So I have a piece of cloth that is 4 tefachim x 4 and I'm a quilter and hate to see that much fabric goes to waste. But if I know it's tameh, I have to immerse it before I can sew it with other tahor patches to make a quilt? Or would immersing it even help? Thanks
Patty, Greenbelt Maryland USA
1) The size of 4 x 4 Tefachim is the size that applies to thicker sack material. For standard cloth, the size is 3 x 3 Tefachim (since it is usable at that size as a patch). (A Tefach is between 8 to 10 centimeters, depending on differing opinions.)
2) Yes, if it became Tamei, it must be immersed, and immersing does help. (Immersion in a valid Mikveh helps for all kinds of vessels and garments, with the exception of earthenware and glass vessels.)
(Today, however, the laws of Tum'ah and Taharah of vessels is, for the most part, not applicable, until the Beis ha'Mikdash will be rebuilt.)
Kol Tuv,
Dovid Bloom