Mitzvah —
259
A chalalah [see Mitzvah 174] must not eat Terumah
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וּבַ֨ת־כֹּהֵ֔ן כִּ֥י תִהְיֶ֖ה לְאִ֣ישׁ זָ֑ר הִ֕וא בִּתְרוּמַ֥ת הַקֳּדָשִׁ֖ים לֹ֥א תֹאכֵֽל׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר
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Leviticus 22:12 - "And if a kohen's daughter is married to a non kohen, she may [no longer] eat of the separated holy things."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Temple – בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ
A chalalah (a woman invalidated from the priesthood) may not eat Terumah.
This mitzvah excludes a chalalah — the daughter of a Kohen who loses her priestly sanctity due to forbidden relations or lineage — from eating Terumah. While a Kohen’s household is entitled to Terumah, her status removes that privilege.
The Torah emphasizes that Terumah is for those who remain in the sanctified priestly lineage. Once desecrated, the holiness that allowed her to partake is lost, reflecting the seriousness of preserving priestly sanctity.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Terumot 6:6): Rules that a chalalah is forbidden from Terumah just as a non-Kohen is.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 514): Explains the mitzvah as protecting the sanctity of the priestly family, so that those unfit do not desecrate holy food.
- Talmud (Yevamot 69a): Defines a chalalah as a woman born from or involved in a forbidden union with a Kohen (such as a Kohen with a divorcee).
- Rashi (Leviticus 22:12): Notes that the Torah explicitly excludes her because she is considered as having “become profaned” and is thus treated as an outsider.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 514) explains that barring a chalalah from Terumah reminds us that sanctity is conferred by Hashem. Faith means accepting that once priestly holiness is lost, privileges cannot be restored by human choice.
Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה
- Rambam (Hilchot Terumot 6:6) rules that a chalalah is excluded like a non-Kohen, showing that holiness is not simply about family ties but must remain intact and pure.
Purity – טָהֳרָה
- Talmud (Yevamot 69a) defines a chalalah as someone disqualified from priestly purity. This exclusion keeps Terumah free from consumption by those whose status is tainted.
Priests – כֹּהֲנִים
- Rashi (Leviticus 22:12) clarifies that even a Kohen’s daughter may lose her priestly status if she becomes a chalalah. This protects the priesthood from desecration.
Family – מִשְׁפָּחָה
- The mitzvah emphasizes that priestly privilege extends only to those families who preserve the covenant of holiness. A Kohen’s daughter who becomes a chalalah no longer shares in that family sanctity.
Justice – צֶדֶק
- By restricting Terumah to those who remain valid in priestly lineage, justice is maintained. Allowing the invalidated to eat would be unjust to those who faithfully uphold priestly sanctity.
Community – קְהִלָּה
- Excluding the chalalah maintains the community’s recognition of boundaries within holiness. It preserves communal respect for the priesthood’s role and responsibilities.
Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם
- This mitzvah is ultimately about reverence for Hashem’s holiness. A woman whose priestly status has been profaned cannot partake of His sacred gifts. The prohibition expresses loyalty to His decrees.
