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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Wednesday, Elul 29, 5777 · September 20, 2017 - Erev Rosh Hashanah - Candle LightingLight Holiday Candles before sunset ––:––
Today's Laws and Customs:
- Selichot
A more lengthy version of the Selichot ("supplication") prayers are recited in the early morning hours, before the morning prayers.
Omit Tachnun
Tachnun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted.
No Shofar Today
The Shofar is not sounded on the day before Rosh Hashanah, to separate between the shofar soundings of the month of Elul (which are a minhag, or "custom") and the Rosh Hashanah soundings, which are a biblically ordained mitzvah, divine commandment).
Annulment of Vows
Following the morning services, Hatarat Nedarim, the annulment of vows, is performed (the text for this procedure is found in most prayer books).
Visiting the Cemetery
It is customary visit the the graves of the righteous on this day and pray there, as the resting place of a righteous person is an opportune place to beseech the Almighty.
Eruv Tavshilin
When Shabbat occurs immediately following a festival -- as it does this year -- an "eruv tavshilin" (i.e., food for at least one "meal" that is set aside in advance for Shabbat) must be prepared prior to the festival, so that it should be permitted to prepare food for Shabbat during the festival.
Rosh Hashanah Begins Tonight
The festival of Rosh Hashanah, marking the start of a new Jewish year, begins this evening at sunset.
Upon the conclusion of the evening prayers in the synagogue, we extend to one another greetings of Leshana Tovah Tekatev Vitechatem, "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." In the evening meal, we eat apple dipped in honey, the head of a fish, pomogranates , tzimmes (sweet carrots) and other foods signifying a sweet and successful year.
See Laws & Customs for tomorrow, Tishrei 1.
Elul Observances
As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is traditionaly a time of introspection and stocktaking -- a time to review one's deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming "Days of Awe" of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
As the month of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness (see "Today in Jewish History" for Elul 1) it is a most opportune time for teshuvah ("return" to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased Ahavat Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d. Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when "the king is in the field" and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, "everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all."
Specific Elul customs include the daily sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) as a call to repentance. The Baal Shem Tov instituted the custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms). Click below to view today's Psalms.
Chapter 85 Chapter 86 Chapter 87
Psalms Chapter 85:1. For the Conductor, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. O Lord, You favored Your land; You returned the captives of Jacob.
3. You forgave the iniquity of Your people, and covered all their sin forever.
4. You withdrew all Your fury, and retreated from Your fierce anger.
5. Return us, O God of our salvation, and annul Your anger toward us.
6. Will You forever be angry with us? Will You draw out Your anger over all generations?
7. Is it not true that You will revive us again, and Your people will rejoice in You?
8. Show us Your kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your deliverance.
9. I hear what the Almighty Lord will say; for He speaks peace to His nation and to His pious ones, and they will not return to folly.
10. Indeed, His deliverance is near those who fear Him, that [His] glory may dwell in the land.
11. Kindness and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.
12. Truth will sprout from the earth, and righteousness will peer from heaven.
13. The Lord, too, will bestow goodness, and our land will yield its produce.
14. Righteousness shall walk before him, and he shall set his footsteps in [its] path. Chapter 86:1. A prayer by David. Lord, turn Your ear, answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2. Guard my soul, for I am pious; You, my God, deliver Your servant who trusts in You.
3. Be gracious to me, my Lord, for to You I call all day.
4. Bring joy to the soul of Your servant, for to You, my Lord, I lift my soul.
5. For You, my Lord, are good and forgiving, and exceedingly kind to all who call upon You.
6. Lord, hear my prayer and listen to the voice of my supplications.
7. On the day of my distress I call upon You, for You will answer me.
8. There is none like You among the supernal beings, my Lord, and there are no deeds like Yours.
9. All the nations that You have made will come and bow down before You, my Lord, and give honor to Your Name,
10. for You are great and perform wonders, You alone, O God.
11. Lord, teach me Your way that I may walk in Your truth; unify my heart to fear Your Name.
12. I will praise You, my Lord, my God, with all my heart, and give honor to Your Name forever.
13. For Your kindness to me has been great; You have saved my soul from the depth of the grave.
14. O God, malicious men have risen against me; a band of ruthless men has sought my soul; they are not mindful of You.
15. But You, my Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth.
16. Turn to me and be gracious to me; grant Your strength to Your servant, and deliver the son of Your maidservant.
17. Show me a sign of favor, that my foes may see and be shamed, because You, Lord, have given me aid and consoled me. Chapter 87:1. By the sons of Korach, a psalm, a song devoted to the holy mountains [of Zion and Jerusalem].
2. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3. Glorious things are spoken of you, eternal city of God.
4. I will remind Rahav Egypt and Babylon concerning My beloved; Philistia and Tyre as well as Ethiopia, "This one was born there.”
5. And to Zion will be said, "This person and that was born there"; and He, the Most High, will establish it.
6. The Lord will count in the register of people, "This one was born there," Selah.
7. Singers as well as dancers [will sing your praise and say], "All my inner thoughts are of you."
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
Today in Jewish History:
- Tzemach Tzeddek Born (1789)
Links: A brief biography; more on the Tzemach Tzeddek
Daily Quote:
A people is like a walled city, which needs a wall to surround it, with gates that open and close. In other words, we must protect what is best and most precious in ourselves against outside influences, and also be open to the world to give and receive, learn and teach (The Rebbe)
Daily Torah Study:
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Ha'Azinu, 4th Portion Deuteronomy 32:19-32:28 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Deuteronomy Chapter 32
19And the Lord saw this and became angry, provoked by His sons and daughters. יטוַיַּ֥רְא יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיִּנְאָ֑ץ מִכַּ֥עַס בָּנָ֖יו וּבְנֹתָֽיו:
20And He said, "I will hide My face from them. I will see what their end will be, for they are a generation of changes; they are not [recognizable] as My children whom I have reared. כוַיֹּ֗אמֶר אַסְתִּ֤ירָה פָנַי֙ מֵהֶ֔ם אֶרְאֶ֖ה מָ֣ה אַֽחֲרִיתָ֑ם כִּ֣י ד֤וֹר תַּהְפֻּכֹת֙ הֵ֔מָּה בָּנִ֖ים לֹֽא־אֵמֻ֥ן בָּֽם:
I will see what their end will be: [i.e., I will see] what will befall them in the end.
מה אחריתם: מה תעלה בהם בסופם:
for they are a generation of changes: i.e., they change My good will into anger.
כי דור תהפוכות המה: מהפכין רצוני לכעס:
they are not [recognizable]… whom I have reared: Heb. אֵמֻן. My rearing [them] is not recognizable in them, for I taught them a good way, but they deviated from it.
לא אמון בם: אין גדולי נכרים בהם, כי הוריתים דרך טובה וסרו ממנה:
reared: אֵמֻן is an expression related to“And he reared (אֹמֵן) [Hadassah]” (Esther 2:7), nourriture in French. Another explanation of אֵמֻן : It is an expression of אֱמוּנָה, faithfulness , which is how the Targum renders it [literally, “children who have no faithfulness”]. At Sinai, they said, “We will do and we will hear,” and a short while later, they broke their promise and made the golden calf!"- [Sifrei 32:20]
אמן: לשון (אסתר ב, ז) ויהי אומן נורריטור"ה בלע"ז [חינוך]. דבר אחר אמון לשון אמונה, כתרגומו. אמרו בסיני (שמות כד, ז) נעשה ונשמע, ובשעה קלה בטלו הבטחתם ועשו העגל:
21They have provoked My jealousy with a non god, provoked My anger with their vanities. Thus, I will provoke their jealousy with a non people, provoke their anger with a foolish nation. כאהֵ֚ם קִנְא֣וּנִי בְלֹא־אֵ֔ל כִּֽעֲס֖וּנִי בְּהַבְלֵיהֶ֑ם וַֽאֲנִי֙ אַקְנִיאֵ֣ם בְּלֹא־עָ֔ם בְּג֥וֹי נָבָ֖ל אַכְעִיסֵֽם:
have provoked my jealousy: They kindled My anger.
קנאוני: הבעירו חמתי:
with a non-god: With something that is not a god.
בלא אל: בדבר שאינו אלוה:
with a non-people: With a nation that has no name, as Scripture states, “This land of the Chaldeans-this people was not” (Isa. 23:13). And regarding Esau, Scripture states, “You are very despised” (Obad. 1:2).
בלא עם: באומה שאין לה שם, שנאמר (ישעיה כג, יג) הן ארץ כשדים זה העם לא היה, ובעשו הוא אומר (עובדיה א, ב) בזוי אתה מאד:
I will… provoke their anger with a foolish nation: These are the heretics. So Scripture states,“The fool (נָבָל) said in his heart, There is no God!” (Ps. 14:1). - [Sifrei 32: 21]
בגוי נבל אכעיסם: אלו המינים, וכן הוא אומר (תהלים יד, א) אמר נבל בלבו אין אלהים:
22For a fire blazed in My wrath, and burned to the lowest depths. It consumed the land and its produce, setting aflame the foundations of mountains. כבכִּֽי־אֵשׁ֙ קָֽדְחָ֣ה בְאַפִּ֔י וַתִּיקַ֖ד עַד־שְׁא֣וֹל תַּחְתִּ֑ית וַתֹּ֤אכַל אֶ֨רֶץ֙ וִֽיבֻלָ֔הּ וַתְּלַהֵ֖ט מֽוֹסְדֵ֥י הָרִֽים:
blazed: Heb. קָדְחָה, burned.
קדחה: בערה:
and burned: within you, to the very foundation.
ותיקד: בכם עד היסוד:
It consumed the land and its produce: i.e., your land and its produce.
ותאכל ארץ ויבלה: ארצכם ויבולה:
setting aflame: Jerusalem, which has her foundations set upon the mountains, as Scripture states:“Jerusalem is surrounded by mountains” (Ps. 125:2). - [Sifrei 32: 22]
ותלהט: ירושלים המיוסדת על ההרים, שנאמר (שם קכה, ב) ירושלים הרים סביב לה:
23I will link evils upon them. I will use up My arrows on them. כגאַסְפֶּ֥ה עָלֵ֖ימוֹ רָע֑וֹת חִצַּ֖י אֲכַלֶּה־בָּֽם:
will link evils upon them: Heb. אַסְפֶּה, I will link evil upon evil. [This expression is] similar to the verse,“join (סְפוּ) year upon year,” (Isa. 29:1) and,“add (סְפוֹת) the punishment of the unintentional sins,” (Deut. 29:18) and,“Add (סְפוּ) your burnt-offerings to your sacrifices.” (Jer. 7:21). Another explanation: אַסְפֶּה means, I will consume. This is similar to the verse,“lest you be consumed (תִּסָּפֶּה)” (Gen. 19:15) [thus, our verse here would mean: “I will use up all evils on them”].
אספה עלימו רעות: אחביר רעה על רעה לשון (ישעיה כט, א) ספו שנה על שנה, (לעיל כט, יח) ספות הרוה, (ירמיה ז, כא) עולותיכם ספו על זבחיכם. דבר אחר אספה אכלה, כמו (בראשית יט, טו) פן תספה:
I will use up my arrows on them: I will finish up all My arrows on them [i.e., until there are no arrows left, as it were]. This curse, according to [the usual way] retribution [is expressed], is really a[n implied] blessing, namely: [God says,]"My arrows may come to an end, but Israel will not come to an end [i.e., they will never be annihilated].
חצי אכלה בם: כל חצי אשלים בהם. וקללה זו לפי הפורענות לברכה היא, חצי כלים והם אינם כלים:
24They will sprout hair from famine, attacked by demons, excised by Meriri. I will incite the teeth of livestock upon them, with the venom of creatures that slither in the dust. כדמְזֵ֥י רָעָ֛ב וּלְחֻ֥מֵי רֶ֖שֶׁף וְקֶ֣טֶב מְרִירִ֑י וְשֶׁן־בְּהֵמֹת֙ אֲשַׁלַּח־בָּ֔ם עִם־חֲמַ֖ת זֹֽחֲלֵ֥י עָפָֽר:
They will sprout hair from famine: Heb. מְזֵי רָעָב. Onkelos renders this as: “swollen from famine,” but I have no evidence from Scripture for this [translation]. In the name of Rabbi Moses Hadarshan of Toulouse, however, I heard that the expression מְזֵי רָעָב is equivalent to שְׂעִירֵי רָעָב, “hairy from famine,” for an emaciated person grows hair on his skin.
מזי רעב: אנקלוס תרגם, נפיחי כפן, ואין לי עד מוכיח עליו. ומשמו של רבי משה הדרשן מטולושא שמעתי שעירי רעב, אדם כחוש מגדל שער על בשרו:
hair: מְזֵי is Aramaic for hair, as the term מַזְיָא [in the clause]: דַּהֲוָה מְהַפֵּךְ בְּמַזְיָא, meaning “turning over his hair.” - [Meg. 18a]
מזי: לשון ארמי שער מזיא, דהוה מהפך במזיא:
attacked by demons: Heb. וּלְחֻמֵי רֶשֶׁף. Demons fought (לחם) against them, as Scripture states: “and flying creatures (בְּנֵי רֶשֶׁף) fly upwards” (Job 5:7). These are demons.
ולחמי רשף: השדים נלחמו בהם, שנאמר (איוב ה, ז) ובני רשף יגביהו עוף, והם שדים:
excised by Meriri: Heb. וְקֶטֶב מְרִירִי, and excision caused by a demon named מְרִירִי. Heb. קֶטֶב means excision, similar to, “I will decree the grave upon you (קָטָבְךָ)!” (Hos. 13:14) [In Hebrew, the word for decree is גְּזֵרָה, the root of which is גזר, to cut. Hence, its primary meaning is “to cut.” There are many such roots in Hebrew, in the Bible, the Mishnah, and the Targum. They all bear the first meaning of cutting, and the second meaning of a final, permanent decision or ruling. Among them are the following: פסק, חקק, גזר, צמת, חרץ, כרת, חלט.]
וקטב מרירי: וכריתות שד ששמו מרירי. קטב כריתה, כמו (הושע יג, יד) אהי קטבך שאול:
the teeth of livestock: It indeed once happened that sheep were biting people to death. — [Sifrei 32:24]
ושן בהמות: מעשה היה והיו הרחלים נושכין וממיתין:
with the venom of creatures that slither in the dust: Heb. זֹחִלֵי עָפָר, the venom of snakes, which crawl on their bellies on the dust. — [Sifrei 32:24] [They crawl] just as the water flows (זחל) upon the ground. The word זְחִילָה denotes the slithering action of water upon the dust [of the ground], and similarly, the way anything slithers and shuffles across the ground to move along [is described as זְחִילָה].
חמת זוחלי עפר: ארס נחשים המהלכים על גחונם על העפר, כמים הזוחלים על הארץ. זחילה לשון מרוצת המים על העפר, וכן כל מרוצת דבר המשפשף על העפר והולך:
25From outside, the sword will bereave, and terror from within; young men and maidens, suckling babes with venerable elders. כהמִחוּץ֙ תְּשַׁכֶּל־חֶ֔רֶב וּמֵֽחֲדָרִ֖ים אֵימָ֑ה גַּם־בָּחוּר֙ גַּם־בְּתוּלָ֔ה יוֹנֵ֖ק עִם־אִ֥ישׁ שֵׂיבָֽה:
From outside, the sword will bereave: Outside the city, the sword of hostile troops will bereave them.
מחוץ תשכל חרב: מחוץ לעיר תשכלם חרב גייסות:
and terror from within: When you flee, escaping from the sword, the inner recesses (חֲדָרִים) of your heart will pound within you out of terror, and you will gradually die from this. — [Sifrei 32:25] Another explanation [וּמֵחֲדָרִים אֵימָה]: Within your house, there will be the terror of [impending] fear of plague, as Scripture states, “For death has come up into our windows” (Jer. 9:20). Onkelos renders this in this way. Another explanation of “Outside, the sword will bereave”- [They will be killed by the sword] on account of what they did in the streets (חוּצוֹת), as Scripture states, “Corresponding to the number of streets in Jerusalem, you set up altars to the shameful thing.” (Jer. 11:13) [And along the same lines,] וּמֵחֲדָרִים אֵימָה means: On account of that which they did in the innermost chambers of their houses, as Scripture states, “[Have you seen] what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each one in his paved chambers?” (Ezek. 8:12) - [Sifrei 32:25]
ומחדרים אימה: כשבורח ונמלט מן החרב חדרי לבבו נקופים עליו מחמת אימה והוא מת והולך בה. דבר אחר ומחדרים אימה שבבית תהיה אימת דבר, כמו שנאמר (ירמיה ט, כ) כי עלה מות בחלונינו, וכן תרגם אונקלוס. דבר אחר מחוץ תשכל חרב על מה שעשו בחוצות, שנאמר (ירמיה יא, יג) ומספר חוצות ירושלים שמתם מזבחות לבושת, ומחדרים אימה על מה שעשו בחדרי חדרים, שנאמר (יחזקאל ח, יב) אשר זקני בית ישראל עושים בחשך איש בחדרי משכיתו:
26I said that I would make an end of them, eradicate their remembrance from mankind. כואָמַ֖רְתִּי אַפְאֵיהֶ֑ם אַשְׁבִּ֥יתָה מֵֽאֱנ֖וֹשׁ זִכְרָֽם:
I said that I would make an end of them: Heb. אַפְאֵיהֶם. I said in My heart, “I will make an end (אַפְאֶה) of them.” One may also explain אַפְאֵיהֶם to mean: I would make them as פֵּאָה [the corners of one’s field which are left as ownerless for the poor to collect]; i.e., I will cast them away as ownerless. We find a similarity to this [expression] in Ezra (Neh. 9:22), “And You gave them kingdoms and peoples, and You separated them as ownerless things (לְפֵאָה).” Menachem [ben Saruk] (Machbereth pp. 29, 140) also classified it in this way. [Note that Nehemiah is officially part of the book of Ezra, as in San. 93b. Note also that Menachem’s interpretation is not identical with Rashi’s.] Others, however, explain the expression according to the rendition of the Targum: My wrath (אַף) will fall upon them [thereby assuming that the word אַפְאֵיהֶם stems from the root אף, anger]. But this is incorrect, for if this were so, our verse should have been written: אֲאַפְאֵיהֶם [with two alephs], one aleph to serve [as the pronominal prefix for “I will,”] and the other aleph as a root letter, like, “I will strengthen you (אֲאַזֶּרְךָ)” (Isa. 45:5); and, “I would encourage you (אֲאַמִּצְכֶם) with my mouth” (Job 16:5). Moreover, the aleph in the middle of the word אַפְאֵיהֶם is completely inappropriate there. [Thus, we can see that Onkelos, in rendering his translation here, could not have meant that the word is simply a form of the stem אף. So how does he justify this translation?] Onkelos rendered this expression in accordance with the explanation of the Baraitha [a talmudic source not included in the canon of the Mishnah], which is taught in Sifrei (32:26). This Baraitha divides the word אַפְאֵיהֶם into three separate words, to read: אַף אֵי הֶם, which has the meaning, “I said in My anger (אַף) that I would make them as if they were naught,” so that those who behold them would say about them, “Where are they אַיֵּה הֵם?”
