Torah Reading
Ki Teitzei: Deuteronomy 21:10 “When you go out to war against your enemies, and Adonai your God hands them over to you, and you take prisoners, 11 and you see among the prisoners a woman who looks good to you, and you feel attracted to her and want her as your wife; 12 you are to bring her home to your house, where she will shave her head, cut her fingernails 13 and remove her prison clothing. She will stay there in your house, mourning her father and mother for a full month; after which you may go in to have sexual relations with her and be her husband, and she will be your wife. 14 In the event that you lose interest in her, you are to let her go wherever she wishes; but you may not sell her for money or treat her like a slave, because you humiliated her.
15 “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and unloved wives have borne him children, and if the firstborn son is the child of the unloved wife; 16 then, when it comes time for him to pass his inheritance on to his sons, he may not give the inheritance due the firstborn to the son of the loved wife in place of the son of the unloved one, who is in fact the firstborn. 17 No, he must acknowledge as firstborn the son of the unloved wife by giving him a double portion of everything he owns, for he is the firstfruits of his manhood, and the right of the firstborn is his.
18 “If a man has a stubborn, rebellious son who will not obey what his father or mother says, and even after they discipline him he still refuses to pay attention to them; 19 then his father and mother are to take hold of him and bring him out to the leaders of his town, at the gate of that place, 20 and say to the leaders of his town, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious, he doesn’t pay attention to us, lives wildly, gets drunk.’ 21 Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death; in this way you will put an end to such wickedness among you, and all Isra’el will hear about it and be afraid.
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 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27
Psalms 25:(0) By David:
(1) I lift my inner being to you, Adonai;
2 I trust you, my God.
Don’t let me be disgraced,
don’t let my enemies gloat over me.
3 No one waiting for you will be disgraced;
disgrace awaits those who break faith for no reason.
4 Make me know your ways, Adonai,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth, and teach me;
for you are the God who saves me,
my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember your compassion and grace, Adonai;
for these are ages old.
7 Don’t remember my youthful sins or transgressions;
but remember me according to your grace
for the sake of your goodness, Adonai.
8 Adonai is good, and he is fair;
this is why he teaches sinners the way [to live],
9 leads the humble to do what is right
and teaches the humble [to live] his way.
10 All Adonai’s paths are grace and truth
to those who keep his covenant and instructions.
11 For the sake of your name, Adonai,
forgive my wickedness, great though it is.
12 Who is the person who fears Adonai?
He will teach him the way to choose.
13 He will remain prosperous,
and his descendants will inherit the land.
14 Adonai relates intimately with those who fear him;
he makes them know his covenant.
15 My eyes are always directed toward Adonai,
for he will free my feet from the net.
16 Turn to me, and show me your favor;
for I am alone and oppressed.
17 The troubles of my heart are growing and growing;
bring me out of my distress.
18 See my affliction and suffering,
and take all my sins away.
19 Consider my enemies, how many there are
and how cruelly they hate me.
20 Protect me and rescue me;
don’t let me be disgraced,
for I take refuge in you.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
because my hope is in you.
22 God! Redeem Isra’el
from all their troubles!
26:(0) By David:
(1) Vindicate me, Adonai,
for I have lived a blameless life;
unwaveringly I trust in Adonai.
2 Examine me, Adonai, test me,
search my mind and heart.
3 For your grace is there before my eyes,
and I live my life by your truth.
4 I have not sat with worthless folks,
I won’t consort with hypocrites,
5 I hate the company of evildoers,
I will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash my hands in innocence
and walk around your altar, Adonai,
7 lifting my voice in thanks
and proclaiming all your wonders.
8 Adonai, I love the house where you live,
the place where your glory abides.
9 Don’t include me with sinners
or my life with the bloodthirsty.
10 In their hands are evil schemes;
their right hands are full of bribes.
11 As for me, I will live a blameless life.
Redeem me and show me favor.
12 My feet are planted on level ground;
in the assemblies I will bless Adonai.
27:(0) By David:
(1) Adonai is my light and salvation;
whom do I need to fear?
Adonai is the stronghold of my life;
of whom should I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assailed me
to devour my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
they stumbled and fell.
3 If an army encamps against me,
my heart will not fear;
if war breaks out against me,
even then I will keep trusting.
4 Just one thing have I asked of Adonai;
only this will I seek:
to live in the house of Adonai
all the days of my life,
to see the beauty of Adonai
and visit in his temple.
5 For he will conceal me in his shelter
on the day of trouble,
he will hide me in the folds of his tent,
he will set me high on a rock.
6 Then my head will be lifted up
above my surrounding foes,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, sing praises to Adonai.
7 Listen, Adonai, to my voice when I cry;
show favor to me; and answer me.
8 “My heart said of you, ‘Seek my face.’”
Your face, Adonai, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
don’t turn your servant away in anger.
You are my help; don’t abandon me;
don’t leave me, God my savior.
10 Even though my father and mother have left me,
Adonai will care for me.
11 Teach me your way, Adonai;
lead me on a level path
because of my enemies —
12 don’t give me up to the whims of my foes;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
also those who are breathing violence.
13 If I hadn’t believed that I would see
Adonai’s goodness in the land of the living, . . .
14 Put your hope in Adonai, be strong,
and let your heart take courage!
Yes, put your hope in Adonai!
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:
• Nachmanides Renews Jerusalem community (1267)
Nachmanides (Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, 1194-1270) arrived in Jerusalem, after being forced to flee his native Spain (see "On This Date" for Av 12) and renewed its Jewish community there. The synagogue he established is functional today, having been restored following the liberation of the Old City during the Six-Day War in 1967.
Daily Quote:
Rabban Gamliel the son of Rabbi Judah HaNassi would say: Beautiful is the study of Torah with the way of the world, for the toil of them both causes sin to be forgotten. Ultimately, all Torah study that is not accompanied with work is destined to cease and to cause sin.[Ethics of the Fathers 2:2]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Parshat Ki Teitzei, 2nd Portion (Deuteronomy 21:22-22:7) with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 21
22If a man commits a sin for which he is sentenced to death, and he is put to death, you shall [then] hang him on a pole. כבוְכִי־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה בְאִ֗ישׁ חֵ֛טְא מִשְׁפַּט־מָ֖וֶת וְהוּמָ֑ת וְתָלִ֥יתָ אֹת֖וֹ עַל־עֵֽץ:
If a man commits a sin for which he is sentenced to death: The juxtaposition of these passages [i.e., this one and that of the wayward and rebellious son] teaches [us] that if his father and mother spare him, he will eventually lead an evil life style and commit [grave] sins for which he will be sentenced to death by the court. — [Tanchuma 1] וכי יהיה באיש חטא משפט מות: סמיכות הפרשיות מגיד, שאם חסים עליו אביו ואמו, סוף שיצא לתרבות רעה ויעבור עבירות ויתחייב מיתה בבית דין:
you shall [then] hang him on a pole: Our Rabbis said: All who are stoned [by the court] must [afterwards] be hanged, for the verse (23) says,“a hanging [human corpse] is a blasphemy of God.” [Thus, we find that the sin of blasphemy is connected with hanging,] and a blasphemer is punished by stoning. [Consequently, our Rabbis taught that all those stoned must be hanged.]- [San. 45b] ותלית אותו על עץ: רבותינו אמרו, כל הנסקלין, נתלין, שנאמר (פסוק כג) כי קללת אלהים תלוי. והמברך ה', בסקילה:
23But you shall not leave his body on the pole overnight. Rather, you shall bury him on that [same] day, for a hanging [human corpse] is a blasphemy of God, and you shall not defile your land, which the Lord, your God, is giving you as an inheritance. כגלֹֽא־תָלִ֨ין נִבְלָת֜וֹ עַל־הָעֵ֗ץ כִּֽי־קָב֤וֹר תִּקְבְּרֶ֨נּוּ֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא כִּֽי־קִלְלַ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֖ים תָּל֑וּי וְלֹ֤א תְטַמֵּא֙ אֶת־אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַֽחֲלָֽה:
For a hanging [human corpse] is a blasphemy of God: Heb. קִלְלַת אלֹהִים. This is a degradation of the [Divine] King in Whose image Man is created, and the Israelites are God’s children. This is comparable to two identical twin brothers. One [of them] became king, while the other was arrested for robbery and hanged. Whoever saw him [the second brother, suspended on the gallows], would say,“The king is hanging!” [Therefore, the king ordered, and they removed him (Reggio ed.).] - [Sanh. 46b] Wherever [the term] קְלָלָה appears in Scripture, it means treating lightly (הָקֵל) and degrading. For example,“[And behold, you have with you Shimei the son of Gera…] and he cursed me with a severe curse (וְהוּא קִלְלַנִי קְלָלָה נִמְרֶצֶת)” (I Kings 2:8). - [See II Sam. 16:5-13] כי קללת אלהים תלוי: זלזולו של מלך הוא, שאדם עשוי בדמות דיוקנו וישראל הם בניו. משל לשני אחים תאומים שהיו דומין זה לזה, אחד נעשה מלך, ואחד נתפס ללסטיות ונתלה, כל הרואה אותו אומר המלך תלוי. כל קללה שבמקרא לשון הקל וזלזול, כמו (מלכים א' ב, ח) והוא קללני קללה נמרצת:
Deuteronomy Chapter 22
1You shall not see your brother's ox or sheep straying, and ignore them. [Rather,] you shall return them to your brother. אלֹֽא־תִרְאֶה֩ אֶת־שׁ֨וֹר אָחִ֜יךָ א֤וֹ אֶת־שֵׂיוֹ֙ נִדָּחִ֔ים וְהִתְעַלַּמְתָּ֖ מֵהֶ֑ם הָשֵׁ֥ב תְּשִׁיבֵ֖ם לְאָחִֽיךָ:
and ignore them: [I.e.,] by covering one’s eyes, pretending not to see it. והתעלמת: כובש עין כאלו אינו רואהו:
You shall not see… and ignore them: Heb. לֹא-תִרְאֶה וְהִתְעַלַּמְתָּ [lit., “You shall not see them… but rather, you shall ignore them!” What it really means is:] You shall not see them and ignore them [i.e., ignore your brother’s animals straying]; that is the simple meaning of the verse. Our Rabbis, however, explain that [although the verse clearly means that one must not ignore them, nevertheless, the verse is alluding to] situations when one is, in fact, permitted to ignore them [for example, if he is a kohen , and the animals have wandered into a cemetery, where kohanim may not enter, or if he is an honored sage, and it it is beneath his dignity to lead animals or carry packages in public places-he may “ignore” them, and he is not obligated to return them to his brother]. — [Sifrei 22:45, B.M. 30a] לא תראה, והתעלמת: לא תראה אותו שתתעלם ממנו, זהו פשוטו. ורבותינו אמרו פעמים שאתה מתעלם וכו':
2But if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, you shall bring it into your house, and it shall be with you until your brother seeks it out, whereupon you shall return it to him. בוְאִם־לֹ֨א קָר֥וֹב אָחִ֛יךָ אֵלֶ֖יךָ וְלֹ֣א יְדַעְתּ֑וֹ וַֽאֲסַפְתּוֹ֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ בֵּיתֶ֔ךָ וְהָיָ֣ה עִמְּךָ֗ עַ֣ד דְּר֤שׁ אָחִ֨יךָ֙ אֹת֔וֹ וַֽהֲשֵֽׁבֹת֖וֹ לֽוֹ:
[And it shall be with you] until your brother seeks it out: Would you imagine that one should return it to him before he asks for it? Rather, [the meaning is that you must keep the animal] until you investigate him, [verifying] that he is is not a swindler [by demanding that he produce identifying signs]. - [B. M. 27b, Sifrei 22:47] עד דרש אחיך: וכי תעלה על דעתך שיתנהו לו קודם שידרשהו, אלא דרשהו שלא יהא רמאי:
whereupon you shall return it to him: That there shall be something left in it to return, that it should not consume its [whole] value in your house, so you should claim it from him [from the owner]. From here, [the Rabbis] said: Any animal that works and eats, should work and eat [the proceeds of its work]; and [any animal] that does not work, yet still eats, should be sold [by the finder, and the money restored to the owner]. — [B.M. 28b] והשבתו לו: שתהא בו השבה, שלא יאכל בביתך כדי דמיו ותתבעם ממנו. מכאן אמרו, כל דבר שעושה ואוכל יעשה ויאכל, ושאינו עושה ואוכל, ימכר:
3So shall you do with his donkey, and so shall you do with his garment, and so shall you do with any lost article of your brother which he has lost and you have found. You shall not ignore [it]. גוְכֵ֧ן תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה לַֽחֲמֹר֗וֹ וְכֵ֣ן תַּֽעֲשֶׂה֘ לְשִׂמְלָתוֹ֒ וְכֵ֨ן תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֜ה לְכָל־אֲבֵדַ֥ת אָחִ֛יךָ אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאבַ֥ד מִמֶּ֖נּוּ וּמְצָאתָ֑הּ לֹ֥א תוּכַ֖ל לְהִתְעַלֵּֽם:
You shall not ignore [it]: You must not cover your eyes, pretending not to see it. לא תוכל להתעלם: לכבוש עינך כאלו אינך רואה אותו:
4You shall not see your brother's donkey or his ox fallen [under its load] on the road, and ignore them. [Rather,] you shall pick up [the load] with him. דלֹֽא־תִרְאֶה֩ אֶת־חֲמ֨וֹר אָחִ֜יךָ א֤וֹ שׁוֹרוֹ֙ נֹֽפְלִ֣ים בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְהִתְעַלַּמְתָּ֖ מֵהֶ֑ם הָקֵ֥ם תָּקִ֖ים עִמּֽוֹ:
You shall pick up [the load]: This is [the obligation of] טְעִינָה,“loading,” [i.e.,] to load up a burden that has fallen off it [the animal, as opposed to פְּרִיקָה, “unloading” a burden too heavy for the animal, delineated in Exod. 23:5]. — [B.M. 32a] הקם תקים: זו טעינה. להטעין משאוי שנפל מעליו:
[You shall pick up (the load)] with him: [I.e.,] with the owner. However, if the owner walks away, sits down, and says, “Since the commandment is incumbent upon you, if you want to load, [go ahead and] load!” you are exempt. — [B.M. 32a] עמו: עם בעליו, אבל אם הלך וישב לו, ואמר לו הואיל ועליך מצוה אם רצית לטעון טעון, פטור:
5A man's attire shall not be on a woman, nor may a man wear a woman's garment because whoever does these [things] is an abomination to the Lord, your God. הלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֤ה כְלִי־גֶ֨בֶר֙ עַל־אִשָּׁ֔ה וְלֹֽא־יִלְבַּ֥שׁ גֶּ֖בֶר שִׂמְלַ֣ת אִשָּׁ֑ה כִּ֧י תֽוֹעֲבַ֛ת יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶי֖ךָ כָּל־עֹ֥שֵׂה אֵֽלֶּה:
A man’s attire shall not be on a woman: making her appear like a man, thereby enabling her to go among men, for this can only be for the [purpose of] adultery. — [Nazir 59a] לא יהיה כלי גבר על אשה: שתהא דומה לאיש כדי שתלך בין האנשים, שאין זו אלא לשם ניאוף:
nor may a man wear a woman’s garment: to go and abide among women. Another explanation: [In addition to not wearing a woman’s garment,] a man must also not remove his pubic hair or the hair of his armpits [for this is a practice exclusive to women]. — [Nazir 59a] ולא ילבש גבר שמלת אשה: לילך ולישב בין הנשים. דבר אחר שלא ישיר שער הערוה ושער של בית השחי:
because… is an abomination: The Torah forbids only [the wearing of] clothes that would lead to abomination [i.e., immoral and illicit behavior]. — [Nazir 59a] כי תועבת: לא אסרה תורה אלא לבוש המביא לידי תועבה:
6If a bird's nest chances before you on the road, on any tree, or on the ground, and [it contains] fledglings or eggs, if the mother is sitting upon the fledglings or upon the eggs, you shall not take the mother upon the young. וכִּ֣י יִקָּרֵ֣א קַן־צִפּ֣וֹר | לְפָנֶ֡יךָ בַּדֶּ֜רֶךְ בְּכָל־עֵ֣ץ | א֣וֹ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֶפְרֹחִים֙ א֣וֹ בֵיצִ֔ים וְהָאֵ֤ם רֹבֶ֨צֶת֙ עַל־הָֽאֶפְרֹחִ֔ים א֖וֹ עַל־הַבֵּיצִ֑ים לֹֽא־תִקַּ֥ח הָאֵ֖ם עַל־הַבָּנִֽים:
If a bird’s nest chances before you: This excludes [a bird nest that is] ready at hand. - [Chul. 139a, Sifrei 22:55] כי יקרא: פרט למזומן:
you shall not take the mother: while she is on her young, [whereas if she is only hovering overhead, you may take her from upon her young]. - [Chul. 140b] לא תקח האם: בעודה על בניה:
7You shall send away the mother, and [then] you may take the young for yourself, in order that it should be good for you, and you should lengthen your days. זשַׁלֵּ֤חַ תְּשַׁלַּח֙ אֶת־הָאֵ֔ם וְאֶת־הַבָּנִ֖ים תִּקַּח־לָ֑ךְ לְמַ֨עַן֙ יִ֣יטַב לָ֔ךְ וְהַֽאֲרַכְתָּ֖ יָמִֽים:
in order that it should be good for you, [and you should lengthen your days]: If in the case of a commandment easy [to fulfill, like this one] for which there is no monetary expense, Scripture says,“[Do this] in order that it should be good for you, and that you should lengthen your days,” then how much greater is the reward for [the fulfillment of] commandments that are more difficult to observe [or for which there is a monetary expense]. — [Sifrei 22:64, Chul. 142a] למען ייטב לך: אם מצוה קלה שאין בה חסרון כיס, אמרה תורה למען ייטב לך והארכת ימים, קל וחומר למתן שכרן של מצות חמורות:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 49-54
• 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 49
This psalm is a strong message and inspiration for all, rich and poor alike, rebuking man for transgressions which, owing to habit, he no longer considers sinful; yet, these sins incriminate man on the Day of Judgement. The psalm speaks specifically to the wealthy, who rely not on God but on their wealth.
1. For the Conductor, by the sons of Korach, a psalm.
2. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all you inhabitants of the world;
3. sons of common folk and sons of nobility, rich and poor alike.
4. My mouth speaks wisdom, and the thoughts of my heart are understanding.
5. I incline my ear to the parable; I will unravel my riddle upon the harp.
6. Why am I afraid in times of trouble? [Because] the sins I trod upon surround me.
7. There are those who rely on their wealth, who boast of their great riches.
8. Yet a man cannot redeem his brother, nor pay his ransom to God.
9. The redemption of their soul is too costly, and forever unattainable.
10. Can one live forever, never to see the grave?
11. Though he sees that wise men die, that the fool and the senseless both perish, leaving their wealth to others-
12. [nevertheless,] in their inner thoughts their houses will last forever, their dwellings for generation after generation; they have proclaimed their names throughout the lands.
13. But man will not repose in glory; he is likened to the silenced animals.
14. This is their way-their folly remains with them, and their descendants approve of their talk, Selah.
15. Like sheep, they are destined for the grave; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright will dominate them at morning; their form will rot in the grave, away from its abode.
16. But God will redeem my soul from the hands of the grave, for He will take me, Selah.
17. Do not fear when a man grows rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
18. for when he dies he will take nothing, his glory will not descend after him.
19. For he [alone] praises himself in his lifetime; but [all] will praise you if you better yourself.
20. He will come to the generation of his forefathers; they shall not see light for all eternity.
21. Man [can live] in glory but does not understand; he is likened to the silenced animals.
Chapter 50
This psalm speaks of many ethics and morals. The psalmist rebukes those who fail to repent humbly and modestly. He also admonishes those who do not practice that which they study, and merely appear to be righteous; they sin and cause others to sin.
1. A psalm by Asaph. Almighty God, the Lord, spoke and called to the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2. Out of Zion, the place of perfect beauty, God appeared.
3. Our God will come and not be silent; a fire will consume before Him, His surroundings are furiously turbulent.
4. He will call to the heavens above, and to the earth, to avenge His people:
5. "Gather to Me My pious ones, those who made a covenant with me over a sacrifice.”
6. Then the heavens declared His righteousness, for God is Judge forever.
7. Listen, my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against you-I am God your God.
8. Not for [the lack of] your sacrifices will I rebuke you, nor for [the lack of] your burnt offerings which ought to be continually before Me.
9. I do not take oxen from your house, nor goats from your pens;
10. for every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle of a thousand mountains.
11. I know every bird of the mountains, and the crawling creatures of the field are in My possession.
12. Were I hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is mine.
13. Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14. Offer confession as a sacrifice to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15. and call to Me on the day of distress; I will free you, and you will honor Me.
16. But to the wicked, God said, "What does it help you to discuss My laws, and bear My covenant upon your lips?
17. For you hate discipline, and throw My words behind you.
18. When you see a thief you run with him, and your lot is with adulterers.
19. You sent forth your mouth for evil, and attach your tongue to deceit.
20. You sit down to talk against your brother; your mother's son you defame.
21. You have done these things and I kept silent, so you imagine that I am like you-[but] I will rebuke you and lay it clearly before your eyes.
22. Understand this now, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart and there be none to save you.
23. He who offers a sacrifice of confession honors Me; and to him who sets right his way, I will show the deliverance of God."
Chapter 51
This psalm speaks of when Nathan the prophet went to David's palace, and rebuked him for his sin with Bathsheba. David then secluded himself with God, offering awe-inspiring prayers and begging forgiveness. Every person should recite this psalm for his sins and transgressions.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David,
2. when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.
3. Be gracious to me, O God, in keeping with Your kindness; in accordance with Your abounding compassion, erase my transgressions.
4. Cleanse me thoroughly of my wrongdoing, and purify me of my sin.
5. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
6. Against You alone have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Your eyes; [forgive me] so that You will be justified in Your verdict, vindicated in Your judgment.
7. Indeed, I was begotten in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
8. Indeed, You desire truth in the innermost parts; teach me the wisdom of concealed things.
9. Purge me with hyssop and I shall be pure; cleanse me and I shall be whiter than snow.
10. Let me hear [tidings of] joy and gladness; then the bones which You have shattered will rejoice.
11. Hide Your face from my sins, and erase all my trespasses.
12. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew within me an upright spirit.
13. Do not cast me out of Your presence, and do not take Your Spirit of Holiness away from me.
14. Restore to me the joy of Your deliverance, and uphold me with a spirit of magnanimity.
15. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.
16. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, God of my deliverance; my tongue will sing Your righteousness.
17. My Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise.
18. For You do not desire that I bring sacrifices, nor do You wish burnt offerings.
19. The offering [desirable] to God is a contrite spirit; a contrite and broken heart, God, You do not disdain.
20. In Your goodwill, bestow goodness upon Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
21. Then will You desire sacrifices [offered in] righteousness, olah and other burnt offerings; then they will offer bullocks upon Your altar.
Chapter 52
David laments his suffering at the hands of Doeg, and speaks of Doeg's boasts about the evil he committed. David asks, "What does he think? Does he consider the doing of evil a mark of strength?" David also curses Doeg and those like him.
1. For the Conductor, a maskil by David,
2. when Doeg the Edomite came and informed Saul, saying to him, "David has come to the house of Achimelech.”
3. Why do you boast with evil, O mighty one? God's kindness is all day long.
4. Your tongue devises treachery; like a sharpened razor it works deceit.
5. You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking righteousness, Selah.
6. You love all devouring words, a deceitful tongue.
7. God will likewise shatter you forever; He will excise and pluck you from the tent, and uproot you from the land of the living forever.
8. The righteous will see it and be awed, and they will laugh at him:
9. "Here is the man who did not make God his stronghold, but trusted in his great wealth, and drew strength from his treachery.”
10. But I am like a fresh olive tree in the house of God; I trust in God's kindness forever and ever.
11. I will thank you forever for what You have done; I will hope in Your Name, for You are good to Your pious ones.
Chapter 53
This psalm speaks of when Titus pierced the curtain of the Holy of Holies with his sword, and thought he had killed "himself" (a euphemism for God).
1. For the Conductor, on the machalat,1 a mas-kil2 by David.
2. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God!" They have acted corruptly and committed abominable deeds; not one does good.
