Meilah 28

Chapter 28

א מיתיבי מותר הקטרת מה היו עושין בו היו מפרישין ממנה שכר האומנין
1 An objection was raised: What was done with the surplus of the frankincense?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Each year there was a surplus of frankincense. In the month of Nissn a new year began for the offering of incense. The surplus of the past year was not allowed to be used in the new year. The device mentioned here provides a method of using this surplus by repurchasing it with the money of the new levy.');"><sup>1</sup></span> Money equivalent to the craftsmen's but if the twigs are from elsewhere there is no ground for such an assumption. wages<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., any wages that the Temple may owe to labourers for their work.');"><sup>2</sup></span>
ב ומחללין אותה על מעות האומנין ונותנין אותה לאומנין וחוזרין ונוטלין אותה מתרומה חדשה
2 
ג ואמאי ליחליה אבנין
3 was set aside [from the Temple Treasury],<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' From this money of the shekel chamber (the Lishkah) wages were permitted to be paid, but not from a donation declared holy for a special purpose.');"><sup>3</sup></span> [the surplus was] then exchanged against this money of the craftsmen, handed over to the craftsmen<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It is not essential actually to hand it over to the labourers. Somebody else may acquire it on their behalf. The incense then becomes secular property and may be re-purchased for the Temple to be used during the coming year.');"><sup>4</sup></span>
ד דלא איכא בנין והא מעות האומנין קתני דליכא בנין כשיעור מעות
4 and then purchased from them with money of the new levy.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the newly paid shekels from which all public offerings for the coming year beginning with the first of Nisan are bought, v. Shek. IV, 5.');"><sup>5</sup></span> Now why was [this procedure necessary]? Why not exchange the surplus against a building?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since, according to Samuel, the building is at first secular, why not exchange the frankincense against it and re.purchase it with the money of the new levy?');"><sup>6</sup></span>
ה והאמר שמואל הקדש שוה מנה שחיללו על שוה פרוטה מחולל הני מילי דאי עבד לכתחלה לא
5 - [We deal with a case where] there was no building.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' No new building was erected then.');"><sup>7</sup></span> But does it not speak of 'the craftsmen's wages'?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Implying that some work has been done.');"><sup>8</sup></span> - There was no building equivalent to the value of the surplus.
ו רב פפא אמר היינו טעמא דבונין בחול לא נתנה תורה למלאכי השרת אמרי דלמא בעי למיזגא וזגא עלייהו אי בנא בקודשא אישתכח דקמעיל בקודשא
6 But does not Samuel hold:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' B.M. 57b.');"><sup>9</sup></span> 'If consecrated property of the value of a maneh<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos.');"><sup>10</sup></span> has even exchanged against a perutah,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos.');"><sup>10</sup></span>
ז תנן הגזברין שלקחו את העצים מועלין בהן ואין מועלין לא בשיפויי ולא בנבייה
7 the exchange is valid'. - [He sanctions such a transaction] after it has been done, but not at the outset.
ח ואמאי מועלין בהן הכא נמי ליעבד בחול אמרי דדלמא בעי למיזגא וזגא עליהן ואישתכח דקא מועל בקדשים
8 R'Papa says, This is the reason why the building has to be built with secular [money]: The Torah has not been given to ministering angels;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., we are only human beings.');"><sup>11</sup></span> he [the craftsman] might wish to lie down and would lie down on them,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The bricks e.g.');"><sup>12</sup></span>
ט א"ר פפא אי בעצים דמכאן ואילך הכי נמי אלא כי תנן במתניתין בעצים דיומיה
9 and if it was built by consecrated [money] he would as a result be guilty of sacrilege. We have learnt: IF THE TREASURERS [OF THE TEMPLE] BOUGHT TREES, THE TIMBER IS SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF SACRILEGE BUT NOT THE CHIPS AND THE FOLIAGE.
י <br><br><big><strong>הדרן עלך ולד חטאת </strong></big><br><br>
10 But why should one trespass the law of Sacrilege? Let this too be prepared in a secular state<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Let the preparation of the timber be done as non consecrated property and then purchased by the Temple Fund.');"><sup>13</sup></span> lest one might wish to lie down on them, and would as a result be guilty of sacrilege! - Said R'Papa: If the wood is to be used at a later date it would be indeed so;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As you suggest.');"><sup>14</sup></span> our Mishnah refers to wood which is to be used on the same day.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In which case there is little likelihood that one will use it unwittingly.');"><sup>15</sup></span> [
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