Vayikra 5:15 · unit 2

Parashas Vayikra · Aliyah · Passuk 5:15 · Unit 2 of 11

Complete Passuk

נֶפֶשׁ כִּי־תִמְעֹל מַעַל וְחָטְאָה בִּשְׁגָגָה מִקָּדְשֵׁי יְהוָה וְהֵבִיא אֶת־אֲשָׁמוֹ לַיהוָה אַיִל תָּמִים מִן־הַצֹּאן בְּעֶרְכְּךָ כֶּסֶף־שְׁקָלִים בְּשֶׁקֶל־הַקֹּדֶשׁ לְאָשָׁם׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Toras Kohanim (Sifra, Vayikra Dibbura DeChovah, Section 11:1).

Sefaria — Toras Kohanim (Sifra, Vayikra Dibbura DeChovah, Section 11:1)

Core Text — Toras Kohanim · Sifra DeChovah Sec. 11:1

כִּי תִמְעֹל מַעַל — אֵין מְעִילָה אֶלָּא שִׁנּוּי; וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר וַיִּמְעֲלוּ בֵּאלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיהֶם.

“When one commits a trespass” — me’ilah is nothing other than a change [of status]; and so Scripture says “and they trespassed against the God of their fathers.”

In the midrash: The root “ma’al” is understood as alteration or change. Me’ilah occurs when something consecrated is treated as ordinary — a change of its sacred status.

Type of Learning

Diyuk of “ma’al” as alteration — transferring from sacred domain to ordinary use.

What Is Learned

The core of sacrilege is treating consecrated property as non-sacred. Me’ilah is not limited to consumption or physical damage; any act that changes the status of hekdesh from sacred to ordinary falls under the prohibition.

← PREV ↑ Master Index NEXT →