3. God looked down from heaven upon mankind, to see if there was any man of intelligence who searches for God.
4. But they all regressed together; they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
5. Indeed, the evildoers who devour My people as they devour bread, who do not call upon God, will come to realize.
6. There they will be seized with fright, a fright such as never was; for God scatters the bones of those encamped against you. You shamed them, for God rejected them.
7. O that out of Zion would come Israel's deliverance! When God returns the captivity of His people, Jacob will exult, Israel will rejoice.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument (Rashi).
2.A psalm intended to enlighten and impart knowledge(Metzudot).
Chapter 54
A prayer to God asking that in His might He save all who hope for His kindness. Read, and you will discover an awe-inspiring and wondrous prayer that should be said by all in the appropriate time.
1. For the Conductor, with instrumental music, a maskil by David,
2. when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, "Behold, David is hiding among us!”
3. O God, deliver me by Your Name, and vindicate me by Your might.
4. God, hear my prayer, listen to the words of my mouth.
5. For strangers have risen against me, and ruthless men have sought my soul; they are not mindful of God, Selah.
6. Behold, God is my helper; my Lord is with those who support my soul.
7. He will repay the evil of my watchful enemies; destroy them by Your truth.
8. With a free-will offering I will sacrifice to You; I will offer thanks to Your Name, O Lord, for it is good.
9. For He has saved me from every trouble, and my eye has seen [the downfall of] my enemy.
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 25, 26 and 27.
Chapter 25
The verses in this psalm are arranged according to the alphabet, excluding the letters Bet, Vav, and Kuf, which together equal the numerical value of Gehenom (purgatory). One who recites this psalm daily will not see the face of purgatory.
1. By David. To You, Lord, I lift my soul.
2. My God, I have put my trust in You. May I not be put to shame; may my enemies not gloat over me.
3. Indeed, may all who hope in You not be put to shame; let those who act treacherously without reason be shamed.
4. O Lord, make Your ways known to me; teach me Your paths.
5. Train me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I yearn for You all day.
6. O Lord, remember Your mercies and Your kindnesses, for they have existed for all time.
7. Do not recall the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; remember me in accordance with Your kindness, because of Your goodness, O Lord.
8. Good and upright is the Lord, therefore He directs sinners along the way.
9. He guides the humble with justice, and teaches the humble His way.
10. All the paths of the Lord are kindness and truth for those who observe His covenant and testimonies.
11. For the sake of Your Name, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12. Whoever is a God-fearing man, him will He teach the path that he should choose.
13. His soul will abide in well-being, and his descendants will inherit the earth.
14. The secret of the Lord is to those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.
15. My eyes are always turned to the Lord, for He releases my feet from the snare.
16. Turn to me and be compassionate to me, for I am alone and afflicted.
17. The sufferings of my heart have increased; deliver me from my hardships.
18. Behold my affliction and suffering, and forgive all my sins.
19. See how numerous my enemies have become; they hate me with a violent hatred.
20. Guard my soul and deliver me; may I not be put to shame, for I place my trust in You.
21. Let integrity and uprightness guard me, for my hope is in You.
22. Redeem Israel, O God, from all its afflictions.
Chapter 26
In this psalm King David inundates God with prayers and acts of piety, because he envies those who are his spiritual superiors, saying, "If only I were on their level of piety and virtue!"
1. By David. Judge me, O Lord, for in my innocence I have walked, and in the Lord I have trusted-I shall not falter.
2. Try me, O Lord, and test me; refine my mind and heart.
3. For Your kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked constantly in Your truth.
4. I did not sit with men of falsehood, and with hypocrites I will not mingle.
5. I detested the company of evildoers, and with the wicked I will not sit.
6. I wash my hands in purity, and circle Your altar, O Lord,
7. to give voice to thanks, and to recount all Your wonders.
8. I love the shelter of Your House, O Lord, and the place where Your glory resides.
9. Gather not in my soul with sinners, nor my life with men of bloodshed,
10. In whose hands are schemes, and whose right hand is filled with bribes.
11. But I walk in my innocence; redeem me and show me favor.
12. My foot stands on level ground; in assemblies I will bless the Lord.
Chapter 27
King David acknowledges and praises God, placing his trust in Him because of his victories in war. "Nevertheless, it is not wars that I desire, for I cannot gain perfection with them. Only one thing do I ask: to abide day and night in the study hall studying Torah, to gain perfection so that my soul may merit the life of the World to Come."
1. By David. The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life-whom shall I dread?
2. When evildoers approached me to devour my flesh, my oppressors and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
3. If an army were to beleaguer me, my heart would not fear; if war were to arise against me, in this I trust
4. One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I seek: that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the pleasantness of the Lord, and to visit His Sanctuary.
5. For He will hide me in His tabernacle on a day of adversity; He will conceal me in the hidden places of His tent; He will lift me upon a rock.
6. And then my head will be raised above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of jubilation; I will sing and chant to the Lord.
7. Lord, hear my voice as I call; be gracious to me and answer me.
8. In Your behalf my heart says, "Seek My countenance"; Your countenance, Lord, I seek.
9. Do not conceal Your countenance from me; do not cast aside Your servant in wrath. You have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, God of my deliverance.
10. Though my father and mother have forsaken me, the Lord has taken me in.
11. Lord, teach me Your way and lead me in the path of righteousness, because of my watchful enemies.
12. Do not give me over to the will of my oppressors, for there have risen against me false witnesses, and they speak evil.
13. [They would have crushed me] had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14. Hope in the Lord, be strong and let your heart be valiant, and hope in the Lord.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 12
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Monday, 9 Elul, 5776 · 12 September 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 12
• והנה מודעת זאת שישראל בטבעם הם רחמנים וגומלי חסדים
Now, it is well known that Jews by their very nature act compassionately and perform deeds of lovingkindness.1
מפני היות נפשותיהם נמשכות ממדותיו יתברך
[This is so] because their souls issue from G‑d’s attributes,
אשר החסד גובר בהן על מדת הדין והגבורה והצמצום
in which Chesed prevails over the attribute of din, Gevurah, andtzimtzum,
וכמו שכתוב: גבר חסדו על יראיו
as it is written,2 “His Chesed prevails over those who fear Him,” alluding to the fact that the Divine attribute of Chesed prevails over the Divine attribute of Gevurah.
שלכן נקראת הנשמה בת כהן, כמו שכתוב בזהר הקדוש
The soul is therefore called “daughter of the priest,” since it derives from the attribute of Chesed which is called “Kohen”, as is written in the sacredZohar.3
Since the soul derives from the Divine attributes which are dominated by kindness and compassion, Jews by their very nature are kind and compassionate.
והנה הצדקה הנמשכת מבחינה זו נקראת בשם מעשה הצדקה
Now, the charity that issues from this source — from the soul’s inherently kind and compassionate nature — is referred to as “the act of charity,”
כי שם מעשה נופל על דבר שכבר נעשה, או שנעשה תמיד ממילא
for the term “act” (maaseh) applies to that which is already done, or which is constantly being done spontaneously;
והיא דבר ההווה ורגיל תמיד
thus, something existent, common and constant.
ואף כאן
Here, too, with regard to tzedakah that is motivated by the soul’s innate sense of kindness and compassion,
הרי מדת החסד והרחמנות הוטבעה בנפשות כל בית ישראל מכבר
the trait of kindness and compassion is implanted in the souls of the entire House of Israel from aforetime,
מעת בריאותן והשתלשלותן ממדותיו יתברך
from the time that they were created and that they evolved from G‑d’s attributes,
כמו שכתוב: ויפח באפיו גו׳
as it is written4 in regard to Adam’s soul entering his body, “And He blew into his nostrils [a soul of life],”
ואתה נפחת בי
[and we likewise say]5 concerning the entry of each and every soul into its individual body, “You blew it into me,”
ומאן דנפח כו׳
and6 “He who blows, [blows from within him],” from his innermost being.
So, too, in the analogue: Since the soul emanates from the inward aspect of the Divine attributes, it is infused with them as well, so that the attribute of kindness dominates the soul even as it finds itself within the body.
וגם בכל יום ויום, בטובו מחדש מעשה בראשית
Furthermore,7 in His goodness [G‑d] renews the act (maaseh) of creation every single day, and this includes the supernal attributes.
וחדשים לבקרים גו׳
Likewise, with regard to souls below, [it is written],8 “They are new every morning....”
“Act” (maaseh) thus refers to a constant process, such as the renewal of the soul with its characteristic traits of kindness and compassion. The “act of tzedakah” hence refers to the tzedakah which a Jew practices by virtue of these innate character traits.
אך לשון עבודה אינו נופל אלא על דבר שהאדם עושה ביגיעה עצומה, נגד טבע נפשו
The term “service” (avodah), however, applies only to what a man does with immense exertion, contrary to his soul’s inclination,
Indeed, it is his very disinclination for a particular task that works against him, and necessitates such exertion.
רק שמבטל טבעו ורצונו, מפני רצון העליון ברוך הוא
but he overrules his nature and will out of deference to the Supreme Will;
כגון לייגע עצמו בתורה ובתפלה, עד מיצוי הנפש כו׳
exhausting himself, for example, in Torah and prayer, “to the extent of pressing out the soul....”9
Since the soul is not naturally inclined to such a situation, a great deal of toil and effort is required.
ואף כאן, במצות הצדקה, ליתן הרבה יותר מטבע רחמנותו ורצונו
In our case, too, with regard to the commandment of giving charity, [to “serve” entails] giving far more than [would be prompted by] the nature of one’s compassion and will.
וכמו שאמרו רז״ל על פסוק: נתון תתן, אפילו מאה פעמים
FOOTNOTES
1.
Yevamot 79a; see Tanya, Part I, end of ch. 1.
2.
Tehillim 103:11.
3.
Note of the Rebbe: “II, 95a.”
4.
Bereishit 2:7.
5.
Morning Blessings (Siddur Tehillat HaShem, p. 6); cf. Berachot 60b.
6.
Cited above (Part I, ch. 2) in the name of the Zohar.
7.
The clause that follows paraphrases a statement in the morning prayers (Siddur Tehillat HaShem, p. 44).
8.
Eichah 3:23.
9.
Note of the Rebbe: “Iggeret HaKodesh,Epistle 1.”
10.
Note of the Rebbe: “Sifri, Devarim15:10; commentary of Rashi there.”
11.
Devarim, loc. cit.
•Monday, 9 Elul, 5776 · 12 September 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Negative Commandment 241 (Digest)
Taking Collateral from a Widow
"Nor shall you take a widow's garment as security"—Deuteronomy 24:17.
It is forbidden for a creditor to take collateral for a debt from a widow—whether she is wealthy or poor.
Unabridged English Text of this Mitzvah »• Taking Collateral from a Widow
The 241st prohibition is that we are forbidden from taking a security deposit from a widow, regardless of whether she is rich or poor.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,1 "Do not take a widow's garment as security for a loan."
In the words of the Mishneh:2 "One may not take a security deposit from a widow, regardless of whether she is rich or poor, as the verse says, 'Do not take a widow's garment as security for a loan.' "
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 9th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia.
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 24:17.
2.Bava Metzia 115a.
Negative Commandment 242 (Digest)
Taking Food Preparation Utensils as Collateral
"One shall not take the upper or lower millstone for a pledge, for he is taking a life as a pledge"—Deuteronomy 24:6.
It is forbidden for a creditor to take food preparation utensils – e.g., grinders, kneading bowls, pots, and knives – as collateral for a debt.
Unabridged English Text of this Mitzvah »
The 242nd prohibition is that we are forbidden from taking as security any objects that are used in food preparation, such as those used for grinding, kneading, cooking, slaughtering animals, or any other type of food preparation.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "Do not take an upper or lower millstone as security for a loan, since that is like taking a life as security."
In the words of the Mishneh,2 "The verse does not refer only to millstones, but to anything used in food preparation, as the verse says, 'since that is like taking a life as security.' "3
We now need to explain the statement of our Sages,4 "A person transgresses for both items, as the verse says, 'Do not take an upper or lower millstone.' " From this, one could be mislead into thinking that they count as two mitzvos. This is indicated even more strongly in their statement,5 "One transgresses one prohibition for the upper millstone and one for the lower millstone."
The explanation of these statements is as follows: if a person takes an object used for food preparation as security, he transgresses this prohibition, as we explained. If he took many articles, of which all are used for preparing food — such as one article that is used for grinding, another that is used for baking, and a third that is used for kneading — he would be committing a separate transgression for each article. This is [obvious and] unnecessary to explain. It is as if the person took one garment as security from Reuven's widow, one from Shimon's widow, and one from Levi's widow, in which case he would be guilty of 3 transgressions.
The explanation of the phrase "both items," is that it refers to a case where both items are used in preparing food, and one cannot be used without the other. In this case, since they are only effective when used together, we would be uncertain whether to count them as one case; or, since they are two articles, to count them as two transgressions. Therefore, our Sages explained to us that the person is punished for two transgressions, even though the act can only be done with the two together — such as the upper and lower millstone, where one cannot be used to grind without the other. If a person took these millstones as security, it would be as if he took a kneading trough and a slaughtering knife, each of which are used for different acts. This is the intention of the phrase, "A person transgresses for both items" — not that they count as two separate mitzvos.
The language of the Sifri regarding this that I've just explained: "Just as the upper and lower millstones are two articles that are used for a single act, and nevertheless each counts as a separate prohibition; so too for any two articles that are used for a single act, each counts as a separate prohibition." This means that although they are used for a single act, each one nevertheless counts as a separate prohibition.
If one transgresses this prohibition and takes the object as security, we take it back from him and return it to the poor person.6 If the object was lost or burned before he was able to return it, he receives lashes. The same applies to taking a widow's garment as security.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 9th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia.
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 24:6.
2.Bava Metzia, ibid.
3.From this phrase we see that the verse does not care only about millstones, but about anything that involves sustaining life, i.e. food preparation.
4.Bava Metzia 115a.
5.Ibid., 116a.
6.See Kapach, 5731, footnote 31. Following the Rav Kook version, Chavel translates, "owners."
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 2
• Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 2
1
Uterine bleeding of a nidah, a zavah, or a woman in childbirth, imparts impurity whether it is moist or dry. Nevertheless, the discharge of a zav, his saliva, and his semen impart impurity only when moist. If, however, they are overly dry, they do not impart impurity.
To what extent must these substances be dry not to impart impurity? If they would return to their natural state after being soaked in lukewarm water for 24 hours, they impart impurity as if they were moist. If they would not return to their natural state after this, they are considered as having been dried out, even if the water was lukewarm at the outset even though it was not lukewarm at the end of the 24 hour period. All of these matters are part of the received tradition.
א
דם נדה וזבה ויולדת מטמא לח ויבש אבל זובו של זב ורוקו ושכבת זרעו אינו מטמא אלא כל זמן שהוא לח אבל יבש יותר מדאי אינו מטמא ועד כמה אם שורין אותן בפושרין מעת לעת וחוזר לכמות שהיה הרי זה מטמא בלח אם היו המים פושרין בתחלתן אף על פי שאינן פושרין בסופן וכל הדברים האלו דברי קבלה הן:
2
When flax was spun by a woman in the nidah state, one who moves it is pure. If it was moist, it imparts impurity because of the saliva from her mouth.
ב
פשתן שטוואתו נדה המסיטו טהור ואם היה לח מטמא מפני רוק פיה:
3
When a zav places his mouth on a cup and then changes his mind and decides not to drink from it, one who moves the cup remains pure. If the zav drank even the slightest amount from it, a person who moves it is impure because of the liquid from the mouth of the zav.
ג
זב שהניח פיו על פי הכוס ונמלך שלא לשתותו המסיט את הכוס טהור שתה ממנו הזב כל שהוא המסיטו טמא מפני משקה פי הזב:
4
When a zav bites into a piece of bread or an onion, a person who moves them is considered pure. If he bites into a zucchini or a cucumber, one who moves them is impure, because of the liquid from the mouth of the zav which becomes mixed with them.
ד
זב שנשך את הפת ואת הבצל המסיטן טהור נשך את הקישות והמלפפון המסיטן טמא מפני משקה פי הזב המתערב בהן:
5
When the shells of beans and vetch were cut off by a gentile, one who moves them is impure, because gentiles are considered like zavim in all contexts, as will be explained. The ruling concerning shells in the marketplace depends on the majority.
ה
קליפי פולין וקליפי תורמוסין שקצצן העכו"ם המסיטן טמא שכל עכו"ם כזבים לכל דבריהן כמו שיתבאר הקליפין שבשווקין הולכין בהן אחר הרוב:
6
When impure blood becomes mixed with water, the entire mixture is pure if there is no appearance of blood. If such blood becomes mixed with pure blood and/or with wine, we consider the wine and the blood as if they were water.
Similar laws apply if impure saliva becomes mixed with water. If the saliva remains a viscous entity as is its natural state, it is impure. If it is reduced to nothing in the water and it is no longer visible as a distinct entity, everything is pure. If it becomes mixed with other saliva, we consider the pure saliva as if it was water.
Similarly, when the urine of such an impure person becomes mixed with water, if it is no longer visible as a distinct entity, the entire mixture is pure. If not, it is impure. If it is mixed with wine or pure urine, we consider the wine or the pure urine as if it was water.
If the urine of a Jew becomes mixed with the urine of a gentile, the ruling is determined by the majority. What is implied? When there is a urinal into which both gentiles and Jews would urinate, if the majority of those who use the urinal are gentiles, all its contents are impure. If the majority are Jewish, all its contents are pure. If equal numbers use it, all its contents are impure. Similarly, if the urine of one gentile is mixed with the urine of one Jew, the ruling is determined by the majority.
ו
דם טמא שנתערב במים אם בטלו מראיו הכל טהור נתערב בדם טהור וביין רואין אותו כאילו הוא מים וכן רוק טמא שנתערב במים אם היה קרוש כברייתו הרי זה טמא ואם נמחה במים אם בטלו מראיו הכל טהור נתערב ברוק אחר רואין אותו כאילו הוא מים וכן מי רגליו של טמא שנתערבו במים אם בטלו מראיהן הכל טהור ואם לאו טמא נתערב ביין או במי רגלים טהורין רואין אותו כאילו הוא מים נתערבו במי רגלים של עכו"ם הולכין אחר הרוב כיצד כלי שהיו ישראל ועכו"ם מטילין שם מי רגליהן אם רוב עכו"ם הכל טמא ואם רוב ישראל הכל טהור מחצה למחצה הכל טמא וכן אם נתערב מי רגלי עכו"ם זה במי רגלי ישראל זה הולכין אחר הרוב:
7
Urine can be borrowed from Jews in all situations. We do not suspect that it is from a nidah, for Jewish women were not suspect to save their urine when in the nidah state.
ז
שואלין [כלי] מי רגלים מכ"מ ואין חוששין שמא של נדות הן שלא נחשדו בנות ישראל לכנס את מי רגליהן כשהן נדות:
8
When a urinal into which a zav or a zavah would urinate was washed once or twice, the fluid with which it was washed is deemed impure. After the third washing, whether it was washed with water or other urine, the fluid is pure, because it can be assumed that none of the impure urine remained.
ח
חרס שהיה הזב או הזבה מטילין בו מי רגליהן וכבסו פעם ראשונה ושנייה הרי המשקין שכבסו בהן טמאין ופעם שלישית טהורין בין שכבסו במים בין שכבסו במי רגלים שהרי לא נשאר בה לחלוחית מימי רגלים:
9
When at the conclusion of the seven spotless days she is required to count, a zavah felt that she had already begun to urinate, but nevertheless contained herself, descended to a mikvehimmersed herself, and only urinated after the immersion, the status of the urine is in doubt. It is unresolved whether we consider the urine as if it had emerged originally while she was a zavah or after it actually emerged when she is pure. Similarly, if a gentile woman who had already begun to urinate, but nevertheless contained herself, converted, immersed herself, and only urinated after the immersion, the status of the urine is in doubt. It is unresolved whether we consider the urine as if it had emerged originally and it is considered as the urine of a gentile woman or after it actually emerged, it is considered as the urine of pure Jewish women.
ט
זבה שנעקרו מימי רגליה בסוף שבעת ימי הספירה וירדה וטבלה והטילה מים אחר הטבילה הרי הן ספק אם אחר עקירה הולכין וזבה היתה או אחר היציאה שהיא טהורה וכן עכו"ם שנעקרו מימי רגליה ונתגיירה וטבלה והטילה מים אחר שטבלה הרי זה ספק אם אחר עקירה הולכין והרי הן כמי רגלי העכו"ם הטמאים או אחר יציאה והרי הם כמימי רגלי ישראל הטהורים:
10
Canaanite maidservants and servants contract impurity due to zivah, nidah, and childbirth, like Jews do. Gentiles, by contrast, do not contract impurity not through zivah, nidah, or childbirth according to Scriptural Law, as can be inferred fromLeviticus 15:2 which states: "Speak to the children of Israel and tell them: 'A man should he experience a discharge.'" Implied is that the children of Israel contract impurity through zivah, but not the gentiles.
Our Sages, however, decreed that all gentiles impart impurity likezavim in all contexts, both males and females, provided the male is nine years old or more and the female is three years old or more. They did not decree that children under these ages contract impurity, for the primary reason for the decree is that a Jewish child will not be involved in sodomy with gentiles and there is no concept of sexual intimacy for children of younger ages.
When this decree was instituted, they did not decree against the semen of a gentile. Instead, the semen of a gentile is pure, as is its status according to Scriptural Law. Why was a decree not instituted to render it impure? To make it known that the gentiles' impurity is of Rabbinic origin. For everyone knows that if their status as zavimwas Scriptural in origin, their semen would be impure like the semen of a zav. And since they know a gentile's impurity is of Rabbinic origin, they will not burn terumah and sacrificial food to which they imparted impurity.
Thus we can infer that all of the following: a gentile male's zavdischarge, a gentile woman's nidah blood, her zivah blood, and the blood that comes at childbirth, a gentile man and a gentile woman, even though they are pure from any uterine bleeding and discharges, the saliva of gentiles, their urine, the couches on which they lie, the saddles on which they ride, and one who has relations with a gentile woman are all primary sources of impurity according to Rabbinic Law.
Therefore, one is not liable for entering the Temple or partaking of sacrificial food if one contracted impurity from one of these sources, nor is terumah burnt if it contracted impurity from such a source. All of them do, however, impart impurity to people and implements through physical contact and impart impurity to a person when carried as a zav does in all contexts. It is just that the impurity is of Rabbinic origin, as stated above.
Blood from a gentile woman's uterine bleeding is considered as her saliva and her urine and it imparts impurity when moist, but not when dry.
י
העבדים מטמאין בזיבה ובנדה ובלידה כישראל אבל העכו"ם אין מטמאין לא בזיבה ולא בנדות ולא בלידות דין תורה שנאמר דברו אל בני ישראל ואמרתם אליהם איש איש כי יהיה זב בני ישראל מטמאין בזיבה ולא העכו"ם וחכמים גזרו על כל העכו"ם שיטמאו כזבים לכל דבריהן זכרים ונקבות והוא שיהיה הזכר בן תשע שנים ויום אחד ולמעלה והנקבה בת שלש שנים ויום אחד ומעלה אבל הקטנים למטה מזמן זה לא גזרו עליהן טומאה שעיקר הגזירה היא כדי שלא יהא תינוק ישראל רגיל אצל העכו"ם במשכב זכור ופחות מזמן זה אין ביאתן ביאה בעת שגזרו עליהן לא גזרו על שכבת זרע שלהן אלא שכבת זרעו של עכו"ם טהורה כדין תורה ומפני מה לא גזרו עליה טומאה כדי להודיע שטומאתן מד"ס שהרי הכל יודעין שאילו היו זבין דין תורה היתה שכבת זרעם אב הטומאה כשכבת זרע הזב ומאחר שיודעין בטומאתן שהיתה מד"ס לא יבואו לשרוף עליה תרומה וקדשים נמצאת למד שזובו של עכו"ם ודם נדה או דם זיבה ולידה של בת עכו"ם ובת עכו"ם ועכו"ם עצמן אע"פ שהם נקיים מן התורה מדם הזב ורוק העכו"ם ומימי רגליהן ומשכבן ומרכבן ובועל עכו"ם כל אחד מאלו אב טומאה מד"ס לפיכך אין חייבין עליהן על ביאת מקדש וקדשיו ואין שורפין עליהן את התרומה וכולן מטמאין אדם וכלים במגע ומטמאין אדם במשא כזב לכל דבר אלא שהטומאה מדבריהן כמו שביארנו ודם הנכרית כרוקה וכמימי רגליה מטמא לח ואינו מטמא יבש:
• Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 13
1
The following laws apply when a lender comes to expropriate property on the basis of a promissory note in his possession and the borrower is not present: If it is possible to send a messenger to the borrower and notify him so that he can confront the lender in judgment, we send a messenger and notify him.
