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Yoma 39a

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Babylonian Talmud · folio map

Yoma 39a

Yoma 39a. The full printed text of this folio side — 17 numbered segments, about 471 words — with the classic commentaries printed on the page.

Original text

Segment 1

בָּא לִמְדּוֹד נֵפְטְ, אוֹמֵר לוֹ: מְדוֹד אַתָּה לְעַצְמְךָ. בָּא לִמְדּוֹד אֲפַרְסְמוֹן, אוֹמֵר לוֹ: הַמְתֵּן לִי עַד שֶׁאֶמְדּוֹד עִמְּךָ, כְּדֵי שֶׁנִּתְבַּסֵּם אֲנִי וְאַתָּה.

In the case of one who comes to measure and purchase naphtha, the merchant says to him: Measure it for yourself, as I prefer to keep my distance from the foul odor. With regard to one who comes to measure and purchase balsam, the merchant says to him: Wait for me until I can measure it with you, so that you and I will both be perfumed. Similarly, with regard to sin God merely provides an opening, whereas with regard to mitzvot God assists the individual in their performance.

Segment 2

תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: עֲבֵירָה מְטַמְטֶמֶת לִבּוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְלֹא תִטַּמְּאוּ בָּהֶם וְנִטְמֵתֶם בָּם״, אַל תִּקְרֵי ״וְנִטְמֵאתֶם״, אֶלָּא: ״וְנִטַּמְטֵם״.

In the school of Rabbi Yishmael it was taught: Sin stupefies the heart of a person who commits it, as it is stated: “And do not impurify yourselves with them, so that you should not be thereby impurified” (Leviticus 11:43) Do not read that term as: “And be impurified [ venitmetem ]”; rather, read it as: And your hearts will be stupefied [ venitamtem ].

Segment 3

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״(אַל) תִטַּמְּאוּ בָּהֶם וְנִטְמֵתֶם בָּם״, אָדָם מְטַמֵּא עַצְמוֹ מְעַט — מְטַמְּאִין אוֹתוֹ הַרְבֵּה. מִלְּמַטָּה — מְטַמְּאִין אוֹתוֹ מִלְּמַעְלָה. בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה — מְטַמְּאִין אוֹתוֹ לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.

The Sages taught the following with regard to the verse: “And do not impurify yourselves with them, so that you should not be thereby impurified”; a person who impurifies himself a bit, they impurify him greatly. If a person impurifies himself of his own volition below, on earth, they impurify him even more so above, in Heaven. If a person impurifies himself in this world, they impurify him in the World-to-Come.

Segment 4

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״וְהִתְקַדִּשְׁתֶּם וִהְיִיתֶם קְדוֹשִׁים״, אָדָם מְקַדֵּשׁ עַצְמוֹ מְעַט — מְקַדְּשִׁין אוֹתוֹ הַרְבֵּה, מִלְּמַטָּה — מְקַדְּשִׁין אוֹתוֹ מִלְּמַעְלָה, בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה — מְקַדְּשִׁין אוֹתוֹ לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.

Conversely, the Sages taught the following with regard to the verse: “Sanctify yourselves and you will be sanctified” (Leviticus 11:44); a person who sanctifies himself a bit, they sanctify him and assist him greatly. If a person sanctifies himself below, they sanctify him above. If a person sanctifies himself in this world, they sanctify him in the World-to-Come.

Segment 5

הֲדַרַן עֲלָךְ אָמַר לָהֶם הַמְמוּנֶּה

MISHNA: The High Priest would mix the lots in the lottery receptacle used to hold them and draw the two lots from it, one in each hand. Upon one was written: For God. And upon the other one was written: For Azazel. The deputy High Priest would stand to the High Priest’s right, and the head of the patrilineal family would stand to his left. If the lot for the name of God came up in his right hand, the Deputy would say to him: My master, High Priest, raise your right hand so that all can see with which hand the lot for God was selected. And if the lot for the name of God came up in his left hand, the head of the patrilineal family would say to him: My master, High Priest, raise your left hand.

