Today in Jewish History:
• Spanish Inquisition Abolished (1834)
On July 15, 1834, the Office of the Spanish Inquisition was abolished by the Queen Mother Maria Christina, after nearly three and a half centuries. However, the right of public worship (including permission to mark places of worship and advertise religious services) was not granted to the Jews until 1967.
Links:
The Inquisition
• Jews expelled from Genoa (1567)
Having become a virtual vassal of Spain, the Republic of Genoa expelled the Jews at the behest of their Spanish overlords.
Daily Quote:
The lower waters weep: "We desire to be in the presence of the King"[Zohar]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Chukat, 5th Portion Numbers 20:22-21:9 with Rashi
• Chapter 20
22They traveled from Kadesh, and the entire congregation of the children of Israel arrived at Mount Hor. כבוַיִּסְעוּ מִקָּדֵשׁ וַיָּבֹאוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כָּל הָעֵדָה הֹר הָהָר:
the entire congregation: All were perfect, ready to enter the Land. There was not among them even one of those upon whom the decree had been pronounced, for all those destined to die in the desert had already perished, and these were of those about whom it is written, “you… are all alive this day” (Deut. 4:4). - [Midrash Tanchuma Chukath 14, Num. Rabbah 19:16] כל העדה: כולם שלמים ועומדים להכנס לארץ שלא היה בהן אחד מאותם שנגזרה גזירה עליהם שכבר כלו מתי מדבר, ואלו מאותן שכתוב בהן (דברים ד, ד) חיים כולכם היום:
Mount Hor: A mountain atop a mountain, [appearing like] a small apple atop of big apple. Although the cloud went in front of them and leveled out mountains, three of them remained: Mount Sinai for [the giving of] the Torah, Mount Hor, for the burial of Aaron, and Mount Nebo for the burial of Moses. — [Midrash Tanchuma Chukath 14, Num. Rabbah 19:16] הר ההר: הר על גבי הר כתפוח קטן על גבי תפוח גדול, ואף על פי שהענן הולך לפניהם ומשוה את ההרים, שלשה נשארו בהן הר סיני לתורה והר נבו לקבורת משה והר ההר לקבורת אהרן:
23The Lord said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, saying, כגוַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל משֶׁה וְאֶל אַהֲרֹן בְּהֹר הָהָר עַל גְּבוּל אֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם לֵאמֹר:
on the border of the land of Edom: This teaches that because they associated themselves in a close relationship with the wicked Esau, a breach was made in their accomplishments, and they lost this righteous man. Similarly, the prophet said to Jehoshaphat, “When you joined up with Ahaziahu, God has breached your accomplishments” (II Chron. 20: 37). - [Midrash Tanchuma Chukath 14, Num. Rabbah 19:16] על גבול ארץ אדום: מגיד שמפני שנתחברו כאן להתקרב לעשו הרשע, נפרצו מעשיהם וחסרו הצדיק הזה, וכן הנביא אומר ליהושפט (ד"ה ב' כ, לז) בהתחברך עם אחזיהו פרץ ה' את מעשיך:
24"Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not come to the Land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you defied My word at the waters of dispute [Mei Meribah]. כדיֵאָסֵף אַהֲרֹן אֶל עַמָּיו כִּי לֹא יָבֹא אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל אֲשֶׁר מְרִיתֶם אֶת פִּי לְמֵי מְרִיבָה:
25Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and ascend Mount Hor. כהקַח אֶת אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת אֶלְעָזָר בְּנוֹ וְהַעַל אֹתָם הֹר הָהָר:
Take Aaron: with words of solace; say to him, “You are fortunate that you can see your crown given over to your son, something I do not merit.” - [Midrash Tanchuma Chukath 17, Num. Rabbah 19:19] קח את אהרן: בדברי נחומים. אמור לו אשריך שתראה כתרך נתון לבנך מה שאין אני זכאי לכך:
26Strip Aaron of his garments and dress Eleazar his son with them. Then Aaron shall be gathered in [to his people] and die there. כווְהַפְשֵׁט אֶת אַהֲרֹן אֶת בְּגָדָיו וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּם אֶת אֶלְעָזָר בְּנוֹ וְאַהֲרֹן יֵאָסֵף וּמֵת שָׁם:
his garments: He dressed him in the garments of kehunah gedolah and then stripped him of them, to give them to his son in his presence. He told him, “Enter the cave,” and he entered. He saw a ready made bed, and a lighted candle. He told him, “Get up onto the bed,” and he got up. “Stretch out your hands,” and he stretched them out. “Close your mouth,” and he closed it. “Shut your eyes,” and he shut them. At that moment Moses yearned for such a death. This is why it was said to him, “in the way Aaron your brother died” (Deut. 32:50)-a death that you desired. — [Tanchuma Buber p. 132, Sifrei Ha’azinu 49] את בגדיו: את בגדי כהונה גדולה הלבישהו והפשיטם מעליו לתתם על בנו בפניו. אמר לו הכנס למערה, ונכנס. ראה מטה מוצעת ונר דלוק. אמר לו עלה למטה, ועלה. פשוט ידיך, ופשט. קמוץ פיך, וקמץ. עצום עיניך, ועצם. מיד חמד משה לאותה מיתה, וזהו שנאמר לו (דברים לב, נ) כאשר מת אהרן אחיך, מיתה שנתאוית לה:
27Moses did as the Lord commanded him. They ascended Mount Hor in the presence of the entire congregation. כזוַיַּעַשׂ משֶׁה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶל הֹר הָהָר לְעֵינֵי כָּל הָעֵדָה:
Moses did: Although it was difficult for him, he did not hesitate. — [Midrash Tanchuma Chukath, Num. Rabbah 19:19] ויעש משה: אף על פי שהדבר קשה לו לא עכב:
28Moses then stripped Aaron of his garments and dressed Eleazar his son in them, and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. [Then] Moses and Eleazar descended from the mountain. כחוַיַּפְשֵׁט משֶׁה אֶת אַהֲרֹן אֶת בְּגָדָיו וַיַּלְבֵּשׁ אֹתָם אֶת אֶלְעָזָר בְּנוֹ וַיָּמָת אַהֲרֹן שָׁם בְּרֹאשׁ הָהָר וַיֵּרֶד משֶׁה וְאֶלְעָזָר מִן הָהָר:
29The whole congregation saw that Aaron had expired, and the entire house of Israel wept for Aaron for thirty days. כטוַיִּרְאוּ כָּל הָעֵדָה כִּי גָוַע אַהֲרֹן וַיִּבְכּוּ אֶת אַהֲרֹן שְׁלשִׁים יוֹם כֹּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל:
The whole congregation saw: When they saw Moses and Eleazar coming down, and Aaron did not come down, they said, “Where is Aaron?” He said to them, “He died.” They said,“Is it possible that the one who stood up against the angel and stopped the plague can be overpowered by the angel of death?” Whereupon Moses asked for mercy, and the ministering angels showed him to them, lying in the bed. They saw [him] and believed. — [Midrash Tanchuma Chukath 17, Num. Rabbah 19:20] ויראו כל העדה וגו': כשראו משה ואלעזר יורדים ואהרן לא ירד, אמרו היכן הוא אהרן. אמר להם מת. אמרו לו אפשר מי שעמד כנגד המלאך ועצר את המגפה ישלוט בו מלאך המות. מיד בקש משה רחמים והראוהו מלאכי השרת להם מוטל במטה, ראו והאמינו:
the entire house of Israel: [both] the men and the women, for Aaron had pursued peace; he promoted love between disputing parties and between man and wife. — [Avoth d’Rabbi Nathan 12:4, Mid. Aggadah] כל בית ישראל: האנשים והנשים, לפי שהיה אהרן רודף שלום ומטיל אהבה בין בעלי מריבה ובין איש לאשתו:
that [Aaron] had expired: Heb. כִּי גָוַע אַהִרֹן. I say that the one who renders דְּהָא מִית, because [Aaron] had died, is in error, unless he also renders, וַיִּרְאוּ as וְאִתְחֲזִיאוּ,“they [the congregation] were seen” [in the sense of exposed], for our Rabbis’ statement that the word Heb. כִּי is used here in the sense of ‘because’ applies only according to the Midrash [which states] that the clouds of glory departed, and as R. Abahu said,“Do not read וַיִּרְאוּ, they saw, but וַיֵּרָאוּ, they were seen [exposed].” According to this explanation, ‘because’ is appropriate, since it gives the reason for what precedes it: Why were they exposed? Because Aaron had died [and the clouds had departed]. But, according to the Targum’s rendering, וַחֲזוֹ כָּל כְּנִשְׁתָּא, and the whole congregation saw, [the rendering of the word כִּי as] ‘because’ is inapplicable, only it has the meaning of אֲשֶׁר, ‘that’ which is a usage of the word אִי, for we find that אִם [its Hebrew equivalent] can mean ‘that,’ as in,“so that (וְאִם) why should I not be short of breath?” (Job 21:4). And there are many other instances [of the word אִם] in this sense, [as in]“that (אִם) his days are limited” (ibid. 14:5). כי גוע: אומר אני שהמתרגם דהא מית טועה הוא, אלא אם כן מתרגם ויראו ואתחזיאו, שלא אמרו רבותינו ז"ל כי זה משמש בלשון דהא אלא על מדרש שנסתלקו ענני כבוד, וכדאמר ר' אבהו (ראש השנה ג א), דא"ר אבהו אל תקרי ויראו אלא וייראו ועל לשון זה נופל לשון דהא, לפי שהוא נתינת טעם למה שלמעלה הימנו. למה וייראו, לפי שהרי מת אהרן. אבל על תרגום וחזו כל כנישתא, אין לשון דהא נופל אלא לשון אשר, שהוא מגזרת שמוש אי, שמצינו אם משמש בלשון אשר, כמו (איוב כא ד) ואם מדוע לא תקצר רוחי, והרבה מפורשים כזה הלשון (שם יד, ה) אם חרוצים ימיו:
Chapter 21
1The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the south, heard that Israel had come by the route of the spies, and he waged war against Israel and took from them a captive. אוַיִּשְׁמַע הַכְּנַעֲנִי מֶלֶךְ עֲרָד ישֵׁב הַנֶּגֶב כִּי בָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל דֶּרֶךְ הָאֲתָרִים וַיִּלָּחֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּשְׁבְּ | מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁבִי:
