279. Ezra's Decree

Tefillah u’Birkas Kohanim 4:4

All those who are ritually impure must wash only their hands before prayer, just like those who are not ritually impure. Even if they are able to immerse in a mikvah and purify themselves before davening, this is not necessary.

As explained, Ezra decreed that only one who had a seminal emission was not permitted to study Torah before immersing himself. Later authorities decreed that this rule should also apply to prayer. These laws were not instituted out of concern for ritual impurity per se, but rather to prevent Torah scholars from overindulging in marital relations. They therefore instituted immersion in a mikvah for one who has had a seminal emission, rendering him different from other ritually impure people.

Tefillah u’Birkas Kohanim 4:5

When this law was instituted, it was ruled that it apply also to a zav* who had a seminal emission, a menstruating woman who expelled semen after relations, and a woman who saw a little menstrual blood after engaging in marital relations. These people, required immersion in a mikvah before reciting the Shema or davening because of the seminal emission even though they would remain ritually impure for some other reason. This makes sense since this reason for this law was not ritual purity, but to prevent scholars from constantly engaging in marital relations.

This decree of Ezra was ultimately abolished because it was never universally accepted by the Jewish people and most people were unable to adhere to it.

*(A zav is a man who has a particular kind of emission that is not a seminal emission.)