Today's Laws & Customs:
Torah Reading
Pinchas: Numbers 25:10 Adonai said to Moshe, 11 “Pinchas the son of El‘azar, the son of Aharon the cohen, has deflected my anger from the people of Isra’el by being as zealous as I am, so that I didn’t destroy them in my own zeal. 12 Therefore say, ‘I am giving him my covenant of shalom, 13 making a covenant with him and his descendants after him that the office of cohen will be theirs forever.’ This is because he was zealous on behalf of his God and made atonement for the people of Isra’el.”
14 The name of the man from Isra’el who was killed, put to death with the woman from Midyan, was Zimri the son of Salu, leader of one of the clans from the tribe of Shim‘on. 15 The name of the woman from Midyan who was killed was Kozbi the daughter of Tzur, and he was head of the people in one of the clans of Midyan.
16 Adonai said to Moshe, 17 “Treat the Midyanim as enemies and attack them; 18 because they are treating you as enemies by the trickery they used to deceive you in the P‘or incident and in the affair of their sister Kozbi, the daughter of the leader from Midyan, the woman who was killed on the day of the plague in the P‘or incident.” 19 (26:1) After the plague,
26:1 Adonai said to Moshe and El‘azar, the son of Aharon the cohen, 2 “Take a census of the entire assembly of the people of Isra’el twenty years old and over, by their ancestral clans, all who are subject to military service in Isra’el.” 3 Moshe and El‘azar the cohen spoke with them on the plains of Mo’av by the Yarden across from Yericho, explaining, 4 “Those twenty years old and over who came out of the land of Egypt, as Adonai ordered Moshe and the people of Isra’el.”
• "The Three Weeks"
During the Three Weeks, from 17th of Tamuz to the 9th of Av, we commemorate 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. (The particular mourning customs vary from community to community, so consult a competent halachic authority for details.)
Citing the verse (Isaiah 1:27) "Zion shall be redeemed with mishpat [Torah] and its returnees with tzedakah," the Rebbe urged that we increase in Torah study (particularly the study of the laws of the Holy Temple) and charity during this period.
Links:
Today in Jewish History:
• Passing of R. Shlomo of Karlin (1792)
Rabbi Shlomo (1738-1792), Chassidic Rebbe in the town of Karlin, Russia (near Pinsk), was killed in the pogroms which accompanied the Polish uprising against Russia.
Daily Quote:
The chassidim of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi used to say: Our Rebbe revives the dead. What is a corpse? Something cold and unfeeling. Life is movement, warmth, excitement. Is their anything as frozen in self-absorption, as cold and unfeeling as the mind? And when the cold mind understands, comprehends, and is excited by a G‑dly idea - is this not a revival of the dead?Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash with Rashi
Parshat Pinchas
In Israel: Matot
• Numbers Chapter 28
1The Lord spoke to: Moses, saying: אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׂ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2Command the children of Israel and say to them: My offering, My food for My fire offerings, a spirit of satisfaction for Me, you shall take care to offer to Me at its appointed time. בצַ֚ו אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אֶת־קָרְבָּנִ֨י לַחְמִ֜י לְאִשַּׁ֗י רֵ֚יחַ נִֽיחֹחִ֔י תִּשְׁמְר֕וּ לְהַקְרִ֥יב לִ֖י בְּמֽוֹעֲדֽוֹ:
Command the children of Israel: What is stated above? “Let the Lord…appoint” (27:16). The Holy One, blessed is He, said to him, “Before you command me regarding My children, command My children regarding Me.” This is analogous to a princess who was about to depart from the world and was instructing her husband about her children, [and he replied, “Before you instruct me about them, instruct them about me,”] as it is stated in Sifrei Pinchas 24. צו את בני ישראל: מה אמור למעלה (כז, טז) יפקוד ה'. אמר לו הקב"ה עד שאתה מצוני על בני, צוה את בני עלי. משל לבת מלך שהיתה נפטרת מן העולם והיתה מפקדת לבעלה על בניה וכו', כדאיתא בספרי:
My offering: This refers to the blood. — [Sifrei Pinchas 25] קרבני: זה הדם:
My food: This refers to the sacrificial parts, as it says, “the priest shall burn them [the fat-portions] on the altar; it is the food of the fire-offerings” (Lev. 3:16). - [Sifrei Pinchas 25] לחמי: אלו אימורין, וכן הוא אומר (ויקרא ג, טז) והקטירם הכהן המזבחה לחם אשה:
My fire-offerings: which are put on the fires of My altar. לאשי: הנתנין לאשי מזבחי:
you shall take care: The Kohanim , Levites, and Israelites shall stand over them [to watch them]; hence they instituted the ma’amodoth [representatives of the people who were present at the sacrificial services]. — [Sifrei Pinchas 26, Taanith 26a] תשמרו: שיהיו כהנים ולוים וישראלים עומדין על גביו מכאן למדו ותקנו מעמדות:
at its appointed time: Each day is the appointed time prescribed for the continual offerings. — [see Sifrei Pinchas 26] במועדו: בכל יום הוא מועד התמידים:
3And you shall say to them: This is the fire offering which you shall offer to the Lord: two unblemished lambs in their first year each day as a continual burnt offering. גוְאָֽמַרְתָּ֣ לָהֶ֔ם זֶ֚ה הָֽאִשֶּׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּקְרִ֖יבוּ לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה כְּבָשִׂ֨ים בְּנֵֽי־שָׁנָ֧ה תְמִימִ֛ם שְׁנַ֥יִם לַיּ֖וֹם עֹלָ֥ה תָמִֽיד:
And you shall say to them: This is an admonition to the [rabbinical] court. — [Sifrei Pinchas 27] ואמרת להם: אזהרה לבית דין:
two…each day: Heb. שְׁנַיִם לְיוֹם. [To be understood] according to its simple meaning [that two sacrifices were to be offered up every day]. Primarily, however, it comes to teach that they should be slaughtered opposite the sun [also known as יוֹם]; the continual sacrifice of the morning to the west, and the one of the afternoon to the east of the rings [set in the floor of the Temple courtyard]. — [Yoma 62b] שנים ליום: כפשוטו ועיקרו בא ללמד שיהיו נשחטין כנגד היום, תמיד של שחר במערב ושל בין הערבים במזרחן של טבעות:
4The one lamb you shall offer up in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer up in the afternoon. דאֶת־הַכֶּ֥בֶשׂ אֶחָ֖ד תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה בַבֹּ֑קֶר וְאֵת֙ הַכֶּ֣בֶשׂ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֖ה בֵּ֥ין הָֽעַרְבָּֽיִם:
the one lamb: Even though this is already stated in the portion of Ve’attah Tetzaveh ; “This is what you shall offer [upon the altar…The one lamb you shall offer up in the morning]” (Exod. 29:38, 39), that was an instruction for the days of the investitures [of the kohanim], whereas here He commanded it for all generations. את הכבש אחד: אף על פי שכבר נאמר בפרשת ואתה תצוה (שמות כט, לח) וזה אשר תעשה וגו', היא היתה אזהרה לימי המלואים, וכאן צוה לדורות:
5And one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with a quarter of a hin of crushed [olive] oil. הוַֽעֲשִׂירִ֧ית הָֽאֵיפָ֛ה סֹ֖לֶת לְמִנְחָ֑ה בְּלוּלָ֛ה בְּשֶׁ֥מֶן כָּתִ֖ית רְבִיעִ֥ת הַהִֽין:
fine flour for a meal-offering: The meal-offering of the libations [which accompanied the sacrifice]. סלת למנחה: מנחת נסכים:
6A continual burnt offering, as the one offered up at Mount Sinai, for a spirit of satisfaction, a fire offering to the Lord. ועֹלַ֖ת תָּמִ֑יד הָֽעֲשֻׂיָה֙ בְּהַ֣ר סִינַ֔י לְרֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֔חַ אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
offered up at Mount Sinai: Like those offered up during the days of the investitures (Exod. 29:38-43). Another interpretation: “offered up at Mount Sinai” : the continual burnt offering is compared to the continual offering of Mount Sinai, the one offered before the giving of the Torah, about which it is written, “he put it [the blood] into the basins” (Exod. 24:6). This teaches us that it [the continual burnt offering] requires a vessel [for its blood]. — [Torath Kohanim , Tzav 18:8] העשיה בהר סיני: כאותן שנעשו בימי המלואים. דבר אחר העשויה בהר סיני, הקיש עולת תמיד לעולת הר סיני אותה שנתקרבה לפני מתן תורה שכתוב בה (שמות כד, ו) וישם באגנות מלמד שטעונה כלי:
7Its libation shall be one quarter of a hin for each lamb, to be poured on the holy [altar] as a libation of strong wine to the Lord. זוְנִסְכּוֹ֙ רְבִיעִ֣ת הַהִ֔ין לַכֶּ֖בֶשׂ הָֽאֶחָ֑ד בַּקֹּ֗דֶשׁ הַסֵּ֛ךְ נֶ֥סֶךְ שֵׁכָ֖ר לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
Its libation: of wine. ונסכו: יין:
on the holy: They shall be poured on the altar. בקדש הסך: על המזבח יתנסכו:
a libation of strong wine: Intoxicating wine, [this comes] to exclude wine straight from the winepress [which has not fermented]. — [B.B. 97a] נסך שכר: יין המשכר פרט ליין מגתו:
8And the second lamb you shall offer up in the afternoon. You shall offer it up with the same meal offering and libation as the morning [sacrifice], a fire offering with a spirit of satisfaction to the Lord. חוְאֵת֙ הַכֶּ֣בֶשׂ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֖ה בֵּ֣ין הָֽעַרְבָּ֑יִם כְּמִנְחַ֨ת הַבֹּ֤קֶר וּכְנִסְכּוֹ֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה אִשֵּׁ֛ה רֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
a spirit of satisfaction: It is gratifying for Me that I spoke, and My will was carried out. — [Zev . 46b, Sifrei Pinchas 38] ריח ניחח: נחת רוח לפני שאמרתי ונעשה רצוני:
9And on the Sabbath day, two unblemished lambs in the first year, and two tenths fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil, and its libation. טוּבְיוֹם֙ הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת שְׁנֵֽי־כְבָשִׂ֥ים בְּנֵֽי־שָׁנָ֖ה תְּמִימִ֑ם וּשְׁנֵ֣י עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים סֹ֧לֶת מִנְחָ֛ה בְּלוּלָ֥ה בַשֶּׁ֖מֶן וְנִסְכּֽוֹ:
10[This is] the burnt offering of each Sabbath on its Sabbath, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation. יעֹלַ֥ת שַׁבַּ֖ת בְּשַׁבַּתּ֑וֹ עַל־עֹלַ֥ת הַתָּמִ֖יד וְנִסְכָּֽהּ:
The burnt offering of each Sabbath on its Sabbath: But not the burnt offering of this Sabbath on another Sabbath. For if they did not offer one up on this Sabbath, I might think that two should be offered up on the following Sabbath. Scripture therefore says, “on its Sabbath” to instruct us that if its day passes, its offering is canceled. — [Sifrei Pinchas 40] עלת שבת בשבתו: ולא עולת שבת זו בשבת אחרת, הרי שלא הקריב בשבת זו שומע אני יקריב שתים לשבת הבאה, תלמוד לומר בשבתו, מגיד שאם עבר יומו בטל קרבנו:
in addition to the continual burnt offering: This refers to the additional [musaf] offerings, besides those two lambs of the continual burnt offering. And it teaches us that they [the additional sacrifices] may be offered only between the two continual offerings. Similarly, in the case of all the additional offerings it says, “In addition to the continual burnt offering” for this teaching. — [Sifrei Pinchas 40] על עלת התמיד: אלו מוספין, לבד אותן שני כבשים של עולת התמיד. ומגיד שאין קרבין אלא בין שני התמידין, וכן בכל המוספין נאמר על עולת התמיד לתלמוד זה:
11And on the beginning of your months, you shall offer up a burnt offering to the Lord: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in the first year, [all] unblemished. יאוּבְרָאשֵׁי֙ חָדְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם תַּקְרִ֥יבוּ עֹלָ֥ה לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה פָּרִ֨ים בְּנֵֽי־בָקָ֤ר שְׁנַ֨יִם֙ וְאַ֣יִל אֶחָ֔ד כְּבָשִׂ֧ים בְּנֵֽי־שָׁנָ֛ה שִׁבְעָ֖ה תְּמִימִֽם:
12Three tenths fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil for each bull, and two tenths fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil for each ram. יבוּשְׁלשָׁ֣ה עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים סֹ֤לֶת מִנְחָה֙ בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשֶּׁ֔מֶן לַפָּ֖ר הָֽאֶחָ֑ד וּשְׁנֵ֣י עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים סֹ֤לֶת מִנְחָה֙ בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשֶּׁ֔מֶן לָאַ֖יִל הָֽאֶחָֽד:
Three tenths: As is the case with the libations brought with a bull, for thus they are fixed in the portion dealing with libations [see 15:9]. ושלשה עשרונים: כמשפט נסכי פר, שכן הן קצובין בפרשת נסכים:
13And one tenth of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering for each lamb. A burnt offering with a spirit of satisfaction, a fire offering to the Lord. יגוְעִשָּׂרֹ֣ן עִשָּׂר֗וֹן סֹ֤לֶת מִנְחָה֙ בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשֶּׁ֔מֶן לַכֶּ֖בֶשׂ הָֽאֶחָ֑ד עֹלָה֙ רֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֔חַ אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
14And their libations: a half of a hin for each bull, a third of a hin for each ram, and a quarter of a hin for each lamb wine; this is the burnt offering of each new month in its month, throughout the months of the year. ידוְנִסְכֵּיהֶ֗ם חֲצִ֣י הַהִין֩ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה לַפָּ֜ר וּשְׁלִישִׁ֧ת הַהִ֣ין לָאַ֗יִל וּרְבִיעִ֥ת הַהִ֛ין לַכֶּ֖בֶשׂ יָ֑יִן זֹ֣את עֹלַ֥ת חֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ בְּחָדְשׁ֔וֹ לְחָדְשֵׁ֖י הַשָּׁנָֽה:
This is the burnt offering of each new month in its month: However, once the day passes, its offering is canceled, and there is no way to make it up. — [Sifrei Pinchas 43] זאת עלת חדש בחדשו: שאם עבר יומו בטל קרבנו ושוב אין לו תשלומין:
15And one young male goat for a sin offering to the Lord; it shall be offered up in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation. טווּשְׂעִ֨יר עִזִּ֥ים אֶחָ֛ד לְחַטָּ֖את לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה עַל־עֹלַ֧ת הַתָּמִ֛יד יֵֽעָשֶׂ֖ה וְנִסְכּֽוֹ:
And one young male goat…: All the additional-offering goats were brought to atone for defiling the Sanctuary and it holy sacrifices, as is outlined in the Tractate of Shevuoth (9a). The young male goat [brought] on the first day of the month differs insofar as with regard to it Scripture says, “to the Lord.” This teaches you that it atones for a case where there is no awareness [of the person’s uncleanness] either before [entering the Temple or eating sacrificial food] or after [the sin has been committed]. The only One aware of the sin is the Holy One, blessed is He. We derive [the law of] the other young male goats from this one. In the Aggadah , it is expounded thus: The Holy One, blessed is He, said, “Bring atonement for Me because I diminished [the size of] the moon.” - [Shev. 9a] \b it shall be offered up in addition to the continual burnt offering\b0 This entire offering [not just the young male goat]. ושעיר עזים וגו': כל שעירי המוספין באין לכפר על טומאת מקדש וקדשיו, הכל כמו שמפורש במס' שבועות (דף ט א). ונשתנה שעיר ראש חדש שנאמר בו לה', ללמדך שמכפר על שאין בו ידיעה לא בתחילה ולא בסוף, שאין מכיר בחטא אלא הקב"ה בלבד, ושאר השעירין למדין ממנו. ומדרשו באגדה אמר הקב"ה, הביאו כפרה עלי על שמעטתי את הירח:
and its libation: [The phrase] “and its libation” does not refer to the young male goat because sin-offerings have no libations. על עלת התמיד יעשה: כל הקרבן הזה:
Daily Tehillim - Psalms
Chapters 106-107
• Chapter 106
The psalmist continues the theme of the previous psalm, praising God for performing other miracles not mentioned previously, for "who can recount the mighty acts of God?" Were we to try, we could not mention them all!
1. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
2. Who can recount the mighty acts of the Lord, or proclaim all His praises?
3. Fortunate are those who preserve justice, who perform deeds of righteousness all the time.
4. Remember me, Lord, when You find favor with Your people; be mindful of me with Your deliverance;
5. to behold the prosperity of Your chosen, to rejoice in the joy of Your nation, to glory with Your inheritance.
6. We have sinned as did our fathers, we have acted perversely and wickedly.
7. Our fathers in Egypt did not contemplate Your wonders, they did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, at the Sea of Reeds.
8. Yet He delivered them for the sake of His Name, to make His strength known.
9. He roared at the Sea of Reeds and it dried up; He led them through the depths, as through a desert.
10. He saved them from the hand of the enemy, and redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
11. The waters engulfed their adversaries; not one of them remained.
12. Then they believed in His words, they sang His praise.
13. They quickly forgot His deeds, they did not wait for His counsel;
14. and they lusted a craving in the desert, they tested God in the wilderness.
15. And He gave them their request, but sent emaciation into their souls.
16. They angered Moses in the camp, and Aaron, the Lord's holy one.
17. The earth opened and swallowed Dathan, and engulfed the company of Abiram;
18. and a fire burned in their assembly, a flame set the wicked ablaze.
19. They made a calf in Horeb, and bowed down to a molten image.
20. They exchanged their Glory for the likeness of a grass-eating ox.
21. They forgot God, their savior, Who had performed great deeds in Egypt,
22. wonders in the land of Ham, awesome things at the Sea of Reeds.
23. He said that He would destroy them-had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying.
24. They despised the desirable land, they did not believe His word.
25. And they murmured in their tents, they did not heed the voice of the Lord.
26. So He raised His hand [in oath] against them, to cast them down in the wilderness,
27. to throw down their progeny among the nations, and to scatter them among the lands.
28. They joined themselves to [the idol] Baal Peor, and ate of the sacrifices to the dead;
29. they provoked Him with their doings, and a plague broke out in their midst.
30. Then Phineas arose and executed judgement, and the plague was stayed;
31. it was accounted for him as a righteous deed, through all generations, forever.
32. They angered Him at the waters of Merivah, and Moses suffered on their account;
33. for they defied His spirit, and He pronounced [an oath] with His lips.
34. They did not destroy the nations as the Lord had instructed them;
35. rather, they mingled with the nations and learned their deeds.
36. They worshipped their idols, and they became a snare for them.
37. They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.
38. They spilled innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land became guilty with blood.
39. They were defiled by their deeds, and went astray by their actions.
40. And the Lord's wrath blazed against His people, and He abhorred His inheritance;
41. so He delivered them into the hands of nations, and their enemies ruled them.
42. Their enemies oppressed them, and they were subdued under their hand.
43. Many times did He save them, yet they were rebellious in their counsel and were impoverished by their sins.
44. But He saw their distress, when He heard their prayer;
45. and He remembered for them His covenant and He relented, in keeping with His abounding kindness,
46. and He caused them to be treated mercifully by all their captors.
47. Deliver us, Lord our God; gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your Holy Name and glory in Your praise.
48. Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, forever and ever. And let all the people say, "Amen! Praise the Lord!"
Chapter 107
This psalm speaks of those who are saved from four specific perilous situations(imprisonment, sickness, desert travel, and sea travel) and must thank God, for their sins caused their troubles, and only by the kindness of God were they saved. It is therefore appropriate that they praise God and tell of their salvation to all.
1. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
2. So shall say those redeemed by the Lord, those whom He redeemed from the hand of the oppressor.
3. He gathered them from the lands-from east and from west, from north and from the sea.
4. They lost their way in the wilderness, in the wasteland; they found no inhabited city.
5. Both hungry and thirsty, their soul languished within them.
6. They cried out to the Lord in their distress; He delivered them from their afflictions.
7. He guided them in the right path to reach an inhabited city.
8. Let them give thanks to the Lord, and [proclaim] His wonders to the children of man,
9. for He has satiated a thirsting soul, and filled a hungry soul with goodness.
10. Those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, bound in misery and chains of iron,
11. for they defied the words of God and spurned the counsel of the Most High-
12. He humbled their heart through suffering; they stumbled and there was none to help.
13. They cried out to the Lord in their distress; He saved them from their afflictions.
14. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and sundered their bonds.
15. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His kindness, and [proclaim] His wonders to the children of man,
16. for He broke the brass gates and smashed the iron bars.
17. Foolish sinners are afflicted because of their sinful ways and their wrongdoings.
18. Their soul loathes all food, and they reach the gates of death.
19. They cried out to the Lord in their distress; He saved them from their afflictions.
20. He sent forth His command and healed them; He delivered them from their graves.
21. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His kindness, and [proclaim] His wonders to the children of man.
22. Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and joyfully recount His deeds.
23. Those who go down to the sea in ships, who perform tasks in mighty waters;
24. they saw the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep.
25. He spoke and caused the stormy wind to rise, and it lifted up the waves.
26. They rise to the sky, plunge to the depths; their soul melts in distress.
27. They reel and stagger like a drunkard, all their skill is to no avail.
28. They cried out to the Lord in their distress, and He brought them out from their calamity.
29. He transformed the storm into stillness, and the waves were quieted.
30. They rejoiced when they were silenced, and He led them to their destination.
31. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His kindness, and [proclaim] His wonders to the children of man.
32. Let them exalt Him in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.
33. He turns rivers into desert, springs of water into parched land,
34. a fruitful land into a salt-marsh, because of the wickedness of those who inhabit it.
35. He turns a desert into a lake, and parched land into springs of water.
36. He settles the hungry there, and they establish a city of habitation.
37. They sow fields and plant vineyards which yield fruit and wheat.
38. He blesses them and they multiply greatly, and He does not decrease their cattle.
39. [If they sin,] they are diminished and cast down through oppression, misery, and sorrow.
40. He pours contempt upon distinguished men, and causes them to stray in a pathless wilderness.
41. He raises the needy from distress, and makes their families [as numerous] as flocks.
42. The upright observe this and rejoice, and all the wicked close their mouth.
43. Let him who is wise bear these in mind, and then the benevolent acts of the Lord will be understood.
During the Three Weeks, from 17th of Tamuz to the 9th of Av, we commemorate 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. (The particular mourning customs vary from community to community, so consult a competent halachic authority for details.)
Citing the verse (Isaiah 1:27) "Zion shall be redeemed with mishpat [Torah] and its returnees with tzedakah," the Rebbe urged that we increase in Torah study (particularly the study of the laws of the Holy Temple) and charity during this period.
Links:
Today in Jewish History:
• Passing of R. Shlomo of Karlin (1792)
Rabbi Shlomo (1738-1792), Chassidic Rebbe in the town of Karlin, Russia (near Pinsk), was killed in the pogroms which accompanied the Polish uprising against Russia.
Daily Quote:
The chassidim of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi used to say: Our Rebbe revives the dead. What is a corpse? Something cold and unfeeling. Life is movement, warmth, excitement. Is their anything as frozen in self-absorption, as cold and unfeeling as the mind? And when the cold mind understands, comprehends, and is excited by a G‑dly idea - is this not a revival of the dead?Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash with Rashi
Parshat Pinchas
In Israel: Matot
• Numbers Chapter 28
1The Lord spoke to: Moses, saying: אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׂ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2Command the children of Israel and say to them: My offering, My food for My fire offerings, a spirit of satisfaction for Me, you shall take care to offer to Me at its appointed time. בצַ֚ו אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אֶת־קָרְבָּנִ֨י לַחְמִ֜י לְאִשַּׁ֗י רֵ֚יחַ נִֽיחֹחִ֔י תִּשְׁמְר֕וּ לְהַקְרִ֥יב לִ֖י בְּמֽוֹעֲדֽוֹ:
Command the children of Israel: What is stated above? “Let the Lord…appoint” (27:16). The Holy One, blessed is He, said to him, “Before you command me regarding My children, command My children regarding Me.” This is analogous to a princess who was about to depart from the world and was instructing her husband about her children, [and he replied, “Before you instruct me about them, instruct them about me,”] as it is stated in Sifrei Pinchas 24. צו את בני ישראל: מה אמור למעלה (כז, טז) יפקוד ה'. אמר לו הקב"ה עד שאתה מצוני על בני, צוה את בני עלי. משל לבת מלך שהיתה נפטרת מן העולם והיתה מפקדת לבעלה על בניה וכו', כדאיתא בספרי:
My offering: This refers to the blood. — [Sifrei Pinchas 25] קרבני: זה הדם:
My food: This refers to the sacrificial parts, as it says, “the priest shall burn them [the fat-portions] on the altar; it is the food of the fire-offerings” (Lev. 3:16). - [Sifrei Pinchas 25] לחמי: אלו אימורין, וכן הוא אומר (ויקרא ג, טז) והקטירם הכהן המזבחה לחם אשה:
My fire-offerings: which are put on the fires of My altar. לאשי: הנתנין לאשי מזבחי:
you shall take care: The Kohanim , Levites, and Israelites shall stand over them [to watch them]; hence they instituted the ma’amodoth [representatives of the people who were present at the sacrificial services]. — [Sifrei Pinchas 26, Taanith 26a] תשמרו: שיהיו כהנים ולוים וישראלים עומדין על גביו מכאן למדו ותקנו מעמדות:
at its appointed time: Each day is the appointed time prescribed for the continual offerings. — [see Sifrei Pinchas 26] במועדו: בכל יום הוא מועד התמידים:
3And you shall say to them: This is the fire offering which you shall offer to the Lord: two unblemished lambs in their first year each day as a continual burnt offering. גוְאָֽמַרְתָּ֣ לָהֶ֔ם זֶ֚ה הָֽאִשֶּׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּקְרִ֖יבוּ לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה כְּבָשִׂ֨ים בְּנֵֽי־שָׁנָ֧ה תְמִימִ֛ם שְׁנַ֥יִם לַיּ֖וֹם עֹלָ֥ה תָמִֽיד:
And you shall say to them: This is an admonition to the [rabbinical] court. — [Sifrei Pinchas 27] ואמרת להם: אזהרה לבית דין:
two…each day: Heb. שְׁנַיִם לְיוֹם. [To be understood] according to its simple meaning [that two sacrifices were to be offered up every day]. Primarily, however, it comes to teach that they should be slaughtered opposite the sun [also known as יוֹם]; the continual sacrifice of the morning to the west, and the one of the afternoon to the east of the rings [set in the floor of the Temple courtyard]. — [Yoma 62b] שנים ליום: כפשוטו ועיקרו בא ללמד שיהיו נשחטין כנגד היום, תמיד של שחר במערב ושל בין הערבים במזרחן של טבעות:
4The one lamb you shall offer up in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer up in the afternoon. דאֶת־הַכֶּ֥בֶשׂ אֶחָ֖ד תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה בַבֹּ֑קֶר וְאֵת֙ הַכֶּ֣בֶשׂ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֖ה בֵּ֥ין הָֽעַרְבָּֽיִם:
the one lamb: Even though this is already stated in the portion of Ve’attah Tetzaveh ; “This is what you shall offer [upon the altar…The one lamb you shall offer up in the morning]” (Exod. 29:38, 39), that was an instruction for the days of the investitures [of the kohanim], whereas here He commanded it for all generations. את הכבש אחד: אף על פי שכבר נאמר בפרשת ואתה תצוה (שמות כט, לח) וזה אשר תעשה וגו', היא היתה אזהרה לימי המלואים, וכאן צוה לדורות:
5And one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with a quarter of a hin of crushed [olive] oil. הוַֽעֲשִׂירִ֧ית הָֽאֵיפָ֛ה סֹ֖לֶת לְמִנְחָ֑ה בְּלוּלָ֛ה בְּשֶׁ֥מֶן כָּתִ֖ית רְבִיעִ֥ת הַהִֽין:
fine flour for a meal-offering: The meal-offering of the libations [which accompanied the sacrifice]. סלת למנחה: מנחת נסכים:
6A continual burnt offering, as the one offered up at Mount Sinai, for a spirit of satisfaction, a fire offering to the Lord. ועֹלַ֖ת תָּמִ֑יד הָֽעֲשֻׂיָה֙ בְּהַ֣ר סִינַ֔י לְרֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֔חַ אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
offered up at Mount Sinai: Like those offered up during the days of the investitures (Exod. 29:38-43). Another interpretation: “offered up at Mount Sinai” : the continual burnt offering is compared to the continual offering of Mount Sinai, the one offered before the giving of the Torah, about which it is written, “he put it [the blood] into the basins” (Exod. 24:6). This teaches us that it [the continual burnt offering] requires a vessel [for its blood]. — [Torath Kohanim , Tzav 18:8] העשיה בהר סיני: כאותן שנעשו בימי המלואים. דבר אחר העשויה בהר סיני, הקיש עולת תמיד לעולת הר סיני אותה שנתקרבה לפני מתן תורה שכתוב בה (שמות כד, ו) וישם באגנות מלמד שטעונה כלי:
7Its libation shall be one quarter of a hin for each lamb, to be poured on the holy [altar] as a libation of strong wine to the Lord. זוְנִסְכּוֹ֙ רְבִיעִ֣ת הַהִ֔ין לַכֶּ֖בֶשׂ הָֽאֶחָ֑ד בַּקֹּ֗דֶשׁ הַסֵּ֛ךְ נֶ֥סֶךְ שֵׁכָ֖ר לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
Its libation: of wine. ונסכו: יין:
on the holy: They shall be poured on the altar. בקדש הסך: על המזבח יתנסכו:
a libation of strong wine: Intoxicating wine, [this comes] to exclude wine straight from the winepress [which has not fermented]. — [B.B. 97a] נסך שכר: יין המשכר פרט ליין מגתו:
8And the second lamb you shall offer up in the afternoon. You shall offer it up with the same meal offering and libation as the morning [sacrifice], a fire offering with a spirit of satisfaction to the Lord. חוְאֵת֙ הַכֶּ֣בֶשׂ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֖ה בֵּ֣ין הָֽעַרְבָּ֑יִם כְּמִנְחַ֨ת הַבֹּ֤קֶר וּכְנִסְכּוֹ֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה אִשֵּׁ֛ה רֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
a spirit of satisfaction: It is gratifying for Me that I spoke, and My will was carried out. — [Zev . 46b, Sifrei Pinchas 38] ריח ניחח: נחת רוח לפני שאמרתי ונעשה רצוני:
9And on the Sabbath day, two unblemished lambs in the first year, and two tenths fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil, and its libation. טוּבְיוֹם֙ הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת שְׁנֵֽי־כְבָשִׂ֥ים בְּנֵֽי־שָׁנָ֖ה תְּמִימִ֑ם וּשְׁנֵ֣י עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים סֹ֧לֶת מִנְחָ֛ה בְּלוּלָ֥ה בַשֶּׁ֖מֶן וְנִסְכּֽוֹ:
10[This is] the burnt offering of each Sabbath on its Sabbath, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation. יעֹלַ֥ת שַׁבַּ֖ת בְּשַׁבַּתּ֑וֹ עַל־עֹלַ֥ת הַתָּמִ֖יד וְנִסְכָּֽהּ:
The burnt offering of each Sabbath on its Sabbath: But not the burnt offering of this Sabbath on another Sabbath. For if they did not offer one up on this Sabbath, I might think that two should be offered up on the following Sabbath. Scripture therefore says, “on its Sabbath” to instruct us that if its day passes, its offering is canceled. — [Sifrei Pinchas 40] עלת שבת בשבתו: ולא עולת שבת זו בשבת אחרת, הרי שלא הקריב בשבת זו שומע אני יקריב שתים לשבת הבאה, תלמוד לומר בשבתו, מגיד שאם עבר יומו בטל קרבנו:
in addition to the continual burnt offering: This refers to the additional [musaf] offerings, besides those two lambs of the continual burnt offering. And it teaches us that they [the additional sacrifices] may be offered only between the two continual offerings. Similarly, in the case of all the additional offerings it says, “In addition to the continual burnt offering” for this teaching. — [Sifrei Pinchas 40] על עלת התמיד: אלו מוספין, לבד אותן שני כבשים של עולת התמיד. ומגיד שאין קרבין אלא בין שני התמידין, וכן בכל המוספין נאמר על עולת התמיד לתלמוד זה:
11And on the beginning of your months, you shall offer up a burnt offering to the Lord: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in the first year, [all] unblemished. יאוּבְרָאשֵׁי֙ חָדְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם תַּקְרִ֥יבוּ עֹלָ֥ה לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה פָּרִ֨ים בְּנֵֽי־בָקָ֤ר שְׁנַ֨יִם֙ וְאַ֣יִל אֶחָ֔ד כְּבָשִׂ֧ים בְּנֵֽי־שָׁנָ֛ה שִׁבְעָ֖ה תְּמִימִֽם:
12Three tenths fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil for each bull, and two tenths fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil for each ram. יבוּשְׁלשָׁ֣ה עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים סֹ֤לֶת מִנְחָה֙ בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשֶּׁ֔מֶן לַפָּ֖ר הָֽאֶחָ֑ד וּשְׁנֵ֣י עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים סֹ֤לֶת מִנְחָה֙ בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשֶּׁ֔מֶן לָאַ֖יִל הָֽאֶחָֽד:
Three tenths: As is the case with the libations brought with a bull, for thus they are fixed in the portion dealing with libations [see 15:9]. ושלשה עשרונים: כמשפט נסכי פר, שכן הן קצובין בפרשת נסכים:
13And one tenth of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering for each lamb. A burnt offering with a spirit of satisfaction, a fire offering to the Lord. יגוְעִשָּׂרֹ֣ן עִשָּׂר֗וֹן סֹ֤לֶת מִנְחָה֙ בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשֶּׁ֔מֶן לַכֶּ֖בֶשׂ הָֽאֶחָ֑ד עֹלָה֙ רֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֔חַ אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
14And their libations: a half of a hin for each bull, a third of a hin for each ram, and a quarter of a hin for each lamb wine; this is the burnt offering of each new month in its month, throughout the months of the year. ידוְנִסְכֵּיהֶ֗ם חֲצִ֣י הַהִין֩ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה לַפָּ֜ר וּשְׁלִישִׁ֧ת הַהִ֣ין לָאַ֗יִל וּרְבִיעִ֥ת הַהִ֛ין לַכֶּ֖בֶשׂ יָ֑יִן זֹ֣את עֹלַ֥ת חֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ בְּחָדְשׁ֔וֹ לְחָדְשֵׁ֖י הַשָּׁנָֽה:
This is the burnt offering of each new month in its month: However, once the day passes, its offering is canceled, and there is no way to make it up. — [Sifrei Pinchas 43] זאת עלת חדש בחדשו: שאם עבר יומו בטל קרבנו ושוב אין לו תשלומין:
15And one young male goat for a sin offering to the Lord; it shall be offered up in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation. טווּשְׂעִ֨יר עִזִּ֥ים אֶחָ֛ד לְחַטָּ֖את לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה עַל־עֹלַ֧ת הַתָּמִ֛יד יֵֽעָשֶׂ֖ה וְנִסְכּֽוֹ:
And one young male goat…: All the additional-offering goats were brought to atone for defiling the Sanctuary and it holy sacrifices, as is outlined in the Tractate of Shevuoth (9a). The young male goat [brought] on the first day of the month differs insofar as with regard to it Scripture says, “to the Lord.” This teaches you that it atones for a case where there is no awareness [of the person’s uncleanness] either before [entering the Temple or eating sacrificial food] or after [the sin has been committed]. The only One aware of the sin is the Holy One, blessed is He. We derive [the law of] the other young male goats from this one. In the Aggadah , it is expounded thus: The Holy One, blessed is He, said, “Bring atonement for Me because I diminished [the size of] the moon.” - [Shev. 9a] \b it shall be offered up in addition to the continual burnt offering\b0 This entire offering [not just the young male goat]. ושעיר עזים וגו': כל שעירי המוספין באין לכפר על טומאת מקדש וקדשיו, הכל כמו שמפורש במס' שבועות (דף ט א). ונשתנה שעיר ראש חדש שנאמר בו לה', ללמדך שמכפר על שאין בו ידיעה לא בתחילה ולא בסוף, שאין מכיר בחטא אלא הקב"ה בלבד, ושאר השעירין למדין ממנו. ומדרשו באגדה אמר הקב"ה, הביאו כפרה עלי על שמעטתי את הירח:
and its libation: [The phrase] “and its libation” does not refer to the young male goat because sin-offerings have no libations. על עלת התמיד יעשה: כל הקרבן הזה:
Daily Tehillim - Psalms
Chapters 106-107
• Chapter 106
The psalmist continues the theme of the previous psalm, praising God for performing other miracles not mentioned previously, for "who can recount the mighty acts of God?" Were we to try, we could not mention them all!
1. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
2. Who can recount the mighty acts of the Lord, or proclaim all His praises?
3. Fortunate are those who preserve justice, who perform deeds of righteousness all the time.
4. Remember me, Lord, when You find favor with Your people; be mindful of me with Your deliverance;
5. to behold the prosperity of Your chosen, to rejoice in the joy of Your nation, to glory with Your inheritance.
6. We have sinned as did our fathers, we have acted perversely and wickedly.
7. Our fathers in Egypt did not contemplate Your wonders, they did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, at the Sea of Reeds.
8. Yet He delivered them for the sake of His Name, to make His strength known.
9. He roared at the Sea of Reeds and it dried up; He led them through the depths, as through a desert.
10. He saved them from the hand of the enemy, and redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
11. The waters engulfed their adversaries; not one of them remained.
12. Then they believed in His words, they sang His praise.
13. They quickly forgot His deeds, they did not wait for His counsel;
14. and they lusted a craving in the desert, they tested God in the wilderness.
15. And He gave them their request, but sent emaciation into their souls.
16. They angered Moses in the camp, and Aaron, the Lord's holy one.
17. The earth opened and swallowed Dathan, and engulfed the company of Abiram;
18. and a fire burned in their assembly, a flame set the wicked ablaze.
19. They made a calf in Horeb, and bowed down to a molten image.
20. They exchanged their Glory for the likeness of a grass-eating ox.
21. They forgot God, their savior, Who had performed great deeds in Egypt,
22. wonders in the land of Ham, awesome things at the Sea of Reeds.
23. He said that He would destroy them-had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying.
24. They despised the desirable land, they did not believe His word.
25. And they murmured in their tents, they did not heed the voice of the Lord.
26. So He raised His hand [in oath] against them, to cast them down in the wilderness,
27. to throw down their progeny among the nations, and to scatter them among the lands.
28. They joined themselves to [the idol] Baal Peor, and ate of the sacrifices to the dead;
29. they provoked Him with their doings, and a plague broke out in their midst.
30. Then Phineas arose and executed judgement, and the plague was stayed;
31. it was accounted for him as a righteous deed, through all generations, forever.
32. They angered Him at the waters of Merivah, and Moses suffered on their account;
33. for they defied His spirit, and He pronounced [an oath] with His lips.
34. They did not destroy the nations as the Lord had instructed them;
35. rather, they mingled with the nations and learned their deeds.
36. They worshipped their idols, and they became a snare for them.
37. They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.
38. They spilled innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land became guilty with blood.
39. They were defiled by their deeds, and went astray by their actions.
40. And the Lord's wrath blazed against His people, and He abhorred His inheritance;
41. so He delivered them into the hands of nations, and their enemies ruled them.
42. Their enemies oppressed them, and they were subdued under their hand.
43. Many times did He save them, yet they were rebellious in their counsel and were impoverished by their sins.
44. But He saw their distress, when He heard their prayer;
45. and He remembered for them His covenant and He relented, in keeping with His abounding kindness,
46. and He caused them to be treated mercifully by all their captors.
47. Deliver us, Lord our God; gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your Holy Name and glory in Your praise.
48. Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, forever and ever. And let all the people say, "Amen! Praise the Lord!"
Chapter 107
This psalm speaks of those who are saved from four specific perilous situations(imprisonment, sickness, desert travel, and sea travel) and must thank God, for their sins caused their troubles, and only by the kindness of God were they saved. It is therefore appropriate that they praise God and tell of their salvation to all.
1. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
2. So shall say those redeemed by the Lord, those whom He redeemed from the hand of the oppressor.
3. He gathered them from the lands-from east and from west, from north and from the sea.
4. They lost their way in the wilderness, in the wasteland; they found no inhabited city.
5. Both hungry and thirsty, their soul languished within them.
6. They cried out to the Lord in their distress; He delivered them from their afflictions.
7. He guided them in the right path to reach an inhabited city.
8. Let them give thanks to the Lord, and [proclaim] His wonders to the children of man,
9. for He has satiated a thirsting soul, and filled a hungry soul with goodness.
10. Those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, bound in misery and chains of iron,
11. for they defied the words of God and spurned the counsel of the Most High-
12. He humbled their heart through suffering; they stumbled and there was none to help.
13. They cried out to the Lord in their distress; He saved them from their afflictions.
14. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and sundered their bonds.
15. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His kindness, and [proclaim] His wonders to the children of man,
16. for He broke the brass gates and smashed the iron bars.
17. Foolish sinners are afflicted because of their sinful ways and their wrongdoings.
18. Their soul loathes all food, and they reach the gates of death.
19. They cried out to the Lord in their distress; He saved them from their afflictions.
20. He sent forth His command and healed them; He delivered them from their graves.
21. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His kindness, and [proclaim] His wonders to the children of man.
22. Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and joyfully recount His deeds.
23. Those who go down to the sea in ships, who perform tasks in mighty waters;
24. they saw the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep.
25. He spoke and caused the stormy wind to rise, and it lifted up the waves.
26. They rise to the sky, plunge to the depths; their soul melts in distress.
27. They reel and stagger like a drunkard, all their skill is to no avail.
28. They cried out to the Lord in their distress, and He brought them out from their calamity.
29. He transformed the storm into stillness, and the waves were quieted.
30. They rejoiced when they were silenced, and He led them to their destination.
31. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His kindness, and [proclaim] His wonders to the children of man.
32. Let them exalt Him in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.
33. He turns rivers into desert, springs of water into parched land,
34. a fruitful land into a salt-marsh, because of the wickedness of those who inhabit it.
35. He turns a desert into a lake, and parched land into springs of water.
36. He settles the hungry there, and they establish a city of habitation.
37. They sow fields and plant vineyards which yield fruit and wheat.
38. He blesses them and they multiply greatly, and He does not decrease their cattle.
39. [If they sin,] they are diminished and cast down through oppression, misery, and sorrow.
40. He pours contempt upon distinguished men, and causes them to stray in a pathless wilderness.
41. He raises the needy from distress, and makes their families [as numerous] as flocks.
42. The upright observe this and rejoice, and all the wicked close their mouth.
43. Let him who is wise bear these in mind, and then the benevolent acts of the Lord will be understood.
Tanya: Igeret HaTeshuva , Chapter 5
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Thursday, 22 Tammuz, 5776 · 28 July 2016
• Igeret HaTeshuva , Chapter 5
• The previous chapter taught that the Jewish soul is a part of the Tetragrammaton, the internal aspect of G‑dliness, from which it derives. In this it differs from other created beings whose source is more external — the Divine Name Elokim and Supernal speech.
However, in order that the soul be able to become enclothed in a physical body in this corporeal world, it had to descend through ever more concealing planes by means of the letters that comprise the Divine Utterance, “Let us make man.”
Deriving as it does from the internal aspect of the Divine life-force, the soul itself is thus loftier than the degree of Supernal speech; it merely undergoes a descent through Divine speech. It is for this reason that concerning the infusion of man’s soul into the body the Torah uses the expression “He blew,” indicating that it comes from an internal level, for “he who blows, does so from the innermost aspect of his being.”
Because the soul is part of the Tetragrammaton, it also comprises ten faculties that parallel the Ten Sefirot that are found within the Tetragrammaton.
In this chapter the Alter Rebbe goes on to say that even though the soul was invested in the body through the external agency of speech — the Utterance “Let us make man”— nevertheless it derives from the internal aspect of speech, namely, “breath”. In this regard man differs from all other creatures, including angels, which derive their existence from the external aspect of speech. Accordingly, both the internal and external aspects of the soul derive from the internal aspect of G‑dliness, the internal aspect of the soul deriving from the internal aspect of G‑dliness, namely, the Tetragrammaton, the external aspect of the soul deriving from the internality of the external level of Divine speech.
והנה המשכת וירידת הנפש האלקית לעולם הזה, להתלבש בגוף האדם
Bringing the G‑dly soul down into this physical world to invest itself in a human body, this process resulting from Divine speech, viz., the Utterance “Let us make man,”
נמשכה מבחינת פנימיות ומקור הדבור
derives from the internal aspect, the source, of speech.
הוא הבל העליון המרומז באות ה׳ תתאה כנ״ל
This is the “breath” of the Supreme One that is indicated in the latter hei [of Havayah, the Four-Letter Name of G‑d] discussed above.
וכמו שכתוב: ויפח באפיו נשמת חיים, ויהי האדם לנפש חיה
As Scripture states concerning the vestiture of the soul within the body,1 “He blew into his nostrils a breath of life, and man became a living creature,”
ומאן דנפח מתוכיה נפח וכו׳
and “he who blows, does so from within him, [from his inwardness and innermost being].”
Thus, even the external aspect of the soul that is vested within the body is vested in an inward manner, albeit with the inwardness of speech — the internal aspect of the external level of speech. In this regard it is unlike the internal aspect of the soul which emanates from the most internal aspect of G‑dliness.
וזה שנאמר: כי חלק ה׳ עמו, יעקב חבל נחלתו
This, then, is the meaning of the verse,2 “For [G‑d’s] people is a part of G‑d; Jacob is the rope of His inheritance.”
This verse implies that within the soul there are to be found two levels: the internal aspect of the soul is “part of G‑d”; the external aspect of the soul is the “rope of His inheritance.”
פירוש: כמו חבל, על דרך משל, שראשו אחד קשור למעלה וקצהו למטה
The analogy is of a rope, whose upper end is bound above and the lower end below; so, too, the “upper end” of the soul is “bound Above” and its “lower end” is enclothed within the body.
כי הנה פשט הכתוב מה שנאמר: ויפח, הוא להורות לנו, כמו שעל דרך משל כשהאדם נופח לאיזה מקום
The simple meaning3 of the words “He blew” stated in reference to the soul’s vestiture within the body is to instruct us that just as, for example, if one blows in some direction,
אם יש איזה דבר חוצץ ומפסיק בינתיים, אין הבל הנופח עולה ומגיע כלל לאותו מקום
and there is any separation or obstruction there, then the exhaled breath will not reach that place at all,4
ככה ממש, אם יש דבר חוצץ ומפסיק בין גוף האדם לבחינת הבל העליון
— precisely this is the case if any obstruction separates man’s body from the “breath” of the Supreme One, concerning which Scripture states, “He blew.”
אך באמת אין שום דבר גשמי ורוחני חוצץ לפניו יתברך
The truth is, though, that nothing material or spiritual is a barrier before Him,
כי הלא את השמים ואת הארץ אני מלא
for, as the verse states,5 “Do I not fill heaven and earth?”
ומלא כל הארץ כבודו
Furthermore, Scripture states,6 “All the world is full of His glory.”
ולית אתר פנוי מיניה
Also,7 “There is no place devoid of Him,”
בשמים ממעל ועל הארץ מתחת, אין עוד
[and]8 “In the heavens above and on the earth below there is none else,”
ואיהו ממלא כל עלמין וכו׳
[and]9 “He fills all worlds….”
Since G‑d is everywhere and within everything, it is thus seemingly impossible for anything to act as a barrier before Him.
אלא כמו שכתוב בישעיהו: כי אם עונותיכם היו מבדילים ביניכם לבין אלקיכם
But as Isaiah declares,10 “Only your sins separate you from your G‑d.”
והטעם, לפי שהם נגד רצון העליון ברוך הוא, המחיה את הכל
The reason is that sins oppose the Will of the Supreme One, Who gives life to all,
כמו שכתוב: כל אשר חפץ ה׳ עשה בשמים ובארץ
as in the verse,11 “Whatever G‑d wills He has done in heaven and earth.”
וכמו שנאמר לעיל, שהוא מקור השפעת שם הוי׳, ונרמז בקוצו של יו״ד
(12It has been noted above, that [the Supreme Will] is the source of the sustenance issuing from the Tetragrammaton, and is represented in the “thorn” atop the letter yud.)
Inasmuch as the Tetragrammaton sustains all of creation, it follows that sins, which act in opposition to it, also oppose and conceal the Divine life-force. Sins are thus capable of preventing the Divine “breath” (concerning which it is written “He blew”) from reaching man.
וזהו ענין הכרת
This, then, is the meaning of excision:
שנכרת ונפסק חבל ההמשכה משם ה׳ ברוך הוא, שנמשכה מה׳ תתאה כנ״ל
the “rope” drawn from the final hei in the Four-Letter Name of G‑d is severed, cut off.
As a result, the soul clothed within the body is unable to receive vitality from its source in that Divine Name. During those times when the Jewish people received their vitality only from the “side” of holiness (as for example during the period of the Temple, as the Alter Rebbe will say in the next chapter), the lack of this life-force led to physical death.
וכמו שכתוב בפרשת אמור: ונכרתה הנפש ההיא מלפני, אני ה׳
As the verse says in Parshat Emor:13 “That soul shall be cut off from before My face; I am G‑d.”
The verse here uses the Tetragrammaton in referring to G‑d. Excision thus involves being sundered from the internal aspect of G‑dliness. It is this that the Alter Rebbe now goes on to say.
מלפני דייקא
The expression chosen is “from before My face”; i.e., the soul is excised from the innermost aspect of G‑dliness, the Tetragrammaton.
ובשאר עבירות שאין בהן כרת
Other sins that do not incur excision
על כל פנים הן פוגמין את הנפש כנודע, ופגם הוא מלשון פגימת הסכין
do cause at least a defect in the soul, in the sense of the defect or nick that invalidates a blade for ritual slaughter.
As with the defective blade, a sin causes something to be lacking in the rope-like flow of life-force from the Tetragrammaton downward to the soul, as is now explained.
והוא על דרך משל מחבל עב, שזור מתרי״ג חבלים דקים
This is analogous to a thick rope woven of 613 thin strands.
ככה חבל ההמשכה הנ״ל כלול מתרי״ג מצות
So, too, the “rope” of the downward flow mentioned above is comprised of the 613 mitzvot,14 each mitzvahbeing an individual thin strand.
וכשעובר ח״ו על אחת מהנה, נפסק חבל הדק וכו׳
When one violates one of them, G‑d forbid, a thin strand consisting of that particular commandment is severed….
Should an individual violate many commandments, G‑d forbid, then many strands are severed and the “rope” is grievously weakened. Sins punishable by excision (or death by divine agency) cause the entire “rope” to be severed, heaven forfend.
אך גם בחייב כרת ומיתה, נשאר עדיין בו הרשימו מנפשו האלקית
But even if one has incurred excision or death, there yet remains an impression within him of his Divine soul,
ועל ידי זה יכול לחיות עד נ׳ או ס׳ שנה, ולא יותר
and through this he may live until fifty (in the case of excision) or sixty years (in the case of death by divine agency),but no more.
ומה שכתוב בשם האריז״ל, שנכנסה בו בחינת המקיף וכו׳
(15As to the statement attributed to the AriZal, that the makkif, a transcendent level of life-force, enters such an individual, and so on,
Though unable to receive vitality from the internal aspect of G‑dliness, he is still able to receive vitality from this transcendent (lit., “encompassing”) level of G‑dliness. If this is indeed so, why can he not live longer than fifty or sixty years?
אינו ענין לחיי גשמיות הגוף
this is irrelevant to the life of the physical body,16 which cannot survive once there remains no vestige of the Divine soul,
ומיירי עד נ׳ שנה
and applies only until fifty years,
I.e., the transcendent level is also found within an individual only so long as he is able to remain alive by virtue of the impression of the Divine soul that is still within his body.
או בזמן הזה, וכדלקמן
or to the contemporary period, as will be noted.)
In this era, when a Jew’s vitality reaches him through becoming clothed in unholy media, it is possible for a person to live even after his soul has been sundered from its source in the Four-Letter Name of G‑d. This is why it is now possible for someone liable to excision or death by divine agency to live longer than fifty or sixty years. And during this time, the holy life-force which must be found within a Jew is received from the transcendent level, as the AriZal teaches.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Bereishit 2:7. |
| 2. | Devarim 32:9. |
| 3. | The Rebbe queries why the Alter Rebbe should have introduced the forthcoming analogy with the seemingly superfluous preamble, “The simple meaning of the words ‘He blew’ is to instruct us....” He proposes that the Alter Rebbe added these words in order to resolve a difficulty which would otherwise be inexplicable. For according to the Alter Rebbe’s explanation, the soul is drawn down in a number of successive stages: its initial source is the internal aspect of the life-force, and thereafter the internal aspect (the “breath”) of speech. (Both these concepts are adduced from the words “He blew,” which indicates inwardness, as mentioned above.) The soul later progresses through the letters of speech (for the Utterance “Let us make man” is composed of actual letters of speech, and does not derive from “blowing”, which is an aspect of breath). Only then does it become actually enclothed within the body of man. This ultimate stage, then, the implanting of the soul “into his nostrils,” comes about from speech, not from G‑d’s having “blown”. Now speech is heard even if there is an obstruction between speaker and listener. Accordingly, when describing the soul already situated in the body, how is it appropriate to use the image of exhaled breath, that can be prevented by an obstruction from arriving at its destination? It is this question that the Alter Rebbe answers by saying that the “simple meaning” of the verse is to “instruct us” that even after the Utterance “Let us make man,” i.e., even when the investiture of the soul in the body takes place by means of speech, it still retains the characteristics of “blowing”. Just as an obstacle can obstruct the passage of breath, so, too, sins can obstruct the soul’s lifeline to G‑dliness. This explains why other creatures which derive their nurture through Divine “speech” are not subject to excision, for the sound of speech can penetrate an obstruction. Souls, however, throughout their sojourn in the body, constantly depend on the nurture which is (so to speak) blown into them; they must always have an unobstructed path to their life-source. |
| 4. | The first edition of Iggeret HaTeshuvah here cited the instance of a person blowing “into the lungs of an animal.” The Rebbe once explained that this example was chosen because the Alter Rebbe wanted to draw on a source from the Torah, and according to Torah law (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De‘ah, beg. Sec. 39) an animal’s lungs are to be examined by being inflated. |
| 5. | Yirmeyahu 23:24. |
| 6. | Yeshayahu 6:3. |
| 7. | Tikkunei Zohar 51. |
| 8. | Devarim 4:39. |
| 9. | Zohar III, 255a. |
| 10. | 59:2. |
| 11. | Tehillim 135:6. |
| 12. | Parentheses are in the original text. |
| 13. | Vayikra 22:3. |
| 14. | The Rebbe notes that the Alter Rebbe here offers a remarkably novel thought — that every Jew receives vitality in this world from all 613 mitzvot, even though the commandments given to Kohanim do not apply to commoners, many commandments cannot be performed simultaneously, and the like. Possibly, continues the Rebbe, this may be understood in light of the Alter Rebbe’s explanation in Kuntreis Acharon, in the essay that begins, “To Understand the Details of the Laws...” (p. 159b.) [There the Alter Rebbe writes that even the laws that perhaps never have practical application derive from Supernal Wisdom.] |
| 15. | Parentheses are in the original text. |
| 16. | At this point the Rebbe refers the reader to Likutei Torah, Devarim 62c, where the Alter Rebbe explains that excision applies only to the level of “Yaakov” within the soul, but not to the level of “Yisrael”. He also cites Likutei Torah, Devarim83b, where the Alter Rebbe speaks of one who has incurred excision. Though of him it is written, “For my father and mother have forsaken me,” yet the continuation of the same verse (Tehillim 27:10) also applies to him: “...but G‑d has taken me in.” The encompassing level of the soul remains intact. Though within his soul the Jew’s innate love of G‑d is not manifest (“does not shed light”), yet in him too this love is still present, though concealed. |
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Thursday, 22 Tammuz, 5776 · 28 July 2016
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Thursday, 22 Tammuz, 5776 · 28 July 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Negative Commandment 266
Coveting
"You shall not desire your neighbor's house"—Deuteronomy 5:18.
It is forbidden to entertain thoughts regarding devising plots on how to acquire a coveted item that belongs to a fellow.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Coveting
Negative Commandment 266
Translated by Berel Bell
The 266th prohibition is that we are forbidden to occupy our thoughts with our desire for someone else's property and to develop a craving for it, and dwell upon it, since this will lead us to carry out a plan to acquire it.
The expression used for this prohibition is G‑d's statement,1 "Do not desire (lo sisaveh) your neighbor's house."
These two prohibitions [lo sach'mod and lo sisaveh] do not have the same goal.2 The first prohibition, lo sach'mod, forbids buying someone else's belongings, whereas the second, lo sisaveh, prohibits even having the feeling of desire and envy.
The Mechilta says, "Here it says 'Do not envy [lo sach'mod] your neighbor's house,' and later it says, 'Do not desire [lo sisaveh] your neighbor's house.' This makes the desire and the envy separate prohibitions." It also says there, "How do we know that a person's desire will lead him to envy? Since the Torah says 'Do not desire' [lo sisaveh] and 'Do not be envious' [lo sach'mod]. How do we know that if he is envious he will ultimately commit robbery? Since the Torah says,3 "They envied fields and robbed them."
The explanation of this passage is as follows: If one sees a fine object that belongs to his brother, and allows his thoughts to gain control over him, and develops a desire for it, he transgresses G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "Do not desire" [lo sisaveh].
Then his love for the object will become stronger and he will carry out a plan to acquire it — coaxing him and pushing him to sell it or to trade it for something better and more expensive. Should he reach his goal, when he acquires it, he also transgresses the prohibition, "Do not be envious," since by pushing and scheming he acquired his friend's object even though he had no intention of selling it. At this point, he has transgressed two prohibitions, as we have explained.
If, however, the owner, because of his love for the object, refuses to sell or trade it, then his great desire for it will cause him to take it by force and violence. At that point he also transgresses the prohibition, "Do not commit robbery." Think about this in relation to the story of Achav and Navos.4
We have therefore explained the difference between lo sisaveh and lo sach'mod.
FOOTNOTES
1.Ibid., 5:18.
2.In which case they would not count as separate mitzvos. See the Ninth Introductory Principle.
3.Michah 2:2.
4.Kings I, Ch. 21.
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Negative Commandment 266
Coveting
"You shall not desire your neighbor's house"—Deuteronomy 5:18.
It is forbidden to entertain thoughts regarding devising plots on how to acquire a coveted item that belongs to a fellow.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Coveting
Negative Commandment 266
Translated by Berel Bell
The 266th prohibition is that we are forbidden to occupy our thoughts with our desire for someone else's property and to develop a craving for it, and dwell upon it, since this will lead us to carry out a plan to acquire it.
The expression used for this prohibition is G‑d's statement,1 "Do not desire (lo sisaveh) your neighbor's house."
These two prohibitions [lo sach'mod and lo sisaveh] do not have the same goal.2 The first prohibition, lo sach'mod, forbids buying someone else's belongings, whereas the second, lo sisaveh, prohibits even having the feeling of desire and envy.
The Mechilta says, "Here it says 'Do not envy [lo sach'mod] your neighbor's house,' and later it says, 'Do not desire [lo sisaveh] your neighbor's house.' This makes the desire and the envy separate prohibitions." It also says there, "How do we know that a person's desire will lead him to envy? Since the Torah says 'Do not desire' [lo sisaveh] and 'Do not be envious' [lo sach'mod]. How do we know that if he is envious he will ultimately commit robbery? Since the Torah says,3 "They envied fields and robbed them."
The explanation of this passage is as follows: If one sees a fine object that belongs to his brother, and allows his thoughts to gain control over him, and develops a desire for it, he transgresses G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "Do not desire" [lo sisaveh].
Then his love for the object will become stronger and he will carry out a plan to acquire it — coaxing him and pushing him to sell it or to trade it for something better and more expensive. Should he reach his goal, when he acquires it, he also transgresses the prohibition, "Do not be envious," since by pushing and scheming he acquired his friend's object even though he had no intention of selling it. At this point, he has transgressed two prohibitions, as we have explained.
If, however, the owner, because of his love for the object, refuses to sell or trade it, then his great desire for it will cause him to take it by force and violence. At that point he also transgresses the prohibition, "Do not commit robbery." Think about this in relation to the story of Achav and Navos.4
We have therefore explained the difference between lo sisaveh and lo sach'mod.
FOOTNOTES
1.Ibid., 5:18.
2.In which case they would not count as separate mitzvos. See the Ninth Introductory Principle.
3.Michah 2:2.
4.Kings I, Ch. 21.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Tum'at Met Tum'at Met - Chapter 12
• Tum'at Met - Chapter 12
• Tum'at Met - Chapter 12
1
A covering that is a square, a handbreadth by a handbreadth and a handbreadth high brings ritual impurity and intervenes between ritual impurity according to Scriptural Law. For an ohel is given that distinction only when it is a handbreadth by a handbreadth and a handbreadth high or more.
What is implied? There was an olive-sized portion of a corpse lying with open space above it and implements (keilim), e.g., needles and spits, were at its side, without touching it. If one covered the portion of the corpse and the implements with an ohel that was a handbreadth by a handbreadth and was more than a handbreadth above the ground, the covering conveys impurity to the implements and renders them impure.
If there were other implements on top of this ohel that was a handbreadth by a handbreadth, they are pure, because the ohelintervenes between them and the impurity. Thus we have learnt that just as an ohel imparts impurity to everything that is under it, it preserves the purity of anything outside it, and intervenes between the impurity and the implements that are on top of it. Similarly, if the impurity was above the ohel and the implements were below it, the implements are pure, because the ohel intervenes in the face of impurity.
If the ohel was less than a handbreadth high or less than a handbreadth by a handbreadth, even if it was several handbreadths high, the implements that are next to the impurity are pure. Any of the implements that are above this ohel and are directly above the impurity are impure. The rationale is that they were positioned over the impurity and there was no ohelintervening in the face of the impurity. Similarly, if there was impurity above this ohel and implements beneath it, any implements that are directly beneath the impurity are impure, for the impurity was hanging over them and there is no ohelintervening in the face of the impurity. The rationale is that whenever there is less than a handbreadth of open space, it is considered as touching and the impurity under it is considered as "flush," as we explained.
When does the above apply? When the ohel was not a person or an implement. If, however, a person or an implement serves as anohel over the impurity, whether they were the covering itself or the support for the covering, even if the implements were such that themselves do not contract impurity, they convey impurity and do not intervene in the face of impurity.
What is implied? If there was a board placed upon four men or on four implements, even stone implements or the like that do not contract impurity or, needless to say, if they were placed on four spits or four reeds that were a handbreadth high, and there was impurity and other implements beneath it, those implements are impure. If the implements were on top of the board, even if they were not directly above the impurity, they are impure. If there was impurity above the board and implements below it, all of the implements below the board are impure. If, however, the board was placed on four stones or on an animal or a beast and there was impurity under it, the implements on top of it are pure.
א
טפח על טפח מרובע על רום טפח מביא את הטומאה וחוצץ בפני הטומאה דין תורה שאין קרוי אהל אלא טפח על טפח ברום טפח או יתר על זה כיצד כזית מן המת מונח לאויר ובצדו כלים כגון מחטין וצנורות וכיוצא בהן ואינן נוגעים בטומאה אם האהיל עליהן אהל שיש בו טפח על טפח והיה גבוה מעל הארץ טפח ה"ז מביא את הטומאה לכלים וטמאין היו כלים אחרים על גבי אהל זה שיש בו טפח על טפח הרי הן טהורין מפני שהאהל חוצץ בינם ובין הטומאה הנה למדת שכשם שהאהל מטמא כל שתחתיו מציל כל שחוצה לו וחוצץ בין הטומאה ובין כלים שעל גביו וכן אם היתה הטומאה על גביו וכלים תחתיו הכלים טהורין שהאהל חוצץ בפני הטומאה:
היה האהל פחות מרום טפח או פחות מטפח על טפח אף על פי שהוא גבוה כמה טפחים הכלים שבצד הטומאה טהורים וכלים שלמעלה מאהל זה כל שכנגד הטומאה טמא מפני שהאהילו על הטומאה ואין שם אהל לחוץ בפני הטומאה וכן אם היתה טומאה על גבי אהל זה וכלים תחתיו כל שכנגד הטומאה טמא שהרי האהילה עליהן ואין שם אהל שיחוץ בפני הטומאה שכל פחות מרום טפח כנגיעה הוא חשוב וטומאה שתחתיו טומאה רצוצה היא כמו שביארנו בד"א כשלא היה האהל אדם או כלים אבל אדם או כלים שנעשו אהל על הטומאה בין שהיו הן עצמן אהל בין שהיו עמודי האהל אפילו היו כלים שאין מקבלין טומאה כל עיקר הרי אלו מביאין את הטומאה ואינן חוצצין בפני הטומאה כיצד לוח שהיה מונח ע"ג ארבעה בני אדם או ע"ג ארבעה כלים אפילו כלי אבנים וכיוצא בהן מכלים שאין למינן טומאה ואין צ"ל אם היה מונח על ארבעה שפודין או ארבעה קנים שגבוהין טפח והיתה טומאה וכלים תחתיו הכלים טמאים ואם היו כלים על גביו אפילו שלא כנגד הטומאה טמאים ואם היתה טומאה על גבי לוח וכלים תחתיו כל כלים שתחת הלוח טמאין אבל אם הלוח היה מונח על גבי ארבע אבנים או על גבי בהמה וחיה והיתה טומאה תחתיו הרי הכלים שעל גביו טהורין:
2
If there was impurity on top of a board, all of the implements under it are pure, because the ohel intervenes in the face of the impurity. Implements made from animal turds, stone implements, or implements made from earth that are oversized are considered as ohalim and not as implements. Therefore, they intervene in the face of impurity.
ב
היתה טומאה על גביו הרי כל הכלים שתחתיו טהורין מפני שהאהל חוצץ בפני הטומאה וכלי גללים וכלי אבנים וכלי אדמה הבאים במדה הרי הם כאהלים ואינם ככלים ולפיכך חוצצים בפני הטומאה:
3
The following laws apply when a board was placed on top of a new oven and it protrudes beyond the oven on either side for more than a handbreadth. If there was impurity below the board, implements that are on top of it are pure. If there was impurity on top of it, the implements below it are pure. The rationale is that a new oven is not considered as a k'li in this context. If the oven was old, everything is impure.
ג
נסר שהוא נתון על פי תנור חדש ועודף מכל צדדיו בפותח טפח היתה טומאה תחת הנסר כלים שעל גביו טהורין טומאה על גביו כלים שתחתיו טהורים מפני שתנור חדש אינו ככלים לענין זה ואם היה ישן הכל טמא:
4
When a board was placed over two ovens, even if they are old, and it protrudes beyond each oven and there is impurity below it, between the two ovens, only the space between them is impure. Keilim that are beneath the two ends that are beyond the ovens are pure, for the area beneath the ends and that beneath the ovens are considered as two tents, one next to the other.
Similarly, if a board was placed over an oven, even an old one, and it protruded a handbreadth at both ends, but not from the sides, should there be impurity under one end, keilim under the other end are not considered as impure.
ד
נסר שהוא נתון ע"פ שני תנורים אפילו ישנים ועודף מחוצה לתנור זה ומחוצה לתנור זה והיתה טומאה תחתיו בין שני התנורים ביניהן בלבד טמא אבל כלים שתחת שתי הקצוות שחוצה לתנורים טהורים שהרי הן כשני אהלים זה בצד זה וכן נסר שהוא נתון על פי תנור אפילו ישן ויוצא מזה טפח ומזה טפח אבל לא מן הצדדין וטומאה בצד זה כלים שבצד השני טהורין:
5
The following laws apply when a person carries a k'li, e.g., a plow or the like, and one side of the k'li hung over impurity. If the circumference of the k'li was a handbreadth, even though its width was only a finger breadth and a third, it imparts impurity to the person carrying it. Impurity is conveyed to him according to Rabbinic Law, for our Sages decreed impurity for a k'li whose circumference is a handbreadth as a safeguard lest one be lenient when there is one whose width is a handbreadth. It does not, however, convey impurity to keilim that are below it or other people over which it hangs unless its width is a handbreadth.
ה
אדם שנשא כלי כגון מרדעת וכיוצא בו והאהיל צד הכלי האחד על הטומאה אם היה בהיקפו טפח אף ע"פ שאין ברחבו אלא רוחב אצבעו שליש ה"ז מטמא את הנושא ומביא לו טומאה מדבריהם שגזרו על שיש בהיקפו טפח משום שיש ברחבו טפח אבל אינו מביא את הטומאה לכלים שתחתיו ולשאר אדם שיאהיל עליהן ועל הטומאה עד שיהיה בו רחב טפח:
6
Wooden coffins in which a corpse is placed are not considered as graves. Instead, if there is a handbreadth of empty space between the covering of the coffin and corpse, the cover is considered as an intervening substance and one who stands on the cover is considered as pure according to Scriptural Law. Nevertheless, although most coffins have an empty space of a handbreadth, since there are some which do not have such space, our Sages degreed that no coffin would be considered as an intervening substance. Thus one who walks on a coffin is considered as if he touched a corpse or a grave.
ו
ארונות של עץ שמניחין בהן את המת אינן כקבר (אבל) אם יש בין כסוי הארון והמת גובה טפח חוצץ והעומד על גבי הארון טהור מן התורה ואע"פ שרוב ארונות יש בהן חלל טפח הואיל ויש שאין שם חלל טפח גזרו על כל הארונות שאינן חוצצין ושיהיה המהלך ע"ג הארון כנוגע במת או בקבר:
7
The following laws apply when a beam extended from one wall to another wall and there was impurity under it. If it was a handbreadth wide, it conveys impurity to everything under its entire span. Any keilim or persons under it are impure. This applies even if its width is not the same along the entire span and some portions are less than a handbreadth wide. The rationale is that these portions are considered as part of an ohel. If it is not a handbreadth wide, the impurity pierces through and ascends and pierces through and descends, as we explained.
How much must the circumference be for the board to have a width of a handbreadth? If it is round, three handbreadths. If it is square, four handbreadths.
ז
קורה שהיא נתונה מכותל לכותל והטומאה תחתיה אם יש בה פותח טפח מביאה את הטומאה תחת כולה וכל הכלים או אדם שתחתיה טמאים אף ע"פ שאין כולה שוה וקצתו פחותה מטפח מפני שקצתה מקצת אהל הוא ואם אין בה פותח טפח טומאה בוקעת ועולה בוקעת ויורדת כמו שביארנו כמה יהיה בהיקפה ויהיה בה פותח טפח בזמן שהיא עגולה שלשה טפחים ובזמן שהיא מרובעת ארבעה טפחים:
8
When a barrel a se'ah in size was on its side in an open area, it does not convey impurity to everything under its entire expanse unless it is approximately four and half handbreadths in circumference. In this way, its upper portion will be a handbreadth and a half above the ground and there will be a portion of it, a handbreadth by a handbreadth a handbreadth above the ground. Accordingly, if it was suspended half a handbreadth above the ground and its circumference was three handbreadths, it conveys impurity.
Similarly, if there is a round pillar lying in an open space and resting on the earth, it does not convey impurity under its side unless it is 24 handbreadths in circumference. If it is not 24 handbreadths in circumference, the impurity pierces through and ascends and pierces through and descends. The reason that 24 handbreadths are required is that whenever there is a circumference of three, there is a width of one. Whenever there is a square, a handbreadth by a handbreadth, its diagonal will be a handbreadth and two fifths. Therefore if the pillar's circumference was 24 handbreadths, there is a little bit more than a handbreadth by a handbreadth that is a handbreadth high under its entire side. All of these calculations are approximations. This is its form.
ח
סאה שהיא מוטה על צדה באויר אינה מביאה את הטומאה תחת כולה עד שיהיה בהיקפה ד' טפחים ומחצה בקרוב כדי שיהיה גובה הצד העליון טפח ומחצה ויהיה הטפח על טפח ממנה גבהו מעל הארץ טפח לפיכך אם היתה גבוהה מעל הארץ חצי טפח והיה בהיקפה שלשה מביאה את הטומאה וכן עמוד עגול שהוא מוטל לאויר ומונח על הארץ אינו מביא טומאה תחת דפנו עד שיהיה בו היקף כ"ד טפחים ואם אין בהיקפו עשרים וארבעה טפחים טומאה בוקעת ועולה בוקעת ויורדת זה שהצריכו עשרים וארבעה טפחים על העיקרין שסומכים עליהן חכמים בחשבון כל המשפטים שכל שיש בהיקפו שלשה יש בו רוחב טפח וכל טפח על טפח ברבוע יש באלכסונו טפח ושני חומשין לפיכך אם היה בהיקף העמוד עשרים וארבעה טפחים נמצא תחת כל דפנו טפח על רום טפח מרובע ויתר מעט שחשבונות אלו בקרוב הן:
• Rambam - 3 Chapters: Gezelah va'Avedah Gezelah va'Avedah - Chapter Ten, Gezelah va'Avedah Gezelah va'Avedah - Chapter Eleven, Gezelah va'Avedah Gezelah va'Avedah - Chapter Twelve
• Gezelah va'Avedah - Chapter Ten
1
The following law applies when a powerful and violent gentile took over property belonging to a Jew by force, seizing his field because the owner owed him a debt, caused him damages or caused him financial loss. If, after taking possession of the field, the gentile sold it to another Jew, the owner cannot expropriate it from the purchaser.
א
עכו"ם בעל זרוע שאנס נכסי ישראל וירד לתוך שדהו מחמת שהיה לו חוב על בעל השדה או מחמת שיש לו נזק ביד זה הישראל או מחמת שהפסיד ממונו. [א] ואחר שתקף לו את השדה מכרה לישראל אחר אין הבעלים יכולין להוציא מיד הלוקח:
2
When does the above apply? When the owner admits that the gentile who sold the property told the truth, or when two Jewish witnesses substantiate the truth of the gentile's claims.
Similarly, if there was a king or a ruler in that locale who could summon the gentile to court, and the owner did not lodge a claim against him, he cannot expropriate the property from the person who purchased it from the gentile. This applies even though the owner does not admit the truth of the gentile's claim, and even though there are no witnesses that the gentile told the truth. For the purchaser can tell the owner: "If the gentile is a robber, why did you not sue him according to the laws of the land?"
ב
במה דברים אמורים בשהודו הבעלים שאמת טען העכו"ם [המוכר או יעידו עדי ישראל שהאמת טען העכו"ם המוכר]. וכן אם היה שם מלך או שר באותו מקום שיכול לכוף את העכו"ם שמכר לדין ולא תבעו הבעלים את העכו"ם אינן יכולין להוציא מיד הלוקח מן העכו"ם אע"פ שאין מודין לעכו"ם ואע"פ שאין שם עדים שאמת טען העכו"ם שהרי אומר הלוקח לבעלים אם גזלן הוא העכו"ם למה לא תבעתם אותו בדיניהם:
3
The following laws apply with regard to gentiles who oppress the Jewish people and seek to kill them, unless they ransom themselves from the gentiles by ceding title to a field or a home, and giving it to the gentiles in return for their release.
When the oppressor desires to sell this land and the owner has the means to purchase the property, he is given priority over all others. If the owner does not have the means to purchase the property, or the property has remained in the possession of the oppressor for more than twelve months, whoever comes first and purchases the property from the oppressor acquires it.
The purchaser must, however, give the original owner a fourth of the land or a third of the funds. For the oppressor sells the land cheaply; since the land is not his, he will sell it for approximately a fourth less than its value. This portion belongs to the original owner, because the reason it was sold cheaply was that it belonged to him.
Therefore, a person who acquires it from the oppressor for 30 zuzmust pay 10 to the original owner or give him one fourth of the land. If this is done, the purchaser acquires full title to the land. If he fails to do this, the quarter of the land is considered to be property obtained by robbery.
ג
העכו"ם המציקים לישראל ומבקשים להרגם עד שיפדה עצמו מיד העכו"ם בשדהו או בביתו ויתננה למציק ואחר כך יניחנו. כשירצה המציק למכור אותה הקרקע אם יש ביד הבעלים ליקח מן המציק הן קודמין לכל אדם. ואם אין ביד הבעלים ליקח או ששהה הקרקע ביד המציק שנים עשר חדש כל הקודם ולקח מן המציק זכה. ובלבד שיתן לבעלים הראשונים רביע הקרקע או שליש המעות מפני שזה המציק מוכר בזול הואיל וקרקע שאינה שלו הוא מוכר הרי זה מוכר בפחות רביע או קרוב לו וזה רביע של בעלים שהרי מחמת שהיא שלהן מוכר בזול. לפיכך הלוקח מן המציק בשלשים נותן לבעלים עשרה או נותן להם רביע הקרקע ואחר כך יקנה הכל. ואם לא נתן הרי רביע הקרקע כגזל בידו:
4
The following rules apply if a squatter enters a field belonging to a colleague without permission and plants trees there. If the field was one appropriate for trees to be planted, we evaluate how much a person would be willing to pay for trees to be planted in this field, and he collects this amount from the owner of the field. If this field is not suitable for planting, the squatter's improvement of the field should be evaluated, and he is judged at a disadvantage.
ד
היורד לתוך שדה חבירו שלא ברשות ונטעה אם היתה שדה העשויה ליטע אומדין כמה אדם רוצה ליתן בשדה זו ליטעה ונוטל מבעל [ב] השדה. ואם אינה עשויה ליטע שמין לו וידו על התחתונה:
5
Moreover, if the owner of the field tells the squatter: "Uproot your tree and go," the owner's wishes are heeded.If the squatter says: "I want to uproot my tree," his wishes are not heeded, because uprooting trees weakens the fertility of the land.
ה
אמר לו בעל השדה עקור אילנך ולך שומעים לו. אמר הנוטע הריני עוקר אילני אין שומעין לו
6
Courtyards are considered to be appropriate for construction and to add homes and lofts. Therefore, the geonim ruled that a squatter who builds in a colleague's courtyard without his consent is regarded like a person who plants trees in a field appropriate for planting. If the building is useful and is appropriate for that courtyard according to the local custom, we evaluate how much a person would give to have such a building constructed and require the owner to pay that sum to the squatter.
ו
החצרות הרי הן ראויין לבנין ולהוסיף בהן בתים ועליות. לפיכך הורו הגאונים שהבונה בחצר חבירו שלא מדעתו הרי זה כנוטע שדה העשויה ליטע ושמין לו כמה אדם רוצה ליתן בבנין זה לבנותו. והוא שיבנה בנין המועיל הראוי לאותה חצר כמנהג אותו מקום:
7
When a person enters a colleague's field with the latter's permission, his improvement of the field should be evaluated, and he should be given the advantage in evaluating the amount of money due him. This applies even if he planted trees in a field that was unfit for planting.
If his expenses exceed the field's increase in value, he is reimbursed for his expenses. If the field's increase in value exceeds his expenses, he is reimbursed for the field's increase in value.
A husband who tills property belonging to his wife, and a partner who tills a field in which he owns a share are considered to have been given permission to enter the land. Their improvement of the field should be evaluated and they should be given the advantage in evaluating the amount of money due them.
ז
היורד לשדה חבירו ברשות אפילו נטע שדה שאינה עשויה ליטע שמין לו וידו על העליונה. שאם היתה ההוצאה יתר על השבח נוטל ההוצאה ואם השבח יתר על ההוצאה נוטל השבח. ובעל בנכסי אשתו [ג] והשותף בשדה שיש לו חלק בה כיורד ברשות הן ושמין להם וידם על העליונה:
8
When a squatter enters a field belonging to a colleague without permission and plants trees or builds there and the owner of the field comes afterwards and completes the building or guards the trees planted, or performs any other activity that indicates that he is pleased with the squatter's activity and considers it desirable, the squatter's improvement of the field should be evaluated and he should be given the advantage in evaluating the amount of money due him.
ח
היורד לשדה חבירו שלא ברשות ונטע או בנה ואחר כך בא בעל השדה והשלים הבנין או ששמר הנטיעות וכיוצא באלו הדברים שמראין שדעתו נוטה למה שעשה זה וברצונו בא הדבר שמין לו וידו על העליונה:
9
When a squatter enters a ruined building belonging to a colleague and rebuilds it without permission, the improvement he has brought about should be evaluated, and he is judged at a disadvantage.
If the owner of the building says: "I am taking my stones and wood," his words are heeded with regard to a house,but this principle is not applied with regard to a field, for building and destroying a structure in a field weakens the fertility of the land.
If the owner of the land tells him: "Remove what you built,"his words are heeded.
ט
היורד לתוך חרבתו של חבירו ובנאה שלא ברשות שמין לו וידו על התחתונה ואם אמר בעל הבנין עציי ואבניי אני נוטל. בבית [ד] שומעין לו. בשדה אין שומעין לו מפני שמכחיש את הקרקע. אמר לו בעל הקרקע טול מה שבנית שומעין לו:
10
Whenever the improvements a person brought about are evaluated - whether he is judged at an advantage or at a disadvantage - he is not entitled to collect any money unless he first takes an oath while holding a sacred object, with regard to the amount of his expenses.
If he says: "Let the judges come and evaluate the expenses. Whatever I spent is in the open. Let them evaluate the worth of the wood, the stones, the mortar, and the wages of the workers according to the lowest standards," his request is accepted, and he is entitled to collect his due without taking an oath. Similarly, if a person collects only the value of the improvement of the property, and he is judged at an advantage, he is not required to take an oath.
י
כל מי ששמין לו בין שהיתה ידו על העליונה בין שהיתה ידו על התחתונה אינו נוטל כלום עד שישבע בנקיטת חפץ כמה הוציא. ואם אמר יבואו הדיינים ויעשו שומת ההוצאה והרי היא גלויה לעיניהם וישערו העצים והאבנים והסיד ושכר האומנין בפחות שבשערים שומעין לו ונוטל בלא שבועה. וכן זה שנוטל השבח בלבד והיתה ידו על העליונה אין צריך שבועה:
11
The following rule applies whenever the improvements a person made are to be evaluated and he is entitled to collect money, and the owner of the field claims to have paid him, and the person who tilled the field claims that he did not receive anything. The claim of the person who tilled the field is accepted. He must take an oath that he did not receive anything, and he is entitled to collect his due. For we tell the owner of the field: "An evaluation of what he is due was not made yet. Thus, you did not know how much you were obligated to give. How could you have paid him?"
A different rule applies, however, if the evaluation was already made and the owner of the field was told to pay a specific amount to the person who tilled it. If the owner of the field claims to have paid him, although the person who tilled the field has not taken an oath yet, the claim of the owner is accepted. The owner must take a Rabbinic oath that he paid, and then he is freed of liability. The rationale is that land is always considered to be in the domain of its rightful owner.
