4,006. Sanctifying the Hands and Feet

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 5:1

There is a Torah obligation for a kohein performing the service to sanctify his hands and feet before doing so, as per Exodus 30:19: “Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it (i.e., the basin).” If a kohein serves without first sanctifying his hands and feet in the morning, he is subject to a divine death penalty, as per verse 20: “They shall wash with water so that they not die.” The service of a kohein who didn’t wash is invalid, whether he’s a Kohein Gadol or a regular kohein.

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 5:2

We know that the service of an unwashed kohein is invalid from verse 21: “It shall be an eternal statute for him and his generations.” The kohanic garments are also called “an eternal statute” (Exodus 28:43). Just as the service of a kohein who serves “out of uniform” is invalidated – as was discussed in Hilchos Klei HaMikdash – the same one is true of who didn’t wash his hands and feet.