Today in Jewish History:• Passing of R. Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1812)The founder of Chabad Chassidism, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812), passed away on the eve of the 24th of Tevet, 5573, at approximately 10:30 pm, shortly after reciting the Havdalah prayer marking the end of the Shabbat. The Rebbe was in the village of Peyena, fleeing Napoleon's armies, which had swept through the Rebbe's hometown of Liadi three months earlier in their advance towards Moscow. He was in his 68th year at the time of his passing, and was succeeded by his son, Rabbi DovBer of Lubavitch.
Links: A brief biography; The Ascent of the Tzaddik; The Physical World According to Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi; 28 Teachings; more on Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi• Safed Earthquake (1837)A devastating earthquake struck northern Israel, killing four thousand Jews in Safed and between 700 to 1000 Jews in Tiberias. Many of the survivors migrated to Hebron, rejuvenating the developing Chabad community established there 10 years earlier by the second Rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi DovBer of Lubavitch.
Link: A Safed website• Mt. Sinai Hospital (1852)One of the first hospitals in America under Jewish direction, Mount Sinai Hospital, was founded in New York on this date in 1852.
Link: Health, Illness and Healing
Daily Quote:
"The voice is the voice of Jacob"--no prayer is effective unless the seed of Jacob has a part in it. "The hands are the hands of Esau"--no war is successful unless the seed of Esau has a share in it.[Talmud]
Today's Study:
"The voice is the voice of Jacob"--no prayer is effective unless the seed of Jacob has a part in it. "The hands are the hands of Esau"--no war is successful unless the seed of Esau has a share in it.[Talmud]
Today's Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Parshat Va'eira, 1st Portion (Exodus 6:2-6:13) with Rashi
• Exodus Chapter 6
2God spoke to Moses, and He said to him, "I am the Lord. בוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־משֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
God spoke to Moses: He called him to account since he [Moses] had spoken harshly by saying, “Why have You harmed this people?” (Exod. 5:22)-[from Tanchuma Buber, Va’era 4] וידבר א-להים אל משה: דבר אתו משפט על שהקשה לדבר ולומר (לעיל ה כב) למה הרעותה לעם הזה:
and He said to him, I am the Lord: [Meaning: I am] faithful to recompense all those who walk before Me. I did not send you [to Pharaoh] except to fulfill My words, which I spoke to the early fathers. In this sense, we find that it אִנִי ה is interpreted in many places [in Scripture] as “I am the Lord,” [meaning that I am] faithful to exact retribution. [It has this meaning] when it is stated in conjunction with [an act warranting] punishment, e.g., “or you will profane the name of your God; I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:12). When it is stated in conjunction with the fulfillment of commandments, e.g., “And you shall keep My commandments and perform them; I am the Lord” (Lev. 22:31), [it means: I am] faithful to give reward. ויאמר אליו אני ה': נאמן לשלם שכר טוב למתהלכים לפני. ולא לחנם שלחתיך כי אם לקיים דברי שדברתי לאבות הראשונים. ובלשון הזה מצינו שהוא נדרש בכמה מקומות אני ה' נאמן ליפרע, כשהוא אמור אצל עונש, כגון (ויקרא יט יב) וחללת את שם אלהיך אני ה', וכשהוא אמור אצל קיום מצות, כגון (ויקרא כב לא) ושמרתם מצותי ועשיתם אותם אני ה', נאמן ליתן שכר:
3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob with [the name] Almighty God, but [with] My name YHWH, I did not become known to them. גוָֽאֵרָ֗א אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֶל־יִצְחָ֥ק וְאֶל־יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב בְּאֵ֣ל שַׁדָּ֑י וּשְׁמִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה לֹ֥א נוֹדַ֖עְתִּי לָהֶֽם:
I appeared: to the fathers. וארא: אל האבות:
with [the name] Almighty God: I made promises to them, in all of which I said to them, “I am the Almighty God.” באל שדי: הבטחתים הבטחות ובכולן אמרתי להם אני אל שדי:
but [with] My name YHWH, I did not become known to them: It is not written here לֹא הוֹדַעְתִּי, “but My Name YHWH I did not make known to them,” but לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי, “I did not become known.” [I.e.,] I was not recognized by them with My attribute of keeping faith, by dint of which My name is called YHWH, [which means that I am] faithful to verify My words, for I made promises to them, but I did not fulfill [them while they were alive]. ושמי ה' לא נודעתי להם: לא הודעתי אין כתיב כאן אלא לא נודעתי לא נכרתי להם במדת אמתות שלי שעליה נקרא שמי ה' נאמן לאמת דברי, שהרי הבטחתים ולא קיימתי:
4And also, I established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojournings in which they sojourned. דוְגַ֨ם הֲקִמֹ֤תִי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי֙ אִתָּ֔ם לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶ֖ם אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן אֵ֛ת אֶ֥רֶץ מְגֻֽרֵיהֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁר־גָּ֥רוּ בָֽהּ:
And also, I established My covenant, etc.: And also, when I appeared to them as the Almighty God, I established and set up a covenant between Myself and them. וגם הקמתי את בריתי וגו': וגם כשנראיתי להם באל שדי הצבתי והעמדתי בריתי ביני וביניהם:
to give them the land of Canaan: To Abraham in the section dealing with [the commandment of] circumcision (Gen. 17), it is said: “I am the Almighty God… And I will give you and your seed after you the land of your sojournings” (Gen. 17:1, 8). To Isaac [it is stated], “for to you and to your seed I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham” (Gen. 26:3), and that oath which I swore to Abraham was spoken with the [name] “Almighty God.” To Jacob [it is said], “I am the Almighty God; be fruitful and multiply, etc. And the land that, etc.” (Gen. 35:11, 12). So you see that I vowed to them [many vows], but I did not fulfill [My vows yet]. לתת להם את ארץ כנען: לאברהם בפרשת מילה נאמר (בראשית יז א) אני אל שדי וגו', (בראשית יז ח) ונתתי לך ולזרעך אחריך את ארץ מגוריך, ליצחק (בראשית כו ג) כי לך ולזרעך אתן את כל הארצות האל והקימותי את השבועה אשר נשבעתי לאברהם, ואותה שבועה שנשבעתי לאברהם באל שדי, אמרתי ליעקב (בראשית לה יא - יב) אני אל שדי פרה ורבה וגו' ואת הארץ אשר וגו', הרי שנדרתי להם ולא קיימתי:
5And also, I heard the moans of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians are holding in bondage, and I remembered My covenant. הוְגַ֣ם | אֲנִ֣י שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֶת־נַֽאֲקַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִצְרַ֖יִם מַֽעֲבִדִ֣ים אֹתָ֑ם וָֽאֶזְכֹּ֖ר אֶת־בְּרִיתִֽי:
And also, I heard: Just as I established and set up the covenant, it is incumbent upon Me to fulfill [it]. Therefore, I heard the moans [complaints] of the children of Israel, who are moaning. וגם אני: כמו שהצבתי והעמדתי הברית יש עלי לקיים, לפיכך שמעתי את נאקת בני ישראל הנואקים:
whom the Egyptians are holding in bondage. I remembered: that covenant [which I made with Abraham], for in the Covenant between the Parts, I said to him, “And also the nation that they will serve will I judge” (Gen. 15:14). אשר מצרים מעבדים אתם ואזכר: אותו הברית. כי בברית בין הבתרים אמרתי לו (בראשית טו יד) וגם את הגוי אשר יעבודו דן אנכי:
6Therefore, say to the children of Israel, 'I am the Lord, and I will take you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will save you from their labor, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. ולָכֵ֞ן אֱמֹ֥ר לִבְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֘ אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָה֒ וְהֽוֹצֵאתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֗ם מִתַּ֨חַת֙ סִבְלֹ֣ת מִצְרַ֔יִם וְהִצַּלְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵֽעֲבֹֽדָתָ֑ם וְגָֽאַלְתִּ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ בִּזְר֣וֹעַ נְטוּיָ֔ה וּבִשְׁפָטִ֖ים גְּדֹלִֽים:
Therefore: according to that oath. לכן: על פי אותה השבועה:
say to the children of Israel, I am the Lord: [I am] faithful to My promise. אמר לבני ישראל אני ה': הנאמן בהבטחתי:
and I will take you out: for so did I promise him [Abraham], “and afterwards they will go forth with great possessions” (Gen. 15:14). והוצאתי אתכם: כי כן הבטחתיו (שם שם) ואחרי כן יצאו ברכוש גדול:
the burdens of the Egyptians: The toil of the burden of the Egyptians. סבלת מצרים: טורח משא מצרים:
7And I will take you to Me as a people, and I will be a God to you, and you will know that I am the Lord your God, Who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. זוְלָֽקַחְתִּ֨י אֶתְכֶ֥ם לִי֙ לְעָ֔ם וְהָיִ֥יתִי לָכֶ֖ם לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וִֽידַעְתֶּ֗ם כִּ֣י אֲנִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם הַמּוֹצִ֣יא אֶתְכֶ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת סִבְל֥וֹת מִצְרָֽיִם:
8I will bring you to the land, concerning which I raised My hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I will give it to you as a heritage; I am the Lord.' " חוְהֵֽבֵאתִ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֨אתִי֙ אֶת־יָדִ֔י לָתֵ֣ת אֹתָ֔הּ לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְיִצְחָ֖ק וּלְיַֽעֲקֹ֑ב וְנָֽתַתִּ֨י אֹתָ֥הּ לָכֶ֛ם מֽוֹרָשָׁ֖ה אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
I raised My hand: I raised it to swear by My throne. [following Onkelos] נשאתי את ידי: הרימותיה להשבע בכסאי:
9Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel, but they did not hearken to Moses because of [their] shortness of breath and because of [their] hard labor. טוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר משֶׁ֛ה כֵּ֖ן אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה מִקֹּ֣צֶר ר֔וּחַ וּמֵֽעֲבֹדָ֖ה קָשָֽׁה:
but they did not hearken to Moses: They did not accept consolation. I.e., they despaired completely of ever being redeemed. ולא שמעו אל משה: לא קבלו תנחומין:
because of [their] shortness of breath: Whoever is under stress, his wind and his breath are short, and he cannot take a deep breath. Similar to this [interpretation, namely that what is meant by I am the Lord is: I am faithful to fulfill My word] I heard from Rabbi Baruch the son of Rabbi Eliezer, and he brought me proof [of this explanation] from this [following] verse: “at this time I will let them know My power and My might, and they shall know that My name is the Lord” (Jer. 16:21). [Rabbi Baruch said,] We learn from this that when the Holy One, blessed be He, fulfills His words-even [when it is] for retribution-He makes it known that His name is the Lord. How much more so [does this expression apply] when he fulfills [His word] for good [because the Tetragrammaton represents the Divine Standard of Mercy]. Our Rabbis, however, interpreted it (Sanh. 111a) as related to the preceding topic, [namely] that Moses said [verse 22], “Why have You harmed…?” (Exod. 5:22). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “We suffer a great loss for those [the Patriarchs] who are lost and [whose replacement] cannot be found. I must lament the death of the Patriarchs. Many times I revealed Myself to them as the Almighty God and they did not ask Me, ‘What is Your name?’ But you asked, What is His name? What shall I say to them?’” (Exod. 3:13). [4] מקצר רוח: כל מי שהוא מיצר, רוחו ונשימתו קצרה ואינו יכול להאריך בנשימתו. קרוב לענין זה שמעתי פרשה זו מרבי ברוך ברבי אליעזר, והביא לי ראיה ממקרא זה (ירמיהו טז כא) (כי) בפעם הזאת אודיעם את ידי ואת גבורתי וידעו כי שמי ה', למדנו כשהקב"ה מאמן את דבריו אפילו לפורענות מודיע ששמו ה', וכל שכן האמנה לטובה. ורבותינו דרשוהו לענין של מעלה, שאמר משה (לעיל ה כב) למה הרעותה, אמר לו הקב"ה חבל על דאבדין ולא משתכחין. יש לי להתאונן על מיתת האבות, הרבה פעמים נגליתי אליהם באל שדי ולא אמרו לי מה שמך, ואתה אמרת (לעיל ג יג) מה שמו מה אומר אליהם:
And also, I established, etc.: And when Abraham sought to bury Sarah, he could not find a grave until he bought [one] for a very high price. Similarly, [with] Isaac, [the Philistines] contested the wells he had dug. And so [with] Jacob, “And he bought the part of the field where he had pitched his tent” (Gen. 33:19), yet they did not question My actions! But you said, “Why have You harmed [the Israelites]?” This midrash, however, does not fit the text, for many reasons: First, because it does not say, “And My Name, ה they did not ask me.” And if you say [in response to this] that He did not let them [the Patriarchs] know that this is His name, [and nevertheless they did not ask Him, (and we will explain לֹא נוֹדַעְךְתִּי like לֹא הוֹדַעְךְתִּי, I did not make known,) I will answer you that] indeed, at the beginning, when He revealed Himself to Abraham “between the parts” (Gen. 15:10), it says: “I am the Lord (אֲנִי ה), Who brought you forth from Ur of the Chaldees” (Gen. 15:7). Moreover, how does the context continue with the matters that follow this [verse]: “And also, I heard, etc. Therefore, say to the children of Israel” ? Therefore, I say that the text should be interpreted according to its simple meaning, [with] each statement fitting its context, and the midrashic explanation may be expounded upon, as it is said: “‘Is not My word so like fire,’ says the Lord, ‘and like a hammer which shatters a rock?’” (Jer. 23:29). [The rock it strikes] is divided into many splinters. וגם הקמתי וגו': וכשבקש אברהם לקבור את שרה לא מצא קבר עד שקנה בדמים מרובים, וכן ביצחק ערערו עליו על הבארות אשר חפר, וכן ביעקב (בראשית לג יט) ויקן את חלקת השדה, לנטות אהלו, ולא הרהרו אחר מדותי, ואתה אמרת (ה כב) למה הרעותה. ואין המדרש מתיישב אחר המקרא מפני כמה דברים אחת, שלא נאמר, ושמי ה' לא שאלו לי. ואם תאמר לא הודיעם שכך שמו, הרי תחלה כשנגלה לאברהם בין הבתרים נאמר (בראשית טו ז) אני ה' אשר הוצאתיך מאור כשדים. ועוד, היאך הסמיכה נמשכת בדברים שהוא סומך לכאן (פסוק ה) וגם אני שמעתי וגו' (פסוק ו) לכן אמור לבני ישראל. לכך אני אומר יתיישב המקרא על פשוטו דבר דבור על אופניו, והדרשה תדרש, שנאמר (ירמיה כג כט) הלא כה דברי כאש נאם ה' וכפטיש יפוצץ סלע, מתחלק לכמה ניצוצות:
10The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, יוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
11"Come, speak to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and he will let the children of Israel out of his land." יאבֹּ֣א דַבֵּ֔ר אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם וִֽישַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵֽאַרְצֽוֹ:
12But Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, "Behold, the children of Israel did not hearken to me. How then will Pharaoh hearken to me, seeing that I am of closed lips?" יבוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר משֶׁ֔ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר הֵ֤ן בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֹא־שָֽׁמְע֣וּ אֵלַ֔י וְאֵיךְ֙ יִשְׁמָעֵ֣נִי פַרְעֹ֔ה וַֽאֲנִ֖י עֲרַ֥ל שְׂפָתָֽיִם:
closed lips: Heb. עִרַל שְׂפָתָיִם, Literally, of “closed” lips. Similarly, every expression of (עָרְלָה) I say, denotes a closure: e.g., “their ear is clogged (עִרֵלָה) ” (Jer. 6:10), [meaning] clogged to prevent hearing; “of uncircumcised (עַרְלֵי) hearts” (Jer. 9:25), [meaning] clogged to prevent understanding; “You too drink and become clogged up (וְהֵעָרֵל) ” (Hab. 2:16), [which means] and become clogged up from the intoxication of the cup of the curse; עָרְלַתבָּשָָׂר, the foreskin of the flesh, by which the male membrum is closed up and covered; “and you shall treat its fruit as forbidden (וְעִרַלְךְתֶּם עָרְלָתוֹ) ” (Lev. 19:23), [i. e.,] make for it a closure and a covering of prohibition, which will create a barrier that will prevent you from eating it. “For three years, it shall be closed up [forbidden] (עִרֵלִים) for you” (Lev. 19:23), [i.e.,] closed up, covered, and separated from eating it. ערל שפתים: אטום שפתים. וכן כל לשון ערלה אני אומר שהוא אטום (ירמיה ו י) ערלה אזנם, אטומה משמוע, (ירמיה ט כה) ערלי לב, אטומים מהבין, (חבקוק ב טז) שתה גם אתה והערל, והאטם משכרות כוס הקללה. ערלת בשר, שהגיד אטום ומכוסה בה. (ויקרא יט כג) וערלתם ערלתו, עשו לו אוטם וכיסוי איסור, שיבדיל בפני אכילתו, (שם) שלש שנים יהיה לכם ערלים, אטום ומכוסה ומובדל מלאכלו:
How then will Pharaoh hearken to me: This is one of the ten kal vachomer inferences mentioned in the Torah. — [from Gen. Rabbah 92:7] [I.e., inferences from major to minor, such as in this case. I.e., if, because of my speech impediment, the children of Israel, who have everything to gain by listening to me, did not listen to me, Pharaoh, who has everything to lose by listening to me, will surely not listen to me.] ואיך ישמעני פרעה: זה אחד מעשרה קל וחומר שבתורה:
13So the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and He commanded them concerning the children of Israel and concerning Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. יגוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהֹוָה֘ אֶל־משֶׁ֣ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹן֒ וַיְצַוֵּם֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם לְהוֹצִ֥יא אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
So the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron: Because Moses had said, “I am of closed lips,” the Holy One, blessed be He, combined Aaron with him to be for him as a “mouth” [i.e., speaker] and an interpreter. וידבר ה' אל משה ואל אהרן: לפי שאמר משה (פסוק יב) ואני ערל שפתים, צירף לו הקב"ה את אהרן להיות לו לפה ולמליץ:
and He commanded them concerning the children of Israel: He commanded regarding them [the Israelites] to lead them gently and to be patient with them. — [from Sifrei Beha’alothecha 91] ויצום אל בני ישראל: צום עליהם להנהיגם בנחת ולסבול אותם:
and concerning Pharaoh, the king of Egypt: He commanded them concerning him [Pharaoh], to speak to him respectfully. This is its midrashic interpretation (Mechilta, Bo, ch. 13; Exod. Rabbah 7:2). Its simple meaning is that He commanded them [Moses and Aaron] concerning Israel and concerning His mission to Pharaoh. What the content of the command was is delineated in the second section [verses 29-31], after the order of the genealogy [that follows this passage]. [This second section should be here] but since [Scripture] mentioned Moses and Aaron, it interrupts the narrative with “These are the heads of the fathers’ houses” (verse 14) to inform us how Moses and Aaron were born and after whom they traced their lineage.. ואל פרעה מלך מצרים: צום עליו לחלוק לו כבוד בדבריהם, זהו מדרשו. ופשוטו צום על דבר ישראל ועל שליחותו אל פרעה. ודבר הצווי מהו, מפורש בפרשה שניה לאחר סדר היחס, אלא מתוך שהזכיר משה ואהרן הפסיק הענין באלה ראשי בית אבותם (פסוק יד) ללמדנו היאך נולדו משה ואהרן ובמי נתיחסו:
• Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 113-118
• Chapter 113This psalm recounts some of the wonders of the exodus from Egypt.
1. Praise the Lord! Offer praise, you servants of the Lord; praise the Name of the Lord.
2. May the Name of the Lord be blessed from now and to all eternity.
3. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the Name of the Lord is praised.
4. The Lord is high above all nations; His glory transcends the heavens.
5. Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high
6. [yet] looks down so low upon heaven and earth!
7. He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the destitute from the dunghill,
8. to seat them with nobles, with the nobles of His people.
9. He transforms the barren woman into a household, into a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 114
This psalm explains why the tribe of Judah merited kingship.
