Spiritual & Social Awareness of Uncleanness

Everything in its existence came from the Divine Being, the Creator and Possessor of all things. In His Holiness (Quadoshau), He created the cycle of life and all the living. All Creation were made instinctual to their environment and surroundings. However, Mankind, was different, even though they are also instinctively driven; they were given the ability of skilled behaviors and complex thought processes. The Almighty gave Mankind the governance over all things (Beresheit 1:26). He also gave them the dietary laws and the communal or social laws. Along with those laws, He gave strict laws about how to appear before His Quadoshau.

In the dietary laws (wahYekrau 11/Devaureim 14), mankind was commanded of what to eat and what to not eat, and which foods would make one unclean, or unholy. Also, which animal or insects, when we touch their carcasses, would make us unclean. Those laws were essentially for the good of all mankind, seeing that those which consume products that are not fit for the human body, tends to manifest into sicknesses such as cancers and other serious diseases. The Almighty in His Magnificence instructed us on rich diets that would benefit the human body rather than to destroy it. Later on, The Almighty chose a special race of people, a peculiar people unto Himself (Devaureim 14:2). A particular people, above all other people and nations. These people are the Hebrew-Yisraelites (Shemite-Blacks). He chose these people because He knew all other races would desire to be like them (Yeshaiyahu 42:1-7). To teach the nations how to be and how to live upright and pure before the Almighty.

In the T’Nakh (Holy Scriptures), it is commanded that the men of the household, and the communities and the Nations, must make an appointed appearance before YEHOWAH three times in the year (Devaureim 16:16) in the Kogeim (Feasts), and also other Solemn Assemblies, most importantly, the Quadosh (Holy) Shabaut (wahYekrau 23:1-3). These appearances before the Almighty (Shemote 23:15) must never be attended in a state of vanity, nor in the state of spiritual or bodily uncleanness. In some of these appearances, both men and women could not come together sexually for three days (Shemote 19:11-15) as to prepare themselves for a presentation unto YEHOWAH. In modern times the practices are similar, even while dispersed in captivity, we must still adhere to these guidelines of cleanliness and order.

In the books of wahYekrau (Lev.) 11, we have the Laws of Clean and Unclean animals, and which of their carcasses makes one unclean even if you touch them; such as the Swine or as others may know it as Pigs, Hogs or Boars (Their flesh is called Pork) in that selfsame animal family. In wahYekrau 12, it teaches about the uncleanness of a woman when she bears a male or female child. This uncleanness is for her and anyone who touches her. Then, there is the uncleanness of dealing with Leprous people or a Leprous house (wahYekrau 13/14). By Leprous House, in the present day, it would like molding or fungi that grows in or alongside the house structure. These types of cases still exist today so it would also mean that these laws are still active today; even though people might refer to some cases of leprosy as Vitiligo. As stated in wahYekrau 13, when a person’s skin begins changing to a lighter colour, this is when they are losing their melanin, in which time they are to be separated from all Spiritual gatherings and associating with the populous until their entire body has changed, then they can be allowed to socialize and worship again. This Leprosy can be viewed as benign leprosy, while the other leprosy, which is incurable, is referred to as malignant leprosy, and this person is separated perpetually from the community (out castes).

Laws about personal uncleanness is more important to the everyday interactions around the Quadosh (Holy) places, and worships. In the book of wahYekrau 15, it stipulates the uncleanness of men and women and how to interact with them as it pertains to the Quadosh things, and places.

Yet, we find that Modern Yisraelites have been tainted with concepts from Christian upbringing, teachings of Rastafarianism, and Judaic teachings. Each of their teachings are misleading as it pertains to the written laws and overstandings. In verse 2 of wahYekrau (Lev.) 15, we see that men can also become unclean (טָמֵ֥א); his uncleanness also prohibits him from entering into any Quadosh place or worship. When a man is טָמֵ֥א he is in sin and must make amends on the eight day from the beginning of his separation (הַפרָדָה) for seven days. This practice will in turn make him clean and grant him the ability to be amongst the convocation again. When sickness and discomfiture comes upon Spiritual people or any people for that matter (Devaureim 32:39), it is most likely regarded to as a sin and there must be an atonement made for it. These instances can happen whether someone was judged publicly or if their sins were committed in secret (2 Melakeim 5:27). Most times these sins manifest to appear as a disease or sickness to expose a judgement that is from The Almighty (Devaureim 28:58-61).

However, this is not to be confused with a woman who is seeing her Menstruation (וֶסֶת), which also makes her communally unclean. Menstruation is not an indication that a woman is in sin, nor that she should be out castes as such. A woman’s sin in her uncleanness can only result in Menstruation that lasts longer than 7 days (wahYekrau 15:25), wherein she must bring an atonement to account for this situation. In Modernity, it could look like a Miscarriage or another form of bleeding that a woman may experience that is outside of the normalcy of Menstruation (וֶסֶת). There is a keen difference in the over-standing of this, seeing that most times, Yisraelite men may begin to ostracize their women who is seeing her flowers and/or Menstruation; and this mindset is not spiritually sound.

