1)

(a)The Omer comprises - barley (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(b)It is brought - on the sixteenth of Nisan, and ...

(c)... cut the night before.

(d)It is brought even on Shabbos, based on the principle that - any Korban that has a fixed time overrides both Shabbos and Tum'ah.

2)

(a)According to Rebbi Yishmael, they cut five Sa'ah of barley on a weekday, and on Shabbos (on Friday night) - three Sa'ah.

(b)The Omer actually comprises - one Isaron (a tenth of an Eifah [Three Sa'ah make up an Eifah]).

(c)To bring five or three Sa'ah down to an Isaron - they sift it many times.

3)

(a)The difference between the method used to obtain an Isaron from five Sa'ah and the one used to obtain three Sa'ah is that - the former was done by sifting each Sa'ah separately and taking the first bit of flour that emerges, whereas the latter was sifted in one go many times.

(b)This explains Rebbi Yishmael's distinction between Shabbos and weekday, in that it is based on the S'vara that - it is preferable to perform less Melachos on Shabbos, even though it entails more Tircha.

(c)The Chachamim maintain that - they cut five Sa'ah on Shabbos too.

(d)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.

4)

(a)On a weekday, three people were appointed to cut the barley for the Omer. They used three scythes and three boxes (in which to place the barley).

(b)This was necessary - to counter the Tzedokim, who maintained that the Omer is always brought on a Sunday.

(c)According to Rebbi Chanina S'gan ha'Kohanim, on Shabbos - it was cut by one person, using one scythe and one box.

(d)The Chachamim - do not differentiate between Shabbos and weekday.

(e)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.

5)

(a)Ideally speaking, the Omer should be brought - from as close to Yerushalayim as possible ...

(b)... due to the principle not to pass by a Mitzvah ('Ein Ma'avirin al ha'Mitzvos' [See also Tosfos Yom Tov]).

(c)In the event that the barley that grows closest to Yerushalayim is not yet fully ripe - then they have no option but to search further afield.

(d)It once happened that they brought the Omer from Gagos Tz'rifin and the Sh'ei ha'Lechem from the valley of Ein Socher - even though they were very far from Yerushalayim.

(e)There was no produce closer to Yerushalayim than that - because the enemy had destroyed all the produce in the vicinity of Yerushalayim.

6)

(a)In preparation for the Mitzvah of cutting the Omer after Yom-Tov - the Sheluchei Beis-Din went to the field on Erev Yom-Tov - and arranged sheaves with the still attached barley, to facilitate the cutting on Motza'ei Yom-Tov.

(b)The residents of all the surrounding towns - would gather there to watch ...

(c)... to enable the ceremony to reach the ears of the Tzedokim, who maintained that the Omer is always brought on Sunday.

7)

(a)When the Shali'ach who cut the barley (See Tosfos Yom Tov) asked the people whether the sun had set, they replied - 'Yes!'

(b)This question and answer, and the subsequent ones, were all repeated - three times.

(c)Besides 'Is this a scythe', the Shali'ach asked the people - 'Is this a box?'

8)

(a)If Shabbos fell on Motza'ei Yom-Tov - he added a. 'Shall I perform these Melachos on Shabbos?', and b. 'Shall I begin now?' ...

(b)To which the people replied - 'Cut!'

(c)All this was necessary on account of the Baytusim - a sister sect of the Tzedokim (disciples of Tzadok and Baytus, respectively) ...

(d)... who maintained that the Omer is not brought on Motza'ei Yom-Tov, but on Motza'ei Shabbos.

9)

(a)The Tzedokim's source is the Pasuk in Emor - "u"Sedfartem lachem mi'Mochoras ha'Shabbos".

(b)Based on a tradition, the Chachamim explain the Pasuk - with reference to after Yom-Tov (the first day of Pesach).

(c)Bearing in mind the Pasuk there "ve'Lechem *ve'Kali* ve'Charmel lo Sohlu ad Etzem ha'Yom ha'Zeh", they prove their opinion from the Pasuk in Yehoshua "Vayochlu me'Avur ha'Aretz mi'Mochoras ha'Pesach Matzos *ve'Kali*" - which indicates that the Omer, which permits Chadash to be eaten, is brought after Yom-Tov and not after Shabbos (See Tosfos Yom Tov DH 'she'Hayu Omrim ... ').

10)

(a)We learn from the Pasuk in Re'ei "me'Hacheil Chermesh ba'Kamah Tacheil Lis'por" that - cutting the Omer takes place at the same times as the counting of the Omer.

(b)And we now learn from the Pasuk in Emor (in connection with the Sefiras ha'Omer) "Sheva Shabbasos Temimos Tih'yenah" that the Omer must be cut on the night of the sixteenth - because, in order to be complete, the counting must take place at the beginning of the day (immediately after nightfall), in which case, so must the Omer be cut then.

11)

(a)After placing the barley in the boxes they take them - to the Azarah.

(b)According to Rebbi Meir, in order to fulfill the Mitzvah of 'Kali' (as the Pasuk says in Vayikra "Aviv Kaluy ba"Eish") - they then singe it with fire.

