Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”LTo sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.comThe Inauguration of the Cohanim ContinuesThe 2nd RamIn continuing the inauguration of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood, instructions are given for them to now take the second ram (they had been instructed to bring 2 rams as part of the inaugural sacrifice - see yesterday's post) and place their hands upon its head.The ram should then be slaughtered, and some of its blood placed on the cartilage of Aaron and his sons' right ears, on the middle joint of the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet.The blood should then be sprinkled all around the altar.Moshe should then sanctify Aaron and his sons' and their clothing by sprinkling some of the blood from the altar and some of the anointing oil on Aaron and his sons' and on their clothing.Then the following parts of the ram should be sacrificed:* Its fat** The fat that lies below the kidneys*** The fat that covers its innards* Its diaphragm* Its 2 kidneys and their fat* Its right thigh***should then be removed from the ram and it's innards.*Side note: Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Akiva disagree as to whether this is the fat of the small intestines or the stomach.**Side note: This area of fat below the kidneys, referred to as a the אליה is only burnt in sacrifices of lambs and rams but not with goats and bulls which don't have this type of fat (hence there was no mention of it when describing the bull in yesterday's post).***Side note: This is the only sacrifice in which the animal's right thigh is burnt.This sacrifice was considered a "peace offering" (Shlamim) and the ram was considered to be a "ram of perfection (lit. "wholeness", with the word שלום (peace) being related to the word שלם (whole)) in the sense that all the parties involved with it take part - i.e. the altar, the owners of that which was sacrificed (i.e. Aaron and his sons) and he who preformed the sacrifice (i.e. Moshe).The BreadThen one loaf from each of the 3 types of loaves of matza* (described in yesterday's post) should be placed into Aaron and his sons' palms. Moshe was then to place his hands under their palms** and they should all wave these loaves in 4 directions: Side to side to banish punishment from the four winds**** (east, west, north and south) and - up and down, acknowledging that the heavens and earth belong to G-d and as protection from harmful dew.*Side note: This was the only sacrifice in which "bread" (i.e matza) was burnt on the altar. Usually it is given to the Cohanim together with the meat.**Side note: Usually the Cohen would place his palms under the palms of the owner. In this case, Moshe acted as the Cohen.****Side note: Possibly read as "from punishment and from harmful winds"These loaves should then be taken and together with the first ram (see yesterday's post), burnt on the altar. This is to be considered a fire offering and brings G-d's satisfaction in having His will performed.The Breast of the RamThe breast of the 2nd ram mentioned above should then be waved from side to side and its thigh lifted up and down. This will sanctify these parts so that going forward, the breast and thighs will not be burnt on the altar with the rest of the parts of animals being sacrificed but rather given to the Cohanim to eat.Aaron's ClothingAaron's clothing will be vested with a special sanctity of the Cohen Gadol.Such that in the future, any of Aaron's descendants who are destined to be the Cohen Gadol shall wear these clothes for 7 consecutive days and this will sanctify him as Cohen Gadol.Only the Cohen Gadol is allowed to enter the Ohel Moed on Yom Kippur.If a Cohen Gadol has a son who is on the same level as him, he must be appointed as the next Cohen Gadol.The Cooking of the 2nd Ram (of Perfection/Wholeness)The remainder of this 2nd ram should be cooked and eaten by Aaron and his sons in the courtyard of the Ohel Moed*.*Side note: Due to its higher level of holiness. Regular peace offerings by contrast were allowed to be eaten anywhere within the confines of the city of Jerusalem.Through the eating of this sacrifice, Aaron and his sons are atoned and inaugurated into the priesthood. Thus no non-Cohen (i.e. anyone other than Aaron and his sons) is allowed to eat from this sacrifice.If there is anything from the sacrifice left over overnight, it should be burnt on the altar and not eaten due to its sanctity.7 DaysThis whole procedure with the sacrifices should be done daily for seven consecutive days.This 7 day ritual will consecrate the altar as ...
