Menachot 49

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> נטמא הקומץ והקריבו הציץ מרצה יצא והקריבו אין הציץ מרצה שהציץ מרצה על הטמא ואינו מרצה על היוצא:

<big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>IF THE HANDFUL HAD BECOME UNCLEAN AND YET WAS OFFERED, THE PLATE<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The High Priest's plate of pure gold worn on the forehead (v. Ex. XXVIII 36-38) . Its function was to secure the Divine acceptance of a sacrifice which was offered although it had been rendered unclean.');">¹</span> RENDERS IT ACCEPTABLE,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The meal-offering is valid and the remainder may be eaten.');">²</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> תנו רבנן (שמות כח, לח) ונשא אהרן את עון הקדשים וכי איזה עון הוא נושא אם תאמר עון פיגול הרי כבר נאמר לא יחשב א"ת עון נותר הרי כבר נאמר לא ירצה

BUT IF IT HAD BEEN TAKEN OUT [OF THE TEMPLE COURT] AND WAS AFTERWARDS OFFERED, THE PLATE DOES NOT RENDER IT ACCEPTABLE; FOR THE PLATE ONLY RENDERS ACCEPTABLE THE OFFERING WHICH WAS UNCLEAN BUT NOT THAT WHICH WAS TAKEN OUT. <big><b>GEMARA: </b></big>Our Rabbis taught: It is written, And Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XXVIII, 38. This verse intimates that the High Priest's plate atones for some fault in connection with the offering. kudhp');">³</span>

הא אינו נושא אלא עון טומאה שהותרה מכללה בציבור

What iniquity is it that it atones for? Should you say it is the iniquity of piggul<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Heb. 'abomination', v. Glos. Here meaning: the intention expressed during one of the services of the sacrifice of eating the flesh thereof outside the prescribed place. vz ht');">⁴</span>

מתקיף לה רבי זירא אימא עון יוצא שהותר מכללו בבמה

- but it has already been said, it shall not be accepted.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XIX, 7. The text adopted in the translation is in accordance with the Sifra which is supported by Rashi (Pes. ');">⁵</span> Should you say it is the iniquity of nothar<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Heb. 'left over'; v. Glos. Here meaning: the intention expressed during one of the services of the sacrifice of eating the flesh thereof outside the prescribed time.');">⁶</span>

אמר ליה אביי אמר קרא (שמות כח, לח) לרצון להם לפני ה' עון דלפני ה' אין עון דיוצא לא

- but it has already been said, Neither shall it be imputed unto him.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid., VII, 18.');">⁷</span> Hence it atones for nothing other than the iniquity of uncleanness, since an exception to the general rule has been made for the community.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A sacrifice on behalf of the community may be offered even in a state of uncleanness.');">⁸</span>

מתקיף לה רבי אילעא אימא עון שמאל שהותר מכללו ביום הכפורים

R'Zera demurred, Perhaps it is the iniquity of an offering having been taken outside [that the plate atones for], since an exception to the general rule had been made in the case of the high places?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Although the prohibition against taking out the offering was already in force at the Tabernacle in the wilderness (v. Pes. 82a) it did not apply later on when the Tabernacle was housed at Nob and at Gibeon, for then it was permitted for every individual to set up a high place or altar in any place and offer sacrifices there.');">⁹</span> - Abaye answered, It is written, That they may be accepted before the Lord,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XXVIII, 38.');">¹⁰</span>

אמר ליה אביי אמר קרא עון עון שהיה בו ודחיתיו לאפוקי יוה"כ דהכשירו בשמאל הוא

that is, the iniquity committed before the Lord<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., whilst the offering is within the Temple Court.');">¹¹</span> [is atoned for by the plate], but not the iniquity of an offering having been taken outside.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' An iniquity which is not committed 'before the Lord',');">¹²</span>

רב אשי אמר עון הקדשים ולא עון המקדישין

R'Ela'a demurred, perhaps it is the iniquity of [a service being performed with] the left hand [that is atoned for by the plate], since an exception to the general rule has been made on the Day of Atonement?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When the High Priest performed service with his left hand too; v. Yoma 47a.');">¹³</span> - Abaye answered him, The verse states 'iniquity', that is, the iniquity that was incurred is set aside;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'I have set it aside'. Now the uncleanness of an offering is admittedly a defect, but since it is of no consequence in the case of the community, such defect in the offering of an individual will be atoned for by the plate.');">¹⁴</span>

אמר ליה רב סימא בריה דרב אידי לרב אשי ואמרי לה רב סימא בריה דרב אשי לרב אשי ואימא עון בעל מום שהותר מכללו בעופות דאמר מר תמות וזכרות בבהמה ואין תמות וזכרות בעופות

on the Day of Atonement, however, it is proper to serve with the left hand. R'Ashi answered thus, The verse says, 'The iniquity of the holy things', but not the iniquity of them that offer the offering.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The plate therefore cannot atone for the guilt of a service performed with the left hand, for that is the guilt of the officiating priest and such guilt is expressly excluded.');">¹⁵</span>

אמר ליה עליך אמר קרא לא ירצה (ויקרא כב, כ) כי לא לרצון יהיה לכם:

R'Sima the son of R'Idi said to R'Ashi (others report: R'Sima the son of R'Ashi said to R'Ashi) : perhaps it is the iniquity of a blemish in the offering [that is atoned for by the plate] since an exception to the general rule has been made in the case of bird-offerings, for a Master has said, The unblemished state and the male sex are prerequisite in animal-offerings but not in bird-offerings?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra 6a, Hul. 23a, and elsewhere.');">¹⁶</span> - He replied, It is for your sake that it is written, It shall not be accepted;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XXII, 23.');">¹⁷</span>

תנו רבנן דם שנטמא וזרקו בשוגג הורצה במזיד לא הורצה במה דברים אמורים ביחיד אבל בציבור בין בשוגג בין במזיד הורצה ובעובד כוכבים בין בשוגג בין במזיד בין באונס בין ברצון

and also, For it shall not be acceptable for you.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid, 20. These verses indicate that under no circumstances are blemished animals acceptable for an offering.');">¹⁸</span> Our Rabbis taught: If the blood of an offering became unclean and yet was sprinkled inadvertently<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. infra as to the meaning of 'inadvertently', whether it refers to the contracting of the uncleanness or the sprinkling.');">¹⁹</span> it is acceptable, if deliberately it is not acceptable. This is the rule only with a private offering, but in the case an offering of the community it is acceptable, whether inadvertently or deliberately. In the case of an offering by a gentile<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Gentiles were also allowed to offer either freewill- or votive-offerings; v. infra 73b.');">²⁰</span> [the rule is] whether inadvertently or deliberately, whether accidentally or intentionally,