Kohanim Not Becoming Tameh: Difference between revisions
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Tumat Kohanim (Hebrew: טומאת כהנים; trans. impurity of priests) refers to the law that a Kohen (Hebrew: כהן; trans. priest) may not become impure by coming in contact with a corpse as the Torah (Hebrew: תורה; trans. Bible) states "לנפש לא יטמא בעמיו" - "A Kohen may not make himself impure by being in contact with a soul".<ref>Vayikra 21:1</ref> | |||
==Relatives== | |||
# A kohen may become impure to seven categories of his relatives that the Torah specifies. These include his | |||
##father, | |||
##mother, | |||
##brother, | |||
##unmarried sister, | |||
##son, | |||
##daughter, and | |||
##wife.<ref>Vayikra 21:2-3, Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 273:3</ref> | |||
# A kohen may only become impure to these relatives before the burial is complete with the closing of the coffin.<ref>Rosh (Hilchot Tumah n. 7) like Rabbi Tarfon, Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 273:6</ref> | |||
# Before and during the burial a kohen may become impure for his relatives, whether his involvement is necessary for the burial or not. Ashkenazim hold that it is proper to be strict to only become impure for the sake and need of the burial or to bring the deceased shrouds and a coffin.<reF>Rosh (Hilchot Tumah n. 7) holds that before the closing of the coffin at the end of the burial the kohen may become tameh whether he is needed or not. Trumat Hadeshen n. 283 notes that this seems to be the opinion of the Rambam Avel 2:8 as well. However, Tosfot Pesachim 9a s.v. bshifchato holds that it is forbidden for a kohen to become tameh unless it is necessary for the burial. See Rabbenu Peretz Pesachim 9a s.v. maaseh who omits this reason of Tosfot. Trumat Hadeshen concludes that it is proper to be strict. This is also the position of the Rama Y.D. 373:5. The Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 373:5 accepts the Rosh.</ref> | |||
==What Kind of Tumah== | ==What Kind of Tumah== | ||
#A male kohen cannot come into contact, carry, or be under the same roof with a human corpse.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 369:1</ref> | #A male kohen cannot come into contact, carry, or be under the same roof with a human corpse.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 369:1</ref> | ||
##Even if a kohen is in a separate room, there is still a problem if the corpse may pass through the room the kohen is in.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 371:4 based on Mishna Ohalos 7:3. Rashi in Beitzah 38a s.v. | ##Even if a kohen is in a separate room, there is still a problem if the corpse may pass through the room the kohen is in.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 371:4 based on Mishna Ohalos 7:3. Rashi in Beitzah 38a s.v. deoritta says this is a halacha l'Moshe MiSinai. However, in Beitzah 10a s.v. kulam says it is a rabbinic decree and this is how the Shach Y.D. 371:8</ref> | ||
###One can plan to take the corpse out one exit and then only that exit is tamay and the kohen can be by any other exit.<ref>Aruch HaShulchan Y.D. 371:22 quoting from Mishna Ohalos 7:3</ref> | ###One can plan to take the corpse out one exit and then only that exit is tamay and the kohen can be by any other exit.<ref>Aruch HaShulchan Y.D. 371:22 quoting from Mishna Ohalos 7:3</ref> | ||
##A kohen may not come into contact with the amputated limb of a person [including even if it was amputated from his own body].<ref>Pitchei Teshuvah Y.D. 369:2 quoting from Noda Beyehuda Tinyana Y.D. 209</ref> | ##A kohen may not come into contact with the amputated limb of a person [including even if it was amputated from his own body].<ref>Pitchei Teshuvah Y.D. 369:2 quoting from Noda Beyehuda Tinyana Y.D. 209</ref> | ||
