1It is a positive commandment to offer the burnt-offering1 according to its statutes as they are written in the Torah.2 How is the burnt-offering brought? One slaughters the animal and casts its blood in the manner described,3 skins it, cuts it into pieces and offers all the pieces on the pyre of the altar, as Leviticus 1:9 states: “The priest shall offer the entire sacrifice on the pyre of the altar.”אמִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לַעֲשׂוֹת הָעוֹלָה כְּמִשְׁפָּטָהּ הַכָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה. וְכֵיצַד מַעֲשֵׂה הָעוֹלָה? שׁוֹחֵט וְזוֹרֵק הַדָּם כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ, וּמַפְשִׁיט וּמְנַתֵּחַ, וּמַקְטִיר כָּל הַנְּתָחִים עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהִקְטִיר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת הַכֹּל הַמִּזְבֵּחָה" (ויקרא א, ט).
2The wool on the heads of the sheep, the hair of the beards of the goats, and the bones, sinews, horns, and hoofs of the sacrificial animals4 should be offered on the pyre of the altar5 if they are still connected naturally6 to the animal’s body. If they have been separated, they should not be brought up to the altar.7 This is derived from Deuteronomy 12:27 which mentions: “Your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood.”8 Any part of it which flew off9 the altar should not be returned to it. Similarly, a coal which flew off the altar should not be returned to it.בצֶמֶר שֶׁבְּרָאשֵׁי כְּבָשִׂים, וְשֵׂעָר שֶׁבִּזְקַן הַתְּיָשִׁים, וְהָעֲצָמוֹת, וְהַגִּידִים, וְהַקַּרְנַיִם, וְהַטְּלָפַיִם: בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵן מְחֻבָּרִין - מַקְטִירִין הַכֹּל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אֶת הַכֹּל" (ויקרא א, ט); וְאִם פֵּרְשׁוּ - לֹא יַעֲלוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְעָשִׂיתָ עֹלֹתֶיךָ הַבָּשָׂר וְהַדָּם" (דברים יב, כז). וְכֻלָּן שֶׁפָּקְעוּ מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, לֹא יַחֲזִיר. וְכֵן גַּחֶלֶת שֶׁפָּקְעָה מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, לֹא יַחֲזִיר.
3The following rules apply when the limbs of a sacrificial animal flew off the altar. If they still have substance, even if they flew off after midnight,10 they should be returned to the altar,11 for Leviticus 6:2 speaks of the burnt-offering remaining “on its fire, on the altar, the entire night.” If they do not have substance, even if they flew off before midnight, they should not be returned.12 If the meat became charred and dried up upon them like wood13 and they flew off before midnight, they should be returned. After midnight, they should not be returned.14 גאֵיבָרִים שֶׁפָּקְעוּ מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ: אִם יֵשׁ בָּהֶן מַמָּשׁ, אַפִלּוּ פָּקְעוּ אַחַר חֲצוֹת הַלַּיְלָה - יַחֲזִיר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "עַל מוֹקְדָה עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ כָּל הַלַּיְלָה" (ויקרא ו, ב); וְאִם אֵין בָּהֶן מַמָּשׁ' אַפִלּוּ פָּקְעוּ קֹדֶם חֲצוֹת - לֹא יַחֲזִיר. נִתְחָרֵךְ הַבָּשָׂר, וְיָבֵשׁ עֲלֵיהֶן כְּעֵץ, וּפָקְעוּ: קֹדֶם חֲצוֹת - יַחֲזִיר; אַחַר חֲצוֹת, לֹא יַחֲזִיר.
4After one cuts up the limbs of the burnt-offering, all of the different portions should be brought to the altar’s ramp15 and salted there.16 Afterwards, all of the limbs should be brought up to the top of the altar.17 The gid hanesheh18 should be removed at the top of the altar19 and tossed on the pile of ash in the midst of the altar.דכְּשֶׁמְּנַתֵּחַ אֵיבָרֵי הָעוֹלָה, מוֹלִיכִין אֶת כָּל הַנְּתָחִים לַכֶּבֶשׁ, וּמוֹלְחִין אוֹתָן שָׁם. וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַעֲלִין כָּל הָאֵיבָרִים לְרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וּמֵסִיר גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה בְּרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וּמַשְׁלִיכוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הַדֶּשֶׁן שֶׁבְּאֶמְצַע הַמִּזְבֵּחַ.
