Derasha 2 on Vayikra 12:2

TT #2 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 2

The Complete Passuk

דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אִשָּׁה֙ כִּ֣י תַזְרִ֔יעַ וְיָלְדָ֖ה זָכָ֑ר וְטָֽמְאָה֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים כִּימֵ֛י נִדַּ֥ת דְּוֺתָ֖הּ תִּטְמָֽא׃

English: Speak to the Israelite people thus: When a woman at childbirth bears a male, she shall be impure seven days; she shall be impure as at the time of her condition of menstrual separation.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 12:2

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim).

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
בני ישראל מטמאין בלידה ואין עובדת כוכבים מטמאין בלידה.

English: Israelites become impure through childbirth, but an idolatrous gentile does not become impure through childbirth.

Type of Learning

Categorical distinction

What Is Learned

The midrash distinguishes the Torah’s childbirth-impurity status from the status of a gentile woman.