1. When Israel went out of Egypt, the House of Jacob from a people of a foreign tongue,
2. Judah became His holy [nation], Israel, His domain.
3. The sea saw and fled, the Jordan turned backward.
4. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like young sheep.
5. What is the matter with you, O sea, that you flee; Jordan, that you turn backward;
6. mountains, that you skip like rams; hills, like young sheep?
7. [We do so] before the Master, the Creator of the earth, before the God of Jacob,
8. Who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flintstone into a water fountain.
Chapter 115
A prayer that God bring this long exile to an end, for the sake of His Name-that it not be desecrated.
1. Not for our sake, Lord, not for our sake, but for the sake of Your Name bestow glory, because of Your kindness and Your truth.
2. Why should the nations say, "Where, now, is their God?”
3. Indeed, our God is in heaven; whatever He desires, He does.
4. Their idols are of silver and gold, the product of human hands.
5. They have a mouth, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
6. they have ears, but cannot hear; they have a nose, but cannot smell;
7. their hands cannot touch; their feet cannot walk; they can make no sound in their throat.
8. Those who make them will become like them-all who put their trust in them.
9. Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
10. House of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
11. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
12. The Lord who is ever mindful of us, may He bless: May He bless the House of Israel; may He bless the House of Aaron;
13. may He bless those who fear the Lord, the small with the great.
14. May the Lord increase [blessing] upon you, upon you and upon your children.
15. You are blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
16. The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth He gave to the children of man.
17. The dead cannot praise the Lord, nor any who descend into the silence [of the grave].
18. But we will bless the Lord from now to eternity. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 116
This psalm contains magnificent praises to God. It also describes David's love for God, in light of all the miracles He performed for him. David does not know how to repay God, declaring it impossible to pay back for all God has done for him.
1. I would love if the Lord would listen to my voice, to my supplications;
2. if He would turn His ear to me on the days when I call.
3. The pangs of death encompassed me and the misery of the grave came upon me; I encounter trouble and sorrow.
4. I invoke the Name of the Lord, "Lord, I implore you, deliver my soul!”
5. The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is compassionate.
6. The Lord watches over the simpletons; I was brought low, and He saved me.
7. Return, my soul, to your tranquility, for the Lord has bestowed goodness upon you.
8. For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
9. I shall walk before the Lord in the lands of the living.
10. I had faith even when I declared, "I am greatly afflicted";
11. [even when] I said in my haste, "All men are deceitful.”
12. How can I repay the Lord for all His beneficences to me?
13. I will raise the cup of deliverance and proclaim the Name of the Lord.
14. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.
15. Grievous in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones.
16. I thank you, Lord, that since I am Your servant, I am Your servant the son of Your maidservant, You have loosened my bonds.
17. To You I will bring an offering of thanksgiving, and proclaim the Name of the Lord.
18. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people,
19. in the courtyards of the House of the Lord, in the midst of Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 117
This psalm of two verses alludes to the Messianic era, when the Children of Israel will enjoy their former glory. All will praise God, in fulfillment of the verse, "All will then call in the Name of God."
1. Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples.
2. For His kindness was mighty over us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 118
This psalm describes David's immense trust in God. It also contains many praises to God, Who has fulfilled that which He has promised us.
1. Offer praise to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
2. Let Israel declare that His kindness is everlasting.
3. Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is everlasting.
4. Let those who fear the Lord declare that His kindness is everlasting.
5. From out of distress I called to God; with abounding relief, God answered me.
6. The Lord is with me, I do not fear-what can man do to me?
7. The Lord is with me among my helpers, and I will see [the downfall of] my enemies.
8. It is better to rely on the Lord than to trust in man.
9. It is better to rely on the Lord than to trust in nobles.
10. All the nations surrounded me, but in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down.
11. They surrounded me, they encompassed me, but in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down.
12. They surrounded me like bees, yet they shall be extinguished like fiery thorns; in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down.
13. You [my foes] repeatedly pushed me to fall, but the Lord helped me.
14. God is my strength and song, and He has been a help to me.
15. The sound of rejoicing and deliverance reverberates in the tents of the righteous, "The right hand of the Lord performs deeds of valor.
16. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord performs deeds of valor!”
17. I shall not die, but I shall live and recount the deeds of God.
18. God has indeed chastised me, but He did not give me up to death.
19. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them and praise God.
20. This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous will enter it.
21. I offer thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have been my deliverance.
22. The stone which the builders scorned has become the chief cornerstone.
23. From the Lord has this come about; it is wondrous in our eyes.
24. This is the day which the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice on it.
25. We implore You, Lord, deliver us. We implore You, Lord, grant us success.
26. Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord; we bless you from the House of the Lord.
27. The Lord is a benevolent God and He has given us light; bind the festival offering with cords until [you bring it to] the horns of the altar.
28. You are my God and I will praise You, my God-and I will exalt You.
29. Praise the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, end of Chapter 15
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Sunday, 24 Tevet, 5777 · 22 January 2017
• Likutei Amarim, end of Chapter 15
• ובזה יובן מ״ש בגמרא דעובד אלקים היינו מי ששונה פרקו מאה פעמים ואחד, ולא עבדו היינו מי ששונה פרקו מאה פעמים לבד
• Rambam - Sunday, 24 Tevet, 5777 · 22 January 2017
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
• Negative Commandment 52
Intermarriage
"You shall not make marriages with them"—Deuteronomy 7:3.
It is forbidden to marry a non-Jew.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Intermarriage
Negative Commandment 52
Translated by Berel Bell
The 52nd prohibition is that we are forbidden from marrying heretics.1
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,2 "do not intermarry with them," which then explains what kind of intermarriage is referred to — "do not give your daughters to their sons, and do not take their daughters for your sons."
Tractate Avodah Zarah3 states clearly, "the Torah prohibition applies where there is marriage."
There are variations regarding the punishment for one who transgresses this prohibition. If he has relations with her in public, the punishment is carried out by one who kills him while he is in the act — as Pinchas did to Zimri.4 Our Sages said5 [regarding this law]: "a man who has relations with a non-Jew — the zealous are allowed to kill him." This is true only upon certain conditions: that the act was done in public and the act is still in progress, just it as happened [with Pinchas and Zimri].
If, however, nobody knows of the act, or he separated from her before the zealous could kill him, his punishment is kares. This kares is not explicitly mentioned in Scripture. Our Sages asked,6 "what if the zealous do not kill him?" They explain that he receives kares, as it is written,7 "[Yehudah has rebelled...] because Yehudah, who was holy to G‑d, has profaned himself; because he loved and had relations with the daughter of a foreign god. G‑d will give kares to the one who does this, [he will neither be] a student nor a teacher." [In reference to this] our Sages said, "from here we learn that he receives kares."
Whenever it is determined that a man has had relations with a non-Jewish woman, and there were witnesses and a warning,8 he is lashed by Torah law. One should understand this.
The details of this law are explained in Avodah Zarah9 and Sanhedrin.10
FOOTNOTES
1.I.e. all non-Jews, regardless of whether they worship idols or not. See Hilchos Issurei Biyah, 12:1. Kapach, 5731, note 74.
2.Deut. 7:3.
3.36b.
4.Num. 25:6-8.
5.Sanhedrin 81b.
6.Ibid. 82a.
7.Malachi 2:11-12.
8.And, as mentioned above, there was marriage.
9.36b.
10.82a.
• Negative Commandment 53
Marriage with an Ammonite or Moabite
"An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter the congregation of G‑d"—Deuteronomy 23:4.
It is forbidden to marry a male Ammonite or Moabite, even after they convert to Judaism.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Marriage with an Ammonite or Moabite
Negative Commandment 53
Translated by Berel Bell
The 53rd prohibition is that we are forbidden from marrying male descendants of Ammon and Moav — even after they have converted to Judaism.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,1 "An Ammonite or Moabite [man] may never enter the congregation of G‑d."
One who transgresses this prohibition receives lashes — i.e. when a male Ammonite or Moabite convert has relations with a Jewish woman within marriage, both receive lashes by Torah law.
The details of this law are explained in the eighth chapter of Yevamos2 and the end of Kiddushin.3
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 23:4.
2.76b.
3.74b.
• Negative Commandment 55
Rejecting an Egyptian
"Do not reject an Egyptian"—Deuteronomy 23:8.
It is forbidden to utterly distance an Egyptian convert. A third generation Egyptian convert must be allowed to marry among the Jewish people.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Rejecting an Egyptian
Negative Commandment 55
Translated by Berel Bell
The 55th prohibition is that we are forbidden from distancing ourselves from Egyptians by refusing to marry them once they have converted to Judaism.1
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,2 "do not despise the Egyptian."
The details of these two mitzvos, i.e. that of the Egyptian and that of the Edomite,3 are explained in the eighth chapter of Yevamos and the end of Kiddushin.4
FOOTNOTES
1.This is only in the third generation following the conversion. During the first two generations, one is forbidden from marrying them. See Hilchos Issurei Biyah, 12:19.
2.Deut. 23:8.
3.N54.
4.Op.cit.
• Negative Commandment 54
Rejecting an Edomite
"Do not reject the Edomite, since he is your brother"—Deuteronomy 23:8.
It is forbidden to utterly distance an Edomite convert. A third generation Edomite convert must be allowed to marry among the Jewish people.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Rejecting an Edomite
Negative Commandment 54
Translated by Berel Bell
The 54th prohibition is that we are forbidden from distancing ourselves from the descendants of Esav once they have converted to Judaism — i.e. we are forbidden from refusing to marry them after their conversion.1
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,2 "do not despise the Edomite, since he is your brother."
FOOTNOTES
1.See note to N55.
2.Deut. 23:8.
• Negative Commandment 354
Marrying a Bastard
"A mamzer shall not enter into the assembly of G‑d"—Deuteronomy 23:3.
A child born of certain illicit relationships is called a mamzer. Such an individual may not marry a non-mamzer.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Marrying a Bastard
Negative Commandment 354
Translated by Berel Bell
The 354th prohibition is that a mamzer1 is forbidden from having relations with a Jewish woman.2
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,3 "a mamzer may not enter the congregation of G‑d."
One who transgresses this prohibition receives lashes.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the eighth chapter of Yevamos and the end of Kiddushin.
FOOTNOTES
1.An illegitimate child, product of a sexual prohibition punishable by kares. See end of N353.
2.In Hilchos Issurei Biyah, 15:2, the Rambam rules that he would receive lashes only if he had relations with her after kiddushin.
3.Deut. 23:3.
• Negative Commandment 360
A Castrated Man
"A man with injured testicles or whose member is cut may not enter the assembly of G‑d"—Deuteronomy 23:2.
A man whose genitals have been damaged to the point that he is incapable of fathering a child may not marry a Jewish woman.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• A Castrated Man
Negative Commandment 360
Translated by Berel Bell
The 360th prohibition is that a man whose reproductive organs have been damaged to the extent that he cannot father children is forbidden from having relations with a Jewish woman.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,1 "a man with crushed testicles or a cut member may not enter the congregation of G‑d."
If he had relations with a Jewish woman after kiddushin, he receives lashes.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the ninth chapter of Yevamos.
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 23:2.
• Negative Commandment 361
Castration
"...neither shall you do this in your land"—Leviticus 22:24.
It is forbidden to cause castration to a male – whether human or animal – by damaging his genitals. It is forbidden even to further damage the genitals of a male who has already been castrated.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Chovel uMazzik - Chapter Five
• Issurei Biah - Chapter Fifteen
• Sunday, 24 Tevet, 5777 · 22 January 2017
• "Today's Day"
• Friday, Tevet 24, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Sh'mot, Shishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 113-118.
Tanya: Ch. 13. Therewith will (p. 53)...as stated above. (p. 53).
On this day the Alter Rebbe passed away in the village Piena on Saturday night of parshat Sh'mot 5573 (1813). He is interred in the city of Haditz.
My grandfather (R. Shmuel) asked the Tzemach Tzedek: What did Grandfather (the Alter Rebbe) intend with the "ways of Chassidus" and what did he intend with Chassidus?
The Tzemach Tzedek answered: The "ways of Chassidus" are that all Chassidim are to be like one family, with affection, as Torah teaches. Chassidus is vitality. Chassidus is to bring life and illumination into everything, to shed light even on the undesirable - to become aware of one's own evil exactly as it is, in order to correct it.
• Daily Thought:
Growing Presence
A truly great soul is one whose presence in this world is felt more after his passing than before, and continues to be felt more and more every day that passes.
Chumash: Parshat Va'eira, 1st Portion (Exodus 6:2-6:13) with Rashi
• Exodus Chapter 6
2God spoke to Moses, and He said to him, "I am the Lord. בוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־משֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
God spoke to Moses: He called him to account since he [Moses] had spoken harshly by saying, “Why have You harmed this people?” (Exod. 5:22)-[from Tanchuma Buber, Va’era 4] וידבר א-להים אל משה: דבר אתו משפט על שהקשה לדבר ולומר (לעיל ה כב) למה הרעותה לעם הזה:
and He said to him, I am the Lord: [Meaning: I am] faithful to recompense all those who walk before Me. I did not send you [to Pharaoh] except to fulfill My words, which I spoke to the early fathers. In this sense, we find that it אִנִי ה is interpreted in many places [in Scripture] as “I am the Lord,” [meaning that I am] faithful to exact retribution. [It has this meaning] when it is stated in conjunction with [an act warranting] punishment, e.g., “or you will profane the name of your God; I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:12). When it is stated in conjunction with the fulfillment of commandments, e.g., “And you shall keep My commandments and perform them; I am the Lord” (Lev. 22:31), [it means: I am] faithful to give reward. ויאמר אליו אני ה': נאמן לשלם שכר טוב למתהלכים לפני. ולא לחנם שלחתיך כי אם לקיים דברי שדברתי לאבות הראשונים. ובלשון הזה מצינו שהוא נדרש בכמה מקומות אני ה' נאמן ליפרע, כשהוא אמור אצל עונש, כגון (ויקרא יט יב) וחללת את שם אלהיך אני ה', וכשהוא אמור אצל קיום מצות, כגון (ויקרא כב לא) ושמרתם מצותי ועשיתם אותם אני ה', נאמן ליתן שכר:
3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob with [the name] Almighty God, but [with] My name YHWH, I did not become known to them. גוָֽאֵרָ֗א אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֶל־יִצְחָ֥ק וְאֶל־יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב בְּאֵ֣ל שַׁדָּ֑י וּשְׁמִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה לֹ֥א נוֹדַ֖עְתִּי לָהֶֽם:
I appeared: to the fathers. וארא: אל האבות:
with [the name] Almighty God: I made promises to them, in all of which I said to them, “I am the Almighty God.” באל שדי: הבטחתים הבטחות ובכולן אמרתי להם אני אל שדי:
but [with] My name YHWH, I did not become known to them: It is not written here לֹא הוֹדַעְתִּי, “but My Name YHWH I did not make known to them,” but לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי, “I did not become known.” [I.e.,] I was not recognized by them with My attribute of keeping faith, by dint of which My name is called YHWH, [which means that I am] faithful to verify My words, for I made promises to them, but I did not fulfill [them while they were alive]. ושמי ה' לא נודעתי להם: לא הודעתי אין כתיב כאן אלא לא נודעתי לא נכרתי להם במדת אמתות שלי שעליה נקרא שמי ה' נאמן לאמת דברי, שהרי הבטחתים ולא קיימתי:
4And also, I established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojournings in which they sojourned. דוְגַ֨ם הֲקִמֹ֤תִי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי֙ אִתָּ֔ם לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶ֖ם אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן אֵ֛ת אֶ֥רֶץ מְגֻֽרֵיהֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁר־גָּ֥רוּ בָֽהּ:
And also, I established My covenant, etc.: And also, when I appeared to them as the Almighty God, I established and set up a covenant between Myself and them. וגם הקמתי את בריתי וגו': וגם כשנראיתי להם באל שדי הצבתי והעמדתי בריתי ביני וביניהם:
to give them the land of Canaan: To Abraham in the section dealing with [the commandment of] circumcision (Gen. 17), it is said: “I am the Almighty God… And I will give you and your seed after you the land of your sojournings” (Gen. 17:1, 8). To Isaac [it is stated], “for to you and to your seed I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham” (Gen. 26:3), and that oath which I swore to Abraham was spoken with the [name] “Almighty God.” To Jacob [it is said], “I am the Almighty God; be fruitful and multiply, etc. And the land that, etc.” (Gen. 35:11, 12). So you see that I vowed to them [many vows], but I did not fulfill [My vows yet]. לתת להם את ארץ כנען: לאברהם בפרשת מילה נאמר (בראשית יז א) אני אל שדי וגו', (בראשית יז ח) ונתתי לך ולזרעך אחריך את ארץ מגוריך, ליצחק (בראשית כו ג) כי לך ולזרעך אתן את כל הארצות האל והקימותי את השבועה אשר נשבעתי לאברהם, ואותה שבועה שנשבעתי לאברהם באל שדי, אמרתי ליעקב (בראשית לה יא - יב) אני אל שדי פרה ורבה וגו' ואת הארץ אשר וגו', הרי שנדרתי להם ולא קיימתי:
5And also, I heard the moans of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians are holding in bondage, and I remembered My covenant. הוְגַ֣ם | אֲנִ֣י שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֶת־נַֽאֲקַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִצְרַ֖יִם מַֽעֲבִדִ֣ים אֹתָ֑ם וָֽאֶזְכֹּ֖ר אֶת־בְּרִיתִֽי:
And also, I heard: Just as I established and set up the covenant, it is incumbent upon Me to fulfill [it]. Therefore, I heard the moans [complaints] of the children of Israel, who are moaning. וגם אני: כמו שהצבתי והעמדתי הברית יש עלי לקיים, לפיכך שמעתי את נאקת בני ישראל הנואקים:
whom the Egyptians are holding in bondage. I remembered: that covenant [which I made with Abraham], for in the Covenant between the Parts, I said to him, “And also the nation that they will serve will I judge” (Gen. 15:14). אשר מצרים מעבדים אתם ואזכר: אותו הברית. כי בברית בין הבתרים אמרתי לו (בראשית טו יד) וגם את הגוי אשר יעבודו דן אנכי:
6Therefore, say to the children of Israel, 'I am the Lord, and I will take you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will save you from their labor, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. ולָכֵ֞ן אֱמֹ֥ר לִבְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֘ אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָה֒ וְהֽוֹצֵאתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֗ם מִתַּ֨חַת֙ סִבְלֹ֣ת מִצְרַ֔יִם וְהִצַּלְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵֽעֲבֹֽדָתָ֑ם וְגָֽאַלְתִּ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ בִּזְר֣וֹעַ נְטוּיָ֔ה וּבִשְׁפָטִ֖ים גְּדֹלִֽים:
Therefore: according to that oath. לכן: על פי אותה השבועה:
say to the children of Israel, I am the Lord: [I am] faithful to My promise. אמר לבני ישראל אני ה': הנאמן בהבטחתי:
and I will take you out: for so did I promise him [Abraham], “and afterwards they will go forth with great possessions” (Gen. 15:14). והוצאתי אתכם: כי כן הבטחתיו (שם שם) ואחרי כן יצאו ברכוש גדול:
the burdens of the Egyptians: The toil of the burden of the Egyptians. סבלת מצרים: טורח משא מצרים:
7And I will take you to Me as a people, and I will be a God to you, and you will know that I am the Lord your God, Who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. זוְלָֽקַחְתִּ֨י אֶתְכֶ֥ם לִי֙ לְעָ֔ם וְהָיִ֥יתִי לָכֶ֖ם לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וִֽידַעְתֶּ֗ם כִּ֣י אֲנִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם הַמּוֹצִ֣יא אֶתְכֶ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת סִבְל֥וֹת מִצְרָֽיִם:
