Masechet Zevachim
Masechet Zevachim is sponsored by Esther Kremer in loving memory of her father, Manny Gross on his third yahrzeit. “He exemplified a path of holiness and purity, living with kedushah in his everyday life.”
This week’s learning is dedicated by Robert and Paula Cohen in loving memory of Robert’s brother (my uncle), Richard Cohen on his first yahrzeit. “A true Baal Chesed who helped anyone in need without seeking recognition, he was a friend to everyone, young or old, and always put others’ needs before his own. He is truly missed by so many.”
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Summary
Four difficulties are raised against Rava’s explanation of Rabbi Shimon—that he permits sanctified items to be potentially disqualified only after the fact, but not ab initio. Most of these challenges are resolved, though not all.
In the fourth difficulty, the case of the leper’s guilt offering is discussed. The Gemara then seeks to clarify how the log of oil is brought in the case of a leper when sacrifices have become intermingled.
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Masechet Zevachim
Masechet Zevachim is sponsored by Esther Kremer in loving memory of her father, Manny Gross on his third yahrzeit. “He exemplified a path of holiness and purity, living with kedushah in his everyday life.”
This week’s learning is dedicated by Robert and Paula Cohen in loving memory of Robert’s brother (my uncle), Richard Cohen on his first yahrzeit. “A true Baal Chesed who helped anyone in need without seeking recognition, he was a friend to everyone, young or old, and always put others’ needs before his own. He is truly missed by so many.”
Zevachim 76
וְכוּלָּן רַשָּׁאִין כֹּהֲנִים לְשַׁנּוֹת בַּאֲכִילָתָן – לְאָכְלָן צְלוּיִין שְׁלוּקִין וּמְבוּשָּׁלִין, וְלָתֵת לְתוֹכָן תַּבְלֵי חוּלִּין וְתַבְלֵי תְרוּמָה. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַנַּח לִתְרוּמַת תַּבְלִין – דְּרַבָּנַן.
And with regard to all of the offerings that are eaten, the priests are permitted to alter the manner of their consumption and eat them as they choose. Therefore, the priests are permitted to eat them roasted, boiled, or cooked, and they are likewise permitted to place non-sacred spices or teruma spices in the cooking pot. This is the statement of Rabbi Yishmael. This indicates that it is permitted to spice offerings with teruma spices ab initio, despite the fact that this reduces the time available to eat the teruma. Rabba said to Abaye: Set aside the halakha of teruma of spices, as this teruma applies by rabbinic law, not by Torah law.
אֵיתִיבֵיהּ: אֵין לוֹקְחִין תְּרוּמָה בְּכֶסֶף מַעֲשֵׂר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמְּמַעֵט בַּאֲכִילָתָהּ; וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מַתִּיר! אִישְׁתִּיק לֵיהּ.
Abaye raised an objection to Rabba from a mishna (Ma’aser Sheni 3:2): One may not purchase teruma with second tithe money, because he thereby limits the circumstances for the eating of the teruma. Teruma may be eaten in any place and even by an acute mourner, i.e., one whose relative died that same day and has not yet been buried, whereas second tithe and food purchased with second tithe money must be eaten in Jerusalem and is prohibited to an acute mourner. And Rabbi Shimon permits one to purchase teruma with second tithe money. This indicates that Rabbi Shimon allows one to bring teruma to the status of unfitness. Rabba was silent in response to his statement, and did not answer Abaye.
כִּי אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב יוֹסֵף, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַמַּאי לָא תּוֹתְבֵיהּ מֵהָא – אֵין מְבַשְּׁלִין יָרָק שֶׁל שְׁבִיעִית בְּשֶׁמֶן שֶׁל תְּרוּמָה, שֶׁלֹּא יָבִיאוּ קָדָשִׁים לְבֵית הַפְּסוּל; וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מַתִּיר!
When Abaye came before Rav Yosef and told him of his discussion with Rabba, Rav Yosef said to him: Why didn’t you raise an objection to Rabba from this mishna (Shevi’it 8:7): One may not cook vegetables of the Sabbatical Year in teruma oil, so that one does not bring consecrated food, teruma, to the status of unfitness, as the teruma oil would have to be eaten before the time of the removal of the Sabbatical Year produce; and Rabbi Shimon permits one to cook in this manner. Evidently, Rabbi Shimon allows one to bring teruma to the status of unfitness ab initio.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: וְלָאו מִי אוֹתְבִיתֵיהּ מֵהָא דְּתַבְלִין, וְאָמַר לִי: הַנַּח לִתְרוּמַת תַּבְלִין דְּרַבָּנַן? הָכָא נָמֵי (תְּרוּמָה) תְּרוּמַת יָרָק דְּרַבָּנַן. אִי הָכִי, אִיפְּכָא מִיבַּעְיָא לֵיהּ לְמִיתְנֵי: יָרָק שֶׁל תְּרוּמָה בְּשֶׁמֶן שֶׁל שְׁבִיעִית!
