Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L
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Redemption of the Firstborn. The Three Pilgrimage Holidays
Redemption of the Firstborn
Moshe now reiterates the laws regarding the redemption of the firstborn cattle or flock.
He says that one must not work the firstborn of their ox, nor shear the firstborn of their flock (nor may one work the firstborn of one's flock nor shear the firstborn of one's ox though it is written in the former manner as that is the more typical way these animals are treated).
One may only sacrifice a firstborn as a firstborn sacrifice.
The Torah now describes how the Kohen is entitled to eat the entire animal which is redeemed.
An animal must be redeemed and given to a Kohen regardless of whether it is blemished or unblemished, though different laws apply in both instances.
A blemished firstborn animal is slaughtered outside of the Temple and may be eaten by anyone the Kohen invites. An unblemished animal on the other hand must be slaughtered in the Courtyard of the Temple and have its blood sprinkled and fat burned on the altar. And the Kohen and his family (and no one else) must eat it within the aloted time, which is for two days and the one night in between them.
Ideally one should redeem this firstborn animal within its first year however it is still "fit" to be redeemed if that time has elapsed.
If such an animal has a blemish, it may not be offered to G-d. This includes any kind of blemish which is externally visible and doesn't heal. Chumash gives being lame or blind as examples but this stipulation includes other such externally visible blemishes as well.
All animals, both kosher and non kosher, if blemished, should be eaten together in one's city.
One might have thought that since it is permissible to eat a blemished animal that started out forbidden (since it was sanctified) but now became permitted due to its blemish, one may also eat its blood, however Chumash stipulates that its blood is still not allowed.
Chumash then reiterates the requirement to offer the Paschal sacrifice on Pesach. Moshe tells them that before the month of Nissan, they should take note to see if the weather will be fit for ripening barley by the 16th of the month to offer up as the Omer offering. If it is not, they should proclaim that year a leap year to give them a chance to wait one more month for the barley to ripen.
The Three Pilgrimage Holidays
Chumash recalls that this observance is in remembrance of G-d taking them out of Egypt "at night". While the Israelites left Egypt during the day, Pharaoh gave them permission to leave at night
This Paschal sacrifice must be of a sheep or goat. If they got a large group together for this offering, they are to bring a Festival (Chagiga) offering along with it, so that the Paschal offering will be eaten after a festive and satisfying meal.
Leavened bread may not be eaten with the Paschal offering. They must eat matzah for seven days in commemoration of when the Egyptians rushed them out of their land, causing the dough of the Israelites' bread not having enough time to rise.
Not only may they not eat leavened bread for seven days but they may not have any within their homes nor may they leave over any of the flesh from the Paschal sacrifice (this restriction had been given earlier regarding the original Paschal offering they sacrificed upon leaving Egypt. It is reiterated here to teach that it applies to all future Paschal sacrifices offered as well).
The Paschal offering may only be sacrificed in the Temple. It must be slaughtered "towards evening" which means after 6 hours. It must be eaten at sunset and when you leave you must burn it and remove it from the burning sites as it becomes disqualified as a notar.
The Paschal offering must be roasted in fire (though elsewhere (see Shmos 12:9) it is referred to as any type of cooking) and eaten in the Temple.
When one travels to Jerusalem for the holiday, this pilgrim must stay overnight at the end of the holiday.
Moshe now reiterates that it is forbidden to do work (alternatively one must rejoice with food and drink) on the seventh day of this Passover holiday.
During the last 6 days after the Omer has been offered, one may eat matza made from the new crop.
Eating matza is only obligatory on the first night of Passover. It is only optional for the remainder of the holiday.
Beginning from the 16th of Nissan, which is the start of the harvest, they are to count 7 weeks and at the end of that time they are to celebrate the Shavuos holiday ("Festival of Weeks") by giving peace offerings in addition to the regular festival offerings and invite others to join in your feast.
G-d says that if we make his "four" happy by inviting these guests to eat with us, ie the Levite, stranger, orphan and widow, G-d will gladden our "four", i.e. one's son, daughter, manservant and maidservant.
Moshe reiterates that they must remember that G-d rescued them from Egypt on condition that they keep His Commandments.
Moshe now reiterates the details of holiday of Sukkos. He says that it is to celebrated for seven days, at the time when they gather their summer fruits. Alternatively, the Chumash is saying that they must cover their Sukkah with things that grow from the ground but have become detached and thus cannot become impure as they are not food nor vessels.
Moshe tells them that they are all are obligated to rejoice on that holiday (especially on the night before the last day) since G-d will bless them with everything.
Moshe tells them that every male must make a pilgrimage up to Jerusalem three times per year on : Passover, Shavuos and Sukkos.
And when they go, they are to bring burnt offerings (which one must bring any time one travels to Jerusalem) and festival peace offerings. The size of these offerings should be commensurate with the size of one's household.
Re'eh, 7th Aliya