Mitzvah —
198
Not to eat parched grains from new grain before the Omer
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וְלֶ֩חֶם֩ וְקָלִ֨י וְכַרְמֶ֜ל לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְל֗וּ עַד־עֶ֙צֶם֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה עַ֚ד הֲבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם אֶת־קׇרְבַּ֖ן אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם בְּכֹ֖ל מֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר
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Leviticus 23:14 - "You shall not eat bread or [flour made from] parched grain or fresh grain, until this very day, until you bring your God's sacrifice. [This is] an eternal statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Agriculture – חַקְלָאוּת
Forbidden to eat roasted or parched kernels of new grain before the Omer offering.
This mitzvah prohibits eating kali (parched or roasted grain) from the new harvest before the Omer offering is brought on the 16th of Nissan. Together with bread and fresh kernels, these forms of new grain remain forbidden until the Temple service sanctifies them. Even today, without the Temple, the prohibition stands, and new grain may not be eaten until after the day of the Omer. This command reinforces that Israel must first acknowledge Hashem before benefiting from the bounty of the earth.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Ma’achalot Asurot 10:2): Rules that eating parched grain from the new crop is prohibited until the Omer offering.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 303, continuation): The root is gratitude and recognition of Hashem’s role as provider, teaching discipline and sanctity in consumption.
- Talmud (Menachot 68b): Includes parched kernels alongside bread and fresh kernels as subject to the prohibition of chadash.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
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