Light Candles before sunset ––:––.
Today's Laws & Customs:
• Elul Observances
As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is traditionaly a time of introspection and stocktaking -- a time to review one's deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming "Days of Awe" of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
As the month of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness (see "Today in Jewish History" for Elul 1) it is a most opportune time for teshuvah ("return" to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased Ahavat Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d. Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when "the king is in the field" and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, "everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all."
Specific Elul customs include the daily sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) as a call to repentance. The Baal Shem Tov instituted the custom of reciting three additional chapters ofPsalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms). Click below to view today's Psalms.
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Psalms 16:(0) Mikhtam. By David:
(1) Protect me, God,
for you are my refuge.
2 I said to Adonai, “You are my Lord;
I have nothing good outside of you.”
3 The holy people in the land are the ones
who are worthy of honor; all my pleasure is in them.
4 Those who run after another god
multiply their sorrows;
To such gods I will not offer
drink offerings of blood
or take their names on my lips.
5 Adonai, my assigned portion, my cup:
you safeguard my share.
6 Pleasant places were measured out for me;
I am content with my heritage.
7 I bless Adonai, my counselor;
at night my inmost being instructs me.
8 I always set Adonai before me;
with him at my right hand, I can never be moved;
9 so my heart is glad, my glory rejoices,
and my body too rests in safety;
10 for you will not abandon me to Sh’ol,
you will not let your faithful one see the Abyss.
11 You make me know the path of life;
in your presence is unbounded joy,
in your right hand eternal delight.
17:(0) A prayer of David:
(1) Hear a just cause, Adonai, heed my cry;
listen to my prayer from honest lips.
2 Let my vindication come from you,
let your eyes see what is right.
3 You probed my heart,
you visited me at night,
and you assayed me without finding evil thoughts
that should not pass my lips.
4 As for what others do, by words from your lips
I have kept myself from the ways of the violent;
5 my steps hold steadily to your paths,
my feet do not slip.
6 Now I call on you, God, for you will answer me.
Turn your ear to me, hear my words.
7 Show how wonderful is your grace,
savior of those who seek at your right hand
refuge from their foes.
8 Protect me like the pupil of your eye,
hide me in the shadow of your wings
9 from the wicked, who are assailing me,
from my deadly enemies, who are all around me.
10 They close their hearts to compassion;
they speak arrogantly with their mouths;
11 they track me down, they surround me;
they watch for a chance to bring me to the ground.
12 They are like lions eager to tear the prey,
like young lions crouching in ambush.
13 Arise, Adonai, confront them! Bring them down!
With your sword deliver me from the wicked,
14 with your hand, Adonai, from human beings,
from people whose portion in life is this world.
You fill their stomachs with your treasure,
their children will be satisfied too
and will leave their wealth to their little ones.
15 But my prayer, in righteousness, is to see your face;
on waking, may I be satisfied with a vision of you.
18:(0) For the leader. By David the servant of Adonai, who addressed the words of this song to Adonai on the day when Adonai delivered him from the power of all his enemies, including from the power of Sha’ul. 2 He said:
(1) “I love you, Adonai, my strength!
3 (2) “Adonai is my Rock, my fortress and deliverer,
my God, my Rock, in whom I find shelter,
my shield, the power that saves me,
my stronghold.
4 (3) I call on Adonai, who is worthy of praise;
and I am saved from my enemies.
5 (4) “For the cords of death surrounded me,
the floods of B’liya‘al terrified me,
6 (5) the ropes of Sh’ol were wrapped around me,
the snares of death lay there before me.
7 (6) In my distress I called to Adonai;
I cried out to my God.
Out of his temple he heard my voice;
my cry reached his ears.
8 (7) “Then the earth quaked and shook,
the foundations of the mountains trembled.
They were shaken because he was angry.
9 (8) Smoke arose in his nostrils;
out of his mouth came devouring fire;
sparks blazed forth from him.
10 (9) He lowered heaven and came down
with thick darkness under his feet.
11 (10) He rode on a keruv; he flew,
swooping down on the wings of the wind.
12 (11) He made darkness his hiding-place,
his canopy thick clouds dark with water.
13 (12) From the brightness before him,
there broke through his thick clouds
hailstones and fiery coals.
14 (13) “Adonai also thundered in heaven,
Ha‘Elyon sounded his voice —
hailstones and fiery coals.
15 (14) He sent out arrows and scattered them,
shot out lightning and routed them.
16 (15) The channels of water appeared,
the foundations of the world were exposed
at your rebuke, Adonai,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
17 (16) “He sent from on high, he took me
and pulled me out of deep water;
18 (17) he rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from those who hated me,
for they were stronger than I.
19 (18) They came against me on my day of disaster,
but Adonai was my support.
20 (19) He brought me out to an open place;
he rescued me, because he took pleasure in me.
21 (20) Adonai rewarded me for my uprightness,
he repaid me because my hands were clean.
22 (21) “For I have kept the ways of Adonai,
I have not done evil by leaving my God;
23 (22) for all his rulings were before me,
I did not distance his regulations from me.
24 (23) I was pure-hearted with him
and kept myself from my sin.
25 (24) “Hence Adonai repaid me for my uprightness,
according to the purity of my hands in his view.
26 (25) With the merciful, you are merciful;
with a man who is sincere, you are sincere;
27 (26) with the pure, you are pure;
but with the crooked you are cunning.
28 (27) People afflicted, you save;
but haughty eyes, you humble.
29 (28) “For you, Adonai, light my lamp;
Adonai, my God, lights up my darkness.
30 (29) With you I can run through a whole troop of men,
with my God I can leap a wall.
31 (30) “As for God, his way is perfect,
the word of Adonai has been tested by fire;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
32 (31) “For who is God but Adonai?
Who is a Rock but our God?
33 (32) “It is God who girds me with strength;
he makes my way go straight.
34 (33) He makes me swift, sure-footed as a deer,
and enables me to stand on my high places.
35 (34) He trains my hands for war
until my arms can bend a bow of bronze;
36 (35) “You give me your shield, which is salvation,
your right hand holds me up,
your humility makes me great.
37 (36) You lengthen the steps I can take,
yet my ankles do not turn.
38 (37) “I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
without turning back until they were destroyed.
39 (38) I crushed them, so that they can’t get up;
they have fallen under my feet.
40 (39) “For you braced me with strength for the battle
and bent down my adversaries beneath me.
41 (40) You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed those who hated me.
42 (41) “They cried out, but there was no one to help,
even to Adonai, but he didn’t answer.
43 (42) I pulverized them like dust in the wind,
threw them out like mud in the streets.
44 (43) “You also freed me from the quarrels of my people.
You made me head of the nations;
a people I did not know now serve me —
45 (44) the moment they hear of me, they obey me,
foreigners come cringing to me.
46 (45) Foreigners lose heart
as they come trembling from their fortresses.
47 (46) “Adonai is alive! Blessed is my Rock!
Exalted be the God of my salvation,
48 (47) the God who avenges me
and subdues peoples under me.
49 (48) He delivers me from my enemies.
You lift me high above my enemies,
you rescue me from violent men.
50 (49) “So I give thanks to you, Adonai, among the nations;
I sing praises to your name.
51 (50) Great salvation he gives to his king;
he displays grace to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.”
Elul is also the time to have one's tefillin and mezuzot checked by an accredited scribe to ensure that they are in good condition and fit for use.
Links: More on Elul
Daily Quote:
Each and every year there descends and shines a new and renewed light, which has never yet entered the world[Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Shoftim, 6th Portion Deuteronomy 19:14-20:9 with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 19
14You shall not pull back your neighbor's landmark, which the earlier ones have set as borders in your inheritance, which you will inherit in the land that the Lord, your God gives you, to possess. ידלֹ֤א תַסִּיג֙ גְּב֣וּל רֵֽעֲךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר גָּֽבְל֖וּ רִֽאשֹׁנִ֑ים בְּנַֽחֲלָֽתְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּנְחַ֔ל בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:
You shall not pull back [your neighbor’s] landmark: Heb. לֹא תַסּיג, an expression similar to, “they shall turn back (נָסֹגוּ אָחוֹר)” (Isa. 42:17). [Here therefore, it means] that he moves the boundary-mark of the land backwards into his neighbor’s field, thereby enlarging his own [property]. But has it not already been stated, “You shall not rob” (Lev. 19:13) ? Why then, is it stated here: “You shall not pull back [the landmark]?” [The answer is that this verse] teaches that the person who removes his neighbor’s boundary mark transgresses two negative commandments, “You shall not rob (לֹא תִגְזֹל)” and “You shall not pull back [the landmark]” (לֹא תַסִּיג). Now I might think that [this applies] outside Eretz Israel as well. Therefore it says, “in your inheritance, which you will inherit [in the land],” [indicating that] in [only] Eretz Israel one transgresses two negative commandments, whereas outside Eretz Israel, one transgresses only the commandment of “you shall not rob.” - [Sifrei] לא תסיג גבול: לשון נסוגו אחור (ישעיה מב יז), שמחזיר סימן חלוקת הקרקע לאחור לתוך שדה חבירו למען הרחיב את שלו. והלא כבר נאמר (ויקרא יט, יג) לא תגזול, מה תלמוד לומר לא תסיג, למד על העוקר תחום חבירו שעובר בשני לאוין. יכול אף בחוצה לארץ, תלמוד לומר בנחלתך אשר תנחל וגו', בארץ ישראל עובר בשני לאוין, בחוצה לארץ אינו עובר אלא משום לא תגזול:
15One witness shall not rise up against any person for any iniquity or for any sin, regarding any sin that he will sin. By the mouth of two witnesses, or by the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be confirmed. טולֹֽא־יָקוּם֩ עֵ֨ד אֶחָ֜ד בְּאִ֗ישׁ לְכָל־עָוֹן֙ וּלְכָל־חַטָּ֔את בְּכָל־חֵ֖טְא אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶֽחֱטָ֑א עַל־פִּ֣י | שְׁנֵ֣י עֵדִ֗ים א֛וֹ עַל־פִּ֥י שְׁלשָֽׁה־עֵדִ֖ים יָק֥וּם דָּבָֽר:
One witness [shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity]: This verse establishes a general principle [i.e., from here it is derived] that wherever the term“witness” (עֵד) appears in the Torah, it means two [witnesses], unless the Torah specifies [that] one witness is meant. — [San. 30a] עד אחד: זה בנה אב כל עד שבתורה שנים, אלא אם כן פרט לך בו אחד:
for any iniquity, or for any sin: where his testimony would lead to the accused being punished, either with corporal punishment or with or monetary punishment. However, one [witness] may rise up to [compel his fellow to take] an oath, as follows: If one says to his fellow, “Give me the maneh [100 zuzim] that I lent you,” and his fellow replies, “I have nothing of yours,” and one witness testifies for him [the plaintiff] that he [the defendant] owes him [the money], [the defendant] is required to swear [that he did not borrow any money]. — [Shev. 40a] לכל עון ולכל חטאת: להיות חבירו נענש על עדותו, לא עונש גוף ולא עונש ממון, אבל קם הוא לשבועה. אמר לחבירו תן לי מנה שהלויתיך אמר לו אין לך בידי כלום ועד אחד מעיד שיש לו, חייב להשבע לו:
By the mouth of two witnesses [… the matter will be established]:[The expression,“by the mouth” means here that only the direct, verbal testimony suffices,] but they should not write their testimony in a letter and send it to the court, or have an interpreter stand between the witnesses and the judges. - [Sifrei] על פי שני עדים: ולא שיכתבו עדותם באגרת וישלחו לבית דין, ולא שיעמוד תורגמן בין העדים ובין הדיינים:
16If a false witness rises up against a man, to bear perverted testimony against him, טזכִּֽי־יָק֥וּם עֵֽד־חָמָ֖ס בְּאִ֑ישׁ לַֽעֲנ֥וֹת בּ֖וֹ סָרָֽה:
to bear perverted testimony against him: Heb. סָרָה [That is, he testifies about] a thing which is not so, that this witness is removed (הוּסַר) from the whole testimony [meaning that he could not possibly have been a witness,] such as if [a second set of witnesses] said [to the first set of witnesses], “But weren’t you with us on that day in such and such a place [and not with the defendant, as you claim to have been]?” - [Mak. 5a] לענות בו סרה: דבר שאינו, שהוסר העד הזה מכל העדות הזאת, כגון, שאמרו להם והלא עמנו הייתם אותו היום במקום פלוני:
17Then the two men between whom the controversy exists shall stand before the Lord, before the kohanim and the judges who will be in those days. יזוְעָֽמְד֧וּ שְׁנֵי־הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־לָהֶ֥ם הָרִ֖יב לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה לִפְנֵ֤י הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַשֹּׁ֣פְטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽהְי֖וּ בַּיָּמִ֥ים הָהֵֽם:
Then the two men… shall stand: The text is referring to the witnesses, and it teaches us that there is no testimony by women. It also teaches us that witnesses must submit their testimony while standing. — [Shev. 30a] ועמדו שני האנשים: בעדים הכתוב מדבר, ולמד שאין עדות בנשים, ולמד שצריכין להעיד עדותן מעומד:
between whom the controversy exists: These are the litigants. אשר להם הריב: אלו בעלי הדין:
before the Lord: It should seem to them as though they are standing before the Omnipresent, as it says:“in the midst of the judges He will judge” (Ps. 82: 1). - [San. 6b] לפני ה': יהי דומה להם כאילו עומדין לפני המקום, שנאמר בקרב אלהים ישפוט (תהלים פב, א):
who will be in those days: [Now could one stand in front of those who are not in his day? Rather, it means that] Jephthah [one of the less important judges] in his generation, is [to be considered] as Samuel [the greatest judge] in his generation; you must treat him with respect. אשר יהיו בימים ההם: יפתח בדורו כשמואל בדורו, צריך אתה לנהוג בו כבוד:
18And the judges shall inquire thoroughly, and behold, the witness is a false witness; he has testified falsely against his brother; יחוְדָֽרְשׁ֥וּ הַשֹּֽׁפְטִ֖ים הֵיטֵ֑ב וְהִנֵּ֤ה עֵֽד־שֶׁ֨קֶר֙ הָעֵ֔ד שֶׁ֖קֶר עָנָ֥ה בְאָחִֽיו:
And the judges shall inquire thoroughly: By means of the testimony of [the new set of witnesses] who rebut them, that they investigate and examine those who come to prove that they [the first pair] are עֵדִים זוֹמְמִין,“plotting witnesses,” by diligent inquiry and examination. ודרשו השופטים היטב: על פי המזימין אותם, שבודקים וחוקרים את הבאים להזימם בדרישה ובחקירה:
and behold, the witness is a false witness: Wherever עֵד, witness , is written, Scripture is speaking of two [witnesses]. — [San. 30a] והנה עד שקר: כל מקום שנאמר עד, בשנים הכתוב מדבר:
19then you shall do to him as he plotted to do to his brother, and you shall [thus] abolish evil from among you. יטוַֽעֲשִׂ֣יתֶם ל֔וֹ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר זָמַ֖ם לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת לְאָחִ֑יו וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ:
as he plotted: But not as he did. From here [our Rabbis] said that if the first set of witnesses [before being proven false,] already killed the defendant [by their testimony], they are not to be put to death. — [Mak. 5b] כאשר זמם: ולא כאשר עשה. מכאן אמרו, הרגו אין נהרגין:
to do to his brother: Why does Scripture state, “to his brother?” To teach, that in the case of witnesses who conspired against a married daughter of a kohen [by accusing her of adultery], that they are not executed with burning [the form of execution to which she would have been subjected], but rather, by strangulation, the form of execution of the adulterer. For it says [regarding such a woman] “she shall be burnt with fire” (Lev. 21:9)-“she,” but not her paramour [who is dispatched by strangulation]; therefore it says here, “to his brother”-“as he plotted to do to his brother,” but not as he plotted to do to his sister. With other crimes, however, Scripture regards women equally with men, and conspiring witnesses against a woman are executed in the same way as those who conspired against a man. For instance, if they testified that a women killed a person, or that she desecrated the Sabbath [and they are revealed to be false witnesses before she is executed], then they are executed in the form that they intended for her, for Scripture does not exclude his sister [by stating “brother”] except in a case where one may carry out the punishment of the conspiring witnesses by the form of execution of the adulterer [as opposed to the adulteress]. — [Sifrei and San. 90a] לעשות לאחיו: מה תלמוד לומר לאחיו, למד על זוממי בת כהן נשואה שאינן בשריפה, אלא כמיתת הבועל שהוא בחנק, שנאמר היא באש תשרף (ויקרא כא, ט) היא ולא בועלה. לכך נאמר כאן לאחיו, כאשר זמם לעשות לאחיו, ולא כאשר זמם לעשות לאחותו. אבל בכל שאר מיתות השוה הכתוב אשה לאיש, וזוממי אשה נהרגין כזוממי איש. כגון שהעידוה שהרגה את הנפש, שחללה את השבת, נהרגין במיתתה. שלא מיעט כאן אחותו אלא במקום שיש לקיים בהן הזמה במיתת הבועל:
20And those who remain shall listen and fear, and they shall no longer continue to commit any such evil thing among you. כוְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים יִשְׁמְע֣וּ וְיִרָ֑אוּ וְלֹֽא־יֹסִ֨פוּ לַֽעֲשׂ֜וֹת ע֗וֹד כַּדָּבָ֥ר הָרָ֛ע הַזֶּ֖ה בְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ:
shall listen and fear: From here, [we derive the law] that a public announcement is required: “So-and-so and so-and-so are to be executed because they were proven by the court to be plotting witnesses.” - [San. 89a] [Note that Rashi on Mak. 5a and San. 89a writes that the proclamation is made after the perpetrators have been executed.] ישמעו ויראו: מכאן שצריכין הכרזה, איש פלוני ופלוני נהרגין על שהוזמו בבית דין:
21You shall not have pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. כאוְלֹ֥א תָח֖וֹס עֵינֶ֑ךָ נֶ֣פֶשׁ בְּנֶ֗פֶשׁ עַ֤יִן בְּעַ֨יִן֙ שֵׁ֣ן בְּשֵׁ֔ן יָ֥ד בְּיָ֖ד רֶ֥גֶל בְּרָֽגֶל:
Eye for eye: i.e., financial compensation; and similarly, “tooth for tooth, etc.” - [Sifrei, B.K. 87a] עין בעין: ממון, וכן שן בשן וגו':
Deuteronomy Chapter 20
1When you go out to war against your enemies, and you see horse and chariot, a people more numerous than you, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord, your God is with you Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. אכִּֽי־תֵצֵ֨א לַמִּלְחָמָ֜ה עַל־אֹֽיְבֶ֗ךָ וְרָאִ֜יתָ ס֤וּס וָרֶ֨כֶב֙ עַ֚ם רַ֣ב מִמְּךָ֔ לֹ֥א תִירָ֖א מֵהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ הַמַּֽעַלְךָ֖ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
When you go out to war: Scripture juxtaposes the departure for war alongside this [“eye for eye etc.”] to teach us that a person with a missing limb does not go out to war. - [Sifrei] Another explanation: It teaches that if you execute righteous judgment, you can be sure that when you depart for war you will be victorious. Similarly, David says, “I performed justice and righteousness; do not leave me to my oppressors” (Ps. 119: 121). - [Tanchuma] כי תצא למלחמה: סמך הכתוב יציאת מלחמה לכאן, לומר לך, שאין מחוסר אבר יוצא למלחמה. דבר אחר לומר לך, אם עשית משפט צדק אתה מובטח שאם תצא למלחמה אתה נוצח. וכן דוד הוא אומר (תהלים קיט, קכא) עשיתי משפט וצדק בל תניחני לעושקי:
against your enemies: Let them be in your eyes as enemies; have no pity on them, for they will have no pity upon you. על איבך: יהיו בעיניך כאויבים, אל תרחם עליהם כי לא ירחמו עליך:
horse and chariot: In My eyes, they are all like one horse. Similarly, it says, “and you shall strike Midian as one man.” (Jud. 6:16) And similarly, it says,, “When Pharaoh’s horse… came [into the sea]” (Exod. 15:19). - [Sifrei] סוס ורכב: בעיני כולם כסוס אחד, וכן הוא אומר (שופטים ו, טז) והכית את מדין כאיש אחד. וכן הוא אומר (שמות טו, יט) כי בא סוס פרעה:
a people more numerous than you: In your eyes, they are numerous, but in My eyes, they are not numerous. — [Sifrei] עם רב ממך: בעיניך הוא רב, אבל בעיני אינו רב:
2And it will be, when you approach the battle, that the kohen shall come near, and speak to the people. בוְהָיָ֕ה כְּקָֽרָבְכֶ֖ם אֶל־הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִגַּ֥שׁ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְדִבֶּ֥ר אֶל־הָעָֽם:
when you approach the battle: When you are on the point of leaving the border. כקרבכם אל המלחמה: סמוך לצאתכם מן הספר מגבול ארצכם:
that the kohen shall come near: This refers to the kohen anointed for this purpose, and he is called “the one anointed for war.” ונגש הכהן: המשוח לכך. והוא הנקרא משוח מלחמה:
and speak to the people: in the Holy Tongue. — [Sotah 42a] ודבר אל העם: בלשון הקדש:
3And he shall say to them, "Hear, O Israel, today you are approaching the battle against your enemies. Let your hearts not be faint; you shall not be afraid, and you shall not be alarmed, and you shall not be terrified because of them. גוְאָמַ֤ר אֲלֵהֶם֙ שְׁמַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַתֶּ֨ם קְרֵבִ֥ים הַיּ֛וֹם לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֑ם אַל־יֵרַ֣ךְ לְבַבְכֶ֗ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֧וּ וְאַל־תַּחְפְּז֛וּ וְאַל־תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם:
“Hear, O Israel”: Even if you have no merit other than the reading of the Shema , you are worthy that He [God] save you. — [Sotah 42b] שמע ישראל: אפילו אין בכם זכות אלא קריאת שמע בלבד, כדאי אתם שיושיע אתכם:
against your enemies: These are not your brothers, for if you fall into their hands, they will not have pity on you; this is not like the war of Judah with Israel, of which the verse states, “And the men, who were mentioned by name, rose up and took hold of the captives, and, and clothed all their nakedness from the spoils, and they dressed them and shod them, and fed them and gave them to drink, and anointed them, and led them on donkeys, every feeble one, and they brought them to Jericho, the city of the palms, beside their brothers, and they returned to Samaria” (II Chron. 28:15). You, however, are going against your enemies; therefore strengthen yourselves for battle. — [Sifrei ; Sotah 42a] על איביכם: אין אלו אחיכם, שאם תפלו בידם אינם מרחמים עליכם, אין זו כמלחמת יהודה עם ישראל, שנאמר (דה"י ב' כח טו) ויקומו האנשים אשר נקבו בשמות ויחזיקו בשביה, וכל מערומיהם הלבישו מן השלל וילבישום וינעילום ויאכילום וישקום ויסוכום וינהלום בחמורים לכל כושל, ויביאום ירחו עיר התמרים אצל אחיהם, וישובו שומרון, אלא על אויביכם אתם הולכים, לפיכך התחזקו למלחמה:
Let your hearts not be faint; you shall not be afraid, you shall not be alarmed, and you shall not be terrified: Four warnings, corresponding to four practices in which the kings of the nations engage [during battle]: They hold their shields close together to strike them against one another, thereby producing a loud noise to alarm those confronting them, so that they should flee; they stamp [the ground heavily] with their horses and make them neigh, sounding the beating of their horses’ hoofs, and they shout loudly and blow horns and [other] kinds of noisy instruments. אל ירך לבבכם אל תיראו ואל תחפזו ואל תערצו:ארבע אזהרות כנגד ארבעה דברים שמלכי האומות עושים. מגיפים בתריסיהם כדי להקישן זה לזה כדי להשמיע קול שיחפזו אלו שכנגדם וינוסו, ורומסים בסוסיהם ומצהילין אותם להשמיע קול שעטת פרסות סוסיהם, וצווחין בקולם ותוקעין בשופרות ומיני משמיעי קול:
Let your hearts not be faint: Because of the neighing of the horses; אל ירך לבבכם: מצהלות סוסים:
you shall not be afraid: of the noise made by the fastening of the shields; אל תיראו: מהגפת התריסין:
and you shall not be alarmed: At the sounds of the horns; ואל תחפזו: מקול הקרנות:
and you shall not be terrified: By the noise of the shouting. — [Sifrei ; Sotah 42a] ואל תערצו: מקול הצווחה:
4For the Lord, your God, is the One Who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. דכִּ֚י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם הַֽהֹלֵ֖ךְ עִמָּכֶ֑ם לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם לָכֶ֛ם עִם־אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֖ם לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ אֶתְכֶֽם:
For the Lord, your God…: They are coming with the victory of flesh and blood, whereas you approach with the victory of the Omnipresent. The Philistines came with the victory of Goliath-What was his end? He fell, and they fell with him. כי ה' אלהיכם וגו': הם באים בנצחונו של בשר ודם ואתם באים בנצחונו של מקום. פלשתים באו בנצחונו של גלית, מה היה סופו, נפל ונפלו עמו:
Who goes with you: This refers to the camp of the ark. — [Sotah 42a] ההלך עמכם: זה מחנה הארון:
5And the officers shall speak to the people, saying, What man is there who has built a new house and has not [yet] inaugurated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man inaugurate it. הוְדִבְּר֣וּ הַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֘ אֶל־הָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹר֒ מִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּנָ֤ה בַֽיִת־חָדָשׁ֙ וְלֹ֣א חֲנָכ֔וֹ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יַחְנְכֶֽנּוּ:
[What man is there who has built a new house] and has not [yet] inaugurated it: i.e., has not yet lived in it. The term חִנּוּךְ denotes beginning. ולא חנכו: לא דר בו. חנוך לשון התחלה:
[Lest he die in the war,] and another man inaugurate it: This would be a source of great grief. ואיש אחר יחנכנו: ודבר של עגמת נפש הוא זה:
6And what man is there who has planted a vineyard, and has not [yet] redeemed it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man redeem it. ווּמִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָטַ֥ע כֶּ֨רֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א חִלְּל֔וֹ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ:
[And what man is there that has planted a vineyard,] and has not [yet] redeemed it: Heb. וְלֹא חִלְּלוֹ. He has not redeemed the vineyard in the fourth year [of its growth], for the fruits [of the fourth year] have to be eaten in Jerusalem or redeemed [by exchanging them] for money, and to eat [food purchased with] the money in Jerusalem. ולא חללו: לא פדאו בשנה הרביעית, שהפירות טעונין לאכלן בירושלים או לחללן בדמים ולאכול הדמים בירושלים:
7And what man is there who has betrothed a woman and has not [yet] taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man take her." זוּמִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֵרַ֤שׂ אִשָּׁה֙ וְלֹ֣א לְקָחָ֔הּ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יִקָּחֶֽנָּה:
lest he die in the war: He should return lest he die, for if he does not obey the kohen , he deserves to die. — [Sifrei] פן ימות במלחמה: ישוב פן ימות, שאם לא ישמע לדברי הכהן כדאי הוא שימות:
8And the officers shall continue to speak to the people and say, "What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, that he should not cause the heart of his brothers to melt, as his heart." חוְיָֽסְפ֣וּ הַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֘ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־הָעָם֒ וְאָֽמְר֗וּ מִֽי־הָאִ֤ישׁ הַיָּרֵא֙ וְרַ֣ךְ הַלֵּבָ֔ב יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יִמַּ֛ס אֶת־לְבַ֥ב אֶחָ֖יו כִּלְבָבֽוֹ:
And the officers shall continue: Why does it say here: “shall continue” [lit. shall add]? They add this [statement] to the words of the kohen , for the kohen speaks and announces aloud to the people from “Hear, O Israel” (verse 3) until “to save you,” (end of verse 4) while “What man is there” (verse 5), and the second and third one [with the same beginning (verses 6 and 7)], the kohen speaks, and an officer announces aloud [to the people]. This verse, however, an officer speaks, and an officer announces aloud. - [Sotah 43a] According to several incunabula editions of Rashi , “a kohen announces aloud.” [See Yosef Hallel.] ויספו השוטרים: למה נאמר כאן ויספו, מוסיפין זה על דברי הכהן, שהכהן מדבר ומשמיע מן (פסוק ג - ד) שמע ישראל עד להושיע אתכם, ומי האיש ושני ושלישי כהן מדבר ושוטר משמיע, וזה שוטר מדבר ושוטר משמיע:
[What man is there] who is fearful and fainthearted: Rabbi Akiva says: [This verse is to be understood] according to its apparent meaning, that he cannot stand in the closed ranks of battle and look upon a drawn sword. Rabbi Jose the Galilean says that [it means] one who is afraid of his sins [that they will cause him to fall in war, as he is unworthy], and therefore, the Torah gives him the excuse of attributing his return home because of a house, a vineyard, or a wife, to cover up for those who return because of their sins, so that people should not understand that they are sinners. [Consequently,] one who sees this person returning would say,“Perhaps he has built a house, or planted a vineyard, or betrothed a woman.” - [Sotah 44a] הירא ורך הלבב: רבי עקיבא אומר כמשמעו, שאינו יכול לעמוד בקשרי המלחמה ולראות חרב שלופה. רבי יוסי הגלילי אומר הירא מעבירות שבידו, ולכך תלתה לו תורה לחזור על בית וכרם ואשה לכסות על החוזרים בשביל עבירות שבידם, שלא יבינו שהם בעלי עבירה, והרואהו חוזר אומר שמא בנה בית או נטע כרם או ארש אשה:
9And it shall be, that when the officials finish speaking to the people, they shall appoint officers of the legions at the edges of the people. טוְהָיָ֛ה כְּכַלֹּ֥ת הַשֹּֽׁטְרִ֖ים לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־הָעָ֑ם וּפָֽקְד֛וּ שָׂרֵ֥י צְבָא֖וֹת בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הָעָֽם:
[They shall appoint] officers of the legions: This means that they place (זַקָּפִין) guards in front of them and behind them, with iron arrows in their hands, and if anybody attempted to retreat, the guard had the authority to strike his legs. זַקָּפִין are people who stand at the edge of the battle array to pick up (לִזְקֹף) the fallen and to encourage them with words: “Return to the battle and do not flee, for flight is the beginning of defeat.” - [Sifrei , Sotah 44a] שרי צבאות: שמעמידין זקפין, מלפניהם ומלאחריהם וכשילין של ברזל בידיהם וכל מי שרוצה לחזור הרשות בידו לקפח את שוקיו. זקפין, בני אדם עומדים בקצה המערכה לזקוף את הנופלים ולחזקם בדברים שובו אל המלחמה ולא תנוסו, שתחלת נפילה ניסה:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 35 - 38
• Special Custom for the Month of Elul and High Holidays
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
See below for today's additional chapters.
Chapter 35
This psalm is an awe-inspiring and wondrous prayer about David's enemies-that they be as chaff before the wind, chased by the angel of God. It also declares that everything comes about through God's help.
1. By David. Fight my antagonists, O Lord, battle those who battle against me.
2. Take hold of shield and armor and arise to help me.
3. Draw a spear, and bar the way before my pursuers; say to my soul, "I am your deliverance.”
4. Let those who seek my life be shamed and disgraced; let those who devise my harm retreat and be humiliated.
5. Let them be as chaff before the wind; let the angel of the Lord thrust them away.
6. Let their path be dark and slippery; let them be chased by the angel of the Lord.
7. For without cause have they laid their nets in the pit for me; without cause have they dug [pits] for my soul.
8. Let darkness come upon him unawares; let the very snare that he hid trap him, in darkness he will fall in it.
9. And my soul shall exult in the Lord, rejoice in His deliverance.
10. My entire being shall declare: Lord, who is like You? Who saves the poor from one stronger than he, the poor and the destitute from one who would rob him.
11. Corrupt witnesses rise up [against me], they demand of me things of which I do not know.
12. They repay me evil for good, death for my soul.
13. But I wore sackcloth when they were ill; I afflicted my soul with fasting. Let my prayer return upon my own bosom.
14. As if it were my friend, my brother, I went about; like a mother in mourning, I was bent over in gloom.
15. But when I limped, they rejoiced and gathered; the lowly gathered against me-even those whom I do not know; they laugh and cannot be quiet.
16. With flattery and scorn, for the sake of a meal,1 they gnash their teeth at me.
17. My Lord, how long will You look on? Restore my life from their darkness; from young lions, my soul.
18. I will thank You in a great congregation, amidst a mighty nation I will praise You.
19. Let not those who hate me without cause rejoice over me; [let not] those who despise me without reason wink their eye.
20. For they speak not of peace, rather they scheme deceitful matters against the broken of the land.
21. They opened their mouths wide against me, they said, "Aha! Aha! Our eyes have seen [his misfortune].”
22. You saw, Lord, be not silent; my Lord, be not distant from me.
23. Rouse and awaken Yourself to my judgement, to my cause, my God and my Lord.
24. Judge me according to your righteousness, Lord my God; let them not rejoice over me.
25. Let them not say in their hearts, "Aha! We have our desire!" Let them not say, "We have swallowed him!”
26. Let them be shamed and disgraced together, those who rejoice at my trouble; let them be clothed in shame and humiliation, those who raise themselves arrogantly over me.
27. Let those who desire my vindication sing joyously and be glad; let them say always, "Let the Lord be exalted, Who desires the peace of His servant.”
28. My tongue will speak of Your righteousness, Your praise, all day long.
FOOTNOTES
1.These men flatter Saul in order to obtain free meals (Rashi).
Chapter 36
This psalm is a message to those who follow their evil inclination, that tells them, "Do not place the fear of God before you," and brings them to sin by beautifying evil deeds in their eyes. For so is his way: "He descends (to earth) and corrupts, then goes up (to the Heavenly Court) and prosecutes."
1. For the Conductor, by the servant of the Lord, by David.
2. [I think] in my heart: Sin says to the wicked, "There is none [who need place] the fear of God before his eyes.”
3. For Sin makes itself appealing to him, until his iniquity be found and he is hated.
4. The speech of his mouth is evil and deceit; he fails to reason, to improve.
5. On his bed he contemplates evil, he stands in a path that is not good; he does not despise evil.
6. O Lord, Your kindness is in the heavens; Your faithfulness is till the skies.
7. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, Your judgements extend to the great deep; man and beast You deliver, O Lord.
8. How precious is Your kindness, O God; man takes shelter in the shadow of Your wings.
9. They will be filled by the abundance of Your house; from the stream of Your Eden, You will give them to drink.
10. For the source of life is with You; in Your Light do we see light.
11. Extend Your kindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright of heart.
12. Let not the foot of the arrogant overtake me; let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.
13. There1 the doers of evil fell, thrust down, unable to rise.
FOOTNOTES
1.In the very place they intended to persecute me (Metzudot).
Chapter 37
King David exhorts his generation not to be jealous of the prosperity of the wicked, for it may lead to falling into their ways. Rather, put your trust in God, conduct yourselves with integrity, and God will take care of everything.
1. By David. Do not compete with the wicked; do not envy doers of injustice.
2. For like grass they will be swiftly cut down; like green vegetation they will wither.
3. Trust in the Lord and do good; then will you abide in the land and be nourished by faith.
4. Delight in the Lord, and He will grant you the desires of your heart.
5. Cast your needs upon the Lord; rely on Him, and He will take care.
6. He will reveal your righteousness like the light, your justness like the high noon.
7. Depend on the Lord and hope in Him. Compete not with the prosperous, with the man who invents evil schemes.
8. Let go of anger, abandon rage; do not compete with [one who intends] only to harm.
9. For the evildoers will be cut down; but those who hope in the Lord, they will inherit the earth.
10. For soon the wicked one will not be; you will gaze at his place and he will be gone.
11. But the humble shall inherit the earth, and delight in abundant peace.
12. The wicked one plots against the righteous, and gnashes his teeth at him.
13. My Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day will come.
14. The wicked have drawn a sword and bent their bow to fell the poor and destitute, to slaughter those of upright ways.
15. But their sword shall enter their own hearts, and their bows shall break.
16. Better the little of the righteous, than the abundant wealth of the wicked.
17. For the strength of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord supports the righteous.
18. The Lord appreciates the days of the innocent; their inheritance will last forever.
19. They will not be shamed in times of calamity, and in days of famine they will be satisfied.
20. For the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord are as fattened sheep: consumed, consumed in smoke.
21. The wicked man borrows and does not repay; but the righteous man is gracious and gives.
22. For those blessed by Him will inherit the earth, and those cursed by Him will be cut off.
23. The steps of man are directed by God; He desires his way.
24. When he totters he shall not be thrown down, for the Lord supports his hand.
25. I have been a youth, I have also aged; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his offspring begging bread.
