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:
Today in Jewish History:
• Passing of "Ari" (1572)
Rabbi Isaac Luria Ashkenazi, known as Ari HaKadosh ("The Holy Lion") passed away on the 5th of Av of the year 5332 from creation (1572 CE). Born in Jerusalem in 1534, he spent many years in secluded study near Cairo, Egypt. In 1570 he settled in Safed, where he lived for two years until his passing at age 38. During that brief period, the Ari revolutionized the study of Kabbalah, and came to be universally regarded as one of the most important figures in Jewish mysticism. It was he who proclaimed, "In these times, we are allowed and duty-bound to reveal this wisdom," opening the door to the integration of the teachings of Kabbalah--until then the province of a select few in each generation--into "mainstream" Judaism.
- Links: A Tale of Two Kabbalists
- Fallen Sparks
- What is Kabbalah?
- About The Ari
Daily Quote:
I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war[Psalms 120:7]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Devarim, 3rd Portion Deuteronomy 1:22-1:38 with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 1
22And all of you approached me and said, "Let us send men ahead of us so that they will search out the land for us and bring us back word by which route we shall go up, and to which cities we shall come." כבוַתִּקְרְב֣וּן אֵלַי֘ כֻּלְּכֶם֒ וַתֹּֽאמְר֗וּ נִשְׁלְחָ֤ה אֲנָשִׁים֙ לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ וְיַחְפְּרוּ־לָ֖נוּ אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְיָשִׁ֤בוּ אֹתָ֨נוּ֙ דָּבָ֔ר אֶת־הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַֽעֲלֶה־בָּ֔הּ וְאֵת֙ הֶֽעָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָבֹ֖א אֲלֵיהֶֽן:
And you approached me-all of you:: in a state of disorder. But further on (Deut. 5:20-21) it says, “You approached me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders, and you said, Behold [the Lord, our God] has shown us [His glory and His greatness].” That approach to me was proper-young people respecting their elders, sending these before them. Here, however, you approached me all of you, in a state of disorder, the young pushing aside their elders, the elders pushing aside their heads. ותקרבון אלי כלכם: בערבוביא, ולהלן הוא אומר (דברים ה, כ - כא) ותקרבון אלי כל ראשי שבטיכם וזקניכם ותאמרו הן הראנו וגו', אותה קריבה היתה הוגנת. ילדים מכבדים את הזקנים ושלחום לפניהם, וזקנים מכבדים את הראשים ללכת לפניהם, אבל כאן, ותקרבון אלי כולכם, בערבוביא. ילדים דוחפין את הזקנים וזקנים דוחפין את הראשים:
and bring us back word: [meaning that they will report] which language they [the Canaanites] speak. וישבו אתנו דבר: באיזה לשון הם מדברים:
by which route we shall go up: There is no road without a crooked portion. את הדרך אשר נעלה בה: אין דרך שאין בה עקמימות:
and to which cities we shall come: first, to capture (Sifrei). ואת הערים אשר נבא אליהן: תחלה לכבוש:
23And the matter pleased me; so I took twelve men from you, one man for each tribe. כגוַיִּיטַ֥ב בְּעֵינַ֖י הַדָּבָ֑ר וָֽאֶקַּ֤ח מִכֶּם֙ שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֣ר אֲנָשִׁ֔ים אִ֥ישׁ אֶחָ֖ד לַשָּֽׁבֶט:
And the matter pleased me: “It pleased me, but it did not please the Omnipresent.” But if it pleased Moses, why does he mention it in his rebukes? This may be compared to a man who says to his friend, “Sell me this donkey of yours.” He replies to him, “Yes.” “Will you give it to me to test it?” He replies, “Yes.” “May I test it on mountains and hills?” Again he replies, “Yes.” When he sees that his friend does not withhold anything from him, the purchaser thinks to himself, “This man is certain that I shall not find any defect in the donkey,” and he immediately says to him,“Take your money; I need not test it now.” I too, consented to your words, thinking that you would perhaps reconsider when you saw that I do not withhold it from you, but you did not reconsider (Sifrei). וייטב בעיני הדבר: בעיני ולא בעיני המקום. ואם בעיני משה היה טוב למה אמרה בתוכחות, משל לאדם שאומר לחבירו מכור לי חמורך זה, אמר לו הן. נותנו אתה לי לנסיון, אמר לו הן. בהרים וגבעות, אמר לו הן. כיון שראה שאין מעכבו כלום, אמר הלוקח בלבו, בטוח הוא זה שלא אמצא בו מום. מיד אמר לו טול מעותיך ואיני מנסהו. מעתה אף אני הודיתי לדבריכם, שמא תחזרו בכם כשתראו שאיני מעכב, ואתם לא חזרתם בכם:
so I took… from you: from the select that were among you, of the finest that were among you (Sifrei). ואקח מכם: מן הברורים שבכם מן המסולתים שבכם:
twelve men… one man for each tribe: [This] tells [us] that the tribe of Levi was not with them. (Sifrei). שנים עשר אנשים איש אחד לשבט: מגיד שלא היה שבט לוי עמהם:
24And they turned and went up to the mountain, and they came to the valley of Eshkol and spied it out. כדוַיִּפְנוּ֙ וַיַּֽעֲל֣וּ הָהָ֔רָה וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ עַד־נַ֣חַל אֶשְׁכֹּ֑ל וַיְרַגְּל֖וּ אֹתָֽהּ:
[And they came] to the valley of Eshkol: [This] tells us that it [here it was so called] on account of a future event [that the spies took from there a cluster (אֶשְׁכֹּל) of grapes]. (Sifrei). עד נחל אשכל: מגיד שנקרא על שם סופו:
and [they] spied it out: This teaches us that they traversed through it along four lines, along the length and the breadth (Sifrei.). וירגלו אותה: מלמד שהלכו בה ארבעה אומנין שתי וערב:
25And they took some of the fruit of the land in their hand[s] and brought it down to us, brought us back word, and said, "The land the Lord, our God, is giving us is good." כהוַיִּקְח֤וּ בְיָדָם֙ מִפְּרִ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיּוֹרִ֖דוּ אֵלֵ֑ינוּ וַיָּשִׁ֨בוּ אֹתָ֤נוּ דָבָר֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ טוֹבָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽנוּ:
and brought it down to us: This tells us that the land of Israel is higher than all other lands (Sifrei). ויורדו אלינו: מגיד שארץ ישראל גבוהה מכל הארצות:
And they said, The land… is good: Who were the ones who spoke about its goodness? Joshua and Caleb (Sifrei.). ויאמרו טובה הארץ: מי הם שאמרו טובתה, יהושע וכלב:
26But you did not want to go up, and you rebelled against the commandment of the Lord, your God. כווְלֹ֥א אֲבִיתֶ֖ם לַֽעֲלֹ֑ת וַתַּמְר֕וּ אֶת־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם:
and you rebelled: Heb. וַתַּמְרוּ. This is an expression denoting confrontation; you confronted His words. ותמרו: לשון התרסה, התרסתם כנגד מאמרו:
27You murmured in your tents and said, '"Because the Lord hates us, He took us out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand[s] of the Amorites to exterminate us." כזוַתֵּרָֽגְנ֤וּ בְאָֽהֳלֵיכֶם֙ וַתֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ בְּשִׂנְאַ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ אֹתָ֔נוּ הֽוֹצִיאָ֖נוּ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם לָתֵ֥ת אֹתָ֛נוּ בְּיַ֥ד הָֽאֱמֹרִ֖י לְהַשְׁמִידֵֽנוּ:
You murmured: Heb. וַתֵּרָגְנוּ. This is an expression denoting slander. It is similar to (Prov. 18:8)“The words of a נִרְגָּן ” i.e., of a slanderer. ותרגנו: לשון הרע, וכן (משלי יח, ח) דברי נרגן, אדם המוציא דבה:
Because the Lord hates us: Really, however, He loves you, but you hate Him. A common parable says: What is in your own heart about your friend, [you imagine] is in his heart about you (Sifrei). בשנאת ה' אתנו: והוא היה אוהב אתכם, אבל אתם שונאים אותו. משל הדיוט אומר, מה דבלבך על רחמך מה דבלביה עלך:
Because the Lord hates us, He took us out of the land of Egypt: His taking us out was due to hatred [they claimed]. This may be compared to a mortal king who had two sons and two fields, one well irrigated, the other dependent upon rain only. To the son he loved, he gave the well irrigated field, and to the one he hated, he gave the one dependent upon rain only. The land of Egypt is a well irrigated country, for the Nile rises and irrigates it, while the land of Canaan is dependent upon rain only. He took us out of [the irrigated] Egypt to give us the arid land of Canaan (Num. Rabbah 17). בשנאת ה' אתנו הוציאנו מארץ מצרים: הוצאתו לשנאה היתה. משל למלך בשר ודם, שהיו לו שני בנים ויש לו שתי שדות אחת של שקיא ואחת של בעל, למי שהוא אוהב נותן של שקיא, ולמי שהוא שונא נותן לו של בעל. ארץ מצרים של שקיא היא, שנילוס עולה ומשקה אותה, וארץ כנען של בעל, והוציאנו ממצרים לתת לנו את ארץ כנען:
28Where shall we go up? Our brothers have discouraged us, saying, "A people greater and taller than we; cities great and fortified up to the heavens, and we have even seen the sons of Anakim there." כחאָנָ֣ה | אֲנַ֣חְנוּ עֹלִ֗ים אַחֵ֩ינוּ֩ הֵמַ֨סּוּ אֶת־לְבָבֵ֜נוּ לֵאמֹ֗ר עַ֣ם גָּד֤וֹל וָרָם֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ עָרִ֛ים גְּדֹלֹ֥ת וּבְצוּרֹ֖ת בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְגַם־בְּנֵ֥י עֲנָקִ֖ים רָאִ֥ינוּ שָֽׁם:
The cities are great and fortified up to the heavens: The Scriptural text here is talking in exaggerated terms (Sifrei; Chullin 90b). ערים גדולות ובצורות בשמים: דברו הכתובים לשון הבאי:
29And I said to you, "Do not be broken or afraid of them. כטוָֽאֹמַ֖ר אֲלֵכֶ֑ם לֹא־תַֽעַרְצ֥וּן וְלֹא־תִֽירְא֖וּן מֵהֶֽם:
Do not be broken: Heb. לֹא תַעַרְצוּן. This is an expression denoting breaking, as the Targum renders it: [Do not be broken], and similar to it (Job 30:6), “To dwell in the cleft of the valleys (בערוץ נחלים),” i.e., to break through the valleys. לא תערצון: לשון שבירה כתרגומו, ודומה לו (איוב ל, ו) בערוץ נחלים לשכון, לשבור נחלים:
30The Lord, your God, Who goes before you He will fight for you, just as He did for you in Egypt before your very eyes, ליְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ הַֽהֹלֵ֣ךְ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם ה֖וּא יִלָּחֵ֣ם לָכֶ֑ם כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֧ה אִתְּכֶ֛ם בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם לְעֵֽינֵיכֶֽם:
will fight for you: Heb. יִלָּחֵם לָכֶם - [לָכֶם means] on your behalf. ילחם לכם: בשבילכם:
31and in the desert, where you have seen how the Lord, your God, has carried you as a man carries his son, all the way that you have gone, until you have come to this place. לאוּבַמִּדְבָּר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאִ֔יתָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נְשָֽׂאֲךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשָּׂא־אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־בְּנ֑וֹ בְּכָל־הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֲלַכְתֶּ֔ם עַד־בֹּֽאֲכֶ֖ם עַד־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה:
and in the desert, where you have seen: This refers to the preceding verse: “just as He did for you in Egypt,” and also what He did “in the desert, where you have seen how the Lord, your God, has carried you, etc.” ובמדבר אשר ראית: מוסב על מקרא שלמעלה הימנו (פסוק ל), ככל אשר עשה אתכם במצרים, ועשה אף במדבר אשר ראית אשר נשאך וגו':
as a man carries his son: As I explained regarding [the verses]:“And the angel of God who went before the camp of the Israelites traveled and went behind, etc.” (Exod. 14:19-20). This may be compared to one who is traveling on a road, with his son in front of him. If bandits come to kidnap [the son, he removes him from in front of him and places him behind him]. כאשר ישא איש את בנו: כמו שפירשתי אצל (שמות יד, יט) ויסע מלאך האלהים ההולך לפני מחנה ישראל וגו'. משל למהלך בדרך ובנו לפניו באו לסטים לשבותו וכו':
32But regarding this matter, you do not believe the Lord, your God, לבוּבַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה אֵֽינְכֶם֙ מַֽאֲמִינִ֔ם בַּֽיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם:
