In Jewish law, this creates a state of ritual impurity, or tumah. It's a pretty unsettling thought, isn’t it?
So, how do we atone for this accidental transgression? Well, Sifrei Bamidbar, in its commentary on Numbers 28:15, offers a fascinating insight. The verse speaks of offering "one kid of goats as a sin-offering to the L-rd." According to Sifrei Bamidbar, this offering serves as atonement specifically for this kind of "grave of the depth," this tumah discovered only after the fact. It’s a reminder that even unintentional missteps require us to seek reconciliation and purification.
And it doesn't stop there. The verse continues, "in addition to the continual burnt-offering shall it be offered and its libation." What does this add? Sifrei Bamidbar tells us it teaches that the mussafim – the additional offerings for Rosh Chodesh, the New Month – must be sacrificed between the two daily temidim, the regular, continual burnt offerings. It's all about order and timing in our sacred practices.
But let's shift gears now, because the very next verse in Numbers (28:16) takes us to a much more joyous occasion: Pesach! "And in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, it is Pesach to the L-rd." Sifrei Bamidbar highlights that this verse makes the observance of Passover not optional, but mandatory. No getting out of that Seder!
And what about the matzah? What kind of unleavened bread are we supposed to be eating for those seven days? Numbers 28:17 says, "for seven days matzoth shall be eaten." Okay, but what exactly qualifies as matzah? Could we just use anything unleavened?
Sifrei Bamidbar anticipates this question. It refers us to Deuteronomy 16:3, which states, "You shall not eat chametz with it. Seven days shall you eat matzoth with it." The key here is the relationship between matzah and chametz. Chametz refers to leavened products. The Sifrei Bamidbar explains that only something that can become chametz, that is, leavened, can also be matzah, unleavened. This then limits us to five specific grains: wheat, barley, spelt, rye, or oats.
So, what about rice, millet, sesame, or paragim (a type of grain)? Sifrei Bamidbar clearly excludes them. Why? Because they "never become matzah or chametz, but only decay." They simply don't have the properties to rise and become leavened. They are therefore not valid for use as matzah on Passover.
Isn’t it fascinating how these ancient texts delve into such granular detail, connecting seemingly disparate concepts? From accidental ritual impurity to the proper ingredients for matzah, Sifrei Bamidbar offers a window into the rich tapestry of Jewish law and tradition. It reminds us that even in the most specific rules, there's a deeper search for meaning, purity, and connection to the Divine.