Kiddushin, Daf Nun Heh, Part 1

 

Introduction

This week s daf begins with a mishnah from Tractate Shekalim that seems to accord with R. Meir. The issue is how to treat domesticated animals found in close proximity to Jerusalem which may be escaped sacrifices (reality TV show?).

 

תנן התם בהמה שנמצאת מירושלים למגדל עדר וכמדתה לכל רוח זכרים עולות נקבות זבחי שלמים … אלא זכרים עולות הוא דהוו זבחי שלמים לא הוו

אמר ר’ אושעיא הכא בבא לחוב בדמיהן עסקינן והכי קאמר חיישינן שמא עולות ורבי מאיר היא דאמר הקדש במזיד מתחלל

 

We learned elsewhere: If a domesticated animal is found between Jerusalem and Migdal Eder or an equal distance [from the city] in any direction: the males are burnt-offerings; the females are peace-offerings.

Now, can males be only burnt-offerings and not peace-offerings!

R. Oshaia said: Here we are dealing with one who comes to accept responsibility for its value; and this is what it means: we fear that they may be burnt-offerings; and it is in accordance with R. Meir, who ruled: Hekdesh can be desacralized intentionally.

 

The mishnah says that males must be considered burnt offerings and females peace-offerings. The problem is that males can also be peace-offerings.

R. Oshaia interprets the mishnah to refer to a case of one who finds the animal and wants to bring its value as an offering. What the mishnah says is that if he does so, he must bring the value of a burnt offering and a peace offering because a male animal may be either. Once he commits to this, the animal s value is desacralized. This accords with R. Meir who holds that one may intentionally redeem hekdesh.