The first Mishnah in Berachos says...."From when can we read Shema in the evening? From the time that the Kohanim enter to eat their Trumah". Which localtion are the Kohanim entering?
Ben Shaw, Manchester,England
Ben -
(a) The SIFSEI CHACHAMIM and TIFERES YISRAEL explain that "Nichnasin" means the Kohanim enter the city after returning from the Mikvah. The Mikvah was normally outside of city limits.
I find this hard to accept, though. The Kohanim had to be Tovel before sunset, and the word "Nichnasin" in the Mishnah is referring to Tzeis ha'Koachavim. Who says that the Kohanim "entered the city" after their immersion in the Mikvah exactly at Tzeis?
(b) Rather, if the word "Nichnasin" means "enter", it would seem to be referring to the time when Kohanim enter their houses to eat their Terumah meal. Since they have been holding off their main meal all day due to Tum'ah, they would prepare to eat their meal at the first possible moment that they could, i.e. Tzeis ha'Kochavim.
In this context, the word "Nichnasin" is being used exactly as it is used in the Beraisa on Daf 2b with regard to the pauper ("Nichnas Le'echol Pito") or the masses ("Nichnasin Lehasev"), who enter their houses to eat their evening meal.
I should add that the MARGOLIYOS HA'SHAS (Rav Aharon Perlow), Siman #22, points out in the name of "Rav Shmuel Bialystoker" that according to the Gemara in Kesuvos 24b, Terumah is normally eaten "b'Tzin'a" (i.e. in the home). (See also Kidushin 40b, where we are cautioned not to eat bread in public places.)
(c) However, the word "Nichnasim" may not refer to a physical entry at all. Rather, it refers to entering a new state or condition, in this case Taharah. (See also Moed Katan 14a, "Olin" mi'Tum'ah l'Taharah.) In the Beraisa on Daf 2b, the Tana uses the word "Metuharim," or "they become Tahor," instead of Nichnasin.
According to this, the Mishnah used the word "Nichnasin" in order to contrast its opinion with that of the Tana in the Beraisa on Daf 2b, who says one may recite Shema from the time that Kohanim are "Tovlim" to eat their Terumah (i.e. before sunset).
(d) The SEFAS EMES, who also translates Nichnasin in such a manner, adds that the word Nichnasin was used to emphasize that the Kohen is only fit to eat his Terumah, but not actually eating it. Before he eats it, he must recite Keri'as Shema (as the MAHARSHA points out on Daf 2b)!
Best wishes,
Mordecai Kornfeld
Kollel Iyun Hadaf