Today's Laws and 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" forElul 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 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). Click below to view today's Psalms.
Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24
Psalms 22: (0) For the leader. Set to “Sunrise.” A psalm of David:
2 (1) My God! My God!
Why have you abandoned me?
Why so far from helping me,
so far from my anguished cries?
3 (2) My God, by day I call to you,
but you don’t answer;
likewise at night,
but I get no relief.
4 (3) Nevertheless, you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Isra’el.
5 (4) In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted, and you rescued them.
6 (5) They cried to you and escaped;
they trusted in you and were not disappointed.
7 (6) But I am a worm, not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
8 (7) All who see me jeer at me;
they sneer and shake their heads:
9 (8) “He committed himself to Adonai,
so let him rescue him!
Let him set him free
if he takes such delight in him!”
10 (9) But you are the one who took me from the womb,
you made me trust when I was on my mother’s breasts.
11 (10) Since my birth I’ve been thrown on you;
you are my God from my mother’s womb.
12 (11) Don’t stay far from me, for trouble is near;
and there is no one to help.
13 (12) Many bulls surround me,
wild bulls of Bashan close in on me.
14 (13) They open their mouths wide against me,
like ravening, roaring lions.
15 (14) I am poured out like water;
all my bones are out of joint;
my heart has become like wax —
it melts inside me;
16 (15) my mouth is as dry as a fragment of a pot,
my tongue sticks to my palate;
you lay me down in the dust of death.
17 (16) Dogs are all around me,
a pack of villains closes in on me
like a lion [at] my hands and feet.[Psalm 22:17 Or: “They pierced my hands and feet.” See Introduction, Section VIII, paragraph 6, and Section XIV, footnote 70.]
18 (17) I can count every one of my bones,
while they gaze at me and gloat.
19 (18) They divide my garments among themselves;
for my clothing they throw dice.
20 (19) But you, Adonai, don’t stay far away!
My strength, come quickly to help me!
21 (20) Rescue me from the sword,
my life from the power of the dogs.
22 (21) Save me from the lion’s mouth!
You have answered me from the wild bulls’ horns.
23 (22) I will proclaim your name to my kinsmen;
right there in the assembly I will praise you:
24 (23) “You who fear Adonai, praise him!
All descendants of Ya‘akov, glorify him!
All descendants of Isra’el, stand in awe of him!
25 (24) For he has not despised or abhorred
the poverty of the poor;
he did not hide his face from him
but listened to his cry.”
26 (25) Because of you
I give praise in the great assembly;
I will fulfill my vows
in the sight of those who fear him.
27 (26) The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek Adonai will praise him;
Your hearts will enjoy life forever.
28 (27) All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to Adonai;
all the clans of the nations
will worship in your presence.
29 (28) For the kingdom belongs to Adonai,
and he rules the nations.
30 (29) All who prosper on the earth
will eat and worship;
all who go down to the dust
will kneel before him,
including him who can’t keep himself alive,
31 (30) A descendant will serve him;
the next generation will be told of Adonai.
32 (31) They will come and proclaim
his righteousness
to a people yet unborn,
that he is the one who did it.
23:(0) A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
he leads me by quiet water,
3 he restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths
for the sake of his own name.
4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines,
I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me.
5 You prepare a table for me,
even as my enemies watch;
you anoint my head with oil
from an overflowing cup.
6 Goodness and grace will pursue me
every day of my life;
and I will live in the house of Adonai
for years and years to come.
24:(0) By David. A psalm:
(1) The earth is Adonai’s, with all that is in it,
the world and those who live there;
2 for he set its foundations on the seas
and established it on the rivers.
3 Who may go up to the mountain of Adonai?
Who can stand in his holy place?
4 Those with clean hands and pure hearts,
who don’t make vanities the purpose of their lives
or swear oaths just to deceive.
5 They will receive a blessing from Adonai
and justice from God, who saves them.
6 Such is the character of those who seek him,
of Ya‘akov, who seeks your face. (Selah)
7 Lift up your heads, you gates!
Lift them up, everlasting doors,
so that the glorious king can enter!
8 Who is he, this glorious king?
Adonai, strong and mighty,
Adonai, mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates!
Lift them up, everlasting doors,
so that the glorious king can enter!
10 Who is he, this glorious king?
Adonai-Tzva’ot —
he is the glorious king. (Selah)
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
Jewish History
Washington Responds to Newport Jews (1790)
The sexton of the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, wrote a heart warming letter to George Washington, on behalf of the Jewish community welcoming the President on his visit to Newport. In his letter, he expressed a vision of an American government that would permit all religions to live side by side in harmony, giving all its citizens the freedom to practice their religions.
On August 18, 1790, President Washington responded:
The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.
...May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid...
Daily Quote:
A shepherd went out to feed the king's flock, and the flock was abducted. When the shepherd sought to enter the royal palace, the king said to him: "If you come in now, what will people say? That it was you who have caused the flock to be carried off!" In the same way, G-d said to Moses: "Your greatness is that you have taken the 600,000 out of bondage. But you have buried them in the desert and you wish to bring into the Land a different generation! This being so, people will think that the generation of the desert have no share in the World to Come! No, better be beside them, and you shall in the time to come enter with them."[Midrash Rabbah]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Parshat Ki Teitzei, 1st Portion (Deuteronomy 21:10-21:21) with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 21
10If you go out to war against your enemies, and the Lord, your God, will deliver him into your hands, and you take his captives, יכִּֽי־תֵצֵ֥א לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹֽיְבֶ֑יךָ וּנְתָנ֞וֹ יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ בְּיָדֶ֖ךָ וְשָׁבִ֥יתָ שִׁבְיֽוֹ:
If you go out to war: The verse here is referring to an optional war [i.e., non-obligatory] (Sifrei 21:1), since in reference to the [obligatory] war [to conquer] the land of Israel, it would be inappropriate to say “and you take his captives” because it has already been stated [regarding the seven nations of Canaan],“[from these peoples’ cities…] you shall not allow any soul to live.” (Deut. 20: 16). כי תצא למלחמה: במלחמת הרשות הכתוב מדבר, שבמלחמת ארץ ישראל אין לומר ושבית שביו, שהרי כבר נאמר (לעיל כ טז) לא תחיה כל נשמה:
and you take his captives: Heb. וְשָׁבִיתָ שִׁבְיוֹ. [The double language here comes] to include Canaanites in their midst, even though they are from the seven nations. — [Sifrei 21:2; Sotah 35b] ושבית שביו: לרבות כנענים שבתוכה ואף על פי שהם משבעה אומות:
11and you see among the captives a beautiful woman and you desire her, you may take [her] for yourself as a wife. יאוְרָאִ֨יתָ֙ בַּשִּׁבְיָ֔ה אֵ֖שֶׁת יְפַת־תֹּ֑אַר וְחָֽשַׁקְתָּ֣ בָ֔הּ וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֥ לְךָ֖ לְאִשָּֽׁה:
a…woman: Heb. אֵשֶׁת, even a married woman (אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ). - [Kid. 21b] אשת: אפילו אשת איש:
[and you desire her,] you may take [her] for yourself as a wife: [Not that you are commanded to take this woman as a wife,] but Scripture [in permitting this marriage] is speaking only against the evil inclination [, which drives him to desire her]. For if the Holy One, blessed is He, would not permit her to him, he would take her illicitly. [The Torah teaches us, however, that] if he marries her, he will ultimately come to despise her, as it says after this, “If a man has [two wives-one beloved and the other despised]” (verse 15); [moreover] he will ultimately father through her a wayward and rebellious son (see verse 18). For this reason, these passages are juxtaposed. — [Tanchuma 1] ולקחת לך לאשה: לא דברה תורה אלא כנגד יצר הרע. שאם אין הקב"ה מתירה ישאנה באיסור. אבל אם נשאה, סופו להיות שונאה, שנאמר אחריו (פסוק טו) כי תהיין לאיש וגו' וסופו להוליד ממנה בן סורר ומורה, לכך נסמכו פרשיות הללו:
12You shall bring her into your home, and she shall shave her head and let her nails grow. יבוַֽהֲבֵאתָ֖הּ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ וְגִלְּחָה֙ אֶת־רֹאשָׁ֔הּ וְעָֽשְׂתָ֖ה אֶת־צִפָּֽרְנֶֽיהָ:
and let her nails grow: Heb. וְעָשְׂתָה אֶת-צִפָּרְנֶיהָ. She must let them grow, so that she should becomes repulsive [to her captor, to induce him to change his mind about marrying her]. — [Sifrei 21:7, Yev. 48a] ועשתה את צפרניה: תגדלם כדי שתתנוול:
13And she shall remove the garment of her captivity from upon herself, and stay in your house, and weep for her father and her mother for a full month. After that, you may be intimate with her and possess her, and she will be a wife for you. יגוְהֵסִ֩ירָה֩ אֶת־שִׂמְלַ֨ת שִׁבְיָ֜הּ מֵֽעָלֶ֗יהָ וְיָֽשְׁבָה֙ בְּבֵיתֶ֔ךָ וּבָֽכְתָ֛ה אֶת־אָבִ֥יהָ וְאֶת־אִמָּ֖הּ יֶ֣רַח יָמִ֑ים וְאַ֨חַר כֵּ֜ן תָּב֤וֹא אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ וּבְעַלְתָּ֔הּ וְהָֽיְתָ֥ה לְךָ֖ לְאִשָּֽׁה:
And she shall remove the garment of her captivity: [so that she should not be attractive to her captor,] for they are pretty [clothes], because gentile women adorn themselves during wartime, in order to seduce others [namely, the enemy] to have relations with them. — [Sifrei 21:8] והסירה את שמלת שביה: לפי שהם נאים, שהגוים בנותיהם מתקשטות במלחמה בשביל להזנות אחרים עמהם:
and stay in your house: In the house he uses. Upon entering, he will stumble upon her, and upon leaving, he will stumble upon her, see her weeping and see her unsightly appearance-all this, so that she should become despicable to him. — [Sifrei 21: 9] וישבה בביתך: בבית שמשתמש בו, נכנס ונתקל בה, יוצא ונתקל בה, רואה בבכייתה, רואה בנוולה, כדי שתתגנה עליו:
and weep for her father and her mother: Why is all this necessary? So that an Israelite woman [i.e., this man’s Jewish wife] should be happy, and this [gentile captive woman] should be grief-stricken, an Israelite woman should be dressed up, and this one should make herself repulsive. — [Sifrei 21:11] ובכתה את אביה: כל כך למה, כדי שתהא בת ישראל שמחה וזו עצבה, בת ישראל מתקשטת וזו מתנוולת:
14And it will be, if you do not desire her, then you shall send her away wherever she wishes, but you shall not sell her for money. You shall not keep her as a servant, because you have afflicted her. ידוְהָיָ֞ה אִם־לֹ֧א חָפַ֣צְתָּ בָּ֗הּ וְשִׁלַּחְתָּהּ֙ לְנַפְשָׁ֔הּ וּמָכֹ֥ר לֹֽא־תִמְכְּרֶ֖נָּה בַּכָּ֑סֶף לֹֽא־תִתְעַמֵּ֣ר בָּ֔הּ תַּ֖חַת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עִנִּיתָֽהּ:
And it will be, if you do not desire her: Scripture informs you that eventually you will despise her. — [Sifrei 21:14. והיה אם לא חפצתה בה: הכתוב מבשרך שסופך לשנאותה:
You shall not keep her as a servant: Heb. לֹא-תִתְעַמֵּר בָּהּ. [This means:]“You must not use her [as a slave]” (Sifrei 21:16). In the Persian language, the term for slavery and servitude is עִימְרָאָה [the term used here]. I learned this from the Yesod of Rabbi Moses the Darshan. לא תתעמר בה: לא תשתמש בה בלשון פרסי קורין לעבדות ושימוש, עימראה. מיסודו של רבי משה הדרשן למדתי כן:
15If a man has two wives-one beloved and the other despised-and they bear him sons, the beloved one and the despised one, and the firstborn son is from the despised one. טוכִּי־תִֽהְיֶ֨יןָ לְאִ֜ישׁ שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֗ים הָֽאַחַ֤ת אֲהוּבָה֙ וְהָֽאַחַ֣ת שְׂנוּאָ֔ה וְיָֽלְדוּ־ל֣וֹ בָנִ֔ים הָֽאֲהוּבָ֖ה וְהַשְּׂנוּאָ֑ה וְהָיָ֛ה הַבֵּ֥ן הַבְּכֹ֖ר לַשְּׂנִיאָֽה:
16Then it will be, on the day he [the husband] bequeaths his property to his sons, that he will not be able to give the son of the beloved [wife] birthright precedence over the son of the despised [wife]-the [real] firstborn son. טזוְהָיָ֗ה בְּיוֹם֙ הַנְחִיל֣וֹ אֶת־בָּנָ֔יו אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־יִֽהְיֶ֖ה ל֑וֹ לֹ֣א יוּכַ֗ל לְבַכֵּר֙ אֶת־בֶּן־הָ֣אֲהוּבָ֔ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י בֶן־הַשְּׂנוּאָ֖ה הַבְּכֹֽר:
17Rather, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the despised [wife] and give him a double share in all that he possesses, because he [this firstborn son] is the first of his strength, then he has the birthright entitlement. יזכִּי֩ אֶת־הַבְּכֹ֨ר בֶּן־הַשְּׂנוּאָ֜ה יַכִּ֗יר לָ֤תֶת לוֹ֙ פִּ֣י שְׁנַ֔יִם בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יִמָּצֵ֖א ל֑וֹ כִּי־הוּא֙ רֵאשִׁ֣ית אֹנ֔וֹ ל֖וֹ מִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַבְּכֹרָֽה:
a double share: [The firstborn son takes a share] equal to that of two brothers [together]. — [Sifrei 21:28] פי שנים: כנגד שני אחים:
[and give him a double share] in all that he possesses: From here [we learn that] the firstborn son does not take [a double share] from that which [the father’s estate] is entitled to after the demise of the father, [e.g., from an uncollected debt,] as [he does] from what was in the father’s actual possession. — [Sifrei 21:29, Bech. 51b] בכל אשר ימצא לו: מכאן שאין הבכור נוטל פי שנים בראוי לבא לאחר מיתת האב, כבמוחזק:
18If a man has a wayward and rebellious son, who does not obey his father or his mother, and they chasten him, and [he still] does not listen to them, יחכִּי־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לְאִ֗ישׁ בֵּ֚ן סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמוֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֣נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֔עַ בְּק֥וֹל אָבִ֖יו וּבְק֣וֹל אִמּ֑וֹ וְיִסְּר֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵיהֶֽם:
wayward: Heb. סוֹרֵר, deviating (סָר) from the [proper] path. סורר: סר מן הדרך:
rebellious: Heb. מוֹרֶה, [meaning] one who disobeys the words of his father. [The word מוֹרֶה is] derived from [the same root as] the word מַמְרִים [meaning “to rebel”] (see Deut. 9:7). ומורה: מסרב בדברי אביו, לשון ממרים:
they shall chasten him: They must warn him in the presence of three [people, not to steal, nor to eat a certain quantity of meat and drink a certain quantity of wine (see further in Rashi)], and then they must have him flogged [by the court] (San. 71a; see Sifrei). [The Talmud (San. 71a) emends this to read: They must warn him in the presence of two (witnesses) and have him flogged in the presence of three (judges).] The wayward and rebellious son incurs punishment only if he steals [money from his father], consumes [at one meal] a tartemar [a weight equal to half a maneh] of meat, and drinks [at the same meal] half a log of wine, as it is said [referring to him], “a glutton and a guzzler (זוֹלֵל וְסֹבֵא)” (verse 20), and [elsewhere] it says, “Do not be among wine-guzzlers (בְסֹבְאֵי-יָיִן), among gluttonous eaters of meat (בְּזֹלְלֵי-בָשָׂר)” (Prov. 23:20), [which indicates that the term “guzzler” refers to wine and “glutton” refers to meat] (San. 70a, Sifrei). The wayward and rebellious son is executed on account of [what he will become in] the end-the Torah penetrates to his ultimate intentions. Eventually, he will squander his father’s money, seek what he has become accustomed to, not find it, and stand at the crossroads and rob people [killing them, thereby incurring the death penalty. Says the Torah, “Let him die innocent [of such crimes], rather than have him die guilty [of such crimes].” - [San. 72b] ויסרו אותו: מתרין בו בפני שלשה ומלקין אותו. בן סורר ומורה אינו חייב, עד שיגנוב ויאכל תרטימר בשר וישתה חצי לוג יין. שנאמר (פסוק כ) זולל וסובא, ונאמר (משלי כג, כ) אל תהי בסובאי יין בזוללי בשר למו. ובן סורר ומורה נהרג על שם סופו, הגיעה תורה לסוף דעתו, סוף שמכלה ממון אביו ומבקש לימודו ואינו מוצא, ועומד בפרשת דרכים ומלסטם את הבריות, אמרה תורה ימות זכאי ואל ימות חייב:
19his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, and to the gate of his place. יטוְתָ֥פְשׂוּ ב֖וֹ אָבִ֣יו וְאִמּ֑וֹ וְהוֹצִ֧יאוּ אֹת֛וֹ אֶל־זִקְנֵ֥י עִיר֖וֹ וְאֶל־שַׁ֥עַר מְקֹמֽוֹ:
20And they shall say to the elders of his city, "This son of ours is wayward and rebellious; he does not obey us; [he is] a glutton and a guzzler." כוְאָֽמְר֞וּ אֶל־זִקְנֵ֣י עִיר֗וֹ בְּנֵ֤נוּ זֶה֙ סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ בְּקֹלֵ֑נוּ זוֹלֵ֖ל וְסֹבֵֽא:
21And all the men of his city shall pelt him to death with stones, and he shall die. So shall you clear out the evil from among you, and all Israel will listen and fear. כאוּרְגָמֻ֠הוּ כָּל־אַנְשֵׁ֨י עִיר֤וֹ בָֽאֲבָנִים֙ וָמֵ֔ת וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָ וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִשְׁמְע֥וּ וְיִרָֽאוּ:
and all Israel will listen and fear: From here, [we learn that] the court must make a public proclamation, announcing: “So-and-so has been stoned because he was a wayward and rebellious son!” - [San. 89a] וכל ישראל ישמעו ויראו: מכאן שצריך הכרזה בבית דין, פלוני נסקל על שהיה בן סורר ומורה:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 44-48
• 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 44
The psalmist cries and laments painfully over this bitter exile, where we and our Torah are shamed daily, when the nations say that God has exchanged us for another nation, and where we are considered as sheep for the slaughter, as a byword and taunt. It is therefore fitting that God redeem us, for the sake of His great Name that abides with us in exile.
1. For the Conductor, by the sons of Korach, a maskil.1
2. God, with our ears we have heard, our fathers have told us, of the deeds You wrought in their days, in the days of old.
3. You drove out nations with Your hand, and planted [Israel in their place]; You afflicted peoples and banished them.
4. For not by their sword did they inherit the land, and their own arm did not save them, but by Your right hand, Your arm and the light of Your countenance-for You favored them.
5. You are my king, O God; decree the salvation of Jacob.
6. Through You will we gore our adversaries; with Your Name we will trample our opponents.
7. For I do not trust in my bow, and my sword cannot save me.
8. For You have delivered us from our foes, and You shamed those who hate us.
9. In God we glory all day, and forever thank Your Name, Selah.
10. Though You abandon and disgrace us, and do not go forth with our armies;
11. You cause us to retreat from the oppressor, and those who hate us plunder for themselves;
12. You deliver us like sheep to be devoured, and scatter us among the nations;
13. You sell Your nation without gain, and do not set a high price upon them;
14. You make us a disgrace to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us;
15. You make us a byword among the nations, [a cause for] nodding the head among the peoples;
16. all day long my humiliation is before me, and the shame of my face covers me
17. at the voice of the reviler and blasphemer, because of the foe and avenger-
18. all this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten You, nor have we been false to Your covenant.
19. Our hearts have not retracted, nor have our steps strayed from Your path.
20. Even when You crushed us in the place of serpents, and shrouded us in the shadow of death-
21. did we forget the Name of our God, and extend our hands to a foreign god?
22. Is it not so that God can examine this, for He knows the secrets of the heart.
23. For it is for Your sake that we are killed all the time; we are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.
24. Arise! Why do You sleep, my Lord? Wake up! Do not abandon [us] forever!
25. Why do You conceal Your countenance and forget our affliction and distress?
26. For our souls are bowed to the dust, our bellies cleave to the earth.
27. Arise! Be our help, and redeem us for the sake of Your kindness.
FOOTNOTES
1.A psalm intended to enlighten and impart knowledge(Metzudot).
