Torah Reading
• Birth of Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch (1860)
The fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneerson (known by the acronym "Rashab"), was born on the 20th of Cheshvan of the year 5621 from creation (1860).
After the passing of his father, Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch, in 1882, Rabbi Sholom DovBer assumed the leadership of the movement. Over the next 38 years, he wrote and delivered some 2,000 maamarim (discourses of Chassidic teaching) including the famed hemshechim(serialized discourses) which contain his profound analytical treatment of Chabad Chassidism. In 1897, he established the Tomchei Temimim yeshivah in Lubavitch, the first institution of Jewish learning to integrate the "body" (Talmudic and legal studies) and "soul" (philosophic and mystical) of Torah into a cohesive, living whole; it was this unique form of education and Torah study that produced the "Temimim" -- the army of learned, inspired and devoted torchbearers who, in the decades to come, would literally give their lives to keep Judaism alive under Soviet rule.
In 1915 Rabbi Sholom DovBer was forced to flee Lubavitch from the advancing WWI front and settled in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia. In his final years, he began the heroic battle -- carried on under the leadership of his son and successor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson -- against the new Communist regime's efforts to destroy the Jewish faith. Rabbi Sholom DovBer passed away in Rostov in 1920.
Links: Want it All; To Know G-d and On Ahavat Yisrael -- two maamarim by Rabbi Sholom DovBer.
Daily Quote:
I hereby take upon myself to fulfill the mitzvah, "Love your fellowman as yourself"[Preface to daily prayers]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Chayei Sarah, 2nd Portion Genesis 23:17-24:9 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation | Video Class• Genesis Chapter 23
17And so the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, facing Mamre, was established (as Abraham's possession). [This included] the field and the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within its entire border around. יזוַיָּ֣קָם | שְׂדֵ֣ה עֶפְר֗וֹן אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּמַּכְפֵּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י מַמְרֵ֑א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְהַמְּעָרָ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֔וֹ וְכָל־הָעֵץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּכָל־גְּבֻל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב:
the field of Ephron…was established: Heb. וַיָקָם, lit. it arose. It experienced an elevation, for it left the possession of a simple person [and went] into the possession of a king (Gen. Rabbah 48:8). The simple meaning of the verse is: And the field and the cave that was within it, and all the trees…were established to Abraham as a possession, etc. — from Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel] ויקם שדה עפרון: תקומה היתה לה שיצאה מיד הדיוט ליד מלך. ופשוטו של מקרא ויקם השדה והמערה אשר בו וכל העץ לאברהם למקנה וגו':
18[It was] to Abraham as a possession before the eyes of the sons of Heth, in the presence of all who had come within the gate of his city. יחלְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְמִקְנָ֖ה לְעֵינֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת בְּכֹ֖ל בָּאֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־עִירֽוֹ:
in the presence of all who had come within the gate of his city: In the midst of them all and in the presence of all he sold it to him. בכל באי שער עירו: בקרב כולם ובמעמד כולם הקנהו לו:
19And afterwards, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre, which is Hebron, in the land of Canaan. יטוְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵן֩ קָבַ֨ר אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ אֶל־מְעָרַ֞ת שְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵ֖א הִ֣וא חֶבְר֑וֹן בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן:
20And the field and the cave within it were established to Abraham as burial property, [purchased] from the sons of Heth. כוַיָּ֨קָם הַשָּׂדֶ֜ה וְהַמְּעָרָ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֛וֹ לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לַֽאֲחֻזַּת־קָ֑בֶר מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵי־חֵֽת:
Genesis Chapter 24
1And Abraham was old, advanced in days, and the Lord had blessed Abraham with everything. אוְאַבְרָהָ֣ם זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים וַֽיהֹוָ֛ה בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּכֹּֽל:
had blessed Abraham with everything: [The word] בַּכֹּל is numerically equal to בֵּן [son]. Since he had a son, he had to find him a wife. ברך את אברהם בכל: בכל עולה בגימטריא בן, ומאחר שהיה לו בן היה צריך להשיאו אשה:
2And Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that was his, "Please place your hand under my thigh. בוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֗ם אֶל־עַבְדּוֹ֙ זְקַ֣ן בֵּית֔וֹ הַמּשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ שִֽׂים־נָ֥א יָֽדְךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת יְרֵכִֽי:
the elder of his house: Since [the word זְקַן] is in the construct state, it is vowelized זְקַן. זקן ביתו: לפי שהוא דבוק נקוד זקן:
under my thigh: (Shev. 38) Since one who swears must take with his hand an article related to a mitzvah such as a Torah scroll or Tefillin, and circumcision was his first mitzvah, and he had fulfilled it with pain, it was dear to him; so he took it. תחת ירכי: לפי שהנשבע צריך שיטול בידו חפץ של מצוה, כגון ספר תורה או תפילין, והמילה היתה מצוה ראשונה לו ובאה לו על ידי צער והיתה חביבה עליו ונטלה:
3And I will adjure you by the Lord, the God of the heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose midst I dwell. גוְאַשְׁבִּ֣יעֲךָ֔ בַּֽיהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־תִקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִבְּנוֹת֙ הַכְּנַֽעֲנִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָֽנֹכִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ:
4But you shall go to my land and to my birthplace, and you shall take a wife for my son, for Isaac." דכִּ֧י אֶל־אַרְצִ֛י וְאֶל־מֽוֹלַדְתִּ֖י תֵּלֵ֑ךְ וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֖ה לִבְנִ֥י לְיִצְחָֽק:
5And the servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman will not wish to go after me to this land. Shall I return your son to the land from which you came?" הוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ הָעֶ֔בֶד אוּלַי֙ לֹֽא־תֹאבֶ֣ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה לָלֶ֥כֶת אַֽחֲרַ֖י אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את הֶֽהָשֵׁ֤ב אָשִׁיב֙ אֶת־בִּנְךָ֔ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֥אתָ מִשָּֽׁם:
6And Abraham said to him, "Beware, lest you return my son back there. ווַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו אַבְרָהָ֑ם הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּן־תָּשִׁ֥יב אֶת־בְּנִ֖י שָֽׁמָּה:
7The Lord, God of the heavens, Who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and Who spoke about me, and Who swore to me, saying, 'To your seed will I give this land' He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. זיְהֹוָ֣ה | אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם אֲשֶׁ֨ר לְקָחַ֜נִי מִבֵּ֣ית אָבִי֘ וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֽוֹלַדְתִּי֒ וַֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּר־לִ֜י וַֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר נִשְׁבַּע־לִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְזַ֨רְעֲךָ֔ אֶתֵּ֖ן אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את ה֗וּא יִשְׁלַ֤ח מַלְאָכוֹ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֛ה לִבְנִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם:
The Lord, God of the heavens, Who took me from my father’s house:But he did not say, “and the God of the earth,” whereas above (verse 3) he said, “And I will adjure you [by the Lord, the God of the heaven and the God of the earth].” He said to him,“Now He is the God of the heaven and the God of the earth, because I have made Him familiar in the mouths of the people, but when He took me from my father’s house, He was the God of the heavens but not the God of the earth, because mankind did not acknowledge Him, and His name was not familiar on the earth.” ה' אלהי השמים אשר לקחני מבית אבי: ולא אמר ואלהי הארץ, ולמעלה אמר (פסוק ג) ואשביעך בה' אלהי השמים ואלהי הארץ. אמר לו עכשיו הוא אלהי השמים ואלהי הארץ, שהרגלתיו בפי הבריות, אבל כשלקחני מבית אבי היה אלהי השמים ולא אלהי הארץ, שלא היו באי עולם מכירים בו, ושמו לא היה רגיל בארץ:
from my father’s house: from Haran. מבית אבי: מחרן:
and from the land of my birth: from Ur of the Chaldees. ומארץ מולדתי: מאור כשדים:
and Who spoke about me: [Here לִי means]“concerning me,” like אֲשֶׁר דִבֵּר,“who spoke concerning me.” Similarly, every לִי, לוֹ, and לָהֶם used in conjunction with the verb דבר -speak-is to be interpreted in the sense of עַל,“concerning,” and their Aramaic translation is עִלֵי, עִלוֹהִי, עִלֵיהוֹן. For in conjunction with דִּבּוּר, the use of the terms לִי, לוֹ, and לָהֶם is inappropriate, but rather אֵלַי, אֵלָיו and אִלֵיהֶם [are to be used], and their Aramaic translation is עִמִּי, עִמֵּיהּ, עִמְּהוֹן However, following the expression אִמִירה [saying], the terms לִי, לוֹ, and לָהֶם are appropriate. ואשר דבר לי: לצרכי, כמו (מלכים א' ב ד) אשר דבר עלי, וכן כל לי ולו ולהם הסמוכים אצל דבור מפורשים בלשון על, ותרגום שלהם עלי עלוהי עליהון, שאין נופל אצל דבור לשון לי ולו ולהם, אלא אלי אליו אליהם ותרגום שלהם עמי עמיה עמהון, אבל אצל אמירה נופל לשון לי ולו ולהם:
and Who swore to me: At the Covenant Between the Parts. ואשר נשבע לי: בין הבתרים:
8And if the woman will not wish to go after you, you will be absolved of this, my oath; only do not return my son back there." חוְאִם־לֹ֨א תֹאבֶ֤ה הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ לָלֶ֣כֶת אַֽחֲרֶ֔יךָ וְנִקִּ֕יתָ מִשְּׁבֻֽעָתִ֖י זֹ֑את רַ֣ק אֶת־בְּנִ֔י לֹ֥א תָשֵׁ֖ב שָֽׁמָּה:
you will be absolved of this, my oath: And take him a wife from the daughters of Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre. — [From Gen. Rabbah 49:8] ונקית משבועתי וגו': וקח לו אשה מבנות ענר אשכול וממרא:
only…my son: “Only” is restrictive. My son will not return, but Jacob, my grandson, will ultimately return. רק את בני וגו': רק מיעוט הוא, בני אינו חוזר אבל יעקב בן בני סופו לחזור:
9And the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and he swore to him concerning this matter. טוַיָּ֤שֶׂם הָעֶ֨בֶד֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ תַּ֛חַת יֶ֥רֶךְ אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֑יו וַיִּשָּׁ֣בַע ל֔וֹ עַל־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה:---------------------
Daily Tehillim: Chapters 97 - 103
• Hebrew text
• English text• Chapter 97
Torah Reading: Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1
Sarah lived to be 127 years old; these were the years of Sarah’s life. 2 Sarah died in Kiryat-Arba, also known as Hevron, in the land of Kena‘an; and Avraham came to mourn Sarah and weep for her. 3 Then he got up from his dead one and said to the sons of Het, 4 “I am a foreigner living as an alien with you; let me have a burial site with you, so that I can bury my dead wife.” 5 The sons of Het answered Avraham, 6 “Listen to us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us, so choose any of our tombs to bury your dead — not one of us would refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.”