Abaye said to Rav Yosef: And didn’t I raise an objection to Rabba from that mishna discussing the halakha of teruma spices, and he said to me: Disregard the halakha of teruma of spices, as this teruma applies by rabbinic law. Here too, with regard to vegetables of the Sabbatical Year, he could likewise say that this teruma oil is not olive oil, but oil that is teruma of vegetables, which applies by rabbinic law. Rav Yosef replied: If so, that this mishna is referring to vegetable oil of teruma, it should teach the opposite case, that one may not cook vegetables of teruma in oil of the Sabbatical Year. Since the tanna specifies teruma oil, he must certainly be speaking of teruma by Torah law, i.e., olive oil.
וְלָאו מִי אוֹתְבִיתֵיהּ מִמַּתְנִיתִין דְּמַתִּיר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, וְאָמַר לִי דְּאִיעָרַב? הָכָא נָמֵי דְּאִיעָרַב.
Abaye then said to Rav Yosef: And didn’t I raise an objection to Rabba from the mishna, in which Rabbi Shimon permits one to bring sacrificial animals to the status of unfitness, and Rabba said to me that Rabbi Shimon’s ruling applies only after the fact, when the guilt offering and peace offering have become intermingled? Here too, he would say that this ruling is after the fact, that when the teruma oil and the vegetables of the Sabbatical Year have become intermingled one may then cook them together, but he does not permit one to cook them together ab initio.
אִי דְּאִיעָרַב, מַאי טַעְמַיְיהוּ דְּרַבָּנַן? מִידֵי דְּהָוֵה אַאָשָׁם וּשְׁלָמִים.
The Gemara asks: If this halakha is referring to a case where the foods have already become intermingled, what is the reason of the Rabbis for prohibiting one to cook them together? The Gemara answers: This is just as it is in the case of the mishna with regard to a guilt offering and a peace offering that became intermingled, that even after the offerings are intermingled, one may not bring the flesh of the peace offering to the status of unfitness.
מִי דָּמֵי?! הָתָם אָשָׁם – אִית לֵיהּ תַּקַּנְתָּא בִּרְעִיָּיה; הָא – לֵית לֵיהּ תַּקַּנְתָּא בִּרְעִיָּיה!
The Gemara raises a difficulty: Are these two cases comparable? There, with regard to the offerings, the situation has a remedy by having the offerings graze until they develop a blemish, at which point the owner brings each offering of each type with the monetary value of the higher-quality animal. By contrast, in this case of teruma oil mixed with vegetables of the Sabbatical Year, the situation has no remedy similar to that of having the offerings graze, and therefore if the Rabbis prohibited the mixture the teruma would go to waste.
הָא לָא דָּמֵי אֶלָּא לַחֲתִיכָה שֶׁבַּחֲתִיכוֹת – כֵּיוָן דְּלֵית תַּקַּנְתָּא, דְּאוֹכֵל כְּחָמוּר שֶׁבָּהֶן.
If one wishes to compare this case of oil and vegetables to an intermingling of sacrificial animals, this is comparable only to the other halakha of the mishna, which addresses a piece of the flesh of an offering of the most sacred order that was intermingled with pieces of the flesh of offerings of lesser sanctity. Here the Rabbis concede that since there is no remedy for the intermingled pieces, the halakha is that they both must be eaten in accordance with the halakha of the more stringent among them, but they are not prohibited.
מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רָבִינָא: מִי דָּמֵי?! חֲתִיכָה שֶׁבַּחֲתִיכוֹת – לֵית לַהּ תַּקַּנְתָּא כְּלָל; הַאי – אִית לֵיהּ תַּקַּנְתָּא בִּסְחִיטָה!
Ravina objects to this comparison: Are these cases comparable? In the case of the piece of sacrificial flesh that is intermingled with the other pieces, it has no remedy at all, whereas this case of teruma oil has a remedy through squeezing the oil from the vegetables. If so, this case of vegetables is in fact comparable to that of an intermingling of a guilt offering and peace offering, which also have a means of remedy, and for this reason the Rabbis prohibited the mixture.
וְרַב יוֹסֵף – הֵיכִי נִסְחוֹט? נִסְחוֹט טוּבָא – קָא מַפְסֵיד בִּשְׁבִיעִית; נִסְחוֹט פּוּרְתָּא – סוֹף סוֹף אִיעָרוֹבֵי מִיעָרַב.
The Gemara asks: And how would Rav Yosef respond to the claim that the Rabbis prohibit this mixture after the fact because there is a remedy available through squeezing it? The Gemara explains that Rav Yosef would respond that squeezing is not in fact a remedy, as how can one squeeze it? If one squeezes the vegetables a lot, he thereby causes a loss of Sabbatical Year produce; if one squeezes the vegetables a little, ultimately the teruma oil and vegetables of the Sabbatical Year will still be intermingled, as this squeezing will be ineffective. If so, Rav Yosef’s contention that in this case the Rabbis would not have prohibited cooking vegetables of the Sabbatical Year in teruma oil remains valid. Consequently, this must be referring to a case where the vegetables and oil have not yet become mixed, which means that this case does prove that Rabbi Shimon permits one to bring sacrificial animals to the status of unfitness ab initio, not only after the fact, as claimed by Rabba.
אֵיתִיבֵיהּ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: לַמׇּחֳרָת מֵבִיא אֲשָׁמוֹ וְלוּגּוֹ עִמּוֹ, וְאוֹמֵר: אִם שֶׁל מְצוֹרָע – הֲרֵי זֶה אֲשָׁמוֹ וְזֶה לוּגּוֹ,
Rav Yosef raised an objection to the opinion of Rabba from a baraita (Tosefta, Nazir 6:1): How should one whose status as a confirmed leper has not been determined bring his guilt offering and log of oil on the eighth day of his purification? Rabbi Shimon says: On the following day, after his seven days of purification, he brings his guilt offering and his log of oil with it, and says the following stipulation: If this offering is one of a leper, i.e., if I am a confirmed leper, this is his, i.e., my, guilt offering and that is his log of oil.
וְאִם לָאו – אָשָׁם זֶה שֶׁל שַׁלְמֵי נְדָבָה. וְאוֹתוֹ אָשָׁם טָעוּן שְׁחִיטָה בַּצָּפוֹן, וּמַתַּן בְּהוֹנוֹת, וּסְמִיכָה, וּנְסָכִים, וּתְנוּפַת חָזֶה וָשׁוֹק,
And if he is not a leper, this animal that is brought for a guilt offering shall be a voluntary peace offering, because their sacrificial rites are equivalent. And that uncertain guilt offering requires slaughter in the north of the Temple courtyard as a guilt offering, and placement of the blood on the right thumb and big toe and right ear of the leper, as described in Leviticus 14:14, and it requires placing hands on the head of the animal, and the accompanying wine libations and waving of the breast and thigh like a peace offering.
וְנֶאֱכָל לְיוֹם וְלַיְלָה! תַּקּוֹנֵי גַּבְרָא שָׁאנֵי.
And lastly, it is eaten by males of the priesthood on the day it is sacrificed and the following night, in the Temple courtyard, like a guilt offering, not for two days and one night in the manner of a peace offering. This indicates that Rabbi Shimon permits one to bring sacrificial animals to the status of unfitness even ab initio, not only when the animals became intermingled. The Gemara answers that the remedy of a man is different from the case discussed by Rabba. Since this person has no way of purifying himself from his leprosy other than by bringing the offering, the concern of reducing the time available for its consumption is disregarded.
הָתִינַח אָשָׁם, לוֹג מַאי אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר? דְּאָמַר: לוֹג זֶה יְהֵא נְדָבָה. וְדִילְמָא לָאו מְצוֹרָע הוּא, וּבָעֵי מִקְמָץ? דְּמִקְּמִיץ.
The Gemara asks a question with regard to the resolution suggested by Rabbi Shimon of bringing the offerings and stating a stipulation. This works out well with regard to the guilt offering, but with regard to the log of oil what can be said? A log of oil does not accompany a peace offering. The Gemara explains that the individual bringing the offering says: If I am not a leper, then this log shall be a gift to the Temple, as one can dedicate oil to the Temple. The Gemara questions this resolution: But perhaps he is not in fact a leper, and if so, it is required that a priest remove a handful of the donated oil and sacrifice a handful of it on the altar before the rest of the oil may be consumed by the priests, as is the halakha with regard to oil brought as an offering. The Gemara explains that this is referring to a case where the priest already removed a handful.
וְדִילְמָא מְצוֹרָע הוּא, וּבָעֵי מַתַּן שֶׁבַע? דְּיָהֵיב.
The Gemara further questions: But perhaps he is in fact a leper, and he requires the placement of seven sprinklings of oil before the Lord (see Leviticus 14:15–16). The Gemara answers that the priest does place these sprinklings.
וְהָא חָסַר לֵיהּ! דְּמַיְיתֵי פּוּרְתָּא וּמְמַלֵּי לֵיהּ; דִּתְנַן: חָסַר הַלּוֹג עַד שֶׁלֹּא יָצַק – יְמַלְּאֶנּוּ.
The Gemara raises a difficulty: How can the priest sprinkle the oil? But it is lacking, as a handful has been removed from the oil, and one sprinkles only from a whole log. The Gemara explains that after the handful is removed the priest brings a little more oil to the container and fills it up to a log. This is as we learned in a mishna (Nega’im 14:10): In a case where the log lacked a full measure, then if it became lacking before the priest poured from it into his palm in order to place it on the right thumb and big toe of the leper, he shall fill it.
וְהָא בָּעֵי הַקְטָרָה! (דְּאַקְטַר) [דְּמַקְטַר] לֵיהּ.
The Gemara poses yet another question: But if he is not a leper, and that log of oil is a gift, that handful removed from the oil requires burning on the altar for the remainder of the oil to be permitted to the priests. The Gemara explains that the priest does in fact burn the handful.
אֵימַת? אִי בָּתַר מַתְּנוֹת שֶׁבַע – הָווּ לְהוּ שִׁירַיִים שֶׁחָסְרוּ בֵּין קְמִיצָה לְהַקְטָרָה, וְאֵין מַקְטִירִין אֶת הַקּוֹמֶץ עֲלֵיהֶן!
The Gemara asks: When does the priest burn the handful? If he does so after the placement of seven sprinklings for the leper’s purification, in such a case the log will be lacking due to the sprinklings. That which remains is akin to the remainder of a meal offering that was lacking between the removal of the handful and the burning, and one may not burn the handful for that remainder. Similar to a gift of oil, in a meal offering a handful is removed from the offering and then sacrificed on the altar. If after the handful is removed but before it is sacrificed some of the remainder of the meal offering is separated, the handful may not be sacrificed. The same should apply if some of the oil was sprinkled after the handful was removed.
אִי קוֹדֶם מַתְּנוֹת שֶׁבַע – כֹּל שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ לָאִישִּׁים, הֲרֵי הוּא בְּבַל תַּקְטִירוּ!
If, alternatively, the priest burns the handful before the placement of seven sprinklings, once he has burned the handful he may no longer perform the sprinklings, in accordance with the principle: Whatever is partly burned in the fire on the altar is subject to the prohibition of: You may not make as an offering (see Leviticus 2:11). This principle states that if part of an item, such as the blood of an animal offering or the handful of a meal offering, has been sacrificed, one who sacrifices any other part of it that is not designated for sacrifice has violated a prohibition. The sprinkling of the oil is equivalent to sacrifice in this regard.
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פַּזִּי: דְּמַסֵּיק לְהוּ לְשֵׁם עֵצִים. דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: ״לְרֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ״ אִי אַתָּה מַעֲלֶה, אֲבָל אַתָּה מַעֲלֶה
Rav Yehuda, son of Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi, says that the priest does not sprinkle the oil as a definite rite but stipulates that if the man is not a leper he is sprinkling it in a manner analogous to other items that one burns for the sake of wood, i.e., as fuel for the altar and not as a sacrificial rite. As it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Eliezer says: The verse states: “No meal offering that you shall bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven; for you shall make no leaven, nor any honey, smoke from it as an offering made by fire to the Lord. As an offering of first fruits you may bring them to the Lord; but they shall not come up for a pleasing aroma on the altar” (Leviticus 2:11–12). This verse indicates that you may not offer up leaven and honey as a pleasing aroma, an offering. But you may offer up leaven and honey and other substances
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Years ago, I attended the local Siyum HaShas with my high school class. It was inspiring! Through that cycle and the next one, I studied masekhtot on my own and then did “daf yomi practice.” The amazing Hadran Siyum HaShas event firmed my resolve to “really do” Daf Yomi this time. It has become a family goal. We’ve supported each other through challenges, and now we’re at the Siyum of Seder Moed!
Jerusalem, Israel
After being so inspired by the siyum shas two years ago, I began tentatively learning daf yomi, like Rabbanut Michelle kept saying – taking one daf at a time. I’m still taking it one daf at a time, one masechet at a time, but I’m loving it and am still so inspired by Rabbanit Michelle and the Hadran community, and yes – I am proud to be finishing Seder Mo’ed.
Bet Shemesh, Israel
Since I started in January of 2020, Daf Yomi has changed my life. It connects me to Jews all over the world, especially learned women. It makes cooking, gardening, and folding laundry into acts of Torah study. Daf Yomi enables me to participate in a conversation with and about our heritage that has been going on for more than 2000 years.
Skokie, IL, United States
In January 2020 on a Shabbaton to Baltimore I heard about the new cycle of Daf Yomi after the siyum celebration in NYC stadium. I started to read “ a daily dose of Talmud “ and really enjoyed it . It led me to google “ do Orthodox women study Talmud? “ and found HADRAN! Since then I listen to the podcast every morning, participate in classes and siyum. I love to learn, this is amazing! Thank you
Atlanta, United States
I began Daf Yomi with the last cycle. I was inspired by the Hadran Siyum in Yerushalayim to continue with this cycle. I have learned Daf Yomi with Rabanit Michelle in over 25 countries on 6 continents ( missing Australia)
Silver Spring, MD, United States
I’ve been wanting to do Daf Yomi for years, but always wanted to start at the beginning and not in the middle of things. When the opportunity came in 2020, I decided: “this is now the time!” I’ve been posting my journey daily on social media, tracking my progress (#DafYomi); now it’s fully integrated into my daily routines. I’ve also inspired my partner to join, too!
Teaneck, United States
The first month I learned Daf Yomi by myself in secret, because I wasn’t sure how my husband would react, but after the siyyum on Masechet Brachot I discovered Hadran and now sometimes my husband listens to the daf with me. He and I also learn mishnayot together and are constantly finding connections between the different masechtot.
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
I learned Mishnayot more than twenty years ago and started with Gemara much later in life. Although I never managed to learn Daf Yomi consistently, I am learning since some years Gemara in depth and with much joy. Since last year I am studying at the International Halakha Scholars Program at the WIHL. I often listen to Rabbanit Farbers Gemara shiurim to understand better a specific sugyiah. I am grateful for the help and inspiration!
Berlin, Germany
Zevachim 76
וְכוּלָּן רַשָּׁאִין כֹּהֲנִים לְשַׁנּוֹת בַּאֲכִילָתָן – לְאָכְלָן צְלוּיִין שְׁלוּקִין וּמְבוּשָּׁלִין, וְלָתֵת לְתוֹכָן תַּבְלֵי חוּלִּין וְתַבְלֵי תְרוּמָה. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַנַּח לִתְרוּמַת תַּבְלִין – דְּרַבָּנַן.
And with regard to all of the offerings that are eaten, the priests are permitted to alter the manner of their consumption and eat them as they choose. Therefore, the priests are permitted to eat them roasted, boiled, or cooked, and they are likewise permitted to place non-sacred spices or teruma spices in the cooking pot. This is the statement of Rabbi Yishmael. This indicates that it is permitted to spice offerings with teruma spices ab initio, despite the fact that this reduces the time available to eat the teruma. Rabba said to Abaye: Set aside the halakha of teruma of spices, as this teruma applies by rabbinic law, not by Torah law.
אֵיתִיבֵיהּ: אֵין לוֹקְחִין תְּרוּמָה בְּכֶסֶף מַעֲשֵׂר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמְּמַעֵט בַּאֲכִילָתָהּ; וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מַתִּיר! אִישְׁתִּיק לֵיהּ.
Abaye raised an objection to Rabba from a mishna (Ma’aser Sheni 3:2): One may not purchase teruma with second tithe money, because he thereby limits the circumstances for the eating of the teruma. Teruma may be eaten in any place and even by an acute mourner, i.e., one whose relative died that same day and has not yet been buried, whereas second tithe and food purchased with second tithe money must be eaten in Jerusalem and is prohibited to an acute mourner. And Rabbi Shimon permits one to purchase teruma with second tithe money. This indicates that Rabbi Shimon allows one to bring teruma to the status of unfitness. Rabba was silent in response to his statement, and did not answer Abaye.
כִּי אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב יוֹסֵף, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַמַּאי לָא תּוֹתְבֵיהּ מֵהָא – אֵין מְבַשְּׁלִין יָרָק שֶׁל שְׁבִיעִית בְּשֶׁמֶן שֶׁל תְּרוּמָה, שֶׁלֹּא יָבִיאוּ קָדָשִׁים לְבֵית הַפְּסוּל; וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מַתִּיר!
