Menachos 9:7 - 9:8

פר הבא על כל המצות – on one of all of the commandments, as for example, the Jewish court/Bet Din errantly ruled that forbidden fat is permitted, and this is bull brought for an unwitting communal sin [because of an active unwitting transgression committed by the Jewish people, as a result of an erroneous halakhic decision handed down by the Great Sanhedrin], that is in Scripture, and placing of the hands [on the head of the animal] is written concerning it (Leviticus 4:15): “The elders of the community shall lay their hands upon the head of the bull” and three from the elders of the Jewish court would lay their hands [upon the head of the bull].

ושעיר המשתלח – to Azazel, as it is written concerning it (Leviticus 16:21): “Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat [and confess over it all the iniquities and transgressions of the Israelites].”

שעירי עבודה זרה – as it is written in the [Torah] portion of Shelah Lekha (Numbers 15:22): “If you unwittingly fail [to observe any one of the commandments that the LORD has declared to Moses.” But the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Shimon.

כל קרבנות היחיד טעונים סמיכה – for the essence of the laying of the hands [on the head] of an individual sacrifice is written (Leviticus 3:2): “He shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering [and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting].”

היורש סומך – if his father had offered a freewill offering with a sacrifice of a burnt offering or a peace-offering and died, his son places his hands upon it.

ומביא נסכים – of he sacrifice.

וממיר – if he made a substitution of another animal, his exchange takes effect upon it and both of them are holy, it is as if his father substituted it.

חוץ מחרש שוטה וקטן – because they lack knowledge.

סומא – as it is written regarding the bull for an unwitting communal sin (Leviticus 4:15): “The elders of the community shall lay their hands [upon the head of the bull],” and they are the Great Sanhedrin, but in the Sanhedrin there was not among them anyone who was blind, as it is proved in Tractate Sanhedrin [36b], and the same law applies for the rest of the laying of the hands that a blind person is not able is not able to lay his hands [upon the head of the bull].

ונכרי – as it is written (Leviticus 1:2): “Speak to the Israelite people,” the Israelite people lay their hands, but the heathens do not lay their hands [upon the head of a sacrifice].

והעבד והשליח – as it is written (Leviticus 1:4): “He shall lay his hand [upon the head of the burnt offering, that it may be acceptable in his behalf], but not the hand of his servant and not the hand of his agent.

והאשה – the children (i.e., male) of Israel lay their hands [upon the head of the sacrifice], but the daughters of Israel do not lay their hands [upon the head of the sacrifice].

וסמיכה שיירי מצוה – that it is not indispensable for atonement, but however, Scripture considers it for him as if he did not attain expiation.

בשתי ידים – as it is written concerning the scapegoat (Leviticus 16:21): “Aaron shall lay both his hands [upon the head of the live goat],” and this is an analogy for all the laying of the hands that it shall be with both (i.e., the two) hands.

ובמקום שסומכים שוחטים – that if he lay his hands [upon the head of the sacrifice] outside of the Temple courtyard and he returns and lays his hands in the Temple courtyard in the place of the ritual slaughter.

ותיכף לסמיכה שחיטה – as it is written (Leviticus 1:4-5): “He shall lay his hand upon the head of the burnt offering….the bull shall be slaughtered before the LORD.”