Chapter 45
The psalmist composed this psalm referring to Moshiach. He describes his greatness, his attributes, his glory, his wealth, and his reign; and states that Israel anticipates him, remembering and saying in every generation, "When will King Moshiach come?"
1. For the Conductor, upon the shoshanim,1 By the sons of Korach; a maskil,2 a song of love.
2. My heart is astir with a noble theme; I say, "My composition is for the king;3 my tongue is the pen of a skillful scribe.”
3. You are the most handsome of men, charm is poured upon your lips; therefore has God blessed you forever.
4. Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one-it is your majesty and splendor.
5. And with your splendor, succeed and ride on for the sake of truth and righteous humility; and your right hand will guide you to awesome deeds.
6. Your arrows are sharpened-nations fall beneath you-[the arrows fall] into the hearts of the king's enemies.
7. Your throne, O ruler, is forever and ever, [for] the scepter of justice is the scepter of your kingdom.
8. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore has God, your God, anointed you with oil of joy above your peers.
9. Myrrh, aloes and cassia are [the fragrance] of all your garments, which are from ivory palaces that bring you joy.
10. Daughters of kings visit you, and the queen stands erect at your right hand, adorned in the fine gold of Ophir.
11. Hear, O daughter, and observe, incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house.
12. Then the king will desire your beauty. He is your master-bow to him.
13. The daughter of Tyre, the wealthiest of nations, will seek your favor with a gift.
14. All the glory of the princess is within; her clothing surpasses settings of gold.
15. In embroidered garments she will be brought to the king; the maidens in her train, her companions, will be led to you.
16. They will be brought with gladness and joy, they will enter the palace of the king.
17. Your sons will succeed your fathers; you will appoint them ministers throughout the land.
18. I will cause Your Name to be remembered throughout the generations; therefore will the nations praise You forever and ever.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument shaped like a shoshana, a rose (Metzudot).
2.A psalm intended to enlighten and impart knowledge(Metzudot).
3.Reffering to the Messiah. (Metzudot).
Chapter 46
This psalm tells of the Gog and Magog era (the Messianic age), when man will cast aside his weapons, and warfare will be no more.
1. For the Conductor, by the sons of Korach, on the alamot,1 a song.
2. God is our refuge and strength, a help in distress, He is most accessible.
3. Therefore, we will not be afraid when the earth is transformed, when mountains collapse in the heart of the seas;
4. when its waters roar and are muddied, and mountains quake before His grandeur, Selah.
5. The river2-its streams will bring joy to the city of God, the sacred dwelling of the Most High.
6. God is in her midst, she will not falter; God will help her at the approach of morning.
7. Nations clamor, kingdoms stumble; He raises His voice and the earth dissolves.
8. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold forever.
9. Go and see the works of the Lord, Who has wrought devastation in the land.
10. To the end of the earth He causes wars to cease; He breaks the bow, snaps the spear, and burns the wagons in fire.
11. Stop [waging war]! And know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, exalted upon the earth.
12. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold forever.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument (Rashi)
2.Flowing from Eden (Rashi)
Chapter 47
Following the battle of Gog and Magog (in the Messianic era), war will be no more. God will grant us salvation, and we will merit to go up to the Holy Temple for the festivals, Amen.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. All you nations, clap hands; sound [the shofar] to God with a sound of jubilation.
3. For the Lord is most high, awesome; a great King over all the earth.
4. He subdues peoples under us, nations beneath our feet.
5. He chooses our heritage for us, the glory of Jacob whom He loves eternally.
6. God ascends through teruah, the Lord-through the sound of the shofar.
7. Sing, O sing to God; sing, O sing to our King.
8. For God is King over all the earth; sing, O man of understanding.
9. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.
10. The most noble of the nations are gathered, the nation of the God of Abraham; for the protectors of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.
Chapter 48
The psalmist prophesies about the Messianic era, singing the praises of a rebuilt Jerusalem and the sacrifices brought there. At that time Israel will say, "As we heard from the mouths of the prophets, so have we merited to see!"
1. A song, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. The Lord is great and exceedingly acclaimed in the city of God, His holy mountain.
3. Beautiful in landscape, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion, on the northern slopes, the city of the great King.
4. In her citadels, God became known as a tower of strength.
5. For behold, the kings assembled, they advanced in concert [to invade her].
6. They saw [the wonders of the Almighty] and were astounded; they were terror-stricken, they hastened to flee.
7. Trembling seized them there, pangs as of a woman in the throes of labor;
8. [they were crushed as] by an east wind that shatters the ships of Tarshish.
9. As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of the Lord of Hosts, in the city of our God; may God establish it for all eternity.
10. God, we have been hoping for Your kindness [to be revealed] within Your Sanctuary.
11. As Your Name, O God, [is great,] so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
12. Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the towns of Judah exult, because of Your judgments.
13. Walk around Zion, encircle her, count her towers.
14. Consider well her ramparts, behold her lofty citadels, that you may recount it to a later generation.
15. For this God is our God forever and ever; He will lead us eternally.
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 22, 23 and 24.
Chapter 22
Every person should pray in agony over the length of the exile, and our fall from prestige to lowliness. One should also take vows (for self-improvement) in his distress.
1. For the Conductor, on the ayelet hashachar, a psalm by David.
2. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me! So far from saving me, from the words of my outcry?
3. My God, I call out by day, and You do not answer; at night-but there is no respite for me.
4. Yet You, Holy One, are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
5. In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You saved them.
6. They cried to You and were rescued; they trusted in You and were not shamed.
7. And I am a worm and not a man; scorn of men, contempt of nations.
8. All who see me mock me; they open their lips, they shake their heads.
9. But one that casts [his burden] upon the Lord-He will save him; He will rescue him, for He desires him.
10. For You took me out of the womb, and made me secure on my mother's breasts.
11. I have been thrown upon You from birth; from my mother's womb You have been my God.
12. Be not distant from me, for trouble is near, for there is none to help.
13. Many bulls surround me, the mighty bulls of Bashan encircle me.
14. They open their mouths against me, like a lion that ravages and roars.
15. I am poured out like water, all my bones are disjointed; my heart has become like wax, melted within my innards.
16. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my palate; You set me in the dust of death.
17. For dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers enclose me; my hands and feet are like a lion's prey.
18. I count all my limbs, while they watch and gloat over me.
19. They divide my garments amongst them; they cast lots upon my clothing.
20. But You, Lord, do not be distant; my Strength, hurry to my aid!
21. Save my life from the sword, my soul from the grip of dogs.
22. Save me from the lion's mouth, as You have answered me from the horns of wild beasts.
23. I will recount [the praises of] Your Name to my brothers; I will extol You amidst the congregation.
24. You that fear the Lord, praise Him! Glorify Him, all you progeny of Jacob! Stand in awe of Him, all you progeny of Israel!
25. For He has not despised nor abhorred the entreaty of the poor, nor has He concealed His face from him; rather He heard when he cried to Him.
26. My praise comes from You, in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before those that fear Him.
27. Let the humble eat and be satisfied; let those who seek the Lord praise Him-may your hearts live forever!
28. All the ends of the earth will remember and return to the Lord; all families of nations will bow down before You.
29. For sovereignty is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations.
30. All the fat ones of the earth will eat and bow down, all who descend to the dust shall kneel before Him, but He will not revive their soul.
31. The progeny of those who serve Him will tell of the Lord to the latter generations.
32. They will come and relate His righteousness-all that He has done-to a newborn nation.
Chapter 23
When King David was in the forest of Cheret and nearly died of starvation, God provided nourishment for him with a taste of the World to Come. David then composed this psalm, describing the magnitude of his trust in God.
1. A psalm by David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing.
2. He lays me down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.
3. He revives my soul; He directs me in paths of righteousness for the sake of His Name.
4. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff-they will comfort me.
5. You will prepare a table for me before my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup is full.
6. Only goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord for many long years.
Chapter 24
If the fulfillment of one's prayer would result in the sanctification of God's Name, he should pray that God act for the sake of the holiness of His Name. One should also invoke the merit of his ancestors, for we know that "the righteous are greater in death than in life"
1. By David, a psalm. The earth and all therein is the Lord's; the world and its inhabitants.
2. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers.
3. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord, and who may stand in His holy place?
4. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not used My Name in vain or sworn falsely.
5. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and kindness from God, his deliverer.
6. Such is the generation of those who search for Him, [the children of] Jacob who seek Your countenance forever.
7. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, eternal doors, so the glorious King may enter.
8. Who is the glorious King? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, mighty in battle.
9. Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them up, eternal doors, so the glorious King may enter.
10. Who is the glorious King? The Lord of Hosts, He is the glorious King for all eternity.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 12
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Sunday, 8 Elul, 5776 · 11 September 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 12
• ובירור זה יהיה גם כן על ידי גילוי אלקותו למטה
This refinement itself, of the good from the evil, will also take place through a manifestation of Divinity below,
For just as the refinement as a whole is accomplished through our actions and efforts throughout the time of exile,1 so, too, the actual refinement will result from the revelation of G‑dliness in this world.
בהארה רבה והשפעה עצומה
with a great illumination and immense effulgence,
כמו שכתוב: כי מלאה הארץ דעה את ה׳
as it is written,2 “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of G‑d,”
ונגלה כבוד ה׳ גו׳
and3 “The glory of G‑d shall be revealed....”
וזהו בכללות העולם לעתיד
Now, this is as regards the future of the world, in general.
In the Time to Come the good will be refined and elevated from the evil through the revelation of G‑dliness that will then be manifest.
אך באדם התחתון
But as regards terrestrial man,
בכל עת מצוא
at every “time of finding,” every propitious time for finding G‑d,4
זו תפלה
meaning prayer,5
או שאר עתים מזומנים להתבודד עם קונו
or at other times designated for secluding oneself with one’s Maker,
כל אחד לפי מעשיו זוכה למעין בירור זה, על ידי עסק התורה לשמה
every individual, in proportion to his deeds, is granted a foretaste of this refinement by engaging in the study of Torah for its own sake.
The Divine revelation that permeates his soul enables him to refine and elevate the good from the evil.
וכן על ידי הצדקה
The same is accomplished by means of charity,
כמו שכתוב: ר׳ אליעזר יהיב פרוטה לעני, והדר מצלי
as it is related,6 “R. Eliezer would give a coin to a poor man, and then pray,
דכתיב: אני בצדק אחזה פניך
for it is written,7 ‘Through tzedek will I behold Your Countenance.”’
