Today in Jewish History:
• Martyrs of Blois (1171)
The 20th of Sivan is the anniversary of the first blood libel in France. On this date in 1171, tens of Jewish men and women were burned alive in the French town of Blois on the infamous accusation that Jews used to the blood of Christian children in the preparation of matzot for Passover. For a detailed account see link below.
Links:
Daily Quote:
According to the pain is the gain[Ethics of the Fathers 5:21]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Shlach, 1st Portion Numbers 13:1-13:20 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation | Video Class• Numbers Chapter 13
1The Lord spoke to Moses saying, אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2"Send out for yourself men who will scout the Land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel. You shall send one man each for his father's tribe; each one shall be a chieftain in their midst." בשְׁלַח לְךָ֣ אֲנָשִׁ֗ים וְיָתֻ֨רוּ֙ אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י נֹתֵ֖ן לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָד֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶחָ֜ד לְמַטֵּ֤ה אֲבֹתָיו֙ תִּשְׁלָ֔חוּ כֹּ֖ל נָשִׂ֥יא בָהֶֽם:
Send for yourself men: Why is the section dealing with the spies juxtaposed with the section dealing with Miriam? Because she was punished over matters of slander, for speaking against her brother, and these wicked people witnessed [it], but did not learn their lesson. — [Midrash Tanchuma Shelach 5]
שלח לך אנשים: למה נסמכה פרשת מרגלים לפרשת מרים, לפי שלקתה על עסקי דבה שדברה באחיה, ורשעים הללו ראו ולא לקחו מוסר:
Send for yourself: According to your own understanding. I am not commanding you, but if you wish, you may send. Since the Israelites had come [to Moses] and said, “Let us send men ahead of us,” as it says, “All of you approached me…” (Deut. 1:22), Moses took counsel with the Shechinah . He [God] said, “I told them that it is good, as it says, ‘I will bring you up from the affliction of Egypt…’ (Exod. 3:17). By their lives! Now I will give them the opportunity to err through the words of the spies, so that they will not inherit it.” - [Midrash Tanchuma 5]
שלח לך: לדעתך, אני איני מצוה לך, אם תרצה שלח, לפי שבאו ישראל ואמרו (דברים א, כב) נשלחה אנשים לפנינו, כמה שנאמר (שם) ותקרבון אלי כלכם וגו', ומשה נמלך בשכינה. אמר אני אמרתי להם שהיא טובה, שנאמר (שמות ג, יז) אעלה אתכם מעני מצרים וגו', חייהם שאני נותן להם מקום לטעות בדברי המרגלים למען לא יירשוה:
3So Moses sent them from the desert of Paran by the word of the Lord. All of them were men of distinction; they were the heads of the children of Israel. גוַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח אֹתָ֥ם משֶׁ֛ה מִמִּדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָ֖ן עַל־פִּ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כֻּלָּ֣ם אֲנָשִׁ֔ים רָאשֵׁ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הֵֽמָּה:
by the word of the Lord: With his consent; He did not stop him.
על פי ה': ברשותו, שלא עכב על ידו:
All of them were men of distinction: Whenever [the word] אִנָשִׁים [is used] in Scripture, it denotes importance. At that time, they were virtuous. — [Mid. Tanchuma 4]
כלם אנשים: כל אנשים שבמקרא לשון חשיבות, ואותה שעה כשרים היו:
4These are their names: For the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zakkur. דוְאֵ֖לֶּה שְׁמוֹתָ֑ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה רְאוּבֵ֔ן שַׁמּ֖וּעַ בֶּן־זַכּֽוּר:
5For the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. הלְמַטֵּ֣ה שִׁמְע֔וֹן שָׁפָ֖ט בֶּן־חוֹרִֽי:
6For the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jepphunneh. ולְמַטֵּ֣ה יְהוּדָ֔ה כָּלֵ֖ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּֽה:
7For the tribe of Issachar, Yigal the son of Joseph. זלְמַטֵּ֣ה יִשָּׂשכָ֔ר יִגְאָ֖ל בֶּן־יוֹסֵֽף:
8For the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun. חלְמַטֵּ֥ה אֶפְרָ֖יִם הוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בִּן־נֽוּן:
9For the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu. טלְמַטֵּ֣ה בִנְיָמִ֔ן פַּלְטִ֖י בֶּן־רָפֽוּא:
10For the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. ילְמַטֵּ֣ה זְבוּלֻ֔ן גַּדִּיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־סוֹדִֽי:
11For the tribe of Joseph, the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi. יאלְמַטֵּ֥ה יוֹסֵ֖ף לְמַטֵּ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה גַּדִּ֖י בֶּן־סוּסִֽי:
12For the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. יבלְמַטֵּ֣ה דָ֔ן עַמִּיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־גְּמַלִּֽי:
13For the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. יגלְמַטֵּ֣ה אָשֵׁ֔ר סְת֖וּר בֶּן־מִֽיכָאֵֽל:
14For the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi. ידלְמַטֵּ֣ה נַפְתָּלִ֔י נַחְבִּ֖י בֶּן־וָפְסִֽי:
15For the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. טולְמַטֵּ֣ה גָ֔ד גְּאוּאֵ֖ל בֶּן־מָכִֽי:
16These are the names of the men Moses sent to scout the Land, and Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua. טזאֵ֚לֶּה שְׁמ֣וֹת הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח משֶׁ֖ה לָת֣וּר אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּקְרָ֥א משֶׁ֛ה לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בִּן־נ֖וּן יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ:
And Moses called Hoshea…: He prayed on his behalf, “May God save you from the counsel of the spies.” [The name יְהוֹשֻׁעַ is a compounded form of יָהּ יוֹשִׁיעֲךָ, May God save you.]- [Sotah 34b]
ויקרא משה להושע וגו': התפלל עליו יה יושיעך מעצת מרגלים:
17Moses sent them to scout the Land of Canaan, and he said to them, "Go up this way in the south and climb up the mountain. יזוַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֹתָם֙ משֶׁ֔ה לָת֖וּר אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם עֲל֥וּ זֶה֙ בַּנֶּ֔גֶב וַֽעֲלִיתֶ֖ם אֶת־הָהָֽר:
Go up this way in the south: This was the inferior part of the Land of Israel. This is the custom of merchants; they show their inferior goods first and afterward display their best. — [Midrash Tanchuma 6]
עלו זה בנגב: הוא היה הפסולת של ארץ ישראל, שכן דרך התגרים מראין את הפסולת תחלה ואחר כך מראין את השבח:
18You shall see what [kind of] land it is, and the people who inhabit it; are they strong or weak? Are there few or many? יחוּרְאִיתֶ֥ם אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ מַה־הִ֑וא וְאֶת־הָעָם֙ הַיּשֵׁ֣ב עָלֶ֔יהָ הֶֽחָזָ֥ק הוּא֙ הֲרָפֶ֔ה הַמְעַ֥ט ה֖וּא אִם־רָֽב:
what [kind of] land it is: Some countries rear strong people, and some countries rear weak [people]; some produce large populations and some small populations. — [Mid. Tanchuma 6]
את הארץ מה היא: יש ארץ מגדלת גבורים ויש ארץ מגדלת חלשים יש מגדלת אוכלוסין ויש ממעטת אוכלוסין:
are they strong or weak: He gave them a sign. If they live in open cities [it is a sign that] they are strong, since they rely on their might. And if they live in fortified cities [it is a sign that] they are weak. — [Mid. Tanchuma 6]
החזק הוא הרפה: סימן מסר להם, אם בפרזים יושבין, חזקים הם שסומכין על גבורתם, ואם בערים בצורות הם יושבין, חלשים הם:
19And what of the land they inhabit? Is it good or bad? And what of the cities in which they reside are they in camps or in fortresses? יטוּמָ֣ה הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־הוּא֙ ישֵׁ֣ב בָּ֔הּ הֲטוֹבָ֥ה הִ֖וא אִם־רָעָ֑ה וּמָ֣ה הֶֽעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר־הוּא֙ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בָּהֵ֔נָּה הַֽבְּמַֽחֲנִ֖ים אִ֥ם בְּמִבְצָרִֽים:
are they in camps: Heb. הַבְּמַחֲנִים, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders, הַבְּפַצְחִין, cities which are exposed and open, unwalled.
הבמחנים: תרגומו הבפצחין כרכין פצוחין ופתוחין מאין חומה:
is it good: possessing springs and other good and healthy water sources.
הטובה היא: במעינות ותהומות טובים ובריאים:
20What is the soil like is it fat or lean? Are there any trees in it or not? You shall be courageous and take from the fruit of the land." It was the season when the first grapes begin to ripen. כוּמָ֣ה הָ֠אָ֠רֶץ הַשְּׁמֵנָ֨ה הִ֜וא אִם־רָזָ֗ה הֲיֵֽשׁ־בָּ֥הּ עֵץ֙ אִם־אַ֔יִן וְהִ֨תְחַזַּקְתֶּ֔ם וּלְקַחְתֶּ֖ם מִפְּרִ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהַ֨יָּמִ֔ים יְמֵ֖י בִּכּוּרֵ֥י עֲנָבִֽים:
does it have trees: Heb. הִיֵשׁ בָּהּ עֵץ, lit,. does it have a tree. Does it have a worthy man who will protect them with his merit. - [B.B. 15a]
היש בה עץ: אם יש בהם אדם כשר שיגין עליהם בזכותו:
when the first grapes begin to ripen: The season in which the grapes begin to ripen, in their first stage of growth.
