Вайикра 21:8 Мидраш: Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Sifra, Shemot Rabbah & Vayikra Rabbah

Raba raised the following contradiction: "It is written. And I thy servant have feared the Lord from my youth. And again it is written (Pr. 27, 2) Let another man praise thee and not thy own mouth. The latter refers to a place where a man is known, [he should not praise himself], but the former refers to a place where he is unknown." Raba said further: "It is permitted for a scholar to say: 'I am a scholar, decide my case first,' as it is written (Sam. II 8, 18) And the children of David were priests. Were they then priests? But it means [that they were treated like priests:] just as a priest is to get the first share [amongst an audience,] so also are the scholars entitled to get the first share." And whence do we infer that a priest should get the first share? It is written (Lev. 21, 8) And thou shalt sanctify him: for the bread of thy God doth he offer, etc. Concerning which it was explained in the college of R. Ishmael to mean thou shalt sanctify him, for everything that is Holy, (Ib. b) to be the first one to recite a blessing, and the first one to get a good portion [whenever something is given.] Raba said further: "It is permitted for a scholar to say that he will not contribute towards capitation tax, as it is written (Ezra 4, 13) They will not give minda, balu, vehaloch, etc., which was explained by R. Juda that minda refers to royal tax; balu, refers to poll tax; vehaloch, refers to toll tax."

13) (Vayikra 21:8) ("And you shall make him holy, for he offers up the bread of your G d; holy shall he be unto you, for holy am I the L–rd, who sanctifies you.") And whence is it derived that if he refuses (to divorce her), he is forced to do so? From "And you shall make him holy" — (even) against his will. "for he offers up the bread of your G d": We are hereby apprised of the reason (for his being forced). "holy shall he be unto you": to include blemished Cohanim, (who are forbidden to sacrifice, as being thus exhorted). "for holy am I the L–rd who sanctifies you": to include beth-din as being thus exhorted.

Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” (Exodus 12:2) – one who sees the moon, how should he recite the blessing? At the time when Israel was sanctifying the month,⁵⁹I.e., rather than automatically following astronomical calculations as is done today, each month witnesses would come to the High Court and testify that they had seen the new moon. Based on this testimony, the court would proclaim which day was sanctified as the first of the month. some Rabbis would say: Blessed…who renews months, some of them would say: Who consecrates months, and some of them would say: Who consecrates Israel, since if Israel does not consecrate it, the consecration is nothing. Do not wonder about this, as the Holy One blessed be He consecrated Israel, as it is written: “You shall be holy to Me, as I, the Lord, am holy” (Leviticus 20:26); since they are consecrated to Heaven, what they consecrate is consecrated.
If you would like to know, go and learn from the service vessels. Moses consecrated the Tabernacle and all its vessels. Who consecrated them [vessels introduced afterwards]? Could Moses come and consecrate them? Rather, what would they do? The priest would receive a sacred item in it and the vessel would be consecrated, just as Moses consecrated them with blood for the altar, libation wine, or a meal offering. He would pour it into a non-sacred vessel and the non-sacred vessel would be consecrated. If a non-sacred vessel is consecrated when filled with sacred items, all the more so that Israel, who are sacred, may consecrate the month. The Holy One blessed be He said: I am sacred; do I sanctify for Myself? Rather, I sanctify Israel and they sanctify Me. That is why it is written: “You shall be holy to Me” (Leviticus 20:26), “for I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Leviticus 21:8). And so did David say: “You, enthroned upon the praises of Israel, are holy (Psalms 22:4). When did Israel begin to consecrate the month? It was in Egypt. That is what is written: “This month shall be for you.”