Torah Reading
Sukkot Chol Hamoed 1: Numbers 29:17 “‘On the second day you are to present twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year, without defect; 18 with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, in keeping with the rule; 19 also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and their drink offerings.
20 “‘On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year, without defect; 21 with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, in keeping with the rule; 22 also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
23 “‘On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year, without defect; 24 with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, in keeping with the rule; 25 also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings. Numbers 29:17 “‘On the second day you are to present twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year, without defect; 18 with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, in keeping with the rule; 19 also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and their drink offerings.
20 “‘On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year, without defect; 21 with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, in keeping with the rule; 22 also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
Today's Laws & Customs:
• Chol Hamoed
The seven days of the festival of Sukkot consist of two days of "Yom Tov", followed by five days of "Chol Hamoed" ("weekdays of the festival"; also called "the intermediate days"). In the Land of Israel, there is only one day of Yom Tov, followed by six days of Chol Hamoed.
On Yom Tov all creative work is forbidden as on Shabbat, except for the tasks involved in food preparation (e.g., lighting a fire from a pre-existing flame, cooking, carrying "from domain to domain"); on Chol Hamoed, work whose avoidance would result in "significant loss" is permitted. Otherwise, all the mitzvot and customs of Sukkot apply: eating in the sukkah, taking the "four kinds", etc. The "Yaale V'yavo" prayer is included in all prayers and Grace After Meals. Hallel, Hoshaanot and Musaf are recited following the Shacharit (morning) prayers.
It is the Chabad custom not to put on tefillin during Chol Hamoed, as on Shabbat and the festivals.
Click here for a more detailed treatment of the laws of Chol Hamoed.
• Eat in Sukkah (7 days)
The festival of Sukkot, commemorating G-d's enveloping protection of the Children of Israel during their 40-year journey through the desert (1313-1273 BCE), is celebrated for seven days, beginning from the eve of Tishrei 15. During this time, we are commanded to "dwell" in asukkah -- a hut of temporary construction, with a roof covering of raw, unfinished vegetable matter (branches, reeds, bamboo, etc.) -- signifying the temporality and fragily of human habitation and man-made shelter and our utter dependence upon G-d's protection and providence. "How [does one fulfill] the mitzvah of dwelling in the sukkah? One should eat, drink, and live in the sukkah, both day and night, as one lives in one's house on the other days of the year: for seven days a person should make his home his temporary dwelling, and his sukkah his permanent dwelling" (Code of Jewish Law, Orach Chaim 639:1).
At least one k'zayit (approx. 1 oz.) of bread should be eaten in the sukkah on the first evening of the festival, between nightfall and midnight. A special blessing, Leishiv BaSukkah, is recited. For the rest of the festival, all meals must be eaten in the sukkah (see the Code of Jewish Lawor consult a Halachic authority as to what constitutes a "meal"). Chabad custom is to refrain from eating or drinking anything outside of the sukkah, even a glass of water.
Also see: the Ushpizin
Links: The Big Sukkah; The Temporary Dwelling; The Easy Mitzvah
• The "Four Kinds" (6 days)
"And you shall take for yourself on the first day," instructs the Torah in Leviticus "the splendid fruit of a tree, fronds of dates, the branch of the thick-leafed tree and aravot of the river." Torah SheBaal Peh (the oral tradition given to Moses at Sinai and handed through the generations, and later documented in the Mishnah and Talmud) identifies the four kinds as the etrog (citron), lulav (unopened palm branch), hadass (myrtle twig, of which three are taken) and aravah (willow, two twigs). The palm branch, three myrtle twigs and two willow twigs are bound together (with rings made from palm leaves).
Each day of Sukkot -- except Shabbat -- we take the lulav in hand, recite a blessing over it, take hold of the etrog, hold the "Four Kinds" together, and move them back and forth in all directions (right, left, forward, up, down and back). An additional blessing, shehecheyanu, is recited the first time that the Four Kinds are taken during the festival. We also hold the Four Kinds during the Hallel prayer (moving them as above in specified places in the text) and the Hoshaanot prayers (during which we march around the reading table in the synagogue) which are included in the daily service each day of Sukkot.
Link: The Four Mysteries of King Solomon
• "Water Drawing" Celebrations (7 nights)
When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, one of the special Sukkot observances was to pour water on the Altar. The drawing of water for this purpose was preceded by all-night celebrations in the Temple courtyard; on the 15 steps leading to the azarah (inner courtyard) stood Levites while playing a variety of musical instruments, sages danced and juggled burning torches, and huge oil-burning lamps illuminated the entire city. The singing and dancing went on until daybreak, when a procession would make its way to the Shiloach Spring which flowed in a valley below the Temple to "draw water with joy." "One who did not see the joy of the water-drawing celebrations," declared the sages of the Talmud, "has not seen joy in his life."
While water was poured each day of the fetival, the special celebrations were held only onChol Hamoed since many of the elements of the celebration (e.g., the playing of musical instruments) are forbidden on Yom Tov.
Today, we commemorate these joyous celebrations by holding Simchat Beit HaShoeivah ("joy of the water drawing") events in the streets, with music and dancing. The Lubavitcher Rebbe initiated the custom of holding such celebrations on Shabbat and Yom Tov as well -- without musical instruments of course. The fact that we cannot celebrate as we did in the Temple, said the Rebbe, means that we are free to celebrate the joy of Sukkot with singing and dancing every day of the festival.
Link: The Taste of Water
Daily Quote:By virtue of its inborn nature, the mind rules the heart[Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi]
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Vezot Hab'rachah, 4th Portion Deuteronomy 33:18-33:21 with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 33
18And to Zebulun he said: "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your departure, and Issachar, in your tents. יחוְלִזְבוּלֻ֣ן אָמַ֔ר שְׂמַ֥ח זְבוּלֻ֖ן בְּצֵאתֶ֑ךָ וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר בְּאֹֽהָלֶֽיךָ:
And to Zebulun he said: These five tribes whom [Moses] blessed last, namely, Zebulun, Gad, Dan, Naftali and Asher, have their names repeated [e.g., “And of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun…”], in order to instill them with strength and power, for they were the weakest of all the tribes. And indeed [for this reason,] they were the ones Joseph introduced to Pharaoh, as it is said, “And from among his brothers, he took five men” (Gen. 47:2). [Joseph took these brothers and not the others,] because they looked weak, so that Pharaoh should not appoint them as his war officers. — [B.K. 92a] ולזבולן אמר: אלו חמשה שבטים שבירך באחרונה זבולן גד דן נפתלי ואשר כפל שמותיהם לחזקם ולהגבירם, לפי שהיו חלשים שבכל השבטים, הם הם שהוליך יוסף לפני פרעה, שנאמר (בראשית מז, ב) ומקצה אחיו לקח חמשה אנשים, לפי שנראים חלשים ולא ישים אותם לו שרי מלחמתו:
Rejoice, Zebulun, in your departure, and Issachar, in your tents:Zebulun and Issachar entered into a partnership [with the following agreement]: Zebulun would dwell at the seashore and go out in ships, to trade and make profit. He would thereby provide food for Issachar, and they would sit and occupy themselves with the study of Torah. Consequently, Moses mentioned Zebulun before Issachar [even though the latter was the elder of the two], because Issachar’s Torah came through [the provisions of] Zebulun. — [Gen. Rabbah 99:9] שמח זבולן בצאתך ויששכר באהליך: זבולן ויששכר עשו שותפות, זבולן לחוף ימים ישכון ויוצא לפרקמטיא בספינות ומשתכר, ונותן לתוך פיו של יששכר והם יושבים ועוסקים בתורה, לפיכך הקדים זבולן ליששכר שתורתו של יששכר על ידי זבולן היתה:
Rejoice, Zebulun, in your departure: Prosper when you go out to trade. שמח זבולן בצאתך: הצלח בצאתך לסחורה:
and Issachar: Prosper when you sit in your tents to study the Torah, to sit [in the Sanhedrin] and to [calculate and] proclaim leap years, and to fix the months, as it is said, “And from the sons of Issachar, those who had an understanding of the times” (I Chron. 12:32) [and then the verse continues,] “their chiefs were two hundred”-the chiefs of the Sanhedrin occupied themselves with this, and in accordance with them, the seasons and leap years were fixed [for all Israel]. ויששכר: הצלח בישיבת אהליך לתורה לישב ולעבר שנים ולקבוע חדשים, כמו שנאמר (דה"א יב, לג) ומבני יששכר יודעי בינה לעתים ראשיהם מאתים ראשי סנהדראות היו עוסקים בכך. ועל פי קביעות עתיהם ועבוריהם:
19They will call peoples to the mountain; there, they will offer up righteous sacrifices. For they will be nourished by the abundance of the seas, and by the treasures hidden in the sand." יטעַמִּים֙ הַר־יִקְרָ֔אוּ שָׁ֖ם יִזְבְּח֣וּ זִבְחֵי־צֶ֑דֶק כִּ֣י שֶׁ֤פַע יַמִּים֙ יִינָ֔קוּ וּשְׂפֻנֵ֖י טְמ֥וּנֵי חֽוֹל:
Peoples: of the tribes of Israel. עמים: של שבטי ישראל:
They will call [peoples] to the Mountain: I.e., [people from the tribes of Israel] will assemble at Mount Moriah [on the Pilgrimage Festivals]. Every assembly took place through a “calling” [i.e., a summoning of the people. This is why the verse speaks of the assembly of the people in terms of “They will call”]. And there [at Mount Moriah, in the Holy Temple], the people will offer up righteous sacrifices on the Pilgrimage Festivals. הר יקראו: להר המוריה יאספו כל אסיפה על ידי קריאה היא ושם יזבחו ברגלים זבחי צדק:
for they will be nourished by the abundance of the seas: i.e., Issachar and Zebulun [will be nourished], and thereby, they will have spare time to study the Torah. כי שפע ימים יינקו: יששכר וזבולן ויהא להם פנאי לעסוק בתורה:
and by the treasures hidden in the sand: Things covered up and hidden by the sand-the tarit [or “torino,” a kind of fish], the snail [from which a sky-blue dye was obtained], and “white glass,” all of which come from the sea or the sand. These were found in the territory of Issachar and Zebulun, as is taught in Tractate Megillah (6a): [Scripture says, “Zebulun is a people who jeopardized his life to die” (Jud. 5:18). [And why?] Because [as that verse continues], “Naftali is on the high places of the field,” i.e., Zebulun complained [to God] about his territory, saying,“To my brothers, You have given fields and vineyards [… while to me, You have given seas and rivers]!” [In reply, God told Zebulun that the other brothers will seek him out because of the hidden treasures contained within the seas and the sands.] ושפני טמוני חול: כסויי טמוני חול טרית וחלזון וזכוכית לבנה היוצאים מן הים ומן החול ובחלקו של יששכר וזבולן היה, כמו שאמרו במסכת מגילה (ו א) זבולן עם חרף נפשו למות (שופטים ה יח) משום דנפתלי על מרומי שדה, שהיה מתרעם זבולן על חלקו לאחי נתת שדות וכרמים וכו':
the treasures: Heb. וּשְׂפֻנֵי An expression meaning a covering, as it is said,“And he covered (וַיִּסְפֹּן) the house” (I Kings 6:9); and, וְסָפֻן בָאֶרֶז, which the Targum renders as: “And it was covered with a covering of cedar” (I Kings 7:3). Another explanation: they will call people to the mountain: Through Zebulun’s commerce, merchants of the world’s nations will come to his land. Now Zebulun is located at the border, so these merchants will say, “Since we have taken so much trouble to reach here, let us go to Jerusalem and see what the God of this nation is like and what they do.” And they see all Israel worshipping one God and eating one kind of food [i.e., only what is permissible to them, and they will be astonished], because [among] the nations, the deity of one is not like the deity of another, and the food of one is not like the food of another. So they will say, “There is no nation as worthy as this one!” Consequently, they will convert to Judaism there, as our verse says,“there, they will offer up righteous sacrifices” [and all of this will be due to Zebulun’s commerce]. — [Sifrei 33:19] ושפני: לשון כסוי, כמו שנאמר (מ"א ו, ט) ויספון את הבית, (שם ז, ג) וספון בארז, ותרגומו ומטלל בכיורי ארזא. דבר אחר עמים הר יקראו על ידי פרקמטיא של זבולן, תגרי אומות העולם באים אל ארצו, והוא עומד על הספר והם אומרים הואיל ונצטערנו עד כאן נלך עד ירושלים ונראה מה יראתה של אומה זו ומה מעשיה, והם רואים כל ישראל עובדים לאלוה אחד ואוכלים מאכל אחד לפי שהגוים אלוהו של זה לא כאלוהו של זה, ומאכלו של זה לא כמאכלו של זה, והם אומרים אין אומה כשרה כזו ומתגיירין שם, שנאמר שם יזבחו זבחי צדק:
for they will be nourished by the abundance of the seas: Zebulun and Issachar [will be nourished], that is to say, the sea will lavish them with wealth. כי שפע ימים יינקו: זבולן ויששכר הים נותן להם ממון בשפע:
20And of Gad he said: "Blessed is He Who grants expanse to Gad; he dwells like a lion, tearing the arm [of his prey, together] with the head. כוּלְגָ֣ד אָמַ֔ר בָּר֖וּךְ מַרְחִ֣יב גָּ֑ד כְּלָבִ֣יא שָׁכֵ֔ן וְטָרַ֥ף זְר֖וֹעַ אַף־קָדְקֹֽד:
Blessed is He Who grants expanse to Gad: This teaches us that Gad’s territory extended far eastward. — [Sifrei 33:20] ברוך מרחיב גד: מלמד שהיה תחומו של גד מרחיב ועולה כלפי מזרח:
He dwells like a lion: Because Gad was near the border, he is therefore compared to lions, for all those who are located near the border must be mighty [like lions, in order to protect themselves from attack]. — [Sifrei 33:20] כלביא שכן: לפי שהיה סמוך לספר לפיכך נמשל כאריות שכל הסמוכים לספר צריכים להיות גבורים:
tearing the arm [of his prey, together] with the head: Anyone slain by the Gadites could be readily identified: they used to cut off the head together with the arm in one blow. — [Jonathan Ben Uziel] וטרף זרוע אף קדקד: הרוגיהן היו נכרין, חותכים הראש עם הזרוע במכה אחת:
21He saw the first portion for himself, because there, the portion of the lawgiver is hidden. And he came at the head of the people; he did what is righteous for the Lord, and what is lawful with Israel." כאוַיַּ֤רְא רֵאשִׁית֙ ל֔וֹ כִּי־שָׁ֛ם חֶלְקַ֥ת מְחֹקֵ֖ק סָפ֑וּן וַיֵּ֨תֵא֙ רָ֣אשֵׁי עָ֔ם צִדְקַ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ עָשָׂ֔ה וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
He saw the first portion for himself: He saw fit to take for himself territory in the land of Sihon and Og, whose land was the beginning (רֵאשִׁית) of the conquest of the Land. וירא ראשית לו: ראה ליטול לו חלק בארץ סיחון ועוג, שהיא ראשית כבוש הארץ:
because there, the portion of the lawgiver is hidden: For Gad knew [through Divine transmission,] that within his territory would be contained a portion of the field designated for the burial of“the lawgiver,” namely Moses. — [Sotah 13b] כי שם חלקת מחקק: כי ידע אשר שם בנחלתו חלקת שדה קבורת מחוקק והוא משה:
of the lawgiver: That portion [of the field, where Moses was buried,] was hidden (סָפוּן) and concealed from every creature, as it is said, “And no man knows his burial place” (Deut. 34:6). ספון: אותה חלקה ספונה וטמונה מכל בריה, שנאמר (לקמן לד, ו) ולא ידע איש את קבורתו:
And he came: i.e., Gad came. ויתא: גד:
at the head of the people: The Gadites marched before the armed forces in the conquest of the Land, because the Gadites were powerful, and so it is said [of them], “Pass over, armed, before your brothers” (Deut. 3:18). ראשי עם: הם היו הולכים לפני החלוץ בכבוש הארץ לפי שהיו גבורים, וכן הוא אומר (דברים ג, יח) ואתם תעברו חלוצים לפני אחיכם וגו':
He did what is righteous for the Lord: Because the Gadites substantiated their words, keeping their promise to cross the Jordan [and remain there to help their brothers] until Israel had conquered and divided [the Land among the tribes]. Another explanation: And he came-And Moses came. [Similarly, the remaining clauses:] “At the head of the people,” and “He did what is righteous for the Lord,” also refer to Moses. — [Sifrei 33:21] צדקת ה' עשה: שהאמינו דבריהם ושמרו הבטחתם לעבור את הירדן עד שכבשו וחלקו. דבר אחר ויתא משה ראשי עם. צדקת ה' עשה. על משה אמור:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 83 - 87
• Chapter 83
A prayer regarding the wars against Israel in the days of Jehoshaphat, when the nations plotted against Israel.
1. A song, a psalm by Asaph.
2. O God, do not be silent; do not be quiet and do not be still, O God.
3. For behold, Your enemies are in uproar, and those who hate You have raised their head.
4. They plot deviously against Your nation, and conspire against those sheltered by You.
5. They say, "Come, let us sever them from nationhood, and the name of Israel will be remembered no more.”
6. For they conspire with a unanimous heart, they made a covenant against You-
7. the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
8. Geval and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
9. Assyria, too, joined with them, and became the strength of the sons of Lot, Selah.
10. Do to them as to Midian; as to Sisera and Yavin at the brook of Kishon,
11. who were destroyed at Ein Dor, and were as dung for the earth.
12. Make their nobles like Orev and Ze'ev, all their princes like Zevach and Tzalmuna,1
13. who said, "Let us inherit the dwellings of God for ourselves.”
14. My God, make them like whirling chaff, like straw before the wind.
15. As a fire consumes the forest, and a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
16. so pursue them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your storm.
17. Fill their faces with shame, and they will seek Your Name, O Lord.
18. Let them be shamed and terrified forever; let them be disgraced and perish.
19. And they will know that You, Whose Name is the Lord, are alone, Most High over all the earth.
FOOTNOTES
1.These were the Midianite leaders who were captured (see Judges 7:25)
Chapter 84
In this psalm of prayers and entreaties, the psalmist mourns bitterly over the destruction of Temple from the depths of his heart, and speaks of the many blessings that will be realized upon its restoration. Fortunate is the one who trusts it will be rebuilt, and does not despair in the face of this long exile.
1. For the Conductor, on the gittit,1 a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. How beloved are Your dwellings, O Lord of Hosts!
3. My soul yearns, indeed it pines, for the courtyards of the Lord; my heart and my flesh [long to] sing to the living God.
4. Even the bird has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she lays her young on the [ruins of] Your altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God.
5. Fortunate are those who dwell in Your House; they will yet praise You forever.
6. Fortunate is the man whose strength is in You; the paths [to the Temple] are in his heart.
7. For those who pass through the Valley of Thorns, He places wellsprings; their guide will be cloaked in blessings.2
8. They go from strength to strength; they will appear before God in Zion.
9. O Lord, God of Hosts, hear my prayer; listen, O God of Jacob, forever.
10. See our shield,3 O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed one.
11. For better one day in Your courtyards than a thousand [elsewhere]. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, than dwell [in comfort] in the tents of wickedness.
12. For the Lord, God, is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and glory; He does not withhold goodness from those who walk in innocence.
13. O Lord of Hosts! Fortunate is the man who trusts in You.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument crafted in Gath (Metzudot).
2.God provides water for the pilgrims to Jerusalem, leading them to bless their guides for choosing a water-laden route (Metzudot)
3.Remember the Temple [and rebuild it](Metzudot).
Chapter 85
In this prayer, lamenting the long and bitter exile, the psalmist asks why this exile is longer than the previous ones, and implores God to quickly fulfill His promise to redeem us. Every individual should offer this psalm when in distress.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. O Lord, You favored Your land; You returned the captives of Jacob.
3. You forgave the iniquity of Your people, and covered all their sin forever.
4. You withdrew all Your fury, and retreated from Your fierce anger.
5. Return us, O God of our salvation, and annul Your anger toward us.
6. Will You forever be angry with us? Will You draw out Your anger over all generations?
7. Is it not true that You will revive us again, and Your people will rejoice in You?
8. Show us Your kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your deliverance.
9. I hear what the Almighty Lord will say; for He speaks peace to His nation and to His pious ones, and they will not return to folly.
10. Indeed, His deliverance is near those who fear Him, that [His] glory may dwell in the land.
11. Kindness and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.
12. Truth will sprout from the earth, and righteousness will peer from heaven.
13. The Lord, too, will bestow goodness, and our land will yield its produce.
14. Righteousness shall walk before him, and he shall set his footsteps in [its] path.
Chapter 86
This psalm contains many prayers regarding David's troubles, and his enemies Doeg and Achitophel. It also includes many descriptions of God's praise. Every individual can offer this psalm when in distress.
1. A prayer by David. Lord, turn Your ear, answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2. Guard my soul, for I am pious; You, my God, deliver Your servant who trusts in You.
3. Be gracious to me, my Lord, for to You I call all day.
4. Bring joy to the soul of Your servant, for to You, my Lord, I lift my soul.
5. For You, my Lord, are good and forgiving, and exceedingly kind to all who call upon You.
6. Lord, hear my prayer and listen to the voice of my supplications.
7. On the day of my distress I call upon You, for You will answer me.
8. There is none like You among the supernal beings, my Lord, and there are no deeds like Yours.
9. All the nations that You have made will come and bow down before You, my Lord, and give honor to Your Name,
10. for You are great and perform wonders, You alone, O God.
11. Lord, teach me Your way that I may walk in Your truth; unify my heart to fear Your Name.
12. I will praise You, my Lord, my God, with all my heart, and give honor to Your Name forever.
13. For Your kindness to me has been great; You have saved my soul from the depth of the grave.
14. O God, malicious men have risen against me; a band of ruthless men has sought my soul; they are not mindful of You.
15. But You, my Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth.
16. Turn to me and be gracious to me; grant Your strength to Your servant, and deliver the son of Your maidservant.
17. Show me a sign of favor, that my foes may see and be shamed, because You, Lord, have given me aid and consoled me.
Chapter 87
Composed to be sung in the Holy Temple, this psalm praises the glory of Jerusalem, a city that produces many great scholars, eminent personalities, and persons of good deeds. It also speaks of the good that will occur in the Messianic era.
1. By the sons of Korach, a psalm, a song devoted to the holy mountains [of Zion and Jerusalem].
2. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3. Glorious things are spoken of you, eternal city of God.
4. I will remind Rahav Egypt and Babylon concerning My beloved; Philistia and Tyre as well as Ethiopia, "This one was born there.”
5. And to Zion will be said, "This person and that was born there"; and He, the Most High, will establish it.
6. The Lord will count in the register of people, "This one was born there," Selah.
7. Singers as well as dancers [will sing your praise and say], "All my inner thoughts are of you."
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 23
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Wednesday, 17 Tishrei, 5777 · 19 October 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 23
• In the letter that follows, the Alter Rebbe urges chassidim to devote the daily interval between Minchah and Maariv to the group study of Ein Yaakov, and to the laws in the Shulchan Aruch that have frequent and practical application. He introduces this appeal by explaining how sublime is the Divine Presence that dwells within Jews when they study Torah publicly. Indeed, only in the World to Come can this lofty level of Divinity be manifestly received as a reward — except when it abides overJews and within Jews when, in this world, they study Torah together.
Rambam: Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Deuteronomy Chapter 33
18And to Zebulun he said: "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your departure, and Issachar, in your tents. יחוְלִזְבוּלֻ֣ן אָמַ֔ר שְׂמַ֥ח זְבוּלֻ֖ן בְּצֵאתֶ֑ךָ וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר בְּאֹֽהָלֶֽיךָ:
And to Zebulun he said: These five tribes whom [Moses] blessed last, namely, Zebulun, Gad, Dan, Naftali and Asher, have their names repeated [e.g., “And of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun…”], in order to instill them with strength and power, for they were the weakest of all the tribes. And indeed [for this reason,] they were the ones Joseph introduced to Pharaoh, as it is said, “And from among his brothers, he took five men” (Gen. 47:2). [Joseph took these brothers and not the others,] because they looked weak, so that Pharaoh should not appoint them as his war officers. — [B.K. 92a] ולזבולן אמר: אלו חמשה שבטים שבירך באחרונה זבולן גד דן נפתלי ואשר כפל שמותיהם לחזקם ולהגבירם, לפי שהיו חלשים שבכל השבטים, הם הם שהוליך יוסף לפני פרעה, שנאמר (בראשית מז, ב) ומקצה אחיו לקח חמשה אנשים, לפי שנראים חלשים ולא ישים אותם לו שרי מלחמתו:
Rejoice, Zebulun, in your departure, and Issachar, in your tents:Zebulun and Issachar entered into a partnership [with the following agreement]: Zebulun would dwell at the seashore and go out in ships, to trade and make profit. He would thereby provide food for Issachar, and they would sit and occupy themselves with the study of Torah. Consequently, Moses mentioned Zebulun before Issachar [even though the latter was the elder of the two], because Issachar’s Torah came through [the provisions of] Zebulun. — [Gen. Rabbah 99:9] שמח זבולן בצאתך ויששכר באהליך: זבולן ויששכר עשו שותפות, זבולן לחוף ימים ישכון ויוצא לפרקמטיא בספינות ומשתכר, ונותן לתוך פיו של יששכר והם יושבים ועוסקים בתורה, לפיכך הקדים זבולן ליששכר שתורתו של יששכר על ידי זבולן היתה:
Rejoice, Zebulun, in your departure: Prosper when you go out to trade. שמח זבולן בצאתך: הצלח בצאתך לסחורה:
and Issachar: Prosper when you sit in your tents to study the Torah, to sit [in the Sanhedrin] and to [calculate and] proclaim leap years, and to fix the months, as it is said, “And from the sons of Issachar, those who had an understanding of the times” (I Chron. 12:32) [and then the verse continues,] “their chiefs were two hundred”-the chiefs of the Sanhedrin occupied themselves with this, and in accordance with them, the seasons and leap years were fixed [for all Israel]. ויששכר: הצלח בישיבת אהליך לתורה לישב ולעבר שנים ולקבוע חדשים, כמו שנאמר (דה"א יב, לג) ומבני יששכר יודעי בינה לעתים ראשיהם מאתים ראשי סנהדראות היו עוסקים בכך. ועל פי קביעות עתיהם ועבוריהם:
19They will call peoples to the mountain; there, they will offer up righteous sacrifices. For they will be nourished by the abundance of the seas, and by the treasures hidden in the sand." יטעַמִּים֙ הַר־יִקְרָ֔אוּ שָׁ֖ם יִזְבְּח֣וּ זִבְחֵי־צֶ֑דֶק כִּ֣י שֶׁ֤פַע יַמִּים֙ יִינָ֔קוּ וּשְׂפֻנֵ֖י טְמ֥וּנֵי חֽוֹל:
Peoples: of the tribes of Israel. עמים: של שבטי ישראל:
They will call [peoples] to the Mountain: I.e., [people from the tribes of Israel] will assemble at Mount Moriah [on the Pilgrimage Festivals]. Every assembly took place through a “calling” [i.e., a summoning of the people. This is why the verse speaks of the assembly of the people in terms of “They will call”]. And there [at Mount Moriah, in the Holy Temple], the people will offer up righteous sacrifices on the Pilgrimage Festivals. הר יקראו: להר המוריה יאספו כל אסיפה על ידי קריאה היא ושם יזבחו ברגלים זבחי צדק:
for they will be nourished by the abundance of the seas: i.e., Issachar and Zebulun [will be nourished], and thereby, they will have spare time to study the Torah. כי שפע ימים יינקו: יששכר וזבולן ויהא להם פנאי לעסוק בתורה:
and by the treasures hidden in the sand: Things covered up and hidden by the sand-the tarit [or “torino,” a kind of fish], the snail [from which a sky-blue dye was obtained], and “white glass,” all of which come from the sea or the sand. These were found in the territory of Issachar and Zebulun, as is taught in Tractate Megillah (6a): [Scripture says, “Zebulun is a people who jeopardized his life to die” (Jud. 5:18). [And why?] Because [as that verse continues], “Naftali is on the high places of the field,” i.e., Zebulun complained [to God] about his territory, saying,“To my brothers, You have given fields and vineyards [… while to me, You have given seas and rivers]!” [In reply, God told Zebulun that the other brothers will seek him out because of the hidden treasures contained within the seas and the sands.] ושפני טמוני חול: כסויי טמוני חול טרית וחלזון וזכוכית לבנה היוצאים מן הים ומן החול ובחלקו של יששכר וזבולן היה, כמו שאמרו במסכת מגילה (ו א) זבולן עם חרף נפשו למות (שופטים ה יח) משום דנפתלי על מרומי שדה, שהיה מתרעם זבולן על חלקו לאחי נתת שדות וכרמים וכו':
the treasures: Heb. וּשְׂפֻנֵי An expression meaning a covering, as it is said,“And he covered (וַיִּסְפֹּן) the house” (I Kings 6:9); and, וְסָפֻן בָאֶרֶז, which the Targum renders as: “And it was covered with a covering of cedar” (I Kings 7:3). Another explanation: they will call people to the mountain: Through Zebulun’s commerce, merchants of the world’s nations will come to his land. Now Zebulun is located at the border, so these merchants will say, “Since we have taken so much trouble to reach here, let us go to Jerusalem and see what the God of this nation is like and what they do.” And they see all Israel worshipping one God and eating one kind of food [i.e., only what is permissible to them, and they will be astonished], because [among] the nations, the deity of one is not like the deity of another, and the food of one is not like the food of another. So they will say, “There is no nation as worthy as this one!” Consequently, they will convert to Judaism there, as our verse says,“there, they will offer up righteous sacrifices” [and all of this will be due to Zebulun’s commerce]. — [Sifrei 33:19] ושפני: לשון כסוי, כמו שנאמר (מ"א ו, ט) ויספון את הבית, (שם ז, ג) וספון בארז, ותרגומו ומטלל בכיורי ארזא. דבר אחר עמים הר יקראו על ידי פרקמטיא של זבולן, תגרי אומות העולם באים אל ארצו, והוא עומד על הספר והם אומרים הואיל ונצטערנו עד כאן נלך עד ירושלים ונראה מה יראתה של אומה זו ומה מעשיה, והם רואים כל ישראל עובדים לאלוה אחד ואוכלים מאכל אחד לפי שהגוים אלוהו של זה לא כאלוהו של זה, ומאכלו של זה לא כמאכלו של זה, והם אומרים אין אומה כשרה כזו ומתגיירין שם, שנאמר שם יזבחו זבחי צדק:
for they will be nourished by the abundance of the seas: Zebulun and Issachar [will be nourished], that is to say, the sea will lavish them with wealth. כי שפע ימים יינקו: זבולן ויששכר הים נותן להם ממון בשפע:
20And of Gad he said: "Blessed is He Who grants expanse to Gad; he dwells like a lion, tearing the arm [of his prey, together] with the head. כוּלְגָ֣ד אָמַ֔ר בָּר֖וּךְ מַרְחִ֣יב גָּ֑ד כְּלָבִ֣יא שָׁכֵ֔ן וְטָרַ֥ף זְר֖וֹעַ אַף־קָדְקֹֽד:
Blessed is He Who grants expanse to Gad: This teaches us that Gad’s territory extended far eastward. — [Sifrei 33:20] ברוך מרחיב גד: מלמד שהיה תחומו של גד מרחיב ועולה כלפי מזרח:
He dwells like a lion: Because Gad was near the border, he is therefore compared to lions, for all those who are located near the border must be mighty [like lions, in order to protect themselves from attack]. — [Sifrei 33:20] כלביא שכן: לפי שהיה סמוך לספר לפיכך נמשל כאריות שכל הסמוכים לספר צריכים להיות גבורים:
tearing the arm [of his prey, together] with the head: Anyone slain by the Gadites could be readily identified: they used to cut off the head together with the arm in one blow. — [Jonathan Ben Uziel] וטרף זרוע אף קדקד: הרוגיהן היו נכרין, חותכים הראש עם הזרוע במכה אחת:
21He saw the first portion for himself, because there, the portion of the lawgiver is hidden. And he came at the head of the people; he did what is righteous for the Lord, and what is lawful with Israel." כאוַיַּ֤רְא רֵאשִׁית֙ ל֔וֹ כִּי־שָׁ֛ם חֶלְקַ֥ת מְחֹקֵ֖ק סָפ֑וּן וַיֵּ֨תֵא֙ רָ֣אשֵׁי עָ֔ם צִדְקַ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ עָשָׂ֔ה וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
He saw the first portion for himself: He saw fit to take for himself territory in the land of Sihon and Og, whose land was the beginning (רֵאשִׁית) of the conquest of the Land. וירא ראשית לו: ראה ליטול לו חלק בארץ סיחון ועוג, שהיא ראשית כבוש הארץ:
because there, the portion of the lawgiver is hidden: For Gad knew [through Divine transmission,] that within his territory would be contained a portion of the field designated for the burial of“the lawgiver,” namely Moses. — [Sotah 13b] כי שם חלקת מחקק: כי ידע אשר שם בנחלתו חלקת שדה קבורת מחוקק והוא משה:
of the lawgiver: That portion [of the field, where Moses was buried,] was hidden (סָפוּן) and concealed from every creature, as it is said, “And no man knows his burial place” (Deut. 34:6). ספון: אותה חלקה ספונה וטמונה מכל בריה, שנאמר (לקמן לד, ו) ולא ידע איש את קבורתו:
And he came: i.e., Gad came. ויתא: גד:
at the head of the people: The Gadites marched before the armed forces in the conquest of the Land, because the Gadites were powerful, and so it is said [of them], “Pass over, armed, before your brothers” (Deut. 3:18). ראשי עם: הם היו הולכים לפני החלוץ בכבוש הארץ לפי שהיו גבורים, וכן הוא אומר (דברים ג, יח) ואתם תעברו חלוצים לפני אחיכם וגו':
He did what is righteous for the Lord: Because the Gadites substantiated their words, keeping their promise to cross the Jordan [and remain there to help their brothers] until Israel had conquered and divided [the Land among the tribes]. Another explanation: And he came-And Moses came. [Similarly, the remaining clauses:] “At the head of the people,” and “He did what is righteous for the Lord,” also refer to Moses. — [Sifrei 33:21] צדקת ה' עשה: שהאמינו דבריהם ושמרו הבטחתם לעבור את הירדן עד שכבשו וחלקו. דבר אחר ויתא משה ראשי עם. צדקת ה' עשה. על משה אמור:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 83 - 87
• Chapter 83
A prayer regarding the wars against Israel in the days of Jehoshaphat, when the nations plotted against Israel.
1. A song, a psalm by Asaph.
2. O God, do not be silent; do not be quiet and do not be still, O God.
3. For behold, Your enemies are in uproar, and those who hate You have raised their head.
4. They plot deviously against Your nation, and conspire against those sheltered by You.
5. They say, "Come, let us sever them from nationhood, and the name of Israel will be remembered no more.”
6. For they conspire with a unanimous heart, they made a covenant against You-
7. the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
8. Geval and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
9. Assyria, too, joined with them, and became the strength of the sons of Lot, Selah.
10. Do to them as to Midian; as to Sisera and Yavin at the brook of Kishon,
11. who were destroyed at Ein Dor, and were as dung for the earth.
12. Make their nobles like Orev and Ze'ev, all their princes like Zevach and Tzalmuna,1
13. who said, "Let us inherit the dwellings of God for ourselves.”
14. My God, make them like whirling chaff, like straw before the wind.
15. As a fire consumes the forest, and a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
16. so pursue them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your storm.
17. Fill their faces with shame, and they will seek Your Name, O Lord.
18. Let them be shamed and terrified forever; let them be disgraced and perish.
19. And they will know that You, Whose Name is the Lord, are alone, Most High over all the earth.
FOOTNOTES
1.These were the Midianite leaders who were captured (see Judges 7:25)
Chapter 84
In this psalm of prayers and entreaties, the psalmist mourns bitterly over the destruction of Temple from the depths of his heart, and speaks of the many blessings that will be realized upon its restoration. Fortunate is the one who trusts it will be rebuilt, and does not despair in the face of this long exile.
1. For the Conductor, on the gittit,1 a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. How beloved are Your dwellings, O Lord of Hosts!
3. My soul yearns, indeed it pines, for the courtyards of the Lord; my heart and my flesh [long to] sing to the living God.
4. Even the bird has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she lays her young on the [ruins of] Your altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God.
5. Fortunate are those who dwell in Your House; they will yet praise You forever.
6. Fortunate is the man whose strength is in You; the paths [to the Temple] are in his heart.
7. For those who pass through the Valley of Thorns, He places wellsprings; their guide will be cloaked in blessings.2
8. They go from strength to strength; they will appear before God in Zion.
9. O Lord, God of Hosts, hear my prayer; listen, O God of Jacob, forever.
10. See our shield,3 O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed one.
11. For better one day in Your courtyards than a thousand [elsewhere]. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, than dwell [in comfort] in the tents of wickedness.
12. For the Lord, God, is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and glory; He does not withhold goodness from those who walk in innocence.
13. O Lord of Hosts! Fortunate is the man who trusts in You.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument crafted in Gath (Metzudot).
2.God provides water for the pilgrims to Jerusalem, leading them to bless their guides for choosing a water-laden route (Metzudot)
3.Remember the Temple [and rebuild it](Metzudot).
Chapter 85
In this prayer, lamenting the long and bitter exile, the psalmist asks why this exile is longer than the previous ones, and implores God to quickly fulfill His promise to redeem us. Every individual should offer this psalm when in distress.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. O Lord, You favored Your land; You returned the captives of Jacob.
3. You forgave the iniquity of Your people, and covered all their sin forever.
4. You withdrew all Your fury, and retreated from Your fierce anger.
5. Return us, O God of our salvation, and annul Your anger toward us.
6. Will You forever be angry with us? Will You draw out Your anger over all generations?
7. Is it not true that You will revive us again, and Your people will rejoice in You?
8. Show us Your kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your deliverance.
9. I hear what the Almighty Lord will say; for He speaks peace to His nation and to His pious ones, and they will not return to folly.
10. Indeed, His deliverance is near those who fear Him, that [His] glory may dwell in the land.
11. Kindness and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.
12. Truth will sprout from the earth, and righteousness will peer from heaven.
13. The Lord, too, will bestow goodness, and our land will yield its produce.
14. Righteousness shall walk before him, and he shall set his footsteps in [its] path.
Chapter 86
This psalm contains many prayers regarding David's troubles, and his enemies Doeg and Achitophel. It also includes many descriptions of God's praise. Every individual can offer this psalm when in distress.
1. A prayer by David. Lord, turn Your ear, answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2. Guard my soul, for I am pious; You, my God, deliver Your servant who trusts in You.
3. Be gracious to me, my Lord, for to You I call all day.
4. Bring joy to the soul of Your servant, for to You, my Lord, I lift my soul.
5. For You, my Lord, are good and forgiving, and exceedingly kind to all who call upon You.
6. Lord, hear my prayer and listen to the voice of my supplications.
7. On the day of my distress I call upon You, for You will answer me.
8. There is none like You among the supernal beings, my Lord, and there are no deeds like Yours.
9. All the nations that You have made will come and bow down before You, my Lord, and give honor to Your Name,
10. for You are great and perform wonders, You alone, O God.
11. Lord, teach me Your way that I may walk in Your truth; unify my heart to fear Your Name.
12. I will praise You, my Lord, my God, with all my heart, and give honor to Your Name forever.
13. For Your kindness to me has been great; You have saved my soul from the depth of the grave.
14. O God, malicious men have risen against me; a band of ruthless men has sought my soul; they are not mindful of You.
15. But You, my Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth.
16. Turn to me and be gracious to me; grant Your strength to Your servant, and deliver the son of Your maidservant.
17. Show me a sign of favor, that my foes may see and be shamed, because You, Lord, have given me aid and consoled me.
Chapter 87
Composed to be sung in the Holy Temple, this psalm praises the glory of Jerusalem, a city that produces many great scholars, eminent personalities, and persons of good deeds. It also speaks of the good that will occur in the Messianic era.
1. By the sons of Korach, a psalm, a song devoted to the holy mountains [of Zion and Jerusalem].
2. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3. Glorious things are spoken of you, eternal city of God.
4. I will remind Rahav Egypt and Babylon concerning My beloved; Philistia and Tyre as well as Ethiopia, "This one was born there.”
5. And to Zion will be said, "This person and that was born there"; and He, the Most High, will establish it.
6. The Lord will count in the register of people, "This one was born there," Selah.
7. Singers as well as dancers [will sing your praise and say], "All my inner thoughts are of you."
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 23
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Wednesday, 17 Tishrei, 5777 · 19 October 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 23
• In the letter that follows, the Alter Rebbe urges chassidim to devote the daily interval between Minchah and Maariv to the group study of Ein Yaakov, and to the laws in the Shulchan Aruch that have frequent and practical application. He introduces this appeal by explaining how sublime is the Divine Presence that dwells within Jews when they study Torah publicly. Indeed, only in the World to Come can this lofty level of Divinity be manifestly received as a reward — except when it abides overJews and within Jews when, in this world, they study Torah together.
בגזירת עירין פתגמא ומאמר קדישין
“This statement is made by decree of the wakeful [angels] and by the word of [those] holy ones,”
This phrase1 is used by the Sages2 (and here by the Alter Rebbe) to denote eminent Torah scholars, who are likened to ministering angels;3 specifically —
חכמי המשנה, עליהם השלום
the Mishnaic Sages, peace be upon them,
ששנו במשנתם: עשרה שיושבין ועוסקין בתורה, שכינה שרויה ביניהם
who taught in their Mishnah:4 “If ten people sit togeth-er and engage in the study of the Torah, the Divine Presence (the Shechinah) rests among them.”
A similar teaching5 — “The Shechinah hovers over every gathering of ten Jews” — means only that the Divine Presence hovers over them in a transcendent (lit., “encompassing”) manner, as explained at the end of ch. 11 of Tanya. In this instance, however, where ten Jews are studying Torah together, the Shechinah rests “among them” — in an internalized manner.
כי זה כל האדם
“For this is the whole [purpose] of man.”6 As the Gemara7 interprets this verse: “The entire world was created solely for this purpose.”
ואף גם זאת היתה כל ירידתו בעולם הזה, לצורך עליה זו
Moreover, [the soul’s] very descent to this world was for the purpose of this ascent, which is accomplished through public Torah study,
אשר אין עליה למעלה הימנה
and no [possible] ascent is higher than this.
The ultimate ascent of the soul, the reason for which the soul initially descended, is attained not only after it completes its descent, after it leaves the body; rather, through public Torah study while the soul is still within the body, it causes theShechinah to rest in this nether world, and is thereby elevated more than by any other means.
כי שכינת עוזו אשר בגבהי מרומים, והשמים ושמי השמים לא יכלכלו אימתה
For the Shechinah of [G‑d’s] Might which is in the supernal heights, and Whose awesomeness8 “the heavens and the heavens of the heavens cannot contain,”
תשכון ותתגדל בתוך בני ישראל, כמו שכתוב: כי אני ה׳ שוכן בתוך בני ישראל
dwells and becomes magnified among the Children of Israel, as it is written,9 “For I, G‑d, dwell among (תוך) the Children of Israel,”
על ידי עסק התורה והמצות בעשרה דוקא
as a result of [their] study of the Torah and observance of the commandments in groups of [at least] ten,for ten Jews constitute a congregation.
כמו שאמרו רז״ל: אתיא תוך תוך כו׳
For, as our Sages of blessed memory said,10 “We infer a conclusion from [two appearances of] the word toch.”
In certain specified cases, the Sages draw an analogy from one expression in the Torah to the identical expression in a different context. A comparison of this kind (a gezeirah shavah) is made between two appearances of the above word. One verse states,11 “I will become sanctified in the midst (toch) of the Children of Israel,” while another verse states,12 “...from the midst (toch) of this congregation.” From this we learn that the recital of a davar shebikedushah, a text involving the sanctification of G‑d’s Name, requires a “congregation.” From a verse regarding the spies, where G-d refers to the ten evil spies as a congregation, we learn that a congregation is not less than ten people.
The Rebbe Rayatz asks:13 Of all the possible contexts, why do our Sages derive this rule from the evil assemblage of the spies?
Answering his own question, the Rebbe Rayatz explains that with these words Moses sought to insulate the people from themakkif of evil, from the transcendent [and most intense] dimension of evil. (As far as the pnimi of evil was concerned, the permeating [but less intense] dimension of evil, Moses was able to rectify it.) Now, since everything in the realm of holiness has its counterpart in kelipah, in the forces of evil,14 it follows that the level of holiness referred to here is the transcendent level. Thus, when a congregation of at least ten participants engages collectively in prayer or in Torah study or in the observance of a mitzvah, they elicit a response from a transcendent level of Divine light, from an or makkif, that is utterly superior to the light called forth by a group of fewer than ten.
ועל זה נאמר: בקרבך קדוש
Concerning this it is written,15 “The Holy One is within you.”
This means to say that a level of Divinity which is holy in the sense that it is initially distinct from this world, is thereby drawn down and integrated within the ten or more people involved.
As the Rebbe Rayatz explains in the above-mentioned talk, the Alter Rebbe had spoken earlier of the transcendent degree of illumination that merely encompasses one; at this point he cites the phrase “The Holy One is within you” to indicate that this encompassing illumination can also become internalized within a Jew.
ואין דבר שבקדושה בפחות מעשרה
Likewise, “[the congregational recital of] a davar shebikedushah, a text involving the sanctification of G‑d’s Name, requires a quorum of ten,” as quoted above.16
Thus, in order that the holiness be “within you,” it is necessary that the Torah be studied in groups of at least ten.
ומשום הכי נמי אצטריך להו לרז״ל למילף מקרא, מנין שאפילו אחד שיושב ועוסק בתורה כו׳
This also explains why our Sages, of blessed memory, had to derive from Scripture [an answer to their question],17 “From where do we know that even one person who sits and engages in the study of the Torah, [the Holy One, blessed be He, sets a reward for him]?”
The Mishnah18 derives its answer from the verse,19 “He sits alone and [studies] in stillness; indeed, he takes [the reward] unto himself.” Evidently, then, a proof text was needed to show that even individual study is rewarded.
ואף גם זאת לא מצאו לו סמך מן המקרא, אלא לקביעת שכר בלבד, ליחיד לפי ערכו, לפי ולפי ערך המרובים
And even so [the Sages] did not find in Scripture support for that, i.e., they did not find support for the proposition that an individual can bring about the previously-mentioned indwelling of G‑d’s holiness, but only for the allotment of a reward to the individual, proportionate to himself [and]20 in proportion to the many.
If there are fewer than ten individuals, the reward is divided equally among them. According to the version “[and] in proportion...,” the more individuals participate, the greater the reward for each of them.
אבל לענין השראת קדושת הקב״ה, אין לו ערך אליהם כלל
But as to causing an indwelling of G‑d’s holiness,21 [the individual] cannot be compared to [the congregation] at all.
The sanctity drawn down through group study of the Torah is immeasurably more sublime.
* * *
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Daniel 4:14. |
| 2. | Note of the Rebbe: “Pesachim 33a.” |
| 3. | Note of the Rebbe: “Rashi, loc. cit.; see there.” |
| 4. | Avot 3:6. |
| 5. | Sanhedrin 39a. |
| 6. | Kohelet 12:13. |
| 7. | Berachot 6b. |
| 8. | Cf. I Melachim 8:27. |
| 9. | Bamidbar 35:34. |
| 10. | Berachot 21b. |
| 11. | Vayikra 22:32. |
| 12. | Bamidbar 16:21. |
| 13. | Sefer HaSichot 5704, p. 29. |
| 14. | Kohelet 7:14. |
| 15. | Hoshea 11:9. |
| 16. | Berachot 21b. |
| 17. | Cf. Avot 3:6. |
| 18. | Cf. Avot 3:6. |
| 19. | Eichah 3:8. |
| 20. | Brackets are in the original text. |
| 21. | Note of the Rebbe: “The question here is well known — that the above-quoted mishnah (Avot 3:2) teaches that [even if only] ‘two people sit together and exchange words of Torah, the Shechinah dwells in their midst.’“ This may be understood in the light of Or HaTorah [by the Tzemach Tzedek] on Parshat Eikev, p. 542; see also Berachot6a.“ At the end of Part VI of Magen Avot: (1) there is a different version of the above letter; (2) according to the explanation there (evidently taken from the Tzemach Tzedek), the above difficulty can be resolved.” See also Tanya, Mahadura Kama, p. 261, footnote 13, line 48. |
• Wednesday, 17 Tishrei, 5777 · 19 October 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Negative Commandment 287
Relatives' Testimony
"Fathers shall not be put to death on account of their children; neither shall children be put to death on account of their fathers"—Deuteronomy 24:16.
A judge may not accept testimony from a litigant's close relative—whether the testimony is in support of the litigant or against him.
This law applies to all cases – capital and monetary – and all close relatives. The verse refers specifically to a capital case and the testimony of a father to demonstrate the extent of this mitzvah. For the Torah even forbids accepting the testimony of a father, who presumably loves his child dearly, against his child (or vice versa) in a capital case—though we'd presume that such testimony is eminently credible.
This mitzvah is a supra-rational decree from Above.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Relatives' Testimony
Negative Commandment 287
Translated by Berel Bell
The 287th prohibition is that a judge is forbidden from accepting the testimony of relatives — whether for each other or against each other.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "Fathers shall not die through their sons, and sons shall not die through their fathers."
The interpretation of this verse is given in the Sifri,2 "Fathers shall not die through the testimony of their sons, and sons shall not die through the testimony of their fathers."
The same law applies to financial cases, but it was said in a capital case to take the most extreme case. One should not reason, "Since this involves the death penalty, the relative's testimony cannot be doubted, and we shall therefore act in accordance with his words. Since his testimony is causing the death of a relative, there is no doubt." To counter this claim the example is brought of the relatives who have the strongest and greatest love for each other — a father for his son and a son for his father. And even when a father testifies against his son, and even if it is to have him executed, we still cannot accept it. This is a decree of the Torah which has no explanation whatsoever. You should understand this well.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the third chapter3 of tractate Sanhedrin.
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 24:16.
2.Parshas Ki Seitzei.
3.27b.
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Negative Commandment 287
Relatives' Testimony
"Fathers shall not be put to death on account of their children; neither shall children be put to death on account of their fathers"—Deuteronomy 24:16.
A judge may not accept testimony from a litigant's close relative—whether the testimony is in support of the litigant or against him.
This law applies to all cases – capital and monetary – and all close relatives. The verse refers specifically to a capital case and the testimony of a father to demonstrate the extent of this mitzvah. For the Torah even forbids accepting the testimony of a father, who presumably loves his child dearly, against his child (or vice versa) in a capital case—though we'd presume that such testimony is eminently credible.
This mitzvah is a supra-rational decree from Above.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Relatives' Testimony
Negative Commandment 287
Translated by Berel Bell
The 287th prohibition is that a judge is forbidden from accepting the testimony of relatives — whether for each other or against each other.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "Fathers shall not die through their sons, and sons shall not die through their fathers."
The interpretation of this verse is given in the Sifri,2 "Fathers shall not die through the testimony of their sons, and sons shall not die through the testimony of their fathers."
The same law applies to financial cases, but it was said in a capital case to take the most extreme case. One should not reason, "Since this involves the death penalty, the relative's testimony cannot be doubted, and we shall therefore act in accordance with his words. Since his testimony is causing the death of a relative, there is no doubt." To counter this claim the example is brought of the relatives who have the strongest and greatest love for each other — a father for his son and a son for his father. And even when a father testifies against his son, and even if it is to have him executed, we still cannot accept it. This is a decree of the Torah which has no explanation whatsoever. You should understand this well.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the third chapter3 of tractate Sanhedrin.
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 24:16.
2.Parshas Ki Seitzei.
3.27b.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Tum'at Okhalin Tum'at Okhalin - Chapter 6
• Tum'at Okhalin - Chapter 6
• Rambam - 3 Chapters: Melachim uMilchamot Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 1, Melachim uMilchamot Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 2, Melachim uMilchamot Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 3
1
When the shells of nuts and almonds are cracked, they are still considered as attached to the food until the shell is shattered.
א
האגוזין והשקדים שנסדקה קליפתן עדיין הוא חיבור לאוכל עד שירצץ את הקליפה:
2
Once a perforation has been made through which to suck out the contents of a soft-roasted egg, the remainder of the shell is not considered as connected to it. When an egg has been cooked, its shell is considered as connected to it until it is shattered. If the shell has been spiced, even if it is shattered entirely, it is still considered as connected.
ב
ביצה מגולגלת משיקוב בה מקום לגומעה ממנו אין שאר קליפתה חיבור ושלוקה קליפתה חיבור עד שירצץ את הקליפה ואם נתבלה בקליפתה אף על פי שרצצה כולה חיבור:
3
When a bone contains marrow, the bone is considered as connected to the marrow until it is shattered. The wool on the heads of sheep and the hair on a goat's beard even when charred with fire are still considered as connected to the food until one begins removing them.
ג
עצם שיש בו מוח חיבור עד שירצץ צמר שבראשי הכבשים ושיער שבזקן התיישים אע"פ שחרכן באור הרי הן חיבור עד שיתחיל לתלוש:
4
Even though one already passed a knife over the wings of locusts or the scales of fish, they are considered as connected until one begins actually peeling them off. When the seeds of a pomegranate have separated, they are still considered as connected until one strikes it with a reed.
ד
כנפי חגבים וקשקשי דגים אף על פי שהעביר סכין עליהן חיבור עד שיתחיל לקלף הרימון שפרדו חיבור עד שיקיש עליו בקנה:
5
The stalks of a date palm are not considered as connected to each other.
ה
השרביטים של תמרים אינן חיבור זה לזה:
6
When one cut a cucumber and placed it on the table, the portions are considered as connected until one begins to separate one from the other. If one begins to separate, a piece and anything that ascends with it is considered as connected. The remainder is not considered as connected. The lower tip is considered as connected to itself and not to the other pieces.
When there were two or three cucumbers, one cut each one of them and placed them on the table and began eating one of them, the one he began eating is considered as connected and the others are not considered as connected. Even if he said: "I am eating half in the morning and half in the evening," the half with which he began is considered as connected and the remainder is not considered as connected.
ו
מלפפון שחתכו ונתנו על השולחן חיבור עד שיתחיל לפרק התחיל לפרק חתיכה וכל העולה עמה חיבור והשאר אינה חיבור פיקה התחתונה חיבור לעצמה ואינה חיבור לחתיכות היו שנים או שלשה מלפפונות וחתך כל אחד מהן והניחן על השולחן והתחיל באחד מהן זה שהתחיל בו חיבור והשאר אינו חיבור אפילו אמר חציו אני אוכל שחרית וחציו ערבית זה החצי שהתחיל בו חיבור והשאר אינו חיבור:
7
When a person cuts vegetables and the like to cook them, even though he did not finish cutting them to the extent that they were separated, they are no longer considered as connected. Instead, if one piece contracts impurity, the other does not contract impurity even though they remain attached.
If one cuts a vegetable to pickle, to cook lightly, or to serve on the table, the pieces are considered as connected, even if he begins to separate what he cut.
ז
המחתך ירקות וכיוצא בהן לבשל אע"פ שלא מירק והבדיל אינו חיבור אלא אם נטמא זה לא נטמא זה אף על פי שהוא מעורה בו חתך לכבוש או לשלוק או להניח על השולחן הרי זה חיבור ואפילו התחיל לפרק מה שחתך:
8
Any food that was still not separated is considered as connected. If part of it contracts impurity, it is impure in its entirety.
ח
כל אוכל שעדיין לא פרקו חיבור ואם נטמא מקצתו נטמא כולו:
9
The following rules apply when food was divided, but the pieces were still partially attached and an impure person touched one piece. Were he to hold the piece that he touched, the other piece would ascend with it, they are considered as connected. If when one holds the impure piece and lifts it up, the other one would break off and fall, they are not considered as connected. Instead, the second piece is considered as touching the piece that contracted impurity.
ט
אוכל שנפרס ומעורה במקצת ונגע טמא באחד מהן אם אחז בזה שנגע בו והשני עולה עמו הרי זה חיבור ואם כשאוחז בזה הטמא ומגביהו ישמט האחר ויפול אינו חיבור אלא ה"ז האחר כנוגע בראשון שנטמא:
10
The following laws apply whenever leaves or stems are connected to foods. Those that are usually held by their leaves, should be held by their leaves. If they are held by their stalks, they should be held by their stalks. If the food remains hanging from the leaves or the stems, it is considered as connected when touched by a person who immersed in a mikvehthat day. Needless to say, this applies to other impurities.
Similarly, if a fruit has a part that could be considered as a handle, it should be held by the handle. If it has both leaves and a handle, it should be held by whichever one desires. If it has neither leaves nor a handle, concerning such a situation, our Sages said: If when one holds the impure piece and lifts it up, the other one ascends with it, they are considered connected. If not, they are not considered connected.
י
כל האוכלין שהיו עליו או קלחין מחוברין בהן את שדרכו להאחז בעלה אוחזין אותו בעלה בקלח אוחזין אותו בקלח אם נתלה עמו ה"ז חיבור בטבול יום ואין צריך לומר בשאר טומאות וכן אם היה לו יד אוחזין אותו ביד שלו היתה לו יד ועלה אוחזין אותו באי זה מהן שירצה לא היתה לו יד ולא עלה בזה אמרו אם אוחז בטמא והשני עולה עמו חיבור ואם לאו אינו חיבור:
11
When one cut off nuts with their stems when they are soft and joined them together like a rope or joined onions together in a like manner, they are considered as joined. If he begins separating the nuts or cutting off the onions, the remainder are not considered as joined. Even if there were 100 kor left, they are all not considered as connected, because he has indicated that his intent is to undo all of them.
יא
האגוזין שקצצן בעוקציהן כשהן רכין ואמנן כולן כמו חבל וכן הבצלים שחיברן בדרך הזאת הרי אלו חיבור התחיל לפרק באגוזים ולפקל בבצלים אין השאר חיבור אפילו היו לפניו מאה כור אין כולן חיבור שהרי הוכיח שדעתו לפרק הכל:
12
When there is a braided chain of garlic heads and liquids fell on one of them, it is impure, but those joined to it are pure. For articles joined together by humans are not considered as joined together for all matters. Similarly, when an esrog was separated into pieces and skewered by a weaving needle or a sliver of wood, the pieces are not considered as joined.
יב
קליעה של שום שנפלו משקין על אחד מהן הוא טמא וחיבורו טהור שאין חיבורי אדם חיבור לכל דבר וכן אתרוג שנפרש ותחבו בכוש או בקיסם אינו חיבור:
13
When a dough was kneaded with fruit juice, the portions of the dough are not considered as joined, for the only entities that join food are the seven liquids.
יג
עיסה שלשה במי פירות אינה חיבור שאין לך דבר שמחבר את האוכלין אלא שבעה משקין בלבד:
14
When one crushes foods together and amasses them, e.g., dried figs, dates, or raisins that were amassed and made into a single block, they are not considered as joined. Therefore, when impure liquids fell on a portion of a ring of dried figs, one may remove the portion on which the liquids fell and the remainder is pure.
יד
הממעך אוכלין זה בזה וקבצן כגון הדבילה והתמרים והצימוקין שקבצן ועשאן גוף אחד אינן חיבור לפיכך עיגול של דבילה שנפלו משקין טמאין על מקצתו הרי זה נוטל ממנו מקום המשקין בלבד והשאר טהור:
15
If one cooked dates and dried figs together and made them a single mass, they are considered as joined.
טו
התמרים והגרוגרות ששלקן ונעשו אום הרי זה חיבור:
16
When olives were stored and combined together in a single mass, they are considered as joined, since at the outset, they were placed in the pit with the intent that their fluids flow from one to another.
Therefore if the carcass of a creeping animal was found on a mound of olives, i.e., olives that have become a single mass, even if it touched only a barley-sized portion of the mass, the entire amount is impure, because it is all a single entity.