All of the limbs should be cast on the altar, as implied by the prooftext cited above, “the flesh and the blood.” Just as the blood is cast on the altar,20 so too, all of the flesh must be cast on the pyre.21 וְזוֹרֵק כָּל הָאֵיבָרִים עַל הָאֵשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "הַבָּשָׂר וְהַדָּם" (דברים יב, כז) - כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהַדָּם בִּזְרִיקָה, כָּךְ כָּל הַבָּשָׂר בִּזְרִיקָה.

Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)

Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.

After they were tossed on the altar, the priest should come and arrange them on the pyre, as Leviticus 1:12 states: “And the priest shall arrange them.” If limbs of sacrificial animals were roasted and then brought up to the altar, they are not considered as a pleasing fragrance.וְאַחַר שֶׁזּוֹרְקָן, חוֹזֵר וְעוֹרֵךְ אוֹתָן עַל הָאֵשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְעָרַךְ הַכֹּהֵן אֹתָם" (ויקרא א, יב). וְאֵיבָרִים שֶׁצְּלָאָן וְאַחַר כָּךְ הֶעֱלָן לַמִּזְבֵּחַ - אֵין בָּהֶם מִשּׁוּם רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ.
5How is the burnt-offering cut up? One would not break the animal’s leg. Instead, a hole was made in it.22 It was hung from the hole23 and skinned. If the burnt-offering was an ox, it should be skinned without being hung.24הכֵּיצַד מְנַתְּחִין אֶת הָעוֹלָה? לֹא הָיָה שׁוֹבֵר אֶת הָרֶגֶל, אֶלָא נוֹקְבוֹ וְתוֹלֶה בּוֹ, וּמַפְשִׁיט. וְאִם הָיָה שׁוֹר, מַפְשִׁיטוֹ בְּלֹא תְּלִיָּה.
The person25 continues skinning, until he gets to the breast, when he gets to the breast, he should cut off the head26 and give it to a priest. He then cuts off the feet27 and gives them to others. He then completes skinning the animal. He rips open the heart and takes out its blood. He then proceeds to the forelegs and cuts them off.28 He proceeds to the right hindleg and gives it to the priest who merited to carry the head. The two testicles should be taken with it.וּמַפְשִׁיט עַד שֶׁהוּא מַגִּיעַ לֶחָזֶה. הִגִּיעַ לֶחָזֶה, חוֹתֵךְ אֶת הָרֹאשׁ וְנֹתְנוֹ לְכוֹהֵן; וְחוֹתֵךְ אֶת הַכְּרָעַיִם וְנֹתְנָן לְאַחֵר; וּמַשְׁלִים אֶת הַהֶפְשֵׁט. וְקֹרֵעַ אֶת הַלֵּב וְמוֹצִיא אֶת דָּמוֹ. וְחוֹתֵךְ אֶת הַיָּדַיִם וְנֹתְנָן לְאַחֵר. עָלָה לְרֶגֶל יְמִינִי, חֹתְּכוֹ וְנֹתְנוֹ לְמִי שֶׁזָּכָה בָרֹאשׁ, וּשְׁתֵּי בֵּיצִים עִמָּהּ.
Afterwards, he rips open the animal’s belly until he reveals the intestines. He takes the fat29 and places it on the head, to cover the place of slaughter.30 He takes the inner organs and gives them to another priest.וְאַחַר כָּךְ קוֹרֵעַ אֶת הַבְּהֵמָה, עַד שֶׁיִּגָּלוּ הַמֵּעַיִם. וְנֹטֵל אֶת הַפֶּדֶר וְנֹתְנוֹ עַל הָרֹאשׁ מִלְמַעְלָה עַל בֵּית הַשְּׁחִיטָה, וְנֹטַל אֶת הַקְּרָבַיִם וְנֹתְנָן לְאַחֵר.
6The latter goes and washes them with water, as Leviticus 1:13 states: “The inner organs and the feet should be washed with water.” This excludes wine, a mixture of wine and water, and other liquids. All types of water are, however, acceptable.31והוֹלֵךְ וּמְדִיחָן בַּמַּיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהַקֶּרֶב וְהַכְּרָעַיִם יִרְחַץ בַּמָּיִם" (ויקרא א, יג) - לֹא בַּיַּיִן, וְלֹא בַּמֶּזֶג, וְלֹא בִּשְׁאָר מַשְׁקִין. וְכָל הַמֵּימוֹת כְּשֵׁרִין.
To what extent should he wash them? The stomach should be washed in the Washing Chamber32 to whatever degree necessary. The intestines should be washed at least three times.33 They should be washed on the marble table located between the pillars.כַּמָּה מְדִיחָן? הַכָּרֵס, מְדִיחִין אוֹתָהּ בְּבֵית הַמְּדִיחִין כָּל צָרְכָּהּ. הַקְּרָבַיִם, אֵין פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלוֹשָׁה פְּעָמִים. וּמְדִיחִין אוֹתָן עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹת שֶׁל שַׁיִשׁ שֶׁבֵּין הָעַמּוּדִים.
7He then takes the knife and separates the lung from the liver and also the lobe of the liver from the liver.34 He should not move the liver from its place. He hollows out the chest and gives it to another priest. He then proceeds upward to the right flank and cuts if off and descends to the backbone. He does not touch the backbone35 until he reaches the two soft ribs. He cuts it off and gives it to another priest while the liver is attached to it.זנָטַל אֶת הַסַּכִּין וּמַפְרִישׁ אֶת הָרֵיאָה מִן הַכָּבֵד, וְאֶצְבַּע הַכָּבֵד מִן הַכָּבֵד; וְאֵינוֹ מֵזִיז אֶת הַכָּבֵד מִמְּקוֹמָהּ. וְנוֹקֵב אֶת הֶחָזֶה וְנוֹתְנוֹ לְאַחֵר. וְעָלָה לַדֹּפֶן הַיְּמָנִית, וְחוֹתֵךְ וְיוֹרֵד עִם הַשִּׁדְרָה, וְלֹא יִגַּע בַּשִּׁדְרָה, עַד שֶׁהוּא מַגִּיעַ לִשְׁתֵּי צְלָעוֹת רַכּוֹת; חֹתְכָהּ וּנֹתְנָהּ לְאַחֵר, וְהַכָּבֵד תְּלוּיָה בָּהּ.
8He then reaches the neck and leaves it with two ribs on either side. He cuts it off and gives it to another priest with the windpipe, the heart, and the lungs attached to it. He proceeds to the left flank and leaves two soft ribs above and two soft ribs below and, as he had left in the other one.חבָּא לוֹ לַגֵּרָה, מַנִּיחַ בָּהּ שְׁתֵּי צְלָעוֹת מִכָּאן וּשְׁתֵּי צְלָעוֹת מִכָּאן, חֹתְכָהּ וְנֹתְנָהּ לְאַחֵר, וְהַקָּנֶה וְהַלֵּב וְהָרֵאָה תְּלוּיִין בָּהּ. בָּא לוֹ לַדֹּפֶן הַשְּׂמָאלִית, וּמַנִּיחַ בָּהּ שְׁתֵּי צְלָעוֹת רַכּוֹת מִלְמָעְלָה וּשְׁתֵּי צְלָעוֹת רַכּוֹת מִלְּמָטָה; וְכָּךְ הָיָה מַנִּיחַ בַּחֲבֶרְתָּהּ.
Thus on the two sides, he leaves four ribs on either side. He then cuts it off and gives it to another person together with the backbone36 with the spleen attached to it.נִמְצָא מַנִּיחַ בִּשְׁתֵּי הַדְּפָנוֹת אַרְבַּע צְלָעוֹת בְּזוֹ, וְאַרְבַּע בְּזוֹ. חֹתְכָהּ וְנֹתְנָהּ לְאַחֵר, וְהַשִּׁדְרָה עִמָּהּ, וְהַטְּחוֹל תָּלוּי בָּהּ.
9He then comes to the tail and severs it and gives it to another priest together with the fat-tail, the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with it.37 He should take the left foot and give it to another priest. This order should be followed when skinning and cutting up a burnt-offering of an animal. These are the portions referred to by the Torah in Leviticus 1:6: “You shall cut it into its portions.”38 טבָּא לוֹ לָעֹקֶץ, חֹתְכוֹ וְנֹתְנוֹ לְאַחֵר, וְהָאַלְיָה וְאֶצְבַּע הַכָּבֵד וּשְׁתֵּי כְּלָיוֹת עִמָּהּ. נָטַל אֶת הָרֶגֶל הַשְּׂמָאלִית וְנֹתְנָהּ לְאַחֵר. וְכַסֵּדֶר הַזֶּה מַפְשִׁיטִין וּמְנַתְּחִין כָּל עוֹלַת בְּהֵמָה, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן הַנְּתָחִין הָאֲמוּרִין בַּתּוֹרָה "וְנִתַּח אֹתָהּ לִנְתָחֶיהָ" (ויקרא א, ו).