יא
כל ששמין לו ב ונוטל שטען בעל השדה ואמר נתתי והיורד לשדה אומר לא נטלתי. היורד נאמן ונשבע שלא נתן לו כלום ונוטל שהרי אומרין לבעל השדה עדיין לא שמו לך ולא ידעת כמה אתה חייב ליתן היאך נתת. אבל אם שמו לו ואמרו לבעל השדה תן לו ואמר נתתי אע"פ שעדיין לא נשבע היורד הרי בעל השדה נאמן וישבע שבועת היסת שנתן ויפטר שהקרקע בחזקת בעליה:
12
The following laws apply when a husband brings sharecroppers to till property belonging to his wife and then he divorces her. If the husband is himself a sharecropper, their involvement is also terminated when the husband's involvement with the land is terminated, for they agreed to work the field on the husband's invitation. Their improvement of the field should be evaluated, and they are judged at a disadvantage.
If the husband is not a sharecropper and they agreed to work the field because it was necessary, they receive the share that is usually given to a sharecropper.
יב
בעל שהוריד אריסין בנכסי אשתו ואחר כך גירשה. אם הבעל עצמו אריס נסתלק בעל נסתלק אריסיו שלא ירדו לה אלא על דעת הבעל ושמין להם וידם על התחתונה. ואם אין הבעל אריס על דעת הקרקע ירדו ושמין להם כאריס:
Gezelah va'Avedah - Chapter Eleven
1
It is a positive commandment to return an object lost by a fellow Jew, as Deuteronomy 22:1 states: "And you shall certainly return it."
A person who sees an object lost by a fellow Jew and ignores it, leaving it in its place, transgresses a negative commandment, as it states Ibid.:4: "Do not see your brother's ox... and ignore it." He also negates the fulfillment of a positive commandment. If he returns the object, he fulfills the positive commandment.
א
השבת ג אבידה לישראל מצות עשה שנאמר השב תשיבם. והרואה אבידת ישראל ונתעלם ממנה והניחה עובר בלא תעשה שנאמר לא תראה את שור אחיך והתעלמת מהם ובטל מצות עשה. ואם השיבה קיים מצות עשה:
2
If a person takes a lost object and does not return it, he negates the fulfillment of a positive commandment and transgresses two negative commandments: "You may not ignore it"Ibid.:3and Leviticus 19:13: "Do not rob."
Even if the owner of the lost object is wicked and eats non-kosher meat for his own satisfaction and the like, it is a mitzvah to return an object that he lost. If, however, he eats non-kosher meat as a conscious act of rebellion against God, he is considered a non-believer. And just as it is forbidden to return a lost object belonging to a gentile, it is forbidden to return a lost object belonging to a Jew who is a non-believer, heretic, idol-worshiper or violator of the Sabbath in public.
ב
לקח את האבידה ולא השיבה בטל מצות עשה ועבר על שני לאוין על לא תוכל להתעלם ועל לא תגזול. אפילו היה בעל האבידה רשע [א] ואוכל נבילה לתיאבון וכיוצא בו מצוה להשיב לו אבידתו אבל אוכל נבילה להכעיס הרי הוא אפיקורוס והאפיקורוסים ועובדי עכו"ם ומחללי שבת בפרהסיא אסור להחזיר להן אבדה כעכו"ם:
3
It is permissible to keep an object lost by an idolater, forDeuteronomy 22:3 speaks of returning "an object lost by your brother." Indeed, if one returns such an article, one transgresses a prohibition, for one strengthens the power of the wicked peoples of the world. If, however, one returns it to sanctify God's name, so that others will praise the Jewish people and know that they are trustworthy, this is praiseworthy.
When there is a possibility of the desecration of God's name,it is forbidden to keep an object lost by an idolater, and it must be returned. As part of "the ways of peace," we should always bring in their utensils from the outside, lest they be taken by thieves, as we do for utensils owned by Jews.
ג
אבידת עובד עכו"ם מותרת שנאמר אבידת אחיך והמחזירה הרי זה עובר עבירה מפני שהוא מחזיק יד רשעי עולם. ואם החזירה לקדש את השם כדי שיפארו את ישראל וידעו שהם בעלי אמונה הרי זה משובח. ובמקום שיש חלול השם אבידתו אסורה וחייב להחזירה. ובכל מקום מכניסין כליהם מפני הגנבים ככלי ישראל מפני דרכי שלום:
4
A mistake in accounts made by a gentile is considered like a lost article, and it is permissible to benefit from it. This applies if he makes the mistake himself. It is, however, forbidden to cause him to make a mistake.
ד
טעות העכו"ם כאבידתו ומותרת והוא שטעה מעצמו אבל להטעותו [ב] אסור:
5
What is implied? A gentile made an account and made an error in a Jew's favor. The Jew must tell him: "Look, I am relying on your account. I know only what you tell me." In an instance like this, if the gentile does not correct himself, it is permitted to take advantage of his error. If, however, one does not tell him this, it is forbidden. It is possible that the gentile's intent is to check the Jew's honesty. By keeping the money, one may cause God's name to be desecrated.
ה
כיצד כגון שעשה העכו"ם חשבון וטעה. וצריך שיאמר לו ישראל ראה שעל חשבונך אני סומך ואיני יודע אלא מה שאתה אומר אני נותן לך כגון זה מותר. אבל אם לא אמר לו כן אסור שמא יתכוין העכו"ם לבודקו ונמצא שם שמים א מתחלל:
6
The following rules apply in a town in which both Jews and gentiles live. If half the inhabitants are Jews and half are gentiles, and a person finds a lost object, he should take it and announce its discovery. If a Jew comes and describes marks by which the object can be identified, the finder is obligated to return it.
ו
עיר שישראלים ועכו"ם דרין בה ומחצה עכו"ם ומחצה ישראל ומצא בה אבדה נוטל ומכריז. ואם בא ישראל ונתן סימניה חייב להחזיר:
7
Different rules apply if the majority of the inhabitants of the city are gentiles. If a Jew finds a lost object in a place where most of the people located there are Jewish, he is obligated to announce its discovery.
If he finds it on a public thoroughfare, a public market place or in a synagogue or a house of study where gentiles are often found, or in any place where many people are found, the finder may keep the object he discovers.
This applies even when another Jew comes and describes marks with which the object can be identified. We assume that the owner despaired of its return when it fell, for he will say: "A gentile found it."
Although a person is entitled to keep a lost article that he discovers, one who wishes to follow a good and an upright path should go beyond the measure of the law and return the lost article to a Jew, if he describes marks with which the object can be identified.
ז
היה רוב העיר עכו"ם אם מצא במקום מן העיר שרוב המצויים שם ישראל חייב להכריז. אבל אם מצא בסרטיא ופלטיא גדולה בבתי כנסיות ובבתי מדרשות שהעכו"ם מצויין שם תמיד ובכל מקום שהרבים מצויין שם הרי המציאה שלו. ואפילו בא ישראל ונתן סימניה. שהרי נתייאש ממנה כשנפלה מפני שהוא אומר עכו"ם מצאה אף על פי שהיא שלו, הרוצה לילך בדרך הטוב והישר ועושה לפנים [ג] משורת הדין מחזיר את האבדה לישראל כשיתן את סימניה:
8
If a person finds a jug of wine in a city where the majority of the inhabitants are gentile, it is forbidden to benefit from the wine; the container is permitted as is a lost object. If a Jew comes and describes marks with which the container can be identified, the wine is permitted to be drunk by the person who discovered it.
ח
מצא בעיר זו שרובה עכו"ם חבית של יין יינה אסור בהנאה וקנקנה מותר משום אבדה. ואם בא ישראל ונתן סימניה מותר בשתייה לזה ישראל שמצאה:
9
When a fowl takes a piece of meat and casts it into another field, it is permitted to be kept as is a lost object. This applies even when most of the inhabitants of the town are Jewish, for the owners will have despaired of its return.
ט
עוף שחטף בשר והשליכו בחצר אחרת אע"פ שרוב העיר ישראל הרי זה מותר משום אבידה שהרי נתייאשו הבעלים ממנו:
10
A person who finds a lost article on the bed of the sea or in a flooding river that does not cease may keep it. This applies even if the article has a mark with which it can be identified.
This concept is derived from Deuteronomy 22:3, which commands us to return "an article that one loses and is found," thus excluding an instance as the one above in which the article is lost not only to its owner, but to all men. In such an instance, the owner has surely despaired of its return.
י
המוצא אבידה בזוטו של ים ובשלוליותו של נהר שאינו פוסק אע"פ שיש בה סימן הרי זו של מוצאה שנאמר אשר תאבד ממנו ומצאתה. מי שאבודה ממנו ומצויה היא אצל כל אדם יצאת זו שאבודה ממנו ומכל אדם שזה ודאי שנתייאש ממנה:
11
When a person intentionally abandons his property, there is no need to help him regain it.
What is implied? A person placed his cow in a cowshed that did not have a door. He did not tie it there and he left. Or he tossed his wallet away in the public thoroughfare and left. In all instances of this nature, he is considered to have intentionally abandoned his money. Although the person who saw this is forbidden to take the property himself, he is not obligated to return it.
This is implied by Deuteronomy 22:3, which states: "So shall you do with regard to every lost article belonging to your brother that he loses." The seeming redundancy in the verse excludes an article that is not lost accidentally, but rather intentionally abandoned.
יא
המאבד ממונו לדעת אין נזקקין לו. כיצד הניח פרתו ברפת שאין לה דלת ולא קשרה והלך לו. השליך כיסו ברשות הרבים והלך לו וכל כיוצא בזה. הרי זה אבד ממונו לדעתו. ואע"פ שאסור לרואה דבר זה ליטול לעצמו אינו זקוק להחזיר שנאמר אשר תאבד פרט למאבד לדעתו:
12
When a lost article is not worth a p'rutah, the finder is neither obligated to concern himself with it, nor to return it.
יב
אבידה שאין בה שוה פרוטה אינו חייב להטפל ולא להחזירה:
13
The following rule applies when a person finds a sack or a large basket. If he is a sage or a respected elder, who would not usually carry such articles himself, he is not obligated to concern himself with them.
He should judge his status in the following way. If the article were his own and he would return it, so too, is he obligated to return an article belonging to a colleague. If, however, he would not forgo his honor even if the article were his own, he is not obligated to return a similar article belonging to a colleague.
The following rules apply when he would take such articles in a field, but not in a city. If he finds it in a city, he is not obligated to return it. If he finds it in a field, however, he is obligated to return it to its owner's domain, even though in doing so he will pass through a city, where it is not his habit to carry such articles.
יג
מצא שק או קופה אם היה חכם או זקן מכובד שאין דרכו ליטול כלים אלו בידו אינו חייב להטפל בהן ואומד את דעתו אילו היו שלו אם היה מחזירן לעצמו כך חייב להחזיר של חבירו. ואם לא היה מוחל על כבודו אפילו היה שלו כך בשל חבירו אינו חייב להחזיר. היה דרכו להחזיר כלים כאלו בשדה ואין דרכו להחזירן בעיר ומצאן בעיר אינו חייב להחזיר מצאן בשדה חייב להחזירן עד שיגיעו לרשות הבעלים ואע"פ שהרי נכנס בהן לעיר ואין דרכו בכך:
14
Similarly, if a person finds an animal and spurs it on, he becomes obligated to concern himself with it and to return it - even if doing so is not appropriate for his honor - for he began the performance of the mitzvah.
If a person returned an animal and it bolted away, he is obligated to return it again, even if this occurs 100 times. This is alluded to byDeuteronomy 22:1, which states: "And you shall certainly return it." The word השב implies that one must return it even 100 times.
A person who finds a lost animal must care for it until he returns it to a place where it is secure in its owner's domain. If he returns it to a place that is not secure - e.g., the person's garden or his ruin and it becomes lost again - he is responsible for the animal.
יד
וכן אם מצא בהמה והכישה נתחייב להטפל בה ולהחזירה אף על פי שאינה לפי כבודו שהרי התחיל [ד] במצוה. החזירה א וברחה אפילו מאה פעמים חייב להחזיר שנאמר השב תשיבם השב אפילו מאה פעמים משמעו. לעולם הוא חייב להטפל בה עד שיחזירנה לרשות בעליה למקום המשתמר אבל אם החזירה למקום שאין משתמר כגון גינה וחורבה ואבדה משם חייב באחריותה:
15
If a person who discovered a lost article returns it in the morning to a place where its owners enter and leave each morning, he is not obligated to concern himself with it any more. For the owner will certainly see it. This applies even if it is placed in a location that is not secure.
When does the above apply? To any article that is not alive. A live animal, by contrast, must be cared for by the finder until it is returned to a secure place in the owner's domain. The owner need not be notified.
טו
החזיר את האבדה בשחרית למקום שהבעלים נכנסין ויוצאין שם בשחרית אינו חייב להטפל בה שהרי הבעלים רואין אותה אע"פ שהוא מקום שאינו משתמר. במה דברים אמורים בדבר שאין בו רוח חיים אבל בבעלי חיים לעולם חייב להטפל בה עד שיכניסה לרשות הבעלים המשתמרת. ואינו צריך דעת בעלים:
16
If a person sees an animal that has escaped from its corral and he returns it to its place, he has fulfilled the mitzvah. The owner need not be notified.
טז
ראה בהמה שברחה מן הדיר והחזירה למקומה הרי זה קיים המצוה ואינו צריך דעת הבעלים:
17
A person who seeks to follow a good and upright path and go beyond the measure of the law should return a lost article at all times, even if it is unbecoming to his dignity.
יז
ההולך בדרך הטוב והישר ועושה לפנים משורת הדין מחזיר את האבדה בכל מקום אע"פ שאינה לפי כבודו:
18
When a priest sees a lost object in a cemetery, he should not make himself impure so that he can return it. The rationale is that at the time the priest would fulfill the mitzvah of returning a lost object, he would nullify the positive commandment "Be holy" Leviticus 21:6 and transgress the negative commandment: "A man may not defile himself for a corpse among his people ibid.:4." And the observance of a positive commandment never supersedes a negative commandment that is reinforced by a positive commandment.
