Tum'ah
Encyclopedia
The Hebrew terms tumah and taharah refer to ritual "uncleanliness and cleanliness" under Jewish law.
The Hebrew noun tum'ah (טָמְאָה) "uncleanliness" describes a state of ritual impurity. A person or object which contracts tumah is said to be tamei (Hebrew adjective
, "ritually impure"), thereby unsuited for certain kedusha (Holy activities) or use until undergoing predefined purification actions that usually include the elapse of a specified time-period.
The contrasting Hebrew noun taharah (טָהֳרָה) describes a state of ritual purity that qualifies the tahor (טָהוֹר) "ritually clean" person or object to be used for kedusha "holy purposes." A most common method of achieving taharah (purity) 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 unclean" and "ritually clean" states have parallels in ritual purification in other world religions
.
The laws of tumah and taharah were generally followed by the Jewish people particularly during the First and Second Temple Period
, and to a limited extent are a part of applicable halakha
in modern times.
form of the verb "to become unclean" ; in the niphal
to "defile oneself"; and in the transitive Piel to defile something or pronounce something unclean. The verb stem has a corresponding adjective, tame (טָמֵא), "unclean."
Likewise the Hebrew noun tahara (טָהֳרָה) is also derived from a verb, in this case taher (טָהֵר) "to be ritually clean." and in the transitive piel "to cleanse," "to purify." The verb and noun have a corresponding adjective, tahor (טָהוֹר), "ritually clean." The word is a cognate to the Arabic word 'طهارة
' which has the same meaning in Islam.
Some sources claim that the meaning is "entombed," meaning the person or item that is in the tamei state is blocked and not in a state of receiving Holy transmission. Tahor, 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 tumah and taharah is sometimes translated as unclean and clean, it is more a spiritual
state than a physical one. Once initiated (for the physical signs that initiate tzaraath
, zav and niddah
, see below) it is generally immeasurable and unquantifiable by known mechanic detection methods, there is no measure of filth, unsanitary, or odorous affiliation with the state of tumah, nor any mechanically measurable level of cleanliness, clarity, or physical purity for the state of taharah.
of the Hebrew Bible is generally translated as "uncleanness" in English language Bibles such as the KJV, and JPS Tanakh. The majority of uses are in Leviticus. Though uses for national uncleanness occur in Ezra and Ezekiel, and Zechariah prophesies the removal of the "prophets and spirit of uncleanness (רוּחַ הַטֻּמְאָה)" from the Land. The adjective tame (טָמֵא) "unclean," is much more common.
as per God's directive to Moses
to instruct the children of Israel not to conduct marital relations for a period of three days prior to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai
;
Post the giving of the Torah, during the second year of the Israelite exodus
from Egypt, more specified mitzvoth involving tumah and taharah where given to the Israelites;
The brunt of tumah and taharah law as recorded in the Torah is centralized in the book of Leviticus
, a book which deals primarily with the Temple service carried out by the Kohen
.
Maimonides
clarifies that it is the priests, in addition to all of Israel, who are expected to be knowledgeable and fluent in the general and specifics of tumah and taharah law. Per his role of Temple service and year round consumtion of terumah
, is required to be in a tahor (pure) state (Maimonides, end of introduction to Mishnayoth Seder Taharoth) Hezekiah ben Manoah
rationalizes the Latin name Leviticus
given to this book as a demonstration of its contents pertaining primarily to the Kohen who is part of the Tribe of Levi.
(plural "ritual cleanlinesses") and consists of twelve tractates.
, and thus mandatory.
However, based on the verse "And ye shall be holy men unto me" (Exodus 22:31), chazal
ic writers during the Second Temple period
, such as Gamaliel
, the Jerusalem Talmud
to Shabbat 8b; Hiyya the Great
to Abba Arika
, have encouraged the act of keeping the nuances of tumah and taharah all year round (Targum Yonathan to Exodus 22:30 et al.) An Israelite who volunteered to keep the laws and details of tumah and taharah all year round was called a porush; meaning "separated", i.e. separates himself from tumah.
and even in the diaspora. The advocated sub-divisions of tumah and taharah include tumath ochlin v'mashkin (consuming food and drink that did not become tamei) and abstaining from the midras
of a niddah
.
Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, in his Igrot Kodesh
, discouraged abstaining from any object made unclean by a menstruating woman in modern times, with the exception for unique individuals
, special sacrifices and ceremonies were performed for purification from various types of uncleanliness, including the Red Heifer
ceremony for contact with the dead, and special ceremonies for tzaraath and childbirth. Today, in the absence of the Temple, the only ritual purification method available involves washing or immersion in a mikveh. Orthodox Jews
and to a lesser extent, Conservative Jews
still perform such purification rituals as are possible. Typically, a person or an object ceases to be unclean by waiting a certain length and then immersion in a mikveh.