(c)The Chachamim maintain that - they first beat it with canes and with cabbage stalks ...

(d)... which are moist.

(e)They do not use ordinary sticks (as one does with regular produce) - to prevent the kernels from becoming squashed (in which case the Mitzvah of 'Kali' will not be properly fulfilled).

12)

(a)According to the Chachamim, they then place the barley into an Ibuv - a copper grill ...

(b)... which has holes in it - to ensure that the fire roasts all the kernels.

(c)They do not roast it on the fire directly - since then it will not be called 'Kali'.

13)

(a)Before grinding it in a bean-grinder - they spread it out on the floor of the Azarah ...

(b)... to allow the wind to blow on it.

(c)They grind it specifically in a bean-grinder - which does not grind too finely (See Tiferes Yisrael).

(d)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.

14)

(a)They sift the flour in - thirteen different sieves.

(b)After the Asiris ha'Eifah has been taken from the flour - they redeem the leftover flour ...

(c)... and anyone is subsequently permitted to eat it.

(d)It is subject to Chalah - because it is kneaded after it has become Chulin.

15)

(a)According to the Tana Kama, it is Patur from Ma'asros. Rebbi Akiva maintains that it is Chayav.

(b)The reason of ...

1. ... the Tana Kama is - because the Miru'ach (flattening the heap after the winnowing, which is the catalyst for Ma'asros) is performed whilst it is Hekdesh.

2. ... Rebbi Akiva is - because the money with which they purchase the barley is only given for the Isaron; the leftovers therefore, remains Chulin.

(c)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama

16)

(a)Before the barley of the Omer, they place - the oil and the Levonah into the K'li (See Tosfos Yom Tov DH 'Ba lo ... ' & 've'Nasan Shamno ... ').

(b)Of the six Avodos that the Kohanim still needs to perform before burning the Omer on the Mizbe'ach, the first two are Yetzikah (pouring more oil) and Belilah (mixing the flour and the oil). Next - they perform the Tenufah.

(c)And finally, after bringing it to the south-western corner of the Mizbe'ach (Hagashah) - the Kohen takes the Kemitzah (the fistful).

(d)After the Kemitzah has been burned - the Kohanim eat the leftovers (in the Azarah).

17)

(a)As soon as the Omer was brought, they used to find the markets of Yerushalayim - full of flour and Kali.

(b)According to Rebbi Meir, the Chachamim did not like that - since they had issued a decree forbidding cutting the corn before the Omer was brought, in case they would come to eat it (See Tosfos Yom Tov DH ' she'Lo ... ' & 'Divrei Rebbi Meir').

(c)Rebbi Yehudah maintains that - they did not object, because no such decree was issued (See Tosfos Yom Tov) ...

(d)... and the Halachah is - like Rebbi Yehudah.

18)

(a)Chadash becomes permitted for those who live ...

1. ... close to Yerushalayim - as soon as the Omer has been brought.

2. ... far from Yerushalayim - as from midday ...

(b)... by which time the Kohanim are bound to have brought the Omer.

(c)'Yom Henef' is - the sixteenth of Nisan (the day that he Omer is waved).

(d)According to the Tana Kama, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai instituted that, after the destruction of the Beis-ha'Mikdash - Chadash is forbidden the entire Yom Henef.

19)

(a)Rebbi Yehudah objects to the Tana Kama's statement - inasmuch as, when there is no Beis-ha'Mikdash, Chadash is forbidden the whole of the sixteenth *min ha'Torah*.

(b)His objection is based on the contradiction between the Pasuk in Emor " ... ad Etzem ha'Yom ha'Zeh" and the Pasuk there " ... ad Havi'achem es Korban Elokeichem" (both in connection with the Korban Omer) - because he explains the word "ad" (in the first Pasuk) to be inclusive ('ad ve'ad bi'chelal').

(c)And he goes on to resolve the discrepancy - by establishing the former Pasuk when the Beis-ha'Mikdash is not standing and the latter Pasuk when it is.

(d)To answer Rebbi Yehudah's Kashya, the Gemara amends the words 'Hiskin Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai' - to mean 'Darash ve'Hiskin', he Darshaned the Pesukim and instituted accordingly.

20)

(a)Others explain 'Hiskin Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai' literally. They interpret the word "ad" - to be exclusive ('ad ve'Lo ad bi'Chelal') ...

(b)And the reason that he saw fit to institute it is - because assuming that by the following year, the Beis-ha'Mikdash will be rebuilt, people will eat Chadash from the beginning of the day, because they remembered doing so last year (when there was no Beis-ha'Mikdash).

21)

(a)The Omer permitted Chadash in the Medinah (for the individuals), and the Sh'tei ha'Lechem (based on the Pasuk in Pinchas "Minchah Chadashah") - Chadash in the Beis-ha'Mikdash (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(b)If one brings a Minchah, Bikurim or a Minchas Beheimah before ...

1. ... the Omer - it is Pasul (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

2. ... the Sh'tei ha'Lechem - it is Kasher ...

(c)... since Chadash is already permitted to a Hedyot.

22)

(a)Besides wheat, barley and spelt, the Mishnah lists - rye and oats that are Chayav Chalah.

(b)The only species that ...

1. ... combines with wheat to make up the Shi'ur Chalah is - spelt.

2. ... does not combine with barley is - wheat (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(c)According to the Yerushalmi, a combination of any of the five that are kneaded together - is subject to Chalah ...

(d)... and the above rulings only apply if they are kneaded separately and joined afterwards by nipping the doughs together.

23)

(a)The Tana declares the five species subject to ...

1. ... Chadash, and forbids ...

2. ... reaping them before the Omer.

(b)We learn the former ruling from the word "Lechem" (in the Pasuk in Emor "ve'Lechem, ve'Kali ve'Charmel Lo Sochlu ad Etzem ha'Yom ha'Zeh") - by means of a Gezeirah-Shavah from Pesach (See Tosfos Yom Tov), on which any of the five species may be used.

(c)We learn the latter ruling from "Reishis Ketzirchem" (Ibid.), which means that the Omer should be the first crops to be harvested. We learn the five species from the word "Reishis" - by means of a Gezeirah-Shavah from "Reishis Arisoseichem" (in Korach, in connection with Chalah, which must be taken from all the five species).

24)

(a)The Omer permits crops that are still growing in the ground - provided they took root before the Omer is brought.

(b)We learn this from the Pasuk in Mishpatim (in connection with Bikurim) " ... asher Tizra ba'Sadeh" - which we interpret to mean 'from the time that it seeds and takes root in the ground' (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(c)If they take root after that - they only become permitted when the Omer is brought in the following year.

25)

(a)The problem with the two Pesukim in Emor "u'Ketzartem es Ketzirah va'Haveisem es Omer" and "Reishis Ketzirchem" is that - whereas the former Pasuk implies that one is permitted to harvest one's crops before the Omer, the latter indicates that the Omer must be the first of the harvest.

(b)The Mishnah resolves the discrepancy - by establishing the former by fields that produce poor-quality crops, and the latter by fields that produce high- quality crops.

(c)The Tana defines a field of poor quality crops as - one that needs to be watered manually (Beis ha'Shalachim) in the valley (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(d)He nevertheless forbids making haystacks even in those locations - in the form of a decree (in order to change from the norm. as much as possible [See Tosfos Yom Tov]).

26)

(a)The Chachamim agreed with the men of Yericho, who used to cut the corn before the Omer - because they owned fields that were Beis ha'Shalachim.

(b)They also used to make them into haystacks - with which the Chachamim did not agree.

(c)'Lo Michu be'Yadam' means that - although they did not agree with what they did, they did not protest verbally.

27)

(a)One is permitted to cut the corn even in those locations from which the Omer is brought - in order to feed one's animals (See Tosfos Yom Tov) as long as it has not yet fully grown ...

(b)... according to Rebbi Yehudah - provided one begins cutting it before it reaches a third of its growth.

(c)Rebbi Shimon permits it - even after that.

(d)The Halachah is - like Rebbi Yehudah.

28)

(a)When the Mishnah permits cutting the crops on account of the saplings, it is speaking - with regard to before the Omer.

(b)The Mishnah permits it, based on the ruling that - one cannot bring the Omer from a field that contains trees, in which case one may harvest the crops before the Omer.

(c)The Tana might also be referring to - a field where trees grew only after the crops were planted ...

(d)... and he allows harvesting the crops - in order to avoid transgressing the La'av of Kil'ayim.

29)

(a)When the Tana adds 'Mipnei Beis ha'Eivel' he is referring to - where they need the space in order to recite Birchas Aveilim.

(b)The third case that he adds to the list is - that of 'Bitul Beis-ha'Medrash' (where the space is needed for people to learn Torah.

(c)Based on the Pasuk "Reishis Ketzir*chem*", the reason for the current concession is that - the Torah only forbids harvesting the crops for one's own personal use, but not when it is for a Mitzvah (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

30)

(a)The Mishnah then prohibits - binding the above into sheaves.

(b)He does however permit Tzevasim, which might mean small sheaves. Alternatively, 'Tzevasim' means - bundled together, but not tied, as opposed to K'richos, which are tied (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

31)

(a)When the Mishnah writes that the Omer should come from standing corn, it means that - the actual cutting is a Mitzvah.

(b)If none is available - then Bedi'eved, one may use ready made sheaves.

(c)If one cannot find even ...

1. ... sheaves - then one should use moist crops.

2. ... moist crops - then Bedi'eved - even dry crops are Kasher.

(d)We learn that the barley ought to be moist from the word "Carmel" - since it is then acronym of 'Rach' (soft) and 'Malei' (full [see Tosfos Yom Tov]).

32)

(a)We already learned (at the beginning of the Perek) that the Mitzvah is to cut the Omer by night. If one cut it in the day - it is nevertheless Kasher (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(b)The Tana's final ruling is that - the Omer overrides Shabbos (See Tosfos Yom Tov).