Derasha 3 on Vayikra 4:15

Parashas Vayikra · Aliyah 5 · Passuk 15 · Unit 3 of 4

The Complete Passuk

וְסָמְכ֣וּ זִקְנֵֽי־הָעֵדָ֞ה אֶת־יְדֵיהֶם֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַפָּ֔ר לִפְנֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְשָׁחַ֥ט אֶת־הַפָּ֖ר לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Yerushalmi Horayos 1:8 (unit 3; single primary locus per emergency Core plan).

Sefaria — Yerushalmi Horayos 1:8

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Yerushalmi Horayos 1:8
״אֶת יְדֵיהֶם״ — יְדֵי כׇּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד.

English: “Their hands” — the hands of each and every one.

In the sugya: The plural “yedeihem” is read as requiring that every participating elder place both of his own hands on the head of the bull.

Type of Learning

Each elder uses both hands — every participating elder performs full two-handed semichah.

What Is Learned

Semichah is performed by each elder with both of his hands. The Yerushalmi’s reading of “et yedeihem” insists that the act is personal and complete for every participant; one-handed leaning or a collective gesture that omits an individual’s full contact does not satisfy the requirement.