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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Monday, 12 Tishrei, 5778 · October 2, 2017
Torah Reading
Vezot Hab'rachah: Deuteronomy 33:1-17
from Se‘ir he dawned on his people,
shone forth from Mount Pa’ran;
and with him were myriads of holy ones;
at his right hand
was a fiery law for them.
3 He truly loves the peoples —
all his holy ones are in your hand;
sitting at your feet,
they receive your instruction,
4 the Torah Moshe commanded us
as an inheritance for the community of Ya‘akov.
5 Then a king arose in Yeshurun
when the leaders of the people were gathered,
all the tribes of Isra’el together.
6 “Let Re’uven live and not die out,
even though his numbers grow few.”
7 Of Y’hudah he said:
“Hear, Adonai, the cry of Y’hudah!
Bring him in to his people,
let his own hands defend him;
but you, help him against his enemies.”
(ii) 8 Of Levi he said:
“Let your tumim and urim
be with your pious one,
whom you tested at Massah,
with whom you struggled at M’rivah Spring.
9 Of his father and mother he said, ‘I don’t know them’;
he didn’t acknowledge his brothers or children.
For he observed your word,
and he kept your covenant.
10 They will teach Ya‘akov your rulings,
Isra’el your Torah.
They will set incense before you
and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11 Adonai, bless his possessions,
accept the work he does;
but crush his enemies hip and thigh;
may those who hate him rise no more.”
12 Of Binyamin he said:
“Adonai’s beloved lives securely.
He protects him day after day.
He lives between his shoulders.”
(iii) 13 Of Yosef he said:
“May Adonai bless his land
with the best from the sky, for the dew,
and for what comes from the deep beneath,
14 with the best of what the sun makes grow,
with the best of what comes up each month,
15 with the best from the mountains of old,
with the best from the eternal hills,
16 with the best from the earth and all that fills it,
and the favor of him who lived in the [burning] bush.
May blessing come on the head of Yosef,
on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
17 His firstborn bull — glory is his;
his horns are those of a wild ox;
With them he will gore the peoples,
all of them, to the ends of the earth.
These are the myriads of Efrayim;
these are the thousands of M’nasheh.”
Today's Laws & Customs
Vezot Hab'rachah: Deuteronomy 33:1-17
Vezot Hab'rachah: Deuteronomy 33:1 This is the blessing that Moshe, the man of God, spoke over the people of Isra’el before his death:
2 “Adonai came from Sinai;from Se‘ir he dawned on his people,
shone forth from Mount Pa’ran;
and with him were myriads of holy ones;
at his right hand
was a fiery law for them.
3 He truly loves the peoples —
all his holy ones are in your hand;
sitting at your feet,
they receive your instruction,
4 the Torah Moshe commanded us
as an inheritance for the community of Ya‘akov.
5 Then a king arose in Yeshurun
when the leaders of the people were gathered,
all the tribes of Isra’el together.
6 “Let Re’uven live and not die out,
even though his numbers grow few.”
7 Of Y’hudah he said:
“Hear, Adonai, the cry of Y’hudah!
Bring him in to his people,
let his own hands defend him;
but you, help him against his enemies.”
(ii) 8 Of Levi he said:
“Let your tumim and urim
be with your pious one,
whom you tested at Massah,
with whom you struggled at M’rivah Spring.
9 Of his father and mother he said, ‘I don’t know them’;
he didn’t acknowledge his brothers or children.
For he observed your word,
and he kept your covenant.
10 They will teach Ya‘akov your rulings,
Isra’el your Torah.
They will set incense before you
and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11 Adonai, bless his possessions,
accept the work he does;
but crush his enemies hip and thigh;
may those who hate him rise no more.”
12 Of Binyamin he said:
“Adonai’s beloved lives securely.
He protects him day after day.
He lives between his shoulders.”
(iii) 13 Of Yosef he said:
“May Adonai bless his land
with the best from the sky, for the dew,
and for what comes from the deep beneath,
14 with the best of what the sun makes grow,
with the best of what comes up each month,
15 with the best from the mountains of old,
with the best from the eternal hills,
16 with the best from the earth and all that fills it,
and the favor of him who lived in the [burning] bush.
May blessing come on the head of Yosef,
on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
17 His firstborn bull — glory is his;
his horns are those of a wild ox;
With them he will gore the peoples,
all of them, to the ends of the earth.
These are the myriads of Efrayim;
these are the thousands of M’nasheh.”
Today's Laws & Customs
• Omit Tachnun
Tachnun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted.
Today in Jewish History
• Passing of R. Abraham "The Angel" (1776)
The 12th of Tishrei is the yahrtzeit (anniversary of the passing) of Rabbi Abraham (1740-1776) the son of Rabbi DovBer of Mezeritch and study partner of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi; known as "Rabbi Abraham the Angel" for his saintliness and ascetism.
Daily Quote:
When G-d desired to create man, Truth said: "He should not be created, for he will be full of lies." Kindness said: "He should be created, for he will be full of kindness." (Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit 8:5)
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Vezot Hab'rachah, 2nd Portion Deuteronomy 33:8-33:12 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Deuteronomy Chapter 33
8And of Levi he said: "Your Tummim and Urim belong to Your pious man, whom You tested at Massah and whom You tried at the waters of Meribah, חוּלְלֵוִ֣י אָמַ֔ר תֻּמֶּ֥יךָ וְאוּרֶ֖יךָ לְאִ֣ישׁ חֲסִידֶ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נִסִּיתוֹ֙ בְּמַסָּ֔ה תְּרִיבֵ֖הוּ עַל־מֵ֥י מְרִיבָֽה:
And of Levi he said: Heb. וּלְלֵוִי אָמַר, And of Levi, he said….
וללוי אמר: ועל לוי אמר:
Your Tummim and Urim: Here, Moses is addressing the Shechinah .
תמיך ואוריך: כלפי שכינה הוא מדבר:
whom You tested at Massah: [spoken in praise of the Levites,] for they did not complain with the others who complained.
אשר נסיתו במסה: שלא נתלוננו עם שאר המלינים:
and whom You tried…: [This is to be understood] as the Targum renders it [namely, “You tested him (Levi) at the Waters of Meribah, and he came out faithful”]. Another explanation: “whom you tried at the waters of Meribah” — You made false accusations against him [Levi], for if Moses [was punished with death and not permitted to enter the Land of Israel because he] said to Israel, “Listen now, you rebels!” (see Num. 20:10), then [how do we understand why] Aaron and Miriam [were also punished with death and were not permitted to enter the Land of Israel] — what did they do [to deserve this]?- [Sifrei 33:8]
תריבהו וגו': כתרגומו. דבר אחר תריבהו על מי מריבה נסתקפת לו לבוא בעלילה, אם משה אמר (במדבר כ, י) שמעו נא המורים, אהרן ומרים מה עשו:
9who said of his father and his mother, 'I do not see him'; neither did he recognize his brothers, nor did he know his children, for they observed Your word and kept Your covenant. טהָֽאֹמֵ֞ר לְאָבִ֤יו וּלְאִמּוֹ֙ לֹ֣א רְאִיתִ֔יו וְאֶת־אֶחָיו֙ לֹ֣א הִכִּ֔יר וְאֶת־בָּנָ֖ו לֹ֣א יָדָ֑ע כִּ֤י שָֽׁמְרוּ֙ אִמְרָתֶ֔ךָ וּבְרִֽיתְךָ֖ יִנְצֹֽרוּ:
who said of his father and his mother, 'I do not see him…’: [Moses says:] When they [Israel] sinned with the calf, and I said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!” (Exod. 32:26), all the sons of Levi assembled to me, and I ordered them to kill [those guilty of worshipping the golden calf, even] one’s mother’s father, if he was an [ordinary] Israelite [and not a Levite], or his brother from his mother [if his brother’s father was not a Levite], or the son of his daughter [whose husband was not a Levite], and they did so. It is, however, impossible to explain [that it means literally his father and his brother from his father, and likewise, literally his sons, because all these were Levites, and not one of the tribe of Levi sinned, as it is said, “and all the sons of Levi [gathered to him]” (Exod. 32:26). - [Sifrei 33:9]
האומר לאביו ולאמו לא ראיתיו: כשחטאו בעגל ואמרתי (שמות לב, כו) מי לה' אלי, נאספו אלי כל בני לוי וצויתים להרוג את אבי אמו והוא מישראל, או את אחיו מאמו, או את בן בתו, וכן עשו. ואי אפשר לפרש אביו ממש ואחיו מאביו וכן בניו ממש, שהרי לוים הם ומשבט לוי לא חטא אחד מהם שנאמר כל בני לוי:
for they observed Your word: namely,“You shall have no other gods [before Me]” (Exod. 20:3). - [Sifrei 33:9]
כי שמרו אמרתך: (שמות כ, ב) לא יהיה לך אלהים אחרים:
and kept Your covenant: namely, the covenant of circumcision. — [Sifrei 33:9] For the [ordinary] Israelites who were born in the desert did not circumcise their sons, whereas the Levites were [not only] circumcised themselves, [but they] also circumcised their sons. — [Sifrei Bemidbar 9:18]
ובריתך ינצרו: ברית מילה, שאותם שנולדו במדבר של ישראל לא מלו את בניהם והם היו מולין ומלין את בניהם:
10They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob, and Your Torah to Israel; they shall place incense before You, and burnt offerings upon Your altar. ייוֹר֤וּ מִשְׁפָּטֶ֨יךָ֙ לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וְתוֹרָֽתְךָ֖ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יָשִׂ֤ימוּ קְטוֹרָה֙ בְּאַפֶּ֔ךָ וְכָלִ֖יל עַל־מִזְבְּחֶֽךָ:
They shall teach Your ordinances: [because] they are worthy of doing this.
יורו משפטיך: ראויין אלו לכך:
and burnt-offerings: Heb. וְכָלִיל, a burnt-offering [which is completely (כָּלִיל) consumed on the altar]. — [Yoma 26a]
וכליל: עולה:
11May the Lord bless his army and favorably accept the work of his hands; strike the loins of those who rise up against him and his enemies, so that they will not recover." יאבָּרֵ֤ךְ יְהֹוָה֙ חֵיל֔וֹ וּפֹ֥עַל יָדָ֖יו תִּרְצֶ֑ה מְחַ֨ץ מָתְנַ֧יִם קָמָ֛יו וּמְשַׂנְאָ֖יו מִן־יְקוּמֽוּן:
strike the loins of those who rise up against him: Strike those who rise up against him, in the loins. This is similar to what is said, “Constantly cause their loins to slip” (Ps. 69:24). Here, Moses was referring to those who contested the priesthood. — [Sifrei 33:11] Another explanation: Moses saw [prophetically] that the Hasmonean and his sons were destined to wage war with the Greeks. He therefore prayed for them, because they were few in number, namely, the twelve sons of the Hasmonean and Eleazar, against many myriads [of the enemy]. Hence, Moses said here:“May the Lord bless his army (חֵילוֹ) and favorably accept the work of his hands.” - [See Tanchuma Vayechi 14; Gen. Rabbah 99:2; Otzar Midrashim, Ma’aseh Hanukkah second version, p. 191; Midrash LaHanukkah , p. 193]
מחץ מתנים קמיו: מחץ קמיו מכת מתנים, כענין שנאמר (תהלים סט, כד) ומתניהם תמיד המעד, ועל המעוררין על הכהונה אמר כן. דבר אחר ראה שעתידין חשמונאי ובניו להלחם עם היונים והתפלל עליהם לפי שהיו מועטים י"ב בני חשמונאי ואלעזר כנגד כמה רבבות, לכך נאמר ברך ה' חילו ופועל ידיו תרצה:
and his enemies so that they will not recover: Strike the loins of those who rise up against him and of his enemies, so that they will have no recovery.
ומשנאיו מן יקומון: מחץ קמיו ומשנאיו מהיות להם תקומה:
12And of Benjamin he said, "The Lord's beloved one shall dwell securely beside Him; He protects him all day long, and He dwells between his shoulders." יבלְבִנְיָמִ֣ן אָמַ֔ר יְדִ֣יד יְהֹוָ֔ה יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן לָבֶ֖טַח עָלָ֑יו חֹפֵ֤ף עָלָיו֙ כָּל־הַיּ֔וֹם וּבֵ֥ין כְּתֵפָ֖יו שָׁכֵֽן:
And of Benjamin he said: Since Levi’s blessing pertains to the sacrificial service, and Benjamin’s blessing pertains to building the Holy Temple within his territory, Moses juxtaposed one to the other. He then juxtaposes Joseph immediately after him [Benjamin] because Joseph too [had a sanctuary built within his territory, namely] the Mishkan of Shiloh was erected in his territory, as is said:“He rejected the tent of Joseph” (Ps. 78:67). And because the Holy Temple is dearer [to God] than [the Mishkan of] Shiloh, he mentioned [the blessing of] Benjamin before [that of] Joseph [even though Joseph was older.].
לבנימן אמר: לפי שברכת לוי בעבודת הקרבנות ושל בנימין בבנין בית המקדש בחלקו סמכן זה לזה וסמך יוסף אחריו, שאף הוא משכן שילה היה בנוי בחלקו, שנאמר (שם עח, סז) וימאס באהל יוסף וגו'. ולפי שבית עולמים חביב משילה לכך הקדים בנימין ליוסף:
He protects him: Heb. חֹפֵף, covers him and protects him.
חפף עליו: מכסה אותו ומגין עליו:
all day long: i.e., forever. Since [the time] Jerusalem was chosen [for the building of the Holy Temple], the Divine Presence has never dwelt elsewhere. — [Mechilta 12:4]
כל היום: לעולם משנבחרה ירושלים לא שרתה שכינה במקום אחר:
and dwells between his shoulders: The Holy Temple was built on the highest point of his [Benjamin’s] land, except that it was twenty-three cubits below the Eitam Well (see Yoma 31a). Now, it was David’s intention to build it there [at the level of the Eitam Well], as is taught in Shechitath Kodashim [Zev. 54b]: [However,] they said to David:“Let us build it a little lower, for Scripture states, ‘and He dwells between his shoulders’ [which are lower than the head]-and there is no part of an ox more beautiful than its shoulders.”
ובין כתפיו שכן: בגובה ארצו היה, בית המקדש בנוי אלא שנמוך עשרים ושלש אמה מעין עיטם ושם היה דעתו של דוד לבנותו, כדאיתא בשחיטת קדשים (זבחים נד ב) אמרי נחתי ביה פורתא משום דכתיב ובין כתפיו שכן אין לך נאה בשור יותר מכתפיו:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 66 - 68
• Hebrew text
• English text
Chapter 66
This psalm describes the praises and awe-inspiring prayers that we will offer God upon the ingathering of the exiles.
1. For the Conductor, a song, a psalm. Raise your voices in jubilation to God, all the earth!
2. Sing the glory of His Name; make glorious His praise.
3. Say to God, "How awesome are Your deeds!" Because of Your great strength, Your enemies will [admit] their treachery to You.
4. All the earth will bow to You, and sing to You; they will sing praise to Your Name forever!
5. Go and see the works of God, awesome in His deeds toward mankind.
6. He turned the sea into dry land, and they passed through the river on foot; we rejoiced in Him there.
7. He rules the world with His might, and His eyes watch the nations; let the rebellious not exalt themselves, Selah.
8. Bless our God, O nations, and let the voice of His praise be heard.
9. He has kept us alive, and did not allow our feet to falter.
10. For You tested us, O God; You refined us as one refining silver.
11. You brought us into prison; You placed a chain upon our loins.
12. You mounted men over our head; we went through fire and water, and You brought us out to abundance.
13. I will enter Your House with burnt-offerings, I will pay to You my vows,
14. which my lips uttered and my mouth spoke in my distress.
15. I will offer up to You burnt-offerings of fat animals, with the smoke of rams; I will prepare cattle with he-goats, Selah.
16. Come listen, all you who fear God, and I will relate what He has done for my soul.
17. I called to Him with my mouth, with exaltation beneath my tongue.
18. Had I seen iniquity in my heart, my Lord would not have listened.
19. But in truth, God heard; He gave ear to the voice of my prayer.
20. Blessed is God Who has not turned away my prayer or His kindness from me.
Chapter 67
This psalm is known as an especially revered prayer. It, too, speaks of the era of the ingathering of the exiles, and the wars of Gog and Magog, a time when "the Lord will be One."
1. For the Conductor, a song with instrumental music, a psalm.
2. May God be gracious to us and bless us; may He make His countenance shine upon us forever,
3. that Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
4. The nations will extol You, O God; all the nations will extol You.
5. The nations will rejoice and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples justly and guide the nations on earth forever.
6. The peoples will extol You, O God; all the peoples will extol You,
7. for the earth will have yielded its produce, and God, our God, will bless us.
8. God will bless us; and all, from the farthest corners of the earth, shall fear Him.
Chapter 68
An awe-inspiring and wondrous prayer, David composed this psalm referring to a future event, when Sennacherib would surround Jerusalem on Passover, during the reign of Hezekiah. He also prophesies about the good we will enjoy during the Messianic era.
1. For the Conductor; by David, a psalm, a song.
2. Let God rise, let His enemies be scattered, and let His enemies flee before Him.
3. As smoke is driven away, drive them away; as wax melts before fire, let the wicked perish before God.
4. And the righteous will rejoice, they will exult before God and delight with joy.
5. Sing to God, chant praises to His Name; extol Him Who rides upon the heavens with His Name, Yah, and exult before Him.
6. A father of orphans and judge of widows is God, in the abode of His holiness.
7. God settles the solitary into a home, and frees those bound in shackles; but the rebellious [are left to] dwell in an arid land.
8. O God, when You went out before Your nation, when You marched through the wilderness, Selah,
9. the earth trembled, even the heavens dripped before the presence of God; this mountain of Sinai [trembled] before the presence of God, the God of Israel.
10. You poured generous rain, O God; when Your heritage was weary, You secured it.
11. Your flock settled there; in Your goodness, O God, You prepare for the poor.
12. My Lord will fulfill the word of the heralds to a great legion:
13. Kings of armies will flee, they will flee; and she who inhabits the home will divide the loot.
14. Even if you lie upon the hearth,1 [you will be like] wings of a dove covered with silver, her pinions with brilliant gold.
15. When the Almighty scatters kings in her midst, those in the shadow of darkness will be made snow-white.
16. The mountain of God is a fertile mountain, the mountain of majestic peaks is a fertile mountain.
17. Why do you prance, O mountains of peaks? This is the mountain God has desired as His dwelling; the Lord will even dwell there forever.
18. The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, [with] thousands of angels; my Lord is in their midst, at Sinai, in holiness.
19. You ascended on high and took a captive,2 you seized gifts for man; and [now] even rebels dwell with Yah, God.
20. Blessed is my Lord, Who each day loads us [with beneficence], the God Who is our deliverance forever.
21. The Lord is a God of deliverances for us; and to God, my Lord, are the many avenues of death.
22. God alone crushes the heads of His enemies, the hairy skull of him who goes about in his guilt.
23. My Lord said, "I will bring back from Bashan,3 I will bring back from the depths of the sea,
24. that your foot may wade through [the enemy's] blood; that the tongue of your dogs may have its portion from your enemies.”
25. They saw Your ways, O God, the ways of my God, my King, in holiness.
26. The singers began, then the musicians, in the midst of the maidens playing timbrels.
27. In assemblies bless God; [bless] my Lord, O you who stem from Israel.
28. There Benjamin, the youngest, rules them; the princes of Judah stone them, [as do] the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
29. Your God has decreed your strength. Show Your strength, O God, Who has wrought this for our sake.
30. Because of [the glory of] Your Sanctuary upon Jerusalem, kings will bring You tribute.
31. Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, the assembly of mighty bulls among the calves of nations, [until] each submits himself with pieces of silver. Scatter the nations that desire wars.
32. Nobles will come from Egypt; Kush will hasten [to raise] its hands to God.
33. Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praise to my Lord forever!
34. To the One Who rides upon the loftiest of ancient heavens-behold He gives forth His voice, a voice of might.
35. Ascribe power to God; His majesty is over Israel, and His might is in the skies.
36. God, You are feared from Your Sanctuary; it is the God of Israel Who grants strength and power to His people; blessed is God.
FOOTNOTES
1.And dirty yourself in exile (Metzudot).
2.Israel ascended on high and seized the Torah from the Angels (Metzudot).
3.From amongst the nations who are compared to “bulls of Bashan” (Metzudot).
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 20
• English Text (Lessons in Tanya)
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Monday, Tishrei 12, 5778 · October 2, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 20
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• VIDEO CLASS: Rabbi Yehoshua B. Gordon Watch • Listen
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Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
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Today's Mitzvah
Monday, Tishrei 12, 5778 · October 2, 2017
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work
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Positive Commandment 3
Loving G-d
"And you shall love the L-rd, your G-d"—Deuteronomy 6:5.
We are commanded to love G-d. We foster a love for G-d by studying and contemplating His Torah, His commandments, and His awesome deeds. Through studying and meditating about G-d we come to have somewhat of an understanding of His greatness—which automatically spawns a deep love for Him.
This mitzvah also includes sharing our knowledge of G-d with others, and calling upon our fellows to serve Him. After all, if we love G-d, we’d surely sing His praises before all who are ready to hear.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Loving G-d
Positive Commandment 3
Translated by Berel Bell
The 3rd mitzva is that we are commanded to love G‑d (exalted be He), i.e. to meditate upon and closely examine His mitzvos, His commandments, and His works, in order to understand Him; and through this understanding to achieve a feeling of ecstasy. This is the goal of the commandment to love G‑d.
[We can see that meditation is the way to create this feeling of love1 from] the Sifri: "From the statement, 'You shall love G‑d your Lord'2, can I know how to love G‑d? The Torah therefore says, 'and these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart'3; i.e. that through this [meditation about His commandments] you will understand the nature of 'the One Who spoke, and thereby brought the world into being.' "
From this it is clear that meditation will lead to understanding, and then a feeling of enjoyment and love will follow automatically [since the second verse explains the way to reach the goal of the previous verse.]
Our Sages also said that this mitzvah includes calling out to all mankind to serve G‑d (exalted be He) and to believe in Him. This is because when you love a person, for example, you praise him and call out to others to draw close to him. So too, if you truly love G‑d — through your understanding and realization of His true existence — you will certainly spread this true knowledge that you know to the ignorant and the foolish.
[We see that this mitzvah includes spreading love for G‑d to others from] the Sifri: " 'You shall love G‑d,' i.e. make Him beloved among the creatures as your father Avraham did, as it is written, 'The souls that he made in Charan.'4"
The meaning of this Sifri: Avraham, as a result of his deep understanding of G‑d, acquired love for G‑d, as the verse testifies, "Avraham, who loved Me"5. This powerful love therefore caused him to call out to all mankind to believe in G‑d. So too, you shall love Him to the extent that you draw others to Him.
FOOTNOTES
1.The obvious problem with having a commandment to "love," is that emotions cannot be compelled. The Rambam therefore proves that the commandment is to study and meditate, which will automatically lead to the emotion.
2.Deut. 6:5.
3.Deut. 6:6.
4.Gen. 12:5.
5.Isi. 41:8.
Positive Commandment 4
Fearing G-d
"You shall fear the L-rd, your G-d"—Deuteronomy 6:13.
We are commanded to fear G-d; never to be complacent, and to always bear in mind that transgressing His will leads to divine retribution.
This is also why we never say G-d's Name in vain – not in the context of a prayer or blessing – for this diminishes the fear and reverence we are commanded to harbor for Him.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Fearing G-d
Positive Commandment 4
Translated by Berel Bell
The 4th mitzvah is that we are commanded to establish in our minds fear and dread of G‑d (exalted be He); that we not be calm and nonchalant, but be constantly concerned of imminent punishment1 [for misdeeds.]
The biblical source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "You shall fear G‑d your Lord."
At3 the end of tractate Sanhedrin4, there is a discussion of G‑d's statement5 (exalted be He), "Anyone who is nokev (curses) G‑d's Name shall be put to death." [The Talmud asks:] "Perhaps the word nokev means, 'utters,' as in the verse6, 'Who were mentioned (nikvu) by name'; the prohibition7 being the verse, 'You shall fear G‑d your Lord.' "
The meaning of this question: "Perhaps the verse, 'nokev G‑d's Name' means merely uttering G‑d's Name even without a curse. And if one wonders 'What prohibition can there be in this?', it is [the prohibition not] to erase one's fear of G‑d; because included in fear of G‑d is not mentioning His Name in vain."8
The Talmud answers this question and rejects this approach as follows: "First of all, [in order to be punishable by death,] the person must have used 'one Name against another,' i.e. cursed one of G‑d's Names with another of G‑d's Names, as in the saying, 'Let Yosi strike Yosi,'9 and [if he merely mentioned G‑d's Name in vain,] he did not fulfill this condition."
[The Talmud continues:] "Furthermore, this prohibition is stated as a positive commandment, and cannot technically serve as a prohibition."
This means that the suggestion, "the prohibition is from the verse, 'You shall fear G‑d,' " is incorrect, because this verse is a positive commandment, and a punishment can never be based on a positive commandment.
This passage clearly indicates that "You shall fear G‑d," is a positive commandment.
FOOTNOTES
1.Although here the Rambam describes the commandment as fear of punishment, in Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah, 2:1-2 and 4:12, he defines it as awe growing out of a realization of G‑d's greatness.
See Kinas Sofrim on Sefer Hamitzvos, P9; On the Teachings of Chassidus, Ch. 13, footnote, regarding the greater precision of Mishneh Torah.
2.Deut. 6:13.
3.The Rambam now quotes and explains a Talmudic passage in order to prove that this mitzvah is a positive commandment. The passage deals primarily with another mitzvah, the prohibition of cursing G‑d, but makes important mention of our verse, "You shall fear G‑d."
For the sake of clarity, we will quote the entire passage without the Rambam's explanation:
"Perhaps the word nokev means, 'utters,' as in the verse, 'Who were mentioned (nikvu) by name'; the prohibition being the verse, 'You shall fear G‑d your Lord'!
"First of all, [in order to be punished,] the person must have used 'one Name against another; and [if he merely mentioned G‑d's Name in vain,] he did not fulfill this condition."
"Furthermore, this prohibition is stated as a positive commandment, and cannot technically serve as a prohibition."
4.56a.
5.Lev. 24:16.
6.Num. 1:17.
7.Every punishable act in the Torah must have two verses describing it: one stating that the act is prohibited, and another dictating the particular punishment. The verse containing the punishment is clearly Lev. 24:16.
However, the verse setting forth the actual prohibition is in doubt. If nokev is translated, "curse" (as is indeed the conclusion), the actual prohibition comes from Ex. 22:27, "Do not curse G‑d." Since the Talmud is attempting to translate nokev differently, i.e. "to mention," it attempts to find another verse (namely, Deut. 6:13) to serve as the actual prohibition of mentioning G‑d's Name.
8.According to the questioner, then, it is clear that the verse, "You shall fear G‑d" is a prohibition.
9.When the court examined the witnesses who heard the curse uttered, the name "Yosi" was used instead of G‑d's real Name, in order to minimize its use. "Yosi" was chosen because it has 4 letters, as does G‑d's Name, and because it has the numerical value of 86, as does G‑d's Name Elokim. See Rashi on Sanhedrin.
Positive Commandment 9
Sanctifying G-d's Name
"And I will be sanctified among the Children of Israel"—Leviticus 22:32.
We are commanded to sanctify G-d's holy Name by publicly proclaiming our faith and religion. In the event that a tyrant attempts to coerce us to renounce our belief in G-d, we are commanded to refuse to comply—even if the tyrant threatens to kill us. We may not even verbally deny our belief in G-d, though in our hearts we remain true to Him.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Sanctifying G-d's Name
Positive Commandment 9
Translated by Berel Bell
The 9th mitzvah is that we are commanded to sanctify G‑d's Name.
The biblical source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1, "Sanctify Me amidst the Jewish people."
This mitzvah requires us to publicize the true religion to the masses. This must be done without fear of retribution, to the extent that even if a powerful tyrant tries to force us to deny G‑d (exalted be He), we may not obey him. We must rather unquestioningly submit to death, not even allowing him to think that we have denied G‑d (exalted be He) [by outwardly denying Him], even if we still maintain belief in Him in our hearts.
This is the mitzvah of "Santifying G‑d's Name," in which all Jews are obligated. This means that allow ourselves to be killed by a tyrant for love of G‑d (exalted be He) and belief in His Oneness. [This is] similar to the actions of Chanaya, Mishael, and Azaryah in the days of the wicked Nebuchadnezzar, who forced people to bow down to a statue, and everyone — including Jews — bowed down. There was nobody there to sanctify G‑d's Name, and this was a tremendous shame to the Jewish people. Everyone did not fulfill this mitzvah, and there was nobody to fulfill it; everyone was afraid.
This commandment is obligatory only in such an awesome setting, when all inhabitants of the world were terrified, and it was then necessary to spread and announce His Unity.2
But G‑d had already promised through His prophet Isaiah that the Jewish people would not be completely disgraced on that difficult occasion; and that a few young men3 would be present who would not be afraid of death, and would give up their lives and publicize faith in G‑d, sanctifying G‑d's Name in public as we have been commanded through Moses. This promise is in the verse4, "Now, Jacob will not be afraid, nor will his face turn white; for he will see in his midst his children, the work of My hands. They will sanctify My Name, the Holy One of Jacob, and strengthen the G‑d of Israel."
[We see that this action is obligatory, and therefore counts as a mitzvah from] the Sifra: "Upon this condition I took them out of Egypt; on condition5 that they publicly sanctify My Name."
In the end of tractate Sanhedrin, they ask, "Is a non-Jew commanded to sanctify G‑d's Name or not? Here is a statement which proves it: 'The seven commandments of the non-Jews.' If you include this one [i.e. to sanctify G‑d's Name], there would be eight!" From this we see that, for Jews, [sanctification of G‑d's Name] counts as a mitzvah.
They bring proof that this is counted among the mitzvos from the verse, "Sanctify Me amidst the Jewish people."
The details of this commandment have been explained in the 7th chapter of the tractate Sanhedrin.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 22:32.
2.See Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah, 5:3, that at the time of a decree to tear Jews from their religion, the mitzvah would require sacrificing one's life for any mitzvah, not just idolatry.
3.I.e. Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah (mentioned above).
4.Isaiah 29:22-23.
5.As the Rambam explained in Positive Commandment 2, this expression means that the act under discussion is obligatory.
Rambam:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Positive Commandments Part 3
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167
To rest on the eighth day of the festival of Sukkot, as [Leviticus 23:36] states: "On the eighth day, there shall be a sacred holiday."
קסז
לשבות בשמיני של חג, שנאמר "וביום השמיני מקרא קודש" (ראה ויקרא כג,לו).
168
To dwell in a sukkah for seven days, as [Leviticus 23:42] states: "And you shall dwell in sukkot for seven days."
קסח
לישב בסוכה שבעת ימים, שנאמר "בסוכות תשבו, שבעת ימים" (ויקרא כג,מב).
169
To take the lulav [and the other three species on Sukkot], as [Leviticus 23:40] states: "And you shall take for yourselves on the first day, the fruit of a beautiful tree, a palm branch,...."
קסט
ליטול לולב, שנאמר "ולקחתם לכם ביום הראשון, פרי עץ הדר כפות תמרים" (ויקרא כג,מ).
170
To hear the sound of the shofar on Rosh HaShanah, as [Numbers 29:1] states: "It will be a day of [shofar] blasts for you."
קע
לשמוע קול שופר בראש השנה, שנאמר "יום תרועה, יהיה לכם" (במדבר כט,א).
171
To give a half-shekel each year, as [Exodus 30:13] states: "This shall be given by all those included in the census...."
קעא
ליתן מחצית השקל בכל שנה ושנה, שנאמר "זה ייתנו, כל העובר על הפקודים" (שמות ל,יג).
172
To listen to any prophet who will arise in any era, provided he does not add or detract [from the Torah's commandments], as [Deuteronomy 18:15] states: "You shall listen to him."
קעב
לשמוע מכל נביא שיהיה בכל דור ודור אם לא יוסיף ולא יגרע, שנאמר "אליו, תשמעון" (דברים יח,טו).
173
To appoint a king, as [Deuteronomy 17:15] states: "You shall surely set a king upon yourselves."
קעג
למנות מלך, שנאמר "שום תשים עליך מלך" (דברים יז,טו).
174
To obey the High Court regarding all [the ordinances] they establish for Israel, as [Deuteronomy 17:11] states: "Carry out the judgment which they render for you."
קעד
לשמוע מכל בית דין הגדול שיעמדו להם לישראל, שנאמר "ועל המשפט אשר יאמרו לך--תעשה" (דברים יז,יא).
175
To follow the majority if there is a difference of opinion in the Sanhedrin concerning a law, as [Exodus 23:2] states: "Follow after the majority."
קעה
לנטות אחרי רבים אם תהיה מחלוקת בין הסנהדרין בדינין, שנאמר "אחרי רבים--להטות" (שמות כג,ב).
176
To appoint judges and court officers in each and every Jewish community, as [Deuteronomy 16:18] states: "Appoint judges and court officers...."
קעו
למנות שופטים ושוטרים בכל קהל וקהל מישראל, שנאמר "שופטים ושוטרים, תיתן לך" (דברים טז,יח).
177
To treat litigants equally when they appear [in court] to be judged, as [Leviticus 19:15] states: "Judge your fellow man with righteousness."
קעז
להשוות בין בעלי דינין בשעה שעומדין בדין, שנאמר "בצדק, תשפוט עמיתך" (ויקרא יט,טו).
178
For anyone who has evidence to testify in court, as [Leviticus 5:1] states: "If he was a witness, saw, or knew...."
קעח
להעיד בבית דין למי שיש לו עדות, שנאמר "והוא עד, או ראה או ידע" (ויקרא ה,א).
179
To cross-examine the witnesses thoroughly, as [Deuteronomy 13:15] states: "You must investigate and probe, making careful enquiry."
קעט
לחקור העדים הרבה, שנאמר "ודרשת וחקרת ושאלת, היטב" (דברים יג,טו).
180
To [punish] false witnesses [by] giving them the same penalty that they wish to have imposed [on the defendant], as [Deuteronomy 19:19] states: "And you shall do to him what he plotted to do to his brother."
קפ
לעשות לעדים זוממין כמו שזמו לעשות, שנאמר "ועשיתם לו, כאשר זמם" (דברים יט,יט).
181
To decapitate the calf [brought as atonement for an unsolved murder] as required, as [Deuteronomy 21:4] states: "You shall decapitate the calf there in the river."
קפא
לערוף את העגלה כמצותה, שנאמר "וערפו שם את העגלה, בנחל" (דברים כא,ד).
182
To prepare six refuge cities, as [Deuteronomy 19:3] states: "Prepare the way and divide into three [the boundary]...."
קפב
להכין שש ערי מקלט, שנאמר "תכין לך, הדרך, ושילשת" (דברים יט,ג).
183
To give the Levites cities in which to dwell - they also serve as refuge centers - as [Numbers 35:2] states: "And you shall give cities to the Levites...."
קפג
לתת ללויים ערים לשבת, וגם הן קולטות, שנאמר "ונתנו ללויים . . . ערים" (במדבר לה,ב).
184
To construct a guard rail, as [Deuteronomy 22:8] states: "And you shall construct a guard rail for your roof."
קפד
לעשות מעקה, שנאמר "ועשית מעקה לגגך" (דברים כב,ח).
185
To destroy false gods and all their objects of worship, as [Deuteronomy 12:2] states: "You shall surely destroy...."
קפה
לאבד עבודה זרה וכל משמשיה, שנאמר "אבד תאבדון את כל המקומות" (דברים יב,ב).
186
To slay the inhabitants of an apostate city and burn the city, as [Deuteronomy 13:17] states: "And you shall burn the city and all its spoil with fire."
קפו
להרוג אנשי עיר הנידחת ולשרוף את העיר, שנאמר "ושרפת באש את . . . כל שללה" (דברים יג,יז).
187
To destroy the seven nations [that dwelled in] Eretz Yisrael, as [Deuteronomy 20:17] states: "You shall utterly destroy them."
קפז
לאבד שבעה עממים מארץ ישראל, שנאמר "החרם תחרימם" (דברים כ,יז).
188
To exterminate the seed of Amalek, as [Deuteronomy 25:19] states: "Blot out the memory of Amalek."
קפח
להכרית זרעו של עמלק, שנאמר "תמחה את זכר עמלק" (דברים כה,יט).
189
To constantly remember what Amalek did to us, as [Deuteronomy 25:17] states: "Remember what Amalek did to you."
קפט
לזכור מה שעשה לנו עמלק תדיר, שנאמר "זכור, את אשר עשה לך עמלק" (דברים כה,יז).
190
To wage a voluntary war according to the laws prescribed by the Torah, as [Deuteronomy 20:10] states: "When you approach the city...."
קצ
לעשות במלחמת הרשות כמשפט הכתוב בתורה, שנאמר "כי תקרב אל עיר" (דברים כ,י).
191
To anoint a priest [who will address the people before] battle, as [Deuteronomy 20:2] states: "And it shall come to pass, when you approach the battle, the priest will come forward and speak to the people...."
קצא
למשוח כוהן למלחמה, שנאמר "והיה, כקורבכם אל המלחמה; וניגש הכוהן" (דברים כ,ב).
192
To prepare a place [outside] the [army] camp [for use as a latrine], as [Deuteronomy 23:13] states: "Prepare a place for yourselves outside the camp."
קצב
להתקין יד במחנה, שנאמר "ויד תהיה לך, מחוץ למחנה" (דברים כג,יג).
193
To prepare a shovel [to cover one's excrement], as [Deuteronomy 23:14] states: "You shall have a shovel in addition to your weapons."
קצג
להתקין יתד, שנאמר "ויתד תהיה לך, על אזנך" (דברים כג,יד).
194
To return a stolen object, as [Leviticus 5:23] states: "And he shall return the object which he stole."
קצד
להשיב את הגזל, שנאמר "והשיב את הגזילה אשר גזל" (ויקרא ה,כג).
195
To give charity, as [Deuteronomy 15:8] states: "You shall surely open your hand [to your poor brother]."
קצה
ליתן צדקה, שנאמר "פתוח תפתח את ידך" (דברים טו,ח; דברים טו,יא).
196
To give a severance gift to a Hebrew servant, as [Deuteronomy 15:14] states: "You shall surely give him gifts...." Similarly, [this gift is given] to a Hebrew maidservant.
קצו
להעניק לעבד עברי, שנאמר "הענק תעניק, לו" (דברים טו,יד); וכן אמה עברייה.
197
To lend to the poor, as [Exodus 22:24] states: "If you will lend money to my people...." In this instance, the word "if" does not refer to a matter left to one's volition, but to a commandment, as [Deuteronomy 15:8] states: "You shall surely lend him."
קצז
להלוות לעני, שנאמר "אם כסף תלווה את עמי" (שמות כב,כד); "אם" זה אינו רשות אלא מצוה, שנאמר "והעבט, תעביטנו" (דברים טו,ח).
198
To lend to a gentile at interest, as [Deuteronomy 23:21] states: "Take interest from a gentile." Based on the oral tradition, we have learned that this is a positive commandment.b
קצח
להלוות לנוכרי בריבית, שנאמר "לנוכרי תשיך" (דברים כג,כא); מפי השמועה למדו שזו מצות עשה.
199
To return security to its owner, as [Deuteronomy 24:13] states: "You shall surely return the security to him."
קצט
להשיב המשכון לבעליו, שנאמר "השב תשיב לו את העבוט" (דברים כד,יג).
200
To pay a worker his wage on time, as [Deuteronomy 24:15] states: "Pay him his wage on the day it is due."
ר
ליתן שכר שכיר בזמנו, שנאמר "ביומו תיתן שכרו" (דברים כד,טו).
201
For a hired worker to be allowed to eat [from produce] while he is working with it, as [Deuteronomy 23:25-26] states: "When you enter your neighbor's vineyard... When you enter your neighbor's standing grain...."
רא
להיות השכיר אוכל בזמן שכירותו, שנאמר "כי תבוא בכרם ריעך" (דברים כג,כה), "כי תבוא בקמת ריעך" (דברים כג,כו).
202
To assist a colleague in unloading a burden which he or his beast [is carrying], as [Exodus 23:5] states: "You shall surely help him."b
רב
לעזוב מעל חברו או מעל בהמתו, שנאמר "עזוב תעזוב, עימו" (שמות כג,ה).
203
To [help a colleague] load a burden unto a beast, as [Deuteronomy 22:4] states: " You shall lift it up with him."
רג
להקים המשא על הבהמה, שנאמר "הקם תקים, עימו" (דברים כב,ד).
204
To return a lost object, as [Deuteronomy 22:1] states: "You shall surely return them to your brother."
רד
להשיב האבידה, שנאמר "השב תשיבם, לאחיך" (דברים כב,א).
205
To rebuke a person who sins, as [Leviticus 19:17] states: "You shall surely rebuke your fellow men."
רה
להוכיח החוטא, שנאמר "הוכח תוכיח את עמיתך" (ויקרא יט,יז).
206
To love every member of our people, as [Leviticus 19:18] states: "And you shall love your neighbor as yourself."
רו
לאהוב כל בני אדם מבני ברית, שנאמר "ואהבת לריעך כמוך" (ויקרא יט,יח).
207
To love a convert, as [Deuteronomy 10:19] states: "And you shall love a convert."
רז
לאהוב את הגר, שנאמר "ואהבתם, את הגר" (דברים י,יט).
208
To balance scales with correct weights, as [Leviticus 19:36] states: "You shall have correct scales, with correct weights."
רח
לצדק מאזניים עם המשקלות, שנאמר "מאזני צדק אבני צדק" (ויקרא יט,לו).
209
To honor the Sages, as [Leviticus 19:32] states: "Rise before an elder."
רט
לכבד החכמים, שנאמר "מפני שיבה תקום" (ויקרא יט,לב).
210
To honor one's father and mother, as [Exodus 20:12] states: "Honor your father and mother."
רי
לכבד אב ואם, שנאמר "כבד את אביך, ואת אימך" (שמות כ,יא; דברים ה,טו).
211
To fear one's father and mother, as [Leviticus 19:3] states: "A person must fear his mother and his father."
ריא
ליראה מאב ואם, שנאמר "איש אימו ואביו תיראו" (ויקרא יט,ג).
212
To be fruitful and multiply, as [Genesis 9:7] states: "Be fruitful and multiply."
ריב
לפרות ולרבות, שנאמר "פרו ורבו" (בראשית ט,ז).
213
To have sexual relations [only within] marriage, as [Deuteronomy 24:1] states: "If a man takes a woman [as a wife]...."
ריג
לבעול בקידושין, שנאמר "כי ייקח איש, אישה; ובא אליה" (דברים כב,יג; וראה דברים כד,א).
214
For a groom to rejoice together with his wife for a year, as [Deuteronomy 24:5] states: "He shall be free for his home for one year."
ריד
לשמח חתן את אשתו שנה, שנאמר "נקי יהיה לביתו, שנה אחת . . ." (דברים כד,ה).
215
To circumcise a son, as [Leviticus 12:3] states: "On the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised."1
רטו
למול את הבן, שנאמר "וביום, השמיני, יימול, בשר עורלתו" (ויקרא יב,ג).
216
To marry the widow of one's brother who died childless, as [Deuteronomy 25:5] states: "Her yavam shall come unto her."
רטז
לייבם אשת אח, שנאמר "יבמה יבוא עליה" (דברים כה,ה).
217
To remove the yavam's shoe [if he does not marry his brother's widow], as [Deuteronomy 25:9] states: "And she shall remove his shoe from his foot."
ריז
לחלוץ ליבם, שנאמר "וחלצה נעלו מעל רגלו" (דברים כה,ט).
218
For a rapist to marry the woman he raped, as [Deuteronomy 22:29] states: "She shall become his wife."
ריח
לישא אונס את אנוסתו, שנאמר "ולו תהיה לאישה" (דברים כב,כט).
219
For a person who made defamatory remarks about his wife to remain married to her for his entire life, as [Deuteronomy 22:19] states: "She shall become his wife. He may not send her away for his entire life."
ריט
לישב מוציא שם רע עם אשתו כל ימיו, שנאמר "ולו תהיה לאישה" (דברים כב,יט).
220
To carry out the judgment concerning a seducer, fining him fifty shekels and carrying out the other laws regarding this matter, as [Exodus 22:15] states: "If a person will seduce...."
רכ
לדון במפתה בחמישים שקל עם שאר דינין, שנאמר "כי יפתה איש" (שמות כב,טו).
221
To carry out the procedure [the Torah] prescribes for a yefat to'ar, as [Deuteronomy 21:11] states: "And if you see a beautiful woman among the captives...."
רכא
לעשות ליפת תואר ככתוב, שנאמר "וראית, בשביה, אשת, יפת תואר" (דברים כא,יא).
222
To divorce with a get, as [Deuteronomy 24:1] states: "And he shall write a bill of divorce for her and place it in her hand."
רכב
לגרש בשטר, שנאמר "וכתב לה ספר כריתות ונתן בידה" (דברים כד,א; דברים כד,ג).
223
To carry out the [procedure] prescribed for a sotah, as [Numbers 8:30] states: "And the priests will carry out all these laws for her."
רכג
לעשות לסוטה כתורה, שנאמר "ועשה לה הכוהן, את כל התורה הזאת" (במדבר ה,ל).
224
To whip the wicked, as [Deuteronomy 25:2] states: "The judge will cast him down and beat him."
רכד
להלקות הרשעים, שנאמר "והפילו השופט והכהו" (דברים כה,ב).
225
To exile a person who accidentally kills a person, as [Numbers 35:25] states: "And he shall dwell there until the High Priest dies...."
רכה
להגלות רוצח בשגגה, שנאמר "וישב בה, עד מות הכוהן" (במדבר לה,כה).
226
For a court to execute by decapitation, as [Exodus 21:20] states: "Revenge shall surely be taken."
רכו
להיות בית דין הורגין בסיף, שנאמר "נקום, יינקם" (שמות כא,כ).
227
For a court to execute by strangulation, as [Leviticus 20:10] states: "The adulterer and the adulteress shall die."
רכז
להיות בית דין הורגין בחנק, שנאמר "מות יומת הנואף, והנואפת" (ויקרא כ,י).
228
For a court to execute by burning [the condemned] with fire, as [Leviticus 20:14] states: "They shall burn him and them with fire."
רכח
להיות בית דין שורפין באש, שנאמר "באש ישרפו אותו, ואתהן" (ויקרא כ,יד).
229
For a court to execute by stoning [the condemned] with stones, as [Deuteronomy 22:24] states: "And you shall stone them."
רכט
להיות בית דין סוקלין באבנים, שנאמר "וסקלתם אותם" (דברים כב,כד).
230
To hang [the corpses] of those liable for hanging, as [Deuteronomy 21:22] states: "And you shall hang them on a gallows."
רל
לתלות מי שנתחייב תלייה, שנאמר "ותלית אותו, על עץ" (דברים כא,כב).
231
To bury [the body of] an executed person on the day of his execution, as [Deuteronomy 21:22] states: "For you shall surely bury him on that day."
רלא
לקבור הנהרג ביומו, שנאמר "כי קבור תקברנו ביום ההוא" (דברים כא,כג).
232
To carry out the laws concerning a Hebrew servant, as [Exodus 21:2] states: "When you purchase a Hebrew servant...."
רלב
לדון בעבד עברי כהלכותיו, שנאמר "כי תקנה עבד עברי" (שמות כא,ב).
233
To marry a Hebrew maidservant, as [Exodus 21:8] states: "Who has designated her for himself... and she will be redeemed."
רלג
לייעד אמה עברייה, שנאמר "אשר לו יעדה" (שמות כא,ח), "ואם לבנו, ייעדנה" (שמות כא,ט).
234
To redeem a Hebrew maidservant, as [Exodus, ibid.] states: "And she will be redeemed."
רלד
לפדות אמה עברייה, שנאמר "והפדה" (שמות כא,ח).
235
To have a Canaanite servant serve forever, as [Leviticus 25:46] states: "You shall have them serve you forever."a
רלה
לעבוד בעבד כנעני לעולם, שנאמר "לעולם, בהם תעבודו" (ויקרא כה,מו).
236
For a person who injures [a colleague] to pay him damages, as [Exodus 21:18] states: "If men will quarrel and one man will strike [his colleague]...."
רלו
להיות החובל משלם ממון, שנאמר "וכי יריבון אנשים--והכה איש" (שמות כא,יח).
237
To judge regarding the damages caused by an ox, as [Exodus 21:33] states: "If an ox belonging to one person gores an ox belonging to a colleague...."
רלז
לדון בנזקי בהמה, שנאמר "וכי ייגוף שור איש את שור ריעהו" (שמות כא,לה).
238
To judge regarding the damages caused by a pit, as [Exodus 21:33] states: If a person will open a pit...."
רלח
לדון בנזקי הבור, שנאמר "כי יפתח איש בור" (שמות כא,לג).
239
To judge a thief, obligating him for payment or execution, as [Exodus 21:37] states: "Should a theft be perpetrated," as [Exodus 22:1] states: "If when breaking in," and, as [Exodus 21:16] states: "If one kidnaps a person and sells him,…. "2
רלט
לדון לגנב בתשלומין או במיתה, שנאמר "וכי יגנוב" (ראה שמות כא,לז), "אם במחתרת" (שמות כב,א), "וגונב איש ומכרו" (שמות כא,טז).
240
To judge regarding the damages caused by grazing, as [Exodus 22:4] states: "If a person will graze [his animals] in a field or vineyard...."
רמ
לדון בנזקי הבער, שנאמר "כי יבער איש, שדה או כרם" (שמות כב,ד).
241
To judge regarding the damages caused by fire, as [Exodus 22:5] states: "If fire will break out and catch in thorns...."
רמא
לדון בנזקי האש, שנאמר "כי תצא אש ומצאה קוצים" (שמות כב,ה).
242
To render judgment [in questions] regarding an unpaid watchman, as [Exodus 22:6] states: "If a person will give a colleague money or utensils [to watch]...."
רמב
לדון בדין שומר חינם, שנאמר "כי ייתן איש אל ריעהו כסף או כלים" (שמות כב,ו).
243
To render judgment [in questions] regarding a paid watchman, as [Exodus 22:9] states: "Should a person give a donkey or an ox...."
רמג
לדון בדין נושא שכר ושוכר, שנאמר "כי ייתן איש אל ריעהו חמור או שור" (שמות כב,ט).
244
To render judgment [in questions] regarding a borrower, as [Exodus 22:13] states: "If a person will borrow from a colleague...."
רמד
לדון בדין השואל, שנאמר "וכי ישאל איש מעם ריעהו" (שמות כב,יג).
245
To render judgment [in questions] regarding business transactions, as [Leviticus 22:14] states: "If you sell merchandise to your colleague...."
רמה
לדון בדין מקח וממכר, שנאמר "וכי תמכרו ממכר לעמיתך" (ויקרא כה,יד).
246
To render judgment [in questions] regarding claims made by one person against another, as [Exodus 22:8] states: "For every matter of trespass, concerning an ox, concerning a donkey, or concerning a sheep...."
רמו
לדון בדין טוען וכופר, שנאמר "על כל דבר פשע" (שמות כב,ח).
247
To save a person who is being pursued even if it is necessary to kill the pursuer, as [Deuteronomy 25:12] states: "And you shall cut off her hand...."
רמז
להציל הנרדף ואפילו בנפש הרודף, שנאמר "וקצותה, את כפה" (דברים כה,יב).
248
To render judgment [in questions] regarding inheritances as [Numbers 27:8] states: "If a person dies without having a son...."
רמח
לדון בדיני נחלות, שנאמר "איש כי ימות, ובן אין לו" (במדבר כז,ח).
FOOTNOTES
1.The Rambam cites this verse, rather than a verse from Genesis, Chapter 17, which describes the circumcision of Abraham, because he prefers to cite a prooftext that was given after the giving of the Torah. Nevertheless, we also learn some particulars regarding this mitzvah from the passage from Genesis. (See also the Rambam's Commentary on the Mishnah, Chulin 7:6.)
2.. The Rambam cites these different verses because each involves a different punishment. (See also Negative Mitzvot 243 and 244.)
Rambam:
• 3 Chapters A Day: Yesodei haTorah Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Four, Yesodei haTorah Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Five, Yesodei haTorah Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Six
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Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Four
1
These four bodies: fire, wind, water, and earth are the fundamental [elements] of all the creations below the sky. Everything that exists - [be it] man, beast, fowl, crawling creature, fish, plant, metal, precious stone, pearl, building stone, mountain, or lump of earth - the body of all these [entities] is a combination of these four fundamental [elements].
Thus, all the bodies which are found below the sky, with the exception of these four bodies, are a combination of matter and form,1 and their matter is a combination of these fundamental [elements]. These fundamental [elements], however, are a combination of matter and form [as they exist in a hylian state] alone.
א
ארבעה גופים הללו שהם אש ורוח ומים וארץ הם יסודות כל הנבראים למטה מן הרקיע וכל שיהיה מאדם ומבהמה ועוף ורמש ודג וצמח ומתכת ואבנים טובות ומרגליות ושאר אבני בנין והרים וגושי עפר הכל גולמן מחובר מארבעה יסודות הללו נמצאו כל הגופים שלמטה מן הרקיע חוץ מארבעה יסודות האלו מחוברים מגולם וצורה וגולם שלהם מחובר מארבעה יסודות האלו אבל כל אחד מארבעה היסודות אינו מחובר אלא מגולם וצורה בלבד:
2
The tendency of fire and wind is to ascend upwards from the depths of the earth toward the sky. The tendency of water and earth is to descend from the sky to the midpoint of the sky, [i.e., the center of the Earth,] for the midpoint of the sky is the lowest point, below which nothing is lower.2 These tendencies are not a conscious matter, nor are they willful. Rather, it is a pattern affixed within them and a nature they were given.
The natural characteristics of fire are that it is warm and dry. It is the lightest of all [these fundamental elements]. Wind is warm and moist. Water is cold and moist, and earth is dry and cold. It is the heaviest of all [these fundamental elements].
Water is lighter than earth. Therefore, it is found above it. Wind is lighter than water. Therefore, it hovers above it. Fire is even lighter than wind.
these are the fundamental [elements] for all the bodies below the sky, the matter of every single body - man, animal, beast, fowl, fish, plant, metal, and stone - is a combination of fire, wind, water, and earth. [In the process of] the combination of these four, each one of them changes while they are being combined. Thus, the combination of the four [fundamental elements] does not resemble any one of the [elements] as it exists alone. [Similarly,] in any combination of them, there cannot be found even one portion of fire as it exists alone, wind as it exists alone, water as it exists alone, nor earth as it exists alone. Rather, they have all changed and become a single body.
and every body which is a combination of these four [fundamental elements] will have a combination of cold and warmth, moistness and dryness. There are some bodies which have a more powerful [concentration] of the fundamental [element] of fire - for example, creatures with living souls. Accordingly, they have a higher temperature. [Conversely,] there are some bodies with a more powerful concentration of the element of earth - for example, the stones. Accordingly, they are very dry. Similarly, some of them have bodies with a greater concentration of the element of water. Accordingly, they are moist.3
In this manner, one may find one body which is warmer than another body, which is itself warm, and one body drier than another body, which is itself dry. Similarly, there are bodies in which cold alone is noticeable, and other bodies in which moistness alone is noticeable. In some bodies, cold and dryness are equally noticeable; in others, warmth and dryness are equally noticeable; in others, warmth and moistness are equally noticeable; and in others, warmth and moistness are equally noticeable. According to the predominance of the element that is found in the essential combination, the inclination and nature of that element will be expressed in the body [resulting from] a mixture [of all the elements].
ב
דרך האש והרוח להיות מהלכם ממטה מטבור הארץ למעלה כלפי הרקיע ודרך המים והארץ להיות מהלכם מתחת הרקיע למטה עד לאמצע שאמצע הרקיע הוא המטה שאין למטה ממנו ואין הילוכם לא בדעתם ולא בחפצם אלא מנהג שנקבע בהן וטבע שנטבע בהן:
טבע האש חם ויבש והוא קל מכולם והרוח חם ולח והמים קרים ולחים והארץ יבשה וקרה והיא כבידה מכולם והמים קלים ממנה לפיכך נמצאים למעלה על הארץ והרוח קל מן המים לפיכך הוא מרחף על פני המים והאש קל מן הרוח ומפני שהם יסודות לכל גופים שתחת הרקיע ימצא כל גוף וגוף מאדם ובהמה וחיה ועוף ודג וצמח ומתכת ואבן גולמו מחובר מאש ורוח ומים ועפר וארבעתן יתערבו ביחד וישתנו כל אחד מהם בעת העירוב עד שימצא המחובר מארבעתן אינו דומה לאחד מהן כשהוא לבדו ואין במעורב מהן אפילו חלק אחד שהוא אש בפני עצמו או מים בפני עצמן או ארץ בפני עצמה או רוח בפני עצמה אלא הכל נשתנו ונעשו גוף אחד וכל גוף וגוף המחובר מארבעתן ימצא בו קור וחום לח ויבש כאחד אבל יש מהם גופים שיהיה בהם חזקה מיסוד האש כמו בעלי נפש חיה לפיכך יראה בהם החום יתר ויש מהן גופין שיהיה בהן חזקה מיסוד הארץ כמו האבנים לפיכך יראה בהם היובש הרבה ויש מהן גופין שיהיה בהן חזקה מיסוד המים לפיכך יראה בהם הלח יתר ועל הדרך הזה ימצא גוף חם יתר מגוף אחר חם וגוף יבש יתר מגוף אחר יבש וכן ימצאו גופים שיראה בהן הקור בלבד וגופים יראה בהן הלח בלבד וגופים יראה בהן הקור והיובש כאחד בשוה או הקור והלח כאחד בשוה או החום והיובש כאחד בשוה או החום והלח כאחד בשוה לפי רוב היסוד שהיה בעיקר התערובת יראה מעשה אותו היסוד וטבעו בגוף המעורב:
3
Every entity which is a combination of these four fundamental [elements] will ultimately decompose into them.4 Some will decompose after a mere few days, and others will decompose after many years. [However,] it is impossible for everything which is a combination of them not to decompose into them. It is impossible even for gold and ruby not to decompose and return to their fundamental elements: a portion becoming fire, a portion water, a portion wind, and a portion earth.
ג
וכל המחובר מארבעה יסודות אלו הוא נפרד בסוף יש שהוא נפרד לאחר ימים אחדים ויש שהוא נפרד לאחר שנים רבות וכל שנתחבר מהם אי אפשר שלא יפרד להן אפילו הזהב והאודם אי אפשר שלא יפסד ויחזור ליסודותיו וישוב מקצתו לאש ומקצתו למים ומקצתו לרוח ומקצתו לארץ:
4
Since every [entity will] decompose and separate into these four fundamental [elements], why was Adam told: "You will return to dust," [implying that man will return to dust alone]? Because the major part of man's composition is from dust. 5 every [entity that] decomposes will not return to the four fundamental [elements] immediately. Rather, it will decompose and change into another entity. That entity will, in turn, change into another entity, until ultimately, it will return to the elements. Thus, all entities are constantly returning [to their elemental state] in a cycle.6
ד
הואיל וכל הנפסד יפרד ליסודות אלו למה נאמר לאדם ואל עפר תשוב לפי שרוב בנינו מן העפר ולא כל הנפסד כשיפסד מיד יחזור לארבעה היסודות אלא יפסד ויחזור לדבר אחר ודבר אחר לדבר אחר וסוף הדברים יחזור ליסודות ונמצאו כל הדברים חוזרין חלילה:
5
These four fundamental [elements] are in a constant [state of flux], with a certain portion - but never the entire matter - of one changing into another every day and every hour.
What is implied? A portion of the earth which is close to the water changes, dissolves, and becomes water. Similarly, a portion of the water which is close to the wind changes, evaporates, and becomes wind. A portion of the wind which is close to the fire changes, goes through a metamorphosis, and becomes fire.
Similarly, a portion of the fire close to the wind goes through a metamorphosis, changes, contracts and becomes wind. The wind which is close to the water changes, contracts, and becomes water; and the water which is close to the earth changes, contracts, and becomes earth.
This [cycle of] change [proceeds] little by little over the course of time. The entire fundamental [element] will never change – [for example], all the water will never become wind, nor all the wind fire – because it is impossible for [the existence of] one of the four fundamental [elements] to be nullified. Rather, a portion of the fire will change to wind, and a portion of the wind to fire. Similarly, between each pair of these four, change will go on in an unceasing recurrent cycle.
ה
ארבעה יסודות האלו משתנים זה לזה תמיד בכל יום ובכל שעה מקצתן לא כל גופן כיצד מקצת הארץ הקרובה מן המים משתנית ומתפוררת ונעשית מים וכן מקצת המים הסמוכים לרוח משתנין ומתמסמסין והווין רוח וכן הרוח מקצתו הסמוך לאש משתנה ומתחולל ונעשה אש וכן האש מקצתה הסמוך לרוח מתחולל משתנה ומתכנס ונעשה רוח וכן הרוח מקצתו הסמוך למים משתנה ומתכנס ונעשה מים וכן המים מקצתו הסמוך לארץ משתנה ומתכנס ונעשה ארץ ושינוי זה מעט מעט ולפי אורך הימים ואין כל היסוד משתנה עד שיעשה כל המים רוח או כל הרוח אש שאי אפשר שיבטל אחד מן היסודות הארבעה אלא מקצת ישתנה מאש לרוח ומקצת ישתנה מרוח לאש וכן בין כל אחד וחבירו ימצא השינוי בין ארבעתן וחוזרות חלילה לעולם:
6
This [cycle of] change is caused by the revolution of the sphere. Its revolution causes the four [fundamental elements] to combine, and thus forms the matter of men, living beasts, plants, stones, and metals.
God gives each body the form appropriate to it through the angels of the tenth [level], which are the form called ishim.7
ו
ושינוי זה יהיה בסביבת הגלגל ומסביבתו יתחברו ארבעתן ויהיה מהן שאר גולמי בני אדם ונפש חיה צמח ואבן ומתכת והאל נותן לכל גולם וגולם צורה ראויה לו על ידי מלאך העשירי שהיא הצורה הנקראת אישים:
7
You will never see matter without form, or form without matter.8 It is the heart of man which in its knowledge considers the bodies that are found and knows that they are a combination of matter and form.
It appreciates that there are bodies whose matter is a combination of the four fundamental [elements],9 bodies whose matter is simple and contains only one type of matter,10 and forms which have no matter and cannot be seen by the eye.11 [The latter] are discernible only to the eye of the heart. [We can appreciate their existence, just] as we know of [the existence of] the Master of everything, [though we do] not see [Him] with [our] eyes.
ז
לעולם אין אתה רואה גולם בלא צורה או צורה בלא גולם אלא לב האדם הוא שמחלק גוף הנמצא בדעתו ויודע שהוא מחובר מגולם וצורה ויודע שיש שם גופים שגולמם מחובר מארבעת היסודות וגופים שגולמם פשוט ואינו מחובר רק מגולם אחד והצורות שאין להם גולם אינן נראין לעין אלא בעין הלב הן ידועין כמו שידענו אדון הכל בלא ראיית עין:
8
The soul of all flesh is the form which it was given by God. The extra dimension which is found in the soul of man is the form of man who is perfect in his knowledge. Concerning this form, the Torah states [Genesis 1:26]: "Let us make man in our image and in our likeness" - i.e., granting man a form which knows and comprehends ideas that are not material, like the angels, who are form without body, until he can resemble them.[This statement] does not refer to the form of the body perceived by the eye - i.e., the mouth, the nose, the cheeks, and the remainder of the structure of the body. This is referred to as to'ar (appearance).
It is not the soul found in all living flesh which allows it to eat, drink, reproduce, feel, and think. Rather, knowledge is the form of this [dimension of] soul and it is concerning this form of the soul, that the verse states: "in our image and in our likeness." Frequently, this form is referred to as nefesh or ruach. Therefore, one must be careful regarding these names, lest another person err regarding them. Each name reveals its characteristics.
ח
נפש כל בשר היא צורתו שנתן לו האל והדעת היתרה המצויה בנפשו של אדם היא צורת האדם השלם בדעתו ועל צורה זו נאמר בתורה נעשה אדם בצלמנו כדמותנו כלומר שתהיה לו צורה היודעת ומשגת הדעות שאין להם גולם כמו המלאכים שהם צורה בלא גולם עד שידמה להן ואינו אומר על צורה זו הניכרת לעינים שהיא הפה והחוטם והלסתות ושאר רושם הגוף שזו תואר שמה ואינה הנפש המצויה לכל נפש חיה שבה אוכל ושותה ומוליד ומרגיש ומהרהר אלא הדעה שהיא צורת הנפש ובצורת הנפש הכתוב מדבר בצלמנו כדמותנו ופעמים רבות תקרא זאת הצורה נפש ורוח ולפיכך צריך להזהר בשמותן שלא יטעה אדם בהן וכל שם ושם ילמד מענינו:
9
The form of this soul is not a combination of the fundamental [elements] into which it will ultimately decompose, nor does it come from the neshamah so that it would require the neshamah, as the neshamah requires the body. Rather, it is from God, from heaven.
Therefore, when the matter [of the body], which is a combination of the fundamental [elements], decomposes, and the neshamah ceases to exist - for [the neshamah] exists only together with the body and requires the body for all its deeds - this form will not be cut off, for this form does not require the neshamah for its deeds. Rather, it knows and comprehends knowledge which is above matter, knows the Creator of all things, and exists forever. In his wisdom, Solomon [gave this description (Ecclesiastes 12:7)]: "The dust will return to the Earth as it [originally] was, and the ruach will return to God who granted it."
ט
אין צורת הנפש הזאת מחוברת מן היסודות כדי שתפרד להם ואינה מכח הנשמה עד שתהא צריכה לנשמה כמו שהנשמה צריכה לגוף אלא מאת ה' מן השמים היא לפיכך כשיפרד הגולם שהוא מחובר מן היסודות ותאבד הנשמה מפני שאינה מצויה אלא עם הגוף וצריכה לגוף בכל מעשיה לא תכרת הצורה הזאת לפי שאינה צריכה לנשמה במעשיה אלא יודעת ומשגת הדעות הפרודות מן הגולמים ויודעת בורא הכל ועומדת לעולם ולעולמי עולמים הוא שאמר שלמה בחכמתו וישוב העפר על הארץ כשהיה והרוח תשוב אל האלהים אשר נתנה:
10
All these concepts which we have explained in this context are like a drop in a bucket. They are deep matters. Nevertheless, their depth does not approach the depth of the subject matter of the first and second chapters.
The explanation of all the subject matter in the third and fourth chapters is referred to as Ma'aseh Bereshit (“the work of Creation”).The Sages of the early generations commanded that these matters should not be expounded upon in public. Rather, a single individual should be informed about them and taught them.
י
כל הדברים האלו שדברנו בענין זה כמר מדלי הם ודברים עמוקים הם אבל אינם כענין עומק פרק ראשון ושני וביאור כל אלו הדברים שבפרק שלישי ורביעי הוא הנקרא מעשה בראשית וכך צוו החכמים הראשונים שאין דורשין בדברים האלו ברבים אלא לאדם אחד מודיעין דברים אלו ומלמדין אותן:
11
What is the difference between the subject matter of Ma'aseh Merkavah and the subject matter of Ma'aseh Bereshit? The subject matter of Ma'aseh Merkavah should never be expounded upon - even to a single individual - unless he is wise and capable of understanding, [in which instance,] he is given fundamental points.
[In contrast,] the subject matter of Ma'aseh Bereshit may be taught to an individual even though he is incapable of comprehending it with his own powers of understanding [alone]. He may be informed about everything that he can possibly know about these matters. Why are they not taught publicly? Because not every person has the vast knowledge necessary to grasp the interpretation and the explanation of these matters in a complete manner.
יא
ומה בין ענין מעשה מרכבה לענין מעשה בראשית שענין מעשה מרכבה אפילו לאחד אין דורשים בו אא"כ היה חכם ומבין מדעתו מוסרין לו ראשי הפרקים וענין מעשה בראשית מלמדין אותו ליחיד אע"פ שאינו מבין אותו מדעתו ומודיעים אותו כל מה שיכול לידע מדברים אלו ולמה אין מלמדין אותו לרבים לפי שאין כל אדם יש לו דעת רחבה להשיג פירוש וביאור כל הדברים על בוריין:
12
When a person meditates on these matters and recognizes all the creations, the angels, the spheres, man, and the like, and appreciates the wisdom of the Holy One, blessed be He, in all these creations, he will add to his love for God. His soul will thirst and his flesh will long with love for God, blessed be He.
He will stand in awe and fear from his humble, lowly, and base [nature] when he compares himself to one of the great and holy bodies, how much more so when comparing himself to the pure forms which are separate from matter and do not share any connection with it. He will see himself as a vessel full of embarrassment and shame, empty and lacking.
יב
בזמן שאדם מתבונן בדברים האלו ומכיר כל הברואים ממלאך וגלגל ואדם כיוצא בו ויראה חכמתו של הקב"ה בכל היצורים וכל הברואים מוסיף אהבה למקום ותצמא נפשו ויכמה בשרו לאהוב המקום ברוך הוא ויירא ויפחד משפלותו ודלותו וקלותו כשיעריך עצמו לאחד מהגופות הקדושים הגדולים וכ"ש לאחת מהצורות הטהורות הנפרדות מן הגולמים שלא נתחברו בגולם כלל וימצא עצמו שהוא ככלי מלא בושה וכלימה ריק וחסר:
13
The matters discussed in these four chapters concerning these five mitzvot are what the Sages of the early generations termed the Pardes, as they related: "Four entered the Pardes...." Even though they were great men of Israel and great Sages, not all of them had the potential to know and comprehend all these matters in their totality.
I maintain that it is not proper for a person to stroll in the Pardes unless he has filled his belly with bread and meat. "Bread and meat" refer to the knowledge of what is permitted and what is forbidden, and similar matters concerning other mitzvot. Even though the Sages referred to these as "a small matter" - for our Sages said: "'A great matter,’ this refers to Ma'aseh Merkavah. `A small matter,’ this refers to the debates of Abbaye and Ravva" - nevertheless, it is fitting for them to be given precedence, because they settle a person's mind.
Also, they are the great good which the Holy One, blessed be He, has granted, [to allow for] stable [living] within this world and the acquisition of the life of the world to come. They can be known in their totality by the great and the small, man or woman, whether [granted] expansive knowledge or limited knowledge.
יג
ועניני ארבעה פרקים אלו שבחמש מצות האלו הם שחכמים הראשונים קוראין אותו פרדס כמו שאמרו ארבעה נכנסו לפרדס ואף על פי שגדולי ישראל היו וחכמים גדולים היו לא כולם היה בהן כח לידע ולהשיג כל הדברים על בוריין ואני אומר שאין ראוי לטייל בפרדס אלא מי שנתמלא כריסו לחם ובשר ולחם ובשר הוא לידע האסור והמותר וכיוצא בהם משאר המצות ואע"פ שדברים אלו דבר קטן קראו אותן חכמים שהרי אמרו חכמים דבר גדול מעשה מרכבה ודבר קטן הוויות דאביי ורבא אעפ"כ ראויין הן להקדימן שהן מיישבין דעתו של אדם תחלה ועוד שהם הטובה הגדולה שהשפיע הקדוש ברוך הוא ליישוב העולם הזה כדי לנחול חיי העולם הבא ואפשר שידעם הכל קטן וגדול איש ואשה בעל לב רחב ובעל לב קצר:
FOOTNOTES
1.Here and in the following halachot, the word "form" refers to the entity's spiritual qualities, and not its physical shape.
2.Since the heavens are spherical, anything past the midpoint of the Earth can be considered to be "higher" when approaching from the opposite side.
3.From the above statements, it appears that the "fundamental elements" of fire, wind, water, and earth are different from the entities to which we generally refer with these names.
4.Note the similarities to the concept of entropy.
5.This statement appears to contradict the statement in Halacha 2 that creatures with souls are predominantly from the element of fire. It is possible to explain that Halachah 2 refers even to animal life, while this halacha refers explicitly to man. Man's body – being predominantly from earth – is less refined than that of the animals. His soul, however, is on a much higher level that the animal's life-force.
6.The cycle of change is discussed in the following halachah.
7.Bereshit Rabbah 10:6 states: "There is no blade of grass that grows without having a spiritual force... telling it to grow."
8.Every entity in this world has physical matter and a spiritual life force. However, the two cannot be separated from each other. The matter cannot exist without the life force, nor can the life force be discerned by human eyes except through its expression in a body.
9.This refers to the creations of our physical world, as explained in Halachah 2.
10.This refers to the spheres and the stars. As explained in Chapter 3, Halachah 3, and Chapter 2, Halachah 3, they are composed of a different type of matter from the creations in our world.
11.This refers to the angels. As explained in Chapter 2, Halachah 4, they are spiritual beings without material bodies.
Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Five
1
The entire house of Israel are commanded regarding the sanctification of [God's] great name, as [Leviticus 22:32] states: "And I shall be sanctified amidst the children of Israel." Also, they are warned against desecrating [His holy name], as [the above verse] states: "And they shall not desecrate My holy name."
What is implied? Should a gentile arise and force a Jew to violate one of the Torah's commandments at the pain of death, he should violate the commandment rather than be killed, because [Leviticus 18:5] states concerning the mitzvot: "which a man will perform and live by them." [They were given so that] one may live by them and not die because of them. If a person dies rather than transgress, he is held accountable for his life.
א
כל בית ישראל מצווין על קדוש השם הגדול הזה שנאמר ונקדשתי בתוך בני ישראל ומוזהרין שלא לחללו שנאמר ולא תחללו את שם קדשי כיצד כשיעמוד עובד כוכבים ויאנוס את ישראל לעבור על אחת מכל מצות האמורות בתורה או יהרגנו יעבור ואל יהרג שנאמר במצות אשר יעשה אותם האדם וחי בהם וחי בהם ולא שימות בהם ואם מת ולא עבר הרי זה מתחייב בנפשו:
2
When does the above apply? With regard to other mitzvot, with the exception of the worship of other gods, forbidden sexual relations, and murder. However, with regard to these three sins, if one is ordered: "Transgress one of them or be killed," one should sacrifice his life rather than transgress.
When does the above apply? When the gentile desires his own personal benefit - for example, he forces a person to build a house or cook food for him on the Sabbath, he rapes a woman, or the like. However, if his intention is solely to have him violate the mitzvot, [the following rules apply:] If he is alone and there are not ten other Jews present, he should transgress and not sacrifice his life. However, if he forces him [to transgress] with the intention that he violate [a mitzvah] in the presence of ten Jews, he should sacrifice his life and not transgress. [This applies] even if [the gentile] intended merely that he violate only one of the [Torah's] mitzvot.
ב
במה דברים אמורים בשאר מצות חוץ מעבודת כוכבים וגלוי עריות ושפיכת דמים אבל שלש עבירות אלו אם יאמר לו עבור על אחת מהן או תהרג יהרג ואל יעבור בד"א בזמן שהעובד כוכבים מתכוין להנאת עצמו כגון שאנסו לבנות לו ביתו בשבת או לבשל לו תבשילו או אנס אשה לבועלה וכיוצא בזה אבל אם נתכוין להעבירו על המצות בלבד אם היה בינו לבין עצמו ואין שם עשרה מישראל יעבור ואל יהרג ואם אנסו להעבירו בעשרה מישראל יהרג ואל יעבור ואפילו לא נתכוין להעבירו אלא על מצוה משאר מצות בלבד:
3
All the above [distinctions] apply [only in times] other than times of a decree. However, in times of a decree - i.e., when a wicked king like Nebuchadnezzar or his like will arise and issue a decree against the Jews to nullify their faith or one of the mitzvot - one should sacrifice one's life rather than transgress any of the other mitzvot, whether one is compelled [to transgress] amidst ten [Jews] or one is compelled [to transgress merely] amidst gentiles.
ג
וכל הדברים האלו שלא בשעת הגזרה אבל בשעת הגזרה והוא שיעמוד מלך רשע כנבוכדנצר וחביריו ויגזור גזרה על ישראל לבטל דתם או מצוה מן המצות יהרג ואל יעבור אפילו על אחת משאר מצות בין נאנס בתוך עשרה בין נאנס בינו לבין עובדי כוכבים:
4
If anyone about whom it is said: "Transgress and do not sacrifice your life," sacrifices his life and does not transgress, he is held accountable for his life.
When anyone about whom it is said: "Sacrifice your life and do not transgress," sacrifices his life and does not transgress, he sanctifies [God's] name. If he does so in the presence of ten Jews, he sanctifies [God's] name in public, like Daniel, Chananiah, Mishael, Azariah, and Rabbi Akiva and his colleagues. These are those slain by [the wicked] kingdom, above whom there is no higher level. Concerning them, [Psalms 44:23] states: "For Your sake, we have been slain all day, we are viewed as sheep for the slaughter," and [Psalms 50:5] states: "Gather unto Me, My pious ones, those who have made a covenant with Me by slaughter."
When anyone about whom it is said: "Sacrifice your life and do not transgress," transgresses instead of sacrificing his life, he desecrates [God's] name. If he does so in the presence of ten Jews, he desecrates [God's] name in public, nullifies [the fulfillment of] the positive commandment of the sanctification of [God's] name, and violates the negative commandment against the desecration of God's name.
Nevertheless, since he was forced to transgress, he is not [punished by] lashing, and, needless to say, is not executed by the court even if he was forced to slay [a person]. The [punishments of] lashes and execution are administered only to one who transgresses voluntarily, [when the transgression is observed by] witnesses, and [when] a warning [was given], as [Leviticus 20:5] states concerning one who gives his children to [the worship of] Molech: "I will turn My face against that person."
The oral tradition teaches [that we can infer]: "that person" and not one who is forced [to transgress, who transgresses] inadvertently, or [who transgresses] because of an error. If, concerning the worship of false gods, which is the most serious [of sins], a person who is forced to worship is not liable for karet, nor, needless to say, execution by a court, how much more so [does this principle apply] regarding the other mitzvot of the Torah? [Similarly,] regarding forbidden sexual relations, [Deuteronomy 22:26] states: "Do not do anything to the maiden."
One who could, however, escape and flee from under the power of a wicked king and fails to do so is like a dog who returns [to lick] his vomit. He is considered as one who worships false gods willingly. He will be prevented from reaching the world to come and will descend to the lowest levels of Gehinnom.
ד
כל מי שנאמר בו יעבור ואל יהרג ונהרג ולא עבר הרי זה מתחייב בנפשו וכל מי שנאמר בו יהרג ואל יעבור ונהרג ולא עבר הרי זה קידש את השם ואם היה בעשרה מישראל הרי זה קידש את השם ברבים כדניאל חנניה מישאל ועזריה ורבי עקיבא וחביריו ואלו הן הרוגי מלכות שאין מעלה על מעלתן ועליהן נאמר כי עליך הורגנו כל היום נחשבנו כצאן טבחה ועליהם נאמר אספו לי חסידי כורתי בריתי עלי זבח וכל מי שנאמר בו יהרג ואל יעבור ועבר ולא נהרג הרי זה מחלל את השם ואם היה בעשרה מישראל הרי זה חילל את השם ברבים ובטל מצות עשה שהיא קידוש השם ועבר על מצות לא תעשה שהיא חלול השם ואעפ"כ מפני שעבר באונס אין מלקין אותו ואין צריך לומר שאין ממיתין אותו בית דין אפילו הרג באונס שאין מלקין וממיתין אלא לעובר ברצונו ובעדים והתראה שנאמר בנותן מזרעו למולך ונתתי אני את פני באיש ההוא מפי השמועה למדו ההוא לא אנוס ולא שוגג ולא מוטעה ומה אם עבודת כוכבים שהיא חמורה מן הכל העובד אותה באונס אינו חייב כרת ואין צריך לומר מיתת בית דין קל וחומר לשאר מצות האמורות בתורה ובעריות הוא אומר ולנערה לא תעשה דבר אבל אם יכול למלט נפשו ולברוח מתחת יד המלך הרשע ואינו עושה הנה הוא ככלב שב על קיאו והוא נקרא עובד עבודת כוכבים במזיד והוא נטרד מן העולם הבא ויורד למדרגה התחתונה של גיהנם:
5
If gentiles tell [a group of] women: "Give us one of you to defile. If not, we will defile all of you," they should allow themselves all to be defiled rather than give over a single Jewish soul to [the gentiles].
Similarly, if gentiles told [a group of Jews]: "Give us one of you to kill. If not, we will kill all of you," they should allow themselves all to be killed rather than give over a single soul to [the gentiles].
However, if [the gentiles] single out [a specific individual] and say: "Give us so and so or we will kill all of you," [different rules apply]: If the person is obligated to die like Sheva ben Bichri, they may give him over to them. Initially, however, this instruction is not conveyed to them. If he is not obligated to die, they should allow themselves all to be killed rather than give over a single soul to [the gentiles].
ה
נשים שאמרו להם עובדי כוכבים תנו לנו אחת מכן ונטמא אותה ואם לאו נטמא את כולכן יטמאו כולן ואל ימסרו להם נפש אחת מישראל וכן אם אמרו להם עובדי כוכבים תנו לנו אחד מכם ונהרגנו ואם לאו נהרוג כולכם יהרגו כולם ואל ימסרו להם נפש אחת מישראל ואם יחדוהו להם ואמרו תנו לנו פלוני או נהרוג את כולכם אם היה מחוייב מיתה כשבע בן בכרי יתנו אותו להם ואין מורין להם כן לכתחלה ואם אינו חייב מיתה יהרגו כולן ואל ימסרו להם נפש אחת מישראל:
6
Just as these principles apply regarding being forced [to transgress], they also apply regarding sicknesses. What is implied?
When a person becomes sick and is in danger of dying, if the physicians say that his cure involves transgressing a given Torah prohibition, [the physicians' advice] should be followed. When there is a danger [to life], one may use any of the Torah prohibitions as a remedy, with the exception of the worship of false gods, forbidden sexual relations, and murder. Even when there is a danger [to life], one may not use them as a remedy. If one transgresses and uses them as a remedy, the court may impose the appropriate punishment upon him.
ו
כענין שאמרו באונסין כך אמרו בחלאים כיצד מי שחלה ונטה למות ואמרו הרופאים שרפואתו בדבר פלוני מאיסורין שבתורה עושין ומתרפאין בכל איסורין שבתורה במקום סכנה חוץ מעבודת כוכבים וגילוי עריות ושפיכת דמים שאפילו במקום סכנה אין מתרפאין בהן ואם עבר ונתרפא עונשין אותו בית דין עונש הראוי לו:
7
What is the source [which teaches] that even when there is a danger to life, these three sins should not be violated? [Deuteronomy 6:5] states: "And you shall love God, your Lord, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." [The words "with all your soul" imply] even if one takes your soul.
With regard to the killing of a Jewish person to heal another person or to save a person from one who is compelling him, it is logical that one person's life should not be sacrificed for another. [The Torah has] established an equation between forbidden sexual relations and murder, as [Deuteronomy 22:26] states: "This matter is just like a case where a person rises up against his colleague and slays him."
ז
ומנין שאפילו במקום סכנת נפשות אין עוברין על אחת משלש עבירות אלו שנאמר ואהבת את ה' אלהיך בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך ובכל מאודך אפילו הוא נוטל את נפשך והריגת נפש מישראל לרפאות נפש אחרת או להציל אדם מיד אנס דבר שהדעת נוטה לו הוא שאין מאבדין נפש מפני נפש ועריות הוקשו לנפשות שנאמר כי כאשר יקום איש על רעהו ורצחו נפש כן הדבר הזה:
8
When does the above - that one may be healed using other prohibitions only when [one's life] is in danger - apply? When one uses them in a way which affords satisfaction - e.g., when one feeds a sick person insects or creeping animals, or chametz on Pesach, or when one is fed on Yom Kippur.
When, however, [the prohibited substances are used] in a way that does not grant satisfaction - e.g., one makes a bandage or compress of chametz on Pesach or from orlah, or when one is given bitter-tasting substances mixed with forbidden foods to drink - since one's palate derives no satisfaction, it is permitted even when no danger to life is involved.
Exceptions [to this leniency] are kilai hakerem and [mixtures of] milk and meat. [Deriving benefit] from them is forbidden even in a way that does not offer satisfaction. Therefore, they may not be used as a remedy even in a manner which does not grant satisfaction, except when there is danger [to life].
ח
במה דברים אמורים שאין מתרפאין בשאר איסורים אלא במקום סכנה בזמן שהן דרך הנאתן כגון שמאכילין את החולה שקצים ורמשים או חמץ בפסח או שמאכילין אותו ביוה"כ אבל שלא דרך הנאתן כגון שעושין לו רטיה או מלוגמא מחמץ או מערלה או שמשקין אותו דברים שיש בהן מר מעורב עם אסורי מאכל שהרי אין בהן הנאה לחיך הרי זה מותר ואפילו שלא במקום סכנה חוץ מכלאי הכרם ובשר בחלב שהן אסורים אפילו שלא דרך הנאתן לפיכך אין מתרפאין מהן אפילו שלא דרך הנאתן אלא במקום סכנה:
9
[When] someone becomes attracted to a woman and is [love-]sick [to the extent that] he is in danger of dying, [although] the physicians say he has no remedy except engaging in sexual relations with her, he should be allowed to die rather than engage in sexual relations with her. [This applies] even if she is unmarried.
He is even not to be given instructions to speak to her [in private] behind a fence. Rather, he should die rather than be given instructions to speak to her behind a fence. [These restrictions were instituted] so that Jewish women would not be regarded capriciously, and [to prevent] these matters from [ultimately] leading to promiscuity.
ט
מי שנתן עיניו באשה וחלה ונטה למות ואמרו הרופאים אין לו רפואה עד שתבעל לו ימות ואל תבעל לו אפילו היתה פנויה ואפילו לדבר עמה מאחורי הגדר אין מורין לו בכך וימות ולא יורו לדבר עמה מאחורי הגדר שלא יהו בנות ישראל הפקר ויבואו בדברים אלו לפרוץ בעריות:
10
Whoever consciously transgresses one of the mitzvot related in the Torah, without being forced to, in a spirit of derision, to arouse [Divine] anger, desecrates [God's] name. Therefore, [Leviticus 19:12] states, regarding [taking] an oath in vain: "[for] you are desecrating the name of your Lord; I am God." If he transgresses amidst ten Jews, he desecrates [God's] name in public.
Conversely, anyone who refrains from committing a sin or performs a mitzvah for no ulterior motive, neither out of fear or dread, nor to seek honor, but for the sake of the Creator, blessed be He - as Joseph held himself back from his master's wife - sanctifies God's name.
י
כל העובר מדעתו בלא אונס על אחת מכל מצות האמורות בתורה בשאט בנפש להכעיס הרי זה מחלל את השם ולפיכך נאמר בשבועת שקר וחללת את שם אלהיך אני ה' ואם עבר בעשרה מישראל הרי זה חילל את השם ברבים וכן כל הפורש מעבירה או עשה מצוה לא מפני דבר בעולם לא פחד ולא יראה ולא לבקש כבוד אלא מפני הבורא ברוך הוא כמניעת יוסף הצדיק עצמו מאשת רבו הרי זה מקדש את השם:
11
There are other deeds which are also included in [the category of] the desecration of [God's] name, if performed by a person of great Torah stature who is renowned for his piety - i.e., deeds which, although they are not transgressions, [will cause] people to speak disparagingly of him. This also constitutes the desecration of [God's] name.
For example, a person who purchases [merchandise] and does not pay for it immediately, although he possesses the money, and thus, the sellers demand payment and he pushes them off; a person who jests immoderately; or who eats and drinks near or among the common people; or whose conduct with other people is not gentle and he does not receive them with a favorable countenance, but rather contests with them and vents his anger; and the like. Everything depends on the stature of the sage. [The extent to which] he must be careful with himself and go beyond the measure of the law [depends on the level of his Torah stature.]
[The converse is] also [true]. When a sage is stringent with himself, speaks pleasantly with others, his social conduct is [attractive] to others, he receives them pleasantly, he is humbled by them and does not humble them in return, he honors them - even though they disrespect him - he does business faithfully, and does not frequently accept the hospitality of the common people or sit with them, and at all times is seen only studying Torah, wrapped in tzitzit, crowned with tefillin, and carrying out all his deeds beyond the measure of the law - provided he does not separate too far [from normal living] and thus become forlorn – to the extent that all praise him, love him, and find his deeds attractive - such a person sanctifies [God's] name. The verse [Isaiah 49:3]: "And He said to me: `Israel, you are My servant, in whom I will be glorified'" refers to him.
יא
ויש דברים אחרים שהן בכלל חילול השם והוא שיעשה אותם אדם גדול בתורה ומפורסם בחסידות דברים שהבריות מרננים אחריו בשבילם ואף על פי שאינן עבירות הרי זה חילל את השם כגון שלקח ואינו נותן דמי המקח לאלתר והוא שיש לו ונמצאו המוכרים תובעין והוא מקיפן או שירבה בשחוק או באכילה ושתיה אצל עמי הארץ וביניהן או שדבורו עם הבריות אינו בנחת ואינו מקבלן בסבר פנים יפות אלא בעל קטטה וכעס וכיוצא בדברים האלו הכל לפי גדלו של חכם צריך שידקדק על עצמו ויעשה לפנים משורת הדין וכן אם דקדק החכם על עצמו והיה דבורו בנחת עם הבריות ודעתו מעורבת עמהם ומקבלם בסבר פנים יפות ונעלב מהם ואינו עולבם מכבד להן ואפילו למקילין לו ונושא ונותן באמונה ולא ירבה באריחות עמי הארץ וישיבתן ולא יראה תמיד אלא עוסק בתורה עטוף בציצית מוכתר בתפילין ועושה בכל מעשיו לפנים משורת הדין והוא שלא יתרחק הרבה ולא ישתומם עד שימצאו הכל מקלסין אותו ואוהבים אותו ומתאוים למעשיו הרי זה קידש את ה' ועליו הכתוב אומר ויאמר לי עבדי אתה ישראל אשר בך אתפאר:
Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Six
1
Whoever destroys one of the holy and pure names with which the Holy One, blessed be He, is called is liable for lashes according to Scriptural [Law].
[This punishment is given because such an act violates one of the Torah's prohibitions. The prohibition is derived as follows:] With regard to the worship of false gods, [Deuteronomy 12:3-4] states: "And you shall destroy their names from this place. Do not do this to God, your Lord."
א
כל המאבד שם מן השמות הקדושים הטהורים שנקרא בהם הקב"ה לוקה מן התורה שהרי הוא אומר בעבודת כוכבים ואבדתם את שמם מן המקום ההוא לא תעשון כן לה' אלהיכם:
2
There are seven names [for God]:
a) The name which is written Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey. This is [referred to as God's] explicit name and is [also] written Alef-Daled-Nun-Yud.
b) [The name] El;
c) [The name] Elo'ah;
d) [The name] Elohim;
e) [The name] Elohai;
f) [The name] Shaddai;
g) [The name] Tz'vaot;
Whoever erases even one letter from [any of] these seven names is [liable for] lashes.
ב
ושבעה שמות הם השם הנכתב יו"ד ה"א וא"ו ה"א והוא השם המפורש או הנכתב אדני ואל אלוה ואלהים ואלהי ושדי וצבאות כל המוחק אפילו אות אחת משבעה אלו לוקה:
3
All [the letters] which are connected to [God's] name, [but are placed] before [the name itself] may be erased - e.g., the lamed of Lamed-Alef-Daled-Nun-Yud or the bet of B’Elohim and the like. They do not possess the same degree of holiness as [God's] name [itself].
All [the letters] which are connected to [God's] name, [but placed] after [the name itself] - e.g., the final chaf of Elohecha or the chaf and the final mem of Eloheichem, and the like may not be erased. They are considered like the other letters of [God's] name, because the name conveys holiness upon them.
Although holiness is conveyed upon them and it is forbidden to erase them, nevertheless, a person who erases these letters which are connected to [God's] name is not [liable for] lashes. However, he does receives "stripes for rebelliousness."
ג
כל הנטפל לשם מלפניו מותר למוחקו כגון למ"ד מליהוה ובי"ת מבאלהים וכיוצא בהן אינן כקדושת השם וכל הנטפל לשם מאחריו כגון ך' של אלהיך וכ"ם של אלהיכם וכיוצא בהן אינם נמחקים והרי הם כשאר אותיות של שם מפני שהשם מקדשם ואע"פ שנתקדשו ואסור למוחקם המוחק אלו האותיות הנטפלות אינו לוקה אבל מכין אותו מכת מרדות:
4
If one writes the alef and the lamed of the name Elohim or the yud and the hey of the name Yud-Hey–Vav–Hey, [these letters] may not be erased. Needless to say, the name Yud-Hey [may not be erased]. It is [considered as] a name in its own right because it is part of [God's] explicit name.
However, if one writes the shin and the dalet of the name Shaddai, or the tzadi and the bet of the name Tz'vaot, [these letters] may be erased.
ד
כתב אל"ף למ"ד מאלהים יו"ד ה"א מיהוה אינו נמחק ואצ"ל יה שהוא שם בפני עצמו מפני שזה השם מקצת שם המפורש הוא אבל הכותב שי"ן דל"ת משדי צד"י בי"ת מצבאות הרי זה נמחק:
5
Other descriptive terms which are used to praise the Holy One, blessed be He - e.g., the Gracious, the Merciful, the Great, the Mighty, the Awesome, the Faithful, the Jealous, the Powerful, and the like, are considered as other holy texts and may be erased.
ה
שאר הכינויין שמשבחין בהן את הקדוש ברוך הוא כגון חנון ורחום הגדול הגבור והנורא הנאמן קנא וחזק וכיוצא בהן הרי הן כשאר כתבי הקדש ומותר למוחקן:
6
[When God's] name is written on a utensil, one should cut off [God's] name and bury it. Even [when God's] name is engraved on a metal or glass utensil and one melts the utensil, one should be [punished by] lashing. Instead, one should cut off [God's] name and bury it.
Similarly, if [God's] name was written on one's flesh, one should not wash or anoint oneself. Nor may one stand in a place of filth. If it occurs that such a person must immerse because of a mitzvah, he should wind reeds around [the name] and immerse himself. If he cannot find reeds, he should wind his clothes around it, but should not [wind them] tightly so they will not intervene [between his flesh and the water]. [This is acceptable because] the reason he is required to wind reeds around it is only because it is forbidden to stand before [God's] name when he is naked.
ו
כלי שהיה שם כתוב עליו קוצץ את מקום השם וגונזו ואפילו היה השם חקוק בכלי מתכות או בכלי זכוכית והתיך הכלי הרי זה לוקה אלא חותך את מקומו וגונזו וכן אם היה שם כתוב על בשרו הרי זה לא ירחץ ולא יסוך ולא יעמוד במקום הטנופת נזדמנה לו טבילה של מצוה כורך עליו גמי וטובל ואם לא מצא גמי מסבב בבגדיו ולא יהדק כדי שלא יחוץ שלא אמרו לכרוך עליו אלא מפני שאסור לעמוד בפני השם כשהוא ערום:
7
A person who removes even one stone from the altar, the Temple building, or the Temple courtyard with a destructive intent is [liable for] lashes. [The prohibition is derived as follows:] with regard to the worship of false gods, [Deuteronomy 12:3] states: "And you shall tear down their altars," and [the following verse] continues: "Do not do this to God, your Lord."
Similarly, a person who, with a destructive intent, burns wood consecrated to the Temple is [liable for] lashes. [The prohibition is derived as follows:] with regard to the worship of false gods, [Deuteronomy 12:3] states: "And you shall burn their asherot with fire," and [the following verse] continues: "Do not do this to God, your Lord."
ז
הסותר אפילו אבן אחת דרך השחתה מן המזבח או מן ההיכל או משאר העזרה לוקה שנאמר בעבודת כוכבים כי את מזבחותם תתוצון וכתוב לא תעשון כן לה' אלהיכם וכן השורף עצי הקדש דרך השחתה לוקה שנאמר ואשריהם תשרפון באש וכתיב לא תעשון כן לה' אלהיכם:
8
It is forbidden to burn or to destroy by direct action any sacred texts, their commentaries, and their explanations. A person who destroys them by his direct action is given "stripes for rebelliousness."
To what does the above apply? To sacred texts written by a Jew with a sacred intent. However, should a Jewish heretic write a Torah scroll, it and the name of God it contains must be burnt, since he does not believe in the sanctity of [God's] name and did not compose it for this purpose. Rather, he considers this to be similar to any other text. Since this is his intent, the names [of God he writes] do not become holy.
It is a mitzvah to burn it so that no remembrance will be left of the heretics or their deeds. In contrast, if a gentile writes [God's] name, it should be buried. Similarly, sacred texts that have become worn out or which were written by gentiles should be buried.
ח
כתבי הקדש כולן ופירושיהן וביאוריהן אסור לשורפם או לאבדם ביד והמאבדן ביד מכין אותו מכת מרדות בד"א בכתבי הקדש שכתבם ישראל בקדושה אבל אפיקורוס ישראל שכתב ספר תורה שורפין אותו עם האזכרות שבו מפני שאינו מאמין בקדושת השם ולא כתבו לשמו אלא שהוא מעלה בדעתו שזה כשאר הדברים והואיל ודעתו כן לא נתקדש השם ומצוה לשורפו כדי שלא להניח שם לאפיקורוסים ולא למעשיהם אבל עובד כוכבים שכתב את השם גונזין אותו וכן כתבי הקדש שבלו או שכתבן עובד כוכבים יגנזו:
9
All the names [of God] written in [the passage concerning] Abraham [and the angels] are sacred. Even [the name of God in Genesis 18:3]: "My Lord, if I have found favor in Your eyes," is also sacred. All the names [of God] written in [the passage concerning] Lot are not sacred, except [Genesis 19:18-19]: "And Lot said to them: `0 God, no! I have found favor in Your eyes... and You have saved my life.'"
All the names [of God] written in [the passage concerning] the hill of Benjamin are sacred. All the names [of God] written in [the passage concerning] Michah are not sacred. All the names [of God] written in [the passage concerning] Navot are sacred.
Every mention of the name "Shelomoh" in the Song of Songs is sacred, except [8:12]: "You, Shelomoh, may have the thousand." Every mention of the word "king" in the Book of Daniel is not sacred, except [2:37]: "You are the King, the King of kings." Its status is like other descriptive terms [for God].
ט
כל השמות האמורים באברהם קדש אף זה שנאמר אדני אם נא מצאתי חן הרי הוא קדש כל השמות האמורים בלוט חול חוץ מזה אל נא אדני הנה נא מצא עבדך חן כל השמות האמורים בגבעת בנימין קדש כל השמות האמורים במיכה חול כל השמות האמורים בנבות קדש כל שלמה האמור בשיר השירים קדש והרי הוא כשאר הכנויין חוץ מזה האלף לך שלמה כל מלכיא האמור בדניאל חול חוץ מזה אנת מלכא מלך מלכיא והרי הוא כשאר הכנויין:
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class
Tachnun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted.
Today in Jewish History
• Passing of R. Abraham "The Angel" (1776)
The 12th of Tishrei is the yahrtzeit (anniversary of the passing) of Rabbi Abraham (1740-1776) the son of Rabbi DovBer of Mezeritch and study partner of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi; known as "Rabbi Abraham the Angel" for his saintliness and ascetism.
Daily Quote:
When G-d desired to create man, Truth said: "He should not be created, for he will be full of lies." Kindness said: "He should be created, for he will be full of kindness." (Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit 8:5)
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Vezot Hab'rachah, 2nd Portion Deuteronomy 33:8-33:12 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Deuteronomy Chapter 33
8And of Levi he said: "Your Tummim and Urim belong to Your pious man, whom You tested at Massah and whom You tried at the waters of Meribah, חוּלְלֵוִ֣י אָמַ֔ר תֻּמֶּ֥יךָ וְאוּרֶ֖יךָ לְאִ֣ישׁ חֲסִידֶ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נִסִּיתוֹ֙ בְּמַסָּ֔ה תְּרִיבֵ֖הוּ עַל־מֵ֥י מְרִיבָֽה:
And of Levi he said: Heb. וּלְלֵוִי אָמַר, And of Levi, he said….
