Siman - Yoma Daf 22
- Why a lottery was not originally instituted for the תרומת הדשן
The opening Mishnah of the second perek states בראשונה כל מי שרוצה לתרום את המזבח תורם - At first, any Kohen who wanted to do the terumas hadeshen, which is separating the ash from the mizbayach, may do so. The Gemara asks why did the Rabbanon not depend on casting lots to select a Kohen for the avodah, which was the method used for all the other daily avodos, and answers that at first the Rabbanon thought כיון דעבודת לילה היא לא חשיבא להו ולא אתו – since the terumas hadeshen is a nighttime avodah it would not be considered important by the Kohanim, and they would not come to quarrel over it. But once the Rabbanon saw that the Kohanim fight over the matter תקינו לה פייסא – they instituted casting lots for the position.
Others explain the reason, that originally the Rabbanon thought that כיון דאיכה אונס שינה – since at the time the ashes are separated, before daybreak, there is an overwhelming desire to sleep on the part of many people, the Kohanim will not volunteer for this service. When they saw that they did come and it led to a sakanah, they instituted the פייס. When the Gemara challenges this answer, since burning the limbs and fats is done late at night when there is a desire to go to sleep, yet Kohanim were selected by lots, the Gemara answers that a person’s inclination to go to sleep is not as strong as his inclination to stay sleeping and not wake up.
- The prohibition of counting Jews
The Mishnah taught that in the case that two Kohanim raced up the ramp and reached the top at the same time, a Temple appointee would have the Kohanim put out their fingers for a count, to see who would be selected to do the terumas hadeshen. The Gemara asks why they did not simply count the Kohanim, and answers that the Mishnah supports Rebbe Yitzchak, who taught, אסור למנות את ישראל אפילו לדבר מצוה – It is forbidden to count Jews through a headcount even for the purpose of a mitzvah, as it is written regarding Shaul counting his soldiers, ויפקדם בבזק – he counted them with pot shards. Rav Ashi says it is learned from וישמע שאול את העם ויפקדם בטלאים – And Shaul had all the people summoned, and he counted them through lambs.
Rebbe Elazar said, כל המונה את ישראל עובר בלאו – Whoever counts Jews transgresses a negative commandment, as it is written, והיה מספר בני ישראל כחול הים אשר לא ימד – The number of bnei Yisroel will be like the sand of the sea which cannot be counted. Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak says, he transgresses two lavin, as it is written, לא ימד ולא יספר – which cannot be measured or counted.
- Why Shaul’s malchus did not endure
Rav Yehudah said in the name of Shmuel, why did the malchus of Beis Shaul not endure? מפני שלא היה בו שום דופי – Because there was no flaw of yichus in his family. Rashi explains that the kings destined to issue from him would therefore rule arrogantly. Dovid’s malchus endured because he was descended from Rus who was from Moav. This explanation is based on what Rebbe Yochanan said in the name of Rebbe Shimon ben Yehotzadak, אין מעמידין פרנס על הציבור אלא אם כן קופה של שרצים תלויה לו מאחריו – We do not appoint a leader of the community unless he has a box of creeping creatures hanging behind him, meaning he has flaws in his yichus, שאם תזוח דעתו עליו אומרין לו חזור מאחריך – so that if he becomes arrogant, we can say to him, “Turn around and see what is behind you.”
