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Talking Talmud

Zevahim 83: The Altar Itself Sanctifies

12.06.2025 | ט״ז בכסלו תשפ״ו

Finishing chapter 8: If the kohen brought the blood of the offering into the Sanctuary unintentionally, the offering remains valid – implying that if he had done so intentionally, it would have invalidated the offering, but it seems to remain acceptable anyway. Plus, the Gemara lines up the various opinions to clarify them. Also, beginning chapter 9, with a new mishnah! On how the altar sanctified that which was fit for the altar – with a baseline of the burnt-offering. With discussion of what remains on the altar once it has been put there – even if it should not have been put there initially. Also, more on when that which has been brought on the altar, and should not have been – were they sanctified from their placement on the altar even though they shouldn’t have been there? With credit to Rabbi Yehoshua for following his own thinking, though it may not have sat well across the board – for example, something that is fit for the altar, but wasn’t offered at that time (certainly, there’s no absolute agreement about such cases). Note also that not everything that is to be consumed by fire has the same status of sacrifices (for example, incense).

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Anne and Yardaena

Anne Gordon is the deputy editor of Ops & Blogs at The Times of Israel. She is a veteran educator, having taught in high school and post-high school institutions in Israel and America for several decades. Yardaena Osband is a pediatrician and teaches in her community and online. They both hail from Boston, proud alumna of Maimonides School, where they first learned Gemara. Talking Talmud is their conversation (via podcast) on the daf yomi. They say: “Learning the daf? We have something for you to think about. Not learning the daf? We have something for you to think about! (Along with a taste of the daf…) Join the conversation with us!”

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