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A Yissachar / Zebulun Partnership in Loving Memory of Yishak ben Simcha A"H & Felicia bat Miriam A"H
Rabbi Joseph Dana

Torah Lecture

Mishnah Zevahim 12-3

Lectured by Rabbi Joseph Dana

Published
August 25, 2025
Duration
2:35
Lecture code
RJD-ZEVAHIM-12-3

This transcript was auto-generated and polished for readability. While we aim for accuracy, errors may occur. If you notice a mistake, please click to submit corrections.

The skins of Kodashim Kalim (offerings of lesser sanctity) go to the owner of the offering rather than the Kohanim (priests). But the skins of Kodshei Kodashim (offerings of highest sanctity)—not only the Olah (burnt offering) that we mentioned in the last Mishnah, but also all Kodshei Kodashim—go to the Kohanim. Kal Vachomer (a fortiori argument)—we learned this from a Kal Vachomer. In the case of the Olah, the Kohanim do not eat the meat; all of it is burnt on the Mizbeach (altar). It all goes up to the Shamayim (heavens). But they still acquire the rights to the skins.

In the case of the Kodshei Kodashim, like the Chatat (sin offering) and the Asham (guilt offering), the Kohanim do have the ability to eat the meat. Isn't it logical also to say that they would acquire these skins as well? It's easier to acquire an offering's meat than its skins. So if the Torah gives the right to the meat of the Kodshei Kodashim, Kal Vachomer, of course it would give over the rights to the skins.

You would think this proves this Kal Vachomer, because we see that in the case of the Korban (sacrifice) Olah, the Mizbeach eats the basar (meat). In other words, it consumes all the basar, but it doesn't receive any of the skins. So you would think, no, it's easier for the Mizbeach to receive the meat. Therefore, it's an inappropriate Kal Vachomer, because in some sense it's more difficult to receive these skins, since the Mizbeach doesn't receive them.

And this proves what we said earlier. We said earlier that it was easier to receive the skins than the meat, the basar. So we say, no, it doesn't show that our Kal Vachomer is flawed. The Mizbeach never receives the skins of a Korban in any place. So it's not because it's more difficult to receive the skins. That's not the reason it doesn't receive them. The Mizbeach never receives the skins in any situation ever. So, therefore, it's just not noge'a. It's not applicable whatsoever to connect them. Therefore, we remain with our Kal Vachomer: in whatever situation the Kohanim would receive the meat of the Kodshei Kodashim, they would also receive the skins.