Torah Reading
Balak: Numbers 22:2 Now Balak the son of Tzippor saw all that Isra’el had done to the Emori. 3 Mo’av was very afraid of the people, because there were so many of them; Mo’av was overcome with dread because of the people of Isra’el. 4 So Mo’av said to the leaders of Midyan, “This horde will lick up everything around us, the way an ox licks up grass in the field.”
Balak the son of Tzippor was king of Mo’av at that time. 5 He sent messengers to Bil‘am the son of B‘or, at P’tor by the [Euphrates] River in his native land, to tell him, “Listen, a people has come out of Egypt, spread over all the land and settled down next to me. 6 Therefore, please come, and curse this people for me, because they are stronger than I am. Maybe I will be able to strike them down and drive them out of the land, for I know that whomever you bless is in fact blessed, and whomever you curse is in fact cursed.” 7 The leaders of Mo’av and Midyan left, taking with them the payment for divining, came to Bil‘am and spoke to him the words of Balak. 8 He said to them, “Stay here tonight, and I will bring you back whatever answer Adonai tells me.” So the princes of Mo’av stayed with Bil‘am.
9 God came to Bil‘am and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 Bil‘am said to God, “Balak the son of Tzippor, king of Mo’av, has sent me this message: 11 ‘The people who came out of Egypt have spread over the land; now, come and curse them for me; maybe I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” 12 God answered Bil‘am, “You are not to go with them; you are not to curse the people, because they are blessed.”
(RY: v; LY: ii) 13 Bil‘am got up in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Return to your own land, because Adonai refuses to give me permission to go with you.” 14 The princes of Mo’av got up, returned to Balak and said, “Bil‘am refuses to come with us.”
15 Balak again sent princes, more of them and of higher status than the first group. 16 They went to Bil‘am and said to him, “Here is what Balak the son of Tzippor says: ‘Please don’t let anything keep you from coming to me. 17 I will reward you very well, and whatever you say to me I will do. So please come, and curse this people for me.’” 18 Bil‘am answered the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Adonai my God to do anything, great or small. 19 Now, please, you too, stay here tonight; so that I may find out what else Adonai will say to me.” 20 God came to Bil‘am during the night and said to him, “If the men have come to summon you, get up and go with them; but do only what I tell you.”
(LY: iii) 21 So Bil‘am got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Mo’av. 22 But God’s anger flared up because he went, and the angel of Adonai stationed himself on the path to bar his way. He was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 The donkey saw the angel of Adonai standing on the road, drawn sword in hand; so the donkey turned off the road into the field; and Bil‘am had to beat the donkey to get it back on the road. 24 Then the angel of Adonai stood on the road where it became narrow as it passed among the vineyards and had stone walls on both sides. 25 The donkey saw the angel of Adonai and pushed up against the wall, crushing Bil‘am’s foot against the wall. So he beat it again. 26 The angel of Adonai moved ahead and stood in a place so tight that there was no room to turn either right or left. 27 Again the donkey saw the angel of Adonai and lay down under Bil‘am, which made him so angry that he hit the donkey with his stick. 28 But Adonai enabled the donkey to speak, and it said to Bil‘am, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” 29 Bil‘am said to the donkey, “It’s because you’ve been making a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand; I would kill you on the spot!” 30 The donkey said to Bil‘am, “I’m your donkey, right? You’ve ridden me all your life, right? Have I ever treated you like this before?” “No,” he admitted. 31 Then Adonai opened Bil‘am’s eyes, so that he could see the angel of Adonai standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, and he bowed his head and fell on his face. 32 The angel of Adonai said to him, “Why did you hit your donkey three times like that? I have come out here to bar your way, because you are rushing to oppose me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned aside these three times; and indeed, if she hadn’t turned away from me, I would have killed you by now and saved it alive!” 34 Bil‘am said to the angel of Adonai, “I have sinned. I didn’t know that you were standing on the road to block me. Now, therefore, if what I am doing displeases you, I will go back.” 35 But the angel of Adonai said to Bil‘am, “No, go on with the men; but you are to say only what I tell you to say.” So Bil‘am went along with the princes of Balak.
36 When Balak heard that Bil‘am had come, he went out to meet him in the city of Mo’av at the Arnon border, in the farthest reaches of the territory. 37 Balak said to Bil‘am, “I sent more than once to summon you! Why didn’t you come to me? Did you think I couldn’t pay you enough?” 38 Bil‘am replied to Balak, “Here, I’ve come to you! But I have no power of my own to say anything. The word that God puts in my mouth is what I will say.”
(RY: vi, LY: iv) 39 Bil‘am went with Balak. When they arrived at Kiryat-Hutzot, 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, then sent to Bil‘am and the princes with him. 41 In the morning Balak took Bil‘am and brought him up to the high places of Ba‘al; from there he could see a portion of the people.
23:1 Bil‘am said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare me seven bulls and seven rams here.” 2 Balak did as Bil‘am said; then Balak and Bil‘am offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 3 Bil‘am said to Balak, “Stand by your burnt offering while I go off; maybe Adonai will come and meet me; and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” He went off to a bare hill. 4 God met Bil‘am, who said to him, “I prepared the seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” 5 Then Adonai put a word in Bil‘am’s mouth and said, “Go on back to Balak, and speak as I tell you.” 6 He went back to him, and there, standing by his burnt offering, he with all the princes of Mo’av, 7 he made his pronouncement:
“Balak, the king of Mo’av,
brings me from Aram, from the eastern hills, saying,
‘Come, curse Ya‘akov for me;
come and denounce Isra’el.’
8 “How am I to curse
those whom God has not cursed?
How am I to denounce
those whom Adonai has not denounced?
9 “From the top of the rocks I see them,
from the hills I behold them —
yes, a people that will dwell alone
and not think itself one of the nations.
10 “Who has counted the dust of Ya‘akov
or numbered the ashes of Isra’el?
May I die as the righteous die!
May my end be like theirs!”
11 Balak said to Bil‘am, “What have you done to me?! To curse my enemies is why I brought you; and, here, you have totally blessed them!” 12 He answered, “Mustn’t I take care to say just what Adonai puts in my mouth?”
(LY: v) 13 Balak said to him, “All right, come with me to another place where you can see them. You will see only some of them, not all; but you can curse them for me from there.” 14 He took him through the field of Tzofim to the top of the Pisgah Range, built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15 Bil‘am said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering, while I go over there for a meeting.” 16 Adonai met Bil‘am, put a word in his mouth and said, “Go on back to Balak, and speak as I tell you.” 17 He came to him and stood by his burnt offering, with all the princes of Mo’av. Balak asked him, “What did Adonai say?” 18 Then Bil‘am made his pronouncement:
“Get up, Balak, and listen!
Turn your ears to me, son of Tzippor!
19 “God is not a human who lies
or a mortal who changes his mind.
When he says something, he will do it;
when he makes a promise, he will fulfill it.
20 Look, I am ordered to bless;
when he blesses, I can’t reverse it.
21 “No one has seen guilt in Ya‘akov,
or perceived perversity in Isra’el;
Adonai their God is with them
and acclaimed as king among them.
22 “God, who brought them out of Egypt,
gives them the strength of a wild ox;
23 thus one can’t put a spell on Ya‘akov,
no magic will work against Isra’el.
It can now be said of Ya‘akov and Isra’el,
‘What is this that God has done?!’
24 “Here is a people rising up like a lioness;
like a lion he rears himself up —
he will not lie down till he eats up the prey
and drinks the blood of the slain.”
25 Balak said to Bil‘am, “Obviously, you won’t curse them. But at least don’t bless them!” 26 However, Bil‘am answered Balak, “Didn’t I warn you that I must do everything Adonai says?”
(RY: vii, LY: vi) 27 Balak said to Bil‘am, “Come, I will take you now to another place; maybe it will please God for you to curse them for me from there.” 28 Balak took Bil‘am to the top of P‘or, overlooking the desert. 29 Bil‘am said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare me seven bulls and seven rams.” 30 Balak did as Bil‘am said and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
24:1 When Bil‘am saw that it pleased Adonai to bless Isra’el, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to make use of divination, but looked out toward the desert. 2 Bil‘am raised his eyes and saw Isra’el encamped tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and he made his pronouncement:
“This is the speech of Bil‘am, son of B‘or;
the speech of the man whose eyes have been opened;
4 the speech of him who hears God’s words;
who sees what Shaddai sees,
who has fallen, yet has open eyes:
5 “How lovely are your tents, Ya‘akov;
your encampments, Isra’el!
6 They spread out like valleys,
like gardens by the riverside,
like succulent aloes planted by Adonai,
like cedar trees next to the water.
7 “Water will flow from their branches,
their seed will have water aplenty.
Their king will be higher than Agag
and his kingdom lifted high.
8 God, who brought them out of Egypt,
gives them the strength of a wild ox.
They will devour the nations opposing them,
break their bones, pierce them with their arrows.
9 “When they lie down they crouch like a lion,
or like a lioness — who dares to rouse it?
Blessed be all who bless you!
Cursed be all who curse you!”
10 Balak blazed with fury against Bil‘am. He struck his hands together and said to Bil‘am, “I summoned you to curse my enemies. But here, you have done nothing but bless them — three times already! 11 Now you had better escape to your own place! I had planned to reward you very well, but now Adonai has deprived you of payment.”
12 Bil‘am answered Balak, “Didn’t I tell the messengers you sent me 13 that even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not of my own accord go beyond the word of Adonai to do either good or bad? that what Adonai said is what I would say? (LY: vii) 14 But now that I am going back to my own people, come, I will warn you what this people will do to your people in the acharit-hayamim. 15 So he made his pronouncement:
“This is the speech of Bil‘am, son of B‘or;
the speech of the man whose eyes have been opened;
16 the speech of him who hears God’s words;
who knows what ‘Elyon knows,
who sees what Shaddai sees,
who has fallen, yet has open eyes:
17 “I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not soon —
a star will step forth from Ya‘akov,
a scepter will arise from Isra’el,
to crush the corners of Mo’av
and destroy all descendants of Shet.
18 His enemies will be his possessions —
Edom and Se‘ir, possessions.
Isra’el will do valiantly,
19 From Ya‘akov will come someone who will rule,
and he will destroy what is left of the city.”
20 He saw ‘Amalek and made this pronouncement:
“First among nations was ‘Amalek,
but destruction will be its end.”
21 He saw the Keini and made this pronouncement:
“Though your dwelling is firm,
your nest set on rock,
22 Kayin will be wasted
while captive to Ashur.”
23 Finally, he made this pronouncement:
“Oh no! Who can live when God does this?
24 But ships will come from the coast of Kittim
to subdue Ashur and subdue ‘Ever,
but they too will come to destruction.”
25 Then Bil‘am got up, left and returned to his home; and Balak too went his way.
25:1 Isra’el stayed at Sheetim, and there the people began whoring with the women of Mo’av. 2 These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, where the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 With Isra’el thus joined to Ba‘al-P‘or, the anger of Adonai blazed up against Isra’el.
4 Adonai said to Moshe, “Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them facing the sun before Adonai, so that the raging fury of Adonai will turn away from Isra’el.” 5 Moshe said to the judges of Isra’el, “Each of you is to put to death those in his tribe who have joined themselves to Ba‘al-P‘or.”
6 Just then, in the sight of Moshe and the whole community of Isra’el, as they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting, a man from Isra’el came by, bringing to his family a woman from Midyan. (Maftir) 7 When Pinchas the son of El‘azar, the son of Aharon the cohen, saw it, he got up from the middle of the crowd, took a spear in his hand, 8 and pursued the man from Isra’el right into the inner part of the tent, where he thrust his spear through both of them — the man from Isra’el and the woman through her stomach. Thus was the plague among the people of Isra’el stopped; 9 nevertheless, 24,000 died in the plague.
Micah 5:6 (7) Then the remnant of Ya‘akov,
surrounded by many peoples,
will be like dew from Adonai,
like showers on the grass,
which doesn’t wait for a man
or expect anything from mortals.
7 (8) The remnant of Ya‘akov among the nations,
surrounded by many peoples,
will be like a lion among forest animals,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep —
if it passes through, tramples and tears to pieces,
there is no one to rescue them.
8 (9) Your hand will be raised over your enemies;
all your adversaries will be destroyed.
9 (10) “When that day comes,” says Adonai,
“I will cut off your horses from among you
and destroy your chariots.
