Pisqa’ 128⁴⁰⁸

1. “To celebrate the Passover (pesakh) for HASHEM your God” (Dt. 16:1)— so that its preparations should be entirely for the sake of [slaughtering and eating] the Paschal lamb (pesakh). For if he slaughtered it under a different name [e.g, as a Communion-offering] it is disqualified.

footnotes: ⁴⁰⁸ H:172-173; JN1:315-316.

I might infer only that one who [intended to] slaughter it under a different name [disqualifies the Paschal lamb from being eaten]. On what basis do I know to include [a change of intention while] **receiving its blood and sprinkling its blood?**⁴⁰⁹

**“To celebrate” (*`asita;***⁴¹⁰ at Pisqa’ 129.1 **Dt. 16:1)— [to perform the rite with full mindfulness]. Is it possible that I should include [as disqualifications] roasting it and rinsing its innards [under a different name]? The Teaching states: “And you shall slaughter” (Dt. 16:2)— [only acts intrinsic to sacrifice⁴¹¹ disqualify the offering if they are performed under a different name]. Now, slaughtering [the lamb] could have been incorporated [under the rule of other sacrificial rites]. So why is it singled out for special mention?

Seeing that slaughter is distinctive, in that it must be done for the sake of the correct service— these other acts [like rinsing the meat] are excluded, **for they need not be done for the sake of the correct service.**⁴¹², 11. F:186, n.4 offers a list of tannaitic passages that share the form and substance of M. Pes. 5:2. See also Pisqa’ 129.1, which is virtually identical to 128.1 but for key shifts in the focus on sacrificial rites.

footnotes: ⁴⁰⁹ Cf. M. Pes. 5:2. ⁴¹⁰ Cf. the translation of `asita ⁴¹¹ There are four sacrificial procedures which must be properly executed for a sacrifice to be valid: slaughtering, collecting the blood, conveying the blood to the altar, and sprinkling the blood on the altar. During any of these, a change of intention regarding the purpose of the sacrifice disqualifies the animal (M. Zev:2:3). ⁴¹² Cf. Mechilta Ishmael, paskha’

“For HASHEM your God” (Dt. 16:1)— [only the acts intrinsic to slaughter must be performed] **for the sake of the Unique Name!**⁴¹³

footnotes: ⁴¹³ Cf. Sifre Nu. 143.

2. “Since in the month of Aviv” (Dt. 16:1)— an appropriate (kasher) month, neither too hot nor too cold!

**“God houses the lonesome in a home, and liberates prisoners at the right moment” (*kosharot;***⁴¹⁴ as “prosperity.” My translation attempts to capture in English the assonance with kasher, which the midrashist surely has intended to exploit. ****Ps. 68:7).**⁴¹⁵, 16.

footnotes: ⁴¹⁴ BDB renders kosharot ⁴¹⁵ //Mechilta Ishmael, paskha’

“HASHEM your God delivered you from Egypt at night” (Dt. 16:1). Now, did they go out of Egypt at night? Didn’t they actually go out during the day? For it is said: “On the day following the Passover the Israelites left.” (Nu. 33:3) This teaches that they were liberated at night [but left the next day].