| |||||
- 
- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Wednesday, Elul 22, 5777 · September 13, 2017Today's Laws & Customs:
• Elul Observances
As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is traditionaly a time of introspection and stocktaking -- a time to review one's deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming "Days of Awe" of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
As the month of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness (see "Today in Jewish History" for Elul 1) it is a most opportune time for teshuvah ("return" to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased Ahavat Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d. Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when "the king is in the field" and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, "everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all."
Specific Elul customs include the daily sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) as a call to repentance. The Baal Shem Tov instituted the custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms). Click below to view today's Psalms.
Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66
Psalms Chapter 64:1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. Hear my voice, O God, as I recount [my woes]; preserve my life from the terror of the enemy.
3. Shelter me from the schemes of the wicked, from the conspiracy of evildoers,
4. who have sharpened their tongue like the sword, aimed their arrow-a bitter word-
5. to shoot at the innocent from hidden places; suddenly they shoot at him, they are not afraid.
6. They encourage themselves in an evil thing, they speak of laying traps; they say: "Who will see them?”
7. They sought pretexts; [and when] they completed a diligent search, each man [kept the plot] inside, deep in the heart.
8. But God shot at them; [like] a sudden arrow were their blows.
9. Their own tongues caused them to stumble; all who see them shake their heads [derisively].
10. Then all men feared, and recounted the work of God; they perceived His deed.
11. Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him, and let them take pride-all upright of heart. Chapter 65:1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David, a song.
2. Silence is praise for You, O God [Who dwells in] Zion; and to You vows will be paid.
3. O Heeder of prayer, to You does all flesh come.
4. Matters of sin overwhelm me; You will pardon our transgressions.
5. Fortunate is [the nation] whom You choose and draw near, to dwell in Your courtyards; may we be sated with the goodness of Your House, with the holiness of Your Sanctuary.
6. Answer us with awesome deeds as befits Your righteousness, O God of our salvation, the security of all [who inhabit] the ends of the earth and distant seas.
7. With His strength He prepares [rain for] the mountains; He is girded with might.
8. He quiets the roar of the seas, the roar of their waves and the tumult of nations.
9. Those who inhabit the ends [of the earth] fear [You] because of Your signs; the emergences of morning and evening cause [man] to sing praise.
10. You remember the earth and water it, you enrich it abundantly [from] God's stream filled with water. You prepare their grain, for so do You prepare it.
11. You saturate its furrows, gratifying its legions; with showers You soften it and bless its growth.
12. You crown the year of Your goodness [with rain], and Your clouds drip abundance.
13. They drip on pastures of wilderness, and the hills gird themselves with joy.
14. The meadows don sheep, and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; they sound blasts, indeed they sing. Chapter 66:1. For the Conductor, a song, a psalm. Raise your voices in jubilation to God, all the earth!
2. Sing the glory of His Name; make glorious His praise.
3. Say to God, "How awesome are Your deeds!" Because of Your great strength, Your enemies will [admit] their treachery to You.
4. All the earth will bow to You, and sing to You; they will sing praise to Your Name forever!
5. Go and see the works of God, awesome in His deeds toward mankind.
6. He turned the sea into dry land, and they passed through the river on foot; we rejoiced in Him there.
7. He rules the world with His might, and His eyes watch the nations; let the rebellious not exalt themselves, Selah.
8. Bless our God, O nations, and let the voice of His praise be heard.
9. He has kept us alive, and did not allow our feet to falter.
10. For You tested us, O God; You refined us as one refining silver.
11. You brought us into prison; You placed a chain upon our loins.
12. You mounted men over our head; we went through fire and water, and You brought us out to abundance.
13. I will enter Your House with burnt-offerings, I will pay to You my vows,
14. which my lips uttered and my mouth spoke in my distress.
15. I will offer up to You burnt-offerings of fat animals, with the smoke of rams; I will prepare cattle with he-goats, Selah.
16. Come listen, all you who fear God, and I will relate what He has done for my soul.
17. I called to Him with my mouth, with exaltation beneath my tongue.
18. Had I seen iniquity in my heart, my Lord would not have listened.
19. But in truth, God heard; He gave ear to the voice of my prayer.
20. Blessed is God Who has not turned away my prayer or His kindness from me
Elul is also the time to have one's tefillin and mezuzot checked by an accredited scribe to ensure that they are in good condition and fit for use.
Links: More on Elul
Daily Quote:
Do not separate yourself from the community (Ethics of the Fathers 4:5)
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Nitzavim-Vayelech, 4th Portion Deuteronomy 30:15-31:6 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Deuteronomy Chapter 30
15Behold, I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil, טורְאֵ֨ה נָתַ֤תִּי לְפָנֶ֨יךָ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם אֶת־הַֽחַיִּ֖ים וְאֶת־הַטּ֑וֹב וְאֶת־הַמָּ֖וֶת וְאֶת־הָרָֽע:
life and good: Each one [life or death,] is dependent upon the other: If you do good, you will be granted life, while if you do evil, you will receive death. The verse now proceeds to explain how this is so [as follows]:
את החיים ואת הטוב: זה תלוי בזה אם תעשה טוב הרי לך חיים, ואם תעשה רע הרי לך המות. והכתוב מפרש והולך היאך:
16inasmuch as I command you this day to love the Lord, your God, to walk in His ways, and to observe His commandments, His statutes, and His ordinances, so that you will live and increase, and the Lord, your God, will bless you in the land to which you are coming to take possession of it. טזאֲשֶׁ֨ר אָֽנֹכִ֣י מְצַוְּךָ֘ הַיּוֹם֒ לְאַֽהֲבָ֞ה אֶת־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ לָלֶ֣כֶת בִּדְרָכָ֔יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֛ר מִצְוֹתָ֥יו וְחֻקֹּתָ֖יו וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֑יו וְחָיִ֣יתָ וְרָבִ֔יתָ וּבֵֽרַכְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה בָא־שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:
Inasmuch as I am commanding you this day to love [the Lord your God]: This is “good” [referred to in the verse 15]; and upon this, is dependent:
אשר אנכי מצוך היום לאהבה: הרי הטוב, ובו תלוי:
so that you will live and increase: This is “life” [referred to in the verse 15. After this, the verse continues]:
וחיית ורבית: הרי החיים:
17But if your heart deviates and you do not listen, and you will be drawn astray, and you will prostrate yourself to other deities and serve them, יזוְאִם־יִפְנֶ֥ה לְבָֽבְךָ֖ וְלֹ֣א תִשְׁמָ֑ע וְנִדַּחְתָּ֗ וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִ֛יתָ לֵֽאלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים וַֽעֲבַדְתָּֽם:
But if your heart deviates: This is “evil” [referred to in verse 15. The verse continues]:
ואם יפנה לבבך: הרי הרע:
18I declare to you this day, that you will surely perish, and that you will not live long days on the land, to which you are crossing the Jordan, to come and take possession thereof. יחהִגַּ֤דְתִּי לָכֶם֙ הַיּ֔וֹם כִּ֥י אָבֹ֖ד תֹּאבֵד֑וּן לֹא־תַֽאֲרִיכֻ֤ן יָמִים֙ עַל־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתָּ֤ה עֹבֵר֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן לָב֥וֹא שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:
that you will perish: This is “death” [referred to in verse 15].
כי אבד תאבדון: הרי המות:
19This day, I call upon the heaven and the earth as witnesses [that I have warned] you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. You shall choose life, so that you and your offspring will live; יטהַֽעִדֹ֨תִי בָכֶ֣ם הַיּוֹם֘ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֒רֶץ֒ הַֽחַיִּ֤ים וְהַמָּ֨וֶת֙ נָתַ֣תִּי לְפָנֶ֔יךָ הַבְּרָכָ֖ה וְהַקְּלָלָ֑ה וּבָֽחַרְתָּ֙ בַּֽחַיִּ֔ים לְמַ֥עַן תִּֽחְיֶ֖ה אַתָּ֥ה וְזַרְעֶֽךָ:
This day, I call upon the heaven and the earth as witnesses: For the heaven and earth exist for ever, and when the evil befalls you, they will be witnesses that I had warned you regarding all of this. Another explanation of “I call upon the heaven and the earth as witnesses, etc.” : The Holy One, Blessed is He, said to Israel, “Look at the heavens which I created to serve you. Have they ever changed their ways? Has the sphere of the sun ever failed to rise from the east to illuminate the entire world, as it is stated, ‘The sun rises, and the sun sets’ (Ecc. 1:5)? Look at the earth which I created to serve you. Has it ever changed its ways? Have you ever sown [in] it that it did not grow? Or have you ever sown wheat and it yielded barley? Now, they [heaven and earth] were created with neither reward nor loss in mind-for if they are meritorious [by fulfilling their purpose for which I created them], they nevertheless do not receive reward [for this]; and if they sin, they are not punished. And yet [even with this lack of incentive], they have never changed their ways! So you, who will receive reward if you are meritorious and who will be punished if you sin-how much more so [should you fulfill My will]!”- [Sifrei 32:1]
העדתי בכם היום את השמים ואת הארץ: שהם קיימים לעולם וכאשר תקרה אתכם הרעה יהיו עדים שאני התרתי בכם בכל זאת. דבר אחר העידתי בכם היום את השמים וגו' אמר להם הקב"ה לישראל, הסתכלו בשמים שבראתי לשמש אתכם, שמא שנו את מדתם שמא לא עלה גלגל חמה מן המזרח והאיר לכל העולם, כענין שנאמר (קהלת א, ה) וזרח השמש ובא השמש, הסתכלו בארץ שבראתי לשמש אתכם, שמא שנתה מדתה, שמא זרעתם אותה ולא צמחה, או שמא זרעתם חטים והעלתה שעורים, ומה אלו שנעשו לא לשכר ולא להפסד אם זוכין אין מקבלין שכר ואם חוטאין אין מקבלין פורענות, לא שנו את מדתם, אתם שאם זכיתם תקבלו שכר ואם חטאתם תקבלו פורענות על אחת כמה וכמה:
you shall choose life: [God says: “Even though you have free choice, nevertheless,] I instruct you to choose the portion of life.” It is like a man who says to his son, “Choose for yourself a fine portion of my estate,” and then directs him to the best portion, saying to him, “This [is the portion which] you should choose for yourself!” And regarding this, the verse says,“The Lord is my allotted portion and my cup; You guide my destiny” (Ps. 16:5). [The last clause, אַתָּה תּוֹמִיךְ גּוֹרָלִי, literally means “You laid upon my lot.” That is to say:] “You laid my hand upon the good lot, saying, ‘Take this for yourself!’”
ובחרת בחיים: אני מורה לכם שתבחרו בחלק החיים, כאדם האומר לחבירו בחר לך חלק יפה בנחלתי ומעמידו על חלק היפה ואומר לו את זה ברור לך, ועל זה נאמר (תהלים טז, ה) ה' מנת חלקי וכוסי אתה תומיך גורלי, הנחת ידי על גורל הטוב לומר את זה קח לך:
20To love the Lord your God, to listen to His voice, and to cleave to Him. For that is your life and the length of your days, to dwell on the land which the Lord swore to your forefathers to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob to give to them. כלְאַֽהֲבָה֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ בְּקֹל֖וֹ וּלְדָבְקָה־ב֑וֹ כִּ֣י ה֤וּא חַיֶּ֨יךָ֙ וְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמֶ֔יךָ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת עַל־הָֽאֲדָמָ֗ה אֲשֶׁר֩ נִשְׁבַּ֨ע יְהֹוָ֧ה לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ לְאַבְרָהָ֛ם לְיִצְחָ֥ק וּלְיַֽעֲקֹ֖ב לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶֽם:
Deuteronomy Chapter 31
1And Moses went, and he spoke the following words to all Israel. אוַיֵּ֖לֶךְ משֶׁ֑ה וַיְדַבֵּ֛ר אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
2He said to them, "Today I am one hundred and twenty years old. I can no longer go or come, and the Lord said to me, "You shall not cross this Jordan." בוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם בֶּן־מֵאָה֩ וְעֶשְׂרִ֨ים שָׁנָ֤ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ הַיּ֔וֹם לֹֽא־אוּכַ֥ל ע֖וֹד לָצֵ֣את וְלָב֑וֹא וַֽיהֹוָה֙ אָמַ֣ר אֵלַ֔י לֹ֥א תַֽעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֥ן הַזֶּֽה:
Moses went…I can no longer go or come: One might think [this means] that Moses’ strength had ebbed [and that is why he could no longer go or come]. Scripture [however] states [regarding Moses], “His eye had not dimmed, nor had he lost his [natural] moisture” (Deut. 34:7) [which teaches us that his powers were intact even on the day of his passing]. So what then is [the meaning of] “I can no longer”? [Here it means:] “I am not permitted,” because authority was taken from him and granted to Joshua.
וילך משה וגו', לא אוכל עוד לצאת ולבא: יכול שתשש כחו, תלמוד לומר (דברים לד, ז) לא כהתה עינו ולא נס לחה. אלא מהו לא אוכל, איני רשאי שנטלה ממני הרשות ונתנה ליהושע:
and the Lord said to me: This is the meaning of “I can no longer go or come,” because “the Lord said to me….”
וה' אמר אלי: זהו פירוש לא אוכל עוד לצאת ולבא, לפי שה' אמר אלי:
Today I am [one-hundred and twenty years old]: [That is to say,] today [is the exact day that] my days and my years have become complete; on this very day [the seventh of Adar] I was born, and on this day I will die. — [Sotah 13b] Another interpretation of “[I can no longer] go or come” is: [I can no longer figuratively go and come, i.e., I can no longer negotiate] in matters of Torah. This teaches us that the channels of transmission and the well-springs of wisdom were closed up from him [i.e., from Moses on that day]. — [Sotah 13b] [That is the order of the early editions and should be preserved. Rashi means that according to the first interpretation, that God did not permit him to go and come before the people, we do not explain the beginning of the verse to mean that Moses’ days were completed, but that God had taken away the authority from Moses. According to the Talmud, which states that Moses’ days were completed, we explain that he could not go and come in matters of Torah, and according to that interpretation, we do not explain that “the Lord said to me” as the meaning for “I can no longer go or come,” but another reason for Moses’ inability to cross the Jordan.]
אנכי היום: היום מלאו ימי ושנותי, ביום זה נולדתי וביום זה אמות. דבר אחר, לצאת ולבא בדברי תורה, מלמד שנסתמו ממנו מסורות ומעינות החכמה:
3The Lord, your God He will cross before you; He will destroy these nations from before you so that you will possess them. Joshua he will cross before you, as the Lord has spoken. גיְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ ה֣וּא | עֹבֵ֣ר לְפָנֶ֗יךָ הֽוּא־יַשְׁמִ֞יד אֶת־הַגּוֹיִ֥ם הָאֵ֛לֶּה מִלְּפָנֶ֖יךָ וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֑ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ ה֚וּא עֹבֵ֣ר לְפָנֶ֔יךָ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה:
4And the Lord will do to them, as He did to the Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, and to their land, [all of] which He destroyed. דוְעָשָׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לָהֶ֔ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֗ה לְסִיח֥וֹן וּלְע֛וֹג מַלְכֵ֥י הָֽאֱמֹרִ֖י וּלְאַרְצָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִשְׁמִ֖יד אֹתָֽם:
5And [when] the Lord delivers them before you, you shall do to them according to all the commandment that I have commanded you. הוּנְתָנָ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה לִפְנֵיכֶ֑ם וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶ֣ם לָהֶ֔ם כְּכָ֨ל־הַמִּצְוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֖יתִי אֶתְכֶֽם:
6Be strong and courageous! Neither fear, nor be dismayed of them, for the Lord, your God He is the One Who goes with you. He will neither fail you, nor forsake you." וחִזְק֣וּ וְאִמְצ֔וּ אַל־תִּֽירְא֥וּ וְאַל־תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם כִּ֣י | יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ ה֚וּא הַֽהֹלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֥א יַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א יַֽעַזְבֶֽךָּ:
He will neither fail you: Heb. לֹא יַרְפְּךָ. [The word יַרְפְּךָ stems from the root רפה, meaning“weak.” Thus, the expression here means:] God will not give you [cause for] weakness [resulting] from your being forsaken by Him.
לא ירפך: לא יתן לך רפיון להיות נעזב ממנו:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 106 - 107
• Hebrew text
• English text
Special Custom for the Month of Elul and High Holidays
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
See below for today's additional chapters.
Chapter 106
The psalmist continues the theme of the previous psalm, praising God for performing other miracles not mentioned previously, for "who can recount the mighty acts of God?" Were we to try, we could not mention them all!
1. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
2. Who can recount the mighty acts of the Lord, or proclaim all His praises?
3. Fortunate are those who preserve justice, who perform deeds of righteousness all the time.
4. Remember me, Lord, when You find favor with Your people; be mindful of me with Your deliverance;
5. to behold the prosperity of Your chosen, to rejoice in the joy of Your nation, to glory with Your inheritance.
6. We have sinned as did our fathers, we have acted perversely and wickedly.
7. Our fathers in Egypt did not contemplate Your wonders, they did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, at the Sea of Reeds.
8. Yet He delivered them for the sake of His Name, to make His strength known.
9. He roared at the Sea of Reeds and it dried up; He led them through the depths, as through a desert.
10. He saved them from the hand of the enemy, and redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
11. The waters engulfed their adversaries; not one of them remained.
12. Then they believed in His words, they sang His praise.
13. They quickly forgot His deeds, they did not wait for His counsel;
14. and they lusted a craving in the desert, they tested God in the wilderness.
15. And He gave them their request, but sent emaciation into their souls.
16. They angered Moses in the camp, and Aaron, the Lord's holy one.
17. The earth opened and swallowed Dathan, and engulfed the company of Abiram;
18. and a fire burned in their assembly, a flame set the wicked ablaze.
19. They made a calf in Horeb, and bowed down to a molten image.
20. They exchanged their Glory for the likeness of a grass-eating ox.
21. They forgot God, their savior, Who had performed great deeds in Egypt,
22. wonders in the land of Ham, awesome things at the Sea of Reeds.
23. He said that He would destroy them-had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying.
24. They despised the desirable land, they did not believe His word.
25. And they murmured in their tents, they did not heed the voice of the Lord.
26. So He raised His hand [in oath] against them, to cast them down in the wilderness,
27. to throw down their progeny among the nations, and to scatter them among the lands.
28. They joined themselves to [the idol] Baal Peor, and ate of the sacrifices to the dead;
29. they provoked Him with their doings, and a plague broke out in their midst.
30. Then Phineas arose and executed judgement, and the plague was stayed;
31. it was accounted for him as a righteous deed, through all generations, forever.
32. They angered Him at the waters of Merivah, and Moses suffered on their account;
33. for they defied His spirit, and He pronounced [an oath] with His lips.
34. They did not destroy the nations as the Lord had instructed them;
35. rather, they mingled with the nations and learned their deeds.
36. They worshipped their idols, and they became a snare for them.
37. They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.
38. They spilled innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land became guilty with blood.
39. They were defiled by their deeds, and went astray by their actions.
40. And the Lord's wrath blazed against His people, and He abhorred His inheritance;
41. so He delivered them into the hands of nations, and their enemies ruled them.
42. Their enemies oppressed them, and they were subdued under their hand.
43. Many times did He save them, yet they were rebellious in their counsel and were impoverished by their sins.
44. But He saw their distress, when He heard their prayer;
45. and He remembered for them His covenant and He relented, in keeping with His abounding kindness,
46. and He caused them to be treated mercifully by all their captors.
47. Deliver us, Lord our God; gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your Holy Name and glory in Your praise.
48. Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, forever and ever. And let all the people say, "Amen! Praise the Lord!"
Chapter 107
This psalm speaks of those who are saved from four specific perilous situations(imprisonment, sickness, desert travel, and sea travel) and must thank God, for their sins caused their troubles, and only by the kindness of God were they saved. It is therefore appropriate that they praise God and tell of their salvation to all.
1. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
2. So shall say those redeemed by the Lord, those whom He redeemed from the hand of the oppressor.
3. He gathered them from the lands-from east and from west, from north and from the sea.
4. They lost their way in the wilderness, in the wasteland; they found no inhabited city.
5. Both hungry and thirsty, their soul languished within them.
6. They cried out to the Lord in their distress; He delivered them from their afflictions.
7. He guided them in the right path to reach an inhabited city.
8. Let them give thanks to the Lord, and [proclaim] His wonders to the children of man,
9. for He has satiated a thirsting soul, and filled a hungry soul with goodness.
10. Those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, bound in misery and chains of iron,
11. for they defied the words of God and spurned the counsel of the Most High-
12. He humbled their heart through suffering; they stumbled and there was none to help.
13. They cried out to the Lord in their distress; He saved them from their afflictions.
14. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and sundered their bonds.
15. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His kindness, and [proclaim] His wonders to the children of man,
16. for He broke the brass gates and smashed the iron bars.
17. Foolish sinners are afflicted because of their sinful ways and their wrongdoings.
18. Their soul loathes all food, and they reach the gates of death.
19. They cried out to the Lord in their distress; He saved them from their afflictions.
20. He sent forth His command and healed them; He delivered them from their graves.
21. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His kindness, and [proclaim] His wonders to the children of man.
22. Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and joyfully recount His deeds.
23. Those who go down to the sea in ships, who perform tasks in mighty waters;
24. they saw the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep.
25. He spoke and caused the stormy wind to rise, and it lifted up the waves.
26. They rise to the sky, plunge to the depths; their soul melts in distress.
27. They reel and stagger like a drunkard, all their skill is to no avail.
28. They cried out to the Lord in their distress, and He brought them out from their calamity.
29. He transformed the storm into stillness, and the waves were quieted.
30. They rejoiced when they were silenced, and He led them to their destination.
31. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His kindness, and [proclaim] His wonders to the children of man.
32. Let them exalt Him in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.
33. He turns rivers into desert, springs of water into parched land,
34. a fruitful land into a salt-marsh, because of the wickedness of those who inhabit it.
35. He turns a desert into a lake, and parched land into springs of water.
36. He settles the hungry there, and they establish a city of habitation.
37. They sow fields and plant vineyards which yield fruit and wheat.
38. He blesses them and they multiply greatly, and He does not decrease their cattle.
39. [If they sin,] they are diminished and cast down through oppression, misery, and sorrow.
40. He pours contempt upon distinguished men, and causes them to stray in a pathless wilderness.
41. He raises the needy from distress, and makes their families [as numerous] as flocks.
42. The upright observe this and rejoice, and all the wicked close their mouth.
43. Let him who is wise bear these in mind, and then the benevolent acts of the Lord will be understood.
Additional Three Chapters
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
Today's Chapters are 64, 65 and 66.
Chapter 64
The masters of homiletics interpret this psalm as alluding to Daniel, who was thrown into the lion's den. With divine inspiration, David foresaw the event and prayed for him. Daniel was a descendant of David, as can be inferred from God's statement to Hezekiah (himself of Davidic lineage), "And from your children, who will issue forth from you, they will take, and they (referring to, amongst others, Daniel) will be ministers in the palace of the king of Babylon."
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. Hear my voice, O God, as I recount [my woes]; preserve my life from the terror of the enemy.
3. Shelter me from the schemes of the wicked, from the conspiracy of evildoers,
4. who have sharpened their tongue like the sword, aimed their arrow-a bitter word-
5. to shoot at the innocent from hidden places; suddenly they shoot at him, they are not afraid.
6. They encourage themselves in an evil thing, they speak of laying traps; they say: "Who will see them?”
7. They sought pretexts; [and when] they completed a diligent search, each man [kept the plot] inside, deep in the heart.
8. But God shot at them; [like] a sudden arrow were their blows.
9. Their own tongues caused them to stumble; all who see them shake their heads [derisively].
10. Then all men feared, and recounted the work of God; they perceived His deed.
11. Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him, and let them take pride-all upright of heart.
Chapter 65
This psalm contains awe-inspiring and glorious praises to God, as well as entreaties and prayers concerning our sins. It declares it impossible to recount God's greatness, for who can recount His mighty acts? Hence, silence is His praise.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David, a song.
2. Silence is praise for You, O God [Who dwells in] Zion; and to You vows will be paid.
3. O Heeder of prayer, to You does all flesh come.
4. Matters of sin overwhelm me; You will pardon our transgressions.
5. Fortunate is [the nation] whom You choose and draw near, to dwell in Your courtyards; may we be sated with the goodness of Your House, with the holiness of Your Sanctuary.
6. Answer us with awesome deeds as befits Your righteousness, O God of our salvation, the security of all [who inhabit] the ends of the earth and distant seas.
7. With His strength He prepares [rain for] the mountains; He is girded with might.
8. He quiets the roar of the seas, the roar of their waves and the tumult of nations.
9. Those who inhabit the ends [of the earth] fear [You] because of Your signs; the emergences of morning and evening cause [man] to sing praise.
10. You remember the earth and water it, you enrich it abundantly [from] God's stream filled with water. You prepare their grain, for so do You prepare it.
11. You saturate its furrows, gratifying its legions; with showers You soften it and bless its growth.
12. You crown the year of Your goodness [with rain], and Your clouds drip abundance.
13. They drip on pastures of wilderness, and the hills gird themselves with joy.
14. The meadows don sheep, and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; they sound blasts, indeed they sing.
Chapter 66
This psalm describes the praises and awe-inspiring prayers that we will offer God upon the ingathering of the exiles.
1. For the Conductor, a song, a psalm. Raise your voices in jubilation to God, all the earth!
2. Sing the glory of His Name; make glorious His praise.
3. Say to God, "How awesome are Your deeds!" Because of Your great strength, Your enemies will [admit] their treachery to You.
4. All the earth will bow to You, and sing to You; they will sing praise to Your Name forever!
5. Go and see the works of God, awesome in His deeds toward mankind.
6. He turned the sea into dry land, and they passed through the river on foot; we rejoiced in Him there.
7. He rules the world with His might, and His eyes watch the nations; let the rebellious not exalt themselves, Selah.
8. Bless our God, O nations, and let the voice of His praise be heard.
9. He has kept us alive, and did not allow our feet to falter.
10. For You tested us, O God; You refined us as one refining silver.
11. You brought us into prison; You placed a chain upon our loins.
12. You mounted men over our head; we went through fire and water, and You brought us out to abundance.
13. I will enter Your House with burnt-offerings, I will pay to You my vows,
14. which my lips uttered and my mouth spoke in my distress.
15. I will offer up to You burnt-offerings of fat animals, with the smoke of rams; I will prepare cattle with he-goats, Selah.
16. Come listen, all you who fear God, and I will relate what He has done for my soul.
17. I called to Him with my mouth, with exaltation beneath my tongue.
18. Had I seen iniquity in my heart, my Lord would not have listened.
19. But in truth, God heard; He gave ear to the voice of my prayer.
20. Blessed is God Who has not turned away my prayer or His kindness from me
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 16
• English Text (Lessons in Tanya)
• Hebrew Text
• Audio Class: Listen | Download
• Video Class
Wednesday, Elul 22, 5777 · September 13, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 16
AUDIO & VIDEO CLASSES
• VIDEO CLASS: Rabbi Yehoshua B. Gordon Watch • Listen
• AUDIO CLASS: Rabbi Manis Freidman Listen • Download MP3
לאנשי קהילת
To the members of the community of . . .
It has already been noted that the Alter Rebbe devoted many of the letters that comprise Iggeret HaKodesh to the theme of tzedakah, particularly when dedicated to the support of those who engage in Torah study and divine service in Eretz Yisrael. As its opening salutation indicates, the present letter is one of those sent to a particular community. Its economic state was dismal,1 and word had reached the Alter Rebbe that its charitable contributions for the Kollel Chabad Fund had fallen off accordingly.
The Alter Rebbe therefore writes that he is aware of their hardships, but it remains imperative that they maintain their regular level of generosity. The reasons he enumerates are based on the requirements of Torah law, as well as on considerations that surpass the letter of the law.
אהוביי אחיי ורעיי אשר כנפשי
My beloved, my brethren and friends, who are to me like my own soul.
Certain qualities are uniquely found in the closeness and love of brothers, and other qualities, in the warm devotion of friends.2 In writing “my brethren and friends,” the Alter Rebbe indicates that his letter wells from both kinds of brotherliness.
הנה לא נעלם ממני צוק העתים
The hardships of these times are not hidden from me,
אשר נתדלדלה הפרנסה
in that the means for earning a livelihood have declined,
ובפרט הידועים לי ממחניכם, אשר מטה ידם
especially among those known to me from your community, whose hands have faltered,
בלי שום משען ומשענה
so that they are without any providers at all,3 with no work available for either husband or wife,
וממש לווים ואוכלים
and they literally borrow in order to eat.4
ה׳ ירחם עליהם, וירחיב להם בצר, בקרוב
May G‑d show them compassion and speedily bring them respite from their straits.
ועם כל זה, לא טוב הם עושים לנפשם
Nonetheless, they are not acting rightly unto their souls,
לפי הנשמע, אשר קפצו ידם הפתוחה מעודם עד היום הזה
according to reports that they close their hand which all their life long, to this very day, has been open
ליתן ביד מלאה ועין יפה לכל הצטרכות ההכרחיות, לדי מחסורי האביונים נקיים
to give with a full hand and a generous eye5 for all vital necessities to satisfy the needs of the “clean” destitutes6
אשר עיניהם נשואות אלינו
whose eyes are lifted unto us.
This refers to the destitute of Eretz Yisrael who had absolutely no means of support other than the charitable fund of Kollel Chabad.
ואם אנו לא נרחם עליהם, חס ושלום, מי ירחם עליהם
If we will not pity them, heaven forfend, who will?
וחי אחיך עמך, כתיב
And it is written,7 “...so that your brother may live with you!”
I.e., one should share with his brethren even that which is most essential for one’s own life.
ולא אמרו: חייך קודמין, אלא כשביד אחד קיתון של מים וכו׳
As to the ruling of the Sages that8 “Your own life takes precedence,” this applies only in a case “when one has a pitcher of water in hand...”;
If a traveler in the desert has just enough water to sustain his own life until civilization is reached, and if he shares it with his friend they will both inevitably die, then his own life takes precedence.
שהוא דבר השוה לשניהם בשוה לשתות להשיב נפשם בצמא
that is, when it is equally essential that both drink in order to save their lives from thirst.
אבל אם העני צריך לחם לפי הטף, ועצים וכסות בקרה, וכהאי גוונא
But if a pauper needs bread for the mouths of babes, and firewood and clothes against the cold, and the like,
כל דברים אלו קודמין לכל מלבושי כבוד וזבח משפחה, בשר ודגים וכל מטעמים, של האדם וכל בני ביתו
then all these take precedence over any fine apparel and family feasts, with meat and fish and all kinds of delicacies, for oneself and all of one’s household.9
ולא שייך בזה: חייך קודמין
The rule that “your own life takes precedence” does not apply in such a case,
מאחר שאינן חיי נפש ממש, כמו של העני, שוה בשוה ממש
because these are not really essential to life, as are [the needs] of the poor, in true equality,
כדאיתא בנדרים, דף פ׳
as is discussed in Nedarim, page 80[b].
The Gemara speaks there about a stream that originates in one town and flows through another. If it does not provide enough drinking water for both towns, the water rights belong to the inhabitants of the first town. The same applies to the water that both towns need for their livestock or for washing their clothes. If, however, the second town needs drinking water for its citizens, while the first town only needs the water for washing clothes, then the needs of the second town prevail.
We thus see, that if the respective needs are not exactly equal, then one does not say “one’s own life take precedence,” even in a situation where one’s own needs are quite real and far from frivolous. When fathers and mothers are crying out for bread for their little ones, and for firewood and clothing to protect them from the cold, this surely takes precedence over the valid but non-essential needs of one’s own family.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | At this point the Yiddish original of the present commentary is interrupted by the colloquial interjection, Nisht do gedacht (lit., “May this not be spoken of here!”) — “May we never know of such misfortunes!” |
| 2. | Note of the Rebbe: “Cf. the distinctions between ‘my sister’ and ‘my wife’ in Likkutei Torah, beginning of Parshat Behar, et al.” |
| 3. | Note of the Rebbe: “This refers to their present earning capacity.” |
| 4. | Note of the Rebbe: “I.e., they have neither savings nor the wherewithal to buy even rations for minimal survival.” |
| 5. | The Rebbe adds, “...which increases the extent of the gift (Terumot 4:3).” |
| 6. | Note of the Rebbe: “An uncommon adjective for a pauper, perhaps chosen because of the additional connotation of the Hebrew idiom, נקי מנכסיו — ‘cleaned out of his possessions.”’ |
| 7. | Vayikra 25:36. |
| 8. | Bava Metzia 62a, in a discussion of the above verse. |
| 9. | This array of bourgeois non-essentials is borrowed from one of the well-known zemirot, a song sung between courses at certain Shabbos tables. |
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassToday's Mitzvah
Wednesday, Elul 22, 5777 · September 13, 2017
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
AUDIO & VIDEO CLASSES
• VIDEO CLASS: Rabbi Mendel Kaplan Watch • Listen
• AUDIO CLASS: Rabbi Berel Bell Listen • MP3 Download
Negative Commandment 287
Relatives' Testimony
"Fathers shall not be put to death on account of their children; neither shall children be put to death on account of their fathers"—Deuteronomy 24:16.
A judge may not accept testimony from a litigant's close relative—whether the testimony is in support of the litigant or against him.
This law applies to all cases – capital and monetary – and all close relatives. The verse refers specifically to a capital case and the testimony of a father to demonstrate the extent of this mitzvah. For the Torah even forbids accepting the testimony of a father, who presumably loves his child dearly, against his child (or vice versa) in a capital case—though we'd presume that such testimony is eminently credible.
This mitzvah is a supra-rational decree from Above.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Relatives' Testimony
Negative Commandment 287
Translated by Berel Bell
The 287th prohibition is that a judge is forbidden from accepting the testimony of relatives — whether for each other or against each other.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "Fathers shall not die through their sons, and sons shall not die through their fathers."
The interpretation of this verse is given in the Sifri,2 "Fathers shall not die through the testimony of their sons, and sons shall not die through the testimony of their fathers."
The same law applies to financial cases, but it was said in a capital case to take the most extreme case. One should not reason, "Since this involves the death penalty, the relative's testimony cannot be doubted, and we shall therefore act in accordance with his words. Since his testimony is causing the death of a relative, there is no doubt." To counter this claim the example is brought of the relatives who have the strongest and greatest love for each other — a father for his son and a son for his father. And even when a father testifies against his son, and even if it is to have him executed, we still cannot accept it. This is a decree of the Torah which has no explanation whatsoever. You should understand this well.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the third chapter3 of tractate Sanhedrin.
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 24:16.
2.Parshas Ki Seitzei.
3.27b.
Rambam:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Avel Avel - Chapter 13
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassAvel - Chapter 13
1
How are mourners comforted? After the deceased is buried, the mourners gather together and stand at the side of the cemetery. All of those who attended the funeral stand around them, line after line. A line may not be less than ten and the mourners are not included in the reckoning.
א
כיצד מנחמין את האבלים אחר שקוברין את המת מתקבצין האבלים ועומדין בצד בית הקברות וכל המלוין את המת עומדין סביב להן שורה לפני שורה ואין שורה פחותה מעשרה ואין אבלים מן המנין:
2
The mourners stand at the left side of the comforters and the comforters pass by the mourners one by one and tell them: "May you be comforted from heaven."
Afterwards, the mourner goes home. On each of the seven days of mourning, people come to comfort him. Whether new people come or not, the others still comfort him.
ב
האבלים עומדין לשמאל המנחמין וכל המנחמין באין אצל האבלים אחד אחד ואומרים להן תנוחמו מן השמים ואח"כ הולך האבל לביתו וכל יום ויום משבעת ימי אבלות באין בני אדם לנחמו בין שבאו פנים חדשות בין שלא באו:
3
The mourner sits at the head of the company. The comforters are permitted to sit only on the ground, as Job 2:13 states: "And they sat with him on the ground." They are not permitted to say anything until the mourner opens his mouth first, as it is written (ibid.): "And no one spoke anything to him." And it states (ibid. 3:1, 4:1): "And then Job held forth.... And Eliphaz responded."
Once the mourner shakes his head, the comforters are no longer permitted to sit with him, so that they do not trouble him overly so.
ג
האבל מיסב בראש ואין המנחמין רשאין לישב אלא על גבי קרקע שנאמר וישבו אתו לארץ ואין רשאין לומר דבר עד שיפתח האבל את פיו תחלה שנאמר ואין דובר אליו דבר וכתיב אחרי כן פתח איוב את פיהו וגו' ויען אליפז וכיון שנענע בראשו שוב אין המנחמין רשאין לישב אצלו שלא יטריחוהו יותר מדאי:
4
When a deceased person has no mourners who must be comforted, ten upright men from the community at large come and sit in his place throughout the seven days of mourning. Others gather around them. If there are not ten fixed people who remain throughout the seven days, each day, ten other people are selected and they sit in his place.
ד
מת שאין לו אבלים להתנחם באים עשרה בני אדם כשרין ויושבין במקומו כל שבעת ימי האבילות ושאר העם מתקבצין עליהן ואם לא היו שם עשרה קבועין בכל יום ויום מתקבצין עשרה משאר העם ויושבין במקומו:
5
Everyone is obligated to stand in front of a nasi except a mourner and sick person. To all who stand in his presence, he says: "Sit," with the exception of a mourner and sick person, for that would imply: "Remain in your mourning," "Remain in your illness."
ה
הכל חייבין לעמוד בפני נשיא חוץ מאבל וחולה ולכל העומד מפניו אומר לו שב חוץ מאבל וחולה שמשמע ישב באבלו ישב בחליו:
6
We sweep and we mop in a mourner's home. We wash plates, cups, pitchers, and bottles, and light lamps. We do not, however, bring incense or spices.
ו
מכבדין ומרבצין בבית האבל ומדיחין קערות וכוסות וקיתונות וצלוחיות ומדליקין את הנרות אבל אין מביאין שם לא את המוגמר ולא את הבשמים:
7
We do not bring the food for the meal of comfort to a mourner's home in silver or cork utensils or the like, but wicker-work baskets of planed willow trees or the like so as not to embarrass a person who lacks means. Similarly, beverages are not poured in clear glasses rather than colored ones so as not to embarrass the poor whose wine is not of a high quality.
ז
אין מוליכין לבית האבל המאכל שמברין בו לא בכלי כסף ולא בכלי שעם וכיוצא בהן אלא בכלי נסרים של ערבה קלופה וכיוצא בהן שלא לבייש את מי שאין לו ואין משקין בזכוכית לבנה אלא בצבועה שלא לבייש את העניים שאין יינותיהן טובות:
8
No one person should drink more than ten cups of wine in the house of a mourner: three before the meal, three during the meal, and four afterwards. One should not drink more lest he become intoxicated.
ח
אין שותין בבית האבל יתר על עשרה כוסות לכל אחד ואחד שלשה קודם אכילה ושלשה בתוך אכילה וארבעה לאחר אכילה ולא יוסיף שמא ישתכר:
9
We do not relate teachings of Torah law or homiletic insights in the home of a mourner. Instead, we sit in grief. In the presence of a corpse, we speak only of matters related to the corpse. To be involved in Torah study in the presence of a corpse or in a cemetery is forbidden.
ט
אין אומרין שמועה והגדה בבית האבל אלא יושבין דוין וכן אין אומרין בפני המת אלא דברים של מת אבל לעסוק בדברי תורה בפניו או בבית הקברות אסור:
10
One should not cry over the deceased for more than three days and one should not eulogize him for more than seven.
When does the above apply? To people at large. With regard to Torah scholars, by contrast, everything depends on their wisdom. In any case, we do not cry over them for more than 30 days, for we have no one greater than Moses our teacher and concerning him, Deutronomy 34:8 states: "The children of Israel cried over Moses... for 30 days and the days of crying in mourning for Moses concluded."
We do not eulogize for more than twelve months, for we have no one of greater wisdom than our holy teacher, and he was eulogized for only twelve months. Similarly, if a report of a wise man's death reaches us after twelve months, we do not eulogize him.
י
אין בוכין על המת יתר משלשה ימים ואין מספידין יתר משבעה בד"א בשאר העם אבל תלמידי חכמים הכל לפי חכמתן ואין בוכין עליהם יותר משלשים יום שאין לנו גדול ממשה רבינו וכתיב ויתמו ימי בכי אבל משה וכן אין מספידין יתר על שנים עשר חדש אין לנו בחכמה גדול מרבינו הקדוש ושנים עשר חדש בלבד נספד וכן חכם שבאה שמועתו לאחר שנים עשר חדש אין סופדין אותו:
11
A person should not become excessively broken hearted because of a person's death, as Jeremiah 22:10 states: "Do not weep for a dead man and do not shake your head because of him." That means not to weep excessively. For death is the pattern of the world. And a person who causes himself grief because of the pattern of the world is a fool.
What should one do? Weep for three days, eulogize for seven, and observe the restrictions on cutting one's hair and the other five matters for 30 days.
יא
אל יתקשה אדם על מתו יתר מדאי שנאמר אל תבכו למת ואל תנודו לו כלומר יתר מדאי שזהו מנהגו של עולם והמצער [עצמו יותר] על מנהגו של עולם הרי זה טפש אלא כיצד יעשה שלשה לבכי שבעה להספד שלשים יום לתספורת ולשאר החמשה דברים:
12
Whoever does not mourn over his dead in the manner which our Sages commanded is cruel. Instead, one should be fearful, worry, examine his deeds and repent.
If one member of a group dies, the entire group should worry. For the first three days, one should see himself as if a sword is drawn over his neck. From the third day until the seventh, he should consider it as if it is in the corner. From that time onward, as if it passing before him in the market place. All of this is so that a person should prepare himself and repent and awake from his sleep. Behold it is written Jeremiah 5:3: "You have stricken them, but they have not trembled." Implied is that one should awake and tremble.
יב
כל מי שאינו מתאבל כמו שצוו חכמים הרי זה אכזרי אלא יפחד וידאג ויפשפש במעשיו ויחזור בתשובה ואחד מבני חבורה שמת תדאג כל החבורה כולה כל שלשה ימים הראשונים יראה את עצמו כאילו חרב מונחת לו על צוארו ומשלשה ועד שבעה [כאילו היא] מונחת בקרן זוית מכאן ואילך [כאילו] עוברת כנגדו בשוק כל זה להכין עצמו ויחזור ויעור משנתו והרי הוא אומר הכיתה אותם ולא חלו מכלל שצריך להקיץ ולחול:
Rambam:
• 3 Chapters A Day: Edut Edut - Chapter 14, Edut Edut - Chapter 15, Edut Edut - Chapter 16
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassEdut - Chapter 14
1
Whenever a witness is disqualified from testifying on behalf of a colleague because he is married to the witness' relative, if that relative's wife dies, even if she left him sons, he is considered to have been released from any connection and is acceptable as a witness.
א
כל מי שאין אתה מעיד לו מפני שהוא בעל קרובתך אם מתה אשתו אע"פ שהניחה לו בנים הרי זה נתרחק וכשר:
2
When a person knew of evidence concerning a colleague before he became his son-in-law, and then became his son-in-law, he is not acceptable. The same law applies if a person was in control of his senses and then became a deaf-mute, was able to see and became blind - even though he is aware of the measure of land concerning which he testifies and can define its boundaries, or was intellectually and emotionally sound and then lost control of his faculties.
If, by contrast, a person knew of evidence concerning a colleague before he became his son-in-law, became his son-in-law, and then that colleague's daughter died, the witness is acceptable. Similar laws apply if a person was in control of his senses, became a deaf-mute, and then regained control of his senses, was intellectually and emotionally sound, lost control of his faculties, and then regained control of them, or was able to see, became blind, and then regained his sight.
The general principle is: Whenever a person is an acceptable witness at the initial and the final stages, he is acceptable even though in the interim, he was not acceptable as a witness. If, however, initially he is unacceptable, even though ultimately, he would be acceptable, he is disqualified. Therefore when a person is aware of evidence as a child, it is of no consequence for him to testify with regard to it when he attains majority.
ב
מי שהיה יודע לחבירו עדות עד שלא נעשה חתנו ונעשה חתנו או שידע העדות והוא פקח ואח"כ נתחרש פתוח ונסתמא אע"פ שיכול לכוין מדת הקרקע שהוא מעיד בה ומסיים מצריה שפוי ונשתטה הרי זה פסול אבל אם היה יודע לו עדות עד שלא נעשה חתנו ונעשה חתנו ומתה בתו פקח ונתחרש וחזר ונתפקח שפוי ונשתטה וחזר ונשתפה פתוח ונסתמא וחזר ונתפתח כשר זה הכלל כל שתחלתו וסופו בכשרות אף על פי שנפסל בינתים כשר תחלתו בפסלות אף על פי שסופו בכשרות פסול לפיכך מי שהיה יודע בעדות והוא קטן ובא והעיד בה כשהוא גדול אינה כלום:
3
There are matters concerning which we rely on the testimony which a person gives after he attains majority with regard to events that he observed when he was a child. The rationale is that these are matters of Rabbinical origin. The matters are as follows; a person's word is accepted when he states: a) "This is the signature of my father," "...my teacher," "...or my brother," the rationale is that the validation of legal documents is a Rabbinic requirement;
b) "I remember that when so-and-so was married, they performed the customs performed for a virgin"; since most women marry when virgins and a ketubah is a Rabbinic institution;
c) "This place is a beit hapras," for the ritual impurity associated with such a place is a Rabbinic safeguard;
d) "We would proceed until this point on the Sabbath," because the restriction of the Sabbath limits until only 2000 cubits is a Rabbinic restriction;
e) "So-and-so would leave school to immerse himself in a mikveh and eat terumah in the evening" or "he would receive a portion of terumah with us;"
f) "We would bring challah and presents of meat to so-and-so, the priest"; this applies when the presents were sent with the person himself;
g) "My father told me, 'This family is acceptable; this family is not acceptable";
h) "We ate from the fruit-barrel brought by the brothers of so-and-so to inform others that their brother, so-and-so, married a woman that was not appropriate for him.
All of the latter four points involve establishing a person as a priest to enable him to partake of terumah that is separated at present because of Rabbinic decree or to prevent him from partaking of it.
ג
ויש דברים שסומכין בהן על עדות שמעיד כשהוא גדול הואיל והם דברים של דבריהם ואלו הן הדברים שאדם נאמן להעיד בגודלו על מה שראה בקטנו נאמן אדם לומר זה כתב ידו של אבי או של רבי או של אחי מפני שקיום שטרות מדבריהם זכור אני בפלונית שנישאת ונעשה לה מנהג הבתולות הואיל ורוב נשים בתולות נישאות וכתובה מדבריהם שהמקום הזה בית הפרס מפני שטומאתו מדבריהם ועד כאן היינו באין בשבת שצמצום התחום עד אלפים אמה בלבד מדבריהם שהיה איש פלוני יוצא מבית הספר לטבול ולאכול בתרומתו לערב ושהיה חולק עמנו תרומה ושהיינו מוליכים חלה ומתנות לפלוני כהן ע"י עצמו ואמר לי אבא משפחה זו כשרה משפחה זו פסולה ואכלנו בקצצה של פלוני שהאכילוני אחיו כדי להודיע שאחיהם פלוני נשא אשה שאינה הוגנת לו שכל אלו הדברים להחזיק זה הכהן לאכול בתרומה של דבריהם או לדחותו ממנה:
4
The leniency granted in all these situations to accept the testimony of a person who reached majority with regard to what he knew when he was a minor is not granted when a gentile or a servant witnessed such matters and gave such testimony after he converted and was freed.
ד
כל אלו שמעיד בהן הגדול במה שידע כשהיה קטן אם היה עכו"ם או עבד כשראה דברים אלו והעיד אחר שנתגייר ונשתחרר אינו נאמן:
5
If, before becoming a robber, a person knew of evidence concerning a colleague and recorded that evidence in a legal document and then became a robber, he cannot testify with regard to his signature. If, however, his signature to the legal document was validated in court before he became a robber, the legal document is acceptable.
Similarly, if a witness becomes a person's son-in-law, he may not testify concerning his signature on a legal document involving his father-in-law. Others, however, may testify concerning the son-in-law's signature. Even though the document is not validated by the court until after the witness becomes a person's son-in-law, it is acceptable. The disqualification of a witness because of a transgression is not the same as the disqualification of a witness because of a family connection, for a person disqualified because of a transgression is suspected of forging the document.
ה
מי שהיה יודע לחבירו בעדות עד שלא נעשה גזלן ונעשה גזלן הוא אינו מעיד על כתב ידו אבל אם הוחזק כתב ידו שבשטר זה בבית דין קודם שיעשה גזלן הרי זה שטר כשר וכן אם נעשה חתנו הוא אינו מעיד על כתב ידו אבל אחרים מעידין אע"פ שלא הוחזק בבית דין אלא אחר שנעשה חתנו הרי זה כשר שאינו דומה הפסול בעבירה לפסול בקריבה שהפסול בעבירה חשוד לזייף:
6
When a legal document has only two witnesses signed upon it and they are related to each other or one of them is disqualified because of a transgression, even if the document was transferred in the presence of acceptable witnesses, it is worthless, like a shard, because of the invalid signatures inside it.
ו
שטר שיש בו שני עדים בלבד ושניהם קרובים זה לזה או אחד משניהם פסול בעבירה אף על פי שמסר לו השטר בפני עדים כשרים הרי הוא כחרס מפני שהוא מזוייף מתוכו:
7
The following rule applies when a person composes one legal document including testimony that he is granting all of his property to two people and the witnesses to the document are related to one of the recipients of the present, but not related to the other. The document is not acceptable, because it is one statement of testimony.
If, however, he writes in one legal document that he is giving this-and-this courtyard to Reuven and this-and-this field to Shimon, and the witnesses are related to one, but not to the other, the present given to the recipient to whom the witnesses are not related is binding. Even though the two statements are included in one legal document, they are considered as separate testimonies. To what can the matter be compared to a person who says: "Serve as witnesses that I gave Reuven this-and-this, that I gave Shimon this-and-this, and that I borrowed such-and-such from Levi." Although they were all included in the same legal document and there is only one person transferring the property, they are considered as three distinct statements.
ז
הכותב כל נכסיו לשני בני אדם בעדות אחת והעדים קרובים לאחד ממקבלי המתנה ורחוקים מן השני הרי השטר פסול מפני שהוא עדות אחת אבל אם כתב בשטר אחד שנתתי לראובן חצר פלונית ושנתתי לשמעון שדה פלונית נמצאו העדים קרובים לזה ורחוקים מזה זה שהם רחוקים ממנו מתנתו קיימת שאלו שתי עדויות אע"פ שהן בשטר אחד למה זה דומה לאומר היו עלי עדים שנתתי לראובן כך וכך ושנתתי לשמעון כך וכך ושלויתי מלוי כך וכך שאף על פי שכתב בשטר אחד והמקנה איש אחד הרי אלו שלש עדויות שאינן תלויות זו בזו:
Edut - Chapter 15
1
Whenever a person will benefit from giving testimony, he may not give such testimony for it is as if he is testifying concerning himself. Therefore when a person comes to the inhabitants of a city with a complaint concerning the public bathhouse or thoroughfare, none of the inhabitants of the city can testify regarding this matter nor serve as a judge regarding this matter until they undertake a contractual act removing themselves from any connection to the property in question. Afterwards, they may testify or serve as a judge.
א
כל עדות שתבא הנאה לאדם ממנה אינו מעיד בה שזה הוא כמעיד על עצמו לפיכך בני העיר שבא מערער לערער עליהם במרחץ או ברחוב של עיר אין אחד מבעלי העיר מעיד בדבר זה ולא דן עד שיסלק עצמו בקנין גמור ואחר כך יעיד או ידין:
2
The following rules apply when a communal Torah scroll is stolen from the inhabitants of a city. Since it is intended to be listened to by all the members of the community, it is impossible for a person to withdraw his share of ownership from it. Hence, the matter should not be adjudicated by the judges of the city, and the inhabitants of the city may not testify to prove the city's ownership. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ב
בני העיר שנגנב ספר תורה שלהן הואיל ולשמיעה הוא עשוי שאי אפשר לאדם לסלק עצמו ממנו אין דנין בדייני אותה העיר ואין מביאין ראיה מאנשי אותה העיר וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
3
When a person says: "Give a manah to the poor people of my city," the matter may not be adjudicated by the judges of that city and the inhabitants of the city may not testify to prove that the pledge was made.
When does the above apply? When the poor people depend upon them and they allocate charity to them. In such a situation, even if two members of the city promised: "We will give the fixed amount required of us regardless; let us testify," we do not heed their request. For they receive benefit from the fact that these poor people become wealthier for the poor are dependent on the inhabitants of the city. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ג
האומר תנו מנה לעניי עירי אין דנין בדייני אותה העיר ואין מביאין ראיה מאנשי אותה העיר בד"א כשהיו העניים סמוכים עליהם ופוסקין עליהן צדקה אפילו אמרו שנים מאנשי אותה העיר אנו נתן דבר הקצוב עלינו ונעיד אין שומעין להם שהנאה הוא להם שיתעשרו עניים אלו הואיל והן סמוכין על בני העיר וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
4
The following rules apply when a person raises a protest and seeks to expropriate land that is owned by two partners from the possession of one of the partners. The other partner may not testify on behalf of his partner concerning the land unless he withdraws from ownership of the land and undertakes an act of contract affirming that he gave his portion to his partner and committing himself to reimburse him for its value if his own creditor expropriates it from his partner. After undertaking such an agreement, he may testify concerning the field. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ד
קרקע שבין שני שותפין שבא מערער להוציאה מתחת יד השותף אינו מעיד לשותפו עליה אלא אם סילק עצמו ממנה וקנו מידו שנתנה לשותף ושאם בא בעל חוב שלו וטרפה מיד השותף משלם לו דמיה ואח"כ מעיד לו עליה וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
5
The following rules apply when a person protests the ownership of a field. If it contains produce, a sharecropper may not testify with regard to it. For the sharecropper wishes it to remain in the possession of the owner so that he will receive his portion of the crops. If there is no produce in the field, he may testify concerning it.
Different rules apply with regard to a renter. If he brings the rent with him and says: "Let whoever is established as the owner of this field take this," he may offer testimony. If, however, he already paid the rent to the owner of the field he may not testify. For if the field is expropriated by the claimant, he would have to pay him rent for all the years he dwelled in it. Hence, he may not offer testimony. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ה
העורר על השדה אם יש בה פירות אין האריס מעיד לו עליה שהרי רוצה האריס להעמידה ביד בעליה כדי שיטול חלקו בפירות ואם אין בה פירות מעיד אבל השוכר אם לקח השכירות בידו ואמר כל מי שתתקיים שדה זו בידו יטול הרי זה מעיד ואם כבר נתן השכירות לבעל השדה אינו מעיד כיון שאם תצא השדה למערער חייב ליתן לו שכר כל השנים שישב בה אינו מעיד וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
6
The following rules apply if Shimon borrowed money and Reuven guaranteed the debt. Yehudah entered into litigation against Shimon and sought to expropriate landed property from his possession. If Shimon possesses another field equal in value to the debt guaranteed by Reuven, Reuven may testify with regard to the land, asserting that it belongs to Shimon. He does not derive any benefit from this, for even if Yehudah would expropriate the field, Shimon possesses another field from which the creditor could derive payment.
Similarly, a person who purchased a field may testify on behalf of another person who purchased a field from the same seller and affirm that the field is his. This applies provided the seller owns a field that is not on lien that is equivalent to the value of the field acquired by the first purchaser. In such a situation, the first purchaser does not derive any benefit from the field remaining in the possession of the second purchaser, for even if the field he purchased is expropriated from him, he may seek reimbursement from the seller and the seller possesses another field from which he could expropriate his due.
ו
שמעון שלוה והיה ראובן ערב ובא יהודה לערער על שמעון הלוה והוציא קרקע מתחת ידו אם יש לשמעון שדה אחרת כנגד החוב הרי ראובן הערב יש לו להעיד על אותו קרקע שהיא של שמעון שאין לו הנאה בזה שאם לקחה יהודה הרי שדה אחרת שיפרע ממנה בעל חובו וכן לוקח ראשון מעיד ללוקח שני שלקח אחריו שזה השדה שלו והוא שיש למוכר שדה בן חורין כנגד דמי שדה של לוקח ראשון שאין ללוקח ראשון הנאה בעמידת זה השדה ביד לוקח שני שאפילו נטרף לוקח הראשון על המוכר הוא חוזר והרי יש לו שדה אחרת שיגבה ממנה:
Edut - Chapter 16
1
The following rule applies when Reuven stole a field or a garment from Shimon and Yehudah lodges a claim against Reuven, stating that the field or the garment is his. Shimon may not testify on Reuven's behalf that the field or the garment does not belong to Yehudah. The rationale is that Shimon desires to have the field or garment remain in the possession of Reuven who stole it from him so that he will have it returned to him from the thief. For it is possible that the proof Shimon uses to expropriate it from Reuven will not enable him to expropriate it from Yehudah.
Similarly, if Reuven sold or transferred as an inheritance the stolen field to Levi and Yehudah lodges a claim against Levi, Shimon may not testify that it does not belong to Yehudah. For perhaps it is more comfortable for him to expropriate it from Levi.
א
ראובן שגזל שדה או טלית משמעון ובא יהודה וערער על ראובן ואמר שדה זו או טלית זו שלי היא אין שמעון יכול להעיד לראובן שאין זו השדה של יהודה ולא זו הטלית של יהודה שהרי שמעון רוצה להעמיד שדה זו או טלית זו ביד ראובן שהוא גזלה ממנו כדי שיחזירו לו מיד הגזלן שהרי אפשר שתהיה הראייה של שמעון שמוציא בה מיד ראובן אפשר שאינו יכול להוציא בה מיד יהודה וכן אם מכר ראובן השדה הגזולה או הורישה ללוי ובא יהודה לערער על לוי אין שמעון מעיד שאינה של יהודה שמא נחת רוח יש לו להוציאה מיד לוי:
2
The following rules apply if Reuven sold the stolen garment to Levi and Yehudah lodges a claim concerning it. If Reuven died, Shimon may testify that it does not belong to Yehudah. The rationale is that this garment will never be returned to Shimon, because the purchaser acquires it because of his despair of recovering it and its change of domain. Reuven, the thief, died, and thus he has no one from whom he could receive reimbursement.
If, however, Reuven is still alive, Shimon may not testify even concerning a garment. For he will receive benefit from the fact that it will not remain in Yehudah's possession so that he can bring proof that Reuven stole it and require him to make reimbursement for it.
Similarly, if the garment is in the possession of Reuven's heirs, Shimon may not testify concerning it. For ultimately, if the heir retains possession, it will be returned to the original owner. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ב
מכר הטלית הגזולה ללוי ובא יהודה לערער אם מת ראובן שמעון מעיד עליה שאינה של יהודה שהרי אין טלית זו חוזרת לשמעון לעולם שכבר קנאה הלוקח ביאוש ושינוי רשות וכבר מת ראובן הגזלן ואין לו ממי יטול דמיה אבל אם עדיין ראובן קיים אין שמעון מעיד אף על הטלית שהנאה היא לו שלא תעמוד ביד יהודה כדי שיביא ראיה שראובן גזלה וישלם דמיה וכן אם היתה הטלית ביד יורשי ראובן אין שמעון מעיד עליה מפני שסופה שאם תעמוד ביד היורש לחזור לו וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
3
The following rule applies when Reuven sold a field to Shimon without taking financial responsibility for it and Yehudah issued a claim to expropriate it from Shimon. Reuven may not testify concerning it on Shimon's behalf. Even though he did not accept financial responsibility for the field, he desires that it remain in Shimon's possession. For if that is the case, one of Reuven's creditors may come and collect it as payment for Reuven's debt and thus Reuven will not be "a wicked person who borrows and does not repay."
ג
ראובן שמכר שדה לשמעון שלא באחריות ובא יהודה לערער על שמעון ולהוציאה מתחת ידו אין ראובן מעיד לו עליה אע"פ שאין עליה אחריות הרי הוא רוצה שתעמוד ביד שמעון כדי שיבא בעל חוב של ראובן ויטרפנה בחובו ולא יהיה לוה רשע ולא ישלם:
4
When, by contrast, Reuven sold a cow or a garment to Shimon and Yehudah raised a claim to expropriate it from Shimon, Reuven may testify that it belongs to Shimon. The rationale is that even if it were to remain in Shimon's possession, a creditor of Reuven does not have the right to expropriate movable property that was sold. This applies even when the movable property was designated as an apoteiki.
When does the above apply? When Shimon the purchaser admits that the cow or the garment certainly belonged to Reuven the seller and he knows that they truly belonged to him. If, however, Shimon does not acknowledge this, Reuven may not testify to deny Yehudah's right to the property. For if it is expropriated from Shimon, he will sue Reuven for its value, saying: "You sold me an article that did not belong to you, for witnesses came and stated that it belonged to Yehudah."
When do we accept Reuven's testimony to deny Yehudah's right to the movable property and thus leave it in Shimon's possession? When witnesses come and testify that Reuven never owned landed property. If, however, there are no witnesses to deliver such testimony, Reuven may not testify concerning a cow or a garment as well.
Why may he not testify concerning such objects? Because it is possible that he placed them on lien to his creditor by virtue of the latter's lien on landed property and in that contract stated: "That I will acquire," establishing a lien on them by virtue of the lien on the landed property. Thus his creditor has the right to expropriate a cow and a garment as well. Hence, Reuven should not testify concerning them. For he desires to have them remain in Shimon's possession so that his creditor can come and expropriate them. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.
These matters are dependent solely on the discerning capacity of the judge and the greatness of his understanding when he comprehends the fundamental thrust of the judgments and knows how one thing leads to another, deepening his perception. If he sees that a witness will derive benefit from this testimony even in an uncommon and extraordinary manner, he should not allow that person to testify.
Just as a person should not testify with regard to a matter because he may have a vested interest in the case; so, too, he should not act as a judge concerning such a matter. Similarly with regard to other disqualifying factors, just as they disqualifying a person as a witness; so, too, they disqualify him as a judge.
ד
ראובן שמכר פרה או טלית לשמעון ובא יהודה לערער ולהוציא מיד שמעון ראובן מעיד לו עליה שהיא של שמעון שאפילו עמדה ביד שמעון אין בעל חובו של ראובן טורף מן המטלטלין ואפילו היו אפותיקי במה דברים אמורים כשהיה שמעון מודה שזו הפרה והטלית הם של ראובן המוכר בודאי והוא יודע שבאמת הן שלו אבל אם לא הודה שמעון אין ראובן מעיד לאבד זכות יהודה שאם תצא מתחת ידי שמעון יחזור שמעון ויתבע דמים ויאמר לו מכרת לי דבר שאינו שלך שהרי באו עדים ואמרו שהן של יהודה בד"א שיעיד ראובן לאבד זכות יהודה ויעמיד המטלטלין ביד שמעון כשבאו עדים והעידו שהם יודעים שראובן זה לא היתה לו קרקע מעולם אבל אם לא באו עדים לכך אף על הפרה והטלית אינו מעיד ולמה אינו מעיד עליהן שמא הקנה אותם לבעל חובו אגב קרקע וכתב דאיקני והקנה לו מטלטלין אגב קרקע שנמצא בעל חובו טורף אף הפרה והטלית לפיכך לא יעיד עליהן שהרי רוצה להעמידן ביד שמעון כדי שיבא בעל חובו ויטרפם וכן כל כיוצא בדברים אלו ודברים אלו אינן תלויין אלא בדעת הדיין ועוצם בינתו שיבין עיקר המשפטים וידע דבר הגורם לדבר אחר ויעמיק לראות אם ימצא שיש לזה העד צד הנאה בעדות זו אפילו בדרך רחוקה ונפלאה הרי זה לא יעיד בה וכדרך שלא יעיד בדבר זה שמא נוגע בעדותו הוא כך לא ידון באותו דבר וכן שאר מיני פסולין כשם שפוסלין בעדים כך פוסלין בדיינים:
5
Therefore we do not appoint two judges to the Sanhedrin who are related to each other. This applies to both a minor Sanhedrin and the Supreme Sanhedrin. With regard to the judges that are added to reach the number of seven charged with declaring a leap year as mentioned in Hilchot Kiddush HaChodesh, it appears to me that it is of no consequence that there are relatives among them.
ה
ולפיכך אין סומכין בסנהדרין שנים הקרובים זה לזה בין בסנהדרי קטנה בין בסנהדרי גדולה אבל אלו שמוסיפין עד שבעה לעבר השנה כמו שבארנו בהלכות קדוש החדש יראה לי שאם היה בהן קרובים אין בכך כלום:
6
Whoever is fit to act as a judge as fit to act as a witness. There are, however, some who are acceptable to act as a witness, but not to act as a judge. They include friends, enemies, converts, and freed slaves. Similarly, an elderly person, a eunuch, a bastard, and a person with one eye are acceptable as witnesses, but are not acceptable as judges as we explained.
ו
כל הכשר לדון כשר להעיד ויש כשר להעיד ואינו כשר לדון האוהב והשונא והגר והמשוחרר וכן הזקן והסריס והממזר וסומא באחת מעיניו כשרין להעיד ואינן כשרים לדון דיני נפשות כמו שבארנו:
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class
Wednesday, Elul 22, 5777 · 13 September 2017
"Today's Day"
Wednesday Elul 22 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Nitzavim-Vayeilech, Revi'i with Rashi.
Tehillim: 106-107. Also 64-66.
Tanya: And this is (p. 483) ...will have rest... (p. 485).
Chassidic doctrine demands that before reproving another, one must pare his own "fingernails," in order not to gash the other. "They (the forces of evil) seize by the fingernails"; every stab is k'lipa and sitra achra. After the "nails" are pared there must be "laving the hands," as explained in Chassidus1 - calling forth intellect into emotion.2
FOOTNOTES
1.Paralleling the physical reality, that after cutting one's fingernails - in the simple sense - he is required by Torah to lave his hands. Viz. Shulchan Aruch (HaRav) Orach Chayim 4:18.
2.See Supplementary Footnotes.
Daily Thought:
The Convenient Mind
The mind will always find the answer most convenient for the mind.
A philosopher will find an answer that favors philosophers. A scientist will find an answer that favors science. A spiritual seeker will find an answer that satisfies his need to seek spirituality. Even the greatest mind will rest only where there remains room to be a mind.
That is why a simple good deed can carry the mind to a place it could never reach on its own—beyond its very need to exist.
Do truth, and you will find truth.
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment