Temurah (Halacha)

In Jewish Law, Temurah (Hebrew: תמורה‎, literally: "exchange") is the prohibition against attempting to switch the sanctity of an animal that has been sanctified for the Temple in Jerusalem with another non-sanctified animal. It explicitly stated in Leviticus 27:33.

According the law, both animals become sanctified, and the person who attempted the transfer is punished with lashes.

It is counted by Maimonides as three of the 613 Mitzvot. The three mitzvot are:

1. Not to substitute another beast for one set apart for sacrifice
2. The new animal, in addition to the substituted one, retains consecration
3. Not to change consecrated animals from one type of offering to another

These lare explained in the Babylonian Talmud in the tractate temurah, in order of Kodshim. Like many tractates in the order of Kodshim, Temurah was not often learned by many Talmud scholars. Its reopening was included in the general Kodshim Renaissance brought about by the Brisk yeshivas.