| |

 |
49. Sacrilege - Me'ilah
It is forbidden to derive benefit from sacred things
(except for those parts of sacrifices that are eaten) or from
things forbidden to oneself by a vow, as it says "You must
not eat... the vows that you make".1 If one derives
benefit from or damages a sacred thing in error he pays 5/4
of what he benefitted and brings a guilt-offering, as
it says "If a person commits sacrilege against Ha-Shem
and sins in error with the sacred things of Ha-Shem he
must bring his sin-offering... and that [with] which he
sinned of the sacred things he shall pay for and shall
add a fifth to it...2. However, this prohibition does
not apply to peace-offerings, firstborn, tithes, and the
Passover; until after their blood has been sprinkled on
the altar these sacrifices are called "holy in a minor
degree". It is forbidden to do work with or to shear a
sacrificial animal, as it says "You shall not work with the
firstborn of your ox nor shear the firstborn of your sheep".3,a
Sources: |
| 1. Deut. 12:17 |
a. 1:1-3,7; 2:1; 3:9; 6:1; Maaseh ha-Korbanos 1:17. On the "fifth" see Shevuos, Note c. |
| 2. Lev. 5:15-16 |
|
| 3. Deut. 15:19 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|

ARTICLES ON
TOLDOS AND CHANUKAH:
Fear of Parents and Fear of G-d Rabbi Chaim Ozer Shulman - 5756
G-d in the Numbers Rabbi Yaakov Menken - 5764
Mitzvah Lamp Rabbi Osher Chaim Levene - 5766
 Of Fire and Money Rabbi Yissocher Frand - 5757
Newer Than News Rabbi Label Lam - 5769
Oh Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel! Rabbi Label Lam - 5768
 His Father's Son Shlomo Katz - 5765
"Go to Peace" Shlomo Katz - 5758
Chanukah: A Postscript Rabbi Yehudah Prero - 5756
People Only Contemplate Life When Dying Rabbi Yissocher Frand - 5761
DeGeneration Rabbi Pinchas Winston - 5761
Chanukah Oil: A Real No-Know Rabbi Eliyahu Hoffmann - 5762
The Search for Blessings Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky - 5762
Fathers and Sons Shlomo Katz - 5768
Why Eight Days? Rabbi Yehudah Prero - 5755
Chanukah Rabbi Berel Wein - 5761

|
|