Why is the מ in מוֹקְדָ֨ה small?

Question

In Parshat צו, Chapter 6, verse 2 the מ in מוֹקְדָ֨ה is small according to Minchas Shai. Why is the מ in מוֹקְדָ֨ה small?

It's not small... (Compare with Vayikra which has the small Alef.) — Double AA, Mar 24 '19 at 12:10
I’ve checked three different Chumashim, including a Tikkun, in addition to the one DoubleAA cites. The only one who says that this מ is small is Minchas Shai; nobody else seems to say that this should be a small מ. — DonielF, Mar 24 '19 at 15:08

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 25 '19 at 14:46

2

The Oznaim Latorah explains that mokdah was the largest fire in the altar services. The small 'Mem' then came to teach us that everything great should demonstrate humility.

See several other reasons here.

answered Mar 25 '19 at 14:46

Renato S. Grun

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score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 29 '24 at 17:29

My Tikkun has the small mem as below.So Does my Bais Yehudah Chumash. I once heard that Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk said that Moktah represents the fire we should have for Torah and Mitzvohs but keep it within yourself, in your heart, small. He continued , do your Mitzvohs in private and your sins in public. What did he mean? By doing sins in public, you become embarrassed and will cease to do them. By doing Mitzvohs in private, you avoid appearance of Haughtiness and Gaava at being religious.

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Why is the מ in מוֹקְדָ֨ה small?

2 Answers2