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Week 30 - Shabbat - 24 June 2000

YOMA: CHAPTER 4 : MISHNA 4

On other days he scooped up with one of silver and poured into one of gold, but on this day he scooped up with one of gold, and therein he brought in. On other days he scooped up with one of four kabs and poured into one of three kabs, but on this day he scooped up with one of three kabs, and therein he brought in. Rabbi Yose says, On other days, he scooped up with one of a se'ah and poured into one of three kabs, but on this day he scooped up with one of three kabs, and therein he brought in. On other days it was heavy, but on this day light. On other days its handle was short, but on this day long. On other days its gold was green, but on this day red; so Rabbi Menahem. On other days he offered up a peras in the morning and a peras in the afternoon, but on this day he added his two handfulls. On other days it was fine, but on this day the finest of the fine.

Kehati

This mishnah teaches that the scooping up of the coals on Yom Kippur was different from that on the other days of the year. There also was a difference in the incense itself, as the mishnah explains.

On other days he - the priest who performed the offering of the incense, scooped up - coals for the incense that would be offered on the inner Altar in the Sanctuary, with one fire-pan of silver and afterwards poured the coals into one fire-pan of gold - the Gemara explains that he would not scoop up with a golden fire-pan because it would burn the gold and the Torah did not want to waste Jewish money, but on this day - on Yom Kippur, he scooped up with one fire-pan of gold, and therein he brought in - the incense, in order to spare the High Priest's energies that he should not have to pour from one vessel into another.

On other days he scooped up with one - a fire-pan of silver with a capacity - of four kabs (1 kav ¼=c. 2 litres) and poured into one - a fire-pan of gold with a capacity - of three kabs - and as a result one kav of coals would be scattered, and they would sweep them into the water duct in the Temple Courtyard, but on this day he scooped up with one of three kabs, and therein he brought in - to lessen the work of the High Priest, as stated above.

Rabbi Yose says, On other days he scooped up with one of a se'ah (1 se'ah = 6 kabs) and poured into one of three kabs - and according to him, three kabs would be scattered, but on this day he scooped up with one of three kabs, and therein he brought in - the law is not in accordance with Rabbi Yose. On other days it - the fire-pan, was heavy - because its sides were thick, but on this day - the fire-pan was - light - because its sides were thin. On other days its - the fire-pan's, handle was short, but on this day the handle was long - so that he could put it under his arm, thereby helping to support the fire-pan. On other days its gold - of the fire-pan of gold, into which he poured, was green - i.e., yellow, but on this day - the fire-pan was of red - gold, which is finer than green gold, in honor of the day;

So Rabbi Menahem - a baraita quoted in the Gemara states that red gold is "parvayim gold," so called for resembling bullock (par) blood - On other days he offered up a peras - (1 peras = ½ maneh, weighing 50 dinars) - in the morning and a peras in the afternoon, but on this day he added his two handfulls - of incense, for the High Priest would offer incense three times on Yom Kippur, two times as on every other day of the year - a peras in the morning and a peras in the afternoon, on the Altar in the Sanctuary - and an additional offering, that of the service of the day of two handfulls which he brought into the Holy of Holies.

On other days it - the incense, Was fine - as it is written, "And you shall beat some of it very small" (Ex. 30:36), but the incense on this day - that he would bring into the Holy of Holies, was the finest of the fine - the Gemara explains the reason for it is written, "and he shall take a censer full of coals of fire...and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small" (Lev. 16:12) - since it was already stated, "And you shall beat some of it very small," what does "small" teach here? It teaches that the Yom Kippur incense was the finest of the fine; i.e., he took three manehs of incense on Yom Kippur eve, in order to take from this his handfulls for the offering on Yom Kippur, and he replaced it on Yom Kippur eve into the mortar, and it was ground exceedingly well, so that it should be the finest of the fine.

YOMA: CHAPTER 4 : MISHNA 5

On other days the priests went up on the east side of the ramp and came down on its west side, but on this day the High Priest went up in the middle and came down in the middle. Rabbi Yehudah says, The High Priest always goes up in the middle and comes down in the middle. On other days the High Priest sanctifies his hands and his feet from the laver, but on this day from the golden jug. Rabbi Yehudah says, A High Priest always sanctifies his hands and his feet from the golden jug.

Kehati

Incidental to the preceding mishnah, this mishnah continues to list elements of the Yom Kippur Temple service which were different from those of the service on the other days of the year.

On other days the priests went up on the east side of the ramp - of the Altar, and came down on its west side - the ramp was on the southern side of the Altar, and the person who went up it would have the east on his right side; therefore, the priest who brought up the limbs of the sacrifice to the Altar would go up on the east side of the ramp, for the Sages said, "All the turns you take must be to the right," and he would circle the Altar in the course of his service, i.e., he would go along the entire eastern side, and from there to the northern side, and from there to the western side, and from there he would come down on the western side of the ramp, which would once again be on his right side; and he would not walk in the middle of the ramp, because of the fear of the Lord (i.e., this would be disrespectful),

But on this day - Yom Kippur, the High Priest went up in the middle and came down in the middle - to demonstrate the honor and esteem of Israel, whose agent he is, for he makes himself as an intimate before the Lord. Another version reads: "but on this day they go up in the middle and they come down in the middle," i.e., the priests who accompany the High Priest go up in the middle and they come down in the middle, in order to honor him (Rambam).

Rabbi Yehudah says, The High Priest always goes up in the middle and comes down in the middle - on all the other days of the year, too, when the High Priest would go up to the Altar to perform the service (see 1:2, above), he would go up in the middle of the ramp. The law is not in accordance with Rabbi Yehudah. On other days the High Priest sanctifies - washes - his hands and his feet from the laver - in the Temple Courtyard (see 3:2, above), but on this day from the golden jug - as a sign of honor and dignity.

Rabbi Yehudah says, A High Priest always sanctifies his hands and his feet from the golden jug - on all the days of the year as well. The law is not in accordance with Rabbi Yehudah.

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