Halacha Overview
J. Purity - Taharah
"In the tenth book I will include commandments regarding
pure and impure things. And I have called this book
the Book of Purity."
56. The Impurity of a Corpse - Tumas Mes
If a person (or utensil) touches a grave or a corpse
or a severed limb or moves it or comes directly above
or below it or is under the same roof with it he
becomes impure for seven days, as it says "One who touches
the corpse of any human being shall be impure seven days...
if a man dies in a tent anyone who comes into the tent
and everything that is in the tent shall be impure seven
days".1 Utensils (other than earthenware) that touch a
person who has been in contact with a corpse, and persons
who touch such utensils, are impure for seven days, as it
says "[Anyone who touched a corpse...] you shall wash
your clothes on the seventh day and become pure"2; but
a person who touches such a person is only impure for one
day, as it says "[And anything that the impure person touches
becomes impure] and the person who touches [him] becomes
impure until evening".3 Utensils that have been in contact
with a corpse are treated like the corpse itself as regards
touching, as it says "[And anyone who touches on the field]
one killed by the sword or a corpse [or a human bone or a
grave shall be impure seven days]"4 -- the sword is like
the one killed by it. Rabbinically, one who goes out of
the land of Israel also becomes impure.a
Sources: |
| 1. Num. 19:11,14 |
a. 1:1 (and see 2-3),5-7,10; 2:15; 3:1; 5:1-4,6; 11:1 |
| 2. Num. 31:19,24 |
|
| 3. Num. 19:22 |
|
| 4. Num. 19:16 |
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