Keritot 6:4-5
משנה כריתות ו:ד-ה
Seder: Kodashim | Tractate: Keritot | Chapter: 6
📖 Mishna
Mishna 6:4
משנה ו:ד
Hebrew:
חַיָּבֵי חַטָּאוֹת וַאֲשָׁמוֹת וַדָּאִין שֶׁעָבַר עֲלֵיהֶן יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, חַיָּבִין לְהָבִיא לְאַחַר יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים. חַיָּבֵי אֲשָׁמוֹת תְּלוּיִין, פְּטוּרִים. מִי שֶׁבָּא עַל יָדוֹ סְפֵק עֲבֵרָה בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, אֲפִלּוּ עִם חֲשֵׁכָה, פָּטוּר, שֶׁכָּל הַיּוֹם מְכַפֵּר:
English:
Those liable to bring sin offerings and definite guilt offerings for whom Yom Kippur has passed are liable to bring them after Yom Kippur. By contrast, those liable to bring provisional guilt offerings are exempt from bringing them after Yom Kippur. With regard to one who encountered uncertainty as to whether he performed a sin on Yom Kippur, even if it was at nightfall at the end of the day, he is exempt, as the entire day atones for uncertain sins.
Claude on the Mishna:
This mishna addresses a crucial distinction: What happens to offering obligations when Yom Kippur passes?
The distinction:
| Obligation Type | After Yom Kippur |
|---|---|
| Definite chatat | Still liable |
| Definite asham | Still liable |
| Asham talui | EXEMPT |
Why the difference?
Definite offerings: Yom Kippur provides atonement, but atonement is incomplete without the offering. The person has a definite obligation that remains.
Asham talui: This offering covers UNCERTAINTY - “maybe I sinned.” Yom Kippur atones for uncertain sins. Once Yom Kippur passes, the uncertainty is resolved through atonement, so no offering is needed.
The Yom Kippur timing rule: Even if the uncertain sin occurred ON Yom Kippur itself, at DUSK (the very last moment), the person is exempt from asham talui!
Why? “The entire day atones” - Yom Kippur’s atonement applies to uncertain sins that occur at ANY point during the day, even right at the end.
The theological principle: Yom Kippur provides a “blanket” atonement for uncertain sins. The asham talui was a way to address uncertainty BEFORE Yom Kippur. Once Yom Kippur comes, that uncertainty is covered.
Key Terms:
- חַיָּבֵי חַטָּאוֹת (chayavei chata’ot) = Those liable for sin offerings
- עָבַר עֲלֵיהֶן יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים (avar aleihen Yom HaKippurim) = Yom Kippur passed over them
- עִם חֲשֵׁכָה (im chasheikhah) = At dusk/nightfall
- כָּל הַיּוֹם מְכַפֵּר (kol hayom mechaper) = The entire day atones
Mishna 6:5
משנה ו:ה
Hebrew:
הָאִשָּׁה שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלֶיהָ חַטַּאת הָעוֹף סָפֵק, שֶׁעָבַר עָלֶיהָ יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, חַיֶּבֶת לְהָבִיא לְאַחַר יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמַּכְשְׁרַתָּהּ לֶאֱכֹל בַּזְּבָחִים. חַטַּאת הָעוֹף הַבָּאָה עַל סָפֵק, אִם מִשֶּׁנִּמְלְקָה נוֹדַע לָהּ, הֲרֵי זוֹ תִקָּבֵר:
English:
A woman upon whom it is incumbent to bring a bird sin offering due to uncertainty, e.g., uncertainty with regard to whether or not her miscarriage obligated her to bring the sin offering of a woman who gave birth, for whom Yom Kippur has passed, is liable to bring it after Yom Kippur. This is because the offering does not come as atonement for a sin; rather, it renders her eligible to partake of the meat of offerings. With regard to this bird sin offering that is brought due to uncertainty, if it became known to her that she was exempt from bringing the offering after the nape of the neck of the bird was pinched, the bird must be buried.
Claude on the Mishna:
This mishna introduces an important exception to the Yom Kippur rule for the woman’s uncertain childbirth offering.
The exception: A woman who has an uncertain obligation for a childbirth offering (e.g., she may have miscarried a form that requires an offering, or may not have) must STILL bring her offering after Yom Kippur passes.
Why? Her offering is NOT primarily for atonement for sin. It’s to render her “machshir” - fit/eligible to eat sacrificial meat (zevachim). Without the offering, she remains in a state of ritual incompleteness regardless of Yom Kippur.
The contrast:
| Type | Purpose | After Yom Kippur |
|---|---|---|
| Asham talui | Atonement for uncertain sin | Exempt |
| Woman’s uncertain chatat | Enabling eating kodshim | Still required |
The second ruling - if she learns she didn’t need it:
If AFTER the melikah (pinching the bird’s neck) she learns she was exempt (e.g., the miscarriage didn’t actually obligate her), the bird must be buried.
This differs from the asham talui in 6:1, where if the blood was sprinkled, the meat could be eaten. Why?
The woman’s bird offering was brought for UNCERTAINTY. It cannot be eaten because:
- If she was obligated - it’s not eaten (uncertain offerings aren’t eaten)
- If she wasn’t obligated - it’s chulin killed in the azarah (forbidden)
Either way, burial is required once melikah is done.
Key Terms:
- חַטַּאת הָעוֹף (chatat ha’of) = Bird sin offering
- מַּכְשְׁרַתָּהּ (machshartah) = Renders her fit/eligible
- לֶאֱכֹל בַּזְּבָחִים (le’echol bazevachim) = To eat sacrificial meat
- תִקָּבֵר (tikaver) = Must be buried