Light Candles before sunset ––:––.
Today in Jewish History:
• Flight from Liadi (1812)
On this date, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, who supported and aided the Czar's army during the Napoleonic wars, was forced to flee his hometown from Napoleon's forces which were advancing through White Russia in their push toward Moscow. After five months of wanderings he arrived in the town of Pyena. There he fell ill and, weakened by the tribulations of his flight and the harsh Russian winter, passed away on the 24th of Tevet, 5573 (1812).
Links: The Rebbe vs Napoleon
Daily Quote:
Rabbi Tarfon would say: The day is short, the work is much, the workers are lazy, the reward is great, and the Master is pressing... He would also say: It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task, but neither are you free to absolve yourself from it...[Ethics of the Fathers 2:15-16]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Re'eh, 6th Portion Deuteronomy 15:1-15:18 with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 15
1At the end of seven years you will make a release. אמִקֵּ֥ץ שֶֽׁבַע־שָׁנִ֖ים תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה שְׁמִטָּֽה:
At the end of seven years [you shall make a release]: One might think that this means seven years [starting from the transaction] of each loan. Scripture, therefore, states, “The seventh year [i.e., the year of release] has approached…” (verse 9). But if you say [that] “seven years” [means] for each loan, after each individual loan, how has it approached? [No loan was yet transacted.] Consequently, you learn [that Scripture means] seven years according to the counting of the Shemitha [cycle]. — [Sifrei] מקץ שבע שנים: יכול שבע שנים לכל מלוה ומלוה, תלמוד לומר (פסוק ט) קרבה שנת השבע. ואם אתה אומר שבע שנים לכל מלוה ומלוה להלואת כל אחד ואחד, היאך היא קרבה, הא למדת שבע שנים למנין השמיטות:
2And this is the manner of the release; to release the hand of every creditor from what he lent his friend; he shall not exact from his friend or his brother, because time of the release for the Lord has arrived. בוְזֶה֘ דְּבַ֣ר הַשְּׁמִטָּה֒ שָׁמ֗וֹט כָּל־בַּ֨עַל֙ מַשֵּׁ֣ה יָד֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַשֶּׁ֖ה בְּרֵעֵ֑הוּ לֹֽא־יִגֹּ֤שׂ אֶת־רֵעֵ֨הוּ֙ וְאֶת־אָחִ֔יו כִּֽי־קָרָ֥א שְׁמִטָּ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
to release the hand of every creditor: Heb. שָׁמוֹט כָּל-בַּעַל מַשֵּׁה יָדוֹ, [lit. to release every master the loan of his hand, which makes no sense. Therefore, Rashi interprets the verse to mean] to release the hand of every creditor [from reclaiming the loan]. שמוט כל בעל משה ידו: שמוט את ידו של כל בעל משה:
3From the foreigner you may exact; but what is yours with your brother, your hand shall release. גאֶת־הַנָּכְרִ֖י תִּגֹּ֑שׂ וַֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ אֶת־אָחִ֖יךָ תַּשְׁמֵ֥ט יָדֶֽךָ:
From the foreigner you may exact: This is a positive command (See Ramban.). - [Sifrei] את הנכרי תיגוש: זו מצות עשה:
4However, there will be no needy among you, for the Lord will surely bless you in the land the Lord, your God, is giving you for an inheritance to possess. דאֶ֕פֶס כִּ֛י לֹ֥א יִֽהְיֶה־בְּךָ֖ אֶבְי֑וֹן כִּֽי־בָרֵ֤ךְ יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵֽן־לְךָ֥ נַֽחֲלָ֖ה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:
However, there will be no needy among you: But further on it says,“For there will never cease to be needy [within the land]” (verse 11). [These two verses seem to contradict each other. However, the explanation is:] When you perform the will of the Omnipresent, there will be needy among others but not among you. If, however, you do not perform the will of the Omnipresent, there will be needy among you. - [Sifrei] אפס כי לא יהיה בך אביון: ולהלן הוא אומר (פסוק יא) כי לא יחדל אביון, אלא בזמן שאתם עושים רצונו של מקום, אביונים באחרים ולא בכם, וכשאין אתם עושים רצונו של מקום אביונים בכם:
needy: Heb. אֶבְיוֹן, [denoting someone who is] poorer than an ע ָנִי. The term אֶבְיוֹן means“to yearn for” (תָּאֵב) , i.e., one who yearns for everything [because he has nothing]. — [Vayikra Rabbah 34:6, see B.M. 111b] אביון: דל מעני, ולשון אביון שהוא תאב לכל דבר:
5However, if you hearken to the voice of the Lord, your God, to be careful to do all this commandment, which I am commanding you today. הרַ֚ק אִם־שָׁמ֣וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַ֔ע בְּק֖וֹל יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֤ר לַֽעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָֽנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּֽוֹם:
However, if you hearken [to the voice of the Lord, your God]: then “there will be no needy among you” (verse 4). רק אם שמוע תשמע: אז לא יהיה בך אביון:
you hearken: Heb. שָׁמֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע. [The repetition of the verb form suggests:] If one listens a little, he will be granted the opportunity to listen much [i.e., he will be taught much Torah as a reward]. — [Sifrei] שמוע תשמע: שמע קמעא משמיעין אותו הרבה:
6For the Lord, your God, has blessed you, as He spoke to you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you. וכִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ בֵּֽרַכְךָ֔ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּר־לָ֑ךְ וְהַֽעֲבַטְתָּ֞ גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֗ים וְאַתָּה֙ לֹ֣א תַֽעֲבֹ֔ט וּמָֽשַׁלְתָּ֙ בְּגוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֔ים וּבְךָ֖ לֹ֥א יִמְשֹֽׁלוּ:
[For the Lord, your God, has blessed you,] as He has spoken to you:And where did He speak about this?“Blessed are you in the city…” (Deut. 28:3). - [Sifrei] כאשר דבר לך: והיכן דבר, (דברים כח, ג) ברוך אתה בעיר:
and you will lend: Heb. וְהַעֲבַטְתָּ. Whenever an expression denoting lending refers to a lender [of money], it adopts the hiph’il [causative] form. For example, וְהִלְוִיתָ, or וְהַעֲבַטְתָּ, you will lend. However, if it would have said וְעָבַטְתָּ,[in the kal, simple conjugation,] it would be referring to the borrower, like וְלָוִיתָ, you will borrow . והעבטת: כל לשון הלואה כשנופל על המלוה, נופל בלשון מפעיל. כגון והלוית, והעבטת. ואם היה אומר ועבטת היה נופל על הלוה, כמו ולוית:
and you will lend to [many] nations: One might think that you will borrow from this one and lend that one. Therefore, Scripture states, “but you will not borrow.” והעבטת גוים: יכול שתהא לוה מזה ומלוה לזה, תלמוד לומר ואתה לא תעבוט:
and you will rule over many nations: One might think that [at the same time] other nations will rule over you. Therefore, Scripture states, “but they will not rule over you.” - [Sifrei] ומשלת בגוים רבים: יכול גוים אחרים מושלים עליך, תלמוד לומר ובך לא ימשולו:
7If there will be among you a needy person, from one of your brothers in one of your cities, in your land the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, and you shall not close your hand from your needy brother. זכִּי־יִֽהְיֶה֩ בְךָ֨ אֶבְי֜וֹן מֵֽאַחַ֤ד אַחֶ֨יךָ֙ בְּאַחַ֣ד שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ בְּאַ֨רְצְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֣ן לָ֑ךְ לֹ֧א תְאַמֵּ֣ץ אֶת־לְבָֽבְךָ֗ וְלֹ֤א תִקְפֹּץ֙ אֶת־יָ֣דְךָ֔ מֵֽאָחִ֖יךָ הָֽאֶבְיֽוֹן:
If there will be among you a needy person: The most needy person has priority. - [Sifrei] כי יהיה בך אביון: התאב תאב קודם:
from one of your brothers: Your brother on your father’s side has priority over your brother on your mother’s side. — [Sifrei] מאחד אחיך: אחיך מאביך, קודם לאחיך מאמך:
[in one of] your cities: The poor of your city have priority over the poor of another city. - [Sifrei] שעריך: עניי עירך קודמים לעניי עיר אחרת:
you shall not harden [your heart]: Some people suffer [as they deliberate] whether they should give [to the needy] or they should not give; therefore it says: “you shall not harden [your heart].” Some people stretch out their hand [to give], but then close it; therefore it says: “nor close your hand.” - [Sifrei] לא תאמץ: יש לך אדם שמצטער אם יתן אם לא יתן, לכך נאמר לא תאמץ. יש לך אדם שפושט את ידו וקופצה, לכך נאמר ולא תקפוץ:
[nor close your hand] from your needy brother: If you do not give him, you will ultimately become a“brother of the needy” [i.e., becoming needy yourself]. — [Sifrei] מאחיך האביון: אם לא תתן לו, סופך להיות אחיו של אביון [בעניות]:
8Rather, you shall open your hand to him, and you shall lend him sufficient for his needs, which he is lacking. חכִּֽי־פָתֹ֧חַ תִּפְתַּ֛ח אֶת־יָֽדְךָ֖ ל֑וֹ וְהַֽעֲבֵט֙ תַּֽעֲבִיטֶ֔נּוּ דֵּ֚י מַחְסֹר֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֶחְסַ֖ר לֽוֹ:
[Rather] you shall open [your hand]: Even many times. פתח תפתח: אפילו כמה פעמים:
[Rather] you shall open [your hand]: Heb. כִּי-פָתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח. Here, the word כִּי has the meaning of “rather” [whereas in verse 7 it means “if,” and in verse 10, “because”]. כי פתח תפתח: הרי כי משמש בלשון אלא:
and you shall lend: If he does not want [your money] as a [charitable] gift, give it to him as a loan. — [Sifrei ; Keth. 67b] והעבט תעביטנו: אם לא רצה במתנה, תן לו בהלואה:
[lend him] sufficient for his needs: However, you are not commanded to make him wealthy. — [Sifrei] די מחסורו: ואי אתה מצווה להעשירו:
[sufficient for his needs,] what he is lacking: Even a horse to ride on and a servant to run before him [if he is accustomed to this type of lifestyle]. - [Sifrei; Keth. 67b] אשר יחסר לו: אפילו סוס לרכוב עליו ועבד לרוץ לפניו:
he [is lacking]: Heb. יֶחְסַר לוֹ, lit. what is lacking for him. This refers to a wife [i.e., you should help him marry a wife]. Similarly, it is stated: “I shall make for him (לוֹ) a helpmate opposite him” (Gen. 2:18). - [Keth. 66b] לו: זו אשה. וכן הוא אומר (בראשית ב, יח) אעשה לו עזר כנגדו:
9Beware, lest there be in your heart an unfaithful thought, saying, "The seventh year, the year of release has approached," and you will begrudge your needy brother and not give him, and he will cry out to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin to you. טהִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֡ פֶּן־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה דָבָר֩ עִם־לְבָבְךָ֨ בְלִיַּ֜עַל לֵאמֹ֗ר קָֽרְבָ֣ה שְׁנַת־הַשֶּׁ֘בַע֘ שְׁנַ֣ת הַשְּׁמִטָּה֒ וְרָעָ֣ה עֵֽינְךָ֗ בְּאָחִ֨יךָ֙ הָֽאֶבְי֔וֹן וְלֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן ל֑וֹ וְקָרָ֤א עָלֶ֨יךָ֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהָיָ֥ה בְךָ֖ חֵֽטְא:
and he will cry out [to the Lord] against you: One might think this is a requirement [namely, that this poor man is obliged to “cry out… against you”]. Therefore, Scripture says, “[On his day you shall give him his payment…] so that he will not cry against you [to the Lord]” (Deut. 24:15). - [Sifrei 15:138] וקרא עליך: יכול מצוה, תלמוד לומר (דברים כד, טו) ולא יקרא:
and it will be a sin to you: in any case, even if he does not cry [against you]. If so, why does it say,“and he will cry out… against you?” [It means that God says:] I hasten to punish in response to the one who cries out more than to the one who does not cry out. — [Sifrei] והיה בך חטא: מכל מקום, אפילו לא יקרא. אם כן למה נאמר וקרא עליך, ממהר אני ליפרע על ידי הקורא יותר ממי שאינו קורא:
10You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; for because of this thing the Lord, your God, will bless you in all your work and in all your endeavors. ינָת֤וֹן תִּתֵּן֙ ל֔וֹ וְלֹֽא־יֵרַ֥ע לְבָֽבְךָ֖ בְּתִתְּךָ֣ ל֑וֹ כִּ֞י בִּגְלַ֣ל | הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכָל־מַֽעֲשֶׂ֔ךָ וּבְכֹ֖ל מִשְׁלַ֥ח יָדֶֽךָ:
You shall surely give him: Even a hundred times. — [Sifrei] נתון תתן לו: אפילו מאה פעמים:
him: [meaning] between him and you [i.e., privately]. - [Sifrei] לו: בינו ובינך:
for because of this thing: Heb. דָּבָר, lit. word. Even if you said [i.e., gave him your“word”] that you would give, you will receive a reward for the saying along with the reward for the deed. — [Sifrei] כי בגלל הדבר: אפילו אמרת ליתן, אתה נוטל שכר האמירה עם שכר המעשה:
11For there will never cease to be needy within the land. Therefore, I command you, saying, you shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your poor one, and to your needy one in your land. יאכִּ֛י לֹֽא־יֶחְדַּ֥ל אֶבְי֖וֹן מִקֶּ֣רֶב הָאָ֑רֶץ עַל־כֵּ֞ן אָֽנֹכִ֤י מְצַוְּךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר פָּ֠תֹ֠חַ תִּפְתַּ֨ח אֶת־יָֽדְךָ֜ לְאָחִ֧יךָ לַּֽעֲנִיֶּ֛ךָ וּלְאֶבְיֹֽנְךָ֖ בְּאַרְצֶֽךָ:
Therefore: Heb. עַל-כֵּן, here meaning מִפְּנֵי כֵן, [i.e.,] “because of this,” or“therefore.” על כן: מפני כן:
saying: I offer you advice for your own good. — [Sifrei] לאמר: עצה לטובתך אני משיאך:
[You shall surely open your hand] to your brother, to your poor one:To which brother? To your poor one. לאחיך לעניך: לאיזה אח, לעני:
to your poor one: Heb. לַעֲנִיֶּךָ, [spelled] with one“yud,” [singular form,] means one poor person, but עֲנִיֶּיךָ with two “yud”s [the second “yud” denoting the plural form,] means two poor people. [Here, since it is written with one “yud,” meaning one poor person, thus modifying אָחִיךָ, your brother, which is in the singular]. See Yosef Hallel, Leket Bahir, Chavel. לעניך: ביו"ד אחד, לשון עני אחד הוא. אבל ענייך בשני יודי"ן, שני עניים:
12If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you for six years, and in the seventh year you shall send him forth free from you. יבכִּֽי־יִמָּכֵ֨ר לְךָ֜ אָחִ֣יךָ הָֽעִבְרִ֗י א֚וֹ הָֽעִבְרִיָּ֔ה וַֽעֲבָֽדְךָ֖ שֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֑ים וּבַשָּׁנָה֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ת תְּשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ חָפְשִׁ֖י מֵֽעִמָּֽךְ:
If [your brother…] is sold to you: By others [but not one who sells himself because of poverty]. Scripture is speaking here of one whom the court sold [for a theft that he had committed]. But has it not already been stated, “If you buy a Hebrew servant” (Exod. 21:2) and there, too, Scripture is referring to one whom the court sold (Mechilta)? Nevertheless, [it is repeated here] because of two points which are new here: The first is that it is written [here] “or a Hebrew woman,” that she, too, [like a manservant,] goes free at the end of six [years]. This does not mean a woman whom the court has sold, for a woman is not sold [by the court] on account of a theft, since it is stated [that the thief will be sold] “for his theft” (Exod. 22:2), not for her theft. Thus, [we are referring here to] a minor whom her father sold [as a handmaid], and it teaches you here that if six years terminate before she shows signs [of puberty], she goes free (Exod. 21:7-11). The second new point here is:“You shall surely provide him.” כי ימכר לך: על ידי אחרים, שמכרוהו בית דין בגנבתו הכתוב מדבר. והרי כבר נאמר (שמות כא, ב) כי תקנה עבד עברי, ובמכרוהו בית דין הכתוב מדבר. אלא מפני שני דברים שנתחדשו כאן. אחד שכתוב או העבריה, אף היא תצא בשש. ולא שמכרוה בית דין, שאין האשה נמכרת בגנבתה, שנאמר בגנבתו ולא בגנבתה, אלא בקטנה שמכרה אביה, ולמד כאן שאם יצאו שש שנים קודם שתביא סימנין תצא. ועוד חידש כאן (פסוק יד) העניק תעניק:
13And when you send him forth free from you, you shall not send him forth empty-handed. יגוְכִֽי־תְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ חָפְשִׁ֖י מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ לֹ֥א תְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ רֵיקָֽם:
14You shall surely provide him from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your vat, you shall give him from what the Lord, your God, has blessed you ידהַֽעֲנֵ֤יק תַּֽעֲנִיק֙ ל֔וֹ מִצֹּ֣אנְךָ֔ וּמִגָּרְנְךָ֖ וּמִיִּקְבֶ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֧ר בֵּֽרַכְךָ֛ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ תִּתֶּן־לֽוֹ:
You shall surely provide him: Heb. הַעֲנֵיק תַּעֲנִיק. [The root ענק] denotes an ornament worn high [on the upper portion of the body] within view of the eye. [Thus, this verse means that you should give him] something through which it will be recognized that you have benefited him. Others explain [the word הַעֲנֵיק] as an expression of loading on his neck [meaning that you should load him with gifts]. העניק תעניק: לשון עדי בגובה ובמראית העין, שיהא ניכר שהטיבות לו. ויש מפרשים לשון הטענה על צוארו:
[You shall surely provide him] from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your vat: One might think that I must [give him] only these things [listed in the verse here]. Therefore, Scripture states,“from what the Lord, your God, has blessed you,” meaning, from everything with which your Creator has blessed you. Then why are these mentioned? Just as these particular things are within the realm of blessing, so too, you should provide him only with what falls within the realm of blessing. This [therefore] excludes mules, [which are sterile, and are thus not considered within the realm of blessing] (Kid. 17a). In tractate Kiddushin (17a)our Rabbis derived by means of a gezerah shavah how much one must give the servant of each kind. מצאנך ומגרנך ומיקבך: יכול אין לי אלא אלו בלבד, תלמוד לומר אשר ברכך, מכל מה שברכך בוראך. ולמה נאמרו אלו, מה אלו מיוחדים שהם בכלל ברכה אף כל שהוא בכלל ברכה, יצאו פרדות. ולמדו רבותינו במסכת קידושין (יז א) בגזרה שוה כמה נותן לו מכל מין ומין:
15And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord, your God, redeemed you; therefore, I am commanding you this thing today. טווְזָֽכַרְתָּ֗ כִּ֣י עֶ֤בֶד הָיִ֨יתָ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּפְדְּךָ֖ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ עַל־כֵּ֞ן אָֽנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה הַיּֽוֹם:
And you shall remember that you were a slave [in the land of Egypt]:And I loaded you up [with booty], and then did so a second time, from the spoil of Egypt and from the spoil at the Sea [of Reeds]; so too should you load him up, and then do so a second time. — [Sifrei] וזכרת כי עבד היית: והענקתי ושניתי לך מביזת מצרים וביזת הים, אף אתה הענק ושנה לו:
16And it will be, if he says to you, "I will not leave you," because he loves you and your household, for it is good for him with you, טזוְהָיָה֙ כִּֽי־יֹאמַ֣ר אֵלֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ כִּ֤י אֲהֵֽבְךָ֙ וְאֶת־בֵּיתֶ֔ךָ כִּי־ט֥וֹב ל֖וֹ עִמָּֽךְ:
17Then you shall take an awl and put it through his ear and into the door, and he shall be a servant to you forever; and also to your maidservant you shall do likewise. יזוְלָֽקַחְתָּ֣ אֶת־הַמַּרְצֵ֗עַ וְנָֽתַתָּ֤ה בְאָזְנוֹ֙ וּבַדֶּ֔לֶת וְהָיָ֥ה לְךָ֖ עֶ֣בֶד עוֹלָ֑ם וְאַ֥ף לַֽאֲמָֽתְךָ֖ תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־כֵּֽן:
[And he shall be] a servant [to you] forever: Heb. לְעוֹלָם. One might think that [לְעוֹלָם, “forever”] is to be interpreted literally. Therefore, Scripture states:“[And you shall sanctify the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It will be a Jubilee for you;] and you shall return, every man to his property, and you shall return, every man to his family” (Lev. 25:10). Consequently, you learn that the term לְעוֹלָם here can mean only the period until the Jubilee. [This period is also called לְעוֹלָם.]- [Mechilta 21:6] עבד עולם: יכול כמשמעו, תלמוד לומר (ויקרא כה, י) ושבתם איש אל אחזתו ואיש אל משפחתו תשובו, הא למדת שאין זה, אלא עולמו של יובל:
and also to your maidservant you will do likewise: to provide her. One might think that Scripture includes her concerning the piercing [of the ear] as well. Therefore, it states,“And if the manservant (הָעֶבֶד) will clearly say, [I love my master…then…his master shall bore his ear with an awl]” (Exod. 21:5-6); [i.e.,] a manservant (עֶבֶד) must have his ear pierced, but not a maidservant. — [Sifrei] ואף לאמתך תעשה כן: הענק לה. יכול אף לרציעה השוה הכתוב אותה, תלמוד לומר (שמות כא, ה) ואם אמור יאמר העבד, עבד נרצע, ואין אמה נרצעת:
18You shall not be troubled when you send him free from you, for twice as much as a hired servant, he has served you six years, and the Lord, your God, will bless you in all that you shall do. יחלֹֽא־יִקְשֶׁ֣ה בְעֵינֶ֗ךָ בְּשַׁלֵּֽחֲךָ֙ אֹת֤וֹ חָפְשִׁי֙ מֵֽעִמָּ֔ךְ כִּ֗י מִשְׁנֶה֙ שְׂכַ֣ר שָׂכִ֔יר עֲבָֽדְךָ֖ שֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֑ים וּבֵֽרַכְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּֽעֲשֶֽׂה:
for twice as much as a hired servant: From here our Rabbis said: A Hebrew slave serves both by day and by night, and that is double the amount of labor of a man hired only for day work. And what is his service during the night? That his master gives him a Canaanite maidservant [as a wife], and the [resultant] children [belong] to the master. — [Sifrei , Kid. 15a] כי משנה שכר שכיר: מכאן אמרו עבד עברי עובד בין ביום ובין בלילה. וזהו כפלים שבעבודת שכירי יום. ומהו עבודתו בלילה, רבו מוסר לו שפחה כנענית והולדות לאדון:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 140 - 144
• Chapter 140
David composed this psalm against his slanderers, especially the chief conspirator Doeg. Anyone confronted by slanderers should recite this psalm.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. Rescue me from the evil man, protect me from the man of violence,
3. who devise evil schemes in their heart; every day they gather for wars.
4. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the spider's venom is forever under their lips.
5. Guard me, Lord, from the hands of the wicked, protect me from the man of violence-those who plot to cause my steps to slip.
6. Arrogant ones have hidden a snare for me, and ropes; they spread a net by my path, they set traps for me continually.
7. I said to the Lord, "You are my God!" Listen, O Lord, to the voice of my pleas.
8. God, my Lord, the strength of my deliverance, You sheltered my head on the day of armed battle.
9. Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; fulfill not his scheme, make it unattainable forever.
10. As for the head of my besiegers, let the deceit of their own lips bury them.
11. Let burning coals fall upon them; let it cast them down into the fire, into deep pits, never to rise again.
12. Let not the slanderous man be established in the land; let the evil of the man of violence trap him until he is overthrown.
13. I know that the Lord will execute judgement for the poor, justice for the needy.
14. Indeed, the righteous will extol Your Name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.
Chapter 141
This psalm teaches an important lesson: One should pray for Divine assistance that his mouth not speak that which is not in his heart. The gatekeeper only allows the gate to be opened for a purpose; let it be the same with one's lips.
1. A psalm by David. O Lord, I have called You, hasten to me; listen to my voice when I call to You.
2. Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You, the raising of my hands as an afternoon offering.
3. O Lord, place a guard for my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips.
4. Do not incline my heart to a bad thing-to perform deeds in wickedness, with men, doers of evil; let me not partake of their delicacies.
5. Let the righteous one strike me with kindness and let him rebuke me; like the finest oil, let my head not refuse it. For as long [as I live], my prayer is [to preserve me] from their harm.
6. For their judges have slipped because of their [hearts of] rock, though they heard my words and they were pleasant.
7. As one who chops and splinters [wood] on the ground, so have our bones been scattered to the mouth of the grave.
8. For to You, God, my Lord, are my eyes; in You I take shelter; do not pour out my soul.
9. Protect me from the hands of the snare they laid for me, and from the traps of the evildoers.
10. Let the wicked fall into their own nets together, until I pass over.
Chapter 142
David composed this psalm while hiding from Saul in a cave, at which time he had cut off the corner of Saul's garment (to prove that he was able to kill him but did not wish to do so). He declared, "Where can I turn, and where can I run? All I have is to cry out to You!"
1. A maskil1 by David, when he was in the cave, a prayer.
2. With my voice I will cry out to the Lord; with my voice I will call to the Lord in supplication.
3. I will pour out my plea before Him; I will declare my distress in His presence.
4. When my spirit is faint within me, You know my path. In the way in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.
5. Look to my right and see, there is none that will know me; every escape is lost to me. No man cares for my soul.
6. I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
7. Listen to my song of prayer, for I have been brought very low. Deliver me from my pursuers, for they are too mighty for me.
8. Release my soul from confinement, so that it may acknowledge Your Name. Because of me, the righteous will crown [You] when You will deal graciously with me.
FOOTNOTES
1.A psalm intended to enlighten and impart knowledge(Metzudot).
Chapter 143
1. A psalm by David. O Lord, hear my prayer, lend Your ear to my supplications. With Your faithfulness answer me, and with Your righteousness.
2. Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no living being would be vindicated before You.
3. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has set me down in dark places, like those who are eternally dead.
4. Then my spirit became faint within me; my heart was dismayed within me.
5. I remembered the days of old; I meditated on all Your deeds; I spoke of Your handiwork.
6. I spread out my hands to You; like a languishing land my soul yearns after You, Selah.
7. Answer me soon, O Lord, my spirit is spent; hide not Your face from me, lest I become like those who descend into the pit.
8. Let me hear Your kindness in the morning, for have I trusted in You. Let me know the way in which I should walk, for to You I have lifted my soul.
9. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord. I have concealed [my troubles from all, save] You.
10. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good spirit lead me in an even path.
11. For the sake of Your Name, O Lord, give me life; in Your righteousness, take my soul out of distress.
12. And in Your kindness, cut off my enemies and obliterate all those who oppress my soul, for I am Your servant.
Chapter 144
After triumphing in all his wars, David composed this psalm in praise of God.
1. By David. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, Who trains my hands for battle and my fingers for war.
2. My source of kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my rescuer, my shield, in Whom I take refuge; it is He Who makes my people submit to me.
3. O Lord, what is man that You have recognized him; the son of a mortal, that You are mindful of him?
4. Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
5. O Lord, incline Your heavens and descend; touch the mountains and they will become vapor.
6. Flash one bolt of lightning and You will scatter them; send out Your arrows and You will confound them.
7. Stretch forth Your hands from on high, rescue me and deliver me out of many waters, from the hand of strangers,
8. whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9. God, I will sing a new song to You, I will play to You upon a harp of ten strings.
10. He who gives victory to kings, He will rescue David, His servant, from the evil sword.
11. Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of strangers, whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12. For our sons are like plants, brought up to manliness in their youth; our daughters are like cornerstones, fashioned after the fashion of a palace.
13. Our storehouses are full, overflowing with all manner of food; our sheep increase by the thousands, growing by the tens of thousands in our open fields.
14. Our leaders bear the heaviest burden; there is none who break through, nor is there bad report, nor outcry in our streets.
15. Happy is the nation for whom this is so. Happy is that nation whose God is the Lord.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 9
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Friday, 29 AV , 5776 · 2 September 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 9
• על כן אהוביי אחיי
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Re'eh, 6th Portion Deuteronomy 15:1-15:18 with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 15
1At the end of seven years you will make a release. אמִקֵּ֥ץ שֶֽׁבַע־שָׁנִ֖ים תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה שְׁמִטָּֽה:
At the end of seven years [you shall make a release]: One might think that this means seven years [starting from the transaction] of each loan. Scripture, therefore, states, “The seventh year [i.e., the year of release] has approached…” (verse 9). But if you say [that] “seven years” [means] for each loan, after each individual loan, how has it approached? [No loan was yet transacted.] Consequently, you learn [that Scripture means] seven years according to the counting of the Shemitha [cycle]. — [Sifrei] מקץ שבע שנים: יכול שבע שנים לכל מלוה ומלוה, תלמוד לומר (פסוק ט) קרבה שנת השבע. ואם אתה אומר שבע שנים לכל מלוה ומלוה להלואת כל אחד ואחד, היאך היא קרבה, הא למדת שבע שנים למנין השמיטות:
2And this is the manner of the release; to release the hand of every creditor from what he lent his friend; he shall not exact from his friend or his brother, because time of the release for the Lord has arrived. בוְזֶה֘ דְּבַ֣ר הַשְּׁמִטָּה֒ שָׁמ֗וֹט כָּל־בַּ֨עַל֙ מַשֵּׁ֣ה יָד֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַשֶּׁ֖ה בְּרֵעֵ֑הוּ לֹֽא־יִגֹּ֤שׂ אֶת־רֵעֵ֨הוּ֙ וְאֶת־אָחִ֔יו כִּֽי־קָרָ֥א שְׁמִטָּ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
to release the hand of every creditor: Heb. שָׁמוֹט כָּל-בַּעַל מַשֵּׁה יָדוֹ, [lit. to release every master the loan of his hand, which makes no sense. Therefore, Rashi interprets the verse to mean] to release the hand of every creditor [from reclaiming the loan]. שמוט כל בעל משה ידו: שמוט את ידו של כל בעל משה:
3From the foreigner you may exact; but what is yours with your brother, your hand shall release. גאֶת־הַנָּכְרִ֖י תִּגֹּ֑שׂ וַֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ אֶת־אָחִ֖יךָ תַּשְׁמֵ֥ט יָדֶֽךָ:
From the foreigner you may exact: This is a positive command (See Ramban.). - [Sifrei] את הנכרי תיגוש: זו מצות עשה:
4However, there will be no needy among you, for the Lord will surely bless you in the land the Lord, your God, is giving you for an inheritance to possess. דאֶ֕פֶס כִּ֛י לֹ֥א יִֽהְיֶה־בְּךָ֖ אֶבְי֑וֹן כִּֽי־בָרֵ֤ךְ יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵֽן־לְךָ֥ נַֽחֲלָ֖ה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:
However, there will be no needy among you: But further on it says,“For there will never cease to be needy [within the land]” (verse 11). [These two verses seem to contradict each other. However, the explanation is:] When you perform the will of the Omnipresent, there will be needy among others but not among you. If, however, you do not perform the will of the Omnipresent, there will be needy among you. - [Sifrei] אפס כי לא יהיה בך אביון: ולהלן הוא אומר (פסוק יא) כי לא יחדל אביון, אלא בזמן שאתם עושים רצונו של מקום, אביונים באחרים ולא בכם, וכשאין אתם עושים רצונו של מקום אביונים בכם:
needy: Heb. אֶבְיוֹן, [denoting someone who is] poorer than an ע ָנִי. The term אֶבְיוֹן means“to yearn for” (תָּאֵב) , i.e., one who yearns for everything [because he has nothing]. — [Vayikra Rabbah 34:6, see B.M. 111b] אביון: דל מעני, ולשון אביון שהוא תאב לכל דבר:
5However, if you hearken to the voice of the Lord, your God, to be careful to do all this commandment, which I am commanding you today. הרַ֚ק אִם־שָׁמ֣וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַ֔ע בְּק֖וֹל יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֤ר לַֽעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָֽנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּֽוֹם:
However, if you hearken [to the voice of the Lord, your God]: then “there will be no needy among you” (verse 4). רק אם שמוע תשמע: אז לא יהיה בך אביון:
you hearken: Heb. שָׁמֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע. [The repetition of the verb form suggests:] If one listens a little, he will be granted the opportunity to listen much [i.e., he will be taught much Torah as a reward]. — [Sifrei] שמוע תשמע: שמע קמעא משמיעין אותו הרבה:
6For the Lord, your God, has blessed you, as He spoke to you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you. וכִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ בֵּֽרַכְךָ֔ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּר־לָ֑ךְ וְהַֽעֲבַטְתָּ֞ גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֗ים וְאַתָּה֙ לֹ֣א תַֽעֲבֹ֔ט וּמָֽשַׁלְתָּ֙ בְּגוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֔ים וּבְךָ֖ לֹ֥א יִמְשֹֽׁלוּ:
[For the Lord, your God, has blessed you,] as He has spoken to you:And where did He speak about this?“Blessed are you in the city…” (Deut. 28:3). - [Sifrei] כאשר דבר לך: והיכן דבר, (דברים כח, ג) ברוך אתה בעיר:
and you will lend: Heb. וְהַעֲבַטְתָּ. Whenever an expression denoting lending refers to a lender [of money], it adopts the hiph’il [causative] form. For example, וְהִלְוִיתָ, or וְהַעֲבַטְתָּ, you will lend. However, if it would have said וְעָבַטְתָּ,[in the kal, simple conjugation,] it would be referring to the borrower, like וְלָוִיתָ, you will borrow . והעבטת: כל לשון הלואה כשנופל על המלוה, נופל בלשון מפעיל. כגון והלוית, והעבטת. ואם היה אומר ועבטת היה נופל על הלוה, כמו ולוית:
and you will lend to [many] nations: One might think that you will borrow from this one and lend that one. Therefore, Scripture states, “but you will not borrow.” והעבטת גוים: יכול שתהא לוה מזה ומלוה לזה, תלמוד לומר ואתה לא תעבוט:
and you will rule over many nations: One might think that [at the same time] other nations will rule over you. Therefore, Scripture states, “but they will not rule over you.” - [Sifrei] ומשלת בגוים רבים: יכול גוים אחרים מושלים עליך, תלמוד לומר ובך לא ימשולו:
7If there will be among you a needy person, from one of your brothers in one of your cities, in your land the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, and you shall not close your hand from your needy brother. זכִּי־יִֽהְיֶה֩ בְךָ֨ אֶבְי֜וֹן מֵֽאַחַ֤ד אַחֶ֨יךָ֙ בְּאַחַ֣ד שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ בְּאַ֨רְצְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֣ן לָ֑ךְ לֹ֧א תְאַמֵּ֣ץ אֶת־לְבָֽבְךָ֗ וְלֹ֤א תִקְפֹּץ֙ אֶת־יָ֣דְךָ֔ מֵֽאָחִ֖יךָ הָֽאֶבְיֽוֹן:
If there will be among you a needy person: The most needy person has priority. - [Sifrei] כי יהיה בך אביון: התאב תאב קודם:
from one of your brothers: Your brother on your father’s side has priority over your brother on your mother’s side. — [Sifrei] מאחד אחיך: אחיך מאביך, קודם לאחיך מאמך:
[in one of] your cities: The poor of your city have priority over the poor of another city. - [Sifrei] שעריך: עניי עירך קודמים לעניי עיר אחרת:
you shall not harden [your heart]: Some people suffer [as they deliberate] whether they should give [to the needy] or they should not give; therefore it says: “you shall not harden [your heart].” Some people stretch out their hand [to give], but then close it; therefore it says: “nor close your hand.” - [Sifrei] לא תאמץ: יש לך אדם שמצטער אם יתן אם לא יתן, לכך נאמר לא תאמץ. יש לך אדם שפושט את ידו וקופצה, לכך נאמר ולא תקפוץ:
[nor close your hand] from your needy brother: If you do not give him, you will ultimately become a“brother of the needy” [i.e., becoming needy yourself]. — [Sifrei] מאחיך האביון: אם לא תתן לו, סופך להיות אחיו של אביון [בעניות]:
8Rather, you shall open your hand to him, and you shall lend him sufficient for his needs, which he is lacking. חכִּֽי־פָתֹ֧חַ תִּפְתַּ֛ח אֶת־יָֽדְךָ֖ ל֑וֹ וְהַֽעֲבֵט֙ תַּֽעֲבִיטֶ֔נּוּ דֵּ֚י מַחְסֹר֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֶחְסַ֖ר לֽוֹ:
[Rather] you shall open [your hand]: Even many times. פתח תפתח: אפילו כמה פעמים:
[Rather] you shall open [your hand]: Heb. כִּי-פָתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח. Here, the word כִּי has the meaning of “rather” [whereas in verse 7 it means “if,” and in verse 10, “because”]. כי פתח תפתח: הרי כי משמש בלשון אלא:
and you shall lend: If he does not want [your money] as a [charitable] gift, give it to him as a loan. — [Sifrei ; Keth. 67b] והעבט תעביטנו: אם לא רצה במתנה, תן לו בהלואה:
[lend him] sufficient for his needs: However, you are not commanded to make him wealthy. — [Sifrei] די מחסורו: ואי אתה מצווה להעשירו:
[sufficient for his needs,] what he is lacking: Even a horse to ride on and a servant to run before him [if he is accustomed to this type of lifestyle]. - [Sifrei; Keth. 67b] אשר יחסר לו: אפילו סוס לרכוב עליו ועבד לרוץ לפניו:
he [is lacking]: Heb. יֶחְסַר לוֹ, lit. what is lacking for him. This refers to a wife [i.e., you should help him marry a wife]. Similarly, it is stated: “I shall make for him (לוֹ) a helpmate opposite him” (Gen. 2:18). - [Keth. 66b] לו: זו אשה. וכן הוא אומר (בראשית ב, יח) אעשה לו עזר כנגדו:
9Beware, lest there be in your heart an unfaithful thought, saying, "The seventh year, the year of release has approached," and you will begrudge your needy brother and not give him, and he will cry out to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin to you. טהִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֡ פֶּן־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה דָבָר֩ עִם־לְבָבְךָ֨ בְלִיַּ֜עַל לֵאמֹ֗ר קָֽרְבָ֣ה שְׁנַת־הַשֶּׁ֘בַע֘ שְׁנַ֣ת הַשְּׁמִטָּה֒ וְרָעָ֣ה עֵֽינְךָ֗ בְּאָחִ֨יךָ֙ הָֽאֶבְי֔וֹן וְלֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן ל֑וֹ וְקָרָ֤א עָלֶ֨יךָ֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהָיָ֥ה בְךָ֖ חֵֽטְא:
and he will cry out [to the Lord] against you: One might think this is a requirement [namely, that this poor man is obliged to “cry out… against you”]. Therefore, Scripture says, “[On his day you shall give him his payment…] so that he will not cry against you [to the Lord]” (Deut. 24:15). - [Sifrei 15:138] וקרא עליך: יכול מצוה, תלמוד לומר (דברים כד, טו) ולא יקרא:
and it will be a sin to you: in any case, even if he does not cry [against you]. If so, why does it say,“and he will cry out… against you?” [It means that God says:] I hasten to punish in response to the one who cries out more than to the one who does not cry out. — [Sifrei] והיה בך חטא: מכל מקום, אפילו לא יקרא. אם כן למה נאמר וקרא עליך, ממהר אני ליפרע על ידי הקורא יותר ממי שאינו קורא:
10You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; for because of this thing the Lord, your God, will bless you in all your work and in all your endeavors. ינָת֤וֹן תִּתֵּן֙ ל֔וֹ וְלֹֽא־יֵרַ֥ע לְבָֽבְךָ֖ בְּתִתְּךָ֣ ל֑וֹ כִּ֞י בִּגְלַ֣ל | הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכָל־מַֽעֲשֶׂ֔ךָ וּבְכֹ֖ל מִשְׁלַ֥ח יָדֶֽךָ:
You shall surely give him: Even a hundred times. — [Sifrei] נתון תתן לו: אפילו מאה פעמים:
him: [meaning] between him and you [i.e., privately]. - [Sifrei] לו: בינו ובינך:
for because of this thing: Heb. דָּבָר, lit. word. Even if you said [i.e., gave him your“word”] that you would give, you will receive a reward for the saying along with the reward for the deed. — [Sifrei] כי בגלל הדבר: אפילו אמרת ליתן, אתה נוטל שכר האמירה עם שכר המעשה:
11For there will never cease to be needy within the land. Therefore, I command you, saying, you shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your poor one, and to your needy one in your land. יאכִּ֛י לֹֽא־יֶחְדַּ֥ל אֶבְי֖וֹן מִקֶּ֣רֶב הָאָ֑רֶץ עַל־כֵּ֞ן אָֽנֹכִ֤י מְצַוְּךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר פָּ֠תֹ֠חַ תִּפְתַּ֨ח אֶת־יָֽדְךָ֜ לְאָחִ֧יךָ לַּֽעֲנִיֶּ֛ךָ וּלְאֶבְיֹֽנְךָ֖ בְּאַרְצֶֽךָ:
Therefore: Heb. עַל-כֵּן, here meaning מִפְּנֵי כֵן, [i.e.,] “because of this,” or“therefore.” על כן: מפני כן:
saying: I offer you advice for your own good. — [Sifrei] לאמר: עצה לטובתך אני משיאך:
[You shall surely open your hand] to your brother, to your poor one:To which brother? To your poor one. לאחיך לעניך: לאיזה אח, לעני:
to your poor one: Heb. לַעֲנִיֶּךָ, [spelled] with one“yud,” [singular form,] means one poor person, but עֲנִיֶּיךָ with two “yud”s [the second “yud” denoting the plural form,] means two poor people. [Here, since it is written with one “yud,” meaning one poor person, thus modifying אָחִיךָ, your brother, which is in the singular]. See Yosef Hallel, Leket Bahir, Chavel. לעניך: ביו"ד אחד, לשון עני אחד הוא. אבל ענייך בשני יודי"ן, שני עניים:
12If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you for six years, and in the seventh year you shall send him forth free from you. יבכִּֽי־יִמָּכֵ֨ר לְךָ֜ אָחִ֣יךָ הָֽעִבְרִ֗י א֚וֹ הָֽעִבְרִיָּ֔ה וַֽעֲבָֽדְךָ֖ שֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֑ים וּבַשָּׁנָה֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ת תְּשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ חָפְשִׁ֖י מֵֽעִמָּֽךְ:
If [your brother…] is sold to you: By others [but not one who sells himself because of poverty]. Scripture is speaking here of one whom the court sold [for a theft that he had committed]. But has it not already been stated, “If you buy a Hebrew servant” (Exod. 21:2) and there, too, Scripture is referring to one whom the court sold (Mechilta)? Nevertheless, [it is repeated here] because of two points which are new here: The first is that it is written [here] “or a Hebrew woman,” that she, too, [like a manservant,] goes free at the end of six [years]. This does not mean a woman whom the court has sold, for a woman is not sold [by the court] on account of a theft, since it is stated [that the thief will be sold] “for his theft” (Exod. 22:2), not for her theft. Thus, [we are referring here to] a minor whom her father sold [as a handmaid], and it teaches you here that if six years terminate before she shows signs [of puberty], she goes free (Exod. 21:7-11). The second new point here is:“You shall surely provide him.” כי ימכר לך: על ידי אחרים, שמכרוהו בית דין בגנבתו הכתוב מדבר. והרי כבר נאמר (שמות כא, ב) כי תקנה עבד עברי, ובמכרוהו בית דין הכתוב מדבר. אלא מפני שני דברים שנתחדשו כאן. אחד שכתוב או העבריה, אף היא תצא בשש. ולא שמכרוה בית דין, שאין האשה נמכרת בגנבתה, שנאמר בגנבתו ולא בגנבתה, אלא בקטנה שמכרה אביה, ולמד כאן שאם יצאו שש שנים קודם שתביא סימנין תצא. ועוד חידש כאן (פסוק יד) העניק תעניק:
13And when you send him forth free from you, you shall not send him forth empty-handed. יגוְכִֽי־תְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ חָפְשִׁ֖י מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ לֹ֥א תְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ רֵיקָֽם:
14You shall surely provide him from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your vat, you shall give him from what the Lord, your God, has blessed you ידהַֽעֲנֵ֤יק תַּֽעֲנִיק֙ ל֔וֹ מִצֹּ֣אנְךָ֔ וּמִגָּרְנְךָ֖ וּמִיִּקְבֶ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֧ר בֵּֽרַכְךָ֛ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ תִּתֶּן־לֽוֹ:
You shall surely provide him: Heb. הַעֲנֵיק תַּעֲנִיק. [The root ענק] denotes an ornament worn high [on the upper portion of the body] within view of the eye. [Thus, this verse means that you should give him] something through which it will be recognized that you have benefited him. Others explain [the word הַעֲנֵיק] as an expression of loading on his neck [meaning that you should load him with gifts]. העניק תעניק: לשון עדי בגובה ובמראית העין, שיהא ניכר שהטיבות לו. ויש מפרשים לשון הטענה על צוארו:
[You shall surely provide him] from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your vat: One might think that I must [give him] only these things [listed in the verse here]. Therefore, Scripture states,“from what the Lord, your God, has blessed you,” meaning, from everything with which your Creator has blessed you. Then why are these mentioned? Just as these particular things are within the realm of blessing, so too, you should provide him only with what falls within the realm of blessing. This [therefore] excludes mules, [which are sterile, and are thus not considered within the realm of blessing] (Kid. 17a). In tractate Kiddushin (17a)our Rabbis derived by means of a gezerah shavah how much one must give the servant of each kind. מצאנך ומגרנך ומיקבך: יכול אין לי אלא אלו בלבד, תלמוד לומר אשר ברכך, מכל מה שברכך בוראך. ולמה נאמרו אלו, מה אלו מיוחדים שהם בכלל ברכה אף כל שהוא בכלל ברכה, יצאו פרדות. ולמדו רבותינו במסכת קידושין (יז א) בגזרה שוה כמה נותן לו מכל מין ומין:
15And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord, your God, redeemed you; therefore, I am commanding you this thing today. טווְזָֽכַרְתָּ֗ כִּ֣י עֶ֤בֶד הָיִ֨יתָ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּפְדְּךָ֖ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ עַל־כֵּ֞ן אָֽנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה הַיּֽוֹם:
And you shall remember that you were a slave [in the land of Egypt]:And I loaded you up [with booty], and then did so a second time, from the spoil of Egypt and from the spoil at the Sea [of Reeds]; so too should you load him up, and then do so a second time. — [Sifrei] וזכרת כי עבד היית: והענקתי ושניתי לך מביזת מצרים וביזת הים, אף אתה הענק ושנה לו:
16And it will be, if he says to you, "I will not leave you," because he loves you and your household, for it is good for him with you, טזוְהָיָה֙ כִּֽי־יֹאמַ֣ר אֵלֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ כִּ֤י אֲהֵֽבְךָ֙ וְאֶת־בֵּיתֶ֔ךָ כִּי־ט֥וֹב ל֖וֹ עִמָּֽךְ:
17Then you shall take an awl and put it through his ear and into the door, and he shall be a servant to you forever; and also to your maidservant you shall do likewise. יזוְלָֽקַחְתָּ֣ אֶת־הַמַּרְצֵ֗עַ וְנָֽתַתָּ֤ה בְאָזְנוֹ֙ וּבַדֶּ֔לֶת וְהָיָ֥ה לְךָ֖ עֶ֣בֶד עוֹלָ֑ם וְאַ֥ף לַֽאֲמָֽתְךָ֖ תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־כֵּֽן:
[And he shall be] a servant [to you] forever: Heb. לְעוֹלָם. One might think that [לְעוֹלָם, “forever”] is to be interpreted literally. Therefore, Scripture states:“[And you shall sanctify the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It will be a Jubilee for you;] and you shall return, every man to his property, and you shall return, every man to his family” (Lev. 25:10). Consequently, you learn that the term לְעוֹלָם here can mean only the period until the Jubilee. [This period is also called לְעוֹלָם.]- [Mechilta 21:6] עבד עולם: יכול כמשמעו, תלמוד לומר (ויקרא כה, י) ושבתם איש אל אחזתו ואיש אל משפחתו תשובו, הא למדת שאין זה, אלא עולמו של יובל:
and also to your maidservant you will do likewise: to provide her. One might think that Scripture includes her concerning the piercing [of the ear] as well. Therefore, it states,“And if the manservant (הָעֶבֶד) will clearly say, [I love my master…then…his master shall bore his ear with an awl]” (Exod. 21:5-6); [i.e.,] a manservant (עֶבֶד) must have his ear pierced, but not a maidservant. — [Sifrei] ואף לאמתך תעשה כן: הענק לה. יכול אף לרציעה השוה הכתוב אותה, תלמוד לומר (שמות כא, ה) ואם אמור יאמר העבד, עבד נרצע, ואין אמה נרצעת:
18You shall not be troubled when you send him free from you, for twice as much as a hired servant, he has served you six years, and the Lord, your God, will bless you in all that you shall do. יחלֹֽא־יִקְשֶׁ֣ה בְעֵינֶ֗ךָ בְּשַׁלֵּֽחֲךָ֙ אֹת֤וֹ חָפְשִׁי֙ מֵֽעִמָּ֔ךְ כִּ֗י מִשְׁנֶה֙ שְׂכַ֣ר שָׂכִ֔יר עֲבָֽדְךָ֖ שֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֑ים וּבֵֽרַכְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּֽעֲשֶֽׂה:
for twice as much as a hired servant: From here our Rabbis said: A Hebrew slave serves both by day and by night, and that is double the amount of labor of a man hired only for day work. And what is his service during the night? That his master gives him a Canaanite maidservant [as a wife], and the [resultant] children [belong] to the master. — [Sifrei , Kid. 15a] כי משנה שכר שכיר: מכאן אמרו עבד עברי עובד בין ביום ובין בלילה. וזהו כפלים שבעבודת שכירי יום. ומהו עבודתו בלילה, רבו מוסר לו שפחה כנענית והולדות לאדון:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 140 - 144
• Chapter 140
David composed this psalm against his slanderers, especially the chief conspirator Doeg. Anyone confronted by slanderers should recite this psalm.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. Rescue me from the evil man, protect me from the man of violence,
3. who devise evil schemes in their heart; every day they gather for wars.
4. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the spider's venom is forever under their lips.
5. Guard me, Lord, from the hands of the wicked, protect me from the man of violence-those who plot to cause my steps to slip.
6. Arrogant ones have hidden a snare for me, and ropes; they spread a net by my path, they set traps for me continually.
7. I said to the Lord, "You are my God!" Listen, O Lord, to the voice of my pleas.
8. God, my Lord, the strength of my deliverance, You sheltered my head on the day of armed battle.
9. Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; fulfill not his scheme, make it unattainable forever.
10. As for the head of my besiegers, let the deceit of their own lips bury them.
11. Let burning coals fall upon them; let it cast them down into the fire, into deep pits, never to rise again.
12. Let not the slanderous man be established in the land; let the evil of the man of violence trap him until he is overthrown.
13. I know that the Lord will execute judgement for the poor, justice for the needy.
14. Indeed, the righteous will extol Your Name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.
Chapter 141
This psalm teaches an important lesson: One should pray for Divine assistance that his mouth not speak that which is not in his heart. The gatekeeper only allows the gate to be opened for a purpose; let it be the same with one's lips.
1. A psalm by David. O Lord, I have called You, hasten to me; listen to my voice when I call to You.
2. Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You, the raising of my hands as an afternoon offering.
3. O Lord, place a guard for my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips.
4. Do not incline my heart to a bad thing-to perform deeds in wickedness, with men, doers of evil; let me not partake of their delicacies.
5. Let the righteous one strike me with kindness and let him rebuke me; like the finest oil, let my head not refuse it. For as long [as I live], my prayer is [to preserve me] from their harm.
6. For their judges have slipped because of their [hearts of] rock, though they heard my words and they were pleasant.
7. As one who chops and splinters [wood] on the ground, so have our bones been scattered to the mouth of the grave.
8. For to You, God, my Lord, are my eyes; in You I take shelter; do not pour out my soul.
9. Protect me from the hands of the snare they laid for me, and from the traps of the evildoers.
10. Let the wicked fall into their own nets together, until I pass over.
Chapter 142
David composed this psalm while hiding from Saul in a cave, at which time he had cut off the corner of Saul's garment (to prove that he was able to kill him but did not wish to do so). He declared, "Where can I turn, and where can I run? All I have is to cry out to You!"
1. A maskil1 by David, when he was in the cave, a prayer.
2. With my voice I will cry out to the Lord; with my voice I will call to the Lord in supplication.
3. I will pour out my plea before Him; I will declare my distress in His presence.
4. When my spirit is faint within me, You know my path. In the way in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.
5. Look to my right and see, there is none that will know me; every escape is lost to me. No man cares for my soul.
6. I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
7. Listen to my song of prayer, for I have been brought very low. Deliver me from my pursuers, for they are too mighty for me.
8. Release my soul from confinement, so that it may acknowledge Your Name. Because of me, the righteous will crown [You] when You will deal graciously with me.
FOOTNOTES
1.A psalm intended to enlighten and impart knowledge(Metzudot).
Chapter 143
1. A psalm by David. O Lord, hear my prayer, lend Your ear to my supplications. With Your faithfulness answer me, and with Your righteousness.
2. Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no living being would be vindicated before You.
3. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has set me down in dark places, like those who are eternally dead.
4. Then my spirit became faint within me; my heart was dismayed within me.
5. I remembered the days of old; I meditated on all Your deeds; I spoke of Your handiwork.
6. I spread out my hands to You; like a languishing land my soul yearns after You, Selah.
7. Answer me soon, O Lord, my spirit is spent; hide not Your face from me, lest I become like those who descend into the pit.
8. Let me hear Your kindness in the morning, for have I trusted in You. Let me know the way in which I should walk, for to You I have lifted my soul.
9. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord. I have concealed [my troubles from all, save] You.
10. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good spirit lead me in an even path.
11. For the sake of Your Name, O Lord, give me life; in Your righteousness, take my soul out of distress.
12. And in Your kindness, cut off my enemies and obliterate all those who oppress my soul, for I am Your servant.
Chapter 144
After triumphing in all his wars, David composed this psalm in praise of God.
1. By David. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, Who trains my hands for battle and my fingers for war.
2. My source of kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my rescuer, my shield, in Whom I take refuge; it is He Who makes my people submit to me.
3. O Lord, what is man that You have recognized him; the son of a mortal, that You are mindful of him?
4. Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
5. O Lord, incline Your heavens and descend; touch the mountains and they will become vapor.
6. Flash one bolt of lightning and You will scatter them; send out Your arrows and You will confound them.
7. Stretch forth Your hands from on high, rescue me and deliver me out of many waters, from the hand of strangers,
8. whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9. God, I will sing a new song to You, I will play to You upon a harp of ten strings.
10. He who gives victory to kings, He will rescue David, His servant, from the evil sword.
11. Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of strangers, whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12. For our sons are like plants, brought up to manliness in their youth; our daughters are like cornerstones, fashioned after the fashion of a palace.
13. Our storehouses are full, overflowing with all manner of food; our sheep increase by the thousands, growing by the tens of thousands in our open fields.
14. Our leaders bear the heaviest burden; there is none who break through, nor is there bad report, nor outcry in our streets.
15. Happy is the nation for whom this is so. Happy is that nation whose God is the Lord.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 9
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Friday, 29 AV , 5776 · 2 September 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 9
• על כן אהוביי אחיי
Therefore, my beloved ones, my brethren:
שימו נא לבבכם לאלה הדברים הנאמרים בקצרה מאד
Direct your hearts to these words which are expressed very briefly,
ואם ירצה ה׳, פנים אל פנים אדבר בם בארוכה
(1and face to face, please G‑d, I will speak of them at length) —
איך היות כל עיקר עבודת ה׳ בעתים הללו, בעקבות משיחא, היא עבודת הצדקה
how in these times, when the approaching footsteps of Mashiach are close upon us, the principal service of G‑d is the service of charity.
כמו שאמרו רז״ל: אין ישראל נגאלין אלא בצדקה
As our Sages, of blessed memory, said:2 “Israel will be redeemed only through charity.”
ולא אמרו רז״ל: תלמוד תורה שקול כנגד גמילות חסדים
Our Sages, of blessed memory, did not say that the study of Torah is equivalent to the performance of acts of lovingkindness,
The Mishnah states in Peah:3 “The study of Torah is equivalent to them all,” i.e., to all the mitzvot previously enumerated in the Mishnah, and these include gemilut chassadim, the performance of acts of lovingkindness,
אלא בימיהם
except in their own days.
שתלמוד תורה היה עיקר העבודה אצלם, ועל כן היו חכמים גדולים, תנאים ואמוראים
For with them the principal area of divine service was the study of the Torah, which is why at that time there were great scholars: tannaim and amoraim.
מה שאין כן בעקבות משיחא
However, in a time when the approaching footsteps of Mashiach are close upon us,
שנפלה סוכת דוד עד בחינת רגלים ועקביים, שהיא בחינת עשיה
as “the Sukkah of David has fallen” to a level of “feet” and “heels”, i.e., to the level of Asiyah,
I.e., the Sefirah called Malchut of Atzilut, the Shechinah that vests itself in the lower Worlds of Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah— also known as the “Sukkah of David,” for David, as the King of Israel, was a merkavah to Malchut of Atzilut — has fallen to the lowest level of Asiyah.
אין דרך לדבקה בה באמת
there is no way of truly cleaving unto it, i.e., to the Shechinah,
ולהפכא חשוכא לנהורא דילה
and transforming the darkness of the world into its light,4
כי אם בבחינת עשיה גם כן
except through a corresponding category of action, and not through intellect and speech alone, as in Torah study,
שהיא מעשה הצדקה
namely, the act of charity.
But why is charity unique among all the many commandments that involve action?
כידוע למשכילים, שבחינת עשיה באלקות היא בחינת השפעת והמשכת החיות למטה מטה, למאן דלית ליה מגרמיה כלום
As is known to the scholarly, “action” with reference to Divinity is the diffusion and downward flow of vitality to the lowest depths — to him who has nothing of his own.
Among the currents of Divine influence that descend into the various worlds, there are those that are called “thought” and “speech”. The flow of vitality to the very lowest level — to the World of Asiyah, where G‑dliness is not at all manifest — is called “action”.
The act of giving tzedakah thus truly corresponds to the spiritual level of Asiyah, inasmuch as it too provides beneficence to one “who has nothing of his own.”
וכל הזובח את יצרו בזה
And whoever sacrifices his impulse in this respect, i.e., with respect to charity,
ופותח ידו ולבבו
and opens his hand and heart,
אתכפיא סטרא אחרא
[thereby] causes5 “the other [i.e., evil] side” of the universe to be subjugated,
ומהפך חשוכא לאור ה׳ יתברך, השוכן עלינו בבחינת עשיה בעקבות משיחא
and6 “converts the darkness into the light” of G‑d, blessed be He, Who, in the time when the footsteps ofMashiach are close upon us, dwells over us in a state of action;
ויזכה לראות עין בעין, בשוב ה׳ ציון כו׳
moreover, he will merit to7 “behold Eye to eye, G‑d returning to Zion....”
At that time the physical eye, though yet retaining its physicality, will behold G‑dliness as it is beheld by the Supernal Eye. Thus, within the physicality of the World of Asiyah, there will be revealed the level of certainty in spiritual perception which is called vision — a level that far surpasses the furthest attainments of the intellect.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Parentheses are in the original text. |
| 2. | Note of the Rebbe: “See Rambam, Hilchot Matnot Aniyim, beginning of ch. 10; quoted in Tur, Yoreh Deah, beginning of sec. 247. The above quotation does not refer to the similar teaching in the Talmud (Shabbat 139a; Sanhedrin 98a), for there the verb is נפדה [whereas our text reads נגאלין]. Very often, as is well known, the commentators {(the Radbaz and the Kesef Mishneh and the Glosses on the Tur) who give the teaching of Ulla in the Talmud (loc. cit.) as Rambam’s source} do not intend to quote the exact wording of a particular teaching, but rather to cite its content. See also the halachah that immediately follows this statement in the Rambam, and the above-named commentaries on it.“ As to Mesoret HaShas and the other authorities who argue that the Rambam had before him the text ‘Israel’ (in place of ‘Jerusalem’) in the Talmud, they speak only of the one word ‘Israel’, and such a variant reading is to be found elsewhere — in Ein Yaakov. A version that would include nigalin, however, I have yet to find in the Talmud or in Yalkut Shimoni. Moreover, it is more improbable to postulate that the Rambam had a variant reading that is not at all extant, than to assume that the Rambam is more explicit than the Talmud, for which reason he very understandably writes nigalin.” |
| 3. | 1:1. |
| 4. | V.L.: לנהורא דיליה (“to his light”). |
| 5. | Cf. Likkutei Amarim, Part I, ch. 27. |
| 6. | Cf. Likkutei Amarim, Part I, ch. 27. |
| 7. | Yeshayahu 52:8. |
• Rambam: Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Friday, 29 AV , 5776 · 2 September 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 200
Timely Remittance of Wages
"Give him his wage on the day it is due"—Deuteronomy 24:15.
We are commanded to pay a daily worker in a timely fashion, and not to delay payment. A day worker collects his wages on the night that follows, and a night worker collects his wages on the following day. This mitzvah applies to all workers—whether Jewish or gentile.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Timely Remittance of Wages
Positive Commandment 200
Translated by Berel Bell
The 200th mitzvah is that we are commanded to pay a hired worker on the day that he works, and not to delay it to another day.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "You must give him his wage on the day it is due."
This mitzvah dictates that a day worker can collect his wages the following night and that a night worker can collect his wages the following day, as explained in the prohibitions.2
The details of this mitzvah are completely explained in the 9th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia.3 There it is explained that this obligation applies to all hired workers, whether Jewish or non-Jewish,4 and that it is a positive commandment to pay on time.
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 24:15.
2.See N238 below.
3.110b.
4.I.e. a ger toshav, who has officially accepted upon himself to fulfill the Seven Noachide Commandments. See Kapach, 5731, note 28.
"The wages of a hired worker shall not be left with you overnight until the morning"—Leviticus 19:13.
It is forbidden to delay the timely payment of a hired worker. A day worker must be given his wages on the night that follows, and a night worker on the day that follows.
This prohibition applies only to a Jewish worker (as opposed to the positive commandment to pay in a timely fashion, which applies to both Jewish and non-Jewish workers).
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Friday, 29 AV , 5776 · 2 September 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 200
Timely Remittance of Wages
"Give him his wage on the day it is due"—Deuteronomy 24:15.
We are commanded to pay a daily worker in a timely fashion, and not to delay payment. A day worker collects his wages on the night that follows, and a night worker collects his wages on the following day. This mitzvah applies to all workers—whether Jewish or gentile.
Full text of this Mitzvah »• Timely Remittance of Wages
Positive Commandment 200
Translated by Berel Bell
The 200th mitzvah is that we are commanded to pay a hired worker on the day that he works, and not to delay it to another day.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "You must give him his wage on the day it is due."
This mitzvah dictates that a day worker can collect his wages the following night and that a night worker can collect his wages the following day, as explained in the prohibitions.2
The details of this mitzvah are completely explained in the 9th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia.3 There it is explained that this obligation applies to all hired workers, whether Jewish or non-Jewish,4 and that it is a positive commandment to pay on time.
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 24:15.
2.See N238 below.
3.110b.
4.I.e. a ger toshav, who has officially accepted upon himself to fulfill the Seven Noachide Commandments. See Kapach, 5731, note 28.
Negative Commandment 238
Postponing Payment for a Hired Worker"The wages of a hired worker shall not be left with you overnight until the morning"—Leviticus 19:13.
It is forbidden to delay the timely payment of a hired worker. A day worker must be given his wages on the night that follows, and a night worker on the day that follows.
This prohibition applies only to a Jewish worker (as opposed to the positive commandment to pay in a timely fashion, which applies to both Jewish and non-Jewish workers).
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Postponing Payment for a Hired Worker
Negative Commandment 238
Translated by Berel Bell
The 238th prohibition is that we are forbidden from withholding and delaying payment of a hired worker's wages.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "Do not let a worker's wages remain with you overnight until morning."
When does this verse apply? If he is a day worker he collects his wages the following night, as the verse says, "until morning." If he is a night worker he collects his wages during that night or the following day. He must receive his wages by the time the sun sets, as it is written,2 "You must give him his wage on the day it is due, and not let the sun set with him waiting for it."
In the words of the Mishneh3: "A day worker can collect his wages the following night and that a night worker can collect his wages the following day."
They4 do not count as two mitzvos, but are rather two prohibitive statements that complete one mitzvah, i.e. from these two prohibitive statements we know when he must be paid.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 9th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia. There it is explained that this prohibition applies only to a hired worker who is Jewish — that if one delays paying him, he transgresses the prohibition. However, if the worker is not Jewish,5 one violates only the positive commandment6 "You must give him his wage on the day it is due."
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 19:13.
2.Deut. 24:15.
3.Bava Metzia 9:11.
4.I.e. Lev. 19:13 and Deut. 24:15.
5.I.e. a ger toshav. See note to P200 above.
6.P200.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Tum'at Tsara`at Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 8
• Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 8
• Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 8
1
With regard to blemishes of the head and the chin, if the hair would fall out from its roots and leave a portion of skin bare of hair, it is called a netek. A netek may not be less than the size of agris that is square. This applies whether it appears deep or not. The term "deep" was mentioned with regard to a netek only to teach you: Just as a shade that is deep comes about through the hand of heaven, so too, a netek must come about through the hand of heaven. This excludes a blemish on a portion of the head or chin whose hair was removed by a person. Such a blemish is pure.
When a woman or a seris grow hair on their chins, they can contract the impurity of a netek if it falls off.
א
נגעי הראש והזקן הוא שיפול השיער שבהן מעיקרו וישאר מקום השיער פנוי וזה הוא הנקרא נתק ואין נתק פחות מכגריס המרובע בין שהיה מראהו עמוק בין שלא היה עמוק ולא נאמר עמוק בנתקין אלא לומר לך מה מראה עמוק בידי שמים אף נתק המטמא בידי שמים להוציא שנתקו אדם שהוא טהור והאשה והסריס שהעלה זקנם שיער הרי זה מיטמא בנתקים:
2
Netakim become impure due to two signs: short, golden hair and spreading. There is an isolation period of two weeks. All of this is explicitly stated in the Torah.
What is implied? When a netek appears on a man's head or in his beard, if it contains two or more short, gold hairs, and there is no black hair in the netek at all, he should be deemed definitively impure. If it did not contain any hair - neither black, nor golden - he should be isolated for a week. On the seventh day, a priest should examine him. If short golden hair emerged or the netek spread, the afflicted person should be deemed definitively as impure. If two black hairs emerged, he should be released from the inspection process.
If it neither spread and neither golden nor black hair emerged, the priest should shave around the netek, but not the hair directly adjacent to the netek and isolate him for a second week. The priest should examine him again at the end of the second week. If thenetek spread or short golden hair emerged, he should be deemed definitively as impure. If nothing changes, he is released from the inspection process. For netakim do not require isolation for more than two weeks. If golden hair appears or the netek expands after he was released, he is definitively categorized as impure.
ב
הנתקין מטמאין בשני סימנים בשער צהוב דק ובפשיון ויש בהן הסגר שני שבועות וכל זה מפורש בתורה כיצד מי שנולד לו נתק בראשו או בזקנו אם היו בו שתי שערות צהובות דקות ולא יותר ואין שם בנתק שיער שחור כלל יחליט לא היה בו שיער לא שחור ולא צהוב יסגיר שבוע אחד ובשביעי רואהו אם נולד בו שיער צהוב דק או שפשה הנתק יחליט נולדו בו ב' שערות שחורות יפטור אותו לא פשה ולא נולד בו שיער צהוב ולא שיער שחור יגלח סביבות הנתק ולא יגלח הנתק ויסגיר שבוע שני וחוזר ורואהו בסוף שבוע שני אם פשה הנתק או נולד בו שיער צהוב דק יחליט לא נולד בו כלום יפטור שאין הסגר בנתקין יתר על שני שבועות ואם אחר שפטרו נולד בו שיער צהוב או פשה יחליט:
3
How is the netek shaved? One shaves the area around it and leaves two hairs next to it on every side so that any spread will be noticeable.
This shaving is acceptable no matter which person performs it, as implied by Leviticus 13:33: "And he will be shaved." Similarly, the shaving may be performed with any instrument. Even if one is a nazirite, he should shave. If, however, he isolated him without shaving, the isolation is effective.
ג
כיצד מגלחין את הנתק מגלח חוצה לו ומניח שתי שערות סמוך לו כדי שיהיה ניכר הפשיון ותגלחתו כשירה בכל אדם שנאמר והתגלח וכן כשירה בכל דבר ואפילו היה נזיר ה"ז מגלח הסגירו ולא גילחו הרי זה מוסגר:
4
The golden hair mentioned by the Torah must have a golden hue. The term dak mentioned there implies that the hair must be short. If, however, they were long, even though they are of a golden hue, it is not a sign of impurity.
ד
שיער צהוב האמור בתורה הוא שיהיה כתבנית הזהב וזה שנאמר דק הוא שיהיה קצר אבל אם היה ארוך אף על פי שהוא צהוב כתבנית הזהב אינו סימן טומאה:
5
Two short golden hairs are a sign of impurity. Whether they are adjacent to each other or distant from each other, whether they are in the center of the netek or at its extremities, whether thenetek existed before the golden hair or the golden hair existed before the netek, they are a sign of impurity, provided they can be pulled out by tweezers, as explained with regard to white hair.
ה
שתי שערות הצהובות הדקות סימן טומאה בין שהיו זו בצד זו בין שהיו מרוחקות זו מזו בין שהיו באמצע הנתק בין שהיו בסוף הנתק בין שקדם הנתק את השיער הצהוב בין שקדם השיער הצהוב את הנתק הרי הוא סימן טומאה והוא שיהיו ניטלות בזוג כמו שביארנו בשיער הלבן:
6
For black hair to save a blemish from being considered anetek, there must be two hairs. They do not prevent that categorization unless they are long enough to be bent in half, with their point touching their base. If that criterion is met, their presence is significant whether they are adjacent to each other or distant from each other, provided they are in the center of the netekand there is enough empty skin for two hairs to grow between the two black hairs that are located in the netek and the hair that is outside it. If, however, the two hairs remain at the extremity of thenetek, they do not prevent it from being placed in that category.
How do they prevent the netek from being considered as tzara'at? If two black hairs remain in the netek, even though there are golden hairs in the netek or it spread, the person is pure. If the person was deemed definitively impure because of golden hair or the spreading of the netek and two black hairs grew in it, the netekis considered as pure and they counteract the spreading or the golden hair. This applies whether they grew in the middle of thenetek or at its extremities. For hair that grows prevents a netekfrom being considered as impure in every place within the netek, while hair that remains is effective only when it is two hairsbreadth away from healthy hair.
ו
השיער השחור המציל בנתקין אין פחות מב' שערות ואינן מצילות עד שיהיו אורכן כדי לכוף ראשן לעיקרן בין שהיו זו בצד זו בין שהיו מפוזרות והוא שיהיו באמצע הנתק וישאר מן הנתק פנוי בין השיער השחור שבתוכו ובין השיער שחוצה לו כדי צמיחת שתי שערות אבל אם נשארו השתי שערות השחורות בצד הנתק בסופו אינן מצילות כיצד מצילות שאם נשאר בתוך הנתק שתי שערות שחורות אע"פ שנולדה בנתק שיער צהוב דק או שפשה ה"ז טהור החליטו בשיער צהוב או בפשיון וצמח בנתק שתי שערות שחורות טהר הנתק ומצילות מיד הפשיון ומיד השיער הצהוב בין שצמחו באמצע הנתק בין שצמחו בסופו שהצומח מציל בכ"מ והנשאר אינו מציל עד שיהיה רחוק מן הקמה שתי שערות:
7
The fact that two hairs grow in a netek, one black and one white, or gold, or one long and one short, does not prevent anetek from being categorized as impure.
ז
שתי שערות שצמחו אחת שחורה ואחת לבנה או צהובה אחת ארוכה ואחת קצרה אינן מצילות:
8
The following rule applies when a netek was deemed definitively impure because of golden hair or spreading and then black hair grew in it and it was declared pure. Even though the black hair disappeared, the person is pure until other golden hair emerges or the netek spread further, as Leviticus 13:37 states: "The netek has been healed; he is pure." Since it was healed, he is pure, even though the original signs of impurity remain unchanged.
ח
נתק שהוחלט בשיער צהוב או בפשיון ונולד בו שיער שחור וטיהר אף על פי שהלך השיער השחור הרי זה טהור עד שיוולד בו שיער צהוב אחר או יפשה פשיון אחר מאחר שהלך השיער השחור שנאמר נרפא הנתק טהור הוא כיון שנתרפא טהור הוא אע"פ שסימני טומאה במקומן:
9
If a person was deemed definitively impure because of golden hair - whether he was categorized as such originally, after a week of isolation, after two weeks of isolation, or after he was released from the inspection process - and then the golden hair which caused him to be deemed impure disappeared, but other golden hair grew in that netek or the netek spread, the person is definitively impure, as he was before.
Similarly, if he was deemed impure because a netek spread - whether he was categorized as such after a week of isolation, after two weeks of isolation, or after he was released from the inspection process - and then the area to which the netek spread healed, but it spread elsewhere or golden hair grew in it, he remains definitively impure as he was. He remains in that state until no sign of impurity remains or two black hairs grow.
ט
החליטו בשיער צהוב בין שהחליטו בתחילה בין שהחליטו בסוף שבוע ראשון או בסוף שבוע שני או שהחליטו אחר הפיטור והלך השיער הצהוב ונולד בו שיער צהוב אחר או שנולד לו פשיון הרי זה מוחלט כשהיה וכן אם החליטו בפשיון בין בסוף שבוע ראשון או בסוף שבוע שני או אחר הפיטור והלך הפשיון וחזר פשיון אחר או שנולד לו שיער צהוב הרי זה מוחלט כשהיה עד שלא ישאר סימן טומאה או עד שיצמיח בו שתי שערות שחורות:
10
The following rules apply when there were two netakimnext to each other and a line of black hair dividing them. If the line of black hair was broken and the netek covered it in one place, the original situation prevails, for the black hair that remains is still at the side of the netakim. If the netek broke through the line of hair in two places, he is pure, because the remainder of the line is now in the middle of the netek.
How large must the break between them be? No less than a space sufficient for two hairs to grow. If there was a break in one place the size of a gris, the person is impure, because the break itself is considered as another netek, because the black hair is at its side and not in its midst.
The following rules apply when there is a netek that is surrounded by black hair and there is another netek surrounding the black hair. If the hair between them is broken through in one place, the person is impure. The rationale is that the inner netek is not saved, because the black hair is at its side, not in its midst. If the hair was broken through in two places, he is pure, even if the broken space is a gris in size. The rationale is that the inner netek and the outernetek became a single entity with black hair in the middle. This applies provided the open space is large enough for two hairs to grow or larger.
י
שני נתקים זה בצד זה ושטה של שיער שחור מפסקת ביניהן ונפרץ השיער השחור (ונתק) ממקום אחד הרי הוא כמות שהיה שהשיער השחור הנשאר ביניהן הרי הוא בצד הנתק נפרצה השטה משני מקומות טהור שהרי הנשאר מן השטה באמצע הנתק וכמה יהיה בכל פרצה מהן אין פחות ממקום צמיחת שתי שערות ואם היתה פרצה ממקום אחד כגריס ה"ז טמא שהפרצה עצמה נתק אחר והרי שיער שחור בצידו ואינו כנוס לתוכו נתק שהשיער השחור מקיפו ונתק אחר מקיף את השיער השחור נפרץ השיער שביניהן ממקום אחד טמא שהנתק הפנימי לא ניצל שהרי השיער השחור בצידו לא בתוכו נפרץ השיער משני מקומות טהור ואפילו היתה פרצה כגריס שהרי הנתק הפנימי והחיצון נעשו נתק אחד ושיער שחור באמצע והוא שתהיה הפרצה כדי צמיחת שתי שערות או יתר:
11
The following rules apply when there is a netek with a strand of bald skin extending from it or two netakim with a strand of bald skin connecting them. If this strand is wide enough for two hairs to grow, it can bring about impurity if short golden hair grows in it or its size increases. And new black hair that grows in it can prevent it from being declared impure. The black hair that remains in that strand, by contrast, does not prevent such a categorization unless the strand is as wide as a gris.
יא
נתק שהיה חוט יוצא ממנו וכן ב' נתקין שחוט יוצא מזה לזה אם יש ברוחב החוט הנתוק כדי צמיחת שתי שערות זוקקין ליטמא בשיער צהוב דק ופשיון ומצילין בצומח בו אבל שיער שחור הנשאר באותו החוט אינו מציל עד שיהיה רוחב החוט כגריס:
12
When a person had a netek the size of a gris on his head and the netek expanded until it covered his entire head and no hair was left at all with the exception of less than two hairs, he is pure. This applies whether he became entirely bald while isolated, while deemed definitively impure, or after he was released from the inspection process, as Leviticus 13:40 states: "He is entirely bald; he is pure."
Similarly, if a netek was on the place of his beard and he lost all his facial hair, he is pure. Although this is not stated in the Written Law, it is part of the Oral Tradition that if all of one's facial hair falls off, he is pure. In such a situation, the skin on his face that became hairless can become impure according to the laws that govern blemishes on the skin, as we explained.
יב
מי שהיה בראשו נתק כגריס ופשה הנתק [על] כל ראשו ולא נשאר שם שיער כלל אלא פחות משתי שערות ה"ז טהור בין שניתק כולו מתוך הסגר או מתוך החלט או אחר הפיטור שנאמר קרח הוא טהור הוא וכן אם היה הנתק בזקנו וניתק כל זקנו ה"ז טהור ואף על פי שאין זה מפורש בתורה שבכתב קבלה היא שאם הלך כל שיער הזקן טהור הוא ויתטמא עור הזקן שקרח בנגעי עור הבשר כמו שביארנו:
13
When a person comes at the outset with a netek covering his entire head or the entire area of his beard, he should be isolated for one week. If golden hair does not grow, he should be isolated for a second week. If short golden hair grows, he should be deemed impure. If not, he should be released from the inspection process. If, however, golden hair grows after he is released, he is deemed as definitively impure. If black hair grows, he is pure.
If someone comes at the outset with a netek covering his entire head or the entire area of his beard and black hair appeared, he is pure as stated. If the black hair disappears, he is impure, because the netek spread.
יג
הבא בתחלה וכל ראשו נתוק או כל זקנו נתוק יסגיר שבוע אחד אם לא נולד לו שיער צהוב יסגיר שבוע שני אם נולד לו שיער צהוב דק טמא לא נולד לו יפטר נולד לו אחר הפיטור שיער צהוב הרי זה מוחלט נולד לו שיער שחור ה"ז טהור הבא כולו נתוק ראש או זקן ונולד לו שיער שחור טהור כמו שביארנו הלך השיער השחור טמא משום פשיון:
14
Total baldness on the head and the area of the beard are not dependent one on the other. The two areas are not combined together, nor is there a concept of tzara'at spreading from one to the other. This is derived from Leviticus 13:30 which speaks of: "tzara'at of the head or of the beard," teaching that they are considered as two different categories.
What is the area where the beard grows? From the joint of the upper jawbone until the Adam's apple. A virtual line is drawn from one ear to the other. Any place where hair grows that is from the line and above is considered as part of the head. From the line and below, it is considered as part of the area of the beard.
יד
הראש והזקן אינן מעכבין זה את זה ואינן מצטרפין זה עם זה ואין פושין מזה לזה שנאמר צרעת הראש או הזקן מלמד שהן חשובין שנים ואי זהו זקן מהפרק של לחי העליון עד פיקה של גרגרת מותח את החוט מאוזן לאוזן כל שמן החוט ולמעלה הרי הוא מכלל הראש ומן החוט ולמטה מכלל הזקן:
• Rambam - 3 Chapters: Sechirut Sechirut - Chapter 4, Sechirut Sechirut - Chapter 5, Sechirut Sechirut - Chapter 6
• Sechirut - Chapter 4
• Hayom Yom: Today's Hayom Yom
• Friday, 29 AV , 5776 · 2 September 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Monday, Menachem Av 29, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Shoftim, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 140-144.
Tanya: Therefore, my beloved, (p. 437) ...to Zion..." (p. 439).
There must be avoda by one's own efforts. Superior heights are attained when one is taken by the hand and led; it is more precious though, when it is by one's own strength.
• Daily Thought:
• Sechirut - Chapter 4
1
When a person rents a donkey to lead it through the mountains, and instead leads it through a valley, he is not liable if it slips, even though he went against the intentions of the owners. If it is harmed due to heat, the renter is liable. If he rented it to lead it through a valley, and instead leads it through a mountain, he is liable if it slips, because one is more likely to slip in a mountain than in a valley. If it is harmed due to heat, the renter is not liable, since valleys are warmer than mountains, because there is wind blowing in the mountains. If, however, it becomes overheated due to the effort in climbing to the heights, he is liable. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
Similarly, if a person rents a cow to plow on a mountain and plows with it in a valley, the renter is not liable should the cylinder of the plow break. The owner of the cow may sue the workers who did the plowing. Similarly, if the renter did not go against the owner's instructions and the cylinder of the plow broke, the owner of the cow may sue the workers. If he rented it to plow in a valley, and instead plowed on a mountain, and the cylinder of the plow breaks, the renter is liable. The renter may sue the workers.
א
השוכר את החמור להוליכה בהר והוליכה בבקעה אם הוחלקה פטור אע"פ שעבר על דעת הבעלים ואם הוחמה חייב שכרה להוליכה בבקעה והוליכה בהר אם הוחלקה חייב שהחלקות יתר בהר מן הבקעה ואם הוחמה פטור שחמימות בבקעה יתר מן ההר מפני הרוח שמנשבת בראש ההרים ואם הוחמה מחמת המעלה חייב וכן כל כיוצא בזה וכן השוכר את הפרה לחרוש בהר וחרש בבקעה ונשבר הקנקן והוא הכלי שחורש בו הרי השוכר פטור ודין בעל הפרה עם האומנין שחרשו וכן אם לא שינה על דעת הבעלים ונשבר הקנקן דין בעל הפרה עם האומנין שכרה לחרוש בבקעה וחרש בהר ונשבר הקנקן השוכר חייב ודינו של שוכר עם האומנים:
2
What is the ruling regarding the workers who break a plow while plowing? They must pay.
Who must pay? The one who holds the utensil while plowing." If, however, the field has several plateaus, they share the liability for the cost of the cylinder - both the person holding the guiding pole and the person holding the utensil.
ב
ומהו דין האומנין ששברו בעת חרישה שמשלמין מי משלם זה האוחז את הכלי בעת החרישה ואם היתה השדה מעלות מעלות שניהם חייבים בדמי הקנקן המנהיג אותה במלמד והאוחז את הכלי:
3
If a person rented a cow to thresh beans and he used it to thresh grain, he is not liable if it slips. If he rented it for grain and used it to thresh beans, he is liable, for beans cause slippage.
An incident occurred with regard to a person who rented his donkey to a colleague and told him: "Do not go with it on the way of the Pikud Ravine, where there is water, but rather on the way of the Neresh Ravine, where there is no water." The person who hired the donkey went on the way of the Pikud Ravine and the donkey died. There were no witnesses who were able to testify to which way he went, but the person himself admitted: "I went on the way of the Pikud Ravine, but there was no water, and the donkey died due to natural causes."
Our Sages ruled: "Since there are witnesses that there is always water in the Pikud Ravine, he is obligated to pay, for he deviated from the instructions of the owner. And we do not say: "Of what value would it be for him to lie," in a situation where witnesses were present.
ג
שכרה לדוש בקטנית ודש בתבואה והוחלקה פטור בתבואה ודש בקטנית חייב שהקטנית מחלקת מעשה באחד שהשכיר חמור לחבירו ואמר לו לא תלך בו בדרך נהר פקוד שהמים מצויין שם אלא בדרך גרש שאין בה מים הלך בדרך נהר פקוד ומת החמור ולא היו שם עדים שמעידים באי זה דרך הלך אלא הוא מעצמו אמר בנהר פקוד הלכתי ולא היו שם מים ומחמת עצמו מת ואמרו חכמים הואיל ויש עדים שהמים בנהר פקוד מצויין חייב לשלם שהרי שינה על דעת הבעלים ואין אומרים מה לי לשקר במקום עדים:
4
When a person rents an animal to bring 200 litra of wheat, and instead, brings 200 litra of barley, he is liable if the animal dies. For the additional volume] is more difficult to carry, and barley takes more space than wheat. The same laws apply if he hired an animal to carry grain, and instead used it to carry straw. If, by contrast, he rented an animal to carry barley and instead, brought the same weight of wheat, he is not liable if the animal dies. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.
ד
השוכר את הבהמה להביא עליה מאתים ליטרין של חטים והביא מאתים ליטרין של שעורים ומתה חייב מפני שהנפח קשה למשאוי והשעורין יש להן נפח וכן אם שכרה להביא תבואה והביא במשקלה תבן אבל אם שכרה להביא עליה שעורים והביא במשקלן חטים ומתה פטור וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
5
If a person rented an animal for a man to ride upon, he should not have a woman ride upon it. If he rented it for a woman to ride upon, he may have a man ride upon it. And he may have any woman ride upon it, whether she is small or large, even if she is both nursing and pregnant.
ה
שכר את הבהמה לרכוב עליה איש לא ירכיב עליה אשה שכרה לרכוב עליה אשה מרכיב עליה איש ומרכיב עליה כל אשה בין קטנה בין גדולה ואפילו מעוברת שהיא מניקה:
6
The following rules apply when a person rents an animal with the intent that it carry a burden of a specific weight, and the renter added to that weight. If he added a thirtieth to the weight that he specified, and the animal died, he is liable. If it was a lesser measure, he is not liable. He must, however, pay the fee appropriate for the extra measure.
If the renter rented the animal without specifying a measure, he may load upon it the burden that is the local standard for that animal. If he added more than a thirtieth to that weight - e.g., it usually carried 30 measures and he loads it with 31 - and it dies or becomes injured, he is liable. Similarly, if a person loaded a ship with one thirtieth more than its ordinary cargo and it sank, he is liable to make restitution for its worth.
ו
השוכר את הבהמה לשאת עליה משקל ידוע והוסיף על משאו אם הוסיף חלק משלשים על השיעור שפסק עמו ומתה חייב פחות מכאן פטור אבל נותן הוא שכר התוספת שכר סתם אינו נושא אלא במשקל הידוע במדינה לאותה בהמה ואם הוסיף חלק משלשים כגון שדרכה לשאת שלשים וטען עליה ל"א ומתה או נשברה חייב וכן ספינה שהוסיף בה אחד משלשים על משאה וטבעה חייב לשלם דמיה:
7
When a person added one kav to the burden of a porter, and the porter was injured because of this burden, the other person is liable for his injury. For although the porter is a conscious being and feels the weight of the extra burden, he might think that it feels heavy because he is ill.
ז
הכתף שהוסיף על משאו קב אחד הוזק במשא זה חייב בנזקיו שאף על פי שהוא בן דעת והרי הוא מרגיש בכובד המשא יעלה על לבו שמא מחמת חוליו הוא זה הכובד:
8
When a person rents a donkey with the intent of riding upon it, he may place his garments, his flask, and his food for this journey upon it, for it is not customary for a renter to stop at each inn to purchase food. The owner of the donkey may prevent the renter from carrying with him anything more.
Similarly, the owner of the donkey may place barley and straw for the donkey's food on it for that day. The renter may prevent him from loading anything more, for it is possible for him to purchase these supplies at every inn. Therefore, if there is no place for him to purchase, he may load his food and food for his animal for the entire journey.
All of these guidelines apply when a person hires an animal without making any specifications in a place that has no known custom. If, however, there is an accepted local custom, everything follows that custom.
ח
השוכר את החמור לרכוב עליה יש לו להניח עליה כסותו ולגינו ומזונותיו של אותו הדרך לפי שאין דרך השוכר לחזור בכל מלון ומלון לקנות מזונות יתר על זה הרי מעכב עליו בעל החמור וכן יש לבעל החמור להניח עליה שעורים ותבן מזונות של אותו היום יתר על זה השוכר מעכב מפני שאפשר לו לקנות בכל מלון ומלון לפיכך אם אין שם מאין יקנה מניח עליו מזונותיו ומזונות בהמתו של כל אותה הדרך וכל אלו הדברים בשוכר סתם ובמקום שאין מנהג ידוע אבל במקום שיש מנהג הכל לפי המנהג:
Sechirut - Chapter 5
1
The following rules apply when a person rents an animal and it becomes sick, goes mad, or is conscripted for the king's service, even when it will not be returned. If it was taken or became sick or mad as the renter was journeying to his destination, the owner may tell the renter: "Behold the animal you hired is before you," and the renter is required to pay the full fee. When does the above apply? When he rented it to carry a burden that can be thrown to the ground without worry. If, however, he rented the donkey with the intent of riding on it or carrying glass utensils or the like, the owner of the donkey is required to provide another donkey for him if he hired a donkey without making any further specifications. If he does not provide another donkey, he must return the fee, and then a calculation should be made with regard to how much he should be paid for the portion of the journey that he traveled.
א
השוכר את הבהמה וחלתה או נשתטית או נלקחה לעבודת המלך אע"פ שאין סופה לחזור אם נלקחה דרך הליכה הרי המשכיר אומר לשוכר הרי שלך לפניך וחייב ליתן לו שכרו משלם בד"א בששכרה לשאת עליה משוי שאפשר להשליכו בלא הקפדה אבל אם שכרה לרכוב עליה או לשאת עליה כלי זכוכית וכיוצא בהן חייב להעמיד לו חמור אחר אם שכר ממנו חמור ואם לא העמיד יחזיר השכר ויחשוב עמו על שכר כמה שהלך בה:
2
The following rules apply in the above situation if the animal died or was injured, regardless of whether it was rented to carry a burden or to ride. If the owner said: "I am renting you a donkey," without specifying the beast, he is required to provide another donkey for the renter. If he does not, the renter may sell the animal and purchase another animal with [the proceeds, or rent another animal until he arrives at the destination agreed upon if the proceeds are not sufficient to purchase another animal.
Different rules apply if the owner told the renter: "I am renting you this donkey." When he rented it to ride upon it or to carry glass utensils and it died in the middle of the way, he should purchase another animal with the proceeds from the sale of the carcass if that is possible. If the proceeds are not sufficient for that, he should rent an animal, even if this demands all the proceeds of the sale to transport him to the destination specified. If the proceeds are not sufficient - neither to purchase nor to rent an animal - the renter must pay the owner the fee for the portion of the journey. With regard to the remainder, all he has against him is complaints.
If he hired it to carry a burden that was not fragile, since the owner said "this donkey," and it died in the middle of the journey, he is not required to provide another donkey for him. Instead, the renter must pay him the fee for the portion of the journey and leave him the carcass.
ב
מתה הבהמה או נשברה בין ששכרה לשאת בין ששכרה לרכוב אם אמר לו חמור סתם אני משכיר לך חייב להעמיד לו חמור אחר מכל מקום ואם לא העמיד יש לשוכר למכור הבהמה וליקח בה בהמה אחרת או שוכר בהמה בדמיה אם אין בדמיה ליקח עד שיגיע למקום שפסק בו אמר לו חמור זה אני שוכר לך אם שכרה לרכוב עליה או לכלי זכוכית ומתה בחצי הדרך אם יש בדמיה ליקח בהמה אחרת יקח ואם אין בדמיה ליקח שוכר אפילו בדמי כולה עד שיגיע למקום שפסק עמו ואם אין בדמיה לא ליקח ולא לשכור נותן לו שכרו של חצי הדרך ואין לו עליו אלא תרעומת שכרה למשא הואיל ואמר לו חמור זה ומת בחצי הדרך אינו חייב להעמיד לו אחר אלא נותן לו שכרו של חצי הדרך ומניח לו נבלתו:
3
The following rules apply when a person hires a ship and it sinks in the midst of the journey. If the owner told the renter, "I am renting you this ship," and the renter hired it to carry wine without specifying which wine he would be carrying, even if the renter already paid the owner his fee, the owner must return it in its entirety. For the renter can tell him: "Bring the actual ship that I rented from you, for I was very specific in wanting this ship. When you do, I will bring wine and transport it on it."
If the owner does not specify a ship and the renter hires one to transport a specific shipment of wine, even though he did not pay the owner any portion of the fee, he is required to pay him the entire amount. For the owner can tell him: "Bring me the wine that you specified and I will transport it for you." He must, however, deduct compensation for the difficulty for half the journey, for a person who works to sail a ship cannot be compared to someone who is idle.
The following rules apply if the owner told the renter: "I am renting you this ship," and the renter mentioned a specific shipment of wine. If the renter already paid the owner his fee, he cannot require him to return it. If the renter did not pay it, he need not. The rationale is that the owner cannot bring that ship, nor can the renter bring that wine. If the rental agreement did not specify the ship or the wine, the fee should be divided between them.
ג
השוכר את הספינה וטבעה לו בחצי הדרך אם אמר לו ספינה זו אני משכיר לך ושכרה השוכר להוליך בה יין סתם אף על פי שנתן לו השכ' יחזיר כל השכר שה"ז אומר לו הבא לי הספינה עצמה ששכרתי שהקפדה גדולה יש בספינה זו ואני אביא יין מכל מקום ואוליך בה אמר לו ספינה סתם אני משכיר לך ושכרה השוכר להוליך בה יין זה אע"פ שלא נתן לו מן השכר כלום חייב ליתן כל השכר שהרי אומר לו הבא לי היין עצמו ואני אביא לך ספינה מכל מקום ואוליכו אבל צריך לנכות כדי הטורח של חצי הדרך שאינו דומה המטפל בהולכת הספינה ליושב ובטל אמר לו ספינה זו אני משכיר ושכר השוכר להוליך בה יין זה אם נתן השכר אינו יכול להחזירו ואם לא נתן לא יתן שאין זה יכול להביא הספינה עצמה ולא זה יכול להביא יין עצמו שכר ספינה סתם ליין סתם הרי אלו חולקין השכר:
4
When a person rents a ship and unloads in the midst of the journey, he must pay the fee for the entire journey. If, however, the renter finds another person who will rent the ship in his place until the location he originally agreed, he may rent it out to him. The owner of the ship has, however, a complaint against him.
Similarly, if the renter sold all the merchandise on the ship to another person in the middle of the way and descended, and the purchaser ascended in his place, the owner of the ship takes half the rent from the first one and half from the second. The owner has a complaint against the renter, because he required him to accommodate the opinion of another person with whom he is not familiar. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ד
השוכר את הספינה ופרקה בחצי הדרך נותן לו שכר כל הדרך ואם מצא השוכר מי שישכיר אותה לו עד המקום שפסק שוכר ויש לבעל הספינה עליו תרעומת וכן אם מכר כל הסחורה שבספינה לאיש אחר בחצי הדרך וירד ועלה הלוקח נוטל שכר חצי הדרך מן הראשון ושכר החצי מזה האחרון ויש לבעל הספינה עליו תרעומת שגרם לו לסבול דעת איש אחר שעדיין לא הורגל בו וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
5
From this, I conclude that when a person rents a house from a colleague for a specific period and the renter desires to sublet the house to another person until the end of the lease, he may, provided there are the same number of people in the subletter's household as in his own. If, however, there are four in his own household, he should not sublet it to a household of five. The rationale is that our Sages' statement that a renter may not sublet the object that he rents applies only with regard to movable property.
The motivating principle for that restriction is that the owner may tell the renter: "I do not desire that my object be entrusted to the hands of another person." With regard to landed property or a ship, by contrast, its owner is with it at all times, and this objection is not relevant.
Similarly, I conclude that if the owner of the home tells the renter: "Why should you trouble yourself to rent my house to others? If you do not desire to continue dwelling within it, leave and leave it alone; I am freeing you from the rent," the renter may not sublet it to anyone else. For in such an instance, the charge: "Do not withhold good from its owner" applies. For instead of renting it out to someone else, the tenant should leave this person his own home.
There are those who rule that the renter may not sublet the dwelling at all and must pay the rent until the appointed time. To me, this does not appear a true ruling.
ה
מכאן אני אומר שהמשכיר בית לחבירו עד זמן קצוב ורצה השוכר להשכיר הבית לאחר עד סוף זמנו משכיר לאחרים אם יש בני בית כמנין בני ביתו אבל אם היו ארבעה לא ישכור לחמשה שלא אמרו חכמים אין השוכר רשאי להשכיר אלא מטלטין שהרי אומר לו אין רצוני שיהא פקדוני ביד אחר אבל בקרקע או בספינה שהרי בעלה עמה אין אומר כן וכן אני אומר אם אמר לו בעה"ב לשוכר למה תטרח ותשכיר ביתי לאחרים אם לא תרצה לעמוד בו צא הניחו ואתה פטור משכירתו אינו יכול להשכירו לאחר שזה באל תמנע טוב מבעליו עד שאתה משכירו לאחר תניח לזה ביתו ויש מי שהורה שאינו יכול להשכירו לאחר כלל ויתן שכרו עד סוף זמנו ולא יראה לי שדין זה אמת:
6
When a person tells a colleague: "I am renting you this house," and after he rented it to him, it fell, he is not required to rebuild it for him. Instead, he should calculate the amount of rent due for the time during which he used it and return the remainder of the rent. If, however, the owner tears down the house, he is obligated to provide another home for the renter or rent a similar dwelling for him.
Similarly, if after renting the house to this person, he rented it or sold it to a gentile or to a person who does not abide by the law who supplanted the rental of the first person, the owner is obligated to rent a similar house for him. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ו
בית זה אני משכיר לך ואחר שהשכירו נפל אינו חייב לבנותו אלא מחשב על מה שנשתמש בו ומחזיר לו שאר השכירות אבל אם סתרו חייב להעמיד לו בית אחר או ישכיר לו כמותו וכן אם חזר אחר שהשכירו לזה והשכירו או מכרו לעכו"ם או אנס שהפקיע שכירות הראשון הרי זה חייב להשכיר לו בית אחר כמותו וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
7
If a person rented a house to a colleague without specifying the house, and afterwards the house fell, the owner is required to build it for him or provide him with another housed Even if the new house he gives him is smaller than the house that fell, the renter cannot prevent him from giving him this one, provided it is called a house. If, however, he told him: "I am renting you a house like this," the owner is obligated to provide him with a house that it is the same length and width as the house that he originally showed him. He cannot tell him: "My intent was only that the house should be close to the river," "... to the marketplace," or "... to the bathhouse, as this one is." Instead, he is obligated to provide him with a house of that size and shape."
Therefore, if it was large, he should not make it small. If it was small, he should not make it large. If it was a one-room apartment, he should not make it two. If it was a two-room apartment he should not make it one. He should not reduce the number of windows that it possessed, nor should he add to them unless they both agree.
ז
השכיר לו בית סתם ואחר שנתן לו בית נפל חייב לבנותו או יתן לו בית אחר ואם היה קטן מן הבית שנפל אין השוכר יכול לעכב עליו והוא שיהיה קרוי בית שלא השכיר אלא בית סתם אבל אם אמר לו בית כזה אני משכיר לך חייב להעמיד לו בית כמדת ארכו ומדת רחבו של בית זה שהראהו ואינו יכול לומר לו לא היה ענין דברי אלא שיהיה קרוב לנהר או לשוק או למרחץ כזה אלא חייב להעמיד לו בית כמדתו וכצורתו לפיכך אם היה קטן לא יעשנו גדול גדול לא יעשנו קטן אחד לא יעשנו שנים שנים לא יעשנו אחד ולא יפחות מן החלונות שהיו בו ולא יוסיף עליהן אלא מדעת שניהם:
8
When a person rents out a loft without any specifications, he is required to provide any such structure for the renter. If the owner tells him: "I am renting you the loft on top of this house," he made the house subservient to the loft. Therefore, if four handbreadths or more of the loft become ruined, the owner is obligated to fix it. If he does not fix it, the renter may descend and dwell in the house together with the owner until he fixes it.
The following rules apply when there are two lofts, one on top of the other: if the upper loft becomes ruined, he may dwell in the lower one. If the lower one becomes ruined, there is a doubt whether he has the right to dwell in the upper loft or the house. Therefore, he should not dwell in either of them. If, however, he dwells in one of them, he cannot be forced to leave.
An incident occurred when a person told a colleague: "I am renting you this vine that is draped over this peach tree," and then the peach tree became uprooted from its place. The question was brought to the Sages and they told the owner: "You are obligated to provide the peach tree for him for as long as the vine exists." Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ח
המשכיר עלייה סתם חייב להעמיד לו עלייה אמר לו עלייה זו שעל גבי בית זה אני משכיר לך הרי שעבד בית לעלייה לפיכך אם נפחתה העלייה בארבעה טפחים או יתר חייב המשכיר לתקן ואם לא תקן הרי השוכר יורד ודר בבית עם בעה"ב עד שיתקן היו שתי עליות זו על גבי זו ונפחתה העליונה דר בתחתונה נפחתה התחתונה ה"ז ספק אם ידור בעליונה או בבית לפיכך לא ידור ואם דר אין מוציאין אותו משם מעשה באחד שאמר לחבירו דלית זו שעל גבי הפרסק הזה אני משכיר לך ונעקר אילן הפרסק ממקומו ובא מעשה לפני חכמים ואמרו לו חייב אתה להעמיד הפרסק כל זמן שהדלית קיימת וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
Sechirut - Chapter 6
1
When a person rents an apartment to a colleague in a large building, the renter may use the protrusions and the walls of the larger structure for four cubits. He may also use the garden in the courtyard and the yard behind the building. In a place where it is customary to use the thickness of the walls, the renter may use the thickness of walls.
In all these matters, we follow the prevailing local custom and the terminology that is in common usage, as we have stated with regard to purchases and sales.
א
המשכיר בית לחבירו בבירה גדולה משתמש בזיזיה ובכותליה עד ד"א ובתרבץ של חצר וברחבה שאחורי הבתים ומקום שנהגו להשתמש בעובי הכותלים משתמש בעובי הכותלים ובכל אלו הדברים הולכין אחר מנהג המדינה והשמות הידועין להם כדרך שאמרנו בענין מקח וממכר:
2
When a person rents out his courtyard without making any specific statements, we assume that he did not rent out the barn located within it.
ב
המשכיר חצירו סתם לא השכיר הרפת שבה:
3
When a person rents a house to a colleague, he is obligated to provide doors for him, to open any windows that have been damaged, to strengthen the roof, to support a beam that is broken, to make a bolt and a lock, and to provide any other necessity that requires a craftsman's work and that is a fundamental necessity when dwelling in a home and courtyard.
The renter is required to make a guardrail, affix a mezuzah and prepare the place for the mezuzah from his own resources. Similarly, if he desires to build a ladder, fix a slanted roof, or plaster the roof, he should do this from his own resources.
ג
המשכיר בית לחבירו חייב להעמיד לו דלתות ולפתוח לו החלונות שנתקלקלו ולחזק את התקרה ולסמוך את הקורה שנשברה ולעשות נגר ומנעול וכל כיוצא באלו מדברים שהן מעשה אומן והם עיקר גדול בישיבת הבתים והחצרות השוכר חייב לעשות מעקה ומזוזה ולתקן מקום המזוזה משלו וכן אם רצה לעשות סולם או מרזב או להטיח גגו הרי זה עושה משל עצמו:
4
When a person rents out a loft to a colleague and its floor becomes opened for four square handbreadths or more, the owner is obligated to fix the ceiling of the lower apartment and the plaster upon it, for the plaster is support for the ceiling.
ד
המשכיר עלייה לחבירו ונפחתה בארבעה או יתר חייב לתקן התקרה והמעזיבה שעליה שהמעזיבה חזוק התקרה היא:
5
The dung in the courtyard belongs to the renter. Therefore, he is responsible to make the effort of clearing it out. If, however, there is a prevailing local custom, it takes precedence.
When does the above apply? When the animals that made the dung belong to the renter. If, however, the animals belong to other people, the dung belongs to the owner of the courtyard. For a courtyard that belongs to a person acquires property on his behalf without his knowledge, even when it is rented out to another person.
ה
הזבל שבחצר הרי הוא של שוכר לפיכך הוא מטפל בו להוציאו ואם יש שם מנהג הולכין אחר המנהג בד"א כשהיו הבהמות שעשו הזבל של שוכר אבל אם הבהמות של אחרים הזבל של בעל החצר שחצירו של אדם קונה שלא מדעתו אף על פי שהיא שכורה ביד אחרים:
6
When a person rents out a house, a courtyard, a store or another property for a fixed time, the owner has the right to compel the renter to leave at the end of the prescribed period. He is not required to wait even one hour for him.
When a person rents a house to sleep in without making any specifications, the minimum is one night. If he rents it for the Sabbath, the minimum is two days. If he rents it for a marriage, the minimum is 30 days.
ו
המשכיר בית או חצר או מרחץ או חנות או שאר המקומות עד זמן קצוב ה"ז כופהו לצאת בסוף זמנו ואינו ממתין לו אפילו שעה אחת שכר לו בית סתם ללינה אין פחות מיום אחד לשביתה אין פחות משני ימים לנישואין אין פחות משלשים יום:
7
When a person rents a house to a colleague without specifying the termination of the contract, he may not force him to leave the home unless he notifies him 30 days in advance, so that he can look for another place and will not be homeless. After 30 days, however, he must leave.
When does the above apply? In the summer. In the winter, by contrast, he may not force him to leave from Sukkot until Pesach.
When the owner gives the renter 30 days notice before Sukkot, if even one day from the 30 is after Sukkot, the owner may not compel him to leave until after Pesach. And he must notify him 30 days previously.
When does the above apply? In small towns. In large cities, by contrast, whether in the summer or the winter, the owner must notify the renter twelve months in advance.
Similarly, with regard to a store, whether in a large city or in a small town, the owner must notify the renter twelve months in advance.
ז
המשכיר בית לחבירו סתם אינו יכול להוציאו עד שיודיעו שלשים יום מקודם כדי לבקש מקום ולא יהיה מושלך בדרך ולסוף השלשים יצא בד"א בימות החמה אבל בימות הגשמים אינו יכול להוציאו מן החג ועד הפסח קבע לו שלשים לפני החג אם נשאר מן השלשים יום אפילו יום אחד לאחר החג אינו יכול להוציאו עד מוצאי הפסח והוא שיודיעו ל' יום מקודם במה דברים אמורים בעיירות אבל בכרכים אחד ימות החמה ואחד ימות הגשמים צריך להודיעו י"ב חדש מקודם וכן בחנות בין בכרכים בין בעיירות צריך להודיעו י"ב חדש מקודם:
8
Just as the owner is obligated to notify the renter, the renter is obligated to notify the owner 30 days before leaving in a small town and twelve months before leaving in a large city, in order for the owner to be able to look for a tenant so that his house will not be empty. If he does not notify him, he may not leave unless he pays rent regardless.
ח
כשם שהמשכיר חייב להודיעו כך השוכר חייב להודיעו מקודם ל' יום בעיירות או מקודם שנים עשר חדש בכרכים כדי שיבקש שכן ולא ישאר ביתו פנוי ואם לא הודיעו אינו יכול לצאת אלא יתן השכר:
9
Although the owner may not send away the renter, nor may the renter leave the dwelling until one notifies the other a proper time beforehand, if the price of renting homes increases, the owner can raise the rent and tell the renter: "Either rent it at its present value or depart."
Similarly, if the price of renting homes decreases, the renter may decrease the rent, telling the owner: "Either rent me your home at its present value, or I am leaving it for you."
If the house in which the owner is living falls, he may compel the renter to leave his house, telling him: "It is not appropriate that you dwell in my home until you find a dwelling while I am homeless. You have no greater right to this home than I do."
ט
אע"פ שאין המשכיר יכול להוציאו ולא השוכר יכול לצאת עד שיודיעו מקודם אם הוקרו הבתים יש למשכיר להוסיף עליו ולומר לשוכר או השכר בשוה עד שתמצא או תצא וכן אם הוזלו הבתים יש לשוכר לפחות השכר ולומר למשכיר או השכר לי כשער של עתה או הרי ביתך לפניך נפל בית המשכיר שהיה דר בו הרי זה יש לו להוציא השוכר מביתו ואומר לו אינו בדין שתהיה אתה יושב בביתי עד שתמצא מקום ואני מושלך בדרך שאין אתה בעל זכות בבית זה יותר ממנו:
10
The following rules apply when the owner gives the house to his son to hold a wedding with his wife. If he knew that his son was getting married at this and this time and he could have notified the tenant earlier, but failed to do so, the owner may not force the tenant to leave.
If, however, the marriage came about suddenly and the son is wedding the woman in the immediate future, the owner may compel the renter to leave the home. For it is not appropriate that the renter dwell in the owner's home while the owner's son must rent a home in which to make the wedding.
י
נתן הבית לבנו לישא בו אשה אם היה יודע שבנו נעשה חתן בזמן פלוני והיה אפשר לו להודיעו מקודם ולא הודיעו אינו יכול להוציאו ואם עכשיו נזדמנה לו אשה והרי הוא נושאה מיד הרי זה יש לו להוציאו שאינו בדין שיהיה זה יושב בביתו ובן בעה"ב ישכור בית שיעשה בו חתונה:
11
If the owner sold the dwelling, gave it as a present or died and it was transferred as part of his inheritance, the new owner may not compel the renter to leave unless he notifies him 30 days or twelve months beforehand. For the renter may tell the new owner: "You have no greater privileges than the person from whom you acquired the home."
יא
מכר את הבית או נתנו או הורישו אין השני יכול להוציאו עד שיודיעו מקודם שלשים יום או מקודם שנים עשר חדש שהרי השוכר אומר לו אין כחך יתר מכח זה שזכית בבית זה מחמתו:
• Friday, 29 AV , 5776 · 2 September 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Monday, Menachem Av 29, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Shoftim, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 140-144.
Tanya: Therefore, my beloved, (p. 437) ...to Zion..." (p. 439).
There must be avoda by one's own efforts. Superior heights are attained when one is taken by the hand and led; it is more precious though, when it is by one's own strength.
• Daily Thought:
Friction
Our souls are the finishing tools for His handiwork.
They are the plows He applies to the harsh earth so it will absorb the rains from heaven, the sandpaper to grind away the coarse surfaces of life, the polishing cloth so that it will glimmer in the light from above.
That friction that wears us down, those sparks that fly—it is the resistance to this refining process.
And if you should ask, how could it be that G‑d’s own creation should present resistance to His infinitely powerful breath?
In truth, it cannot. But He condenses that breath into a soul, He tightly focuses her power, until the harshness of this world can seem real to her, and then she will struggle, and in that struggle she will make the world shine.
Our souls are the finishing tools for His handiwork.
They are the plows He applies to the harsh earth so it will absorb the rains from heaven, the sandpaper to grind away the coarse surfaces of life, the polishing cloth so that it will glimmer in the light from above.
That friction that wears us down, those sparks that fly—it is the resistance to this refining process.
And if you should ask, how could it be that G‑d’s own creation should present resistance to His infinitely powerful breath?
In truth, it cannot. But He condenses that breath into a soul, He tightly focuses her power, until the harshness of this world can seem real to her, and then she will struggle, and in that struggle she will make the world shine.
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment