Sifra
Vayikra Dibbura DeNedavah, Chapter 19
Vayikra Dibbura DeNedavah, Chapter 19
1) (Vayikra 3:9): "And he shall offer of the sacrifice (of the shelamim"): even if he did not slaughter it in its name (i.e., as a shelamim). "shelamim": even if he did not perform semichah upon it. "a fire-offering": to that end. "to the L–rd": in the name of the Creator of the world.
2) (Vayikra 3:9): "its fat, the fat-tail": to include the fat near the fat-tail, the fat between the loin-sinews. These are the words of R. Akiva. R. Yehudah says: "its fat, the fat-tail": Just as (eating) fat comes under two interdicts ([Vayikra 3:17] "All fat and all blood you shall not eat," and [Vayikra 7:23] "All fat of ox or sheep or goat you shall not eat"), so, (eating the) fat of a (consecrated) fat-tail comes under two interdicts.
3) "fat-tail": I might think that the mitzvah is fulfilled with it (alone); it is, therefore, written: "whole." If "whole," I would think he removed it with the spine (of which it is a part); it is, therefore, written: "above the kidneys." If "above the kidneys," I would think he should not enter (i.e., he should not remove it) anterior to the kidneys; it is, therefore, written: "he shall remove it" — anterior to the kidneys (a span above the tail).
4) "the fat that covers the innards and all the fat that is on the innards": Why mention this? (i.e., it is already written in relation to cattle [Vayikra 3:3]) For I might think that wall-fat (of sheep) is also (to be sacrificed). — But I would reason otherwise!, viz.: If cattle, whose libations are larger are excluded from (sacrifice of) wall-fat — sheep, whose libations are smaller, how much more so should they be excluded from (sacrifice of) wall fat! — No, it may be so with cattle, which are excluded from (sacrifice of) a fat-tail, as opposed to sheep, where a fat-tail is also sacrificed! It is, therefore, written: "the fat that covers the innards and all the fat that is on the innards, and the two kidneys, etc." Only what is specifically written (is sacrificed [and not wall-fat]). R. Yishmael says: Because it departed (from the general category) for a new learning (i.e., the fat-tail), Scripture restored it to its category. (See Baraitha d'R. Yishmael 11).
5) (Vayikra 3:11): "And he shall smoke it": Fats (of one offering) may not be mixed with fats (of another). "the bread of a fire-offering to the L–rd": We are hereby taught that fats are called "bread."