Light Candles before sunset ––:––.
Today's Laws & Customs:
• Blessing the New Month
This Shabbat is Shabbat Mevarchim ("the Shabbat that blesses" the new month): a special prayer is recited blessing the Rosh Chodesh ("Head of the Month") of upcoming month of Elulwhich falls on the Shabbat of next week and the following Sunday.
Prior to the blessing, we announce the precise time of the molad, the "birth" of the new moon.Click here for molad times.
It is a Chabad custom to recite the entire book of Psalms before morning prayers, and to conduct farbrengens (chassidic gatherings) in the course of the Shabbat.
Links:
On the Significance of Shabbat Mevarchim
Tehillim (the Book of Psalms)
The Farbrengen
• Ethics of the Fathers: Chapter 4
During the summer months, from the Shabbat after Passover until the Shabbat before Rosh Hashahah, we study a weekly chapter of the Talmud's Ethics of the Fathers ("Avot") each Shabbat afternoon; this week we study Chapter Four.
Link: Ethics of the Fathers, Chapter 4
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Eikev, 7th Portion Deuteronomy 11:22-11:25 with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 11
22For if you keep all these commandments which I command you to do them, to love the Lord, your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave to Him, כבכִּי֩ אִם־שָׁמֹ֨ר תִּשְׁמְר֜וּן אֶת־כָּל־הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֗את אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָֽנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם לַֽעֲשׂתָ֑הּ לְאַֽהֲבָ֞ה אֶת־יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֛ם לָלֶ֥כֶת בְּכָל־דְּרָכָ֖יו וּלְדָבְקָה־בֽוֹ:
For if you keep [all these commandments]: Heb. שָׁמֹר תִּשְׁמְרוּן [The repetition of שָׁמֹר is to] admonish us many times to be careful with one’s learning, lest it be forgotten. - [Sifrei] שמור תשמרון: אזהרת שמירות הרבה להזהר בתלמודו שלא ישתכח:
to walk in all His ways: God is merciful, so you, too, be merciful; He bestows loving-kindness, so you, too, bestow loving-kindness. — [Sifrei] ללכת בכל דרכיו: הוא רחום ואתה תהא רחום, הוא גומל חסדים ואתה גומל חסדים:
and to cleave to Him: Is it possible to say this? Is God not “a consuming fire” (Deut. 4:24)? Rather, it means: Cleave to the disciples and the Sages, and I will consider it as though you cleave to Me. — [Sifrei] ולדבקה בו: אפשר לומר כן, והלא אש אוכלה הוא, אלא הדבק בתלמידים ובחכמים ומעלה אני עליך כאלו נדבקת בו:
23then the Lord will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will possess nations greater and stronger than you. כגוְהוֹרִ֧ישׁ יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֥ם הָאֵ֖לֶּה מִלִּפְנֵיכֶ֑ם וִירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם גּוֹיִ֔ם גְּדֹלִ֥ים וַֽעֲצֻמִ֖ים מִכֶּֽם:
Then the Lord will drive out [all these nations from before you]: Since you have fulfilled what is [incumbent] upon you, I will do what is [incumbent] upon Me. — [Sifrei] והוריש ה': עשיתם מה שעליכם אף אני אעשה מה שעלי:
stronger than you: You are strong, but they are stronger than you, for if it were not that the Israelites were strong, what is the praise that he [Moses] is praising the Amorites by saying of them that they are, “stronger than you”? But, [the answer is that] you are stronger than all other nations and they [the Amorites] are stronger than you. — [Sifrei] ועצמים מכם: אתם גבורים, והם גבורים מכם, שאם לא שישראל גבורים, מה השבח שמשבח את האמוריים לומר ועצומים מכם, אלא אתם גבורים משאר אומות והם גבורים מכם:
24Every place upon which the soles of your feet will tread, will be yours: from the desert and the Lebanon, from the river, the Euphrates River, and until the western sea, will be your boundary. כדכָּל־הַמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּדְרֹ֧ךְ כַּף־רַגְלְכֶ֛ם בּ֖וֹ לָכֶ֣ם יִֽהְיֶ֑ה מִן־הַמִּדְבָּ֨ר וְהַלְּבָנ֜וֹן מִן־הַנָּהָ֣ר נְהַר־פְּרָ֗ת וְעַד֙ הַיָּ֣ם הָאַֽחֲר֔וֹן יִֽהְיֶ֖ה גְּבֻֽלְכֶֽם:
25No man will stand up before you; the Lord your God will cast the fear of you and the dread of you on all the land upon which you tread, as He spoke to you. כהלֹֽא־יִתְיַצֵּ֥ב אִ֖ישׁ בִּפְנֵיכֶ֑ם פַּחְדְּכֶ֨ם וּמוֹרַֽאֲכֶ֜ם יִתֵּ֣ן | יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם עַל־פְּנֵ֤י כָל־הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּדְרְכוּ־בָ֔הּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר לָכֶֽם:
No man will stand up [before you]: From this verse it is understood only [that]“a man” [will not be able to stand up before Israel]. How do we know that a nation, a family, or a woman with her witchcraft will also not be able to stand up before Israel? Therefore, it says: לֹא-יִתְיַצֵּב, “there will be no standing up [before you]”-at all. If so, why does it say:“man”? [It means any man], even as [mighty as] Og, king of Bashan. - [Sifrei] לא יתיצב איש וגו': אין לי אלא איש, אומה ומשפחה ואשה בכשפיה מנין, תלמוד לומר לא יתיצב מכל מקום. אם כן מה תלמוד לומר איש, אפילו כעוג מלך הבשן:
The Lord… will set] the fear of you and the dread of you [on all the land]: Heb. פַּחְדְּכֶם וּמוֹרַאֲכֶם. Is not פַּחַד the same as מוֹרָא [both meaning fear]? But [the answer is that] פַּחְדְּכֶם“the fear of you,” refers to those near by, and מוֹרַאֲכֶם,“the dread of you,” to those distant, for פַּחַד denotes“sudden fear,” and מוֹרָא denotes anxiety enduring many days. פחדכם ומוראכם: והלא פחד הוא מורא, אלא פחדכם על הקרובים ומוראכם על הרחוקים. פחד לשון בעיתת פתאום. מורא לשון דאגה מימים רבים:
as He spoke to you: And where did He speak [about this]?“I will cast My terror before you” (Exod. 23:27). - [Sifrei] כאשר דבר לכם: והיכן דבר (שמות כג, כז) את אימתי אשלח לפניך וגו':
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 108 - 112
• Chapter 108
1. A song, a psalm by David.
2. My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and chant praises even with my soul.
3. Awake, O lyre and harp; I shall awaken the dawn.
4. I will thank You among the nations, Lord; I will sing praises to You among the peoples.
5. Indeed, Your kindness reaches above the heavens; Your truth reaches to the skies.
6. Be exalted upon the heavens, O God, [show] Your glory upon all the earth.
7. That Your beloved ones may be delivered, help with Your right hand and answer me.
8. God spoke in His holiness that I would exult, I would divide portions [of the enemies' land], I would measure the Valley of Succot.
9. Mine is Gilead, mine is Manasseh, and Ephraim is the stronghold of my head, Judah is my prince.
10. Moab is my washbasin, I will cast my shoe upon Edom, I will shout over Philistia.
11. Who brings me to the fortified city? Who led me unto Edom?
12. Is it not God, Who has [until now] forsaken us, and did not go forth, O God, with our armies?
13. Give us help against the adversary; futile is the help of man.
14. Through God we will do valiantly, and He will trample our oppressors.
Chapter 109
David composed this psalm while fleeing from Saul. At that time he faced many enemies who, despite acting friendly in his presence, spoke only evil of him; he therefore curses them bitterly.
1. For the Conductor, by David, a psalm. O God of my praise, be not silent.
2. For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful have opened against me; they spoke to me with a false tongue.
3. They have surrounded me with words of hate, and attacked me without cause.
4. In return for my love they hate me; still, I am [a man of] prayer.
5. They placed harm upon me in return for my favor, and hatred in return for my love.
6. Appoint a wicked man over him; let an adversary stand at his right.
7. When he is judged may he go out condemned; may his prayer be considered a sin.
8. May his days be few; may another take his position.
9. May his children be orphans and his wife a widow.
10. May his children wander about and beg; may they seek charity from amid their ruins.
11. May the creditor seize all that he has, and may strangers plunder [the fruits of] his labor.
12. May he have none who extends him kindness, and may none be gracious to his orphans.
13. May his posterity be cut off; may their name be erased in a later generation.
14. May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by the Lord, and the sin of his mother not be erased.
15. May they be before the Lord always, and may He cut off their memory from the earth.
16. Because he did not remember to do kindness, and he pursued the poor and destitute man and the broken-hearted, to kill [him].
17. He loved the curse and it has come upon him; he did not desire blessing, and it has remained far from him.
18. He donned the curse like his garment, and it came like water into his innards, like oil into his bones.
19. May it be to him like a cloak in which he wraps himself, as a belt with which he girds himself always.
20. This is from the Lord for the deeds of my enemies, and [for] those who speak evil against my soul.
21. And You, God, my Lord, do [kindness] with me for the sake of Your Name; for Your kindness is good, rescue me!
22. For I am poor and destitute, and my heart has died within me.
23. Like the fleeting shadow I am banished, I am tossed about like the locust.
24. My knees totter from fasting, and my flesh is lean without fat.
25. And I became a disgrace to them; they see me and shake their heads.
26. Help me, Lord, my God, deliver me according to Your kindness.
27. Let them know that this is Your hand, that You, Lord, have done it.
28. Let them curse, but You will bless; they arose, but they will be shamed, and Your servant will rejoice.
29. May my adversaries be clothed in humiliation; may they wrap themselves in their shame as in a cloak.
30. I will thank the Lord profusely with my mouth, and amid the multitude I will praise Him,
31. when He stands at the right of the destitute one to deliver him from the condemners of his soul.
Chapter 110
This psalm records the response of Eliezer, servant of Abraham (to those who asked how Abraham managed to defeat the four kings). He tells of Abraham killing the mighty kings and their armies. Read, and you will discover that the entire psalm refers to Abraham, who merited prominence for recognizing God in his youth.
1. By David, a psalm. The Lord said to my master, "Sit at My right, until I make your enemies a stool for your feet.”
2. The staff of your strength the Lord will send from Zion, to rule amid your enemies.
3. Your people [will come] willingly on the day of your campaign; because of your splendid sanctity from when you emerged from the womb, you still possess the dew of your youth.
4. The Lord has sworn and will not regret: "You shall be a priest forever, just as Melchizedek!”
5. My Lord is at your right; He has crushed kings on the day of His fury.
6. He will render judgement upon the nations, and they will be filled with corpses; He will crush heads over a vast land.
7. He will drink from the stream on the way, and so will hold his head high.
Chapter 111
This psalm is written in alphabetical sequence, each verse containing two letters, save the last two verses which contain three letters each. The psalm is short yet prominent, speaking of the works of God and their greatness.
1. Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, in the counsel of the upright and the congregation.
