Kiddushin, Daf Nun Heh, Part 4

Introduction

The Talmud continues to discuss R. Meir s opinion about desacralizing hekdesh.

איתמר נמי אמר ר’ חמא בר’ עקיבא אמר רבי יוסי בר’ חנינא אומר היה ר"מ הקדש במזיד מתחלל בשוגג אין מתחלל אחד קדשי קדשים ואחד קדשים קלים קל וחומר קדשי קדשים מתחללים קדשים קלים לא כל שכן

It was also stated: R. Hama b. Ukba said in the name of R. Yosi son of R. Hanina: R. Meir used to say: Hekdesh used deliberately is desacralized, but used unwittingly is not desacralized; this applies both to items of higher and lower sanctity, from a kal vehomer: if objects of higher sanctity can be desacralized, all the more so those of lower sanctity can.

This is a summary of what was stated in the previous few sections.

תהי בה ר’ יוחנן וכי אומרים לו לאדם עמוד וחטא בשביל שתזכה אלא א"ר יוחנן ממתין לה עד שתומם ומייתי שתי בהמות ומתנה

R. Yohanan was surprised at this: Do we say to a person, Get up and sin, that you may achieve merit!

Rather R. Yohanan said: We wait until it is blemished; then two animals are brought, and a stipulation made.

R. Yohanan is surprised by R. Oshaya s explanation of the mishnah about the lost animal (see section one). Do we say to a person Sin by intentionally redeeming an animal intended to be offered as a sacrifice. An animal designated to be sacrificed cannot be redeemed unless it has become flawed and cannot be sacrificed. Even though he will have the merit of donating two sacrifices in its place, and thereby remedy the situation, we do not generally tell people to sin even if the sin will eventually result in merit.

Therefore, R. Yohanan has another suggestion. We wait until the animal is blemished. Then it is redeemed and we make a stipulation. If the animal was a burnt offering, then the first offering will be a burnt offering in its place and the second a voluntary peace offering. If the animal was a peace offering, the second animal is a peace offering in its place and the first offering is a voluntary burnt offering. After doing this, the animal he found is successfully desacralized. He may now eat it. Bon Appetit!