Derasha 47 on Vayikra 10:06

TT #47 · Parshas Shemini · Aliyah 3 · Passuk 6

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר משֶׁ֣ה אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֡ן וּלְאֶלְעָזָר֩ וּלְאִֽיתָמָ֨ר בָּנָ֜יו רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֥ם אַל־תִּפְרָ֣עוּ וּבִגְדֵיכֶ֤ם לֹֽא־תִפְרֹ֨מוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א תָמֻ֔תוּ וְעַ֥ל כָּל־הָֽעֵדָ֖ה יִקְצֹ֑ף וַֽאֲחֵיכֶם֙ כָּל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יִבְכּוּ֙ אֶת־הַשְּׂרֵפָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר שָׂרַ֥ף יְהֹוָֽה:

Chabad.org — Vayikra Chapter 10 with Rashi

English: “Do not let your hair grow wild and do not tear your garments”: the verse teaches the severity of the mourning requirements; Aaron’s sons were uniquely commanded not to mourn in the ordinary manner.

Source Citation

Moed Katan 24a.

E-Daf.com — Moed Katan 24a (Tsurras Hadaf)

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
רָאשֵׁיכֶם אַל תִּפְרָעוּ. תַּנְיָא, אֲבָל שֶׁלֹּא פֵּרַע וְלֹא פֵּרֵם חַיָּב מִיתָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר רָאשֵׁיכֶם אַל תִּפְרָעוּ וּבִגְדֵיכֶם לֹא תִפְרֹמוּ וְלֹא תָמֻתוּ, הָא אַחֵר שֶׁלֹּא פֵּרַע וְלֹא פֵּרֵם חַיָּב מִיתָה.

Type of Learning

Textual inference — the prohibition directed to Aaron’s sons is read as implying the corresponding obligation for other mourners.

What Is Learned

The verse is used as the basis for the severe rabbinic formulation that an ordinary mourner who neither lets the hair grow nor rends the garment incurs liability.