Appendix A

Abstract

The ritual impurity of Gentile lands and houses is a rabbinic rather than a biblical principle that derives from the impurity generated by Gentile corpses. As such, the ritual impurity of Gentile lands and houses does not constitute evidence of an ancient principle of intrinsic ritual impurity of Gentiles, as asserted by Gedaliah Alon. Numerous sources adduced by Alon in support of his views are examined and discounted as evidence.