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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Sunday, 11 Tishrei, 5778 · October 1, 2017
Today's Laws and Customs:
Omit Tachnun
Tachnun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted.
Start on sukkah
It is customary to begin working on -- or at least planning -- the construction of the sukkah immediately after Yom Kippur. Indeed, The Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 30:7) describes the four days between Yom Kippur and Sukkot as a time when the Jewish people are "preoccupied with mitzvot... this one is occupied with his sukkah, this one is occupied with his lulav..."
"G-d's Name"
According to an old Chassidic tradition -- mentioned in the writings of the Baal Shem Tov -- the day after Yom Kippur is referred to as "G-d's Name." (The Baal Shem Tov explains that each of the various divine names describe G-d's involvement in a specific "world" or realm of reality, but the designation "G-d's Name" -- without reference to any particular name -- connotes a divine effluence that transcends all realms and particulars. On Yom Kippur, we access and reveal the very essence of our soul, which is one with the very essence of G-d; thus the day after Yom Kippur carries the designation "G-d's Name.")
Daily Quote:
The campaign of the Greeks was, as we say in the Al Hanissim prayer, aimed to "make them forget Your Torah and violate the decrees of Your will." "Let them study Torah," the Greeks implied. "Let them practice the logical mitzvot and the 'testimonial' observances. But they must not mention that the Torah is G‑d's Torah and the mitzvot are the decrees of His will. Torah and mitzvot must be severed from G‑dliness..." (Hayom Yom, 7th day of Chanukah)
Daily Study:
Chumash with Rashi: Parshat Vezot Hab'rachah, 1st Portion (Deuteronomy 33:1-33:7)
Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 20
Today's Hayom Yom
Omit Tachnun
Tachnun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted.
Start on sukkah
It is customary to begin working on -- or at least planning -- the construction of the sukkah immediately after Yom Kippur. Indeed, The Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 30:7) describes the four days between Yom Kippur and Sukkot as a time when the Jewish people are "preoccupied with mitzvot... this one is occupied with his sukkah, this one is occupied with his lulav..."
"G-d's Name"
According to an old Chassidic tradition -- mentioned in the writings of the Baal Shem Tov -- the day after Yom Kippur is referred to as "G-d's Name." (The Baal Shem Tov explains that each of the various divine names describe G-d's involvement in a specific "world" or realm of reality, but the designation "G-d's Name" -- without reference to any particular name -- connotes a divine effluence that transcends all realms and particulars. On Yom Kippur, we access and reveal the very essence of our soul, which is one with the very essence of G-d; thus the day after Yom Kippur carries the designation "G-d's Name.")
Daily Quote:
The campaign of the Greeks was, as we say in the Al Hanissim prayer, aimed to "make them forget Your Torah and violate the decrees of Your will." "Let them study Torah," the Greeks implied. "Let them practice the logical mitzvot and the 'testimonial' observances. But they must not mention that the Torah is G‑d's Torah and the mitzvot are the decrees of His will. Torah and mitzvot must be severed from G‑dliness..." (Hayom Yom, 7th day of Chanukah)
Daily Study:
Chumash with Rashi: Parshat Vezot Hab'rachah, 1st Portion (Deuteronomy 33:1-33:7)
Deuteronomy Chapter 33
1And this is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel [just] before his death. אוְזֹ֣את הַבְּרָכָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר בֵּרַ֥ךְ משֶׁ֛ה אִ֥ישׁ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לִפְנֵ֖י מוֹתֽוֹ:
And this is the blessing… [just] before his death: Very close to the time of his death. — [see Sifrei 33: 1] “For, if not now, when?”
וזאת הברכה, לפני מותו: סמוך למיתתו שאם לא עכשיו אימתי:
2He said: "The Lord came from Sinai and shone forth from Seir to them; He appeared from Mount Paran and came with some of the holy myriads; from His right hand was a fiery Law for them. בוַיֹּאמַ֗ר יְהֹוָ֞ה מִסִּינַ֥י בָּא֙ וְזָרַ֤ח מִשֵּׂעִיר֙ לָ֔מוֹ הוֹפִ֨יעַ֙ מֵהַ֣ר פָּארָ֔ן וְאָתָ֖ה מֵרִֽבְבֹ֣ת קֹ֑דֶשׁ מִֽימִינ֕וֹ אֵ֥שׁ דָּ֖ת לָֽמוֹ:
He said: The Lord came from Sinai: Moses initiated his blessing by praising the Omnipresent, and then he addressed the needs of Israel. — [Sifrei 33:2] The praise with which Moses commenced, mentions the merit of Israel. All this was a way of conciliation, as if to say, “These people are worthy that a blessing should rest upon them.”
ויאמר ה' מסיני בא: פתח תחלה בשבחו של מקום ואחר כך פתח בצרכיהם של ישראל. ובשבח שפתח בו יש בו הזכרת זכות לישראל וכל זה דרך ריצוי הוא, כלומר כדאי הם אלו שתחול עליהם ברכה:
came from Sinai: He came out toward them when they came to stand at the foot of the mountain, as a bridegroom goes forth to greet his bride, as it is said, “[And Moses brought the people forth] toward God” (Exod. 19:17). We learn from this, that God came out toward them (Mechilta 19:17).
מסיני בא: יצא לקראתם כשבאו להתיצב בתחתית ההר כחתן היוצא להקביל פני כלה, שנאמר (שמות יט, יז) לקראת האלהים, למדנו שיצא כנגדם:
and shone forth from Seir to them: [Why did He come from Seir?] Because God first offered the children of Esau [who dwelled in Seir] that they accept the Torah, but they did not want [to accept it].
וזרח משעיר למו: שפתח לבני עשו שיקבלו את התורה ולא רצו:
He appeared: to them [Israel]
הופיע: להם:
from Mount Paran: [Why did God then come from Paran?] Because He went there and offered the children of Ishmael [who dwelled in Paran] to accept the Torah, but they [also] did not want [to accept it]. — [A.Z. 2b]
מהר פארן: שהלך שם ופתח לבני ישמעאל שיקבלוה, ולא רצו:
and came: to Israel.
ואתה: לישראל
with some holy myriads: With God were only some of the myriads of His holy angels, but not all of them, nor [even] most of them. This is unlike the manner of a mortal, who displays all the splendor of his riches and his glory on his wedding day. — [Sifrei 33:2]
מרבבת קדש: ועמו מקצת רבבות מלאכי קדש, ולא כולם ולא רובם, ולא כדרך בשר ודם שמראה כל כבוד עשרו ותפארתו ביום חופתו:
a fiery law for them: It was originally written before God in [letters of] black fire upon [a background of] white fire. — [Tanchuma Bereishith 1] He gave it to them on tablets, inscribed, [as it were,] by His right hand [thus it is said here, “from His right hand”]. Another explanation of אֵשׁ דָּת : As the Targum renders it, that He gave it to them from amidst the fire.
אש דת: שהיתה כתובה מאז לפניו באש שחורה על גב אש לבנה, נתן להם בלוחות כתב יד ימינו. דבר אחר אש דת כתרגומו, שנתנה להם מתוך האש:
3Indeed, You showed love for peoples; all his holy ones are in Your hand, for they let themselves be centered at Your feet, bearing Your utterances. גאַ֚ף חֹבֵ֣ב עַמִּ֔ים כָּל־קְדשָׁ֖יו בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וְהֵם֙ תֻּכּ֣וּ לְרַגְלֶ֔ךָ יִשָּׂ֖א מִדַּבְּרֹתֶֽיךָ:
Indeed, You showed love for peoples: [God] also displayed great affection to the tribes, each one of whom were known as a people, for only Benjamin was destined to be born when the Holy One, blessed is He, said to Jacob, “A nation and a multitude of nations shall come into existence from you” (Genesis 35:11). [Thus we see that Benjamin alone was called “a nation.” “A multitude of nations” refers to Ephraim and Manasseh. See Rashi on Gen. 35:11, 48:4.]- [Gen. Rabbah 82:4]
אף חבב עמים: גם חבה יתירה חבב את השבטים. כל אחד ואחד קרוי עם, שהרי בנימין לבדו היה עתיד להוולד כשאמר הקב"ה ליעקב (בראשית לה, יא) גוי וקהל גוים יהיה ממך:
all his holy ones are in Your hand: [This refers to] the souls of the righteous, which are hidden away with God, as it is said, “But my lord’s soul shall be bound up in the bundle of life, with the Lord, your God” (I Sam. 25:29). - [Sifrei 33:3]
כל קדשיו בידך: נפשות הצדיקים הגנוזות אתו, כענין שנאמר (שמואל א' כה, כט) והיתה נפש אדוני צרורה בצרור החיים את ה' אלהיך:
for they […] be centered at Your feet: And Israel is indeed worthy of this [privilege to have their souls hidden away with God], because they placed themselves right in the middle (תּוֹךְ) of the bottom of the mountain at Your feet [figuratively speaking] at Sinai. The word תֻּכּוּ is in the passive conjugation, which has the meaning: הִתְוַכּוּ, “They [allowed themselves] to be placed right in the middle (תּוֹךְ)” [of the underside of the mountain], between Your feet.
והם תכו לרגלך: והם ראוים לכך, שהרי תכו עצמן לתוך תחתית ההר לרגלך בסיני. תכו לשון פועלו, הותווכו לתוך מרגלותיך:
bearing Your utterances: They bore upon themselves the yoke of Your Torah. — [Sifrei 33:3]
ישא מדברתיך: נשאו עליהם עול תורתך:
Your Torah: Heb. מִדַּבְּרֹתֶיךָ. The mem in it [i.e., in this word] is somewhat of a root letter [rather than a prefix], as in “And he heard the voice speaking (מִדַּבֵּר) to him” (Num. 7:89); and “And I heard what was being spoken (מִדַּבֵּר) to me” (Ezek. 2:2). This form is similar to מִתְדַּבֵּר אֵלַי, [speaking to Himself for me to hear, see Rashi on Num. 7:89]. This too, namely, the word מִדַּבְּרֹתֶיךָ, means: “what You were speaking to let me know what to tell the children of Israel.” Tes porparledurs in Old French. Onkelos, however, renders [the phrase יִשָּׂא מִדַּבְּרֹתֶיךָ as: “they traveled (יִשָּׂא like יִסַּע) according to Your commands (דַּבְּרֹתֶיךָ).” Thus, the mem is a servile prefix, with the meaning of מִן, from. [Thus, according to Onkelos, the word מִדַּבְּרֹתֶיךָ literally means, from Your utterances.] Another explanation [of this verse is as follows]: Indeed, You showed love for peoples — even when You displayed Your affection towards the nations of the world, showing them a smiling [friendly] face, and You delivered Israel into their hands,
מדברתיך: המ"ם בו קרוב ליסוד, כמו (במדבר ז, פט) וישמע את הקול מדבר אליו, (יחזקאל ב, ב) ואשמע את קול מדבר אלי, כמו מתדבר אלי, אף זה מדברותיך מה שהיית מדבר להשמיעני לאמר להם. טיי"ש פורפרלידורי"ש בלע"ז [דיבורך]. ואונקלוס תרגם שהיו נוסעים על פי דבריך, והמ"ם בו שמוש משמשת לשון מן. דבר אחר אף חבב עמים אף בשעת חבתם של אומות העולם שהראית להם פנים שוחקות ומסרת את ישראל בידם:
all his holy ones are in Your hand: All Israel’s righteous and good people clung to You; they did not turn away from You, and You guarded them. — [B.B. 8a)]
כל קדשיו בידך: כל צדיקיהם וטוביהם דבקו בך ולא משו מאחריך ואתה שומרם:
for they let themselves be centered at your feet: And they placed themselves right in the middle of, and entered beneath Your [protective] shadow;
והם תכו לרגלך: והם מתמצעים ומתכנסים לתחת צלך:
bearing your utterances: And they gladly accepted Your decrees and Your laws. — [see Tanchuma 5] And these were their words:
ישא מדברתיך: מקבלים גזרותיך ודתותיך בשמחה. ואלה דבריהם:
4The Torah that Moses commanded us is a legacy for the congregation of Jacob. דתּוֹרָ֥ה צִוָּה־לָ֖נוּ משֶׁ֑ה מֽוֹרָשָׁ֖ה קְהִלַּ֥ת יַֽעֲקֹֽב:
The Torah that Moses commanded us is a legacy for the congregation of Jacob: We have taken hold of it, and we will not forsake it!
תורה: אשר צוה לנו משה מורשה היא לקהלת יעקב, אחזנוה ולא נעזבנה:
5And He was King in Jeshurun, whenever the sum total of the people were gathered, and the tribes of Israel were together, הוַיְהִ֥י בִֽישֻׁר֖וּן מֶ֑לֶךְ בְּהִתְאַסֵּף֙ רָ֣אשֵׁי עָ֔ם יַ֖חַד שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
And He was: i.e., the Holy One, blessed is He,
ויהי: הקב"ה:
was King in Jeshurun: i.e., the yoke of God’s sovereignty was always upon them.
בישרון מלך: תמיד עול מלכותו עליהם:
whenever the sum total of the people were gathered: At every gathering of רָאשֵׁי - meaning, whenever their number is gathered. רָאשֵׁי as in the verse,“When you take the count (רֹאשׁ) of the children of Israel” (Exod. 30:12). These people are worthy that I should bless them. Another explanation: When Israel is gathered together in a unified group, and there is peace among them, God is their King-but not when there is strife among them. — [Sifrei 33:5]
בהתאסף: בכל התאסף ראשי חשבון אסיפתם. ראשי, כמו (שמות ל, יב) כי תשא את ראש, ראויין אלו שאברכם. דבר אחר, בהתאסף, בהתאספם יחד באגודה אחת ושלום ביניהם הוא מלכם, ולא כשיש מחלוקת ביניהם:
6May Reuben live and not die, and may his people be counted in the number. ויְחִ֥י רְאוּבֵ֖ן וְאַל־יָמֹ֑ת וִיהִ֥י מְתָ֖יו מִסְפָּֽר:
May Reuben live: in this world,
יחי ראובן: בעולם הזה:
and not die: in the world-to-come, that the incident involving Bilhah not be remembered against him. — [see Rashi Gen. 35:22; Sifrei 33:6]
ואל ימות: לעולם הבא, שלא יזכר לו מעשה בלהה:
and may his people be counted in the number: May Reuben be counted along with the enumeration of the rest of his brothers. This [matter, that the incident involving Bilhah should not exclude Reuben from being counted together with his brothers] is similar to what is said: “[And Reuben went] and lay with Bilhah… and Jacob’s sons were twelve” (Gen. 35:22), [indicating] that he was not excluded from the number [of Jacob’s sons, on account of this incident].
