Keritot 2:1-2
משנה כריתות ב:א-ב
Seder: Kodashim | Tractate: Keritot | Chapter: 2
📖 Mishna
Mishna 2:1
משנה ב:א
Hebrew:
אַרְבָּעָה מְחֻסְּרֵי כִפּוּרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה מְבִיאִין עַל הַזָּדוֹן כִּשְׁגָגָה. אֵלּוּ הֵן מְחֻסְּרֵי כִפּוּרִים. הַזָּב, וְהַזָּבָה, וְהַיּוֹלֶדֶת, וְהַמְצֹרָע. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר, גֵּר, מְחֻסַּר כַּפָּרָה עַד שֶׁיִּזָּרֵק עָלָיו הַדָּם. וְנָזִיר, לְיֵינוֹ וְתִגְלַחְתּוֹ וְטֻמְאָתוֹ:
English:
There are four individuals whose halakhic status is defined as: Lacking atonement (kappara), which means they had been in a state of ritual impurity and underwent rituals to purify themselves, but since they have not yet brought the requisite atonement offering to complete the purification process, they may not partake of sacrificial meat. And there are also four individuals who bring an offering for an intentional transgression in the same manner as they do for an unwitting transgression. And these are the four individuals who lack atonement: The man who experiences a gonorrhea-like discharge (zav), the woman who experiences a discharge of uterine blood after her menstrual period (zava), the woman after childbirth, and the leper. Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov says: A convert also lacks atonement, even after he has been circumcised and has immersed in a ritual bath, until the priest sprinkles the blood of his offering on the altar on his behalf. A nazirite also lacks atonement with regard to his permission for drinking wine, and cutting his hair, and his exposure to ritual impurity imparted by a corpse, until his offerings are sacrificed.
Claude on the Mishna:
This mishna introduces two important categories that will be developed in this chapter:
Four Who Lack Atonement (Mechusrei Kippurim):
These individuals have completed their purification process (counting days, immersion) but cannot eat sacred food until they bring their offering:
- Zav - Man with abnormal genital discharge
- Zava - Woman with abnormal uterine bleeding
- Yoledet - Woman after childbirth
- Metzora - Person afflicted with tzara’at (often translated as “leper”)
Their purification is 99% complete - they’re ritually pure enough for most purposes - but they still “lack atonement” (mechusrei kippurim) and cannot eat terumah or sacrificial meat until the offering is brought.
Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov adds two more:
- Convert (Ger) - Until Temple times, a convert’s process included an offering. Until that blood was sprinkled, the conversion wasn’t complete.
- Nazirite - Cannot drink wine, cut hair, or become impure from the dead until completing the nazirite offerings
Key Terms:
- מְחֻסְּרֵי כִפּוּרִים (mechusrei kippurim) = “Lacking atonement” - purification incomplete without offering
- זָב (zav) = Man with gonorrhea-like discharge
- זָבָה (zava) = Woman with abnormal uterine bleeding
- מְצֹרָע (metzora) = Person with tzara’at skin affliction
- גֵּר (ger) = Convert to Judaism
- נָזִיר (nazir) = Nazirite - one who took the nazirite vow
Mishna 2:2
משנה ב:ב
Hebrew:
אֵלּוּ מְבִיאִין עַל הַזָּדוֹן כִּשְׁגָגָה. הַבָּא עַל הַשִּׁפְחָה, וְנָזִיר שֶׁנִּטְמָא, וְעַל שְׁבוּעַת הָעֵדוּת, וְעַל שְׁבוּעַת הַפִּקָּדוֹן:
English:
These individuals bring an offering for an intentional transgression in the same manner as they do for an unwitting transgression: One who engages in relations with an espoused maidservant, who is liable to bring a guilt offering; and a nazirite who became ritually impure, who is required to bring offerings; and one who falsely takes the oath of testimony, asserting that he does not have any testimony to provide; and one who falsely takes the oath on a deposit, asserting that an item belonging to another is not in his possession.
Claude on the Mishna:
This mishna lists four cases where the SAME offering is brought whether the sin was intentional or unintentional. Normally, intentional sins receive karet or court punishment with NO offering atonement, while unintentional sins receive offerings. These four are exceptions:
1. Relations with an espoused maidservant (shifcha charufa): A Canaanite maidservant who is partially freed and betrothed to a Hebrew slave. Relations with her require an asham (guilt offering) regardless of intent. (Leviticus 19:20-22)
2. Nazirite who became impure: If a nazirite becomes contaminated by a corpse - whether intentionally or accidentally - the same offerings are required: a guilt offering plus two birds. The nazirite must also restart the entire nazirite period.
3. Oath of testimony (shevuat ha’edut): Someone who swears falsely that they have no testimony to offer in court. They bring a sliding-scale offering (oleh v’yored) whether they lied intentionally or forgot they had testimony.
4. Oath on a deposit (shevuat hapikadon): Someone who swears falsely that they don’t have someone else’s property. They must return the item plus 1/5 penalty and bring a guilt offering - same for intentional or unintentional false oath.
Why these exceptions? The Torah explicitly prescribes offerings for these sins without distinguishing between intentional and unintentional. The text simply says “if he did X, he brings Y.”
Key Terms:
- עַל הַזָּדוֹן כִּשְׁגָגָה (al hazadon kishgaga) = “For intentional like unintentional” - same offering either way
- שִׁפְחָה חֲרוּפָה (shifcha charufa) = Espoused maidservant - partially freed and betrothed
- שְׁבוּעַת הָעֵדוּת (shevuat ha’edut) = Oath of testimony - denying knowledge of testimony
- שְׁבוּעַת הַפִּקָּדוֹן (shevuat hapikadon) = Oath on a deposit - denying possession of another’s property