26. All day he is kind and lends; his offspring are a blessing.
27. Turn away from evil and do good, and you will dwell [in peace] forever.
28. For the Lord loves justice, he will not abandon his pious ones-they are protected forever; but the offspring of the wicked are cut off.
29. The righteous shall inherit the earth and dwell upon it forever.
30. The mouth of the righteous one utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
31. The Torah of his God is in his heart; his steps shall not falter.
32. The wicked one watches for the righteous man, and seeks to kill him.
33. But the Lord will not abandon him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34. Hope in the Lord and keep His way; then He will raise you high to inherit the earth. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35. I saw a powerful wicked man, well-rooted like a vibrant, native tree.
36. Yet he vanished, behold he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found.
37. Watch the innocent, and observe the upright, for the future of such a man is peace.
38. But sinners shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked is cut off.
39. The deliverance of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of distress.
40. The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they have put their trust in Him.
Chapter 38
A prayer for every individual, bewailing the length of the exile. One who is in distress should recite this psalm, hence its introduction, "A psalm... to remind" (to remind us to recite it in times of distress). One can also derive many lessons from it.
1. A psalm by David, to remind.
2. O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chastise me in Your wrath.
3. For Your arrows have landed in me, Your hand descended upon me.
4. There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your rage, no peace in my bones because of my sin.
5. For my iniquities have flooded over my head; like a heavy load, they are too heavy for me.
6. My wounds are rotted; they reek because of my foolishness.
7. I am bent and extremely bowed; all day I go about in gloom.
8. My sides are inflamed; there is no soundness in my flesh.
9. I am weakened and extremely depressed; I howl from the moaning of my heart.
10. My Lord, all that I desire is before You; my sighing is not hidden from You.
11. My heart is engulfed, my strength has left me; the light of my eyes they, too, are not with me.
12. My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction; my intimates stand afar.
13. The seekers of my life have laid traps; those who seek my harm speak destructiveness; they utter deceits all day long.
14. But I am like a deaf man, I do not hear; like a mute that does not open his mouth.
15. I was like a man that does not perceive, and in whose mouth there are no rebuttals.
16. Because for You, O Lord, I wait; You will answer, my Lord, my God.
17. For I said, "Lest they rejoice over me; when my foot falters they will gloat over me.”
18. For I am accustomed to limping, and my pain is constantly before me.
19. For I admit my iniquity; I worry because of my sin.
20. But my enemies abound with life; those who hate me without cause flourish.
21. Those who repay evil for good resent me for my pursuit of good.
22. Do not forsake me, O Lord; do not be distant from me, my God.
23. Hurry to my aid, O my Lord, my Salvation.
Additional Three Chapters
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
Today's Chapters are 16, 17 and 18.
Chapter 16
When one is in need, he should not implore God in his own merit, for he must leave his merits for his children.
1. A michtam,1 by David. Watch over me, O God, for I have put my trust in You.
2. You, [my soul,] have said to God, "You are my Master; You are not obligated to benefit me.”
3. For the sake of the holy ones who lie in the earth, and for the mighty-all my desires are fulfilled in their merit.
4. Those who hasten after other [gods], their sorrows shall increase; I will not offer their libations of blood, nor take their names upon my lips.
5. The Lord is my allotted portion and my share; You guide my destiny.
6. Portions have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, a beautiful inheritance is mine.
7. I bless the Lord Who has advised me; even in the nights my intellect admonishes me.2
8. I have set the Lord before me at all times; because He is at my right hand, I shall not falter.
9. Therefore my heart rejoices and my soul exults; my flesh, too, rests secure.
10. For You will not abandon my soul to the grave, You will not allow Your pious one to see purgatory.
11. Make known to me the path of life, that I may be satiated with the joy of Your presence, with the bliss of Your right hand forever.
Chapter 17
A loftily person should not ask God to test him with some sinful matter, or other things. If one has sinned, he should see to reform himself, and to save many others from sin.
1. A prayer by David. Hear my sincere [plea], O Lord; listen to my cry; give ear to my prayer, expressed by guileless lips.
2. Let my verdict come forth from before You; let Your eyes behold uprightness.
3. You have probed my heart, examined it in the night, tested me and found nothing; no evil thought crossed my mind; as are my words so are my thoughts.
4. So that [my] human deeds conform with the words of Your lips, I guard myself from the paths of the lawbreakers.
5. Support my steps in Your paths, so that my feet shall not falter.
6. I have called upon You, for You, O Lord, will answer me; incline Your ear to me, hear what I say.
7. Withhold Your kindness-O You who delivers with Your right hand those who put their trust in You-from those who rise up against [You].
8. Guard me like the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings
9. from the wicked who despoil me, [from] my mortal enemies who surround me.
10. Their fat has closed [their hearts]; their mouths speak arrogantly.
11. They encircle our footsteps; they set their eyes to make us stray from the earth.
12. His appearance is like a lion longing to devour, like a young lion lurking in hiding.
13. Arise, O Lord! Confront him, bring him to his knees; rescue my soul from the wicked [who serves as] Your sword.
14. Let me be among those whose death is by Your hand, O Lord, among those who die of old age, whose portion is eternal life and whose innards are filled with Your concealed goodness; who are sated with sons and leave their abundance to their offspring.
15. Because of my righteousness, I shall behold Your countenance; in the time of resurrection, I will be sated by Your image.
Chapter 18
If one merits a public miracle, he should offer a song to God, including in his song all the miracles that have occurred since the day the world was created, as well as the good that God wrought for Israel at the giving of the Torah. And he should say: "He Who has performed these miracles, may He do with me likewise."
1. For the Conductor. By the servant of the Lord, by David, who chanted the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2. He said, "I love You, Lord, my strength.
3. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my rescuer. My God is my strength in Whom I take shelter, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
4. With praises I call upon the Lord, and I am saved from my enemies.
5. For the pangs of death surrounded me, and torrents of evil people terrified me.
6. Pangs of the grave encompassed me; snares of death confronted me.
7. In my distress I called upon the Lord, I cried out to my God; and from His Sanctuary He heard my voice, and my supplication before Him reached His ears.
8. The earth trembled and quaked; the foundations of the mountains shook-they trembled when His wrath flared.
9. Smoke rose in His nostrils, devouring fire blazed from His mouth, and burning coals flamed forth from Him.
10. He inclined the heavens and descended, a thick cloud was beneath His feet.
11. He rode on a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
12. He made darkness His concealment, His surroundings His shelter-of the dense clouds with their dark waters.
13. Out of the brightness before Him, His clouds passed over, with hailstones and fiery coals.
14. The Lord thundered in heaven, the Most High gave forth His voice-hailstones and fiery coals.
15. He sent forth His arrows and scattered them; many lightnings, and confounded them.
16. The channels of water became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed-at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
17. He sent from heaven and took me; He brought me out of surging waters.
18. He rescued me from my fierce enemy, and from my foes when they had become too strong for me.
19. They confronted me on the day of my misfortune, but the Lord was my support.
20. He brought me into spaciousness; He delivered me because He desires me.
21. The Lord rewar-ded me in accordance with my righteousness; He repaid me according to the cleanliness of my hands.
22. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not transgressed against my God;
23. for all His laws are before me, I have not removed His statutes from me.
24. I was perfect with Him, and have guarded myself from sin.
25. The Lord repaid me in accordance with my righteousness, according to the cleanliness of my hands before His eyes.
26. With the kindhearted You act kindly, with the upright man You act uprightly.
27. With the pure You act purely, but with the crooked You act cun- ningly.
28. For the destitute nation You save, but haughty eyes You humble.
29. Indeed, You light my lamp; the Lord, my God, illuminates my darkness.
30. For with You I run against a troop; with my God I scale a wall.
31. The way of God is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
32. For who is God except the Lord, and who is a rock except our God!
33. The God Who girds me with strength, and makes my path perfect.
34. He makes my feet like deers', and stands me firmly on my high places.
35. He trains my hands for battle, my arms to bend a bow of bronze.
36. You have given me the shield of Your deliverance, Your right hand upheld me; Your humility made me great.
37. You have widened my steps beneath me, and my knees have not faltered.
38. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until I destroyed them.
39. I crushed them so that they were unable to rise; they are fallen beneath my feet.
40. You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued my adversaries beneath me.
41. You have made my enemies turn their backs to me, and my foes I cut down.
42. They cried out, but there was none to deliver them; to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
43. I ground them as the dust before the wind, I poured them out like the mud in the streets.
44. You have rescued me from the quarrelsome ones of the people, You have made me the head of nations; a nation I did not know became subservient to me.
45. As soon as they hear of me they obey me; strangers deny to me [their disloyalty].
46. Strangers wither away, they are terrified in their strongholds.
47. The Lord lives; blessed is my Rock; exalted is the God of my deliverance.
48. You are the God Who executes retribution for me, and subjugates nations under me.
49. Who rescues me from my enemies, Who exalts me above my adversaries, Who delivers me from the man of violence.
50. Therefore I will laud You, Lord, among the nations, and sing to Your Name.
51. He grants His king great salvations, and bestows kindness upon His anointed, to David and his descendants forever."
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 12
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Friday, 6 Elul, 5776 · 9 September 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 12
• אך הקב״ה עושה שלום ביניהם
• Rambam: Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Friday, 6 Elul, 5776 · 9 September 2016
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Shoftim, 6th Portion Deuteronomy 19:14-20:9 with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 19
14You shall not pull back your neighbor's landmark, which the earlier ones have set as borders in your inheritance, which you will inherit in the land that the Lord, your God gives you, to possess. ידלֹ֤א תַסִּיג֙ גְּב֣וּל רֵֽעֲךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר גָּֽבְל֖וּ רִֽאשֹׁנִ֑ים בְּנַֽחֲלָֽתְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּנְחַ֔ל בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:
You shall not pull back [your neighbor’s] landmark: Heb. לֹא תַסּיג, an expression similar to, “they shall turn back (נָסֹגוּ אָחוֹר)” (Isa. 42:17). [Here therefore, it means] that he moves the boundary-mark of the land backwards into his neighbor’s field, thereby enlarging his own [property]. But has it not already been stated, “You shall not rob” (Lev. 19:13) ? Why then, is it stated here: “You shall not pull back [the landmark]?” [The answer is that this verse] teaches that the person who removes his neighbor’s boundary mark transgresses two negative commandments, “You shall not rob (לֹא תִגְזֹל)” and “You shall not pull back [the landmark]” (לֹא תַסִּיג). Now I might think that [this applies] outside Eretz Israel as well. Therefore it says, “in your inheritance, which you will inherit [in the land],” [indicating that] in [only] Eretz Israel one transgresses two negative commandments, whereas outside Eretz Israel, one transgresses only the commandment of “you shall not rob.” - [Sifrei] לא תסיג גבול: לשון נסוגו אחור (ישעיה מב יז), שמחזיר סימן חלוקת הקרקע לאחור לתוך שדה חבירו למען הרחיב את שלו. והלא כבר נאמר (ויקרא יט, יג) לא תגזול, מה תלמוד לומר לא תסיג, למד על העוקר תחום חבירו שעובר בשני לאוין. יכול אף בחוצה לארץ, תלמוד לומר בנחלתך אשר תנחל וגו', בארץ ישראל עובר בשני לאוין, בחוצה לארץ אינו עובר אלא משום לא תגזול:
15One witness shall not rise up against any person for any iniquity or for any sin, regarding any sin that he will sin. By the mouth of two witnesses, or by the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be confirmed. טולֹֽא־יָקוּם֩ עֵ֨ד אֶחָ֜ד בְּאִ֗ישׁ לְכָל־עָוֹן֙ וּלְכָל־חַטָּ֔את בְּכָל־חֵ֖טְא אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶֽחֱטָ֑א עַל־פִּ֣י | שְׁנֵ֣י עֵדִ֗ים א֛וֹ עַל־פִּ֥י שְׁלשָֽׁה־עֵדִ֖ים יָק֥וּם דָּבָֽר:
One witness [shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity]: This verse establishes a general principle [i.e., from here it is derived] that wherever the term“witness” (עֵד) appears in the Torah, it means two [witnesses], unless the Torah specifies [that] one witness is meant. — [San. 30a] עד אחד: זה בנה אב כל עד שבתורה שנים, אלא אם כן פרט לך בו אחד:
for any iniquity, or for any sin: where his testimony would lead to the accused being punished, either with corporal punishment or with or monetary punishment. However, one [witness] may rise up to [compel his fellow to take] an oath, as follows: If one says to his fellow, “Give me the maneh [100 zuzim] that I lent you,” and his fellow replies, “I have nothing of yours,” and one witness testifies for him [the plaintiff] that he [the defendant] owes him [the money], [the defendant] is required to swear [that he did not borrow any money]. — [Shev. 40a] לכל עון ולכל חטאת: להיות חבירו נענש על עדותו, לא עונש גוף ולא עונש ממון, אבל קם הוא לשבועה. אמר לחבירו תן לי מנה שהלויתיך אמר לו אין לך בידי כלום ועד אחד מעיד שיש לו, חייב להשבע לו:
By the mouth of two witnesses [… the matter will be established]:[The expression,“by the mouth” means here that only the direct, verbal testimony suffices,] but they should not write their testimony in a letter and send it to the court, or have an interpreter stand between the witnesses and the judges. - [Sifrei] על פי שני עדים: ולא שיכתבו עדותם באגרת וישלחו לבית דין, ולא שיעמוד תורגמן בין העדים ובין הדיינים:
16If a false witness rises up against a man, to bear perverted testimony against him, טזכִּֽי־יָק֥וּם עֵֽד־חָמָ֖ס בְּאִ֑ישׁ לַֽעֲנ֥וֹת בּ֖וֹ סָרָֽה:
to bear perverted testimony against him: Heb. סָרָה [That is, he testifies about] a thing which is not so, that this witness is removed (הוּסַר) from the whole testimony [meaning that he could not possibly have been a witness,] such as if [a second set of witnesses] said [to the first set of witnesses], “But weren’t you with us on that day in such and such a place [and not with the defendant, as you claim to have been]?” - [Mak. 5a] לענות בו סרה: דבר שאינו, שהוסר העד הזה מכל העדות הזאת, כגון, שאמרו להם והלא עמנו הייתם אותו היום במקום פלוני:
17Then the two men between whom the controversy exists shall stand before the Lord, before the kohanim and the judges who will be in those days. יזוְעָֽמְד֧וּ שְׁנֵי־הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־לָהֶ֥ם הָרִ֖יב לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה לִפְנֵ֤י הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַשֹּׁ֣פְטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽהְי֖וּ בַּיָּמִ֥ים הָהֵֽם:
Then the two men… shall stand: The text is referring to the witnesses, and it teaches us that there is no testimony by women. It also teaches us that witnesses must submit their testimony while standing. — [Shev. 30a] ועמדו שני האנשים: בעדים הכתוב מדבר, ולמד שאין עדות בנשים, ולמד שצריכין להעיד עדותן מעומד:
between whom the controversy exists: These are the litigants. אשר להם הריב: אלו בעלי הדין:
before the Lord: It should seem to them as though they are standing before the Omnipresent, as it says:“in the midst of the judges He will judge” (Ps. 82: 1). - [San. 6b] לפני ה': יהי דומה להם כאילו עומדין לפני המקום, שנאמר בקרב אלהים ישפוט (תהלים פב, א):
who will be in those days: [Now could one stand in front of those who are not in his day? Rather, it means that] Jephthah [one of the less important judges] in his generation, is [to be considered] as Samuel [the greatest judge] in his generation; you must treat him with respect. אשר יהיו בימים ההם: יפתח בדורו כשמואל בדורו, צריך אתה לנהוג בו כבוד:
18And the judges shall inquire thoroughly, and behold, the witness is a false witness; he has testified falsely against his brother; יחוְדָֽרְשׁ֥וּ הַשֹּֽׁפְטִ֖ים הֵיטֵ֑ב וְהִנֵּ֤ה עֵֽד־שֶׁ֨קֶר֙ הָעֵ֔ד שֶׁ֖קֶר עָנָ֥ה בְאָחִֽיו:
And the judges shall inquire thoroughly: By means of the testimony of [the new set of witnesses] who rebut them, that they investigate and examine those who come to prove that they [the first pair] are עֵדִים זוֹמְמִין,“plotting witnesses,” by diligent inquiry and examination. ודרשו השופטים היטב: על פי המזימין אותם, שבודקים וחוקרים את הבאים להזימם בדרישה ובחקירה:
and behold, the witness is a false witness: Wherever עֵד, witness , is written, Scripture is speaking of two [witnesses]. — [San. 30a] והנה עד שקר: כל מקום שנאמר עד, בשנים הכתוב מדבר:
19then you shall do to him as he plotted to do to his brother, and you shall [thus] abolish evil from among you. יטוַֽעֲשִׂ֣יתֶם ל֔וֹ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר זָמַ֖ם לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת לְאָחִ֑יו וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ:
as he plotted: But not as he did. From here [our Rabbis] said that if the first set of witnesses [before being proven false,] already killed the defendant [by their testimony], they are not to be put to death. — [Mak. 5b] כאשר זמם: ולא כאשר עשה. מכאן אמרו, הרגו אין נהרגין:
to do to his brother: Why does Scripture state, “to his brother?” To teach, that in the case of witnesses who conspired against a married daughter of a kohen [by accusing her of adultery], that they are not executed with burning [the form of execution to which she would have been subjected], but rather, by strangulation, the form of execution of the adulterer. For it says [regarding such a woman] “she shall be burnt with fire” (Lev. 21:9)-“she,” but not her paramour [who is dispatched by strangulation]; therefore it says here, “to his brother”-“as he plotted to do to his brother,” but not as he plotted to do to his sister. With other crimes, however, Scripture regards women equally with men, and conspiring witnesses against a woman are executed in the same way as those who conspired against a man. For instance, if they testified that a women killed a person, or that she desecrated the Sabbath [and they are revealed to be false witnesses before she is executed], then they are executed in the form that they intended for her, for Scripture does not exclude his sister [by stating “brother”] except in a case where one may carry out the punishment of the conspiring witnesses by the form of execution of the adulterer [as opposed to the adulteress]. — [Sifrei and San. 90a] לעשות לאחיו: מה תלמוד לומר לאחיו, למד על זוממי בת כהן נשואה שאינן בשריפה, אלא כמיתת הבועל שהוא בחנק, שנאמר היא באש תשרף (ויקרא כא, ט) היא ולא בועלה. לכך נאמר כאן לאחיו, כאשר זמם לעשות לאחיו, ולא כאשר זמם לעשות לאחותו. אבל בכל שאר מיתות השוה הכתוב אשה לאיש, וזוממי אשה נהרגין כזוממי איש. כגון שהעידוה שהרגה את הנפש, שחללה את השבת, נהרגין במיתתה. שלא מיעט כאן אחותו אלא במקום שיש לקיים בהן הזמה במיתת הבועל:
20And those who remain shall listen and fear, and they shall no longer continue to commit any such evil thing among you. כוְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים יִשְׁמְע֣וּ וְיִרָ֑אוּ וְלֹֽא־יֹסִ֨פוּ לַֽעֲשׂ֜וֹת ע֗וֹד כַּדָּבָ֥ר הָרָ֛ע הַזֶּ֖ה בְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ:
shall listen and fear: From here, [we derive the law] that a public announcement is required: “So-and-so and so-and-so are to be executed because they were proven by the court to be plotting witnesses.” - [San. 89a] [Note that Rashi on Mak. 5a and San. 89a writes that the proclamation is made after the perpetrators have been executed.] ישמעו ויראו: מכאן שצריכין הכרזה, איש פלוני ופלוני נהרגין על שהוזמו בבית דין:
21You shall not have pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. כאוְלֹ֥א תָח֖וֹס עֵינֶ֑ךָ נֶ֣פֶשׁ בְּנֶ֗פֶשׁ עַ֤יִן בְּעַ֨יִן֙ שֵׁ֣ן בְּשֵׁ֔ן יָ֥ד בְּיָ֖ד רֶ֥גֶל בְּרָֽגֶל:
Eye for eye: i.e., financial compensation; and similarly, “tooth for tooth, etc.” - [Sifrei, B.K. 87a] עין בעין: ממון, וכן שן בשן וגו':
Deuteronomy Chapter 20
1When you go out to war against your enemies, and you see horse and chariot, a people more numerous than you, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord, your God is with you Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. אכִּֽי־תֵצֵ֨א לַמִּלְחָמָ֜ה עַל־אֹֽיְבֶ֗ךָ וְרָאִ֜יתָ ס֤וּס וָרֶ֨כֶב֙ עַ֚ם רַ֣ב מִמְּךָ֔ לֹ֥א תִירָ֖א מֵהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ הַמַּֽעַלְךָ֖ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
When you go out to war: Scripture juxtaposes the departure for war alongside this [“eye for eye etc.”] to teach us that a person with a missing limb does not go out to war. - [Sifrei] Another explanation: It teaches that if you execute righteous judgment, you can be sure that when you depart for war you will be victorious. Similarly, David says, “I performed justice and righteousness; do not leave me to my oppressors” (Ps. 119: 121). - [Tanchuma] כי תצא למלחמה: סמך הכתוב יציאת מלחמה לכאן, לומר לך, שאין מחוסר אבר יוצא למלחמה. דבר אחר לומר לך, אם עשית משפט צדק אתה מובטח שאם תצא למלחמה אתה נוצח. וכן דוד הוא אומר (תהלים קיט, קכא) עשיתי משפט וצדק בל תניחני לעושקי:
against your enemies: Let them be in your eyes as enemies; have no pity on them, for they will have no pity upon you. על איבך: יהיו בעיניך כאויבים, אל תרחם עליהם כי לא ירחמו עליך:
horse and chariot: In My eyes, they are all like one horse. Similarly, it says, “and you shall strike Midian as one man.” (Jud. 6:16) And similarly, it says,, “When Pharaoh’s horse… came [into the sea]” (Exod. 15:19). - [Sifrei] סוס ורכב: בעיני כולם כסוס אחד, וכן הוא אומר (שופטים ו, טז) והכית את מדין כאיש אחד. וכן הוא אומר (שמות טו, יט) כי בא סוס פרעה:
a people more numerous than you: In your eyes, they are numerous, but in My eyes, they are not numerous. — [Sifrei] עם רב ממך: בעיניך הוא רב, אבל בעיני אינו רב:
2And it will be, when you approach the battle, that the kohen shall come near, and speak to the people. בוְהָיָ֕ה כְּקָֽרָבְכֶ֖ם אֶל־הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִגַּ֥שׁ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְדִבֶּ֥ר אֶל־הָעָֽם:
when you approach the battle: When you are on the point of leaving the border. כקרבכם אל המלחמה: סמוך לצאתכם מן הספר מגבול ארצכם:
that the kohen shall come near: This refers to the kohen anointed for this purpose, and he is called “the one anointed for war.” ונגש הכהן: המשוח לכך. והוא הנקרא משוח מלחמה:
and speak to the people: in the Holy Tongue. — [Sotah 42a] ודבר אל העם: בלשון הקדש:
3And he shall say to them, "Hear, O Israel, today you are approaching the battle against your enemies. Let your hearts not be faint; you shall not be afraid, and you shall not be alarmed, and you shall not be terrified because of them. גוְאָמַ֤ר אֲלֵהֶם֙ שְׁמַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַתֶּ֨ם קְרֵבִ֥ים הַיּ֛וֹם לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֑ם אַל־יֵרַ֣ךְ לְבַבְכֶ֗ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֧וּ וְאַל־תַּחְפְּז֛וּ וְאַל־תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם:
“Hear, O Israel”: Even if you have no merit other than the reading of the Shema , you are worthy that He [God] save you. — [Sotah 42b] שמע ישראל: אפילו אין בכם זכות אלא קריאת שמע בלבד, כדאי אתם שיושיע אתכם:
against your enemies: These are not your brothers, for if you fall into their hands, they will not have pity on you; this is not like the war of Judah with Israel, of which the verse states, “And the men, who were mentioned by name, rose up and took hold of the captives, and, and clothed all their nakedness from the spoils, and they dressed them and shod them, and fed them and gave them to drink, and anointed them, and led them on donkeys, every feeble one, and they brought them to Jericho, the city of the palms, beside their brothers, and they returned to Samaria” (II Chron. 28:15). You, however, are going against your enemies; therefore strengthen yourselves for battle. — [Sifrei ; Sotah 42a] על איביכם: אין אלו אחיכם, שאם תפלו בידם אינם מרחמים עליכם, אין זו כמלחמת יהודה עם ישראל, שנאמר (דה"י ב' כח טו) ויקומו האנשים אשר נקבו בשמות ויחזיקו בשביה, וכל מערומיהם הלבישו מן השלל וילבישום וינעילום ויאכילום וישקום ויסוכום וינהלום בחמורים לכל כושל, ויביאום ירחו עיר התמרים אצל אחיהם, וישובו שומרון, אלא על אויביכם אתם הולכים, לפיכך התחזקו למלחמה:
Let your hearts not be faint; you shall not be afraid, you shall not be alarmed, and you shall not be terrified: Four warnings, corresponding to four practices in which the kings of the nations engage [during battle]: They hold their shields close together to strike them against one another, thereby producing a loud noise to alarm those confronting them, so that they should flee; they stamp [the ground heavily] with their horses and make them neigh, sounding the beating of their horses’ hoofs, and they shout loudly and blow horns and [other] kinds of noisy instruments. אל ירך לבבכם אל תיראו ואל תחפזו ואל תערצו:ארבע אזהרות כנגד ארבעה דברים שמלכי האומות עושים. מגיפים בתריסיהם כדי להקישן זה לזה כדי להשמיע קול שיחפזו אלו שכנגדם וינוסו, ורומסים בסוסיהם ומצהילין אותם להשמיע קול שעטת פרסות סוסיהם, וצווחין בקולם ותוקעין בשופרות ומיני משמיעי קול:
Let your hearts not be faint: Because of the neighing of the horses; אל ירך לבבכם: מצהלות סוסים:
you shall not be afraid: of the noise made by the fastening of the shields; אל תיראו: מהגפת התריסין:
and you shall not be alarmed: At the sounds of the horns; ואל תחפזו: מקול הקרנות:
and you shall not be terrified: By the noise of the shouting. — [Sifrei ; Sotah 42a] ואל תערצו: מקול הצווחה:
4For the Lord, your God, is the One Who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. דכִּ֚י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם הַֽהֹלֵ֖ךְ עִמָּכֶ֑ם לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם לָכֶ֛ם עִם־אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֖ם לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ אֶתְכֶֽם:
For the Lord, your God…: They are coming with the victory of flesh and blood, whereas you approach with the victory of the Omnipresent. The Philistines came with the victory of Goliath-What was his end? He fell, and they fell with him. כי ה' אלהיכם וגו': הם באים בנצחונו של בשר ודם ואתם באים בנצחונו של מקום. פלשתים באו בנצחונו של גלית, מה היה סופו, נפל ונפלו עמו:
Who goes with you: This refers to the camp of the ark. — [Sotah 42a] ההלך עמכם: זה מחנה הארון:
5And the officers shall speak to the people, saying, What man is there who has built a new house and has not [yet] inaugurated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man inaugurate it. הוְדִבְּר֣וּ הַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֘ אֶל־הָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹר֒ מִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּנָ֤ה בַֽיִת־חָדָשׁ֙ וְלֹ֣א חֲנָכ֔וֹ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יַחְנְכֶֽנּוּ:
[What man is there who has built a new house] and has not [yet] inaugurated it: i.e., has not yet lived in it. The term חִנּוּךְ denotes beginning. ולא חנכו: לא דר בו. חנוך לשון התחלה:
[Lest he die in the war,] and another man inaugurate it: This would be a source of great grief. ואיש אחר יחנכנו: ודבר של עגמת נפש הוא זה:
6And what man is there who has planted a vineyard, and has not [yet] redeemed it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man redeem it. ווּמִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָטַ֥ע כֶּ֨רֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א חִלְּל֔וֹ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ:
[And what man is there that has planted a vineyard,] and has not [yet] redeemed it: Heb. וְלֹא חִלְּלוֹ. He has not redeemed the vineyard in the fourth year [of its growth], for the fruits [of the fourth year] have to be eaten in Jerusalem or redeemed [by exchanging them] for money, and to eat [food purchased with] the money in Jerusalem. ולא חללו: לא פדאו בשנה הרביעית, שהפירות טעונין לאכלן בירושלים או לחללן בדמים ולאכול הדמים בירושלים:
7And what man is there who has betrothed a woman and has not [yet] taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man take her." זוּמִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֵרַ֤שׂ אִשָּׁה֙ וְלֹ֣א לְקָחָ֔הּ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יִקָּחֶֽנָּה:
lest he die in the war: He should return lest he die, for if he does not obey the kohen , he deserves to die. — [Sifrei] פן ימות במלחמה: ישוב פן ימות, שאם לא ישמע לדברי הכהן כדאי הוא שימות:
8And the officers shall continue to speak to the people and say, "What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, that he should not cause the heart of his brothers to melt, as his heart." חוְיָֽסְפ֣וּ הַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֘ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־הָעָם֒ וְאָֽמְר֗וּ מִֽי־הָאִ֤ישׁ הַיָּרֵא֙ וְרַ֣ךְ הַלֵּבָ֔ב יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יִמַּ֛ס אֶת־לְבַ֥ב אֶחָ֖יו כִּלְבָבֽוֹ:
And the officers shall continue: Why does it say here: “shall continue” [lit. shall add]? They add this [statement] to the words of the kohen , for the kohen speaks and announces aloud to the people from “Hear, O Israel” (verse 3) until “to save you,” (end of verse 4) while “What man is there” (verse 5), and the second and third one [with the same beginning (verses 6 and 7)], the kohen speaks, and an officer announces aloud [to the people]. This verse, however, an officer speaks, and an officer announces aloud. - [Sotah 43a] According to several incunabula editions of Rashi , “a kohen announces aloud.” [See Yosef Hallel.] ויספו השוטרים: למה נאמר כאן ויספו, מוסיפין זה על דברי הכהן, שהכהן מדבר ומשמיע מן (פסוק ג - ד) שמע ישראל עד להושיע אתכם, ומי האיש ושני ושלישי כהן מדבר ושוטר משמיע, וזה שוטר מדבר ושוטר משמיע:
[What man is there] who is fearful and fainthearted: Rabbi Akiva says: [This verse is to be understood] according to its apparent meaning, that he cannot stand in the closed ranks of battle and look upon a drawn sword. Rabbi Jose the Galilean says that [it means] one who is afraid of his sins [that they will cause him to fall in war, as he is unworthy], and therefore, the Torah gives him the excuse of attributing his return home because of a house, a vineyard, or a wife, to cover up for those who return because of their sins, so that people should not understand that they are sinners. [Consequently,] one who sees this person returning would say,“Perhaps he has built a house, or planted a vineyard, or betrothed a woman.” - [Sotah 44a] הירא ורך הלבב: רבי עקיבא אומר כמשמעו, שאינו יכול לעמוד בקשרי המלחמה ולראות חרב שלופה. רבי יוסי הגלילי אומר הירא מעבירות שבידו, ולכך תלתה לו תורה לחזור על בית וכרם ואשה לכסות על החוזרים בשביל עבירות שבידם, שלא יבינו שהם בעלי עבירה, והרואהו חוזר אומר שמא בנה בית או נטע כרם או ארש אשה:
9And it shall be, that when the officials finish speaking to the people, they shall appoint officers of the legions at the edges of the people. טוְהָיָ֛ה כְּכַלֹּ֥ת הַשֹּֽׁטְרִ֖ים לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־הָעָ֑ם וּפָֽקְד֛וּ שָׂרֵ֥י צְבָא֖וֹת בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הָעָֽם:
[They shall appoint] officers of the legions: This means that they place (זַקָּפִין) guards in front of them and behind them, with iron arrows in their hands, and if anybody attempted to retreat, the guard had the authority to strike his legs. זַקָּפִין are people who stand at the edge of the battle array to pick up (לִזְקֹף) the fallen and to encourage them with words: “Return to the battle and do not flee, for flight is the beginning of defeat.” - [Sifrei , Sotah 44a] שרי צבאות: שמעמידין זקפין, מלפניהם ומלאחריהם וכשילין של ברזל בידיהם וכל מי שרוצה לחזור הרשות בידו לקפח את שוקיו. זקפין, בני אדם עומדים בקצה המערכה לזקוף את הנופלים ולחזקם בדברים שובו אל המלחמה ולא תנוסו, שתחלת נפילה ניסה:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 35 - 38
• Special Custom for the Month of Elul and High Holidays
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
See below for today's additional chapters.
Chapter 35
This psalm is an awe-inspiring and wondrous prayer about David's enemies-that they be as chaff before the wind, chased by the angel of God. It also declares that everything comes about through God's help.
1. By David. Fight my antagonists, O Lord, battle those who battle against me.
2. Take hold of shield and armor and arise to help me.
3. Draw a spear, and bar the way before my pursuers; say to my soul, "I am your deliverance.”
4. Let those who seek my life be shamed and disgraced; let those who devise my harm retreat and be humiliated.
5. Let them be as chaff before the wind; let the angel of the Lord thrust them away.
6. Let their path be dark and slippery; let them be chased by the angel of the Lord.
7. For without cause have they laid their nets in the pit for me; without cause have they dug [pits] for my soul.
8. Let darkness come upon him unawares; let the very snare that he hid trap him, in darkness he will fall in it.
9. And my soul shall exult in the Lord, rejoice in His deliverance.
10. My entire being shall declare: Lord, who is like You? Who saves the poor from one stronger than he, the poor and the destitute from one who would rob him.
11. Corrupt witnesses rise up [against me], they demand of me things of which I do not know.
12. They repay me evil for good, death for my soul.
13. But I wore sackcloth when they were ill; I afflicted my soul with fasting. Let my prayer return upon my own bosom.
14. As if it were my friend, my brother, I went about; like a mother in mourning, I was bent over in gloom.
15. But when I limped, they rejoiced and gathered; the lowly gathered against me-even those whom I do not know; they laugh and cannot be quiet.
16. With flattery and scorn, for the sake of a meal,1 they gnash their teeth at me.
17. My Lord, how long will You look on? Restore my life from their darkness; from young lions, my soul.
18. I will thank You in a great congregation, amidst a mighty nation I will praise You.
19. Let not those who hate me without cause rejoice over me; [let not] those who despise me without reason wink their eye.
20. For they speak not of peace, rather they scheme deceitful matters against the broken of the land.
21. They opened their mouths wide against me, they said, "Aha! Aha! Our eyes have seen [his misfortune].”
22. You saw, Lord, be not silent; my Lord, be not distant from me.
23. Rouse and awaken Yourself to my judgement, to my cause, my God and my Lord.
24. Judge me according to your righteousness, Lord my God; let them not rejoice over me.
25. Let them not say in their hearts, "Aha! We have our desire!" Let them not say, "We have swallowed him!”
26. Let them be shamed and disgraced together, those who rejoice at my trouble; let them be clothed in shame and humiliation, those who raise themselves arrogantly over me.
27. Let those who desire my vindication sing joyously and be glad; let them say always, "Let the Lord be exalted, Who desires the peace of His servant.”
28. My tongue will speak of Your righteousness, Your praise, all day long.
FOOTNOTES
1.These men flatter Saul in order to obtain free meals (Rashi).
Chapter 36
This psalm is a message to those who follow their evil inclination, that tells them, "Do not place the fear of God before you," and brings them to sin by beautifying evil deeds in their eyes. For so is his way: "He descends (to earth) and corrupts, then goes up (to the Heavenly Court) and prosecutes."
1. For the Conductor, by the servant of the Lord, by David.
2. [I think] in my heart: Sin says to the wicked, "There is none [who need place] the fear of God before his eyes.”
3. For Sin makes itself appealing to him, until his iniquity be found and he is hated.
4. The speech of his mouth is evil and deceit; he fails to reason, to improve.
5. On his bed he contemplates evil, he stands in a path that is not good; he does not despise evil.
6. O Lord, Your kindness is in the heavens; Your faithfulness is till the skies.
7. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, Your judgements extend to the great deep; man and beast You deliver, O Lord.
8. How precious is Your kindness, O God; man takes shelter in the shadow of Your wings.
9. They will be filled by the abundance of Your house; from the stream of Your Eden, You will give them to drink.
10. For the source of life is with You; in Your Light do we see light.
11. Extend Your kindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright of heart.
12. Let not the foot of the arrogant overtake me; let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.
13. There1 the doers of evil fell, thrust down, unable to rise.
FOOTNOTES
1.In the very place they intended to persecute me (Metzudot).
Chapter 37
King David exhorts his generation not to be jealous of the prosperity of the wicked, for it may lead to falling into their ways. Rather, put your trust in God, conduct yourselves with integrity, and God will take care of everything.
1. By David. Do not compete with the wicked; do not envy doers of injustice.
2. For like grass they will be swiftly cut down; like green vegetation they will wither.
3. Trust in the Lord and do good; then will you abide in the land and be nourished by faith.
4. Delight in the Lord, and He will grant you the desires of your heart.
5. Cast your needs upon the Lord; rely on Him, and He will take care.
6. He will reveal your righteousness like the light, your justness like the high noon.
7. Depend on the Lord and hope in Him. Compete not with the prosperous, with the man who invents evil schemes.
8. Let go of anger, abandon rage; do not compete with [one who intends] only to harm.
9. For the evildoers will be cut down; but those who hope in the Lord, they will inherit the earth.
10. For soon the wicked one will not be; you will gaze at his place and he will be gone.
11. But the humble shall inherit the earth, and delight in abundant peace.
12. The wicked one plots against the righteous, and gnashes his teeth at him.
13. My Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day will come.
14. The wicked have drawn a sword and bent their bow to fell the poor and destitute, to slaughter those of upright ways.
15. But their sword shall enter their own hearts, and their bows shall break.
16. Better the little of the righteous, than the abundant wealth of the wicked.
17. For the strength of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord supports the righteous.
18. The Lord appreciates the days of the innocent; their inheritance will last forever.
19. They will not be shamed in times of calamity, and in days of famine they will be satisfied.
20. For the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord are as fattened sheep: consumed, consumed in smoke.
21. The wicked man borrows and does not repay; but the righteous man is gracious and gives.
22. For those blessed by Him will inherit the earth, and those cursed by Him will be cut off.
23. The steps of man are directed by God; He desires his way.
24. When he totters he shall not be thrown down, for the Lord supports his hand.
25. I have been a youth, I have also aged; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his offspring begging bread.
26. All day he is kind and lends; his offspring are a blessing.
27. Turn away from evil and do good, and you will dwell [in peace] forever.
28. For the Lord loves justice, he will not abandon his pious ones-they are protected forever; but the offspring of the wicked are cut off.
29. The righteous shall inherit the earth and dwell upon it forever.
30. The mouth of the righteous one utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
31. The Torah of his God is in his heart; his steps shall not falter.
32. The wicked one watches for the righteous man, and seeks to kill him.
33. But the Lord will not abandon him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34. Hope in the Lord and keep His way; then He will raise you high to inherit the earth. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35. I saw a powerful wicked man, well-rooted like a vibrant, native tree.
36. Yet he vanished, behold he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found.
37. Watch the innocent, and observe the upright, for the future of such a man is peace.
38. But sinners shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked is cut off.
39. The deliverance of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of distress.
40. The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they have put their trust in Him.
Chapter 38
A prayer for every individual, bewailing the length of the exile. One who is in distress should recite this psalm, hence its introduction, "A psalm... to remind" (to remind us to recite it in times of distress). One can also derive many lessons from it.
1. A psalm by David, to remind.
2. O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chastise me in Your wrath.
3. For Your arrows have landed in me, Your hand descended upon me.
4. There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your rage, no peace in my bones because of my sin.
5. For my iniquities have flooded over my head; like a heavy load, they are too heavy for me.
6. My wounds are rotted; they reek because of my foolishness.
7. I am bent and extremely bowed; all day I go about in gloom.
8. My sides are inflamed; there is no soundness in my flesh.
9. I am weakened and extremely depressed; I howl from the moaning of my heart.
10. My Lord, all that I desire is before You; my sighing is not hidden from You.
11. My heart is engulfed, my strength has left me; the light of my eyes they, too, are not with me.
12. My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction; my intimates stand afar.
13. The seekers of my life have laid traps; those who seek my harm speak destructiveness; they utter deceits all day long.
14. But I am like a deaf man, I do not hear; like a mute that does not open his mouth.
15. I was like a man that does not perceive, and in whose mouth there are no rebuttals.
16. Because for You, O Lord, I wait; You will answer, my Lord, my God.
17. For I said, "Lest they rejoice over me; when my foot falters they will gloat over me.”
18. For I am accustomed to limping, and my pain is constantly before me.
19. For I admit my iniquity; I worry because of my sin.
20. But my enemies abound with life; those who hate me without cause flourish.
21. Those who repay evil for good resent me for my pursuit of good.
22. Do not forsake me, O Lord; do not be distant from me, my God.
23. Hurry to my aid, O my Lord, my Salvation.
Additional Three Chapters
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
Today's Chapters are 16, 17 and 18.
Chapter 16
When one is in need, he should not implore God in his own merit, for he must leave his merits for his children.
1. A michtam,1 by David. Watch over me, O God, for I have put my trust in You.
2. You, [my soul,] have said to God, "You are my Master; You are not obligated to benefit me.”
3. For the sake of the holy ones who lie in the earth, and for the mighty-all my desires are fulfilled in their merit.
4. Those who hasten after other [gods], their sorrows shall increase; I will not offer their libations of blood, nor take their names upon my lips.
5. The Lord is my allotted portion and my share; You guide my destiny.
6. Portions have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, a beautiful inheritance is mine.
7. I bless the Lord Who has advised me; even in the nights my intellect admonishes me.2
8. I have set the Lord before me at all times; because He is at my right hand, I shall not falter.
9. Therefore my heart rejoices and my soul exults; my flesh, too, rests secure.
10. For You will not abandon my soul to the grave, You will not allow Your pious one to see purgatory.
11. Make known to me the path of life, that I may be satiated with the joy of Your presence, with the bliss of Your right hand forever.
Chapter 17
A loftily person should not ask God to test him with some sinful matter, or other things. If one has sinned, he should see to reform himself, and to save many others from sin.
1. A prayer by David. Hear my sincere [plea], O Lord; listen to my cry; give ear to my prayer, expressed by guileless lips.
2. Let my verdict come forth from before You; let Your eyes behold uprightness.
3. You have probed my heart, examined it in the night, tested me and found nothing; no evil thought crossed my mind; as are my words so are my thoughts.
4. So that [my] human deeds conform with the words of Your lips, I guard myself from the paths of the lawbreakers.
5. Support my steps in Your paths, so that my feet shall not falter.
6. I have called upon You, for You, O Lord, will answer me; incline Your ear to me, hear what I say.
7. Withhold Your kindness-O You who delivers with Your right hand those who put their trust in You-from those who rise up against [You].
8. Guard me like the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings
9. from the wicked who despoil me, [from] my mortal enemies who surround me.
10. Their fat has closed [their hearts]; their mouths speak arrogantly.
11. They encircle our footsteps; they set their eyes to make us stray from the earth.
12. His appearance is like a lion longing to devour, like a young lion lurking in hiding.
13. Arise, O Lord! Confront him, bring him to his knees; rescue my soul from the wicked [who serves as] Your sword.
14. Let me be among those whose death is by Your hand, O Lord, among those who die of old age, whose portion is eternal life and whose innards are filled with Your concealed goodness; who are sated with sons and leave their abundance to their offspring.
15. Because of my righteousness, I shall behold Your countenance; in the time of resurrection, I will be sated by Your image.
Chapter 18
If one merits a public miracle, he should offer a song to God, including in his song all the miracles that have occurred since the day the world was created, as well as the good that God wrought for Israel at the giving of the Torah. And he should say: "He Who has performed these miracles, may He do with me likewise."
1. For the Conductor. By the servant of the Lord, by David, who chanted the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2. He said, "I love You, Lord, my strength.
3. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my rescuer. My God is my strength in Whom I take shelter, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
4. With praises I call upon the Lord, and I am saved from my enemies.
5. For the pangs of death surrounded me, and torrents of evil people terrified me.
6. Pangs of the grave encompassed me; snares of death confronted me.
7. In my distress I called upon the Lord, I cried out to my God; and from His Sanctuary He heard my voice, and my supplication before Him reached His ears.
8. The earth trembled and quaked; the foundations of the mountains shook-they trembled when His wrath flared.
9. Smoke rose in His nostrils, devouring fire blazed from His mouth, and burning coals flamed forth from Him.
10. He inclined the heavens and descended, a thick cloud was beneath His feet.
11. He rode on a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
12. He made darkness His concealment, His surroundings His shelter-of the dense clouds with their dark waters.
13. Out of the brightness before Him, His clouds passed over, with hailstones and fiery coals.
14. The Lord thundered in heaven, the Most High gave forth His voice-hailstones and fiery coals.
15. He sent forth His arrows and scattered them; many lightnings, and confounded them.
16. The channels of water became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed-at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
17. He sent from heaven and took me; He brought me out of surging waters.
18. He rescued me from my fierce enemy, and from my foes when they had become too strong for me.
19. They confronted me on the day of my misfortune, but the Lord was my support.
20. He brought me into spaciousness; He delivered me because He desires me.
21. The Lord rewar-ded me in accordance with my righteousness; He repaid me according to the cleanliness of my hands.
22. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not transgressed against my God;
23. for all His laws are before me, I have not removed His statutes from me.
24. I was perfect with Him, and have guarded myself from sin.
25. The Lord repaid me in accordance with my righteousness, according to the cleanliness of my hands before His eyes.
26. With the kindhearted You act kindly, with the upright man You act uprightly.
27. With the pure You act purely, but with the crooked You act cun- ningly.
28. For the destitute nation You save, but haughty eyes You humble.
29. Indeed, You light my lamp; the Lord, my God, illuminates my darkness.
30. For with You I run against a troop; with my God I scale a wall.
31. The way of God is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
32. For who is God except the Lord, and who is a rock except our God!
33. The God Who girds me with strength, and makes my path perfect.
34. He makes my feet like deers', and stands me firmly on my high places.
35. He trains my hands for battle, my arms to bend a bow of bronze.
36. You have given me the shield of Your deliverance, Your right hand upheld me; Your humility made me great.
37. You have widened my steps beneath me, and my knees have not faltered.
38. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until I destroyed them.
39. I crushed them so that they were unable to rise; they are fallen beneath my feet.
40. You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued my adversaries beneath me.
41. You have made my enemies turn their backs to me, and my foes I cut down.
42. They cried out, but there was none to deliver them; to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
43. I ground them as the dust before the wind, I poured them out like the mud in the streets.
44. You have rescued me from the quarrelsome ones of the people, You have made me the head of nations; a nation I did not know became subservient to me.
45. As soon as they hear of me they obey me; strangers deny to me [their disloyalty].
46. Strangers wither away, they are terrified in their strongholds.
47. The Lord lives; blessed is my Rock; exalted is the God of my deliverance.
48. You are the God Who executes retribution for me, and subjugates nations under me.
49. Who rescues me from my enemies, Who exalts me above my adversaries, Who delivers me from the man of violence.
50. Therefore I will laud You, Lord, among the nations, and sing to Your Name.
51. He grants His king great salvations, and bestows kindness upon His anointed, to David and his descendants forever."
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 12
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Friday, 6 Elul, 5776 · 9 September 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 12
• אך הקב״ה עושה שלום ביניהם
But the Holy One, blessed be He, makes peace between them, so that they should not oppose one another,
על ידי גילוי, שמתגלה בהן הארה רבה והשפעה עצומה מאד מאור אין סוף ברוך הוא
through a revelation — so that an immense illumination and an intense effusion from the [infinite] Ein Sof-light is revealed within them.
אשר כשמו כן הוא
For like His Name (viz., Ein Sof — “the Infinite One”), so is He.
שאינו בבחינת מדה, חס ושלום
He is not, Heaven forfend, on the [measured] plane of an attribute,
אלא למעלה מעלה, עד אין קץ
but transcends exceedingly, ad infinitum,
אפילו מבחינת חב״ד, מקור המדות
even the rank of [the intellectual faculties of] ChaBaD, which is the source of the attributes, and surely He transcends the attributes themselves.
ואזי המדות נגדיות של מיכאל וגבריאל נכללות במקורן ושרשן
And then, when G‑d’s infinite light is revealed within the attributes, the opposing attributes of Michael and Gabriel(Chesed and Gevurah) are absorbed in their source and root,
והיו לאחדים ממש
and they become truly unified,
ובטלים באורו יתברך, המאיר להם בבחינת גילוי
and are nullified in His light, which radiates to them in a manifest way.
Once their individuality is nullified, they no longer oppose each other.
By way of analogy: The intense enmity of two high officials dissolves, in the presence of their sovereign, into friendship. It is because of their joint nullification before the king that this unity comes about. So, too, the defined bounds of the various attributes dissipate in the face of the limitless revelation of the infinite light.
ואזי מתמזגות ומתמתקות הגבורות בחסדים
The Gevurot are thereby tempered and mellowed (lit., “sweetened”) in the Chassadim, and are transformed into good and kindness,
על ידי בחינה ממוצעת, קו המכריע ומטה כלפי חסד
by a mediary, the determining factor between Chesed and Gevurah, which leans towards Chesed,
היא מדת הרחמים
i.e., the attribute of Rachamim (“mercy”).
When Chesed does not insist (so to speak) on an unlimited revelation of kindness (but is satisfied to reveal the G‑dly illumination in a finite manner), and Gevurah insists only on witholding the revelation from those who are unworthy of receiving it (but does not insist on blocking the revelation altogether, even from the worthy — then the mediating attribute of mercy, which leans toward kindness, declares that while a particular recipient may not be strictly worthy of the kindness to be shown, he is at least worthy of being granted it out of compassion.
הנקראת בשם תפארת, בדברי חכמי האמת
This attribute of Rachamim is called Tiferet (“beauty”) in the terminology of the Kabbalists (lit., “the scholars of truth”),
לפי שהיא כלולה מב׳ גוונין, לובן ואודם
because it is made up of the two colors white and red,
המרמזים לחסד וגבורה
which allude to Chesed and Gevurah, respectively.
Rachamim is therefore called Tiferet, because there is beauty in the harmony of diverse colors.
ולכן סתם שם הוי׳ ברוך הוא שבכל התורה, מורה על מדת התפארת
The Divine Name Havayah (the Tetragrammaton), as it appears unqualified throughout the Torah, therefore indicates the attribute of Tiferet,
כמו שכתוב בזהר הקדוש
as is stated in the sacred Zohar.1
Each of the Divine Names indicates one of the Supernal Attributes: the Name E-l, for example, indicates Chesed; Elokimindicates Gevurah; and any unqualified appearance of the ultimate Divine Name — Havayah, which is known as Shem HaEtzem (“the Essential Name”) — alludes to the attribute of Tiferet. Why is this the case?
לפי שכאן הוא בחינת גילוי אור אין סוף ברוך הוא, הארה רבה
For here, in Tiferet, the [infinite] Ein Sof-light becomes manifest in an immense illumination,
ביתר שאת משאר מדותיו הקדושות יתברך
surpassing that of the other Divine attributes.
This, then, is the meaning of the above quotation, that “He makes peace in His high places”: The revelation of G‑d’s infinite light “makes peace” between Michael and Gabriel, who represent Chesed and Gevurah.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Note of the Rebbe: “Vayikra 11:1.” |
• Friday, 6 Elul, 5776 · 9 September 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 142
Collecting Loans from Gentiles
"From the foreigner you shall pursue a debt"—Deuteronomy 15:3.
We are commanded to press a gentile to repay a debt that he owes us, and not to have mercy on him [and give him an extension]—as we are commanded regarding a Jew.
[This commandment only applies to a gentile who has not accepted upon himself the observance of the Seven Noahide Laws.]
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Collecting Loans from Gentiles
Positive Commandment 142
Translated by Berel Bell
The 142nd mitzvah is that we are commanded to demand and to put pressure on a non-Jew to repay his debts; contrary to our commandment to have pity on a Jew and the prohibition against demanding repayment.1
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "You shall collect from a non-Jew."
In the words of the Sifri: "The verse 'You shall collect from a non-Jew,' constitutes a positive commandment."
FOOTNOTES
1.N234 above.
2.Deut. 15:3.
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 142
Collecting Loans from Gentiles
"From the foreigner you shall pursue a debt"—Deuteronomy 15:3.
We are commanded to press a gentile to repay a debt that he owes us, and not to have mercy on him [and give him an extension]—as we are commanded regarding a Jew.
[This commandment only applies to a gentile who has not accepted upon himself the observance of the Seven Noahide Laws.]
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Collecting Loans from Gentiles
Positive Commandment 142
Translated by Berel Bell
The 142nd mitzvah is that we are commanded to demand and to put pressure on a non-Jew to repay his debts; contrary to our commandment to have pity on a Jew and the prohibition against demanding repayment.1
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "You shall collect from a non-Jew."
In the words of the Sifri: "The verse 'You shall collect from a non-Jew,' constitutes a positive commandment."
FOOTNOTES
1.N234 above.
2.Deut. 15:3.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Tum'at Tsara`at Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 15
• Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 15
• Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 15
1
There is an isolation period of three weeks, i.e., nineteen days, for blemishes on houses. For the seventh day counts for the first and the second week and the thirteenth day counts for the second and the third week. Thus if three weeks are necessary, an inspection is made on the seventh day, the thirteenth day, and the nineteenth day. The isolation of a house for three weeks is not explicitly mentioned in the Torah. Similarly, most of the laws applying to blemishes on houses were conveyed by the Oral Tradition.
א
נגעי בתים יש בהן הסגר שלשה שבועות שהן תשעה עשר יום שיום שביעי עולה לכאן ולכאן ויום שלשה עשר עולה לכאן ולכאן נמצאת אתה למד שאם צריך לג' שבועות רואהו בשביעי וביום י"ג וביום תשעה עשר והסגר בתים ג' שבועות אינו מפורש בתורה וכן רוב דיני נגעי בתים דברי קבלה הן:
2
The explicit laws pertaining to them that are stated in the Torah and the Received Tradition are as follows: When a priest comes to see a intense green or intense red blemish that is sunk beneath the surface on the wall of a dwelling, as we explained, he should isolate the house for seven days. Even if at the outset, it was entirely intense green or intense red, he should isolate it. On the seventh day, he should inspect it. If the blemish faded or, needless to say, if it disappeared, he should scrape away the place of the blemish and the house is deemed pure.
If its color remained, but it did not spread, it should be isolated for another week and inspected on the thirteenth day. If it faded or, needless to say, if it disappeared, he should scrape away the place of the blemish and purify the house with fowl.
If, at the end of the second week, he discovered that the blemish had spread or retained its color, he should remove the stones on which the blemish had been manifest, scrape off the mortar that had supported them and deposit it outside the city. He should plaster the entire house and isolate it for a third week.
On the nineteenth day, he should inspect it. If the blemish returned and comprised two grisim, this is considered to be spreading after plastering and the entire house should be destroyed. If the blemish did not return, he should purify the house with fowl. If, however, at any time before it is purified with fowl, the blemish returns, the house should be destroyed. If another blemish appears in the house after it was purified, it should be inspected as if for the first time.
Similarly, if the blemish spread at the end of the first week, he should remove the stones on which the blemish had been manifest, scrape off the mortar that had supported them and deposit it outside the city. He should plaster the entire house and isolate it for a second week. Afterwards, he should inspect it. If the blemish returned and comprised two grisim, this is considered to be spreading after plastering and the entire house should be destroyed. If the blemish did not return, he should purify the house with fowl. If, however, at any time before it is purified with fowl, the blemish returns, the house should be destroyed. If another blemish appears in the house after it was purified, it should be inspected as if for the first time.
ב
וכל הדינין המפורשין בהן בתורה ובדברי קבלה כך הם כשיבא הכהן ויראה הנגע שוקע ירקרק או אדמדם כמו שביארנו יסגיר שבעת ימים ואפילו מצאו כולו בתחילה ירקרק או אדמדם יסגיר ובשביעי רואהו אם כהה הנגע ואצ"ל אם הלך קולף מקום הנגע בלבד והבית טהור מצאו שעמד בעיניו ולא פשה מסגיר שבוע שני ורואהו ביום שלשה עשר אם כהה הנגע או הלך לו קולף מקום הנגע ומטהר את הבית בציפורים ואם מצא הנגע שפשה בסוף שבוע שני או שעמד בעינו חולץ את האבנים שבהן הנגע ומקצה העפר אל מחוץ לעיר וטח את כל הבית ומסגירו שבוע שלישי וביום תשעה עשר רואהו אם חזר בו נגע כשני גריסין הרי זה פשיון אחרי הטוח ונותץ את כל הבית ואם לא חזר בו נגע מטהרו בצפורים וכל זמן שיחזור בו הנגע קודם שיטהרו בציפורים הרי זה ינתץ ואם נראה בו נגע אחר שטהרו בציפורים יראה בתחילה וכן אם פשה הנגע בסוף שבוע ראשון חולץ את האבנים שבהן הנגע וקוצה העפר חוץ לעיר וטח את כל הבית ומסגירו שבוע שני ורואה אם מצא בו נגע כשני גריסין הרי זה פשיון אחרי הטוח ונותץ את כל הבית ואם לא חזר בו נגע מטהרו בציפורים וכל זמן שיראה בו נגע קודם טהרה בציפורין ינתץ ואם נראה בו אחר שטהרו בצפרים יראה בתחילה:
3
When the priest removes the stones on which the blemish was found, he should not remove less than two stones. He may not take stones from one side of the house and bring them to the other, for Leviticus 14:42 states: "And they shall take other stones." Similarly, he may not take mortar from one side of the house and bring it to the other, for that verse states: "And he shall take other mortar and plaster the house."
He may not plaster the house with lime, only with mortar, for the verse states: "And he shall take other mortar." He should not bring one larger stone in place of two that he removed or two smaller stones in place of one that he removed. Instead, he should bring two in place of two. He may, however, bring two in place of three.
ג
כשהוא חולץ את האבנים שבהן הנגע אינו חולץ פחות משתי אבנים ואינו נוטל אבנים מצד זה ומביאן לצד זה שנאמר ולקחו אבנים אחרות ולא עפר מצד זה ומביא לצד זה שנאמר ועפר אחר יקח וטח את הבית ואינו טח בסיד אלא בעפר שנאמר ועפר אחר יקח וגו' אינו מביא אבן אחת תחת שתים שחלץ ולא שתי אבנים תחת אבן אחת חלוצה אלא מביא שתים תחת שתים ויש לו להביא שתים תחת שלש:
4
If there was a blemish on a wall between one person's house and another's, they both must remove the stones; they both must scrape away the mortar, and they both must bring other stones. The owner of the blemished house alone brings the new mortar, as implied by Leviticus 14:42 states: "And he shall take other mortar and plaster the house." From the use of a singular form, we learn that his neighbor does not join with him in the plastering.
ד
היה הכותל בינו לבין חבירו שניהן חולצין ושניהן קוצים את העפר ושניהם מביאין אבנים אחרות אבל בעל הבית מביא לבדו את העפר שנאמר ועפר אחר יקח וטח אין חבירו מטפל עמו בטיחה:
5
The following laws apply when there is a blemish on a stone in the corner of a house. When the owner removes the stone, he removes it entirely. If he must destroy the house, he must destroy only his own and leave his neighbor's. There is an unresolved question if the part of the stone that projects into his neighbor's house is considered as a handle to his stone and brings impurity to it.
ה
אבן שבזוית בזמן שהוא חולץ חולץ את כולה ובזמן שהוא נותץ נותץ את שלו ומניח את של חבירו ויש בדבר ספק אם תהיה זו של חבירו כמו יד לאבן שלו:
6
When a blemish was discovered in a house and there was a loft built over it, the beams of the ceiling should be left for the loft. If it was discovered in the loft, the beams should be left for the house. If there was no loft on top of it, all of its stones, wood, and mortar are destroyed with it. The partitions on the roof and the lattice of the windows may be saved.
ו
בית שנראה בו נגע והיתה עלייה על גביו נותן את הקורות לעלייה נראה בעלייה נותן את הקורות לבית לא היתה עלייה על גביו אבניו ועציו ועפרו כולן ניתצין עמו ומציל את המלבנין ואת סריגי החלונות:
7
When a person takes stones from a house that had been isolated and builds them into a house that is pure, if the blemish returns to the house that had been isolated, he should remove those stones from the pure house. If the blemish appears on the stones that he added, the isolated house should be destroyed and the second house isolated, as is the law with regard to a house on which a blemish is first discovered.
ז
הלוקח אבנים מבית מוסגר ובנאן בבית טהור חזר הנגע למוסגר חולץ את האבנים שבטהור נראה נגע על האבנים שבנה המוסגר ינתץ והבית השני מסגירין אותו בנגע זה כדין כל בית שנראה בו נגע בתחילה:
8
How is a house on which there was a blemish purified after the stones were removed and it was plastered? One should bring "living water" in an earthenware container, two fowl, a cedar branch, a hyssop, a crimson strand, like the purification of a man in every respect. The difference is in the purification process of a man, one sprinkles the blood seven times on the back of the hand of the afflicted person. And in the purification process of a house, one sprinkles the blood seven times on the lintel of the house from the outside. The remainder of the practices are the same.
ח
כיצד מטהרין את הבית המנוגע אחר החליצה והטיחה מביא מים חיים בכלי חרס ושתי צפרים ועץ ארז ואזוב ושני תולעת כטהרת אדם שביארנו לכל דבר אלא שבאדם מזה שבע פעמים לאחר ידו של מצורע ובבית מזה שבע פעמים על המשקוף של בית מבחוץ ושאר כל מעשיהן שוין:
• Rambam - 3 Chapters: Malveh veLoveh Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 4, Malveh veLoveh Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 5, Malveh veLoveh Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 6
• Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 4
• Hayom Yom: Today's Hayom Yom
• Friday, 6 Elul, 5776 · 9 September 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Monday, Elul 6, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Teitsei, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 35-38. Also 16-18.
Tanya: But the Holy One, (p. 449) ...blessed attributes. (p. 451).
The Tzemach Tzedek related: The Baal Shem Tov was very fond of light, and said, "Or ('light') is the numerical equivalent of raz ('secret').1 Whoever knows the 'secret' contained in every thing can bring illumination."
FOOTNOTES
1.Tikunei Zohar 19; Zohar III, p. 28b.
• Daily Thought:
• Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 4
1
Neshech and marbit are one in the same, as Leviticus 25:37states: "Do not give him your money with neshech and do not put forth your food at marbit." And further on, Deuteronomy 23:20speaks of: "Neshech from money, neshech from food, neshechfrom any substance that will accrue."
Why is interest called neshech? Because it bites. It causes pain to one's colleague and consumes his flesh. Why did the Torah refer to it with two terms? So that one would commit a twofold transgression when violating this prohibition.
א
נשך ומרבית אחד הוא שנאמר את כספך לא תתן לו בנשך ובמרבית לא תתן אכלך ולהלן הוא אומר נשך כסף נשך אוכל נשך כל דבר אשר ישך, ולמה נקרא שמו נשך מפני שהוא נושך שמצער את חבירו ואוכל את בשרו ולמה חלקן הכתוב לעבור עליו בשני לאוין.
2
Just as it is forbidden to give a loan at interest; so, too, it is forbidden to borrow at interest, as Deuteronomy, ibid., states: "Do not offer interest to your brother." According to the Oral Tradition, we learned that this is a warning to the borrower.
Similarly, it is forbidden to act as a broker between the borrower and the lender when interest is involved. Anyone involved, a guarantor, a scribe or a witness transgresses a negative commandment, as Exodus 22:24 states: "Do not lay interest upon him." This is a warning against the witnesses, the guarantor and the scribe.
Thus, we see that a person who offers a loan at interest violates six prohibitions:
"Do not act like a creditor toward him," "Do not give him your money with neshech" "Do not put forth your food at marbit" "Do not take neshech and tarbit from him" (Leviticus 25:36), "Do not lay interest upon him," and "Do not place a stumbling block in front of the blind" (Leviticus 19:14).
A person who borrows at interest violates two prohibitions: "Do not offer interest to your brother." "Do not place a stumbling block in front of the blind"
The guarantor, the witnesses and the like violate only the prohibition: "Do not lay interest upon him." Any broker who connects between the lender and the borrower or assists or instructs one of them with regard to making the loan transgresses the commandment: "Do not place a stumbling block in front of the blind"
ב
כדרך שאסור להלוות כך אסור ללוות ברבית שנאמר לא תשיך לאחיך מפי השמועה למדו שזו אזהרה ללוה כלומר לא תנשך לאחיך, וכן אסור להתעסק בין לוה ומלוה ברבית, וכל מי שהיה ערב או סופר או עד ביניהן ה"ז עובר בלא תעשה, שנאמר לא תשימון עליו נשך זו אזהרה אף לעדים ולערב ולסופר, הא למדת שהמלוה בריבית עובר על ששה לאוין: לא תהיה לו כנושה, את כספך לא תתן לו בנשך, ובמרבית לא תתן אכלך, אל תקח מאתו נשך ותרבית, לא תשימון עליו נשך, ולפני עור לא תתן מכשול, והלוה עובר בשנים, לא תשיך לאחיך, ולפני עור לא תתן מכשול, ערב ועדים וכיוצא בהן אין עוברין אלא משום לא תשימון עליו נשך, וכל מי שהיה סרסור בין שניהם או שסייע אחד מהן או הורהו עובר משום לפני עור לא תתן מכשול.
3
Although the lender and the borrower violate all the negative commandments mentioned above, they are not punished with lashes, because the interest must be returned. For whenever a person gives a loan at interest, if fixed interest is involved, it is forbidden by Scriptural Law and may be expropriated through legal process. The judges expropriate it from the lender and return it to the borrower. If the lender dies, it is not expropriated from his children's possessions.
ג
אע"פ שהמלוה והלוה עוברין על כל אלו הלאוין אין לוקין עליו מפני שניתן להשבון, שכל המלוה בריבית אם היתה ריבית קצוצה שהיא אסורה מן התורה הרי זו יוצאה בדיינין ומוציאין אותה מן המלוה ומחזירין ללוה, ואם מת המלוה אין מוציאין מיד הבנים.
4
When a father leaves his sons money obtained by taking interest, they are not obligated to return it, even though they know that it was obtained through interest. If, however, he leaves them a cow, a garment or any other specific article obtained through interest, they are obligated to return it as an expression of honor for their father.
When does the above apply? When their father repented, but was not able to return the article before he died. If, however, he did not repent, the sons need not be concerned with his honor. They are not required to return even a specific article.
ד
הניח להם אביהם מעות של רבית אע"פ שהן יודעין שהן של רבית אינן חייבים להחזיר, הניח להם פרה וטלית של ריבית וכל דבר המסויים חייבים להחזיר מפני כבוד אביהן, בד"א כשעשה תשובה ולא הספיק להחזיר עד שמת אבל אם לא עשה תשובה אין חוששין לכבודו ואפילו דבר המסויים אין מחזירין.
5
When robbers and people who lend money at interest seek to return the money they took, we should not receive it from them. This will make the path of teshuvah more accessible to them. Whoever accepts repayment from them is not looked upon favorably by our Sages. If, however, the stolen article itself was intact or a specific article was given as interest, and it itself is there, it may be accepted.
ה
הגזלנין ומלוה בריבית שהחזירו אין מקבלין מהן כדי לפתוח להן דרך לתשובה, וכל המקבל מהן אין רוח חכמים נוחה הימנו, אם היתה גזילה קיימת והרבית דבר המסויים והרי הוא בעצמו מקבלין מהן.
6
When interest - whether fixed interest or interest forbidden by Rabbinic law - is mentioned in a promissory note, the lender may collect the principal, but not the interest. If he collected the entire amount, any fixed interest can be expropriated from him. "The shade of interest" - i.e., interest forbidden by Rabbinic law - may not be collected from the borrower by the lender, nor is it expropriated by the court from the lender for the borrower.
ו
שטר שכתוב בו ריבית בין קצוצה בין של דבריהם גובה את הקרן ואינו גובה את הרבית, קדם וגבה הכל מוציאין ממנו הרבית קצוצה, אבל אבק ריבית שהוא מדבריהם אינו גובה מן הלוה למלוה ואין מחזירין אותו מן המלוה ללוה.
7
Whenever a person writes a promissory note that includes interest, it is as if he documents and has witnesses testify that he denies God, the Lord of Israel. Similarly, whenever a person borrows or lends money at interest in privacy he denies God, the Lord of Israel, and denies the exodus from Egypt, as Leviticus 25:37-38 states: "Do not give him your money with neshech... I am God your Lord, who took you out of the land of Egypt."
ז
כל הכותב שטר רבית ה"ז ככותב ומעיד עליו עדים שכפר בה' אלהי ישראל, וכן כל הלוה ומלוה ברבית בינן לבין עצמן הרי הן ככופרים בה' אלהי ישראל וכפרו ביציאת מצרים שנאמר את כספך לא תתן לו בנשך וגו' אני ה' אלהיכם אשר הוצאתי אתכם מארץ מצרים.
8
It is forbidden for a person to borrow money from his sons or the members of his household at interest. This is forbidden even when he is not tightfisted and he is merely giving them a present." The rationale is that in doing so, he might habituate them to this practice.
ח
אסור לאדם להלוות בניו ובני ביתו ברבית אע"פ שאינו מקפיד ומתנה הוא שנותן להן ה"ז אסור שמא ירגילם בדבר זה.
9
When Torah scholars lend money to one another and the borrower returns more than the amount loaned him, it is permitted. It is obvious that the extra amount was only a present that he gave him. For they know the severity of the prohibition against taking interest.
ט
תלמידי חכמים שהלוו זה את זה ונתן לו יתר על מה שהלוה ממנו הרי זה מותר שהדבר ידוע שלא נתן לו אלא מתנה שהרי הן יודעין חומר איסור הרבית.
10
The following laws apply when a person lends money to a colleague, and the borrower discovers more than the sum originally agreed upon, or the borrower returned a debt and the lender discovers more than the sum that was borrowed. If the additional amount was a sum about which a person might easily err, it must be returned. If not, we can assume that the borrower gave the lender a present, he had stolen property belonging to the lender in his possession and sought to return it together in the account without the lender being aware, or another person asked him to return money in such a manner.
What can be considered a sum about which a person might easily err? One, two, five or ten more. The latter figures are included, for perhaps the person counted out the sum in groups of five or ten.
Similarly, if the person found that a group of five or a group of ten had an additional one, he must return the extra amount. Maybe an additional one with which he was counting became mixed with a group of five or ten,
י
המלוה את חבירו ומצא הלוה יותר [או שהחזיר לו חובו ומצא המלוה יותר] אם בכדי שהדעת טועה חייב להחזיר ואם לאו מתנה הוא שנתן לו או גזילה היתה לו בידו והבליע לו בחשבון או אחר צוה להבליע לו, בכמה הדעת טועה באחד ובשנים או בחמשה או בעשרה שמא מנה חמשה חמשה או עשרה עשרה, וכן אם מצא יתר מנין החמישיות או מנין העשיריות אחד אחד חייב להחזיר לו שמא האחדים שהיה מונה בהן החמשיות או העשיריות נתערבו עמהם.
11
The following laws apply when a person lends a colleague according to a particular coinage, or stipulates in his wife'sketubah that a sum should be paid to her in a particular coinage, and then the ruling authorities increase the weight of that coinage. When the value of produce was reduced because of the increase, he should deduct the proportion of the increase, even if the increase was minimal. If, however, the value of produce is not reduced because of the addition, he need not deduct that proportion. Instead, he should pay him the coin used as currency at that time.
When does the above apply? When the addition was one fifth of its value -e.g., its weight was four units and it was increased to five. If, however, more than a fifth was added, he should deduct the entire proportionate amount of the increase, even though the price of produce did not increase. Similar laws apply with regard to a loan when the weight of a coin was decreased.
יא
המלוה את חבירו על המטבע וכן הכותב לאשתו בכתובתה מטבע ידוע ופירש משקלו והוסיפו על משקלו אם הוזלו הפירות מחמת התוספת מנכה לו שיעור התוספת ואפילו הוסיפו עליו כל שהוא, ואם לא הוזלו מחמת התוספת אינו מנכה לו אלא נותן לו ממטבע היוצא באותה שעה, בד"א בשהוסיפו עליו עד חמישיתו כגון שהיה משקלו ד' ועשאו ה' אבל אם הוסיפו לו יותר על חמישיתו מנכה לו כל התוספת אע"פ שלא הוזלו הפירות וה"ה למלוה על המטבע ופחתו ממנו.
12
The following rules apply when a person lends a colleague according to a particular coinage, and that coinage is disqualified by the ruling authorities. If the lender could use the disqualified coin as legal tender in another country, and the lender has a way of getting to that country, the borrower may repay him in the coinage that he lent him, telling him: "Go and use it in such and such a place." If the lender does not have a way of getting there, the borrower must repay him in the coinage that is legal tender at that time. Similar laws apply with regard to a ketubah.
יב
המלוה את חבירו על המטבע ונפסל אם יכול להוציאו במדינה אחרת ויש לו דרך לאותה מדינה נותן לו ממטבע שהלוהו ואומר לו לך והוציאו במקום פלוני, ואם אין לו דרך לשם נותן לו ממטבע היוצא באותה שעה, וכן בכתובה.
13
Some of the Geonim have ruled that when a borrower forgoes the interest a lender charged or will charge on his behalf, his statements are of no consequence, even though he affirms his waiver with a kinyan or gives it as a present. Their rationale is that whenever interest is given, the borrower is waiving his rights. The Torah, however, does not accept this waiver and forbids it. Therefore, one cannot waive interest, even interest forbidden merely by Rabbinic Law on behalf of the lender.
It appears to me that this ruling is incorrect. Instead, since the lender is told to return the interest, and he knows that he violated a prohibition, and the borrower has the right to collect the money, if the borrower desires to waive the obligation to return the interest he may, just as a person may waive the return of a stolen article. Indeed, our Sages explicitly stated that when robbers and people who lent money at interest seek to return the money they took, we should not receive it from them. This indicates that the waiver of the obligation to return the interest is effective.
יג
הורו מקצת הגאונים שהלוה שמחל למלוה ברבית שלקח ממנו או שעתיד ליקח אע"פ שקנו מידו שמחל או נתן מתנה אינו מועיל כלום שכל רבית שבעולם מחילה היא אבל התורה לא מחלה ואסרה מחילה זו ולפיכך אין המחילה מועלת ברבית אפילו ברבית של דבריהם, יראה לי שאין הוראה זו נכונה אלא מאחר שאומרים למלוה להחזיר לו וידע המלוה שדבר איסור עשה ויש לו ליטול ממנו אם רצה למחול מוחל כדרך שמוחל הגזל, ובפירוש אמרו חכמים שהגזלנין ומלוי ברבית שהחזירו אין מקבלין מהן מכלל שהמחילה מועלת.
14
It is permitted to give property belonging to orphans to a faithful person who has valuable properties to offer as security, in an arrangement that is likely to lead to profit and unlikely to lead to loss.
What is implied? The court tells the person: "Do business with their property. If there is a profit, give them a portion of the profit. If there is a loss, suffer the loss yourself." This is "the shade of interest." Nevertheless, "the shade of interest" is forbidden only because of a Rabbinic decree, and our Sages did not apply their decree to property belonging to orphans.
יד
נכסי יתומים מותר ליתן אותם לאדם נאמן שיש לו נכסים טובים קרוב לשכר ורחוק להפסד, כיצד אומר לו תהיה נושא ונותן בהן אם יש שם ריוח תן להם חלקן מן הריוח ואם יש שם הפסד תפסיד אתה לבדך שזה אבק רבית הוא וכל אבק רבית אינה אסורה אלא מדבריהם ובנכסי יתומים לא גזרו..
Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 5
1
One may lend money to and borrow money from a gentile and a resident alien at interest, as implied by Deuteronomy 23:20: "Do not offer interest to your brother." We may infer: Offering - and taking - interest from "your brother" is prohibited; from people at large, by contrast, it is permitted.
It is a positive mitzvah to lend money to a gentile at interest, asIbid:21 states: "You may offer interest to a gentile." The Oral Tradition teaches that this is a positive commandment. This is the Scriptural Law.
א
העכו"ם וגר תושב לוין מהן ומלוין אותן ברבית שנאמר לא תשיך לאחיך לאחיך אסור ולשאר העולם מותר, ומצות עשה להשיך לעכו"ם שנאמר לנכרי תשיך מפי השמועה למדו שזו מצות עשה וזהו דין תורה.1
2
Our Sages, however, forbade a Jew from lending money to a gentile at a fixed rate of interest beyond what is necessary for him to earn his livelihood. They enacted this decree lest, the lender learn from the gentile's deeds as a result of the large extent of his contact with him. Therefore even according to the Sages, it is permitted to borrow money from a gentile at interest, for the Jew will flee from him, and will not frequent his company.
Torah scholars will not learn from a gentile's conduct. . Hence, it is permitted for them to lend money to a gentile at interest, even to make a profit. Any transactions in the category of "the shade of interest" that involve gentiles are permitted for everyone.
ב
אסרו חכמים שיהיה ישראל מלוה את העכו"ם ברבית קצוצה אלא בכדי חייו גזרו שמא ילמוד ממעשיו ברוב ישיבתו עמו, לפיכך מותר ללוות מן העכו"ם ברבית שהרי הוא בורח מלפניו ואינו רגיל אצלו, ותלמיד חכם שאינו רגיל בו ללמוד ממעשיו מותר להלוות לעכו"ם ברבית אפילו להרויח, וכל אבק רבית עם העכו"ם מותרת לכל.
3
The following law applies when a Jew borrowed money from a gentile at interest, and when he seeks to return it to him another Jew meets him and tells him: "Give it to me and I will pay you the rate of interest that you pay the gentile." This is forbidden, even if the original borrower brings the other Jew to the gentile. Instead, the gentile must take back his money and then give it as a loan to the other Jew.
ג
ישראל שלוה מעות מן העכו"ם ברבית וביקש להחזירם לו מצאו ישראל אחר ואמר לו תנם לי ואני מעלה לך כדרך שאתה מעלה לעכו"ם הרי זו רבית קצוצה אפילו העמידו אצל העכו"ם עד שיטול העכו"ם מעותיו ויחזור ויתנם ביד ישראל האחר.
4
When, by contrast, a gentile borrows money from a Jew at interest and desires to return it to him, and another Jew meets the gentile and tells him: "Give it to me and I will pay you the rate of interest that you pay the other Jew," this is permitted. If, however, the gentile brought the Jewish borrower to the Jewish lender and informed him of the loan, this is considered fixed interest, for he gave the money with the knowledge of the Jewish lender. This applies even if the gentile gave the Jewish borrower the money.
ד
עכו"ם שלוה מעות מישראל ברבית וביקש להחזירם לו מצאו ישראל אחר ואמר לו תנם לי ואני מעלה לך כדרך שאתה מעלה לישראל הרי זה מותר, ואם העמידו אצל ישראל אע"פ שנתן העכו"ם המעות בידו הואיל ומדעת ישראל נתן הרי זו רבית קצוצה.
5
It is forbidden for a Jew to entrust his money to a gentile so that he can lend them to a Jew at interest.
When a gentile loans money to a Jew at interest, it is forbidden for another Jew to serve as a guarantor. The rationale is that according to their laws, the lender may demand payment from the guarantor first. Thus, after paying the debt, the guarantor will demand payment for the interest that he is obligated to the gentile. Hence, if the gentile makes a commitment not to demand payment from the guarantor first, it is permitted.
ה
אסור לישראל לתלות מעותיו ביד עכו"ם כדי להלוותן ברבית לישראל, ועכו"ם שהלוה את ישראל ברבית אסור לישראל אחר להיות לו ערב שכיון שבדיניהם שתובע הערב תחלה נמצא הערב תובע את ישראל ברבית שהערב חייב בה לעכו"ם, לפיכך אם קבל עליו העכו"ם שלא יתבע את הערב תחלה הרי זה מותר.
6
The following laws apply when a Jew borrowed money from a gentile at interest and then the gentile converted. If a reckoning was made before he converted, the convert may collect the principal and the interest. If a reckoning was not made until after he converted, the convert may collect the principal, but not the interest.
Different rules apply when, by contrast, a gentile borrows money from a Jew at interest and then converts. After a reckoning is made, even if it was made after the conversion, the convert is required to pay the entire sum, the principal and the interest. This measure was instituted lest people say that the person converted for the sake of his money. Even after he converted, the Jew can collect the entire sum of interest for which he became liable while he was a gentile.
ו
ישראל שלוה מעות מן העכו"ם ברבית וזקפן עליו במלוה ונתגייר אם עד שלא נתגייר זקפן עליו במלוה גובה את הקרן והרבית ואם משנתגייר זקפן עליו במלוה גובה את הקרן ולא הרבית, אבל עכו"ם שלוה מישראל ברבית וזקף עליו את הרבית במלוה אע"פ שזקפן עליו אחר שנתגייר גובה את הקרן ואת הרבית שלא יאמרו בשביל מעותיו נתגייר זה, וגובה הישראל ממנו אחר שנתגייר כל מעות הרבית שנתחייב בהן כשהיה עכו"ם.
7
It is a mitzvah to lend money to a Jew without charge before lending money to a gentile at interest.
ז
מצוה להקדים הלואת ישראל בחנם להלואת עכו"ם ברבית.
8
It is forbidden for a person to invest his money in a manner where his share in the profit is great and his share in the eventuality of loss is minimal. This is considered "the shade of interest." A person who makes such investments is considered "wicked."
If a person makes such an investment, the profits and the losses are divided according to the laws governing a hetter iska. A person who invests his money in a manner where his share in the profit is minimal and his share in the eventuality of loss is great is considered pious.
ח
אסור לאדם שיתן מעותיו קרוב לשכר ורחוק להפסד שזה אבק רבית הוא והעושה כן נקרא רשע, ואם נתן חולקין בשכר ובהפסד כדין העסק, והנותן מעותיו קרוב להפסד ורחוק לשכר הרי זה נקרא חסיד.
9
We may not appoint a person as a storekeeper in return for half of the profits, nor may one entrust a person with money to buy produce in return for half of the profits, nor may one buy eggs to place under another person's chickens in return for half of the profits, nor may one evaluate calves and young donkeys and then have them fattened in return for half of the profits.
These arrangements are permitted only when the investor pays the manager a wage for his efforts and reimbursement for the upkeep of the animals, or grants the manager a greater share of the profits than his share in the event of a loss, as we explained with regard to partnerships.
ט
אין מושיבין חנוני למחצית שכר ולא יתן מעות ליקח בהן פירות למחצית שכר ולא ביצים להושיב תחת התרנגולין שלו למחצית שכר ואין שמין עגלים וסייחין לפטמן למחצית שכר אלא א"כ נתן לו שכר עמלו ומזונו, או יהיה ריוח המתעסק יותר על הפסדו כמו שביארנו בענין השותפות.
10
When a person enters into a partnership arrangement with a colleague, entrusting him with money or with land, or making an iska agreement, he should not include the profit together with the principal as a single sum in the promissory note, lest there be no profit and this lead to interest.
Similarly, a person should not give a colleague money as an iska or in a partnership, but have a promissory note written as if it were a loan. This is prohibited lest he die and the promissory note be given to his heir, who will use it to collect interest.
י
המשתתף עם חבירו במעות או בקרקע או הנותן לו עסק לא יצרף השכר עם הקרן שמא לא יהיה שם שכר ונמצאו באין לידי רבית, וכן לא יתן לו מעות בתורת עסק או שותפות ויכתוב אותן מלוה שמא ימות ונמצא השטר ביד היורש וגובה בו את הרבית.
11
It is forbidden to pay interest before taking a loan or to pay it afterwards. What is implied? If a person thought about receiving a loan from a
colleague and sent him presents so that he would grant him the loan, this is considered to be paying interest before giving a loan. If he took a loan from him and returned the debt, and then sent the lender a present for the fact that his money was in his possession without his receiving any benefit, this is considered as paying interest afterwards. If one transgresses and does this, this is "the shade of interest."
יא
אסור להקדים הרבית או לאחר אותו, כיצד נתן עיניו ללוות ממנו והיה משלח לו סבלונות בשביל שילוהו זו היא רבית מוקדמת, לוה ממנו והחזיר לו מעותיו והיה משלח לו סבלונות בשביל מעותיו שהיו בטילין אצלו זו היא רבית מאוחרת ואם עבר ועושה כן הרי זה אבק רבית.
12
When a person who borrowed money from a colleague would not ordinarily greet him first, it is forbidden for him to greet him first. Needless to say, it is forbidden for him to praise the lender in public or go to his home. These prohibitions are derived from the phrase Deuteronomy 23:20: "All types of neshech"; even words are forbidden.
Similarly, it is forbidden for the borrower to teach the lender Scripture or Talmud throughout the duration of the loan if the borrower was not accustomed to doing so previously,52 as implied by the phrase: "All types of interest."
יב
מי שלוה מחבירו ולא היה רגיל מקודם להקדים לו שלום אסור להקדים לו שלום, ואצ"ל שיקלסו בדברים או ישכים לפתחו שנאמר נשך כל דבר אפילו דברים אסורים, וכן אסור לו ללמד את המלוה מקרא או גמרא כל זמן שמעותיו בידו אם לא היה רגיל בזה מקודם שנא' נשך כל דבר.
13
When a person lends money to a colleague, he should not tell the borrower: "Take notice if so and so from this and this place comes." Implied is that the borrower should honor him and provide him with food and drink as is appropriate. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
יג
המלוה את חבירו לא יאמר לו דע אם בא איש פלוני ממקום פלוני (כלומר) שתכבדו ותאכילו ותשקהו כראוי וכן כל כיוצא בזה.
14
There are practices that resemble interest, but which are permitted. What is implied? A person may purchase a promissory note from a
colleague for less than its face value without any concern. A person may give a colleague a dinar so that he will lend a third party 100 dinarim. The rationale is that the Torah forbade only interest given by the borrower to the lender.
Similarly, a person may tell a colleague: "Here is a dinar. Tell so and so to give me a loan." This is permitted, because he gave him a wage only for making the suggestion.
יד
יש דברים שהן כמו רבית ומותרין כיצד לוקח אדם שטרותיו של חבירו בפחות ואינו חושש, ומותר לאדם ליתן לחבירו דינר כדי שילוה לפלוני מאה דינרין שלא אסרה תורה אלא רבית הבאה מן הלוה למלוה, וכן אומר אדם לחבירו הא לך דינר זה ואמור לפלוני שילוני שלא נתן אלא שכר אמירה.
15
There are certain matters that are permitted, and yet are forbidden because they are ha'aramat ribit (a circumvention of the prohibition against interest).
What is implied? The borrower tells the lender: "Lend me amaneh." The lender answers: "I do not have a maneh. I have wheat worth a maneh," and he gave him the wheat for a manehand then purchased it from him for 90 zuz. This is permitted, but it was forbidden by the Sages as a circumvention of the prohibition against interest. For he gave him 90 and received a maneh.
If the lender transgressed and carried out these transactions, the lender may expropriate 100 zuz from the borrower through legal process, because even "the shade of interest" is not involved. Similarly, if a field was given as security for a loan, the lender may not rent it back to the owner of the field, because this is a circumvention of the prohibition against interest. For the borrower is receiving the field that he owned and paying the lender rent each month because he lent him money.
טו
יש דברים שהן מותרין ואסור לעשותן מפני הערמת רבית, כיצד אמר לו הלוני מנה אמר לו מנה אין לי חטים יש לי במנה ונתן לו חטים במנה וחזר ולקחן ממנו בתשעים הרי זה מותר אבל אסרוהו מפני הערמת רבית שהרי נתן לו תשעים ולוקח מנה, ואם עבר ועשה כזה הרי הוא מוציא ממנו מאה בדין שאפילו אבק רבית אין כאן, וכן מי שהיתה שדה ממושכנת בידו לא יחזור וישכיר אותה לבעל השדה מפני הערמת רבית שהרי זה עומד בשדהו כשהיה ונותן לזה שכר בכל חדש בשביל מעותיו שהלוהו.
16
It is forbidden to hire out dinarim. This does not resemble hiring out other utensils. In the latter case, the same utensil that was hired out is returned, In this instance, however, the recipient spends the dinarim he receives and pays him back with others. Hence, "the shade of interest" is involved.
טז
אסור להשכיר הדינרין שאין זה דומה למשכיר את הכלי שהכלי חוזר בעצמו וזה מוציא אלו ומביא דינרין אחרות ונמצא זה אבק רבית.
17
The following rules apply when a king has established a law that whoever pays the head tax imposed on every person for a particular person has the right to take control of that person and treat him as a serf. If a person pays a dinar as the tax for a particular person and then has him work for more than adinar, this is permitted. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.
יז
מלך שהיו דיניו שכל מי שיתן המס הקצוב על כל איש ואיש ע"י זה שלא נתן יתשעבד בו ונתן על ידו דינר אע"פ שמשעבד בו יתר מדינר ה"ז מותר וכן כל כיוצא בזה.
FOOTNOTES
1.
ומצות עשה להשיך וכו' עד וזהו דין תורה. א"א אני לא מצאתי שמועה זו ואולי טעה במה שמצא בספרי (פרשת כי תצא) שנאמר שם לנכרי תשיך זו מצות עשה ופירושו משום דהוה ליה לאו הבא מכלל עשה שלא ישיך לישראל עכ"ל.
Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 6
1
Whenever a person gives a loan to a colleague of a sela for five dinarim, two se'ah of wheat for three, a selah for a selahand a se'ah? or three se'ah for three se'ah and a dinar, it is forbidden. The general principle is whenever there is a stipulation that any increase be made to a loan, interest forbidden by Scriptural Law is involved, and it may be expropriated from the lender through legal process.
Similarly, when a person lends money to a colleague and makes a stipulation that he can live in the borrower's courtyard at no cost until he returns the loan, he rented the borrower's property for less than its fair value and established that this reduction would remain in force until he repaid the debt, or took as security property from which benefit can be derived at the time of the loan - e.g., the borrower gave the lender his courtyard as security with the intent that the lender dwell in it without charge - all the above are forms of interest forbidden by Scriptural Law" and it may be expropriated from the lender through legal process.
Similarly, when a person sells a field or a courtyard through anasmachta, since the purchaser does not acquire the field itself, any produce that he consumes is interest and must be returned. Similar laws apply to any person who has not completed a transaction that is not fully binding at the outset. He must return all the produce. For if he consumes the produce, he will be taking interest according to Scriptural Law.
Any other matter forbidden as interest outside the above categories is prohibited by Rabbinic decree. These decrees were enforced lest this lead to the violation of interest forbidden by Scriptural Law. Interest forbidden by the Rabbis is called "the shade of interest" and may not be expropriated from the lender through legal process.
א
המלוה את חבירו סלע בחמשה דינרים או סאתים חטים בשלש או סלע בסלע וסאה או שלש סאין בשלש סאין ודינר כללו של דבר כל הלואה בתוספת כל שהו הרי זו רבית של תורה ויוצאה בדיינין, וכן המלוה את חבירו והתנה עמו שידור בחצרו חנם עד שיחזיר לו הלואתו, או ששכר ממנו בפחות וקצב הדבר שפוחת לו מן השכר עד שיחזיר לו הלואתו, או שמשכן בידו מקום שפירותיו מצויין בעת ההלואה כגון שמשכן חצרו ע"מ שידור בו בחנם הרי זו רבית של תורה ויוצאה בדיינין, וכן המוכר שדה או חצר באסמכתא הואיל ולא קנה הגוף הרי כל הפירות שאכל רבית ומחזיר אותן, והוא הדין לכל מי [שלא] קנה קניין גמור מתחלה שהוא מחזיר את הפירות מפני שאם אכל את הפירות הרי זו רבית של תורה, וכל דבר שהוא אסור משום רבית חוץ מאלו הרי הוא אסור מדבריהם גזירה שמא יבא לרבית של תורה והוא הנקרא אבק רבית ואינו מוציא בדיינין.
2
When a person lends money to a colleague, he should not take that colleague's servant to perform work for him even if the servant is sitting idly. He should not dwell in his courtyard without charge, even though this courtyard is not fit to be rented out and the owner does not ordinarily rent out his property. If the lender does dwell in it, he must pay rent to the owner/borrower. If he does not pay rent, it is considered as "the shade of interest," because at the outset, he did not stipulate that if he makes the loan, he can dwell in his courtyard.
Therefore, the following rule applies if the borrower has not paid the debt and desires to deduct the rent for the courtyard in which the lender dwelled from the debt. If the rent is equivalent to the entire debt, he may not deduct the entire amount - only the sum that the judges specify. The rationale is that if the lender were sent away without receiving anything, it would be equivalent to expropriating the interest by the court. And "the shade of interest" is not expropriated by the court.
ב
המלוה את חבירו לא ימשוך את עבדו כדי שיעשה בו מלאכה אע"פ שהעבד יושב ובטל, ולא ידור בחצרו בחנם אף על פי שאין החצר עשויה לשכר ואין דרך בעל החצר להשכיר, ואם דר צריך להעלות לו שכר, ואם לא העלה לו הרי זה אבק רבית לפי שלא התנה עמו שילוהו וידור בחצרו, לפיכך אם עדיין לא החזיר לו חובו ובא לנכות שכר החצר שדר בה מן החוב אם היה השכר כנגד החוב אינו מנכה לו הכל אלא כמו שיראו הדיינים, שאם תסלק אותו בלא כלום הרי זה כמו שהוציא אותו בדיינין ואבק רבית אינה יוצאה בדיינין. 1
3
My teachers issued the following ruling when a person lends money to a colleague and afterwards demands payment of the debt. If the borrower tells the lender: "Dwell in my courtyard until I repay the debt," it is considered as only "the shade of interest." The rationale is that this condition was not specified at the time the loan was given, as can be inferred from Leviticus 25:37: "Do not give him a loan with neshech."
ג
הורו רבותי שהמלוה את חבירו ולאחר זמן תבע חובו ואמר לו הלוה דור בחצרי עד שאחזיר לך חובך ה"ז אבק רבית לפי שלא קצץ בשעת הלואה שנאמר לא תתן לו בנשך.2
4
The following rules apply when a person lends a colleague money and the borrower offers a field as security. Although the lender tells the borrower: "If you do not return the debt to me within three years, the field belongs to me," he does not acquire it. The rationale is that the agreement is an asmachta and an asmachta is not binding. Accordingly, the lender must deduct all the produce he consumed from the sum of the loan. For consuming that produce is interest forbidden by Scriptural Law.
Different rules apply, however, if the seller/borrower tells the lender/purchaser: "If I do not repay you within three years, acquire it retroactively from the present date." If the borrower brings the money to the lender within three years, the lender is not entitled to the produce. ' If he brings the money to the lender/purchaser after three years, all the produce belongs to the purchaser.
ד
המלוה את חבירו על השדה ואמר לו אם לא תחזיר לי מכאן עד שלש שנים הרי היא שלי הרי זה לא קנה מפני שהיא אסמכתא, לפיכך מנכה כל הפירות שאכל מפני שהוא רבית של תורה, אבל אם אמר לו המוכר אם לא אחזיר לך עד ג' שנים קנה אותה מעכשיו והביא לו בתוך שלש אין לו פירות הביא לו לאחר שלש הרי כל הפירות ללוקח. 3
5
When a person sells a house or a field and tells the purchaser: "When I obtain money, return the property to me," the purchaser does not acquire the field. All the produce that he consumes is considered as fixed interest and can be expropriated from him through legal process.
If, however, on his own initiative, the purchaser tells the seller: "When you obtain money, I will return this field to you," it is permitted for him to do so. The purchaser may consume the produce until the seller returns his money.
ה
המוכר בית או שדה ואמר המוכר ללוקח לכשיהיו לי מעות תחזיר לי קרקעי לא קנה וכל הפירות שאכל רבית קצוצה ומוציאין אותם בדיינין, אבל אם אמר לו הלוקח מדעתו כשיהיו לך מעות אני אחזיר לך קרקע זה מותר והלוקח אוכל פירות עד שיחזיר לו מעותיו.
6
The following laws apply when a person sells a field to a colleague and the purchaser pays a portion of the money to the seller. If the seller tells the purchaser: "Acquire a portion of the property in proportion to the percentage of your payment," each of them is entitled to consume a share of the produce proportional to the percentage of the property he owns.
If the seller tells the purchaser: "When you bring the remainder of the money, you will acquire the field retroactively to the present date," both of them are forbidden to benefit from the produce immediately. The seller is prohibited, lest the purchaser bring the remainder of the money and thus the field will belong to him from that date. Hence if the seller were to consume the produce, he would be receiving benefit from the money that the purchaser has yet to pay him.
Similarly, the purchaser is forbidden to benefit from the produce. The rationale is that perhaps he will not bring the remainder of the money and the transaction will be nullified. Thus, he will have benefited from the produce in consideration of the money he had given the seller. Therefore, the produce should be given to a third party until it is appropriate to give it to one of them.
If the seller tells the purchaser: "When you bring the remainder of the money, you will acquire the field," the seller is entitled to benefit from the produce until the purchaser brings the money. If the purchaser consumes the produce, its value should be expropriated from him.
If the seller tells the purchaser: "Acquire the field at present and the remainder of the money is considered as a debt," the purchaser should benefit from the produce. If the seller consumes the produce, everything that he consumed should be expropriated from him.
ו
מכר לו את השדה ונתן לו מקצת הדמים אם אמר לו המוכר ללוקח קנה כשיעור מעותיך כל אחד משניהם אוכל פירות כשיעור מעותיו, אמר המוכר ללוקח לכשתביא שאר המעות תקנה מעכשיו שניהם אסורים לאכול הפירות מיד, המוכר אסור שמא יביא הלוקח שאר המעות ונמצאת השדה שלו ונמצא המוכר אוכל פירות בשביל המעות שנשארו לו אצל הלוקח וכן הלוקח אסור שמא לא יביא ונמצא שאכל בשביל מקצת המעות שיש לו אצל המוכר, לפיכך מניחין את הפירות ע"י שליש עד שינתנו לאחד מהן, אמר לו המוכר לכשתביא שאר המעות תקנה הרי המוכר אוכל פירות עד שיביא הלוקח ואם אכל הלוקח מוציאין ממנו, אמר לו המוכר קנה מעכשיו ושאר המעות הרי הן חוב אצלך הרי הלוקח אוכל פירות ואם אכל המוכר מוציאין ממנו כל מה שאכל.
7
My masters ruled that the following principle applies when a person lends money to a colleague and the borrower gives the lender his field as security with the intent that the lender benefit from the produce while he was holding it as security. Even though the lender does not deduct anything, this is considered merely "the shade of interest," and cannot be expropriated from the lender through legal process.
The rationale is that giving a field as security is different from giving a house as security. Because produce is not located in the field at the time the loan is given. It is possible that the lender will profit, for produce will grow, and it is possible that he will lose when sowing and working the field. Therefore, it is "the shade of interest."
Similarly, giving a field as security does not resemble selling a field under an asmachta. When a person sells under an asmachta, he does not resolve to make the sale. When he gives a field as security, by contrast, he resolves to sell the potential to benefit from the land.
Similarly, from the Talmud, it appears that a property given as security involves "the shade of interest," and that can be understood only if we say that it refers to a person who gives a field as security, as my masters ruled.
Thus, there are three ways in which property can be given as security: security where taking benefit involves fixed interest, security where taking benefit involves the shade of interest and security where taking benefit is permitted.
What is implied? If a person gave a colleague a property where benefit is continually present, e.g., a courtyard, a bathhouse, or a store, as security, it is considered as fixed interest. If he gave him a field or the like as security and it produced profit from which he benefited, it is considered as "the shade of interest."
If he gave him a courtyard or the like as security and made a deduction, it is considered as "the shade of interest." If he gave him a field as security and made a deduction, it is permitted.
What is meant by "making a deduction"? A person lent a colleague 100 dinarim. The borrower gave him his courtyard or his field as security and the lender told the borrower: "I will deduct a silverme'ah each year as rent for the property, so that I can receive all of the benefit from the courtyard," or the like, it is forbidden. If he gives a field or the like as security, it is permitted.
ז
הורו רבותי שהמלוה את חבירו ומשכן לו שדהו על מנת שיאכל פירותיה כל ימי המשכונא אע"פ שאינו מנכה לו כלום הרי זו אבק רבית ואינה יוצאה בדיינין שאין הממשכן את השדה דומה לממשכן בית שהרי אין בשדה פירות מצויין בעת ההלואה ואפשר שירויח ויהיו שם פירות ואפשר שיפסיד בזריעתה ועבודתה ולפיכך היא אבק רבית, וכן אין המשכונא דומה למי שמכר באסמכתא שהמוכר באסמכתא לא גמר והקנהו והממשכן גמר והקנהו גוף זה לפירותיו וכזה יראה מן הגמרא שהמשכונא אבק רבית ואין לך להעמידה אלא בממשכן שדהו כמו שהורו רבותי, נמצאת למד ששלש משכונות הן: משכונא שהיא רבית קצוצה, ומשכונא שהיא אבק רבית, ומשכונא שהיא מותרת, כיצד משכן לו מקום שפירותיו מצויין תדיר כגון חצר או מרחץ או חנות ואכל פירותיהן ה"ז רבית קצוצה, משכן לו שדה וכיוצא בה ובאו שם פירות ואכלן הרי זו אבק רבית, וכן אם משכן חצירו וכיוצא בה בנכוי ה"ז אבק רבית, משכן שדהו בנכוי ה"ז מותר, כיצד הוא הנכוי כגון שהלוהו מאה דינרין ומשכן לו בהן חצירו או שדהו ואמר לו המלוה הריני מנכה לך מעה כסף בכל שנה בשכר קרקע זו כדי שיהיו כל פירותיו שלי בחצר וכיוצא בה אסור ובשדה וכיוצא בה מותר. 4
8
Some of the Geonim have ruled that whenever property is given as security and nothing is deducted, it is considered to be fixed interest. They did not penetrate to the depth of the matter to distinguish between a field and a courtyard. Therefore, the words of the Talmud appeared problematic to them.
Similarly, they ruled that it is always forbidden to give property as security without a deduction being made, whether for a courtyard or a field, except according to the following arrangement.
What is implied? The lender loaned the borrower 100 dinarim, took a house or a field as security, and stipulated that after ten years the property would return to its owners at no charge. The lender is permitted to benefit from the produce of the property for the entire ten years, even if ordinarily its rent would be 1000 dinarim a year. For in effect, what he is doing is renting it at a lower price.
Similarly, it is permitted if the owner of the field added a stipulation that whenever he brought the renter or lender money, he would deduct a rent of ten dinarim a year from the amount and leave the property. Similarly, it is permitted if the borrower added a stipulation that whenever he desired, he could calculate the time that the lender or renter dwelled in the property and pay him the remainder and then he would leave the property. The rationale is that it is a rental that is involved, and any stipulation involving a rental is binding and permitted, as explained previously.
ח
הורו מקצת גאונים שכל משכונא שאין בה נכוי כלל הרי היא רבית קצוצה ולא ירדו לעומק הדבר להפריש בין שדה לחצר ולפיכך נתקשו להן דברי חכמי הגמרא, וכן הורו שכל משכונא אפילו בנכוי אסור בין בחצר בין בשדה ואין להם משכונא מותרת אלא בדרך הזאת, כיצד כגון שהלוהו מאה דינרין ומשכן לו בהן בית או שדה והתנה עמו שאחר עשר שנים תחזור קרקע זו לבעליה חנם ה"ז מותר לאכול פירותיה כל עשר שנים אפילו היה שכרה שוה אלף דינרים בכל שנה שאין זה אלא כמי ששכר בפחות, וכן אם התנה בעל השדה עמו כל זמן שיביא לו מעות יחשב לו עשר בכל שנה ויסלקו ממנה ה"ז מותר, וכן אם התנה הלוה שכל זמן שירצה מחשב לו מה שדר בו ויחזיר לו שאר הדמים ויסתלק ה"ז מותר שאין זה אלא כשכירות וכל תנאי שבשכירות מותר כמו שביארנו. 5
FOOTNOTES
1.
לפיכך אם לא החזיר חובו וכו' עד ואינה יוצאה בדיינים. א"א אין כאן מקום לשודא דדייני ואולי ר"ל מנכה לו כמנהג נכיית המקום ולא נהיר שאם לא הורידו הוא לדירה אין כאן סילוק דהא ליכא תפיסה ולא עוד אלא שיכול לתבוע בדין כל שכר החצר כדין כל הדר בחצר חבירו בסתם שהוא מעלה לו שכר הרגיל לו ואם לא תבעו ופרע לו את חובו משלם כבר נתן לו רבית מאוחרת ושניהם באיסור וזה דרך אמת עכ"ל.
2.
הורו רבותי שהמלוה את חבירו עד שנאמר לא תתן לו בנשך. א"א חיי ראשי לא יפה הורו שאם הגיע זמן הפרעון וארווח ליה זמניה משום ההוא דירה כשעת מתן מעות דמיא וקידושין יוכיחו עכ"ל.
3.
המלוה את חבירו על השדה ואמר לו עד מפני שהוא רבית של תורה. א"א אין הדעת מקבלת שיהא זה רבית קצוצה אלא כי אמר ר"נ הדרא ארעא והדרי פירי דינא קאמר דאיהו לא יהיב ליה מידי ורבה בר רב הונא הוה ס"ל אע"ג דמדינא הדרא אי תפיס להו כאבק רבית דמי ולא מפקינן מיניה ורבינא דחשיב ואפיק להו לאו משום רבית אלא משום גזילה אבל אי מחל להו והדר תבעינהו תו לא הדרי דרבית מאוחרת היא ותו לא קשיא מידי דרבינא אדרבינא עכ"ל.
4.
הורו רבותי שהמלוה את חבירו וכו' עד כמו שהורו רבותי. א"א אמת הוא זה שהחמירו בכרם יותר משדה ולא להקל במשכונא שדה אלא להחמיר במכירת כרם אבל מי שסובר במשכנתא בלא נכייתא שהוא רבית קצוצה אמר כן אף בשדה ומאי דקשיא להו דרבינא אדרבינא הא איתרצא לה כדכתיבנא לעיל ועוד יש לנו הפלגות כי יש חילוק בין אתרא דמסלקי לאתרא דלא מסלקי והן מפורשות אצלנו, עכ"ל.
5.
וכן אם התנה בעל השדה וכו' עד ה"ז מותר. א"א טעה בדבריהם ומה בין זה למשכנתא בנכייתא וכי יש הפרש בין נכתייתא רבה לנכייתא זוטא ואותם הגאונים המחמירים לא התירו אלא הראשון בלבד והיא משכנתא דסורא עכ"ל.
• Friday, 6 Elul, 5776 · 9 September 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Monday, Elul 6, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Teitsei, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 35-38. Also 16-18.
Tanya: But the Holy One, (p. 449) ...blessed attributes. (p. 451).
The Tzemach Tzedek related: The Baal Shem Tov was very fond of light, and said, "Or ('light') is the numerical equivalent of raz ('secret').1 Whoever knows the 'secret' contained in every thing can bring illumination."
FOOTNOTES
1.Tikunei Zohar 19; Zohar III, p. 28b.
• Daily Thought:
Learning the Child
There are no one-way streets in our world. There is no one who gives without receiving, and there is no one who receives without providing something back in return.
So it is with the child. Just as the adult gives the child the knowledge and wisdom of life, so the child provides the adult the keys to living it fully.[Beshalach 5714, sicha 8.]
There are no one-way streets in our world. There is no one who gives without receiving, and there is no one who receives without providing something back in return.
So it is with the child. Just as the adult gives the child the knowledge and wisdom of life, so the child provides the adult the keys to living it fully.[Beshalach 5714, sicha 8.]
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