Menachot

MISHNAH. ALL MEAL-OFFERINGS REQUIRE TO BE RUBBED1 THREE HUNDRED TIMES AND BEATEN2 FIVE HUNDRED TIMES. THE RUBBING AND THE BEATING APPLY TO THE GRAINS OF WHEAT. R. JOSE SAYS, TO THE DOUGH.3 ALL MEAL-OFFERINGS CONSIST4 OF TEN CAKES EACH, EXCEPTING THE SHEWBREAD AND THE GRIDDLE-CAKES OF THE HIGH PRIEST, WHICH CONSIST OF TWELVE CAKES EACH. SO R. JUDAH. BUT R. MEIR SAYS, THEY ALL CONSIST OF TWELVE CAKES EACH, EXCEPTING THE CAKES OF THE THANK-OFFERING AND OF THE NAZIRITE-OFFERING, WHICH CONSIST OF TEN CAKES EACH. GEMARA. A Tanna taught: He must rub once and beat twice, then rub twice and beat thrice.5 R. Jeremiah enquired, Is the [moving of the hand] to and fro counted as one [rubbing] or as two [rubbings]? — This is undecided. THE RUBBING AND THE BEATING APPLY TO THE GRAINS OF WHEAT. R. JOSE SAYS, TO THE DOUGH. The question was asked: Does [R. Jose] mean to the dough and not to the grains of wheat; or does he mean to the dough too?-Come and hear, for it was taught: The rubbing and the beating apply to the grains of wheat. R. Jose says, The rubbing and the beating apply to the dough. 6 ALL MEAL-OFFERINGS CONSIST OF TEN CAKES EACH, [EXCEPTING THE SHEWBREAD AND THE GRIDDLE-CAKES OF THE HIGH PRIEST], WHICH CONSIST OF TWELVE CAKES EACH.With regard to the Shewbread this is expressly stated.7 With regard to the griddle-cakes of the High Priest this is inferred by the occurrence of the word ‘statute’ both here and in connection with the Shewbread.8 But whence do we know that all other meal-offerings must consist of ten cakes each? — By inference from the cakes of the thank-offering: as these consist of ten cakes,9 so [all meal-offerings] must consist of ten cakes. Perhaps the inference should be drawn from the Shewbread: as this consists of twelve cakes, so [all meal-offerings] must consist of twelve cakes! — It is more reasonable to draw the inference from the cakes of the thank-offering since they10 [like the cakes of the thank-offering] are the offerings of an individual, are freewill-offerings, require oil, are rendered invalid if left overnight, and may not be offered on the Sabbath or in uncleanness.11 On the contrary, it is more reasonable to draw the inference from the Shewbread for they [like the Shewbread] are most holy, require frankincense, consist entirely of unleavened cakes, and are brought on their own account!12 -Those13 are more in number. But if we hold the view that what is derived by a gezerah shawah14 may be set up as a basis for further inference,15 should we not then draw the inference from the griddle-cakes of the High Priest; just as these consist of twelve cakes16 so [all meal-offerings] must consist of twelve cakes? — It is more reasonable to draw the inference from the cakes of the thank-offering for they17 [like the cakes of the thank-offering] are the offerings of ordinary persons, are freewill-offerings, are not offered by halves, are subject to the law of piggul, and may not be offered on the Sabbath or in uncleanness.18 On the contrary, it is more reasonable to draw the inference from the griddle-cakes of the High Priest for they [like the griddle-cakes of the High Priest] consist of one tenth, are hallowed by a vessel, are most holy, require frankincense, consist entirely of unleavened cakes, are brought on their own account, require bringing near, and are offered [in part] on the altar fire;19 moreover these20 are more in number! — It is preferable to infer an offering of ordinary persons from an offering of ordinary persons.21 R.MEIR SAYS,THEY ALL CONSIST OF TWELVE CAKES EACH. If he holds the view that what is derived by a gezerah shawah may be set up as a basis for further inference, then he infers [other meal-offerings]22 from the griddle-cakes of the High Priest, for these23 are more in number. And if he holds the view that what is derived by a gezerah shawah may not be set up as a basis for further inference, then he infers [other meal-offerings] from the Shewbread, for he prefers to infer the [most] holy from the [most] holy. EXCEPTING THE CAKES OF THE THANK-OFFERING AND OF THE NAZIRITE-OFFERING, WHICH CONSIST OF TEN CAKES EACH. With regard to the cakes of the thank-offering this is expressly stated;24 and with regard to the cakes of the Nazirite-offering [this is so] because the Master has said, ‘His peace-offerings’25 includes the peace-offerings of the Nazirite.26 R. Tobi b. Kisna said in the name of Samuel, If for the cakes of the thank-offering one baked only four cakes [instead of forty],27 it is sufficient. But are not forty necessary? — That is only as a meritorius act. But terumah has to be taken therefrom?28 And should you say that a piece is taken from each cake as terumah, but the Divine Law expressly says ‘One’,29 [meaning] that he may not take what is broken!30 - [The terumah] was taken therefrom during the kneading.31 An objection was raised: All meal-offerings which were made into too many or too few cakes are valid, excepting the Shewbread, the griddle-cakes of the High Priest, the cakes of the thank-offering and of the Nazirite-offering! — He beatings. the dough. So Bah. V. Maim. Com. on Mishnah. Sabbath and of uncleanness, does not require oil, and is left on the table in the Temple the whole week. themselves but as accompanying the animal-offering. They do not have any frankincense, and some of the cakes are leavened. similar cases not specified in detail. Shewbread and of the griddle-cakes of the High Priest. Sabbath and uncleanness; they are offered half in the morning and half in the evening, and are not subject to the law of piggul (v. Glos.). of the animal sacrifice on whose account these cakes are brought, they do not require frankincense, a proportion of them is leavened, they do not require to be brought near to the altar, and no part thereof is offered upon the altar fire. cakes) instead of ten of each kind.