When the Mishna/Gemara talks about the first 9 gzeros that the chachomim instituted to make someone tamei so that they would pasul termuah, how does a person be metaher himself if one of those things happens? Does he need to go to the mikveh or is it sufficient to wash or tovel his hands? Does it depend on which gzerah applies? For example, if he eats food which is sheni letumah, does he need to go to the mikveh before he touches terumah or just wash his hands? If we are talking about stam yadayim, what does he do to be metaher himself?
Thanks
Avrohom, Australia
1. The Rambam (Hilchos Avos ha'Tum'os 8:8 and onwards) summarises this topic clearly.
2. Concerning Stam Yadayim, he writes (in 8:8) that one requires Netilas Yadayim. This is based on the Gemara here, end of 14b and 15a.
3. In 8:10, the Rambam writes that if someone eats an item that is a Rishon l'Tum'ah or Sheni l'Tum'ah, he must immerse in the Mikvah; it is not sufficient merely for him to wash his hands. However, once he immerses in the Mikvah he becomes Tahor immediately and he need not wait until sundown. This is also stated by Rashi (13b, DH ha'Ochel) in the name of the Aruch -- that since the Tum'os discussed in our Sugya are only d'Rabanan, they do not require Ha'arev Shemesh (i.e., one need not wait until sundown to become Tahor). This is in contrast with what the Torah states (Vayikra 22:7) regarding Tum'os d'Oraisa, that one does not become Tahor until he immerses in the Mikvah and, in addition, then waits until sundown.
Shavua Tov
Dovid Bloom