''Midras'' uncleanness () is one of the forms of tumah and taharah, ritual impurity in Judaism which can be transmitted by either an object or person. The term may be translated as ''pressure uncleanness''. A ''midras'' (lit. "trampled on" object) is an object that can be a carrier of ritual impurity. Common objects that could potentially become unclean, and become a such ''midras'' object, include a chair, Couch, sofa, mattress, and carpet, rug. A person who becomes unclean is categorized as a "Av HaTumah, father of uncleanliness".

Hebrew Bible

The general concept of a ''midras'', an object becoming a carrier for uncleanliness, is brought in the book of Leviticus, though the following verse does not employ the Hebrew term ''midras'';

Becoming unclean

According to Maimonides on Zavim 4:4, the ''midras'' object becomes unclean by a person who is a "Av HaTumah, father of uncleanliness" (such as a man with a Zav, seminal emission or a woman in the middle of niddah, menstruation) putting most of their body weight in one (or more) of five ways on the ''midras''; #''sitting'' on the ''midras'' like a chair #''lying'' on the ''midras'' like a rug #''leaning'' on the ''midras'' #''standing'' on the ''midras'' like a mat #''hanging'' from the ''midras''

Transmitting uncleanliness

Once the ''midras'' becomes unclean, it transmits uncleanliness to clean persons or objects by one of seven ways; #by ''touching'' the ''midras'' #by ''carrying'' the ''midras'' #by ''sitting'' on the ''midras'' #by ''lying'' on the ''midras'' #by ''leaning'' on the ''midras'' #by ''standing'' on the ''midras'' #by ''hanging'' from the ''midras'' The person or object who becomes unclean via the ''midras'' is categorized as a ''Tumah and taharah#Hierarchy of impurity, Rishon L'Tumah.''

Purification

The purification of the ''midras'' object is accomplished by immersing the object in a mikveh, mikveh bath (before sunset), and the subsequent elapse of sunset.

Disqualified objects

Objects that are not subject to becoming unclean as ''midras'' include; #Unformed plates of terracotta, #Any object or vessel of stone, #Fabric or vessels made from fish (or any sea-life) #Objects or vessels affixed to the ground

References

Jewish ritual purity law Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish law {{Judaism-stub