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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Tuesday, Elul 14, 5777 · September 5, 2017Today's Laws and Customs:
- Elul Observances
As the month of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness (see "Today in Jewish History" for Elul 1) it is a most opportune time for teshuvah ("return" to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased Ahavat Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d. Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when "the king is in the field" and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, "everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all."
Specific Elul customs include the daily sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) as a call to repentance. The Baal Shem Tov instituted the custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms). Click below to view today's Psalms.
Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42
Psalms Chapter 40:1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. I put my hope in the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.
3. He raised me from the turbulent pit, from the slimy mud, and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps.
4. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn to our God; multitudes will see and fear, and will trust in the Lord.
5. Fortunate is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and did not turn to the haughty, nor to those who stray after falsehood.
6. You have done much, O You, Lord my God-Your wonders and thoughts are for us; none can compare to You; should I relate or speak of them, they are too numerous to recount!
7. You desired neither sacrifice nor meal-offering, but [obedient] ears You opened for me; You requested neither burnt-offering nor sin-offering.
8. Then I said, "Behold, I come with a Scroll of the Book written for me."1
9. I desire to fulfill Your will, my God; and Your Torah is in my innards.
10. I proclaimed [Your] righteousness in a vast congregation; behold I will not restrain my lips-O Lord, You know!
11. I did not conceal Your righteousness within my heart; I declared Your faithfulness and deliverance; I did not hide Your kindness and truth from the vast congregation.
12. May You, Lord, not withhold Your mercies from me; may Your kindness and truth constantly guard me.
13. For countless evils surround me; my sins have overtaken me and I cannot see; they outnumber the hairs of my head, and my heart has abandoned me.
14. May it please You, Lord, to save me; O Lord, hurry to my aid.
15. Let those who seek my life, to end it, be shamed and humiliated together; let those who desire my harm retreat and be disgraced.
16. Let those who say about me, "Aha! Aha!" be desolate, in return for their shaming [me].
17. Let all those who seek You exult and rejoice in You; let those who love Your deliverance always say, "Be exalted, O Lord!”
18. As for me, I am poor and needy; my Lord will think of me. You are my help and my rescuer; my God, do not delay! Chapter 41:1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. Fortunate is he who is thoughtful of the poor, [for] the Lord will save him on the day of evil.
3. The Lord will guard him and keep him alive; he will be praised throughout the land; You will not deliver him to the desires of his enemies.
4. The Lord will support him on the bed of illness; You will turn him over in his bed all throughout his sickness.
5. I said, "Lord, be gracious to me! Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You!”
6. My foes say that evil [awaits] me: "When will he die, and his name perish?”
7. And if one comes to see [me], he speaks insincerely, for his heart gathers iniquity for himself, and when he goes out he speaks of it.
8. Together they whisper against me-all my enemies; against me they devise my harm, [saying]:
9. "Let his wickedness pour into him; now that he lies down, he shall rise no more.”
10. Even my ally in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has raised his heel over me.
11. But you, Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up, and I will repay them.
12. With this I shall know that You desire me, when my enemies will not shout gleefully over me.
13. And I, because of my integrity, You upheld me; You set me before You forever.
14. Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, to all eternity, Amen and Amen. Chapter 42:1. For the Conductor, a maskil1 by the sons of Korach.
2. As the deer cries longingly for brooks of water, so my soul cries longingly for You, O God!
3. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and behold the countenance of God?
4. My tears have been my bread day and night, when they say to me all day, "Where is your God?”
5. These do I recall, and pour out my soul from within me: how I traveled [to Jerusalem] in covered wagons; I would walk leisurely with them up to the House of God, amid the sound of rejoicing and thanksgiving, the celebrating multitude.
6. Why are you downcast, my soul, and why do you wail within me? Hope to God, for I will yet thank Him for the deliverances of His countenance.
7. My God! My soul is downcast upon me, because I remember You from the land of Jordan and Hermon's peaks, from Mount Mitzar.2
8. Deep calls to deep3 at the roar of Your channels; all Your breakers and waves have swept over me.
9. By day the Lord ordains His kindness, and at night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
10. I say to God, my rock, "Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in gloom under the oppression of the enemy?”
11. Like a sword in my bones, my adversaries disgrace me, when they say to me all day, "Where is your God?”
12. Why are you downcast, my soul, and why do you wail within me? Hope to God, for I will yet thank Him; He is my deliverance, [the light of] my countenance, and my God.
Elul is also the time to have one's tefillin and mezuzot checked by an accredited scribe to ensure that they are in good condition and fit for use.
Links: More on Elul
Daily Quote:
Did I ever despise the judgment of my servant and my maid when they argued with me? ... Did not my Maker make him, too, in the belly, and did not the same One form us both in the womb? [Job 31:13, 15:
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Ki Tavo, 3rd Portion Deuteronomy 26:16-26:19 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Deuteronomy Chapter 26
16This day, the Lord, your God, is commanding you to fulfill these statutes and ordinances, and you will observe and fulfill them with all your heart and with all your soul. טזהַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ מְצַוְּךָ֧ לַֽעֲשׂ֛וֹת אֶת־הַֽחֻקִּ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְאֶת־הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֑ים וְשָֽׁמַרְתָּ֤ וְעָשִׂ֨יתָ֙ אוֹתָ֔ם בְּכָל־לְבָֽבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ:
This day, the Lord your God is commanding you: Every day, you shall regard the commandments as if they are brand new, as though you are just today being commanded regarding them!- [Tanchuma 1]
היום הזה ה' אלהיך מצוך: בכל יום יהיו בעיניך חדשים, כאלו בו ביום נצטוית עליהם:
You will observe and fulfill them: A heavenly voice is blessing you:“You have brought the firstfruits today- [so] will you merit to bring them next year!”
ושמרת ועשית אותם: בת קול מברכתו הבאת בכורים היום, תשנה לשנה הבאה:
17You have selected the Lord this day, to be your God, and to walk in His ways, and to observe His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and to obey Him. יזאֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה הֶֽאֱמַ֖רְתָּ הַיּ֑וֹם לִֽהְיוֹת֩ לְךָ֨ לֵֽאלֹהִ֜ים וְלָלֶ֣כֶת בִּדְרָכָ֗יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֨ר חֻקָּ֧יו וּמִצְוֹתָ֛יו וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֥עַ בְּקֹלֽוֹ:
You have selected… has selected you: Heb. הֶאֱמַרְתָּ… הֶאמִירְךָ. We do not find any equivalent expression in the Scriptures [which might give us a clue to the meaning of these words]. However, it appears to me that [the expression הֶאֱמִיר] denotes separation and distinction. [Thus, here, the meaning is as follows:] From all the pagan deities, you have set apart the Lord for yourself, to be your God, and He separated you to Him from all the peoples on earth to be His treasured people. [Notwithstanding,] I did find a similar expression [to הֶאֱמִיר], which denotes “glory,” as in the verse “[How long will] all workers of violence praise themselves (יִתְאַמְּרוּ)?” (Ps. 94:4).
האמרת: והאמירך (פסוק יח) אין להם עד מוכיח במקרא ולי נראה שהוא לשון הפרשה והבדלה הבדלתי לך מאלהי הנכר להיות לך לאלהים, והוא הפרישך אליו מעמי הארץ להיות לו לעם סגולה ומצאתי להם עד והוא לשון תפארת כמו יתאמרו כל פועלי און (תהלים צ"ד, ד):
18And the Lord has selected you this day to be His treasured people, as He spoke to you, and so that you shall observe all His commandments, יחוַֽיהֹוָ֞ה הֶֽאֱמִֽירְךָ֣ הַיּ֗וֹם לִֽהְי֥וֹת לוֹ֙ לְעַ֣ם סְגֻלָּ֔ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּר־לָ֑ךְ וְלִשְׁמֹ֖ר כָּל־מִצְוֹתָֽיו:
as He spoke to you: When He said]: “And [out of all the nations,] you shall be to Me a treasure” (Exod. 19:5). - [Mechilta 12:78]
כאשר דבר לך: והייתם לי סגולה (שמות יט, ה):
19and to make you supreme, above all the nations that He made, [so that you will have] praise, a [distinguished] name and glory; and so that you will be a holy people to the Lord, your God, as He spoke. יטוּלְתִתְּךָ֣ עֶלְי֗וֹן עַ֤ל כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה לִתְהִלָּ֖ה וּלְשֵׁ֣ם וּלְתִפְאָ֑רֶת וְלִֽהְיֹֽתְךָ֧ עַם־קָד֛שׁ לַֽיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽר:
And so that you will be a holy people… as He spoke: [When He said]:“And you shall be holy to Me” (Lev. 20:26). - [Mechilta 12:78]
ולהיתך עם קדוש וגו' כאשר דבר: והייתם לי קדושים (ויקרא כ, כו):
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 72 - 76
• Hebrew text
• English text
Special Custom for the Month of Elul and High Holidays
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
See below for today's additional chapters.
Chapter 72
David composed this psalm for Solomon, praying that he be granted the wisdom to provide justice for the poor.
1. For Solomon. O God, impart Your justice to the king, and Your righteousness to the son of the king.
2. May he judge Your people with righteousness, Your poor with justice.
3. May the mountains bear peace to the nation, also the hills, in [reward for their] righteousness.
4. May he judge the nation's poor, save the children of the destitute, and crush the oppressor,
5. so that they will fear You as long as the sun [shines] and the moon endures, generation after generation.
6. May [his words] descend like rain upon cut grass, like raindrops that water the earth.
7. In his days may the righteous flourish, with much peace until the moon is no more.
8. And may he rule from sea to sea, and from the river until the ends of the earth.
9. May nobles kneel before him, and may his enemies lick the dust.
10. The kings of Tarshish and the islands will return tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts.
11. All kings will bow to him, all nations will serve him;
12. for he rescues the needy one who cries out, the poor one who has no one to help him.
13. He pities the impoverished and needy, and saves the souls of the destitute.
14. He redeems their soul from deception and violence, and their blood is precious in his eyes.
15. He revives [the poor], and gives him of the gold of Sheba; and so [the poor] pray for him always, and bless him all day.
16. May there be abundant grain in the land, upon the mountaintops; may its fruit rustle like the [cedars of] Lebanon, and may [people] blossom from the city like the grass of the earth.
17. May his name endure forever; may his name be magnified as long as the sun [shines]. And all nations will bless themselves by him, they will praise him.
18. Blessed is the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who alone performs wonders.
19. Blessed is His glorious Name forever, and may the whole earth be filled with His glory, Amen and Amen.
20. The prayers of David, son of Jesse, are concluded1
FOOTNOTES
1.David composed this psalm at the end of his lifetime.
Chapter 73
This psalm addresses the question of why the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper, and prays for an end to our long exile. Read, and you will find repose for your soul.
1. A psalm by Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to the pure of heart.
2. But as for me, my feet nearly strayed; in an instant my steps would have been swept aside.
3. For I envied the revelers when I saw the tranquility of the wicked.
4. For there are no bonds1 to their death, and their health is sound.
5. They have no part in the toil of men, nor are they afflicted like other mortals;
6. therefore they wear pride as a necklace; their bodies are enwrapped in violence.
7. Their eyes bulge from fat; they surpassed the fantasies of their heart.
8. They consume [others], and talk wickedly of oppression-from on high do they speak.
9. They set their mouths against Heaven, while their tongues walk upon the earth.
10. Therefore His people return here,2 and suck the full [cup of bitter] waters.
11. And they say, "How can it be that God knows? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12. Behold these are the wicked, and they are ever tranquil, they have gained much wealth.
13. Surely in vain have I purified my heart, and washed my hands in cleanliness;
14. for I was afflicted all day, and my rebuke came each morning.
15. Were I to say, "I shall tell it like it is," behold I would turn the generation of Your children to rebels.
16. And when I pondered to understand this, it was unjust in my eyes;
17. until I came to the sanctuaries of God, and perceived their end.
18. Only on slippery places do You set them, You cast them into darkness.
19. How they have become desolate in an instant! They came to an end, they were consumed by terrors,
20. like a dream upon awakening. O my Lord, disgrace their image in the city.
21. When my heart was in ferment, and my mind was sharpened,
22. I was a boor and did not understand, like an animal was I with You.
23. Yet I was always with You; You held my right hand.
24. Guide me with Your counsel, and afterward, receive me with honor.
25. Whom do I have in heaven [besides You]? And when I am with You I desire nothing on earth.
26. My flesh and my heart yearn; God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.
27. For behold, all those who are far from You perish, You cut down all who stray from You.
28. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have put my trust in my Lord, God, that I may recount all Your works.
FOOTNOTES
1.Their death is not protracted by illness and misery(Radak).
2.To the way of the wicked (Rashi).
Chapter 74
The psalmist mourns and weeps over all the synagogues and study halls that have been burned: the Philistines destroyed the Tabernacle of Shiloh; Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the first Temple. We have been in exile for so long, without seeing any signs of redemption! When will the redemption come? Read, and you will find lamentation and consolation.
1. A maskil1 by Asaph. Why, O God, have You abandoned us forever, does Your wrath fume against the sheep of Your pasture?
2. Remember Your congregation which You acquired long ago, the tribe of Your inheritance whom You redeemed [and brought to] Mount Zion, where You rested Your Presence.
3. Lift Your steps to inflict eternal ruin, because of all the evil done by the enemy in the Sanctuary.
4. Your foes roared in the midst of Your meeting place; they considered their omens to be [genuine] signs.
5. The axes in the thicket of trees2 were reckoned as bringing [an offering] to the Above.
6. And now, all her ornaments together are smashed by hammer and hatchet.
7. They set Your Sanctuary on fire; they desecrated the Abode of Your Name to the ground.
8. Their rulers thought together in their hearts; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.
9. We have not seen our signs; there is no longer a prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long.
10. How long, O God, will the adversary disgrace, will the enemy blaspheme Your Name forever!
11. Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Cast it out from within Your bosom!
12. For God is my King from long ago, working salvations in the midst of the earth.
13. In Your might, You divided the sea; You shattered the heads of the sea-monsters on the waters.
14. You crushed the heads of the Leviathan,3 leaving him as food for the nation [wandering in] the wilderness.
15. You split [the rock, bringing forth] fountain and brook; You dried up mighty streams.
16. Yours is the day, the night is also Yours; You established the moon and the sun.
17. You set all the boundaries of the earth; summer and winter-You created them.
18. Remember this, how the enemy reviled the Lord, and the vile nation blasphemed Your Name.
19. Do not give the soul of Your turtledove to the wild beast; do not forget the life of Your poor forever.
20. Look to the covenant, for the dark places of the earth are filled with dens of violence.
21. Do not turn back the oppressed in disgrace; [then] the poor and needy will praise Your Name.
22. Arise, O God, champion Your cause; remember Your insults from the perverse all day long.
23. Forget not the voice of Your adversaries; the tumult of Your opponents ascends always.
FOOTNOTES
1.A psalm intended to enlighten and impart knowledge(Metzudot).
2.Chopping wood for the construction of the Temple (Metzudot).
3.Pharaoh and his chieftains
Chapter 75
How great is Israel! During their holidays they do not engage in frivolity, but in song and praise, and the study of the holiday's laws. Also, when they proclaimed (at the giving of the Torah), "We will do and we will hear!" they allowed the world to remain in existence. This psalm also admonishes those who indulge in worldly pleasures and attribute their prosperity to their own efforts.
1. For the Conductor, a plea not to be destroyed. A psalm by Asaph, a song.
2. We gave thanks to You, O God, we gave thanks; and Your Name was near [when] they1 told of Your wonders.
3. When I choose the appointed time, I will judge with fairness.
4. When the earth and all its inhabitants were melting, I established its pillars forever.
5. I said to the perverse, "Do not pervert [Israel]," and to the wicked, "Do not raise your pride.”
6. Do not raise your pride heavenward, nor speak with an arrogant neck
7. For not from the east or the west, nor from the desert does greatness come.
8. For God is Judge; He humbles one, and elevates the other.
9. For there is a cup [of punishment] in the hand of the Lord, with strong wine of full mixture; He pours from this, and all the wicked of the earth will drink, draining even its dregs.
10. But as for me, I will tell of it forever; I will sing to the God of Jacob.
11. I will cut off all glory of the wicked, but the glory of the righteous will be raised up.
FOOTNOTES
1.Our ancestors.
Chapter 76
This psalm contains the prophecy of when the vast army of Sennacherib was seized with a deep slumber that rendered the hands of the soldiers powerless to raise their weapons; thus did they all fall in battle.
1. For the Conductor, with instrumental music, a psalm by Asaph, a song.
2. God is known in Judah, His Name is great in Israel.
3. His Tabernacle was in Shalem,1 and His dwelling place in Zion.
4. There He broke the flying arrows of the bow, the shield, the sword and battle-forever.
5. You are illumination, mightier than the mountains of prey.
6. The stout-hearted were without sense, they slept their sleep, and all the warriors were unable to find their strength.
7. At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, chariot and horse were stunned.
8. You, awesome are You! Who can stand before You once You are enraged.
9. From heaven You let the verdict be heard; the earth feared and was still,
10. when God rose to pass judgement, to save all the humble of the earth forever.
11. The anger of man will cause us to thank You;2 You will restrain the residue of wrath.
12. Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; all who surround Him will bring tribute to the Awesome One.
13. He cuts down the spirit of nobles; He is awesome to the kings of the earth.
FOOTNOTES
1.Jerusalem.
2.When the wicked are punished for being angry with Israel, Israel acknowledges God (Metzudot).
Additional Three Chapters
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
Today's Chapters are 40, 41 and 42.
Chapter 40
The psalmist speaks of the numerous wonders that God wrought for the Jewish people, asking: "Who can articulate His might? I would relate and speak of them, but they are too numerous to recount!" He created the world and split the sea for the sake of Israel, [yet] He desires no sacrifices, only that we listen to His voice.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. I put my hope in the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.
3. He raised me from the turbulent pit, from the slimy mud, and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps.
4. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn to our God; multitudes will see and fear, and will trust in the Lord.
5. Fortunate is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and did not turn to the haughty, nor to those who stray after falsehood.
6. You have done much, O You, Lord my God-Your wonders and thoughts are for us; none can compare to You; should I relate or speak of them, they are too numerous to recount!
7. You desired neither sacrifice nor meal-offering, but [obedient] ears You opened for me; You requested neither burnt-offering nor sin-offering.
8. Then I said, "Behold, I come with a Scroll of the Book written for me."1
9. I desire to fulfill Your will, my God; and Your Torah is in my innards.
10. I proclaimed [Your] righteousness in a vast congregation; behold I will not restrain my lips-O Lord, You know!
11. I did not conceal Your righteousness within my heart; I declared Your faithfulness and deliverance; I did not hide Your kindness and truth from the vast congregation.
12. May You, Lord, not withhold Your mercies from me; may Your kindness and truth constantly guard me.
13. For countless evils surround me; my sins have overtaken me and I cannot see; they outnumber the hairs of my head, and my heart has abandoned me.
14. May it please You, Lord, to save me; O Lord, hurry to my aid.
15. Let those who seek my life, to end it, be shamed and humiliated together; let those who desire my harm retreat and be disgraced.
16. Let those who say about me, "Aha! Aha!" be desolate, in return for their shaming [me].
17. Let all those who seek You exult and rejoice in You; let those who love Your deliverance always say, "Be exalted, O Lord!”
18. As for me, I am poor and needy; my Lord will think of me. You are my help and my rescuer; my God, do not delay!
Chapter 41
This psalm teaches many good character traits, and inspires one to be thoughtful and conscientious in giving charity-knowing to whom to give first. Fortunate is he who is thoughtful of the sick one, providing him with his needs.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. Fortunate is he who is thoughtful of the poor, [for] the Lord will save him on the day of evil.
3. The Lord will guard him and keep him alive; he will be praised throughout the land; You will not deliver him to the desires of his enemies.
4. The Lord will support him on the bed of illness; You will turn him over in his bed all throughout his sickness.
5. I said, "Lord, be gracious to me! Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You!”
6. My foes say that evil [awaits] me: "When will he die, and his name perish?”
7. And if one comes to see [me], he speaks insincerely, for his heart gathers iniquity for himself, and when he goes out he speaks of it.
8. Together they whisper against me-all my enemies; against me they devise my harm, [saying]:
9. "Let his wickedness pour into him; now that he lies down, he shall rise no more.”
10. Even my ally in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has raised his heel over me.
11. But you, Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up, and I will repay them.
12. With this I shall know that You desire me, when my enemies will not shout gleefully over me.
13. And I, because of my integrity, You upheld me; You set me before You forever.
14. Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, to all eternity, Amen and Amen.
Chapter 42
This psalm awakens the hearts of the Children of Israel who do not feel the immense ruin, loss, and bad fortune in their being exiled from their Father's table. Were they wise, they would appreciate their past good fortune in coming thrice yearly, with joy and great awe, to behold God during the festivals, free of adversary and harm. May God place mercy before us from now to eternity, Amen Selah.
1. For the Conductor, a maskil1 by the sons of Korach.
2. As the deer cries longingly for brooks of water, so my soul cries longingly for You, O God!
3. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and behold the countenance of God?
4. My tears have been my bread day and night, when they say to me all day, "Where is your God?”
5. These do I recall, and pour out my soul from within me: how I traveled [to Jerusalem] in covered wagons; I would walk leisurely with them up to the House of God, amid the sound of rejoicing and thanksgiving, the celebrating multitude.
6. Why are you downcast, my soul, and why do you wail within me? Hope to God, for I will yet thank Him for the deliverances of His countenance.
7. My God! My soul is downcast upon me, because I remember You from the land of Jordan and Hermon's peaks, from Mount Mitzar.2
8. Deep calls to deep3 at the roar of Your channels; all Your breakers and waves have swept over me.
9. By day the Lord ordains His kindness, and at night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
10. I say to God, my rock, "Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in gloom under the oppression of the enemy?”
11. Like a sword in my bones, my adversaries disgrace me, when they say to me all day, "Where is your God?”
12. Why are you downcast, my soul, and why do you wail within me? Hope to God, for I will yet thank Him; He is my deliverance, [the light of] my countenance, and my God.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 13
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Tuesday, Elul 14, 5777 · September 5, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 13
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וזהו שאמר דוד המלך, עליו השלום, מה רב טובך וגו׳
And this is the meaning of what was said by King David, peace be to him, who was1 of the attribute of Gevurah, “How abundant is Your goodness [which You have hidden away for those who fear You].”
כלומר, שמדת הטוב והחסד, אשר היא בבחינת העלם והסתר אצל כל מי ששורש נשמתו מבחינת שמאל
That is to say that the attribute of goodness and Chesed, which is in a state of concealment and hiding within those whose soul-root derives from the “left”, i.e., from Gevurah,
הנקראים בשם יראיך
and who are referred to as “those who fear You,”
כמדת בית שמאי
resembling the [above-mentioned] trait of Beit Shammai, —
הנה, אף שהוא טוב הגנוז וצפון
though this is a concealed and hidden goodness, beneath a dominant surface of Gevurah,
אף על פי כן הוא רב וגדול מאד, כמו מדת הגדולה והחסד ממש, שמבחינת ימין
it is nevertheless truly as abundant and immense as the attribute of Gedulah2 and Chesed, which is of the “right”.
Although the element of Chesed within those described as “those that fear You” is concealed, for their soul-root derives essentially from Gevurah, it is latent within them just as abundantly as it is found within those who are essentially of the “right”.
ושתיהן הן מבחינת גילוי בלי גבול ומדה ושיעור
Moreover, both [degrees of Chesed] — that which is dominant in the souls deriving from the “right” as well as that incorporated in the souls deriving from the “left” — are manifest without limit, measure or dimension.
וזהו שכתוב: מה רב טובך
And this is the meaning of the phrase, “How abundant is Your goodness”;
כלומר, בלי גבול ומדה
i.e., [it applies in both cases] without limit and measure;
בין הטוב אשר צפנת ליראיך, ובין אשר פעלת לחוסים בך
whether it be the goodness “which You have hidden away for those who fear You,” or that which “You have wrought for those who trust in You,”
שהם בעלי הבטחון שמבחינת ימין
referring to the trusting ones who derive from the “right”,
A person trusts his beloved friend to act in his best interests. In the same way, those whose souls stem from the “right” and who serve G‑d with Chesed and love, place their trust in Him.
וחסדם וטובם הוא גם כן בבחינת גילוי והתפשטות נגד בני אדם
and whose kindness and goodness are also in a state of manifestation and expansiveness before [the sight of] man,
ולא בבחינת צמצום והסתר כלל
and by no means in a state of contraction and concealment.
We can now understand why the verse begins by saying “hidden away for those who fear You” and concludes with the manifest state of “before man”: The verse is alluding to two forms of Chesed — in its concealed state, as possessed by “those who fear You,” and in its revealed state, as possessed by “those who trust in You.”
ומה שכתוב: ליראיך, ולא ביראיך
(3The reason the verse says “for those who fear You,” which would seem to imply that the Chesedfrom above is granted to them as a reward, rather than “in those who fear You,”
היינו משום שכל מה שהוא בבחינת העלם בכל נשמה
is that whatever is in a state of concealment within any soul
הנה בחינה זו אינה מלובשת תוך הגוף, במוחו ולבו
is not vested within the body — in the individual’s mind and heart, for they are incapable of receiving it.
אלא היא בבחינת מקיף מלמעלה
Rather, it encompasses [the individual] from above, so to speak,
ומשם היא מאירה למוחו ולבו, לעתים הצריכים להתעוררות בחינה זו
and thence it radiates to his mind and heart at those times which require an arousal of the attribute in question,
שתתעורר ותאיר למוחו ולבו, כדי לבא לידי מעשה בפועל ממש
so that it will be aroused and will illumine his mind and heart in order to result in actual deeds.)
For example, a person whose charitable contributions are customarily limited will have revealed to him the concealed and infinite attribute of Chesed, which will prompt him to give tzedakah unstintingly.
ואמר על כן: אשר רב טוב לבית ישראל, הצפון והגלוי, הוא בבחינת בלי גבול ומדה לפי ערך נפשותם המלובשת בגוף
[King David] therefore said that whereas the “abundance of goodness” of the House of Israel, [both] that which is hidden and that which is manifest, is (so to speak) without limit and measure (relative to the category of their soul vested in the body),
The kindness of a finite creature is by definition limited. However, it may be termed infinite in relation to the soul vested in the body.
לכן גם אתה ה׳ תתנהג עמהם במדת חסדך הגדול, בלי גבול ותכלית, הנקרא רב חסד
therefore “You, too, O G‑d, relate to them with the attribute of Your unlimited and infinitely great Chesed, which is of the level known as Gedulah, and which is called rav Chesed” — the Chesedof Arich Anpin that utterly transcends the lesser Chesed of Z’eir Anpin, from which the worlds evolve by means of the Seder Hishtalshelut.
דאית חסד ואית חסד
“For there is Chesed and [then] there is [a far higher form of] Chesed”:4
אית חסד עולם
There is Chesed olam (lit., “Chesed of the world”) — i.e., a worldlike (and hence finite) Chesed,
שיש כנגדו ולעומתו מדת הדין, חס ושלום
that has an opposite counterpart — the attribute of din, of severe justice, heaven forfend,
למעט ולצמצם חסדו וטובו
which would diminish and contract [G‑d’s] goodness.
אבל חסד עליון, הנקרא רב חסד
The superior form of Chesed, however, which is called rav Chesed,
אין כנגדו מדת הדין, למעט ולצמצם רוב חסדו, מלהתפשט בלי גבול ותכלית
does not have the attribute of din opposed to it, to diminish and contract the abundance of [G‑d’s] benevolence from extending without limit or end.
כי הוא נמשך מבחינת סובב כל עלמין, וטמירא דכל טמירין
For it derives from the level of [Divinity called] Sovev Kol Almin, which transcends (lit., “encompasses”) all worlds and limitations, and from [the level of Divinity called] Temira DeChol Temirin (lit., “that which is hidden [even] from all the hidden [worlds]),”
הנקרא כתר עליון
which is called Keter Elyon (lit., “the Supernal Crown”), i.e., the utterly transcendent level of Divinity known as Keter.
וזהו שכתוב: תסתירם בסתר פניך וגו׳, תצפנם בסוכה וגו׳
This, then, is the meaning of the verse which follows our opening quotation, and which continues to speak of “those who fear You” and “those who trust in You”: “Hide them in the concealment of Your innermost dimension...” (for, as explained above, פנים denotes both “countenance” and “inwardness”);“conceal them in a sukkah...” (i.e., in the sublime level of Chesed which, deriving from the above-mentioned level of Keter, transcends the Seder Hishtalshelut, and will encompass them like a sukkah).
Supplement by the Rebbe
The thrust of the above letter, which was delivered by an emissary who was to collect contributions for charity, is that even those who serve G‑d by means of their soul-root in the “left”, — even if, like Beit Shammai, they are totally righteous individuals (who need not give tzedakah [for the sake of atonement]; cf. “for we are not complete,” as explained above in Iggeret HaKodesh, Epistle 10), — nevertheless, they too possess “an abundant and immense” degree of Chesed. “At those times which require it,” moreover, “it results in actual deeds.”’
This is explicit in the concluding passage of the letter which was not printed “by the rabbis, long may they live, sons of the illustrious author of blessed memory, whose soul is in Eden,” and which reads as follows:5
ואחר הדברים האלה, נפשי בשאלתי
And after the above words, from the depths of my soul I seek
לעורר רב טוב הגנוז והצפון בלב כל אנשי שלומנו
to arouse the [infinite] abundance of benevolence that is concealed in the heart of every individual in the chassidic brotherhood,6
מן ההעלם אל הגילוי, לבא לידי מעשה
[so that it be manifested] from concealment to revelation and be translated into action,
למלאות ידם לה׳, ביד מלאה ורחבה
and so that you will all “fill your hands unto G‑d” by giving charity with a full and open hand
על ידי ציר נאמן, מוסר כתב זה כו׳, ודי למבין כמו שכתוב באגרת
through the trusted bearer of this message — and what is written [above] in the letter should suffice for the discerning.
ואין אני כותבו מחמת שלא נצרך, ודי למבין
I am not spelling it out, for this is not necessary; the above will suffice.
הכל דברי אוהב נפשם, דורש שלומם מלב ונפש חפיצה
These are the words of one who loves you with all his soul, and who seeks your welfare with heartfelt and soulful longing.
At this point the Alter Rebbe signs:
שניאור זלמן בן לאדוני אבי מורנו ורבנו הרב ר׳ ברוך
Shneur Zalman, the son of my master, my father, our mentor and Rebbe, Rabbi Baruch
The Rebbe adds: “The above passage [which makes it clear that the foregoing teachings were intended to find practical expression in the giving of tzedakah] enables us to understand the relevance here of the first part of this letter, which otherwise should seemingly have begun with והנה כל איש ישראל — ‘Now every Jew needs to comprise....”’
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Zohar III, 204a. |
| 2. | This term denotes the Divine attribute of Chesed; see Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah, ch. 4. |
| 3. | Parentheses are in the original text. |
| 4. | Note of the Rebbe: “Zohar III, 133b.” |
| 5. | See Igrot Kodesh (Letters) of the Alter Rebbe (Kehot, N.Y., 5740), p. 47ff. |
| 6. | In the Hebrew original, this phrase is abbreviated as אנ״ש. |
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
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Tuesday, Elul 14, 5777 · September 5, 2017
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
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Negative Commandment 279
Pity for One who Murdered or Maimed
"And your eye shall not have pity"—Deuteronomy 19:21.
A judge may not have pity and show leniency on one who murdered or maimed another. He may not say, "This poor person unintentionally amputated his fellow's arm, or knocked out his eye," and then show leniency with regards to the requisite restitution. [And similarly with regards to showing mercy in a capital case.]
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Pity for One who Murdered or Maimed
Negative Commandment 279
Translated by Berel Bell
The 279th prohibition is that a judge is forbidden from having pity on a murderer, or on having a person who caused someone loss of limb to pay the penalty. He should not say, "This person is poor, and he cut off the other person's hand or blinded his eye unintentionally," and therefore out of pity be lenient regarding the full payment of damages.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,1 "Do not have pity in such a case, [since you must take] a life for a life, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, and a foot for a foot." This prohibition is repeated in the verse,2 "Do not have pity on the [killer], and rid Israel of [those who shed] innocent blood."
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 19:21.
2.Ibid., 19:13.
Negative Commandment 277
Favoring an Indigent Defendant
"You shall not favor a poor man in his cause"—Exodus 23:3.
A judge may not have mercy on an indigent litigant and improperly rule in his favor. The judge may not think, "This litigant is poor, and both the rich person [who is suing him] and I are commanded to provide for his sustenance. I will therefore rule in his favor and he will thus have his needs met in an honorable fashion."
Rather, a judge may not differentiate between the wealthy and the destitute, and if the law calls for it, he must find the poor person guilty and require him to pay that which he owes.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Favoring an Indigent Defendant
Negative Commandment 277
Translated by Berel Bell
The 277th prohibition is that a judge is forbidden from having pity on a poor person by favoring him unjustly in judgment. He must rather treat the rich and poor equally, and require them to pay whatever the judgment is.1
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,2 "Do not favor [even] the poorest man in his lawsuit." This prohibition is repeated in the verse,3 "Do not give special consideration to the poor."
The Sifra4 says, "He should not say, 'He is poor, and since both I and the rich litigant are required to support him, I will rule in his favor, and he will be supported in an honorable way.' The Torah therefore says, 'Do not give special consideration to the poor.' "
FOOTNOTES
1.See Kapach, 5731, footnote 75.
2.Ex. 23:3.
3.Lev. 19:15.
4.Kedoshim 4:2.
Negative Commandment 275
Favoring a Litigant
"You shall not honor an important person"—Leviticus 19:15.
A judge may not show favoritism to one of the litigants in the course of a trial, even if that individual is a highly respected and great person. The judge may not accord him honor or demonstrate any sign of favoritism whatsoever.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Favoring a Litigant
Negative Commandment 275
Translated by Berel Bell
The 275th prohibition is that a judge is forbidden from favoring one of the litigants during a trial. Even if he is very important and distinguished, he shall not accord him any honor when he comes to court with the other litigant, and not show him any special respect.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "Do not show respect to the great."
The Sifra2 says, "One should not think, 'He is wealthy and from a distinguished family — how can I embarrass him and witness his shame?' Certainly [one who thinks this way] will not shame him. The Torah therefore says, 'Do not show respect to the great.' "
The details of this mitzvah are explained in many passages in tractates Sanhedrin and Shavuos.3
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 19:15.
2.[Kedoshim 4:3.
3.30a.
Negative Commandment 278
Condemning an Evil Litigant
"You shall not pervert the judgment of the impoverished in his cause"—Exodus 23:6.
A judge is enjoined not to rule against a litigant due to the fact that he is known to be an evil sinner. In the words of our Sages, "An upright person and an evil person are standing before you in trial. You may not say, 'Since he is evil, I will rule against him.'"
(The Sages understand the word "impoverished" in the afore-cited verse as meaning "impoverished in good deeds.")
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Condemning an Evil Litigant
Negative Commandment 278
Translated by Berel Bell
The 278th prohibition is that a judge is forbidden from tilting judgment against one of the litigants whom he knows to be a wicked transgressor. G‑d (exalted be He), prohibits punishing him by ignoring his merits.1
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "Do not pervert justice against a poor person in his lawsuit."
The Mechilta3 says, "If a wicked man and an honest man stand before him in judgment, he should not say, 'Since he is wicked, I will rule against him.' The Torah therefore says, 'Do not pervert justice against a poor person in his lawsuit,' referring to someone who is 'poor' in mitzvos." This means that although he is "poor" in mitzvos, one should not tilt the judgment against him.
FOOTNOTES
1.See Kapach, 5731, footnote 78, that the Rav Kook edition writes ivus hadin instead of ibud z'chuso. Chavel translates, "wresting judgment."
2.Ex. 23:6.
3.Ibid.
Negative Commandment 273
Dispensing Proper Justice
"You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment"—Leviticus 19:15.
A judge is forbidden from distorting justice; he may not deviate from the Torah law regarding a case's verdict.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Dispensing Proper Justice
Negative Commandment 273
Translated by Berel Bell
The 273rd prohibition is that a judge is forbidden from judging unjustly.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,1 "Do not pervert justice."
This prohibition means that the judge may not violate any rulings established by the Torah regarding when a person is guilty or innocent.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 19:15.
Rambam:• 1 Chapter A Day: Avel Avel - Chapter 5
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Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassAvel - Chapter 5
1
These are the matters forbidden to a mourner on the first day according to Scriptural Law and on the remaining seven days according to Rabbinic Law. He is forbidden to cut his hair, launder his clothes, wash, anoint himself, engage in sexual relations, wear shoes, perform work, study the Torah, stand his bed upright, leave his head uncovered, and greet others, eleven matters in total.
א
אלו דברים שהאבל אסור בהן ביום ראשון מן התורה ובשאר ימים מדבריהם: אסור לספר ולכבס ולרחוץ ולסוך ולשמש מטתו ולנעול את הסנדל ולעשות מלאכה ולקרות בדברי תורה ולזקוף את המטה ולפרוע את ראשו ולשאול שלום הכל אחד עשר דבר:
2
Which source teaches that a mourner is forbidden to have his hair cut? Leviticus 10:6 warns the sons of Aaron: "Do not let the hair of your heads grow untended." Implied is that every mourner is forbidden to cut his hair. Instead, he lets his hair grow untended. Just as he is forbidden to cut off his hair; so, too, he is forbidden to trim his beard and any other hair on his body. This applies to cutting hair and having one's own hair cut. If he was in the midst of a haircut and he heard that his father died, he may complete the haircut. This applies to cutting hair and having one's own hair cut.
Similarly, it is forbidden to cut off one's mustache or to cut one's nails with a utensil. One may, however, bite off one's nails or trim them with one's other nails.
ב
ומנין שהאבל אסור בתספורת שהרי הזהיר בני אהרן ראשיכם אל תפרעו מכלל שכל המתאבל אסור לספר שערו אלא מגדל פרע וכשם שאסור לגלח שער ראשו כך אסור לגלח שער זקנו וכל שער שיש בו אחד המגלח ואחד המתגלח היה מגלח ושמע שמת אביו משלים תגלחת שערו אחד המגלח ואחד המתגלח וכן אסור לגלח שפה וליטול צפרניו בכלי אבל בשיניו או שנוטל צפורן בצפורן מותר:
3
Which source teaches that a mourner is forbidden to launder his clothes and to wash and anoint his body: II Samuel 14:2 states: "Please conduct yourself as a mourner; please wear mourner's clothes and do not anoint yourself with oil." Washing is including in anointing oneself, for it is a preliminary step before anointing oneself as Ruth 3:3 states: "Wash and anoint yourself."
Just as a mourner is forbidden to launder clothes; so, too, he is forbidden to wear new and freshly pressed white clothes.
ג
ומנין שהאבל אסור לכבס בגדיו ולרחוץ גופו ולסוך שנאמר התאבלי נא ולבשי בגדי אבל ואל תסוכי שמן ורחיצה בכלל סיכה שהרחיצה קודמת לסיכה שנאמר ורחת וסכת וכשם שאבל אסור בכיבוס בגדים כך אסור ללבוש כלים לבנים חדשים ומגוהצין:
4
As it is forbidden to anoint one's entire body; so, too, it is forbidden to anoint a portion of one's body. To remove filth, however, it is permitted. Similarly, it is forbidden to wash a portion of one's body in hot water. One may, however, wash one's face, one's hands, and one's feet - but not one's entire body - in cold water.
ד
אסור לסוך מקצת גופו ככל גופו ואם להעביר את הזוהמא מותר וכן אסור ברחיצת מקצת גופו בחמין אבל בצונן רוחץ פניו ידיו ורגליו אבל לא כל גופו:
5
Which source teaches that a mourner is forbidden to engage in sexual relations. II Samuel 12:24 states: "And David comforted his wife, Batsheva, and he came to her and lay with her." This indicates that this was forbidden beforehand.
Similarly, a mourner should not marry a woman, nor should a woman marry while mourning even though they do not engage in relations. It is permitted for a mourner to remain in solitude with his wife even though he is forbidden to engage in sexual relations.
ה
מנין לאבל שאסור בתשמיש המטה שנאמר וינחם דוד את בת שבע אשתו ויבא אליה וישכב עמה מכלל שהיה אסור מקודם וכן לא ישא האבל אשה ולא תנשא אשה אע"פ שאין משמשין מטתן ומותר להתיחד עם אשתו ואף על פי שהוא אסור בתשמיש המטה:
6
Which source teaches that a mourner is forbidden to wear shoes? Ezekiel was instructed Ezekiel 24:17: "And place your shoes on your feet." Implied is that all others are forbidden. If a person is traveling on a journey, he may wear shoes and proceed on his way. When he enters a city, he should remove his shoes.
ו
מנין שהאבל אסור בנעילת הסנדל שהרי נאמר ליחזקאל ונעליך תשים ברגליך מכלל שכל העם אסורין היה בא בדרך נועל והולך וכשיכנס במדינה חולץ מנעליו:
7
An allusion to the prohibition against a mourner performing labor can be derived from Amos 8:10: "I shall transform your festivals into mourning." Just as it is forbidden to perform work on a festival; so, too, a mourner is forbidden to perform work. And just as a mourner is forbidden to perform work; so, too, is he forbidden to engage in commercial transactions and to travel from city to city on a business trip.
ז
רמז לאבל שאסור בעשיית מלאכה זה שנאמר והפכתי חגיכם לאבל מה חג אסור בעשיית מלאכה אף אבל אסור בעשיית מלאכה וכשם שהוא אסור בעשיית מלאכה כך הוא אסור לישא וליתן בסחורה ולילך ממדינה למדינה בסחורה:
8
For the first three days, all mourners, even a poor person who derives his livelihood from charity, are forbidden to perform work. After that period, if the mourner is indigent, he may perform this work privately in his home. A woman may spin fabric on a spindle in her home.
ח
כל שלשה ימים הראשונים אסור בעשיית מלאכה אפילו היה עני המתפרנס מן הצדקה מכאן ואילך אם היה עני עושה בצנעה בתוך ביתו והאשה טוה בפלך בתוך ביתה:
9
When two brothers or two partners operate one store together and one of them is forced to mourn, the store should be closed for all seven days of mourning.
ט
שני אחים או שני שותפין שהיו בחנות אחת ואירע אבל לאחד מהן נועלין את החנות כל שבעה:
10
Even activities which are permitted to be performed during chol hamo'ed may not be performed by a mourner during the days of mourning. Others may, however, perform these tasks on his behalf.
What is implied? If it is necessary to turn over a person's olives, put pitch on his barrels, or bring his flax up from the vat where it is soaking or his wool from the kettle where it is being dyed, he may hire someone else to perform this task on his behalf so that he will not suffer a loss. And he may have his field irrigated in the irrigation season.
י
אפילו דברים שמותר לעשותן בחולו של מועד אסור לאבל לעשותן בידו בימי אבלו אבל אחרים עושים לו כיצד היו זיתיו להפוך וכדיו לגוף ופשתנו לעלות מן המשרה וצמרו מן היורה שוכר אחרים לעשות לו כדי שלא יאבדו ומרבצין לו שדהו משתגיע עונת המים:
11
His sharecroppers or those who hire his fields may perform work in their ordinary way. But donkey-drivers and camel-drivers who rent his animals and sailors who rent his ships should not perform work. If the animals or ships were hired out or rented out previously for a specific time, the renters may perform work.
יא
האריסין והחכירין שלו והקבלנין הרי אלו יעשו כדרכן אבל החמרים והגמלים בבהמות שלו והספנים בספינה שלו הרי אלו לא יעשו ואם היו מוחכרים או מושכרים מקודם לזמן קצוב הרי אלו יעשו:
12
A worker hired by the day - even if he is located in another city - should not perform work on behalf of the mourner.
יב
שכיר יום אפילו בעיר אחרת לא יעשה לו:
13
When a mourner was charged with doing tasks on behalf of others, whether as a contractor or not as a contractor, he should not do it. If his tasks were entrusted to others, they should not work on it in his home, but may work on it elsewhere.
יג
האבל שהיתה מלאכת אחרים בידו בין בקבלנות בין שאינה בקבלנות לא יעשה היתה מלאכתו ביד אחרים בביתו לא יעשו בבית אחר עושין:
14
If a mourner has litigation with a colleague, he should not prosecute the matter throughout the seven days of mourning. If it concerned a matter that could lead to a loss, he should appoint an agent. The Geonim ruled in this manner.
יד
היה לו דין עם אדם אינו תובעו כל שבעת ימי האבילות ואם היה דבר אבד עושה שליח כזה הורו הגאונים:
15
Which source teaches that a mourner is forbidden to speak words of Torah? Ezekiel was instructed Ezekiel 24:17: "Be silent from groaning."
טו
מנין שהאבל אסור בדברי תורה שהרי נאמר ליחזקאל האנק דום:
16
He is forbidden to read from the Torah, the Prophets, and the Holy Scriptures and to study the Mishnah, the Midrash, and the Halachot. If many require his instruction, he is permitted, provided he does not appoint a spokesman. Instead, he should whisper to the person sitting next to him. That person should relate the teachings to the spokesman and the spokesman should communicate them to the people at large.
טז
אסור לקרות בתורה בנביאים ובכתובים ולשנות במשנה ובמדרש ובהלכות ואם היו רבים צריכין לו מותר ובלבד שלא יעמיד תורגמן אלא ילחוש לאחר בצדו וזה שבצדו אומר לתורגמן והתורגמן משמיע לרבים:
17
Which source teaches that a mourner should not sit on a bed? II Samuel 13:31 states: "And the king arose, rent his garments, and lay on the ground."
יז
ומנין שאין האבל יושב על המטה שנאמר ויקם המלך ויקרע את בגדיו וישכב ארצה:
18
A mourner is obligated to overturn his bed for all seven days of mourning. This applies not only to his own bed. Instead, he must overturn all the beds he has in his house. Moreover, even if he has ten beds in ten homes in ten cities, he is obligated to overturn all of them. Even if there are five brothers and one of them dies, all the remainder must overturn their beds.
When a bed is set aside to be used for money or for utensils, it need not be overturned. Similarly, a dargesh need not be overturned. Instead, the straps should be released and the bed allowed to fall.
When bed posts emerge from a bed and so it is impossible to turn it over, he should turn it on its side while upright; this is sufficient.
If a person turned all his own beds over, but slept on beds belonging to others, on a chair, on a chest, or on the ground, he does not fulfill his obligation. Instead, he must sleep on the overturned bed.
יח
וחייב לכפות המטה כל שבעה ולא מטתו בלבד הוא כופה אלא כל המטות שיש לו בתוך ביתו הוא כופה אפילו עשר מטות בעשרה בתים ובעשר עיירות חייב לכפות את כולן ואפילו חמשה אחים ומת אחד מהן כולן כופין את מטותיהן המטה המיוחדת לכלים או למעות אינו צריך לכפותה דרגש אינו צריך לכפותו אלא מתיר את קרביטיו והוא נופל מאליו מטה שנקליטיה יוצאין ממנה שהרי אי אפשר להפכה זוקפה ודיו הפך כל מטותיו והיה הוא ישן על גבי מטות אחרים או על גבי כסא או על גבי ארון או על גבי קרקע לא יצא ידי חובתו אלא ישן על גבי המטה הכפויה:
19
Which source teaches that a mourner is forbidden to uncover his head? Ezekiel was instructed Ezekiel 24:17: "Do not veil your face until the lips." Implied is that others are obligated to cover their heads. He should use the sash with which he covers his head and wind a portion of it over his mouth slightly. In this vein, Onkelos renders Leviticus 13:45: "He should veil his face until his lips," as "He should cover himself like a mourner."
יט
מנין לאבל שאסור בפריעת הראש שהרי נאמר ליחזקאל לא תעטה על שפם מכלל ששאר האבלים חייבין בעטיפת הראש והסודר שמכסה בו ראשו עוטה ממקצתו מעט על פיו שנאמר ועל שפם יעטה ואונקלוס תרגם כאבלא יתעטף:
20
Which source teaches that a mourner is forbidden to exchange greetings with colleagues? Ezekiel was instructed: "Be silent from groaning."
For the entire first three days, if someone greets him, he does not respond with greetings. Instead, he notifies him that he is a mourner. From the third day until the seventh, when a person greets him, he should respond with greetings. From the seventh until the thirtieth day, he may greet others, but others should not greet him until after thirty days have passed. And when he is in mourning for his father or mother, he should not be greeted until after twelve months.
If he is forbidden to greet a colleague during the mourning period, one can certainly infer that he is forbidden to engage in lengthy talk and frivolity, as implied by the instruction: "Be silent." He should not hold an infant in his arms so that he will not lead him to laughter. And he should not enter a place of celebration, e.g., a feasting hall or the like.
כ
ומנין שהאבל אסור בשאלת שלום שנאמר האנק דום כל שלשה ימים הראשונים מי שנתן לו שלום אין מחזיר לו אלא מודיעו שהוא אבל ומשלשה ועד שבעה מי ששאל בשלומו מחזיר לו שלום ומשבעה ועד שלשים שואל בשלום אחרים אבל אחרים אין שואלין בשלומו עד לאחר שלשים ועל אביו ועל אמו אין שואלין בשלומו עד לאחר שנים עשר חדש אם בשאלת שלום נאסר באבל קל וחומר שהוא אסור להרבות דברים ולשחוק שנאמר דום ולא יאחוז תינוק בידו שלא יביאנו לידי שחוק ולא יכנס למקום שמחה כגון בתי המשתאות וכיוצא בהן:
Rambam:
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Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassSanhedrin veha`Onashin haMesurin lahem - Chapter 16
1
Just as it is a mitzvah to execute a person who is obligated to be executed; so, too, it is a positive commandment to give lashes to a person who is obligated to receive lashes, as Deuteronomy 25:2 states: 'And the judge should cause him to fall and will have him beaten in his presence.' Although transgressions punishable by lashes are adjudicated by three judges, lashes are equivalent to execution.
א
כשם שמצוה להמית את המחוייב מיתה כך מצות עשה להלקות את המחוייב מלקות שנאמר והפילו השופט והכהו לפניו ואף על פי שמלקות בשלשה במקום מיתה היא עומדת:
2
Lashes are administered in the present age in any place, according to Scriptural Law in the presence of three judges who were given semichah. This punishment is not, however, administered in the presence of three ordinary people.
ב
מלקין בזמן הזה בכ"מ מן התורה בפני שלשה סמוכין אבל לא בפני הדיוטות:
3
All the lashes that are administered by the judges of the diaspora in every place are 'stripes for rebellious conduct.'
ג
וכל מלקיות שמלקין דייני חוצה לארץ בכל מקום אינה אלא מכת מרדות:
4
A person is not punished by lashes unless his transgression was observed by witnesses and they administered a warning to him. The witnesses are questioned and cross-examined in the same manner as they are in cases involving capital punishment.
The following laws apply when a person transgresses a negative commandment that can be corrected by a positive commandment. Before the transgressor violates the negative commandment, witnesses must administer a warning, telling him: 'Do not perform this activity. If you perform it and do not fulfill the positive commandment associated with it, you will receive lashes.' If, after receiving such a warning, the transgressor violates the commandment and does not fulfill the positive commandment, he receives lashes. Although the warning involved uncertainty, - for if he fulfills the positive commandment, he will be released unpunished - an uncertain warning is considered as a warning.
ד
אין אדם לוקה אלא בעדים והתראה ובודקין העדים בדרישה ובחקירה כדרך שעושים בדיני נפשות עבר על לאו שניתק לעשה והתרו בו ואמרו לו אל תעשה דבר זה שאם תעשנו ולא תקיים עשה שבו תלקה ועבר ולא קיים העשה הרי זה לוקה אף על פי שהתראה בספק היא שאם יקיים יפטר התראת ספק התראה היא:
5
The following rules apply when a person performs a prohibited act that is punishable both by lashes and execution by the court, e.g., he slaughtered an animal and its offspring on the same day as a sacrifice to a false divinity. If he was warned that his act is punishable by execution, he is stoned to death and is not given lashes, for he is obligated for a more severe judgment. If he was given a warning only for lashes, he receives lashes.
ה
עבר עבירה שיש בה מלקות ומיתת בית דין כאחת כגון ששחט אותו ואת בנו לעבודה זרה אם התרו בו למיתה סוקלין אותו ואינו לוקה שהרי נתחייב בדין גדול מזה ואם התרו בו למלקות בלבד לוקה:
6
There is no need for the two witnesses who obligate a person for lashes, to observe other than at the time the transgression is committed. The prohibition itself, by contrast, can be established on the basis of one witness.
What is implied? One witness said: 'This substance is fat from the kidneys, 'These grapes were grown together with grain in a vineyard, 'This woman is a divorcee or a zonah." If a person partook of this food or had relations with these women after he was warned, he receives lashes, despite the fact that the essence of the prohibition was established by one witness.
When does the above apply? When he did not contradict the witness when he established the prohibition. If, however, he said: "This is not fat," "She is not a divorcee," and then he partook of the food or had relations with the woman after his denial, he does not receive lashes until the prohibition was established through the testimony of two witnesses.
ו
אינו צריך שני עדים למלקות אלא בשעת מעשה אבל האיסור עצמו בעד אחד יוחזק כיצד אמר עד אחד חלב כליות הוא זה כלאי הכרם הם פירות אלו גרושה או זונה אשה זו ואכל או בעל בעדים אחר שהתרה בו הרי זה לוקה אע"פ שעיקר האיסור בעד אחד במה דברים אמורים שלא הכחיש העד בעת שקבע האיסור אבל אם אמר אינו חלב זה וזו אינה גרושה ואכל או בעל אחר שהכחיש אינו לוקה עד שיקבעו האיסור שני עדים:
7
If the person remained silent when the one witness testifies to establish the prohibition, and after he violated the transgression and was warned, he issued a claim to contradict the witness, his words are not accepted. Instead, he receives lashes.
ז
שתק בעת שהעיד העד האחד בקביעות האיסור ואחר שעבר והתרו בו טען להכחיש העד אין שומעין לו אלא לוקה:
8
How are lashes administered? The transgressor's two hands are bound to a pillar on either side. The community attendant takes hold of his clothes and pulls downward. If they tear at the front, that is satisfactory; if the tear at the sides, that is satisfactory. He continues until he uncovers his heart. The rationale is that he should not administer lashes on his garment, as indicated by Deuteronomy 25:2: "And he shall strike him," i.e., "him," and not his garment.
A stone is placed behind him. The attendant who administers the lashes stands on it. He holds a strap of calf's leather that is folded into two, and a second one, making four, and two straps of donkey leather attached to it that rise and descend with it.
The strap is a handbreadth wide and it is long enough to reach the transgressor's belly. The handle of the strap is a handbreadth wide.
ח
כיצד מלקין אותו כופת שתי ידיו על העמוד אילך ואילך וחזן הכנסת אוחז בבגדיו אם נקרעו נקרעו ואם נפרמו נפרמו עד שהוא מגלה את לבו שאינו מכהו על כסותו שנאמר והכהו ולא לכסותו והאבן נתונה מאחוריו שהחזן המכה עומד עליה ורצועה של עגל בידו כפולה לשנים ושנים לארבעה ושתי רצועות של חמור עולות ויורדות בו ורוחב הרצועה טפח וארכה כדי שתהא מגעת עד פי כריסו ויד של רצועות שאוחז בה ארכה טפח:
9
The man administering the lashes should be heavily endowed with knowledge and minimally endowed with physical power. He should lift up the strap with both his hands and strike him with one hand, with all his power.
He should strike him with a third of the lashes on his front, i.e., on his breast, between his nipples, and two thirds of the lashes on his back, one third on one shoulder and the other third on the other shoulder.
ט
האיש המכה צריך להיות יתר בדעה וחסר בכח ומגביה את הרצועות בשתי ידיו ומכה בידו אחת בכל כחו ומלקהו שליש מלפניו [על חזהו] בין דדיו ושני שלישים מאחוריו שליש על כתף זה ושליש על כתף זה:
10
The person receiving the lashes should not stand, nor should he sit. Instead, he should bend over as Deuteronomy 25:2 states: "The judge shall cast him down." The verse continues: "And he shall strike him before him." This implies that the attention of the judge should be focused upon him. He should not look at other matters while having him lashed. From this, we learn that two people are never lashed at the same time.
י
המוכה אינו עומד ולא יושב אלא מוטה שנאמר והפילו השופט והכהו לפניו שיהו עיניו של שופט בו לא שיהיה מביט בדבר אחר ומכהו מכאן שאין מכים שנים כאחד:
11
Through the time the person is being lashed, the judge of the highest stature reads the passage Deuteronomy 28:58 "If you are not careful to heed and to perform... in an extraordinary way, God will increase the blows against you and your offspring...." He should have the intent to complete the passage with the lashes. If the lashes are not completed, he should return to the beginning of the passage and read it again - and again if necessary until all the lashes are administered.
The judge of intermediate stature counts the lashes and the third judge tells the attendant before each blow: "Strike him." Throughout the entire time he administers the lashes, he does so following the judge's instruction.