Segment 6

טָרַף בְּקַלְפִּי, וְהֶעֱלָה שְׁנֵי גוֹרָלוֹת, אֶחָד כָּתוּב עָלָיו ״לַשֵּׁם״, וְאֶחָד כָּתוּב עָלָיו ״לַעֲזָאזֵל״. הַסְּגָן בִּימִינוֹ, וְרֹאשׁ בֵּית אָב מִשְּׂמֹאלוֹ. אִם שֶׁל שֵׁם עָלָה בִּימִינוֹ — הַסְּגָן אוֹמֵר לוֹ: אִישִׁי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, הַגְבַּהּ יְמִינְךָ. וְאִם שֶׁל שֵׁם עָלָה בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ — רֹאשׁ בֵּית אָב אוֹמֵר לוֹ: אִישִׁי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, הַגְבַּהּ שְׂמֹאלְךָ.

Then he would place the two lots upon the two goats, the lot that arose in his right hand on the goat standing to his right side and the lot in his left hand on the goat to his left. And upon placing the lot for God upon the appropriate goat, he would say: For God, as a sin-offering. Rabbi Yishmael says: He need not say: As a sin-offering. Rather, it is sufficient to say: For God. And upon saying the name of God, the priests and the people respond after him: Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom forever and all time.

Segment 7

נְתָנָן עַל שְׁנֵי הַשְּׂעִירִים, וְאוֹמֵר: ״לַה׳ חַטָּאת״. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר ״חַטָּאת״, אֶלָּא ״לַה׳״. וְהֵן עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו: ״בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וְעַד״.

GEMARA: Why do I need the High Priest to have mixed the lots in a receptacle before he draws the lots? In order that he not be able to intentionally take the lot for God specifically with his right hand. Since it is a fortuitous omen for the lot for God to arise in his right hand, there is a concern that he might force the result, in contravention of the requirement that the designation of the goats be made through a random lottery.

Segment 8

גְּמָ׳ לְמָה לִי טָרַף בְּקַלְפִּי? כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא נִיכַּוֵּין וְלִישְׁקוֹל.

Rava said: The receptacle was made out of wood and did not have the status of a sacred vessel. Rather, it was unconsecrated, and it had enough space inside only for the High Priest’s two hands.

Segment 9

אָמַר רָבָא: קַלְפִּי שֶׁל עֵץ הָיְתָה, וְשֶׁל חוֹל הָיְתָה, וְאֵינָהּ מַחְזֶקֶת אֶלָּא שְׁתֵּי יָדַיִם.

Ravina strongly objects to this: Granted, it was constructed so that it had enough space inside it only for the High Priest’s two hands. This was done so that he could not maneuver his hands inside the box to feel and examine the lots, in order that he not be able to intentionally take the lot for God specifically with his right hand. But why was the receptacle unconsecrated? Let it be consecrated as a sacred vessel. If so, if it were to be consecrated, it would be a sacred vessel made of wood, and the halakha is that we do not make a sacred vessel from wood. But if this is the only issue, let it be made out of silver or let it be made out of gold. However, the Torah spared the money of the Jewish people and did not want to burden them with the expense of having to make the receptacle from expensive materials. Therefore, it is made from wood, and as such it is precluded from being a sacred vessel.

Segment 10

מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רָבִינָא: בִּשְׁלָמָא אֵינָהּ מַחְזֶקֶת אֶלָּא שְׁתֵּי יָדַיִם — כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא לִיכַּוֵּין וְלִישְׁקוֹל. אֶלָּא שֶׁל חוֹל? נַקְדְּשַׁהּ! אִם כֵּן הָוֵה לֵהּ כְּלִי שָׁרֵת שֶׁל עֵץ, וּכְלִי שָׁרֵת דְּעֵץ לָא עָבְדִינַן. וְנֶעְבְּדַהּ דְּכֶסֶף, וְנֶעְבְּדַהּ דְּזָהָב? הַתּוֹרָה חָסָה עַל מָמוֹנָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל.

The Gemara comments: The mishna is not in accordance with the opinion of this tanna whose opinion was taught in a baraita : Rabbi Yehuda says in the name of Rabbi Eliezer: The Deputy and the High Priest insert their hands into the receptacle. If the lot for God comes up in the High Priest’s right hand, the Deputy says to him: My master, High Priest, raise your right hand. And if the lot for God comes up in the right hand of the Deputy, the head of the patrilineal family says to the High Priest: Speak your word and declare the goat to your left side to be the sin-offering for God.

Segment 11

מַתְנִיתִין דְּלָא כִּי הַאי תַּנָּא דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: הַסְּגָן וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל מַכְנִיסִין יָדָן בַּקַּלְפִּי, אִם בִּימִינוֹ שֶׁל כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל עוֹלֶה — הַסְּגָן אוֹמֵר לוֹ: אִישִׁי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, הַגְבַּהּ יְמִינֶךָ. וְאִם בִּימִינוֹ שֶׁל סְגָן עוֹלֶה — רֹאשׁ בֵּית אָב אוֹמֵר לוֹ לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל: דַּבֵּר מִילָּךְ.

The Gemara asks: Why should the head of the patrilineal family instruct the High Priest to speak? Let the Deputy say this to him. The Gemara answers: Since the lot for God did not come up in the High Priest’s hand, rather in the Deputy’s, he might be discouraged if the Deputy himself instructs him to speak, as it may appear that he is mocking him.

Segment 12

וְנֵימָא לֵיהּ סְגָן? כֵּיוָן דְּלָא סָלֵיק בִּידֵיהּ חָלְשָׁא דַּעְתֵּיהּ.

With regard to what do the tanna’im of the mishna and baraita disagree? One Sage, the tanna of the baraita , holds that the Deputy’s right hand is preferable to the High Priest’s left hand. As such, the ideal way for the lots to be drawn is for both the Deputy and High Priest to use their right hands. And the other Sage, the tanna of the mishna, holds they are equivalent. Therefore, there is no reason for the Deputy to be involved, and the entire process is performed by the High Priest.

Segment 13

בְּמַאי קָא מִיפַּלְגִי? מָר סָבַר: יַמִּינָא דִּסְגָן עֲדִיף מִשְּׂמָאלֵיהּ דְּכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל. וּמָר סָבַר: כִּי הֲדָדֵי נִינְהוּ.

And who is this tanna who argues with Rabbi Yehuda? It is Rabbi Ḥanina, the Deputy of the priests, as it was taught in a baraita : Rabbi Ḥanina, the Deputy of the priests, says: Why did the Deputy remain at the High Priest’s right side throughout the day’s service? Because if some disqualification befalls the High Priest, the Deputy can step in and serve in his stead. It is apparent from Rabbi Ḥanina’s statement that as long as the High Priest remains qualified, the Deputy has no role in the day’s service, which disputes Rabbi Yehuda’s opinion.

Segment 14

וּמַאן הַאי תַּנָּא דִּפְלִיג עֲלֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה — רַבִּי חֲנִינָא סְגַן הַכֹּהֲנִים הוּא. דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי חֲנִינָא סְגַן הַכֹּהֲנִים אוֹמֵר: לָמָּה סְגָן מִימִינוֹ — שֶׁאִם אֵירַע בּוֹ פְּסוּל בְּכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל, נִכְנָס סְגָן וּמְשַׁמֵּשׁ תַּחְתָּיו.

§ The Sages taught: During all forty years that Shimon HaTzaddik served as High Priest, the lot for God arose in the right hand. From then onward, sometimes it arose in the right hand and sometimes it arose in the left hand. Furthermore, during his tenure as High Priest, the strip of crimson wool that was tied to the head of the goat that was sent to Azazel turned white, indicating that the sins of the people had been forgiven, as it is written: “Though your sins be as crimson, they shall be white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). From then onward, it sometimes turned white and sometimes it did not turn white. Furthermore, the western lamp of the candelabrum would burn continuously as a sign that God’s presence rested upon the nation. From then onward, it sometimes burned and sometimes it went out.