The Hebrew צדק literally means “righteousness”, but shares a common root withtzedakah (“charity”). By prefacing prayer with tzedek, one is granted during prayer a spiritual perception that penetrates to the innermost aspect of G‑dliness — “Your Countenance” (for the Hebrew פנים connotes both “face” and “interior”).
היא בחינת גילוי הארה והשפעת הדעת והתבונה
This [revelation during prayer] is a manifest illumination and effusion of knowledge and understanding,
להתבונן בגדולת ה׳
[enabling one] to meditate on the greatness of G‑d,
ולהוליד מזה דחילו ורחימו שכליים
in order to beget thereby an intellectually-generated awe and love,
כנודע
as is known.
ועל ידי זה, נברר הטוב לה׳, ונפרד הרע
And through this the good is extracted for G‑d and elevated to Him, and the evil is separated,
כמו שכתוב: מצרף לכסף וכור לזהב, ואיש לפי מהללו
as it is written,8 “The crucible is for [refining] silver and the melting-pot is for gold, and man [is refined] according to his praise.”
פירוש: לפי הילולו את ה׳ בעומק הדעת
This means, “according to his praise of G‑d” during prayer with profound knowledge
להוליד דחילו ורחימו
in order to beget awe and love.9
ככה נברר הטוב ונפרד הרע
In this way the good is extracted and the evil is separated,
כבירור ופירוד הסיגים מכסף וזהב במצרף וכור
just as dross is separated from silver and gold in a crucible or melting-pot.
FOOTNOTES
1.
See above, Tanya, Part I, beginning of ch. 37.
2.
Yeshayahu 11:9.
3.
Ibid. 40:5.
4.
Note of the Rebbe: “Commentaries onTehillim 32:6.”
5.
Note of the Rebbe: “Iggeret HaKodesh, Epistle 25, at length.”
6.
Bava Batra 10a.
7.
Tehillim 17:15.
8.
Mishlei 27:21.
9.
Note of the Rebbe: “For these are spiritual gold and silver (Torah Or, beginning of Parshat Vayeishev, et al.).”
•Sunday, 8 Elul, 5776 · 11 September 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 199 (Digest)
Making Collateral Available to the Debtor when Needed
"As the sun sets, you shall surely return the pledge to him"—Deuteronomy 24:13.
A creditor is commanded to return a debt collateral to its Jewish owner when he is in need of it. If the collateral is an item he needs during the daytime – e.g., the tools of his trade or an article of clothing – the creditor must return it to the debtor every day, and only take possession of it during the nighttime. If the collateral is an item needed by night – e.g., linens, blankets or pajamas – he must return it at night and only take possession of it again in the morning.
Unabridged English Text of this Mitzvah »• The 199th mitzvah is that we are commanded to return a security deposit to its Jewish owner when he needs it. If the objects are needed during the day, such as tools he works with, you must give them to him during the day and hold them only at night. If they are needed at night, such as a mat and blanket for sleeping, you must give them to him during the night and hold them only during the day.
In the words of the Mechilta: "The verse,1 'You must return it to him before sunrise' refers to a garment worn during the day, which you give to him for the entire day. What is the source for the law that a garment worn at night must be given to him for the entire night? The verse,2 'Return the security to him before the sun sets.' " Therefore our Sages said, "A day garment may be held at night and a night garment held during the day; the day garment is returned for the day and the night garment for the night."
It has already been explained in tractate Makkos3 that the verse4 "[When you make any kind of loan to your neighbor,] do not go into his house to take something as security" is a lav she'nitak l'aseh (a prohibition with a remedial positive commandment) — the positive command being "Return the security to him." In the words of the Sifri: "The verse 'Return [the security to him]' teaches that an article that is used during the day must be returned for the day, and one used at night for the night. A quilt is returned for the night and a plow for the day."
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 9th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia.5
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.
FOOTNOTES
1.Ex. 22:25.
2.Deut. 24:13.
3.16a.
4.Deut. 24:10.
5.113a.
Negative Commandment 240 (Digest)
Withholding Collateral from the Debtor when it's Needed
"You shall not sleep while holding his security"—Deuteronomy 24:12.
It is forbidden for a creditor to withhold a debt's collateral from its owner, the debtor, when he cannot do without it due to his poverty (see Positive Commandment 199). Rather he must return the collateral to him—an item used during the daytime must be returned for the duration of every day, and an item used at night must be returned for the duration of every night. As the Mishnah says, "He must return the pillow at night and the plow for the day."
Unabridged English Text of this Mitzvah »
• The 240th prohibition is that we are forbidden from holding someone's security deposit during the time that he needs it. An article which is used during the day must be returned for the day, and one used at night for the night, as the Mishneh says,1 "A pillow is returned for the night and a plow for the day."
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "you may not go to sleep with his security." The Sifri explains, "[The verse means] 'you may not go to sleep with his security' in your possession." Instead, anything which he cannot replace due to his poverty must be returned to him, as explained in the verse,3 "[If you take your neighbor's garment as security, you must return it to him before sunset.] This alone is his covering, the garment for his skin."
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 9th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia.
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.
FOOTNOTES
1.Bava Metzia 113a.
2.Deut. 24:12.
3.Ex. 22:26.
Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 1
• Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 1
Included in this text are four positive commandments. They comprise the following:
1) the laws of the impurity of a woman in her menstrual state;
2) the laws of the impurity of a woman who gave birth;
3) the laws of the impurity of a zavah;
4) the laws of the impurity of a zav.
These mitzvot are explained in the ensuing chapters.
1
A zav, a zavah, a woman in the nidah state, and a woman after childbirth: all these four types of individuals are primary sources of impurity. They impart impurity to implements through touching them and impart impurity to other persons by touching them or carrying them. They impart impurity to the objects on which they lie, sit, or ride and cause them to also be considered as a primary source of impurity. And they impart impurity to the objects above them.
א
הזב והזבה והנדה והיולדת כל אחד מארבעתן אב מאבות הטומאות מטמאין כלים במגע ומטמא אדם במגע ובמשא ומטמא משכב ומושב ומרכב מתחתיו ועושה אותן אב טומאה ומטמא מדף על גבו:
2
Whether a woman is a minor zavah or a major zavah, whether her bleeding is natural or comes as a result of an outside cause, and whether a zav experienced two zav emissions or three, her or his impurity is the same with regard to imparting impurity to others.
ב
אחד זבה קטנה ואחד זבה גדולה ואחד זבה מחמת עצמה או מחמת אונס ואחד זב בעל שתי ראיות או בעל שלש טומאת כולן שוה לטמא אחרים:
3
An infant girl one day old can contract nidah impurity. At ten days old, she can contract zivah impurity. A female of three years old can impart impurity to a man with whom she engages in relations, as will be explained.
ג
קטנה בת יום אחד מטמא בנדה בת י' ימים בזיבה בת שלש שנים ויום אחד מטמאה את בועלה כמו שיתבאר:
4
A male minor can contract zav impurity at the age of one day. Converts, servants, and natural-born Jews are all the same with regard to contracting the impurity of nidah and zivah.
ד
קטן בן יום אחד מטמא בזיבה ואחד גרים ועבדים ואחד ישראל מטמאין בנדה ובזיבה:
5
A person who was castrated or one who is born sexually impotent may contract impurity because of a zav discharge like other men.
ה
סריס אדם סריס חמה מטמאין בזיבה כשאר הבריאין:
6
A woman does not contract impurity because of a zavdischarge, nor does a man contract impurity because of uterine bleeding. Instead, it is a woman who contracts impurity because of uterine bleeding, and a man, because of a zavdischarge.
ו
אין האשה מטמאה בלובן ולא האיש באודם אלא האשה באודם והאיש בלובן:
7
The stringencies applying to both males and females are applied to a tumtum and an androgynus. They contract impurity because of a zav discharge like a man and because of uterine bleeding like a female. Their impure status is a matter of question. Hence terumah or sacrificial food that that they touch is not burnt, nor are they held liable for entering the Temple or partaking of sacrificial food in a state of impurity. If a zav discharge and uterine bleeding is secreted from such a person at the same time, terumah or sacrificial food that that they touch is burnt. Nevertheless, they are not held liable for entering the Temple or partaking of sacrificial food in a state of impurity, as Numbers 5:3: "Male and female alike shall you send forth." Implied is that the impurity of a male must be definitive and the impurity of the female must be definitive.
Similarly, even if one touches a zav discharge and uterine bleeding from such a person simultaneously, he is not liable for entering the Temple in a state of impurity or for partaking of sacrificial foods in such a state. If a tumtum and an androgynus himself touched both a zav discharge and uterine bleeding that secreted from him, he is liable for entering the Temple in a state of impurity.
ז
טומטום ואנדרוגינוס נותנין עליהם חומרי האיש וחומרי האשה מטמאין בלובן כאיש ובאודם כאשה וטומאתן בספק לפיכך אין שורפין עליהן תרומה וקדשים ואין חייבין עליהן על טומאת מקדש וקדשיו ראה לובן ואודם כאחד שורפין עליהן את התרומה ואת הקדשים אבל אין חייבין עליהן על ביאת מקדש וקדשיו שנאמר מזכר עד נקבה תשלחו עד שיהיה הטומאה טומאת זכר ודאי או טומאת נקבה ודאית וכן הנוגע בלובן ואודם שלו כאחת אינו חייב על טומאת מקדש וקדשיו נגע הוא בעצמו בלובן ואודם שראה ה"ז חייב על ביאת המקדש:
8
Even the slightest amount of the blood of nidah, the blood ofzivah, or the blood of a woman who gave birth imparts impurity when touched or carried, as implied by Leviticus 15:33: "A woman who suffers because of her nidah state and one who experiences a flow...." According to the Oral Tradition, it was taught her secretion imparts impurity like she does.
We already explained with regard to the prohibition of a nidah, that there are five shades of impure bleeding experienced by a woman. If, however, she secretes a green blood-like discharge, it is pure. It does not resemble her saliva or other fluids that she discharges. The difference is that saliva collects and is discharged as drops, while this flows out and descends.
