Zevakhim 120 The difference between a private altar and a public one

 Today we finish massekhet Zevakhim. We previously learned that private altars were permitted only for 57 years between the erection of the altar in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt until King Solmon built the Temple in Jerusalem. The rules of sacrifice are relaxed for a private altar as opposed to the great altar. Today’s daf TB Zevakhim 120 delineates the differences and similarities.

“It is taught in a baraita in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan: What are the matters that are different between a great public altar and a small private altar? The corner of the altar, the ramp, the base of the altar, and the square shape are required in a great public altar, but the corner, the base, the ramp, and the square shape are not required in a small private altar. The Basin and its base are required in a great public altar, but the Basin and its base are not required in a small private altar. The breast and thigh of a peace offering, which are given to a priest, are waved at a great public altar, but the breast and thigh are not waved at a small private altar.

“And there are other matters in which a great public altar is identical to a small private altar: Slaughter is required at both a great public altar and a small private altar. Flaying a burnt offering and cutting it into pieces is required at both a great public altar and a small private altar. Sprinkling the blood permits the meat to be eaten, and if at that time the priest thought of eating or sacrificing this offering outside its appropriate time, this renders the offering piggul both at a great public altar and at a small private altar. Likewise, the halakha that blemishes disqualify an offering and the halakha that there is a limited time for eating offerings are in effect at both a great public altar and a small private altar.

“Following the detailing of the differences between a communal altar and a private altar, the mishna teaches: But the halakha that portions of the offering left over [notar] beyond the time it is permitted must be burned and that one who eats them incurs karet, and the halakha that intent to sacrifice or partake of the offering beyond its designated time renders the offering piggul, and the prohibition against performing the sacrificial service or eating consecrated meat while ritually impure are equal in this, i.e., a private altar, and that, i.e., a public altar.” (Sefaria.org translation)

All this is academic for us today since all private altars are banned from then on once the Temple was erected.

Tomorrow we begin massekhet Menakhot which discusses the minkha (flour, meal) offerings. In other words now that we have finished with the proteins, we’re going be studying the carbohydrates.