Kareth
Encyclopedia
In Judaism
, Kareth (transliterated
from , also as Karet, Kares, and other variant English spellings) is a divine punishment for transgressing Jewish law.
It is the punishment for serious crimes that were not brought to justice by a human court. Its nature is unclear but is commonly understood to mean dying young (before the age of 60), dying without children, or being spiritually "cut off" from your people in the World to Come.
Kareth is only applicable when the transgression was done on purpose
, and without later proper repentance. When done unintentionally, such a transgression generally requires that a sin-offering
be brought.
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, Kareth (transliterated
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
from , also as Karet, Kares, and other variant English spellings) is a divine punishment for transgressing Jewish law.
It is the punishment for serious crimes that were not brought to justice by a human court. Its nature is unclear but is commonly understood to mean dying young (before the age of 60), dying without children, or being spiritually "cut off" from your people in the World to Come.
Kareth is only applicable when the transgression was done on purpose
Bemeizid
The Hebrew adjective מזיד mezid means "deliberate." The adverbial form be-mezid means "deliberately." This Hebrew term is used in Jewish law to indicate that something was done on purpose. This matters in order to determine how culpable someone is for his actions...
, and without later proper repentance. When done unintentionally, such a transgression generally requires that a sin-offering
Sin-offering
A sin offering is a biblical sacrifice offered to achieve atonement for the committing of an unintentional sin.-Etymology:The Hebrew noun hatta'at "sin" comes from the verb hata' "to sin." The first use is in the sentence "sin lies at your door" to Cain in Genesis 4. The noun hata'at can mean...
be brought.
Offences punishable by Kareth
There are a total of 36 offences punishable by kareth. These include:- Failing to be circumcisedBrit milahThe brit milah is a Jewish religious circumcision ceremony performed on 8-day old male infants by a mohel. The brit milah is followed by a celebratory meal .-Biblical references:...
(Genesis 17:14) - Eating leavened foodChametzChametz, also Chometz, and other spellings transliterated from , are leavened foods that are forbidden on the Jewish holiday of Passover. According to Jewish law, Jews may not own, eat or benefit from chametz during Passover...
during PassoverPassoverPassover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt...
(Exodus 12:19) - Eating sacrificial meat while in a state of ritual impurity (tumah) (Leviticus 7:20-21)
- Eating non-kosher fat (Leviticus 7:25)
- Failing to bring animals slaughtered for sacrifice to the tabernacleTabernacleThe Tabernacle , according to the Hebrew Torah/Old Testament, was the portable dwelling place for the divine presence from the time of the Exodus from Egypt through the conquering of the land of Canaan. Built to specifications revealed by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, it accompanied the Israelites...
(Leviticus 17:1-9) - Eating blood (Leviticus 17:10-12)
- Eating blood from an animal killed in huntingHuntingHunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
(Leviticus 17:14) - Having sexual intercourse during menstruation (niddahNiddahNiddah is a Hebrew term describing a woman during menstruation, or a woman who has menstruated and not yet completed the associated requirement of immersion in a mikveh ....
) (Leviticus 18:19, 20:18) - Sexual abomination (Leviticus 18:29)
- Eating sacrificial meat on the third day after the sacrificeKorbanThe term offering as found in the Hebrew Bible in relation to the worship of Ancient Israel is mainly represented by the Hebrew noun korban whether for an animal or other offering...
(Leviticus 19:8) - Sacrificing a child to Moloch (Leviticus 20:2-5)
- Consulting with ghosts or spirits (Leviticus 20:6)
- Incest (Leviticus 20:17)
- A kohenKohenA Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
coming near holy objects in a state of ritual impurity (tumah) (Leviticus 22:3) - Eating on Yom Kippur (Leviticus 23:29)