Yoma

Say it is the lamb.1 R. Assi said in the name of R. Johanan: A non-priest who laid the pile of wood in order [on the altar] incurs the penalty [of death]. What should he do [post facto]? — Let him break it up and then put it in order again. What is the good of that? — Rather: Let the non-priest break it up again and let a priest put it in order afterwards. R. Ze'ira demurred to this: But is there not a service which may be performed also at night and which a non-priest would render invalid? Surely, there is the smoking of the limbs and the fat-pieces.2 That is but the conclusion of the service of the day. But there is the removing of the ashes? That is the beginning of the work of the day, as R. Assi has reported in the name of R. Johanan: If he has sanctified his hands [by washing] in the morning for the removal of the ashes, he need not sanctify [them] on the morrow, for he has already sanctified them from the beginning of the service.3 But the difficulty remains!4 If this statement was made, it was stated thus: R. Assi said in the name of R. Johanan: A non-priest who laid the two logs of wood in order incurs the penalty [of death] because this is a day service. Raba demurred to this: If so, a count should be required for it! — It escaped him what had been taught: He who secured the task of clearing the ashes off the altar, [thereby also] secured the task of putting in order the pile of wood and the two logs of wood.3 Shall we, then, say that only service performed during the day requires the count but service performed during the night does not require the count? Surely there is the [smoking of the] members and the fat-pieces?5 — That is the end of the service of the day. But there is the removal of the ashes? — That is due to a certain event.6 Shall we say that only for service performed during the day and for participation in which a non-priest incurs the penalty of death, a count is required, but that wherever a non-priest does not incur penalty of death for performance of a service, no count is required? But then what of the killing [of the animal]?7 — It is different with the killing because that is the beginning of the service. Mar Zutra or R. Ashi said: But we have learned otherwise: The officer said to them: Go forth and see if the time for the killing [of the continual morning sacrifice] has arrived,8 but he is not teaching about the laying in order of the two logs of wood?9 It speaks only of such things as cannot be remedied10 again, but not such for which there is a remedy.11 Some say12 this is what R. Ze'ira asked: Is there any service followed by another service, which would be invalidated if performed by a non-priest?13 information already, hence the inference is right that the six priests are suggested here. another and be burnt in a place far from the altar like any invalidated sacrifice. again after daybreak. several interpolations. The interpretation that follows is that of Tosaf. on the basis of curr. edd.] liable to death. Against this R. Ze'ira raises the objection that since it is followed by another service, i.e.,the arranging of the two logs of wood, a non-priest should incur no penalty nor invalidate it by his performance of it. V. Tosaf. s.v. tfht.]