Festival Offering Chapter 1

שָׁלֹשׁ מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה נִצְטַוּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל רֶגֶל מִשָּׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים וְאֵלּוּ הֵן. הָרְאִיָּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כג יז) (שמות לד כג) (דברים טז טז) "יֵרָאֶה כָּל זְכוּרְךָ". וְהַחֲגִיגָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים טז טו) "תָּחֹג לַה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ". וְהַשִּׂמְחָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים טז יד) "וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגֶּךָ". הָרְאִיָּה הָאֲמוּרָה בַּתּוֹרָה הִיא שֶׁנִּרְאָה פָּנָיו בָּעֲזָרָה בְּיוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל חַג וְיָבִיא עִמּוֹ קָרְבַּן עוֹלָה בֵּין מִן הָעוֹף בֵּין מִן הַבְּהֵמָה. וּמִי שֶׁבָּא לָעֲזָרָה בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן וְלֹא הֵבִיא עוֹלָה לֹא דַּיּוֹ שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה אֶלָּא עוֹבֵר עַל לֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כג טו) (שמות לד כ) "לֹא יֵרָאוּ פָנַי רֵיקָם". וְאֵינוֹ לוֹקֶה עַל לָאו זֶה שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא עָשָׂה מַעֲשֶׂה. הַחֲגִיגָה הָאֲמוּרָה בַּתּוֹרָה הִיא שֶׁיַּקְרִיב שְׁלָמִים בְּיוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל חַג בְּבוֹאוֹ לְהֵרָאוֹת. וְהַדָּבָר יָדוּעַ שֶׁאֵין הַשְּׁלָמִים בָּאִים אֶלָּא מִן הַבְּהֵמָה. וּשְׁתֵּי מִצְוֹת אֵלּוּ שֶׁהֵן הָרְאִיָּה וְהַחֲגִיגָה אֵין הַנָּשִׁים חַיָּבוֹת בָּהֶן. וְהַשִּׂמְחָה הָאֲמוּרָה בָּרְגָלִים הִיא שֶׁיַּקְרִיב שְׁלָמִים יֶתֶר עַל שַׁלְמֵי חֲגִיגָה. וְאֵלּוּ הֵם הַנִּקְרָאִים שַׁלְמֵי שִׂמְחַת חֲגִיגָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כז ז) "וְזָבַחְתָּ שְׁלָמִים וְאָכַלְתָּ שָּׁם וְשָׂמַחְתָּ לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ". וְנָשִׁים חַיָּבוֹת בְּמִצְוָה זוֹ:

The Jewish people have been commanded to observe three positive commandments on each of the three pilgrimage festivals. They are: a) to appear before the Divine presence, as Exodus 23:17 states: "All of your males shall appear"; b) bringing a festive offering, as Deuteronomy 16:15 states: "You shall bring a festive offering to G-d your Lord"; and c) celebration, as ibid.:14 states: "And you shall rejoice in festivals." The Torah's charge to appear before G-d mandates that one should appear in the Temple Courtyard on the first day of a festival and bring with him a burnt-offering, whether from fowl or from domesticated animals. One who comes to the Temple Courtyard on the first day of a festival without bringing a burnt-offering has not only failed to perform a positive commandment, but has violated a negative commandment, as Exodus 23:15 states: "You shall not appear in My presence empty-handed." One is not liable for lashes for the violation of this prohibition, because he did not perform a deed. The Torah's charge to bring a festive offering mandates that one offer a peace-offering on the first day of the festival when one comes to appear before the Divine presence. It is a known matter that peace-offerings are brought only from domesticated animals. Women are not obligated in these two mitzvot of appearing before the Divine presence and bringing a festive sacrifice. The Torah's charge to celebrate on festivals mandates that one offer peace-offerings in addition to the festive peace-offerings. These are called the festive celebratory peace-offerings, as Deuteronomy 27:7 states: "You shall rejoice before G-d, your Lord." Women are obligated in this mitzvah.

הָרְאִיָּה וְהַחֲגִיגָה אֵין לָהֶן שִׁעוּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים טז יז) "אִישׁ כְּמַתְּנַת יָדוֹ" וְגוֹ'. אֲבָל מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא קָרְבַּן עוֹלַת רְאִיָּה פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁוֵה מָעָה כֶּסֶף וְלֹא שַׁלְמֵי חֲגִיגָה פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁוֵה שְׁתֵּי כֶּסֶף. וּמִצְוָה לְהָבִיא כְּפִי עָשְׁרוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כְּמַתְּנַת יָדוֹ:

According to Scriptural Law, there are no fixed measures with regard to the sacrifices brought when appearing before G-d or the festive offerings, as Deuteronomy 16:17 states: "Each person according to what he gives." According to Rabbinic Law, however, limits were established. One should not bring a burnt-offering to mark one's appearance worth less that a silver me'ah, nor should one bring a festive peace-offering worth less than two silver me'ah. It is a mitzvah to bring these sacrifices proportionate to one's wealth, as implied by the phrase: "according to what one gives...."

שַׁלְמֵי שִׂמְחָה לֹא נָתְנוּ בָּהֶן חֲכָמִים שִׁעוּר. בְּעֵת שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה אָדָם לִירוּשָׁלַיִם לָחֹג אִם הָיוּ בְּיָדוֹ קָרְבְּנוֹת הָרְאִיָּה יְבִיאֵם אוֹ יַעֲלֶה עִמּוֹ כֶּסֶף לִקְנוֹת בּוֹ הַקָּרְבָּן. וְאִם אֵין בְּיָדוֹ כֶּסֶף לֹא יָבִיא שְׁוֵה כֶּסֶף אֲפִלּוּ הָיָה בְּיָדוֹ שְׁוֵה כַּמָּה זְהוּבִים אָסוּר לוֹ לַעֲלוֹת רֵיקָם בְּלֹא כֶּסֶף וְלֹא קָרְבָּן. וְלָמָּה אָסְרוּ שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה בְּיָדוֹ שְׁוֵה כֶּסֶף גְּזֵרָה שֶׁמָּא לֹא יִמְצָא לִמְכֹּר אוֹ שֶׁמָּא יִמָּצְאוּ הַמָּעוֹת סִיגִים:

Our Sages did not establish a minimum measure for the celebratory peace-offerings. When a person will ascend to Jerusalem for the festival, if he is in possession of the sacrifices required when presenting oneself, he should bring them or he should bring sufficient silver to purchase a sacrificial animal. If he does not possess silver, he should not bring articles of value equivalent to silver. Even if he is in possession of articles worth several gold pieces, it is forbidden for him to ascend to Jerusalem empty-handed without silver or a sacrificial animal. Why was one forbidden to ascend while bringing articles worth money? Perhaps he will not be able to sell them or perhaps he will find impurities in the money he receives.

מִי שֶׁלֹּא הִקְרִיב בְּיוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן עוֹלַת רְאִיָּתוֹ וְשַׁלְּמִי חֲגִיגָתוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה מַקְרִיבָן בִּשְׁאָר יְמוֹת הָרֶגֶל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים טז טו) "שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תָּחֹג לַה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ" מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכֻּלָּן רְאוּיִין לַחֲגִיגָה וְכֻלָּן תַּשְׁלוּמֵי רִאשׁוֹן הֵם:

One who did not offer the burnt-offering marking his appearance and his festive peace-offering on the first day of the festival should offer them on the remaining days of the festival, as implied by Deuteronomy 16:15: "For seven days you shall celebrate unto G-d your Lord." This teaches that all of these days are fit for offering festive sacrifices. They are all compensation for the first day.

וּמִצְוָה לְהַקְדִּים וּלְהַקְרִיב בָּרִאשׁוֹן. לֹא הִקְרִיב בָּרִאשׁוֹן בֵּין שׁוֹגֵג בֵּין מֵזִיד יַקְרִיב בַּשֵּׁנִי. וְכָל הַמְּאַחֵר הֲרֵי זֶה מְגֻנֶּה וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר (צפניה ג יח) "נוּגֵי מִמּוֹעֵד אָסַפְתִּי":

It is a mitzvah to be early and to offer these sacrifices on the first day. If, either inadvertently or intentionally, one did not offer them on the first day, they should be offered on the second day. Whoever delays is deserving of reproach. Concerning such a person is applied the words of censure, Tzefaniah 3:18: "I will gather in and break those who delay the festive prayers and offerings."

עָבַר הָרֶגֶל וְלֹא חָג אֵינוֹ חַיָּב בְּאַחֲרָיוּתוֹ וְעַל זֶה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ נֶאֱמַר (קהלת א טו) "מְעֻוָּת לֹא יוּכַל לִתְקֹן":

If the festival passed without one bringing these festive offerings, he is not obligated to bring them afterwards. Concerning such a situation and the like is applied the verse Ecclesiastes 1:15: "A wrong that cannot be righted."

מִי שֶׁלֹּא חָג בְּיוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת חוֹגֵג אֶת כָּל הָרֶגֶל וּבַיּוֹם טוֹב הָאַחֲרוֹן שֶׁהוּא שְׁמִינִי וְאַף הַשְּׁמִינִי תַּשְׁלוּמֵי רִאשׁוֹן הוּא. וְכֵן מִי שֶׁלֹּא חָג בְּיוֹם חַג הַשָּׁבוּעוֹת חוֹגֵג כָּל שִׁבְעָה וְיֵשׁ לוֹ תַּשְׁלוּמִין כָּל שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים שֶׁלְּאַחַר חַג הַשָּׁבוּעוֹת. וְדָבָר זֶה מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה נֶאֱמַר שֶׁחַג הַשָּׁבוּעוֹת כְּחַג הַמַּצּוֹת לְתַשְׁלוּמִין:

When one did not bring the festive sacrifices on the first day of the Sukkos holiday, he may bring them throughout the entire festival and on the final holiday, which is the eighth day. For even the eighth day can serve as compensation for the first. Similarly, one who did not bring the festive offerings on the holiday of Shavuot may bring them for seven days, i.e., he may compensate during the six days that following the festival of Shavuot. This concept - that the festival of Shavuot is similar to the festival of Pesach with regard to compensation - was communicated through the Oral Tradition.

עוֹלַת רְאִיָּה וְשַׁלְמֵי חֲגִיגָה אֵינָן דּוֹחִין לֹא אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת וְלֹא אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה לְפִי שֶׁאֵין לָהֶן זְמַן קָבוּעַ כְּקָרְבְּנוֹת הַצִּבּוּר. שֶׁאִם אֵינוֹ חוֹגֵג הַיּוֹם חוֹגֵג לְמָחָר כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. אֲבָל דּוֹחִין אֶת יוֹם טוֹב וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין מַקְרִיבִין בְּיוֹם טוֹב נְדָרִים וּנְדָבוֹת מַקְרִיבִין עוֹלַת רְאִיָּה וְשַׁלְמֵי חֲגִיגָה וְשַׁלְמֵי שִׂמְחָה שֶׁאֵין אֵלּוּ נְדָרִים וּנְדָבוֹת אֶלָּא חוֹבוֹת:

The burnt-offerings brought when appearing before G-d and the festive peace-offerings do not supersede either the Sabbath prohibitions or the restrictions against ritual impurity, because there is no fixed time when they are required to be brought like the communal offerings. For if one does not bring his festive offerings on one day, he may bring them on the next, as we explained. They do, however, supersede the prohibitions of the holidays. Although sacrifices which one has vowed or pledged to bring are not offered on holidays, the burnt-offerings brought when appearing before G-d, the festive peace-offerings, and the celebratory peace-offerings are offered. The rationale is that these are not vows or pledges, but rather obligations.

