Today's Laws & Customs:
• Elul Observances
As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is traditionaly a time of introspection and stocktaking -- a time to review one's deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming "Days of Awe" of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
As the month of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness (see "Today in Jewish History" for Elul 1) it is a most opportune time for teshuvah ("return" to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased Ahavat Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d. Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when "the king is in the field" and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, "everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all."
Specific Elul customs include the daily sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) as a call to repentance. The Baal Shem Tov instituted the custom of reciting three additional chapters ofPsalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms). Click below to view today's Psalms.
Chapter 7</ br> Chapter 8 </ br> Chapter 9
Psalms 7:1 (0) A shiggayon of David, which he sang to Adonai because of Kush the Ben-Y’mini:
2 (1) Adonai my God, in you I take refuge.
Save me from all my pursuers, and rescue me;
3 (2) otherwise, they will maul me like a lion
and tear me apart, with no rescuer present.
4 (3) Adonai my God, if I have caused this,
if there is guilt on my hands,
5 (4) if I paid back evil to him who was at peace with me,
when I even spared those who opposed me without cause;
6 (5) then let the enemy pursue me
until he overtakes me
and tramples my life down into the earth;
yes, let him lay my honor in the dust. (Selah)
7 (6) Rise up, Adonai, in your anger!
Arouse yourself against the fury of my foes.
Wake up for me; you commanded justice.
8 (7) May the assembly of the peoples surround you;
may you return to rule over them from on high.
9 (8) Adonai, who dispenses judgment to the peoples,
judge me, Adonai, according to my righteousness
and as my integrity deserves.
10 (9) Let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
and establish the righteous;
since you, righteous God,
test hearts and minds.
11 (10) My shield is God,
who saves the upright in heart.
12 (11) God is a righteous judge,
a God whose anger is present every day.
13 (12) If a person will not repent,
he sharpens his sword.
He has bent his bow, made it ready;
14 (13) he has also prepared for him
weapons of death, his arrows,
which he has made into burning shafts.
15 (14) Look how the wicked is pregnant with evil;
he conceives trouble, gives birth to lies.
16 (15) He makes a pit, digs it deep,
and falls into the hole he made.
17 (16) His mischief will return onto his own head,
his violence will recoil onto his own skull.
18 (17) I thank Adonai for his righteousness
and sing praise to the name of Adonai ‘Elyon.
8:1 (0) For the leader. On the gittit. A psalm of David:
2 (1) Adonai! Our Lord! How glorious
is your name throughout the earth!
The fame of your majesty
spreads even above the heavens!
3 (2) From the mouths of babies and infants at the breast
you established strength because of your foes,
in order that you might silence
the enemy and the avenger.
4 (3) When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and stars that you set in place —
5 (4) what are mere mortals, that you concern yourself with them;
humans, that you watch over them with such care?
6 (5) You made him but little lower than the angels,
you crowned him with glory and honor,
7 (6) you had him rule what your hands made,
you put everything under his feet —
8 (7) sheep and oxen, all of them,
also the animals in the wilds,
9 (8) the birds in the air, the fish in the sea,
whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
10 (9) Adonai! Our Lord! How glorious
is your name throughout the earth!
9:1 (0) For the leader. On the death of Labben. A psalm of David:
2 (1) I give thanks to Adonai with all my heart.
I will tell about all your wonderful deeds.
3 (2) I will be glad and exult in you.
I will sing praise to your name, ‘Elyon.
4 (3) When my enemies turn back,
they stumble and perish before you.
5 (4) For you upheld my cause as just,
sitting on the throne as the righteous judge.
6 (5) You rebuked the nations, destroyed the wicked,
blotted out their name forever and ever.
7 (6) The enemy is finished, in ruins forever;
you destroyed their cities; all memory of them is lost.
8 (7) But Adonai is enthroned forever;
he has set up his throne for judgment.
9 (8) He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will judge the peoples fairly.
10 (9) Adonai is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a tower of strength in times of trouble.
11 (10) Those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you have not abandoned those who seek you, Adonai.
12 (11) Sing praises to Adonai, who lives in Tziyon;
proclaim his deeds among the peoples.
