Rabbotai,
Today's daf discussed a situation in which the kohen gadol died and we haven't yet appointed a new one. His daily korban mincha would be brought from korban tzibbur funds (by his heirs?). How about a much more common scenario - the kohen gadol becomes a keri or does mitzvat ona with his wife. Wouldn't he be tamei? He could then go to the mikvah but couldn't go to the azara or do any avodah until heerev shemesh (I think). That would leave a day in which he couldn't bring his daily korban mincha. Would that then be brought by someone else with korban tzibbur funds also?
B'kavod,
Sam Kosofsky
The Gemara itself goes on to ask, "Nitma Mai" -- "What will be if he (the Kohen Gadol) became Tamei?"
However, your suggestion that the Minchas Chavisin be brought from communal funds when the Kohen Gadol became Tamei is not necessarily the case, even though it is implied as such from the Gemara here. Rather, the Minchas Chavisin does not need to be brought by the Kohen Gadol in person, but may be brought by another Kohen in his stead, as long as it was purchased by the Kohen Gadol. The Mitzvah is for him to pay for it to be brought, but not necessarily to bring it himself.
We are sending you a copy of a related question which we addressed recently.
M. Kornfeld
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Shekalim 019: The Kohen Gadol's Chavisim and his wife
From: (YITZCHAK LEVINE)
HOW COULD THE KOHAN GADOL EVER HAVE RELATIONS WITH HIS WIFE? HE WOULD BE TAMAY AND HOW COULD HE BRING HIS MINCHAS CHAAAVITM EVERY MORNING SINCE HE WOULD BE A TVUL YOM FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE? DID HE HAVE RELATIONS IN THE AFTERNOON AFTER HE BROUGHT THE AFTERNOON PORTION OF HIS KARBON THEN BE TOVAYL BEFORE SUNSET AND BECOME TAHOR AT NIGHT MAYBE HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BRING THE MINCHAS CHAAAVITM HIMSELF MAYBE IT HAD TO ONLY BELONG TO HIM WA SAW THAT WHEN THE KOHAN GADOL DIED HIS CHILDREN BRING IT ETC.
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The Kollel replies:
Excellent question. However, the Mishnah in Yoma tells us clearly that any Kohen could bring Chavisin for the Kohen Gadol, and because of that it was included in the daily "Payas" for who performs what Avodah (as the Minchas Chinuch points out in Mitzvah #136). It only had to come from his private funds.
However, your question would seem to have basis in the Yerushalmi Shekalim 19b, which asked what to do about the second half of the Chavisim if the Kohen Gadol "became Tamei" before bringing it; who's funds does the second half come from? What does the Yerushalmi want? If the Kohen becomes Tamei, he can send another Kohen to bring his Chavisim for him!
We found that the Chazon Ish (Kodshim 34:5) asks this question on the Rambam (Temidim u'Musafim 3:21), who cites this Yerushalmi l'Halachah. He mentions that according to the Rambam's own opinion that a Tamei may not send in his Korbanos (Bi'as Mikdash 2:11), if the Kohen Gadol becomes Tamei he may not be able to send in his Korban. However, he rejects this (because we don't find that a substitute Kohen Gadol was appointed every time the Kohen Gadol became Tamei, among other reasons.)
Apparently the Yerushalmi is discussing a situation where the Kohen Gadol became Tamei on Yom Kipur, and another was therefore appointed in his place to finish the Avodah, including the Chavisim. (The Chazon Ish rejects this, though, because of the Mishnah in Horayos 12a that the Chavisim are brought from the original Kohen Gadol's money and not from the substitute's money; it is possible to differentiate between that case and our case, though, see Chazon Ish there.)
Thanks for your question,
-Mordecai Kornfeld