Mishnah 5 · Menachos 10:9 · From the Omer to Shavuos

A Zeman Nakat Project

From the Omer to Shavuos · Mishnah 5 of 43 · Interactive Edition

Movement I·B · The Grain — Origin, Quality, and Public Funding

5 · מְנָחוֹת י:ט · Menachos 10:9

      קוֹצְרִין מִפְּנֵי הַנְּטִיעוֹת, מִפְּנֵי בֵית הָאֵבֶל, מִפְּנֵי בִטּוּל בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ —
      לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָן כְּרִיכוֹת, אֲבָל מַנִּיחָן צְבָתִים.
      מִצְוַת הָעֹמֶר לָבֹא מִן הַקָּמָה. לֹא מָצָא — יָבִיא מִן הָעֳמָרִים.
      מִצְוָתוֹ לָבֹא מִן הַלַּח. לֹא מָצָא — יָבִיא מִן הַיָּבֵשׁ.
      מִצְוָתוֹ לִקְצֹר בַּלַּיְלָה. נִקְצַר בַּיּוֹם — כָּשֵׁר.
      וְדוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת.
    

One may reap [before the Omer] for the sake of saplings, a house of mourning, or dereliction of Torah study — may not make sheaves, but may leave loose. The Omer's mitzva: to come from standing grain — if not found, from sheaves. Its mitzva: from moist grain — if not, from dry. Its mitzva: to be reaped at night — if reaped by day, valid. And it overrides Shabbos.

Fuchsia — Rule

Green — Positive ruling

Red — Negative ruling

Purple — Condition

Black — Case

IntroIntro to Movement 1B · 5 Mishnayos on the Grain · 2:44 0:00 / 2:44

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Kohen lifting Omer korban at the Mizbeach while families enjoy new grain in the field

Three permitted exceptions to the pre-Omer harvest ban

מִפְּנֵי הַנְּטִיעוֹת

For the sake of saplings

Grain threatening nearby saplings (kilayim concern) or growing near trees that would invalidate the Omer

מִפְּנֵי בֵית הָאֵבֶל

For a house of mourning

Comforters need outdoor space to sit and bless the mourners

מִפְּנֵי בִטּוּל בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ

Dereliction of Torah study

Students need assembly space; Torah study takes precedence over the harvest ban

לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָן כְּרִיכוֹת — אֲבָל מַנִּיחָן צְבָתִים

In all three cases: may not bundle into official sheaves (which would resemble the Omer harvest) — but may leave the grain lying loose.

The Omer's best practices — optimal to acceptable

Optimal

מִן הַקָּמָה

From standing grain — still on the stalk, at peak ripeness

Fallback 1

מִן הָעֳמָרִים

From sheaves — already cut, bundled

Optimal

מִן הַלַּח

From moist grain — retains moisture, produces better kali

Fallback 2

מִן הַיָּבֵשׁ

From dry grain — over-dried, less ideal

Optimal

בַּלַּיְלָה

At night — derived from the counting beginning at night (Devarim 16:9)

Fallback 3

בַּיּוֹם — כָּשֵׁר

By day — valid after the fact

Key contrast for the series

וְדוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת

The Omer overrides Shabbos. The Shtei HaLechem does NOT (Menachos 11:2). This contrast returns explicitly when we reach Movement III — the two Korbanos share a source and a purpose, but stand at opposite ends of the Shabbos spectrum.

Position in the Omer to Shavuos arc — 43 mishnayos

Preceding · Mishnah 4

Menachos 10:7

The five grains and the Omer's permitting function

Current · Mishnah 5

Menachos 10:9 — Rules of the Harvest

Movement I·B opens here

The first mishnah of I·B bridges from the Chadash prohibition into the Omer's own rules. It establishes the exceptions to the harvest ban, the hierarchy of best practices, and — most importantly for the series — plants the contrast that will be developed fully in Movement III: the Omer overrides Shabbos; the Shtei HaLechem does not.

Following · Mishnah 6

Menachos 8:1

Where must the grain come from, and what is the finest quality?