Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Chagigah/Chapter 1/1

Hebrew Text

הכול חייבין בראייה,

חוץ מחירש שוטה וקטן;

וטומטום, ואנדרוגינוס;

ונשים, ועבדים שאינן משוחררין;

והחיגר, והסומא, והחולה;

והזקן שאינו יכול לעלות ברגליו.

איזה הוא קטן?

כל שאינו יכול לרכוב על כתפו של אביו

ולעלות מירושלים להר הבית,

כדברי בית שמאי;

בית הלל אומרין:

כל שאינו יכול לאחוז בידו של אביו

ולעלות מירושלים להר הבית,

שנאמר "שלוש רגלים" (שמות כג,יד).

English Translation

All are obligated in seeing [the Temple Mount],

except for a deaf mute, an incompetent, or a minor;

an intersexual, an androgyne;

women, unfreed slaves;

a lame person, a blind person, or a sick person;

or an old person who cannot stand upon his feet.

Who is a minor?

Anyone who cannot ride on his father's shoulders

and go up from Jerusalem to the Temple Mount,

according to the House of Shammai;

The House of Hillel say:

Anyone who cannot hold his father's hand

and go up from Jerusalem to the Temple Mount,

for it says, "Three regalim" (Exodus 23:14)

Explanation

seeing [the Temple Mount]: The Torah obligates Jewish men to visit the Temple Mount during each of the three pilgrimage festivals. Women are not obligated in this, but are allowed to come of their own accord. The men are furthermore required to bring two sacrifices, the appearance-offering (re'iyah, a burnt-offering completely burnt upon the Altar) and the festival-offering (chagigah, a peace-offering eaten by the offerer, his friends and family).

regalim: The word regalim means "holidays," but could also be translated "feet." Thus the House of Hillel derives from the use of this word instead of a synonym that the person must be capable of walking upon his own feet to the Temple Mount.