(a)The Avodas ha'Parah begins seven days before its burning. What happens then?
(b)We learn this from a Pasuk in Parshas Milu'im (in Tzav) "Ka'asher Asah ba'Yom ha'Zeh Tzivah Hash-m La'asos Lechaper Aleichem". What is the first half of the Pasuk referring to?
(c)What do we now learn from ...
1. ... "La'asos"?
2. ... "Lechaper Aleichem"?
(d)What is the reason for this separation? What are we afraid might happen?
1)
(a)The Avodas ha'Parah begins seven days before its burning - when the Kohen who has been designated to burn it leaves his home to go and reside in the Beis Hamikdash.
(b)We learn this from a Pasuk in Parshas Milu'im (in Tzav) "Ka'asher Asah ba'Yom ha'Zeh Tzivah Hash-m La'asos Lechaper Aleichem". The first half of the Pasuk is referring to - the seven days of the Milu'im, when Aharon and his sons had to remain in the Azarah before their inauguration on the eighth.
(c)We now learn from ...
1. ... "La'asos" that - the same applies to the Parah Adumah.
2. ... "Lechaper Aleichem" that - it also applies to Yom-Kipur.
(d)The reason for this separation is - because we are afraid that the Kohen's wife might become a Nidah whilst they are together, rendering him Tamei for seven days, thereby disqualifying him from burning the Parah.
2)
(a)Where does the Kohen reside for the duration of those seven days?
(b)What might Birah mean?
(c)Where is this room situated?
(d)Why specifically there?
2)
(a)For the duration of those seven days, he resides - in a room above the Birah ...
(b)... which refers - either to a specific area in the Beis-Hamikdash or to the B.H. itself (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(c)This room is situated - in the north-eastern section of the Azarah ...
(d)Specifically there - because that is where the Korban Chatas is Shechted, and the Parah Adumah is called Chatas (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
3)
(a)The room in which the Kohen resides is called Beis Even. Why is that?
(b)Why did they institute this Chumrah (and all the other Chumros in this Perek)?
(c)What is then the reason for the leniency?
(d)What do they sprinkle him with on each of the seven days, according to the Tana Kama?
3)
(a)The room in which the Kohen resides is called Beis Even - because all vessels that he uses there are made of stone and the like (which are not subject to Tum'ah [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).
(b)They instituted this Chumrah (and all the other Chumros in this Perek) - to counter the leniency of being Metamei the Kohen on the day that he burns the Parah Adumah and making him Tovel immediately, so as to render him a T'vul-Yom when he burns it.
(c)The reason for this leniency in turn - is to counter the argument of the Tzedokim, that a T'vul-Yom is not eligible to burn the Parah Adumah until nightfall.
(d)According to the Tana Kama, on each of the seven days - they sprinkle the Kohen with ashes from a different Parah, that are gathered there since the first Parah that was prepared by Elazar ha'Kohen (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
4)
(a)How often do they sprinkle on him according to R. Yossi?
(b)To explain their Machlokes, we have to assume that, according to the Tana Kama, Tevilah bi'Zemanah Mitzvah. What is now the basis of the Machlokes between the Tana Kama and Rebbi Yossi?
(c)What is therefore the reason of the Tana Kama?
4)
(a)According to R. Yossi they sprinkled on him - only on the third and seventh days.
(b)To explain their Machlokes, we have to assume that, Tevilah bi'Zemanah Mitzvah, and the basis of their Machlokes is - whether we learn Haza'ah from Tevilah (the Tana Kama) or not (R. Yossi).
(c)That is why the Tana Kama - requires Haza'ah on each of the seven days (in keeping with the Din of a Tamei Meis, who requires Tevilah and sprinkling on the third and seventh days of his Taharah [see Tos. Yom-Tov]). The Kohen must be sprinkled each day in case it is the third or seventh day of his Taharah.
5)
(a)In fact, even according to the Tana Kama, the Kohen is only sprinkled five times. One of the two days on which he is not sprinkled is Shabbos; the other, on the fourth day. Why is he not sprinkled on ...
1. ... Shabbos?
2. ... the fourth day?
(b)R. Chanina S'gan ha'Kohanim makes a sort of compromise. What does he say?
(c)Seeing as he agrees in principle with the reasoning of R. Yossi (Haza'ah bi'Zemanah La'av Mitzvah), why does he require the Kohen who burns the Parah to have seven Haza'os?
5)
(a)In fact, even according to the Tana Kama, the Kohen is only sprinkled five times. One of the two days on which he is not sprinkled was Shabbos; the other, on the fourth day. He is not sprinkled on ...
1. ... Shabbos - because it involves an Isur de'Rabbanan, which negates the Mitzvah of Haza'ah.
2. ... the fourth day - since it can be neither the third day nor the seventh, of the Kohen's Taharah.
(b)R. Chanina S'gan ha'Kohanim makes a sort of compromise. He requires Haza'ah on each of the seven days by Parah but on the third and seventh days only on Yom Kipur.
(c)Even though he agrees in principle with the reasoning of R. Yossi (Haza'ah bi'Zemanah La'av Mitzvah), he nevertheless requires the Kohen who burns the Parah to have seven Haza'os - merely as another Ma'alah (Chumra), so that the people should not come to treat the Parah with disrespect, because it is burned by a T'vul-Yom.
Mishnah 2
6)
(a)They bring pregnant women to live in courtyards that are built on top of rock. What is the significance of the fact that they were?
(b)As an additional Chumra, they also make sure that there is a space between the courtyards and the rock. Why is that? What is Kever T'hom?
(c)What does the term Kever T'hom denote?
6)
(a)They bring pregnant women to live in courtyards that are built on top of rock - since we can be certain that nobody is buried there.
(b)As an additional Chumra, they also made sure that there is a space between the courtyards and the rock - just in case there is, due to Kever T'hom (if somebody is indeed buried there, and there is no space of a Tefach between the body and the ground above it, the Tum'ah rises straight up to the sky, rendering Tamei whatever is in its path.
(c)The term Kever T'hom - denotes Safek (like the depths, which are hidden and unknown).
7)
(a)What is the role of the pregnant women?
(b)Why does this Avodah require a young boy? Up to what age is he eligible to perform it?
7)
(a)The role of the pregnant women - is to give birth to a boy (which we assumed will be born to at least one of them) who will subsequently perform the Avodah that we are about to describe, be'Taharah.
(b)This Avodah requires a young boy - up to the age of eight to perform it, who we know has never seen Keri (has never had an emission [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).
8)
(a)When the babies are old enough they are brought oxen to ride on. What is placed on the oxen's backs?
(b)Why specifically oxen? What are we afraid the child may do?
(c)What is then the point of the doors?
(d)And what are they holding in their hands?
(e)Where are the children going?
8)
(a)When the babies are old enough, they are brought oxen - with doors on their backs for the children to ride on ...
(b)... specifically oxen - because they have wide bellies, thereby reducing the likelihood of the children being Ma'ahil over a grave, even if there is one (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(c)The doors are there - to reduce the likelihood of that happening even further.
(d)The children are holding - stone cups ...
(e)... as they make their way towards the Shilo'ach Springs (see Tos. Yom-Tov DH 'u'Mevi'in Sh'varim').
9)
(a)What do the children do when they arrived at the Shilo'ach River (which flows from the spring)?
(b)What is the water used for?
(c)Why are we not afraid of Kever T'hom in the river itself?
(d)What does R. Yossi say?
9)
(a)When they arrive at the Shilo'ach River (which flows from the spring) - the children dismount and fill the cups with water from the river ...
(b)... to mix with the ashes of the Paros before they are sprinkled on the Kohen during the seven days.
(c)We are not afraid of Kever T'hom in the river itself (see Tos. Yom-Tov) - because it is most unusual to bury someone underneath a river.
(d)According to R. Yossi - the children lower the stone cups from the backs of the oxen without dismounting.
Mishnah 3
10)
(a)Where do the children head for, cups of water in hand?
(b)When the children finally dismounte in the Har ha'Bayis, why are we not afraid of Kever T'hom?
(c)At the entrance of the Azarah, there is a large Kalal shel Chatas. What is Kalal shel Chatas? What does it contain?
(d)On what basis are all those ashes placed there?
(e)Which Azarah is the Mishnah referring to?
10)
(a)Cups of water in hand - the children now head for the Beis-Hamikdash.
(b)When they finally dismount in the Har ha'Bayis, we are not afraid of Kever T'hom - because Har ha'Bayis and the Azaros were deliberately built with a space in between the floor and the ground below.
(c)At the entrance of the Azarah (see Tos. Yom-Tov), there is a Kalal shel Chatas - a small jar placed in a crevice in the wall (see Tiferes Yisrael) containing ashes, from the remains of all the Paros Adumos from the time of Moshe and onwards.
(d)The basis for this is - the Pasuk in Chukas "ve'Haysah la'Adas B'nei Yisrael le'Mishmeres" (to preserve some ashes from each and every Parah Adumah).
(e)The Mishnah is referring to - the Ezras Nashim (beside the Chil).
11)
(a)They then bring a male lamb (see Tiferes Yisrael). What is tied between its horns?
(b)Besides tying a stick to the end of the rope, what alternative method do they employ to make the end of the rope thick (see Tos. Yom-Tov)?
(c)What do they then do with the rope?
(d)Next they give the lamb a hearty slap on its flank. Why do they do that?
(e)How much ashes need to be in the jar of water before mixing?
11)
(a)They then bring a male lamb (see Tiferes Yisrael) - with a rope tied between its horns.
(b)Besides tying a stick to the end of the rope - they might knot the end of the rope to make it thick (see Tos. Yom-Tov [see also Tiferes Yisrael]).
(c)Next they toss the end of the rope into the jar of ashes ...
(d)...and give the lamb a hearty slap on its flank - causing it to jerk backwards, so that the thick end of the rope will pull some of the ashes, which will then spill on to the bull's back, for the child to take and throw into the cup of water in order to mix them together.
(e)Before mixing - there needs to be sufficient ashes in the jar of water to be discernable in the water (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
12)
(a)What is the objective of the entire exercise?
(b)Why can the child not simply take the ashes directly?
(c)But did we not learn earlier in the Mishnah that the child did dismount and stand in the Azarah and that he is not a Zav?
(d)And why is it necessary to throw the stick (rather than put it in directly)?
12)
(a)The objective of the entire exercise is - to prevent the child (who may be a Zav) from touching the ashes that remain in the jar ...
(b)... in which case he would render them Tamei through Maga.
(c)Even though we learned earlier in the Mishnah that the child did dismount and stand in the Azarah, and that he is not a Zav - this section of Mishnah is speaking about the beginning of the second Beis-Hamikdash, when all the returnees were Tamei (though it is not clear what the Mishnah is then saying [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).
(d)It is also necessary to throw the stick - because if he was to put it in directly, he would move the remaining ashes, thereby rendering them Tamei through Heset.
13)
(a)R. Yossi disagrees. What does he say they did?
(b)What argument does he present to back up his opinion?
(c)And why is he not concerned about being Metamei the ashes that remain in the jar?
(d)How was it possible for the exiles in Bavel to be Tahor? Where did they obtain a Kasher Parah Adumah?
(e)Like whom is the Halachah?
13)
(a)According to R. Yossi - the child dismounts from the bull, takes some ashes from the jar, mixes them with the water in the cup and sprinkles them on the Kohen.
(b)The argument he presents to back up his opinion is - not to give room to the Tzedokim to mock us.
(c)Nor is he concerned about being Metamei the ashes that remain in the jar - since there were some people in Bavel who were Tahor (and who would sprinkle the ashes) ...
(d)... because when they initially went into exile to Bavel, they took some ashes of the Parah Adumah with them.
(e)The Halachah is - like R. Yossi (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
Mishnah 4
14)
(a)What does the Tana mean when he says Lo Hayu Osin ...
1. ... Chatas al-Gabei Chatas?
2. ... Tinok al-Gabei Tinok?
(b)R. Yossi ha'Gelili adds a Chumra to those that we have already learned. He requires the children to be sprinkled with the ashes of the Parah. Having undergone such a stringent routine to prevent them from becoming Tamei, why is this necessary?
(c)What does R. Akiva say?
(d)He agrees however, that they require Tevilah. Why is that?
(e)Like whom is the Halachah?
14)
(a)When the Tana says Lo Hayu Osin ...
1. ... Chatas al-Gabei Chatas, he means that - if someone purifies himself to prepare a specific Parah Adumah, and the first one becomes Pasul, he cannot prepare another Parah, relying on his original purification (see Tos. Yom-Tov). He must start all over again with the purification process.
2. ... Tinok al-Gabei Tinok he means that - if one prepares a child for the Parah (as we have been discussing until now), and he is joined by a friend, who goes through the same process, but not with the specific intention of preparing the Parah, the latter is not eligible to prepare it.
(b)R. Yossi ha'Gelili adds a Chumra to those that we have already learned. He requires the children to be sprinkled with the ashes of the Parah (see Tos. Yom-Tov). In spite of having undergone such a stringent routine to prevent them from becoming Tamei, this is necessary - due to the possibility that a raven deposited a k'Zayis of Meis on them or in their vicinity.
(c)R. Akiva says that - it is not necessary.
(d)He agrees however, that they require Tevilah - due to the likelihood of their having become Tamei through touching a Sheretz (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(e)The Halachah - is like R. Akiva.
Mishnah 5
15)
(a)With the ashes of how many Paros do they sprinkle the Kohen who prepares the Parah?
(b)What if, for some reason or other, they do not find the ashes of all seven Paros? What is the minimum number of Paros, whose ashes are needed?
(c)According to R. Meir, if Moshe prepared the first Parah, who prepared the second?
15)
(a)They sprinkle the Kohen who prepares the Parah with the ashes - of all seven Paros that had been used since the days of Moshe.
(b)If, for some reason or other, they do not find the ashes of all seven Paros - then they sprinke him with the ashes of as many Paros as they do find, even if it is only one.
(c)According to R. Meir, Moshe prepared the first Parah - Ezra, the second.
16)
(a)The Chachamim disagree with R. Meir. What do they say?
(b)According to them, which two great Tzadikim prepared the first four?
(c)If Elyeho'einai ben ha'Kuf and Chanamel ha'Mitzri prepared the next two, who prepared the last one?
16)
(a)According to the Chachamim - the tradition of seven Paros refers to the seven that were prepared from the time of Ezra and onwards.
(b)According to them - Ezra prepared the first two, and Shimon ha'Tzadik, the next two.
(c)Elyeho'einai (see Tos. Yom-Tov) ben ha'Kuf and Chanamel ha'Mitzri prepared the next two - and Yishmael ben Piavi the last one.
Mishnah 6
17)
(a)On which mountain does the designated Kohen burn the Parah?
(b)How does he avoid becoming Tamei due to Kever ha'Tehom on his way there from the Har ha'Bayis?
(c)Why did they need to build two archways? Why did one not suffice? And what did they do to prevent the Tum'ah rising straight up (Tum'ah Retzutzah) via the legs of the two archways?
(d)Who, besides the Kohen, used the bridge?
(e)Why, strictly speaking, does the cow not need to use the bridge to reach Har ha'Mishchah?
17)
(a)The designated Kohen burns the Parah - on Har ha'Mishchah (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(b)He avoids becoming Tamei via Kever ha'Tehom on his way there from the Har ha'Bayis - by walking across the bridge that was built on top of a double archway which was specifically built for this purpose, and that led from one to the other (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(c)They needed to build two archways - to prevent the Tum'ah from rising straight up (Tum'ah Retzutzah) via the legs of the archway and rendering whoever walked over the bridge Tamei. To avoid that, they build the legs staggered (not one on top of the other).
(d)Besides the Kohen - the Parah itself and all those who were designated to prepare it, used the bridge (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(e)Strictly speaking, the cow does not need to use the bridge to reach Har ha'Mishchah - because live animals are not subject to Tum'ah.
Mishnah 7
18)
(a)If the cow refuses to budge, they are not permitted to lead another cow ahead of to induce it to go. According to the Tana Kama, why could they not use ...
1. ... a black cow for this purpose?
2. ... a red cow?
(b)What does the Pasuk "ve'Shachat Osah" have to do with this ruling?
(c)R. Yossi disagrees with the Tana Kama. What does he learn from the Pasuk "ve'Hotzi Osah"?
18)
(a)If the cow refuses to budge, they are not permitted to lead another cow ahead of to induce it to go. According to the Tana Kama, why could they not use ...
1. ... a black cow for this purpose - in case people conclude that they used the black cow and not the red one.
2. ... a red cow - in case people conclude that they used two cows, and the Torah writes ...
(b)... "ve'Shachat Osah" - implying that only one Parah Adumah may be Shechted at a time, and not two.
(c)R. Yossi - learns both of the above rulings from the Pasuk "ve'Hotzi Osah", which implies that only one Parah may be led out of the camp at a time and not two (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
19)
(a)Who is waiting for the Kohen on Har ha'Zeisim when he arrives?
(b)What dothey do when he gets there?
(c)What happens next?
19)
(a)The elders of Beis-Din, who walked (see Tos. Yom-Tov) to the Har ha'Zeisim, are waiting for the Kohen there when he arrives.
(b)When he gets there - they are Metamei him ...
(c)... after which he immediately Tovels.
20)
(a)What is unusual about the Mikvah in which he subsequently Tovels, as well as the locations where the cow is prepared and where it is burned (which will be discussed later)?
(b)According to the Rambam, the elders render the Kohen Tamei by touching him with a Sheretz or with anything else that renders whoever touches it Tamei for one day. What do others say?
(c)What is the basis of this opinion?
20)
(a)What is unusual about the Mikvah in which he subsequently Tovels, as well as the locations where the cow was prepared and where it is burned (which will be discussed later) was the fact that - like the bridge, they are built on top of two archways.
(b)According to the Rambam, the elders renders the Kohen Tamei by touching him with a Sheretz or with anything else that renders Tamei for one day. Others say that - they do so by leaning their hands on him (as we will see shortly [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).
(c)This opinion is based on the principle that the clothes of those who eat Kodesh are Midras with regard to those who deal with the Parah).
21)
(a)Why is all this necessary?
(b)What has it to do with the Pasuk "u'Ba ha'Shemesh ve'Taher"?
(c)What did the Chachamim say?
21)
(a)All this is necessary - to counter the Tzedokim, who insist that the Parah be prepared by a Kohen who has Toveled and on whom the sun has subsequently set (as is the case by other Kodshim [and the Parah is called "Chatas", as we have already learned]) ...
(b)... which we learn from the Pasuk "u'Ba ha'Shemesh ve'Taher" (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(c)The Chachamim however, said that - although by other Kodshim this is what "ve'Taher" means, when the Torah writes "Tahor" by Parah Adumah, which is really Kodshei Bedek ha'Bayis, it means the same "Taher" as that of Ma'aser Sheini, which is a T'vul-Yom.
Mishnah 8
22)
(a)Next the elders lean their hands on the Kohen. What do they tell him to do as they did so? How do they address him, assuming he is the Kohen Gadol?
(b)What does he then do?
(c)Three of the four kinds of wood that are prepared there are cedar, B'roshim, and Oranim wood. What is the fourth?
(d)Why specifically these four?
22)
(a)Next the elders lean their hands on the Kohen (see Tos. Yom-Tov) - and tell him to go and Tovel once (see Tos. Yom-Tov [addressing him as 'My master, the Kohen Gadol', if it is the Kohen Gadol who is burning the Parah - see Tos. Yom-Tov]).
(b)He then Tovels and dries himself.
(c)Three of the four kinds of wood that are prepared there are cedar, B'roshim, and Oranim wood. The fourth was - smooth (see Tos. Yom-Tov) fig-tree wood ...
(d)... because these four are particularly flammable.
23)
(a)How do they arrange the wood on the pyre?
(b)What do they do to help the fire spread quicker?
(c)The fire is lit from the west side. Why is that?
23)
(a)They arrange the wood on the pyre like a tower (wide at the base and narrow on top).
(b)To help the fire spread quicker - they leave 'windows' in the pyre.
(c)The fire is lit from the west side - because that is the direction of the Beis-ha'Mikdash.
Mishnah 9
24)
(a)Next, they tie the Parah with a kind of reed called Megeg. Why specifically Megeg?
(b)Where is the Parah placed before being Shechted?
(c)In which direction do they face its ...
1. ... head?
2. ... face?
(d)The designated Kohen then Shechts the Parah with his right hand. What does he do with his left hand, according to the Tana Kama?
24)
(a)Next, they tie the Parah with a kind of reed called Megeg - because it is not subject to Tum'ah (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(b)Before being Shechted, the Parah is placed - on the pyre ...
(c)... its ...
1. ... head facing - south (see Tos. Yom-Tov), its ...
2. ... face - west.
(d)The designated Kohen then Shechts the Parah with his right hand (see Tos. Yom-Tov). According to the Tana Kama - with his left hand, he receives the blood.
25)
(a)According to R. Yehudah, he also performs the Kabalas ha'Dam with his right hand. Why is that?
(b)On what grounds do the Chachamim disagree with him?
(c)Like whom is the Halachah?
25)
(a)According to R. Yehudah, he also performs the Kabalas ha'Dam with his right hand - like other Kodshim (by which all Avodos have to be performed with the right hand).
(b)The Chachamim disagree with him - because, since its blood is not sprinkled on the Mizbe'ach, it does not resemble other Kodshim in this regard.
(c)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.
26)
(a)With which hand does the Kohen now proceed to sprinkle the blood in the direction of the Kodesh Kodshim?
(b)What do we learn from the Pasuk "ve'Lakach Elazar ha'Kohen mi'Damah be'Etzba'o"?
(c)How many times did he sprinkle?
(d)What does the Kohen do before each time he sprinkles? Why is that?
26)
(a)He now proceeds to sprinkle the blood in the direction of the Kodesh Kodshim (see Tos. Yom-Tov) - with his right hand.
(b)We learn from the Pasuk "ve'Lakach Elazar ha'Kohen mi'Damah be'Etzba'o" that - he sprinkles with the most commonly used finger (see Tos. Yom-Tov [the right forefinger]) ...
(c)... seven times.
(d)Before each time he sprinkles - the Kohen dips his finger into the blood in the other hand, because the blood that remains on the finger with which he sprinkled is Pasul (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
27)
(a)On what does the Kohen wipe his hands clean following the sprinkling?
(b)After descending from the Ma'arachah, he lights the fire, using Alisos, according to the Tana Kama. What are Alisos?
(c)What does R. Akiva say?
(d)Like whom is the Halachah?
27)
(a)Following the sprinkling, the Kohen wipes his hands clean - on the body of the Parah.
(b)The Tana Kama maintains that, after descending from the Ma'arachah, he lights the fire, using Alisos - thin twigs of wood (from the Lashon Alyah [fat-tail], as thin twigs are also known as Z'navos [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).
(c)R. Akiva - requires date-palm branches.
(d)The Halachah - is like the Tana Kama.
Mishnah 10
28)
(a)Where does the Kohen stand whilst setting fire to the Parah?
(b)At a certain stage of the burning he will throw three items into the fire. Which three items? At which stage?
(c)Where is he standing when he does this?
(d)What alternative method might the Kohen employ to split the Parah open manually?
(e)Which two things does the Pasuk (written in connection with the throwing) "el Toch S'reifas ha'Parah" come to preclude?
28)
(a)Whilst setting fire to the Parah, the Kohen stands in the shallow pit (Gitah [which presumably was dug specifically for this purpose]), in which it was being burned (see also Tos. Yom-Tov).
(b)He will throw - a cedar branch (see Tos. Yom-Tov), a hyssop and a crimson thread into the burning Parah, when it splits open from the heat ...
(c)... whilst standing - outside the pit (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(d)Alternatively - the Kohen might cut it open with a knife.
(e)The Pasuk (written in connection with the throwing) "el Toch S'reifas ha'Parah" comes to preclude - throwing the items in a. before most of the Parah has caught fire, and b. after it has turned into ashes.
29)
(a)What does the Kohen say upon taking the cedar branch, the hyssop and the crimson thread, respectively?
(b)How many times did he say it?
(c)And how do those present respond?
29)
(a)Upon taking the cedar branch, the hyssop and the crimson thread, respectively, he asks - Is this a cedar branch? Is this a hyssop twig? and Is this a crimson thread? ...
(b)... each one three times (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(c)Those present respond - Yes! (three times for each one).
Mishnah 11
30)
(a)How does he tie the two/three items before throwing them into the fire?
(b)Why is this necessary?
(c)What if he throws them in one by one?
30)
(a)Before throwing them into the fire - he first ties the cedar branch and the hyssop with the crimson thread, and then, with the remaining length of thread, he ties all three.
(b)This is necessary - in order to add weight to the bundle, to ensure that they fall into the stomach of the burning Parah.
(c)If he throws them in one by one - he is Yotzei.
31)
(a)How do they then proceed to break up the burned Parah? According to the Tana Kama, which pair of tools are needed for that?
(b)According to R. Yishmael, what do they use rather than sticks?
(c)What do they do next?
(d)What does R. Yishmael say?
(e)Like whom is the Halachah?
31)
(a)They then proceed to break up the burned Parah - by beating it with sticks.
(b)According to R. Yishmael, rather than sticks - they use stone sledge-hammers (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(c)Next - they sift it ...
(d)... with stone sieves - according to R. Yishmael.
(e)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama.
32)
(a)On what condition do they then grind the burned Parah?
(b)What about parts that are not?
(c)Which parts of the Parah do they grind anyway?
(d)Into how many parts are the ashes divided?
(e)What happens to the ashes of the wood with which they burned the Parah?
32)
(a)They then grind the burned Parah - provided it has turned into cinders, and is grindable.
(b)Parts that are not - they leave burning ...
(c)... except for the bones - which they grind anyway (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
(d)The ashes are divided - into three parts ...
(e)... including the ashes of the wood with which they burned the Parah (see Tos. Yom-Tov).
33)
(a)One part of the ashes is placed in the Cheil (see Tiferes Yisrael). What is the source for that?
(b)What happens to the other two parts?
(c)What is the function of the ashes that are ...
1. ... placed on the Har ha'Mishchah?
2. ... given to the Mishmaros of Kohanim?
33)
(a)One part of the ashes is placed in the Cheil (see Tiferes Yisrael) - based on the Pasuk "ve'Haysah la'Adas B'nei Yisrael le'Mishmeres".
(b)One of the other two parts is placed on the Har ha'Mishchah, the other is given to the twenty-four Mashmaros of Kohanim.
(c)The function of the ashes that are ...
1. ... placed on the Har ha'Mishchah is - to sanctify subsequent Paros Adumos with it.
2. ... given to the Mishmaros of Kohanim is - to sprinkle on those who are Tamei Meis.
