Chukas 19:03 · unit 8 — before him means without diverting attention
Parashas Chukas · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 3
The Complete Passuk
וּנְתַתֶּ֣ם אֹתָ֔הּ אֶל־אֶלְעָזָ֖ר הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְהוֹצִ֤יא אֹתָהּ֙ אֶל־מִח֣וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וְשָׁחַ֥ט אֹתָ֖הּ לְפָנָֽיו׃
And you shall give it to Elazar the Kohen, and he shall take it outside the camp and slaughter it before him.
Chabad.org — 19:3
Source Citation
Torah Temimah: Yoma 42a — What is “lefanav”? That he should not divert his attention from it.
Sefaria — Yoma 42a
Core Text of Chazal
Core Text
מַהוּ לְפָנָיו, שֶׁלֹּא יַסִּיחַ דַּעְתּוֹ מִמֶּנָּה.
English: What is “lefanav”? That he should not divert his attention from it.
Type of Learning
Definition of “lefanav” as continuous intentional focus.
What Is Learned
The Kohen who oversees the slaughter must maintain unbroken attention on the animal throughout the act; diverting his mind invalidates.