During this time, women are explicitly informed that they must not join into any Mikra-Quodesh or to appear before YAH for any Quadosh Yomeim. They are not to be kept away as one with Leprosy, so-to-speak, but they must be upfront on informing their families and community members of their uncleanness as to avoid direct contact with others that will attend High Holy Days. During our days and times, women do not “freely bleed”, which would be a hindrance to live amongst others during ancient times. We have devices and sanitation, such as Sanitary Napkins or Pads, that helps us to maintain environments that are not as tainted as it would be without the witty inventions of such products (Mishleim 8:12). Menstruation is not a communicable disease such as Leprosy that can easily spread from one person onto the next. So, to treat monthly Menstruation as a Disease rather than a simple part of womanhood is not Biblically sound or correct.

What we find is that as many people read on the surface level of the scriptures, and they do not take into account that there are deeper meanings unto it all. While many rely on the KJV Transliterations, there are still actions or ways of being that are not clearly defined and can be easily misconstrued. Thereby creating a culture that is outside of TORAH and the Divine Spiritual guidance of the Almighty YEHOWAH and His Magnificent Instruction of Human to Human interactions. Today, we have many people that take bits and pieces of the Words and try to create ways of being that are only conducive to their personal suggestions of living and being or understanding. Most times their actions are Biblically Unfounded and not in correlation TORAH for everyday living. This creates an alienation from the TORAH and causes people to be led astray from the simplicity of it all. Some people follow practices created by the Rastafarians and Jews, these practices brings burdens and in-sensitivities towards women.

The Jews teach, out of the Kabalah that having sexual intercourse on the Shabaut is divine, this is so far from the truth, because this would make one unclean for worship. The Rastafarians teaches that when a female is on her separation she cannot touch anyone or cook for the household. This is not Torah based and can bring hindrance to the household. However, if a man has multiple nasheim (wives) and he chooses to let the wife in her separation be excused from all household responsibilities, this is great, but what if all nasheim are in their separation at the same time!? The wisdom in being around people during this separation, both for men or women, is to be aware, inform, and to always wash your hands. According to wahYekrau 15:11, when a person who is unclean touches another person and their hands were not washed, this person becomes unclean. This means, even if the person is separated, they can interact carefully with others. Some may see this as only relating to the men, but if this applies to a man in sin, wouldn’t it speak true for the female who is simply in her normal cleansing and not in sin!? The awareness of a person’s uncleanness is not the same as the separation of leprosy, they are cast out or ostracized. We can hug, kiss and relate to our wives, husbands and children normally but must be careful around Holy Days and going to worship. Our ways are not the ways of The Almighty and we must be circumspect that we do not add nor take away from HIS ordinances, as they are already in perfection (Yeshaiyahu 55:8-9 & Devaureim 4:2)

In Hindsight, what we must do as Spiritual people, is to allow the ruock of Scriptures to speak for itself and not taint it with our own desires, wants, and needs. If it says one thing, we shouldn’t take it upon ourselves to make it say something different in its entirety. For YEHOWAH giveth Khakmah (wisdom): out of HIS mouth cometh knowledge and understanding (Mishleim 2:6).  So, we must be willing to accept what has been written and allow for our lives to be governed in like-manner. When a woman is experiencing her Menstruation, it is not a time to be mean towards her to act like she has the plague, it is actually a time of cleansing and in some ways a celebration that The Almighty has given her body the natural cycle of monthly cleansing and human body functionality. Remembering that you shouldn’t sit in the same chair as your wife or sister when she is seeing her Menstruation, she should be seen just as important even when she is tau, we remember to cleanse ourselves before sundown.

When we have this understanding of the scriptures it completely eases the entire process and doesn’t create a stressful environment for the community. If someone is well-endowed and they have the means to create a completely separate space for their wives or sisters during Menstruation or for any uncleanness for that matter, that is something which can be done, but it does not mean that it is spiritually ordained by YAH to do so. The scriptures were written in times where our people dwelt in single tents and were lucky to have more than one tent for housing. Most cars have two seats and if one person that is unclean sits upon the chair of the car, then by all means, allow for it to be his/her seat for separation. Not that the seat will remain perpetually unclean. And if it so happens that one mistakenly sits in the unclean chair, cleanse before sundown, and bring in the new day cleanly. In the ancient times there might be spills because of the use of loin cloth, but today it is more maintained with new inventions so accidents are at a minimal.

There are easy ways of ensuring that we keep the Law and all of the requirements therein. We do not have the Levitical Order established so we are unable to make sacrifices, guilt-offerings, or peace-offerings, yet acknowledging the laws and performing them in our modernity can be something that is attainable. Always remember to keep it simple, and to never over-complicate the laws, statutes, and judgements of YEHOWAH. This is what we must strive for as we seek to reach the levels of loyalty and the perfection of The Most High.

Peace, Love, and Blessings!

שלום אהבה וברכות !