Menachot

What is the quantity of drink-offerings for a ewe in its second year? And we answered him that this was clearly stated in a Mishnah:1 [The seal inscribed with] ‘Kid’ signified drink-offerings for [offerings from] the flock, whether large or small, male or female, excepting rams.2 MISHNAH. NONE OF THE OFFERINGS OF THE CONGREGATION REQUIRE THE LAYING ON OF HANDS EXCEPT THE BULLOCK THAT IS OFFERED FOR THE TRANSGRESSION [BY THE CONGREGATION]3 OF ANY OF THE COMMANDMENTS, AND THE SCAPEGOAT.4 R. SIMEON SAYS, ALSO THE HE-GOAT OFFERED FOR THE SIN OF IDOLATRY.5 ALL THE OFFERINGS OF AN INDIVIDUAL REQUIRE THE LAYING ON OF HANDS EXCEPT THE FIRSTLING, THE CATTLE TITHE, AND THE PASSOVER-OFFERING. THE HEIR MAY LAY HIS HANDS [ON HIS FATHER'S OFFERING].6 MAY BRING THE DRINK-OFFERINGS FOR IT, AND CAN SUBSTITUTE [ANOTHER ANIMAL FOR IT].7 GEMARA. Our Rabbis taught: None of the offerings of the congregation require the laying on of hands except the bullock that is offered for the transgression [by the congregation] of any of the commandments, and the he-goats offered for the sin of idolatry. So R. Simeon. But R. Judah says, The he-goats offered for the sin of idolatry do not require the laying on of hands. What then must I include in their place? The scapegoat. (But is it absolutely necessary to include [another in their place]? — Rabina answered, There is a tradition that among the offerings of the congregation there are two that require the laying on of hands.) R. Simeon said to him, Is it not the law that the laying on of hands must be performed by the owners [of the offering]? But on that8 Aaron and his sons lay the hands!9 He replied, Even in that case [the laying on of the hands is performed by the owners] since Aaron and his sons obtain atonement through it. R. Jeremiah said, They are indeed consistent in their views, for it has been taught:10 And he shall make atonement for the most holy place.11 this means the Holy of Holies;12 and the tent of meeting.11 this means the Holy place; and the altar,11 this is to be taken in its usual sense; he shall make atonement,11 this means the various Temple courts; and for the priests,11 this is to be taken in its usual sense; and for all the people of the assembly,11 this means the Israelites; he shall make atonement,11 this means the Levites. They are all13 declared alike in respect of one atonement, in that they obtain atonement through the scapegoat for other sins.14 So R. Judah.15 But R. Simeon says, Just as the blood of the he-goat that is offered within [the Holy of Holies] makes atonement for Israelites for all matters of uncleanness touching the Temple and the holy things thereof, so does the blood of the bullock make atonement for the priests for all matters of uncleanness touching the Temple and the holy things thereof; and just as the confession of sin pronounced over the scapegoat16 makes atonement for Israelites for other sins, so does the confession of sin pronounced over the bullock17 make atonement for priests for other sins.18 But according to R. Simeon [it will be asked]: Surely they are declared alike!19 — Yes. they are all declared alike in that they all obtain atonement, but each obtains atonement through its own [offering].20 This means,21 therefore, that, according to R. Judah, for transgressions of the laws of uncleanness touching the Temple and the holy things thereof Israelites obtain atonement through the blood of the he-goat that is sprinkled within [the Holy of Holies], and priests through Aaron's bullock,22 and for other sins all obtain atonement through the confession over the scapegoat; according to R. Simeon, even for other sins priests obtain atonement through the confession pronounced over the bullock. And so it is stated in [the Tractate] Shebu'oth:23 [For all other sins the scapegoat makes atonement] alike for Israelites, priests and the anointed High Priest. Wherein do Israelites differ from priests and the anointed High Priest? Only in that the blood of the bullock makes atonement for priests for the transgressions of the laws of uncleanness touching the Temple and the holy things thereof.24 R. Simeon says, As the blood of the he-goat that is sprinkled within the Holy of Holies makes atonement for the Israelites, so does the blood of the bullock make atonement for the priests; and as the confession of sin pronounced over the scapegoat makes atonement for the Israelites, so does the confession of sin pronounced over the bullock make atonement for the priests. Our Rabbis taught: It is written, And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock:25 this signifies that only the bullock requires the laying on of hands, but the he-goats offered for the sin of idolatry do not require the laying on of hands. So R. Judah. But R. Simeon says, [It signifies that] only the bullock requires the laying on of hands by the elders, but the he-goats offered for the sin of idolatry do not require the laying on of hands by the elders but by Aaron.26 There is, however, [a Baraitha] which conflicts with the above, for it was taught: It is written, The live [goat]:27 this signifies that only the live [goat] requires the laying on of hands, but the he-goats offered for the sin of idolatry do not require the laying on of hands. So R. Judah. But R. Simeon says, [It signifies that] only the live [goat] requires the laying on of hands by Aaron to the officer in charge of the seals, paid him money, and received from him a seal. On handing the seal to another officer who was in charge of the drink-offerings he would receive the necessary quantities of drink-offerings as indicated by the inscription on the seal. The seal inscribed with ‘Kid’ signified the drink-offerings for an offering from the flock. V. Shek. V, 4. Thus a ewe in its second year required the drink-offerings of a lamb. Num. XV, 24. Cf. Hor. 5b. it on behalf of his father. of uncleanness in the Holy of Holies, in the Holy place etc. with the bullock and the he-goat, the former making atonement for priests who erred in this way and the latter for Israelites. period (v. Shebu. 16b), or if he offered incense on the golden altar whilst unclean, or if he unwittingly entered the Temple courts whilst unclean. hands on it they do so in the capacity of owners. atonement alike for other sins. (Sh. Mek.). ruling of the Beth din.