Playback speed

Zevachim 6:7-7:1

Zevachim 6:7

If the kohein nipped the head of a bird sin offering under the wrong name, if he drained its blood under the wrong name, or under its own name and the wrong name, or under the wrong name and its own name, the sacrifice is invalid. In the case of a bird burnt offering, the sacrifice is valid but the owners do not fulfill their obligation. Regarding both a sin offering and a burnt offering of birds on which the kohein nipped the head or drained the blood, if he had the intention to eat what is normally eaten (the sin offering) or to burn what is normally burned (the burnt offering) outside of its proper place, it is invalid but one is not liable to the penalty of kareis (excision). If he had the intention to eat or burn it after its proper time, then the sacrifice is piggul and one is liable to kareis – but only if that which renders the sacrifice permitted (i.e., draining the blood) is offered according to halacha, as follows: If he nipped the head in silence (i.e., without any improper intentions) and he drained the blood intending to eat or burn after the proper time, or if he nipped the head intending after the proper time and drained the blood without improper intention, or if he nipped the head and drained the blood intending after the proper time, this is “that which renders the sacrifice permitted offered according to halacha.” Conversely, if he nipped the head intending to eat or burn the sacrifice outside of its proper place and drained the blood intending to eat or burn it after its proper time, or if he nipped the head intending after its proper time and drained the blood intending outside of its proper place, or if he nipped the head and drained the blood intending outside of its proper place, or if the kohein nipped the head of a bird sin offering under the wrong name and drained the blood intending to eat or burn it after its proper time, or if he nipped the head intending after its proper time and drained the blood under the wrong name, or if he nipped the head and drained the blood under the wrong name – these are all cases of “that which renders the sacrifice permitted offered not according to halacha.” If he intended to eat an olive-sized portion outside and an olive-sized portion the next day, or an olive-sized portion the next day and an olive-sized portion outside, or half an olive-sized portion outside and half an olive-sized portion the next day, or half an olive-sized portion the next day and half an olive-sized portion outside – in all of these cases the sacrifice is invalid but one is not liable to kareis. Rabbi Yehuda stated the general principle that if improper intention about time precedes improper intention about place, then a sacrifice is piggul and one is liable to kareis; if improper intention about place precedes improper intention about time, then a sacrifice is invalid but one is not liable to kareis. The Sages say that in either scenario the sacrifice is invalid but one is not liable to kareis. If one intended to eat half an olive-sized portion and to burn half an olive-sized portion, the sacrifice remains valid because the volumes of eating and burning do not combine.

Zevachim 7: 1

If a bird sin offering was offered below the line but in the manner of a sin offering and under the name of a sin offering, then the sacrifice is valid. If it was offered in the manner of a sin offering under the name of a burnt offering, in the manner of a burnt offering under the name of a sin offering, or in the manner of a burnt offering under the name of a burnt offering, then it is invalid. If he offered a sin offering in any of these manner above the line, it is invalid (for eating but atonement is effected).

Author: Rabbi Jack Abramowitz