When Abaye came before Rav Yosef and told him of his discussion with Rabba, Rav Yosef said to him: Why didn’t you raise an objection to Rabba from this mishna (Shevi’it 8:7): One may not cook vegetables of the Sabbatical Year in teruma oil, so that one does not bring consecrated food, teruma, to the status of unfitness, as the teruma oil would have to be eaten before the time of the removal of the Sabbatical Year produce; and Rabbi Shimon permits one to cook in this manner. Evidently, Rabbi Shimon allows one to bring teruma to the status of unfitness ab initio.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: וְלָאו מִי אוֹתְבִיתֵיהּ מֵהָא דְּתַבְלִין, וְאָמַר לִי: הַנַּח לִתְרוּמַת תַּבְלִין דְּרַבָּנַן? הָכָא נָמֵי (תְּרוּמָה) תְּרוּמַת יָרָק דְּרַבָּנַן. אִי הָכִי, אִיפְּכָא מִיבַּעְיָא לֵיהּ לְמִיתְנֵי: יָרָק שֶׁל תְּרוּמָה בְּשֶׁמֶן שֶׁל שְׁבִיעִית!
Abaye said to Rav Yosef: And didn’t I raise an objection to Rabba from that mishna discussing the halakha of teruma spices, and he said to me: Disregard the halakha of teruma of spices, as this teruma applies by rabbinic law. Here too, with regard to vegetables of the Sabbatical Year, he could likewise say that this teruma oil is not olive oil, but oil that is teruma of vegetables, which applies by rabbinic law. Rav Yosef replied: If so, that this mishna is referring to vegetable oil of teruma, it should teach the opposite case, that one may not cook vegetables of teruma in oil of the Sabbatical Year. Since the tanna specifies teruma oil, he must certainly be speaking of teruma by Torah law, i.e., olive oil.
וְלָאו מִי אוֹתְבִיתֵיהּ מִמַּתְנִיתִין דְּמַתִּיר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, וְאָמַר לִי דְּאִיעָרַב? הָכָא נָמֵי דְּאִיעָרַב.
Abaye then said to Rav Yosef: And didn’t I raise an objection to Rabba from the mishna, in which Rabbi Shimon permits one to bring sacrificial animals to the status of unfitness, and Rabba said to me that Rabbi Shimon’s ruling applies only after the fact, when the guilt offering and peace offering have become intermingled? Here too, he would say that this ruling is after the fact, that when the teruma oil and the vegetables of the Sabbatical Year have become intermingled one may then cook them together, but he does not permit one to cook them together ab initio.
אִי דְּאִיעָרַב, מַאי טַעְמַיְיהוּ דְּרַבָּנַן? מִידֵי דְּהָוֵה אַאָשָׁם וּשְׁלָמִים.
The Gemara asks: If this halakha is referring to a case where the foods have already become intermingled, what is the reason of the Rabbis for prohibiting one to cook them together? The Gemara answers: This is just as it is in the case of the mishna with regard to a guilt offering and a peace offering that became intermingled, that even after the offerings are intermingled, one may not bring the flesh of the peace offering to the status of unfitness.
מִי דָּמֵי?! הָתָם אָשָׁם – אִית לֵיהּ תַּקַּנְתָּא בִּרְעִיָּיה; הָא – לֵית לֵיהּ תַּקַּנְתָּא בִּרְעִיָּיה!
The Gemara raises a difficulty: Are these two cases comparable? There, with regard to the offerings, the situation has a remedy by having the offerings graze until they develop a blemish, at which point the owner brings each offering of each type with the monetary value of the higher-quality animal. By contrast, in this case of teruma oil mixed with vegetables of the Sabbatical Year, the situation has no remedy similar to that of having the offerings graze, and therefore if the Rabbis prohibited the mixture the teruma would go to waste.
הָא לָא דָּמֵי אֶלָּא לַחֲתִיכָה שֶׁבַּחֲתִיכוֹת – כֵּיוָן דְּלֵית תַּקַּנְתָּא, דְּאוֹכֵל כְּחָמוּר שֶׁבָּהֶן.
If one wishes to compare this case of oil and vegetables to an intermingling of sacrificial animals, this is comparable only to the other halakha of the mishna, which addresses a piece of the flesh of an offering of the most sacred order that was intermingled with pieces of the flesh of offerings of lesser sanctity. Here the Rabbis concede that since there is no remedy for the intermingled pieces, the halakha is that they both must be eaten in accordance with the halakha of the more stringent among them, but they are not prohibited.
מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רָבִינָא: מִי דָּמֵי?! חֲתִיכָה שֶׁבַּחֲתִיכוֹת – לֵית לַהּ תַּקַּנְתָּא כְּלָל; הַאי – אִית לֵיהּ תַּקַּנְתָּא בִּסְחִיטָה!
Ravina objects to this comparison: Are these cases comparable? In the case of the piece of sacrificial flesh that is intermingled with the other pieces, it has no remedy at all, whereas this case of teruma oil has a remedy through squeezing the oil from the vegetables. If so, this case of vegetables is in fact comparable to that of an intermingling of a guilt offering and peace offering, which also have a means of remedy, and for this reason the Rabbis prohibited the mixture.
וְרַב יוֹסֵף – הֵיכִי נִסְחוֹט? נִסְחוֹט טוּבָא – קָא מַפְסֵיד בִּשְׁבִיעִית; נִסְחוֹט פּוּרְתָּא – סוֹף סוֹף אִיעָרוֹבֵי מִיעָרַב.
The Gemara asks: And how would Rav Yosef respond to the claim that the Rabbis prohibit this mixture after the fact because there is a remedy available through squeezing it? The Gemara explains that Rav Yosef would respond that squeezing is not in fact a remedy, as how can one squeeze it? If one squeezes the vegetables a lot, he thereby causes a loss of Sabbatical Year produce; if one squeezes the vegetables a little, ultimately the teruma oil and vegetables of the Sabbatical Year will still be intermingled, as this squeezing will be ineffective. If so, Rav Yosef’s contention that in this case the Rabbis would not have prohibited cooking vegetables of the Sabbatical Year in teruma oil remains valid. Consequently, this must be referring to a case where the vegetables and oil have not yet become mixed, which means that this case does prove that Rabbi Shimon permits one to bring sacrificial animals to the status of unfitness ab initio, not only after the fact, as claimed by Rabba.
אֵיתִיבֵיהּ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: לַמׇּחֳרָת מֵבִיא אֲשָׁמוֹ וְלוּגּוֹ עִמּוֹ, וְאוֹמֵר: אִם שֶׁל מְצוֹרָע – הֲרֵי זֶה אֲשָׁמוֹ וְזֶה לוּגּוֹ,
Rav Yosef raised an objection to the opinion of Rabba from a baraita (Tosefta, Nazir 6:1): How should one whose status as a confirmed leper has not been determined bring his guilt offering and log of oil on the eighth day of his purification? Rabbi Shimon says: On the following day, after his seven days of purification, he brings his guilt offering and his log of oil with it, and says the following stipulation: If this offering is one of a leper, i.e., if I am a confirmed leper, this is his, i.e., my, guilt offering and that is his log of oil.
וְאִם לָאו – אָשָׁם זֶה שֶׁל שַׁלְמֵי נְדָבָה. וְאוֹתוֹ אָשָׁם טָעוּן שְׁחִיטָה בַּצָּפוֹן, וּמַתַּן בְּהוֹנוֹת, וּסְמִיכָה, וּנְסָכִים, וּתְנוּפַת חָזֶה וָשׁוֹק,
And if he is not a leper, this animal that is brought for a guilt offering shall be a voluntary peace offering, because their sacrificial rites are equivalent. And that uncertain guilt offering requires slaughter in the north of the Temple courtyard as a guilt offering, and placement of the blood on the right thumb and big toe and right ear of the leper, as described in Leviticus 14:14, and it requires placing hands on the head of the animal, and the accompanying wine libations and waving of the breast and thigh like a peace offering.
וְנֶאֱכָל לְיוֹם וְלַיְלָה! תַּקּוֹנֵי גַּבְרָא שָׁאנֵי.
And lastly, it is eaten by males of the priesthood on the day it is sacrificed and the following night, in the Temple courtyard, like a guilt offering, not for two days and one night in the manner of a peace offering. This indicates that Rabbi Shimon permits one to bring sacrificial animals to the status of unfitness even ab initio, not only when the animals became intermingled. The Gemara answers that the remedy of a man is different from the case discussed by Rabba. Since this person has no way of purifying himself from his leprosy other than by bringing the offering, the concern of reducing the time available for its consumption is disregarded.
הָתִינַח אָשָׁם, לוֹג מַאי אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר? דְּאָמַר: לוֹג זֶה יְהֵא נְדָבָה. וְדִילְמָא לָאו מְצוֹרָע הוּא, וּבָעֵי מִקְמָץ? דְּמִקְּמִיץ.
The Gemara asks a question with regard to the resolution suggested by Rabbi Shimon of bringing the offerings and stating a stipulation. This works out well with regard to the guilt offering, but with regard to the log of oil what can be said? A log of oil does not accompany a peace offering. The Gemara explains that the individual bringing the offering says: If I am not a leper, then this log shall be a gift to the Temple, as one can dedicate oil to the Temple. The Gemara questions this resolution: But perhaps he is not in fact a leper, and if so, it is required that a priest remove a handful of the donated oil and sacrifice a handful of it on the altar before the rest of the oil may be consumed by the priests, as is the halakha with regard to oil brought as an offering. The Gemara explains that this is referring to a case where the priest already removed a handful.
וְדִילְמָא מְצוֹרָע הוּא, וּבָעֵי מַתַּן שֶׁבַע? דְּיָהֵיב.
The Gemara further questions: But perhaps he is in fact a leper, and he requires the placement of seven sprinklings of oil before the Lord (see Leviticus 14:15–16). The Gemara answers that the priest does place these sprinklings.
וְהָא חָסַר לֵיהּ! דְּמַיְיתֵי פּוּרְתָּא וּמְמַלֵּי לֵיהּ; דִּתְנַן: חָסַר הַלּוֹג עַד שֶׁלֹּא יָצַק – יְמַלְּאֶנּוּ.
The Gemara raises a difficulty: How can the priest sprinkle the oil? But it is lacking, as a handful has been removed from the oil, and one sprinkles only from a whole log. The Gemara explains that after the handful is removed the priest brings a little more oil to the container and fills it up to a log. This is as we learned in a mishna (Nega’im 14:10): In a case where the log lacked a full measure, then if it became lacking before the priest poured from it into his palm in order to place it on the right thumb and big toe of the leper, he shall fill it.
וְהָא בָּעֵי הַקְטָרָה! (דְּאַקְטַר) [דְּמַקְטַר] לֵיהּ.
The Gemara poses yet another question: But if he is not a leper, and that log of oil is a gift, that handful removed from the oil requires burning on the altar for the remainder of the oil to be permitted to the priests. The Gemara explains that the priest does in fact burn the handful.
אֵימַת? אִי בָּתַר מַתְּנוֹת שֶׁבַע – הָווּ לְהוּ שִׁירַיִים שֶׁחָסְרוּ בֵּין קְמִיצָה לְהַקְטָרָה, וְאֵין מַקְטִירִין אֶת הַקּוֹמֶץ עֲלֵיהֶן!
The Gemara asks: When does the priest burn the handful? If he does so after the placement of seven sprinklings for the leper’s purification, in such a case the log will be lacking due to the sprinklings. That which remains is akin to the remainder of a meal offering that was lacking between the removal of the handful and the burning, and one may not burn the handful for that remainder. Similar to a gift of oil, in a meal offering a handful is removed from the offering and then sacrificed on the altar. If after the handful is removed but before it is sacrificed some of the remainder of the meal offering is separated, the handful may not be sacrificed. The same should apply if some of the oil was sprinkled after the handful was removed.
אִי קוֹדֶם מַתְּנוֹת שֶׁבַע – כֹּל שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ לָאִישִּׁים, הֲרֵי הוּא בְּבַל תַּקְטִירוּ!
If, alternatively, the priest burns the handful before the placement of seven sprinklings, once he has burned the handful he may no longer perform the sprinklings, in accordance with the principle: Whatever is partly burned in the fire on the altar is subject to the prohibition of: You may not make as an offering (see Leviticus 2:11). This principle states that if part of an item, such as the blood of an animal offering or the handful of a meal offering, has been sacrificed, one who sacrifices any other part of it that is not designated for sacrifice has violated a prohibition. The sprinkling of the oil is equivalent to sacrifice in this regard.
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פַּזִּי: דְּמַסֵּיק לְהוּ לְשֵׁם עֵצִים. דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: ״לְרֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ״ אִי אַתָּה מַעֲלֶה, אֲבָל אַתָּה מַעֲלֶה
Rav Yehuda, son of Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi, says that the priest does not sprinkle the oil as a definite rite but stipulates that if the man is not a leper he is sprinkling it in a manner analogous to other items that one burns for the sake of wood, i.e., as fuel for the altar and not as a sacrificial rite. As it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Eliezer says: The verse states: “No meal offering that you shall bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven; for you shall make no leaven, nor any honey, smoke from it as an offering made by fire to the Lord. As an offering of first fruits you may bring them to the Lord; but they shall not come up for a pleasing aroma on the altar” (Leviticus 2:11–12). This verse indicates that you may not offer up leaven and honey as a pleasing aroma, an offering. But you may offer up leaven and honey and other substances