יא
הגדול שבדיינים קורא כל זמן שזה לוקה אם לא תשמור לעשות והפלא ה' את מכותך ומתכוין שיגמור הפסוקים עם המלקיות ואם לא גמר חוזר לתחילת המקרא וקורא וחוזר וקורא עד שתגמר כל ההכאה והשני שבדיינים מונה והשלישי אומר לחזן הכה כל זמן שמכה על פיו הוא מכה:
12
If the person receiving the lashes dies while receiving them, the attendant administering them is not liable. If he added another blow to the estimate arrived at by the judges and the person receiving the lashes dies, the attendant is exiled. If he does not die, the attendant is held liable for transgressing a negative commandment, as Deuteronomy 25:3 states: "Do not add."
Similarly, any other person who strikes a colleague violates a negative commandment. If a person who was given permission by the Torah to strike a colleague is warned not to strike him more than is required to punish his wickedness, certainly, this applies with regard to other people. For this reason, whenever a person strikes a colleague - even a servant - with a blow for which the victim would not receive a p'rutah in damages, the offender should be lashed. If, however, the blow is worth a p'rutah in damages, the offender is not lashed. The rationale is that he is obligated to make financial restitution, and a person never both receives lashes and is required to make financial restitution, as explained previously in several places.
יב
מת תחת ידו פטור ואם הוסיף רצועה אחת על האומד ומת הרי החזן גולה ואם לא מת הרי החזן עבר על מצות לא תעשה שנאמר לא יוסיף והוא הדין לכל מכה את חבירו שהוא בלא תעשה ומה אם זה שנתנה תורה רשות להכותו צוה הכתוב שלא להכותו על רשעו קל וחומר לשאר כל האדם לפיכך כל המכה את חבירו אפילו הכה עבד הכאה שאין בה שוה פרוטה לוקה אבל אם יש בה שוה פרוטה הואיל והוא חייב לשלם ממון אין אדם משלם ולוקה כמו שביארנו בכמה מקומות:
Sanhedrin veha`Onashin haMesurin lahem - Chapter 17
1
How are lashes administered to a person liable to receive them? According to his strength, as indicated by Deuteronomy 25:2: "According to his wickedness by number." The number 40 stated in the following verse is mentioned to teach that more than 40 lashes are never administered even if the person is as healthy and as strong as Samson. When, by contrast, a person is weak, the amount of lashes is reduced. For if a weak person is given many lashes, he will certainly die. Therefore our Sages said: that even a very healthy person is given only 39 lashes. For if accidentally an extra blow is administered, he will still not have been given more than the 40 which he was required to receive.
א
כיצד מלקין את המחוייב מלקות כפי כחו שנאמר כדי רשעתו במספר וזה שנאמר ארבעים שאין מוסיפין על הארבעים אפילו היה חזק ובריא כשמשון אבל פוחתין לחלש שאם יכה לחלש מכה רבה בודאי הוא מת לפיכך אמרו חכמים שאפילו הבריא ביותר מכין אותו שלשים ותשע שאם יוסיף לו אחת נמצאת שלא הכהו אלא ארבעים הראויות לו:
2
When the court estimates how many lashes the condemned is able to bear, the estimation is made in numbers that are divisible by three. If it was estimated that he could bear 20, we do not say that he should be given 21, so that the number of lashes will be divisible by three. Instead, he is given 18 lashes.
If the court estimated that he could bear 40 lashes, but when they began lashing him, they saw that he was weak and that he would not be able to bear more than the nine or twelve lashes that he already received, he is released. If they estimated that he could bear twelve and after he was lashed, they saw that he was strong and could bear more, he is released. He is not lashed more than the original estimate.
ב
כשאומדין את החוטא כמה הוא יכול לקבל אין אומדין אלא במכות הראויות להשתלש אמדוהו שיכול לקבל עשרים אין אומרין ילקה עשרים ואחת כדי שיהיו יכולין להשתלש אלא ילקה שמונה עשרה אמדוהו לקבל ארבעים ומשתחיל ללקות ראוהו חלש ואמרו אינו יכול לקבל יותר על אלו התשע או השתים עשרה שלקה הרי זה פטור אמדוהו לקבל שתים עשרה ואחר שלקה ראוהו חזק ויכול לקבל יותר הרי זה פטור ואינו לוקה יותר על האומד:
3
If, on a specific day, it was estimated that he could bear twelve lashes to be given on that day, but he was not lashed until the following day, and on the following day, he is able to bear eighteen, he receives only twelve.
If it was estimated on one day that if he was lashed on the following day, he could bear twelve and he was not lashed until the third day, at which time he was strong enough to bear eighteen, he should be given eighteen lashes. The rationale is that at the time the estimation was made, it was reckoned that he would not be lashed until a later date. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ג
אמדוהו היום שילקה שתים עשרה ולא הלקוהו עד למחר והרי הוא למחר יכול לקבל שמונה עשרה אינו לוקה אלא שתים עשרה אמדוהו שילקה למחר שתים עשרה ולא לקה עד יום שלישי והרי הוא חזק לקבל שמונה עשרה לוקה שמונה עשרה שהרי בשעת האומד לא אמדוהו ללקות אלא לאחר זמן וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
4
The following rules apply when a person was obligated to receive several sets of lashes whether for the transgression of several sins, or he performed one deed that involved several transgressions and hence, caused him to be liable for several sets of lashes. Everything depends on the judges. If they made one estimation for both transgressions, he receives lashes and is absolved. If not, he is given lashes, given time to recuperate, and then given lashes again.
What is implied? He was held liable for two transgressions punishable by lashes. The court estimated that he could bear 45 lashes, once he receives these 45, he is absolved from further punishment. If, however, they estimated the amount of lashes he could bear for one transgression, and they gave him three, nine, or thirty lashes according to their estimation, we wait until he is healed, and estimate how many lashes he can bear for the second lashing until he is given all the lashings for which he is obligated.
ד
מי שנתחייב מלקיות הרבה בין על עבירות הרבה בין על מעשה אחד שחייבין עליו מלקיות הרבה אם אמדוהו אומד אחד לוקה ופטור ואם לאו לוקה ומתרפא וחוזר ולוקה כיצד נתחייב שתי מלקיות ואמדו שיכול הוא לקבל ארבעים וחמש כיון שלקה ארבעים וחמש נפטר אבל אם אמדוהו למלקות אחת והכהו שלש או תשע או שלשים כמו האומד הרי זה מתרפא וחוזרין ואומדין אותו למלקות שנייה עד שילקה לכל מלקיות שהוא חייב בהן:
5
When it was estimated that a person could bear a specific number of lashes, they began lashing him and he became discomfited because of the power of the blows and either defecated or urinated, he is not given any more lashes. This is derived from Deuteronomy 25:3: "and your brother will be degraded before your eyes." Since he was discomfited, he is absolved.
If, however, he became discomfited from fear before being beaten, even if he became discomfited when he was taken out from the court to be lashed, and even if he became discomfited on the previous evening, he is given all the lashes that it was estimated that he could bear.
If one estimation was made for two transgressions punishable by lashes, and he becomes discomfited, whether in the midst of the first set of 40 or the second set of 40, he is absolved. If the lash became severed in the midst of the second lashing, he is absolved. If it became severed in the midst of the first lashing, he is absolved from the first set of lashes, but is given the lashes of the second set.
ה
מי שאמדוהו וכשהתחיל ללקות נתקלקל מכח ההכאה בין בריעי בין במימי רגלים אין מכין אותו יותר שנאמר ונקלה אחיך לעיניך כיון שנקלה פטור אבל אם נתקלקל מן הפחד מקודם ההכאה אפילו נתקלקל משיצא מבית דין ללקות ואפילו מבערב הרי זה לוקה כל האומד שאמדוהו אמדוהו לשתי מלקיות ולקה ונתקלקל בין בראשונה בין בשנייה פטור נפסקה הרצועה בשנייה פוטרין אותו נפסקה בראשונה נפטר ממלקות ראשונה ולוקה האומד השני:
6
If they bound him to the pillar to be lashed, and he severed the ties and fled, he is absolved. We do not force him to return.
ו
כפתוהו על העמוד ללקות וכרת את המיתרים וברח פטור ואין מחזירין אותו:
7
Whenever a person sins and is lashed, he returns to his original state of acceptability, as implied by the verse: "And your brother will be degraded before your eyes." Once he is lashed, he is "your brother."
Similarly, all those obligated for kerait who received lashes are absolved for kerait.
ז
כל מי שחטא ולקה חוזר לכשרותו שנאמר ונקלה אחיך לעיניך כיון שלקה הרי הוא אחיך אף כל מחוייבי כרת שלקו נפטרו מידי כריתתן:
8
When a High Priest sins, he is lashed on the basis of the judgment of a court of three like people at large. Afterwards, he returns to his position of eminence.
ח
כהן גדול שחטא לוקה בשלשה כשאר כל העם וחוזר לגדולתו:
9
When, by contrast, the head of the academy transgresses, he is given lashes in the presence of a court of three, but does not return to his position of authority. He also is not reinstated as one of the other judges of the Sanhedrin. The rationale is that we ascend higher in matters of holiness, and do not descend.
ט
אבל ראש הישיבה שחטא מלקין אותו ואינו חוזר לשררותו גם אינו חוזר להיות כאחד משאר הסנהדרין שמעלין בקודש ולא מורידין:
Sanhedrin veha`Onashin haMesurin lahem - Chapter 18
1
These are the individuals who receive lashes:
a) anyone who transgresses a negative commandment punishable by kerait, but which is not punishable by execution by the court, e.g., a person who eats either fats, blood, or chametz on Passover,
b) anyone who transgresses a negative commandment punishable by death at the hand of heaven, e.g., a person who eats tevel, or a priest who eats terumah that is ritually pure, while he is in a state of ritual impurity,
c) anyone who involves a negative prohibition that involves a deed, e.g., a person who eats milk and meat or who wears sha'atnez.
When, however, a prohibition does not involve a deed, i.e., a gossiper, a person who takes revenge, or who bears a grudge, and a judge who hears a false report, a violator does not receive lashes.
א
אלו הן הלוקין כל העובר על לא תעשה שחייבין עליו כרת ואין בו מיתת בית דין כגון אוכל חלב ודם וחמץ בפסח וכן כל העובר על לא תעשה שחייבין עליו מיתה בידי שמים כגון אוכל טבל וכהן טמא שאכל תרומה טהורה וכן כל העובר על לאו שיש בו מעשה כגון אוכל בשר בחלב או לובש שעטנז אבל לאו שאין בו מעשה כגון הולך רכיל ונוקם ונוטר ונושא שמא שוא אינו לוקה:
2
Whenever a prohibition does not involve a deed, it is not punishable by lashes except for a person who takes a false oath, a person who transfers the sanctity of one sacrificial animal to another, and one who curses a colleague using God's name. Similarly, any prohibition punishable by execution by the court, e.g., "Do not commit adultery," or do not perform labor on the Sabbath is not punishable by lashes.
Whenever a prohibition requires financial recompense, e.g., "Do not rob," or "Do not steal," it is not punishable by lashes. Whenever a prohibition can be corrected by the performance of a positive commandment, e.g., "Do not take the mother together with the offspring," or "Do not complete the reaping of the corners of your field," it is not punishable by lashes, unless one does not perform the positive commandment.
Similarly, a prohibition of a general nature is not punishable by lashes. All other Scriptural prohibitions are punishable by lashes.
ב
כל לאו שאין בו מעשה אין לוקין עליו חוץ מנשבע ומימר ומקלל את חבירו בשם וכל לאו שניתן לאזהרת מיתת בית דין כגון לא תנאף לא תעשה מלאכה בשבת אין לוקין עליו וכל לאו שניתן לתשלומין כגון לא תגזול ולא תגנוב אין לוקין עליו וכל לאו שניתק לעשה כגון לא תקח האם על הבנים לא תכלה פאת שדך אין לוקין עליו אלא אם לא קיים עשה שבהן ועל לאו שבכללות אין לוקין עליו ושאר כל הלאוין שבתורה לוקין עליהן:
3
What is meant by a prohibition of a general nature? A prohibition that includes many matters, e.g., Leviticus 19:26,: "Do not eat over the blood." Similarly, if the Torah states: "Do not do this and this," since a prohibition was not explicitly stated with regard to each deed, these prohibitions are not punishable by lashes unless the Torah divides them into separate prohibitions or it is conveyed via the Oral Tradition that they have been divided.
What is implied? Exodus 12:9 states: "Do not partake of it partially roasted or cooked." If a person partakes of a portion of the Paschal sacrifice while it is partially roasted and another portion that has been cooked at the same time, he does not receive two sets of lashes, only one.
With regard to chadash, Leviticus 22:14 states: "You shall not partake of bread, roasted grain, or fresh grain...." A violator is liable for three sets of lashes for these three transgressions. According to the Oral Tradition, we learned that a distinction is to be made.
It is also written: "There shall not be found among you one passes his son or daughter through the fire, one who divines...." Even though all the matters are included in one prohibition, in other places, the Torah distinguishes them as separate prohibitions, as Leviticus 19:26 states: "Do not augur and do not read omens." This teaches that each one is a separate prohibition. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.
ג
אי זהו לאו שבכללות זה לאו אחד שכולל עניינים הרבה כגון לא תאכלו על הדם וכן אם נאמר לא תעשה דבר פלוני ופלוני הואיל ולא ייחד לו לאו לכל אחד ואחד מהן אין לוקין על כל אחד ואחד אלא אם כן חלק אותה בלאוין אחרים או נאמר מפי השמועה שנחלקו כיצד כגון זה שנאמר אל תאכלו ממנו נא ובשל מבושל אינו לוקה על הנא והמבושל שתים אלא אחת ובחדש הוא אומר ולחם וקלי וכרמל לא תאכלו וחייב על שלשתן שלש מלקיות מפי השמועה למדו שזה לחלק הרי נאמר לא ימצא בך מעביר בנו ובתו באש קוסם קסמים ואף על פי שכלל כל העניינים בלאו אחד הרי חלק אותם בלאוין אחרים ואמר לא תנחשו ולא תעוננו מלמד שכל אחד מהן בלאו בפני עצמו וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
4
The following rules apply when a person receives lashes in a court because of the violation of a prohibition punishable by kerait, and then received lashes a second time for the violation of that same prohibition - e.g., he ate forbidden fat, received lashes for it, and then ate forbidden fat again and received lashes for it. If he eats such fat a third time, he is not given lashes. Instead, he is compelled to enter a kipah, a narrow place that is his height where he cannot lie down. He is given meager portions of bread and water until his digestive tract contracts and he becomes ill. Afterwards, we feed him barley until his stomach bursts.
ד
מי שלקה בבית דין על איסור כרת ולקה פעם שנייה על אותו כרת עצמו כגון שאכל חלב ולקה עליו ואכל חלב פעם שנייה ולקה עליו אם אכל פעם שלישית אין מלקין אותו אלא מכניסין אותו לכיפה והוא מקום צר כפי קומתו ואינו יכול לשכב בו ונותנין לו לחם צר ומים לחץ עד שיצרו מעיו ויכלה ואח"כ מאכילין אותו שעורים עד שכריסו נבקעת:
5
When a person violates a prohibition punishable by kerait or by execution by the court and received a warning beforehand, if he nodded his head, or remained silent and did not acknowledge the warning, we do not execute him, as explained above, nor do we give him lashes. If he repeats this transgression, receives a warning, nods his head, or remains silent, we neither execute him or give him lashes. If he repeats this transgression a third time, receives a warning, even though he merely nodded his head or remained silent, he is placed in a kipah until he dies.
All these individuals who did not acknowledge the warning they received are given "stripes for rebellious behavior" for they did at least commit a sin. Even a person who violates a Rabbinic prohibition is given "stripes for rebellious behavior."
ה
מי שעבר על איסור כרת או מיתת בית דין והתרו בו והרכין בראשו או שתק ולא קבל עליו התראה אין הורגין אותו כמו שביארנו ואין מלקין אותו חזר ועשה כך והתרו בו והרכין בראשו או שתק אין ממיתין אותו ואין מלקין אותו חזר פעם שלישית ועבר והתרו בו אע"פ שהרכין בראשו או שתק כונסין אותו לכיפה עד שימות וכל אלו שלא קבלו עליהן ההתראה מכין אותן מכת מרדות הואיל וחטאו מכל מקום אפילו על איסור של דברי סופרים מכין אותו מכת מרדות:
6
When a person steals one of the sacrificial vessels from the Temple, curses God's name using the name of a false divinity, or has relations with an idolatrous gentile woman, the court does not deal with this matter. Instead, the zealous strike them. Whoever slays them merits. Similarly, when a priest served in the Temple while ritually impure, his priestly brethren would not bring him to court. Instead, the young priests take him out of the Temple Courtyard and crack his head open with logs.
It is a Scriptural decree that the court does not execute a person or have him lashed because of his own admission. Instead, the punishments are given on the basis of the testimony of two witnesses. Joshua's execution of Achan and David's execution of the Amalekite convert because of their own statements was a directive of immediate relevance only or was by royal fiat. The Sanhedrin, however, may not execute or lash a person who admits committing a transgression, lest he become crazed concerning this matter. Perhaps he is one of those embittered people who are anxious to die and pierce their reins with swords or throw themselves from the rooftops. Similarly, we fear that such a person may come and admit committing an act that he did not perform, so that he will be executed. The general principle is the disqualification of a person's own testimony is a decree of the king.
ו
הגונב כלי שרת מן המקדש והמקלל בקוסם והבועל ארמית אין בית דין נזקקין להן אלא הקנאין פוגעין בהן וכל שהורגן זכה וכן כהן ששמש בטומאה לא היו אחיו הכהנים מביאין אותו לבית דין אלא פרחי כהונה היו מוציאין אותו חוץ לעזרה ופוצעין את מוחו בגזירין גזירת הכתוב היא שאין ממיתין בית דין ולא מלקין את האדם בהודאת פיו אלא על פי שנים עדים וזה שהרג יהושע עכן ודוד לגר עמלקי בהודאת פיהם הוראת שעה היתה או דין מלכות היה אבל הסנהדרין אין ממיתין ולא מלקין המודה בעבירה שמא נטרפה דעתו בדבר זה שמא מן העמלין מרי נפש הוא המחכים למות שתוקעין החרבות בבטנם ומשליכין עצמן מעל הגגות שמא כך זה יבא ויאמר דבר שלא עשה כדי שיהרג וכללו של דבר גזירת מלך היא:
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class
Tuesday, Elul 14, 5777 · 05 September 2017
"Today's Day"
Tuesday, Elul 14, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Tavo, Shlishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 72-76. Also 40-42.
Tanya: XV. "To understand (p. 465) ...which compounds them. (p. 465).
From my father's guiding instructions: Keep away - to the ultimate degree - from a campaign of attack. Not because we lack the means of prevailing or because of timorousness, but because we must consecrate all our strength exclusively to strengthening our own structure, the edifice of Torah and mitzvot performed in holiness and purity. To this we must devote ourselves utterly, with actual mesirat nefesh,1 not merely with potential mesirat nefesh.
FOOTNOTES
1.Self-sacrifice.
Daily Thought:
A Listening Heart
The human heart is beautiful.
The human heart can know secrets deeper than any mind could fathom.
The mind cannot contain G‑d,
but deep inside the heart there is a place for Him.
Yet there is nothing more dysfunctional than a brain controlled by its heart. At the heart’s command, even the finest mind is capable of the most horrid crimes.
Let the heart be quiet and hear out the mind. In that quiet listening, she will discover her true beauty; her deepest secrets will awaken.
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