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Pesachim 8:6-7

Pesachim 8:6

Others slaughter the Passover offering on behalf of the following types of people: one who has lost a close relative (and may not eat sacrifices, but after nightfall he may), one who is removing a mound from a trapped person (who may turn out to be living or dead), one who was promised a release from prison (which might not happen), and sick and elderly people, who are physically incapable of eating an olive-sized portion of the Passover offering. We do not, however, slaughter only for these types of people, and if one did, the sacrifice is invalid. If one slaughtered the offering for a group and any of these disqualifications later occurred, the affected party need not bring a make-up sacrifice on second Passover, except for one removing a mound from a trapped person. This is because if the person turns out to be dead, his rescuer was ritually unclean the whole time, he just didn’t know it until the victim was unearthed.

Pesachim 8:7

Rabbi Yehuda said that a Passover offering may not be offered for a single person (because he won’t be able to finish it and will leave leftovers); Rabbi Yosi allows it (assuming that one feels able to eat the whole thing himself.) Even if there is a group of 100 people, none of whom are physically able to eat an olive-sized portion of the offering, it may not be slaughtered exclusively for them. A group is not formed of a combination of women, servants and minors (though women and servants may form their own groups. Minors may not).

Author: Rabbi Jack Abramowitz