Biat Hamikdash - Chapter 7

There are a sum total of 50 physical blemishes that disqualify both humans and animals. In particular, they are:

Five involving the ear: a) one whose ear lobe has been blemished1 to the extent that one's nail would become held back by the blemish.2 There is, however, no concept of a blemish with regard to the skin which surrounds the lobe of the ear, whether it is perforated, marred, or cracked.

b) one whose ear lobe has cracked to the slightest extent even though its substance has not diminished;

c) one whose ear lobe has been perforated, [leaving a hole] the size of a carshinah bean.3 Whether the hole is round or long, if its area is the size of a carshinah bean, it is considered a blemish.

d) one whose ear has dried to the extent that if it was perforated, it would not bleed;

e) one whose ear was double.4 [This applies] even to a goat kid whose ears are often extended and appear double, provided it has two lobes. If, however, it has only one lobe and it appears like one entity that is double-sized, it is acceptable.5

There are three involving the eye-lids:

a) one whose eye-lids are perforated even to the slightest extent;

b) one whose eye-lids are cracked even to the slightest extent;

c) one whose eye-lids are blemished6 even to the slightest extent.

These three blemishes are included in the term charutz mentioned in the Torah.7

There are eight involving the eye:

a) one who is blind,8 whether in one eye or in both eyes;

b) one who cannot see from both of his eyes or one of them, even though there is no apparent change in them, because he has water continuously descending into his eyes;

c) one who cannot see with both or one of his eyes clearly, because he has continuous nerve deterioration;9

d) one who has a mound like a grape in his eye,10 even though he can still see;

e) one who has cataracts11 in his eyes which cover some of the pupil of the eye;

f) one who has the white of his eyes extended slightly into the pupil until the pupil is interrupted by the white of the eye. This is the meaning of the term tivlul mentioned in the Torah.12 If, however, the pupil is extended and enters the white of the eye, it is not considered a blemish, for there are no blemishes in the white of the eye;

g) one who has a white point in the midst of his pupil. This is the meaning of the term dak mentioned in the Torah.13 [The above applies] provided it appears floating on the pupil. If, however, it is not floating, or if it is submerged in the pupil, it is not a blemish. Similarly, if there was a black mark in the midst of the white, even if it appeared to be floating, it is not considered a blemish, for there are no blemishes in the white. If there was a black mark sunk in the pupil, it is also included in the blemish called dak. If, however, it appears to be floating, since it is black within black, it is not considered as a blemish.

There are three involving the nose:

a) One whose nose is perforated, even from only one side;14

b) one whose nose is split;

c) one whose nose is blemished.

There are six involving the mouth:

a) One whose lip is perforated; this applies even if only one is perforated;

b) one whose lip is blemished;

c) one whose lip is cracked, provided the surface of the lip is split into two sides;

d) one whose lower jawbone extends even the slightest measure further than his upper jawbone;

e) one whose mouth is swollen congenitally, as part of the structure of his body. If, however, it is swollen because of the wind,15 it is not considered a blemish;

f) one from whom the majority of the free portion of the tongue16 was removed.

There are twelve involving the reproductive organs:

a-d) one whose member is crushed,17 mashed, severed, or cut off;

e-h) one whose testicles - or testicle - is crushed, mashed, severed, or cut off;

i) one who has only one testicle even though he has two sacs;18

j) one whose two testicles are in one sac;

k) a person whose sexual organ is covered by flesh and his gender cannot be determined;

j) a hermaphrodite.19

There are six involving the hands and the feet:

a) one who limps;20 b) one whose hip has been displaced. This is the meaning of the term serua used by the Torah;21

c) one who has one hip attached at a higher place than the other;

d) one whose arm-bone is broken,22 provided it is apparent;

e) one whose leg-bone is broken,23 provided it is apparent. Even if it is not apparent when he stands, if it is apparent when he walks, it is a blemish;

f) one whose legs are swollen congenitally, as part of the structure of his body. If, however, they are swollen because of the wind, it is not considered a blemish.

There are four [types of blemishes] that may occur in any place in the body. They are:

a) one who has a dry skin eruption of even the slightest size. This is the meaning of the term gerev mentioned in the Torah;24
b) a growth that has a bone. This is the meaning of the term yabelet mentioned in the Torah;25

c) one who has an Egyptian boil26 of the slightest size. It is a type of boil which is firm and of distasteful appearance. This is the meaning of the term yalefet mentioned in the Torah.27

d) Whenever there is a groove made in any bone that is apparent,28 it is considered a blemish. It is included in the category charutz mentioned in the Torah.29 The ribs are not considered as bones that are apparent.

There are also three other types of blemishes:30

a) an elderly man who has reached the stage that he quivers and trembles when he stands;

b) a person who is sick and trembles because of his illness and the weakening of his strength.

A treifah31 is acceptable among humans, but is disqualified among animals.32 Similarly, one born through Caesarian section is acceptable among humans, but is disqualified among animals.33

c) One who is foul-smelling. A priest who has a foul-smelling odor because of sweat may wash and rub perfume on his flesh and serve. If he has a foul odor emanating from his mouth, he may put pepper, ginger, or the like in his mouth and serve. If, however, he serves while his body is foul-smelling due to sweat or he had bad breath, he desecrates his service like one who has any of the other blemishes.