Shekalim 4:6-7

Shekalim 4:6

If a person consecrates his possessions and they happen to include things suitable for the communal sacrifices (such as ingredients for making the incense), Rabbi Akiva says these things should be given to the craftsmen as their wages. Ben Azzai told him, “That is incorrect. They put aside the wages for the craftsmen from this, they redeem it, they give it to the craftsmen as wages and they buy it back with new money withdrawn from the treasury” (the process described in mishna 4:5).

Shekalim 4:7

Let’s say that a person consecrates his possessions and they happen to include things suitable to be sacrificed on the altar. Rabbi Eliezer says that male animals should be sold to people who need to make burnt offerings and female animals should be sold to people who need to make peace offerings. The proceeds from selling these animals should be used towards the upkeep of the Temple, as with other property. Rabbi Yehoshua says that male animals should be used as burnt offerings and female animals should be sold to people who need to make peace offerings; the proceeds are used to purchase burnt offerings and the rest of the property goes towards the upkeep of the Temple. Rabbi Akiva says that he prefers Rabbi Eliezer’s opinion because he treats everything consistently and Rabbi Yehoshua differentiates between different types of animals. Rabbi Papyas says he heard corroboration for both opinions: if a person specifically consecrates his animals, the procedure is as Rabbi Eliezer described it, and if one does not specifically consecrate his animals (including them among all his property in general), the procedure is as Rabbi Yehoshua described it.