If it is impossible to notify the borrower speedily, we instruct the lender to take an oath, and then to expropriate property belonging to the borrower, either landed property or movable property. We do not consider the possibility that the borrower repaid the debt and the lender gave him a receipt.
This law is an ordinance of the Sages, enacted so that people at large would not take money belonging to a colleague and go to dwell in another city. For this would hinder the possibilities of loans being granted in the future
א
מלוה שבא להפרע בשטר שבידו שלא בפני לוה אם יכולין ב"ד לשלוח אליו ולהודיעו עד שיעמוד עמו בדין שולחין ומודיעין לו, ואם אי אפשר להודיעו במהרה אומרים למלוה שישבע ויטול מנכסיו בין מן הקרקע בין מן המטלטלים ואין חוששין לשובר, ודין זה תקנת חכמים הוא כדי שלא יהיה כל אחד ואחד נוטל מעותיו של חבירו והולך ויושב לו במדינה אחרת ונמצא נועל דלת בפני לוין.
2
The lender must bring proof of three matters to the court before he can expropriate property from the borrower outside his presence:
a) he must verify the authenticity of the promissory note in his possession; b) he must prove that the debtor is in another city and is not present to defend himself in court;
c) he must prove that the property that he wishes to expropriate belongs to so-and-so, the borrower.
ב
שלש ראיות צריך להביא לב"ד ואחר כך יפרע שלא בפניו, ראיה ראשונה לקיים השטר שבידו ראיה שניה שבעל חובו במדינה אחרת ואינו מצוי בכאן לעמוד עמו בדין, ראיה שלישית שאלו נכסים של פלוני הלוה הם.
3
The following rules apply when a lender comes to the court, bringing security that is in his possession" and says: "This security belongs to so-and-so, and I desire to sell it to receive payment of the debt he owes me." The court does not take action and does not tell him: "Wait until the borrower comes and lodges his claim." The rationale is that had the lender desired to say that the security had been purchased his word would be accepted. The court advises him to sell the security in the presence of witnesses, so that the borrower will know for how much the security was sold.
Similarly, when a person gives a loan to a colleague and receives security in return, and then both the borrower and the lender die - regardless of whether the borrower or the lender dies first the lender's heirs may take an oath and collect the debt.
The lender's heir must take an oath holding a sacred object, before he takes payment from the security, as is done by all those who take an oath and collect their due. His word is accepted, because he is taking payment from property that is in his physical possession. Had he desired, he could have said that he had purchased the property.
Why is the creditor not required only to take a sh'vuat hesset?Because he is not taking an oath that the security is his, but rather that the money is owed him. If he lodged a claim concerning the article itself, saying "You sold it to us," or "You gave it to us," he would be able to take a sh 'vuat hesset and be freed of responsibility. If, by contrast, there were witnesses who would testify that this article was given to the lender as security, but they did not know for what amount, he would be able to collect the money only after taking an oath. Since there are no witnesses, the lender would be able to claim: "It is mine." Therefore, we accept his word when he says: "So-and-so much money is owed to me and this is security for that debt," provided that he takes the same oath he would take if there were witnesses who would testify that the article was given as security.
We do not free him of the responsibility of the oath, because we do not employ the principle of miggo to free a person of the responsibility to take an oath, but only to free him of financial responsibility - i.e., he is not required to return the security before he takes what he claim.
ג
מלוה שבא לב"ד והביא משכון בידו ואמר זה משכונו של פלוני הוא ואני רוצה למכרו ולהפרע חובי אין ב"ד נזקקין לומר לו המתן עד שיבא לוה ויטעון שאם רוצה לומר לקוח הוא בידי אומר ומשיאין לו עצה למכרו בפני עדים כדי שידע לוה בכמה נמכר, וכן המלוה את חבירו על המשכון ומת הלוה והמלוה בין שמת הלוה תחלה בין שמת מלוה תחלה הואיל והוא נפרע ממה שתחת ידו ואילו רצה לומר לקוח הוא בידי אומר ה"ז נשבע בנקיטת חפץ ונוטל כדרך כל הנשבעין ונוטלין, ומפני מה אינו נשבע היסת לפי שאינו נשבע על עצמו של משכון אלא על הממון שלוקח שאילו אמר על עצמו של חפץ זה אתה מכרתו לי אתה נתתו לי היה נשבע היסת ונפטר, אבל אם היו שם עדים שחפץ זה משכון בידו ולא ידעו על כמה וכמה אינו יכול ליטול אלא בשבועה והואיל ואין שם עדים ויכול לומר שלי הוא נאמן לומר יש לי עליו כך וכך בשבועה עצמה שהיה נשבע אם היו שם עדים שהוא משכון שאין אומרין מגו לפטרו משבועה אלא לפטרו מממון שלא יחזיר המשכון עד שיטול מה שטען. 1
4
The following rules apply when a person lends money to a colleague and receives security for the loan. Should the security be lost or stolen in a manner that is not beyond the lender's control, the lender is liable for the value of the security, as explained. If the lender says: "I lent you a sela for that security, but it was worth only two dinarim" and the borrower says: "You lent me a sela for that security, and it was worth a sela" the lender must first take the oath taken by watchmen that the article is not in his possession. The borrower then must take a sh'vuat hesset that the security was worth the amount of the debt, and he is freed of responsibility.
If the lender says: "I lent you a sela for that security, but it was worth only two dinarim" and the borrower says: "You lent me a selafor that security, and it was worth three dinarim" the lender must first take an oath that the article is not in his possession. Afterwards, the borrower must take a Scriptural oath how much the article was worth; this is required because he acknowledged a portion of the plaintiff's claim.33 He then pays the dinar that he admits to owing.
If the borrower says: "You lent me a sela for that security, and it was worth two sela'im" and the lender says: "I lent you a sela for that security, and it was worth a sela" the lender must take an oath that the article is not in his possessions and include in that oath that the security was worth only the amount of the debt.
If the borrower says: "You lent me a sela for that security, and it was worth two sela'im," and lender says: "I lent you a sela for that security, and it was worth only five dinarim, the lender must take an oath that the article is not in his possession and include in that oath that the security was not worth more than five dinarim. He must then pay the dinar.
If the lender says: "I lent you a sela for that security, but it was worth only two dinarim" and the borrower says: "I do not know how much it was worth," the lender must take an oath that the article is not in his possession and include in that oath that the security was worth only two dinarim. The borrower must then pay the remainder of the debt. The rationale is that he definitely knows that he is liable for the two dinarim and does not know whether or not he repaid the debt.
If the borrower says: "You lent me a sela for that security, and it was worth two sela'im" and lender says: "I lent you a sela for that security, and I do not know how much it was worth," the lender must take an oath that the article is not in his possession and include in that oath that he does not know that the security was worth even a p'rutah more than the debt. He is then freed of responsibility, because he did not obligate himself at all. If, however, the lender said; "I know that the security was worth more than the loan, but I do not know how much more," he must pay everything that the borrower demands; the borrower is not even required to take an oath. This resembles an instance when a plaintiff lodges a claim for a 100 zuz, and the defendant responds: "I owe you 50, but I do not know whether or not I owe you the other 50." Such a person is obligated to take an oath, but cannot take the oath. Therefore, he must pay, as will be explained. He may, however, have a ban of ostracism issued against anyone who makes a false claim.
ד
המלוה את חבירו על המשכון ואבד או נגנב בלא אונס שהרי המלוה חייב בדמי המשכון כמו שביארנו, ואמר המלוה סלע הלויתיך עליו ושני דינרין היה שוה ולוה אומר סלע הלויתני עליו ושקל היה שוה, הרי המלוה נשבע תחלה שבועת השומרין שאינו ברשותו והלוה נשבע היסת שהיה שוה כנגד החוב ונפטר. אמר המלוה סלע הלויתיך עליו ושקל היה שוה והלוה אומר סלע הלויתני עליו ושלשה דינרין היה שוה ישבע המלוה תחלה שאינו ברשותו ואח"כ ישבע הלוה כמה היה שוה שהרי הודה במקצת וישלם הדינר, אמר הלוה סלע הלויתני עליו ושתים היה שוה והמלוה אומר סלע הלויתיך עליו וסלע היה שוה ישבע המלוה שאינו ברשותו וכולל בשבועתו שהיה המשכון כנגד החוב, אמר הלוה סלע הלויתני עליו ושתים היה שוה והמלוה אומר סלע הלויתיך עליו וחמשה דינרין היה שוה ישבע המלוה שאינו ברשותו ויכלול שלא היה שוה יתר על ה' דינרים וישלם הדינר, סלע הלויתיך עליו ושני דינרין היה שוה והלוה אומר איני יודע דמיו ישבע מלוה שאינו ברשותו וכולל בשבועתו ששני דינרין היה שוה וישלם הלוה שאר החוב שהרי הוא יודע בודאי שהוא חייב לו ואינו יודע אם פרעו אם לא פרעו, סלע הלויתני עליו ושתים היה שוה והמלוה אומר איני יודע דמיו ישבע המלוה שאינו ברשותו ויכלול שאינו יודע שדמיו יתר על החוב אפילו פרוטה אחת ויפטר שהרי לא חייב עצמו בכלום, אבל אם אמר המלוה אני יודע שהיה שוה יתר על החוב אבל איני יודע כמה ה"ז משלם כל מה שטען הלוה בלא שבועה כמי שאמר חמשים יש לך בידי וחמשים איני יודע שהוא מחוייב שבועה ואינו יכול להשבע כמו שיתבאר, ויש לו להחרים על מי שטוען שקר. 2
5
When a person lends money to a colleague and establishes a date when the loan must be repaid, even though he does not affirm the matter with a kinyan, he may not demand payment until the conclusion of that period of time. This applies regardless of whether the loan is supported merely by an oral commitment, by a promissory note, or by security, or whether the borrower or the lender dies.
When no other term is mentioned, the term of a loan is 30 days. This applies regardless of whether the loan is supported merely by an oral commitment, by a promissory note or by security. If the lender stipulated that he could demand payment whenever he desires, he has the right to demand payment even on the day the loan was given. The rationale is that this is a stipulation involving monetary issues.
ה
המלוה את חבירו וקבע לו זמן לפרעו אע"פ שלא קנו מידו אינו יכול לתבעו עד סוף הזמן בין במלוה על פה בין במלוה בשטר בין שהלוהו על המשכון בין שמת לוה בין שמת מלוה, וסתם מלוה ל' יום בין בשטר בין על פה בין על המשכון, ואם התנה שיתבע בכל זמן שירצה יש לו לתבעו ביומו שתנאי ממון הוא.
6
If the lender claims: "Today is the conclusion of the term I established for the loan," and the borrower responds: "You granted me another ten days," the borrower must take a sh'vuat hesset to support his claim. If there is one witness who testifies that the loan was due that day, the borrower must take a Scriptural oath, as is the law with regard to other claims.
If the lender claims: "There are only five days left before the loan is due," and the borrower responds: "There are ten days left," we tell the lender: "Wait until the end of the five days and then have the borrower take an oath that five days remain."
ו
טען המלוה ואמר היום סוף הזמן שקבעתי והלוה אומר עד י' ימים קבעת הלוה נשבע היסת, ואם היה שם עד אחד שהיום סוף זמנו ה"ז נשבע שבועת התורה כשאר הטענות, זה אומר ה' ימים נשאר מן הזמן וזה אומר י' אומרים למלוה המתן עוד עד סוף החמשה וישבע היסת שנשאר עוד ה' ימים.
7
If the loan was supported by a promissory note and the borrower claims: "You established a time for me to pay the debt," it appears to me that the creditor should take a sh'vuat hesset that he did not place any time limit on the loan. He may then collect the loan immediately.
ז
היתה המלוה בשטר וטען הלוה שזמן קבעת לי, יראה לי שישבע בעל חוב היסת שלא קבע לו זמן ויטול המלוה מיד.
8
Payment for a loan may be demanded in any place.
What is implied? When a person lends money to a colleague in a settled place and demands payment from him in a desert, the borrower may not postpone payment. Instead, he is obligated to pay him wherever he demands payment.
If the borrower seeks to repay the loan in the desert, the lender is given the option. If he desires, he may accept payment. If he desires, he may tell him: "Pay me back only in a settled area, just as I gave you the money in a settled area." The money then remains the borrower's responsibility until he pays the lender in a settled area.
ח
המלוה נתנה ליתבע בכל מקום כיצד המלוה את חבירו בישוב ותבעו במדבר אינו יכול לדחותו אלא חייב לפרוע לו בכל מקום שיתבענו, בא הלוה לפרעו במדבר הרשות ביד המלוה אם רצה מקבל ואם רצה אומר לו איני נפרע אלא בישוב כדרך שנתתי לך בישוב והרי הן ברשותו עד שיפרענו בישוב.
FOOTNOTES
Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 14
1
In the following situations, despite the fact that he possesses a promissory note, a lender may collect payment only after taking an oath that resembles one required by Scriptural Law:
a) a person who impairs the legal power of a promissory note;
b) a person who produces a promissory note that one witness testifies has been paid.
c) a person who seeks to collect payment outside the borrower's presence;
d) a person who expropriates property from purchasers;
e) a person who seeks to collect a debt from heirs, whether below majority or above majority.
When such a person comes to take the oath, we tell him: "Take the oath and collect your due." If the loan was not due until a specific time, and he demands payment on the day the loan was due, he may collect payment without taking an oath. Once the day the loan is due has passed, he may collect payment only after taking an oath.
א
הפוגם את שטרו, או שעד אחד מעיד על שטרו שהוא פרוע, והבא ליפרע שלא בפני הלוה, והטורף מיד הלוקח, והנפרעים מן היורש בין קטן בין גדול לא יפרע אלא בשבועה כעין של תורה (ואומר) לו כשיתבע השבע ואח"כ תטול, ואם היה החוב לזמן ותבע בזמנו יפרע שלא בשבועה, עבר זמנו לא יגבה אלא בשבועה.
2
The following rules apply when a person demands payment from a colleague for a debt recorded in a promissory note, the borrower claims that he paid this promissory note, and the possessor of the note claims that he did not pay anything. The court tells the borrower: "Pay him."
If the borrower demands: "Have him take an oath for me that I did not pay him and then collect the debt," the court requires the lender to take an oath while holding a sacred object, that he did not pay him at all or that he paid him only such-and-such. Afterwards, he may collect his claim. If the lender is a Torah scholar, the court does not require him to take an oath.
ב
התובע את חבירו לפרעו וטען הלוה שפרע שטר זה או מקצתו ובעל השטר אומר לא פרעת כלום אומרים לו שלם לו, טען הלוה ואמר ישבע לי שלא פרעתיו ויטול משביעין אותו בנקיטת חפץ שלא פרעו כלום או שלא פרעו אלא כך וכך ואחר כך יטול, ואם היה המלוה תלמיד חכם אין נזקקין לשבועתו.
3
There is a difference of opinion among the Geonim in the following situation. The lender produces a promissory note whose authenticity has been verified. The borrower claims: "This promissory note is false, I never wrote it," "This promissory note involves interest," "... or a shade of interest," "It was given on faith," "I wrote it with the intention of borrowing, but I never took the loan" - i.e., he issues a claim that if acknowledged by the lender would nullify the promissory note. The lender maintains that the promissory note is genuine and that the borrower is issuing a false claim. The borrower demands that the lender take an oath before collecting.
There is one opinion that rules that the holder of the promissory note is obligated to take an oath that resembles a Scriptural oath, just as when the borrower claimed that he paid the debt. My teachers by contrast ruled that the lender should not be compelled to take an oath unless the borrower claims that he paid him. The rationale is that he acknowledged the validity of the promissory note, and that debt is fit to be repaid. We do not, by contrast, accept the borrower's word with regard to all these other claims to nullify the legal power of a promissory note whose authenticity has been verified. Instead, the borrower should pay, and afterwards lodge any claim against the lender that he desires. If the lender acknowledges the claim, he will return the money to him. If he denies it, he will take a sh'vuat hesset. My opinion also leans towards this view.
ג
הוציא עליו שטר מקויים והלוה טוען ואומר שטר מזויף הוא ומעולם לא כתבתי שטר זה, או שטען שחוב זה רבית הוא או אבק רבית, או שטען שהוא שטר אמנה או שאמר כתבתי ללוות ולא לויתי, כללו של דבר טוען טענה שאם הודה בעל השטר היה השטר בטל, והמלוה עומד בשטרו ואומר שזה שקר טוען ואמר הלוה ישבע לי ויטול ה"ז מחלוקת בין הגאונים יש מי שהורה שחייב בעל השטר להשביע כעין של תורה כמי שטען עליו שפרעו, ורבותי הורו שלא ישבע המלוה אלא אם טען עליו הלוה שפרעו בלבד, שהרי הודה בשטר ולפרעון הוא עומד, אבל כל אלו הטענות לא כל הימנו לבטל שטר מקויים אלא ישלם ואחר כך יטעון על המלוה במה שירצה שאם יודה יחזיר לו ואם כפר ישבע היסת ולזה דעתי נוטה. 1
4
Our Sages issued these rulings in the following situation: A lender produced a promissory note, demanding payment from a colleague. He claims that he was not paid at all. The borrower claims that he repaid half the debt, and witnesses testify that the entire debt was repaid. The borrower must take an oath and then pay the other half. The rationale is that he admits to owing a portion of the debt. He is not considered to be comparable to a person who returns a lost object, because the promissory note causes him to be afraid. The lender may expropriate this half of the debt only from landed property that is within the borrower's possession. He may not attach property that has been sold. The rationale is that the purchasers will say: "We rely on the testimony of the witnesses and they have nullified the legal power of this promissory note."
ד
המוציא שטר חוב על חבירו מלוה אומר לא נפרעתי כלום ולוה אומר פרעתי מחצה והעדים מעידים שפרעו כולו נשבע הלוה ונותן מחצה שהרי הודה במקצת ואינו כמשיב אבידה מפני שאימת השטר עליו, ואין המלוה גובה המחצה אלא מבני חורין שהרי הלקוחות אומרים אנו על העדים נסמוך והרי בטלו שטר זה.
5
The following rules apply when a lender produces a promissory note whose authenticity he is not able to verify, and the borrower says: "It is true that I wrote this promissory note, but I repaid it," "It was given on faith," "I wrote it with the intention of borrowing, but I never took the loan," or another claim of this nature. Since the borrower could have claimed, "This never happened," and our acceptance of the promissory note is dependent on his statements, his word is accepted. He may take ash'vuat hesset and be freed of responsibility.
If the lender is able to verify the authenticity of the promissory note afterwards in court, it is considered as any other promissory note.
ה
הוציא עליו שטר חוב שאינו יכול לקיימו ואמר הלוה אמת שאני כתבתי שטר זה אבל פרעתיו או אמנה הוא או כתבתי ללוות ועדיין לא לויתי וכל כיוצא בזה הואיל ואם רצה אמר לא היו דברים מעולם והרי מפיו נתקיים הרי זה נאמן וישבע היסת ויפטר, ואם קיימו המלוה אח"כ בב"ד הרי היא כשאר השטרות.
6
The lender's claim is not accepted in the following situation. The lender produces a promissory note whose authenticity has been verified, and the borrower claims: "It is a forgery, and I never wrote it," or "It was given on faith." The lender states: "That is true, but I had an acceptable promissory note and it was lost." Although it was the lender who invalidated his promissory note, and had he desired, he could have said: "It is not a forgery," for its authenticity was verified by the court, he cannot use it to expropriate property at all. Instead, the borrower may take ash'vuat hesset and be freed of responsibility, for the promissory note is likened to a shard.
ו
הוציא עליו שטר מקויים ואמר הלוה מזויף הוא ומעולם לא כתבתיו או שטר אמנה הוא ואמר המלוה כן הדברים אבל שטר כשר היה לי ואבד אע"פ שהמלוה הוא ששבר את שטרו ואילו רצה אמר אינו מזויף שהרי נתקיים בב"ד אינו גובה בו כלום אלא נשבע הלוה היסת ונפטר שהרי זה השטר כחרס הוא חשוב.
7
When a promissory note was used for a loan and then repaid, it may not be used again. For the lien it created was already waived, and it is likened to a shard.
ז
שטר שלוה בו ופרעו אינו חוזר ולוה בו שכבר נמחל שעבודו ונעשה כחרס.
8
The following laws apply when the lender produces a promissory note whose authenticity has been verified demanding payment from a colleague, the borrower replies: "Did I not pay you," and the lender answers: "You did, but I returned the money to you and then lent it to you a second time." The promissory note that he repaid is nullified, and it is likened to a shard.
If, however, the lender says: "I returned the money to you, because the coins were not good so that you could exchange them," he did not nullify the promissory note, and the lien it created still exists.
ח
המוציא שטר חוב מקויים על חבירו ואמר הלוה הלא פרעתיך ואמר לו המלוה כן היה אבל חזרתי והחזרתי לך המעות והלויתי אותך פעם שניה הרי בטל השטר שנפרע והרי הוא כחרס, אבל אם אמר לו החזרתי לך המעות מפני שלא היו טובות עד שתחליפם לא בטל השטר ועדיין שעבודו קיים.
9
A promissory note is disqualified in the following situation. A lender produces a promissory note whose authenticity has been verified that indicates that the borrower owes him a maneh.The borrower states: "Did I not pay in the presence of so-and-so and so-and-so." Those witnesses come and testify that the borrower indeed repaid the lender, but did not mention the promissory note. The lender replies: "It is true that you paid me, but you repaid me for another debt that you owed me." The lender's word is not accepted, and the promissory note is nullified.
When does the above apply? When the witnesses testify that the borrower gave the lender the money as repayment of a debt. If, however, they saw him give him money, but did not know whether it was given as repayment of a debt, for safekeeping or as a present different rules apply.
If the possessor of the promissory note says: "He never repaid me," he is established as a liar, and the promissory note is nullified. If he says: "It was payment for another debt," his word is accepted. He must take an oath and then he may collect the money mentioned in the promissory note. The rationale is that the borrower did not repay him in the presence of witnesses. Hence, since the borrower can claim: "You gave them to me as a present," his word is accepted if he says that the money was given him as repayment for another debt.
A promissory note is, by contrast, nullified in the following situation. The borrower told the lender: "This promissory note was composed for the price of a steer that I purchased from you, and you collected the money for its meat already." The lender replied: "Yes. The promissory note was composed for that purpose, but I collected the money for that debt with the understanding that the promissory note would apply to another debt that you owe me." The rationale is that the lender himself admitted that the debt mentioned in the promissory note was for the meat of the steer, and that he received payment for that debt. This applies even if there are no witnesses that the money was given for the payment of that debt. Hence, all that is necessary is that the borrower take a sh'vuat hesset that he paid the debt. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.
ט
הוציא עליו שטר מקויים שיש לו עליו מנה ואמר לו הלוה הלא פרעתיך בפני פלוני ופלוני ובאו אלו והעידו שפרעו אבל לא הזכיר לו את השטר ואמר לו המלוה כן הוא שפרעת אבל חוב אחר פרעת שהיה לי אצלך הרי בטל השטר, בד"א כשהעידו שנתן לו בתורת פרעון אבל אם ראוהו נותן לו מעות ולא ידעו אם הוא בתורת פרעון או בתורת פקדון או בתורת מתנה, אם אמר בעל השטר לא היו דברים מעולם הרי הוחזק כפרן ובטל השטר, ואם אמר פרעון של חוב אחר הוא הרי זה נאמן ונשבע ונוטל מה שבשטר שהרי לא פרעו בעדים מתוך שיכול לומר מתנה נתנם לי נאמן לומר פרעון של חוב אחר הן, אמר לו הלוה והלא שטר חוב זה דמי שור שלקחתי ממך הוא ואתה גבית דמי בשרו, ואמר לו בעל השטר כן אני גביתי את דמיו מחוב אחר שהיה לי אצלך הואיל והודה מעצמו שדמי השור הוא החוב ומדמיו נפרע בטל השטר, ואע"פ שאין עליו עדים שפרע מדמיו ישבע הלוה היסת שפרעו וכן כל כיוצא בזה.
10
When a lender produces a promissory note that is signed by one witness and the borrower claims that he paid the debt, the borrower is obligated to take an oath. And since he cannot take that oath, he must make financial restitution.
If the borrower demands of the lender: "Take an oath that I did not pay the debt," he must take the oath. The rationale is that even if two witnesses were signed on the promissory note and the borrower demanded: "Take an oath that I did not pay the debt," the lender would be obligated to take that oath, as we have explained.
י
הוציא עליו שטר חוב בעד אחד ולוה טען פרעתי הרי זה מחוייב שבועה ואיני יכול לישבע ומשלם, טען ואמר ישבע לי שלא פרעתיו ה"ז נשבע שאפילו היו בשטר שני עדים ואמר ישבע לי שלא פרעתיו הרי זה נשבע כמו שביארנו.
11
Similarly, my teachers ruled that when a person denies a loan supported by an oral commitment in a court, and one witness testifies that he borrowed the money, the defendant is required to take a Scriptural oath. If the defendant reversed his position and said: "Yes, I took the loan, but I repaid it," "... the lender waived payment in my favor," or "... owes me money because of another matter," we consider him to be a person who is required to take an oath, but who cannot take the oath, and must therefore make financial restitution.
יא
וכן הורו רבותי שהכופר במלוה על פה בבית דין ובא עד אחד שלוה ה"ז ישבע שבועת התורה, חזר ואמר כן היה לויתי ופרעתי או מחל לי או נתחייב לי ממקום אחר ה"ז מחוייב שבועה ואינו יכול לישבע ומשלם.2
12
The following rules apply when a defendant claims that he paid a promissory note, but says: "Let the lender take an oath. If he does, he can collect the debt." We tell the defendant: "Bring your money to the court. Then he will take the oath and collect the debt." If the defendant does not have the funds to pay, we require him to take an oath, as ordained by the Geonim, that he has no financial resources. When he acquires resources, he must pay the creditor, but first he may require him to take an oath that the debtor did not repay him previously. Afterwards, the debtor must pay him.
יב
מי שטען שפרע השטר ואמר ישבע המלוה ויטול אומרים לו הבא מעותיו ואחר כך ישבע ויטול, אם אין לו כלום לשלם משביעין אותו כתקנת הגאונים שאין לו ולכשתשיג ידו יתן לבעל חובו וישביעו שלא פרע ואח"כ יתן לו.
13
The following laws apply when a person is owed a debt by a colleague that is supported by a promissory note, the promissory note becomes lost, but the witnesses are still present. Even though the debt was affirmed in the presence of the witnesses by a kinyan, if the borrower claims that he paid the debt, he is required only to take a sh'vuat hesset.
My teachers ruled that even if the debt was given for a specific time, and the due date had not yet arrived, when a promissory note was written, it is no longer in his possession and the borrower claims that he repaid the debt, the borrower's word is accepted provided that he takes an oath that he paid the lender. The rationale is that we suspect that he paid him and for that reason he tore the promissory note or destroyed it by fire.
Similarly, my teachers ruled that even if the promissory note is in the possession of another person and the borrower claims: "It fell from my possession after I paid it," he must take a sh'vuat hesset,and then he is released from all obligations. This applies even if the due date of the promissory note has not arrived. Since the promissory note is not in the possession of the lender, we do not operate under the presumption that the debt is outstanding.
יג
מי שהיה לו חוב על חבירו בשטר ואבד השטר והרי העדים קיימין אע"פ שקנו מידו וטען שפרע ה"ז נשבע היסת, והורו רבותי שאפילו היה החוב לזמן ועדיין לא הגיע זמנו להפרע הואיל וכתבו לו השטר ואין בידו שטר והלוה טוען פרעתי נאמן ונשבע היסת שפרעו שאנו חוששין שמא פרעו ולפיכך קרע השטר או שרפו, וכן הורו רבותי שאפילו היה השטר יוצא מתחת ידי אחר והלוה טוען ממני נפל אחר שפרעתי אע"פ שהוא בתוך זמנו נשבע היסת ונפטר שכיון שאין השטר ביד המלוה אין שם חזקה. 3
14
The following laws apply when both the borrower and the lender are holding on to the promissory note, and the lender says: "It is mine and I took it out to demand payment from you," and the borrower says: "I repaid you and it fell from my possession." If the authenticity of the promissory note can be verified, both claimants are each required to take an oath that no less than half the value of the promissory note belongs to them. The borrower then pays half. If the authenticity of the promissory note cannot be verified, the borrower must take a sh'vuat hesset,and then he is released from all obligations.
יד
שנים שהן אוחזין בשטר המלוה אומר שלי הוא והוצאתיו להפרע בו ממך והלוה אומר פרעתיו וממני נפל, אם היה השטר שיכול לקיימו זה נשבע שאין לו בדמים אלו פחות מחציין וזה ישבע שאין לו בדמים פחות מחציין וישלם הלוה מחצה, ואם אינו יכול לקיימו ישבע הלוה היסת שפרעו וילך לו.
15
Our Sages ordained that precautions be adopted to protect the borrower's interest in the following situation. A person claims of his colleague: "You owe me a maneh." The colleague responds: "I do not owe you anything" or "I paid you." The plaintiff demands: "Take a sh'vuat hesset for me," and the borrower responds: "You have a promissory note concerning this debt. You want to compel me to take an oath first and then produce the promissory note and use it to collect payment."
We tell the lender: "Produce the promissory note." If the lender says: "I never had a promissory note against this person," or "I had a promissory note and I lost it," my teachers ruled that we tell the lender: "Nullify the legal power of any promissory note you possess until the present time. Afterwards, you can require him to take ash'vuat hesset. Alternatively, have a conditional ban of ostracism issued and go and seek until you find the promissory note.
טו
האומר לחבירו מנה יש לי בידך והלה אומר אין לך בידי כלום או שאומר פרעתיך אמר לו התובע השבע לי היסת אמר לו הנתבע והלא שטר יש לך עלי ואתה רוצה להשביע אותי תחלה ואחר כך תוציא השטר הפרוע ותגבה בו אומרים לו הבא השטר, אמר המלוה אין לי שטר עליו מעולם או שטר היה לי ואבד הורו רבותי שאומרים למלוה בטל כל שטר שיש לך קודם זמן זה ואחר כך תשביעהו היסת או החרם חרם סתם ולך ובקש עד שתמצא השטר.
FOOTNOTES
1.
הוציא עליו שטר מקויים עד זה מחלוקת בין הגאונים יש מי שהורה וכו' ורבותי הורו וכו' עד ולזה דעתי נוטה. א"א הרב ז"ל כתב זה בתשובה והיתה השאלה שטען הלוה העלאה לזמן ואפשר שלא אמר הרב ז"ל אלא על אותה הטענה בלבד לפי שבני אדם מתפרצין בזה וסומכים על מה שראו דמר אמר טרשא שרי ומר אמר טרשא דידי ודאי שרי אבל על שאר הטענות לא אמר הרב ויש דמות ראיה לזה כי הפוגמת כתובתה נשבעת והפוחתת נוטלת בלא שבועה לפי שהשטר מצוי יותר בפרעון עכ"ל.
2.
וכן הורו רבותי וכו' עד ומשלם וכו'. א"א אני אפרש מכיון שאמר בתחלה לא לויתי כאילו אמר לא פרעתי ואילו לא חזר והודה היה נשבע להכחיש את העד ועכשיו שחזר והודה לעד שלוה שוב אינו יכול לחזור ולהכחיש ולומר שפרע שהרי הודה לו בראשונה שלא פרע ואילו לא הכחישו העד בתחלה לא היינו אומרים כבר הודה שלא פרע הואיל ויכול לעמוד בטענתו בלא שבועה ועכשיו שנתחייב שבועה הוה ליה מחוייב שבועה שאינו יכול לישבע שכבר חזר והודה לעדות הראשונה שלוה ולא פרע כמו שאמר העד.
3.
מי שהיה לו וכו' עד ולפיכך וכו'. א"א אין דין זה מחוור ומלובן (דאם איתא דאפילו באבד כל תוך זמנו לא חיישינן לפריעה מה טעם לא מהדרינן ליה כשנפל דאמרינן בהדיא פ"ק דמציעא דאפילו כתוב בו ביום לא מהדרינן ליה אלא ודאי כל דנפל איתרע ליה וכל שכן אבד דאיתרע ליה ורגלים לדבר) דבשבועה מיהא יטול עכ"ל. /השגת הראב"ד/ וכן הורו רבותי וכו' עד אין שם חזקה. א"א ואף זה לא נהיר ולא בהיר ולא צהיר עכ"ל.
Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 15
1
When a person lends money to a colleague in the presence of witnesses and tells the borrower: "Do not repay me outside the presence of witnesses," the borrower must repay him in the presence of witnesses because of this stipulation. This applies whether he made this stipulation at the time the loan was given or after the loan was given.
If the borrower claims: "I fulfilled the stipulation and repaid you in the presence of so-and-so and so-and-so, and they journeyed overseas or died," his word is accepted. He may take a sh'vuat hesset, and then he is freed of responsibility.
Similarly, if the lender states: "Repay me only in the presence of Torah scholars," or "... in the presence of doctors," and the borrower claims: "I repaid you in their presence, but those witnesses in whose presence I repaid you died or journeyed overseas," his word is accepted. He may take a sh'vuat hesset,and then he is freed of responsibility.
If, however, the lender stipulates: "Do not repay me except in the presence of so-and-so and so-and-so and so," and the borrower claims: "I repaid you in the presence of other witnesses, and they died or journeyed overseas," his word is not accepted. Indeed, the lender stipulated: "Do not pay me except in the presence of Reuven and Shimon," who are standing with him, so that the borrower will not rebuff him, saying: "I repaid you in the presence of other people, and they journeyed away."
א
המלוה את חבירו בעדים ואמר אל תפרעני אלא בעדים בין שאמר לו בשעת הלואה בין שאמר לו אחר שהלוהו ה"ז צריך לפרעו בעדים מפני התנאי, טען הלוה ואמר לו וכן עשיתי ופרעתיך בפני פלוני ופלוני והלכו להם למדינת הים או מתו הרי זה נאמן ונשבע שבועת היסת ונפטר, וכן אם אמר אל תפרעני אלא בפני תלמידי חכמים או בפני רופאים ואמר לו בפניהם פרעתיך ואותן העדים שפרעתיך בפניהם מתו או הלכו להם למדינת הים הרי זה נאמן ונשבע היסת ונפטר, אבל אם אמר לו אל תפרעני אלא בפני פלוני ופלוני ואמר לו פרעתיך בפני אחרים ומתו או הלכו להם למדינת הים אינו נאמן שמפני טענה זו התנה עליו ואמר לו אל תפרעני אלא בפני ראובן ושמעון שהם עומדים עמו כדי שלא ידחה אותו ויאמר בפני אחרים פרעתי והלכו להם. 1
2
There are versions of the Talmud that state that when a person tells a colleague: "Do not repay outside the presence of witnesses," and the borrower claims: "I fulfilled the stipulation and repaid you in the presence of so-and-so and so-and-so, and they journeyed overseas or died," his word is not accepted. This is a scribal error. For this reason, the halachic authorities erred because of those texts. I have researched ancient versions of the text and I found that they state that the borrower's word is accepted. In Egypt, a portion of an ancient text of the Talmud written on parchment, as was the custom in the era approximately 500 years before the present era, came to my possession. I found two versions of this law among those parchments. Both state: "If he claims: 'I fulfilled the stipulation and repaid you in the presence of so-and-so and so-and-so, and they journeyed overseas or died,' his word is accepted."
Because of the error that occurred with regard to some texts, there are several Geonim who ruled that if the lender stipulates: "Do not repay me except in the presence of so-and-so and so-and-so," and the borrower repaid him in the presence of others, the borrower's word is not accepted even if he brought witnesses, and they testify that he paid him in their presence. This is also a great mistake. The true law is that if witnesses come and testify that he paid the lender in their presence, the borrower is freed from responsibility; there is no place for suspicion.
This ruling also stems from those texts that state with regard to a lender who tells his colleague: " 'Repay me in the presence of witnesses who study Torah law,' and the borrower repaid him in the presence of ordinary witnesses...." This is also a scribal error. In the above-mentioned parchments, I found it written: "And he went and paid him in private."
Although these texts have been carefully edited, this appears to be the ruling based on the judgment of the Talmud. Moreover, these concepts make sense: "What should the borrower do? The lender told him: "Do not repay me except in the presence of witnesses," and he repaid him in the presence of witnesses. Should he have locked the witnesses in prison for their entire lives so that they do not depart? Besides, what could he do if they died? Thus, the borrower will be forced to pay the lender time after time until he brings witnesses to court. This makes this testimony equivalent to testimony recorded in a legal document. Thus, by saying: "Do not repay except in the presence of witnesses," the lender endows the loan with the strength of a loan recorded in a promissory note. There is no one who would think that this is correct.
Instead, certainly, if the lender stipulated: "Do not repay me except in the presence of so-and-so and so-and-so," the borrower caused himself a loss if he repaid the loan in the presence of other witnesses who departed. If, however, these witnesses come and testify that he repaid the debt, there is no question that the borrower should not be held responsible. This is the manner in which judgment should be rendered and instruction should be given.
ב
יש נוסחאות מן הגמרא שכתוב בהן שהאומר לחבירו אל תפרעני אלא בעדים ואמר לו פרעתיך בפני פלוני ופלוני והלכו למדינת הים אינו נאמן וטעות ספרים הוא ולפיכך טעו המורים על פי אותן הספרים וכבר חקרתי על הנוסחאות הישנות ומצאתי בהן שהוא נאמן והגיע לידי במצרים מקצת גמרא ישנה כתוב על הגוילים כמו שהיו כותבין קודם לזמן הזה בקרוב חמש מאות שנה ושתי נוסחאות מצאתי מן הגוילים בהלכה זו ובשתיהם כתוב ואם אמר פרעתי בפני פלוני ופלוני והלכו להן למדינת הים נאמן, ומפני טעות זו שאירע למקצת הספרים הורו מקצת גאונים שאם אמר לו אל תפרעני אלא בפני פלוני ופלוני ופרעו בפני אחרים שאינו נאמן אע"פ שהביא עדים שפרעו בפניהם וגם זו טעות גדולה והדין האמת שאם באו עדים שפרעו בפניהם נפטר ואין כאן מקום חשש. גם ההוראה הזאת על פי ספריהן שכתוב בהן באותו שאמר לחבירו פרעני בפני עדים ששנו הלכות והלך ופרעו בפני עדים וטעות ספרים הוא ומצאתי בגוילים כתוב אזל פרעיה ביניה לבין דיליה אע"פ שהספרים מוגהין כמו שביארנו כך יראה מדין הגמרא, ועוד דברים של דעת הן וכי מה היה לו לעשות אמר לו אל תפרעני אלא בעדים פרעו בעדים וכי יש לו לאסור את העדים בבית הסוהר כל ימיהם שלא ילכו ועוד אם מתו מה יעשה נמצא זה פורע פעם אחר פעם לעולם עד שיביא עדים א"כ נעשית עדות זו עדות בשטר ונמצא זה כיון שאמר אל תפרעני אלא בעדים נעשת מלוה בשטר ואין מי שעלה על לבו זה, אבל ודאי אם אמר בפני פלוני ופלוני הוא הפסיד על עצמו שפרע בפני אחרים והלכו להם, אבל אם באו והעידו שפרעו אין כאן בית מחוש וכזה ראוי לדון ולהורות.
3
If the lender had the borrower agree to the stipulation that the lender's word would be accepted whenever he claimed that the borrower did not pay him, he may collect the debt without taking an oath. This applies even though the borrower claims that he paid him. If, however, the borrower brings witnesses who testify that he paid him, the lender is not entitled to expropriate any funds.
ג
התנה המלוה על הלוה שיהיה נאמן בכל עת שיאמר שלא פרעו ה"ז נוטל בלא שבועה אע"פ שטען שפרעו, ואם הביא עדים שפרעו אינו נוטל כלום.
4
If the lender had the borrower agree to the stipulation that the lender's word would be accepted as the testimony of two witnesses, even if the borrower brings witnesses who testify that he paid him, he may collect the debt without taking an oath. For he accepted his word as that of two witnesses. ) This law applies even if the borrower brought 100 witnesses that he paid the lender, for the legal power of two witnesses is the same as that of 100 witnesses.
If, however, the borrower told the lender: "I accept your word as that of three witnesses," since he mentioned a number, if the borrower pays the lender in the presence of four witnesses, we consider the debt to be paid. When a person accepted the lender's word as equivalent to that of two witnesses, how can he correct the matter? When he pays, he should have the promissory note ripped up, the lender testify that he nullifies every promissory note he has against so-and-so, the borrower, or the lender give testimony against himself outside the presence of the borrower that he received payment for all debts owed to him by so-and-so the borrower.
ד
התנה עליו שיהיה המלוה נאמן כשני עדים אע"פ שהביא עדים שפרעו ה"ז גובה ממנו בלא שבועה שהרי האמינו כשני עדים, ואפילו הביא מאה עדים (שפרעו הרי גובה ממנו בלא שבועה ואפילו הביא מאה עדים) שפרעו בפניהם שהשנים כמאה, אבל אם אמר לו הרי אתה נאמן עלי כשלשה הואיל וירד למנין אם פרעו בפני ארבעה ה"ז פרוע, זה שהאמין המלוה כשני עדים מה תהיה תקנתו כשיפרע יקרע השטר או יעיד זה המלוה על עצמו שבטל כל שטר שיש לו על פלוני, או יעיד על עצמו שלא בפני הלוה שקיבל כל חוב שיש לו אצל פלוני.
5
If the borrower pays the lender, the lender claims that he was not paid, and the borrower paid him a second time because of the stipulation, the borrower can lodge a suit against the lender claiming: "You owe me such and such, because I paid you twice." If the lender acknowledges the borrower's claim, he must repay him. If he denies the claim, he is required to take a sh'vuat hesset,stating that the borrower paid him only once. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.
ה
הרי שפרעו וטען המלוה שלא נפרע ופרעו פעם שניה מפני התנאי הרי הלוה חוזר ותובע את המלוה בדין ואומר לו כך וכך אתה חייב לי מפני שפרעתיך שתי פעמים אם הודה ישלם ואם כפר ישבע שבועת היסת על כך שלא פרעו אלא פעם אחת וכן כל כיוצא בזה.
6
When the borrower had the lender agree to the stipulation that the borrower's word would be accepted whenever he claimed that he paid the debt, the lender may not collect this debt on the basis of this promissory note - neither from the borrower's heir, nor from a person who purchased property from him. Moreover, even if the borrower said: "I did not pay this debt," the lender may not use this promissory note to expropriate property from a person who purchased property from the borrower. The rationale is that we suspect that the lender and the borrower perpetrated an act of deception to take the purchaser's property.
If the borrower claims to have paid a portion of the debt recorded in this promissory note, and the lender claims that he did not pay anything, the borrower is required to pay the portion that he admitted to owing. With regard to the remainder, he is required to take a sh 'vuat hesset. The rationale is that the lender accepted his word. If he originally stipulates that his word would be accepted without having to take a sh'vuat hesset, he is not required to take that oath.
ו
התנה הלוה שיהיה נאמן בכל עת שיאמר פרעתי אינו גובה בשטר זה לא מן היורש ולא מן הלוקח, ואפילו אמר לוה לא פרעתי אין המלוה טורף בשטר זה מן הלקוחות שמא עשו קנוניא על נכסיו של זה, טען הלוה בשטר זה ואמר פרעתי מקצתו והמלוה אומר לא פרע כלום משלם המקצת שהודה בו ונשבע שבועת היסת שהרי האמינו, ואם התנה עליו שיהיה נאמן בלא שבועת היסת אינו נשבע.
7
If the lender stipulates that his word will be accepted without his having to take an oath, he may collect the debt without taking an oath. If, however, he must collect the debt from the borrower's heirs, he must take an oath; only afterwards may he collect the debt. If, however, he stipulated that he would also be able to collect from the heirs without taking an oath, he may collect the debt from them without an oath.
Similarly, if the lender stipulates that he will be able to expropriate the most valuable property owned by the borrower, he may expropriate that property, even from the heirs. The rationale is that any stipulation made with regard to financial matters is binding.
If the lender comes to collect from a person who purchased property from the borrower, he may expropriate the property only after taking an oath. The rationale is that the borrower may not accept a stipulation that will cause a colleague a loss.
ז
התנה המלוה שיהיה גובה בלא שבועה ה"ז גובה ממנו בלא שבועה, אבל אם בא לגבות מיורשיו ישבע ואחר כך יגבה, ואם התנה שיגבה אף מן היורש בלא שבועה גובה בלא שבועה, וכן אם התנה שיגבה מן העידית גובה מן העידית אף מן היורשין שכל תנאי שבממון קיים, בא לגבות מן הלוקח לא יטרוף אלא בשבועה שאין זה מתנה לאבד ממון חבירו. 2
FOOTNOTES
1.
המלוה את חבירו וכו' ועוד אם מתו מה יעשה וכו' אבל ודאי וכו' עד וכזה ראוי לדון ולהורות. א"א אמת הוא שהנוסחאות מתחלפות בזה ואני קיימתי את שתיהן שאם יש עדים על התנאי שאמר לו אל תפרעני אלא בעדים ואמר פרעתי והלכו להם אינו נאמן ואם אין שם עדים נאמן מגו דיכול לומר לא התנה עמי אבל כשאמר לא תפרעני אלא בפני פלוני ופלוני באמת נראין דברי הרב ז"ל דאמר פסלינהו לכ"ע לגבי האי פרעון וכי אתו אחריני ואמרי קמן פרעיה מצי אמר סטראי נינהו והתימה שתמה זה החכם על זה ואמר שאפילו אמר בפני פלוני ופלוני אם יבואו עדים שפרעו בפניהם אין כאן בית מיחוש ותמה על מה שאמרו מהימנת עלי כבי תרי שיפרע לו פעם אחר פעם אלא אם יש לו שטר יקרע שטרו ואם אין לו שטר יכתוב לו שטר שובר בכתב ידו וזו היא תקנתו לכל ענין עכ"ל.
2.
התנה המלוה שיהיה גובה וכו' עד לאבד ממון חבירו. א"א אלו הם דברי הרב ז"ל ולא הסכמנו עמו ויש לנו ראיות גדולות לדברינו שמאחר שהם לקחו ממנו אחר התנאי אינהו הוא דאפסידו אנפשייהו.
• Monday, 9 Elul, 5776 · 12 September 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Thursday, Elul 9, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Teitsei, Chamishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 49-54. Also 25-27.
Tanya: Now, it is (p. 453) ...a hundred times." (p. 455).
My grandfather said in reference to hitbon'nut, the profoundly concentrated contemplation on a subject extremely difficult to comprehend: If the subject is of deep personal concern, the person will come to understand and comprehend it very well. The proof of this is in the Torah, in laws involving women, etc., and the ingenious arguments that they may put forth on their own behalf. These arguments are discussed by Tanaim, Amoraim and Gaonim, all exceptionally brilliant minds, and the Torah is the Torah of Truth.1 Yet this woman is far removed, intellectually, from being able to devise such (ingenious, brilliant) claims. But the truth is that when a subject is of deep concern to a person, even those of weak intellect will come up with profound concepts.
FOOTNOTES
1.In Talmudic discussion of arguments which litigants may offer on their own behalf, some arguments would appear to be too involved and ingenious for the layman, so how could these claims possibly occur to the litigants? And since these arguments are suggested in the Torah of Truth, they must be accessible to these litigants!
• Daily Thought:
Childish Teaching
A child cannot learn somethingwithout running out and screaming it to others.
And so it should be with all those who have knowledge.[2 Iyar, 5736, sicha 2.]
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