About This Text
Composed: Talmudic Babylon, c.450 – c.550 CE
Keritot (plural of “Karet,” or the punishment of divinely-issued severance from the Jewish people) is a tractate within Seder Kodashim (“Order of Holy Things”). It mainly discusses prohibitions for which the Torah imposes karet for those who knowingly transgress. It also discusses the sin offering brought when one unintentionally violates these prohibitions (chatat), as well as the provisional guilt offering brought when one is unsure if they violated these prohibitions (asham).