10 (11) I will cut off the cities of your land
and lay waste your strongholds.
11 (12) I will cut off sorceries from your land;
you will no longer have soothsayers.
12 (13) I will cut off your carved images
and standing-stones from among you;
no longer will you worship
what your own hands have made.
13 (14) I will pull up your sacred poles from among you
and destroy your enemies.
14 (15) I will wreak vengeance in anger and fury
on the nations, because they would not listen.”
6:1 So listen now to what Adonai says:
“Stand up and state your case to the mountains,
let the hills hear what you have to say.”
2 Listen, mountains, to Adonai’s case;
also you enduring rocks that support the earth!
Adonai has a case against his people;
he wants to argue it out with Isra’el:
3 “My people, what have I done to you?
How have I wearied you? Answer me!
4 I brought you up from the land of Egypt.
I redeemed you from a life of slavery.
I sent Moshe, Aharon
and Miryam to lead you.
5 My people, just remember what Balak
the king of Mo’av had planned,
what Bil‘am the son of B‘or answered him,
[and what happened] between Sheetim and Gilgal —
so that you will understand
the saving deeds of Adonai.”
6 “With what can I come before Adonai
to bow down before God on high?
Should I come before him with burnt offerings?
with calves in their first year?
7 Would Adonai take delight in thousands of rams
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Could I give my firstborn to pay for my crimes,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 Human being, you have already been told
what is good, what Adonai demands of you —
no more than to act justly, love grace
and walk in purity with your God.
Today's Laws & Customs:• Fast Day Postponed
To mourn the breaching of Jerusalem's walls and the other tragic events that occurred on this day (see "Today in Jewish History") and repent and rectify their causes, Tammuz 17 was instituted as a fast day. This year, however, the actual fast is held tomorrow (Sunday), due to the holiness of Shabbat
• "The Three Weeks" Begin
The 17th of Tammuz also marks the beginning of The Three Weeks period of mourning which culminates on the 9th of Av, commemorating the conquest of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Holy Temple and the dispersion of the Jewish people.
Weddings and other joyful events are not held during this period; like mourners, we do not cut our hair, and various pleasurable activities are limited or proscribed. (Consult the Code of Jewish Law (Shulchan Aruch) or a qualified rabbi regarding specific proscriptions).
The Lubavitcher Rebbe urged that the Three Weeks should be a time of increased giving of charity and Torah study (in keeping with the verse (Isaiah 1:27), "Zion shall be redeemed by law, and her returnees by charity"), particularly the study of those portions of Torah that deal with the laws and the deeper significance of the Holy Temple.
Links:
- TheThreeWeeks.com
- Some Laws and Customs of the Three Weeks
- About Holy Temple
During the summer months, from the Shabbat after Passover until the Shabbat before Rosh Hashahah, we study a weekly chapter of the Talmud's Ethics of the Fathers ("Avot") each Shabbat afternoon; this week we study Chapter Six.
Link: Ethics of the Fathers, Chapter 6
Today in Jewish History:• Moses Breaks Tablets (1313 BCE)
The Talmud (Taanit 28b) lists five tragic events in Jewish history that occurred on Tammuz 17, on account of which a fast was instituted on this day (see Laws & Customs").
The first of these occurred in 1313 BCE, forty days after the Giving of the Torah on Sivan 6. Upon descending Mount Sinai and witnessing Israel's worship of the Golden Calf (see "Today in Jewish History" for yesterday, Tammuz 16), Moses smashed the Tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments which he was carrying down from the mountain.
(for the other four tragedies of Tammuz 17, see below)
Links:
• Temple Service Disrupted (423 BCE)
The daily sacrificial offerings (Korban Tamid) in the Holy Temple were discontinued, three weeks before the Babylonians' destruction of the First Temple in 423 BCE.
• Jerusalem Walls Breached (69 CE)
The other three national tragedies mourned on Tammuz 17 are connected with the Roman conquest of Jerusalem and their destruction of the Second Temple in the year 69 CE:
--The walls of the besieged city of Jerusalem were breached.
--The Roman general Apostomus burned the Torah and,
--placed an idol in the Holy Temple.
The fighting in Jerusalem continued for three weeks until the 9th of Av, when the Holy Templewas set aflame.
Links:
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash with Rashi
Parshat Balak
In Israel: Pinchas
• Numbers Chapter 24
14And now, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you...what this people will do to your people at the end of days." ידוְעַתָּ֕ה הִנְנִ֥י הוֹלֵ֖ךְ לְעַמִּ֑י לְכָה֙ אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַֽעֲשֶׂ֜ה הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֛ה לְעַמְּךָ֖ בְּאַֽחֲרִ֥ית הַיָּמִֽים:
I am going to my people: “From now I am like the rest of my people,” for the Holy One, blessed is He, had departed from him. הולך לעמי: מעתה הריני כשאר עמי, שנסתלק הקב"ה מעליו:
Come, I will advise you: what action you should take. What is that counsel? “The God of these [people] hates immorality [thus, entice them to sin with your women…] as it is related in [the chapter of] Cheilek (Sanh. 106a). The proof that Balaam offered this counsel to cause them to stumble through immorality is that it says, ”They were the ones who were involved with the children of Israel on Balaam’s advice" (31:16). לכה איעצך: מה לך לעשות. ומה היא העצה, אלהיהם של אלו שונא זמה הוא כו', כדאיתא בחלק (סנהדרין קו א) תדע שבלעם השיא עצה זו להכשילם בזמה, שהרי נאמר הן הנה היו לבני ישראל בדבר בלעם (לקמן לא, טז):
what this people will do to your people: This is an elliptical verse, [and it means,] I will advise you how to make them stumble, and tell you how they will punish Moab at the end of days. “And crush the princes of Moab” (verse 17); the Targum [Onkelos] elaborates on the abbreviated Hebrew. אשר יעשה העם הזה לעמך: מקרא קצר הוא זה, איעצך להכשילם, ואומר לך מה שהן עתידין להרע למואב באחרית הימים:
15He took up his parable and said, "The word of Balaam, son of Beor, the word of a man with an open eye. טווַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר נְאֻ֤ם בִּלְעָם֙ בְּנ֣וֹ בְעֹ֔ר וּנְאֻ֥ם הַגֶּ֖בֶר שְׁתֻ֥ם הָעָֽיִן:
16The word of the one who hears God's sayings and perceives the thoughts of the Most High; who sees the vision of the Almighty, fallen yet with open eyes. טזנְאֻ֗ם שֹׁמֵ֨עַ֙ אִמְרֵי־אֵ֔ל וְיֹדֵ֖עַ דַּ֣עַת עֶלְי֑וֹן מַֽחֲזֵ֤ה שַׁדַּי֙ יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה נֹפֵ֖ל וּגְל֥וּי עֵינָֽיִם:
and perceives the thoughts of the Most High: to determine the precise moment that He becomes angry. - [Ber. 7a] ויודע דעת עליון: לכוין השעה שכועס בה:
17I see it, but not now; I behold it, but not soon. A star has gone forth from Jacob, and a staff will arise from Israel which will crush the princes of Moab and uproot all the sons of Seth. יזאֶרְאֶ֨נּוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א עַתָּ֔ה אֲשׁוּרֶ֖נּוּ וְלֹ֣א קָר֑וֹב דָּרַ֨ךְ כּוֹכָ֜ב מִיַּֽעֲקֹ֗ב וְקָ֥ם שֵׁ֨בֶט֙ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמָחַץ֙ פַּֽאֲתֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב וְקַרְקַ֖ר כָּל־בְּנֵי־שֵֽׁת:
I see it: I see that prominence and greatness of Jacob, but it is not at present, only at a later time. אראנו: רואה אני שבחו של יעקב וגדולתן, אך לא עתה היא, אלא לאחר זמן:
A star has gone forth: As the Targum [Onkelos] renders, an expression similar to“He has bent (דָּרַ) his bow” (Lam. 2:4), for a star shoots out like an arrow; in old French, destent, as if to say, his good fortune shall rise [prosper]. דרך כוכב: כתרגומו, לשון דרך קשתו (איכה ב ד), שהכוכב עובר כחץ, ובלע"ז דישטנ"ט (מזנק) כלומר יקום משל:
and a staff will arise: A king who rules dominantly. וקם שבט: מלך רודה ומושל:
which will crush the princes of Moab: This refers to David, of whom it says,“he laid them on the ground and measured two cord-lengths to put to death…” (II Sam. 8:2). - [Mid. Aggadah] ומחץ פאתי מואב: התרגום מפרש קוצר העברי ויקטול וכו':
and uproot: Heb. וְקַרְקַר is a term denoting ‘digging’ as in,“I dug (קַרְתִּי) ” (II Kings 19:24);“to the hole of the pit from which you were dug out (נֻקַּרְתֶּם) ” (Is. 51:1);“may the ravens of the valley pick it out (יִקְּרוּהָ) ” (Prov. 30:17); in French, forer. ומחץ פאתי מואב: זה דוד, שנאמר בו השכב אותם ארצה וימדד שני חבלים להמית וגו' (שמואל ב' ח ב):
all the sons of Seth: All the nations, for they are all descended from Seth, the son of Adam [lit., the first man]. וקרקר: לשון קורה כמו אני קרתי (מלכים ב' יט כד) מקבת בור נקרתם (ישעיה נא א) יקרוה עורבי נחל (משלי ל יז) פורי"יר בלע"ז (לנקב):
18Edom shall be possessed, and Seir shall become the possession of his enemies, and Israel shall triumph. יחוְהָיָ֨ה אֱד֜וֹם יְרֵשָׁ֗ה וְהָיָ֧ה יְרֵשָׁ֛ה שֵׂעִ֖יר אֹֽיְבָ֑יו וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֹ֥שֶׂה חָֽיִל:
and Seir shall become the possession of his enemies: For his enemy, Israel. והיה ירשה שעיר אויביו: ישראל:
19A ruler shall come out of Jacob, and destroy the remnant of the city." יטוְיֵ֖רְדְּ מִיַּֽעֲקֹ֑ב וְהֶֽאֱבִ֥יד שָׂרִ֖יד מֵעִֽיר:
A ruler shall come out of Jacob: There will be another ruler from Jacob. וירד מיעקב: ועוד יהיה מושל אחר מיעקב:
and destroy the remnant of the city: Of the most prominent [city] of Edom, that is, Rome. He says this regarding the King Messiah, of whom it says, “and may he reign from sea to sea,” (Ps. 72:8),“ and the house of Esau shall have no survivors” (Obad. 1:18). - [Mid. Aggadah] והאביד שריד מעיר: מעיר החשובה של אדום והיא רומי, ועל מלך המשיח אומר כן, שנאמר בו וירד מים עד ים (תהלים עב ח) ולא יהיה שריד לבית עשו (עובדיה א, יח):
20When he saw Amalek, he took up his parable and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, and his fate shall be everlasting destruction." כוַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־עֲמָלֵ֔ק וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר רֵאשִׁ֤ית גּוֹיִם֙ עֲמָלֵ֔ק וְאַֽחֲרִית֖וֹ עֲדֵ֥י אֹבֵֽד:
He saw Amalek: He perceived the retribution destined to befall Amalek. וירא את עמלק: נסתכל בפורענותו של עמלק:
Amalek was the first of the nations: He came before all of them to make war with Israel, and so Targum renders. And his fate shall be to perish by their hand, as it says, “You shall obliterate the remembrance of Amalek” (Deut. 25:19). ראשית גוים עמלק: הוא קדם את כלם להלחם בישראל, וכך תרגם אונקלוס ואחריתו ליאבד בידם, שנאמר תמחה את זכר עמלק (דברים כה יט):
21When he saw the Kenite, he took up his parable and said, "How firm is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in a cliff. כאוַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־הַקֵּינִ֔י וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֵיתָן֙ מֽוֹשָׁבֶ֔ךָ וְשִׂ֥ים בַּסֶּ֖לַע קִנֶּֽךָ:
He saw the Kenite and said: Since the Kenites were encamped near Amalek, as it is said, “Saul said to the Kenite…” (I Sam. 15:6), he mentions him after Amalek. He perceived the greatness of the sons of Jethro [known also as Keni], of whom it is said,“Tirathites (תִּרְעָתִים), Shimathites (שִׁמְעָתִים), Sochathites (סוֹכָתִים)” (I Chron. 2:55), [expounded on in Sifrei (Beha’alothecha 42) as follows: תִּרְעָתִים, so called because they heard the shofar blast (תְּרוּעָה) on Mount Sinai, because they would cry out (מַתְרִיעִים) and be answered, because they dwelled at the entrance to the gates (תַּרְעֵי) of Jerusalem; שִׁמְעָתִים, so called because they obeyed (שָׁמְעוּ) their father’s command (to abstain from drinking wine and to live in tents, as in Jer. 35:8, 9); סוֹכָתִים, so called because they did not anoint themselves (לֹא סָכוּ) with oil and because they dwelt in booths (סֻכּוֹת)]. וירא את הקיני: לפי שהיה קיני תקוע אצל עמלק, כענין שנאמר ויאמר שאול אל הקיני וגו' (שמואל א' טו, ו) הזכירו אחר עמלק, נסתכל בגדולתן של בני יתרו שנאמר בהם תרעתים שמעתים שוכתים (דברי הימים א' ב נה):
How firm is your dwelling place: [Balaam asks Jethro, who is Keni,] “I wonder how you merited this? Were you not with me in the counsel [we gave Pharaoh] ”Come, let us deal wisely with them"? (Exod. 1:10) Yet now you have settled yourself in the firmness and strength of Israel. — [Sanh. 106a] איתן מושבך: תמה אני מהיכן זכית לכך הלא אתה עמי היית בעצת הבה נתחכמה לו (שמות א י), ועתה נתישבת באיתן ומעוז של ישראל:
22For if Kain is laid waste, how far will Assyria take you captive?" כבכִּ֥י אִם־יִֽהְיֶ֖ה לְבָ֣עֵֽר קָ֑יִן עַד־מָ֖ה אַשּׁ֥וּר תִּשְׁבֶּֽךָּ:
For if Kain is laid waste: Fortunate are you that you are settled in this stronghold, for you will never be banished from the world. Even if you are destined to be exiled with the ten tribes, and be eliminated from the place where you had settled, what of it? כי אם יהיה לבער קין וגו': אשריך שנתקעת לתוקף זה שאינך נטרד עוד מן העולם, כי אף אם אתה עתיד לגלות עם עשרת השבטים ותהיה לבער ממקום שנתישבת שם, מה בכך:
how far will Assyria take you captive?: How far will he exile you? Perhaps as far as Halah or Habor? That is not considered being banished from the world, but being moved from one place to another, and you shall return with the other exiles. עד מה אשור תשבך: עד היכן הוא מגלה אותך, שמא לחלח וחבור, אין זה טרוד מן העולם, אלא טלטול ממקום למקום ותשוב עם שאר הגליות:
23He took up his parable and said, Alas! Who can survive these things from God? כגוַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר א֕וֹי מִ֥י יִֽחְיֶ֖ה מִשֻּׂמ֥וֹ אֵֽל:
He took up his parable…: Since he mentioned the captivity by Assyria, he says- וישא משלו וגו': כיון שהזכיר את שביית אשור אמר
Alas! Who can survive these things from God?: Who can save himself from the One who designates these things, so that the One who decrees [namely, God] should not put these things [into effect] against him? [And what are these terrible things?] That Sennacherib will arise and confuse all the nations, and furthermore, “ships will come from the Kittites”-the Kittites, who are the Romans, shall go forth in huge warships against Assyria. אוי מי יחיה משומו אל : מי יכול להחיות את עצמו משומו את אלה שלא ישים עליו הגוזר את אלה, שיעמוד סנחריב ויבלבל את כל האומות, ועוד יבואו צים מיד כתים ויעברו כתיים שהן רומיים בבירניות גדולות על אשור:
24Ships will come from the Kittites and afflict Assyria and afflict those on the other side, but he too will perish forever." כדוְצִים֙ מִיַּ֣ד כִּתִּ֔ים וְעִנּ֥וּ אַשּׁ֖וּר וְעִנּוּ־עֵ֑בֶר וְגַם־ה֖וּא עֲדֵ֥י אֹבֵֽד:
and afflict those on the other side: And they shall afflict those on the other side of the river [Euphrates]. וענו אשור וענו עבר: וענו אותם שבעבר הנהר:
but he too will perish forever: Similarly does Daniel explain [concerning the Roman empire],“until the beast was slain and its body destroyed” (Dan. 7:11). וגם הוא עדי אובד: וכן פירש דניאל עד די קטילת חיותא והובד גשמה (דניאל ז יא):
ships: Heb. וְצִים, huge ships, as it is written,“ וְצִי אַדִּיר ” (Is. 33:21) which the Targum [Jonathan] renders as“a great ship.” - [Yoma 77b] וצים: ספינות גדולות, כדכתיב וצי אדיר (ישעיה לג כא) תרגומו ובורני רבתא:
25Balaam arose, went, and returned home, and Balak went on his way. כהוַיָּ֣קָם בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ וַיָּ֣שָׁב לִמְקֹמ֑וֹ וְגַם־בָּלָ֖ק הָלַ֥ךְ לְדַרְכּֽוֹ:
Numbers Chapter 25
1Israel settled in Shittim, and the people began to commit harlotry with the daughters of the Moabites. אוַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּשִּׁטִּ֑ים וַיָּ֣חֶל הָעָ֔ם לִזְנ֖וֹת אֶל־בְּנ֥וֹת מוֹאָֽב:
in Shittim: That is its name. — [Sanh. 106a] בשטים: כך שמה:
to commit harlotry with the daughters of Moab: As a result of Balaam’s advice, as is stated in [the chapter entitled] "Cheilek’ (Sanh. 106a). לזנות אל בנות מואב: על ידי עצת בלעם כדאיתא בחלק:
2They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and prostrated themselves to their gods. בוַתִּקְרֶ֣אןָ לָעָ֔ם לְזִבְחֵ֖י אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֑ן וַיֹּ֣אכַל הָעָ֔ם וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲו֖וּ לֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶֽן:
and prostrated themselves to their gods: When his urge overcame him, and he said to her, “Submit to me,” she took out an image of Peor from her bosom and said to him, “Bow down before this.” - [Sifrei Balak 1] וישתחוו לאלהיהן: כשתקף יצרו עליו ואומר לה השמעי לי, והיא מוציאה לו דמות פעור מחיקה ואומרת לו השתחוה לזה:
3Israel became attached to Baal Peor, and the anger of the Lord flared against Israel. גוַיִּצָּ֥מֶד יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְבַ֣עַל פְּע֑וֹר וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֥ף יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
Peor: [פְּעוֹר was so named] because before it they bared פּוֹעֲרִין their anus before it and relieved themselves. This was the manner of its worship. - [Sifrei Balak 1] פעור: על שם שפוערין לפניו פי הטבעת ומוציאין רעי, וזו היא עבודתו:
and the anger of the Lord flared against Israel: He sent a plague upon them. ויחר אף ה' בישראל: שלח בהם מגפה:
4The Lord said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and hang them before the Lord, facing the sun, and then the flaring anger of the Lord will be removed from Israel. דוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה קַ֚ח אֶת־כָּל־רָאשֵׁ֣י הָעָ֔ם וְהוֹקַ֥ע אוֹתָ֛ם לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה נֶ֣גֶד הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְיָשֹׁ֛ב חֲר֥וֹן אַף־יְהֹוָ֖ה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל:
Take all the leaders of the people: to judge those who worshipped Peor. — [Sanh. 35a] קח את כל ראשי העם: לשפוט את העובדים לפעור:
and hang them: The [idol] worshippers. והוקע אותם: את העובדים:
and hang them: Heb. הוֹקַע. This refers to [death by] hanging, as we find with the sons of Saul [where a similar expression is used,]“and we shall hang them (הוֹקַעֲנוּם) for the Lord” (II Sam. 21:6), and there hanging is specifically mentioned. Idolatry is [punishable] by stoning, and all those stoned are also hanged [as is stated in Sanh. 45b according to Rabbi Eliezer]. והוקע: היא תליה, כמו שמצינו בבני שאול והוקענום לה' (שמואל ב' כא ו) ושם תליה מפורשת בעבודה זרה בסקילה, וכל הנסקלין נתלין:
facing the sun: for all to see. The Midrash Aggadah (Mid. Tanchuma Balak 19) says: The sun identified the sinners, for the cloud folded back from the area above him and the sun shone on him. — נגד השמש: לעין כל. ומדרש אגדה השמש מודיע את החוטאים, הענן נקפל מכנגדו והחמה זורחת עליו:
5Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each of you shall kill the men who became attached to Baal Peor. הוַיֹּ֣אמֶר משֶׁ֔ה אֶל־שֹֽׁפְטֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הִרְגוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֲנָשָׁ֔יו הַנִּצְמָדִ֖ים לְבַ֥עַל פְּעֽוֹר:
Each of you shall kill the men: Each one of the Israelite judges executed two, and there were eighty-eight thousand Israelite judges, as is stated in Sanhedrin [18a]. הרגו איש אנשיו: כל אחד ואחד מדייני ישראל היה הורג שנים, ודייני ישראל שמונה רבוא ושמונת אלפים, כדאיתא בסנהדרין (יח א):
6Then an Israelite man came and brought the Midianite woman to his brethren, before the eyes of Moses and before the eyes of the entire congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. ווְהִנֵּ֡ה אִישׁ֩ מִבְּנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בָּ֗א וַיַּקְרֵ֤ב אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ אֶת־הַמִּדְיָנִ֔ית לְעֵינֵ֣י משֶׁ֔ה וּלְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־עֲדַ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהֵ֣מָּה בֹכִ֔ים פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
Then an Israelite man came: The tribe of Simeon gathered around Zimri, who was their prince, and they said to him, “We have been sentenced to death, yet you sit there [and remain silent] etc.,” as it is related in [the chapter of] Elu hen hanisrafin’ (Sanh. 82a). והנה איש מבני ישראל בא: נתקבצו שבטו של שמעון אצל זמרי שהיה נשיא שלהם, אמרו לו אנו נדונין במיתה ואתה יושב וכו', כדאיתא באלו הן הנשרפין (סנהדרין דף פב א):
the Midianite woman: Cozbi the daughter of Zur (see verse 15). את המדינית: כזבי בת צור:
before the eyes of Moses: They said to him, “Moses, is this one forbidden or is she permitted? If you say it is forbidden, who permitted for you the daughter of Jethro…?” as is stated there (Sanh. 82a). לעיני משה: אמרו לו משה, זו אסורה או מותרת, אם תאמר אסורה, בת יתרו מי התירה לך וכו', כדאיתא התם:
while they were weeping: The law [that anyone cohabiting with a non-Jewish woman is to be executed by zealots] eluded him. [Therefore,] they all burst out weeping. At the incident of the golden calf Moses [successfully] confronted six hundred thousand as it says, “He ground it until it was powder…” (Exod. 32:20), yet here he appeared so helpless? However, [this happened] so that Phinehas should come and take what was due to him. — [Mid. Tanchuma Balak 20] והמה בוכים: נתעלמה ממנו הלכה כל הבועל ארמית קנאים פוגעים בו געו כלם בבכיה. בעגל עמד משה כנגש ששים רבוא, שנאמר (שמות לב כ) ויטחן עד אשר דק וגו' וכאן רפו ידיו, אלא כדי שיבא פינחס ויטול את הראוי לו:
7Phinehas the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the kohen saw this, arose from the congregation, and took a spear in his hand. זוַיַּ֗רְא פִּֽינְחָס֙ בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֔ר בֶּן־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַיָּ֨קָם֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה וַיִּקַּ֥ח רֹ֖מַח בְּיָדֽוֹ:
Phinehas…saw: He saw the deed and reminded himself of the law. He said to Moses, “I learned from you, ‘If someone cohabits with an Aramean [heathen] woman, zealots have a right to strike him [dead].’ ” He replied to him, “Let the one who reads the letter be the agent to carry it out.” Immediately,“he took a spear in his hand….” - [Sanh. 82a] וירא פינחס: ראה מעשה ונזכר הלכה, אמר לו למשה מקובלני ממך הבועל ארמית קנאין פוגעין בו, אמר לו קריינא דאגרתא איהו ליהוי פרוונקא, מיד ויקח רומח בידו וגו':
8He went after the Israelite man into the chamber and drove [it through] both of them; the Israelite man, and the woman through her stomach, and the plague ceased from the children of Israel. חוַיָּבֹ֠א אַחַ֨ר אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶל־הַקֻּבָּ֗ה וַיִּדְקֹר֙ אֶת־שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֚ת אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־הָֽאִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־קֳבָתָ֑הּ וַתֵּֽעָצַר֙ הַמַּגֵּפָ֔ה מֵעַ֖ל בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
into the chamber: Into the tent. אל הקבה: אל האהל:
through her stomach: Heb. קֳבָתָהּ, as in,“the jaw and the maw (וְהַקֵּבָה)” (Deut. 18:3). He aimed for the male organ of Zimri and her female organs and everyone saw that he had not killed them for nothing. Many miracles happened to him…, as it is related there (Sanh. 82b). אל קבתה: [אל הקיבה] כמו הלחיים והקיבה כיון בתוך זכרות של זמרי ונקבות שלה, וראו כלם שלא לחנם הרגם, והרבה נסים נעשו לו כו', כדאיתא התם
(סנהדרין פב ב):
9Those that died in the plague numbered twenty four thousand. טוַיִּֽהְי֕וּ הַמֵּתִ֖ים בַּמַּגֵּפָ֑ה אַרְבָּעָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים אָֽלֶף:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 83-87
• Chapter 83
A prayer regarding the wars against Israel in the days of Jehoshaphat, when the nations plotted against Israel.
1. A song, a psalm by Asaph.
2. O God, do not be silent; do not be quiet and do not be still, O God.
3. For behold, Your enemies are in uproar, and those who hate You have raised their head.
4. They plot deviously against Your nation, and conspire against those sheltered by You.
5. They say, "Come, let us sever them from nationhood, and the name of Israel will be remembered no more.”
6. For they conspire with a unanimous heart, they made a covenant against You-
7. the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
8. Geval and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
9. Assyria, too, joined with them, and became the strength of the sons of Lot, Selah.
10. Do to them as to Midian; as to Sisera and Yavin at the brook of Kishon,
11. who were destroyed at Ein Dor, and were as dung for the earth.
12. Make their nobles like Orev and Ze'ev, all their princes like Zevach and Tzalmuna,1
13. who said, "Let us inherit the dwellings of God for ourselves.”
14. My God, make them like whirling chaff, like straw before the wind.
15. As a fire consumes the forest, and a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
16. so pursue them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your storm.
17. Fill their faces with shame, and they will seek Your Name, O Lord.
18. Let them be shamed and terrified forever; let them be disgraced and perish.
19. And they will know that You, Whose Name is the Lord, are alone, Most High over all the earth.
FOOTNOTES
1.These were the Midianite leaders who were captured (see Judges 7:25)
Chapter 84
In this psalm of prayers and entreaties, the psalmist mourns bitterly over the destruction of Temple from the depths of his heart, and speaks of the many blessings that will be realized upon its restoration. Fortunate is the one who trusts it will be rebuilt, and does not despair in the face of this long exile.
1. For the Conductor, on the gittit,1 a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. How beloved are Your dwellings, O Lord of Hosts!
3. My soul yearns, indeed it pines, for the courtyards of the Lord; my heart and my flesh [long to] sing to the living God.
4. Even the bird has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she lays her young on the [ruins of] Your altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God.
5. Fortunate are those who dwell in Your House; they will yet praise You forever.
6. Fortunate is the man whose strength is in You; the paths [to the Temple] are in his heart.
7. For those who pass through the Valley of Thorns, He places wellsprings; their guide will be cloaked in blessings.2
8. They go from strength to strength; they will appear before God in Zion.
9. O Lord, God of Hosts, hear my prayer; listen, O God of Jacob, forever.
10. See our shield,3 O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed one.
11. For better one day in Your courtyards than a thousand [elsewhere]. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, than dwell [in comfort] in the tents of wickedness.
12. For the Lord, God, is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and glory; He does not withhold goodness from those who walk in innocence.
13. O Lord of Hosts! Fortunate is the man who trusts in You.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument crafted in Gath (Metzudot).
2.God provides water for the pilgrims to Jerusalem, leading them to bless their guides for choosing a water-laden route (Metzudot)
3.Remember the Temple [and rebuild it](Metzudot).
Chapter 85
In this prayer, lamenting the long and bitter exile, the psalmist asks why this exile is longer than the previous ones, and implores God to quickly fulfill His promise to redeem us. Every individual should offer this psalm when in distress.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. O Lord, You favored Your land; You returned the captives of Jacob.
3. You forgave the iniquity of Your people, and covered all their sin forever.
4. You withdrew all Your fury, and retreated from Your fierce anger.
5. Return us, O God of our salvation, and annul Your anger toward us.
6. Will You forever be angry with us? Will You draw out Your anger over all generations?
7. Is it not true that You will revive us again, and Your people will rejoice in You?
8. Show us Your kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your deliverance.
9. I hear what the Almighty Lord will say; for He speaks peace to His nation and to His pious ones, and they will not return to folly.
10. Indeed, His deliverance is near those who fear Him, that [His] glory may dwell in the land.
11. Kindness and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.
12. Truth will sprout from the earth, and righteousness will peer from heaven.
13. The Lord, too, will bestow goodness, and our land will yield its produce.
14. Righteousness shall walk before him, and he shall set his footsteps in [its] path.
Chapter 86
This psalm contains many prayers regarding David's troubles, and his enemies Doeg and Achitophel. It also includes many descriptions of God's praise. Every individual can offer this psalm when in distress.
1. A prayer by David. Lord, turn Your ear, answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2. Guard my soul, for I am pious; You, my God, deliver Your servant who trusts in You.
3. Be gracious to me, my Lord, for to You I call all day.
4. Bring joy to the soul of Your servant, for to You, my Lord, I lift my soul.
5. For You, my Lord, are good and forgiving, and exceedingly kind to all who call upon You.
6. Lord, hear my prayer and listen to the voice of my supplications.
7. On the day of my distress I call upon You, for You will answer me.
8. There is none like You among the supernal beings, my Lord, and there are no deeds like Yours.
9. All the nations that You have made will come and bow down before You, my Lord, and give honor to Your Name,
10. for You are great and perform wonders, You alone, O God.
11. Lord, teach me Your way that I may walk in Your truth; unify my heart to fear Your Name.
12. I will praise You, my Lord, my God, with all my heart, and give honor to Your Name forever.
13. For Your kindness to me has been great; You have saved my soul from the depth of the grave.
14. O God, malicious men have risen against me; a band of ruthless men has sought my soul; they are not mindful of You.
15. But You, my Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth.
16. Turn to me and be gracious to me; grant Your strength to Your servant, and deliver the son of Your maidservant.
17. Show me a sign of favor, that my foes may see and be shamed, because You, Lord, have given me aid and consoled me.
Chapter 87
Composed to be sung in the Holy Temple, this psalm praises the glory of Jerusalem, a city that produces many great scholars, eminent personalities, and persons of good deeds. It also speaks of the good that will occur in the Messianic era.
1. By the sons of Korach, a psalm, a song devoted to the holy mountains [of Zion and Jerusalem].
2. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3. Glorious things are spoken of you, eternal city of God.
4. I will remind Rahav Egypt and Babylon concerning My beloved; Philistia and Tyre as well as Ethiopia, "This one was born there.”
5. And to Zion will be said, "This person and that was born there"; and He, the Most High, will establish it.
6. The Lord will count in the register of people, "This one was born there," Selah.
7. Singers as well as dancers [will sing your praise and say], "All my inner thoughts are of you."
Tanya: Igeret HaTeshuva , end of Chapter 3
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Shabbat, 17 Tammuz, 5776 · 23 July 2016
• Igeret HaTeshuva , end of Chapter 3
• אכן מספר הצומות העודפים על רנ״ב וכהאי גוונא
However, there still remain the fasts in excess of (for example) the 252, i.e., whatever number exceeds three times the prescribed number of fasts for any particular sin,
שהיה צריך להתענות, לחוש לדעת המחמירים להתענות מספר הצומות שעל כל חטא וחטא כפי מספר הפעמים שחטא כנ״ל
that one ought to fast in deference to the more stringent opinion insisting on the appropriate number of fasts for every violation committed, as noted above.
יפדה כולן בצדקה, ערך ח״י גדולים פוליש בעד כל יום
He may redeem them all by charity to the value of eighteen “gedolim Polish” for each fast-day.
וכן שאר כל תעניות שצריך להתענות על עבירות שאין בהן מיתה
So, too, [charity may redeem] all other fasts that he should have undergone for sins not entailing death,
ואפילו על ביטול מצות עשה דאורייתא ודרבנן
and even for neglecting a positive command, whether explicit in the Torah or Rabbinically ordained,
ותלמוד תורה כנגד כולם
and for [neglect of the positive command of]1 “Torah study, which is equivalent to them all,”
כפי המספר המפורש בתיקוני התשובה מהאר״י ורובם נזכרים במשנת חסידים במסכת התשובה
according to the number of fasts prescribed by the penances of the AriZal. (2Most of these are noted inMishnat Chassidim, Tractate Teshuvah.)
הכל אשר לכל יפדה בצדקה כנ״ל, אי לא מצי לצעורי נפשיה
All of these fasts, then, he may redeem as explained above, if he cannot mortify himself.
ואף שיעלה לסך מסויים, אין לחוש משום: אל יבזבז יותר מחומש
Though this might amount to a very considerable sum, he need not fear violating the injunction that3“one should not extravagantly distribute more than one fifth [of one’s property to charity],”
דלא מקרי בזבוז בכהאי גוונא, מאחר שעושה לפדות נפשו מתעניות וסגופים
for this kind of giving cannot be termed “extravagant distribution,” since he does it to redeem himself from fasting and affliction.
ולא גרעא מרפואת הגוף ושאר צרכיו
This is no less necessary than healing his body or his other needs, in which one does not restrict one’s spending to a fifth of his means.
ולפי שמספר הצומות המוזכרים בתקוני התשובה הנ״ל רבו במאד מאד
Since the number of fasts enumerated in the above-mentioned penances of the AriZal is exceedingly great,
לכן נהגו עכשיו כל החרדים לדבר ה׳ להרבות מאד מאד בצדקה
all who revere the word of G‑d are now accustomed to being unstintingly generous with charity, which is given in place of fasting,
מחמת חלישות הדור, דלא מצי לצעורי נפשם כולי האי
for the prevalent lack of stamina prevents them from mortifying themselves to this extent.
וכמו שכתוב במקום אחר על פסוק: חסדי ה׳ כי לא תמנו
(4A comment is made elsewhere on this subject on the words,5 “The kindnesses of G‑d, for they are not concluded.”)
The last three Hebrew words, here translated “for they are not concluded,” may also be interpreted to mean “for we are not perfect.” Accordingly, in Epistle 10 of Iggeret HaKodesh, the Alter Rebbe explains the verse thus: Since “we are not perfect,” burdened as we are by sins that plead for rectification, we are in need of G‑d’s infinite kindness and charity. And in order to elicit kindness and pardon of an infinite order, man for his part must exceed the conventional, finite bounds of charity.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Peah 1:1. |
| 2. | Parentheses are in the original text. |
| 3. | Ketubbot 50a. |
| 4. | Parentheses are in the original text. |
| 5. | Eichah 3:22. |
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
•Shabbat, 17 Tammuz, 5776 · 23 July 2016
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
•Shabbat, 17 Tammuz, 5776 · 23 July 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 208
Honest Measurements
"Honest balance, honest weights, an honest dry measure and an honest liquid measure, you shall have"—Leviticus 19:36.
We are commanded to have precise and "righteous" measuring implements—scales, weights, and measures.
The Midrash says: "Conditional on this I took you out of Egypt—on condition that you accept the mitzvah of [honest] measures. For one who acknowledges the mitzvah of measures, also acknowledges the Exodus from Egypt; and one who rejects the mitzah of measures, also denies the Exodus from Egypt."
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Honest Measurements
Positive Commandment 208
Translated by Berel Bell
The 208th mitzvah is that we are commanded to have accurate weights, scales, and measures, and to insure that they are exact.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "You must have an honest balance, honest weights, an honest eifa, and an honest hin."
In the words of the Sifra: "The phrase 'an honest balance' means that you must insure that the balances are totally accurate. 'Honest weights' means that you must insure that the weights are totally accurate. 'An honest eifa' means that you must insure that all eifas are totally accurate. 'An honest hin' means that you must insure that all hins are totally accurate." You are already aware that an eifa is a dry measure and a hin is a liquid measure.
Although2 the actual type of measure varies, they serve a single function, since what is weighed or measured is just a particular quantity of something. All these categories, i.e. scales, weights, and dry and liquid measures are collectively called middos. So too, the commandment to insure that each corresponds exactly to the commonly accepted amount is called mitzvas middos.
In the words of the Sifra: "On this condition I brought you out of Egypt — on condition that you accept upon yourselves mitzvas middos; because whoever acknowledges mitzvas middos acknowledges the redemption from Egypt and whoever denies mitzvas middos denies the redemption from Egypt."
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 5th chapter of tractate Bava Basra.3
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 19:36.
2.The Rambam now explains why it counts as just one mitzvah, even though the verse mentions four categories.
3.88a.
Negative Commandment 271
Falsifying Measurements
"You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment; in measure, in weight or in land measure"—Leviticus 19:35.
It is forbidden to be dishonest in the course of surveying land, or measuring or weighing substances. When surveying land, it must be done according to the principles of engineering—not randomly, by "guess-timate," as is so often done.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Falsifying Measurements
Negative Commandment 271
Translated by Berel Bell
The 271st prohibition is that we are forbidden to be dishonest in measurement of land, [liquid and dry] measures, or weights.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,1 "Do not be dishonest in law, measure, weight or volume."
The Oral Tradition explains that the verse means "Do not be dishonest in the law of measures." Our Sages2 said regarding the phrase "Do not be dishonest in law, " "It cannot refer to passing judgment, because that was already stated.3 What, then, is the meaning of the word 'law'? To teach that one who measures is called a judge."
There our Sages also explained that the word "measure" refers to the measurement of land — that the measurement and calculation should be done according to the principles of engineering and methods of exact measurement, and not through inaccurate estimates, as is done by most officials.
The word "weight" includes both the weights and the balances.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 19:35.
2.Sifra, ibid.
3.In Lev. 19:15. See N273.
Negative Commandment 272
Maintaining an Unbalanced Measure
"You shall not have in your bag diverse weights, large and small"—Deuteronomy 25:13.
It is forbidden to even harbor in one's possession an unbalanced weight or measuring implement—even if there's no intention to use them. As the Talmud says, "even if it is being used as a commode!"
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Maintaining an Unbalanced Measure
Negative Commandment 272
Translated by Berel Bell
The 272nd prohibition is that we are forbidden to keep false weights and measures in our home, even if they are not used for business purposes.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "You may not keep in your pocket two different weights, one large and one small." So too,2 "[You may not keep...] two different measures."
In the words of tractate Bava Basra:3 "A person may not keep a measure which is too small or too large, even as a urinal."
Do not conclude that the two verses "You may not keep ...two different measures" and "You may not keep...two different weights" constitute two mitzvos. This is because the two statements come only to complete the laws covered by this mitzvah; to include both weight and measure. It is as if the verse says, "You may not have two different measures, whether for weight or other measurement." This is similar to what we explained by the positive commandment.4
G‑d's statement, "You may not keep in your pocket two different weights...You may not keep...two different measures" is similar to the verse,5 "Do not take interest from your brother, whether it is interest for money, interest for food, or interest for anything else for which interest is normally taken." The latter is a single prohibition with one law covering many categories.
As we explained in the 9th Introductory Principle, repetition of the phrase "do not..." does not constitute an additional mitzvah if it deals with the same action. We already had another instance of this in the 200th prohibition, "No chametz may be seen in your possession; no s'or may be seen in your possession" [which also counts as only one mitzvah].
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 25:13.
2.Ibid., 25:14.
3.89b.
4.P208 above.
5.Deut. 23:20.
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 208
Honest Measurements
"Honest balance, honest weights, an honest dry measure and an honest liquid measure, you shall have"—Leviticus 19:36.
We are commanded to have precise and "righteous" measuring implements—scales, weights, and measures.
The Midrash says: "Conditional on this I took you out of Egypt—on condition that you accept the mitzvah of [honest] measures. For one who acknowledges the mitzvah of measures, also acknowledges the Exodus from Egypt; and one who rejects the mitzah of measures, also denies the Exodus from Egypt."
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Honest Measurements
Positive Commandment 208
Translated by Berel Bell
The 208th mitzvah is that we are commanded to have accurate weights, scales, and measures, and to insure that they are exact.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "You must have an honest balance, honest weights, an honest eifa, and an honest hin."
In the words of the Sifra: "The phrase 'an honest balance' means that you must insure that the balances are totally accurate. 'Honest weights' means that you must insure that the weights are totally accurate. 'An honest eifa' means that you must insure that all eifas are totally accurate. 'An honest hin' means that you must insure that all hins are totally accurate." You are already aware that an eifa is a dry measure and a hin is a liquid measure.
Although2 the actual type of measure varies, they serve a single function, since what is weighed or measured is just a particular quantity of something. All these categories, i.e. scales, weights, and dry and liquid measures are collectively called middos. So too, the commandment to insure that each corresponds exactly to the commonly accepted amount is called mitzvas middos.
In the words of the Sifra: "On this condition I brought you out of Egypt — on condition that you accept upon yourselves mitzvas middos; because whoever acknowledges mitzvas middos acknowledges the redemption from Egypt and whoever denies mitzvas middos denies the redemption from Egypt."
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 5th chapter of tractate Bava Basra.3
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 19:36.
2.The Rambam now explains why it counts as just one mitzvah, even though the verse mentions four categories.
3.88a.
Negative Commandment 271
Falsifying Measurements
"You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment; in measure, in weight or in land measure"—Leviticus 19:35.
It is forbidden to be dishonest in the course of surveying land, or measuring or weighing substances. When surveying land, it must be done according to the principles of engineering—not randomly, by "guess-timate," as is so often done.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Falsifying Measurements
Negative Commandment 271
Translated by Berel Bell
The 271st prohibition is that we are forbidden to be dishonest in measurement of land, [liquid and dry] measures, or weights.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,1 "Do not be dishonest in law, measure, weight or volume."
The Oral Tradition explains that the verse means "Do not be dishonest in the law of measures." Our Sages2 said regarding the phrase "Do not be dishonest in law, " "It cannot refer to passing judgment, because that was already stated.3 What, then, is the meaning of the word 'law'? To teach that one who measures is called a judge."
There our Sages also explained that the word "measure" refers to the measurement of land — that the measurement and calculation should be done according to the principles of engineering and methods of exact measurement, and not through inaccurate estimates, as is done by most officials.
The word "weight" includes both the weights and the balances.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 19:35.
2.Sifra, ibid.
3.In Lev. 19:15. See N273.
Negative Commandment 272
Maintaining an Unbalanced Measure
"You shall not have in your bag diverse weights, large and small"—Deuteronomy 25:13.
It is forbidden to even harbor in one's possession an unbalanced weight or measuring implement—even if there's no intention to use them. As the Talmud says, "even if it is being used as a commode!"
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Maintaining an Unbalanced Measure
Negative Commandment 272
Translated by Berel Bell
The 272nd prohibition is that we are forbidden to keep false weights and measures in our home, even if they are not used for business purposes.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "You may not keep in your pocket two different weights, one large and one small." So too,2 "[You may not keep...] two different measures."
In the words of tractate Bava Basra:3 "A person may not keep a measure which is too small or too large, even as a urinal."
Do not conclude that the two verses "You may not keep ...two different measures" and "You may not keep...two different weights" constitute two mitzvos. This is because the two statements come only to complete the laws covered by this mitzvah; to include both weight and measure. It is as if the verse says, "You may not have two different measures, whether for weight or other measurement." This is similar to what we explained by the positive commandment.4
G‑d's statement, "You may not keep in your pocket two different weights...You may not keep...two different measures" is similar to the verse,5 "Do not take interest from your brother, whether it is interest for money, interest for food, or interest for anything else for which interest is normally taken." The latter is a single prohibition with one law covering many categories.
As we explained in the 9th Introductory Principle, repetition of the phrase "do not..." does not constitute an additional mitzvah if it deals with the same action. We already had another instance of this in the 200th prohibition, "No chametz may be seen in your possession; no s'or may be seen in your possession" [which also counts as only one mitzvah].
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 25:13.
2.Ibid., 25:14.
3.89b.
4.P208 above.
5.Deut. 23:20.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day
Tum'at Met - Chapter 7
• Tum'at Met - Chapter 7
Tum'at Met - Chapter 7
• Tum'at Met - Chapter 7
1
When a corpse is located in a closed structure or in one which had an opening, but its doorframe was destroyed and it was closed up, it imparts impurity to all its surroundings. Anyone who touches the back or the roof of the structure contracts the impurity that lasts seven days, because it is like a closed grave.
If an entrance had been opened in it, even if it was closed up, as long as the doorframe was not destroyed, one who touches the back of the structure or its roof, is pure. Only the area in front of the door is impure.
How large is the measure of a doorway? If an entire corpse is in the building, the entrance must be four handbreadths. If there is only an olive-sized portion of a corpse, the entrance must be a handbreadth. Any portion larger than an olive-sized portion is considered as an entire corpse and requires an entrance of four handbreadths
א
בית סתום שהמת בתוכו או שהיה לו פתח [ופרץ את פצימיו] וסתמו מטמא מכל סביביו והנוגע בו מאחוריו או מגגו טמא שבעה מפני שהוא כקבר סתום נפתח בו פתח אפילו סתמו אם לא פרץ פצימיו הנוגע בו מאחוריו ומגגו טהור ואין טמא אלא כנגד הפתח וכמה יהיה שיעור הפתח שלם המת פתחו בארבעה טפחים וכזית מן המת פתחו בטפח וגדול מכזית הרי הוא כמת ופתחו בארבעה:
2
The following rules apply when there is a corpse in a building that has many entrances. When they are all closed, they all impart ritual impurity. One who sits near any of the entrances under the roof that protrudes over the entrance becomes impure.
If one of them was opened or one intended to remove the corpse through one of them even though he had this thought after the person died and even if he intended to remove it through a window that is four handbreadths by four handbreadths, this saves all the other entrances. Only the entrance that is open or about which he thought imparts impurity. The others are pure, because they are closed and the building is not considered as a closed grave. Similarly, if one began hollowing out an opening through which to remove the corpse, when he has hollowed out an area four handbreadths by four handbreadths, this saves all the other entrances.
If there was a closed entrance and he intended to remove the corpse through it and began to open it, once he opens it, it saves all the other entrances. If the building had many windows, but they were all closed, they are all pure. If they are open, they all impart impurity, but they do not save the entrances.
When there is a small entrance inside a large entrance, anything that covers either of them imparts impurity. If one intended to remove the corpse through the smaller entrance, the smaller entrance purifies the larger one. If they are both of equal size, anything that covers either of them imparts impurity. If one intended to remove the corpse through either of them, it purifies the other.
If the building had one entrance in the north and one entrance in the south and one intended to remove the corpse through the northern entrance, that entrance imparts impurity. If, afterwards, the brother or the relatives of the deceased came and said: "We will remove it only from the southern entrance," the southern entrance replaces and purifies the northern entrance provided one does not say so as a ruse. If he says so as a ruse, they both impart impurity.
ב
המת בתוך הבית ובו פתחים הרבה בזמן שכולם נעולים כולם טמאים והיושב בצד כל פתח מהן תחת התקרה היוצא על הפתח נטמא נפתח אחד מהן או שחשב להוציאו באחד מהן ואף על פי שחשב אחר שמת המת אפילו חשב להוציאו בחלון שהיא ארבעה על ארבעה הציל על הפתחים כולן ואין טמא אלא כנגד הפתח שנפתח או שחשב עליו והשאר טהורין מפני שהן נעולין והרי אין הבית כקבר סתום וכן אם התחיל לחתור פתח להוציאו בו משיחתור ארבעה על ארבעה הציל על הפתחים כולן היה שם פתח סתום וחשב להוציאו והתחיל לפותחו משיתחיל לפתוח הציל על הפתחים כולן היו בו חלונות הרבה וכולן מוגפות כולן טהורות נפתחו כולן טמאות ולא הצילו על הפתחים פתח קטן בתוך פתח גדול המאהיל על גבי שניהם טמא חשב להוציאו בקטן טיהר קטן את הגדול היו שניהן מתאימין המאהיל ע"ג שניהם טמא חשב להוציאו באחד מהן טיהר את חבירו היה לבית פתח אחד לצפון ופתח לדרום וחשב להוציאו בצפוני ואחר כך באו אחיו או קרוביו ואמרו אין מוציאין אותו אלא בדרומי טיהר דרומי את הצפוני ובלבד שלא יערים ואם הערים שניהן טמאים:
3
The following rules apply when several houses open to an exedra and a corpse is located in one of the houses. If the usual practice was to remove the corpse through the exedra, the gateway and the houses become impure. If not, the gateway is impure and the houses are pure.
If there is a closed room in a house and a corpse was brought into the room through an open window, the outer portion of the house is pure. The rationale is that the impurity goes back and departs through the same window that it entered.
ג
בתים הפתוחין לאכסדרה והמת באחד מהן אם היה דרכו של מת לצאת באכסדרה הרי הבית שער והבתים טמאים ואם לאו בית שער טמא והבית טהור החדר שלפנים מן הבית מוגף ונכנסה טומאה לפנים דרך חלון הבית החיצון טהור מפני שהטומאה חוזרת ויוצאת דרך החלון שנכנסה בו:
4
A grave does not impart impurity to the area around it unless there is empty space a handbreadth long, a handbreadth wide and a handbreadth high above the corpse. Should that condition be met, even if one built a structure over the space of one cubic handbreadth until the heavens, it imparts impurity in its entirety, because the entire structure is considered as a grave.
If the impurity was flush against the covering and there was not an empty space of a cubic handbreadth, the impurity pierces through and ascends and pierces through and descends. The only ones who are impure are those who touch the space above the impurity, stand over it from above, touch the space below it, or stand below it. If, however, one touches the side of the building, he is pure.
ד
אין הקבר מטמא מכל סביביו עד שיהיה שם חלל טפח על טפח על רום טפח אפילו הגביה הבנין על גבי חלל טפח עד לרקיע הכל טמא לפי שהכל כקבר היתה טומאה רצוצה ולא היה שם חלל טפח טומאה בוקעת ועולה בוקעת ויורדת ואין טמא אלא הנוגע כנגד הטומאה מלמעלה או המאהיל עליה מלמעלה או הנוגע כנגדה מלמטה או מה שהאהיל עליו מלמטה אבל הנוגע בצדי הבנין טהור:
5
This is a great general principle with regard to the impurity stemming from a corpse: If the impurity is flush with its covering, the impurity pierces through and ascends until the heavens and pierces through and descends until the depths, but does not impart impurity to those on the sides.
What is implied? There is a heap of grain or a pile of stones with an olive-sized portion of a corpse in its midst. There are keilim next to the source of impurity, but they are not touching it. Those keilim are pure, but any k'li in the pile that is directly above or below the impurity is impure, because the impurity pierces through and ascends and pierces through and descends. If there was empty space, a handbreadth long, a handbreadth wide and a handbreadth high above the corpse, it is considered as a closed grave and it imparts impurity from all sides.
ה
זה כלל גדול בטומאת מת שכל דבר המטמא באהל מן המת אם היה רצוץ שאין לו חלל טפח הרי הטומאה בוקעת ועולה עד לרקיע בוקעת ויורדת עד התהום ואינה מטמאה מן הצדדין כיצד כרי של תבואה או גל של אבנים וכזית מן המת בתוכו וכלים בצד הטומאה ואינן נוגעין בה כלים טהורין וכל כלי שבתוך הגל מכוון כנגד הטומאה מלמעלה או מלמטה טמא שהטומאה בוקעת ועולה ובוקעת ויורדת ואם היה מקום הטומאה חלול טפח על טפח על רום טפח הוא כקבר סתום ומטמאה מכל סביביו:
6
When a building was filled with earth or pebbles, it is as if the house no longer exists. It is like a pile of earth or pebbles. If there was a source of impurity in the midst of the earth, the impurity pierces through and ascends and pierces through and descends, but the keilim in the earth at its sides are pure.
ו
בית שמלאו עפר או צרורות הרי זה ביטל הבית והרי הוא כגל של עפר או צרורות ואם היתה טומאה בתוך העפר בוקעת ועולה בוקעת ויורדת וכלים שבצידיה בתוך העפר טהורים:
7
When impurity that was flush against its covering was in a wall and one rested a sukkah against the wall, the sukkah is impure. The rationale is that the wall became one of the sides of a structure containing a corpse. Although the sides of the structure would be pure when touched by a person if it did not have a roof, once a roof was placed over them, everything in the structure is impure, because the impurity is contained in the structure.
ז
טומאה שהיא רצוצה בכותל וסמך סוכה לכותל הסוכה טמאה שהרי נעשה הכותל צד מצידי האהל ואע"פ שהצדדין טהורים לנוגע אילו לא היה עליהן אהל אבל משנעשה עליהן אהל האהל כולו טמא שהרי הטומאה בתוכו:
• Rambam - 3 Chapters a Day
Genevah - Chapter Four, Genevah - Chapter Five, Genevah - Chapter Six
Genevah - Chapter Four, Genevah - Chapter Five, Genevah - Chapter Six
• Genevah - Chapter Four
1
When a watchman claims that an entrusted article was stolen from his home and takes an oath to this effect, and afterwards, witnesses come and testify that he made a false claim and that he is still in possession of the entrusted article, the watchman is required to pay twice the worth of the stolen article. For the watchman is himself a thief.
If he slaughtered or sold a stolen animal after he took the false oath, he must pay four or five times its worth. He is not required to bring a guilt offering for taking a false oath that was discredited by witnesses. Nor is he required to add a fifth of the value of the stolen article. For a fifth is never paid when a double payment is paid. If witnesses come before he takes an oath, he is required to pay only the principal.
א
הטוען שנגנב מביתו הפקדון אם נשבע ואחר כך באו עדים ששקר טען ושהפקדון הזה אצלו הרי זה משלם תשלומי כפל שהרי הוא עצמו הגנב. ואם טבח ומכר אחר שנשבע משלם תשלומי ארבעה וחמשה. ואינו מביא אשם על פי עדים על שבועתו. ואינו מביא חומש שאין החומש משתלם עם הכפל. ואם באו עדים קודם שישבע אינו משלם אלא הקרן בלבד:
2
When does the above apply? When he took an oath before he misappropriated the entrusted article. If, however, he misappropriated the entrusted article, claimed that it had been stolen, and took an oath to that effect, and then witnesses came and discredited his oath, he is not liable for the double payment. As soon as he misappropriated the article, he became liable for it and acquired responsibility for it.
ב
במה דברים אמורים שנשבע קודם ששלח בפקדון יד. אבל אם שלח בו יד וטען טענת גנב ונשבע ובא ועדים פטור מן הכפל שכיון ששלח יד
3
Similarly, if the watchman claimed that the entrusted article was lost and took an oath to that effect, and then claimed it was stolen and took an oath to that effect, and then witnesses came and testified that it was in his possession, the watchman is not liable for the double payment. For at the time he took the first false oath, the entrusted article was no longer considered the property of the original owner.
ג
וכן הטוען טענת אבידה בפקדון ונשבע וחזר וטען טענת גנב ונשבע ואחר כך באו עדים פטור מן הכפל שכבר יצא הפקדון מידי הבעלים משבועה ראשונה:
4
When a person who discovered a lost article claims that it was stolen and takes an oath to that effect, and afterwards, witnesses come and testify that the lost article was in his possession and that he made a false claim, he is required to pay twice the article's worth. This is implied by Exodus 22:8, which states that a double payment must be made for "any lost article."
The above applies when he claims that it was stolen by an armed thief, in which instance he would not be held liable. If, however, he claims that it was stolen in a manner that is not beyond his control, he is not liable for the double payment. For he would have been liable to pay for the lost article because of his claim, since a person caring for a lost article that he discovered is considered to be a paid watchman, as will be explained.
ד
הטוען טענת גנב באבידה ונשבע ואחר כך באו עדים שהאבידה ברשותו ושקר טען משלם תשלומי כפל שנאמר על כל אבידה. והוא שיטעון שנגנבה בליסטים מזויין שהוא אנוס ופטור. אבל אם טען שנגנבה בלא אונס פטור מן הכפל מפני שהוא חייב לשלם על פי טענתו ששומר אבידה כשומר שכר הוא כמו שיתבאר:
5
When a watchman claims that an entrusted article was stolen and takes an oath to that effect, and then witnesses come and testify that the entrusted article is in his possession, and then he again claims that it was stolen and takes an oath to that effect, and then witnesses again come and testify that the entrusted article is still in his possession - even if this sequence repeats itself 100 times - he is liable for a double payment for every claim.
Thus, if he took five false oaths, he is liable to pay six times the value of the entrusted article, the principal that was entrusted to him and five times its value, because of the five double payments that result from the five false oaths.
ה
הטוען טענת גנב בפקדון ונשבע. ואחר כך באו עדים שהוא ברשותו. וחזר וטען בו טענת גנב ונשבע ואחר כך באו עדים שעדיין ברשותו הוא אפילו מאה פעמים חייב כפל על כל טענה וטענה. ואם נשבע חמש פעמים נמצא משלם ששה הקרן שהפקיד אצלו וחמשה בקרן משום חמשה כפילות של חמש שבועות:
6
The following rules apply when a watchman claims that an entrusted article was stolen and takes an oath to that effect, and then claims that the entrusted article was lost - and then witnesses come and testify that the article was not stolen, and the watchman admits that it was not lost. Since he must pay twice the value of the entrusted article because of the witnesses, he need not pay an additional fifth as a surcharge because of the other oath, although he admitted it to be false. The rationale is that since this involves the same principal for which he is required to make the double payment, he is not liable for the additional fifth.
ו
טען טענת גנב ונשבע וחזר וטען טענת אבידה ונשבע. ובאו עדים שלא נגנב והודה הוא שלא אבד הואיל ומשלם תשלומי כפל על פי עדים אינו משלם חומש על שבועה אחרונה אע"פ שהודה. שהממון המחייבו בכפל פוטרו מן החומש:
7
The following rules apply if a person entrusted his ox to two people, they claimed that it was stolen and took an oath to that effect, and afterwards one of them admitted that the oath was false, and then witnesses came and testified that the other one lied. They both must pay the principal. If the owner of the entrusted object seizes property belonging to the partner whose oath was refuted in lieu of the double payment for his share of the stolen article, it shall not be expropriated from him. The one who admitted taking the false oath must pay an additional fifth for his share of the stolen article, as must all who voluntarily admit taking false oaths regarding entrusted objects.
ז
מסר שורו לשנים וטענו טענת גנב ונשבעו והודה אחד מהם והשני באו עליו עדים. שניהן משלמין את הקרן. ואם תפש בעל הפקדון את הכפל אין מוציאין מידו. וזה שהוא משלם ב חומש כשאר הנשבעין שבועת הפקדון שהודו מעצמן:
8
These rules apply with regard to the obligations of a watchman and a thief in the following situations. The owner of an entrusted object demanded its return from an unpaid watchman. The watchman took an oath that the article was stolen.
Afterwards, the thief was discovered. The watchman filed a claim against the thief, who admitted stealing the entrusted article. Afterwards, the owner of the entrusted article filed a claim against the thief, and he denied stealing the entrusted article. Witnesses then came and testified that the thief stole the article.
If the watchman took a true oath when he claimed that the article was stolen, he is considered the agent of the owners, and the thief is freed from the responsibility for the double payment, because he admitted the theft to the watchman.
If the watchman took a false oath the question is unresolved. Therefore, the thief is not compelled to pay twice the value of the stolen article. If, however, the owner seizes property belonging to the thief in lieu of the double payment, it shall not be expropriated from him.
The owner demanded the return of the entrusted article from the watchman and he paid for the article, and then the thief was discovered. In such a case, the watchman acquires the right to the article and to the double payment. The owner filed a claim against the thief, who admitted stealing the entrusted article. Afterwards, the watchman filed a claim against the thief, and he denied stealing the entrusted article. Witnesses then came and testified that the thief stole the article.
The thief is not compelled to pay twice the value of the stolen article. If, however, the watchman seizes property belonging to the thief in lieu of the double payment, it shall not be expropriated from him.
Similar laws apply with regard to the payment of four or five times the value of a stolen sheep or cow if the thief sold or slaughtered it.
ח
בעל הפקדון שתבע את השומר ונשבע שנגנב ואחר כך הוכר הגנב ותבע השומר את הגנב והודה לו הגנב שגנב ותבע בעל הפקדון את הגנב וכפר ובאו עדים שגנב. אם באמת נשבע השומר כשטען שנגנב נפטר הגנב מן הכפל בהודאתו לשומר. ואם בשקר נשבע אין מוציאין הכפל מן הגנב. ואם תפשו הבעלים הכפל אין מוציאין מידן. תבעו הבעלים את השומר ושלם ואחר כך הוכר הגנב ותבעוהו הבעלים והודה להן שגנב ואחר כך תבע והשומר וכפר בו ובוא עדים שגנב אין מוציאין הכפל מן הגנב, ואם תפש השומר את הכפל אין מוציאין מידו, וכן הדין בתשלומי ארבעה וחמשה אם טבח הגנב או מכר:
9
When a watchman claims that an article entrusted to him by a minor was stolen and takes an oath to that effect, and afterwards witnesses come and testify that the entrusted article is still in his possession, he is not liable. This applies even if the owner entrusted the article to the watchman when the owner was a minor and demanded its return after he attained majority.
This is derived from Exodus 22:6, which states: "When a man will give his colleague... articles to watch...." A child's entrusting of an article is of no consequence. Instead, he must be past majority both when he entrusts the article and when he demands its return.
ט
הטוען טענת גנב בפקדון של קטן אע"פ שנתן לו כשהוא קטן ותבעו כשהוא גדול ונשבע ואחר כך באו עדים הרי זה פטור מן הכפל שנאמר כי יתן איש ואין נתינת קטן כלום וצריך שתהיה נתינה ותביעה שוין [א] בגדול:
10
When a watchman steals an article entrusted to him from his own domain - e.g., he stole a lamb from a flock entrusted to him or a sela from a wallet entrusted to him - if witnesses testify regarding the theft, he is liable for twice the amount of the article.
The above applies even if he returned the sela to its place, and the lamb to the herd. For he remains responsible for them until he notifies the owner, since with his theft of the article his responsibility as a watchman is concluded. Thus, it is as if he had not returned anything until he notifies the owner.
Slightly different rules apply if a person steals a sela from a wallet belonging to a colleague, or a utensil from his home and then returns the utensil or the sela to its place. If the owner knew of the theft, but did not know of its return, the thief is still responsible for the article until his colleague counts his money.
י
שומר שגנב מרשותו כגון שגנב טלה מעדר שהופקד אצלו וסלע ד מכיס שהופקד אצלו אם יש עליו עדים חייב בכפל ואע"פ
11
When the owner counts his wallet and discovers the full amount, the thief is no longer liable. Moreover, if the owner did not know that the article was either taken or returned, it is not even necessary for the owner to count his money. As soon as the thief returned the money to its place, he is no longer responsible for it.
יא
מנה את כיסו ומצאו שלם המנין פטור. ואם לא ידעו הבעלים לא בגניבתו ולא בחזירתו אפילו מנין אינו צריך אלא כיון שהחזירו למקומו נפטר מאחריותו:
12
When does the above apply? With regard to an article that is not alive. When, however, a thief steals a lamb from a colleague's herd, the owner discovers the theft, the thief then returns it to the herd without informing the owner, and afterwards, the lamb dies or is stolen, the first thief is still liable. If, however, the owner counted his sheep, and the herd was complete,the thief is no longer liable.
If the owner did not know that the lamb was stolen or returned, the thief is liable until he informs the owner, so that he will pay more attention to the stolen lamb. This is necessary, because the thief taught it a way other than that followed by the other sheep in this herd.
יב
במה דברים אמורים בדבר שאין בו רוח חיים. אבל הגונב טלה מעדר חבירו וידעו בו הבעלים והחזירו לעדר שלא מדעת הבעלים ומת או נגנב חייב באחריותו. ואם מנו את הצאן והיא שלימה פטור. ואם לא ידעו הבעלים לא בגניבתו ולא בחזירתו אע"פ שמנו את הצאן והיא שלימה חייב באחריותו עד [ה] שיודיע את הבעלים כדי שישמרו את הטלה הגנוב שהרי למדו דרך אחרת חוץ מדרך שאר הצאן שבעדר זה:
Genevah - Chapter Five
1
It is forbidden to buy a stolen article from a thief. This is a severe sin, for it reinforces a transgressor and motivates him to steal in the future. For if he did not find a person who would purchase a stolen article from him, he would not steal. With reference to this, Proverbs 29:24 states: "A person who shares profits with a thief hates his own soul."
א
אסור לקנות מן הגנב החפץ שגנב. ועון גדול הוא שהרי מחזיק ידי עוברי עבירה וגורם לו לגנוב גניבות אחרות שאם לא ימצא לוקח אינו גונב וע"ז נאמר חולק עם גנב שונא נפשו:
2
When a thief steals and sells the stolen article before the owner despairs of its return, the thief is discovered, and witnesses come and testify that so and so stole this particular article in their presence, the stolen article shall be returned to its owner. The owner must reimburse the purchaser for the money that he paid the thief. This measure was ordained to enable uninhibited trade in the marketplace. The owner then sues the thief for the money he paid.
If the thief's reputation was known, our Sages did not ordain any leniency. The owner is not required to pay the purchaser anything, and instead, the purchaser must sue the thief and collect the money he paid from him.
ב
הגונב ומכר ולא נתייאשו הבעלים ואחר כך הוכר הגנב ובאו עדים שזה החפץ שמכרו פלוני הוא גנבו בפנינו. חוזר החפץ לבעליו והבעלים נותנין ללוקח דמים ששקל לגנב מפני תקנת השוק והבעלים [א] חוזרין ועושים דין עם הגנב. ואם גנב מפורסם הוא לא עשו בו תקנת השוק ואין הבעלים נותנין ללוקח כלום אלא חוזר הלוקח ועושה דין עם הגנב ומוציא ממנו דמים ששקל לו:
3
Different laws apply when the owner despairs of the article's return, regardless of whether he despairs before the thief sold the article or afterwards. The purchaser acquires the article because of the owner's despair and the transfer from one domain to another. He is not required to return the article itself; instead, he must reimburse the owner if he purchased the article from a thief whose reputation was well known.
If the thief was not known to steal, the purchaser is neither required to give the owner the article, nor to reimburse him. This was ordained to enable uninhibited trade in the marketplace.
ג
נתייאשו הבעלים מן הגניבה בין שנתייאשו ואחר כך מכר הגנב בין שנתייאשו אחר שמכר. קנה הלוקח ביאוש ושינוי רשות ואינו מחזיר הגניבה עצמה לבעליה אלא נותן להם הדמים אם לקח מגנב מפורסם [ב]. או אינו נותן כלל לא חפץ ולא דמים מפני תקנת השוק אם לא היה זה המוכר גנב מפורסם:
4
The following rule applies when the purchaser sues the original owner for the return of the money he spent. If there are no witnesses who can testify regarding the price, the trader must take an oath while holding a sacred article, stating the price he paid. He then collects this sum from the original owner.
Whenever a person takes an oath before he collects, the oath is a Rabbinical ordinance. He must take the oath while holding a sacred article, as will be explained in the appropriate place.
ד
בזמן שהלוקח עושה דין עם בעל הבית. אם אין עדים בכמה לקח הרי התגר נשבע בנקיטת חפץ בכמה לקח ונוטל מן הבעלים. וכל הנשבע ונוטל שבועתו מדבריהם ונשבע בנקיטת חפץ כמו שיתבאר במקומו:
5
If, when the purchaser sues the thief for the return of his money, the thief claims that he received a lesser sum, the trader must take an oath while holding a sacred article. He may then collect this sum from the thief. He is required to take the oath because the thief is not given the option of taking the oath, since we suspect that he will take a false oath].
ה
בזמן שהלוקח עושה דין עם הגנב והוא אומר בכך וכך לקחתי ממך והוא אומר לא מכרתי לך אלא בפחות מזה. התגר נשבע בנקיטת חפץ ונוטל מן הגנב. שאין הגנב יכול לישבע מפני שהוא חשוד על השבועה:
6
If a thief stole and gave the stolen article as payment for a loan or as payment for a debt owed a merchant, our Sages did not ordain any leniency to encourage trading. Instead, the owner of the article shall take his article back from the thief's creditor without paying him, and the thief remains responsible for the debt as before.
When the stolen article was given as surety for a loan, regardless of whether the loan was given for more or less than the worth of the article, the original owner shall pay the person holding the surety and then sue the thief for the money, unless the reputation of the thief was public knowledge, as explained above.
ו
[ג] גנב ופרע בחובו [ד] גנב ופרע בהיקפו אין בזה תקנת השוק אלא הבעלים נוטלים הגניבה בלא דמים וישאר חוב אלו על הגנב כשהיה. א משכן הגניבה בין שמשכנה
7
When a person purchased a stolen article from a thief whose reputation is not public knowledge, he is entitled to collect the amount he paid from the original owner. Only then must he return the stolen article.
This applies regardless of whether he paid 100 zuz for an article worth 200, or 200 zuz for an article worth 100. Our Sages ordained this rule to allow for uninhibited trade, as explained above.
ז
הלוקח מגנב שאינו מפורסם בין שלקח ממנו שוה מאה במאתים או שוה מאתים במאה הרי זה נוטל הדמים מבעל הבית ואחר כך מחזיר הגניבה מפני תקנת השוק כמו שביארנו:
8
The original owner is not required to reimburse the recipient of the stolen article in the following situation. A person was owed 100 zuz by a thief. The thief stole an article and gave it to his creditor, who gave the thief another 100 zuz. The stolen article must be returned to its original owner, and we tell the creditor: "Demand payment for 200 zuz from the thief. For you did not give him the second hundred only because of the article that he gave you. Just as you trusted him with regard to the first hundred, so too, you trusted him with regard to the second."
ח
היה נושה בגנב מאה זוז וגנב והביא לבעל חובו ונתן לו מאה אחרת הרי הגניבה חוזרת לבעליה ואומרין לזה לך ותבע הגנב במאתים שלא נתת לו המאה האחרת מפני החפץ שהביא לך בלבד כשם שהאמנתו בראשונה האמנתו באחרונה:
9
Torah law does not allow profit to be made from the sale of a stolen article. For example, if a person purchased a stolen article from a thief whose reputation was not public knowledge, for 100 zuz and sold it to a colleague for 120, and afterwards the thief was apprehended, the original owner must pay the second purchaser 120 zuz. He then may take his article. Afterwards, he shall be reimbursed for 20 zuz by the seller and then collect 100zuz from the thief.
If the reputation of the thief was public knowledge, the original owner shall pay the second purchaser 120 zuz and collect that amount from the trader who purchased the article from the thief. The trader shall then collect the principal, 100 zuz, from the thief.
The same principles apply if the second purchaser sold the stolen article to a third, or the third to a fourth. Even if the stolen article changed hands one hundred times. The final purchaser is reimbursed completely by the owner, who takes the profit from each of the middle men and collects the principal from the thief. All of this applies before the owner despaired of the return of the stolen article, as we have explained.
ט
לקח מגנב שאינו מפורסם במאה ומכר לאחר במאה ועשרים והוכר הגנב. בעל הגניבה נותן לזה האחרון מאה ועשרים ונוטל גניבתו וחוזר הבעל ונוטל עשרים של שכר מן המוכר ונוטל המאה מן הגנב. ואם
10
The following rules apply when there is a report that goods belonging to a person who was not known to sell his personal property were stolen, and that person recognizes his utensils and books in the possession of another person. They also apply when the person would frequently sell his personal property, but the utensils he recognized as his own were utensils that are made to lend or to rent out.
If witnesses come and testify that these utensils belong to the said individual, the person in possession of the utensils shall take an oath, stating the price he paid for the utensils, and collect this sum from the the owner and then return them to him.
י
בעל הבית שאינו עשוי
11
Different rules apply if the owner of the house would frequently sell his personal property, and the objects in question were not utensils that are made to lend or to rent out. In such an instance, even if there is a report that his property was stolen, the original owner is not entitled to claim it back from the purchasers, for it is possible that he sold it to others.
The house-owner's word is, however, accepted in the following situation. People came and lodged in his home. At night, he arose and called out: "My utensils and my scrolls have been stolen." His neighbors found a tunnel dug from his home and saw the people who lodged in his home leaving, carrying bundles of utensils on their shoulders. The thieves were not apprehended, but afterwards, the house-owner claimed to have discovered the stolen articles in the possession of another person, and everyone agreed, saying: "These are the house-owner's utensils and scrolls."
