Mitzvah —
199
Not to eat ripened 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 fresh or ripened kernels of new grain before the Omer offering.
This mitzvah prohibits eating karmel—fresh, moist, or ripened kernels of new grain—before the Omer offering is brought on the 16th of Nissan. Along with bread and parched grain, these are all forms of chadash (new grain) forbidden until sanctified through the communal offering in the Temple. Even today, without the Omer service, the prohibition applies, and new grain remains forbidden until after that date. This command fosters reverence for Hashem by delaying enjoyment of the harvest until it has been consecrated.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Ma’achalot Asurot 10:2): States that all three forms—bread, parched grain, and fresh kernels—are equally prohibited until the Omer.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 303): Explains that the root is to train Israel in gratitude, reminding us that sustenance comes from Hashem and must first be sanctified.
- Talmud (Menachot 68b): Distinguishes between the three categories and clarifies that each is included in the prohibition until the Omer.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
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