Segment 15

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה שֶׁשִּׁמֵּשׁ שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק, הָיָה גּוֹרָל עוֹלֶה בְּיָמִין. מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ, פְּעָמִים עוֹלֶה בְּיָמִין פְּעָמִים עוֹלֶה בִּשְׂמֹאל. וְהָיָה לָשׁוֹן שֶׁל זְהוֹרִית מַלְבִּין. מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ, פְּעָמִים מַלְבִּין פְּעָמִים אֵינוֹ מַלְבִּין. וְהָיָה נֵר מַעֲרָבִי דּוֹלֵק. מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ, פְּעָמִים דּוֹלֵק פְּעָמִים כָּבֶה.

And during the tenure of Shimon HaTzaddik, the fire on the arrangement of wood on the altar kept going strongly, perpetually by itself, such that the priests did not need to bring additional wood to the arrangement on a daily basis, except for the two logs that were brought in order to fulfill the mitzva of placing wood upon the arrangement. From then onward, the fire sometimes kept going strongly and sometimes it did not, and so the priests could not avoid bringing wood to the arrangement throughout the entire day.

Segment 16

וְהָיָה אֵשׁ שֶׁל מַעֲרָכָה מִתְגַּבֵּר, וְלֹא הָיוּ כֹּהֲנִים צְרִיכִין לְהָבִיא עֵצִים לְמַעֲרָכָה, חוּץ מִשְּׁנֵי גְּזִירֵי עֵצִים כְּדֵי לְקַיֵּים מִצְוַת עֵצִים. מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ, פְּעָמִים מִתְגַּבֵּר פְּעָמִים אֵין מִתְגַּבֵּר, וְלֹא הָיוּ כֹּהֲנִים נִמְנָעִין מִלְּהָבִיא עֵצִים לַמַּעֲרָכָה כׇּל הַיּוֹם כּוּלּוֹ.

And a blessing was sent upon the offering of the omer ; and to the offering of the two loaves from the new wheat, which was sacrificed on Shavuot ; and to the shewbread, which was placed on the table in the Temple. And due to that blessing, each priest that received an olive-bulk of them, there were those who ate it and were satisfied, and there were those who ate only a part of it and left over the rest because they were already satisfied from such a small amount. From then onward, a curse was sent upon the omer , and to the two loaves, and to the shewbread, that there were not sufficient quantities to give each priest a full measure. Therefore, each priest received just an amount the size of a bean; the discreet, pious ones would withdraw their hands, a bean-bulk being less that the quantity needed to properly fulfill the mitzva, and only the voracious ones would take and eat it. And an incident occurred with one who took his portion and that of his fellow, and they called him: Son of

Segment 17

וְנִשְׁתַּלְּחָה בְּרָכָה בָּעוֹמֶר, וּבִשְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם, וּבְלֶחֶם הַפָּנִים. וְכׇל כֹּהֵן שֶׁמַּגִּיעוֹ כְּזַיִת, יֵשׁ אוֹכְלוֹ וְשָׂבֵעַ, וְיֵשׁ אוֹכְלוֹ וּמוֹתִיר. מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ, נִשְׁתַּלְּחָה מְאֵירָה בָּעוֹמֶר וּבִשְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם וּבְלֶחֶם הַפָּנִים, וְכׇל כֹּהֵן מַגִּיעוֹ כְּפוּל. הַצְּנוּעִין מוֹשְׁכִין אֶת יְדֵיהֶן, וְהַגַּרְגְּרָנִין נוֹטְלִין וְאוֹכְלִין. וּמַעֲשֶׂה בְּאֶחָד שֶׁנָּטַל חֶלְקוֹ וְחֵלֶק חֲבֵירוֹ, וְהָיוּ קוֹרִין אוֹתוֹ ״בֶּן

Yoma 39a

Yoma 39a

Rashi

Tosafot

Rabbeinu Chananel

Ritva

Meiri

Maharsha (Chidushei Halachot)

Gilyon HaShas

Ben Yehoyada

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