Zevachim 52: חוּט שֶׁל סִיקְרָא חוֹגְרוֹ בָּאֶמְצַע

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The Mishna that begins on our daf discusses the placement of both communal and individual sin-offerings. They are slaughtered on the northern side of the Temple courtyard, where the blood of the sacrifice is collected. That blood is taken by the kohen to the altar where it is placed on each of the four corners of the mizbe’aḥ. The Mishna specifies that the kohen is to walk up the ramp and walk along the sovev – the edge surrounding the altar – beginning with the southeastern corner, and continuing to the northeastern corner, the northwestern corner and finally the southwestern corner, placing the blood on each one of the corners in succession.

We explore the meaning and myth of the chut hasikra.

Zevachim 51: אֶל יְסוֹד מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה

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According to the Mishna (47a), the remnants of the blood of a korban ḥatat – a sin-offering – that was brought in the inner sanctum of the Temple, was poured out on the foundation of the altar that stood outside of the Temple, in the Temple courtyard.

Of the various sin-offerings, those that were brought by the High Priest (see Vayikra 4:3-12) and those that were brought by the Sanhedrin on behalf of the entire community (see Vayikra 4:13-21), as well as those brought on Yom Kippur (see Vayikra 16:3, 15) were brought on the inner altar; the others were brought on the altar that was outside in the Temple courtyard (see, for example, the sin-offering of the king, Vayikra 4:22-26 or an individual sinner, Vayikra 4:27-35). In the case of the korbanot that were brought on the inner altar, sprinkling the blood – which, as we have learned, was an essential part of the sacrificial service – took place within the confines of the Temple. Nevertheless, what was left over after the blood was sprinkled was poured out on the altar that stood outside of the Temple, in the courtyard.

We examine a fundamental tension between biblical and rabbinic approaches to sacrificial efficacy. The biblical text of Leviticus 4 presents sacrifice as an integrated ritual whole that 'makes atonement,' without atomizing the process into efficacious and non-efficacious components. The Talmudic tradition, by contrast, engages in precise analytical atomization, identifying specific moments and actions that 'effect atonement' (mekaper) while designating others as ritually necessary but soteriologically inert.

Zevachim 50: דָּבָר הַלָּמֵד בִּגְזֵירָה שָׁוָה

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The Gemara on our daf examines whether rules are true in all cases where the source of the original law is not a clear biblical passage but is learned by means of some exegetical derivation. For example, can something learned from a hekesh be used to teach based on:

• a gezeira shava?

• a kal vaḥomer?

• a binyan av?

All of these methods of analysis are among the midot she-haTorah nidreshet bahem – the hermeneutical principles established by the Sages and used to derive laws from the Torah. 

Gezeira shava – is a verbal analogy. If the same word or phrase appears in two places in the Torah, we may infer on the basis of “verbal analogy” that the same law must apply in the other case, as well.

We explore the hermeneutic rules of gezeira shava.

Zevachim 49: דָּבָר הַלָּמֵד בְּהֶיקֵּשׁ

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As we have learned on yesterday’s daf, sacrifices that were kodashei kodashim – the holiest of holies – were brought in the northern part of the Temple courtyard. The source for this law appears in the Torah with reference to the korban olah – the burnt-offering – and the other sacrifices were derived from the olah.

The Gemara on our daf asks why the korban asham – the guilt-offering – needs to be compared to both the korban olah and the korban ḥatat – the sin-offering (see Vayikra 14:13 where the Torah requires that the asham be slaughtered in the same place as the ḥatat and the olah).

"Ravina answered: If that had been so, I would still say that a matter derived via a juxtaposition then teaches its halakha via a juxtaposition. And if you would say that if that were to be so, let the verse juxtapose the guilt offering of a leper only to a sin offering,one could answer that it is preferable for the Torah that it juxtaposes the guilt offering to the primary offering about which it states that it must be slaughtered in the north, i.e., the burnt offering, and not juxtapose it to the secondary offering, the sin offering.