2. Great are the works of the Lord, [yet] available to all who desire them.
3. Majesty and splendor are His work, and His righteousness endures forever.
4. He established a memorial for His wonders, for the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5. He gave food to those who fear Him; He remembered His covenant always.
6. He has declared the power of His deeds to His people, to give them the inheritance of nations.
7. The works of His hands are true and just; all His mandates are faithful.
8. They are steadfast for ever and ever, for they are made with truth and uprightness.
9. He sent redemption to His people, [by] commanding His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His Name.
10. The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord; sound wisdom for all who practice it-His praise endures forever.
Chapter 112
This psalm, too, follows alphabetical sequence, each verse containing two letters, save the last two which contain three letters each. It speaks of the good traits man should choose, and of how to give charity-the reward for which is never having to rely on others.
1. Praise the Lord! Fortunate is the man who fears the Lord, and desires His commandments intensely.
2. His descendants will be mighty on the earth; he will be blessed with an upright generation.
3. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
4. Even in darkness light shines for the upright, for [He is] Compassionate, Merciful, and Just.
5. Good is the man who is compassionate and lends, [but] provides for his own needs with discretion.
6. For he will never falter; the righteous man will be an eternal remembrance.
7. He will not be afraid of a bad tiding; his heart is steadfast, secure in the Lord.
8. His heart is steadfast, he does not fear, until he sees his oppressors [destroyed].
9. He has distributed [his wealth], giving to the needy. His righteousness will endure forever; his might will be uplifted in honor.
10. The wicked man will see and be angry; he will gnash his teeth and melt away; the wish of the wicked will be ruined.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 7
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Friday, 22 AV , 5776 · 26 August 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 7
• והנה מודעת זאת דיש ב׳ מיני דחילו ורחימו
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Eikev, 7th Portion Deuteronomy 11:22-11:25 with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 11
22For if you keep all these commandments which I command you to do them, to love the Lord, your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave to Him, כבכִּי֩ אִם־שָׁמֹ֨ר תִּשְׁמְר֜וּן אֶת־כָּל־הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֗את אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָֽנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם לַֽעֲשׂתָ֑הּ לְאַֽהֲבָ֞ה אֶת־יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֛ם לָלֶ֥כֶת בְּכָל־דְּרָכָ֖יו וּלְדָבְקָה־בֽוֹ:
For if you keep [all these commandments]: Heb. שָׁמֹר תִּשְׁמְרוּן [The repetition of שָׁמֹר is to] admonish us many times to be careful with one’s learning, lest it be forgotten. - [Sifrei] שמור תשמרון: אזהרת שמירות הרבה להזהר בתלמודו שלא ישתכח:
to walk in all His ways: God is merciful, so you, too, be merciful; He bestows loving-kindness, so you, too, bestow loving-kindness. — [Sifrei] ללכת בכל דרכיו: הוא רחום ואתה תהא רחום, הוא גומל חסדים ואתה גומל חסדים:
and to cleave to Him: Is it possible to say this? Is God not “a consuming fire” (Deut. 4:24)? Rather, it means: Cleave to the disciples and the Sages, and I will consider it as though you cleave to Me. — [Sifrei] ולדבקה בו: אפשר לומר כן, והלא אש אוכלה הוא, אלא הדבק בתלמידים ובחכמים ומעלה אני עליך כאלו נדבקת בו:
23then the Lord will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will possess nations greater and stronger than you. כגוְהוֹרִ֧ישׁ יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֥ם הָאֵ֖לֶּה מִלִּפְנֵיכֶ֑ם וִירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם גּוֹיִ֔ם גְּדֹלִ֥ים וַֽעֲצֻמִ֖ים מִכֶּֽם:
Then the Lord will drive out [all these nations from before you]: Since you have fulfilled what is [incumbent] upon you, I will do what is [incumbent] upon Me. — [Sifrei] והוריש ה': עשיתם מה שעליכם אף אני אעשה מה שעלי:
stronger than you: You are strong, but they are stronger than you, for if it were not that the Israelites were strong, what is the praise that he [Moses] is praising the Amorites by saying of them that they are, “stronger than you”? But, [the answer is that] you are stronger than all other nations and they [the Amorites] are stronger than you. — [Sifrei] ועצמים מכם: אתם גבורים, והם גבורים מכם, שאם לא שישראל גבורים, מה השבח שמשבח את האמוריים לומר ועצומים מכם, אלא אתם גבורים משאר אומות והם גבורים מכם:
24Every place upon which the soles of your feet will tread, will be yours: from the desert and the Lebanon, from the river, the Euphrates River, and until the western sea, will be your boundary. כדכָּל־הַמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּדְרֹ֧ךְ כַּף־רַגְלְכֶ֛ם בּ֖וֹ לָכֶ֣ם יִֽהְיֶ֑ה מִן־הַמִּדְבָּ֨ר וְהַלְּבָנ֜וֹן מִן־הַנָּהָ֣ר נְהַר־פְּרָ֗ת וְעַד֙ הַיָּ֣ם הָאַֽחֲר֔וֹן יִֽהְיֶ֖ה גְּבֻֽלְכֶֽם:
25No man will stand up before you; the Lord your God will cast the fear of you and the dread of you on all the land upon which you tread, as He spoke to you. כהלֹֽא־יִתְיַצֵּ֥ב אִ֖ישׁ בִּפְנֵיכֶ֑ם פַּחְדְּכֶ֨ם וּמוֹרַֽאֲכֶ֜ם יִתֵּ֣ן | יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם עַל־פְּנֵ֤י כָל־הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּדְרְכוּ־בָ֔הּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר לָכֶֽם:
No man will stand up [before you]: From this verse it is understood only [that]“a man” [will not be able to stand up before Israel]. How do we know that a nation, a family, or a woman with her witchcraft will also not be able to stand up before Israel? Therefore, it says: לֹא-יִתְיַצֵּב, “there will be no standing up [before you]”-at all. If so, why does it say:“man”? [It means any man], even as [mighty as] Og, king of Bashan. - [Sifrei] לא יתיצב איש וגו': אין לי אלא איש, אומה ומשפחה ואשה בכשפיה מנין, תלמוד לומר לא יתיצב מכל מקום. אם כן מה תלמוד לומר איש, אפילו כעוג מלך הבשן:
The Lord… will set] the fear of you and the dread of you [on all the land]: Heb. פַּחְדְּכֶם וּמוֹרַאֲכֶם. Is not פַּחַד the same as מוֹרָא [both meaning fear]? But [the answer is that] פַּחְדְּכֶם“the fear of you,” refers to those near by, and מוֹרַאֲכֶם,“the dread of you,” to those distant, for פַּחַד denotes“sudden fear,” and מוֹרָא denotes anxiety enduring many days. פחדכם ומוראכם: והלא פחד הוא מורא, אלא פחדכם על הקרובים ומוראכם על הרחוקים. פחד לשון בעיתת פתאום. מורא לשון דאגה מימים רבים:
as He spoke to you: And where did He speak [about this]?“I will cast My terror before you” (Exod. 23:27). - [Sifrei] כאשר דבר לכם: והיכן דבר (שמות כג, כז) את אימתי אשלח לפניך וגו':
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 108 - 112
• Chapter 108
1. A song, a psalm by David.
2. My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and chant praises even with my soul.
3. Awake, O lyre and harp; I shall awaken the dawn.
4. I will thank You among the nations, Lord; I will sing praises to You among the peoples.
5. Indeed, Your kindness reaches above the heavens; Your truth reaches to the skies.
6. Be exalted upon the heavens, O God, [show] Your glory upon all the earth.
7. That Your beloved ones may be delivered, help with Your right hand and answer me.
8. God spoke in His holiness that I would exult, I would divide portions [of the enemies' land], I would measure the Valley of Succot.
9. Mine is Gilead, mine is Manasseh, and Ephraim is the stronghold of my head, Judah is my prince.
10. Moab is my washbasin, I will cast my shoe upon Edom, I will shout over Philistia.
11. Who brings me to the fortified city? Who led me unto Edom?
12. Is it not God, Who has [until now] forsaken us, and did not go forth, O God, with our armies?
13. Give us help against the adversary; futile is the help of man.
14. Through God we will do valiantly, and He will trample our oppressors.
Chapter 109
David composed this psalm while fleeing from Saul. At that time he faced many enemies who, despite acting friendly in his presence, spoke only evil of him; he therefore curses them bitterly.
1. For the Conductor, by David, a psalm. O God of my praise, be not silent.
2. For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful have opened against me; they spoke to me with a false tongue.
3. They have surrounded me with words of hate, and attacked me without cause.
4. In return for my love they hate me; still, I am [a man of] prayer.
5. They placed harm upon me in return for my favor, and hatred in return for my love.
6. Appoint a wicked man over him; let an adversary stand at his right.
7. When he is judged may he go out condemned; may his prayer be considered a sin.
8. May his days be few; may another take his position.
9. May his children be orphans and his wife a widow.
10. May his children wander about and beg; may they seek charity from amid their ruins.
11. May the creditor seize all that he has, and may strangers plunder [the fruits of] his labor.
12. May he have none who extends him kindness, and may none be gracious to his orphans.
13. May his posterity be cut off; may their name be erased in a later generation.
14. May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by the Lord, and the sin of his mother not be erased.
15. May they be before the Lord always, and may He cut off their memory from the earth.
16. Because he did not remember to do kindness, and he pursued the poor and destitute man and the broken-hearted, to kill [him].
17. He loved the curse and it has come upon him; he did not desire blessing, and it has remained far from him.
18. He donned the curse like his garment, and it came like water into his innards, like oil into his bones.
19. May it be to him like a cloak in which he wraps himself, as a belt with which he girds himself always.
20. This is from the Lord for the deeds of my enemies, and [for] those who speak evil against my soul.
21. And You, God, my Lord, do [kindness] with me for the sake of Your Name; for Your kindness is good, rescue me!
22. For I am poor and destitute, and my heart has died within me.
23. Like the fleeting shadow I am banished, I am tossed about like the locust.
24. My knees totter from fasting, and my flesh is lean without fat.
25. And I became a disgrace to them; they see me and shake their heads.
26. Help me, Lord, my God, deliver me according to Your kindness.
27. Let them know that this is Your hand, that You, Lord, have done it.
28. Let them curse, but You will bless; they arose, but they will be shamed, and Your servant will rejoice.
29. May my adversaries be clothed in humiliation; may they wrap themselves in their shame as in a cloak.
30. I will thank the Lord profusely with my mouth, and amid the multitude I will praise Him,
31. when He stands at the right of the destitute one to deliver him from the condemners of his soul.
Chapter 110
This psalm records the response of Eliezer, servant of Abraham (to those who asked how Abraham managed to defeat the four kings). He tells of Abraham killing the mighty kings and their armies. Read, and you will discover that the entire psalm refers to Abraham, who merited prominence for recognizing God in his youth.
1. By David, a psalm. The Lord said to my master, "Sit at My right, until I make your enemies a stool for your feet.”
2. The staff of your strength the Lord will send from Zion, to rule amid your enemies.
3. Your people [will come] willingly on the day of your campaign; because of your splendid sanctity from when you emerged from the womb, you still possess the dew of your youth.
4. The Lord has sworn and will not regret: "You shall be a priest forever, just as Melchizedek!”
5. My Lord is at your right; He has crushed kings on the day of His fury.
6. He will render judgement upon the nations, and they will be filled with corpses; He will crush heads over a vast land.
7. He will drink from the stream on the way, and so will hold his head high.
Chapter 111
This psalm is written in alphabetical sequence, each verse containing two letters, save the last two verses which contain three letters each. The psalm is short yet prominent, speaking of the works of God and their greatness.
1. Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, in the counsel of the upright and the congregation.
2. Great are the works of the Lord, [yet] available to all who desire them.
3. Majesty and splendor are His work, and His righteousness endures forever.
4. He established a memorial for His wonders, for the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5. He gave food to those who fear Him; He remembered His covenant always.
6. He has declared the power of His deeds to His people, to give them the inheritance of nations.
7. The works of His hands are true and just; all His mandates are faithful.
8. They are steadfast for ever and ever, for they are made with truth and uprightness.
9. He sent redemption to His people, [by] commanding His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His Name.
10. The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord; sound wisdom for all who practice it-His praise endures forever.
Chapter 112
This psalm, too, follows alphabetical sequence, each verse containing two letters, save the last two which contain three letters each. It speaks of the good traits man should choose, and of how to give charity-the reward for which is never having to rely on others.
1. Praise the Lord! Fortunate is the man who fears the Lord, and desires His commandments intensely.
2. His descendants will be mighty on the earth; he will be blessed with an upright generation.
3. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
4. Even in darkness light shines for the upright, for [He is] Compassionate, Merciful, and Just.
5. Good is the man who is compassionate and lends, [but] provides for his own needs with discretion.
6. For he will never falter; the righteous man will be an eternal remembrance.
7. He will not be afraid of a bad tiding; his heart is steadfast, secure in the Lord.
8. His heart is steadfast, he does not fear, until he sees his oppressors [destroyed].
9. He has distributed [his wealth], giving to the needy. His righteousness will endure forever; his might will be uplifted in honor.
10. The wicked man will see and be angry; he will gnash his teeth and melt away; the wish of the wicked will be ruined.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 7
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Friday, 22 AV , 5776 · 26 August 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, beginning of Epistle 7
• והנה מודעת זאת דיש ב׳ מיני דחילו ורחימו
Now it is well known1 that there are two types of awe [of G‑d] and [two types] of love [of G‑d].
הראשונות הן הנולדות מהתבונה ודעת בגדולת ה׳, ובדברים המביאין לידי אהבת ה׳ ויראתו
The first ones are born of an understanding and cognition of the greatness of G‑d, and of those matters that lead to the love of G‑d and to the fear of Him, such as G‑d’s closeness to the Jewish people.
והאחרונות הן הבאות אחר כך מלמעלה, בבחינת מתנה
The latter ones are those that come afterwards, from Above, as a gift,
After one has acquired a love and fear of G‑d as a result of his own contemplation, he is then granted from Above a heightened measure of love and fear.
וכמו שמבואר במקום אחר על פסוק: עבודת מתנה אתן את כהונתכם
as explained elsewhere2 in comment on the verse,3 “I shall grant [you] your priestly service as a gift.”
שהיא מדת אהבה
This [priesthood] refers to the attribute of love,
וכן הוא גם כן ביראה
and it is likewise with regard to awe. I.e., there is a degree of fear of G‑d that is likewise granted as a gift from Above.
והנה ודאי אין ערוך כלל בין הראשונות, שהן תולדות השכל הנברא
Now there is surely no comparison between the first ones, the lower levels of love and fear, which are the products of the created intellect,
לגבי האחרונות, שהן מהבורא יתברך שמו
and the latter ones, which are [a gift] from the Creator, blessed be His Name.
Just as there can be absolutely no comparison between Creator and created, so too can there be no comparison between the love and fear generated by each of these two levels.
ולכן הן הן הנקראות בשם אמת
That is why it is these [latter degrees of love and fear] that are referred to as “truth”,
כי חותמו של הקדוש ברוך הוא אמת
for “the seal of the Holy One, blessed be He, is truth,”4
שהוא אמת האמיתי, וכל האמת שבנבראים כלא חשיבי קמיה
for He is the true Truth, and in relation to Him all truth among created beings is considered as nothing.
Since G‑d is absolute truth, the love and fear that emanate from Him are deemed “truth” as well.
אך איזה הדרך שיזכה האדם לאמת ה׳
But which is the way whereby a man can merit [the loftier love and fear that are termed] “the truth of G‑d”?
הנה הוא על ידי שיעורר רחמים רבים לפני ה׳ על הניצוץ שבנפשו
It is by arousing great compassion in G‑d’s eyes for the spark in his soul.
שהיא מדתו של יעקב, מבריח מהקצה אל הקצה
This [attribute of compassion] is the attribute of Jacob, who5 “bolts from one end through to the other,”
דהיינו: מרום המעלות עד למטה מטה
that is, from the uppermost of all levels to the nether-most,
להמשיך אמת ה׳ לעולם השפל הזה החשוך
causing the “truth of G‑d” to flow to this lowly, dark world;
וכמו שכתוב: כי אשב בחשך, ה׳ אור לי
as it is written,6 “When I sit in darkness, G‑d is a light unto me.”
וזהו: כי גבר עלינו חסדו גו׳
And this is the meaning of the phrase,7 “For His kind-ness has prevailed over us.”
I.e., G‑d’s kindness has prevailed over the darkness of this world, illuminating even that aspect of a man’s soul that is clothed within his body.
In answer to the question asked above, then, it is now clear that the way by which one can arrive at “G‑d’s truth” is by the arousal of Divine compassion.
אך התעוררות רחמים רבים לפני ה׳ צריכה להיות גם כן באמת
However, [this] arousal of G‑d’s great compassion also needs to be done in truth.
וגם כשהוא באמת שלו, איך יוכל על ידי אמת שלו לעורר רחמים עליונים מאמת ה׳
But even when it is true in mortal terms, how — by means of relative truth — can one arouse Supernal com-passion from the truth of G‑d?
אך העצה לזה היא מדת הצדקה
The solution recommended for this is to practice the attribute of charity,
שהיא מדת הרחמים על מאן דלית ליה מגרמיה
which is the attribute of compassion for him who has nothing of his own,
להחיות רוח שפלים כו׳
to8 “revive the spirit of the lowly.”
ובאתערותא דלתתא, אתערותא דלעילא: ה׳ מעורר ישנים ומקיץ נרדמים
And the arousal from below elicits an arousal from Above: G‑d9 “rouses those who sleep and awakens those who slumber”;
הם בחינת רחמים רבים וחסדים עליונים הנעלמים
[i.e., He rouses His] great compassion and the Supernal attributes of kindness which are concealed,
As with a sleeping person’s dormant soul-powers, “sleep” and (more deeply) “slumber” here signify two degrees of dormancy in the essentially concealed states of Divine compassion and kindness.
לצאת מההעלם אל הגילוי והארה רבה
so that they emerge from concealment into manifestation and into a great illumination,
לאור באור החיים, אמת ה׳ לעולם
so that [a man is]10 “illuminated with the light of life” — with11 the “truth of G‑d unto the world.”
* * *
וזהו לשון זריעה הנאמר בצדקה
This, then, is the meaning of the idiom of “sowing” related to charity, as in the verse with which this epistle opened, “He who sows charity,” or as in the verse,12 “Sow for yourselves for charity.”
להצמיח אמת העליון, אמת ה׳
one [thereby] causes the Supernal truth, the truth of G‑d, to sprout, just as a plant that sprouts reveals that which was previously sown.
ובפרט בצדקה וחסד של אמת שעושים עם ארץ הקודש, תבנה ותכונן במהרה בימינו אמן
[This is achieved] especially through acts of charity and true kindness that are done for the benefit of the Holy Land (May it be built and established speedily in our days, Amen!),
לקיים מה שכתוב: אמת מארץ תצמח
thereby realizing the verse,13 “Truth shall sprout forth from the land,” where ‘land’ alludes both to the Land of Israel here below and to the Sefirah of Malchut Above,
על ידי זריעת הצדקה בה
by sowing charity in it.
וחסד ורחמים רבים הנאספים ונלקטים לתוכה
And the kindness and great compassion that are gathered into it and gleaned in it,
הם מעוררים גם כן חסדים עליונים הצפונים ונעלמים בנוסח אחר: בה
correspondingly arouse the Supreme graces that are hidden and concealed14,
כמו שכתוב: אשר צפנת גו׳
as it is written,15 “[How great is Your kindness] which You have hidden,”
לכוננה ולהקימה
so that [the land] is established and set up firmly.
Both Eretz Yisrael and the Sefirah of Malchut of Atzilut must be buttressed; the latter, because of its descent in order to serve as a source of created beings that are lower than the World of Atzilut.
וזהו שכתוב: בצדקה תכונני
And of this it is written,16 “Through tzedakah shall you be firmly established,” referring to the establishment of the “Congregation of Israel” here below, as well as to its spiritual counterpart Above — the Sefirah of Malchut of Atzilut, which is also known by the same name.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | See Likkutei Amarim, Part I, ch. 14; Part II, Chinuch Katan. |
| 2. | Ibid., Part I, ch. 14. |
| 3. | Bamidbar 18:7. |
| 4. | Shabbat 55a. |
| 5. | Shmot 26:28. |
| 6. | Michah 7:8. |
| 7. | Tehillim 117:2. |
| 8. | Yeshayahu 57:15. |
| 9. | Siddur Tehillat HaShem, p. 166. |
| 10. | Iyov 33:30. |
| 11. | Cf. Tehillim 117:2. |
| 12. | Hoshea 10:12. See also below, Epistle 8. |
| 13. | Tehillim 85:12. |
| 14. | An alternative version adds here: “in it”. |
| 15. | Tehillim 31:20. |
| 16. | Yeshayahu 54:14. |
• Rambam: Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Friday, 22 AV , 5776 · 26 August 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Important Message Regarding This Lesson
The Daily Mitzvah schedule runs parallel to the daily study of 3 chapters of Maimonides' 14-volume code. There are instances when the Mitzvah is repeated a few days consecutively while the exploration of the same Mitzvah continues in the in-depth track.
Positive Commandment 245
Transactions
"And if you sell something to your neighbor..."—Leviticus 25:14.
We are commanded regarding the various methods that effect transactions, i.e., the ways to transfer property from one individual to another (or, in the case of a guardian of an object, the transfer of jurisdiction).
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Transactions
Positive Commandment 245
Translated by Berel Bell
The 245th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the laws of buying and selling, i.e. the ways in which purchases and sales between the buyers and the sellers become legally binding.
The Torah taught about one method in G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "When you sell something to your neighbor, [or buy something from your neighbor's hand...]" Our Sages said,2 "[The word 'hand' teaches that the sale] refers to something which can pass from one hand to another," i.e. meshichah [physically moving the object].
It is explained that in Biblical law, transfer of money is sufficient to complete the transaction, and meshichah is necessary only by Rabbinic decree, as is mesirah [giving the vehicle of control, e.g. the reins of a horse, to the buyer] and hagba'ah [lifting the object].
The Gemara3 explicitly says, "Just as our Sages enacted a requirement of meshichah in order for a sale to be valid, so too they required meshichah in order for a watchman relationship to become valid." It is therefore clear that the requirement of meshichah in buying and selling is of Rabbinic origin, as explained in the relevant place.
However, other methods of acquiring land, etc., i.e. by means of a document or chazakah4 are traced5 to Biblical verses [and are therefore of Biblical, not Rabbinic, origin].
The details of this mitzvah — i.e. the manners of finalizing a sale in each category — are explained in the 1st chapter of tractate Kiddushin, the 4th and 8th chapters of Bava Metzia, and the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Bava Basra.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 25:14.
2.Bava Metzia 47b.
3.Ibid., 99a.
4.Such as building something on the land.
5.See Kiddushin 26a.
• Friday, 22 AV , 5776 · 26 August 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Important Message Regarding This Lesson
The Daily Mitzvah schedule runs parallel to the daily study of 3 chapters of Maimonides' 14-volume code. There are instances when the Mitzvah is repeated a few days consecutively while the exploration of the same Mitzvah continues in the in-depth track.
Positive Commandment 245
Transactions
"And if you sell something to your neighbor..."—Leviticus 25:14.
We are commanded regarding the various methods that effect transactions, i.e., the ways to transfer property from one individual to another (or, in the case of a guardian of an object, the transfer of jurisdiction).
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Transactions
Positive Commandment 245
Translated by Berel Bell
The 245th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the laws of buying and selling, i.e. the ways in which purchases and sales between the buyers and the sellers become legally binding.
The Torah taught about one method in G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "When you sell something to your neighbor, [or buy something from your neighbor's hand...]" Our Sages said,2 "[The word 'hand' teaches that the sale] refers to something which can pass from one hand to another," i.e. meshichah [physically moving the object].
It is explained that in Biblical law, transfer of money is sufficient to complete the transaction, and meshichah is necessary only by Rabbinic decree, as is mesirah [giving the vehicle of control, e.g. the reins of a horse, to the buyer] and hagba'ah [lifting the object].
The Gemara3 explicitly says, "Just as our Sages enacted a requirement of meshichah in order for a sale to be valid, so too they required meshichah in order for a watchman relationship to become valid." It is therefore clear that the requirement of meshichah in buying and selling is of Rabbinic origin, as explained in the relevant place.
However, other methods of acquiring land, etc., i.e. by means of a document or chazakah4 are traced5 to Biblical verses [and are therefore of Biblical, not Rabbinic, origin].
The details of this mitzvah — i.e. the manners of finalizing a sale in each category — are explained in the 1st chapter of tractate Kiddushin, the 4th and 8th chapters of Bava Metzia, and the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Bava Basra.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 25:14.
2.Bava Metzia 47b.
3.Ibid., 99a.
4.Such as building something on the land.
5.See Kiddushin 26a.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Tum'at Tsara`at Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 2
• Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 1
• Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 1
Included in this text are eight commandments: six positive commandments and two negative commandments. They comprise the following:
1) to rule with regard to tzara'at that afflicts a human according to the laws stated in the Torah;
2) not to cut off the signs of tzara'at impurity;
3) not to shave the hair of a blemish of tzara'at impurity;
4) that a person afflicted by tzara'at should be distinguished by having his clothes torn, his hair covered, and cloaking himself until his lips;
5) the purification of a person afflicted by tzara'at;
6) that a person afflicted by tzara'at should shave all his hair when he is purified;
7) the laws pertaining to tzara'at on garments;
8) the laws pertaining to tzara'at on homes.
These mitzvot are explained in the ensuing chapters.
1
When there is a tzara'at affliction of human skin, the skin turns white, becoming as white as the membrane of an egg or whiter. Whiteness that is not as white as this membrane is not deemed tzara'at, but is instead a bohak.
א
צרעת עור הבשר הוא שילבין מקום מן העור ותהיה הלבנונית כקרום ביצה ומקרום ביצה ולמעלה אבל לבנונית שהיא דיהה מקרום הביצה ולמטה אינה צרעת אלא בוהק הוא:
2
There are four shades of white that appear on human skin that cause a person to be deemed afflicted by tzara'at:
a) very intense white that resembles snow on human skin; it is called baheret.
b) a white that is slightly darker than that; it resembles the cleaned wool of a newborn sheep; it is called si'ait;
c) a white that is slightly darker than si'ait; it resembles the lime of the Temple building; it is a derivative of the baheret and is calledsapachat;
d) a white that is slightly darker than the lime of the Temple building and which resembles the membrane of an egg; it is a derivative of the si'ait and is also called sapachat.
Thus one has learnt that the shade that is like the lime of the Temple building is a sapachat of the baheret and the shade that is like the membrane of an egg is a sapachat of the si'ait. For the meaning of the term sapachat is subsidiary. Based on the above, our Sages said: "The shades of tzara'at blemishes are two which are four:" baheret and its subsidiary and si'ait and its subsidiary.
ב
וד' מראות יש בצרעת עור הבשר ואלו הן: לובן עז ביותר שאין למעלה ממנו שהוא נראה בעור הבשר כשלג הוא הנקרא בהרת ולובן שהוא דיהה מזה מעט שנראה כצמר נקי של כבש בן יומו הוא הנקרא שאת ולבן שדיהה מן השאת מעט שנראה כסיד ההיכל הוא תולדת הבהרת ונקראת ספחת ולובן שדיהה מסיד ההיכל מעט והרי הוא כקרום ביצה היא תולדת השאת וגם זה נקרא ספחת הנה למדת שהמראה שהוא כסיד ההיכל הוא ספחת הבהרת והמראה שהוא כקרום ביצה היא ספחת השאת שאין לשון ספחת אלא טפילה מכאן אמרו מראות נגעים שתים שהן ארבע בהרת וספחתה שאת וספחתה:
3
These four shades of tzara'at blemishes can all be joined with each other and are considered as a single blemish, whether this produces a more lenient ruling or a more stringent ruling, whether at the beginning of the observation of the blemish or at the conclusion of the seven days, whether after the person afflicted with tzara'at was released from impurity or definitely categorized as afflicted.
What is implied? Whether a blemish is entirely white like snow or like the lime of the Temple building or like clean wool or like the membrane of an egg or a blemish was varied in appearance, part of its whiteness was the shade of baheret and part was like the shade of si'ait, and part like the shade of sapachat, they are all considered as one appearance.
If so, why did the Sages count them and say, "The shades oftzara'at blemishes are two which are four?" So that one will understand the different appearances. For any priest who does not recognize the different appearances and their names when he is taught and informed, should not assess a blemish until he understands them and recognizes them and can say: "This isbaheret and this is its subsidiary. This is si'ait and this is its subsidiary."
ג
ארבע מראות נגעים אלו כולן מצטרפין זה עם זה בין להקל בין להחמיר בין בתחילת ראיית הנגע בין בסוף השבעה בין לאחר שנפטר המצורע או נחלט כיצד אחד נגע שהיה כולו לבן כשלג או כסיד ההיכל או כצמר נקי או כקרום ביצה ואחד נגע שהיה מקצת הלובן כמראה הבהרת ומקצתו כמראה השאת ומקצתו כמראה הספחת הכל כמראה אחד הוא חשוב א"כ למה מנאום חכמים ואמרו מראות נגעים שתים שהן ארבע כדי להבין במראות שכל כהן שאינו מכיר המראות ושמותיהן כשמלמדין אותו ומודיעין אותו לא יראה הנגע עד שיבין ויכיר ויאמר זו היא הבהרת וזו היא ספחתה זו היא השאת וזו היא ספחתה:
4
If in one of these four shades of a white hue there is a slight redness mixed in, it is also considered as a tzara'at blemish, as Leviticus 13:19 states: "a white baheret with redness." This also applies to si'ait and to the subsidiary of si'ait and to the subsidiary of baheret. This hue that is a mixture of whiteness with a little redness is called petuch.
What is the appearance of petuch in these four shades? It is as if there are four cups filled with milk. In the first was mixed two drops of blood; in the second, there were four drops; in the third, eight drops; and in the fourth, sixteen drops. The petuch of a baheret is the fourth shade; the petuch of si'ait is the shade of the third cup; the petuch of the sapachat of a baheret is the shade of the second cup, and the petuch of the sapachat of si'ait is the shade of the first cup.
ד
היה במראה הלובן מארבע מראות אלו מקצת אדמומיות מעורבות בו גם זה נגע צרעת הוא שנאמר או בהרת לבנה אדמדמת והוא הדין לשאת ולספחת של שאת ולספחת הבהרת והמראה הזה שהוא מעורב מלבנונית ומעט אודם הוא הנקרא פתוך וכיצד מראה הפתוך בארבע מראות אלו כאילו הן ארבע כוסות מלאות חלב ונתערב בכוס הראשונה שני טיפי דם ובשניה ארבעה טיפין ובשלישית שמונה טיפין וברביעית ששה עשר טיפין הפתוך שבבהרת הוא המראה הרביעי והפתוך שבשאת כמראה כוס שלישית והפתוך שבספחת הבהרת כמראה הכוס השניה והפתוך שבספחת השאת כמראה הכוס הראשונה:
5
All of these shades - whether the white or the petuch - can be joined with each other and are considered as a single appearance. This applies whether the blemish was entirely white or part of it was white and part with redness, it is all considered as a single blemish whether this leads to a more lenient ruling or a more stringent one.
ה
כל המראות האלו בין הלבן בין הפתוך מצטרפין זה עם זה וכמראה אחד הן חשובין ובין שהיה הנגע כולו לבן או מקצתו לבן ומקצתו אדמדם הכל כמראה אחד הוא בין להקל בין להחמיר:
6
Any appearance of tzara'at on the skin of human flesh is not considered as a blemish and does not impart impurity unless the appearance of the blemish is deep, under the surface of the skin of the flesh. The intent is not only a blemish that can be felt as deep in the flesh, but also one that appears such; it appears like the sun's light that appears to the eye to be deeper than a shadow. If, however, the white shade or the petuch is on the same level as the remainder of the flesh or raised above the flesh, it is not atzara'at blemish, but rather a rash like other rashes that erupt on the body.
ו
כל מראה צרעת עור הבשר אינה קרויה נגע ולא מטמאה עד שיהיה מראה הנגע עמוק מעור הבשר לא עמוק במשישתו אלא במראית העין כמראה החמה הנראית לעין עמוקה מן הצל אבל אם היה מראה הלובן או הפתוך בשוה עם שאר העור או גבוה מן העור אינו נגע אלא כמו צמח מן הצמחים העולים בגוף:
7
The minimum measure for all blemishes of tzara'at, whethertzara'at of humans or tzara'at of garments, is the size of a Cilikian gris, which is square. This is a square place on the skin of the flesh where 36 hairs could grow, i.e., six hairs in length and six hairs in width. Anything smaller than this is not considered as atzara'at blemish.
ז
שיעור כל נגעי צרעת בין צרעת אדם בין צרעת בגדים כגריס הקלקי שהוא מרובע והוא מקום מרובע מעור הבשר כדי צמיחת שלשים ושש שערות שש שערות אורך ושש שערות רוחב וכל הפחות מזה אינו נגע צרעת:
8
When the width of a blemish is only a place to grow five hairs, it is pure and it is not considered as a tzara'at blemish, even if it was a cubit in length. It must be at least a square gris in size. All of the minimum measures are halachot transmitted to Moses at Sinai.
ח
נגע שהיה רוחבו כדי צמיחת חמש שערות אפילו היה אורכו אמה הרי זה טהור ואינו נגע צרעת עד שיהיה בו רבוע כגריס וכל השיעורין הלכה למשה מסיני:
9
Whenever a baheret is spoken of, the same laws apply to the remainder of the four shades of white or those of a petuch, provided the blemish is a gris in size and is deeper than the surface of the skin of the flesh. This is what we refer to as abaheret without further explanation.
A baheret that is very intense white, like snow appears dark on the flesh of an albino. And one that is dark appears intensely white on a black man. Therefore we consider the shade as it would appear on a person of average complexion, neither an albino or a black man.
ט
כ"מ שנאמר בהרת הוא הדין לשאר ד' מראות של לובן או של פתוך והוא שיהיה הנגע כגריס או יתר ויהיה עמוק מעור הבשר וזה הוא שאנו קורין אותו בהרת סתם בהרת שהיא עזה כשלג נראית באדם שהוא לבן כהה ובהרת שהיא כהה נראית בכושי עזה לפיכך אין משערין הכל אלא בבינוני שאינו לא לבן ולא שחור:
10
There are three signs that indicate ritual impurity with regard to tzara'at on the skin of human flesh: white hair, healthy flesh in the midst of a blemish, and expansion. All three are explicitly mentioned in the Torah.
What is implied? If a baheret erupts on a person's skin and in its midst there is white hair or a portion of healthy flesh, when the priest sees it, he will rule definitely, saying: "He is impure." If it does not have either white hairs or healthy flesh, he should be isolated for seven days. On the seventh day, the priest sees him again. If the baheret grew white hair or healthy flesh or if it expanded and increased, he is definitively categorized as impure. If neither white hair nor healthy flesh grew, nor did the baheret expand on his skin, he should be isolated for a second week. If any of the three signs occur, he is definitively categorized as impure. If not, he is pure and he is sent away. The rationale is that blemishes on the skin of human flesh do not require isolation for more than two weeks. If the blemish expands - or white hair or healthy flesh grows in it - after he was sent away and deemed pure, he is definitively categorized as impure.
י
שלשה סימני טומאה הן בצרעת: עור הבשר שיער לבן והמחיה והפשיון ושלשתן מפורשין בתורה כיצד מי שנולדה בו בהרת ובה שיער לבן או מחית בשר חי כשיראהו הכהן יחליטו ויאמר טמא לא היה בה שיער לבן ולא מחיה יסגר שבעת ימים ובשביעי רואהו אם נולד בבהרת שיער לבן או מחיה או שפשתה והוסיפה ה"ז מוחלט לא נולד בה לא מחיה ולא שיער לבן ולא פשתה בעור יסגיר שבוע שני אם נולד בה אחד משלשתן מחליטו ואם לאו ה"ז טהור ויפטרנו שאין בנגעי עור הבשר הסגר יתר על שני שבועות ואם לאחר שפטרו וטהר פשה הנגע או נולד בו שיער לבן או מחיה הרי זה מוחלט טומאה:
11
When a baheret was originally intensely white like snow and, after isolation, it appeared only as the membrane of an egg, or, originally, it appeared like the membrane of an egg and its intensity increased and it appeared as snow, it is considered in its original state, for an increase in the intensity of the appearance of a blemish is not a sign of impurity, nor is a darkening of it a sign of purity unless it becomes darker than the four shades described above, i.e., darker than the membrane of an egg. In such an instance, it is classified as a bohak and he is pure. If so, what is meant by the Torah's statement: "The blemish became darker and did not expand on the flesh, the priest should declare him pure?" That if it became darker than the four shades, he is pure, Similarly, if it did not become darker, but did not expand, nor grew white hair or healthy flesh, he is pure.
יא
בהרת שהיתה עזה כשלג ולאחר ההסגר נעשית כקרום ביצה או שהיתה בתחילה כקרום ביצה ונעשית כשלג הרי היא כמות שהיתה שאין עזות המראה סימן טומאה ולא כהייתו סימן טהרה אלא אם נתמעט מארבע מראות ונעשית כהה מקרום ביצה שהרי נעשית בוהק ולפיכך טהור א"כ מהו זה שנאמר בתורה והנה כהה הנגע ולא פשה הנגע בעור וטהרו הכהן שאם כהה מארבע מראות טהור וכן אם לא כהה ולא פשה ולא נולדה בו לא שיער לבן ולא מחיה הרי זה טהור:
• Rambam - 3 Chapters: Sheluchin veShuttafin Sheluchin veShuttafin - Chapter Five, Sheluchin veShuttafin Sheluchin veShuttafin - Chapter Six, Sheluchin veShuttafin Sheluchin veShuttafin - Chapter Seven
• Sheluchin veShuttafin - Chapter Two
• Hayom Yom: Today's Hayom Yom
• Friday, 22 AV , 5776 · 26 August 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Monday, Menachem Av 22, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Re'ei, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 106-107.
Tanya: Now it is (p. 423) ...shall you be established. (p. 425).
My father said: One should not recite the Morning B'rachot before rinsing the mouth in the morning, except on fast days.
• Daily Thought:
• Sheluchin veShuttafin - Chapter Two
1
A non-Jew may never be appointed as an agent for any mission whatsoever. Similarly, a Jew may never be appointed as an agent for a non-Jew for any mission whatsoever. These concepts are derived from Numbers 18:28: "And so shall you offer, also yourselves." This is interpreted to mean: Just as you are members of the covenant, so too, your agents must be members of the covenant. This principle is applied to the entire Torah.
Moreover, the converse is also true: Just as your principals are members of the covenant, so too, in every aspect of Torah law, the principal must be a member of the covenant.
א
אין העכו"ם נעשה שליח לדבר מן הדברים שבעולם וכן אין ישראל נעשה שליח לעכו"ם לדבר מן הדברים שנאמר כן תרימו גם אתם מה אתם בני ברית אף שלוחכם בני ברית והוא הדין לכל התורה כולה ומה משלחכם בן ברית אף בכל התורה כולה המשלח בן ברית:
2
A man may appoint either a man or a woman as an agent. He may even appoint a married woman, a servant or a maidservant. Since they possess a developed intellectual capacity and are obligated to perform some of the mitzvot, they may serve as agents with regard to financial matters.
A person who does not have a developed intellectual capacity - i.e., a deaf-mute, a mentally or emotionally unsound individual or a minor - may not be appointed as an agent, nor may they appoint agents. This applies to both a male minor and a female minor.
Accordingly, if a person sends a son who is below the age of majority to a storekeeper for oil, the storekeeper measures out anisar's worth of oil for him and gives the child an isar as change, but the child loses the oil and the isar he gave him, the storekeeper is liable to pay. For the father sent the child only to inform the storekeeper that he needed the oil, and the storekeeper should have sent it with a mature person. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations. If, however, the recipient explicitly told the storekeeper: "Send it to me with the child," the storekeeper is not liable.
ב
עושה אדם שליח איש או אשה ואפילו אשת איש ואפילו עבד ושפחה הואיל והן בני דעת וישנן במקצת מצות נעשין שלוחין למשא ומתן אבל מי שאינן בני דעת והן חרש שוטה וקטן אינן נעשין שלוחין ולא עושין שליח אחד הקטן ואחד הקטנה לפיכך השולח בנו קטן אצל החנוני ומדד לו באיסר שמן ונתן לו את האיסר ואבד את השמן ואת האיסר החנוני חייב לשלם שלא שלחו אלא להודיעו ולא היה לו לשלח אלא עם בן דעת וכן כל כיוצא בזה ואם פירש ואמר שלח לי עם הקטן הרי זה פטור:
3
When a person tells a colleague: "You owe me a maneh, send it to me with so and so" - if the debtor desires to send it to the creditor with that person, he discharges his obligation and is no longer responsible for the money even if the person named was a minor. This applies regardless of whether the money was given as a loan or as an entrusted object.
Similarly, when two people agree on a stipulation between themselves that whoever desires to send an object to his colleague may send it with whomever the sender desires, the sender may send it with whomever he sees fit, provided he is appropriate to transfer such an article. If the article is stolen or lost on the way, or the agent denies receiving it, the sender is not liable. The rationale is that every stipulation regarding financial matters that is accepted is binding.
ג
האומר לחבירו מנה שיש לי בידך בין מלוה בין פקדון שלחהו לי ביד פלוני אפילו היה קטן אם רצה לשלחו בידו נפטר ואינו חייב באחריותו וכן שנים שהתנו ביניהם שכל מי שירצה לשלוח לחבירו משלח ביד מי שירצה המשלח הרי זה משלח ביד מי שיראה לו שהוא ראוי להוליך דבר זה ואם נגנב או אבד בדרך או שכפר בו השליח הרי המשלח פטור שכל תנאי שבממון קיים:
4
When an agent buys or sells an article and notifies the other party that he is acting as an agent for another person in this transaction, and it is discovered that he violated the instructions given him by the principal, the sale is nullified and the article must be returned, even if meshichah was performed.
If the agent did not notify the other party that he was an agent, the transaction is binding, and the agent must then satisfy the principal.
ד
השליח שקנה או שמכר והודיע שהוא שליח בדבר זה לפלוני אע"פ שמשך או שהמשיך ונמצא שעבר על דעת המשלח בטל המקח ומחזיר ואם לא הודיע שהוא שליח נקנה המקח ויהיה הדין בינו ובין זה ששלחו:
5
The following rules apply when Reuven purchased a field from Shimon and told him: "I purchased it on behalf of Levi," Reuven drew up a deed of sale for Levi, and afterwards Reuven said: "I purchased the field for myself. Draw up a deed of sale for me." The seller is not compelled to draw up another deed of sale for Reuven.
If, however, Reuven made a stipulation at the outset, telling the seller: "I am purchasing it for myself, I am having the deed of sale drawn up on behalf of Levi only so that people will not know that I am the buyer," Reuven may compel Shimon to compose another deed of sale in his own name.
ה
ראובן שקנה שדה משמעון ואמר לו ללוי קניתי אותה וכתב שטר מכר בשם לוי וחזר ראובן ואמר לשמעון לעצמי קניתיה חזור וכתוב שטר מכר בשמי אין כופין את המוכר לכתוב לו שטר אחר בשם ראובן ואם התנה עמו בתחלה ואמר לו לעצמי אקנה וזה שאכתוב שטר בשם לוי כדי שלא ידעו בי שאני הוא הקונה הרי זה כופהו לחזור ולכתוב שטר אחד בשמו:
6
A broker is an agent, except that he receives a fee for his services. Therefore, if he deviates from the instructions of the owners, he must take responsibility for the loss he caused.
What is implied? Reuven gave an article to Shimon - a broker - and told him: "Sell this article for me, but do not sell it for less than 100zuz." If Shimon sold it for 50, he must pay Reuven 50 from his own resources. If he sold it for 200, Reuven receives everything. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.
If Reuven claims: "I told you to sell it for 100," and the broker says: "You told me 50, and I sold it for 50," the broker must take an oath mandated by Scriptural Law, for he admitted a portion of the plaintiff's claim. If he already gave him the 50, he is required to take only a sh'vuat hesset that he carried out the mission, and the purchaser acquires the article.
If the purchaser knew that the article belonged to Reuven and that the person selling it to him was only a broker, he must return the article to its owner. He may, however, have a ban of ostracism issued against anyone who gave permission for an article to be sold for 50 zuz or agreed to the sale at 50 and then retracted after the sale was made.
ו
הסרסור שליח הוא אלא שהוא נוטל שכר שליחותו לפיכך אם שינה דעת הבעלים משלם מה שהפסיד כיצד ראובן שנתן חפץ לשמעון הסרסור ואמר לו מכור לי זה ואל תמכור בפחות ממאה והלך ומכרו בחמשים משלם החמשים מביתו מכר במאתים הכל לראובן וכן כל כיוצא בזה ראובן אומר במאה אמרתי לך והסרסור אומר בחמשים אמרת לי וכן בחמשים מכרתי נשבע הסרסור שבועת התורה שהרי הודה במקצת ואם כבר נתן לו החמשים נשבע שבועת היסת שעשה שליחותו וזוכה הלוקח ואם ידע הלוקח שחפץ זה של ראובן הוא וזה המוכר לו סרסור הוא יחזיר החפץ לבעלים ויחרים על מי שנתן לו רשות למכור בחמשים או שרצה בחמשים וחזר בו אחר שקניתי:
7
The following rule applies whenever a broker informs the purchaser that a specific article or piece of property belongs to a principal, Reuven. If, after the purchaser acquires the article, Reuven says: "I don't want to sell at this price," the purchaser must return the article. For Reuven did not specify a price and tell the agent: "Sell the article for this and this much."
Whenever a broker loses an article, or it is stolen or broken, he is liable to reimburse the owner, for he is considered a paid watchman.
ז
כל סרסור שהודיע ללוקח שחפץ זה או קרקע זה של ראובן ואחר שקנה הלוקח אמר ראובן איני רוצה למכור בדמים אלו מחזיר הלוקח שהרי לא פסק לו דמים ואמר לו מכור לך בכך וכך [כל] סרסור שאבד החפץ מידו או נגנב או נשבר חייב לשלם מפני שהוא נושא שכר:
8
The following rules apply when a person takes articles from a craftsman's workplace to send as presents to his future father-in-law's home and tells the craftsman: "If they accept them from me, I will pay you for them. If not, I will reimburse you slightly for the favor." If the presents were destroyed by forces beyond his control while they were being delivered, the giver is liable to pay. If they were destroyed by forces beyond his control while they were being returned, he is not liable.
More stringent rules apply if he took the articles with the intent of selling them to others, telling him: "If they will be able to be sold in such and such a place," or "until such and such a time, I will pay you such and such. If they will not be sold, I will return them to you." If they were destroyed by forces beyond his control, whether while they were being transported or while they were being returned, the person who took the articles is liable to pay.
ח
הלוקח כלים מבית האומן לשגרן לבית חמיו ואמר לו אם מקבלין אותן ממני אני אתן לך את דמיהם ואם לאו אתן שכר מועט ונאנסו בהליכה הרי זה חייב לשלם ואם נאנסו בחזרה פטור נטלן ע"מ למכרן לאחרים ואמר לו אם ימכרו במקום פלוני או עד זמן פלוני אתן לך דמים כך וכך ואם לא ימכרו אחזירם לך ונאנסו בין בהליכה בין בחזרה חייב לשלם:
9
Whenever an agent claims that a loss beyond his control occurred, causing him to lose this and this amount, he must take the oath required of agents to support his claim, and then he is released of responsibility.
If the loss occurred in a place where it was likely that he would be able to find witnesses to corroborate his statements or the matter is of public knowledge and witnesses could thus be found, he must bring witnesses to substantiate his claim. If he does not bring witnesses, his claim is not accepted, and he is required to pay.
An incident occurred concerning a person who told his agent: "Buy 400 measures of wine for me with money of mine that is in your possession." The agent bought the wine for him and it turned out to be vinegar. The Sages said: "Such a large quantity of vinegar is bound to have been spoken about publicly." Since it is possible to substantiate the claim with witnesses, the agent must bring witnesses that the wine had not turned into vinegar at the time of the purchase, and thus free himself from responsibility. If he does not substantiate his claim, he must pay. Similar laws apply in all instances regarding entities where it is feasible to substantiate a claim.
When, by contrast, the claim concerns a hidden matter that is not easy to substantiate, the agent must take an oath concerning it. Similar laws apply to all claims to be issued by a partner and the like. And similar laws apply with regard to watchmen. If it is likely that the claim can be substantiated, the watchman must substantiate it, as will be explained.
ט
כל שליח שטען שארעו אונס פלוני והפסיד כך וכך הרי זה נשבע שבועת השומרין על טענתו ויפטר ואם היה האונס במקום שאפשר להביא עליו עדים או דבר שהוא גלוי וידוע שהרי ימצא עדים הרי זה צריך להביא ראיה על טענתו ואם לא הביא עדים אינו נאמן ומשלם מעשה באחד שאמר לשלוחו קנה לי ארבע מאות גרבי יין ממעות שהיו לי בידו וקנה לו ונמצאו חומץ אמרו חכמים מניין גדול כזה שהחמיץ קול יש לו הואיל ואפשר להביא ראיה יביא ראיה שלא היה היין חומץ בשעה שלקח ויפטר ואם לא יביא ראיה ישלם וכן כל כיוצא בזה מדברים שהראיה מצויה בהן אבל דבר הנעלם שאין ראייתו מצויה ישבע עליו וכן הדין בכל טענה שיטעון השותף וכיוצא בו וכן הדין בטענת השומרין אם הראיה יכולה להיות או יביא ראיה על טענתו או ישלם כמו שיתבאר:
Sheluchin veShuttafin - Chapter Three
1
The following laws apply when a person owns landed property that another person is using or he has movable property that he had given him as an entrusted object, and he seeks to appoint an agent to carry out legal procedures with that other person and expropriate that property or entrusted object from his possession. He must compose a deed granting him power of attorney. And he must perform a kinyan certifying that he was granted power of attorney, telling him: "Take it to court, acquire it, and expropriate it for yourself," or the like.
If the principal does not compose such a deed for the agent, he may not enter into litigation on his behalf, for the defendant will argue: "You are not the party with whom I have contention."
Even if the principal does compose such a deed, the agent is no more than that, and any property that he acquires belongs to the principal. And any expenses undertaken by the agent with regard to the dispute for which he was given power of attorney must be borne by the principal. For this is also written in the deed granting power of attorney: "Any expenses that you undertake in this case, I undertake to pay."
א
מי שהיתה לו קרקע תחת יד אחד או שהיו לו מטלטלין פקדון ורצה לעשות שליח לדון עם זה ולהוציא הקרקע או הפקדון מתחת ידו הרי זה כותב לו הרשאה וצריך לקנות מידו שהרשהו ואומר לו דון וזכה והוצא לעצמך וכיוצא בעניינים אלו ואם לא כתב לו אינו יכול לדון עמו מפני שהוא אומר לו אין אתה בעל דיני ואף על פי שכתב לו כן אינו אלא שליח וכל מה שיזכה בו הרי הוא של משלחו וכל ההוצאות שיוציא השליח על דין זה שהורשה הרי המשלח חייב בהן שכך כותבין בהרשאה כל שתוציא בדין זה עלי לשלמו:
2
If the principal transfers ownership to the person to whom he gave power of attorney, granting him only a third or a fourth of the property his colleague is holding, the person granted power of attorney may enter into litigation concerning the entire holding. Since he is entitled to enter into litigation concerning the portion that he owns, and he is justified to enter into litigation with him on that, he may enter into litigation concerning the entire amount.
ב
הקנה לזה שהרשה שליש או רביע מה שיש לו ביד חבירו הרי זה עושה דין על הכל הואיל ודן על חלקו והרי הוא בעל דינו בחלקו דן על הכל:
3
When one of a group of brothers who have not divided an estate between themselves, or one of a group of partners comes and lodges a claim on a portion of the property they assert to be their own, his claim involves the entire property. The defendant must respond to him. Since this person owns a portion of the property in question, he does not need power of attorney from the other partners.
If the defendant prevails, another one of the partners cannot lodge a claim against the partner who engaged in the litigation, telling him: "If I had been there, I would have raised other arguments and caused the defendant to be held liable," for the partner who engaged in the litigation can tell him: "Why didn't you come and raise those arguments?"
For this reason, if the other partner was in another country, that partner can seek out the defendant and enter litigation against him, telling him: "I do not agree with all the arguments my partner raised."
Accordingly, the defendant can delay, telling the first partner: "Either enter into litigation concerning only your share, or bring me power of attorney from the other party. For I am holding property belonging to both of you, and you both are involved parties in this case. Tomorrow, your brother - or your partner - will come and also lodge a claim against me."
ג
אחד מן האחים שלא חלקו או מן השותפין שבא לתבוע תובע על הכל הואיל ויש לו חלק בזה הממון אין צריך הרשאה משאר שותפין ואין השותף האחר יכול לומר לשותפו שדן אילו הייתי אני שם הייתי תובע טענות אחרות ומחייב בעל דיני שהרי אומר לו למה לא באת לתבוע גם אתה לפיכך אם היה במדינה אחרת יש לו לחזור על בעל הדין ולדון עמו ולומר לו אני איני מודה בכל מה שטען שותף שלי לפיכך יש לנתבע לעכב ולומר לזה או דון עמי בחלקך או הבא הרשאה שהרי ממון שניכם בידי ושניכם בעלי דיני ולמחר יבא אחיך או שותפך ויתבע גם הוא:
4
A husband needs power of attorney to lodge a claim concerning his wife's property. If, however, there is produce on the property, he has the right to lodge a claim concerning the produce - for it belongs to him - he may also lodge a claim about the property itself. For if his wife does not own the property, he has no right to the produce.
ד
הבעל בנכסי אשתו צריך הרשאה ואם יש פירות בקרקע מתוך שיש לדון על הפירות שהרי הן שלו דן על העיקר ואין צריך הרשאה מאשתו שאם אין לו קרקע אין לו פירות:
5
Although a person has entrusted an object to a colleague or given him a loan - whether movable property or money - and appointed an agent in the presence of witnesses to bring that object or loan back to him, the option belongs to the borrower or the lender. If he desires to give it to the agent, he is no longer liable, and is free of responsibility if it does not reach the principal, for he gave it to his agent.
