Guide
What Is Sifra?
3rd or 4th Century
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Sifra is a verse-by-verse midrashic commentary on the book of Leviticus compiled in the third to fourth centuries CE. The content is mostly halakhic (legal) and reflects the exegetical methods of the school of R. Akiva, with the exception of two sections reflecting the style of the school of R. Ishmael. It is written largely in mishnaic Hebrew and is quoted frequently in the Talmud.
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Sifra
Sifra Tsav 8:1|Nega’im 13:2|Aḥarei Mot 13:3–4, 9–11, 13
[But every purification offering whose blood is brought to the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place, it shall not be eaten; it shall be burned with fire (Leviticus 6:23).]Purifi…
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The Rains of Shelamzion’s Reign
Sifre Deuteronomy 42 | Sifra Beḥukotay 1:1
If you will obey my commandments which I command you this day, . . . I will give the rain of your land in its season (Deuteronomy 11:13–14). This refers to the way rains fell in…
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Sifra on Respect for the Temple Site
Sifra Kedoshim 7, 90d
My sabbaths you shall keep, and my sanctuary you shall fear; I am the Lord (Leviticus 19:30). I might think that the building of the Temple countermanded the [keeping of the] Sabbath; it is therefore…
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Sifra on Serving God without the Temple
Sifra Emor 10
On that same day you shall hold a celebration; it shall be a sacred occasion for you . . . and when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field…
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Imma Shalom, Wife of R. Eliezer
Sifra Shemini Mekhilta de-Miluim 33
It happened concerning a certain student who taught in the presence of Rabbi Eliezer. [Rabbi Eliezer] commented to his wife Imma Shalom: I wonder if [the student] will survive the week. And he did…
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Sifra on the Exemption of Non-Jews from Purity Restrictions
Sifra Tazri’a 1:1|Sifra Zavim 1:1
[Speak to the Israelite people thus . . .] (Leviticus 12:2), concerning the ritual impurity of parturients and menstruants]: Israelites are the subject of…
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A Gentile Who Observes the Torah
Sifra Aḥarei Mot 8, 13:13
[You shall keep my laws and my judgments] by which, in doing them, [a man shall live] (Leviticus 18:5). R. Jeremiah used to say: You ask, “How do we know that even a gentile who observes the Torah is…
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The Separateness of Israel
Sifra Aḥarei Mot 8, 13:3, 9–11
The Lord spoke to Moses saying: Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: I the Lord am your God (Leviticus 18:1–2). [ . . . ]
They welcomed my edicts: You shall not do…
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Linguistic Detail as a Source of Law
Sifra Tazri’a Nega’im 13:2
[And the garment, when there is a plague of leprosy in it, whether it be a garment of wool or a garment of linen (Leviticus 13:47).]
Scripture says: And the garment [rather than…
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Repetitive Language as a Source of Law
Sifra Emor 3:2
Every man among the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall not be qualified to offer the Lord gifts; having a blemish, he shall not be qualified to offer the food of his God (Leviticus…
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Tannaitic Midrash
1st–3rd Centuries