Study Zevachim folio 47A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
מנין למתעסק בקדשים שהוא פסול? שנאמר ״ושחט את בן הבקר לפני ה׳״ – עד שתהא שחיטה לשם בן בקר.
From where is it derived with regard to one who acts unawares in the case of consecrated items, i.e., if one slaughtered an offering without intending to perform the act of slaughter at all, but rather like one occupied with other matters, that the offering is disqualified? Rav Huna said to Shmuel: It is derived from a verse, as it is stated: “And he should slaughter the young bull before YHWH” (Leviticus 1:5), teaching that the mitzva is not performed properly unless the slaughter is for the sake of a young bull, i.e., knowing that he is performing an act of slaughter.
אמר ליה: זו בידינו היא; לעכב מנין? אמר ליה: ״לרצנכם תזבחהו״ – לדעתכם זביחו.
Shmuel said to Rav Huna: We have this as an established halakha already, that it is a mitzva to slaughter the offering for the sake of a bull, but from where is it derived that this requirement is indispensable? Rav Huna said to him that the verse states: “With your will you should slaughter it” (Leviticus 19:5), i.e., with your full awareness you should slaughter it, in the form of a purposeful action.
שאין המחשבה הולכת אלא אחר העובד. מתניתין דלא כי האי תנא – דתניא, אמר רבי אלעזר ברבי יוסי: שמעתי שהבעלים מפגלין. אמר רבא: מאי טעמא דרבי אלעזר ברבי יוסי? דאמר קרא: ״והקריב המקריב״.
§ The Mishnah teaches: Because the intent follows only the one performing the sacrificial rite. The Talmud comments: The Mishnah is not in accordance with the opinion of this tanna, as it is taught in a baraita that R' Elazar, son of R' Yosei, says: I heard that even the owner of an offering can render it piggul through improper intention. Rava says: What is the reason of R' Elazar, son of R' Yosei? As the verse states: “Then he who sacrifices should sacrifice his offering to YHWH” (Numbers 15:4). The term “he who sacrifices” is a reference to the owner; since the owner is considered one who sacrifices, he too can render his offering piggul with an improper intention.