12th CYCLE DEDICATION
SOTAH 15 (5 Sivan) - Dedicated l'Zecher Nishmas Reb Chaim Aryeh ben Aharon Stern Z'L by Shmuel Gut of Brooklyn, N.Y.

1)

THE PROCEDURE OF MENACHOS [last line of previous Amud]

(a)

(Beraisa): He takes it up and burns it in a Kli Shares.

(b)

Question: This cannot be! (It is burned on the Mizbe'ach after it is salted!)

(c)

Answer: Rather, he takes it up in order to burn it.

(d)

(Beraisa): He salts it and puts it on the fire.

(e)

We learn from "you will salt all your Menachos."

(f)

(Beraisa): After the Kometz is offered, the remainder of the Minchah may be eaten.

1.

We learn from "the Kohen will burn Azkarasah (the Kometz, which makes it pleasing to Hash-m)." "The rest of the Minchah is to Aharon and his children."

(g)

Amora'im argue about the offering of the Kometz:

1.

(R. Chanina): Once Kometz catches fire, the rest of the Minchah may be eaten;

2.

(R. Yochanan): Once he majority of the Kometz catches fire, the rest of the Minchah may be eaten.

(h)

(Beraisa): The Kohanim may mix it with wine, oil, and honey.

(i)

Question: Why is this allowed?

(j)

Answer: Kodshim are "for grandeur." They are eaten royally.

(k)

(Beraisa): The only Isur is to ferment it.

(l)

(Reish Lakish): "Do not bake their portion to be Chametz..." - even their portion may not be baked to be Chametz.

2)

THE SOTAH OFFERING IS UNIQUE [line 16]

(a)

(Mishnah): All (other) Menachos require oil and frankincense...

(b)

Question: This is not true! It says about Minchas Chotei (a Minchah that a very poor person brings in place of a Korban Chatas for certain Aveiros) "do not put on it oil, and do not put on it frankincense!"

(c)

Answer: The Mishnah means that (standard) Menachos require oil and frankincense, come from wheat, and from fine flour;

1.

Minchas Chotei, even though it does not require oil and frankincense, comes from wheat, and from fine flour;

2.

Minchas ha'Omer, even though it comes from barley, requires oil and frankincense, and comes from finely sifted (barley) flour.

3.

Minchas Sotah does not require oil and frankincense, and it comes from unsifted barley flour.

(d)

(Beraisa - R. Shimon): Really, Minchas Chotei should require oil and frankincense, so that a sinner should not save money;

1.

The Torah said that it does not, in order that his Korban will not be glorious.

(e)

Really, a (standard) Chatas (a lamb or kid, e.g. for eating) Chelev should require Nesachim (accompanying flour and wine offerings), in order that a sinner should not save money;

1.

The Torah said that it does not, in order that his Korban will not be glorious.

2.

The Chatas of a Metzora and his Korban Asham do require Nesachim, for they do not come for a sin.

(f)

Objection: But R. Shmuel bar Nachmani taught, Tzara'as comes for a punishment for (even one of) seven specific sins!

(g)

Answer: Suffering the Tzara'as is the atonement. The Korban merely permits him to eat Kodshim.

(h)

Question: If so, the Chatas of a Nazir should require Nesachim, for it does not come for a sin!

(i)

Answer: R. Shimon holds like R. Eliezer ha'Kapar, who says that a Nazir is a sinner.

(j)

(Mishnah - R. Gamliel): Just like (her actions were like those of an animal...)

(k)

(Beraisa - R. Gamliel): Allow me to make a beautiful exposition:

15b----------------------------------------15b

1.

R. Meir (8b) said, since she fed the Bo'el delicacies, therefore her Korban is animal food.

2.

R. Gamliel: That applies to a rich woman, but not to a poor woman!

i.

Rather, since she did an animal act, her Korban is animal food.

3)

TAKING THE WATER [line 5]

(a)

(Mishnah): The Kohen takes an earthenware flask, and puts in it a half Log of water from the Kiyor (fountain. A Log is about a half liter);

(b)

R. Yehudah says, he puts in a quarter Log.

1.

Just like R. Yehudah requires a smaller passage to be written in the scroll, he also requires a smaller quantity of water.

(c)

The Kohen enters the Heichal and turns to his right. There was a place, one Amah by one Amah, covered by marble with a ring (handle) attached.

1.

He lifts the cover, takes soil from underneath, and puts on the water so it may be seen on the surface - "from the soil in the ground of the Mishkan, the Kohen will take and put into the water."

(d)

(Gemara - Beraisa - R. Yishmael): A new earthenware flask is required.

(e)

Question: What is his source?

(f)

Answer #1: He learns from a Gezeirah Shavah "Kli-Kli" from a Metzora:

1.

Just like a Metzora needs a new earthenware Kli, also a Sotah.

2.

Question: What is the source that a Metzora needs a new earthenware Kli?

3.

Answer: "He will slaughter one bird into an earthenware Kli, on Mayim Chayim (flowing water).

i.

Just like flowing water was not used before, we require a Kli that was not used before.

4.

Question: If he learns a Sotah's Kli from a Metzora's Kli, he should also learn about the water, and require flowing water for a Sotah!

5.

Answer: Indeed, R. Yishmael requires this!

i.

(R. Yochanan): R. Yishmael requires that water of the Kiyor come from a spring. Chachamim allow other (Mikvah) water.

(g)

Objection: We cannot learn Sotah from Metzora. A Metzora is more stringent. His Taharah requires cedar, hyssop and scarlet thread!

(h)

Answer #2 (Rabah): He learns from "in an earthenware Kli" - the Kli already mentioned (i.e. regarding a Metzora).

(i)

(Rava): Chachamim permit a used Kli only if it has not blackened (from cooking). If its face blackened, it is invalid.

1.

Just like water is unchanged, the Kli must be unchanged.

(j)

Question (Rava): If it had blackened, and it was returned to a furnace and remade, what is the law?

1.

Do we say, once it became invalid, it remains invalid?

2.

Or, do we say, since it is new again, it is valid?

(k)

Answer (Beraisa): R. Elazar (Tosfos' text - R. Eliezer) says, if one carried a bundle on his back, hanging from cedar, hyssop and scarlet thread, they are unfit for a Metzora.

1.

Even though they can be bent back into shape, they remain invalid!

(l)

Rejection: This is no proof. The case is, some of the wood peeled off, and they cannot be restored.

(m)

(Mishnah): He enters the Heichal, turns to the right...

1.

Every time one turns, he should turn to the right.

(n)

(Mishnah): There was a place there, one Amah...

(o)

(Beraisa #1) Suggestion: "From the soil that will be" - perhaps one may bring in soil from outside!

1.

Rejection: He takes from "in the ground of the Mishkan."

2.

Suggestion: Perhaps he must dig with an axe!

3.

Rejection: "That will be."

4.

Resolution: If there is (loose) soil in the ground of the Mishkan, he takes it. If not, he brings from outside.

(p)

(Beraisa #2 - Isi ben Yehudah): "From the soil that will be..." teaches that he may take soil from the outside;

1.

"In the ground of the Mishkan" includes the Mishkenos of Shilo, Nov, Givon, and the Beis ha'Mikdash.