Under such circumstances, the house-owner's claim is accepted. The person in possession of the articles shall take an oath, stating the price he paid for the articles, and collect this sum from the house-owner and then return them to him.
יא
היה בעל הבית עשוי למכור את כליו ולא היו מדברים העשויין להשאיל ולהשכיר אע"פ שיצא לו שם גניבה בעיר והוכרו כליו אינו מחזירן מיד הלקוחות שמא הוא מכרן לאחרים. אבל אם באו בני אדם ולנו בתוך ביתו עמד וזעק בלילה נגנבו כלי וספרי ובאו בני אדם ומצאו מחתרת חתורה ובני אדם שלנו בתוך ביתו יוצאין וצרורות של כלים על כתפיהם והכל אומרים הללו כליו וספריו של פלוני הרי זה נאמן. וישבע זה שהכלים בידו בנקיטת חפץ כמה הוציא ויטול מבעל הגניבה ויחזיר לו כליו:
12
If a person whose reputation as a thief is public knowledge entered a person's house, and witnesses testify that he left with utensils hidden under his cloak, his word is not accepted even though the house-owner was present. Although the thief claims to have purchased the articles, since the house-owner claims that they were stolen, the house-owner's claim is accepted, provided he was not known to sell his personal property, the articles in question are not generally carried hidden, and the person in possession of the articles does not ordinarily carry them under his cloak. The house-owner must take an oath while holding a sacred article that they are his. He then may take his property.
If the person in possession of the articles is not known to be a thief, the house-owner's word is not accepted. Instead, the person in possession of the articles must take a Rabbinic oath that he purchased the articles. He may then depart.
יב
גנב שהוחזק ונתפרסם שנכנס לתוך בית חבירו ועדים מעידים שיצא וכלים טמונים לו תחת כנפיו אע"פ שהיה שם בעל הבית וטען ואמר לקוחין הן בידי ובעל הבית אומר ב גנובים הם. אם היה בעל הבית שאין דרכו למכור את כליו ואותם כלים אין דרך בני אדם להטמינן ואין דרך אותו המוחזק להצניע כליו תחת כנפיו. הרי בעל הבית נאמן וישבע בנקיטת חפץ
Genevah - Chapter Six
1
Whenever the prevailing assumption is that an article is stolen, one is forbidden to purchase it. Similarly, if the majority of a particular substance is stolen, one is forbidden to purchase it. Therefore, one should not purchase wool, milk or kids from shepherds. This applies within a settled community. In the desert, by contrast, one may purchase milk and cheese from them.
Similarly, one may purchase four sheep or the shearing of four sheep from the shepherd of a small herd, or five from the shepherd of a large herd, for we do not presume that an amount of this size is stolen.
א
כל דבר שחזקתו שהוא גנוב אסור ליקח אותו. וכן אם רוב אותו הדבר שהוא גנוב אין לוקחין אותו. לפיכך אין לוקחים מן הרועים צמר או חלב או גדיים. אבל לוקחין מהן חלב וגבינה במדבר אבל לא ביישוב. ומותר ליקח מן הרועים ארבע צאן או ארבע גיזות של צמר מעדר קטן או חמש מעדר גדול שאין חזקתו שהוא גנוב בדבר זה:
2
To state the general principle: Whenever a shepherd sells an article that would be noticed by the owner, it may be purchased from the shepherd. If the owner would not notice it, it is assumed to be stolen and may not be purchased from the shepherd.
ב
כללו של דבר כל שהרועה מוכרו אם היה בעל הבית מרגיש בו מותר ללקחו מן הרועה. ואם אין בעל הבית מרגיש בו אסור ללקחו:
3
We may not purchase wood or produce from the watchmen of produce unless they sit openly and sell with baskets of produce and scales in front of them. In such an instance, the matter is overt and will be spoken about; therefore, we can conclude that theft is not involved.
We may purchase from the entrance to a garden, but not from its rear. And whenever a seller says: "Hide the goods," it is forbidden to purchase from him.
One may purchase from a sharecropper, for he has a share in the produce and the wood.
ג
אין לוקחין משומרי פירות עצים או פירות אלא בזמן שהן יושבין ומוכרים והסלים והפלס לפניהם. שהרי הדבר גלוי ויש לו קול ואין זה גניבה. ולוקחין מפתח הגינה אבל לא מאחורי הגינה. וכולן שאמרו הטמן אסור לקחת מהן. ומותר לקחת מן האריס שהרי יש לו חלק בפירות ובעצים:
4
We should not purchase articles from married women, servants or minors unless the prevailing assumption is that they were granted these articles by their owner; for example, women who sell linen garments in the Galilee or calves in the Sharon. In all instances, if they say "Hide the goods," it is forbidden to purchase from them, for we assume that the goods were stolen.
We may purchase eggs or roosters anywhere, from any person. If, however, one says "Hide what was sold," it is forbidden.
ד
אין לוקחין מן הנשים [א] ומן העבדים מן הקטנים אלא דברים שחזקתן שהן שלהן מדעת הבעלים. כגון נשים ד שמכרו כלי פשתן בגליל או עגלים בשרון. וכולן שאמרו הטמן אסור ליקח מהן מפני שהן בחזקת גניבה. ולוקחים ביצים ותרנגולים בכל מקום מכל אדם. ואם אמר הטמן אסור:
5
One may purchase a large measure of olives or oil from an owner of an olive press. One may not, however, purchase a small amount of olives or oil, for the prevailing assumption is that these would be stolen goods. Similar laws apply in other like situations.
ה
לוקחין מן הבדדין זיתים במדה ושמן במדה אבל לא זיתים מועטים ולא שמן מועט שחזקתו גניבה הם וכן כל כיוצא בהם:
6
A launderer of a new woolen garment is entitled to the fluff that he removes. The strands that the comber removes, by contrast, belong to the owner of the wool.
The launderer may take three strands. Anything more belongs to the owner of the garment. If the additional strands were black against a white garment, the launderer may take all of them.
ו
מוכין שהכובס מוציא הרי אלו שלו ושהסורק מוציא הרי אלו של בעל הבית. הכובס נוטל שלשה חוטין והן שלו יתר מיכן של בעל הבית. אם היה שחור על גבי לבן נוטל את הכל והם שלו:
7
When a tailor leaves more thread than necessary to sew with a needle, and a piece of cloth that is more than three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths, he is obligated to return it to the owner. Anything less than that, he may keep as his own.
ז
ו החייט ששייר מן החוט כדי [ב] משיכת מחט ושייר מן הבגד מטלית שהיא שלש אצבעות על שלש אצבעות חייב להחזירן לבעלים. פחות מכאן שלו:
8
A carpenter may keep the shavings of wood that he produces with a plane. The chips he produces with a hatchet, by contrast, belong to the owner. If he is working for the owner as a hired hand, even the shavings belong to the owner.
With regard to all these matters, the prevailing local custom is followed.
ח
נסורת שהחרש מוציא במעצד שלו. בכשיל של בעל הבית. ואם היה עושה אצל בעל הבית אף הנסורת של בעל הבית. וכל הדברים האלו וכיוצא בהן הולכין בהן אחר מנהג המדינה:
9
Whenever a craftsman sells items to which he is not entitled according to the local practice - e.g., strands of fluff sold by a comber where it is customary that they are returned to the owner - it is forbidden to purchase from him, for we assume that they are stolen. If, however, he sells a pillow filled with wool, one may purchase it from him.
If a craftsman sells articles to which he is entitled according to the local practice, it is permitted to purchase them from him. If, however, he says, "Hide it," purchase is forbidden.
ט
כל אומן שמכר דבר מן הדברים שאינו שלו כהלכות המדינה. כגון מוכין שמכרן הסורק במקום שנהגו שיהיו של בעל הבית. אסור ליקח ממנו מפני שהן בחזקת גנבה. אבל לוקחין ממנו כר מלא מוכין. ואם מכר האומן דברים שהן שלו כהלכות מדינה לוקחין ממנו. ואם אמר הטמן אסור:
Hayom Yom: Today's Hayom Yom
• Shabbat, 17 Tammuz, 5776 · 23 July 2016
• "Today's Day"
• The difference between the first tablets (of the Ten Commandments) and the second:
In the tablets proper: The first were the "work of G-d"1 but the second, "hew for yourself."2
In the script: According to the sages in Eiruvin 54a, only the first ones had (the spiritual quality described by the words)3 "engraved on the tablets."
In the spiritual standing of the people Israel: When the first were given, they were tzadikim, for as they stood at Mt. Sinai "their defilement came to an end." But at the second tablets they were baalei teshuva, repentants.
In the spiritual standing of Moshe: When the Torah was given, Moshe received one thousand "lights" as a gift; with the sin of the Golden Calf these were taken from him and were not restored with the second tablets (except on Shabbat, as stated in P'ri Eitz Chaim).
The second tablets, however, did have this superior quality: That they were given along with halachot (laws), midrash and aggadot, etc., a "double gift of Torah-wisdom,"4 as explained in Nedarim 22b. Also, at the second, Moshe's face shone with rays of light.
FOOTNOTES
1.Sh'mot 32:17.
2.Ibid. 34:1.
3.Viz. Rashi on Eiruvin 54a: Had the first tablets not been broken, the Torah would have remained forever engraved in Israel's heart, and would never have been forgotten. This immense "spiritual quality" was absent from the second tablets, although they too were engraved in a Divine, miraculous manner. See Likutei Sichot Vol. 14, p. 31 et seq., and footnote 11 ibid.
4.Iyov 11:6 according to Metzudat Tziyon. Midrash Sh'mot Raba, Ch. 46 (beg.). Viz Likutei Sichot Vol. 9, p. 248, and footnotes there.
• Daily Thought:
Rehearsing Confidence
Yes, we believe. We believe that everything is in the hands of heaven. And so there is nothing to fret over, whether we fail or succeed.
But when we walk out the door into the cold, harsh world, why does that confidence lack the guts to come out with us?
It is because it hasn’t first walked from our soul into our minds.
If we would take the time to ponder, to mentally rehearse our part, to let that deep faith of our soul sink into our minds and our hearts, then it would be more than faith—it would be a vision, an attitude.
Don’t just believe it is so. Come to know that it is so.
In the tablets proper: The first were the "work of G-d"1 but the second, "hew for yourself."2
In the script: According to the sages in Eiruvin 54a, only the first ones had (the spiritual quality described by the words)3 "engraved on the tablets."
In the spiritual standing of the people Israel: When the first were given, they were tzadikim, for as they stood at Mt. Sinai "their defilement came to an end." But at the second tablets they were baalei teshuva, repentants.
In the spiritual standing of Moshe: When the Torah was given, Moshe received one thousand "lights" as a gift; with the sin of the Golden Calf these were taken from him and were not restored with the second tablets (except on Shabbat, as stated in P'ri Eitz Chaim).
The second tablets, however, did have this superior quality: That they were given along with halachot (laws), midrash and aggadot, etc., a "double gift of Torah-wisdom,"4 as explained in Nedarim 22b. Also, at the second, Moshe's face shone with rays of light.
FOOTNOTES
1.Sh'mot 32:17.
2.Ibid. 34:1.
3.Viz. Rashi on Eiruvin 54a: Had the first tablets not been broken, the Torah would have remained forever engraved in Israel's heart, and would never have been forgotten. This immense "spiritual quality" was absent from the second tablets, although they too were engraved in a Divine, miraculous manner. See Likutei Sichot Vol. 14, p. 31 et seq., and footnote 11 ibid.
4.Iyov 11:6 according to Metzudat Tziyon. Midrash Sh'mot Raba, Ch. 46 (beg.). Viz Likutei Sichot Vol. 9, p. 248, and footnotes there.
• Daily Thought:
Rehearsing Confidence
Yes, we believe. We believe that everything is in the hands of heaven. And so there is nothing to fret over, whether we fail or succeed.
But when we walk out the door into the cold, harsh world, why does that confidence lack the guts to come out with us?
It is because it hasn’t first walked from our soul into our minds.
If we would take the time to ponder, to mentally rehearse our part, to let that deep faith of our soul sink into our minds and our hearts, then it would be more than faith—it would be a vision, an attitude.
Don’t just believe it is so. Come to know that it is so.
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