PARSHA AIDES

Avodah items requiring a Cohen and which can be done by a non-Cohen

Yoma 26-28 teaches certain main concepts concerning the avodah in the Bais HaMikdash
Derived from the first chapter of VaYikra

CONCEPT VAYIKRA DERIVATION

No mention of a Cohen
Ritual Slaughtering ‫ה‬,‫(ושחט את בן הבקר (א‬
Shechting can be done by anyone

‫והקריבו בני אהרן הכהנים את‬ The other three main types of service
Receiving the Blood ‫הדם וזרקן את הדם על המזבח‬ (receiving the blood, transferring and
‫ה‬,‫((א‬ sprinkling on the altar( require a Cohen

Initial thought: Cohen only required

placement on the fire, but skinning & cutting
‫ו‬,‫(והפשיט את העולה וניתח (א‬
into pieces can be done by a non-Cohen
Skinning & Cutting ‫ונתנו בני אהרן הכהן אש על‬
into Pieces Final decision: Can not learn from
‫המזבח וערכו עצים על האש‬
requirement of a Cohen for the fire, since this
‫ז‬,‫((א‬
is not a main avodah, thus, necessary to
specify the Cohen

Six Cohanim required to arrange the limbs

Arranging the Pieces ‫וערכו בני אהרן הכהנים את‬
of the Tamid (Daily Offering(* on the Altar
on the Altar ‫ח‬,‫(הנתחים (א‬
2 – ‫ הכהנים‬- 2 ‫ בני אהרן‬-2 ,‫וערכו‬

Final step of the The offering on the Altar requires a Cohen

‫והקטיר הכהן את הכל המזבחה‬
Burnt-Offering of ‫ט‬,‫((א‬
However, the skinning and cutting into
Cattle pieces can be done by a non-Cohen

A Cohen is required to bring the limbs of

the animal to the Altar
Final step of the
A non-Cohen can bring of the blocks of
Burnt-Offering of ‫יג‬,‫(והקריב הכהן את הכל (א‬
wood
Sheep
A Cohen is required to arrange the blocks
of wood on the Altar

*Even though the Daily Offering is done with a sheep and the first section of VaYikra
mentions cattle. However, since this section concerns the general concepts of lighting the fire
and arranging the wood on the Altar, the Rabbis understood that this concept also applies to
the Daily Offering

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