The Hebrew noun tum'ah (טָמְאָה) "uncleanliness" describes a state of ritual impurity. A person or object which contracts tumah is said to be tamei (Hebrew adjective
Adjective
In grammar, an adjective is a 'describing' word; the main syntactic role of which is to qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified....
, "ritually impure"), thereby unsuited for certain kedusha (Holy activities) or use until undergoing predefined purification actions that usually include the elapse of a specified time-period.
The contrasting Hebrew noun taharah (טָהֳרָה) describes a state of ritual purity that qualifies the tahor (טָהוֹר) "ritually clean" person or object to be used for kedusha "holy purposes." A most common method of achieving taharah (purity) 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 unclean" and "ritually clean" states have parallels in ritual purification in other world religions
Ritual purification
Ritual purification is a feature of many religions. The aim of these rituals is to remove specifically defined uncleanliness prior to a particular type of activity, and especially prior to the worship of a deity...
.
The laws of tumah and taharah were generally followed by the Jewish people particularly during the First and Second Temple Period
Second Temple period
The Second Temple period , in Jewish history, is the period between 530 BCE and 70 CE, when the Second Temple of Jerusalem existed. It ended with the First Jewish–Roman War and the Temple's destruction....
, and to a limited extent are a part of applicable halakha
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
in modern times.
Etymology
The Hebrew noun tum'ah (טָמְאָה) derives from the verb tam'a (טָמֵא), in the qalQal (linguistics)
In Hebrew grammar, the qal is the simple paradigm of the verb.The Classical Hebrew verb conjugates according to person and number in two finite tenses, the perfect and the imperfect. Both of these can then be modified by means of prefixes and suffixes to create other "actions" of the verb...
form of the verb "to become unclean" ; in the niphal
Niphal
Niphal is the name given to one of the seven major verb stems in biblical Hebrew. The designation Niphal comes from the form niph‘al for the verb pa‘al, “to do”. The nun prefix is characteristic of the QTL conjugation, as well as of the participle...
to "defile oneself"; and in the transitive Piel to defile something or pronounce something unclean. The verb stem has a corresponding adjective, tame (טָמֵא), "unclean."
Likewise the Hebrew noun tahara (טָהֳרָה) is also derived from a verb, in this case taher (טָהֵר) "to be ritually clean." and in the transitive piel "to cleanse," "to purify." The verb and noun have a corresponding adjective, tahor (טָהוֹר), "ritually clean." The word is a cognate to the Arabic word 'طهارة
Tahara
Tahara may refer to:* The Japanese city of Tahara, Aichi.* A Japanese surname.** Mutsuo Tahara, a Supreme Court of Japan justiceIn Judaism:* Ritual purification. See Tumah and taharah, Mikvah and Niddah.* Preparation for burial...
' which has the same meaning in Islam.
Some sources claim that the meaning is "entombed," meaning the person or item that is in the tamei state is blocked and not in a state of receiving Holy transmission. Tahor, 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 tumah and taharah is sometimes translated as unclean and clean, it is more a spiritual
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
state than a physical one. Once initiated (for the physical signs that initiate tzaraath
Tzaraath
The Hebrew noun tzaraath describes a disfigurative condition mainly referred to in chapters 13-14 of Leviticus, as well as conditions equivalent to be "mildew" on clothes and houses.Tzaraath affects both animate...
, zav and niddah
Niddah
Niddah is a Hebrew term describing a woman during menstruation, or a woman who has menstruated and not yet completed the associated requirement of immersion in a mikveh ....
, see below) it is generally immeasurable and unquantifiable by known mechanic detection methods, there is no measure of filth, unsanitary, or odorous affiliation with the state of tumah, nor any mechanically measurable level of cleanliness, clarity, or physical purity for the state of taharah.
Tumah
The noun form of tumah is used around 40 times in the Masoretic TextMasoretic Text
The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible and is regarded as Judaism's official version of the Tanakh. While the Masoretic Text defines the books of the Jewish canon, it also defines the precise letter-text of these biblical books, with their vocalization and...
of the Hebrew Bible is generally translated as "uncleanness" in English language Bibles such as the KJV, and JPS Tanakh. The majority of uses are in Leviticus. Though uses for national uncleanness occur in Ezra and Ezekiel, and Zechariah prophesies the removal of the "prophets and spirit of uncleanness (רוּחַ הַטֻּמְאָה)" from the Land. The adjective tame (טָמֵא) "unclean," is much more common.
