The Torah in Parashat Tazria (13) establishes the procedures that must be followed in the case of “Sara’at Ha’beged” – a form of Sara’at (“leprosy”) that affects garments and other cloth materials. The Sefer Ha’hinuch counts following these procedures as the 172 nd of the Torah’s 613 Biblical commands. Explaining the reason behind this command, the Sefer Ha’hinuch writes that G-d sometimes brings punishment upon a person the way a parent occasionally must punish a child. The punishment is done not out of vengeance or a desire to inflict harm, but rather out of love, so that the child will learn how to behave properly. In His infinite kindness, the Sefer Ha’hinuch explains, G-d would bring Sara’at infections upon a person’s garment in order that he will recognize this supernatural phenomenon, repent, and thus avoid more severe punishment. The sudden discoloration of garments is clearly miraculous, and does not occur naturally. The garment’s owner will thus understand that G-d is warning him to repent, before He brings upon him the more grievous form of Sara’at – that which afflicts a person’s body. G-d lovingly would cause this to occur as a “wakeup call,” to inspire the individual to repent. Materials are determined to have this form of Sara’at only if they are made from either wool or linen; garments from other materials are not subject to the laws of Sara’at Ha’beged. The garment is considered stricken with Sara’at only if the discoloration is at least the size of a “Geris” (a type of small bean). If the discoloration is “Yerakrak” – a sharp green – or “Adamdam” – a sharp red – then the garment is confirmed stricken with Sara’at, and must be burned. If the garment’s status could not initially be confirmed, and a follow-up inspection was required after a waiting period, then the garment is confirmed to have Sara’at if the discoloration spread in the interim. These Halachot apply not only to garments, but to all cloth materials that are susceptible to Tum’at Met (the impurity resulting from contact with a human corpse) and Tum’at Sheretz (the impurity resulting from contact with one of the eight impure rodents). These include curtains and cloth coverings of Sifreh Torah that are made from wool or linen. All such materials are subject to the laws of Sara’at Ha’beged. These Halachot apply to the garments of both men and women, and in times when there were Kohanim proficient in the laws of Sara’at and thus capable of determining the status of suspected Sara’at infections. One who has a garment on which signs of Sara’at have appeared but neglects to follow the Torah’s guidelines has transgressed this affirmative command.