For this reason, i.e., to prevent the incorrect assumption that a matter derived via a juxtaposition then teaches its halakha via a juxtaposition, the verse juxtaposed it to a sin offering and also juxtaposed it to a burnt offering, to say that a matter derived via a juxtaposition does not then teach its halakha via a juxtaposition.”

We explore the talmudic rules of exegesis including the hekesh, described above.

Zevachim 48: בֵּין לְמִצְוָה בֵּין לְעַכֵּב

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The animal which is brought as a chattas must be standing in the north of the courtyard when it is slaughtered.

Nevertheless, the person himself who is performing the slaughter does not have to be standing in the north. He can be standing nearby and reach over into the north where the animal is standing. The Gemara searches to find the source from where we learn this halacha. At one point, the Gemara attributes this halacha to the verse (Vayikra 4:24) which is written regarding the goat of the King.

We explore the galactic and mythical implications of the sacred directions from where to stand facing by a Korean to where to direction one’s bed.

Zevachim 47: איזהו מקומן של זבחים

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Perek Eizehu Mekoman, the fifth perek of Massekhet Zevaḥim, begins on our daf.This perek offers an overview of all of the different sacrifices that were brought in the Temple, with the exception of korbanot ha-of – sacrifices brought from fowl – which are discussed in the following chapters, and menaḥot – meal offerings – that have their own tractates dedicated to those laws.

The entire chapter of Perek Eizehu Mekoman has been inserted into the siddur as an introduction to the daily morning prayer service. The Beit Yosef quotes the Re’ah in offering a number of reasons for this. First of all, it contains a review of virtually all of the sacrifices, and our prayers serve as replacements for the korbanot that can no longer be brought. Furthermore he points to the fact that we do not find any differences of opinion in the entire chapter, which can be understood as indicating that this is a chapter of oral tradition that has come down to us in the same language that it was received by Moshe on Mount Sinai.

We explore the more mystical dimensions of this liturgical insertion.

Zevachim 46: לְשֵׁם רֵיחַ, לְשֵׁם נִיחוֹחַ

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According to the Mishna on our daf, a standard sacrifice needs to be brought with six things in mind:

1) Zevaḥ – The intent must be for the specific sacrifice that is being brought

2) Zovei’aḥ – The intent must be for the owner of the sacrifice

3) Ha-Shem – The sacrifice must be brought with God in mind

4) Ishim – The intent must be to sacrifice the animal on the altar

5) Rei’aḥ – It must be brought in a manner that will raise the scent of the sacrifice

6) Niḥo’aḥ – The intention must be to fulfill God’s will.

In addition, a sin-offering or a guilt-offering must be brought with the specific transgression in mind.

We explore The Psychology of Intention and Truth: Consciousness, Meaning-Making, and the Architecture of Authentic Action.

Zevachim 45: הִלְכְתָא לִמְשִׁיחָא?!

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The Mishna (43a) brings a disagreement between the Tanna Kamma and Rabbi Shimon with regard to a question about the application of piggul – inappropriate thoughts relating to time regarding a given sacrifice – to an animal that was to be brought on the inner altar but was being prepared in the outer courtyard.

The Gemara on yesterday’s daf brings another opinion, that of Rabbi Elazar in the name of Rabbi Yosei HaGelili. The concluding sentence on yesterday’s daf was Rav Naḥman quoting Rabba bar Avuh in the name of Rav who said that the halakha follows this last opinion.

Reacting to this ruling, Rava asks hilkheta le-meshiḥa?! – are we establishing halakhic rulings for Messianic times, i.e. when the Temple will be rebuilt?

Abaye responds to him by asking whether it would be appropriate to avoid learning any topics about the Temple service, since all of it should be considered hilkheta le-meshiḥa.

We explore instances of this concept in has and the Netziv’s dazzling insight.

