Torah Reading
Behaalotecha: Numbers 8:1 Adonai said to Moshe, 2 “Tell Aharon, ‘When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps are to cast their light forward, in front of the menorah.’” 3 Aharon did this: he lit its lamps so as to give light in front of the menorah, as Adonai had ordered Moshe. 4 Here is how the menorah was made: it was hammered gold from its base to its flowers, hammered work, following the pattern Adonai had shown Moshe. This is how he made the menorah.
5 Adonai said to Moshe, 6 “Take the L’vi’im from among the people of Isra’el and cleanse them. 7 Here is how you are to cleanse them: sprinkle the purification water on them, have them shave their whole body with a razor, and have them wash their clothes and cleanse themselves. 8 Then they are to take a young bull with its grain offering, which is to be fine flour mixed with olive oil; while you take another bull for a sin offering. 9 You are to present the L’vi’im in front of the tent of meeting, and assemble the entire community of the people of Isra’el. 10 You will present the L’vi’im before Adonai, the people of Isra’el will lay their hands on the L’vi’im, 11 and Aharon will offer the L’vi’im before Adonai as a wave offering from the people of Isra’el, so that they may do Adonai’s service. 12 The L’vi’im will lay their hands on the heads of the bulls; the one you will offer as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to Adonai to make atonement for the L’vi’im. 13 You are to place the L’vi’im before Aharon and his sons, and offer them as a wave offering to Adonai. 14 In this way you will separate the L’vi’im from the people of Isra’el, and the L’vi’im will belong to me.
Today in Jewish History:• Noah's Ark Comes to Rest on Mt. Ararat (2105 BCE)
Seven months after the beginning of the Great Flood, and 17 days after the waters covering the earth began to subside, the Ark sheltering Noah, his family, and members of all animal species came to rest on the (still submerged) summit of Mount Ararat.
Links:
A Chronology of the Flood
The Torah's account of the Flood, with commentary (Parshat Noach)
More on The Flood
• Hasmonean Victory (circa 140 BCE)
The Hasmonean fighters recaptured Migdal Tzur from the Greek enemy and proclaimed this day a holiday (Talmud, Megilat Taanit).
Link: The Macabees
Daily Quote:
Superior heights are attained when one is taken by the hand and led; it is more precious though, when it is by one's own strength[Hayom Yom, Av 29]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Behaalotecha, 5th Portion Numbers 10:11-10:34 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation | Video Class• Numbers Chapter 10
11On the twentieth of the second month in the second year, the cloud rose up from over the Tabernacle of the Testimony. יאוַיְהִ֞י בַּשָּׁנָ֧ה הַשֵּׁנִ֛ית בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֖י בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים בַּחֹ֑דֶשׁ נַֽעֲלָה֙ הֶֽעָנָ֔ן מֵעַ֖ל מִשְׁכַּ֥ן הָֽעֵדֻֽת:
Of the second month: Hence, you say that they spent twelve months minus ten days at Horeb, for on the first day of [the month of] Sivan, they encamped there, and did not travel until the twentieth of Iyyar of the following year.
בחדש השני: נמצאת אומר שנים עשר חודש חסר עשרה ימים עשו בחורב, שהרי בראש חודש סיון חנו שם ולא נסעו עד עשרים באייר לשנה הבאה:
12The children of Israel traveled on their journeys from the Sinai desert, and the cloud settled in the desert of Paran. יבוַיִּסְע֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם מִמִּדְבַּ֣ר סִינָ֑י וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן הֶֽעָנָ֖ן בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָֽן:
On their journeys: In accordance with the regulations set down for the traveling of their banners which should be first and which should be last.]
למסעיהם: כמשפט המפורש למסע דגליהם מי ראשון ומי אחרון:
In the desert of Paran: Kivroth HaTa’avah was in the desert of Paran, and that is where they camped after this journey.
במדבר פארן: קברות התאוה במדבר פארן היה ושם חנו ממסע זה:
13This was the first journey at God's bidding through Moses. יגוַיִּסְע֖וּ בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה עַל־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּיַד־משֶֽׁה:
14The banner of the camp of Judah's children traveled first according to their legions. Heading the legion was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. ידוַיִּסַּ֞ע דֶּ֣גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֧ה בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֛ה בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֖ה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַ֨ל־צְבָא֔וֹ נַחְשׁ֖וֹן בֶּן־עַמִּֽינָדָֽב:
15Heading the legion of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. טווְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י יִשָּׂשכָ֑ר נְתַנְאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּעָֽר:
16Heading the legion of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. טזוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֑ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן:
17The Tabernacle was dismantled, and the sons of Gershon set out, [together] with the sons of Merari who carried the Tabernacle. יזוְהוּרַ֖ד הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן וְנָֽסְע֤וּ בְנֵי־גֵֽרְשׁוֹן֙ וּבְנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֔י נֹֽשְׂאֵ֖י הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן:
The Tabernacle was dismantled: Once the banner of Judah had set out, Aaron and his sons went in, took down the parocheth curtain and covered the Ark with it, as it says, “When the camp is about to travel, Aaron and his sons shall come” (4:5). The sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari dismantled the Tabernacle and loaded it on wagons. The Ark and the holy utensils, which were carried by the sons of Kohath, stood covered and were placed on poles, until the banner of the camp of Reuben set out. Following this,“the Kohathites… set out” (verse 21).
והורד המשכן: כיון שנוסע דגל יהודה נכנסו אהרן ובניו ופרקו את הפרכת וכסו בה את הארון, שנאמר (במדבר ד, ה) ובא אהרן ובניו בנסוע המחנה, ובני גרשון ובני מררי פורקין המשכן וטוענין אותו בעגלות ונוסעים, והארון וכלי הקדש של משא בני קהת עומדים מכוסין ונתונין על המוטות עד שנסע דגל מחנה ראובן, ואחר כך ונסעו הקהתים:
18Then the banner of the camp of Reuben set out according to their legions. Heading its legion was Elitzur the son of Shdeur. יחוְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֛גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה רְאוּבֵ֖ן לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַ֨ל־צְבָא֔וֹ אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאֽוּר:
19Heading the legion of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. יטוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֑וֹן שְׁלֻֽמִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּרִֽישַׁדָּֽי:
20Heading the legion of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Reuel. כוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֖א מַטֵּ֣ה בְנֵי־גָ֑ד אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־דְּעוּאֵֽל:
21The Kohathithes, who carried the holy [equipment] set out, and they had erected the Tabernacle before they had arrived. כאוְנָֽסְעוּ֙ הַקְּהָתִ֔ים נֹֽשְׂאֵ֖י הַמִּקְדָּ֑שׁ וְהֵקִ֥ימוּ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן עַד־בֹּאָֽם:
Carried the holy: They carried the sacred equipment.
נשאי המקדש: נושאי הדברים המקודשים:
And they had erected the Tabernacle: The sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who had preceded them [the Kohathites] by the departure of two banners [their own and Reuben’s], erected the Tabernacle as soon as the cloud settled. The signal for camping was seen in the camp of Judah, and when they encamped, the sons of Kohath were still traveling behind them, with the last two banners [Ephraim and Dan]. The sons of Gershon and Merari erected the Tabernacle so that when the sons of Kohath arrived, they found it set up. They brought in the Ark, the Table, the Candelabrum and the altars. This is the meaning of the verse: Those who erected the Tabernacle erected it עַד, [that is,] before the arrival of the Kohathites.
והקימו את המשכן: בני גרשון ובני מררי, שהיו קודמים להם מסע שני דגלים, היו מקימין את המשכן, כשהיה הענן שוכן, וסימן החנייה נראה בדגל מחנה יהודה והם חונים, ועדיין בני קהת באים מאחריהם עם שני דגלים האחרונים, היו בני גרשון ובני מררי מקימין את המשכן, וכשבאים בני קהת מוצאים אותו על מכונו, ומכניסין בו הארון והשלחן והמנורה והמזבחות, וזהו משמעות המקרא והקימו מקימי המשכן אותו עד טרם בואם של בני קהת:
22Then the banner of the camp of Ephraim set out, according to its legions. Heading its legion was Elishama the son of Amihud. כבוְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֛גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה בְנֵֽי־אֶפְרַ֖יִם לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַ֨ל־צְבָא֔וֹ אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־עַמִּיהֽוּד:
23Heading the legion of the tribe of the children of Menasseh was Gamliel the son of Pedahzur. כגוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה גַּמְלִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־פְּדָהצֽוּר:
24Heading the legion of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gidoni. כדוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן אֲבִידָ֖ן בֶּן־גִּדְעוֹנִֽי:
25Then the banner of the camp of Dan set out, the collector for all the other camps, according to its legions. Heading its legion was Achiezer the son of Amishaddai. כהוְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֚גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֣ה בְנֵי־דָ֔ן מְאַסֵּ֥ף לְכָל־הַמַּֽחֲנֹ֖ת לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל־צְבָא֔וֹ אֲחִיעֶ֖זֶר בֶּן־עַמִּֽישַׁדָּֽי:
The collector for all the other camps: The Jerusalem Talmud [states]: Because the tribe of Dan was numerous they traveled last, and if anyone had lost anything, they would [find it and] return it to him. There is an opinion that they traveled in box-like formation, and he derives this from the [the words], “Just as they camp so shall they travel” (2:17). Another opinion is that they traveled in the form of a beam, and he derives this from [the words], “collector for all the camps.”
מאסף לכל המחנות: תלמוד ירושלמי לפי שהיה שבטו של דן מרובה באוכלוסין היה נוסע באחרונה וכל מי שהיה מאבד דבר היה מחזירו לו. אתיא כמאן דאמר כתיבה היו מהלכין, ומפיק לה מן (במדבר ב, יז) כאשר יחנו כן יסעו. ואית דאמרי כקורה היו מהלכין ומפיק לה מן מאסף לכל המחנות:
26Heading the legion of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. כווְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י אָשֵׁ֑ר פַּגְעִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עָכְרָֽן:
27Heading the legion of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enon. כזוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י נַפְתָּלִ֑י אֲחִירַ֖ע בֶּן־עֵינָֽן:
28These are the travels of the children of Israel according to their legions, and then they traveled. כחאֵ֛לֶּה מַסְעֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וַיִּסָּֽעוּ:
These are the travels: This is the order in which they traveled.
אלה מסעי: זה סדר מסעיהם:
And then they traveled: On that day they set out.
יסעו: ביום ההוא נסעו:
29Then Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses's father-in-law, We are traveling to the place about which the Lord said, I will give it to you. Come with us and we will be good to you, for the Lord has spoken of good fortune for Israel. כטוַיֹּ֣אמֶר משֶׁ֗ה לְ֠חֹבָ֠ב בֶּן־רְעוּאֵ֣ל הַמִּדְיָנִי֘ חֹתֵ֣ן משֶׁה֒ נֹֽסְעִ֣ים | אֲנַ֗חְנוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֹת֖וֹ אֶתֵּ֣ן לָכֶ֑ם לְכָ֤ה אִתָּ֨נוּ֙ וְהֵטַ֣בְנוּ לָ֔ךְ כִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֥ה דִּבֶּר־ט֖וֹב עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
Hobab: This is Jethro, as it says, “Of the children of Hobab, the father-in-law of Moses” (Jud. 4:11). So what does Scripture mean by saying,“They [the daughters of Jethro] came to their father Reuel” (Exod. 2:18)? It teaches that children call their grandfather, ‘father.’ He had many names: 'Jethro’-because through him a portion was added (יֶתֶר) to the Torah; 'Hobab’-because he loved (חֹבָב) the Torah, etc…. [see commentary to Exodus 18:1].
חובב: הוא יתרו, שנאמר (שופטים ד, יא) מבני חובב חותן משה, ומה תלמוד לומר (שמות ב, יח) ותבאנה אל רעואל אביהן, מלמד שהתינוקות קורין לאבי אביהן אבא. ושמות הרבה [ושני שמות] היו לו יתר על שם שיתר פרשה אחת בתורה. חובב על שחבב את התורה וכו':
We are traveling to the place: Immediately, within three days, we will enter the Land. For on this first journey they traveled with the intention of entering the Land of Israel, but [because] they sinned at the episode of the complainers [they were punished and did not enter the Land until much later]. Why did Moses include himself with them [if he wasn’t going to enter the Land]? Because the decree against him [entering the Land] had not yet been issued, and [at that time] he thought he would enter.
נסעים אנחנו אל המקום: מיד עד שלשה ימים אנו נכנסין לארץ, שבמסע זה הראשון נסעו על מנת להכנס לארץ ישראל, אלא שחטאו במתאוננים. ומפני מה שתף משה עצמו עמהם, שעדיין לא נגזרה גזרה עליו וכסבור שהוא נכנס:
30He said to him, I won't go, for I will go to my land and my birthplace. לוַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו לֹ֣א אֵלֵ֑ךְ כִּ֧י אִם־אֶל־אַרְצִ֛י וְאֶל־מֽוֹלַדְתִּ֖י אֵלֵֽךְ:
To my land and my birthplace: Whether for the sake of my possessions or for the sake of my family.
אל ארצי ואל מולדתי: אם בשביל נכסי, אם בשביל משפחתי:
31He said, Please don't leave us, for because you are familiar with our encampments in the desert and you will be our guide. לאוַיֹּ֕אמֶר אַל־נָ֖א תַּֽעֲזֹ֣ב אֹתָ֑נוּ כִּ֣י | עַל־כֵּ֣ן יָדַ֗עְתָּ חֲנֹתֵ֨נוּ֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְהָיִ֥יתָ לָּ֖נוּ לְעֵינָֽיִם:
Please don’t leave us: The word נָא is an expression denoting a request. [He made] this [request] as he didn’t want people to say:“Jethro did not convert out of commitment [for Judaism]; rather, he [thought that proselytes have a portion in the Land. Now that he realizes that they have no portion, he has forsaken them and gone his own way.” - [from Sifrei]
אל נא תעזב: אין נא אלא לשון בקשה, שלא יאמרו לא נתגייר יתרו מחבה, סבור היה שיש לגרים חלק בארץ, עכשיו שראה שאין להם חלק הניחם והלך לו:
For because you are familiar with our encampments in the desert: It is fitting for you to do this [i.e., remain with us] since you are familiar with the places in which we will camp in the desert and you saw the miracles and wonders done for us.
כי על כן ידעת חנתנו במדבר: כי נאה לך לעשות זאת על אשר ידעת חנותנו במדבר וראית נסים וגבורות שנעשו לנו:
For because you are familiar…: [The expression… כִּי עַל כֵּן] has the meaning of עַל אֲשֶׁר יָדַעְתָּ, [because you know], as in,“because (כִּי עַל כֵּן) I did not give her to my son Shelah” (Gen. 38:26);“for because (כִּי עַל כֵּן) you passed by” (ibid. 18:5);“for because (כִּי עַל כֵּן) they came [under the shade of my roof]” (ibid. 19: 8);“for because (כִּי עַל כֵּן) I have seen your face” (ibid. 33:10).
כי על כן ידעת: כמו על אשר ידעת, כמו (בראשית לח, כו) כי על כן לא נתתיה לשלה בני, כי על כן עברתם (שם יח, ה), כי על כן באו (שם יט, ח), כי על כן ראיתי פניך (שם לג, י):
You will be our guide: The verse has the past tense, [and] as the Targum renders, [it means: all the wonders wrought for us, you have seen with your eyes.] Another explanation: [It is in] the future tense-If anything should be hidden from our eyes, you shall enlighten us [with your guidance]. A further interpretation: You shall be as beloved to us as the pupils of our eyes, as it says, “You shall love the proselyte” (Deut. 10:9).
והיית לנו לעינים: לשון עבר כתרגומו. דבר אחר לשון עתיד, כל דבר ודבר שיתעלם מעינינו תהיה מאיר עינינו. דבר אחר שתהא חביב עלינו כגלגל עינינו, שנאמר (דברים י, יט) ואהבתם את הגר:
32And if you go with us, then we will bestow on you the good which God grants us. לבוְהָיָ֖ה כִּֽי־תֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֑נוּ וְהָיָ֣ה | הַטּ֣וֹב הַה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵיטִ֧יב יְהֹוָ֛ה עִמָּ֖נוּ וְהֵטַ֥בְנוּ לָֽךְ:
Then we will bestow on you the good: What good did they actually bestow upon him? They said, When Israel apportioned the Land, there was a fertile area of Jericho measuring five hundred by five hundred cubits, and they refrained from allocating it. They said, The one in whose portion the Temple will be built shall take it. Meanwhile, they gave it to the descendants of Jethro, to Jonadab the son of Rehab, as it says, “The sons of Keini, Moses’ father-in-law, went up from the city of dates [namely, Jericho]” (Jud. 1:16). - [from Sifrei]
והיה הטוב ההוא וגו': מה טובה הטיבו לו, אמרו כשהיו ישראל מחלקין את הארץ היה דושנה של יריחו חמש מאות אמה על ת"ק אמה והניחוהו מלחלוק, אמרו מי שיבנה בית המקדש בחלקו הוא יטלנו, בין כך ובין כך נתנוהו לבני יתרו ליונדב בן רכב, שנאמר ובני קני חותן משה עלו מעיר התמרים וגו' (שופטים א, טז):
33They traveled a distance of three days from the mountain of the Lord, and the Ark of the Lord's covenant traveled three days ahead of them to seek for them a place to settle. לגוַיִּסְעוּ֙ מֵהַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה דֶּ֖רֶךְ שְׁל֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וַֽאֲר֨וֹן בְּרִֽית־יְהֹוָ֜ה נֹסֵ֣עַ לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם דֶּ֚רֶךְ שְׁל֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים לָת֥וּר לָהֶ֖ם מְנוּחָֽה:
A distance of three days: They completed a distance of three days travel in one day, for the Holy One wanted to bring them to the Land immediately. - [from Sifrei]
דרך שלשת ימים: מהלך שלשת ימים הלכו ביום אחד, שהיה הקב"ה חפץ להכניסם לארץ מיד:
The Ark of the Lord’s covenant traveled three days ahead of them: This was the Ark that accompanied them in battle. The broken pieces of the [first set of] Tablets lay in them. It preceded them by three days of travel to prepare for them a place to encamp. - [from Sifrei]
וארון ברית ה' נסע לפניהם דרך שלשת ימים: זה הארון היוצא עמהם למלחמה ובו שברי לוחות מונחים ומקדים לפניהם דרך שלשת ימים לתקן להם מקום חנייה:
34The cloud of the Lord was above them by day, when they traveled from the camp. לדוַֽעֲנַ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם יוֹמָ֑ם בְּנָסְעָ֖ם מִן־הַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה:
The cloud of the Lord was above them: Seven clouds are recorded in the account of their travels: four from the four sides, one above, one below, and one in front of them which would flatten the high land, raise the hollows and destroy snakes and scorpions - [from Sifrei].
וענן ה' עליהם יומם: שבעה עננים כתובים במסעיהם. ארבע מארבע רוחות, ואחד למעלה, ואחד למטה, ואחד לפניהם מנמיך את הגבוה ומגביה את הנמוך והורג נחשים ועקרבים:
From the camp: From the place where they encamped.
מן המחנה: ממקום חנייתן:
Daily Tehillim: Chapters 83 - 87• Hebrew text• English text• Chapter 83
A prayer regarding the wars against Israel in the days of Jehoshaphat, when the nations plotted against Israel.
1. A song, a psalm by Asaph.
2. O God, do not be silent; do not be quiet and do not be still, O God.
3. For behold, Your enemies are in uproar, and those who hate You have raised their head.
4. They plot deviously against Your nation, and conspire against those sheltered by You.
5. They say, "Come, let us sever them from nationhood, and the name of Israel will be remembered no more.”
6. For they conspire with a unanimous heart, they made a covenant against You-
7. the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
8. Geval and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
9. Assyria, too, joined with them, and became the strength of the sons of Lot, Selah.
10. Do to them as to Midian; as to Sisera and Yavin at the brook of Kishon,
11. who were destroyed at Ein Dor, and were as dung for the earth.
12. Make their nobles like Orev and Ze'ev, all their princes like Zevach and Tzalmuna,1
13. who said, "Let us inherit the dwellings of God for ourselves.”
14. My God, make them like whirling chaff, like straw before the wind.
15. As a fire consumes the forest, and a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
16. so pursue them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your storm.
17. Fill their faces with shame, and they will seek Your Name, O Lord.
18. Let them be shamed and terrified forever; let them be disgraced and perish.
19. And they will know that You, Whose Name is the Lord, are alone, Most High over all the earth.
FOOTNOTES
1.These were the Midianite leaders who were captured (see Judges 7:25)
Chapter 84
In this psalm of prayers and entreaties, the psalmist mourns bitterly over the destruction of Temple from the depths of his heart, and speaks of the many blessings that will be realized upon its restoration. Fortunate is the one who trusts it will be rebuilt, and does not despair in the face of this long exile.
1. For the Conductor, on the gittit,1 a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. How beloved are Your dwellings, O Lord of Hosts!
3. My soul yearns, indeed it pines, for the courtyards of the Lord; my heart and my flesh [long to] sing to the living God.
4. Even the bird has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she lays her young on the [ruins of] Your altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God.
5. Fortunate are those who dwell in Your House; they will yet praise You forever.
6. Fortunate is the man whose strength is in You; the paths [to the Temple] are in his heart.
7. For those who pass through the Valley of Thorns, He places wellsprings; their guide will be cloaked in blessings.2
8. They go from strength to strength; they will appear before God in Zion.
9. O Lord, God of Hosts, hear my prayer; listen, O God of Jacob, forever.
10. See our shield,3 O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed one.
11. For better one day in Your courtyards than a thousand [elsewhere]. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, than dwell [in comfort] in the tents of wickedness.
12. For the Lord, God, is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and glory; He does not withhold goodness from those who walk in innocence.
13. O Lord of Hosts! Fortunate is the man who trusts in You.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument crafted in Gath (Metzudot).
2.God provides water for the pilgrims to Jerusalem, leading them to bless their guides for choosing a water-laden route (Metzudot)
3.Remember the Temple [and rebuild it](Metzudot).
Chapter 85
In this prayer, lamenting the long and bitter exile, the psalmist asks why this exile is longer than the previous ones, and implores God to quickly fulfill His promise to redeem us. Every individual should offer this psalm when in distress.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. O Lord, You favored Your land; You returned the captives of Jacob.
3. You forgave the iniquity of Your people, and covered all their sin forever.
4. You withdrew all Your fury, and retreated from Your fierce anger.
5. Return us, O God of our salvation, and annul Your anger toward us.
6. Will You forever be angry with us? Will You draw out Your anger over all generations?
7. Is it not true that You will revive us again, and Your people will rejoice in You?
8. Show us Your kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your deliverance.
9. I hear what the Almighty Lord will say; for He speaks peace to His nation and to His pious ones, and they will not return to folly.
10. Indeed, His deliverance is near those who fear Him, that [His] glory may dwell in the land.
11. Kindness and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.
12. Truth will sprout from the earth, and righteousness will peer from heaven.
13. The Lord, too, will bestow goodness, and our land will yield its produce.
14. Righteousness shall walk before him, and he shall set his footsteps in [its] path.
Chapter 86
This psalm contains many prayers regarding David's troubles, and his enemies Doeg and Achitophel. It also includes many descriptions of God's praise. Every individual can offer this psalm when in distress.
1. A prayer by David. Lord, turn Your ear, answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2. Guard my soul, for I am pious; You, my God, deliver Your servant who trusts in You.
3. Be gracious to me, my Lord, for to You I call all day.
4. Bring joy to the soul of Your servant, for to You, my Lord, I lift my soul.
5. For You, my Lord, are good and forgiving, and exceedingly kind to all who call upon You.
6. Lord, hear my prayer and listen to the voice of my supplications.
7. On the day of my distress I call upon You, for You will answer me.
8. There is none like You among the supernal beings, my Lord, and there are no deeds like Yours.
9. All the nations that You have made will come and bow down before You, my Lord, and give honor to Your Name,
10. for You are great and perform wonders, You alone, O God.
11. Lord, teach me Your way that I may walk in Your truth; unify my heart to fear Your Name.
12. I will praise You, my Lord, my God, with all my heart, and give honor to Your Name forever.
13. For Your kindness to me has been great; You have saved my soul from the depth of the grave.
14. O God, malicious men have risen against me; a band of ruthless men has sought my soul; they are not mindful of You.
15. But You, my Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth.
16. Turn to me and be gracious to me; grant Your strength to Your servant, and deliver the son of Your maidservant.
17. Show me a sign of favor, that my foes may see and be shamed, because You, Lord, have given me aid and consoled me.
Chapter 87
Composed to be sung in the Holy Temple, this psalm praises the glory of Jerusalem, a city that produces many great scholars, eminent personalities, and persons of good deeds. It also speaks of the good that will occur in the Messianic era.
1. By the sons of Korach, a psalm, a song devoted to the holy mountains [of Zion and Jerusalem].
2. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3. Glorious things are spoken of you, eternal city of God.
4. I will remind Rahav Egypt and Babylon concerning My beloved; Philistia and Tyre as well as Ethiopia, "This one was born there.”
5. And to Zion will be said, "This person and that was born there"; and He, the Most High, will establish it.
6. The Lord will count in the register of people, "This one was born there," Selah.
7. Singers as well as dancers [will sing your praise and say], "All my inner thoughts are of you."
Tanya: Shaar Hayichud Vehaemunah, beginning of Chapter 6• Lessons in Tanya• English Text
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• Thursday, Sivan 17, 5776 · June 23, 2016
• Shaar Hayichud Vehaemunah, beginning of Chapter 6
• Earlier on, in ch. 4, the Alter Rebbe explained that the Supernal attributes of Chesed and Gevurah — the former finding expression in the diffusion of the Divine life-force that creates and animates created beings, and the latter finding expression in the obscuring of this life-force from them (so that they conceive of themselves as independently existing beings) — both possess one source. He explained there that since these two attributes are essentially one, the tzimtzum of Gevurah does not truly conceal, for “an entity cannot conceal its own self.”
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:• English Text | Hebrew Text |
Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class• Thursday, Sivan 17, 5776 · June 23, 2016
All this applies to Chesed and Gevurah in the state in which they are found within their source. One might, however, think that in their revealed state (whether in a Sefirah, or in a mortal middah or attribute) they are indeed two separate and opposite entities — revelation and concealment, respectively. The Alter Rebbe therefore goes on to say in this chapter, that even when these attributes are revealed they are still in a state of hitkalelut, mutual incorporation, and both serve to bring about one result — a physical world with corporeal creatures. Were the Divine life-force to be revealed within these creatures they would be completely nullified within their source; there would be no such thing as created beings.
Thus the ultimate purpose of the tzimtzum brought about by Gevurah is also motivated by Chesed, for this concealment makes creation possible. Gevurah and Chesed are thus joined in a state of mutual incorporation. What makes this fusion possible is the fact that they are both united with the light of the Ein Sof. Hence, even when they are in a revealed state and appear to be two disparate entities, they are essentially one.
והנה שם אלקים הוא שם מדת הגבורה והצמצום
Now the Name Elokim is the Name which indicates the attribute of Gevurah and tzimtzum,
Each of G‑d’s Names denotes a particular Divine attribute. The Name pronounced Keil, for example, indicates the attribute of Chesed, as in the verse,1 “The kindness of Keil endures throughout the day.” Likewise, the Name that indicates the attribute of Gevurah or tzimtzum is Elokim; i.e., when the light of the Ein Sof garbs itself in the attribute of Gevurah to bring about its own tzimtzum and concealment, it is known by the Name Elokim.
ולכן הוא גם כן בגימטריא הטבע
hence it is also numerically equal to hateva (“nature”), which equals 86,
“Nature” signifies the ordered way of the world. Because of its repetitiveness, people become accustomed to it and it arouses no sense of wonder. No thought is given to the Divine power and life-force which is concealed in those things which have an established order and are repeated constantly.
לפי שמסתיר האור שלמעלה, המהוה ומחיה העולם
for it (the Divine Name Elokim) conceals the supernal light that brings the world into existence and gives it life,
The supernal light constantly creates the world ex nihilo — a feat more wondrous than the Splitting of the Red Sea. The Divine Name Elokim, however, conceals this light, so that it will not be visible to created beings,
ונראה כאלו העולם עומד ומתנהג בדרך הטבע
and it appears as though the world exists — without having to be constantly renewed, as if permanently programmed— and is conducted according to the laws of nature, independently of any supernatural influence.
Thus, even those things which are observed to undergo some degree of renewal are also perceived as “the way of nature,” inasmuch as they follow these seemingly immutable laws.
Chassidus explains that the wordטבע (“nature”), has a number of meanings, including “entrenched” and “submerged”. This means that the laws of nature are so “entrenched” in creation that it is difficult to detect the ongoing process of its renewal. Additionally, just as a submerged object is completely concealed by water, so, too, is the Divine life-force utterly “submerged” and concealed within created beings.
ושם אלקים זה
And this Name Elokim, not as it exists in its supernal source, but as it acts through the attribute of Gevurah, so that the world appears to be conducted in a natural manner,
הוא מגן ונרתק לשם הויה
is a shield and a sheath for the Name Havayah,
The Divine Name Havayah — as mentioned earlier, in explanation of the verse, “For a sun and a shield is Havayah Elokim”— is like the illuminating sun, while the Name Elokim conceals its light as does the sun’s shield, thereby enabling created beings to benefit from it.
להעלים האור והחיות הנמשך משם הויה, ומהוה מאין ליש
concealing the light and life-force which flows from the Name Havayah and bringing creation into existence from naught, this being the purpose of Havayah, the Name itself meaning “to bring into existence.” This light and life-force is concealed by Elokim:
שלא יתגלה לנבראים, ויבטלו במציאות
so that it should not be revealed to the creatures, which would thereby become absolutely nullified.
Since it is only through the concealment effected by the Name Elokim that created beings are able to exist:
והרי בחינת גבורה זו וצמצום הזה הוא גם כן בחינת חסד, שהעולם יבנה בו
The quality of this2 Gevurah and tzimtzum is also an aspect of Chesed, through which the world is built.
This is an allusion to the verse that states:3 “For I declared that the world be built through [the attribute of] Chesed.” For inasmuch as the world could not possibly have been created without the tzimtzum and concealment afforded by the Divine Name Elokim, it follows that the ultimate intent of this tzimtzum is actually Chesed.
וזו היא בחינת גבורה הכלולה בחסד
And this is the quality of Gevurah which is included in Chesed.4
I.e., this is a form of Gevurah through which an act of Chesed is accomplished. As such it is included within Chesed.5
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Tehillim 52:3. |
| 2. | Note of the Rebbe: “As distinct from that [Gevurah] of Part I, end of ch. 6.” In this brief note, the Rebbe explains why the Alter Rebbe stresses here that specifically “this [manner of] Gevurah andtzimtzum is also a quality of Chesed.” His intention is to exclude thereby the Gevurah and tzimtzum discussed earlier, in the sixth chapter of the first part of Tanya. When he says there that the life-force of holiness descends through many degrees of tzimtzum that enable it to be invested within the kelipah and sitra achra so as to provide them with life, it is clear that there the tzimtzum is truly one of Gevurah and concealment, and by no means a quality of Chesed. For the Divine intent there is that there should be no revelation whatever. |
| 3. | Tehillim 89:3. |
| 4. | The Rebbe explains why the Alter Rebbe states that “this is the quality of Gevurah which is included in Chesed,” after having already said that “this quality of Gevurah and tzimtzum is also a quality of Chesed.” The Alter Rebbe’s purpose here is to introduce a basic new point, and thereby to forestall a powerful question, which because of its apparent simplicity — says the Rebbe — seems to be overlooked. The question is as follows: We are speaking here of G‑d’s infinite attributes. Just as the effect of His Chesed is limitless, creating as it does an infinite multitude of beings (see above, ch. 4), so too should the infinite effect of Gevurah be an infinite degree of concealment. This concealment should therefore only allow (heaven forfend) such creation of which it may be said (as the Alter Rebbe says in Tanya, ch. 36) that “there is none lower than it in terms of concealment of His light.” Accordingly, it would seem that the infinite concealment of Gevurah should only allow for the creation of an infinite multitude of creatures which are of the lowest level of this gross and material world, “the lowest in degree,” inasmuch as only within this lowest level is there to be found the utmost concealment — the infinite effect of Gevurah. How, then, did the rest of creation come about? According to the analogy of the sun’s shield and sheath, as well as the above explanation that the purpose of the concealment is not concealment alone, but also that creation not be totally nullified within the Divine light, the question is resolved as follows. The sun not only operates by means of its shield; being a luminary, it also shines — and may be seen — through it. Thus, the effect of the shield is also to allow the revelation of the sun. The same is true of the infinite degrees of creation which emanate from the “sun” of Chesed and the infinite degrees of concealment emanating from the “shield” of Gevurah. Every level of the infinity of creatures created by Chesed is protected from being nullified in relation to its source, by the corresponding level of the infinity of shields brought into being through the infinite attribute of Gevurah. This, then, is the new and basic point the Alter Rebbe indicates when he says that “this is the quality of Gevurah which is included in Chesed”: Within each of the infinite degrees and levels of creatures generated by Chesed, there is to be found the quality of Gevurah which is included in Chesed, so that they will not be nullified in relation to their source. We thus have two novel points explained here by the Alter Rebbe: (a) The quality of Gevurah is not only an expression of concealment and tzimtzum, but also a quality of Chesed, for it makes creation possible; (b) this quality of Gevurah is included in Chesed. This latter point finds expression in the fact that each level of creation and each creature was brought into being through a manner of tzimtzum that is likened to “individual droplets” of rain that are channeled and phased, rather than descending all at once like “the floodgates of heaven.” The “channeling” effect is thus twofold. On the one hand, it negates and limits the unbridled “floodgates of heaven”; at the same time, it causes the droplets to descend individually, so that they may be utilized in a profitable manner. Another analogy: Smoked glass is used to protect one’s eyes from the sun’s rays by blocking the free passage of light that a lighter-colored glass would admit; at the same time, this same protective glass does permit some degree of light to enter, so that benefit may be derived from the sun’s rays. The same is true in the analogue, regarding the two characteristics of tzimtzum and Gevurah. On one hand, tzimtzummakes it possible for the created being not to become totally nullified in relation to its source — something that would be certain to occur if creation were to derive from the attribute of Chesed alone; on the other hand, tzimtzum at the very same time is a partner in creation — an act of Chesed, as the verse states, “For I declared that the world be built throughChesed.” This is what is meant by “the quality of Gevurah which is included in Chesed”; i.e., that Gevurah which createsbeings. |
| 5. | An example of this, notes the Rebbe, is the rainfall as described in note 4, above. So too, as discussed there, one can look at the sun only by using a darkened glass, which thus serves a function of Gevurah as included in Chesed. And the same is true in the analogue: Since the world is created by virtue of the concealment effected by Gevurah, this attribute thereby becomes a component of the attribute of Chesed. |
• Sefer Hamitzvos:• English Text | Hebrew Text |
Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class• Thursday, Sivan 17, 5776 · June 23, 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 96
Ritual Impurity of an Animal Carcass
We are commanded regarding the ritual impurity [contained in and emitted by] an animal carcass. [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 96
Ritual Impurity of an Animal Carcass
We are commanded regarding the ritual impurity [contained in and emitted by] an animal carcass. [I.e., when contracted, one must follow all the laws associated with this impurity.]
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Ritual Impurity of an Animal Carcass
Positive Commandment 96
Translated by Berel Bell
The 96th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the tumah of neveilah. This mitzvah includes tumas neveilah and all of its laws.1
I will now give an introduction you should remember all through the following discussion of the various types of tumah. When we count each category as a separate positive commandment, this does not mean that one is commanded to become tameh with this form of tumah; nor that one is forbidden from becoming tameh with it, as if it is a prohibition. Rather, the Torah's statement that anyone who touches a certain category is tameh, or that a certain category conveys tumah in a certain way to one who comes in contact with it — this itself is the positive commandment. This means that the law we are commanded to follow — that if one touches a certain object in a certain way he becomes tameh, but in another way, he does not — is itself the mitzvah.
The actual decision to become tameh or not, however, is optional. If one wants, one is allowed to become tameh, and if one doesn't want, he doesn't have to. The Sifra says, "From the verse,2 'Do not touch their neveilah,' I might think that one who touches neveilah receives 40 lashes — the Torah therefore says,3 'To these you will become tameh.' I might think that if one sees neveilah he must go and become tameh from it — the Torah therefore says, 'Do not touch their neveilah.' How is this possible? It is optional."
Therefore the mitzvah is the actual ruling regarding these laws, that we are commanded that anyone who touches a certain object becomes tameh and is bound by all the obligations of those who are tameh — to go outside the machaneh Shechinah, not to eat or touch sacrificial food, etc. This itself — that he becomes tameh through touching or some other connection4 — is the mitzvah.
You should remember this principle throughout all the categories of tumah.
FOOTNOTES
1.See Hilchos Shaar Avos HaTuma'os, Chapters 1-3.
2.Lev. 11:8.
3.Ibid., 11:24.
4.Such as carrying it without touching, such as in the case of neveilah, or entering under the same roof, as with tumas meis.
• 1 Chapter: Shegagot Shegagot - Perek 1 • English Text | Hebrew Text | Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class• Shegagot - Perek 1
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1
Whenever a person inadvertently violates one of the negative commandments that involve a deed and for which one is liable for karet, he is obligated to bring a sin-offering. It is a positive commandment for him to offer a sin-offering for his inadvertent transgression.
א
כל העובר בשגגה על אחת ממצות לא תעשה שיש בה מעשה שחייבין עליה כרת הרי זה חייב להקריב קרבן חטאת ומצות עשה שיקריב חטאתו על שגגתו:
2
All transgressions for which one is liable for karet for their willful violation, one is liable to bring a sin-offering for their inadvertent violation except for three transgressions: blasphemy, negating circumcision, and negating the Paschal sacrifice. Negating circumcision and the Paschal sacrifice does not require such an offering, because they are positive commandments and a sin-offering is brought only for the inadvertent violation of a negative commandment, as Leviticus 4:27 states that the offering should be brought for violating: "one of the commandments of God that forbids an act to be performed." And blasphemy does not involve a deed. Thus a sacrifice is not necessary, because Numbers 15:29 speaks about this sacrifice being brought by "one who acts inadvertently," excluding a blasphemer who does not perform an action.
Accordingly, one who accepts a false deity as a god, even though he is liable for karet if he acts willfully and is liable for execution by stoning, is exempt from a sacrifice if he accept the deity inadvertently, because he did not perform a deed and Leviticus 4:27states: "Acting in violation of one."
ב
וכל עבירה שחייבין על זדונה כרת חייבין על שגגתה חטאת חוץ משלש עבירות מגדף ומבטל מילה וקרבן פסח הפסח והמילה מפני שהן מצות עשה וחטאת אין מביאין אלא על שגגת לא תעשה שנאמר אחת מכל מצות ה' אשר לא תעשינה והמגדף מפני שאין בו מעשה ונאמר לעושה בשגגה יצא מגדף שאין בו מעשה לפיכך המקבל ע"ז באלוה אע"פ שהוא חייב כרת אם היה מזיד נסקל ואם קיבל בשגגה פטור מן הקרבן לפי שלא עשה מעשה ונאמר בעשותה אחת:
3
With regard to all the transgressions punishable by karet in the Torah except for the three which were mentioned, if a private individual violated one of these prohibitions inadvertently, he must bring a fixed sin-offering with the exception of an impure person who partook of sacrificial meat and an impure person who entered the Temple. These two do not bring a fixed sin-offering, but rather an adjustable guilt-offering, as will be explained.
ג
כל כריתות שבתורה חוץ משלש כריתות שביארנו אם עבר היחיד על אחת מהן בשגגה מביא חטאת קבועה חוץ מטמא שאכל קדש וטמא שנכנס למקדש ששניהם אין מביאין חטאת קבועה אלא קרבן עולה ויורד כמו שיתבאר:
4
Only an animal is brought as a fixed sin-offering. In contrast, an adjustable guilt-offering is a sacrifice whose object is not fixed. If one is rich, he must bring an animal as a sin-offering. If he is poor, he brings a fowl or a tenth of an ephah as a meal-offering, as will be explained. Thus all the sins for which a private person brings a fixed sin-offering are 43. They include:
a) one who is intimate with his mother,
b) one who is intimate with his wife's mother,
c) one who is intimate with his maternal grandmother,
d) one who is intimate with his paternal grandmother,
e) one who is intimate with his daughter,
f) one who is intimate with his daughter's daughter,
g) one who is intimate with his son's daughter,
h) one who is intimate with his wife's daughter,
i) one who is intimate with the daughter of his wife's daughter,
j) one who is intimate with the daughter of his wife's son,
k) one who is intimate with his sister,
l) one who is intimate with his sister who is the daughter of his father's wife,
m) one who is intimate with his father's sister,
n) m) one who is intimate with his mother's sister,
o) one who is intimate with his wife's sister,
p) one who is intimate with his father's wife,
q) one who is intimate with the wife of his father's brother,
r) one who is intimate with his son's wife,
s) one who is intimate with his brother's wife,
t) one who is intimate with another man's wife,
u) one who is intimate with a woman in the niddah state,
v) one who is intimate with a male,
w) one who is intimate with his father,
x) one who is intimate with his father's brother,
y) one who is intimate with an animal,
z) a woman who has an animal engage in relations with her. Thus all the prohibitions involving forbidden relations punishable by karet are 26.
Among other sins, there are seventeen. They are: a) one who serves a false deity by performing a deed,
b) one who gives his descendants to Molech,
c) one who divines through an ov,
d) one who performs a deed while divining with a yidoni,
e) one who desecrates the Sabbath,
f) one who performs forbidden labor on Yom Kippur,
g) one who eats or drinks on Yom Kippur,
h) one who eats chametz on Pesach,
i) one who partakes of fat,
j) one who partakes of blood,
k) one who partakes of sacrificial meat after the time for eating it passes,
l) one who partakes of sacrificial meat that was disqualified, because of an undesirable intent concerning time,
m) one who slaughters a sacrificial animal outside the Temple Courtyard,
n) one who offers a sacrifice outside the Temple Courtyard,
o) one who prepares anointing oil like that used in the Temple,
p) one who prepares incense like that used in the Temple,and
q) one who anoints himself with the anointing oil of the Temple. These are the 43 transgressions for which one brings a fixed sin-offering for their inadvertent violation.
What is the sacrifice that a person who inadvertently violates one of these transgressions should bring? If he inadvertently violated the prohibition against worshiping a false deity, he must bring a female goat in the first year of its life. This is the sacrifice mentioned in the portion Shelach Lecha. This applies whether the transgressor is an ordinary person, a king, a High Priest, or the priest anointed to lead the people in war. Every one is equal with regard to the inadvertent transgression of the worship of false divinities.
If, however, one inadvertently violated one of the other 42 transgressions mentioned above, different rules apply. If the transgressor was an ordinary person, he should bring a she-goat or a ewe. This is the sin offering of one of the common people mentioned in the portion Vayikra. If the king inadvertently violated one of these trangressions, he should bring a male goat as a sin-offering. If the transgressor is an anointed priest, he should bring a bull, the offspring of an ox as a sin-offering. It is burnt, as described there.
ד
חטאת קבועה היא הבאה מן הבהמה בלבד וקרבן עולה ויורד הוא קרבן שאינו קבוע אלא אם היה עשיר מביא חטאת בהמה ואם היה עני מביא עוף או עשירית האיפה כמו שיתבאר נמצאת למד שכל העבירות שהיחיד מביא על שגגתן חטאת קבועה ארבעים ושלש ואלו הן:
(א) הבא על אמו (ב) הבא על אם אשתו (ג) הבא על אם אמה (ד) הבא על אם אביה (ה) הבא על בתו (ו) הבא על בת בתו (ז) הבא על בת בנו (ח) הבא על בת אשתו (ט) הבא על בת בתה (י) הבא על בת בנה (יא) הבא על אחותו (יב) הבא על אחותו שהיא בת אשת אביו (יג) הבא על אחות אביו (יד) הבא על אחות אמו (טו) הבא על אחות אשתו (טז) הבא על אשת אביו (יז) הבא על אשת אחי אביו (יח) הבא על אשת בנו (יט) הבא על אשת אחיו (כ) הבא על אשת איש (כא) הבא על הנדה (כב) השוכב עם זכר (כג) הבא על אביו (כד) הבא על אחי אביו (כה) השוכב עם בהמה (כו) האשה שמביאה עליה את הבהמה נמצאו כל כריתות שבעריות עשרים ושלש:
ובשאר העבירות שבע עשרה ואלו הן:
(א) העובד עבודה זרה במעשה (ב) הנותן מזרעו למולך (ג) בעל אוב (ד) בעל ידעוני במעשה (ה) המחלל את השבת (ו) העושה מלאכה ביוה"כ (ז) האוכל ושותה ביום הכפורים (ח) האוכל נותר (ט) האוכל חמץ בפסח (י) האוכל חלב (יא) האוכל דם (יב) האוכל פיגול (יג) השוחט קדשים חוץ לעזרה (יד) המעלה קרבן חוץ לעזרה (טו) המפטם את שמן המשחה (טז) המפטם את הקטורת (יז) הסך בשמן המשחה הרי אלו ארבעים ושלש עבירות שמביאין על שגגתן חטאת קבועה ומה הוא הקרבן שמביא השוגג באחת מאלו אם שגג בעבודה זרה מביא עז בת שנתה לחטאת והיא האמורה בפרשת שלח לך בין שהיה החוטא הדיוט או מלך או כהן גדול או משוח מלחמה הכל שוין בשגגת ע"ז אבל אם שגג באחת משאר ארבעים ושתים אם היה הדיוט מביא שעירת עזים או נקבה מן הכבשים וזו היא חטאת של אחד מעם הארץ האמורה בפרשת ויקרא ואם המלך הוא ששגג באחת מהן מביא שעירת עזים לחטאת ואם כהן משוח הוא מביא פר בן בקר לחטאת והוא נשרף כמו שנתפרש שם:
5
The same laws apply whether one person inadvertently violates one of these transgressions or many do, as implied by Numbers 15:29: "There will be one law for those who transgress inadvertently."
What is implied? If the people of a city inadvertently transgressed and thought the day was an ordinary day, but it was Yom Kippur. As a result, they all ate and performed work, each one of the transgressors should bring two sin-offerings, ewes or she-goats. Similarly, if they all inadvertently transgressed and offered incense to a false deity, each one of the transgressors must bring a goat in its first year of life as a sin-offering.
ה
אחד יחיד ששגג באחת מאלו או מרובין שנאמר תורה אחת תהיה לכם לעושה בשגגה כיצד אנשי מדינה ששגגו ודמו שהיום חול והרי הוא יוה"כ וכולן אכלו ועשו מלאכה כל אחד מהן מביא שתי חטאות כבשות או שעירות וכן אם שגגו כולן והקטירו לעבודה זרה כל אחד ואחד מן העובדים מביא עז בת שנתה לחטאת:
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1
The carcass of a kosher fowl that was not ritually slaughtered imparts impurity according to Scriptural Law. According to the Oral Tradition, it is taught that Leviticus 17:15: "Any soul that will partake of the carcass of a fowl or one that is tereifah - whether a native or a convert - shall launder his garments and bathe in water" is speaking only about one who partakes of the carcass of a fowl from a kosher species that is forbidden because it is a carcass or tereifah.
How is its impurity defined? It does not impart impurity when touched or when carried or when it is in one's mouth, only in one's gullet. This is implied by the phrase: "Any soul that will partake...," i.e., it imparts impurity only when it has been ingested in "the chamber of the soul." It uses the term "partake" to define that the minimum measure that imparts impurity is the measure to which the prohibition against eating applies, i.e., an olive-sized portion. Moreover, it is written: "shall launder his garments;" this teaches that one who contracts impurity from such a carcass imparts impurity to his garments until he separates himself from the object that imparted impurity to him, as we explained.
What is implied? When one swallows an olive-sized portion of the carcass of a fowl from a kosher species and touched keilim while swallowing it, they become impure and are considered a primary derivative of impurity. If he was touching a person or earthenware containers while swallowing it, he does not impart impurity to them, as we stated with regard to other primary categories of impurity. After he has ingested the meat from the fowl, he does not impart impurity to other keilim. He is like an k'li that is a primary derivative of impurity that has been separated from the substance that imparted impurity to him. For even though he must immerse himself and wait for nightfall to regain ritual purity, he does not impart impurity to keilim.
א
נבלת העוף הטהור מטמא מן התורה מפי השמועה למדו שזה שנאמר וכל נפש אשר תאכל נבילה וטריפה באזרח ובגר וכבס בגדיו ורחץ במים אינו מדבר אלא באוכל נבילת העוף הטהור בלבד שהוא אסור משום נבילה וטריפה וכיצד היא טומאתה אינה מטמאה לא במגע ולא במשא ולא כשהיא בתוך הפה אלא בתוך בית הבליעה שנאמר וכל נפש אשר תאכל אינה מטמאה אלא כשהיא בבית הנפש וזה שנאמר תאכל לתת שיעור לטומאתה כשיעור אכילה שהוא כזית והרי נאמר בה וכבס בגדיו מלמד שהמתטמא בה מטמא בגדיו עד שיפרוש ממטמאיו כמו שביארנו כיצד הבולע כזית מנבלת העוף הטהור ונגע בכלים בשעת בליעתו טמאים ונעשו ראשון לטומאה היה נוגע באדם ובכלי חרס בשעת בליעתו לא טימאן כמו שביארנו בשאר אבות הטומאות ואחר שבלע אינו מטמא שאר כלים שהרי הוא ככלי ראשון לטומאה אחר שפירש ממטמאיו שאף על פי שהוא טעון טבילה והערב שמש אינו מטמא כלים:
2
It is not necessary for one to have the intent to consider the carcass of a fowl from a kosher species as food to impart this severe type of impurity. Instead, whenever one swallows an olive-size portion of such a carcass, it imparts impurity when in the person's gullet.
If one thought to partake of it, it imparts the impurity of foods. It is considered as a primary derivative of impurity even though it did not touch another source of impurity, nor must it be made fit to contract impurity.
ב
אין נבלת העוף הטהור צריכה מחשבה לטמא טומאה זו החמורה אלא כיון שבלע ממנה כזית מכל מקום הרי זו מטמאה בבית הבליעה חישב עליה לאכילה הרי זו מטמאה טומאת אוכלין והרי היא כאוכל ראשון לטומאה אע"פ שלא נגע בה טומאה אחרת ואינה צריכה הכשר:
3
The above does not apply to a red heifer and goats that are to be burned. Even though they impart impurity to those involved in offering them, if one considers partaking of them, it is necessary for them to come in contact with a source of impurity. Only then, do they contract the impurity associated with food.
ג
פרה אדומה ושעירין הנשרפים אינן כן אף על פי שהן מטמאין המתעסק בהן אם חישב עליהן לאכילה צריכין שתגע בהן טומאה ואח"כ יטמאו טומאת אוכלין:
4
When a person skewered an olive-size portion of an animal carcass with a weaving needle and inserted it into the inner organs of a woman from below or inserted it into the gullet of a colleague in a place where the carcass of a fowl from a kosher species would impart impurity, the person contracts impurity, because he or she is carrying the impurity, not because he touches it, as we explained in the beginning of this book.
ד
כזית מנבלת הבהמה שתחבו בכוש והכניס לתוך מעי האשה מלמטה או שהכניסו לתוך בליעתו של חבירו במקום שנבלת העוף הטהור מטמאה הרי זה טמאו משום נושא לא משום נוגע כמו שביארנו בתחילת הספר:
5
If a person wound an olive-sized portion of the carcass of a fowl from a kosher species in lettuce or the like and swallowed it, he is impure, even if it did not touch his throat. If he wound it with tree bast and swallowed it, he is pure.
ה
הכורך כזית מבשר נבילת העוף הטהור בחזרת וכיוצא בה ובלעו אע"פ שלא נגע בגרונו ה"ז טמא כרכו בסיב ובלעו ה"ז טהור:
6
If a person swallowed an olive-sized portion of the carcass of a fowl from a kosher species and, after swallowing it, vomited it before it was digested, he does not impart impurity to his garments when it passes his throat when vomiting it. For it imparts impurity in the gullet only when it is swallowed, but not when it is vomited.
ו
הבולע נבילת העוף הטהור ואחר שבלעה הקיאה קודם שתתעכל הרי זה אינו מטמא בגדים כשתצא לגרונו בשעה שמקיאה שאינה מטמאה בבית הנפש אלא בשעת בליעה לא בשעה שמקיאה:
7
The following rules apply when a person swallowed part of an intestine of a kosher species of fowl, part of it was in his gullet, and part was in his mouth. In there is an olive-sized portion in his gullet at one time, he is impure. If not, he remains pure.
ז
מעי של נבלת העוף הטהור שבלעו מקצתו בבית הבליע' ומקצתו בחוץ לתוך פיו אם יש בבית הבליעה כזית ה"ז טמא ואם לאו טהור:
8
When a person swallows an entire limb that is not as large as an olive-sized portion from such a carcass, it does not impart impurity. Even if he took an entire fowl and swallowed it, if it is as large as an olive, he becomes impure. If not, he remains pure.
ח
בלע ממנה אבר שלם שאין בו כזית אינו מתטמא אפילו נטל צפור ואכלה אם יש בה כזית נטמא ואם לאו טהור:
9
Although the thin feathers and the wooly hairs on the carcass of a fowl are considered as food and contract and impart the impurity associated with food, they are not included when reckoning an olive-sized portion of the carcass of a kosher species of fowl.
In contrast, the soft portions of the beak and the nails that are close to the flesh are considered like meat and are included in the reckoning of an olive-sized portion. The tips of the wings, the tip of the tail, and the bones, even those which are soft, are not included.
ט
הכנפיים והנוצה אף ע"פ שהן כאוכלים ומתטמאין ומטמאין טומאת אוכלין אינן מצטרפין בנבלת העוף הטהור לכזית אבל המקומו' הרכים הקרובים לבשר מן החרטום והציפורנים הרי הן כבשר ומצטרפין לכזית ראשי אגפיים וראש הזנב והעצמות אפילו הרכות אינן מצטרפין:
10
When a person partakes of the soft bones, the sinews, underdeveloped eggs while in the mother's body, or the blood of the carcass of a fowl from a kosher species or meat cut from such a fowl while it was alive, he is pure. If, however, one partook of the meat to which the underdeveloped eggs were attached, the gizzard, or the intestines of such a fowl after it died, or he liquefied the fat in fire and drank it, he is impure like one who partakes of its meat. One who drinks is like who eats. If he liquefied it in the sun and partook of it, he is pure, for he has caused it to become rancid.
י
האוכל מנבלת העוף הטהור מן העצמות הרכין או מן הגידין ומן השלל של ביצים ומן הדם ומבשר מן החי ממנו טהור אבל האוכל מן האשכול של ביצים ומן הקורקבן ומן בני המעיים או שהמחה את החלב באור וגמעו ה"ז טמא כאוכל מבשרם שהשותה בכלל אוכל המחהו בחמה וגמעו טהור שהרי הסריחו:
11
When the carcass of a fowl of a kosher species has decomposed to the extent that it is unfit to be eaten by a dog, it is pure. Similarly, if it becomes dry like a shard and would not return to its original state if left in lukewarm water for an entire day, it is pure. One who partakes of the netzel of the carcass of a fowl of a kosher species is pure.
יא
נבלת העוף הטהור שנפסדה מלאכול הכלב טהורה וכן אם יבשה כחרס ואינה יכולה להשרות בפושרין מעת לעת לחזור לכמות שהיתה הרי זו טהורה והאוכל נצל של נבלת העוף הטהור ה"ז טהור:
12
When a fowl from a kosher species becomes tereifah, but was slaughtered in a kosher manner, the slaughter causes it to be considered pure. This applies even if it was slaughtered in the Temple Courtyard. If its head was snipped off through melikah and it was discovered to be tereifah, the melikah does not cause it to be considered as pure. Thus it can be inferred that when one slaughters a fowl from a kosher species, whether outside the Temple Courtyard or inside of it, whether the fowl is consecrated or not, it is pure. Whether one performs melikah on ordinary fowl within the Temple Courtyard or consecrated fowl outside the Temple Courtyard, they impart impurity to a person and his garments when in the gullet.
יב
עוף טהור שנטרף ונשחט שחיטה כשירה שחיטתו מטהרתו ואפילו נשחט בעזרה ואם נמלק ונמצא טריפה אין מליקתו מטהרתו נמצאת אומר שהשוחט עוף טהור בין בחוץ בין בפנים בין קדשים בין חולין ה"ז טהור והמולק חולין בפנים או שמלק קדשים בחוץ הרי אלו מטמאין בגדים בבית הבליעה:
13
When one performs melikah on consecrated fowl in the Temple Courtyard, if they are fit for a sacrifice and do not have disqualifying blemishes, as explained in its place, they are pure. Similarly, when a calf that has its neck broken as required by law, it is pure, for "atonement" is mentioned with regard to it, as with regard to sacrificial offerings. Similarly, if it was slaughtered after it was taken down to the wadi, even though it is forbidden to benefit from it, the slaughter prevents it from being considered as an impure carcass.
יג
המולק קדשים בפנים אם היו ראויין לקרבן ולא נמצאו בהן מומין שביארנו במקומו הרי אלו טהורין כיוצא בו עגלה ערופה שנערפת כהלכתה טהורה כפרה כתיב בה כקדשים וכן אם נשחטה אחר ירידתה לנחל אף על פי שאסורה בהנאה הצילה אותה שחיטתה מידי נבילה:
14
The carcass of a fowl from a non-kosher species is pure and does not impart impurity in the gullet. If one thought to partake of it and it was made fit to contract impurity, it is considered as an impure food which is a primary derivative of impurity. The thin feathers, the wooly hairs, and the soft portions of its beak and its nails are considered as its meat.
יד
נבלת העוף הטמא טהורה ואינה מטמאה בבית הבליעה ואם חישב עליה לאכילה והוכשרה הרי היא כאוכלין טמאין שהן ראשון לטומאה וכנפיים והנוצה והמקומות הרכים מן החרטום ומן הציפורנים שלה הרי הן כבשרה:
15
When a limb is separated from a living fowl - whether from a kosher species or a non-kosher species - it is pure and does not impart impurity at all, as can be inferred from Leviticus 11:24-26: "Because of these, you will contract impurity... because of all the animals." This excludes fowl, because it does not have a hoof. According to the Oral Tradition, it was taught that the verse comes solely to teach that a limb from a living domesticated or wild animal is impure.
טו
אחד העוף הטהור ואחד העוף הטמא אבר מן החי הפורש מהם טהור ואין בו טומאה כלל שנאמר ולאלה תטמאו לכל הבהמה להוציא את העוף שאין לו פרסה ומפי השמועה למדו שלא בא הכתוב אלא לטמא אבר מן החי של בהמה או חיה:
16
A limb separated from the carcass of a fowl is considered like the carcass of the fowl from which it was separated. If it was from the carcass of a kosher fowl, an olive-sized portion of it imparts severe impurity in the gullet. If one thought of partaking of it, it contracts the impurity associated with impure foods. If the carcass was from a non-kosher fowl, it contracts the impurity associated with impure foods if one thought of partaking of it and it was made fit to contract impurity. It does not impart impurity to other foods unless it is the size of an egg. This is the measure required for all foods to contract impurity, as will be explained.
טז
אבר מן המת מן העוף הרי הוא כנבלת העוף שפירש ממנו אם היתה נבלת עוף טהור מטמאה טומאה חמורה בבית הבליעה בכזית ואם חישב עליו לאכילה מטמא טומאת אוכלין ואם היתה נבלת עוף טמא מטמא טומאת אוכלין אם חישב עליו והוכשר ואינו מטמא אוכלין אחרים עד שיהיה בו כביצה כשיעור כל האוכלין לטמא כמו שיתבאר:
She'ar Avot haTum'ah - Chapter 4
1
The eight crawling animals that are mentioned in the Torah are: the weasel, the mouse, the ferret, the hedgehog, the chameleon, the lizard, the snail, and the mole. The impurity of them all is the same. They are each referred to as a sheretz with regard to impurity.
א
שמונה שרצים האמורין בתורה והן: החולד והעכבר והצב והאנקה והלטאה והכח והתנשמת והחומט טומאת כולן שוה והן הנקראין שרץ לעניין טומאה:
2
A sheretz is considered as a primary source of impurity and imparts impurity to persons and keilim when touched and to an earthenware container, when it enters its inner space. It does not impart impurity when carried and one who touches it does not impart impurity to his clothes when touching it. The minimum measure that imparts impurity is a lentil-sized portion. All the sh'ratzim can be combined to reach this measure.
ב
השרץ אב מאבות הטומאות מטמא אדם וכלים במגע וכלי חרס באויר ואינו מטמא במשא והנוגע בו אינו מטמא בגדים בשעת מגעו ושיעור טומאתו בכעדשה וכל השרצים מצטרפין לכעדשה:
3
There is no minimum measure for the limbs of a sheretz to impart impurity. To impart impurity a limb of a sheretz must be intact as when it came into being.
ג
האיברים אין להן שיעור אבר מן השרץ כברייתו:
4
A limb from a sheretz that is intact with flesh, sinews, and bones that is less than a lentil-sized portion - whether it was separated from the sheretz while it is alive or after it died - imparts impurity. It must have enough flesh or marrow within the bone to regenerate and return to a state of wholeness.
ד
בשר וגידים ועצמות שהוא פחות מכעדשה בין שפירש מן החי בין שפירש מן המת מטמא טומאתו והוא שיהיה בבשר שעליו או במוח שבעצם כדי להעלות ארוכה:
5
When flesh is separated from a living sheretz, it is pure. Only a limb which is comparable to an entire sheretz imparts impurity. What is meant by comparable? Just as a sheretz possesses flesh, sinews, and bones, so too, a limb separated from it must possess flesh, sinews, and bones.
ה
בשר מן החי הפורש מן השרץ טהור שאין מטמא אלא אבר הדומה לשרץ כולו מה שרץ בשר וגידים ועצמות אף אבר הפורש בשר וגידים ועצמות:
6
A kidney, a liver, the tongue, and the like, even though they are considered as organs and will not regenerate, are considered as flesh in this context. If they were separated from a living sheretz, they are pure.
ו
הכוליא והכבד והלשון וכיוצא בהן אע"פ שהן אבר ואין עושין חליפין הרי הן כבשר ואם פירשו מן החי טהורין:
7
The blood of a sheretz is considered as its flesh. It can be combined to reach the minimum measure of a lentil-sized portion, as long as it is connected to its flesh.
ז
דם השרץ כבשרו ומצטרף לכעדשה כל זמן שהוא מחובר בבשר:
8
The bones of a sheretz, its sinews, and its nails are pure. The hides of the weasel, the mouse, the ferret, and the mole are pure. This applies even though it is still fresh and was not processed or trodden upon. The hides of the hedgehog, the chameleon, the lizard, and the snail, by contrast, are considered as their flesh and a lentil-sized portion of it imparts impurity. If it was processed or trodden upon to the extent that it is processed, it is pure. For how long must one tread on a hide in order to process it? For as long as it takes to walk four millin.
ח
עצמות השרץ וגידיו וציפורניו טהורין ועור החולד והעכבר והצב והתנשמת טהור אף על פי שהוא לח ועדיין לא עיבדו ולא הלך בו אבל עור האנקה והכח והלטאה והחומט כבשרן ומטמא בכעדשה ואם עיבדן או שהלך בהן כדי עבודה טהורין וכמה היא כדי עבודה כדי הילוך ד' מילין:
9
When a person touches the thigh bone of a sheretz, he is pure, even though it is filled with marrow, provided the marrow in it rattles, for then it could not regenerate flesh were the sheretz to have been alive. If, however, it is in its natural place and it has sufficient marrow that it could regenerate flesh on the outside of the bone, one who touches it is impure, as is true with regard to all the limbs that could regenerate flesh as we explained. If the thigh bone was perforated to even the slightest degree, one who touches any part of it is impure.
ט
קוליית השרץ הנוגע בה טהור אע"פ שהיא מליאה מוח והוא שיהיה המוח מתקשקש שאינו מעלה ארוכה אבל אם היה עומד במקומו ויש בו כדי להעלות ארוכה בה מבחוץ הרי הנוגע בה טמא ככל האיברים שיש בהן כדי להעלות ארוכה כמו שביארנו ניקבה הקולית בכל שהוא הנוגע בה מ"מ טמא:
10
An egg of a sheretz in which the embryo has begun to take form is pure, even though the embryonic sheretz can be seen within it. If it is perforated to the slightest degree, one who touches it is impure.
י
ביצת השרץ המרוקמת אף על פי שהשרץ נראית מתוכה טהורה ניקבה כל שהוא הנוגע בה טמא:
11
The following laws apply with regard to the carcass of asheretz that is half flesh and half earth. If one touched the flesh, he is impure. If he touched the earth, he is pure. If the form of the sheretz was already apparent over its entire length, even one who touches the earth that has not yet been formed into a sheretz is impure.
יא
שרץ שחציו בשר וחציו אדמה הנוגע בבשר טמא ובאדמה טהור ואם השריץ על פני כולו אף הנוגע באדמה שעדיין לא נגמרה צורתו טמא:
12
When the flesh of a sheretz has decomposed and become spoiled and is unfit to be eaten by a dog, it is pure.
The following laws apply if the carcass of a sheretz dries out like a shard. If it would return to a moist state and be fit for a dog to eat when left to soak in lukewarm water for an entire day, it imparts impurity. If not, it is pure. It does not even impart impurity like impure foods do.
When does the above apply? With regard to a portion of a sheretz. If, however, an entire sheretz has become dry and its skeleton remains intact or it was burned and its skeleton remains intact, since its entire form remains, it imparts impurity. In my eyes, this impurity is a Rabbinic decree.
יב
בשר השרץ שנפסד והבאיש ונפסל מלאכול הכלב טהור יבש עד שנעשה כחרש אם יכול להשרות בפושרין מעת לעת ולחזור לח כשהיה מטמא ואם לאו טהור ואפילו כאוכלין טמאים אינו מטמא בד"א במקצת השרץ אבל שרץ שיבש ושלדו קיים או שנשרף ושלדו קיים הואיל ותבנית כולו עומדת ה"ז מטמא וקרוב בעיני שטומאה זו מדבריהם:
13
An olive-sized portion of meat from an animal carcass or a lentil-sized portion from the carcass of a sheretz that shrank and was reduced in size is pure. If a piece of flesh from a sheretzthat is less than a lentil or one from an animal carcass that was less than an olive swelled and increased to the size of the minimum measure, they impart impurity according to Rabbinic decree. If, originally, they were the size of the minimum measure and then shrank, but afterwards swelled until they regained the size of the minimum measure, according to Scriptural law, they impart impurity like they did previously. Similar laws apply with regard to an olive-sized portion from a human corpse.
יג
כזית מן הנבילה או כעדשה מן השרץ שצמקו וחסרו טהורין פחות מכעדשה מן השרץ ופחות כזית מן הנבילה שתפחו ועמדו על כשיעור מטמאין מדברי סופרים היו בתחילה כשיעור וצמקו וחזרו ותפחו עד שהגיע לשיעורן הרי אלו מטמאין כשהיו דין תורה וכן אתה אומר בכזית מן המת:
14
A sheretz does not impart impurity until it dies. If it has been decapitated, even if the head is still connected to the skin of the body, and it is still in its death throes as happens with regard to the tail of a lizard, it imparts impurity.
All the other teeming and creeping animals, e.g., a frog, a snake, a scorpion, or the like, even though it is forbidden to partake of them, do not impart impurity at all. They are not even considered as impure foods. There are no teeming animals that impart impurity except the eight species mentioned in the Torah.
יד
השרץ אינו מטמא עד שימות הותזו ראשיהן אע"פ שעדיין הראש מעורה בעור הגוף אף על פי שהן מפרכסין כזנב הלטאה מטמאין שאר שקצים ורמשים כולן כגון הצפרדע והנחש והעקרב וכיוצא בהן אע"פ שהן אסורין באכילה הרי הן טהורין מכלום ואפילו כאוכלין טמאין אינן ואין לך בכל השרצים מה שמטמא במותו חוץ משמונת המינין המפורשין בתורה:
She'ar Avot haTum'ah - Chapter 5
1
Semen is a primary source of impurity and imparts impurity to persons and implements when touched and to an earthenware container, when it enters its inner space. It does not impart impurity when carried and one who touches it does not impart impurity to his clothes even when touching it. It imparts impurity both to one who touches it and one who discharges it. They are both primary derivatives of impurity according to Scriptural Law.
What is the measure that imparts impurity? For one who touches it, an amount the size of a lentil. For one who discharges it, the slightest amount. A man who discharges it is not impure until it leaves his body, reaching the orifice of the male organ, as implied by Leviticus 22:4: "From whom is discharged semen." Therefore even one who discharges semen through a reed, is impure because the semen reached the orifice of the male organ.
One is impure whether he discharges semen as a natural physical reaction or due to forces beyond his control.
א
שכבת זרע מאבות הטומאה מטמאה אדם וכלים במגע וכלי חרס באויר ואינה מטמאה במשא ואין המתטמא בה מטמא בגדים בשעת מגעו ואחד הנוגע בה ואחד הרואה אותה בבשרו שניהן ראשון לטומאה דין תורה וכמה שיעורה לנוגע בכעדשה ולרואה בכל שהוא ואין הרואה טמא עד שתצא ממנו ויחתום ממנו פי אמה שנאמר אשר תצא ממנו שכבת זרע לפיכך אפילו ראה בקיסם הואיל והגיעה לפי אמה נטמא ואחד הרואה מחמת בשרו או הרואה באונס טמא:
2
The semen of a minor does not impart ritual impurity until he is nine years old.
ב
אין שכבת זרע של קטן מטמאה עד שיהיה בן ט' שנים ויום אחד:
3
Semen that is red is pure. It does not impart impurity unless it is white and viscous.
ג
שכבת זרע אדומה טהורה עד שתהיה לבנה ונמשכת:
4
Whenever a person's body does not feel the discharge of semen, it does not impart impurity. Therefore if a person discharges semen without an erection and without desire, it does not impart the impurity associated with semen. If there was a sensation when the discharge began, he is impure even though when it departed from his body, there was no sensation.
ד
וכל שכבת זרע שאין גופו של אדם מרגיש בה אינה מטמאה לפיכך אם ראה בלא קישוי ובלא תאוה אינה מטמאה משום שכבת זרע נעקרה בהרגשה אף על פי שיצתה שלא בהרגשה טמא:
5
When a person thinks about sexual matters at night and dreams that he had intercourse and awakes to find his organ warm, he is impure even though he did not find traces of semen. It is presumed that since, in his dreams, he had the sensation that he was involved in intercourse, he discharged semen with a physical sensation. That is why his organ was warm. The discharge, however, was small and it was absorbed on his flesh or on his clothes. Therefore, he did not find any moisture. If he had sexual thoughts, but did not find his organ warm or found his organ warm, but did not have sexual thoughts, he is pure.
ה
המהרהר בלילה וראה ששימש מטה בחלום ועמד ומצא בשרו חם אע"פ שלא מצא שכבת זרע ה"ז טמא כיון שהרגיש ששימש בחלום כבר ראה בהרגשה ולפיכך מצא בשרו חם והיתה מעט ונתקנחה בבשרו או בכליו ולפיכך לא מצא לחלוחית הרהר ולא מצא בשרו חם או שמצא בשרו חם ולא הרהר טהור:
6
If a person's urine was slippery or murky at the outset, he is pure. If the slipperiness or the murkiness was seen in the middle of his urination or at the end, he is impure. If, from the beginning to the end, the urine was slippery and murky, he is pure. If it was white and viscous, he is impure. One who releases thick drops from his male organ is pure.
ו
המטיל מים וראה מים חלוקין או עכורים בתחילה טהור ראה אותם באמצע או בסוף ה"ז טמא היו המים שהטיל כולם מתחילה ועד סוף חלוקין או עכורים הרי זה טהור היו לבנים ונמשכין טמא והמטיל טיפים עבות מתוך האמה טהור:
7
When a man who experienced a seminal emission immerses himself and had not urinated before he immersed himself, he becomes impure when he urinates. For there are remnants of semen that are not discharged until he urinates.
To whom does the above apply? To one who is sick or elderly. A healthy youth, by contrast, is pure, for he ejaculates semen powerfully, like an arrow and it clears the orifice of the male organ entirely.
Until when is a male considered a youth in this context? As long as he can stand on one foot and put on or remove his other shoe. If he cannot do this because he is sick, he is considered as infirm in this context.
ז
בעל קרי שטבל ולא הטיל מים קודם שיטבול כשיטיל מים טמא מפני צחצוחי שכבת זרע שאינן יוצאין אלא כשיטיל מים במה דברים אמורים בחולה או בזקן אבל ילד בריא טהור מפני שהוא יורה שכבת זרע בחזקה כחץ והיא כולה ננתקת מן האמה עד כמה הוא ילד כל זמן שהוא עומד על רגלו אחת ונועל או חולץ מנעלו ואם אינו יכול לעשות כן מפני חוליו הרי זה חולה לענין זה:
8
Any woman who engaged in physical intimacy and then went and immersed herself before she washed her vaginal area thoroughly remains impure.
ח
וכל אשה ששמשה מטתה וירדה וטבלה קודם שתקנח עצמה יפה יפה הרי היא בטומאתה:
9
Both a man and a woman who engage in physical intimacy are impure. Both of them are considered as primary derivatives of impurity according to Scriptural Law. The woman is not impure because she touched the semen, because the semen touched the inner part of her body, and touching the inner part of the body is not considered as touch. Instead, a woman who engages in intercourse is considered as a man who ejaculates.
The above applies provided the female is at least three years old, as implied by Leviticus 15:18: "A woman with whom a man lies." If a minor is less than three, she does not become impure because of the physical intimacy itself. She can, however, become impure because she touched the semen if it touches the outer surface of her flesh. Based on this logic, when a man engages in anal intercourse with an adult woman, she is pure, for Scripture only dictated that a woman becomes impure although the impurity only touched her internal organs when intercourse was carried out in the ordinary manner.
ט
אחד האיש ואחד האשה ששמשו מטתן שניהן טמאים ושניהן ראשון לטומאה דין תורה ואין האשה טמאה משום נוגעת בשכבת זרע שנגיעת בית הסתרים אינה נגיעה אלא המשמשת הרי היא כרואה קרי והוא שתהיה בת שלש שנים ויום אחד שנאמר [ואשה אשר ישכב איש אותה] היתה קטנה מבת שלש שנים אינה מתטמאה בשכיבה אבל מתטמאה בנגיעת שכבת זרע אם נגע בבשרה מבחוץ [לפיכך הבועל גדולה שלא כדרכה טהורה] שלא טימא אותה הכתוב בטומאת בית הסתרים אלא כדרכה:
10
When a man engages in intercourse with a woman and does not ejaculate, he is pure even though the corona entered the vagina. Similarly, the woman is pure until the man ejaculates.
י
הבועל את האשה ולא הוציא שכבת זרע טהור אף על פי שהערה וכן האשה טהורה עד שיוציא האיש:
11
The following rules apply when semen seeps from a woman after relations. If she discharges it within three twelve-hour periods after intercourse, she is impure like a man who has a seminal emission. Therefore, she misses one day if she is a zavah, like a man who had a seminal emission. Even the slightest amount of semen renders her impure even if it does not emerge outside her body, but is just discharged between the folds of her vagina, she is impure, for semen is like vaginal bleeding. Just as vaginal bleeding imparts impurity while inside the woman's body, so too, semen that she discharges makes her impure while it is within her body.
יא
האשה שפלטה שכבת זרע אם פלטה אותה בתוך שלש עונות הרי היא טמאה כרואה קרי לפיכך סותרת יום אחד אם היתה זבה כאיש שראה קרי ומטמאה בכל שהוא אע"פ שלא יצאת לחוץ אלא נעקרה והגיעה לבין השיניים נטמאה שהרי שכבת זרע כדמה מה דמה מטמא בפנים אף שכבת זרע שתפלוט תטמא אותה בפנים:
12
Semen itself that was discharged within three twelve-hour periods imparts impurity to others who touch it as it imparts impurity to the woman who discharges it.
If she discharged it after three twelve-hour periods, the woman is considered as pure. Similarly, the semen itself that was discharged after such a time is pure, for its substance has already putrefied.
יב
שכבת זרע עצמה שנפלטה בתוך השלש עונות מטמאה אחרים שנגעו בה כדרך שטימאה האשה שפלטה אותה ואם פלטה אחר שלש עונות הרי האשה טהורה וכן שכבת זרע שנפלטה טהורה שכבר נפסדה צורתה:
13
What is meant by a twelve-hour period? A full day or a full night. The period in which relations took place is not counted.
What is implied? If relations took place on Friday night, the three twelve-hour periods are: the Sabbath day, Saturday night, and during the day on Sunday. If she discharged semen during this time, she is impure. If she discharged it from Sunday night onward, she is pure.
When a man was sodomized, the semen he discharges is impure, as long as it is moist, even after several twelve-hour periods. Similarly, the man who discharges it is impure.
יג
וכמה היא עונה יום או לילה ואין העונה שנבעלה בה מן המניין כיצד נבעלה בליל השבת שלש עונות שלה יום השבת וליל אחד בשבת ואחד בשבת אם פלטה בתוך זמן זה טמאה פלטה מליל שני והלאה טהורה והאיש שפירשה ממנו שכבת זרע אפילו לאחר כמה עונות הרי זו טמאה כל זמן שהיא לחה והפורש ממנו טמא:
14
Semen does not impart impurity unless it is moist. If it becomes dry like a shard it is pure. If it would return to its original state when left to soak in lukewarm water for an entire day, it imparts impurity.
יד
שכבת זרע אינה מטמאה אלא כשהיא לחה יבשה כחרס טהורה ואם יכולה לשרות מעת לעת בפושרין ולחזור לכמות שהיתה הרי זו טמאה:
15
In this chapter, we have already explained that a man who ejaculates, a woman who engages in relations with a man, and one who touches semen, are impure according to Scriptural law. Similarly, a woman who discharges semen within three twelve-hour periods after relations is impure according to Scriptural Law like one who has a seminal emission. All of the others about whom it was said in this chapter that they are impure, e.g., one who has sexual thoughts in his dreams or has questionable substances in his urine, are impure only due to Rabbinic decree. That decree applies only toterumah, but for ordinary foods, they are pure.
טו
כבר ביארנו בפרק זה שהרואה קרי והאשה ששכב איש אותה שכבת זרע והנוגע בשכבת זרע טמאים מן התורה וכן האשה שפלטה בתוך שלש עונות הרי היא טמאה מן התורה כרואה קרי אבל שאר האמורין בפרק זה שהן טמאים כגון מהרהר ומטיל מים אינן טמאין אלא מדבריהם ולא גזרו עליהם טומאה אלא לתרומה אבל לחולין טהורין:
16
When a gentile woman discharges the semen of a Jew within three twelve-hour periods - or when an animal discharges the semen of a Jew within this time - the semen discharged is impure. If it was released after this time, there is an unresolved question whether it is considered to have putrefied or not.
טז
נכרית שפלטה שכבת זרע של ישראל בתוך השלש עונות וכן הבהמה שפלטה שכבת זרע של ישראל בתוך זמן זה הרי אותה הנפלטת טמאה פלטתו לאחר זמן זה הרי היא ספק נסרחה או עדיין לא נסרחה:
17
In Hilchot Metamei Mishkav UMoshav, we already explained that the semen of a gentile is absolutely pure. Therefore if a Jewish woman discharges the semen of a gentile even within three twelve-hour periods, she is pure.
יז
כבר ביארנו בהלכות מטמאי משכב ומושב ששכבת זרעו של עכו"ם טהור מכלום לפיכך בת ישראל שפלטה שכבת זרע של עכו"ם אפילו בתוך שלש עונות טהורה:
18
When a gentile felt the release of semen, converted and went to immerse himself and released the semen that he felt initially after he immersed, there is a question whether or not he is impure.
יח
עכו"ם שהרגיש ונתגייר וירד וטבל ויצא ממנו שכבת זרע שהרגיש בה אחר שטבל ה"ז ספק טמא:
19
When a minor less than nine years old - or a gentile or an animal - engages in relations with a mature female, she is pure, as indicated by Leviticus 15:18: "And a man who will lie with a woman." Implied is that the male must be a mature man and Jewish, as we explained.
יט
גדולה ששכב אותה קטן פחות מבן תשע [או עכו"ם או בהמה] הרי זו טהורה שנאמר [ואשה אשר ישכב איש אותה] עד שיהיה השוכב איש ומישראל כמו שביארנו:
• "Today's Day"
Sunday Sivan 17 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Sh'lach, first parsha with Rashi.
Tehillim: 83-87.
Tanya: Ch. 6. Now, the name (p. 301)...included in Chesed. (p. 303).
Refraining from deriving pleasure - in the fullest sense - from this world, is only a fine preparation for avoda. Avoda itself is transforming the physical into a vehicle for G-dliness.
• Daily Thought:
Reporting
G‑d doesn't need you to report on the dirt in His world.
He sent you here to search out the jewels hidden in the mud, clean them and polish them until they shine.
And when you bring them to Him, the angels make a crown of them for Him, saying, "Look what Your children have made for You out of the mud!"
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