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The Kohen's Mincha

Menachot (6:2) | Yisrael Bankier | 3 days ago

We have been learning about the mincha offering. In general, a small amount is separated (the kometz) and burnt on the mizbeach. We learnt this week (6:2) that this was not the case for the mincha offering brought by the kohanim. The entire mincha was offered on the mizbeach.

The reason for this difference is sourced in the Torah (Vaykira 7:16,17). That said, the mefarshim try to understand the reason behind the pasuk.

The Daat Zekeinim explains that if the kohen consumed the remainder of his own mincha offering, which is nearly all of the mincha, then it would lack the element of being a doron (gift). With respect to an Yisrael, the entire offering is considered a doron. The kometz goes on the fire and the kohanim eat the rest by way of the full korban being given over -- mishulchan gavoha ka zachu.

One might ask, why then do we not say the same for a sin animal offering of a kohen? Why does the kohen consume from the meat? The Daat Zekeinim explains that for that korban, the sacrificial parts are also placed on the mizbeach and the hides are distributed amongst the anshei mishmar. There is enough there to be considered a doron.

The Ramban (Vayikra 6:16) cites the Rambam who explains similarly in More Nevuchim that if the kohen would be as though he did not offer anything at all. It would seem that the giving, is a critical part of a korban.

The Minchat Chinnuch (137:6) however finds the Daat Zekeinim's explanation difficult. Firstly, regarding the sin animal offering, he cites the Rambam (Klei Mikdash 4:7) that the kohen that offers the korban retains that hide; it is not distributed. Furthermore, for the bird sin-offering (chatat ha'ohf), only the blood reaches the mizbeach and the rest is consumed. According to the Daat Zekeinim, the same thing could be said for the chatat ha'ohf -- if it is brought for a kohen and the kohen is allowed to consume it, it should not be considered a doron.

Regarding the second question, R' Meir Simcha supports the Daat Zekeinim's explanation and answers that it is for this reason that the chatat ha'ohf is always brought along with an olat ha'ohf -- almost all of which is offered on the mizbeach. Being brought as a pair -- a ken -- ensure that the requirement that it is a doron is met, even when the chatat ha'ohf is brought for a kohen.

The Sefer HaChinnuch however maintains that the intention of all korbanot is to generate an emotive response in the person that is required to bring it. Giving per se is not what is important but rather the impact of the offering on the bring the korban. If the kohen would eat his own mincha offering, it would not have the desired result. It would simply feel like he is baking his own bread, albeit in the Beit HaMikdash.

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