The Canaanite… heard: He heard that Aaron had died and that the clouds of glory had departed… as is stated in [Tractate] Rosh Hashanah (3a). Amalek was always a chastising whip for Israel, ready at any time to mete out punishment. — [Midrash Tanchuma Chukkath 18, Num. Rabbah 19:20] וישמע הכנעני: שמע שמת אהרן ונסתלקו ענני כבוד וכו', כדאיתא בר"ה (דף ג א). ועמלק מעולם רצועת מרדות לישראל, מזומן בכל עת לפורענות:
who lived in the south: This refers to Amalek, as it says, “The Amalekites dwell in the south land” (13:29). They changed their language to speak in the language of Canaan so that the Israelites would pray to the Holy One, blessed is He, to deliver the Canaanites into their hands, and [since] they were not Canaanites [their prayers would have no effect]. But Israel saw that they were dressed like Amalekites though they spoke in a Canaanite tongue. So they said, “We will pray generally [for success],” as it says, “If You deliver his people into my hand….” - [Midrash Aggadah , Yalkut Shimoni from Midrash Yelammedenu . Note that in these sources, the Amalekites changed their dress as well, and that version is found also in the Reggio edition of Rashi . The Yemenite manuscript, however, conforms with our reading. See Chavel fn. 87, Yosef Hallel , Leket Bahir fn. ד. See also Num. Rabbah 19:20.] יושב הנגב: זה עמלק, שנאמר (במדבר יג, כט) עמלק יושב בארץ הנגב. ושנה את לשונו לדבר בלשון כנען, כדי שיהיו ישראל מתפללים להקב"ה לתת כנענים בידם והם אינם כנענים, ראו ישראל לבושיהם כלבושי עמלקים ולשונם לשון כנען, אמרו נתפלל סתם, שנאמר אם נתון תתן את העם הזה בידי:
the route of the spies: Heb. דֶּרֶךְ הָאֲתָרִים, the southern route, taken by the spies (הַתָּרִים), as it says,“They went up in the south” (13:22). Another interpretation: The route of the great guide [the ark] (הַתַּיָּר) which went ahead of them, as it says, “traveled three days ahead of them to seek for them a place to settle” (10:33). - [Midrash Tanchuma Chukkath 18, Num. Rabbah 19:20] דרך האתרים: דרך הנגב שהלכו בה המרגלים שנאמר (במדבר יג, כב) ויעלו בנגב. דבר אחר דרך האתרים דרך התייר הגדול הנוסע לפניהם, שנאמר (במדבר י, לג) דרך שלשת ימים לתור להם מנוחה:
and took from them a captive: It was only a single maidservant. — [Midrash Aggadah , Yalkut Shimoni from Midrash Yelammedenu] וישב ממנו שבי: אינה אלא שפחה אחת:
2Israel made a vow to the Lord, and said, "If You deliver this people into my hand, I shall consecrate their cities." בוַיִּדַּר יִשְׂרָאֵל נֶדֶר לַיהֹוָה וַיֹּאמַר אִם נָתֹן תִּתֵּן אֶת הָעָם הַזֶּה בְּיָדִי וְהַחֲרַמְתִּי אֶת עָרֵיהֶם:
I shall consecrate: I shall consecrate their spoils to Heaven. והחרמתי: אקדיש שללם לגבוה:
3The Lord heard Israel's voice and delivered the Canaanite. He destroyed them and [consecrated] their cities, and he called the place Hormah. גוַיִּשְׁמַע יְהֹוָה בְּקוֹל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּתֵּן אֶת הַכְּנַעֲנִי וַיַּחֲרֵם אֶתְהֶם וְאֶת עָרֵיהֶם וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם חָרְמָה:
He destroyed them: By execution. ויחרם אתהם: בהריגה:
and their cities: He consecrated them to Heaven. ואת עריהם: חרמי גבוה:
4They journeyed from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea to circle the land of Edom, and the people became disheartened because of the way. דוַיִּסְעוּ מֵהֹר הָהָר דֶּרֶךְ יַם סוּף לִסְבֹב אֶת אֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם וַתִּקְצַר נֶפֶשׁ הָעָם בַּדָּרֶךְ:
by way of the Red Sea: Since Aaron had died, and this war had come upon them, they turned back to the Red Sea route, which is the route they returned to after the decree [because of the sin] of the spies had been issued against them, as it says, “and journey into the desert by way of the Red Sea” (Deut. 1:40). Here they went back seven stations, as it says, “The children of Israel journeyed from the wells of Benei Yaakan to Moserah; there Aaron died” (ibid. 10:6). Did he really die in Moserah? Did he not die at Mount Hor? However, there [in Moserah] they again mourned for him and eulogized him, as if he had died in their presence. Go and study the stations, and you will find that there were seven stations between Moserah and Mount Hor. — [Midrash Tanchuma Chukkath 18, Seder Olam ch. 9] דרך ים סוף: כיון שמת אהרן ובאה עליהם מלחמה זו חזרו לאחוריהם דרך ים סוף, הוא הדרך שחזרו להם כשנגזר עליהם גזירת מרגלים, שנאמר (דברים א, מ) ויסעו המדברה דרך ים סוף. וכאן חזרו לאחוריהם שבע מסעות, שנאמר (שם י, ו) ובני ישראל נסעו מבארות בני יעקן מוסרה שם מת אהרן. וכי במוסרה מת, והלא בהר ההר מת, אלא שם חזרו והתאבלו עליו והספידוהו כאילו הוא בפניהם. וצא ובדוק במסעות ותמצא שבע מסעות מן מוסרה עד הר ההר:
to circle the land of Edom: since they did not allow them to pass through their land. לסבב את ארץ אדום: שלא נתנם לעבור בארצו:
and the people became disheartened because of the way: Because of the hardship of traveling, which was hard for them. They said, “Now we were so close to entering the Land, and we are turning back. So did our fathers turn back and remain for thirty-eight years, until today.” Therefore, they became disheartened by the hardship of traveling. In old French, encrote lor , or encrut lor, it discouraged them. It is, however, incorrect to say that the people became disheartened בַּדָּרֶךְ, meaning “while on the way,” without explaining what caused them to become disheartened, for whenever קִצּוּר נֶפֶשׁ [literally, shortness of spirit] is mentioned in Scripture, the cause of the discouragement is specified, as in, “I could not tolerate them (וַתִּקְצַר נַפְשִׁי בָּהֶם)” (Zech. 11:8), and as in, “He felt distressed because of the misery of Israel (וַתִּקְצַר נַפְשׁוֹ בַּעֲמַל יִשְׂרָאֵל)” (Jud. 10:16). Anything difficult for a person to bear is called קִצּוּר נֶפֶשׁ, like a person who is beset with trouble, and his mind is not composed enough to accept it. There is no place in his heart for the distress to settle. The thing causing the distress is described as ‘large’ since it is too large for him and weighs heavily on him, as in, “and their souls also loathed Me (בָּחֲלָה בִי)” (Zech. 11:8); they were too much for Me. [And also,] “And it is so great (וְיִגְאֶה) that you hunt me like a lion” (Job 10:16). In summary, the expression shortness of spirit (קִצּוּר נֶפֶשׁ) for a thing, means that it is intolerable, and the mind cannot bear it. ותקצר נפש העם בדרך: בטורח הדרך שהוקשה להם. אמרו עכשיו היינו קרובים להכנס לארץ ואנו חוזרים לאחורינו כך חזרו אבותינו ונשתהו שלשים ושמונה שנה עד היום, לפיכך קצרה נפשם בעינוי הדרך. ובלשון לע"ז אינקרו"ט לו"ר [נמאס להם] ולא יתכן לומר ותקצר נפש העם בדרך בהיותו בדרך. ולא פירש בו במה קצרה, שכל מקום שתמצא קצור נפש במקרא מפורש שם במה קצרה, כגון (זכריה יא, ח) ותקצר נפשי בהם, וכגון (שופטים י, טז) ותקצר נפשו בעמל ישראל, וכל דבר הקשה על אדם נופל בו לשון קצור נפש, כאדם שהטורח בא עליו ואין דעתו רחבה לקבל אותו הדבר, ואין לו מקום בתוך לבו לגור שם אותו הצער, ובדבר המטריח נופל לשון גודל, שגדול הוא וכבד על האדם, כגון (זכריה יא, ח) וגם נפשם בחלה בי, גדלה עלי, (איוב י, טז) ויגאה כשחל תצודני, כללו של פירוש כל לשון קצור נפש בדבר, לשון שאין יכול לסובלו הוא, שאין הדעת סובלתו:
5The people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in this desert, for there is no bread and no water, and we are disgusted with this rotten bread." הוַיְדַבֵּר הָעָם בֵּאלֹהִים וּבְמשֶׁה לָמָה הֶעֱלִיתֻנוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם לָמוּת בַּמִּדְבָּר כִּי אֵין לֶחֶם וְאֵין מַיִם וְנַפְשֵׁנוּ קָצָה בַּלֶּחֶם הַקְּלֹקֵל:
against God and against Moses: They equated the servant with his Master. — [Midrash Tanchuma Chukkath 19, Num. Rabbah 19:21] בא-להים ובמשה: השוו עבד לקונו:
Why have you brought us up: Both of them [were considered] equal. למה העליתנו: שניהם שוים:
and we are disgusted: Heb. וְנַפְשֵׁנוּ קָצָה. This too denotes intolerance and loathing. ונפשנו קצה: אף זה לשון קצור נפש ומאוס:
with this rotten bread: Since the manna was absorbed into their limbs [and not excreted from their bowels], they called it rotten (Mizrachi , or cursed , according to Gur Aryeh.) They said,“This manna will eventually swell up in our stomachs.” Is there any mortal who ingests but does not excrete?- [Yoma 75b, see Rashi there] בלחם הקלוקל: לפי שהמן נבלע באיברים קראוהו קלוקל. אמרו עתיד המן הזה שיתפח במעינו, כלום יש ילוד אשה שמכניס ואינו מוציא:
6The Lord sent against the people the venomous snakes, and they bit the people, and many people of Israel died. ווַיְשַׁלַּח יְהֹוָה בָּעָם אֵת הַנְּחָשִׁים הַשְּׂרָפִים וַיְנַשְּׁכוּ אֶת הָעָם וַיָּמָת עַם רָב מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל:
the venomous snakes: Heb. הַנְּחָשִׁים הַשְּׂרָפִים, lit. the burning snakes, [so named] because they ‘burn’ a person with the venom of their fangs. — [Midrash Tanchuma Chukkath 19, Num. Rabbah 19:22] את הנחשים השרפים: ששורפים את האדם בארס שיניהם:
and they bit the people: Let the snake, which was smitten for speaking evil [to Eve] come and punish those who spread slander [about the manna]. Let the snake, for which all types of food taste the same, come and punish those ingrates, for whom one thing [the manna] changes into various tastes. — [Midrash Tanchuma Chukkath 19, Num. Rabbah 19:22] וינשכו את העם: יבא נחש שלקה על הוצאת דבה ויפרע ממוציאי דבה. יבא נחש שכל המינין נטעמים לו טעם אחד ויפרע מכפויי טובה, שדבר אחד משתנה להם לכמה טעמים:
