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{{Short description|State of being ritually "impure" and "pure" in Judaism}}
{{Tumah and taharah|expanded=Miscellaneous}}
{{Dablink|This article is presented as a compilation of the laws of ''ṭumah'' and ''ṭaharah'', as recorded in the Torah and Rabbinic literature. For ''
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Tumah'' and ''taharah''}}
In [[Halakha|Jewish religious law]], '''''
The contrasting Hebrew noun ''ṭaharah'' ({{Script/Hebrew|טָהֳרָה}}) describes a state of [[ritual purity]] that qualifies the ''ṭahor'' ({{Script/Hebrew|טָהוֹר}}; ritually pure person or object) to be used for ''kedushah''. The most common method of achieving ''ṭaharah'' is by the person or object being immersed in a ''[[mikveh]]'' (ritual bath). This concept is connected with [[ritual washing in Judaism]], and both ritually impure and ritually pure states have parallels in [[ritual purification|ritual purification in other world religions]].
The laws of ''
== Etymology ==
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Likewise the Hebrew noun ''ṭahara'' ({{Script/Hebrew|טָהֳרָה}}) is also derived from a verb, in this case ''ṭaher'' ({{Script/Hebrew|טָהֵר}}) "to be ritually pure". and in the transitive piel "to purify". The verb and noun have a corresponding adjective, ''ṭahor'' ({{Script/Hebrew|טָהוֹר}}), "ritually pure". The word is a cognate to the Arabic word '[[Ritual purity in Islam|طهارة]]' ''ṭahāra(h)'' (pronounced almost identically, with the elongation of the second 'a') which has the same meaning in Islam.
Some sources, such as [[Samson Raphael Hirsch]] on Genesis 7:2, claim that the meaning is "entombed", meaning the person or item that is in the ''tame'' state is blocked, and not in a state of receiving holy transmission. ''Ṭahor'', by contrast, is defined as "pure" in the sense that the person or object is in a clear state and can/may potentially serve as a conduit for Divine and Godly manifestation. Although ''
== In the Bible ==
===Usage===
The noun form of ''
The verb form of ''ṭaharah'' ({{Script/Hebrew|טָהֳרָה}}), the verb ''ṭaher'' ({{Script/Hebrew|טָהֵר}}) "be pure", is used first in the Hebrew Bible is in {{bibleverse|Genesis|35:2|HE}}, where Jacob tells his family to "put away strange gods, and be pure".
In general, the term ''
* '''Ritual impurity''' – the opposite of ''taharah'' ("purity"), also known as "impurity of the body".
* '''Moral impurity''' – the opposite of ''[[Holiness in Judaism|kedushah]]'' ("sanctity"), also known as "impurity of the soul"; this category also includes activities which are disgusting or abominable.
In general, ''
===Ritual impurity===
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* A person who touches something that has been made impure by a corpse becomes impure.<ref>{{bibleverse|Leviticus|5:13|HE}}, {{bibleverse|Numbers|19:22|HE}}, {{bibleverse|Haggai|2:13|HE}}</ref>
* A person who touches or carries carrion becomes impure.<ref>{{bibleverse|Leviticus|11:24-40|HE}}</ref>
* A person who touches or shifts the carcass of one of the [[eight sheratzim]].<ref>{{bibleverse|Leviticus|11:29-30|HE}}</ref> A vessel or [[Earthen oven|clay oven]] upon which falls one of these carcasses becomes impure.<ref>{{bibleverse|Leviticus|11:32-33|HE}}</ref>
* A
* A person who has been diagnosed with ''[[Leprosy in Biblical times|tzaraat]]'' is impure.<ref>{{bibleverse|Leviticus|13|HE}}</ref>
* A house which has been diagnosed with ''tzaraat'' is impure, as are its contents.<ref>{{bibleverse|Leviticus|14:36-47|HE}}</ref>
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* One who is impure due to a corpse could not visit the sanctuary without making it spiritually impure, which is a crime punished by ''[[Kareth|karet]]''.<ref>{{bibleverse|Numbers|19:13,20|HE}}</ref>
Just as it is a severe offense to bring impurity into the Israelite sanctuary, "impurity" is also seen as a means of nullifying a worship site of other religions;<ref>{{bibleverse|2 Kings|23:8,10,13|HE}}; {{bibleverse|Isaiah|30:22|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|2 Chronicles|34:5|HE}}</ref> though the rules for this impurity are not made clear.
====
Different forms of impurity requires various rituals in order to regain a "pure" (''tahor'') status. For example:
* Impurity due to seminal emission can be purified by immersing in a [[mikveh|ritual bath]] after the next nightfall.<ref>{{bibleverse|Leviticus|15:16|HE}}</ref>
* Impurity due to tzaraat requires waiting seven days, shaving one's hair, washing one's clothes, immersing one's body, and offering a Temple sacrifice to achieve purification.<ref>{{bibleverse|Leviticus|14:9|HE}}</ref>
* Impurity from touching a corpse requires a special [[Red Heifer]] sacrifice and ritual to achieve purification.<ref>{{bibleverse|Numbers|19|HE}}</ref>
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====In Ezra–Nehemiah====
[[Christine Hayes]] argues that moral impurity is the reason for the gentile expulsion and alienation that occurs in [[Ezra–Nehemiah]].<ref>Hayes, C. (1999). Intermarriage and impurity in ancient Jewish sources. ''Harvard Theological Review'', 92(01), 11.</ref> However, S.M. Olyan argues that
== In rabbinic literature ==
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=== Mandatory or optional ===
The mainstream view among [[rishonim]]<ref>R' Aharon Lichtenstein, [https://www.etzion.org.il/he/%D7%98%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A9%D7%92%D7%99-%D7%99%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%93-%D7%90 Taharot: Basic concepts (1)]. Full text: בשורה התחתונה, הדעה הרווחת בראשונים היא שאין איסור להיטמא, ולא חובה להיטהר, כל עוד לא נמצאים במגע עם עולם של מקדש וקדשיו.</ref> and non-Kabbalistic authorities<ref name="gordon">Martin L. Gordon, [https://web.archive.org/web/20121115191525/http://www.atranet.co.il/gordon/netilat.pdf Netilat yadayim shel shaharit: Ritual of crisis or dedication?] ''Gesher: Yeshiva University Journal of Jewish Studies'', v.8 p.36-72 (1981); see p.39 and footnotes 35-36</ref> is that one is permitted to become ''tamei'' (except on those occasions when one must visit the Temple, or touch holy objects), and thus there is no obligation to attempt to remain ''tahor''.<ref>{{Lang|
[[File:בקתת נידה בכפר אמבובר 1976.jpg|thumbnail|A niddah hut (Mergem Gogo) at the Jewish village of [[Ambober]] in northern Ethiopia, 1976.]]
However, some rabbis have advocated keeping some of the laws of purity even in the absence of the [[temple in Jerusalem]] and even in the diaspora.<ref>Maimonides Chap. 13 of Tractate [[Nega'im]]. [[Meir Leibush ben Yehiel Michal]], to [[Sifra]] on Leviticus 22:3 minor Chap. 66. b</ref>
One category that was commonly kept in Talmudic and pre-Talmudic times is ''ṭumath ochlin v'mashkin'' (consuming food and drink that did not become ''ṭamei'').<ref>[[Sefer ha-Chinuch]] chap. 160</ref> Sages such as [[Gamaliel|Rabban Gamaliel]]<ref>''[[Tosefta]], [[Hagigah]]'' 3:3 - רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל הָיָה אוֹכֵל עַל טַהֲרַת חֻלִּין כָּל יָמָיו</ref> and [[Hiyya the Great]]<ref>[[Jerusalem Talmud]], Shabbat 1:3 page 8b: "רבי חייא רובא מפקד לרב: אין את יכול מיכול כל שתא חולין בטהרה אכול. ואם לאו תהא אכילת שבעה יומין מן שתא."</ref> encouraged eating only pure food at all times. [[Targum Yonathan]] considered this to be implicit in {{Bibleverse|Exodus|22:30|HE}}.<ref>[[Targum Yonathan]] to Exodus 22:30 translated "You shall be holy men to me" as "You shall be holy men, tasting non-Temple food in purity, to me".</ref> One who kept this stringency was called a ''porush'', meaning "separated" (from ''ṭumah'').<ref>{{Lang|
This was also one of the criteria for being a ''[[chaber|haver]]'' (a "friend" or "fellow" with whom the rabbis could eat without risk of violating purity laws),<ref>[[Tosefta]], Damai 2:2 - המקבל עליו ארבעה דברים מקבלין אותו להיות חבר שלא ליתן תרומות ומעשרות לעם הארץ ושלא יעשה טהרות אצל עם הארץ ושיהא אוכל חולין בטהרה.</ref> and according to some, the main criterion.<ref>[https://www.yeshiva.org.il/wiki/index.php?title=%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A4%D7%93%D7%99%D7%94_%D7%AA%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%93%D7%99%D7%AA:%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8 Encyclopedia Talmudit: Haver]</ref>
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The rabbis describe a hierarchy of levels of impurity. In general, each level can result from touch by the level above it. The levels are:
* ''Avi avot hatumah'' (grandfather of impurity) - a human corpse
* [[Av HaTumah]] (father of impurity) - Maimonides enumerates 11 objects which have this status:<ref>Maimonides, commentary to the Mishnah, introduction to Taharot; see also Mishnah ''Kelim'' 1:1-4, Maimonides, {{Lang|
** ''Tameh met'' - a living person who has touched a corpse
** ''Tumat sheretz'' - the dead body of a swarming animal (''sheretz'') listed in {{Bibleverse|Leviticus|11:29-30|HE}}
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* ''Sheni letumah'' (second level of impurity):
** Food or drink which has touched a ''rishon letumah''
** A person's hands are always considered ''sheni letumah'', until he or she has done [[netilat yadayim]].<ref>Maimonides, {{Lang|
* ''Shlishi letumah'' (third level of impurity) - sanctified goods which have touched ''sheni letumah''
* ''Revii letumah'' (fourth level of impurity) - sanctified goods which have touched ''shlishi letumah''
* ''Hamishi letumah'' (fifth level of impurity) - According to Maimonides this status does not exist, and ''revii letumah'' cannot impurify other objects.<ref>{{Lang|
===Impurity of scrolls===
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===In modern times===
{{Main|Niddah}}
Following the destruction of the Second Temple, ritual impurity status ceased to have practical consequences, with the exception of ''[[niddah]]'' and ''[[zav/zavah]]'', and rules forbidding making a [[Kohen]] impure. These rules are still practiced in [[Orthodox Judaism]].
In [[Conservative Judaism]], while the concept of ''niddah'' and a prohibition on sexual relations during the ''niddah'' period (including childbirth) are still agreed upon, recent decisions by the [[Committee on Jewish Law and Standards]] have endorsed multiple views about the concept of ''zavah'', as well as the ''tumah'' status of a ''niddah''. The liberal view held that the concepts of ''ṭumah'' and ''ṭaharah'' are not relevant outside the context of a [[Temple in Jerusalem|Holy Temple]] (as distinct from a [[synagogue]]; hence a ''niddah'' cannot convey ''ṭumah'' today), found the concept of ''zavah'' no longer applicable, and permitted spouses to touch each other in a manner similar to siblings during the ''niddah'' period (while retaining a prohibition on sexual conduct). The traditional view retained the applicability of the concepts of ''tumah'', ''ṭaharah'', and ''zavah'', and retained a prohibition on all contact.
==
{{Portal|Judaism}}
* [[Corpse uncleanness]]
* [[Eight sheratzim]]
* [[Ritual washing in Judaism]]
* [[Ritual purity in Islam|Taharah]] (Islam)
* [[Kegare]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== Further reading ==
* [[Jacob Neusner|Neusner, Jacob]] (1974–1977). ''A History of the Mishnaic Law of Purities''. Leiden: E. J. Brill. Part I–XXII.
==External links==
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