Zevachim 44: כֹּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ מַתִּירִין

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The Gemara quotes the second part of a Beraisa which says, "Or perhaps one may bring only a Korban [and make it Pigul] which is like a Shelamim? Just as Shelamim is unique in that it may be eaten for two days and one night, so, too, Pigul should apply only to Korbanos which are eaten for two days and one night. What is the source that Korbanos eaten for one day and one night also can become Pigul? The verse "mi'Besar," "from the flesh" (Vayikra 7:18), teaches that even such Korbanos can become Pigul.”

We explore the unique role of shlomim over other korbaot in learning the law of piggul.

Zevachim 43: פָתַח הַכָּתוּב בִּלְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה וְסִיֵּים בִּלְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה

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The Mishnah teaches that a part of the Korban that has no Matir cannot become prohibited as Pigul. For this reason, the Nesachim that are brought after the Korban has been offered, or that are brought alone without a Korban, cannot become prohibited as Pigul. The Mishnah records a Machlokes Tana'im with regard to Nesachim that are brought together with a Korban. Rebbi Meir says that the Nesachim can become Pigul because the Zerikah of the blood of the animal permits the Nesachim to be offered. The Chachamim argue and say that the Nesachim cannot become Pigul. They reason that since the Nesachim can be offered after the Korban was offered, they do not need the Zerikah in order to become permitted. Therefore, even when they are brought with the animal they also do not need the Zerikah in order to become permitted.

We trace the conceptual development of ritual purity from its biblical origins through its extensive elaboration in rabbinic literature. Beginning with the stark dichotomies of the Torah's purity system, the analysis proceeds through the prophetic reinterpretation of purity as moral category, culminating in the Talmudic transformation of purity into a complex theological and anthropological framework. Special attention is given to the rabbinic reconceptualization of purification mechanisms, the relationship between physical and spiritual contamination, and the emergence of purity as a paradigm for understanding human transformation and divine encounter.

Zevachim 42: שֶׁמָּשְׁלָה בָּהֶן הָאוּר

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We have learned that inappropriate thoughts – specifically thoughts relating to eating the korban in the wrong place or at the wrong time – can potentially ruin the sacrifice and make it invalid. Furthermore, thoughts related to the wrong time will cause the korban to become piggul – abhorrent – and someone who eats of that sacrifice will be liable to receive the punishment of karet – a Heavenly death sentence (see above, daf 27).

The new Mishna on our daf lists a number of things connected with sacrifices that cannot become piggul even if the person bringing the korban planned to eat them after the appropriate time.

Zevachim 41: ״פָּרֹכֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ״

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The Gemara on our daf discusses differences between the pesukim that teach about two sin-offerings that are brought on the inner altar, that of the High Priest and the great Sanhedrin.

In the study hall of Rabbi Yishmael, the following parables were presented:

Regarding the sin-offering of the High Priest the Torah includes details about sacrificing the kidneys and the diaphragm, which does not appear in the commandment about the offering of the Sanhedrin (compare Vayikra 4:8-9 vs. 4:19). This is compared to a king who becomes angry at one of his beloved subjects, but because of his love for him chooses to minimize the embarrassment.

Rashi explains that in this parable, the beloved servant is the Jewish people who are represented by the great Sanhedrin. The Torah shortens the description of the Sanhedrin’s sin-offering in order to minimize embarrassment. The Maharsha offers an alternative explanation and suggests that the beloved subject is the High Priest, and that the Torah clearly delineates the details of his sin-offering since by means of the sacrifice his sin is forgiven.

We explore parabolic discourse nd how it functions theologically.

Zevachim 40: ״לַפָּר״ – זֶה פַּר יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים

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Continuing their discussion about the inner versus the outer courtyard, Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Yehuda argue about the instructions regarding sprinkling blood. If one should sprinkle indoors but sprinkles outdoors, is this acceptable? If it is discovered after the fact? The rabbis disagree about the words that describe the courtyard. Does the Temple courtyard have a roof that might be breached? If so, would such a breach invalidate the sprinkling?

Our daf offers a window into how the rabbis of the Talmud transformed biblical ritual into a complex system of law, particularly regarding the bull offering for the unwitting communal sin (par he'elem davar shel tzibbur) and its relationship to the Yom Kippur service.

We explore how the rabbinic sources in Zevachim differ from both the biblical text and contemporary Second Temple sources like Josephus, revealing the distinctive hermeneutical and legal methods of the Tannaim and Amoraim.

Zevachim 39: וְעָשָׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה

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On daf 36b, the first Mishna in this perek taught a basic difference between the sin-offerings that were brought on the outer altar and those brought on the inner, golden altar. Regarding those that were brought on the outer altar, like the sin-offerings of a nasi – a king – or an ordinary person (see Vayikra 4:22-35), even if the actual requirement was to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice two times or four times, if one sprinkling was done, it would suffice.

On the other hand, those sin-offerings that were brought on the inner altar, like the sin-offering of the High Priest or the sin-offering brought by the great Sanhedrin on behalf of the entire congregation (see Vayikra 4:3-21), all of the sprinklings needed to be done properly, or else the sacrifice was invalid.

We explore the inner altar and its mystical dimensions.

Zevachim 38: שָׁלֹשׁ מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁבַּחַטָּאוֹת

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Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel argue about how many blood applications are necessary for a sin offering. All agree that four applications are required, but Beit Shammai say that the offering is already valid after two such applications, while Beit Hillel maintain that even one is sufficient.

Beit Shammai rely on the phrase "on the horns" repeated three times. Since the minimum of the plural "horns" is two, altogether this counts as six. Four of these six teach the prescribed procedure, and the remaining two tell how many are absolutely necessary. Beit Shammai rely on the pronounced form of the word "horns".

The scriptural basis for the dispute lies in Leviticus chapter 4, which prescribes the ritual procedures for various categories of sin offerings. In verses 25, 30, and 34, the text commands that the priest shall take the blood of the sin offering and place it "on the horns of the altar" (Hebrew: קַרְנֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, karnot ha-mizbeach).

Beit Hillel point out that the written form for two of the three "horns" can be read as "one horn". Beit Hillel attach more importance to the written form of the word. This gives them four "horns", three for the prescribed after the first application, and one that is necessary for atonement. But Beit Hillel's count is inconsistent, they should use all four for the prescribed application, with none necessary to achieve atonement! They answer that we don't nowhere do we find atonement for nothing.

The interpretive challenge arises from both the repetition of this phrase across three verses and the grammatical form of the word "horns." Baruch Levine notes in his commentary on Leviticus that ancient Near Eastern altars typically featured four elevated corners or "horns," which held particular religious significance as points of sacred contact.

Archaeological evidence from various sites confirms this four-horned structure as standard for Israelite altars.

Zevachim 37: אַהֲנִי מִקְרָא, וְאַהְנִי מָסוֹרֶת

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Throwing the blood on the Altar is the fourth and final step of the sacrificial service. For the majority of offerings, the blood has to be thrown from a vessel twice, each time on the lower part of each of the two opposing corners.

As the blood is dashed on the corner, it spreads out on the adjacent sides, so that with two applications the blood falls on all four walls. This is called "two applications that are four.”

The phrase “Ahani Mikra, v’Ahani Masoret” from Zevachim 37 expresses the balance between two interpretive approaches in rabbinic study.

· Mikra (מִקְרָא) refers to the written biblical text—the fixed consonantal form (ketiv) that represents divine revelation in its permanent, textual form.

· Masoret (מָסוֹרֶת) refers to the oral reading tradition (qeri)—how the text was transmitted, pronounced, and interpreted through communal practice.

