yonathan describes the zavah state as a divine consequence to a woman who neglects the requirement to take adequate precautions involving the laws and nuances of menstrual impurity
Niddah
Niddah is a Hebrew term describing a woman during menstruation, or a woman who has menstruated and not yet completed the associated requirement of immersion in a mikveh ....
.
Although the zavah regulations clearly have a sanitary benefit in the light of modern medical knowledge, Biblical scholars
Biblical criticism
Biblical criticism is the scholarly "study and investigation of Biblical writings that seeks to make discerning judgments about these writings." It asks when and where a particular text originated; how, why, by whom, for whom, and in what circumstances it was produced; what influences were at work...
see these regulations as having originally derived from taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
s against contact with blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
and semen, because they were considered to house life and were consequently considered sacred; the seven day period is thought to exist to ensure that the abnormality has genuinely ceased, the sin offering is considered to have originally been made as an apology for violating the taboo, and the whole offering is regarded as a later addition (before the Priestly Code was written).
In modern Judaism
Due to the destruction of the Temple in JerusalemTemple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to one of a series of structures which were historically located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the current site of the Dome of the Rock. Historically, these successive temples stood at this location and functioned as the centre of...
, Judaism regards the sacrificial regulations as being in abeyance; rabbinical tradition subsequently differentiated less between the regulations of zavah and those for niddah.
In modern Orthodox Judaism, women who experience normal menstruation are required to obey the non-sacrificial regulations for zavah, namely that they must immerse in a mikveh after waiting seven clean days.
Conversely, Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
regards such regulations as anachronistic
Anachronism
An anachronism—from the Greek ανά and χρόνος — is an inconsistency in some chronological arrangement, especially a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other...
; adherents of Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
take a view somewhere between these views.