Derasha 18 on Vayikra 1:3

Parashas Vayikra · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 3

The Complete Passuk

אִם־עֹלָ֤ה קָרְבָּנוֹ֙ מִן־הַבָּקָ֔ר זָכָ֥ר תָּמִ֖ים יַקְרִיבֶ֑נּוּ אֶל־פֶּ֜תַח אֹ֤הֶל מוֹעֵד֙ יַקְרִ֣יב אֹת֔וֹ לִרְצֹנ֖וֹ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temima points to Toras Kohanim and the related discussion of “of his own will” (Rosh Hashanah 6a / parallel sugyos).

E-Daf / Tsurras Hadaf (Rosh Hashanah 6a, size=3 where available)
PDF of the daf / source

Core Text

Core Text
תמים – כשם שאם אינו תמים אינו עולה לרצון כך אם אינו כענין זה אינו עולה לרצון
יקריב אותו – מלמד שכופין אותו; לרצונו – כופין אותו עד שיאמר רוצה אני

English: “Unblemished” – just as an animal that is not unblemished is not accepted, so too any animal that does not fulfill all the stated requirements is not accepted. “He shall offer it” teaches that the court may compel him; “of his own will” teaches that they compel him until he says “I am willing.”

Type of Learning

Balance of free will and obligation — the offering must be brought willingly even when it fulfills a vow.

What Is Learned

A person must ultimately bring an offering willingly; yet the community may encourage and even compel the fulfillment of a vow until the person affirms that willingness, teaching both personal responsibility and communal support for spiritual commitments.

Audio (Daf Yomi):
dafyomi.org — Rosh Hashanah
YICC / Rav Etshalom series