[Avodah] Association of Positive Mitzvot with Days of Year?

[Micha Berger]

On Jan 2, 2005 -- yes, 2005 -- I wrote
<http://www.aishdas.org/avodah/vol14/v14n052.shtml#10>:
In a message dated 12/31/04 1:22:14pm EST,  mi... at aishdas.org writes:
>> Check Pitum Haktores, and continuation in Tanya Bar Kapara " Achas
>> Lshishim Oi Lshivi'im Shana Hoy'sa Va Shel Shirayim Lachatzoin"

> What would you hope I'd conclude from that?

> I am adding, the amount of Ketoras was 368 portions 365 for Kminyan
> Yemos haChama, plus 3 for Yom Kippur, because of the discrepancy of 11
> days per year despite the additional leap year every 60 - 70 years there
> would be 1/2 supply.

The 3 qav minus one fistful in 60 or 70 years of Yom Kippur is enough
to account for the shirayim reaching half a year's worth -- 184 qav (=
61-2/3 * 3 qav). The year averages a solar year, so really only
the difference between the 3 qav for YK and the melo chafnav of the
kohein gadol will add up.

An upcoming daf Y-mi (Sheqalim 4:3, 11a-b in the Vilna Bavli edition)
reopened the question for me. 

You can't use last year's terumas halishkah (the sum of machatzis
hasheqel) for this year. Qetores, which is bought with terumas halishkah,
would therefore need to be worked around this problem. One thing they did
was pay people on the last day of Adar in leftover qetores and then podeh
it back with new terumas halishkah on Nisan on the new year's budget.
The family that made qetores, Beis Avtinas, therefore took up some of
the year's leftover qetores. And the gemara even discusses the case where
someone from BA sanctifies his property, that the qetores could be used.
(As this is the only way we could have qetores made in keli shareis, which
Shemuel requires, and the beraisa could still ask whether someone could
donate qetores.)

So it would seem the amount the workers take away from the running total
is measurable. How then did the extra add up to 184 qav as quickly as it
did?

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Every second is a totally new world,
micha at aishdas.org        and no moment is like any other.
http://www.aishdas.org           - Rabbi Chaim Vital
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