What is the word "Min ha'Of" coming to precude?
Rashi: Bearing in mind that a blemish, as well as if it is a female, does not disqualify birds from the realm of Olah, 1 "Min" teaches us that they are disqualified if they are missing a limb. 2
Kidushin, 24b: To disqualify a bird with a wing that shrivelled-up, a leg that is severed or an eye that has been removed from its socket. 3
See Rashi, 22:19. Sifra: Consequently a Tumtum and an Androginus are also Kasher.
Moshav Zekenim (on Pasuk 2): Large blemishes disqualify, dsuch as if its wing dried-up, its eye is blind, or it became a T'reifah. In Pasuk 14, he says that it is only if its eye has been removed, but not if it is blind; only for freeing a slave, "Yeshalchenu" includes this. However, he also cites Zevachim 35b that the only Mum allowed is cataracts in the eye. He also asks why [Sifra] mentions 'its wing dried-up or its foot was cut off', and not vice-versa.
See Torah Temimah, note 96.
Why does the Torah insert the (otherwise ssuperfluous) words a. "Olah" and b. ?Korbano??
What is the difference between "Torim" and "B'nei Yonah"?
Torim are turtle-doves and B'nei Yonah, young doves (or pigeons).
Why does the Torah insert the word "B'nei" regarding "Yonah" but not regarding "Torim"?
Rashi and Targum Yonasan: To teach us that, whereas a Tor is only eligible to be brought as an Olah when it is mature, a Yonah is eligible only when it is still young. 1
What are the two times "min" ("Min ha'Torim u'Min b'nei ha'Yonah") coming to preclude?
Rashi: They disqualify both birds when their feathers have begun to turn yellow, the former because they are not yet classified as mature, the latter, because they are no longer considered as young.
Chulin, 23a: They preclude a bird that was raped or worshipped.
Why did the Torah render eligible as a Korban specifically Torim and B'nei Yonah?
Ramban #1: Because they are readily available and easy to catch. 1
Ramban #2 and Moshav Zekenim: Because of the grown-up Tor's fidelity to its mate - once it has chosen its mate, it will never exchange it for another, or even take another mate after it dies 2 - Likewise, Yisrael never exchange Hashem for another G-d. Young doves are extremely attached to their nests with bonds of love - more than any other bird. Moreover, unlike other birds, which flee their nests the moment someone touches them to take its chicks, doves remain in their nests - Likewise Yisrael never forsake their Creator and His Torah. A Yisrael will submit to be hung rather than give up his religion (Midrash Rabah)!
Moshav Zekenim citing R. Eliezer of Garmaiza: Torim are pursued more than other birds, like Yisrael are pursued. They never switch mates, even after their mates die; doves switch after death of their mates, therefore only young doves may be offered. Yisrael are compared to a dove, which never switches its mate, i.e. in its mate's lifetime.
Moshav Zekenim: When Yisrael sin, they are compared to birds - "Efrayim ka'Of Yis'ofef" (Hoshe'a 9:11). When they do His will, they are compared to doves - "Yonasi b'Chagvei ha'Sela" (Shir ha'Shirim 2:14). Written and oral Torah are compared to Torim - "Navu Lechayich ba'Torim?; Torei Zahav Na'Asei Lach Im Nekudos ha'Kasef" (Shir ha'Shirim 1:10,11). Young doves should atone for Yisrael, who are compared to doves - "Yonasi b'Chagvei ha'Sela" (Shir ha'Shirim 2:14). We bring Torim, and Hashem recalls His two Toros, and atones for two [levels of sin] - Shogeg and Mezid. And in this merit, He will bring soon two Meshichim, from David and from Yosef!
Ramban and Moshav Zekenim: As the Midrash Rabah writes in connection with a lamb and a kid-goat - which the Torah renders eligible as Korbanos, to exempt one from having to take one's bow and arrow and going to hunt Chayos. The Torah did not allow chickens, because they are promiscuous.
Adult Yonim, on the other hand, are exceptionally jealous, and in their jealousy, they leave their current mates and take different ones Ramban).
Why must one take specifically grown-up Torim and young Yonim?
Ramban #1: Refer to 1:14:4:2.
Ramban #2: On account of the Segulah which teaches that mature doves sharpen one's intellect, whereas young Yonim are good for those whose limbs no longer function well.
Why does the Pasuk repeat the word "Korbano"?
Oznayim la'Torah #1: To emphasize the importance of the poor man's Korban in the Eyes of Hashem ? should he feel despondent over the meager size of his Korban.
Oznayim la'Torah #2: To teach us that it is only an Ani who is permitted to bring a bird, but an Ashir who does so has not fulfilled his Neder.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that "Min" disqualified a bird missing a limb. Seeing as it is forbidden even for B'nei Noach, why did the Torah need to write this?
Riva: It forbids even if the limb is still there, - its eye was sunken but did not leave, or its wing 1 dried.
Riva (citing R. Tam of Orleans) and Moshav Zekenim (citing R. Yeshayah); If not for "Min ha'Of", we would have thought that missing a limb is disqualified for B'nei Yisrael, but not for B'nei Noach. 2
Moshav Zekenim (citing the Ri): Before Matan Torah, one could offer all [Tahor] animals and birds, except for those missing a limb. At Matan Torah, the Torah disqualified animals with a blemish. We might therefore have thought that the Halachah changed also with regard to birds and that they are allowed even if they are missing a limb.
