Candle Lighting
Light Candles before sunset ––:––
Torah Reading
Rosh Chodesh: Numbers 28:1 (v) Adonai said to Moshe, 2 “Give an order to the people of Isra’el. Tell them, ‘You are to take care to offer me at the proper time the food presented to me as offerings made by fire, providing a fragrant aroma for me.’ 3 Tell them, ‘This is the offering made by fire that you are to bring to Adonai: male lambs in their first year and without defect, two daily as a regular burnt offering.; Numbers 28:3 Tell them, ‘This is the offering made by fire that you are to bring to Adonai: male lambs in their first year and without defect, two daily as a regular burnt offering. 4 Offer the one lamb in the morning and the other lamb at dusk, 5 along with two quarts of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with one quart of oil from pressed olives. 6 It is the regular burnt offering, the same as was offered on Mount Sinai to give a fragrant aroma, an offering made by fire for Adonai. 7 Its drink offering is to be one-quarter hin for one lamb; in the Holy Place you are to pour out a drink offering of intoxicating liquor to Adonai. 8 The other lamb you are to present at dusk; present it with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering as in the morning; it is an offering made by fire, with a fragrant aroma for Adonai.
9 “‘On Shabbat offer two male lambs in their first year and without defect, with one gallon of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, and its drink offering. 10 This is the burnt offering for every Shabbat, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
11 “‘At each Rosh-Hodesh of yours, you are to present a burnt offering to Adonai consisting of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs in their first year and without defect; 12 with six quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for the one ram; 13 and two quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for each lamb. This will be the burnt offering giving a fragrant aroma, an offering made by fire for Adonai. 14 Their drink offerings will be two quarts of wine for a bull, one-and-one-third quarts for the ram, and one quart for each lamb. This is the burnt offering for every Rosh-Hodesh throughout the months of the year. 15 Also a male goat is to be offered as a sin offering to Adonai, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
Today is Rosh Chodesh--"Head of the Month"--for the Hebrew month of "Av" (also called "Menachem Av").
Special portions are added to the daily prayers: Hallel (Psalms 113-118) is recited -- in its "partial" form -- following the Shacharit morning prayer, and the Yaaleh V'yavo prayer is added to the Amidah and to Grace After Meals; the additional Musaf prayer is said (when Rosh Chodesh is Shabbat, special additions are made to the Shabbat Musaf). Tachnun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted.
Many have the custom to mark Rosh Chodesh with a festive meal and reduced work activity. The latter custom is prevalent amongst women, who have a special affinity with Rosh Chodesh -- the month being the feminine aspect of the Jewish Calendar.
Links: The 29th Day; The Lunar Files
• "Nine Days" Begin
"When Av begins, we diminish [our] rejoicing" (Talmud, Taanit 26b).
On the 1st of Av, "The Three Weeks" mourning period over the destruction of the Holy Temple--which began 13 days earlier on Tammuz 17--enters an intensified stage. During "The Nine Days" from Av 1st to the Ninth of Av, a heightened degree of mourning is observed, including abstention from meat and wine, music, bathing for pleasure, and other joyous and enjoyable activities. (The particular mourning customs vary from community to community, so consult a competent Halachic authority for details).
Consumption of meat and wine is permitted on Shabbat, or at a Seudat Mitzvah (obligatory festive meal celebrating the fulfillment of a mitzvah) such as a Bris (circumcision), or a "Siyum" celebrating the completion of a course of Torah study (i.e., a complete Talmudic tractate). The Lubavitcher Rebbe initiated the custom of conducting or participating in a Siyum on each of the Nine Days (even if one does not avail oneself of the dispensation to eat meat).
Citing the verse (Isaiah 1:27) "Zion shall be redeemed with mishpat [Torah] and its returnees with Tzedakah," the Rebbe urged that we increase in Torah study (particularly the study of the laws of the Holy Temple) and charity during this period.
Links:
Today in Jewish History:
• Passing of Aaron (1274 BCE)
Aaron the first High Priest, brother of Moses and Miriam, passed away at age 123 on the 1st of Av of the year 2487 from creation (1274 BCE). This is the only yahrzeit (date of passing) explicitly mentioned in the Torah (Numbers 33:38).
Links:
A Midrashic description of Aaron's passing
More about Aaron
"Aaron" and "On the Essence of Circumstance" -- a spiritual profile based on the Lubavitcher Rebbe's talks
• Ezra and Followers Arrive in Israel (348 BCE)
Following their long journey from Babylon (see Jewish history for the 12th of Nissan), Ezra and his entourage arrived in the land of Israel to be near the newly built second Holy Temple in Jerusalem. A relatively small group came together with Ezra, the majority of Jews, including great Torah scholars, choosing to remain in Babylon due to the harsh conditions that were then prevailing in Israel.
Link: Ezra the Scribe
Daily Quote:
Reflect upon three things and you will not come to the hands of transgression. Know from where you came, where you are going, and before whom you are destined to give a judgement and accounting. From where you came -- from a putrid drop; where you are going -- to a place of dust, maggots and worms; and before whom you are destined to give a judgement and accounting -- before the supreme king of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.[Ethics of the Fathers 3:1]Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Matot-Massei, 6th Portion Numbers 34:16-35:8 with Rashi Parshat Matot-Massei
In Israel: Massei
• Numbers Chapter 34
16The Lord spoke to Moses saying: טזוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
17These are the names of the men who shall inherit the land on your behalf: Eleazar the kohen and Joshua the son of Nun. יזאֵ֚לֶּה שְׁמ֣וֹת הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־יִנְחֲל֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ אֶלְעָזָר֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֖ע֙ בִּן־נֽוּן:
who shall inherit the land of your behalf: Heb. לָכֶם, on your behalf. Each chieftain was an administrator for his tribe, to divide the tribal inheritance among families and individuals. He chose a suitable portion for each one, and whatever they did was binding, as if they had been designated as agents [by the members of the tribes]. It is not possible to render this word לָכֶם as every לָכֶם in Scripture, [meaning“to you,”] for in that case, it should have written יַנְחִילוּ לָכֶם, [in the hiph’il, the causative conjugation, they shall give it to you to inherit], but the word יִנְחֲלוּ [in the kal, simple conjugation] means that they shall inherit for you, on your behalf and in your stead, as in, “The Lord will wage war for you לָכֶם” (Exod. 14:14). אשר ינחלו לכם: בשבילכם כל נשיא ונשיא אפוטרופוס לשבטו ומחלק נחלת השבט למשפחות ולגברים ובורר לכל אחד ואחד חלק הגון. ומה שהם עושין יהיה עשוי כאלו עשאום שלוחים. ולא יתכן לפרש לכם זה ככל לכם שבמקרא, שאם כן היה לו לכתוב ינחילו לכם. ינחלו משמע שהם נוחלים לכם בשבילכם ובמקומכם, כמו (שמות יד, יד) ה' ילחם לכם:
18You shall take one chieftain from each tribe to [help you to] acquire the land. יחוְנָשִׂ֥יא אֶחָ֛ד נָשִׂ֥יא אֶחָ֖ד מִמַּטֶּ֑ה תִּקְח֖וּ לִנְחֹ֥ל אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ:
to [help you] to acquire the land: To take possession of the land and apportion it in your stead. לנחול את הארץ: שיהא נוחל וחולק אותה במקומכם:
19These are the names of the men: for the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. יטוְאֵ֖לֶּה שְׁמ֣וֹת הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים לְמַטֵּ֣ה יְהוּדָ֔ה כָּלֵ֖ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּֽה:
20For the tribe of the descendants of Simeon, Samuel the son of Ammihud. כוּלְמַטֵּה֨ בְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֔וֹן שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עַמִּיהֽוּד:
21For the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon. כאלְמַטֵּ֣ה בִנְיָמִ֔ן אֱלִידָ֖ד בֶּן־כִּסְלֽוֹן:
22The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli. כבוּלְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵי־דָ֖ן נָשִׂ֑יא בֻּקִּ֖י בֶּן־יָגְלִֽי:
23For the descendants of Joseph; the chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod. כגלִבְנֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף לְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה נָשִׂ֑יא חַנִּיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־אֵפֹֽד:
24The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan. כדוּלְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־אֶפְרַ֖יִם נָשִׂ֑יא קְמוּאֵ֖ל בֶּן־שִׁפְטָֽן:
25The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach. כהוּלְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־זְבוּלֻ֖ן נָשִׂ֑יא אֱלִֽיצָפָ֖ן בֶּן־פַּרְנָֽךְ:
26The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan. כווּלְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־יִשָּׂשכָ֖ר נָשִׂ֑יא פַּלְטִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עַזָּֽן:
27The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi. כזוּלְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־אָשֵׁ֖ר נָשִׂ֑יא אֲחִיה֖וּד בֶּן־שְׁלֹמִֽי:
28The chieftain of the tribe of the descendants of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud. כחוּלְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־נַפְתָּלִ֖י נָשִׂ֑יא פְּדַהְאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עַמִּיהֽוּד:
29These are the ones whom the Lord commanded to apportion the inheritance to the children of Israel in the land of Canaan. כטאֵ֕לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֑ה לְנַחֵ֥ל אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן:
to apportion the inheritance: They are the ones who shall divide the inheritance among you according to its portions. לנחל את בני ישראל: שהם ינחילו אותה להם למחלקותיה:
Numbers Chapter 35
1The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan at Jericho saying: אוַיְדַבֵּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־משֶׁ֖ה בְּעַרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֑ב עַל־יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵח֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר:
2Command the children of Israel that they shall give to the Levites from their hereditary possession cities in which to dwell, and you shall give the Levites open spaces around the cities. בצַו֘ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וְנָֽתְנ֣וּ לַֽלְוִיִּ֗ם מִנַּֽחֲלַ֛ת אֲחֻזָּתָ֖ם עָרִ֣ים לָשָׁ֑בֶת וּמִגְרָ֗שׁ לֶֽעָרִים֙ סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם תִּתְּנ֖וּ לַֽלְוִיִּֽם:
open spaces: Empty belts of land surrounding each city, so as to beautify the city. It was forbidden to build a house, plant a vineyard or sow seed there. — [Arachin 33b] ומגרש: ריוח מקום חלק חוץ לעיר סביב להיות לנוי לעיר, ואין רשאין לבנות שם בית ולא לנטוע כרם ולא לזרוע זריעה:
3These cities shall be theirs for dwelling, and their open spaces shall be for their cattle, their property, and for all their needs. גוְהָי֧וּ הֶֽעָרִ֛ים לָהֶ֖ם לָשָׁ֑בֶת וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶ֗ם יִֽהְי֤וּ לִבְהֶמְתָּם֙ וְלִרְכֻשָׁ֔ם וּלְכֹ֖ל חַיָּתָֽם:
and for all their needs: Heb. חַיָּתָם, for their personal necessities. — [Ned. 81a] ולכל חיתם: ולכל צרכיהם:
4The areas of open space for the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall extend from the wall of the city outward, one thousand cubits all around. דוּמִגְרְשֵׁי֙ הֶֽעָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּתְּנ֖וּ לַֽלְוִיִּ֑ם מִקִּ֤יר הָעִיר֙ וָח֔וּצָה אֶ֥לֶף אַמָּ֖ה סָבִֽיב:
one thousand cubits all around: Yet following this it says,“two thousand cubits”? How can this be? However, He assigned two thousand for them around the city, of which the inner thousand was for open area and the outer [thousand] for fields and vineyards. — [Sotah 27b] אלף אמה סביב: ואחריו הוא אומר אלפים באמה, הא כיצד אלפים, הוא נותן להם סביב, ומהם אלף הפנימים למגרש והחיצונים לשדות וכרמים:
5You shall measure from outside the city, two thousand cubits on the eastern side, two thousand cubits on the southern side, two thousand cubits on the western side, and two thousand cubits on the northern side, with the city in the middle; this shall be your cities' open spaces. הוּמַדֹּתֶ֞ם מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֗יר אֶת־פְּאַת־קֵ֣דְמָה אַלְפַּ֪יִם בָּֽאַ֠מָּ֩ה וְאֶת־פְּאַת־נֶ֩גֶב֩ אַלְפַּ֨יִם בָּֽאַמָּ֜ה וְאֶת־פְּאַת־יָ֣ם | אַלְפַּ֣יִם בָּֽאַמָּ֗ה וְאֵ֨ת פְּאַ֥ת צָפ֛וֹן אַלְפַּ֥יִם בָּֽאַמָּ֖ה וְהָעִ֣יר בַּתָּ֑וֶךְ זֶ֚ה יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם מִגְרְשֵׁ֖י הֶֽעָרִֽים:
6Among the cities you shall give to the Levites, shall be six cities of refuge, which you shall provide [as places] to which a murderer can flee. In addition to them, you shall provide forty two cities. ווְאֵ֣ת הֶֽעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּתְּנוּ֙ לַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם אֵ֚ת שֵֽׁשׁ־עָרֵ֣י הַמִּקְלָ֔ט אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתְּנ֔וּ לָנֻ֥ס שָׁ֖מָּה הָֽרֹצֵ֑חַ וַֽעֲלֵיהֶ֣ם תִּתְּנ֔וּ אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁתַּ֖יִם עִֽיר:
7All the cities you shall give to the Levites shall number forty eight cities, them with their open spaces. זכָּל־הֶֽעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּתְּנוּ֙ לַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנֶ֖ה עִ֑יר אֶתְהֶ֖ן וְאֶת־מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶֽן:
8And as for the cities that you shall give from the possession of the children of Israel, you shall take more from a larger [holding] and you shall take less from a smaller one. Each one, according to the inheritance allotted to him, shall give of his cities to the Levites. חוְהֶֽעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּתְּנוּ֙ מֵֽאֲחֻזַּ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֵאֵ֤ת הָרַב֙ תַּרְבּ֔וּ וּמֵאֵ֥ת הַמְעַ֖ט תַּמְעִ֑יטוּ אִ֗ישׁ כְּפִ֤י נַֽחֲלָתוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִנְחָ֔לוּ יִתֵּ֥ן מֵֽעָרָ֖יו Chapter 1
This psalm inspires man to study Torah and avoid sin. One who follows this path is assured of success in all his deeds, whereas the plight of the wicked is the reverse.
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 1-9
• Chapter 1
1. Fortunate is the man that has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor stood in the path of sinners, nor sat in the company of scoffers.
2. Rather, his desire is in the Torah of the Lord, and in His Torah he meditates day and night.
3. He shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither; and all that he does shall prosper.
4. Not so the wicked; rather, they are like the chaff that the wind drives away.
5. Therefore the wicked will not endure in judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6. For the Lord minds the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Chapter 2
This psalm warns against trying to outwit the ways of God. It also instructs one who has reason to rejoice, to tremble—lest his sins cause his joy to be overturned.
1. Why do nations gather, and peoples speak futility?
2. The kings of the earth rise up, and rulers conspire together, against the Lord and against His anointed:
3. “Let us sever their cords, and cast their ropes from upon us!”
4. He Who sits in heaven laughs, my Master mocks them.
5. Then He speaks to them in His anger, and terrifies them in His wrath:
6. “It is I Who have anointed My king, upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
7. I am obliged to declare: The Lord said to me, “You are my son, I have this day begotten you.
8. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, and the ends of the earth your possession.
9. Smash them with a rod of iron, shatter them like a potter’s vessel.”
10. Now be wise, you kings; be disciplined, you rulers of the earth.
11. Serve the Lord with awe, and rejoice with trembling.
12. Yearn for purity—lest He become angry and your path be doomed, if his anger flares for even a moment. Fortunate are all who put their trust in Him
FOOTNOTES
1.The day David was crowned. (Rashi)
Chapter 3
When punishment befalls man, let him not be upset by his chastisement, for perhaps--considering his sins—he is deserving of worse, and God is in fact dealing kindly with him.
1. A psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
2. Lord, how numerous are my oppressors; many rise up against me!
3. Many say of my soul, “There is no salvation for him from God—ever!”
4. But You, Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, the One Who raises my head.
5. With my voice I call to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain, Selah.
6. I lie down and sleep; I awake, for the Lord sustains me.
7. I do not fear the myriads of people that have aligned themselves all around me.
8. Arise, O Lord, deliver me, my God. For You struck all my enemies on the cheek, You smashed the teeth of the wicked.
9. Deliverance is the Lord’s; may Your blessing be upon Your people forever
Chapter 4
This psalm exhorts man not to shame his fellow, and to neither speak nor listen to gossip and slander. Envy not the prosperity of the wicked in this world, rather rejoice and say: “If it is so for those who anger Him . . . [how much better it will be for those who serve Him!”]
1. For the Conductor, with instrumental music, a psalm by David.
2. Answer me when I call, O God [Who knows] my righteousness. You have relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
3. Sons of men, how long will you turn my honor to shame, will you love vanity, and endlessly seek falsehood?
4. Know that the Lord has set apart His devout one; the Lord will hear when I call to Him.
5. Tremble and do not sin; reflect in your hearts upon your beds, and be silent forever.
6. Offer sacrifices in righteousness, and trust in the Lord.
7. Many say: “Who will show us good?” Raise the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord.
8. You put joy in my heart, greater than [their joy] when their grain and wine abound.
9. In peace and harmony I will lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, will make me dwell alone, in security.
Chapter 5
A prayer for every individual, requesting that the wicked perish for their deeds, and the righteous rejoice for their good deeds.
1. For the Conductor, on the nechilot,1 a psalm by David.
2. Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my thoughts.
3. Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray.
4. Lord, hear my voice in the morning; in the morning I set [my prayers] before you and hope.
5. For You are not a God Who desires wickedness; evil does not abide with You.
6. The boastful cannot stand before Your eyes; You hate all evildoers.
7. You destroy the speakers of falsehood; the Lord despises the man of blood and deceit.
8. And I, through Your abundant kindness, come into Your house; I bow toward Your holy Sanctuary, in awe of You.
9. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness, because of my watchful enemies; straighten Your path before me.
10. For there is no sincerity in their mouths, their heart is treacherous; their throat is an open grave, [though] their tongue flatters.
11. Find them guilty, O God, let them fall by their schemes; banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against You.
12. But all who trust in You will rejoice, they will sing joyously forever; You will shelter them, and those who love Your Name will exult in You.
13. For You, Lord, will bless the righteous one; You will envelop him with favor as with a shield.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument that sounded like the buzzing of bees (Metzudot).
Chapter 6
This is an awe-inspiring prayer for one who is ill, to pray that God heal him, body and soul. An ailing person who offers this prayer devoutly and with a broken heart is assured that God will accept his prayer.
1. For the Conductor, with instrumental music for the eight-stringed harp, a psalm by David.
2. Lord, do not punish me in Your anger, nor chastise me in Your wrath.
3. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I languish away; heal me, O Lord, for my bones tremble in fear.
4. My soul is panic-stricken; and You, O Lord, how long [before You help]?
5. Relent, O Lord, deliver my soul; save me for the sake of Your kindness.
6. For there is no remembrance of You in death; who will praise You in the grave?
7. I am weary from sighing; each night I drench my bed, I melt my couch with my tears.
8. My eye has grown dim from vexation, worn out by all my oppressors.
9. Depart from me, all you evildoers, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
10. The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord accepts my prayer.
11. All my enemies will be shamed and utterly terrified; they will then repent and be shamed for a moment.
FOOTNOTES
1.Only for a moment will they be shamed, because I will forgive them and never again mention their deeds (Metzudot).
Chapter 7
Do not rejoice if God causes your enemy to suffer—just as the suffering of the righteous is not pleasant. David, therefore, defends himself intensely before God, maintaining that he did not actively harm Saul. In fact, Saul precipitated his own harm, while David’s intentions were only for the good.
1. A shigayon 1 by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Kush the Benjaminite.
2. I put my trust in You, Lord, my God; deliver me from all my pursuers and save me.
3. Lest he tear my soul like a lion, crushing me with none to rescue.
4. Lord, my God, if I have done this, if there is wrongdoing in my hands;
5. if I have rewarded my friends with evil or oppressed those who hate me without reason—
6. then let the enemy pursue and overtake my soul, let him trample my life to the ground, and lay my glory in the dust forever.
7. Arise, O Lord, in Your anger, lift Yourself up in fury against my foes. Stir me [to mete out] the retribution which You commanded.
8. When the assembly of nations surrounds You, remove Yourself from it and return to the heavens.
9. The Lord will mete out retribution upon the nations; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity.
10. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous—O righteous God, Searcher of hearts and minds.
11. [I rely] on God to be my shield, He Who saves the upright of heart.
12. God is the righteous judge, and the Almighty is angered every day.
13. Because he does not repent, He sharpens His sword, bends His bow and makes it ready.
14. He has prepared instruments of death for him; His arrows will be used on the pursuers.
15. Indeed, he conceives iniquity, is pregnant with evil schemes, and gives birth to falsehood.
16. He digs a pit, digs it deep, only to fall into the trap he laid.
17. His mischief will return upon his own head, his violence will come down upon his own skull.
18. I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and sing to the Name of the Lord Most High
FOOTNOTES
1.This refers either to a musical instrument, or to a mistake committed by David, in recognition of which this psalm was written (Rashi).
Chapter 8
This psalm is a glorious praise to God for His kindness to the lowly and mortal human in giving the Torah to the inhabitants of the lower worlds, arousing the envy of the celestial angels. This idea is expressed in the Yom Kippur prayer, “Though Your mighty strength is in the angels above, You desire praise from those formed of lowly matter.”
1. For the Conductor, on the gittit,1 a psalm by David.
2. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth, You Who has set Your majesty upon the heavens!
3. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have established might, to counter Your enemies, to silence foe and avenger.2
4. When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have set in place—
5. what is man that You should remember him, son of man that You should be mindful of him?
6. Yet, You have made him but a little less than the angels, and crowned him with honor and glory.
7. You made him ruler over Your handiwork, You placed everything under his feet.
8. Sheep and cattle—all of them, also the beasts of the field;
9. the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea; all that traverses the paths of the seas.
10. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument crafted in Gath (Metzudot).
2.The wonders of childbirth and nursing demonstrate God’s existence to non-believers (Metzudot).
Chapter 9
One should praise God for saving him from the hand of the enemy who stands over and agonizes him, and for His judging each person according to his deeds: the righteous according to their righteousness, and the wicked according to their wickedness.
1. For the Conductor, upon the death of Labben, a psalm by David.
2. I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will recount all Your wonders.
3. I will rejoice and exult in You; I will sing to Your Name, O Most High.
4. When my enemies retreat, they will stumble and perish from before You.
5. You have rendered my judgement and [defended] my cause; You sat on the throne, O righteous Judge.
6. You destroyed nations, doomed the wicked, erased their name for all eternity.
7. O enemy, your ruins are gone forever, and the cities you have uprooted—their very remembrance is lost.
8. But the Lord is enthroned forever, He established His throne for judgement.
9. And He will judge the world with justice, He will render judgement to the nations with righteousness.
10. The Lord will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
11. Those who know Your Name put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.
12. Sing to the Lord Who dwells in Zion, recount His deeds among the nations.
13. For the Avenger of bloodshed is mindful of them; He does not forget the cry of the downtrodden.
14. Be gracious to me, O Lord; behold my affliction at the hands of my enemies, You Who raises me from the gates of death,
15. so that I may relate all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, that I may exult in Your deliverance.
16. The nations sank into the pit that they made; in the net they concealed their foot was caught.
17. The Lord became known through the judgement He executed; the wicked one is snared in the work of his own hands; reflect on this always.
18. The wicked will return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.
19. For not for eternity will the needy be forgotten, nor will the hope of the poor perish forever.
20. Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence.
21. Set Your mastery over them, O Lord; let the nations know that they are but frail men, Selah.לַֽלְוִיִּֽם:
Tanya: Igeret HaTeshuva , beginning of Chapter 10
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Friday, Av 1, 5776 , 5776 · 5 August 2016
• Igeret HaTeshuva , beginning of Chapter 10
• The theme of the previous chapter was teshuvah ila'ah and how it finds expression in the “cleaving of spirit to Spirit” — through Torah study, tzedakah and acts of lovingkindness.
והנה תשובה עילאה זו, דאתדבקותא דרוחא ברוחא על ידי תורה וגמילות חסדים
This higher level of teshuvah, the cleaving of spirit to Spirit through the study of Torah and the performance of acts of kindness,
היא בבחינת המשכה מלמעלה למטה
is a matter of eliciting from Above.
Neither Torah study nor acts of lovingkindness elevate a person solely as a result of his own initiative and Divine service. Rather, he is aided from Above to reach an infinitely higher level than he would have attained alone.
להיות דבר ה' ממש בפיו
So that the word of G‑d shall actually be in one's mouth,
this too is a Divine gift.
וכמו שכתוב: ואשים דברי בפיך
As Scripture states,1 “I have placed My words in your mouth.”
Torah study thus accomplishes much more than what man could attain on its own.
Similarly,2
וימינו תחבקני, בגמילות חסדים
“His right hand embraces me,” through man's acts of kindness,
דחסד דרועא ימינא וכו'
for3 “kindness is the [Supernal] right arm….”
With every act of lovingkindness one draws down Divine benevolence: one is embraced by a far loftier level of holiness than he could possibly aspire to by dint of his own spiritual service.
אבל אדם התחתון צריך לילך ממדרגה למדרגה ממטה למעלה
But mortal man must ascend from stage to stage
היא בחינת תשובה עילאה ואתדבקות רוחא ברוחא בכוונת הלב בתפלה
towards this higher level of teshuvah and this “cleaving of spirit to Spirit” through the heart's devoted worship,
ובפרט בקריאת שמע וברכותיה
particularly during Shema and its blessings,
כדי לומר ואהבת וגו' בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך וגו' באמת לאמיתו
so that he might in perfect truth say during the recitation of the Shema,4 “You shall love [the L-rd your G‑d] with all your heart and with all your soul…..”
וכן: והיו הדברים האלה וגו' ודברת בם וגו'
Likewise:5 “These words [which I command you today] shall be [upon your heart]….. And you shall speak of them…..”
All the above verses speak of the study of Torah.6
להיות דבר ה' בפיו באמת
The word of G‑d must truly be in his mouth, [which is the case when one's mouth serves as a vessel for G‑d's word]7
ואין אמת וכו'
and “there is no truth [but Torah].”8
וכן לקיים כל המצות
He must also perform all the mitzvot,
כמו שכתוב: אשר קדשנו במצותיו
as it is written,9 “He has sanctified us with His commandments.”
כמו הרי את מקודשת לי
This [sanctification] has the same sense as in the phrase,10 “You are sanctified unto me” — i.e., separate from all others and wholly sanctified unto G‑d through the performance of His commandments.
היא בחינת קדש העליון
This is the level of Kodesh HaElyon (“Supernal Holiness”), which one draws upon himself through the performance of the mitzvot.
לשון פרישות והבדלה
“Kodesh” translated “holiness” connotes something apart, or transcendent,
שאינו יכול להתלבש תוך עלמין
that cannot be contained within the created worlds, permeating each of them with Divine life-force commensurate with its particular capacity,
משום דכולא קמיה כלא חשיב
since11 “everything is considered as naught before Him.”
Relative to this transcendent level, the differing levels of spirituality of the various created beings are of no consequence.
אלא בבחינת סובב כל עלמין
Rather, this is a level [of holiness] that transcends [lit., “encompasses”] all worlds, and hence affects them all equally from afar, so to speak;
הוא רצון העליון ברוך הוא וכו'
this is [the level of] the Supreme Will, and so on, which is drawn down into this world through the performance ofmitzvot,
כמו שכתוב: בלקוטי אמרים פרק מ"ו
as discussed in the first part of Tanya, Likutei Amarim, chapter 46.
וגם אחר התפלה אומרים: אליך ה' נפשי אשא
After prayer as well, we say,12 “To You, O G‑d, I lift my soul,” referring to the initiative of the worshiper below in raising his soul upward to its Source,
דהיינו לאתדבקא רוחא ברוחא כל היום וכו'
so that through the performance of mitzvot spirit will cleave to Spirit throughout the day…..
וכל זה: על ידי ההתבוננות בגדולת אין סוף ברוך הוא
All this is brought about through meditation on the grandeur of the Infinite One,
בהעמקת הדעת בשתים לפניה ובפסוקי דזמרה, כנודע
concentrating the mind deeply during the two blessings preceding Shema and during the preparatory hymns of praise known as pesukei dezimrah, as is known.
Meditating in this fashion gives birth to a love for G‑d, which is translated into the study of the Torah and the performance of mitzvot. This form of Divine service is teshuvah ila'ah that takes the direction called milmata lemala; it works its way upward from the initiative taken by the enterprising worshiper who elevates himself by his own bootstraps.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Yeshayahu 51:16. |
| 2. | Shir HaShirim 2:6. |
| 3. | Introduction to Tikkunei Zohar. |
| 4. | Devarim 6:5. |
| 5. | Ibid. 6:6-7. |
| 6. | Note of the Rebbe: “`For Scripture speaks [here] of the study of the Torah' (Berachot 13b). See [Tanya,] Part I, end of chapter 49.” |
| 7. | Tanna devei Eliyahu Zuta, ch. 21. |
| 8. | Note of the Rebbe: “See [Tanya,] conclusion of ch. 37.” |
| 9. | From the blessing recited before the performance of certain mitzvot. |
| 10. | Kiddushin 5b; from the betrothal ceremony. |
| 11. | Zohar I, 11b. |
| 12. | Tehillim 25:1. |
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Friday, Av 1, 5776 , 5776 · 5 August 2016
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Friday, Av 1, 5776 , 5776 · 5 August 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 181
The Decapitated Calf
"If one is found slain in the land"—Deuteronomy 21:1.
If the corpse of a murdered individual is found lying in the field, and the killer remains unknown, the courts must decapitate a calf [as per the procedure described in the Book of Deuteronomy].
Full text of this Mitzvah »•
Working the Land near "the Stream of the Decapitated Calf"
"Which shall neither be plowed nor sown"—Deuteronomy 21:4.
It is forbidden to sow or otherwise work the land [surrounding] the stream upon which the calf was decapitated.
Full text of this Mitzvah »•
Removing Hazards
"You shall not bring blood upon your house"—Deuteronomy 22:8.
We must not leave unattended hazards and pitfalls in our cities and homes.
Full text of this Mitzvah »•
Removing Sources of Danger from our Property
"You shall place a guard-rail around your roof"—Deuteronomy 22:81.
We are commanded to remove all dangers and hazards from our property. This includes constructing protective guardrails on the perimeters of roofs and wells, so that no one falls from them or in them. The same applies to all areas of potential danger—we must fix them so that they don't pose any danger.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Removing Sources of Danger from our Property
Positive Commandment 184
Translated by Berel Bell
The 184th mitzvah is that we are commanded to remove obstacles and dangerous objects from our dwellings, i.e. to build walls surrounding roofs, wells, trenches, etc. in order to prevent people from falling into them or from them. The same applies to all dangerous places — they should be built and repaired in a way that prevents any danger.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,1 "[When you build a new house] you must place a guard-rail around your roof."
In the words of the Sifri "The phrase 'You must place a guard-rail' constitutes a positive commandment."
The details of this mitzvah are explained in tractate Bava Kama.2
FOOTNOTES
1.Ibid.
2.51a.
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 181
The Decapitated Calf
"If one is found slain in the land"—Deuteronomy 21:1.
If the corpse of a murdered individual is found lying in the field, and the killer remains unknown, the courts must decapitate a calf [as per the procedure described in the Book of Deuteronomy].
Full text of this Mitzvah »•
The Decapitated Calf
Positive Commandment 181
Translated by Berel Bell
The 181st mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the eglah arufah (calf that is decapitated), in a case where a murder victim is found in a field and we don't know who the murderer was.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "When a corpse is found fallen in the field...." This is the law of eglah arufah.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the last chapter of tractate Sotah.
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 21:1.
Negative Commandment 309Working the Land near "the Stream of the Decapitated Calf"
"Which shall neither be plowed nor sown"—Deuteronomy 21:4.
It is forbidden to sow or otherwise work the land [surrounding] the stream upon which the calf was decapitated.
Full text of this Mitzvah »•
Working the Land near "the Stream of the Decapitated Calf"
Negative Commandment 309
Translated by Berel Bell
The 309th prohibition is that we are forbidden from sowing or working [the land around1] the 'strong river' where the calf is decapitated.2
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,3 "[The elders of that city shall bring the calf to a swiftly flowing stream, the land around which] must never be worked or sown."
The punishment for this prohibition is lashes. In the enumeration of transgressions which are punished by lashes in tractate Makkos, our Sages said, "But you omitted one who sows the land around the 'strong river' — which is prohibited by the verse, 'It must never be worked or sown!' " This shows that there is one prohibition4 and that it is punishable by lashes.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the end of tractate Sotah.
FOOTNOTES
1.See sources quoted in Kaplan, The Living Torah.
2.In the case of an unsolved murder (see P181 above).
3.Deut. 21:4.
4.Because otherwise it would have been mentioned that there is one set of lashes for working the land and another set for sowing the land.
Negative Commandment 298Removing Hazards
"You shall not bring blood upon your house"—Deuteronomy 22:8.
We must not leave unattended hazards and pitfalls in our cities and homes.
Full text of this Mitzvah »•
Removing Hazards
Negative Commandment 298
Translated by Berel Bell
The 298th prohibition is that we are forbidden from leaving obstacles or dangerous objects in our land and in our houses, in order not to endanger people.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "Do not place blood2 in your house."
In the words of the Sifri, "The phrase 'You must place a guard-rail' constitutes a positive commandment;3 and the phrase 'Do not place blood' constitutes a prohibition."
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the beginning of tractate Shekalim in the Jerusalem Talmud and in a number of passages in Seder Nezikin.4
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 22:8.
2.I.e. allow a dangerous situation to remain.
3.See P184 below.
4.See Bava Kama 15b, 46a, 51a.
Positive Commandment 184Removing Sources of Danger from our Property
"You shall place a guard-rail around your roof"—Deuteronomy 22:81.
We are commanded to remove all dangers and hazards from our property. This includes constructing protective guardrails on the perimeters of roofs and wells, so that no one falls from them or in them. The same applies to all areas of potential danger—we must fix them so that they don't pose any danger.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Removing Sources of Danger from our Property
Positive Commandment 184
Translated by Berel Bell
The 184th mitzvah is that we are commanded to remove obstacles and dangerous objects from our dwellings, i.e. to build walls surrounding roofs, wells, trenches, etc. in order to prevent people from falling into them or from them. The same applies to all dangerous places — they should be built and repaired in a way that prevents any danger.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,1 "[When you build a new house] you must place a guard-rail around your roof."
In the words of the Sifri "The phrase 'You must place a guard-rail' constitutes a positive commandment."
The details of this mitzvah are explained in tractate Bava Kama.2
FOOTNOTES
1.Ibid.
2.51a.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Tum'at Met Tum'at Met - Chapter 20
• Tum'at Met - Chapter 20
• Tum'at Met - Chapter 20
1
There are three conditions that protect an entity located under the same ohel as a corpse from contracting impurity: a sealed covering, an ohel, and the fact that something was swallowed. Being swallowed prevents pure entities from contracting impurity and prevents impurity that was swallowed from departing and spreading that impurity. In contrast, a sealed cover and an ohelprevent pure entities from contracting impurity, but they do not prevent the impurity from departing and causing other entities to become impure.
What is implied? If there is a container that is sealed in a house that is impure, everything in the container is pure. Similarly, if there is an ohel in such a house, all of the keilim in that ohel are pure. If, however, there was an olive-sized portion from a corpse placed in containers that were sealed close and then they were brought into a house, the house is impure. Similarly, if there was one ohel inside another ohel and an olive-sized portion of a corpse in the innerohel, all of the keilim in the outer ohel are impure.
א
שלשה דברים מצילין באהל המת: צמיד פתיל ואהלין ובלועין הבלועין מצילין על הטהורים שלא יתטמאו ומונעין הטומאה שלא תצא ותטמא אבל צמדי פתיל ואהלין מצילין על הטהורים שלא יתטמאו ואינן מונעין את הטומאה שלא תצא ותטמא את אחרים כיצד בית טמא שיש בו כלי מוקף צמיד פתיל כל שבתוך הכלי טהורים וכן אם היה שם אהל בתוך הבית כל הכלים שבתוך האהל טהורין אבל אם היה כזית מן המת נתון בכלים ומוקף עליו בצמיד פתיל והכניסו לבית הבית טמא וכן אהל בתוך אהל וכזית מן המת באהל הפנימי כל הכלים שבאהל החיצון טמאים:
2
In contrast, when entities are swallowed, pure articles are prevented from contracting impurity and impurity is prevented from spreading.
What is implied? When a dog ate the flesh of a human corpse and entered a house, the house is pure. When a ring was swallowed, even by a person, and then the person who swallowed it entered an ohel where a corpse was located, even though the person contracts the impurity that lasts seven days, the ring remains pure. Similarly, the fact that an entity was swallowed by a beast, a domesticated animal, a fowl, or a fish prevents it from contracting impurity as long as they are alive. If, however, they die and the flesh of a human corpse or keilim are in their intestines, it is as if these articles were not swallowed.
ב
אבל הבלועין מצילין על הטהורים ומונעין את הטומאה כיצד כלב שאכל בשר המת ונכנס לבית הבית טהור בלע טבעת אפילו אדם שבלע טבעת ונכנס לאהל המת אף על פי שנטמא טומאת שבעה הטבעת טהורה וכן כל הבלועין בחיה ובהמה ובעופות ובדגים מצילין כל זמן שהן חיין ואם מתו ובשר המת בתוך מעיהן או הכלים הרי הן כמו שאינו בלוע:
3
If the majority of one of a fowl's determining signs for ritual slaughter was slit or the majority of both an animal's signs were sli, even though the living beings were still in their death throes, they are considered as dead. They no longer protect thekeilim that are swallowed in their intestines, nor do they prevent impurity that is in their intestines from spreading outward and imparting impurity.
ג
נשחט רוב אחד בעוף ורוב שנים בבהמה אף ע"פ שעדיין הן מפרכסין הרי הן כמתים ואינן מצילין על הכלים הבלועים ולא מונעין את הטומאה שבתוך מעיהן שלא תטמא:
4
How long may the impurity remain in their intestines and still impart impurity when they die? For a dog three full days, i.e., three twenty-four hour periods. For other wild beasts, domesticated animals, fowl, or fish, one full day.
When does the above apply? When the flesh of the corpse remains in their intestines. If, however, a wolf swallows a baby and then expels it through its anus, the flesh is pure, but the bones are impure.
ד
וכמה תשהא הטומאה במעיהן ותהיה מטמאה כשימותו בכלב שלשה ימים מעת לעת ובשאר חיה ובהמה ועופות ודגים יום אחד מעת לעת בד"א כשנשאר בשר המת בתוך מעיהן אבל זאב שבלע תינוק והקיאו דרך בית הרעי הבשר טהור והעצמות בטומאתן:
5
Entities that are swallowed are protected from impurity only in the digestive organs of a living creature, as we explained. Those, however, which are concealed in the body of a k'li or a stone are not protected.
What is implied? If there is a spindle in which a metal hook was concealed, into which the iron point was driven, or a brick in which a ring was found that were brought into an ohel in which a corpse was found, the articles are impure even though they are not visible and they are covered. The rationale is that articles encompassed by keilim are protected from impurity only by a sealed cover.
Similarly, if there was a pin or a ring covered in the clay used to reinforce an oven and the oven became impure because it was in an ohel where a corpse was located or a dead crawling animal fell into its inner space, the keilim in the clay become impure. If, however, the oven was sealed close, since the oven itself is pure, the keilim that are covered up by the clay on top of it are also pure.
Similarly, if a jug is sealed closed and there is a needle or a ring in the clay sealing at its side, they are impure, and they are not saved in an ohel where a corpse was located. If they were in the sealing of the jug over its opening and they could be seen from the inside of the jug, but do not enter its inner space, they are pure. If they enter its inner space, they are impure. The rationale is that an earthenware container that is sealed close does not protect thekeilim that are inside of it, as will be explained. If there is a layer of clay, even as thin as a garlic shell under them, they are pure, even though they project into the inner space of the jug.
ה
אין הבלועין נצלין אלא בבטן נפש החיה כמו שביארנו אבל הבלועין בגוף הכלים והאבנים אינן נצלין כיצד כוש שנבלעה בו הצנור של מתכת ומלמד שנבלע בו הדרבן ולבינה שהיתה טבעת מובלעת בתוכה ונכנסו לאהל המת נטמאו אע"פ שאין נראין והרי הן מחופין שאין הבלועין בכלים מצילין אלא בצמיד פתיל וכן מחט או טבעת שהיו מובלעין בטפילת התנור ונטמא התנור באהל המת או שנפל שרץ לאוירו נטמאו הכלים שבתוך הטפילה ואם היה התנור טהור צמיד פתיל הואיל והתנור טהור אף הכלים המובלעין בטיט שעל גביו טהורים וכן חבית המוקפת צמיד פתיל והיתה מחט או טבעת במגופת החבית מצדה הרי אלו טמאין ואין מצילין באהל המת היו במגופת החבית כנגד פיה אם היו נראין לתוך החבית ואינן יוצאין לאוירה טהורין ואם יצאו לאוירה טמאין שאין כלי חרש המוקף צמיד פתיל מציל על הכלים שבתוכו כמו שיתבאר ואם יש תחתיהן כקליפת השום אף על פי שהן שוקעין לתוך אוירה הרי אלו טהורין:
6
All keilim that are embedded in the earth of a house are impure and they are not protected. The rationale is that the earth of an ohel has the same status of the ohel itself until the very depths of the earth. This does not apply with regard to its walls, as will be explained.
What is implied? If there is impurity in a house and there are keilimembedded in its earth, even if they are deeper than 100 cubits, they are impure. If, however, there is a handbreadth by a handbreadth by a handbreadth of empty space in their place, they are pure, because it is as if they are in another ohel. To what can the matter be compared? To a loft that is built over a house. If there is impurity in the loft, the house is pure.
Similarly, if one divided a house with a partition that runs parallel to the ground and there was impurity between the partition and the earth, the keilim that are in the house above the partition are impure, because an ohel does not prevent the spread of impurity, as we explained. If there was impurity above the partition, thekeilim between the partition and the earth are pure, because theohel protects them. If there is not a space of a handbreadth between the partition and the ground, the keilim are considered as if they are embedded in the earth of the house and they are impure.
ו
כל הבלועין בקרקעיתו של בית הרי הן טמאין ואין נצלין שקרקע האהל כמוהו עד התהום משא"כ בכותליו כמו שיתבאר כיצד הטומאה בבית וכלים הטמונים בקרקעיתו אפילו תחת מאה אמה טמאים אם יש במקומן טפח על טפח טהורין שהרי הן תחת אהל אחד למה זה דומה לעלייה שע"ג הבית וטומאה בעלייה שהבית טהור וכן אם חלק הבית במחיצה מכלפי ארצו והיתה הטומאה בין המחיצה והארץ כלים שבבית למעלה מן המחיצה טמאין שאין האהלים מונעין הטומאה כמו שביארנו היתה הטומאה למעלה מן המחיצה כלים שבין המחיצה והארץ טהורין שהאהל מציל ואם אין בין המחיצה והארץ גובה טפח הרי הן כטמונים בקרקע הבית וטמאים:
7
The following laws apply when there is a covered drain extending under a house and the drain is a handbreadth by a handbreadth by a handbreadth and its opening outside the house is a cubic handbreadth in size. If there is impurity in the drainage channel, the house is pure. If there is impurity in the house, the contents of the drainage channel are pure.
If the drain was a cubic handbreadth in size, but its opening on the outside was not a cubic handbreadth in size and there was impurity in it, the house is impure. If there is impurity in the house, the contents of the drainage channel are pure. The rationale is that it is not the way of impurity to enter a secondary entity like a drain.
If the drain was not a cubic handbreadth in size and its opening on the outside was not a cubic handbreadth in size and there was impurity in it, the house is impure. It is as if the impurity is in the house. If there is impurity in the house, the contents of the drain are impure. The rationale is that they are considered like keilimburied in the earth and the earth of a house has the same status as the house itself until the very depths.
ז
ביב שהוא קמור תחת הבית ויש בו פותח טפח ויש בפתחו שהוא חוץ לבית פותח טפח והיתה טומאה בתוכו הבית טהור היתה טומאה בבית מה שבתוכו טהור היה בו פותח טפח ואין ביציאתו פותח טפח והיתה טומאה בתוכו הבית טמא טומאה בבית מה שבתוכו טהור שאין דרכה של טומאה להכנס אין בו פותח טפח ואין ביציאתו פותח טפח טומאה בתוכו הבית טמא כאילו היא בתוך הבית טומאה בבית מה שבתוכו טמא מפני שהן ככלים הטמונים בקרקע וקרקע הבית כמוהו עד התהום:
8
When there are two jugs, each containing half of an olive-sized portion of a corpse and each is sealed close, placed within a house, they are pure, because a partial measure of impurity does not impart impurity. The house is impure, because there is an olive-sized portion of a corpse in the house and a sealed cover does not prevent the spread of impurity outward. The jugs do not become impure because of the house, because they are sealed close. If one of the jugs are open, it and the house are impure and the other jug is pure.
Similarly, if there are two rooms open to each other and to the main room of a house and there is half of an olive-sized portion of a corpse in the inner room or the middle room and half of an olive-sized portion of a corpse in the outer room, the outer room is impure. The inner room and the middle room are pure. If there is half of an olive-sized portion of a corpse in the inner room and half of an olive-sized portion of a corpse in the middle room, the inner room is pure. The middle and the outer rooms are impure, because it is the way of impurity to depart and not to enter.
ח
שתי חביות וכחצי זית בכל אחד ומוקפות צמיד פתיל ומונחות בתוך הבית הן טהורות שאין חצי שיעור מטמא והבית טמא שהרי יש בבית כזית ואין צמיד פתיל לטומאה ואינן מיטמאות מחמת הבית שהרי הן מוקפות צמיד פתיל נפתחה אחת מהן היא והבית טמאין וחבירתה טהורה וכן שני חדרים שהן פתוחים זה לזה ולבית וכחצי זית בפנימי או באמצעי וכחצי זית בחיצון החיצון טמא והפנימי והאמצעי טהורין כחצי זית בפנימי וכחצי זית באמצעי הפנימי טהור והאמצעי והחיצון טמאים שדרך הטומאה לצאת ואין דרכה להכנס:
• Rambam - 3 Chapters: Rotzeach uShmirat Nefesh Rotzeach uShmirat Nefesh - Chapter Eight, Rotzeach uShmirat Nefesh Rotzeach uShmirat Nefesh - Chapter Nine, Rotzeach uShmirat Nefesh Rotzeach uShmirat Nefesh - Chapter Ten
• Rotzeach uShmirat Nefesh - Chapter Eight
1
It is a positive commandment to set aside cities of refuge, asDeuteronomy 19:2 states: "You shall set aside three cities." The practice of setting aside cities of refuge applies only in Eretz Yisrael.
א
מצות עשה להפריש ערי מקלט שנאמר שלש ערים תבדיל לך. ואין ערי מקלט נוהגת אלא בארץ ישראל:
2
There were six cities of refuge. Three Moses our teacher set aside in TransJordan, and three Joshua set aside in the land of Canaan.
ב
ושש ערים היו. שלש הבדיל משה רבינו בעבר הירדן. ושלש הבדיל יהושע בארץ כנען:
3
None of the cities of refuge served as a haven until they were all set aside, as implied by Numbers 35:13: "There shall be six cities of refuge for you." And so, Moses informed us that the three cities of refuge in TransJordan did not serve as a haven until the three in the land of Canaan were set aside.
If so, why did Moses set them aside? He said: "Since a mitzvah came to my hand, I will fulfill it."
ג
אין אחת מערי מקלט קולטת עד שיובדלו כולן. שנאמר שש ערי מקלט תהיינה לכם. והודיענו משה רבינו שאין שלש שבעבר הירדן קולטות עד שיובדלו שלש שבארץ כנען. ולמה הבדילן אמר הואיל ובאה מצוה לידי אקיימנה:
4
In the era of the King Mashiach, three other cities will be added to these six, as Deuteronomy 19:9 states: "And you shall add three other cities to these three cities."
Where are these cities added? In the cities of the Keni, K'nizi, and the Kadmoni, concerning which a covenant was made with Abraham,but which have not yet been conquered. Concerning these cities, the Torah ibid.:8 says: "And if God, your Lord, will expand your boundaries...."
ד
בימי המלך המשיח מוסיפין שלש אחרות על אלו השש. שנאמר ויספת לך עוד שלש ערים על השלש האלה. והיכן מוסיפין אותן בערי הקיני והקנזי והקדמוני שנכרת לאברהם אבינו ברית עליהן ועדיין לא נכבשו ועליהן נאמר בתורה ואם ירחיב ה' אלהיך את גבולך:
5
The Jewish court is obligated to construct roads leading to the cities of refuge; they should be maintained and widened. Any stumbling block and obstacle should be removed from them.
On these roads neither a hill, a valley, nor a river should be left. Instead, a bridge should be built across so as not to impede a person fleeing there. This is all implied by Deuteronomy 19:3, which states: "You shall prepare the road for yourselves."
The width of the road to the city of refuge should not be less than 32 cubits. Signs stating "Refuge, refuge," should be written at intersections, so that killers would be aware of the way and turn there.
ה
וחייבין בית דין א לכוין הדרכים לערי מקלט לתקנם ולהרחיבן. ומסירין מהן כל מכשול וכל תקלה. ואין מניחין בדרך לא תל ולא גיא ולא נהר. אלא עושין עליו גשר כדי שלא לעכב את הבורח לשם. שנאמר תכין לך הדרך. ורוחב דרך ערי מקלט אין פחות משלשים ושתים אמות. ומקלט מקלט היה כתוב על פרשת דרכים כדי שיכירו הרצחנים ויפנו לשם:
6
Every year, on the fifteenth of Adar, the court would send out emissaries to inspect the roads leading to the cities of refuge. Wherever they found flaws, they would have them repaired. If a court was dilatory regarding this matter, it is considered as if they shed blood.
ו
בחמשה עשר באדר בכל שנה בית דין מוציאין שלוחים לתקן הדרכים וכל מקום שמצאוהו שנתקלקל מתקנים אותו. ובית דין שנתרשלו בדבר זה מעלה עליהן הכתוב כאילו שפכו דמים:
7
When the cities of refuge were first set aside, they would measure from one city to another to determine whether they were set aside in equal measures. This is also implied by the verse: "You shall prepare the road for yourselves."
ז
וכן מושחין בין כל עיר ועיר מערי מקלט בתחילת הפרשתן עד שהיו משולשות בשוה. שנאמר תכין לך הדרך:
8
The cities of refuge that are designated should not be big cities or metropolises, nor should they be small villages. Instead, they should be cities of intermediate size.
They should be located solely in trading places, where water is found. If there is no water near them, water should be diverted toward them. They should located solely in a populated area. If the surrounding populace is reduced, it should be increased. If the number of inhabitants of the city of refuge decrease, priests, Levites, and Israelites should be brought to live there.
Snares may not be set in such a city, nor may rope traps be set there, so that the blood redeemer will not come there.
ח
ערי מקלט אין עושין אותן לא עיירות גדולות ולא כרכים גדולים ולא קטנים אלא עיירות בינוניות. ואין מושיבין אותן אלא במקום שווקים ובמקום המים. ואם אין שם מים מכניסין לתוכן מים. ואין מושיבין אותן אלא במקום אוכלוסין. נתמעטו אוכלוסיהן מוסיפין עליהן. נתמעטו דיוריהן מכניסין לתוכן כהנים לויים וישראלים. ואין פורשין בתוכן מצודות ואין מפשילין בתוכן חבלים כדי שלא יהיה רגל גואל הדם מצויה שם:
9
All of the cities of the Levites serve as a haven; each is a city of refuge. This is indicated by Numbers 35:6-7: "And in addition to them, you shall give them 42 cities. All the cities that you shall give the Levites shall be 48 in number." The verse thus established an association between them; all of them serve as havens.
ט
כל ערי הלוים קולטות וכל אחת מהן עיר מקלט היא. שנאמר ועליהן תתנו ארבעים ושתים עיר כל הערים אשר תתנו ללוים ארבעים ושמונה עיר. הקישן הכתוב כלן זו לזו לקלוט:
10
What then is the difference between those cities that are set aside as cities of refuge, and the other cities of the Levites?
The cities of refuge serve as havens whether one enters them with the intent of taking refuge or one enters them without that intent; since a killer enters their confines, they serve as a haven for him. The other cities of the Levites serve as a haven only when one enters with that intent in mind.
Also, a killer who lives in a designated city of refuge does not have to pay rent. If, by contrast, he lives in another one of the cities of the Levites, he must pay his landlord rent.
י
ומה הפרש יש בין ערי מקלט שהובדלו למקלט ובין שאר ערי הלוים. שערי מקלט קולטות בין לדעת בין שלא לדעת הואיל ונכנס בהן נקלט. ושאר ערי הלוים אינן קולטות אלא לדעת. ורוצח הדר בערי מקלט אינו נותן שכר ביתו. והדר בשאר ערי הלויים נותן שכר לבעל הבית:
11
Whenever a city serves as a haven, the surrounding area also serves as a haven.
When a tree is standing within the limits of a city of refuge and its leaves extend beyond those limits, once a killer comes below its leaves they serve as a haven for him. If a tree stands outside the limits and its leaves extend within those limits, as soon as he reaches its trunk it serves as a haven for him. If the blood redeemer kills him there, he should be executed.
Even though the surrounding area of a city serves as a haven, a killer should not dwell there, as [implied by Numbers 35:25: "He shall dwell in it," i.e., not in its surrounding area.
יא
כל עיר הקולטת תחומה קולט כמוה. אילן שעומד בתוך תחום ערי מקלט ונופו נוטה חוץ לתחום משיגיע תחת הנוף נקלט. היה עומד חוץ לתחום ונופו נוטה לתוך התחום משיגיע לעיקרו נקלט וההורג שם נהרג עליו. ואע"פ שהתחום קולט אין הרוצח דר בו שנאמר וישב בה ולא בתחומה:
Rotzeach uShmirat Nefesh - Chapter Nine
1
The following procedure should be adhered to when the corpse of a slain person is found lying on the earth, and it is not known who struck him. It is left in place. Five elders from the High Court in Jerusalem come and measure from the corpse to the nearby cities, as indicated by Deuteronomy 21:2: "And your elders and your judges shall go out and measure...."
Even if the corpse is found right next to a city, or it is clearly obvious that a particular city is closer, it is a mitzvah to measure.
א
הרוג שנמצא נופל לארץ ולא נודע מי הכהו מניחין אותו במקומו. ויוצאין חמשה זקנים [א] מבית דין הגדול שבירושלים שנאמר ויצאו זקניך ושופטיך ומודדין ממנו אל הערים שסביבות החלל. אפילו נמצא בצד עיר זו שהדבר ידוע בודאי שהיא הקרובה מצוה למדוד:
2
After they measure and establish which city is closest, they bury the person who was murdered in the place he was found. The elders from Jerusalem return to their city, and the court of the city that was designated brings a calf paid for by all the inhabitants. They bring the the calf to a river that flows forcefully. This is the meaning of the term eitan found in the Torah (Deuteronomy 21:4).
ב
אחר שמודדין ונודעה העיר הקרובה קוברין את הנהרג במקומו וחוזרין זקני ירושלים למקומן ובית דין של אותה העיר מביאין עגלת בקר משל אנשי אותה העיר ומורידים אותה אל נחל ששוטף בחזקה וזהו איתן האמור בתורה:
3
It should be decapitated there with a cleaver, from behind. The court of that city and all the elders of the city, even if they are 100 in number, must wash their hands at the place where the calf was decapitated.
There, in the midst of the river, the elders declare in the holy tongue Deuteronomy 21:7: "Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did we see this with our eyes." Their intent is that the murdered person did not come into their city and they let him leave without giving him provisions for the way, nor did they see him go and they let him leave without accompaniment.
The priests then say in the Holy Tongue Ibid.:8: "Atone for Your nation Israel...." They depart. The Holy One, blessed be He, then forgives the shedding of the blood, as the above verse continues: "And the blood will be atoned."
ג
ועורפין אותה שם בקופיץ מאחריה ובית דין של אותה העיר עם כל זקניה אפילו הם מאה כולן רוחצין את ידיהן שם במקום עריפתה ואומרים שם בתוך הנחל בלשון הקודש ידינו לא שפכו את הדם הזה ועינינו לא ראו. כלומר שלא בא לידינו הנהרג הזה ופטרנוהו בלא מזונות ולא ראינוהו ופטרנוהו בלא לוייה. והכהנים אומרים בלשון הקודש כפר לעמך ישראל. והולכין להן והקב"ה מכפר על הדם שנאמר ונכפר להם הדם:
4
When the judges measure the distance from the corpse to the nearest city, they must measure exactly and not by estimation. They should measure only to a city that has a court of 23 judges.
They should never measure, however, to Jerusalem, for the inhabitants of Jerusalem are never required to bring a calf to be decapitated. For Jerusalem was never divided among the tribes, and the mitzvah of decapitating a calf applies "in the land that God your Lord is giving you to inherit" Deuteronomy 19:1.
ד
כשמודדין מן החלל מדקדקין במדה א ואין מקדרין בה ואין מודדין אלא לעיר שיש בה בית דין של עשרים ושלשה. ואין מודדין לירושלים שירושלים אין מביאה עגלה ערופה לפי שלא נתחלקה לשבטים ונאמר באדמה אשר ה' אלהיך נותן לך לרשתה:
5
If the corpse is found close to Jerusalem or close to a city that does not have a court, that city should be ignored, and a measurement should be made to the other cities close by.
If the corpse is found close to a border city or to a city inhabited by gentiles, no measurement is made at all. For we presume that the person was killed by gentiles.
ה
נמצא קרוב לירושלים או לעיר שאין בה בית דין מניחין [ב] אותה ומודדין אל שאר העיירות הסמוכות לו. נמצא סמוך לספר או לעיר שיש בה עכו"ם אין מודדין כל עיקר שהרי זה בחזקת שהרגוהו עכו"ם:
6
The city that is closest to the corpse does not bring the calf unless its population is equal to that of the city that is further away. If, however, the population of the city that is further away exceeds that of the closer city, the number of inhabitants becomes the determining factor, and the more populous city must bring the calf.
ו
אין העיר הקרובה מביאה אלא בזמן שמנין הרוב שבה כמו מנין העיר הרחוקה ממנה אבל אם היו אלו שברחוקה מרובין על אנשי הקרובה ממנה הולכין אחר [ג] הרוב והמרובין מביאין העגלה:
7
Although at times the Torah considers number to be a determining factor, and at times proximity to be a determining factor, number carries more weight than proximity.
ז
אע"פ שהולכין אחר הרוב מן התורה והולכין אחר הקרוב הרוב עדיף:
8
If a corpse is found equidistant between two cities, and both cities have the same number of inhabitants, they should bring a calf in partnership and make the following stipulation: If this city is the closer, the calf belongs to its inhabitants, and the others are giving them their portion in it as a present. And if the other city is closer, the calf belongs to its inhabitants and the others are giving them their portion in it as a present. For it is impossible to be exact in measurement, even with regard to something that comes about as a result of human activity.
ח
נמצא הנהרג מכוון בין שתי עיירות ואנשי זו כאנשי זו בשוה יביאו עגלה אחת בשותפות ויתנו ויאמרו. אם זו היא הקרובה הרי היא שלהן ואלו יתנו להם חלקם מתנה. ואם אלו הם הקרובים הרי הוא שלהן ואלו יתנו להן חלקם מתנה. לפי שאי אפשר לצמצם ואפילו בידי אדם:
9
From which portion of the corpse should we measure? From the nose.
If the body of a corpse is found in one place and the head in another place, the body is brought to the head, and then the corpse is buried in that place. Similarly, whenever a corpse is found with no one to bury it, the body is brought to the head, and then the corpse is buried in that place.
9
מהיכן מודדין [ד] מחוטמו. נמצא גופו במקום אחד וראשו במקום אחר מוליכין הגוף אצל הראש וקוברים אותו במקומו. וכן כל מת מצוה מוליכין גופו אצל ראשו ונקבר במקומו:
10
If many corpses were found next to each other, a measurement should be made from the nose of each one individually. If one city is discovered to be closest to all of them, it brings one calf for all the corpses.
If the corpses are found piled one on top of the other, we should measure from the top corpse, since it is lying on top of the others.
י
נמצאו מתים רבים זה בצד זה. מודדין מחוטמו של כל אחד ואחד מהן. ואם היתה עיר אחת קרובה לכולם. מביאה עגלה אחת על כולן.
11
Deuteronomy 21:1 states: "When a corpse is found...."Challal, the term used for corpse indicates a person slain with a sword, and not strangled to death, nor a person in his death throes; these are not implied by the term challal.
The verse continues "on the earth" - i.e., not buried in a mound; "fallen" and not hanging from a tree; "in the field" - and not floating on the water. "And it is not known who killed him" - thus, if the murderer's identity is known, a calf was not decapitated.
יא
נאמר כי ימצא חלל לא חנוק ולא מפרפר שאין זה נקרא חלל. באדמה לא טמון בגל. נופל לא תלוי באילן. בשדה לא צף על פני המים. א לא נודע מי הכהו הא אם נודע לא היו עורפין:
12
Even if only one witness - or even a servant,a woman, or a person disqualified to serve as a witness because of his transgressions - saw the murderer, the calf would not be decapitated. For this reason, in the later part of the Second Temple Period, when the number of those who murdered overtly increased, the decapitation of the calf was nullified.
יב
אפילו ראה ההורג עד אחד אפילו עבד או אשה או פסול לעדות בעבירה לא היו עורפין. לפיכך משרבו הרצחנים בגלוי בטלה עגלה ערופה:
13
If one witness says: "I saw the murderer," and another witness disputes his statement, saying: "You did not see him," the calf would be decapitated.
When does the above apply? When the two witnesses came at the same time. If, however, the witness who claims to have seen the murderer came first and testified, his word is believed as would be that of two witnesses in this context. Therefore, if another witness comes and disputes his testimony, claiming that the first witness did not see the murderer, the words of the second witness are of no consequence, and the calf would not be decapitated.
יג
עד אחד אומר ראיתי את ההורג ועד אחד הכחישו ואמר לו לא ראית היו עורפין. במה דברים אמורים כשבאו שניהם כאחת אבל אם אמר אחד אני ראיתי את ההורג הרי זה נאמן כשנים לענין זה. ואם בא אחר כך עד אחד והכחישו ואמר לו לא ראית אין משגיחין על דברי האחרון ואין עורפין:
14
If after the one witness testifies that he saw the murderer, two witnesses come and testify that he did not see him, it is considered as if there are two testimonies of equal weight, disputing each other, and the calf should be decapitated.
If a woman says: "I saw the murderer," and another woman disputes her testimony and says: "You did not see," the calf should be decapitated. This applies regardless of whether the women came together or one after the other.
If two say: "We saw him," and one says, "You did not see him," the calf should not be decapitated. If one says: "I saw him," and two say, "You did not see him," the calf should be decapitated.
יד
באו שנים אחר שהעיד האחד והכחישוהו ואמרו לו לא ראית הרי הן כשתי עדיות המכחישות זו את זו ועורפין.
15
When does the above apply? When the three witnesses mentioned are either all acceptable or all unacceptable. If, however, one acceptable witness says: "I saw the murderer," and two women or two unacceptable witnesses contradict him and say that he did not see him, the calf should not be decapitated.
טו
במה דברים אמורים כשהיו שלשתן כשרים או פסולים
16
When two women or two unacceptable witnesses say: "We saw the murderer," and one acceptable witness denies their statements and says that they did not see him, the calf should be decapitated.
Even when 100 women or 100 unacceptable witnesses say: "We saw the murderer", and one acceptable witness denies all their statements, all the unacceptable witnesses are considered as if they were one man, with the weight of a single witness.
טז
שתי נשים או שני פסולים אומרים ראינו ההורג ועד אחד מכחישם ואומר לא ראיתם עורפים שאפילו מאה נשים או מאה פסולים ועד אחד מכחיש את כולן הרי אלו כאיש אחד ועד אחד:
17
When three women or three unacceptable witnesses say: "We saw the murderer," and four women or four unacceptable witnesses say: "You did not see him," the calf should be decapitated. This is the guiding principle: With regard to unacceptable witnesses, accept the testimony supported by the most witnesses in all situations.
יז
שלש נשים או שלשה פסולים אומרים ראינו ההורג וארבע נשים או ארבעה פסולים אומרים לא ראיתם עורפין. זה הכלל בפסולין [הלך] אחר רוב המניין בכל מקום:
Rotzeach uShmirat Nefesh - Chapter Ten
1
The law of the decapitated calf is practiced only in Eretz Yisrael. It is also practiced in TransJordan.
א
אין דין עגלה ערופה נוהג אלא בארץ ישראל וכן בעבר הירדן:
2
The calf that is decapitated may be two years old or younger. If, however, it is two years and one day old, it is not acceptable. Physical blemishes do not disqualify it. Nevertheless, if it is taref, it is unacceptable. For "atonement" is mentioned with regard to it, as it is mentioned with regard to sacrificial offerings.
ב
עגלה ערופה בת שתי שנים או פחות [א] אבל אם היתה בת שתי שנים ויום אחד פסולה. ואין המומין פוסלין ואעפ"כ אם היתה טריפה פסולה. כפרה נאמר בה כקדשים:
3
Deuteronomy 21:3 states: "that has never been worked, and that has never carried a yoke." Accordingly, all types of work disqualify the calf, just as they disqualify a red heifer.
Why is "a yoke" then singled out; seemingly it is included with the other tasks in the expression "that has never been worked"? To teach that a yoke disqualifies a calf whether or not it carries it while working. If a calf carries a yoke for a distance of a handbreadth, it is disqualified even though it did not plow with it or perform any work. With regard to other tasks, by contrast, they do not disqualify a calf unless work was actually performed.
ג
כל העבודות פוסלות את העגלה כמו שפוסלין בפרה אדומה שנאמר אשר לא עובד בה. ולמה נאמר עול אחר שנאמר אשר לא עובד בה שהוא כולל העול עם שאר עבודות. שהעול פוסל בין בשעת מלאכה בין שלא בשעת מלאכה כיון שמשכה בעול טפח נפסלה אע"פ שלא חרש בה ולא עשה בה מלאכה ושאר עבודות אין פוסלין אלא עד שעת מלאכה:
4
Whenever the calf performs a task for its own benefit, that does not disqualify it; for example, the owner spread his garment over it to protect it from flies. Any task that is not for its own benefit - e.g., the owner spread his garment over it, so that it should carry it - disqualifies it. The same applies in all analogous situations, as we have explained in Hilchot Parah.
ד
כל מלאכה שהיא לצרכה כגון פירש טליתו עליה מפני הזבובים אינו פוסלה. וכל שהיא שלא לצרכה כגון שפירש טליתו עליה לנושאה פסולה וכן כל כיוצא בזה כמו שביארנו בהלכות פרה אדומה:
5
The calf should be decapitated only during the daytime, for "atonement" is mentioned with regard to it, as it is mentioned with regard to sacrificial offerings.
It is acceptable to decapitate it any time during the entire day. Two calves should not be decapitated at the same time, for mitzvot should not be performed in bundles.
ה
אין עורפין את העגלה אלא ביום לפי שנאמר בה כפרה כקדשים. וכל היום כשר לעריפתה. ואין עורפין שתי עגלות כאחת שאין עושין מצות חבילות חבילות:
6
It is forbidden to benefit from a calf that is decapitated. It should be buried at the place where it was decapitated.
Once it is taken down to the river, benefiting from it becomes forbidden, even though it has not yet been decapitated. Thus, if it dies there or was slaughtered after it was decapitated, one is forbidden to benefit from it, and it should be buried.
ו
עגלה ערופה אסורה בהנאה ונקברת במקום עריפתה ומשתרד לנחל תיאסר בהנאה אע"פ שעדיין לא נערפה. ואם מתה או נשחטה אחר ירידתה הרי זו אסורה בהנאה ותקבר:
7
If, however, the witnesses are found to be lying, it is permitted to benefit from the calf.
What is implied? One witness testified that he saw the murderer, and two witnesses come and negate his testimony, telling him: "You did not see him." If on this basis, the court set aside a calf and brought it down to the river to decapitate it because of their testimony, and these witnesses were disqualified afterwards as lying witnesses, it is permitted to benefit from the calf.
ז
נמצאו העדים זוממין הרי זו מותרת בהנאה. כיצד כגון שאמר עד אחד אני ראיתי את ההורג ובאו שנים והכחישוהו ואמרו לו לא ראית. והפרישו את העגלה והורידוה לנחל לעורפה על פיהם. ואחר כך הוזמו השנים הרי זו מותרת בהנאה:
8
If the murderer was discovered before the calf was decapitated, it should be released and allowed to pasture with the herd. If he was discovered after the calf was decapitated, before it was buried, it should be buried in its place. For at the outset, it was brought because of a doubt. It atoned for this lack of knowledge and served its purpose.
Even when the murderer is discovered after the decapitation of the calf, he should be executed, as Deuteronomy 21:9 states: "You shall thus rid yourselves of the guilt for the shedding of innocent blood."
ח
נמצא ההורג עד שלא תערף העגלה תצא ותרעה בעדר. נמצא אחר שנערפה תקבר במקומה. שעל הספק באה מתחילתה כיפרה ספיקה והלכה לה. ואע"פ שנמצא הרוצח אחר עריפתה הרי זה יהרג שנאמר [ב] ואתה תבער הדם הנקי:
9
It is forbidden ever to sow seeds or till the river in which the calf was decapitated, as Deuteronomy 21:4 states: "that must never be worked or sown." Whoever performs work with the land itself - e.g., he plowed, he dug, he seeded, he planted, or the like - should be punished with lashes.
It is, however, permitted to comb flax there, or to drill stones, for this is similar to weaving a garment there or sewing it there, for these are tasks that are not performed with the land itself. To emphasize this concept, the verse states: "that must never be worked or sown." Implied is that just as sowing involves the land itself, similarly all work that is forbidden there involves the land itself.
ט
הנחל שנערפה בו העגלה אסור בזריעה ועבודה לעולם. שנאמר אשר לא יעבד בו ולא יזרע. וכל העובד שם עבודה בגופה של קרקע כגון שחרש או חפר או זרע או נטע וכיוצא באלו הרי זה לוקה. ומותר לסרוק שם פשתן ולנקר שם אבנים שזה כמי שארג שם בגד או תפרו שאינה מלאכה בגוף הקרקע. לכך נאמר לא יעבד ולא יזרע מה זריעה בגופה של קרקע אף כל העבודה שנאסרה שם אינה אלא בגופה של קרקע:
10
When the inhabitants of a city that was closest to a corpse have delayed and have not brought a calf for decapitation, they should be compelled to bring it even though several years have passed. For those who are liable to bring a calf for decapitation remain liable despite the fact that Yom Kippur has passed.
י
אנשי עיר קרובה שנתאחרו ולא הביאו עגלה ערופה. כופין אותן ומביאין ואפילו לאחר כמה שנים. שחייבי עגלה ערופה שעבר עליה יום הכפורים חייבים להביא אחר יום הכפורים:
Hayom Yom: Today's Hayom Yom
• Friday, Av 1, 5776 , 5776 · 5 August 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Monday, Menachem Av 1, Rosh Chodesh 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Devarim, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 1-9.
Tanya: Ch. 10. This superior (p. 377) ...as is known. (p. 379).
The unique quality of Mashiach is that he will be humble. Though he will be the ultimate in greatness, for he will teach Torah to the Patriarchs and to Moshe Rabeinu (alav hashalom),1 still he will be the ultimate in humility and self-nullification, for he will also teach simple folk.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lit. "Peace upon him"; a term applied to the departed. When referring to Moshe, King David, etc., it is usually written as an Hebrew acronym combined with the initials of the name, e.g. M.R.A.H. Moshe Rabeinu Alav Hashalom.
• Daily Thought:
Meditation on a Scolding
Before you scold a child, stop and think of who this is and where you stand.
This is a child of the Creator of the Universe.
And you stand before Him, scolding His child.[Igrot Kodesh, vol. 20, p. 143.]
Torah lessons: Chumash: Devarim, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 1-9.
Tanya: Ch. 10. This superior (p. 377) ...as is known. (p. 379).
The unique quality of Mashiach is that he will be humble. Though he will be the ultimate in greatness, for he will teach Torah to the Patriarchs and to Moshe Rabeinu (alav hashalom),1 still he will be the ultimate in humility and self-nullification, for he will also teach simple folk.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lit. "Peace upon him"; a term applied to the departed. When referring to Moshe, King David, etc., it is usually written as an Hebrew acronym combined with the initials of the name, e.g. M.R.A.H. Moshe Rabeinu Alav Hashalom.
• Daily Thought:
Meditation on a Scolding
Before you scold a child, stop and think of who this is and where you stand.
This is a child of the Creator of the Universe.
And you stand before Him, scolding His child.[Igrot Kodesh, vol. 20, p. 143.]
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