בכורי ענבים: ימים שהענבים מתבשלין בבכור:
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.
FOOTNOTES
1.When swearing, they would say, “If I am lying, may I become like the miserable Jews” (Metzudot).
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!
Tanya: Shaar Hayichud Vehaemunah, beginning of Chapter 7• Lessons in Tanya• English Text
• Hebrew Text
• Audio Class: Listen | Download
• Video Class• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Audio Class: Listen | Download
• Video Class• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Sunday, Sivan 20, 5776 · June 26, 2016
• Shaar Hayichud Vehaemunah, beginning of Chapter 7
• The Alter Rebbe explained in the previous chapters that the Scriptural statement that “in the heavens above and upon the earth below there is none other,” is not intended to negate the existence of another god. Rather, it tells us that Divine Unity is such that there is no true existence other than G‑d, for all created beings are completely nullified in relation to Him and are united with Him. This is not perceived by them nor manifest in them, only because of the tzimtzum which conceals the Divine life-force that continuously brings about their existence ex nihilo. Being unable to perceive this life-force, they consider themselves to be independently existing entities.
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:• English Text | Hebrew Text |
Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class• Sunday, Sivan 20, 5776 · June 26, 2016
This concealment, of course, applies only to created beings but not to their Creator. From the Divine perspective there is no concealment whatever, inasmuch as Havayah and Elokim are truly one: the concealment effected by Elokim thus does not act as a concealment for Havayah.
The Alter Rebbe will now explain how the above enables us to understand the teaching of the Zohar that Shema Yisrael is “higher-level Unity” and Baruch shem is “lower-level Unity.”
Were Divine Unity merely to signify the existence of one G‑d, it would be impossible to speak of higher and lower levels of Unity. According to the above explanation, however, that Divine Unity means the nullity of created beings and their unity with G‑d, it is indeed possible to speak of two diverse levels of Unity.
In this sense, “higher-level Unity” refers to the Divine faculty of creative speech (otherwise known as Malchut), considered at the stage in which it is still found within its source. By way of analogy, the seminal letters of a person’s speech are first encapsulated within his thought and emotions, which will ultimately be responsible for his subsequent speech. (The Rebbe notes that “this was explained in Part I, chs. 20-21.”)
The same is true Above: When Supernal creative speech is at the stage in which it is still included within the Supernal attributes — which, being infinite, are too lofty to serve as a source of creation, for it is inherently limited to space and time — creation as it exists in its source is united with G‑d at the higher level of Unity. Its manner of nullification is then similar to the nullification of the sun’s rays as they are found within the sun-globe.
When, however, the Divine creative power of speech (or Malchut), after undergoing a process of tzimtzumim, descends to a level at which it is able to serve as a source for creation, then the term “lower-level Unity” applies. Created beings at this level cannot be said to be completely and utterly nullified. For inasmuch as this level becomes the actual source of created beings, they must perforce have some measure of identity in relation to it. Although this level, too, is pervaded by the Ein Sof-light which unites with the Divine faculty of creative speech, this unification is nevertheless one of “lower-level Unity,” wherein created beings are seen to have some measure of existence — albeit a nullified form of existence, but existence nonetheless.
ובזה יובן מה שכתוב בזהר הקדוש דפסוק שמע ישראל הוא יחודא עילאה, וברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד הוא יחודא תתאה
With the above in mind, we may now understand the statement in the holy Zohar, that the verse Shema Yisrael is yichuda ila‘ah (“higher-level Unity”), and that the verse Baruch shem kvod malchuto leolam vaed isyichuda tata’ah (“lower- level Unity”).
The connection between the last-mentioned verse and Divine Unity is now explained:
כי ועד הוא אחד בחילופי אתוון
The alef of echad interchanges with the vav of vaed, since both letters belong to the same group of letters, viz., alef, hei, vav, yud (which, the Rebbe notes, are known as otiyot hahemshech, the “connective letters”). The chet of echad interchanges with the ayin of vaed, since they share the same source (motza) in the organs of speech, and thus both belong to the category of “guttural letters,” viz., alef, hei, chet, ayin. Finally, the large daled of echad transposes into the small daled of vaed.
כי הנה סיבת וטעם הצמצום וההסתר הזה שהסתיר והעלים הקב״ה את החיות של העולם, כדי שיהיה העולם נראה דבר נפרד בפני עצמו
The cause and reason for this tzimtzum and concealment with which the Holy One, blessed be He, obscured and hid the life- force of the world, making it appear as an independently existing entity, [is as follows]:
I.e., the Alter Rebbe is asking why it is indeed necessary for the world to appear as an independently existing entity. What would be lacking if the world would be perceived in its true state — as an entity wholly nullified in relation to its source? The reason for this is as follows:
הנה הוא ידוע לכל, כי תכלית בריאת העולם הוא בשביל התגלות מלכותו יתברך
It is known to all that the purpose of the creation of the world is the revelation of [G‑d’s] sovereignty,
דאין מלך בלא עם
for3 “there is no king without a nation.”
פירוש עם: מלשון עוממות
The word עם (“nation”) is related etymologically to the word עוממות (“dimmed, extinguished”), as in the expression גחלים עוממות (Rashi on Shoftim 5:14), describing coals in which the fire is not to be seen. In terms of the relationship of a king and his subjects, the word עם thus signifies those whose relationship with the king is not readily apparent,
שהם דברים נפרדים וזרים ורחוקים ממעלת המלך
for they — the subjects who comprise a nation — are separate entities, distinct and distant from the level of the king; only upon them does the king reign, as a result of their nullifying themselves to him.
כי אילו אפילו היו לו בנים רבים מאד, לא שייך שם מלוכה עליהם
For even if he had very many children, the term “kingship” would not apply to them, inasmuch as the king’s children are part of the king himself,
וכן אפילו על שרים לבדם
nor is it possible for a king to reign even over nobles alone.
Although they — unlike a king’s children — are not part of him, nevertheless, since their position puts them in constant and close contact with him, thereby lending them some of the aspects of kingship, the king cannot reign over nobles alone.
רק ברוב עם דווקא הדרת מלך
Only4 “in a numerous nation is the glory of the king.”
Only upon strangers can sovereignty apply. The same is true Above: The ultimate intent of the revelation of Divine Kingship finds expression in His reigning over lowly created beings, who perceive themselves as existing independently of Him — so that they, too, should humble and nullify themselves before Him.
ושם המורה על מדת מלכותו יתברך הוא שם אדנות, כי הוא אדון כל הארץ
The Name that indicates the attribute of G‑d’s Malchut (“Kingship”) is the Name of Adnut (“Lordship”), forHis Kingship lies in the fact that He is L‑rd of the whole universe.
ונמצא כי מדה זו ושם זה הן המהוין ומקיימין העולם להיות עולם כמות שהוא עכשיו
Thus, it is this attribute (viz., Malchut) and this Name (viz., the Name of Adnut, signifying lordship) which bring the world into existence and sustain it so that it should be as it is now —
יש גמור, ודבר נפרד בפני עצמו, ואינו בטל במציאות ממש
a completely independent and separate entity, and not absolutely nullified,
כי בהסתלקות מדה זו ושם זה, חס ושלום, היה העולם חוזר למקורו בדבר ה׳ ורוח פיו יתברך, ובטל שם במציאות ממש, ולא היה שם עולם עליו כלל
for with the withdrawal of this attribute and this Name from the world, G‑d forbid, the world would revert to its source in the “word of G‑d” and the “breath of His mouth,” where it would be completely nullified, and the name “world” could not be applied to it at all.
Inherent in the name “world” is being and limitation. However, in the state in which the world finds itself within its source it would have no “being” and would not be limited.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | “A letter of mine dealing with this substitution appears in Kovetz Lubavitch.” ( — Note of the Rebbe). This letter has since been reprinted in Teshuvot U‘Biurim (Kehot, N.Y., 1974; Heb.), Section 13, p. 62. |
| 2. | “As stated in Zohar II, 135a.” ( — Note of the Rebbe). |
| 3. | Emek HaMelech, Shaar HaMitzvot, beginning of ch. 1; Rabbeinu Bachaye, Parshat Vayeishev, 38:2. Cf. Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer, ch. 3. |
| 4. | Mishlei 14:28. |
• Sefer Hamitzvos:• English Text | Hebrew Text |
Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class• Sunday, Sivan 20, 5776 · June 26, 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Important Message Regarding This Lesson
The Daily Mitzvah schedule runs parallel to the daily study of 3 chapters of Maimonides' 14-volume code. There are instances when the Mitzvah is repeated a few days consecutively while the exploration of the same Mitzvah continues in the in-depth track.
Positive Commandment 97
Ritual Impurity of Sheratzim
We are commanded regarding the ritual impurity [contained in and emitted by] certain creeping animals, known as sheratzim,listed in the Torah. [I.e., when contracted, one must follow all the laws associated with this impurity.]
Full text of this Mitzvah »
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Important Message Regarding This Lesson
The Daily Mitzvah schedule runs parallel to the daily study of 3 chapters of Maimonides' 14-volume code. There are instances when the Mitzvah is repeated a few days consecutively while the exploration of the same Mitzvah continues in the in-depth track.
