Derasha 116 on Vayikra 13:11

TT #116 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 10

The Complete Passuk

צָרַ֨עַת נוֹשֶׁ֤נֶת הִוא֙ בְּע֣וֹר בְּשָׂר֔וֹ וְטִמְּא֖וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן לֹ֣א יַסְגִּרֶ֔נּוּ כִּ֥י טָמֵ֖א הֽוּא׃

English: It is chronic leprosy on the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him impure; he shall not isolate him, for he is impure.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:11

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for the special rule for chronic tzaraas even when both white hair and healthy flesh are not present.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
צרעת נושנת. יכול לא תטמאה עד שיהא בה שער לבן ומחיה, ת"ל צרעת נושנת היא.

English: “Long-standing tzaraas”: one might think it is not impure until both white hair and a healthy-flesh patch are present; the verse says, “It is long-standing tzaraas.”

Type of Learning

Textual derivation

What Is Learned

The phrase “long-standing tzaraas” supplies a distinct route to impurity: a lesion established over time need not display both white hair and a healthy-flesh patch together.