Mishnah Keritot 5:6-7

Sugya Map

• Issue: Scope of Asham Talui for multiple sfekot (uncertainties) and the permissibility of bringing korbanot (offerings) in partnership with tena'im (stipulations) for individual atonement.
• Nafka Mina(s):
  • Whether one Asham Talui can cover both safek chelev (uncertainty of forbidden fat) and safek me'ilah (uncertainty of misuse of consecrated property).
  • The halakhic validity of joint korbanot chatat or asham brought by multiple individuals.
• Primary Sources: Mishnah Keritot 5:6-7; Rambam, Hilchot Shegagot 8:15.

Text Snapshot

The Mishnah presents a case of a safek involving two distinct prohibitions: "חתיכה של חלב וחתיכה של קדש, אכל את אחת מהן ואין ידוע איזו מהן אכל – מביא אשם תלוי... אכל את השניה מביא חטאת ואשם ודאי." ^[Mishnah Keritot 5:6]

• Dikduk/Leshon Nuance: "קדש" here refers to sacrificial fat that is permitted to eat, contrasting with "חלב" (forbidden fat). ^[Yachin, Keritot 5:31:1] The Asham Talui (provisional guilt offering) is initially brought for the safek chelev, which incurs karet. The subsequent Chatat (sin offering) is for chelev, and the Asham Vadai (definite guilt offering) for me'ilah. ^[Yachin, Keritot 5:33:1]

Readings

• Rambam: Explains that R' Akiva and the Rabbis agree in the case of "חתיכה של חלב וחתיכה של קדש" that one Asham Talui suffices, as it can cover both safek chelev and safek hekdesh. This is because "אשם תלוי אחד הוא צריך על שתי הספקות יחד" – one Asham Talui is needed for both uncertainties together. ^[Rambam on Mishnah Keritot 5:6:1] He further rules that halakha follows R' Yosei regarding joint korbanot.
• Yachin: Clarifies that even if one generally holds Asham Talui does not apply to safek me'ilah, here it's due to the safek chelev. R' Akiva, who applies Asham Talui to me'ilah, agrees that one Asham covers both sfekot. ^[Yachin, Keritot 5:32:1]

Friction

• Kushya: Why does R' Akiva, who otherwise expands the scope of Asham Talui to safek me'ilah, not demand two separate Asham Talui offerings when both safek chelev and safek me'ilah are present?
• Terutz: The Asham Talui is not a direct atonement for a specific sin, but rather a kapparah for the safek of a chiyuv karet obligation. ^[Rambam, Hilchot Shegagot 8:1] As such, its "atonement" is broader, encompassing multiple uncertainties that could lead to karet (or, for R' Akiva, even Asham Vadai) under a single offering. Its function is to suspend divine punishment pending clarification.

Intertext

• Vayikra 5:17-19: The parshat Asham Talui itself, which specifies its application when one is unsure if they have sinned one of the mitzvot lo ta'aseh (negative commandments) that incur karet. This unique korban highlights the Torah's concern for safek chovah.
• Gemara Zevachim 101b: Discusses whether individuals can partner in korbanot. R' Yosei's position, "אין שנים מביאין חטאת ואשם" ^[Mishnah Keritot 5:6], reflecting the individual nature of atonement offerings, is generally accepted. ^[Rambam, Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot 3:10]

Psak/Practice

The halakha follows R' Yosei: Two individuals cannot bring a single Chatat or Asham even with stipulations. ^[Rambam, Hilchot Shegagot 8:15] The Asham Talui is generally limited to safek chiyuv karet and does not apply to safek me'ilah that would lead to an Asham Vadai, rejecting R' Akiva's broader view in this regard.

Takeaway

The Asham Talui serves as a singular, comprehensive atonement for the safek of a karet obligation. Individual atonement offerings like Chatat and Asham cannot be shared or brought conditionally by multiple parties due to their inherently personal nature.