Pisqa’ 143488H:182; JN1:340-342. 1. “At three steps (pe`amim) of the year” (Dt.16:16; cf. Ex.23:14). The term steps indicates times (zemanim)”— [the verse therefore prescribes rejoicing at three seasons of the year]. Another word: the term steps indicates pilgrimages (regalim)— [rejoicing co-incides with the three Pilgrimage-festivals].489Mechilta Ishmael, kaspa’ 20. And in the same vein, He says: “It shall trample the Pilgrimage (regel) with the feet (raglei) of the poor, and the footsteps (pe`amei) of the lowly” (Is.26:6)
On this basis they taught: Who is considered a minor [exempt from the Pilgrimage]? Whoever is unable to ride on his father’s shoulders while ascending from Jerusalem to the Mount of the Abode— words of the circle of Shammai. For it is said: “Your males” (Dt.16:16)— [excluding infants]. But the circle of Hillel say: whoever is unable to hold his father’s hand while ascending from Jerusalem to the Mount of the Abode, For it is said: “At three Pilgrimages (regalim) of the year” (Ex.23:14)— [the term regalim suggests a child old enough to take steps on his own].490//M. Hag.1:1.
“Before the face of HASHEM your God” (Dt.16:16)— if you accomplish all that is specified in this matter, then I will turn My face from all my affairs and will engage only with yours.491//Sifra, ‘akharei mot, par. 8:4.
3. “The Feast of Unleavened-bread, and the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Huts” (Dt.16:16). R. Shimon says: Shouldn’t the Teaching have begun [its list] where it just left off—at the Feast of Huts (Dt.16:13)? What, then, does the Teaching mean to convey [by discussing the sequence as follows]: the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Huts? It teaches that no one transgresses the proscription do not delay [in bringing a Vow-offering (e.g., Dt.23:22)] until all three Pilgrimages of the entire year have passed [since the avowal was uttered].
4. “And do not appear before the face of HASHEM empty-handed” (Dt.16:16)— that is, without alms [in addition to the mandated sacrifices]. Now, sages have provided minimum prices for these. The circle of Shammai say: the Appearance-offering— [should cost at least] two silver coins [worth a quarter sel`a]; and the Rejoicing-offering (simkhah) [that is, the Festival-offering]— one silver coin [weighing a ma`ah]. But the circle of Hillel say: the Appearance-offering— [should cost at least] one silver coin [weighing a ma`ah]; and the Rejoicing-offering [should cost at least] two silver coins [worth a quarter sel`a].492=M. Hag.1:2.
5. “Each man what his hand can give” (Dt.16:17)— on this basis they taught: One who has many mouths to feed but few resources, should bring many Communion-offerings [to eat] but few Holocaust-offerings [to immolate]. One with few to feed, but many resources, should bring many Holocaust-offerings, but few Communion-offerings. If one has few of this and little of that— concerning this situation they taught [the Hillelite minima of] one silver me`ah [for an Appearance-offering], and two silver coins [for a Holocaust-offering]. But, one who has many of this and much of that— concerning this situation, it is stated: “Each man what his hand can give, according to the blessing of HASHEM your God, which He has given you” (Dt.16:17).493//M. Hag. 1:5. In accord with t he principle of M. Peah 1:1.
(דברים טז טז) שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים, אֵין פְּעָמִים אֶלָּא זְמַנִּים. [דָּבָר אַחֵר: אֵין פְּעָמִים אֶלָּא רְגָלִים,] וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ישעיה כו ו): ״תִּרְמְסֶנָּה רָגֶל רַגְלֵי עָנִי פַּעֲמֵי דַלִּים״.
Pisqa’ 143488H:182; JN1:340-342.
1. “At three steps (pe`amim) of the year” (Dt.16:16; cf. Ex.23:14).
The term steps indicates times (zemanim)”—
[the verse therefore prescribes
rejoicing at three seasons of the year].
Another word:
the term steps indicates pilgrimages (regalim)—
[rejoicing co-incides with the three Pilgrimage-festivals].489Mechilta Ishmael, kaspa’ 20.
And in the same vein, He says:
“It shall trample the Pilgrimage (regel)
with the feet (raglei) of the poor,
and the footsteps (pe`amei) of the lowly” (Is.26:6)
יֵרָאֶה – כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁבָּא לִרְאוֹת כָּךְ בָּא לֵרָאוֹת.
2. “Shall all your males appear” (yera’eh; Dt.16:16)—
to see (lir’ot) as well as to be seen (lira’ot).
זְכוּרְךָ – לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַנָּשִׁים.
“Your males” (Dt.16:16)—
excluding the women
[from obligation for an Appearance-offering].
כָּל זְכוּרְךָ – לְהָבִיא אֶת הַקְּטַנִּים.
“All” (Dt.16:16)—
to include [male] minors.
מִכָּן אָמְרוּ (חגיגה פ״א מ״א): אֵי זֶהוּ קָטָן? כָּל שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִרְכּוֹב עַל כְּתֵפוֹ שֶׁל אָבִיו לַעֲלוֹת מִירוּשָׁלִַם לְהַר הַבַּיִת, דִּבְרֵי בֵית שַׁמַּאי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״זְכוּרְךָ״. וּבֵית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים: כָּל שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לֶאֱחוֹז בְּיָדוֹ שֶׁל אָבִיו לַעֲלוֹת מִירוּשָׁלִַם לְהַר הַבַּיִת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כג יד): ״שָׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים״.
On this basis they taught:
Who is considered a minor [exempt from the Pilgrimage]?
Whoever is unable to ride on his father’s shoulders
while ascending from Jerusalem to the Mount of the Abode—
words of the circle of Shammai.
For it is said:
“Your males” (Dt.16:16)—
[excluding infants].
But the circle of Hillel say:
whoever is unable to hold his father’s hand
while ascending from Jerusalem to the Mount of the Abode,
For it is said:
“At three Pilgrimages (regalim) of the year” (Ex.23:14)—
[the term regalim suggests a child old enough
to take steps on his own].490//M. Hag.1:1.
אֶת פְּנֵי ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ, אִם עוֹשֶׂה אַתָּה כָּל הָאָמוּר בָּעִנְיָן – פּוֹנֶה אֲנִי מִכָּל עֲסָקַי וְאֵינִי עוֹסֵק אֶלָּא בְּךָ.
“Before the face of HASHEM your God” (Dt.16:16)—
if you accomplish all that is specified in this matter,
then I will turn My face from all my affairs
and will engage only with yours.491//Sifra, ‘akharei mot, par. 8:4.
בְּחַג הַמַּצּוֹת וּבְחַג הַשָּׁבֻעוֹת וּבְחַג הַסֻּכּוֹת, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: אֵין תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר בְּחַג הַסֻּכּוֹת שֶׁבּוֹ דִּבֵּר הַכָּתוּב. מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר בְּחַג הַשָּׁבֻעוֹת וּבְחַג הַסֻּכּוֹת? מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹבֵר מִשֵּׁם בַּל תְּאַחֵר עַד שֶׁיַּעַבְרוּ רִגְלֵי שָׁנָה כֻּלָּהּ.
3. “The Feast of Unleavened-bread, and the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Huts” (Dt.16:16).
R. Shimon says:
Shouldn’t the Teaching have begun [its list]
where it just left off—at the Feast of Huts (Dt.16:13)?
What, then, does the Teaching mean to convey
[by discussing the sequence as follows]:
the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Huts?
It teaches that
no one transgresses the proscription
do not delay [in bringing a Vow-offering (e.g., Dt.23:22)]
until all three Pilgrimages of the entire year have passed
[since the avowal was uttered].
וְלֹא יֵרָאֶה אֶת פְּנֵי ה׳ רֵיקָם, מִן הַצְּדָקָה; וַחֲכָמִים נָתְנוּ שִׁעוּר: בֵּית שַׁמַּיי אוֹמְרִים הָרְאִיָּה שְׁתֵּי כֶסֶף וְשִׂמְחָה מָעָה כֶסֶף, וּבֵית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים הָרְאִיָּה מָעָה כֶסֶף וְשִׂמְחָה שְׁתֵּי כֶסֶף.
4. “And do not appear before the face of HASHEM empty-handed” (Dt.16:16)—
that is, without alms
[in addition to the mandated sacrifices].
Now, sages have provided minimum prices for these.
The circle of Shammai say:
the Appearance-offering—
[should cost at least] two silver coins [worth a quarter sel`a];
and the Rejoicing-offering (simkhah)
[that is, the Festival-offering]—
one silver coin [weighing a ma`ah].
But the circle of Hillel say:
the Appearance-offering—
[should cost at least] one silver coin [weighing a ma`ah];
and the Rejoicing-offering
[should cost at least] two silver coins [worth a quarter sel`a].492=M. Hag.1:2.
(דברים טז יז) אִישׁ כְּמַתְּנַת יָדוֹ, מִכָּן אָמְרוּ (חגיגה פ״א מ״ה): מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ אוֹכְלִים מְרֻבִּים וּנְכָסִים מוּעָטִים – מֵבִיא שְׁלָמִים מְרֻבִּים וְעוֹלוֹת מוּעָטוֹת, אוֹכְלִים מוּעָטִים וּנְכָסִים מְרֻבִּים – מֵבִיא עוֹלוֹת מְרֻבּוֹת וּשְׁלָמִים מוּעָטִים. זֶה וָזֶה מוּעָט – עַל זֶה אָמְרוּ מָעָה כֶסֶף וּשְׁתֵּי כֶסֶף, זֶה וָזֶה מְרֻבֶּה – עַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר אִישׁ כְּמַתְּנַת יָדוֹ, כְּבִרְכַּת ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָךְ.
5. “Each man what his hand can give” (Dt.16:17)—
on this basis they taught:
One who has many mouths to feed
but few resources,
should bring many Communion-offerings [to eat]
but few Holocaust-offerings [to immolate].
One with few to feed,
but many resources,
should bring many Holocaust-offerings,
but few Communion-offerings.
If one has few of this and little of that—
concerning this situation
they taught [the Hillelite minima of]
one silver me`ah
[for an Appearance-offering],
and two silver coins [for a Holocaust-offering].
But, one who has many of this and much of that—
concerning this situation,
it is stated:
“Each man what his hand can give, according to the blessing of HASHEM your God, which He has given you” (Dt.16:17).493//M. Hag. 1:5. In accord with t he principle of M. Peah 1:1.