7The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord that He remove the snakes from us." So Moses prayed on behalf of the people. זוַיָּבֹא הָעָם אֶל משֶׁה וַיֹּאמְרוּ חָטָאנוּ כִּי דִבַּרְנוּ בַיהֹוָה וָבָךְ הִתְפַּלֵּל אֶל יְהֹוָה וְיָסֵר מֵעָלֵינוּ אֶת הַנָּחָשׁ וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל משֶׁה בְּעַד הָעָם:
So Moses prayed: From here [we learn] that someone who is asked to forgive, should not be so cruel so as not to forgive. — [Midrash Tanchuma Chukkath 19, Num. Rabbah 19:23] ויתפלל משה: מכאן למי שמבקשים ממנו מחילה שלא יהא אכזרי מלמחול:
8The Lord said to Moses, "Make yourself a serpent and put it on a pole, and let whoever is bitten look at it and live. חוַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל משֶׁה עֲשֵׂה לְךָ שָׂרָף וְשִׂים אֹתוֹ עַל נֵס וְהָיָה כָּל הַנָּשׁוּךְ וְרָאָה אֹתוֹ וָחָי:
on a pole: Heb. עַל נֵס, on a post, perche in French. Similarly,“and like a flagpole (וְכַנֵּס) on a hill” (Isa. 30:17);“will I raise My standard (נִסִּי) ” (ibid. 49:22);“raise a banner” (נֵס) (ibid. 13:2). Since it stands high, and serves as a signal and is to be seen, it is called נֵס (a sign). על נס: על כלונס שקורים פירק"א בלע"ז [מוט] וכן (ישעיה ל, יז) וכנס על הגבעה, (שם מט, כב) ארים נסי, (שם יג, ב) שאו נס, ולפי שהוא גבוה לאות ולראיה קוראו נס:
whoever is bitten: Even if a dog or a donkey bit him, he would suffer injury and steadily deteriorate, but a snake bite would kill quickly. That is why it says here [regarding other bites], “will look at it”-a mere glance. But regarding the snake bite it says “he would gaze”-“and whenever a snake bit [a man], he would gaze” (verse 9), for the snake bite would not heal unless one gazed at it [the copper snake] intently (Yer. R.H. 3:9). Our Rabbis said, Does a snake cause death or life? However, when Israel looked heavenward and subjected their hearts to their Father in heaven, they would be healed, but if not, they would waste away. — [R.H. 29a] כל הנשוך: אפילו כלב או חמור נושכו היה נזוק ומתנונה והולך, אלא שנשיכת הנחש ממהרת להמית, לכך נאמר כאן וראה אותו ראיה בעלמא, ובנשיכת הנחש נאמר והביט, והיה אם נשך הנחש את איש והביט וגו', שלא היה ממהר נשוך הנחש להתרפאות אלא אם כן מביט בו בכוונה. ואמרו רבותינו וכי נחש ממית או מחיה, אלא בזמן שהיו ישראל מסתכלין כלפי מעלה ומשעבדין את לבם לאביהם שבשמים היו מתרפאים, ואם לאו היו נמוקים:
9Moses made a copper snake and put it on a pole, and whenever a snake bit a man, he would gaze upon the copper snake and live. טוַיַּעַשׂ משֶׁה נְחַשׁ נְחשֶׁת וַיְשִׂמֵהוּ עַל הַנֵּס וְהָיָה אִם נָשַׁךְ הַנָּחָשׁ אֶת אִישׁ וְהִבִּיט אֶל נְחַשׁ הַנְּחשֶׁת וָחָי:
a copper snake: He was not told to make it of copper, but Moses said,"The Holy One, blessed is He, called it a snake (נָחָשׁ), so I will make it of copper, (נְחשֶׁת), one term similar to the other term. — [Mid. Gen. Rabbah 19:31:8] נחש נחשת: לא נאמר לו לעשותו של נחשת, אלא אמר משה הקב"ה קוראו נחש, ואני אעשנו של נחושת, לשון נופל על לשון:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 44 - 48
• Chapter 44
The psalmist cries and laments painfully over this bitter exile, where we and our Torah are shamed daily, when the nations say that God has exchanged us for another nation, and where we are considered as sheep for the slaughter, as a byword and taunt. It is therefore fitting that God redeem us, for the sake of His great Name that abides with us in exile.
1. For the Conductor, by the sons of Korach, a maskil.1
2. God, with our ears we have heard, our fathers have told us, of the deeds You wrought in their days, in the days of old.
3. You drove out nations with Your hand, and planted [Israel in their place]; You afflicted peoples and banished them.
4. For not by their sword did they inherit the land, and their own arm did not save them, but by Your right hand, Your arm and the light of Your countenance-for You favored them.
5. You are my king, O God; decree the salvation of Jacob.
6. Through You will we gore our adversaries; with Your Name we will trample our opponents.
7. For I do not trust in my bow, and my sword cannot save me.
8. For You have delivered us from our foes, and You shamed those who hate us.
9. In God we glory all day, and forever thank Your Name, Selah.
10. Though You abandon and disgrace us, and do not go forth with our armies;
11. You cause us to retreat from the oppressor, and those who hate us plunder for themselves;
12. You deliver us like sheep to be devoured, and scatter us among the nations;
13. You sell Your nation without gain, and do not set a high price upon them;
14. You make us a disgrace to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us;
15. You make us a byword among the nations, [a cause for] nodding the head among the peoples;
16. all day long my humiliation is before me, and the shame of my face covers me
17. at the voice of the reviler and blasphemer, because of the foe and avenger-
18. all this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten You, nor have we been false to Your covenant.
19. Our hearts have not retracted, nor have our steps strayed from Your path.
20. Even when You crushed us in the place of serpents, and shrouded us in the shadow of death-
21. did we forget the Name of our God, and extend our hands to a foreign god?
22. Is it not so that God can examine this, for He knows the secrets of the heart.
23. For it is for Your sake that we are killed all the time; we are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.
24. Arise! Why do You sleep, my Lord? Wake up! Do not abandon [us] forever!
25. Why do You conceal Your countenance and forget our affliction and distress?
26. For our souls are bowed to the dust, our bellies cleave to the earth.
27. Arise! Be our help, and redeem us for the sake of Your kindness.
Chapter 45
The psalmist composed this psalm referring to Moshiach. He describes his greatness, his attributes, his glory, his wealth, and his reign; and states that Israel anticipates him, remembering and saying in every generation, "When will King Moshiach come?"
1. For the Conductor, upon the shoshanim,1 By the sons of Korach; a maskil,2 a song of love.
2. My heart is astir with a noble theme; I say, "My composition is for the king;3 my tongue is the pen of a skillful scribe.”
3. You are the most handsome of men, charm is poured upon your lips; therefore has God blessed you forever.
4. Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one-it is your majesty and splendor.
5. And with your splendor, succeed and ride on for the sake of truth and righteous humility; and your right hand will guide you to awesome deeds.
6. Your arrows are sharpened-nations fall beneath you-[the arrows fall] into the hearts of the king's enemies.
7. Your throne, O ruler, is forever and ever, [for] the scepter of justice is the scepter of your kingdom.
8. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore has God, your God, anointed you with oil of joy above your peers.
9. Myrrh, aloes and cassia are [the fragrance] of all your garments, which are from ivory palaces that bring you joy.
10. Daughters of kings visit you, and the queen stands erect at your right hand, adorned in the fine gold of Ophir.
11. Hear, O daughter, and observe, incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house.
12. Then the king will desire your beauty. He is your master-bow to him.
13. The daughter of Tyre, the wealthiest of nations, will seek your favor with a gift.
14. All the glory of the princess is within; her clothing surpasses settings of gold.
15. In embroidered garments she will be brought to the king; the maidens in her train, her companions, will be led to you.
16. They will be brought with gladness and joy, they will enter the palace of the king.
17. Your sons will succeed your fathers; you will appoint them ministers throughout the land.
18. I will cause Your Name to be remembered throughout the generations; therefore will the nations praise You forever and ever.
Chapter 46
This psalm tells of the Gog and Magog era (the Messianic age), when man will cast aside his weapons, and warfare will be no more.
1. For the Conductor, by the sons of Korach, on the alamot,1 a song.
2. God is our refuge and strength, a help in distress, He is most accessible.
3. Therefore, we will not be afraid when the earth is transformed, when mountains collapse in the heart of the seas;
4. when its waters roar and are muddied, and mountains quake before His grandeur, Selah.
5. The river2-its streams will bring joy to the city of God, the sacred dwelling of the Most High.
6. God is in her midst, she will not falter; God will help her at the approach of morning.
7. Nations clamor, kingdoms stumble; He raises His voice and the earth dissolves.
8. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold forever.
