Vayikra 5:2 · unit 4 · Toras Kohanim (Sifra DeChovah Ch. 13:1

Complete Passuk

א֣וֹ נֶ֗פֶשׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּגַּע֮ בְּכׇל־דָּבָ֣ר טָמֵא֒ אוֹ֩ בְנִבְלַ֨ת חַיָּ֜ה טְמֵאָ֗ה א֚וֹ בְּנִבְלַת֙ בְּהֵמָ֣ה טְמֵאָ֔ה א֕וֹ בְּנִבְלַ֖ת שֶׁ֣רֶץ טָמֵ֑א וְנֶעְלַ֣ם מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְה֥וּא טָמֵ֖א וְאָשֵֽׁם׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Toras Kohanim (Sifra, Vayikra Dibbura DeChovah, Chapter 13:1–2).

Sefaria — Toras Kohanim (Sifra, Vayikra Dibbura DeChovah, Chapter 13:1–2)

Core Text — Toras Kohanim · Sifra DeChovah Ch. 13:1–2

״אוֹ נֶפֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר תִּגַּע בְּכָל דָּבָר טָמֵא״… תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ׳בְּנִבְלַת חַיָּה… בְּנִבְלַת בְּהֵמָה… בְּנִבְלַת שֶׁרֶץ׳ — מַה אֵלּוּ מְיֻחָדִים שֶׁהֵן אֲבוֹת הַטֻּמְאָה, יָצָא דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין אָב הַטֻּמְאָה.

“Or a person who touches any unclean thing”… Scripture specifies “carcass of a wild animal… of a domestic animal… of a creeping thing” — just as these are unique in being primary sources of tumah, something that is not an av ha-tumah is excluded.

The named categories of neveilah are treated as avot ha-tumah. Contact with a mere toldah or with food/vessels that absorbed tumah does not trigger the oleh ve-yored of this verse.

What Is Learned: Touching something that is merely a toldah of tumah (or food/vessels that absorbed tumah) does not trigger the oleh ve-yored of this verse. Only contact with a primary source of the listed types (neveilah of chayah, beheimah, or sheretz) does.