Negative Commandment 166 (Digest)
A Priest's Ritual Purity
"He shall not become impure for the dead among his people"—Leviticus 21:1.
A kohen (priest) may not contract ritual impurity through contact with a human corpse. The exception to this rule are his next of kin [—his father, mother, brother, unmarried sister, son and daughter. The Sages added his wife to the list].
This prohibition only applies to male priests.
Unabridged English Text of this Mitzvah »
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> The 166th prohibition is that a regular kohen is forbidden from becoming tameh for any dead person other than the relatives listed in the Torah.;)
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> The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement;) (exalted be He), "He shall not become tameh through the dead of his people."
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> One who transgresses this prohibition and becomes tameh for anyone other than the six;) specified relatives is punished by lashes.
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> This prohibition does not apply to women. The Oral Tradition;) explains the phrase,;) "Sons of Aaron," to mean, "Only the 'sons of Aaron,' not the daughters of Aaron."
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> Footnotes
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> See P37.
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> 2.
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> Lev. 21:1.
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> 3.
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> See Kapach, 5731, footnote 26.
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> 4.
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> Sifra, Parshas Emor.
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> 5.
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> Lev. 21:1.