Yet regarding this matter: that He promises you to bring you to the Land, you do not believe Him. ובדבר הזה: שהוא מבטיחכם להביאכם אל הארץ, אינכם מאמינים בו:
33Who goes before you on the way, to search out a place for you, in which to encamp, in fire at night, to enable you to see on the way you should go, and in a cloud by day." לגהַֽהֹלֵ֨ךְ לִפְנֵיכֶ֜ם בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ לָת֥וּר לָכֶ֛ם מָק֖וֹם לַֽחֲנֹֽתְכֶ֑ם בָּאֵ֣שׁ | לַ֗יְלָה לַרְאֹֽתְכֶם֙ בַּדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וּבֶֽעָנָ֖ן יוֹמָֽם:
to enable you to see: Heb. לַרְאוֹתְכֶם, like לְהַרְאוֹתְכֶם, and similarly,“to cause it to lead them (לַנְחֹתָם) on the way” (Exod. 13:21) [like (לְהַנְחֹתָם)] and also,“To proclaim (לַשְׁמִעַ)) thanksgiving with a loud voice” (Ps. 26:7), [like לְהַשְׁמִיעַ], and so,“to go to tell (לַגִּיד) in Jezreel” (II Kings 9:15), [like לְהַגִּיד]. לראותכם: כמו להראותכם. וכן (שמות יג, כא) לנחותם הדרך, וכן (תהלים כו, ז) לשמיע בקול תודה, וכן (מלכים ב' ט, טו) ללכת לגיד ביזרעאל:
34And the Lord heard the sound of your words, and He became angry and swore, saying, לדוַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־ק֣וֹל דִּבְרֵיכֶ֑ם וַיִּקְצֹ֖ף וַיִּשָּׁבַ֥ע לֵאמֹֽר:
35'If any of these men of this evil generation sees the good land, which I swore to give your forefathers, להאִם־יִרְאֶ֥ה אִישׁ֙ בָּֽאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה הַדּ֥וֹר הָרָ֖ע הַזֶּ֑ה אֵ֚ת הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְׁבַּ֔עְתִּי לָתֵ֖ת לַֽאֲבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם:
36except Caleb the son of Jephunneh he will see it, and I will give him the land he trod upon, and to his children, because he has completely followed the Lord." לוזֽוּלָתִ֞י כָּלֵ֤ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּה֙ ה֣וּא יִרְאֶ֔נָּה וְלֽוֹ־אֶתֵּ֧ן אֶת־הָאָ֛רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר דָּֽרַךְ־בָּ֖הּ וּלְבָנָ֑יו יַ֕עַן אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִלֵּ֖א אַֽחֲרֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
[And to him will I give the land] that he trod upon: [i.e.] Hebron, as it says,,“And he [Caleb] came to Hebron” (Num. 13:22). אשר דרך בה: חברון, שנאמר (במדבר יג, כב) ויבא עד חברון:
37The Lord was also angry with me because of you, saying, "Neither will you go there. לזגַּם־בִּי֙ הִתְאַנַּ֣ף יְהֹוָ֔ה בִּגְלַלְכֶ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר גַּם־אַתָּ֖ה לֹֽא־תָבֹ֥א שָֽׁם:
Was angry: Heb. הִתְאַנַּף, became filled with anger. התאנף: נתמלא רוגז:
38But Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you he will go there; strengthen him, for he will cause Israel to inherit it. לחיְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ בִּן־נוּן֙ הָֽעֹמֵ֣ד לְפָנֶ֔יךָ ה֖וּא יָ֣בֹא שָׁ֑מָּה אֹת֣וֹ חַזֵּ֔ק כִּי־ה֖וּא יַנְחִלֶ֥נָּה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 29 - 34
• Chapter 29
The Name of God appears eighteen times in this psalm, corresponding to which our Sages established eighteen blessings-the Amidah. The entire psalm can be interpreted as referring to the giving of the Torah and the ingathering of the exiles.
1. A psalm by David. Render to the Lord, children of the mighty, render to the Lord honor and strength.
2. Render to the Lord the honor due to His Name; bow down to the Lord in resplendent holiness.
3. The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over mighty waters.
4. The voice of the Lord resounds with might; the voice of the Lord resounds with majesty.
5. The voice of the Lord breaks cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
6. He makes them leap like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7. The voice of the Lord strikes flames of fire.
8. The voice of the Lord makes the desert tremble; the Lord causes the desert of Kadesh to tremble.
9. The voice of the Lord causes the does to calve, and strips the forests bare; and in His Sanctuary all proclaim His glory.
10. The Lord sat [as King] at the Flood; the Lord will sit as King forever.
11. The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
Chapter 30
This psalm teaches one not to be distressed if God visits suffering upon him in this world, for only through suffering can one enter the World to Come. Even one of great spiritual stature should realize that his stability is not guaranteed, but that all is in the hands of God.
1. A psalm, a song of dedication of the House, by David.
2. I exalt You, Lord, for You have uplifted me, and did not allow my enemies to rejoice over me.
3. Lord, my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.
4. Lord, You have brought up my soul from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not descend to the pit.
5. Sing to the Lord, you His pious ones, and praise His holy Name.
6. For His wrath endures but for a moment, when He is conciliated there is [long] life; when one retires at night weeping, joy will come in the morning.
7. In my security I thought, "I shall never falter.”
8. Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; when You concealed Your countenance I was alarmed.
9. I called to You, O Lord, and I made supplication to my Lord:
10. What profit is there in my death, in my going down to the grave? Can dust praise You? Can it proclaim Your truth
11. Lord, hear and be gracious to me; Lord, be a help to me.
12. You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have undone my sackcloth and girded me with joy.
13. Therefore my soul shall sing to You, and not be silent; Lord my God, I will praise You forever.
Chapter 31
Composed by a destitute and oppressed David, running from Saul while placing his trust in God, this psalm instructs man to put his trust in God alone.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. In You I have taken shelter, O Lord, I shall never be shamed; rescue me in Your righteousness.
3. Turn Your ear to me, save me quickly; be to me a rock of refuge, a fortress to deliver me.
4. For You are my rock and my fortress; for the sake of Your Name, direct me and lead me.
5. Remove me from the net they planted for me, for You are my stronghold.
6. I entrust my spirit into Your hand; You will redeem me, Lord, God of truth.
7. I despise those who anticipate worthless vanities; but I trust in the Lord.
8. I will rejoice and delight in Your kindness, for You have seen my affliction; You know the troubles of my soul.
9. You have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet on spacious ground.
10. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from vexation-my soul and my stomach.
11. For my life is spent in sorrow, my years in sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are wasted away.
12. Because of my adversaries I have become a disgrace-exceedingly to my neighbors, and a dread to my friends; those who see me outside flee from me.
13. Like a dead man, I was forgotten from the heart; I became like a lost vessel.
14. For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, when they assembled together against me and plotted to take my life.
15. But I trusted in You, O Lord; I said, "You are my God.”
16. My times are in Your hand; save me from the hands of my enemies and pursuers.
17. Shine Your countenance upon Your servant; deliver me in Your kindness.
18. O Lord, let me not be ashamed, for I have called You; let the wicked be shamed, let them be silent to the grave.
19. Let the lips of falsehood-which speak insolently against the righteous, with arrogance and contempt-be struck dumb.
20. How abundant is Your good that You have hidden for those who fear You; in the presence of man, You have acted for those who take refuge in You.
21. Conceal them from the haughtiness of man, in the shelter of Your countenance; hide them in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
22. Blessed is the Lord, for He has been wondrous in His kindness to me in a besieged city.
23. I said in my panic, "I am cut off from before Your eyes!" But in truth, You heard the voice of my pleas when I cried to You.
24. Love the Lord, all His pious ones! The Lord preserves the faithful, and repays with exactness those who act haughtily.
25. Be strong and fortify your hearts, all who put their hope in the Lord!
Chapter 32
This psalm speaks of forgiveness of sin, and of the good fortune of one who repents and confesses to God wholeheartedly.
1. By David, a maskil.1Fortunate is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2. Fortunate is the man to whom the Lord does not reckon his sin, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3. When I was silent, my limbs wore away through my wailing all day long.
4. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my marrow became [dry] as the droughts of summer, Selah.
5. My sin I made known to You, my iniquity I did not cover. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and You have forgiven the iniquity of my transgression forever.
6. For this let every pious man pray to You, at a time when You may be found; indeed, the flood of many waters will not reach him.
7. You are a refuge to me; protect me from distress; surround me with songs of deliverance forever.
8. I will enlighten you and educate you in the path you should go; I will advise you with what I have seen.
9. Be not like a horse, like a mule, senseless, that must be muzzled with bit and bridle when being adorned, so that it not come near you.
10. Many are the agonies of the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord is surrounded by kindness.
11. Rejoice in the Lord and exult, you righteous ones! Sing joyously, all you upright of heart!
FOOTNOTES
1.A psalm intended to enlighten and impart knowledge(Metzudot).
Chapter 33
This psalm teaches the righteous and upright to praise God. For the more one knows of the Torah's wisdom, the more should he praise God, for he knows and understands His greatness.
1. Sing joyously to the Lord, you righteous ones; it is fitting for the upright to offer praise.
2. Extol the Lord with a harp; sing to Him with a ten-stringed lyre.
3. Sing to Him a new song; play well with sounds of jubilation.
4. For the word of the Lord is just; all His deeds are done in faithfulness.
5. He loves righteousness and justice; the kindness of the Lord fills the earth.
6. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their hosts.
7. He gathers the waters of the sea like a mound; He places the deep waters in vaults.
8. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world tremble before Him.
9. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it endured.
10. The Lord has annulled the counsel of nations; He has foiled the schemes of peoples.
11. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart throughout all generations.
12. Fortunate is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose as a heritage for Himself.
13. The Lord looks down from heaven; He beholds all mankind.
14. From His dwelling-place He looks intently upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15. It is He Who fashions the hearts of them all, Who perceives all their actions.
16. The king is not saved by a great army, nor a warrior rescued by great might.
17. The horse is a false guarantee for victory; with all its great strength it offers no escape.
18. But the eye of the Lord is directed toward those who fear Him, toward those who hope for His kindness,
19. to save their soul from death and to sustain them during famine.
20. Our soul yearns for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
21. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, for we have put our trust in His Holy Name.
22. May Your kindness, Lord, be upon us, as we have placed our hope in You.
Chapter 34
This psalm tells of when David was in grave danger while at the palace of Achish, brother of Goliath. David acted like a madman, letting spittle run down his beard, and writing on the doors: "Achish, king of Gath, owes me one hundred thousand gold coins," leading Achish to eject him from the palace. In his joy, David composed this psalm in alphabetical sequence.
1. By David, when he feigned insanity before Avimelech,1 who then drove him away, and he left.
2. I bless the Lord at all times; His praise is always in my mouth.
3. My soul glories in the Lord; let the humble hear it and rejoice.
4. Exalt the Lord with me, and let us extol His Name together.
5. I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
6. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never humiliated.
7. This poor man called, and the Lord heard; He delivered him from all his tribulations.
8. The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
9. Taste and see that the Lord is good; fortunate is the man who trusts in Him.
10. Fear the Lord, you His holy ones, for those who fear Him suffer no want.
11. Young lions may want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
12. Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
13. Who is the man who desires life, who loves long life wherein to see goodness?
14. Guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
15. Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.
16. The eyes of the Lord are directed toward the righteous, and His ears toward their cry.
17. The wrath of the Lord is upon the evildoers, to excise their memory from the earth.
18. But when they [repent and] cry out, the Lord hears, and saves them from all their troubles.
19. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, and saves those with a crushed spirit.
20. Many are the afflictions of a righteous person, but the Lord rescues him from them all.
21. He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.
22. Evil brings death upon the wicked, and the enemies of the righteous are condemned.
23. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants; all who take shelter in Him are not condemned.
FOOTNOTES
1.All Philistine kings are referred to by the name Avimelech (Rashi).
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Devarim, 3rd Portion Deuteronomy 1:22-1:38 with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 1
22And all of you approached me and said, "Let us send men ahead of us so that they will search out the land for us and bring us back word by which route we shall go up, and to which cities we shall come." כבוַתִּקְרְב֣וּן אֵלַי֘ כֻּלְּכֶם֒ וַתֹּֽאמְר֗וּ נִשְׁלְחָ֤ה אֲנָשִׁים֙ לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ וְיַחְפְּרוּ־לָ֖נוּ אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְיָשִׁ֤בוּ אֹתָ֨נוּ֙ דָּבָ֔ר אֶת־הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַֽעֲלֶה־בָּ֔הּ וְאֵת֙ הֶֽעָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָבֹ֖א אֲלֵיהֶֽן:
And you approached me-all of you:: in a state of disorder. But further on (Deut. 5:20-21) it says, “You approached me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders, and you said, Behold [the Lord, our God] has shown us [His glory and His greatness].” That approach to me was proper-young people respecting their elders, sending these before them. Here, however, you approached me all of you, in a state of disorder, the young pushing aside their elders, the elders pushing aside their heads. ותקרבון אלי כלכם: בערבוביא, ולהלן הוא אומר (דברים ה, כ - כא) ותקרבון אלי כל ראשי שבטיכם וזקניכם ותאמרו הן הראנו וגו', אותה קריבה היתה הוגנת. ילדים מכבדים את הזקנים ושלחום לפניהם, וזקנים מכבדים את הראשים ללכת לפניהם, אבל כאן, ותקרבון אלי כולכם, בערבוביא. ילדים דוחפין את הזקנים וזקנים דוחפין את הראשים:
and bring us back word: [meaning that they will report] which language they [the Canaanites] speak. וישבו אתנו דבר: באיזה לשון הם מדברים:
by which route we shall go up: There is no road without a crooked portion. את הדרך אשר נעלה בה: אין דרך שאין בה עקמימות:
and to which cities we shall come: first, to capture (Sifrei). ואת הערים אשר נבא אליהן: תחלה לכבוש:
23And the matter pleased me; so I took twelve men from you, one man for each tribe. כגוַיִּיטַ֥ב בְּעֵינַ֖י הַדָּבָ֑ר וָֽאֶקַּ֤ח מִכֶּם֙ שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֣ר אֲנָשִׁ֔ים אִ֥ישׁ אֶחָ֖ד לַשָּֽׁבֶט:
And the matter pleased me: “It pleased me, but it did not please the Omnipresent.” But if it pleased Moses, why does he mention it in his rebukes? This may be compared to a man who says to his friend, “Sell me this donkey of yours.” He replies to him, “Yes.” “Will you give it to me to test it?” He replies, “Yes.” “May I test it on mountains and hills?” Again he replies, “Yes.” When he sees that his friend does not withhold anything from him, the purchaser thinks to himself, “This man is certain that I shall not find any defect in the donkey,” and he immediately says to him,“Take your money; I need not test it now.” I too, consented to your words, thinking that you would perhaps reconsider when you saw that I do not withhold it from you, but you did not reconsider (Sifrei). וייטב בעיני הדבר: בעיני ולא בעיני המקום. ואם בעיני משה היה טוב למה אמרה בתוכחות, משל לאדם שאומר לחבירו מכור לי חמורך זה, אמר לו הן. נותנו אתה לי לנסיון, אמר לו הן. בהרים וגבעות, אמר לו הן. כיון שראה שאין מעכבו כלום, אמר הלוקח בלבו, בטוח הוא זה שלא אמצא בו מום. מיד אמר לו טול מעותיך ואיני מנסהו. מעתה אף אני הודיתי לדבריכם, שמא תחזרו בכם כשתראו שאיני מעכב, ואתם לא חזרתם בכם:
so I took… from you: from the select that were among you, of the finest that were among you (Sifrei). ואקח מכם: מן הברורים שבכם מן המסולתים שבכם:
twelve men… one man for each tribe: [This] tells [us] that the tribe of Levi was not with them. (Sifrei). שנים עשר אנשים איש אחד לשבט: מגיד שלא היה שבט לוי עמהם:
24And they turned and went up to the mountain, and they came to the valley of Eshkol and spied it out. כדוַיִּפְנוּ֙ וַיַּֽעֲל֣וּ הָהָ֔רָה וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ עַד־נַ֣חַל אֶשְׁכֹּ֑ל וַיְרַגְּל֖וּ אֹתָֽהּ:
[And they came] to the valley of Eshkol: [This] tells us that it [here it was so called] on account of a future event [that the spies took from there a cluster (אֶשְׁכֹּל) of grapes]. (Sifrei). עד נחל אשכל: מגיד שנקרא על שם סופו:
and [they] spied it out: This teaches us that they traversed through it along four lines, along the length and the breadth (Sifrei.). וירגלו אותה: מלמד שהלכו בה ארבעה אומנין שתי וערב:
25And they took some of the fruit of the land in their hand[s] and brought it down to us, brought us back word, and said, "The land the Lord, our God, is giving us is good." כהוַיִּקְח֤וּ בְיָדָם֙ מִפְּרִ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיּוֹרִ֖דוּ אֵלֵ֑ינוּ וַיָּשִׁ֨בוּ אֹתָ֤נוּ דָבָר֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ טוֹבָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽנוּ:
and brought it down to us: This tells us that the land of Israel is higher than all other lands (Sifrei). ויורדו אלינו: מגיד שארץ ישראל גבוהה מכל הארצות:
And they said, The land… is good: Who were the ones who spoke about its goodness? Joshua and Caleb (Sifrei.). ויאמרו טובה הארץ: מי הם שאמרו טובתה, יהושע וכלב:
26But you did not want to go up, and you rebelled against the commandment of the Lord, your God. כווְלֹ֥א אֲבִיתֶ֖ם לַֽעֲלֹ֑ת וַתַּמְר֕וּ אֶת־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם:
and you rebelled: Heb. וַתַּמְרוּ. This is an expression denoting confrontation; you confronted His words. ותמרו: לשון התרסה, התרסתם כנגד מאמרו:
27You murmured in your tents and said, '"Because the Lord hates us, He took us out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand[s] of the Amorites to exterminate us." כזוַתֵּרָֽגְנ֤וּ בְאָֽהֳלֵיכֶם֙ וַתֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ בְּשִׂנְאַ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ אֹתָ֔נוּ הֽוֹצִיאָ֖נוּ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם לָתֵ֥ת אֹתָ֛נוּ בְּיַ֥ד הָֽאֱמֹרִ֖י לְהַשְׁמִידֵֽנוּ:
You murmured: Heb. וַתֵּרָגְנוּ. This is an expression denoting slander. It is similar to (Prov. 18:8)“The words of a נִרְגָּן ” i.e., of a slanderer. ותרגנו: לשון הרע, וכן (משלי יח, ח) דברי נרגן, אדם המוציא דבה:
Because the Lord hates us: Really, however, He loves you, but you hate Him. A common parable says: What is in your own heart about your friend, [you imagine] is in his heart about you (Sifrei). בשנאת ה' אתנו: והוא היה אוהב אתכם, אבל אתם שונאים אותו. משל הדיוט אומר, מה דבלבך על רחמך מה דבלביה עלך:
Because the Lord hates us, He took us out of the land of Egypt: His taking us out was due to hatred [they claimed]. This may be compared to a mortal king who had two sons and two fields, one well irrigated, the other dependent upon rain only. To the son he loved, he gave the well irrigated field, and to the one he hated, he gave the one dependent upon rain only. The land of Egypt is a well irrigated country, for the Nile rises and irrigates it, while the land of Canaan is dependent upon rain only. He took us out of [the irrigated] Egypt to give us the arid land of Canaan (Num. Rabbah 17). בשנאת ה' אתנו הוציאנו מארץ מצרים: הוצאתו לשנאה היתה. משל למלך בשר ודם, שהיו לו שני בנים ויש לו שתי שדות אחת של שקיא ואחת של בעל, למי שהוא אוהב נותן של שקיא, ולמי שהוא שונא נותן לו של בעל. ארץ מצרים של שקיא היא, שנילוס עולה ומשקה אותה, וארץ כנען של בעל, והוציאנו ממצרים לתת לנו את ארץ כנען:
28Where shall we go up? Our brothers have discouraged us, saying, "A people greater and taller than we; cities great and fortified up to the heavens, and we have even seen the sons of Anakim there." כחאָנָ֣ה | אֲנַ֣חְנוּ עֹלִ֗ים אַחֵ֩ינוּ֩ הֵמַ֨סּוּ אֶת־לְבָבֵ֜נוּ לֵאמֹ֗ר עַ֣ם גָּד֤וֹל וָרָם֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ עָרִ֛ים גְּדֹלֹ֥ת וּבְצוּרֹ֖ת בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְגַם־בְּנֵ֥י עֲנָקִ֖ים רָאִ֥ינוּ שָֽׁם:
The cities are great and fortified up to the heavens: The Scriptural text here is talking in exaggerated terms (Sifrei; Chullin 90b). ערים גדולות ובצורות בשמים: דברו הכתובים לשון הבאי:
29And I said to you, "Do not be broken or afraid of them. כטוָֽאֹמַ֖ר אֲלֵכֶ֑ם לֹא־תַֽעַרְצ֥וּן וְלֹא־תִֽירְא֖וּן מֵהֶֽם:
Do not be broken: Heb. לֹא תַעַרְצוּן. This is an expression denoting breaking, as the Targum renders it: [Do not be broken], and similar to it (Job 30:6), “To dwell in the cleft of the valleys (בערוץ נחלים),” i.e., to break through the valleys. לא תערצון: לשון שבירה כתרגומו, ודומה לו (איוב ל, ו) בערוץ נחלים לשכון, לשבור נחלים:
30The Lord, your God, Who goes before you He will fight for you, just as He did for you in Egypt before your very eyes, ליְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ הַֽהֹלֵ֣ךְ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם ה֖וּא יִלָּחֵ֣ם לָכֶ֑ם כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֧ה אִתְּכֶ֛ם בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם לְעֵֽינֵיכֶֽם:
will fight for you: Heb. יִלָּחֵם לָכֶם - [לָכֶם means] on your behalf. ילחם לכם: בשבילכם:
31and in the desert, where you have seen how the Lord, your God, has carried you as a man carries his son, all the way that you have gone, until you have come to this place. לאוּבַמִּדְבָּר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאִ֔יתָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נְשָֽׂאֲךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשָּׂא־אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־בְּנ֑וֹ בְּכָל־הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֲלַכְתֶּ֔ם עַד־בֹּֽאֲכֶ֖ם עַד־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה:
and in the desert, where you have seen: This refers to the preceding verse: “just as He did for you in Egypt,” and also what He did “in the desert, where you have seen how the Lord, your God, has carried you, etc.” ובמדבר אשר ראית: מוסב על מקרא שלמעלה הימנו (פסוק ל), ככל אשר עשה אתכם במצרים, ועשה אף במדבר אשר ראית אשר נשאך וגו':
as a man carries his son: As I explained regarding [the verses]:“And the angel of God who went before the camp of the Israelites traveled and went behind, etc.” (Exod. 14:19-20). This may be compared to one who is traveling on a road, with his son in front of him. If bandits come to kidnap [the son, he removes him from in front of him and places him behind him]. כאשר ישא איש את בנו: כמו שפירשתי אצל (שמות יד, יט) ויסע מלאך האלהים ההולך לפני מחנה ישראל וגו'. משל למהלך בדרך ובנו לפניו באו לסטים לשבותו וכו':
32But regarding this matter, you do not believe the Lord, your God, לבוּבַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה אֵֽינְכֶם֙ מַֽאֲמִינִ֔ם בַּֽיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם:
Yet regarding this matter: that He promises you to bring you to the Land, you do not believe Him. ובדבר הזה: שהוא מבטיחכם להביאכם אל הארץ, אינכם מאמינים בו:
33Who goes before you on the way, to search out a place for you, in which to encamp, in fire at night, to enable you to see on the way you should go, and in a cloud by day." לגהַֽהֹלֵ֨ךְ לִפְנֵיכֶ֜ם בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ לָת֥וּר לָכֶ֛ם מָק֖וֹם לַֽחֲנֹֽתְכֶ֑ם בָּאֵ֣שׁ | לַ֗יְלָה לַרְאֹֽתְכֶם֙ בַּדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וּבֶֽעָנָ֖ן יוֹמָֽם:
to enable you to see: Heb. לַרְאוֹתְכֶם, like לְהַרְאוֹתְכֶם, and similarly,“to cause it to lead them (לַנְחֹתָם) on the way” (Exod. 13:21) [like (לְהַנְחֹתָם)] and also,“To proclaim (לַשְׁמִעַ)) thanksgiving with a loud voice” (Ps. 26:7), [like לְהַשְׁמִיעַ], and so,“to go to tell (לַגִּיד) in Jezreel” (II Kings 9:15), [like לְהַגִּיד]. לראותכם: כמו להראותכם. וכן (שמות יג, כא) לנחותם הדרך, וכן (תהלים כו, ז) לשמיע בקול תודה, וכן (מלכים ב' ט, טו) ללכת לגיד ביזרעאל:
34And the Lord heard the sound of your words, and He became angry and swore, saying, לדוַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־ק֣וֹל דִּבְרֵיכֶ֑ם וַיִּקְצֹ֖ף וַיִּשָּׁבַ֥ע לֵאמֹֽר:
35'If any of these men of this evil generation sees the good land, which I swore to give your forefathers, להאִם־יִרְאֶ֥ה אִישׁ֙ בָּֽאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה הַדּ֥וֹר הָרָ֖ע הַזֶּ֑ה אֵ֚ת הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְׁבַּ֔עְתִּי לָתֵ֖ת לַֽאֲבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם:
36except Caleb the son of Jephunneh he will see it, and I will give him the land he trod upon, and to his children, because he has completely followed the Lord." לוזֽוּלָתִ֞י כָּלֵ֤ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּה֙ ה֣וּא יִרְאֶ֔נָּה וְלֽוֹ־אֶתֵּ֧ן אֶת־הָאָ֛רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר דָּֽרַךְ־בָּ֖הּ וּלְבָנָ֑יו יַ֕עַן אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִלֵּ֖א אַֽחֲרֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
[And to him will I give the land] that he trod upon: [i.e.] Hebron, as it says,,“And he [Caleb] came to Hebron” (Num. 13:22). אשר דרך בה: חברון, שנאמר (במדבר יג, כב) ויבא עד חברון:
37The Lord was also angry with me because of you, saying, "Neither will you go there. לזגַּם־בִּי֙ הִתְאַנַּ֣ף יְהֹוָ֔ה בִּגְלַלְכֶ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר גַּם־אַתָּ֖ה לֹֽא־תָבֹ֥א שָֽׁם:
Was angry: Heb. הִתְאַנַּף, became filled with anger. התאנף: נתמלא רוגז:
38But Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you he will go there; strengthen him, for he will cause Israel to inherit it. לחיְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ בִּן־נוּן֙ הָֽעֹמֵ֣ד לְפָנֶ֔יךָ ה֖וּא יָ֣בֹא שָׁ֑מָּה אֹת֣וֹ חַזֵּ֔ק כִּי־ה֖וּא יַנְחִלֶ֥נָּה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 29 - 34
• Chapter 29
The Name of God appears eighteen times in this psalm, corresponding to which our Sages established eighteen blessings-the Amidah. The entire psalm can be interpreted as referring to the giving of the Torah and the ingathering of the exiles.
1. A psalm by David. Render to the Lord, children of the mighty, render to the Lord honor and strength.
2. Render to the Lord the honor due to His Name; bow down to the Lord in resplendent holiness.
3. The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over mighty waters.
4. The voice of the Lord resounds with might; the voice of the Lord resounds with majesty.
5. The voice of the Lord breaks cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
6. He makes them leap like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7. The voice of the Lord strikes flames of fire.
8. The voice of the Lord makes the desert tremble; the Lord causes the desert of Kadesh to tremble.
9. The voice of the Lord causes the does to calve, and strips the forests bare; and in His Sanctuary all proclaim His glory.
10. The Lord sat [as King] at the Flood; the Lord will sit as King forever.
11. The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
Chapter 30
This psalm teaches one not to be distressed if God visits suffering upon him in this world, for only through suffering can one enter the World to Come. Even one of great spiritual stature should realize that his stability is not guaranteed, but that all is in the hands of God.
1. A psalm, a song of dedication of the House, by David.
2. I exalt You, Lord, for You have uplifted me, and did not allow my enemies to rejoice over me.
3. Lord, my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.
4. Lord, You have brought up my soul from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not descend to the pit.
5. Sing to the Lord, you His pious ones, and praise His holy Name.
6. For His wrath endures but for a moment, when He is conciliated there is [long] life; when one retires at night weeping, joy will come in the morning.
7. In my security I thought, "I shall never falter.”
8. Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; when You concealed Your countenance I was alarmed.
9. I called to You, O Lord, and I made supplication to my Lord:
10. What profit is there in my death, in my going down to the grave? Can dust praise You? Can it proclaim Your truth
11. Lord, hear and be gracious to me; Lord, be a help to me.
12. You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have undone my sackcloth and girded me with joy.
13. Therefore my soul shall sing to You, and not be silent; Lord my God, I will praise You forever.
Chapter 31
Composed by a destitute and oppressed David, running from Saul while placing his trust in God, this psalm instructs man to put his trust in God alone.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. In You I have taken shelter, O Lord, I shall never be shamed; rescue me in Your righteousness.
3. Turn Your ear to me, save me quickly; be to me a rock of refuge, a fortress to deliver me.
4. For You are my rock and my fortress; for the sake of Your Name, direct me and lead me.
5. Remove me from the net they planted for me, for You are my stronghold.
6. I entrust my spirit into Your hand; You will redeem me, Lord, God of truth.
7. I despise those who anticipate worthless vanities; but I trust in the Lord.
8. I will rejoice and delight in Your kindness, for You have seen my affliction; You know the troubles of my soul.
9. You have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet on spacious ground.
10. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from vexation-my soul and my stomach.
11. For my life is spent in sorrow, my years in sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are wasted away.
12. Because of my adversaries I have become a disgrace-exceedingly to my neighbors, and a dread to my friends; those who see me outside flee from me.
13. Like a dead man, I was forgotten from the heart; I became like a lost vessel.
14. For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, when they assembled together against me and plotted to take my life.
15. But I trusted in You, O Lord; I said, "You are my God.”
16. My times are in Your hand; save me from the hands of my enemies and pursuers.
17. Shine Your countenance upon Your servant; deliver me in Your kindness.
18. O Lord, let me not be ashamed, for I have called You; let the wicked be shamed, let them be silent to the grave.
19. Let the lips of falsehood-which speak insolently against the righteous, with arrogance and contempt-be struck dumb.
20. How abundant is Your good that You have hidden for those who fear You; in the presence of man, You have acted for those who take refuge in You.
21. Conceal them from the haughtiness of man, in the shelter of Your countenance; hide them in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
22. Blessed is the Lord, for He has been wondrous in His kindness to me in a besieged city.
23. I said in my panic, "I am cut off from before Your eyes!" But in truth, You heard the voice of my pleas when I cried to You.
24. Love the Lord, all His pious ones! The Lord preserves the faithful, and repays with exactness those who act haughtily.
25. Be strong and fortify your hearts, all who put their hope in the Lord!
Chapter 32
This psalm speaks of forgiveness of sin, and of the good fortune of one who repents and confesses to God wholeheartedly.
1. By David, a maskil.1Fortunate is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2. Fortunate is the man to whom the Lord does not reckon his sin, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3. When I was silent, my limbs wore away through my wailing all day long.
4. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my marrow became [dry] as the droughts of summer, Selah.
5. My sin I made known to You, my iniquity I did not cover. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and You have forgiven the iniquity of my transgression forever.
6. For this let every pious man pray to You, at a time when You may be found; indeed, the flood of many waters will not reach him.
7. You are a refuge to me; protect me from distress; surround me with songs of deliverance forever.
8. I will enlighten you and educate you in the path you should go; I will advise you with what I have seen.
9. Be not like a horse, like a mule, senseless, that must be muzzled with bit and bridle when being adorned, so that it not come near you.
10. Many are the agonies of the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord is surrounded by kindness.
11. Rejoice in the Lord and exult, you righteous ones! Sing joyously, all you upright of heart!
FOOTNOTES
1.A psalm intended to enlighten and impart knowledge(Metzudot).
Chapter 33
This psalm teaches the righteous and upright to praise God. For the more one knows of the Torah's wisdom, the more should he praise God, for he knows and understands His greatness.
1. Sing joyously to the Lord, you righteous ones; it is fitting for the upright to offer praise.
2. Extol the Lord with a harp; sing to Him with a ten-stringed lyre.
3. Sing to Him a new song; play well with sounds of jubilation.
4. For the word of the Lord is just; all His deeds are done in faithfulness.
5. He loves righteousness and justice; the kindness of the Lord fills the earth.
6. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their hosts.