וללוי אמר: ועל לוי אמר:
Your Tummim and Urim: Here, Moses is addressing the Shechinah .
תמיך ואוריך: כלפי שכינה הוא מדבר:
whom You tested at Massah: [spoken in praise of the Levites,] for they did not complain with the others who complained.
אשר נסיתו במסה: שלא נתלוננו עם שאר המלינים:
and whom You tried…: [This is to be understood] as the Targum renders it [namely, “You tested him (Levi) at the Waters of Meribah, and he came out faithful”]. Another explanation: “whom you tried at the waters of Meribah” — You made false accusations against him [Levi], for if Moses [was punished with death and not permitted to enter the Land of Israel because he] said to Israel, “Listen now, you rebels!” (see Num. 20:10), then [how do we understand why] Aaron and Miriam [were also punished with death and were not permitted to enter the Land of Israel] — what did they do [to deserve this]?- [Sifrei 33:8]
תריבהו וגו': כתרגומו. דבר אחר תריבהו על מי מריבה נסתקפת לו לבוא בעלילה, אם משה אמר (במדבר כ, י) שמעו נא המורים, אהרן ומרים מה עשו:
9who said of his father and his mother, 'I do not see him'; neither did he recognize his brothers, nor did he know his children, for they observed Your word and kept Your covenant. טהָֽאֹמֵ֞ר לְאָבִ֤יו וּלְאִמּוֹ֙ לֹ֣א רְאִיתִ֔יו וְאֶת־אֶחָיו֙ לֹ֣א הִכִּ֔יר וְאֶת־בָּנָ֖ו לֹ֣א יָדָ֑ע כִּ֤י שָֽׁמְרוּ֙ אִמְרָתֶ֔ךָ וּבְרִֽיתְךָ֖ יִנְצֹֽרוּ:
who said of his father and his mother, 'I do not see him…’: [Moses says:] When they [Israel] sinned with the calf, and I said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!” (Exod. 32:26), all the sons of Levi assembled to me, and I ordered them to kill [those guilty of worshipping the golden calf, even] one’s mother’s father, if he was an [ordinary] Israelite [and not a Levite], or his brother from his mother [if his brother’s father was not a Levite], or the son of his daughter [whose husband was not a Levite], and they did so. It is, however, impossible to explain [that it means literally his father and his brother from his father, and likewise, literally his sons, because all these were Levites, and not one of the tribe of Levi sinned, as it is said, “and all the sons of Levi [gathered to him]” (Exod. 32:26). - [Sifrei 33:9]
האומר לאביו ולאמו לא ראיתיו: כשחטאו בעגל ואמרתי (שמות לב, כו) מי לה' אלי, נאספו אלי כל בני לוי וצויתים להרוג את אבי אמו והוא מישראל, או את אחיו מאמו, או את בן בתו, וכן עשו. ואי אפשר לפרש אביו ממש ואחיו מאביו וכן בניו ממש, שהרי לוים הם ומשבט לוי לא חטא אחד מהם שנאמר כל בני לוי:
for they observed Your word: namely,“You shall have no other gods [before Me]” (Exod. 20:3). - [Sifrei 33:9]
כי שמרו אמרתך: (שמות כ, ב) לא יהיה לך אלהים אחרים:
and kept Your covenant: namely, the covenant of circumcision. — [Sifrei 33:9] For the [ordinary] Israelites who were born in the desert did not circumcise their sons, whereas the Levites were [not only] circumcised themselves, [but they] also circumcised their sons. — [Sifrei Bemidbar 9:18]
ובריתך ינצרו: ברית מילה, שאותם שנולדו במדבר של ישראל לא מלו את בניהם והם היו מולין ומלין את בניהם:
10They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob, and Your Torah to Israel; they shall place incense before You, and burnt offerings upon Your altar. ייוֹר֤וּ מִשְׁפָּטֶ֨יךָ֙ לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וְתוֹרָֽתְךָ֖ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יָשִׂ֤ימוּ קְטוֹרָה֙ בְּאַפֶּ֔ךָ וְכָלִ֖יל עַל־מִזְבְּחֶֽךָ:
They shall teach Your ordinances: [because] they are worthy of doing this.
יורו משפטיך: ראויין אלו לכך:
and burnt-offerings: Heb. וְכָלִיל, a burnt-offering [which is completely (כָּלִיל) consumed on the altar]. — [Yoma 26a]
וכליל: עולה:
11May the Lord bless his army and favorably accept the work of his hands; strike the loins of those who rise up against him and his enemies, so that they will not recover." יאבָּרֵ֤ךְ יְהֹוָה֙ חֵיל֔וֹ וּפֹ֥עַל יָדָ֖יו תִּרְצֶ֑ה מְחַ֨ץ מָתְנַ֧יִם קָמָ֛יו וּמְשַׂנְאָ֖יו מִן־יְקוּמֽוּן:
strike the loins of those who rise up against him: Strike those who rise up against him, in the loins. This is similar to what is said, “Constantly cause their loins to slip” (Ps. 69:24). Here, Moses was referring to those who contested the priesthood. — [Sifrei 33:11] Another explanation: Moses saw [prophetically] that the Hasmonean and his sons were destined to wage war with the Greeks. He therefore prayed for them, because they were few in number, namely, the twelve sons of the Hasmonean and Eleazar, against many myriads [of the enemy]. Hence, Moses said here:“May the Lord bless his army (חֵילוֹ) and favorably accept the work of his hands.” - [See Tanchuma Vayechi 14; Gen. Rabbah 99:2; Otzar Midrashim, Ma’aseh Hanukkah second version, p. 191; Midrash LaHanukkah , p. 193]
מחץ מתנים קמיו: מחץ קמיו מכת מתנים, כענין שנאמר (תהלים סט, כד) ומתניהם תמיד המעד, ועל המעוררין על הכהונה אמר כן. דבר אחר ראה שעתידין חשמונאי ובניו להלחם עם היונים והתפלל עליהם לפי שהיו מועטים י"ב בני חשמונאי ואלעזר כנגד כמה רבבות, לכך נאמר ברך ה' חילו ופועל ידיו תרצה:
and his enemies so that they will not recover: Strike the loins of those who rise up against him and of his enemies, so that they will have no recovery.
ומשנאיו מן יקומון: מחץ קמיו ומשנאיו מהיות להם תקומה:
12And of Benjamin he said, "The Lord's beloved one shall dwell securely beside Him; He protects him all day long, and He dwells between his shoulders." יבלְבִנְיָמִ֣ן אָמַ֔ר יְדִ֣יד יְהֹוָ֔ה יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן לָבֶ֖טַח עָלָ֑יו חֹפֵ֤ף עָלָיו֙ כָּל־הַיּ֔וֹם וּבֵ֥ין כְּתֵפָ֖יו שָׁכֵֽן:
And of Benjamin he said: Since Levi’s blessing pertains to the sacrificial service, and Benjamin’s blessing pertains to building the Holy Temple within his territory, Moses juxtaposed one to the other. He then juxtaposes Joseph immediately after him [Benjamin] because Joseph too [had a sanctuary built within his territory, namely] the Mishkan of Shiloh was erected in his territory, as is said:“He rejected the tent of Joseph” (Ps. 78:67). And because the Holy Temple is dearer [to God] than [the Mishkan of] Shiloh, he mentioned [the blessing of] Benjamin before [that of] Joseph [even though Joseph was older.].
לבנימן אמר: לפי שברכת לוי בעבודת הקרבנות ושל בנימין בבנין בית המקדש בחלקו סמכן זה לזה וסמך יוסף אחריו, שאף הוא משכן שילה היה בנוי בחלקו, שנאמר (שם עח, סז) וימאס באהל יוסף וגו'. ולפי שבית עולמים חביב משילה לכך הקדים בנימין ליוסף:
He protects him: Heb. חֹפֵף, covers him and protects him.
חפף עליו: מכסה אותו ומגין עליו:
all day long: i.e., forever. Since [the time] Jerusalem was chosen [for the building of the Holy Temple], the Divine Presence has never dwelt elsewhere. — [Mechilta 12:4]
כל היום: לעולם משנבחרה ירושלים לא שרתה שכינה במקום אחר:
and dwells between his shoulders: The Holy Temple was built on the highest point of his [Benjamin’s] land, except that it was twenty-three cubits below the Eitam Well (see Yoma 31a). Now, it was David’s intention to build it there [at the level of the Eitam Well], as is taught in Shechitath Kodashim [Zev. 54b]: [However,] they said to David:“Let us build it a little lower, for Scripture states, ‘and He dwells between his shoulders’ [which are lower than the head]-and there is no part of an ox more beautiful than its shoulders.”
ובין כתפיו שכן: בגובה ארצו היה, בית המקדש בנוי אלא שנמוך עשרים ושלש אמה מעין עיטם ושם היה דעתו של דוד לבנותו, כדאיתא בשחיטת קדשים (זבחים נד ב) אמרי נחתי ביה פורתא משום דכתיב ובין כתפיו שכן אין לך נאה בשור יותר מכתפיו:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 66 - 68
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Chapter 66
This psalm describes the praises and awe-inspiring prayers that we will offer God upon the ingathering of the exiles.
1. For the Conductor, a song, a psalm. Raise your voices in jubilation to God, all the earth!
2. Sing the glory of His Name; make glorious His praise.
3. Say to God, "How awesome are Your deeds!" Because of Your great strength, Your enemies will [admit] their treachery to You.
4. All the earth will bow to You, and sing to You; they will sing praise to Your Name forever!
5. Go and see the works of God, awesome in His deeds toward mankind.
6. He turned the sea into dry land, and they passed through the river on foot; we rejoiced in Him there.
7. He rules the world with His might, and His eyes watch the nations; let the rebellious not exalt themselves, Selah.
8. Bless our God, O nations, and let the voice of His praise be heard.
9. He has kept us alive, and did not allow our feet to falter.
10. For You tested us, O God; You refined us as one refining silver.
11. You brought us into prison; You placed a chain upon our loins.
12. You mounted men over our head; we went through fire and water, and You brought us out to abundance.
13. I will enter Your House with burnt-offerings, I will pay to You my vows,
14. which my lips uttered and my mouth spoke in my distress.
15. I will offer up to You burnt-offerings of fat animals, with the smoke of rams; I will prepare cattle with he-goats, Selah.
16. Come listen, all you who fear God, and I will relate what He has done for my soul.
17. I called to Him with my mouth, with exaltation beneath my tongue.
18. Had I seen iniquity in my heart, my Lord would not have listened.
19. But in truth, God heard; He gave ear to the voice of my prayer.
20. Blessed is God Who has not turned away my prayer or His kindness from me.
Chapter 67
This psalm is known as an especially revered prayer. It, too, speaks of the era of the ingathering of the exiles, and the wars of Gog and Magog, a time when "the Lord will be One."
1. For the Conductor, a song with instrumental music, a psalm.
2. May God be gracious to us and bless us; may He make His countenance shine upon us forever,
3. that Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
4. The nations will extol You, O God; all the nations will extol You.
5. The nations will rejoice and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples justly and guide the nations on earth forever.
6. The peoples will extol You, O God; all the peoples will extol You,
7. for the earth will have yielded its produce, and God, our God, will bless us.
8. God will bless us; and all, from the farthest corners of the earth, shall fear Him.
Chapter 68
An awe-inspiring and wondrous prayer, David composed this psalm referring to a future event, when Sennacherib would surround Jerusalem on Passover, during the reign of Hezekiah. He also prophesies about the good we will enjoy during the Messianic era.
1. For the Conductor; by David, a psalm, a song.
2. Let God rise, let His enemies be scattered, and let His enemies flee before Him.
3. As smoke is driven away, drive them away; as wax melts before fire, let the wicked perish before God.
4. And the righteous will rejoice, they will exult before God and delight with joy.
5. Sing to God, chant praises to His Name; extol Him Who rides upon the heavens with His Name, Yah, and exult before Him.
6. A father of orphans and judge of widows is God, in the abode of His holiness.
7. God settles the solitary into a home, and frees those bound in shackles; but the rebellious [are left to] dwell in an arid land.
8. O God, when You went out before Your nation, when You marched through the wilderness, Selah,
9. the earth trembled, even the heavens dripped before the presence of God; this mountain of Sinai [trembled] before the presence of God, the God of Israel.
10. You poured generous rain, O God; when Your heritage was weary, You secured it.
11. Your flock settled there; in Your goodness, O God, You prepare for the poor.
12. My Lord will fulfill the word of the heralds to a great legion:
13. Kings of armies will flee, they will flee; and she who inhabits the home will divide the loot.
14. Even if you lie upon the hearth,1 [you will be like] wings of a dove covered with silver, her pinions with brilliant gold.
15. When the Almighty scatters kings in her midst, those in the shadow of darkness will be made snow-white.
16. The mountain of God is a fertile mountain, the mountain of majestic peaks is a fertile mountain.
17. Why do you prance, O mountains of peaks? This is the mountain God has desired as His dwelling; the Lord will even dwell there forever.
18. The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, [with] thousands of angels; my Lord is in their midst, at Sinai, in holiness.
19. You ascended on high and took a captive,2 you seized gifts for man; and [now] even rebels dwell with Yah, God.
20. Blessed is my Lord, Who each day loads us [with beneficence], the God Who is our deliverance forever.
21. The Lord is a God of deliverances for us; and to God, my Lord, are the many avenues of death.
22. God alone crushes the heads of His enemies, the hairy skull of him who goes about in his guilt.
23. My Lord said, "I will bring back from Bashan,3 I will bring back from the depths of the sea,
24. that your foot may wade through [the enemy's] blood; that the tongue of your dogs may have its portion from your enemies.”
25. They saw Your ways, O God, the ways of my God, my King, in holiness.
26. The singers began, then the musicians, in the midst of the maidens playing timbrels.
27. In assemblies bless God; [bless] my Lord, O you who stem from Israel.
28. There Benjamin, the youngest, rules them; the princes of Judah stone them, [as do] the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
29. Your God has decreed your strength. Show Your strength, O God, Who has wrought this for our sake.
30. Because of [the glory of] Your Sanctuary upon Jerusalem, kings will bring You tribute.
31. Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, the assembly of mighty bulls among the calves of nations, [until] each submits himself with pieces of silver. Scatter the nations that desire wars.
32. Nobles will come from Egypt; Kush will hasten [to raise] its hands to God.
33. Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praise to my Lord forever!
34. To the One Who rides upon the loftiest of ancient heavens-behold He gives forth His voice, a voice of might.
35. Ascribe power to God; His majesty is over Israel, and His might is in the skies.
36. God, You are feared from Your Sanctuary; it is the God of Israel Who grants strength and power to His people; blessed is God.
FOOTNOTES
1.And dirty yourself in exile (Metzudot).
2.Israel ascended on high and seized the Torah from the Angels (Metzudot).
3.From amongst the nations who are compared to “bulls of Bashan” (Metzudot).
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 20
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Monday, Tishrei 12, 5778 · October 2, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 20
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ומזה
And from this, from the earlier explanation of the paradox of Or Chozer, whereby it is specifically in the lowest levels of Asiyah that the light of Sovev Kol Almin and the light of the Kav rebound most intensely,
יובן היטב בענין סדר המדרגות: דומם, צומח, חי, מדבר
we can clearly understand the subject of the order of the levels [of created beings] — the inorganic, the vegetative, the animal, and the articulate being (i.e., man),
שהן בחינת עפר, מים, אש, רוח
which correspond to and are expressed within the composition of all created beings as the Elements of Earth, Water, Fire and Air.
שאף שהחי הוא למעלה מהצומח, והמדבר למעלה מהחי
For though the animal [level] is higher than the vegetative [level],1 and the articulate being is higher than the animal,
אף על פי כן, החי ניזון וחי מהצומח, והמדבר מקבל חיותו משניהם
nevertheless, the animal is nourished and lives by the vegetative, and the articulate being receives his vitality from them both,
וגם חכמה ודעת
and even wisdom and knowledge.
שאין התינוק יודע לקרות אבא ואמא, עד שיטעום טעם דגן כו׳
For, as the Gemara states,2 “A child does not know how to call ‘father’ and ‘mother’ until it has tasted grain.”
ועדיין לא אכילנא בישרא דתורא כו׳
[It is likewise written,]3 “I had not yet eaten the meat of oxen....”
This was the explanation which R. Nachman gave to Rava, as to why the previous evening he had been unable to give the better answer to his query that he had now given. Thus we see that the meat of a mere animal is able to stimulate the mind of man.
The key to this paradox, whereby the animal kingdom is nourished by the inferior vegetative kingdom, and man needs both of these inferior orders of creation, has been explained above:
כי הוא בחינת אור חוזר ממטה למעלה, מתחתית העשיה
For this is an instance of Or Chozer, the light that is reflected from the lower levels to the higher, from the lowest level of Asiyah,
שמתגלית שם ביתר עז, הארה דהארה כו׳
where there is an exceedingly strong manifestation of the radiation of the radiation, and so on, of the glimmer of a glimmer of a glimmer that is found within the physical earth,
מאור אין סוף, הסובב כל עלמין
from the [infinite] Ein Sof-light that encircles all worlds, i.e., from the degree of Sovev Kol Almin that transcends all worlds equally,
ומהקו אור אין סוף, שבסיום רגלי היושר דאדם קדמון
and from the Kav from the Ein Sof-light at the culmination of the “feet” of the Yosher of Adam Kadmon — the final level of the internalized illumination that is found in all worlds. This illumination shines there:
בבחינת אור חוזר, כנ״ל
in a mode of Or Chozer, as stated above.
***
ויובן היטב בזה, טוב טעם ודעת
This will enable one to gain a reasoned understanding
מה שהמלאכים עליונים שבמרכבה: פני שור ופני נשר
how it is that the Supernal angels of the Merkavah, the “Celestial Chariot,” namely, the “Face of the Oxen” and the “Face of the Eagle,”
נהנים מאד, וניזונים ומסתפקים
derive great enjoyment, and are nourished and content,
מרוח הבהמה והעוף, העולה אליהם מהקרבנות שעל גבי המזבח
from the spirit of the cattle and fowl that ascends to them from the sacrifices on the altar.
The phrase,4 את קרבני לחמי לאשי (“My sacrifice, the bread of My burnt offerings...”), may be understood on a non-literal level to mean that the sacrifices provide sustenance for G‑d’s “fires”, i.e., for the angels.
וכדקדוק לשון הזהר הקדוש: ואתהניין מיסודא ועיקרא דילהון
As the holy Zohar expresses it precisely,5 “They derive enjoyment from their element and essence”: the spiritual root (as opposed to the animal component) of the sacrifices is reflected back to its angelic source in a mode of Or Chozer.
***
ואחרי הדברים והאמת האלה, דעת לנבון נקל
Now, after these words and this truth, knowledge comes easily to the discerning,
להבין על ידי כל הנ״ל, גודל מעלת המצות מעשיות
to understand through all the above the sublime worth of the practical commandments, those performed with physical objects and with man’s physicality.
אשר הן תכלית ירידת הנשמות לעולם הזה הגשמי
For [these commandments] are the ultimate purpose for the descent of souls to this physical world,
כמו שכתוב: היום לעשותם
as it is written,6 “Today [is the time] to do them.”
I.e., specifically “today”, in this world of action, are we provided with the opportunity to perform mitzvot with physical objects whose creation came about from G‑d’s very essence, and which contain the concealed power of His very being. By performing mitzvot with these objects we release this concealed power.
ויפה שעה אחת בתשובה ומעשים טובים בעולם הזה, מכל חיי עולם הבא
[It is likewise written,]7 “Better one hour of repentance and good deeds in this world, than all the life of the World to Come.”
***
עד כאן מצאנו מכתב יד הקודש
At this point the first publishers of Iggeret HaKodesh wrote: Until here we found of his holy writing.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Note of the Rebbe: “[It is superior] also with regard to its creation; ‘nevertheless [it] is nourished...[by the vegetative].’ (This enables us to understand why the Element of Earth is not mentioned here, for everything comes from the Earth. It may likewise be said that for this reason, even after having been created, [everything] depends on it and is nourished by it.)” |
| 2. | Berachot 40a. |
| 3. | Bava Kama 71a. |
| 4. | Bamidbar 28:2. |
| 5. | III, 341a. |
| 6. | Devarim 7:11; Eruvin 22a. |
| 7. | Avot 4:17. |
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
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Monday, Tishrei 12, 5778 · October 2, 2017
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Positive Commandment 3
Loving G-d
"And you shall love the L-rd, your G-d"—Deuteronomy 6:5.
We are commanded to love G-d. We foster a love for G-d by studying and contemplating His Torah, His commandments, and His awesome deeds. Through studying and meditating about G-d we come to have somewhat of an understanding of His greatness—which automatically spawns a deep love for Him.
This mitzvah also includes sharing our knowledge of G-d with others, and calling upon our fellows to serve Him. After all, if we love G-d, we’d surely sing His praises before all who are ready to hear.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Loving G-d
Positive Commandment 3
Translated by Berel Bell
The 3rd mitzva is that we are commanded to love G‑d (exalted be He), i.e. to meditate upon and closely examine His mitzvos, His commandments, and His works, in order to understand Him; and through this understanding to achieve a feeling of ecstasy. This is the goal of the commandment to love G‑d.
[We can see that meditation is the way to create this feeling of love1 from] the Sifri: "From the statement, 'You shall love G‑d your Lord'2, can I know how to love G‑d? The Torah therefore says, 'and these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart'3; i.e. that through this [meditation about His commandments] you will understand the nature of 'the One Who spoke, and thereby brought the world into being.' "
From this it is clear that meditation will lead to understanding, and then a feeling of enjoyment and love will follow automatically [since the second verse explains the way to reach the goal of the previous verse.]
Our Sages also said that this mitzvah includes calling out to all mankind to serve G‑d (exalted be He) and to believe in Him. This is because when you love a person, for example, you praise him and call out to others to draw close to him. So too, if you truly love G‑d — through your understanding and realization of His true existence — you will certainly spread this true knowledge that you know to the ignorant and the foolish.
[We see that this mitzvah includes spreading love for G‑d to others from] the Sifri: " 'You shall love G‑d,' i.e. make Him beloved among the creatures as your father Avraham did, as it is written, 'The souls that he made in Charan.'4"
The meaning of this Sifri: Avraham, as a result of his deep understanding of G‑d, acquired love for G‑d, as the verse testifies, "Avraham, who loved Me"5. This powerful love therefore caused him to call out to all mankind to believe in G‑d. So too, you shall love Him to the extent that you draw others to Him.
FOOTNOTES
1.The obvious problem with having a commandment to "love," is that emotions cannot be compelled. The Rambam therefore proves that the commandment is to study and meditate, which will automatically lead to the emotion.
2.Deut. 6:5.
3.Deut. 6:6.
4.Gen. 12:5.
5.Isi. 41:8.
Positive Commandment 4
Fearing G-d
"You shall fear the L-rd, your G-d"—Deuteronomy 6:13.
We are commanded to fear G-d; never to be complacent, and to always bear in mind that transgressing His will leads to divine retribution.
This is also why we never say G-d's Name in vain – not in the context of a prayer or blessing – for this diminishes the fear and reverence we are commanded to harbor for Him.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Fearing G-d
Positive Commandment 4
Translated by Berel Bell
The 4th mitzvah is that we are commanded to establish in our minds fear and dread of G‑d (exalted be He); that we not be calm and nonchalant, but be constantly concerned of imminent punishment1 [for misdeeds.]
The biblical source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "You shall fear G‑d your Lord."
At3 the end of tractate Sanhedrin4, there is a discussion of G‑d's statement5 (exalted be He), "Anyone who is nokev (curses) G‑d's Name shall be put to death." [The Talmud asks:] "Perhaps the word nokev means, 'utters,' as in the verse6, 'Who were mentioned (nikvu) by name'; the prohibition7 being the verse, 'You shall fear G‑d your Lord.' "
The meaning of this question: "Perhaps the verse, 'nokev G‑d's Name' means merely uttering G‑d's Name even without a curse. And if one wonders 'What prohibition can there be in this?', it is [the prohibition not] to erase one's fear of G‑d; because included in fear of G‑d is not mentioning His Name in vain."8
The Talmud answers this question and rejects this approach as follows: "First of all, [in order to be punishable by death,] the person must have used 'one Name against another,' i.e. cursed one of G‑d's Names with another of G‑d's Names, as in the saying, 'Let Yosi strike Yosi,'9 and [if he merely mentioned G‑d's Name in vain,] he did not fulfill this condition."
[The Talmud continues:] "Furthermore, this prohibition is stated as a positive commandment, and cannot technically serve as a prohibition."
This means that the suggestion, "the prohibition is from the verse, 'You shall fear G‑d,' " is incorrect, because this verse is a positive commandment, and a punishment can never be based on a positive commandment.
This passage clearly indicates that "You shall fear G‑d," is a positive commandment.
FOOTNOTES
1.Although here the Rambam describes the commandment as fear of punishment, in Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah, 2:1-2 and 4:12, he defines it as awe growing out of a realization of G‑d's greatness.
See Kinas Sofrim on Sefer Hamitzvos, P9; On the Teachings of Chassidus, Ch. 13, footnote, regarding the greater precision of Mishneh Torah.
2.Deut. 6:13.
3.The Rambam now quotes and explains a Talmudic passage in order to prove that this mitzvah is a positive commandment. The passage deals primarily with another mitzvah, the prohibition of cursing G‑d, but makes important mention of our verse, "You shall fear G‑d."
For the sake of clarity, we will quote the entire passage without the Rambam's explanation:
"Perhaps the word nokev means, 'utters,' as in the verse, 'Who were mentioned (nikvu) by name'; the prohibition being the verse, 'You shall fear G‑d your Lord'!
"First of all, [in order to be punished,] the person must have used 'one Name against another; and [if he merely mentioned G‑d's Name in vain,] he did not fulfill this condition."
"Furthermore, this prohibition is stated as a positive commandment, and cannot technically serve as a prohibition."
4.56a.
5.Lev. 24:16.
6.Num. 1:17.
7.Every punishable act in the Torah must have two verses describing it: one stating that the act is prohibited, and another dictating the particular punishment. The verse containing the punishment is clearly Lev. 24:16.
However, the verse setting forth the actual prohibition is in doubt. If nokev is translated, "curse" (as is indeed the conclusion), the actual prohibition comes from Ex. 22:27, "Do not curse G‑d." Since the Talmud is attempting to translate nokev differently, i.e. "to mention," it attempts to find another verse (namely, Deut. 6:13) to serve as the actual prohibition of mentioning G‑d's Name.
8.According to the questioner, then, it is clear that the verse, "You shall fear G‑d" is a prohibition.
9.When the court examined the witnesses who heard the curse uttered, the name "Yosi" was used instead of G‑d's real Name, in order to minimize its use. "Yosi" was chosen because it has 4 letters, as does G‑d's Name, and because it has the numerical value of 86, as does G‑d's Name Elokim. See Rashi on Sanhedrin.
Positive Commandment 9
Sanctifying G-d's Name
"And I will be sanctified among the Children of Israel"—Leviticus 22:32.
We are commanded to sanctify G-d's holy Name by publicly proclaiming our faith and religion. In the event that a tyrant attempts to coerce us to renounce our belief in G-d, we are commanded to refuse to comply—even if the tyrant threatens to kill us. We may not even verbally deny our belief in G-d, though in our hearts we remain true to Him.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Sanctifying G-d's Name
Positive Commandment 9
Translated by Berel Bell
The 9th mitzvah is that we are commanded to sanctify G‑d's Name.
The biblical source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1, "Sanctify Me amidst the Jewish people."
This mitzvah requires us to publicize the true religion to the masses. This must be done without fear of retribution, to the extent that even if a powerful tyrant tries to force us to deny G‑d (exalted be He), we may not obey him. We must rather unquestioningly submit to death, not even allowing him to think that we have denied G‑d (exalted be He) [by outwardly denying Him], even if we still maintain belief in Him in our hearts.
This is the mitzvah of "Santifying G‑d's Name," in which all Jews are obligated. This means that allow ourselves to be killed by a tyrant for love of G‑d (exalted be He) and belief in His Oneness. [This is] similar to the actions of Chanaya, Mishael, and Azaryah in the days of the wicked Nebuchadnezzar, who forced people to bow down to a statue, and everyone — including Jews — bowed down. There was nobody there to sanctify G‑d's Name, and this was a tremendous shame to the Jewish people. Everyone did not fulfill this mitzvah, and there was nobody to fulfill it; everyone was afraid.
This commandment is obligatory only in such an awesome setting, when all inhabitants of the world were terrified, and it was then necessary to spread and announce His Unity.2
But G‑d had already promised through His prophet Isaiah that the Jewish people would not be completely disgraced on that difficult occasion; and that a few young men3 would be present who would not be afraid of death, and would give up their lives and publicize faith in G‑d, sanctifying G‑d's Name in public as we have been commanded through Moses. This promise is in the verse4, "Now, Jacob will not be afraid, nor will his face turn white; for he will see in his midst his children, the work of My hands. They will sanctify My Name, the Holy One of Jacob, and strengthen the G‑d of Israel."
[We see that this action is obligatory, and therefore counts as a mitzvah from] the Sifra: "Upon this condition I took them out of Egypt; on condition5 that they publicly sanctify My Name."
In the end of tractate Sanhedrin, they ask, "Is a non-Jew commanded to sanctify G‑d's Name or not? Here is a statement which proves it: 'The seven commandments of the non-Jews.' If you include this one [i.e. to sanctify G‑d's Name], there would be eight!" From this we see that, for Jews, [sanctification of G‑d's Name] counts as a mitzvah.
They bring proof that this is counted among the mitzvos from the verse, "Sanctify Me amidst the Jewish people."
The details of this commandment have been explained in the 7th chapter of the tractate Sanhedrin.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 22:32.
2.See Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah, 5:3, that at the time of a decree to tear Jews from their religion, the mitzvah would require sacrificing one's life for any mitzvah, not just idolatry.
3.I.e. Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah (mentioned above).
4.Isaiah 29:22-23.
5.As the Rambam explained in Positive Commandment 2, this expression means that the act under discussion is obligatory.
Rambam:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Positive Commandments Part 3
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167
To rest on the eighth day of the festival of Sukkot, as [Leviticus 23:36] states: "On the eighth day, there shall be a sacred holiday."
קסז
לשבות בשמיני של חג, שנאמר "וביום השמיני מקרא קודש" (ראה ויקרא כג,לו).
168
To dwell in a sukkah for seven days, as [Leviticus 23:42] states: "And you shall dwell in sukkot for seven days."
קסח
לישב בסוכה שבעת ימים, שנאמר "בסוכות תשבו, שבעת ימים" (ויקרא כג,מב).
169
To take the lulav [and the other three species on Sukkot], as [Leviticus 23:40] states: "And you shall take for yourselves on the first day, the fruit of a beautiful tree, a palm branch,...."
קסט
ליטול לולב, שנאמר "ולקחתם לכם ביום הראשון, פרי עץ הדר כפות תמרים" (ויקרא כג,מ).
170
To hear the sound of the shofar on Rosh HaShanah, as [Numbers 29:1] states: "It will be a day of [shofar] blasts for you."
קע
לשמוע קול שופר בראש השנה, שנאמר "יום תרועה, יהיה לכם" (במדבר כט,א).
171
To give a half-shekel each year, as [Exodus 30:13] states: "This shall be given by all those included in the census...."
קעא
ליתן מחצית השקל בכל שנה ושנה, שנאמר "זה ייתנו, כל העובר על הפקודים" (שמות ל,יג).
172
To listen to any prophet who will arise in any era, provided he does not add or detract [from the Torah's commandments], as [Deuteronomy 18:15] states: "You shall listen to him."
קעב
לשמוע מכל נביא שיהיה בכל דור ודור אם לא יוסיף ולא יגרע, שנאמר "אליו, תשמעון" (דברים יח,טו).
173
To appoint a king, as [Deuteronomy 17:15] states: "You shall surely set a king upon yourselves."
קעג
למנות מלך, שנאמר "שום תשים עליך מלך" (דברים יז,טו).
174
To obey the High Court regarding all [the ordinances] they establish for Israel, as [Deuteronomy 17:11] states: "Carry out the judgment which they render for you."
קעד
לשמוע מכל בית דין הגדול שיעמדו להם לישראל, שנאמר "ועל המשפט אשר יאמרו לך--תעשה" (דברים יז,יא).
175
To follow the majority if there is a difference of opinion in the Sanhedrin concerning a law, as [Exodus 23:2] states: "Follow after the majority."
קעה
לנטות אחרי רבים אם תהיה מחלוקת בין הסנהדרין בדינין, שנאמר "אחרי רבים--להטות" (שמות כג,ב).
176
To appoint judges and court officers in each and every Jewish community, as [Deuteronomy 16:18] states: "Appoint judges and court officers...."
קעו
למנות שופטים ושוטרים בכל קהל וקהל מישראל, שנאמר "שופטים ושוטרים, תיתן לך" (דברים טז,יח).
177
To treat litigants equally when they appear [in court] to be judged, as [Leviticus 19:15] states: "Judge your fellow man with righteousness."
קעז
להשוות בין בעלי דינין בשעה שעומדין בדין, שנאמר "בצדק, תשפוט עמיתך" (ויקרא יט,טו).
178
For anyone who has evidence to testify in court, as [Leviticus 5:1] states: "If he was a witness, saw, or knew...."
קעח
להעיד בבית דין למי שיש לו עדות, שנאמר "והוא עד, או ראה או ידע" (ויקרא ה,א).
179
To cross-examine the witnesses thoroughly, as [Deuteronomy 13:15] states: "You must investigate and probe, making careful enquiry."
קעט
לחקור העדים הרבה, שנאמר "ודרשת וחקרת ושאלת, היטב" (דברים יג,טו).
180
To [punish] false witnesses [by] giving them the same penalty that they wish to have imposed [on the defendant], as [Deuteronomy 19:19] states: "And you shall do to him what he plotted to do to his brother."
קפ
לעשות לעדים זוממין כמו שזמו לעשות, שנאמר "ועשיתם לו, כאשר זמם" (דברים יט,יט).
181
To decapitate the calf [brought as atonement for an unsolved murder] as required, as [Deuteronomy 21:4] states: "You shall decapitate the calf there in the river."
קפא
לערוף את העגלה כמצותה, שנאמר "וערפו שם את העגלה, בנחל" (דברים כא,ד).
182
To prepare six refuge cities, as [Deuteronomy 19:3] states: "Prepare the way and divide into three [the boundary]...."
קפב
להכין שש ערי מקלט, שנאמר "תכין לך, הדרך, ושילשת" (דברים יט,ג).
183
To give the Levites cities in which to dwell - they also serve as refuge centers - as [Numbers 35:2] states: "And you shall give cities to the Levites...."
קפג
לתת ללויים ערים לשבת, וגם הן קולטות, שנאמר "ונתנו ללויים . . . ערים" (במדבר לה,ב).
184
To construct a guard rail, as [Deuteronomy 22:8] states: "And you shall construct a guard rail for your roof."
קפד
לעשות מעקה, שנאמר "ועשית מעקה לגגך" (דברים כב,ח).
185
To destroy false gods and all their objects of worship, as [Deuteronomy 12:2] states: "You shall surely destroy...."
קפה
לאבד עבודה זרה וכל משמשיה, שנאמר "אבד תאבדון את כל המקומות" (דברים יב,ב).
186
To slay the inhabitants of an apostate city and burn the city, as [Deuteronomy 13:17] states: "And you shall burn the city and all its spoil with fire."
קפו
להרוג אנשי עיר הנידחת ולשרוף את העיר, שנאמר "ושרפת באש את . . . כל שללה" (דברים יג,יז).
187
To destroy the seven nations [that dwelled in] Eretz Yisrael, as [Deuteronomy 20:17] states: "You shall utterly destroy them."
קפז
לאבד שבעה עממים מארץ ישראל, שנאמר "החרם תחרימם" (דברים כ,יז).
188
To exterminate the seed of Amalek, as [Deuteronomy 25:19] states: "Blot out the memory of Amalek."
קפח
להכרית זרעו של עמלק, שנאמר "תמחה את זכר עמלק" (דברים כה,יט).
189
To constantly remember what Amalek did to us, as [Deuteronomy 25:17] states: "Remember what Amalek did to you."
קפט
לזכור מה שעשה לנו עמלק תדיר, שנאמר "זכור, את אשר עשה לך עמלק" (דברים כה,יז).
190
To wage a voluntary war according to the laws prescribed by the Torah, as [Deuteronomy 20:10] states: "When you approach the city...."
קצ
לעשות במלחמת הרשות כמשפט הכתוב בתורה, שנאמר "כי תקרב אל עיר" (דברים כ,י).
191
To anoint a priest [who will address the people before] battle, as [Deuteronomy 20:2] states: "And it shall come to pass, when you approach the battle, the priest will come forward and speak to the people...."
קצא
למשוח כוהן למלחמה, שנאמר "והיה, כקורבכם אל המלחמה; וניגש הכוהן" (דברים כ,ב).
192
To prepare a place [outside] the [army] camp [for use as a latrine], as [Deuteronomy 23:13] states: "Prepare a place for yourselves outside the camp."
קצב
להתקין יד במחנה, שנאמר "ויד תהיה לך, מחוץ למחנה" (דברים כג,יג).
193
To prepare a shovel [to cover one's excrement], as [Deuteronomy 23:14] states: "You shall have a shovel in addition to your weapons."
קצג
להתקין יתד, שנאמר "ויתד תהיה לך, על אזנך" (דברים כג,יד).
194
To return a stolen object, as [Leviticus 5:23] states: "And he shall return the object which he stole."
קצד
להשיב את הגזל, שנאמר "והשיב את הגזילה אשר גזל" (ויקרא ה,כג).
195
To give charity, as [Deuteronomy 15:8] states: "You shall surely open your hand [to your poor brother]."
קצה
ליתן צדקה, שנאמר "פתוח תפתח את ידך" (דברים טו,ח; דברים טו,יא).
196
To give a severance gift to a Hebrew servant, as [Deuteronomy 15:14] states: "You shall surely give him gifts...." Similarly, [this gift is given] to a Hebrew maidservant.
קצו
להעניק לעבד עברי, שנאמר "הענק תעניק, לו" (דברים טו,יד); וכן אמה עברייה.
197
To lend to the poor, as [Exodus 22:24] states: "If you will lend money to my people...." In this instance, the word "if" does not refer to a matter left to one's volition, but to a commandment, as [Deuteronomy 15:8] states: "You shall surely lend him."
קצז
להלוות לעני, שנאמר "אם כסף תלווה את עמי" (שמות כב,כד); "אם" זה אינו רשות אלא מצוה, שנאמר "והעבט, תעביטנו" (דברים טו,ח).
198
To lend to a gentile at interest, as [Deuteronomy 23:21] states: "Take interest from a gentile." Based on the oral tradition, we have learned that this is a positive commandment.b
קצח
להלוות לנוכרי בריבית, שנאמר "לנוכרי תשיך" (דברים כג,כא); מפי השמועה למדו שזו מצות עשה.
199
To return security to its owner, as [Deuteronomy 24:13] states: "You shall surely return the security to him."
קצט
להשיב המשכון לבעליו, שנאמר "השב תשיב לו את העבוט" (דברים כד,יג).
200
To pay a worker his wage on time, as [Deuteronomy 24:15] states: "Pay him his wage on the day it is due."
ר
ליתן שכר שכיר בזמנו, שנאמר "ביומו תיתן שכרו" (דברים כד,טו).
201
For a hired worker to be allowed to eat [from produce] while he is working with it, as [Deuteronomy 23:25-26] states: "When you enter your neighbor's vineyard... When you enter your neighbor's standing grain...."
רא
להיות השכיר אוכל בזמן שכירותו, שנאמר "כי תבוא בכרם ריעך" (דברים כג,כה), "כי תבוא בקמת ריעך" (דברים כג,כו).
202
To assist a colleague in unloading a burden which he or his beast [is carrying], as [Exodus 23:5] states: "You shall surely help him."b
רב
לעזוב מעל חברו או מעל בהמתו, שנאמר "עזוב תעזוב, עימו" (שמות כג,ה).
203
To [help a colleague] load a burden unto a beast, as [Deuteronomy 22:4] states: " You shall lift it up with him."
רג
להקים המשא על הבהמה, שנאמר "הקם תקים, עימו" (דברים כב,ד).
204
To return a lost object, as [Deuteronomy 22:1] states: "You shall surely return them to your brother."
רד
להשיב האבידה, שנאמר "השב תשיבם, לאחיך" (דברים כב,א).
205
To rebuke a person who sins, as [Leviticus 19:17] states: "You shall surely rebuke your fellow men."
רה
להוכיח החוטא, שנאמר "הוכח תוכיח את עמיתך" (ויקרא יט,יז).
206
To love every member of our people, as [Leviticus 19:18] states: "And you shall love your neighbor as yourself."
רו
לאהוב כל בני אדם מבני ברית, שנאמר "ואהבת לריעך כמוך" (ויקרא יט,יח).
207
To love a convert, as [Deuteronomy 10:19] states: "And you shall love a convert."
רז
לאהוב את הגר, שנאמר "ואהבתם, את הגר" (דברים י,יט).
208
To balance scales with correct weights, as [Leviticus 19:36] states: "You shall have correct scales, with correct weights."
רח
לצדק מאזניים עם המשקלות, שנאמר "מאזני צדק אבני צדק" (ויקרא יט,לו).
209
To honor the Sages, as [Leviticus 19:32] states: "Rise before an elder."
רט
לכבד החכמים, שנאמר "מפני שיבה תקום" (ויקרא יט,לב).
210
To honor one's father and mother, as [Exodus 20:12] states: "Honor your father and mother."
רי
לכבד אב ואם, שנאמר "כבד את אביך, ואת אימך" (שמות כ,יא; דברים ה,טו).
211
To fear one's father and mother, as [Leviticus 19:3] states: "A person must fear his mother and his father."
ריא
ליראה מאב ואם, שנאמר "איש אימו ואביו תיראו" (ויקרא יט,ג).
212
To be fruitful and multiply, as [Genesis 9:7] states: "Be fruitful and multiply."
ריב
לפרות ולרבות, שנאמר "פרו ורבו" (בראשית ט,ז).
213
To have sexual relations [only within] marriage, as [Deuteronomy 24:1] states: "If a man takes a woman [as a wife]...."
ריג
לבעול בקידושין, שנאמר "כי ייקח איש, אישה; ובא אליה" (דברים כב,יג; וראה דברים כד,א).
214
For a groom to rejoice together with his wife for a year, as [Deuteronomy 24:5] states: "He shall be free for his home for one year."
ריד
לשמח חתן את אשתו שנה, שנאמר "נקי יהיה לביתו, שנה אחת . . ." (דברים כד,ה).
215
To circumcise a son, as [Leviticus 12:3] states: "On the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised."1
רטו
למול את הבן, שנאמר "וביום, השמיני, יימול, בשר עורלתו" (ויקרא יב,ג).
216
To marry the widow of one's brother who died childless, as [Deuteronomy 25:5] states: "Her yavam shall come unto her."
רטז
לייבם אשת אח, שנאמר "יבמה יבוא עליה" (דברים כה,ה).
217
To remove the yavam's shoe [if he does not marry his brother's widow], as [Deuteronomy 25:9] states: "And she shall remove his shoe from his foot."
ריז
לחלוץ ליבם, שנאמר "וחלצה נעלו מעל רגלו" (דברים כה,ט).
218
For a rapist to marry the woman he raped, as [Deuteronomy 22:29] states: "She shall become his wife."
ריח
לישא אונס את אנוסתו, שנאמר "ולו תהיה לאישה" (דברים כב,כט).
219
For a person who made defamatory remarks about his wife to remain married to her for his entire life, as [Deuteronomy 22:19] states: "She shall become his wife. He may not send her away for his entire life."
ריט
לישב מוציא שם רע עם אשתו כל ימיו, שנאמר "ולו תהיה לאישה" (דברים כב,יט).
220
To carry out the judgment concerning a seducer, fining him fifty shekels and carrying out the other laws regarding this matter, as [Exodus 22:15] states: "If a person will seduce...."
רכ
לדון במפתה בחמישים שקל עם שאר דינין, שנאמר "כי יפתה איש" (שמות כב,טו).
221
To carry out the procedure [the Torah] prescribes for a yefat to'ar, as [Deuteronomy 21:11] states: "And if you see a beautiful woman among the captives...."
רכא
לעשות ליפת תואר ככתוב, שנאמר "וראית, בשביה, אשת, יפת תואר" (דברים כא,יא).
222
To divorce with a get, as [Deuteronomy 24:1] states: "And he shall write a bill of divorce for her and place it in her hand."
רכב
לגרש בשטר, שנאמר "וכתב לה ספר כריתות ונתן בידה" (דברים כד,א; דברים כד,ג).
223
To carry out the [procedure] prescribed for a sotah, as [Numbers 8:30] states: "And the priests will carry out all these laws for her."
רכג
לעשות לסוטה כתורה, שנאמר "ועשה לה הכוהן, את כל התורה הזאת" (במדבר ה,ל).
224
To whip the wicked, as [Deuteronomy 25:2] states: "The judge will cast him down and beat him."
רכד
להלקות הרשעים, שנאמר "והפילו השופט והכהו" (דברים כה,ב).
225
To exile a person who accidentally kills a person, as [Numbers 35:25] states: "And he shall dwell there until the High Priest dies...."
רכה
להגלות רוצח בשגגה, שנאמר "וישב בה, עד מות הכוהן" (במדבר לה,כה).
226
For a court to execute by decapitation, as [Exodus 21:20] states: "Revenge shall surely be taken."
רכו
להיות בית דין הורגין בסיף, שנאמר "נקום, יינקם" (שמות כא,כ).
227
For a court to execute by strangulation, as [Leviticus 20:10] states: "The adulterer and the adulteress shall die."
רכז
להיות בית דין הורגין בחנק, שנאמר "מות יומת הנואף, והנואפת" (ויקרא כ,י).
228
For a court to execute by burning [the condemned] with fire, as [Leviticus 20:14] states: "They shall burn him and them with fire."
רכח
להיות בית דין שורפין באש, שנאמר "באש ישרפו אותו, ואתהן" (ויקרא כ,יד).
229
For a court to execute by stoning [the condemned] with stones, as [Deuteronomy 22:24] states: "And you shall stone them."
רכט
להיות בית דין סוקלין באבנים, שנאמר "וסקלתם אותם" (דברים כב,כד).
230
To hang [the corpses] of those liable for hanging, as [Deuteronomy 21:22] states: "And you shall hang them on a gallows."
רל
לתלות מי שנתחייב תלייה, שנאמר "ותלית אותו, על עץ" (דברים כא,כב).
231
To bury [the body of] an executed person on the day of his execution, as [Deuteronomy 21:22] states: "For you shall surely bury him on that day."
רלא
לקבור הנהרג ביומו, שנאמר "כי קבור תקברנו ביום ההוא" (דברים כא,כג).
232
To carry out the laws concerning a Hebrew servant, as [Exodus 21:2] states: "When you purchase a Hebrew servant...."
רלב
לדון בעבד עברי כהלכותיו, שנאמר "כי תקנה עבד עברי" (שמות כא,ב).
233
To marry a Hebrew maidservant, as [Exodus 21:8] states: "Who has designated her for himself... and she will be redeemed."
רלג
לייעד אמה עברייה, שנאמר "אשר לו יעדה" (שמות כא,ח), "ואם לבנו, ייעדנה" (שמות כא,ט).
234
To redeem a Hebrew maidservant, as [Exodus, ibid.] states: "And she will be redeemed."
רלד
לפדות אמה עברייה, שנאמר "והפדה" (שמות כא,ח).
235
To have a Canaanite servant serve forever, as [Leviticus 25:46] states: "You shall have them serve you forever."a
רלה
לעבוד בעבד כנעני לעולם, שנאמר "לעולם, בהם תעבודו" (ויקרא כה,מו).
236
For a person who injures [a colleague] to pay him damages, as [Exodus 21:18] states: "If men will quarrel and one man will strike [his colleague]...."
רלו
להיות החובל משלם ממון, שנאמר "וכי יריבון אנשים--והכה איש" (שמות כא,יח).
237
To judge regarding the damages caused by an ox, as [Exodus 21:33] states: "If an ox belonging to one person gores an ox belonging to a colleague...."
רלז
לדון בנזקי בהמה, שנאמר "וכי ייגוף שור איש את שור ריעהו" (שמות כא,לה).
238
To judge regarding the damages caused by a pit, as [Exodus 21:33] states: If a person will open a pit...."
רלח
לדון בנזקי הבור, שנאמר "כי יפתח איש בור" (שמות כא,לג).
239
To judge a thief, obligating him for payment or execution, as [Exodus 21:37] states: "Should a theft be perpetrated," as [Exodus 22:1] states: "If when breaking in," and, as [Exodus 21:16] states: "If one kidnaps a person and sells him,…. "2
רלט
לדון לגנב בתשלומין או במיתה, שנאמר "וכי יגנוב" (ראה שמות כא,לז), "אם במחתרת" (שמות כב,א), "וגונב איש ומכרו" (שמות כא,טז).
240
To judge regarding the damages caused by grazing, as [Exodus 22:4] states: "If a person will graze [his animals] in a field or vineyard...."
רמ
לדון בנזקי הבער, שנאמר "כי יבער איש, שדה או כרם" (שמות כב,ד).
241
To judge regarding the damages caused by fire, as [Exodus 22:5] states: "If fire will break out and catch in thorns...."
רמא
לדון בנזקי האש, שנאמר "כי תצא אש ומצאה קוצים" (שמות כב,ה).
242
To render judgment [in questions] regarding an unpaid watchman, as [Exodus 22:6] states: "If a person will give a colleague money or utensils [to watch]...."
רמב
לדון בדין שומר חינם, שנאמר "כי ייתן איש אל ריעהו כסף או כלים" (שמות כב,ו).
243
To render judgment [in questions] regarding a paid watchman, as [Exodus 22:9] states: "Should a person give a donkey or an ox...."
רמג
לדון בדין נושא שכר ושוכר, שנאמר "כי ייתן איש אל ריעהו חמור או שור" (שמות כב,ט).
244
To render judgment [in questions] regarding a borrower, as [Exodus 22:13] states: "If a person will borrow from a colleague...."
רמד
לדון בדין השואל, שנאמר "וכי ישאל איש מעם ריעהו" (שמות כב,יג).
245
To render judgment [in questions] regarding business transactions, as [Leviticus 22:14] states: "If you sell merchandise to your colleague...."
רמה
לדון בדין מקח וממכר, שנאמר "וכי תמכרו ממכר לעמיתך" (ויקרא כה,יד).
246
To render judgment [in questions] regarding claims made by one person against another, as [Exodus 22:8] states: "For every matter of trespass, concerning an ox, concerning a donkey, or concerning a sheep...."
רמו
לדון בדין טוען וכופר, שנאמר "על כל דבר פשע" (שמות כב,ח).
247
To save a person who is being pursued even if it is necessary to kill the pursuer, as [Deuteronomy 25:12] states: "And you shall cut off her hand...."
רמז
להציל הנרדף ואפילו בנפש הרודף, שנאמר "וקצותה, את כפה" (דברים כה,יב).
248
To render judgment [in questions] regarding inheritances as [Numbers 27:8] states: "If a person dies without having a son...."
רמח
לדון בדיני נחלות, שנאמר "איש כי ימות, ובן אין לו" (במדבר כז,ח).
FOOTNOTES
1.The Rambam cites this verse, rather than a verse from Genesis, Chapter 17, which describes the circumcision of Abraham, because he prefers to cite a prooftext that was given after the giving of the Torah. Nevertheless, we also learn some particulars regarding this mitzvah from the passage from Genesis. (See also the Rambam's Commentary on the Mishnah, Chulin 7:6.)
2.. The Rambam cites these different verses because each involves a different punishment. (See also Negative Mitzvot 243 and 244.)
Rambam:
• 3 Chapters A Day: Yesodei haTorah Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Four, Yesodei haTorah Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Five, Yesodei haTorah Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Six
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassYesodei haTorah - Chapter Four
1
These four bodies: fire, wind, water, and earth are the fundamental [elements] of all the creations below the sky. Everything that exists - [be it] man, beast, fowl, crawling creature, fish, plant, metal, precious stone, pearl, building stone, mountain, or lump of earth - the body of all these [entities] is a combination of these four fundamental [elements].
Thus, all the bodies which are found below the sky, with the exception of these four bodies, are a combination of matter and form,1 and their matter is a combination of these fundamental [elements]. These fundamental [elements], however, are a combination of matter and form [as they exist in a hylian state] alone.
א
ארבעה גופים הללו שהם אש ורוח ומים וארץ הם יסודות כל הנבראים למטה מן הרקיע וכל שיהיה מאדם ומבהמה ועוף ורמש ודג וצמח ומתכת ואבנים טובות ומרגליות ושאר אבני בנין והרים וגושי עפר הכל גולמן מחובר מארבעה יסודות הללו נמצאו כל הגופים שלמטה מן הרקיע חוץ מארבעה יסודות האלו מחוברים מגולם וצורה וגולם שלהם מחובר מארבעה יסודות האלו אבל כל אחד מארבעה היסודות אינו מחובר אלא מגולם וצורה בלבד:
2
The tendency of fire and wind is to ascend upwards from the depths of the earth toward the sky. The tendency of water and earth is to descend from the sky to the midpoint of the sky, [i.e., the center of the Earth,] for the midpoint of the sky is the lowest point, below which nothing is lower.2 These tendencies are not a conscious matter, nor are they willful. Rather, it is a pattern affixed within them and a nature they were given.
The natural characteristics of fire are that it is warm and dry. It is the lightest of all [these fundamental elements]. Wind is warm and moist. Water is cold and moist, and earth is dry and cold. It is the heaviest of all [these fundamental elements].
Water is lighter than earth. Therefore, it is found above it. Wind is lighter than water. Therefore, it hovers above it. Fire is even lighter than wind.
these are the fundamental [elements] for all the bodies below the sky, the matter of every single body - man, animal, beast, fowl, fish, plant, metal, and stone - is a combination of fire, wind, water, and earth. [In the process of] the combination of these four, each one of them changes while they are being combined. Thus, the combination of the four [fundamental elements] does not resemble any one of the [elements] as it exists alone. [Similarly,] in any combination of them, there cannot be found even one portion of fire as it exists alone, wind as it exists alone, water as it exists alone, nor earth as it exists alone. Rather, they have all changed and become a single body.
and every body which is a combination of these four [fundamental elements] will have a combination of cold and warmth, moistness and dryness. There are some bodies which have a more powerful [concentration] of the fundamental [element] of fire - for example, creatures with living souls. Accordingly, they have a higher temperature. [Conversely,] there are some bodies with a more powerful concentration of the element of earth - for example, the stones. Accordingly, they are very dry. Similarly, some of them have bodies with a greater concentration of the element of water. Accordingly, they are moist.3
In this manner, one may find one body which is warmer than another body, which is itself warm, and one body drier than another body, which is itself dry. Similarly, there are bodies in which cold alone is noticeable, and other bodies in which moistness alone is noticeable. In some bodies, cold and dryness are equally noticeable; in others, warmth and dryness are equally noticeable; in others, warmth and moistness are equally noticeable; and in others, warmth and moistness are equally noticeable. According to the predominance of the element that is found in the essential combination, the inclination and nature of that element will be expressed in the body [resulting from] a mixture [of all the elements].
ב
דרך האש והרוח להיות מהלכם ממטה מטבור הארץ למעלה כלפי הרקיע ודרך המים והארץ להיות מהלכם מתחת הרקיע למטה עד לאמצע שאמצע הרקיע הוא המטה שאין למטה ממנו ואין הילוכם לא בדעתם ולא בחפצם אלא מנהג שנקבע בהן וטבע שנטבע בהן:
טבע האש חם ויבש והוא קל מכולם והרוח חם ולח והמים קרים ולחים והארץ יבשה וקרה והיא כבידה מכולם והמים קלים ממנה לפיכך נמצאים למעלה על הארץ והרוח קל מן המים לפיכך הוא מרחף על פני המים והאש קל מן הרוח ומפני שהם יסודות לכל גופים שתחת הרקיע ימצא כל גוף וגוף מאדם ובהמה וחיה ועוף ודג וצמח ומתכת ואבן גולמו מחובר מאש ורוח ומים ועפר וארבעתן יתערבו ביחד וישתנו כל אחד מהם בעת העירוב עד שימצא המחובר מארבעתן אינו דומה לאחד מהן כשהוא לבדו ואין במעורב מהן אפילו חלק אחד שהוא אש בפני עצמו או מים בפני עצמן או ארץ בפני עצמה או רוח בפני עצמה אלא הכל נשתנו ונעשו גוף אחד וכל גוף וגוף המחובר מארבעתן ימצא בו קור וחום לח ויבש כאחד אבל יש מהם גופים שיהיה בהם חזקה מיסוד האש כמו בעלי נפש חיה לפיכך יראה בהם החום יתר ויש מהן גופין שיהיה בהן חזקה מיסוד הארץ כמו האבנים לפיכך יראה בהם היובש הרבה ויש מהן גופין שיהיה בהן חזקה מיסוד המים לפיכך יראה בהם הלח יתר ועל הדרך הזה ימצא גוף חם יתר מגוף אחר חם וגוף יבש יתר מגוף אחר יבש וכן ימצאו גופים שיראה בהן הקור בלבד וגופים יראה בהן הלח בלבד וגופים יראה בהן הקור והיובש כאחד בשוה או הקור והלח כאחד בשוה או החום והיובש כאחד בשוה או החום והלח כאחד בשוה לפי רוב היסוד שהיה בעיקר התערובת יראה מעשה אותו היסוד וטבעו בגוף המעורב:
3
Every entity which is a combination of these four fundamental [elements] will ultimately decompose into them.4 Some will decompose after a mere few days, and others will decompose after many years. [However,] it is impossible for everything which is a combination of them not to decompose into them. It is impossible even for gold and ruby not to decompose and return to their fundamental elements: a portion becoming fire, a portion water, a portion wind, and a portion earth.
ג
וכל המחובר מארבעה יסודות אלו הוא נפרד בסוף יש שהוא נפרד לאחר ימים אחדים ויש שהוא נפרד לאחר שנים רבות וכל שנתחבר מהם אי אפשר שלא יפרד להן אפילו הזהב והאודם אי אפשר שלא יפסד ויחזור ליסודותיו וישוב מקצתו לאש ומקצתו למים ומקצתו לרוח ומקצתו לארץ:
4
Since every [entity will] decompose and separate into these four fundamental [elements], why was Adam told: "You will return to dust," [implying that man will return to dust alone]? Because the major part of man's composition is from dust. 5 every [entity that] decomposes will not return to the four fundamental [elements] immediately. Rather, it will decompose and change into another entity. That entity will, in turn, change into another entity, until ultimately, it will return to the elements. Thus, all entities are constantly returning [to their elemental state] in a cycle.6
ד
הואיל וכל הנפסד יפרד ליסודות אלו למה נאמר לאדם ואל עפר תשוב לפי שרוב בנינו מן העפר ולא כל הנפסד כשיפסד מיד יחזור לארבעה היסודות אלא יפסד ויחזור לדבר אחר ודבר אחר לדבר אחר וסוף הדברים יחזור ליסודות ונמצאו כל הדברים חוזרין חלילה:
5
These four fundamental [elements] are in a constant [state of flux], with a certain portion - but never the entire matter - of one changing into another every day and every hour.
What is implied? A portion of the earth which is close to the water changes, dissolves, and becomes water. Similarly, a portion of the water which is close to the wind changes, evaporates, and becomes wind. A portion of the wind which is close to the fire changes, goes through a metamorphosis, and becomes fire.
Similarly, a portion of the fire close to the wind goes through a metamorphosis, changes, contracts and becomes wind. The wind which is close to the water changes, contracts, and becomes water; and the water which is close to the earth changes, contracts, and becomes earth.
This [cycle of] change [proceeds] little by little over the course of time. The entire fundamental [element] will never change – [for example], all the water will never become wind, nor all the wind fire – because it is impossible for [the existence of] one of the four fundamental [elements] to be nullified. Rather, a portion of the fire will change to wind, and a portion of the wind to fire. Similarly, between each pair of these four, change will go on in an unceasing recurrent cycle.
ה
ארבעה יסודות האלו משתנים זה לזה תמיד בכל יום ובכל שעה מקצתן לא כל גופן כיצד מקצת הארץ הקרובה מן המים משתנית ומתפוררת ונעשית מים וכן מקצת המים הסמוכים לרוח משתנין ומתמסמסין והווין רוח וכן הרוח מקצתו הסמוך לאש משתנה ומתחולל ונעשה אש וכן האש מקצתה הסמוך לרוח מתחולל משתנה ומתכנס ונעשה רוח וכן הרוח מקצתו הסמוך למים משתנה ומתכנס ונעשה מים וכן המים מקצתו הסמוך לארץ משתנה ומתכנס ונעשה ארץ ושינוי זה מעט מעט ולפי אורך הימים ואין כל היסוד משתנה עד שיעשה כל המים רוח או כל הרוח אש שאי אפשר שיבטל אחד מן היסודות הארבעה אלא מקצת ישתנה מאש לרוח ומקצת ישתנה מרוח לאש וכן בין כל אחד וחבירו ימצא השינוי בין ארבעתן וחוזרות חלילה לעולם:
6
This [cycle of] change is caused by the revolution of the sphere. Its revolution causes the four [fundamental elements] to combine, and thus forms the matter of men, living beasts, plants, stones, and metals.
God gives each body the form appropriate to it through the angels of the tenth [level], which are the form called ishim.7
ו
ושינוי זה יהיה בסביבת הגלגל ומסביבתו יתחברו ארבעתן ויהיה מהן שאר גולמי בני אדם ונפש חיה צמח ואבן ומתכת והאל נותן לכל גולם וגולם צורה ראויה לו על ידי מלאך העשירי שהיא הצורה הנקראת אישים:
7
You will never see matter without form, or form without matter.8 It is the heart of man which in its knowledge considers the bodies that are found and knows that they are a combination of matter and form.
It appreciates that there are bodies whose matter is a combination of the four fundamental [elements],9 bodies whose matter is simple and contains only one type of matter,10 and forms which have no matter and cannot be seen by the eye.11 [The latter] are discernible only to the eye of the heart. [We can appreciate their existence, just] as we know of [the existence of] the Master of everything, [though we do] not see [Him] with [our] eyes.
ז
לעולם אין אתה רואה גולם בלא צורה או צורה בלא גולם אלא לב האדם הוא שמחלק גוף הנמצא בדעתו ויודע שהוא מחובר מגולם וצורה ויודע שיש שם גופים שגולמם מחובר מארבעת היסודות וגופים שגולמם פשוט ואינו מחובר רק מגולם אחד והצורות שאין להם גולם אינן נראין לעין אלא בעין הלב הן ידועין כמו שידענו אדון הכל בלא ראיית עין:
8
The soul of all flesh is the form which it was given by God. The extra dimension which is found in the soul of man is the form of man who is perfect in his knowledge. Concerning this form, the Torah states [Genesis 1:26]: "Let us make man in our image and in our likeness" - i.e., granting man a form which knows and comprehends ideas that are not material, like the angels, who are form without body, until he can resemble them.[This statement] does not refer to the form of the body perceived by the eye - i.e., the mouth, the nose, the cheeks, and the remainder of the structure of the body. This is referred to as to'ar (appearance).
It is not the soul found in all living flesh which allows it to eat, drink, reproduce, feel, and think. Rather, knowledge is the form of this [dimension of] soul and it is concerning this form of the soul, that the verse states: "in our image and in our likeness." Frequently, this form is referred to as nefesh or ruach. Therefore, one must be careful regarding these names, lest another person err regarding them. Each name reveals its characteristics.
ח
נפש כל בשר היא צורתו שנתן לו האל והדעת היתרה המצויה בנפשו של אדם היא צורת האדם השלם בדעתו ועל צורה זו נאמר בתורה נעשה אדם בצלמנו כדמותנו כלומר שתהיה לו צורה היודעת ומשגת הדעות שאין להם גולם כמו המלאכים שהם צורה בלא גולם עד שידמה להן ואינו אומר על צורה זו הניכרת לעינים שהיא הפה והחוטם והלסתות ושאר רושם הגוף שזו תואר שמה ואינה הנפש המצויה לכל נפש חיה שבה אוכל ושותה ומוליד ומרגיש ומהרהר אלא הדעה שהיא צורת הנפש ובצורת הנפש הכתוב מדבר בצלמנו כדמותנו ופעמים רבות תקרא זאת הצורה נפש ורוח ולפיכך צריך להזהר בשמותן שלא יטעה אדם בהן וכל שם ושם ילמד מענינו:
9
The form of this soul is not a combination of the fundamental [elements] into which it will ultimately decompose, nor does it come from the neshamah so that it would require the neshamah, as the neshamah requires the body. Rather, it is from God, from heaven.
Therefore, when the matter [of the body], which is a combination of the fundamental [elements], decomposes, and the neshamah ceases to exist - for [the neshamah] exists only together with the body and requires the body for all its deeds - this form will not be cut off, for this form does not require the neshamah for its deeds. Rather, it knows and comprehends knowledge which is above matter, knows the Creator of all things, and exists forever. In his wisdom, Solomon [gave this description (Ecclesiastes 12:7)]: "The dust will return to the Earth as it [originally] was, and the ruach will return to God who granted it."
ט
אין צורת הנפש הזאת מחוברת מן היסודות כדי שתפרד להם ואינה מכח הנשמה עד שתהא צריכה לנשמה כמו שהנשמה צריכה לגוף אלא מאת ה' מן השמים היא לפיכך כשיפרד הגולם שהוא מחובר מן היסודות ותאבד הנשמה מפני שאינה מצויה אלא עם הגוף וצריכה לגוף בכל מעשיה לא תכרת הצורה הזאת לפי שאינה צריכה לנשמה במעשיה אלא יודעת ומשגת הדעות הפרודות מן הגולמים ויודעת בורא הכל ועומדת לעולם ולעולמי עולמים הוא שאמר שלמה בחכמתו וישוב העפר על הארץ כשהיה והרוח תשוב אל האלהים אשר נתנה:
10
All these concepts which we have explained in this context are like a drop in a bucket. They are deep matters. Nevertheless, their depth does not approach the depth of the subject matter of the first and second chapters.
The explanation of all the subject matter in the third and fourth chapters is referred to as Ma'aseh Bereshit (“the work of Creation”).The Sages of the early generations commanded that these matters should not be expounded upon in public. Rather, a single individual should be informed about them and taught them.
י
כל הדברים האלו שדברנו בענין זה כמר מדלי הם ודברים עמוקים הם אבל אינם כענין עומק פרק ראשון ושני וביאור כל אלו הדברים שבפרק שלישי ורביעי הוא הנקרא מעשה בראשית וכך צוו החכמים הראשונים שאין דורשין בדברים האלו ברבים אלא לאדם אחד מודיעין דברים אלו ומלמדין אותן:
11
What is the difference between the subject matter of Ma'aseh Merkavah and the subject matter of Ma'aseh Bereshit? The subject matter of Ma'aseh Merkavah should never be expounded upon - even to a single individual - unless he is wise and capable of understanding, [in which instance,] he is given fundamental points.
[In contrast,] the subject matter of Ma'aseh Bereshit may be taught to an individual even though he is incapable of comprehending it with his own powers of understanding [alone]. He may be informed about everything that he can possibly know about these matters. Why are they not taught publicly? Because not every person has the vast knowledge necessary to grasp the interpretation and the explanation of these matters in a complete manner.
יא
ומה בין ענין מעשה מרכבה לענין מעשה בראשית שענין מעשה מרכבה אפילו לאחד אין דורשים בו אא"כ היה חכם ומבין מדעתו מוסרין לו ראשי הפרקים וענין מעשה בראשית מלמדין אותו ליחיד אע"פ שאינו מבין אותו מדעתו ומודיעים אותו כל מה שיכול לידע מדברים אלו ולמה אין מלמדין אותו לרבים לפי שאין כל אדם יש לו דעת רחבה להשיג פירוש וביאור כל הדברים על בוריין:
12
When a person meditates on these matters and recognizes all the creations, the angels, the spheres, man, and the like, and appreciates the wisdom of the Holy One, blessed be He, in all these creations, he will add to his love for God. His soul will thirst and his flesh will long with love for God, blessed be He.
He will stand in awe and fear from his humble, lowly, and base [nature] when he compares himself to one of the great and holy bodies, how much more so when comparing himself to the pure forms which are separate from matter and do not share any connection with it. He will see himself as a vessel full of embarrassment and shame, empty and lacking.
יב
בזמן שאדם מתבונן בדברים האלו ומכיר כל הברואים ממלאך וגלגל ואדם כיוצא בו ויראה חכמתו של הקב"ה בכל היצורים וכל הברואים מוסיף אהבה למקום ותצמא נפשו ויכמה בשרו לאהוב המקום ברוך הוא ויירא ויפחד משפלותו ודלותו וקלותו כשיעריך עצמו לאחד מהגופות הקדושים הגדולים וכ"ש לאחת מהצורות הטהורות הנפרדות מן הגולמים שלא נתחברו בגולם כלל וימצא עצמו שהוא ככלי מלא בושה וכלימה ריק וחסר:
13
The matters discussed in these four chapters concerning these five mitzvot are what the Sages of the early generations termed the Pardes, as they related: "Four entered the Pardes...." Even though they were great men of Israel and great Sages, not all of them had the potential to know and comprehend all these matters in their totality.
I maintain that it is not proper for a person to stroll in the Pardes unless he has filled his belly with bread and meat. "Bread and meat" refer to the knowledge of what is permitted and what is forbidden, and similar matters concerning other mitzvot. Even though the Sages referred to these as "a small matter" - for our Sages said: "'A great matter,’ this refers to Ma'aseh Merkavah. `A small matter,’ this refers to the debates of Abbaye and Ravva" - nevertheless, it is fitting for them to be given precedence, because they settle a person's mind.
Also, they are the great good which the Holy One, blessed be He, has granted, [to allow for] stable [living] within this world and the acquisition of the life of the world to come. They can be known in their totality by the great and the small, man or woman, whether [granted] expansive knowledge or limited knowledge.
יג
ועניני ארבעה פרקים אלו שבחמש מצות האלו הם שחכמים הראשונים קוראין אותו פרדס כמו שאמרו ארבעה נכנסו לפרדס ואף על פי שגדולי ישראל היו וחכמים גדולים היו לא כולם היה בהן כח לידע ולהשיג כל הדברים על בוריין ואני אומר שאין ראוי לטייל בפרדס אלא מי שנתמלא כריסו לחם ובשר ולחם ובשר הוא לידע האסור והמותר וכיוצא בהם משאר המצות ואע"פ שדברים אלו דבר קטן קראו אותן חכמים שהרי אמרו חכמים דבר גדול מעשה מרכבה ודבר קטן הוויות דאביי ורבא אעפ"כ ראויין הן להקדימן שהן מיישבין דעתו של אדם תחלה ועוד שהם הטובה הגדולה שהשפיע הקדוש ברוך הוא ליישוב העולם הזה כדי לנחול חיי העולם הבא ואפשר שידעם הכל קטן וגדול איש ואשה בעל לב רחב ובעל לב קצר:
FOOTNOTES
1.Here and in the following halachot, the word "form" refers to the entity's spiritual qualities, and not its physical shape.
2.Since the heavens are spherical, anything past the midpoint of the Earth can be considered to be "higher" when approaching from the opposite side.
3.From the above statements, it appears that the "fundamental elements" of fire, wind, water, and earth are different from the entities to which we generally refer with these names.
4.Note the similarities to the concept of entropy.
5.This statement appears to contradict the statement in Halacha 2 that creatures with souls are predominantly from the element of fire. It is possible to explain that Halachah 2 refers even to animal life, while this halacha refers explicitly to man. Man's body – being predominantly from earth – is less refined than that of the animals. His soul, however, is on a much higher level that the animal's life-force.
6.The cycle of change is discussed in the following halachah.
7.Bereshit Rabbah 10:6 states: "There is no blade of grass that grows without having a spiritual force... telling it to grow."
8.Every entity in this world has physical matter and a spiritual life force. However, the two cannot be separated from each other. The matter cannot exist without the life force, nor can the life force be discerned by human eyes except through its expression in a body.
9.This refers to the creations of our physical world, as explained in Halachah 2.
10.This refers to the spheres and the stars. As explained in Chapter 3, Halachah 3, and Chapter 2, Halachah 3, they are composed of a different type of matter from the creations in our world.
11.This refers to the angels. As explained in Chapter 2, Halachah 4, they are spiritual beings without material bodies.
Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Five
1
The entire house of Israel are commanded regarding the sanctification of [God's] great name, as [Leviticus 22:32] states: "And I shall be sanctified amidst the children of Israel." Also, they are warned against desecrating [His holy name], as [the above verse] states: "And they shall not desecrate My holy name."
What is implied? Should a gentile arise and force a Jew to violate one of the Torah's commandments at the pain of death, he should violate the commandment rather than be killed, because [Leviticus 18:5] states concerning the mitzvot: "which a man will perform and live by them." [They were given so that] one may live by them and not die because of them. If a person dies rather than transgress, he is held accountable for his life.
א
כל בית ישראל מצווין על קדוש השם הגדול הזה שנאמר ונקדשתי בתוך בני ישראל ומוזהרין שלא לחללו שנאמר ולא תחללו את שם קדשי כיצד כשיעמוד עובד כוכבים ויאנוס את ישראל לעבור על אחת מכל מצות האמורות בתורה או יהרגנו יעבור ואל יהרג שנאמר במצות אשר יעשה אותם האדם וחי בהם וחי בהם ולא שימות בהם ואם מת ולא עבר הרי זה מתחייב בנפשו:
2
When does the above apply? With regard to other mitzvot, with the exception of the worship of other gods, forbidden sexual relations, and murder. However, with regard to these three sins, if one is ordered: "Transgress one of them or be killed," one should sacrifice his life rather than transgress.
When does the above apply? When the gentile desires his own personal benefit - for example, he forces a person to build a house or cook food for him on the Sabbath, he rapes a woman, or the like. However, if his intention is solely to have him violate the mitzvot, [the following rules apply:] If he is alone and there are not ten other Jews present, he should transgress and not sacrifice his life. However, if he forces him [to transgress] with the intention that he violate [a mitzvah] in the presence of ten Jews, he should sacrifice his life and not transgress. [This applies] even if [the gentile] intended merely that he violate only one of the [Torah's] mitzvot.
ב
במה דברים אמורים בשאר מצות חוץ מעבודת כוכבים וגלוי עריות ושפיכת דמים אבל שלש עבירות אלו אם יאמר לו עבור על אחת מהן או תהרג יהרג ואל יעבור בד"א בזמן שהעובד כוכבים מתכוין להנאת עצמו כגון שאנסו לבנות לו ביתו בשבת או לבשל לו תבשילו או אנס אשה לבועלה וכיוצא בזה אבל אם נתכוין להעבירו על המצות בלבד אם היה בינו לבין עצמו ואין שם עשרה מישראל יעבור ואל יהרג ואם אנסו להעבירו בעשרה מישראל יהרג ואל יעבור ואפילו לא נתכוין להעבירו אלא על מצוה משאר מצות בלבד:
3
All the above [distinctions] apply [only in times] other than times of a decree. However, in times of a decree - i.e., when a wicked king like Nebuchadnezzar or his like will arise and issue a decree against the Jews to nullify their faith or one of the mitzvot - one should sacrifice one's life rather than transgress any of the other mitzvot, whether one is compelled [to transgress] amidst ten [Jews] or one is compelled [to transgress merely] amidst gentiles.
ג
וכל הדברים האלו שלא בשעת הגזרה אבל בשעת הגזרה והוא שיעמוד מלך רשע כנבוכדנצר וחביריו ויגזור גזרה על ישראל לבטל דתם או מצוה מן המצות יהרג ואל יעבור אפילו על אחת משאר מצות בין נאנס בתוך עשרה בין נאנס בינו לבין עובדי כוכבים:
4
If anyone about whom it is said: "Transgress and do not sacrifice your life," sacrifices his life and does not transgress, he is held accountable for his life.
When anyone about whom it is said: "Sacrifice your life and do not transgress," sacrifices his life and does not transgress, he sanctifies [God's] name. If he does so in the presence of ten Jews, he sanctifies [God's] name in public, like Daniel, Chananiah, Mishael, Azariah, and Rabbi Akiva and his colleagues. These are those slain by [the wicked] kingdom, above whom there is no higher level. Concerning them, [Psalms 44:23] states: "For Your sake, we have been slain all day, we are viewed as sheep for the slaughter," and [Psalms 50:5] states: "Gather unto Me, My pious ones, those who have made a covenant with Me by slaughter."
When anyone about whom it is said: "Sacrifice your life and do not transgress," transgresses instead of sacrificing his life, he desecrates [God's] name. If he does so in the presence of ten Jews, he desecrates [God's] name in public, nullifies [the fulfillment of] the positive commandment of the sanctification of [God's] name, and violates the negative commandment against the desecration of God's name.
Nevertheless, since he was forced to transgress, he is not [punished by] lashing, and, needless to say, is not executed by the court even if he was forced to slay [a person]. The [punishments of] lashes and execution are administered only to one who transgresses voluntarily, [when the transgression is observed by] witnesses, and [when] a warning [was given], as [Leviticus 20:5] states concerning one who gives his children to [the worship of] Molech: "I will turn My face against that person."
The oral tradition teaches [that we can infer]: "that person" and not one who is forced [to transgress, who transgresses] inadvertently, or [who transgresses] because of an error. If, concerning the worship of false gods, which is the most serious [of sins], a person who is forced to worship is not liable for karet, nor, needless to say, execution by a court, how much more so [does this principle apply] regarding the other mitzvot of the Torah? [Similarly,] regarding forbidden sexual relations, [Deuteronomy 22:26] states: "Do not do anything to the maiden."
One who could, however, escape and flee from under the power of a wicked king and fails to do so is like a dog who returns [to lick] his vomit. He is considered as one who worships false gods willingly. He will be prevented from reaching the world to come and will descend to the lowest levels of Gehinnom.
ד
כל מי שנאמר בו יעבור ואל יהרג ונהרג ולא עבר הרי זה מתחייב בנפשו וכל מי שנאמר בו יהרג ואל יעבור ונהרג ולא עבר הרי זה קידש את השם ואם היה בעשרה מישראל הרי זה קידש את השם ברבים כדניאל חנניה מישאל ועזריה ורבי עקיבא וחביריו ואלו הן הרוגי מלכות שאין מעלה על מעלתן ועליהן נאמר כי עליך הורגנו כל היום נחשבנו כצאן טבחה ועליהם נאמר אספו לי חסידי כורתי בריתי עלי זבח וכל מי שנאמר בו יהרג ואל יעבור ועבר ולא נהרג הרי זה מחלל את השם ואם היה בעשרה מישראל הרי זה חילל את השם ברבים ובטל מצות עשה שהיא קידוש השם ועבר על מצות לא תעשה שהיא חלול השם ואעפ"כ מפני שעבר באונס אין מלקין אותו ואין צריך לומר שאין ממיתין אותו בית דין אפילו הרג באונס שאין מלקין וממיתין אלא לעובר ברצונו ובעדים והתראה שנאמר בנותן מזרעו למולך ונתתי אני את פני באיש ההוא מפי השמועה למדו ההוא לא אנוס ולא שוגג ולא מוטעה ומה אם עבודת כוכבים שהיא חמורה מן הכל העובד אותה באונס אינו חייב כרת ואין צריך לומר מיתת בית דין קל וחומר לשאר מצות האמורות בתורה ובעריות הוא אומר ולנערה לא תעשה דבר אבל אם יכול למלט נפשו ולברוח מתחת יד המלך הרשע ואינו עושה הנה הוא ככלב שב על קיאו והוא נקרא עובד עבודת כוכבים במזיד והוא נטרד מן העולם הבא ויורד למדרגה התחתונה של גיהנם:
5
If gentiles tell [a group of] women: "Give us one of you to defile. If not, we will defile all of you," they should allow themselves all to be defiled rather than give over a single Jewish soul to [the gentiles].
Similarly, if gentiles told [a group of Jews]: "Give us one of you to kill. If not, we will kill all of you," they should allow themselves all to be killed rather than give over a single soul to [the gentiles].
However, if [the gentiles] single out [a specific individual] and say: "Give us so and so or we will kill all of you," [different rules apply]: If the person is obligated to die like Sheva ben Bichri, they may give him over to them. Initially, however, this instruction is not conveyed to them. If he is not obligated to die, they should allow themselves all to be killed rather than give over a single soul to [the gentiles].
ה
נשים שאמרו להם עובדי כוכבים תנו לנו אחת מכן ונטמא אותה ואם לאו נטמא את כולכן יטמאו כולן ואל ימסרו להם נפש אחת מישראל וכן אם אמרו להם עובדי כוכבים תנו לנו אחד מכם ונהרגנו ואם לאו נהרוג כולכם יהרגו כולם ואל ימסרו להם נפש אחת מישראל ואם יחדוהו להם ואמרו תנו לנו פלוני או נהרוג את כולכם אם היה מחוייב מיתה כשבע בן בכרי יתנו אותו להם ואין מורין להם כן לכתחלה ואם אינו חייב מיתה יהרגו כולן ואל ימסרו להם נפש אחת מישראל:
6
Just as these principles apply regarding being forced [to transgress], they also apply regarding sicknesses. What is implied?
When a person becomes sick and is in danger of dying, if the physicians say that his cure involves transgressing a given Torah prohibition, [the physicians' advice] should be followed. When there is a danger [to life], one may use any of the Torah prohibitions as a remedy, with the exception of the worship of false gods, forbidden sexual relations, and murder. Even when there is a danger [to life], one may not use them as a remedy. If one transgresses and uses them as a remedy, the court may impose the appropriate punishment upon him.
ו
כענין שאמרו באונסין כך אמרו בחלאים כיצד מי שחלה ונטה למות ואמרו הרופאים שרפואתו בדבר פלוני מאיסורין שבתורה עושין ומתרפאין בכל איסורין שבתורה במקום סכנה חוץ מעבודת כוכבים וגילוי עריות ושפיכת דמים שאפילו במקום סכנה אין מתרפאין בהן ואם עבר ונתרפא עונשין אותו בית דין עונש הראוי לו:
7
What is the source [which teaches] that even when there is a danger to life, these three sins should not be violated? [Deuteronomy 6:5] states: "And you shall love God, your Lord, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." [The words "with all your soul" imply] even if one takes your soul.
With regard to the killing of a Jewish person to heal another person or to save a person from one who is compelling him, it is logical that one person's life should not be sacrificed for another. [The Torah has] established an equation between forbidden sexual relations and murder, as [Deuteronomy 22:26] states: "This matter is just like a case where a person rises up against his colleague and slays him."
ז
ומנין שאפילו במקום סכנת נפשות אין עוברין על אחת משלש עבירות אלו שנאמר ואהבת את ה' אלהיך בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך ובכל מאודך אפילו הוא נוטל את נפשך והריגת נפש מישראל לרפאות נפש אחרת או להציל אדם מיד אנס דבר שהדעת נוטה לו הוא שאין מאבדין נפש מפני נפש ועריות הוקשו לנפשות שנאמר כי כאשר יקום איש על רעהו ורצחו נפש כן הדבר הזה:
8
When does the above - that one may be healed using other prohibitions only when [one's life] is in danger - apply? When one uses them in a way which affords satisfaction - e.g., when one feeds a sick person insects or creeping animals, or chametz on Pesach, or when one is fed on Yom Kippur.
When, however, [the prohibited substances are used] in a way that does not grant satisfaction - e.g., one makes a bandage or compress of chametz on Pesach or from orlah, or when one is given bitter-tasting substances mixed with forbidden foods to drink - since one's palate derives no satisfaction, it is permitted even when no danger to life is involved.
Exceptions [to this leniency] are kilai hakerem and [mixtures of] milk and meat. [Deriving benefit] from them is forbidden even in a way that does not offer satisfaction. Therefore, they may not be used as a remedy even in a manner which does not grant satisfaction, except when there is danger [to life].
ח
במה דברים אמורים שאין מתרפאין בשאר איסורים אלא במקום סכנה בזמן שהן דרך הנאתן כגון שמאכילין את החולה שקצים ורמשים או חמץ בפסח או שמאכילין אותו ביוה"כ אבל שלא דרך הנאתן כגון שעושין לו רטיה או מלוגמא מחמץ או מערלה או שמשקין אותו דברים שיש בהן מר מעורב עם אסורי מאכל שהרי אין בהן הנאה לחיך הרי זה מותר ואפילו שלא במקום סכנה חוץ מכלאי הכרם ובשר בחלב שהן אסורים אפילו שלא דרך הנאתן לפיכך אין מתרפאין מהן אפילו שלא דרך הנאתן אלא במקום סכנה:
9
[When] someone becomes attracted to a woman and is [love-]sick [to the extent that] he is in danger of dying, [although] the physicians say he has no remedy except engaging in sexual relations with her, he should be allowed to die rather than engage in sexual relations with her. [This applies] even if she is unmarried.
He is even not to be given instructions to speak to her [in private] behind a fence. Rather, he should die rather than be given instructions to speak to her behind a fence. [These restrictions were instituted] so that Jewish women would not be regarded capriciously, and [to prevent] these matters from [ultimately] leading to promiscuity.
ט
מי שנתן עיניו באשה וחלה ונטה למות ואמרו הרופאים אין לו רפואה עד שתבעל לו ימות ואל תבעל לו אפילו היתה פנויה ואפילו לדבר עמה מאחורי הגדר אין מורין לו בכך וימות ולא יורו לדבר עמה מאחורי הגדר שלא יהו בנות ישראל הפקר ויבואו בדברים אלו לפרוץ בעריות:
10
Whoever consciously transgresses one of the mitzvot related in the Torah, without being forced to, in a spirit of derision, to arouse [Divine] anger, desecrates [God's] name. Therefore, [Leviticus 19:12] states, regarding [taking] an oath in vain: "[for] you are desecrating the name of your Lord; I am God." If he transgresses amidst ten Jews, he desecrates [God's] name in public.
Conversely, anyone who refrains from committing a sin or performs a mitzvah for no ulterior motive, neither out of fear or dread, nor to seek honor, but for the sake of the Creator, blessed be He - as Joseph held himself back from his master's wife - sanctifies God's name.
י
כל העובר מדעתו בלא אונס על אחת מכל מצות האמורות בתורה בשאט בנפש להכעיס הרי זה מחלל את השם ולפיכך נאמר בשבועת שקר וחללת את שם אלהיך אני ה' ואם עבר בעשרה מישראל הרי זה חילל את השם ברבים וכן כל הפורש מעבירה או עשה מצוה לא מפני דבר בעולם לא פחד ולא יראה ולא לבקש כבוד אלא מפני הבורא ברוך הוא כמניעת יוסף הצדיק עצמו מאשת רבו הרי זה מקדש את השם:
11
There are other deeds which are also included in [the category of] the desecration of [God's] name, if performed by a person of great Torah stature who is renowned for his piety - i.e., deeds which, although they are not transgressions, [will cause] people to speak disparagingly of him. This also constitutes the desecration of [God's] name.
For example, a person who purchases [merchandise] and does not pay for it immediately, although he possesses the money, and thus, the sellers demand payment and he pushes them off; a person who jests immoderately; or who eats and drinks near or among the common people; or whose conduct with other people is not gentle and he does not receive them with a favorable countenance, but rather contests with them and vents his anger; and the like. Everything depends on the stature of the sage. [The extent to which] he must be careful with himself and go beyond the measure of the law [depends on the level of his Torah stature.]
[The converse is] also [true]. When a sage is stringent with himself, speaks pleasantly with others, his social conduct is [attractive] to others, he receives them pleasantly, he is humbled by them and does not humble them in return, he honors them - even though they disrespect him - he does business faithfully, and does not frequently accept the hospitality of the common people or sit with them, and at all times is seen only studying Torah, wrapped in tzitzit, crowned with tefillin, and carrying out all his deeds beyond the measure of the law - provided he does not separate too far [from normal living] and thus become forlorn – to the extent that all praise him, love him, and find his deeds attractive - such a person sanctifies [God's] name. The verse [Isaiah 49:3]: "And He said to me: `Israel, you are My servant, in whom I will be glorified'" refers to him.
יא
ויש דברים אחרים שהן בכלל חילול השם והוא שיעשה אותם אדם גדול בתורה ומפורסם בחסידות דברים שהבריות מרננים אחריו בשבילם ואף על פי שאינן עבירות הרי זה חילל את השם כגון שלקח ואינו נותן דמי המקח לאלתר והוא שיש לו ונמצאו המוכרים תובעין והוא מקיפן או שירבה בשחוק או באכילה ושתיה אצל עמי הארץ וביניהן או שדבורו עם הבריות אינו בנחת ואינו מקבלן בסבר פנים יפות אלא בעל קטטה וכעס וכיוצא בדברים האלו הכל לפי גדלו של חכם צריך שידקדק על עצמו ויעשה לפנים משורת הדין וכן אם דקדק החכם על עצמו והיה דבורו בנחת עם הבריות ודעתו מעורבת עמהם ומקבלם בסבר פנים יפות ונעלב מהם ואינו עולבם מכבד להן ואפילו למקילין לו ונושא ונותן באמונה ולא ירבה באריחות עמי הארץ וישיבתן ולא יראה תמיד אלא עוסק בתורה עטוף בציצית מוכתר בתפילין ועושה בכל מעשיו לפנים משורת הדין והוא שלא יתרחק הרבה ולא ישתומם עד שימצאו הכל מקלסין אותו ואוהבים אותו ומתאוים למעשיו הרי זה קידש את ה' ועליו הכתוב אומר ויאמר לי עבדי אתה ישראל אשר בך אתפאר:
Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Six
1
Whoever destroys one of the holy and pure names with which the Holy One, blessed be He, is called is liable for lashes according to Scriptural [Law].
[This punishment is given because such an act violates one of the Torah's prohibitions. The prohibition is derived as follows:] With regard to the worship of false gods, [Deuteronomy 12:3-4] states: "And you shall destroy their names from this place. Do not do this to God, your Lord."
א
כל המאבד שם מן השמות הקדושים הטהורים שנקרא בהם הקב"ה לוקה מן התורה שהרי הוא אומר בעבודת כוכבים ואבדתם את שמם מן המקום ההוא לא תעשון כן לה' אלהיכם:
2
There are seven names [for God]:
a) The name which is written Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey. This is [referred to as God's] explicit name and is [also] written Alef-Daled-Nun-Yud.
b) [The name] El;
c) [The name] Elo'ah;
d) [The name] Elohim;
e) [The name] Elohai;
f) [The name] Shaddai;
g) [The name] Tz'vaot;
Whoever erases even one letter from [any of] these seven names is [liable for] lashes.
ב
ושבעה שמות הם השם הנכתב יו"ד ה"א וא"ו ה"א והוא השם המפורש או הנכתב אדני ואל אלוה ואלהים ואלהי ושדי וצבאות כל המוחק אפילו אות אחת משבעה אלו לוקה:
3
All [the letters] which are connected to [God's] name, [but are placed] before [the name itself] may be erased - e.g., the lamed of Lamed-Alef-Daled-Nun-Yud or the bet of B’Elohim and the like. They do not possess the same degree of holiness as [God's] name [itself].
All [the letters] which are connected to [God's] name, [but placed] after [the name itself] - e.g., the final chaf of Elohecha or the chaf and the final mem of Eloheichem, and the like may not be erased. They are considered like the other letters of [God's] name, because the name conveys holiness upon them.
Although holiness is conveyed upon them and it is forbidden to erase them, nevertheless, a person who erases these letters which are connected to [God's] name is not [liable for] lashes. However, he does receives "stripes for rebelliousness."
ג
כל הנטפל לשם מלפניו מותר למוחקו כגון למ"ד מליהוה ובי"ת מבאלהים וכיוצא בהן אינן כקדושת השם וכל הנטפל לשם מאחריו כגון ך' של אלהיך וכ"ם של אלהיכם וכיוצא בהן אינם נמחקים והרי הם כשאר אותיות של שם מפני שהשם מקדשם ואע"פ שנתקדשו ואסור למוחקם המוחק אלו האותיות הנטפלות אינו לוקה אבל מכין אותו מכת מרדות:
4
If one writes the alef and the lamed of the name Elohim or the yud and the hey of the name Yud-Hey–Vav–Hey, [these letters] may not be erased. Needless to say, the name Yud-Hey [may not be erased]. It is [considered as] a name in its own right because it is part of [God's] explicit name.
However, if one writes the shin and the dalet of the name Shaddai, or the tzadi and the bet of the name Tz'vaot, [these letters] may be erased.
ד
כתב אל"ף למ"ד מאלהים יו"ד ה"א מיהוה אינו נמחק ואצ"ל יה שהוא שם בפני עצמו מפני שזה השם מקצת שם המפורש הוא אבל הכותב שי"ן דל"ת משדי צד"י בי"ת מצבאות הרי זה נמחק:
5
Other descriptive terms which are used to praise the Holy One, blessed be He - e.g., the Gracious, the Merciful, the Great, the Mighty, the Awesome, the Faithful, the Jealous, the Powerful, and the like, are considered as other holy texts and may be erased.
ה
שאר הכינויין שמשבחין בהן את הקדוש ברוך הוא כגון חנון ורחום הגדול הגבור והנורא הנאמן קנא וחזק וכיוצא בהן הרי הן כשאר כתבי הקדש ומותר למוחקן:
6
[When God's] name is written on a utensil, one should cut off [God's] name and bury it. Even [when God's] name is engraved on a metal or glass utensil and one melts the utensil, one should be [punished by] lashing. Instead, one should cut off [God's] name and bury it.
Similarly, if [God's] name was written on one's flesh, one should not wash or anoint oneself. Nor may one stand in a place of filth. If it occurs that such a person must immerse because of a mitzvah, he should wind reeds around [the name] and immerse himself. If he cannot find reeds, he should wind his clothes around it, but should not [wind them] tightly so they will not intervene [between his flesh and the water]. [This is acceptable because] the reason he is required to wind reeds around it is only because it is forbidden to stand before [God's] name when he is naked.
ו
כלי שהיה שם כתוב עליו קוצץ את מקום השם וגונזו ואפילו היה השם חקוק בכלי מתכות או בכלי זכוכית והתיך הכלי הרי זה לוקה אלא חותך את מקומו וגונזו וכן אם היה שם כתוב על בשרו הרי זה לא ירחץ ולא יסוך ולא יעמוד במקום הטנופת נזדמנה לו טבילה של מצוה כורך עליו גמי וטובל ואם לא מצא גמי מסבב בבגדיו ולא יהדק כדי שלא יחוץ שלא אמרו לכרוך עליו אלא מפני שאסור לעמוד בפני השם כשהוא ערום:
7
A person who removes even one stone from the altar, the Temple building, or the Temple courtyard with a destructive intent is [liable for] lashes. [The prohibition is derived as follows:] with regard to the worship of false gods, [Deuteronomy 12:3] states: "And you shall tear down their altars," and [the following verse] continues: "Do not do this to God, your Lord."
Similarly, a person who, with a destructive intent, burns wood consecrated to the Temple is [liable for] lashes. [The prohibition is derived as follows:] with regard to the worship of false gods, [Deuteronomy 12:3] states: "And you shall burn their asherot with fire," and [the following verse] continues: "Do not do this to God, your Lord."
ז
הסותר אפילו אבן אחת דרך השחתה מן המזבח או מן ההיכל או משאר העזרה לוקה שנאמר בעבודת כוכבים כי את מזבחותם תתוצון וכתוב לא תעשון כן לה' אלהיכם וכן השורף עצי הקדש דרך השחתה לוקה שנאמר ואשריהם תשרפון באש וכתיב לא תעשון כן לה' אלהיכם:
8
It is forbidden to burn or to destroy by direct action any sacred texts, their commentaries, and their explanations. A person who destroys them by his direct action is given "stripes for rebelliousness."
To what does the above apply? To sacred texts written by a Jew with a sacred intent. However, should a Jewish heretic write a Torah scroll, it and the name of God it contains must be burnt, since he does not believe in the sanctity of [God's] name and did not compose it for this purpose. Rather, he considers this to be similar to any other text. Since this is his intent, the names [of God he writes] do not become holy.
It is a mitzvah to burn it so that no remembrance will be left of the heretics or their deeds. In contrast, if a gentile writes [God's] name, it should be buried. Similarly, sacred texts that have become worn out or which were written by gentiles should be buried.
ח
כתבי הקדש כולן ופירושיהן וביאוריהן אסור לשורפם או לאבדם ביד והמאבדן ביד מכין אותו מכת מרדות בד"א בכתבי הקדש שכתבם ישראל בקדושה אבל אפיקורוס ישראל שכתב ספר תורה שורפין אותו עם האזכרות שבו מפני שאינו מאמין בקדושת השם ולא כתבו לשמו אלא שהוא מעלה בדעתו שזה כשאר הדברים והואיל ודעתו כן לא נתקדש השם ומצוה לשורפו כדי שלא להניח שם לאפיקורוסים ולא למעשיהם אבל עובד כוכבים שכתב את השם גונזין אותו וכן כתבי הקדש שבלו או שכתבן עובד כוכבים יגנזו:
9
All the names [of God] written in [the passage concerning] Abraham [and the angels] are sacred. Even [the name of God in Genesis 18:3]: "My Lord, if I have found favor in Your eyes," is also sacred. All the names [of God] written in [the passage concerning] Lot are not sacred, except [Genesis 19:18-19]: "And Lot said to them: `0 God, no! I have found favor in Your eyes... and You have saved my life.'"
All the names [of God] written in [the passage concerning] the hill of Benjamin are sacred. All the names [of God] written in [the passage concerning] Michah are not sacred. All the names [of God] written in [the passage concerning] Navot are sacred.
Every mention of the name "Shelomoh" in the Song of Songs is sacred, except [8:12]: "You, Shelomoh, may have the thousand." Every mention of the word "king" in the Book of Daniel is not sacred, except [2:37]: "You are the King, the King of kings." Its status is like other descriptive terms [for God].
ט
כל השמות האמורים באברהם קדש אף זה שנאמר אדני אם נא מצאתי חן הרי הוא קדש כל השמות האמורים בלוט חול חוץ מזה אל נא אדני הנה נא מצא עבדך חן כל השמות האמורים בגבעת בנימין קדש כל השמות האמורים במיכה חול כל השמות האמורים בנבות קדש כל שלמה האמור בשיר השירים קדש והרי הוא כשאר הכנויין חוץ מזה האלף לך שלמה כל מלכיא האמור בדניאל חול חוץ מזה אנת מלכא מלך מלכיא והרי הוא כשאר הכנויין:
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class
Monday, Tishrei 12, 5778 · 02 October 2017
"Today's Day"
Monday, Tishrei 12, 5704
Torah lessons: Chumash: B'racha, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 66-68.
Tanya: Indeed, we also (p. 515) ...Shilo will come." (p. 517).
We are assured by covenant that any wide-ranging effort1 and labor pursued wisely and with friendship is never fruitless.
FOOTNOTES
1.In promulgating Jewish education, disseminating Torah, etc. (This seems to be the meaning.)
"Today's Day"
Monday, Tishrei 12, 5704
Torah lessons: Chumash: B'racha, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 66-68.
Tanya: Indeed, we also (p. 515) ...Shilo will come." (p. 517).
We are assured by covenant that any wide-ranging effort1 and labor pursued wisely and with friendship is never fruitless.
FOOTNOTES
1.In promulgating Jewish education, disseminating Torah, etc. (This seems to be the meaning.)
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