The Talmudic phrase teaches that both the written form and the oral reading are indispensable. The mikra anchors meaning in divine fixity, while the masoret sustains the living voice of interpretation. Together, they form a dynamic partnership—text and tradition, permanence and renewal—reflecting how Torah is both written revelation and ongoing dialogue.

Zevachim 36: כל הַנִּיתָּנִין עַל מִזְבֵּחַ הַחִיצוֹן

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Moshe was commanded to erect two altars in the Sanctuary. The first – “and you will make the altar of acacia wood…and cover it with copper” (Shemos 27:1-8) – and the second – “and you will make an altar for incense…and cover it with pure gold” (Shemos 30:1-10). In the Temple the copper altar was replaced by one of stone but the golden altar remained.

We explore the various altars.

Moshe was commanded to erect two altars in the Sanctuary. The first – “and you will make the altar of acacia wood…and cover it with copper” (Shemos 27:1-8) – and the second – “and you will make an altar for incense…and cover it with pure gold” (Shemos 30:1-10). In the Temple the copper altar was replaced by one of stone but the golden altar remained. Essential differences between the altars: Aside from being built of different materials, there are essential differences between the altars.

Zevachim 35: הַשּׁוֹחֵט אֶת הַמּוּקְדָּשִׁין לֶאֱכוֹל שְׁלִיל אוֹ שִׁילְיָא בַּחוּץ

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The Mishna on our daf teaches that this law only applies in a situation where the inappropriate thought refers to something that is ordinarily eaten. If the inappropriate thought was about a part of the animal that is not normally eaten, e.g. bones, hooves, sinews, horns, etc., then the sacrifice would not be affected.

In the continuation of the Mishna we learn that if the sacrifice was a female and the inappropriate thought related to its unborn fetus or to the placenta itself, the korban is unaffected. Similarly, if the thought was to eat the unborn eggs of the sacrificial bird or drink the milk of the animal that was to be brought as a korban, it would not affect the sacrifice.

We explore the embryo and placenta in Ancient Near East and newer iterations.

Zevachim 34: בָּקָר וָצֹאן אָמַרְתִּי לְךָ, וְלֹא חַיָּה

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On our daf Reish Lakish is quoted as saying that someone who brings a non-kosher animal on the altar in the Temple is liable to receive malkot – lashes. Rabbi Yoḥanan agrees that it is forbidden to do but argues that there is no punishment for doing so. The source of their argument is how to extrapolate from the passage that requires sacrifices to be brought from kosher animals (see Vayikra 1:2).

Rabbi Yoḥanan views this as a mitzvat aseh – a positive commandment – and there is no formal punishment meted out for neglecting to fulfill a positive commandment. According to Reish Lakish this would be considered a lav ha-ba mikhlal aseh – a negative commandment derived from a positive one – which he considers equivalent to a negative commandment.

Zevachim 33: שֶׁהָיְתָה בְּשַׁעַר נִקָּנוֹר, שֶׁאֵין מְצוֹרָע יָכוֹל לִיכָּנֵס לְשָׁם

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One of the activities that were incumbent on the person who brought a sacrifice was semikha – laying hands on the animal that was to be sacrificed before its slaughter. The Gemara on our daf quotes a tosefta that teaches that tekef le-semikha, sheḥita – that this laying of hands was performed immediately prior to the slaughter of the animal. One exception was the case of a metzora – someone who had recovered from biblical leprosy and was obligated to bring a number of sacrifices to formally put an end to his ordeal. Since his status as someone who was ritually impure did not allow him to enter the Temple courtyard where the slaughter took place, he would perform it in sha’ar Nicanor – the Nicanor gate – at the entrance to the courtyard.

Sha’ar Nicanor served as the main entrance to the Temple courtyard from the outer precincts of the Temple Mount, at the top of a series of steps leading from the ezrat nashim. As our Gemara explains, one of its purposes was to allow someone who needed access to the Temple courtyard to get as close as possible without actually entering it.