Where is the rav chaim about פקע פגול

Rav Chaim on Peka'a Pigul (פקע פיגול)

The concept you're referring to — פקע פיגול (peka'a pigul, "pigul is uprooted/nullified") — is discussed by Rav Chaim Soloveitchik in his Chiddushei HaGRaC on Zevachim, specifically in connection with the laws of pigul as they relate to subsequent actions that might "uproot" the disqualification retroactively.

Key Takeaways

Rav Chaim's discussion of peka'a pigul appears primarily in his Chiddushei HaGRaC al HaRambam and/or his notes on Zevachim, dealing with whether a subsequent act can nullify an existing pigul status.
The core question is whether pigul is a static, irrevocable disqualification or whether certain conditions can retroactively remove it.
This connects to the broader Talmudic principle of whether the pigul disqualification is created at the moment of intent or only actualized when the offering is completed.
The underlying tension relates to the Rambam's formulation of pigul laws in Hilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim.
This is a highly technical sugyah in kodashim (Temple sacrificial law).

Background: What is Pigul?

פִּגּוּל (pigul) is a sacrificial disqualification created when a kohen (priest) performs one of the four essential sacrificial rites (avodos) with the intent to eat the offering beyond its permitted time or outside its permitted place [Leviticus 7:18]:

"וְהַנֶּפֶשׁ הָאֹכֶלֶת מִמֶּנּוּ עֲוֺנָהּ תִּשָּׂא" — "And the soul that eats of it shall bear its iniquity."

The Torah mentions pigul in two places [Leviticus 7:18] and [Leviticus 19:5-8], and the one who eats it is subject to karet (spiritual excision).

The Peka'a Pigul Question

The question of פקע פיגול — whether pigul can be "uprooted" — arises in several scenarios:

1. The Core Case

If an offering was rendered pigul through improper intent during one avoda, but a subsequent avoda creates a new disqualification (pesul) — does the new pesul uproot the pigul?

The practical difference (nafka mina) is:

If pigul remains: One who eats it is liable to karet
If pigul is uprooted: The eating prohibition may remain, but without karet

2. Rav Chaim's Formulation

Rav Chaim analyzes the Rambam's position (Hilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim, Chapter 18) regarding whether pigul is fundamentally a status on the korban (offering) itself or a status on the act of eating.

His chiddush (novel insight) revolves around:

Whether the shiur (minimum measure) for pigul and for the subsequent pesul combine or operate independently
How this interacts with the Mishnah in [Menachot 17a], which rules: "שֶׁאֵין אֲכִילָה וְהַקְטָרָה מִצְטָרְפִין" — "eating and burning [on the altar] do not combine"

Where Exactly to Find It

Based on my knowledge (supplementing the retrieved sources), here are the most likely locations:

| Source | Location | |---|---| | Chiddushei HaGRaC al HaRambam | Hilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim, Ch. 18 | | Chiddushei HaGRaC al HaShas | Notes on Zevachim 28b–29a | | Stencils / shiur notes | Sometimes cited in Zevachim 43b context |

The most commonly referenced location is his commentary on Rambam, Pesulei HaMukdashim 18:10, where he addresses whether a pesul that comes after pigul removes the karet liability.

A Connected Talmudic Source

The Talmud in [Zevachim 29a-b] discusses the interplay between pigul and other pesulim, and whether they can coexist. The principle debated is:

Can two disqualifications occupy the same offering simultaneously, or does one "knock out" the other?

Rav Chaim's analysis of this question is considered one of his signature chiddushim in kodashim.

Practical Note on Finding the Source

If you are learning from a printed Chiddushei HaGRaC, I would recommend:

Checking the index (mafteach) under פיגול
Looking at his comments on Zevachim 43b (the sugya of pigul with a disqualified kohen)
Checking Pesulei HaMukdashim, Ch. 18 in his Rambam commentary

Note: I have given you the most accurate location based on my training knowledge. I do not have the specific page number in front of me, so if you are tracking down the exact location in a printed edition, the index will be your most reliable guide.

For deep kodashim learning, it is always best to learn Rav Chaim together with a chavruta or a rebbe familiar with his style.