Question
What is the significance of “uncleanness” in Jewish law?
Answer
Many things make a person “unclean” according to Jewish law — contact with a corpse, for example. An unclean person was not allowed to enter the Temple; but since the destruction of the Temple, uncleanness is of little practical relevance for ordinary Jews. For kohanim, contact with a corpse (other than that of a close relative) is forbidden (Lev.21:1-4).