Keritot 56

בקינוח סעודה

as a dessert for his meal.

אמרו

It was said that as long as he lived never was there nothar<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos.');">¹</span>

כל ימיו לא היה נותר בעזרה

in the Temple.

צווחה שלישית

The third cry: Lift up your heads, O ye gates.

שאו שערים ראשיכם ויכנס אלישמע בן פיכאי תלמידו של פנחס וישמש בכהונה גדולה

and let Elishama the son of Pikai,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In Pes. l.c. the name is given as: Ishmael the son of Phabi.');">²</span>

צווחה רביעית

the disciple of Phinehas,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In his zeal for God, cf. Num. XXV, 11.');">³</span>

פתחו שערים והוציאו יששכר איש כפר ברקאי שמכבד עצמו ומבזה קדשי שמים

enter and serve in the [office of the] High Priesthood.

מאי הוי עביד

The fourth cry: Open, O ye gates, and cause Issachar of Kefar Barkai to depart hence, for he honours himself and treats with contempt the Divine sacrifices.

הוה כריך שיראי על ידיה והוה עביד עבודה

What used he to do?

מאי סליקא ליה

He used to wrap silk over his hands and thus perform the service.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The service must be performed with the bare hand, and any covering on the hand disqualifies the service. His action showed contempt for the Divine sacrifices.');">⁴</span>

ינאי מלכא ומלכתא הוו יתבין מלכא אמר

What was his fate?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit. 'what came to him?'');">⁵</span>

גדיא יאי ומלכתא אמרה

Once king Jannai and his queen were sitting [at a meal].

אימרא יאי

The king said, 'Goat's flesh is best', but the queen said, 'Lamb is best'.

אמרו

They said, 'Let us ask Issachar of Kefar Barkai, who is the High Priest and offers sacrifices daily; s he ought to know'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This follows the text of Sh. Mek. and MS. M.');">⁶</span>

נשייליה ליששכר איש כפר ברקאי דכהן גדול הוא וקים ליה קדירה

They [called him and] asked him; whereupon he replied.'

שיילוהו א"ל

If goat's flesh were best let it be offered for the daily sacrifice'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whereas the daily sacrifices were lambs only; v. Num. XXVIII, 3.');">⁷</span>

אי גדיא יאי ייסק לתמידא

As he spoke he waved his hand [in contempt].

בהדי דאמר אחוי בידיה אמר להון מלכא

Then said the king, 'Since he waved his hand [in contempt of our royal persons] let his right hand be cut off'.

הואיל ואחוי בידיה קוצו לידיה דימינא

He, however, gave a bribe and they cut off his left hand.

יהיב שוחדא קציוה לידיה שמאלא

When the king heard this he said, 'Cut off his right hand too'.

שמע מלכא אמר

Rab Joseph said: Blessed be the Merciful One who paid out to Issachar of Kefar Barkai his due [in this world]!

ליקצו נמי לידיה דימינא

Rab Ashi said: He<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Issachar of Kefar Barkai.');">⁸</span>

אמר רב יוסף

had not studied the Mishnah, for we have learnt: LAMBS COME BEFORE GOATS IN ALL PLACES.

בריך רחמנא דשקליה ליששכר איש כפר ברקאי למטרפסיה

YOU MIGHT THINK THAT IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE CHOICER, THEREFORE SCRIPTURE STATED, AND IF HE BRING A LAMB AS HIS SIN-OFFERING, TO TEACH THAT BOTH ARE EQUAL.

אמר רב אשי

Rabina said: He had not studied even Scripture, for it is written, If [he brings] a lamb.

ולא הוה תני ליה דתנן

And if [his offering be] a goat.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. III, 7, 12. These verses indicate that neither is preferable, and one may offer whichever one pleases. On the whole passage see Pes.');">⁹</span>

כבשים קודמין לעזים בכל מקום יכול מפני שמובחרין

R'Eleazar said in the name of R'Hanina:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This passage is also found at the conclusion of three other tractates viz. Berakoth, Yebamoth, and Nazir.');">¹⁰</span>

ת"ל

The disciples of the Sages increase peace in the world, as it is said, And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isai. LIV. 13.');">¹¹</span>

(ויקרא ד, לב) ואם כבש מלמד ששניהן שקולין כאחת

Read not 'thy children' [banayik], but 'thy builders'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Scholars are the true builders of the world and by their dissemination of knowledge and enlightenment they preserve the peace of the world. ');">¹²</span>

רבינא אמר

[bonayik].

אפילו מקרא נמי לא קרא דכתיב

(ויקרא ג, ז\יב) אם כבש אם עז:

א"ר אלעזר א"ר חנינא

תלמידי חכמים מרבים שלום בעולם שנאמר

(ישעיהו נד, יג) וכל בניך למודי ה' ורב שלום בניך:

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