7. He gathers the waters of the sea like a mound; He places the deep waters in vaults.
8. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world tremble before Him.
9. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it endured.
10. The Lord has annulled the counsel of nations; He has foiled the schemes of peoples.
11. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart throughout all generations.
12. Fortunate is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose as a heritage for Himself.
13. The Lord looks down from heaven; He beholds all mankind.
14. From His dwelling-place He looks intently upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15. It is He Who fashions the hearts of them all, Who perceives all their actions.
16. The king is not saved by a great army, nor a warrior rescued by great might.
17. The horse is a false guarantee for victory; with all its great strength it offers no escape.
18. But the eye of the Lord is directed toward those who fear Him, toward those who hope for His kindness,
19. to save their soul from death and to sustain them during famine.
20. Our soul yearns for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
21. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, for we have put our trust in His Holy Name.
22. May Your kindness, Lord, be upon us, as we have placed our hope in You.
Chapter 34
This psalm tells of when David was in grave danger while at the palace of Achish, brother of Goliath. David acted like a madman, letting spittle run down his beard, and writing on the doors: "Achish, king of Gath, owes me one hundred thousand gold coins," leading Achish to eject him from the palace. In his joy, David composed this psalm in alphabetical sequence.
1. By David, when he feigned insanity before Avimelech,1 who then drove him away, and he left.
2. I bless the Lord at all times; His praise is always in my mouth.
3. My soul glories in the Lord; let the humble hear it and rejoice.
4. Exalt the Lord with me, and let us extol His Name together.
5. I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
6. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never humiliated.
7. This poor man called, and the Lord heard; He delivered him from all his tribulations.
8. The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
9. Taste and see that the Lord is good; fortunate is the man who trusts in Him.
10. Fear the Lord, you His holy ones, for those who fear Him suffer no want.
11. Young lions may want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
12. Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
13. Who is the man who desires life, who loves long life wherein to see goodness?
14. Guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
15. Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.
16. The eyes of the Lord are directed toward the righteous, and His ears toward their cry.
17. The wrath of the Lord is upon the evildoers, to excise their memory from the earth.
18. But when they [repent and] cry out, the Lord hears, and saves them from all their troubles.
19. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, and saves those with a crushed spirit.
20. Many are the afflictions of a righteous person, but the Lord rescues him from them all.
21. He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.
22. Evil brings death upon the wicked, and the enemies of the righteous are condemned.
23. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants; all who take shelter in Him are not condemned.
FOOTNOTES
1.All Philistine kings are referred to by the name Avimelech (Rashi).
Tanya: Igeret HaTeshuva , end of Chapter 11
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Tuesday, 5 AV , 5776 · 9 August 2016
• Igeret HaTeshuva , end of Chapter 11
• ומה שכתוב: וחטאתי נגדי תמיד
As to the verse that says,1 “My sin is always before me,”
אין המכוון להיות תמיד עצב נבזה, חס ושלום
this does not imply that one ought to be constantly melancholy and humiliated, G‑d forbid,
דהא כתיב בתריה: תשמיעני ששון ושמחה וגו'
for later verses declare, 2 “Let me hear gladness and joy….,”
ורוח נדיבה תסמכני וגו'
and3 “uphold me with a spirit of magnanimity….”;
ומשום שצריך להיות כל ימיו בתשובה עילאה, שהיא בשמחה רבה כנ"ל
moreover,4 “Throughout one's days one should experience teshuvah [ila'ah],” [a manner of repentance] that is marked by great joy, as noted above.
How, then, are we to understand that “my sin is always before me”?
אלא נגדי דייקא
Rather, [the term used for “before me” is] specifically negdi, which implies being opposite, but at a certain distance,
כמו: ואתה תתיצב מנגד, מנגד סביב לאהל מועד יחנו
as in the verse that says,5 “You shall stand at a distance (mineged)”; or:6 “at a distance (mineged) around the Tent of Assembly shall they camp.”
ופירש רש"י מרחוק
Rashi defines the above term lit., “opposite” as “at a distance.”
Thus, one should always retain an awareness of his having sinned — but “at a distance,” i.e., at the back of his mind.
והמכוון רק לבלתי רום לבבו
Hence, the intention [of our verse] is merely that one's heart should not grow haughty,
ולהיות שפל רוח בפני כל האדם
and that he be humble of spirit before all men,
כשהיה לזכרון בין עיניו שחטא נגד ה'
because there will be a remembrance between his eyes that he has sinned before G‑d.
Memories of past sin are thus not intended to engender despondency, G‑d forbid.
ואדרבה, לענין השמחה, יועיל זכרון החטא ביתר שאת
In fact, as far as joy is concerned, the remembrance of one's past sins will be especially effective
בכדי לקבל בשמחה כל המאורעות המתרגשות ובאות
in encouraging happiness in the face of whatever misfortunes threaten to overtake him,
בין מן השמים בין על ידי הבריות
whether from heaven or through the agency of man,
בדיבור או במעשה
whether in speech or in deed.
Any such physical or verbal offense will be accepted with equanimity when one recalls that he has sinned in the past, and that his present afflictions in fact assist in his atonement.
(וזו עצה טובה להנצל מכעס וכל מיני קפידא וכו')
(7This [humility on account of one's imperfect record] is good counsel that enables a man to be immune to becoming angry or taking offense in any way…..)
וכמאמר רז"ל: הנעלבים ואינן עולבין
As our Sages declare,8 “Those who are humiliated yet do not humiliate in turn,
שומעים חרפתם ואין משיבים
who hear their insult and do not retort,
עושים מאהבה ושמחים ביסורים וכו'
who perform out of love and are happy in affliction, [concerning them does Scripture say,9 `Those who love Him [shall be] like the sun rising in all its might'].”
Three distinct categories are mentioned here, in ascending order: “Those who are humiliated yet do not humiliate in turn” do respond to the insults of others, but do not retaliate in kind. Those of the second category “hear their insult and do not retort” at all. Those of the third category actually “are happy in affliction” — because they remember their past sins, and are glad to accept their present suffering as a means of penance.
וכל המעביר על מדותיו מעבירים לו על כל פשעיו
Moreover,10 “whoever passes over his feelings, all his sins are passed over.”
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Tehillim 51:5. |
| 2. | Loc. cit., v. 10. |
| 3. | Loc. cit., v. 14. |
| 4. | Cf. Shabbat 153a. |
| 5. | II Shmuel 18:13. |
| 6. | Bamidbar 2:2. |
| 7. | Parentheses are in the original text. |
| 8. | Shabbat 88b; Gittin 36b. |
| 9. | Shoftim 5:31. |
| 10. | Rosh HaShanah 17a. |
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Tuesday, 5 AV , 5776 · 9 August 2016
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Tuesday, 5 AV , 5776 · 9 August 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Negative Commandment 250
Honesty in Commerce
"When you make a sale to your fellow or make a purchase from the hand of your fellow, you shall not defraud one another"—Leviticus 25:14.
It is forbidden for a seller or buyer to cheat one another in the course of commerce [by deceptively overcharging or underpaying for merchandise].
Full text of this Mitzvah »
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Negative Commandment 250
Honesty in Commerce
"When you make a sale to your fellow or make a purchase from the hand of your fellow, you shall not defraud one another"—Leviticus 25:14.
It is forbidden for a seller or buyer to cheat one another in the course of commerce [by deceptively overcharging or underpaying for merchandise].
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Honesty in Commerce
Negative Commandment 250
Translated by Berel Bell
The 250th prohibition is that we are forbidden from cheating each other in business when buying and selling.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "When you sell something to your neighbor, or buy something from your neighbor's hand, do not cheat one another."
The Sifra states, "The verse 'Do not cheat one another' refers to cheating someone monetarily."2
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 4th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia.3
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 25:14.
2.This is known as ona'as mamon, as opposed to ona'as devarim, which is causing someone emotional distress by something you say. See N251.
3.49b ff.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Tum'at Met Tum'at Met - Chapter 24
• Tum'at Met - Chapter 24
Negative Commandment 250
Translated by Berel Bell
The 250th prohibition is that we are forbidden from cheating each other in business when buying and selling.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "When you sell something to your neighbor, or buy something from your neighbor's hand, do not cheat one another."
The Sifra states, "The verse 'Do not cheat one another' refers to cheating someone monetarily."2
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 4th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia.3
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 25:14.
2.This is known as ona'as mamon, as opposed to ona'as devarim, which is causing someone emotional distress by something you say. See N251.
3.49b ff.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Tum'at Met Tum'at Met - Chapter 24
• Tum'at Met - Chapter 24
1
The following rules apply when one divided a house by making a barrier of pure earthenware jugs from the ground until the roof and there is impurity in one side of the house. If the opening of the jugs was facing the pure side of the house, they protect the house from the spread of impurity. If the openings were facing the impurity, they do not protect it. If, when they were facing the impurity, he applied mud to them, whether from the inside, or the outside, we see whether the mud is able to stand on its own or not. If it can, it protects the house from impurity. If not, it does not and the entire house is considered as one ohel.
א
בית שחלקו בקנקנים טהורות מן הארץ ועד הקורה וטומאה בחציו האחד אם היה פי הקנקנים כלפי הטהורה הרי אלו מצילות ואם היו כלפי הטומאה אינם מצילות טחן בטיט בין מבפנים בין מבחוץ רואין אם יכול הטיט לעמוד בפני עצמו מציל ואם לאו אינו מציל והרי הכל אהל אחד:
2
The following rules apply when a house was divided in two with boards or with curtains, whether it was divided lengthwise or widthwise or facing the ceiling. If there was impurity in the remainder of the house, keilim between the partition and the wall or between the partition and the ceiling are pure. If there is impurity between the partition and the wall or between the partition and the ceiling, the keilim in the house are impure, because the partition does not prevent the impurity from departing and imparting impurity, as we explained with regard to a tent inside a house.
The following laws apply when there are keilim in the midst of the thickness of the partition itself, whether the impurity was within the area set off by the partition or within the house. If the place where the keilim were located was a handbreadth by a handbreadth or more, the keilim are impure. If it is smaller than that, they are pure. We have already explained the laws pertaining to a house that was divided horizontally.
ב
בית שחלקו בנסרים או ביריעות אם חלקו מן הצדדין או מכלפי הקורות והיתה הטומאה בבית כלים שבין המחיצה ובין הכותל או שבין המחיצה והקורות טהורין היתה הטומאה בין מחיצה לכותל או בין מחיצה לקורות כלים שבבית טמאין שאין המחיצה מונעת הטומאה שלא תצא ותטמא כמו שביארנו באהל שבתוך הבית היו הכלים בתוך עובי המחיצה עצמה בין שהיתה הטומאה לפנים מן המחיצה או שהיתה בתוך הבית אם היה מקום הכלים טפח על טפח טמאים ואם לאו טהורין וכבר ביארנו כיצד דין הבית אם חלקו מכלפי ארצו:
3
The following rules apply when there is a house that is filled with straw and there is not a cubic handbreadth of space between the straw and the ceiling. If there is impurity in the inner portion of the house, whether within the straw or in the space between the straw and the ceiling, all of the keilim that are opposite the space through which the impurity will depart in the entire open space of the entranceway are impure.
The following laws apply if the impurity was outside the straw, anywhere in the open space of the entranceway. If there are keilimwithin the straw and there is a handbreadth by a handbreadth by a handbreadth of open space, they are pure. If not, they are impure. If there is a cubic handbreadth of space between the straw and the ceiling, the keilim are impure regardless, for the straw does not intervene, because we can assume that the person's intention is to remove the straw.
ג
בית שהוא מלא תבן ואין בינו לבין הקורות פותח טפח טומאה בפנים בין בתוך התבן בין שהיתה בין תבן לקורות כל הכלים שכנגד יציאת הטומאה במלואו של פתח טמאים היתה טומאה חוץ לתבן במלואו של פתח כלים שבפנים אם יש במקומן טפח על טפח על רום טפח טהורין ואם לאו טמאין ואם יש בין תבן לקורות פותח טפח בין כך ובין כך טמאין שאין התבן חוצץ מפני שסתם תבן דעתו לפנותו:
4
When there is a wall between two houses and there is impurity in the midst of the wall, the house that is closest to the impurity is impure, while that which is closest to purity is pure. If the impurity was equidistant from them, they are both impure.
The following rules apply when the impurity was in one of the houses and the keilim were in the midst of the wall. If the keilimwere located from the center towards the impurity, they are impure; from the center towards the pure side, they are pure. If they are equidistant, they are impure.
Similar principles apply when there is a ceiling between a house and a loft and there is impurity in the ceiling. If it was located from the center downward, the house is impure and the loft is pure; from the center, upward, the loft is impure and the house is pure. If it is equidistant from them, they are both impure.
When there is impurity in either the house or the loft and there were keilim in the ceiling, if the keilim were located from the center towards the impurity, they are impure; from the center towards the pure side, they are pure. If they are equidistant, they are impure.
The following rules apply if the ceiling had nothing but open space above it and there was impurity in it. If the impurity was located from the center downward, the house is impure and a person standing on the roof - even if he is directly above the impurity - is pure, because the impurity spreads throughout the house. If the impurity was located from the center upward, the house is pure and a person standing on the roof directly above the impurity is impure. If the impurity was in the center of the ceiling, the house is impure and a person standing on the roof directly above the impurity is impure, because it is impossible to make an exact calculation.
ד
כותל שבין ב' בתים וטומאה בתוך הכותל בית הקרוב לטומאה טמא והקרוב לטהרה טהור היתה מחצה למחצה שניהן טמאין היתה הטומאה באחד מב' הבתים והכלים בתוך הכותל מחציו וכלפי טומאה טמאים מחציו וכלפי טהרה טהורין מחצה למחצה טמאין וכן מעזיבה שבין הבית והעלייה והטומאה בתוך מעזיבה מחציו ולמטה הבית טמא והעלייה טהורה מחציה ולמעלה העלייה טמאה והבית טהור מחצה למחצה שניהן טמאין היתה טומאה באחד מהן וכלים בתוך המעזיבה מחציה וכלפי טומאה טמאין מחציה וכלפי טהרה טהורין מחצה למחצה שניהן טמאין היתה המעזיבה לאויר וטומאה בתוכה מחציה ולמטה הבית טמא והעומד מלמעלה אפילו כנגד הטומאה טהור שהרי פשטה הטומאה בכל הבית היתה הטומאה מחציה ולמעלה הבית טהור והעומד מלמעלה כנגד הטומאה טמא מחצה למחצה הבית טמא והעומד מלמעלה כנגד הטומאה טמא שהרי אי אפשר לצמצם:
5
Similarly, if there is a wall that serves a house, it is considered as half and half.
What is implied? There is a wall that has open space on one side. The roof of the house is supported by the wall, but does not rest on the wall and there is impurity flush inside the wall. If the impurity is from the halfway point of the wall inward, the house is impure. A person standing on top of the wall is pure like someone standing on the roof of the house.
If the impurity is from the halfway point outward, the house is pure. A person standing on top of the wall, above the impurity is impure, because the impurity did not spread out in the house. If the impurity was in the center of the wall, the house is impure, but a person standing above it is pure, because the impurity spread within the house.
If one removed part of the wall from the inside or added to the outer portion of the wall until the impurity was in the inner half of the wall, the house is impure. If he removed part of the wall from the outside or added to the thickness of the inner portion of the wall until the impurity was in the outer half of the wall, the house is pure. If the impurity was placed on the top of the wall, even if it is on the inside, the house is pure.
ה
וכן כותל המשמש את הבית ידון מחצה למחצה כיצד כותל שהוא לאויר וגג הבית סמוך לכותל ואינו מורכב על הכותל וטומאה רצוצה בתוך הכותל היתה מחציו ולפנים הבית טמא והעומד מלמעלה על ראש הכותל טהור כעומד על גג הבית היתה מחציו ולחוץ הבית טהור והעומד מלמעלה כנגד הטומאה טמא שהרי לא פשטה הטומאה בתוך הבית היתה הטומאה מחצה למחצה הבית טמא והעומד מלמעלה טהור שהרי פשטה הטומאה בבית נטל מהכותל מבפנים או שהוסיף בכותל מבחוץ עד שנמצאת הטומאה מחצי כותל ולפנים הבית טמא נטל מבחוץ או שהוסיף בעובי הכותל מבפנים עד שנמצאת הטומאה מחצי כותל ולחוץ הבית טהור היתה הטומאה נתונה על גבי הכותל אפילו מחציו ולפנים הבית טהור:
6
When there is a structure that serves a wall, as long as there is part of the wall as thin as a garlic peel, the structure is considered as separate from the wall.
What is implied? A person dug two burial vaults or two burial caves one next to the other and thus there were two structures dug into the ground with a wall dividing between them. If there is impurity in the structures and keilim in the wall, as long as there is a portion of the wall as thin as a garlic peel covering them, they are pure. If there is impurity in the wall and keilim in the structures, if it is covered by a portion of the wall as thin as a garlic peel, they are pure.
Thus we can learn the following general principles: When there is a wall that was built from building materials, the status of the house depends on the half of the wall in which the impurity is located. When the wall was made of stone or of the thickness of the earth when one dug from either side, as long as there is part of the wall as thin as a garlic peel, the structure is considered as separate from the wall.
ו
בית המשמש את הכותל ידון כקליפת השום כיצד החופר שני כוכים או שתי מערות זו בצד זו עד שנמצאו שני בתים חפורים בקרקע ונעשה ביניהן כותל המבדיל בין שניהן והיתה טומאה בבתים וכלים בכותל אם יש עליהן כקליפת השום טהורין היתה טומאה בכותל זה וכלים בבתים אם יש עליהן כקליפת השום טהורים הנה למדת שכותל בנין נידון מחצה למחצה וכותל הסלע או שנעשה מגוש הארץ כשיחפור מכאן ומכאן נידון כקליפת השום:
7
When half of the thickness of a wall was constructed and half was a rock, the status of the house depends on the half of the wall in which the impurity is located.
ז
כותל שחצי עביו בנין וחציו סלע נדון מחצה למחצה:
8
If there was impurity between the beams of the roof of a house, even if there is only a portion of a board as thin as as a garlic peel under it, the house is pure. We consider the impurity as if it were flush in the earth and only the area directly below it or directly above it is impure. If there is a handbreadth by a handbreadth of empty space in its place, everything is impure. Similarly, if the impurity could be seen from the house, the house is impure regardless.
If there are two entrances, one on top of the other, and there is impurity in the wall between them, if it can be seen from one of them, that entrance is impure and the other is pure. If not, their status depends on the half of the wall in which the impurity is located.
ח
טומאה שהיתה בין קורות הבית אפילו אין תחתיה אלא כקליפת השום הבית טהור ורואין את הטומאה כאילו היא רצוצה בארץ ומטמאה כנגדה בלבד ואם יש במקומה טפח על טפח הכל טמא וכן אם היתה נראית בתוך הבית בין כך ובין כך הבית טמא שני פתחים זה על גבי זה וטומאה בכותל שביניהן אם נראית שהיא לתוך אחת מהן הוא טמא וחבירו טהור ואם לאו נידונין מחצה למחצה:
• Rambam - 3 Chapters: Mechirah Mechirah - Chapter Seven, Mechirah Mechirah - Chapter Eight, Mechirah Mechirah - Chapter Nine
• Mechirah - Chapter Seven
• Mechirah - Chapter Seven
1
Whenever a person pays money, but does not performmeshichah on the produce, although the purchaser does not acquire the movable property, as we have explained, the person who retracts - whether the purchaser or the seller - is considered not to have conducted himself in a Jewish manner. He is liable to receive the adjuration referred to as mi shepara. Even if the purchaser only made a deposit, if either of the parties involved retracts, that party is eligible to receive the adjuration referred to asmi shepara.
א
מי שנתן הדמים ולא משך הפירות אף על פי שלא נקנו המטלטלין כמו שביארנו כל החוזר בו בין לוקח בין מוכר לא עשה מעשה ישראל וחייב לקבל מי שפרע ואפילו נתן הערבון כל החוזר מקבל מי שפרע:
2
What does receiving the adjuration referred to as mi sheparainvolve? He is cursed in court and told: "May He who exacted retribution from the generation of the flood, the generation who were dispersed, the inhabitants of Sodom and Amorah, and the Egyptians who drowned in the sea, exact retribution from a person who does not keep his word."
After this curse is administered, the seller should return the money.
ב
וכיצד מקבל מי שפרע אוררין אותו בבית דין ואומרין מי שפרע מאנשי דור המבול ומאנשי דור הפלגה ומאנשי סדום ועמורה וממצרים שטבעו בים הוא יפרע ממי שאינו עומד בדבורו ואחר כך יחזור הדמים:
3
The following laws apply when a purchaser pays - either completely or partially - for movable property that he desires to purchase and then retracts and the seller tells him, "Come and collect your money." The money is considered to be an entrusted object. If it is stolen or lost, the seller is not responsible for it.
If, however, the seller retracts, the money is considered to be within his domain, and he is responsible for it even though he tells the purchaser, "Come and collect your money." This applies until he receives the adjuration mi shepara and tells the purchaser afterwards: "Come and collect your money."
ג
הנותן דמי המטלטלין או מקצת הדמים וחזר בו הלוקח ואמר לו המוכר בא וטול מעותיך הרי המעות אצלו כמו פקדון ואם נגנבו או אבדו אינו חייב באחריותן אבל אם חזר בו המוכר הרי המעות ברשותו וחייב באחריותן ואע"פ שחזר בו ואמר ללוקח בוא וטול את שלך עד שיקבל עליו מי שפרע ויאמר לו אח"כ בוא וטול את שלך:
4
When a person is owed a debt by a colleague and tells him: "Sell me this jug of wine for the debt that you owe me," and the seller agrees, it is considered as if the purchaser paid the money at that time. If either party retracts, he is liable to receive the adjuration mi shepara.
Moreover, if he sold him landed property in exchange for the debt, neither party is allowed to retract. This applies even if the money given as a loan is no longer in the seller's possession at the time of the sale.
ד
מי שהיה לו חוב אצל חבירו ואמר לו מכור לי חבית של יין בחוב שיש לי אצלך ורצה המוכר הרי זה כמי שנתן הדמים עתה וכל החוזר בו מקבל מי שפרע לפיכך אם מכר לו קרקע בחובו אין אחד מהן יכול לחזור בו ואף על פי שאין מעות המלוה מצויות בשעת המכר:
5
When a person purchases landed property, servants or other movable property from a colleague, a price is agreed upon, and the purchaser leaves collateral in place of the money, the transaction is not completed. Either of the two can retract; he is not even liable to receive the adjuration mi shepara.