אמרתי אפאיהם: אמרתי בלבי אפאה אותם. ויש לפרש אפאיהם אשיתם פאה להשליכם מעלי הפקר. ודוגמתו מצינו בעזרא (נחמיה ט כב) ותתן להם ממלכות ועממים ותחלקם לפאה, להפקר. וכן חברו מנחם. ויש פותרים אותו כתרגומו יחול רוגזי עליהן, ולא יתכן, שאם כן היה לו לכתוב אאפאיהם אחת לשמוש ואחת ליסוד, כמו (ישעיה מה, ה) אאזרך, (איוב טז, ה) אאמיצכם במו פי, והא' התיכונה אינה ראויה בו כלל. ואונקלוס תרגם אחר לשון הברייתא השנויה בספרי החולקת תיבה זו לשלש תיבות אמרתי אף אי הם, אמרתי באפי אתנם כאילו אינם, שיאמרו רואיהם עליהם איה הם:
27Were it not that the enemy's wrath was heaped up, lest their adversaries distort; lest they claim, "Our hand was triumphant! The Lord did none of this!" כזלוּלֵ֗י כַּ֤עַס אוֹיֵב֙ אָג֔וּר פֶּן־יְנַכְּר֖וּ צָרֵ֑ימוֹ פֶּן־יֹֽאמְרוּ֙ יָדֵ֣נוּ רָ֔מָה וְלֹ֥א יְהֹוָ֖ה פָּעַ֥ל כָּל־זֹֽאת:
Were it not that the enemy’s wrath was heaped up: Heb. אָגוּר. Were it not that the enemy’s wrath was heaped up (אָגוּר) against them to destroy them, and if the enemy would succeed in overtaking them and destroying them, he would attribute the greatness to himself and to his deity, but he would not attribute the greatness to Me [says God]. This, then, is the meaning of “lest their adversaries distort” (Heb. פֶּן יְנַכְּרוּ צָרֵימוֹ): lest they misconstrue the matter by attributing their might to an alien (נָכְרִי), to whom the greatness does not belong.
לולי כעס אויב אגור: אם לא שכעס האויב כנוס עליהם להשחית ואם יוכל להם וישחיתם יתלה הגדולה בו ובאלהיו ולא יתלה הגדולה בי, וזהו שנאמר פן ינכרו צרימו, ינכרו הדבר לתלות גבורתי בנכרי, שאין הגדולה שלו:
lest they claim, Our hand was triumphant…!: For that nation is one “devoid of counsel.”
פן יאמרו ידנו רמה וגו': כי אותו גוי אובד עצות המה:
28For they are a nation devoid of counsel, and they have no understanding. כחכִּי־ג֛וֹי אֹבַ֥ד עֵצ֖וֹת הֵ֑מָּה וְאֵ֥ין בָּהֶ֖ם תְּבוּנָֽה:
and they have no understanding: For if they were wise people, they would understand this, namely: “How could one [person] pursue [a thousand…]?” (verse 30).
ואין בהם תבונה: שאילו היו חכמים ישכילו זאת, איכה ירדוף וגו':
Daily Tehillim - Psalms
Chapters 140-150
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 140
David composed this psalm against his slanderers, especially the chief conspirator Doeg. Anyone confronted by slanderers should recite this psalm.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. Rescue me from the evil man, protect me from the man of violence,
3. who devise evil schemes in their heart; every day they gather for wars.
4. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the spider's venom is forever under their lips.
5. Guard me, Lord, from the hands of the wicked, protect me from the man of violence-those who plot to cause my steps to slip.
6. Arrogant ones have hidden a snare for me, and ropes; they spread a net by my path, they set traps for me continually.
7. I said to the Lord, "You are my God!" Listen, O Lord, to the voice of my pleas.
8. God, my Lord, the strength of my deliverance, You sheltered my head on the day of armed battle.
9. Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; fulfill not his scheme, make it unattainable forever.
10. As for the head of my besiegers, let the deceit of their own lips bury them.
11. Let burning coals fall upon them; let it cast them down into the fire, into deep pits, never to rise again.
12. Let not the slanderous man be established in the land; let the evil of the man of violence trap him until he is overthrown.
13. I know that the Lord will execute judgement for the poor, justice for the needy.
14. Indeed, the righteous will extol Your Name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.
Chapter 141
This psalm teaches an important lesson: One should pray for Divine assistance that his mouth not speak that which is not in his heart. The gatekeeper only allows the gate to be opened for a purpose; let it be the same with one's lips.
1. A psalm by David. O Lord, I have called You, hasten to me; listen to my voice when I call to You.
2. Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You, the raising of my hands as an afternoon offering.
3. O Lord, place a guard for my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips.
4. Do not incline my heart to a bad thing-to perform deeds in wickedness, with men, doers of evil; let me not partake of their delicacies.
5. Let the righteous one strike me with kindness and let him rebuke me; like the finest oil, let my head not refuse it. For as long [as I live], my prayer is [to preserve me] from their harm.
6. For their judges have slipped because of their [hearts of] rock, though they heard my words and they were pleasant.
7. As one who chops and splinters [wood] on the ground, so have our bones been scattered to the mouth of the grave.
8. For to You, God, my Lord, are my eyes; in You I take shelter; do not pour out my soul.
9. Protect me from the hands of the snare they laid for me, and from the traps of the evildoers.
10. Let the wicked fall into their own nets together, until I pass over.
Chapter 142
David composed this psalm while hiding from Saul in a cave, at which time he had cut off the corner of Saul's garment (to prove that he was able to kill him but did not wish to do so). He declared, "Where can I turn, and where can I run? All I have is to cry out to You!"
1. A maskil1 by David, when he was in the cave, a prayer.
2. With my voice I will cry out to the Lord; with my voice I will call to the Lord in supplication.
3. I will pour out my plea before Him; I will declare my distress in His presence.
4. When my spirit is faint within me, You know my path. In the way in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.
5. Look to my right and see, there is none that will know me; every escape is lost to me. No man cares for my soul.
6. I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
7. Listen to my song of prayer, for I have been brought very low. Deliver me from my pursuers, for they are too mighty for me.
8. Release my soul from confinement, so that it may acknowledge Your Name. Because of me, the righteous will crown [You] when You will deal graciously with me.
FOOTNOTES
1.A psalm intended to enlighten and impart knowledge(Metzudot).
Chapter 143
1. A psalm by David. O Lord, hear my prayer, lend Your ear to my supplications. With Your faithfulness answer me, and with Your righteousness.
2. Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no living being would be vindicated before You.
3. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has set me down in dark places, like those who are eternally dead.
4. Then my spirit became faint within me; my heart was dismayed within me.
5. I remembered the days of old; I meditated on all Your deeds; I spoke of Your handiwork.
6. I spread out my hands to You; like a languishing land my soul yearns after You, Selah.
7. Answer me soon, O Lord, my spirit is spent; hide not Your face from me, lest I become like those who descend into the pit.
8. Let me hear Your kindness in the morning, for have I trusted in You. Let me know the way in which I should walk, for to You I have lifted my soul.
9. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord. I have concealed [my troubles from all, save] You.
10. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good spirit lead me in an even path.
11. For the sake of Your Name, O Lord, give me life; in Your righteousness, take my soul out of distress.
12. And in Your kindness, cut off my enemies and obliterate all those who oppress my soul, for I am Your servant.
Chapter 144
After triumphing in all his wars, David composed this psalm in praise of God.
1. By David. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, Who trains my hands for battle and my fingers for war.
2. My source of kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my rescuer, my shield, in Whom I take refuge; it is He Who makes my people submit to me.
3. O Lord, what is man that You have recognized him; the son of a mortal, that You are mindful of him?
4. Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
5. O Lord, incline Your heavens and descend; touch the mountains and they will become vapor.
6. Flash one bolt of lightning and You will scatter them; send out Your arrows and You will confound them.
7. Stretch forth Your hands from on high, rescue me and deliver me out of many waters, from the hand of strangers,
8. whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9. God, I will sing a new song to You, I will play to You upon a harp of ten strings.
10. He who gives victory to kings, He will rescue David, His servant, from the evil sword.
11. Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of strangers, whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12. For our sons are like plants, brought up to manliness in their youth; our daughters are like cornerstones, fashioned after the fashion of a palace.
13. Our storehouses are full, overflowing with all manner of food; our sheep increase by the thousands, growing by the tens of thousands in our open fields.
14. Our leaders bear the heaviest burden; there is none who break through, nor is there bad report, nor outcry in our streets.
15. Happy is the nation for whom this is so. Happy is that nation whose God is the Lord.
Chapter 145
One who recites this psalm three times daily with absolute concentration is guaranteed a portion in the World to Come. Because of its prominence, this psalm was composed in alphabetical sequence.
1. A psalm of praise by David: I will exalt You, my God the King, and bless Your Name forever.
2. Every day I will bless You, and extol Your Name forever.
3. The Lord is great and exceedingly exalted; there is no limit to His greatness.
4. One generation to another will laud Your works, and tell of Your mighty acts.
5. I will speak of the splendor of Your glorious majesty and of Your wondrous deeds.
6. They will proclaim the might of Your awesome acts, and I will recount Your greatness.
7. They will express the remembrance of Your abounding goodness, and sing of Your righteousness.
8. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and of great kindness.
9. The Lord is good to all, and His mercies extend over all His works.
10. Lord, all Your works will give thanks to You, and Your pious ones will bless You.
11. They will declare the glory of Your kingdom, and tell of Your strength,
12. to make known to men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
13. Your kingship is a kingship over all worlds, and Your dominion is throughout all generations.
14. The Lord supports all who fall, and straightens all who are bent.
15. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food at the proper time.
16. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and benevolent in all His deeds.
18. The Lord is close to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.
19. He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him, hears their cry and delivers them.
20. The Lord watches over all who love Him, and will destroy all the wicked.
21. My mouth will utter the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless His holy Name forever.
Chapter 146
This psalm inspires man to repent and perform good deeds while still alive. Let him not rely on mortals who are unable to help themselves, and who may suddenly pass on. Rather, one should put his trust in God, Who is capable of carrying out all He desires.
1. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul.
2. I will sing to the Lord with my soul; I will chant praises to my God while I yet exist.
3. Do not place your trust in nobles, nor in mortal man who has not the ability to bring deliverance.
4. When his spirit departs, he returns to his earth; on that very day, his plans come to naught.
5. Fortunate is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope rests upon the Lord his God.
6. He makes the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; He keeps His promise faithfully forever.
7. He renders justice to the oppressed; He gives food to the hungry; the Lord releases those who are bound.
8. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord straightens those who are bowed; the Lord loves the righteous.
9. The Lord watches over the strangers; He gives strength to orphan and widow; He thwarts the way of the wicked.
10. The Lord shall reign forever, your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 147
This psalm recounts God's greatness, and His kindness and goodness to His creations.
1. Praise the Lord! Sing to our God for He is good; praise befits Him for He is pleasant.
2. The Lord is the rebuilder of Jerusalem; He will gather the banished of Israel.
3. He heals the broken-hearted, and bandages their wounds.
4. He counts the number of the stars; He gives a name to each of them.
5. Great is our Master and abounding in might; His understanding is beyond reckoning.
6. The Lord strengthens the humble; He casts the wicked to the ground.
7. Lift your voices to the Lord in gratitude; sing to our God with the harp.
8. He covers the heaven with clouds; He prepares rain for the earth, and makes grass grow upon the mountains.
9. He gives the animal its food, to the young ravens which cry to Him.
10. He does not desire [those who place their trust in] the strength of the horse, nor does He want those who rely upon the thighs [swiftness] of man.
11. He desires those who fear Him, those who long for His kindness.
12. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; Zion, extol your God.
13. For He has strengthened the bolts of your gates; He has blessed your children in your midst.
14. He has made peace within your borders; He satiates you with the finest of wheat.
15. He issues His command to the earth; swiftly does His word run.
16. He dispenses snow like fleece; He scatters frost like ashes.
17. He hurls His ice like morsels; who can withstand His cold?
18. He sends forth His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19. He tells His words [Torah] to Jacob, His statutes and ordinances to Israel.
20. He has not done so for other nations, and they do not know [His] ordinances. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 148
The psalmist inspires one to praise God for His creations-above and below-all of which exist by God's might alone.
1. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the celestial heights.
2. Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts.
3. Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all the shining stars.
4. Praise Him, hea-ven of heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens.
5. Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for He comman-ded and they were created.
6. He has established them forever, for all time; He issued a decree, and it shall not be transgressed.
7. Praise the Lord from the earth, sea-monsters and all [that dwell in] the depths;
8. fire and hail, snow and vapor, stormy wind carrying out His command;
9. the mountains and all hills, fruit-bearing trees and all cedars;
10. the beasts and all cattle, creeping things and winged fowl;
11. kings of the earth and all nations, rulers and all judges of the land;
12. young men as well as maidens, elders with young lads.
13. Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for His Name is sublime, to Himself; its radiance [alone] is upon earth and heaven.
14. He shall raise the glory of His people, [increase] the praise of all His pious ones, the Children of Israel, the people close to Him. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 149
1. Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, [recount] His praise in the assembly of the pious.
2. Israel will rejoice in its Maker; the children of Zion will delight in their King.
3. They will praise His Name with dancing; they will sing to Him with the drum and harp.
4. For the Lord desires His people; He will adorn the humble with salvation.
5. The pious will exult in glory; they will sing upon their beds.
6. The exaltation of God is in their throat, and a double-edged sword in their hand,
7. to bring retribution upon the nations, punishment upon the peoples;
8. to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with iron fetters;
9. to execute upon them the prescribed judgment; it shall be a glory for all His pious ones. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 150
This psalm contains thirteen praises, alluding to the Thirteen Attributes (of Mercy) with which God conducts the world.
1. Praise the Lord! Praise God in His holiness; praise Him in the firmament of His strength.
2. Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His abundant greatness.
3. Praise Him with the call of the shofar; praise Him with harp and lyre.
4. Praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flute.
5. Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with clanging cymbals.
6. Let every soul praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
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 85, 86 and 87.
Chapter 85
In this prayer, lamenting the long and bitter exile, the psalmist asks why this exile is longer than the previous ones, and implores God to quickly fulfill His promise to redeem us. Every individual should offer this psalm when in distress.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. O Lord, You favored Your land; You returned the captives of Jacob.
3. You forgave the iniquity of Your people, and covered all their sin forever.
4. You withdrew all Your fury, and retreated from Your fierce anger.
5. Return us, O God of our salvation, and annul Your anger toward us.
6. Will You forever be angry with us? Will You draw out Your anger over all generations?
7. Is it not true that You will revive us again, and Your people will rejoice in You?
8. Show us Your kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your deliverance.
9. I hear what the Almighty Lord will say; for He speaks peace to His nation and to His pious ones, and they will not return to folly.
10. Indeed, His deliverance is near those who fear Him, that [His] glory may dwell in the land.
11. Kindness and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.
12. Truth will sprout from the earth, and righteousness will peer from heaven.
13. The Lord, too, will bestow goodness, and our land will yield its produce.
14. Righteousness shall walk before him, and he shall set his footsteps in [its] path.
Chapter 86
This psalm contains many prayers regarding David's troubles, and his enemies Doeg and Achitophel. It also includes many descriptions of God's praise. Every individual can offer this psalm when in distress.
1. A prayer by David. Lord, turn Your ear, answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2. Guard my soul, for I am pious; You, my God, deliver Your servant who trusts in You.
3. Be gracious to me, my Lord, for to You I call all day.
4. Bring joy to the soul of Your servant, for to You, my Lord, I lift my soul.
5. For You, my Lord, are good and forgiving, and exceedingly kind to all who call upon You.
6. Lord, hear my prayer and listen to the voice of my supplications.
7. On the day of my distress I call upon You, for You will answer me.
8. There is none like You among the supernal beings, my Lord, and there are no deeds like Yours.
9. All the nations that You have made will come and bow down before You, my Lord, and give honor to Your Name,
10. for You are great and perform wonders, You alone, O God.
11. Lord, teach me Your way that I may walk in Your truth; unify my heart to fear Your Name.
12. I will praise You, my Lord, my God, with all my heart, and give honor to Your Name forever.
13. For Your kindness to me has been great; You have saved my soul from the depth of the grave.
14. O God, malicious men have risen against me; a band of ruthless men has sought my soul; they are not mindful of You.
15. But You, my Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth.
16. Turn to me and be gracious to me; grant Your strength to Your servant, and deliver the son of Your maidservant.
17. Show me a sign of favor, that my foes may see and be shamed, because You, Lord, have given me aid and consoled me.
Chapter 87
Composed to be sung in the Holy Temple, this psalm praises the glory of Jerusalem, a city that produces many great scholars, eminent personalities, and persons of good deeds. It also speaks of the good that will occur in the Messianic era.
1. By the sons of Korach, a psalm, a song devoted to the holy mountains [of Zion and Jerusalem].
2. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3. Glorious things are spoken of you, eternal city of God.
4. I will remind Rahav Egypt and Babylon concerning My beloved; Philistia and Tyre as well as Ethiopia, "This one was born there.”
5. And to Zion will be said, "This person and that was born there"; and He, the Most High, will establish it.
6. The Lord will count in the register of people, "This one was born there," Selah.
7. Singers as well as dancers [will sing your praise and say], "All my inner thoughts are of you."
19And the Lord saw this and became angry, provoked by His sons and daughters. יטוַיַּ֥רְא יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיִּנְאָ֑ץ מִכַּ֥עַס בָּנָ֖יו וּבְנֹתָֽיו:
20And He said, "I will hide My face from them. I will see what their end will be, for they are a generation of changes; they are not [recognizable] as My children whom I have reared. כוַיֹּ֗אמֶר אַסְתִּ֤ירָה פָנַי֙ מֵהֶ֔ם אֶרְאֶ֖ה מָ֣ה אַֽחֲרִיתָ֑ם כִּ֣י ד֤וֹר תַּהְפֻּכֹת֙ הֵ֔מָּה בָּנִ֖ים לֹֽא־אֵמֻ֥ן בָּֽם:
I will see what their end will be: [i.e., I will see] what will befall them in the end.
מה אחריתם: מה תעלה בהם בסופם:
for they are a generation of changes: i.e., they change My good will into anger.
כי דור תהפוכות המה: מהפכין רצוני לכעס:
they are not [recognizable]… whom I have reared: Heb. אֵמֻן. My rearing [them] is not recognizable in them, for I taught them a good way, but they deviated from it.
לא אמון בם: אין גדולי נכרים בהם, כי הוריתים דרך טובה וסרו ממנה:
reared: אֵמֻן is an expression related to“And he reared (אֹמֵן) [Hadassah]” (Esther 2:7), nourriture in French. Another explanation of אֵמֻן : It is an expression of אֱמוּנָה, faithfulness , which is how the Targum renders it [literally, “children who have no faithfulness”]. At Sinai, they said, “We will do and we will hear,” and a short while later, they broke their promise and made the golden calf!"- [Sifrei 32:20]
אמן: לשון (אסתר ב, ז) ויהי אומן נורריטור"ה בלע"ז [חינוך]. דבר אחר אמון לשון אמונה, כתרגומו. אמרו בסיני (שמות כד, ז) נעשה ונשמע, ובשעה קלה בטלו הבטחתם ועשו העגל:
21They have provoked My jealousy with a non god, provoked My anger with their vanities. Thus, I will provoke their jealousy with a non people, provoke their anger with a foolish nation. כאהֵ֚ם קִנְא֣וּנִי בְלֹא־אֵ֔ל כִּֽעֲס֖וּנִי בְּהַבְלֵיהֶ֑ם וַֽאֲנִי֙ אַקְנִיאֵ֣ם בְּלֹא־עָ֔ם בְּג֥וֹי נָבָ֖ל אַכְעִיסֵֽם:
have provoked my jealousy: They kindled My anger.
קנאוני: הבעירו חמתי:
with a non-god: With something that is not a god.
בלא אל: בדבר שאינו אלוה:
with a non-people: With a nation that has no name, as Scripture states, “This land of the Chaldeans-this people was not” (Isa. 23:13). And regarding Esau, Scripture states, “You are very despised” (Obad. 1:2).
בלא עם: באומה שאין לה שם, שנאמר (ישעיה כג, יג) הן ארץ כשדים זה העם לא היה, ובעשו הוא אומר (עובדיה א, ב) בזוי אתה מאד:
I will… provoke their anger with a foolish nation: These are the heretics. So Scripture states,“The fool (נָבָל) said in his heart, There is no God!” (Ps. 14:1). - [Sifrei 32: 21]
בגוי נבל אכעיסם: אלו המינים, וכן הוא אומר (תהלים יד, א) אמר נבל בלבו אין אלהים:
22For a fire blazed in My wrath, and burned to the lowest depths. It consumed the land and its produce, setting aflame the foundations of mountains. כבכִּֽי־אֵשׁ֙ קָֽדְחָ֣ה בְאַפִּ֔י וַתִּיקַ֖ד עַד־שְׁא֣וֹל תַּחְתִּ֑ית וַתֹּ֤אכַל אֶ֨רֶץ֙ וִֽיבֻלָ֔הּ וַתְּלַהֵ֖ט מֽוֹסְדֵ֥י הָרִֽים:
blazed: Heb. קָדְחָה, burned.
קדחה: בערה:
and burned: within you, to the very foundation.
ותיקד: בכם עד היסוד:
It consumed the land and its produce: i.e., your land and its produce.
ותאכל ארץ ויבלה: ארצכם ויבולה:
setting aflame: Jerusalem, which has her foundations set upon the mountains, as Scripture states:“Jerusalem is surrounded by mountains” (Ps. 125:2). - [Sifrei 32: 22]
ותלהט: ירושלים המיוסדת על ההרים, שנאמר (שם קכה, ב) ירושלים הרים סביב לה:
23I will link evils upon them. I will use up My arrows on them. כגאַסְפֶּ֥ה עָלֵ֖ימוֹ רָע֑וֹת חִצַּ֖י אֲכַלֶּה־בָּֽם:
will link evils upon them: Heb. אַסְפֶּה, I will link evil upon evil. [This expression is] similar to the verse,“join (סְפוּ) year upon year,” (Isa. 29:1) and,“add (סְפוֹת) the punishment of the unintentional sins,” (Deut. 29:18) and,“Add (סְפוּ) your burnt-offerings to your sacrifices.” (Jer. 7:21). Another explanation: אַסְפֶּה means, I will consume. This is similar to the verse,“lest you be consumed (תִּסָּפֶּה)” (Gen. 19:15) [thus, our verse here would mean: “I will use up all evils on them”].
אספה עלימו רעות: אחביר רעה על רעה לשון (ישעיה כט, א) ספו שנה על שנה, (לעיל כט, יח) ספות הרוה, (ירמיה ז, כא) עולותיכם ספו על זבחיכם. דבר אחר אספה אכלה, כמו (בראשית יט, טו) פן תספה:
I will use up my arrows on them: I will finish up all My arrows on them [i.e., until there are no arrows left, as it were]. This curse, according to [the usual way] retribution [is expressed], is really a[n implied] blessing, namely: [God says,]"My arrows may come to an end, but Israel will not come to an end [i.e., they will never be annihilated].
חצי אכלה בם: כל חצי אשלים בהם. וקללה זו לפי הפורענות לברכה היא, חצי כלים והם אינם כלים:
24They will sprout hair from famine, attacked by demons, excised by Meriri. I will incite the teeth of livestock upon them, with the venom of creatures that slither in the dust. כדמְזֵ֥י רָעָ֛ב וּלְחֻ֥מֵי רֶ֖שֶׁף וְקֶ֣טֶב מְרִירִ֑י וְשֶׁן־בְּהֵמֹת֙ אֲשַׁלַּח־בָּ֔ם עִם־חֲמַ֖ת זֹֽחֲלֵ֥י עָפָֽר:
They will sprout hair from famine: Heb. מְזֵי רָעָב. Onkelos renders this as: “swollen from famine,” but I have no evidence from Scripture for this [translation]. In the name of Rabbi Moses Hadarshan of Toulouse, however, I heard that the expression מְזֵי רָעָב is equivalent to שְׂעִירֵי רָעָב, “hairy from famine,” for an emaciated person grows hair on his skin.
מזי רעב: אנקלוס תרגם, נפיחי כפן, ואין לי עד מוכיח עליו. ומשמו של רבי משה הדרשן מטולושא שמעתי שעירי רעב, אדם כחוש מגדל שער על בשרו:
hair: מְזֵי is Aramaic for hair, as the term מַזְיָא [in the clause]: דַּהֲוָה מְהַפֵּךְ בְּמַזְיָא, meaning “turning over his hair.” - [Meg. 18a]
מזי: לשון ארמי שער מזיא, דהוה מהפך במזיא:
attacked by demons: Heb. וּלְחֻמֵי רֶשֶׁף. Demons fought (לחם) against them, as Scripture states: “and flying creatures (בְּנֵי רֶשֶׁף) fly upwards” (Job 5:7). These are demons.
ולחמי רשף: השדים נלחמו בהם, שנאמר (איוב ה, ז) ובני רשף יגביהו עוף, והם שדים:
excised by Meriri: Heb. וְקֶטֶב מְרִירִי, and excision caused by a demon named מְרִירִי. Heb. קֶטֶב means excision, similar to, “I will decree the grave upon you (קָטָבְךָ)!” (Hos. 13:14) [In Hebrew, the word for decree is גְּזֵרָה, the root of which is גזר, to cut. Hence, its primary meaning is “to cut.” There are many such roots in Hebrew, in the Bible, the Mishnah, and the Targum. They all bear the first meaning of cutting, and the second meaning of a final, permanent decision or ruling. Among them are the following: פסק, חקק, גזר, צמת, חרץ, כרת, חלט.]
וקטב מרירי: וכריתות שד ששמו מרירי. קטב כריתה, כמו (הושע יג, יד) אהי קטבך שאול:
the teeth of livestock: It indeed once happened that sheep were biting people to death. — [Sifrei 32:24]
ושן בהמות: מעשה היה והיו הרחלים נושכין וממיתין:
with the venom of creatures that slither in the dust: Heb. זֹחִלֵי עָפָר, the venom of snakes, which crawl on their bellies on the dust. — [Sifrei 32:24] [They crawl] just as the water flows (זחל) upon the ground. The word זְחִילָה denotes the slithering action of water upon the dust [of the ground], and similarly, the way anything slithers and shuffles across the ground to move along [is described as זְחִילָה].
חמת זוחלי עפר: ארס נחשים המהלכים על גחונם על העפר, כמים הזוחלים על הארץ. זחילה לשון מרוצת המים על העפר, וכן כל מרוצת דבר המשפשף על העפר והולך:
25From outside, the sword will bereave, and terror from within; young men and maidens, suckling babes with venerable elders. כהמִחוּץ֙ תְּשַׁכֶּל־חֶ֔רֶב וּמֵֽחֲדָרִ֖ים אֵימָ֑ה גַּם־בָּחוּר֙ גַּם־בְּתוּלָ֔ה יוֹנֵ֖ק עִם־אִ֥ישׁ שֵׂיבָֽה:
From outside, the sword will bereave: Outside the city, the sword of hostile troops will bereave them.
מחוץ תשכל חרב: מחוץ לעיר תשכלם חרב גייסות:
and terror from within: When you flee, escaping from the sword, the inner recesses (חֲדָרִים) of your heart will pound within you out of terror, and you will gradually die from this. — [Sifrei 32:25] Another explanation [וּמֵחֲדָרִים אֵימָה]: Within your house, there will be the terror of [impending] fear of plague, as Scripture states, “For death has come up into our windows” (Jer. 9:20). Onkelos renders this in this way. Another explanation of “Outside, the sword will bereave”- [They will be killed by the sword] on account of what they did in the streets (חוּצוֹת), as Scripture states, “Corresponding to the number of streets in Jerusalem, you set up altars to the shameful thing.” (Jer. 11:13) [And along the same lines,] וּמֵחֲדָרִים אֵימָה means: On account of that which they did in the innermost chambers of their houses, as Scripture states, “[Have you seen] what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each one in his paved chambers?” (Ezek. 8:12) - [Sifrei 32:25]
ומחדרים אימה: כשבורח ונמלט מן החרב חדרי לבבו נקופים עליו מחמת אימה והוא מת והולך בה. דבר אחר ומחדרים אימה שבבית תהיה אימת דבר, כמו שנאמר (ירמיה ט, כ) כי עלה מות בחלונינו, וכן תרגם אונקלוס. דבר אחר מחוץ תשכל חרב על מה שעשו בחוצות, שנאמר (ירמיה יא, יג) ומספר חוצות ירושלים שמתם מזבחות לבושת, ומחדרים אימה על מה שעשו בחדרי חדרים, שנאמר (יחזקאל ח, יב) אשר זקני בית ישראל עושים בחשך איש בחדרי משכיתו:
26I said that I would make an end of them, eradicate their remembrance from mankind. כואָמַ֖רְתִּי אַפְאֵיהֶ֑ם אַשְׁבִּ֥יתָה מֵֽאֱנ֖וֹשׁ זִכְרָֽם:
I said that I would make an end of them: Heb. אַפְאֵיהֶם. I said in My heart, “I will make an end (אַפְאֶה) of them.” One may also explain אַפְאֵיהֶם to mean: I would make them as פֵּאָה [the corners of one’s field which are left as ownerless for the poor to collect]; i.e., I will cast them away as ownerless. We find a similarity to this [expression] in Ezra (Neh. 9:22), “And You gave them kingdoms and peoples, and You separated them as ownerless things (לְפֵאָה).” Menachem [ben Saruk] (Machbereth pp. 29, 140) also classified it in this way. [Note that Nehemiah is officially part of the book of Ezra, as in San. 93b. Note also that Menachem’s interpretation is not identical with Rashi’s.] Others, however, explain the expression according to the rendition of the Targum: My wrath (אַף) will fall upon them [thereby assuming that the word אַפְאֵיהֶם stems from the root אף, anger]. But this is incorrect, for if this were so, our verse should have been written: אֲאַפְאֵיהֶם [with two alephs], one aleph to serve [as the pronominal prefix for “I will,”] and the other aleph as a root letter, like, “I will strengthen you (אֲאַזֶּרְךָ)” (Isa. 45:5); and, “I would encourage you (אֲאַמִּצְכֶם) with my mouth” (Job 16:5). Moreover, the aleph in the middle of the word אַפְאֵיהֶם is completely inappropriate there. [Thus, we can see that Onkelos, in rendering his translation here, could not have meant that the word is simply a form of the stem אף. So how does he justify this translation?] Onkelos rendered this expression in accordance with the explanation of the Baraitha [a talmudic source not included in the canon of the Mishnah], which is taught in Sifrei (32:26). This Baraitha divides the word אַפְאֵיהֶם into three separate words, to read: אַף אֵי הֶם, which has the meaning, “I said in My anger (אַף) that I would make them as if they were naught,” so that those who behold them would say about them, “Where are they אַיֵּה הֵם?”
אמרתי אפאיהם: אמרתי בלבי אפאה אותם. ויש לפרש אפאיהם אשיתם פאה להשליכם מעלי הפקר. ודוגמתו מצינו בעזרא (נחמיה ט כב) ותתן להם ממלכות ועממים ותחלקם לפאה, להפקר. וכן חברו מנחם. ויש פותרים אותו כתרגומו יחול רוגזי עליהן, ולא יתכן, שאם כן היה לו לכתוב אאפאיהם אחת לשמוש ואחת ליסוד, כמו (ישעיה מה, ה) אאזרך, (איוב טז, ה) אאמיצכם במו פי, והא' התיכונה אינה ראויה בו כלל. ואונקלוס תרגם אחר לשון הברייתא השנויה בספרי החולקת תיבה זו לשלש תיבות אמרתי אף אי הם, אמרתי באפי אתנם כאילו אינם, שיאמרו רואיהם עליהם איה הם:
27Were it not that the enemy's wrath was heaped up, lest their adversaries distort; lest they claim, "Our hand was triumphant! The Lord did none of this!" כזלוּלֵ֗י כַּ֤עַס אוֹיֵב֙ אָג֔וּר פֶּן־יְנַכְּר֖וּ צָרֵ֑ימוֹ פֶּן־יֹֽאמְרוּ֙ יָדֵ֣נוּ רָ֔מָה וְלֹ֥א יְהֹוָ֖ה פָּעַ֥ל כָּל־זֹֽאת:
Were it not that the enemy’s wrath was heaped up: Heb. אָגוּר. Were it not that the enemy’s wrath was heaped up (אָגוּר) against them to destroy them, and if the enemy would succeed in overtaking them and destroying them, he would attribute the greatness to himself and to his deity, but he would not attribute the greatness to Me [says God]. This, then, is the meaning of “lest their adversaries distort” (Heb. פֶּן יְנַכְּרוּ צָרֵימוֹ): lest they misconstrue the matter by attributing their might to an alien (נָכְרִי), to whom the greatness does not belong.
לולי כעס אויב אגור: אם לא שכעס האויב כנוס עליהם להשחית ואם יוכל להם וישחיתם יתלה הגדולה בו ובאלהיו ולא יתלה הגדולה בי, וזהו שנאמר פן ינכרו צרימו, ינכרו הדבר לתלות גבורתי בנכרי, שאין הגדולה שלו:
lest they claim, Our hand was triumphant…!: For that nation is one “devoid of counsel.”
פן יאמרו ידנו רמה וגו': כי אותו גוי אובד עצות המה:
28For they are a nation devoid of counsel, and they have no understanding. כחכִּי־ג֛וֹי אֹבַ֥ד עֵצ֖וֹת הֵ֑מָּה וְאֵ֥ין בָּהֶ֖ם תְּבוּנָֽה:
and they have no understanding: For if they were wise people, they would understand this, namely: “How could one [person] pursue [a thousand…]?” (verse 30).
ואין בהם תבונה: שאילו היו חכמים ישכילו זאת, איכה ירדוף וגו':
Daily Tehillim - Psalms
Chapters 140-150
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 140
David composed this psalm against his slanderers, especially the chief conspirator Doeg. Anyone confronted by slanderers should recite this psalm.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. Rescue me from the evil man, protect me from the man of violence,
3. who devise evil schemes in their heart; every day they gather for wars.
4. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the spider's venom is forever under their lips.
5. Guard me, Lord, from the hands of the wicked, protect me from the man of violence-those who plot to cause my steps to slip.
6. Arrogant ones have hidden a snare for me, and ropes; they spread a net by my path, they set traps for me continually.
7. I said to the Lord, "You are my God!" Listen, O Lord, to the voice of my pleas.
8. God, my Lord, the strength of my deliverance, You sheltered my head on the day of armed battle.
9. Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; fulfill not his scheme, make it unattainable forever.
10. As for the head of my besiegers, let the deceit of their own lips bury them.
11. Let burning coals fall upon them; let it cast them down into the fire, into deep pits, never to rise again.
12. Let not the slanderous man be established in the land; let the evil of the man of violence trap him until he is overthrown.
13. I know that the Lord will execute judgement for the poor, justice for the needy.
14. Indeed, the righteous will extol Your Name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.
Chapter 141
This psalm teaches an important lesson: One should pray for Divine assistance that his mouth not speak that which is not in his heart. The gatekeeper only allows the gate to be opened for a purpose; let it be the same with one's lips.
1. A psalm by David. O Lord, I have called You, hasten to me; listen to my voice when I call to You.
2. Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You, the raising of my hands as an afternoon offering.
3. O Lord, place a guard for my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips.
4. Do not incline my heart to a bad thing-to perform deeds in wickedness, with men, doers of evil; let me not partake of their delicacies.
5. Let the righteous one strike me with kindness and let him rebuke me; like the finest oil, let my head not refuse it. For as long [as I live], my prayer is [to preserve me] from their harm.
6. For their judges have slipped because of their [hearts of] rock, though they heard my words and they were pleasant.
7. As one who chops and splinters [wood] on the ground, so have our bones been scattered to the mouth of the grave.
8. For to You, God, my Lord, are my eyes; in You I take shelter; do not pour out my soul.
9. Protect me from the hands of the snare they laid for me, and from the traps of the evildoers.
10. Let the wicked fall into their own nets together, until I pass over.
Chapter 142
David composed this psalm while hiding from Saul in a cave, at which time he had cut off the corner of Saul's garment (to prove that he was able to kill him but did not wish to do so). He declared, "Where can I turn, and where can I run? All I have is to cry out to You!"
1. A maskil1 by David, when he was in the cave, a prayer.
2. With my voice I will cry out to the Lord; with my voice I will call to the Lord in supplication.
3. I will pour out my plea before Him; I will declare my distress in His presence.
4. When my spirit is faint within me, You know my path. In the way in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.
5. Look to my right and see, there is none that will know me; every escape is lost to me. No man cares for my soul.
6. I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
7. Listen to my song of prayer, for I have been brought very low. Deliver me from my pursuers, for they are too mighty for me.
8. Release my soul from confinement, so that it may acknowledge Your Name. Because of me, the righteous will crown [You] when You will deal graciously with me.
FOOTNOTES
1.A psalm intended to enlighten and impart knowledge(Metzudot).
Chapter 143
1. A psalm by David. O Lord, hear my prayer, lend Your ear to my supplications. With Your faithfulness answer me, and with Your righteousness.
2. Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no living being would be vindicated before You.
3. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has set me down in dark places, like those who are eternally dead.
4. Then my spirit became faint within me; my heart was dismayed within me.
5. I remembered the days of old; I meditated on all Your deeds; I spoke of Your handiwork.
6. I spread out my hands to You; like a languishing land my soul yearns after You, Selah.
7. Answer me soon, O Lord, my spirit is spent; hide not Your face from me, lest I become like those who descend into the pit.
8. Let me hear Your kindness in the morning, for have I trusted in You. Let me know the way in which I should walk, for to You I have lifted my soul.
9. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord. I have concealed [my troubles from all, save] You.
10. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good spirit lead me in an even path.
11. For the sake of Your Name, O Lord, give me life; in Your righteousness, take my soul out of distress.
12. And in Your kindness, cut off my enemies and obliterate all those who oppress my soul, for I am Your servant.
Chapter 144
After triumphing in all his wars, David composed this psalm in praise of God.
1. By David. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, Who trains my hands for battle and my fingers for war.
2. My source of kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my rescuer, my shield, in Whom I take refuge; it is He Who makes my people submit to me.
3. O Lord, what is man that You have recognized him; the son of a mortal, that You are mindful of him?
4. Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
5. O Lord, incline Your heavens and descend; touch the mountains and they will become vapor.
6. Flash one bolt of lightning and You will scatter them; send out Your arrows and You will confound them.
7. Stretch forth Your hands from on high, rescue me and deliver me out of many waters, from the hand of strangers,
8. whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9. God, I will sing a new song to You, I will play to You upon a harp of ten strings.
10. He who gives victory to kings, He will rescue David, His servant, from the evil sword.
11. Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of strangers, whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12. For our sons are like plants, brought up to manliness in their youth; our daughters are like cornerstones, fashioned after the fashion of a palace.
13. Our storehouses are full, overflowing with all manner of food; our sheep increase by the thousands, growing by the tens of thousands in our open fields.
14. Our leaders bear the heaviest burden; there is none who break through, nor is there bad report, nor outcry in our streets.
15. Happy is the nation for whom this is so. Happy is that nation whose God is the Lord.
Chapter 145
One who recites this psalm three times daily with absolute concentration is guaranteed a portion in the World to Come. Because of its prominence, this psalm was composed in alphabetical sequence.
1. A psalm of praise by David: I will exalt You, my God the King, and bless Your Name forever.
2. Every day I will bless You, and extol Your Name forever.
3. The Lord is great and exceedingly exalted; there is no limit to His greatness.
4. One generation to another will laud Your works, and tell of Your mighty acts.
5. I will speak of the splendor of Your glorious majesty and of Your wondrous deeds.
6. They will proclaim the might of Your awesome acts, and I will recount Your greatness.
7. They will express the remembrance of Your abounding goodness, and sing of Your righteousness.
8. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and of great kindness.
9. The Lord is good to all, and His mercies extend over all His works.
10. Lord, all Your works will give thanks to You, and Your pious ones will bless You.
11. They will declare the glory of Your kingdom, and tell of Your strength,
12. to make known to men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
13. Your kingship is a kingship over all worlds, and Your dominion is throughout all generations.
14. The Lord supports all who fall, and straightens all who are bent.
15. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food at the proper time.
16. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and benevolent in all His deeds.
18. The Lord is close to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.
19. He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him, hears their cry and delivers them.
20. The Lord watches over all who love Him, and will destroy all the wicked.
21. My mouth will utter the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless His holy Name forever.
Chapter 146
This psalm inspires man to repent and perform good deeds while still alive. Let him not rely on mortals who are unable to help themselves, and who may suddenly pass on. Rather, one should put his trust in God, Who is capable of carrying out all He desires.
1. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul.
2. I will sing to the Lord with my soul; I will chant praises to my God while I yet exist.
3. Do not place your trust in nobles, nor in mortal man who has not the ability to bring deliverance.
4. When his spirit departs, he returns to his earth; on that very day, his plans come to naught.
5. Fortunate is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope rests upon the Lord his God.
6. He makes the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; He keeps His promise faithfully forever.
7. He renders justice to the oppressed; He gives food to the hungry; the Lord releases those who are bound.
8. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord straightens those who are bowed; the Lord loves the righteous.
9. The Lord watches over the strangers; He gives strength to orphan and widow; He thwarts the way of the wicked.
10. The Lord shall reign forever, your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 147
This psalm recounts God's greatness, and His kindness and goodness to His creations.
1. Praise the Lord! Sing to our God for He is good; praise befits Him for He is pleasant.
2. The Lord is the rebuilder of Jerusalem; He will gather the banished of Israel.
3. He heals the broken-hearted, and bandages their wounds.
4. He counts the number of the stars; He gives a name to each of them.
5. Great is our Master and abounding in might; His understanding is beyond reckoning.
6. The Lord strengthens the humble; He casts the wicked to the ground.
7. Lift your voices to the Lord in gratitude; sing to our God with the harp.
8. He covers the heaven with clouds; He prepares rain for the earth, and makes grass grow upon the mountains.
9. He gives the animal its food, to the young ravens which cry to Him.
10. He does not desire [those who place their trust in] the strength of the horse, nor does He want those who rely upon the thighs [swiftness] of man.
11. He desires those who fear Him, those who long for His kindness.
12. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; Zion, extol your God.
13. For He has strengthened the bolts of your gates; He has blessed your children in your midst.
14. He has made peace within your borders; He satiates you with the finest of wheat.
15. He issues His command to the earth; swiftly does His word run.
16. He dispenses snow like fleece; He scatters frost like ashes.
17. He hurls His ice like morsels; who can withstand His cold?
18. He sends forth His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19. He tells His words [Torah] to Jacob, His statutes and ordinances to Israel.
20. He has not done so for other nations, and they do not know [His] ordinances. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 148
The psalmist inspires one to praise God for His creations-above and below-all of which exist by God's might alone.
1. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the celestial heights.
2. Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts.
3. Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all the shining stars.
4. Praise Him, hea-ven of heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens.
5. Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for He comman-ded and they were created.
6. He has established them forever, for all time; He issued a decree, and it shall not be transgressed.
7. Praise the Lord from the earth, sea-monsters and all [that dwell in] the depths;
8. fire and hail, snow and vapor, stormy wind carrying out His command;
9. the mountains and all hills, fruit-bearing trees and all cedars;
10. the beasts and all cattle, creeping things and winged fowl;
11. kings of the earth and all nations, rulers and all judges of the land;
12. young men as well as maidens, elders with young lads.
13. Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for His Name is sublime, to Himself; its radiance [alone] is upon earth and heaven.
14. He shall raise the glory of His people, [increase] the praise of all His pious ones, the Children of Israel, the people close to Him. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 149
1. Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, [recount] His praise in the assembly of the pious.
2. Israel will rejoice in its Maker; the children of Zion will delight in their King.
3. They will praise His Name with dancing; they will sing to Him with the drum and harp.
4. For the Lord desires His people; He will adorn the humble with salvation.
5. The pious will exult in glory; they will sing upon their beds.
6. The exaltation of God is in their throat, and a double-edged sword in their hand,
7. to bring retribution upon the nations, punishment upon the peoples;
8. to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with iron fetters;
9. to execute upon them the prescribed judgment; it shall be a glory for all His pious ones. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 150
This psalm contains thirteen praises, alluding to the Thirteen Attributes (of Mercy) with which God conducts the world.
1. Praise the Lord! Praise God in His holiness; praise Him in the firmament of His strength.
2. Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His abundant greatness.
3. Praise Him with the call of the shofar; praise Him with harp and lyre.
4. Praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flute.
5. Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with clanging cymbals.
6. Let every soul praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
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 85, 86 and 87.
Chapter 85
In this prayer, lamenting the long and bitter exile, the psalmist asks why this exile is longer than the previous ones, and implores God to quickly fulfill His promise to redeem us. Every individual should offer this psalm when in distress.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. O Lord, You favored Your land; You returned the captives of Jacob.
3. You forgave the iniquity of Your people, and covered all their sin forever.
4. You withdrew all Your fury, and retreated from Your fierce anger.
5. Return us, O God of our salvation, and annul Your anger toward us.
6. Will You forever be angry with us? Will You draw out Your anger over all generations?
7. Is it not true that You will revive us again, and Your people will rejoice in You?
8. Show us Your kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your deliverance.
9. I hear what the Almighty Lord will say; for He speaks peace to His nation and to His pious ones, and they will not return to folly.
10. Indeed, His deliverance is near those who fear Him, that [His] glory may dwell in the land.
11. Kindness and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.
12. Truth will sprout from the earth, and righteousness will peer from heaven.
13. The Lord, too, will bestow goodness, and our land will yield its produce.
14. Righteousness shall walk before him, and he shall set his footsteps in [its] path.
Chapter 86
This psalm contains many prayers regarding David's troubles, and his enemies Doeg and Achitophel. It also includes many descriptions of God's praise. Every individual can offer this psalm when in distress.
1. A prayer by David. Lord, turn Your ear, answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2. Guard my soul, for I am pious; You, my God, deliver Your servant who trusts in You.
3. Be gracious to me, my Lord, for to You I call all day.
4. Bring joy to the soul of Your servant, for to You, my Lord, I lift my soul.
5. For You, my Lord, are good and forgiving, and exceedingly kind to all who call upon You.
6. Lord, hear my prayer and listen to the voice of my supplications.
7. On the day of my distress I call upon You, for You will answer me.
8. There is none like You among the supernal beings, my Lord, and there are no deeds like Yours.
9. All the nations that You have made will come and bow down before You, my Lord, and give honor to Your Name,
10. for You are great and perform wonders, You alone, O God.
11. Lord, teach me Your way that I may walk in Your truth; unify my heart to fear Your Name.
12. I will praise You, my Lord, my God, with all my heart, and give honor to Your Name forever.
13. For Your kindness to me has been great; You have saved my soul from the depth of the grave.
14. O God, malicious men have risen against me; a band of ruthless men has sought my soul; they are not mindful of You.
15. But You, my Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth.
16. Turn to me and be gracious to me; grant Your strength to Your servant, and deliver the son of Your maidservant.
17. Show me a sign of favor, that my foes may see and be shamed, because You, Lord, have given me aid and consoled me.
Chapter 87
Composed to be sung in the Holy Temple, this psalm praises the glory of Jerusalem, a city that produces many great scholars, eminent personalities, and persons of good deeds. It also speaks of the good that will occur in the Messianic era.
1. By the sons of Korach, a psalm, a song devoted to the holy mountains [of Zion and Jerusalem].
2. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3. Glorious things are spoken of you, eternal city of God.
4. I will remind Rahav Egypt and Babylon concerning My beloved; Philistia and Tyre as well as Ethiopia, "This one was born there.”
5. And to Zion will be said, "This person and that was born there"; and He, the Most High, will establish it.
6. The Lord will count in the register of people, "This one was born there," Selah.
7. Singers as well as dancers [will sing your praise and say], "All my inner thoughts are of you."
Wednesday, Elul 29, 5777 · September 20, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 19
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A High Priest under the Same Roof as a Corpse
Negative Commandment 167
Translated by Berel Bell
The 167th prohibition is that a kohen gadol is forbidden from being under the same roof as a dead body, even if it is someone who there is a command to mourn, i.e. a close relative.1
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,2 "He shall not come into [a tent containing] any dead body."
If he makes himself tameh — even for his father or mother — he is punished by lashes.
FOOTNOTES
1.I.e. father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister.
2.Lev. 21:11.
Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day
Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 6
Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 6
1
War, neither a milchemet hareshut or a milchemet mitzvah, should not be waged against anyone until they are offered the opportunity of peace as Deuteronomy 20:10 states: 'When you approach a city to wage war against it, you should propose a peaceful settlement.'
If the enemy accepts the offer of peace and commits itself to the fulfillment of the seven mitzvot that were commanded to Noah's descendents, none of them should be killed. Rather, they should be subjugated as ibid.:11 states: 'They shall be your subjects and serve you.'
If they agree to tribute, but do not accept subjugation or if they accept subjugation, but do not agree to tribute, their offer should not be heeded. They must accept both.
The subjugation they must accept consists of being on a lower level, scorned and humble. They must never raise their heads against Israel, but must remain subjugated under their rule. They may never be appointed over a Jew in any matter whatsoever.
The tribute they must accept consists of being prepared to support the king's service with their money and with their persons; for example, the building of walls, strengthening the fortresses, building the king's palace, and the like as I Kings 9:15-22) relates: "This is the tribute which Solomon raised to build the House of God, his own palace, the Milo, the wall of Jerusalem,... and all the store-cities which Solomon had... All the people that remained from the Amorites... upon them did Solomon lay a tribute of bondservice until this day."
In contrast, Solomon did not make bondsmen out of the children of Israel. They were men of war, his personal servants, his princes, his captains, the officers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
א
אין עושין מלחמה עם אדם בעולם עד שקוראין לו שלום אחד מלחמת הרשות ואחד מלחמת מצוה שנאמר כי תקרב אל עיר להלחם עליה וקראת אליה לשלום אם השלימו וקבלו שבע מצות שנצטוו בני נח עליהן אין הורגין מהן נשמה והרי הן למס שנאמר יהיו לך למס ועבדוך קבלו עליהן המס ולא קבלו העבדות או שקבלו העבדות ולא קבלו המס אין שומעין להם עד שיקבלו שניהם והעבדות שיקבלו הוא שיהיו נבזים ושפלים למטה ולא ירימו ראש בישראל אלא יהיו כבושים תחת ידם ולא יתמנו על ישראל לשום דבר שבעולם והמס שיקבלו שיהיו מוכנים לעבודת המלך בגופם וממונם כגון בנין החומות וחוזק המצודות ובנין ארמון המלך וכיוצא בו שנאמר וזה דבר המס אשר העלה המלך שלמה לבנות את בית ה' ואת ביתו ואת המלוא ואת חומת ירושלים ואת כל ערי המסכנות אשר היו לשלמה כל העם הנותר מן האמורי ויעלם שלמה למס עובד עד היום הזה ומבני ישראל לא נתן שלמה עבד כי הם אנשי המלחמה ועבדיו ושריו ושלישיו ושרי רכבו ופרשיו:
2
In the settlement he offers, the king may propose that he is entitled to take half their financial resources. Or he may propose to take all their landed property and leave them their movable property; or to take all their movable property and leave their land.
ב
ויש למלך להתנות עמהם שיקח חצי ממונם או הקרקעות ויניח כל המטלטלין או המטלטלים ויניח הקרקעות כפי מה שיתנה:
3
It is forbidden to lie when making such a covenant or to be untruthful to them after they have made peace and accepted the seven mitzvot.
ג
ואסור לשקר בבריתם ולכזב להם אחר שהשלימו וקבלו שבע מצות:
4
If they do not agree to a peaceful settlement, or if they agree to a peaceful settlement, but refuse to accept the seven mitzvot, war should be waged against them.
All males past majority should be killed. Their money and their children should be taken as spoil, but neither women or children should be killed, as Deuteronomy 20:14 states: 'But the women and the children... take as spoil." 'The children' refer to males below the age of majority.
The above applies to a milchemet hareshut fought with other nations. However, if either the seven nations or Amalek refuse to accept a peaceful settlement, not one soul of them may be left alive as ibid. 20:15-16 states: 'Do this to all the cities that ... are not the cities of these nations. However, from the cities of these nations,... do not leave a soul alive.' Similarly, in regard to Amalek, Deuteronomy 25:19 states: 'Obliterate the memory of Amalek.'
How do we know that these commands are only referring to those who did not accept a peaceful settlement? Joshua 11:19-20 states: 'There was no city which accepted a peaceful settlement with the children of Israel except the Chivites who lived in Gibeon. All the rest, they conquered in battle. This was inspired by God, Who strengthened their hearts to engage in battle against Israel so that they would be destroyed.' From these statements, we can infer that a peaceful settlement was offered, but they did not accept it.
ד
ואם לא השלימו או שהשלימו ולא קבלו שבע מצות עושין עמהם מלחמה והורגין כל הזכרים הגדולים ובוזזין כל ממונם וטפם ואין הורגין אשה ולא קטן שנאמר והנשים והטף זה טף של זכרים במה דברים אמורים במלחמת הרשות שהוא עם שאר האומות אבל שבעה עממין ועמלק שלא השלימו אין מניחין מהם נשמה שנאמר כן תעשה לכל וגו' רק מערי העמים לא תחיה כל נשמה וכן הוא אומר בעמלק תמחה את זכר עמלק ומנין שאינו מדבר אלא באלו שלא השלימו שנאמר לא היתה עיר אשר השלימה אל בני ישראל בלתי החוי יושבי גבעון את הכל לקחו במלחמה כי מאת ה' היתה לחזק את לבם לקראת המלחמה את ישראל למען החרימם מכלל ששלחו להם לשלום ולא קבלו:
5
Joshua sent three letters to the Canaanites before entering the promised land: At first, he sent them: 'Whoever desires to flee, should flee.'
Afterwards, he sent a second message: 'Whoever desires to accept a peaceful settlement, should make peace.'
Then, he sent again: 'Whoever desires war, should do battle.'
If so, why did the inhabitants of Gibeon employ a ruse? Because originally, when he sent the message to them as part of all the Canaanite nations, they did not accept. They were not aware of the laws of Israel and thought that they would never be offered a peaceful settlement again.
Why was the matter difficult for the princes of Israel to accept to the point that they desired to slay the Gibeonites by the sword were it not for the oath they had taken? Because they made a covenant with them and Deuteronomy 7:2 states 'Do not make a covenant with them.' Rather, the laws governing their status would have prescribed that they be subjugated as servants.
Since the oath was given to them under false pretenses, it would have been just to slay them for misleading them, were it not for the dishonor to God's name which would have been caused.
ה
שלשה כתבים שלח יהושע עד שלא נכנס לארץ הראשון שלח להם מי שרוצה לברוח יברח וחזר ושלח מי שרוצה להשלים ישלים וחזר ושלח מי שרוצה לעשות מלחמה יעשה אם כן מפני מה הערימו יושבי גבעון לפי ששלח להם בכלל ולא קבלו ולא ידעו משפט ישראל ודימו ששוב אין פותחין להם לשלום ולמה קשה הדבר לנשיאים וראו שראוי להכותם לפי חרב לולי השבועה מפני שכרתו להם ברית והרי הוא אומר לא תכרות להם ברית אלא היה דינם שיהיו למס עבדים והואיל ובטעות נשבעו להן בדין היה שיהרגו על שהטעום לולי חלול השם:
6
No offer of a peaceful settlement should be made to Ammon and Moav, as Deuteronomy 23:7 states: 'Do not seek their peace and welfare for all your days.' Our Sages declared: Although it is written: 'Offer a peaceful settlement,' does this apply to Ammon and Moab? The Torah states: 'Do not seek their peace and welfare.'
Although it is written Deuteronomy 23:17: 'He must be allowed to live alongside you in you midst,' does this apply to Ammon and Moav? No, the Torah also forbids 'their welfare.'
Even though we should not offer them a peaceful settlement, if they sue for peace themselves, we may accept their offer.
ו
עמון ומואב אין שולחין להם לשלום שנאמר לא תדרוש שלומם וטובתם כל ימיך אמרו חכמים לפי שנאמר וקראת אליה לשלום יכול עמון ומואב כן תלמוד לומר לא תדרוש שלומם וטובתם לפי שנאמר עמך ישב בקרבך בטוב לו לא תוננו יכול עמון ומואב כן תלמוד לומר וטובתם ואע"פשאין שואלים בשלומם אם השלימו מעצמם תחלה מקבלין אותן:
7
When a siege is placed around a city to conquer it, it should not be surrounded on all four sides, only on three. A place should be left for the inhabitants to flee and for all those who desire, to escape with their lives, as it is written Numbers 31:7: 'And they besieged Midian as God commanded Moses.' According to tradition, He commanded them to array the siege as described.
ז
כשצרין על עיר לתפשה אין מקיפין אותה מארבע רוחותיה אלא משלש רוחותיה ומניחין מקום לבורח ולכל מי שירצה להמלט על נפשו שנאמר ויצבאו על מדין כאשר צוה ה' את משה מפי השמועה למדו שבכך צוהו:
8
We should not cut down fruit trees outside a city nor prevent an irrigation ditch from bringing water to them so that they dry up, as Deuteronomy 20:19 states: 'Do not destroy its trees.' Anyone who cuts down such a tree should be lashed.
This does not apply only in a siege, but in all situations. Anyone who cuts down a fruit tree with a destructive intent, should be lashed.
Nevertheless, a fruit tree may be cut down if it causes damage to other trees or to fields belonging to others, or if a high price could be received for its wood. The Torah only prohibited cutting down a tree with a destructive intent.
ח
אין קוצצין אילני מאכל שחוץ למדינה ואין מונעין מהם אמת המים כדי שייבשו שנאמר לא תשחית את עצה וכל הקוצץ לוקה ולא במצור בלבד אלא בכ"מ כל הקוצץ אילן מאכל דרך השחתה לוקה אבל קוצצין אותו אם היה מזיק אילנות אחרים או מפני שמזיק בשדה אחרים או מפני שדמיו יקרים לא אסרה תורה אלא דרך השחתה:
9
It is permissible to cut down any non-fruit bearing tree, even if one has no need for it. Similarly, one may cut down a fruit bearing tree that has become old and produces only a slight yield which does not warrant the effort required to care for it.
What is the yield that an olive tree must produce to warrant that it should not be cut down? A quarter of a kav of olives. Similarly, a date palm which yields a kav of dates should not be cut down.
ט
כל אילן סרק מותר לקוץ אותו ואפילו אינו צריך לו וכן אילן מאכל שהזקין ואינו עושה אלא דבר מועט שאינו ראוי לטרוח בו מותר לקוץ אותו וכמה יהא הזית עושה ולא יקוצנו רובע הקב זיתים ודקל שהוא עושה קב תמרים לא יקוצנו:
10
This prohibition does not apply to trees alone. Rather, anyone who breaks utensils, tears garments, destroys buildings, stops up a spring, or ruins food with a destructive intent transgresses the command 'Do not destroy.' However, he is not lashed. Instead, he receives stripes for rebellious conductas instituted by the Sages.
י
ולא האילנות בלבד אלא כל המשבר כלים וקורע בגדים והורס בנין וסותם מעין ומאבד מאכלות דרך השחתה עובר בלא תשחית ואינו לוקה אלא מכת מרדות מדבריהם:
11
We should lay siege to the gentiles' cities at least three days before the Sabbath. We may engage in battle with them every day, even on the Sabbath, as Deuteronomy 20:20 states: 'against the city waging war with you until you subjugate it.' Our Sages explain: this implies 'even on the Sabbath.' This applies to both a milchemet mitzvah and a milchemet hareshut.
יא
צרין על עיירות של עכו"ם שלשה ימים קודם השבת ועושין עמהם מלחמה בכל יום ויום ואפילו בשבת שנאמר עד רדתה ואפילו בשבת בין מלחמת מצוה בין מלחמת רשות:
12
The army may camp anywhere.
A person killed in the war should be buried where he falls. He acquires that place in the same manner as a meit mitzvah acquires his.
יב
כשחונין חונין בכל מקום ומי שנהרג במלחמה במקום שיפול שם יקבר קונה מקומו כמת מצוה:
13
Four leniencies are permitted in an army camp:
a) Demai may be eaten.
b) There is no requirement to wash one's hands before eating bread.
c) Wood may be gathered from anywhere. Even if one finds wood that has been cut down and dried, there is no objection to taking it for an army camp.
d) There is no obligation to make an eruv chatzeirot for an army camp. Rather, one may carry from tent to tent and from booth to booth.
The latter is only permitted when the entire camp is surrounded by a barrier at least ten handbreadths high, for as explained in Hilchot Shabbat, a barrier must be at least ten handbreadths high.
Just as these leniencies apply when the army goes out to war, they apply when it returns.
יג
ארבעה דברים פטרו במחנה: אוכלים הדמאי ופטורים מרחיצת ידים בתחלה ומביאין עצים מכל מקום ואפילו מצאן תלושים ויבשים אין מקפידין על כך במחנה וכן פטורין מלערב עירובי חצירות במחנה אלא מטלטלין מאהל לאהל ומסוכה לסוכה והוא שיקיפו כל המחנה מחיצה גבוהה עשרה טפחים כדי שתהיה רשות יחיד כמו שנתבאר בהלכות שבת ואין מחיצה פחותה מעשרה וכשם שפטורין מכל אלו בהליכתן כך פטורין בחזרתן:
14
It is forbidden to defecate in an army camp or in an open field anywhere. Rather, it is a positive commandment to establish comfort facilities for the soldiers to defecate as Deuteronomy 23:13 commands: 'Designate a place outside the camp to use as a lavatory.'
יד
ואסור להפנות בתוך המחנה או על פני השדה בכ"מ אלא מצות עשה לתקן שם דרך מיוחדת להפנות בה שנאמר ויד תהיה לך מחוץ למחנה:
15
Similarly, it is a positive commandment for every single soldier to have a spike hanging together with his weapons. When he goes out and uses those comfort facilities, he should dig with it, relieve himself, and cover his excrement as ibid.:14 states 'You must keep a spike among your weapons.'
They must follow these practices at all times, whether the ark accompanies them or not, as ibid.:15 states: 'God walks among your camp,... therefore, your camp shall be holy.'
טו
וכן מצות עשה להיות יתד לכל אחד ואחד תלויה עם כלי מלחמתו ויצא באותה הדרך ויחפור בה ויפנה ויכסה שנאמר ויתד תהיה לך על אזניך וגו' ובין שיש עמהן ארון ובין שאין עמהן ארון כך הם עושים תמיד שנאמר והיה מחניך קדוש:
Rambam - 3 Chapters a Day
Avel - Chapter 6, Avel - Chapter 7, Avel - Chapter 8
Avel - Chapter 6
1
According to Rabbinic Law, a mourner should observe some of the mourning practices for 30 days. Which source did our Sages use as a support for the concept of 30 days? Deuteronomy 21:13 states: "And she shall cry for her father and mother for a month." Implied is that a mourner will feel discomfort for a month.
א
מדברי סופרים שיהיה האבל נוהג במקצת דברי אבילות כל שלשים יום ומנין סמכו חכמים לשלשים יום שנאמר ובכתה את אביה ואת אמה ירח ימים מכלל שהאבל מצטער כל שלשים יום:
2
These are the practices forbidden to a mourner for the entire 30-day period. He is forbidden to cut his hair, to wear freshly ironed clothing, to marry, to enter a celebration of friends, and to go on a business trip to another city; five matters in all.
ב
ואלו דברים שהאבל אסור בהן כל שלשים יום: אסור בתספורת ובגיהוץ ובנשואין ובשמחת מרעות ולילך בסחורה ממדינה למדינה הכל חמשה דברים:
3
What does the prohibition against cutting one's hair involve? Just as it is forbidden to cut any of the hair of one's body, to shave one's mustache, or to cut one's nails with a utensil through the seven days of mourning;66 so, too, he is forbidden throughout these 30 days.
To whom does the above apply? To a man. A woman, by contrast, is permitted to remove hair after seven days although a man must wait 30. For one's father or mother, a man is obligated to let his hair grow until it becomes noticeably long or until his colleagues rebuke him for not attending to his appearance.
ג
בתספורת כיצד כשם שאסור לספר כל שער גופו או לגלח שפמו או לקוץ צפרניו בכלי כל שבעה כך אסור כל שלשים יום בד"א באיש אבל באשה מותרת בנטילת שער לאחר שבעה והאיש עד שלשים יום ועל אביו ועל אמו חייב לגדל שערו עד שישלח פרע או עד שיגערו בו חביריו:
4
Similarly, a mourner is forbidden to wear new white clothes that have been ironed for 30 days. This applies to both a man and a woman. If they are colored and ironed, it is permitted. Similarly, if they are not new although they are white and ironed, it is permitted. There is no prohibition against wearing linen clothes that were ironed.
After 30 days, one may wear ironed clothes, even if one is in mourning for one's father or mother.
ד
וכן אסור ללבוש כלים לבנים חדשים ומגוהצין כל שלשים יום אחד האיש ואחד האשה היו צבועין ומגוהצין מותרין וכן אם לא היו חדשים אע"פ שהן לבנים ומגוהצין מותרין וכלי פשתן אין בהן משום גיהוץ ולאחר שלשים יום מותר בגיהוץ אפילו על אביו ועל אמו:
5
What does the prohibition against marriage involve? It is forbidden to marry a woman throughout these 30 days. It is, however, permitted to consecrate her even on the day of the death of one's relative.
When a man's wife dies, if he already fulfilled the mitzvah of procreation, and he has someone to attend to him and he does not have young children, he may not remarry until three festivals pass. If, however, a person has not fulfilled the mitzvah of procreation, or fulfilled the mitzvah and has young children, or does not have someone to attend to him, he is permitted to consecrate and marry immediately. It is, however, forbidden for him to enter into relations with his wife until 30 days have passed. Similarly, a woman who was in mourning should not enter into relations until 30 days have passed.
ה
בנישואין כיצד אסור לישא אשה כל שלשים יום ומותר לארשה אפילו ביום המיתה ומי שמתה אשתו אם כבר קיים מצות פריה ורביה ויש לו מי שישמשנו ואין לו בנים קטנים הרי זה אסור לישא אשה אחרת עד שיעברו עליו שלשה רגלים אבל מי שלא קיים מצות פריה ורביה או שקיים ויש לו בנים קטנים או שאין לו מי שישמשנו הרי זה מותר לארשה ולכנוס מיד ואסור לו לבא עליה עד שלשים יום וכן האשה שהיתה אבלה לא תבעל עד שלשים יום:
6
A friendly get-together which a person is obligated to requite immediately may be held immediately after the seven days of mourning. If, however, he is not obligated to requite such a gathering, he is forbidden to enter one until 30 days pass.
ו
שמחת מרעות שהיה חייב לפרוע אותה מיד מותר לעשותה מיד לאחר שבעה אבל אם אינו חייב לפרעה אסור להכנס לה עד שלשים יום:
7
When does the above apply? When one is mourning for other deceased persons. When mourning for one's father or mother, by contrast, under all circumstances, one is forbidden to enter a friendly gathering for twelve months.
ז
במה דברים אמורים בשאר כל מתים אבל על אביו ועל אמו בין כך ובין כך לא יכנס לשמחת מרעות עד שנים עשר חדש:
8
When mourning for all other deceased persons, one is permitted to go on a business trip immediately after 30 days pass. When mourning for one's father or mother, by contrast, one should not go until his colleagues rebuke him and tell him: "Come with us."
ח
על כל המתים כולן מותר לילך בסחורה לאחר שלשים על אביו ועל אמו עד שיגערו בו חביריו ויאמרו לו לך עמנו:
9
When mourning for all other deceased persons, if one desires, one may reduce his business activities. If he does not desire, he need not reduce them. When mourning for one's father or mother, by contrast, one should reduce one's business activities.
ט
על כל המתים כולן רצה ממעט בעסקו רצה אינו ממעט על אביו ועל אמו ממעט בעסקו:
10
When a person is journeying from place to place, he should minimize his commercial activity if possible. If not, he should purchase the articles he needs for his journey and articles which are necessary to maintain his existence.
י
ההולך ממקום למקום אם יכול למעט בעסקו ימעט ואם לאו יקנה צרכי הדרך ודברים שיש בהן חיי נפש:
11
When a person's husband, wife, father, or mother was crucified in a city, it is forbidden for him to dwell in that city until the flesh of the corpse decomposes. If it is a major metropolis like Antioch, one may dwell in the other portion of the city, where one's relatives are not crucified.
יא
מי שהיה בעלה צלוב בעיר או אשתו צלובה או אביו ואמו אסור לו לשכון באותה העיר עד שיכלה הבשר ואם היתה עיר גדולה כאנטוכיא יש לו לשכון בצד האחר שאינן צלובין בו:
12
Even a portion of the seventh day is considered as the entire day and is counted both as part of the seven days of acute mourning and the 30 days of mourning. Therefore it is permissible to launder, to wash, and to perform other activities on the seventh day. Similarly, even a portion of the thirtieth day is considered as the entire day and it is permitted to cut one's hair and iron one's clothes on that day.
יב
יום שביעי מקצתו ככולו והוא עולה לכאן ולכאן ולפיכך מותר לכבס ולרחוץ ולעשות שאר הדברים ביום שביעי וכן יום שלשים מקצתו ככולו ומותר לספר ולגהץ ביום שלשים:
13
The following laws apply when one suffers several losses for which he is required to mourn one after the other. If his hair grows overly long, he may trim it with a razor, but not with scissors. He may wash his clothes in water, but not with soap or using sand. He may wash his entire body in cold water, but not in hot water.
Similarly, when one suffers repeated losses for which he must mourn after arriving from an overseas journey, being released from captivity or prison, being released from a ban of ostracism under which he had being placed, being absolved from a vow which he had taken, or emerging from a state of ritual impurity to one of purity, he may cut his hair in the midst of the period of mourning. The rationale is that one period of mourning followed the other and the people did not have the opportunity to care for themselves.
יג
מי שתכפוהו אבליו והכביד שערו מיקל בתער לא במספרים ומכבס כסותו במים אבל לא בנתר ולא בחול ורוחץ כל גופו בצונן אבל לא בחמין וכן מי שתכפוהו אבליו ובא ממדינת הים ומבית השביה או שיצא מבית האסורים או שהיה מנודה והותר או שהיה מודר ונשאל על נדרו והותר וכל היוצא מטומאה לטהרה הרי אלו מגלחין בימי אבלם הואיל ותכפם אבל אחר אבל ולא מצאו פנאי:
Avel - Chapter 7
1
The following rules apply when a person receives a report that a close relative of his died. If he received the report within 30 days of the person's death - even on the thirtieth day itself - it is considered a proximate report. He must observe the seven days of mourning from the time he receives the report. He must rend his garments and count 30 days for the prohibition against cutting one's hair and the other factors from that date. The general principle is: The day on which he hears the report is like the day of the person's burial.
If, however, a person receives a report after 30 days, it is considered as a distant report. He observes mourning rites for only one day and is not required to rend his garments. It is as if the day of the report is both the seventh day and the thirtieth day. And we follow the principle: A portion of the day is considered as the entire day.
א
מי שבאה לו שמועה שמת לו קרוב אם בתוך שלשים יום הגיעה השמועה אפילו יום שלשים עצמו הרי זו שמועה קרובה וחייב לנהוג שבעה ימי אבילות מיום שהגיעה השמועה וקורע ומונה שלשים לאיסור התספורת עם שאר הדברים כללו של דבר יום שמועתו הקרובה כיום הקבורה: אבל אם הגיעה לו השמועה אחר השלשים יום הרי זו שמועה רחוקה ואינה נוהגת אלא יום אחד ואינו קורע וכאילו יום השמועה הוא יום שביעי ויום שלשים ומקצת היום ככולו:
2
What is implied by the statement: A portion of the day is considered as the entire day? Once one observed the mourning rites for a certain time He is permitted to wear shoes, wash, anoint himself, and cut his hair during the remainder of the day. Similarly, he has license not to observe any of the mourning rites.
ב
כיצד מקצת היום ככולו כיון שנהג אבילות שעה אחת כאילו נהג כל היום כולו ומותר לנעול ולרחוץ ולסוך ולגלח בשאר היום וכן הוא מותר בכל הדברים:
3
When a person hears a proximate report in the midst of a festival or on the Sabbath and after the Sabbath or after the festival, the report will become distant, the Sabbath or the festival are counted for him. Thus he observes only one day of mourning after the festival or after the Sabbath. And a portion of the day is considered as the entire day as explained.
ג
מי שבאה לו שמועה קרובה בתוך הרגל או ביום שבת ולאחר שבת או אחר הרגל נעשית רחוקה עולה לו ואינו נוהג לאחר הרגל או לאחר השבת אלא יום אחד בלבד ומקצת היום ככולו כמו שביארנו:
4
The following rules apply when a close relative of a person dies and that person does not know until he comes to that place. If he was in a close place, e.g., within ten parseot away, and thus he could come in one day, even if he came on the seventh day, if he finds people offering comfort to the person of greatest stature in the family, it is considered as if he was together with them and he counts with them the remainder of the 30 days. This applies even if they had already begun to rise, as long as he finds comforters, he counts with the other mourners.
If he did not find comforters, he counts for himself. Similarly, if he comes from a distant place, even if he comes on the second day, he counts seven and thirty days for himself from the day he comes.
ד
מי שמת לו קרוב ולא ידע עד שבא אם היה במקום קרוב שהוא מהלך עשרה פרסאות שאפשר שיבא ביום אחד אפילו בא ביום השביעי אם מצא מנחמים אצל גדול הבית אף על פי שננערו לעמוד הואיל ומצא מנחמים עולה לו ומונה עמהן תשלום שלשים יום ואם לא מצא מנחמים מונה לעצמו וכן אם היה במקום רחוק אפילו בא ביום שני מונה לעצמו שבעה ושלשים מיום שבא:
5
During the first three days of mourning, a mourner does not even go the house of another mourner. From that time onward, he may go, but he does not sit together with those offering comfort, but with those receiving comfort. He should not leave the entrance to his house to go any place for the entire first week. During the second week, he may leave his home, but should not sit in his ordinary place. During the third week, he may sit in his ordinary place, but should not speak in his ordinary manner. During the fourth week, he is like any other person.
ה
אבל בשלשה ימים הראשונים אינו הולך אפילו לבית אבל אחר מכאן ואילך הולך ואינו יושב במקום המנחמין אלא במקום המתנחמין ולא יצא למקום אחר מפתח ביתו כל שבת הראשונה שניה יוצא ואינו יושב במקומו שלישית יושב במקומו ואינו מדבר כדרכו רביעית הרי הוא ככל אדם:
6
The High Priest is obligated to observe all the mourning practices, except that he is forbidden to rend the upper portion of his garments, to let his hair grow long, or to follow the bier in the funeral procession.
The entire Jewish people come to his house to comfort him. When they bring him the meal of comfort, all of the people must sit on the ground; he, by contrast, sits on a bench. When they comfort him, they tell him: "We are atonement for you." And he tells them: "May you be blessed from heaven."
If he desires to comfort others, the deputee has him positioned among the people. And he tells the mourners: "Be comforted."
ו
כהן גדול חייב בכל דברי אבילות אלא שאסור לו לקרוע בגדיו למעלה ולגדל פרע ולצאת אחר המטה וכל העם באין לנחמו לביתו וכשמברין אותו כל העם מסובין על הארץ והוא מיסב על הספסל ואומרין לו כשמנחמין אותו אנו כפרתך והוא אומר להם תתברכו מן השמים ואם רצה לנחם אחרים הממונה ממצעו בתוך העם ואומר להם תנוחמו:
7
Similarly, a king is obligated to observe all the mourning practices, except that he does not leave his palace in the funeral procession for his dead. Needless to say, this applies with regard to other deceased. Nor does he comfort mourners. King David followed Avner's funeral procession only to show the people that he was not slain because of David's desire.
ז
וכן המלך חייב בכל דברי אבילות אלא שאינו יוצא מפתח פלטרין שלו אחר מתו ואין צריך לומר אחר מתים אחרים ואינו מנחם אבלים ולא יצא דוד אחר אבנר אלא להודיע לעם שלא נהרג ברצונו:
8
No one enters the king's presence to comfort him except his servants and those who are given permission to enter. They do not have permission to speak words of comfort except what he allows them. When they serve him the meal of comfort, all of the others recline on the ground and he reclines on a dargesh.
ח
אין אדם נכנס למלך לנחמו אלא עבדיו ומי שנתן לו רשות להכנס ואין להן רשות לדבר לו דברי תנחומין אלא כפי מה שירשה אותם וכשמברין אותו כל העם מסובין על הארץ והוא מיסב על הדרגש:
Avel - Chapter 8
1
A mourner is obligated to rend his garments for his dead, as can be derived from Leviticus 10:6: "Do not rend your garments lest you die." Implied is that others must rend their garments.
One must rend one's garments only while standing, as II Samuel 13:31 states: "And the king stood and rent his garments."
Where does one rend his garment? In front. If one rends his garment from the back or from the sides or from the bottom, he does not fulfill the obligation to rend his garments, with the exception of a High Priest who must rend his garment from the bottom.
א
אבל חייב לקרוע על מתו שנאמר ובגדיכם לא תפרומו ולא תמותו הא אחר חייב לפרום ואין קריעה אלא מעומד שנאמר ויקם המלך ויקרע את בגדיו ומהיכן קורע מלפניו והקורע מאחריו או מן הצדדין או מלמטה לא יצא ידי חובת קריעה אלא כהן גדול שהוא פורם מלמטה:
2
What is the required measure for the tear? A handbreadth. It is not necessary to rip apart the border of the garment. One may rend his garments with a utensil.
One may rend one's garments inside, not in the presence of others. Therefore he may place his hand inside his garment and tear it modestly. He is only obligated to tear his upper garment.
ב
כמה שיעור הקרע טפח ואין צריך להבדיל שפת הבגד ומותר לו לקרוע בכלי ויש לו לקרוע בפנים שלא בפני אדם לפיכך יש לו להכניס ידו בפנים וקורע בצנעה ואינו חייב לקרוע אלא בגד העליון בלבד:
3
For the entire seven days of mourning, he keeps the tear in front of him. If he desires to change his garments, he may. He is not required to rend the second garment, for any tear that is not made at the time of emotional excitement, is not a tear.
When does the above apply? With regard to other deceased persons aside from his father and mother. For his father and mother, by contrast, he must rend his garment until he reveals his heart. He must rip apart the border of the garment; he may not tear it with a utensil, and must tear it outside, in the presence of people at large.
He must tear all the garments he is wearing. His underwear - i.e., the garments worn next to his flesh - need not be ripped. If he changes his clothes, he is required to rend them for all seven days. Similarly, for his father and mother, he uncovers his shoulder and takes his forearm out from his garment, revealing his shoulder and his forearm. He passes before the bier in this manner. After his father and his mother are buried, however, he is not required to uncover his shoulder.
ג
כל שבעת ימי אבלות הקרע לפנים ואם בא להחליף מחליף ואינו קורע קרע אחר שכל קרע שאינו בשעת חימום אינו קרע בד"א בשאר המתים חוץ מאביו ואמו אבל על אביו ועל אמו קורע עד שמגלה את לבו ומבדיל שפת הבגד ואינו קורע בכלי אלא בידו מבחוץ בפני כל העם וקורע כל הבגדים שעליו ובגד הזיעה הדבוק לבשרו אינו מעכב ואם החליף בגד אחר חייב לקרוע כל שבעה וכן על אביו ועל אמו חולץ כתיפו ומוציא זרועו מן החלוק עד שיתגלה כתיפו וזרועו והולך כך לפני המטה ואחר שיקבר אביו ואמו אינו חייב לחלוץ:
4
A child's garments should be torn to create sorrow.
When a dangerously ill person loses a close relative, we do not rend his garments, nor do we notify him lest he lose control of his emotions. We silence the women in his presence.
ד
קורעין לקטן מפני עגמת נפש וחולה שמת לו מת אין מקרעין לו ולא מודיעין לו שלא תטרף עליו דעתו ומשתקין את הנשים מפניו:
5
A person should rend his garments when his father-in-law and mother-in-law dies as an expression of honor for his wife. Similarly, a woman should rend her garments for her father-in-law and mother-in-law as an expression of honor for her husband.
ה
וקורע אדם על חמיו ועל חמותו מפני כבוד אשתו וכן האשה קורעת על חמיה ועל חמותה מפני כבוד בעלה:
6
When a person does not have an outer garment to tear at the time of a person's passing and he obtains a garment within the seven days of mourning, he is obligated to tear it. After seven days, he is not obligated to tear it. For his father and mother, he is obligated to tear it even if he obtains it after the seven days, but within the 30 days.
Whenever a person goes out wearing a torn garment before the dead implying that he tore the garment because of them, he is deceiving people and degrading the honor of the dead and the living.
ו
מי שאין לו חלוק לקרוע ונזדמן לו חלוק בתוך שבעה קורע לאחר שבעה אינו קורע ועל אביו ועל אמו אפילו לאחר שבעה קורע כל שלשים יום וכל היוצא בבגד קרוע לפני מתים כלומר שהוא קרע עתה עליהן הרי זה גונב דעת הבריות וזלזל בכבוד החיים והמתים:
7
When one tells a colleague: "Lend me your cloak so that I can visit my father who is dangerously ill," if, when he visits him, he finds that he died, he should rend the garment, mend it, and return it, reimbursing the owner for the tear. If he does not notify him that he is going to visit a person who is dangerously ill, he should not touch the garment.
ז
האומר לחבירו השאילני חלוקך ואבקר את אבי שהוא חולה והלך ומצאו שמת קורע ומאחה ומחזיר לו את חלוקו ונותן לו דמי קרעו ואם לא הודיעו שהוא מבקר לו חולה הרי זה לא יגע בו:
8
The following rules apply when one has a dangerously ill person in his home, that person faints and he thinks that he has died and hence, he rends his garments, the sick person regains consciousness and then dies. If he dies immediately after the garments are torn, he need not rend his garments again. If he dies after even a short time has past, he must rend his garments again.
Similar concepts apply if someone tells a person that his father died and he therefore rent his garments and then it was discovered that his son died or if someone told him that a person close to him died, he thought it was his father and rent his garments and then he discovered that it was his son. If he realized the true situation immediately afterwards, he fulfilled the obligation to rend his garments. If he did not realize this until afterwards, he did not fulfill his obligation and is obligated to rend his garments again.
ח
מי שהיה לו חולה בתוך ביתו ונתעלף וסבור שמת וקרא ואח"כ מת אם בתוך כדי דבור אינו חוזר וקורע ואם לאחר כדי דבור מת חוזר וקורע קרע אחר וכן מי שאמרו לו מת אביו וקרע ואחר כך נמצא שמת בנו אמרו לו מת לו מת וכסבור שאביו וקרע ואח"כ נמצא בנו אם תוך כדי דבור נודע לו אמיתת הדבר יצא ידי קריעה ואם לאחר כדי דבור לא יצא וחייב לקרוע קרע אחר:
9
When many close relatives die at once, a person should rend his garments once for all of them. If his father or mother are among them, he should rend his garments once for all the others, and once for his father or mother.
ט
מי שמתו לו מתים הרבה כאחד קורע קרע אחד לכולם היה בכללן אביו או אמו קורע על כולן קרע אחד ועל אביו ועל אמו קרע אחר:
10
The following rules apply when a person's close relative dies, he rends his garments because of him and then another close relative dies. If the second relative dies within the seven days of mourning, he should tear his garments again. If it is after the seven days, he need only add the slightest amount to the original tear.
If a third close relative dies after the seven days of mourning for the second, again, he need only add the slightest amount to the original tear. And he can continue in this manner until he reaches his navel. Once he reaches his navel, he should distance himself at least three thumbbreadths and rend the garment again.
When the garment is entirely torn in front, he may turn it around. When its upper portion is entirely torn, he may make the bottom the top.
If he was told: "Your father died," and he rent his garments and after the seven days of mourning, his son died and he extended the tear, he may mend the lower tear, but not the upper tear as will be explained. If he was told: "Your son died," and he rent his garments and after the seven days of mourning, his father died, he may not merely extend the tear. Instead, he must make a new tear. For extending a tear is not sufficient for his father and mother.
י
מי שמת לו מת וקרע עליו ואחר כך מת לו מת אחר אם בתוך שבעה קורע קרע אחר ואם לאחר שבעה מוסיף על הקרע הראשון כל שהוא מת לו מת שלישי אחר שבעה של שני מוסיף כל שהוא וכן מוסיף והולך עד טבורו הגיע לטבורו מרחיק שלש אצבעות וקורע נתמלא מלפניו מחזירו לאחוריו נתמלא מלמעלה הופכו למטה אמרו לו מת אביו וקרע ואחר שבעה מת בנו והוסיף מתאחה התחתון ולא העליון כמו שיתבאר אמרו לו מת בנו וקרע ואחר שבעה מת אביו אינו מוסיף אלא קורע קרע אחר שאין אביו ואמו בתוספת:
Hayom Yom
Today's Hayom Yom
Wednesday, Elul 29, 5777 · 20 September 2017
"Today's Day"
Wednesday, Elul 29, Erev Rosh Hashana, 5703
S'lichot in the very early morning; remain standing at Vayomer David. Hatarat Nedarim (Annulment of Vows, p. 269), with ten participants. Eiruv Tavshilin (p. 249).
Torah lessons: Chumash: Ha'azinu, Revi'i with Rashi.
Tehillim: 140-150. Also 85-87.
Tanya: The letters that (p. 497) ...as known. (p. 497).
Birth of the Tzemach Tzedek, 5549 (1789).
From the Alter Rebbe's aphorisms: We have absolutely no conception how precious to G-d is the body of a Jew.
Daily Thought:
Happy Birthday, Universe
Every year, our sages taught, with the cry of the shofar the entire universe is reborn.
And so, at that time, with our resolutions and our prayers, we hold an awesome power: To determine what sort of child this newborn year shall be—how it will take its first breaths, how it will struggle to its feet and how it will carry us through life for the twelve months to come.
In truth, it is not only once a year: At every new moon, in a smaller way, all life is renewed again.
And so too, every morning, we are all reborn from a nighttime taste of death.
And at every moment—in the smallest increment of time—every particle of the universe is projected into being out of absolute nothingness, as it was at the very beginning.
Which is why there is always hope. Because at every moment, life is born anew. And we are the masters of how this moment will be born.
-------
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 19
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Part (i)
In order to “enable” the Ein Sof-light, by definition infinite, to create worlds, which are finite, an intermediary is needed — to bridge the chasm between infinity and finitude. This intermediary, Torah,1 is alluded to in our opening verse,2 “He enwraps [Himself with] light as [with] a garment....”
Now any intermediary must itself partake of each of the levels it bridges.3 Torah thus comprises both “light” and “garment”. The “light” of Torah is its infinite inwardness, “[whose] measure is longer than the earth....”;4 the “garment” of Torah refers to its finite and revealed exterior, which relates to the finite worlds. In the letter before us, the Alter Rebbe explains how the revealed “garment” (the nigleh) of Torah has concealed within it the inward “light” (the pnimiyut) of Torah. He also clarifies the difference between the comprehension of Torah and prophetic comprehension.
עוטה אור כשלמה וגו׳
”He wraps [Himself with] light as [with] a garment...”
This verse speaks of “light” hidden within a “garment”. The Alter Rebbe will explain here how the “light” of Torah that transcends revelation is vested in a concealing “garment”.
הנה בלקוטי תורה של האריז״ל, פרשת כי תשא ופרשת ויקרא, כתב כי השגת משה רבנו עליו השלום לא היתה בבחינת פנימיות דחכמה עילאה
In Likkutei Torah, by R. Isaac Luria, of blessed memory, Parshat Ki Tissa and Parshat Vayikra, it is stated5 that Moshe Rabbeinu, peace to him, did not apprehend the pnimiyut (i.e., the most inward and profound level) of Supernal Chochmah,
הנקרא אבא דאצילות
which is called “Abba of Atzilut,”
The degree of Divinity called Supernal Chochmah is not limited to the Sefirah of Chochmah in the World of Atzilut: it also possesses a number of levels that transcend it, such as Chochmah of Keter, Chochmah of Adam Kadmon, and so on. The Alter Rebbe is now explaining that not only were these loftier levels of Supernal Chochmah beyond Moses’ apprehension, but so too was even the pnimiyut of the Chochmah of Atzilut (i.e., Abbaof Atzilut).
וכל שכן בספירת הכתר שלמעלה ממנה, הנקרא אריך אנפין
and a fortiori, not the Sefirah of Keter, called Arich Anpin, that transcends [Chochmah].
For the very name Arich Anpin6 (lit., “the Long Countenance”) implies a level of Divinity of infinite extent, and hence beyond the reach of any soul clothed in a body.
כי אם בבחינת אחוריים דחכמה, המתלבשים בבינה
Rather, [Moshe Rabbeinu apprehended as far as] the achorayim (the exterior levels) of Chochmah, which are vested in Binah,
Unlike the internal and essential aspect of Chochmah, the exterior aspect of Chochmah is capable of descending into lower levels of Divinity, such as the Sefirah of Binah.
המתלבשת בז׳ ספירות תחתונות, שנקראות זעיר אנפין
which in turn is vested in the seven lower Sefirot, [collectively] called Z’eir Anpin7 (lit., the “Small Countenance”) —
This name implies a level of Divinity which is contracted to within finite dimensions. In this spirit, the seven emotive attributes are termed middot, whose singular form מדה translates literally as “measure”, for it refers to the [infinite] Ein Sof-light when it is at the stage of having garbed itself in finitude, in order thereby to become the source for created worlds.
סוד התורה
the mystic principle of the Torah.
The manner in which Supernal Chochmah descends through Binah and finds diverse expression within the seven emotive attributes, underlies the divergence of halachic rulings within the Torah. For the laws of the Torah — determining what is kasher (valid) versus pasul (invalid), innocent versus guilty, pure versus impure, and so on — derive from these emotive attributes. Rulings of what is kasher, innocent and pure, derive from Chesed (the attribute of kindness); rulings of what is pasul, guilty and impure, derive from Gevurah (the attribute of severity); and so on.
ומתפשטת עד סוף ד׳ ספירות התחתונות, שהן נצח, הוד, יסוד, מלכות
Moreover, [Supernal Chochmah] extends to the end of the four lowest Sefirot: Netzach, Hod, Yesod and Malchut (in the Hebrew text abbreviated נהי״מ).
These latter four emotive attributes are merely the extrinsic offshoots of the first three basic emotive attributes — Chesed, Gevurah and Tiferet, which they activate and cause to descend.
ושם היתה השגת נבואתו בבחינת פנימיות, דהיינו מבחינת פנימיות דנהי״מ
There [Moshe Rabbeinu’s] prophecy apprehended the pnimiyut, i.e., the inner dimension of Netzach, Hod, Yesod and Malchut, whose function is to bring about the descent of the loftier Sefirot within the worlds that are below Atzilut.
אבל למעלה מנהי״מ לא היתה לו שום השגה בפנימיות, כי אם בבחינת אחוריים דחכמה המלובשים בבינה, המלובשת ומתפשטת תוך פנימיות דנהי״מ
However, his apprehension did not extend to the pnimiyut of the levels [of Divinity] transcending Netzach-Hod-Yesod-Malchut, but only to the achorayim (the external aspect) of Chochmah which is vested in Binah, whichin turn is vested and extended within the pnimiyut of Netzach-Hod-Yesod-Malchut.
In his Glosses and Emendations to this work the Rebbe asks: What does the Alter Rebbe accomplish by repeating that the external aspect of Chochmah vests itself in Binah and in turn in Netzach-Hod-Yesod-Malchut? It will be noted that here the Alter Rebbe does not mention its being clothed in the other attributes as he had done earlier, but only its vestiture in Binah and in Netzach-Hod-Yesod-Malchut.
בסוד נובלות חכמה שלמעלה: תורה
This is the mystic principle underlying the teaching of the Midrash,8 that “The novlot (withered vestige)of Supernal Chochmah is Torah,”
I.e., the Torah is not the undistilled essence of Supernal Chochmah; only a paler dilution of this can find actual expression in the revealed aspect of the Torah.
שהיא בבחינת זעיר אנפין
on the level of Z’eir Anpin; i.e., diminished and finite, as explained above.
וכדכתיב: וראית את אחורי, ופני לא יראו
Thus it is written that G-d said to Moshe Rabbeinu,9 “You shall see My back (the Heb. achorai suggesting the hinder or external aspect of Divinity), but My face (the Heb. panai suggesting pnimiyut, the frontal or inward aspect of Divinity) shall not be seen.”
Even Moses could behold no more than the achorayim of Supernal Chochmah, and not its pnimiyut, or essence.
עיין שם, ובשער הנבואה פרק א׳
See there (in Likkutei Torah of the AriZal), and in Shaar HaNevuah, ch. 1.
ולכאורה יש להפליא הרי נאמר: ולא קם עוד נביא בישראל כמשה
Now this seems surprising. After all, it is said,10 “There rose no other prophet in Israel like Moshe.”
ואיך השיג האריז״ל יותר ממנו, ודרש כמה דרושים בבחינת פנימיות, אפילו בספירות ומדרגות רבות שלמעלה מהחכמה וכתר דאצילות
How then did R. Isaac Luria, of blessed memory, apprehend more than he, and expound many themes dealing with the pnimiyut, even of many Sefirot and levels that transcend Chochmahand Keter of Atzilut?
Yet the AriZal writes that Moshe Rabbeinu’s prophecy did not enable him to grasp the pnimiyut of Chochmahof Atzilut!
Likkutei Haggahot (a compilation of glosses to the Tanya)11 quotes here Chiddushei HaRitva:12 “The Supernal Chariot [not as it appears in the World of Beriah nor in the World of Atzilut, but at a higher level] was never beheld by the prophets, yet its secrets were known to the mystics of the Kabbalah [lit., ‘to the Masters of Truth’].”
Wednesday, Elul 29, 5777 · September 20, 2017 A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot" AUDIO & VIDEO CLASSES • VIDEO CLASS: Rabbi Mendel Kaplan Watch • Listen • AUDIO CLASS: Rabbi Berel Bell Listen • MP3 Download Negative Commandment 167 A High Priest under the Same Roof as a Corpse "Neither shall he come close to any dead body"—Leviticus 21:11. A high priest is prohibited from being under the same roof as a human corpse—even if the deceased is his next of kin. Full text of this Mitzvah » | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Negative Commandment 167
Translated by Berel Bell
The 167th prohibition is that a kohen gadol is forbidden from being under the same roof as a dead body, even if it is someone who there is a command to mourn, i.e. a close relative.1
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,2 "He shall not come into [a tent containing] any dead body."
If he makes himself tameh — even for his father or mother — he is punished by lashes.
FOOTNOTES
1.I.e. father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister.
2.Lev. 21:11.
Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day
Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 6
Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 6
1
War, neither a milchemet hareshut or a milchemet mitzvah, should not be waged against anyone until they are offered the opportunity of peace as Deuteronomy 20:10 states: 'When you approach a city to wage war against it, you should propose a peaceful settlement.'
If the enemy accepts the offer of peace and commits itself to the fulfillment of the seven mitzvot that were commanded to Noah's descendents, none of them should be killed. Rather, they should be subjugated as ibid.:11 states: 'They shall be your subjects and serve you.'
If they agree to tribute, but do not accept subjugation or if they accept subjugation, but do not agree to tribute, their offer should not be heeded. They must accept both.
The subjugation they must accept consists of being on a lower level, scorned and humble. They must never raise their heads against Israel, but must remain subjugated under their rule. They may never be appointed over a Jew in any matter whatsoever.
The tribute they must accept consists of being prepared to support the king's service with their money and with their persons; for example, the building of walls, strengthening the fortresses, building the king's palace, and the like as I Kings 9:15-22) relates: "This is the tribute which Solomon raised to build the House of God, his own palace, the Milo, the wall of Jerusalem,... and all the store-cities which Solomon had... All the people that remained from the Amorites... upon them did Solomon lay a tribute of bondservice until this day."
In contrast, Solomon did not make bondsmen out of the children of Israel. They were men of war, his personal servants, his princes, his captains, the officers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
א
אין עושין מלחמה עם אדם בעולם עד שקוראין לו שלום אחד מלחמת הרשות ואחד מלחמת מצוה שנאמר כי תקרב אל עיר להלחם עליה וקראת אליה לשלום אם השלימו וקבלו שבע מצות שנצטוו בני נח עליהן אין הורגין מהן נשמה והרי הן למס שנאמר יהיו לך למס ועבדוך קבלו עליהן המס ולא קבלו העבדות או שקבלו העבדות ולא קבלו המס אין שומעין להם עד שיקבלו שניהם והעבדות שיקבלו הוא שיהיו נבזים ושפלים למטה ולא ירימו ראש בישראל אלא יהיו כבושים תחת ידם ולא יתמנו על ישראל לשום דבר שבעולם והמס שיקבלו שיהיו מוכנים לעבודת המלך בגופם וממונם כגון בנין החומות וחוזק המצודות ובנין ארמון המלך וכיוצא בו שנאמר וזה דבר המס אשר העלה המלך שלמה לבנות את בית ה' ואת ביתו ואת המלוא ואת חומת ירושלים ואת כל ערי המסכנות אשר היו לשלמה כל העם הנותר מן האמורי ויעלם שלמה למס עובד עד היום הזה ומבני ישראל לא נתן שלמה עבד כי הם אנשי המלחמה ועבדיו ושריו ושלישיו ושרי רכבו ופרשיו:
2
In the settlement he offers, the king may propose that he is entitled to take half their financial resources. Or he may propose to take all their landed property and leave them their movable property; or to take all their movable property and leave their land.
ב
ויש למלך להתנות עמהם שיקח חצי ממונם או הקרקעות ויניח כל המטלטלין או המטלטלים ויניח הקרקעות כפי מה שיתנה:
3
It is forbidden to lie when making such a covenant or to be untruthful to them after they have made peace and accepted the seven mitzvot.
ג
ואסור לשקר בבריתם ולכזב להם אחר שהשלימו וקבלו שבע מצות:
4
If they do not agree to a peaceful settlement, or if they agree to a peaceful settlement, but refuse to accept the seven mitzvot, war should be waged against them.
All males past majority should be killed. Their money and their children should be taken as spoil, but neither women or children should be killed, as Deuteronomy 20:14 states: 'But the women and the children... take as spoil." 'The children' refer to males below the age of majority.
The above applies to a milchemet hareshut fought with other nations. However, if either the seven nations or Amalek refuse to accept a peaceful settlement, not one soul of them may be left alive as ibid. 20:15-16 states: 'Do this to all the cities that ... are not the cities of these nations. However, from the cities of these nations,... do not leave a soul alive.' Similarly, in regard to Amalek, Deuteronomy 25:19 states: 'Obliterate the memory of Amalek.'
How do we know that these commands are only referring to those who did not accept a peaceful settlement? Joshua 11:19-20 states: 'There was no city which accepted a peaceful settlement with the children of Israel except the Chivites who lived in Gibeon. All the rest, they conquered in battle. This was inspired by God, Who strengthened their hearts to engage in battle against Israel so that they would be destroyed.' From these statements, we can infer that a peaceful settlement was offered, but they did not accept it.
ד
ואם לא השלימו או שהשלימו ולא קבלו שבע מצות עושין עמהם מלחמה והורגין כל הזכרים הגדולים ובוזזין כל ממונם וטפם ואין הורגין אשה ולא קטן שנאמר והנשים והטף זה טף של זכרים במה דברים אמורים במלחמת הרשות שהוא עם שאר האומות אבל שבעה עממין ועמלק שלא השלימו אין מניחין מהם נשמה שנאמר כן תעשה לכל וגו' רק מערי העמים לא תחיה כל נשמה וכן הוא אומר בעמלק תמחה את זכר עמלק ומנין שאינו מדבר אלא באלו שלא השלימו שנאמר לא היתה עיר אשר השלימה אל בני ישראל בלתי החוי יושבי גבעון את הכל לקחו במלחמה כי מאת ה' היתה לחזק את לבם לקראת המלחמה את ישראל למען החרימם מכלל ששלחו להם לשלום ולא קבלו:
5
Joshua sent three letters to the Canaanites before entering the promised land: At first, he sent them: 'Whoever desires to flee, should flee.'
Afterwards, he sent a second message: 'Whoever desires to accept a peaceful settlement, should make peace.'
Then, he sent again: 'Whoever desires war, should do battle.'
If so, why did the inhabitants of Gibeon employ a ruse? Because originally, when he sent the message to them as part of all the Canaanite nations, they did not accept. They were not aware of the laws of Israel and thought that they would never be offered a peaceful settlement again.
Why was the matter difficult for the princes of Israel to accept to the point that they desired to slay the Gibeonites by the sword were it not for the oath they had taken? Because they made a covenant with them and Deuteronomy 7:2 states 'Do not make a covenant with them.' Rather, the laws governing their status would have prescribed that they be subjugated as servants.
Since the oath was given to them under false pretenses, it would have been just to slay them for misleading them, were it not for the dishonor to God's name which would have been caused.
ה
שלשה כתבים שלח יהושע עד שלא נכנס לארץ הראשון שלח להם מי שרוצה לברוח יברח וחזר ושלח מי שרוצה להשלים ישלים וחזר ושלח מי שרוצה לעשות מלחמה יעשה אם כן מפני מה הערימו יושבי גבעון לפי ששלח להם בכלל ולא קבלו ולא ידעו משפט ישראל ודימו ששוב אין פותחין להם לשלום ולמה קשה הדבר לנשיאים וראו שראוי להכותם לפי חרב לולי השבועה מפני שכרתו להם ברית והרי הוא אומר לא תכרות להם ברית אלא היה דינם שיהיו למס עבדים והואיל ובטעות נשבעו להן בדין היה שיהרגו על שהטעום לולי חלול השם:
6
No offer of a peaceful settlement should be made to Ammon and Moav, as Deuteronomy 23:7 states: 'Do not seek their peace and welfare for all your days.' Our Sages declared: Although it is written: 'Offer a peaceful settlement,' does this apply to Ammon and Moab? The Torah states: 'Do not seek their peace and welfare.'
Although it is written Deuteronomy 23:17: 'He must be allowed to live alongside you in you midst,' does this apply to Ammon and Moav? No, the Torah also forbids 'their welfare.'
Even though we should not offer them a peaceful settlement, if they sue for peace themselves, we may accept their offer.
ו
עמון ומואב אין שולחין להם לשלום שנאמר לא תדרוש שלומם וטובתם כל ימיך אמרו חכמים לפי שנאמר וקראת אליה לשלום יכול עמון ומואב כן תלמוד לומר לא תדרוש שלומם וטובתם לפי שנאמר עמך ישב בקרבך בטוב לו לא תוננו יכול עמון ומואב כן תלמוד לומר וטובתם ואע"פשאין שואלים בשלומם אם השלימו מעצמם תחלה מקבלין אותן:
7
When a siege is placed around a city to conquer it, it should not be surrounded on all four sides, only on three. A place should be left for the inhabitants to flee and for all those who desire, to escape with their lives, as it is written Numbers 31:7: 'And they besieged Midian as God commanded Moses.' According to tradition, He commanded them to array the siege as described.
ז
כשצרין על עיר לתפשה אין מקיפין אותה מארבע רוחותיה אלא משלש רוחותיה ומניחין מקום לבורח ולכל מי שירצה להמלט על נפשו שנאמר ויצבאו על מדין כאשר צוה ה' את משה מפי השמועה למדו שבכך צוהו:
8
We should not cut down fruit trees outside a city nor prevent an irrigation ditch from bringing water to them so that they dry up, as Deuteronomy 20:19 states: 'Do not destroy its trees.' Anyone who cuts down such a tree should be lashed.
This does not apply only in a siege, but in all situations. Anyone who cuts down a fruit tree with a destructive intent, should be lashed.
Nevertheless, a fruit tree may be cut down if it causes damage to other trees or to fields belonging to others, or if a high price could be received for its wood. The Torah only prohibited cutting down a tree with a destructive intent.
ח
אין קוצצין אילני מאכל שחוץ למדינה ואין מונעין מהם אמת המים כדי שייבשו שנאמר לא תשחית את עצה וכל הקוצץ לוקה ולא במצור בלבד אלא בכ"מ כל הקוצץ אילן מאכל דרך השחתה לוקה אבל קוצצין אותו אם היה מזיק אילנות אחרים או מפני שמזיק בשדה אחרים או מפני שדמיו יקרים לא אסרה תורה אלא דרך השחתה:
9
It is permissible to cut down any non-fruit bearing tree, even if one has no need for it. Similarly, one may cut down a fruit bearing tree that has become old and produces only a slight yield which does not warrant the effort required to care for it.
What is the yield that an olive tree must produce to warrant that it should not be cut down? A quarter of a kav of olives. Similarly, a date palm which yields a kav of dates should not be cut down.
ט
כל אילן סרק מותר לקוץ אותו ואפילו אינו צריך לו וכן אילן מאכל שהזקין ואינו עושה אלא דבר מועט שאינו ראוי לטרוח בו מותר לקוץ אותו וכמה יהא הזית עושה ולא יקוצנו רובע הקב זיתים ודקל שהוא עושה קב תמרים לא יקוצנו:
10
This prohibition does not apply to trees alone. Rather, anyone who breaks utensils, tears garments, destroys buildings, stops up a spring, or ruins food with a destructive intent transgresses the command 'Do not destroy.' However, he is not lashed. Instead, he receives stripes for rebellious conductas instituted by the Sages.
י
ולא האילנות בלבד אלא כל המשבר כלים וקורע בגדים והורס בנין וסותם מעין ומאבד מאכלות דרך השחתה עובר בלא תשחית ואינו לוקה אלא מכת מרדות מדבריהם:
11
We should lay siege to the gentiles' cities at least three days before the Sabbath. We may engage in battle with them every day, even on the Sabbath, as Deuteronomy 20:20 states: 'against the city waging war with you until you subjugate it.' Our Sages explain: this implies 'even on the Sabbath.' This applies to both a milchemet mitzvah and a milchemet hareshut.
יא
צרין על עיירות של עכו"ם שלשה ימים קודם השבת ועושין עמהם מלחמה בכל יום ויום ואפילו בשבת שנאמר עד רדתה ואפילו בשבת בין מלחמת מצוה בין מלחמת רשות:
12
The army may camp anywhere.
A person killed in the war should be buried where he falls. He acquires that place in the same manner as a meit mitzvah acquires his.
יב
כשחונין חונין בכל מקום ומי שנהרג במלחמה במקום שיפול שם יקבר קונה מקומו כמת מצוה:
13
Four leniencies are permitted in an army camp:
a) Demai may be eaten.
b) There is no requirement to wash one's hands before eating bread.
c) Wood may be gathered from anywhere. Even if one finds wood that has been cut down and dried, there is no objection to taking it for an army camp.
d) There is no obligation to make an eruv chatzeirot for an army camp. Rather, one may carry from tent to tent and from booth to booth.
The latter is only permitted when the entire camp is surrounded by a barrier at least ten handbreadths high, for as explained in Hilchot Shabbat, a barrier must be at least ten handbreadths high.
Just as these leniencies apply when the army goes out to war, they apply when it returns.
יג
ארבעה דברים פטרו במחנה: אוכלים הדמאי ופטורים מרחיצת ידים בתחלה ומביאין עצים מכל מקום ואפילו מצאן תלושים ויבשים אין מקפידין על כך במחנה וכן פטורין מלערב עירובי חצירות במחנה אלא מטלטלין מאהל לאהל ומסוכה לסוכה והוא שיקיפו כל המחנה מחיצה גבוהה עשרה טפחים כדי שתהיה רשות יחיד כמו שנתבאר בהלכות שבת ואין מחיצה פחותה מעשרה וכשם שפטורין מכל אלו בהליכתן כך פטורין בחזרתן:
14
It is forbidden to defecate in an army camp or in an open field anywhere. Rather, it is a positive commandment to establish comfort facilities for the soldiers to defecate as Deuteronomy 23:13 commands: 'Designate a place outside the camp to use as a lavatory.'
יד
ואסור להפנות בתוך המחנה או על פני השדה בכ"מ אלא מצות עשה לתקן שם דרך מיוחדת להפנות בה שנאמר ויד תהיה לך מחוץ למחנה:
15
Similarly, it is a positive commandment for every single soldier to have a spike hanging together with his weapons. When he goes out and uses those comfort facilities, he should dig with it, relieve himself, and cover his excrement as ibid.:14 states 'You must keep a spike among your weapons.'
They must follow these practices at all times, whether the ark accompanies them or not, as ibid.:15 states: 'God walks among your camp,... therefore, your camp shall be holy.'
טו
וכן מצות עשה להיות יתד לכל אחד ואחד תלויה עם כלי מלחמתו ויצא באותה הדרך ויחפור בה ויפנה ויכסה שנאמר ויתד תהיה לך על אזניך וגו' ובין שיש עמהן ארון ובין שאין עמהן ארון כך הם עושים תמיד שנאמר והיה מחניך קדוש:
Rambam - 3 Chapters a Day
Avel - Chapter 6, Avel - Chapter 7, Avel - Chapter 8
Avel - Chapter 6
1
According to Rabbinic Law, a mourner should observe some of the mourning practices for 30 days. Which source did our Sages use as a support for the concept of 30 days? Deuteronomy 21:13 states: "And she shall cry for her father and mother for a month." Implied is that a mourner will feel discomfort for a month.
א
מדברי סופרים שיהיה האבל נוהג במקצת דברי אבילות כל שלשים יום ומנין סמכו חכמים לשלשים יום שנאמר ובכתה את אביה ואת אמה ירח ימים מכלל שהאבל מצטער כל שלשים יום:
2
These are the practices forbidden to a mourner for the entire 30-day period. He is forbidden to cut his hair, to wear freshly ironed clothing, to marry, to enter a celebration of friends, and to go on a business trip to another city; five matters in all.
ב
ואלו דברים שהאבל אסור בהן כל שלשים יום: אסור בתספורת ובגיהוץ ובנשואין ובשמחת מרעות ולילך בסחורה ממדינה למדינה הכל חמשה דברים:
3
What does the prohibition against cutting one's hair involve? Just as it is forbidden to cut any of the hair of one's body, to shave one's mustache, or to cut one's nails with a utensil through the seven days of mourning;66 so, too, he is forbidden throughout these 30 days.
To whom does the above apply? To a man. A woman, by contrast, is permitted to remove hair after seven days although a man must wait 30. For one's father or mother, a man is obligated to let his hair grow until it becomes noticeably long or until his colleagues rebuke him for not attending to his appearance.
ג
בתספורת כיצד כשם שאסור לספר כל שער גופו או לגלח שפמו או לקוץ צפרניו בכלי כל שבעה כך אסור כל שלשים יום בד"א באיש אבל באשה מותרת בנטילת שער לאחר שבעה והאיש עד שלשים יום ועל אביו ועל אמו חייב לגדל שערו עד שישלח פרע או עד שיגערו בו חביריו:
4
Similarly, a mourner is forbidden to wear new white clothes that have been ironed for 30 days. This applies to both a man and a woman. If they are colored and ironed, it is permitted. Similarly, if they are not new although they are white and ironed, it is permitted. There is no prohibition against wearing linen clothes that were ironed.
After 30 days, one may wear ironed clothes, even if one is in mourning for one's father or mother.
ד
וכן אסור ללבוש כלים לבנים חדשים ומגוהצין כל שלשים יום אחד האיש ואחד האשה היו צבועין ומגוהצין מותרין וכן אם לא היו חדשים אע"פ שהן לבנים ומגוהצין מותרין וכלי פשתן אין בהן משום גיהוץ ולאחר שלשים יום מותר בגיהוץ אפילו על אביו ועל אמו:
5
What does the prohibition against marriage involve? It is forbidden to marry a woman throughout these 30 days. It is, however, permitted to consecrate her even on the day of the death of one's relative.
When a man's wife dies, if he already fulfilled the mitzvah of procreation, and he has someone to attend to him and he does not have young children, he may not remarry until three festivals pass. If, however, a person has not fulfilled the mitzvah of procreation, or fulfilled the mitzvah and has young children, or does not have someone to attend to him, he is permitted to consecrate and marry immediately. It is, however, forbidden for him to enter into relations with his wife until 30 days have passed. Similarly, a woman who was in mourning should not enter into relations until 30 days have passed.
ה
בנישואין כיצד אסור לישא אשה כל שלשים יום ומותר לארשה אפילו ביום המיתה ומי שמתה אשתו אם כבר קיים מצות פריה ורביה ויש לו מי שישמשנו ואין לו בנים קטנים הרי זה אסור לישא אשה אחרת עד שיעברו עליו שלשה רגלים אבל מי שלא קיים מצות פריה ורביה או שקיים ויש לו בנים קטנים או שאין לו מי שישמשנו הרי זה מותר לארשה ולכנוס מיד ואסור לו לבא עליה עד שלשים יום וכן האשה שהיתה אבלה לא תבעל עד שלשים יום:
6
A friendly get-together which a person is obligated to requite immediately may be held immediately after the seven days of mourning. If, however, he is not obligated to requite such a gathering, he is forbidden to enter one until 30 days pass.
ו
שמחת מרעות שהיה חייב לפרוע אותה מיד מותר לעשותה מיד לאחר שבעה אבל אם אינו חייב לפרעה אסור להכנס לה עד שלשים יום:
7
When does the above apply? When one is mourning for other deceased persons. When mourning for one's father or mother, by contrast, under all circumstances, one is forbidden to enter a friendly gathering for twelve months.
ז
במה דברים אמורים בשאר כל מתים אבל על אביו ועל אמו בין כך ובין כך לא יכנס לשמחת מרעות עד שנים עשר חדש:
8
When mourning for all other deceased persons, one is permitted to go on a business trip immediately after 30 days pass. When mourning for one's father or mother, by contrast, one should not go until his colleagues rebuke him and tell him: "Come with us."
ח
על כל המתים כולן מותר לילך בסחורה לאחר שלשים על אביו ועל אמו עד שיגערו בו חביריו ויאמרו לו לך עמנו:
9
When mourning for all other deceased persons, if one desires, one may reduce his business activities. If he does not desire, he need not reduce them. When mourning for one's father or mother, by contrast, one should reduce one's business activities.
ט
על כל המתים כולן רצה ממעט בעסקו רצה אינו ממעט על אביו ועל אמו ממעט בעסקו:
10
When a person is journeying from place to place, he should minimize his commercial activity if possible. If not, he should purchase the articles he needs for his journey and articles which are necessary to maintain his existence.
י
ההולך ממקום למקום אם יכול למעט בעסקו ימעט ואם לאו יקנה צרכי הדרך ודברים שיש בהן חיי נפש:
11
When a person's husband, wife, father, or mother was crucified in a city, it is forbidden for him to dwell in that city until the flesh of the corpse decomposes. If it is a major metropolis like Antioch, one may dwell in the other portion of the city, where one's relatives are not crucified.
יא
מי שהיה בעלה צלוב בעיר או אשתו צלובה או אביו ואמו אסור לו לשכון באותה העיר עד שיכלה הבשר ואם היתה עיר גדולה כאנטוכיא יש לו לשכון בצד האחר שאינן צלובין בו:
12
Even a portion of the seventh day is considered as the entire day and is counted both as part of the seven days of acute mourning and the 30 days of mourning. Therefore it is permissible to launder, to wash, and to perform other activities on the seventh day. Similarly, even a portion of the thirtieth day is considered as the entire day and it is permitted to cut one's hair and iron one's clothes on that day.
יב
יום שביעי מקצתו ככולו והוא עולה לכאן ולכאן ולפיכך מותר לכבס ולרחוץ ולעשות שאר הדברים ביום שביעי וכן יום שלשים מקצתו ככולו ומותר לספר ולגהץ ביום שלשים:
13
The following laws apply when one suffers several losses for which he is required to mourn one after the other. If his hair grows overly long, he may trim it with a razor, but not with scissors. He may wash his clothes in water, but not with soap or using sand. He may wash his entire body in cold water, but not in hot water.
Similarly, when one suffers repeated losses for which he must mourn after arriving from an overseas journey, being released from captivity or prison, being released from a ban of ostracism under which he had being placed, being absolved from a vow which he had taken, or emerging from a state of ritual impurity to one of purity, he may cut his hair in the midst of the period of mourning. The rationale is that one period of mourning followed the other and the people did not have the opportunity to care for themselves.
יג
מי שתכפוהו אבליו והכביד שערו מיקל בתער לא במספרים ומכבס כסותו במים אבל לא בנתר ולא בחול ורוחץ כל גופו בצונן אבל לא בחמין וכן מי שתכפוהו אבליו ובא ממדינת הים ומבית השביה או שיצא מבית האסורים או שהיה מנודה והותר או שהיה מודר ונשאל על נדרו והותר וכל היוצא מטומאה לטהרה הרי אלו מגלחין בימי אבלם הואיל ותכפם אבל אחר אבל ולא מצאו פנאי:
Avel - Chapter 7
1
The following rules apply when a person receives a report that a close relative of his died. If he received the report within 30 days of the person's death - even on the thirtieth day itself - it is considered a proximate report. He must observe the seven days of mourning from the time he receives the report. He must rend his garments and count 30 days for the prohibition against cutting one's hair and the other factors from that date. The general principle is: The day on which he hears the report is like the day of the person's burial.
If, however, a person receives a report after 30 days, it is considered as a distant report. He observes mourning rites for only one day and is not required to rend his garments. It is as if the day of the report is both the seventh day and the thirtieth day. And we follow the principle: A portion of the day is considered as the entire day.
א
מי שבאה לו שמועה שמת לו קרוב אם בתוך שלשים יום הגיעה השמועה אפילו יום שלשים עצמו הרי זו שמועה קרובה וחייב לנהוג שבעה ימי אבילות מיום שהגיעה השמועה וקורע ומונה שלשים לאיסור התספורת עם שאר הדברים כללו של דבר יום שמועתו הקרובה כיום הקבורה: אבל אם הגיעה לו השמועה אחר השלשים יום הרי זו שמועה רחוקה ואינה נוהגת אלא יום אחד ואינו קורע וכאילו יום השמועה הוא יום שביעי ויום שלשים ומקצת היום ככולו:
2
What is implied by the statement: A portion of the day is considered as the entire day? Once one observed the mourning rites for a certain time He is permitted to wear shoes, wash, anoint himself, and cut his hair during the remainder of the day. Similarly, he has license not to observe any of the mourning rites.
ב
כיצד מקצת היום ככולו כיון שנהג אבילות שעה אחת כאילו נהג כל היום כולו ומותר לנעול ולרחוץ ולסוך ולגלח בשאר היום וכן הוא מותר בכל הדברים:
3
When a person hears a proximate report in the midst of a festival or on the Sabbath and after the Sabbath or after the festival, the report will become distant, the Sabbath or the festival are counted for him. Thus he observes only one day of mourning after the festival or after the Sabbath. And a portion of the day is considered as the entire day as explained.
ג
מי שבאה לו שמועה קרובה בתוך הרגל או ביום שבת ולאחר שבת או אחר הרגל נעשית רחוקה עולה לו ואינו נוהג לאחר הרגל או לאחר השבת אלא יום אחד בלבד ומקצת היום ככולו כמו שביארנו:
4
The following rules apply when a close relative of a person dies and that person does not know until he comes to that place. If he was in a close place, e.g., within ten parseot away, and thus he could come in one day, even if he came on the seventh day, if he finds people offering comfort to the person of greatest stature in the family, it is considered as if he was together with them and he counts with them the remainder of the 30 days. This applies even if they had already begun to rise, as long as he finds comforters, he counts with the other mourners.
If he did not find comforters, he counts for himself. Similarly, if he comes from a distant place, even if he comes on the second day, he counts seven and thirty days for himself from the day he comes.
ד
מי שמת לו קרוב ולא ידע עד שבא אם היה במקום קרוב שהוא מהלך עשרה פרסאות שאפשר שיבא ביום אחד אפילו בא ביום השביעי אם מצא מנחמים אצל גדול הבית אף על פי שננערו לעמוד הואיל ומצא מנחמים עולה לו ומונה עמהן תשלום שלשים יום ואם לא מצא מנחמים מונה לעצמו וכן אם היה במקום רחוק אפילו בא ביום שני מונה לעצמו שבעה ושלשים מיום שבא:
5
During the first three days of mourning, a mourner does not even go the house of another mourner. From that time onward, he may go, but he does not sit together with those offering comfort, but with those receiving comfort. He should not leave the entrance to his house to go any place for the entire first week. During the second week, he may leave his home, but should not sit in his ordinary place. During the third week, he may sit in his ordinary place, but should not speak in his ordinary manner. During the fourth week, he is like any other person.
ה
אבל בשלשה ימים הראשונים אינו הולך אפילו לבית אבל אחר מכאן ואילך הולך ואינו יושב במקום המנחמין אלא במקום המתנחמין ולא יצא למקום אחר מפתח ביתו כל שבת הראשונה שניה יוצא ואינו יושב במקומו שלישית יושב במקומו ואינו מדבר כדרכו רביעית הרי הוא ככל אדם:
6
The High Priest is obligated to observe all the mourning practices, except that he is forbidden to rend the upper portion of his garments, to let his hair grow long, or to follow the bier in the funeral procession.
The entire Jewish people come to his house to comfort him. When they bring him the meal of comfort, all of the people must sit on the ground; he, by contrast, sits on a bench. When they comfort him, they tell him: "We are atonement for you." And he tells them: "May you be blessed from heaven."
If he desires to comfort others, the deputee has him positioned among the people. And he tells the mourners: "Be comforted."
ו
כהן גדול חייב בכל דברי אבילות אלא שאסור לו לקרוע בגדיו למעלה ולגדל פרע ולצאת אחר המטה וכל העם באין לנחמו לביתו וכשמברין אותו כל העם מסובין על הארץ והוא מיסב על הספסל ואומרין לו כשמנחמין אותו אנו כפרתך והוא אומר להם תתברכו מן השמים ואם רצה לנחם אחרים הממונה ממצעו בתוך העם ואומר להם תנוחמו:
7
Similarly, a king is obligated to observe all the mourning practices, except that he does not leave his palace in the funeral procession for his dead. Needless to say, this applies with regard to other deceased. Nor does he comfort mourners. King David followed Avner's funeral procession only to show the people that he was not slain because of David's desire.
ז
וכן המלך חייב בכל דברי אבילות אלא שאינו יוצא מפתח פלטרין שלו אחר מתו ואין צריך לומר אחר מתים אחרים ואינו מנחם אבלים ולא יצא דוד אחר אבנר אלא להודיע לעם שלא נהרג ברצונו:
8
No one enters the king's presence to comfort him except his servants and those who are given permission to enter. They do not have permission to speak words of comfort except what he allows them. When they serve him the meal of comfort, all of the others recline on the ground and he reclines on a dargesh.
ח
אין אדם נכנס למלך לנחמו אלא עבדיו ומי שנתן לו רשות להכנס ואין להן רשות לדבר לו דברי תנחומין אלא כפי מה שירשה אותם וכשמברין אותו כל העם מסובין על הארץ והוא מיסב על הדרגש:
Avel - Chapter 8
1
A mourner is obligated to rend his garments for his dead, as can be derived from Leviticus 10:6: "Do not rend your garments lest you die." Implied is that others must rend their garments.
One must rend one's garments only while standing, as II Samuel 13:31 states: "And the king stood and rent his garments."
Where does one rend his garment? In front. If one rends his garment from the back or from the sides or from the bottom, he does not fulfill the obligation to rend his garments, with the exception of a High Priest who must rend his garment from the bottom.
א
אבל חייב לקרוע על מתו שנאמר ובגדיכם לא תפרומו ולא תמותו הא אחר חייב לפרום ואין קריעה אלא מעומד שנאמר ויקם המלך ויקרע את בגדיו ומהיכן קורע מלפניו והקורע מאחריו או מן הצדדין או מלמטה לא יצא ידי חובת קריעה אלא כהן גדול שהוא פורם מלמטה:
2
What is the required measure for the tear? A handbreadth. It is not necessary to rip apart the border of the garment. One may rend his garments with a utensil.
One may rend one's garments inside, not in the presence of others. Therefore he may place his hand inside his garment and tear it modestly. He is only obligated to tear his upper garment.
ב
כמה שיעור הקרע טפח ואין צריך להבדיל שפת הבגד ומותר לו לקרוע בכלי ויש לו לקרוע בפנים שלא בפני אדם לפיכך יש לו להכניס ידו בפנים וקורע בצנעה ואינו חייב לקרוע אלא בגד העליון בלבד:
3
For the entire seven days of mourning, he keeps the tear in front of him. If he desires to change his garments, he may. He is not required to rend the second garment, for any tear that is not made at the time of emotional excitement, is not a tear.
When does the above apply? With regard to other deceased persons aside from his father and mother. For his father and mother, by contrast, he must rend his garment until he reveals his heart. He must rip apart the border of the garment; he may not tear it with a utensil, and must tear it outside, in the presence of people at large.
He must tear all the garments he is wearing. His underwear - i.e., the garments worn next to his flesh - need not be ripped. If he changes his clothes, he is required to rend them for all seven days. Similarly, for his father and mother, he uncovers his shoulder and takes his forearm out from his garment, revealing his shoulder and his forearm. He passes before the bier in this manner. After his father and his mother are buried, however, he is not required to uncover his shoulder.
ג
כל שבעת ימי אבלות הקרע לפנים ואם בא להחליף מחליף ואינו קורע קרע אחר שכל קרע שאינו בשעת חימום אינו קרע בד"א בשאר המתים חוץ מאביו ואמו אבל על אביו ועל אמו קורע עד שמגלה את לבו ומבדיל שפת הבגד ואינו קורע בכלי אלא בידו מבחוץ בפני כל העם וקורע כל הבגדים שעליו ובגד הזיעה הדבוק לבשרו אינו מעכב ואם החליף בגד אחר חייב לקרוע כל שבעה וכן על אביו ועל אמו חולץ כתיפו ומוציא זרועו מן החלוק עד שיתגלה כתיפו וזרועו והולך כך לפני המטה ואחר שיקבר אביו ואמו אינו חייב לחלוץ:
4
A child's garments should be torn to create sorrow.
When a dangerously ill person loses a close relative, we do not rend his garments, nor do we notify him lest he lose control of his emotions. We silence the women in his presence.
ד
קורעין לקטן מפני עגמת נפש וחולה שמת לו מת אין מקרעין לו ולא מודיעין לו שלא תטרף עליו דעתו ומשתקין את הנשים מפניו:
5
A person should rend his garments when his father-in-law and mother-in-law dies as an expression of honor for his wife. Similarly, a woman should rend her garments for her father-in-law and mother-in-law as an expression of honor for her husband.
ה
וקורע אדם על חמיו ועל חמותו מפני כבוד אשתו וכן האשה קורעת על חמיה ועל חמותה מפני כבוד בעלה:
6
When a person does not have an outer garment to tear at the time of a person's passing and he obtains a garment within the seven days of mourning, he is obligated to tear it. After seven days, he is not obligated to tear it. For his father and mother, he is obligated to tear it even if he obtains it after the seven days, but within the 30 days.
Whenever a person goes out wearing a torn garment before the dead implying that he tore the garment because of them, he is deceiving people and degrading the honor of the dead and the living.
ו
מי שאין לו חלוק לקרוע ונזדמן לו חלוק בתוך שבעה קורע לאחר שבעה אינו קורע ועל אביו ועל אמו אפילו לאחר שבעה קורע כל שלשים יום וכל היוצא בבגד קרוע לפני מתים כלומר שהוא קרע עתה עליהן הרי זה גונב דעת הבריות וזלזל בכבוד החיים והמתים:
7
When one tells a colleague: "Lend me your cloak so that I can visit my father who is dangerously ill," if, when he visits him, he finds that he died, he should rend the garment, mend it, and return it, reimbursing the owner for the tear. If he does not notify him that he is going to visit a person who is dangerously ill, he should not touch the garment.
ז
האומר לחבירו השאילני חלוקך ואבקר את אבי שהוא חולה והלך ומצאו שמת קורע ומאחה ומחזיר לו את חלוקו ונותן לו דמי קרעו ואם לא הודיעו שהוא מבקר לו חולה הרי זה לא יגע בו:
8
The following rules apply when one has a dangerously ill person in his home, that person faints and he thinks that he has died and hence, he rends his garments, the sick person regains consciousness and then dies. If he dies immediately after the garments are torn, he need not rend his garments again. If he dies after even a short time has past, he must rend his garments again.
Similar concepts apply if someone tells a person that his father died and he therefore rent his garments and then it was discovered that his son died or if someone told him that a person close to him died, he thought it was his father and rent his garments and then he discovered that it was his son. If he realized the true situation immediately afterwards, he fulfilled the obligation to rend his garments. If he did not realize this until afterwards, he did not fulfill his obligation and is obligated to rend his garments again.
ח
מי שהיה לו חולה בתוך ביתו ונתעלף וסבור שמת וקרא ואח"כ מת אם בתוך כדי דבור אינו חוזר וקורע ואם לאחר כדי דבור מת חוזר וקורע קרע אחר וכן מי שאמרו לו מת אביו וקרע ואחר כך נמצא שמת בנו אמרו לו מת לו מת וכסבור שאביו וקרע ואח"כ נמצא בנו אם תוך כדי דבור נודע לו אמיתת הדבר יצא ידי קריעה ואם לאחר כדי דבור לא יצא וחייב לקרוע קרע אחר:
9
When many close relatives die at once, a person should rend his garments once for all of them. If his father or mother are among them, he should rend his garments once for all the others, and once for his father or mother.
ט
מי שמתו לו מתים הרבה כאחד קורע קרע אחד לכולם היה בכללן אביו או אמו קורע על כולן קרע אחד ועל אביו ועל אמו קרע אחר:
10
The following rules apply when a person's close relative dies, he rends his garments because of him and then another close relative dies. If the second relative dies within the seven days of mourning, he should tear his garments again. If it is after the seven days, he need only add the slightest amount to the original tear.
If a third close relative dies after the seven days of mourning for the second, again, he need only add the slightest amount to the original tear. And he can continue in this manner until he reaches his navel. Once he reaches his navel, he should distance himself at least three thumbbreadths and rend the garment again.
When the garment is entirely torn in front, he may turn it around. When its upper portion is entirely torn, he may make the bottom the top.
If he was told: "Your father died," and he rent his garments and after the seven days of mourning, his son died and he extended the tear, he may mend the lower tear, but not the upper tear as will be explained. If he was told: "Your son died," and he rent his garments and after the seven days of mourning, his father died, he may not merely extend the tear. Instead, he must make a new tear. For extending a tear is not sufficient for his father and mother.
י
מי שמת לו מת וקרע עליו ואחר כך מת לו מת אחר אם בתוך שבעה קורע קרע אחר ואם לאחר שבעה מוסיף על הקרע הראשון כל שהוא מת לו מת שלישי אחר שבעה של שני מוסיף כל שהוא וכן מוסיף והולך עד טבורו הגיע לטבורו מרחיק שלש אצבעות וקורע נתמלא מלפניו מחזירו לאחוריו נתמלא מלמעלה הופכו למטה אמרו לו מת אביו וקרע ואחר שבעה מת בנו והוסיף מתאחה התחתון ולא העליון כמו שיתבאר אמרו לו מת בנו וקרע ואחר שבעה מת אביו אינו מוסיף אלא קורע קרע אחר שאין אביו ואמו בתוספת:
Hayom Yom
Today's Hayom Yom
Wednesday, Elul 29, 5777 · 20 September 2017
"Today's Day"
Wednesday, Elul 29, Erev Rosh Hashana, 5703
S'lichot in the very early morning; remain standing at Vayomer David. Hatarat Nedarim (Annulment of Vows, p. 269), with ten participants. Eiruv Tavshilin (p. 249).
Torah lessons: Chumash: Ha'azinu, Revi'i with Rashi.
Tehillim: 140-150. Also 85-87.
Tanya: The letters that (p. 497) ...as known. (p. 497).
Birth of the Tzemach Tzedek, 5549 (1789).
From the Alter Rebbe's aphorisms: We have absolutely no conception how precious to G-d is the body of a Jew.
Daily Thought:
Happy Birthday, Universe
Every year, our sages taught, with the cry of the shofar the entire universe is reborn.
And so, at that time, with our resolutions and our prayers, we hold an awesome power: To determine what sort of child this newborn year shall be—how it will take its first breaths, how it will struggle to its feet and how it will carry us through life for the twelve months to come.
In truth, it is not only once a year: At every new moon, in a smaller way, all life is renewed again.
And so too, every morning, we are all reborn from a nighttime taste of death.
And at every moment—in the smallest increment of time—every particle of the universe is projected into being out of absolute nothingness, as it was at the very beginning.
Which is why there is always hope. Because at every moment, life is born anew. And we are the masters of how this moment will be born.
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