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{{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 ''ṭaharoh'' in terms of Kosher animal consumption, see [[Kosher]]. For the ''ṭaharah'' ritual for the deceased, see [[Bereavement in Judaism]]}}
{{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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====Purification====
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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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.
==See also==
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* [[Eight sheratzim]]
* [[Ritual washing in Judaism]]
* [[Ritual purity in Islam|Taharah]] (Islam)
* [[Kegare]]
== References ==
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