Zevachim 53
Share this shiur:
Want to dedicate learning? Get started here:
Zevachim 53
עָלָה בַּכֶּבֶשׁ וּפָנָה לַסּוֹבֵב, וּבָא לוֹ לְקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית, מִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית, צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית, מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית. שְׁיָרֵי הַדָּם הָיָה שׁוֹפֵךְ עַל יְסוֹד דְּרוֹמִית, וְנֶאֱכָלִין לִפְנִים מִן הַקְּלָעִים לְזִכְרֵי כְהוּנָּה בְּכׇל מַאֲכָל, לְיוֹם וָלַיְלָה עַד חֲצוֹת.
He ascended the ramp of the altar and turned right to the surrounding ledge and he continued east, and he came to the southeast corner and sprinkled the blood of the sin offering there and then to the northeast corner and sprinkled the blood there, and then to the northwest corner and sprinkled the blood there, and the southwest corner, where he performed the fourth sprinkling and descended from the altar. He would pour the remainder of the blood on the southern base of the altar. And the meat portions of the offering are eaten within the curtains, i.e., in the Temple courtyard, by the males of the priesthood. And they are eaten prepared in any form of food preparation, on the day the offering is sacrificed and during the night that follows, until midnight.
גְּמָ׳ הֵיכִי עָבֵיד? רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר; חַד אָמַר: נוֹתֵן אַמָּה אֵילָךְ וְאַמָּה אֵילָךְ, וְחַד אָמַר: מְחַטֵּא וְיוֹרֵד כְּנֶגֶד חוּדּוֹ שֶׁל קֶרֶן.
GEMARA: How does the priest perform the rite of sprinkling the blood on the corners of the altar? There is a dispute between Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Elazar. One says that the priest places the blood within a cubit on this side or a cubit on that side. He places the blood wherever he wants, provided that it is within one cubit of the corner of the altar. And one says that he sprinkles the blood on the outer edge of the corner of the altar, and it flows down on both sides of the altar.
אַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, דְּאָמַר: הִיא עַצְמָהּ אֵינָהּ נַעֲשֵׂית אֶלָּא בְּגוּפָהּ שֶׁל קֶרֶן – דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי; כִּי פְּלִיגִי – אַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי. מָר סָבַר: אַמָּה אֵילָךְ וְאַמָּה אֵילָךְ – כְּנֶגֶד קֶרֶן הוּא; וּמָר סָבַר: כְּנֶגֶד חוּדָּהּ אִין, טְפֵי לָא.
The Gemara comments: According to the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, who says that the sprinkling of the blood of a sin offering itself is performed only on the actual corner, the one-by-one-cubit projection above each corner of the altar, everyone agrees that the blood may be sprinkled anywhere on the corner, and this will be a fulfillment of the verse: “And put it upon the corners of the altar of burnt offering” (Leviticus 4:25). When they disagree is only according to the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, who holds that the blood may be sprinkled anywhere above the red line on the edge of the altar. One Sage holds that the blood may be sprinkled on the cubit on either side of the edge, because a cubit on this side and a cubit on that side is still considered to be on the corner. And one Sage holds that on its edge, yes, it is fit, but any further on either side is not.
מֵיתִיבִי: חַטַּאת הַצִּיבּוּר וְהַיָּחִיד – כֵּיצַד מַתַּן דָּמָן? הָיָה עוֹלֶה לַכֶּבֶשׁ וּפָנָה לַסּוֹבֵב, וּבָא לוֹ לְקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית; וְטוֹבֵל בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ הַיְמָנִית – הַמְיוּמֶּנֶת שֶׁבַּיָּמִין – מִן הַדָּם שֶׁבַּמִּזְרָק; וְחוֹמֵר בְּגוּדָלוֹ מִלְּמַעְלָה וּבְאֶצְבָּעוֹ קְטַנָּה מִלְּמַטָּה, וּמְחַטֵּא וְיוֹרֵד כְּנֶגֶד חוּדָּהּ שֶׁל קֶרֶן, עַד שֶׁמְּכַלֶּה כָּל הַדָּם שֶׁבָּאֶצְבַּע. וְכֵן כׇּל קֶרֶן וָקֶרֶן.
The Gemara raises an objection to the opinion that one cubit on either side of the edge is still considered on the edge, from a baraita: With regard to communal sin offerings and individual sin offerings, how is the placement of their blood on the altar performed? The priest would ascend the ramp of the altar and turn right to the surrounding ledge and he continued east, and he would come to the southeast corner. And he would then dip with his right [haymanit] finger, the most dexterous [hamyumenet] of the right hand, i.e., the index finger, of the blood that is in the bowl, and would gather the blood with his thumb above and his smallest finger below, so that it would remain on his finger. And he would sprinkle the blood and move his hand down on the outer edge of the corner, until he would finish sprinkling all the blood that was on his finger. And he would act similarly at each and every corner. This baraita states explicitly that the blood must be sprinkled on the actual edge.
הָכִי קָאָמַר: מִצְוָה בְּחוּדָּהּ; אִי עֲבַד אַמָּה אֵילָךְ וְאַמָּה אֵילָךְ – לֵית לַן בַּהּ.
The Gemara answers: This is what the baraita is saying: The optimal manner to perform the mitzva is to sprinkle the blood on the edge of the corner. But if he did the sprinkling on the cubit on this side, or the cubit on that side, we have no problem with it, and he has still fulfilled the mitzva.
מַאי רַבִּי וּמַאי רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן? דְּתַנְיָא: דָּמִים הָעֶלְיוֹנִים נִיתָּנִין מִחוּט הַסִּיקְרָא וּלְמַעְלָה, דָּמִים הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים נִיתָּנִין מִחוּט הַסִּיקְרָא וּלְמַטָּן. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי.
The Gemara discusses the aforementioned dispute. What is the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, and what is the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon? This is as it is taught in a baraita (Tosefta 6:11): The blood that must be placed on the upper half of the altar, e.g., the blood of a sin offering, is placed anywhere from the red line that circumscribed the middle of the altar and above. The blood that must be placed on the lower half of the altar is placed anywhere from the red line or below it. This is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi.
רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִין – בְּעוֹלַת הָעוֹף, אֲבָל בְּחַטַּאת בְּהֵמָה – הִיא עַצְמָהּ אֵין נַעֲשֵׂית אֶלָּא עַל גּוּפָהּ שֶׁל קֶרֶן.
The baraita continues: Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon says: In what case is this statement said? It is said with regard to a bird burnt offering, as its blood may be placed anywhere above the red line. But with regard to an animal sin offering, the placement itself may be performed only on the actual corner of the altar. This is based on the verse that states: “And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the corners of the altar of burnt offering” (Leviticus 4:25).
אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי? דִּכְתִיב: ״וְהַהַרְאֵל אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת, וּמֵהַהַרְאֵל וּלְמַעְלָה וְגוֹ׳״. אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת הוּא דְּהָוְיָא?! אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה: וּמְקוֹם קְרָנוֹת אַרְבַּע. מְקוֹם קְרָנוֹת אַרְבַּע הָוְיָא?! אֶלָּא אֵימָא: רְשׁוּת קְרָנוֹת אַרְבַּע.
Rabbi Abbahu says: What is the reason for the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi? As it is written: “And the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and above there shall be four corners” (Ezekiel 43:15). The Gemara asks: Was the altar only four cubits wide? Rav Adda bar Ahava said: And the total area of the four corners, which were each one square cubit, was four cubits. The Gemara asks: Was the area of the corners four square cubits? If the four corners would be placed together the area would be only two square cubits. Rather, say that the domain of the corners is four cubits. In other words, the verse means that the blood may be sprinkled up to four cubits beneath the actual corners of the altar.
תְּנַן הָתָם: חוּט שֶׁל סִיקְרָא חוֹגְרוֹ בָּאֶמְצַע, לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין דָּמִים הָעֶלְיוֹנִים לְדָמִים הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים. מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רַב אַחָא בַּר רַב קַטִּינָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָיְתָה הָרֶשֶׁת עַד חֲצִי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ״ – הַתּוֹרָה נָתְנָה מְחִיצָה לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין דָּמִים הָעֶלְיוֹנִים לְדָמִים הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים.
We learned in a mishna there (Middot 35b): A red line circumscribed the altar in the middle, to separate between the area for the blood that must be placed on the upper part of the altar and the area for the blood that must be placed on the lower part of the altar. The Gemara asks: From where is this matter derived? Rav Aḥa bar Rav Ketina said it is derived from a verse, as it is stated: “And you shall put it under the ledge round the altar beneath, and the net will reach halfway up the altar” (Exodus 27:5). The Torah provided for a separation on the altar, to separate between the area for the blood placed on the upper part of the altar and the area for the blood placed on the lower part of the altar.
שְׁיָרֵי הַדָּם כּוּ׳. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״אֶל יְסוֹד מִזְבֵּחַ״ – זֶה יְסוֹד דְּרוֹמִי. אַתָּה אוֹמֵר זֶה יְסוֹד דְּרוֹמִי; אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא יְסוֹד מַעֲרָבִי,
§ The mishna teaches: He would pour the remainder of the blood on the southern base of the altar. The Sages taught in a baraita: Concerning the phrase: “At the base of the altar” (Leviticus 4:30), mentioned with regard to pouring the remainder of the blood of the sin offering of a king, this is referring to the southern base of the altar. The baraita challenges: Do you say that this is referring to the southern base, or is it referring only to the western base?
וְיִלְמַד סָתוּם מִן הַמְפוֹרָשׁ? אָמַרְתָּ: יִלְמַד יְרִידָתוֹ מִן הַכֶּבֶשׁ לִיצִיאָתוֹ מִן הַהֵיכָל; מָה יְצִיאָתוֹ מִן הַהֵיכָל – בְּסָמוּךְ לוֹ, אַף יְרִידָתוֹ מִן הַכֶּבֶשׁ – בְּסָמוּךְ לוֹ.
The baraita suggests: And one can derive the meaning of this unspecified phrase from the meaning of the explicit phrase, as follows: You said that one can derive the location of the priest’s descent from the ramp of the external altar after sprinkling blood of the sin offering by comparing it to his exit from the Sanctuary with the blood that remained after having sprinkled blood inside the Sanctuary. The verse states with regard to the bull offering of the High Priest: “And all the remaining blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Leviticus 4:7). Just as upon his exit from the Sanctuary the priest pours the remainder of the blood on the side closest to him, the western side, so too, upon his descent from the ramp of the external altar after sprinkling blood from the sin offering, he pours the blood on the side closest to him, which is the southern side.
תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: זֶה וָזֶה יְסוֹד מַעֲרָבִי. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי אוֹמֵר: זֶה וָזֶה יְסוֹד דְּרוֹמִי.
It is taught in another baraita: Rabbi Yishmael says: This and that, both the remainder of the blood sprinkled inside the Sanctuary and the remainder of the blood sprinkled on the external altar, are poured on the western base of the altar. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: This and that are poured on the southern base of the altar.
בִּשְׁלָמָא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר יְסוֹד מַעֲרָבִי – קָסָבַר: יִלְמַד סָתוּם מִן הַמְפוֹרָשׁ.
The Gemara clarifies: Granted, according to the one who says that the blood is poured on the western base of the altar, it is clear how he derived his halakha. He holds that one can derive the meaning of an unspecified phrase from the meaning of the explicit phrase. Therefore, just as the remainder of the blood sprinkled inside the Sanctuary is poured on the western base of the external altar, the same is done with the remainder of the blood sprinkled on the external altar.
אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר יְסוֹד דְּרוֹמִי, מַאי טַעְמָא? אָמַר רַבִּי אַסִּי, קָסָבַר הַאי תַּנָּא: כּוּלֵּיהּ מִזְבֵּחַ בְּצָפוֹן קָאֵי. לִישָּׁנָא אַחֲרִינָא: כּוּלֵּיהּ פֶּתַח בְּדָרוֹם קָאֵי.
But according to the one who says that the blood is poured on the southern base of the altar, what is the reason? Rabbi Asi said: This tanna holds that the entire external altar stands in the north of the Temple courtyard. Therefore, the southern base is in the center of the courtyard, opposite the entrance to the Sanctuary. This is what the verse is referring to when it states: “At the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Leviticus 4:7). The Gemara presents another formulation of Rabbi Asi’s explanation: The entire entrance of the Sanctuary stands in the south of the altar. Accordingly, when the priest exits the Sanctuary the southern base is the first one he encounters.
תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל כְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי אוֹמְרִים: זֶה וָזֶה יְסוֹד מַעֲרָבִי. וְסִימָנֵיךְ: מָשְׁכוּ גַּבְרֵי לְגַבְרָא.
The school of Rabbi Yishmael, in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai, says: Both this and that, i.e., the blood of an inner sin offering and that of an external sin offering, were poured at the western base of the altar. According to this version, Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai agrees with the opinion of Rabbi Yishmael. The Gemara comments: And your mnemonic to remember this change in opinion is: The men pulled the man. In this case, the numerous students of Rabbi Yishmael claim that Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai agrees with their teacher.
מַתְנִי’ הָעוֹלָה קׇדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים, שְׁחִיטָתָהּ בַּצָּפוֹן, וְקִיבּוּל דָּמָהּ בִּכְלֵי שָׁרֵת בַּצָּפוֹן, וְדָמָהּ טָעוּן שְׁתֵּי מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁהֵן אַרְבַּע, וּטְעוּנָה הֶפְשֵׁט וְנִיתּוּחַ, וְכָלִיל לָאִשִּׁים.
MISHNA: The burnt offering is an offering of the most sacred order. Its slaughter is in the north of the Temple courtyard and the collection of its blood in a service vessel is in the north, and its blood requires two placements that are four, and it requires flaying of its carcass and the cutting of the sacrificial animal into pieces, and it is consumed in its entirety, with the exception of its hide, by the fire of the altar.
גְּמָ׳ עוֹלָה מַאי טַעְמָא תָּנֵי לֵיהּ קׇדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים? מִשּׁוּם דְּלָא כְּתִיב בַּהּ ״(לַה׳) קׇדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים הִיא״.
GEMARA: What is the reason that the tanna taught that a burnt offering is an offering of the most sacred order, when the mishna earlier (52b) did not mention that a sin offering is of the most sacred order? The Gemara answers: It is because in the Torah it is not written explicitly with regard to the burnt offering: It is most sacred, as it states concerning the sin offering and the guilt offering in a verse concerning a meal offering: “It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it as their portion of My offerings made by fire; it is most sacred, as the sin offering, and as the guilt offering” (Leviticus 6:10). Consequently, the tanna explicitly states that a burnt offering is likewise of the most sacred order.
וְדָמָהּ טָעוּן שְׁתֵּי מַתָּנוֹת. הֵיכִי עָבֵיד? אָמַר רַב: נוֹתֵן וְחוֹזֵר וְנוֹתֵן. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: מַתָּנָה אַחַת כְּמִין גַּמָּא נוֹתֵן.
The mishna teaches: And its blood requires two placements that are four. How does the priest perform the placements? Rav says: He places the blood on one side of the corner of the altar, and places it again on the other side of the corner of the altar. He repeats this on the diagonally opposite corner, so that he places on two corners but on all four sides of the altar. And Shmuel says: He places one placement on each of the two diagonally opposite corners, so that each placement is similar to the shape of the Greek letter gamma, which is bent at a right angle.
כְּתַנָּאֵי – יָכוֹל יִזְרְקֶנּוּ זְרִיקָה אַחַת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״סָבִיב״. אִי סָבִיב, יָכוֹל יַקִּיפֶנּוּ כְּחוּט? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וְזָרְקוּ״. הָא כֵּיצַד? כְּמִין גַּמָּא – וְדָמָהּ טָעוּן שְׁתֵּי מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁהֵן אַרְבַּע.
The Gemara comments: This dispute between Rav and Shmuel is like a dispute between tanna’im: One might have thought that a priest should sprinkle one sprinkling with the blood of a burnt offering. To counter this possibility, the verse states: “And sprinkle the blood around against the altar that is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Leviticus 1:5). If the blood must be sprinkled around the altar, one might have thought that he should circumscribe the altar as one would do with a thread, and sprinkle the blood all around. To counter this possibility, the verse states: “Shall present the blood, and sprinkle the blood around against the altar” (Leviticus 1:5), and one cannot have the blood circumscribe the altar as a thread would without directly applying it with a finger. How can these verses be reconciled? He applies the blood in a shape that is similar to that of the Greek letter gamma, and its blood requires two sprinklings that are four. This opinion accords with the opinion of Shmuel.
רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: נֶאֱמַר כָּאן ״סָבִיב״, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן ״סָבִיב״; מָה לְהַלָּן – פִּיסּוּק וְאַרְבַּע מַתָּנוֹת, אַף כָּאן – פִּיסּוּק וְאַרְבַּע מַתָּנוֹת.
The baraita continues: Rabbi Yishmael says: It is stated here: “Shall present the blood, and sprinkle the blood around against the altar” (Leviticus 1:5), and it is stated there, with regard to the sin offering sacrificed at the inauguration of the Tabernacle: “And when it was slain, Moses took the blood, and put it upon the corners of the altar around with his finger” (Leviticus 8:15). Just as there, with regard to the sin offering, the blood was placed discretely and with four placements, one on each corner, so too here, with regard to a burnt offering, it must be placed discretely and with four placements. This opinion accords with the opinion of Rav.
אִי – מָה לְהַלָּן אַרְבַּע מַתָּנוֹת עַל אַרְבַּע קְרָנוֹת, אַף כָּאן אַרְבַּע מַתָּנוֹת עַל אַרְבַּע קְרָנוֹת?! אָמַרְתָּ: עוֹלָה טְעוּנָה יְסוֹד; וְקֶרֶן מִזְרָחִית דְּרוֹמִית לֹא הָיָה לָהּ יְסוֹד.
If these offerings are compared to each other, why not say that just as there, the blood of the sin offering must have four placements on the four corners, so too here, the blood of the burnt offering requires four placements on the four corners? You said that a burnt offering requires that the blood be placed on a part of the altar that has a base, and the southeast corner of the altar had no base beneath it. Therefore, the blood had to be placed on the northeast corner and the southwest corner.
מַאי טַעְמָא? אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל טוֹרֵף. דְּאָמַר רַב שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר רַב יִצְחָק: מִזְבֵּחַ אוֹכֵל בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל יְהוּדָה אַמָּה.
The Gemara asks: What is the reason that there was no base on the southeast corner of the altar? Rabbi Elazar says: Because it was not in the portion of land of the one who tears, i.e., the tribe of Benjamin, as he is described in the following manner: “Benjamin is a wolf that tears apart; in the morning he devours the prey, and in the evening he divides the spoil” (Genesis 49:27). As Rav Shmuel, son of Rav Yitzḥak, says: The altar would consume, i.e., occupy, one cubit of the portion of Judah. The part of the altar in Judah’s portion was the southeast corner of the base, and therefore there was no base on that corner.
אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי בַּר חָמָא אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא: רְצוּעָה הָיְתָה יוֹצְאָה מֵחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל יְהוּדָה וְנִכְנֶסֶת בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל בִּנְיָמִין, וְהָיָה בִּנְיָמִין הַצַּדִּיק מִצְטַעֵר עָלֶיהָ בְּכׇל יוֹם לְנוֹטְלָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר:
Rabbi Levi bar Ḥama says that Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, says: A strip of land emerged from the portion of Judah and entered into the portion of Benjamin, and the southeast corner of the base was on that strip. And the tribe of Benjamin the righteous would agonize over it every day, desiring to take it into its portion, due to its unique sanctity. As it is stated in Moses’ blessing to the tribe of Benjamin:
New to Talmud?
Check out our resources designed to help you navigate a page of Talmud – and study at the pace, level and style that fits you.
The Hadran Women’s Tapestry
Meet the diverse women learning Gemara at Hadran and hear their stories.
Years ago, I attended the local Siyum HaShas with my high school class. It was inspiring! Through that cycle and the next one, I studied masekhtot on my own and then did “daf yomi practice.” The amazing Hadran Siyum HaShas event firmed my resolve to “really do” Daf Yomi this time. It has become a family goal. We’ve supported each other through challenges, and now we’re at the Siyum of Seder Moed!
Jerusalem, Israel
My curiosity was peaked after seeing posts about the end of the last cycle. I am always looking for opportunities to increase my Jewish literacy & I am someone that is drawn to habit and consistency. Dinnertime includes a “Guess what I learned on the daf” segment for my husband and 18 year old twins. I also love the feelings of connection with my colleagues who are also learning.
Tampa, United States
I started learning Gemara at the Yeshivah of Flatbush. And I resumed ‘ברוך ה decades later with Rabbanit Michele at Hadran. I started from Brachot and have had an exciting, rewarding experience throughout seder Moed!
Maale Adumim, Israel
I have joined the community of daf yomi learners at the start of this cycle. I have studied in different ways – by reading the page, translating the page, attending a local shiur and listening to Rabbanit Farber’s podcasts, depending on circumstances and where I was at the time. The reactions have been positive throughout – with no exception!
Guildford, United Kingdom
I began my journey two years ago at the beginning of this cycle of the daf yomi. It has been an incredible, challenging experience and has given me a new perspective of Torah Sh’baal Peh and the role it plays in our lives
Efrat, Israel
I never thought I’d be able to do Daf Yomi till I saw the video of Hadran’s Siyum HaShas. Now, 2 years later, I’m about to participate in Siyum Seder Mo’ed with my Hadran community. It has been an incredible privilege to learn with Rabbanit Michelle and to get to know so many caring, talented and knowledgeable women. I look forward with great anticipation and excitement to learning Seder Nashim.
Karmiel, Israel
I started learning Daf in Jan 2020 with Brachot b/c I had never seen the Jewish people united around something so positive, and I wanted to be a part of it. Also, I wanted to broaden my background in Torah Shebal Peh- Maayanot gave me a great gemara education, but I knew that I could hold a conversation in most parts of tanach but almost no TSB. I’m so thankful for Daf and have gained immensely.
NJ, United States
I started learning Jan 2020 when I heard the new cycle was starting. I had tried during the last cycle and didn’t make it past a few weeks. Learning online from old men didn’t speak to my soul and I knew Talmud had to be a soul journey for me. Enter Hadran! Talmud from Rabbanit Michelle Farber from a woman’s perspective, a mother’s perspective and a modern perspective. Motivated to continue!
Brentwood, California, United States
I decided to learn one masechet, Brachot, but quickly fell in love and never stopped! It has been great, everyone is always asking how it’s going and chering me on, and my students are always making sure I did the day’s daf.
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
I decided to give daf yomi a try when I heard about the siyum hashas in 2020. Once the pandemic hit, the daily commitment gave my days some much-needed structure. There have been times when I’ve felt like quitting- especially when encountering very technical details in the text. But then I tell myself, “Look how much you’ve done. You can’t stop now!” So I keep going & my Koren bookshelf grows…
Huntington, United States
I went to day school in Toronto but really began to learn when I attended Brovenders back in the early 1980’s. Last year after talking to my sister who was learning Daf Yomi, inspired, I looked on the computer and the Hadran site came up. I have been listening to each days shiur in the morning as I work. I emphasis listening since I am not sitting with a Gamara. I listen while I work in my studio.
Tekoa, Israel
After experiences over the years of asking to join gemara shiurim for men and either being refused by the maggid shiur or being the only women there, sometimes behind a mechitza, I found out about Hadran sometime during the tail end of Masechet Shabbat, I think. Life has been much better since then.
London, United Kingdom
I learned Mishnayot more than twenty years ago and started with Gemara much later in life. Although I never managed to learn Daf Yomi consistently, I am learning since some years Gemara in depth and with much joy. Since last year I am studying at the International Halakha Scholars Program at the WIHL. I often listen to Rabbanit Farbers Gemara shiurim to understand better a specific sugyiah. I am grateful for the help and inspiration!
Berlin, Germany
I began my Daf Yomi journey on January 5, 2020. I had never learned Talmud before. Initially it struck me as a bunch of inane and arcane details with mind bending logic. I am now smitten. Rabbanit Farber brings the page to life and I am eager to learn with her every day!
Highland Park, United States
I LOVE learning the Daf. I started with Shabbat. I join the morning Zoom with Reb Michelle and it totally grounds my day. When Corona hit us in Israel, I decided that I would use the Daf to keep myself sane, especially during the days when we could not venture out more than 300 m from our home. Now my husband and I have so much new material to talk about! It really is the best part of my day!
Hashmonaim, Israel
Attending the Siyyum in Jerusalem 26 months ago inspired me to become part of this community of learners. So many aspects of Jewish life have been illuminated by what we have learned in Seder Moed. My day is not complete without daf Yomi. I am so grateful to Rabbanit Michelle and the Hadran Community.
Newton, United States
I began my journey with Rabbanit Michelle more than five years ago. My friend came up with a great idea for about 15 of us to learn the daf and one of us would summarize weekly what we learned.
It was fun but after 2-3 months people began to leave. I have continued. Since the cycle began Again I have joined the Teaneck women.. I find it most rewarding in so many ways. Thank you
New Jersey, United States
In January 2020 on a Shabbaton to Baltimore I heard about the new cycle of Daf Yomi after the siyum celebration in NYC stadium. I started to read “ a daily dose of Talmud “ and really enjoyed it . It led me to google “ do Orthodox women study Talmud? “ and found HADRAN! Since then I listen to the podcast every morning, participate in classes and siyum. I love to learn, this is amazing! Thank you
Atlanta, United States
I heard about the syium in January 2020 & I was excited to start learning then the pandemic started. Learning Daf became something to focus on but also something stressful. As the world changed around me & my family I had to adjust my expectations for myself & the world. Daf Yomi & the Hadran podcast has been something I look forward to every day. It gives me a moment of centering & Judaism daily.
Denver, United States
I started learning on January 5, 2020. When I complete the 7+ year cycle I will be 70 years old. I had been intimidated by those who said that I needed to study Talmud in a traditional way with a chevruta, but I decided the learning was more important to me than the method. Thankful for Daf Yomi for Women helping me catch up when I fall behind, and also being able to celebrate with each Siyum!
Bakersfield, United States
Zevachim 53
עָלָה בַּכֶּבֶשׁ וּפָנָה לַסּוֹבֵב, וּבָא לוֹ לְקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית, מִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית, צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית, מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית. שְׁיָרֵי הַדָּם הָיָה שׁוֹפֵךְ עַל יְסוֹד דְּרוֹמִית, וְנֶאֱכָלִין לִפְנִים מִן הַקְּלָעִים לְזִכְרֵי כְהוּנָּה בְּכׇל מַאֲכָל, לְיוֹם וָלַיְלָה עַד חֲצוֹת.
He ascended the ramp of the altar and turned right to the surrounding ledge and he continued east, and he came to the southeast corner and sprinkled the blood of the sin offering there and then to the northeast corner and sprinkled the blood there, and then to the northwest corner and sprinkled the blood there, and the southwest corner, where he performed the fourth sprinkling and descended from the altar. He would pour the remainder of the blood on the southern base of the altar. And the meat portions of the offering are eaten within the curtains, i.e., in the Temple courtyard, by the males of the priesthood. And they are eaten prepared in any form of food preparation, on the day the offering is sacrificed and during the night that follows, until midnight.
גְּמָ׳ הֵיכִי עָבֵיד? רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר; חַד אָמַר: נוֹתֵן אַמָּה אֵילָךְ וְאַמָּה אֵילָךְ, וְחַד אָמַר: מְחַטֵּא וְיוֹרֵד כְּנֶגֶד חוּדּוֹ שֶׁל קֶרֶן.
GEMARA: How does the priest perform the rite of sprinkling the blood on the corners of the altar? There is a dispute between Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Elazar. One says that the priest places the blood within a cubit on this side or a cubit on that side. He places the blood wherever he wants, provided that it is within one cubit of the corner of the altar. And one says that he sprinkles the blood on the outer edge of the corner of the altar, and it flows down on both sides of the altar.
אַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, דְּאָמַר: הִיא עַצְמָהּ אֵינָהּ נַעֲשֵׂית אֶלָּא בְּגוּפָהּ שֶׁל קֶרֶן – דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי; כִּי פְּלִיגִי – אַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי. מָר סָבַר: אַמָּה אֵילָךְ וְאַמָּה אֵילָךְ – כְּנֶגֶד קֶרֶן הוּא; וּמָר סָבַר: כְּנֶגֶד חוּדָּהּ אִין, טְפֵי לָא.
The Gemara comments: According to the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, who says that the sprinkling of the blood of a sin offering itself is performed only on the actual corner, the one-by-one-cubit projection above each corner of the altar, everyone agrees that the blood may be sprinkled anywhere on the corner, and this will be a fulfillment of the verse: “And put it upon the corners of the altar of burnt offering” (Leviticus 4:25). When they disagree is only according to the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, who holds that the blood may be sprinkled anywhere above the red line on the edge of the altar. One Sage holds that the blood may be sprinkled on the cubit on either side of the edge, because a cubit on this side and a cubit on that side is still considered to be on the corner. And one Sage holds that on its edge, yes, it is fit, but any further on either side is not.
מֵיתִיבִי: חַטַּאת הַצִּיבּוּר וְהַיָּחִיד – כֵּיצַד מַתַּן דָּמָן? הָיָה עוֹלֶה לַכֶּבֶשׁ וּפָנָה לַסּוֹבֵב, וּבָא לוֹ לְקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית; וְטוֹבֵל בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ הַיְמָנִית – הַמְיוּמֶּנֶת שֶׁבַּיָּמִין – מִן הַדָּם שֶׁבַּמִּזְרָק; וְחוֹמֵר בְּגוּדָלוֹ מִלְּמַעְלָה וּבְאֶצְבָּעוֹ קְטַנָּה מִלְּמַטָּה, וּמְחַטֵּא וְיוֹרֵד כְּנֶגֶד חוּדָּהּ שֶׁל קֶרֶן, עַד שֶׁמְּכַלֶּה כָּל הַדָּם שֶׁבָּאֶצְבַּע. וְכֵן כׇּל קֶרֶן וָקֶרֶן.
The Gemara raises an objection to the opinion that one cubit on either side of the edge is still considered on the edge, from a baraita: With regard to communal sin offerings and individual sin offerings, how is the placement of their blood on the altar performed? The priest would ascend the ramp of the altar and turn right to the surrounding ledge and he continued east, and he would come to the southeast corner. And he would then dip with his right [haymanit] finger, the most dexterous [hamyumenet] of the right hand, i.e., the index finger, of the blood that is in the bowl, and would gather the blood with his thumb above and his smallest finger below, so that it would remain on his finger. And he would sprinkle the blood and move his hand down on the outer edge of the corner, until he would finish sprinkling all the blood that was on his finger. And he would act similarly at each and every corner. This baraita states explicitly that the blood must be sprinkled on the actual edge.
הָכִי קָאָמַר: מִצְוָה בְּחוּדָּהּ; אִי עֲבַד אַמָּה אֵילָךְ וְאַמָּה אֵילָךְ – לֵית לַן בַּהּ.
The Gemara answers: This is what the baraita is saying: The optimal manner to perform the mitzva is to sprinkle the blood on the edge of the corner. But if he did the sprinkling on the cubit on this side, or the cubit on that side, we have no problem with it, and he has still fulfilled the mitzva.
מַאי רַבִּי וּמַאי רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן? דְּתַנְיָא: דָּמִים הָעֶלְיוֹנִים נִיתָּנִין מִחוּט הַסִּיקְרָא וּלְמַעְלָה, דָּמִים הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים נִיתָּנִין מִחוּט הַסִּיקְרָא וּלְמַטָּן. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי.
The Gemara discusses the aforementioned dispute. What is the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, and what is the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon? This is as it is taught in a baraita (Tosefta 6:11): The blood that must be placed on the upper half of the altar, e.g., the blood of a sin offering, is placed anywhere from the red line that circumscribed the middle of the altar and above. The blood that must be placed on the lower half of the altar is placed anywhere from the red line or below it. This is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi.
רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִין – בְּעוֹלַת הָעוֹף, אֲבָל בְּחַטַּאת בְּהֵמָה – הִיא עַצְמָהּ אֵין נַעֲשֵׂית אֶלָּא עַל גּוּפָהּ שֶׁל קֶרֶן.
The baraita continues: Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon says: In what case is this statement said? It is said with regard to a bird burnt offering, as its blood may be placed anywhere above the red line. But with regard to an animal sin offering, the placement itself may be performed only on the actual corner of the altar. This is based on the verse that states: “And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the corners of the altar of burnt offering” (Leviticus 4:25).
אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי? דִּכְתִיב: ״וְהַהַרְאֵל אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת, וּמֵהַהַרְאֵל וּלְמַעְלָה וְגוֹ׳״. אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת הוּא דְּהָוְיָא?! אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה: וּמְקוֹם קְרָנוֹת אַרְבַּע. מְקוֹם קְרָנוֹת אַרְבַּע הָוְיָא?! אֶלָּא אֵימָא: רְשׁוּת קְרָנוֹת אַרְבַּע.
Rabbi Abbahu says: What is the reason for the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi? As it is written: “And the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and above there shall be four corners” (Ezekiel 43:15). The Gemara asks: Was the altar only four cubits wide? Rav Adda bar Ahava said: And the total area of the four corners, which were each one square cubit, was four cubits. The Gemara asks: Was the area of the corners four square cubits? If the four corners would be placed together the area would be only two square cubits. Rather, say that the domain of the corners is four cubits. In other words, the verse means that the blood may be sprinkled up to four cubits beneath the actual corners of the altar.
תְּנַן הָתָם: חוּט שֶׁל סִיקְרָא חוֹגְרוֹ בָּאֶמְצַע, לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין דָּמִים הָעֶלְיוֹנִים לְדָמִים הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים. מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רַב אַחָא בַּר רַב קַטִּינָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָיְתָה הָרֶשֶׁת עַד חֲצִי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ״ – הַתּוֹרָה נָתְנָה מְחִיצָה לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין דָּמִים הָעֶלְיוֹנִים לְדָמִים הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים.
We learned in a mishna there (Middot 35b): A red line circumscribed the altar in the middle, to separate between the area for the blood that must be placed on the upper part of the altar and the area for the blood that must be placed on the lower part of the altar. The Gemara asks: From where is this matter derived? Rav Aḥa bar Rav Ketina said it is derived from a verse, as it is stated: “And you shall put it under the ledge round the altar beneath, and the net will reach halfway up the altar” (Exodus 27:5). The Torah provided for a separation on the altar, to separate between the area for the blood placed on the upper part of the altar and the area for the blood placed on the lower part of the altar.
שְׁיָרֵי הַדָּם כּוּ׳. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״אֶל יְסוֹד מִזְבֵּחַ״ – זֶה יְסוֹד דְּרוֹמִי. אַתָּה אוֹמֵר זֶה יְסוֹד דְּרוֹמִי; אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא יְסוֹד מַעֲרָבִי,
§ The mishna teaches: He would pour the remainder of the blood on the southern base of the altar. The Sages taught in a baraita: Concerning the phrase: “At the base of the altar” (Leviticus 4:30), mentioned with regard to pouring the remainder of the blood of the sin offering of a king, this is referring to the southern base of the altar. The baraita challenges: Do you say that this is referring to the southern base, or is it referring only to the western base?
וְיִלְמַד סָתוּם מִן הַמְפוֹרָשׁ? אָמַרְתָּ: יִלְמַד יְרִידָתוֹ מִן הַכֶּבֶשׁ לִיצִיאָתוֹ מִן הַהֵיכָל; מָה יְצִיאָתוֹ מִן הַהֵיכָל – בְּסָמוּךְ לוֹ, אַף יְרִידָתוֹ מִן הַכֶּבֶשׁ – בְּסָמוּךְ לוֹ.
The baraita suggests: And one can derive the meaning of this unspecified phrase from the meaning of the explicit phrase, as follows: You said that one can derive the location of the priest’s descent from the ramp of the external altar after sprinkling blood of the sin offering by comparing it to his exit from the Sanctuary with the blood that remained after having sprinkled blood inside the Sanctuary. The verse states with regard to the bull offering of the High Priest: “And all the remaining blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Leviticus 4:7). Just as upon his exit from the Sanctuary the priest pours the remainder of the blood on the side closest to him, the western side, so too, upon his descent from the ramp of the external altar after sprinkling blood from the sin offering, he pours the blood on the side closest to him, which is the southern side.
תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: זֶה וָזֶה יְסוֹד מַעֲרָבִי. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי אוֹמֵר: זֶה וָזֶה יְסוֹד דְּרוֹמִי.
It is taught in another baraita: Rabbi Yishmael says: This and that, both the remainder of the blood sprinkled inside the Sanctuary and the remainder of the blood sprinkled on the external altar, are poured on the western base of the altar. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: This and that are poured on the southern base of the altar.
בִּשְׁלָמָא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר יְסוֹד מַעֲרָבִי – קָסָבַר: יִלְמַד סָתוּם מִן הַמְפוֹרָשׁ.
The Gemara clarifies: Granted, according to the one who says that the blood is poured on the western base of the altar, it is clear how he derived his halakha. He holds that one can derive the meaning of an unspecified phrase from the meaning of the explicit phrase. Therefore, just as the remainder of the blood sprinkled inside the Sanctuary is poured on the western base of the external altar, the same is done with the remainder of the blood sprinkled on the external altar.
אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר יְסוֹד דְּרוֹמִי, מַאי טַעְמָא? אָמַר רַבִּי אַסִּי, קָסָבַר הַאי תַּנָּא: כּוּלֵּיהּ מִזְבֵּחַ בְּצָפוֹן קָאֵי. לִישָּׁנָא אַחֲרִינָא: כּוּלֵּיהּ פֶּתַח בְּדָרוֹם קָאֵי.
But according to the one who says that the blood is poured on the southern base of the altar, what is the reason? Rabbi Asi said: This tanna holds that the entire external altar stands in the north of the Temple courtyard. Therefore, the southern base is in the center of the courtyard, opposite the entrance to the Sanctuary. This is what the verse is referring to when it states: “At the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Leviticus 4:7). The Gemara presents another formulation of Rabbi Asi’s explanation: The entire entrance of the Sanctuary stands in the south of the altar. Accordingly, when the priest exits the Sanctuary the southern base is the first one he encounters.
תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל כְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי אוֹמְרִים: זֶה וָזֶה יְסוֹד מַעֲרָבִי. וְסִימָנֵיךְ: מָשְׁכוּ גַּבְרֵי לְגַבְרָא.
The school of Rabbi Yishmael, in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai, says: Both this and that, i.e., the blood of an inner sin offering and that of an external sin offering, were poured at the western base of the altar. According to this version, Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai agrees with the opinion of Rabbi Yishmael. The Gemara comments: And your mnemonic to remember this change in opinion is: The men pulled the man. In this case, the numerous students of Rabbi Yishmael claim that Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai agrees with their teacher.
מַתְנִי’ הָעוֹלָה קׇדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים, שְׁחִיטָתָהּ בַּצָּפוֹן, וְקִיבּוּל דָּמָהּ בִּכְלֵי שָׁרֵת בַּצָּפוֹן, וְדָמָהּ טָעוּן שְׁתֵּי מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁהֵן אַרְבַּע, וּטְעוּנָה הֶפְשֵׁט וְנִיתּוּחַ, וְכָלִיל לָאִשִּׁים.
MISHNA: The burnt offering is an offering of the most sacred order. Its slaughter is in the north of the Temple courtyard and the collection of its blood in a service vessel is in the north, and its blood requires two placements that are four, and it requires flaying of its carcass and the cutting of the sacrificial animal into pieces, and it is consumed in its entirety, with the exception of its hide, by the fire of the altar.
גְּמָ׳ עוֹלָה מַאי טַעְמָא תָּנֵי לֵיהּ קׇדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים? מִשּׁוּם דְּלָא כְּתִיב בַּהּ ״(לַה׳) קׇדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים הִיא״.
GEMARA: What is the reason that the tanna taught that a burnt offering is an offering of the most sacred order, when the mishna earlier (52b) did not mention that a sin offering is of the most sacred order? The Gemara answers: It is because in the Torah it is not written explicitly with regard to the burnt offering: It is most sacred, as it states concerning the sin offering and the guilt offering in a verse concerning a meal offering: “It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it as their portion of My offerings made by fire; it is most sacred, as the sin offering, and as the guilt offering” (Leviticus 6:10). Consequently, the tanna explicitly states that a burnt offering is likewise of the most sacred order.
וְדָמָהּ טָעוּן שְׁתֵּי מַתָּנוֹת. הֵיכִי עָבֵיד? אָמַר רַב: נוֹתֵן וְחוֹזֵר וְנוֹתֵן. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: מַתָּנָה אַחַת כְּמִין גַּמָּא נוֹתֵן.
The mishna teaches: And its blood requires two placements that are four. How does the priest perform the placements? Rav says: He places the blood on one side of the corner of the altar, and places it again on the other side of the corner of the altar. He repeats this on the diagonally opposite corner, so that he places on two corners but on all four sides of the altar. And Shmuel says: He places one placement on each of the two diagonally opposite corners, so that each placement is similar to the shape of the Greek letter gamma, which is bent at a right angle.
כְּתַנָּאֵי – יָכוֹל יִזְרְקֶנּוּ זְרִיקָה אַחַת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״סָבִיב״. אִי סָבִיב, יָכוֹל יַקִּיפֶנּוּ כְּחוּט? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וְזָרְקוּ״. הָא כֵּיצַד? כְּמִין גַּמָּא – וְדָמָהּ טָעוּן שְׁתֵּי מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁהֵן אַרְבַּע.
The Gemara comments: This dispute between Rav and Shmuel is like a dispute between tanna’im: One might have thought that a priest should sprinkle one sprinkling with the blood of a burnt offering. To counter this possibility, the verse states: “And sprinkle the blood around against the altar that is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Leviticus 1:5). If the blood must be sprinkled around the altar, one might have thought that he should circumscribe the altar as one would do with a thread, and sprinkle the blood all around. To counter this possibility, the verse states: “Shall present the blood, and sprinkle the blood around against the altar” (Leviticus 1:5), and one cannot have the blood circumscribe the altar as a thread would without directly applying it with a finger. How can these verses be reconciled? He applies the blood in a shape that is similar to that of the Greek letter gamma, and its blood requires two sprinklings that are four. This opinion accords with the opinion of Shmuel.
רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: נֶאֱמַר כָּאן ״סָבִיב״, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן ״סָבִיב״; מָה לְהַלָּן – פִּיסּוּק וְאַרְבַּע מַתָּנוֹת, אַף כָּאן – פִּיסּוּק וְאַרְבַּע מַתָּנוֹת.
The baraita continues: Rabbi Yishmael says: It is stated here: “Shall present the blood, and sprinkle the blood around against the altar” (Leviticus 1:5), and it is stated there, with regard to the sin offering sacrificed at the inauguration of the Tabernacle: “And when it was slain, Moses took the blood, and put it upon the corners of the altar around with his finger” (Leviticus 8:15). Just as there, with regard to the sin offering, the blood was placed discretely and with four placements, one on each corner, so too here, with regard to a burnt offering, it must be placed discretely and with four placements. This opinion accords with the opinion of Rav.
אִי – מָה לְהַלָּן אַרְבַּע מַתָּנוֹת עַל אַרְבַּע קְרָנוֹת, אַף כָּאן אַרְבַּע מַתָּנוֹת עַל אַרְבַּע קְרָנוֹת?! אָמַרְתָּ: עוֹלָה טְעוּנָה יְסוֹד; וְקֶרֶן מִזְרָחִית דְּרוֹמִית לֹא הָיָה לָהּ יְסוֹד.
If these offerings are compared to each other, why not say that just as there, the blood of the sin offering must have four placements on the four corners, so too here, the blood of the burnt offering requires four placements on the four corners? You said that a burnt offering requires that the blood be placed on a part of the altar that has a base, and the southeast corner of the altar had no base beneath it. Therefore, the blood had to be placed on the northeast corner and the southwest corner.
מַאי טַעְמָא? אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל טוֹרֵף. דְּאָמַר רַב שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר רַב יִצְחָק: מִזְבֵּחַ אוֹכֵל בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל יְהוּדָה אַמָּה.
The Gemara asks: What is the reason that there was no base on the southeast corner of the altar? Rabbi Elazar says: Because it was not in the portion of land of the one who tears, i.e., the tribe of Benjamin, as he is described in the following manner: “Benjamin is a wolf that tears apart; in the morning he devours the prey, and in the evening he divides the spoil” (Genesis 49:27). As Rav Shmuel, son of Rav Yitzḥak, says: The altar would consume, i.e., occupy, one cubit of the portion of Judah. The part of the altar in Judah’s portion was the southeast corner of the base, and therefore there was no base on that corner.
אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי בַּר חָמָא אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא: רְצוּעָה הָיְתָה יוֹצְאָה מֵחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל יְהוּדָה וְנִכְנֶסֶת בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל בִּנְיָמִין, וְהָיָה בִּנְיָמִין הַצַּדִּיק מִצְטַעֵר עָלֶיהָ בְּכׇל יוֹם לְנוֹטְלָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר:
Rabbi Levi bar Ḥama says that Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, says: A strip of land emerged from the portion of Judah and entered into the portion of Benjamin, and the southeast corner of the base was on that strip. And the tribe of Benjamin the righteous would agonize over it every day, desiring to take it into its portion, due to its unique sanctity. As it is stated in Moses’ blessing to the tribe of Benjamin:
