Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Leviticus 11:39 mean?
A: Leviticus 11:39 teaches that if an animal that is normally permitted for consumption (kosher) dies on its own (not properly slaughtered), anyone who touches its carcass becomes ritually impure (tamei) until the evening. This is part of the Torah's laws of purity and impurity (tumah and taharah). Rashi explains that this impurity applies even if the animal was properly slaughtered but then became a 'neveilah' (carcass) due to improper conditions.
Q: Why is touching a dead animal impure in Judaism?
A: In Judaism, death is a source of ritual impurity (tumah) because it represents the opposite of holiness and life, which are central to serving Hashem. The Rambam (Hilchot Tum'at Meit 1:1) explains that these laws help instill reverence for life and separation from death. Touching a dead animal (even a kosher one) makes a person temporarily impure to remind us of this spiritual concept.
Q: How long does the impurity last from touching a dead animal?
A: According to Leviticus 11:39, the impurity lasts until evening ("ad ha'erev"). The Talmud (Chulin 122a) explains that this means the person must wait until nightfall and then immerse in a mikveh (ritual bath) to become pure again. Until then, they should avoid contact with holy items like terumah (priestly food offerings) or entering the Temple area.
Q: Does this law apply to all animals or just kosher ones?
A: This specific verse (Leviticus 11:39) refers only to kosher animals that died without proper slaughter (neveilah). However, the Talmud (Chulin 9a) teaches that touching the carcass of a non-kosher animal also causes impurity, based on other verses. The difference is that with kosher animals, even their limbs or pieces convey impurity when detached from the body.
Q: How do these purity laws apply to Jews today?
A: While the Temple is not standing, these laws still have relevance. The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 349) rules that one should avoid unnecessary contact with animal carcasses due to their impure status. Many are careful to wash their hands after touching meat or dead animals as a remembrance of these laws. The deeper lesson is to value life and maintain spiritual sensitivity.
Overview of the Verse
The verse (Vayikra 11:39) discusses the laws of ritual impurity (tum'ah) resulting from contact with the carcass of a kosher animal that died without proper slaughter (neveilah). The Torah states that one who touches such a carcass becomes ritually impure until evening (ad ha'erev).
Rashi's Commentary
Rashi explains that this verse specifically addresses kosher animals that died naturally or were not slaughtered according to halachah. He emphasizes that the impurity applies only to the carcass of an animal that was permitted for consumption while alive (i.e., a kosher species). Rashi further notes that the impurity lasts until nightfall, at which point the person may immerse in a mikveh to regain purity.
Rambam's Explanation (Hilchot Tum'at Ochalin)
Rambam (Maimonides) elaborates in Mishneh Torah that the impurity of a neveilah applies not only to the person who touches it but also to utensils or clothing that come into contact with it. He clarifies that this law is part of the broader category of tum'at neveilah, which includes both kosher and non-kosher animals, though the severity of impurity may differ.
Midrashic Insights (Torat Kohanim)
The Torat Kohanim (Sifra) connects this verse to the broader theme of holiness and separation. It teaches that avoiding contact with impurity is a means of sanctifying oneself, as the Jewish people are commanded to be holy (kedoshim tihyu). The Midrash also highlights that the temporary nature of the impurity (until evening) symbolizes the possibility of spiritual renewal.
Practical Halachic Implications
Symbolic Meaning (Based on Kabbalistic Sources)
Some Kabbalistic commentaries (e.g., the Zohar) suggest that the impurity of death represents a departure from the divine life force. The requirement to wait until evening symbolizes the cyclical nature of spiritual descent and ascent, as nightfall marks the transition to a new day and renewed purity.