The following sequence of Mishnayos and the selection fromSifra*“Rabbi Yishmael Says,” were inserted after the Scriptural selections dealing with daily-offerings in order to give every Jew the opportunity to study/recite daily, the minimum of selections from Scripture, Mishnah, and Talmud. Even thoughSifrais not actually a Talmudic tractate, it is a Tanaitic expansion of Mishnah. (See Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 50:1).*

MISHNAH I Where are the offerings slaughtered [in the Holy Temple?] The holiest of offerings³¹ are slaughtered on the north side [of the Altar]. The bullock and he-goat of Yom Kippur are slaughtered on the north side, and their blood is received³² in a sacred vessel, on the north side. Their blood must be thrown between the poles³³ [of the Ark], and in front of the curtain³⁴ and upon the Gold Altar;³⁵ [omission of] any one of these applications prevents [atonement].³⁶ The remainder of the blood [in the vessel] he [the Kohein] would pour on the western base of the Outer Altar; [but] if he did not do so, it did not prevent [atonement].

footnotes: ³¹ These include all burnt-offerings, sin-offerings and guilt-offerings. ³² The blood was received directly from the throat of the animal. ³³ The High Priest actually stood between the poles of the Ark and sprinkled the blood once above [on the Ark Cover] and seven times below [the Ark Cover]. ³⁴ Separating the Holy of Holies from the Holy. ³⁵ The Gold Altar stood inside the Holy confines, whereas the Copper or Outer Altar stood in the Courtyard. ³⁶ Atonement was achieved only upon completion of the service of sprinkling the blood.

MISHNAH II The bullocks that are burned entirely, and the he-goats that are burned entirely,³⁷ are slaughtered on the north side, and their blood is received in a sacred vessel, on the north side; their blood must be thrown in front of the curtain³⁸ and upon the Gold Altar; [omission of] any one of these applications prevents [atonement]. The remainder of the blood [in the vessel] he [the Kohein] would pour on the western base of the Outer Altar; [but] if he did not do so, it did not prevent [atonement]. These [offerings] and those³⁹ are burned at the place where the ashes were put.⁴⁰

footnotes: ³⁷ A bullock was brought as a burnt-offering in one of two cases:It was brought as an atonement when the entire nation sinned unknowingly, as a result of an erroneous ruling by the Sanhedrin, Supreme Court; it was brought by the Kohein Gadol when he sinned unknowingly as a result of an erroneous interpretation of the law on his part.A he-goat was brought as an atonement when the king sinned in similar circumstances, or when an entire tribe committed an idolatrous sin. ³⁸ Separating the Holy of Holies from the Holy. ³⁹ This includes the Yom Kippur offerings mentioned in Mishnah I. ⁴⁰ The ashes removed from the Outer Altar every morning were deposited outside Jerusalem. The sin-offerings burned there did not have to be burned by a Kohen, but could be burned by an Israelite.

MISHNAH III The communal and individual sin-offerings— these are the communal sin-offerings: The he-goats offered on Rosh Chodesh and on the Festivals are slaughtered on the north side, and their blood must be received in a sacred vessel, on the north side; their blood requires four applications [one] on each of the four corners.⁴¹ How [was this done]? He [the Kohein] went up the ramp [of the Altar]⁴² and turned to the ledge [bordering the Altar]; he came to the southeast corner, the northeast corner, the northwest corner, the southwest corner.⁴³ He poured the rest of the blood at the southern base [of the Altar]. These offerings were eaten within the Temple Courtyard by the male Kohanim, prepared in any fashion,⁴⁴ on that day and [the following] night until midnight.

footnotes: ⁴¹ Of the Outer Altar. ⁴² The ramp led up to the Altar from its south side. It was 32 cubits long and 16 cubits wide, and provided the Kohanim with access to the ledge which ran around the Altar, and upon which they were able to stand while performing their service. ⁴³ At each of these corners, he would apply the blood. ⁴⁴ It could be cooked or roasted.

MISHNAH IV The burnt-offering is one of the holiest offerings. It is slaughtered on the north side and its blood is received in a sacred vessel on the north side; its blood requires two applications which are [like] four.⁴⁵ It must be skinned, severed into parts, and totally consumed by the fire.⁴⁶

footnotes: ⁴⁵ The blood was applied against the southwestern and northeastern corners of the Altar and spread along both sides of each corner so that all four sides of the Altar received the blood. ⁴⁶ The Kohanim received no part of the meat which was burned, but they shared in the hide.

MISHNAH V Communal peace-offerings⁴⁷ and guilt-offerings. These are the guilt-offerings: the guilt-offering for robbery,⁴⁸ the guilt-offering for unauthorized use of sacred objects, the guilt-offering for violating a betrothed handmaiden,⁴⁹ the guilt-offering of a Nazirite,⁵⁰ the guilt-offering of a *metzora,*⁵¹ when he was cured and declared undefiled by the Kohein. the guilt-offering for suspension.⁵² These are slaughtered on the north side and their blood received in a sacred vessel on the north side; their blood requires two applications which are [like] four.⁵³ These [offerings] were eaten within the Courtyard by the male Kohanim, prepared for eating in any fashion.⁵⁴ On that day and [the following] night until midnight.

footnotes: ⁴⁷ The communal peace-offering were the two lambs offered on Shavuos (Leviticus 23:20). ⁴⁸ This offering was brought when a person denied and swore falsely that he had been entrusted with something for safekeeping. ⁴⁹ This offering was brought only when the handmaiden was half-slave, half-free and was betrothed to an Israelite servant. ⁵⁰ This offering was brought by a Nazirite who had become ritually defiled by a dead body. ⁵¹ This offering was brought by the metsora ⁵² This offering was brought by a person in doubt whether an act he had committed required a sin-offering. ⁵³ See note 1 on Mishnah IV. ⁵⁴ See note 4 on Mishnah III.

MISHNAH VI The thanksgiving-offering⁵⁵ and the ram of the Nazirite⁵⁶ are of lesser sanctity. They are slaughtered anywhere in the Temple Courtyard,⁵⁷ and their blood requires two applications which are [like] four; they may be eaten anywhere in the city⁵⁸ by anyone,⁵⁹ and prepared for eating in any fashion, [and may be eaten] on that day and the following night until midnight. The portion given to the Kohanim,⁶⁰ has the same rule, but may be eaten only by the Kohanim, their wives, children, and slaves.⁶¹

footnotes: ⁵⁵ The thanksgiving-offering was brought when a person was released from captivity, when he recovered from a serious illness, or after traveling overseas or through wilderness. ⁵⁶ The ram was brought by a Nazirite at the termination of his vow. ⁵⁷ These offerings did not have to be slaughtered or have their blood received on the north side of the Altar. ⁵⁸ The city of Jerusalem. ⁵⁹ Any Israelite who was circumcised and ritually clean could eat of these offerings. Females were also permitted to eat of those offerings. ⁶⁰ The Kohanim received the shoulder and right shank as their portion. They also received a portion of the meal-offerings which accompanied the meat-offerings. ⁶¹ Their non-Jewish slaves were permitted to eat of these offerings. The portions of the sin-offerings were however restricted to the male Kohanim. [These slaves were circumcised and were responsible for mitzvos, similar to those incumbent upon women.]

MISHNAH VII The peace-offerings are [also] of lesser sanctity. They are slaughtered anywhere in the Courtyard, and their blood requires two applications which are [like] four. They may be eaten anywhere in the city by anyone, and prepared for eating in any fashion, for two days and one night.⁶² The portion given to the Kohanim has the same rule, but may be eaten only by the Kohanim, their wives, children, and slaves.

footnotes: ⁶² That day, the following night and the following day.

MISHNAH VIII Firstborn animals, the tithe of cattle and the Passover-offering (Pascal lamb) are [also] of lesser sanctity. They are slaughtered anywhere in the Temple Courtyard, and their blood requires one application provided that it is applied above the base (of the Altar).⁶³ They differ in their consumption: The firstborn is eaten only by Kohanim, while the tithe may be eaten by any person. They may be eaten anywhere in the city, and prepared for eating in any fashion, and may be eaten for two days and one night. The Pascal lamb must be eaten only at night⁶⁴ and only until midnight; and it may not be eaten except by those registered for it, and it may only be eaten when spit-roasted.⁶⁵

footnotes: ⁶³ The blood was applied on the wall of the Altar which was above the base. [Not all its walls were above the base.] ⁶⁴ The night of Passover. ⁶⁵ Never cooked, baked, rare, or raw.