Pisqa’ 2471
1
A man with a crushing wound2 or a severed tube3shall not enter the Community of HASHEM” (Dt.23:2).
What is a “crushing wound” (Dt.23:2)?
Any in which the testicles are damaged.
What about only one of them?
I might infer only that
both of them must be crushed.4
How do I know that the rule applies
even if one of them is partially damaged?
The Teaching states:
“Crushed” (Dt.23:2)—
[even if only partially crushed].
“A severed tube” (Dt.23:2)—
any in which the penis is cut off. 5
Said R. Ishmael b. R. Yohanan b. Baroqa:
I heard the following at the Vineyard of Yavneh—
he who has but one testicle is considered a “daylight castrate”6
[whose condition is congenital]. 7
2
What distinguishes a crushing wound
from a severed tube?
Only that a crushing wound may regenerate,
while a severed tube will not:
Thus the tradition of the healers.
“The Community of HASHEM” (Dt.23:2).
R. Judah says:
There are four such communities—
the community of the Priests;
the community of the Levites;
the community of Israel,
and the community of Proselytes.
But sages say:
There are three—
[since the Proselytes are not numbered as a distinct Community].8