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Ohalos 1:4-5

Ohalos 1:4

Both humans and utensils can be defiled through a corpse. In some ways greater stringency is applied to humans, and in some ways greater stringency is applied to utensils. Utensils are more stringent in that there are three stages of impurity for utensils but only two for humans. Humans are more stringent in that when they are in the middle of a series there can be four stages but when they’re not in the middle of a series, there can only be three stages.

Ohalos 1:5

Both humans and garments can be rendered impure by a zav (a person who has experienced a particular type of emission). In some ways greater stringency is applied to humans, and in some ways greater stringency is applied to garments. Humans are more stringent in that a person who touches a zav can transmit impurity to garments but garments that touch a zav can’t convey impurity to other garments. Garments are more stringent in that garments that bear a zav can convey impurity to humans but a person who bears a zav can’t transmit impurity to other people.

Author: Rabbi Jack Abramowitz