Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Menachot 183:18

ורמינהו החי החי טעון סמיכה ואין שעירי עבודת כוכבים טעונין סמיכה דברי ר' יהודה ר' שמעון אומר חי טעון סמיכה באהרן

- Yes. they are all declared alike in that they all obtain atonement, but each obtains atonement through its own [offering].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For other sins, Israelites through the scapegoat and priests through the bullock. aurhp');"><sup>20</sup></span> This means,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Heb. , so MS.M., and Sh. Mek. An unusual expression. The entire passage is an addition by the Saboraim (Sh. Mek.) .');"><sup>21</sup></span> 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,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the High Priest's bullock; v. Lev. XVI, 6.');"><sup>22</sup></span> 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:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Shebu. 2b. So in MS.M. and Sh. Mek.; cur. edd. omit 'in Shebu'oth'.');"><sup>23</sup></span> [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.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cur. edd. insert here: 'This is the opinion of R. Judah'.');"><sup>24</sup></span> 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:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. IV, 15 with reference to the bullock offered when the congregation sinned in error by reason of an erroneous ruling of the Beth din.');"><sup>25</sup></span> this signifies that only the bullock requires the laying on of hands, but the he-goats offered fo 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.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., a priest.');"><sup>26</sup></span> There is, however, [a Baraitha] which conflicts with the above, for it was taught: It is written, The live [goat]:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XVI, 21 with reference to the scapegoat.');"><sup>27</sup></span> 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 layin on of hands by Aaron

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