Today's Laws & Customs:
• Elul Observances
As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is traditionaly a time of introspection and stocktaking -- a time to review one's deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming "Days of Awe" of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
As the month of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness (see "Today in Jewish History" for Elul 1) it is a most opportune time for teshuvah ("return" to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased Ahavat Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d. Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when "the king is in the field" and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, "everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all."
Specific Elul customs include the daily sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) as a call to repentance. The Baal Shem Tov instituted the custom of reciting three additional chapters ofPsalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms). Click below to view today's Psalms.
Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30
Psalm 28:(0) By David:
(1) Adonai, I am calling to you;
my Rock, don’t be deaf to my cry.
For if you answer me with silence,
I will be like those who fall in a pit.
2 Hear the sound of my prayers
when I cry to you,
when I lift my hands
toward your holy sanctuary.
3 Don’t drag me off with the wicked,
with those whose deeds are evil;
they speak words of peace to their fellowmen,
but evil is in their hearts.
4 Pay them back for their deeds,
as befits their evil acts;
repay them for what they have done,
give them what they deserve.
5 For they don’t understand the deeds of Adonai
or what he has done.
He will break them down;
he will not build them up.
6 Blessed be Adonai,
for he heard my voice as I prayed for mercy.
7 Adonai is my strength and shield;
in him my heart trusted, and I have been helped.
Therefore my heart is filled with joy,
and I will sing praises to him.
8 Adonai is strength for [his people],
a stronghold of salvation to his anointed.
9 Save your people! Bless your heritage!
Shepherd them, and carry them forever!
29:(0) A psalm of David:
(1) Give Adonai his due, you who are godly;
give Adonai his due of glory and strength;
2 give Adonai the glory due his name;
worship Adonai in holy splendor.
3 The voice of Adonai is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
Adonai over rushing waters,
4 the voice of Adonai in power,
the voice of Adonai in splendor.
5 The voice of Adonai cracks the cedars;
Adonai splinters the cedars of the L’vanon
6 and makes the L’vanon skip like a calf,
Siryon like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of Adonai flashes fiery flames;
8 the voice of Adonai rocks the desert,
Adonai convulses the Kadesh Desert.
9 The voice of Adonai causes deer to give birth
and strips the forests bare —
while in his temple, all cry, “Glory!”
10 Adonai sits enthroned above the flood!
Adonai sits enthroned as king forever!
11 May Adonai give strength to his people!
May Adonai bless his people with shalom!
30:1 (0) A psalm. A song for the dedication of the house. By David:
2 (1) I will exalt you, Adonai, because you drew me up;
you didn’t let my enemies rejoice over me.
3 (2) Adonai my God, I cried out to you,
and you provided healing for me.
4 (3) Adonai, you lifted me up from Sh’ol;
you kept me alive when I was sinking into a pit.
5 (4) Sing praise to Adonai, you faithful of his;
and give thanks on recalling his holiness.
6 (5) For his anger is momentary,
but his favor lasts a lifetime.
Tears may linger for the night,
but with dawn come cries of joy.
7 (6) Once I was prosperous and used to say,
that nothing could ever shake me —
8 (7) when you showed me favor, Adonai,
I was firm as a mighty mountain.
But when you hid your face,
I was struck with terror.
9 (8) I called to you, Adonai;
to Adonai I pleaded for mercy:
10 (9) “What advantage is there in my death,
in my going down to the pit?
Can the dust praise you?
Can it proclaim your truth?
11 (10) Hear me, Adonai, and show me your favor!
Adonai, be my helper!”
12 (11) You turned my mourning into dancing!
You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
13 (12) so that my well-being can praise you and not be silent;
Adonai my God, I will thank you forever!
Elul is also the time to have one's tefillin and mezuzot checked by an accredited scribe to ensure that they are in good condition and fit for use.
Links: More on Elul
Today in Jewish History:
• Noah Dispatches Raven (2105 BCE)
On the 10th of Elul of the year 1656 from creation (2105 BCE), as the Great Flood neared its end, Noah opened the window of the Ark and dispatched a raven to determine if the flood waters had begun to recede (Genesis 8:1; Rashi). For a discussion of the deeper significance of this event, see The Window
Daily Quote:
[Hillel] saw a skull floating upon the water. Said he to it: Because you drowned others, you were drowned; and those who drowned you, will themselves be drowned[Ethics of the Fathers 2:6]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Parshat Ki Teitzei, 3rd Portion (Deuteronomy 22:8-23:7) with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 22
8When you build a new house, you shall make a guard rail for your roof, so that you shall not cause blood [to be spilled] in your house, that the one who falls should fall from it [the roof]. חכִּ֤י תִבְנֶה֙ בַּ֣יִת חָדָ֔שׁ וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ מַֽעֲקֶ֖ה לְגַגֶּ֑ךָ וְלֹֽא־תָשִׂ֤ים דָּמִים֙ בְּבֵיתֶ֔ךָ כִּֽי־יִפֹּ֥ל הַנֹּפֵ֖ל מִמֶּֽנּוּ:
When you build a new house, [you shall make a guard-rail for your roof]: If you have fulfilled the commandment of שִׁלּוּחַ הַקֵּן,“sending away [the mother bird from her] nest,” you will eventually build a new house and fulfill the commandment of מַעֲקֶה, guard-rail, because [the fulfillment of] one commandment pulls along with it [an opportunity to fulfill] another commandment [i.e., one commandment leads to another]. You will then come to [possess] a vineyard, a field, and fine clothes. Therefore, these passages are juxtaposed [that is, those just discussed, and the ensuing passages pertaining to vineyards, fields, and garments]. — [Tanchuma 1] כי תבנה בית חדש: אם קיימת מצות שלוח הקן סופך לבנות בית חדש ותקיים מצות מעקה, שמצוה גוררת מצוה, ותגיע לכרם ושדה ולבגדים נאים. לכך נסמכו פרשיות הללו:
a guard-rail: Heb. מַעֲקֶה, a fence surrounding the roof. Onkelos renders: תְּיָקָא, like a sheath (תִּיק), which protects what is inside it. מעקה: גדר סביב לגג, ואונקלוס תרגם תיקא כעין תיק שמשמר מה שבתוכו:
that the one who falls should fall: That one [who would fall] deserves to fall [to his death on account of his sins]; nevertheless, you should not be the one to bring about his death, for meritorious things are executed through meritorious people, while things of ill-fortune are executed through guilty people. — [Sifrei 22:68] כי יפול הנופל: ראוי זה ליפול ואף על פי כן לא תתגלגל מיתתו על ידך, שמגלגלין זכות על ידי זכאי וחובה על ידי חייב:
9You shall not sow your vineyard [together with] a mixed variety of species, lest the increase, even the seed that you sow and the yield of the vineyard [both] become forbidden. טלֹֽא־תִזְרַ֥ע כַּרְמְךָ֖ כִּלְאָ֑יִם פֶּן־תִּקְדַּ֗שׁ הַֽמְלֵאָ֤ה הַזֶּ֨רַע֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּזְרָ֔ע וּתְבוּאַ֖ת הַכָּֽרֶם:
[You shall not sow your vineyard together with] a mixed variety of species: [For example,] sowing in the same hand-throw [of seeds] wheat and barley, [the sowing together of which already constitutes one prohibition of כִּלְאַיִם -“mixed variety of species” (see Lev. 19:19)], and grapeseeds [the total combination of which now constitutes an additional prohibition of sowing the two diverse species in a vineyard]. — [Ber. 22a] כלאים: חטה ושעורה וחרצן במפולת יד:
lest… become forbidden: Heb. תִּקְדַּשׁ, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: תִסְתָּאֵב, lit., become unclean. To anything repulsive to man, either in a positive sense, e.g., something holy, or in a negative sense, e.g., something forbidden, the term קָדוֹשׁ applies. For instance, “Do not come near me, lest I contaminate you (קְדַשְׁתִּיךָ)” (Isa. 65:5) [according to Rashi on Shevuoth 18b, or, according to Rabbi Joseph Kara on Isa. 65:5: “lest I become contaminated by you”].[See Maskil L’David, Be’er Basadeh, Yosef Hallel, and Leket Bahir.] פן תקדש: כתרגומו תסתאב. כל דבר הנתעב על האדם, בין לשבח כגון הקדש, בין לגנאי כגון איסור, נופל בו לשון קדש, כמו (ישעיה סה, ה) אל תגע בי כי קדשתיך:
the increase: Heb. הַמְלֵאָה. This is the fullness מִלּוּי and increase, which a seed increases. - [See Pes. 25a] המלאה: זה מילוי ותוספת שהזרע מוסיף:
10You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. ילֹא־תַֽחֲר֥שׁ בְּשֽׁוֹר־וּבַֽחֲמֹ֖ר יַחְדָּֽו:
You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey: The same law applies to any two species in the world. [Similarly,] this law applies [also] to [merely] leading them together when they are bound to each other as a pair, for transporting any load. — [Sifrei 22:79-80, Kilayim 8:2] לא תחרוש בשור ובחמור: הוא הדין לכל שני מינים שבעולם, והוא הדין להנהיגם יחד קשורים זוגים בהולכת שום משא:
11You shall not wear a mixture of wool and linen together. יאלֹ֤א תִלְבַּשׁ֙ שַֽׁעַטְנֵ֔ז צֶ֥מֶר וּפִשְׁתִּ֖ים יַחְדָּֽו:
a mixture: Heb. שַׁעַטְנֵז An expression denoting a mixture. Our Rabbis explained [this term to be an acronym of the terms]: שׁוּעַ, combed, טָווּי, spun, and נוּז, woven. [Thus, our Rabbis explain that the Torah prohibition of שַׁעַטְנֵז applies only to materials combed, spun, and woven together.]- [Sifrei 22:81, Niddah 61b, see Rashi and Tos. .] שעטנז: לשון עירוב. ורבותינו פירשו שוע טווי ונוז:
12You shall make yourself twisted threads, on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself. יבגְּדִלִ֖ים תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לָּ֑ךְ עַל־אַרְבַּ֛ע כַּנְפ֥וֹת כְּסֽוּתְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּכַסֶּה־בָּֽהּ:
You shall make yourself twisted threads: even from a mixture [of wool and linen]. For this reason, Scripture juxtaposes them [these two commandments: sha’atnez and tzitzith]. — [Yev. 4a] גדלים תעשה לך: אף מן הכלאים. לכך סמכן הכתוב:
13If a man takes a wife, is intimate with her and despises her, יגכִּֽי־יִקַּ֥ח אִ֖ישׁ אִשָּׁ֑ה וּבָ֥א אֵלֶ֖יהָ וּשְׂנֵאָֽהּ:
[If a man takes a wife,] is intimate with her, and despises her: in the end he will… ובא אליה ושנאה: סופו:
14and he makes libelous charges against her and gives her a bad name, saying, "I took this woman, and when I came to her, I did not find any evidence of virginity for her." ידוְשָׂ֥ם לָהּ֙ עֲלִילֹ֣ת דְּבָרִ֔ים וְהוֹצִ֥א עָלֶ֖יהָ שֵׁ֣ם רָ֑ע וְאָמַ֗ר אֶת־הָֽאִשָּׁ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ לָקַ֔חְתִּי וָֽאֶקְרַ֣ב אֵלֶ֔יהָ וְלֹֽא־מָצָ֥אתִי לָ֖הּ בְּתוּלִֽים:
make libelous charges against her: One sin leads to another sin. He transgressed [the negative commandment of]“You shall not hate [your brother in your heart]” (Lev. 19:17); so eventually he will come to [commit the sin of] slander (לָשׁוֹן הָרַע) . - [Sifrei 22:87] ושם לה עלילות דברים: עבירה גוררת עבירה, עבר על לא תשנא (ויקרא יט, יז) סופו לבא לידי לשון הרע:
this woman: We learn from here that he says nothing except in the presence of his opponent. — [Sifrei 22:89] את האשה הזאת: מכאן שאין אומר דבר אלא בפני בעל דין:
15Then the girl's father and her mother shall obtain evidence of the girl's virginity, and take it out to the elders of the city, to the gate. טווְלָקַ֛ח אֲבִ֥י הַנַּֽעֲרָ֖ה (כתיב הנער) וְאִמָּ֑הּ וְהוֹצִ֜יאוּ אֶת־בְּתוּלֵ֧י הַנַּֽעֲרָ֛ה (כתיב הנער) אֶל־זִקְנֵ֥י הָעִ֖יר הַשָּֽׁעְרָה:
The girl’s father and her mother [shall obtain evidence…]: Let those who raised this evil offspring be disgraced because of her. — [Sifrei 22:90] אבי הנערה ואמה: מי שגדלו גידולים הרעים יתבזו עליה:
16And the girl's father shall say to the elders, "I gave my daughter to this man as a wife, and he despised her; טזוְאָמַ֛ר אֲבִ֥י הַנַּֽעֲרָ֖ה (כתיב הנער) אֶל־הַזְּקֵנִ֑ים אֶת־בִּתִּ֗י נָתַ֜תִּי לָאִ֥ישׁ הַזֶּ֛ה לְאִשָּׁ֖ה וַיִּשְׂנָאֶֽהָ:
And the girl’s father shall say [to the elders]: [The father, but not the mother.] This teaches us that a woman is not permitted to speak in the presence of her husband [when others are present]. — [Sifrei 22:91] ואמר אבי הנערה: מלמד שאין רשות לאשה לדבר בפני האיש:
17And behold, he made libelous charges, saying, 'I did not find evidence of your daughter's virginity.' But this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity!' And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city. יזוְהִנֵּה־ה֡וּא שָׂם֩ עֲלִילֹ֨ת דְּבָרִ֜ים לֵאמֹ֗ר לֹֽא־מָצָ֤אתִי לְבִתְּךָ֙ בְּתוּלִ֔ים וְאֵ֖לֶּה בְּתוּלֵ֣י בִתִּ֑י וּפָֽרְשׂוּ֙ הַשִּׂמְלָ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י זִקְנֵ֥י הָעִֽיר:
and they shall spread the garment: This is a figurative expression, meaning: they shall clarify the matter as [“clear”] as a [new] garment. — [Sifrei 22:92, Keth. 46a] ופרשו השמלה: הרי זה משל, מחוורין הדברים כשמלה:
18Then, the elders of that city shall take the man and chasten him. יחוְלָֽקְח֛וּ זִקְנֵ֥י הָֽעִיר־הַהִ֖וא אֶת־הָאִ֑ישׁ וְיִסְּר֖וּ אֹתֽוֹ:
and chasten him: [with] lashes. — [Sifrei 22:93, Keth. 46a] ויסרו אותו: מלקות:
19And they shall fine him one hundred [shekels of] silver because he defamed a virgin of Israel, and he give it to the girl's father. And she shall be his wife; he shall not send her away all the days of his life. יטוְעָֽנְשׁ֨וּ אֹת֜וֹ מֵ֣אָה כֶ֗סֶף וְנָֽתְנוּ֙ לַֽאֲבִ֣י הַנַּֽעֲרָ֔ה כִּ֤י הוֹצִיא֙ שֵׁ֣ם רָ֔ע עַ֖ל בְּתוּלַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלוֹ־תִֽהְיֶ֣ה לְאִשָּׁ֔ה לֹֽא־יוּכַ֥ל לְשַׁלְּחָ֖הּ כָּל־יָמָֽיו:
20But if this matter was true: [indeed,] no evidence of the girl's virginity was found כוְאִם־אֱמֶ֣ת הָיָ֔ה הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה לֹֽא־נִמְצְא֥וּ בְתוּלִ֖ים לַנַּֽעֲרָֽה (כתיב לנער) :
But if this matter was true: [as corroborated] by witnesses, and there was warning, [proving] that she had committed adultery after her betrothal. — [Keth. 44b] ואם אמת היה הדבר: בעדים והתראה שזנתה לאחר אירוסין:
21they shall take the girl out to the entrance of her father's house, and the men of her city shall pelt her with stones, and she shall die, for she did a disgraceful thing in Israel, to commit adultery [in] her father's house. So shall you clear away the evil from among you. כאוְהוֹצִ֨יאוּ אֶת־הַנַּֽעֲרָ֜ה (כתיב הנער) אֶל־פֶּ֣תַח בֵּֽית־אָבִ֗יהָ וּסְקָל֩וּהָ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י עִירָ֤הּ בָּֽאֲבָנִים֙ וָמֵ֔תָה כִּי־עָֽשְׂתָ֤ה נְבָלָה֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִזְנ֖וֹת בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יהָ וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ:
[they shall take the girl out] to the entrance of her father’s house: [as if to say:] “Look at the children you have reared!” - [Keth. 45a.] אל פתח בית אביה: ראו גידולים שגדלתם:
the men of her city: [I.e.,] in the presence of all the men of her city. — [Sifrei 22:100] וסקלוה אנשי עירה: במעמד כל אנשי עירה:
her father’s house: Heb. בֵּית אָבִיהָ, [to be understood as] בְּבֵית אָבִיהָ “in her father’s house.” לזנות בית אביה: כמו בבית אביה:
22If a man is found lying with a married woman, even both of them shall die the man lying with the woman and the woman. So shall you clear away the evil from Israel. כבכִּֽי־יִמָּצֵ֨א אִ֜ישׁ שֹׁכֵ֣ב | עִם־אִשָּׁ֣ה בְעֻֽלַת־בַּ֗עַל וּמֵ֨תוּ֙ גַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם הָאִ֛ישׁ הַשֹּׁכֵ֥ב עִם־הָֽאִשָּׁ֖ה וְהָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל:
both of them shall die: [The words “both of them” come] to exclude unnatural acts in which the man makes contact with the woman wihout intercourse], from which the woman derives no pleasure [thus not including“both of them” in the act]. — [Sifrei 22:102, San. 66b] ומתו גם שניהם: להוציא מעשה חדודים שאין האשה נהנית מהם:
even: גַּם, lit., also. This comes to include those who have relations after them. [I.e., after these two people have already been tried and sentenced to death for adultery, and before they are put to death, other people commit further adultery with them, these new people are also to be put to death for adultery, and we do not consider this couple as dead people.] Another explanation [of the expression גַּם-שְׁנֵיהֶם]: To include the fetus. [I.e.,] if she was pregnant, they do not wait for her until she gives birth [but put her to death immediately, while still pregnant]. — [Arachin 7a] גם: לרבות הבאים מאחריהם. דבר אחר גם שניהם לרבות את הולד, שאם היתה מעוברת אין ממתינין לה עד שתלד:
23If there is a virgin girl betrothed to a man, and [another] man finds her in the city, and lies with her, כגכִּ֤י יִֽהְיֶה֙ נַֽעֲרָ֣ה (כתיב נער) בְתוּלָ֔ה מְאֹֽרָשָׂ֖ה לְאִ֑ישׁ וּמְצָאָ֥הּ אִ֛ישׁ בָּעִ֖יר וְשָׁכַ֥ב עִמָּֽהּ:
And [another] man finds her in the city: Therefore, he lay with her. A breach [in a wall] invites a thief; had she remained at home, this would not have happened to her. — [Sifrei 22:103] ומצאה איש בעיר: לפיכך שכב עמה, פרצה קוראה לגנב הא אילו ישבה בביתה לא אירע לה:
24you shall take them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall pelt them with stones, and they shall die: the girl, because she did not cry out [even though she was] in the city, and the man, because he violated his neighbor's wife. So shall you clear away the evil from among you. כדוְהֽוֹצֵאתֶ֨ם אֶת־שְׁנֵיהֶ֜ם אֶל־שַׁ֣עַר | הָעִ֣יר הַהִ֗וא וּסְקַלְתֶּ֨ם אֹתָ֥ם בָּֽאֲבָנִים֘ וָמֵ֒תוּ֒ אֶת־הַנַּֽעֲרָ֗ (כתיב הנער) עַל־דְּבַר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־צָֽעֲקָ֣ה בָעִ֔יר וְאֶ֨ת־הָאִ֔ישׁ עַל־דְּבַ֥ר אֲשֶׁר־עִנָּ֖ה אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת רֵעֵ֑הוּ וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ:
25But if a man finds the betrothed girl in the field, and the man overpowers her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die. כהוְאִם־בַּשָּׂדֶ֞ה יִמְצָ֣א הָאִ֗ישׁ אֶת־הַנַּֽעֲרָ֙ה (כתיב הנער) הַֽמְאֹ֣רָשָׂ֔ה וְהֶֽחֱזִֽיק־בָּ֥הּ הָאִ֖ישׁ וְשָׁכַ֣ב עִמָּ֑הּ וּמֵ֗ת הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁכַ֥ב עִמָּ֖הּ לְבַדּֽוֹ:
26Whereas to the girl, you shall do nothing the girl did not commit a sin deserving of death, for just as a man rises up against his fellow and murders him, so is this case. כווְלַנַּֽעֲרָ֙ה (כתיב ולנער) לֹא־תַֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה דָבָ֔ר אֵ֥ין לַנַּֽעֲרָ֖ה (כתיב לנער) חֵ֣טְא מָ֑וֶת כִּ֡י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֩ יָק֨וּם אִ֤ישׁ עַל־רֵעֵ֨הוּ֙ וּרְצָח֣וֹ נֶ֔פֶשׁ כֵּ֖ן הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה:
for just as a man rises up [against his fellow and murders him, so is this case]: According to the simple meaning, this is the explanation: For she was coerced, and the man overpowered her, just like the case of someone who overpowers another person to kill him. Our Rabbis, however, interpreted it [as follows]: This one comes to teach, but instead he learns (San. 73a). [That is, it would seem at first glance, that the case of the murderer in the verse is cited in order to teach us something about the case of the betrothed girl who was raped, namely, that just as the murdered person was overpowered, so was this girl overpowered and coerced. However, with further examination, we learn something new from the case of this girl, which can be applied to the case of the murderer. And that is: just as in the case of the girl, we may save her from sin by killing her assailant, so it is, in the case of a murderer overpowering someone with the intent of murder, anyone is permitted to kill his assailant in order to save the life of the intended victim.]- [Sifrei 22:106] כי כאשר יקום וגו': לפי פשוטו זהו משמעו, כי אנוסה היא ובחזקה עמד עליה כאדם העומד על חברו להרגו. ורבותינו דרשו בו הרי זה בא ללמד ונמצא למד וכו':
27Because he found her in the field. The betrothed girl had cried out, but there was no one to save her. כזכִּ֥י בַשָּׂדֶ֖ה מְצָאָ֑הּ צָֽעֲקָ֗ה הַנַּֽעֲרָ֙ה (כתיב הנער)הַֽמְאֹ֣רָשָׂ֔ה וְאֵ֥ין מוֹשִׁ֖יעַ לָֽהּ:
28If a man finds a virgin girl who was not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, כחכִּֽי־יִמְצָ֣א אִ֗ישׁ נַֽעֲרָ֤ה (כתיב נער) בְתוּלָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־אֹרָ֔שָׂה וּתְפָשָׂ֖הּ וְשָׁכַ֣ב עִמָּ֑הּ וְנִמְצָֽאוּ:
29the man who lay with her shall give fifty [shekels of] silver to the girl's father, and she shall become his wife, because he violated her. He shall not send her away all the days of his life. כטוְנָתַ֠ן הָאִ֨ישׁ הַשֹּׁכֵ֥ב עִמָּ֛הּ לַֽאֲבִ֥י הַנַּֽעֲרָ֖ה (כתיב הנער) חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים כָּ֑סֶף וְלוֹ־תִֽהְיֶ֣ה לְאִשָּׁ֗ה תַּ֚חַת אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִנָּ֔הּ לֹֽא־יוּכַ֥ל שַׁלְּחָ֖הּ כָּל־יָמָֽיו:
Deuteronomy Chapter 23
1A man shall not take his father's wife, nor shall he uncover the corner of his father's [cloak]. אלֹֽא־יִקַּ֥ח אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת אָבִ֑יו וְלֹ֥א יְגַלֶּ֖ה כְּנַ֥ף אָבִֽיו:
shall not take: [I.e.,] betrothal has no effect on her [even after the father’s death], and he cannot legally marry her. — [Kid. 67a] לא יקח: אין לו בה לקוחין ואין קידושין תופסין בה:
nor shall he uncover the corner of his father’s [cloak]: [This seemingly superfluous phrase comes to include] the שׁוֹמֶרֶת יָבָם of his father [i.e., the widow of his father’s brother who died without children, who awaits (שׁוֹמֶרֶת) her brother-in-law (יָבָם) to either wed her or release her through the rite of חֲלִיצָה. See Deut. 25:5-10.] She is [thus] intended for his father [who is her brother-in-law]. But has he not already been admonished regarding her by [the verse] “[You shall not uncover] the nakedness of [i.e., commit incest with the wife of] your father’s brother” (Lev. 18:14)? However, [the prohibition is repeated here] to make the transgressor liable on her account for two negative commands (Yev. 4a), and to juxtapose it to“A bastard (מַמְזֵר) shall not enter [the assembly of the Lord,” to teach us that a מַמְזֵר,“bastard,” is only [a child of] a forbidden union punishable by כָּרֵת [“excision,” as is the case with a child born of one who takes his father’s שׁוֹמֶרֶת יָבָם]. All the more so [does it apply to one born] from a forbidden union punishable by the death sentence by the court, for in forbidden unions incurring the death penalty by the court, there is no case that does not [also] incur the penalty of כָּרֵת [Yev. 49a] ולא יגלה כנף אביו: שומרת יבם של אביו הראויה לאביו. והרי כבר הוזהר עליה משום (ויקרא יח, יד) ערות אחי אביך, אלא לעבור על זו בשני לאוין ולסמוך לה (פסוק ג) לא יבא ממזר, ללמד שאין ממזר אלא מחייבי כריתות וקל וחומר מחייבי מיתות בית דין, שאין בעריות מיתת בית דין שאין בה כרת:
2[A man] with injured testicles or whose member is cut, may not enter the assembly of the Lord. בלֹֽא־יָבֹ֧א פְצֽוּעַ־דַּכָּ֛א וּכְר֥וּת שָׁפְכָ֖ה בִּקְהַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה:
with injured testicles: [I.e.,] one whose testicles have been injured or crushed. — [Sifrei 23:111] פצוע דכה: שנפצעו או שנדכאו ביצים שלו:
whose member is cut: Heb. וּכְרוּת שָׁפְכָה, one whose male organ is cut, [to the extent] that his semen no longer shoots forth in a continuous flow, but rather drips and trickles, and thus he cannot produce children. — [Yev. 75a] וכרות שפכה: שנכרת הגיד ושוב אינו יורה קילוח זרע אלא שופך ושותת ואינו מוליד:
3A bastard shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even the tenth generation shall not enter the assembly of the Lord. גלֹֽא־יָבֹ֥א מַמְזֵ֖ר בִּקְהַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֑ה גַּ֚ם דּ֣וֹר עֲשִׂירִ֔י לֹֽא־יָבֹ֥א ל֖וֹ בִּקְהַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה:
A bastard shall not enter the assembly of the Lord: [I.e.,] he shall not marry an Israelite woman. — [Yev. 77b] לא יבא ממזר בקהל ה': לא ישא ישראלית:
4An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even the tenth generation shall never enter the assembly of the Lord. דלֹֽא־יָבֹ֧א עַמּוֹנִ֛י וּמֽוֹאָבִ֖י בִּקְהַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֑ה גַּ֚ם דּ֣וֹר עֲשִׂירִ֔י לֹֽא־יָבֹ֥א לָהֶ֛ם בִּקְהַ֥ל יְהֹוָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָֽם:
An Ammonite [or Moabite] shall not enter [the assembly of the Lord]:[I.e.,] he shall not marry an Israelite woman. — [Yev. 77b] לא יבא עמוני: לא ישא ישראלית:
5Because they did not greet you with bread and water on the way, when you left Egypt, and because he [the people of Moab] hired Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim against you, to curse you. העַל־דְּבַ֞ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־קִדְּמ֤וּ אֶתְכֶם֙ בַּלֶּ֣חֶם וּבַמַּ֔יִם בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ בְּצֵֽאתְכֶ֣ם מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וַֽאֲשֶׁר֩ שָׂכַ֨ר עָלֶ֜יךָ אֶת־בִּלְעָ֣ם בֶּן־בְּע֗וֹר מִפְּת֛וֹר אֲרַ֥ם נַֽהֲרַ֖יִם לְקַלְלֶֽךָּ:
Because: Heb. עַל-דְּבַר [lit., “because of the word,” i.e.,] because of the [word of] advice they gave you (sic), to cause you to sin. — [Sifrei 23:114] על דבר: על העצה שיעצו אתכם להחטיאכם:
on the way: when you were in [a state of] extreme exhaustion. — [Sifrei 23:114] בדרך: כשהייתם בטירוף:
6But the Lord, your God, did not want to listen to Balaam. So the Lord, your God, transformed the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord, your God, loves you. ווְלֹֽא־אָבָ֞ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיַּֽהֲפֹךְ֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֧יךָ לְּךָ֛ אֶת־הַקְּלָלָ֖ה לִבְרָכָ֑ה כִּ֥י אֲהֵֽבְךָ֖ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ:
7You shall not ever seek out their welfare or their good, all your days. זלֹֽא־תִדְר֥שׁ שְׁלֹמָ֖ם וְטֹֽבָתָ֑ם כָּל־יָמֶ֖יךָ לְעוֹלָֽם:
You shall not [ever] seek out their welfare [nor their good]: Since it says [in the case of a runaway slave], “He may reside with you in your midst” (verse 17), one might assume that this one [the Ammonite or the Moabite] is the same. Therefore, Scripture states: “You shall not [ever] seek out their welfare [or their good]” - [Sifrei 23:114. See Yalkut Shimoni , Mossad Harav Kook, fn. 54] לא תדרוש שלומם: מכלל שנאמר (פסוק יז) עמך ישב בקרבך יכול אף זה כן, תלמוד לומר לא תדרוש שלומם:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 55-59
• Special Custom for the Month of Elul and High Holidays
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
See below for today's additional chapters.
Chapter 55
David composed this psalm upon escaping from Jerusalem in the face of the slanderers, Doeg and Achitofel, who had declared him deserving of death. David had considered Achitofel a friend and accorded him the utmost honor, but Achitofel betrayed him and breached their covenant. David curses all his enemies, so that all generations should "know, and sin no more."
1. For the Conductor, with instrumental music, a maskil by David.
2. Listen to my prayer, O God, do not hide from my pleas.
3. Pay heed to me and answer me, as I lament in my distress and moan -
4. because of the shout of the enemy and the oppression of the wicked; for they accuse me of evil and hate me passionately.
5. My heart shudders within me, and the terrors of death have descended upon me.
6. Fear and trembling penetrate me, and I am enveloped with horror.
7. And I said, "If only I had wings like the dove! I would fly off and find rest.
8. Behold, I would wander afar, and lodge in the wilderness forever.
9. I would hurry to find shelter for myself from the stormy wind, from the tempest.”
10. Consume, O Lord, confuse their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.1
11. Day and night they encircle her upon her walls, and iniquity and vice are in her midst.
12. Treachery is within her; fraud and deceit never depart from her square.
13. For it is not the enemy who taunts me-that I could bear; nor my foe who raises himself against me, that I could hide from him.
14. But it is you, a man of my equal, my guide and my intimate.
15. Together we took sweet counsel; we walked with the throng to the house of God.
16. May He incite death upon them, let them descend to the pit alive; for there is evil in their dwelling, within them.
17. As for me, I call to God, and the Lord will save me.
18. Evening, morning and noon, I lament and moan-and He hears my voice.
19. He redeemed my soul in peace from battles against me, because of the many who were with me.
20. May God-He who is enthroned from the days of old, Selah-hear and humble those in whom there is no change, and who do not fear God.
21. He extended his hands against his allies, he profaned his covenant.
22. Smoother than butter are the words of his mouth, but war is in his heart; his words are softer than oil, yet they are curses.
23. Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous man falter.
24. And You, O God, will bring them down to the nethermost pit; bloodthirsty and treacherous men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in You.
FOOTNOTES
1.Jerusalem.
Chapter 56
David composed this psalm while in mortal danger at the palace of Achish, brother of Goliath. In his distress David accepts vows upon himself.
1. For the Conductor, of the mute dove1 far away. By David, a michtam, 2 when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
2. Favor me, O God, for man longs to swallow me; the warrior oppresses me every day.
3. My watchful enemies long to swallow me every day, for many battle me, O Most High!
4. On the day I am afraid, I trust in You.
5. [I trust] in God and praise His word; in God I trust, I do not fear-what can [man of] flesh do to me?
6. Every day they make my words sorrowful; all their thoughts about me are for evil.
7. They gather and hide, they watch my steps, when they hope [to capture] my soul.
8. Should escape be theirs in reward for their iniquity? Cast down the nations in anger, O God!
9. You have counted my wanderings; place my tears in Your flask-are they not in Your record?
10. When my enemies will retreat on the day I cry out, with this I will know that God is with me.
11. When God deals strictly, I praise His word; when the Lord deals mercifully, I praise His word.
12. In God I trust, I do not fear-what can man do to me?
13. My vows to You are upon me, O God; I will repay with thanksgiving offerings to You.
14. For You saved my soul from death-even my feet from stumbling-to walk before God in the light of life.
FOOTNOTES
1.David having fled from Jerusalem, is silenced by fear (Rashi/Metzudot).
2.A psalm that was especially precious to David
Chapter 57
David composed this psalm while hiding from Saul in a cave, facing grave danger. Like Jacob did when confronted with Esau, David prayed that he neither be killed nor be forced to kill. In the merit of his trust in God, God wrought wonders to save him.
1. For the Conductor, a plea to be spared destruction. By David, a michtam, when he fled from Saul in the cave.
2. Favor me, O God, favor me, for in You my soul took refuge, and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until the disaster passes.
3. I will call to God the Most High; to the Almighty Who fulfills [His promise] to me.
4. He will send from heaven, and save me from the humiliation of those who long to swallow me, Selah; God will send forth His kindness and truth.
5. My soul is in the midst of lions, I lie among fiery men; their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongue a sharp sword.
6. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let Your glory be upon all the earth.
7. They laid a trap for my steps, they bent down my soul; they dug a pit before me, [but] they themselves fell into it, Selah.
8. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and chant praise.
9. Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I shall awaken the dawn.
10. I will thank You among the nations, my Lord; I will praise You among the peoples.
11. For Your kindness reaches till the heavens, Your truth till the skies.
12. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let Your glory be over all the earth.
Chapter 58
David expresses the anguish caused him by Avner and his other enemies, who justified Saul's pursuit of him.
1. For the Conductor, a plea to be spared destruction; by David, a michtam.
2. Is it true that you are mute [instead of] speaking justice? [Instead of] judging men with fairness?
3. Even with your heart you wreak injustice upon the land; you justify the violence of your hands.
4. The wicked are estranged from the womb; from birth do the speakers of falsehood stray.
5. Their venom is like the venom of a snake; like the deaf viper that closes its ear
6. so as not to hear the voice of charmers, [even] the most skillful caster of spells.
7. O God, smash their teeth in their mouth; shatter the fangs of the young lions, O Lord.
8. Let them melt like water and disappear; when He aims His arrows, may they crumble.
9. Like the snail that melts as it goes along, like the stillbirth of a woman-they never see the sun.
10. Before your tender shoots know [to become] hardened thorns, He will blast them away, as one [uprooting] with vigor and wrath.
11. The righteous one will rejoice when he sees revenge; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.
12. And man will say, "There is indeed reward for the righteous; indeed there is a God Who judges in the land."
Chapter 59
This psalm speaks of the great miracle David experienced when he eluded danger by escaping through a window, unnoticed by the guards at the door. The prayers, supplications, and entreaties he offered then are recorded here.
1. For the Conductor, a plea to be spared destruction, By David, a michtam, when Saul dispatched [men], and they guarded the house in order to kill him.
2. Rescue me from my enemies, my God; raise me above those who rise against me.
3. Rescue me from evildoers, save me from men of bloodshed.
4. For behold they lie in ambush for my soul, mighty ones gather against me-not because of my sin nor my transgression, O Lord.
5. Without iniquity [on my part,] they run and prepare-awaken towards me and see!
6. And You, Lord, God of Hosts, God of Israel, wake up to remember all the nations; do not grant favor to any of the iniquitous traitors, Selah.
7. They return toward evening, they howl like the dog and circle the city.
8. Behold, they spew with their mouths, swords are in their lips, for [they say], "Who hears?”
9. But You, Lord, You laugh at them; You mock all nations.
10. [Because of] his might, I wait for You, for God is my stronghold.
11. The God of my kindness will anticipate my [need]; God will show me [the downfall] of my watchful foes.
12. Do not kill them, lest my nation forget; drive them about with Your might and impoverish them, O our Shield, my Master,
13. [for] the sin of their mouth, the word of their lips; let them be trapped by their arrogance. At the sight of their accursed state and deterioration, [people] will recount.
14. Consume them in wrath, consume them and they will be no more; and they will know that God rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth, Selah.
15. And they will return toward evening, they will howl like the dog and circle the city.
16. They will wander about to eat; when they will not be sated they will groan.
17. As for me, I shall sing of Your might, and sing joyously of Your kindness toward morning, for You have been a stronghold to me, a refuge on the day of my distress.
18. [You are] my strength, to You I will sing, for God is my stronghold, the God of my kindness.
Additional Three Chapters
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
Today's Chapters are 28, 29 and 30.
Chapter 28
A prayer for every individual, entreating God to assist him in walking the good path, to prevent him from walking with the wicked doers of evil, and that He repay the wicked for their wickedness and the righteous for their righteousness.
1. By David. I call to You, O Lord; my Strength, do not be deaf to me; for should You be silent to me, I will be like those who descend to the pit.
2. Hear the sound of my pleas when I cry out to You, when I raise my hands toward Your holy Sanctuary.
3. Do not draw me along with the wicked, with evildoers who speak of peace with their companions, though evil is in their heart.
4. Give them according to their deeds, and the evil of their endeavors; give them according to their handiwork, render to them their just desserts.
5. For they pay no heed to the acts of the Lord, nor to the work of His hands; may He destroy them and not rebuild them.
6. Blessed is the Lord, for He has heard the voice of my pleas.
7. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusted and I was helped; my heart exulted, and with my song I praised Him.
8. The Lord is a strength to them; He is a stronghold of deliverance to His anointed.
9. Grant salvation to Your people and bless Your heritage; tend them and exalt them forever.
Chapter 29
The Name of God appears eighteen times in this psalm, corresponding to which our Sages established eighteen blessings-the Amidah. The entire psalm can be interpreted as referring to the giving of the Torah and the ingathering of the exiles.
1. A psalm by David. Render to the Lord, children of the mighty, render to the Lord honor and strength.
2. Render to the Lord the honor due to His Name; bow down to the Lord in resplendent holiness.
3. The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over mighty waters.
4. The voice of the Lord resounds with might; the voice of the Lord resounds with majesty.
5. The voice of the Lord breaks cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
6. He makes them leap like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7. The voice of the Lord strikes flames of fire.
8. The voice of the Lord makes the desert tremble; the Lord causes the desert of Kadesh to tremble.
9. The voice of the Lord causes the does to calve, and strips the forests bare; and in His Sanctuary all proclaim His glory.
10. The Lord sat [as King] at the Flood; the Lord will sit as King forever.
11. The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
Chapter 30
This psalm teaches one not to be distressed if God visits suffering upon him in this world, for only through suffering can one enter the World to Come. Even one of great spiritual stature should realize that his stability is not guaranteed, but that all is in the hands of God.
1. A psalm, a song of dedication of the House, by David.
2. I exalt You, Lord, for You have uplifted me, and did not allow my enemies to rejoice over me.
3. Lord, my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.
4. Lord, You have brought up my soul from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not descend to the pit.
5. Sing to the Lord, you His pious ones, and praise His holy Name.
6. For His wrath endures but for a moment, when He is conciliated there is [long] life; when one retires at night weeping, joy will come in the morning.
7. In my security I thought, "I shall never falter.”
8. Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; when You concealed Your countenance I was alarmed.
9. I called to You, O Lord, and I made supplication to my Lord:
10. What profit is there in my death, in my going down to the grave? Can dust praise You? Can it proclaim Your truth
11. Lord, hear and be gracious to me; Lord, be a help to me.
12. You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have undone my sackcloth and girded me with joy.
13. Therefore my soul shall sing to You, and not be silent; Lord my God, I will praise You forever.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 12
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Tuesday, 10 Elul, 5776 · 13 September 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 12
• וזהו שכתוב: והיה מעשה הצדקה
This, then, is the meaning of the verse, “And the act of charity shall be [peace]” —
שגם הצדקה הנקראת בשם מעשה, ולא בשם עבודה
that even with the kind of charity which is called an “act” and not “service”,
אף על פי כן באתערותא דלתתא, אתערותא דלעילא
[this] arousal from below will nevertheless elicit an arousal from above.
מעורר גילוי אור אין סוף ברוך הוא בהארה רבה והשפעה עצומה
One arouses a manifestation of the [infinite] Ein Sof-light with a great illumination and an intense diffusion,
ונעשה שלום במרומיו
and peace is brought about “in [G‑d’s] high places,” between Michael and Gabriel, Chesed and Gevurah,
וגם בפמליא של מטה
and also within the terrestial retinue — the lower worlds.
רק שבעולם הזה השפל לא יתגלה השלום, והבירור ופירוד הרע מהטוב
In this lowly world, however, there will be no manifestation of [this] peace, and of the refinement and separation of the evil from the good,
עד עת קץ
until the ultimate time, when evil will cease to exist,
ולא בזמן הגלות
but not during the time of the exile, as explained above,
רק בעולם קטן, הוא האדם
except in the microcosm, i.e., in man,
בכל עת מצוא, זו תפלה
at every “time of finding,” meaning prayer,
כמו שכתוב: בצדק אחזה פניך, כנ״ל
as it is written, “Through tzedek will I behold Your countenance,” as discussed above.
אך אחר התפלה, יוכל להיות הרע חוזר וניעור בקל, ולהתערב בטוב
Even so, after prayer it is possible that the evil will easily reawaken and become intermingled with the good
כאשר יתהלך בחשכת עולם הזה
as one walks about in the darkness of this world.
אך הצדקה בבחינת עבודה
However, as to the charity [which is practiced with self-imposed toil] at the level of avodah (“service”),
הנה כאשר יקרה וגדלה מעלתה במאד מאד
since it is exceedingly precious and lofty, far more so than the tzedakah one practices out of one’s natural inclination,
בהיותו מבטל טבעו ורצונו הגופני מפני רצון העליון ברוך הוא
because [in the former case] one overrules his nature and bodily will out of deference to the Supreme Will,
ואתכפיא סטרא אחרא
and “the sitra achra is subjugated,”
ואזי אסתלק יקרא דקודשא בריך הוא כו׳
and then “the glory of the Holy One, blessed be He, rises [and becomes manifest in all the worlds],”1
וכיתרון האור מן החשך דוקא, כנודע
“like the superiority of light over (lit., ‘out of’) darkness,”2 as is known, —
The excellence of light is most appreciated when darkness itself is transformed into light.
אי לזאת, אין הרע יכול להיות עוד חוזר וניעור בקלות כל כך מאליו
in such a case, by virtue of the exertion involved in this superior form of tzedakah, the evil can no longer reawaken so easily of itself,
רק אם האדם יעוררנו וימשיכנו על עצמו, חס ושלום
unless, heaven forfend, one rouses it and draws it upon himself.
וזהו שכתוב: השקט ובטח עד עולם
This, then, is the meaning of “quietness and surety forever” — that the reward for the service of charity is eternal quietness and surety.
השקט הוא מלשון: שוקט על שמריו, דהיינו שהשמרים נפרדים לגמרי מן היין, ונופלין למטה לגמרי
Hashket (“quietness”) is related to [the root of the verb in] the phrase,3 “he rests (shoket) on his dregs,” meaning that the dregs are completely separated from the wine and sink all the way down,
והיין למעלה זך וצלול בתכלית
while the wine above is wholly pure and clear.
ועל דרך זה הוא בעבודת הצדקה
Similarly with the service of charity:
השמרים הן בחינת תערובת רע שבנפשו
the dregs represent the admixture of evil in one’s soul,
נברר ונפרד מעט מעט
which is gradually extricated and separated
עד שנופל למטה למקורו ושרשו
until it falls netherwards to its root and source — below all the worlds,
וכמו שכתוב: ותשליך במצולות ים כל חטאתם
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Zohar II, 128b. |
| 2. | Kohelet 2:13. |
| 3. | Yirmeyahu 48:11. |
| 4. | Michah 7:19. |
| 5. | Note of the Rebbe: “In Or HaTorah of the Tzemach Tzedek on this verse (Michah 7:19), the author refers the reader to theShelah on Parshat Vayishlach (p. 295b). That reference is instructive here too.” |
•Tuesday, 10 Elul, 5776 · 13 September 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Negative Commandment 235
Lending with Interest
"You shall not give him your money for interest, nor may you give him your food for increase"—Leviticus 25:37.
It is forbidden to issue a loan – whether money or any other item – to a fellow Jew if it involves charge of interest.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Lending with Interest
Negative Commandment 235
Translated by Berel Bell
The 235th prohibition is that we are forbidden from lending money with interest.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "Your money do not make him pay interest (neshech) for, and do not make him pay interest (marbis) for your food."
These two prohibitive statements come together for added emphasis; that one who lends with interest is doubly guilty. They are not two separate ideas, since neshech is the same as marbis and marbis is the same as neshech.
Our Sages said in tractate Bava Metzia:2 "You will never find neshech without marbis or marbis without neshech. Why did the verse distinguish between them? To cause the transgressor to be doubly guilty." They also said: "By Torah law, neshech and marbis are identical." They also said: "The verse, 'Your money do not make him pay interest (neshech) for, and do not make him pay interest (marbis) for your food,' should be read, 'Your money do not make him pay neshech and marbis for,' and 'do not make him pay neshech and marbis for your food.' "3 Therefore, anyone who lends money or food with interest is doubly guilty, in addition to the other prohibitions which add to the seriousness of the lender's act. The same prohibition is repeated in other words:4 "Do not take neshech or marbis from him." It is explained in tractate Bava Metzia that this prohibition also applies to the lender. However, all these prohibitions are "extra,"5 as we explained in the Ninth Introductory Principle, since they all forbid the same act — prohibiting the lender from lending with interest.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 5th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 25:37.
2.60b.
3.In the first half of the verse, the word for interest (neshech) is written at the end; in the second half of the verse, the word for interest (marbis) is written at the beginning. The Gemara learns that the proximity of the two words enables them to be read together.
4.Lev. 25:36.
5.I.e. they do not count as separate mitzvos in the count of 613. The Rambam needs to say this because the literal translation of the phrase over al shnei lavin (translated here as "doubly guilty") is, "transgresses two prohibitions," which could be misinterpreted as meaning two prohibitions among the 613.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day
Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 3
• Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 3
1
A person who has intimate relations with a nidah is impure like she is. He is one of the primary sources of impurity according to Scriptural Law. He imparts impurity to keilim by touching them and imparts impurity to people through carrying, touching, and moving, and he imparts impurity to the surface on which he lies or rides like a nidah does.
א
בועל נדה כנדה שהוא אב מאבות הטומאה של תורה מטמא כלים במגע ומטמא אדם במשא ובמגע ומטמא בהיסט ומטמא משכב ומרכב כנדה:
2
The status of the impurity imparted by a man who was intimate with a nidah to a surface on which one lies or rides is not the same as that imparted by a nidah to a surface on which one lies or rides. For a surface on which one lies or rides that was stepped on by a nidah is a primary source of ritual impurity. In contrast, a surface on which one lies or rides that was stepped on by a man who was intimate with a nidah is a derivative of ritual impurity likekeilim that he touched which do not impart impurity to other people or to other keilim, only to foods and liquids.
Why is the impurity that he imparts of a lesser status than the impurity that she imparts? Because with regard to a man who was intimate with a nidah, Leviticus 15:24 states: "Her nidah impurity will be imparted to him and he will be impure for seven days" and continues: "Any surface on which he lies shall be impure." Now, since it is stated: "Her nidah impurity will be imparted to him," would it not be obvious that he imparts impurity to a surface on which one lies? Why then was it stated? According to the Oral Tradition, it was taught that the Torah removed it from the severe category of impurity in which it imparts impurity to people andkeilim and placed it in a lesser category in which a surface on which he lies is a derivative and does not impart impurity to people and keilim, only to foods and liquids like other derivatives of impurity.
ב
אין משכב בועל נדה ומרכבו כמשכב נדה ומרכבה שהמשכב או המרכב שדרסה עליו נדה אב מאבות הטומאה ומשכב בועל נדה ומרכבו ולד טומאה ככלים שנוגע בהן שאינן מטמאין אדם ולא כלים אלא אוכלין ומשקין בלבד ולמה נגרעה טומאת משכבו מטומאת משכבה מפני שנאמר בבועל נדה ותהי נדתה עליו וטמא שבעת ימים ונאמר בו כל המשכב אשר ישכב עליו יטמא מאחר שנאמר ותהי נדתה עליו איני יודע שהוא מטמא משכב ולמה נאמר מפי השמועה למדו שהכתוב נתקו מטומאה חמורה מלטמא אדם וכלים ותלאו בטומאה קלה שיהיה משכבו ולד ולא יטמא אדם וכלים אלא אוכלין ומשקין בלבד כשאר ולדות הטומאות:
3
A man contracts the impurity of one who is intimate with anidah or a zavah when he is intimate with such a woman or if he is intimate with a woman who is watching one day because of a day of impurity, or a woman after childbirth, whether the two engaged in vaginal or anal intercourse, whether he inserted only the corona or inserted the entire male organ, and whether it was an adult male who was intimate with a minor or a male minor who was intimate with an adult woman.
When does the above apply? When the male involved is at least nine years old and the woman involved at least three years old. If, however, either is younger than this, the male does not contract the impurity of one who has relations with a nidah, only that of one who touches a woman in the nidah state. His impurity is thus considered a derivative; he is not a primary source. Similarly, one who sodomizes a zav is considered as one who touches a zav. Also, the same laws that apply to one who touches a zav apply to a woman who is intimate with such a person.
ג
אחד הבא על הנדה או על שומרת יום כנגד יום או על היולדת [בין כדרכן בין שלא כדרכן] אחד המערה ואחד הגומר בין גדול שבא על הקטנה בין קטן שבא על הגדולה מתטמא משום בועל נדה במה דברים אמורים כשהיה הבועל בן ט' שנים ויום אחד והנבעלת היתה בת שלש שנים ויום אחד אבל פחות מכאן אינו מתטמא משום בועל נדה אלא משום נוגע בנדה בלבד שהוא ולד ואינו אב וכן בועל הזב הרי הוא כנוגע בו ואחד הנוגע בזב או הנבעלת מן הזב:
4
All of the following - nidah, a zavah, a woman who is watching one day because of a day of impurity, or a woman after childbirth even if she did not experience uterine bleeding - contract impurity retroactively for a twenty-four hour period or until the last vaginal inspection the woman made. This is referred to as the twenty-four period of a nidah.
What is implied? A woman who did not have a fixed time when she would menstruate was pure. She made a vaginal inspection in the morning and found that she was pure. At noon, she made another vaginal inspection and discovered blood. Accordingly, any ritually pure entities that she touched between the first inspection and the second inspection are impure retroactively. Similarly, if she made a vaginal inspection one day and found herself pure and made another inspection two or three days afterwards and discovered uterine bleeding, all of the articles she touched within twenty-four hours before the inspection during which she discovered the bleeding are considered as impure retroactively.
A checking cloth used after intimacy is considered as a vaginal inspection, but one used before intimacy is not, because she does not make a thorough inspection with it.
ד
הנדה והזבה ושומרת יום כנגד יום והיולדת אף על פי שלא ראתה דם כולם מטמאות למפרע מעת לעת או מפקידה לפקידה וזהו הנקרא מעת לעת שבנדה כיצד אשה שהיתה טהורה ואין לה וסת ובדקה עצמה בשחרית ומצאה טהורה ובחצי היום בדקה עצמה ומצאה דם הרי כל הטהרות שעשתה משעת פקידה ראשונה עד שעת פקידה שניה טמאות למפרע וכן אם בדקה היום ומצאה טהורה ולאחר שנים או ג' ימים בדקה ומצאה דם כל הטהרות שעשתה מעת שבדקה ומצאה דם עד כ"ד שעות טמאות למפרע ועד שלאחר התשמיש הרי הוא כפקידה ושלפני התשמיש אינו כפקידה מפני שאינה בודקת בו יפה:
5
A woman who has a fixed time when she menstruates and discovers uterine bleeding at that time is impure only from that time onward. She is not impure retroactively. If the fixed time when she menstruates arrives and she did not inspect herself and then inspected herself after the passage of several days and discovered uterine bleeding, she is considered as impure retroactively and is assumed to be a nidah from the fixed time that she usually menstruates. This is the impurity associated with the fixed time for menstruation referred to universally.
If the woman discovered that she was pure when she inspected herself after her fixed time for menstruation, she is pure.
ה
אשה שיש לה וסת וראתה דם בשעת וסתה דיה שעתה ואינה טמאה למפרע הגיע שעת וסתה ולא בדקה עצמה ולאחר ימים בדקה עצמה ומצאה דם הרי זו טמאה למפרע והרי היא בחזקת נדה משעת וסתה וזו היא טומאת וסתות האמורה בכל מקום ואם מצאה עצמה טהורה כשבדקה אחר הוסת הרי זו טהורה:
6
Whenever a woman has a fixed time during which she menstruates, she will also experience physical symptoms at the onset of menstruation, e.g., she will yawn, sneeze, feel heaviness and strain at the opening to her stomach and lower body, become overcome by trembling, or feel that her head and limbs are heavy, or the like.
There are women whose pattern is to experience bleeding immediately after one of these physical symptoms begins. And there are other women who will wait, and continue experiencing these symptoms for an hour or two and experience bleeding only at the end of the expected time. When a woman's pattern is to experience bleeding at the beginning of the expected time, any pure articles she touches during the expected time are impure. If her pattern is to experience bleeding at the end of the expected time, any pure articles she touches during the expected time are pure. She is only concerned about the articles she touched from the time she is accustomed to experience bleeding until she actually discovers bleeding.
ו
כל אשה שיש לה וסת תרגיש בעצמה מפהקת או מתעטשת או חוששת פי כריסה ושיפולי מעיה או אחזה צמרורית או ראשה כבד עליה או איבריה כבדין וכיוצא באלו ויש אשה שדרכה לראות בעת שיתחיל בה מקרה אחד מאלו מיד בתחילתו ויש אשה שתמתין במקרה זה שעה או שתים ואחר כך תראה הדם בסוף הוסת היתה למודה להיות רואה בתחילת הוסת כל הטהרות שעשתה בתוך הוסת טמאות היתה למודה להיות רואה בסוף הוסת כל הטהרות שעשתה בתוך הוסת טהורות ואינה חוששת אלא משעה שדרכה לראות עד עת שמצאה דם:
7
When a woman discovers a bloodstain, she is retroactively impure until the time she made an inspection. Similarly, a garment on which a stain was discovered is retroactively impure.
Until when? Until such a time concerning which the woman says: "I checked this garment and it did not have a bloodstain." Even if she washed the garment, but did not inspect it, it is impure retroactively from before she washed it until the time when it was inspected. Even if a moist stain was found, she is considered impure retroactively until the time she made an inspection. The rationale is that there is reason to say that it was there previously and now water fell upon it and caused it to become moist.
ז
הרואה כתם טמאה למפרע עד עת הפקידה וכן הבגד שנמצא עליו הכתם טמא למפרע ועד כמה עד שתאמר בדקתי החלוק הזה ולא היה עליו כתם אפילו כבסתו ולא בדקתו טמא מקודם הכיבוס למפרע עד שעת בדיקה ואפילו נמצא הכתם לח הרי זה מטמא למפרע עד שעת הבדיקה שאני אומר מימים היה שם ועתה נפלו עליו מים ונעשה לח:
8
A bloodstain discovered by any of the women who are impure only from the time they discover uterine bleeding onward is equivalent to the discovery of uterine bleeding and does not cause her to contract impurity retroactively.
Any of the women who contract impurity retroactively, whether they discovered uterine bleeding or a bloodstain, also impart impurity retroactively to surfaces upon which one lies or rides, causing them to impart impurity to a person or to garments. Similarly, their saliva and urine impart impurity retroactively. They even impart impurity retroactively to an earthenware container that is sealed closed.
They do not, however, impart the severe impurity associated with intimacy with a nidah to a man who is intimate with them. He is considered only as if he touched them. Whenever a woman discovers a bloodstain, a man who is intimate with her after she discovered the stain is considered impure as one who was intimate with a nidah.
ח
וכל הנשים שדיין שעתן כתמן כראייתן ואינו מטמא אותן למפרע כל אלו הנשים הטמאות למפרע בין ראתה דם בין מצאתה כתם מטמאות משכב ומרכב למפרע לטמא אדם ובגדים וכן רוקן ומימי רגליהן טמאין למפרע ואפילו כלי חרש המוקף צמיד פתיל מטמאות אותן למפרע אבל אינן מטמאות את הבועל למפרע משום בועל נדה אלא משום נוגע בלבד אבל הרואה כתם הבועל אותה מאחר שנמצאת הכתם טמא משום בועל נדה:
9
When a fetus sticks out his hand from the womb of a pregnant woman, his mother contracts the impurity of a woman who gave birth.
The impurity of a woman whose fetus sticks out its hand, the impurity imposed retroactively for 24 hours or until the previous inspection that was mentioned, the impurity associated with the fixed time when a woman usually menstruates, and the ritual impurity associated with bloodstains are all Rabbinic decrees and were instituted because of a doubt. Therefore terumah and sacrificial foods are not burnt because of them. Instead, the ruling concerning them is held in abeyance. Similarly, the ruling concerning ordinary foods that were treated with the sanctity associated with sacrificial foods that contracted impurity from one of these sources is held in abeyance. Nevertheless, ordinary food that is treated with the sanctity associated with terumah and ordinary food from which challah has not yet been separated do not contract impurity from any of these sources, for they are Rabbinic decrees.
Thus one can conclude that: all of these women mentioned previously in this halachah, an object on which one lies or rides to which they imparted impurity, their saliva, their urine, one who is intimate with a woman who discovered a bloodstain after the bloodstain was discovered, one who was intimate with a woman after the fetus stuck out a limb and then returned it, are all primary sources of impurity according to Rabbinic decree.
ט
מעוברת שהוציא העובר את ידו והחזירה אמו טמאה לידה וטומאת יולדת (י"ד) וטומאת מעת לעת או מפקידה לפקידה למפרע כמו שביארנו וטומאת וסתות וטומאת כתמים הכל מדברי סופרים וטומאתן מספק לפיכך אין שורפין עליהן תרומה וקדשים אלא תולין וכן חולין שנעשו על טהרת הקדש שנטמאו באלו תולין אבל הנעשים על טהרת התרומה וחולין הטבולין לחלה אין מתטמאין בכל אלו הטומאות שהן מדבריהן נמצאת אומר שכל אחת מאלו הנשים ומשכבן ומרכבן ורוקן ומימי רגליהן ובועל רואה כתם מאחר שנמצא הכתם ובועל יולדת מאחר שיצא האבר וחזר כולן אבות טומאות מדברי סופרים:
Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 16, Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 17, Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 18
• Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 16
1
The debt is the responsibility of the borrower until he pays the lender or the lender's agent. If the lender said: "Throw the money owed to me and become freed of responsibility," the borrower threw it to him, and it became lost or destroyed by fire before it reaches the lender, the borrower is not responsible.
The following rules apply if the lender told him: "Throw the money owed to me in a manner governed by the laws of a bill of divorce." If the money was closer to the borrower, it is still his responsibility. If it was closer to the lender, the borrower is no longer responsible. If it is half and half, and it is lost or stolen from there, the borrower is required to pay half of the debt.
א
החוב באחריות הלוה עד שיפרענו ליד המלוה או ליד שלוחו, אמר לו המלוה זרוק לי חובי והפטר וזרקו ואבד או נשרף קודם שיגיע ליד המלוה פטור, אמר לו זרוק לי חובי בתורת גיטין היו המעות קרובות ללוה הרי עדיין באחריותו, היו קרובות למלוה נפטר הלוה, מחצה על מחצה אם אבדו משם או נגנבו משלם הלוה מחצה.
2
When Reuven owes Shimon a maneh, gives the maneh to Levi and tells him: "Give this maneh that I owe Shimon to him," Reuven may not retract. Nevertheless, he is held responsible for the maneh until it reaches Shimon.
If Levi returned the maneh to Reuven, they are both responsible for it until Shimon receives full payment for the debt owed him.
ב
היה ראובן חייב לשמעון מנה ואמר ללוי הולך לשמעון מנה זה שאני חייב לו אם בא לחזור אינו חוזר והוא חייב באחריותו עד שיגיע המנה לשמעון, החזיר לוי את המנה לראובן שניהן חייבין באחריותו עד שיגיע ליד שמעון כל חובו. 1
3
A transfer of a debt is rescinded in the following situation. Reuven owed Shimon a maneh. Shimon told Reuven: "Take the maneh that you owe me and give it to Levi." Since the three were standing together and Levi agreed, the transfer would ordinarily be binding. Nevertheless, if it is discovered that Reuven is poor and does not have the resources to pay, Levi can ask Shimon for payment of the debt, for he deceived him.
If Levi knew ' that Reuven was poor at that time or Reuven was rich at that time and became impoverished afterwards, Levi cannot demand payment from Shimon, for he accepted the transfer.
If Levi argues that Reuven was poor at the time and Shimon deceived him, and Shimon maintains that he was wealthy and later became impoverished, it appears to me that Shimon must bring proof of his claim. Only then is he freed of responsibility from the debt he owes Levi. This is no different from an instance where he has a receipt in his hand, and we tell him: "Prove the authenticity of your receipt, and then you will be freed of responsibility."
ג
ראובן שהיה חייב לשמעון מנה ואמר שמעון לראובן מנה שיש לי בידך תנהו ללוי והיו שלשתן עומדין וקיבל לוי ונמצא ראובן עני ואין לו ממה שיגבה ממנו הרי לוי חוזר בחוב של שמעון שזה הטעהו, ואם ידע לוי שהוא עני או שהיה עשיר באותה שעה והעני אינו יכול לחזור שהרי קיבל, טען לוי שהיה ראובן עני והטעהו ושמעון אומר עשיר היה והעני יראה לי שעל שמעון להביא ראיה ואח"כ יפטר מחוב לוי לא יהיה אלא שובר בידו אומרים לו קיים שוברך והפטר.
4
We already explained the following concept in the laws of business transactions. These laws apply when Reuven was not owed anything by Shimon, but did owe a maneh to Levi. If he told Levi to collect the debt from Shimon - even if he made that statement in the presence of the three of them -it is not binding. If Shimon does not desire to pay Levi, he need not. If, however, he does pay him, he may collect the money from Reuven, since he paid him because of his instructions.
Similarly, if Levi desires to retract and say: "I do not desire to collect the debt from Shimon," he may collect the debt from Reuven. This applies even if he collected a portion of the debt from Shimon; he may collect the remainder from Reuven.
ד
כבר ביארנו בהלכות מקח וממכר שראובן שלא היה לו אצל שמעון כלום והיה ראובן חייב ללוי מנה והמחהו אצל שמעון אע"פ שהמחהו במעמד שלשתן לא קנה, ואם רצה שמעון שלא יתן לא יתן ואם נתן חוזר וגובה מראובן שהרי על פיו נתן, וכן אם רצה לוי לחזור ולומר איני רוצה לגבות משמעון חוזר וגובה מראובן ואע"פ שנפרע מקצת משמעון חוזר וגובה השאר מראובן.
5
The following laws apply with regard to a store-keeper who would give a house-owner anything he desires on credit, postponing payment until the entire amount reaches a substantial sum, at which time he would pay him.
The employer says: "Give my workers a sela..." or "... my creditor the maneh that I owe him and I will repay you." Afterwards, the storekeeper said: "I gave the money you instructed me to give," and the worker or the creditor says: "I did not receive it." The worker or the creditor must take an oath; he may then collect the debt owed him from the employer. Similarly, the store-keeper may take an oath and collect what he claims from the employer, for he told him to pay that money.
The worker must take the oath in the presence of the storekeeper, and the storekeeper must do so in the presence of the worker or the creditor, so that they will be embarrassed by each other. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
This oath is a Rabbinical ordinance, administered while the person holds a sacred article, because both claimants are coming to collect money. Therefore, if the storekeeper dies, the creditor may collect the debt without taking an oath. Similarly, if the worker or the creditor dies, the storekeeper may collect the claim he makes without taking an oath. The rationale is that in such a situation the employer is not losing anything and is making payment only once.
ה
חנוני שהיה נותן לבעל הבית מן החנות כל מה שירצה בתורת הלואה ומקיפו עד שיתקבץ הכל ופורע לו ואמר לו בעל הבית תן לפועלים סלע או לבעל חובי מנה שיש לו אצלי ואני אתן לך והרי החנוני אומר נתתי והפועל או בעל חובו אומר לא לקחתי הרי הפועל או בעל חוב נשבע ונוטל מבעל הבית חובו וכן החנוני נשבע ונוטל מבעל הבית מה שטען שנתן שהרי הוא אמר לו ליתן, והפועל נשבע במעמד החנוני וכן החנוני במעמד הפועל או בעל חוב כדי שיכלמו זה מזה וכן כל כיוצא בזה ושבועה זו תקנת חכמים היא בנקיטת חפץ מפני שבאין שניהן ליטול, לפיכך אם מת החנוני נוטל בעל חוב בלא שבועה וכן אם מת פועל או בעל חוב החנוני נוטל בלא שבועה שהרי אין בעל הבית מפסיד כלום ואינו משלם אלא תשלום אחד.
6
When the store-keeper says: "You told me to give this person a maneh," or "You commanded me and told me, 'If so-and-so comes, give him,'" and the employer claims: "I did not tell you," the employer must take a sh'vuat hesset to support his claim. He is then freed of responsibility. The store-keeper should then lodge a suit against the person he claims to have paid.
Similarly, if a storekeeper tells an employer with whom he has a credit arrangement: "It is written in my account book that you owe me a maneh" and the employer says: "I don't know," the employer must take a sh'vuat hesset that he does not know. He is then freed of responsibility, as is the law with regard to any situation where one person lodges a claim against another. There is no Rabbinical ordinance governing such a situation.
ו
החנוני אומר אתה אמרת ליתן לזה מנה או צוית ואמרת לי אם יבא פלוני תן לו ובעל הבית אומר לא אמרתי לך הרי בעל הבית נשבע היסת ונפטר והחנוני עושה דין עם זה שנתן לו, וכן אם אמר החנוני לבעל הבית המקיפו כתוב בפנקסי שיש לי אצלך מנה ובעל הבית אומר איני יודע נשבע בעל הבית היסת שאינו יודע ונפטר כדין כל טוען על חבירו לכל דבר ואין בזה תקנת חכמים.
7
When Reuven produces a promissory note that states that Shimon owes a debt to Levi, and claims that Shimon gave it to him by signing a deed acknowledging the transfer and giving it to him, but that the deed of transfer was lost, or he claims that Levi transferred the promissory note to him via the acquisition of land, he may collect the debt from Shimon. The rationale is that Reuven is in possession of the promissory note.
If Shimon claims that he paid Levi and demands that an oath be taken, Levi must take an oath to Shimon. Afterwards, Reuven may collect the debt. If Levi admits that Shimon paid him, Levi must pay Reuven. If Levi claims that he neither sold nor gave the promissory note to Reuven, Levi is required to take a sh'vuat hesset and is then freed of responsibility.
ז
ראובן שהוציא שטר חוב שיש ללוי על שמעון וטען שלוי נתנו לו בכתיבה ומסירה ואבד השטר שהקנהו בו או שטען שהקנהו לו על גב הקרקע הרי זה גובה אותו משמעון הואיל ויוצא מתחת ידו, טען שמעון שפרע ללוי ואמר ישבע לי ישבע לוי לשמעון ואח"כ יגבה ראובן, הודה לו שפרע ישלם לוי לראובן, טען לוי שלא מכר ולא נתן שטר זה נשבע היסת ונפטר.
8
When a promissory note is in the hands of a third party, and he produces it in a court of law and says: "It has been paid," his word is accepted. This applies even if the authenticity of the note has been verified. The rationale is that if he had desired, he could have burned it or torn it.
Similarly, if the third party died, and a note is found in his possession stating that the promissory note entrusted to him has been paid, we consider it paid. This applies even though the note stating the debt was paid is not signed by witnesses.
When, by contrast, a note is found in the creditor's possession that a particular promissory note has been paid, even if the note stating that the debt was paid is in the creditor's handwriting, it is considered to be merely facetious.
ח
שטר שהיה ביד שליש והוציא מתחת ידו בבית דין ואמר פרוע הוא נאמן אע"פ שהשטר מקויים שאילו רצה היה שורפו או קורעו, וכן אם מת השליש ונמצא כתב יוצא מתחת ידי שליש ששטר זה המונח אצלו פרוע הוא ה"ז פרוע אע"פ שאין עדים על הכתב, אבל כתב שיצא מתחת ידי מלוה ששטר פלוני פרוע אפילו היה בכתב ידי המלוה אינו אלא כמשחק.
9
If witnesses signed the note discovered in the creditor's possession, when their signatures have been verified, the note is considered paid. If their signatures have not been verified, the witnesses who signed the receipt should be interrogated. If they do not know of the matter or if they are not present to be asked, the receipt is ignored, because it was found in the possession of the lender or his heirs.
ט
היו עדים על הכתב אם היו מקויימין הרי השטר פרוע, ואם אין עליו קיום ישאלו העדים החתומין על זה השובר, אם לא ידעו או שאין העדים מצויין הואיל ומתחת ידי המלוה או מתחת ידי יורשיו יצא אין השובר כלום.
10
If the promissory note mentioned in the note that was discovered was found among the promissory notes belonging to the lender that have been paid, we assume that it was paid, even if the note that was found was not signed by witnesses.
Similarly, if it is written on the promissory note itself - whether on its front or back, or even on only a portion of it - that this promissory note or a portion of it was paid, we follow those statements. This applies even though witnesses did not sign the statement, and the promissory note is in the possession of the lender. For if the promissory note had not been paid, he would not have written on the note itself.
י
נמצא השטר בין שטרות פרועין ה"ז פרוע ואע"פ שאין עדים על הכתב הנמצא, וכן אם נמצא כתוב בגופו של שטר בין מפניו בין מאחוריו ואפילו במקצתו שטר זה פרוע או נפרע ממנו כך וכך עושין ע"פ הכתב ואע"פ שאין על הכתב עדים ואע"פ שיצא מתחת ידי המלוה שאילו לא נפרע לא היה כותב על השטר.
11
When a person finds a promissory note among his other legal documents and he does not know its status, it should remain in his possession until Eliyahu comes.
יא
המוצא שטר בין שטרותיו ואין יודע מה טיבו יהיה מונח עד שיבא אליהו.
12
When a person tells his sons: "One of the promissory notes among my promissory notes has been paid and I don't know which one it is," all of the promissory notes are considered paid. If there are two promissory notes from one person, the greater one is considered paid and the lesser one is considered unpaid.
If a person tells a colleague: "One of your promissory notes in my possession has been paid," the greater one is considered to be paid and the lesser one is considered to be unpaid. If he tells him: "The debt you owe me has been paid," all of the promissory notes he has against him are considered paid.
יב
האומר לבניו שטר בין שטרותי פרוע ואיני יודע איזה הוא שטרותיו כולן פרועין, נמצא לאחד שם שני שטרות הגדול פרוע והקטן אינו פרוע אמר לחבירו שטר לך בידי פרוע הגדול פרוע והקטן אינו פרוע, חוב לך בידי פרוע כל שטרות שיש לו עליו כולן פרועין.
FOOTNOTES
1.
היה ראובן חייב לשמעון מנה וכו' עד שיגיע ליד שמעון כל חובו. א"א אחריות לוי השליח איני יודע מה הוא אלא שאם יכפור ראובן במלוה נמצא לוי פושע בדבר עכ"ל.
Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 17
1
The following laws apply when a lender dies and his heir comes and demands payment from a borrower, because of the promissory note for which he is liable. If the borrower claims: "I paid your father," and the heir says: "I don't know whether you did or not," we tell the borrower: "Arise and pay him."
If the borrower demands: "Take an oath for me," the heir should take an oath, while holding a sacred object, that his father did not instruct him via another person that the debt was paid, that he did not tell him this verbally, and that he did not find a note saying that this promissory note was paid among his father's legal documents. After taking this oath, he may collect the debt.
א
מלוה שמת ובא היורש לתבוע את הלוה בשטר שעליו ואמר פרעתי לאביך והיורש אומר איני יודע אומרים לו עמוד ושלם לו, אמר ישבע לי ה"ז נשבע בנקיטת חפץ שלא פקדנו אבא על ידי אחר ושלא אמר לנו אבא בפיו ושלא מצינו בין שטרותיו של אבא ששטר זה פרוע וגובה.
2
If the borrower died after the lender died, and the lender's heir comes and demands payment from the borrower's heir, he may not collect payment unless he takes an oath. We tell him: "Take an oath that 'My father did not instruct me...,' 'My father did not tell me...,' 'I did not find a note saying that this promissory note was paid among my father's legal documents.'"
Even if the heir was a baby lying in a cradle when his father died, he must take this oath and collect. If the lender made a statement immediately before his death that this promissory note has not been paid, the lender's heir need not take an oath before exacting payment. This applies even if he is collecting payment] from the heir.
ב
מת הלוה אחר שמת המלוה ובא היורש להפרע מן היורש לא יפרע אלא בשבועה ואומר לו תחלה ישבע שלא פקדנו אבא ושלא אמר לנו אבא ולא מצינו בין שטרותיו של אבא ששטר זה פרוע ואפילו היה היורש קטן המוטל בעריסה כשמת מורישו ה"ז נשבע ונוטל, ואם צוה המלוה בשעת מיתתו ששטר זה אינו פרוע יפרע היורש בלא שבועה אפילו מן היורש.
3
If, however, the borrower died first and then the lender died, the lender's heirs may not collect anything from the borrower's heirs. The rationale is that when the borrower died, the lender became obligated to take an oath before collecting, as we have explained in the previous halachah. He has already died, and a person does not bequeath an oath to his sons. For they are unable to take an oath that their father was not paid anything.
Nevertheless, if a judge transgressed and required the lender's heirs to take an oath and enabled them to collect their debt, the money that they collected should not be expropriated from their possession. Therefore, a promissory note that is used as the basis for a claim by the heirs of a lender who seek to collect from the heirs of a borrower when the borrower died first, should not be torn, nor should it be used to expropriate money.
It should not be used to expropriate money, because a person does not bequeath an oath to his sons, as explained. It should not, however, be torn, lest there be a judge who will expropriate money because of it.
ג
מת הלוה תחלה ואחר כך מת המלוה אין יורשי מלוה נוטלין מיורשי לוה כלום שבשעה שמת הלוה נתחייב המלוה להשבע ואח"כ יטול כמו שביארנו וכבר מת ואין אדם מוריש שבועה לבניו שאינן יכולין להשבע שלא נפרע אביהם כלום, ואם עבר הדיין והשביע יורשי מלוה וגבו את חובן אין מוציאין מידם לפיכך שטר חוב של יתומים הבאים להפרע מן היתומים שמת אביהן הלוה תחלה אין קורעין אותו ואין מגבין בו, אין גובין בו שאין אדם מוריש שבועה לבניו כמו שביארנו ואין קורעין אותו שמא יבא דיין שידון ויוציא בו.
4
In the situation described above, even if the debt was secured by a guarantor, the lender's heirs should not expropriate the debt from the guarantor. The rationale is that if they are told to collect the debt from the guarantor, the guarantor will go and seek payment from the borrower's heirs.
ד
אפילו היה שם ערב ומת הלוה תחלה לא יפרעו יורשי המלוה מן הערב, שאם תאמר יפרעו מן הערב הרי הערב חוזר ונפרע מיורשי לוה.
5
Extrapolation is not made from this law to a similar instance. Instead, when a person who impairs the legal power of a promissory note then dies -although he is not entitled to collect the debt unless he takes an oath - his children may take an oath that their father did not instruct them..., their father did not tell them..., they did not find a note saying that this promissory note was paid in its entirety among his father's legal documents. They may then collect the remainder of the sum stated in the promissory note from the lender or from his heirs.
ה
אין דנין מדין זה לכל הדומה לו אלא הרי הפוגם את שטרו ומת אע"פ שאינו גובה אלא בשבועה הרי בניו נשבעין שלא פקדנו אבא ולא צונו אבא ולא מצינו בין שטרותיו של אבא שכל השטר הזה פרוע וגובין את שאר השטר בין מן המלוה בין מיורשיו.
6
When a lender's heir comes to collect payment of a promissory note from the borrower's heirs and the latter say: "Our father told us: 'I did not borrow the money mentioned in this debt,'" the lender's heirs may collect the debt without taking an oath. The rationale is that whenever a person says "I did not borrow," it is as if he says: "I did not pay."
Similarly, when the lender himself comes to collect payment from the heirs of a borrower, and they say: "Our father told us: 'I did not borrow the money mentioned in this debt,'" the lender may collect the debt without taking an oath. This applies even if in the promissory note the lender stated that he would accept the borrower's word whenever he claims to have paid the debt. For in this instance as well, we follow the rationale that whenever a person says "I did not borrow," it is as if he says: "I did not pay."
ו
יורש שבא לגבות מן היורש ואמרו יורשי לוה אמר לנו אבא לא לויתי חוב זה הרי יורשי המלוה גובין שלא בשבועה שכל האומר לא לויתי כאומר לא פרעתי דמי, וכן מלוה שבא להפרע מיורשי לוה ואמרו אמר לנו אבא לא לויתי חוב זה ה"ז גובהו בלא שבועה אפילו האמינו בשטר כל זמן שאמר פרעתי שכל האומר לא לויתי כאומר לא פרעתי.
7
The following laws apply when the lender's heir comes and demands payment from a borrower on the basis of a promissory note that contains a stipulation that the borrower's word will be accepted, whenever the borrower says: "I paid the debt." He is required to take a sh'vuat hesset that he paid this debt and is freed of liability. This applies even if the stipulation does not state: "Your word will be accepted against a claim issued by my heirs." The rationale is that the very basis of the promissory note depends on this stipulation.
If the stipulation states that the borrower's word would be accepted without an oath, he is not required to take an oath, even to the lender's heirs.
ז
יורש שבא להפרע מן הלוה בשטר שיש בו נאמנות ללוה כל זמן שיאמר פרעתי הרי הלוה נשבע היסת שפרע לשטר זה ונפטר אע"פ שלא כתב לו והרי אתה נאמן על יורשי שעיקר השטר על תנאי זה היה, אם התנה עליו שיהא נאמן בלא שום שבועה אינו נשבע אפילו ליורשי מלוה.
8
The following laws apply when the lender's heir is below majority, he possesses a promissory noted owed to his father, but a receipt for this note was produced after the father's death. We do not rip up the promissory note, nor do we allow payment to be expropriated on its basis until the heir reaches majority. The rationale is that it is possible that the receipt is a forgery. That possibility is reinforced by the fact that the borrower did not produce it during the lender's lifetime.
ח
יורש קטן שהיה שט"ח לאביו ויצא עליו שובר אחר מיתת אביו אין קורעין את השטר ואין מגבין בו עד שיגדלו היתומים שמא שובר זה מזוייף הוא ולפיכך לא הוציאו הלוה בחיי אביו.
9
When a person produces a promissory note against a colleague, stating that it was composed in Babylonia, he collects the debt in the coinage of Babylonia. If the promissory note was written in Eretz Yisrael, he should collect the debt in the coinage of Eretz Yisrael. This is not the case with regard to aketubah
The following rules apply when the promissory note did not state the place where it was composed. If the lender produced it in Babylonia, he should collect the debt in the coinage of Babylonia. If he produced it in Eretz Yisrael, he should collect the debt in the coinage of Eretz Yisrael. If the lender sought to collect the debt in the coinage of the place where he produced the promissory note, and the borrower protested, claiming that he is obligated to pay in a coinage that is worth less than the local coinage, the lender should support his claim with an oath. He may then collect the debt. If the promissory note states that money is owed without any more specifics, the lender may collect only what the borrower agrees to pay.
From these laws, we can derive the following principles: A legal document that does not mention the place where it was composed is acceptable for all matters. Similarly, a legal document that is not dated is acceptable, even though it is testimony that cannot be nullified through hazamah. The rationale is that in financial laws, we are not stringent and do not subject the witnesses to precise cross-examination and interrogation, as will be explained. This leniency was adopted so as not to prevent loans from being granted. For this reason, post-dated promissory notes are acceptable, although the testimony of the witnesses who signed cannot be nullified through hazamah as will be explained in the appropriate place.
ט
המוציא שטר חוב על חבירו והיה כתוב בבבל מגבהו ממעות בבל, היה כתוב בארץ ישראל מגבהו ממעות ארץ ישראל מה שאין כן בכתובה, לא היה בשטר שם מקום והוציאו בבבל מגבהו ממעות בבל הוציאו בארץ ישראל מגבהו ממעות א"י, בא לגבות ממעות המקום שיצא בו השטר וטען הלוה שהמעות שאני חייב לו מכסף שהוא פחות מזה המטבע ישבע המלוה ויטול, היה בו כסף סתם מה שירצה לוה מגבהו, מכאן אתה למד ששטר שאין בו שם מקום שנכתב בו כשר לכל דבר, והוא הדין לשטר שאין בו זמן כלל שהוא כשר אע"פ שעדות זו אי אתה יכול להזימה שאין מדקדקין בדיני ממונות בדרישה וחקירה כמו שיתבאר כדי שלא תנעול דלת בפני לווין, ולפיכך שטרי חוב המאוחרין כשרין אע"פ שאין אתה יכול להזימן כמו שיתבאר במקומו.
Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 18
1
When a person lends money to a colleague without any stipulations, all of the borrower's property is on lien and bound to the debt. Therefore, when the lender comes to collect his debt, he should demand payment from the debtor first. If the debtor does not have money, but is in possession of either landed or movable property, he may collect the debt from them with the borrower's consent. If the borrower did not give the property willingly, the lender should have the property expropriated by the court.
If the property in the borrower's possession was not equal in value to the amount stated in the promissory note, the lender may expropriate the debt from all the property that was in the borrower's possession, even though it is now sold or given as presents to others. The rationale is that since the borrower sold or gave away the property after it was subjugated to the lien of this debt, he may expropriate the property from the possession of purchasers or the recipients of the presents. This is called being toreif.
To what does the above apply? To landed property in the borrower's possession at the time of the loan. Property that the borrower acquired after the loan was given, by contrast, is not automatically on lien to the creditor, and he may not expropriate it from purchasers. If, however, the lender established the stipulation that all the property that the borrower will acquire afterwards will be on lien for him to collect the debt from it, property that the borrower acquired after taking the loan and subsequently sold or gave away may be expropriated by a creditor.
א
המלוה את חבירו סתם הרי כל נכסיו אחראין וערבאין לחוב זה, לפיכך כשיבא לגבות תובע את בעל חובו תחלה אם מצא עמו נכסים בין מטלטלין בין קרקעות גובה מהן ברצון הלוה, ואם לא נתן הלוה מדעתו מגבין אותו ב"ד, לא הספיק לו כל הנמצא כנגד שטר חובו הרי זה גובה מכל הקרקעות שהיו ללוה אע"פ שהן עתה מכורין לאחרים או נתונים במתנה, הואיל ומכר הלוה או נתן אחר שנשתעבד בחוב זה ה"ז מוציא מיד הלקוחות או מיד בעלי המתנות וזהו הנקרא טורף, בד"א בקרקעות שהיו לו בעת שלוה, אבל נכסים הבאין לו לאחר שלוה לא נשתעבדו לב"ח ואינו טורפן, ואם התנה עליו שכל נכסים שיקנה יהיו משועבדין להפרע מהן וקנה אחר שלוה ומכר או נתן הרי בעל חוב טורף מהן.
2
The above statements apply only to landed property. Movable property that has been sold, by contrast, is not on lien to a debt. Even property in the borrower's possession at the time of the loan may not be expropriated by his creditor.
If the debtor transferred a lien to all his movable property by virtue of the lien on landed property so that the creditor can expropriate everything, he may expropriate that movable property. This applies only when he writes in the promissory note: "I have transferred to you a lien on my movable property by virtue of the lien on my landed property. This is not an asmachta, nor is this a standard form of a legal document."
Similarly, he may write: "All of the property that I will purchase in the future, whether landed property or movable property, is on lien to you so that you can expropriate payment from it, and the lien on my movable property is transferred to you by virtue of the lien on my landed property, so that you can expropriate payment from them. This is not an asmachta, nor is this a standard form of a legal document." In such an instance, the creditor may expropriate even the movable property that the borrower purchased after he borrowed the money. The rationale is that any stipulation made concerning a financial transaction is binding.
ב
אין כל הדברים אמורין אלא בקרקע אבל המטלטלין אין עליהן אחריות אפילו מטלטלין שהיו לו בעת שלוה שמכרן לשעתו אין בעל חוב טורף אותן, הקנה לבעל חובו כל המטלטלין על גב קרקע שיש לו להיותו נפרע מן הכל הרי זה טורף מאותן המטלטלין והוא שיכתוב לו בשטר חובו שהקניתי לך מטלטלין שיש לי על גב הקרקע שיש לי שלא כאסמכתא ושלא כטופסי השטרות, וכן אם כתב שכל נכסים שאני עתיד לקנות בין קרקעות בין מטלטלין הרי הן משועבדים לך להפרע מהן והמטלטלין קנויין לך על גב הקרקעות להפרע מהן שלא כאסמכתא ושלא כטופסי השטרות ה"ז טורף אף מן המטלטלין שקנה הלוה לאחר שלוה שכל תנאי שבממון קיים.
3
The following laws apply when a person designates a field of his as an ipotiki for a creditor for a debt, or for a woman for herketubah - i.e., he composed a legal document stating that they should collect payment from that source - and a river flooded the field. The creditor may expropriate other property as payment for the debt. If, however, it was stipulated that he should not derive payment from any place other than this, he should not expropriate other property.
Similarly, if a person borrowed money and explicitly stipulated that his property is not on lien to the debt, the creditor may never collect this debt from property that has been sold to others.
ג
עשה שדהו אפותיקי לבעל חובו או לאשה בכתובתה והוא שיכתוב להן מכאן תגבו ושטפו נהר ה"ז גובה משאר נכסים וטורף אותן, ואם התנה עמו שלא יהיה לו פרעון אלא מזו אינו גובה משאר נכסים, וכן אם לוה ממנו ופירש שאין לו אחריות עליו הרי זה אינו גובה מן המשועבדין לעולם.
4
When a person designates a field of his as an ipotiki for a creditor for a debt, or for a woman for her ketubah and then sells it, the sale is binding. If when the creditor comes to collect his debt, he does not find any property that has not been sold, he may expropriate the field that had been designated from the person who purchased it.
When does the above apply? When the debtor sold the field for a limited amount of time. If, however, he desired to sell it forever, the sale is not binding.
ד
עשה שדהו אפותיקי לבעל חובו או לאשה בכתובתה ומכרה ה"ז מכורה וכשיבא ב"ח לגבות אם לא ימצא נכסים בני חורין יטרוף אותה, בד"א בשמכר לשעתה אבל מכרה ממכר עולם אינה מכורה. 1
5
When a person designates a servant as an ipotiki, a creditor can expropriate the servant in payment of the debt even if he was sold to another person. ' The rationale is that the matter will be publicized. If he designates his cow as an ipotiki, a creditor may not expropriate the cow. The same ruling applies with regard to other movable property, for the matter will not be publicized.
ה
עשה עבדו אפותיקי ומכרו הרי בעל חוב גובה ממנו מפני שיש לו קול, עשה שורו אפותיקי ומכרו אין ב"ח גובה ממנו וכן שאר המטלטלין מפני שאין להן קול.
6
When a master designates his servant as an ipotiki and then frees him, he obtains his freedom. This applies even if he wrote in the promissory note: "You will not receive payment from any source but this."
Similar rules apply if he consecrates the servant. The rationale is that [the prohibition against leaven, freeing a servant and consecration remove the lien from an article.
The creditor may collect his debt from the debtor. If he does not have the means to pay him, he must compose a promissory note acknowledging his debt, and with that promissory note he can expropriate property that was sold by the debtor after the date of this second promissory note.
Why is he obligated to pay the debt? Because he caused his colleague's money to be lost. And whenever a person causes a colleague a loss, he must make financial restitution, as explained in the appropriate place.
We also compel the servant's second master to free him as well. This is a measure enacted for the correction of society, lest the creditor encounter the servant in the marketplace at a later time and say: "You are my slave."
ו
עבד שעשאהו רבו אפותיקי ושחררו אע"פ שכתב לו לא יהיה לך פרעון אלא מזה יצא לחירות, וכן אם הקדישו שהחמץ והשחרור וההקדש מפקיעין מיד שיעבוד והרי ב"ח גובה חובו מן הלוה וכותב עליו שטר בחובו וטורף מזמן זה השטר, ולמה הוא חייב לשלם מפני שגורם לאבד ממון חבירו וכל הגורם להזיק משלם כמו שבארנו במקומו, וכופין את רבו השני לשחררו מפני תקון העולם שלא ימצאנו בשוק ויאמר לו עבדי אתה. 2
7
When a person consecrates his property, the creditor cannot expropriate the property from the Temple treasury, for the consecration of property lifts the lien from it.
When the property is redeemed from the Temple treasury, we estimate how much a person would desire to give for this field, so that the creditor will be paid his due, or the woman the money due her by virtue of her ketubah. Therefore, when the field is redeemed and becomes unconsecrated property in the possession of the purchaser, the creditor can come and expropriate his debt from it, or the woman can take it as payment for the money due her by virtue of her ketubah, as we have explained in Hilchot Arachin.
ז
המקדיש נכסיו אין בעל חוב יכול לטרוף מן ההקדש שההקדש מפקיע השיעבוד וכשפודין הקרקע מיד ההקדש אומדין כמה אדם רוצה ליתן בשדה זו על מנת שיתן לבעל חוב את חובו ולאשה כתובתה, לפיכך לכשתפדה ותצא לחולין ביד הלוקח יבא בעל חוב ויטרוף אותה או האשה בכתובתה כמו שביארנו בערכין.
8
When a creditor comes to expropriate a field from the purchaser, if the purchaser has money in his possession, he may eliminate the creditor's claim by paying him the money for which he is expropriating the field. The purchaser then demands repayment from the seller. If, however, the debtor had designated the field as an ipotiki, the purchaser may not eliminate the creditor's claim by paying him.
ח
בעל חוב שבא לטרוף אם יש מעות ללוקח יכול לסלקו וליתן לו דמי מה שהוא טורף וחוזר הלוקח ותובע למוכר, ואם עשה אותו אפותיקי אינו יכול לסלקו בדמים.
9
The purchaser is also given the upper hand in the following situation: Reuven owed Shimon 200 zuz. Reuven owned two fields. He sold one to Levi for a maneh, and then sold him the other one for a second maneh. Shimon expropriated one for a manehand then sought to expropriate the other for the second maneh that was owed him. Levi brought 200 zuz in coin and told Shimon: "If you desire to consider the field that you already expropriated as payment for the entire 200 zuz that you are owed, that is acceptable. If not, here are the 200 zuz of the debt; rescind your claim." Levi is given the upper hand.
If Shimon accepted Levi's proposition and kept the one field, Levi cannot demand payment from Reuven for more than one maneti,despite the fact that Shimon accepted it as compensation for 200zuz.
ט
ראובן שהיה חייב לשמעון מאתים והיו לו שתי שדות ומכר אחת מהן ללוי במנה וחזר ומכר לו השניה במנה ובא שמעון וטרף אחת במנה וחזר לטרוף השניה במנה הנשאר לו והביא לו מאתים ואמר לו אם תרצה להיות השדה שטרפת שומה לך בכל המאתים שיש לך הרי מוטב ואם לאו הילך מאתים של חובך והסתלק הדין עם לוי, רצה שמעון ועמד בה אע"פ שקבלה במאתים אין לוי חוזר ותובע ראובן אלא במנה.
10
The creditor, by contrast, is given the upper hand in the following situation. Reuven owed Shimon 200 zuz. Reuven died and left one field that was worth 100 zuz. Shimon came and expropriated it. The orphans gave Shimon 100 zuz worth from the movable property that their father left, and thus removed Shimon from it. Shimon may, however, return and expropriate it for the remainder of his debt. The rationale is that by giving him the 100zuz, they performed a mitzvah, for it is a mitzvah for heirs to pay their father's debt.
If the heirs told Shimon: "This 100 is for the field you expropriated," he cannot come back and expropriate it again for the remainder of the money owed him.
י
מת ראובן והניח שדה אחת שוה מאה ובא שמעון וטרפה ונתנו לו היתומים מאה מן המטלטלין שהניח אביהן וסילקוהו ה"ז חוזר וטורף אותה בשאר חובו שמאה שנתנו לו מצוה עשו שמצוה על היתומים לפרוע חובות אביהם, ואם אמרו לו אלו במאה דמי השדה שטרפת אינו יכול לחזור ולטרוף אותה פעם אחרת בשאר חובו.
FOOTNOTES
• Tuesday, 10 Elul, 5776 · 13 September 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Friday. Elul 10, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Teitsei, Shishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 55-59. Also 28-30.
Tanya: And this is (p. 455) ...the sea." (p. 457).
Great elders of the Alter Rebbe's chassidim used to say that yechidus (private audience with the Rebbe) means: "clear," "designated," "united." The sources of these three interpretations are in Shekalim 6:2, Yevamot 62a, and Bereishit Raba 20.
This means that the idea of yechidus is:
To clarify one's own status;
To designate a mode of avoda for him in "turn(ing) away from evil" and in the acquisition of fine character traits;
And that he should bind himself1 in total oneness, and utterly dedicate himself1 with all his desires.
FOOTNOTES
1.To the Rebbe.
• Daily Thought:
The Engaged Child
Watch a child involved in an activity.Whatever a child is doing, there is the child, all the child.
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