Reeh 12:14 · unit 3

TT #54 · Parashas Reeh · First Aliyah · Passuk 12:14

The Complete Passuk

כִּ֣י אִם־בַּמָּק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ בְּאַחַ֣ד שְׁבָטֶ֔יךָ שָׁ֖ם תַּעֲלֶ֣ה עֹלֹתֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁ֣ם תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּֽךָּ׃

But only in the place that Hashem will choose in one of your tribes — there you shall offer your burnt-offerings and there you shall do all that I command you.

Chabad.org — 12:14

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
שָׁם תַּעֲלֶה וְשָׁם תַּעֲשֶׂה – יָכוֹל מִדִּכְתִיב הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן תַּעֲלֶה עֹלֹתֶיךָ בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶה, הַעֲלָאָה הוּא דְּלָא הָא זְבִיחָה שָׁרֵי, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר שָׁם תַּעֲלֶה וְשָׁם תַּעֲשֶׂה, מַקִּישׁ עֲשִׂיָּה לְהַעֲלָאָה, מָה הַעֲלָאָה אֲסוּרָה אַף זְבִיחָה אֲסוּרָה.

English: “There you shall offer and there you shall do” — One might have thought that since it is written “take heed lest you offer your burnt-offerings in any place that you see,” only the offering-up is forbidden but slaughter is permitted. Therefore the verse states “there you shall offer and there you shall do,” comparing the doing to the offering-up: just as the offering-up is forbidden, so the slaughter is forbidden.

On the daf / in context: The comparison closes a possible loophole that would have permitted slaughter outside while only forbidding the subsequent elevation of the animal.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — including slaughter in the prohibition of outside service.

What Is Learned

Slaughter of sacrificial animals outside the chosen place is forbidden, just as the offering-up is forbidden.