More Discussions for this daf
1. The Emission of a Zav 2. Rebbi Shimon's Derashah 3. Zav
4. Sefer Torah in Greek 5. Dinei Metzora 6. Tum'ah of Metzora
7. Mishnah or Beraisa?
DAF DISCUSSIONS - MEGILAH 8

Ezra F. asked:

One of the point-by-points summaries indicated that a zav is one who experiences a seminal emission. I have always been under the impression that they are two different physical manifestations, that a zav is a male who experiences a gonorrheal emission. Can you please clarify?

The Kollel replies:

You are absolutely correct. The emission of Zav and that of Keri are two entirely different things. A Zav is a man who experiences something akin to a gonorrheal emission, as you mentioned. Below is what we wrote in the Daf- Background section to Megilah Daf 8a (the first paragraph, (a), is what is relevant to your question).

Mordecai

(From Daf-Background to Megilah 8a):

6) [line 20] ZAV

(a) A Zav, a man who emits Zov two or three times (see Background to Shabbos

84:1), whether it is emitted in one day or in two or three consecutive days,

is an Av ha'Tum'ah. Zov is a clear discharge with the appearance of the white

of a sterile or spoiled egg, in contrast with semen, which has the

consistency of fresh egg white (Nidah 35b). Zov can also be a pus-like

discharge resembling the liquid from barley dough or soft barley batter.

(b) A man who emits a discharge that may be Zov is "checked " to determine

whether or not he becomes a Zav. If the discharge came about b'Ones (due to

an external cause), he is Tahor. Some examples of Ones are: 1. eating too

much; 2. drinking too much; 3. jumping; 4. being sick; etc. (see Zavim 2:2).

(c) A Zav must count seven "clean" days in which he sees no Zov in order to

start his purification process, as it states in Vayikra 15:13. On the seventh

day or afterwards, he must immerse in a spring during the day . At nightfall

he becomes Tahor, if he did not emit Zov again beforehand (ibid.).

(d) If a Zav emits Zov only two times, he does not bring a Korban. If he

emitted Zov three times, whether it is emitted in one day or in two or three

consecutive days, he has to bring a Korban after he becomes Tahor in order to

enter the Beis ha'Mikdash and to eat Kodshim and Terumah. The Korban is two

Torim (turtledoves) or two Benei Yonah (common doves), one offered as an Olah

and one as a Chatas.