Torah Portion: Tazria

“בכל קדש לא תגע”  (ויקרא יב ד)

It is a negative commandment that a contaminated person may not eat sacred food until he or she immerses [in a mikvah] and waits until nightfall after the immersion. Or, if the person is contaminated with the type of impurity that requires atonement, he or she may not eat sacred food until performing the atoning procedure. It is thus written: she may not touch anything sacred (Vayikra 12:4).

Among the roots of this mitzvah is the idea that we wrote above: it is to reinforce in our souls the fear of the Holy Temple and its sanctified portions. Therefore it is not proper that anyone eat of them other than those who are pure, for purity is a noble quality in a person.

This commandment applies when the Holy Temple stands, to both men and women.