Revisiting Purity and Impurity: Lakme Batya Elior's Exploration of Taharah and Tumah
Have you ever wondered why the Bible considers a mother impure after giving birth to a newborn? If having children is a commandment, why must the mother have her life disrupted, separated from normalcy?

Have you ever wondered why the Bible considers a mother impure after giving birth to a newborn?
Also, why is her time of separation twice as long for a girl as it is for a boy? Does this indicate that having a girl is somehow less desirable than having a boy?
If having children is a commandment, why must the mother have her life disrupted during this time?
What are we missing when we try to understand these passages?
Taharah and Tumah
Few subjects in the Bible are as complex and misunderstood as the concepts of Taharah (purity) and Tumah (impurity).
Although these ideas are woven throughout the New Testament, these concepts are mostly unexplored in Christian thought. A surface-level read of these complex laws can easily give any reader a negative impression.
Below, I will share a segment from the book¹ that I believe shines a profound light on this topic that will be both enlightening and inspiring. In addition, I find it makes sense of the Bible's traditions around life and death - giving us a greater perspective of what life is really about.
Enjoy!