9. Go and see the works of the Lord, Who has wrought devastation in the land.
10. To the end of the earth He causes wars to cease; He breaks the bow, snaps the spear, and burns the wagons in fire.
11. Stop [waging war]! And know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, exalted upon the earth.
12. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold forever.
Chapter 47
Following the battle of Gog and Magog (in the Messianic era), war will be no more. God will grant us salvation, and we will merit to go up to the Holy Temple for the festivals, Amen.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. All you nations, clap hands; sound [the shofar] to God with a sound of jubilation.
3. For the Lord is most high, awesome; a great King over all the earth.
4. He subdues peoples under us, nations beneath our feet.
5. He chooses our heritage for us, the glory of Jacob whom He loves eternally.
6. God ascends through teruah, the Lord-through the sound of the shofar.
7. Sing, O sing to God; sing, O sing to our King.
8. For God is King over all the earth; sing, O man of understanding.
9. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.
10. The most noble of the nations are gathered, the nation of the God of Abraham; for the protectors of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.
Chapter 48
The psalmist prophesies about the Messianic era, singing the praises of a rebuilt Jerusalem and the sacrifices brought there. At that time Israel will say, "As we heard from the mouths of the prophets, so have we merited to see!"
1. A song, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. The Lord is great and exceedingly acclaimed in the city of God, His holy mountain.
3. Beautiful in landscape, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion, on the northern slopes, the city of the great King.
4. In her citadels, God became known as a tower of strength.
5. For behold, the kings assembled, they advanced in concert [to invade her].
6. They saw [the wonders of the Almighty] and were astounded; they were terror-stricken, they hastened to flee.
7. Trembling seized them there, pangs as of a woman in the throes of labor;
8. [they were crushed as] by an east wind that shatters the ships of Tarshish.
9. As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of the Lord of Hosts, in the city of our God; may God establish it for all eternity.
10. God, we have been hoping for Your kindness [to be revealed] within Your Sanctuary.
11. As Your Name, O God, [is great,] so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
12. Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the towns of Judah exult, because of Your judgments.
13. Walk around Zion, encircle her, count her towers.
14. Consider well her ramparts, behold her lofty citadels, that you may recount it to a later generation.
15. For this God is our God forever and ever; He will lead us eternally.
Tanya: Igeret HaTeshuva , end of Chapter 1• Lessons in Tanya
• Thursday, Tammuz 8, 5775 · June 25, 2015
Today's Tanya Lesson
Igeret HaTeshuva , end of Chapter 1
והנה מצות התשובה מן התורה היא עזיבת החטא בלבד
Now the mitzvah of repentance1 as required by the Torah is simply the abandonment of sin
כדאיתא בגמרא ,פרק ג׳ דסנהדרין, ובחושן משפט, סוף סימן ל״ד, לענין עדות
(2cf. Sanhedrin, ch. 33; Choshen Mishpat, end of Sec. 34,4 regarding testimony5), where it is stated that if a potential witness simply abandons and does not repeat the transgression that had previously disqualified him, he is once again able to testify.6
דהיינו שיגמור בלבו בלב שלם לבל ישוב עוד לכסלה, למרוד במלכותו יתברך
This means that he must resolve in perfect sincerity never again to revert to folly, to rebel against G‑d’s rule;
ולא יעבור עוד מצות המלך, חס ושלום, הן במצות עשה הן במצות לא תעשה
he will never again violate the King’s command, G‑d forbid, neither a positive command7 nor a prohibition.8
וזהו עיקר פירוש לשון תשובה: לשוב אל ה׳ בכל לבו ובכל נפשו, לעבדו ולשמור כל מצותיו
This is the basic meaning of the term teshuvah (“repentance”) — to return to G‑d with all one’s heart and soul, to serve Him, and to observe all His commandments.
כמו שכתוב: יעזוב רשע דרכו ואיש און מחשבותיו, וישוב אל ה׳ וגו׳
For so does Scripture state:9 “Let the wicked abandon his path, and the sinful his thoughts, and return to G‑d….”
ובפרשת נצבים כתיב: ושבת עד ה׳ אלקיך ושמעת בקולו וגו׳ בכל לבבך וגו׳
In the Torah portion of Nitzavim10 it is likewise written:11 “You shall return unto the Lord your G‑d and hearken to His voice…with all your heart….”12
שובה ישראל עד ה׳ אלקיך וגו׳, השיבנו ה׳ אליך וגו׳
[So, too:]13 “Return, O Israel, unto the L‑rd your G‑d...”; [and elsewhere:]14“Bring us back, O L‑rd, unto You….”
Repentance, then, entails returning to G‑d, performing his commandments and refraining from sin.
ולא כדעת ההמון שהתשובה היא התענית
This differs from the popular conception that repentance is synonymous with fasting on account of one’s sins.
ואפילו מי שעבר על כריתות ומיתות בית דין, שגמר כפרתו היא על ידי יסורים
Even in the case of sins punishable by excision or execution, where atonement is made complete by suffering, as previously quoted from the Beraita in Yoma,
היינו שהקב״ה מביא עליו יסורים
this means that it is G‑d Who brings suffering upon the sinner, in order to complete his atonement.
וכמו שכתוב: ופקדתי בשבט וגו׳, ופקדתי דייקא
(15as the verse clearly specifies, “With a rod shall I remember [their sin]”).
והיינו: כשתשובתו רצויה לפניו יתברך, בשובו אל ה׳ בכל לבו ונפשו מאהבה
That is to say: When G‑d finds his repentance acceptable, as he returns to Him with all his heart and soul, out of love,
אזי באתערותא דלתתא וכמים הפנים וכו׳, אתערותא דלעילא, לעורר האהבה וחסד ה׳ למרק עונו ביסורים בעולם הזה
then following the initiative undertaken from below, and16 “as water reflects the countenance...,” there is an awakening Above, arousing G‑d’s love and kindness, to scour his sin and entirely cleanse him of it through affliction in This World,
וכמו שכתוב: כי את אשר יאהב ה׳ יוכיח
in the spirit of the verse,17 “For he whom the L‑rd loves He chastises….”
This is something quite different from any fasts or afflictions that an individual undertakes himself.
ולכן לא הזכירו הרמב״ם והסמ״ג שום תענית כלל במצות התשובה, אף בכריתות ומיתות בית דין
It is for this reason that the Rambam and Sefer Mitzvot Gadol18 make no mention whatever of fasting as related to the mitzvah of repentance, even in the case of sins punishable by excision or capital sins.
I.e., fasting is not required even with regard to those sins whose atonement is completed through suffering.
רק הוידוי ובקשת מחילה, כמו שכתוב בתורה: והתודו את חטאתם וגו׳
They cite only confessing [verbally] and requesting forgiveness; as the Torah prescribes,19 “They shall confess their sin….”
Why are confession and requesting forgiveness indeed part of repentance?
Every sin consists of a body and a soul. The actual misdeed itself is the “body” of the sin, and the bodily pleasure and ensuing desire with which it was committed are its “soul”. Repentance involves eliminating both these elements.
The “soul” of the sin is eradicated by the earnest regret of the individual, who is mortified and pained by his past. Inasmuch as pain is the opposite of pleasure, it negates the pleasure which had earlier aroused his desire to sin, and thereby obliterates the “soul” of the sin.
But the “body” of the sin also needs to be nullified. Simply refraining from further transgression lacks the action that would negate the sinful act itself, its “body”. This is accomplished through verbal confession, for20 “verbalization is also considered to be an action.”
At any rate, verbal confession is thus a component of repentance — while fasting is not.
ומה שכתוב ביואל: שובו עדי בכל לבבכם, ובצום ובבכי גו׳
As to what we find in the Book of Yoel,21 “Return to Me with all your hearts, and with fasting and weeping...,” which would seem to indicate that fasting is in fact part of return and repentance,
היינו לבטל הגזרה שנגזרה, למרק עון הדור על ידי יסורים בארבה
this was to nullify (Note inserted by the Rebbe: ‘…something which relates to the future, while repentance involves forsaking the past’) the heavenly decree that had been issued, to expunge the sin of the generation through the affliction of locusts; it was not part of the act of repentance.
וזהו הטעם בכל תעניות שמתענין על כל צרה שלא תבא על הצבור
This is the rationale for all fasts undertaken for any trouble threatening the community, their purpose being to avert the impending harsh edict,
וכמו שכתוב במגלת אסתר
as in the Book of Esther,22 where we find that the Queen asked that a fast be proclaimed in order to nullify Haman’s evil decree.
ומה שכתוב בספרי המוסר, ובראשם ספר הרוקח וספר חסידים, הרבה תעניות וסיגופים לעובר על כריתות ומיתות בית דין
Now the classic Mussar works, particularly the Rokeach and Sefer Chassidim,specify numerous fasts and mortifications23 for sins punishable by excision and execution;
וכן למוציא זרע לבטלה, שחייב מיתה בידי שמים, כמו שכתוב בתורה גבי ער ועונן
likewise numerous fasts are prescribed for the wasteful emission of semen — a sin punishable by death by divine agency, as the Torah recounts of Er and Onan,24
ודינן כחייבי כריתות לענין זה
and a sin whose retribution is identical in this respect to that of sins punishable by excision, and hence the numerous fasts prescribed.
All this might lead us to assume that the purpose of fasts is suffering — this being the manner through which atonement is brought to completion by those who are guilty of sins punishable by excision. But it has been previously stated that the suffering which completes atonement is specifically that which comes from Above, and not manmade suffering incurred through fasting and the like. The Alter Rebbe answers this seeming contradiction by stating:
היינו: כדי לינצל מעונש יסורים של מעלה, חס ושלום
These above-prescribed fasts and mortifications are intended to avert the punishment of suffering at the hand of heaven, G‑d forbid. (Note of the Rebbe: “This too relates to the future, unlike repentance, which relates to the past.”)
This means that if, G‑d forbid, the punishment of suffering had been decreed upon an individual, he is able to exempt himself from it through these self-imposed fasts.
וגם כדי לזרז ולמהר גמר כפרת נפשו
Another reason [for these fasts] is to urge on and expedite the conclusion of his soul’s atonement.
וגם אולי אינו שב אל ה׳ בכל לבו ונפשו מאהבה, כי אם מיראה
Also, perhaps he is not returning to G‑d with all his heart and soul out of love, but only out of fear.
