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From the Omer to Shavuos · Mishnah 20 of 43 · Interactive Edition
Movement II·D · The Omer's Legacy
20 · פְּסָחִים ז:ד · Pesachim 7:4
חֲמִשָּׁה דְבָרִים בָּאִין בְּטֻמְאָה וְאֵינָן נֶאֱכָלִין בְּטֻמְאָה:
הָעֹמֶר, וּשְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם,
וְלֶחֶם הַפָּנִים,
וְזִבְחֵי שַׁלְמֵי צִבּוּר,
וּשְׂעִירֵי רָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים.
הַפֶּסַח שֶׁבָּא בְטֻמְאָה, נֶאֱכָל בְּטֻמְאָה,
שֶׁלֹּא בָא מִתְּחִלָּתוֹ אֶלָּא לַאֲכִילָה.
Five things are brought in tumah but may not be eaten in tumah: the Omer, the two loaves, the Lechem HaPanim, the communal peace offerings [Kisvei Atzeres], and the Rosh Chodesh goats. The Pesach offering brought in tumah — may be eaten in tumah, since it came originally only for eating.
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The five — brought in tumah, not eaten in tumah
Korban
Brought in tumah?
Eaten in tumah?
הָעֹמֶר
✓ Yes
✗ No
שְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם
✓ Yes
✗ No
לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים
✓ Yes
✗ No
זִבְחֵי שַׁלְמֵי צִבּוּר
✓ Yes
✗ No
שְׂעִירֵי רָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים
✓ Yes
✗ No
The Pesach offering — the exception that explains the rule
הַפֶּסַח שֶׁבָּא בְטֻמְאָה — נֶאֱכָל בְּטֻמְאָה
The Pesach offering is unique: if brought in communal tumah, it may also be eaten in tumah. The reason: the Pesach's essence is its eating — the altar service is instrumental to the meal. Since the eating defines the Korban, the tumah that permitted the bringing also permits the eating. The five items above are different: their essence is the service itself (the Omer's waving, the Shtei HaLechem's tenufah) — eating is secondary, and so tumah permission does not extend from bringing to eating.
Position in the Omer to Shavuos arc — 43 mishnayos
Preceding · Mishnah 19
Menachos 6:1
The Omer among the nikmazos — its sacrificial structure is standard
Current · Mishnah 20
Pesachim 7:4 — Brought in Tumah, Not Eaten in Tumah
Movement II·D opens
Movement II·D is the Omer's legacy — what the Omer does to the world after it is brought. This mishnah shows one facet: the Omer belongs to a cluster of five Korbanos that are so essential — so fixed in time — that tumah cannot prevent them. They are brought even in communal impurity. But their permission does not extend to eating in tumah: the bringing is the mitzva; eating is secondary.
Following · Mishnah 21
Menachos 10:5
The Omer is sacrificed — Jerusalem's market fills with new grain