EXTRA 3 on Acharei Mos 16:11

Side-ring EXTRA · Kapparah limited to tumas Mikdash

Source

Rashi (Toras Kohanim / Shevuos) limits the atonement effected by the Kohen Gadol’s bull: it covers only the Kohanim’s offences of tumas Mikdash and Kodashav, not other sins.

Core Text

Core Text — Rashi on 16:11 / Shevuos 7b
וְכָל כַּפָּרָתָן אֵינָהּ אֶלָּא עַל טֻמְאַת מִקְדָּשׁ וְקָדָשָׁיו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְכִפֶּר עַל הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִטֻּמְאֹת".

English: All of their atonement is solely for the defilement of the Sanctuary and its holy things, as it is said “and he shall atone for the Holy from the impurities.”

Type of Learning

Limited scope of the bull’s kapparah

What Is Learned

The second vidui and the subsequent slaughter of the bull cleanse the Kohanim only of sanctuary-related impurity offences. Other sins require other mechanisms of kapparah.