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Yoma 27a

יומא כ״ז ע״א

Learn Yoma 27a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Which קרבן jobs a זר may do: the search for the source that הפשט וניתוח need no כהן, and the six כהנים who bring up the lamb.

Overview

The גמרא asks which jobs in bringing a קרבן may be done by a זר (non-כהן). A ברייתא, explained by אביי, teaches that שחיטה is valid by a זר, and that from קבלה (receiving the blood) onward the work belongs only to כהנים. So when a פסוק mentions כהנים for a later job, that mention looks extra and can teach that some other job does NOT need a כהן. The גמרא tries three פסוקים as the source for letting a זר do הפשט וניתוח (skinning and cutting). The fire פסוק (״וְנָתְנוּ״) and ״וְעָרְכוּ״ are each shown to have their own lesson. In the end ״וְהִקְטִיר הַכֹּהֵן״ is the source. Along the way we learn from ״וְהִקְרִיב״ that carrying wood needs no כהן, while arranging the two logs does. ״וְעָרְכוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֲנִים״ teaches that six כהנים bring up the lamb. רבי אלעזר asks how a פסוק about a bull can teach this, and his answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

הַאי מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ לְגוּפֵיהּ!

But this verse is needed for its own sake!

אָמַר רַב שִׁימִי בַּר אָשֵׁי:

Rav Shimi bar Ashi said:

אַשְׁכַּחְתֵּיהּ לְאַבָּיֵי

I found Abaye

דַּהֲוָה מַסְבַּר לֵיהּ לִבְרֵיהּ:

explaining it to his son:

The steps (17)

  1. ChallengeThe fire verse is needed for its own lesson
  2. Proofאביי's ברייתא: slaughter by a non-priest is valid
  3. QuestionWhy we might have thought slaughter needs a priest
  4. ResponsePriestly work starts from receiving the blood
  5. ResolutionSo the fire verse is extra and excludes skinning and cutting
  6. ChallengeThe fire verse may still be needed for jobs that do not block atonement
  7. ResolutionA new source: "And they shall lay out" excludes flaying and cutting
  8. ChallengeMaybe the פסוק excludes arranging the two logs instead
  9. ResolutionIt makes more sense to exclude a job on the animal itself
  10. ChallengeOn the contrary, arranging wood is more similar
  11. ResolutionAnother פסוק proves that arranging the logs needs a כהן
  12. ChallengeThe verse about arranging has its own lesson
  13. ResolutionThe burning verse is the real source
  14. ConclusionSumming up what the other verses teach
  15. StatementEach plural word adds two priests, making six
  16. ChallengeThe verse is about a bull, and a bull needs twenty-four
  17. ResolutionThe extra words 'wood, fire, altar' hint to a different offering