Wednesday, January 23, 2019

A Large Step

לא תעלה במעלות על מזבחי is כולל both an issur of making steps to ascend the alter and taking large steps when ascending.  [However, see Rambam Beis Habichirah 1:17, Mishne L'melech there and Brisker Rav Yoma 22a.]  The חינוך says that the commandment not to use large steps while going up the alter applies both to men and woman.  A woman is never allowed to do avodah so clearly he holds the law applies even when it is not a time of avodah.  However, the Targum yerushalmi and yonason indicate the lav only applies to kohanim at the time of their avodah.  That is the opinion of Tosfos Yeshanim in Yoma 33a as well.  צ"ב ביסוד המחלוקת.  Suggestions?

The Chinuch has an interesting end to the mitzvah.  He cites the possuk וענים ישכנו ארץ (Tehillim 37:11.)  What connection does that have to anything?  The Minchas Chinuch says its just to end of on a good note.  However, that is odd for its not the usual manner of the Chinuch?  The Minchas Avraham suggests that the Chinuch is telling us that the yesod of the lav is to act in a haughty manner. Taking large steps is an act of haughtiness, hence the Chinuch ends off with a praise of the humble.

1 comment:

  1. if the yesod ha'issur is a gnai for the mizbeach it shouldn't make a difference if it is during the shas avodah or not. If however it is not a gnai for the mizbeach rather a gnai for the person, then it would be understandable that there is no issur to be meganeh oneself, except during avodah during which the oveid is a chelek of the avodah and to be meganeh the oveid is to be meganeh the avodah

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