ח
דם הנדה או דם הזבה או דם היולדת מטמא בכל שהוא במגע ובמשא שנאמר והדוה בנדתה והזב מפי השמועה למדו שמדוה כמוה וכבר ביארנו בענין איסור נדה שחמשה דמים טמאים באשה אבל אם ראתה דם ירוק הרי הוא טהור ואינו כמו רוקה ושאר משקין היוצאין ממנה שהרוק מתעגל ויוצא וזה שותת ויורד:
9
When a woman gives birth to a child through Cesarean section and uterine blood was released from her body together with the child, that blood is a primary source of impurity like the blood of nidah, childbirth, or zivah. The rationale is that the uterus is a place of impurity for all blood that emerges from it. The woman is ritually pure unless the blood flows out through her vaginal channel.
ט
אשה שיצא הולד מדפנה ויוצא עמו דם מן הדופן הרי אותו דם אב מאבות הטומאות כדם הנדה והלידה והזיבה שהמקור מקומו טמא והאשה טהורה עד שיצא ממנה דם דרך הרחם:
10
When the uterus of a woman is ripped away from its place and falls to the earth, the woman is impure until the evening. Similarly, if the uterus discharged two pearl-like drops of fluid, the woman is impure until the evening. She is, however, not anidah unless she discharges one of the five types of blood that render her impure.
י
מקור האשה שנעקר ונפל לארץ האשה טמאה טומאת ערב וכן מקור שהזיע כב' טיפי מרגליות האשה טמאה טומאת ערב אבל אינה נדה עד שתראה אחד מחמשה דמים המטמאין אותה:
11
If a woman discharged one drop of a white fluid, she remains pure, for that certainly comes from outside the uterus.
יא
הזיעה טיפה אחת הרי האשה טהורה שאינה אלא מחוץ למקור:
12
The discharge of a zav is considered as a primary source of impurity like a zav himself, as implied by Leviticus 15:2: "His discharge is impure." Even the slightest amount of it imparts impurity when touched or when carried.
The first discharge of a zav does not impart impurity when carried. It is considered like semen. This applies whether it was discharged by an adult man or a male child. Similarly, any bed or seat on which such a person sat between the first discharge and the second discharge is pure, for one is not categorized as a zav until he experiences two discharges, as we explained in Hilchot Mechusrei Kapparah. If he experiences one discharge that lasts as long as two, only one who moves the last drop contracts impurity.
יב
זובו של זב אב מאבות הטומאות כזב שנאמר זובו טמא הוא ומטמא במגע ובמשא בכל שהוא ראיה ראשונה של זב אינה מטמאה במשא והרי היא כשכבת זרע בין מאיש גדול בין מאיש קטן וכן המשכבות והמושבות שישב עליהם משראה ראיה ראשונה עד שראה השניה טהורים שאינו קרוי זב אלא אחר ראיה שנייה כמו שביארנו בהלכות מחוסרי כפרה ראה אחת מרובה כב' אין טמא אלא המסיט טיפה אחרונה:
13
The first zav discharge of a person afflicted by tzara'atimparts impurity when touched or when carried, as implied by Numbers 5:2: "All those afflicted with tzara'at, every zav, and all those impure because of contact with a corpse." The verse establishes an association between a person afflicted with tzara'atand zav in the complete sense of the term. Just as the discharge of a zav in the complete sense of the term imparts impurity when carried, so too, even the first discharge of a person afflicted withtzara'at imparts impurity.
יג
ראיה ראשונה של מצורע מטמא במשא שנאמר כל צרוע וכל זב וכל טמא לנפש הרי הצרוע כזב גמור מה זב גמור זובו מטמא במשא אף מצורע ראייתו הראשונה מטמא במשא:
14
The saliva, semen, and urine of a zav - all three of them are primary source of impurity according to Scriptural Law. Even the smallest amount of each of them imparts impurity when touched or carried. These concepts are derived as follows. With regard to the saliva of a zav, Leviticus 15:8 states: "When a zav will spit upon a pure person,... he shall be impure until the evening." And it is impossible that the urine or the semen of a zav will not have some drops of his zav discharge.
יד
רוק הזב ושכבת זרעו ומימי רגליו כל אחד משלשתן אב טומאה דין תורה ומטמא בכל שהוא במגע ובמשא הרי הוא אומר ברוק וכי ירוק הזב בטהור ומימי רגליו ושכבת זרעו א"א שלא יהיה בהם ציחצוחי זיבה כל שהוא:
15
The same laws that apply to a zav apply also to a nidah, a woman after childbirth, and a zavah. The saliva and the urine of each of them is a primary source of impurity like that of azav. Similarly, whenever the term zav is used in these laws, the intent is either a zav or one of the other three.
טו
אחד זב ואחד נדה ויולדת וזבה כל אחד מהן רוקו ומימי רגליו אב טומאה כזב וכן כ"מ שנאמר בהלכות אלו הזב אחד הזב ואחד שאר הארבעה:
16
There are nine types of fluids produced by a zav. Three of them are primary sources of impurity: his saliva, his semen, and his urine. Even the slightest amount of them imparts ritual impurity to a person or an implement, as we explained.
Three of them are considered as a derivative of impurity: tears, blood from a wound, and a woman's milk. Each one of these is considered as an impure fluid that does not impart impurity to humans, but does impart to implements according to Rabbinic Law, as will be explained. And there are three which are pure: sweat, puss, and feces. The laws that apply to these three fluids from azav and the others like him are the same as when these fluids that are discharged by an ordinary person who is pure.
His phlegm, spittle, and mucus are considered like saliva in all contexts and they are included in the term saliva. When blood flows from the male organ or from the mouth, it is considered as the blood of a wound. If a person sucks a wound and spits out the blood, it imparts impurity like saliva does. For it is impossible that the blood that he sucks will not have drops of saliva.
טז
תשעה משקין בזב שלשה מהן אב טומאה והן: רוקו ושכבת זרעו ומימי רגליו כל אחד מאלו מטמא אדם וכלים בכל שהוא כמו שביארנו שלשה מהן כולד הטומאה ואלו הן: דמעת עינו ודם מגפתו וחלב האשה כל אחד מאלו כמשקין טמאין שאין מטמאין אדם אבל מטמאין כלים מדברי סופרים כמו שביארנו ושלשה מהן טהורין ואלו הן: זיעתו וליחה סרוחה היוצאים ממנו והריעי הרי אלו שלשה מן הזב וחביריו כמותן משאר האדם כיחו וניעו ורירו ומי האף שלו הרי הן כרוקו לכל דבר ובכלל הרוק הן חשובין דם היוצא מפי אמה ודם השותת מפיו הרי הן בכלל דם מגפתו היה מוצץ ורוקק דם הרי זה מטמא כרוק שהדם שמוצץ א"א לו בלא צחצוחי רוק:
Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 10, Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 11, Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 12
• Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 10
1
Just as it is permitted for a seller to take an order based on the market price; so, too, it is permitted to give a loan of produce without any conditions, to be returned without any conditions, without establishing a time when it must be returned once the market price has been established.
What is implied? If there was a fixed market price for wheat that was known by both the borrower and the lender, when the borrower borrows ten se'ah of wheat from a colleague, he is obligated to return ten se'ah, even though the price of wheat increased. The rationale is that when he borrowed the wheat from him, the market price was known. If he had wanted to, he could have purchased wheat and returned it, since a minimum term of the loan was not established.
א
כשם שמותר למוכר לפסוק על שער שבשוק כך מותר ללוות הפירות סתם ופורעין סתם בלא קביעת זמן על השער שבשוק, כיצד היה השער קבוע וידוע לשניהם ולוה מחבירו עשר סאין חייב להחזיר לו עשר סאין אע"פ שהוקרו החיטים שהרי כשלוה ממנו היה השער ידוע ואילו רצה היה קונה ומחזיר לו שהרי לא קבע לו זמן. 1
2
If the borrower possesses some of the type of produce that he seeks to borrow, it is permissible for him to borrow this produce without any conditions, to be returned without any conditions, without establishing a time when it is due. Even if he possesses only a se'ah, he may borrow many se'ah because of it. Even if he possesses only a drop of oil or wine, he may borrow several jugs of wine and oil because of it.
If he did not possess any of that type of produce and the market price was not established yet, or the borrower and the lender did not know the market price, it is forbidden to lend a se'ah of produce for a se'ah to be returned at a later date. Similarly, with regard to other types of produce, a person should not lend them out until he establishes a financial equivalent. The following rules apply when a person makes a loan of produce without establishing a financial equivalent, and it decreases in value. The borrower must return the measure or the weight of the fruit he borrowed. If they increased in value, the lender may take only the amount they were worth at the time of the loan.
Even if a person possesses that type of produce, or the market price had already been established, it is forbidden to make a loan of produce that must be repaid on a specific date. Instead, the loan must be made without any stipulation, and it can be repaid whenever the borrower desires to repay it.
ב
היה לו מאותו המין שלוה ה"ז מותר ללוות סתם בלא קביעת זמן ופורע סתם אע"פ שעדיין לא יצא השער, ואפילו היתה לו סאה בלבד לוה עליה כמה סאין, היתה לו טיפה אחת של שמן או של יין לוה עליה כמה גרבי יין ושמן, לא היתה לו מאותו המין כלום ולא נקבע שער השוק עדיין או שלא ידעו שער השוק ה"ז אסור ללוות סאה בסאה, וכן בשאר הפירות לא ילוה אותן עד שיעשה אותן דמים, ואם לוה ולא עשה אותן [דמים] והוזלו מחזיר לו פירות כמדה שלוה או כמשקל ואם הוקר נוטל דמים שהיו שוין בשעת הלואה, אע"פ שיש לו מאותו המין או שהיה השער קבוע בשוק הרי זה אסור ללוות פירות בפירות עד זמן קבוע אלא לוה סתם ופורע באיזה זמן שיפרע.
3
A person should not tell a colleague: "Lend me a kor of wheat and I will return a kor to you at the time when wheat is brought to the granaries." He may, however, tell him: "Lend me wheat until my son comes, or until I find the key to my storehouse."
ג
לא יאמר אדם לחבירו הלוני כור חטים ואני אחזיר לך כור לגורן אלא אומר לו הלוני עד שיבא בני או עד שאמצע המפתח.
4
The following rules apply if a person lent out produce until a fixed date: If the produce diminished in value, the borrower should return the produce at the time set. If the produce increased in value, the borrower should pay him the money that it was worth at the time of the loan.
ד
לוה פירות עד זמן קבוע אם הוזלו מחזיר לו פירות בזמן שקבע ואם הוקרו נותן לו דמים שהיו שוין בשעת ההלואה.
5
A person may lend wheat to his sharecroppers to be used as seed, in return for wheat to be paid back after the harvest. This applies both before the sharecropper enters the field and after he entered the field.
When does this apply? In a place where it is customary that the sharecropper supplies the seed for the crops. For the owner of the field has the right to remove the sharecropper from the field whenever he does not supply it.
Different laws apply in places where it is customary for the owner of the field to provide the seed. If the sharecropper did not enter the field yet, it is permitted for the owner to lend wheat for wheat to be returned in the future, for he still has the prerogative of removing the sharecropper from the field. Thus, when the sharecropper entered the field, he entered with the intent of returning the wheat the owner lent him.
If, however, the loan was made after the sharecropper entered the field, since the owner can no longer have him removed, he is like any other person. It is forbidden to lend him wheat for seed in return for wheat to be paid back at a later date. He may, however, lend him wheat according to its market value if he does not make any stipulations.
ה
מלוה אדם את אריסיו חטים בחטים לזרע בין קודם שירד האריס לשדה בין אחר שירד, בד"א במקום שנהגו שיתן האריס את הזרע שהרי ביד בעל הקרקע לסלקו כל זמן שלא נתן אבל במקום שדרך בעל הקרקע ליתן את הזרע אם עדיין לא ירד האריס ה"ז מותר להלוות חטים בחטים שעדיין יש לו לסלקו נמצא בעת שירד לשדה ירד על דעת שיחזיר לו חטים שהלוהו, אבל אחר שירד לשדה הואיל ואינו יכול לסלקו הרי הוא ככל אדם ואסור להלוותו חטים בחטים לזרע אבל מלוהו סתם על שער שבשוק.
6
A loan may not be repaid with a loan of produce. To explain: A person owed a colleague money. The lender told the borrower: "Give me my money, because I want to purchase wheat with it."
The borrower responded: "Go out and establish the money I owe you as a debt of wheat according to the present market price."
If the borrower possesses an equivalent quantity of wheat, this is permitted. If, however, he does not have that type of produce, this is forbidden. For our Sages said that it is permitted to place an order based on a commodity's market price, even though the seller does not possess any of that commodity, only when the purchaser is paying money for the acquisition. It is, however, forbidden to transfer a debt of money into a debt of produce unless the borrower possesses the produce.
The concept can be extended when, in the above situation, the borrower did possess wheat and the debt was transferred into a debt of wheat. Similar rules apply if afterwards the lender comes and tells him: "Give me the wheat, because I want to sell it and use the money to purchase wine," and in response, the borrower tells him: "Go out and consider the debt as a debt of wine, according to the present market price of wine." If he possesses wine, it is permitted and it is considered as if he owes him wine. If he does not possess wine, it is forbidden.
If the borrower did not possess the commodity desired, but nevertheless, transgressed and transferred the debt into a debt of that commodity, he is not required to pay the debt in the commodity. Even though he did purchase the commodity afterwards, he should pay the lender the money he lent him.
ו
מי שהיה נושה בחבירו מעות ואמר לו תן לי מעותי שאני רוצה ליקח בהן חטים אמר לו צא ועשה אותן עלי כשער של עכשיו ויהיה לך אצלי חטים בהלואה, אם יש לו חטים כשיעור מעותיו מותר ואם אין [לו] אותו המין ה"ז אסור שלא אמרו חכמים שמותר לפסוק על שער שבשוק אע"פ שאין לו כלום מאותו המין אלא בנותן מעותיו לקנות בהן פירות אבל הרוצה להעמיד הלואתו על גב הפירות אסור עד שיהיו לו פירות, היה ללוה חטים ועשה הלואתו עליו חטים ובא אחר זמן ואמר לו תן לי חטים שאני רוצה למוכרן וליקח בדמיהן יין אמר לו צא ועשה אותן עלי יין כשער שבשוק עתה, אם יש לו יין הרי זה מותר ונעשית הלואתו אצלו יין ואם אין לו יין אסור, הרי שלא היה לו ועבר והחזיר ההלואה פירות אף על פי שקנה פירות אחר כך אינו חייב ליתן לו פירות אלא נותן לו מעות שהלוהו.
FOOTNOTES
1.
כשם שמותר למוכר וכו' אע"פ שיש לו כו' ה"ז אסור וכו' עד באיזה זמן שיפרע. א"א חדוש זה לא שמענו מעולם אלא אם יש לו או על שער שבשוק לוה סאה בסאה סתם בלא עשיית דמים אפילו לזמן קצוב עכ"ל.
Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 11
1
When a person lends money to a colleague in the presence of witnesses, or a borrower tells witnesses: "Serve as witnesses for me that I owe this person a maneh" or "You are my witnesses that I owe this person a maneh," the obligation established is referred to as a milveh b'al peh, "a loan supported by an oral commitment." Such a debt need not be repaid in the presence of witnesses.' Therefore, if the debtor claims: "I repaid the debt," he is required to take a sh'vuat hesset and is discharged.
When, by contrast, a person lends money to a colleague and has the debt supported by a promissory note, the debtor must repay him in the presence of witnesses. Therefore, if the debtor claims: "I paid this promissory note," his words are not accepted. Instead, we tell him: "Bring witnesses who testify that you paid or "Arise and pay the debt you owe him."
Therefore, when a person tells witnesses: "Serve as witnesses for me that I owe this person a maneh" they may not write down a record of their testimony and give it to the lender, unless the borrower tells them: "Write a promissory note, sign it and give it to the lender. The rationale is that their testimony, which is only oral, should not be given the legal power of a promissory note. Even when the borrower gives such instructions, they should consult with him after they have signed the promissory note. Only afterwards, may they give the promissory note to the lender in his hand.
If they performed a kinyan with the borrower affirming that he owes the lender a maneh, the witnesses may write a promissory note and give it to the lender, even though the borrower did not instruct them to do so. The rationale is that when a kinyan is performed without any further instructions, it is ready to be recorded in a legal document. There is no need to consult the borrower.
א
המלוה את חבירו בפני עדים או שאמר לעדים היו עלי עדים שאני חייב לזה מנה או אתם עדי שאני חייב לזה מנה זו נקראת מלוה על פה וא"צ לפורעו בעדים לפיכך אם טען ואמר אחר כך פרעתי נשבע היסת ונפטר, אבל המלוה את חבירו בשטר צריך לפרעו בעדים לפיכך אם טען ואמר פרעתי שטר זה אינו נאמן אלא אומרים לו או הבא עדים או עמוד ושלם לו חובו, לפיכך האומר לעדים היו עלי עדים שאני חייב לזה מנה אין כותבין עדותן ונותנין למלוה שלא יחזירו למלוה על פה עדות בשטר עד שיאמר להן הלוה כתבו שטר וחתמו ותנו לו, אף על פי שאמר להן כך צריכין להמלך בו אחר שחתמו בשטר ואח"כ נותנין השטר ביד המלוה, קנו מידו שהוא חייב לו מנה הרי אלו כותבין ונותנין אע"פ שלא אמר להן כתובו שסתם קנין לכתיבה עומד ואינן צריכין להמלך בו. 1
2
When a borrower writes a document by himself and witnesses write testimony upon it and give it to the lender, it is an acceptable promissory note.
Similarly, should the borrower compose a promissory note - even when there are no witnesses who sign it - and give it to the lender in the presence of witnesses, the loan is considered to be backed by a promissory note, provided that it is written with a script that cannot be forged and that the witnesses in whose presence it was transferred read it.
There are Geonim who ruled that the borrower should tell the witnesses in whose presence the promissory note was transferred: "Sign the note or testify that it was transferred in your presence."
ב
לוה שכתב שטר בכתב ידו והעיד בו עדים ונתנו למלוה הרי זה שטר כשר, וכן אם כתב שטר אע"פ שאין בו עדים ונתנו למלוה בפני עדים הרי זו מלוה בשטר והוא שיהיה כתב שאינו יכול להזדייף ויקראו אותו העדים שנמסר בפניהם, ויש מן הגאונים שהורה שצריך לומר לעדים שמסרו בפניהם חתמו והעידו שנמסר בפניכם.
3
If the lender produces a note written by the borrower , which states that he owes the lender money, but there are no witnesses who have signed it, it is considered as merely a loan supported by an oral commitment with regard to all matters. This applies even if the authenticity of his writing was verified.
Hence, if the borrower claims to have paid the debt, and the lender denies receiving payment, the borrower need only take a sh'vuat hesset before being dismissed. Nor may the lender use this note to expropriate property from the heirs, nor from the purchasers.
ג
הוציא עליו כתב ידו שהוא חייב לו ואין שם עדים אע"פ שהוחזק כתב ידו בבית דין הרי זה כמלוה ע"פ לכל דבר, ואם טען שפרע נשבע היסת ונפטר ואינו גובה בכתב זה לא מן היורשין ולא מן הלקוחות.
4
Whenever a loan is supported by a promissory note, the lender may use this note to expropriate property from the heirs and from the purchasers, as will be explained. When, by contrast, a loan is merely supported by an oral commitment, the lender may expropriate payment from the heirs, but not from the purchasers. The rationale for this restriction is that such a loan does not become public knowledge. Therefore, the lender may not expropriate property because of such an obligation.
A loan supported by a promissory note, by contrast, does become public knowledge. Therefore, it may be used to expropriate property that was sold. The purchaser of such property caused himself a loss, because he did not inquire to the extent that he discovered that the property of the person he purchased it from was on lien because of the loan that person had taken. For according to Scriptural Law, all property belonging to a borrower is on lien to the loan.
ד
כל מלוה בשטר גובה אותה מן היורשין ומן הלקוחות כמו שיתבאר, ומלוה על פה גובה אותה מן היורשין ואינו גובה אותה מן הלקוחות לפי שאין לה קול לפיכך לא יטרוף בה, אבל מלוה שבשטר קול יש לה והלוקח הפסיד על עצמו שלא שאל עד שידע שנכסיו של זה משועבדין במלוה שעליו, שכל נכסי הלוה תחת שיעבוד המלוה מן התורה.
5
When a person sells his field in the presence of witnesses, and a creditor of the seller expropriates the field from the purchaser, the purchaser may expropriate the money due him from property that was on lien to the sale that had been sold to others, as will be explained. The rationale is that whenever a person makes a sale, it is done in public and becomes common knowledge.
ה
המוכר שדהו בעדים ויצאת מתחת ידי הלוקח אע"פ שאין שם שטר ביד הלוקח הרי זה חוזר וטורף מנכסים משועבדים כמו שיתבאר שכל המוכר בפרהסיא מוכר וקול יש לו.
6
A loan that is supported by an oral commitment alone may be collected from heirs only in one of the following three instances:
a) the person who is liable admits his debt, and while mortally ill stated that he still owes so-and-so a debt;
b) the loan was given for a specific time, and the time for payment had not come; we operate under the presumption that a person will not pay a debt until it is due;
c) because of his failure to pay, the debtor was placed under a ban of ostracism until he would make restitution, and he died while under that ban.
In all these instances, the creditor may collect the debt from the heirs without having to take an oath. If, however, witnesses come and testify that the deceased owed a colleague a maneh, or that he borrowed money in their presence, the creditor may not collect anything from the heirs, because it is possible that the deceased repaid the loan. For a person who borrowed money from a colleague in the presence of witnesses does not have to repay him in the presence of witnesses. Similarly, if a person shows heirs a note from their father stating that he owes the claimant money, he may not collect anything because of it, as we have explained.
ו
אין ההלואה שעל פה נגבית מן היורשין אלא באחד מג' דברים אלו כשחייב מודה בה וצוה בחליו שיש לפלוני עליו חוב עדיין, או שהיתה ההלואה לזמן ולא הגיע זמן לפרעה וחזקה היא שאין אדם פורע בתוך זמנו, או שנדוהו עד שיתן ומת בנדויו כל אלו גובין מן היורשין בלא שבועה, אבל אם באו עדים שהיה חייב לזה מנה או בפנינו הלוהו אינו גובה מן היורש כלום שמא פרעו שהמלוה את חבירו בעדים אין צריך לפרעו בעדים, וכן אם מוציא כתב יד אביהן שהוא חייב לו אינו גובה בו כלום כמו שביארנו.
7
The following rules apply when a borrower does not own movable property, but does own landed property. If the court is aware that he has deposited his money in the hands of other people, we compel him to sell the landed property and pay his creditor.
If this is not known to them, they issue a ban of ostracism against anyone who knows that the debtor possesses movable property and does not bring it to court. Afterwards, they take possession of property he owns that is of intermediate worth and expropriate it for the creditor, as will be explained.
When does the above apply? When payment is collected from the debtor himself. When, however, a person comes to collect payment from heirs -whether they are above or below majority - he does not have the right to collect from the movable property belonging to the estate even if it was entrusted or loaned to another person. For movable property inherited by heirs is not under lien according to Scriptural Law. '
ז
לוה שאין לו מטלטלין ויש לו קרקע אם נודע לבית דין שתולה מעותיו ביד אחרים כופין אותו למכור וליתן לבעל חובו, ואם לא נודע להם דבר זה מחרימין על מי שידע לו מטלטלין ולא יביאם ואח"כ יורדין לבינונית שבנכסיו ומגבין לבעל חובו כמו שיתבאר, בד"א בזמן שנפרעין מן הלוה עצמו אבל הבא ליפרע מן היורש בין קטן בין גדול לא יפרע מן המטלטלין אפילו היו מופקדין או מלוה אצל אחרים שהמטלטלין אינו תחת שיעבוד בעל חוב מן התורה.
8
It is a mitzvah for the heirs to pay a debt left by their father from the movable property that he left. If an heir does not desire to make restitution, however, he is not compelled to do so. If the creditor seized property belonging to the debtor in the debtor's lifetime, he may collect his due from it.
If a creditor claims that he seized property during the debtor's lifetime, and the debtor's heir claims that the creditor seized the property after the debtor's death, the heir has the responsibility of proving his claim. Alternatively, the lender must take an oath that he was owed so-and-so much - he can claim up to the value of the property in his possession - and include in his oath that he seized the property in the debtor's lifetime.
If the property that he seized included promissory notes, and the lender claims that he is holding them as security for a debt and that he seized them during the debtor's lifetime, the lender must prove that he seized them during the debtor's lifetime. If he cannot bring proof, he should return them to the heirs. The difference is that with regard to promissory notes, he is not claiming the acquisition of the obligation itself, but rather proof that such an obligation exists.
ח
מצוה על היתומין לפרוע חוב אביהן מן המטלטלין שהניח ואם לא רצה היורש ליתן אין כופין אותו ואם תפס ב"ח מחיים גובה מהן, טען שמחיים תפסן והיורש טען שאחר מיתה תפס על היורש להביא ראיה או ישבע המלוה שכך וכך הוא חייב לו ויכול לטעון עד כדי דמיהן וכולל בשבועתו שמחיים תפס, היו הדברים שתפס שטרות וטען שהן משכון בידו על חובו ושמחיים תפס על המלוה להביא ראיה שמחיים תפס, ואם לא הביא ראיה יחזיר ליורשים מפני שאינו טוען לקנות גופם אלא לראיה שבהן.
9
When heirs expropriated landed property because of a debt that others owed their father, a creditor of their father's can expropriate it from them. The rationale is that this land was in effect their father's.
ט
יתומים שגבו קרקע בחוב שהיה לאביהן אצל אחרים יש לבעל חוב של אביהם לחזור ולגבות אותה מהן שהרי קרקע זו של אביהם היא.
10
The above principles can be extended and applied in the following situation. Reuven sold a field to Shimon, accepting financial responsibility for the sale. Shimon did not pay immediately, but instead had Reuven consider the price of the field as a loan. Reuven died afterwards. Reuven's creditor then came to expropriate the field from Shimon. Instead of giving the creditor the field, Shimon appeased him with money, and he departed.
According to the law, Reuven's heirs may come and demand that Shimon pay the debt that he owed Reuven, for that loan is not on lien to Reuven's creditor.
Therefore, if Shimon is clever, he should give Reuven's heirs the land he purchased from them as payment for the debt that he accepted upon himself. He can then expropriate the property from them, because of the money that he gave to Reuven's creditor so that he would not expropriate it from him. This option is available because Reuven took financial responsibility for the field Shimon purchased.
י
ראובן שמכר שדה לשמעון באחריות וזקף שמעון דמי השדה עליו מלוה לראובן ומת ראובן ובא בעל חוב של ראובן לטרוף משמעון השדה ופייסו שמעון במעות והלך לו הדין נותן שיבאו יורשי ראובן ויתבעו שמעון במלוה שזקף עליו שהרי אינה משועבדת לב"ח של ראובן, לפיכך אם היה שמעון פקח נותן להן הקרקע שלקח מראובן במלוה שזקף על עצמו וחוזר וטורף אותה מהן מפני המעות שנתן לב"ח של ראובן כדי שלא יטרוף אותה ממנו שהרי באחריות לקחה מראובן.
11
All of the Geonim have ordained, however, that a creditor may expropriate movable property from the heirs in payment for a debt. This judgment is enforced universally in all courts of law.
In the West, however, they would have a provision written in the promissory notes giving the creditor the right to collect the debt from either landed property or movable property in the creditor's lifetime or after his death. Thus, this provision gives the creditor more power to collect the debt than the ordinance of the Geonim.
This is a great safeguard, because it is possible that the borrower will not have known about ordinance, and thus the property of the heirs will be expropriated unjustly, because an ordinance of the later Sages does not have the legal power to be binding upon heirs.
יא
כבר תקנו גאונים האחרונים כולם שיהיה ב"ח גובה מטלטלין מן היורשין וכן דנין ישראל בכל ב"ד שבעולם, אבל במערב היו כותבין בשטרי חובות שיש לגבות מן הקרקע ומן המטלטלין בין בחייו בין אחר מותו ונמצא גובה על תנאי זה יותר מן התקנה, וסייג גדול עשו בדבר שמא לא ידע הלוה בתקנה זו ונמצא ממון יתומים יוצא שלא כדין שאין כח בתקנת אחרונים לחייב בה יתומים.
FOOTNOTES
1.
לפיכך האומר היו עלי עדים וכו' עד ביד המלוה. א"א אני קבלתי שלא נאמר בגמרא אלא בכותב כתובה לאשתו ומוסיף לה אבל בהודאות והלואות לא צריך לאימלוכי ביה עכ"ל.
Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 12
1
We do not expropriate payment from heirs unless they are past majority. When the heirs are below majority, by contrast, we do not collect a debt supported by a promissory note from them.
א
אין נפרעין מן היורשין אלא א"כ היו גדולים אבל יורשין קטנים אין נפרעין מהן ש"ח =שטר חוב=. 1
2
Even if the promissory note contains all the stipulations in the world, the creditor may not use it to collect the debt until the heirs attain majority, lest they have proof that would disavow the promissory note.
ב
ואפילו היה בו כל תנאי שבעולם לא יפרע בו המלוה כלום עד שיגדילו היתומים שמא יש להן ראיה ששוברין בו את השטר.
3
If the loan was a debt at interest owed to a gentile, we appoint a guardian, attach the property that the minor inherited, sell it, and pay the debt. The rationale is that the interest consumes the estate.
Similarly, if a woman demands payment of the money due her by virtue of her ketubah - whether she is the deceased's widow or divorcee - we appoint a guardian for the heirs and attach the deceased's property, so that the woman will gain favor in the eyes of others; i.e., so that she will have a minimum of property so that she will remarry. Hence, if the woman hurried and remarried and then came to demand payment of the money due her by virtue of her ketubah from the estate acquired by the heirs, we do not pay heed to her until the heirs come of age." The rationale is that she is no longer entitled to receive her sustenance from the estate of the deceased, and she has remarried.
ג
היתה המלוה רבית של עכו"ם שהרי הרבית אוכלת בנכסיהן מעמידין להם אפוטרופוס ונזקקין לנכסיהן ומוכרין ופורעין החוב, וכן אשה שתבעה כתובתה בין אלמנה בין גרושה מעמידים להם אפוטרופוס ונזקקין משום חן האשה כדי שיהיה לה כלום שתנשא בו האשה לאחר, לפיכך אם קפצה האשה ונשאת ואחר כך באת לתבוע כתובתה מנכסי יתומים אין נזקקין לה עד שיגדלו היתומים שהרי אין לה מזונות והרי נשאת.
4
Several of the Geonim have ruled that if the estate left to the heirs does not have more than the money due the woman because of her ketubah, or it contains less than that amount, we do not pay heed to her. For the heirs will have no benefit from paying the money due the woman because of her ketubah.
According to this opinion, our Sages said: "We attach the estate left to heirs to pay a woman the money due her by virtue of herketubah from it," only so that the estate would not become devalued because of the need to pay for the widow's sustenance." And in this instance, since the woman takes everything, of what value is it to the heirs who are below majority that the property is attached? These views were not concerned with increasing the favor of the woman in the eyes of others.
ד
הורו מקצת הגאונים שאם היו הנכסים כנגד הכתובה בלבד או פחותים ממנה אין נזקקין לה שהרי אין כאן זכות ליתומים שלא אמרו נזקקין לנכסי יתומים להפרע מהן הכתובה אלא כדי שלא יפחתו הנכסים מחמת המזונות וזאת הואיל והיא נוטלת הכל מה זכות יש ליתומים הקטנים בדבר זה עד שנזקקין להן ולא חשו לחן האשה. 2
5
If the testator gave a command, saying: "Give a maneh to so-and-so," we pay heed to the claim, after appointing a guardian for the heirs to advance arguments on behalf of the interests of the heirs. If the testator says: "Give this maneh to so-and-so" or "... this field to so-and-so," we make the endowment; there is no need to appoint a guardian for the heirs.
ה
צוה המורישן ואמר תנו מנה לפלוני נזקקין אחר שמעמידין להן אפוטרופוס לטעון טענתם, אמר תנו מנה זה לפלוני או שדה זו לפלוני נותנין ואין צריכים להעמיד להן אפוטרופוס.
6
If it is discovered that land in the estate does not rightfully belong to the heirs, but instead, the plaintiff claims that the property was stolen by the person whose property they inherited, we pay heed to the claim and appoint a guardian to argue and enter into litigation on their behalf. If it is discovered that the property was in fact stolen, we return it to its owners.
Similarly, if a minor had his servants mount an attack and enter property belonging to a colleague and take control of it, we do not say that we will wait until he attains majority before the matter is adjudicated. Instead, we expropriate the property from him immediately. When he attains majority, if he has witnesses who support his claim, he should bring his witnesses.
ו
נמצאת קרקע שאינה שלהן אלא טען הטוען שהיא גזל ביד מורישיו נזקקין להן ומעמידים להן אפוטרופוס לטעון ולדון, אם נמצאת גזולה מחזירים אותה לבעליה, וכן קטן שתקף בעבדיו וירד לתוך שדה חבירו וכבשה אין אומרין נמתין לו עד שיגדיל אלא מוציאין אותה מידו ולכשיגדיל אם יש לו עדים יביא עדיו.
7
When land is presumed to be the property of minors, the land is not expropriated from them until they attain majority even in the following situation. Another person comes and claims that he had purchased that land from the person from whom they inherited it, and the purchaser has witnesses who will testify that he established his possession of this land and benefited from it for three years in the lifetime of the deceased. The rationale is that we accept the testimony of witnesses only when delivered in the presence of the litigant against whom they are testifying. And the minor is considered as if he is not present.
If, however, the plaintiff produced a deed of sale that states that the field is property that he purchased, he must validate the authenticity of the deed of sale. Afterwards, he may expropriate the property from the heirs after a guardian is appointed for them.
ז
קרקע שהיתה בחזקת קטנים ובא אחר וטען שהיא לקוחה ממורישן ויש לו עדים שהחזיק בה ואכלה שני חזקה בחיי אביהן אין מוציאין אותה מידן עד שיגדילו שאין מקבלין עדים שלא בפני בעל דין והקטן כאילו אינו עומד כאן הוא חשוב, אבל אם הוציא שטר שהיא לקוחה בידו הרי זה מקיים את השטר ומוציאין אותה מידן אחר שמעמידים להם אפוטרופוס.
8
When the court attaches property belonging to heirs for the purpose of selling it, they evaluate the property and then announce the sale for 30 consecutive days or on Mondays and Thursdays over the span of 60 consecutive days. Announcements are made in the morning and the evening, when workers enter the city, and when workers are sent out to their tasks. Whoever desires to purchase the property can bring his workers there to investigate it.
When an announcement is made, the borders of the field are clarified. They make known its yield, the evaluation given by the court and the reason it is being sold - to repay a creditor or to pay a woman the money due her by virtue of her ketubah. For there are some people who desire to repay a creditor and others who desire to pay a woman the money due her by virtue of her ketubah.
ח
כשנזקקין ב"ד לנכסי יתומים למכור שמין את הקרקע ואח"כ מכריזין עליה שלשים יום רצופין או ששים יום שני וחמישי ומכריזים בבקר ובערב בשעת הכנסת פועלים ובשעת הוצאת פועלין וכל מי שרוצה לקנות יוליך הפועלין לבקר לו, ובשעה שמכריזין מסיימים את השדה במצריה ומודיעין כמה יפה ובכמה הוא שומה ומפני מה רוצים למכרה אם להגבות לב"ח או לכתובת אשה לפי שיש מי שרוצה ליתן לב"ח ויש מי שרוצה להגבות לאשה.
9
When an adrachta is written with regard to property belonging to heirs -whether they are above majority or below majority - the court must write: "And we identified the property as belonging to so-and-so, the deceased." If they did not write this, the adrachtais invalid, and a purchaser may not benefit from the proceeds of the property even though the announcements of the property's sale were completed.
ט
וכשכותבין האדרכתא על נכסי יתומים בין גדולים בין קטנים כותבין בה והכרנו שהנכסים האלו הן של פלוני המת, ואם לא כתבו כך הרי אדרכתא זו פסולה ואין אוכלין בה פירות אפילו לאחר ששלמו ההכרזות.
10
When a court sells property without announcing its sale beforehand, it is considered as if they erred in a matter explicitly stated in the Mishnah. The sale is nullified, and the property is sold again after announcements are made.
When a court sells property, the financial responsibility for it is incumbent on the heirs.
י
בית דין שמכרו שלא בהכרזה נעשו כמי שטעו בדבר משנה וחוזרים ומוכרין בהכרזה, וב"ד שמכרו האחריות על היתומים.
11
When a court made announcements in the proper manner, investigated the matter thoroughly and carefully evaluated the property, their sale is binding even though they erred and sold property worth a maneh for 200, or property worth 200 for amaneh.
The following rules apply when, by contrast, the court was not careful in evaluating the property or did not compose a notice of evaluation, which details its assessment and the announcement of the sale of the property, and it erred in its appraisal. If they evaluated it at a sixth more than its value or at a sixth less than its value, the sale is nullified. If the error was less than a sixth, the sale is binding.
Similar concepts apply if a court sold landed property at a time when it was not necessary to announce its sale beforehand. If it erred and devalued the property by a sixth or overvalued it by a sixth, their sale is nullified. This applies even if it announced the sale beforehand. If their error was less than a sixth, its sale is binding even though it did not announce the sale. For an announcement was not necessary in these situations.
In which situations is it not necessary to make announcements before the sale of property? When land is sold to bury the deceased, for the sustenance of his wife and his daughters, or to pay the head-tax to the king, it is not necessary to announce the sale, because the matter is pressing.
Similar concepts apply if a court sold types of property whose sale need not be announced beforehand. If it erred and devalued the property by a sixth or overvalued it by a sixth, the sale is nullified. If the error was less than a sixth, the sale is binding.
These are the types of property whose sale need not be announced beforehand: servants, promissory notes and movable property; servants, because they may flee; promissory notes and movable property, because they may be stolen. Instead, these articles should be evaluated by the court and sold immediately. If the market place is close to the city, they should be taken to the market place and sold there.
יא
ובית דין שהכריזו כראוי ובדקו יפה יפה ודקדקו בשומא אע"פ שטעו ומכרו שוה מנה במאתים או מאתים במנה הרי מכרן קיים, אבל אם לא בדקו בשומא ולא כתבו אגרת בקורת שהיא דקדוק השומא וההכרזה וטעו והותירו שתות או פחתו שתות מכרן בטל פחות משתות מכרן קיים, וכן אם מכרו קרקע בעת שאינן צריכין להכריז עליה וטעו שתות או הותירו שתות מכרן בטל אע"פ שהכריזו, פחות משתות מכרן קיים אע"פ שלא הכריזו שאינן צריכין הכרזה באותו העת, איזהו העת שאינן צריכין הכרזה בעת שימכרו קרקע לקבורה או למזון האשה והבנות או ליתן מנת המלך אין צריכין הכרזה לפי שהדבר נחוץ, וכן ב"ד שמכרו דברים שאינן טעונין הכרזה וטעו בשתות מכרן בטל פחות משתות מכרן קיים, ואלו הן הדברים שאין מכריזין עליהם העבדים והשטרות והמטלטלין, העבדים שמא ישמעו ויברחו, והשטרות והמטלטלין שמא יגנבו, לפיכך שמין אותן בבית דין ומוכרין אותן מיד, ואם השוק קרוב למדינה מוליכין אותן לשוק.
FOOTNOTES
1.
אין נפרעין מן היורשין וכו' עד את השטר. א"א הרב ז"ל אומר שאם האמינו עליו ועל יורשיו שמועיל בו נאמנות ואם כתב בו שיהא נאמן אפילו על שובר ואפילו על מאה עדים למה אינו גובה אלא לפי הקושיות שהקשו על רב אשי במס' ערכין ולא תירצו זה התירוץ בשטר שיש בו נאמנות ש"מ אין שום נאמנות מועיל לקטנים עכ"ל.
2.
הורו מקצת הגאונים וכו' עד שנזקקין להן שלא חשו לחן האשה. א"א הם לא חשו ומרימר דהוא בתרא וכן עולא חששו עכ"ל.
• Sunday, 8 Elul, 5776 · 11 September 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Wednesday, Elul 8, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Teitsei, Revi'i with Rashi.
Tehillim: 44-48. Also 22-24.
Tanya: This disencumberment (p. 453) ...crucible and furnace.(p. 453).
The Tzemach Tzedek listed three things by whose virtue he was successful at the Rabbinical Convention in Petersburg in 5603 (1843). One of these was the merit of the thirty-two thousand hours that he labored over the Alter Rebbe's discourses over the span of the thirty years from 5564 to 5594. (In 5564 - 1804 - he designated a special period to study the Alter Rebbe's discourses, and in 5594 - 1834 - work was begun on their publication.1
Compiled and arranged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, in 5703 (1943) from the talks and letters of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory.
FOOTNOTES
1.See Sh'vat 3. and 14 Adar I.
• Daily Thought:
True Naivete
What is it that the child has to teach?
The child naively believes that everything should be fair
and everyone should be honest,
that only good should prevail,
that everybody should have what they want
and there should be no pain or sadness.
The child believes the world should be perfect
and is outraged to discover it is not.
And the child is right.
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