7 Avraham got up, bowed before the people of the land, the sons of Het, 8 and spoke with them. “If it is your desire to help me bury my dead, then listen to me: ask ‘Efron the son of Tzochar 9 to give me the cave of Makhpelah, which he owns, the one at the end of his field. He should sell it to me in your presence at its full value; then I will have a burial site of my own.”
10 ‘Efron the Hitti was sitting among the sons of Het, and he gave Avraham his answer in the presence of the sons of Het who belonged to the ruling council of the city: 11 “No, my lord, listen to me: I’m giving you the field, with its cave — I’m giving it to you. In the presence of my people I give it to you.” 12 Avraham bowed before the people of the land 13 and spoke to ‘Efron in their hearing: “Please be good enough to listen to me. I will pay the price of the field; accept it from me, and I will bury my dead there.” 14 But ‘Efron answered Avraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me. A plot of land worth 400 silver shekels — what is that between me and you? Just bury your dead.” 16 Avraham got the point of what ‘Efron had said, so he weighed out for ‘Efron the amount of money he had specified in the presence of the sons of Het, 400 silver shekels of the weight accepted among merchants [ten pounds].
(ii) 17 Thus the field of ‘Efron in Makhpelah, which is by Mamre — the field, its cave and all the trees in and around it — were deeded 18 to Avraham as his possession in the presence of the sons of Het who belonged to the ruling council of the city.
19 Then Avraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Makhpelah, by Mamre, also known as Hevron, in the land of Kena‘an. 20 The field and its cave had been purchased by Avraham from the sons of Het as a burial-site which would belong to him.
24:1 By now Avraham was old, advanced in years; and Adonai had blessed Avraham in everything. 2 Avraham said to the servant who had served him the longest, who was in charge of all he owned, “Put your hand under my thigh; 3 because I want you to swear by Adonai, God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from among the women of the Kena‘ani, among whom I am living; 4 but that you will go to my homeland, to my kinsmen, to choose a wife for my son Yitz’chak.” 5 The servant replied, “Suppose the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land. Must I then bring your son back to the land from which you came?” 6 Avraham said to him, “See to it that you don’t bring my son back there. 7 Adonai, the God of heaven — who took me away from my father’s house and away from the land I was born in, who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘I will give this land to your descendants’ — he will send his angel ahead of you; and you are to bring a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from your obligation under my oath. Just don’t bring my son back there.” 9 The servant put his hand under the thigh of Avraham his master and swore to him concerning the matter.
(iii) 10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and all kinds of gifts from his master, got up and went to Aram-Naharayim, to Nachor’s city. 11 Toward evening, when the women go out to draw water, he had the camels kneel down outside the city by the well. 12 He said, “Adonai, God of my master Avraham, please let me succeed today; and show your grace to my master Avraham. 13 Here I am, standing by the spring, as the daughters of the townsfolk come out to draw water. 14 I will say to one of the girls, ‘Please lower your jug, so that I can drink.’ If she answers, ‘Yes, drink; and I will water your camels as well,’ then let her be the one you intend for your servant Yitz’chak. This is how I will know that you have shown grace to my master.”
15 Before he had finished speaking, Rivkah the daughter of B’tu’el son of Milkah the wife of Nachor Avraham’s brother, came out with her jug on her shoulder. 16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, never having had sexual relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jug and came up. 17 The servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a sip of water from your jug to drink.” 18 “Drink, my lord,” she replied, and immediately lowered her jug onto her arm and let him drink. 19 When she was through letting him drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels until they have drunk their fill.” 20 She quickly emptied her jug into the trough, then ran again to the well to draw water, and kept on drawing water for all his camels. 21 The man gazed at her in silence, waiting to find out whether Adonai had made his trip successful or not.
22 When the camels were done drinking, the man took a gold nose-ring weighing one-fifth of an ounce and two gold bracelets weighing four ounces 23 and asked, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” 24 She answered, “I am the daughter of B’tu’el the son Milkah bore to Nachor,” 25 adding, “We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room for staying overnight.” 26 The man bowed his head and prostrated himself before Adonai. (iv) 27 Then he said, “Blessed be Adonai, God of my master Avraham, who has not abandoned his faithful love for my master; because Adonai has guided me to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” 28 The girl ran off and told her mother’s household what had happened.
29-30 Rivkah had a brother named Lavan. When he saw the nose-ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists besides, and when he heard his sister Rivkah’s report of what the man had said to her, he ran out to the spring and found the man standing there by the camels. 31 “Come on in,” he said, “you whom Adonai has blessed! Why are you standing outside when I have made room in the house and prepared a place for the camels?” 32 So the man went inside, and while the camels were being unloaded and provided straw and fodder, water was brought for him to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him.
33 But when a meal was set before him, he said, “I won’t eat until I say what I have to say.” Lavan said, “Speak.” 34 He said, “I am Avraham’s servant. 35 Adonai has greatly blessed my master, so that he has grown wealthy. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. 36 Sarah my master’s wife bore my master a son when she was old, and he has given him everything he has. 37 My master made me swear, saying, ‘You are not to choose a wife for my son from among the women of the Kena‘ani, among whom I am living; 38 rather, you are to go to my father’s house, to my kinsmen, to choose a wife for my son.’ 39 I said to my master, ‘Suppose the woman isn’t willing to follow me.’ 40 Avraham answered me, ‘Adonai, in whose presence I live, will send his angel with you to make your trip successful; and you are to pick a wife for my son from my kinsmen in my father’s house; 41 this will release you from your obligation under my oath. But if, when you come to my kinsmen, they refuse to give her to you, this too will release you from my oath.’
42 “So today, I came to the spring and said, ‘Adonai, God of my master Avraham, if you are causing my trip to succeed in its purpose, 43 then, here I am, standing by the spring. I will say to one of the girls coming out to draw water, “Let me have a sip of water from your jug.” 44 If she answers, “Yes, drink; and I will water your camels as well,” then let her be the woman you intend for my master’s son.’ 45 And even before I had finished speaking to my heart, there came Rivkah, going out with her jug on her shoulder; she went down to the spring and drew water. When I said to her, ‘Please let me have a drink,’ 46 she immediately lowered the jug from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well.’ So I drank, and she had the camels drink too.
47 “I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ and she answered, ‘The daughter of B’tu’el son of Nachor, whom Milkah bore to him.’ Then I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists, 48 bowed my head, prostrated myself before Adonai and blessed Adonai, God of my master Avraham, for having led me in the right way to obtain my master’s brother’s [grand]daughter for his son.
49 “So now if you people intend to show grace and truth to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me, so that I can turn elsewhere.”
50 Lavan and B’tu’el replied, “Since this comes from Adonai, we can’t say anything to you either bad or good. 51 Rivkah is here in front of you; take her and go. Let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Adonai has said.” 52 When Avraham’s servant heard what they said, he prostrated himself on the ground to Adonai. (v) 53 Then the servant brought out silver and gold jewelry, together with clothing, and gave them to Rivkah. He also gave valuable gifts to her brother and mother. 54 He and his men then ate and drank and stayed the night.
In the morning they got up; and he said, “Send me off to my master.” 55 Her brother and mother said, “Let the girl stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that, she will go.” 56 He answered them, “Don’t delay me, since Adonai has made my trip successful, but let me go back to my master.” 57 They said, “We will call the girl and see what she says.” 58 They called Rivkah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” and she replied, “I will.”
59 So they sent their sister Rivkah away, with her nurse, Avraham’s servant and his men. 60 They blessed Rivkah with these words: “Our sister, may you be the mother of millions, and may your descendants possess the cities of those who hate them.” 61 Then Rivkah and her maids mounted the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rivkah and went on his way.
62 Meanwhile, Yitz’chak, one evening after coming along the road from Be’er-Lachai-Ro’i — he was living in the Negev — 63 went out walking in the field; and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rivkah too looked up; and when she saw Yitz’chak, she quickly dismounted the camel. 65 She said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” When the servant replied, “It’s my master,” she took her veil and covered herself.
66 The servant told Yitz’chak everything he had done. 67 Then Yitz’chak brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent and took Rivkah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. Thus was Yitz’chak comforted for the loss of his mother.
25:1 (vi) Avraham took another wife, whose name was K’turah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Yokshan, Medan, Midyan, Yishbak; and Shuach. 3 Yokshan fathered Sh’va and D’dan. The sons of D’dan were Ashurim, L’tushim and L’umim. 4 The sons of Midyan were ‘Eifah, ‘Efer, Hanokh, Avida and Elda‘ah. All these were descendants of K’turah.
5 Avraham gave everything he owned to Yitz’chak. 6 But to the sons of the concubines he made grants while he was still living and sent them off to the east, to the land of Kedem, away from Yitz’chak his son.
7 This is how long Avraham lived: 175 years. 8 Then Avraham breathed his last, dying at a ripe old age, an old man full of years; and he was gathered to his people. 9 Yitz’chak and Yishma‘el his sons buried him in the cave of Makhpelah, in the field of ‘Efron the son of Tzochar the Hitti, by Mamre, 10 the field which Avraham purchased from the sons of Het. Avraham was buried there with Sarah his wife.
11 After Avraham died, God blessed Yitz’chak his son, and Yitz’chak lived near Be’er-Lachai-Ro’i.
(vii) 12 Here is the genealogy of Yishma‘el, Avraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian woman bore to Avraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Yishma‘el, listed in the order of their birth. The firstborn of Yishma‘el was N’vayot; followed by Kedar, Adbe’el, Mivsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Teima, Y’tur, Nafish and Kedmah. (Maftir) 16 These are the sons of Yishma‘el, and these are their names, according to their settlements and camps, twelve tribal rulers.
17 This is how long Yishma‘el lived: 137 years. Then he breathed his last, died and was gathered to his people.
18 Yishma‘el’s sons lived between Havilah and Shur, near Egypt as you go toward Ashur; he settled near all his kinsmen.
)
Haftarah: (I
Today in Jewish History:
Kings 1:1
King David grew old, the years took their toll, and he couldn’t get warm even when they covered him with bedclothes. 2 His servants said to him, “Let us try to find a young virgin for my lord the king. She can wait on the king and be a companion for him, and she can lie next to you, so that my lord the king will get some heat.” 3 After looking through all of Isra’el’s territory for a beautiful girl, they found Avishag the Shunamit and brought her to the king. 4 The girl was very beautiful and became a companion for the king. She took care of him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.
5 Adoniyah the son of Haggit was beginning to claim that he would be king; to this end he organized chariots and horsemen, with fifty men to run ahead of him. 6 (His father had never in his life confronted him by asking, “Why are you behaving this way?” Moreover, he was a very handsome man; he was born next after Avshalom.) 7 He conferred with Yo’av the son of Tz’ruyah and Evyatar the cohen; and they both supported Adoniyah. 8 But Tzadok the cohen, B’nayah the son of Y’hoyada, Natan the prophet, Shim‘i, Re‘i and David’s elite guard were not on Adoniyah’s side.
9 One day Adoniyah killed sheep, oxen and fattened calves at the Stone of Zochelet, by ‘Ein-Rogel. He summoned all his brothers the king’s sons, and all the men of Y’hudah the king’s servants; 10 but he did not summon Natan the prophet, B’nayah, the elite guard or Shlomo his brother.
11 Natan went to Bat-Sheva the mother of Shlomo and said, “Haven’t you heard that Adoniyah the son of Haggit has become king without the knowledge of David our lord? 12 Now, come, please let me give you advice, so that you can save both your own life and that of your son Shlomo. 13 Go, get in to see King David, and say to him, ‘My lord, king, didn’t you swear to your servant, “Your son Shlomo will be king after me; he will sit on my throne”? So why is Adoniyah king?’ 14 Right then, while you are still talking with the king, I will also come in after you and confirm what you are saying.”
15 Bat-Sheva went in to the king in his room. (The king was very old; Avishag the Shunamit was in attendance on the king.) 16 Bat-Sheva bowed, prostrating herself to the king. The king asked, “What do you want?” 17 She answered him, “My lord, you swore by Adonai your God to your servant, ‘Your son Shlomo will be king after me; he will sit on my throne.’ 18 But now, here is Adoniyah ruling as king; and you, my lord the king, don’t know anything about it. 19 He has killed oxen, fattened calves and sheep in great numbers; and he has summoned all the sons of the king, Evyatar the cohen and Yo’av the commander of the army; but he didn’t summon Shlomo your servant. 20 As for you, my lord the king, all Isra’el is watching you; they are waiting for you to tell them who is to sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 If you don’t, then, when my lord the king sleeps with his ancestors, I and my son Shlomo will be considered criminals.”
22 Right then, while she was still talking with the king, Natan the prophet entered. 23 They told the king, “Natan the prophet is here.” After coming into the king’s presence, he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. 24 Natan said, “My lord king, did you say, ‘Adoniyah is to be king after me; he will sit on my throne’? 25 For he has gone down today and killed oxen, fattened calves and sheep in great numbers; and he has summoned all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army and Evyatar the cohen; right now they are eating and drinking in his presence and proclaiming, ‘Long live King Adoniyah!’ 26 But he didn’t summon me your servant, or Tzadok the cohen, or B’nayah the son of Y’hoyada or your servant Shlomo. 27 Is this authorized by my lord the king without your having told your servant who would sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”
28 King David answered by saying, “Summon Bat-Sheva to me.” She entered the king’s presence and stood before the king. 29 Then the king swore an oath: “As Adonai lives, who has delivered me from all adversity, 30 as I swore to you by Adonai the God of Isra’el, ‘Your son Shlomo will be king after me; he will sit on my throne in my place,’ so will I do today.” 31 Bat-Sheva bowed with her face to the ground, prostrating herself to the king, and said, “Let my lord King David live forever.”
)• Birth of Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch (1860)
The fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneerson (known by the acronym "Rashab"), was born on the 20th of Cheshvan of the year 5621 from creation (1860).
After the passing of his father, Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch, in 1882, Rabbi Sholom DovBer assumed the leadership of the movement. Over the next 38 years, he wrote and delivered some 2,000 maamarim (discourses of Chassidic teaching) including the famed hemshechim(serialized discourses) which contain his profound analytical treatment of Chabad Chassidism. In 1897, he established the Tomchei Temimim yeshivah in Lubavitch, the first institution of Jewish learning to integrate the "body" (Talmudic and legal studies) and "soul" (philosophic and mystical) of Torah into a cohesive, living whole; it was this unique form of education and Torah study that produced the "Temimim" -- the army of learned, inspired and devoted torchbearers who, in the decades to come, would literally give their lives to keep Judaism alive under Soviet rule.
In 1915 Rabbi Sholom DovBer was forced to flee Lubavitch from the advancing WWI front and settled in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia. In his final years, he began the heroic battle -- carried on under the leadership of his son and successor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson -- against the new Communist regime's efforts to destroy the Jewish faith. Rabbi Sholom DovBer passed away in Rostov in 1920.
Links: Want it All; To Know G-d and On Ahavat Yisrael -- two maamarim by Rabbi Sholom DovBer.
Daily Quote:
I hereby take upon myself to fulfill the mitzvah, "Love your fellowman as yourself"[Preface to daily prayers]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Chayei Sarah, 2nd Portion Genesis 23:17-24:9 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation | Video Class• Genesis Chapter 23
17And so the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, facing Mamre, was established (as Abraham's possession). [This included] the field and the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within its entire border around. יזוַיָּ֣קָם | שְׂדֵ֣ה עֶפְר֗וֹן אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּמַּכְפֵּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י מַמְרֵ֑א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְהַמְּעָרָ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֔וֹ וְכָל־הָעֵץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּכָל־גְּבֻל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב:
the field of Ephron…was established: Heb. וַיָקָם, lit. it arose. It experienced an elevation, for it left the possession of a simple person [and went] into the possession of a king (Gen. Rabbah 48:8). The simple meaning of the verse is: And the field and the cave that was within it, and all the trees…were established to Abraham as a possession, etc. — from Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel] ויקם שדה עפרון: תקומה היתה לה שיצאה מיד הדיוט ליד מלך. ופשוטו של מקרא ויקם השדה והמערה אשר בו וכל העץ לאברהם למקנה וגו':
18[It was] to Abraham as a possession before the eyes of the sons of Heth, in the presence of all who had come within the gate of his city. יחלְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְמִקְנָ֖ה לְעֵינֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת בְּכֹ֖ל בָּאֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־עִירֽוֹ:
in the presence of all who had come within the gate of his city: In the midst of them all and in the presence of all he sold it to him. בכל באי שער עירו: בקרב כולם ובמעמד כולם הקנהו לו:
19And afterwards, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre, which is Hebron, in the land of Canaan. יטוְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵן֩ קָבַ֨ר אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ אֶל־מְעָרַ֞ת שְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵ֖א הִ֣וא חֶבְר֑וֹן בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן:
20And the field and the cave within it were established to Abraham as burial property, [purchased] from the sons of Heth. כוַיָּ֨קָם הַשָּׂדֶ֜ה וְהַמְּעָרָ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֛וֹ לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לַֽאֲחֻזַּת־קָ֑בֶר מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵי־חֵֽת:
Genesis Chapter 24
1And Abraham was old, advanced in days, and the Lord had blessed Abraham with everything. אוְאַבְרָהָ֣ם זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים וַֽיהֹוָ֛ה בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּכֹּֽל:
had blessed Abraham with everything: [The word] בַּכֹּל is numerically equal to בֵּן [son]. Since he had a son, he had to find him a wife. ברך את אברהם בכל: בכל עולה בגימטריא בן, ומאחר שהיה לו בן היה צריך להשיאו אשה:
2And Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that was his, "Please place your hand under my thigh. בוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֗ם אֶל־עַבְדּוֹ֙ זְקַ֣ן בֵּית֔וֹ הַמּשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ שִֽׂים־נָ֥א יָֽדְךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת יְרֵכִֽי:
the elder of his house: Since [the word זְקַן] is in the construct state, it is vowelized זְקַן. זקן ביתו: לפי שהוא דבוק נקוד זקן:
under my thigh: (Shev. 38) Since one who swears must take with his hand an article related to a mitzvah such as a Torah scroll or Tefillin, and circumcision was his first mitzvah, and he had fulfilled it with pain, it was dear to him; so he took it. תחת ירכי: לפי שהנשבע צריך שיטול בידו חפץ של מצוה, כגון ספר תורה או תפילין, והמילה היתה מצוה ראשונה לו ובאה לו על ידי צער והיתה חביבה עליו ונטלה:
3And I will adjure you by the Lord, the God of the heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose midst I dwell. גוְאַשְׁבִּ֣יעֲךָ֔ בַּֽיהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־תִקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִבְּנוֹת֙ הַכְּנַֽעֲנִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָֽנֹכִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ:
4But you shall go to my land and to my birthplace, and you shall take a wife for my son, for Isaac." דכִּ֧י אֶל־אַרְצִ֛י וְאֶל־מֽוֹלַדְתִּ֖י תֵּלֵ֑ךְ וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֖ה לִבְנִ֥י לְיִצְחָֽק:
5And the servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman will not wish to go after me to this land. Shall I return your son to the land from which you came?" הוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ הָעֶ֔בֶד אוּלַי֙ לֹֽא־תֹאבֶ֣ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה לָלֶ֥כֶת אַֽחֲרַ֖י אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את הֶֽהָשֵׁ֤ב אָשִׁיב֙ אֶת־בִּנְךָ֔ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֥אתָ מִשָּֽׁם:
6And Abraham said to him, "Beware, lest you return my son back there. ווַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו אַבְרָהָ֑ם הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּן־תָּשִׁ֥יב אֶת־בְּנִ֖י שָֽׁמָּה:
7The Lord, God of the heavens, Who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and Who spoke about me, and Who swore to me, saying, 'To your seed will I give this land' He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. זיְהֹוָ֣ה | אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם אֲשֶׁ֨ר לְקָחַ֜נִי מִבֵּ֣ית אָבִי֘ וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֽוֹלַדְתִּי֒ וַֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּר־לִ֜י וַֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר נִשְׁבַּע־לִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְזַ֨רְעֲךָ֔ אֶתֵּ֖ן אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את ה֗וּא יִשְׁלַ֤ח מַלְאָכוֹ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֛ה לִבְנִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם:
The Lord, God of the heavens, Who took me from my father’s house:But he did not say, “and the God of the earth,” whereas above (verse 3) he said, “And I will adjure you [by the Lord, the God of the heaven and the God of the earth].” He said to him,“Now He is the God of the heaven and the God of the earth, because I have made Him familiar in the mouths of the people, but when He took me from my father’s house, He was the God of the heavens but not the God of the earth, because mankind did not acknowledge Him, and His name was not familiar on the earth.” ה' אלהי השמים אשר לקחני מבית אבי: ולא אמר ואלהי הארץ, ולמעלה אמר (פסוק ג) ואשביעך בה' אלהי השמים ואלהי הארץ. אמר לו עכשיו הוא אלהי השמים ואלהי הארץ, שהרגלתיו בפי הבריות, אבל כשלקחני מבית אבי היה אלהי השמים ולא אלהי הארץ, שלא היו באי עולם מכירים בו, ושמו לא היה רגיל בארץ:
from my father’s house: from Haran. מבית אבי: מחרן:
and from the land of my birth: from Ur of the Chaldees. ומארץ מולדתי: מאור כשדים:
and Who spoke about me: [Here לִי means]“concerning me,” like אֲשֶׁר דִבֵּר,“who spoke concerning me.” Similarly, every לִי, לוֹ, and לָהֶם used in conjunction with the verb דבר -speak-is to be interpreted in the sense of עַל,“concerning,” and their Aramaic translation is עִלֵי, עִלוֹהִי, עִלֵיהוֹן. For in conjunction with דִּבּוּר, the use of the terms לִי, לוֹ, and לָהֶם is inappropriate, but rather אֵלַי, אֵלָיו and אִלֵיהֶם [are to be used], and their Aramaic translation is עִמִּי, עִמֵּיהּ, עִמְּהוֹן However, following the expression אִמִירה [saying], the terms לִי, לוֹ, and לָהֶם are appropriate. ואשר דבר לי: לצרכי, כמו (מלכים א' ב ד) אשר דבר עלי, וכן כל לי ולו ולהם הסמוכים אצל דבור מפורשים בלשון על, ותרגום שלהם עלי עלוהי עליהון, שאין נופל אצל דבור לשון לי ולו ולהם, אלא אלי אליו אליהם ותרגום שלהם עמי עמיה עמהון, אבל אצל אמירה נופל לשון לי ולו ולהם:
and Who swore to me: At the Covenant Between the Parts. ואשר נשבע לי: בין הבתרים:
8And if the woman will not wish to go after you, you will be absolved of this, my oath; only do not return my son back there." חוְאִם־לֹ֨א תֹאבֶ֤ה הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ לָלֶ֣כֶת אַֽחֲרֶ֔יךָ וְנִקִּ֕יתָ מִשְּׁבֻֽעָתִ֖י זֹ֑את רַ֣ק אֶת־בְּנִ֔י לֹ֥א תָשֵׁ֖ב שָֽׁמָּה:
you will be absolved of this, my oath: And take him a wife from the daughters of Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre. — [From Gen. Rabbah 49:8] ונקית משבועתי וגו': וקח לו אשה מבנות ענר אשכול וממרא:
only…my son: “Only” is restrictive. My son will not return, but Jacob, my grandson, will ultimately return. רק את בני וגו': רק מיעוט הוא, בני אינו חוזר אבל יעקב בן בני סופו לחזור:
9And the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and he swore to him concerning this matter. טוַיָּ֤שֶׂם הָעֶ֨בֶד֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ תַּ֛חַת יֶ֥רֶךְ אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֑יו וַיִּשָּׁ֣בַע ל֔וֹ עַל־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה:---------------------
Daily Tehillim: Chapters 97 - 103
• Hebrew text
• English text• Chapter 97
1. When the Lord will reveal His kingship, the earth will exult; the multitudes of islands will rejoice.
2. Clouds and dense darkness will surround Him; justice and mercy will be the foundation of His throne.
3. Fire will go before Him and consume His foes all around.
4. His lightnings will illuminate the world; the earth will see and tremble.
5. The mountains will melt like wax before the Lord, before the Master of all the earth.
6. The heavens will declare His justice, and all the nations will behold His glory.
7. All who worship graven images, who take pride in idols, will be ashamed; all idol worshippers will prostrate themselves before Him.
8. Zion will hear and rejoice, the towns of Judah will exult, because of Your judgments, O Lord.
9. For You, Lord, transcend all the earth; You are exceedingly exalted above all the supernal beings.
10. You who love the Lord, hate evil; He watches over the souls of His pious ones, He saves them from the hand of the wicked.
11. Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
12. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and extol His holy Name.
Chapter 98
This psalm describes how Israel will praise God for the Redemption.
1. A psalm. Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has performed wonders; His right hand and holy arm have wrought deliverance for Him.
2. The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His justice before the eyes of the nations.
3. He has remembered His kindness and faithfulness to the House of Israel; all, from the farthest corners of the earth, witnessed the deliverance by our God.
4. Raise your voices in jubilation to the Lord, all the earth; burst into joyous song and chanting.
5. Sing to the Lord with a harp, with a harp and the sound of song.
6. With trumpets and the sound of the shofar, jubilate before the King, the Lord.
7. The sea and its fullness will roar in joy, the earth and its inhabitants.
8. The rivers will clap their hands, the mountains will sing together.
9. [They will rejoice] before the Lord, for He has come to judge the earth; He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with righteousness.
Chapter 99
This psalm refers to the wars of Gog and Magog, which will precede the Redemption.
1. When the Lord will reveal His kingship, the nations will tremble; the earth will quake before Him Who is enthroned upon the cherubim,
2. [before] the Lord Who is in Zion, Who is great and exalted above all the peoples.
3. They will extol Your Name which is great, awesome and holy.
4. And [they will praise] the might of the King Who loves justice. You have established uprightness; You have made [the laws of] justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5. Exalt the Lord our God, and bow down at His footstool; He is holy.
6. Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among those who invoke His Name, would call upon the Lord and He would answer them.
7. He would speak to them from a pillar of cloud; they observed His testimonies and the decrees which He gave them.
8. Lord our God, You have answered them; You were a forgiving God for their sake, yet bringing retribution for their own misdeeds.
9. Exalt the Lord our God, and bow down at His holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy.
Chapter 100
This psalm inspires the hearts of those who suffer in this world. Let them, nevertheless, serve God with joy, for all is for their good, as in the verse: "He whom God loves does He chastise." The psalm also refers to the thanksgiving sacrifice-the only sacrifice to be offered in the Messianic era.
1. A psalm of thanksgiving. Let all the earth sing in jubilation to the Lord.
2. Serve the Lord with joy; come before Him with exultation.
3. Know that the Lord is God; He has made us and we are His, His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4. Enter His gates with gratitude, His courtyards with praise; give thanks to Him, bless His Name.
5. For the Lord is good; His kindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness is for all generations.
Chapter 101
This psalm speaks of David's secluding himself from others, and of his virtuous conduct even in his own home.
1. By David, a psalm. I will sing of [Your] kindness and justice; to You, O Lord, will I chant praise!
2. I will pay heed to the path of integrity-O when will it come to me? I shall walk with the innocence of my heart [even] within my house.
3. I shall not place an evil thing before my eyes; I despise the doing of wayward deeds, it does not cling to me.
4. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I shall not know evil.
5. He who slanders his fellow in secret, him will I cut down; one with haughty eyes and a lustful heart, him I cannot suffer.
6. My eyes are upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the path of integrity, he shall minister to me.
7. He that practices deceit shall not dwell within my house; the speaker of lies shall have no place before my eyes.
8. Every morning I will cut down all the wicked of the land, to excise all evildoers from the city of the Lord.
Chapter 102
An awe-inspiring prayer for the exiled, and an appropriate prayer for anyone in distress.
1. A prayer of the poor man when he is faint [with affliction], and pours out his tale of woe before the Lord.
2. O Lord, hear my prayer, let my cry reach You!
3. Hide not Your face from me on the day of my distress; turn Your ear to me; on the day that I call, answer me quickly.
4. For my days have vanished with the smoke; my bones are dried up as a hearth.
5. Smitten like grass and withered is my heart, for I have forgotten to eat my bread.
6. From the voice of my sigh, my bone cleaves to my flesh.
7. I am like the bird of the wilderness; like the owl of the wasteland have I become.
8. In haste I fled; I was like a bird, alone on a roof.
9. All day my enemies disgrace me; those who ridicule me curse using my name.1
10. For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
11. because of Your anger and Your wrath-for You have raised me up, then cast me down.
12. My days are like the fleeting shadow; I wither away like the grass.
13. But You, Lord, will be enthroned forever, and Your remembrance is for all generations.
14. You will arise and have mercy on Zion, for it is time to be gracious to her; the appointed time has come.
15. For Your servants cherish her stones, and love her dust.
16. Then the nations will fear the Name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth Your glory,
17. when [they see that] the Lord has built Zion, He has appeared in His glory.
18. He turned to the entreaty of the prayerful, and did not despise their prayer.
19. Let this be written for the last generation, so that the newborn nation will praise the Lord.
20. For He looked down from His holy heights; from heaven, the Lord gazed upon the earth,
21. to hear the cry of the bound, to untie those who are doomed to die,
22. so that the Name of the Lord be declared in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem,
23. when nations and kingdoms will gather together to serve the Lord.
24. He weakened my strength on the way; He shortened my days.
25. I would say: "My God, do not remove me in the midst of my days! You Whose years endure through all generations.”
26. In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
27. They will perish, but You will endure; all of them will wear out like a garment; You will exchange them like a robe, and they will vanish.
28. But You remain the same; Your years will not end.
29. The children of Your servants will abide; their seed shall be established before You.
Chapter 103
David's prayer when he was ill, this psalm is an appropriate prayer on behalf of the sick, especially when offered by the sick person himself while his soul is yet in his body. He can then bless God from his depths, body and soul. Read, and find repose for your soul.
1. By David. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, His holy Name.
2. My soul, bless the Lord; forget not all His favors:
3. Who forgives all your sins, Who heals all your illnesses;
4. Who redeems your life from the grave, Who crowns you with kindness and mercy;
5. Who satisfies your mouth with goodness; like the eagle, your youth is renewed.
6. The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7. He made His ways known to Moses, His deeds to the Children of Israel.
8. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and of great kindness.
9. He will not contend for eternity, nor harbor ill will forever.
10. He has not dealt with us according to our transgressions, nor requited us according to our sins.
11. For as high as heaven is above the earth, so has His kindness been mighty over those who fear Him.
12. As far as the east is from the west, so has He distanced our transgressions from us.
13. As a father has compassion on his children, so has the Lord had compassion on those who fear Him.
14. For He knows our nature; He is mindful that we are but dust.
15. As for man, his days are like grass; like a flower of the field, so he sprouts.
16. When a wind passes over him, he is gone; his place recognizes him no more.
17. But the kindness of the Lord is forever and ever upon those who fear Him, and His righteousness is [secured] for children's children,
18. to those who keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commands to do them.
19. The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingship has dominion over all.
20. Bless the Lord, you His angels who are mighty in strength, who do His bidding to obey the voice of His speech.
21. Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His servants who do His will.
22. Bless the Lord, all His works, in all the places of His dominion. My soul, bless the Lord!
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Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 29
• Lessons in Tanya
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 29
• Lessons in Tanya
• English Text
• Hebrew Text
• Audio Class: Listen | Download
• Video Class• Monday, Cheshvan 20, 5776 · November 2, 2015
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Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
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• Video Class• Monday, Cheshvan 20, 5776 · November 2, 2015
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 29
והנה אור זה הגנוז לצדיקים לע"ל הנק' בשם נועם ה' וצחצחות להתענג עלה'
Now this light, hidden away for the righteous for the Time to Come, is termed (as above) the "pleasantness of G-d," and the "pleasurable thirst" of "delighting in G-d,
וד' מאות עלמין דכסופין דמתענגי בהון צדיקייא כו' כמ"ש ארבע מאות שקל כסף כו'
" and also1 "the 400 Worlds of Longing in which the tzaddikim delight..." as it is written,2 "400 shekalimof silver (kesef)..."
The Aramaic phrase translated "Worlds of Longing" is almin dekisufin. The root of the second word (kesef) means not only "silver" but also "longing" (as in the phrase3 nichsof nichsafta). Hence the Kabbalah relates the above reference to "400shekalim of kesef" to the 400 Worlds of Longing whose spiritual delights are reserved for tzaddikim.
הנה יש בו מעלות ומדרגות רבות מאד גבוה מעל גבוה
This [light] comprises very many rungs and levels, one superior to the other.
אך הארה מועטת היורדת מדרגה אחר מדרגה לברוא לבוש זה היא מבחי' מדרגה האחרונה שבאור זה
But the minute radiation, which descends level after level to create this garment that garbs the soul, belongs to the lowest level of this light.
ונקראת בשם מדרגה החיצונה ואחוריים דרך משל
Metaphorically speaking, it is referred to as the external level, or achorayim,
כמ"ש בזהר דר"ח ע"ב (עיין בס' מק"מ) ור"י ע"ב ומה דאשתאר כו'
as stated in the Zohar, p. 208b (4 cf. the commentary entitled Mikdash Melech5) and 210b: "And that which is left...," meaning that the light which is the source of the garment is of the most external or hindmost level.
The Alter Rebbe now goes on to explain that the external level of this radiance, from which these garments derive, is called the Supernal Will. Will, as is soon to be explained, is the external aspect (i.e., a consequence) of pleasure, or delight.
והנה כמו שבנשמת האדם יש בה כח התענוג שמתענגת ממה שיש לה ענג ממנו כמו מהשכלת שכל חדש וכה"ג
Now, in the soul of man there is a faculty for pleasure: [the soul] takes pleasure in what it finds pleasurable,6as in the conception of a new insight, or the like.
ובחי' חיצוניות ואחוריים של כח ובחי' התענוג שבה היא בחי' כח הרצון שבה שהוא רוצה מה שהוא רוצה דהיינו דבר שאינו צער שהצער היפך התענוג
The external and hindmost aspect of [the soul's] power and state of delight is its faculty of will, willing that which it wills, i.e.,7 something that is not painful, for pain is the opposite of delight.
A person desires something because it gives him pleasure. Thus, pleasure is the "inner" (or motivating) aspect of desire, which is considered "external" (i.e., consequent) to it.
וככה עד"מ באור א"ס ב"ה ג"כ כביכול
Metaphorically speaking, it is the same with the [infinite] EinSof-light, as it were:
הרצון העליון ב"ה היא בחי' חיצוניות ואחוריים לבחי' ענג העליון ונועם ה' וצחצחות ועלמין דכסופין הנ"ל
The Supernal Will is the external and hindmost aspect [i.e.,the resultant chitzoniyut and achorayim] of the above-mentioned Supernal Delight, the "pleasantness of G-d," the "pleasurable thirst," and the "Worlds of Longing."
Thus, when we state that the garment for the soul derives from the achorayim and chitzoniyut of the Supernal Delight, this means that it derives from the Supernal Will.
הגם שהם מיוחדים בתכלית היחוד שהוא ית' ורצונו אחד
Though these - [the Supernal Delight and the Supernal Will] -are fused in absolute unity, for [G-d] and His Will are one,
ולא כרצון האדם ח"ו לא מיניה ולא מקצתיה
and not (heaven forfend) like the will of man, neither wholly nor partially,
ואין דמיון ביניהם כלל
there being no similarity whatever between them,
Man's will is not wholly one with the person himself; it is one of the soul-faculties that he possesses. By contrast, G-d and His Will are one. How, then, can we differentiate Above between Pleasure and Will,saying that G-d's Pleasure is internal and His Will is external?
אעפ"כ דברה תורה כלשון בנ"א לשכך האזן מה שיכולה לשמוע במשל ומליצה מנשמת האדם הכלולה מכח התענוג והרצון והחכמה והבינה וכו'
nevertheless,8 "the Torah speaks in human idiom" in order9 "to modulate for the ear what it is able to hear," with allegory and metaphor relating to the soul of man, which compounds the faculty of delight, will, wisdom, understanding, and so on.
just as in man pleasure is described as "internal" and will as "external", so too do we describe the corresponding attributes Above.
וכנראה בחוש שכשאדם משכיל איזה שכל חדש נפלא אזי באותה רגע עכ"פ נולד לו תענוג נפלא בשכלו
This is empirically evident, for when a person conceives some wonderful new insight, then at that moment, at least, a wondrous delight is born10 in his mind.
מכלל שהתענוג הוא למעלה מעלה מבחי' השכל והחכמה רק שמלובש בבחי' שכל וחכמה
Thus it follows that the capacity for pleasure surpasses by far the faculty of intellect and wisdom; it merely is vested in the faculty of intellect and wisdom.
וכשהאדם מרגיש השכל וחכמה דהיינו שמשיגה ומבינה היטב אזי מרגיש ג"כ בחי' התענוג המלובש בחכמה
Thus when a man feels [a subject of] intellect and wisdom, that is, he apprehends and understands it well, he then also senses the faculty of pleasure which is vested in the [subject of] wisdom.
ולכן נקראת בחי' בינה בשם עוה"ב בזוה"ק
That is why in the sacred Zohar,11 the faculty of Binah is referred to as "the World to Come."
שהיא בחי' התגלות החכמה עם התענוג המלובש בה שמשיגים הצדיקים בג"ע ומשכילים בפנימיות התורה
For it is the state of manifestation of Chochmah, together with the delight vested in it, which the righteous in the Garden of Eden apprehend, and conceive [new insights] in the pnimiyut[i.e., the innermost, mystical dimension] of the Torah.
דאורייתא מחכמה נפקא ואורייתא וקב"ה כולא חד:
For12 the Torah derives from Chochmah, and13 the Torah and the Holy One, blessed be He, are entirely one.14
Thus, through gaining a perception of pnimiyut in the manner in which the soul apprehends it in the Garden of Eden, where it apprehends the essence of G-dliness - and "this delight itself (as the Rebbe adds) is utterly inward, as explained above"- the soul gains an apprehension of G-d's infinite light. And in order for it to be able to absorb this degree of illumination, it must be equipped with the protective and receptive garments of the mitzvot, as previously explained.
* * *
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Cf. Zohar I, 123b. |
| 2. | Bereishit 23:15. |
| 3. | Ibid. 31:30. |
| 4. | Parentheses are in the original text. |
| 5. | To the Zohar, loc. cit. |
| 6. | Note of the Rebbe: "The Alter Rebbe is not informing us of the obvious, as might appear at first glance, but is making a significant statement which must appear here, where he is explaining that will is the external aspect [i.e., the consequence] of pleasure - in order to distinguish this sequence from the alternative sequence discussed in Hemshech5666, p 65ff., [where will is seen as the source of pleasure] The conclusion there, on p. 73ff., is as here, [that pleasure is indeed the source of will, and not the contrary].". |
| 7. | Note of the Rebbe: "The addition of this phrase too is explained by the previous footnote." |
| 8. | Rambam, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 1:9. |
| 9. | Cf. Rashi on Shmot 19:18, based on Mechilta and Tanchuma ad loc. |
| 10. | Note of the Rebbe: "The feeling of pleasure, by contrast, comes (as is explained below) in the World to Come. And so long as this feeling is lacking, the individual concerned cannot be said to have `received the pleasantness.'" |
| 11. | II, 158a. |
| 12. | Zohar II, 85a. |
| 13. | Op. cit. I, 24a, et al. |
| 14. | Note of the Rebbe: "[The above-described perception enjoyed by the tzaddikim] is similar to the delight that is born and is derived when a concept is first conceived and understood - and this is the above-mentioned `pleasantness of G-d...'". |
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
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• Today's Mitzvah
Monday, Cheshvan 20, 5776 · November 2, 2015
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Negative Commandment 291
A Witness Acting as Judge
"But one witness shall not testify against a person causing him to die"—Numbers 35:30.
In a capital case, a witness may not offer any opinion regarding the defendant's guilt or innocence. Rather, he must state the facts as he saw them and then remain silent, and allow the judges to reach their decision.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Monday, Cheshvan 20, 5776 · November 2, 2015
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Negative Commandment 291
A Witness Acting as Judge
"But one witness shall not testify against a person causing him to die"—Numbers 35:30.
In a capital case, a witness may not offer any opinion regarding the defendant's guilt or innocence. Rather, he must state the facts as he saw them and then remain silent, and allow the judges to reach their decision.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
A Witness Acting as Judge
Negative Commandment 291
Translated by Berel Bell
The 291st prohibition is that a witness is forbidden from saying anything extra regarding the case he is testifying about. Even if he is learned and knowledgeable, he may not act as a witness and a judge and legal authority. He must testify concerning what he saw and then remain silent, and the judges will use his testimony as they see fit. The witness is prohibited from saying anything in addition to his testimony. This law applies only to capital cases.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "A single eyewitness may not speak against a person where the death penalty is involved." This prohibition is repeated in the verse,2 "He shall not be put to death through the testimony of one witness." This means that he shall not be put to death because of the instructions of the witness.
Our Sages said in tractate Sanhedrin,3 "The prohibition, 'A single eyewitness may not speak against a person' applies whether he speaks for acquittal or for conviction," and they give a reason, "Because it will appear that he is a biased witness." The prohibition against speaking out either for or against the defendant applies only in capital cases.4
FOOTNOTES
1.Num. 35:30.
2.Deut. 17:6.
3.33b.
4.In monetary cases, the witness can offer arguments either for or against the defendant, as long as he is not counted as a judge. See Hilchos Eidus 5:8.
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• 1 Chapter: Shvuot Shvuot - Chapter 11 • English Text | Hebrew Text | Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class
• 1 Chapter: Shvuot Shvuot - Chapter 11 • English Text | Hebrew Text |
Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class
• Shvuot - Chapter 11
Halacha 1
Just as there is a negative commandment forbidding an oath taken in vain and a false oath,1 so, too, there is a positive commandment for a person who is obligated to take an oath in court2 to take that oath in God's name,3 as [Deuteronomy 6:13] states: "And you shall take an oath in His name." This is a positive commandment.4 For taking an oath in His great and holy name is one of the paths of His service. It is a great measure of glorification and sanctification to take an oath in God's name.5
Halacha 2
It is forbidden to take an oath on any other matter together with God's name.6Whoever combines another matter with the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, in an oath will be uprooted from this world.7 For there is no one who is fit to give honor by taking an oath in his name except the [Absolute] One, blessed be He.
Halacha 3
It is permitted for a person to take an oath to fulfill a mitzvah in order to encourage himself [toward its performance]. Although he is under oath [to observe] it from Mount Sinai [onward],8 [he may take an oath, as implied byPsalms 119:106]: "I took an oath and I will uphold it - to observe Your righteous judgments."9
Halacha 4
The oath which the judges administer to individuals who are obligated to take an oath is called: "The oath of the judges." [This applies whether the person] is liable for an oath according to Scriptural Law or according to Rabbinic Law.
Halacha 5
There are three types of oaths for which one is obligated according to Scriptural Law:
a) A claim involving movable property10 was lodged against a person by a colleague. He admitted liability for a portion and denied liability for a portion.11
b) [The defendant] denied liability for all the movable property, but one witness testifies against him, contradicting his statements.12
These two oaths come in response to a definite claim and a denial.13
c) When a watchman claims that the article entrusted to him was lost, stolen, died, or the like, he is required to take an oath, because of the doubt, for the owner of the entrusted article does not know if the watchman is making a true claim or not.14 This oath is of Scriptural origin, as [Exodus 22:10] states: "The oath of God will be between them." 15
Halacha 6
All oaths which the judges require aside from these three are of Rabbinic origin. They are also called "the oath of the judges." Within these oaths of Rabbinic origin, there are also two categories:
a) Oaths administered because of a definite claim and denial: e.g., the oath [taken by] a hired worker,16 [the oath taken by] one who impugns his promissory note,17 and the like.18
b) Oaths taken when [the plaintiff] has a claim of a doubtful nature, e.g., the oaths taken by partners, sharecroppers, and the like.19
In the laws of financial matters, the obligation of all these types of oaths and the associated laws will be explained.
Halacha 7
Halacha 8
An oath of the judges, whether of Scriptural or Rabbinic origin, whether stemming from a definite or an indefinite claim is [administered in] the following [manner]: The person taking the oath holds a Torah scroll22 in his arm.23 He must stand24 and take the oath or recite a curse using God's name or one of the terms used to describe Him. [Either] he pronounces the oath himself or it is pronounced by the judges. My masters25 ruled that an oath of the judges is administered only in Lashon HaKodesh.26
Halacha 9
What is meant by an oath pronounced by [the defendant] himself? For example, he says: "I am taking an oath by God, the Lord of Israel...",27 "...by He whose name is graciousness...", "...by He whose name is mercy that I am not liable to this person at all." Similarly, if he says: "May one28 be cursed to God..." or "...cursed to He whose name is graciousness if I owes anything to that person."
Halacha 10
What is meant by an oath pronounced by the judges? For example, they tell him: We are administering an oath to you by God, the Lord of Israel...", "...by He whose name is graciousness that you are not liable to this person at all" and [the defendant] answers Amen.29 Or they say: "May so-and-so be cursed to God..." or "...cursed to He whose name is graciousness if he owes money to that person and does not acknowledge the debt" and [the defendant] answersAmen. This is the oath of the judges.
Halacha 11
When the judges administer an oath without the defendant holding a [sacred] article in his hand, they have made an error. He must take the oath again while holding a Torah scroll in his hand.30 If he was holding tefillin when they administered the oath to him, he is not required to take the oath again. For he held [an article equivalent to] the Torah in his hand,31 for they are like a scroll. If they administered the oath while [the defendant] was sitting, he does not have to take the oath again.
Halacha 12
Halacha 13
There is no difference between a sh'vuat heset and an oath of the judges except that [the latter] must be taken [while] holding a sacred article and a person who takes a sh'vuat heset does not hold a Torah scroll. Instead, an oath is administered to him by God's name or using one of the terms used to describe Him,34 either an oath or a curse which he utters or which the court states, as is the practice with regard to the oath of the judges. It has already become the universal custom for the synagogue attendant or another person to hold a Torah scroll while a sh'vuat heset is being administered to cast fear [into the heart of the defendant].
Halacha 14
The judges administer the oath to the person taking it in any language that he understands.35 The Geonim ruled in this manner. My masters, however, ruled that an oath should be administered only in Lashon HaKodesh. This ruling should not be relied upon.36
Although it has become customary to administer oaths in Lashon HaKodesh, the person taking the oath should be familiarized with the matter until he understands the wording of the oath. [The rationale is that] the oath of the judges is a sh'vuat hapikadon itself.37 People have even adopted the custom of administering a sh'vuat heset in Lashon HaKodesh.38
Halacha 15
Everyone who is obligated to take an oath of the judges that comes about because of a definite claim and denial,39 whether it is of Scriptural or Rabbinic origin, is subjected to a admonition, as will be explained.40 Everyone who is obligated to take an oath, whether of Scriptural or Rabbinic origin, because of a doubtful claim need not be subjected to an admonition.41
Halacha 16
How is an admonition administered to the person taking the oath? We tell him: Know that the entire world trembled at the time the Holy One, blessed be He, told Moses [Exodus 20:7]: "Do not take the name of God, your Lord, in vain." For with regard to all the transgressions in the Torah, as [Exodus 34:7] states: "And He shall cleanse." And with regard to [a false oath,] as [Exodus 20:7] states: "[God] will not cleanse one who takes His name in vain."42
With regard to all the transgressions in the Torah, retribution is exacted from him [alone], but with regard to [a false oath], retribution is exacted from him and from his family who conceal the matter for him.43 Moreover, this causes retribution to be exacted from "the enemies of the Jews,"44 for the entire Jewish people are responsible for each other,45 for [Hoshea 4:2-3] states: "Swearing, denying, murdering.... Therefore the land will mourn and all who inhabit it will be forlorn."
With regard to all the transgressions in the Torah, [retribution] is suspended for two or three generations if he possesses merit, but with regard to [a false oath], retribution is exacted immediately, as [Zechariah 5:4] states: 'I have let loose [the curse],' declares God, the Lord of Hosts, 'It will come into the house of the thief and the house of he who took an oath in My name falsely.'
"I have let loose" implies immediately. "It will come into the house of the thief" - this refers to deceiving people, i.e. one who does not have money owed to him by a colleague and yet lodges a claim against him to require him to take an oath. "He who took an oath in My name falsely" - this should be interpreted literally. [The verse continues:] "It shall destroy it, its wood, and its stones." Entities that cannot be destroyed by fire and water will be destroyed by a false oath.
Halacha 17
The concept [conveyed] by this admonition is told [to the person taking the oath] entirely in a language that they understand, so that they will understand the matter and the sinner will repent and correct [is conduct].
Halacha 18
If [the defendant] says: "I will take the oath," and [the plaintiff] persists in the claim, the people there say to each other: "Turn away from the tents of these wicked men."48
[The court] tell [the defendant]: "We are not administering the oath to you according to your understanding, but according to our understanding and the understanding of the court."49
Halacha 19
Halacha 20
It is a clear and that anyone who takes an oath of the judges or a sh'vuat hesetfalsely, is liable for taking a [false] sh'vuat hapikadon, the details of which have already been explained.52 Even though he willfully [took the false oath], he does not receive lashes. [Instead,] he is obligated to pay what he owes plus an additional fifth. [The fifth] is one fourth of the principal, so that the principal and the fifth are equal to five.53 And he must bring a guilt offering if the oath was taken in court, as we explained.54
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. |
See Chapter 1, Halachot 7-8.
|
| 2. |
See Halachah 5 which mentions the oaths required by the court.
|
| 3. |
See Halachot 8-9.
|
| 4. |
Sefer HaMitzvot (positive commandment 7) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 435) include this commandment among the 613 mitzvot of the Torah. Note the Hasagot of the Ramban to Sefer HaMitzvot and the Ra'avad' objections at the beginning of the Mishneh Torah which differ and argue that this should not be considered as a positive commandment. See also Hilchot Nedarim1:4 which states that there is a positive Scriptural commandment for a person to carry out an oath or vow he took.
|
| 5. |
For this reveals the reverence and awe in which God's name is held.
|
| 6. |
For that implies drawing a certain equation between that other entity and God.
|
| 7. |
See the Radbaz who explains why the expression: "As God lives and by the life of your soul" (II Kings 2:4, 4:30) is not a contradiction of this principle.
|
| 8. |
When the Jewish people were compelled by God to accept the Torah by oath. One might think that we would apply the principle (see Chapter 5, Halachah 11, and notes) that one oath does not take effect when another is already in effect. Hence, taking the oath would be taking God's name in vain. This is not so as the Rambam continues to explain.
|
| 9. |
Thus if David - a paradigm of pious conduct - could take an oath for this purpose, so can others.
|
| 10. |
In contrast to landed property, servants, and promissory notes (Hilchot To'en V'Nitan 5:1).
|
| 11. |
This situation is referred to by our Sages with the term modeh bimiktzat: "one who admits a portion." See Hilchot To'en V'Nitan 1:1.
|
| 12. |
"Whenever [the testimony of] two [witnesses] would require him to make financial restitution, [the testimony of] one [witness] obligates him to take an oath" (Ibid.).
|
| 13. |
If, however, the plaintiff suspects the defendant is liable, but is unsure of his claim, he cannot require the defendant to take an oath (ibid.:7). Similarly, if the defendant is unsure whether he is liable or not, he may not take a Scriptural oath to absolve himself of responsibility.
The Rambam's statements here are significant in another context. There is a difference of opinion among the Rabbis if a plaintiff who makes a claim that is supported by the testimony of one witness must be certain of the veracity of the claim himself or whether he can be doubtful, but rely on the testimony of the witness. The Maggid Mishneh (in his gloss to Hilchot Gezelah 4:17 and theKessef Mishneh (in his gloss to Hilchot To'en V'Nitan 3:6) maintain that the Rambam follows the latter view. Here, however, it appears otherwise.
|
| 14. |
See ibid.:2; Hilchot Sechirut 1:2; 2:8.
|
| 15. |
The Ma'aseh Rokeach states that the word Shema שמע serves as an acronym for the names of these three oaths: Shomrim, Modeh bimitzat eid echad, שומרים, מודה במקצת, עד אחד
|
| 16. |
See Hilchot Sechirut 11:6 which explains that when an employer denies owing a worker his wage, the worker may take an oath and collect his due.
|
| 17. |
See Hilchot Malveh V'Loveh 14:1.
|
| 18. |
For example, Sh'vuot 44b mentions several other instances when such an oath is required of a defendant: a person who claims that property was stolen from him and their is substantial circumstantial evidence corroborating his claim (see Hilchot Gezeilah 4:2), a storekeeper who disputes a client's claims with regard to payment (Hilchot Mechirah 20:8).
|
| 19. |
See Hilchot Shluchim V'Shutafim 9:1.
|
| 20. |
I.e., in contrast to the oaths mentioned in the previous halachah which were established by the Sages of the Mishnah. Sh'vuot 40b states that this oath was ordained by Rav Nachman, one of the leading Sages in the midst of the era of the Gemara. See Hilchot To'en V'Nitan 1:3.
A defendant is required to take this oath whenever he denies entirely a claim registered against him by a plaintiff.
|
| 21. |
The Seifer Meirat Einayim 75:16 interprets the term heset as meaning "placed upon," i.e., it is an oath which our Sages placed upon a person. Others interpret it as relating to the root meisit, meaning "entice." The purpose of this oath is to entice a defendant to admit an obligation.
|
| 22. |
This will impress him with the seriousness of the matter.
|
| 23. |
The Rama (Choshen Mishpat 87:15) quotes opinions stating that the defendant should not hold the scroll. Instead, it should be placed before him and he should place his hand on it.
|
| 24. |
I.e., he may not sit. Note, however, Halachot 11-12.
|
| 25. |
This term is used to refer to Rav Yosef Migash, the Rambam's teacher, and Rav Yitzchak Alfasi, Rav Yosef's teacher.
|
| 26. |
"The Holy Tongue," i.e., the Hebrew of the Tanach and the Mishnah. With regard to this ruling, see Halachah 14.
|
| 27. |
The Hagahot Maimoniot quote Rashi (Sh'vuot 38b) who states that it has become customary not to administer oaths using God's name, for the awesomeness of the punishment for taking His name in vain would lay waste to the world. This principle is quoted by the Shulchan AruchChoshen Mishpat 87:19).
|
| 28. |
He is referring to himself.
|
| 29. |
See Chapter 2, Halachah 1.
|
| 30. |
For this is equivalent to a judge making an error in a law explicitly stated in the Mishnah, in which instance the law is that the judgment is revoked (Sh'vuot 38b).
The Rama (Choshen Mishpat 87:15) quoutes an opinion that states that a Torah scroll is not required. Any sacred text with God's name is sufficient. Similarly, in one of the Rambam's responsum, he writes that a Chumash is sufficient.
|
| 31. |
For Exodus 12:9 says of tefillin: "So that the Torah of God will be in your mouth."
|
| 32. |
This is a token of respect for him. See Sh'vuot 38b.
The Siftei Cohen 87:41 quotes Rav Hai Gaon who states that the term Torah scholar has been given many definitions, but that employed today is "anyone who puts on tefillin." On this basis, theSiftei Cohen writes that in the present day, there is no difference between Torah scholars and ordinary individuals.
|
| 33. |
See Halachah 8.
|
| 34. |
The Ra'avad states that it is not customary to administer a sh'vuat hesit with God's name in the present age, for we fear that people will take false oaths. Hence to reduce the punishment that might be incurred, God's name is not mentioned. To compensate for that omission, the court should employ various techniques to impress the person taking the oath with the seriousness of the matter. As the Radbaz states, his argument with the Rambam appears to be practical, but not theoretical. In the era of the Talmud, the Rambam's ruling would be followed.
Other authorities do not accept the Rambam's view even theoretically. They maintain that even in the era of the Talmud, a sh'vuat heset was not administered with God's name. The Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat 87:18) mentions the Rambam's view, but follows that of the other authorities.
|
| 35. |
I.e., even languages other than Lashon HaKodesh.
|
| 36. |
For the Sh'vuot 38b, 39a and the Tosefta, Sotah 7:1 states that an oath can be administered in any language.
|
| 37. |
And a person is liable for a sh'vuat hapikadon only if he understands what he is saying, as stated in Chapter 7, Halachah 7.
|
| 38. |
See Halachah 20.
|
| 39. |
See Halachah 6.
|
| 40. |
In the following two halachot.
|
| 41. |
For the prooftext from Zechariah cited in the admonition is speaking about a definite claim. See also Halachah 19.
|
| 42. |
See also Chapter 12, Halachah 1; Hilchot Teshuvah 1:2.
|
| 43. |
Sh'vuot 39a derives this concept from Ecclesiates 5:5 which states: "Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin." "Your mouth" refers to taking a false oath and "your flesh" to one's family."
|
| 44. |
Here the intent is the Jewish people themselves. Our Sages (see Sukkah 29a) use this expression as a euphemism.
|
| 45. |
The Sefer Meirat Einayim 87:58 notes that this concept applies, not only with regard to a false oath, but to all the transgressions mentioned in the Torah. Nevertheless, there is a stringent aspect that applies with regard to a false oath, for with regard to other transgressions, the interrelation affects one when he has the opportunity to rebuke the transgressor and with regard to a false oath, it applies even when one does not have such an opportunity.
|
| 46. |
The Sefer Meirat Einayim 87:60 interprets this as meaning that he is sent away from the court. For once he leaves the court, he cannot change his mind and decide to take the oath.
|
| 47. |
Once the plaintiff has retracted his request for the defendant to take the oath, he is considered to have waived his claim and can no longer prosecute it again. See Hilchot Mechirah 5:1.
|
| 48. |
This malediction refers to the plaintiff as well. For as Sh'vuot 39b states, the negative repercussions of taking the oath affect them both. The Radbaz explains that the plaintiff shares in the responsibility, for he should have been more careful and not entered into a business arrangement without having the matter observed by witnesses. And if the oath is true, he should have been more careful with his accounts, so as not to require God's name to have been employed for such matters.
The Sefer Meirat Einayim 87:61 explains that when the plaintiff sees that the defendant is prepared to take a false oath, he should have offered a compromise rather than continue to pressure him and thus cause God's name to be taken in vain.
|
| 49. |
As stated in Chapter 2, Halachah 15-16, this measure is employed so that later, the defendant will not try to absolve himself saying: "I had this-and-this intent in my heart when taking the oath." Since the oath is being administered to him according to the understanding of others, it is their interpretation that is upheld. See Sh'vuot 29a and Nedarim 25a which speak of a defendant employing deception while taking an oath.
|
| 50. |
Although he does not dispute the Rambam's ruling, the Radbaz questions why an admonition is not administered in these instances. The Meiri and the Sefer Meirat Einayim 87:61 explain that when the plaintiff is making a definite claim, it is one person's word against the other's. Thus there is reason to think that the defendant's oath is false and to prevent him from doing so, we issue this warning. When, however, an oath is taken because of a doubt, the defendant is not being challenged. Hence, there is less reason to suspect that he would take a false oath.
|
| 51. |
For in all situations, it is preferable that an oath not be taken. For this reason, courts have adopted the policy of trying to negotiate compromises in all litigation (Radbaz).
|
| 52. |
See Chapters 7 and 8.
|
| 53. |
I.e., it is one fifth of the new total and not one fifth of the original principal.
|
| 54. |
Chapter 1, Halachah 9.
The Ra'avad writes that at present since God's name is not mentioned in the oath administered by the judges, there is no liability for a guilt offering or to pay the additional fifth.
|
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• 3 Chapters: Edut Edut - Chapter 5, Edut Edut - Chapter 6, Edut Edut - Chapter 7 • English Text | Hebrew Text | Audio: Listen | Download• Edut - Chapter 5
• 3 Chapters: Edut Edut - Chapter 5, Edut Edut - Chapter 6, Edut Edut - Chapter 7 • English Text | Hebrew Text |
Audio: Listen | Download• Edut - Chapter 5
Halacha 1
A ruling is never delivered in any judgment on the basis of the testimony of one witness, not in cases involving financial law, nor in cases involving capital punishment, as Deuteronomy 19:15 states: "One witness should not stand up against any person with regard to any transgression or any sin." According to the Oral Tradition, we learned that his testimony is effective with regard to an oath, as stated in Hilchot Toein ViNitan.
Halacha 2
In two situations, the Torah accepted the testimony of one witness:
a) with regard to a sotah, so that she does not drink the bitter waters; and
b) with regard to a calf whose neck is broken, to prevent its neck from being broken, as we explained.
Similarly, according to Rabbinic Law, we accept the testimony of one witness with regard to testimony concerning a woman, if he testifies that her husband died.
Halacha 3
Whenever the testimony of one witness is effective, a woman and a person disqualified as a witness may also testify. There is, however, an exception: a witness who requires that an oath be taken. We do not require that an oath be taken except on the basis of testimony that is acceptable and fit to be joined with the testimony of another person to obligate the person taking the oath to make financial restitution.
Deuteronomy 19:15 states: "On the basis of the testimony of two witnesses or on the basis of the testimony of three witnesses...," establishing an equation between three witnesses and two witnesses. Just as when there are two witnesses, if one of them is discovered to be a relative or unfit to deliver testimony, the entire testimony is nullified; so, too, if there are three - or even 100 - witnesses and one of them is discovered to be a relative or unfit to deliver testimony, the entire testimony is nullified. This applies both in matters involving financial law and in cases involving capital punishment.
Halacha 4
When does the above apply? When all of the potential witnesses had the intent of delivering testimony. If, however, they did not all intend to deliver testimony, the testimony will not be nullified. What should two brothers do when they are together with other people and they and the others see a person murder a colleague, injure him, or grab an article from his hand?
Halacha 5
How do we investigate the matter? When many witnesses come to the court as a single group, we ask them: "When you saw this person kill or injure was your intent to serve as a witness or merely to observe?" All those who say that their intent was not to serve as a witness, but they came merely to observe the matter as part of people at large are set aside. And all those who say: "I stood and took notice solely for the purpose of serving as a witness and being precise in my testimony," are set aside. If a relative or an unacceptable witness is found among those who intended to deliver testimony, the entire testimony is nullified.
When does the above apply? When a relative or an unacceptable witness was present. If, however, they are all acceptable to serve as witnesses, their testimony is taken into account whether they intended to serve as witnesses or not. Since they observed the matter, related the particulars of the testimony, and a warning was given the transgressor, the matter is adjudicated on this basis. This applies both in matters involving financial law and in cases involving capital punishment.
Halacha 6
The following laws apply when there is a legal document with many witnesses and one of them is discovered to be a relative or unacceptable or two of them are related to each other and the witnesses are not alive so that they could be asked whether they intended to sign as witnesses or not. If there is definitive testimony that they all sat down with the intent of signing - i.e., they intended to give testimony - the document is unacceptable. If not, the testimony may be maintained on the basis of the other witnesses.
Why may the testimony be maintained on the basis of the other witnesses? Because it is possible that the acceptable witnesses signed and left a place for a person of stature to sign and the relative or the unacceptable witness signed without them knowing.
Halacha 7
Even though an unacceptable witness is the first whose signature appears on the legal document, the document is acceptable.
Halacha 8
Whenever a witness delivers testimony in a case involving capital punishment, he may not rule as a judge with regard to this murder. He may not offer an opinion in favor of the accused's acquittal or conviction. If he states: "I have a rationale that should lead to his acquittal, he is silenced, as implied by Numbers 35:30: "One witness shall not make a statement with regard to a case involving capital punishment," i.e., his words are not accepted neither for acquittal, nor for conviction.
What is the intent of the phrase "involving capital punishment"? That once a witness testifies with regard to capital punishment, he should make no further statements. He should deliver his testimony and be silent. With regard to cases involving financial matters, he may, however, offer an opinion leading to the defendant being released from financial liability or held liable. He may not, however, be counted among the judges or serve as a judge. For a witness may not serve as a judge. This applies even in cases involving financial matters.
Halacha 9
When does the above apply? With regard to matters that, according to Scriptural Law, require testimony and adjudication by judges. In matters of Rabbinic Law, by contrast, a witness may serve as a judge.
What is implied? A person brought a bill of divorce and stated: "It was written and signed in my presence." He and two other individuals may serve as a court and give the woman the bill of divorce. It is as if she received it in a court. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
Edut - Chapter 6
Halacha 1
As explained, the verification of the authenticity of the signatures of the witnesses to legal documents is a Rabbinic provision so that loans will be given freely. Nevertheless, we do not verify the authenticity of a legal document except in a court of three judges, for it is a judgment. Ordinary people, however, are acceptable to serve as the judges. For this reason, the authenticity of legal documents may not be verified at night, as we explained.
Halacha 2
The authenticity of the signatures of the witnesses to legal documents may be verified in any of five ways:
a) the judges recognize the handwriting of the witnesses and know that this is so-and-so's signature and that this is so-and-so's signature;
b) the witnesses sign the legal document in their presence;
c) the witnesses who signed come and each testifies in the presence of the judges saying, "This is my signature and I am a witness to this matter";
d) if the witnesses to the legal document died or they were in another locale, other witnesses may come and testify to the authenticity of their signatures;
e) if the witnesses' signatures were found on other legal documents, the court compares these signatures to the signatures on those documents, seeing that they resemble each other and the signatures on these documents match these signatures.
Halacha 3
The authenticity of the signatures of the witnesses to legal documents should not be verified from documents other than:
a) two deeds of sale from two fields whose owners benefited from them for three years in a proper and conspicuous manner without fear or dread from any claim in the world as all the owners of fields benefit from their properties; or b) two ketubot.
These two legal documents must be in the possession of another person and not in the possession of the person who seeks to validate his legal document, for it is possible he forged all the signatures. Similarly, we may validate a legal document by comparing the signatures of the witnesses to those on a legal document whose authenticity was challenged and then verified by a court of law. Such a legal document alone can be used to verify the authenticity of the signatures to a legal document just as a legal document can be validated by comparing it to the deeds of sale for two fields or two ketubot.
Halacha 4
When a court writes on a legal document: "In a sitting of three judges, the authenticity of this legal document was validated in our presence," it is validated even though they did not state in which of the five ways it was validated. For we do not suspect that the court erred. Nevertheless, it has already become accepted practice for all the courts which we have seen and about whom we have heard for the judges to describe the manner in which the document was validated.
Halacha 5
A court never checks whether another court validated a legal document in a correct manner. Instead, we act under the presumption that they were knowledgeable and did not err. We do, however, check the witnesses.
Halacha 6
When three judges sit to validate the authenticity of a legal document and one of them dies, the remaining judges should write: "We sat in a session of three judges, one of the judges exists no longer," lest an observer say: "A court of two judges validated it." Even if the validation states that it was performed by a court, it would be insufficient, lest an observer say: "Perhaps they thought that two judges could constitute a court." If their wording implied that there were three judges, there is no need to mention the death of the other judge.
Halacha 7
The following principles apply when there is a question if one of the judges was acceptable to serve in his position. For example, three judges sat to validate the authenticity of a legal document. Two witnesses came and challenged the propriety of one of the judges, saying that he was a robber or the like. Two others came and testified that he repented. If, before the judges signed, they testified that he repented, he may sign with them. For there were three acceptable judges at the time of the signing. If it was not until after the other two judges signed that the witnesses testified that he repented, the third judge may not sign together with them. For it is as if he did not exist at the time the other two signed.
When does the above apply? When his propriety was challenged because of a transgression. Different rules apply, however, when, however, his propriety was challenged because of a blemish in his lineage, e.g., they said: "His mother was never freed, and he is a servant," or "His mother never converted and he is a gentile." If after the other two judges signed, it was discovered that he does not have this type of blemished lineage and he is fit to serve as a judge, he may sign together with the other two. The rationale is that this is merely the revelation of a fact that existed previously.
Halacha 8
It is permitted to write the validation on the document before the signatures on the document are validated. For it is the judges' signing of the validation, not the writing of it that is of fundamental importance.
The judges do not have to read the legal document when they validate its authenticity. Instead, they validate it based on the signatures of the witnesses even if they do not know what was written in it.
Edut - Chapter 7
Halacha 1
A relative may give testimony with regard to his relative's signature.
What is implied? There was a legal document which Reuven and Shimon signed as witnesses. They died or traveled overseas. Reuven's son came and testified: "This is my father's signature," and Shimon's son came and testified: "This is my father's signature," it is as if they are two acceptable witnesses who are not related to the witnesses who have signed. If a third witness joins together with them and testifies with regard to the two signatures, the authenticity of the legal document is validated.
Halacha 2
The statements of the following individuals are acceptable when, as adults, they testify with regard to what they observed as minors. A person's words is accepted when, as an adult, he states: "This is the signature of my father....", "This is the signature of my teacher...", "This is the signature of my brother which I learned to recognize when I was a minor."
The above applies, provided he is joined by another person who learned to recognize these signatures while an adult.
Halacha 3
When there is a legal document on which Reuven and Shimon signed as witnesses and two others came and testified to the authenticity of the signatures of both Reuven and Shimon, the legal document is validated. If, however, one testified to the authenticity of Reuven's signature and the other testified to the authenticity of Shimon's signature, the document is not validated. The rationale is that two witnesses must testify with regard to both witnesses' signature. If there is a third witness who testifies with regard to the authenticity of both Reuven's and Shimon's signature, the document is validated.
Halacha 4
When one witness says: "This is my signature," and he and another witness testify with regard to the signature of the other witness, the document is not validated, for three fourths of the money mentioned in the legal document is dependent on the testimony of one person. Similarly, if the son or the brother of the first witness testifies with another person with regard to the signature of the second witness, the document is not validated, because three fourths of the money is dependent on the testimony of relatives.
Halacha 5
When two witnesses sign a legal document and one of them dies, it is necessary that two witnesses testify with regard to the authenticity of the witness who died. If there is only one other witness who recognizes his signature in addition to the witness who is alive, the latter should write his signature, even on a shard, in the presence of two witnesses and send it to the court so that his signature will be validated. In that instance, it is not necessary for him to declare that it is his signature. Accordingly, he and another person can testify with regard to the signature of the deceased person so that his signature will be validated even though he is not present.
Halacha 6
The following principles apply if three judges sit together to validate the authenticity of a legal document, two of them recognize the signatures of the witnesses and one of them does not. Before the judges sign the validation, the two witnesses who recognize the signatures may deliver testimony before the third judge. Then they may sign the validation, for witnesses may serve as judges in a matter that is a Rabbinic ordinance, as we explained.
If the two witnesses who recognize the signatures sign the validation before testifying, they may not testify in the presence of the third judge and have him sign. For at the time they signed, only those two recognized the signature of the witnesses. A legal document may be validated only when all three judges recognize the signatures or witnesses deliver testimony on the signatures before each one of them.
Halacha 7
The following law applies when the two witnesses who signed on a legal document died and two others came and testified, saying: "This is their signature, but they signed under duress," "...they were minors," or "...they were unacceptable as witnesses." Even though there were other witnesses who testify with regard to their signatures or their signatures could be recognized from another legal document concerning which a protest was raised and afterwards, it was validated by the court, the legal document is not validated. Instead, the two witnesses who signed the document are balanced against the two who testified that they were unacceptable as witnesses, and the legal document may not be used to expropriate money.
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Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class• Monday, Cheshvan 20, 5776 · 02 November 2015
"Today's Day"
Thursday Cheshvan 20 5704
Torah lessons: Chumash: Chayei Sara, Chamishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 97-103.
Tanya: Now, the Cabbalists (p. 579) ...neshamah of man. (p. 581).
Birth of R. Shalom Dovber in the year which the Tzemach Tzedek termed Kitra1 ("crown") - 5621 (1860). He was named for the Mitteler Rebbe2 and half the name of the Tzemach Tzedek's father.3
Every year my father delivered a maamar on his birthday, but he did so secretly except when it coincided with Shabbat. On his last birthday here on earth4 he said the maamar Natata lirei'echa neiss...5 When he concluded he said to me, "on one's birthday he should say Chassidus. May G-d give you a gift that you may say Chassidus on your birthday, but it should be with kindness and mercy." It took seven years for this to happen.6
FOOTNOTES
1. Kitra is numerically 5621.
2. R. Dovber.
3. R. Shalom Shachna.
4. 1919.
5. Tehillim 60:6.
6. The Festival of Liberation of the previous Rebbe (from Soviet imprisonment for his spreading of Torah and Judaism) occurred on his birthday, the 12th of Tamuz, in the year 5687 (1927) - during his seventh year as Rebbe. He succeeded to the leadership in 5680 (1920) upon his father's demise.
---------------------•
Daily Thought:
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class• Monday, Cheshvan 20, 5776 · 02 November 2015
"Today's Day"
Thursday Cheshvan 20 5704
Torah lessons: Chumash: Chayei Sara, Chamishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 97-103.
Tanya: Now, the Cabbalists (p. 579) ...neshamah of man. (p. 581).
Birth of R. Shalom Dovber in the year which the Tzemach Tzedek termed Kitra1 ("crown") - 5621 (1860). He was named for the Mitteler Rebbe2 and half the name of the Tzemach Tzedek's father.3
Every year my father delivered a maamar on his birthday, but he did so secretly except when it coincided with Shabbat. On his last birthday here on earth4 he said the maamar Natata lirei'echa neiss...5 When he concluded he said to me, "on one's birthday he should say Chassidus. May G-d give you a gift that you may say Chassidus on your birthday, but it should be with kindness and mercy." It took seven years for this to happen.6
FOOTNOTES
1. Kitra is numerically 5621.
2. R. Dovber.
3. R. Shalom Shachna.
4. 1919.
5. Tehillim 60:6.
6. The Festival of Liberation of the previous Rebbe (from Soviet imprisonment for his spreading of Torah and Judaism) occurred on his birthday, the 12th of Tamuz, in the year 5687 (1927) - during his seventh year as Rebbe. He succeeded to the leadership in 5680 (1920) upon his father's demise.
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Daily Thought:
Continuously Everywhere
There are no things. The experience of a world of static objects is an illusion. There are only words—a constant flow of meaning generating an entire universe anew at every moment.
There is no world. Abandon the notion that there is a G‑d who created a world outside of Himself as an artisan fashions an artifact.
There is only the energy of being, flowing continuously outward from the Source of Being, investing within countless strata of being, until ultimately crystallizing as our material reality.
Which means that if for a moment that current would cease, all of existence would cease with it. There would be no matter, no laws of physics, no fields of energy or dimensions of space. Not only would all these be gone, they would never have been, for time itself would be erased.
And if the current would begin again, in some different way than it was before, then the world would be a new world and the past would be a new past.
Which means that there is no room for worry or despair, and neither is there anything that can defeat your purpose. For you are intimately entwined in a bond of love with that Source of Being, and from there, at any moment, all of past, present and future can be annulled and created anew.[Shaar Hayichud Veha-emunah, chapter 1. Tzavaat Harivash 137.]
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