If he does not desire to give it to the agent, he is not required to do so. For the agent is not the litigant. This applies unless the agent brings power of attorney from the owner of the entrusted object.
Every person who comes to demand payment from a colleague, using power of attorney, is described by the verse (Ezekiel 18:18): "He did what is not good among his people."
ה
מי שהיה לו ביד חבירו פקדון או מלוה בין במטלטלין בין מעות ועשה שליח בעדים להביאן לו הרשות ביד זה שהם אצלו אם רצה ליתן נפטר ואינו חייב באחריותן שהרי נתן לשלוחו ואם לא רצה ליתן אינו נותן שאין זה בעל דינו עד שיבוא בהרשאה על הפקדון וכל הבא בהרשאה הרי הוא בכלל הנאמר בהן ואשר לא טוב עשה בתוך עמיו:
6
When a person lodges a court claim against a colleague for either movable property or money he entrusted to him, and the defendant has already denied it, the plaintiff cannot write a bill giving another person power of attorney to collect this property or money from that person. The rationale is that he appears to be making a false statement. For he says: "I am granting you power of attorney to take everything that I own that so and so has," and so and so has already denied possessing anything belonging to the principal.
Similarly, if a person is required to take an oath in response to a colleague's claim, that colleague cannot grant another person power of attorney to have the oath administered. The rationale is that he is not transferring to the prospective agent an object of substance. And a person cannot transfer power of attorney on a claim that involves merely words. For words cannot be transferred unless they are associated with a financial claim.
ו
התובע חבירו בדין במטלטלין או במעות שהפקיד אצלו וכפר בו אינו יכול לכתוב הרשאה עליו שנמצא זה כמשקר שהוא אומר לו הרשיתיך ליטול מה שיש לי ביד פלוני וכבר אמר פלוני שאין לו אצלו כלום וכן מי שנתחייב לו חבירו שבועה אינו יכול להרשות אחר עליו להשביעו שאין שם דבר שיקנה לו ואין אדם מרשה על תביעת דברים שאין הדברים נקנין אלא על תביעת הממון:
7
When a person has entrusted money to a colleague and desires to grant an agent power of attorney to bring it, a kinyan chalifin is not effective. For money is not acquired through a kinyan chalifin.
What should he do? He should give the agent a portion of land of any sizeand transfer the money to him by virtue of his acquisition of the land with the intent that he expropriate it with this power of attorney. The agent may then go, enter into litigation, and expropriate the money.
If a person lent money to another person, he cannot compose a bill transferring power of attorney concerning it. This applies even if the loan is recorded in a legal document.The rationale is that a loan was given with the intent that the borrower spend the money. Thus, the money given by the lender no longer exists. And a person cannot transfer ownership over an entity that does not exist. The only way a person can transfer ownership of a debt is through ama'amad sh'loshtan - which is a dictate whose rationale cannot be explained, as mentioned above, or through transferring the debt by writing a deed transferring ownership of the promissory note and giving it to the recipient, for in this way one transfers the lien that the note conveys.
This is my understanding of the law from the Gemara. The Geonimhave, however, ordained that one may also grant power of attorney with regard to a loan, so that no one should take money belonging to a colleague and go to a distant country.
They also ordained that if a person was granted power of attorney to collect money belonging to a colleague that was held by another person or to demand payment of a loan from him, and the person transferring the debt did not own land, he could transfer to him four cubits of his heritage in Eretz Yisrael, and then transfer the money to him, by virtue of his acquisition of the land.
Such statements appear to me extremely flimsy and insubstantial. For who is to say that this person has a portion in Eretz Yisrael? And even if he is fit to receive a portion of the land, it is presently not in his possession. The Geonim who ordained this ruling did not say: "Let the law pierce the mountain." Instead, they explained that the ruling was issued only to intimidate the defendant, so that if he desires to enter into litigation and pay the money when presented with this power of attorney, he is no longer under obligation.
Why is he no longer under obligation? For a person who brings this insubstantial power of attorney is no worse than an agent appointed in the presence of witnesses. If, however, the defendant does not desire to enter into litigation with the person granted the power of attorney, he is not compelled to give him the money or take an oath until the principal comes himself.
Similarly, the Geonim ruled that if a person granted a colleague a loan, whether it is supported by a promissory note or by a kinyanobserved by witnesses, even though the person denied his obligation in court, a deed granting power of attorney can be composed, because the defendant is denying a claim involving a lien on property. If, however, the loan is supported by a verbal commitment alone, and it is denied, the Geonim did not ordain that a deed granting power of attorney be composed concerning it.
ז
מי שהיו לו מעות פקדון ביד אחר ורצה להרשות שליח להביאן אין הקניין מידו מועיל בזה שאין המטבע נקנה בחליפין אלא כיצד עושה נותן לו קרקע כל שהו ומקנה לו המעות על גבה כדי להוציאן בהרשאה זו והולך ודן עמו ומוציאן היתה לו מלוה ביד אחר אינו יכול לכתוב הרשאה עליה ואפילו היה החוב בשטר מפני שהמלוה להוצאה ניתנה ואין אדם מקנה לחבירו דבר שאינו בעולם ואין לו דרך שיקנה אדם חוב בה אלא במעמד שלשתן והוא דבר שאין לו טעם כמו שביארנו או בהקניית שטר החוב עצמו בכתיבה ומסירה מפני שהוא מקנה השיעבוד שבו זהו הדין שיראה לי מן הגמרא אבל הגאונים תקנו שכותבין הרשאה אף על המלוה כדי שלא יטול כל אחד ממון חבירו וילך לו למדינה אחרת ועוד תקנו שאם הרשהו ליטול מעות שיש לו ביד חבירו או לתבוע ממנו הלואה ולא היתה למקנה קרקע מקנהו ארבע אמות מחלקו שבא"י ומקנה לו המעות על גבן ודברים אלו דברים קלים הן עד מאוד ורעועים שזה מי יאמר שיש לו חלק בא"י ואפילו הוא ראוי אינו ברשותו:
והגאונים עצמן שתקנו תקנה זו אמרו שאין אומרין יקוב הדין את ההר ואינה אלא כדי לאיים על הנתבע אם רצה לדון וליתן בהרשאה זו נפטר ולמה יפטר שאין זה הבא בהרשאה זו הרעועה פחות משליח שעשהו בעדים אבל אם לא ירצה הנתבע לדון עמו אין כופין ליתן לו ולא להשביע עד שיבא בעל דינו וכן הורו שאם היתה לו מלוה אצל חבירו בין בשטר בין בעדי קניין אע"פ שכפר בה בב"ד כותבין עליו הרשאה מפני שהוא כפירת שיעבוד קרקע אבל אם מלוה על פה היא שכפר בה לא תקנו שיכתבו עליה הרשאה:
8
When a person granted power of attorney to one individual and then desired to nullify his agency and grant power of attorney to someone else, he may nullify his first appointment.
The person granted power of attorney, however, may not grant power of attorney to another person. For the principal might not agree, saying: "I do not want my property entrusted to another individual." Therefore, if the agent had stipulated that he be given the right to grant power of attorney to someone else, and have that person grant power of attorney to another, the agent may write a deed granting power of attorney to a second individual, and the second individual may do so for a third. Everything follows the stipulation.
ח
מי שהרשה לאחד ורצה לבטל השליחות ולהרשות לאחר הרי זה מבטל ואין למורשה לכתוב הרשאה לאחר שזה אומר אין רצוני שיהיה פקדוני ביד אחר לפיכך אם התנה עליו שירשה הוא לאחר ואחר לאחר הרי השליח כותב הרשאה לשני ושני לשלישי הכל לפי תנאו:
9
When a person who was granted power of attorney waives the payment owed by the defendant, sells him the article he was sent to collect, waives his obligation to take an oath, or negotiates a compromise with him, his actions are of no substance. For the principal will tell the agent: "I sent you to improve my position, not to impair it."
Therefore, if the agent had the principal stipulate that the agency is effective whether he improves his position or impairs it, his acts are binding, even if he waives payment of the entire obligation.
ט
הבא בהרשאה שמחל לזה הנתבע או שמכר לו או שמחל לו על השבועה או שעשה עמו פשרה לא עשה כלום שהרי אומר לו לתקן שלחתיך ולא לעוות לפיכך אם התנה עמו בין לתקן בין לעוות אפילו מחל לו על הכל הרי זה מחול:
10
When Reuven is granted power of attorney and files a claim against Shimon, Shimon cannot turn him away, saying: "Maybe the principal who sent you appointed another person and nullified your agency." For Reuven will tell him: "Give me the article that was entrusted, and I will leave the deed recording my power of attorney with you." If the principal does in fact grant another person power of attorney, he has caused himself a loss. Shimon is not liable, for he gave the object to a person with power of attorney.
י
ראובן שבא בהרשאה ותבע שמעון אין שמעון יכול לדחותו ולומר לו שמא המשלח אותך הרשה אחר וביטל שליחותך שהרי ראובן אומר לו תן לי הפקדון שיש לי בידך וזו הרשאתי תהי אצלך ואם המפקיד הרשה אחר הוא הפסיד על עצמו ושמעון פטור שהרי בהרשאתו נתן:
11
The following law applies when Reuven comes with power of attorney from Shimon and demands payment from Levi, and Levi tells him: "Nothing like that ever happened, but if Shimon wants, he may take an oath and collect the article he claims." We expropriate the money from Levi and have it kept in court until Shimon comes, takes the oath and collects the article.
Similarly, with regard to any other claim that Levi makes that is dependent on Shimon, Reuven should enter into litigation regarding the matter, and the property should be placed in the court until Shimon comes and is questioned. Reuven may have a ban of ostracism issued against anyone who issues a false claim to withhold payment and delay it.
If Levi is required to take an oath, he may not delay and say: "I will not take an oath until I have a ban of ostracism issued in the presence of Shimon against anyone who issues a false claim against me." For the issuance of this ban of ostracism is merely a minor ordinance that the later Geonim ordained so that the litigants will be forthright in their claims. And we do not delay having the defendant take an oath, because of this minor ordinance.
יא
ראובן שבא בהרשאת שמעון ותבע לוי ואמר לוי לא היו דברים מעולם אבל ישבע שמעון ויטול מוציאין הממון מיד לוי ויהיה מונח בב"ד עד שיבא שמעון וישבע ויטול וכן כל הדברים שתולה לוי בשמעון ידון ראובן ויהיה הממון מונח בב"ד עד שיבא שמעון וישאל ויש לראובן להחרים על מי שטוען טענת שקר כדי לעכב הממון ולאחרו נתחייב לוי שבועה אינו יכול לעכב ולומר לו איני נשבע עד שאחרים בפני שמעון על מי שטוען עלי שקר שאין זה החרם אלא תקנה קלה שתקנו הגאונים האחרונים כדי שיכוונו בעלי דינין טענותיהן ואין מעכבין שבועתו של זה מפני תקנה זו הקלה:
Sheluchin veShuttafin - Chapter Four
1
When partners desire to establish a partnership, how does each one acquire the assets invested by his colleague, so that they are considered partners? If they desire to establish a partnership with money, each one should bring his money and place it in a common pouch. Then each of them lifts up the pouch.
If, however, they composed a legal document detailing the partnership and had witnesses testify that they both performed akinyan chalifin that each will bring 100 zuz for the partnership, the agreement is not binding and the partnership has not yet been established, for money is not acquired through chalifin.
Therefore, if they established their partnership with regard to other movable property, when they entered into a kinyan that one would bring his barrel of wine and the other his jug of honey and they would become partners, the partnership is established in this manner. Similarly, if they mixed their produce together or hired a property in partnership, and one left the jug and the other the barrel with which they desired to act as partners, the partnership is established.
The general principle is: All the means of acquisition that a purchaser employs to acquire property can be used by partners to acquire the assets that are contributed to the partnership.
א
כשירצו השותפין להשתתף במה יקנה כל אחד מהן ממון חבירו להשתתף בו אם במעות נשתתפו יביא זה מעותיו ויביא זה מעותיו ויטילו אותן לכיס אחד ויגביהו את הכיס שניהם אבל אם כתבו שטר והעידו עדים אף על פי שקנו מיד שניהם שיביא זה מאה וזה מאה וישתתפו בהן לא קנו ועדיין לא נעשו שותפין שאין המטבע נקנה בחליפין לפיכך אם נשתתפו בשאר המטלטלין כיון שקנו מידם שיביא זה חביתו של יין וזה כדו של דבש והרי נשתתפו בהן נעשו שותפין בהן וכן אם עירבו פירותיהן או ששכרו מקום בשותפות והניח זה כדו וזה חביתו שנשתתפו בהן הרי אלו שותפין כללו של דבר בכל הדרכים שקונה הלוקח באותן הדרכים עצמן קונין השותפין זה מזה הממון המוטל ביניהם להשתתף בו:
2
When craftsmen join together in a professional partnership, even though they perform a kinyan with each other, they are not considered partners.
What is implied? If two tailors or two weavers stipulate between themselves that whatever either of them earns will be divided between them equally, they are not considered partners. For a person cannot transfer ownership to a colleague of an article that does not yet exist. If, however, they purchase the cloth for the garments with their common funds, sew them and sell them, or purchase the woof and warp with their common funds, weave garments and sell them, and a partnership has been established through the use of the money, they are partners. Whatever they earn as payment for their work and their commercial activity is divided equally.
ב
האומנין שנשתתפו באומנות אע"פ שקנו מידם אינן שותפין כיצד שני חייטים או שני אורגים שהתנו ביניהם שכל שיקח זה וזה במלאכתו יהיה ביניהן בשוה אין כאן שותפות כלל שאין אדם מקנה לחבירו דבר שלא בא לעולם אבל אם היו לוקחין הבגדים בממון עצמן ותופרין אותן ומוכרין ולוקחין השתי והערב ממעותיהן ואורגים ומוכרין ונשתתפו במעות שלוקחין בו הרי אלו שותפין וכל מה שירויחו בשכר מלאכתן ובמשאן ובמתנן הרי אלו לאמצע:
3
When three partners enter into a partnership, one investing amaneh, the second 200 zuz, and the third 300, and they all do business with the money, whether they profit or lose, the profit or loss is divided among them according to their number, not according to the size of their investments. Even if they purchase a bull for slaughter in which instance, if they slaughter it, each one of them would take a portion of its flesh according to the size of his investment. If they sell the bull while it is alive and profit or lose, the profit or loss is divided equally among the partners.
When does the above apply? When they bought and sold with the money of the partnership. If, however, the money still exists within the treasury of the partnership, and was not spent, but its value rose or dropped because of currency fluctuations depending on the ruling authority or the local populace, the profit or the loss is divided according to the amount of money invested.
When does the above apply? When the partners entered into the partnership without making a specific agreement. If, however, it was stipulated that the person who invested 100 zuz should receive three fourths of the profit, and the person who invested 200, one fourth, and if they lose the person who would be given three fourths of the profit would not suffer more than one fourth of the loss, and the one who would gain one fourth of the profit should suffer three fourths of the loss, the money is divided according to their stipulation. For every stipulation made with regard to financial matters is binding.
ג
השותפין שהטילו לכיס זה מנה וזה מאתים וזה שלש מאות ונתעסקו כולן בממון ופחתו או הותירו השכר או הפחת ביניהם בשוה לפי מניינם ולא לפי המעות ואפילו לקחו שור לטביחה שאילו טבחוהו היה נוטל כל אחד מבשרו כפי מעותיו אם מכרוהו חי ופחתו או הותירו השכר או הפחת לאמצע בד"א כשנשאו ונתנו במעות שנשתתפו בהן אבל אם המעות קיימין ועדיין לא הוציאו אותן ופחתו או הותירו מחמת המטבע ששינה המלך או אנשי המדינה חולקין השכר או ההפסד לפי המעות בד"א בסתם אבל אם התנו שיטול בעל המאה שלשה רבעים מן השכר ויטול בעל המאתים רביע ואם נפחתו לא יפחות זה שיטול שלשה רביעי השכר אלא רביע ההפסד ויפסיד זה שנוטל רביע השכר שלשה רבעים מן הפחת הרי אלו חולקין כפי מה שהתנו שכל תנאי שבממון קיים:
4
When partners make a stipulation that they continue in the partnership for a specific duration of time, each them can prevent his colleague from dissolving the partnership. Neither one can withdraw until the set time arrives or the money in the partnership is exhausted. Neither can take his portion of the principal or of the profit until the end of that time.
If they established a partnership without making a stipulation and without establishing a set time, they may dissolve the partnership whenever any of them desires. This one should take his portion of the merchandise from the partnership, and this one should take his portion. If the merchandise is of the type that cannot be divided, or if making the division would cause a loss, the article should be sold and the money should be divided.
If there was a time when the merchandise of the partnership would ordinarily be sold, each partner can prevent his colleague from dissolving the partnership until the merchandise will be sold at the known time for such merchandise to be sold. Neither can take his portion of the principal or of the profit until the time of the division, unless a stipulation was made between them.
If the partnership was owed a debt by others, one partner cannot tell the other: "Let us not dissolve the partnership until we collect all the debts that are owed to us." Instead, the assets of the partnership should be divided. When the debts are repaid, each one should be given his portion.
The following rules apply when, by contrast, the partnership owes a debt to another person. If they are not responsible for each other, they should divide the assets of the partnership, and when the time for the debt comes, each one should pay his portion of the debt.
If they are responsible for each other, each one can prevent the other from dissolving the partnership until the time when the promissory note comes due and the debt is repaid. Why is each one given this right? Because one colleague can tell the other: "Since each of us can be required to pay the entire promissory note, let us continue to do business with the money until the date of payment comes."
If his colleague tells him: "Let us divide the assets, and you can receive all the money for the promissory note. Do business by yourself and pay the note when it comes due," the other colleague may still impede, saying "Maybe I will lose, for two people make greater profit than one."
ד
השותפין שהתנו ביניהם שיעמדו בשותפות זמן קצוב כל אחד ואחד מהן מעכב על חבירו ואינו יכול לחלוק עד שיגיע הזמן או עד שיכלה ממון השותפות ואין אחד מהן יכול ליטול חלקו מן הקרן ולא בשכר עד סוף הזמן נשתתפו סתם ולא קבעו להם זמן הרי אלו חולקין כל זמן שירצה אחד מהן וזה נוטל חלקו מן הסחורה וזה נוטל חלקו ואם לא היתה באותה סחורה דין חלוקה או שהיתה בחלוקתה הפסד הרי אלו מוכרין אותה וחולקין את הדמים היה זמן ידוע למכירת אותה סחורה יש לכל אחד מהן לעכב שלא יחלוקו עד שתמכר הסחורה בזמן הידוע למכירתה ואין אחד נוטל מן הקרן ולא מן הריוח עד זמן החלוקה אלא אם התנו ביניהם היה להם חוב אצל אחרים אינו יכול לומר לחבירו לא נחלוק עד שנגבה כל חוב שיש לנו אלא חולקין וכשיפרעו החובות יטול כל אחד חלקו היה עליהן חוב לאחר אם אינן אחראין זה לזה חולקין ולכשיגיע זמן החוב לפרעו יתן כל אחד חלקו ואם הן אחראים כל אחד מהן מעכב לחלוק עד שיגיע זמן השטר ויפרעו החוב ולמה מעכב שהרי חבירו אומר לו הואיל וכל אחד ממנו חייב לשלם כל השטר נשא ונתן בדמים אלו עד שיגיע הזמן אמר לו חבירו נחלוק וטול אתה דמים כנגד כל השטר ועשה מהן סחורה לעצמך ותשלם כל השטר בזמנו יש לו לעכב עדיין ולומר לו שמא נפסיד והשנים יותר מרויחין מן האחד:
5
When a person gives a colleague money to go to a different country and buy merchandise, buy produce to sell as merchandise, or buy and sell merchandise while sitting in a store, the person who took the money may not retract and return the money to his partner until he goes to the place where the stipulation was made and returns, buys the produce and sells it, or sits in the store. The rationale is that this is considered as if he fixed a time to sell the merchandise.
ה
הנותן מעות לחבירו לילך למדינה פלונית לסחורה או לקנות לו פירות לסחורה או לישב בו בחנות אינו יכול לחזור בו ולהחזיר הממון מיד השותף עד שילך למקום שהתנו ויחזור או עד שיקנו אותן הפירות וימכור או עד שישב בחנות שזה כמי שקבע זמן הוא:
• Friday, 22 AV , 5776 · 26 August 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Monday, Menachem Av 22, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Re'ei, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 106-107.
Tanya: Now it is (p. 423) ...shall you be established. (p. 425).
My father said: One should not recite the Morning B'rachot before rinsing the mouth in the morning, except on fast days.
• Daily Thought:
Getting Personal
When does a relationship become real? Once it has broken down.
As long as each fulfills the other’s expectations, there is no relationship, only a contract and its transactions. Once trust is breached, a new depth must enter: The depth of the human being.
If there is truly a relationship—if it is the person inside that matters—then there is a search for forgiveness, for return, and for healing.
So it was that within forty days of entering into a contract with the One Above, the children of Israel broke the deal. And the soul below and the One Above discovered they could not part from one another.[Likkutei Sichot, vol. 4, p. 1151.]
When does a relationship become real? Once it has broken down.
As long as each fulfills the other’s expectations, there is no relationship, only a contract and its transactions. Once trust is breached, a new depth must enter: The depth of the human being.
If there is truly a relationship—if it is the person inside that matters—then there is a search for forgiveness, for return, and for healing.
So it was that within forty days of entering into a contract with the One Above, the children of Israel broke the deal. And the soul below and the One Above discovered they could not part from one another.[Likkutei Sichot, vol. 4, p. 1151.]
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