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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Tuesday, 27 Tishrei, 5778 · October 17, 2017Daily Quote: [Hillel] saw a skull floating upon the water. Said he to it: Because you drowned others, you were drowned; and those who drowned you, will themselves be drowned (Ethics of the Fathers 2:6)
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Noach, 3rd Portion Genesis 7:17-8:14 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
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• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Genesis Chapter 7
17Now the Flood was forty days upon the earth, and the waters increased, and they lifted the ark, and it rose off the earth. יזוַיְהִ֧י הַמַּבּ֛וּל אַרְבָּעִ֥ים י֖וֹם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּרְבּ֣וּ הַמַּ֗יִם וַיִּשְׂאוּ֙ אֶת־הַתֵּבָ֔ה וַתָּ֖רָם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָֽרֶץ:
and it rose off the earth: It was submerged in the water eleven cubits like a loaded ship, which is partially submerged in the water, and the following verses prove this. — [from Gen. Rabbah 32:9] See Rashi below 8:3f.
ותרם מעל הארץ: משוקעת היתה במים אחת עשרה אמה כספינה טעונה המשוקעת מקצתה במים ומקראות שלפנינו יוכיחו:
18And the waters became powerful, and they increased very much upon the earth, and the ark moved upon the waters. יחוַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ הַמַּ֛יִם וַיִּרְבּ֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ הַתֵּבָ֖ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם:
became powerful: By themselves.
ויגברו: מאליהן:
19And the waters became exceedingly powerful upon the earth, and all the lofty mountains that were under the heavens were covered up. יטוְהַמַּ֗יִם גָּֽבְר֛וּ מְאֹ֥ד מְאֹ֖ד עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיְכֻסּ֗וּ כָּל־הֶֽהָרִים֙ הַגְּבֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־תַּ֖חַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם:
20Fifteen cubits above did the waters prevail, and the mountains were covered up. כחֲמֵ֨שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה אַמָּה֙ מִלְמַ֔עְלָה גָּֽבְר֖וּ הַמָּ֑יִם וַיְכֻסּ֖וּ הֶֽהָרִֽים:
Fifteen cubits above: Above the peaks of all the mountains, after the waters were equal to [at the same level as] the mountain peaks. — [from Gen. Rabbah 32:11]
חמש עשרה אמה מלמעלה: למעלה של כל גובה כל ההרים לאחר שהושוו המים לראשי ההרים:
21And all flesh perished that moved upon the earth, among the fowl, and among the cattle, and among the beasts, and among all creeping creatures that creep upon the earth and all mankind. כאוַיִּגְוַ֞ע כָּל־בָּשָׂ֣ר | הָֽרֹמֵ֣שׂ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ בָּע֤וֹף וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּבַ֣חַיָּ֔ה וּבְכָל־הַשֶּׁ֖רֶץ הַשֹּׁרֵ֣ץ עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְכֹ֖ל הָֽאָדָֽם:
22Everything that had the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils, of all that were on the dry land, died. כבכֹּ֡ל אֲשֶׁר֩ נִשְׁמַת־ר֨וּחַ חַיִּ֜ים בְּאַפָּ֗יו מִכֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֶּחָֽרָבָ֖ה מֵֽתוּ:
the breath of the spirit of life: Heb. נִשְמַת, the breath (נְשָמָה) of the spirit of life [and not “soul”].
נשמת רוח חיים: נשימה של רוח חיים:
that were on the dry land: But not the fish, which were in the sea. — [Sanh. 108a]
אשר בחרבה: ולא דגים שבים:
23And it [the Flood] blotted out all beings that were upon the face of the earth, from man to animal to creeping thing and to the fowl of the heavens, and they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah and those with him in the ark survived. כגוַיִּ֜מַח אֶת־כָּל־הַיְק֣וּם | אֲשֶׁ֣ר | עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֗ה מֵֽאָדָ֤ם עַד־בְּהֵמָה֙ עַד־רֶ֨מֶשׂ֙ וְעַד־ע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיִּמָּח֖וּ מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּשָּׁ֧אֶר אַךְ־נֹ֛חַ וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בַּתֵּבָֽה:
And it blotted out: Heb. וַיִּמַח is in the וַיִּפְעַל form, the active voice, and not in the וַיִּפָּעֶל form, the passive voice. And this is of the form of וַיִּפֶן, he turned, וַיִּבֶן, he built. Every word [i.e., verb] whose root ends with a “hey,” e.g., בנה, to build, מחה, to erase, קנה, to acquire—when you prefix it with a “vav” and a “yud,” it is vowelized with a “chirik” under the “yud.” [Rashi teaches us that the meaning of the verse is not “and all beings were blotted out,” but “and it”—meaning the Flood—“blotted out all beings.”]
וימח: לשון ויפעל הוא ואינו לשון ויפעל והוא מגזרת ויפן ויבן. כל תיבה שסופה ה"א כגון בנה, מחה, קנה, כשהוא נותן וי"ו יו"ד בראשה נקוד בחירק תחת היו"ד:
and only Noah…survived: אַךְ means “only” Noah. This is its simple meaning, but the Midrash Aggadah (Tan. Noach 9) [states]: He was groaning and spitting blood because of the burden [of caring for] the cattle and the beasts, and some say that he delayed feeding the lion, and it struck him, and concerning him it is said (Prov. 11:31): “Behold a righteous man is requited [for his sins] in this world.” - [Tan. Noach 9]
אך נח: לבד נח, זהו פשוטו. ומדרש אגדה היה גונח וכוהה דם מטורח הבהמות והחיות. ויש אומרים שאיחר מזונות לארי והכישו, ועליו נאמר (משלי יא לא) הן צדיק בארץ ישולם:
24And the water prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days. כדוַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ הַמַּ֖יִם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּמְאַ֖ת יֽוֹם:
Genesis Chapter 8
1And God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark, and God caused a spirit to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided. אוַיִּזְכֹּ֤ר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־נֹ֔חַ וְאֵ֤ת כָּל־הַֽחַיָּה֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בַּתֵּבָ֑ה וַיַּֽעֲבֵ֨ר אֱלֹהִ֥ים ר֨וּחַ֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיָּשֹׁ֖כּוּ הַמָּֽיִם:
And God remembered: Heb. אֱלֹהִים. This name represents the Divine Standard of Justice, which was converted to the Divine Standard of Mercy through the prayer of the righteous. But the wickedness of the wicked converts the Divine Standard of Mercy to the Divine Standard of Justice, as it is said: (above 6:5ff.): “And the Lord (י-ה-ו-ה) saw that the evil of man was great, etc. And the Lord (י-ה-ו-ה) said, ‘I will blot out, etc.’” although that name is the name of the Divine Standard of Mercy. — [Gen. Rabbah 33:3, Succah 14a. That Noah prayed in the ark appears in Tan. Noach 11, Aggadath Bereishith 7:3, Sefer Hayashar].
ויזכור א-להים: זה השם מדת הדין הוא, ונהפכה למדת רחמים על ידי תפלת הצדיקים, ורשעתן של רשעים הופכת מדת רחמים למדת הדין, שנאמר (בראשית ו ה) וירא ה' כי רבה רעת האדם וגו' ויאמר ה' אמחה, והוא שם מדת רחמים:
And God remembered Noah, etc.: What did He remember regarding the animals? The merit that they did not corrupt their way before this [the Flood], and that they did not copulate in the ark. — [Tan. Buber Noach 11, Yer. Ta’an. 1:6]
ויזכור א-להים את נח וגו': מה זכר להם לבהמות, זכות שלא השחיתו דרכם קודם לכן ושלא שמשו בתיבה:
and God caused a spirit to pass: A spirit of consolation and calm passed before Him. — [Targum Jonathan and Yerushalmi]
ויעבר א-להים רוח: רוח תנחומין והנחה עברה לפניו:
over the earth: Concerning [events on] the earth.
על הארץ: על עסקי הארץ:
and the waters subsided: Heb. וַיָּשֹׁכּוּ, like (Esther 2:1): “when the king’s fury subsided (כְּשֹׁךְ),” an expression of the calming of anger. — [from Tan. Buber Noach 12]
וישכו: כמו (אסתר ב א) כשוך חמת המלך לשון הנחת חמה:
2And the springs of the deep were closed, and the windows of the heavens, and the rain from the heavens was withheld. בוַיִּסָּֽכְרוּ֙ מַעְיְנֹ֣ת תְּה֔וֹם וַֽאֲרֻבֹּ֖ת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיִּכָּלֵ֥א הַגֶּ֖שֶׁם מִן־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם:
And the springs…were closed: When they were opened, it was written (7: 11): “all the springs,” but here,“all” is not written, because some of them remained [open], those that were necessary for the world, such as the hot springs of Tiberias and the like. — [Gen. Rabbah 33:4]
ויסכרו מעינות: כשנפתחו כתיב (ז יא) כל מעינות, וכאן אין כתיב כל, לפי שנשתיירו מהם אותן שיש בהם צורך לעולם, כגון חמי טבריא וכיוצא בהם:
was withheld: Heb. וַיִכָּלֵא, and it was withheld, like (Ps. 40:12):“You will not withhold (תִכְלָא) Your mercies” ; (Gen. 23:6):“[None of us] will withhold (יִכְלֶה) from you.”
ויכלא: וימנע, כמו (תהלים מ יב) לא תכלא רחמיך, (בראשית כג ו) לא יכלה ממך:
3And the waters receded off the earth more and more, and the water diminished at the end of a hundred and fifty days. גוַיָּשֻׁ֧בוּ הַמַּ֛יִם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָ֖רֶץ הָל֣וֹךְ וָשׁ֑וֹב וַיַּחְסְר֣וּ הַמַּ֔יִם מִקְצֵ֕ה חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּמְאַ֖ת יֽוֹם:
at the end of a hundred and fifty days: they commenced to diminish, and that was on the first of Sivan. How so? On the twenty-seventh of Kislev, the rains stopped, leaving three days in Kislev and twenty-nine in Teveth, making a total of thirty-two days, and Shevat, Adar, Nissan, and Iyar total one hundred and eighteen [days], making a grand total of one hundred fifty [days]. — [Seder Olam ch. 4]
מקצה חמשים ומאת יום: התחילו לחסור, והוא אחד בסיון. כיצד בעשרים ושבעה בכסליו פסקו הגשמים הרי שלשה מכסליו ועשרים ותשעה מטבת הרי שלושים ושתים, ושבט ואדר וניסן ואייר מאה ושמונה עשר הרי מאה וחמשים:
4And the ark came to rest in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat. דוַתָּ֤נַח הַתֵּבָה֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י בְּשִׁבְעָֽה־עָשָׂ֥ר י֖וֹם לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ עַ֖ל הָרֵ֥י אֲרָרָֽט:
in the seventh month: Sivan, which is the seventh counting from Kislev, in which the rains stopped. — [from aforementioned source]
בחדש השביעי: סיון והוא שביעי לכסליו שבו פסקו הגשמים:
on the seventeenth day: From here you learn that the ark was submerged in the water eleven cubits, for it is written: (verse 5) “ In the tenth [month], on the first of the month, the mountain peaks appeared.” That is [the month of] Av, which is the tenth month counting from Marcheshvan, when the rains fell, and they were fifteen cubits higher than the mountains. They diminished from the first of Sivan until the first of Av fifteen cubits in sixty days, at the rate of a cubit in four days. The result is that on the sixteenth of Sivan they had diminished only four cubits, and the ark came to rest on the next day. You learn [from here] that it was submerged eleven cubits in the waters [which were] above the mountain peaks. — [from aforementioned source]
בשבעה עשר יום: מכאן אתה למד שהיתה התיבה משוקעת במים אחת עשרה אמה, שהרי כתיב (פסוק ה) בעשירי באחד לחדש נראו ראשי ההרים, זה אב שהוא עשירי (למרחשון) לירידת גשמים והם היו גבוהים על ההרים חמש עשרה אמה וחסרו מיום אחד בסיון עד אחד באב חמש עשרה אמה לששים יום, הרי אמה לארבעה ימים, נמצא שבששה עשר בסיון לא חסרו אלא ארבע אמות, ונחה התיבה ליום המחרת, למדת שהיתה משוקעת אחת עשרה אמה במים שעל ראשי ההרים:
5And the waters constantly diminished until the tenth month; in the tenth [month], on the first of the month, the mountain peaks appeared. הוְהַמַּ֗יִם הָיוּ֙ הָל֣וֹךְ וְחָס֔וֹר עַ֖ד הַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽעֲשִׂירִ֑י בָּֽעֲשִׂירִי֙ בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ נִרְא֖וּ רָאשֵׁ֥י הֶֽהָרִֽים:
in the tenth [month], etc., the mountain peaks appeared: This refers to Av, which is the tenth [month] from Marcheshvan, when the rain commenced. Now if you say that it refers to Elul, which is the tenth [month] from Kislev, when the rain stopped, just as you say: “in the seventh month,” refers to Sivan, which is the seventh [month] after the cessation [of the rain]; [I will tell you that] it is impossible to say this. You must admit [that] the seventh month can be counted only from the time that the rain stopped, because there did not end the forty days of the rains and the one hundred fifty days when the water gained strength, until the first of Sivan. And if you say that it refers to the seventh [month] from the [beginning of the] rain, it would not come out to be Sivan. The tenth [month] can be counted only from the time the rain commenced to fall, for if you say [that it is counted] from the time when the rain stopped, which is Elul, you would not understand (verse 13): “In the first [month], on the first [day] of the month, the waters dried up from upon the earth,” for at the end of the forty days, when the mountain peaks appeared, he sent forth the raven, and he waited twenty-one days with sending the dove, totalling sixty days from the time the mountain peaks appeared until the surface of the earth dried. and if you say that they appeared in Elul, it would mean that they dried up in Marcheshvan. Scripture, however, calls it the first [month] and that can refer only to Tishri, which is the first [month] from the creation of the world, and according to Rabbi Joshua, it is Nissan.
בעשירי נראו ראשי ההרים: זה אב, שהוא עשירי למרחשון שהתחיל הגשם. ואם תאמר הוא אלול ועשירי לכסליו שפסק הגשם, כשם שאתה אומר בחדש השביעי סיון והוא שביעי להפסקה. אי אפשר לומר כן, על כרחך שביעי אי אתה מונה אלא להפסקה, שהרי לא כלו ארבעים יום של ירידת גשמים ומאה וחמשים של תגבורת המים עד אחד בסיון, ואם אתה אומר שביעי לירידה אין זה סיון והעשירי אי אפשר למנות אלא לירידה, שאם אתה אומר להפסקה והוא אלול, אי אתה מוצא בראשון באחד לחדש חרבו המים מעל הארץ, שהרי מקץ ארבעים משנראו ראשי ההרים שלח את העורב, ועשרים ואחד יום הוחיל בשליחות היונה, הרי ששים יום משנראו ראשי ההרים עד שחרבו פני האדמה, ואם תאמר באלול נראו, נמצא שחרבו במרחשון, והוא קורא אותו ראשון ואין זה אלא תשרי, שהוא ראשון לבריאת עולם, ולרבי יהושע הוא ניסן:
6And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made. ווַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֑וֹם וַיִּפְתַּ֣ח נֹ֔חַ אֶת־חַלּ֥וֹן הַתֵּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה:
at the end of forty days: since the mountain peaks appeared.
מקץ ארבעים יום: משנראו ראשי ההרים:
the window of the ark that he had made: for light, and this is not the opening of the ark, which was made for going in and out.
את חלון התיבה אשר עשה: לצהר, ולא זה פתח התיבה העשוי לביאה ויציאה:
7And he sent forth the raven, and it went out, back and forth until the waters dried up off the earth. זוַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־הָֽעֹרֵ֑ב וַיֵּצֵ֤א יָצוֹא֙ וָשׁ֔וֹב עַד־יְב֥שֶׁת הַמַּ֖יִם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָֽרֶץ:
and it went out, back and forth: Going and encircling around the ark, but it did not go to fulfill its errand because it [the raven] suspected him [Noah] concerning its mate, as we find in the Aggadah of [chapter] “Chelek.” - [from Sanh. 108b]
יצוא ושוב: הולך ומקיף סביבות התיבה ולא הלך בשליחותו שהיה חושדו על בת זוגו, כמו ששנינו באגדת חלק (סנהדרין קח ב):
until the waters dried up: The simple explanation is its apparent meaning, but the Midrash Aggadah (Gen. Rabbah 33:5) [explains that] the raven was destined for another errand during the lack of rain in the time of Elijah, as it is said (I Kings 17:6): “and the ravens brought him bread and meat.”
עד יבשת המים: פשוטו כמשמעו. אבל מדרש אגדה מוכן היה העורב לשליחות אחרת בעצירת גשמים בימי אליהו, שנאמר (מלכים א' יז ו) והעורבים מביאים לו לחם ובשר:
8And he sent forth the dove from with him, to see whether the waters had abated from upon the surface of the earth. חוַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־הַיּוֹנָ֖ה מֵֽאִתּ֑וֹ לִרְאוֹת֙ הֲקַ֣לּוּ הַמַּ֔יִם מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֥י הָֽאֲדָמָֽה:
And he sent forth the dove: seven days later, for it is written: “And he waited again another seven days.” From this general statement you learn that the first time too he waited seven days. — [Gen. Rabbah 33:6]
וישלח את היונה: לסוף שבעה ימים שהרי כתיב ויחל עוד שבעה ימים אחרים, מכלל זה אתה למד שאף בראשונה הוחיל שבעה ימים:
And he sent forth: Heb. וַיְשַׁלַּח. This is not an expression of sending on a mission, but an expression of sending away. He sent it forth to go on its way, and thereby he would see whether the waters had abated, for if it would find a resting place, it would not return to him.
וישלח: אין זה לשון שליחות אלא לשון שלוח, שלחה ללכת לדרכה, ובזו יראה אם קלו המים שאם תמצא מנוח לא תשוב אליו:
9But the dove found no resting place for the sole of its foot; so it returned to him to the ark because there was water upon the entire surface of the earth; so he stretched forth his hand and took it, and he brought it to him to the ark. טוְלֹא־מָֽצְאָה֩ הַיּוֹנָ֨ה מָנ֜וֹחַ לְכַף־רַגְלָ֗הּ וַתָּ֤שָׁב אֵלָיו֙ אֶל־הַתֵּבָ֔ה כִּי־מַ֖יִם עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כָל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יָדוֹ֙ וַיִּקָּחֶ֔הָ וַיָּבֵ֥א אֹתָ֛הּ אֵלָ֖יו אֶל־הַתֵּבָֽה:
10And he waited again another seven days, and he again sent forth the dove from the ark. יוַיָּ֣חֶל ע֔וֹד שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וַיֹּ֛סֶף שַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־הַיּוֹנָ֖ה מִן־הַתֵּבָֽה:
And he waited: Heb. וַיָּחֶל, an expression of waiting, and so (Job 29:21): “They listened to me and waited (וְיִחֵלּוּ),” and there are many such instances in Scripture.
ויחל: לשון המתנה, וכן (איוב כט כא) לי שמעו ויחלו, והרבה יש במקרא:
11And the dove returned to him at eventide, and behold it had plucked an olive leaf in its mouth; so Noah knew that the water had abated from upon the earth. יאוַתָּבֹ֨א אֵלָ֤יו הַיּוֹנָה֙ לְעֵ֣ת עֶ֔רֶב וְהִנֵּ֥ה עֲלֵה־זַ֖יִת טָרָ֣ף בְּפִ֑יהָ וַיֵּ֣דַע נֹ֔חַ כִּי־קַ֥לּוּ הַמַּ֖יִם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָֽרֶץ:
it had plucked…in its mouth: Heb. טָרָף, lit. he had plucked. [Rashi interprets טָרָף as a verb in the masculine form. According to his reading, there would be an inconsistency in the verse: “He had plucked an olive leaf in her mouth,” because the subject (which is masculine) would not agree with the final prepositional phrase (which is feminine).] I say that it was a male. Therefore, Scripture sometimes refers to it in the masculine gender and sometimes in the feminine, because every יוֹנָה in Scripture is in the feminine gender, like (Song 5:12): “like doves beside rivulets of water, bathing (רֹחֲצוֹת)” ; (Ezek. 7:16): “like doves of the valleys, they all moan (הֹמוֹת)” ; and like (Hos. 7:11): “like a silly (פוֹתָה) dove.”
טרף בפיה: אומר אני שזכר היה לכן קוראו פעמים לשון זכר ופעמים לשון נקבה, לפי שכל יונה שבמקרא לשון נקבה, כמו (שה"ש ה יב) כיונים על אפיקי מים רוחצות, (יחזקאל ז טז) כיוני הגאיות כולם הומות, וכמו (הושע ז יא) כיונה פותה:
it had plucked: Heb. טָרָף,“he plucked.” The Midrash Aggadah explains it טָרָף as an expression of food, and interprets בְּפִיהָ as an expression of speech. It [the dove] said: Let my food be as bitter as an olive in the hands of the Holy One, blessed be He, and not as sweet as honey in the hands of flesh and blood. — [Sanh. 108b]
טרף: חטף, ומדרש אגדה לשון מזון, ודרשו בפיה, לשון מאמר, אמרה יהיו מזונותי מרורין כזית בידו של הקב"ה ולא מתוקין כדבש בידי בשר ודם:
12And he again waited another seven days, and he sent forth the dove, and it no longer continued to return to him. יבוַיִּיָּ֣חֶל ע֔וֹד שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וַיְשַׁלַּח֙ אֶת־הַיּוֹנָ֔ה וְלֹא־יָֽסְפָ֥ה שֽׁוּב־אֵלָ֖יו עֽוֹד:
And he…waited: Heb. וַיִּיָּחֶל. This has the same meaning as וַיָּחֶל, except that the latter is the וַיַּפְעֶל form (the קַל conjugation), and the former is in the וַיִּתְפָּעֵל form (the reflexive conjugation). וַיָּחֶל is equivalent to וַיַּמְתֵּן (and he waited); וַיִּיָּחֶל is equivalent to וַיִּתְמַתֵּן (and he was patient).
