Parashas Toldos

What is the Location?

"The next section of the morning tefillos (prayers) Avi is comprised of the eight mishnayos of the fifth perek (chapter) of mesechta Zevachim. The are called 'ayzehu mikoman' (what is the location)."

"Why were these particular mishnayos chosen by the Anshei Kineses HaGedola to be incorporated into the tefillos, Abba?"

"The commentary of the Beis Yosef on the Tur (Orach Chaim 50) cites the Ra'ah who answers your question, Avi. There are no machlokes (halachic disputes) in the entire perek. Its mishnayos have been transmitted clearly from Moshe at Har Sinai. Therefore it is especially worthy to be a part of our daily prayers. Additionally, it describes all of the korbonos." "It sounds fascinating, Abba. May we learn it together?"

"My pleasure, Avi. First, make a mental picture of the Mizbeach (altar) in its location opposite the ulam in the Beis HaMikdash. The keves (ramp) was facing the south and the main section where the fires burned was facing the north. Now we begin the first mishna. The kodshei kodshim (holiest offerings) [chattos, ashamos, olos, and zivchei shalmei tsibbur], in addition to the bull and male goat of Yom Kippur were shechted (slaughtered) in the area north of the Mizbeach. The blood of the animal was received in the same place and the sprinkled between the poles of the Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark), and towards the Paroches (Curtain), and upon the Mizbeach HaZahav (Golden Altar). Every one of these applications was essential to the process. The remaining blood was poured on the western base of the Mizbeach HaChitzon (Outer Altar). Omitting this pouring would not prevent kapora (atonement). The second mishna describes the procedure of parim hanisrafim (bulls that are completely burned) [par he'elem davar shel tsibbur and par kohen moshiach], and seirim hanisrafim (male goats that are completely burned) [seirei avodah zara]."

"These korbonos were very rarely brought."

"True, Avi. The third mishna discusses the chattos (sin offering), a more common korbon. The communal chattos are comprised of the male goats of Rosh Chodesh and the festivals. They are also shechted in the north, and their blood is received in the north. Their blood is sprinkled on the four corners of the Mizbeach by the kohen as he goes up to the southeast corner, then walks around to the northeast, northwest, and southwest. The leftover blood would be poured on the southern base. After the appropriate parts were burned on the mizbeach, the kohanim would eat the remaining meat within the Temple Courtyard. They could only eat it that day and the same night until midnight. The forth mishna deals with the olah offerings, which were entirely burned on the mizbeach. They were also shechted in the north, blood received in the north, and sprinkled on the two corners of the mizbeach in a way that they would spread to all four sides."

"This is getting complicated, Abba."

"Yes, but it is so worthwhile to know the basics of korbonos, Avi. They comprise a large portion of written and oral Torah. Learning them every morning is considered a substitute for sacrificing them. Moshiach will be coming soon, and we will be offering these korbonos in the third Beis HaMikdash. We will all need to know the halachos in order to carry out their mitzvos properly."

"What a tremendous motivation, Abba! Let us continue."

"Here we go, Avi. The fifth mishna discusses the zivchei shalmei tsibbur (communal peace offerings) [two additional sheep brought on Shavuos] and ashamos (guilt offerings). There are six types of ashamos - gezeylos (theft), meilos (misuse of sacred property), shifcha charufa (half slave - half free maidservant), nozir, metzora, and toluy (doubtful sinner). They are shechted in the north, and their blood is treated in the same manner as the olah of the previous mishna. The sixth mishna discusses the todah (thanksgiving offering) and the ram of the nozir, which fall into the category of kodshim kalim (offerings of lesser holiness). They are permitted to be shechted anywhere in the Azora (Temple Courtyard). Their blood is sprinkled on the two corners of the mizbeach in a way that they would spread to all four sides. The parts that are not burned are eaten anywhere in Yerushalayim, by any Jew (not necessarily a kohen) that day and the same night until midnight. The portions for the kohanim, their wives, and children, that are set aside from the korbonos are also eaten anywhere in Yerushalayim that day and the same night until midnight. Now we come to the seventh mishna, the korbon shlomim, which is also kodshim kalim. Its procedure is the same as those of the previous mishna with one exception. The meat of the korbon is permitted to be eaten for two days and one night. We have now reached the final mishna, Avi, the bechor (first born of a kosher animal), the maaser (each tenth animal of its group in the flock), and the Korbon Pesach. They are kodshim kalim and can therefore be shechted anywhere in the Azora. Their blood requires one single application opposite the yesod (base of the Mizbeach). The bechor must be eaten by kohanim, while the maser can be eaten by any Jew. They are eaten anywhere in Yerushalayim, prepared in any way, for two days and one night. The Korbon Pesach, however, can only be eaten at night until midnight. It can only be eaten by those registered for it, and it can only be roasted. That completes the fifth perek of Zevachim and this section of the morning tefillos."

"This has been just wonderful, Abba! I am ready to learn these mishnayos in my morning tefillos, receive the reward of having offered the korbonos, and prepare for the coming of Moshiach!"

"Amen! Speedily in our days!"

Kinderlach . . .

The 'Ayzehu Makom Shel Zevachim' section of the tefillos provides a concise summary of all of the korbonos and the procedures of their offerings. It serves as a learning of mishnayos after the morning bircas HaTorah. It is considered as an offering of korbonos itself. And it will be very useful knowledge when the Third Beis HaMikdash will be rebuilt and the korbonos will be offered once again. Now we can understand it better when we say it every morning. Where is the location of the korbonos? In your tefillos every morning.

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