Taharah
The verb form of taharah (טָהֳרָה), the verb taher (טָהֵר) "be clean," is used first in the Hebrew Bible is in Genesis 35:2, where Jacob tells his family to "put away strange gods, and be clean."Types of tumah
A person or object can become tame (טָמֵא) "ritually impure," in a number of ways:- By contact with a "dead body"—tumat met—which, in addition to the body itself, includes significant parts of a body, soil in which the body decomposed, and others.
- By being present in a building or roofed structure containing a dead body (tumat ohel).
- By coming in contact with certain dead animals, including most insects and all lizards (enumerated in LeviticusLeviticusThe Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, and the third of five books of the Torah ....
, Chapter 11, verses 29–32). - By contact with certain bodily fluids—niddah, zav/zavahZav/ZavahIn Torah terminology, the Hebrew word zav is a state of ritual impurity arising from abnormal seminal discharge from the male sexual organ...
- This view is held by Orthodox JudaismOrthodox JudaismOrthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
and remains a traditional view within Conservative JudaismConservative JudaismConservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
. Although Conservative JudaismConservative JudaismConservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
retains the concept of niddah and a prohibition on sexual relations during the niddah period (including childbirth), recent decisions by the Committee on Jewish Law and StandardsCommittee on Jewish Law and StandardsThe Committee on Jewish Law and Standards is the central authority on halakha within Conservative Judaism; it is one of the most active and widely known committees on the Conservative movement's Rabbinical Assembly. Within the movement it is known as the CJLS...
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 tumah and taharah are not relevant outside the context of a Holy TempleTemple in JerusalemThe Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to one of a series of structures which were historically located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the current site of the Dome of the Rock. Historically, these successive temples stood at this location and functioned as the centre of...
(as distinct from a synagogueSynagogueA synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
; hence a niddah cannot convey tumah 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, taharah, and zavah, and retained a prohibition on all contact. See NiddahNiddahNiddah is a Hebrew term describing a woman during menstruation, or a woman who has menstruated and not yet completed the associated requirement of immersion in a mikveh ....
. (See LeviticusLeviticusThe Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, and the third of five books of the Torah ....
Chapter 15) - By giving birth to a child (the time of tumah is 7 days for a boy, followed by 33 days of taharah and 14 days for a girl followed by 66 days of taharah).
- By contact with a primary source of tumah or an object that has been in contact with a primary source of tumah.
- By contracting tzaraathTzaraathThe Hebrew noun tzaraath describes a disfigurative condition mainly referred to in chapters 13-14 of Leviticus, as well as conditions equivalent to be "mildew" on clothes and houses.Tzaraath affects both animate...
—see LeviticusLeviticusThe Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, and the third of five books of the Torah ....
chapters 13–14.
Hebrew Bible
The concept of taharah (in terms of ritual purity (for taharah in terms of Kosher animal consumption, see Kosher) is first quoted by the TorahTorah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
as per God's directive to Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
to instruct the children of Israel not to conduct marital relations for a period of three days prior to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai , also known as Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gabal Musa , Jabal Musa meaning "Moses' Mountain", is a mountain near Saint Catherine in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. A mountain called Mount Sinai is mentioned many times in the Book of Exodus in the Torah and the Bible as well as the Quran...
;
Post the giving of the Torah, during the second year of the Israelite exodus
The Exodus
The Exodus is the story of the departure of the Israelites from ancient Egypt described in the Hebrew Bible.Narrowly defined, the term refers only to the departure from Egypt described in the Book of Exodus; more widely, it takes in the subsequent law-givings and wanderings in the wilderness...
from Egypt, more specified mitzvoth involving tumah and taharah where given to the Israelites;
The brunt of tumah and taharah law as recorded in the Torah is centralized in the book of Leviticus
Leviticus
The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, and the third of five books of the Torah ....
, a book which deals primarily with the Temple service carried out by the Kohen
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
.
Maimonides
Maimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...
clarifies that it is the priests, in addition to all of Israel, who are expected to be knowledgeable and fluent in the general and specifics of tumah and taharah law. Per his role of Temple service and year round consumtion of terumah
Terumah
Terumah is a Hebrew word, originally meaning lifted apart, but meaning donation in modern Hebrew. It can refer to:*Heave offerings - a type of sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible...
, is required to be in a tahor (pure) state (Maimonides, end of introduction to Mishnayoth Seder Taharoth) Hezekiah ben Manoah
Hezekiah ben Manoah
Hezekiah ben Manoah was a French rabbi and exegete.In memory of his father, who lost his right hand through his stead-fastness in the faith, Hezekiah wrote a commentary on the Pentateuch, under the title Ḥazzeḳuni. It was printed at Venice in 1524...
rationalizes the Latin name Leviticus
Leviticus
The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, and the third of five books of the Torah ....
given to this book as a demonstration of its contents pertaining primarily to the Kohen who is part of the Tribe of Levi.
