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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Shabbat, 24 Tishrei, 5778 · October 14, 2017Torah Reading:
Bereishit: Genesis 1:1 - 6:8
Shabbat Rosh Chodesh: Isaiah 66:1-24Bereishit: Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was unformed and void, darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God hovered over the surface of the water. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. So there was evening, and there was morning, one day.
6 God said, “Let there be a dome in the middle of the water; let it divide the water from the water.” 7 God made the dome and divided the water under the dome from the water above the dome; that is how it was, 8 and God called the dome Sky. So there was evening, and there was morning, a second day.
9 God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let dry land appear,” and that is how it was. 10 God called the dry land Earth, the gathering together of the water he called Seas, and God saw that it was good.
11 God said, “Let the earth put forth grass, seed-producing plants, and fruit trees, each yielding its own kind of seed-bearing fruit, on the earth”; and that is how it was. 12 The earth brought forth grass, plants each yielding its own kind of seed, and trees each producing its own kind of seed-bearing fruit; and God saw that it was good. 13 So there was evening, and there was morning, a third day.
(A: ii) 14 God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to divide the day from the night; let them be for signs, seasons, days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the dome of the sky to give light to the earth”; and that is how it was. 16 God made the two great lights — the larger light to rule the day and the smaller light to rule the night — and the stars. 17 God put them in the dome of the sky to give light to the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. 19 So there was evening, and there was morning, a fourth day.
20 God said, “Let the water swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open dome of the sky.” 21 God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that creeps, so that the water swarmed with all kinds of them, and there was every kind of winged bird; and God saw that it was good. 22 Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, multiply and fill the water of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So there was evening, and there was morning, a fifth day.
(A: iii) 24 God said, “Let the earth bring forth each kind of living creature — each kind of livestock, crawling animal and wild beast”; and that is how it was. 25 God made each kind of wild beast, each kind of livestock and every kind of animal that crawls along the ground; and God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves; and let them rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the animals, and over all the earth, and over every crawling creature that crawls on the earth.”
27 So God created humankind in his own image;
in the image of God he created him:
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them: God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air and every living creature that crawls on the earth.” 29 Then God said, “Here! Throughout the whole earth I am giving you as food every seed-bearing plant and every tree with seed-bearing fruit. 30 And to every wild animal, bird in the air and creature crawling on the earth, in which there is a living soul, I am giving as food every kind of green plant.” And that is how it was. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good. So there was evening, and there was morning, a sixth day.
2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, along with everything in them. 2 On the seventh day God was finished with his work which he had made, so he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 God blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day God rested from all his work which he had created, so that it itself could produce.
(A: iv, S: ii) 4 Here is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created. On the day when Adonai, God, made earth and heaven, 5 there was as yet no wild bush on the earth, and no wild plant had as yet sprung up; for Adonai, God, had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no one to cultivate the ground. 6 Rather, a mist went up from the earth which watered the entire surface of the ground.
7 Then Adonai, God, formed a person [a] from the dust of the ground [b] and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, so that he became a living being. 8 Adonai, God, planted a garden toward the east, in ‘Eden, and there he put the person whom he had formed. 9 Out of the ground Adonai, God, caused to grow every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river went out of ‘Eden to water the garden, and from there it divided into four streams. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it winds throughout the land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. 13 The name of the second river is Gichon; it winds throughout the land of Kush. 14 The name of the third river is Tigris; it is the one that flows toward the east of Ashur. The fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 Adonai, God, took the person and put him in the garden of ‘Eden to cultivate and care for it. 16 Adonai, God, gave the person this order: “You may freely eat from every tree in the garden 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You are not to eat from it, because on the day that you eat from it, it will become certain that you will die.”
18 Adonai, God, said, “It isn’t good that the person should be alone. I will make for him a companion suitable for helping him.” 19 So from the ground Adonai, God, formed every wild animal and every bird that flies in the air, and he brought them to the person to see what he would call them. Whatever the person would call each living creature, that was to be its name. (S: iii) 20 So the person gave names to all the livestock, to the birds in the air and to every wild animal. But for Adam there was not found a companion suitable for helping him.
21 Then God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the person; and while he was sleeping, he took one of his ribs and closed up the place from which he took it with flesh. 22 The rib which Adonai, God, had taken from the person, he made a woman-person; and he brought her to the man-person. 23 The man-person said, “At last! This is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She is to be called Woman [c], because she was taken out of Man [d].” 24 This is why a man is to leave his father and mother and stick with his wife, and they are to be one flesh.
25 They were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed.
3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any wild animal which Adonai, God, had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You are not to eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat from the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3 but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, ‘You are neither to eat from it nor touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “It is not true that you will surely die; 5 because God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it had a pleasing appearance and that the tree was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her; and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together to make themselves loincloths.
8 They heard the voice of Adonai, God, walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, so the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Adonai, God, among the trees in the garden. 9 Adonai, God, called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I ordered you not to eat?” 12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me — she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Adonai, God, said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me, so I ate.”
14 Adonai, God, said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all livestock and wild animals. You will crawl on your belly and eat dust as long as you live. 15 I will put animosity between you and the woman, and between your descendant and her descendant; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.”
16 To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pain in childbirth. You will bring forth children in pain. Your desire will be toward your husband, but he will rule over you.”
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to what your wife said and ate from the tree about which I gave you the order, ‘You are not to eat from it,’ the ground is cursed on your account; you will work hard to eat from it as long as you live. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat field plants. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your forehead till you return to the ground — for you were taken out of it: you are dust, and you will return to dust.”
20 The man called his wife Havah [life], because she was the mother of all living.
21 Adonai, God, made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
(A: v, S: iv) 22 Adonai, God, said, “See, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, to prevent his putting out his hand and taking also from the tree of life, eating, and living forever — ” 23 therefore Adonai, God, sent him out of the garden of ‘Eden to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24 So he drove the man out, and he placed at the east of the garden of ‘Eden the k’ruvim and a flaming sword which turned in every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.
4:1 The man had sexual relations with Havah his wife; she conceived, gave birth to Kayin [acquisition] and said, “I have acquired a man from Adonai.” 2 In addition she gave birth to his brother Hevel. Hevel kept sheep, while Kayin worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Kayin brought an offering to Adonai from the produce of the soil; 4 and Hevel too brought from the firstborn of his sheep, including their fat. Adonai accepted Hevel and his offering 5 but did not accept Kayin and his offering. Kayin was very angry, and his face fell. 6 Adonai said to Kayin, “Why are you angry? Why so downcast? 7 If you are doing what is good, shouldn’t you hold your head high? And if you don’t do what is good, sin is crouching at the door — it wants you, but you can rule over it.” 8 Kayin had words with Hevel his brother; then one time, when they were in the field, Kayin turned on Hevel his brother and killed him.
9 Adonai said to Kayin, “Where is Hevel your brother?” And he replied, “I don’t know; am I my brother’s guardian?” 10 He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! 11 Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood at your hands. 12 When you farm the ground it will no longer yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive, wandering the earth.” 13 Kayin said to Adonai, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 You are banning me today from the land and from your presence. I will be a fugitive wandering the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Adonai answered him, “Therefore, whoever kills Kayin will receive vengeance sevenfold,” and Adonai put a sign on Kayin, so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Kayin left the presence of Adonai and lived in the land of Nod [wandering], east of ‘Eden.
17 Kayin had sexual relations with his wife; she conceived and gave birth to Hanokh. Kayin built a city and named the city after his son Hanokh. 18 To Hanokh was born ‘Irad. ‘Irad fathered Mechuya’el, Mechuya’el fathered Metusha’el, and Metusha’el fathered Lemekh.
(S: v) 19 Lemekh took himself two wives; the name of the one was ‘Adah, while the name of the other was Tzilah. 20 ‘Adah gave birth to Yaval; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and have cattle. 21 His brother’s name was Yuval; and he was the ancestor of all who play lyre and flute. 22 Tzilah gave birth to Tuval-Kayin, who forged all kinds of tools from brass and iron; the sister of Tuval-Kayin was Na‘amah. 23 Lemekh said to his wives,
“‘Adah and Tzilah, listen to me;
wives of Lemekh, hear what I say:
I killed a man for wounding me,
a young man who injured me.
24 If Kayin will be avenged sevenfold,
then Lemekh seventy-sevenfold!”
25 Adam again had sexual relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she named Shet [granted], “For God has granted me another seed in place of Hevel, since Kayin killed him.” 26 To Shet too was born a son, whom he called Enosh. That is when people began to call on the name of Adonai.
5:1 (vi) Here is the genealogy of Adam. On the day that God created man he made him in the likeness of God; 2 he created them male and female; he blessed them and called them Adam [humankind, man] on the day they were created. 3 After Adam lived 130 years he fathered a son like himself and named him Shet. 4 After Shet was born, Adam lived another 800 years and had both sons and daughters. 5 In all, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.
6 Shet lived 105 years and fathered Enosh. 7 After Enosh was born, Shet lived another 807 years and had sons and daughters. 8 In all, Shet lived 912 years; then he died.
9 Enosh lived ninety years and fathered Kenan. 10 After Kenan was born, Enosh lived another 815 years and had sons and daughters. 11 In all, Enosh lived 905 years; then he died.
12 Kenan lived seventy years and fathered Mahalal’el. 13 After Mahalal’el was born, Kenan lived another 840 years and had sons and daughters. 14 In all, Kenan lived 910 years; then he died.
15 Mahalal’el lived sixty-five years and fathered Yered. 16 After Yered was born, Mahalal’el lived another 830 years and had sons and daughters. 17 In all, Mahalal’el lived 895 years; then he died.
18 Yered lived 162 years and fathered Hanokh. 19 After Hanokh was born, Yered lived 800 years and had sons and daughters. 20 In all, Yered lived 962 years; then he died.
21 Hanokh lived sixty-five years and fathered Metushelach. 22 After Metushelach was born, Hanokh walked with God 300 years and had sons and daughters. 23 In all, Hanokh lived 365 years. 24 Hanokh walked with God, and then he wasn’t there, because God took him.
(vii) 25 Metushelach lived 187 years and fathered Lemekh. 26 After Lemekh was born, Metushelach lived 782 years and had sons and daughters. 27 In all, Metushelach lived 969 years; then he died.
28 Lemekh lived 182 years and fathered a son, 29 whom he called Noach [restful]; for he said, “This one will comfort us in our labor, in the hard work we do with our hands [to get what comes] from the ground that Adonai cursed.” 30 After Noach was born, Lemekh lived 595 years and had sons and daughters. 31 In all, Lemekh lived 777 years; then he died.
32 Noach was 500 years old; and Noach fathered Shem, Ham and Yefet.
6:1 In time, when men began to multiply on earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were attractive; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. 3 Adonai said, “My Spirit will not live in human beings forever, for they too are flesh; therefore their life span is to be 120 years.” 4 The N’filim were on the earth in those days, and also afterwards, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them; these were the ancient heroes, men of renown.
(Maftir) 5 Adonai saw that the people on earth were very wicked, that all the imaginings of their hearts were always of evil only. 6 Adonai regretted that he had made humankind on the earth; it grieved his heart. 7 Adonai said, “I will wipe out humankind, whom I have created, from the whole earth; and not only human beings, but animals, creeping things and birds in the air; for I regret that I ever made them.” 8 But Noach found grace in the sight of Adonai.
Shabbat Rosh Chodesh: Isaiah 66:1 “Heaven is my throne,” says Adonai,
“and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house could you build for me?
What sort of place could you devise for my rest?
2 Didn’t I myself make all these things?
This is how they all came to be,”
says Adonai.
“The kind of person on whom I look with favor
is one with a poor and humble spirit,
who trembles at my word.
3 Those others might as well kill a person as an ox,
as well break a dog’s neck as sacrifice a lamb,
as well offer pig’s blood as offer a grain offering,
as well bless an idol as burn incense.
Just as these have chosen their ways
and enjoy their disgusting practices,
4 so I will enjoy making fools of them,
and bring on them the very things they fear.
For when I called, no one answered;
when I spoke, they did not hear.
Instead they did what was evil in my sight
and chose what did not please me.”
5 Hear the word of Adonai,
you who tremble at his word:
“Your brothers, who hate you and reject you
because of my name, have said:
‘Let Adonai be glorified,
so we can see your joy.’
But they will be put to shame.”
6 That uproar in the city,
that sound from the temple,
is the sound of Adonai repaying
his foes what they deserve.
7 Before going into labor, she gave birth;
before her pains came, she delivered a male child.
8 Who ever heard of such a thing?
Who has ever seen such things?
Is a country born in one day?
Is a nation brought forth all at once?
For as soon as Tziyon went into labor,
she brought forth her children.
9 “Would I let the baby break through
and not be born?” asks Adonai.
“Would I, who cause the birth,
shut the womb?” asks your God.
10 Rejoice with Yerushalayim!
Be glad with her, all you who love her!
Rejoice, rejoice with her,
all of you who mourned for her;
11 so that you nurse and are satisfied
by her comforting breast,
drinking deeply and delighting
in the overflow of her glory.
12 For Adonai says, “I will spread shalom
over her like a river,
and the wealth of nations
like a flooding stream;
you will nurse and be carried in her arm
and cuddled in her lap.
13 Like someone comforted by his mother,
I will comfort you;
in Yerushalayim
you will be comforted.”
14 Your heart will rejoice at the sight,
your bodies will flourish like newly sprouted grass.
It will be known that the hand of Adonai
is with his servants; but with his enemies, his fury.
15 For — look! — Adonai will come in fire,
and his chariots will be like the whirlwind,
to render his anger furiously,
his rebuke with blazing fire.
16 For Adonai will judge all humanity
with fire and with the sword,
and those slain by Adonai will be many.
17 “Those who consecrate and purify themselves
in order to enter the gardens,
then follow the one who was already there,
eating pig meat, reptiles and mice,
will all be destroyed together,” says Adonai.
18 “For I [know] their deeds and their thoughts.
“[The time] is coming when I will gather together all nations and languages. They will come and see my glory, 19 and I will give them a sign. I will send some of their survivors to the nations of Tarshish, Pul, Lud (these are archers), Tuval, Greece and more distant coasts, where they have neither heard of my fame nor seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory in these nations; 20 and they will bring all your kinsmen out of all the nations as an offering to Adonai — on horses, in chariots, in wagons, on mules, on camels — to my holy mountain Yerushalayim,” says Adonai, “just as the people of Isra’el themselves bring their offerings in clean vessels to the house of Adonai. 21 I will also take cohanim and L’vi’im from them,” says Adonai.
22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I am making will continue in my presence,” says Adonai, “so will your descendants and your name continue.
23 “Every month on Rosh-Hodesh
and every week on Shabbat,
everyone living will come
to worship in my presence,” says Adonai.
24 “As they leave, they will look on the corpses
of the people who rebelled against me.
For their worm will never die,
and their fire will never be quenched;
but they will be abhorrent
to all humanity.”
[“Every month on Rosh-Hodesh
and every week on Shabbat,
everyone living will come
to worship in my presence,” says Adonai.]
Today's Laws & Customs:
• Shabbat Bereishit
The Shabbat after Simchat Torah is Shabbat Bereishit -- "Shabbat of Beginning" -- the first Shabbat of the annual Torah reading cycle, on which the Torah section of Bereishit ("In the Beginning") is read.
The weekly Torah reading is what defines the Jewish week, serving as the guide and point of reference for the week's events, deeds and decisions; Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi called this "living with the times." Hence the theme and tone of this week is one of beginning and renewal, as we launch into yet another cycle of Torah life. The Rebbes of Chabad would say: "As one establishes oneself on Shabbat Bereishit, so goes the rest of the year."
Link: Beginnings
• Blessing the New MonthThis Shabbat is Shabbat Mevarchim ("the Shabbat that blesses" the new month): a special prayer is recited blessing the Rosh Chodesh ("Head of the Month") of upcoming month of Cheshvan, which falls on Friday and Shabbat of next week.
Prior to the blessing, we announce the precise time of the molad, the "birth" of the new moon. Click here for molad times.
It is a Chabad custom to recite the entire book of Psalms before morning prayers, and to conduct farbrengens (chassidic gatherings) in the course of the Shabbat.
Links:
On the Significance of Shabbat Mevarchim
Tehillim (the Book of Psalms)
The Farbrengen
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Bereishit, 7th Portion Genesis 5:25-6:8 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Genesis Chapter 5
25And Methuselah lived a hundred and eighty seven years, and he begot Lamech. כהוַיְחִ֣י מְתוּשֶׁ֔לַח שֶׁ֧בַע וּשְׁמֹנִ֛ים שָׁנָ֖ה וּמְאַ֣ת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־לָֽמֶךְ:
26And Methuselah lived after he had begotten Lamech, seven hundred and eighty two years, and he begot sons and daughters. כווַיְחִ֣י מְתוּשֶׁ֗לַח אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הֽוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־לֶ֔מֶךְ שְׁתַּ֤יִם וּשְׁמוֹנִים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּשְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת:
27And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty nine years, and he died. כזוַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ כָּל־יְמֵ֣י מְתוּשֶׁ֔לַח תֵּ֤שַׁע וְשִׁשִּׁים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּתְשַׁ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת:
28And Lamech lived a hundred and eighty two years, and he begot a son. כחוַֽיְחִי־לֶ֕מֶךְ שְׁתַּ֧יִם וּשְׁמֹנִ֛ים שָׁנָ֖ה וּמְאַ֣ת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד בֵּֽן:
and he begot a son: Heb. בֵּן, from whom the world was built (נִבְנָה). - [from Tanchuma Bereishith 11]
ויולד בן: שממנו נבנה העולם:
29And he named him Noah, saying, "This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands from the ground, which the Lord has cursed." כטוַיִּקְרָ֧א אֶת־שְׁמ֛וֹ נֹ֖חַ לֵאמֹ֑ר זֶ֞ה יְנַֽחֲמֵ֤נוּ מִמַּֽעֲשֵׂ֨נוּ֙ וּמֵֽעִצְּב֣וֹן יָדֵ֔ינוּ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵֽרֲרָ֖הּ יְהֹוָֽה:
This one will give us rest: Heb. יְנַחֲמֵנוּ. He will give us rest (יָנַח מִמֶּנּוּ) from the toil of our hands. Before Noah came, they did not have plowshares, and he prepared [these tools] for them. And the land was producing thorns and thistles when they sowed wheat, because of the curse of the first man (Adam), but in Noah’s time, it [the curse] subsided. This is the meaning of יְנַחֲמֵנוּ. If you do not explain it that way, however (but from the root (נחם), the sense of the word does not fit the name, [נֹחַ], and you would have to name him Menachem. — [See Gen. Rabbah 25:2] [i.e., If we explain the word according to its apparent meaning, “this one will console us,” the child should have been called Menachem, the consoler.]
זה ינחמנו: ינח ממנו את עצבון ידינו, עד שלא בא נח לא היה להם כלי מחרישה והוא הכין להם, והיתה הארץ מוציאה קוצים ודרדרים כשזורעים חטים, מקללתו של אדם הראשון, ובימי נח נחה, וזהו ינחמנו, ינח ממנו. ואם לא תפרשהו כך, אין טעם הלשון נופל על השם, ואתה צריך לקרות שמו מנחם:
30And Lamech lived after he had begotten Noah, five hundred and ninety five years, and he begot sons and daughters. לוַֽיְחִי־לֶ֗מֶךְ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הֽוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־נֹ֔חַ חָמֵ֤שׁ וְתִשְׁעִים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֹ֖ת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת:
31And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy seven years, and he died. לאוַֽיְהִי֙ כָּל־יְמֵי־לֶ֔מֶךְ שֶׁ֤בַע וְשִׁבְעִים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּשְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת:
32And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth. לבוַֽיְהִי־נֹ֕חַ בֶּן־חֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֣וֹלֶד נֹ֔חַ אֶת־שֵׁ֖ם אֶת־חָ֥ם וְאֶת־יָֽפֶת:
five hundred years old: Said Rabbi Judan: What is the reason that all the generations begot children at [the age of approximately] one hundred years and this one [Noah, had children] at [the age of] five hundred years? Said the Holy One, blessed be He, “If they [his children] are wicked, they will perish in the [flood] water, and it will be bad for this righteous man, and if they are righteous, I will have to burden him with making many arks.” He closed his fountain, and he did not beget [children] until the age of five hundred years, so that Japheth, his eldest son, should not be liable for punishment before the Flood, as it is written (Isa. 65:20):“For the youth who is one hundred years old shall die.” [This means: at the age when he] will be liable for punishment in the future, and so it was before the giving of the Torah. — [from Gen. Rabbah 26:2]
בן חמש מאות שנה: אמר רבי יודן מה טעם כל הדורות הולידו למאה שנה וזה לחמש מאות, אמר הקב"ה אם רשעים הם יאבדו במים ורע לצדיק זה, ואם צדיקים הם אטריח עליו לעשות תיבות הרבה, כבש את מעיינו ולא הוליד עד שהיה בן חמש מאות שנה, כדי שלא יהא יפת הגדול שבבניו ראוי לעונשין לפני המבול דכתיב (ישעיה סה כ) כי הנער בן מאה שנה ימות, וראוי לעונש לעתיד, וכן לפני מתן תורה:
Shem, Ham, and Japheth: Now was not Japheth the eldest? [i.e., Why is he mentioned last?] But first you talk about the one who was righteous, born circumcised, and from whom Abraham was descended, etc. — [from Gen. Rabbah 26:3]
את שם ואת חם ואת יפת: והלא יפת הוא הגדול, אלא בתחלה אתה דורש את שם שהוא צדיק, ונולד כשהוא מהול, ושאברהם יצא ממנו וכו':
Genesis Chapter 6
1And it came to pass when man commenced to multiply upon the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them. אוַֽיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־הֵחֵ֣ל הָֽאָדָ֔ם לָרֹ֖ב עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה וּבָנ֖וֹת יֻלְּד֥וּ לָהֶֽם:
2That the sons of the nobles saw the daughters of man when they were beautifying themselves, and they took for themselves wives from whomever they chose. בוַיִּרְא֤וּ בְנֵי־הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־בְּנ֣וֹת הָֽאָדָ֔ם כִּ֥י טֹבֹ֖ת הֵ֑נָּה וַיִּקְח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נָשִׁ֔ים מִכֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּחָֽרוּ:
the sons of the nobles: Heb. בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים, the sons of the princes (Targumim) and the judges (Gen. Rabbah 26:5). Another explanation: בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים are the princes who go as messengers of the Omnipresent. They too mingled with them (Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 22). Every אֱלֹהִים in Scripture is an expression of authority, and the following proves it (Exod. 4:16): “And you shall be to him as a lord (לֵאלֹהִים)”; (ibid. 7:1): “See, I have made you a lord (אֶלֹהִים).”
בני הא-להים: בני השרים והשופטים. (דבר אחר בני הא-להים הם השרים ההולכים בשליחותו של מקום, אף הם היו מתערבים בהם). כל א-להים שבמקרא לשון מרות, וזה יוכיח (שמות ד טז) ואתה תהיה לו לא-להים, (שם ז א) ראה נתתיך א-להים:
when they were beautifying themselves: Heb., טֹבֹת. Said Rabbi Judan: It is written טבת [i.e., instead of טובות. Thus it can be read טָבַת, meaning to beautify.] When they would beautify her, adorned to enter the nuptial canopy, a noble would enter and have relations with her first (Gen. Rabbah 26:5).
כי טבת הנה: אמר רבי יודן טבת כתיב, כשהיו מטיבין אותה מקושטת ליכנס לחופה, היה גדול נכנס ובועלה תחלה:
from whomever they chose: Even a married woman, even males and animals (Gen. Rabbah ad loc.).
מכל אשר בחרו: אף בעולת בעל, אף הזכר והבהמה:
3And the Lord said, "Let My spirit not quarrel forever concerning man, because he is also flesh, and his days shall be a hundred and twenty years." גוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה לֹֽא־יָד֨וֹן רוּחִ֤י בָֽאָדָם֙ לְעֹלָ֔ם בְּשַׁגָּ֖ם ה֣וּא בָשָׂ֑ר וְהָי֣וּ יָמָ֔יו מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים שָׁנָֽה:
Let My spirit not quarrel forever: Let My spirit not complain and quarrel because of man.
לא ידון רוחי באדם: לא יתרעם ויריב רוחי עלי בשביל האדם:
forever: for a long time. Behold My spirit is quarreling within Me whether to destroy or to have mercy. Let this quarrel in My spirit not endure forever, i.e., for a long time.
לעולם: לאורך ימים, הנה רוחי נדון בקרבי אם להשחית ואם לרחם, לא יהיה מדון זה ברוחי לעולם, כלומר לאורך ימים:
because he is also flesh: Heb. בְּשַׁגָּם, like בְּשֶׁגַּם, i.e., because this is also in him that he is [only] flesh, and nevertheless, he does not subordinate himself before Me. What if he were fire or a hard substance? [i.e., How much greater would his insubordination be!] Similar to this, (Jud. 5:7): “Until I Deborah arose (שַׁקַּמְתִּי)”, as if it were written שֶׁקַּמְתִּי, and similarly, (ibid. 6:17): “that You (שָׁאַתָּה) are speaking with me,” as if it were written שֶׁאַתָּה. So too, בְּשַׁגָּם is like בְּשֶׁגַּם.
בשגם הוא בשר: כמו בשגם, כלומר בשביל שגם זאת בו שהוא בשר, ואף על פי כן אינו נכנע לפני, ומה אם יהיה אש או דבר קשה, כיוצא בו (שופטים ה ז) עד שקמתי דבורה, כמו שקמתי. וכן (שם ו יז) שאתה מדבר עמי, כמו שאתה, אף בשגם כמו בשגם:
and his days shall be: Until a hundred and twenty years I will delay My wrath towards them, but if they do not repent, I will bring a flood upon them. Now if you ask: from the time that Japheth was born until the Flood are only a hundred years, [I will answer that] there is no [sequence of] earlier and later events in the Torah. This decree had already been issued twenty years before Noah begot children, and so we find in Seder Olam (ch. 28). There are many Aggadic midrashim on the words לֹא יָדוֹן, but this is its clear, simple explanation.
והיו ימיו וגו': עד מאה ועשרים שנה אאריך להם אפי ואם לא ישובו אביא עליהם מבול. ואם תאמר משנולד יפת עד המבול אינו אלא מאה שנה, אין מוקדם ומאוחר בתורה, כבר היתה הגזירה גזורה עשרים שנה קודם שהוליד נח תולדות, וכן מצינו בסדר עולם (פרק כח). יש מדרשי אגדה רבים בלא ידון, אבל זה הוא צחצוח פשוטו:
4The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of the nobles would come to the daughters of man, and they would bear for them; they are the mighty men, who were of old, the men of renown. דהַנְּפִלִ֞ים הָי֣וּ בָאָ֘רֶץ֘ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵם֒ וְגַ֣ם אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָבֹ֜אוּ בְּנֵ֤י הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־בְּנ֣וֹת הָֽאָדָ֔ם וְיָֽלְד֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם הֵ֧מָּה הַגִּבֹּרִ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר מֵֽעוֹלָ֖ם אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַשֵּֽׁם:
The Nephilim: [They were called נְפִילִים because they fell (נָפְלוּ) and caused the world to fall (הִפִּילוּ) (Gen. Rabbah 26:7), and in the Hebrew language it means giants (Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 22 and Targum Jonathan).
הנפלים: על שם שנפלו והפילו את העולם, ובלשון עברית לשון ענקים הוא:
in those days: in the days of the generation of Enosh and the children of Cain.
בימים ההם: בימי דור אנוש ובני קין:
and also afterward: Although they had seen the destruction of the generation of Enosh, when the ocean rose up and inundated a third of the world, the generation of the Flood did not humble themselves to learn from them. — [from Mechilta Yithro, Massechta Bachodesh 6; Sifrei Ekev 743]
וגם אחרי כן: אף על פי שראו באבדן של דור אנוש שעלה אוקיינוס והציף שליש העולם, לא נכנע דור המבול ללמוד מהם:
when…would come: They [the mothers] would bear giants like them [the fathers]. — [from Gen. Rabbah 26:7]
אשר יבאו: היו יולדות ענקים כמותם:
mighty men: to rebel against the Omnipresent. — [Yelammednu, Batei Midrashoth, p. 148]
הגבורים: למרוד במקום:
the men of renown: Heb. אַנְשֵׁי הַשֵּׁם Those who were called by name: Irad, Mechujael, Methushael, who were so named because of their destruction, for they were wiped out (מְחוּיָאֵל from נִמּוֹחוּ) and uprooted; (מְתוּשָׁאֵל from הֻתָּשׁוּ). Another explanation: men of desolation (שִׁמָּמוֹן), who made the world desolate. — [from Gen. Rabbah 26:7]
אנשי השם: אותן שנקבו בשמות עירד, מחויאל, מתושאל, שנקראו על שם אבדן שנמוחו והותשו. דבר אחר אנשי שממון, ששממו את העולם:
5And the Lord saw that the evil of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of his heart was only evil all the time. הוַיַּ֣רְא יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י רַבָּ֛ה רָעַ֥ת הָֽאָדָ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְכָל־יֵ֨צֶר֙ מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ת לִבּ֔וֹ רַ֥ק רַ֖ע כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם:
6And the Lord regretted that He had made man upon the earth, and He became grieved in His heart. ווַיִּנָּ֣חֶם יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּֽי־עָשָׂ֥ה אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּתְעַצֵּ֖ב אֶל־לִבּֽוֹ:
And the Lord regretted that He had made: Heb. וַיִנָּחֶם. It was a consolation to Him that He had created him [man] of the earthly beings, for had he been one of the heavenly beings, he would have caused them to rebel. [This appears in Genesis Rabbah (27:40).
וינחם ה' כי עשה: נחמה היתה לפניו שבראו בתחתונים, שאלו היה מן העליונים היה ממרידן:
and He became grieved: [I.e.,] man [became grieved],
ויתעצב: האדם:
in His heart: [the heart] of the Omnipresent. It entered the thought of God to cause him [man] grief. This is the translation of Onkelos [i.e., Onkelos supports the view that וַיִּתְעַצֵּב refers to man]. Another explanation of וַיִּנָּחֶם: The thought of the Omnipresent turned from the standard of clemency to the standard of justice. It entered His thoughts to reconsider what to do with man, whom He had made upon the earth. And similarly, every expression of נִחוּם in Scripture is an expression of reconsidering what to do. [For example] (Num. 23:19): “Nor the son of man that He should change His mind (וְיִתְנֶחָם)”; (Deut. 32:36): “And concerning His servants He will change His mind (יִתְנֶחָם)”; (Exod. 32:14): “And the Lord changed His intent concerning the evil (וַיִּנָּחֶם)”; (I Sam. 15:11): “I regret (נִחַמְתִּי) that I made [Saul] king.” These are all an expression of having second thoughts.
אל לבו: של מקום, עלה במחשבתו של מקום להעציבו, זהו תרגום אונקלוס. דבר אחר וינחם, נהפכה מחשבתו של מקום ממדת רחמים למדת הדין, עלה במחשבה לפניו מה לעשות באדם שעשה בארץ, וכן כל לשון ניחום שבמקרא לשון נמלך מה לעשות (במדבר כג יט) ובן אדם ויתנחם, (דברים לב לו) ועל עבדיו יתנחם, (שמות לב יד) וינחם ה' על הרעה, (שמואל א' טו יא) נחמתי כי המלכתי, כולם לשון מחשבה אחרת הם:
and He became grieved: Heb. וַיִּתְעַצֵּב, He mourned over the destruction of His handiwork [i.e., according to this second view, וַיִּתְעַצֵּב refers to God], like (II Sam. 19:3): “The king is saddened (נֶעֱצַב) over his son.” This I wrote to refute the heretics: A gentile asked Rabbi Joshua ben Korchah, “Do you not admit that the Holy One, blessed be He, foresees the future?” He [Rabbi Joshua] replied to him, “Yes.” He retorted, “But it is written: and He became grieved in His heart!” He [Rabbi Joshua] replied, “Was a son ever born to you?” “Yes,” he [the gentile] replied. “And what did you do?” he [Rabbi Joshua] asked. He replied, “I rejoiced and made everyone rejoice.” “But did you not know that he was destined to die?” he asked. He [the gentile] replied, “At the time of joy, joy; at the time of mourning, mourning.” He [Rabbi Joshua] said to him, “So is it with the work of the Holy One, blessed be He; even though it was revealed before Him that they would ultimately sin, and He would destroy them, He did not refrain from creating them, for the sake of the righteous men who were destined to arise from them.” - [from Gen. Rabbah 27:4]
ויתעצב אל לבו: נתאבל על אבדן מעשה ידיו, כמו (ש"ב יט ג) נעצב המלך על בנו. וזו כתבתי לתשובת המינים, גוי אחד שאל את רבי יהושע בן קרחה, אמר לו אין אתם מודים שהקב"ה רואה את הנולד, אמר לו הן. אמר לו והא כתיב ויתעצב אל לבו, אמר לו נולד לך בן זכר מימיך, אמר לו הן. אמר לו ומה עשית, אמר לו שמחתי ושימחתי את הכל. אמר לו ולא היית יודע שסופו למות, אמר לו בשעת חדותא חדותא, בשעת אבלא אבלא. אמר לו כך מעשה הקב"ה, אף על פי שגלוי לפניו שסופן לחטוא ולאבדן לא נמנע מלבראן בשביל הצדיקים העתידים לעמוד מהם:
7And the Lord said, "I will blot out man, whom I created, from upon the face of the earth, from man to cattle to creeping thing, to the fowl of the heavens, for I regret that I made them." זוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶמְחֶ֨ה אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֤ם אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָ֨אתִי֙ מֵעַל֨ פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה מֵֽאָדָם֙ עַד־בְּהֵמָ֔ה עַד־רֶ֖מֶשׂ וְעַד־ע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם כִּ֥י נִחַ֖מְתִּי כִּ֥י עֲשִׂיתִֽם:
And the Lord said,"I will blot out man: He is dust, and I will bring water upon him, and I will blot him out. Therefore, the expression מִחוּי is used. — [from Tan. Buber, Noah 4]
ויאמר ה' אמחה את האדם: הוא עפר ואביא עליו מים ואמחה אותו, לכך נאמר לשון מחוי:
from man to cattle: They too corrupted their way (Gen. Rabbah 28:8). Another explanation: Everything was created for man’s sake, and since he will be annihilated, what need is there for these [the animals]? (Sanh. 108a).
מאדם עד בהמה: אף הם השחיתו דרכם. דבר אחר הכל נברא בשביל אדם, וכיון שהוא כלה מה צורך באלו:
for I regret that I made them: I am thinking what to do about having made them.
כי נחמתי כי עשיתים: חשבתי מה לעשות להם על אשר עשיתים:
8But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. חוְנֹ֕חַ מָ֥צָא חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 113 - 118
• Hebrew text
• English text
Chapter 113
This psalm recounts some of the wonders of the exodus from Egypt.
1. Praise the Lord! Offer praise, you servants of the Lord; praise the Name of the Lord.
2. May the Name of the Lord be blessed from now and to all eternity.
3. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the Name of the Lord is praised.
4. The Lord is high above all nations; His glory transcends the heavens.
5. Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high
6. [yet] looks down so low upon heaven and earth!
7. He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the destitute from the dunghill,
8. to seat them with nobles, with the nobles of His people.
9. He transforms the barren woman into a household, into a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 114
This psalm explains why the tribe of Judah merited kingship.
1. When Israel went out of Egypt, the House of Jacob from a people of a foreign tongue,
2. Judah became His holy [nation], Israel, His domain.
3. The sea saw and fled, the Jordan turned backward.
4. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like young sheep.
5. What is the matter with you, O sea, that you flee; Jordan, that you turn backward;
6. mountains, that you skip like rams; hills, like young sheep?
7. [We do so] before the Master, the Creator of the earth, before the God of Jacob,
8. Who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flintstone into a water fountain.
Chapter 115
A prayer that God bring this long exile to an end, for the sake of His Name-that it not be desecrated.
1. Not for our sake, Lord, not for our sake, but for the sake of Your Name bestow glory, because of Your kindness and Your truth.
2. Why should the nations say, "Where, now, is their God?”
3. Indeed, our God is in heaven; whatever He desires, He does.
4. Their idols are of silver and gold, the product of human hands.
5. They have a mouth, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
6. they have ears, but cannot hear; they have a nose, but cannot smell;
7. their hands cannot touch; their feet cannot walk; they can make no sound in their throat.
8. Those who make them will become like them-all who put their trust in them.
9. Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
10. House of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
11. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
12. The Lord who is ever mindful of us, may He bless: May He bless the House of Israel; may He bless the House of Aaron;
13. may He bless those who fear the Lord, the small with the great.
14. May the Lord increase [blessing] upon you, upon you and upon your children.
15. You are blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
16. The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth He gave to the children of man.
17. The dead cannot praise the Lord, nor any who descend into the silence [of the grave].
18. But we will bless the Lord from now to eternity. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 116
This psalm contains magnificent praises to God. It also describes David's love for God, in light of all the miracles He performed for him. David does not know how to repay God, declaring it impossible to pay back for all God has done for him.
1. I would love if the Lord would listen to my voice, to my supplications;
2. if He would turn His ear to me on the days when I call.
3. The pangs of death encompassed me and the misery of the grave came upon me; I encounter trouble and sorrow.
4. I invoke the Name of the Lord, "Lord, I implore you, deliver my soul!”
5. The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is compassionate.
6. The Lord watches over the simpletons; I was brought low, and He saved me.
7. Return, my soul, to your tranquility, for the Lord has bestowed goodness upon you.
8. For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
9. I shall walk before the Lord in the lands of the living.
10. I had faith even when I declared, "I am greatly afflicted";
11. [even when] I said in my haste, "All men are deceitful.”
12. How can I repay the Lord for all His beneficences to me?
13. I will raise the cup of deliverance and proclaim the Name of the Lord.
14. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.
15. Grievous in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones.
16. I thank you, Lord, that since I am Your servant, I am Your servant the son of Your maidservant, You have loosened my bonds.
17. To You I will bring an offering of thanksgiving, and proclaim the Name of the Lord.
18. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people,
19. in the courtyards of the House of the Lord, in the midst of Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 117
This psalm of two verses alludes to the Messianic era, when the Children of Israel will enjoy their former glory. All will praise God, in fulfillment of the verse, "All will then call in the Name of God."
1. Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples.
2. For His kindness was mighty over us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 118
This psalm describes David's immense trust in God. It also contains many praises to God, Who has fulfilled that which He has promised us.
1. Offer praise to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
2. Let Israel declare that His kindness is everlasting.
3. Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is everlasting.
4. Let those who fear the Lord declare that His kindness is everlasting.
5. From out of distress I called to God; with abounding relief, God answered me.
6. The Lord is with me, I do not fear-what can man do to me?
7. The Lord is with me among my helpers, and I will see [the downfall of] my enemies.
8. It is better to rely on the Lord than to trust in man.
9. It is better to rely on the Lord than to trust in nobles.
10. All the nations surrounded me, but in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down.
11. They surrounded me, they encompassed me, but in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down.
12. They surrounded me like bees, yet they shall be extinguished like fiery thorns; in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down.
13. You [my foes] repeatedly pushed me to fall, but the Lord helped me.
14. God is my strength and song, and He has been a help to me.
15. The sound of rejoicing and deliverance reverberates in the tents of the righteous, "The right hand of the Lord performs deeds of valor.
16. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord performs deeds of valor!”
17. I shall not die, but I shall live and recount the deeds of God.
18. God has indeed chastised me, but He did not give me up to death.
19. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them and praise God.
20. This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous will enter it.
21. I offer thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have been my deliverance.
22. The stone which the builders scorned has become the chief cornerstone.
23. From the Lord has this come about; it is wondrous in our eyes.
24. This is the day which the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice on it.
25. We implore You, Lord, deliver us. We implore You, Lord, grant us success.
26. Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord; we bless you from the House of the Lord.
27. The Lord is a benevolent God and He has given us light; bind the festival offering with cords until [you bring it to] the horns of the altar.
28. You are my God and I will praise You, my God-and I will exalt You.
29. Praise the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, Epistle 24
• English Text (Lessons in Tanya)
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Shabbat, Tishrei 24, 5778 · October 14, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, Epistle 24
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In the previous letter the Alter Rebbe explained how the Torah study of a group of at least ten, or a mitzvahperformed by them collectively, brings about the indwelling of the Shechinah. He spoke of how even those who engage in the avodah of prayer sometimes spend the time before and after prayers in idle chatter. Indeed, the Mishnah calls such a group “a company of scoffers,” since they are not studying Torah. The Alter Rebbe therefore urged that regular times be set aside between Minchah and Maariv for the group study of Ein Yaakov and of laws of practical application in the Shulchan Aruch.
In the present letter the Alter Rebbe goes on to condemn those who during prayer services engage in mundane conversation — not only on idle matters, but even on matters that are necessary for their livelihood. Such conversation at any other time would of course be permitted. During prayer services, however, it demonstrates that the speaker has no desire to behold the G‑dliness that is revealed specifically during that time. This insensitivity is depicted by a parable drawn from the Zohar. For years on end, a terrestial king hides his majestic splendor behind locked doors; those of his subjects who have the discernment to value that splendor, eagerly wait there for years on end until they are granted a glimpse of it; others are so foolish and so brazen that they show no interest.
For the time of prayer is a precious time below, echoing a propitious time Above. Above, as the Alter Rebbe states in ch. 12 of Tanya, it is a time of Mochin deGadlut, a time of sublime illumination in the upper worlds; below, therefore, it is the time when every individual can respond to the call which the King issues to His subjects.
If one is to receive the revelation which becomes possible at the time of prayer, that time needs to be utilized for meditation on the greatness of G‑d. But if this meditation is to be fertile, and give birth to the spiritual emotions of love and awe, it still needs to find its way into the worshiper’s heart. This is the message of the following brief teaching of the Alter Rebbe.
There is an expression of our Sages:1 אם כיון לבו — “If one had the proper intention (kiven libo), he has fulfilled his obligation.” Now כיון shares a root with the Aramaic כוין (kavin), meaning “windows”.2 Accordingly, in the above-quoted teaching of the Sages, the Alter Rebbe read the following message: A man fulfills his obligation during prayer only if he has made a window in his heart, so that the revelation that illuminates his mind during prayer will radiate its warmth into his heart.
אהוביי אחיי
My beloved ones, my brethren:
אל נא תרעו, ריעים האהובים ליוצרם ושנואים ליצרם
I beg of you, friends who are beloved unto their Maker and hateful unto their evil inclination: Do no wrong!
Surely one should respect the wishes of his Beloved, and not of his enemy.
ואל יעשה אדם עצמו רשע שעה אחת לפני המקום, אשר בחר בה מכל היום
Let no one make himself wicked before G‑d during that one hour (i.e., the hour of prayer) that He has chosen of all day,
להקהל ולעמוד לפניו בשעה זו, שהיא עת רצון לפניו להתגלות, לבוא אל המקדש מעט
so that [people] can congregate and stand3 before Him during that hour. For this is an auspicious time for Him to be revealed and to come into the “miniature sanctuary,” as a synagogue is called,4
לפקוד לשכינת כבודו, השוכן אתם בתוך טומאותם
to visit the Shechinah of His Glory,5 “that dwells with [the Jewish people] in the midst of their impurity,”
Even in the impurity of exile, the Divine Presence abides among the Jewish people. And at the auspicious hour of prayer the Almighty Himself comes, as it were, to visit the Shechinah that resides constantly among His people.
ולהמצא לדורשיו ומבקשיו ומייחליו
and to be accessible to those who seek Him and entreat Him and yearn for Him.
והמספר בצרכיו, מראה בעצמו שאינו חפץ להתבונן ולראות בגילוי כבוד מלכותו
At this auspicious time of prayer, he who speaks of his needs, demonstrates that he has no desire to contemplate and to behold the manifestation of [G‑d’s] majestic glory.
ונעשה מרכבה טמאה לכסיל העליון
Thus he becomes an impure chariot (i.e., a subservient vehicle) to the “Supernal Fool” (i.e., to thekelipah),
שנאמר עליו: לא יחפוץ כסיל בתבונה כו׳, כמו שכתבו הזהר והאריז״ל
of whom it is said,6 “The fool does not desire understanding...,” as stated in the Zohar7 and by R. Isaac Luria, of blessed memory8
דהיינו, שאינו חפץ להתבונן ולראות ביקר תפארת גדולתו של מלך מלכי המלכים, הקב״ה
This means, he has no desire to contemplate and to behold the glorious splendor of the greatness of the King of kings — the Holy One, blessed be He —
הנגלות למעלה בשעה זו
which becomes revealed at this hour above, for the hour of prayer is a propitious time above.
וגם למטה, אל החפצים להביט אל כבודו וגדלו, המתעטף ומתלבש בתוך תיבות התפלה הסדורה בפי כל
It is also [revealed] below, to those who earnestly desire to gaze upon His glory and greatness, which garbs and vests itself in the words of the liturgy which is known to all,
ומתגלה לכל אחד לפי שכלו ושורש נשמתו
and which becomes revealed to every individual, according to his intellect and according to the root of his soul;
כדכתיב: לפי שכלו יהולל איש
as it is written,9 “A man is praised (yehulal) according to [the measure of] his intellect,”
יהלל כתיב
As spelled, [the word could be pronounced] yehalel.
The verse would thus mean, “A man praises (i.e., prays) according to the measure of his intellect,” i.e., in proportion to his comprehension of G‑d’s greatness.
ומלכותא דרקיע כעין מלכותא דארעא
Now the kingdom of heaven is similar to a kingdom on earth.10
שדרך המלך להיות חביון עוזו בחדרי חדרים, וכמה שומרים על הפתחים
It is customary for a king to have his might concealed11 in [his] innermost chambers, with many guards at the doors,
עד אשר כמה וכמה מצפים ימים ושנים, לראות עוזו וכבודו
(so)12 that many people wait for days and years [hoping] to behold his might and glory.
וכשעלה ברצונו להתגלות לכל, והעביר קול בכל מלכותו להקהל ולעמוד לפניו, להראותם כבוד מלכותו ויקר תפארת גדולתו
Now when he wishes to be seen by all, and proclaims throughout his kingdom [that his subjects] should assemble and stand before him, so that he can show them his majestic glory and the exalted splendor of his greatness,
מי שעומד לפניו ואינו חושש לראותו, ומתעסק בצרכיו
whoever will stand before him and not care to see him, busying himself at that time with his own needs, —
כמה גרוע וסכל ופתי הוא, ונמשל כבהמות נדמה בעיני כל הבריות
how lowly, foolish and senseless is he; he resembles an animal in the eyes of all.
וגם הוא בזיון המלך, בהראותו לפניו שאינו ספון בעיניו לקבל נחת ושעשועים מהביט אל כבודו ויפיו, יותר מעסק צרכיו
Moreover, it is a dishonor to the king, when he demonstrates before him that to have pleasure and delight from gazing upon his glory and beauty is of no more esteem in his eyes than busying himself with his own needs.
וגם הוא מתחייב בנפשו למלך, על הראות קלונו ובזיונו את המלך לעין כל רואה
Moreover, it is a capital offense towards the king, to exhibit how he disgraces and dishonors the king in the eyes of the public.
ועל זה נאמר: וכסילים מרים קלון
Of this it is written,13 “And fools raise the insult.”
כלומר: אף שהוא כסיל, לא יהיה מרים קלון, שיהיה נראה הקלון לעין כל
This means to say, that though he is a fool, he should not “raise the insult,” making [it] apparent to all, for this not only dishonors the king, but also constitutes a capital offense.
* * *
ועל כן קבעו חז״ל בתפלה: כאלו עומד לפני המלך
For this reason our Sages, of blessed memory, ordained that with prayer one should [conduct himself]14 “as if he is standing before the king.”
Now if he is standing before the King of kings, why do our Sages say “as if”? This means:
על כל פנים יהיה מראה בעצמו כאלו עומד כו׳ לעין כל רואה בעיני בשר אל מעשיו ודיבוריו
At least he should make himself appear as if he is standing [before the king] in the sight of all who look with physical eyes at his actions and words,
אף שאין לו מחשבה לכסיל
even though a fool has no thought — although he does not have even an intellectual realization that while standing in prayer he truly is standing before the King.
ועל זה הענין נתקן כל התפלות, למתבונן בהם היטב
It was concerning this matter — the realization that one is standing before the King at the time that He appointed to reveal His glory to those who seek Him — that all the prayers were instituted,15 [as is evident] to whoever meditates deeply upon them.
ומי שאינו מראה כן, מתחייב בנפשו
But he that does not show this [realization] is guilty of a capital offense,
ועליו אמרו בזהר הקדוש, דאנהיג קלנא בתקונא עילאה, ואחזי פרודא, ולית ליה חולקא באלקא דישראל, רחמנא ליצלן
and of him it was said in the sacred Zohar16 that “he brings disgrace into the Supernal Order, and shows that he is separate [from holiness], and has no share in the G‑d of Israel,” heaven forfend.
על כן שליחותייהו דרז״ל קא עבידנא
Therefore, declares the Alter Rebbe, I am hereby acting as an agent of our Sages, of blessed memory,
לגזור גזירה שוה לכל נפש, שלא לשוח שיחה בטלה, משיתחיל השליח ציבור להתפלל התפלה, עד גמר קדיש בתרא, שחרית מנחה ערבית
to enact a decree17 to apply equally to everyone: No idle talk is to be spoken from the moment the Reader begins to recite the prayers until the end of the last Kaddish, at Shacharit, Minchah18 and Maariv.19
והעובר על זה בזדון, ישב על הארץ ויבקש משלושה אנשים שיתירו לו נידוי שלמעלה
And he who disobeys intentionally shall sit on the ground and beg of three people to release him from the supernal excommunication that results from disobeying a Rabbinic decree.
ושב ורפא לו, ולא חל עליו שום נידוי למפרע כל עיקר
“He should repent, resolving to change his ways, and he will be healed,”20 and retroactively, no excommunication whatever will have applied to him.
כי מתחלתו לא חל כי אם על המורדים והפושעים, שאינם חוששים כלל לבקש כפרה מן השמים ומן הבריות, על העון פלילי הזה
For from the very outset it applied only to those who rebel and are willfully sinful, and who do not care at all to seek atonement (as they ought) from heaven and from man for this grievous sin.
וגם דוקא כשמדברים בזדון, בשאט נפש
Also, [this excommunication applies] only when people speak deliberately and brazenly,
ולא על השוכח, או שנזרקו מפיו כמה תיבות בלא מתכוין, שאינו צריך התרה כלל
but not to a person who forgets, or unwittingly uttered a few words, for he does not require a release [from the excommunication] at all.
ובוחן לבות וכליות אלקים צדיק
“And G‑d Who is righteous examines the heart and the kidneys”:21 He probes a man’s inner integrity, and is able to discern a deliberate offense from an unwitting one.
הטיבה ה׳ לטובים, ולישרים בלבותם
The Alter Rebbe concludes with a prayer:22 “Be benevolent, O G‑d, unto the good,” i.e., to those who refrain utterly from idle speech, “and unto those who are upright in their hearts”; i.e., also to those whose hearts meant well, but from whose lips a few words inadvertently escaped.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Berachot 13a. |
| 2. | Daniel 6:11. |
| 3. | Note of the Rebbe: “Cf. the expression of the Sages, that ‘standing refers to prayer’(Berachot 6b).” |
| 4. | Megillah 29a, commenting on Yechezkel 11:16. |
| 5. | Vayikra 16:16; see also Tanya, ch. 45. |
| 6. | Mishlei 18:2. |
| 7. | See Zohar I, 179a. |
| 8. | See Ramaz to Zohar, loc. cit. |
| 9. | Mishlei 12:8. |
| 10. | Berachot 58a. |
| 11. | Note of the Rebbe: “Likkutei Torah (Discourses on Yom Kippur, at the conclusion of the discourse entitled Shabbat Shabbaton) explains the level of Divinity called ‘concealed might.’ This allows us to understand, as it were, its mortal analog.” |
| 12. | Parentheses are in the original. |
| 13. | Mishlei 3:35. |
| 14. | Berachot 33a. |
| 15. | Note of the Rebbe: “The singular form of the verb נתקן [i.e., the Hebrew original of ‘instituted’] should be checked against other [earlier] editions.” |
| 16. | I, 131b. |
| 17. | See Semak, conclusion of sec. 11. |
| 18. | Minchah has been listed here before Maariv, in accordance with the Table of Glosses and Emendations compiled by the Rebbe. |
| 19. | Note of the Rebbe: “It could be suggested that [Minchah was originally listed last] in order to show that the Alter Rebbe’s message applies to Shacharit and Arvit, and (even) to Minchah. That is to say, that even with regard to Minchah — which is a prayer that comes as a continuation of Shacharit (for which reason the Shema need not be recited again) — the same stringency applies, with regard to speaking during prayers. (This is the case even though it is obvious that there are interruptions between the Shema of Shacharit, which is also connected to Minchah, and the Minchah prayer itself.)” |
| 20. | Yeshayahu 6:10. |
| 21. | Tehillim 7:10. |
| 22. | Ibid. 125:4. |
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassToday's Mitzvah
Shabbat, Tishrei 24, 5778 · October 14, 2017
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 73
Confessing Sins
"And he shall confess that he has sinned"—Leviticus 5:5.
One who has sinned is obligated to verbally confess and say, "Please, G‑d, I have sinned by doing..." The individual should then elaborate to the best of his ability and ask G‑d for atonement. This mitzvah applies whether the sin was against G‑d or against a fellow man.
Even in the times of the Holy Temple when a person would bring a sin-offering to attain forgiveness, he was still required to orally confess his sin. The same for those who were guilty of capital offenses, they were asked to confess their sin prior to their execution.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Confessing Sins
Positive Commandment 73
Translated by Berel Bell
The 73rd mitzvah is that we are commanded to verbally acknowledge the sins we have committed before G‑d (exalted be He), when we come to doteshuvah (to repent).1 This is vidui (verbal confession), the idea2 of which is to say, " 'O G‑d, I have sinned, I have committed iniquity, I have transgressed and done ..." One should elaborate verbally and ask for atonement on this transgression with all the eloquence at his command.
You must understand that even for those sins which require one to bring certain sacrifices, as described above,3 (and regarding which G‑d (exalted be He) has said that the one who offers them thereby receives atonement) one must recite vidui at the time of the sacrifice.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He),4 "Speak to the Israelites: A man or woman who does any sin against his fellow man, ... must recite vidui on their sins that they have committed."
The Mechilta5 explains the meaning of this verse: "Since it is written,6 'he must recite vidui [on it] for the sin that he has committed,' we learn that one must recite vidui for a sin. Since the verse adds ['he must recite vidui] on it,' we learn that the vidui must be said when the animal is still alive, rather than after it has been slaughtered. However, from this we may derive the necessity of reciting vidui only for the transgression of an impure person entering the Temple."
G‑d's7 statement (exalted be He) This verse — "he must recite vidui on it for the sin that he has committed" — is written in parshas Vayikra regarding an impure person entering the Temple or eating sanctified food, and the other related cases we mentioned previously.8 Therefore, the Mechilta says that the only obligation of vidui to be derived from this verse is for an impure person who has entered the Temple [or the related cases].
"How9 do we derive [the obligation of vidui] for all other mitzvos? From the verse, 'Speak to the Israelites: ... they must recite vidui...' How do we know that even those punishable by death and by kares must recite vidui? From the expression, 'their sins.' The expression, 'any of their sins,'10 comes to include [the necessity of vidui] for any prohibition. The expression, 'who does,' comes to include the positive mitzvos."
There it continues [to interpret this verse]: "'Any sin against his fellow man,' comes to include any interpersonal transgression, such as theft, robbery, or lashon hara. The expression, 'Being untrue [to G‑d],' comes to include one who swore falsely using G‑d's Name, and one who curses Him. The expression, 'Becomes guilty of a crime,' comes to include those who are punishable by death — that all the above are obligated to recite vidui. One might think that one who is executed due to false testimony [must also recite vidui] — however, the verse only says, 'And he becomes guilty of a crime.' " This means that the individual must recite vidui only if he knows that he sinned, not if he was convicted by false testimony.11
It has therefore been explained to you that one must recite vidui for all categories of sin — more severe and less severe, and even positive mitzvos.
However, since this commandment, "They must recite vidui," is mentioned together with the obligation to bring the appropriate sacrifice, one might think that vidui is secondary to the sacrifice, rather than a distinct mitzvah on its own. Therefore the Mechilta must continue:
"One might think that the obligation to recite vidui applies only when bringing a sacrifice. How do we know that it applies even when no sacrifice is brought? This we learn from the statement, 'Speak to the Israelites ... they must recite vidui.'12 We still only know of the obligation of vidui in Israel. How do we know it applies even in exile? This we learn from what Daniel said, 'They will then recite vidui for their sins and the sins of their fathers,'13 and from the verse, 'To You, G‑d, there is charity, and to us there is shame.' "14
From all of this it is understood that vidui is a distinct mitzvah for itself; and that it is obligatory for anyone who commits any type of sin, whether in Israel or outside of Israel, whether or not accompanied by a sacrifice. [In all cases,] he is required to recite vidui, G‑d (exalted be He) stated, "They must recite vidui for their sins that they have committed."
The Sifri also explains the verse in this way: " 'And he must recite vidui' — this refers to verbal confession."
The details of this mitzvah have been explained in the last chapter of tractate Kippurim [Yoma].
FOOTNOTES
1.This statement seems to imply that technically there is no mitzvah to do teshuvah, but rather when one does decide to do teshuvah, there is the mitzvah of vidui. However, in Hilchos Teshuvah, the Rambam begins, "There is one positive mitzvah: for the sinner to do teshuvah before G‑d and recite vidui." This indicates that teshuvah itself is part of the mitzvah. See Chidushim U'Biurim L'Shas, Kehot, Vol. I, Ch. 18.
2.See Kapach edition, 5731, note 10, who explains that there is no obligation to say any specific words (e.g., "I have sinned," etc.).
3.Previously in Sefer Hamitzvos. See numerical list in Introduction.
4.Num. 5:6-7.
5.The commentaries comment that our version of the Mechilta does not have this passage; rather it is found in Sifri Zuta.
6.Lev. 5:5.
7.The Rambam interrupts his quoting of the Mechilta in order to explain.
8.P72. The other transgressions which require the same type of sacrifice are 1) uttering a false oath to perform (or to refrain from) a certain action, and 2) uttering a false oath that one has no testimony to offer for a judicial proceeding.
9.The Rambam continues by quoting the rest of the Mechilta.
10.Although this exact expression does not appear in the verse, evidently it refers to the similar expression used in the previous verse, Bamidbar 5:6. See Kapach, 5731 ed. note 18. However, see Chinuch, Mitzvah 364.
11.This is the opinion of the Mechilta. However, in Hilchos Sanhedrin, 13:1, the Rambam rules that even such a person must recite vidui. The Mishnah (Sanhedrin 43b) explains that otherwise, every convict will refuse to recite vidui in order to prove his innocence.
12.Perhaps the meaning of this proof is that in this passage, the sacrifice is mentioned only in passing ("in addition to the atonement ram," Num. 5:8), unlike the passage in Lev. 5.
13.Lev. 26:40. This speaks of a time when the Jewish people will be outside Israel, as stated in verse 33, "I will scatter you among the nations," and verse 39, "Those of you who survive in the land of your enemies ... they will then say vidui ..."
14.Daniel 9:7. This vidui was uttered outside of Israel.
Rambam:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Yesodei haTorah Yesodei haTorah - Chapter Six
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassYesodei 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:
Rambam:
• 3 Chapters A Day: Teshuvah Teshuvah - Chapter Four, Teshuvah Teshuvah - Chapter Five, Teshuvah Teshuvah - Chapter Six
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassTeshuvah - Chapter Four
1
There are 24 deeds which hold back Teshuvah: Four are the commission of severe sins. God will not grant the person who commits such deeds to repent because of the gravity of his transgressions.
They are:
a) One who causes the masses to sin, included in this category is one who holds back the many from performing a positive command;
b) One who leads his colleague astray from the path of good to that of bad; for example, one who proselytizes or serves as a missionary [for idol worship];
c) One who sees his son becoming associated with evil influences and refrains from rebuking him. Since his son is under his authority, were he to rebuke him, he would have separated himself [from these influences]. Hence, [by refraining from admonishing him, it is considered] as if he caused him to sin.
Included in this sin are also all those who have the potential to rebuke others, whether an individual or a group, and refrain from doing so, leaving them to their shortcomings.
d) One who says: "I will sin and then, repent." Included in this category is one who says: "I will sin and Yom Kippur will atone [for me]."
א
ארבעה ועשרים דברים מעכבין את התשובה ארבעה מהן עון גדול והעושה אחד מהן אין הקדוש ברוך הוא מספיק בידו לעשות תשובה לפי גודל חטאו:
ואלו הן:
(א) המחטיא את הרבים ובכלל עון זה המעכב את הרבים מלעשות מצוה (ב) והמטה את חבירו מדרך טובה לרעה כגון מסית ומדיח (ג) הרואה בנו יוצא לתרבות רעה ואינו ממחה בידו הואיל ובנו ברשותו אילו מיחה בו היה פורש ונמצא כמחטיאו ובכלל עון זה כל שאפשר בידו למחות באחרים בין יחיד בין רבים ולא מיחה אלא יניחם בכשלונם (ד) והאומר אחטא ואשוב ובכלל זה האומר אחטא ויום הכפורים מכפר:
2
Among [the 24] are five deeds which cause the paths of Teshuvah to be locked before those who commit them. They are:
a) One who separates himself from the community; when they repent, he will not be together with them and he will not merit to share in their merit.
b) One who contradicts the words of the Sages; the controversy he provokes will cause him to cut himself off from them and, thus, he will never know the ways of repentance.
c) One who scoffs at the mitzvoth; since he considers them as degrading, he will not pursue them or fulfill them. If he does not fulfill mitzvot, how can he merit [to repent]?
d) One who demeans his teachers; this will cause them to reject and dismiss him as [Elishah did to] Gechazi. In this period of rejection, he will not find a teacher or guide to show him the path of truth.
e) One who hates admonishment; this will not leave him a path for repentance. Admonishment leads to Teshuvah. When a person is informed about his sins and shamed because of them, he will repent. Accordingly, [rebukes are] included in the Torah, [for example]:
”Remember, do not forget, that you provoked [God, your Lord, in the desert. From the day you left Egypt until here,] you have been rebelling....”(Deuteronomy 9:7).
”[Until this day,] God did not give you a heart to know....” (Deuteronomy 29:3).
”[Is this the way you repay God,] you ungrateful, unwise nation” (Deuteronomy 2:6).
Similarly, Isaiah rebuked Israel, declaring: “Woe, sinful nation, [people laden with iniquity...]” (Isaiah 1:4),
”The ox knows its owner, [and the ass, his master's crib. Israel does not know...]” (ibid.: 1:3),
I know you are obstinate... (ibid. 48:4).
God also commanded him to admonish the transgressors as [ibid. 58:1] states: "Call out from your throat, do not spare it." Similarly, all the prophets rebuked Israel until she repented. Therefore, it is proper for each and every congregation in Israel to appoint a great sage of venerable age, with [a reputation of] fear of heaven from his youth, beloved by the community, to admonish the masses and motivate them to Teshuvah.
This person who hates admonishment will not come to the preacher's [lecture] or hear his words. Accordingly, he will continue his sinful [paths], which he regards as good.
ב
ומהן חמשה דברים הנועלים דרכי התשובה בפני עושיהן ואלו הן:
(א) הפורש מן הצבור לפי שבזמן שיעשו תשובה לא יהיה עמהן ואינו זוכה עמהן בזכות שעושין (ב) והחולק על דברי חכמים לפי שמחלוקתו גורמת לו לפרוש מהן ואינו יודע דרכי התשובה (ג) והמלעיג על המצות שכיון שנתבזו בעיניו אינו רודף אחריהן ולא עושן ואם לא יעשה במה יזכה (ד) והמבזה רבותיו שדבר זה גורם לו לדחפו ולטרדו כגחזי ובזמן שנטרד לא ימצא מלמד ומורה לו דרך האמת (ה) והשונא את התוכחות שהרי לא הניח לו דרך תשובה שהתוכחה גורמת לתשובה שבזמן שמודיעין לו לאדם חטאיו ומכלימין אותו חוזר בתשובה כמו שכתוב בתורה זכור ואל תשכח ממרים הייתם ולא נתן ה' לכם לב עם נבל ולא חכם וכן ישעיהו הוכיח את ישראל ואמר הוי גוי חוטא ידע שור קונהו מדעתי כי קשה אתה וכן צוהו האל להוכיח לחטאים שנאמר קרא בגרון אל תחשוך וכן כל הנביאים הוכיחו לישראל עד שחזרו בתשובה לפיכך צריך להעמיד בכל קהל וקהל מישראל חכם גדול וזקן וירא שמים מנעוריו ואהוב להם שיהא מוכיח לרבים ומחזירן בתשובה וזה ששונא את התוכחות אינו בא למוכיח ולא שומע דבריו לפיכך יעמוד בחטאתיו שהם בעיניו טובים:
3
Among these [24] are five [transgressions] for which it is impossible for the person who commits them to repent completely. They are sins between man and man, concerning which it is impossible to know the person whom one sinned against in order to return [what is owed him] or ask for his forgiveness. They are:
a) One who curses the many without cursing a specific individual from whom he can request forgiveness;
b) One who takes a share of a thief's [gain], for he does not know to whom the stolen article belongs. The thief steals from many, brings him [his share], and he takes it. Furthermore, he reinforces the thief and causes him to sin;
c) One who finds a lost object and does not announce it [immediately] in order to return it to its owners. Afterwards, when he desires to repent, he will not know to whom to return the article;
d) One who eats an ox belonging to the poor, orphans, or widows. These are unfortunate people, who are not well-known or recognized by the public. They wander from city to city and thus, there is no one who can identify them and know to whom the ox belonged in order that it may be returned to him.
e) One who takes a bribe to pervert judgment. He does not know the extent of the perversion or the power [of its implications] in order to pay the [people whom he wronged], for his judgment had a basis. Furthermore, [by taking a bribe], he reinforces the person [who gave it] and causes him to sin.
ג
ומהם חמשה דברים העושה אותן אי אפשר לו שישוב בתשובה גמורה לפי שהם עונות שבין אדם לחבירו ואינו יודע חבירו שחטא לו כדי שיחזיר לו או ישאל ממנו למחול לו ואלו הן:
(א) המקלל את הרבים ולא קלל אדם ידוע כדי שישאל ממנו כפרה (ב) והחולק עם גנב שלפי שאינו יודע גניבה זו של מי היא אלא הגנב גונב לרבים ומביא לו והוא לוקח ועוד שהוא מחזיק יד הגנב ומחטיאו (ג) והמוצא אבדה ואינו מכריז עליה עד שיחזירה לבעליה לאחר זמן כשיעשה תשובה אינו יודע למי יחזיר (ד) והאוכל שור עניים ויתומים ואלמנות אלו בני אדם אמללין הם ואינן ידועים ומפורסמים וגולים מעיר לעיר ואין להם מכיר כדי שידע שור זה של מי הוא ויחזירנו לו (ה) והמקבל שוחד להטות דין אינו יודע עד היכן הגיע הטייה זו וכמה היא כחה כדי שיחזיר שהדבר יש לו רגלים ועוד שהוא מחזיק יד זה ומחטיאו:
4
Also among the [24] are five [transgressions] for which it is unlikely that the person who commits them will repent. Most people regard these matters lightly. Hence, [by committing such a transgression,] a person will sin without realizing that he has. They are:
a) One who eats from a meal which is not sufficient for its owners. This is a "shade of theft." However, the person who [partook from this meal] will not realize that he has sinned, for he will rationalize: "I only ate with his permission."
b) One who makes use of a pledge taken from a poor person. The pledge taken from a poor person would be his axe or plow. He rationalizes: "Their value will not depreciate and, hence, I haven't stolen anything from him."
c) One who looks at women forbidden to him. He considers the matter of little consequence, rationalizing: "Did I engage in relations with her? Was I intimate with her?" He fails to realize how looking [at such sights] is a great sin, for it motivates a person to actually take part in illicit sexual relations as implied by [Numbers 15:39] "Do not follow after your heart and your eyes."
d) One who takes pride in his colleague's shame. He tells himself that he has not sinned, for his colleague was not present. Thus, no shame came [directly] to his colleague, nor did he humiliate him. He merely contrasted his good deeds and wisdom against the deeds or wisdom of his colleague in order that, out of that comparison, he would appear honorable, and his colleague, shameful.
e) One who suspects worthy people. He will also say to himself "I haven't sinned," for he will rationalize: "What have I done to him? All I did was raise a doubt whether he committed the wrong or not." He does not realize that this is a sin, for he has considered a worthy person as a transgressor.
ד
ומהן חמשה דברים העושה אותן אין חזקתו לשוב מהן לפי שהם דברים קלים בעיני רוב האדם ונמצא חוטא והוא ידמה שאין זה חטא ואלו הן:
(א) האוכל מסעודה שאינה מספקת לבעליה שזה אבק גזל הוא והוא מדמה שלא חטא ויאמר כלום אכלתי אלא ברשותו (ב) המשתמש בעבוטו של עני שהעבוט של עני אינו אלא כגון קורדום ומחרישה ויאמר בלבו אינן חסרים והרי לא גזלתי אותו (ג) המסתכל בעריות מעלה על דעתו שאין בכך כלום שהוא אומר וכי בעלתי או קרבתי אצלה והוא אינו יודע שראיית העינים עון גדול שהיא גורמת לגופן של עריות שנאמר ולא תתורו אחרי לבבכם ואחרי עיניכם (ד) המתכבד בקלון חבירו אומר בלבו שאינו חטא לפי שאין חבירו עומד שם ולא הגיע לו בושת ולא ביישו אלא ערך מעשיו הטובים וחכמתו למול מעשה חבירו או חכמתו כדי שיראה מכללו שהוא מכובד וחבירו בזוי (ה) והחושד כשרים אומר בלבו שאינו חטא לפי שהוא אומר מה עשיתי לו וכי יש שם אלא חשד שמא עשה או לא עשה והוא אינו יודע שזה עון שמשים אדם כשר בדעתו כבעל עבירה:
5
Among the [24] are five [qualities] which have the tendency to lead the transgressor to continue to commit them and which are very difficult to abandon. Therefore, a person should be very careful lest he become attached to them, for they are very bad attributes. They are:
a) gossip;
b) slander;
c) quick-temperedness;
d) a person preoccupied with sinister thoughts;
e) a person who becomes friendly with a wicked person, for he learns from his deeds and they are imprinted on his heart. This was implied by Solomon [Proverbs 13:20]: "A companion of fools will suffer harm."
In Hilchot De'ot, we explained the [character traits] which all people should continually follow. This surely holds true for a Baal-Teshuvah.
ה
ומהן חמשה דברים העושה אותם ימשך אחריהם תמיד וקשים הם לפרוש מהן לפיכך צריך אדם להזהר מהן שמא ידבק בהן והן כולן דעות רעות עד מאד ואלו הן:
רכילות ולשון הרע ובעל חימה ובעל מחשבה רעה והמתחבר לרשע מפני שהוא לומד ממעשיו והן נרשמים בלבו הוא שאמר שלמה ורועה כסילים ירוע וכבר בארנו בהלכות דעות דברים שצריך כל אדם לנהוג בהן תמיד קל וחומר לבעל תשובה:
6
All of the above, and other similar transgressions, though they hold back repentance, they do not prevent it entirely. Should one of these people repent, he is a Baal-Teshuvah and has a portion in the world to come.
ו
כל אלו הדברים וכיוצא בהן אע"פ שמעכבין את התשובה אין מונעין אותה אלא אם עשה אדם תשובה מהן הרי זה בעל תשובה ויש לו חלק לעולם הבא:
Teshuvah - Chapter Five
1
Free will is granted to all men. If one desires to turn himself to the path of good and be righteous, the choice is his. Should he desire to turn to the path of evil and be wicked, the choice is his.
This is [the intent of] the Torah's statement (Genesis 3:22): "Behold, man has become unique as ourselves, knowing good and evil," i.e., the human species became singular in the world with no other species resembling it in the following quality: that man can, on his own initiative, with his knowledge and thought, know good and evil, and do what he desires. There is no one who can prevent him from doing good or bad. Accordingly, [there was a need to drive him from the Garden of Eden,] "lest he stretch out his hand [and take from the tree of life]."
א
רשות לכל אדם נתונה אם רצה להטות עצמו לדרך טובה ולהיות צדיק הרשות בידו ואם רצה להטות עצמו לדרך רעה ולהיות רשע הרשות בידו הוא שכתוב בתורה הן האדם היה כאחד ממנו לדעת טוב ורע כלומר הן מין זה של אדם היה יחיד בעולם ואין מין שני דומה לו בזה הענין שיהא הוא מעצמו בדעתו ובמחשבתו יודע הטוב והרע ועושה כל מה שהוא חפץ ואין מי שיעכב בידו מלעשות הטוב או הרע וכיון שכן הוא פן ישלח ידו:
2
A person should not entertain the thesis held by the fools among the gentiles and the majority of the undeveloped among Israel that, at the time of a man's creation, The Holy One, blessed be He, decrees whether he will be righteous or wicked.
This is untrue. Each person is fit to be righteous like Moses, our teacher, or wicked, like Jeroboam. [Similarly,] he may be wise or foolish, merciful or cruel, miserly or generous, or [acquire] any other character traits. There is no one who compels him, sentences him, or leads him towards either of these two paths. Rather, he, on his own initiative and decision, tends to the path he chooses.
This was [implied by the prophet,] Jeremiah who stated [Eichah 3:38: "From the mouth of the Most High, neither evil or good come forth." Accordingly, it is the sinner, himself, who causes his own loss.
Therefore, it is proper for a person to cry and mourn for his sins and for what he has done to his soul, the evil consequences, he brought upon it. This is implied by the following verse [ibid.:39]: "Of what should a living man be aggrieved? [A man of his sins.]"
[The prophet] continues explaining, since free choice is in our hands and our own decision [is what prompts us to] commit all these wrongs, it is proper for us to repent and abandon our wickedness, for this choice is presently in our hand. This is implied by the following verse [ibid.:40]: "Let us search and examine our ways and return [to God]."
ב
אל יעבור במחשבתך דבר זה שאומרים טפשי אומה"ע ורוב גולמי בני ישראל שהקב"ה גוזר על האדם מתחלת ברייתו להיות צדיק או רשע אין הדבר כן אלא כל אדם ראוי לו להיות צדיק כמשה רבינו או רשע כירבעם או חכם או סכל או רחמן או אכזרי או כילי או שוע וכן שאר כל הדעות ואין לו מי שיכפהו ולא גוזר עליו ולא מי שמושכו לאחד משני הדרכים אלא הוא מעצמו ומדעתו נוטה לאי זו דרך שירצה הוא שירמיהו אמר מפי עליון לא תצא הרעות והטוב כלומר אין הבורא גוזר על האדם להיות טוב ולא להיות רע וכיון שכן הוא נמצא זה החוטא הוא הפסיד את עצמו ולפיכך ראוי לו לבכות ולקונן על חטאיו ועל מה שעשה לנפשו וגמלה רעה הוא שכתוב אחריו מה יתאונן אדם חי וגו' וחזר ואמר הואיל ורשותנו בידינו ומדעתנו עשינו כל הרעות ראוי לנו לחזור בתשובה ולעזוב רשענו שהרשות עתה בידינו הוא שכתוב אחריו נחפשה דרכינו ונחקורה ונשובה וגו':
3
This principle is a fundamental concept and a pillar [on which rests the totality] of the Torah and mitzvot as [Deuteronomy 30:15] states: "Behold, I have set before you today life [and good, death and evil]." Similarly, [Deuteronomy 11:26] states, "Behold, I have set before you today [the blessing and the curse]," implying that the choice is in your hands.
Any one of the deeds of men which a person desires to do, he may, whether good or evil. Therefore, [Deuteronomy 5:26] states:
"If only their hearts would always remain this way." From this, we can infer that the Creator does not compel or decree that people should do either good or bad. Rather, everything is left to their [own choice].
ג
ודבר זה עיקר גדול הוא והוא עמוד התורה והמצוה שנאמר ראה נתתי לפניך היום את החיים וכתיב ראה אנכי נותן לפניכם היום כלומר שהרשות בידכם וכל שיחפוץ האדם לעשות ממעשה בני האדם עושה בין טובים בין רעים ומפני זה הענין נאמר מי יתן והיה לבבם זה להם כלומר שאין הבורא כופה בני האדם ולא גוזר עליהן לעשות טובה או רעה אלא הכל מסור להם:
4
Were God to decree that an individual would be righteous or wicked or that there would be a quality which draws a person by his essential nature to any particular path [of behavior], way of thinking, attributes, or deeds, as imagined by many of the fools [who believe] in astrology - how could He command us through [the words of] the prophets: "Do this," "Do not do this," "Improve your behavior," or "Do not follow after your wickedness?"
[According to their mistaken conception,] from the beginning of man's creation, it would be decreed upon him, or his nature would draw him, to a particular quality and he could not depart from it.
What place would there be for the entire Torah? According to which judgement or sense of justice would retribution be administered to the wicked or reward to the righteous? Shall the whole world's Judge not act justly!
A person should not wonder: How is it possible for one to do whatever he wants and be responsible for his own deeds? - Is it possible for anything to happen in this world without the permission and desire of its Creator as [Psalms 135:6] states: "Whatever God wishes, He has done in the heavens and in the earth?"
One must know that everything is done in accord with His will and, nevertheless, we are responsible for our deeds.
How is this [apparent contradiction] resolved? Just as the Creator desired that [the elements of] fire and wind rise upward and [those of] water and earth descend downward, that the heavenly spheres revolve in a circular orbit, and all the other creations of the world follow the nature which He desired for them, so too, He desired that man have free choice and be responsible for his deeds, without being pulled or forced. Rather, he, on his own initiative, with the knowledge which God has granted him, will do anything that man is able to do.
Therefore, he is judged according to his deeds. If he does good, he is treated with beneficence. If he does bad, he is treated harshly. This is implied by the prophets' statements: "This has been the doing of your hands” [Malachi 1:9]; "They also have chosen their own paths” [Isaiah 66:3].
This concept was also implied by Solomon in his statement [Ecclesiastes 11:9]: "Young man, rejoice in your youth... but, know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment," i.e., know that you have the potential to do, but in the future, you will have to account for your deeds.
ד
אילו האל היה גוזר על האדם להיות צדיק או רשע או אילו היה שם דבר שמושך את האדם בעיקר תולדתו לדרך מן הדרכים או למדע מן המדעות או לדעה מן הדעות או למעשה מן המעשים כמו שבודים מלבם הטפשים הוברי שמים היאך היה מצוה לנו על ידי הנביאים עשה כך ואל תעשה כך הטיבו דרכיכם ואל תלכו אחרי רשעכם והוא מתחלת ברייתו כבר נגזר עליו או תולדתו תמשוך אותו לדבר שאי אפשר לזוז ממנו ומה מקום היה לכל התורה כולה ובאי זה דין ואיזה משפט נפרע מן הרשע או משלם שכר לצדיק השופט כל הארץ לא יעשה משפט ואל תתמה ותאמר היאך יהיה האדם עושה כל מה שיחפוץ ויהיו מעשיו מסורים לו וכי יעשה בעולם דבר שלא ברשות קונו ולא חפצו והכתוב אומר כל אשר חפץ ה' עשה בשמים ובארץ דע שהכל כחפצו יעשה ואף על פי שמעשינו מסורין לנו כיצד כשם שהיוצר חפץ להיות האש והרוח עולים למעלה והמים והארץ יורדים למטה והגלגל סובב בעיגול וכן שאר בריות העולם להיות כמנהגן שחפץ בו ככה חפץ להיות האדם רשותו בידו וכל מעשיו מסורין לו ולא יהיה לו לא כופה ולא מושך אלא הוא מעצמו ובדעתו שנתן לו האל עושה כל שהאדם יכול לעשות לפיכך דנין אותו לפי מעשין אם עשה טובה מטיבין לו ואם עשה רעה מריעין לו הוא שהנביא אומר מידכם היתה זאת לכם גם המה בחרו בדרכיהם ובענין זה אמר שלמה שמח בחור בילדותך ודע כי על כל אלה יביאך האלהים במשפט כלומר דע שיש בידך כח לעשות ועתיד אתה ליתן את הדין:
5
One might ask: Since The Holy One, blessed be He, knows everything that will occur before it comes to pass, does He or does He not know whether a person will be righteous or wicked?
If He knows that he will be righteous, [it appears] impossible for him not to be righteous. However, if one would say that despite His knowledge that he would be righteous, it is possible for him to be wicked, then His knowledge would be incomplete.
Know that the resolution to this question [can be described as]: "Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea." Many great and fundamental principles and lofty concepts are dependent upon it. However, the statements that I will make must be known and understood [as a basis for the comprehension of this matter].
As explained in the second chapter of Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah, The Holy One, blessed be He, does not know with a knowledge that is external from Him as do men, whose knowledge and selves are two [different entities]. Rather, He, may His name be praised, and His knowledge are one.
Human knowledge cannot comprehend this concept in its entirety for just as it is beyond the potential of man to comprehend and conceive the essential nature of the Creator, as [Exodus 33:20] states: "No man will perceive, Me and live," so, too, it is beyond man's potential to comprehend and conceive the Creator's knowledge. This was the intent of the prophet's [Isaiah 55:8] statements: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways, My ways."
Accordingly, we do not have the potential to conceive how The Holy One, blessed be He, knows all the creations and their deeds. However, this is known without any doubt: That man's actions are in his [own] hands and The Holy One, blessed be He, does not lead him [in a particular direction] or decree that he do anything.
This matter is known, not only as a tradition of faith, but also, through clear proofs from the words of wisdom. Consequently, the prophets taught that a person is judged for his deeds, according to his deeds - whether good or bad. This is a fundamental principle on which is dependent all the words of prophecy.
ה
שמא תאמר והלא הקדוש ברוך הוא יודע כל מה שיהיה וקודם שיהיה ידע שזה יהיה צדיק או רשע או לא ידע אם ידע שהוא יהיה צדיק אי אפשר שלא יהיה צדיק ואם תאמר שידע שיהיה צדיק ואפשר שיהיה רשע הרי לא ידע הדבר על בוריו דע שתשובת שאלה זו ארוכה מארץ מדה ורחבה מני ים וכמה עיקרים גדולים והררים רמים תלויים בה אבל צריך אתה לידע ולהבין בדבר זה שאני אומר כבר בארנו בפ' שני מהלכות יסודי התורה שהקב"ה אינו יודע מדיעה שהיא חוץ ממנו כבני אדם שהם ודעתם שנים אלא הוא יתעלה שמו ודעתו אחד ואין דעתו של אדם יכולה להשיג דבר זה על בוריו וכשם שאין כח באדם להשיג ולמצוא אמתת הבורא שנאמר כי לא יראני האדם וחי אין כח באדם להשיג ולמצוא דעתו של בורא הוא שהנביא אמר כי לא מחשבותי מחשבותיכם ולא דרכיכם דרכי וכיון שכן הוא אין בנו כח לידע היאך ידע הקדוש ברוך הוא כל הברואים והמעשים אבל נדע בלא ספק שמעשה האדם ביד האדם ואין הקב"ה מושכו ולא גוזר עליו לעשות כך ולא מפני קבלת הדת בלבד נודע דבר זה אלא בראיות ברורות מדברי החכמה ומפני זה נאמר בנבואה שדנין את האדם על מעשיו כפי מעשיו אם טוב ואם רע וזה הוא העיקר שכל דברי הנבואה תלויין בו:
Teshuvah - Chapter Six
1
There are many verses in the Torah and the words of the prophets which appear to contradict this fundamental principle. [Thus,] the majorities of the people err because of them and think that the Holy One, blessed be He, does decree that a person commit evil or good and that a person's heart is not given over to him to direct it towards any path he desires.
Behold, I will explain a great and fundamental principle [of faith] on the basis of which the interpretation of those verses can be understood. [As a preface,] when an individual or the people of a country sin, the sinner consciously and willfully committing that sin, it is proper to exact retribution from him as explained. The Holy One, blessed be He, knows how to exact punishment: There are certain sins for which justice determines that retribution be exacted in this world; on the sinner's person, on his possessions, or on his small children.
[Retribution is exacted upon a person's] small children who do not possess intellectual maturity and have not reached the age where they are obligated to perform mitzvot [because these children] are considered as his property. [This concept is alluded to] by the verse [Deuteronomy 24:16]: "A man will die because of his own sins." [We may infer: This rule only applies] after one has become "a man."
There are other sins for which justice determines that retribution be exacted in the world to come with no damages coming to the transgressor in this world. There are [other] sins for which retribution is taken in this world and in the world to come.
א
פסוקים הרבה יש בתורה ובדברי נביאים שהן נראין כסותרין עיקר זה ונכשלין בהן רוב האדם ויעלה על דעתן מהן שהקב"ה הוא גוזר על האדם לעשות רעה או טובה ושאין לבו של אדם מסור לו להטותו לכל אשר ירצה והרי אני מבאר עיקר גדול שממנו תדע פירוש כל אותן הפסוקים בזמן שאדם אחד או אנשי מדינה חוטאים ועושה החוטא חטא שעושה מדעתו וברצונו כמו שהודענו ראוי להפרע ממנו והקדוש ברוך הוא יודע איך יפרע יש חטא שהדין נותן שנפרעים ממנו על חטאו בעולם הזה בגופו או בממונו או בבניו הקטנים שבניו של אדם הקטנים שאין בהם דעת ולא הגיעו לכלל מצות כקניינו הן וכתיב איש בחטאו ימות עד שיעשה איש ויש חטא שהדין נותן שנפרעין ממנו לעולם הבא ואין לעובר עליו שום נזק בעולם הזה ויש חטא שנפרעין ממנו בעולם הזה ולעולם הבא:
2
When does the above apply? When [the transgressor] does not repent. However, if he repents, his Teshuvah is a shield against retribution. Just as a person may sin consciously and willfully, he may repent consciously and willfully.
ב
במה דברים אמורים בזמן שלא עשה תשובה אבל אם עשה תשובה התשובה כתריס לפני הפורענות וכשם שהאדם חוטא מדעתו וברצונו כך הוא עושה תשובה מדעתו וברצונו:
3
A person may commit a great sin or many sins causing the judgment rendered before the True Judge to be that the retribution [administered to] this transgressor for these sins which he willfully and consciously committed is that his Teshuvah will be held back. He will not be allowed the chance to repent from his wickedness so that he will die and be wiped out because of the sin he committed.
This is implied by the Holy One, blessed be He's statement [related] by Isaiah [6:10]: “Make the heart of this people fat [and make their ears heavy. Smear over their eyes, lest they see with their eyes... understand with their hearts, repent and be healed].”
Similarly, [II Chronicles 36:16] states “ They mocked the messengers of God, scorned His words, scoffed at His prophets until the anger of God mounted up against His people until there was no remedy.”
Implied [by these verses] is that they willingly sinned, multiplying their iniquity until it was obliged to hold back their Teshuvah, [which is referred to as] the "remedy."
For these reasons, it is written in the Torah [Exodus 14:4], "I will harden Pharaoh's heart." Since, he began to sin on his own initiative and caused hardships to the Israelites who dwelled in his land as [Exodus 1:10] states: "Come, let us deal wisely with them," judgment obligated that he be prevented from repenting so that he would suffer retribution. Therefore, The Holy One, blessed be He, hardened his heart.
Why did [God] send Moses to [Pharaoh], telling him: “Send [forth the people], repent”? The Holy One, blessed be He, had already told that he would not release [the people], as [Exodus 9:30] states: “I realize that you and your subjects [still do not fear God].”
[The reason is stated in Exodus 9:16:] “For this alone, I have preserved you… so that My name will be spoken about throughout the earth],” i.e., to make known to all the inhabitants of the world that when the Holy One, blessed be He, withholds repentance from a sinner, he cannot repent, but he will die in the wickedness that he initially committed willfully.
Similarly, Sichon was held liable for repentance to be withheld from him, because of the sins he committed, as [Deuteronomy 2:30] states: “God, your Lord, hardened his spirit and strengthened his heart.”
Also, the Canaanites held back from repenting, because of their abominable acts, so that they would wage war against Israel as [Joshua 11:20] states: "This was inspired by God, to harden their hearts so that they should come against Israel in battle in order to utterly destroy them."
Similarly, the Israelites during the era of Elijah committed many iniquities. Repentance was held back from those who committed these many sins, as [I Kings 18:37] states: "You have turned their heart backwards," i.e., held repentance back from them.
In conclusion, the Almighty did not decree that Pharaoh should harm the Israelites that Sichon should sin in his land, that the Canaanites should perform abominable acts, or that the Israelites should worship idols. They all sinned on their own initiative and they were obligated to have Teshuvah held back from them.
ג
ואפשר שיחטא אדם חטא גדול או חטאים רבים עד שיתן הדין לפני דיין האמת שיהא הפרעון מזה החוטא על חטאים אלו שעשה ברצונו ומדעתו שמונעין ממנו התשובה ואין מניחין לו רשות לשוב מרשעו כדי שימות ויאבד בחטאו שיעשה הוא שהקב"ה אמרע"יישעיהו השמן לב העם הזה וגו' וכן הוא אומר ויהיו מלעיבים במלאכי האלהים ובוזים דבריו ומתעתעים בנביאיו עד עלות חמת ה' בעמו עד לאין מרפא כלומר חטאו ברצונם והרבו לפשוע עד שנתחייבו למנוע מהן התשובה שהיא המרפא לפיכך כתוב בתורה ואני אחזק את לב פרעה לפי שחטא מעצמו תחלה והרע לישראל הגרים בארצו שנאמר הבה נתחכמה לו נתן הדין למנוע התשובה ממנו עד שנפרע ממנו לפיכך חזק הקדוש ברוך הוא את לבו ולמה היה שולח לו ביד משה ואומר שלח ועשה תשובה וכבר אמר לו הקב"ה אין אתה משלח שנאמר ואתה ועבדיך ידעתי וגו' ואולם בעבור זאת העמדתיך כדי להודיע לבאי העולם שבזמן שמונע הקדוש ברוך הוא התשובה לחוטא אינו יכול לשוב אלא ימות ברשעו שעשה בתחילה ברצונו וכן סיחון לפי עונות שהיו לו נתחייב למונעו מן התשובה שנאמר כי הקשה ה' אלהיך את רוחו ואמץ את לבבו וכן הכנענים לפי תועבותיהן מנע מהן התשובה עד שעשו מלחמה עם ישראל שנאמר כי מאת ה' היתה לחזק את לבם לקראת המלחמה עם ישראל למען החרימם וכן ישראל בימי אליהו לפי שהרבו לפשוע מנע מאותן המרבים לפשוע תשובה שנאמר ואתה הסבות את לבם אחורנית כלומר מנעת מהן התשובה:
נמצאת אומר שלא גזר האל על פרעה להרע לישראל ולא על סיחון לחטוא בארצו ולא על הכנענים להתעיב ולא על ישראל לעבוד עכו"ם אלא כולן חטאו מעצמן וכולן נתחייבו למנוע מהן התשובה:
4
This is what is implied in the requests of the righteous and the prophets in their prayers, [asking] God to help them on the path of truth, as David pleaded [Psalms 86:11]: "God, show me Your way that I may walk in Your truth;" i.e., do not let my sins prevent me from [reaching] the path of truth which will lead me to appreciate Your way and the oneness of Your name.
A similar intent [is conveyed] by the request [Psalms 51:14]: "Support me with a spirit of magnanimity;" i.e., let my spirit [be willing] to do Your will and do not cause my sins to prevent me from repenting. Rather, let the choice remain in my hand until I repent and comprehend and appreciate the path of truth. In a similar way, [one must interpret] all the [verses] which resemble these.
ד
וכענין זה שואלין הצדיקים והנביאים בתפלתם מאת ה' לעזרם על האמת כמו שאמר דוד הורני ה' דרכך כלומר אל ימנעוני חטאי דרך האמת שממנה אדע דרכך ויחוד שמך וכן זה שאמר ורוח נדיבה תסכמני כלומר תניח רוחי לעשות חפצך ואל יגרמו לי חטאי למונעני מתשובה אלא תהיה הרשות בידי עד שאחזור ואבין ואדע דרך האמת ועל דרך זו כל הדומה לפסוקים אלו:
5
What was implied by David's statement [Psalms 25:8-9]: "God is good and upright, therefore, he instructs sinners in the path. He guides the humble [in the path of justice and] teaches the humble His way]"? That He sends them prophets to inform them of the path of God and to encourage them to repent.
Furthermore, it implies that He granted them the power to learn and to understand. This attribute is present in all men: As long as a person follows the ways of wisdom and righteousness, he will desire them and pursue them. This [may be inferred from] the statement of our Sages of blessed memory: "One who comes to purify [himself] is helped;" i.e., he finds himself assisted in this matter.
[A question may still arise, for] behold, it is written in the Torah [Genesis 15:13]: "They shall enslave them and oppress them," [seemingly implying that] He decreed that the Egyptians would commit evil.
Similarly, it is written [Deuteronomy 31:16]: "And this nation will arise and stray after the alien gods of the land," [seemingly implying that] He decreed that Israel would serve idols. If so, why did He punish them?
Because He did not decree that a particular person would be the one who strayed. Rather, each and every one of those who strayed to idol-worship [could have chosen] not to serve idols if he did not desire to serve them. The Creator merely informed [Moses] of the pattern of the world.
To what can this be compared? To someone who says, there will be righteous and wicked people in this nation. [Thus,] a wicked person cannot say that because God told Moses that there will be wicked people in Israel, it is decreed that he will be wicked. A similar concept applies regarding the statement [Deuteronomy 15:11]: "The poor will never cease to exist in the land."
Similarly, in regard to the Egyptians, each and every one of the Egyptians who caused hardship and difficulty for Israel had the choice to refrain from harming them, if he so desired, for there was no decree on a particular person. Rather, [God merely] informed [Abraham] that, in the future, his descendants would be enslaved in a land which did not belong to them.
We have already explained that it is beyond the potential of man to know how God knows what will be in the future.
ה
ומהו זה שאמר דוד טוב וישר ה' על כן יורה חטאים בדרך ידרך ענוים וגו' זה ששלח נביאים להם מודיעים דרכי ה' ומחזירין אותן בתשובה ועוד שנתן בהם כח ללמוד ולהבין שמדה זו בכל אדם שכל זמן שהוא נמשך בדרכי החכמה והצדק מתאוה להן ורודף אותם והוא מה שאמרו רז"ל בא לטהר מסייעין אותו כלומר ימצא עצמו נעזר על הדבר והלא כתוב בתורה ועבדום וענו אותם הרי גזר על המצריים לעשות רע וכתיב וקם העם הזה וזנה אחרי אלהי נכר הארץ הרי גזר על ישראל לעבוד כו"ם ולמה נפרע מהן לפי שלא גזר על איש פלוני הידוע שיהיה הוא הזונה אלא כל אחד ואחד מאותן הזונים לעבוד כו"ם אילו לא רצה לעבוד לא היה עובד ולא הודיעו הבורא אלא מנהגו של עולם הא למה זה דומה לאומר העם הזה יהיה בהן צדיקים ורשעים לא מפני זה יאמר הרשע כבר נגזר עליו שיהיה רשע מפני שהודיע למשה שיהיו רשעים בישראל כענין שנאמר כי לא יחדל אביון מקרב הארץ וכן המצריים כל אחד ואחד מאותן המצירים והמריעים לישראל אילו לא רצה להרע להם הרשות בידו שלא גזר על איש ידוע אלא הודיעו שסוף זרעו עתיד להשתעבד בארץ לא להם וכבר אמרנו שאין כח באדם לידע היאך ידע הקב"ה דברים העתידין להיות:
Hayom Yom:
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Shabbat, Tishrei 24, 5778 · 14 October 2017
"Today's Day"
Shabbat, Tishrei 24, Issru Chag, 5704
Bless Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan. Say the entire Tehillim in the early morning. Day of farbrengen.
Haftora: Ko amar - v'yadir.
Torah lessons: Chumash: Entire Torah-portion of Bereishit with Rashi.
Tehillim: 113-118.
Tanya: Our sages, (p. 533) ...in their hearts. (p. 533).
A public farbrengen in general, and on Shabbat or motzo'ei Shabbat1 in particular, is one of the foundations in the ways of chassidim and Chassidus. It is an opening and entry-way to the fundamental Mitzva of ahavat Yisrael.
At the great majority of farbrengens, the principle speakers demand of the participants to improve their conduct and practices, to designate times for the study of Chassidus and keep those times diligently, and that their study be directed to learning and fulfillment.
(The general concept and method of reproving another is well explained in the maamar V'im ruach hamosheil (Kuntres 30).2 Every chassid would do well to learn it thoroughly and take it deeply to heart.)
But this reproving at a farbrengen is only for such matters that will not cause any embarrassment whatsoever. This has been the way since the earliest days - one reproved another with love and deep affection.
FOOTNOTES
1.Saturday night.
2.Sefer Hamaamarim Kuntreisim; Vol. 2, p. 358b.
Daily Thought:
The Highest Happiness
True happiness is the highest form of self-sacrifice.
There, in that state, there is no sense of self
—not even awareness that you are happy.
True happiness is somewhere beyond “knowing.”
Beyond self.
All the more so when you bring joy to others. (Likutei Sichot vol. 16, pp. 365–372.)
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