If a person had a mass of olives and he was planning to turn it over, once he inserts the spade into the mass, they are no longer considered as connected even though there are many lumps. If a mass is formed after they were turned over, they are not considered as joined.
טז
הזיתים שעטנן ונעשו גוש אחד הרי זה חיבור מפני שמתחילה לא נתנן למעטן אלא על מנת שיינקו זה מזה לפיכך שרץ שנמצא על אום של זיתים והן הזיתים שנעשו כולן גוף אחד אפילו נגע בכשעורה הכל טמא שהכל גוף אחד היתה לו אום של זיתים ועתיד להפכה כיון שתקע בה את היתד אף על פי שיש בה גושים הרבה אינן חיבור ואם משהפכה נעשו אום אינן חיבור:
17
When separate foods are all collected in the same place and are clinging to each other, even though they are not considered as joined with regard to the contraction of impurity, and they are not considered as a single mass, as explained, they are still combined to produce the measure of an egg-sized portion to impart impurity to other foods. If the foods were not collected as one mass, but instead were separate like cooked food and legumes, they are not considered as a combined entity even in that context until they are collected and formed into a single mass.
When there were many lumps of food, one next to another and a primary source of impurity touched one of them, that lump is considered as a primary derivative of impurity. The lump next to it is considered as a secondary derivative, the one next to the second, a tertiary derivative, and the one next to the third, a derivative of the fourth degree.
יז
אוכל פרוד שהוא כולו מכונס ודבק זה בזה אע"פ שאינו חיבור להתטמא ואינו כגוף אחד כמו שביארנו הרי הוא מצטרף לכביצה לטמא טומאת אוכלים אחרים ואם לא כנסו אלא הרי הוא מפורד כמעשה קדירה והקטנית אינו מצטרף עד שיקבצם ויעשם גוש אחד היו גושים הרבה זה בצד זה ונגע אב הטומאה באחד מהן הרי הוא ראשון והגוש שבצדו שני ושבצד השני שלישי ושבצד השלישי רביעי:
18
If a loaf that was terumah was a primary derivative of impurity became attached to others, they are all considered as primary derivatives. If it was separated, it is considered as a primary derivative and the others, as secondary derivatives. If it was a secondary derivative and it became attached to others, they are all considered as secondary derivatives. If it was separated, it is considered as a secondary derivative and the others, as tertiary derivatives. If it was a tertiary derivative and it became attached to others, it remains a tertiary derivative and they are all considered as pure, whether they were separated or not.
יח
ככר של תרומה שהיתה ראשון לטומאה והשיך לה אחרות כולם ראשון פירשה היא ראשון וכולן שניות היתה שנייה והשיך לה אחרות כולן שניות פירשה היא שנייה וכולן שלישיות היתה שלישית והשיך לה אחרות היא שלישית וכולן טהורות בין שפירשו בין שלא פירשו:
19
When loaves that are terumah are attached to each other and one of them contracted impurity from the carcass of a crawling animal, they are all considered as primary derivatives even if they are separated afterwards. If one of them contracted impurity from impure liquids, they are all considered as secondary derivatives even if they are separated afterwards. If one contracted impurity from impure hands, they are all considered as primary derivatives even if they are separated afterwards. The rationale for this law is that the loaves were a single entity at the impurity was contracted.
יט
ככרות של תרומה נושכות זו בזו נטמאת אחת מהן בשרץ כולן ראשון ואף על פי שפירשו אחר מכאן [נטמאת אחת במשקין טמאין כולן שניות אע"פ שפירשו אחר מכאן] נטמאת אחת מהן בידים כולן שלישיות ואף ע"פ שפירשו מפני שהיו גוף אחד בשעת טומאתן:
• Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 1
• Hayom Yom: Today's Hayom Yom
This text includes 23 mitzvot; ten positive commandments and thirteen negative commandments. They are:
1) The obligation to appoint a king in Israel;
2) The prohibition against appointing a convert as king;
3) The prohibition against the king marrying many wives;
4) The prohibition against the king accumulating many horses;
5) The prohibition against the king amassing too much silver and gold;
6) The obligation to destroy the seven nations living in the Land of Canaan;
7) The prohibition against allowing any one of them to remain alive;
8) The obligation to destroy the descendents of Amalek;
9) The obligation to remember what Amalek did;
10) The prohibition against forgetting Amalek's evil deeds, including his ambush against the Israelites during their journey from Egypt to Israel;
l l) The prohibition against dwelling in Egypt;
12) The obligation to offer peace to the inhabitants of a city when besieging it; to carry out the laws governing the siege as prescribed in the Torah, in particular, the laws applying if the enemy agrees to surrender and those applying if it refuses;
13) The prohibition against offering peace to Ammon and Moab, in contrast to other nations, when besieging them;
14) The prohibition against destroying fruit-bearing trees during a siege;
15) The obligation to set up a latrine outside an army camp;
16) The obligation to carry a spike to dig with;
17) The obligation to anoint a priest to speak to the troops in the event of war;
18) The obligation to allow those who have consecrated wives, built houses, or planted vineyards to rejoice in their new status for a complete year, while releasing them from military conscription;
19) The prohibition against asking those mentioned in the previous category to perform any duties, including handling the needs of one's city or providing supplies to the troops during that year;
20) The obligation not to become frightened, nor to flee in the midst of battle;
21) The prohibitions and obligations regarding a yefat toar, a Gentile woman with whom the Torah allows relations in wartime;
22) The prohibition against selling a yefat toar;
23) The prohibition against subjugating her to perform menial duties after having relations with her.
These mitzvot are explained in the coming chapters.
1
Israel was commanded to fulfill three mitzvot upon entering the Promised Land:
a) To choose a king, as Deuteronomy 17:15 states: 'Appoint a king over yourselves;'
b) To wipe out the descendents of Amalek, as Deuteronomy 25:19states: 'Erase the memory of Amalek;'
c) To build God's Chosen House, as Deuteronomy 12:5 states: 'Seek out His Presence and go there.'
א
שלש מצות נצטוו ישראל בשעת כניסתן לארץ למנות להם מלך שנאמר שום תשים עליך מלך ולהכרית זרעו של עמלק שנאמר תמחה את זכר עמלק ולבנות בית הבחירה שנאמר לשכנו תדרשו ובאת שמה:
2
The appointment of a king should precede the war against Amalek. This is evident from Samuel's charge to King Saul (I Samuel 15: l-3): 'God sent me to anoint you as king ... Now, go and smite Amalek.'
Amalek's seed should be annihilated before the construction of the Temple, as II Samuel 7:1-2 states: 'And it came to pass, when the king dwelled in his palace, and God gave him peace from all his enemies who surrounded him, the king said to Nathan, the prophet: 'Look! I am dwelling in a house of cedar, ... but the ark of God dwells within curtains.'
Since it is a mitzvah to appoint a king, why was God displeased with the people's request of a king from Samuel? Because they made their request in a spirit of complaint. Rather than seeking to fulfill the mitzvah of appointing a king, they were simply intent on rejecting the Prophet Samuel as implied by God's reply to him (I Samuel 8:7): 'It is not you, but Me they have rejected.'
ב
מינוי מלך קודם למלחמת עמלק שנאמר אותי שלח ה' למשחך למלך עתה לך והכיתה את עמלק והכרתת זרע עמלק קודמת לבנין הבית שנאמר ויהי כי ישב המלך בביתו וה' הניח לו מסביב מכל אויביו ויאמר המלך אל נתן הנביא אנכי יושב בבית ארזים וגו' מאחר שהקמת מלך מצוה למה לא רצה הקב"ה כששאלו מלך משמואל לפי ששאלו בתרעומת ולא שאלו לקיים המצוה אלא מפני שקצו בשמואל הנביא שנאמר כי לא אותך מאסו כי אותי מאסו וגו':
3
As an initial and preferred option, a king may be appointed only by a court of 70 elders, together with a prophet, as Joshua was appointed by Moses and his court, and as Saul and David, were appointed by Samuel of Ramah and his court.
ג
אין מעמידין מלך בתחילה אלא על פי בית דין של שבעים זקנים ועל פי נביא כיהושע שמינהו משה רבינו ובית דינו וכשאול ודוד שמינם שמואל הרמתי ובית דינו:
4
A king should not be appointed from converts to Judaism. This applies even if the convert's ancestors had been Jewish for many generations, unless his mother [or father1] is a native-born Israelite, as Deuteronomy 17:15 states: 'You may not appoint a foreigner who is not one of your brethren.'
This does not apply to the monarchy alone, but to all positions of authority within Israel. A convert may not serve as an army commander, a leader of fifty, or as a leader of ten. He may not even supervise the allocation of water from a stream to various fields.
Needless to say, a judge or a nasi should only be a native-born Israelite, as it is stated (ibid.): 'Appoint a king over you from among your brethren.' This implies that all appointments must only be 'from your brethren.'
ד
אין מעמידין מלך מקהל גרים אפילו אחר כמה דורות עד שתהיה אמו מישראל שנאמר לא תוכל לתת עליך איש נכרי אשר לא אחיך הוא ולא למלכות בלבד אלא לכל שררות שבישראל לא שר צבא לא שר חמשים או שר עשרה אפילו ממונה על אמת המים שמחלק ממנה לשדות ואין צריך לומר דיין או נשיא שלא יהא אלא מישראל שנאמר מקרב אחיך תשים עליך מלך כל משימות שאתה משים לא יהו אלא מקרב אחיך:
5
We may not appoint a woman as king. When describing the monarchy, the Torah employs the male form of the word king and not the female.
This principle also applies to all other positions of authority within Israel. Only men should be appointed to fill them.
ה
אין מעמידין אשה במלכות שנאמר עליך מלך ולא מלכה וכן כל משימות שבישראל אין ממנים בהם אלא איש:
6
Neither a butcher, barber, bath-attendant, nor a tanner should be appointed king or High-Priest. This is not because of an inherent fault, but because their professions are less prestigious, and the people will always treat them lightly.
A person who has served in one of these professions for even one day, is disqualified for the monarchy.
ו
ואין מעמידין מלך ולא כהן גדול לא קצב ולא ספר ולא בלן ולא בורסי לא מפני שהן פסולין אלא הואיל ואומנותן נקלה העם מזלזלין בהן לעולם ומשיעשה במלאכה מאלו יום אחד נפסל:
7
When a king is appointed, he is anointed with oil reserved for this purpose, as I Samuel 10:1 states: 'And Samuel took the cruse of oil and poured it over his head. Then, he kissed him.'
Once a king is anointed, he and his descendents are granted the monarchy until eternity, for the monarchy is passed down by inheritance, as Deuteronomy 17:20 states 'Thus, he the king and his descendents will prolong their reign in the midst of Israel.'
If the king leaves only a young son, the monarchy should be held for him until he matures, as Yehoyada did for Yoash. The order of inheritance of the monarchy is the same as that governing the inheritance of property. An older son is given precedence over a younger one.
Not only the monarchy, but all other positions of authority and appointments in Israel, are transferred to one's children and grandchildren as inheritances forever.
The above applies if the knowledge and the fear of God of the son is equivalent to that of his ancestors. If his fear of God is equivalent to theirs but not his knowledge, he should be granted his father's position and given instruction. However, under no circumstance should a person who lacks the fear of God be appointed to any posi-tion in Israel, even though he possesses much knowledge.
Once David was anointed king, he acquired the crown of kingship. Afterwards, the kingship belonged to him and to his male descendents forever, as II Samuel 7: 16 states: 'Your throne shall be established forever.' Nevertheless, his acquisition of the monarchy was conditional, applying only to the righteous among his descendents, as Psalms 132:12 states: 'If your children will keep My covenant... their children shall also sit on your throne forever.'
Despite this condition, God assured David that the monarchy would never be taken from his descendents forever, as Psalms 89:31-38 states: "lf his children will forsake My Torah and cease walking in My statutes ... I will punish their transgressions with the rod and their sins with plagues. Nevertheless, I will not utterly remove My grace from him.... His throne shall be ... established forever.'
ז
כשמעמידין המלך מושחין אותו בשמן המשחה שנאמר ויקח שמואל את פך השמן ויצק על ראשו וישקהו ומאחר שמושחין המלך הרי זה זוכה לו ולבניו עד עולם שהמלכות ירושה שנאמר למען יאריך ימים על ממלכתו הוא ובניו בקרב ישראל הניח בן קטן משמרין לו המלוכה עד שיגדיל כמו שעשה יהוידע ליואש וכל הקודם בנחלה קודם לירושת המלוכה והבן הגדול קודם לקטן ממנו ולא המלכות בלבד אלא כל השררות וכל המינויין שבישראל ירושה לבנו ולבן בנו עד עולם והוא שיהיה הבן ממלא מקום אבותיו בחכמה וביראה היה ממלא ביראה אף על פי שאינו ממלא בחכמה מעמידין אותו במקום אביו ומלמדין אותו וכל מי שאין בו יראת שמים אע"פ שחכמתו מרובה אין ממנין אותו למינוי מן המינויין שבישראל כיון שנמשח דוד זכה בכתר מלכות והרי המלכות לו ולבניו הזכרים עד עולם שנאמר כסאך יהיה נכון עד עולם ולא זכה אלא לכשרים שנאמר אם ישמרו בניך בריתי אף על פי שלא זכה אלא לכשרים לא תכרת המלוכה מזרע דוד לעולם הקדוש ברוך הוא הבטיחו בכך שנאמר אם יעזבו בניו תורתי ובמשפטי לא ילכון ופקדתי בשבט פשעם ובנגעים עונם וחסדי לא אפיר מעמו:
8
If a prophet appoints a king from any other tribe of Israel and that king follows the path of Torah and mitzvot and fights the wars of God, he is considered as a king, and all the commandments associaed with the monarchy apply to him.
Although the kingship was primarily given to David and one of his descendents will be serving as king, there is halachic legitimacy to the rule of other kings. Behold, Achiyah of Shilo appointed Jeroboam and told him (I Kings 11:38): 'And it shall be that if you obey all that I command you... I will build you a faithful house as I built for David.' Similarly, Achiyah told him (ibid.: 36): 'To his (David's) son, I will grant one tribe, so that David, My servant, will always have sovereignty before Me in Jerusalem.'
ח
נביא שהעמיד מלך משאר שבטי ישראל והיה אותו המלך הולך בדרך התורה והמצוה ונלחם מלחמות ה' הרי זה מלך וכל מצות המלכות נוהגות בו אע"פ שעיקר המלכות לדוד ויהיה מבניו מלך שהרי אחיה השילוני העמיד ירבעם ואמר לו והיה אם שמוע תשמע את כל אשר אצוך ובניתי לך בית נאמן כאשר בניתי לדוד וגו' ואמר לו אחיה ולבנו אתן שבט אחד למען היות ניר לדוד עבדי כל הימים לפני בירושלים:
9
The kings of the Davidic dynasty will prevail forever (II Samuel 7:16): 'Your throne shall be established forever.' In contrast, should a king arise from other Israelites, the monarchy will eventually cease from his descendents. For behold, Jeroboam was told: I Kings 11:39 'I will afflict the House of David.... but not forever.'
ט
מלכי בית דוד הם העומדים לעולם שנאמר כסאך יהיה נכון עד עולם אבל אם יעמוד מלך משאר ישראל תפסק המלכות מביתו שהרי נאמר לירבעם אך לא כל הימים:
10
Kings of Israel are not anointed with the special anointing oil, but with Afarsimon oil. Only a descendent of David may be appointed as king in Jerusalem. And only descendents of David are anointed with the special anointing oil.
י
אין מושחין מלכי ישראל בשמן המשחה אלא בשמן אפרסמון ואין ממנין אותן בירושלים לעולם אלא מלך ישראל מזרע דוד ואין מושחין אלא זרע דוד:
11
The kings of the Davidic dynasty should only be anointed near a spring.
יא
כשמושחין מלכי בית דוד אין מושחין אותן אלא על המעין:
12
A son who succeeds his father as king is not anointed unless he assumes his position amid a dispute over the inheritance or during a civil war. Under these circumstances, he should be anointed in order to remove all disagreement.
Therefore, they anointed Solomon because of the claim of Adoniyahu, Jehoash, because of the usurpation of Atalyah, and Jehoachaz, because of [the claim of his brother, Jehoyakim.
יב
ואין מושחין מלך בן מלך אלא אם כן היתה שם מחלוקת או מלחמה מושחין אותו כדי לסלק המחלוקת לפיכך משחו שלמה מפני אדוניה ויואש מפני עתליה ומשחו יהואחז מפני יהויקים אחיו:
FOOTNOTES
1.
Tosafot (Yevamot 102a) explain that if a person's father is a native-born Israelite, he may be appointed to positions of authority, regardless of his mother's origins. Alternatively, a king's yichus is questioned only at the beginning of a dynasty. Once the dynasty has been established, a son may assume his father's position, even if his mother is a convert (Noda B’Yehudah, Choshen Mishpat, Responsum l).
Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 2
1
The king must be treated with great honor. We must implant awe and fear of him in the hearts of all men. The commandDeuteronomy 17:15: 'Appoint a king' implies the obligation to be in awe of him.
We may not ride on his horse, nor sit on his throne, use his scepter, wear his crown, or use any of his utensils. When he dies, they should all be burned before his bier.
Similarly, only another king is allowed to make use of his servants, maids, and attendants. Accordingly, Avishag was permitted to Solomon, but prohibited to Adoniyahu.
א
כבוד גדול נוהגין במלך ומשימין לו אימה ויראה בלב כל אדם שנאמר שום תשים שתהא אימתו עליך אין רוכבין על סוסו ואין יושבין על כסאו ואין משתמשין בשרביטו ולא בכתרו ולא באחד מכל כלי תשמישיו וכשהוא מת כולן נשרפין לפניו וכן לא ישתמש בעבדיו ושפחותיו ושמשיו אלא מלך אחר לפיכך אבישג היתה מותרת לשלמה ואסורה לאדוניה:
2
However, a king's wife is forbidden to share intimacy with another person forever. Even another king may not marry a king's widow or divorced exwife.
ב
אבל אשתו של מלך אינה נבעלת לאחר לעולם אפילו המלך אינו נושא אלמנתו או גרושתו של מלך אחר:
3
It is forbidden to observe him while he is naked, while he is having his hair cut, while he is in the baths, or while he is drying himself afterwards.
He may not perform chalitzah, for concerning that ritual, it is saidDeuteronomy 25:9: 'And she shall spit before him.' This would be disrespectful to the king.
Even if he desires to perform this mitzvah, he is not given the opportunity because a king's honor must be preserved even though he is willing to forgo it.
Since he is not allowed to perform chalitzah, he is not eligible to participate in yibbum. Similarly, in the event of his death, since it is forbidden to initiate yibbum with his wife, chalitzah is also not performed for her. Rather, she must remain in her state of attachment forever.
ג
ואסור לראותו כשהוא ערום ולא כשהוא מסתפר ולא כשהוא בבית המרחץ ולא כשהוא מסתפג ואינו חולץ שנאמר וירקה בפניו וזה בזיון ואפילו רצה אין שומעין לו שהמלך שמחל על כבודו אין כבודו מחול והואיל ואינו חולץ אינו מיבם וכן [אם מת הוא] כיון שאי אפשר ליבם את אשתו כך אין חולצין לה אלא תשב לעולם בזיקתה:
4
Even if one of his close relatives dies, he may not leave his palace. When he is served the meal of comfort, the entire nation should sit on the ground and he should sit on a low couch.
If he enters the Temple courtyard, and he is of David's descendents, he may sit. For the only ones who may sit in the Temple Courtyard are kings of the Davidic dynasty, as II Samuel 7:18 states: 'And David sat before God.'
ד
מת לו מת אינו יוצא מפתח פלטרין שלו וכשמברין אותו כל העם מסובין על הארץ והוא מיסב על הדרגש ואם נכנס לעזרה והיה מזרע דוד ישב שאין ישיבה בעזרה אלא למלכי בית דוד בלבד שנאמר ויבא המלך דוד וישב לפני ה:
5
A king should have his hair cut every day. He should dress and adorn himself in attractive and impressive garments, asIsaiah 33:17 states: 'Your eyes shall behold the king in his beauty.'
He sits on his throne in his palace and has a crown placed on his head.
When he desires, the nation must present themselves before him. They should stand before him and prostrate themselves to the ground. Even a prophet must stand before the king and prostrate himself on the ground, as I Kings 1:23 states: 'Behold, Nathan, the prophet came before the king and prostrated himself before the king.'
However, a High Priest need not come before the king unless he the High Priest desires to do so. The High Priest need not stand before the king. Rather, the king stands before the High Priest, asNumbers 27:21 states: 'And he shall stand before Elazar, the priest.'
Nevertheless, it is a mitzvah for the High Priest to honor the king by having him seated and standing in his presence when he visits him. The king should only stand before him when he consults theUrim and Tumim.
Similarly, it is a mitzvah for the king to honor students of Torah when they enter his presence. He should stand before theSanhedrin and the Sages of Israel and seat them at his side.
Jehosephat, King of Judah would follow this practice. Whenever even a student of a Torah scholar would come to him, he would rise from his throne and kiss him and address him as 'My teacher and master.'
When does the above apply? When the king is alone in his palace. Then, in private, before his servants, he should behave in this fashion. However, in public, before the people at large, he should not conduct himself in this manner. He should not stand before anyone. He should not speak gently and should address a person using his name alone in order that the awe of him will be implanted in everyone's hearts.
ה
המלך מסתפר בכל יום ומתקן עצמו ומתנאה במלבושין נאים ומפוארים שנאמר מלך ביפיו תחזינה עיניך ויושב על כסא מלכותו בפלטרין שלו ומשים כתר בראשו וכל העם באין אליו בעת שירצה ועומדין לפניו ומשתחוים ארצה אפילו נביא עומד לפני המלך משתחוה ארצה שנאמר הנה נתן הנביא ויבא לפני המלך וישתחו למלך אבל כהן גדול אינו בא לפני המלך אלא אם רצה ואינו עומד לפניו אלא המלך עומד לפני כהן גדול שנאמר ולפני אלעזר הכהן יעמוד אעפ"כ מצוה על כהן גדול לכבד את המלך ולהושיבו ולעמוד מפניו כשיבא לו ולא יעמוד המלך לפניו אלא כשישאל לו במשפט האורים וכן מצוה על המלך לכבד לומדי התורה וכשיכנסו לפניו סנהדרין וחכמי ישראל יעמוד לפניהם ויושיבם בצדו וכן היה יהושפט מלך יהודה עושה אפילו לתלמיד חכם היה עומד מכסאו ומנשקו וקורא לו רבי ומורי בד"א בזמן שיהיה המלך בביתו לבדו הוא ועבדיו יעשה זה בצינעה אבל בפרהסיא בפני העם לא יעשה ולא יעמוד מפני אדם ולא ידבר רכות ולא יקרא לאדם אלא בשמו כדי שתהא יראתו בלב הכל:
6
Just as the Torah has granted him great honor and obligated everyone to revere him; so, too, has it commanded him to be lowly and empty at heart, as Psalms 109:22 states: 'My heart is a void within me.' Nor should he treat Israel with overbearing haughtiness. For Deuteronomy 17:20 describes how 'he should not lift up his heart above his brothers.'
He should be gracious and merciful to the small and the great, involving himself in their good and welfare. He should protect the honor of even the humblest of men.
When he speaks to the people as a community, he should speak gently, as I Chronicles 28:2 states 'Listen my brothers and my people....' Similarly, I Kings 12:7 states 'If today, you will be a servant to these people....'
He should always conduct himself with great humility. There is none greater than Moses, our teacher. Yet, he said Exodus 16:8: 'What are we? Your complaints are not against us.' He should bear the nation's difficulties, burdens, complaints, and anger as a nurse carries an infant.
Psalms 78:71 refers to a king as a shepherd: 'to pasture, Jacob, His nation.' The prophets have described the behavior of a shepherd (Isaiah 40:11): 'He shall pasture His flock like a shepherd, He shall gather the lambs with His arm and carry them in His bosom."
ו
כדרך שחלק לו הכתוב הכבוד הגדול וחייב הכל בכבודו כך צוהו להיות לבו בקרבו שפל וחלל שנאמר ולבי חלל בקרבי ולא ינהג גסות לב בישראל יתר מדאי שנאמר לבלתי רום לבבו מאחיו ויהיה חונן ומרחם לקטנים וגדולים ויצא ויבא בחפציהם ובטובתם ויחוס על כבוד קטן שבקטנים וכשמדבר אל כל הקהל בלשון רבים ידבר רכות שנאמר שמעוני אחי ועמי ואומר אם היום תהיה עבד לעם הזה וגו' לעולם יתנהג בענוה יתירה אין לנו גדול ממשה רבינו והוא אומר ונחנו מה לא עלינו תלונותיכם ויסבול טרחם ומשאם ותלונותם וקצפם כאשר ישא האומן את היונק רועה קראו הכתוב לרעות ביעקב עמו ודרכו של רועה מפורש בקבלה כרועה עדרו ירעה בזרועו יקבץ טלאים ובחיקו ישא וגו':
Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 3
1
During a king's reign, he must write a Torah scroll for himself in addition to the scroll which was left to him by his ancestors. A court of 71 elders should check this scroll by comparing it to the Torah scroll kept in the Temple Courtyard.
If his ancestors did not leave him a Torah scroll or that scroll was lost, he must write two Torah scrolls:
one, in whose writing, he is obligated as is every individual Israelite, and which he places in his treasury;
the second, which should not move from his presence except when he enters a lavatory, the baths, or other places in which it is not fit to read the words of Torah.
When he goes to war, this scroll should accompany him. When he returns, it should accompany him. When he sits in judgement, it should be with him. When he dines, it should be opposite him, asDeuteronomy 17:19 states: 'It should accompany him and he should read it all the days of his life.'
א
בעת שישב המלך על כסא מלכותו כותב לו ספר תורה לעצמו יתר על הספר שהניחו לו אבותיו ומגיהו מספר העזרה על פי בית דין של שבעים ואחד אם לא הניחו לו אבותיו או שנאבד כותב שני ספרי תורה אחד מניחו בבית גנזיו שהוא מצווה בו ככל אחד מישראל והשני לא יזוז מלפניו אלא בעת שיכנס לבית הכסא או לבית המרחץ או למקום שאין ראוי לקריאה יוצא למלחמה והוא עמו נכנס והוא עמו יושב בדין והוא עמו מיסב והוא כנגדו שנאמר והיתה עמו וקרא בו כל ימי חייו:
2
'He should not amass many wives' Deuteronomy 17:17. The Oral Tradition states that he may take no more than eighteen wives.
The figure eighteen includes both wives and concubines. If he takes an additional wife and has relations with her, he is punished with lashes.
He may divorce one of his wives and marry another instead of the one he divorced.
ב
לא ירבה לו נשים מפי השמועה למדו שהוא לוקח עד שמונה עשרה נשים בין הנשים ופלגשים הכל שמונה עשרה ואם הוסיף אחת ובעלה לוקה ויש לו לגרש ולישא אחרת תחת זו שגירש:
3
He may not accumulate many horses, only what is necessary for his cavalry. It is even forbidden for him to have one additional horse to run before him as is customarily done by other kings. If he adds an additional horse, he is to be lashed.
ג
ולא ירבה לו סוסים אלא כדי מרכבתו אפילו סוס אחד פנוי להיות רץ לפניו כדרך שעושין שאר המלכים אסור ואם הוסיף לוקה:
4
He may not amass silver and gold to keep in his personal treasury in order to boost his pride or allow him to glorify himself. Rather, he may collect only what is necessary to pay his soldiers, servants, and attendants.
Any gold and silver which he does accumulate should be given to the Temple treasury to be kept there, in readiness for the needs of the community and their wars.
It is a mitzvah to accumulate such treasure stores. The prohibition is only against amassing personal wealth in his own treasure houses, as Deuteronomy 17:17 states: 'He shall not amass for himself...' Should he amass personal wealth, he is to be lashed.
ד
ולא ירבה לו כסף וזהב להניח בגנזיו ולהתגאות בו או להתנאות בו אלא כדי שיתן לחיילותיו ולעבדיו ולשמשיו וכל כסף וזהב שירבה לאוצר בית ה' ולהיות שם מוכן לצרכי הצבור ולמלחמותם הרי זה מצוה להרבותו ואין אסור אלא להרבות לעצמו בבית גנזיו שנאמר ולא ירבה לו ואם הרבה לוקה:
5
The king is forbidden to drink wine to the point of intoxication, as Proverbs 31:4 states: 'It is not for kings to drink wine....'
Rather, he should be involved with Torah study and the needs of Israel by day and by night, as Deuteronomy, loc. cit. states: 'It should accompany him and he should read it all the days of his life.'
ה
המלך אסור לשתות דרך שכרות שנאמר אל למלכים שתו יין אלא יהיה עוסק בתורה ובצרכי ישראל ביום ובלילה שנאמר והיתה עמו וקרא בו כל ימי חייו:
6
Similarly, he should not be overly indulgent in his relations with his wives. Even if he has only one wife, he should not constantly be with her as is the practice of fools, as Proverbs 31:3states: 'Do not give your strength to women.'
When the Torah forbade the king from accumulating many wives, its emphasis was that his heart not go astray as Deuteronomy 17: 17 warns: 'lest his heart go astray.' His heart is the heart of the entire congregation of Israel. Therefore, the verse commanded him to have it cleave to the Torah to a greater degree than the rest of the nation, as it is stated: 'all the days of his life.'
ו
וכן לא יהיה שטוף בנשים אפילו לא היתה לו אלא אחת לא יהיה מצוי אצלה תמיד כשאר הטפשים שנאמר לא תתן לנשים חילך על הסרת לבו הקפידה תורה שנאמר ולא יסור לבבו שלבו הוא לב כל קהל ישראל לפיכך דבקו הכתוב בתורה יתר משאר העם שנאמר כל ימי חייו:
7
We have already explained that kings of the Davidic dynasty may be judged and testimony may be given against them.
However, in regard to the other kings of Israel, the Sages decreed that they neither sit in judgement or be judged. They may not give testimony, nor is testimony given against them. This is because they are arrogant and the matter may cause a tragedy and loss to the faith.
ז
כבר ביארנו שמלכי בית דוד דנין אותן ומעידין עליהן אבל מלכי ישראל גזרו חכמים שלא ידון ולא דנין אותו ולא מעיד ולא מעידין עליו מפני שלבן גס בהן ויבא מן הדבר תקלה והפסד על הדת:
8
Anyone who rebels against a king of Israel may be executed by the king.
Even if the king orders one of the people to go to a particular place and the latter refuses, or he orders him not to leave his house and he goes out, the offender is liable to be put to death. The king may execute him if he desires, as Joshua 1:18 states: 'Whoever rebels against your command ... shall be put to death."
Similarly, anyone who embarrasses or shames the king may be executed by the king as was Shim'i ben Gera.
The king may only execute people by decapitation. He may also imprison offenders and have them beaten with rods to protect his honor. However, he may not confiscate property. If he does, it is considered theft.
ח
כל המורד במלך ישראל יש למלך רשות להרגו אפילו גזר על אחד משאר העם שילך למקום פלוני ולא הלך או שלא יצא מביתו ויצא חייב מיתה ואם רצה להרגו יהרג שנאמר כל איש אשר ימרה את פיך וכן כל המבזה את המלך או המחרפו יש למלך רשות להרגו כשמעי בן גרא ואין למלך רשות להרוג אלא בסייף בלבד ויש לו לאסור ולהכות בשוטין לכבודו אבל לא יפקיר ממון ואם הפקיר הרי זה גזל:
9
A person who negates a king's command because he was occupied with a mitzvah, even a minor one, is not liable. Whose words should have precedence in case of conflict, the words of the Master or the words of the subject? Needless to say, if a king decrees that a mitzvah should be negated, his words should not be heeded.
ט
המבטל גזרת המלך בשביל שנתעסק במצות אפילו במצוה קלה הרי זה פטור דברי הרב ודברי העבד דברי הרב קודמין ואין צריך לומר אם גזר המלך לבטל מצוה שאין שומעין לו:
10
A murderer against whom the evidence is not totally conclusive, or who was not warned before he slew his victim, or even one who was observed by only one witness, and similarly, an enemy who inadvertently killed one of his foes - the king is granted license to execute them and to improve society according to the needs of the time.
He may execute many on one day, hang them, and leave them hanging for many days in order to cast fear into the hearts and destroy the power of the wicked of the earth.
י
כל ההורג נפשות שלא בראיה ברורה או בלא התראה אפילו בעד אחד או שונא שהרג בשגגה יש למלך רשות להרגו ולתקן העולם כפי מה שהשעה צריכה והורג רבים ביום אחד ותולה ומניחן תלויים ימים רבים להטיל אימה ולשבר יד רשעי העולם:
• Wednesday, 17 Tishrei, 5777 · 19 October 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Shabbat, Tishrei 17, Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukot, 5704
In Kabalat Shabbat we say: gam b'simcha uv'tzahala. (p. 132).
Shalom aleichem, Eishet Chayil, Mizmor L'David, Da hee s'udata (pp. 144-6) and V'yitein l'cha (p. 235) are said in an undertone.
At Musaf - uminchatam v'nisskeihem (p. 260) is said after each verse recounting that day's offering. On Shabbat do not say Hosha'anot (p. 326).
Torah lessons: Chumash: B'racha, Shevi'i with Rashi.
Tehillim: 83-87.
Tanya: XXIII. "The matter is (p. 523) ...multitude) at all. (p. 525).
The soul-aspect of yechida emerges through the avoda of being tested. As is written (in the Hosha'anot service, p. 327):
"She clings and cleaves to you" - the binding of the soul to G-d. This leads to...
"She bears your yoke," observing Torah and mitzvot with self-sacrifice; and then...
"She, the One People (yechida), affirms Your Oneness" - yechida of the soul is revealed. Through this revelation the yechida of the animal soul is transformed into G-dliness.1 This finds expression in the intensity with which one fulfills Torah and mitzvot, with an inner enthusiasm, with a sense of great delight and tremendous pleasure in serving G-d. (To a person on that lofty level) there is total equanimity to all worldy matters; "yes" and "no" have become absolutely equal to him, for he is now divested of the sense of delight in and appetite for material things.
FOOTNOTES
1.The animal soul is not committed to evil, or even to self-indulgence. Its primary desire is pleasure; but its concept of pleasure can be modified, so that it need not seek physical delights.
• Daily Thought:• "Today's Day"
• Shabbat, Tishrei 17, Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukot, 5704
In Kabalat Shabbat we say: gam b'simcha uv'tzahala. (p. 132).
Shalom aleichem, Eishet Chayil, Mizmor L'David, Da hee s'udata (pp. 144-6) and V'yitein l'cha (p. 235) are said in an undertone.
At Musaf - uminchatam v'nisskeihem (p. 260) is said after each verse recounting that day's offering. On Shabbat do not say Hosha'anot (p. 326).
Torah lessons: Chumash: B'racha, Shevi'i with Rashi.
Tehillim: 83-87.
Tanya: XXIII. "The matter is (p. 523) ...multitude) at all. (p. 525).
The soul-aspect of yechida emerges through the avoda of being tested. As is written (in the Hosha'anot service, p. 327):
"She clings and cleaves to you" - the binding of the soul to G-d. This leads to...
"She bears your yoke," observing Torah and mitzvot with self-sacrifice; and then...
"She, the One People (yechida), affirms Your Oneness" - yechida of the soul is revealed. Through this revelation the yechida of the animal soul is transformed into G-dliness.1 This finds expression in the intensity with which one fulfills Torah and mitzvot, with an inner enthusiasm, with a sense of great delight and tremendous pleasure in serving G-d. (To a person on that lofty level) there is total equanimity to all worldy matters; "yes" and "no" have become absolutely equal to him, for he is now divested of the sense of delight in and appetite for material things.
FOOTNOTES
1.The animal soul is not committed to evil, or even to self-indulgence. Its primary desire is pleasure; but its concept of pleasure can be modified, so that it need not seek physical delights.
Real Rich
The truly rich person is one whose very being is to give.
You only truly own that which you are capable of giving away.[Maamar Tefillah L’Mosheh 5769.]
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