ויהי מתיו מספר: נמנין במנין שאר אחיו, דוגמא היא זו כענין שנאמר (בראשית לה, כב) וישכב את בלהה ויהיו בני יעקב שנים עשר, שלא יצא מן המנין:
7May this [also be] for Judah." And he [Moses] said, "O Lord, hearken to Judah's voice and bring him to his people; may his hands do battle for him, and may You be a help against his adversaries." זוְזֹ֣את לִֽיהוּדָה֘ וַיֹּאמַר֒ שְׁמַ֤ע יְהֹוָה֙ ק֣וֹל יְהוּדָ֔ה וְאֶל־עַמּ֖וֹ תְּבִיאֶ֑נּוּ יָדָיו֙ רָ֣ב ל֔וֹ וְעֵ֥זֶר מִצָּרָ֖יו תִּֽהְיֶֽה:
May this [also be] for Judah: He juxtaposed Judah to Reuben, because they both confessed to the wrong they had done, as it is said, “that wise men have told… to them alone… and no stranger passed between them” (Job 15:18-19). [This verse alludes to the confession of Reuben and Judah (“that wise men have told”), and how they were consequently blessed here together (“them alone”); although Levi was next in line chronologically to Reuben, nevertheless here, in the context of this blessing, Levi did not come between them (“no stranger came between them”), but rather, he was blessed immediately afterwards (verses 8-11).]- [see Rashi, Job 15:19] Our Rabbis further explained that during the entire forty years that Israel was in the desert, Judah’s bones were rolling in his coffin, because of the excommunication which he had accepted upon himself [when he took responsibility for Benjamin], as it is said, “If I will not bring him to you… then I have sinned against you all of the days” (Gen. 43:9). [So], Moses said, “Who caused Reuben to [publicly] confess his sin? It was Judah…” (see Sotah 7b) [and thus, by placing Judah together with Reuben, Moses alluded to this merit of Judah, and, in effect, “May the Lord listen to Judah’s voice,” is a prayer that Judah’s bones would finally come to rest].
וזאת ליהודה: סמך יהודה לראובן, מפני ששניהם הודו על קלקול שבידם, שנאמר (איוב טו, יח - יט) אשר חכמים יגידו וגו' להם לבדם וגו' ולא עבר זר בתוכם. ועוד פירשו רבותינו, שכל ארבעים שנה שהיו ישראל במדבר היו עצמות יהודה מתגלגלים בארון מפני נדוי שקבל עליו, שנאמר (בראשית מד, לב) וחטאתי לאבי כל הימים, אמר משה מי גרם לראובן שיודה יהודה וכו':
O Lord, hearken to Judah’s voice: [I.e., Also, hear the prayer of Judah’s descendants:] The prayer of David and Solomon, and the prayer of Asa because of the Ethiopians, and that of Jehoshaphat on account of the Ammonites, and that of Hezekiah because of Sennacherib. — [see Sifrei 33:7]
שמע ה' קול יהודה: תפלת דוד ושלמה ואסא מפני הכושים, ויהושפט מפני העמונים, וחזקיה מפני סנחריב:
and bring him to his people: in peace, from war.
ואל עמו תביאנו: לשלום מפני המלחמה:
his hands will do battle for him: May his hands fight his battle (רִיבוֹ), and may they exact his vengeance.
ידיו רב לו: יריבו ריבו וינקמו נקמתו:
and may You be a help against his adversaries: [Moses here] was praying for [Judah’s descendant] Jehoshaphat, concerning the battle of Ramoth Gilead, [as Scripture states,] “Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him (עֲזָרוֹ)” (II Chron. 18:31). Another explanation:
ועזר מצריו תהיה: על יהושפט התפלל על מלחמת רמות גלעד, (דה"ב יח, לא) ויזעק יהושפט וה' עזרו. דבר אחר ...
O Lord, hearken to Judah’s voice: Here, included within Judah’s blessing, Moses alluded to [and incorporated] a blessing for Simeon [the allusion being in the word שְׁמַע, the very root of שִׁמְעוֹן]. Also [in accordance with this incorporation of Simeon within Judah], when they divided Eretz Israel [among the tribes], Simeon received [his portion] out of the lot of Judah, as Scripture states, “Out of the lot of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon” (Josh. 19:9). - [Sifrei 33:7] Now why did Moses not devote a separate blessing for him? Because he held against him what he had done in Shittim [referring to the sin of Zimri the son of Salu, a leader of the tribe of Simeon (see Num. 25:1-14)]. So it is written in the Aggadah of Psalms. — [Shocher Tov 90]
שמע ה' קול יהודה: כאן רמז ברכה לשמעון מתוך ברכותיו של יהודה, ואף כשחלקו ארץ ישראל נטל שמעון מתוך גורלו של יהודה שנאמר (יהושע יט, ט) מחבל בני יהודה נחלת בני שמעון. ומפני מה לא ייחד לו ברכה בפני עצמו, שהיה בלבו עליו על מה שעשה בשטים, כן כתוב באגדת תהלים:
Daily Tehillim - Psalms Chapters 60-65
Chapters 60-65
Chapter 60
This psalm tells of when Joab, David's general, came to Aram Naharayim for war and was asked by the people: "Are you not from the children of Jacob? What of the pact he made with Laban?" Not knowing what to answer, Joab asked the Sanhedrin. The psalm includes David's prayer for success in this war.
1. For the Conductor, on the shushan eidut. A michtam by David, to instruct,
2. when he battled with Aram Naharayim and Aram Tzovah, and Joab returned and smote Edom in the Valley of Salt, twelve thousand [men].
3. O God, You forsook us, You have breached us! You grew furious-restore us!
4. You made the earth quake, You split it apart-heal its fragments, for it totters!
5. You showed Your nation harshness, You gave us benumbing wine to drink.
6. [Now] give those who fear You a banner to raise themselves, for the sake of truth, Selah.
7. That Your beloved ones may be delivered, help with Your right hand and answer me.
8. God said with His Holy [Spirit] that I would exult; I would divide Shechem, and measure out the Valley of Succot.
9. Mine is Gilead, mine is Menasseh, and Ephraim is the stronghold of my head; Judah is my prince.
10. Moab is my washbasin, and upon Edom I will cast my shoe; for me, Philistia will sound a blast [of coronation].
11. Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who will lead me unto Edom?
12. Is it not You, God, Who has [until now] forsaken us, and did not go forth with our legions?
13. Grant us relief from the oppressor; futile is the salvation of man.
14. With God we will do valiantly, and He will trample our oppressors.
Chapter 61
David composed this prayer while fleeing from Saul. The object of all his thoughts and his entreaty is that God grant him long life-not for the sake of pursuing the pleasures of the world, but rather to serve God in awe, all of his days.
1. For the Conductor, on the neginat, by David.
2. Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer.
3. From the end of the earth I call to You, when my heart is faint [with trouble]: Lead me upon the rock that surpasses me!
4. For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength in the face of the enemy.
5. I will dwell in Your tent forever; I will take refuge in the shelter of Your wings, Selah.
6. For You, God, heard my vows; You granted the inheritance of those who fear Your Name.
7. Add days to the days of the king; may his years equal those of every generation.
8. May he sit always before God; appoint kindness and truth to preserve him.
9. Thus will I sing the praise of Your Name forever, as I fulfill my vows each day.
Chapter 62
David prays for the downfall of his enemies. He also exhorts his generation that their faith should not rest in riches, telling them that the accumulation of wealth is utter futility.
1. For the Conductor, on the yedutun,1 a psalm by David.
2. To God alone does my soul hope; my salvation is from Him.
3. He alone is my rock and salvation, my stronghold; I shall not falter greatly.
4. Until when will you plot disaster for man? May you all be killed-like a leaning wall, a toppled fence.
5. Out of their arrogance alone they scheme to topple me, they favor falsehood; with their mouths they bless, and in their hearts they curse, Selah.
6. To God alone does my soul hope, for my hope is from Him.
7. He alone is my rock and salvation, my stronghold; I shall not falter.
8. My salvation and honor is upon God; the rock of my strength-my refuge is in God.
9. Trust in Him at all times, O nation, pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuge for us forever.
10. Men are but vanity; people [but] transients. Were they to be raised upon the scale, they would be lighter than vanity.
11. Put not your trust in exploitation, nor place futile hope in robbery. If [corrupt] wealth flourishes, pay it no heed.
12. God spoke one thing, from which I perceived two: That strength belongs to God;
13. and that Yours, my Lord, is kindness. For You repay each man according to his deeds.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument (Metzudot).
Chapter 63
Hiding from Saul, and yearning to approach the place of the Holy Ark like one thirsting for water, David composed this prayer on his behalf and against his enemy.
1. A psalm by David, when he was in the Judean desert.
2. O God, You are my Almighty, I seek You! My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You; [like one] in a desolate and dry land, without water,
3. so [I thirst] to see You in the Sanctuary, to behold Your might and glory.
4. For Your kindness is better than life; my lips shall praise You.
5. Thus will I bless you all my life, in Your Name I will raise my hands [in prayer].
6. As with fat and abundance my soul is sated, when my mouth offers praise with expressions of joy.
7. Indeed, I remember You upon my bed; during the watches of the night I meditate upon You.
8. For You were a help for me; I sing in the shadow of Your wings.
9. My soul cleaved to You; Your right hand supported me.
10. But they seek desolation for my soul; they will enter the depths of the earth.
11. They will drag them by the sword; they will be the portion of foxes.
12. And the king will rejoice in God, and all who swear by Him will take pride, when the mouths of liars are blocked up.
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.
Daily TanyaIggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 20
Sunday, 11 Tishrei 5778 / October 1, 2017
Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 20
The Alter Rebbe now goes on to say that when the radiation descends in the third manner, it is manifest only in creatures of the lowest order, those deriving from the Element of Earth, this Element being lower than the other Elements of Fire, Air and Water. And it is mainly within the physical earth that the Divine power of creating yesh from ayin is revealed. This power derives from the essence of the Ein Sof-light; it is primarily found in the encompassing light, and is revealed through the Kav, the inner light.
This becomes apparent in the ability of the earth to make things grow: the physical growth of vegetative matter from the spiritual power of growth found in the earth is a clear demonstration of yesh resulting from ayin. Furthermore, the earth reveals this power constantly: it constantly produces vegetation as yesh from ayin. In this it differs from all living things that were created during the Six Days of Creation. Unlike all living things which, once created, simply reproduce, the earth consistently continues to reveal its creative power of yesh from ayin.
Thus, though the radiation within the earth is merely a “radiation of a radiation of a radiation,” it nevertheless demonstrates G‑d’s creative power — because it comprises both the encompassing light, and the light of the Kav which activates the power of the encompassing light to create and animate created beings.
The Alter Rebbe also explains that the distinctive power described above was revealed specifically within the earth, because Earth is the lowest Element of all. For, as explained above, it is specifically at the lowliest level of creation that the “rebounding light” manifests the essence of the original illumination with superior intensity.
ועוד זאת, יתר על כן, על כל הנ״ל
Furthermore, in addition to all that was mentioned above,1
הארה דהארה דהארה
the radiation of the radiation of the radiation, which descends into a created being utterly concealed, being then neither the mahut nor the metziut of Divinity, and nevertheless containing both the inner illumination of the Kav and the encompassing light,
וכל הנ״ל
and all the above, i.e., the manner in which both these levels of illumination ultimately radiate within created beings,
היא מראה כחה ויכלתה ביסוד העפר הגשמי, בגילוי עצום
demonstrates its power and ability, inasmuch as it is a G‑d-ly radiation descending from Malchut of Atzilut, in the Element of the physical Earth in an immense manifestation
ביתר עז מיסודות העליונים ממנו, וגם מצבא השמים
surpassing [that of] the elements (viz., Fire, Air and Water) that transcend it, and even the heavenly hosts.
שאין בכחם ויכלתם להוציא יש מאין תמיד
For they do not have it in their power and ability to constantly bring forth something from nothing (yesh me’ayin),
כיסוד העפר, המצמיח תמיד יש מאין, הם עשבים ואילנות
like the Element of Earth that constantly makes something (yesh) sprout from nothing (ayin), namely the herbs and trees that constantly grow from the earth’s vegetative power.
Even those plants that result from sowing and planting are produced in a manner that resembles yesh me’ayin, for the seed or seedling disintegrates, and serves merely to arouse the vegetative power.
(והמזל המכה ואומר: גדל
(2As for the mazal, the individual angel of destiny, “that strikes [each herb] and says, ‘Grow!’” —
Our Sages teach that3“There is no blade of grass below that does not have a mazal above that strikes it and says to it, ‘Grow!’” Would it not seem, then, that in addition to the earth’s vegetative power there is another factor in growth?
היינו, לאחר שכבר צמח העשב
this takes place [only] after the plant has already sprouted.
Once the plant exists as a created entity, it merely has to grow taller, the tree has to produce fruit with a certain taste, and so on — and these stages relate to the mazal.
ואינו אומר לו לצמוח מאין ליש, אלא מקוטן לגודל, ולשאת פרי, כל מין ומין בפרטי פרטיות
The mazal does not tell it to sprout ex nihilo into substantiality, but only to grow from being small to being large, or to bear fruit of its own particular species.
In Or HaTorah,4 the Tzemach Tzedek explains that the mazal sends forth an arousal to the power of growth that is found within the grass or tree, causing it to grow. The basic cause of growth, however, lies in the above-mentioned vegetative power.
Elsewhere,5 the Tzemach Tzedek explains that the above-quoted “smiting” means that the mazal illumines the particular tree or grass with which it is connected, causing it to be drawn to its source and hence to grow ever larger.
אבל בטרם יצמח, למי יאמר כל מזל ומזל לכל עשב ועשב בפרטי פרטיות
For before it sprouts, to whom would the individual mazal of each particular herb ordain all its details?)
מהכח הצומח שבו, שהוא אין ורוחני, והם גשמיים
[The above-mentioned plants of the earth grow, then,] from the vegetative property within it, which is insubstantial and spiritual, while they are physical.
What we have here, then, is yesh from ayin, which, as explained above, derives from the essence of the Ein Sof and finds expression in the Element of Earth. Why specifically there?
ואין זאת אלא משום דרגלי דאדם קדמון מסתיימים בתחתית עשיה
This is so only because the “feet” of Adam Kadmon culminate at the lowest level of Asiyah,
The “feet” (i.e., the last and lowliest levels) of Adam Kadmon, the Primordial Thought that encompasses all the levels of creation, concludes in the lowest degrees of the nethermost world, the World of Asiyah, and specifically, in the lowly Element of Earth within it.
ותחת רגליו מאיר אור אין סוף ברוך הוא, הסובב כל עלמין
And “below His feet,” i.e., below the lowest levels of Adam Kadmon, radiates the [infinite] Ein Sof-light which encircles (i.e., transcends) all worlds,
At the very “place” at which there ceases the indwelling Divine illumination that permeates all the worlds, there begins the “encompassing” degree of Divine light that transcends all the worlds.
בלי הפסק רב ביניהם, רק עיגולי א״ק לבדו
without any great interruption between them, except for the Iggulim of Adam Kadmon alone.
The Primordial Thought of Adam Kadmon consists of two modes of illumination — Yosher (lit., “straightness”, i.e., a permeating mode) and Iggulim (lit., “circles”, i.e., a transcendent mode). Where the former mode ceases and there remains only the latter (which is not absolute infinity like the Ein-Sof light that transcends all worlds), there is found the absolutely infinite illumination of the Ein-Sof light that transcends all worlds equally.
וגם הקו מאור אין סוף, המסתיים בסיום רגלי א״ק, מאיר ממטה למעלה, בבחינת אור חוזר
Also, the Kav of the Ein Sof-light, culminating at the end of the “feet” of Adam Kadmon, radiates from below upwards, in a mode of Or Chozer, a reflected light.
As mentioned above, this is a light that rebounds upward with increased intensity from a surface which blocks its further downward progress. Hence, for example, the atmosphere closest to the earth’s surface is warmer than the atmosphere in altitudes which are nearer to the sun. In the same way, when the beam of the Kav, whose function is to infuse the inner reaches of all created beings with Divine light, reaches the furthest stages of the Divine thought that encompasses all worlds and created beings, it bounces back with sharper impetus: it is now an Or Chozer.
כמו שהמלובש באריך אנפין, ואבא ואמא, וז״א ונוקבא דאצילות, מאיר באור חוזר ממלכות דאצילות
This is like the investment [of the Kav] in Arich Anpin, Abba and Imma, and Za and Nukva of Atzilut, which radiates as an Or Chozer from Malchut of Atzilut,
ומלכות דאצילות, היא בחינת כתר ממטה למעלה
and Malchut of Atzilut, [if the Sefirot are considered] from below upwards, is [thus] a category of Keter, as mentioned earlier in this Epistle,
ונעוץ תחלתן בסופן
and “their beginning is wedged in their end.”
With regard to Malchut this means that the “beginning” of Keter which is loftier than Chochmah is to be found within Malchut. With regard to the Kav it means that the “beginning” of the Kav is wedged in the culmination of the “feet of Adam Kadmon” which ends in the nethermost levels of the World of Asiyah, in the Element of Earth.
Since the purpose of the Kav is to reveal Divinity, the Element of Earth best reveals that aspect of G‑d’s infinity which expresses itself in creating yesh from ayin, as the Alter Rebbe now concludes.
וככה הוא בסיום הקו דאור אין סוף, המסתיים בסיום היושר דרגלי אדם קדמון
It is likewise at the culmination of the Kav of the Ein Sof-light, culminating at the ending of the Yosher of the “feet” of Adam Kadmon:
I.e., when the “feet” of the lowest levels of Adam Kadmon descend into the interior of the various levels all the way down to the very lowest level, the Element of Earth at the lowest level of Asiyah, —
מאיר ממטה למעלה לבחינת אור הנשמה דמלכות דמלכות דעשיה
it (i.e., the Kav) [then] radiates from below upwards, from the glimmer of a glimmer of a glimmer that is found within the physical earth, to the category of the light of the Neshamah of the Malchut of the Malchut of Asiyah,
This light, the Or HaNeshamah, is in fact the lowest level of spirituality within Asiyah. For Asiyah is the lowest of the worlds; Malchut is the final Sefirah within Asiyah; and of the ten component Sefirot that comprise Malchut, “Malchut of Malchut” is the lowest.
Nevertheless, since it is, after all, the “light of the Neshamah,” it is actual Divinity, as the Alter Rebbe now goes on to say.
שהוא אלקות ממש, מחיצוניות הכלים דמלכות דאצילות
which is actual Divinity, originating in the chitzoniyut (the exterior aspect) of the kelim of Malchut of Atzilut, which, as said above, becomes the “light of the Neshamah of Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah.”
In this lowest level of “light of the Neshamah,” that which is in Asiyah, there is found the illumination of the final degrees of Asiyah (i.e., that which in created beings is the final level), and this “enables” the Ein Sof to reveal its capacity for creating yesh from ayin as demonstrated in the above-described constant power of growth.
ולפי מה שכתוב בספר הגלגולים, פרק כ׳, הובא בלקוטי אמרים
According to the statement in ch. 20 of Sefer HaGilgulim, cited in Likutei Amarim,6
מתלבשת תחלה הארה זו של הקו דאור אין סוף, באור האצילות שבעשיה
this radiation from the Kav of the [infinite] Ein Sof-light vests itself first in the light of Atzilut in Asiyah,
וממנה לבריאה ויצירה שבעשיה
and from there to the Beriah and Yetzirah in Asiyah,
ומהן לבחינת אור הנשמה, דמלכות דמלכות דעשיה
and from them to the category of the light of the Neshamah of the Malchut of the Malchut of Asiyah.
ועל ידי זה יש כח ועוז בסיום הכלי דמלכות דמלכות דעשיה, שביסוד העפר
From this derives the [creative] power and force in the culmination of the keli of the Malchut of Malchut of Asiyah, i.e., the lowest degree and Sefirah of Asiyah, within the Element of Earth.
והוא מאמר תדשא הארץ וגו׳, להיות פועל בקרב הארץ, תמיד לעולם ועד
This is the constant and everlasting effect, throughout the earth, of the creative utterance,7 “Let the earth bring forth herbs...,” this fiat being the source of the power of vegetative growth
בחינת אין סוף
(8in a mode of infinitude,
Not only is the capacity for growth an instance of yesh me’ayin and a result of G‑d’s infinitude: the same is true of its constant recurrence.
ולא בלבד בששת ימי בראשית, כמאמר: ישרצו המים, ומאמר: תוצא הארץ נפש חיה
and not only during the Six Days of Creation, as with the fiat,9 “Let the waters bring forth [an abundance of creeping creatures],” and the fiat,10 “Let the earth bring forth living beings.”
Ever since these one-time creative utterances, every living being derives from another, and not ex nihilo from the earth or water.
מחכמה דמלכות דמלכות דעשיה
[These fiats derive] from the Chochmah of the Malchut of the Malchut of Asiyah.
שבשבעת ימי בראשית האיר בעולם הזה הארה מאור אין סוף בחסד חנם
For during the Seven Days of the Beginning there shone in this world a radiation from the [infinite] Ein Sof-light in a mode of gratuitous kindness,
בלי העלאת מיין נוקבין כלל
without any [prior] elevation of mayin nukvin at all.)
During those days there was no spontaneous arousal initiated from the world below, in the form of divine service on the part of the “female” or recipient element, in order to elicit a reciprocal arousal from above. (After these seven days, however, G‑d ordained that henceforth there must first be an arousal initiated from below.) By virtue of the gratuitous and unearned Di-vine kindness of those first seven days, each of the above-quoted fiats (“Let the water bring forth...” and “Let the earth bring forth...”) effectively brought about an instance of creation ex nihilo, of yesh from ayin.
The fiat “Let the earth sprout forth...,” by contrast, operates constantly:
להצמיח עשבים ואילנות ופירות מאין ליש תמיד, מדי שנה בשנה
to make grasses and trees and fruits sprout ex nihilo into substantiality, constantly, year by year.11
שהוא מעין בחינת אין סוף
This [constancy] is a kind of infinity,
שאם יתקיים עולם הזה ריבוי רבבות שנים, יצמיחו מדי שנה בשנה
for if this world were to exist for myriads of myriads of years, they would still sprout forth from year to year.
אלא שיש מהן על ידי העלאת מיין נוקבין, והם הזרועים והנטועים
There are, though, some [plants, trees and fruit] that result from a [prior] “elevation of mayin nukvin,” i.e., whose seeds serve as the above-mentioned arousal from below which calls forth the power of vegetative growth within the earth, namely, those which are sown and planted.
ואף על פי כן, הם כמו יש מאין
Nevertheless, these [too] are like yesh me’ayin,
שהגרעין הנטוע, אין לו ערך כלל לגבי הפרי, וגם נגד כל האילן עם הענפים והעלין
for the planted seed is of no estimation whatever in relation to the fruit, nor in relation to the whole tree with the branches and leaves.
Whereas the difference between the fruit and its source in the kernel is mainly qualitative (as in the taste, for example), the difference between the kernel and the resultant tree is more quantitative. By both of these criteria, then, the growth of a tree from a seed possesses an element of yesh me’ayin.
וכן במיני זרעונים וירקות, וגם במיני תבואה, להתהוות מאות גרעינין מגרעין אחד, הוא כמו יש מאין
The same applies to the various species of seeds and vegetables, and to the various species of grain: that hundreds of kernels should come into being from a single kernel, resembles yesh me’ayin;
ומכל שכן, הקשין והשבלים
and how much more so, with respect to their straw and spikes, which are so much more different from the parent kernel, and thus even more conspicuously come into being as if “from nothing.”
והנה הפירות על ידי העלאת מיין נוקבין, היא הזריעה והנטיעה, הם משובחים מאד מאד מהעולים מאליהן, מכח הצומח לבדו שבארץ
Now,12 these fruits that [grow] by means of an “elevation of mayin nukvin,” i.e., by sowing and planting, are far, far superior to those that come up independently, only from the vegetative property in the soil.
ומזה נשכיל המשכות אורות עליונים באצילות, בריאה, יצירה, עשיה
And from this we will be able to understand [the concept of] the elicitation of the Supernal orot, the Divine illuminations, [that are drawn down] in the Worlds of Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah,
The lights that are drawn down to this world in response to man’s divine service surpass by far the lights that are granted through “an arousal from above” as an unearned gift.
שהוא תכלית בריאת האדם
(13which is the ultimate purpose for the creation of man),
כמו שכתוב במקום אחר
as is explained elsewhere.
***
FOOTNOTES
1.Note of the Rebbe in his Glosses and Emendations: "Both the language and the intent [of the seemingly repetitious Hebrew introductory phrases] invite attention."
2.Parenthese are in the original text.
3.Bereishit Rabbah 10:6.
4.On Bamidbar, p. 196.
5.Op. cit., p. 786.
6.Note of the Rebbe: “See ch. 6 (in the Alter Rebbe’s Note); ch. 18; see also end of ch. 51 and end of ch. 52.”
7.Bereishit 1:11.
8.Parentheses are in the original text.
9.Bereishit 1:10.
10.Ibid. 1:24.
11.“Coming after ‘constantly’, the phrase ‘year by year’ suggests something of a contradiction. This is not the case in the text above (foot of Hebrew p. 132a), where תמיד לעולם means ‘constant and everlasting,’ as is evident from the continuation there (‘in a mode of infinitude’). Our text should therefore be understood in the spirit of the similar text at the end of Epistle 14, above: ‘And this is the meaning of Forever...; ...rather, every year....’”
12.Note of the Rebbe: “The relevance here of this passage (regarding the superiority of fruits that are planted) is not immediately apparent.“
It could be seen as being connected with the above discussion of the superior quality of those mitzvot that come at the ‘end’ (and likewise as being connected with the conclusion of this Epistle, on the sublime worth of practical mitzvot). For even with regard to all the things that now, too, are bestowed upon us by way of gratuitous kindness, if they are [earned] by means of the performance of a mitzvah or through mortal prayer, they too are ‘far, far superior’ משובחים מאד מאד.“
Compare the explanation in Likkutei Torah of how the Spies’ complaint was negated by the response that the Land was ‘very, very’ good טובה הארץ מאד מאד.”
13.Parentheses are in the original text.
Rambam:
Daily-Mitzvah
Positive Commandment 1; Negative Commandment 1; Positive Commandment 2
Sunday, 11 Tishrei 5778 / October 1, 2017
Positive Commandment 1 (Digest)
Belief in G-d
"I am the L-rd, your G‑d"—Exodus 20:2.
The very first mitzvah is to believe in G‑d--a primal entity that is the cause and origin of all that exists.
The first mitzvah is that we are commanded to acquire knowledge1 of the nature of G‑d's existence, i.e. to understand that He is the Original cause and Source of existence Who brings all creations into being.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "I am G‑d your Lord."
[We see that this commandment is included in the total of 613 from] the end of the tractate Makkos,3 which states, "613 commandments were given to Moshe at Sinai. From which verse do we see this? — 'The Torah which was commanded to us by Moshe.' "4 This indicates [that the number of mitzvos which Moshe commanded us equals] the numerical value of the word Torah.5 The Gemara than asks, "But is this the proper numerical value? It only totals 611!" The answer was given, "The two commandments 'I am G‑d your Lord' and 'Do not have any other gods'6 were heard from G‑d directly"7 [and not through Moshe. They are therefore not alluded to in the word Torah in this verse, which refers only to those 611 mitzvos which were given through Moshe. It is included, however, in the total of 613.]
It is clear from this passage that "I am G‑d your Lord," i.e. knowledge of G‑d, as explained above, is counted as one of the 613 mitzvos.
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.
FOOTNOTES
1.Some translations render this commandment as "belief" in G‑d. However, see Kapach (5731) and Heller (note 1), who translate the Arabic word aetkad as "knowledge." See Guide to the Perplexed, Pt. I, Ch.50, for a detailed description of this term; Derech Mitzvosecha, Haamanas Elokus; On the Teachings of Chassidus, Ch. 13.
See Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah, Ch. 1:1-6, for details of the knowledge mandatory for fulfillment of this mitzvah.
2.Exodus 20:2. Deut. 5:6.
3.23b.
4.Deut. 33:4.
5.In the word "Torah," the tov=400, vov=6, reish=200, and hei=5.
6.Exodus 20:3. Deut. 5:7.
7.[and not through Moshe. They are therefore not alluded to in the word Torah in this verse, which refers only to those 611 mitzvos which were given through Moshe. It is included, however, in the total of 613.]
Negative Commandment 1 (Digest)
Idol Worship
"You shall have no other gods besides Me"—Exodus 20:3.
The very first prohibition is against ascribing G‑dly powers to any entity other than G‑d.
The first prohibition is that we are forbidden from entertaining the thought1 that there is any deity other than G‑d.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's 'statement'2 (although he is so exalted that the term "speech" cannot really be applied to Him), "Do not have any other gods before me."
In the end of Makkos3 it is explained that this prohibition is included among the 613 commandments, as they state there," 613 commandments were given to Moshe at Sinai." We have explained this proof in the 1st of the Positive Mitzvos.
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.
FOOTNOTES
1.See Kapach (5731), p. 181, footnote 1; who offers a literal translation, "being of the opinion."
2.Exodus 20:3. Deut. 5:7.
3.77b.
Positive Commandment 2 (Digest)
G-d’s Unity
"Hear O Israel, the L-rd is our G‑d, the L-rd is One"—Deuteronomy 6:4.
We are commanded to believe and acknowledge that the One who provides existence to all of creation is one.
The 2nd mitzvah is that we are commanded to acquire knowledge1 of the nature of G‑d's Unity, i.e. to understand that the Original Creator and Source of all existence is One.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "Hear [i.e. "understand"] O Israel, G‑d is our Lord, G‑d is One."
In most Midrashim you will find this mitzvah described [in the context of G‑d's statement that a certain kindness was done to the Jewish people,] "on condition that they unify My Name," "on condition that they unite Me," or a similar expression. They mean to say that G‑d took us out of bondage and heaped kindness upon us upon condition that we have His Unity firmly fixed in our minds — since we are required to do so. [From this we see that knowledge of His unity is an actual requirement, and is therefore counted as one of the 613 commandments.]
In many places the expression is used, "the mitzvah of His Unity" [the word "mitzvah" also indicating that this counts as one of the 613 commandments.]
Our Sages3 also called this mitzvah "Kingdom," saying that [the paragraph Shema is read before V'haya] "in order to accept upon oneself the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven," i.e. to acknowledge and comprehend His Unity.4
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.
FOOTNOTES
1.See footnote 1.
See Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah, Ch. 1:7, for details of the knowledge mandatory for fulfillment of this mitzvah. See also, Guide to the Perplexed, Pt. I, Ch.50-69.
2.Deut. 6:4.
3.See Berachos 13a; 61b.
4.It has been suggested that the Rambam's intention is as follows: The Talmud could have given the reason, "in order to fulfill the mitzvah of reciting the Shema." The phrase, "Kingdom of Heaven" stresses the additional significance of Shema, in that it also involves the mitzvah of Unity. See Rif Perlo, Vol. I, p. 71a.
Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day
Part 2
Part 2
84
To sacrifice all the offerings in [God's] chosen house, [i.e., the Temple,], as [Deuteronomy 12:14] states: "There, you will perform all that I command you."
פד
להקריב כל הקרבנות בבית הבחירה, שנאמר "ושם תעשה, כול אשר אנוכי מצווך" (דברים יב,יד).
85
To tend to all the offerings from the Diaspora and bring them to Eretz [Yisrael], to [God's] chosen house, [i.e., the Temple,] as [Deuteronomy 12:26] states: "Take the sacred offerings which you possess, and your pledges, and come [to the place that God will choose]." Based on the oral tradition, we have learned that this applies to sacred offerings from the Diaspora.
פה
להיטפל בהבאת הקרבנות מחוצה לארץ לבית הבחירה, שנאמר "רק קודשיך אשר יהיו לך, ונדריך, תישא ובאת" (דברים יב,כו); מפי השמועה למדו שאינו מדבר אלא בקודשי חוצה לארץ.
86
To redeem sacred offerings that have becoming blemished, and thus have them to be permitted [for mundane use], as [Deuteronomy 12:15] states: "But whenever you desire, you may slaughter...." Based on the oral tradition, we have learned that this refers only to sacred offerings which have become disqualified and have been redeemed.
פו
לפדות קודשים בעלי מומים ויהיו מותרים באכילה, שנאמר "רק בכל אוות נפשך תזבח ואכלת בשר" (דברים יב,טו); מפי השמועה למדו שאינו מדבר אלא בפסולי המוקדשין שייפדו.
87
That an animal substituted for a sacred offering be regarded as sacred, as [Leviticus 27:33] states: "Both [the original animal] and the one substituted for it shall be consecrated."
פז
להיות התמורה קודש, שנאמר "והיה הוא ותמורתו יהיה קודש" (ויקרא כז,י; ויקרא כז,לג).
88
To eat the remains of the meal offerings, as [Leviticus 6:9] states: "Aaron and his sons will eat the remainder of it."
פח
לאכול שיירי מנחות, שנאמר "והנותרת ממנה, יאכלו אהרון ובניו" (ויקרא ו,ט).
89
To eat the flesh of the sin and guilt offerings,1 as [Exodus 29:33] states: "And they shall eat [the sacrifices] with which atonement was made for them."
פט
לאכול בשר חטאת ואשם, שנאמר "ואכלו אותם אשר כופר בהם" (שמות כט,לג).
90
To burn sacred meat which became impure, as [Leviticus 7:19] states: "And the flesh which touches anything impure... [shall be burnt]."
צ
לשרוף בשר קודש שנטמא, שנאמר "והבשר אשר ייגע בכל טמא" (ויקרא ז,יט).
91
To burn the leftovers [from the sacrifices], as [Leviticus 7:17] states: "The leftovers from the flesh of the sacrifice shall be burnt with fire on the third day."
צא
לשרוף הנותר, שנאמר "והנותר, מבשר הזבח--ביום, השלישי, באש, יישרף" (ויקרא ז,יז).
92
For a Nazirite to grow his hair long, as [Numbers 6:5] states: "He shall let the hair of his head grow without cutting it."
צב
לגדל הנזיר שיערו, שנאמר "גדל פרע, שיער ראשו" (במדבר ו,ה).
93
For a Nazarite to shave his hair when bringing his sacrifices at the conclusion of his term as a Nazirite, or during his Nazirite term if he becomes impure, as [Numbers 6:9] states: "Should a person die in his presence,... [he must shave....]"
צג
לגלח הנזיר שיערו על קרבנותיו במלאות ימי נזרו, או בתוך ימי נזרו אם נטמא, שנאמר "וכי ימות מת עליו" (במדבר ו,ט).
94
For a person to fulfill any [promise] which he utters, be it a sacrifice, [a gift to] charity, or the like, as [Deuteronomy 23:24] states: "What you have spoken, take heed to fulfill...."a
צד
לקיים אדם כל מה שהוציא בשפתיו, מקרבן או צדקה וכיוצא בהם, שנאמר "מוצא שפתיך, תשמור ועשית" (דברים כג,כד).
95
To carry out the laws regarding the nullification of vows, as mentioned in the Torah.
צה
לדון בהפרת נדרים בכל הדינים האמורין בפרשה.
96
For everyone who comes in contact with the corpse of an animal to become impure, as [Leviticus 11:39] states: "Should an animal die...."
צו
להיות כל נוגע בנבילה טמא, שנאמר "וכי ימות מן הבהמה" (ויקרא יא,לט).
97
For the [dead bodies of] the eight species of crawling animals [mentioned in the Torah] to impart ritual impurity, as [Leviticus 11:19] states: "These shall be impure for you...."
צז
להיות שמונה שרצים מטמאין, שנאמר "וזה לכם הטמא" (ויקרא יא,כט).
98
For [certain] foods to impart impurity, as [Leviticus 11:34] states: "From all the food which you will eat...."
צח
להיות האוכלין מיטמאין, שנאמר "מכל האוכל אשר ייאכל" (ויקרא יא,לד).
99
For [a woman in the] niddah state to be impure and to impart impurity to others.
צט
להיות הנידה טמאה ומטמאה לאחרים.
100
For [a woman] who gives birth to be impure [like a woman] in the niddah state.
ק
להיות היולדת טמאה כנידה.
101
For a person afflicted with tzara’at to be impure and to impart impurity.
קא
להיות המצורע טמא ומטמא.
102
For a garment afflicted with tzara’at to be impure and to impart impurity.
קב
להיות בגד מנוגע טמא ומטמא.
103
For a house afflicted with tzara’at to impart impurity.
קג
להיות בית מנוגע מטמא.
104
For a zav to impart impurity.
קד
להיות הזב מטמא.
105
For semen to impart impurity.
קה
להיות שכבת זרע מטמאה.
106
For a zavah to impart impurity.
קו
להיות זבה מטמאה.
107
For a corpse to impart impurity.
קז
להיות המת מטמא.
108
For the sprinkling water [used for the purification process involving the red heifer] to impart impurity to a person who is ritually pure, and to impart ritual purity to a person who is ritually impure solely because of contact with a human corpse.b All the laws dealing with these different types of impurity and the majority of the judgments regarding all types of ritual purity and impurity are explained explicitly in the Written Law.2
קח
להיות מי נידה מטמאין לאדם טהור, ומטהרין מטומאת מת בלבד.. וכל אלו הדינין של טומאות אלו, רוב משפט כל טומאה וטומאה מהן מבואר בתורה שבכתב.
109
For the process of purification from all types of ritual impurity to involve immersion in the waters of a mikveh, as [Leviticus 15:16] states: "And he shall wash all his flesh in water." Based on the oral tradition, we have learned that this washing [involves immersion in a body of] water in which one's entire body can immerse at one time.
קט
להיות הטהרה מכל הטמאות בטבילה במי מקוה, שנאמר "ורחץ במים את כל בשרו" (ויקרא טו,טז); למדו מפי השמועה שרחיצה זו במים שכל גופו עולה בהן בבת אחת.
110
For the process of purification from tzara’at, be it a person afflicted with tzara’at or a house afflicted with tzara’at, [to involve] a staff of cedar, a hyssop, the crimson wool, two birds, and spring water, as [Leviticus 14:2] states: "This shall be the purification process for the person afflicted with tzara’at...."
קי
להיות הטהרה מן הצרעת בין צרעת אדם בין צרעת בית בעץ ארז ואיזוב ושני תולעת ושתי ציפורים ומים חיים, שנאמר "זאת תהיה תורת המצורע" (ויקרא יד,ב).
111
For a person afflicted with tzara’at to shave all of his hair, as [Leviticus 14:9] states: "And it shall be on the seventh day, he shall shave all his hair."
קיא
להיות המצורע מגלח כל שיערו, שנאמר "והיה ביום השביעי יגלח את כל שיערו" (ויקרא יד,ט).
112
For a person afflicted with tzara’at to make known his condition to all others, according to the instructions mentioned in [Leviticus 13:45]: "His garments shall be torn, his hair shall grow uncut, he shall cover his face to the lip, and he shall cry out: `Impure! Impure!"' Similarly, all others who are ritually impure must make known their condition.
קיב
להיות המצורע ידוע לכול בדברים האמורים בו, "בגדיו יהיו פרומים וראשו יהיה פרוע, ועל שפם, יעטה; וטמא טמא, יקרא" (ויקרא יג,מה).. וכן כל שאר הטמאים צריכין להודיע את עצמן.
113
To prepare the red heifer so that its ashes will be ready, as [Numbers 19:9] states: "And it will be a keepsake for the congregation of Israel."
קיג
לעשות פרה אדומה להיות אפרה מוכן, שנאמר "והייתה לעדת בני ישראל" (במדבר יט,ט).
114
For a person who makes an endowment valuation to give the specific amount of money stated in the [Torah] portion, as [Leviticus 27:2] states: "When a person expresses a vow...."
קיד
להיות מעריך אדם נותן דמים הקצובין בפרשה, שנאמר "איש, כי יפליא נדר" (ויקרא כז,ב).
115
For a person who makes an endowment valuation concerning a non-kosher animal to give [the required amount of] money, as [Leviticus 27:11] states: "And he shall cause the animal to stand...."
קטו
להיות מעריך בהמה טמאה נותן דמיה, שנאמר "והעמיד את הבהמה" (ויקרא כז,יא).
116
For a person who makes an endowment valuation concerning his home to give the value determined by the priest, as [Leviticus 27:14] states: "And the priest shall determine its value."
קטז
להיות מעריך ביתו נותן כערך הכוהן, שנאמר "ואיש, כי יקדיש" (ויקרא כז,יד).
117
For a person who consecrates his field to give the fixed amount determined by the [Torah], as [Leviticus 27:16] states: "And the value you attach to it shall be according to the amount of seed."
קיז
להיות מקדיש שדהו נותן בערך הקצוב בפרשה, שנאמר "והיה ערכך, כפי זרעו" (ראה ויקרא כז,טז).
118
For a person who unintentionally makes use of a sacred object to make restitution for what he misused [when] sinning against God, and for him to add one fifth of its value, as [Leviticus 5:17] states: "For that which he sinned, [using something] sacred, he shall pay...."
קיח
לשלם השוגג במעילה מה שמעל לה' ולהוסיף חומש, שנאמר "ואת אשר חטא מן הקודש ישלם" (ויקרא ה,טז).
119
For the produce of the fourth year to be sacred, as [Leviticus 19:24] states: "Its produce shall be sacred, [an object of] praise to God...."
קיט
להיות נטע רבעי קודש, שנאמר "יהיה, כל פרייו--קודש הילולים" (ויקרא יט,כד).
120
To leave pe'ah.
קכ
להניח פיאה.
121
To leave leket.
קכא
להניח לקט.
122
To leave a forgotten sheaf.
קכב
להניח עומר השכחה.
123
To leave the incompletely formed grape clusters.
קכג
להניח עוללות בכרם.
124
To leave the individual fallen grapes. With regard to all these [five mitzvot], [Leviticus 19:10] states: "Leave them for the poor and the stranger." This [verse states] the positive commandment for all these.3
קכד
להניח פרט הכרם.. לפי שבכל אלו נאמר "לעני ולגר תעזוב אותם" (ויקרא יט,י; ויקרא כג,כב); וזו היא מצות עשה שלהם.
125
To bring the first fruits to God's chosen house, [the Temple,], as [Exodus 23:19] states: "The first fruits of your land...."
קכה
להביא ביכורים לבית הבחירה, שנאמר "ראשית, ביכורי אדמתך" (שמות כג,יט; שמות לד,כו).
126
To separate the greater terumah [and give it] to the priest, as [Deuteronomy 18:4] states: "Give him the first of your grain."
קכו
להפריש תרומה גדולה לכוהן, שנאמר "ראשית דגנך . . . תיתן לו" (דברים יח,ד).
127
To separate a tithe of grain [and give it] to the Levites, as [Leviticus 27:30] states: "All the land's tithes...."
קכז
להפריש מעשר דגן ללויים, שנאמר "כל מעשר הארץ . . ." (ויקרא כז,ל).
128
To separate the second tithe so that it can be eaten by its owners in Jerusalem, as [Deuteronomy 14:22] states: "You shall surely tithe...." According to the oral tradition, we learn that this refers to the second tithe.
קכח
להפריש מעשר שני להיאכל לבעליו בירושלים, שנאמר "עשר תעשר" (דברים יד,כב); מפי השמועה למדו שזה הוא מעשר שני.
129
For the Levites to separate a tenth from the tenth which they took from the Israelites and give it to the priests, as [Numbers 18:27] states: "Speak to the Levites:...."
קכט
להיות הלויים מפרישין מעשר מן המעשר שלקחו מישראל ונותנין אותו לכוהנים, שנאמר "ואל הלויים תדבר" (במדבר יח,כו).
130
To separate the tithe for the poor instead of the second tithe in the third and sixth years of the seven-year [agricultural cycle], as [Deuteronomy 14:28] states: "At the end of three years, remove a tithe of all your crops...."
