Guide
Purity and Group Membership in Early Jewish Texts
2nd Century BCE–3rd Century CE
Restricted
The Rule of the Community from the Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran details a procedure for joining the sect (see “The Rule of the Community”). Outsiders were prohibited from touching the food and drink of the community lest they introduce impurity, and new initiates had to wait for a period before the restrictions were lifted for them. Scholars have noted a similarity between these rules and those for becoming a ḥaver, or “associate,” a member of a group described in tannaitic literature as being particularly meticulous in matters of tithing and purity. A ḥaver was restricted in his dealings with an ‘am ha-’arets, a person suspected of ignorance or laxity in the laws of purity and tithing.
Related Primary Sources
Primary Source
Joining the Qumran Sect
[ . . . ] [A]nyone from Israel who freely volunteers to enrol in the council of the Community, the man appointed at the head of the Many shall test him with regard to his insight and his deeds…
Primary Source
The Mishnah on Becoming a Ḥaver
He who undertakes to be a ḥaver [“comrade,” “fellow,” “member,” “associate”; member of a group which scrupulously observes the laws of Levitical cleanliness] does not sell to an ‘am ha-’arets [common…
Primary Source
The Tosefta on Becoming a Ḥaver
2. [Regarding] one who takes upon himself four things, they accept him as a ḥaver: not to give terumah (the priestly due) and tithes to [a priest who is] an ‘am ha-’arets, not to prepare foodstuffs…