Study Yoma folio 36A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
גמ׳ מאן שמעת ליה דאמר בין האולם ולמזבח צפון —
Talmud: The Mishnah states that when the High Priest recites his confession, the bull stands between the Entrance Hall to the Sanctuary and the altar, and elsewhere (41b) it is stated that the bull is slaughtered at the place where the confession is recited. Apparently, the place where the confession is recited must be considered north. The Talmud clarifies: About whom did you learn that he said that the area between the Entrance Hall and the altar is considered north and is therefore a valid location for slaughtering offerings of the most sacred order, based on the verse written with regard to the burnt-offering: “On the side of the altar northward” (Leviticus 1:11)?
רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון היא. דתניא: איזהו צפון — מקיר של מזבח צפוני ועד כותל העזרה, וכנגד כל המזבח כולו צפון, דברי רבי יוסי ברבי יהודה. רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון מוסיף אף בין האולם ולמזבח. רבי מוסיף אף מקום דריסת רגלי הכהנים ואף מקום דריסת רגלי ישראל. אבל מן החליפות ולפנים הכל מודים שפסול.
It is R' Elazar, son of R' Shimon, as it was taught in a baraita: What is the north? It is the area from the northern wall of the altar until the wall of the Temple courtyard. And opposite the entire altar is also considered north; this is the statement of R' Yosei, son of R' Yehuda. And R' Elazar, son of R' Shimon, adds even the area between the Entrance Hall and the altar to the area that is considered north. R' Yehuda HaNasi adds that even the areas to the north in the place where the priests walk, and even areas to the north in the place where the Israelites walk, are considered north in terms of the halakha of slaughtering offerings. However, everyone agrees that the area from the chamber of the knives and inward, which is an area off to the side, is unfit for slaughtering offerings of the most sacred order, as it is not visible from the altar.