8I will bring you to the land, concerning which I raised My hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I will give it to you as a heritage; I am the Lord.' " חוְהֵֽבֵאתִ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֨אתִי֙ אֶת־יָדִ֔י לָתֵ֣ת אֹתָ֔הּ לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְיִצְחָ֖ק וּלְיַֽעֲקֹ֑ב וְנָֽתַתִּ֨י אֹתָ֥הּ לָכֶ֛ם מֽוֹרָשָׁ֖ה אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
I raised My hand: I raised it to swear by My throne. [following Onkelos] נשאתי את ידי: הרימותיה להשבע בכסאי:
9Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel, but they did not hearken to Moses because of [their] shortness of breath and because of [their] hard labor. טוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר משֶׁ֛ה כֵּ֖ן אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה מִקֹּ֣צֶר ר֔וּחַ וּמֵֽעֲבֹדָ֖ה קָשָֽׁה:
but they did not hearken to Moses: They did not accept consolation. I.e., they despaired completely of ever being redeemed. ולא שמעו אל משה: לא קבלו תנחומין:
because of [their] shortness of breath: Whoever is under stress, his wind and his breath are short, and he cannot take a deep breath. Similar to this [interpretation, namely that what is meant by I am the Lord is: I am faithful to fulfill My word] I heard from Rabbi Baruch the son of Rabbi Eliezer, and he brought me proof [of this explanation] from this [following] verse: “at this time I will let them know My power and My might, and they shall know that My name is the Lord” (Jer. 16:21). [Rabbi Baruch said,] We learn from this that when the Holy One, blessed be He, fulfills His words-even [when it is] for retribution-He makes it known that His name is the Lord. How much more so [does this expression apply] when he fulfills [His word] for good [because the Tetragrammaton represents the Divine Standard of Mercy]. Our Rabbis, however, interpreted it (Sanh. 111a) as related to the preceding topic, [namely] that Moses said [verse 22], “Why have You harmed…?” (Exod. 5:22). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “We suffer a great loss for those [the Patriarchs] who are lost and [whose replacement] cannot be found. I must lament the death of the Patriarchs. Many times I revealed Myself to them as the Almighty God and they did not ask Me, ‘What is Your name?’ But you asked, What is His name? What shall I say to them?’” (Exod. 3:13). [4] מקצר רוח: כל מי שהוא מיצר, רוחו ונשימתו קצרה ואינו יכול להאריך בנשימתו. קרוב לענין זה שמעתי פרשה זו מרבי ברוך ברבי אליעזר, והביא לי ראיה ממקרא זה (ירמיהו טז כא) (כי) בפעם הזאת אודיעם את ידי ואת גבורתי וידעו כי שמי ה', למדנו כשהקב"ה מאמן את דבריו אפילו לפורענות מודיע ששמו ה', וכל שכן האמנה לטובה. ורבותינו דרשוהו לענין של מעלה, שאמר משה (לעיל ה כב) למה הרעותה, אמר לו הקב"ה חבל על דאבדין ולא משתכחין. יש לי להתאונן על מיתת האבות, הרבה פעמים נגליתי אליהם באל שדי ולא אמרו לי מה שמך, ואתה אמרת (לעיל ג יג) מה שמו מה אומר אליהם:
And also, I established, etc.: And when Abraham sought to bury Sarah, he could not find a grave until he bought [one] for a very high price. Similarly, [with] Isaac, [the Philistines] contested the wells he had dug. And so [with] Jacob, “And he bought the part of the field where he had pitched his tent” (Gen. 33:19), yet they did not question My actions! But you said, “Why have You harmed [the Israelites]?” This midrash, however, does not fit the text, for many reasons: First, because it does not say, “And My Name, ה they did not ask me.” And if you say [in response to this] that He did not let them [the Patriarchs] know that this is His name, [and nevertheless they did not ask Him, (and we will explain לֹא נוֹדַעְךְתִּי like לֹא הוֹדַעְךְתִּי, I did not make known,) I will answer you that] indeed, at the beginning, when He revealed Himself to Abraham “between the parts” (Gen. 15:10), it says: “I am the Lord (אֲנִי ה), Who brought you forth from Ur of the Chaldees” (Gen. 15:7). Moreover, how does the context continue with the matters that follow this [verse]: “And also, I heard, etc. Therefore, say to the children of Israel” ? Therefore, I say that the text should be interpreted according to its simple meaning, [with] each statement fitting its context, and the midrashic explanation may be expounded upon, as it is said: “‘Is not My word so like fire,’ says the Lord, ‘and like a hammer which shatters a rock?’” (Jer. 23:29). [The rock it strikes] is divided into many splinters. וגם הקמתי וגו': וכשבקש אברהם לקבור את שרה לא מצא קבר עד שקנה בדמים מרובים, וכן ביצחק ערערו עליו על הבארות אשר חפר, וכן ביעקב (בראשית לג יט) ויקן את חלקת השדה, לנטות אהלו, ולא הרהרו אחר מדותי, ואתה אמרת (ה כב) למה הרעותה. ואין המדרש מתיישב אחר המקרא מפני כמה דברים אחת, שלא נאמר, ושמי ה' לא שאלו לי. ואם תאמר לא הודיעם שכך שמו, הרי תחלה כשנגלה לאברהם בין הבתרים נאמר (בראשית טו ז) אני ה' אשר הוצאתיך מאור כשדים. ועוד, היאך הסמיכה נמשכת בדברים שהוא סומך לכאן (פסוק ה) וגם אני שמעתי וגו' (פסוק ו) לכן אמור לבני ישראל. לכך אני אומר יתיישב המקרא על פשוטו דבר דבור על אופניו, והדרשה תדרש, שנאמר (ירמיה כג כט) הלא כה דברי כאש נאם ה' וכפטיש יפוצץ סלע, מתחלק לכמה ניצוצות:
10The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, יוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
11"Come, speak to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and he will let the children of Israel out of his land." יאבֹּ֣א דַבֵּ֔ר אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם וִֽישַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵֽאַרְצֽוֹ:
12But Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, "Behold, the children of Israel did not hearken to me. How then will Pharaoh hearken to me, seeing that I am of closed lips?" יבוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר משֶׁ֔ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר הֵ֤ן בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֹא־שָֽׁמְע֣וּ אֵלַ֔י וְאֵיךְ֙ יִשְׁמָעֵ֣נִי פַרְעֹ֔ה וַֽאֲנִ֖י עֲרַ֥ל שְׂפָתָֽיִם:
closed lips: Heb. עִרַל שְׂפָתָיִם, Literally, of “closed” lips. Similarly, every expression of (עָרְלָה) I say, denotes a closure: e.g., “their ear is clogged (עִרֵלָה) ” (Jer. 6:10), [meaning] clogged to prevent hearing; “of uncircumcised (עַרְלֵי) hearts” (Jer. 9:25), [meaning] clogged to prevent understanding; “You too drink and become clogged up (וְהֵעָרֵל) ” (Hab. 2:16), [which means] and become clogged up from the intoxication of the cup of the curse; עָרְלַתבָּשָָׂר, the foreskin of the flesh, by which the male membrum is closed up and covered; “and you shall treat its fruit as forbidden (וְעִרַלְךְתֶּם עָרְלָתוֹ) ” (Lev. 19:23), [i. e.,] make for it a closure and a covering of prohibition, which will create a barrier that will prevent you from eating it. “For three years, it shall be closed up [forbidden] (עִרֵלִים) for you” (Lev. 19:23), [i.e.,] closed up, covered, and separated from eating it. ערל שפתים: אטום שפתים. וכן כל לשון ערלה אני אומר שהוא אטום (ירמיה ו י) ערלה אזנם, אטומה משמוע, (ירמיה ט כה) ערלי לב, אטומים מהבין, (חבקוק ב טז) שתה גם אתה והערל, והאטם משכרות כוס הקללה. ערלת בשר, שהגיד אטום ומכוסה בה. (ויקרא יט כג) וערלתם ערלתו, עשו לו אוטם וכיסוי איסור, שיבדיל בפני אכילתו, (שם) שלש שנים יהיה לכם ערלים, אטום ומכוסה ומובדל מלאכלו:
How then will Pharaoh hearken to me: This is one of the ten kal vachomer inferences mentioned in the Torah. — [from Gen. Rabbah 92:7] [I.e., inferences from major to minor, such as in this case. I.e., if, because of my speech impediment, the children of Israel, who have everything to gain by listening to me, did not listen to me, Pharaoh, who has everything to lose by listening to me, will surely not listen to me.] ואיך ישמעני פרעה: זה אחד מעשרה קל וחומר שבתורה:
13So the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and He commanded them concerning the children of Israel and concerning Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. יגוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהֹוָה֘ אֶל־משֶׁ֣ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹן֒ וַיְצַוֵּם֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרָ֑יִם לְהוֹצִ֥יא אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
So the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron: Because Moses had said, “I am of closed lips,” the Holy One, blessed be He, combined Aaron with him to be for him as a “mouth” [i.e., speaker] and an interpreter. וידבר ה' אל משה ואל אהרן: לפי שאמר משה (פסוק יב) ואני ערל שפתים, צירף לו הקב"ה את אהרן להיות לו לפה ולמליץ:
and He commanded them concerning the children of Israel: He commanded regarding them [the Israelites] to lead them gently and to be patient with them. — [from Sifrei Beha’alothecha 91] ויצום אל בני ישראל: צום עליהם להנהיגם בנחת ולסבול אותם:
and concerning Pharaoh, the king of Egypt: He commanded them concerning him [Pharaoh], to speak to him respectfully. This is its midrashic interpretation (Mechilta, Bo, ch. 13; Exod. Rabbah 7:2). Its simple meaning is that He commanded them [Moses and Aaron] concerning Israel and concerning His mission to Pharaoh. What the content of the command was is delineated in the second section [verses 29-31], after the order of the genealogy [that follows this passage]. [This second section should be here] but since [Scripture] mentioned Moses and Aaron, it interrupts the narrative with “These are the heads of the fathers’ houses” (verse 14) to inform us how Moses and Aaron were born and after whom they traced their lineage.. ואל פרעה מלך מצרים: צום עליו לחלוק לו כבוד בדבריהם, זהו מדרשו. ופשוטו צום על דבר ישראל ועל שליחותו אל פרעה. ודבר הצווי מהו, מפורש בפרשה שניה לאחר סדר היחס, אלא מתוך שהזכיר משה ואהרן הפסיק הענין באלה ראשי בית אבותם (פסוק יד) ללמדנו היאך נולדו משה ואהרן ובמי נתיחסו:
• Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 113-118
• Chapter 113This psalm recounts some of the wonders of the exodus from Egypt.
1. Praise the Lord! Offer praise, you servants of the Lord; praise the Name of the Lord.
2. May the Name of the Lord be blessed from now and to all eternity.
3. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the Name of the Lord is praised.
4. The Lord is high above all nations; His glory transcends the heavens.
5. Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high
6. [yet] looks down so low upon heaven and earth!
7. He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the destitute from the dunghill,
8. to seat them with nobles, with the nobles of His people.
9. He transforms the barren woman into a household, into a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 114
This psalm explains why the tribe of Judah merited kingship.
1. When Israel went out of Egypt, the House of Jacob from a people of a foreign tongue,
2. Judah became His holy [nation], Israel, His domain.
3. The sea saw and fled, the Jordan turned backward.
4. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like young sheep.
5. What is the matter with you, O sea, that you flee; Jordan, that you turn backward;
6. mountains, that you skip like rams; hills, like young sheep?
7. [We do so] before the Master, the Creator of the earth, before the God of Jacob,
8. Who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flintstone into a water fountain.
Chapter 115
A prayer that God bring this long exile to an end, for the sake of His Name-that it not be desecrated.
1. Not for our sake, Lord, not for our sake, but for the sake of Your Name bestow glory, because of Your kindness and Your truth.
2. Why should the nations say, "Where, now, is their God?”
3. Indeed, our God is in heaven; whatever He desires, He does.
4. Their idols are of silver and gold, the product of human hands.
5. They have a mouth, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
6. they have ears, but cannot hear; they have a nose, but cannot smell;
7. their hands cannot touch; their feet cannot walk; they can make no sound in their throat.
8. Those who make them will become like them-all who put their trust in them.
9. Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
10. House of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
11. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
12. The Lord who is ever mindful of us, may He bless: May He bless the House of Israel; may He bless the House of Aaron;
13. may He bless those who fear the Lord, the small with the great.
14. May the Lord increase [blessing] upon you, upon you and upon your children.
15. You are blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
16. The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth He gave to the children of man.
17. The dead cannot praise the Lord, nor any who descend into the silence [of the grave].
18. But we will bless the Lord from now to eternity. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 116
This psalm contains magnificent praises to God. It also describes David's love for God, in light of all the miracles He performed for him. David does not know how to repay God, declaring it impossible to pay back for all God has done for him.
1. I would love if the Lord would listen to my voice, to my supplications;
2. if He would turn His ear to me on the days when I call.
3. The pangs of death encompassed me and the misery of the grave came upon me; I encounter trouble and sorrow.
4. I invoke the Name of the Lord, "Lord, I implore you, deliver my soul!”
5. The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is compassionate.
6. The Lord watches over the simpletons; I was brought low, and He saved me.
7. Return, my soul, to your tranquility, for the Lord has bestowed goodness upon you.
8. For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
9. I shall walk before the Lord in the lands of the living.
10. I had faith even when I declared, "I am greatly afflicted";
11. [even when] I said in my haste, "All men are deceitful.”
12. How can I repay the Lord for all His beneficences to me?
13. I will raise the cup of deliverance and proclaim the Name of the Lord.
14. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.
15. Grievous in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones.
16. I thank you, Lord, that since I am Your servant, I am Your servant the son of Your maidservant, You have loosened my bonds.
17. To You I will bring an offering of thanksgiving, and proclaim the Name of the Lord.
18. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people,
19. in the courtyards of the House of the Lord, in the midst of Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 117
This psalm of two verses alludes to the Messianic era, when the Children of Israel will enjoy their former glory. All will praise God, in fulfillment of the verse, "All will then call in the Name of God."
1. Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples.
2. For His kindness was mighty over us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 118
This psalm describes David's immense trust in God. It also contains many praises to God, Who has fulfilled that which He has promised us.
1. Offer praise to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
2. Let Israel declare that His kindness is everlasting.
3. Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is everlasting.
4. Let those who fear the Lord declare that His kindness is everlasting.
5. From out of distress I called to God; with abounding relief, God answered me.
6. The Lord is with me, I do not fear-what can man do to me?
7. The Lord is with me among my helpers, and I will see [the downfall of] my enemies.
8. It is better to rely on the Lord than to trust in man.
9. It is better to rely on the Lord than to trust in nobles.
10. All the nations surrounded me, but in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down.
11. They surrounded me, they encompassed me, but in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down.
12. They surrounded me like bees, yet they shall be extinguished like fiery thorns; in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down.
13. You [my foes] repeatedly pushed me to fall, but the Lord helped me.
14. God is my strength and song, and He has been a help to me.
15. The sound of rejoicing and deliverance reverberates in the tents of the righteous, "The right hand of the Lord performs deeds of valor.
16. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord performs deeds of valor!”
17. I shall not die, but I shall live and recount the deeds of God.
18. God has indeed chastised me, but He did not give me up to death.
19. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them and praise God.
20. This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous will enter it.
21. I offer thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have been my deliverance.
22. The stone which the builders scorned has become the chief cornerstone.
23. From the Lord has this come about; it is wondrous in our eyes.
24. This is the day which the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice on it.
25. We implore You, Lord, deliver us. We implore You, Lord, grant us success.
26. Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord; we bless you from the House of the Lord.
27. The Lord is a benevolent God and He has given us light; bind the festival offering with cords until [you bring it to] the horns of the altar.
28. You are my God and I will praise You, my God-and I will exalt You.
29. Praise the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, end of Chapter 15
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Sunday, 24 Tevet, 5777 · 22 January 2017
• Likutei Amarim, end of Chapter 15
• ובזה יובן מ״ש בגמרא דעובד אלקים היינו מי ששונה פרקו מאה פעמים ואחד, ולא עבדו היינו מי ששונה פרקו מאה פעמים לבד
This explains the Talmudic statement1 that “he who serves G‑d” refers to one who revises his studies 101 times, while “he who serves Him not” refers to one who revises his studies only 100 times.
It seems strange that this 101st revision should outweigh all the previous hundred, and should earn the student the designation of “he who serves G‑d.” However, when we appreciate the struggle one must face in order to learn more than is his custom, this is readily understood, as the Alter Rebbe goes on to explain.
והיינו משום שבימיהם היה הרגילות לשנות כל פרק מאה פעמים
This is so because in those Talmudic days, it was customary to review each lesson one hundred times.
Thus, to review one hundred times did not require any effort; it was second nature. Only the 101st revision, which required effort beyond the student’s custom, could gain him the appellation of “he who serves G‑d.”
כדאיתא התם בגמרא משל משוק של חמרים, שנשכרים לעשר פרסי בזוזא ולאחד עשר פרסי בתרי זוזי, מפני שהוא יותר מרגילותם
The Talmud illustrates this by the analogy of the market of the donkey drivers. The drivers would charge one zuz for ten parsi (Persian miles), but demanded two zuz for driving 11 parsi, for driving an eleventh mile exceeded their customary practice.
ולכן זאת הפעם המאה ואחת היתרה על הרגילות שהורגל מנעוריו שקולה כנגד כולן
Therefore, this 101st revision, which is beyond the normal practice to which the student has been accustomed since his childhood, is equivalent to all the previous one hundred revisions combined.
ועולה על גביהן ביתר שאת ויתר עז, להיות נקרא עובד אלקים
In fact its quality surpasses them in its greater strength and power, so that it is only this one extra revision which entitles the student to be called “he who serves G‑d.”
מפני שכדי לשנות טבע הרגילות, צריך לעורר את האהבה לה׳ על ידי שמתבונן בגדולת ה׳ במוחו
For in order to change his habitual nature he must arouse within himself the love of G‑d, by contemplating G‑d’s greatness in his mind,
לשלוט על הטבע שבחלל השמאלי המלא דם הנפש הבהמית שמהקליפה
in order to master the nature that is in the left part of the heart, the seat of the animal soul, which is full of the blood of the animal soul originating in kelipah,
שממנה הוא הטבע
whence comes this nature; and the power of his love enables him to transcend his nature.
וזו היא עבודה תמה לבינוני
And this — to overpower one’s animal soul through a love of G‑d generated by meditation — is a perfect service for a Beinoni.
או לעורר את האהבה המסותרת שבלבו
An alternate type of service for a Beinoni is to arouse to a revealed state the love of G‑d inherently found hidden in his heart,
למשול על ידה על הטבע שבחלל השמאלי
thereby to control the nature that is in the left part of the heart.
שזו נקרא גם כן עבודה
This,too, is called serving G‑d, although an imperfect service—
להלחם עם הטבע והיצר על ידי שמעורר האהבה המסותרת בלבו
to wage war against his nature and inclination by arousing the love hidden in his heart.
מה שאין כן כשאין לו מלחמה כלל
If, however, he wages no war at all — not engaging even in the lesser struggle of arousing the love hidden within him, e.g., when he studies only to the limits of his natural diligence, then although he employs his hidden love of G‑d in his divine service,2 yet —
אין אהבה זו מצד עצמה נקראת עבודתו כלל
This love in itself can in no way be credited to his service and he is therefore called “he who serves Him not.”
To be designated “one who serves G‑d,” the Beinoni must engage in a struggle with his evil inclination, either through a love of G‑d born of meditation or at least by arousing his hidden love.
——— ● ———
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Chagigah 9b. |
| 2. | He must employ at least his hidden love of G‑d to motivate him to study Torah, for although he may be studious by nature yet he still desires his bodily comforts more than the constant study that displaces them. |
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
• Negative Commandment 52
Intermarriage
"You shall not make marriages with them"—Deuteronomy 7:3.
It is forbidden to marry a non-Jew.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Intermarriage
Negative Commandment 52
Translated by Berel Bell
The 52nd prohibition is that we are forbidden from marrying heretics.1
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,2 "do not intermarry with them," which then explains what kind of intermarriage is referred to — "do not give your daughters to their sons, and do not take their daughters for your sons."
Tractate Avodah Zarah3 states clearly, "the Torah prohibition applies where there is marriage."
There are variations regarding the punishment for one who transgresses this prohibition. If he has relations with her in public, the punishment is carried out by one who kills him while he is in the act — as Pinchas did to Zimri.4 Our Sages said5 [regarding this law]: "a man who has relations with a non-Jew — the zealous are allowed to kill him." This is true only upon certain conditions: that the act was done in public and the act is still in progress, just it as happened [with Pinchas and Zimri].
If, however, nobody knows of the act, or he separated from her before the zealous could kill him, his punishment is kares. This kares is not explicitly mentioned in Scripture. Our Sages asked,6 "what if the zealous do not kill him?" They explain that he receives kares, as it is written,7 "[Yehudah has rebelled...] because Yehudah, who was holy to G‑d, has profaned himself; because he loved and had relations with the daughter of a foreign god. G‑d will give kares to the one who does this, [he will neither be] a student nor a teacher." [In reference to this] our Sages said, "from here we learn that he receives kares."
Whenever it is determined that a man has had relations with a non-Jewish woman, and there were witnesses and a warning,8 he is lashed by Torah law. One should understand this.
The details of this law are explained in Avodah Zarah9 and Sanhedrin.10
FOOTNOTES
1.I.e. all non-Jews, regardless of whether they worship idols or not. See Hilchos Issurei Biyah, 12:1. Kapach, 5731, note 74.
2.Deut. 7:3.
3.36b.
4.Num. 25:6-8.
5.Sanhedrin 81b.
6.Ibid. 82a.
7.Malachi 2:11-12.
8.And, as mentioned above, there was marriage.
9.36b.
10.82a.
• Negative Commandment 53
Marriage with an Ammonite or Moabite
"An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter the congregation of G‑d"—Deuteronomy 23:4.
It is forbidden to marry a male Ammonite or Moabite, even after they convert to Judaism.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Marriage with an Ammonite or Moabite
Negative Commandment 53
Translated by Berel Bell
The 53rd prohibition is that we are forbidden from marrying male descendants of Ammon and Moav — even after they have converted to Judaism.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,1 "An Ammonite or Moabite [man] may never enter the congregation of G‑d."
One who transgresses this prohibition receives lashes — i.e. when a male Ammonite or Moabite convert has relations with a Jewish woman within marriage, both receive lashes by Torah law.
The details of this law are explained in the eighth chapter of Yevamos2 and the end of Kiddushin.3
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 23:4.
2.76b.
3.74b.
• Negative Commandment 55
Rejecting an Egyptian
"Do not reject an Egyptian"—Deuteronomy 23:8.
It is forbidden to utterly distance an Egyptian convert. A third generation Egyptian convert must be allowed to marry among the Jewish people.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Rejecting an Egyptian
Negative Commandment 55
Translated by Berel Bell
The 55th prohibition is that we are forbidden from distancing ourselves from Egyptians by refusing to marry them once they have converted to Judaism.1
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,2 "do not despise the Egyptian."
The details of these two mitzvos, i.e. that of the Egyptian and that of the Edomite,3 are explained in the eighth chapter of Yevamos and the end of Kiddushin.4
FOOTNOTES
1.This is only in the third generation following the conversion. During the first two generations, one is forbidden from marrying them. See Hilchos Issurei Biyah, 12:19.
2.Deut. 23:8.
3.N54.
4.Op.cit.
• Negative Commandment 54
Rejecting an Edomite
"Do not reject the Edomite, since he is your brother"—Deuteronomy 23:8.
It is forbidden to utterly distance an Edomite convert. A third generation Edomite convert must be allowed to marry among the Jewish people.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Rejecting an Edomite
Negative Commandment 54
Translated by Berel Bell
The 54th prohibition is that we are forbidden from distancing ourselves from the descendants of Esav once they have converted to Judaism — i.e. we are forbidden from refusing to marry them after their conversion.1
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,2 "do not despise the Edomite, since he is your brother."
FOOTNOTES
1.See note to N55.
2.Deut. 23:8.
• Negative Commandment 354
Marrying a Bastard
"A mamzer shall not enter into the assembly of G‑d"—Deuteronomy 23:3.
A child born of certain illicit relationships is called a mamzer. Such an individual may not marry a non-mamzer.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Marrying a Bastard
Negative Commandment 354
Translated by Berel Bell
The 354th prohibition is that a mamzer1 is forbidden from having relations with a Jewish woman.2
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,3 "a mamzer may not enter the congregation of G‑d."
One who transgresses this prohibition receives lashes.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the eighth chapter of Yevamos and the end of Kiddushin.
FOOTNOTES
1.An illegitimate child, product of a sexual prohibition punishable by kares. See end of N353.
2.In Hilchos Issurei Biyah, 15:2, the Rambam rules that he would receive lashes only if he had relations with her after kiddushin.
3.Deut. 23:3.
• Negative Commandment 360
A Castrated Man
"A man with injured testicles or whose member is cut may not enter the assembly of G‑d"—Deuteronomy 23:2.
A man whose genitals have been damaged to the point that he is incapable of fathering a child may not marry a Jewish woman.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• A Castrated Man
Negative Commandment 360
Translated by Berel Bell
The 360th prohibition is that a man whose reproductive organs have been damaged to the extent that he cannot father children is forbidden from having relations with a Jewish woman.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,1 "a man with crushed testicles or a cut member may not enter the congregation of G‑d."
If he had relations with a Jewish woman after kiddushin, he receives lashes.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the ninth chapter of Yevamos.
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 23:2.
• Negative Commandment 361
Castration
"...neither shall you do this in your land"—Leviticus 22:24.
It is forbidden to cause castration to a male – whether human or animal – by damaging his genitals. It is forbidden even to further damage the genitals of a male who has already been castrated.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Castration
Negative Commandment 361
Translated by Berel Bell
The 361st prohibition is that we are forbidden from damaging the reproductive organs of any male, including all species of animals, as well as humans.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 which follows mention of [animals whose reproductive organs were] crushed by hand or by instrument, pulled loose, or severed — "in your land you may not do this."
[Our Sages2 gave] the explanation of this verse: "among you [i.e. by Jews] it may not be done."
One who transgresses this prohibition — i.e. who castrates one from any species — receives lashes.
In the chapter Shemonah Sheratzim,3 our Sages said, "What is the source for the prohibition of castrating a man? The verse, 'in your land you may not do this' — i.e. among you.4 Even the second one to damage a reproductive organ5 transgresses this prohibition, as Rabbi Chiya bar Abun said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan: 'everyone agrees that the second one to make [a meal offering] into chometz [also] transgresses, since it is written,6 "do not bake it chometz," and7 "do not make it chometz." The second one to damage a reproductive organ transgresses since it is written, "crushed by hand or by instrument..." If one transgresses for crushing by hand, it is obvious that one transgresses for crushing with an instrument! But this comes to include even one who crushes with an instrument after they were already crushed by hand — that he too transgresses.' "
The details of this mitzvah are explained in a number of passages in Shabbos and Yevamos.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 22:24.
2.Sifra, Emor, 7:11.
3.Shabbos 110b.
4.Rather than literally, "in your land," i.e. of Israel. The prohibition actually applies outside Israel as well. See Hilchos Issurei Biyah, 16:10.
5.Literally, "one who castrates after one who castrates."
6.Lev. 6:10.
7.Lev. 2:11.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Chovel uMazzik Chovel uMazzik - Chapter Five • Chovel uMazzik - Chapter Five
1
It is forbidden for a person to injure anyone, neither his own self nor another person. Not only a person who causes an injury, but anyone who strikes in strife an upright Jewish person, whether a minor or an adult, whether a man or a woman, violates a negative commandment, as Deuteronomy 25:3 states: "Do not continue... to flog him." One may conclude that if the Torah adjures us against adding to the blows due a sinner, surely this prohibition applies with regard to striking a righteous person.
א
אסור לאדם לחבול בין בעצמו בין בחבירו. ולא החובל בלבד אלא כל המכה אדם כשר מישראל בין קטן בין גדול בין איש בין אשה דרך *נציון הרי זה עובר בלא תעשה שנאמר לא יוסיף להכותו אם הזהירה תורה מלהוסיף בהכאת החוטא קל וחומר למכה את הצדיק:
2
It is even forbidden to raise up one's hand against a colleague. Whoever raises a hand against a colleague, even though he does not hit him, is considered to be a wicked person.
ב
אפילו להגביה ידו על חבירו אסור וכל המגביה ידו על חבירו אע"פ שלא הכהו הרי זה [א] רשע:
3
When a person strikes a colleague with a blow that does not warrant a p'rutah to be paid in recompense, he should receive lashes. For there is no financial penalty to be exacted for transgression of this negative commandment.
Even if a person strikes a servant belonging to a colleague with a blow that does not warrant a p'rutah to be paid in recompense, he should receive lashes. This penalty is required because a servant is obligated to perform certain mitzvot.
If a gentile strikes a Jew, he deserves capital punishment, as implied by Exodus 2:12): "He turned to and fro... and struck the Egyptian."
ג
המכה את חבירו הכאה שאין בה שוה פרוטה לוקה שהרי אין כאן תשלומין כדי שיהיה לאו זה ניתן לתשלומין. ואפילו הכה עבד חבירו הכאה שאין בה שוה פרוטה לוקה שהרי ישנו במקצת מצות. ועכו"ם שהכה את ישראל חייב מיתה שנאמר ויפן כה וכה ויך את המצרי:
4
Our Sages imposed a penalty on foolish and violent men, and gave a person who was injured [the following privilege. His word is accepted when he takes an oath while holding a sacred article that another person caused him such and such an injury, and he is awarded the appropriate damages. This applies provided there are witnesses.
What is implied? Two people testify that the injured person entered the domain of the accused whole and left after being injured, but they did not see the injury being inflicted. Although the accused claims not to have inflicted the injury, since the injured person claims that he did, the injured person is given the prerogative of taking an oath and collecting the money due.
ד
קנס קנסו חכמים לאלו השוטים בעלי זרוע שיהא הנחבל נאמן ונשבע בנקיטת חפץ שזה חבל בו חבל זה ונוטל מה שראוי לו. והוא שיהיו שם עדים. כיצד היו שני עדים מעידין אותו שנכנס לתוך ידו שלם ויצא חבול ולא ראוהו בעת שחבל בו והוא אומר לא חבלתי והלה אומר אתה חבלת בי הרי זה נשבע ונוטל:
5
When does the above apply? When the injury was located in a place where the person could have inflicted it upon himself, or a third person was there whom the injured person could have instructed to strike him to implicate the accused. If, however, a third party was not present, and the injury was in a place that the injured could not have inflicted upon himself - e.g., he was bitten between his shoulders and the like - he may collect the appropriate payment without an oath.
ה
במה דברים אמורים כשהיתה המכה במקום שאפשר לו להכות בעצמו או שהיה עמהם שלישי שאפשר שזה הנחבל אמר לו לחבול בו ולהתרעם על אחר. אבל אם אין עמהם אחר והיתה המכה במקום שאינו יכול לעשות בעצמו כגון שהיתה נשיכה בין כתפיו וכיוצא בזה הרי זה נוטל בלא שבועה:
6
If the person who caused the injury admits causing it, he is liable to pay all five assessments. For there are witnesses that the injured person entered the accused's domain of sound body at the time of the quarrel and departed with an injury.
If, however, there are no witnesses there at all, the injured person states: "This person injured me," and the accused admits doing so, he is not liable for the assessments for damages and the pain. He is, however, liable for the assessments for unemployment, embarrassment and medical attention, because of his own admission.
For this reason, if he denies causing the injury, he can free himself of liability by taking a Rabbinic oath.
ו
הודה החובל שהוא חבל משלם חמשה דברים שהרי העדים היו שם שנכנס לתוך ידו שלם בשעת המריבה ויצא חבול. אבל אם לא היו שם עדים כלל הוא אומר חבלת בי והודה מעצמו פטור מן הנזק ומן הצער וחייב בשבת [ב] ובבושת ובריפוי על פי עצמו. לפיכך אם כפר ואמר לא חבלתי נשבע שבועת היסת:
7
Why should a person pay these three assessments on the basis of his own admission? The assessments for unemployment and medical attention represent a financial obligation and are not considered to be k'nasot. For if he does not reimburse the injured person for them, he will have caused him to forfeit the money he spent on medical treatment and the money he lost through unemployment.
And with regard to embarrassment, it was when he admitted before the court that he caused the injury, that he brought about the embarrassment. For when an injury is caused in private, a person is not caused any embarrassment. It is his admission before the court that embarrasses him.
ז
ולמה משלם אדם שלשה דברים אלו על פי עצמו. שהשבת והריפוי ממון הוא ולא קנס. שאם לא יתן לו הרי חסרו ממון שהוא מתרפא בו ובטל ממלאכתו. והבושת לא הגיעה לו אלא בשעה שהודה בפנינו שהוא חבל בו. שהנחבל שלא חבל בו [בפני] אדם אין לו בושת והודאתו בבית דין היא
8
From this one can conclude that there is no difference with regard to the embarrassment assessment, whether that assessment is due him because he caused the person to be embarrassed in the presence of others, or it is due him because he made an acknowledgement in the presence of others of the embarrassment he caused. Therefore, a person is liable for an embarrassment assessment because of his own statements.
ח
נמצאת למד שאין הפרש בבושת בין בושת המגיע לו אם חבל בו בפני אחרים ובין בושת המגיע לו בעת שהודה בפני אחרים שחבל בו. לפיכך משלם אדם בושת על פי עצמו:
9
A person who damages a colleague's property cannot be compared to one who injures his physical person. When a person who damages a colleague's property pays him what he is obligated to pay him, he receives atonement. In contrast, when a person injures a colleague's physical person, paying him the five assessments is not alone sufficient to generate atonement. Even if the person who caused the injury sacrifices all the rams of Nevayot, he cannot generate atonement, nor is his sin forgiven until he asks the person who was injured to forgive him.
ט
אינו דומה מזיק חבירו בגופו למזיק ממונו. שהמזיק ממון חבירו כיון ששלם מה שהוא חייב לשלם נתכפר לו. אבל חבל בחבירו אע"פ שנתן לו חמשה דברים אין מתכפר לו. ואפילו הקריב כל אילי נביות אינו מתכפר לו ולא נמחל עונו עד שיבקש מן הנחבל וימחול לו:
10
It is forbidden for the person who suffered the injury to be cruel and not to forgive the one who caused the injury. This is not the course of behavior for a descendant of Israel.
Instead, since the person who caused the injury asks and pleads of him for forgiveness once or twice, and he knows that he has repented from his sin and regrets his evil deeds, he should forgive him. Whoever hastens to grant forgiveness is praiseworthy and is regarded favorably by the Sages.
י
ואסור לנחבל א להיות אכזרי ולא ימחול אין זו דרך זרע ישראל אלא כיון שבקש ממנו החובל ונתחנן לו פעם ראשונה ושניה וידע שהוא שב מחטאו וניחם על רעתו ימחול לו. וכל הממהר למחול הרי הוא משובח ורוח חכמים נוחה הימנו:
11
There is another difference between the damages to an individual's physical person and to his property. If a person tells a colleague: "Blind my eye..." or "Cut off my arm, and you will not be liable," he is liable for the five assessments. The rationale is that it is well known that a person does not genuinely desire this.
When, by contrast, a person tells a colleague: "Tear my garment..." or "Break my jug, and you will not be liable," he is not liable. If, however, he did permit him to damage his property, but did not stipulate that he would not be liable, he is obligated to pay for the damages.
יא
ועוד יש הפרש בין נזקי גופו לנזקי ממונו. שהאומר לחבירו סמא את עיני קטע את ידי על מנת שאתה פטור הרי זה חייב בחמשה דברים שהדבר ידוע שאין אדם רוצה בכך. אבל האומר לחבירו קרע את כסותי שבר את כדי על מנת שאתה פטור הרי [ד] זה פטור. ואם לא אמר לו על מנת שאתה פטור הרי זה [ה] חייב לשלם אף על פי שהרשהו להשחית:
12
When does the above apply? When first the person entrusted the articles to the person who destroyed them as a watchman - i.e., he borrowed them or was entrusted with them for safekeeping. In such a situation, if the owner told the watchman to break it or rip it, and the watchman did so, the watchman is liable to pay for the damages, unless the owner explicitly stipulated that the watchman would not be held liable.
When, however, the owner of an article tells a colleague: "Take this utensil and break it," "Take this garment and rip it," if the other person follows the instructions he was given, he is not liable.
יב
במה דברים אמורים כשבאו הכלים לידו תחילה בתורת שמירה. כגון שהיו שאולין או מופקדין אצלו ואמר לו שבר וקרע ועשה כן חייב לשלם עד שיאמר לו על מנת שאתה פטור. אבל אם אמר לו קח כלי זה ושברו. בגד זה וקרעו. ועשה כן הרי זה פטור:
13
When a person tells a colleague: "Break a utensil belonging to so and so, and you will not be liable," and the listener follows these instructions, the listener is liable financially. It is as if he told him: "Blind so-and-so's eye, and you will not be liable."
Although the person who caused the damages is liable to pay, the person who gave him the instructions is considered to be his partner in the transgression and a wicked person. For he caused a blind man to stumble, and supported a person who committed a transgression.
יג
האומר לחבירו שבר כליו של פלוני על מנת שאתה פטור ועשה הרי זה חייב לשלם. וכאילו אמר לו סמא עינו של פלוני על מנת שאתה פטור. ואע"פ שהעושה הוא חייב לשלם. הרי זה האומר לו שותפו בעון ורשע הוא. שהרי הכשיל עור וחיזק ידי עוברי עבירה:
• Issurei Biah - Chapter Fifteen
1
What is meant by the Torah's prohibition against relations with a mamzer? [The term refers to a person conceived from] a forbidden sexual relationship.1 A niddah is an exception. A son conceived from such relationships is blemished,2 but is not a mamzer. When, however, a man enters into any other forbidden sexual relationships, whether through rape, or willingly, whether conscious of the prohibition or not,3 the offspring produced is a mamzer. Both male and female [mamzerim] are forbidden forever, as [Deuteronomy 23:3] states: "[A mamzer shall not enter God's congregation.] Also the tenth generation...," i.e., [the prohibition is] everlasting.
א
אי זהו ממזר האמור בתורה זה הבא מערוה מן העריות חוץ מן הנדה שהבן ממנה פגום ואינו ממזר אבל הבא על שאר העריות בין באונס בין ברצון בין בזדון בין בשגגה הולד ממזר ואחד זכרים ואחד נקבות אסורין לעולם שנאמר גם דור עשירי כלומר לעולם:
2
When a mamzer marries a Jewish women or a Jewish man marries a female mamzer, once they enter into relations after consecration, they are punished by lashes.4 If the man consecrates the woman, but does not enter into relations, he does not receive lashes.5 If they enter into relations without consecration, they6 do not receive lashes because of relations with a mamzer.7 For the only instance where relations that involve a negative prohibition incur the punishment of lashes without the woman being consecrated is relations between a High Priest and a widow, as will be explained.8
When a woman remarries his divorcee after she married another person,9the offspring are acceptable. For she is not considered an ervah.
ב
אחד ממזר שנשא ישראלית או ישראלי שנשא ממזרת כיון שבעלו אחר הקידושין לוקין קידש ולא בעל אינו לוקה בעל ולא קידש אינן לוקין משום ממזרות שאין לך בכל חייבי לאוין מי שלוקה על בעילה בלא קידושין אלא כהן גדול באלמנה כמו שיתבאר המחזיר גרושתו משנשאת הולד כשר שהרי אינה ערוה:
3
When a gentile or a servant enter into relations with a Jewish woman, the child is acceptable. [This applies] whether the woman is unmarried or married, whether she was raped or engaged in relations willingly.10 When a gentile or a servant enter into relations with a female mamzer, the offspring is a mamzer.11When a mamzer enters into relations with a female gentile, the offspring is a gentile. If [the child] converts, he is fit to marry within the Jewish people like other converts.12 If [a mamzer] enters into relations with a maid-servant, the offspring is a servant. If he is freed, the offspring is acceptable like other freed servants. He may marry a Jewish woman.
ג
עכו"ם ועבד הבא על בת ישראל הולד כשר בין פנויה בין באשת איש בין באונס בין ברצון עכו"ם ועבד הבאים על הממזרת הולד ממזר וממזר הבא על העכו"ם הולד עכו"ם נתגייר הרי הוא כשר כשאר גרים ואם בא על השפחה הולד עבד שחררו הולד כשר כשאר עבדים משוחררין ומותר בבת ישראל:
4
This is the general principle: When a child is born from a servant, a gentile, a maid-servant, or a female gentile, he is like his mother.13 We are not concerned with the father. For this reason, [the Sages] permitted a mamzer to marry a maid-servant to purify the lineage of his descendants. For he can free them and they will be free men.14 [Our Sages] did not ordain a decree forbidding a maid-servant to a mamzer,15 so that he can legitimize his sons.16
ד
זה הכלל בן הבא מן העבד או מן העכו"ם או מן השפחה או מן בת עכו"ם הרי הוא כאמו ואין משגיחין על האב לפי דבר זה התירו לממזר לישא שפחה כדי לטהר את בניו שהרי הוא משחרר אותם ונמצאו בני חורין ולא גזרו על השפחה לממזר מפני תקנת הבנים:
5
When a person who is half a servant and half a freed man17engages in relations with a married woman, a son born of that relationship has no way of legitimizing [his marriage relationships], because the dimension of him which is a mamzer18 and the dimension of him which is an acceptable Jew19 are intermingled. Therefore he is forbidden to engage in relations with a maid-servant.20 and his offspring share his status forever.21
ה
מי שחציו עבד וחציו בן חורין הבא על אשת איש אותו הבן אין לו תקנה מפני שצד ממזרות וצד כשרות מעורבין בו לפיכך אסור בשפחה ונמצאו בניו כמותו לעולם:
6
When a gentile engages in relations with a maid-servant who immersed herself, the offspring are servants. When a servant who immersed himself engages in relations with a female gentile, the offspring are gentile. He is given his mother's status. When, however, a gentile engages relations with a gentile maid-servant or a gentile servant engages relations with a gentile woman, the status of the offspring follows that of the father.
ו
עכו"ם הבא על השפחה שטבלה הרי זה עבד ועבד שטבל שבא על עכו"ם הולד עכו"ם הלך אחר האם אבל עכו"ם הבא על שפחה עכו"ם או עבד עכו"ם שבא על עכו"ם בת חורין הלך אחר הזכר:
7
A mamzer may marry a female convert and a female mamzer may marry a male convert, the offspring of both relationships are mamzerim.22 For the status of the offspring follows that of the blemished one. [The license for such a marriage is derived from] the verse: "[A mamzer shall not enter] God's congregation." The congregation of converts is not considered as "God's congregation."
ז
ממזר מותר לישא גיורת וכן הממזרת מותרת לגר והבנים משניהם ממזרים שהולד הולך אחר הפגום שנאמר בקהל ה' וקהל גרים אינו קרוי קהל י"י:
8
When a female convert marries a male convert and gives birth to a son, he is permitted to marry a female mamzer even though he was both conceived and born in holiness.23 This also applies to the son of his grandson [- or any other descendant -] until his connection with conversion is forgotten and it is not known that he [descends from] converts.24 Afterwards, he will be forbidden to marry a female mamzer. Converts and freed servants are bound by the same laws.25
ח
גיורת שנשאת לגר והולידו בן אע"פ שהורתו ולידתו בקדושה הרי זה מותר בממזרת וכן בן בן בנו עד שישתקע שם גירותו ממנו ולא יודע שהוא גר ואחר כך יאסר בממזרת ואחד הגרים ואחד העבדים משוחררין דין אחד לכולן:
9
When a convert marries a native-born Jewess26 or a native-born Jew marries a convert, the son is a Jew in all contexts and is forbidden to marry a female mamzer.
ט
גר שנשא בת ישראל או ישראל שנשא גיורת הולד ישראל לכל דבר ואסור בממזרת:
10
There are three categories of mamzerim: one that is definitely a mamzer, a mamzer whose status is a matter of doubt, and a mamzer by Rabbinic decree. What is meant by one who is definitely a mamzer? The offspring of a relationship that is definitely incestuous or adulterous, as we explained.27
A mamzer whose status is a matter of doubt is the offspring of a relationship that we are unsure whether it is adulterous or incestuous. For example, a man engaged in relations with a woman who was consecrated, but we are unsure if the consecration was effective,28 or who was divorced, but we are unsure whether the divorce was effective,29 or a similar situation.
A mamzer by Rabbinic decree: for example, a woman who heard that here husband died and remarried and then discovered that her husband was alive. Afterwards, her [first] husband engaged in relations with her while she was still married with her second husband, the offspring is a mamzer by Rabbinic decree.30
י
שלשה ממזרים הם ממזר ודאי וממזר ספק וממזר מדברי סופרים אי זהו ממזר ודאי זה שבא מן הערוה הודאית כמו שביארנו וממזר ספק זה שבא מספק ערוה כגון הבא על האשה שנתקדשה ספק קידושין או נתגרשה ספק גירושין וכיוצא בהן מדברי סופרים כגון האשה ששמעה שמת בעלה ונשאת והרי בעלה קיים ובא בעלה הראשון עליה והיא תחת השני הרי הבן ממזר מדברי סופרים:
11
When an unmarried woman becomes pregnant through a promiscuous relationship, we ask her: "What is [the status of] this fetus" or "...this child"? If she replies: "It is the child of a man of acceptable lineage; I entered into relations with an Israelite," her word is accepted and the son is acceptable.31 [This applies] even if most of the inhabitants of the city in which she engaged in relations are of unacceptable lineage.32
יא
פנויה שנתעברה מזנות אמרו לה מהו העובר הזה או הילוד הזה אם אמרה בן כשר הוא ולישראל נבעלתי הרי זו נאמנת והבן כשר ואף ע"פ שרוב העיר שזנתה בה פסולים:
12
If the child's mother was not questioned until she died, or she was a deaf-mute, mute, or intellectually or emotionally unstable, we consider the child as a mamzer whose status is questionable.33 [This ruling applies even] if she said: "I engaged in relations with so-and-so, the mamzer" or "...with so-and-so, the netin."34 Even if that person agrees with her statement, [the child's status is only doubtful. The rationale is:] Just as she engaged in relations with the person who admitted to her statement; so, too, she engaged in relations with others.35
This [child] is called a shituki.36 He knows the identity of his mother, but does not definitely know the identity of his father.
יב
ואם לא נבדקה אמו עד שמתה או שהיתה חרשת או אלמת או שוטה או שאמרה לפלוני הממזר נבעלתי או לפלוני הנתין אפילו אותו פלוני מודה שהוא ממנו הרי זה הילוד ספק ממזר כשם שזינתה עם זה שהודה לה כך זינתה עם אחר וזה הוא הנקרא שתוקי שמכיר את אמו ואינו מכיר את אביו ודאי:
13
יג
וכן הבן הנמצא בשוק והוא הנקרא אסופי הרי הוא ספק ממזר שאין אנו יודעים מה הוא:
14
[The following rules apply when] an unmarried woman engages in promiscuous relations says: "This child is the son of so-and-so." If that person is of acceptable lineage, the son is considered acceptable. Nevertheless, her word is not accepted for the child to be considered as the man's son.39 It appears to me, however, that we give consideration to her words and because of the doubt, that child is forbidden to marry the relatives of the [named] person.
If the [named] person is a mamzer, we do not accept her word to definitely deem the offspring as a mamzer on this basis, as we explained.40 Instead, we consider the child as a mamzer whose status is questionable.
יד
פנויה שזנתה ואמרה בן זה בן פלוני הוא אם אותו פלוני כשר הרי הבן כשר ואינה נאמנת להיות זה בנו של פלוני ויראה לי שחוששין לדבריה ויהיה הבן אסור בקרובות אותו פלוני מספק ואם אותו פלוני ממזר אינה נאמנת להיות הבן ממזר ודאי על פיה כמו שביארנו אלא יהיה ספק ממזר:
15
[Different laws apply with regard to] a father who [makes statements with regard to] a child who is presumed to be his son. If he says: "This son of mine is a mamzer,"41 his word is accepted.42 If the son himself has children, his word is not accepted.43 For the Torah accepted his word with regard to his son alone. [This is derived from Deuteronomy 21:17:] "He will recognize the firstborn, the son of the hated." [Implied is that] he makes his identity known to others.44
טו
אבל האב שהוחזק שזה בנו ואמר בני זה ממזר הוא נאמן ואם יש לבן בנים אינו נאמן שלא האמינה אותו תורה אלא על בנו שנאמר כי את הבכור בן השנואה יכיר יכירנו לאחרים:
16
Just as a father's word is accepted when he says: "This son of mine is my firstborn," so, too, his word is accepted if he says: "This son of mine is a mamzer," or "...the son of a divorced woman" or "...the son of a woman who performed chalitzah."45 Similarly, if his wife was pregnant, his word is accepted if he says: "This fetus is not my child. It is a mamzer." The child is definitely deemed as a mamzer.
If a person says that he himself is a mamzer, his word is accepted with regard to the prohibition against him marrying a native-born Jewess.46 He is, however, forbidden to marry a female mamzer47until it is definitely known that he is a mamzer. The same laws apply to his son. If he has grandchildren, his word is not accepted with regard to the disqualification of his grandchildren. He can disqualify only himself.
טז
וכשם שנאמן לומר בני זה בכור כך נאמן לומר בני זה ממזר או בן גרושה או בן חלוצה וכן אם היתה אשתו מעוברת נאמן לומר עובר זה אינו בני וממזר הוא ויהיה ממזר ודאי והאומר על עצמו שהוא ממזר נאמן לאסור עצמו בבת ישראל ואסור בממזרת עד שיודע ודאי שהוא ממזר ובנו כמוהו ואם יש לו בני בנים אינו נאמן לפסול בני בניו ולא יפסול אלא עצמו:
17
[The following laws apply when] a woman who was consecrated48 becomes pregnant in her father's home. The offspring is assumed to be a mamzer.49 He is forbidden to marry both a native-born Jewess and a female mamzer.50
If his mother was questioned and said: "I became pregnant from the man who consecrated me," her word is accepted and the child is considered acceptable.51If, however, that man contravenes her and says: "I never engaged in relations with her," the child is considered a mamzer. For even if the child was assumed to be his son, his word is accepted if he says: "My son is a mamzer."52
[Even in the latter situation,] the woman is not assumed to be a zonah.53 Instead, her word is accepted if she says: "I engaged in relations with the man who consecrated me." [Since] she is not a zonah, if she married a priest,54 she need not be divorced55 and offspring which she bears him are acceptable [as priests].56
יז
ארוסה שנתעברה והיא בבית אביה הרי הולד בחזקת ממזר ואסור בבת ישראל ואסור בממזרת ואם נבדקה אמו ואמרה מארוסי נתעברתי נאמנת והולד כשר ואם הכחישה הארוס ואמר מעולם לא באתי עליה הרי הולד ממזר שאפילו היה בחזקת בנו ואמר בני זה ממזר נאמן והאשה אינה בחזקת זונה אלא נאמנת לומר לארוס נבעלתי ואינה זונה ואם נשאת לכהן לא תצא וולדה ממנו כשר:
18
If people at large gossip about her while she is consecrated, [saying that] she was promiscuous with the man to whom she was consecrated and with others, the child is a mamzer whose status is questionable.57 [This applies] even if the man to whom she was consecrated was intimate with her in her father's home. For just as she acted loosely with the man to whom she was consecrated, she could have acted loosely with others. If she was questioned and said: "This fetus was conceived by the man to whom I am consecrated," the child is acceptable as explained [above].
יח
היו העם מרננים אחריה והיא ארוסה עם ארוסה ועם אנשים אחרים אף על פי שבא עליה ארוסה בבית חמיו הרי זה ספק ממזר כשם שהפקירה עצמה לארוסה הפקירה לאחרים ואם נבדקה ואמרה עובר זה מארוסי הרי זה כשר כמו שביארנו:
19
When a married woman58 is pregnant and says: "This fetus is not my husband's," her word is not accepted to render the child illegitimate. [Instead,] we assume that the child is acceptable. For the Torah accepted only the word of the father. If the father says that it is not his son or he is overseas,59 we assume that the son is a mamzer.60
יט
אשת איש שהיתה מעוברת ואמרה עובר זה אינו מבעלי אינה נאמנת לפסלו והרי הבן בחזקת כשרות שלא האמינה תורה אלא האב אמר האב אינו בני או שהיה בעלה במדינת הים הרי זה בחזקת ממזר ואם אמרה מעכו"ם ועבד נתעברתי הרי הולד כשר שאין הבעל יכול להכחישה בדבריה ואין העובר משתהה במעי אמו יתר על שנים עשר חדש:
20
Although there is a rumor circulating to the fact that a woman has committed adultery and everyone is gossiping about her, we do not suspect that her children are mamzerim. [The rationale is that] the person who most frequently has relations with her is her husband. It is permitted to marry her daughter, even as an initial and preferred option.64 With regard to her own status, we suspect that she is a zonah.65 If her conduct was very lewd, we also suspect the lineage of her children.66
כ
אשת איש שיצא עליה קול שהיתה זונה תחת בעלה והכל מרננין אחריה אין חוששין לבניה שמא ממזרים הם שרוב בעילות אצל הבעל ומותר לישא בתה לכתחלה אבל היא עצמה חוששין לה משום זונה ואם היתה פרוצה יותר מדאי אף לבניה חוששין:
21
According to Scriptural Law, a person suspected of being a mamzer is permitted to marry among the Jewish people.67[Deuteronomy 23:3] states: "A mamzer shall not enter God's congregation." [Implied is that] one who is definitively a mamzer may not marry among the Jewish people, not one whose status is questionable. Nevertheless, our Sages raised the level [of purity required] with regard to lineage and forbade those of questionable status from marrying among the Jewish people.
כא
דין תורה שספק ממזר מותר לבוא בקהל שנאמר לא יבא ממזר בקהל י"י ממזר ודאי אסור לבוא בקהל ולא ספק אבל חכמים עשו מעלה ביוחסין ואסרו גם הספיקות לבוא בקהל לפיכך ממזר ודאי מותר לישא ממזרת ודאית אבל ממזר ספק או שתוקי או אסופי אסור לישא בת ישראל:
22
[A man of the latter status] is forbidden to marry a female mamzer. Even a female mamzer whose status is questionable is forbidden to him. For perhaps one of them is not a mamzer, but the other is definitely a mamzer. A mamzer by Rabbinic decree may marry a female mamzer by Rabbinic decree.71 Similarly, in any other instances [where a person is forbidden to marry] because of a doubt, one person of this status may not marry another.72
כב
ואסור לישא ממזרת ואפילו ממזרת מספק אסורה לו שמא אחד מהן אינו ממזר והשני ממזר ודאי וממזר של דבריהם מותר לישא ממזרת של דבריהם וכן שאר הספיקות אסורין לישא זה מזה:
23
What is implied? Shitukim, asufim, and those whose status as mamzerim is indefinite are forbidden to marry each other. If they married, the union may not be maintained. Instead, they must divorce with a formal bill of divorce.73 The offspring of such relationships are [mamzerim of] indefinite status like their parents.
Individuals of indefinite status like this have no option except to marry converts.74 The status of their offspring follows their blemish.
כג
כיצד שתוקים ואסופים וספק ממזרים אסורים לבוא זה עם זה ואם נשאו לא יקיימו אלא יוציאו בגט והולד ספק כאבותיו ואין לספיקות אלו תקנה אלא שישאו מן הגרים והולד הולך אחר הפגום:
24
What is implied? When a shituki or an asufi marries a female convert or a freed maid-servant, a convert, or a freed servant marries a female shituki or asufi, the offspring are shitukim or asufim.
כד
כיצד שתוקי או אסופי שנשא גיורת או משוחררת או גר ומשוחרר שנשא שתוקית או אסופית הולד שתוקי או אסופי:
25
When an asufi is found in a city inhabited by gentiles, whether the majority are gentiles or the majority are Jews, the child is considered as gentile of indefinite status with regard to his lineage.75 If he consecrates a woman, she needs a bill of divorce because of the doubt.76 If someone kills him, he is not executed for doing so.77
כה
האסופי שנמצא בעיר שיש בה עכו"ם בין שהיה רוב עכו"ם או רוב ישראל ה"ז ספק עכו"ם לענין יחוסין קידש אשה צריכה גט מספק מי שהרגו לא היה נהרג עליו:
26
If the court had him immersed for the sake of conversion78or he immersed on his own initiative after he attained majority, his status is the same as any asufi that is found in Jewish cities.79
If the majority of the inhabitants of the city are gentile, it is permitted to feed him meat from animals that were not ritually slaughtered.80 If the majority were Jewish, we return his lost articles as is the law with regard to Jews. If the populations are equally balanced,81 it is a mitzvah to maintain his life82 and we remove an avalanche from him on the Sabbath.83 With regard to damages, we follow the same principle that applies in all cases of doubt in financial law: When a person who seeks to expropriate [money] from a colleague, the burden of proof is upon him.84
כו
הטבילוהו בית דין לשם גרות או שטבל משהגדיל הרי הוא כשאר אסופים הנמצאים בערי ישראל היה רוב העיר עכו"ם מותר להאכילו נבילות היה רובן ישראל מחזירין לו אבידתו כישראל מחצה על מחצה מצוה להחיותו כישראל ומפקחין עליו את הגל בשבת והרי הוא לענין נזקין ככל ספק ממון המוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה:
27
It appears to me that whenever there is a gentile woman or a maid-servant who is fit to give birth in a city, since an asufi that is discovered there is considered to possibly have the status of a gentile or a servant, if he marries a female convert as we stated,85 there is a doubt whether his wife is a married woman.86 One who enters into relations with her is not liable, because we do not execute individuals when there is a doubt involved.87
Similarly, it appears to me that when a shituki marries a woman who could be forbidden to him as an ervah,88 there is a doubt whether she is a married woman, for consecration is not effective with regard to the ariot.
כז
יראה לי שכל מדינה שיש בה שפחה או עכו"ם הראויה לילד הואיל והאסופי הנמצא שם ספק עכו"ם או ספק עבד כשישא הגיורת כמו שביארנו הרי זו ספק אשת איש והבא עליה פטור שאין הורגין על ספק וכן יראה לי שהשתוקי שנשא אשה שאפשר שהיא ערוה עליו והרי היא ספק אשת איש שאין קידושין תופסין בעריות:
28
כח
ואי זו היא האשה שאפשר שתהיה ערוה עליו כל אשה שהיה אביה או אחיה קיים כשנתעברה בו אמו וכל אשה שנתגרשה או נתאלמנה שמא אשת אביו היא או אשת אחי אביו:
29
What is the source on which I rely to say that a shituki or an asufi are not forbidden to marry any woman who could be forbidden to him as an ervah?91 For an acceptable child whose mother was questioned92is not forbidden to marry any woman who could be forbidden to him as an ervah. And it is written in the Torah [Leviticus 19:29]: "Do not desecrate your daughter to have her act promiscuously." [Commenting on this verse,] our Sages state:93 If this would happen, a father will marry his daughter and a brother will marry his sister.
If the law was that anyone who does not definitely know the identity of his father would be forbidden to marry any woman who could be forbidden to him as an ervah, this situation could not arise and the earth would never become filled with incestuous relations.94 From this,95 we learn that we do not forbid ariot and consider them as relatives because of the doubt unless we definitely know that she is forbidden to him as an ervah. For were we to say this, all of the orphans in the world who did not know their fathers would be forbidden to marry in all situations lest they encounter a forbidden relationship.
כט
ומנין אני אומר שאין השתוקי והאסופי אסור בכל אשה שאפשר שתהיה ערוה עליו שהרי הכשר שנבדקה אמו אינו אסור בכל אשה שאפשר שתהיה ערוה עליו והרי נאמר בתורה אל תחלל את בתך להזנותה ואמרו חכמים שאם יעשה זה נמצא אב נושא בתו ואח נושא אחותו ואילו היה הדין שכל מי שאינו יודע אביו בודאי אסור בכל אשה שאפשר שתהיה ערוה עליו לא היינו באים למדה הזאת לעולם ולא תהיה הארץ מלאה זמה הא למדת שאין אוסרין עריות ומחזיקין אותן בשאר בשר בספק עד שיודע בודאי שזו ערוה עליו שאם אתה אומר כן כל היתומים שבעולם שלא הכירו אבותיהם היו אסורין להנשא בכ"מ שמא יפגעו בערוה:
30
When a child was abandoned on the road and afterwards,96 one came and said: "He is my son and I abandoned him," his word is accepted. Similarly, the mother's word is accepted. If the child was taken in from the marketplace and afterwards, his father and mother came and said: "This is our son," their word is not accepted. [The rationale is that] he has already been categorized as an asufi.
In the years of famine, their word is accepted. It is because of the famine that they abandoned him, for they desire that others sustain them. Therefore they remained silent until the child was gathered in.
ל
הולד שהיה מושלך בדרך ובא אחד ואמר בני הוא ואני השלכתיו נאמן וכן אמו נאמנת נאסף מן השוק ובאו אביו ואמר אחר כן ואמרו בננו הוא אין נאמנין הואיל ויצא עליו שם אסופי ובשני רעבון נאמנין שמפני רעב השליכוהו והן רוצין שיזונו אותם אחרים ולפיכך שתקו עד שנאסף:
31
If the child was found circumcised, bundled, salted,97 blue eye-paint98 was applied to his eyes, an amulet was placed around his neck,99 it was placed under a interwoven tree that a wild beast could not enter and was close to the city, or it was found in a synagogue near the public domain or at the side of the public domain, the laws pertaining to an asufi do not apply. Since [the parents] are protecting the child so that it does not die, we can assume that it is acceptable.100
If, however, it is abandoned in the midst of the road or far away from a city, even under a tree, or in a synagogue, or it is found hanging in a place accessible by a wild beast,101 it is considered as an asufi.
לא
נמצא הולד מהול או שהוחתל או שהומלח או שהיה הכוחל בעיניו או הקמיעין בצוארו או שנמצא תחת אילן מסובך שאין חיה נכנסת לו והיה סמוך לעיר או שנמצא בבית הכנסת הסמוך לר"ה או בצידי ר"ה אין כאן משום אסופי מאחר שהן משמרין אותו שלא ימות בחזקת כשר הוא אבל אם נמצא מושלך באמצע הדרך או רחוק מן העיר אפילו תחת אילן או בבית הכנסת או שנמצא תלוי באילן מקום שחיה מגעת לו הרי זה אסופי:
32
A mid-wife's word is accepted if she states: "This child is a priest," "...a Levite," "...a netin,"102 or "...a mamzer," because the child's lineage has not been established and is not known.
When does the above apply? When her faithfulness has been established and an objection is not raised against her. If, however, an objection was raised against her and one person said: "She is testifying falsely," her word is not accepted.103 The child is considered as acceptable,104 but is not considered as [a priest or Levite].105
לב
נאמנת חיה לומר זה הבן כהן הוא או לוי או נתין או ממזר מפני שלא הוחזק ואין אנו יודעין יחוסן בד"א בשהוחזקה בנאמנות ולא ערער עליה אדם אבל אם ערער עליה אפילו אחד ואמר בשקר מעידה אינה נאמנת והרי הבן בחזקת כשר ואין לו ייחוס:
33
It is a clear matter that a shituki is forbidden to marry a shituki and an asufi is forbidden to marry an asufi, because their status is doubtful.106 Nevertheless, even mamzerim of a definite status and netinim may intermarry. The offspring is a mamzer.107 A shituki or an asufi are permitted to marry netinim and other converts. The offspring is considered as [a mamzer] of doubtful status.
לג
דבר ברור שהשתוקי אסור לישא שתוקית ואסופי אסור באסופית מפני שהן ספיקות אבל ממזרים ודאים ונתינים מותרים לבוא זה בזה והולד ממזר ושתוקי ואסופי מותרין בנתינים ובשאר הגרים והולד ספק:
FOOTNOTES
1.
These refer to a variety of incestuous and adulterous relationships as listed in the beginning of this text.
2.
I.e., he has a spiritual taint to his character.
3.
The difference between whether relations were willful, forced, or inadvertent is relevant only with regard to the punishment received by the man and woman. The child born of the offspring is considered as a mamzer regardless. This law teaches us an important lesson with regard to sexual morality. The effects of our deeds on our offspring is binding, regardless of whether we repent and/or seek to refine ourselves afterwards.
4.
As is the punishment for the violation of any Scriptural commandment.
5.
For the consecration alone does not involve the violation of a Scriptural commandment.
6.
Here the Rambam mentions both the man and the woman, for both are forbidden to engage in relations. In the former clause, he refers to the man, because the consecration is his responsibility.
7.
The Rambam's wording implies that the couple do receive lashes for their relations, for they have violated the prohibition: "There shall not be a promiscuous woman" (Deuteronomy 23:18) which forbids relations that are not carried out for the sake of marriage (Maggid Mishneh, based on Hilchot Ishut 1:4).
The Rambam's opinion is that the prohibition against relations with a mamzerapplies only within the context of marriage depends on the prooftext cited above: "A mamzer shall not enter the congregation of God," i.e., shall not marry among the Jewish people. According to the Rambam, the implication is that the prohibition must involve marriage (Rav Avraham, the son of the Rambam, as quoted in the Kessef Mishneh).
The Ra'avad, the Ramban, Rav Moshe HaCohen, and others do not agree with the Rambam's ruling and maintain that this prohibition applies even if there was no consecration. Relations alone are sufficient to establish liability. See the discussion of the issue in the Maggid Mishneh and Kessef Mishneh.
8.
Chapter 17, Halachah 3.
9.
I.e., and her second husband died or divorced her. The Rambam describes the prohibition against a man remarrying his divorcee after she was consecrated by another man in Hilchot Gerushin 11:12. The Maggid Mishneh states that the Rambam feels it necessary to emphasize that the offspring of such relations are not mamzerim even though the prohibition is not punishable by kereit, because Deuteronomy 24:4, the source for the prohibition describes such relations as "an abomination." That term is often used with regard to the ariot, the more severe sexual prohibitions.
10.
Thus although the woman committed adultery and is forbidden to her husband, the child is not considered as a mamzer. The rationale is that we pay no attention to the seed of the gentile or the servant, as stated in Halachah 4. Halachicly, it is as if the woman conceived the child independently.
11.
This law is based on the same rationale. Since we pay no attention to the seed of the servant or the gentile, the child takes on the same quality as the mother. Just as she is disqualified, so, too, is he.
12.
For there is no difference between him and other gentiles. See the following halachah.
13.
Whether Jewish, gentile, or a servant.
The Maggid Mishneh and Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer 7:17) quote views which state that if the offspring is female, she may not marry into the priesthood.
14.
The mamzer will purchase the servant and treat her as his wife. The children she bears him will be his property and they will not be mamzerim. If he desires, he may free them, at which point, their status is the same as other converts. If, by contrast, a mamzer would marry a convert, although there is no prohibition involved, the offspring would be mamzerim (Halachah 7).
15.
As she is forbidden to an ordinary Jewish male by Rabbinic decree (Chapter 12, Halachah 11).
16.
There are Rabbis today who advise that this practice should be followed by mamzerim. They should meet gentile woman, have them convert as servants, and live with them.
17.
E.g., a slave was owned by two partners, one of whom freed him and one did not. See Hilchot Avadim 5:4.
18.
The dimension of the father which was free causes him to have a dimension of mamzerut. For a free man who engages in relations with a married woman conceives a mamzer.
19.
For when a servant engages in relations with a married woman, the offspring are acceptable.
20.
This is forbidden to him as to other acceptable Jews, because of the dimension of his being that shares that status.
Rashi differs with this approach and maintains that he should be permitted to engage in relations with a maid-servant. See Chelkat Mechokek 4:19, Beit Shmuel 4:28.
21.
He may marry a convert or a freed servant, but their offspring share his status as stated in the Halachah 7.
22.
The Beit Shmuel 4:35 emphasizes that although such marriages are permitted, there is a certain unadvisable dimension to it, for it is undesirable to increase the number of mamzerim among the Jewish people.
23.
I.e., although he and his parents are considered as full Jews with regard to all matters, the prohibition against marrying a mamzer does not apply to him.
24.
The Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer 4:22) quotes the Rambam's view, but also that of Rabbenu Asher which states that after ten generations a convert is forbidden to marry a female mamzer.
25.
See Chapter 13, Halachah 11.
26.
Although there are some Rishonim who differ with the Rambam, the Shulchan Aruch (loc. cit.) quotes the Rambam's view.
27.
In Halachah 1 of this chapter.
28.
See Hilchot Ishut 4:21-22 for examples of such questionable consecrations.
29.
See Hilchot Gerushin 5:13 for examples of such questionable divorces.
30.
See Hilchot Gerushin 10:7 which explains this situation. Although the marriage of the second husband is not valid, for a married woman cannot be married to another man, our Sages decreed that the second marriage be considered binding with regard to this point: That a child fathered by her first husband be considered a mamzer.
31.
The Maggid Mishneh quotes an opinion that maintains that this ruling applies only after the fact. As an initial and preferred option, a native-born Jewess should not marry such a person. The Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer 4:26) quotes the Rambam's ruling. See also Chapter 18, Halachot 13-15.
Despite the fact that we have no existing presumption regarding the child's lineage, we rule that he or she is acceptable. The rationale is that the child has no alternative; its status depends on this ruling (Maggid Mishneh).
32.
E.g., they are mamzerim.
33.
For we have no way of determining the status of the father and it is possible that the father was a mamzer.
34.
I.e., her word is not effective in conclusively determining the child's status as a mamzer for the reason the Rambam proceeds to state. Her word is accepted in having the child deemed as legitimate, but not in having him deemed as a mamzer. See also Halachah 14 and Chapter 18, Halachah 14.
35.
We assume that she was promiscuous with more than one person and thus we have no way of determining the identity of the child's father. Thus the presumed father has no way of knowing whether or not the child was actually his (Maggid Mishneh).
The Rambam maintains that this rule applies even when the woman does not have a reputation for promiscuity. See Chelkat Mechokek 4:25 and Beit Shmuel 4:40 which discuss this issue.
36.
Shituki means "one who is silenced." Rashi, Yevamot 37a, explains that this name is given because the child will call out for his father and his mother will silence him.
37.
The term asufi means "one who was gathered in," i.e., the child was taken in from the street.
38.
Halachah 31 qualifies this ruling, stating that it applies only when it appears that the parents abandoned the child to die. If it is evident that the parents desired the child to live, e.g., they circumcised it, they gave it medical treatment, and/or placed it in a location where it was likely to be found, we assume that it was of acceptable lineage and was abandoned only because its parents were unable to provide for it.
39.
I.e., he does not inherit the named person's property, nor is his wife freed from the obligation of chalitzah if he dies childless (Maggid Mishneh). See Hilchot Yibbum ViChalitzah 3:4 where the latter law is discussed.
40.
See Halachah 12.
41.
I.e., he is not my son, but born from an adulterous relationship.
42.
Note Hilchot Nachalot 4:3 which states that once a father acknowledges a child as his son, he cannot declare him as illegitimate afterwards.
43.
For by invalidating the legitimacy of the son, he would automatically be invalidating the lineage of his offspring and the Torah did not give him that power as the Rambam continues to explain. See also Hilchot Nachalot 4:2.
44.
The verse speaks of a father recognizing his heirs in connection with the division of his estate. If the father states that he did not father a son that was presumed to be his, that son is thus identified as a mamzer, for he will have been conceived through adultery.
45.
The latter two concepts are relevant with regard to the sons of priests as will be explained in Chapter 19.
46.
His statement is not accepted as testimony, for a person may not testify against himself. Nevertheless, the restrictions he placed against himself are binding. It is as if he took a vow, forbidding himself to marry a native-born Jewess (Beit Shmuel 4:53)
47.
For we fear that he made these statements in order to be granted this leniency.
48.
According to Jewish Law, marriage is a two-staged process involving: a) consecration, kiddushin or erusin, and b) marriage, nissuin, when the couple begin living together as man and wife. From the time of consecration onward, however, the woman is forbidden to engage in relations with other men.
49.
These laws differ from those applying to a married woman, as stated in Halachot 19-20. The rationale is that we do not assume that a couple that is merely consecrated share intimacy with the same degree of consistency as a married couple. Nor is a consecrated woman likely to the same degree of fidelity as a married woman.
50.
He is forbidden to marry a native-born Jewess for it is possible that he is a mamzer. He is forbidden to marry a female mamzer, because it is possible that he is an acceptable Jewish male.
51.
As in Halachah 11. In this instance, since a bond has already been established between the couple, it is even more reasonable to accept her statements. This is speaking about a situation where the husband is not present to be questioned (Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer 4:27). The Rama states that the child is also considered as the presumed father's son with regard to receiving a share in the inheritance.
52.
As stated in Halachah 15. In contrast to a situation where the presumed father could not be asked, this child is definitely a mamzer and is forbidden to marry a native-born Jew or Jewess (ibid.).
53.
The term literally means "promiscuous woman," but has a specific halachic meaning, as the Rambam states in Chapter 18, Halachah 1: "A woman who entered into relations with a man who she is forbidden to marry." After consecration, every man would be prohibited to this woman.
The Torah gave the husband the right to determine his son's status. He does not, however, have the right to determine that of the woman (Ketubot 13a).
54.
After her first husband died.
55.
Nevertheless, since the man who consecrated her contradicts her statements, the initial and preferred option is for her not to marry a priest (Beit Shmuel 4:47). Similarly, if the person who consecrated her is a priest, he is forbidden to marry her.
56.
If the woman had been forbidden to the priesthood, her offspring would not be considered priests, as stated in Chapter 19.
57.
This is speaking about an instance when we cannot clarify the child's status by asking the mother.
58.
We have translated the term according to the prevalent understanding of the Rambam's ruling. Note, however, the Rama (Even HaEzer 4:29) who questions whether these laws also apply with regard to a woman who was only consecrated.
59.
And thus could not have fathered the child.
60.
The Beit Shmuel 4:52 interprets the Rambam's words as meaning "the child is a mamzer of questionable status," for the possibility exists that he was conceived by a gentile.
61.
As indicated by Halachah 11, the woman's word is accepted with regard to defining the legitimacy of her child's lineage.
62.
He does not know with how many people and with whom she was promiscuous.
63.
Although a full-term pregnancy is nine months, our Sages spoke of the possibility of a woman carrying a baby for twelve months. Although this is abnormal, when a man left his home between nine and twelve months before a child was born, they desired to consider that possibility rather than deem the child as a mamzer. See Yevamot 80b.
Rama (Even HaEzer 4:14) states that the above leniency is granted only when we do not see moral lapses in the woman's conduct. If, however, she conducts herself in an unbecoming manner, we suspect the child's lineage.
64.
Rashi (Yevamot 27b) states that one should marry the offspring only when there is no other alternative.
65.
And hence may not marry a priest. Even an Israelite should refrain from marrying such a woman (Maggid Mishneh). After the fact, if she marries a priest, we do not require a divorce (Beit Shmuel 4:24).
66.
Sotah 27b raises this question, but leaves the matter unresolved. Accordingly, it is appropriate to be stringent (Maggid Mishneh).
67.
According to the Rambam, the general principle is that according to Scriptural Law, whenever there is a doubt whether an act is forbidden, there is no prohibition. Our Rabbis, however, decreed that when there is a doubt with regard to a Scriptural prohibition, we are stringent. Others differ and maintain that according to Scriptural Law, if there is a doubt concerning a prohibition, it must be observed. There is a special leniency, stemming from a verse from the Torah, when a doubt arises whether a person is a mamzer or not. See Chapter 18, Halachah 17.
68.
See Halachah 10.
69.
See Halachah 12.
70.
See Halachah 13.
71.
For there is no Scriptural prohibition involved.
72.
As the Rambam continues to explain in the following halachah.
73.
For the marriage, though forbidden, is binding according to Jewish Law.
74.
As stated in Halachah 7.
75.
We treat him as neither a Jew nor a gentile as the Rambam continues to illustrate. The Maggid Mishneh explains that the ruling follows the principle: Whenever a doubt arises and the permitted and the forbidden entities are fixed, we do not follow the majority, but instead, considered the situation as equally balanced.
76.
I.e., the couple are not allowed to remain married for perhaps he is a gentile, but a formal divorce is necessary, for perhaps he is a Jew and the consecration is binding.
77.
For perhaps he is a gentile.
78.
As is the law which applies with regard to any child convert (Chapter 13, Halachah 7).
79.
He is bound by the restrictions applying to a mamzer whose status is doubtful despite the possibility that they might not apply because he is a convert.
The Ra'avad rules that in such a situation, he is considered as any other convert and allowed to marry a native-born Jewesses The Maggid Mishneh explains the rationale for the Ra'avad's position, stating that there is a multiple doubt involved: Maybe he is not of Jewish origin, and if he is of Jewish origin, maybe he is not a mamzer. Moreover, the entire prohibition against an asufi is Rabbinic in origin. (For according to Scriptural Law, only a mamzer whose status is definite is forbidden). The Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer 4:33) quotes the Rambam's view. The Chelkat Mechokek 4:31 questions why the Ra'avad's view is not cited, but the Beit Shmuel 4:54 explains that according to the Rambam, with regard to questions of lineage, we are stringent even in such situations.
80.
This and the following laws apply when the person did not convert (Maggid Mishneh). For the principle that we consider the populations as equally balanced applies only with regard to questions of lineage.
81.
The Kessef Mishneh notes that Ketubot 16b, the source for the Rambam's ruling, could be interpreted as making such a statement only in a situation where the majority of the inhabitants are Jewish. He, however, offers an interpretation of the passage which conforms to the Rambam's ruling.
82.
I.e., we must support him in situations of need.
83.
To save his life even though doing so involves violation of the Sabbath laws.
The Maggid Mishneh cites opinions which maintain that this ruling applies even if the majority of the inhabitants are gentiles. For when a question of life and death is involved, we do not require a majority. See Hilchot Shabbat 2:20-21 and notes for an explanation of the matter.
84.
There are certain situations where the laws applying to gentiles are more severe than those applying to a Jew. For example, if an ox belonging to a gentile that is not known to gore does in fact gore an ox belonging to a Jew, the gentile is required to pay full damages. A Jew, by contrast, would be required to pay only partial damages. If such a situation would arise with regard to a person's whose identity in doubt, he could tell the plaintiff: "If you prove I am not a Jew, I will pay full damages."
85.
Halachah 23. I.e., if he marries without undergoing conversion (Chelkat Mechokek 4:36).
86.
For perhaps he is a gentile or a servant. Just as he could have been born by a Jewish mother, he could have been born by one of these. We do not consider the degree of probability involved.
87.
Needless to say, such relations are forbidden. The Rambam is emphasizing that punishment is not meted out. Because punishment is not given unless we are certain there is a prohibition involved.
The Ra'avad differs with the Rambam's view and maintains that even with regard to capital punishment, we follow the probability. Hence if the majority of the inhabitants of the city are Jewish, we assume that the asufi is Jewish and his consecration of the woman is binding. The Maggid Mishneh justifies the Rambam's ruling, explaining that in all instances, the asufi is not considered as definitely Jewish.
88.
A woman who could be a close relative with whom relations are forbidden. See the following halachah.
89.
For perhaps the woman he marries is his sister (since he does not know the identity of his father, it is possible that her father was also his father) or the sister of his father.
90.
I.e., before she was divorced or widowed her husband (or her husband's brother) fathered the shituki.
91.
The license the Rambam speaks about applies according to Scriptural Law. According to Rabbinic Law, a shituki is forbidden to marry a native-born Jew or Jewess (Halachot 21-23).
92.
See Halachah 11.
93.
Yevamot 37b. The verse refers to a situation where a father allows his daughter to act promiscuously and thus it will not be known who is the father of her child. If this would happen in numerous instances, there would be many children who did not know the identity of their fathers and it would be possible for a brother to marry his sister.
94.
For if a man who did not know the identity of his father were restricted in the above manner, there would be no room for our Sages' concern, for he would be prohibited against marrying any woman whose ties could in any way be incestuous.
95.
I.e., from the fact that our Sages did not enforce such a restriction.
96.
Before the child was brought home.
97.
It was customary in the Talmudic era to apply salt to newborn babies to strengthen their limbs.
98.
This substance was used in the Talmudic era for both medicinal and cosmetic purposes.
99.
I.e., the mystical writing in the amulet was intended to protect the child.
100.
We assume that a mother may want to abandon a child who is a mamzer so that it will die and there will be no sign of her sin. If, however, she and/or the father performed acts which indicate that they desired the child to live - even though they did not desire to care for it themselves - we assume that the child was of legitimate origin.
101.
I.e., in a place where it would most likely die or be killed.
102.
See Chapter 12, Halachot 22-23.
103.
The Beit Shmuel 4:60 explains that generally, the protest of one witness is not accepted against testimony which was previously accepted. In this instance, however, the child's identity is not known at all and there is no existing presumption regarding his status. Hence the protest cancels out the original testimony.
104.
Even though the midwidfe said that he was a mamzer.
105.
If the midwife said he was of this lineage.
106.
I.e., it is possible that one of them will be acceptable and one illegitimate.
107.
For the child takes on the blemished identity, as stated in Halachah 7.
Issurei Biah - Chapter Sixteen
1
A man with maimed testicles or a severed member who married a native-born Jewess and engaged in sexual relations1 is punished by lashes, as [Deuteronomy 23:2] states: "A person with maimed testicles or a severed member may not enter the congregation of God."
Such a man may marry a female convert or a freed maid-servant. Even a priest with maimed testicles may marry a female convert or a freed maid-servant, because the holiness [of the priesthood] does not rest upon him. He is permitted to marry even a female netin2 or a woman whose status is in doubt.
א
פצוע דכא וכרות שפכה שנשאו בת ישראל ובעלו לוקין שנאמר לא יבוא פצוע דכא וכרות שפכה בקהל י"י ומותרין לישא גיורת ומשוחררת ואפי' כהן שהוא פצוע דכא מותר לישא גיורת ומשוחררת לפי שאינו בקדושתו ואפילו נתינה או אחד מן הספיקות מותרת לו:
2
Since a man with a maimed organ is forbidden to marry among the Jewish people, [our Sages] did not decree against his marrying a female netin or a woman whose status is in doubt.3A man with maimed testicles or a severed member is, however, forbidden to [marry] a female mamzer4 whose status is definite, because this prohibition is of Scriptural origin.
ב
הואיל ופצוע דכא אסור לבוא בקהל לא גזרו בו על הנתינים ולא על הספיקות אבל פצוע דכא וכרות שפכה אסור בממזרת ודאית שהרי אסורה מן התורה:
3
What is meant by maimed testicles? Anyone whose testicles have been wounded. What is meant by a severed member? Anyone whose shaft has been cut off.
There are three organs to which wounds can disqualify a male: the shaft, the testicles, and the tract in which the semen develops. If one of these three was wounded or crushed, the man is disqualifed.5
ג
ואי זהו פצוע דכא כל שנפצעו הביצים שלו וכרות שפכה כל שנכרת הגיד שלו ובשלשה איברין אפשר שיפסל הזכר בגיד ובביצים ובשבילין שבהן תתבשל שכבת זרע והן הנקראין חוטי ביצים וכיון שנפצע אחד מג' איברין אלו או נדך הרי זה פסול:
4
What is implied? If the shaft is wounded, crushed, or cut off from the corona or above the corona,6 he is disqualified. If a portion at the top of the corona is cut off, but even a hairsbreadth [of the corona] remains which surrounds the entire shaft, he is acceptable. If the shaft was cut like a pen is sharpened or like a funnel above the corona,7 he is acceptable.8
ד
כיצד נפצע הגיד או נדך או שנכרת העטרה או למעלה מעטרה פסול ואם נכרת מראש העטרה ונשתייר ממנה אפילו כחוט השערה מוקף לכל הגיד כשר נכרת הגיד למעלה מעטרה כקולמוס או כמרזב כשר:
5
If the shaft is perforated below the corona, he is acceptable. [The following rules apply if] the corona itself is perforated. If when the person ejaculates, semen emerges from the hole, he is unacceptable. If the hole becomes closed, he returns to acceptable status. If the shaft is perforated below the corona when the portion above is in the midst of corona, he is disqualified. For the entire corona must be intact [for the person to be acceptable].
ה
ניקב למטה מעטרה כשר ניקבה העטרה עצמה אם כשיראה קרי תצא שכבת זרע מן הנקב פסול נסתם הנקב חזר להכשרו ניקב למטה מעטרה שכנגדו למעלה בתוך העטרה פסול שהעטרה כולה מעכבת:
6
If the seminal tract becomes obstructed and the semen emerges from the urinary tract, he is unacceptable.
ו
נסתם שביל שכבת זרע וחזר לראות שכבת זרע משביל שמשתין בו הרי זה פסול:
7
If both or one of the testicles9 were severed, wounded, or crushed or one was lacking or pierced by a hole, he is unacceptable. If both or one of the seminal tracts are severed, crushed, or wounded, he is unacceptable.
ז
נכרתו הביצים או אחת מהן או שנפצעה אחת מהן או שנדוכה אחת מהן או שחסרה או שנקבה הרי זה פסול נכרתו חוטי ביצים או אחת או שנדך או נפצע הרי זה פסול:
8
If one of the seminal tracts was perforated into the urinary tract and the person urinates from two sources - the seminal tract and the urinary tract - he is acceptable.10
ח
ניקב חוט מחוטי הביצים לשביל מי רגלים והרי הוא מטיל מים משני מקומות משביל המים ומשביל שכבת זרע ה"ז כשר:
9
Whenever we have used the term "unacceptable" in this context, the implication is that [the malady] was not caused by the hand of heaven, e.g., [his testicles] were severed by a man or a dog, he was struck by a sharp end, or the like. If, however, he was born with maimed testicles or a severed member, or without testicles, he became ill because of a bodily ailment and these organs ceased to function, or an ulcer arose in them that caused them to waste away or be severed,11 he is permitted to marry among the Jewish people. For all of these blemishes are caused by the hand of heaven.
ט
כל פסול שאמרנו בענין זה כשלא היו בידי שמים כגון שכרתו אדם או כלב או הכהו קוץ וכיוצא בדברים אלו אבל אם נולד כרות שפכה או פצוע דכא או שנולד בלא ביצים או שחלה מחמת גופו ובטלו ממנו אברים אלו או שנולד בהם שחין והמסה אותן או כרתן ה"ז כשר לבא בקהל שכל אלו בידי שמים:
10
It is forbidden to destroy a male's reproductive organs. This applies to humans and also to animals, beasts, and fowl, both from a kosher species and from a non-kosher species, in Eretz Yisrael and in the Diaspora. Although [Leviticus 22:24] states: "And you shall not do this in your land,"12 According to the Oral Tradition,13 we learned that this [prohibition] is applicable in every place. The verse teaches that one should not act in this manner among the Jewish people, not with their own bodies, nor with the bodies of others.
Whoever castrates [a person or an animal] should be lashed14according to Scriptural Law everywhere. Even a person who castrates a person who has been castrated should be lashed.
י
אסור להפסיד איברי זרע בין באדם בין בבהמה חיה ועוף אחד טמאים ואחד טהורים בין בארץ ישראל בין בחוצה לארץ אע"פ שנאמר ובארצכם לא תעשו מפי השמועה למדו שדבר זה נוהג בכל מקום וענין הכתוב לא יעשה זאת בישראל בין בגופן בין בגוף אחרים וכל המסרס לוקה מן התורה בכ"מ ואפילו מסרס אחר מסרס לוקה:
11
What is implied? One came and severed a person's member, another cut off or pulled away his testicles and a third cut his seminal tract; all receive lashes. Similarly, if one crushed a person's member, another pulled it away, and a third cut it off, all receive lashes. [This applies] although the last person castrated a person - or an animal, beast, or fowl - who had already been castrated.
A person who castrates a female - whether a human or other species - is not liable.15
יא
כיצד הרי שבא אחד וכרת את הגיד ובא אחר וכרת את הביצים או נתקן ובא אחר וכרת חוטי ביצים או שבא אחד ומעך את הגיד ובא אחר ונתקו ובא אחר וכרתו כולן לוקין ואף על פי שלא סרס האחרון אלא מסורס בין באדם בין בבהמה חיה ועוף והמסרס את הנקבה בין באדם בין בשאר מינים פטור:
12
It is forbidden to have a man or a male of another species drink a potion that causes him to lose his sexual potency. Lashes are not given, however. A woman is permitted to drink a potion to cause her to lose her sexual potency so that she will not conceive.16
If a person bound a man and set a dog or other animal upon him until his sexual organs were maimed or he made him sit in water or snow until his sexual organs lost their potency, he is not given lashes unless he castrates him by hand. It is, however, fitting to subject him to stripes for rebellious conduct.17
יב
המשקה עיקרין לאדם או לשאר מינים כדי לסרסו ה"ז אסור ואין לוקין עליו ואשה מותרת לשתות עיקרין כדי לסרסה עד שלא תלד הרי שכפה את האדם ושסה בו כלב או שאר חיות עד שעשאוהו כרות שפכה או שהושיבו במים או בשלג עד שביטל ממנו איברי תשמיש אינו לוקה עד שיסרס בידו וראוי להכותו מכת מרדות:
13
It is forbidden to tell a gentile to castrate one of our animals. If the gentile took the animal and castrated it on his own initiative, it is permitted.18If a Jew acts deceitfully in this context,19 he should be punished and required to sell the animal to another Jew. He may [sell it] to his son who is past majority, but not to his son who is below majority, nor may he give it to him.20
יג
אסור לומר לעכו"ם לסרס בהמה שלנו ואם לקחה הוא מעצמו וסרסה מותר ואם הערים ישראל בדבר זה קונסין אותו ומוכרה לישראל אחר ואפילו לבנו הגדול מותר למוכרה אבל לבנו הקטן אינו מוכרה לו ולא נותנה לו:
FOOTNOTES
1.
As explained in Chapter 15, Halachah 2, all of the prohibitions against sexual relations that involve the violation of a negative commandment alone involve a situation where the woman has been consecrated. As mentioned in the notes to that halachah, there are other authorities who differ with the Rambam on this matter.
2.
See Chapter 12, Halachot 22-23.
3.
To anyone other than a halachic authority, the Rambam's ruling appears problematic: A woman whose status is in doubt is either a female mamzer or an acceptable native-born Jewess. In either case, this man would be forbidden to marry her. Why then is he permitted when her status is not clarified?
Halachically, however, Kiddushin 73a interprets the phrase "He shall not enter God's congregation," as forbidding one from marrying only a person whose lineage is definite. The Rambam maintains that even the Sages did not enforce a decree in this instance. (See Beit Shmuel 5:2.)
4.
The Rambam's position is that although having a maimed organ disqualifies a priest from the holiness of the priesthood, it does not disqualify an Israelite from the holiness with which he is endowed. The Ra'avad differs with this ruling and states that a man with a maimed organ may marry a female mamzer. The Maggid Mishneh mentions other authorities who follow both of these views. The Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer 5:1) follows the position of the Rambam, while the Rama mentions the other view.
5.
In his Commentary to the Mishnah (Yevamot 8:2), the Rambam states that any difficulty which renders a man sterile according to medical knowledge disqualifies him from marriage.
6.
I.e., any portion of the shaft between the corona and the body that is cut off disqualifies the person.
7.
I.e., any portion of the shaft between the corona and the body that is cut off disqualifies the person.
8.
Rashi (Yevamot 75b) differs and disqualifies such a person. The Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer 5:3) quotes both views without stating which should be followed.
9.
The Rama (Even HaEzer 5:7) states that there are authorities who do not disqualify a person if one testicle is intact. He states, however, that since a Scriptural prohibition is involved, it is preferable to follow the more stringent view.
10.
For this difficulty will not prevent him from conceiving a child.
11.
Rabbenu Asher differs with regard to the latter two instances and does not consider illness and the like as "by the hand of heaven." Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer 5:10) quotes both views without stating which one should be followed. [See also Rav Kappach's notes to the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Yevamot 8:2) which discuss whether or not this ruling involved a change of mind for the Rambam.]
12.
Which could be understood as implying that the prohibition applies only in Eretz Yisrael.
13.
Sifra to the above verse.
14.
The punishment given for the violation of a Scriptural commandment.
15.
The Maggid Mishneh and the Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer 5:11 interpret the Rambam's statements as meaning that although there is a prohibition against doing so, lashes are not given.
16.
This ruling serves as the basis for contemporary Rabbis to permit women to take oral contraceptives.
17.
The punishment given for violating a Rabbinic commandment.
18.
As long as the gentile acted on his own initiative, the Jew is not obligated to suffer a loss.
19.
I.e., encouraging a gentile to castrate the animal without actually telling him to do so.
20.
For a son below majority is not considered as having an independent financial domain. See the Rama (Even HaEzer 5:14) who mentions more particulars concerning this issue.
Issurei Biah - Chapter Seventeen
1
There are three women who are forbidden to all priests [by Scriptural Law]: a divorcee, a zonah,1 and a challalah.2 There are four [forbidden to] a High Priest. These three and a widow.
Bound by [the prohibitions applying to a High Priest] are one anointed with the oil of anointment3 or one who assumed his position by wearing the additional garments,4 one serving in that capacity, a High Priest who was appointed and then removed from the office, and a priest anointed to lead a war.5 All of these are commanded [to marry] a virgin and are forbidden to marry a widow.6
א
שלש נשים נאסרו על כל הכהנים גרושה זונה וחללה ועל כהן גדול ארבע אלו השלש והאלמנה אחד כהן גדול משוח בשמן המשחה או המרובה בגדים ואחד כהן העובד ואחד כהן גדול שמנוהו ועבר וכן כהן משוח מלחמה כולן מצווין על הבתולה ואסורין באלמנה:
2
Any priest who marries7 one of these three women - whether a High Priest or an ordinary priest - and engages in relations is punished by lashes. If he enters into promiscuous relations with her, he does not receive lashes for [violating the prohibitions against] a zonah, a divorcee, and a challalah.8 [This is derived from the fact that Leviticus 21:7 states the prohibition using the term:] "They shall not take." [Implied is that the prohibition does not apply] unless he takes - marries - [the woman] and enters into relations with her.9
ב
כל כהן שנשא אחת מהשלש נשים אלו בין גדול בין הדיוט ובעל לוקה ואם בא עליה דרך זנות אינו לוקה משום זונה או גרושה או חללה שנאמר לא יקחו עד שיקח ויבעול:
3
When, by contrast, a High Priest enters into relations with a widow, he receives lashes even though he did not consecrate her. [This is derived from ibid.:15 which states]: "And he shall not desecrate...." As soon as he engages in relations with her, he desecrates her and disqualifies her from the priesthood.10A zonah, challalah, and divorcee, by contrast, are disqualified from the priesthood before one enters into relations with them.11 Therefore a High Priest alone receives lashes for merely entering into relations with a widow even though she was not consecrated. For he desecrates her and he is warned against desecrating people of acceptable lineage, [other] women and his offspring.
ג
אבל כהן גדול שבא על אלמנה לוקה אחת אע"פ שלא קידש שנאמר לא יחלל כיון שבעלה חללה ופסלה לכהונה אבל זונה וחללה וגרושה הרי הן מחוללות ועומדות קודם בעילתו ולפיכך לוקה כהן גדול לבדו על בעילת אלמנה לבדה אף על פי שאין שם קידושין שהרי חללה והוא מוזהר שלא יחלל כשרים לא אשה ולא זרעו:
4
When a High Priest consecrates a widow and enters into relations with her, he receives two sets of lashes: one because of the prohibition: "He shall not take a widow," and one because of the prohibition: "He shall not desecrate." Whether a High Priest or an ordinary priest marries one of these four, but does not engage in relations, he does not receive lashes.
ד
קידש כהן גדול אלמנה ובעלה לוקה שתים אחת משום אלמנה לא יקח ואחת משום לא יחלל ובין כהן גדול ובין כהן הדיוט שנשא אשה מן הארבע ולא בעל אינו לוקה:
5
Whenever [the priest] receives lashes, the woman [with whom he engages in relations] is given lashes.12 Whenever he does not receive lashes, she does not receive lashes. For there is no difference between a man and a woman with regard to punishments with the exception of a designated maidservant as explained.13
ה
וכל מקום שהוא לוקה היא לוקה וכל מקום שהוא אינו לוקה היא אינה לוקה שאין הפרש בין איש לאשה לעונשין זולתי בשפחה חרופה בלבד כמו שביארנו:
6
Any priest - whether a High Priest or an ordinary priest - who enters into relations with a gentile woman receives lashes for relations with a zonah.14 [There is a difference between her and a Jewish woman,]15 because she cannot be consecrated. He is forbidden to enter into relations with any zonah, whether a Jewess or a gentile.
ו
כל כהן הבא על הכותית בין גדול בין הדיוט לוקה משום זונה שהרי אינה בת קידושין והוא אסור בבעילת זונה בין ישראלית בין כותית:
7
A woman who has undergone the rite of chalitzah (a chalutzah)16 is forbidden to a priest according to the Rabbinic tradition, for she resembles a divorcee.17 [If he engages in relations with such a woman,] he is given "stripes for rebellious conduct."18
When a priest marries a woman whose status as a chalutzah is doubtful,19 he is not compelled to divorce her.20 She is acceptable21and her child is acceptable.22 For our Sages did not decree against a woman whose status as a chalutzah is doubtful, only against one who is definitely in that category. When it is questionable if a woman is a divorcee,23 a widow,24 a zonah,25 or a challalah,26 [a priest who marries her] is given "stripes for rebellious conduct" and required to divorce her with a get.27
ז
החלוצה אסורה לכהן מד"ס מפני שהיא כגרושה ומכין אותו מכת מרדות מדבריהם כהן שנשא ספק חלוצה אין מוציאין אותה מתחתיו והיא כשרה וולדה כשר מפני שלא גזרו על ספק חלוצה אלא על חלוצה ודאית וכן מי שהיתה ספק גרושה או ספק אלמנה או ספק זונה וספק חללה מכין אותו מכת מרדות ומוציא בגט:
8
There is a major general principle that applies with regard to all of the Torah's prohibitions. One prohibition does not take effect when another prohibition is in effect unless:
a) both of the prohibitions take effect at the same time;28
b) the latter prohibition forbids additional entities besides [the entity that was originally] prohibited;29
c) when the scope of the [latter] prohibition encompasses other entities together with [the entity that was originally] prohibited.30
ח
כלל גדול הוא בכל איסורים שבתורה שאין איסור חל על איסור אלא א"כ היו שני איסורין באין כאחת או שהיה האיסור האחד מוסיף דברים אחרים על אותו האיסור או אם היה כולל דברים אחרים עם איסור זה:
9
Accordingly,31 When a woman was a widow and then she became a divorcee,32 and then she became a challalah,33 and then she became a zonah,34 should a High Priest engage in relations with her afterwards, he receives four sets of lashes for engaging in relations once. For a widow is forbidden to a High Priest, but permitted to an ordinary priest.
ט
לפיכך אשה שהיתה אלמנה ונעשית גרושה ונעשית חללה ונעשית זונה ובא עליה כהן גדול אח"כ לוקה ארבע מלקיות על ביאה אחת לפי שהאלמנה אסורה לכהן גדול ומותרת להדיוט
10
When she becomes a divorcee, she becomes forbidden by an additional prohibition [for] she is also forbidden to an ordinary priest. Therefore, [even for the High Priest,] another prohibition aside from that against relations with a widow is added to her. She is, nevertheless, still permitted to partake of terumah.35If she becomes a challalah, another prohibition is added to her, for she is forbidden to partake of terumah. She is, nevertheless, still permitted to marry an Israelite.
If she becomes a zonah, another prohibition is added to her, since there is a type of promiscuous relations that would cause her to be forbidden to an Israelite, e.g., a married woman engaged in adultery voluntarily.
י
חזרה להיות גרושה נוסף בה איסור ונאסרת לכהן הדיוט לפיכך נוסף בה איסור אחר על איסור האלמנה ועדיין היא מותרת לאכול בתרומה נעשית חללה נוסף בה איסור שהרי נאסרת בתרומה ועדיין היא מותרת לישראל נעשית זונה הואיל ויש שם זנות שאוסרה על ישראל אם זינתה אשתו ברצון נוסף בה איסור אחר והוא הדין לכהן הדיוט שבא על הגרושה שנעשית חללה ואחר כך זונה שהוא לוקה שלש על ביאה אחת אבל אם נשתנה סדר זה אינו לוקה אלא אחת:
11
When a woman is widowed from several men or divorced from several men, [a High Priest or a priest] receive only one set of lashes for each time they engage in relations.39 A woman is forbidden as a widow whether she was widowed after [only] consecration or after marriage.
יא
מי שנתאלמנה מאנשים הרבה או נתגרשה מאנשים הרבה אין לוקין עליה אלא אחת על כל ביאה אלמנה בין מן האירוסין בין מן הנישואין אסורה:
12
When the brother of a High Priest dies, even if the deceased had [merely] consecrated his wife,40 [the High Priest] should not perform the rite of yibbum. Instead, he should perform chalitzah.41
If a woman became his yevamah while he was an ordinary priest and he was then appointed as the High Priest, he should not perform yibbum once he has been appointed.42 [This applies] even if he already gave his word43 [that he would marry] her while he was an ordinary priest.44 If, however, he consecrated a widow and was then appointed as a High Priest, he should marry her.45
If she was consecrated, but the status of the consecration was questionable and then the person who consecrated her died, she is considered a widow of questionable status.46
יב
כהן גדול שמת אחיו אע"פ שהוא מן האירוסין ה"ז לא ייבם אלא חולץ נפלה לו יבמה והוא כהן הדיוט ונתמנה להיות כהן גדול אף על פי שעשה בה מאמר כשהוא כהן הדיוט ה"ז לא ייבם אחר שנתמנה אבל אם אירס את האלמנה ונתמנה להיות כ"ג ה"ז יכנוס אחר שנתמנה היתה מקודשת ספק קידושין ומת ארוסה הרי זו ספק אלמנה:
13
It is a positive commandment for a High Priest to marry a virgin maiden.47 When she reaches the age of maturity,48she becomes forbidden to him,49 as [Leviticus 21:13] states: "He shall marry a virgin woman." "Woman" implies that she is not a minor. "Virgin" implies that she has not reached maturity. What is implied? She has departed from the category of a minor, but has not fully reached maturity, i.e., a maiden. He may never be married to two women at the same time.50 [This is derived from the singular form of the term] "woman," i.e., one, but not two.
יג
מצות עשה על כהן גדול שישא נערה בתולה ומשתבגור תאסר עליו והוא אשה בבתוליה יקח אשה לא קטנה בבתוליה ולא בוגרת הא כיצד יצאת מכלל קטנות ולכלל בגרות לא באה זו נערה ואינו נושא שתי נשים לעולם כאחת שנאמר אשה אחת ולא שתים:
14
יד
כהן גדול לא ישא מוכת עץ אע"פ שלא נבעלה [נבעלה שלא כדרכה הרי זו כנבעלה כדרכה נבעלה לבהמה ה"ז מותרת]:
15
A High Priest who married a woman who had engaged in relations previously is not punished by lashes.54 He must, however, divorce her with a get.55 If he married a woman past the age of maturity or one who lost her virginity for reasons other than relations, he may remain married to her.
If he consecrated a woman who had previously engaged in relations and then he was appointed as the High Priest, he may marry her after his appointment.56
טו
כ"ג שנשא בעולה אינו לוקה אבל מוציא בגט נשא בוגרת או מוכת עץ ה"ז יקיים אירס בעולה ונתמנה כהן גדול ה"ז יכנוס אחר שנתמנה:
16
If he raped or seduced a virgin maiden, he may not marry her.57[This applies] even if he raped or seduced her while he was an ordinary priest and was appointed as the High Priest before he married her. If he married her, he must divorce her.
טז
אנס נערה בתולה או פיתה אותה אפילו אנסה או פיתה אותה כשהוא כהן הדיוט ונתמנה כהן גדול קודם שיכנוס הרי זה לא יכנוס ואם כנס מוציא:
17
יז
אירס את הקטנה ובגרה תחתיו קודם נישואין ה"ז לא יכנוס מפני שנשתנה גופה ואם כנס לא יוציא:
18
[The prohibition against marrying a divorcee applies] whether she was divorced after consecration or after marriage. If, however, a girl is released from marriage through the rite of mi'un, she is permitted to a priest, as we explained in Hilchot Gerushin.61 [This applies even if] her husband first divorced her with a get, then remarried her, and then she was released through mi'un.62
Any woman who is not fit to perform the rite of chalitzah,63 but nevertheless performs it is not disqualified from [marrying] a priest.
יח
אחת גרושה מן האירוסין או מן הנישואין אבל הממאנת אפילו גירשה בגט והחזירה ומיאנה בו ה"ז מותרת לכהן כמו שביארנו בהלכות גירושין וכל מי שאינה ראויה לחליצה אם נחלצה לא נפסלה לכהונה:
19
יט
יצא עליה קול איש פלוני כהן כתב גט לאשתו או נתן גט לאשתו והרי היא יושבת תחתיו ומשמשתו אין מוציאין אותה מתחת בעלה ואם נשאת לכהן אחר תצא מן השני:
20
כ
יצא שמה בעיר שנתקדשה ונתגרשה מן הקידושין חוששין לה כמו שביארנו בהלכות גירושין אבל אם יצא עליה קול שהיא חלוצה אין חוששין לה:
21
If a rumor is circulated that a virgin has engaged in relation, her [status] does not become suspect and she may marry a High Priest. If a rumor is circulated that she is a maid-servant, her [status] does not become suspect and she may marry a priest.71
If a rumor72 circulates in a city that she is acting promiscuously,73her [status] does not become suspect. Even if her husband separated from her because she violated [the practices of modesty required by] the Jewish faith74 or because [of the testimony] of witnesses [concerning] unseemly conduct,75 but he died before giving her a get, she is permitted [to marry] a priest. For a woman like the above should not be forbidden [to a priest] unless there is definite testimony [that she acted promiscuously] or she admits [doing so] herself.76
כא
יצא קול על הבתולה שהיא בעולה אין חוששין לה ותנשא לכהן גדול יצא עליה קול שהיא שפחה אין חוששין לה ותנשא אפילו לכהן יצא לה שם מזנה בעיר אין חוששין לה ואפילו הוציאה בעלה משום שעברה על דת יהודית או בעדי דבר מכוער ומת קודם שיתן לה גט הרי זו מותרת לכהן שאין אוסרין אשה מאלו אלא בעדות ברורה או בהודאת פיה:
FOOTNOTES
1.
This term is defined in depth in the following chapter.
2.
This term is defined in Chapter 19.
3.
As was the practice until the later years of the First Temple.
4.
I.e., in the later years of the First Temple, the oil of anointment was entombed together with the Holy Ark. From that time onward, the High Priests assumed their position by wearing the eight garments of the High Priest. [See the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Megilah 1:9).]
5.
See Hilchot Melachim 7:1 which states:
In both a milchemet mitzvah (a war that it is a mitzvah to wage) and a milchemet hareshut (a war that we have license to wage), a priest is appointed to address the nation before the battle. He is anointed with the oil of anointment and is called, the meshuach milchamah.
Although this individual is not a High Priest with regard to the Temple service, since he was anointed, certain of the dimensions of the High Priesthood are incumbent upon him.
6.
I.e., a High Priest - and the others mentioned - are bound by a positive commandment to marry a virgin and a negative commandment to marry a widow.
7.
The Rambam's wording is somewhat inexact. For the prohibition applies even if the priest merely consecrated the woman and entered into relations with her. Marriage (nissuin) is not required (Kiddushin 78a).
8.
He does, however, receive lashes for violating the prohibition against promiscuous relations, as the Rambam states in Hilchot Ishut 1:4).
9.
According to the Rambam's understanding of Kiddushin 78a,b for the prohibition to apply both marriage and intimate relations are necessary. If the priest performs one of these acts without the other, the Scriptural prohibition does not apply. The Ra'avad takes issue with the Rambam and maintains that the prohibition applies even when consecration is not involved.
10.
According to the literal meaning of the verse, the object of the verb "desecrate" is "his offspring." If a priest enters into a relationship with one of these women, his offspring are challalim, "desecrated," and are not considered as members of the priestly family. Nevertheless, Kiddushin, loc. cit., interprets the phrase non-literally, explaining that the verb refers to the woman. By entering into relations with the priest, she becomes "desecrated" from the priesthood, i.e., forbidden to marry a priest. Moreover, the fact that the prohibition against a High Priest entering into relations with a widow mentions that term implies that causing the woman to be placed in such a status is prohibited. Since she is given that status even if the relations are held outside of marriage, marriage is not a fundamental element of the prohibition.
11.
As stated in Halachah 1.
12.
For the prohibition against these relations involve the woman as well as the man. See Keritot 10b, Yevamot 84b.
13.
Chapter 3, Halachah 14.
14.
See Chapter 18, Halachah 1.
15.
In which instance, the prohibition applies only if she was consecrated (Halachah 2).
16.
When a man dies childless, her widow is required to marry her deceased husband's brother in the rite called yibbum. She is forbidden to marry anyone else. If he does not desire to marry her, he must release her through the ritual called chalitzah. See Deuteronomy, ch. 25, Hilchot Yibbum ViChalitzah.
17.
Just as a divorcee is released from her connection to her husband through a get, a childless widow is released from her obligation to her brother-in-law through chalitzah.
18.
The punishment given for the violation of a Rabbinic commandment.
19.
E.g., her brother-in-law performed the chalitzah rite, it was, however, questionable if he was obligated to do so or not, or if he was in fact her brother-in-law or not.
20.
If, however, she was definitely a chalutzah, we would compel him to divorce. For a person should be compelled to observe a Rabbinic prohibition. Similarly, before he marries her, he should be prevented for doing so. Since there is a possibility that a Rabbinic prohibition is involved, we should prevent him from risking its violation. If, however, the couple are already married, we follow the principle "When there is a question of a Rabbinic prohibition involved, we rule leniently."
21.
I.e., she is not considered as a challalah, a woman who entered into forbidden relations with a priest.
22.
I.e., he or she is not considered as a challah.
23.
A woman was divorced in a manner whether it was questionable whether the divorce was effective or not and afterwards, here husband died.
24.
As related in Halachah 12, this applies to a situation in which there is a question whether a man consecrated a woman in an effective manner or not and then dies. Hence, there is a question whether she is a widow.
25.
See Chapter 18, Halachah 12.
26.
The offspring of a priest who had relations with a woman concerning whom a doubt existed whether she was forbidden to him or not (Chapter 19, Halachah 9).
27.
He is required to divorce her, based on the principle "When a doubt concerning a Scriptural prohibition is involved, we take the more stringent view" (Maggid Mishneh). In this instance, since there is a possibility that a Scriptural prohibition is involved in the marriage to each of these women, we rule stringently and require a divorce. A get is required, for even if there is a prohibition involved - and certainly if there is no prohibition involved - the consecration is binding. For the woman to be able to remarry, she must be divorced.
28.
Hilchot Ma'achalot Assurot 5:5 gives an example of this concept. When a person rips a limb from a living animal which causes the animal to become trefe, he is considered to have transgressed two prohibitions: the prohibition against eating flesh from a living animal and the prohibition against partaking of an animal that is trefe, for both prohibitions take effect at the same time.
29.
This concept is exemplified in the following two halachot. See also Hilchot Ma'achalot Assurot 7:2.
30.
This principle is exemplified by Hilchot Ma'achalot Assurot 8:6 which relates that a person who partakes of a gid hanesheh, a sciatic nerve, of an animal which is trefe is liable for two transgressions. Since when the animal became trefe, its entire body became encompassed in the prohibition, that prohibition also encompasses the gid even though it was prohibited beforehand.
31.
I.e., on the basis of the principle that a prohibition that includes additional factors takes effect.
32.
I.e., her second husband divorced her.
33.
By having relations with a priest.
34.
By engaging in relations with a person whom she is forbidden to marry.
35.
I.e., if her father was a priest, after her marriages, she returns to his home and may partake of terumah. Alternatively, if her second husband was an ordinary priest and she gave birth to a child, she may partake of terumah because of her child.
36.
I.e., the priest is liable for additional sets of lashes.
37.
I.e., she becomes a zonah first. If other prohibitions precede her becoming a zonah, she receives the appropriate number of lashes (Maggid Mishneh).
38.
For the other prohibitions would not add anything once she becomes forbidden in this manner.
39.
The fact the she was widowed or divorced several times does not increase the number of prohibitions involved.
40.
And thus she is still a virgin and fit to marry a High Priest.
41.
In Hilchot Yibbum ViChalitzah 6:10, the Rambam states that the woman must perform chalitzah, because were her yevam to perform yibbum, he would acquire her as his wife. Moreover, according to law, he should perform yibbum, because whenever the observance of a positive commandment conflicts with the observance of a negative commandment, the positive commandment takes precedence. Nevertheless, our Sages forbade yibbum lest he engage in relations with her a second time. In such an instance, relations with her are forbidden and there is no mitzvah. For the positive commandment of yibbum applies only the first time the couple engage in relations.
42.
For the reason mentioned in the previous note.
43.
The Hebrew term the Rambam uses maamar has a specific halachic meaning. As explained in Hilchot Yibbum ViChalitzah 2:1, although according to Scriptural Law, the yibbum relationship is established through intimate relations, our Sages ordained that before engaging in relations, a yevam declare his intent to his yevamah. They equated this declaration with consecration.
44.
For a maamar does not establish a relationship.
45.
Because she is already his wife.
46.
And because of the doubt, she is forbidden to a High Priest.
47.
The term "maiden" refers to a girl between the age of twelve and twelve and a half who has manifested signs of physical maturity (Hilchot Ishut 2:1).
48.
Twelve and a half. This is the meaning of the term throughout this chapter.
49.
Since he must marry a virgin, he is forbidden to marry anyone other than a virgin. Even if he consecrated the woman beforehand, if he has not married her and she attains maturity after he is appointed as a High Priest, he may not marry her as stated in Halachah 17.
50.
As stated in Hilchot K'lei HaMikdash 5:10, a High Priest may not have two wives while he is performing the Yom Kippur services. Here the Rambam is stating that the prohibition applies not only on Yom Kippur, but throughout the year.
The Ra'avad notes that II Chronicles 24:3 speaks of Yehoyeda the High Priest and the marriage of two women, seemingly contradicting the Rambam's ruling. The Ra'avad interprets the verse as stating that Yehoyeda married the women himself. (Similarly, Rav Moshe HaCohen and others question the Rambam's ruling.) Rambam LeAm, however, advances the interpretation that the verse is stating that Yehoyeda had Yoash marry the women.
51.
I.e., she lost her virginity through an accident of some sorts.
52.
And she is forbidden to a High Priest.
53.
This addition is necessary, for if she lost her virginity through relations with an animal, she is disqualified (Meiri).
54.
For he is guilty of transgressing merely a positive commandment and lashes are not given for such a transgression.
55.
Since a transgression is involved in engaging in relations with her, he is compelled to divorce her. Nevertheless, a bill of divorce is necessary for the consecration is binding.
56.
As stated in Halachah 12 with regard to a widow.
57.
For he is commanded to marry a virgin and she is not. Even though it is he himself who caused her to lose her virginity, she is not acceptable. Since she is not a virgin, a transgression is involved every time he enters into relations with her. Hence, he is obligated to divorce her.
In the instance mentioned in the previous halachah, he had already consecrated the woman, but in this instance, he did not consecrate her first (Maggid Mishneh).
58.
Because, as stated in Halachah 13, he must marry a maiden, a girl between twelve and twelve and a half.
59.
And thus she is considered as a different person and, in an abstract sense, not the same woman whom he consecrated. In this manner, the Rambam (based on Yevamot 59a) makes a distinction between this instance and one in which a priest consecrated a widow and then was appointed as High Priest, as mentioned in Halachah 12.
60.
For even if at the outset, she was passed the age of maturity when he married her, he is allowed to remain married to her, as stated in Halachah 15.
61.
As explained in Hilchot Gerushin, ch. 11, according to Scriptural Law, when a girl's father dies before she reaches the age of twelve, there is no way that she can marry until she reaches that age. Nevertheless, our Sages gave her mother and/or brothers the right to marry her off if they believe that it is to her advantage. Because this marriage does not have a basis in Scriptural Law, a get is not required to absolve it. Instead, the girl may simply leave her husband's house. To formalize the absolution of the relationship all that is necessary is for her to declare that she desires to leave the marriage in the presence of two witnesses. Since the relationship was never binding according to Scriptural Law, she is not disqualified from marrying into the priesthood.
62.
As stated in Hilchot Gerushin 11:16, even if at one point she was divorced with a get, since she was released through mi'un, the fact the she was divorced previously is not of consequence. For it is obvious that the divorce is unnecessary.
63.
E.g., a man who performed chalitzah with his deceased brother's widow without realizing that she was pregnant and hence, not required to perform this rite before remarrying.
64.
In the case of an Israelite, there would be no difficulty, for it is possible that he remarried his divorcee. In the case of a priest, however, this would be forbidden, for a priest is forbidden to marry any divorcee even his own.
65.
For a rumor that follows a marriage is not sufficient grounds to require a divorce.
66.
After being widowed from her first husband.
67.
Since the rumor preceded the second marriage, the second priest should not have married her, because of the doubt regarding the validity of the marriage that the rumor caused. And since he married her in possible violation of the law, he is forced to divorce her.
68.
As stated in Hilchot Ishut 9:22, we are speaking about a rumor that has been substantiated by a court. It is not conclusive evidence that a woman has been consecrated, but it is far from mere hearsay. If a rumor has not been substantiated in a court, it is of no substance.
69.
Chapter 10, Halachah 20.
70.
Since a chalutzah is forbidden only because of a Rabbinic ordinance, when we are not certain the woman performed this rite, there is no prohibition, as stated in Halachah 7. The Ra'avad, however, rules stringently and maintains that since we are speaking about a rumor with substance, even a rumor that she is a chalutzah can cause her to be forbidden.
71.
We do not disqualify a woman when there is a question about her lineage unless there is explicit testimony that she is not acceptable (Maggid Mishneh).
72.
This refers even to a rumor substantiated in court (Beit Shmuel 6:30).
73.
And committed adultery or engaged in relations that would cause her to be forbidden to the priesthood as explained in the following chapter.
74.
E.g., going out to the marketplace with her hair uncovered, spinning flax in the marketplace in a manner that shows her arms to men, playing frivolously with youths, as stated in Hilchot Ishut 24:12.
75.
I.e., testimony regarding conduct that leads to the conclusion that she committed adultery although the adulterous relations themselves were not observed, as mentioned in ibid.:15.
76.
For in such instance, she accepts the prohibition upon herself, as stated in Chapter 18, Halachah 9.
• Sunday, 24 Tevet, 5777 · 22 January 2017
• "Today's Day"
• Friday, Tevet 24, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Sh'mot, Shishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 113-118.
Tanya: Ch. 13. Therewith will (p. 53)...as stated above. (p. 53).
On this day the Alter Rebbe passed away in the village Piena on Saturday night of parshat Sh'mot 5573 (1813). He is interred in the city of Haditz.
My grandfather (R. Shmuel) asked the Tzemach Tzedek: What did Grandfather (the Alter Rebbe) intend with the "ways of Chassidus" and what did he intend with Chassidus?
The Tzemach Tzedek answered: The "ways of Chassidus" are that all Chassidim are to be like one family, with affection, as Torah teaches. Chassidus is vitality. Chassidus is to bring life and illumination into everything, to shed light even on the undesirable - to become aware of one's own evil exactly as it is, in order to correct it.
• Daily Thought:
Growing Presence
A truly great soul is one whose presence in this world is felt more after his passing than before, and continues to be felt more and more every day that passes.
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment