Misva #134: Eating the Korban Minha

When a Korban Minha – grain offering – was brought in the Bet Ha’mikdash, the Kohen performing the sacrifice would take a handful of the offering and place it on the fire on the altar. The Torah commands in Parashat Sav (Vayikra 6:9) that the remainder of the offering, called “Shiyureh Minha,” is to be eaten by the Kohanim. The verse states, “Ve’ha’noteret Mimena Yochelu Aharon U’banav” – “Aharon and his sons shall eat that which remains from it.” The rationale behind this Misva, as the Sefer Ha’hinuch explains, is that the consumption of the offering by the Kohanim, G-d’s servants in the Bet Ha’mikdash, shows honor to the offering. Additionally, the one who brings the offering earns atonement through its being used to feed the righteous servants of Hashem. As a general rule, all Minha offerings follow this format – a handful is placed on the altar, and the rest is eaten by the Kohanim. The exception to this rule is a Minhat Zichreh Kehuna – a Minha offering brought by a male Kohen. Any Minha offered by a Kohen is completely burned on the altar, without a handful being removed, and without any of it being eaten. This includes the Minhat Hinuch – the Minha offering that every Kohen brings the day he serves as a Kohen in the Bet Ha’mikdash for the first time; the Minhat Habitin – the Minha brought each day by the Kohen Gadol; a Minhat Hoteh – a Minha that a Kohen is required to offer to atone for a sin he committed; and a Minhat Nedaba – a Minha which a Kohen volunteers to offer. All these Minha offerings are burned entirely on the altar, and no portion is eaten, since they are brought by a Kohen. A Kohen’s daughter, however, is not considered a Kohen with regard to this Halacha, and thus a Minha offering brought by a Kohen’s daughter is eaten after a handful is placed on the altar, just like other standard Minha offerings. The Misva to eat the “Shiyureh Minha” applies only in the times of the Bet Ha’mikdash, and only to male Kohanim. A Kohen who fails to eat a Minha offering that is to be eaten violates this affirmative command.