Daf Yomi,Rabbi Yaakov Klass & Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum

A Mohel Washing For Bread
'It Is Praiseworthy For The Sons Of Aaron That They Walk In Blood Up To Their Ankles'
(Pesachim 65b)

The Gemara relates that on erev Pesach it was customary to plug up the drain in the Azara and the blood of all the paschal sacrifices would accumulate and reach the ankles of the kohanim.

The Gemara explains that (according to the Sages) this was done because it was admirable for the kohanim serving in the Beth Hamikdash to walk in blood, for it signified how beloved the avoda (Temple service) was to them.

Concerns Of Chatzitza

The Mishna (Zevachim 15b) teaches that the kohanim must stand directly on the floor of the Azara while performing the avoda, without any chatzitza (separation) between their feet and the Azara. The Gemara thus questions why the blood did not constitute a chatzitza between the kohanim's feet and the floor of the Azara. The Gemara answers that only dried out and hardened blood constitutes a chatzitza, but not wet blood.

A Matter Of Personal Concern

When a ritually impure person immerses in a mikveh, he may not have foreign matter attached to his body (for this would constitute a chatzitza). The Gemara (Eruvin 4b) notes, however, that if the attached matter is of no concern to the individual (i.e., he does not object), it is not considered a chatzitza.

A Matter Of One's Profession

Rema (Yoreh De'ah 198:17) rules regarding the laws of tevilah in a mikveh that dry blood is not considered a chatzitza for someone whose profession brings him into constant contact with blood, such as a butcher, because he doesn't object to blood on his body. [Note: The Sages, however, instituted that all foreign objects should be removed before tevilah - even something such as blood on a butcher's hand (Rema,supra 198:1).]

A Difficulty

The Shevus Yaakov (Vol 1:69) finds difficulty with Rema's ruling because our Gemara indicates that dry blood on a kohen is considered a chatzitza even though a kohen, just as a butcher, is constantly involved with the slaughter of animals.

Uniqueness Of Kohanim

In answer to this question, the Beth Yitzchak (Yoreh De'ah Vol. II, 171:10) points out that even a Yisrael is permitted to slaughter a korban. Moreover, he cites the Zohar (Parashas Naso p. 124a) stating that in general the kohanim refrained from performing shechita [in order not to soil their bigdei kehuna, the priestly vestments]. Kohanim, therefore, are not in the same category as butchers who are constantly slaughtering animals.

What About a Mohel? Applying The Same Rule

The Halachos Ketanos (siman 20) rules that dry blood on the hands of a mohel is not considered a chatzitza and he permits a mohel to wash his hands for bread (netilas yadayim) even when some dry blood is left on his hand. He argues that just as the Gemara considers it admirable for the kohanim to tread in the blood of sacrifices, it is also admirable for a mohel to have blood on his hands because that illustrates his passion for bris milah. Consequently, the Halachos Ketanos reasons that a mohel does not object to blood on his hands and it therefore does not constitute a chatzitza.

A Retort

The Shevus Yaakov (ad loc. end of siman 69) disagrees with the Halachos Ketanos and points out an inherent flaw in his proof. Our Gemara indicates that although it is admirable for kohanim to walk in blood, it is considered a chatzitza after it dries. This proves, contrary to the Halachos Ketanos, that despite the fact that blood on a mohel is an admirable mark, it is still considered a chatzitza when it dries.

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Daf Yomi , Rabbi Yaakov Klass & Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum