YOMA 58 (28 Sivan) - Dedicated in memory of Hagaon Rav Yisroel Zev [ben Rav Avrohom Tzvi] Gustman zt"l, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Netzach Yisrael-Ramailes (Vilna, Brooklyn, Yerushalayim), author of Kuntresei Shi'urim, and renowned Dayan in pre/post-war Vilna, on the occasion of his Yahrzeit. Dedicated by his Talmidim, Harav Eliezer Stern of Brooklyn, New York, and Dr. Yehoshua Daniel of Efrat.

1)

HOW HE PUTS ON THE CORNERS OF THE INNER MIZBE'ACH (Yerushalmi Perek 5 Halachah 5 Daf 29a)

מתני' התחיל מחטא ויורד [דף לז עמוד ב (עוז והדר)] מהיכן הוא מתחיל מקרן מזרחית צפונית צפונית מערבית מערבית דרומית דרומית מזרחית מקום שהוא מתחיל בחטאת על מזבח החיצון שם גומר על מזבח הפנימי

(a)

(Mishnah): He began to be Mechatei (put blood) and descend. From where does he begin? He begins from the northeast corner, [then] northwest, southwest, southeast. The place where he begins with the Chatas on the outer Mizbe'ach, there he finishes on the inner Mizbe'ach;

ר''א אומר במקומו היה עומד ומחטא על כולן הוא נותן מלמטה למעלן חוץ מזו שהיתה לפניו שהיה נותן מלמעלן למטן:

1.

R. Eliezer says, he stood in his place and was Mechatei. On all of [the corners] he puts from below to above, except for this in front of him, on which he put from above to below.

גמ' ויתחיל בקרן מזרחית דרומית

(b)

(Gemara) Question: [Since he stands in the east,] he should begin from the southeast corner (like on the outer Mizbe'ach)!

אמר ר' הילא ימנית אין זו ימנית

(c)

Answer (R. Heila): [In the Mikdash, one always goes to his] right. This (the southeast) is not the right. (He left the Kodesh ha'Kodoshim like he entered, facing west. The southeast is to his left.)

ויתחיל מקרן צפונית מערבית

(d)

Question: He should begin from the northwest corner (which is closest, and then go to his right! Why does he pass by it, to go to the northeast?)

אמר רבי אלעזר [שם טז יח] ויצא אל המזבח

(e)

Answer (R. Elazar): "V'Yatza El ha'Mizbe'ach'' (he must totally leave (pass) the Mizbe'ach. We established our Mishnah like R. Yosi, who says that there was one Paroches; he exited the Kodesh ha'Kodoshim and entered the Kodesh in the northwest corner of the Kodesh.)

[דף כט עמוד ב] ויתחיל מקרן מערבית דרומית

(f)

Question: He could [totally pass the Mizbe'ach on the west, and] begin from the southwest corner!

שלא יתן אחוריו לקודש

(g)

Answer: He should not turn his back to the Kodesh. (If he walks backwards, facing north, his back is to the Aron, which is in the middle between north and south. If he walks normally, facing south, this is like turning his back to where he left the Kodesh. So it seems to explain based on PNEI MOSHE and SHA'AREI TORAS ERETZ YISRAEL above 27a.)

ואין סופו ליתן אחוריו לקודש

(h)

Question: [Even now that he begins from the northeast,] in the end will he not turn his back to the Kodesh?! (After going to the northwest and southwest corners, he must face east to go to the southeast corner!)

חוזר היה לאחוריו

(i)

Answer: He went backwards (he does not turn his back to the Kodesh.)

ויעמוד בדרום ויתחיל מקרן מזרחית (צפונית) [צ''ל דרומית - שיח יצחק]

(j)

Question: He should stand in the south and begin from the southeast corner (SI'ACH YITZCHAK on Tosfos Yeshanim 59a)!

כיי דאמר ר' הילא ימנית אין זו ימנית

(k)

Answer: We can answer like R. Heila - [in the Mikdash, one always goes to his] right. This (going to the south) is not the right (HA'GAON RAV C. KANIEVSKY, SHLITA).

תני רבי אליעזר אומר ממקומו היה עומד ומחטא ועל כולן הוא נותן מלמעלן למטן חוץ מזו שהיה לפניו לוכסן שהיה נותן מלמטן למעלן.

(l)

(Beraisa - R. Eliezer): He stood in his place and was Mechatei. On all of [the corners] he puts from above to below, except for this in front of him Lochsan (the opposite diagonal), on which he put from below to above. (This is unlike our Mishnah, which says that on all corners he puts from below to above, except for the one in front of him.)

ר' אבהו בשם רבי יוחנן שניהן מקרא אחד דורשין סביב רבנן אמרי סביב להלוך [דף לח עמוד א (עוז והדר)] ורבי ליעזר אומר סביב לקרנות

(m)

(R. Avahu citing R. Yochanan): Both of them expound one verse, "Saviv''. Rabah hold that he walks around, and R. Liezer holds that [he stands in his place and] goes around [with his hand putting on] the corners. (PNEI MOSHE)

שני כהנים ברחו בפולמוסיות אחד אומר עומד הייתי ומחטא ואחד אומר מהלך הייתי ומחטא.

(n)

Two Kohanim fled in the sieges [around Yerushalayim]. One said "I stood in my place and I was Mechatei'', and one said "I walked around and I was Mechatei.''

אמר רבי יודן הדא אמרה מאן דעבד הכין לא חשש ומאן דעבד הכין לא חשש:

(o)

Inference (R. Yudan): One who does like this need not be concerned, and one who does like this need not be concerned.