קל
להפריש מעשר עני תחת מעשר שני בשלישית ובשישית בשבוע, שנאמר "מקצה שלוש שנים, תוציא את כל מעשר תבואתך" (דברים יד,כח).
131
To give thanks, [reciting] the declaration concerning the tithes, as [Deuteronomy 26:13] states: "And you shall declare before God, your Lord, `I have removed the sacred [foods]...."'
קלא
להתוודות וידוי מעשר, שנאמר "ואמרת לפני ה' אלוהיך ביערתי הקודש" (דברים כו,יג).
132
To read the statement [acknowledging thanks] for the first fruits, as [Deuteronomy 26:5] states: "And you shall respond and say before God, your Lord:...."
קלב
לקרות על הביכורים, שנאמר "וענית ואמרת לפני ה' אלוהיך" (דברים כו,ה).
133
To separate challah [and give it] to the priest, as [Numbers 15:20] states: "The first of your dough, the challah, you shall separate as an offering...."
קלג
להפריש חלה לכוהן, שנאמר "ראשית, עריסותיכם--חלה, תרימו תרומה" (במדבר טו,כ).
134
To let the land lie fallow [in the seventh year], as [Exodus 23:11] states: "In the seventh year, you shall let it lie fallow and withdraw from it."
קלד
להשמיט קרקע, שנאמר "והשביעית תשמטנה ונטשתה" (שמות כג,יא).
135
To refrain from agricultural work [in the seventh year], as [Exodus 34:21] states: "From plowing and harvesting, you shall rest."
קלה
לשבות מעבודת הארץ, שנאמר "בחריש ובקציר, תשבות" (שמות לד,כא).
136
To sanctify the Jubilee year by refraining [from agricultural work], as is done in the shemitah, as [Leviticus 25:10] states: "And you shall sanctify the fiftieth year...."
קלו
לקדש שנת יובל בשביתה כשמיטה, שנאמר "וקידשתם, את שנת החמישים" (ויקרא כה,י).
137
To sound the shofar in the Jubilee year, as [Leviticus 25:9] states: "And you shall sound the shofar blasts."
קלז
לתקוע בשופר בשנת היובל, שנאמר "והעברת שופר תרועה" (ויקרא כה,ט).
138
To free all land in the Jubilee year, as [Leviticus 25:24] states: "For all your ancestral lands, there will be redemption for the land."
קלח
ליתן גאולה לארץ בשנת היובל, שנאמר "ובכול, ארץ אחוזתכם, גאולה, תיתנו לארץ" (ויקרא כה,כד).
139
To allow houses in a walled city to be redeemed within a year, as [Leviticus 25:29] states: "If a person shall sell a residential house in a walled city...."
קלט
להיות גאולה בבתי ערי חומה עד שנה, שנאמר "ואיש, כי ימכור בית מושב" (ויקרא כה,כט).
140
To count the years of the Jubilee year and the shemitah years within it, as [Leviticus 25:8] states: "And you shall count seven shemitah years."
קמ
למנות שני יובל שנים ושמיטים, שנאמר "וספרת לך, שבע . . ." (ויקרא כה,ח).
141
To remit all financial [obligations] in the seventh year, as [Deuteronomy 15:2] states: "Every creditor must remit...."
קמא
להשמיט כספים בשביעית, שנאמר "שמוט כל בעל משה ידו" (דברים טו,ב).
142
To seek to collect [a debt] from a gentile [in the seventh year], as [Deuteronomy 15:3] states: "Seek to collect [a debt] from a gentile. However, what your brother owes you must remit...."
קמב
לנגוש לנוכרי, שנאמר "את הנוכרי, תיגוש; ואשר יהיה לך" (דברים טו,ג).
143
To give a priest the shankbone, the jaw, and the maw from an animal [which is slaughtered], as [Deuteronomy 18:3] states: "And you shall give the priest the shankbone...."
קמג
ליתן מן הבהמה לכוהן הזרוע והלחיים והקיבה, שנאמר "ונתן, לכוהן, הזרוע" (דברים יח,ג).
144
To give the first portion of the fleece to a priest, as [Deuteronomy 18:4] states: "Give him the first portion of the shearing of your sheep."
קמד
ליתן ראשית הגז לכוהן, שנאמר "וראשית גז צאנך--תיתן לו" (דברים יח,ד).
145
To render judgment with regard to property which is dedicated, whether dedicated to God or dedicated to the priests, as [Leviticus 27:28] states: "However, any dedication that will be made...."
קמה
לדון בדיני חרמים, מהם לה' ומהם לכוהן, שנאמר "אך כל חרם אשר יחרים" (ויקרא כז,כח).
146
To slaughter an animal, beast, or fowl and afterwards to eat their meat, as [Deuteronomy 12:21] states: "And you shall slaughter your cattle and your sheep."b
קמו
לשחוט בהמה חיה ועוף ואחר כך יאכל בשרם, שנאמר "וזבחת מבקרך ומצאנך" (דברים יב,כא).
147
To cover the blood of beasts and fowl [which are slaughtered], as [Leviticus 17:13] states: "And you shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust."
קמז
לכסות דם חיה ועוף, שנאמר "ושפך, את דמו, וכיסהו, בעפר" (ויקרא יז,יג).
148
To send away the mother bird from the nest [when taking the young], as [Deuteronomy 22:7] states: "You shall surely send away the mother."
קמח
לשלח הקן, שנאמר "שלח תשלח את האם ואת הבנים תיקח לך" (דברים כב,ז).
149
To check the signs [with which] animals [are identified], as kosher, as [Leviticus 11:2] states: "These are the animals which you may eat...."
קמט
לבדוק בסימני בהמה, שנאמר "זאת החיה אשר תאכלו" (ויקרא יא,ב).
150
To check the signs of fowl in order to differentiate between one which is kosher and one which is not kosher, as [Deuteronomy 14:11] states: "All birds which...."
קנ
לבדוק בסימני העוף עד שיבדיל בין טמא לטהור, שנאמר "כל ציפור טהורה, תאכלו" (דברים יד,יא).
151
To check the signs of grasshoppers in order to know which is kosher and which is not kosher, as [Leviticus 11:21] states: "Those which possess walking legs...."
קנא
לבדוק בסימני חגבים לידע טהור מן הטמא, שנאמר "אשר לו כרעיים" (ויקרא יא,כא).
152
To check the signs [with which] fish [are identified as kosher], as [Leviticus 11:9] states: "These are the animals which you may eat from all that is found in water...."
קנב
לבדוק בסימני דגים, שנאמר "את זה, תאכלו, מכול, אשר במים" (ויקרא יא,ט; דברים יד,ט).
153
To sanctify the months and to calculate the years and months. [This mitzvah is incumbent on] the court alone, as [Exodus 12:2] states: "This month will be for you the first of the months."
קנג
לקדש חודשים ולחשב שנים וחודשים בבית דין בלבד, שנאמר "החודש הזה לכם, ראש חודשים" (שמות יב,ב).
154
To rest on the Sabbath, as [Exodus 23:12] states: "Rest on the seventh day...."
קנד
לשבות בשבת, שנאמר "וביום השביעי תשבות" (שמות כג,יב; שמות לד,כא).
155
To sanctify the Sabbath, as [Exodus 20:8] states: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy."
קנה
לקדש שבת, שנאמר "זכור את יום השבת, לקדשו" (שמות כ,ז).
156
To destroy chametz [before Pesach], as [Exodus 12:15] states: "On the day before [the holiday], obliterate chametz from your homes."
קנו
לבער חמץ, שנאמר "ביום הראשון, תשביתו שאור מבתיכם" (שמות יב,טו).
157
To relate the narrative of the exodus of Egypt on the first night of the Feast of Matzot, as [Exodus 13:8] states: "And you shall tell your son on that day,...."
קנז
לספר ביציאת מצריים בלילה הראשון של חג המצות, שנאמר "והגדת לבנך" (שמות יג,ח).
158
To eat matzah on this night, as [Exodus 12:18] states: "In the evening, you shall eat matzot."
קנח
לאכול מצה בליל זה, שנאמר "בערב, תאכלו, מצות" (שמות יב,יח).
159
To rest on the first day of Pesach, as [Exodus 12:16] states: "And on the first day, it shall be a sacred holiday."
קנט
לשבות בראשון של פסח, שנאמר "וביום הראשון, מקרא קודש" (שמות יב,טז).
160
To rest on the seventh day [of the festival], as [Exodus 12:16] states: "On the seventh day, there will be a sacred holiday."
קס
לשבות בשביעי בו, שנאמר "וביום השביעי, מקרא קודש" (שמות יב,טז; במדבר כח,כה).
161
To count 49 days from the harvesting of the omer, as [Leviticus 23:15] states: "And you shall count from the day following the day of rest...."
קסא
לספור מקצירת העומר תשעה וארבעים יום, שנאמר "וספרתם לכם, ממוחרת השבת" (ויקרא כג,טו).
162
To rest on the fiftieth day [after Pesach], as [Leviticus 23:21] states: "And you shall proclaim a sacred holiday on that selfsame day."
קסב
לשבות ביום חמישים, שנאמר "וקראתם בעצם היום הזה, מקרא קודש" (ויקרא כג,כא).
163
To rest on the first day of the seventh month, as [Leviticus 23:24] states: "On the first day of [this] month, you shall have a day of rest."
קסג
לשבות בראשון של חודש השביעי, שנאמר "באחד לחודש, יהיה לכם שבתון" (ויקרא כג,כד).
164
To fast on the tenth [of this month, Yom Kippur,] as [Leviticus 15:29] states: "On the tenth of the month, you shall afflict your souls."
קסד
להתענות בעשירי בו, שנאמר "ובעשור לחודש תענו את נפשותיכם" (ראה ויקרא טז,כט; במדבר כט,ז).
165
To rest on [this] fast day, as [Leviticus 16:31] states: "It shall be a Sabbath of Sabbaths...."
קסה
לשבות ביום הצום, שנאמר "שבת שבתון" (ויקרא טז,לא; ויקרא כג,לב).
166
To rest on the first day of the festival of Sukkot, as [Leviticus 23:35] states: "On the first day, there shall be a sacred holiday."
קסו
לשבות בראשון של חג הסוכות, שנאמר "ביום הראשון, מקרא קודש" (ויקרא כג,לה).
FOOTNOTES
1.. In Sefer HaMitzvot, the Rambam includes eating other sacrifices and sacred foods in the scope of this mitzvah.
2.. It is somewhat curious that although the Rambam makes this statement, he does not cite prooftexts for these mitzvot.
3.. In Sefer HaMitzvot, the Rambam notes that the command to leave a forgotten sheaf in the field is derived, not from this verse, but from Deuteronomy 24:19, which states: "When you reap your harvest... and forget a sheaf in the field..., it shall be for the stranger..."
Rambam - 3 Chapters a Day
Yesodei haTorah - Chapter One, Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Two, Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Three
Yesodei haTorah - Chapter One
"Extend Your kindness to those who know You and Your righteousness to the upright of heart” (Psalms 36:11) 1
The first book
Sefer Mada - The Book of Knowledge
It contains five halachot. They are, in order:
FOOTNOTES
1.The Rambam begins every one of the fourteen books of the Mishneh Torah within a relevant verse from the Prophets or the Holy Scriptures.
Introduction to Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah
They contain ten mitzvot: six positive commandments and four negative commandments. They are:1
1. To know2 that there is a God
2. Not to consider the thought that there is another divinity aside from God
3. To unify Him
4. To love Him
5. To fear Him
6. To sanctify His name
7. Not to profane God's name
8. Not to destroy those things associated with His name
9. To listen to a prophet who speaks in [God's] name
10. Not to test God.
The explanation of these mitzvot is found in the following chapters.
רמב"ם הלכות יסודי התורה – הקדמה
;הלכות יסודי התורה. יש בכללן עשר מצות, שש מצות עשה, וארבע מצות לא תעשה. וזהו פרטן:
(א) לידע שיש שם אלוה.
(ב) שלא יעלה במחשבה שיש שם אלוה אחר זולתי ה'.
(ג) ליחדו.
(ד) לאהבו.
(ה) ליראה ממנו.
(ו) לקדש שמו.
(ז) שלא לחלל שמו.
(ח) שלא לאבד דברים שנקרא שמו עליהם.
(ט) לשמוע מן הנביא המדבר בשמו.
(י) שלא לנסותו.
וביאור כל המצות האלו בפרקים אלו
1
The foundation of all foundations and the pillar of wisdom is to know that there is a Primary Being who brought into being all existence. All the beings of the heavens, the earth, and what is between them came into existence only from the truth of His being.
א
.יסוד היסודות ועמוד החכמות לידע שיש שם מצוי ראשון והוא ממציא כל נמצא וכל הנמצאים משמים וארץ ומה שביניהם לא נמצאו אלא מאמתת המצאו:
2
If one would imagine that He does not exist, no other being could possibly exist.
ב
.ואם יעלה על הדעת שהוא אינו מצוי אין דבר אחר יכול להמצאות:
3
If one would imagine that none of the entities aside from Him exist, He alone would continue to exist, and the nullification of their [existence] would not nullify His existence, because all the [other] entities require Him and He, blessed be He, does not require them nor any one of them. Therefore, the truth of His [being] does not resemble the truth of any of their [beings].
ג
ואם יעלה על הדעת שאין כל הנמצאים מלבדו מצויים הוא לבדו יהיה מצוי ולא יבטל הוא לבטולם שכל הנמצאים צריכין לו והוא ברוך הוא אינו צריך להם ולא לאחד מהם לפיכך אין אמתתו כאמתת אחד מהם:
4
This is implied by the prophet's statement [Jeremiah 10:10]: "And God, your Lord, is true" - i.e., He alone is true and no other entity possesses truth that compares to His truth. This is what [is meant by] the Torah's statement [Deuteronomy 4:35]: "There is nothing else aside from Him" - i.e., aside from Him, there is no true existence like His.
ד
.הוא שהנביא אומר וה' אלהים אמת הוא לבדו האמת ואין לאחר אמת כאמתתו והוא שהתורה אומרת אין עוד מלבדו כלומר אין שם מצוי אמת מלבדו כמותו:
5
This entity is the God of the world and the Lord of the entire earth. He controls the sphere with infinite and unbounded power. This power [continues] without interruption, because the sphere is constantly revolving, and it is impossible for it to revolve without someone causing it to revolve. [That one is] He, blessed be He, who causes it to revolve without a hand or any [other] corporeal dimension.
ה
המצוי הזה הוא אלהי העולם אדון כל הארץ והוא המנהיג הגלגל בכח שאין לו קץ ותכלית בכח שאין לו הפסק שהגלגל סובב תמיד ואי אפשר שיסוב בלא מסבב והוא ברוך הוא המסבב אותו בלא יד ובלא גוף:
6
The knowledge of this concept is a positive commandment, as [implied by Exodus 20:2]: "I am God, your Lord...."
Anyone who presumes that there is another god transgresses a negative commandment, as [Exodus 20:3] states: "You shall have no other gods before Me" and denies a fundamental principle [of faith], because this is the great principle [of faith] upon which all depends.
ו
וידיעת דבר זה מצות עשה שנאמר אנכי ה' אלהיך וכל המעלה על דעתו שיש שם אלוה אחר חוץ מזה עובר בלא תעשה שנאמר לא יהיה לך אלהים אחרים על פני וכופר בעיקר שזהו העיקר הגדול שהכל תלוי בו:
7
This God is one. He is not two or more, but one, unified in a manner which [surpasses] any unity that is found in the world; i.e., He is not one in the manner of a general category which includes many individual entities, nor one in the way that the body is divided into different portions and dimensions. Rather, He is unified, and there exists no unity similar to His in this world.
If there were many gods, they would have body and form, because like entities are separated from each other only through the circumstances associated with body and form.
Were the Creator to have body and form, He would have limitation and definition, because it is impossible for a body not to be limited. And any entity which itself is limited and defined [possesses] only limited and defined power. Since our God, blessed be His name, possesses unlimited power, as evidenced by the continuous revolution of the sphere, we see that His power is not the power of a body. Since He is not a body, the circumstances associated with bodies that produce division and separation are not relevant to Him. Therefore, it is impossible for Him to be anything other than one.
The knowledge of this concept fulfills a positive commandment, as [implied by Deuteronomy 6:4]: "[Hear, Israel,] God is our Lord, God is one."
ז
אלוה זה אחד הוא ואינו שנים ולא יתר על שנים אלא אחד שאין כיחודו אחד מן האחדים הנמצאים בעולם לא אחד כמין שהוא כולל אחדים הרבה ולא אחד כגוף שהוא נחלק למחלקות ולקצוות אלא יחוד שאין יחוד אחר כמותו בעולם אילו היו אלוהות הרבה היו גופין וגויות מפני שאין הנמנים השוין במציאותן נפרדין זה מזה אלא במאורעין שיארעו בגופות והגויות ואילו היה היוצר גוף וגוייה היה לו קץ ותכלית שאי אפשר להיות גוף שאין לו קץ וכל שיש לגופו קץ ותכלית יש לכחו קץ וסוף ואלהינו ברוך שמו הואיל וכחו אין לו קץ ואינו פוסק שהרי הגלגל סובב תמיד אין כחו כח גוף והואיל ואינו גוף לא יארעו לו מאורעות הגופות כדי שיהא נחלק ונפרד מאחר לפיכך אי אפשר שיהיה אלא אחד וידיעת דבר זה מצות עשה שנאמר ה' אלהינו ה' אחד:
8
Behold, it is explicitly stated in the Torah and [the works of] the prophets that the Holy One, blessed be He, is not [confined to] a body or physical form, as [Deuteronomy 4:39] states: "Because God, your Lord, is the Lord in the heavens above and the earth below," and a body cannot exist in two places [simultaneously].
Also, [Deuteronomy 4:15] states: "For you did not see any image," and [Isaiah 40:25] states: "To whom can you liken Me, with whom I will be equal." Were He [confined to] a body, He would resemble other bodies.
ח
הרי מפורש בתורה ובנביאים שאין הקב"ה גוף וגוייה שנאמר כי ה' אלהיכם הוא אלהים בשמים ממעל ועל הארץ מתחת והגוף לא יהיה בשני מקומות ונאמר כי לא ראיתם כל תמונה ונאמר ואל מי תדמיוני ואשוה ואילו היה גוף היה דומה לשאר גופים:
9
If so, what is the meaning of the expressions employed by the Torah: "Below His feet" [Exodus 24:10], "Written by the finger of God" [ibid. 31:18], "God's hand" [ibid. 9:3], "God's eyes" [Genesis 38:7], "God's ears" [Numbers 11:1], and the like?
All these [expressions were used] to relate to human thought processes which know only corporeal imagery, for the Torah speaks in the language of man. They are only descriptive terms, as [apparent from Deuteronomy 32:41]: "I will whet My lightning sword." Does He have a sword? Does He need a sword to kill? Rather, this is metaphoric imagery. [Similarly,] all [such expressions] are metaphoric imagery.
A proof of this concept: One prophet says that he saw the Holy One, blessed be He, "clothed in snow white" [Daniel 7:9], and another envisioned Him [coming] "with crimson garments from Batzra" [Isaiah 63:1]. Moses, our teacher, himself envisioned Him at the [Red] Sea as a mighty man, waging war, and, at Mount Sinai, [saw Him] as the leader of a congregation, wrapped [in a tallit].
This shows that He has no image or form. All these are merely expressions of prophetic vision and imagery and the truth of this concept cannot be grasped or comprehended by human thought. This is what the verse [Job 11:7] states: "Can you find the comprehension of God? Can you find the ultimate bounds of the Almighty?"
ט
אם כן מהו זה שכתוב בתורה ותחת רגליו כתובים באצבע אלהים יד ה' עיני ה' אזני ה' וכיוצא בדברים האלו הכל לפי דעתן של בני אדם הוא שאינן מכירין אלא הגופות ודברה תורה כלשון בני אדם והכל כנויים הן שנאמר אם שנותי ברק חרבי וכי חרב יש לו ובחרב הוא הורג אלא משל והכל משל ראיה לדבר שנביא אחד אומר שראה הקדוש ברוך הוא לבושיה כתלג חיור ואחד ראהו חמוץ בגדים מבצרה משה רבינו עצמו ראהו על הים כגבור עושה מלחמה ובסיני כשליח צבור עטוף לומר שאין לו דמות וצורה אלא הכל במראה הנבואה ובמחזה ואמתת הדבר אין דעתו של אדם מבין ולא יכולה להשיגו ולחקרו וזה שאמר הכתוב החקר אלוה תמצא אם עד תכלית שדי תמצא:
10
[If so,] what did Moses, our teacher, want to comprehend when he requested: "Please show me Your glory" [Exodus 33:18]?
He asked to know the truth of the existence of the Holy One, blessed be He, to the extent that it could be internalized within his mind, as one knows a particular person whose face he saw and whose image has been engraved within one's heart. Thus, this person's [identity] is distinguished within one's mind from [that of] other men. Similarly, Moses, our teacher, asked that the existence of the Holy One, blessed be He, be distinguished in his mind from the existence of other entities, to the extent that he would know the truth of His existence as it is [in its own right].
He, blessed be He, replied to him that it is not within the potential of a living man, [a creature of] body and soul, to comprehend this matter in its entirety. [Nevertheless,] He, blessed be He, revealed to [Moses] matters which no other man had known before him - nor would ever know afterward - until he was able to comprehend [enough] from the truth of His existence, for the Holy One, blessed be He, to be distinguished in his mind from other entities, as a person is distinguished from other men when one sees his back and knows the structure of his body and [the manner in which] he is clothed.
This is alluded to by the verse [Exodus 33:23]: "You shall see My back, but you shall not see My face."
י
מהו זה שביקש משה רבינו להשיג כשאמר הראני נא את כבודך ביקש לידע אמיתת המצאו של הקדוש ב"ה עד שיהיה ידוע בלבו כמו ידיעת אחד מן האנשים שראה פניו ונחקקה צורתו בלבו שנמצא אותו האיש נפרד בדעתו משאר האנשים כך ביקש משה רבינו להיות מציאות הקב"ה נפרדת בלבו משאר הנמצאים עד שידע אמתת המצאו כאשר היא והשיבו ברוך הוא שאין כח בדעת האדם החי שהוא מחובר מגוף ונפש להשיג אמיתת דבר זה על בוריו והודיעו ברוך הוא מה שלא ידע אדם לפניו ולא ידע לאחריו עד שהשיג מאמיתת המצאו דבר שנפרד הקדוש ברוך הוא בדעתו משאר הנמצאים כמו שיפרד אחד מן האנשים שראה אחוריו והשיג כל גופו ומלבושו בדעתו משאר גופי האנשים ועל דבר זה רמז הכתוב ואמר וראית את אחורי ופני לא יראו:
11
Since it has been clarified that He does not have a body or corporeal form, it is also clear that none of the functions of the body are appropriate to Him: neither connection nor separation, neither place nor measure, neither ascent nor descent, neither right nor left, neither front nor back, neither standing nor sitting.
He is not found within time, so that He would possess a beginning, an end, or age. He does not change, for there is nothing that can cause Him to change.
[The concept of] death is not applicable to Him, nor is [that of] life within the context of physical life. [The concept of] foolishness is not applicable to Him, nor is [that of] wisdom in terms of human wisdom.
Neither sleep nor waking, neither anger nor laughter, neither joy nor sadness, neither silence nor speech in the human understanding of speech [are appropriate terms with which to describe Him]. Our Sages declared: "Above, there is no sitting or standing, separation or connection."
יא
וכיון שנתברר שאינו גוף וגוייה יתברר שלא יארע לו אחד ממאורעות הגופות לא חיבור ולא פירוד לא מקום ולא מדה לא עליה ולא ירידה ולא ימין ולא שמאל ולא פנים ולא אחור ולא ישיבה ולא עמידה ואינו מצוי בזמן עד שיהיה לו ראשית ואחרית ומנין שנים ואינו משתנה שאין לו דבר שיגרום לו שינוי ואין לו לא מות ולא חיים כחיי הגוף החי ולא סכלות ולא חכמה כחכמת האיש החכם לא שינה ולא הקיצה ולא כעס ולא שחוק ולא שמחה ולא עצבות ולא שתיקה ולא דבור כדבור בני אדם וכך אמרו חכמים אין למעלה לא ישיבה ולא עמידה ולא עורף ולא עיפוי:
12
Since this is so, all such [descriptions] and the like which are related in the Torah and the words of the Prophets - all these are metaphors and imagery. [For example,] "He who sits in the heavens shall laugh" [Psalms 2:4], "They angered Me with their emptiness" [Deuteronomy 32:21], and "As God rejoiced" [ibid. 28:63]. With regard to all such statements, our Sages said: "The Torah speaks in the language of man."
This is [borne out by the rhetorical question (Jeremiah 7:19):] "Are they enraging Me?" Behold, [Malachi 3:6] states: "I, God, have not changed." Now were He to at times be enraged and at times be happy, He would change. Rather, all these matters are found only with regard to the dark and low bodies, those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is dust. In contrast, He, blessed be He, is elevated and exalted above all this.
יב
והואיל והדבר כן הוא כל הדברים הללו וכיוצא בהן שנאמרו בתורה ובדברי נביאים הכל משל ומליצה הן כמו שנאמר יושב בשמים ישחק כעסוני בהבליהם כאשר שש ה' וכיוצא בהן על הכל אמרו חכמים דברה תורה כלשון בני אדם וכן הוא אומר האותי הם מכעיסים הרי הוא אומר אני ה' לא שניתי ואילו היה פעמים כועס ופעמים שמח היה משתנה וכל הדברים האלו אינן מצויין אלא לגופים האפלים השפלים שוכני בתי חומר אשר בעפר יסודם אבל הוא ברוך הוא יתברך ויתרומם על כל זה:
FOOTNOTES
1.As he states in his introduction, the Rambam intended the Mishneh Torah to explain all the various mitzvot which we are obligated to perform. Nevertheless, rather than discuss each mitzvah individually, he has grouped several mitzvot together and explains them in the same halachah. In order to clarify which mitzvot are discussed in each of the halachot, he lists them at the very beginning.
2.1. Note that the Rambam uses the word "to know", and not "to believe". The popular translation of Sefer HaMitzvot (the Rambam himself composed the text in Arabic, the Mishneh Torah being the only text he wrote in Hebrew) begins: “The first mitzvah is the commandment... to believe in God.”
Many other Sages have objected to the latter definition of the commandment. For example, in his text Rosh Amanah, Rav Yitzchak Abarbanel mentions two frequently asked questions:
a) How can the first commandment be to believe in God? He is the one who issued the commandments. Without belief in Him, there can be no concept of serving Him by carrying out His will.
b) How can one command belief? Belief is a state of mind and not an action that is dependent on a person's will.
By stating that the command is "to know" - i.e., to develop one's knowledge and awareness of God - both of these questions are answered: Though one believes in God, he must work to internalize that belief and make it part of his conscious processes. Furthermore, the intellectual activity necessary for this process of internalization is an act which can be required of a person. See Derech Mitzvosecha, mitzvas HaAmanat Elokut.
[Note also the Hasagot of the Ramban to Sefer HaMitzvot and the response of the Megillat Esther. Also, it is worthy to mention that Rav Kapach and other modern translators of Sefer HaMitzvot also translate the command there as "to know."'
Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Two
1
It is a mitzvah to love and fear this glorious and awesome God, as [Deuteronomy 6:5] states: "And you shall love God, your Lord" and, as [Deuteronomy 6:13] states: "Fear God, your Lord."
א
האל הנכבד והנורא הזה מצוה לאהבו וליראה אותו שנאמר ואהבת את ה' אלהיך ונאמר את ה' אלהיך תירא:
2
What is the path [to attain] love and fear of Him? When a person contemplates His wondrous and great deeds and creations and appreciates His infinite wisdom that surpasses all comparison, he will immediately love, praise, and glorify [Him], yearning with tremendous desire to know [God's] great name, as David stated: "My soul thirsts for the Lord, for the living God" [Psalms 42:3].
When he [continues] to reflect on these same matters, he will immediately recoil in awe and fear, appreciating how he is a tiny, lowly, and dark creature, standing with his flimsy, limited, wisdom before He who is of perfect knowledge, as David stated: "When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers... [I wonder] what is man that You should recall Him" [Psalms 8:4-5].
Based on these concepts, I will explain important principles regarding the deeds of the Master of the worlds to provide a foothold for a person of understanding to [develop] love for God, as our Sages said regarding love: "In this manner, you will recognize He who spoke and [thus,] brought the world into being."
ב
והיאך היא הדרך לאהבתו ויראתו בשעה שיתבונן האדם במעשיו וברואיו הנפלאים הגדולים ויראה מהן חכמתו שאין לה ערך ולא קץ מיד הוא אוהב ומשבח ומפאר ומתאוה תאוה גדולה לידע השם הגדול כמו שאמר דוד צמאה נפשי לאלהים לאל חי וכשמחשב בדברים האלו עצמן מיד הוא נרתע לאחוריו ויפחד ויודע שהוא בריה קטנה שפלה אפלה עומדת בדעת קלה מעוטה לפני תמים דעות כמו שאמר דוד כי אראה שמיך מעשה אצבעותיך מה אנוש כי תזכרנו ולפי הדברים האלו אני מבאר כללים גדולים ממעשה רבון העולמים כדי שיהיו פתח למבין לאהוב את השם כמו שאמרו חכמים בענין אהבה שמתוך כך אתה מכיר את מי שאמר והיה העולם:
3
Everything which the Holy One, blessed be He, created within His world is divided into three categories. They include:
a) Creations which are a combination of matter and form. They are constantly coming into existence and ceasing to exist; for example, the bodies of man and beasts, plants, and metals.
b) Creations which are [also] a combination of matter and form, but do not change from body to body and from form to form as those in the first category. Rather, their form is permanently fixed in their matter, and they do not change as the others do; for example, the spheres and the stars [which revolve] in them. The matter [from which] they [are composed] differs from [a simple conception of] matter, and their form differs from [a simple conception of] form.
c) Creations which have form, but no matter at all; for example, the angels, for the angels do not possess bodies or corporeal being, but rather are forms which are separate from each other.
ג
כל מה שברא הקב"ה בעולמו נחלק לשלשה חלקים מהן ברואים שהן מחוברים מגולם וצורה והם הווים ונפסדים תמיד כמו גופות האדם והבהמה והצמחים והמתכות ומהן ברואים שהן מחוברים מגולם וצורה אבל אינן משתנין מגוף לגוף ומצורה לצורה כמו הראשונים אלא צורתן קבועה לעולם בגולמם ואינן משתנין כמו אלו והם הגלגלים והכוכבים שבהן ואין גולמם כשאר גולמים ולא צורתם כשאר צורות ומהן ברואים צורה בלא גולם כלל והם המלאכים שהמלאכים אינם גוף וגויה אלא צורות נפרדות זו מזו:
4
What is meant by the prophets' statements that they saw an angel of fire or with wings? All these are prophetic visions and parables, as [Deuteronomy 4:24] states: "God, your Lord, is consuming fire," though He is not fire and [the description of Him in this manner] is only metaphoric. Similarly, [Psalms 104:4] states: "He makes His angels as winds...."
ד
ומהו זה שהנביאים אומרים שראו המלאך אש ובעל כנפים הכל במראה הנבואה ודרך חידה לומר שאינו גוף ואינו כבד כגופות הכבדים כמו שנאמר כי ה' אלהיך אש אוכלה הוא ואינו אש אלא משל וכמו שנאמר עושה מלאכיו רוחות:
5
Since they possess no body, what separates the form [of the angels] from each other? Their existence is not alike. Rather each one is below the level of the other and exists by virtue of its influence, [in a progression of levels,] one above the other.
Everything exists by virtue of the influence of the Holy One, blessed be He, and His goodness. Solomon alluded to this [concept] in his wisdom, saying (Ecclesiastes 5:7): "Because above the one who is high there is a watcher [and there are others higher than them]."
ה
ובמה יפרדו הצורות זו מזו והרי אינן גופין לפי שאינן שוין במציאותן אלא כל אחד מהן למטה ממעלתו של חבירו והוא מצוי מכחו זה למעלה מזה והכל נמצאים מכחו של הקדוש ברוך הוא וטובו וזהו שרמז שלמה בחכמתו ואמר כי גבוה מעל גבוה שומר:
6
The expression "below the level of the other" does not refer to height in a spatial sense as [one might say], he is sitting higher than his colleague, [but rather, in regard to spiritual level]. For example, when speaking about two sages, one of whom is greater than the other, we say, "one is above the level of the other." Similarly, a cause is referred to as "above" the effect [it produces].
ו
זה שאמרנו למטה ממעלתו של חבירו אינה מעלת מקום כמו אדם שיושב למעלה מחבירו אלא כמו שאומרין בשני חכמים שאחד גדול מחבירו בחכמה שהוא למעלה ממעלתו של זה וכמו שאומרין בעילה שהיא למעלה מן העלול:
7
The different names with which the angels are called reflect their [spiritual] levels. Thus, they are called:
1) The holy chayyot, who are above all the others;
2) the ofanim; 7) the elohim;
3) the er'elim; 8) the sons of the elohim;
4) the chashmalim; 9) the keruvim;
5) the serafim; 10) the ishim.
6) the mal'achim;
These ten names which are used to refer to the angels reflect their ten [different spiritual] levels. The level above which there is no higher level except that of God, blessed be He, is that of the form called chayyot. Therefore, the prophets state that they are below God's throne of glory.
The tenth [and lowest] level is that of the form called ishim. They are the angels who communicate with the prophets and are perceived by them in prophetic visions. Therefore, they are called ishim, (“men”), because their level is close to the level of human knowledge.
ז
שינוי שמות המלאכים על שם מעלתם הוא ולפיכך נקראים חיות הקדש והם למעלה מן הכל ואופנים ואראלים וחשמלים ושרפים ומלאכים ואלהים ובני אלהים וכרובים ואישים כל אלו עשרה השמות שנקראו בהן המלאכים על שם עשר מעלות שלהן הן ומעלה שאין למעלה ממנה אלא מעלת האל ברוך הוא היא מעלת הצורה שנקראת חיות לפיכך נאמר בנבואה שהן תחת כסא הכבוד ומעלה עשירית היא מעלת הצורה שנקראת אישים והם המלאכים המדברים עם הנביאים ונראים להם במראה הנבואה לפיכך נקראו אישים שמעלתם קרובה למעלת דעת בני אדם:
8
All these [spiritual] forms are alive. They recognize and know the Creator with very immense knowledge, each of the forms according to its level and not according to its greatness.
Even the highest level is unable to conceive of the true nature of the Creator as He [truly] is, since its intellectual capacity is too limited to know or to grasp [Him]. It does, however, comprehend and know more than the form which is below it.
This is true regarding each and every level, including the tenth level. This [level] also knows the Creator in a manner that surpasses the potential to know and comprehend [God possessed by] human beings made up of body and soul. None [of these levels] can know the Creator as He knows Himself.
ח
וכל הצורות האלו חיים ומכירין את הבורא ויודעים אותו דעה גדולה עד למאד כל צורה וצורה לפי מעלתה לא לפי גודלה אפילו מעלה הראשונה אינה יכולה להשיג אמתת הבורא כמו שהוא אלא דעתה קצרה להשיג ולידע אבל משגת ויודעת יותר ממה שמשגת ויודעת צורה שלמטה ממנה וכן כל מעלה ומעלה עד מעלה עשירית גם היא יודעת הבורא דעה שאין כח בני האדם המחוברים מגולם וצורה יכול להשיג ולידע כמותה והכל אינן יודעין הבורא כמו שהוא יודע עצמו:
9
All existence, aside from the Creator - from the first form down to a small mosquito in the depths of the earth - came into being from the influence of His truth. Since He knows Himself and recognizes His greatness, beauty, and truth, He knows everything, and nothing is hidden from Him.
ט
כל הנמצאים חוץ מן הבורא מצורה הראשונה עד יתוש קטן שיהיה בטבור הארץ הכל מכח אמתתו נמצאו ולפי שהוא יודע עצמו ומכיר גדולתו ותפארתו ואמתתו הוא יודע הכל ואין דבר נעלם ממנו:
10
The Holy One, blessed be He, recognizes His truth and knows it as it is. He does not know with a knowledge which is external to Him in the way that we know, for ourselves and our knowledge are not one. Rather, the Creator, may He be blessed, He, His knowledge, and His life are one from all sides and corners, in all manners of unity.
Were He to live as life is [usually conceived], or know with a knowledge that is external from Him, there would be many gods, Him, His life, and His knowledge. The matter is not so. Rather, He is one from all sides and corners, in all manners of unity. Thus, you could say, "He is the Knower, He is the Subject of Knowledge, and He is the Knowledge itself." All is one.
This matter is beyond the ability of our mouths to relate, [or our] ears to hear, nor is there [the capacity] within the heart of man to grasp it in its entirety. [In expression of this concept, Genesis 42:15] states: "chay (By the life) of Pharaoh" and [I Samuel 25:26] states "chay, (By the life) of your soul," but [I Samuel, ibid.] does not say: "chay, (By the life) of God" but chai Adonai, “As God lives.” [This shows] that the Creator and His life are not two, as are the lives of living beings or the lives of the angels.
Thus, He does not recognize and know the creations in terms of the creations as we know them, but rather He knows them in terms of Himself. Thus, since He knows Himself, He knows everything, for the existence of everything else is dependent on Him.
י
הקב"ה מכיר אמתו ויודע אותה כמו שהיא ואינו יודע בדעה שהיא חוץ ממנו כמו שאנו יודעין שאין אנו ודעתנו אחד אבל הבורא יתברך הוא ודעתו וחייו אחד מכל צד ומכל פינה ובכל דרך ייחוד שאלמלי היה חי בחיים ויודע בדעה חוץ ממנו היו שם אלוהות הרבה הוא וחייו ודעתו ואין הדבר כן אלא אחד מכל צד ומכל פינה ובכל דרך ייחוד נמצאת אתה אומר הוא היודע והוא הידוע והוא הדעה עצמה הכל אחד ודבר זה אין כח בפה לאומרו ולא באוזן לשמעו ולא בלב האדם להכירו על בוריו ולפיכך אומר חי פרעה וחי נפשך ואין אומר חי ה' אלא חי ה' שאין הבורא וחייו שנים כמו חיי הגופים החיים או כחיי המלאכים לפיכך אינו מכיר הברואים ויודעם מחמת הברואים כמו שאנו יודעין אותם אלא מחמת עצמו ידעם לפיכך מפני שהוא יודע עצמו יודע הכל שהכל נסמך לו בהוייתו:
11
The concepts that we have mentioned about the subject matter in these two chapters are like a drop from the sea [when compared to] what is necessary to explain this matter. The explanation of all the fundamental principles of these two chapters is referred to as Ma'aseh Merkavah, (lit. “the work of [G‑d’s] chariot.”)
יא
דברים אלו שאמרנו בענין זה בשני פרקים אלו כמו טיפה מן הים הם ממה שצריך לבאר בענין זה וביאור כל העיקרים שבשני פרקים אלו הוא הנקרא מעשה מרכבה:
12
The Sages of the early generations commanded that these matters should not be explained except to a single individual [at a time]. He should be a wise man, who can reach understanding with his [powers of] knowledge. In such an instance, he is given fundamental points, and an outline of the concepts is made known to him. He [is expected to continue to contemplate] until he reaches understanding with his powers of knowledge and knows the ultimate meaning and depth of the concept.
These concepts are extremely deep, and not every [person has] the knowledge necessary to appreciate them. In his wisdom, Solomon described them with the metaphor [Proverbs 27:26]: "Lambs for your clothing." [The root kevas - "lamb" - also has the meaning "hide."] Thus, our Sages interpreted this metaphor [to mean]: Matters which are the secrets of the world will be your clothing - i.e., they will be for you alone, and you should not discuss them in public.
Concerning them, [Proverbs 5:17] teaches: "They shall be for you and not for others with you." [Similarly, the Song of Songs 4:11] states: "Honey and milk will be under your tongue." The Sages of the early generations interpreted this [as a metaphor]: Subjects that are like honey and milk should be [kept] under your tongue.
יב
צוו חכמים הראשונים שלא לדרוש בדברים אלו אלא לאיש אחד בלבד והוא שיהיה חכם ומבין מדעתו ואחר כך מוסרין לו ראשי הפרקים ומודיעין אותו שמץ מן הדבר והוא מבין מדעתו וידע סוף הדבר ועומקו ודברים אלו דברים עמוקים הם עד למאד ואין כל דעת ודעת ראויה לסובלן ועליהם אמר שלמה בחכמתו דרך משל כבשים ללבושך כך אמרו חכמים בפירוש משל זה דברים שהן כבשונו של עולם יהיו ללבושך כלומר לך לבדך ואל תדרוש אותם ברבים ועליהם אמר יהיו לך לבדך ואין לזרים אתך ועליהם אמר דבש וחלב תחת לשונך כך פירשו חכמים הראשונים דברים שהן כדבש וחלב יהיו תחת לשונך:
Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Three
1
The spheres are called the heavens, the firmament, the habitation, the skies.
There are nine spheres. The closest sphere is the sphere of the moon. The second sphere, which is above it, is the sphere which contains the planet Kochav. 1 The third sphere, which is above it, contains [the planet] Nogah. 2 The fourth sphere contains the sun. The fifth sphere contains [the planet] Ma'dim. 3 The sixth sphere contains the planet Tzedek. 4 The seventh sphere contains [the planet] Shabbtai. 5The eighth sphere contains all the stars which are seen in the sky. The ninth sphere is the sphere which revolves each day from the east to the west.6 It surrounds and encompasses everything.
The planets and stars all appear to be in one sphere, even though one is higher than another. This is because the spheres are pure and refined like glass or sapphire. Therefore, the stars in the eighth sphere appear lower than the first sphere.
א
הגלגלים הם הנקראים שמים ורקיע וזבול וערבות והם תשעה גלגלים גלגל הקרוב ממנו הוא גלגל הירח והשני שלמעלה ממנו הוא גלגל שבו הכוכב הנקרא כוכב וגלגל שלישי שלמעלה ממנו שבו נוגה וגלגל רביעי שבו חמה וגלגל חמישי שבו מאדים וגלגל ששי שבו כוכב צדק וגלגל שביעי שבו שבתי וגלגל שמיני שבו שאר כל הכוכבים שנראים ברקיע וגלגל תשיעי הוא גלגל החוזר בכל יום מן המזרח למערב והוא המקיף ומסבב את הכל וזה שתראה כל הכוכבים כאילו הם כולם בגלגל אחד ואף על פי שיש בהן זה למעלה מזה מפני שהגלגלים טהורים וזכים כזכוכית וכספיר לפיכך נראים הכוכבים שבגלגל השמיני מתחת גלגל הראשון:
2
Each of the eight spheres which contain the planets and stars are themselves divided into many spheres, one above the other like the layers of an onion. Some of these spheres revolve from the west to the east, and some revolve from the east to the west, such as the ninth sphere, which revolves from the east to the west. There is no empty space between any of them.
ב
כל גלגל וגלגל משמונה הגלגלים שבהם הכוכבים נחלק לגלגלים הרבה זה למעלה מזה כמו גלדי בצלים מהן גלגלים סובבים ממערב למזרח ומהן סובבים ממזרח למערב כמו הגלגל התשיעי החוזר ממזרח למערב וכולן אין ביניהם מקום פנוי:
3
None of the spheres are light or heavy. They are neither red, black, nor any other color. Though we see them as blue, this is only our perception, because of the height of the atmosphere.
Similarly, they have neither taste nor smell, because these phenomena are present only in matter lower than they. 7
ג
כל הגלגלים אינן לא קלים ולא כבדים ואין להם לא עין אדום ולא עין שחור ולא שאר עינות וזה שאנו רואין אותם כעין התכלת למראית העין בלבד הוא לפי גובה האויר וכן אין להם לא טעם ולא ריח לפי שאין אלו המאורעין מצויין אלא בגופות שלמטה מהן:
4
All these [nine] spheres which surround the world are spherical like a ball, and the Earth is suspended in their midst.
Some of the planets have small spheres fixed [around] them. These spheres do not surround the Earth. Rather, a small sphere which does not surround the Earth is fixed within a large sphere which does.
ד
כל הגלגלים האלו המקיפין את העולם הן עגולין ככדור והארץ תלויה באמצע ויש למקצת מן הכוכבים גלגלים קטנים שהן קבועים בהן ואין אותם הגלגלים מקיפין את הארץ אלא גלגל קטן שאינו מקיף קבוע בגלגל הגדול המקיף:
5
The total number of spheres which surround the Earth entirely is eighteen,8 and the number of smaller spheres which do not surround [the world] is eight.
From the movement of the planets and the knowledge of the extent of their revolution each day and each moment, their position either northward or southward, and their distance above the Earth and closeness to it, [it is possible to] know the number of all these spheres, the manner in which they proceed, and the nature of their orbit. This is the science of calculating the seasons and astronomy. Many books about these subjects were written by the wise men of Greece.9
ה
מספר כל הגלגלים המקיפין את כל העולם שמונה עשר ומספר הגלגלים הקטנים שאינן מקיפין שמונה וממהלך הכוכבים וידיעת שיעור סביבתן בכל יום ובכל שעהו ומנטייתן מרוח דרום לרוח צפון ומרוח צפון לרוח דרום ומגבהן מעל הארץ וקריבתן יודע מספר כל אלו הגלגלים וצורת הליכתן ודרך הקפתן וזו היא חכמת חשבון תקופות ומזלות וספרים רבים חיברו בהן חכמי יון:
6
The ninth sphere, which encompasses all the others, was divided by the Sages of the early generations into twelve sections.10They gave each of these sections a name, based on the shapes that appeared to be formed by the stars below it which correspond to it.
These are the mazalot,11 which are called the lamb, the ox, the twins, the crab, the lion, the virgin, the scales, the scorpion, the bow, the goat, the bucket, and the fish.
ו
גלגל התשיעי שהוא מקיף את הכל חלקוהו החכמים הקדמונים לשנים עשר חלקים כל חלק וחלק העלו לו שם על שם צורה זו שתראה בו מן הכוכבים שלמטה ממנו שהם מכוונים תחתיו והם המזלות ששמותם טלה שור תאומים סרטן אריה בתולה מאזנים עקרב קשת גדי דלי דגים:
7
The ninth sphere itself has no division, nor does it possess any of these shapes or any stars. Rather, the larger stars of the constellations of the eighth sphere are seen in the shape of these forms, or [in a form] resembling them.
These twelve forms corresponded to these divisions only at the time of the flood and then, they were given these names. However, at present, they have already moved slightly, because all the stars in the eighth sphere move, as the sun and the moon do. It is just that [these stars] move more slowly. It would take any of these stars approximately seventy years to move the [same] distance which the sun and the moon'' move in one day.
ז
גלגל התשיעי עצמו אין בו לא חלוקה ולא צורה מכל הצורות האלו ולא כוכב אלא בחיבור הכוכבים שבגלגל השמיני הוא שיראה בכוכבים גדולים שבו תבנית הצורות האלו או קרוב מהן ואלו השנים עשר צורות לא היו מכוונות כנגד אותן החלקים אלא בזמן המבול שאז העלו להן שמות אלו אבל בזמן הזה כבר סבבו מעט לפי שכל הכוכבים שבגלגל שמיני כולם סובבים כמו השמש והירח אלא שהן סובבין בכבידות וחלק שיתהלך השמש והירח כנגדו ביום אחד ילך כנגדו כל כוכב מהן בקירוב משבעים שנה:
8
[Among] all the stars we see are small ones which the Earth surpasses in size and large ones which are several times larger than the Earth.
Our Earth is approximately 40 times larger than the moon, and the sun is approximately 170 times larger than the Earth. Thus, the moon is approximately one 6800th the size of the sun. None of the other stars is as large as the sun, nor is one as small as [the planet] Kochav, in the second sphere.
ח
כל הכוכבים הנראים יש מהן כוכבים קטנים שהארץ גדולה מאחד מהן ויש מהן כוכבים גדולים שכל אחד מהן גדול מן הארץ כמה פעמים והארץ גדולה מן הירח כמו ארבעים פעמים והשמש גדולה מן הארץ כמו מאה ושבעים פעמים נמצא הירח אחד מששת אלפים ושמונה מאות מן השמש בקירוב ואין בכל הכוכבים כוכב גדול מן השמש ולא קטן מכוכב שבגלגל השני:
9
All the stars and spheres possess a soul, knowledge, and intellect. They are alive and stand in recognition of the One who spoke and [thus brought] the world into being.
According to their size and level, each one praises and glorifies their Creator as the angels do.12 Just as they are aware of the Holy One, blessed be He, they are also aware of themselves and of the angels which surpass them. The knowledge of the stars and the spheres is less than the knowledge of the angels, but greater than that of men.13
ט
כל הכוכבים והגלגלים כולן בעלי נפש ודעה והשכל הם והם חיים ועומדים ומכירין את מי שאמר והיה העולם כל אחד ואחד לפי גדלו ולפי מעלתו משבחים ומפארים ליוצרם כמו המלאכים וכשם שמכירין הקדוש ברוך הוא כך מכירין את עצמן ומכירין את המלאכים שלמעלה מהן ודעת הכוכבים והגלגלים מעוטה מדעת המלאכים וגדולה מדעת בני אדם:
10
Below the sphere of the moon, God created a [type of] matter14 which differs from the matter of the spheres. He created four forms15 for this matter, which differ from the forms of matter of the spheres.
Each of these forms was fixed in a portion of this matter [as it exists in its totality]. The first of these forms is the form of fire. [When] it became connected to a portion of this matter, from the two there came into being a body of fire.
The second of these forms is the form of wind. [When] it became connected to a portion of this matter, from the two there came into being a body of wind.
The third of these forms is the form of water. [When] it became connected to a portion of this matter, from the two there came into being a body of water.
The fourth of these forms is the form of earth. [When] it became connected to a portion of this matter, from the two there came into being a body of earth.
Thus, below the sky there are four different states of matter, one above the other, each one encompassing the one below it from all directions, like a sphere. The first of these bodies, which is closest to the sphere of the moon, is that of fire. Below it is the body of wind, below it the body of water, and below it the body of Earth. There is no empty space without any matter between them at all.
י
ברא האל למטה מגלגל הירח גולם אחד שאינו כגולם הגלגלים וברא ארבע צורות לגולם זה ואינן כצורת הגלגלים ונקבע כל צורה וצורה במקצת גולם זה צורה ראשונה צורת האש נתחברה במקצת גולם זה ונהיה משניהן גוף האש וצורה שניה צורת הרוח נתחברה במקצתו ונהיה משניהן גוף הרוח וצורה שלישית צורת המים נתחברה במקצתו ונהיה משניהם גוף המים וצורה רביעית צורת הארץ נתחברה במקצתו ונהיה משניהם גוף הארץ נמצא למטה מן הרקיע ארבעה גופין מוחלקין זה למעלה מזה וכל אחד ואחד מקיף את שלמטה ממנו מכל רוחותיו כמו גלגל הגוף הראשון הסמוך לגלגל הירח הוא גוף האש למטה ממנו גוף הרוח למטה ממנו גוף המים למטה ממנו גוף הארץ ואין ביניהם מקום פנוי בלא גוף כלל:
11
These four bodies do not possess a soul, nor are they conscious or knowing. Rather, they are like dead bodies. Each one has its inclinations. However, it is not conscious or knowledgeable [of these inclinations], nor can it change them.
David's statement (Psalms 148:7-8): "Praise God from the Earth, sea-monsters and all the depths; fire and hail, snow and vapor" [does not contradict the above statement].16 That verse should be interpreted: Men, praise [God] for His mightiness which is apparent in the fire, hail, and other creations that can be seen below the sky, because their power is always visible to [both] the great and the small.
יא
ארבעה גופות האלו אינם בעלי נפש ואינם יודעים ולא מכירים אלא כגופים מתים ויש לכל אחד ואחד מהם מנהג שאינו יודעו ולא משיגו ואינו יכול לשנותו וזה שאמר דוד הללו את ה' מן הארץ תנינים וכל תהומות אש וברד שלג וקיטור וביאור ענין הדברים הללוהו בני אדם מגבורותיו שתראו באש ובברד ובשאר ברואים שתראו למטה מן הרקיע שגבורתם תמיד ניכרת לקטן ולגדול:
FOOTNOTES
1.In translation, this word means "star" or "planet." It refers to the planet Mercury.
2.In translation, this word means "shining." It refers to the planet Venus.
3.In translation, this word means "reddening." It refers to the planet Mars.
4.In translation, this word means "justice." It refers to the planet Jupiter.
5.In translation, this word means "the Sabbatical." It refers to the planet Saturn.
6.Sanhedrin 91b states that the Shechinah (Divine Presence) is in the west. Hence, the movement of this sphere in this direction can be considered an act of service to God.
7.As stated in Halachah 10 and in Chapter 2, Halachah 3, the state of matter of the spheres differs from the state of matter in our world.
8.As stated in Halachah 10 and in Chapter 2, Halachah 3, the state of matter of the spheres differs from the state of matter in our world.
9.These include some of the smaller spheres which are included with the eight larger spheres.
10.Note the Rambam's remarks in Hilchot Kiddush HaChodesh 17:24:
This is the science of the seasons and geometry about which the wise men of Greece composed many books. These are presently found in the hands of the Sages. However, the texts which were composed by the Sages of Israel of the tribe of Issachar in the time of the Prophets have not reached us.
[Nevertheless,] since these concepts have been proven conclusively... we are not concerned about the author, regardless of whether they were authored by the prophets or the gentiles.... We are not relying on the person who states or teaches the concept, but on the proofs.
11.The term mazal literally means "source of influence." In the Rambam's time, it was commonly felt that the position of the stars affected one's future. For this reason, the word mazal is often translated as "fortune" or "luck." Many Torah Sages shared these ideas - albeit with the qualification that a Jew always has the potential to rise above these influences. (See the Ra'avad's comments to Hilchot Teshuvah 5:5; Ramban, Responsum 282; and the Nimukei Yosef, Sanhedrin, Chapter 7).
The Rambam totally dismisses the influence of astrology. In his Commentary on the Mishnah, Avodah Zarah 4:7, he describes it as "empty words and lies," and in Shemonah Perakim, Chapter 8, he mentions "the madness with which the astrologers attempt to deceive."
12.Thus, Pesachim 2a interprets Psalms 148:3, "Praise Him all shining stars," simply - i.e., the stars render praise to God. However, note how the Targum and the Midrash Sachar Tov interpret Psalms 19:2, "The heavens relate the glory of God," as "The heavens cause others to relate.
13.Note the differences between this halachah and Chapter 2, Halachah 8.
14.This refers to primeval, unformed matter. In Greek terminology, it is referred to as hyli.
15.The word "form" in this context refers to the entity's spiritual qualities and not its physical shape.
16.Although Notes 6 and 11 mentions the Sages' interpretation of the movement of the stars and spheres as an expression of their praise of God, such a statement cannot be made with regard to these four fundamental elements. The, unlike the stars, are not conscious beings, and their movement and activity are merely natural patterns imprinted within them by God, as explained in Chapter 4, Halachah 2.
Daily Study: Hayom YomToday's Hayom Yom
Sunday, 11 Tishrei 5778 / October 1, 2017
Sunday, Tishrei 11, 5704
Torah lessons: Chumash: B'racha, first parsha with Rashi.
Tehillim: 60-65.
Tanya: XXI. Upon enquiring (p. 513) ...every day." (p. 515).
At the conclusion of Yom Kippur 5556 (1795) in Lyozna, the Alter Rebbe delivered a public discourse1 (his discourses were brief, as usual then) on the verse "Who is like the Eternal our G‑d whenever we call upon Him,"2 on which the Sages comment - "...upon Him" and not upon His attributes:
Pardes Rimonim explains that "upon Him" (2) refers to the orot ("radiances" or "illuminations") as they are invested in the "vessels" of the Ten Sefirot of Atzilut. The Rebbe, the Baal Shem Tov, says that "upon Him" refers to the G‑dhood invested in the "vessels" of the Ten Sefirot of Atzilut.
The simple meaning is: "upon Him" refers to the Essence of the En Sof3 of which every ordinary Jew has inherent knowledge through his simple faith. This is the meaning of "close to him" (4) to the person) and "whenever we call to Him (G‑d)"4 - (These two expressions referring respectively to) the Essence of the En Sof and the essence of the soul. Davening with simple faith joins the essence of the soul with the essence of the Infinite, so that the Essence of the En Sof will be the Healer of the ill, and He Who blesses the years.
Compiled and arranged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, in 5703 (1943) from the talks and letters of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory.
FOOTNOTES
1.Then called "a Torah."
2.Tehillim 113:2.
3.The Ultimate Infinitude; G‑d.
4.In both expressions the identical word is used, eilav, "to him."
Tehillim: 60-65.
Tanya: XXI. Upon enquiring (p. 513) ...every day." (p. 515).
At the conclusion of Yom Kippur 5556 (1795) in Lyozna, the Alter Rebbe delivered a public discourse1 (his discourses were brief, as usual then) on the verse "Who is like the Eternal our G‑d whenever we call upon Him,"2 on which the Sages comment - "...upon Him" and not upon His attributes:
Pardes Rimonim explains that "upon Him" (2) refers to the orot ("radiances" or "illuminations") as they are invested in the "vessels" of the Ten Sefirot of Atzilut. The Rebbe, the Baal Shem Tov, says that "upon Him" refers to the G‑dhood invested in the "vessels" of the Ten Sefirot of Atzilut.
The simple meaning is: "upon Him" refers to the Essence of the En Sof3 of which every ordinary Jew has inherent knowledge through his simple faith. This is the meaning of "close to him" (4) to the person) and "whenever we call to Him (G‑d)"4 - (These two expressions referring respectively to) the Essence of the En Sof and the essence of the soul. Davening with simple faith joins the essence of the soul with the essence of the Infinite, so that the Essence of the En Sof will be the Healer of the ill, and He Who blesses the years.
Compiled and arranged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, in 5703 (1943) from the talks and letters of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory.
FOOTNOTES
1.Then called "a Torah."
2.Tehillim 113:2.
3.The Ultimate Infinitude; G‑d.
4.In both expressions the identical word is used, eilav, "to him."
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