Let Them Eat Meat!

The Rabbis taught in a Baraisa: "You Shall Rejoice on Your Festival" [Devarim 16:14]. This verse includes all kinds of rejoicing in regards to the mitzvah of Rejoicing on the Festivals.

(Although the Torah here tells us we need to rejoice, it doesn't specify how we are to rejoice. We later learn that when the Temple is standing we are obligated to rejoice over eating the sacrificial foods in Devarim 27:7)

Based on this verse, the sages said: Israel can fulfill their obligation with the meat of the Nedarim, Nedavos & Maaser Behimah**. The Kohanim can fulfill their obligation with the meat of the Chatas, Asham, Behor & Breast and Thigh of the Shelamin offering**. It could have been thought that one could fulfill their obligation with a Bird Offering or Minchah Offering, however the Torah states: You shall rejoice on your festival.

(Using B'Chagecha for "on Your Festival" in Hebrew. This has the same root as the Hebrew word Chagigah "Offering". This teaches us that the offering must be of the same type as the Festival Offering which excludes both the Bird and Minchah offerings. The Gemara lists and additional reason for the exclusion of the Bird and Meal offerings:)

Rav Ashi said: It (the exclusion of Bird/Minchah) can be found in the verse "You Shall Rejoice". Excluded is the eating of the offerings as there is no Joy. (i.e. the meat from a bird and cakes from Minchah are not filling and thus will not bring joy) And why does Rav Ashi have to say about the term b'Chagecha? That word is for Rav Daniel Bar Katina who said in the name of Rav: From where do we know that we may not take (Marry)wives on Chol Hamoed (Intermediate days of the festival) Because it stated: You Shall Rejoice on your festival stressing that your rejoice should only be on account of the festival, and not your new Bride.

(This verse teaches us we should not get married on Chol Hamoed as not to eclipse the Rejoicing for the Festival with the Celebration of the wedding

**Offering Terms:
Nedarim - commitments to bring a sacrifice
Nedavos - animals declared to be sacrifices
Maaser Behimah - Animal Tithe 1/10
Chatas - Sin Offering
Behor - A first-born animal
Shelamin - Peace Offering)

- Chagigah 8a/b