Crimson of the Worm

Sources

14) "and scarlet (tola'ath)": I might think that pikas (a scarlet wood derivative) were permissible; it is, therefore, written "tola'ath" (lit., [scarlet] of a worm). If tola'ath, I might think any color (that came from a worm) were permissible; it is, therefore, written "ushni tola'ath" (and "distinctive" tola'ath). How so? It must be deep red. Yochanan b. Dehavai says: Residue, (this connoted by "shni") of tola'ath is also permitted. 15) And whence is it derived that if he used it for testing purposes (to see if the color would take)…

Sifra, Metzora, Section 1 13-14

Argaman (reddish-purple) is a mixture of colours uniting as one. Tolaat shani (prop. worm of deep scarlet) symbolizes Israel: for as the worm’s power to destroy exists only in its mouth, so does Israel’s power lie in her mouth (i.e. prayer); and shani, being used in the plural (Prov. 31, 21), signifies that two (shne) colours are united to form one. It issues from the supernal Throne which rules over the dark blue from the right side, it is white and red, right and left. It represents Michael, the guardian of Israel (Dan. 10, 21).

Zohar, Terumah 24:233

זהב וכסף ונחשת, “gold, silver, and copper.” The Torah mentions three types of metal and three types of wool (different colours). We do not find that silk was used in the construction of the Tabernacle. The reason is that silk is the product of the body of a שרץ, a worm, and the only materials which were found suitable for forming part of the materials used in the construction of the Tabernacle are those that originate in ritually pure animals (compare Shabbat 28). In this connection it is well to remember that our sages explain in connection with Tachash (Shabbat 28) that the…

Rabbeinu Bahya, Shemot 25:3:1

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