1)
(a)The Mishnah permits bringing Korbanos Tzibur from Chutz la'Aretz and (Menachos [See also Tosfos Yom Tov) from Yashan (from last year's produce) ...
(b)... and the same applies to Korb'nos Yachid.
(c)The two exceptions to the rule are - the Omer (on Pesach) and the Sh'tei ha'Lechem (on Shavu'os).
(d)We learn from the Pasuk in ...
1. ... Emor "Minchah Chadashah (See Tosfos Yom Tov)" that - the Omer can only be brought from Chadash.
2. ... Ki Sisa "Bikurei K'tzir Chitim" that - the same applies to the Sh'tei ha'Lechem.
2)
(a)All Menachos must be brought - from choice-quality grain (See Tosfos Yom Tov).
(b)The significance of...
1. ... the towns Michmas and Mezonisah is that - they produce the best-quality flour in the country. Second to them is that of ...
2. ... Chafarayim (See Tosfos Yom Tov) in the valley.
(c)The Tana finds it necessary to add 'in the valley' - because there is also a town of that name situated in the mountains.
(d)He uses the word 'Alfa' to describe the quality of the flour - because just as 'Alef' is the first letter (See Tosfos Yom Tov), so too is the flour of Michmas and Mezonisah first in the land.
(e)Flour that is made from wheat of other locations - is Kasher Bedieved.
3)
(a)The Mishnah writes that one should not bring the Omer and the Sh'tei ha'Lechem (See Tosfos Yom Tov) from fields that need to be fertilized, manually watered or from areas where the produce grows between batches of trees ...
(b)... since in each case - the quality of the fruit is adversely affected.
(c)Moreover, in that case of fields that need to be fertilized - we are afraid that one may forget to fertilize them.
(d)If however, they did bring the Omer ... from any of these - it is Kasher.
4)
(a)In order to produce the best quality flour, the Mishnah suggests 'Neirah Shanah Rishonah' - meaning that the first year the fields should be plowed.
(b)One should then plant the seeds - seventy days before Pesach (See Tosfos Yom Tov).
(c)The Gemara adds that - one should plant in one half of the field one year and in the other half, the following year, a process that is repeated each year.
5)
(a)Once the flour has been sifted, the Gizbar tests it by placing his hand into it. If he brings up flour-dust - it is Pasul until it has been sifted again.
(b)The Mishnah also declares the flour or the wheat Pasul - if it is wormy.
(c)All the flour is Pasul - if worms are found in the majority of it (See Tosfos Yom Tov).
(d)We learn from the Pasuk in Pinchas "Temimim yih'yu lachem ...
1. ... u'Minchasam" that - the Menachos, and from ...
2. ... ve'Niskeihem", that - the Nesachim too, must be without a blemish.
6)
(a)The oil for the Menachos, like the flour, is brought from locations that produce the best-quality oil. The Mishnah declares ' Teko'ah Alfa le'Shemen'.
(b)Aba Shaul cites Regev (or Argov) - which is situated on the other side (the East Bank) of the River Yarden.
(c)Oil that is produced from olives that grow in other locations - is Kasher Bedi'eved.
(d)The Tana writes that - one should not bring oil that is produced from olives that grow in fields that need to be fertilized or manually watered, or from olive-trees among which seeds have been planted ...
(e)... though if one did - it is Kasher.
7)
(a)'Shemen Anpiknun' is - 'oil that is produced from olives that have not yet reached a third of their full growth.
(b)It is Pasul even Bedi'eved - because the oil is extremely bitter.
(c)The Tana also invalidate oil that is produced from olives that have fallen from the tree and that have been soaked in water (See Tiferes Yisrael) - since the water spoils the taste of the oil.
(d)He also disqualifies oil that is produced from olives that have been pickled or well-cooked (See Tosfos Yom Tov).
8)
(a)The Mishnah now discusses 'three olives'- the three batches of olives that one picks from the tree at three different times of the year (See Tosfos Yom Tov), each of which produces three grades of oil.
(b)One picks the first batch of olives - from the top of the tree ...
(c)... since they are the olives that ripen first.
9)
(a)According to the Tana Kama, after pounding, one places them inside a basket. Rebbi Yehudah says - round the sides of the basket ...
(b)... thereby enabling the oil to gather at the bottom completely clear of dregs.
(c)From there, the oil - sifts through the base of he basket into a vessel that one places underneath it to collect it.
(d)We have just discussed - the first oil of the first batch of olives.
10)
(a)The Tana Kama maintains that the olives that remain in he basket (after the first batch of oil has emerged) one loads with a beam, according to Rebbi Yehudah - with stones ...
(b)... because a beam, which is excessively heavy - extracts the dregs.
(c)After grinding the olives - one then re-places the beam on them.
(d)One uses ...
1. ... the first batch of oil - for the Menorah (exclusively), whereas ...
2. ... the second and third batches - are Kasher for the Menachos.
11)
(a)One picks the second batch of olives - from the olives that are level with one's roof (See Tosfos Yom Tov).
(b)Rebbi Yehudah and the Tana Kama repeat their Machlokes as to where one initially places the olives in the basket and as to whether one then loads them with a beam or with stones. One then produce the third batch of oil - by re-placing the beam on to the olives.
(c)One then does with the first batch of oil and with the second and third batches of oil, respectively - exactly as one did with the first batch of olives.
12)
(a)One picks the third batch of olives - from the lowest part of the olive-tree.
(b)This batch of olives - does not fully ripen on the tree.
(c)One sets about ripening them after they have been picked - by placing them in a Ma'tan (a vat [a hole in the ground where the olives are packed tight until the heat ripens them. See Tosfos Yom Tov]).
(d)One then proceeds to produce the three batches of oil - by following the same procedure as one did with the first two batches ...
(e)... and one does with the first batch of oil and with the second and third batches of oil, respectively - the same as one did with the first two batches.
13)
(a)Of all the above nine grades of oil, the first choice for the Menorah - is the first batch of oil from the first batch of olives.
(b)The Mishnah places on a par the second of the first batch and the first of the second - with regard to using for the Menachos (but not for the Menorah).
(c)Next in line, the Tana places the third of the first batch, the second of the second - and the first of the third batch (each of which adds up to four).
(d)If a Minchah needs to be brought, one should choose - the first of the second batch rather than the third of the first.
(e)The most inferior of all the nine batches is - the third batch of oil from the third batch of olives.
14)
(a)Logically speaking, the Menachos too, ought to have required 'Shemen Zayis Zach' (the first of each of the three batches of olives) - since the Menachos are eaten as opposed to the oil for the Menorah, which is not.
(b)And the reason that they are not, is because we learn from the Pasuk in Tetzaveh " ... Zach Kasis la'Ma'or" - "Zach Kasis la'Ma'or", 've'Lo Zach Kasis la'Menachos'.
15)
(a)Basically, one is permitted to bring the wine for the Nesachim from anywhere.
(b)However, the Mishnah describes ...
1. ... Kerusayim and Tulayim as 'Alfa le'Yayin', and ...
2. ... Beis Rimah and Beis Lavan in the mountains, and ...
3. ... K'far Signah in the valley - as second to them.
(c)Here too, the Tana rules that Lechatchilah, one should not bring wine that is produced from vines that grow in fields that need to be fertilized or manually watered, or from olive-trees among which seeds have been planted ...
(d)... though if one did - it is Kasher.
16)
(a)Neither should one bring 'Alyustun' - wine that has been sweetened by the sun, though Bedieved, it is Kasher.
(b)According to Rebbi, one should not bring 'old wine' - of more than twelve months, either.
(c)This is because - old wine loses some of its redness, and the Pasuk writes in Mishlei "Al Teire Yayin ki Yis'adam" (implying 'the redder, the better).
(d)The Chachamim - validate it (even Lechatchilah).
17)
(a)The Mishnah - invalidates wine that is sweet, that has been smoked (See Tosfos Yom Tov) or that has been boiled.
(b)Besides 'naturally sweet' (as opposed to Alyustun (which we just discussed), we might also define 'sweet' as - less than forty days old (known as 'Tirosh').
(c)The first explanation is the more correct one (See Tosfos Yom Tov).
(d)The Tana requires wine that is manufactured from 'Rogliyos' - (vines that are close to the ground [from the word 'Regel']) and not from 'Daliyos' (that have been raised).
(e)He finally requires that the grapes grow in fields that are 'Avudos', which means that - twice annually, one digs round the vines to loosen the earth next to the roots and to create grooves in order to water them.
18)
(a)The Mishnah requires the wine to be brought ...
1. ... in small barrels - since large barrels tend to spoil the taste of the wine.
2. ... not full to the top - so that they exude a pleasant aroma (See Tosfos Yom Tov).
(b)The Tana requires the wine to be brought - from the middle of the second third (See Tosfos Yom Tov).
(c)Not from ...
1. ... the top - where there are often Kemachin (white balls of mold).
2. ... the bottom - on account of the dregs that rest there.
(d)The middle of the second third of the barrel is - where the tap is fixed.
19)
(a)The Gizbar has to be careful once the wine begins flowing from the barrel - not to allow the 'Gid' (part of the dregs) to flow out with the wine.
(b)He achieves this - by pushing it back with his stick.
(c)According to the second explanation (See Tosfos Yom Tov), he bangs with his stick as a sign to the person drawing the wine from the barrel to close the tap immediately. He does not simply shout 'Stop' - because the human voice is not good for the wine.
20)
(a)Rebbi Yossi b'Rebbi Yehudah - disqualifies wine that has Kemachin on it (even Bedi'eved).
(b)He learn it from the Pasuk in Pinchas "Temimim Yih'yu lachem u'Minchasam ... ve'Niskeihem" - which requires also the Menachos and the Nesachim to be without blemish (See Tosfos Yom Tov).
(c)The Halachah in this regard is - not like Rebbi Yossi b'Rebbi Yehudah.
21)
(a)Someone who is Makdish any of the flour, oil or wine that the Tana declares Pasul - is subject to Makas Mardus (Malkos de'Rabbanan).
(b)We learn this from the Din of someone who is Makdish a Ba'al-Mum, who, based on the Pasuk in Emor "Lo Sakrivu" - is subject to Malkos (min ha'Torah).
(c)The Sifra translates "Lo Sakrivu" as - 'Do not declare Hekdesh'.
22)
(a)They tended to bring the Korbanos too, from specific locations. The brought ...
1. ... rams from Mo'av, and lambs from - Chevron.
2. ... calves from the Sharon, and pigeons and doves from - Har ha'Melech.