ה
הלוקח מחבירו קרקע או עבדים או שאר מטלטלין ופסקו הדמים והניח משכון על הדמים לא קנה וכל הרוצה לחזור משניהם חוזר ואינו חייב לקבל מי שפרע:
6
The following rules apply when a verbal agreement alone was concluded with regard to the sale, a price was established, and the purchaser made a mark on the article so that he will have a sign that it is his. Even though the purchaser did not pay any money at all, if either of the parties retracts after the purchaser made the mark, he is liable to receive the adjuration mi shepara.
Moreover, if it is the accepted local business custom that making a mark constitutes a binding act of contract, by making that mark, the purchaser completes the transaction. Neither can retract, and the purchaser is liable to pay the price agreed to.
ו
מכר לו בדברים בלבד ופסקו הדמים ורשם הלוקח רושם על המקח כדי שיהיה לו סימן ידוע שהוא שלו אע"פ שלא נתן מהדמים כלום כל החוזר בו אחר שרשם מקבל מי שפרע ואם מנהג המדינה הוא שיקנה הרושם קנין גמור נקנה המקח ואין אחד מהן יכול לחזור בו ויהיה זה חייב ליתן דמים:
7
It is a clear fact that this law applies only when the mark is made in the presence of the seller, or if the seller says: "Mark your purchase." For this indicates that he has agreed to transfer ownership, as explained with regard to chazakah and meshichah.
ז
דבר ברור הוא שאין דין זה אלא בשרשם בפני המוכר או שאמר לו המוכר רשום מקחך שהרי גמר להקנותן כמו שביארנו בחזקה ובמשיכה:
8
When a person agrees to a transaction with a verbal commitment alone, it is appropriate for him to keep his word even though he did not take any money at all, did not make a mark on the article he desired to purchase, nor leave security. If either the seller or the purchaser retracts, although they are not liable to receive the adjuration mi shepara, they are considered to be faithless, and the spirit of the Sages does not derive satisfaction from them.
ח
הנושא ונותן בדברים בלבד הרי זה ראוי לעמוד לו בדבורו אף על פי שלא לקח מן הדמים כלום ולא רשם ולא הניח משכון וכל החוזר בו בין לוקח בין מוכר אע"פ שאינו חייב לקבל מי שפרע הרי זה ממחוסרי אמנה ואין רוח חכמים נוחה הימנו:
9
Similarly, if a person promised to give a colleague a gift and failed to do so, he is considered to be faithless.
When does the above apply? With regard to a small gift, because the recipient will depend on the promise that he was given. With regard to a large gift, by contrast, the giver is not considered to be faithless if he retracts, because the recipient does not believe that he will give him these articlesuntil he transfers ownership through a formal kinyan.
ט
וכן מי שאמר לחבירו ליתן לו מתנה ולא נתן הרי זה ממחוסרי אמנה במה דברים אמורים במתנה מועטת שהרי סמכה דעתו של מקבל כשהבטיחו אבל במתנה מרובה אין בה חסרון אמנה שהרי לא האמין זה שיתן לו דברים אלו עד שיקנה אותו בדברים שקונין בהן:
10
The following rule applies when a person gave money to a colleague to purchase landed property or movable property, and the agent left his colleague's money in his domain and went and purchased the object for himself with his own money. The purchase he performed is concluded; he is, however, considered to be a man of deceit.
י
הנותן מעות לחבירו לקנות לו קרקע או מטלטלין והניח מעות חבירו אצלו והלך וקנה לעצמו במעותיו מה שעשה עשוי והרי הוא מכלל הרמאין:
11
If the agent knows that the seller has affection for him and honors him and would sell the article to him, but not to the person who charged him with purchasing it, the agent is permitted to buy it for himself. He must, however, return and notify the one who sent him. If he is afraid that another person will come and purchase the article before him, he may purchase the article for himself and then notify the one who sent him.
יא
היה יודע שזה המוכר אוהב אותו ומכבדו ומוכר לו ואינו מוכר למשלחו הרי זה מותר לקנות לעצמו והוא שיחזור ויודיעו ואם מפחד שמא יבא אחר ויקדמנו לקנות הרי זה קונה לעצמו ואחר כך מודיעו:
12
Several Rabbinic authorities have ruled that if the agent purchased the article for himself using the money entrusted to him by his colleague after considering it to be a loan, he is considered to have purchased the article for himself. We accept his claim: "I considered the money that I was given to be a loan."
I differ and maintain that this ruling is not true. Instead, the purchase belongs to the principal, as will be explained with regard to the laws of an investment partnership.
יב
הורו מקצת המורים שאם קנה לעצמו במעות חבירו אחר שזקפן עליו מלוה הרי קנה לעצמו ומקבלין ממנו כשאמר זקפתי אותם המעות על עצמי במלוה ואני אומר שאין דין זה דין אמת אלא המקח של משלח כמו שיתבאר בדין העסק:
13
The following rules apply when three people give money to one agent to purchase an article for them: If the monies were mixed together, and the agent used only a portion of the money to purchase the article, the article is considered the property of all the purchasers, and they divide ownership of it according to their share of the money. This applies even if the intent of the agent was that the article be purchased by only one of them.
יג
שלשה שנתנו מעות לאחד לקנות להם המקח אם היו המעות מעורבות וקנה במקצת הדמים אע"פ שהיתה כוונת השליח שזה שקנה לאחד מהן הרי המקח של כולן וחולקין אותו לפי מעותיהן:
14
If the money of one of the partners was bound up and sealed, and that money was used to complete the purchase, the partner whose funds were used alone acquires ownership. This applies even if the agent intended that the article be acquired by all the partnership as a joint enterprise.
יד
היו מעות של אחד מהן צרורין וחתומין אף על פי שהיה בלב השליח הזה שיקנה המקח לכלן לא קנה אלא זה שנקנה המקח במעותיו בלבד:
Mechirah - Chapter Eight
1
The following rules apply when a person sold his field to a colleague for 1000 zuz, the purchaser paid a portion of the funds, and the seller was repeatedly demanding payment of the remainder. Even if there was only one zuz remaining unpaid, the purchaser does not acquire the entire field. This applies even if the seller had a deed of sale composed or the purchaser manifested ownership.
א
המוכר שדה לחבירו באלף זוז ונתן לו מקצת הדמים והיה יוצא ונכנס ותובע שאר הדמים אפילו לא נשאר לו אלא זוז אחד לא קנה הלוקח את כולה אע"פ שכתב השטר או החזיק:
2
In the above situation, if the purchaser retracts, the seller is given the upper hand. If he desires, he can tell the purchaser: "Here is your money," or he can tell him: "Acquire a portion of the land equivalent to the money that you paid me." In this instance, he gives the purchaser the land of least value.
If the seller retracts, the purchaser is given the upper hand. If he desires, he can tell the seller: "Give me my money," or he can tell him: "Give me a portion of the land equivalent to the money that I paid." In this instance, he takes the choicest portion of the land.
If the seller was not repeatedly demanding payment of the remainder, the purchaser acquires the entire property. Neither can retract. The remainder of the money unpaid at the time of sale is considered as any other debt.
ב
חזר בו הלוקח יד המוכר על העליונה רצה אומר לו הילך מעותיך או קנה מן הקרקע כנגד המעות שנתת לי ונותן לו מן הזבורית שבה ואם חזר המוכר יד הלוקח על העליונה רצה אומר לו תן לי מעותי או תן לי קרקע כנגד מעותי ונוטל מן היפה שבה ואם לא היה יוצא ונכנס ותובע קנה הלוקח את כולה ואין אחד מהן יכול לחזור בו ושאר הדמים עליו כשאר החובות:
3
If a person sold his field because it was of inferior quality, even when the seller repeatedly demands payment of the remainder of the money, the purchaser acquires the entire property, and he is not entitled to retract. For the reason the seller is pursuing the purchaser and demanding payment is not that he has not agreed to transfer ownership, but to prevent the purchaser from retracting.
ג
מכר שדהו מפני רעתה אף על פי שהוא יוצא ונכנס ותובע שאר הדמים קנה הכל ואין הלוקח יכול לחזור בו שזה שתובע ורודף לא מפני שעדיין לא גמר והקנה אלא כדי שלא יחזור בו הלוקח:
4
The same law applies with regard to the sale of movable property. Although the purchaser draws produce after him and brings it into his domain, if the seller repeatedly demands payment of the remainder of the money, the purchaser does not acquire the goods. The person who retracts has the lower hand, as has been explained above,unless the seller sold the goods because of their inferior quality. In such an instance, the purchaser acquires all the goods.
ד
וכן הדין במוכר מטלטלין אף על פי שמשך הלוקח הפירות והוציאן לרשותו והמוכר נכנס ויוצא על שאר הדמים לא קנה ויד החוזר בו על התחתונה כמו שביארנו אא"כ מכר מפני רעת ממכרו והרי זה קנה הכל:
5
When a person buys a field worth 100 zuz for 200, and the seller repeatedly demands payment of the remainder of the money, the status of the transaction remains an unresolved question: Is the person considered to be one who sold his field because of its inferior quality, and he is demanding payment only because he sold it for more than its worth? Or he is not considered to be one who sold his field because of its inferior quality, and he is demanding payment because he did not decide to complete its sale until he received all the money?
Because the matter is unresolved, neither party is allowed to retract. If the seller seizes possession of a portion of the property that was sold equivalent to the worth of the money left unpaid, it should not be expropriated from his possession.
ה
לקח שוה מאה במאתים והמוכר יוצא ונכנס לתבוע שאר הדמים הרי זה ספק אם הוא כמוכר שדהו מפני רעתה ואינו תובע אלא מפני שמכר ביותר או אינו כמוכר שדהו מפני רעתה וזה שתובע מפני שעדיין לא גמר להקנותו עד שיקח כל הדמים לפיכך הרוצה לחזור משניהם אינו יכול לחזור ואם תפס המוכר ממקח שמכר כנגד המעות שנשארו לו אין מוציאין מידו:
6
When a person acquires something from a colleague and pays him money, but errs in the amount of money he gave him the transaction is valid. If afterwards the seller lodges a claim against the purchaser, saying: "You were supposed to pay me 100 zuz,and you paid me only ninety," the transaction is still viable. The purchaser must, however, pay the additional ten zuz.
The above applies even though several years have passed since the transaction and applies with regard to the sale of both landed property and movable property.
ו
הקונה דבר מחבירו ונתן לו הדמים וטעה במניין המעות ולאחר זמן תבעו המוכר ואמר לו מאה שנתת לי אינם אלא תשעים נקנה המקח ומחזיר לו העשרה אפילו אחר כמה שנים בין בקרקע בין במטלטלין:
7
The following rules apply when a person tells a colleague: "If I sell this field, it will be sold to you retroactively from the present time for 100 zuz" and confirms this with a kinyan. If the seller later sells it to another person for 100 zuz, it is acquired by the first person.
If he sells it for more than that amount, the second person acquires it. The rationale is that by saying: "If I sell," he meant "If I sell it with the same approach that I have now." And this person did not want to sell it; he sold it only because of the additional amount that the other person added on. It is as if he were forced to sell.
ז
האומר לחבירו כשאמכור שדה זו הרי היא מכורה לך מעכשיו במאה זוז וקנו מידו על כך ולאחר זמן מכרה לאחר במאה קנה הראשון מכרה ביותר על מנה קנה אחרון שלא אמר לו אלא כשאמכור שיהיה מוכר מדעתו תחלה וזה לא היה רוצה למכור ולא מכר אלא מפני התוספת שהוסיף זה על שוויו ונמצא כמי שנאנס ומכר:
8
If the seller told the first purchaser: "If I sell this field, it will be sold to you retroactively from the present time for the price to be evaluated by a court of three," the price need be agreed on by only two of the three.
If he said: "As dictated by three," all three must agree. If he said: "As evaluated by a court of four," all four must agree. For the sale to the first purchaser to take effect, the judges must agree on the price, and he must sell it to another person as they agreed. Afterwards, the first purchaser acquires the property.
If three or four people evaluate it and the seller says: "I will not sell it until three or four others evaluate it," we do not heed him. For he confirmed his commitment to sell retroactively with a kinyan.
ח
אמר לו כשאמכרנה הרי היא קנויה לך מעכשיו כמה שישומו אותה בית דין של שלשה אפילו על פי שנים מן השלשה אמר לו כמו שיאמרו שלשה עד שיאמרו השלשה וכן אם אמר לו כמו שישומו אותה בית דין של ארבעה עד שישומו הארבעה כולן ויסכימו וימכור לאחר כמו שיסכימו ואחר כך יקנה הראשון שמו אותה שלשה או ארבעה ואמר המוכר עד שיבאו שלשה אחרים או ארבעה וישומו אין שומעין לו שהרי קנו מידו תחלה שמכר מעכשיו:
Mechirah - Chapter Nine
1
The following rules apply when a person sells an article to the Temple treasury. If the representative of the treasury asks him: "How much are you selling it for?" and the person says: "Ten zuz"even if it is worth 100, once he said ten he cannot retract. For making a promise to the Most High is considered equivalent to transferring the article in question to the possession of a colleague.
א
המוכר להקדש ואמר לו הגזבר בכמה אתה מוכר חפץ זה ואמר בעשרה אפילו היה שוה מאה כיון שאמר בעשרה אינו לחזור בו שאמירה לגבוה כמסירה להדיוט:
2
Whether a representative of the treasury buys or sells an article, he is always given the upper hand if there is a fluctuation in the article's value.
What is implied? If the representative paid with money from the Temple treasury, but did not perform meshichah on the produce, although the value of the produce increases, the Temple treasury nevertheless acquires the produce, as prescribed by Scriptural Law. If the value of the produce decreases, the Temple treasurer may retract, for he did not perform meshichah, and the legal power of an ordinary person should not be greater than that of the Temple treasury.
Similarly, if the Temple treasurer sold an article that had been consecrated, the purchaser performed meshichah, but did not pay for it, and then the value of the article decreases, the transaction is finalized. For the legal power of an ordinary person should not be greater than that of the Temple treasury. If the value of the article increases, the representative of the treasury may retract, for he did not accept payment, and consecrated articles may be acquired only through the payment of money, as implied by the verse: "And he shall give the money and it will be established as his." The representative of the treasury is not liable to receive the adjurationmi shepara.
ב
הגזבר שקנה להקדש או שמכר ידו על העליונה כיצד נתן דמים של הקדש אע"פ שלא משך הפירות אם הוקרו קנה כדין תורה ואם הוזלו הפירות חוזר שהרי לא משך ולא יהא כח הדיוט חמור מכח ההקדש וכן אם מכר חפץ של הקדש ומשכו הלוקח ולא נתן דמים והוזל החפץ קנה שלא יהא כח הדיוט חמור מכח הקדש ואם הוקר החפץ חוזר בו שהרי לא לקח הגזבר דמים וההקדש אינו נקנה אלא בכסף שנאמר ונתן הכסף וקם לו ואין הגזבר חייב לקבל מי שפרע:
3
3. Property belonging to orphans is governed by the same rules as those governing the Temple treasury.
What is implied? When orphans sell produce, and meshichah is performed on the produce, but they have not yet received the money for it, they may retract from the agreement if the value of the produce increases. For like consecrated property, property belonging to orphans can be acquired only through the transfer of money.
If the value of the produce decreases the transaction should be allowed to stand. For the legal power of an ordinary person should not be greater than the legal power of orphans.
ג
נכסי יתומים הרי הן כהקדש כיצד יתומים שמכרו פירות ונמשכו מהן הפירות ועדיין לא לקחו הדמים והוקרו הפירות חוזרין בהן שאין נכסי יתומים נקנין אלא בכסף כהקדש הוזלו הפירות לא יהיה כח הדיוט יותר חמור מכחן:
4
Similarly, if orphans received payment, but meshichah was not performed on their produce before it increased in value, they may retract as may ordinary individuals. If, however, the value of the produce decreased and the purchasers desire to retract, they may do so, but they must receive the adjuration mi shepara, as would be the law with regard to others.
They are allowed to retract because if we required them to keep the produce, as would be required by Scriptural Law, this would be a disservice to the orphans. For if this were the law, when the orphans desire to sell an object, they would never find anyone who would be willing to pay them money unless the object were handed over first.
ד
וכן אם לקחו הדמים ועדיין לא נמשכו פירותיהן והוקרו חוזרין כשאר ההדיוטות אבל אם הוזלו הפירות ורצו הלקוחות לחזור בהן חוזרין ומקבלין מי שפרע כדינם עם שאר העם שאם נחייב אותם ליקח הפירות כדין תורה הרי זה רעה ליתומים שאם יהיה דינם כך כשיצטרכו למכור לא ימצאו מי יתן להם דמים:
5
Similar principles apply if orphans purchase produce and perform meshichah on the produce, but have not yet paid for it. If the value of the produce increases, the legal power of an ordinary person should not be greater than their legal power. Therefore, the transaction should be allowed to stand."
If the value of the produce decreases, they are not allowed to retract. For this would be a disservice to them. If they were given this privilege, should they desire to purchase produce, they would not find anyone who would sell it to them before they made payment.
ה
וכן יתומים שלקחו פירות ומשכו הפירות ולא נתנו הדמים והוקרו לא יהיה כח הדיוט גדול מכחן ואם הוזלו הפירות אינן חוזרין שזו רעה להם כשיצטרכו לקנות פירות לא ימצאו מי שימכור להם:
6
If the orphans paid for produce but did not perform meshichah,and then the value of the produce decreases, they may retract, for the legal power of an ordinary person should not be greater than their legal power. If the value of the produce increases, the sellers may retract if they desire and receive the adjuration mi shepara. For if the law were that the orphans acquire the produce by the payment of money, the seller would tell themthat the produce was destroyed by fire or another factor beyond human control after the produce entered their property, at the time payment was made.
ו
נתנו הדמים ולא משכו הפירות והוזלו הפירות חוזרין לא יהיה כח הדיוט גדול מכחן הוקרו אם רצו המוכרים לחזור בהן חוזרין ומקבלין מי שפרע שאם יהיה דינם שיקנו בנתינת המעות יאמר להם המוכר נשרפו הפירות שלקחת או אבדו באונס וכבר נעשו ברשותכם משעת נתינת המעות:
7
On four occasions during the year, our Sages restricted their enactments and applied Scriptural Law with regard to the purchase of meat, for on these days, all people need meat. The times are the day before Shemini Atzeret, the day before the first day of Pesach, the day before Shavuot and the day before Rosh HaShanah.
What is implied? If a butcher had a steer that was worth even 100dinarim, and he took one dinar from the purchaser in exchange for meat that he would slaughter, he cannot retract, even if enough money is not collected to pay for the entire value of the steer. Instead, the butcher is compelled to slaughter against his will. He is forcibly made to slaughter the steer and provide the purchaser with meat.
For this reason, if the steer dies before being ritually slaughtered, the purchaser suffers the loss.
ז
בארבעה פרקים בשנה העמידו דבריהם על דין תורה בבשר מפני שהעם כולן צריכין לבשר ואלו הן: ערב יום טוב האחרון של חג וערב יום טוב הראשון של פסח וערב העצרת וערב ראש השנה כיצד היה לטבח שור אפילו שוה מאה דינרין ולקח דינר אחד מן הלוקח כדי ליתן לו בשר כשישחוט ולא נתקבצו לו כל דמי השור אינו יכול לחזור בו אלא משחיטין את הטבח בעל כרחו וכופין אותו לשחוט וליתן הבשר ללוקח לפיכך אם מת השור מת ללוקח:
Hayom Yom: Today's Hayom Yom
• Monday, 4 AV , 5776 · 8 August 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Friday, Menachem Av 5, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Devarim, Shishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 29-34.
Tanya: "My sin is (p. 383) ...are passed over. (p. 385).
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.1
The Baal Shem Tov commented: Every physical object whose use is permissible possesses good and evil elements.* The material element is evil, and the G-dly life-force that gives life to the physical is good. The person utilizing the physical object must "turn from evil" - not desire the physical pleasure which is in its materiality, and "do good," i.e. he should desire to be nourished and supported by the G-dly vitality in that object. "Seek peace and pursue it": Whoever fulfills "turn from evil and do good" must seek and pursue means for making peace2 between the physical and the G-dly life-force that vitalizes it.
FOOTNOTES
1.Tehillim 34:15.
*.See Supplementary Footnotes, (p. 128 in the printed version).
2.I.e. bringing harmony.
• Daily Thought:
Two Minds
The mind of a woman and the mind of a man are two distinct minds at their very core. And only with both can there be a world.
It began when G‑d decided to create a world. In doing so, He took two perspectives. He saw the world from beyond, as its Creator. And He saw the world from within, as the energy of life.
From that first perspective originates the mind of man; from the second, the mind of woman.
That is why the man has the power to conquer and subdue, but he does not have the woman’s sense of the other.
That is why the woman feels the other. She does not conquer, she nurtures. But her light is tightly constrained.
As they bond together, the man unleashes the woman’s light, and the woman teaches the man to feel the other. In that union shines the very essence of all that is holy and divine.[Sefer ha-Likkutim (Ari), Shemot; Sefer ha-Maamarim 5652, p. 118.]
Torah lessons: Chumash: Devarim, Shishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 29-34.
Tanya: "My sin is (p. 383) ...are passed over. (p. 385).
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.1
The Baal Shem Tov commented: Every physical object whose use is permissible possesses good and evil elements.* The material element is evil, and the G-dly life-force that gives life to the physical is good. The person utilizing the physical object must "turn from evil" - not desire the physical pleasure which is in its materiality, and "do good," i.e. he should desire to be nourished and supported by the G-dly vitality in that object. "Seek peace and pursue it": Whoever fulfills "turn from evil and do good" must seek and pursue means for making peace2 between the physical and the G-dly life-force that vitalizes it.
FOOTNOTES
1.Tehillim 34:15.
*.See Supplementary Footnotes, (p. 128 in the printed version).
2.I.e. bringing harmony.
• Daily Thought:
Two Minds
The mind of a woman and the mind of a man are two distinct minds at their very core. And only with both can there be a world.
It began when G‑d decided to create a world. In doing so, He took two perspectives. He saw the world from beyond, as its Creator. And He saw the world from within, as the energy of life.
From that first perspective originates the mind of man; from the second, the mind of woman.
That is why the man has the power to conquer and subdue, but he does not have the woman’s sense of the other.
That is why the woman feels the other. She does not conquer, she nurtures. But her light is tightly constrained.
As they bond together, the man unleashes the woman’s light, and the woman teaches the man to feel the other. In that union shines the very essence of all that is holy and divine.[Sefer ha-Likkutim (Ari), Shemot; Sefer ha-Maamarim 5652, p. 118.]
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