Meilah

GEMARA. Whence do we know this?1 — For our Rabbis taught:2 I might have thought that only for things that have that which renders them permissible is one culpable for [transgressing] the Law of Defilement; for this would be the logical deduction: Since piggul, which requires only one awareness of transgression,3 whose sacrifice of atonement is fixed4 and allows of no exception for the congregation,5 yet it applies to things only that have that which renders them permissible, the much more so must uncleanness, which requires a twofold awareness of transgression,6 whose sacrifice of atonement can be of a higher or lesser value7 and allows of an exception for the congregation,8 apply only to things that have that which renders them permissible. The text therefore states: Say unto them: Whosoever he be of all your seed throughout your generations, that approaches [unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from before Me].9 Scripture deals with all kinds of holy things.10 But I might have thought that [in the case of things that have other things that render them permissible, the Law of Defilement] would apply at once;11 therefore It states: ‘Who approaches’ [which is to be expounded after the way of] R. Eliezer [who] said: Is it possible that one is liable [to the Law of Defilement] merely by touching [the flesh]? You must then understand it in the following manner: Whatsoever has that which renders it permissible is not subject [to the laws of piggul, nothar and defilement] until that which renders it permissible has been performed; and whatsoever has not that which renders it permissible is liable [to those laws] only when they have become sacred by being put in the vessel [of ministry].12 13 MISHNAH. THE YOUNG OF A SIN-OFFERING, THE SUBSTITUTE14 OF A SIN-OFFERING AND A SIN-OFFERING WHOSE OWNER HAS Dled15 ARE LEFT TO DIE. THAT WHICH PASSED [THE AGE-LIMIT OF] ONE YEAR16 OR WAS LOST17 AND THEN FOUND WITH A BLEMISH, IF AFTER THE OWNER HAS BEEN ATONED,18 IT IS LEFT TO DIE; IT CANNOT EFFECT A SUBSTITUTE19 AND THOUGH ONE MAY NOT DERIVE ANY BENEFIT FROM IT, IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF SACRILEGE;20 and defilement. 2ff. of his uncleanness, v. Shebu. 2a. He thus is aware twice of his uncleanness; before and after his transgression. congregation being unclean. the law applies only if the flesh was ready to be offered, i.e., that the act that renders it permissible was performed already. not explicitly dedicated for this purpose. place, both the animal originally dedicated and the animal exchanged for it are equally holy, except in the case where the latter animal, although it too becomes holy. must not be offered ‘upon the altar’, v. Lev. XXVII, 10 and Tem. 22b. therefore no longer be employed for the purpose for which it was originally designated. found with a blemish’.