10How many priests bring the limbs to the ramp? If the burnt-offering is from sheep, six priests should carry it.יבְּכַמָּה מוֹלִיכִין אֶת הָאֵיבָרִים לַכֶּבֶשׁ? אִם מִן הַצֹּאן הִיא הָעוֹלָה, מוֹלִיכִין אוֹתָהּ שִׁשָּׁה.
11The first priest carries the head and the right foot.39 He carries the head in his right hand40 with its nose facing his forearm and its horns between his fingers. The place where the animal was slaughtered is held upward with the fat upon it. The right foot is in his left hand41 with the side from which the skin was removed42 facing outward.יאהָרִאשׁוֹן - בָּרֹאשׁ וּבָרֶגֶל. הָרֹאשׁ בִּימִינוֹ, וְחָטְמוֹ כְּלַפֵּי זְרוֹעוֹ, וּקְרָנָיו בֵּין אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו, וּבֵית שְׁחִיטָה לְמַעְלָה וְהַפֶּדֶר עָלֶיהָ; וְהָרֶגֶל שֶׁל יָמִין בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ, וּבֵית עוֹרָהּ לַחוּץ.
12The second priest carries the two forelegs, the right one in his right hand and the left one in his left hand.43 The side from which the skin was removed should face outward.יבהַשֵּׁנִי - בִּשְׁתֵּי הַיָּדַיִם. שֶׁל יָמִין בִּימִינוֹ, וְשֶׁל שְׂמֹאל בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ; וּבֵית עוֹרָן לַחוּץ.
13The third priest carries the tail and the hindleg, the tail in his right hand with the fat-tail that hangs between his fingers. Together with it should be the lobe of the liver and the two kidneys. The left hindleg should be in his left hand with the side from which the skin was removed facing outward.יגהַשְּׁלִישִׁי - בָּעֹקֶץ וּבָרֶגֶל. הָעֹקֶץ בִּימִינוֹ, וְהָאַלְיָה מְדֻלְדֶּלֶת בֵּין אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו, וְאֶצְבַּע הַכָּבֵד וּשְׁתֵּי הַכְּלָיוֹת, עִמּוֹ; וְהָרֶגֶל שֶׁל שְׂמֹאל בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ, וּבֵית עוֹרָן לַחוּץ.
14The fourth priest carries the breast and the neck, the breast in his right hand and the neck in his left hand with the ribs between his fingers.ידהָרְבִיעִי - בֶּחָזֶה וּבַגֵּרָה. הֶחָזֶה בִּימִינוֹ, וְהַגֵּרָה בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ וְצַלְעוֹתֶיהָ בֵּין אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו.
15The fifth priest carries the two flanks, the right flank in his right hand and the left flank in his left hand. The side from which the skin was removed should face outward.טוהַחֲמִישִׁי - בִּשְׁתֵּי דְּפָנוֹת. שֶׁל יָמִין בִּימִינוֹ, וְשֶׁל שְׂמֹאל בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ; וּבֵית עוֹרָן לַחוּץ.
16The sixth priest carries the intestines in a bowl.44 The feet should be placed above them.45 This applies if the burnt-offering was a sheep or a goat.טזהַשִּׁשִּׁי - בַּקְּרָבַיִם, נְתוּנִין בְּבָזָךְ, וּכְרָעַיִם עַל גַּבֵּיהֶן מִלְמַעְלָה. אִם הָיְתָה הָעוֹלָה כֶּבֶשׂ אוֹ עֵז.
If, however, it was a ram, two priests should bring the intestines.46 אֲבָל אִם הָיְתָה אַיִל, מוֹלִיכִין הַקְּרָבַיִם שְׁנַיִם.
Similarly, if it was a sheep, the flour of the accompanying offering should be brought by one priest and the wine by another. If it was a ram, the flour should be brought by two priests47 and the wine, by two priests.וְכֵן הַסֹּלֶת שֶׁל נְסָכֶיהָ בְּיַד אֶחָד, וְהַיַּיִן בְּיַד אֶחָד. וְאִם הָיָה אַיִל, הַסֹּלֶת בִּשְׁנַיִם וְהַיַּיִן בִּשְׁנַיִם.
17Thus eight priests bring a burnt offering of a sheep or a goat to the altar.48 That of a ram is brought by eleven.יזנִמְצֵאתָ לָמֵד שֶׁהַכֶּבֶשׂ אוֹ הָעֵז מוֹלִיכִין אוֹתוֹ שְׁמוֹנָה לַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וְהָאַיִל מוֹלִיכִין אוֹתוֹ אַחַד עָשָׂר.
18There are 24 priests who bring a burnt offering of an ox to the altar. The first brings the head. The second and the third bring the right foot.49 The fourth and the fifth bring the tail. The sixth and the seventh bring the left foot. The eighth brings the breast. The neck is brought by three priests, the ninth, tenth, and eleventh. The two forelegs are brought by two priests, the two flanks, by two, and the intestines, the flour, and the wine in sets of three.50 Thus there are 24.יחהַשּׁוֹר מוֹלִיכִין אוֹתוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה. הָרִאשׁוֹן מוֹלִיךְ אֶת הָרֹאשׁ. וְהַשֵּׁנִי וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי מוֹלִיכִין הָרֶגֶל שֶׁל יָמִין. וְהָרְבִיעִי וְהַחֲמִישִׁי מוֹלִיכִין אֶת הָעֹקֶץ. וְהַשִּׁשִּׁי וְהַשְּׁבִיעִי מוֹלִיכִין אֶת הָרֶגֶל שֶׁל שְׂמֹאל. וְהַשְּׁמִינִי מוֹלִיךְ אֶת הֶחָזֶה. וְהַגֵּרָה מוֹלִיכִין אוֹתָהּ שְׁלוֹשָׁה, תְּשִׁיעִי וַעֲשִׂירִי וְאַחַד עָשָׂר. שְׁתֵּי הַיָּדַיִם בִּשְׁנַיִם. וּשְׁתֵּי הַדְּפָנוֹת בִּשְׁנַיִם. וְהַקְּרָבַיִם וְהַסֹּלֶת וְהַיַּיִן בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה שְׁלוֹשָׁה. הֲרֵי עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה.
19Why was a large limb of an ox not divided into portions? Because it is written: “You shall cut it into its portions.” Implied is that its portions should not be cut into portions.יטוְלָמָּה לֹא יְחַלְּקוּ הָאֵבֶר הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁל שׁוֹר לַחֲלָקִים? שֶׁהֲרֵי נֶאֱמַר "לִנְתָחֶיהָ" (ויקרא א, ו) - וְלֹא נְתָחֶיהָ לִנְתָחִים.
When are the above number of priests required to bring the limbs to the altar?51 For a communal burnt-offering. If it was desired that the portions of an individual burnt-offering be brought to the altar with less than this number of priests or more, it is possible.בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? בְּעוֹלַת הַצִּבּוּר; אֲבָל עוֹלַת הַיָּחִיד - אִם רָצוּ לְהוֹלִיךְ נְתָחֶיהָ בְּפָחוֹת מֵאֵלּוּ אוֹ בְּיוֹתֵר, מוֹלִיכִין.
20How was the burnt-offering of a fowl brought? The priest would ascend upon the ramp52 He would turn right to the surrounding ledge and approach the southeast corner.53 There he would sever the head of the fowl at the nape of its neck, severing the head54 entirely. If he does not sever it entirely, the sacrifice is invalid.כעוֹלַת הָעוֹף כֵּיצַד הָיְתָה נַעֲשֵׂית? עוֹלֶה לַכֶּבֶשׁ וּפוֹנֶה לַסּוֹבֵב, וּבָא לוֹ לְקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית, וְהָיָה מוֹלֵק שָׁם אֶת רֹאשָׁהּ מִמּוּל עָרְפָּהּ, וּמַבְדִּיל. וְאִם לֹא הִבְדִּיל, פְּסוּלָה.
He then squeezes out the blood of the head and the blood of the body on the wall of the altar above the scarlet band in the middle of the altar. וּמְמַצֶּה דַּם הָרֹאשׁ וְדַם הַגּוּף עַל קִיר הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, לְמַעְלָה מִן הַחוּט שֶׁבְּאֶמְצַע הַמִּזְבֵּחַ.
If he squeezed out the blood of the head, but did not squeeze out the blood of the body, the sacrifice is invalid.וְאִם מִצָּה דַּם הָרֹאשׁ וְלֹא מִצָּה דַּם הַגּוּף - פְּסוּלָה.
If he squeezed out the blood of the body, but did not squeeze out the blood of the head, the sacrifice is valid.55 מִצָּה דַּם הַגּוּף וְלֹא מִצָּה דַּם הָרֹאשׁ - כְּשֵׁרָה.
