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Can a Kohen who is already impure touch a corpse?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

Library » Jewish Identity » Kohains and Levites » The Holy Tribe | Subscribe | What is RSS?

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Once a person contracts tum‘at met he remains impure until he is sprinkled with the ashes of the Red Heifer—a commodity which is unavailable today, and will remain so until the coming of Moshiach. Nevertheless, a Kohen who is already impure due to contact with a corpse – whether accidental or intentional1   – still may not “re-defile” himself through repeat association with a cadaver. 
Similarly, a Kohen must make a hasty exit if he is notified that there is a corpse in the same building as he is.

Footnotes

  • 1. This can include an instance where the Kohen is actually required to become impure—at the funeral of an immediate relative.

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Moshiach
The Messiah. Moshiach is the person who will usher in an era of peace and tranquility for all of humanity when there will be no jealousy or hate, wars or famine. This is a fundamental Jewish belief.
Red Heifer
A cow that was completely red. This cow was burned together with several ingredients, and its ash, mixed with water, was sprayed upon certain impure people in order to purify them.