Saturday 24 November 2018

Menachot 106: Brining Wood - and an Offering?

Toward the end of today's daf, we are introduced to a new Mishna.  It teaches that when one obligates oneself to bring wood to the Temple, one must bring two pieces of wood or more.  These these are usually placed on the altar beside each other each morning and afternoon.  

A baraita says that bringing wood to the Temple is the same as obligating oneself to bringing a sacrifice.  Proof texts point to the use of the seemingly superfluous word korban, sacrifice in Vayikra (2:1 or 1:2) and mention of "the sacrifice of wood" in Sefer Nechemya (10:35).  

Perhaps, as asserted by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, wood must bee brought to the Altar with ceremony - and with salt - like any other sacrifice.  Rava suggests that the wood needs kemitza, the fistful of flour, as well, if it is to be considered a sacrifice.  But if wood requires the halachot of both offerings and meal offerings, it is suggesting that the two types of sacrifices are somewhat similar to each other.  And how would kemitza be done on wood?  Rashi says that soft chips must be cut from the wood or all of the wood should be processed into smaller chips.  Tosafot interpret this as meaning that all laws of kemitza apply (the process of obtaining the handful in a priest's right hand, placing it into a special vessel, etc.)

The Peirush Kadmon (Masechet Me'ila) argues that the intent is not to introduce kemiza, but to teach that one who contributes wood must bring a meal offering as well, including salt and any other special requirements of this offering.

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