21He should take the head and bring the opening where it was severed close to the altar, dips it into salt,56 and cast it on the pyre. He then focuses his attention on the body. He removes the crop,57 the skin that is upon it with its feathers,58 and the intestines that are removed with it59 and casts them on the ash pile.60 כאוְנוֹטֵל אֶת הָרֹאשׁ וּמַקִּיף בֵּית מְלִיקָתוֹ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ; וְסוֹפְגוֹ בַּמֶּלַח, וְזוֹרְקוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הָאִשִּׁים. וּבָא לוֹ לַגּוּף, וְהֵסִיר אֶת הַמֻּרְאָה וְהָעוֹר שֶׁעָלֶיהָ בְּיָדוֹ, עִם הַנּוֹצָה וְאֶת בְּנֵי מֵעַיִם הַיּוֹצְאִין עִמָּהּ, וּמַשְׁלִיכָן לְבֵית הַדֶּשֶׁן.
22Leviticus 1:17 states: “He shall split it with its wings”—this is performed by hand,61 not with a knife. He need not separate one part of the body from the other, as that verse states: “He need not separate it.” If he separates it, it is valid. He then spreads salt upon it and casts it upon the altar. כב"וְשִׁסַּע אֹתוֹ בִכְנָפָיו" (ויקרא א, יז) - בְּיָדוֹ בְּלֹא סַכִּין. וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְהַבְדִּיל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "לֹא יַבְדִּיל" (שם). וְאִם הִבְדִיל, כָּשֵׁר. וְסוֹפְגוֹ בַּמֶּלַח, וְזוֹרְקוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הָאִשִּׁים.
If he did not remove the craw, the feathers, or the intestines or spread salt upon it, it is valid. As long as the change that one makes comes after squeezing out the blood, the sacrifice is acceptable.62 לֹא הֵסִיר אֶת הַמֻּרְאָה, וְלֹא אֶת הַנּוֹצָה, וְלֹא אֶת בְּנֵי מֵעַיִם, וְלֹא סְפָגָהּ בַּמֶּלַח - כָּל שֶׁשִּׁנָּה בָּהּ מֵאַחַר תַּמְצִית הַדָּם, כְּשֵׁרָה.
23How is melikah performed? The priest cuts and descends with his nail at the nape of the neck.63 If he desires to move his nail back and forth,64 he may. If he wishes to chop and descend with his nail,65 he may. If the organs necessary for ritual slaughter slip from their place,66 he need not be concerned.כגכֵּיצַד מוֹלְקִין? קוֹצֵץ וְיוֹרֵד בַּצִּפֹּרֶן מִמּוּל עֹרֶף. אִם רָצָה לְהוֹלִיךְ וּלְהָבִיא, מוֹלִיךְ וּמֵבִיא; וְאִם רָצָה לִהְיוֹת דּוֹרֵס וְיוֹרֵד בַּצִּפֹּרֶן, דּוֹרֵס. וְאִם נֶעֶקְרוּ הַסִּימָנִין, אֵינוֹ חוֹשֵׁשׁ.
He must cut through the spine, i.e., the neckbone, without cutting through the majority of the meat surrounding it, for if he would cut through the majority of the meat, the sacrificial animal would be considered as dead67 before he reached the organs necessary for ritual slaughter. With regard to a burnt offering, as he descends he must cut both the organs68 necessary for ritual slaughter.וְחוֹתֵךְ שִׁדְרָה וּמַפְרֶקֶת בְּלֹא רֹב בָּשָׂר; שֶׁאִם חָתַךְ רֹב בָּשָׂר, הֲרֵי זוֹ כְּמֵתָה קֹדֶם שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ לַסִּימָנִין. וְצָרִיךְ לַחְתֹּךְ שְׁנֵי הַסִּימָנִין בָּעוֹלָה כְּשֶׁהוּא יוֹרֵד.
When one performs melikah with a knife or does so from the side, it is not considered as melika. Instead, it is like strangling or decapitating the fowl. The entire width of the nape of the neck is acceptable for melikah.וְהַמּוֹלֵק בְּסַכִּין אוֹ מִן הַצְּדָדִין - אֵינָהּ מְלִיקָה, אֶלָא כְּמִי שֶׁחָנַק אוֹ נָחַר. וְכָל הָעֹרֶף כָּשֵׁר לִמְלִיקָה.