Yoma

because the Torah has rendered all levitical impurity caused through a corpse inoperative in case of a community.1 R. Shesheth said: Whence do I know that?2 Because it has been taught: If the priest was standing and offering up the sheaf of the ‘Omer3 and it became unclean in his hands4 let him tell and another one is brought in its place. And if there be none but this, one would say to him: ‘Be clever and keep quiet’.5 At all events he teaches, He should tell about it and another one is brought in its place!6 — R. Nahman said: I admit7 that where there is a remnant to be eaten [one would have to make an effort to procure a substitute sacrifice].8 Another objection was raised: If he was offering up the meal-offering of the bullocks or rams or sheep, and it became unclean in his hand, he should say so and one brings another one in its place; but if there be none [available] but the first, one tells him, ‘Be wise and keep quiet’ .9 Does this not refer to the bullocks, rams and sheep offered up on the feast [of Sukkoth]?10 — R. Nahman win answer you: No, the word ‘bullock’ refers to the bullock offered up in expiation of idolatry,11 and although it is a community sacrifice, since there is no definite time fixed for it, one endeavours [to find a substitute offering]; the word ‘rams’ refers to the ram of Aaron12 and although it is appointed to be sacrificed at a definite time, yet, since it is the offering of an individual, one endeavours [to procure a substitute]; the word ‘lambs’ refers to the lamb offered up together with the ‘Omer-sheaf, of which13 there are remnants to be eaten. — Another objection was raised:14 If [sacrificial] blood became unclean and one sprinkled it, if by mistake, it is accepted;15 if wilfully, it is not accepted!16 — This teaching refers to the sacrifice of an individual. Come and hear: For what [mistake at sacrifice] does the priest's plate17 effect pardon?18 Concerning blood, flesh, fat, which become unclean, whether by mistake or wilfully, whether by accident or voluntarily,19 whether [the sacrifice] was offered up by an individual or by the entire community.20 Now if it enter your mind that the law of uncleanness is inoperative in case of a community, what need is there for [the priest's plate] to effect pardon?- R. Nahman will answer you: What has been taught about the plate's effecting pardon, refers only to the sacrifice of an individual. Or, if you like, one might say, it refers also to such community sacrifices for which no definite time has been set. — Another objection was raised:20 [Touching on] And Aaron shall bear the iniquity committed in the holy things. Does he bear any kind of iniquity? If you mean the iniquity of piggul [ — a sacrifice rejectable21 because of the intended disposal beyond the legal limits of space], concerning this Scripture has said already, It will not be accepted.22 If you mean the iniquity of nothar,23 concerning that Scripture has said already, It shall not be imputed! 24 could postpone the offering up of his paschal lamb until the fourteenth of the month of Iyar. From this R. Shesheth infers that a person (an individual) is suspended (postpones the celebration of Passover), but not a community. Pes. 66b. of the ‘Omer and it became unclean, if there is another (available), he may say to him, — bring the other’ in its place. And if not he says to him — ‘Be clever and keep quiet’. The Tosef. reads: If he offered up the ‘Omer and it became unclean he tells it and one brings another one in its place. If there be none besides the first, one says to him, ‘Be clever and keep quiet about it’. infra. rendered inoperative, which contradicts R. Nahman. eaten in a state of impurity. V. Pes. 77b. consumed in cleanliness. impurity is only suspended, for ‘one brings another one in its place’. done in error by the congregation . . . that all the congregation shall offer up one bullock for a burnt-offering, is assumed to refer to the main and most potent error: idolatry. proves that the law of uncleanness does operate in the case of a community (which is apparently included in the general terms of this teaching).] of a signet: HOLY OF THE LORD. And thou shalt put it on a thread of blue, and it shall be upon the mitre: upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead and Aaron shall bear the iniquity committed in the holy things which the children of Israel hallow. (accident) is mentioned, its opposite is also included, illustratively rather than logically. may be eaten only in the day that it is offered on and on the morrow) be at all eaten on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abhorred thing (piggul) and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity. The term piggul although generally denoting the intention in the mind of the officiating priest to dispose of the sacrifice beyond the proper time (vbnzk .uj) signifies here according to Rashi the intended disposal thereof beyond the legal limits of space, (unuenk .uj). V. Zeb. 28a. Tosaf. explains differently. the intended disposal of the sacrifice beyond the legal time, so Rashi.]