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PARAH PEREK 1

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Having concluded Ohalos (which deals with Tum'as Meis) and Nega'im, which is similar to Tum'as Meis in various ways, Rebbi now presents Parah, which is also a branch of Tum'as Meis (Rambam).

Please note that, unless otherwise stated, we have incorporated the Bartenura's explanation in the Mishnah itself. It is also worth bearing in mind that throughout Shas, the Bartenura generally follows the explanations of Rashi and the rulings of the Rambam.

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1)
(a) According to R. Eliezer, the age of an Eglah - (Arufah) is one year, and that of a Parah - (Adumah) two.
(b) The reason for the difference is - the fact that Eglah by definition means 'a calf', and Parah, 'a cow'(which is older).
(c) This is - the maximum age (see Tos. Yom-Tov DH 'u'Parah ... ').

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2)
(a) The Chachamim give the maximum age as - two for the Eglah, and three or four for the Parah.
(b) They concede that a calf in its first year is Kasher for Eglah Arufah - due to the principle that this is what 'Eigel' always means.
(c) They nevertheless permit one in its second year - because the Torah adds the word "Bakar" ("Eglas Bakar").

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3)
(a) R. Meir is even more lenient than the Chachamim - permitting even a cow in its fifth year.
(b) An old cow - is permitted (See Tiferes Yisrael).
(c) One does not however, wait before Shechting it - in case it grows two black hairs, in which case it becomes Pasul ...
(d) ... because the Torah writes "Adumah Temimah" (meaning that it must be comkpletely red).
(e) The Halachah - is like the Chachamim (three or four). Older than that is permitted too, but one does not wait.

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4)
(a) R. Yehoshua confines a Parah Adumah to a 'Shalashis'.
(b) When they asked him what 'Shelashis' means, he replied - that this what he had heard, but that he did not know what it meant.
(c) ben Azai explain - that it means three years old (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(d) He did not say 'Shelishis'- as strictly speaking, that means the third-born of its mother.

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5)
(a) In the same triple dialogue, ben Azai differentiate between 'Kerem Reva'i' - which he explains, means in its fourth year, whereas 'Kerem Revi'i'- means the fourth vinyard.
(b) And similarly again, R. Yehoshua declined to explain why, in giving the Shi'ur for a Beis ha'Menuga, he gave it as 'a loaf, at three per Kav' (see Tos. Yom-Tov) - with regard to the period of time that one needs to remain in a plagued house in order to render Tamei the clothes that he is wearing.
(c) This time, they asked R. Yehoshua - why he did not say 'a loaf at eighteen per Sa'ah' (instead of 'at three per Kav').
(d) This time, ben Azai explained why he did that - because a Kav of dough is not subject to Chalah (one a quarter Kabin is the minimum Shi'ur), whereas a Sa'ah is. To have said 'a loaf at eighteen per Sa'ah' therefore, would have added to the Shi'ur the amount of Chalah that one subtracts.

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6)
(a) The problem with the words in Beha'aloscha (in connection with the purification ceremony of the Levi'im) "u'Par Sheini ben Bakar Tikach le'Chatas" is - that the Torah specifically writes afterwards "va'Asei es ha'Echad Chatas ve'es ha'Echad Olah", rendering the word "Sheini" redundant.
(b) R. Yossi ha'Gelili therefore learns from there - that bulls (for Korbanos) must be two years old.
(c) According to ...
1. ... the Chachamim - even (see Tos. Yom-Tov) bulls of three are also Kasher, whereas ...
2. ... R. Meir permits even bulls that are four or five years old ...
(d) ... though, he concludes, one should not bring them because of Kavod. (see Tos. Yom-Tov and Tiferes Yisrael).
(e) The Halachah - is like the Chachamim.

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7)
(a) Lambs are called'Kevasim'in their first year - and become 'Eilim' in their second (with regard to Korbanos).
(b) One reckons a year (in this regard) - from day to day (as opposed to until Tishri, and from Tishri to Tishri [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).
(c) The Mishnah rules that a male sheep in its thirteenth month - is considered neither a 'Keves' nor an 'Ayil' (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(d) R. Tarfon used to call such a sheep 'Palgas' - from the word 'P'lag', meaning 'half'.

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8)
(a) ben Azai labeled R. Tarfon's Palgas, 'Noked', and R. Yishmael as Parchadigma. 'Noked' stems from a Pasuk in Amos "Asher Hayah be'Nokdim" - meaning 'sheep-owners'.
(b) 'Parchadigma' is a Greek word - with reference to a coin that has been disqualified.

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9)
(a) The Mishnah now discusses someone who is Chayav to bring a Keves or an Ayil, but who brings a Palgas instead - which is Kasher Bedi'eved.
(b) It requires the Nesachim (wine-offering plus Minchah [flour-offering]) of an Ayil ...
(c) ... as we learn from the extra words in the Pasuk in Sh'lach-Lecha "O la'Ayil" (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(d) The Tana adds - that although the Korban is Kasher, the owner has not fulfilled his original obligation (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(e) A Keves becomes an Ayil - at thirteen months and a day.

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10)
(a) The Tana rules - that Chata'os and Olos of the Tzibur, Chata'os of a Yachid and Asham Nazir and an Asham Metzora should be at least thirty days old.
(b)
1. 'Chata'os and Olos of the Tzibur' - comprise the goats of Musaf of Rosh Chodesh and Yom-tov and their Olos (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
2. 'Chata'os Yachid' - comprises a she lamb or a she kid-goat.
3. 'Asham Nazir and Asham Metzora' comprise - he lambs.
(c) The maximum age of all of these animals is - from the thirtieth day and onwards.
(d) The minimum age of ...
1. ... Nedarim and Nedavos as well as ...
2. ... B'chor, Ma'aser Beheimah and Pesach is - from the eighth day and onwards.

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11)
(a) The basic difference between Nedarim and Nedavos and the former group of Korbanos is - that the former are all Korb'nos Chovah.
(b) Despite the fact that the Torah specifically permits an animal to be Shechted from the eighth day and onwards, the Chachamim require thirty days for the former - due to a S'vara (See commentaries on the Mishnah, who explain why B'chor, Ma'aser and Pesach are listed in the second group).
(c) If one brings any of the previous group from the eighth day and onwards - he is Yotzei.
(d) We learn from the Pasuk in Mishpatim (in connection with B'chor) "ba'Yom ha'Sheini Titno Li" - that an animal is eligible as a Korban already on the eighth day.

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