Keritot 56

Chapter 56

א בקינוח סעודה אמרו כל ימיו לא היה נותר בעזרה
1 as a dessert for his meal. It was said that as long as he lived never was there nothar<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos.');"><sup>1</sup></span> in the Temple.
ב צווחה שלישית שאו שערים ראשיכם ויכנס אלישמע בן פיכאי תלמידו של פנחס וישמש בכהונה גדולה
2 The third cry: Lift up your heads, O ye gates. 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.');"><sup>2</sup></span>
ג צווחה רביעית פתחו שערים והוציאו יששכר איש כפר ברקאי שמכבד עצמו ומבזה קדשי שמים מאי הוי עביד הוה כריך שיראי על ידיה והוה עביד עבודה
3 the disciple of Phinehas,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In his zeal for God, cf. Num. XXV, 11.');"><sup>3</sup></span> enter and serve in the [office of the] High Priesthood. 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. What used he to do?
ד מאי סליקא ליה ינאי מלכא ומלכתא הוו יתבין מלכא אמר גדיא יאי ומלכתא אמרה אימרא יאי אמרו נשייליה ליששכר איש כפר ברקאי דכהן גדול הוא וקים ליה קדירה
4 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.');"><sup>4</sup></span> What was his fate?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit. 'what came to him?'');"><sup>5</sup></span> Once king Jannai and his queen were sitting [at a meal]. The king said, 'Goat's flesh is best', but the queen said, 'Lamb is best'. 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.');"><sup>6</sup></span> They [called him and] asked him; whereupon he replied.'
ה שיילוהו א"ל אי גדיא יאי ייסק לתמידא בהדי דאמר אחוי בידיה אמר להון מלכא הואיל ואחוי בידיה קוצו לידיה דימינא יהיב שוחדא קציוה לידיה שמאלא שמע מלכא אמר ליקצו נמי לידיה דימינא אמר רב יוסף בריך רחמנא דשקליה ליששכר איש כפר ברקאי למטרפסיה
5 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.');"><sup>7</sup></span> As he spoke he waved his hand [in contempt]. Then said the king, 'Since he waved his hand [in contempt of our royal persons] let his right hand be cut off'. He, however, gave a bribe and they cut off his left hand. When the king heard this he said, 'Cut off his right hand too'. Rab Joseph said: Blessed be the Merciful One who paid out to Issachar of Kefar Barkai his due [in this world]! Rab Ashi said: He<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Issachar of Kefar Barkai.');"><sup>8</sup></span> had not studied the Mishnah, for we have learnt: LAMBS COME BEFORE GOATS IN ALL PLACES. 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.
ו אמר רב אשי ולא הוה תני ליה דתנן כבשים קודמין לעזים בכל מקום יכול מפני שמובחרין ת"ל (ויקרא ד, לב) ואם כבש מלמד ששניהן שקולין כאחת
6 Rabina said: He had not studied even Scripture, for it is written, If [he brings] a lamb. 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.');"><sup>9</sup></span> 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.');"><sup>10</sup></span> 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.');"><sup>11</sup></span> 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. ');"><sup>12</sup></span>
ז רבינא אמר אפילו מקרא נמי לא קרא דכתיב (ויקרא ג, ז\יב) אם כבש אם עז:
7 [bonayik].
ח 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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ט <br><br><big><strong>הדרן עלך המביא אשם וסליקא לה מסכת כריתות</strong></big><br><br>
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