Main Text
ארגמן [פערפל וואל]
טוב כל שהוא (בשבת צ) בגט דמיני בשמים
ובכלים (פ’ כז) הבגד מטמא חוץ משל ארגמן ושל זהורית
ובנגעים (בפ’ יא) כל הבגדים. חלוק שנראה בו נגע מציל את האמריות שבו אפי’ הן ארגמן:
English Translation
Argaman — “[German: purple wool] purple-dyed wool.”
Even the smallest quantity of argaman is significant [regarding carrying on Shabbos] (Shabbos 90a), in the Gemara’s discussion of spices and aromatic substances.
In Keilim, chapter 27: A discarded piece of cloth loses its susceptibility to tumah, while taking it back makes it susceptible again—except for cloth made of argaman or fine crimson wool. Because these materials are valuable, they remain significant even after being discarded.
In Negaim, chapter 11: “All garments [are susceptible to garment-tzaraas]….” If a tzaraas lesion appears on a tunic, the garment’s decorative borders or hems are spared, even when they are made of argaman.