Mitzvah —
258
An impure Kohen must not eat Terumah
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אִ֣ישׁ אִ֞ישׁ מִזֶּ֣רַע אַהֲרֹ֗ן וְה֤וּא צָר֙וּעַ֙ א֣וֹ זָ֔ב בַּקֳּדָשִׁים֙ לֹ֣א יֹאכַ֔ל עַ֖ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִטְהָ֑ר וְהַנֹּגֵ֙עַ֙ בְּכׇל־טְמֵא־נֶ֔פֶשׁ א֣וֹ אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־תֵּצֵ֥א מִמֶּ֖נּוּ שִׁכְבַת־זָֽרַע׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר
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Leviticus 22:4 - "Any man whatsoever among Aaron's offspring if he has tzara'ath or has had a discharge, he shall not eat of the holy sacrifices, until he cleanses himself. And one who touches anyone who has become unclean [by contact with a dead] person, or a man from whom semen issued,"
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Temple – בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ
A Kohen in a state of ritual impurity (tumah) may not eat Terumah.
This mitzvah prohibits a Kohen who has become impure — whether through contact with certain people, objects, or conditions (such as tzara’at, zav, or contact with the dead) — from partaking of Terumah. Only when he immerses in a mikveh and awaits sunset does he regain permission to eat.
The restriction highlights the holiness of Terumah, ensuring it is consumed only in purity and by those fit to do so. It also reminds Kohanim of their heightened responsibility to preserve spiritual cleanliness in their service to Hashem.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Terumot 7:5): Rules that an impure Kohen is forbidden to eat Terumah until he immerses and the sun sets.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 513): Explains that eating Terumah in impurity is a desecration of its sanctity. The mitzvah trains Kohanim to constantly guard holiness.
- Talmud (Yevamot 74a): Derives that impurity excludes a Kohen from Terumah until purification is complete.
- Rashi (Leviticus 22:4): Clarifies that this applies to all forms of tumah that render a Kohen unfit, not just major impurity.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 513) teaches that restricting a Kohen from eating Terumah in impurity demonstrates trust in Hashem’s system of sanctity. Even if the food looks physically unchanged, faith requires us to respect spiritual realities.
Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה
- Rambam (Hilchot Terumot 7:5) rules that Terumah must only be eaten in purity, emphasizing that holiness is guarded through strict observance. This reflects the Torah’s insistence that sanctity be treated with reverence.
Purity – טָהֳרָה
- Talmud (Yevamot 74a) derives that impurity (tumah) disqualifies a Kohen from eating holy foods until he immerses and waits for sunset (herav shemesh). This highlights the centrality of purity in accessing holiness.
Priests – כֹּהֲנִים
- Rashi (Leviticus 22:4) clarifies that all Kohanim are subject to this restriction, no matter their rank. This preserves the elevated status of priesthood as conditional on purity.
Mikveh – מִקְוֶה
- The Kohen must immerse in a mikveh to begin purification. This links ritual immersion with restoring access to holiness, showing the transformative role of mikveh in Jewish law.
Justice – צֶדֶק
- By requiring Kohanim to eat Terumah only when pure, the Torah ensures fairness toward Hashem’s sanctified gifts. To consume them in impurity would desecrate what was set apart for holy use.
Community – קְהִלָּה
- The mitzvah maintains community respect for the Kohanim’s service. If they ate Terumah while impure, it would undermine their spiritual role and the people’s trust in them as guardians of holiness.
Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת
- Since Terumah derives from produce, this mitzvah ensures agricultural gifts retain their sanctity until consumed in purity, elevating farming into an act of holiness.
Terumah / Ma’aser – תְּרוּמָה / מַעֲשֵׂר
- Rambam emphasizes that Terumah carries holiness equal to consecrated items. The mitzvah protects its sanctity by forbidding impure consumption, reinforcing the framework of agricultural separations.
Eretz Yisrael – אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל
- Like all Terumah laws, this prohibition is biblically binding in the Land of Israel (Kiddushin 38b–39a). It reflects the holiness of the land and its produce.
Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם
- This mitzvah is directly about honoring Hashem’s command. It is not interpersonal but about safeguarding His sanctity and showing reverence for His gifts.
