Derasha 1 on Vayikra 1:15

Parashas Vayikra · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 15

The Complete Passuk

וְהִקְרִיב֤וֹ הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וּמָלַק֙ אֶת־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְהִקְטִ֖יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה וְנִמְצָ֣ה דָמ֔וֹ עַ֖ל קִ֥יר הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temima points to Zevachim 65a (verified; hakohen — melikah with the kohen’s own nail).

E-Daf — Tsurras Hadaf

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְהִקְרִיבוֹ הַכֹּהֵן — מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר הַכֹּהֵן? שֶׁתְּהֵא מְלִיקָה בְּעַצְמוֹ שֶׁל כֹּהֵן.

English: “And the kohen shall bring it” — why state “the kohen”? So that the melikah shall be with the kohen’s own body [his nail].

Type of Learning

Custom (specification of actor and instrument).

What Is Learned

Melikah is done by a kohen using his fingernail, not with a knife.