וייחל: הוא לשון ויחל, אלא שזה לשון ויפעל וזה לשון ויתפעל. ויחל וימתין, וייחל ויתמתן:
13And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first [month], on the first of the month, that the waters dried up from upon the earth, and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and he saw, and behold, the surface of the ground had dried up. יגוַיְהִ֠י בְּאַחַ֨ת וְשֵֽׁשׁ־מֵא֜וֹת שָׁנָ֗ה בָּֽרִאשׁוֹן֙ בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ חָֽרְב֥וּ הַמַּ֖יִם מֵעַ֣ל הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּ֤סַר נֹ֨חַ֙ אֶת־מִכְסֵ֣ה הַתֵּבָ֔ה וַיַּ֕רְא וְהִנֵּ֥ה חָֽרְב֖וּ פְּנֵ֥י הָֽאֲדָמָֽה:
in the first [month]: According to Rabbi Eliezer, it is Tishri, and according to Rabbi Joshua, it is Nissan. — [from Rashi R.H. 12b] See above 7:11, 8:5.
בראשון: לרבי אליעזר הוא תשרי, ולרבי יהושע הוא ניסן:
dried up: It [the earth] became a sort of clay, for its upper surface had formed a crust. — [Seder Olam ch. 4, Gen. Rabbah 33:7, according to Yalkut Shim’oni]
חרבו: נעשה כמין טיט, שקרמו פניה של מעלה:
14And in the second month, on the twenty seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. ידוּבַחֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י בְּשִׁבְעָ֧ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֛ים י֖וֹם לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ יָֽבְשָׁ֖ה הָאָֽרֶץ:
on the twenty-seventh: And they [the rains] started to fall in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month. These are the eleven days by which the solar year exceeds the lunar year, for the judgment of the Generation of the Flood was for a whole year. — [from Eduyoth 2:10]
בשבעה ועשרים: וירידתן בחדש השני בי"ז, אלו אחד עשר ימים שהחמה יתירה על הלבנה, שמשפט דור המבול שנה תמימה היה:
the earth was dry: It became dry earth, as it should be.
יבשה: נעשה גריד כהלכתה:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 120 - 134
• Hebrew text
• English text
Chapter 120
This psalm rebukes slanderers, describing how the deadly effect of slander reaches even further than weapons.
1. A song of ascents. I have called out to the Lord in my distress, and He answered me.
2. O Lord, rescue my soul from the lips of falsehood, from a deceitful tongue.
3. What can He give you, and what [further restraint] can He add to you, O deceitful tongue?
4. [You resemble] the sharp arrows of a mighty one, and the coals of broom-wood.1
5. Woe unto me that I sojourned among Meshech, that I dwelt beside the tents of Kedar.
6. Too long has my soul dwelt among those who hate peace.
7. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.
FOOTNOTES
1.Which remain hot on the inside while appearing cool to the touch (Rashi).
Chapter 121
This psalm alludes to the Lower Paradise, from which one ascends to the Higher Paradise. It also speaks of how God watches over us.
2. My help will come from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.
3. He will not let your foot falter; your guardian does not slumber.
4. Indeed, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.
5. The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your protective shade at your right hand.
6. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7. The Lord will guard you from all evil; He will guard your soul.
8. The Lord will guard your going and your coming from now and for all time.
Chapter 122
The psalmist sings the praises of Jerusalem and tells of the miracles that happened there.
1. A song of ascents by David. I rejoiced when they said to me, "Let us go to the House of the Lord.”
2. Our feet were standing within your gates, O Jerusalem;
3. Jerusalem that is built like a city in which [all Israel] is united together.
4. For there the tribes went up, the tribes of God-as enjoined upon Israel-to offer praise to the Name of the Lord.
5. For there stood the seats of justice, the thrones of the house of David.
6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may those who love you have peace.
7. May there be peace within your walls, serenity within your mansions.
8. For the sake of my brethren and friends, I ask that there be peace within you.
9. For the sake of the House of the Lord our God, I seek your well-being.
Chapter 123
The psalmist laments the length of time we have already suffered in exile.
1. A song of ascents. To You have I lifted my eyes, You Who are enthroned in heaven.
2. Indeed, as the eyes of servants are turned to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so are our eyes turned to the Lord our God, until He will be gracious to us.
3. Be gracious to us, Lord, be gracious to us, for we have been surfeited with humiliation.
4. Our soul has been overfilled with the derision of the complacent, with the scorn of the arrogant.
Chapter 124
1. A song of ascents by David. Were it not for the Lord Who was with us-let Israel declare-
2. were it not for the Lord Who was with us when men rose up against us,
3. then they would have swallowed us alive in their burning rage against us.
4. Then the waters would have inundated us, the torrent would have swept over our soul;
5. then the raging waters would have surged over our soul.
6. Blessed is the Lord, Who did not permit us to be prey for their teeth.
7. Our soul is like a bird which has escaped from the fowler's snare; the snare broke and we escaped.
8. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Chapter 125
1. A song of ascents. Those who trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion which never falters, but abides forever.
2. Mountains surround Jerusalem, and the Lord surrounds His people from this time and forever.
3. For the rod of wickedness will never come to rest upon the lot of the righteous; therefore the righteous need not stretch their hand to iniquity.
4. Be beneficent, O Lord, to the good and to those who are upright in their hearts.
5. But as for those that turn to their perverseness, may the Lord lead them with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.
Chapter 126
The psalmist speaks of the future, comparing our Divine service in exile to one who sows arid land, then cries and begs God to send rain upon it so that the seed not be wasted. When he merits to reap the crop, he offers thanks to God.
1. A song of ascents. When the Lord will return the exiles of Zion, we will have been like dreamers.
2. Then our mouth will be filled with laughter, and our tongue with songs of joy; then will they say among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for these.”
3. The Lord has done great things for us; we were joyful.
4. Lord, return our exiles as streams to arid soil.
5. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
6. He goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed; he will surely return with songs of joy, carrying his sheaves.
Chapter 127
King David instructs his generation, and especially his son Solomon, to be sure that all one's actions be for the sake of Heaven. He also criticizes those who toil day and night in pursuit of a livelihood.
1. A song of ascents for Solomon. If the Lord does not build a house, then its builders labor upon it in vain. If the Lord will not guard a city, the vigilance of its watchman is in vain.
2. It is in vain for you, you who rise early, who sit up late, and who eat the bread of tension, for in fact He gives His loved ones sleep.
3. Behold, the heritage of the Lord is children; the fruit of the womb is a reward.
4. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.
5. Fortunate is the man who has his quiver full of them; they will not find themselves shamed when they speak with enemies in public places.
Chapter 128
This psalm extols one who enjoys the fruits of his own labor, avoiding theft and deception, even refusing gifts. It also describes behavior appropriate to the God-fearing.
1. A song of ascents. Fortunate is every man who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.
2. When you eat of the labor of your hands, you will be happy, and you will have goodness.
3. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the inner chambers of your house; your children will be like olive saplings around your table.
4. Behold, so will be blessed the man who fears the Lord.
5. May the Lord bless you out of Zion, and may you see the goodness of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6. And may you see children [born] to your children; peace upon Israel.
Chapter 129
The psalmist laments the troubles of Israel.
1. A song of ascents. Much have they persecuted me from my youth on. Let Israel declare it now-
2. "Much have they persecuted me from my youth on, [but] they have not prevailed against me.”
3. The plowmen plowed upon my back; they wished to make their furrow long.
4. But the Lord is just; He cut the cords of the lawless.
5. They will be humiliated and will be turned back, all the haters of Zion.
6. They will be as grass upon the rooftops that withers before one plucks it,
7. wherewith the reaper has never filled his hand, nor the sheaf-binder his arm;
8. and of which the passers-by never have said: "The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord."
Chapter 130
The psalmist prays for an end to this long exile.
1. A song of ascents. Out of the depths I call to You, O Lord.
2. My Lord, hearken to my voice; let Your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleas.
3. God, if You were to preserve iniquities, my Lord, who could survive?
4. But forgiveness is with You, that You may be held in awe.
5. I hope in the Lord; my soul hopes, and I long for His word.
6. My soul yearns for the Lord more than those awaiting the morning wait for the morning.
7. Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is kindness; with Him there is abounding deliverance.
8. And He will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Chapter 131
In this prayer, David declares that never in the course of his life was he haughty, nor did he pursue greatness or worldly pleasures.
1. A song of ascents, by David. O Lord, my heart was not proud, nor were my eyes haughty; I did not seek matters that were too great and too wondrous for me.
2. Surely I put my soul at peace and soothed it like a weaned child with his mother; my soul was like a weaned child.
3. Let Israel hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever.
Chapter 132
David composed this psalm while he and the elders of Israel wore sackcloth, in mourning over the plague that had descended upon the land, and their being distant from the Holy Temple. David therefore offers intense prayers, entreating God to remember the hardship and sacrifice he endured for the sake of the Temple.
1. A song of ascents. O Lord, remember unto David all his suffering,
2. how he swore to the Lord, and vowed to the Mighty Power of Jacob:
3. "I will not enter into the tent of my house; I will not go up into the bed that is spread for me;
4. I will not give sleep to my eyes, nor slumber to my eyelids;
5. until I will have found a place for the Lord, a resting place for the Mighty Power of Jacob.”
6. Lo, we heard of it in Ephrath; we found it in the field of the forest.
7. We will come to His resting places; we will prostrate ourselves at His footstool.
8. Ascend, O Lord, to Your resting place, You and the Ark of Your might.
9. May Your priests clothe themselves in righteousness, and may Your pious ones sing joyous songs.
10. For the sake of David Your servant, turn not away the face of Your anointed.
11. For the Lord has sworn to David a truth from which He will never retreat: "From the fruit of your womb will I set for you upon the throne.
12. If your sons will keep My covenant and this testimony of mine which I will teach them, then their sons, too, will sit on the throne for you until the end of time.
13. For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation.
14. This is My resting place to the end of time. Here will I dwell, for I have desired it.
15. I will abundantly bless her sustenance; I will satisfy her needy with bread.
16. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her pious ones will sing joyous songs.
17. There I will cause David's power to flourish; there I have prepared a lamp for My anointed.
18. His enemies will I clothe with shame, but upon him, his crown will blossom."
Chapter 133
1. A song of ascents, by David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together.
2. Like the precious oil [placed] upon the head, flowing [in abundance] down the beard, the beard of Aaron which rests upon his garments.
3. Like the dew of Hermon which comes down upon the mountains of Zion, for there the Lord has commanded blessing, life unto eternity.
Chapter 134
The psalmist exhorts the scholarly and pious to rise from their beds at night, and go to the House of God.
1. A song of ascents. Behold: Bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who stand in the House of the Lord in the nights.
2. Lift up your hands in holiness and bless the Lord.
3. May the Lord, Who makes heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 25
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Tuesday, Tishrei 27, 5778 · October 17, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 25
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והנה נודע ליודעי חכמה נסתרה
Now it is known to those familiar with the “Hidden Wisdom”1 (i.e., the Kabbalah)
כי דבר ה׳ נקרא בשם שכינה בלשון חז״ל, ואימא תתאה ומטרוניתא בלשון הזהר
that the “word of G‑d” is referred to as the Shechinah, in the terminology of the [Talmudic and Midrashic] Sages, of blessed memory, and as Imma Tataah (the “nether mother”) and Matrunita (the “Queen”) in the terminology of the Zohar,
ובפרט בריש פרשת וארא
especially at the beginning of Parshat Va’eira, where an analogy is drawn to G‑d’s speech from a princess,
לפי ששוכן ומתלבש בנבראים, להחיותם
because [the “word of G‑d”] dwells and vests itself in created beings, to give them life.
The word Shechinah (שכינה) derives from the root שכן — “to dwell.” The titles of “mother” and “queen” relate to their functions of caring for the lives of their children and subjects, respectively.
ובלשון המקובלים, נקרא בשם מלכות, על שם: דבר מלך שלטון, כי המלך מנהיג מלכותו בדיבורו, ועוד טעמים אחרים ידועים ליודעי חכמה נסתרה
In the terminology of the Kabbalists, [the “word of G‑d”] is called Malchut, for2 “the word of a king rules” — a king rules his kingdom through his speech; and also for other reasons known to those those familiar with the “Hidden Wisdom” (i.e., the Kabbalah).
ומודעת זאת, כי יש בחינת ומדריגת מלכות דאצילות ובחינת מלכות דבריאה וכו׳
Now it is known that there is a rank and level of [the Sefirah of] Malchut of [the World of] Atzilut, and a rank of [the Sefirah of] Malchut of [the World of] Beriah, and so on. There are thus many degrees of “G‑d’s speech.”
ופירוש מלכות דאצילות, הוא דבר ה׳ המחיה ומהוה נשמות הגדולות, שהן מבחינת אצילות
Malchut of Atzilut means the “word of G‑d” which animates and brings into being the great souls that are of the rank of Atzilut,
כמו נשמת אדם הראשון, שנאמר בו: ויפח באפיו נשמת חיים כו׳, וכמו נשמות האבות והנביאים, וכיוצא בהן
such as the soul of Adam, of whom it is said,3 “And He blew into his nostrils the soul of life...” (i.e., a soul from the level of Atzilut); and such as the souls of the patriarchs and the prophets and the like
שהיו מרכבה לה׳ ממש, ובטלים ממש במציאות אליו
כמאמר רז״ל: שכינה מדברת מתוך גרונו של משה
as our Sages, of blessed memory, said,6 “The Shechinah speaks from the throat of Moses”;
Moses’ own personality was so translucent — he had so nullified himself to G‑d — that when he prophesied he did not relay what G‑d told him to say; rather, the Shechinah itself spoke directly through his mouth.
וכן כל הנביאים ובעלי רוח הקודש, היה קול ודבור העליון מתלבש בקולם ודבורם ממש, כמו שכתב האריז״ל
and likewise with all the prophets and those possessed of the Holy Spirit: the Supernal voice and speech vested itself in their actual voice and speech, as R. Isaac Luria, of blessed memory, wrote).
ומלכות דבריאה הוא דבר ה׳ המחיה ומהוה הנשמות והמלאכים שבעולם הבריאה
Malchut of Beriah is the “word of G‑d” which animates and brings into being the souls and angels in the World of Beriah,
שאין מעלתם כמעלת האצילות וכו׳
whose level is not like the level of Atzilut, and so on; i.e., Malchut of Yetzirah is the level of Divine speech that brings into being and animates the souls and angels in the World of Yetzirah.
ומלכות דעשיה הוא דבר ה׳ המחיה ומהוה את עולם הזה בכללו
And Malchut of Asiyah is the “word of G‑d” which animates and creates this world in its entirety,
עד יסוד העפר והמים אשר מתחת לארץ
up to and including the Element of Earth, and7 “the water that is below the earth.”
Now if the creation of all things derives from the Shechinah, from the revelation of Divine power, how do we account for those things that derive from kelipot, entities that “oppose” G‑dliness and holiness?
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | The two Heb. words for “Hidden Wisdom” (חכמה נסתרה) are commonly abbreviated to their initials, and pronounced as chen. |
| 2. | Kohelet 8:4. |
| 3. | Bereishit 2:7. |
| 4. | Parentheses are in the original text. |
| 5. | Bereishit Rabbah, beginning of sec. 46; et al. |
| 6. | Cf. Zohar III, 234a; et al. |
| 7. | Cf. Shmot 20:4. |
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
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Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassTuesday, Tishrei 27, 5778 · October 17, 2017
Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
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Important Message Regarding This Lesson
The Daily Mitzvah schedule runs parallel to the daily study of 3 chapters of Maimonides' 14-volume code. There are instances when the Mitzvah is repeated a few days consecutively while the exploration of the same Mitzvah continues in the in-depth track.
Positive Commandment 10
The Shema
"And you shall talk of them ... when you lie down and when you rise up"—Deuteronomy 6:7.
We are commanded to recite the Shema twice daily: morning and night. Women are not obligated in this time-bound mitzvah.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
The Shema
Positive Commandment 10
Translated by Berel Bell
The 10th mitzvah is that we are commanded to recite the Shema1 daily, both in the evening and in the morning.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He),2 "And you shall speak of them when you sit in your house [and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise.]"
The details of this mitzvah have been explained in the tractate Berachos. There3 it is explained that reciting Shema is a Biblical requirement.4
The Tosefta5 explains [regarding the mitzvah of prayer]: "Just as the Torah established the time for reciting Shema, so our Sages established a time for prayer." The meaning of this statement is as follows: Although prayer itself is ordained by the Torah, as explained above,6 the set times for prayer are not. The Sages established the times for prayer. This is also the meaning of the statement,7 "The prayers were established to correspond to the tamid sacrifices."8 This means that the Sages established the times of prayer to correspond to the times of the sacrifices.9
Women are not obligated in this mitzvah.
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 6:4.
2.Deut. 6:7.
3.Berachos 21a.
4.The Rambam brings this to prove that this mitzvah, since it is Biblical in origin, counts among the 613.
5.Berachos, beginning of Ch. 3.
6.P5.
7.Berachos 26a.
8.See P39.
9.These passages prove that not only is the recital of Shema itself ordained by the Torah, but that the times are also ordained by the Torah. This makes reciting Shema a mitzvah she'ha'zman groma — a mitzvah connected with a set time — from which women are exempt. See Yad HaLevi on Sefer Hamitzvos, P10, note 1.
Positive Commandment 5
Prayer
"And you shall serve the L-rd, your G-d"—Exodus 23:25.
We are commanded countless times throughout the Torah to serve G-d. Although this is a general commandment, it does contain a very specific application: prayer, service of the heart as expressed through the mouth.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Prayer
Positive Commandment 5
Translated by Berel Bell
The 5th mitzvah is that we are commanded to serve G‑d (blessed be He). This commandment is repeated many times: And you shall serve G‑d, your L‑rd";1 "And you shall serve Him";2 "And to serve Him."3
Although this commandment is of a general nature,4 as explained in the Fourth Principle,5 [and apparently should not be included in the count of the 613 mitzvos,] nevertheless it has a specific quality, since it is the commandment to pray.
[We see that "service" is not just a general command from the following statements:] The Sifri6 says, "The verse, 'And to serve Him' means prayer." The Sages also said, "The verse, 'And to serve Him' means Torah study.
In the Mishnah of Rabbi Eliezer, the son of Rabbi Yosi HaG'lili,7 the Sages said, "What is the biblical source to include prayer among the mitzvos? From the verse, 'You shall fear G‑d, your L‑rd, and you shall serve Him.' "8
They also said,9 "Serve Him through His Torah; serve Him in His Temple." This [statement, 'serve Him in His Temple,'] means that one's goal should be to pray in the Temple or in the direction of the Temple, as King Solomon explained.10
FOOTNOTES
1.Ex. 23:25.
2.Deut. 13:5. Some versions of Sefer Hamitzvos include here Deut. 6:13, "And you shall serve Him."
3.Deut. 11:13.
4.I.e. "serving" G‑d includes performance of all the mitzvos, rather than a specific act.
5.In the Introductory section of Sefer Hamitzvos. This Principle states that a mitzvah must be of a specific nature in order to be counted among the 613 mitzvos.
6.Deut 11:13.
7.Also quoted in Migdal Oz, beginning of Hilchos Tefilah.
8.Deut. 10:20.
9.Sifri Medrash Tenaim.
10.Kings I, 8:23,35. Chronicles II, 6:32.
Rambam:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Yesodei haTorah Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Nine
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1
It is clear and explicit in the Torah that it is [God's] commandment, remaining forever without change, addition, or diminishment, as [Deuteronomy 13:1] states: "All these matters which I command to you, you shall be careful to perform. You may not add to it or diminish from it," and [Deuteronomy 29:28] states: "What is revealed is for us and our children forever, to carry out all the words of this Torah." This teaches that we are commanded to fulfill all the Torah's directives forever.
It is also said: "It is an everlasting statute for all your generations," and [Deuteronomy 30:12] states: "It is not in the heavens." This teaches that a prophet can no longer add a new precept [to the Torah].
Therefore, if a person will arise, whether Jew or gentile, and perform a sign or wonder and say that God sent him to:
a) add a mitzvah,
b) withdraw a mitzvah
c) explain a mitzvah in a manner which differs from the tradition received from Moses, or
d) if he says that the mitzvot commanded to the Jews are not forever, but rather were given for a limited time,
he is a false prophet. He comes to deny the prophecy of Moses and should be executed by strangulation, because he dared to make statements in God's name which God never made.
God, blessed be His name, commanded Moses that this commandment is for us and our children forever, and, God is not man that He speak falsely.
א
דבר ברור ומפורש בתורה שהיא מצוה עומדת לעולם ולעולמי עולמים אין לה לא שינוי ולא גרעון ולא תוספת שנאמר את כל הדבר אשר אנכי מצוה אתכם אותו תשמרון לעשות לא תוסף עליו ולא תגרע ממנו ונאמר והנגלות לנו ולבנינו עד עולם לעשות את כל דברי התורה הזאת הא למדת שכל דברי תורה מצווין אנו לעשותן עד עולם וכן הוא אומר חוקת עולם לדורותיכם ונאמר לא בשמים היא הא למדת שאין נביא רשאי לחדש דבר מעתה לפיכך אם יעמוד איש בין מן האומות בין מישראל ויעשה אות ומופת ויאמר שה' שלחו להוסיף מצוה או לגרוע מצוה או לפרש במצוה מן המצות פירוש שלא שמענו ממשה או שאמר שאותן המצות שנצטוו בהן ישראל אינן לעולם ולדורי דורות אלא מצות לפי זמן היו הרי זה נביא שקר שהרי בא להכחיש נבואתו של משה ומיתתו בחנק על שהזיד לדבר בשם ה' אשר לא צוהו שהוא ברוך שמו צוה למשה שהמצוה הזאת לנו ולבנינו עד עולם ולא איש אל ויכזב:
2
If so, what is meant by the Torah's statement [Deuteronomy 18:18]: "I will appoint a prophet from among their brethren like you, and I
will place My words in his mouth and he will speak..."? He is not coming to establish a [new] faith, but rather to command the people [to fulfill] the precepts of the Torah and to warn against its transgression, as evidenced by the final prophet [Malachi], who proclaimed [3:22], "Remember the Torah of Moses, My servant."
Also, a prophet may command us to do something which [is neither permitted nor forbidden by Torah law] - for example, "Go to such and such a place," "Do not go there," "Wage war today," or "Do not do so," "Build a wall," or "Do not build it."
[In these instances,] it is a mitzvah to listen to him. Anyone who violates his directives is liable for death at the hand of God, as [Deuteronomy 18:19] states: "And a person who will not heed My words which he speaks in My name, I will seek [retribution] from him."
ב
א"כ למה נאמר בתורה נביא אקים להם מקרב אחיהם כמוך לא לעשות דת הוא בא אלא לצוות על דברי התורה ולהזהיר העם שלא יעברו עליה כמו שאמר האחרון שבהן זכרו תורת משה עבדי וכן אם צונו בדברי הרשות כגון לכו למקום פלוני או אל תלכו עשו מלחמה היום או אל תעשו בנו חומה זו או אל תבנוה מצוה לשמוע לו והעובר על דבריו חייב מיתה בידי שמים שנאמר והיה האיש אשר לא ישמע אל דברי הנביא אשר ידבר בשמי אנכי אדרוש מעמו:
3
Similarly, a prophet who violated his own prophetic instructions, and one who refrains from prophesying, are liable for death at the hand of God, since concerning the three of them, it is said, "I will seek [retribution] from him."
When a prophet - who has already proven himself to be a prophet - instructs us to violate one of the mitzvot of the Torah or many mitzvot, whether they be of a severe or light nature, for a limited amount of time, it is a mitzvah to listen to him.
The Sages of the early generation taught as part of the oral tradition: If a prophet tells you to violate the precepts of the Torah as Elijah did on Mount Carmel, listen to him with regard to all things except the worship of false gods. This applies when his command is temporary in nature.
For example, on Mount Carmel, Elijah offered a sacrifice outside [the Temple's premises], even though Jerusalem was chosen for such [service], and one who offers a sacrifice outside [the Temple's premises] is liable for karet. Since he was [already established as] a prophet, it was a mitzvah to listen to him. The commandment, "Listen to him," applies in these circumstances as well.
If they would have asked Elijah: How can we violate the Torah's command [Deuteronomy 12:13]: "[Be careful...] lest you offer your burnt offerings everywhere"?, he would have told them: We should not say anything, but anyone who offers a sacrifice outside [the Temple premises] is liable for karet, as Moses said. [The present instance,] however, [is an exception]. I am offering a sacrifice today outside [the Temple] at God's command in order to disprove the prophets of Ba'al.
Similarly, if any [other] prophet commands us to transgress for a limited time, it is a mitzvah to listen to him. If, however, he says that the mitzvah has been nullified forever, he is liable for execution by strangulation, for the Torah has told us: "[It is] for us and our children forever."
ג
וכן נביא שעבר על דברי עצמו והכובש נבואתו חייב מיתה בידי שמים ובשלשתן נאמר אנכי אדרוש מעמו וכן אם יאמר לנו הנביא שנודע לנו שהוא נביא לעבור על אחת מכל מצות האמורות בתורה או על מצות הרבה בין קלות בין חמורות לפי שעה מצוה לשמוע לו וכן למדנו מחכמים ראשונים מפי השמועה בכל אם יאמר לך הנביא עבור על דברי תורה כאליהו בהר הכרמל שמע לו חוץ מעבודת כוכבים והוא שיהיה הדבר לפי שעה כגון אליהו בהר הכרמל שהקריב עולה בחוץ וירושלים נבחרת לכך והמקריב בחוץ חייב כרת ומפני שהוא נביא מצוה לשמוע לו וגם בזה נאמר אליו תשמעון ואילו שאלו את אליהו ואמרו לו היאך נעקור מ"ש בתורה פן תעלה עולותיך בכל מקום היה אומר לא נאמר אלא המקריב בחוץ לעולם חייב כרת כמו שצוה משה אבל אני אקריב היום בחוץ בדבר ה' כדי להכחיש נביאי הבעל ועל הדרך הזאת אם צוו כל הנביאים לעבור לפי שעה מצוה לשמוע להם ואם אמרו שהדבר נעקר לעולם מיתתו בחנק שהתורה אמרה לנו ולבנינו עד עולם:
4
Similarly, if [a "prophet"] nullifies a concept which was transmitted by the oral tradition, or states with regard to one of the Torah's laws that God commanded him to render such and such a judgment, or that such and such is the law regarding a particular instance and the decision follows a certain opinion, he is a false prophet and should be [executed by] strangulation. [This applies] even if he performs a wonder, for he is coming to deny the Torah, which states: "It is not in the heavens."
If, however, [he states that] for a limited time [we should follow a particular course of behavior], he should be listened to with regard to all things.
ד
וכן אם עקר דבר מדברים שלמדנו מפי השמועה או שאמר בדין מדיני תורה שה' צוה לו שהדין כך הוא והלכה כדברי פלוני הרי זה נביא השקר ויחנק אף על פי שעשה אות שהרי בא להכחיש התורה שאמרה לא בשמים היא אבל לפי שעה שומעין לו בכל:
5
When does the above apply? With regard to all other mitzvot. Regarding the worship of false gods, however, he should not be heeded, even for a limited time. Even if he performs great wonders and miracles and says that God commanded him to worship false gods only on this day or only during this hour, he is considered to have "spoken perversely against God."
Concerning this, the Torah has commanded [us, Deuteronomy 13:3-6]: "If a sign or miracle is performed... [and he tells you, `Let us serve other gods...'] Do not listen to the words of this prophet... for he has spoken perversely against God, your Lord." He is coming to deny the prophecy of Moses. Therefore, we may definitely conclude that he is a false prophet, and everything that he did was performed through sorcery and magic. [Hence,] he should be [executed by] strangulation.
ה
בד"א בשאר מצות אבל בעבודת כוכבים אין שומעין לו ואפילו לפי שעה ואפילו עשה אותות ומופתים גדולים ואמר שה' צוהו שתעבד עבודת כוכבים היום בלבד או בשעה זו בלבד הרי זה דבר סרה על ה' ועל זה צוה הכתוב ואמר ובא האות והמופת לא תשמע אל דברי הנביא ההוא כי דבר סרה על ה' אלהיכם שהרי בא להכחיש נבואתו של משה ולפיכך נדע בודאי שהוא נביא שקר וכל מה שעשה בלט וכשוף עשה ויחנק:
Rambam:
• 3 Chapters A Day: Kri'at Shema Kri'at Shema - Chapter Three, Kri'at Shema Kri'at Shema - Chapter Four, Tefilah and Birkat Kohanim Tefilah and Birkat Kohanim - Chapter One
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassKri'at Shema - Chapter Three
In the second chapter, the Rambam discussed various halachot regarding the proper state of mind necessary for the reciting of the Shema. In Chapter 3, the discussion centers on the proper physical surroundings required for the performance of the mitzvah and those situations that preclude its fulfillment.
Deuteronomy 23:10-15 discusses the laws regarding army camps, giving as a fundamental guiding principle: "God walks among your camp, therefore,... your camp must be holy" (ibid.., 15). Included in that guideline is the obligation for every soldier to carry a spade in order to cover his excrement (ibid.. 23:14). (See Positive Commandments 192 and 193 in Sefer HaMitzvot of the Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 6:14-15.)
Since these laws were instituted because "God walks among your camp," it follows that they are also relevant when the Jews attempt to relate to God through prayer. Thus, these verses also serve as the source for the laws regarding the prohibition of reciting the Shema in the presence of feces as discussed in this chapter.
Commenting on the above verses, the Sifri states: "From here, we are taught that one should not recite the Shema next to the soakings of the clothes washers" - i.e., that one should not recite the Shema in a place where there is a foul odor or an unclean substance.
1
One who recites the Shema should wash his hands with water before reciting it.
If the time for reciting the Shema arrives and he cannot find water, he should not delay his recitation in order to search for water. Rather, he should clean his hands with earth, a stone, or a beam [of wood] or a similar object, and then recite.
א
הקורא את שמע רוחץ ידיו במים קודם שיקרא הגיע זמן קריאתה ולא מצא מים קודם שיקרא לא יאחר קריאתה וילך לבקש מים אלא מקנח ידיו בעפר או בצרור או בקורה וכיוצא בהן וקורא:
Commentary on Halachah 1
2
One should not recite the Shema in a bathhouse or latrine - even if there is no fecal material in it - nor in a graveyard or next to a corpse. If he distances himself four cubits from the grave or the corpse, he is permitted to recite it. Anyone who recites in an improper place must recite the Shema again.
ב
אין קורין לא בבית המרחץ ולא בבית הכסא אע"פ שאין בו צואה ולא בבית הקברות ולא בצד המת עצמו ואם הרחיק ארבע אמות מן הקבר או מן המת מותר לקרות וכל מי שקרא במקום שאין קורין בו חוזר וקורא:
Commentary on Halachah 2
3
The Shema may be recited facing, but not inside, a latrine that has been newly built, but not used as of yet. [In contrast,] the Shema may be recited in a new bathhouse.
In the case of two buildings, one of which was designated for use as a latrine and, concerning the other, the owner said: "And this..." - a doubt remains regarding the latter: whether it also was appropriated for a similar use or not.
Therefore, one should not deliberately recite the Shema there. However, after the fact, if he recited it there, he has fulfilled his obligation.
If the owner said: "Also this," both have been designated for this use, and the Shema may not be recited in them.
It is permissible to recite the Shema in the courtyard of the bathhouse, i.e., the place where people stand clothed.
ג
בית הכסא החדש שהוכן ועדיין לא נשתמש בו מותר לקרות קריאת שמע לנגדו אבל לא בתוכו מרחץ החדש מותר לקרות בתוכו היו שני בתים זימן אחד מהם לבית הכסא ואמר על השני וזה הרי השני ספק אם הזמינו לכך אם לא לפיכך אין קורין בו לכתחלה ואם קרא יצא אמר גם זה הרי שניהם מזומנין ואין קוראין בהן חצר המרחץ והוא המקום שבני אדם עומדין בו לבושין מותר לקרות בו קריאת שמע:
Commentary on Halachah 3
4
Not only Kri'at Shema, but nothing pertaining to matters of sanctity may be uttered in a bathhouse or latrine, even in a language other than Hebrew.
Not only speech, but even thoughts pertaining to the words of Torah are forbidden in a bathhouse, latrine or other unclean places - i.e., a place where feces or urine is found.
ד
ולא קריאת שמע בלבד אלא כל ענין שהוא מדברי הקדש אסור לאומרו בבית המרחץ ובבית הכסא ואפילו אמרו בלשון חול ולא לאמרו בלבד אלא אפילו להרהר בלבו בדברי תורה בבית הכסא ובבית המרחץ ובמקום הטנופת והוא המקום שיש בו צואה ומי רגלים אסור:
Commentary on Halachah 4
5
Secular matters may be discussed in a latrine, even in Hebrew. Similarly, the terms used to express Divine attributes, such as merciful, gracious, faithful and the like, may be uttered in a latrine.
However, the specific names of the Almighty - i.e., those which may not be erased - may not be mentioned in a latrine or bathhouse that has been used. If a situation arises where it is necessary to restrain someone from wrongdoing, this should be done, even in Hebrew and even concerning matters of sanctity.
ה
דברים של חול מותר לאמרן בלשון קדש בבית הכסא וכן הכנויים כגון רחום וחנון ונאמן וכיוצא בהן מותר לאמרן בבית הכסא אבל השמות המיוחדים והן השמות שאינן נמחקין אסור להזכירן בבית הכסא ובבית המרחץ ישן ואם נזדמן לו להפריש מן דבר האסור בבית המרחץ או בבית הכסא מפריש ואפילו בלשון קודש ובעניני קודש:
Commentary on Halachah 5
6
The Shema may not be recited in the presence of human feces, or in the presence of dog or pig excrement while skins are soaking in it, or in the presence of any other feces like these that have a foul odor. This is also the case regarding human urine, but not animal urine.
One need not distance oneself from the feces or urine of a child unable to eat the weight of an olive of grain cereal, in the time in which an adult could eat an amount equivalent to the weight of three eggs.
ו
צואת האדם וצואת כלבים וחזירין בזמן שיש בתוכן עורות וכל צואה שריחה רע כגון אלו אסור לקרות קריאת שמע כנגדן וכן כנגד מי רגלים של אדם אבל מי רגלים של בהמה קורין כנגדן קטן שאינו יכול לאכול כזית דגן בכדי שיאכל הגדול כשלשה ביצי דגן אין מרחיקין לא מצואתו ולא ממי רגליו:
Commentary on Halachah 6
7
One may not recite the Shema next to feces, even if they are as dry as a shard. However, if they were so dry that, if thrown away, they would crumble, one may recite the Shema facing them.
If urine that has been soaked up into the ground is still sufficiently wet to moisten one's hand, the Shema should not be recited facing it. If it has dried sufficiently, the Shema may be recited.
ז
היתה צואה יבשה כחרש אסור לקרות כנגדה ואם היתה יבשה יותר מחרש עד שאם זרקה תתפרך הרי היא כעפר ומותר לקרות כנגדה מי רגלים שנבלעו בקרקע אם היו מרטיבין היד אסור לקרות כנגדן ואם לאו מותר:
Commentary on Halachah 7
8
How far must a person distance himself from feces or urine in order to recite the Shema? Four cubits. This applies when they are at his side or behind him, but if they are in front of him, he should move until he cannot see them, and then recite [the Shema].
ח
כמה ירחיק אדם מצואה וממי רגלים ואחר כך יקרא ארבע אמות במה דברים אמורים בזמן שהם מלאחוריו או מצדיו אבל אם היו כנגד פניו מרחיק מהן עד שלא יראה אותן ואח"כ יקרא:
Commentary on Halachah 8
9
When does the above apply? When he is in an enclosure with them, and they are on the same level. However, if they are 10 handbreadths higher or lower than he, he may sit next to them and recite the Shema, since there is a space separating them.
The above applies provided no foul smell reaches him. Similarly, if he were to cover the feces or urine with a vessel, it would be considered as buried, even though it would still be in the room, and it is permitted to recite [the Shema] next to it.
ט
בד"א כשהיה עמהן בבית במקום שוה אבל אם היה שם מקום גבוה מהן עשרה טפחים או נמוך מהם עשרה טפחים יושב בצד המקום וקורא שהרי נפסק ביניהם והוא שלא יגיע לו ריח רע וכן אם כפה כלי על הצואה או על מימי רגלים אף על פי שהן עמו בבית הרי אלו כקבורין ומותר לקרות כנגדן:
Commentary on Halachah 9
10
A person who is separated from feces by a glass partition, may recite the Shema next to them even if he can still see them. If a quarter log of water is added to the urine of one micturition, the Shema may be recited within four cubits of it.
י
היה בינו ובין הצואה מחיצה של זכוכית אע"פשהוא רואה אותה מאחרי הזכוכית מותר לקרות בצדה נתן רביעית מים לתוך מי רגלים של פעם אחת מותר לקרות עמהן בתוך ד' אמות:
Commentary on Halachah 10
11
If feces are found in a hole in the ground, a person may stand with his shoe over the hole and recite the Shema. However, his shoe may not touch the feces.
If one finds very small feces, the size of a drop, he may expectorate thick saliva upon it to cover it, and then recite the Shema.
When there is a residue of feces on one's skin or one's hands are dirty from the washroom, if - because of the small quantity or its dryness - there is no foul odor, he may recite the Shema, since there is no foul odor.
However, if it is still in its place, even if not visible when he stands, since it is visible when he sits, he is forbidden to recite the Shema until he cleans himself very well. This is because of the moist nature and foul smell of the feces.
Many Geonim taught that one is forbidden to recite the Shema if one's hands are soiled, and it is proper to heed their teaching.
יא
היתה צואה בגומא עומד בסנדלו על הגומא וקורא והוא שלא יהיה סנדלו נוגע בה היתה כנגדו צואה מעוטה ביותר כמו טיפה רוקק עליה רוק עבה עד שתתכסה וקורא היתה נטישת צואה על בשרו או ידיו מטונפות מבית הכסא ולא היה להן ריח רע כלל מפני קוטנן או יבשותן מותר לקרות לפי שאין להן ריח רע אבל אם היתה במקומה אף ע"פ שאינה נראית כשהוא עומד הואיל ונראית כשהוא יושב אסור לקרות עד שיקנח יפה יפה מפני שהצואה לחה היא ויש לה ריח רע וכמה גאונים הורו שאסור לו לקרות אם היו ידיו מטונפות וכך ראוי לעשות:
Commentary on Halachah 11
12
[When the source of] a foul odor has substance, one may distance himself four cubits and recite the Shema provided the odor has subsided. If it has not subsided, he should distance himself further until it ceases.
If [the odor] is not emanating from an actual substance - e.g., it is the result of someone passing gas - he should distance himself until the odor ceases and [then] recite.
It is forbidden to recite the Shema in front of a cesspool or chamber pot, even if it is empty and has no foul smell, as it is similar to a latrine.
יב
ריח רע שיש לו עיקר מרחיק ד' אמות וקורא אם פסק הריח ואם לא פסק הריח מרחיק עד מקום שפסק הריח ושאין לו עיקר כגון מי שיצא ממנו רוח מלמטה מרחיק עד מקום שתכלה הריח וקורא גרף של רעי ועביט של מימי רגלים אסור לקרות קריאת שמע כנגדן ואף על פי שאין בהן כלום ואין להם ריח רע מפני שהם כבית הכסא:
Commentary on Halachah 12
13
It is forbidden to recite the Shema while facing moving excreta - e.g., excreta floating on the water. The mouth of a pig is regarded as moving excreta. Therefore, the Shema may not be recited facing it, until it has moved four cubits away.
יג
צואה עוברת כגון שהיתה שטה על פני המים אסור לקרות כנגדה ופי חזיר כצואה עוברת דמי ואסור לקרות כנגדו עד שיעברו ממנו ארבע אמות:
Commentary on Halachah 13
14
A person who reaches an unclean place while he is walking and reciting the Shema, should not place his hand over his mouth and [continue] his recitation. Rather, he should stop reciting until he has passed this particular place.
Similarly, if one is reciting [the Shema] and passes gas, he should stop until the odor subsides and resume his recitation afterwards. The same applies to one studying Torah.
When another person passes gas, even though one should stop reciting the Shema, he need not interrupt his Torah study.
יד
היה קורא והגיע למקום הטנופת לא יניח ידו על פיו ויקרא אלא יפסיק עד שיעבור מאותו מקום וכן הקורא שיצתה ממנו רוח מלמטה יפסיק עד שתכלה באשה וחוזר לקריאתו וכן בדברי תורה יצתה רוח מחבירו אע"פ שמפסיק לקריאת שמע אינו פוסק לדברי תורה:
Commentary on Halachah 14
15
A person is permitted to continue reciting the Shema if a doubt arises whether feces or urine is found in the house in which he is located.
In contrast, a person reading the Shema in a garbage heap is not permitted to continue reading if a doubt arises regarding the presence of feces until he checks [that it is clean] because a garbage heap may be presumed to contain feces. If the doubt exists only regarding urine, however, the Shema may be recited even in a garbage heap.
טו
היה קורא קריאת שמע בבית ונסתפק לו אם יש שם צואה או מימי רגלים או אין שם הרי זה מותר לקרות היה קורא באשפה ונסתפק לו אם יש שם צואה או אין שם לא יקרא עד שיבדוק שחזקת האשפה שהיא מקום הטנופת אבל ספק מי רגלים אפילו באשפה מותר לקרות:
Commentary on Halachah 15
16
Just as it is forbidden to recite the Shema where there are feces or urine until one distances himself from it, so, too, the Shema may not be recited in the presence of nakedness, unless one turns his face away.
This applies also to a non-Jew or a child. Even if a glass partition separates him from them - since he sees them - he must turn his face away in order to recite the Shema.
Any part of a woman's body is regarded as ervah. Therefore, one should not gaze at a woman, even his wife, while reciting the Shema. If even a handbreadth of her body is uncovered, he should not recite the Shema facing her.
טז
כשם שאסור לקרות כנגד צואה ומי רגלים עד שירחיק כך אסור לקרות כנגד הערוה עד שיחזיר פניו אפילו כותי או קטן לא יקרא כנגד ערותן אפילו מחיצה של זכוכית מפסקת הואיל והוא רואה אותה אסור לקרות עד שיחזיר פניו וכל גוף האשה ערוה לפיכך לא יסתכל בגוף האשה כשהוא קורא ואפילו אשתו ואם היה מגולה טפח מגופה לא יקרא כנגדה:
Commentary on Halachah 16
17
Just as one may not recite the Shema in the presence of another's nakedness, so, too, is he forbidden to do so when he himself is naked. Therefore, one may not recite the Shema when he is naked until he covers his nakedness.
If his loins are covered with cloth, leather or sack, even though the rest of his body is exposed, he may recite the Shema, as long as his heel does not touch his genitalia.
If he is lying under his sheet, but is otherwise naked, he should make a separation by placing his sheet below his heart, and [then] recite the Shema. He should not, however, make a separation from his neck [downward] and recite, because his heart will see his nakedness, and it is as if he is reciting without any loin covering.
יז
וכשם שהוא אסור כנגד ערות אחרים כך הוא אסור לקרות כנגד ערותו ולא יקרא כשהוא ערום עד שיכסה ערותו היתה חגורה של בגד או עור או שק על מתניו אף על פי ששאר גופו ערום מותר לו לקרות קריאת שמע והוא שלא יהיה עקבו נוגע בערותו היה ישן בטליתו והיה ערום חוצץ בטליתו מתחת לבו וקורא אבל לא יחוץ צוארו ויקרא מפני שלבו רואה את הערוה ונמצא כמי שקורא בלא חגורה:
Commentary on Halachah 17
18
When two people are lying under one sheet, each is forbidden to recite the Shema even if he has covered himself below his heart, unless the sheet also separates between them in a manner that prevents their bodies from touching from the loins downward.
If he is sleeping with his wife, children or other young members of his household, their bodies are considered like his own, and he is not affected by them. Therefore, even though his body is touching theirs, he may turn away his face, separate below his heart and recite [the Shema].
יח
שנים שהיו ישנים בטלית אחת כל אחד מהן אסור לקרות אף על פי שיכסה מתחת לבו עד שתהא טלית מפסקת ביניהן עד שלא יגע בשר זה בבשר זה ממתניו ולמטה ואם היה ישן עם אשתו או בניו ובני ביתו הקטנים הרי גופן כגופו ואינו מרגיש מהן לפיכך אע"פ שבשרו נוגע בהם מחזיר פניו וחוצץ מתחת לבו וקורא:
Commentary on Halachah 18
19
Until when is one considered a child concerning this matter? A boy, until 12 years and one day; a girl, until 11 years and one day.
[When they reach that age, they are only excluded when] their physical characteristics are like those of adults - i.e., developed breasts and pubic hair. From this time onwards, one may not recite the Shema unless he has first separated himself from them with the sheet.
However, if they have not yet developed breasts or pubic hair, he may still recite [the Shema while lying] in physical contact with them, and need not separate from them until the boy is 13 years and one day, and the girl 12 years and one day.
יט
עד אימתי הם קטנים לענין זה עד שיהא הזכר בן שתים עשרה שנה ויום אחד והנקבה בת אחת עשרה שנה ויום אחד והוא שיהא תבניתם כתבנית גדולים שדים נכונו ושערך צמח ואחר כך לא יקרא עד שתפסיק טלית ביניהן אבל אם עדיין לא היו שדים נכונו ושערך צמח קורא עמהן בקירוב בשר ואינו צריך הפסק עד שיהיה הזכר בן י"ג שנה ויום אחד והנקבה בת שתים עשרה שנה ויום אחד:
Commentary on Halachah 19
Kri'at Shema - Chapter Four
1
Women, slaves and children are exempt from Kri'at Shema. We should teach children to recite it at the proper time with the blessings before and after it, in order to educate them regarding the commandments.
One who is preoccupied and in an anxious state regarding a religious duty is exempt from all commandments, including Kri'at Shema. Therefore, a bridegroom whose bride is a virgin is exempt from Kri'at Shema until he has consummated the marriage, because he is distracted lest he not find her a virgin.
However, if he delays until Saturday night after the wedding and does not have relations with her, he is obligated to recite the Shema from that time onward, since his mind has settled and he is familiar with her even though they have not consummated the marriage.
א
נשים ועבדים וקטנים פטורים מקריאת שמע ומלמדין את הקטנים לקרותה בעונתה ומברכין לפניה ולאחריה כדי לחנכן במצות מי שהיה לבו טרוד ונחפז לדבר מצוה פטור מכל המצות ומקריאת שמע לפיכך חתן שנשא בתולה פטור מקריאת שמע עד שיבא עליה לפי שאין דעתו פנויה שמא לא ימצא לה בתולים ואם שהה עד מוצאי שבת ולא בעל חייב לקרות ממוצאי שבת ואילך שהרי נתקררה דעתו ולבו גס בה אף על פי שלא בעל:
Commentary on Halachah 1
2
However, one who marries a woman who is not a virgin is obligated to recite the Shema, because even though he, too, is involved in the performance of a mitzvah, it is not so distracting. The same principle applies to similar cases.
ב
אבל הנושא את הבעולה אע"פ שעוסק במצוה חייב לקרות הואיל ואין לו דבר שמבלבל דעתו וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
Commentary on Halachah 2
3
One who is bereaved of a relative for whom he is obligated to mourn is exempt from Kri'at Shema until he has buried him, because his attention is distracted from reciting [the Shema].
A person who is watching a body is also exempt, even if it is not the body of a relative. When there are two watchers, one should continue watching while the other withdraws and recites the Shema. [When the latter] returns, the other should depart and recite [the Shema].
A gravedigger is also exempt from Kri'at Shema.
ג
מי שמת לו מת שהוא חייב להתאבל עליו פטור מקריאת שמע עד שיקברנו מפני שאין דעתו פנויה לקרות ואם היה משמר את המת אף על פי שאינו מתו פטור מקריאת שמע ואם היו השומרים שנים האחד משמר והשני נשמט למקום אחר וקורא וחוזר ומשמר ונשמט האחר וקורא וכן החופר קבר למת פטור מקריאת שמע:
Commentary on Halachah 3
4
A body should not be taken out for burial close to the time for reciting the Shema, unless the deceased was a great man.
If they do begin to remove the deceased and the time for reciting the Shema arrives while they are accompanying the body, anyone required to [carry] the coffin - e.g., the bearers of the coffins and their replacements and those who, in turn, relieve the replacements - whether they are before the coffin or after it, are exempt [from Kri'at Shema].
The rest of those accompanying the body who are not required to [carry] the coffin are obligated [to recite the Shema].
ד
אין מוציאין את המת לקוברו סמוך לזמן קריאת שמע אלא אם כן היה אדם גדול ואם התחילו והוציאו והגיע זמן הקריאה והן מלוין את המת כל שיש למטה צורך בהן כגון נושאי המטה וחילופיהן בין שהיו לפני המטה בין שהיו לאחר המטה פטורין ושאר המלוין שאין למטה צורך בהן חייבין:
Commentary on Halachah 4
5
Should they be involved in eulogies when the time for Kri'at Shema arrives, if they are in the presence of the deceased they should withdraw singly and recite, and then return to the eulogy.
If the deceased is not present, all the people should recite the Shema except the mourner, who remains silent, because he is not obligated to recite the Shema until he buries his relative.
ה
היו עסוקים בהספד והגיע זמן קריאת שמע בזמן שהמת מונח לפניהן נשמטים אחד אחד וקוראין וחוזרין להספד אין המת מוטל לפניהם כל העם קורין קריאת שמע והאבל יושב ודומם לפי שאינו חייב לקרות עד שיקבור את מתו:
Commentary on Halachah 5
6
After the burial, the mourners return to receive condolences and the people follow them from the gravesite to the place where they form a line to receive condolences. If the people are able to start and finish even one verse [of Kri'at Shema] before they arrive at the line, they should do so. If not, they should not start until they have consoled the mourners.
After they have taken their leave they should commence reciting. Those standing in the inner line - i.e., they can see the faces of the mourners - are exempt from Kri'at Shema. Those at the outside, since they cannot see the mourner, are obligated to recite the Shema where they are.
ו
קברו את המת וחזרו האבלים לקבל תנחומין וכל העם הולכים אחריהם ממקום הקבר למקום שעומדים בו האבלים לעשות שורה לקבל תנחומין אם יכולין העם להתחיל ולגמור אפילו פסוק אחד קודם שיגיעו לשורה יתחילו ואם לאו לא יתחילו אלא ינחמו את האבלים ואחר שיפטרו מהן יתחילו לקרות בני אדם העומדין בשורה הפנימיים שהן רואין פני האבלים פטורין מקריאת שמע והחיצונים הואיל ואינן רואין את האבלים חייבין בקריאת שמע במקומן:
Commentary on Halachah 6
7
Anyone who has an exemption from Kri'at Shema, but nevertheless desires to be strict with himself and recite, may do so. This is conditional upon the fact that his mind is not distracted. However, if this exempted person is in a confused state, he is not permitted to recite [the Shema] until he composes himself.
ז
כל מי שהוא פטור מלקרות קריאת שמע אם רצה להחמיר על עצמו לקרות קורא והוא שתהא דעתו פנויה עליו אבל אם היה זה הפטור מלקרות מבוהל אינו רשאי לקרות עד שתתיישב דעתו עליו:
Commentary on Halachah 7
8
All those ritually impure are obligated to read the Shema and recite the blessings before and after it in their impure state. This applies even when it is possible for them to purify themselves that day - e.g., one who has touched [the carcass of] a שרץ (crawling animal), a menstrual woman, a זבה, or the couch on which these people have laid, and the like.
Ezra and his colleagues decreed that a man who had a seminal emission was forbidden to read the words of the Torah. Thus, they separated him from the other ritually impure until he immersed himself in a mikveh. This ordinance was not universally accepted among the Jewish people. Most were unable to observe it and it was therefore negated.
The Jewish people accepted the custom of reading the Torah and reciting the Shema even after a seminal emission, because the words of Torah cannot contract ritual impurity. Rather, they stand in their state of purity forever, as [Jeremiah 23:29] states: "Are not my words like fire, declares the Lord." Just as fire is incapable of becoming ritually impure, so, too, the words of Torah are never defiled.
ח
כל הטמאין חייבין בקריאת שמע ומברכין לפניה ולאחריה והן בטומאתן אף על פי שאפשר להן לעלות מטומאתן בו ביום כגון הנוגעין בשרץ או בנדה וזבה ומשכבה וכיוצא בהן ועזרא ובית דינו תקנו שלא יקרא בדברי תורה בעל קרי לבדו והוציאוהו מכלל שאר הטמאין עד שיטבול ולא פשטה תקנה זו בכל ישראל ולא היה כח ברוב הציבור לעמוד בה לפיכך בטלה וכבר נהגו כל ישראל לקרות בתורה ולקרות קריאת שמע והן בעלי קריין לפי שאין דברי תורה מקבלין טומאה אלא עומדין בטהרתן לעולם שנאמר הלא כה דברי כאש נאם יי' מה אש אינה מקבלת טומאה אף דברי תורה אינם מקבלין טומאה:
Commentary on Halachah 8
Tefilah and Birkat Kohanim - Chapter One
Introduction to Hilchos Tefilah and Birkas Kohanim
[This text describes] two positive commandments:
a) Serving God daily with prayer;
b) For the priests to bless the Jewish People each day.
The elucidation of these two commandments is contained in the following chapters:
הלכות תפלה - הקדמה
הלכות תפלה וברכת כהנים יש בכללן שתי מצות עשה אחת לעבוד את ה' בכל יום בתפלה שנייה לברך כהנים את ישראל בכל יום: וביאור שתי מצות אלו בפרקים אלו:
1
It is a positive Torah commandment to pray every day, as [Exodus 23:25] states: "You shall serve God, your Lord." Tradition teaches us that this service is prayer, as [Deuteronomy 11:13] states: "And serve Him with all your heart" and our Sages said: Which is the service of the heart? This is prayer.
The number of prayers is not prescribed in the Torah, nor does it prescribe a specific formula for prayer. Also, according to Torah law, there are no fixed times for prayers.
א
.'מצות עשה להתפלל בכל יום שנאמר ועבדתם את ה' אלהיכם מפי השמועה למדו שעבודה זו היא תפלה שנאמר ולעבדו בכל לבבכם אמרו חכמים אי זו היא עבודה שבלב זו תפלה ואין מנין התפלות מן התורה ואין משנה התפלה הזאת מן התורה ואין לתפלה זמן קבוע מן התורה:
2
Therefore, women and slaves are obligated to pray, since it is not a time-oriented commandment.
Rather, this commandment obligates each person to offer supplication and prayer every day and utter praises of the Holy One, blessed be He; then petition for all his needs with requests and supplications; and finally, give praise and thanks to God for the goodness that He has bestowed upon him; each one according to his own ability.
ב
ולפיכך נשים ועבדים חייבין בתפלה לפי שהיא מצות עשה שלא הזמן גרמא אלא חיוב מצוה זו כך הוא שיהא אדם מתחנן ומתפלל בכל יום ומגיד שבחו של הקדוש ברוך הוא ואח"כ שואל צרכיו שהוא צריך להם בבקשה ובתחנה ואחר כך נותן שבח והודיה לה' על הטובה שהשפיע לו כל אחד לפי כחו:
3
A person who was eloquent would offer many prayers and requests. [Conversely,] a person who was inarticulate would speak as well as he could and whenever he desired.
Similarly, the number of prayers was dependent on each person's ability. Some would pray once daily; others, several times.
Everyone would pray facing the Holy Temple, wherever he might be. This was the ongoing practice from [the time of] Moshe Rabbenu until Ezra.
ג
אם היה רגיל מרבה בתחנה ובקשה ואם היה ערל שפתים מדבר כפי יכלתו ובכל עת שירצה וכן מנין התפלות כל אחד כפי יכלתו יש מתפלל פעם אחת ביום ויש מתפללין פעמים הרבה והכל יהיו מתפללין נכח המקדש בכ"מ שיהיה וכן היה הדבר תמיד ממשה רבינו ועד עזרא:
4
When Israel was exiled in the time of the wicked Nebuchadnezzar, they became interspersed in Persia and Greece and other nations. Children were born to them in these foreign countries and those children's language was confused.
The speech of each and every one was a concoction of many tongues. No one was able to express himself coherently in any one language, but rather in a mixture [of languages], as [Nehemiah 13:24] states: "And their children spoke half in Ashdodit and did not know how to speak the Jewish language. Rather, [they would speak] according to the language of various other peoples."
Consequently, when someone would pray, he would be limited in his ability to request his needs or to praise the Holy One, blessed be He, in Hebrew, unless other languages were mixed in with it. When Ezra and his court saw this, they established eighteen blessings in sequence.
The first three [blessings] are praises of God and the last three are thanksgiving. The intermediate [blessings] contain requests for all those things that serve as general categories for the desires of each and every person and the needs of the whole community.
Thus, the prayers could be set in the mouths of everyone. They could learn them quickly and the prayers of those unable to express themselves would be as complete as the prayers of the most eloquent. It was because of this matter that they established all the blessings and prayers so that they would be ordered in the mouths of all Israel, so that each blessing would be set in the mouth of each person unable to express himself.
ד
כיון שגלו ישראל בימי נבוכדנצר הרשע נתערבו בפרס ויון ושאר האומות ונולדו להם בנים בארצות הגוים ואותן הבנים נתבלבלו שפתם והיתה שפת כל אחד ואחד מעורבת מלשונות הרבה וכיון שהיה מדבר אינו יכול לדבר כל צורכו בלשון אחת אלא בשיבוש שנאמר ובניהם חצי מדבר אשדודית וגו' ואינם מכירים לדבר יהודית וכלשון עם ועם ומפני זה כשהיה אחד מהן מתפלל תקצר לשונו לשאול חפציו או להגיד שבח הקדוש ברוך הוא בלשון הקדש עד שיערבו עמה לשונות אחרות וכיון שראה עזרא ובית דינו כך עמדו ותקנו להם שמנה עשרה ברכות על הסדר שלש ראשונות שבח לה' ושלש אחרונות הודיה ואמצעיות יש בהן שאלת כל הדברים שהן כמו אבות לכל חפצי איש ואיש ולצרכי הציבור כולן כדי שיהיו ערוכות בפי הכל וילמדו אותן ותהיה תפלת אלו העלגים תפלה שלימה כתפלת בעלי הלשון הצחה ומפני ענין זה תקנו כל הברכות והתפלות מסודרות בפי כל ישראל כדי שיהא ענין כל ברכה ערוך בפי העלג:
5
They also decreed that the number of prayers correspond to the number of sacrifices - i.e., two prayers every day, corresponding to the two daily sacrifices. On any day that an additional sacrifice [was offered], they instituted a third prayer, corresponding to the additional offering.
The prayer that corresponds to the daily morning sacrifice is called the Shacharit Prayer. The prayer that corresponds to the daily sacrifice offered in the afternoon is called the Minchah Prayer and the prayer corresponding to the additional offerings is called the Musaf Prayer.
ה
וכן תקנו שיהא מנין התפלות כמנין הקרבנות שתי תפלות בכל יום כנגד שני תמידין וכל יום שיש קרבן מוסף תקנו בו תפלה שלישית כנגד קרבן מוסף ותפלה שהיא כנגד תמיד של בקר היא הנקראת תפלת השחר ותפלה שכנגד תמיד של בין הערבים היא הנקראת תפלת מנחה ותפלה שכנגד המוספין היא נקראת תפלת המוספין:
6
They also instituted a prayer to be recited at night, since the limbs of the daily afternoon offering could be burnt the whole night, as [Leviticus 6:2] states: "The burnt offering [shall remain on the altar hearth all night until morning]." In this vein, [Psalms 55:18] states: "In the evening, morning and afternoon I will speak and cry aloud, and He will hear my voice."
The Evening Prayer is not obligatory, as are the Morning and Minchah Prayers. Nevertheless, the Jewish people, in all the places that they have settled, are accustomed to recite the Evening Prayer and have accepted it upon themselves as an obligatory prayer.
ו
וכן התקינו שיהא אדם מתפלל תפלה אחת בלילה שהרי איברי תמיד של בין הערבים מתעכלין והולכין כל הלילה שנאמר היא העולה וגו' כענין שנאמר ערב ובקר וצהרים אשיחה ואהמה וישמע קולי ואין תפלת ערבית חובה כתפלת שחרית ומנחה ואף ע"פ כן נהגו כל ישראל בכל מקומות מושבותיהם להתפלל ערבית וקבלוה עליהם כתפלת חובה:
7
Similarly, they instituted a prayer after the Minchah Prayer [to be recited] close to sunset on fast days only, its purpose being to increase supplication and pleading because of the fast.
This is called the Ne'ilah prayer, as if to say that the gates of Heaven are closed behind the sun, which becomes hidden, since it is recited only close to [the time of] sunset.
ז
וכן תקנו תפלה אחר תפלת מנחה סמוך לשקיעת החמה ביום התענית בלבד כדי להוסיף תחנה ובקשה מפני התענית וזו היא התפלה הנקראת תפלת נעילה כלומר ננעלו שערי שמים בעד השמש ונסתרה לפי שאין מתפללין אותה אלא סמוך לשקיעת החמה:
8
Thus, three prayers are recited daily: the Evening Prayer, the Morning Prayer, and the Minchah Prayer. There are four on Sabbaths, festivals and Rosh Chodesh: the three that are recited daily and the Musaf Prayer. On Yom Kippur, there are five: these four and the Ne'ilah prayer.
ח
נמצאו התפלות בכל יום שלש ערבית ושחרית ומנחה ובשבתות ובמועדים ובראשי חדשים ארבע שלש של כל יום ותפלת המוספין וביום הכיפורים חמש ארבע אלו ותפלת נעילה:
9
The number of these prayers may not be diminished, but may be increased. If a person wants to pray all day long, he may.
Any prayer that one adds is considered as a freewill offering. Therefore, one must add a new idea consistent with that blessing in each of the middle blessings. [However], making an addition of a new concept even in only one blessing is sufficient in order to make known that this is a voluntary prayer and not obligatory.
In the first three [blessings] and the last three [blessings], one must never add, detract or change anything at all.
ט
תפלות אלו אין פוחתין מהן אבל מוסיפין עליהם אם רצה אדם להתפלל כל היום כולו הרשות בידו וכל אותן התפלות שיוסיף כמו מקריב נדבות לפיכך צריך שיחדש דבר בכל ברכה וברכה מן האמצעיות מעין הברכות ואם חידש אפילו בברכה אחת דיו כדי להודיע שהיא נדבה ולא חובה ושלש ראשונות ושלש אחרונות לעולם אין מוסיפין בהן ולא פוחתין מהן ואין משנין בהן דבר:
10
The community should not recite a voluntary prayer, since the community does not bring a freewill offering. Even an individual should not recite the Musaf Prayer twice, once as the obligation of the day and the other as a voluntary prayer, because the additional offering is never a freewill offering.
One of the Geonim taught that it is forbidden to recite a voluntary prayer on Sabbaths or holidays, since freewill offerings were not sacrificed on these days, but only the obligatory offerings of the day.
י
אין הציבור מתפללין תפלת נדבה לפי שאין הציבור מביאין קרבן נדבה ולא יתפלל אפילו יחיד מוסף שתים אחת חובת היום ואחת נדבה לפי שאין מתנדבין קרבן מוסף ויש מן הגאונים מי שהורה שאסור להתפלל תפלת נדבה בשבתות וימים טובים לפי שאין מקריבין בהן נדבה אלא חובת היום בלבד:
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class
tuesday, Tishrei 27, 5778 · 17 October 2017
"Today's Day"
Tuesday, Tishrei 27, 5704
Torah lessons: Chumash: Noach, Shlishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 120-134.
Tanya: Now is it known (p. 537) ...below the earth. (p. 539).
Torah and mitzvot encompass man from the instant of emergence from his mother's womb1 until his final time comes. They place him in a light-filled situation, with healthy intelligence and acquisition of excellent moral virtues and upright conduct - not only in relation to G-d but also in relation to his fellow-man. For whoever is guided by Torah and the instructions of our sages has a life of good fortune, materially and in spirit.
FOOTNOTES
1.Compare Tehillim 22:10.
Daily Thought:
Reliance
Every step along the way, keep one thing in mind: The same G‑d who runs the big, wide world is without a doubt the same G‑d who runs the little world of each one of us.
Just as He knows what is going on in the macrocosmos, so He is well aware of what is happening in your microcosmos. And you can rely on Him to direct it for the good.
It is up to you not to mess things up. And how can a person mess up G‑d’s plans? By stubbornly grasping the wheel, as though you alone are the captain of the ship. (Based on a letter, volume 25, page 61.)
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