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" forElul 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 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). Click below to view today's Psalms.
Chapter 49</ br> Chapter 50 </ br> Chapter 51
Psalms 49:1 (0) For the leader. A psalm of the descendants of Korach:
2 (1) Hear this, all you peoples!
Listen, everyone living on earth,
3 (2) regardless of whether low or high,
regardless of whether rich or poor!
4 (3) My mouth is about to speak wisdom;
my heart’s deepest thoughts will give understanding.
5 (4) I will listen with care to [God’s] parable,
I will set my enigma to the music of the lyre.
6 (5) Why should I fear when the days bring trouble,
when the evil of my pursuers surrounds me,
7 (6) the evil of those who rely on their wealth
and boast how rich they are?
8 (7) No one can ever redeem his brother
or give God a ransom for him ,
9 (8) because the price for him is too high
(leave the idea completely alone!)
10 (9) to have him live on eternally
and never see the pit.
11 (10) For he can see that wise men will die,
likewise the fool and the brute will perish
and leave their wealth to others.
12 (11) They think their homes will last forever,
their dwellings through all generations;
they give their own names to their estates.
13 (12) But people, even rich ones, will live only briefly;
then, like animals, they will die.
14 (13) This is the manner of life of the foolish
and those who come after, approving their words. (Selah)
15 (14) Like sheep, they are destined for Sh’ol;
death will be their shepherd.
The upright will rule them in the morning;
and their forms will waste away in Sh’ol,
until they need no dwelling.
16 (15) But God will redeem me from Sh’ol’s control,
because he will receive me. (Selah)
17 (16) Don’t be afraid when someone gets rich,
when the wealth of his family grows.
18 (17) For when he dies, he won’t take it with him;
his wealth will not go down after him.
19 (18) True, while he lived, he thought himself happy —
people praise you when you do well for yourself —
20 (19) but he will join his ancestors’ generations
and never again see light.
21 (20) People, even rich ones, can fail to grasp
that, like animals, they will die.
50:(0) A psalm of Asaf:
(1) The Mighty One, God, Adonai, is speaking,
summoning the world from east to west.
2 Out of Tziyon, the perfection of beauty,
God is shining forth.
3 Our God is coming and not staying silent.
With a fire devouring ahead of him
and a great storm raging around him,
4 he calls to the heavens above and to earth,
in order to judge his people.
5 “Gather to me my faithful,
those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
for God himself is judge. (Selah)
7 “Listen, my people, I am speaking:
Isra’el, I am testifying against you,
I, God, your God.
8 I am not rebuking you for your sacrifices;
your burnt offerings are always before me.
9 I have no need for a bull from your farm
or for male goats from your pens;
10 for all forest creatures are mine already,
as are the animals on a thousand hills;
11 I know all the birds in the mountains;
whatever moves in the fields is mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you;
for the world is mine, and everything in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer thanksgiving as your sacrifice to God,
pay your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me when you are in trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
16 But to the wicked God says:
“What right do you have to proclaim my laws
or take my covenant on your lips,
17 when you so hate to receive instruction
and fling my words behind you?
18 When you see a thief, you join up with him,
you throw in your lot with adulterers,
19 you give your mouth free rein for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit;
20 you sit and speak against your kinsman,
you slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you do such things, should I stay silent?
You may have thought I was just like you;
but I will rebuke and indict you to your face.
22 Consider this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to save you.
23 “Whoever offers thanksgiving
as his sacrifice honors me;
and to him who goes the right way
I will show the salvation of God.”
51:1 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David, 2 when Natan the prophet came to him after his affair with Bat-Sheva:
3 (1) God, in your grace, have mercy on me;
in your great compassion, blot out my crimes.
4 (2) Wash me completely from my guilt,
and cleanse me from my sin.
5 (3) For I know my crimes,
my sin confronts me all the time.
6 (4) Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil from your perspective;
so that you are right in accusing me
and justified in passing sentence.
7 (5) True, I was born guilty,
was a sinner from the moment my mother conceived me.
8 (6) Still, you want truth in the inner person;
so make me know wisdom in my inmost heart.
9 (7) Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
10 (8) Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness,
so that the bones you crushed can rejoice.
11 (9) Turn away your face from my sins,
and blot out all my crimes.
12 (10) Create in me a clean heart, God;
renew in me a resolute spirit.
13 (11) Don’t thrust me away from your presence,
don’t take your Ruach Kodesh away from me.
14 (12) Restore my joy in your salvation,
and let a willing spirit uphold me.
15 (13) Then I will teach the wicked your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
16 (14) Rescue me from the guilt of shedding blood,
God, God of my salvation!
Then my tongue will sing
about your righteousness —
17 (15) Adonai, open my lips;
then my mouth will praise you.
18 (16) For you don’t want sacrifices, or I would give them;
you don’t take pleasure in burnt offerings.
19 (17) My sacrifice to God is a broken spirit;
God, you won’t spurn a broken, chastened heart.
20 (18) In your good pleasure, make Tziyon prosper;
rebuild the walls of Yerushalayim.
21 (19) Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then they will offer bulls on your altar.
Elul is also the time to have one's tefillin and mezuzot checked by an accredited scribe to ensure that they are in good condition and fit for use.
Links: More on Elul
Today in Jewish History:
• Noah Dispatches Dove (2105 BCE)
Following the failed attempt to dispatch a raven from the ark (see "Today in Jewish History" for Elul 10), Noah sent a dove from the window of the ark to see if the great Flood that covered the earth had abated. "But the dove found no resting place for the sole of its foot" and returned to the ark; Noah waited seven days before making another attempt.
R. Schneur Zalman's parents marry (1743)
Wedding day of Rabbi Baruch and Rebbetzin Rivkah, the parents of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812 -- see entry for tomorrow, Elul 18), in 1743.
Daily Quote:
On that day G‑d made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your seed I have given this land.”[Genesis 15:18]
Daily Study:
On that day G‑d made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your seed I have given this land.”[Genesis 15:18]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Parshat Ki Tavo, 3rd Portion (Deuteronomy 26:16-26:19) with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 26
16This day, the Lord, your God, is commanding you to fulfill these statutes and ordinances, and you will observe and fulfill them with all your heart and with all your soul. טזהַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ מְצַוְּךָ֧ לַֽעֲשׂ֛וֹת אֶת־הַֽחֻקִּ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְאֶת־הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֑ים וְשָֽׁמַרְתָּ֤ וְעָשִׂ֨יתָ֙ אוֹתָ֔ם בְּכָל־לְבָֽבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ:
This day, the Lord your God is commanding you: Every day, you shall regard the commandments as if they are brand new, as though you are just today being commanded regarding them!- [Tanchuma 1] היום הזה ה' אלהיך מצוך: בכל יום יהיו בעיניך חדשים, כאלו בו ביום נצטוית עליהם:
You will observe and fulfill them: A heavenly voice is blessing you:“You have brought the firstfruits today- [so] will you merit to bring them next year!” ושמרת ועשית אותם: בת קול מברכתו הבאת בכורים היום, תשנה לשנה הבאה:
17You have selected the Lord this day, to be your God, and to walk in His ways, and to observe His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and to obey Him. יזאֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה הֶֽאֱמַ֖רְתָּ הַיּ֑וֹם לִֽהְיוֹת֩ לְךָ֨ לֵֽאלֹהִ֜ים וְלָלֶ֣כֶת בִּדְרָכָ֗יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֨ר חֻקָּ֧יו וּמִצְוֹתָ֛יו וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֥עַ בְּקֹלֽוֹ:
You have selected… has selected you: Heb. הֶאֱמַרְתָּ… הֶאמִירְךָ. We do not find any equivalent expression in the Scriptures [which might give us a clue to the meaning of these words]. However, it appears to me that [the expression הֶאֱמִיר] denotes separation and distinction. [Thus, here, the meaning is as follows:] From all the pagan deities, you have set apart the Lord for yourself, to be your God, and He separated you to Him from all the peoples on earth to be His treasured people. [Notwithstanding,] I did find a similar expression [to הֶאֱמִיר], which denotes “glory,” as in the verse “[How long will] all workers of violence praise themselves (יִתְאַמְּרוּ)?” (Ps. 94:4). האמרת: והאמירך (פסוק יח) אין להם עד מוכיח במקרא ולי נראה שהוא לשון הפרשה והבדלה הבדלתי לך מאלהי הנכר להיות לך לאלהים, והוא הפרישך אליו מעמי הארץ להיות לו לעם סגולה ומצאתי להם עד והוא לשון תפארת כמו יתאמרו כל פועלי און (תהלים צ"ד, ד):
18And the Lord has selected you this day to be His treasured people, as He spoke to you, and so that you shall observe all His commandments, יחוַֽיהֹוָ֞ה הֶֽאֱמִֽירְךָ֣ הַיּ֗וֹם לִֽהְי֥וֹת לוֹ֙ לְעַ֣ם סְגֻלָּ֔ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּר־לָ֑ךְ וְלִשְׁמֹ֖ר כָּל־מִצְוֹתָֽיו:
as He spoke to you: When He said]: “And [out of all the nations,] you shall be to Me a treasure” (Exod. 19:5). - [Mechilta 12:78] כאשר דבר לך: והייתם לי סגולה (שמות יט, ה):
19and to make you supreme, above all the nations that He made, [so that you will have] praise, a [distinguished] name and glory; and so that you will be a holy people to the Lord, your God, as He spoke. יטוּלְתִתְּךָ֣ עֶלְי֗וֹן עַ֤ל כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה לִתְהִלָּ֖ה וּלְשֵׁ֣ם וּלְתִפְאָ֑רֶת וְלִֽהְיֹֽתְךָ֧ עַם־קָד֛שׁ לַֽיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽר:
And so that you will be a holy people… as He spoke: [When He said]:“And you shall be holy to Me” (Lev. 20:26). - [Mechilta 12:78] ולהיתך עם קדוש וגו' כאשר דבר: והייתם לי קדושים (ויקרא כ, כו):
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 83-87
• 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 83
A prayer regarding the wars against Israel in the days of Jehoshaphat, when the nations plotted against Israel.
1. A song, a psalm by Asaph.
2. O God, do not be silent; do not be quiet and do not be still, O God.
3. For behold, Your enemies are in uproar, and those who hate You have raised their head.
4. They plot deviously against Your nation, and conspire against those sheltered by You.
5. They say, "Come, let us sever them from nationhood, and the name of Israel will be remembered no more.”
6. For they conspire with a unanimous heart, they made a covenant against You-
7. the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
8. Geval and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
9. Assyria, too, joined with them, and became the strength of the sons of Lot, Selah.
10. Do to them as to Midian; as to Sisera and Yavin at the brook of Kishon,
11. who were destroyed at Ein Dor, and were as dung for the earth.
12. Make their nobles like Orev and Ze'ev, all their princes like Zevach and Tzalmuna,1
13. who said, "Let us inherit the dwellings of God for ourselves.”
14. My God, make them like whirling chaff, like straw before the wind.
15. As a fire consumes the forest, and a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
16. so pursue them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your storm.
17. Fill their faces with shame, and they will seek Your Name, O Lord.
18. Let them be shamed and terrified forever; let them be disgraced and perish.
19. And they will know that You, Whose Name is the Lord, are alone, Most High over all the earth.
FOOTNOTES
1.These were the Midianite leaders who were captured (see Judges 7:25)
Chapter 84
In this psalm of prayers and entreaties, the psalmist mourns bitterly over the destruction of Temple from the depths of his heart, and speaks of the many blessings that will be realized upon its restoration. Fortunate is the one who trusts it will be rebuilt, and does not despair in the face of this long exile.
1. For the Conductor, on the gittit,1 a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. How beloved are Your dwellings, O Lord of Hosts!
3. My soul yearns, indeed it pines, for the courtyards of the Lord; my heart and my flesh [long to] sing to the living God.
4. Even the bird has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she lays her young on the [ruins of] Your altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God.
5. Fortunate are those who dwell in Your House; they will yet praise You forever.
6. Fortunate is the man whose strength is in You; the paths [to the Temple] are in his heart.
7. For those who pass through the Valley of Thorns, He places wellsprings; their guide will be cloaked in blessings.2
8. They go from strength to strength; they will appear before God in Zion.
9. O Lord, God of Hosts, hear my prayer; listen, O God of Jacob, forever.
10. See our shield,3 O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed one.
11. For better one day in Your courtyards than a thousand [elsewhere]. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, than dwell [in comfort] in the tents of wickedness.
12. For the Lord, God, is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and glory; He does not withhold goodness from those who walk in innocence.
13. O Lord of Hosts! Fortunate is the man who trusts in You.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument crafted in Gath (Metzudot).
2.God provides water for the pilgrims to Jerusalem, leading them to bless their guides for choosing a water-laden route (Metzudot)
3.Remember the Temple [and rebuild it](Metzudot).
Chapter 85
In this prayer, lamenting the long and bitter exile, the psalmist asks why this exile is longer than the previous ones, and implores God to quickly fulfill His promise to redeem us. Every individual should offer this psalm when in distress.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. O Lord, You favored Your land; You returned the captives of Jacob.
3. You forgave the iniquity of Your people, and covered all their sin forever.
4. You withdrew all Your fury, and retreated from Your fierce anger.
5. Return us, O God of our salvation, and annul Your anger toward us.
6. Will You forever be angry with us? Will You draw out Your anger over all generations?
7. Is it not true that You will revive us again, and Your people will rejoice in You?
8. Show us Your kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your deliverance.
9. I hear what the Almighty Lord will say; for He speaks peace to His nation and to His pious ones, and they will not return to folly.
10. Indeed, His deliverance is near those who fear Him, that [His] glory may dwell in the land.
11. Kindness and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.
12. Truth will sprout from the earth, and righteousness will peer from heaven.
13. The Lord, too, will bestow goodness, and our land will yield its produce.
14. Righteousness shall walk before him, and he shall set his footsteps in [its] path.
Chapter 86
This psalm contains many prayers regarding David's troubles, and his enemies Doeg and Achitophel. It also includes many descriptions of God's praise. Every individual can offer this psalm when in distress.
1. A prayer by David. Lord, turn Your ear, answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2. Guard my soul, for I am pious; You, my God, deliver Your servant who trusts in You.
3. Be gracious to me, my Lord, for to You I call all day.
4. Bring joy to the soul of Your servant, for to You, my Lord, I lift my soul.
5. For You, my Lord, are good and forgiving, and exceedingly kind to all who call upon You.
6. Lord, hear my prayer and listen to the voice of my supplications.
7. On the day of my distress I call upon You, for You will answer me.
8. There is none like You among the supernal beings, my Lord, and there are no deeds like Yours.
9. All the nations that You have made will come and bow down before You, my Lord, and give honor to Your Name,
10. for You are great and perform wonders, You alone, O God.
11. Lord, teach me Your way that I may walk in Your truth; unify my heart to fear Your Name.
12. I will praise You, my Lord, my God, with all my heart, and give honor to Your Name forever.
13. For Your kindness to me has been great; You have saved my soul from the depth of the grave.
14. O God, malicious men have risen against me; a band of ruthless men has sought my soul; they are not mindful of You.
15. But You, my Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth.
16. Turn to me and be gracious to me; grant Your strength to Your servant, and deliver the son of Your maidservant.
17. Show me a sign of favor, that my foes may see and be shamed, because You, Lord, have given me aid and consoled me.
Chapter 87
Composed to be sung in the Holy Temple, this psalm praises the glory of Jerusalem, a city that produces many great scholars, eminent personalities, and persons of good deeds. It also speaks of the good that will occur in the Messianic era.
1. By the sons of Korach, a psalm, a song devoted to the holy mountains [of Zion and Jerusalem].
2. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3. Glorious things are spoken of you, eternal city of God.
4. I will remind Rahav Egypt and Babylon concerning My beloved; Philistia and Tyre as well as Ethiopia, "This one was born there.”
5. And to Zion will be said, "This person and that was born there"; and He, the Most High, will establish it.
6. The Lord will count in the register of people, "This one was born there," Selah.
7. Singers as well as dancers [will sing your praise and say], "All my inner thoughts are of you."
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 49, 50 and 51.
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.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 15
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Tuesday, 17 Elul, 5776 · 20 September 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 15
• והנה מדות אלו, הן בחינות חיצוניות שבנפש
Chumash: Parshat Ki Tavo, 3rd Portion (Deuteronomy 26:16-26:19) with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 26
16This day, the Lord, your God, is commanding you to fulfill these statutes and ordinances, and you will observe and fulfill them with all your heart and with all your soul. טזהַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ מְצַוְּךָ֧ לַֽעֲשׂ֛וֹת אֶת־הַֽחֻקִּ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְאֶת־הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֑ים וְשָֽׁמַרְתָּ֤ וְעָשִׂ֨יתָ֙ אוֹתָ֔ם בְּכָל־לְבָֽבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ:
This day, the Lord your God is commanding you: Every day, you shall regard the commandments as if they are brand new, as though you are just today being commanded regarding them!- [Tanchuma 1] היום הזה ה' אלהיך מצוך: בכל יום יהיו בעיניך חדשים, כאלו בו ביום נצטוית עליהם:
You will observe and fulfill them: A heavenly voice is blessing you:“You have brought the firstfruits today- [so] will you merit to bring them next year!” ושמרת ועשית אותם: בת קול מברכתו הבאת בכורים היום, תשנה לשנה הבאה:
17You have selected the Lord this day, to be your God, and to walk in His ways, and to observe His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and to obey Him. יזאֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה הֶֽאֱמַ֖רְתָּ הַיּ֑וֹם לִֽהְיוֹת֩ לְךָ֨ לֵֽאלֹהִ֜ים וְלָלֶ֣כֶת בִּדְרָכָ֗יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֨ר חֻקָּ֧יו וּמִצְוֹתָ֛יו וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֥עַ בְּקֹלֽוֹ:
You have selected… has selected you: Heb. הֶאֱמַרְתָּ… הֶאמִירְךָ. We do not find any equivalent expression in the Scriptures [which might give us a clue to the meaning of these words]. However, it appears to me that [the expression הֶאֱמִיר] denotes separation and distinction. [Thus, here, the meaning is as follows:] From all the pagan deities, you have set apart the Lord for yourself, to be your God, and He separated you to Him from all the peoples on earth to be His treasured people. [Notwithstanding,] I did find a similar expression [to הֶאֱמִיר], which denotes “glory,” as in the verse “[How long will] all workers of violence praise themselves (יִתְאַמְּרוּ)?” (Ps. 94:4). האמרת: והאמירך (פסוק יח) אין להם עד מוכיח במקרא ולי נראה שהוא לשון הפרשה והבדלה הבדלתי לך מאלהי הנכר להיות לך לאלהים, והוא הפרישך אליו מעמי הארץ להיות לו לעם סגולה ומצאתי להם עד והוא לשון תפארת כמו יתאמרו כל פועלי און (תהלים צ"ד, ד):
18And the Lord has selected you this day to be His treasured people, as He spoke to you, and so that you shall observe all His commandments, יחוַֽיהֹוָ֞ה הֶֽאֱמִֽירְךָ֣ הַיּ֗וֹם לִֽהְי֥וֹת לוֹ֙ לְעַ֣ם סְגֻלָּ֔ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּר־לָ֑ךְ וְלִשְׁמֹ֖ר כָּל־מִצְוֹתָֽיו:
as He spoke to you: When He said]: “And [out of all the nations,] you shall be to Me a treasure” (Exod. 19:5). - [Mechilta 12:78] כאשר דבר לך: והייתם לי סגולה (שמות יט, ה):
19and to make you supreme, above all the nations that He made, [so that you will have] praise, a [distinguished] name and glory; and so that you will be a holy people to the Lord, your God, as He spoke. יטוּלְתִתְּךָ֣ עֶלְי֗וֹן עַ֤ל כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה לִתְהִלָּ֖ה וּלְשֵׁ֣ם וּלְתִפְאָ֑רֶת וְלִֽהְיֹֽתְךָ֧ עַם־קָד֛שׁ לַֽיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽר:
And so that you will be a holy people… as He spoke: [When He said]:“And you shall be holy to Me” (Lev. 20:26). - [Mechilta 12:78] ולהיתך עם קדוש וגו' כאשר דבר: והייתם לי קדושים (ויקרא כ, כו):
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 83-87
• 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 83
A prayer regarding the wars against Israel in the days of Jehoshaphat, when the nations plotted against Israel.
1. A song, a psalm by Asaph.
2. O God, do not be silent; do not be quiet and do not be still, O God.
3. For behold, Your enemies are in uproar, and those who hate You have raised their head.
4. They plot deviously against Your nation, and conspire against those sheltered by You.
5. They say, "Come, let us sever them from nationhood, and the name of Israel will be remembered no more.”
6. For they conspire with a unanimous heart, they made a covenant against You-
7. the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
8. Geval and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
9. Assyria, too, joined with them, and became the strength of the sons of Lot, Selah.
10. Do to them as to Midian; as to Sisera and Yavin at the brook of Kishon,
11. who were destroyed at Ein Dor, and were as dung for the earth.
12. Make their nobles like Orev and Ze'ev, all their princes like Zevach and Tzalmuna,1
13. who said, "Let us inherit the dwellings of God for ourselves.”
14. My God, make them like whirling chaff, like straw before the wind.
15. As a fire consumes the forest, and a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
16. so pursue them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your storm.
17. Fill their faces with shame, and they will seek Your Name, O Lord.
18. Let them be shamed and terrified forever; let them be disgraced and perish.
19. And they will know that You, Whose Name is the Lord, are alone, Most High over all the earth.
FOOTNOTES
1.These were the Midianite leaders who were captured (see Judges 7:25)
Chapter 84
In this psalm of prayers and entreaties, the psalmist mourns bitterly over the destruction of Temple from the depths of his heart, and speaks of the many blessings that will be realized upon its restoration. Fortunate is the one who trusts it will be rebuilt, and does not despair in the face of this long exile.
1. For the Conductor, on the gittit,1 a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. How beloved are Your dwellings, O Lord of Hosts!
3. My soul yearns, indeed it pines, for the courtyards of the Lord; my heart and my flesh [long to] sing to the living God.
4. Even the bird has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she lays her young on the [ruins of] Your altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God.
5. Fortunate are those who dwell in Your House; they will yet praise You forever.
6. Fortunate is the man whose strength is in You; the paths [to the Temple] are in his heart.
7. For those who pass through the Valley of Thorns, He places wellsprings; their guide will be cloaked in blessings.2
8. They go from strength to strength; they will appear before God in Zion.
9. O Lord, God of Hosts, hear my prayer; listen, O God of Jacob, forever.
10. See our shield,3 O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed one.
11. For better one day in Your courtyards than a thousand [elsewhere]. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, than dwell [in comfort] in the tents of wickedness.
12. For the Lord, God, is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and glory; He does not withhold goodness from those who walk in innocence.
13. O Lord of Hosts! Fortunate is the man who trusts in You.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument crafted in Gath (Metzudot).
2.God provides water for the pilgrims to Jerusalem, leading them to bless their guides for choosing a water-laden route (Metzudot)
3.Remember the Temple [and rebuild it](Metzudot).
Chapter 85
In this prayer, lamenting the long and bitter exile, the psalmist asks why this exile is longer than the previous ones, and implores God to quickly fulfill His promise to redeem us. Every individual should offer this psalm when in distress.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
2. O Lord, You favored Your land; You returned the captives of Jacob.
3. You forgave the iniquity of Your people, and covered all their sin forever.
4. You withdrew all Your fury, and retreated from Your fierce anger.
5. Return us, O God of our salvation, and annul Your anger toward us.
6. Will You forever be angry with us? Will You draw out Your anger over all generations?
7. Is it not true that You will revive us again, and Your people will rejoice in You?
8. Show us Your kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your deliverance.
9. I hear what the Almighty Lord will say; for He speaks peace to His nation and to His pious ones, and they will not return to folly.
10. Indeed, His deliverance is near those who fear Him, that [His] glory may dwell in the land.
11. Kindness and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.
12. Truth will sprout from the earth, and righteousness will peer from heaven.
13. The Lord, too, will bestow goodness, and our land will yield its produce.
14. Righteousness shall walk before him, and he shall set his footsteps in [its] path.
Chapter 86
This psalm contains many prayers regarding David's troubles, and his enemies Doeg and Achitophel. It also includes many descriptions of God's praise. Every individual can offer this psalm when in distress.
1. A prayer by David. Lord, turn Your ear, answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2. Guard my soul, for I am pious; You, my God, deliver Your servant who trusts in You.
3. Be gracious to me, my Lord, for to You I call all day.
4. Bring joy to the soul of Your servant, for to You, my Lord, I lift my soul.
5. For You, my Lord, are good and forgiving, and exceedingly kind to all who call upon You.
6. Lord, hear my prayer and listen to the voice of my supplications.
7. On the day of my distress I call upon You, for You will answer me.
8. There is none like You among the supernal beings, my Lord, and there are no deeds like Yours.
9. All the nations that You have made will come and bow down before You, my Lord, and give honor to Your Name,
10. for You are great and perform wonders, You alone, O God.
11. Lord, teach me Your way that I may walk in Your truth; unify my heart to fear Your Name.
12. I will praise You, my Lord, my God, with all my heart, and give honor to Your Name forever.
13. For Your kindness to me has been great; You have saved my soul from the depth of the grave.
14. O God, malicious men have risen against me; a band of ruthless men has sought my soul; they are not mindful of You.
15. But You, my Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth.
16. Turn to me and be gracious to me; grant Your strength to Your servant, and deliver the son of Your maidservant.
17. Show me a sign of favor, that my foes may see and be shamed, because You, Lord, have given me aid and consoled me.
Chapter 87
Composed to be sung in the Holy Temple, this psalm praises the glory of Jerusalem, a city that produces many great scholars, eminent personalities, and persons of good deeds. It also speaks of the good that will occur in the Messianic era.
1. By the sons of Korach, a psalm, a song devoted to the holy mountains [of Zion and Jerusalem].
2. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3. Glorious things are spoken of you, eternal city of God.
4. I will remind Rahav Egypt and Babylon concerning My beloved; Philistia and Tyre as well as Ethiopia, "This one was born there.”
5. And to Zion will be said, "This person and that was born there"; and He, the Most High, will establish it.
6. The Lord will count in the register of people, "This one was born there," Selah.
7. Singers as well as dancers [will sing your praise and say], "All my inner thoughts are of you."
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 49, 50 and 51.
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.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 15
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Tuesday, 17 Elul, 5776 · 20 September 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 15
• והנה מדות אלו, הן בחינות חיצוניות שבנפש
Now, these emotive attributes — those involved in imparting enlightenment, and the like — are the external aspects of the soul.
ובתוכן מלובשות מדות פנימיות
Within them are vested the inner attributes, which bring about the external attributes involved in the actual imparting of knowledge,
שהן בחינות אהבה ויראה כו׳
i.e., the faculties of love and awe, and so on.
דהיינו, על דרך משל, באב המשפיע לבנו מחמת אהבתו
This may be compared to the case of a father who bestows enlightenment upon his son because of his love for him,
The internal aspect of the attribute involved is love and its external aspect is kindness.
ומונע השפעתו מפחדו ויראתו שלא יבא לידי מכשול, חס ושלום
and withholds his influence because of his dread and fear lest [his son] come to some downfall, heaven forfend.
The father’s fear and dread are thus the internal aspect of his Gevurah, the attribute that completely or partially witholds the flow of instruction.
The remaining emotive attributes are all offshoots of love and fear (as explained in Part I, ch. 3, above), and accordingly they too possess internal and external aspects.
* * *
Having dealt with the middot, the seven emotive attributes of the soul, the Alter Rebbe now proceeds to discuss the intellective attributes which give birth to them.
ומקור ושרש מדות אלו, הפנימיות והחיצוניות
The source and root of these internal and external emotive attributes,
הוא מחב״ד שבנפשו
is the ChaBaD — an acronym for the intellectual faculties of Chochmah, Binah and Daat — of one’s soul,
כי לפי שכל האדם, כך הן מדותיו
for a person’s emotive traits are in proportion to his intellect.
כנראה בחוש, שהקטן, שהחב״ד שלו הן בבחינת קטנות, כך כל מדותיו הן בדברים קטני הערך
This is empirically evident; with a child, for example, whose ChaBaD are in a state of pettiness, all his emotive traits, too, relate to insignificant things, and as he matures in age and understanding, his emotive traits correspondingly aspire to worthier goals.
וגם בגדולים, לפי שכלו יהולל איש
With adults, too, the emotive traits develop in proportion to the intellect, for1 “According to his intelligence is a man praised.”
Since the term “man” (איש) is an appelative for the emotive traits (cf. the verse,2 “As is a man, so is his Gevurah”), the previously-quoted verse is teaching us that a person’s emotive traits are praiseworthy in proportion to the stature of hisChaBaD.
כי לפי רוב חכמתו, כך הוא רוב אהבתו וחסדו
For the extent of his love and kindness corresponds to the extent of his wisdom,
וכן שאר כל מדותיו פנימיות וחיצוניות, מקורן הוא מחב״ד שבו
and all his other internal and external traits likewise have their source in his ChaBaD.
והעיקר הוא הדעת שבו, הנמשך מבחינת החכמה ובינה שבו
Most important to the development of the spiritual emotions is one’s Daat, which derives from one’s Chochmahand Binah.
A thinker first grasps the essence of a concept through the seminal flash of illumination afforded by his faculty ofChochmah; he next understands it fully by means of the analysis and amplification which are the function of his faculty ofBinah; ultimately, he must immerse himself in concentration on the concept, binding and unifying himself with it to the point that — beyond mere intellective comprehension — he also senses and experiences it with his faculty of Daat.
It is this faculty that is critical to the development of his middot, such as the spiritual emotions of love and awe of G‑d, forDaat provides them with their substance and vitality, as explained in Part I, ch. 3.
כנראה בחוש, כי לפי שינוי דעות בני אדם זה מזה, כך הוא שינוי מדותיהם
This is readily observable, for the differences between the emotive traits of various people corresponds to the differences in their respective degrees of Daat.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Mishlei 12:8. |
| 2. | Shoftim 8:21. |
• Rambam: Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Tuesday, 17 Elul, 5776 · 20 September 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Important Message Regarding This Lesson
The Daily Mitzvah schedule runs parallel to the daily study of 3 chapters of Maimonides' 14-volume code. There are instances when the Mitzvah is repeated a few days consecutively while the exploration of the same Mitzvah continues in the in-depth track.
Positive Commandment 246
Laws of Claims
"In every case of trespass...in which one can say: 'This is it'"—Exodus 22:8.
We are commanded to adjudicate monetary cases between litigants [according to the laws outlined in the Torah].
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Tuesday, 17 Elul, 5776 · 20 September 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
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Important Message Regarding This Lesson
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Positive Commandment 246
Laws of Claims
"In every case of trespass...in which one can say: 'This is it'"—Exodus 22:8.
We are commanded to adjudicate monetary cases between litigants [according to the laws outlined in the Torah].
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Laws of Claims
Positive Commandment 246
Translated by Berel Bell
The 246th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding claims and counterclaims [in lawsuits.]
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "In every case of dishonesty... [and the watchman] said that this is it."
In the words of the Mechilta: "The phrase 'that this is it' refers to partial admission to the claim."2
This mitzvah includes anything that can arise from the claims people have against one another involving admission and denial.
The details of this commandment are explained in the 3rd chapter of Bava Kama, the beginning of Bava Metzia, and the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Shavuos. Many questions regarding this subject are spread throughout the Talmud.
FOOTNOTES
1.Ex. 22:8.
2.Since he has made a partial admission, he is required to take an oath regarding the rest of the claim.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 10
• Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 10
• Rambam - 3 Chapters a Day To`en veNit`an - Chapter 10, To`en veNit`an - Chapter 11, To`en veNit`an - Chapter 12
• Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 10
1
An unlearned person, even though he is Jewish and observant of the Torah and its mitzvot, is assumed to be impure and his clothes are considered a midras if they come into contact with pure substances. If his clothes touch food or liquids, they are impure. If he touches an earthenware container from the inside, he imparts impurity to it. Terumah should be burnt if such a person touches it, even though his impurity is of doubtful status.
The word of such persons is not accepted regarding the status of pure articles, because they are not knowledgeable regarding the intricacies of the laws of purity and impurity. We continue to operate under this presumption and the person's word is not accepted until he resolves to accept the restrictions of a chavair. What is meant by the restrictions of a chavair that he must resolve to accept? That he be careful with regard to sources of impurity, not to contract impurity from them; that he be careful with regard to pure articles that he not impart impurity to them; that he be careful with regard to washing hands and maintaining their purity; that he not take moist foods from an unlearned person; that he not accept his hospitality; nor offer hospitality to him while the unlearned person is wearing his own garments.
א
עם הארץ אף על פי שהוא ישראל וישנו בתורה ובמצות הרי הוא בחזקת טמא ובגדיו מדרס לטהרות ואם נגעו בגדיו באוכלין ומשקין הרי הן טמאין ואם נגע בכלי חרס מאוירו טמאהו ושורפין את התרומה על מגען אע"פ שטומאתן בספק ואינן נאמנין על הטהרות לפי שאינן בקיאין בדקדוקי טהרות וטומאות ולעולם הוא בחזקה זו ואינו נאמן על הטהרות עד שיקבל עליו דברי חבירות ומה הן דברי חבירות שיקבל עליו שיהא נזהר בטומאות שלא יטמא בהן ובטהרות שלא יטמא אותם ויזהר בנטילת ידים ובטהרתן שלא יקח מע"ה דבר לח ולא יתארח אצלו ולא יארחו אצלו בכסותו:
2
When a person seeks to accept upon himself all the practices of a chavair except one, he is not accepted. If we see he carries out these practices privately in his own home, we accept him and then we teach him the concepts of impurity and purity. If we do not see him conducting himself in this manner privately at home, we teach him and then we accept him.
First, a person is accepted with regard to maintaining the purity of his hands. Afterwards, he is accepted with regard to dealing with pure objects. If he said: "I only accept upon myself, the purity of hands," he is accepted. If he sought to accept the restrictions regarding pure objects, but not those that apply to the purity of hands, we do not accept him, even for pure objects.
When he is accepted, we are cautious with regard to his conduct for 30 days until he learns the intricacies of the laws and is used to dealing with pure objects. Once 30 days have passed since he accepted the customs of a chavair, his clothes are considered as pure and all of his food and liquids are considered as pure. His word is accepted with regard to pure objects like all other chavairimeven though he is not a Torah scholar.
ב
הבא לקבל דברי חבירות חוץ מדבר אחד מהן אין מקבלין אותו ראינוהו שנוהג בצנעה בתוך ביתו מקבלין אותו ואחר כך מלמדין אותו עסקי טומאה וטהרה ואם לא ראינוהו שנוהג בצנעה בביתו מלמדין אותו ואחר כך מקבלין אותו ומקבלין אותו תחילה לטהרת הידים ואח"כ מקבלין אותו לטהרות ואם אמר איני מקבל אלא לטהרת הידים מקבלין אותו קיבל לטהרות ולא לידים אף לטהרות אין מקבלין אותו כשמקבלין אותו חוששין לו כל שלשים יום עד שילמד ויהיה רגיל בטהרות ואחר שלשים יום משיקבל דברי חבירות הרי בגדיו טהורין וכל אוכליו ומשקיו טהורין ונאמן על כל הטהרות כשאר כל החברים ואף על פי שאינו ת"ח:
3
Torah scholars are assumed to be chavairim. Their word is accepted regarding pure articles and they do not have to undertake a formal acceptance of the practices of chaveirim. Nevertheless, after the destruction of the Temple, the priests adopted an additional measure of stringency among themselves and they would not give pure objects to anyone, even Torah scholars, until they formally accepted the practices of chaveirim.
ג
תלמידי חכמים הרי הן בחזקת טהרה נאמנין ואינן צריכין לקבל דברי חבירות אבל משחרב בית המקדש נהגו כהנים סלסול בעצמן שלא יהו מוסרין טהרות אפילו לתלמידי חכמים עד שיקבל עליו דברי חבירות:
4
An elder who is a member of a Talmudic academy does not need to formally accept these practices, for he already accepted them at the time he became a member of the academy.
ד
זקן ויושב בישיבה א"צ לקבל שכבר קיבל בשעה שישב:
5
When a person seeks to accept the practices of a chavair, he must formalize this acceptance in the presence of threechaveirim. His sons and the members of his household need not formalize this acceptance in the presence of three chaveirim, because he will teach them and train them in the ways of purity. The wife of a chavair, his sons, the members of his household, and his servants are considered like a chavair. If a chavair dies, his wife, his sons, and the members of his household are considered as chavairim until their conduct arouses suspicion.
ה
המקבל דברי חבירות צריך לקבל בפני שלשה חברים ובניו ובני ביתו אינן צריכין לקבל בפני שלשה מפני שהוא מלמדן ומרגילן בדרך טהרה ואשת חבר ובניו ובני ביתו ועבדיו הרי הן כחבר וחבר שמת אשתו ובניו ובני ביתו בחזקת חברים עד שיחשדו:
6
When the widow of an unlearned person or the daughter of one marries a chavair or the servant of a such a person is sold to a chavair, the woman or the servant must accept the practices of a chavair as at the outset. When, by contrast, the widow of achavair or his daughter marries an unlearned person or his servant is sold to an unlearned person, there is no need for them to accept the practices of a chavair as at the outset.
ו
אשת ע"ה או בתו שנשאת לחבר וכן עבדו שנמכר לחבר הרי אלו צריכין לקבל עליהן דברי חבירות כבתחילה אבל אשת חבר או בתו שנשאת לע"ה וכן עבדו שנמכר לע"ה אין צריכין לקבל דברי חבירות כבתחילה:
7
When an unlearned person accepts the practices of a chavair, but had pure articles that remained from the time that he was unlearned, although he says: "I know with certainty that they did not contract impurity when others were involved with them," they are forbidden, as was their status initially. If he personally was involved with these pure articles before his status changed, the articles are permitted to him, but they are forbidden to all others.
A chavair may be asked about the state of his pure articles and he may rule in his own favor, that they are permitted. We do not harbor suspicions about him in this context.
ז
ע"ה שקיבל עליו דברי חבירות והיו לו טהרות כשהיה ע"ה ואמר אני יודע ודאי שלא נטמאו בזמן שנתעסקו בהן אחרים הרי הן אסורות כמקודם ואם הוא בעצמו נתעסק בהן הרי הן מותרות לו ואסורות לכל אדם ונשאל החבר על טהרותיו ומורה בהן טהרה לעצמו ואין חושדין אותו בכך:
8
When a chavair becomes a tax collector, a collector of customs duty, or the like, he is stripped of his status as achavair. If he abandons his evil deeds, he is considered as every other person. He must accept the practices of a chavair as at the outset.
ח
חבר שנעשה גבאי למלך או מוכסן וכיוצא בהן דוחין אותו מחברותו פירש ממעשיו הרעים הרי הוא ככל אדם וצריך לקבל דברי חבירות כבתחילה:
9
When an unlearned person accepted the practices of achavair and then becomes suspect with regard to a particular matter, he is suspect only with regard to that particular matter. Nevertheless, one who became suspect with regard to a severe matter is suspect with regard to a slighter matter. If he becomes suspect for a slight matter, he is not considered suspect for a more severe matter.
ט
ע"ה שקיבל עליו דברי חבירות ונחשד לדבר אחד אינו חשוד אלא לאותו דבר וכל החשוד לחמור נחשד על הקל לקל לא נחשד לחמור:
10
When a chavair becomes suspect with regard to permissiveness in connection with ritually pure articles, e.g., he sold ritually impure foods with the presumption that they were pure, he is no longer considered as trustworthy until it becomes known that he repented completely.
י
חבר שנחשד על הטהרות כגון שמכר אוכלין טמאין בחזקת שהן טהורין הרי זה אינו נאמן לעולם עד שיוודע שחזר בתשובה גמורה:
11
When a person is suspect with regard to the violation of the laws regarding the Sabbatical year or with regard to sellingterumah as ordinary produce, he is considered to be suspect with regard to violating the restrictions concerning ritual purity. For a person who is suspect with regard to a Scriptural prohibition is considered suspect with regard to Rabbinic safeguards. And impure foods impart impurity to other entities only by virtue of Rabbinic decree, as will be explained.
Any person who is suspect with regard to a particular matter is, nevertheless, permitted to deliver testimony regarding such a matter with regard to others and to serve as a judge with regard to others. The rationale is that we operate under the assumption that a person will not transgress so that others will benefit.
יא
החשוד על השביעית או על התרומה שמכרן לשם חולין הרי זה חשוד על הטהרות שהחשוד על דבר של תורה הרי הוא חשוד על ד"ס והאוכלין הטמאין אין מטמאין אחרים אלא מדבריהן כמו שיתבאר וכל החשוד על דבר נאמן להעיד בו לאחרים ולדון בו לאחרים חזקה היא שאין אדם חוטא כדי שיהנו בו אחרים:
• To`en veNit`an - Chapter 10
• Hayom Yom: Today's Hayom Yom
1
We do not presume that an animal or a beast that is not kept in an enclosed place, but instead roams freely and pastures everywhere, belongs to the person who seizes it if the animal is known to have a prior owner.
What is implied? When a plaintiff brings witnesses who testify that a certain animal is known to belong to him, and the person maintaining possession of the animal claims: "You gave it to me" or "You sold it to me," the defendant's word is not accepted. The fact that the animal is in his possession is not considered proof of ownership, because it is possible that it roamed and entered his domain by itself. Therefore, if the defendant does not bring proof of his acquisition of the animal, it should be returned to its owner. The owner must, however, reinforce his claim by taking an oath.
א
בהמה או חיה שאינה שמורה אלא מהלכת בכל מקום ורועה, אינה בחזקת זה שתפסה מאחר שהיא ידועה לבעלים, כיצד הביא התובע עדים שהבהמה הזאת ידועה לו וזה התופס טוען אתה נתתה לי אתה מכרתה לי אינו נאמן, שאין היותה תחת ידו ראיה שהרי היא הלכה מעצמה ונכנסה ברשותו, לפיכך אם לא הביא ראיה תחזור הבהמה לבעליה וישבע היסת על טענה זו.
2
If it was usual for an animal to be kept in an enclosed place or entrusted to a shepherd, we assume that it belongs to the person in whose possession it is found. This applies even if the plaintiff brings witnesses who testify that it belonged to him. Thus, if the person who holds the animal in his possession claims: "You sold it to me" or "You gave it to me," he is required to take ash'vu'at hesset that it belongs to him, and then he is released of all obligations.
ב
היתה הבהמה שמורה או מסורה לרועה אף על פי שהביא זה עדים שהיא שלו הרי היא בחזקת זה שהיא תחת ידו ואם טען אתה מכרתה או נתתה לי ישבע התופס היסת שהיא שלו ויפטר.
3
Therefore, the following rules are applied when a person seizes possession of an animal belonging to a colleague that had been kept in an enclosed place or entrusted to a shepherd. If the owner claims: "The animal went out and came to you on its own initiative," "It was entrusted to you for safekeeping," or "It was lent to you," and the person who seized it agrees, saying: "It is not mine, but you owe me this-and-this much," "You gave it to me as security for this-and-this much," or "You owe me such-and-such for damages that you caused my property," his word is accepted if he claims the value of the animal or less. The rationale is that since he could claim that he purchased it, his word is accepted if he lodges another plausible claim. He must, however, take an oath holding a sacred article. Then he may collect his claim.
ג
לפיכך מי שתפס בהמת חבירו שהיתה שמורה או ביד רועה, והבעלים טוענין היא יצאת מעצמה ובאה אצלך או פקדון היא בידך או שאולה היא לך, והתופס אומר כן הוא אינה שלי אבל אתה חייב לי כך וכך או אתה משכנתה בידי על כך וכך או הזקת אותי נזק שאתה חייב לשלם כך וכך יכול לטעון עד כדי דמיה מתוך שיכול לומר לקוחה היא בידי וישבע בנקיטת חפץ ויטול.
4
Similar laws apply with regard to servants. Since they can walk independently, the fact that they are in the physical possession of a person is not presumed to be a sign of ownership. Instead, if the plaintiff brings witnesses who testify that it is known that this servant belonged to the plaintiff, the defendant's word is not accepted if he claims: "You sold him to me" or "You gave him to me as a present." Instead, the servant should be returned to its owner. He must, however, take an oath that he did not sell the servant or give him away as a present.
Different rules apply if the defendant who was asserted to have seized possession of the servant brought witnesses who testified that the servant was in his possession, day after day, for three consecutive years, and that the defendant would have him serve him as servants serve their masters. Since the original owner did not raise objections throughout all these years, the defendant's word is accepted. We allow him to maintain possession after he takes a sh'vu 'at hesset that he purchased the servant from the original owner or the owner gave the servant to him as a present.
These rules do not apply to a servant who is a young child and cannot walk on his legs because of his youth. He is considered as other types of movable property. We presume that he is owned by the person in whose domain he is located, and we follow the principle: When a person seeks to expropriate property from a colleague, the burden of proof is upon him.
ד
וכן העבדים שיכולין להלך אינן בחזקת זה שהן תחת ידו אלא כיון שהביא הטוען עדים שזה ידוע שהוא עבדו והלה טוען אתה מכרתו לי אתה נתתו לי במתנה אינו נאמן ויחזור העבד לבעליו וישבע הטוען שלא מכר ולא נתן, הביא זה הנטען שתפס העבד עדים שיש לזה העבד אצלו שלש שנים רצופות מיום ליום והוא משתמש בו כדרך שהעבדים משמשין את רבן הואיל ולא מיחה בו בכל אלו השנים הרי זה נאמן ומעמידין אותו בידו אחר שישבע היסת שלקחו ממנו או נתנו לו במתנה, אבל עבד קטן שאינו יכול להלך על רגליו מפני קטנותו הרי הוא כשאר המטלטלין וכל מי שיהיה ברשותו הרי הוא בחזקתו והמוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה.
5
As we explained, a plaintiff can alter his statements and offer another claim if it is plausible. To apply that concept to the issues at hand: A person issued a claim against a colleague, stating: "This garment...", "This animal...", or "This servant that is in your possession belongs to me. It was lent to you," "... it is stolen," "... I entrusted it to you," or "... I rented it to you."
The defendant claimed, "No. It is my money. I inherited it." The plaintiff then brought witnesses who testified that they know that this article, servant, or animal is known to belong to the plaintiff. The defendant then countered and replied: "Yes. It was yours, but you gave it to me..." or "... you sold it to me. I said: 'I inherited it,' not because I inherited it from my father, but that my ownership is so strong that it is as if I inherited it." The defendant's claim is accepted provided that he supports it by taking a sh'vu 'at hesset.
ה
הטוען את חבירו ואמר בגד או בהמה או עבד זה שבידך שלי הוא או שאול או גזול או הפקדתיו אצלך או שכור לך, והנטען אמר לא כי אלא זה ממוני וירושתי והביא הטוען עדים שהעידו שהן יודעין שזה החפץ או העבד או הבהמה ידועה שהיא היתה לזה, חזר הנטען ואמר כן היה שלך אבל אתה נתתו לי או מכרתו לי וזה שאמרתי ירושתי לא שירשתיו מאבותי אלא שהיא שלי כאילו ירשתיו הרי זה נאמן ונשבע היסת שכבר ביארנו שיש לטוען לחזור לטעון דבר הנשמע.
6
The following laws apply when two people are contending with regard to a boat or the like, each claiming: "It belongs entirely to me." If they come to the court and one asks the court: "Take possession of it until I bring witnesses to support my claim," the court should not take possession of it.
If the court took possession of it, that person went and did not find witnesses, and returned and asked: "Leave it for us as before, and whoever will overcome the other will acquire it, as was the law before," it does not heed the request. Instead, the court does not release it from its possession until a claimant brings witnesses who support his claim, one acknowledges the truth of the other's claim, or they willingly agree to divide it after taking an oath, as we have explained.
ו
ספינה וכיוצא בה שהיו שנים נחלקין עליה זה אומר כולה שלי וזה אומר כולה שלי ובאו לבית דין ואמר אחד תפסוה עד שאביא עדים אין תופסין אותה, ואם תפסוה בית דין והלך ולא מצא עדים ואמר הניחוה בינינו וכל המתגבר יטול כשהיה דינה מקדם אין שומעין להן ואין מוציאין אותה בית דין מידן עד שיביאו עדים או עד שיודו זה לזה או יחלקו ברצונם ובשבועה כמו שביארנו.
To`en veNit`an - Chapter 11
1
Whenever landed property is known to have belonged to a person, we presume that he is the owner even though the property is now in the possession of another person.
What is implied? Reuven was using a courtyard as a person would commonly use his own property, living in it, renting it to others, building and tearing down structures. After a while, Shimon came and lodged a claim against him, saying: "The courtyard that is in your possession belongs to me. I rented it to you," or "... I lent it to you."
Reuven replied: "It was yours, but you sold it to me," or "You gave it to me as a present."
If Shimon does not bring witnesses who testify that it was known to belong to him, Reuven is required to take a sh'vu'at hesset, and he is allowed to retain possession of the courtyard. If, however, Shimon brings witnesses who testify that this field belonged to him, our presumption is that Shimon is the owner. We tell Reuven: "Bring proof that he sold it to you or gave it to you." If he does not bring proof, we force him to leave and establish Shimon as the owner. This law applies even when Reuven does not admit that the field ever belonged to Shimon, because there are witnesses who support Shimon's claim.
א
כל הקרקעות הידועות לבעליהן אע"פ שהן עתה תחת יד אחרים הרי הן בחזקת בעליהן, כיצד ראובן שהיה משתמש בחצר כדרך שהעם משתמשין בחצרותיהן, דר בה ומשכירה לאחרים ובונה וסותר, ואחר זמן בא שמעון וטען עליו ואמר לו חצר זו שתחת ידך שלי היא ושכורה היא בידך או שאולה, והשיבו ראובן שלך היתה ואתה מכרתה לי או נתתה לי במתנה, אם אין עדים לשמעון שהיתה ידועה לו נשבע ראובן היסת ויעמוד במקומו, אבל אם הביא שמעון עדים שחצר זו שלו היתה הרי היא בחזקת שמעון ואומרין לראובן הבא ראיה שמכרה לך או נתנה לך, ואם לא הביא ראיה מסלקין אותו ממנה ומחזיקין אותה לשמעון אע"פ שאין ראובן מודה לשמעון שהיא היתה שלו שהרי יש עדים לשמעון.
2
When do we require Reuven to bring proof that he acquired the field or to depart? When he did not use the property for an extended time. If, however, Reuven brings witnesses who testify that he partook of the produce of this field for three consecutive years and benefited from it in its entirety in the manner in which any person would benefit from that field, we allow Reuven to maintain possession. This applies provided that it was possible for the original owners to know that this person had taken possession of the field, and they did not lodge a protest against him. Reuven must take a sh'vu'at hesset that Shimon sold him the field or gave it to him, and then he is released of all obligation.
The rationale for this decision is that we tell Shimon: "If your claim that you did not sell or give him the property is true, why is this person using your land year after year, when you do not have a legal document stating that it was rented to him or given to him as security for a loan, and yet you have not lodged a protest against him?"
If the plaintiff responds to this by claiming that the news that the other person was using his property did not reach him because he was in a distant country, we tell him: "It is impossible that the information did not reach you in three years. And when the information reached you, you should have lodged a protest in the presence of witnesses, telling them that 'So-and-so stole property from me, and in the future I will lodge a claim against him in court.' Since you did not issue a protest, you caused yourself a loss."
Therefore, if there was a war or a disruption of travel routes between the place where Reuven was located and the place where Shimon was located, we expropriate the property from Reuven even if he benefited from its produce for ten years. We return it to Shimon, because he could say: "I did not know that this person was using my property."
ב
במה דברים אמורים שמצריכין ראובן להביא ראיה או יסתלק בשלא נשתמש בה זמן מרובה, אבל אם הביא עדים שאכל פירות קרקע שלש שנים רצופות ונהנה בכולה כדרך שנהנין כל אדם באותה קרקע, והוא שיהיה אפשר לבעלים הראשונים שידעו בזה שהחזיק ולא מיחו בו, מעמידין אותה ביד ראובן וישבע ראובן היסת שמכרה לו שמעון או נתנה לו ויפטר, מפני שאומרים לו לשמעון אם אמת אתה טוען שלא מכרת ולא נתת למה היה זה משתמש שנה אחר שנה בקרקעך ואין לך עליו לא שטר שכירות ולא שטר משכונה ולא מחית בו, טען ואמר מפני שלא הגיע אלי הדבר שהרי הייתי במדינה רחוקה אומרים אי אפשר שלא יגיע לידך הדבר בשלש שנים וכיון שהגיע לך היה לך למחות בפני עדים ותודיע אותם שפלוני גזל אותי למחר אתבענו בדין הואיל ולא מחית אתה הפסדת על עצמך, לפיכך אם היתה מלחמה ושבוש דרכים בין המקום שהיה בו ראובן ובין המקום שהיה בו שמעון אפילו אכלה ראובן עשר שנים מוציאין אותה תחת ידו וחוזרת לשמעון מפני שיכול לומר לא ידעתי שזה משתמש בקרקעי.
3
Even in a situation where there was a war and a breakdown in communication, if Reuven brought witnesses who testify that each year Shimon came and stayed in this place" for 30 days or less, we tell Shimon: "Why didn't you protest when you came? You have lost your rights."
If Shimon claims: "I was very much occupied at the business fair and I did not know that so-and-so was in my courtyard," his claim is respected. For it is possible that a person will be occupied at a business fair for 30 days. If he stayed for more than 30 days and did not protest, he loses his rights.
It appears to me that this law applies only in the villages, for the people there are very much occupied with their business fairs.
ג
הביא ראובן עדים שהיה שמעון בא בכל שנה ועומד במקום זה שלשים יום או פחות, אומרים לשמעון מפני מה לא מחית כשבאת אבדת זכותך, טען שמעון ואמר טרוד הייתי בשוק ולא ידעתי שזה בתוך חצרי הרי זו טענה, שכל שלשים יום יהיה אדם טרוד בשוק, ואם עמד יותר משלשים יום ולא מיחה אבד את זכותו, ויראה לי שהדין זה אינו אלא בכפרים שהעם טרודין בשווקים שלהן.
4
Why do we not tell Reuven: "If it is true that he sold the property to you or gave it to you as a present, why did you not take care of your deed of acquisition?" Because a person does not take care of his legal documents for his entire life, and it is an established presumption that a person will not take care of a legal document for more than three years. If by that time, he sees that no one is protesting his ownership, he will not take care of it any longer.
ד
ומפני מה אין אומרין לראובן אם אמת הדבר שמכר לך או נתן לך במתנה למה לא נזהרת בשטר שלך, מפני שאין אדם נזהר בשטרו והולך כל ימיו וחזקה שאין אדם נזהר בשטר אלא עד שלש שנים, וכיון שרואה שאין אדם ממחה בו שוב אינו נזהר.
5
If Shimon issued a protest in a distant country, why can Reuven not claim: "I did not hear that he lodged a protest against me so that I felt it necessary to safeguard my deed of acquisition"?
Because we tell him: "Your friend has a friend, and his friend has a friend. And it is an established presumption that word of the protest reached you. Hence, since you know that he lodged a protest against you within the three years, if it is true that you had a deed of acquisition and you did not safeguard it, you caused yourself a loss."
ה
הרי שמיחה שמעון במדינה רחוקה מפני מה לא יטעון ראובן ויאמר לא שמעתי שמיחה בי כדי שאזהר בשטר, מפני שאומר לו חברך יש לו חבר וחבירו יש לו חבר וחזקה שהגיע אליך הדבר וכיון שידעת שמיחה בך בתוך שלש שנים באמת היה לך שטר ולא נזהרת בו אתה הפסדת על עצמך.
6
Therefore, if Shimon lodged a protest in the presence of witnesses, but told them: "Do not utter a word about this protest," the protest is of no consequence. If, however, the witnesses said on their own volition: "We will not utter a word about this," the protest is significant. For a person will ultimately speak of a matter that he was not charged to keep private.
Similarly, if the original owner told the witnesses: "Don't tell the person who took possession of the property about my protest," or the witnesses said on their own volition: "We will not notify him," the protest is of consequence. For even though they will not notify him, they will notify others, and ultimately the information will reach him.
ו
לפיכך אם מיחה שמעון בפני עדים ואמר להם אל תוציאו דבר זה מפיכם אין זה מחאה, אבל אם אמרו העדים מעצמן אין דבר זה יוצא מפינו הרי גם זו מחאה, שהדבר שאין אדם מצווה עליו אומרו שלא בכוונה, וכן אם צוה לעדים ואמר להם אל תודיעוהו או שאמרו הן מעצמן אין אנו מודיעין אותו גם זו מחאה היא, אע"פ שאינן מודיעין אותו מודיעין הם לאחרים ודבר זה יגיע אליו.
7
What constitutes a protest? That the owner says in the presence of two witnesses: "So-and-so who is using my field is a robber. In the future, I will call him to court." Similarly, if he says: "The property is rented out to him or it was given to him as security for a loan. If he claims that I sold it to him or gave it to him as a present, I will lodge a claim against him in court." Similarly, if he makes other analogous statements, the protest is of consequence even though he did not issue it in the country where the person in possession of the land is located.
If, however, he told them merely: "So-and-so who is using my field is a robber," that is not a valid protest, for Reuven will say: "When I heard this, I said to myself: 'Maybe he was merely slandering me.' Therefore, I was not careful about keeping my deed of acquisition."
ז
כיצד המחאה אומר בפני שנים פלוני שהוא משתמש בחצרי או בשדי גזלן הוא ולעתיד אני תובע אותו בדין, וכן אם אמר להם שכורה היא בידו או משכונה, ואם יטעון עלי שמכרתי או נתתי אני תובע אותו בדין וכן כל כיוצא בזה הרי זו מחאה, אע"פ שלא מיחה במדינה זו שהחזיק בה זה, אבל אם אמר להן פלוני שמשתמש בחצרי גזלן הוא אין זו מחאה, שהרי ראובן אומר כששמעתי אמרתי שמא חרף אותי בלבד ולפיכך לא נזהרתי בשטרי.
8
A protest made in the presence of two witnesses is of consequence. They may compose a legal record of it, even if the owner does not tell them to compose it.
Once the owner issued a protest in the first year, he does not have to issue another protest each year. There must not, however, be three full years between each protest. He must, therefore, issue a protest at the end of each three-year period. If he protested, delayed for three full years and protested afterwards, the protest is of no consequence.
ח
מחאה בפני שנים מחאה וכותבין אע"פ שלא אמר להם כתובו, וכיון שמיחה בשנה ראשונה אינו צריך לחזור ולמחות בכל שנה ושנה, אבל צריך שלא יהיה בין מחאה למחאה שלש שנים גמורות, לפיכך צריך למחות בסוף כל שלש שנים, ואם מיחה ועמד שלש שנים גמורות ואחר כך מיחה אינה מחאה.
9
If Reuven brought witnesses who testify that Shimon, the owner of the field, gathered the produce of the field together and gave it to Reuven, he is allowed to retain possession of the field. This applies even if Reuven claims that Shimon sold him or gave him the field that day. The rationale is that if he did not give him or sell him the field, he would not have helped Reuven in the field and given him its produce.
ט
הביא ראובן עדים שזה שמעון בעל השדה קבץ פירות שדה זו ונתנם לי תעמוד השדה ביד ראובן ואפילו טען ששמעון מכרה לו או נתן לו היום שאילו לא מכר או נתן לא היה משמש את ראובן בשדה זו ונותן לו פירותיה.
10
If Shimon responds, claiming: "It's true; that event transpired. I sold him the rights to the field's produce and it belonged to him, but I never sold him the field itself," his word is accepted and the field should be returned to Shimon. There is, however, an exception: when Reuven partook of the produce for three years with Shimon's knowledge and Shimon did not protest against him, as explained.
י
טען שמעון ואמר אמת היה הדבר ולפירות הורדתיו ושלו היו הפירות אבל הגוף לא מכרתי נאמן וחוזר לשמעון אלא אם כן אכלה ראובן בפניו שלש שנים ולא מיחה בו כמו שביארנו.
To`en veNit`an - Chapter 12
1
The three years mentioned in the previous chapter must be from day to day. Even if one day was lacking, a claim of ownership is not established and the person in possession of the property is removed from it.
When does the above apply? With regard to landed property that produces benefit at all times - e.g., houses, courtyards, cisterns, pits, storage cavities, stores, inns, bathhouses, dovecotes, olive presses, fields that are continually irrigated and hence can be used for sowing and for planting, gardens, and orchards, and also servants who go on their own initiative, as we have explained.
Different rules apply with regard to a field that is watered only from rain and a grove of trees. The "threes years" are not calculated from day to day.
Instead, after the person in possession partakes of three harvests from one type of produce, it is considered as if three years have passed.
What is implied? There was a date grove and the person in possession harvested it three times, a grape orchard and he harvested it three times, or an olive grove and he harvested it three times, he is considered to have established a claim of ownership. This applies even if the trees were planted one after the other, and there was not enough space left between them. Although ultimately, they will dry and have to be uprooted, since the person derived benefit from them for three harvests, he has established a claim of ownership.
א
שלש שנים שאמרנו מיום ליום אפילו היו חסרים יום אחד לא החזיק ומסלקין אותו ממנה, במה דברים אמורים בקרקעות שהן עושין פירות תמיד כגון הבתים והחצרות והבורות והשיחין והמערות והחנויות והפונדקות והמרחצאות והשובכות ובתי הבדין ושדה בית השלחין שמשקין אותם תמיד וזורעין בה ונוטעין והגנות והפרדסין, וכן עבדים המהלכין כמו שבארנו, אבל שדה הבעל שהיא שותה ממי גשמים בלבד ושדה אילן אינה מיום ליום אלא כיון שאכלו שלש תבואות ממין אחד הרי אלו כשלש שנים, כיצד היתה שדה תמרים וגדר שלש גדרות או שדה ענבים ובצר שלש בצירות או שדה זיתים ומסק שלש מסיקות הרי אלו כשלש שנים והחזיק, ואפילו היו האילנות רצופין ולא היה ביניהן הרחקה כראוי שהרי סופן ליבש הואיל ואוכלן שלש תבואות החזיק.
2
If a person brings witnesses who testify that he dwelled in this courtyard for three years or rented it out to a tenant for three years, he establishes a claim of ownership.
If the owner of the courtyard claims: "Maybe you - or your tenant - did not dwell there during the day and during the night," his claim is valid. We tell the person in possession: "Bring witnesses that throughout these years, you dwelled there during the day and during the night, or depart."
Even when witnesses come and testify, saying: "The person in possession rented the field to us, and we dwelled there during the day and during the night," if the owner of the field demands: "Let them bring witnesses that they dwelled there during the day and during the night," these tenants must bring proof that they dwelled there at all times. The rationale is that the matter is dependent on them and is not dependent on the claim of the person in possession of the property that they should testify on his behalf.
ב
הביא עדים שהיה דר בחצר זו שלש שנים או ששכרה שלש שנים הרי זו חזקה, טען בעל החצר ואמר שמא לא שכן בה ביום ובלילה או שמא אלו שהשכירו להם לא שכנו בה ביום ובלילה הרי זו טענה, אומרים למחזיק או תביא עדים ששנים אלו גמורות ביום ובלילה או הסתלק, אפילו באו עדים ואמרו לנו השכיר ואנו דרנו בה ביום ובלילה וטען בעל השדה ואמר יביאו עדים שדרו בה ביום ובלילה, צריכין אלו השוכרין להביא ראיה שדרו בה תמיד, שזה הדבר תלוי בהן ואין תלוי בטענת המחזיק כדי שיעידו לו.1
3
Different laws apply if the person in possession of the property or the witnesses were traveling salesmen who journey from village to village or the like. In such a situation, the court makes a claim on behalf of the owner at the outset. When he brings witnesses to try to substantiate his claim of ownership, the court tells him: "Bring witnesses who will testify that you manifested possession during the day and the night."
When does the above apply? With regard to courtyards, houses, and the like, in which people live during the day and the night. Different laws apply with regard to stores operated by merchants and the like, in which people dwell only during the day. In such a situation, if a person dwelled in the store for three years during the day, he establishes a claim of ownership.
ג
היה זה המחזיק או העדים שדרו בה מן הרוכלין המחזרין בעיירות וכיוצא בהן, טוענין אותו לכתחלה וכשיביא עדי חזקה אומר לו הבא עדים שהיית מחזיק בה ביום ובלילה, במה דברים אמורים בחצרות ובתים וכיוצא בהן שהן עשויות לדור בתוכן ביום ובלילה, אבל החנויות של תגרים וכיוצא כהן /בהן/ שאין דרין בהן אלא ביום כיון שדר בה שלש שנים ביום הרי זה חזקה. 2
4
The three years mentioned must be consecutive, one following the other. If a person in possession of a field sowed it one year and left it fallow the next year, and then sowed it one year and left it fallow the next year, he does not establish a claim of ownership. This applies even if he followed this pattern for many years.
If the custom of the farmers of that area was to leave fields fallow, the person is considered to have established a claim of ownership. This applies even if some of the local farmers sow their fields year after year, and some sow their fields for one year and leave them fallow the next. For the person in possession may claim: "I left it fallow only so that it will produce more in the year that I sow it."
ד
שלש שנים שאמרנו צריך שיהיו רצופות זו אחר זו, הרי שהחזיק בשדה וזרעה שנה והובירה שנה וזרעה שנה והובירה שנה, אפילו עשה כן כמה שנים לא החזיק, היה דרכן של בני אותו המקום להוביר אע"פ שמקצתן זורעין שנה אחר שנה ומקצתן זורעין שנה ומובירין שנה הרי זה החזיק שהרי הוא אומר לא הוברתי אותה אלא כדי שתעשה הרבה בשנת הזריעה.
5
When two partners maintained possession of a field for six years, one partaking of the produce in the first, third and fifth years, and the other partaking of the produce in the second, fourth and sixth years, neither is considered to have established a claim of ownership. The rationale is that the owner of the field can say: "Since I neither saw nor heard of one person maintaining possession year after year, I did not protest."
Accordingly, if these partners composed a legal document attesting to their partnership and stating that they should each utilize the field in successive years, if three years pass in which they use it, they establish a claim of ownership. The rationale is that a legal document becomes public knowledge. Hence, if the owner did not protest, he forfeited his right.
Similar laws apply if two people maintain possession of a servant and use his services year after year. Ordinarily, they do not establish a claim of ownership. If they compose a legal document concerning the servant, they do.
ה
שני שותפין שהחזיקו בשדה שש שנים האחד אכלה ראשונה ושלישית וחמישית, והשני אכלה שניה ורביעית וששית לא עלתה חזקה לאחד מהם, שהרי בעל הקרקע אומר כיון שלא ראיתי ולא שמעתי שהחזיק בה אדם אחד שנה אחר שנה מפני זה לא מחיתי, לפיכך אם כתבו אלו השותפין שטר ביניהן שישתמשו בה שנה אחר שנה כיון שעבר שלש שנים עלתה להן חזקה, שהשטר יש לו קול והואיל ולא מיחה אבד זכותו, והוא הדין לעבד שהחזיקו בו שנים ונשתמשו בו שנה אחר שנה אם כתבו שטר ביניהן הרי החזיקו.
6
The following rules apply when a person who took possession of a property derived benefit from its produce for one year and then sold it, the purchaser derived benefit from its produce for one year and then sold it, and the second purchaser derived benefit from its produce for a year. If they sold it to each other with a deed of sale, the activities of the three are combined and a claim of ownership is established, because the previous owner did not protest.
If they did not record the transaction in a deed of sale, a claim of ownership is not established, because the original owners can say: "Since one person did not maintain a presence within it for three years, there was no necessity to issue a protest."
ו
אכלה שנה זה המחזיק ומכרה ואכלה הלוקח שנה ומכר ללוקח שני ואכלה שנה, אם מכרו זה לזה בשטר שלשתן מצטרפין והרי זו חזקה מפני שלא מיחה, ואם מכרו שלא בשטר אינה חזקה שהבעלים הראשונים אומרים כיון שלא עמד בה איש אחד שלש שנים לא הוצרכתי למחות.
7
When a father derived benefit from a property for one year, and his son derived benefit for two years, or the father derived benefit for two years, and his son derived benefit for one year, a claim of ownership is established.
The same law applies if the father derived benefit for a year, the son derived benefit for a year, and the person who purchased it derived benefit for a year, provided that he purchased it with a deed of sale.
ז
אכלה האב שנה והבן שתים האב שתים והבן שנה האב שנה והבן שנה והלוקח מן הבן שנה הרי זו חזקה והוא שלקח בשטר.
8
When a person seeking to establish a claim of ownership partakes of produce from a field for one year in the presence of the father who was the owner, and two years in the presence of his son, or two years in the presence of the father and one year in the presence of the son, a claim of ownership is established.
Similarly, a claim of ownership is established when the person in possession of the field partakes of its produce for one year in the presence of the father, one year in the presence of the son, and one year in the presence of a person who purchased the field from the son. This law applies when the son sold the field together with all his fields. In such an instance, the person in possession of the field will not appreciate that it was sold, and hence will not necessarily be careful to maintain possession of his deed of acquisition beyond the three-year period. If, however, the son sold the field as a discrete entity the property is expropriated and given to the purchaser. For there can be no greater protest against the squatter's possession than this.
ח
אכלה בפני האב שהיה בעל השדה שנה ובפני בנו שתים, או בפני האב שתים ובפני הבן שנה, או בפני האב שנה ובפני בנו שנה ובפני לוקח מן הבן שנה, הרי זו חזקה, והוא שמכר הבן זו השדה בכלל שדותיו שהרי לא הכיר המחזיק שנמכרה ולפיכך לא נזהר בשטרו, אבל אם מכר הבן שדה זו בפני עצמה אין לך מחאה גדולה מזו.
9
If the person in possession left the field fallow year after year - even for many years - since he did not derive any benefit from it, he does not establish a claim of ownership.
Similarly, if he irrigated it or even irrigated it and did no more than break up large clumps of earth, since he did not benefit from its produce, he does not establish a claim of ownership.
ט
נרה שנה אחר שנה אפילו כמה שנים הואיל ולא נהנה בה אינה חזקה, וכן אם פתח בה שבילי המים ופתח ושדד בלבד הואיל ולא אכל פירות אינה חזקה.
10
If the person in possession sowed it, but did not make any profit - i.e., he sowed a kor and reaped a kor - he does not establish a claim of ownership, since he did not derive any benefit from it.
י
זרעה ולא הרויח כלום אלא זרע כור ואסף כור לא החזיק שהרי לא נהנה.
11
If he harvests the field as straw, he does not establish a claim of ownership. If in that region it was common to sow to harvest straw because straw is very expensive, he does establish a claim of ownership.
יא
אכלה שחת לא החזיק, ואם היה המקום דרכן לזרוע לשחת מפני שדמיו יקרין הרי זו חזקה.
12
If the person in possession partook of produce of a field that was orlah, grew during the Sabbatical year, or contained mixed species, he establishes a claim of ownership despite the fact that he derived benefit through transgression.
יב
אכלה ערלה שביעית וכלאים אף על פי שנהנה בעבירה הרי זו חזקה. 3
13
If the property in question was a stone or a rocky area unfit to be sown, the person in possession must benefit from the land in an appropriate manner - e.g., use it to spread out fruits to dry, as a place for an animal to pasture, or the like. If he does not derive benefit throughout all these three years in an appropriate manner, he does not establish a claim of ownership.
יג
היה המקום שהחזיק בו סלע או חלמיש שאינו ראוי לזריעה צריך ליהנות בו בדבר הראוי לה כגון שישטח בו הפירות או יעמיד בו בהמה וכיוצא בזה, ואם לא נהנה בו בכל אותן השלש שנים בדבר הראוי לו לא החזיק.
14
The following rules apply when a person would tie his animal in a specific place in a courtyard belonging to a colleague, he would raise chickens there, he would place an oven, a range or a mill there, or he would place his fertilizer there. Whether or not he erects a barrier there, if he uses the property for these purposes during the day and the night and claims that the owner of the courtyard sold or gave him that place, he establishes a claim of ownership.
יד
היה מעמיד בהמה במקום מסויים מחצר חבירו או שהיה מגדל שם תרנגולין או מעמיד שם תנור וכירים וריחים, או שנתן שם זבלו, בין שהעמיד שם מחיצה בין שלא העמיד, אם נשתמש בדברים אלו וכיוצא בהן שלש שנים ביום ובלילה וטען על בעל החצר ואמר אתה נתת לי מקום זה או מכרתו לי הרי זו חזקה.
15
The following rules apply when a field is surrounded by a fence and a person took possession of it and sowed crops outside the fence, deriving benefit from the portion that is not protected. Even though he derives benefit year after year, he does not establish a claim of ownership. The rationale is that the owner can claim: "Since we saw that he was sowing crops in a place that was unprotected, we said: 'Whatever he sowed, the beasts of the field will eat. Therefore, we did not protest.'" This law also applies to anyone who sows crops in a place that is not protected and the crops are accessible to animals and other people.
טו
שדה שהיא מוקפת גדר ובא זה שהחזיק בה וזרע חוץ לגדר ונהנה בכל מקום שאינו שמור, אע"פ שאכלו שנה אחר שנה לא עלתה לו חזקה, שהבעלים טוענין ואומרין כיון שראינו שזורע במקום מופקר אמרנו כל מה שזרע חית השדה תאכלנו ולפיכך לא מחיתי, והוא הדין לכל הזורע מקום שאינו שמור אלא רגל חיה ויד כל אדם מצויין בו.
16
When the person in possession derives benefit from the entire property with the exception of one portion fit to sow a quarter of a kav of grain, he establishes a claim of ownership over the entire field, with the exception of the portion from which he did not benefit. Even if that was a rocky portion in the midst of the field, since he did not use it in a way appropriate for it, he does not establish a claim of ownership over it.
טז
אכלה כולה חוץ מבית רובע החזיק בכולה חוץ מאותו בית רובע שלא נהנה בו, אפילו היה חלמיש בתוך השדה הואיל ולא נשתמש בו כראוי לו אין לזה בו חזקה.
17
The following rules apply when one person took possession of trees and derived benefit from their produce, and another took possession of the land, sowed crops there, and derived benefit from them, and each of them claims that the entire property belongs to him, because he purchased it from the owner. The person in possession of the trees is given the trees and the land necessary to tend to them - i.e., the space in which a person picking fruit can stand together with his basket for each tree. The person in possession of the land receives the remainder of the land.
יז
החזיק אחד באילנות ואכל פירותיהן ואחד החזיק בקרקע וזרעה ואכל פירותיה וכל אחד משניהם טוען שהכל שלי ואני לקחתיו, זה שהחזיק באילנות ואכלן שלש שנים יש לו האילנות וקרקע שצריכין לו והוא כמלא האורה וסלו חוצה לכל אילן ואילן, וזה שהחזיק בקרקע יש לו שאר הקרקע.
18
Similarly, when a person benefits from all the produce of a tree for three years and then issues a claim against the owner of the tree: "You sold me this tree and its land," he is granted an amount of land equivalent to the thickness of the tree until the depths of the earth.
יח
וכן האוכל כל פירות אילן שלש שנים וטען על בעל האילן אתה מכרת לי אילן זה וקרקעו הרי זה יש לו קרקע כעובי האילן עד התהום.
19
The following laws apply when there are 30 trees within a tree grove large enough to sow three se'ah of grain. If a person in possession benefited from ten trees in the first year, ten in the second year, and ten in the third, he establishes his possession over the entire grove.
The above applies when the ten trees from which he benefited were spread through the entire area of the field, and the other trees did not produce any fruit. If, however, the other trees produced fruit and he did not partake of it, he establishes a claim of ownership only on the produce from which he partook.
יט
שדה אילן שהיו בו שלשים אילנות בתוך בית שלש סאין ואכל עשרה בשנה ראשונה ועשרה בשנה שניה ועשרה בשנה שלישית הוחזק בכל, והוא שהיו עשרה שאכל מפוזרות בכל בית השלש סאין ולא הוציאו שאר האילנות פירות, אבל אם הוציאו שאר האילנות פירות ולא אכלן לא הוחזק אלא במה שאכל.
20
When does the above apply? When he benefited from some of the fruit and the people reaped the remainder of the fruit. If, however, he left the fruit on the trees and benefited from the fruit from several portions throughout the entire grove, he establishes a claim of ownership concerning the entire field, even though he did not collect all its produce.
כ
במה דברים אמורים בשאכל הוא מקצת הפירות ובזזו העם שאר הפירות, אבל אם מניח פירותיהן עליהן הואיל ואכל אילן מכאן ואילן מכאן מכל השדה החזיק בכל השדה אע"פ שלא אסף כל פירותיה. 4
FOOTNOTES
1.
אפילו באו עדים וכו' עד כדי שיעידו לו. א"א ונתננו לו השכר עכ"ל.
2.
בד"א בחצרות וכו' עד הרי זה חזקה. א"א אין דרך הגמרא כן דלרבויי מפוזרות קאמר ולא לרבויי מקוטעות עכ"ל.
3.
אכלה ערלה שביעית וכו' עד הרי זו חזקה. א"א שבוש הוא ולא אמרו אלא שאכילת עצים שמה אכילה הואיל וליכא פירי אחריני עכ"ל.
4.
בד"א בשאכל וכו' עד אע"פ שלא אסף כל פירותיה. א"א דעת אחרת היה לו כי ראה בגמ' והוא דבזו בזויי וסבר כי הוא לשון בזה ושלל וטעה כי הוא כמו בזעיה בזועי והוא לשון פזור שאכל שלשה מכאן ושלשה מכאן ומכאן הוציאו המפרשים זה הפזור שכתב הוא עכ"ל.
• Tuesday, 17 Elul, 5776 · 20 September 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Friday, Elul 17, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Tavo, Shishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 83-87. Also 49-51.
Tanya: Now, these attributes. (p. 473) ...in their traits. (p. 473).
The Alter Rebbe himself was the regular Torah-reader. Once he was away from Lyozna on the Shabbat of parsha Tavo, and the Mitteler Rebbe, then not yet Bar Mitzva, heard the Torah-reading from another. His anguish at the curses in the tochacha (section of admonition) caused him so much heartache, that on Yom Kippur1 the Alter Rebbe doubted whether his son would be able to fast.
When they asked the Mitteler Rebbe - "Don't you hear this parsha every year?"2 - he replied, "When father reads, one hears no curses."
FOOTNOTES
1.A few weeks later.
2.Lit. "Isn't this parsha read every year?"
• Daily Thought:• "Today's Day"
• Friday, Elul 17, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Tavo, Shishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 83-87. Also 49-51.
Tanya: Now, these attributes. (p. 473) ...in their traits. (p. 473).
The Alter Rebbe himself was the regular Torah-reader. Once he was away from Lyozna on the Shabbat of parsha Tavo, and the Mitteler Rebbe, then not yet Bar Mitzva, heard the Torah-reading from another. His anguish at the curses in the tochacha (section of admonition) caused him so much heartache, that on Yom Kippur1 the Alter Rebbe doubted whether his son would be able to fast.
When they asked the Mitteler Rebbe - "Don't you hear this parsha every year?"2 - he replied, "When father reads, one hears no curses."
FOOTNOTES
1.A few weeks later.
2.Lit. "Isn't this parsha read every year?"
Soul-Body Bonding
The human mind despises the body that houses it,
but the soul has only love.
The mind would soar to the heavens,
but for a body that chains it to the earth.
The mind would be consumed in divine oneness,
but for the body’s delusion of otherness,
as though it had made itself.
But the soul sees only G‑d.
In that very delusion of otherness,
in that madness of the human ego,
even there, the soul sees only G‑d.
For she says, “This, too, is truth.
This is a reflection of the Essence of all things,
of that which truly has neither beginning nor cause.”
And so she embraces the bonds of the body,
works with the body, transforms the body.
Until the body, too, sees only G‑d.[Basi LeGani 5712]
-------The human mind despises the body that houses it,
but the soul has only love.
The mind would soar to the heavens,
but for a body that chains it to the earth.
The mind would be consumed in divine oneness,
but for the body’s delusion of otherness,
as though it had made itself.
But the soul sees only G‑d.
In that very delusion of otherness,
in that madness of the human ego,
even there, the soul sees only G‑d.
For she says, “This, too, is truth.
This is a reflection of the Essence of all things,
of that which truly has neither beginning nor cause.”
And so she embraces the bonds of the body,
works with the body, transforms the body.
Until the body, too, sees only G‑d.[Basi LeGani 5712]
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