Positive Commandment 43 (Digest)
The Additional Passover Offering
"For seven days you shall offer a fire-offering to G‑d..."—Leviticus 23:8.
On the seven days of Passover, we are commanded to bring a special offering in the Holy Temple, in addition to the regular daily sacrifices.
And the 43rd mitzvah is that we are commanded to bring an offering each of the seven days of Pesach in addition to the daily offerings. This is the musaf Chag HaMatzos offering.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "For seven days then, you shall present a fire offering to G‑d."
Positive Commandment 44 (Digest)
First Harvest Offering
"And you shall bring an omer of the first cuttings of your harvest"—Leviticus 23:10.
On the sixteenth day of Nissan [the second day of Passover], we are commanded to bring a barley offering in the Holy Temple, accompanied by a lamb (in its first year of life). This offering is known as the Minchat Bikurim [more popularly identified as the Omer Offering].
And the 44th mitzvah is that of the Omer grain offering. This is the commandment to bring an offering of barley on the 16th of Nissan, together with a year-old sheep as a burnt-offering.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "You must bring an Omer of your first reaping to the priest."
This grain offering is called minchas bikkurim [first grain offering], as hinted to in G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "When (im) you bring the first grain offering to G‑d, [it should be brought] as soon as it ripens; fresh kernels which are roasted in fire and ground up."
The Mechilta says, "The word 'im' [literally, "if"] when used in Scripture generally means something optional, except for three exceptions which are obligatory." One of them is G‑d's statement, "When ["im"] you bring the first grain offering to G‑d." Our Sages said, "'It is an obligation.' 'You say it's an obligation, but you might think it's really optional!' The Torah therefore continues, 'You shall bring your first grain offering.' This clearly refers to an obligation, not something optional."
All the details of this mitzvah have been fully explained in the 10th chapter of Menachos.
Positive Commandment 45 (Digest)
The Additional Shavuot Offering
"On the day of the first fruits, when you offer up a new meal offering to G‑d . . . you shall bring a burnt offering for a pleasant fragrance"—Numbers 28:26-27.
On the fiftieth day after the offering of the omer sacrifice on the sixteenth of Nissan, we are commanded to bring a special offering in addition [to the regular daily sacrifices] in the Holy Temple—the Atzeret [Shavuot] Offering.
And the 45th mitzvah is that we are commanded to bring an offering in addition [to the daily offerings] also on the 50th day from the Omer offering on the 16th of Nissan. This is the musaf Atzeres offering.
It is mentioned in Bamidbar Sinai, in G‑d's statement, "On the day of the first fruits, when you bring a new grain offering to G‑d ... you shall bring a burnt-offering as a pleasing fragrance to G‑d [of two young bulls, one ram and seven yearling sheep]."
Positive Commandment 46 (Digest)
The Two Loaves of Shavuot
"You shall bring from your dwellings two wave-loaves of two tenth measures"—Leviticus 23:17.
On the holiday of Atzeret [Shavuot], we are commanded to bring two loaves of leavened bread in the Holy Temple, together with an accompanying animal Peace Offering (in addition to the holiday's additional offering).
These two loaves as well as the sacrifices are eaten by the kohanim (priests).
And the 46th mitzvah is that we are commanded to bring two loaves of leavened bread to the Temple on the fixed day of Shavuos, together with the offerings which accompany this bread, and to sacrifice them as Scripture explains in the Book of Leviticus. The priests eat these two loaves after they have been waved with the peace offering of sheep.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "From the land upon which you live you shall bring two loaves of bread as a wave offering. They shall be made of two-tenths [of an ephah of wheat meal]."
It has been explained in the 4th chapter of Menachos that the sacrifices which are brought with these loaves are different from, and in addition to, the musaf offerings. We have explained this sufficiently in [the Commentary of the Mishneh to] tractate Menachos.
All the details of this mitzvah have been explained in the 4th, 5th, 8th, and 11th chapters of Menachos.
Positive Commandment 47 (Digest)
The Additional Rosh Hashanah Offering
"And on the first day of the seventh month . . . you shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant fragrance for G‑d"—Numbers 29:1-2.
On the first of Tishrei, Rosh Hashanah, we are commanded to bring a special offering in the Holy Temple, in addition [to the regular daily sacrifices].
And the 47th mitzvah is that we are commanded to bring an offering in addition [to the daily and musaf Rosh Chodesh offerings] on the first day of Tishrei. This is the musaf Rosh HaShanah offering.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "On the first day of the seventh month...you must present a burnt-offering as an appealing fragrance to G‑d."
Positive Commandment 48 (Digest)
The Additional Yom Kippur Offering
"And on the tenth day of the seventh month . . . you shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant fragrance for G‑d"—Numbers 29:7-8.
On the tenth of Tishrei [Yom Kippur], we are commanded to bring a special offering in the Holy Temple, in addition [to the regular daily sacrifices].
And the 48th mitzvah is that we are commanded to bring an offering in addition [to the daily offerings] on the tenth day of Tishrei. [This is the musaf Yom Kippur offering.]
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "On the 10th of this month...you must present a burnt-offering as an appealing fragrance to G‑d [one bull, one ram, and seven sheep]."
Positive Commandment 50 (Digest)
The Additional Sukkot Offerings
"You shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant fragrance for G‑d"—Numbers 29:12-13.
On the [seven] days of the holiday of Sukkot, we are commanded to bring a special offering in the Holy Temple, in addition [to the regular daily sacrifices].
And the 50th mitzvah is that we are commanded to bring an offering in addition [to the daily offerings] during the holiday of Sukkos.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "You must offer a burnt-offering as an appealing fragrance to G‑d [13 bulls, two rams, 14 yearling sheep...and a sin-offering of one goat]."
This is the musaf haChag offering.
Positive Commandment 51 (Digest)
The Additional Shemini Atzeret Offering
On the eighth day of the holiday of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, we are commanded to bring a special offering in the Holy Temple, in addition [to the regular daily sacrifices].
And the 51st mitzvah is that we are commanded to bring an offering in addition [to the daily offerings] on the eighth day of the holiday of Sukkos. This is the musaf Shemini Atzeres offering.
[The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement, "And the eighth day shall be a day of rest...You must present a burnt-offering as an appealing fragrance to G‑d one bull, one ram, 14 yearling sheep...and a sin-offering of one goat."]
The reason why we are forced to count this musaf offering separately from those of Sukkos is because of the principle, "Shemini Atzeres is considered a separate holiday." Our Sages said explicitly, "It is considered a separate holiday, with a separate sacrifice." This proves that the sacrifice is counted separately. This is extremely obvious.
The text on this page contains sacred literature. Please do not deface or discard.