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Welcome to the second chapter of Chagigah.
Let’s briefly outline the first 4 Mishnayot:
1. The Mishnah picks up on the prior discussion of certain forbidden relationships and cautions about the need to carefully teach about same and other specific topics.
2-4. Before the personal offerings discussed in the first Perek were brought on Yom Tov, the owner would place his hands on the head of the animal and lean down on it, a process known as “semichah” (does that term sound familiar?). Herein lies a discussion as to whether or not semichah is performed on Yom Tov, a dispute which is further debated by Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel (along with whether or not the olas re’iyah may be brought on Yom Tov).
Before we turn to Mishnah 5 and beyond, which discusses Tumah and Taharah (ritual impurity and purity), a brief introduction . . .
In a nutshell, Tumah is a type of “impurity” that attaches itself to people, utensils, and foods, under certain circumstances or as a result of special conditions. There are a variety of sources of Tumah (including, among others, contact with a corpse, tzaras, etc.), and levels of Tumah (the “original” source being referred to as “Av Tumah” and subsequent levels becoming weaker forms). With Tumah comes certain restrictions (e.g., one is forbidden to enter the Temple or eat Terumah) and specific procedures for purification (generally thorough immersion in a Mikveh). As Rambam and others note, the rules of, and reasons for, Tumah/Taharah are far from “intuititive” and not easily comprehended by human logic or experience. (For a deeper discussion, see the Introduction to Chagigah in the ArtScroll Elucidated Mishnah or many other sources.)
The laws of Tumah and Taharah differ for items of five different levels of holiness. These levels (in ascending order of holiness) are: (a) chulin, or ordinary food; (b) masser sheni, the tithe separated from a crop and dated in Jerusalem; (c) terumah, the portion of the crop given to the Kohein; (d) kodesh, sacrificial food; and (e) mei chatas, water mixed with the waters of the pariah adamah (“red heifer”). Not surprisingly, decrees enacted to protect the Taharah of the holiest items are more strict than those required for the less holy ones.
5. The purification of one’s hands from Rabbinic Tumah for each of the above levels.
6. Required immersions in a Mikveh for each of the above levels.
7. Potential impurities from certain items of clothing.
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