יח
כהן שראה האבדה בבית הקברות אינו מטמא להחזירה שבעת שקיים מצות עשה של השב אבדה מבטל עשה של קדושים יהיו ועובר על לא תעשה של לא יטמא בעל בעמיו ואין עשה דוחה את לא תעשה ועשה:
19
If a person sees a lost object and his father tells him "Do not return it," he should return it instead of obeying his father. For by obeying his father and fulfilling the positive commandment "Honor your father" Exodus 20:12, he nullifies the positive commandment "And you shall certainly return it," and transgresses the negative commandment "You may not ignore it."
יט
ראה את האבדה ואמר לו אביו אל תחזירנה יחזיר ולא יקבל ממנו. שאם קבל מאביו נמצא בעת שקיים מצות עשה של כבד את אביך ביטל עשה של השב תשיבם ועבר על לא תוכל להתעלם:
20
When a person sees flood waters coming that will ruin a building or a field belonging to a colleague, he is obligated to put up a barrier before them to check the waters. This is implied by the mention (Deuteronomy 22:3) of "All objects lost by your colleague." "All" also includes the devastation of landed property.
כ
הרואה מים שוטפין ובאין להשחית בנין חבירו או שדהו. חייב לגדור בפניהם ולמנעם שנאמר לכל אבדת אחיך לרבות אבדת קרקעו:
Gezelah va'Avedah - Chapter Twelve
1
The following rules apply when a person loses an article and then discovers his own lost article and that belonging to a colleague. If it is possible for him to return both, he should return both. If it is possible for him to return only one, his lost object takes priority, even over a lost object belonging to his father or his teacher. His own lost object takes priority over that of any other person.
א
מי שאבדה לו אבדה ופגע באבדתו ואבדת חבירו אם יכול להחזיר את שתיהן חייב להחזיר שתיהן ואם אינו יכול להחזיר אלא אחת מהן אבדתו קודמת ואפילו לאבדת אביו או של רבו שלו קודם לכל אדם:
2
The following rules apply when a person discovers both a lost article belonging to his teacher and one belonging to his father and is capable of returning only one of them. If his father is equal in wisdom to his teacher, his father's lost object takes precedence. If not, his teacher's takes precedence. This applies provided we are speaking about his primary teacher, the one from whom he gained the majority of his Torah wisdom.
ב
פגע באבדת רבו עם אבדת אביו [א] אם היה אביו שקול כנגד רבו של אביו קודמת ואם לאו של רבו קודמת והוא שיהיה רבו מובהק [ב] שרוב חכמתו של תורה ממנו למד:
3
If a person ignores his own lost article and instead returns the article belonging to his colleague, he is entitled only to the wage due him for his efforts.
What is implied? A river washed away his donkey and a donkey belonging to a colleague. His donkey was worth 100 zuz, while his colleague's was worth 200. If, instead of saving his own, he saved his colleague's, he should be reimbursed only for the wages due him for his efforts.
If he told his colleague - or made this condition in the presence of a court - "I will save your donkey, but you must reimburse me for my own," the colleague is obligated to reimburse him for his donkey. This applies even if the other donkey ascends from the river afterwards on its own. Since its owner did nothing to help it, the other person should be awarded the sum that he stipulated.
ג
הניח אבדתו והחזיר אבדת חבירו אין לו אלא שכר הראוי לו. כיצד שטף נהר חמורו וחמור חבירו שלו יפה מנה ושל חבירו מאתים הניח את שלו והציל את של חבירו אין לו אלא שכרו הראוי לו. ואם אמר לו אציל את שלך ואתה נותן לי דמי שלי או שהתנה בפני בית דין חייב ליתן לו דמי שלו ואע"פ שחמורו עלה מאליו. הואיל ולא נתעסק בו זכה במה שהתנה עמו:
4
If the owner of the other donkey attempted to save the more valuable donkey, but was not successful, he should be given only the wage fit to be paid him.
Similarly, if a person was occupied with his work, and he negated work that was worth a dinar to return a lost article worth 100dinarim, he may not tell the owner: "Give me the dinar that I lost," but rather the owner should pay him as an unemployed worker of the trade in which he is employed. If he stipulated to the owner or in the presence of a court that he should receive the amount that he lost, and they agreed, he may collect it. If the owner or a court is not present, his own concerns take precedence.
ד
ירד להציל ולא הציל [ג] אין לו אלא שכרו הראוי לו. וכן ג אם היה עוסק במלאכה ובטל ממלאכתו ששוה דינר והחזיר אבדה ששוה מאה דינר לא יאמר לו תן לי דינר שהפסדתי אלא נותן לו שכרו כפועל בטל שיבטל מאותה מלאכה שהיה עוסק בה. ואם התנה עם הבעלים או [ד] בפני בית דין שיטול מה שיפסיד והרשוהו הרי זה נוטל. ואם אין שם בעלים ולא בית דין שלו קודם:
5
Similar laws apply when two people are progressing on a road, and one was carrying a jug of wine, and the other a jug of honey. If the jug of honey cracks and before the honey spills to the ground, the other person pours out his wine and collects the honey in his jug, he should be given only the wage he is fit to be paid.
If he tells the owner of the honey: "I will save your honey, if you pay me for my wine," or he makes such a stipulation in the presence of a court, the owner of the honey is obligated to pay him.
If the honey spills to the ground, it is considered ownerless, and whoever takes it, takes it as his own.
ה
וכן שנים שהיו באים בדרך זה בחבית של יין וזה בכד [ה] של דבש ונסדק הכד של דבש וקודם שישפך הדבש לארץ שפך זה את יינו והציל את הדבש לתוך החבית אין לו אלא שכרו הראוי לו. ואם אמר אציל את שלך ואתה נותן לי דמי שלי או שהתנה בפני בית דין הרי זה חייב ליתן לו. ואם נשפך הדבש לארץ הרי זה הפקר וכל המציל לעצמו מציל:
6
Different rules apply if one person is carrying a jug of honey and his jug cracks, while another person was carrying empty jars. If the owner of the empty jars tells the owner of the honey: "I will not save this honey with my jars unless you give me half," "... a third," or "... so and so many dinarim," the owner of the honey is not obligated to keep this agreement. Even if he agrees, he is considered to have spoken facetiously and is not obligated to pay him more than the wage he is fit to be paid. The rationale is that he did not cause him any loss.
ו
היה זה בא בכד של דבש וזה בא בקנקנים ריקנים ונסדקה כד הדבש ואמר לו בעל הקנקנים איני מציל לך דבש זה בקנקניי עד שתתן לי חציו או שלישו או כך וכך דינרין וקבל עליו בעל הדבש ואמר לו הן הרי זה שחק בו ואינו נותן לו אלא שכרו הראוי לו שהרי לא הפסידו [ו] כלום:
7
Similar rules apply if a person was fleeing from prison and there was a raft near him. If he told the owner of the raft: "Take me across the river and I will pay you a dinar," and the raft owner takes him across the river, the fugitive is required to pay the raft owner only the wage he is fit to be paid.
If the raft owner was a fisherman, and the fugitive told him, "Stop fishing and take me across the river," the fugitive must pay him whatever he stipulates. The same principles apply in all analogous situations.
ז
וכן מי שברח מבית האסורים והיתה מעבורת לפניו ואמר לו העבירני ואני נותן לך דינר והעבירו אין לו אלא שכרו [ז] הראוי לו. ואם היה צייד ואמר לו בטל מצודתך והעבירני נותן לו כל מה שהתנה עמו וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
8
The following rules apply when a caravan was traveling in a desert and they were confronted and attacked by an armed force. If the travelers cannot rescue their property from that force and one of them exerts himself and rescues everyone's property, he has rescued it for himself.
If the other members of the caravan can rescue their property, and one of them exerted himself and rescued all the property first, it should be divided among its rightful owners. This applies even if the one who rescued the property stated: "I am rescuing it for myself."
ח
שיירא שהיתה הולכת במדבר ועמד עליה גייס וטרפה אם אינן יכולים להציל מידם ועמד אחד מהן והציל הציל לעצמו. ואם יכולין הן להציל מידם וקדם אחד מהן והציל אע"פ שאמר לעצמי אני מציל הציל לאמצע:
9
Different rules apply if it was possible for the owners to rescue their property with difficulty. If one person rescues all the property, it should be divided among its rightful owners. But if the one who rescues the property states: "I am rescuing it for myself," he is allowed to keep it as his own.
The rationale is that the other owners heard him say: "I am rescuing it for myself." Accordingly, they should have exerted themselves to rescue their property. Since they chose to sit still and not attempt to rescue it, we may conclude that they had despaired of its recovery.
ט
היו יכולין להציל על ידי הדחק כל המציל מציל לאמצע אלא אם כן אמר לעצמי אני מציל הרי זה מציל לעצמו. שכיון ששמעוהו אומר לעצמי אני מציל היה להן לדחוק עצמן ולהציל וכיון שישבו ולא הצילו הרי נתייאשו מן הכל:
10
Similarly, if two partners were traveling with goods and were attacked, and one of them rescues the goods, the property still belongs to the partnership. If he states: "I am rescuing it for myself," he has dissolved the partnership and is allowed to keep the goods as his own.
By the same logic, if a person hires a worker to rescue goods from a situation of certain loss, whatever he rescues belongs to the employer. If the worker says: "I am rescuing it for myself," he is terminating his employment. Whatever he rescues after making this statement belongs to him.
י
היו שני שותפין והציל אחד מהן הציל לאמצע. ואם אמר [ח] לעצמי אני מציל הרי זה חלק מחבירו והציל לעצמו. וכן השוכר את הפועל להציל כל שיציל הרי הוא למשכיר ואם אמר לעצמי אני מציל הרי זה חוזר בו מן השכירות וכל שיציל אחר שאמר כן הרי הוא שלו:
11
The following rule applies when a caravan was camped in the desert and an armed force was poised to attack them. If they agreed to pay a ransom to the armed force, the ratio of each person's payment should be determined according to the value of the person's goods and not levied equally by head.
If they hired a guide to lead them on the journey, both the value of the persons' goods and the number of people should be considered when determining everyone's share of his wage. One should not, however, deviate from the standard practice followed by donkey-drivers.
יא
שיירא שחנתה במדבר ועמד עליה גייס [ט] לטרפה ופסקו עם הגייס ממון ונתנו לו, מחשבין לפי ממונם ואין מחשבין לפי נפשות. ואם שכרו תייר לפניהם להודיעם הדרך מחשבין שכרו לפי ממון ולפי נפשות. ואל ישנו ממנהג החמרים:
12
Donkey-drivers may make an agreement among themselves saying that if one of the members of a caravan loses his donkey, the entire caravan must combine to provide another donkey for him. If he was negligent, and therefore it was lost, they are not obligated to provide a donkey for him.
יב
רשאין החמרים להתנות [י] ביניהן כל מי שתאבד ממנו חמור מבני השיירא מעמידין לו חמור אחרת. ואם פשע בה הוא ואבדה אין חייבין להעמיד לו:
13
If a person's donkey was lost and he said: "Pay me its value. I do not want another donkey. I will, however, guard together with you as if I had one," his request is not heeded. Instead, another donkey is purchased for him so that he will be diligent and guard his donkey.
Even if he already owns another donkey in the caravan his request is not heeded. The rationale is that the diligence shown by a person watching one donkey cannot be compared to that of a person watching two.
יג
אבדה חמורו ואמר תנו לי דמיה ואני רוצה ליקח חמור והריני שומר עמכם אין שומעין לו אלא מעמידין לו חמור אחרת כדי שיזדרז עצמו וישמור בהמתו ואפילו היתה לו בהמה אחרת בשיירא אינו דומה שומר אחת לשומר שתים:
14
When a ship was traveling in the sea and a decision was made to reduce its cargo because waves threatened to sink it, the calculation is made according to the weight of each person's goods and not their value. One should not, however, deviate from the standard practice followed by seamen.
יד
ספינה שהיתה מהלכת בים ועמד עליה נחשול לטובעה והקילו ממשאה. מחשבין לפי משאוי ואין מחשבין לפי ממון. ואל ישנו ממנהג הספנים:
15
Boatmen may make an agreement among themselves saying that if one of them loses his boat, they will combine to provide another boat for him. If he was negligent and therefore it was lost, or he sailed his boat in a region where boats do not travel at that time of year, they are not obligated to provide a boat for him.
טו
רשאין הספנים להתנות ביניהן כל מי שתאבד לו ספינה מעמידים לו ספינה אחרת. פשע בה ואבדה או שפירש למקום שאין הספינות הולכות בו באותו הזמן אין חייבין להעמיד לו:
Hayom Yom: Today's Hayom Yom
• Thursday, 22 Tammuz, 5776 · 28 July 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Sunday Tamuz 22 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Matot-Massai, first parsha with Rashi.
Tehillim: 106-107.
Tanya: Ch. 5. Bringing (p. 361) ...as will be noted). (p. 363).
My father said:
A chassidic aphorism makes the head clear and the heart clean;
a chassidic virtuous practice fills the home with light;
a chassidic melody fortifies hope and trust, brings joyousness, and places the home and family in a state of "light."
• Daily Thought:
Martyrs of Life
“What is unique about a Jewish martyr,” wrote Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch, “is that he doesn't want to be a martyr. He would rather stay alive.”
Torah lessons: Chumash: Matot-Massai, first parsha with Rashi.
Tehillim: 106-107.
Tanya: Ch. 5. Bringing (p. 361) ...as will be noted). (p. 363).
My father said:
A chassidic aphorism makes the head clear and the heart clean;
a chassidic virtuous practice fills the home with light;
a chassidic melody fortifies hope and trust, brings joyousness, and places the home and family in a state of "light."
• Daily Thought:
Martyrs of Life
“What is unique about a Jewish martyr,” wrote Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch, “is that he doesn't want to be a martyr. He would rather stay alive.”
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