Such a penitent would not enjoy the Divine reaction that comes “as water reflects the countenance,” and would not be granted the completion of his atonement through suffering. Accordingly, he might undertake these fasts in order to secure this alone. Essentially, however, the suffering that brings about complete atonement (for those guilty of sins punishable by excision and death by Divine agency) is not meant to be self-inflicted, but rather — heaven forfend — imposed from Above.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Note of the Rebbe: “The Alter Rebbe speaks of ‘the mitzvah of repentance’ (rather than ‘the content of repentance’ or simply ‘repentance,’ and the like, recalling the expression of the Rambam in Hilchot Teshuvah 2:2). This would seem to indicate his stand on the basic content of repentance — that abandoning sin is a command of the Torah. This is so even according to the Rambam and the Semag, whose opinions he follows here (see Sefer HaMitzvot of the Tzemach Tzedek, beginning of Mitzvat Vidui U‘Teshuvah) and not only according to the Ramban (on Nitzavim 30:11, quoted in Likkutei Torah on that verse). ”In the preamble to Hilchot Teshuvah in Sefer HaYad (and it would seem that these introductory headings were written by the Rambam himself) we [likewise] read: ’One positive command: That the sinner return from his sin before G‑d and confess.‘ Possibly this preamble also serves as the source for the words of the Tzemach Tzedek, loc. cit. [So too] in Sefer HaMitzvot of the Rambam: ’The seventy-third mitzvah is that He commanded us to confess [our transgressions] and to articulate them penitently (lit., ‘with teshuvah’).“ |
| 2. | Parentheses are in the original text. |
| 3. | 25b. |
| 4. | Sub-section 29ff. |
| 5. | Note of the Rebbe: ”It will be noted that the Alter Rebbe does not cite Tractate Kiddushin(49b) and the section of the Shulchan Aruch entitled Even HaEzer (38:31) with regard to marriage, even though these two sources respectively precede Tractate Sanhedrin andChoshen Mishpat (see also Minchat Chinuch, Mitzvah 364). [The Gemara in Kiddushinteaches that even if an utterly wicked individual betrothed a woman on condition that he was a tzaddik, the betrothal is valid — for at that moment he could have repented in his heart; the Shulchan Aruch in Even HaEzer determines that such a betrothal has a degree (albeit uncertain) of legal validity; and the Minchat Chinuch in fact cites the above-quotedGemara to demonstrate that the abandonment of sin in itself constitutes teshuvah. Why, then, did the Alter Rebbe not draw on these sources?] “It could be suggested by way of explanation that he prefers to adduce proof from fiscal law, where any particular case is not determined by a majority of instances. This is to say, that it is not only in the majority of instances [but in all instances] that abandonment of sin alone suffices.” |
| 6. | The Rebbe notes that the Alter Rebbe’s point here is that the main element of repentance is not fasting, as he goes on to prove, but the abandonment of sin. However, the text also makes it clear that verbal confession is not essential to repentance (as is demonstrated by the citation from Choshen Mishpat, where verbal confession is not mentioned). It is only that when one does confess verbally and ask for forgiveness, these steps are incorporated in his repentance and enhance it — for which reason Rambam speaks of them. Fasting, however, is a totally separate thing, as the Alter Rebbe explains at the end of this chapter and the beginning of the next — for which reason (as he goes on to say) “the Rambamand the Semag make no mention whatever of fasting as related to the mitzvah of repentance.” |
| 7. | Note of the Rebbe: “Though this requires action on his part, nevertheless he so resolves.” |
| 8. | Note of the Rebbe: “For by transgressing a negative command rebelliousness is evident — which is not the case when he fails to perform a positive command.” |
| 9. | Yeshayahu 55:7. |
| 10. | Note of the Rebbe: “The Alter Rebbe cites the parshah [Nitzavim] rather than simply stating that the quoted verse is found ‘in the Torah’ as he does later on, in order to make it clear that he is not referring the reader to Parshat Va-etchanan (Devarim 4:30), for there the Torah merely relates events, as we see from the beginning of the text, ‘I call as witnesses against you....’ Furthermore, and more importantly (for it could be pointed out that even from a narrative in the Torah we could learn what is considered repentance), there the verse does not specify that it be done ‘with all your heart.’” |
| 11. | Devarim 30:2. |
| 12. | The Rebbe suggests that the reason the Alter Rebbe quotes the Prophets (Yeshayahu)before the Torah (Devarim) is that the Prophet explicitly states that repentance involves the abandonment of sin. The Rebbe adds: “See Rambam, Hilchot Teshuvah 2:2.” |
| 13. | Hoshea 14:2. |
| 14. | Eichah 5:22. |
| 15. | Parentheses are in the original text. |
| 16. | Mishlei 27:19. |
| 17. | Ibid. 3:12. |
| 18. | Positive Command 16. |
| 19. | Devarim 5:7. |
| 20. | Sanhedrin 65a. |
| 21. | 2:12. |
| 22. | 4:16. |
| 23. | “Especially problematic here is the mention of mortifications, for in the context of averting a decree the sources speak only of fasts, as in the Books of Esther and Yoel cited above. An alternative explanation must therefore be found.” (— Note of the Rebbe.) |
| 24. | Bereishit 38:6-7. |
• Sefer Hamitzvos:Thursday, Tammuz 8, 5775 · June 25, 2015
Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 74
Offering of the Zav
"And when the zav is cleansed from his discharge... And on the eighth day, he shall take for himself two turtledoves..."—Leviticus 15:13-14.
A man who is a zav [one who suffers an abnormal seminal discharge] must, after the disorder has been cured, bring an offering—two pigeons or two turtledoves, one as a Burnt Offering and one as a Sin Offering.
Until he brings this offering, his purification process is not complete and he may not partake of sacrificial flesh.
Offering of the Zav
Positive Commandment 74
Translated by Berel Bell
The 74th mitzvah is that we are commanded that a man who is a zav1 must bring an offering after being healed from his discharge.
This offering, known as a korban zav, consists of two doves or two young pigeons, one for a sin-offering and one as a burnt-offering. His atonement is incomplete2 until they are sacrificed.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement3 (exalted be He), "When the man is rid of his discharge...on the eighth day he shall take for himself two doves..."
FOOTNOTES
1.A man who emits a thin sort of seed as a result of an illness. See P104. Hilchos Mechusarei Kapparah 2:1.
2.See note to P75, above.
3.Lev. 15:13-15.
Positive Commandment 77
Offering of the Metzora
"On the eighth day, he shall take two unblemished male lambs and one female ewe"—Leviticus 14:10.
A metzora [one who suffers from the biblical disease known as tzara'at] must, after the disorder has been cured, bring an offering: Three animals – one as a Burnt Offering, one as a Sin Offering, and one as a Guilt Offering – and a log of oil. If his financial means do not allow for this, he can instead bring one lamb as a guilt offering and two pigeons or two turtledoves, one as a Burnt Offering and one as a Sin Offering.
Until he brings this offering, his purification process is not complete and he may not partake of sacrificial flesh.
Offering of the Metzora
Positive Commandment 77
Translated by Berel Bell
The 77th mitzvah is that we are commanded that every leper1 must bring an offering after his condition heals.
It consists of three animals — a burnt-offering, a sin-offering, and a guilt-offering — and one log of oil. If he is poor, his offering consists of a sheep as the guilt-offering and two doves or two young pigeons — one for a burnt-offering and the other for a sin-offering. This is the fourth category of "those whose atonement is incomplete" [as long as the sacrifice has not yet been brought].2
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement3 (exalted be He), "On the eighth day, he shall take two unblemished male sheep and one unblemished yearling female sheep."
Perhaps someone will ask: why don't you count the sacrifices brought by all "those whose atonement is incomplete" as one mitzvah? This is because they all share the same idea — that they lack atonement, and would then be [one mitzvah] like one of the purification procedures. You would then say: "the following mitzvah is the commandment not to consider the purification of certain categories complete until the sacrifices have been brought — [those categories being] zav, zavah, a woman who has just given birth, and a leper. This seems to be similar to counting the purification of the mikvah as one mitzvah, that each person who is tameh must fulfill, regardless of the type of impurity. So too, you could count the sacrifices of "those who lack atonement" as one mitzvah, regardless of the type of impurity!
G‑d knows that this would be absolutely true if the identical sacrifice was brought for each of the four categories of "those whose atonement is incomplete." Then it would be similar to purification with water, which is a purification procedure which applies to [virtually] all who are tameh. But since, as you can see, the type of sacrifice varies, we are forced to count each one separately; because what completes the purification for this category does not work for another category. These categories are like the water of the red heifer, a mikvah, and the four species used to purify a leper — which, although they are all used for purification, nevertheless count as three mitzvos, as will be later explained.4
The laws regarding the four categories of "those whose atonement is incomplete" and the laws of their sacrifices are discussed — in general and in detail — in the first two chapters of tractate Kerisus, the second chapter of Erachin and Zevachim, the 8th chapter of Nazir, the end of Negaim, tractate Kinim, and sprinkled throughout various passages in the Talmud. The vast majority, though, are found in the places I've noted.
FOOTNOTES
1.Although the word metzora is commonly translated "leper," it is not an accurate translation. The metzora is afflicted by a condition that in some cases turns the skin white, in other cases affects the hair. The term "leprosy" is used because it is the contemporary condition that most closely resembles tzora'as, since the lesions are often lighter than the skin's natural color.
2.See P75.
3.Lev. 14:10.
4.P110.
Kiddush HaChodesh - Chapter Fifteen
Halacha 1
If you desire to know the true position of the moon1 on any particular date, first calculate the mean of the moon at the time of the sighting for the desired date. Then calculate the mean of the [moon within its] path and the sun's mean [position] for that date. Subtract the sun's mean from the moon's mean and double the remainder.2 The resulting figure is referred to as the double elongation.
Halacha 2
As mentioned previously, the intent of all the calculations in these chapters is to know how to sight the moon. [In this context, the size of this double elongation is significant.]
Halacha 3
Accordingly, it is necessary to contemplate [the length of] this double elongation. If the double elongation is five degrees or near that measure, there is no need to be concerned with an increase, and its measure need not be increased. If [the length of] the double elongation is between six and eleven degrees, one should add one degree to the mean of the [the moon] within its path.5
If [the length of] the double elongation is between twelve and eighteen degrees, one should add two degrees to the mean of [the moon] within its path. If [the length of] the double elongation is between nineteen and 24 degrees, one should add three degrees to the mean of [the moon] within its path. If [the length of] the double elongation is between 25 and 31 degrees, one should add four degrees to the mean of [the moon] within its path. If [the length of] the double elongation is between 32 and 38 degrees, one should add five degrees to the mean of [the moon] within its path.
If [the length of] the double elongation is between 39 and 45 degrees, one should add six degrees to the mean of [the moon] within its path. If [the length of] the double elongation is between 46 and 51 degrees, one should add seven degrees to the mean of [the moon] within its path. If [the length of] the double elongation is between 52 and 59 degrees, one should add eight degrees to the mean of [the moon] within its path. If [the length of] the double elongation is between 60 and 63 degrees, one should add nine degrees to the mean of [the moon] within its path.
The mean of [the moon] within its path that results after these additions have been made is referred to as the correct course.
Halacha 4
After the angular distance of the correct course is calculated,6 [the following procedure should be carried out]: If [the result] is less than 180 degrees, the angle of the course7 should be subtracted8 from the mean of the moon at the time of the sighting. If [the result] is more than 180 degrees, the angle of the course should be added9 to the mean of the moon at the time of the sighting.
The figure that remains after this addition or subtraction is made is the true position of the moon at the time of sighting.
Halacha 5
Know that if the correct course is an even 180 degrees or 360 degrees, there is no angle of the course. Instead, the mean position of the moon at the time of sighting is the true position of the moon at that time.
Halacha 6
What is the angle of its course? If the correct course is ten degrees, its angle will be 50 minutes. If the correct course is twenty degrees, its angle will be 1 degree and 38 minutes. If it is 30, its angle will be 2 degrees and 24 minutes. If it is 40, its angle will be 3 degrees and 6 minutes.10 If it is 50, its angle will be 3 degrees and 44 minutes. If it is 60, its angle will be 4 degrees and 16 minutes.
If it is 70, its angle will be 4 degrees and 41 minutes. If it is 80, its angle will be 5 degrees. If it is 90, its angle will be 5 degrees and 5 minutes. If it is 100, its angle will be 5 degrees and 8 minutes.11 If it is 110, its angle will be 4 degrees and 59 minutes. If it is 120, its angle will be 4 degrees and 40 minutes.12
If it is 130, its angle will be 4 degrees and 11 minutes. If it is 140, its angle will be 3 degrees and 33 minutes. If it is 150, its angle will be 213 degrees and 48 minutes. If it is 160, its angle will be 1 degree and 56 minutes. If it is 170, its angle will be 59 minutes. If it is an even 180 degrees, [the course] will not have an angle. Instead, as stated above, the moon's mean position will be identical with its true position.
Halacha 7
If the correct course is more than 180 degrees, you should subtract it from 360 to obtain its angle14, as you did for the course of the sun.15
Similarly, if the correct course includes units as well as tens, you should [calculate the average increase per degree and add the proportionate amount to the lower figure]. The procedure used to calculate the angle of the course for the course of the sun should be used to calculate the angle of the correct course [of the moon].16
Halacha 8
What is implied? Should we desire to know the true position of the moon on Friday night, the second of Iyar in the present year - the starting point for these calculations - the number of complete days that have passed from the date that is the starting point until the date on which we desire to know the true position of the moon is 29. One should [first] calculate the mean position of the sun for that night; this is 35 degrees, 38 minutes and 33 seconds, in symbols 35° 38' 33".
You should then calculate the mean of the moon at the time of the sighting, which is 53 degrees, 36 minutes and 39 seconds, in symbols 53° 36' 39". Afterwards, calculate the mean of [the moon] within its path for this time, which is 103 degrees, 21 minutes and 46 seconds, in symbols, 103° 21' 46". Then subtract the mean position of the sun from the moon's mean, producing a remainder of 17 degrees, 58 minutes and six seconds. This is the elongation. Doubling this figure produces a double elongation of 35 degrees, 56 minutes and 12 seconds, in symbols 35° 56' 12". Therefore, five degrees should be added to the course, as mentioned. Thus, the correct course will be 10817degrees and 21 minutes. As mentioned above with regard to the sun,18 the minutes are of no consequence in the calculation of the course.
Halacha 9
When calculating the angle for a course of 108, the result is 5 degrees and one minute. Since the correct course is less than 180 degrees, this figure should be subtracted from the moon's mean, leaving a remainder of 48 degrees, 3519minutes and 39 seconds.
The seconds should be rounded off and considered to be a minute. Accordingly, the true position of the moon at this time will be 18 degrees and 36 minutes of the nineteenth degree in the constellation of Taurus, in symbols 18° 36'.
In a similar manner, it is possible for you to calculate the true position of the moon at the time of sighting for any date that you desire from the beginning of this year that was chosen as the starting point until the end of all time.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. |
I.e., the location of the moon as it appears in the sky.
|
| 2. |
The Rambam is following the notion that the Earth does not lie at the center of the moon's orbit. Hence, like the sun, the moon has an apogee and a perigee.
Also of significance here is the fact that, as mentioned in the notes on the previous chapter, the orbit of the moon is moving from east to west at a relatively fast pace, 11 degrees, 12 minutes and 19 seconds per day.
A conjunction refers to the time the sun, the moon, and the Earth are aligned in a straight line. Accordingly, the sun's rays are reflected back without being observed from the Earth, and the moon is therefore not seen in the heavens. At the time of the conjunction, the moon is always at its apogee.
(This can be explained as follows: When the moon is aligned directly between the sun and the Earth, it is at the point in its orbit that is closest to the sun. Therefore, the gravitational pull of the sun draws the moon away from the Earth.)
As the moon continues in its orbit, after the conjunction, it and its apogee move away from the sun in opposite directions. Significantly, the angular distance traveled by the moon and its apogee from the sun is the same.
To explain: The moon's mean is moving at rate of 13 degrees, 10 minutes and 35 seconds per day from west to east. Since the sun is also moving from west to east at the rate of 59 minutes and eight seconds per day, every day the moon will have traveled 12 degrees, 11 minutes and 27 seconds from the sun. Its apogee is moving from east to west at a speed of 11 degrees, 12 minutes and 19 seconds per day. When the sun's mean motion is added to that figure, the same total, 12 degrees, 11 minutes and 27 seconds, is reached. Thus, the double elongation, which is calculated by doubling the angular distance between the moon's mean and the sun's mean, represents the angular distance between the moon's mean and the apogee of its orbit.
(The moon also reaches its apogee when it is full. At this point, the sun, the Earth, and the moon are aligned in a straight line, and the gravitational pull of the sun draws the Earth away from the moon. According to contemporary science, however, these two figures are not alike, and the apogee reached at conjunction is greater than the apogee reached at a full moon.)
|
| 3. |
At this time, the mean position of the moon will have moved 2 1/2 degrees from the mean position of the sun. Unless it moves that distance, its crescent will be too small to be noticed in the sky. This distance will be covered by the moon in slightly less than five hours. Thus, within five hours of the conjunction of the sun and the moon, it will be possible to sight the new moon.
The commentaries have noted a slight incongruity between the Rambam's statements here and his statements at the beginning of Chapter 17, where he states that the longitude at the night of the sighting of the moon will not be less than nine degrees nor more than twenty-four degrees. There is a difference of approximately seven degrees between these two figures. They attempt to resolve this discrepancy by stating that in this chapter the Rambam is speaking in terms of mean distance, while in Chapter 17 he is speaking in terms of true distance. At times, there can be as great as a seven-degree fluctuation between the two figures (Perush, Ralbach).
|
| 4. |
At this time, 61 hours will have passed since the time of the conjunction, and the moon will have moved 31 degrees from the sun. Under such circumstances, the crescent of the moon will be large enough to be openly visible to all, and no calculations will be necessary.
|
| 5. |
The difference between the true position of the moon and its mean position depends on the progress of the moon in its epicycle - i.e., the mean of [the moon] within its path, which is moving at approximately 13 degrees a day from east to west, as stated in the previous chapter. The Rambam is stating that a further adjustment is necessary, depending on the distance between the moon and the sun.
During the first days of the month, as the distance between the sun and the moon increases, the moon's progress in its epicycle will vary from its standard rate of progress. According to the medieval science, this variation depends on the movement of the nekudah hanochachit, the point opposite the center of the moon's orbit. According to modern science, this difference depends on the gravitational pull of the sun and other celestial bodies.
|
| 6. |
I.e., the progress of the moon in its epicycle.
|
| 7. |
This refers to the angle between the line extending from the mean position of the moon to the Earth and the line extending from the adjusted position of the moon in its epicycle to the Earth.
|
| 8. |
When the correct course is less than 180 degrees, the angular distance between the moon's actual position and its mean is less than the mean distance. Hence, a subtraction should be made.
|
| 9. |
When the correct course is more than 180 degrees, the angular distance between the moon's actual position and its mean is more than the mean distance. Hence, an addition should be made.
|
| 10. |
The angle of the course of the moon is far larger than the angle of the course of the sun. The rationale for this difference is easily explainable. The moon is far closer to the Earth than the sun. Therefore, the angle between the two lines extending from either end of the course to the Earth will be greater.
|
| 11. |
The line from the Earth to the moon's mean varies only slightly, while the line from the Earth to the true position of the moon changes to a far greater degree as the moon proceeds along its epicycle, changing the size of the angle of the course. The angle of the course will be largest when the angle between the line extending from the Earth to the true position of the moon and the line extending from the true position of the moon to its mean position is ninety-six degrees - i.e., when these two lines are almost directly perpendicular to each other.
(The reason the largest angle is not at a direct 90-degree angle is that the line to the moon's mean is drawn from the center of the Earth, and the true position takes into consideration the fact that we are looking at the moon from the surface of the Earth, which is removed from its center.)
|
| 12. |
Our translation is based on the authentic manuscripts and early printings of the Mishneh Torah. The standard printed text reads 4 degrees and 20 minutes.
|
| 13. |
Here, also, there is a printing error in the standard printed texts of the Mishneh Torah, and those texts read 3 degrees.
|
| 14. |
For the same angle is produced regardless of whether one makes an increase or a decrease from 180° or 360°.
|
| 15. |
See Chapter 13, Halachot 5-6.
|
| 16. |
See Chapter 13, Halachah 7.
|
| 17. |
In the standard printed texts of the Mishneh Torah, there is a printing error, and those texts read 180 degrees.
|
| 18. |
See Chapter 13, Halachah 9.
|
| 19. |
Here also there is a printing error in the standard published text, which reads 33 minutes.
|
Temurah - Perek 1
Halacha 1
Anyone who transfers holiness from one animal to another is liable for lashes for every animal from which he transferred the holiness, as Leviticus 27:10states: "Do not exchange it and do not transfer its holiness," even though he did not perform a deed. According to the Oral Tradition, it was taught that any negative commandment that does not involve a deed is not punishable by lashes with the exception of one who takes a false or unnecessary oath, one who transfers the holiness of a sacrificial animal, and one curses a colleague mentioning God's name. These three negative commandments can never involve a deed at all, and yet one is liable for lashes for their violation.
Why is one liable for lashes for transferring the holiness of an animal, it is a negative commandment that can be corrected by a positive commandment, asibid.:33 states: "If he will transfer its holiness, it and the animal to which its holiness will be transferred shall be consecrated"? Because it has one positive commandment and two negative commandments and because the negative commandment it involves is not of the same nature as the positive commandment.This is reflected in the ruling that if the Jewish community or partners try to transfer the holiness of a sacrificial animal, the transfer is not effective. Nevertheless, they are warned not to transfer the holiness. Thus when an individual transfers the holiness of a sacrificial animal, the animal to which he transferred the holiness is consecrated. Even if he transfers holiness on the Sabbath, he is liable for forty lashes. If, by contrast, partners in a sacrificial animal endeavors to transfer its holiness or an endeavor is made to transfer the holiness of an animal designated for a communal sacrifice - since that person has a share in these sacrifices he is liable for lashes, but the animal to which he endeavored to transfer the holiness is not consecrated.
Halacha 2
Whether one transfers the holiness of an animal as an intentional transgression or one does so inadvertently, the transfer of holiness is effective and the person is liable for lashes.
What is implied? One intended to say: "This animal should be considered as an exchange for an animal consecrated as a burnt-offering that I possess," and instead, he said: "This animal should be considered as an exchange for an animal consecrated as a peace-offering that I possess," the transfer of holiness is effective and he is liable for lashes. If, however, he thought that it was permitted to transfer holiness or he said: "I will enter that house and transfer the holiness of a sacrificial animal willfully," and instead, he entered and transferred the holiness of the animal unknowingly, the transfer of holiness is effective, but he is not liable for lashes for it.
Halacha 3
A person cannot transfer the holiness of a sacrificial animal that does not belong to him. If the owner of a sacrificial animal says: "Whoever desires to transfer the holiness of my sacrificial animal may come and do so," another person may transfer the holiness of that animal.
If a person transferred the holiness of a sacrificial animal belonging to him to another animal that does not belong to him, the transfer is not effective. The rationale is that a person cannot consecrate an entity that does not belong to him.
Halacha 4
It is the one who will receive atonement who has the potential to exchange the holiness of a sacrificial animal, not the person who consecrates it.
What is implied? A person consecrated an animal so that his colleague could gain atonement through its sacrifice, e.g., one consecrated the animals required for the sacrifices of a nazirite so that so-and-so, the nazirite, could gain atonement thereby. It is that nazirite who can transfer their holiness, but not the person who consecrated them, because they do not belong to him.
Halacha 5
An heir can transfer the holiness of a sacrificial animal he inherits. If a person dies, leaving a sacrificial animal to his two sons, this animal should be offered, but its holiness cannot be transferred. The rationale is that the sons are partners and partners cannot transfer the holiness of a sacrificial animal, as we explained.
Halacha 6
The holiness of sacrificial animals consecrated by gentiles may not be transferred according to Scriptural Law. According to Rabbinic Law, however, if a gentile transfers the holiness of a sacrificial animal, the transfer is effective. If a gentile consecrated a sacrificial animal with the intent that a Jew receive atonement through its being offered and then the gentile transferred its holiness to another animal, there is an unresolved question whether the transfer is effective.
Halacha 7
When either a man or a woman seek to transfer the holiness of a sacrificial animal, the transfer is effective.
Halacha 8
Even though he is not liable for lashes, there is an unresolved question whether a transfer of holiness made by a minor who has reached the age when his vows are binding is effective or not.
Halacha 9
The priests cannot transfer the holiness of animals to be sacrificed as sin-offerings and guilt-offerings that were given to them to offer. Although portions of the animal belong to them, they do not acquire them during the lifetime of the animal, for they do not receive a portion of the meat until the blood is cast on the altar.
A priest cannot transfer the holiness of a firstborn animal; even though he does acquire it while it is alive, he does not acquire it at the outset. On the contrary, at the outset, it should be in the home of the Israelite. When, by contrast, an owner transfers the holiness of a firstborn animal, as long as it is in his household, the transfer is binding.Similarly, when a priest transfers the holiness of a firstborn animal born in his herd, not a firstborn animal given to him by an Israelite, the transfer is binding.
Halacha 10
The holiness of the ram of the High Priest can be transferred to another animal. The holiness of his bull, by contrast, cannot be transferred to another animal. Even though it is brought from his own resources, since his priestly brethren derive atonement through its sacrifice, they are considered as partners in it.
Halacha 11
The holiness of fowl and meal-offerings cannot be transferred, for the relevant verses mention only animals.
Halacha 12
The holiness of animals consecrated for the upkeep of the Temple may not be transferred, for with regard to the tithe offering, Leviticus 27:33 states: "He shall not distinguish between good and bad and he should not transfer its holiness." Now the tithe offering was part of the general category of all the sacrifices, why was it singled out?To teach us a concept that applies to the entire general category. The tithe-offering is the sacrifice of an individual, thus excluding communal offerings and sacrificial animals owned by partners. The tithe-offering is a sacrifice offered on the altar, thus excluding animals consecrated for the sake of the upkeep of the Temple. There is an association between the tithe-offerings and the tithes of the crops in which are obligated Jews and not non-Jews; thus excluding sacrifices of the gentiles whose holiness cannot be exchanged as stated.
Halacha 13
When a person consecrates an animal that has a permanent disqualifying blemish, its holiness cannot be transferred to another animal, because its body has not been consecrated in a complete way; only its worth was consecrated. If, however, one consecrates an animal with a temporary blemish or one consecrates an unblemished animal and then it contracted a permanent blemish, its holiness can be transferred.
Halacha 14
Whether one transfers the holiness of a blemished animal to an unblemished one or that of an unblemished animal to a blemished one, one transferred the holiness of sheep to cattle, or the holiness of cattle to sheep, or that of goats to sheep or that of sheep to goats, or that of males to females or that of females to males, or transferred the holiness of 100 animals to one or that of one to 100, whether he did so all at once or one after another, the transfer is effective and he is liable for the same number of sets of lashes as animals to which he transferred holiness.
Halacha 15
The holiness of an animal to which holiness has been transferred cannot be transferred to another animal, nor may the holiness of the offspring of a consecrated animal be transferred to another animal. This is derived fromLeviticus 27:10: "And it and the animal to which its holiness was transferred shall be holy." Implied is "it" and not its offspring, "the animal to which its holiness was transferred" and not an animal to which there was an attempt to transfer the holiness of the animal to which its holiness was transferred. If, however, one transferred the holiness of an animal and then transferred its holiness a second time, even 1000 times, the holiness has been transferred to each of them, and one is liable for lashes for each transfer, as we explained.
Halacha 16
The holiness of an entire animal may not be transferred to limbs or fetuses, nor may the holiness of the latter be transferred to an entire animal.
What is implied? If one says: "The hindfoot of this animal..." or "Its forefoot should be substituted for this burnt-offering," or he said: "The fetus of this animal should be substituted for this burnt-offering," the holiness is not transferred. Similarly, if one says: "This animal should be substituted for the forefoot..." or "the hindfoot of this burnt-offering," or he said: "This animal should be substituted for the fetus of this sin-offering," the holiness is not transferred.
Halacha 17
When one seeks to transfer the holiness of a consecrated animal to a hybrid, and animal that is tereifah, one born of Caesarian section, a tumtum, or anadrogynus, the holiness is not transferred to them and it is as if one sought to transfer the holiness of a sacrificial animal to a camel or a donkey. The rationale is that this type of animal is not fit for sacrifice. Therefore one who tries to transfer the holiness of a sacrificial animal to it is not liable for lashes.
What is the difference between these and an animal that is blemished? There is the possibly of the type of animal that is blemished serving as a sacrifice, while these types of animals cannot serve as sacrifices.
Halacha 18
An animal that was engaged in intercourse with humans - whether it acted as the male or female - is considered as a blemished animal and the holiness of a sacrificial animal can be transferred to it. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
Halacha 19
When an animal was half consecrated and half unconsecrated, holiness cannot be transferred to it, not may its holiness be transferred.
Halacha 20
The holiness of all of the sin-offerings that are consigned to death may not be transferred to another animal. By contrast, the holiness of all of the sin-offerings that are designated to pasture until they contract a blemish and are sold may be transferred to another animal.
Halacha 21
When a person sets aside a female animal for his Paschal sacrifice, burnt-offering, or guilt-offering, its holiness can be transferred even though it is not fit to be offered. The rationale is that since its worth is consecrated and it is unblemished, it is considered as if its body was consecrated.
If, by contrast, one separated a goat as a sin-offering, a king separated a she-goat as a sin-offering, and a High Priest separated a cow as a sin-offering, their holiness cannot be transferred. The rationale is that anyone who deviates from the commandments prescribed for a sin-offering does not cause the designated animal to be consecrated at all, not even its worth, as we explained in Hilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim.
Temurah - Perek 2
Halacha 1
The act of transferring the holiness of a sacrificial animal involves the owner of the animal saying with regard to an ordinary animal that he possesses: "This should be substituted for this" or "This is a replacement for this." Needless to say, holiness is transferred if one says: "This should be substituted for this sin-offering" or "... substituted for this burnt-offering." Similarly, holiness is transferred if one says: "This should be substituted for the sin-offering I possess at home" or "...substituted for the burnt-offering I possess in such-and-such a place."
If, by contrast, one said with regard to an ordinary animal: "This should be substituted for a burnt-offering" or "This is substituted for a sin-offering," his words are of no consequence. If he states: "The holiness of this is conveyed to this," a transfer of holiness is not brought about.
Halacha 2
The following rules apply when there were two animals before a person, one ordinary animal and one consecrated animal that became blemished. If he placed his hand on the ordinary animal and said: "This one is substituted for this," he has brought about a forbidden exchange of holiness and he is liable for lashes. If, by contrast, he placed his hand on the consecrated animal and said: "This is substituted for this," he has exchanged its holiness and transferred it to the ordinary animal. This is not a forbidden exchange of holiness, but instead, is comparable to redeeming the blemished sacrificial animal with this ordinary animal.
Halacha 3
The following rule applies when there were three animals consecrated for the altar before a person and one of them was blemished and awaiting redemption and also three unblemished ordinary animals. If he says: "These are substituted for these," the holiness of two of the consecrated animals is transferred to two of the ordinary animals through the convention of temurah and he is liable for two sets of lashes. The third ordinary animal is substituted for the blemished animal through the convention of chillul. We assume that he sought to use that convention rather than the convention of temurah. The rationale is that since the person had a forbidden course of action, temurah and a permitted course of action, chillul, we operate under the assumption that a person will not abandon the permitted course of action and follow the forbidden one. Therefore he is not liable for three sets of lashes.
Similarly, if one says: "These ten ordinary animals are substituted for these ten consecrated animals," and one of the consecrated animals is blemished, the person is liable for only nine sets of lashes, for he intended to transfer the holiness of the tenth animal through the convention of chillul. Even though he had established a halachic presumption by being liable for many sets of lashes, since there is a permitted way for him to transfer the animal's holiness, we presume that he will not abandon the permitted course of action and follow the forbidden one.
When there are two consecrated animals and one of them is blemished and two ordinary animals and one of them is blemished, and one says: "These are substituted for these," the holiness of the unblemished animal is transferred to the unblemished animal through the convention of temurah and he is liable for one set of lashes and the holiness of the blemished animal is transferred to the blemished animal through the convention of chillul. The rationale is that we presume that he will not abandon the permitted course of action and follow the forbidden one.
Halacha 4
When one says: "The holiness of an animal designated as a burnt-offering and one designated as a peace-offering is transferred to this animal," his statements are of consequence. The animal should be sold and half of the proceeds used to bring the exchange of a burnt-offering and half used to bring the exchange of a peace-offering.
If one said: "The holiness of an animal designated as a burnt-offering and the holiness of an animal dedicated as a peace-offering are transferred to this animal," we examine if that was his original intent. If it was, his words are of consequence. If his original intent was merely to transfer the holiness of a burnt-offering, and he afterwards, added "the holiness of a peace-offering" later, only his original statements are of consequence. Even though he retracted them immediately thereafter, only the holiness of a burnt-offering was transferred to the animal.
Temurah - Perek 3
Halacha 1
What are the laws governing the offering of an animal to which holiness was transferred? A male animal to which the holiness of a burnt-offering was transferred should be sacrificed as a burnt-offering. If the animal to which the holiness of a burnt-offering was transferred was female or blemished, the female should be left to pasture until it contracts a disqualifying blemish. Then it should be sold and a burnt-offering brought with the proceeds of the sale.
An animal to which the holiness of a sin-offering was transferred should be consigned to death, as we explained in Hilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim. An animal to which the holiness of a guilt-offering was transferred should be left to pasture until it contracts a disqualifying blemish. Then it should be sold and freewill offerings brought with the proceeds of the sale. An animal to which the holiness of a peace-offering was transferred is like a peace-offering in all respects: It requires semichah, accompanying offerings, and the waving of the breast and the thigh.
An animal to which the holiness of a thanksgiving-offering was transferred is like a thanksgiving-offering except that it does not require bread, as we explained inHilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim.The following laws apply to an animal to which the holiness of a Paschal sacrifice was transferred. If the transfer was made before noon on the fourteenth of Nisan, the animal to which the holiness was transferred is not offered. Instead, it should be left to pasture until it contracts a disqualifying blemish. Then it should be sold and a peace-offering brought with the proceeds of the sale. If the transfer was made after noon, the animal to which the holiness was transferred should itself be sacrificed as a peace-offering.
An animal to which the holiness of a firstborn offering or a tithe offering was transferred should never be sacrificed. This is derived from Leviticus 27:26which states with regard to a firstborn: "It is God's." According to the Oral Tradition, it was taught: "It" is sacrificed, but an animal to which its holiness is transferred is not sacrificed. The laws pertaining to the tithe offering are the same as those pertaining to the firstborn offering. An animal to which the holiness of these offerings was transferred should be left to pasture until it contracts a disqualifying blemish. Afterwards, it may be eaten.
Halacha 2
An animal to which the holiness of a firstborn is transferred should be given to the priests and an animal to which the holiness of a tithe offering was transferred is given to its owners. Just as a firstborn animal or a tithe offering that contracts a disqualifying physical blemish is not redeemed, as explained inHilchot Issurei Mizbeiach, so too, an animal to which their holiness is transferred is not redeemed.
Halacha 3
When an animal was consecrated half as a burnt-offering and half as a peace-offering, an animal to which its holiness was transferred is given the same status. Similarly, when the holiness of any consecrated animal which should not be sacrificed because of a difficulty at the time of its consecration was transferred to another animal, that second animal should also not be sacrificed.
If one said: "The holiness of a sacrificial animal should be transferred to half this animal and the other half should be consecrated as a burnt-offering," it should be offered as a burnt-offering. If he consecrated it half as a burnt-offering and half, as a tithe offering, it should be sacrificed as a burnt-offering. If he transferred the holiness of a sacrificial animal to half of it and he consecrated half as a tithe offering, its status is in doubt and it should not be sacrificed.
Halacha 4
The following rules apply when a person consecrates an animal with a temporary blemish or, needless to say, an unblemished animal and then it contracts a permanent blemish and it is redeemed. If one endeavored to transfer its holiness after it was redeemed, the transfer is binding, but the animal to which the transfer was made should neither be sacrificed, nor redeemed. Instead, it should be left until it dies. It should not be sacrificed, because it comes from holiness that was already deferred. Nor may it be redeemed, because its holiness does not have the strength to encompass the entity used to redeem it.
Halacha 5
When any animal to which holiness was transferred was permanently blemished from the outset, they should be redeemed. Nevertheless, they do not become ordinary animals in a complete sense to the extent that it is permitted to shear them or perform work with them after they are redeemed. For holiness that is transferred can encompass an animal that possesses a permanent blemish, as evident from Leviticus 27:10 which speaks of transferring holiness "from the good to the bad." Here the intent of the term "bad" is an animal that is blemished or the like and thus is not fit to serve as a sacrifice. Nevertheless, concerning it, the verse continues: "It shall be consecrated."
Halacha 6
The following laws apply when an animal consecrated as a burnt-offering became intermingled with sacrificial animals consecrated as peace-offerings and one transferred the holiness of one of the animals in the mixture to an ordinary animal.One should bring another animal and consecrate it, saying: "If this one had the holiness of a burnt-offering transferred to it, this animal is a peace-offering. And if this onehad the holiness of a peace-offering transferred to it, this animal is a burnt-offering." Thus the animal which he brought together with the animal to which the holiness of the animal was transferred are like animals consecrated as burnt-offerings and as peace-offerings that became intermingled.
If the person transformed the holiness of one of these two to a third animal and it is not known which one's holiness he transferred, he should bring another animal fit forsacrifice from his home and consecrate it conditionally, saying with regard to the second animal to which holiness is being transferred: "If this is an animal to which was transferred the holiness of an animal was transferred, this animal that was brought remains an ordinary animal. If this animalis an animal to which the holiness of a burnt-offering or a peace-offering was transferred, the animal that was brought is a burnt-offering or a peace-offering." Thus the animal which he brought with the second animal to which holiness was transferred is like a sacrificial animal that became intermingled with an animal to which holiness was transferred. We have already explained the laws pertaining to the intermingling of animals to which holiness was transferred in Hilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim.
Halacha 7
When an animal consecrated as a peace-offering became intermingled with a firstborn animal or a tithe offering and one transferred the holiness of one of the animals of the mixture to another animal, that animal should not be offered. Instead, it should be left to pasture until it contracts a disqualifying blemish and then be redeemed, and then it should be eaten in the same manner as a blemished firstborn or tithe offering, as explained.
•Thursday, Tammuz 8, 5775 · 25 June 2015
"Today's Day"
Sunday Tamuz 8 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Balak, first parsha with Rashi.
Tehillim: 44-48.
Tanya: In truth, however, (p. 335) ...is explained elsewhere. (p.337).
We find that G-d's love for our father Avraham was mainly because "...he will command (yetzaveh) his children and his household."1 Yetzaveh here connotes "bring into a communion (with G-d)." All of Avraham's towering avoda in the tests to which he was subjected,2 cannot be compared to his commanding others and bringing them into communion, i.e. to his bringing merit to others.
FOOTNOTES
1. Bereishit 18:19.
2. Pirkei Avot 5:3.
Daily Thought:
Not Listening
As a person behaves here below, so he is treated above.
Perhaps someone once tried to tell you about the ugly deeds of another. Perhaps you responded, “I’m not interested.” And you didn’t listen.
Then there will be a time when a heavenly being will wish to report on your doings here on earth. If you have had the guts to respond this way, G‑d will also say, “I’m not interested. I don’t want to even listen.”[Maamar Shoftim 5729 (end); Torat Menachem 5752, vol. 2, p. 117.]
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