Mishna
The Mishnah dedicates one of its six sub-divisions to the Torah laws of tumah, uncleanliness, and taharah, cleanliness. This division is called TohorotTohorot
Tohorot is the sixth order of the Mishnah . This order deals with the clean/unclean distinction and family purity. This is the longest of the orders in the Mishnah. There are 12 tractates:...
(plural "ritual cleanlinesses") and consists of twelve tractates.
Mandatory or optional
Common Torah knowledge stipulates that there is no letter-of-law requirement for the Israelite to abstain from becoming tamei (impure) save for the three annual holiday periods, where visiting the Temple in a tahor (pure) state is a mitzvahMitzvah
The primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
, and thus mandatory.
However, based on the verse "And ye shall be holy men unto me" (Exodus 22:31), chazal
Chazal
Chazal or Ḥazal is an acronym for the Hebrew "Ḥakhameinu Zikhronam Liv'rakha",...
ic writers during the Second Temple period
Second Temple period
The Second Temple period , in Jewish history, is the period between 530 BCE and 70 CE, when the Second Temple of Jerusalem existed. It ended with the First Jewish–Roman War and the Temple's destruction....
, such as Gamaliel
Gamaliel
Gamaliel the Elder , or Rabban Gamaliel I , was a leading authority in the Sanhedrin in the mid 1st century CE. He was the grandson of the great Jewish teacher Hillel the Elder, and died twenty years before the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem...
, the Jerusalem Talmud
Jerusalem Talmud
The Jerusalem Talmud, talmud meaning "instruction", "learning", , is a collection of Rabbinic notes on the 2nd-century Mishnah which was compiled in the Land of Israel during the 4th-5th century. The voluminous text is also known as the Palestinian Talmud or Talmud de-Eretz Yisrael...
to Shabbat 8b; Hiyya the Great
Hiyya the Great
Rabbi Hiyya or Hiyya the Great was a Jewish sage of the Land of Israel during the transitional generation between the Tannaic and Amoraic Jewish sages eras . He is accounted as one of the notable sages of these times, and was the son of Abba Karsala from Kafri in Babylon....
to Abba Arika
Abba Arika
Abba Arika was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the 3rd century who established at Sura the systematic study of the rabbinic traditions, which, using the Mishnah as text, led to the compilation of the Talmud...
, have encouraged the act of keeping the nuances of tumah and taharah all year round (Targum Yonathan to Exodus 22:30 et al.) An Israelite who volunteered to keep the laws and details of tumah and taharah all year round was called a porush; meaning "separated", i.e. separates himself from tumah.
In the Diaspora
Some Torah commentators and poskim advocate the keeping of prespecified nuances of tumah and taharah even in the absence of the temple in JerusalemTemple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to one of a series of structures which were historically located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the current site of the Dome of the Rock. Historically, these successive temples stood at this location and functioned as the centre of...
and even in the diaspora. The advocated sub-divisions of tumah and taharah include tumath ochlin v'mashkin (consuming food and drink that did not become tamei) and abstaining from the midras
Midras
The term midras uncleanness or pressure uncleanness is used for uncleanness transmitted by either an object or person in Judaism....
of a niddah
Niddah
Niddah is a Hebrew term describing a woman during menstruation, or a woman who has menstruated and not yet completed the associated requirement of immersion in a mikveh ....
.
Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, in his Igrot Kodesh
Igrot Kodesh
Igrot Kodesh is a collection of correspondence and responses of the seventh Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, Menachem Mendel Schneerson....
, discouraged abstaining from any object made unclean by a menstruating woman in modern times, with the exception for unique individuals
Purification
In the days of the Temple in JerusalemTemple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to one of a series of structures which were historically located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the current site of the Dome of the Rock. Historically, these successive temples stood at this location and functioned as the centre of...
, special sacrifices and ceremonies were performed for purification from various types of uncleanliness, including the Red Heifer
Red heifer
The red heifer or red cow was a sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible the ashes of which are used for the ritual purification of an ancient Israelite who had come into contact with a corpse.- Hebrew Bible :...
ceremony for contact with the dead, and special ceremonies for tzaraath and childbirth. Today, in the absence of the Temple, the only ritual purification method available involves washing or immersion in a mikveh. Orthodox Jews
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
and to a lesser extent, Conservative Jews
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
still perform such purification rituals as are possible. Typically, a person or an object ceases to be unclean by waiting a certain length and then immersion in a mikveh.
Causes of uncleanliness
It is possible for a person to become unclean through the mitzvah (holy deed) of tending to a dead person, the deceased being a source of uncleanliness.See also
- Ritual washing in Judaism
- Taharah (Islam); an Arabic word denoting the same concept in Islam