כְּשֶׁמַּקְרִיב הַמַּקְרִיב עוֹלַת רְאִיָּתוֹ וְשַׁלְמֵי חֲגִיגָתוֹ וְשִׂמְחָתוֹ בְּיוֹם טוֹב. סוֹמֵךְ עֲלֵיהֶן בְּכָל כֹּחוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה בִּשְׁאָר הַיָּמִים. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁסְּמִיכָה אֵינָהּ מְעַכֶּבֶת כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת לֹא גָּזְרוּ עָלֶיהָ מִשּׁוּם שְׁבוּת:

When one brings the burnt-offerings brought when appearing before G-d, the festive peace-offerings, and the celebratory peace-offerings on a festival, he should lean on them with all his power as he does when bringing offerings on other days. Even though leaning on the animals is not an indispensable element of their sacrifice, as we explained in Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot, the Sages did not institute a decree forbidding this as a shvut.

הַמַּפְרִישׁ עוֹלַת רְאִיָּתוֹ וּמֵת. הַיּוֹרְשִׁין חַיָּבִין לַהֲבִיאָהּ. מֻתָּר לְהַקְרִיב בְּחֻלּוֹ שֶׁל מוֹעֵד נְדָרִים וּנְדָבוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כט לט) "אֵלֶּה תַּעֲשׂוּ לַה' בְּמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם לְבַד מִנִּדְרֵיכֶם וְנִדְבֹתֵיכֶם" מִכְּלַל שֶׁקְּרֵבִין בָּרֶגֶל. (במדבר כט לט) "לְעלֹתֵיכֶם" כְּמוֹ עוֹלַת מְצֹרָע וְעוֹלַת יוֹלֶדֶת. (במדבר כט לט) "וּלְמִנְחֹתֵיכֶם" לְהָבִיא מִנְחַת חוֹטֵא וּמִנְחַת קְנָאוֹת. (במדבר כט לט) "וּלְשַׁלְמֵיכֶם" לְרַבּוֹת שַׁלְמֵי נָזִיר הַכּל קְרֵבִין בַּמּוֹעֵד וְאֵין קְרֵבִין בְּיוֹם טוֹב:

When a person sets aside a burnt-offering brought when appearing before G-d and dies, his heirs are obligated to offer it. It is permitted to offer sacrifices which one has vowed or pledged during the intermediate days of a holiday, as Numbers 29:39 states: "You will offer these to G-d on your festivals aside from your vowed and pledged offerings." It can be understood from this that those offerings are brought during the festivals. That verse continues "for your burnt-offerings, your meal-offerings, and your peace-offerings." "For your burnt-offerings" includes a burnt-offering brought by a person afflicted by tzara'at and a woman after childbirth." "Your meal-offerings" include the meal offering brought by a sinner and the meal-offering brought by a woman whose husband accused her of adultery. "Your peace-offerings" includes the peace-offering brought by a nazirite. All of these are offered on the intermediate days of a festival, but are not offered on the sacred days.

וּמִי שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ אוֹכְלִים מְרֻבִּים וּנְכָסִים מוּעָטִין מֵבִיא שַׁלְמֵי חֲגִיגָה מְרֻבִּין וְעוֹלוֹת רְאִיָּה מוּעָטִין. הָיוּ לוֹ אוֹכְלִין מוּעָטִין וּנְכָסִים מְרֻבִּין מֵבִיא עוֹלוֹת רְאִיָּה מְרֻבּוֹת וְשַׁלְמֵי חֲגִיגָה מוּעָטוֹת. הָיוּ זֶה וְזֶה מוּעָט עַל זֶה אָמְרוּ לֹא יִפְחֹת מִמָּעָה לְעוֹלָה וּשְׁתֵּי כֶּסֶף לִשְׁלָמִים. זֶה וְזֶה מְרֻבֶּה עַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר (דברים טז יז) "כְּבִרְכַּת ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָךְ":

When a person who ascended to Jerusalem for a pilgrimage festival had many members of his household to partake of the offerings, but limited means, he should bring many festive peace-offerings, and few burnt-offerings brought when appearing before G-d. If he has few members of his household to partake of the offerings, but ample means, he should bring many burnt-offerings brought when appearing before G-d, and few festive peace-offerings. If he has few of both, concerning that our Sages said: "One should not bring less than a meah for a burnt-offering and two silver meah for a peace-offering." If he was blessed amply with both, concerning this, our Sages applied the verse Deuteronomy 16:17: "According to the blessing of G-d your Lord which He granted you."