Positive Commandment 97
Ritual Impurity of Sheratzim
We are commanded regarding the ritual impurity [contained in and emitted by] certain creeping animals, known as sheratzim,listed in the Torah. [I.e., when contracted, one must follow all the laws associated with this impurity.]
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Ritual Impurity of Sheratzim
Positive Commandment 97
Translated by Berel Bell
The 97th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the tumah of the eight types of sheratzim.1 This mitzvah includes tumas sheretz and all its laws.2
FOOTNOTES
1.See Lev. 11:29-38. Kaplan (The Living Torah, 1981) translates them as the weasel, mouse, ferret, hedgehog, chameleon, lizard, snail, and mole.
2.See Hilchos Shaar Avos HaTuma'os, Chapter 4.
• 1 Chapter: Shegagot Shegagot - Perek 4 • English Text | Hebrew Text | Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class• Shegagot - Perek 4
Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class• Shegagot - Perek 4
1
When a person performs many transgressions for which one is required to bring a sin-offering in one lapse of awareness, he is liable for a sin-offering for every individual transgression. Even if he performs all the 43 transgressions that we listed in one lapse of awareness, he is liable for 43 sin-offerings.
Similarly, if a person performed one deed for which he is liable for many transgressions, he is liable for every transgression, provided all of the prohibitions involved take effect at once, the latter prohibition causes the entity to be forbidden to additional people, or the scope of the latter prohibition encompasses other entities together with the entity that was originally prohibited.
What is implied? A person who slaughters consecrated animals outside the Temple, on the Sabbath, for the sake of a false divinity is liable for three sin-offerings, one for slaughtering consecrated animals outside the Temple Courtyard, one for desecrating the Sabbath, and one for serving false divinities, for the three transgressions take effect at the same time.
When does the above apply? When the person serving the false divinity states that he is serving it at the conclusion of the slaughter of the animal. If, however, this was not his intent, as soon as he performed a portion of the slaughter for the sake of a false divinity, it becomes forbidden. Since he is not liable for slaughtering an animal outside the Temple Courtyard until he slits the two organs, necessary to slit for ritual slaughter or the larger portion of these two organs, when he completed the slaughter, he will have slaughtered an animal that is forbidden to be offered as a sacrifice, in which instance, he is not liable for slaughtering it outside the Temple Courtyard, as we explained.
If it was a sin-offering of fowl and half of its windpipe was cut and a person increased the slit even the slightest amount on the Sabbath for the sake of a false divinity, he is liable for three sin-offerings, for the three prohibitions take effect at the same time.
Similarly, a person who performs forbidden labor on Yom Kippur when it occurs on the Sabbath, is liable to bring two sin-offerings, because the two prohibitions take effect at the same time. Also, a person who is intimate with the wife of his brother who is alive while she is in the niddah state, he must bring three sin-offerings: one because he was intimate with a married woman and one, because she was his brother's wife;these are two prohibitions that take effect at the same time; and one, because she was in the niddah state, which is a prohibition that forbids additional entities besides the entity that was originally prohibited. Since this prohibition would apply with regard to her husband, it also applies to her brother-in-law.
In the same vein, one who sodomizes his father is liable for two sin-offerings, one because of the prohibition, Leviticus 18:7: "Do not reveal the nakedness of your father" and one because of the prohibition, ibid.:22: "Do not lie with a man." Similarly, one who sodomizes his father's brother is liable for two sin-offerings, one because it is written ibid.:14: "Do not reveal the nakedness of your father's brother" and one because of the general prohibition against sodomy.
When one sodomizes a male and has a male sodomize him in one lapse of awareness, he is liable for only one sin-offering, even though there are two bodies involved. This is derived from the prohibition: "Do not lie with a man" which makes both positions equally liable. Similarly, when one sodomizes an animal and has an animal sodomize him in one lapse of awareness, he is liable for only one sin-offering. One is deemed equally liable for either position of intimacy when engaging in relations with an animal or a male.
א
העושה עבירות הרבה בהעלם אחת חייב חטאת על כל אחת ואחת אפילו עשה הארבעים ושלש אלו שמנינו בהעלם אחת חייב ארבעים ושלש חטאות וכן אם עשה מעשה אחד שהוא חייב עליו משום שמות הרבה חייב על כל שם ושם והוא שהיו האיסורין כולן באין כאחת או איסור מוסיף או איסור כולל כיצד השוחט בהמת קדשים חוץ לעזרה בשבת לע"ז חייב שלש חטאות משום שוחט קדשים בחוץ ומשום מחלל שבת ומשום עובד ע"ז שהרי שלשת האיסורין באין כאחת במה דברים אמורים באומר בגמר זביחה הוא עובד אותה אבל אם לא היתה כוונתו לכך משישחט בה מעט לשם ע"ז תאסר ואינו חייב משום שחוטי חוץ עד שישחוט שנים או רוב שנים ונמצא כשגמר השחיטה שחט בהמה האסורה לקרבן שאינו חייב עליה משום שוחט בחוץ כמו שביארנו היתה חטאת העוף והיה חצי קנה שלה פגום והוסיף בו כל שהוא בשבת לשם ע"ז חייב שלש חטאות שהרי שלשת האיסורין באים כאחת וכן העושה מלאכה ביוה"כ שחל להיות בשבת חייב שתי חטאות מפני ששני האיסורין באין כאחת: הבא על אשת אחיו הקיים כשהיא נדה מביא שלש חטאות משום אשת איש ומשום אשת אח והן שני איסורין הבאין כאחת ומשום נדה שהוא איסור מוסיף שמתוך שנתוסף בה איסור זה לבעלה נוסף ליבמה וכן כיוצא בזה הבא על אביו חייב שתים אחת משום ערות אביך לא תגלה ומשום ואת זכר לא תשכב וכן הבא על אחי אביו חייב שתים שנאמר ערות אחי אביך לא תגלה הבא על הזכור והביא זכור עליו בהעלם אחת אע"פ שהן שני גופין אינו חייב אלא חטאת אחת שנאמר ואת זכר לא תשכב השוכב והנשכב שם אחד הוא וכן הבא על הבהמה והביא בהמה עליו בהעלם אחת אינו חייב אלא חטאת אחת עשו השוכב והנשכב בבהמה וזכור כבעילה אחת:
2
It is possible that there be an instance where a person engages in a single act of intimacy and he is liable for eight sin-offerings.
What is implied? Jacob begat a daughter whose name was Timna from his wife Zilpa. Lavan married Timna and begat a daughter named Serach from her. Lavan does not have any daughters other than Rachel. Thus Serach is the daughter of Jacob's daughter, and his wife's sister on her father's side. These are two prohibitions that take effect at the same time. Serach married Reuven. She became forbidden to Jacob's other sons and thus became forbidden to Jacob as well, as his son's wife. If Reuven died or divorced her and Serach married Jacob's maternal brother, since she became forbidden to Jacob's other brothers through this marriage, she becomes forbidden to Jacob on another count, because she is the wife of his brother. If her husband died or divorced her and Serach married Yishmael, since she becomes forbidden to Yishmael's other brothers, a further prohibition takes effect with regard to Jacob, the prohibition against relations with the wife of his father's brother. If Yishmael died and Serach became eligible to undergo yibbum with Isaac and Isaac transgressed and performed yibbum with her even though she is forbidden to him as a secondary relation, since she became forbidden to Jacob's other paternal brothers, she also became forbidden to Jacob because she is his father's wife and because she is a married woman, for these are two prohibitions that take effect at the same time.
Now if Jacob acted inadvertently and was intimate with Serach when she was in the niddah state, during the lifetime of Isaac, her husband, and during the lifetime of Rachel, Jacob's wife, he is liable for eight sin-offerings because of his relations with her. She is his daughter's daughter, his wife's sister, his daughter-in-law, the wife of his brother, the wife of his father's brother, the wife of his father, a married woman, and in the niddah state. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ב
יש בועל בעילה אחת וחייב עליה שמונה חטאות כיצד יעקב שהיתה לו בת מזלפה ושמה תמנע נשא לבן תמנע והוליד ממנה בת ושמה סרח ואין ללבן בת אלא רחל לבדה נמצאת סרח בת בת יעקב ואחות אשתו מאביה הן שני איסורין הבאין כאחת נשאת סרח לראובן ונאסרה על שאר בני יעקב נוסף בה איסור ליעקב והרי היא כלתו מת ראובן או גירש ונשאת סרח זו לאחי יעקב מאמו מתוך שנאסרה על שאר אחי יעקב נוסף ליעקב בה איסור אשת אחיו מת או גירש ונשאת סרח זו לישמעאל מתוך שנאסרה על שאר אחי ישמעאל נוסף ליעקב בה איסור אשת אחי אביו מת ישמעאל ונפלה לייבום לפני יצחק ועבר יצחק וייבמה אף על פי שהיא שנייה לו מתוך שנאסרה על שאר אחיו נוסף בה איסור ליעקב משום אשת אביו ומשום אשת איש ששני האיסורין באין כאחת אם שגג יעקב ובא על סרח זו כשהיא נדה בחיי יצחק בעלה ובחיי רחל אשת יעקב הרי זה חייב עליה שמונה חטאות משום בת בתו ומשום אחות אשתו ומשום כלתו ומשום אשת אחיו ומשום אשת אחי אביו ומשום אשת אביו ומשום אשת איש ומשום נדה וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
3
In all situations when a woman who is forbidden as a relative becomes forbidden again due a prohibition that causes the entity to be forbidden to additional people, those additional people must be alive at that time, so that she will be forbidden to them. Then, as a result, since she becomes forbidden to them, a prohibition is also added applying to this individual. If, however, they are not alive, we do not say that since, would this man have had brothers or sons, she would have been forbidden to them, hence she is forbidden to the elder person. For at present, he has neither a son, nor a brother. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ג
כל אלו שתאסר זו הערוה עליהן באיסור מוסיף צריך שיהו האנשים האחרים מצויין בעולם כדי שתאסר עליהן ומתוך שתאסר עליהן יתוסף איסור אחר לזה אבל אם אינן מצויין אין אומרין הואיל אילו היה לזה בנים או אחים היתה נאסרה עליהן יתוסף בה איסור לזקן שהרי אין שם עתה לא בן ולא אח וכן כל כיוצא בהן:
4
The following laws apply when a man is married to three woman and he is intimate with the mother of one of them, and she is the mother of the mother of his second wife and the mother of the father of his third wife. Even though this elderly woman is his mother-in-law, the mother of his mother-in-law, and the mother of his father-in-law, and these are three distinct prohibitions and they all took effect at the same time, he is liable for only one sin-offering. The rationale is that the Torah uses the same phrase, Leviticus 18:17: "They are close relatives; it is a depraved design" with regard to relations with a woman and her daughter, her son's daughter, and her daughter's daughter. Thus the Torah considered the three as one body. Therefore the three prohibitions are considered as one.
ד
מי שהיה נשוי שלש נשים ובא על אמה של אחת מהן שהיא אם אמה של שנייה שהיא אם אביה של שלישית אע"פ שזקנה זו היא חמותו ואם חמותו ואם חמיו ושלשה שמות הן ואיסור בת אחת היא אינו חייב אלא חטאת אחת לפי שנאמר באשה ובתה ובת בנה ובת בתה שארה הנה זמה היא הכתוב עשה שלשה גופין כגוף אחד לפיכך יחשבו השלשה שמות כשם אחד:
5
If, however, one is intimate with his sister who is also the sister of his father and the sister of his mother, he is liable for three sin-offerings, as implied by Leviticus 20:17: "He revealed the nakedness of his sister." One might infer that he is liable for relations with his sister independently even though she is also the sister of his mother and the sister of his father.
How is such a situation possible? A man was intimate with his mother and begat two daughters with her. He was intimate with one of these daughters and begat a son. If this illegitimate child will be intimate with the other daughter, who is the sister of his illegitimate mother, who is his paternal sister, who is also the maternal sister of his father, he will be liable for three sin-offerings. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ה
אבל הבא על אחותו שהיא אחות אביו והיא אחות אמו חייב שלש חטאות שנאמר ערות אחותו גילה חייב על אחותו בפני עצמה ואף על פי שהיא אחות אמו ואחות אביו והיאך תהיה זאת כגון שבא על אמו והוליד ממנה שתי בנות ובעל אחת מבנותיו והוליד ממנה בן כשיבא הממזר הזה על הבת השנית שהיא אחות אמו הממזרת שהיא אחותו מאביו שהיא אחות אביו מאמו חייב שלש חטאות וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
• 3 Chapters: She'ar Avot haTum'ah She'ar Avot haTum'ah - Chapter 12, She'ar Avot haTum'ah She'ar Avot haTum'ah - Chapter 13, She'ar Avot haTum'ah She'ar Avot haTum'ah - Chapter 14 • English Text | Hebrew Text | Audio: Listen | Download• She'ar Avot haTum'ah - Chapter 12
Hayom Yom:• English Text | Video Class• Sunday, Sivan 20, 5776 · June 26, 2016• "Today's Day"
Audio: Listen | Download• She'ar Avot haTum'ah - Chapter 12
1
Our Sages established eleven stringencies applying to consecrated foods that do not apply to terumah. They are the following:
A person may immerse keilim inside other keilim to use for terumah, but not those to be used for consecrated foods. This is a decree lest the opening of the container be narrow and not be as wide as the mouthpiece of a drinking pouch. Thus the keilim inside of it would be considered as if they were immersed in the waters of the k'li and not in the waters of the mikveh. When does the above apply? When the large container in which the small impure keilim were placed was pure. If, however, it was impure, since the immersion is valid for it, it is also valid for the keilim inside of it, even though they were to be used for consecrated foods.
א
אחת עשרה מעלות עשו חכמים לקדש על התרומה ואלו הן: יש לאדם להטביל כלים בתוך כלים לתרומה אבל לא לקדש גזירה שמא יהיה פי הכלי צר ולא יהיה בו כשפופרת הנוד ונמצאו הכלים שבתוכו כאלו טבלו במים שבכלי לא במקוה במה דברים אמורים כשהיה הכלי הגדול שיש בתוכו הכלים הטמאין טהור אבל אם היה טמא מתוך שעלתה לו טבילה עלתה טבילה לכלים שבתוכו אפילו להשתמש בהן בקדש:
2
When the outer surface of a container contracted impurity because it touched liquids, its inner space does not become impure, nor does the fingerhold on its rim. Any liquids in its inner space or on its fingerhold are pure. One may drink from it. There is no need to worry that the liquids in his mouth will touch the outer surface of the container and then flow back in, causing its inner space to become impure.
With regard to what does the above apply? To containers used forterumah. If, by contrast, they are used for consecrated foods, when the outer surface becomes impure, the k'li becomes impure in its totality.
ב
כלי שנטמאו אחוריו במשקין לא נטמא תוכו ולא בית אצבע שבעובי שפתו והמשקין שבתוכו או שבבית צביעתו טהורין ושותה בו ואינו חושש שמא יגעו משקין שבפיו באחורי הכלי ויחזרו ויטמאו תוכו בד"א לתרומה אבל לקדש נטמאו אחוריו נטמאו כולן:
3
When a person carries an article on which a zav had been supported, he is permitted to carry terumah together with it. Since the person carrying the support is not touching the terumahand the terumah is not touching the support, the terumah is pure. This leniency does not apply to consecrated foods.
An incident occurred with a person who was carrying a jug of consecrated wine and he caused it to contract impurity because of an impure support he was carrying with it. At that time, the Sages decreed that one who carries such a support should not carry consecrated food. The decree was only instituted with regard to carrying such a support with consecrated food, as in the incident that occurred. If the person transgressed and carried the two together, since the support did not touch the consecrated food, the consecrated food is pure.
ג
הנושא את המדרס מותר לו לישא עמו תרומה כאחד והואיל ואין הנושא נוגע בתרומה ולא תרומה נוגעת במדרס הרי היא טהורה אבל לא הקדש אף ע"פ שלא נגע בו מעשה היה באחד שנשא חבית של קדש טמאה במדרס שנשא עמה באותה שעה גזרו שהנושא את המדרס לא ישא את הקדש ולא נזרו אלא במדרס עם הקדש כמעשה שהיה ואם עבר ונשא הואיל ולא נגע בקדש הרי הקדש טהור:
4
The clothes of people who partake of terumah, even though they are pure and they are careful not to contract impurity, are considered as the support of a zav with regard to consecrated foods.
ד
בגדי אוכלי תרומה אף על פי שהן טהורין ונזהרין מן הטומאות הרי בגדיהן מדרס לקדש:
5
When a k'li is made up of several component parts and its surfaces and beams are tied together, e.g., a bed or the like, if it contracts impurity and must be immersed for terumah, it may be immersed in its entirety, as one entity, while tied together. If it must be immersed for consecrated foods, he must untie all the component parts, wipe each of them down, lest there be an intervening substance upon them and immerse them one by one. Afterwards, he may retie them.
ה
כלי שהוא מפוצל ולוחותיו וקורותיו מקושרות כגון מטה וכיוצא בה אם נטמא וצריך להטבילו לתרומה יש לו להטבילו כולו כאחד כשהוא מקושר אבל לקדש מתיר ומנגב שמא יש שם דבר החוצץ ומטביל ואחר כך קושר:
6
When the fashioning of utensils is completed in a state of purity, even if the one fashioning them is a Torah scholar who was scrupulous in keeping them pure, they must be immersed before they are used for consecrated food. It is not, however, necessary to wait until nightfall. For terumah, however, they may be used without being immersed, because they were fashioned in a state of purity.
Why did the Sages require that such a k'li be immersed before being used for consecrated food? This is a decree, lest the spittle of an unlearned person have touched it while it was being fashioned and was still moist when it was completed.
ו
כלים הנגמרין בטהרה אפילו היה העושה אותן ת"ח ונזהר בהן הרי אלו צריכין טבילה לקדש ואינן צריכין הערב שמש אבל לתרומה משתמש בהן בלא טבילה שהרי נעשו בטהרה ומפני מה הצריכום טבילה לקדש גזירה משום רוק ע"ה שיגע בהן בשעת מלאכה ועדיין הוא לח:
7
Everything inside of a container is considered as joined with regard to consecrated food, but not with regard to terumah.
What is implied? When there is a container filled with fruits that are separate from each other, e.g., raisins and dried figs, if a source of impurity touches one of them, everything that is in the container is impure with regard to consecrated foods, but not with regard toterumah.
All of these stringencies are Rabbinic in origin. There is, however, an allusion to this stringency in the Torah. Numbers 7:14 states: "One golden ladle, weighing ten shekalim, filled with incense." Our Sages said: Everything that is in the ladle is considered as one entity. Even if a k'li does not have a hollow space, everything that is upon it is considered as joined together with regard to consecrated foods. For example, figs were collected on a board or on a hide; even though they are not touching each other, they are considered as a single entity.
ז
אחר שנגמר הכלי מצרף מה שבתוכו לקדש אבל לא לתרומה כיצד כלי שהוא מלא פירות פרודין זה מזה כגון צימוקין וגרוגרות ונגעה טומאה באחד מהן נטמא כל מה שבכלי לקדש אבל לא לתרומה וכל המעלות של דבריהם הם ורמז יש למעלה זו בתורה כף אחת עשרה זהב מלאה קטרת אמרו חכמים כל מה שבכף הרי הוא כגוף אחד אפילו שאין לו תוך מצרף מה שעליו לקדש כגון שהיו צבורין ע"ג הלוח או ע"ג העור אע"פ שאין הפירות נוגעין זה בזה:
8
The following rules apply when there were two masses within a container, another entity separating them from each other, and one of the masses becomes impure. If the entity between them is required by the container, everything is joined together and it all becomes impure. If it is not required by the container, only the mass that was touched by the impurity contracts impurity.
ח
היו שני הציבורין בתוך הכלי ודבר אחר ביניהן ונטמא אחד משניהן אם היה הדבר שביניהן צריך לכלי הכלי מצרפן ונטמא הכל ואם אינו צריך לכלי לא נטמא אלא זה שנגעה בו הטומאה בלבד:
9
If there were two masses in a container and one mass was connected to water that was behind the container, should an impure person touch the second mass, they both contract impurity, because they are joined by the container. Moreover, even though it is behind the container, the water that is behind the container becomes impure, because of the food that is connected to it.
If an impure person touched the water that is behind the container, the food that is connected to it contracts impurity. There is an unresolved question whether the other mass of food becomes impure because it is considered joined by the container or it is not considered as impure although it is joined.
ט
היו שני ציבורין בכלי והציבור האחד מחובר למים שאחורי הכלי ונגע טמא בציבור השני נטמאו שניהן בצירוף הכלי ונטמאו המים שאחורי הכלי מחמת זה האוכל המחובר להן אף על פי שהן אחורי הכלי נגע הטמא במים שאחורי הכלי נטמא האוכל המחובר להן והדבר ספק אם נטמא האוכל השני בצירוף הכלי או לא נטמא מחמת הצירוף:
10
When consecrated food that became impure was placed in a container which also held other consecrated food that was pure, as long as they do not touch each other, the one that is pure remains pure and the one that is impure remains impure. If a person who immersed that day comes and touches the impure food, an unresolved doubt arises: Does the principle that a container joins the masses it holds cause the pure food to become disqualified because the impure food was touched by the person who immersed or is it not disqualified, because the person who immersed only touched food that had already been saturated with impurity and he did not add anything else to it.
י
אוכל קדש שנטמא והניחו בכלי ובתוך הכלי אוכל קדש אחר טהור ואין נוגעין זה בזה הטהור בטהרתו והטמא בטומאתו בא טבול יום ונגע באוכל הטמא יש בדבר זה ספק אם נפסל הטהור מחמת מגע טבול יום מפני צירוף הכלי או לא נפסל שלא נגע טבול יום אלא באוכל ששבע מן הטומאה ולא הוסיף לו כלום:
11
Consecrated food that is a fourth degree derivative of impurity is disqualified, but if it were terumah it would be pure. Similarly, if terumah that was a tertiary derivative touched a consecrated liquid, it contracts impurity, as we explained. When, by contrast, terumah or consecrated food that is a tertiary derivative touched a liquid that is terumah, it is not disqualified.
יא
הרביעי בקדש פסול אבל בתרומה טהור וכן שלישי בתרומה אם נגע במשקה קדש הרי זה נטמא כמו שביארנו והשלישי שבתרומה או שבקדש אם נגע במשקה תרומה לא פסלו:
12
When one of a person's hands contracted impurity and he then touched his other hand or the hand of another person, he disqualified the other hand and it is considered as a tertiary derivative. If his hand was moist with liquid, the other hand contracts impurity even if it was not touched. He must immerse both of them in a mikveh. Only afterwards may he touch consecrated food.
With regard to terumah, by contrast, if one of his hands contracts impurity, the other does not, even if he touched it, provided the first was dry. He need not immerse the hand that contracted impurity. It is sufficient to wash it in the ritual manner. He may then touch terumah.
יב
מי שנטמאת ידו אחת ונגע בה בידו שנייה או ביד חבירו פסל את השנייה והרי היא כשלישי ואם היה ידו בלולה במשקה אע"פ שלא נגע נטמאת חבירתה וצריך להטביל את שתיהן ואחר כך יגע בקדש אבל בתרומה אם נטמאת ידו האחת לא נטמאת חבירתה ואפילו נגע בה כשהיא נגובה ואין צריך להטביל ידו שנטמאת אלא נוטלה ונוגע בתרומה:
13
Dry foods that have not become susceptible to contract impurity may be eaten with impure hands. With regard to what does the above apply? To terumah. With regard to consecrated food, by contrast, the cherished quality of consecrated food causes it to be considered as susceptible to impurity and it is forbidden for someone whose hands are impure to eat consecrated food even if it was not made susceptible to impurity by contact with liquids.
Even if the person with impure hands did not actually touch the consecrated food with his hands, only with a weaving needle or his friend inserted it into his mouth, this is forbidden. Needless to say, if a source of impurity touched consecrated food that was not made susceptible to impurity by contact with liquids, it becomes impure, because the cherished quality of consecrated food causes it to be considered as susceptible to impurity.
יג
אוכלין נגובין שלא הוכשרו אוכלין אותם בידים מסואבות במה ד"א בתרומה אבל בקדש חיבת הקדש מכשרתן ואסור למי שידיו טמאות לאכול קדש שלא הוכשר ואפילו לא נגע בו אלא בכוש או שתחב לו חבירו לתוך פיו הרי זה אסור ואצ"ל שאם נגעה טומאה באוכלין של קדש שלא הוכשרו שנטמאו מפני שחיבת הקדש מכשרתן:
14
In which instances does the above principle apply? With regard to disqualifying the food itself and to cause it to become forbidden to be eaten. There is, however, an unresolved question with regard to counting primary or secondary derivatives if other entities come in contact with such consecrated food.
What is implied? If consecrated food contracted impurity without being made susceptible to impurity by contact with liquids with other food that was made susceptible to impurity by contact with liquids, there is an unresolved doubt, because the first food had not become susceptible to impurity because of contact with liquids.
יד
במה דברים אמורים לפסול האוכל עצמו ולאסרו באכילה אבל למנות בו ראשון ושני ה"ז ספק כיצד נגע אוכל שנטמא בלא הכשר באוכל שני שהוכשר הרי זה השני ספק מפני שהראשון לא הוכשר:
15
Even after a mourner's period of acute mourning ends or after a person who was lacking atonement brings the sacrifices that bring him atonement, he must immerse in a mikvehbefore partaking of consecrated food, but not before partaking ofterumah. For a person in a state of acute mourning and one who is lacking atonement may partake of terumah.
Why did the Sages require immersion before partaking of consecrated food? Because until this time, such individuals were forbidden to partake of consecrated food. Hence it is possible that they diverted their attention from their bodies and contracted impurity without knowing of it. This stringency was imposed only with regard to eating, but not with regard to touching. Such individuals may touch consecrated foods before immersion.
טו
האונן אחר שתם זמן אנינותו ומחוסר כפורים אחר שהביא כפרתו צריכין טבילה לאכילת הקדש אבל לא לתרומה שהאונן ומחוסר כיפורים מותרין לאכול את התרומה ומפני מה הצריכום טבילה לקדש שהרי עד עתה היו אסורין לאכול את הקדש והסיחו דעתן ושמא נטמאו והם לא ידעו ולא עשו מעלה זו אלא לאכילה אבל לנגיעה נוגעים בקדשים קודם טבילה:
16
The first six stringencies were imposed both with regard to consecrated foods and with regard to ordinary foods prepared with the stringencies of consecrated foods. The last five stringencies, beginning with "everything inside a utensil is considered as joined" applies only to consecrated food alone, but not to ordinary foods prepared with the stringencies of consecrated foods. With regard to these five matters, such food is considered as ordinary food. Therefore, with regard to ordinary foods prepared with the stringencies of consecrated foods, a primary derivative is impure, a secondary derivative disqualified, and a tertiary derivative is pure with regard to ordinary foods, as we explained.
טז
שש מעלות הראשונות עשאום בין לקדש בין לחולין שנעשו על טהרת הקדש וחמש אחרונות שהן מן הכלי מצרף מה שבתוכו והלאה עשאום בקדש בלבד אבל לא בחולין שנעשו על טהרת הקדש אלא הרי הן בחמש אלו כחולין לפיכך חולין שנעשו על טהרת הקדש הראשון טמא בהן והשני פסול והשלישי טהור בחולין כמו שביארנו:
She'ar Avot haTum'ah - Chapter 13
1
Our Sages established five categories with regard to the ritual purity of clothes. They are the following:
a) The clothes of an unlearned person are considered as a midras, an article on which a zav had been supported, for people who partake of ordinary food in a state of purity. Similarly, the unlearned people themselves are considered as zavvim with regard to pure substances, as we explained.
b) The clothes of people who partake of ordinary food in a state of purity are considered as a midras for those who partake of the second tithe. The people who partake of ordinary food in a state of purity themselves - they are called perushim - are not considered aszavvim. Even with regard to terumah, a perush is considered pure, even if he touches terumah with his hands.
c) The clothes of people who partake of the second tithe are considered as a midras for those who partake of terumah.
d) The clothes of people who partake of terumah are considered as amidras for those who partake of consecrated food. The people who partake of terumah themselves are, however, not considered aszavvim with regard to consecrated articles.
e) The clothes of those who partake of consecrated foods are considered as a midras with regard to the offering of the red heifer, as explained in Hilchot Parah Adumah. A person who is pure with regard to consecrated foods is not considered as a zav with regard to the offering of the red heifer.
א
חמש מעלות עשו חכמים בבגדים ואלו הן: בגדי ע"ה מדרס לאוכלי חוליהן בטהרה וכן עמי הארץ עצמן כזבין לטהרות כמו שביארנו ובגדי אוכלי חוליהן בטהרה מדרס לאוכלי מעשר שני אבל אוכלי חוליהן בטהרה והן הנקראים פרושים אינם כזבים אפילו לתרומה ה"ז הפרוש טהור אפילו אם נגע בה בגופו ובגדי אוכלי מעשר שני מדרס לאוכלי תרומה ובגדי אוכלי תרומה מדרס לקדש אבל אוכלי תרומה עצמן אינן כזבין בקדש ובגדי אוכלי קדש מדרס לחטאת כמו שביארנו בהלכות פרה אדומה אבל הטהור לקדש אינו כזב לחטאת:
2
Similarly, our Sages established categories with regard to ritual immersion:
What is implied? If someone immersed himself without any intent, he is pure with regard to ordinary food, but he is forbidden to partake of the second tithe until he had the intent to immerse for the sake of the second tithe. If he immersed for the second tithe, he is assumed to be pure for the second tithe, but forbidden to partake of terumah. If he immersed for terumah, he is assumed to be pure for terumah, but forbidden to partake of consecrated foods. If he immersed for consecrated food, he is assumed to be pure for consecrated food, but forbidden to participate in the offering of the red heifer. If he immersed with the intent of participating in the offering of the red heifer, he is assumed to be pure for everything, for one who immerses for the sake of a more stringent circumstance is considered acceptable for a more lenient one.
If a person immersed without any intent, i.e., without thinking of any of these situations, he is pure only with regard to ordinary food and is considered impure as he was previously, even for the second tithe. Similarly, when a person washes his hands or immerses them, he must focus his attention, even if he desires only to partake of the second tithe. From that tithe and any level of sanctity higher, one must focus his intent. For ordinary food, however, it is not necessary for him to focus his intent.
All of these stringencies originate in Rabbinic Law. According to Scriptural Law, since the person immersed himself, he is pure with regard to all matters.
ב
וכן עשו חכמים מעלות בטבילה כיצד מי שטבל בלא כוונה ה"ז טהור לחולין ואסור במעשר שני עד שיתכוון לטבול למעשר טבל למעשר הרי זה בחזקת טהרה למעשר ואסור בתרומה טבל לתרומה הוחזק לתרומה ואסור בקדש טבל לקודש הוחזק לקדש ואסור לחטאת טבל לחטאת הוחזק לכל שהטובל לחמור הוחזק לקל טבל סתם ולא נתכוון לאחד מכל אלו הרי זה טהור לחולין בלבד וטמא כשהיה אפילו למעשר וכן הטובל ידיו או הטבילן צריך כוונה אפילו למעשר ומן המעשר ומעלה צריך כוונה אבל לחולין אינו צריך כוונה וכל המעלות האלו מד"ס אבל דין תורה הואיל וטבל מ"מ הרי הוא טהור לכל:
3
When a person who was pure with regard to terumah diverted his attention from partaking of it, the diversion of attention causes him to contract impurity. He is forbidden to partake ofterumah until he immerses himself a second time. He need not, however, wait until nightfall.
If his hands were pure for terumah, but he diverted his attention from eating, even though he says: "I know that my hands did not contract impurity," his hands are impure because of his diversion of attention, for hands are busy. If this applies with regard to terumah, it can be inferred that the same principles apply with regard to consecrated food. Anyone who diverts his attention must immerse himself.
When a person did not guard himself from the impurity associated with a human corpse, if he is not certain that he did not contract impurity, he must have the ashes of the red heifer sprinkled on him on the third and seventh days after the doubt arouse, because of his diversion of attention. If he is certain that he did not contract the impurity associated with a corpse, but diverted his attention from other forms of impurity, he must immerse himself and wait until nightfall even for terumah. It is clear that all these immersions are Rabbinic safeguards.
ג
מי שהיה טהור לתרומה והסיח את לבו מלאכול נטמא בהיסח הדעת ואסור לאכול תרומה עד שיטבול פעם שנייה ואינו צריך הערב שמש היו ידיו טהורות לתרומה והסיח לבו מלאכול אף על פי שאומר יודע אני שלא נטמאו ידי הרי ידיו טמאות בהיסח הדעת שהידים עסקניות אם לתרומה כן ק"ו לקדש שכל המסיח דעתו צריך טבילה ואם לא שמר עצמו מטומאת מת ולא ידע בודאי שלא נטמא ה"ז צריך הזאה שלישי ושביעי מפני היסח הדעת ואם ידע שלא נטמא במת והסיח דעתו משאר טומאות ה"ז צריך טבילה והערב שמש אף לתרומה ודבר ברור הוא שכל אלו הטבילות מדבריהן:
4
Similarly, our Sages decreed that keilim that are discovered in marketplaces and streets - even in deserts - should be assumed to be impure, lest they have contracted impurity from a corpse or a zav. Similarly, saliva found in such places is considered to be impure, lest it be the saliva of a zav or the like.
ד
וכן גזרו חכמים על הכלים הנמצאים בשווקים וברחובות אפילו במדברות שיהיו בחזקת טומאה שמא בזב או במת נטמאו וכן הרוקין הנמצאין שם בחזקת טומאה שמא רוק זב וכיוצא בו הוא הרוק הזה:
5
All of the keilim found in Jerusalem are pure even if they were found on the way descending to a place of immersion. For the Sages did not institute a decree concerning keilim found in Jerusalem with the exception of knives for the slaughter of sacrificial animals. This was instituted because of the severity involving sacrificial animals.
When does the above stringency apply? To knives found in Jerusalem throughout the year. If, however, one finds a knife in Jerusalem on the fourteenth of Nisan, one may slaughter sacrificial animals with it immediately. This applies even if the fourteenth of Nisan fell on the Sabbath, for no decree was made with regard to knives found on that day. Similarly, if a knife was found on a festival, one may slaughter with it immediately. For it is assumed that allkeilim are pure on the festivals.
ה
כל הכלים הנמצאין בירושלים טהורין אפילו נמצאו דרך ירידה לבית הטבילה שלא גזרו טומאה על הכלים הנמצאים בירושלים חוץ מן הסכינים לשחיטת הקדשים מפני חומרת הקדשים בד"א בסכין הנמצאת בירושלים בשאר ימות השנה אבל אם מצא סכין בירושלים בי"ד בניסן שוחט בה הקדשים מיד ואפילו חל י"ד להיות בשבת שלא גזרו על הסכינין הנמצאים ביום הזה וכן אם מצאה ביו"ט שוחט בה מיד שחזקת כל הכלים ביו"ט טהורין:
6
If one found a knife on the thirteenth of Nisan, the ashes of the red heifer should be sprinkled on it, it should be immersed, and one may slaughter with it on the following day. For, on this day, our Sages considered it as if the thirteenth of Nisan was the seventh day of its purification with the ashes of the red heifer.
ו
מצא הסכין בי"ג מזה עליה ומטבילה ושוחט בה למחר מפני שעשאוהו ביום זה כאילו יום י"ג שביעי שלה:
7
If one finds a knife tied to a knife whose status he knows, whether on a festival or on other days, its status is the same as that knife. If the one is pure, it is pure; if it is impure, it is impure.
ז
מצא סכין קשורה לסכין הידועה אצלו בין ביו"ט בין בשאר הימים הרי היא כמוה אם טהורה טהורה ואם טמאה טמאה:
8
Our Sages decreed that any saliva of unknown origin found in the middle of the road in Jerusalem is impure like saliva of unknown origin found anywhere. Any saliva found on the side of the road in Jerusalem is pure, for the perushim walk on the sides so that they will not contract impurity through contact with unlearned people. During the festivals, the converse is true. Saliva in the middle of the road is pure, for all Israel are pure during the festivals. At the side of the road, it is impure. For there are few individuals who are impure during the festivals, and they move to the sides.
ח
כל הרוקין הנמצאים בירושלים באמצע הדרך גזרו עליהן טומאה כשאר הרוקין הנמצאים בכל מקום וכל הרוקין הנמצאים בצדדין בירושלים טהורים שהפרושים הן שמהלכין בצדדין כדי שלא יתטמאו במגע עמי הארץ ובשעת הרגל שבאמצע הדרך טהורים שכל ישראל טהורים ברגל ושבצדדין טמאים שהטמאים ברגל מעטים והן פורשים לצידי הדרכים:
9
Just like a primary derivative of impurity creates a secondary derivative and a secondary derivative creates a tertiary derivative, when there is an unresolved doubt that an entity is a primary derivative it creates a secondary derivative of doubtful status, and a secondary derivative of doubtful status creates a tertiary derivative of doubtful status.
ט
כשם שהראשון עושה שני והשני עושה שלישי כן ספק ראשון עושה ספק שני וספק שני עושה ספק שלישי:
10
When there is a question whether terumah or consecrated food contracted impurity from a primary source of impurity of Scriptural origin - there is a question if the foods touched the impurity or not - they should be burnt because of this impurity.
י
תרומה וקדשים שנטמאו בספק אב מאבות הטומאות של תורה הרי אלו נשרפין בטומאה זו כגון שנסתפק לו אם נגע באב זה או לא נגע:
11
There are situations where there is a question about a food's status for which the ruling is held in abeyance; they are not eaten, nor are they burnt. And there are other questionable situations that warrant the burning of terumah and, needless to say, consecrated foods.
יא
ויש שם ספיקות שאין שורפין עליהן ואין אוכלין אותן אוכלין שנסתפק לו בהן אלא תולין לא אוכלין ולא שורפין ויש שם ספיקות ששורפין עליהן את התרומה ואצ"ל קדשים:
12
If, however, there is a compounded doubt concerning the impurity of terumah - and needless to say, of consecrated food - they should not be burnt. Instead, the ruling concerning them is held in abeyance. They are not eaten, nor are they burnt.
יב
אבל על ספק ספק הטומאה אין שורפין עליו תרומה לעולם ואצ"ל קדשים אלא תולין לא אוכלין ולא שורפין:
13
There are six doubtful situations for which terumah is burnt. These are all Rabbinic decrees: a) a beit hapras, b) earth from the Diaspora, c) the clothes of unlearned people, d) keilim that are discovered, e) saliva of unknown origin that is discovered, and f) the urine of an impure person that became mixed with an equal amount of urine from an animal and it is not known whether the appearance of the mixture was that of a person's urine was nullified or whether that appearance was nullified.
What is implied? If terumah contracted impurity due to contact with one of these entities, even though the fundamental dimension of their impurity is doubtful, the terumah should be burnt. The rationale is that were one certain that any of these impurities were present, the impurity would be Scriptural in nature, for a corpse and a zav are Scriptural sources of impurity.
Whether terumah touched one of these six entities or contracted impurity due to one of these entities and thus it is a tertiary derivative from them, the terumah should be burnt. If, however, there is a question whether or not the entity touched the beit hapras, the earth of the nations, or if it touched the garments, the saliva, the keilim, or the urine, the ruling concerning the terumah is held in abeyance. The rationale is that a) the fundamental dimension of their impurity is doubtful, perhaps it is impure, perhaps it is pure; and
b) even if you say they are impure, it is possible that there was contact with the terumah, but it is possible that there was no contact. Thus two unresolved questions are involved. When there are two unresolved questions, terumah is not burnt, the ruling concerning it is held in abeyance, as explained.
יג
על ששה ספיקות שורפין את התרומה וכולם גזירה מדבריהם ואלו הן: על בית הפרס ועל עפר הבא מארץ העמים ועל בגדי ע"ה ועל הכלים הנמצאים ועל הרוקים הנמצאים ועל מי רגלי אדם טמא שנתערב במי רגלי בהמה מחצה למחצה ואין ידוע אם בטלו מראיתן אם לא כיצד אם נטמאת תרומה מחמת אחד מששה אלו אע"פ שעיקר טומאתן בספק הרי זו תשרף הואיל וודאי ספיקות אלו טומאתן מן התורה שהמת והזב טמאין מן התורה ואחת תרומה שנגעה באחת משש טומאות האלו או שנטמאת מחמת אחת מהן והרי היא שלישי לאחת מהן הרי זו תשרף אבל אם נסתפק לו בכ"מ אם נגע בבית הפרס ובארץ העמים או לא נגע אם נגע בבגדים ורוקין וכלים ומי רגלים או לא נגע הרי אלו תולין מפני שהעיקר טומאתן מפני הספק שמא טמאין הן או טהורים וא"ת טמאין שמא נגע שמא לא נגע ונמצאו שני ספיקות ואין שורפין על שני ספיקות אלא תולין כמו שביארנו:
She'ar Avot haTum'ah - Chapter 14
1
Our Sages deemed that twelve questionable situations are deemed as pure: They are:
a) A doubt concerning drawn water in a mikveh,
b) a doubt concerning impurity floating on water,
c) a doubt whether liquids imparted impurity to other entities; with regard to their own status, however, they are considered impure when a doubt arises,
d) a doubt concerning the impurity of hands whether regarding the impurity of the hands themselves, such hands imparting impurity to other substances, or a doubt regarding the purification of such hands from this impurity,
e) a doubt concerning impurity of Rabbinic origin,
f) a doubt concerning ordinary food prepared with the stringencies of consecrated food,
g) a doubt concerning sacrifices that are required to be brought,
h) a doubt concerning tzara'at blemishes,
i) a doubt when a person afflicted with tzara'at stood still or passed,
j) a doubt concerning the carcass of a creeping animal,
k) a doubt that arose in the public domain,
l) a doubt concerning two domains.
א
שנים עשר ספיקות טהרו חכמים ואלו הן: ספק מים שאובים למקוה ספק טומאה צפה על פני המים ספק משקין לטמא אחרים אבל לטומאת עצמן טמאים מספק ספק הידים בין לטומאת עצמן בין לטמא אחרים בין לטהרות ידים מטומאתן ספק דברי סופרים ספק החולין ספק קרבנות ספק נגעים ספק עובר ועומד ספק שרצים ספק ר"ה ספק שתי רשויות:
2
What is meant by the principle: a doubt concerning drawn water in a mikveh? Three lugim of drawn water that fall into a mikvehdisqualify it. If there is a doubt whether or not such water fell into amikveh or even if it is certain that the water fell, but there is a question whether the minimum measure was present or not, we consider an article immersed in the mikveh as pure and the mikvehas acceptable. Nevertheless, a person should not be instructed to immerse in such a mikveh and to be involved with pure substances as an initial preference. If he immersed and was involved with pure substances, they are considered to be pure.
ב
ספק מים שאובין למקוה כיצד שלשה לוגין מים שאובין שנפלו למקוה פסלוהו ספק נפלו ספק לא נפלו ואפילו נפלו ספק יש בהן שיעור או אין בהן ספיקו טהור והרי המקוה בכשרותו ואין מורין לו לטבול במקוה זה ולעשות טהרות לכתחילה ואם טבל ועשה טהרותיו טהורות:
3
What is meant by the principle: a doubt concerning impurity floating on water? There was a carcass of a creeping animal floating on water, whether the water was in a container or in a pool in the earth and a person descended into the water, unless he is certain that he touched the carcass, he is considered as pure. This applies even if there is no space for anything in the container or the pool but the person and the impurity.
The principle, a doubt concerning impurity floating on water is pure, was stated only concerning a carcass of creeping animal. If the carcass of a creeping animal is suspended from above and floating on water or is being dragged over water, it is considered as being placed down and not as floating.
ג
ספק טומאה צפה על פני המים כיצד שרץ שהיה צף על פני המים בין שהיו המים בכלים או בקרקעות וירד למים אפילו אין שם אלא מלא אדם וטומאה ה"ז טהור עד שידע ודאי שנגע ולא אמרו ספק טומאה צפה טהור אלא לשרץ בלבד וכל הנתלים והנגררין הרי הן כמונחין:
4
When the carcass of a creeping animal is placed in a container and the container is floating on the surface of water or it was placed on a human corpse, an animal carcass - even if the carcass or the corpse below it has decomposed - or semen that is floating on the water, it is considered as if it was placed on the earth, in which instance, a doubtful situation that arises in a private domain is considered as impure, as will be explained.
If the carcass of one creeping animal was lying on that of another creeping animal that was floating on water, it is considered as thick impurity and a doubtful situation that arises is considered as pure. There is an unresolved doubt whether the carcass of a creeping animal that was floating on water on which the ashes of the red heifer had been sprinkled which in turn was floating on other water is considered as placed down on the earth or not. Therefore it appears to me that the doubtful situation is considered as pure.
ד
שרץ שהיה מונח בכלי וכלי צף על פני המים או שהיה מונח על המת או על הנבילה ואפילו נימוח הנבילה או בשר מת שתחתיו או שהיה מונח על שכבת זרע הצפה על פני המים ה"ז כמונח על הארץ שספקו ברה"י טמא כמו שיתבאר היה שרץ על גבי שרץ צף על פני המים ה"ז כטומאה עבה שצפה ע"פ המים וספיקו טהור היה מונח על גבי מי חטאת ומי חטאת צפין על פני המים ה"ז ספק אם הוא כמונח או אינו כמונח לפיכך יראה לי שספיקו טהור:
5
Just as our Sages deemed a doubtful situation concerning impurity that was floating on water, whether in a container or on the earth, as pure, so too, they deemed as pure a situation involving something pure that was floating on water, whether in a container or on the earth.
What is implied? There was a kneading trough that was impure due to contact with a human corpse and there was a loaf of bread that was terumah wrapped in tree-bast or in paper placed inside of it. Water descended into the kneading trough and filled it. The paper spread out and thus the loaf was floating on the water with the paper separating between it and the water. If there is a question whether or not the loaf touched the side of the kneading trough, it is considered as pure, because it is floating.
ה
כדרך שטהרו ספק טומאה צפה על פני המים בין בכלים בין בקרקעות כך טהרו ספק טהרה הצפה על פני המים בין בכלים בין בקרקעות כיצד עריבה שהיא טמא מת וככר תרומה כרוך בסיב או בנייר ונתון בתוכה וירדו לתוכה מי גשמים ונתמלאת ונפשט הנייר והרי הככר צף על פני המים והנייר מבדיל בינו לבין המים וספק נגע צדו בעריבה ספק לא נגע הרי הוא בטהרתו מפני שהוא צף:
6
The following laws apply when the carcass of a creeping animal was floating on a cistern in a winepress. With regard to terumah, when there is a doubt, it is deemed impure. With regard to the workers, when there is a doubt, it is deemed pure, because the impurity is floating.
ו
שרף שנמצא צף ע"ג בור בתוך הגת לתרומה ספיקו טמא ולפועלין ספיקן טהור מפני שהיא טומאה צפה:
7
When a doubt arises whether liquids imparted impurity to other entities, they are considered as pure. With regard to their own status, however, they are considered impure.
What is implied? A person was holding a staff that contained impure liquids on its top and he threw it among pure loaves of bread. If there is a doubt whether the liquids touched the loaves or not, they are deemed pure. Similarly, if a doubt arose whether impure liquids touched a given container or not, the container is pure. Similarly, if a doubt arose if these impure liquids touched other liquids or not, the other liquids are pure. If, however, an impure person extended his hand or his foot into a place where there are pure liquids and there is a doubt whether or not he touched the liquids, they are impure because of the doubt. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ז
ספק משקין לטמא אחרים טהור לטומאת עצמן טמא כיצד היה מקל בידו ובראשו משקין טמאים וזרקן לתוך ככרות טהורות ספק נגעו המשקין בככרות ספק לא נגעו טהורות וכן אם נסתפק לו אם נגעו משקין טמאין בכלי זה או לא נגעו הרי הכלי טהור וכן אם נסתפק לו אם נגעו משקין אלו הטמאין במשקין אחרים או לא נגעו הרי המשקין האחרים טהורין אבל טמא שפשט ידו או רגלו לבין משקין טהורין או שזרק ככר טמא לבין משקין טהורין ספק נגע במשקין ספק לא נגע הרי אלו טמאין בספק וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
8
The following rule applies when there was a jug that was filled with liquids and an impure person extended his hand into its inner space. If there is a doubt whether or not he touched the liquids, the liquids are impure, but the jug is pure, for liquids whose purity is of a doubtful status do not impart impurity.
Similarly, if liquids which are questionably impure enter into the inner space of a jug, the jug is pure and the liquids in it are pure, for they contract impurity only from the jug. If the liquids that were questionably impure became mixed with the liquids in the jug, all of the liquids are questionably impure, but the jug is pure. Similarly, if these liquids fall into an oven, any bread that is in the oven and the oven itself are pure.
ח
חבית שהיא מליאה משקין ופשט הטמא את ידו לאוירה ספק נגע במשקין ספק לא נגע בהן המשקין טמאין והחבית טהורה שאין ספק המשקין מטמא וכן אם נכנסו משקין שהן טמאין מספק לאויר החבית הרי החבית טהורה והמשקין שבתוכה טהורין שאינן מתטמאין אלא מן החבית ואם נתערבו משקין אלו הספק במשקין שבחבית הרי כל המשקין טמאין בספק והחבית טהורה וכן אם נפלו משקין אלו לתוך התנור הרי הפת והתנור טהורין:
9
When a person poured or sprinkled impure liquids in his house and there were ritually pure objects there, if there is a question whether some of the liquid sprayed on them or not, they are considered pure despite the doubt.
ט
המרבץ ביתו במים טמאים או שזלפן והיו שם טהרות ספק נתזו עליהן ספק לא נתזו ספיקו טהור:
10
If one sprinkled both pure and impure liquids in a house and, afterwards, liquids were found on a loaf of bread that wasterumah, should one take it and inquire about its status, it is deemed pure, for when there is a question whether liquids imparted impurity, the object is deemed pure. If, however, one left the bread until the water dried, it contracts impurity because of the doubt. For when there is a question concerning impurity in a private domain, the object is deemed impure, as will be explained. At the time the inquiry is being made, no liquids are present, only the loaf and there is a question whether it is pure or impure.
י
זלף משקין טהורין וטמאים בתוך הבית ונמצאו אח"כ משקין על ככר של תרומה נטלה ונשאל עליה הרי זו טהורה שספק המשקין לטמא טהור הניח הככר עד שינגבו המים שעליה הרי זו טמאה בספק שספק טומאה ברה"י טמא כמו שיתבאר והרי אין כאן משקין אלא ככר שהיא ספק טמאה ספק טהורה:
11
When there is a doubt concerning the impurity of hands whether regarding the impurity of the hands themselves, such hands imparting impurity to other substances, or a doubt regarding the purification of such hands from this impurity, the object in question is deemed pure.
What is implied? If a person's hands where pure and there were two impure loaves before him, should a question arise whether he touched the loaves or not, the status of his hands and the loaves is the same as it was previously. This same ruling applies if:
a) a person's hands were impure and there were two pure loaves before him and there is a question whether he touched the loaves or not;
b) one of the person's hands was pure, the other was impure; there were two pure loaves before him, he touched one of them and it was unknown whether he touched it with the impure hand or the pure hand;
c) both his hands were pure; there were two loaves before him, one pure and one impure; he touched one of them and he did not know whether he touched the one that was impure or the one that was pure;
d) one of his hands was pure and one was impure and there was both an impure and a pure loaf before him; he touched both of them and he is unsure whether the impure hand touched the impure loaf and the pure hand, the pure loaf or whether the impure hand touched the pure loaf and the pure hand, the impure loaf.
Similar concepts apply if a person's hands were impure and he immersed them in a mikveh or washed them in the ritual manner. If there is a doubt whether or not the water with which he purified them is acceptable for hands or unacceptable, whether or not the required measure of water was present, whether or not there was an intervening substance on his hands, his hands are considered as pure.
יא
ספק ידים בין להתטמא בין לטמא אחרים בין לטהרתן טהור כיצד היו ידיו טהורות ולפניו שני ככרים טמאין ספק נגע ספק לא נגע או שהיו ידיו טמאות ולפניו שני ככרים טהורים ספק נגע ספק לא נגע או שהיו ידיו אחת טהורה ואחת טמאה ולפניו שני ככרים טהורים ונגע באחד מהן וספק בטמאה נגע ספק בטהורה או שהיו ידיו טהורות ולפניו שני ככרים אחד טהור ואחד טמא ונגע באחד מהם ספק בטמא נגע ספק בטהור נגע או שהיו ידיו אחת טהורה ואחת טמאה ולפניו ככר טמא וככר טהור ונגע בשניהן ספק טמאה בטמא והטהורה בטהור או טמאה בטהור והטהורה בטמא הידים כמו שהיו והככרים כמות שהיו וכן אם היו ידיו טמאות והטבילן או נטלן ספק שהמים שטהרו בהן כשרים לידים ספק שהן פסולין ספק יש בהן כשיעור ספק אין בהן ספק שהיה דבר חוצץ על ידו ספק שלא היה הרי ידיו טהורות:
12
If one of a person's hands was impure and he did not know which one it was, he is instructed not to be involved with pure articles until he washes both his hands. If he touches pure objects with one hand before he washed them, the pure articles remain pure.
יב
היתה ידו אחת טמאה ואינו יודע אי זו היא אומרין לו שלא יעשה טהרות עד שיטול שתי ידיו ואם נגע באחת מהן בטהרות קודם שיטול ידיו טהרותיו טהורות:
Wednesday Sivan 20 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Sh'lach, Revi'i with Rashi.
Tehillim: 97-103.
Tanya: Ch. 7. With the (p. 307)...to it at all. (p. 309).
Among my grandfather's aphorisms: The intellectual and emotional structure of the chassid is consonant with his first yechidus1 with his Rebbe. The first yechidus is in accordance with the essence-character of the chassid. The Rebbe prescribes an order of avoda appropriate to the nature of the chassid's essence-character.
FOOTNOTES
1.The G-dly soul consists of five parts, of which yechida is the highest. During an audience with the Rebbe (yechidus), the yechida of Rebbe and chassid encounter each other. The chassid, properly prepared (see Tammuz 18) will translate this awakening of yechida into tangible spiritual and moral growth (see Elul 13).
• Daily Thought:
Higher Than Higher
Unbound by the confines of space and time, your soul sees a reality your mind cannot fathom. From that vision seeps down the power to face the challenges of a dark, confusing world.
But a higher vision still means that there are two and not one: There is you and there is the vision you perceive. And if there are two, two can be separated.
That is why, when the darkness and confusion swells and storms, a higher vision is not enough.
That is when you need to reach to the very core of our souls. Not to see a vision, but to be that vision. That this is my G‑d, I am His, and we are one. That there is nothing else.
And if so, nothing can stand between us.
---------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment