Torah Reading
Devarim: Deuteronomy 1:1 These are the words Moshe spoke to all Isra’el on the far side of the Yarden River, in the desert, in the ‘Aravah, across from Suf, between Pa’ran and Tofel, Lavan, Hatzerot and Di-Zahav. 2 It is eleven days’ journey from Horev to Kadesh-Barnea by way of Mount Se‘ir.
3 On the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year, Moshe spoke to the people of Isra’el, reviewing everything Adonai had ordered him to tell them. 4 This was after he had defeated Sichon, king of the Emori, who lived in Heshbon, and ‘Og, king of Bashan, who lived in ‘Ashtarot, at Edre‘i. 5 There, beyond the Yarden, in the land of Mo’av, Moshe took it upon himself to expound this Torah and said:
6 “Adonai spoke to us in Horev. He said, ‘You have lived long enough by this mountain. 7 Turn, get moving and go to the hill-country of the Emori and all the places near there in the ‘Aravah, the hill-country, the Sh’felah, the Negev and by the seashore — the land of the Kena‘ani, and the L’vanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates River. 8 I have set the land before you! Go in, and take possession of the land Adonai swore to give to your ancestors Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov, and their descendants after them.’
9 “At that time I told you, ‘You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone. 10 Adonai your God has multiplied your numbers, so that there are as many of you today as there are stars in the sky. 11 May Adonai, the God of your ancestors, increase you yet a thousandfold and bless you, as he has promised you!
Today's Laws & Customs:
• "Nine Days'
During the “Nine Days" from Av 1st to the Ninth of Av, we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple. We abstain from meat and wine, music, haircutting, bathing for pleasure, and other joyous (and dangerous) 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 certain mitzvot) such as a brit (circumcision), or asiyum celebrating the completion of a course of Torah study (i.e., a complete Talmudic tractate). The Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory 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 "Zion shall be redeemed with mishpat [Torah] and its returnees with tzedakah," (Isaiah 1:27) 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:
Daily Quote:
There may be food, there may be drink, but if there is no peace there is nothing[Rashi (on Leviticus 26:6)]Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Devarim, 2nd Portion Deuteronomy 1:12-1:21 with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 1
12How can I bear your trouble, your burden, and your strife all by myself? יבאֵיכָ֥ה אֶשָּׂ֖א לְבַדִּ֑י טָרְחֲכֶ֥ם וּמַשַּֽׂאֲכֶ֖ם וְרִֽיבְכֶֽם:
How can I bear…all by myself?: [Even] if I were to say, “I will do so in order to receive a reward,” I cannot do so. This is what I have already said to you, “Not by my own decision do I tell you [that I am unable to bear your trouble], but by the command of the Holy One, blessed is He.” איכה אשא לבדי: אם אומר לקבל שכר לא אוכל, זו היא שאמרתי לכם לא מעצמי אני אומר לכם, אלא מפי הקדוש ברוך הוא:
your trouble: This teaches us that the Israelites were troublesome [people]; if one saw his opponent in a lawsuit about to win, he would say, “I have [other] witnesses to bring, [more] evidence to introduce, I [will exercise my right to] add judges to you [in your tribunal]”. טרחכם: מלמד שהיו ישראל טרחנין. היה אחד מהם רואה את בעל דינו נוצח בדין, אומר יש לי עדים להביא, יש לי ראיות להביא, מוסיף אני עליכם דיינין:
and your burden: This teaches that they [the Israelites] were heretics: If Moses was early leaving his tent they would say, “Why does the son of Amram leave so early? Perhaps he is not at ease inside his house?” If he left late, they would say, “Why does the son of Amram not leave? What do you think? He is [probably] sitting and devising evil schemes against you, and is thinking up plots against you. [Other editions of Rashi have”commandments and reckonings."] ומשאכם: מלמד שהיו אפיקורסין. הקדים משה לצאת, אמרו, מה ראה בן עמרם לצאת, שמא אינו שפוי בתוך ביתו. איחר לצאת, אמרו, מה ראה בן עמרם שלא לצאת, מה אתם סבורים, יושב ויועץ עליכם עצות רעות וחושב עליכם מחשבות:
and your strife: This teaches that they [the Israelites] were contentious (Sifrei). וריבכם: מלמד שהיו רוגנים:
13Prepare for yourselves wise and understanding men, known among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you. יגהָב֣וּ לָ֠כֶ֠ם אֲנָשִׁ֨ים חֲכָמִ֧ים וּנְבֹנִ֛ים וִֽידֻעִ֖ים לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶ֑ם וַֽאֲשִׂימֵ֖ם בְּרָֽאשֵׁיכֶֽם:
prepare for yourselves: Heb. לָכֶם הָבוּ. Prepare yourselves for this matter. הבו לכם: הזמינו עצמכם לדבר:
men: Would it enter your mind [that] women [could be chosen]? What does [specifying] “men” teach us? [It signifies that they should pick] righteous men. (Sifrei). אנשים: וכי תעלה על דעתך נשים, מה תלמוד לומר אנשים, צדיקים:
wise [men]: Desirable [men]. [According to the glosses of Rabbi Akiva Eiger on Sifrei, bashful men, men who are ashamed of doing anything wrong.] [According to Heidenheim, the word כְּסוּפִים is the definition of אֲנָשִׁים, not of חֲכָמִים According to him, the next heading reads: חכמים: כסופים:
wise and understanding [men]: ] נבונים: מבינים דבר מתוך דבר. זו היא ששאל אריוס את רבי יוסי, מה בין חכמים לנבונים. חכם דומה לשולחני עשיר, כשמביאין לו דינרין לראות רואה, וכשאין מביאין לו יושב ותוהא. נבון דומה לשולחני תגר, כשמביאין לו מעות לראות רואה, וכשאין מביאין לו מחזר ומביא משלו:
understanding [men]: [I.e., men] who understand [and derive] one thing from another. This is what Arius asked Rabbi Yose: “What is the difference between wise men and understanding men?” [Rabbi Yose said] "A wise man is like a rich money changer: When people bring him dinars to examine, he examines them. When they do not bring [money] to him, he sits doing nothing. An understanding man, however, is like a merchant money changer: When they bring him money to examine, he examines it, and when they do not bring it to him, he goes out and brings his own [money-i.e., he does not wait for people to come to him-he goes to them] (Sifrei) וידועים לשבטיכם: שהם ניכרים לכם, שאם בא לפני מעוטף בטליתו איני יודע מי הוא ומאיזה שבט הוא ואם הגון הוא, אבל אתם מכירין בו, שאתם גידלתם אותו, לכך נאמר וידועים לשבטיכם:
well-known among your tribes: Men whom you recognize, for if one were to come before me wrapped in his tallith, I would not know who he is and of what tribe he is, and whether he is suitable. But you know him, for you have raised him. Therefore, it says,“well-known among your tribes.” (Sifrei) בראשיכם: ראשים ומכובדים עליכם שתהיו נוהגין בהם כבוד ויראה:
and I will make them heads over you: As chiefs and respected persons over you, i.e., you should act towards them with respect and reverence.[The word] וַאֲשִׂמֵם lacks a י [after the שׂ; our editions, however, have it]: This teaches us that Israel’s transgressions (אָשָׁם) are hung over the heads of their judges, since they [the judges] should have prevented them [from sinning], and directed them along the right path (Sifrei). ואשמם: חסר יו"ד, למד שאשמותיהם של ישראל תלויות בראשי דייניהם, שהיה להם למחות ולכוון אותם לדרך הישרה:
14And you answered me and said, 'The thing you have spoken is good for us to do.' ידוַתַּֽעֲנ֖וּ אֹתִ֑י וַתֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ טוֹב־הַדָּבָ֥ר אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ לַֽעֲשֽׂוֹת:
And you answered me: You decided the matter for your benefit. You should have replied, “Our teacher, Moses! From whom is it proper to learn, from you or from your disciple? Is it not [better to learn] from you, who have taken such pains about them?” However, I knew your thoughts; you were saying [to yourselves], “Many judges will now be appointed over us; if one does not know us, we shall bring him a gift, and he will show us favor.” (Sifrei) ותענו אותי וגו': החלטתם את הדבר להנאתכם, היה לכם להשיב, רבינו משה ממי נאה ללמוד ממך או מתלמידך לא ממך שנצטערת עליה. אלא ידעתי מחשבותיכם. הייתם אומרים, עכשיו יתמנו עלינו דיינין הרבה, אם אין מכירנו אנו מביאין לו דורון והוא נושא לנו פנים:
to do: If I was sluggish, you said, “Act quickly.” (Sifrei) לעשות: אם הייתי מתעצל, אתם אומרים עשה מהרה:
15So I took the heads of your tribes, men wise and well known, and I made them heads over you, leaders over thousands, leaders over hundreds, leaders over fifties, and leaders over tens, and officers, over your tribes. טווָֽאֶקַּ֞ח אֶת־רָאשֵׁ֣י שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֗ם אֲנָשִׁ֤ים חֲכָמִים֙ וִֽידֻעִ֔ים וָֽאֶתֵּ֥ן אוֹתָ֛ם רָאשִׁ֖ים עֲלֵיכֶ֑ם שָׂרֵ֨י אֲלָפִ֜ים וְשָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֗וֹת וְשָׂרֵ֤י חֲמִשִּׁים֙ וְשָׂרֵ֣י עֲשָׂרֹ֔ת וְשֹֽׁטְרִ֖ים לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶֽם:
So I took the heads of your tribes: I attracted them through [fine] words: “How fortunate you are! Over whom are you to be appointed? Over the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-over the children of people who are called brothers and friends, [God’s] portion and inheritance, and every term of endearment.” (Sifrei) ואקח את ראשי שבטיכם: משכתים בדברים, אשריכם, על מי באתם להתמנות, על בני אברהם יצחק ויעקב, על בני אדם שנקראו אחים ורעים, חלק ונחלה וכל לשון חבה:
[So I took…] men wise and well-known: But understanding men I could not find (Ned. 20b.). This is one of the seven qualities which Jethro described to Moses (Exod.18:21), but Moses found only three [of them]-righteous, wise, and well-known [men]. (Sifrei). אנשים חכמים וידועים: אבל נבונים לא מצאתי. זו אחת משבע מדות שאמר יתרו למשה ולא מצא אלא שלש, אנשים צדיקים, חכמים וידועים:
[And I made them] heads over you: You should respect them- [think of them as] chiefs in buying, chiefs in selling, chiefs in all business matters, last to enter(the synagogue from his home) and first to leave [so that everyone should stand up out of respect] (Sifrei). ראשים עליכם: שתנהגו בהם כבוד. ראשים במקח, ראשים בממכר, ראשים במשא ומתן, נכנס (מביתו לב"ה) אחרון ויוצא ראשון:
leaders over thousands: one who is appointed over one thousand. שרי אלפים: אחד ממונה על אלף:
leaders over hundreds: one who is appointed over one hundred. שרי מאות: אחד ממונה על מאה:
and officers: I appointed [court officers] over you, for your tribe. These are the ones who bind and lash with a whip at the judges’ order (Sifrei). ושטרים: מניתי עליכם לשבטיכם. אלו הכופתין והמכין ברצועה על פי הדיינין:
16And I commanded your judges at that time, saying, "Hear [disputes] between your brothers and judge justly between a man and his brother, and between his litigant. טזוָֽאֲצַוֶּה֙ אֶת־שֹׁ֣פְטֵיכֶ֔ם בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖וא לֵאמֹ֑ר שָׁמֹ֤עַ בֵּֽין־אֲחֵיכֶם֙ וּשְׁפַטְתֶּ֣ם צֶ֔דֶק בֵּֽין־אִ֥ישׁ וּבֵֽין־אָחִ֖יו וּבֵ֥ין גֵּרֽוֹ:
And I commanded your judges: I said to them: “Be patient in passing judgment. If a case comes before you once, twice, three times, do not say, ‘This [case] has already appeared before me several times,’ but debate it over again.’” (Sifrei) ואצוה את שפטיכם: אמרתי להם הוו מתונים בדין, אם בא דין לפניך פעם אחת שתים ושלש אל תאמר כבר בא דין זה לפני פעמים הרבה אלא היו נושאים ונותנים בו:
[And I commanded your judges] at that time: When I appointed them, I said to them, “Now is not like the past. Previously, you were your own masters, now you are subservient to the community.”- [Sifrei] בעת ההוא: משמניתים אמרתי להם, אין עכשיו כלשעבר, לשעבר הייתם ברשות עצמכם, עכשיו הרי אתם משועבדים לצבור:
Hear: Heb. שָׁמֹעַ Present tense: odant in Old French, [always be] hearing, as in זָכוֹר, remembering, and שָׁמוֹר, keeping. שמוע: לשון הווה אודנ"ט בלע"ז [בהאזינכם] כמו (שמות כ, ז) זכור, (דברים ה, יא) שמור:
and between his litigant: Heb. גֵּרוֹ. This (גֵּרוֹ) is his opponent in the lawsuit who accumulates (אוֹגֵר) arguments against him. Another explanation: (וּבֵין גֵּרוֹ) : Even in undertakings concerning a residence [גּוּר meaning to dwell], in the division of [property between inheriting] brothers, even if it is a dispute about [such minor things as] an oven and a stove (Sifrei ; San. 7b). ובין גרו: זה בעל דינו, שאוגר עליו דברים. דבר אחר ובין גרו, אף על עסקי דירה בין חלוקת אחים אפילו בין תנור לכירים:
17You shall not favor persons in judgment; [rather] you shall hear the small just as the great; you shall not fear any man, for the judgment is upon the Lord, and the case that is too difficult for you, bring to me, and I will hear it." יזלֹֽא־תַכִּ֨ירוּ פָנִ֜ים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט כַּקָּטֹ֤ן כַּגָּדֹל֙ תִּשְׁמָע֔וּן לֹ֤א תָג֨וּרוּ֙ מִפְּנֵי־אִ֔ישׁ כִּ֥י הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט לֵֽאלֹהִ֣ים ה֑וּא וְהַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִקְשֶׁ֣ה מִכֶּ֔ם תַּקְרִב֥וּן אֵלַ֖י וּשְׁמַעְתִּֽיו:
You shall not favor persons in judgment: This refers to the person who appoints judges, that he should not say, “So-and-so is handsome or strong; I will appoint him as a judge” [or] “So-and-so is my relative; I will appoint him as a judge in the city,” even if he is not expert in the laws, and consequently he condemns the innocent and acquits the guilty. [God says:] I will hold it against the one who appointed him [this judge] as though he [himself] had shown partiality in judgment (Sifrei). לא תכירו פנים במשפט: זה הממונה להושיב הדיינין, שלא יאמר איש פלוני נאה או גבור, אושיבנו דיין, איש פלוני קרובי, אושיבנו דיין בעיר, והוא אינו בקי בדינין נמצא מחייב את הזכאי ומזכה את החייב. מעלה אני על מי שמנהו כאילו הכיר פנים בדין:
You shall hear the small just as the great: A case regarding a perutah [small coin] should be as important to you as [a case] regarding a hundred maneh [a large sum], so that if it [the former] is presented before you first, do not postpone it for last (San. 8a). Another explanation of “You shall hear the words of the small as you do those of the great,” as per the Targum [The words of the small you shall hear like the words of the great]: You shall not say: “This is a poor man, and his friend [opponent] is rich, and it is a mitzvah to support him [the poor man]. I will favor the poor man, and he will thus be supported respectably.” Another explanation: You shall not say,“How can I affront the honor of this rich man because of one dinar ? I will favor him now and when he goes outside [leaves the court] I will tell him, 'Give it to him [to the poor man], for you really owe it to him!’” (Sifrei) כקטן כגדול תשמעון: שיהא חביב עליך דין של פרוטה כדין של מאה מנה, שאם קדם ובא לפניך לא תסלקנו לאחרון. דבר אחר כקטן כגדול תשמעון, כתרגומו, שלא תאמר, זה עני הוא וחבירו עשיר ומצוה לפרנסו אזכה את העני ונמצא מתפרנס בנקיות. דבר אחר שלא תאמר היאך אני פוגם כבודו של עשיר זה בשביל דינר, אזכנו עכשיו, וכשיצא לחוץ אומר אני לו, תן לו שאתה חייב לו:
You shall not fear any man: Heb. לֹא תָגוּרוּ, meaning you shall not fear. Another explanation: You shall not gather in [stifle] your words because of any man. As in (Prov. 10:5),“It gathers (אוֹגֵר) in summer.” (See Sifrei.) לא תגורו מפני איש: לא תיראו. דבר אחר לא תגורו, לא תכניס דבריך מפני איש. לשון (משלי י, ה) אוגר בקיץ:
for the judgment is upon the Lord: Whatever you unjustly take from one, you will oblige Me to return to him. Consequently you have perverted a judgment against Me (San. 8a). כי המשפט לאלהים הוא: מה שאתה נוטל מזה שלא כדין, אתה מזקיקני להחזיר לו, נמצא שהטית (על) [עלי] המשפט:
[And the case that is too difficult for you] bring to me: Because of this [presumptive] statement, Moses forgot the law regarding the daughters of Zelophchad [in Num. 27:1-5](San. 8a). Similarly, Samuel answered Saul and said (I Sam. 9:19),“I am the seer.” Whereupon, the Holy One, blessed is He, said to him, “By your life, I will let you know that you do not [always] see [with the holy spirit].” And when did He let him know [this]? When he came to anoint David, “And he saw Eliab [and] he said, ‘Surely, before the Lord is His anointed’ ” (I Sam. 16:6-7). The Holy One, blessed is He, said to him: “Did you not say, ‘I am the seer?’ Look not upon his appearance.” (Sifrei) תקרבון אלי: על דבר זה נסתלק ממנו משפט בנות צלפחד, וכן שמואל אמר לשאול (שמואל א' ט, יט) אנכי הרואה, אמר לו הקב"ה, חייך שאני מודיעך שאין אתה רואה. ואימתי הודיעו, כשבא למשוח את דוד (שם טז, ו) וירא את אליאב ויאמר אך נגד ה' משיחו, אמר לו הקב"ה, ולא אמרת אנכי הרואה (שם טז, ז) אל תבט אל מראהו:
18And I commanded you at that time all the things you should do. יחוָֽאֲצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֑וא אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּֽעֲשֽׂוּן:
[And I commanded you…] all the things which you should do: These are the ten things that distinguish monetary cases from capital cases (Sifrei.). את כל הדברים אשר תעשון: אלו עשרת הדברים שבין דיני ממונות לדיני נפשות:
19And we journeyed from Horeb and went through all that great and fearful desert, which you saw, by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the Lord, our God, commanded us; and we came up to Kadesh barnea. יטוַנִּסַּ֣ע מֵֽחֹרֵ֗ב וַנֵּ֡לֶךְ אֵ֣ת כָּל־הַמִּדְבָּ֣ר הַגָּדוֹל֩ וְהַנּוֹרָ֨א הַה֜וּא אֲשֶׁ֣ר רְאִיתֶ֗ם דֶּ֚רֶךְ הַ֣ר הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֛ה יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ אֹתָ֑נוּ וַנָּבֹ֕א עַ֖ד קָדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵֽעַ:
[that] great and fearful desert: [It is termed fearful] because in it were serpents as [thick as] beams and scorpions as [big as] bows (Sifrei). המדבר הגדול והנורא: שהיו בו נחשים כקורות, ועקרבים כקשתות:
20And I said to you, "You have come to the mountain of the Amorites, which the Lord, our God, is giving us. כוָֽאֹמַ֖ר אֲלֵכֶ֑ם בָּאתֶם֙ עַד־הַ֣ר הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽנוּ:
21Behold, the Lord, your God, has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord, God of your fathers has spoken to you; you shall neither fear nor be dismayed." כארְאֵ֠ה נָתַ֨ן יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ לְפָנֶ֖יךָ אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ עֲלֵ֣ה רֵ֗שׁ כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֩ דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י אֲבֹתֶ֨יךָ֙ לָ֔ךְ אַל־תִּירָ֖א וְאַל־תֵּחָֽת:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 23 - 28
• Chapter 23
When King David was in the forest of Cheret and nearly died of starvation, God provided nourishment for him with a taste of the World to Come. David then composed this psalm, describing the magnitude of his trust in God.
1. A psalm by David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing.
2. He lays me down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.
3. He revives my soul; He directs me in paths of righteousness for the sake of His Name.
4. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff-they will comfort me.
5. You will prepare a table for me before my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup is full.
6. Only goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord for many long years.
Chapter 24
If the fulfillment of one's prayer would result in the sanctification of God's Name, he should pray that God act for the sake of the holiness of His Name. One should also invoke the merit of his ancestors, for we know that "the righteous are greater in death than in life"
1. By David, a psalm. The earth and all therein is the Lord's; the world and its inhabitants.
2. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers.
3. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord, and who may stand in His holy place?
4. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not used My Name in vain or sworn falsely.
5. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and kindness from God, his deliverer.
6. Such is the generation of those who search for Him, [the children of] Jacob who seek Your countenance forever.
7. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, eternal doors, so the glorious King may enter.
8. Who is the glorious King? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, mighty in battle.
9. Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them up, eternal doors, so the glorious King may enter.
10. Who is the glorious King? The Lord of Hosts, He is the glorious King for all eternity.
Chapter 25
The verses in this psalm are arranged according to the alphabet, excluding the letters Bet, Vav, and Kuf, which together equal the numerical value of Gehenom (purgatory). One who recites this psalm daily will not see the face of purgatory.
1. By David. To You, Lord, I lift my soul.
2. My God, I have put my trust in You. May I not be put to shame; may my enemies not gloat over me.
3. Indeed, may all who hope in You not be put to shame; let those who act treacherously without reason be shamed.
4. O Lord, make Your ways known to me; teach me Your paths.
5. Train me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I yearn for You all day.
6. O Lord, remember Your mercies and Your kindnesses, for they have existed for all time.
7. Do not recall the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; remember me in accordance with Your kindness, because of Your goodness, O Lord.
8. Good and upright is the Lord, therefore He directs sinners along the way.
9. He guides the humble with justice, and teaches the humble His way.
10. All the paths of the Lord are kindness and truth for those who observe His covenant and testimonies.
11. For the sake of Your Name, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12. Whoever is a God-fearing man, him will He teach the path that he should choose.
13. His soul will abide in well-being, and his descendants will inherit the earth.
14. The secret of the Lord is to those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.
15. My eyes are always turned to the Lord, for He releases my feet from the snare.
16. Turn to me and be compassionate to me, for I am alone and afflicted.
17. The sufferings of my heart have increased; deliver me from my hardships.
18. Behold my affliction and suffering, and forgive all my sins.
19. See how numerous my enemies have become; they hate me with a violent hatred.
20. Guard my soul and deliver me; may I not be put to shame, for I place my trust in You.
21. Let integrity and uprightness guard me, for my hope is in You.
22. Redeem Israel, O God, from all its afflictions.
Chapter 26
In this psalm King David inundates God with prayers and acts of piety, because he envies those who are his spiritual superiors, saying, "If only I were on their level of piety and virtue!"
1. By David. Judge me, O Lord, for in my innocence I have walked, and in the Lord I have trusted-I shall not falter.
2. Try me, O Lord, and test me; refine my mind and heart.
3. For Your kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked constantly in Your truth.
4. I did not sit with men of falsehood, and with hypocrites I will not mingle.
5. I detested the company of evildoers, and with the wicked I will not sit.
6. I wash my hands in purity, and circle Your altar, O Lord,
7. to give voice to thanks, and to recount all Your wonders.
8. I love the shelter of Your House, O Lord, and the place where Your glory resides.
9. Gather not in my soul with sinners, nor my life with men of bloodshed,
10. In whose hands are schemes, and whose right hand is filled with bribes.
11. But I walk in my innocence; redeem me and show me favor.
12. My foot stands on level ground; in assemblies I will bless the Lord.
Chapter 27
King David acknowledges and praises God, placing his trust in Him because of his victories in war. "Nevertheless, it is not wars that I desire, for I cannot gain perfection with them. Only one thing do I ask: to abide day and night in the study hall studying Torah, to gain perfection so that my soul may merit the life of the World to Come."
1. By David. The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life-whom shall I dread?
2. When evildoers approached me to devour my flesh, my oppressors and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
3. If an army were to beleaguer me, my heart would not fear; if war were to arise against me, in this I trust
4. One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I seek: that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the pleasantness of the Lord, and to visit His Sanctuary.
5. For He will hide me in His tabernacle on a day of adversity; He will conceal me in the hidden places of His tent; He will lift me upon a rock.
6. And then my head will be raised above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of jubilation; I will sing and chant to the Lord.
7. Lord, hear my voice as I call; be gracious to me and answer me.
8. In Your behalf my heart says, "Seek My countenance"; Your countenance, Lord, I seek.
9. Do not conceal Your countenance from me; do not cast aside Your servant in wrath. You have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, God of my deliverance.
10. Though my father and mother have forsaken me, the Lord has taken me in.
11. Lord, teach me Your way and lead me in the path of righteousness, because of my watchful enemies.
12. Do not give me over to the will of my oppressors, for there have risen against me false witnesses, and they speak evil.
13. [They would have crushed me] had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14. Hope in the Lord, be strong and let your heart be valiant, and hope in the Lord.
FOOTNOTES
1.I trust that “the lord is my light and salvation” etc. (Rashi)
Chapter 28
A prayer for every individual, entreating God to assist him in walking the good path, to prevent him from walking with the wicked doers of evil, and that He repay the wicked for their wickedness and the righteous for their righteousness.
1. By David. I call to You, O Lord; my Strength, do not be deaf to me; for should You be silent to me, I will be like those who descend to the pit.
2. Hear the sound of my pleas when I cry out to You, when I raise my hands toward Your holy Sanctuary.
3. Do not draw me along with the wicked, with evildoers who speak of peace with their companions, though evil is in their heart.
4. Give them according to their deeds, and the evil of their endeavors; give them according to their handiwork, render to them their just desserts.
5. For they pay no heed to the acts of the Lord, nor to the work of His hands; may He destroy them and not rebuild them.
6. Blessed is the Lord, for He has heard the voice of my pleas.
7. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusted and I was helped; my heart exulted, and with my song I praised Him.
8. The Lord is a strength to them; He is a stronghold of deliverance to His anointed.
9. Grant salvation to Your people and bless Your heritage; tend them and exalt them forever.
During the “Nine Days" from Av 1st to the Ninth of Av, we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple. We abstain from meat and wine, music, haircutting, bathing for pleasure, and other joyous (and dangerous) 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 certain mitzvot) such as a brit (circumcision), or asiyum celebrating the completion of a course of Torah study (i.e., a complete Talmudic tractate). The Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory 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 "Zion shall be redeemed with mishpat [Torah] and its returnees with tzedakah," (Isaiah 1:27) 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:
Daily Quote:
There may be food, there may be drink, but if there is no peace there is nothing[Rashi (on Leviticus 26:6)]Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Devarim, 2nd Portion Deuteronomy 1:12-1:21 with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 1
12How can I bear your trouble, your burden, and your strife all by myself? יבאֵיכָ֥ה אֶשָּׂ֖א לְבַדִּ֑י טָרְחֲכֶ֥ם וּמַשַּֽׂאֲכֶ֖ם וְרִֽיבְכֶֽם:
How can I bear…all by myself?: [Even] if I were to say, “I will do so in order to receive a reward,” I cannot do so. This is what I have already said to you, “Not by my own decision do I tell you [that I am unable to bear your trouble], but by the command of the Holy One, blessed is He.” איכה אשא לבדי: אם אומר לקבל שכר לא אוכל, זו היא שאמרתי לכם לא מעצמי אני אומר לכם, אלא מפי הקדוש ברוך הוא:
your trouble: This teaches us that the Israelites were troublesome [people]; if one saw his opponent in a lawsuit about to win, he would say, “I have [other] witnesses to bring, [more] evidence to introduce, I [will exercise my right to] add judges to you [in your tribunal]”. טרחכם: מלמד שהיו ישראל טרחנין. היה אחד מהם רואה את בעל דינו נוצח בדין, אומר יש לי עדים להביא, יש לי ראיות להביא, מוסיף אני עליכם דיינין:
and your burden: This teaches that they [the Israelites] were heretics: If Moses was early leaving his tent they would say, “Why does the son of Amram leave so early? Perhaps he is not at ease inside his house?” If he left late, they would say, “Why does the son of Amram not leave? What do you think? He is [probably] sitting and devising evil schemes against you, and is thinking up plots against you. [Other editions of Rashi have”commandments and reckonings."] ומשאכם: מלמד שהיו אפיקורסין. הקדים משה לצאת, אמרו, מה ראה בן עמרם לצאת, שמא אינו שפוי בתוך ביתו. איחר לצאת, אמרו, מה ראה בן עמרם שלא לצאת, מה אתם סבורים, יושב ויועץ עליכם עצות רעות וחושב עליכם מחשבות:
and your strife: This teaches that they [the Israelites] were contentious (Sifrei). וריבכם: מלמד שהיו רוגנים:
13Prepare for yourselves wise and understanding men, known among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you. יגהָב֣וּ לָ֠כֶ֠ם אֲנָשִׁ֨ים חֲכָמִ֧ים וּנְבֹנִ֛ים וִֽידֻעִ֖ים לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶ֑ם וַֽאֲשִׂימֵ֖ם בְּרָֽאשֵׁיכֶֽם:
prepare for yourselves: Heb. לָכֶם הָבוּ. Prepare yourselves for this matter. הבו לכם: הזמינו עצמכם לדבר:
men: Would it enter your mind [that] women [could be chosen]? What does [specifying] “men” teach us? [It signifies that they should pick] righteous men. (Sifrei). אנשים: וכי תעלה על דעתך נשים, מה תלמוד לומר אנשים, צדיקים:
wise [men]: Desirable [men]. [According to the glosses of Rabbi Akiva Eiger on Sifrei, bashful men, men who are ashamed of doing anything wrong.] [According to Heidenheim, the word כְּסוּפִים is the definition of אֲנָשִׁים, not of חֲכָמִים According to him, the next heading reads: חכמים: כסופים:
wise and understanding [men]: ] נבונים: מבינים דבר מתוך דבר. זו היא ששאל אריוס את רבי יוסי, מה בין חכמים לנבונים. חכם דומה לשולחני עשיר, כשמביאין לו דינרין לראות רואה, וכשאין מביאין לו יושב ותוהא. נבון דומה לשולחני תגר, כשמביאין לו מעות לראות רואה, וכשאין מביאין לו מחזר ומביא משלו:
understanding [men]: [I.e., men] who understand [and derive] one thing from another. This is what Arius asked Rabbi Yose: “What is the difference between wise men and understanding men?” [Rabbi Yose said] "A wise man is like a rich money changer: When people bring him dinars to examine, he examines them. When they do not bring [money] to him, he sits doing nothing. An understanding man, however, is like a merchant money changer: When they bring him money to examine, he examines it, and when they do not bring it to him, he goes out and brings his own [money-i.e., he does not wait for people to come to him-he goes to them] (Sifrei) וידועים לשבטיכם: שהם ניכרים לכם, שאם בא לפני מעוטף בטליתו איני יודע מי הוא ומאיזה שבט הוא ואם הגון הוא, אבל אתם מכירין בו, שאתם גידלתם אותו, לכך נאמר וידועים לשבטיכם:
well-known among your tribes: Men whom you recognize, for if one were to come before me wrapped in his tallith, I would not know who he is and of what tribe he is, and whether he is suitable. But you know him, for you have raised him. Therefore, it says,“well-known among your tribes.” (Sifrei) בראשיכם: ראשים ומכובדים עליכם שתהיו נוהגין בהם כבוד ויראה:
and I will make them heads over you: As chiefs and respected persons over you, i.e., you should act towards them with respect and reverence.[The word] וַאֲשִׂמֵם lacks a י [after the שׂ; our editions, however, have it]: This teaches us that Israel’s transgressions (אָשָׁם) are hung over the heads of their judges, since they [the judges] should have prevented them [from sinning], and directed them along the right path (Sifrei). ואשמם: חסר יו"ד, למד שאשמותיהם של ישראל תלויות בראשי דייניהם, שהיה להם למחות ולכוון אותם לדרך הישרה:
14And you answered me and said, 'The thing you have spoken is good for us to do.' ידוַתַּֽעֲנ֖וּ אֹתִ֑י וַתֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ טוֹב־הַדָּבָ֥ר אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ לַֽעֲשֽׂוֹת:
And you answered me: You decided the matter for your benefit. You should have replied, “Our teacher, Moses! From whom is it proper to learn, from you or from your disciple? Is it not [better to learn] from you, who have taken such pains about them?” However, I knew your thoughts; you were saying [to yourselves], “Many judges will now be appointed over us; if one does not know us, we shall bring him a gift, and he will show us favor.” (Sifrei) ותענו אותי וגו': החלטתם את הדבר להנאתכם, היה לכם להשיב, רבינו משה ממי נאה ללמוד ממך או מתלמידך לא ממך שנצטערת עליה. אלא ידעתי מחשבותיכם. הייתם אומרים, עכשיו יתמנו עלינו דיינין הרבה, אם אין מכירנו אנו מביאין לו דורון והוא נושא לנו פנים:
to do: If I was sluggish, you said, “Act quickly.” (Sifrei) לעשות: אם הייתי מתעצל, אתם אומרים עשה מהרה:
15So I took the heads of your tribes, men wise and well known, and I made them heads over you, leaders over thousands, leaders over hundreds, leaders over fifties, and leaders over tens, and officers, over your tribes. טווָֽאֶקַּ֞ח אֶת־רָאשֵׁ֣י שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֗ם אֲנָשִׁ֤ים חֲכָמִים֙ וִֽידֻעִ֔ים וָֽאֶתֵּ֥ן אוֹתָ֛ם רָאשִׁ֖ים עֲלֵיכֶ֑ם שָׂרֵ֨י אֲלָפִ֜ים וְשָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֗וֹת וְשָׂרֵ֤י חֲמִשִּׁים֙ וְשָׂרֵ֣י עֲשָׂרֹ֔ת וְשֹֽׁטְרִ֖ים לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶֽם:
So I took the heads of your tribes: I attracted them through [fine] words: “How fortunate you are! Over whom are you to be appointed? Over the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-over the children of people who are called brothers and friends, [God’s] portion and inheritance, and every term of endearment.” (Sifrei) ואקח את ראשי שבטיכם: משכתים בדברים, אשריכם, על מי באתם להתמנות, על בני אברהם יצחק ויעקב, על בני אדם שנקראו אחים ורעים, חלק ונחלה וכל לשון חבה:
[So I took…] men wise and well-known: But understanding men I could not find (Ned. 20b.). This is one of the seven qualities which Jethro described to Moses (Exod.18:21), but Moses found only three [of them]-righteous, wise, and well-known [men]. (Sifrei). אנשים חכמים וידועים: אבל נבונים לא מצאתי. זו אחת משבע מדות שאמר יתרו למשה ולא מצא אלא שלש, אנשים צדיקים, חכמים וידועים:
[And I made them] heads over you: You should respect them- [think of them as] chiefs in buying, chiefs in selling, chiefs in all business matters, last to enter(the synagogue from his home) and first to leave [so that everyone should stand up out of respect] (Sifrei). ראשים עליכם: שתנהגו בהם כבוד. ראשים במקח, ראשים בממכר, ראשים במשא ומתן, נכנס (מביתו לב"ה) אחרון ויוצא ראשון:
leaders over thousands: one who is appointed over one thousand. שרי אלפים: אחד ממונה על אלף:
leaders over hundreds: one who is appointed over one hundred. שרי מאות: אחד ממונה על מאה:
and officers: I appointed [court officers] over you, for your tribe. These are the ones who bind and lash with a whip at the judges’ order (Sifrei). ושטרים: מניתי עליכם לשבטיכם. אלו הכופתין והמכין ברצועה על פי הדיינין:
16And I commanded your judges at that time, saying, "Hear [disputes] between your brothers and judge justly between a man and his brother, and between his litigant. טזוָֽאֲצַוֶּה֙ אֶת־שֹׁ֣פְטֵיכֶ֔ם בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖וא לֵאמֹ֑ר שָׁמֹ֤עַ בֵּֽין־אֲחֵיכֶם֙ וּשְׁפַטְתֶּ֣ם צֶ֔דֶק בֵּֽין־אִ֥ישׁ וּבֵֽין־אָחִ֖יו וּבֵ֥ין גֵּרֽוֹ:
And I commanded your judges: I said to them: “Be patient in passing judgment. If a case comes before you once, twice, three times, do not say, ‘This [case] has already appeared before me several times,’ but debate it over again.’” (Sifrei) ואצוה את שפטיכם: אמרתי להם הוו מתונים בדין, אם בא דין לפניך פעם אחת שתים ושלש אל תאמר כבר בא דין זה לפני פעמים הרבה אלא היו נושאים ונותנים בו:
[And I commanded your judges] at that time: When I appointed them, I said to them, “Now is not like the past. Previously, you were your own masters, now you are subservient to the community.”- [Sifrei] בעת ההוא: משמניתים אמרתי להם, אין עכשיו כלשעבר, לשעבר הייתם ברשות עצמכם, עכשיו הרי אתם משועבדים לצבור:
Hear: Heb. שָׁמֹעַ Present tense: odant in Old French, [always be] hearing, as in זָכוֹר, remembering, and שָׁמוֹר, keeping. שמוע: לשון הווה אודנ"ט בלע"ז [בהאזינכם] כמו (שמות כ, ז) זכור, (דברים ה, יא) שמור:
and between his litigant: Heb. גֵּרוֹ. This (גֵּרוֹ) is his opponent in the lawsuit who accumulates (אוֹגֵר) arguments against him. Another explanation: (וּבֵין גֵּרוֹ) : Even in undertakings concerning a residence [גּוּר meaning to dwell], in the division of [property between inheriting] brothers, even if it is a dispute about [such minor things as] an oven and a stove (Sifrei ; San. 7b). ובין גרו: זה בעל דינו, שאוגר עליו דברים. דבר אחר ובין גרו, אף על עסקי דירה בין חלוקת אחים אפילו בין תנור לכירים:
17You shall not favor persons in judgment; [rather] you shall hear the small just as the great; you shall not fear any man, for the judgment is upon the Lord, and the case that is too difficult for you, bring to me, and I will hear it." יזלֹֽא־תַכִּ֨ירוּ פָנִ֜ים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט כַּקָּטֹ֤ן כַּגָּדֹל֙ תִּשְׁמָע֔וּן לֹ֤א תָג֨וּרוּ֙ מִפְּנֵי־אִ֔ישׁ כִּ֥י הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט לֵֽאלֹהִ֣ים ה֑וּא וְהַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִקְשֶׁ֣ה מִכֶּ֔ם תַּקְרִב֥וּן אֵלַ֖י וּשְׁמַעְתִּֽיו:
You shall not favor persons in judgment: This refers to the person who appoints judges, that he should not say, “So-and-so is handsome or strong; I will appoint him as a judge” [or] “So-and-so is my relative; I will appoint him as a judge in the city,” even if he is not expert in the laws, and consequently he condemns the innocent and acquits the guilty. [God says:] I will hold it against the one who appointed him [this judge] as though he [himself] had shown partiality in judgment (Sifrei). לא תכירו פנים במשפט: זה הממונה להושיב הדיינין, שלא יאמר איש פלוני נאה או גבור, אושיבנו דיין, איש פלוני קרובי, אושיבנו דיין בעיר, והוא אינו בקי בדינין נמצא מחייב את הזכאי ומזכה את החייב. מעלה אני על מי שמנהו כאילו הכיר פנים בדין:
You shall hear the small just as the great: A case regarding a perutah [small coin] should be as important to you as [a case] regarding a hundred maneh [a large sum], so that if it [the former] is presented before you first, do not postpone it for last (San. 8a). Another explanation of “You shall hear the words of the small as you do those of the great,” as per the Targum [The words of the small you shall hear like the words of the great]: You shall not say: “This is a poor man, and his friend [opponent] is rich, and it is a mitzvah to support him [the poor man]. I will favor the poor man, and he will thus be supported respectably.” Another explanation: You shall not say,“How can I affront the honor of this rich man because of one dinar ? I will favor him now and when he goes outside [leaves the court] I will tell him, 'Give it to him [to the poor man], for you really owe it to him!’” (Sifrei) כקטן כגדול תשמעון: שיהא חביב עליך דין של פרוטה כדין של מאה מנה, שאם קדם ובא לפניך לא תסלקנו לאחרון. דבר אחר כקטן כגדול תשמעון, כתרגומו, שלא תאמר, זה עני הוא וחבירו עשיר ומצוה לפרנסו אזכה את העני ונמצא מתפרנס בנקיות. דבר אחר שלא תאמר היאך אני פוגם כבודו של עשיר זה בשביל דינר, אזכנו עכשיו, וכשיצא לחוץ אומר אני לו, תן לו שאתה חייב לו:
You shall not fear any man: Heb. לֹא תָגוּרוּ, meaning you shall not fear. Another explanation: You shall not gather in [stifle] your words because of any man. As in (Prov. 10:5),“It gathers (אוֹגֵר) in summer.” (See Sifrei.) לא תגורו מפני איש: לא תיראו. דבר אחר לא תגורו, לא תכניס דבריך מפני איש. לשון (משלי י, ה) אוגר בקיץ:
for the judgment is upon the Lord: Whatever you unjustly take from one, you will oblige Me to return to him. Consequently you have perverted a judgment against Me (San. 8a). כי המשפט לאלהים הוא: מה שאתה נוטל מזה שלא כדין, אתה מזקיקני להחזיר לו, נמצא שהטית (על) [עלי] המשפט:
[And the case that is too difficult for you] bring to me: Because of this [presumptive] statement, Moses forgot the law regarding the daughters of Zelophchad [in Num. 27:1-5](San. 8a). Similarly, Samuel answered Saul and said (I Sam. 9:19),“I am the seer.” Whereupon, the Holy One, blessed is He, said to him, “By your life, I will let you know that you do not [always] see [with the holy spirit].” And when did He let him know [this]? When he came to anoint David, “And he saw Eliab [and] he said, ‘Surely, before the Lord is His anointed’ ” (I Sam. 16:6-7). The Holy One, blessed is He, said to him: “Did you not say, ‘I am the seer?’ Look not upon his appearance.” (Sifrei) תקרבון אלי: על דבר זה נסתלק ממנו משפט בנות צלפחד, וכן שמואל אמר לשאול (שמואל א' ט, יט) אנכי הרואה, אמר לו הקב"ה, חייך שאני מודיעך שאין אתה רואה. ואימתי הודיעו, כשבא למשוח את דוד (שם טז, ו) וירא את אליאב ויאמר אך נגד ה' משיחו, אמר לו הקב"ה, ולא אמרת אנכי הרואה (שם טז, ז) אל תבט אל מראהו:
18And I commanded you at that time all the things you should do. יחוָֽאֲצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֑וא אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּֽעֲשֽׂוּן:
[And I commanded you…] all the things which you should do: These are the ten things that distinguish monetary cases from capital cases (Sifrei.). את כל הדברים אשר תעשון: אלו עשרת הדברים שבין דיני ממונות לדיני נפשות:
19And we journeyed from Horeb and went through all that great and fearful desert, which you saw, by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the Lord, our God, commanded us; and we came up to Kadesh barnea. יטוַנִּסַּ֣ע מֵֽחֹרֵ֗ב וַנֵּ֡לֶךְ אֵ֣ת כָּל־הַמִּדְבָּ֣ר הַגָּדוֹל֩ וְהַנּוֹרָ֨א הַה֜וּא אֲשֶׁ֣ר רְאִיתֶ֗ם דֶּ֚רֶךְ הַ֣ר הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֛ה יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ אֹתָ֑נוּ וַנָּבֹ֕א עַ֖ד קָדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵֽעַ:
[that] great and fearful desert: [It is termed fearful] because in it were serpents as [thick as] beams and scorpions as [big as] bows (Sifrei). המדבר הגדול והנורא: שהיו בו נחשים כקורות, ועקרבים כקשתות:
20And I said to you, "You have come to the mountain of the Amorites, which the Lord, our God, is giving us. כוָֽאֹמַ֖ר אֲלֵכֶ֑ם בָּאתֶם֙ עַד־הַ֣ר הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽנוּ:
21Behold, the Lord, your God, has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord, God of your fathers has spoken to you; you shall neither fear nor be dismayed." כארְאֵ֠ה נָתַ֨ן יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ לְפָנֶ֖יךָ אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ עֲלֵ֣ה רֵ֗שׁ כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֩ דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י אֲבֹתֶ֨יךָ֙ לָ֔ךְ אַל־תִּירָ֖א וְאַל־תֵּחָֽת:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 23 - 28
• Chapter 23
When King David was in the forest of Cheret and nearly died of starvation, God provided nourishment for him with a taste of the World to Come. David then composed this psalm, describing the magnitude of his trust in God.
1. A psalm by David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing.
2. He lays me down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.
3. He revives my soul; He directs me in paths of righteousness for the sake of His Name.
4. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff-they will comfort me.
5. You will prepare a table for me before my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup is full.
6. Only goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord for many long years.
Chapter 24
If the fulfillment of one's prayer would result in the sanctification of God's Name, he should pray that God act for the sake of the holiness of His Name. One should also invoke the merit of his ancestors, for we know that "the righteous are greater in death than in life"
1. By David, a psalm. The earth and all therein is the Lord's; the world and its inhabitants.
2. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers.
3. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord, and who may stand in His holy place?
4. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not used My Name in vain or sworn falsely.
5. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and kindness from God, his deliverer.
6. Such is the generation of those who search for Him, [the children of] Jacob who seek Your countenance forever.
7. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, eternal doors, so the glorious King may enter.
8. Who is the glorious King? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, mighty in battle.
9. Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them up, eternal doors, so the glorious King may enter.
10. Who is the glorious King? The Lord of Hosts, He is the glorious King for all eternity.
Chapter 25
The verses in this psalm are arranged according to the alphabet, excluding the letters Bet, Vav, and Kuf, which together equal the numerical value of Gehenom (purgatory). One who recites this psalm daily will not see the face of purgatory.
1. By David. To You, Lord, I lift my soul.
2. My God, I have put my trust in You. May I not be put to shame; may my enemies not gloat over me.
3. Indeed, may all who hope in You not be put to shame; let those who act treacherously without reason be shamed.
4. O Lord, make Your ways known to me; teach me Your paths.
5. Train me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I yearn for You all day.
6. O Lord, remember Your mercies and Your kindnesses, for they have existed for all time.
7. Do not recall the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; remember me in accordance with Your kindness, because of Your goodness, O Lord.
8. Good and upright is the Lord, therefore He directs sinners along the way.
9. He guides the humble with justice, and teaches the humble His way.
10. All the paths of the Lord are kindness and truth for those who observe His covenant and testimonies.
11. For the sake of Your Name, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12. Whoever is a God-fearing man, him will He teach the path that he should choose.
13. His soul will abide in well-being, and his descendants will inherit the earth.
14. The secret of the Lord is to those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.
15. My eyes are always turned to the Lord, for He releases my feet from the snare.
16. Turn to me and be compassionate to me, for I am alone and afflicted.
17. The sufferings of my heart have increased; deliver me from my hardships.
18. Behold my affliction and suffering, and forgive all my sins.
19. See how numerous my enemies have become; they hate me with a violent hatred.
20. Guard my soul and deliver me; may I not be put to shame, for I place my trust in You.
21. Let integrity and uprightness guard me, for my hope is in You.
22. Redeem Israel, O God, from all its afflictions.
Chapter 26
In this psalm King David inundates God with prayers and acts of piety, because he envies those who are his spiritual superiors, saying, "If only I were on their level of piety and virtue!"
1. By David. Judge me, O Lord, for in my innocence I have walked, and in the Lord I have trusted-I shall not falter.
2. Try me, O Lord, and test me; refine my mind and heart.
3. For Your kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked constantly in Your truth.
4. I did not sit with men of falsehood, and with hypocrites I will not mingle.
5. I detested the company of evildoers, and with the wicked I will not sit.
6. I wash my hands in purity, and circle Your altar, O Lord,
7. to give voice to thanks, and to recount all Your wonders.
8. I love the shelter of Your House, O Lord, and the place where Your glory resides.
9. Gather not in my soul with sinners, nor my life with men of bloodshed,
10. In whose hands are schemes, and whose right hand is filled with bribes.
11. But I walk in my innocence; redeem me and show me favor.
12. My foot stands on level ground; in assemblies I will bless the Lord.
Chapter 27
King David acknowledges and praises God, placing his trust in Him because of his victories in war. "Nevertheless, it is not wars that I desire, for I cannot gain perfection with them. Only one thing do I ask: to abide day and night in the study hall studying Torah, to gain perfection so that my soul may merit the life of the World to Come."
1. By David. The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life-whom shall I dread?
2. When evildoers approached me to devour my flesh, my oppressors and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
3. If an army were to beleaguer me, my heart would not fear; if war were to arise against me, in this I trust
4. One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I seek: that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the pleasantness of the Lord, and to visit His Sanctuary.
5. For He will hide me in His tabernacle on a day of adversity; He will conceal me in the hidden places of His tent; He will lift me upon a rock.
6. And then my head will be raised above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of jubilation; I will sing and chant to the Lord.
7. Lord, hear my voice as I call; be gracious to me and answer me.
8. In Your behalf my heart says, "Seek My countenance"; Your countenance, Lord, I seek.
9. Do not conceal Your countenance from me; do not cast aside Your servant in wrath. You have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, God of my deliverance.
10. Though my father and mother have forsaken me, the Lord has taken me in.
11. Lord, teach me Your way and lead me in the path of righteousness, because of my watchful enemies.
12. Do not give me over to the will of my oppressors, for there have risen against me false witnesses, and they speak evil.
13. [They would have crushed me] had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14. Hope in the Lord, be strong and let your heart be valiant, and hope in the Lord.
FOOTNOTES
1.I trust that “the lord is my light and salvation” etc. (Rashi)
Chapter 28
A prayer for every individual, entreating God to assist him in walking the good path, to prevent him from walking with the wicked doers of evil, and that He repay the wicked for their wickedness and the righteous for their righteousness.
1. By David. I call to You, O Lord; my Strength, do not be deaf to me; for should You be silent to me, I will be like those who descend to the pit.
2. Hear the sound of my pleas when I cry out to You, when I raise my hands toward Your holy Sanctuary.
3. Do not draw me along with the wicked, with evildoers who speak of peace with their companions, though evil is in their heart.
4. Give them according to their deeds, and the evil of their endeavors; give them according to their handiwork, render to them their just desserts.
5. For they pay no heed to the acts of the Lord, nor to the work of His hands; may He destroy them and not rebuild them.
6. Blessed is the Lord, for He has heard the voice of my pleas.
7. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusted and I was helped; my heart exulted, and with my song I praised Him.
8. The Lord is a strength to them; He is a stronghold of deliverance to His anointed.
9. Grant salvation to Your people and bless Your heritage; tend them and exalt them forever.
Tanya: Igeret HaTeshuva , middle of Chapter 11
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Monday, 4 AV , 5776 · 8 August 2016
• Igeret HaTeshuva , middle of Chapter 11
• ומה שמשבחים ומברכים את ה': חנון המרבה לסלוח, המרבה דייקא
As to the fact that we praise and bless G‑d as being “the gracious One Who abounds in forgiveness,” — the verb chosen is marbeh “abounds”, implying a quality unique to G‑d.
וכמו שכתוב בעזרא: ורב לסלוח
In Ezra1 [too] we find that G‑d “pardons abundantly.”
היינו
This means:
שבמדת בשר ודם, אם יחטא איש לאיש וביקש ממנו מחילה ומחל לו
In the mortal world, if one person harms another and asks his pardon which is granted,
ואחר כך חזר לסורו
and then repeats the misdeed,
קשה מאד שימחול לו שנית
it becomes more difficult to grant pardon again,
ומכל שכן בשלישית ורביעית
and certainly a third and fourth time.
אבל במדת הקב"ה אין הפרש בין פעם אחת לאלף פעמים
By the standard of G‑d, however, there is no difference between once and a thousand times.
כי המחילה היא ממדת הרחמים
For pardon is a manifestation of the attribute of mercy,
ומדותיו הקדושות אינן בבחינת גבול ותכלית, אלא בבחינת אין סוף
and Divine attributes are not bounded and finite; they are infinite,
כמו שכתוב: כי לא כלו רחמיו
as in the verse,2 “For His mercies have not ended.”
ולגבי בחינת אין סוף, אין הפרש כלל בין מספר קטן לגדול
Relative to infinity there is no difference whatsoever between a small number and a large one.
דכולא קמיה כלא ממש חשיב, ומשוה קטן וגדול וכו'
ולכן: מעביר אשמותינו בכל שנה ושנה
Therefore5 “He removes our sins every year.”
וכל החטאים שמתוודים בעל חטא מדי שנה, אף שחזר ועבר עליהם
As to all the sins for which we confess in the Al Chet annually, though repeatedly violated,
חוזר ומתודה עליהם ביום הכפורים בשנה הבאה, וכן לעולם
we again confess for them on Yom Kippur in the coming year, and so on always.
ובכל שנה ושנה לאו דוקא, אלא כמו כן בכל יום ויום, ג' פעמים מברכים ברוך אתה ה' חנון המרבה לסלוח
“Every year” does not necessarily imply a yearly pardon; rather, three times every day we likewise say, “Blessed are You, O G‑d, Who is gracious and abounds in forgiveness.”
וכמאמר רז"ל: תפלה, כנגד תמידין תקנוה
As our Sages teach,6 the prayers were instituted in place of the daily sacrificial offerings.
ותמיד של שחר היה מכפר על עבירות הלילה, ותמיד של בין הערביים על של יום
The daily morning sacrifice would atone for the sins of the previous night, and the daily evening sacrifice atoned for the sins of the past day,
וכן מדי יום ביום לעולם
and so on, day by day, constantly.
Just as in former times atonement was secured by the regular altar offerings, so too nowadays, our prayers and repentance bring about forgiveness.
What, however, is the difference between the forgiveness granted on Yom Kippur and that granted daily?
אלא שיום הכפורים מכפר על עבירות חמורות, והתמיד שהוא קרבן עולה מכפר על מצוות עשה בלבד
[“Every year” means only that] Yom Kippur atones for the grave sins, while the regular offering of theolah sacrifice atoned only for the violation of positive commands.
וכן התפלה בזמן הזה, עם התשובה כנ"ל
In our time, worship with repentance substitutes for offerings, atoning only for violations of positive commands, as noted above.
ואין זה אחטא ואשוב
However, this thrice-daily recitation of G‑d's assurance of forgiveness is not [the attitude of one who says,] “I will sin and [later] repent,” concerning whom our Sages say,7 “He is not granted an opportunity to repent.”
כי היינו דוקא שבשעת החטא היה יכול לכבוש יצרו, אלא שסומך בלבו על התשובה
For that is relevant only if while committing the sin he could have overcome his evil impulse, but depended in his heart on repenting [later].
ולכן, הואיל והתשובה גורמת לו לחטוא, אין מספיקין וכו'
Since it was [the opportunity for] repentance that caused him to sin, “He is not granted an opportunity [to repent].”
ואף גם זאת אין מספיקין דייקא
And even then, he is not granted an opportunity.
אבל אם דחק ונתחזק ונתגבר על יצרו ועשה תשובה
But if he pressed forcefully and overpowered his evil impulse and did repent,
מקבלין תשובתו
then his repentance is accepted.
This all applies to a situation where a person indeed says, “I shall sin and [later] repent.”
אבל אנו, שמבקשים בכל יום: סלח לנו
But we, who plead daily, “Forgive us,”
אנו מקדימין לבקש: והחזירנו בתשובה שלימה לפניך
preface that prayer by saying, “Bring us back with a perfect repentance before you,”
דהיינו: שלא נשוב עוד לכסלה
so that we revert no more to folly, and sin no more.
וכן ביום הכפורים מבקשים: יהי רצון מלפניך שלא אחטא עוד
On Yom Kippur too we ask, “May it be Your will that I sin no more.”
Hence, since one does not rely on one's ability to repent later:
מספיקין ומספיקין
Opportunity is abundantly granted for repentance.
כמאמר רז"ל: הבא לטהר מסייעין אותו
As our Sages teach:8 “Whoever comes to purify himself [of his sin] is given assistance.”
הבא דייקא, מיד שבא
The expression “whoever comes” [indicates that he is granted assistance] as soon as he comes,
ואי לזאת, גם הסליחה והמחילה היא מיד
and the pardon and forgiveness are thus also granted forthwith.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | The reference is not to the term but to the concept; see explanation of the Rebbe in the Yiddish original of the present work (Shiurim BeSefer HaTanya), p. 1212 ff. |
| 2. | Eichah 3:22. |
| 3. | Cf. Zohar I, 11b; cf. Daniel 4:32. |
| 4. | Vechol Maaminim, in liturgy of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. |
| 5. | Machzor of Yom Kippur. |
| 6. | Berachot 26a. |
| 7. | Yoma 85b. |
| 8. | Shabbat 104a; Yoma 38b. |
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Monday, 4 AV , 5776 · 8 August 2016
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Monday, 4 AV , 5776 · 8 August 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 245
Transactions
"And if you sell something to your neighbor..."—Leviticus 25:14.
We are commanded regarding the various methods that effect transactions, i.e., the ways to transfer property from one individual to another (or, in the case of a guardian of an object, the transfer of jurisdiction).
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Transactions
Positive Commandment 245
Translated by Berel Bell
The 245th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the laws of buying and selling, i.e. the ways in which purchases and sales between the buyers and the sellers become legally binding.
The Torah taught about one method in G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "When you sell something to your neighbor, [or buy something from your neighbor's hand...]" Our Sages said,2 "[The word 'hand' teaches that the sale] refers to something which can pass from one hand to another," i.e. meshichah [physically moving the object].
It is explained that in Biblical law, transfer of money is sufficient to complete the transaction, and meshichah is necessary only by Rabbinic decree, as is mesirah [giving the vehicle of control, e.g. the reins of a horse, to the buyer] and hagba'ah [lifting the object].
The Gemara3 explicitly says, "Just as our Sages enacted a requirement of meshichah in order for a sale to be valid, so too they required meshichah in order for a watchman relationship to become valid." It is therefore clear that the requirement of meshichah in buying and selling is of Rabbinic origin, as explained in the relevant place.
However, other methods of acquiring land, etc., i.e. by means of a document or chazakah4 are traced5 to Biblical verses [and are therefore of Biblical, not Rabbinic, origin].
The details of this mitzvah — i.e. the manners of finalizing a sale in each category — are explained in the 1st chapter of tractate Kiddushin, the 4th and 8th chapters of Bava Metzia, and the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Bava Basra.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 25:14.
2.Bava Metzia 47b.
3.Ibid., 99a.
4.Such as building something on the land.
5.See Kiddushin 26a.
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 245
Transactions
"And if you sell something to your neighbor..."—Leviticus 25:14.
We are commanded regarding the various methods that effect transactions, i.e., the ways to transfer property from one individual to another (or, in the case of a guardian of an object, the transfer of jurisdiction).
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Transactions
Positive Commandment 245
Translated by Berel Bell
The 245th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the laws of buying and selling, i.e. the ways in which purchases and sales between the buyers and the sellers become legally binding.
The Torah taught about one method in G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "When you sell something to your neighbor, [or buy something from your neighbor's hand...]" Our Sages said,2 "[The word 'hand' teaches that the sale] refers to something which can pass from one hand to another," i.e. meshichah [physically moving the object].
It is explained that in Biblical law, transfer of money is sufficient to complete the transaction, and meshichah is necessary only by Rabbinic decree, as is mesirah [giving the vehicle of control, e.g. the reins of a horse, to the buyer] and hagba'ah [lifting the object].
The Gemara3 explicitly says, "Just as our Sages enacted a requirement of meshichah in order for a sale to be valid, so too they required meshichah in order for a watchman relationship to become valid." It is therefore clear that the requirement of meshichah in buying and selling is of Rabbinic origin, as explained in the relevant place.
However, other methods of acquiring land, etc., i.e. by means of a document or chazakah4 are traced5 to Biblical verses [and are therefore of Biblical, not Rabbinic, origin].
The details of this mitzvah — i.e. the manners of finalizing a sale in each category — are explained in the 1st chapter of tractate Kiddushin, the 4th and 8th chapters of Bava Metzia, and the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Bava Basra.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 25:14.
2.Bava Metzia 47b.
3.Ibid., 99a.
4.Such as building something on the land.
5.See Kiddushin 26a.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Tum'at Met Tum'at Met - Chapter 23
• Tum'at Met - Chapter 23
• Tum'at Met - Chapter 23
1
When the contents of any implement that is sealed close are protected from impurity, all of the contents are protected: food, liquids, clothes, and keilim that can be purified in a mikveh.
This is the Scriptural Law. According to Rabbinic Law, however, earthenware containers which are sealed close protect only foods, liquids, and other earthenware containers inside of it. If, however,keilim that can be purified in a mikveh or garments were in an earthenware container that was sealed close, they are impure.
Why did the Sages decree that they do not protect everything like other containers that protect their contents from impurity? Because the other containers that protect their contents do not contract impurity and earthenware containers do contract impurity. An impure container does not intervene in the face of impurity and all of the containers of the common people can be assumed to be ritually impure, as will be explained.
Why did the Sages not decree: an earthenware container of a common person does not protect anything from impurity, but a container belong to a chaver does protect everything because it is pure? Because a common person does not consider himself as impure. He will say: Since an earthenware container that is sealed close protects all its contents, there is no difference between me and a chaver. Therefore the Sages decreed that the seal should not protect everything.
Why did they say that it protects food, liquids, and earthenware containers from impurity? Because these three types of entities are impure because they come from a common person regardless, before they were in an ohel where a corpse is located or after they were though they were in a container that was sealed close. Achaver will never borrow food, liquids, or earthenware containers from a common person except under the assumption that they are impure, for these entities can never be purified. Thus a stumbling block will never arise.
A chaver will, however, borrow keilim that can be purified in amikveh from a common person. He will immerse them in a mikvehto purify them from the impurity they contracted from being touched by a common person, leave them until the evening and then use them for pure food. Therefore our Sages were concerned that achaver will borrow keilim that can be purified in a mikveh from a common person that were sealed close in one of his earthenware containers. Now the common person will think that this container was protected, when in truth it has contracted the impurity that lasts seven days. The chaver will immerse these containers, leave them until the evening and then use them for pure food. Thus a stumbling block will arise. This is the reason it was decreed that sealing an earthenware container close would not protect the keilimthat can be purified in a mikveh which were in it.
א
כל הכלים המצילים בצמיד פתיל מצילין על כל מה שבתוכן בין אוכלין בין משקין בין בגדים וכלי שטף זהו דין תורה אבל מדברי סופרים שכלי חרס המוקף צמיד פתיל אינו מציל אלא על האוכלין ועל המשקין ועל כלי חרס אחרים שיהיו בתוכו אבל אם היו בתוך כלי חרס המוקף כלי שטף או בגדים הרי אלו טמאים ומפני מה אמרו שלא יציל על הכל כשאר כלים המצילין מפני ששאר הכלים המצילין אין מקבלין טומאה וכלי חרס מקבלין טומאה וכלי טמא אינו חוצץ וכל כלי ע"ה בחזקת טומאה כמו שיתבאר ולמה לא אמרו כלי חרס של ע"ה לא יציל על הכל ושל חבר יציל על הכל שהרי הוא טהור מפני שאין עם הארץ טמא בעיני עצמו שאומר הואיל וכלי חרס מציל על הכל אחד אני ואחד החבר ולפיכך חשו וגזרו שלא יציל על הכל ולמה אמרו מציל על האוכלין ועל המשקין ועל כלי חרס מפני שאלו הג' טמאים הן ע"ג ע"ה בין קודם שיהיו באהל המת בין אחר שיהיו שם תחת צמיד פתיל ולעולם לא ישאל החבר מע"ה לא אוכלין ולא משקין ולא כלי חרס אלא על דעת שהן טמאין שהרי אין להן טהרה לעולם ולא יבא בהן לידי תקלה אבל כלי שטף שואל אותם החבר מע"ה ומטבילן מפני מגע עם הארץ ומעריב שמשו ומשתמש בהן בטהרות לפיכך חשו חכמים שמא ישאל ממנו כלי שטף שכבר היה תחת צמיד פתיל בכלי חרס שלו שהרי עם הארץ הזה מדמה שניצל והרי הוא טמא טומאת שבעה ויטביל החבר ויעריב שמשו וישתמש בו בטהרות ויבוא לידי תקלה ומפני זה גזרו שלא יציל כלי חרס על כלי שטף שבתוכו:
2
When a person was placed inside a cask that was sealed close, he is pure. This applies even if the cask was made a covering for a grave. It appears to me that the Sages did not decree that an earthenware container sealed close would not protect a person from impurity, because it is an infrequent situation. And our Sages did not enact decrees concerning infrequent situations.
ב
אדם שהיה נתון בתוך החבית ומוקפת צמיד פתיל טהור ואפילו עשאה גולל לקבר ויראה לי שזה שלא גזרו על כלי חרס שלא יציל על האדם מפני שהוא דבר שאינו מצוי וכל דבר שאינו מצוי לא גזרו בו:
3
The word of common people is accepted with regard to a container used for the ashes of the red heifer or sacred foods if they say they are pure. The rationale is that even common people are very careful in this regard. Therefore all entities are protected from impurity when their container is sealed close even though it is of earthenware.
ג
כלי חרס שמשתמשין בהן באפר הפרה או בקדשים עמי הארץ נאמנים על טהרתם מפני שהן נזהרים בהן הרבה ולפיכך יצילו על הכל בצמיד פתיל אע"פ שהן חרס:
4
The following laws apply when there is an aperture between a home and a loft and there is an earthenware dish placed over the aperture. If the dish has a hole large enough to allow liquids to seep in, the dish is impure, but the loft is pure.
If the dish is intact, everything in the loft - food, liquids, and earthenware containers - is pure, but a person and keilim that can be purified in a mikveh are impure, for an earthenware container intervenes in the face of impurity only for food, liquids, and earthenware containers. Everything in the loft is pure, as if it is in an earthenware container that is sealed close. A person in the loft was deemed impure, because that is a common situation. Therefore if there was a metal container or the like filled with liquids in this loft, the container contracts the impurity that lasts seven days, but the liquids are pure.
If there was a woman kneading dough in a wooden kneading trough in this loft, the woman and the kneading trough contract the impurity that lasts seven days, but the dough is pure as long as the woman is kneading it. If she ceased and then touched it again, she imparts impurity to it. Similarly, if one moved the dough or the liquids to another one of the keilim that can be purified in a mikvehthat were in the loft, they become impure due to contact with the other container.
If the k'li covering the aperture was one that was not susceptible to impurity and which protect their contents when sealed close, as we explained, in which instance, contact with a common person does not render them impure, or the k'li was an earthenware container that was pure and intended to be used for the ashes of the red heifer or for consecrated foods, in which instance everyone's word is accepted with regard to their purity, it protects everything in the loft. even though its roof is not positioned over the loft. The rationale is that a tent protects when it covers, as we explained.
ד
ארובה שבין בית לעלייה וטומאה בבית וקדירה נתונה על פי הארובה ונקובה בכונס משקה הקדירה טמאה והעלייה טהורה היתה שלימה כל שבעלייה מאוכלין ומשקין וכלי חרס טהור אבל אדם וכלי שטף שבעלייה טמאים שאין כלי חרס חוצץ אלא על האוכלים ועל המשקין וכלי חרס וכל שבעלייה טהור כאילו הוא תחת צמיד פתיל בכלי חרס וטמאו האדם שבעלייה זו מפני שהוא דבר המצוי לפיכך אם היה בעלייה זו כלי מתכות וכיוצא בו מלא משקין הכלי טמא טומאת שבעה והמשקין טהורין היתה בה אשה לשה בעריבה של עץ האשה והעריבה טמאין טומאת שבעה והבצק טהור כל זמן שעוסקת בו פירשה וחזרה ונגעה בו טמאתו וכן אם פינה הבצק או המשקין לכלי אחר מכלי שטף שבעלייה נטמאו במגע הכלי האחר היה ע"פ ארובה זו שאר כלים המצילים בצמיד פתיל שאין מקבלין טומאה כמו שביארנו ולפיכך אין מגע עם הארץ מטמא או שהיה כלי חרס הטהור לפרה אדומה או לקודש שהכל נאמנין על טהרתן ה"ז מציל על כל מה שבעלייה היה אהל נטוי בעלייה ומקצתו מרודד על הארובה שבין בית לעלייה ה"ז מציל ואף על פי שאין גגו על הארובה שהאהל מציל בכיסוי כמו שביארנו:
• Rambam - 3 Chapters: Mechirah Mechirah - Chapter Four, Mechirah Mechirah - Chapter Five, Mechirah Mechirah - Chapter Six
• Mechirah - Chapter Four
1
Containers owned by a person can acquire articles on his behalf wherever he has permission to place them down. Once movable property enters this container, neither can retract; it is as if the article were lifted up or placed in his home.
Therefore, a person's containers cannot acquire articles on his behalf in the public domain or in a domain belonging to the seller unless the seller tells him, "Go, acquire the article with this container."
Similarly, if the purchaser first acquired the container and lifted it up, and afterwards placed it down in the domain of the purchaser and bought produce from him, once the produce is placed in this container, he acquires it. Since the seller derives satisfaction from selling the container, he does not object to the container being placed in his domain.
א
כליו של אדם כל מקום שיש לו רשות להניחו קנה לו כיון שנכנסו המטלטלין בתוך הכלי אין אחד מהן יכול לחזור בו והרי זה כמו שהגביהן או כמו שהונחו בתוך ביתו לפיכך אין כליו של אדם קונה לו ברשות הרבים ולא ברשות המוכר אלא אם אמר לו המקנה לך וקנה בכלי זה וכן אם קנה הכלי תחלה והגביהו ואחר כך הניחו שם ברשות המוכר וחזר וקנה ממנו הפירות כיון שנכנסו בתוך כלי זה קנה אותם מפני שהנאת המוכר במכירת הכלי אינו מקפיד על מקומו:
2
Just as containers belonging to the purchaser do not acquire articles for him when placed in the seller's domain, so too, containers belonging to the seller do not acquire articles for the purchaser even when they are within the purchaser's domain.
ב
כשם שאין כליו של לוקח קונה לו ברשות מוכר כך אין כליו של מוכר קונה ללוקח אף על פי שהוא ברשות הלוקח:
3
Mesirah may be used to acquire an article only in the public domain, or in a courtyard that is not owned by either the seller or the purchaser.
Meshichah may be used to acquire an article only in a corner off the public domain or in a courtyard that is owned jointly by the seller and the purchaser. Hagbahah may be used to acquire an article in any place.
ג
מסירה אינה קונה אלא ברשות הרבים ובחצר שאינה של שניהם והמשיכה אינה קונה אלא בסימטא או בחצר של שניהם והגבהה קונה בכ"מ:
4
The following rule applies when an article that could be acquired through meshichah is located in the public domain, and is drawn by the purchaser into his own domain or into a corner of the public domain. As soon as he removes a portion of the article from the public domain, he acquires it.
ד
דבר הנקנה במשיכה אם היה ברשות הרבים ומשכו הלוקח לרשותו או לסימטא כיון שהוציא מקצת החפץ מרשות הרבים קנה:
5
When there is a load of produce in the public domain and, after having established a price, the purchaser draws it into his own domain or into a corner of the public domain he acquires it, even if he has not measured it.
Similarly, if, while in the public domain, the purchaser measures produce that he purchases, he acquires it, item by item, for as he measures it, he is lifting it up.
ה
טעון של פירות שהיה מונח ברשות הרבים ומשכו לוקח לרשותו או לסימטא אחר שפסק הדמים קנה אע"פ שעדיין לא מדד וכן אם מדדן הלוקח ברה"ר קנה ראשון ראשון בהגבהה:
6
If, by contrast, the seller measures the produce into containers belonging to the purchaser, the purchaser does not acquire it. For a purchaser's containers cannot acquire on his behalf in the public domain.
If the produce is located in a domain belonging to the purchaser, once the seller agrees to sell the produce, the purchaser acquires it, even if he does not measure it.
If the produce is located in a domain belonging to the seller, or in a domain belonging to a person to whom the seller has entrusted it, the purchaser does not acquire the produce until he lifts it up, or until he removes it from the seller's domain by renting its place, or the like, as we have explained.
ו
היה מוכר מודד לתוך כליו של לוקח לא קנה שאין כליו של לוקח קונה לו ברה"ר היו הפירות ברשות הלוקח כיון שקבל עליו המוכר למכור קנה לוקח ואף על פי שעדיין לא מדד היו ברשות המוכר או ברשות המופקדין אצלו לא קנה הלוקח עד שיגביה הפירות או עד שיוציאם מרשותו בשכירות מקומן וכיוצא בו כמו שביארנו:
7
The following rules apply when the produce is located in a corner of the public domain or in a domain belonging to both the seller and the purchaser -or even if it is in a domain belonging to the purchaser, but in containers belonging to the seller- and the seller agreed to sell the produce,and has begun to measure it into containers belong to the seller. If the seller tells the purchaser: "I will sell you a torof produce for 30 sela," he can retract even at the last se'ah, because the produce is in his containers, and he has not completed the measurement. For the containers belonging to a seller do not acquire for a purchaser, even in the purchaser's domain.
If he told him: "I will sell you a kor of produce for 30 sela, i.e., eachse'ah for a sela" the purchaser acquires each se'ah, one by one as it is measured.For since the seller mentioned the price for each individual se'ah, each of those units is a distinct entity. Whenever the seller lifts up a se'ah and pours it into the measure, the sale of this unit is concluded.
The rationale for this law is that the produce is not located in a domain belonging to the seller, nor is it in the public domain. If the produce was not held in the containers of the seller, the purchaser would acquire it once a price was agreed upon, since it is located in his domain even though it had not been measured, as has been explained in the previous halachah.
ז
היו הפירות בסימטא או בחצר של שניהם ואפילו היו ברשות לוקח והיו בתוך כליו של מוכר וקבל עליו המוכר למכור והתחיל המוכר למדוד בתוך כליו של מוכר אם אמר לו כור בשלשים סלע אני מוכר לך יכול לחזור בו אפילו בסאה אחרונה הואיל ועדיין הפירות בכליו ולא גמר כל המדה וכליו של מוכר אינו קונה ללוקח אע"פ שהוא ברשות הלוקח ואם אמר לו כור בשלשים סאה בסלע ראשון ראשון קנה שכיון שפסקו הדמים על כל סאה וסאה כל סאה שיגביה המוכר ויערה אותה נגמרה מכירתה הואיל ואין הפירות ברשות המוכר ולא ברשות הלוקח ואילו לא היה הפירות בכליו של מוכר כיון שהן ברשות לוקח קנה משפסק אף על פי שלא מדד כמו שביארנו:
8
Similar rules apply when a person sells wine or oil to a colleague in a corner of the public domain or in a courtyard belonging to both the seller and the purchaser, or in a domain belonging to the purchaser, and the measure belongs to the broker. Before the measure is filled, the liquid remains the seller's. Once the measure is filled, the liquid becomes the purchaser's. Neither of them can retract.
ח
וכן המוכר יין או שמן לחבירו בסימטא או בחצר של שניהם או ברשות לוקח והיתה המדה של סרסור עד שלא נתמלאת המדה הרי הן של מוכר משנתמלאת המדה הרי הן ברשות לוקח ואין אחד מהן יכול לחזור בו:
9
Similar rules apply if produce is held in a corner of the public domain or in a courtyard belonging to both the seller and the purchaser, the measuring container does not belong to either of them, and the seller was measuring. Before the measure is filled, it remains in the possession of the seller. Once the measure is filled, however, it becomes the purchaser's.
ט
וכן פירות שהיו צבורין בסימטא או בחצר של שניהם והמדה אינה של אחד מהן והיה המוכר מודד עד שלא נתמלאת המדה הרי היא ברשות המוכר ומשנתמלאת המדה הרי היא ברשות לוקח:
10
The following rules apply when the measure belongs to either the purchaser or the seller, and it has marks indicating the halfway point, thirds, quarters and the like. Once the produce reaches one of those markings, that portion is acquired even though the entire measure has not been filled. For every marking is considered to be a measure in its own right. For the measure belongs to one of them, and he relies on its markings.
י
היתה המדה של אחד מהן והיו בה רשמין לידע חציה שלישה ורביעה וכיוצא בהן כיון שהגיע לרושם מן הרשמים קנה ראשון ראשון ואע"פ שלא נתמלאת המדה שכל רושם מהם כמדה בפני עצמה שהרי של אחד מהן היא המדה והוא סומך על הרשמים שבה:
11
Maintain awareness of this significant general principle: When a person acquires movable property, he acquires it, if he establishes the price and afterwards lifts up the article. If first he lifts it up and puts it down, and then a price is established afterwards, he does not acquire it because he lifted it up at the outset. Instead, it is only when he lifts it up after a price is established, or performs meshichah on an object that is not ordinarily lifted up.
יא
זה כלל גדול יהיה בידך הקונה את המטלטלין אם פסק הדמים ואחר כך הגביה קנה ואם הגביה תחלה והניח ואח"כ פסק הדמים לא קנה באותה הגבהה עד שיגביה אחר שפסק או ימשוך דבר שאין דרכו להגביהה:
12
When an object that has a standard and known price is sold, and the purchaser lifts it up, he acquires it, even though he and the seller agree on the price only after he lifts it up. Similarly, with regard to other means through which movable property is acquired. The acquisition must be made after the price of the article is established, unless there is a standard price for the article, as has been explained.
יב
היה דבר הנמכר דמיו קצובין וידועין והגביהו קנהו אף על פי שפסק אחר שהגביה והוא הדין בשאר דברים שקונין בהם את המטלטלין שצריך לקנות בהם אחר שיפסוק הדמים אלא אם כן דמיו קצובין כמו שביארנו:
13
For this reason, the following rules apply if a person draws donkey -drivers and the produce their beasts are carrying and porters bearing containers filled with produce into his home. If the produce is measured before a price is established - even if the purchaser is the one who measures - or they established the price and then the seller measures the produce, both the seller and purchaser are entitled to retract.Different rules apply if the purchaser unloaded the produce and brought it into his home. If a price was established and then the seller measured, neither can retract. For the seller had made a commitment to sell. If he measured before a price was established, both can retract, because he has not made a commitment to sell. This applies even if the purchaser measures.
יג
לפיכך המושך חמרים ופועלים והכניסן לתוך ביתו אם מדד עד שלא פסק הדמים אפילו היה הלוקח הוא המודד או שפסק הדמים ואחר כך מדד המוכר שניהם יכולין לחזור בהן פרקן הלוקח והכניסן לתוך ביתו אם פסק הדמים ואח"כ מדד המוכר אין שניהם יכולין לחזור בהן שהרי סמכה דעתו למכור ואם מדד עד שלא פסק שניהם יכולין לחזור בהם שהרי לא סמכה דעתו עדיין למכור ואפילו מדד הלוקח:
14
The following rules apply if a person takes utensils from a craftsman in order to inspect them to see whether he will purchase them. If they have a fixed price, and they are destroyed by forces beyond his control while in his possession, he is responsible for their value. The rationale is that since they are of a fixed value, they are considered to have entered his domain at the time he lifted them up.
The above applies under two conditions: a) he lifts the utensil up with the intent of acquiring it in its entirety, and b) the article being sold would be appreciated by a purchaser.
When, however, the seller is repelled by an article and seeks - and indeed pursues - an opportunity to sell it, it remains in the domain of the seller until a price is established and the purchaser lifts it up afterwards.
יד
הנוטל כלים מן האומן על מנת לבקרן אם היו דמיו קצובין ונאנס בידו חייב בדמיו הואיל ודמיו קצובין מעת שהגביהו נעשה ברשותו והוא שיגביהנו כדי לקנות את כולו ויהיה אותו חפץ הנמכר חביב על הלוקח אבל חפץ שהמוכר קץ בו והוא מבקש ורודף למכרו הרי הוא ברשות המוכר עד שיפסוק הדמים ויגביהנו הלוקח אחר שפסק:
15
All the above rules apply whether the purchaser himself performs meshichah on an object, lifts it up or manifests ownership over it, or tells another person to lift it up, performmeshichah or manifest ownership. The other person acquires for for the purchaser. This also applies with regard to other acts of acquisition.
טו
אחד המושך או המגביה או המחזיק בעצמו או שאמר לאחר להגביה או למשוך לו או להחזיק לו הרי זה זכה לו וכן בשאר דרכי הקנייה:
Mechirah - Chapter Five
1
The exchange of any movable property brings about a binding transaction. What is implied? If a person exchanges a cow for a donkey, or wine for oil, once one performs meshichah or lifts up the article that he intends to acquire, the other person acquires the second form of movable propertystipulated in the exchange, wherever it is located. It is considered to have entered his domain, even though he has not performed meshichah upon it.
The above applies although both parties to the transaction are particular about the price, have determined how much this article is worth and how much the other article is worth, and exchanged them after making that determination.
א
כל המטלטלין קונין זה את זה כיצד החליף פרה בחמור או יין בשמן אף על פי שמקפידין על הדמים ושיערו כמה שוה זה וכמה שוה זה ואחר כך החליפו כיון שמשך האחד או הגביהו קנה השני המטלטלין האחרים בכל מקום שהם ונעשה ברשותו ואע"פ שעדיין לא משכן:
2
When a person exchanges a donkey for a cow and a lamb, if he performs meshichah on the cow but not on the lamb, the acquisition is not concluded, for he did not complete themeshichah. The same principle applies in all analogous situations.
ב
החליף חמור בפרה וטלה ומשך הפרה ועדיין לא משך את הטלה לא קנה שאין כאן משיכה גמורה וכן כל כיוצא בהן:
3
When one is not precise about the amount of money involved in a transaction, the money is considered in the same way as other types of movable property, and its exchange brings about a binding transaction.
What is implied? A person scooped up coins without weighing them or counting them, but rather took an estimated amount, said: "Sell me your cow...," or "...this wine, for these coins," and gave him the coins, the transaction is completed; neither party may retract.' Since this is an uncommon situation, our Sages did not require the purchaser to perform meshichah.
ג
דמים שאין מקפידין עליהם הרי הן כשאר מטלטלין וקונין כיצד הרי שחפן מעות בלא משקל ובלא מניין אלא נטלן אכסרה ואמר לו מכור לי פרתך או יין זה באלו ונתן לו את הדמים קנה ואין אחד מהם יכול לחזור בו שזה דבר שאינו מצוי הוא ולא הצריכו בו משיכה:
4
Similarly, movable property can be acquired withoutmeshichah in the following situation. Reuven sold movable property to Shimon for 50 zuz. Shimon acquired the movable property and obligated himself to pay Reuven the price agreed upon. After Shimon became obligated to Reuven for these 50 zuz,he desired to sell wine, an animal, a servant or other similar movable property. Reuven told him: "Sell that object to me for the 50 zuz that you owe me for the sale," and Shimon agreed.
Reuven acquires the movable property regardless of where it is located, even though he neither performed meshichah nor lifted the object up. The rationale is that this also is an abnormal circumstance, and our Sages did not require meshichah.
When, by contrast, a person is in debt for reasons other than a sale, and his creditor tells him: "Sell me the movable property for the debt that you owe me," even though both agree, the transaction is not completed until he lifts up the object, performs meshichah on an object that is not usually lifted up, or acquires it through other means by which movable property can be acquired.
ד
וכן ראובן שמכר מטלטלין לשמעון בחמשים זוז וקנה שמעון המטלטלין ונתחייב בדמים ואחר שנתחייב שמעון בחמשים זוז אלו היה לו יין או בהמה או עבד וכיוצא בהן משאר המטלטלין והיה רוצה למכרן ואמר לו ראובן מכור אותו לו בחמשים זוז שיש לי בידך דמי המכר ואמר לו הן קנה ראובן המטלטלין בכל מקום שהן ואף על פי שלא משך ולא הגביה שגם זה דבר שאינו מצוי הוא ולא הצריכו בו משיכה אבל אם היה חוב לו עליו שלא מחמת המכר ואמר לו מכור לי מטלטלין בחוב שיש לי אצלך ורצו שניהם לא קנה עד שיגביה או ימשוך דבר שאין דרכו להגביה או יקנה באחד מהדרכים שהמטלטלין נקנין בה:
5
Landed property, servants, livestock and all other movable property can be acquired through the kinyan referred to aschalifin. This way of finalizing a transaction is so commonly used that it is also referred to as kinyan.
The fundamental manner in which such a transaction is effected is as follows: The purchaser gives the seller any type of article and tells him: "Acquire this article in exchange for the courtyard,..." "...wine,..." "...animal,..."or "...servant that you sold me in exchange for this and this amount of money."
Once this statement is made, when the seller lifts up the article and acquires it, the purchaser acquires that landed property or that movable property even though he did not perform meshichah or pay the money. Neither of the parties involved can retract.
ה
הקרקעות והעבדים והבהמה ושאר כל המטלטלין כל אחד מהן נקנה בחליפין והוא הנקרא קניין ועיקר הדרך הזאת שיתן הקונה למקנה כלי כל שהוא ויאמר לו קנה כלי זה חלף החצר או היין או הבהמה או העבד שמכרת לי בכך וכך כיון שהגביה המוכר את הכלי וקנהו קנה הלוקח אותו הקרקע או אותן המטלטלין אף על פי שעדיין לא משכן ולא נתן הדמים ואחד מהן אין יכול לחזור בו:
6
Such a transaction may be completed only through the use of a utensil. A utensil is effective, however, even if it is not worth a p'rutah.
Such a transaction may not be completed using an article from which it is forbidden to benefit, nor with produce, nor with a coin.
Such a transaction may not be completed using an article belonging to the seller; only one belonging to the purchaser.
ו
אין קונין אלא בכלים ואע"פ שאין בו שוה פרוטה ואין קונין בדבר שאסור בהנאה ולא בפירות ולא במטבע ואין קונין בכליו של מוכר אלא בכליו של לוקח:
7
When a third party transfers a utensil to the seller so that the purchaser will acquire merchandise that was designated, the purchaser acquires it.
Even though he transfers the utensil to him with the intent that it be returned, the transaction is binding, and the purchaser acquires the merchandise intended. For a gift that is given with the stipulation that it be returned is nevertheless considered a gift.
Moreover, even if the seller does not take hold of the entire utensil that was transferred to him in exchange for his merchandise, but rather holds a portion of it, and the person transferring the utensil to him holds the other portion, the purchaser acquires the merchandise, provided he holds a portion of the utensil that can itself be considered to be a utensil, or grabs it in a manner in which he would be able to pull the entire utensil from the hands of the person transferring it into his own possession.
Therefore, if the person transferred a portion of a garment to a purchaser, the purchaser must hold a portion of the garment the size of three fingerbreadths. Thus, if he cuts off the portion that he is holding, it would be considered a utensil in its own right. For a portion of a garment the size of three fingerbreadths is considered a garment, as has been explained with regard to the subject of the ritual impurity of garments. Similarly, if the seller holds on to a portion smaller than three fingerbreadths but could pull the entire garment into his possession, the purchaser acquires the merchandise being sold.
ז
הקנה אחד כלי למוכר כדי שיקנה הלוקח אותו הממכר זכה הלוקח ואף על פי שהקנה לו הכלי על מנת להחזירו נקנה המקח וזכה בו הלוקח שהמתנה על מנת להחזיר שמה מתנה אע"פ שלא תפס המוכר כל הכלי שהקנהו חלף ממכרו אלא אחז מקצתו ואחז המקנה לו מקצתו קנה הלוקח והוא שאחז ממנו כדי שיעור כלי או יאחזנו אחיזה שהוא יכול לנתק את כל הכלי מיד המקנה לו לפיכך אם הקנה לו במקצת הבגד צריך שיאחוז מן הבגד שלש אצבעות שאם יפסוק ממקום שאחז הרי הוא כלי בפני עצמו ששלש אצבעות מבגד קרוי כלי כמו שביארנו בענין טומאת בגדים וכן אם אחז פחות משלש והיה יכול לנתק כל הכלי קנה:
8
The above concepts are reflected in the expression used in legal documents: "And we performed a kinyan with so and so with a utensil that is acceptable to be used to conduct a transaction."
"A utensil" excludes produce and the like. "That is acceptable" excludes objects from which it is forbidden to benefit. And "to be used to conduct a transaction" excludes a utensil belonging to the seller.
ח
זה שכותבין בשטרות וקנינא מפלוני בכלי הכשר לקנות בו בכלי להוציא פירות וכיוצא בהן הכשר להוציא איסורי הנאה לקנות בו להוציא כליו של מוכר:
9
This transaction need not be performed in the presence of witnesses. Instead, even if it was performed only in the presence of the seller and the purchaser, the transaction is finalized. For the only reason the Torah required witnesses with regard to monetary laws is to prevent a person from denying what transpired.
A seller, one who gives a gift, rents out an object, lends an object or the like does not require witnesses. Whenever the second party finalizes the transaction through one of the accepted practices - lifting the article up, meshichah, transferring it, chalifin, the payment of money, the transfer of a legal document or through manifesting ownership - the transaction is concluded, even when there are no witnesses present.
ט
זה הקניין אין צריך להיות בפני עדים אלא אם היה בינו ובין חבירו קנה שלא הצריכה תורה עדים בדיני ממונות אלא לכופר אבל המוכר או הנותן או השוכר או המשאיל וכיוצא בהן אין צריך עדים וכיון שקנה הקונה בדרך אחד מן הדרכים שקונין בהן בין בהגבהה בין במשיכה בין במסירה בין בקנין בין בכסף בין בשטר או בחזקה קנה ואע"פשאין שם עדים:
10
Although a person who sells or gives an article confirms the transaction with a kinyan chalifin, both of them may retract as long as they are discussing the matter. This applies even when the kinyan was performed in the presence of witnesses. If they concluded discussing the matter, neither may retract even though the transaction was not observed by witnesses.
Just as the seller and the giver may retract, so too, the purchaser and the recipient may retract as long as they are discussing the matter. This leniency does not apply with regard to other kinyanim.
י
המוכר או הנותן שקנו מידו יש לכל אחד מהן לחזור בו כל זמן שעוסקין באותו ענין ואף על פי שהקנין בפני עדים ואם הפסיק הענין אין אחד מהם יכול לחזור אע"פ שאין ביניהן עדים וכשם שחוזר המוכר והנותן כך חוזר הלוקח והמקבל כל זמן שעסוקין באותו ענין מה שאין כן בשאר דרכי הקנייה:
11
There are many matters that do not require a kinyan, and indeed there is no reason to perform a kinyan with regard to them - e.g., a person who frees his slave, divorces his wife, appoints an agent, issues a protest with regard to a sale, nullifies a protest or waives a colleague's obligation to pay a debt or return an entrusted object. Similar laws apply to other analogous situations.
יא
יש דברים הרבה שאינן צריכין קנין ואין לקניין בהם טעם כגון המשחרר את עבדו והמגרש אשתו או עושה שליח או המוסר מודעה או המבטל מודעה או המוחל לחבירו חוב או פקדון שיש לו בידו וכל כיוצא בדברים אלו:
12
It has become customary in the majority of places to perform a kinyan to confirm certain of the above matters and the like, even though it is not necessary. The witnesses say: "We performed a kinyan with so and so, confirming that he appointed so and so as an agent," "...waived the debt that so and so owed him," or "...nullified the protest he had issued concerning this bill of divorce," or the like.
יב
נהגו רוב המקומות להקנות למקצת אלו הדברים או כיוצא באלו ואומרים וקנינו מפלוני שעשה פלוני שליח או שמחל לפלוני חוב שיש לו אצלו או שבטל המודעה שמסר על גט זה וכיוצא באלו אף על פי שאינו צריך:
13
Such a kinyan, which is customarily performed with regard to these matters, is of no consequence except to demonstrate that the parties involved were not acting facetiously or in jest when making the statements, but had in fact made a resolution in their hearts before making the statements. Therefore, if a person says: "I am making my statements with a full heart, and I have resolved to do this," nothing else is necessary.
יג
קנין זה שנהגו להקנות באלו הדברים אינו מועיל כלום אלא להודיע שאינו אומר דברים אלו כמשחק ומהתל אלא שגמר בלבו ואח"כ אמר לפיכך אם אמר בלב שלם אני אמרתי וגמרתי לעשות דבר זה אין צריך דבר אחר כלל:
14
A kinyan is of no consequence with regard to statements that are of no substance.
What is implied? If it is stated in a legal document: "We performed a kinyan with so and so, confirming that he will travel to sell merchandise with so and so," "...that they will form a craft partnership," "...that they will divide a field between themselves," or the like, this is considered a kinyan with regard to words, and it is of no consequence. The rationale is that the person did not transfer to his colleague a specific and known entity, neither the entity itself or the fruits of that known entity.
יד
הדברים שאין בהן ממש אין הקנין מועיל בהן כיצד הרי שכתב בשטר וקנינו מפלוני שילך בסחורה עם פלוני או שיחלקו השדה שביניהם או שישתתפו שניהם באומנות וכיוצא בדברים אלו כולן הרי זה קנין דברים ואינו מועיל כלום שהרי לא הקנה לחבירו דבר מסויים וידוע לא עיקר ולא פירות עיקר הידוע:
Mechirah - Chapter Six
1
Although produce cannot be used for chalifin, as explained, it can be acquired through chalifin like other movable property. With regard to a coin, by contrast, just as it cannot be used forchalifin, it cannot be acquired through chalifin. Thus, a coin cannot be acquired through a kinyan chalifin, and it cannot be used for akinyan chalifin to acquire other articles.
א
הפירות אף על פי שאין קונין בהן כמו שביארנו הרי נקנין בקנין כשאר המטלטלין אבל המטבע כשם שאין קונין בו כך אינו נקנה בקנין נמצא המטבע אינו נקנה בקנין ואינו נעשה הוא עצמו קנין לקנות כשאר דברים:
2
Slabs of gold and silver are regarded in the same way as pieces of raw iron or copper. They are like other movable property and can be acquired through chalifin and exchanged for each other, as has been explained.
Coins of silver, gold and brass are all considered to be money received as payment for other movable property. If one gives one of these as payment for movable property, one does not acquire it until one performs meshichah or lifts it up, as has been explained. None of these coins can be acquired through kinyan chalifin, or used for such a kinyan.
ב
לשונות של זהב ושל כסף הרי הן כעששיות של ברזל או של נחשת והכל כשאר המטלטלין הן ונקנין בקנין וקונין זה את זה בהחלפה כמו שביארנו אבל המטבעות של כסף או דינרין של זהב או המעות של נחשת הרי הן כולן דמים כנגד שאר המטלטלין והנותן את אחד מהן דמי המטלטלין לא קנה עד שימשוך או יגביה כמו שביארנו ואין אחד מהן נקנה בקנין ולא נעשה קנין:
3
When does the above apply? When one is acquiring other movable property, servants or landed property with these coins. When, however, gold dinarim are being exchanged for silver coins, the gold coins are considered to be "produce." Similarly, copper coins are considered to be "produce" with regard to silver coins.
ג
במה דברים אמורים בזמן שקונה שאר מטלטלין באחד ממיני מטבעות אלו או עבדים וקרקעות אבל הדינרין של זהב לגבי מטבעות של כסף הרי הן כפירות וכן המעות של נחשת כמו פירות לגבי מטבעות של כסף:
4
What is implied? If a person gave a colleague a dinar of gold for 25 dinarim of silver, the owner of the gold acquires the silver even though it has not yet been transferred into his domain. The owner of the silver is obligated to give his colleague 25 silverdinarim, as he committed himself. If he committed himself to give new silver coins, he must give new ones; if he committed himself to give old coins, he must give old ones.
If, however, the owner of the silver gave 25 silver dinarim for one gold dinar, the transaction is not concluded until he takes the golddinar Both parties have the right to retract.
ד
כיצד נתן לו דינר של זהב בעשרים וחמשה דינר של כסף נקנה הכסף אע"פ שעדיין לא בא הכסף לידו וחייב ליתן לו עשרים וחמשה דינר של כסף כמו שפסק עמו אם חדשים חדשים אם ישנים ישנים אבל אם נתן לו עשרים וחמשה כסף בדינר זהב לא קנה עד שיקח הדינר של זהב וכל אחד יכול לחזור בו:
5
Similarly, if a person gave a colleague 30 isar of copper for adinar of silver, the owner of the copper acquires the silver even though it has not yet been transferred into his domain. The owner of the silver is obligated to give his colleague a silver dinar, as he committed himself. If he committed himself to give a new silver coin, he must give a new one; if he committed himself to give an old coin, he must give an old one.
If, however, the owner of the silver gave a silver dinar for 30 copperisar, the transaction is not concluded until he takes the copperisarot. Both parties have the right to retract.
ה
נתן לו שלשים איסר של נחשת בדינר של כסף נקנה הדינר של כסף וחייב ליתן לו כמו שפסק עמו אם דינר חדש חדש אם ישן ישן אבל אם נתן לו דינר של כסף בשלשים איסר לא קנה עד שיקח האיסרות של נחשת וכל אחד מהן יכול לחזור בו:
6
Similarly, bad coins that were disqualified by the ruling kingdom or municipal authorities, or dinarim that are not acceptable as legal tender in that country - i.e., coins that are not used for exchange unless they are changed for others, these are considered to be produce with regard to all matters.
They may be acquired through a kinyan chalifin; when they are transferred, money is acquired; and the transfer of money does not acquire them, as is true with regard to other produce.
ו
וכן מעות הרעות שפסלתן מלכות או המדינה או דינרין שאינן יוצאין באותה מדינה ואין נושאין ונותנין בהן עד שמשנין אותן למטבע אחר הרי הן כפירות לכל דבר ונקנין בקנין וקונין את המעות ואין המעות קונות אותן כשאר כל הפירות:
7
There is no way in which a person can acquire a coin that is not in his physical possession, except by virtue of his acquisition of landed property -e.g., a person will purchase land and by virtue of its acquisition also acquire coins, or he will rent the place where the coins are held. In these instances, once the purchaser acquires the land through the transfer of money, a legal document, manifestation of his ownership or a kinyan chalifin, he acquires the money.
The above applies provided that the coins exist and are held for safekeeping in a specific place. If, however, Shimon owed Reuven money, and Reuven transferred land to Levi, and intended that by virtue of Levi's acquisition of the land, he acquire the debt owed to Reuven by Shimon, it appears to me that Levi does not acquire the debt.
ז
המטבע אין לו דרך שיזכה בו מי שאינו ברשותו אלא על גבי קרקע כגון שקנה הקרקע ועל גבו המעות או שישכור את מקום המעות כיון שזכה בקרקע בכסף או בשטר או בחזקה או בקנין זכה במעות והוא שיהיו אותן המעות קיימין כגון שיהיו מופקדין במקום אחד אבל ראובן שהיה לו חוב על שמעון והקנה ללוי קרקע ועל גבה חוב שיש לו אצל שמעון נראה לי שלא קנה החוב:
8
If three people the lender, the borrower and a third party (the intended recipient) are standing together and the lender tells the borrower, "Give the maneh that you owe me (whether an entrusted article or a loan) to so and so the third party," that third party acquires the manehin question. None of the three can retract. Our Sages described this law as a dictate whose reason cannot be explained. Therefore, one cannot derive any other precept from it.
ח
היו עומדים שלשתן ואמר לו מנה שיש לי בידך בין פקדון בין מלוה תנהו לזה קנה לוי ואין אחד משלשתן יכול חזור בו ודבר זה אמרו חכמים שהיא הלכה שאין לה טעם לפיכך אין למדין ממנה לדין אחר:
9
If Reuven owed Shimon 100 zuz and told Levi: "Give Shimon the 100 zuz that I owe him, and I will repay you," or "...I will make a reckoning with you"- although both Levi and Shimon agree, all three have the potential to retract.
Even if Levi pays Shimon a portion of Reuven's debt he is not bound to pay the remainder. Therefore, if Levi does not pay Shimon the entire debt, Shimon may demand payment for the remainder of the debt from Reuven.
ט
היה ראובן חייב לשמעון מאה זוז ואמר ללוי תן לשמעון מאה זוז אלו שאני חייב לו עד שאתן לך או עד שאעשה עמך חשבון ואמר לו הן וקבל שמעון כל אחד משלשתן יכול לחזור בו ואפילו פרע לוי לשמעון מקצת חובו לפיכך אם לא פרע לוי לשמעון חוזר שמעון ותובע את ראובן בשאר חובו:
10
When a person sells a promissory note to a colleague or gives one to him as a gift, the physical transfer of the note does not bring about a transfer of the obligation it carries. For he transferred only the proof of the debt. And that proof is not something that can be grasped by the hand.
י
המוכר שטר חוב לחבירו או נתנו לו במתנה אינו נקנה במסירת השטר לידו שלא מסר לו אלא הראיה שבו ואין הראיה נתפסת ביד:
11
How indeed can the promissory note be acquired? The seller must write to the purchaser: "Acquire the promissory note of so and so and all the obligations associated with it," and then give him the promissory note. Thus, the note is acquired through the writing and through being transferred.
There is no need for witnesses with regard to the actual transfer. Witnesses are necessary, however, for the debt to be collected. The debtor can tell the purchaser: "Who is to say that my creditor did in fact write to you that the debt is transferred and give you the promissory note?"
יא
וכיצד יקנה השטר שיכתוב לו המקנה קנה שטר פלוני וכל השעבוד שיש בו וימסור לו השטר ונמצא שנקנה בכתיבה ומסירה ואין צריך עדים לענין קנייתו אבל צריך עדים לענין תביעתו שהרי הנתבע אומר לו מי יאמר שבעל דברים שלי כתב ומסר לך:
12
The transfer of the ownership of promissory notes is a Rabbinical institution. According to Scriptural law, there is no way to acquire the proof of an obligation; only an actual object can be acquired. Therefore, a person who sells a promissory note to a colleague can still waive the debt .o Even his heir has the right to waive the debt.
יב
קנין השטרות בדרך הזאת מדברי סופרים אבל מן התורה אין הראיות נקנות אלא גוף הדבר בלבד קנוי לפיכך המוכר שטר חוב לחבירו עדיין יכול למחול ואפילו יורשו מוחלו:
13
When a woman brings her husband a promissory note as part of her dowry, she cannot waive payment of it without his approval, because her domain has become his.
יג
האשה שהכניסה שטר חוב לבעלה אינה יכולה למחול אלא מדעת בעלה מפני שידה כידו:
14
When a person transfers ownership of even the smallest amount of property to a colleague and by virtue of its transfer also transfers the ownership of a promissory note, the purchaser acquires the note regardless of where it was located, although a written statement was not made and the document was not transferred to the purchaser.It appears to me that in this instance as well, the original creditor has the right to waive payment after selling it.
Similarly, if a person sells land and writes a deed of sale even though the purchaser is not present, when the purchaser manifests his possession over the land he acquires the deed regardless of where it is located.
יד
המקנה לחבירו קרקע כל שהוא והקנה לו על גבה שטר חוב הרי זה קנה השטר בכ"מ שהוא בלא כתיבה ובלא מסירה ונראה לי שגם זה יכול למחול אחר שמכרו וכן המוכר קרקע וכתב השטר ואין הלוקח עמו כיון שהחזיק הלוקח בקרקע נקנה השטר בכל מקום שהוא:
15
The following rules apply if a person tells a colleague: "Take possession of this field on behalf of so and so, and compose a deed of title for him." Although the agent manifests ownership over the land on behalf of the recipient, the giver can retract his statement concerning the legal record of the present unless it has already been given to the recipient, despite the fact that he cannot rescind his gift of the field.
טו
האומר זכו בשדה זו לפלוני וכתבו לו את השטר והחזיק הזוכה לו בקרקע יש לנותן לחזור בשטר עד שיגיע ליד בעל המתנה ואף על פי שאינו יכול לחזור בשדה:
16
If, however, the giver told the agent: "Take possession of the field with the stipulation that you write the deed of title," even though the agent manifests ownership over the land on behalf of the recipient, the original owner can retract both with regard to the deed and with regard to the field until the deed of title reaches the hand of the recipient of the gift.
טז
אמר להם זכו לו בשדה על מנת שתכתבו לו את השטר אע"פ שהחזיקו לו בשדה חוזר מזה ומזה עד שיגיע שטר המתנה לידי מקבל המתנה:
Hayom Yom: Today's Hayom Yom
• Monday, 4 AV , 5776 · 8 August 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Thursday, Menachem Av 4, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Devarim, Chamishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 23-28.
Tanya: The praise and blessing (p. 381) ...granted forthwith. (p. 383).
No matter how much effort is exerted, no-one can earn one cent more than G-d has ordained that he - this particular person - shall earn. One must do what is necessary, but one must remember that all his work is but an adjunct. The main thing is G-d's blessing, and that blessing is earned by being observant of G-d's commands: Davening with a minyan, observing Shabbat b'hidur (beyond the minimum, with "beauty"), meticulous observance of kashrut, having children instructed by sincerely religious teachers.1
FOOTNOTES
1.The Rebbe means simply and without equivocation, teachers who are personally observant. He was horrified and deeply grieved by "teachers" of Torah who do not keep Torah and the destructive effects they have on their pupils.
• Daily Thought:
Harmonization
Harmony at home is a matter of emphasis:
Let dissonance slip by.
Celebrate beauty.[See Igrot Kodesh, vol. 14, p. 62. See also ibid., vol. 8, p. 58.]
Torah lessons: Chumash: Devarim, Chamishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 23-28.
Tanya: The praise and blessing (p. 381) ...granted forthwith. (p. 383).
No matter how much effort is exerted, no-one can earn one cent more than G-d has ordained that he - this particular person - shall earn. One must do what is necessary, but one must remember that all his work is but an adjunct. The main thing is G-d's blessing, and that blessing is earned by being observant of G-d's commands: Davening with a minyan, observing Shabbat b'hidur (beyond the minimum, with "beauty"), meticulous observance of kashrut, having children instructed by sincerely religious teachers.1
FOOTNOTES
1.The Rebbe means simply and without equivocation, teachers who are personally observant. He was horrified and deeply grieved by "teachers" of Torah who do not keep Torah and the destructive effects they have on their pupils.
• Daily Thought:
Harmonization
Harmony at home is a matter of emphasis:
Let dissonance slip by.
Celebrate beauty.[See Igrot Kodesh, vol. 14, p. 62. See also ibid., vol. 8, p. 58.]
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