Tevul Yom and the Red Heifer: Pharisaic and Sadducean Halakah

Research notes: 
reader checked 10/12/2011 AL
Reference type: 
Journal Article
Author(s): 
Birenboim, Hannan
year: 
2009
Full title: 

Tevul Yom and the Red Heifer: Pharisaic and Sadducean Halakah

Translated title: 
Journal / Book Title || Series Title: 
Dead Sea Discoveries
Volume: 
16
Issue / Series Volume: 
2
Number of volumes: 
0
Series Title: 
Abbreviated Series Name: 
Collaborating Author: 
Place of Publication: 
Publisher: 
Pages: 
254-273
Chapter: 
Work type: 
Abstract: 

Both the Qumran scrolls and the rabbinic sources teach of a controversy between the Pharisees, on the one hand, and the Sadducees and the Qumran sect, on the other, concerning the standing of the red heifer: The Sadducees, considering the red heifer as a sacrifice, held that a tevul yom was not permitted to deal with the heifer, whereas the Pharisees, not considering the red heifer as a sacrifice, held that a tevul yom was permitted to deal with it. This controversy derived from the Pharisees' desire to enable the common people to participate as much as possible in divine worship: by not considering the red heifer as a sacrifice, they made it possible for the masses to participate in the preparation of the ashes and even to sprinkle it upon the impure; this was opposed by the Sadducees and the Qumran sectarians.

Notes: 
Language: 
Alternative title: 
DSD
Date: 
Primary Texts: Judean Desert Documents: 
Scroll / Document: 
4Q276
Section type: 
Fragment
Passage: 
1
Scroll / Document: 
4Q277
Section type: 
Fragment
Passage: 
1 ii
Edition: 
Original Publication: 
Reprint edition: 
URL: 
http://brill.publisher.ingentaconnect.com/content/brill/dsd/2009/00000016/00000002/art00004
DOI: 
ISBN: 
Accession number: 
Call num: 
Label: 
27/07/2009
Record number: 
1 018