13 (12) For the avenger of blood remembers them,
he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted:
14 (13) “Have mercy on me, Adonai!
See how I suffer from those who hate me;
you raise me from the gates of death,
15 (14) so that I can proclaim all your praises
at the gates of the daughter of Tziyon
and rejoice in this deliverance of yours.”
16 (15) The nations have drowned in the pit they dug,
caught their own feet in the net they hid.
17 (16) Adonai made himself known and executed judgment;
the wicked are ensnared in the work of their own hands. (Higgayon; Selah)
18 (17) The wicked will return to Sh’ol,
all the nations that forget God.
19 (18) For the poor will not always be forgotten
or the hope of the needy perish forever.
20 (19) Arise, Adonai! Don’t let mortals prevail!
Let the nations be judged in your presence.
21 (20) Strike them with terror, Adonai!
Let the nations know they are only human. (Selah)
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:
• Passing of Rabbi A. I. Kook (1935)
Elul 3 is the yahrtzeit of the first Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi (in modern times) of the Religious Zionist Jewish community in the Holy Land, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, who assumed his position upon the formation of the British Mandate in 1920. A leading philosopher and mystic, Rabbi Kook authored many books and letters, and is a founding father of the "Religious Zionist" movement.
Daily Quote:
Jerusalem is the light of the world[Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit 59:5]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Shoftim, 3rd Portion Deuteronomy 18:1-18:5 with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 18
1The Levitic kohanim, the entire tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; the Lord's fire offerings and His inheritance they shall eat. אלֹא־יִֽ֠הְיֶ֠ה לַכֹּֽהֲנִ֨ים הַֽלְוִיִּ֜ם כָּל־שֵׁ֧בֶט לֵוִ֛י חֵ֥לֶק וְנַֽחֲלָ֖ה עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִשֵּׁ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה וְנַֽחֲלָת֖וֹ יֹֽאכֵלֽוּן:
the entire tribe of Levi: whether whole-bodied or blemished. — [Sifrei] כל שבט לוי: בין תמימין בין בעלי מומין:
no portion: i.e., in the spoils. חלק: בביזה:
or inheritance: in the land. — [Sifrei] ונחלה: בארץ:
the Lord’s fire-offerings: The holy sacrifices of the Temple. (Other editions: The holiest sacrifices.) אשי ה': קדשי המקדש [קדשי קדשים]:
and His portion: These are the holy things of the boundaries, [i.e. those eaten throughout the entire land, namely,] the terumoth and the tithes, but he shall have no absolute inheritance among his brothers. In Sifrei [18:41], our Rabbis expound as follows: ונחלתו: אלו קדשי הגבול תרומות ומעשרות. אבל נחלה גמורה לא יהיה לו בקרב אחיו. ובספרי דרשו,
2But he shall have no inheritance among his brothers; the Lord is his inheritance, as He spoke to him. בוְנַֽחֲלָ֥ה לֹא־יִֽהְיֶה־לּ֖וֹ בְּקֶ֣רֶב אֶחָ֑יו יְהֹוָה֙ ה֣וּא נַֽחֲלָת֔וֹ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּר־לֽוֹ:
But he shall have no inheritance: This refers to the “inheritance of the remainder.” ונחלה לא יהיה לו : זו נחלת שאר:
among his brothers: this refers to the “inheritance of the five.” I do not know what this means. It appears to me, however, that across the Jordan and onwards is called “the land of the five nations,” and that of Sihon and Og is called “the land of the two nations,” namely, the Amorites and the Canaanites. Now the expression, “inheritance of the remainder,” is meant to include the [remaining three nations of the ten whose land God promised to Abraham, namely] the Kenites, the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites (Gen. 15:19). The Sifrei in the section dealing with the [priestly] gifts specified for Aaron expounds this in a similar fashion, on the verse (Deut. 10:9), “Therefore, Levi has no portion or inheritance,” to admonish [the Levite to take no portion in] the inheritance of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites. It has since been found in the words of Rabbi Kalonymus that the proper version of this passage in Sifrei reads as follows: בקרב אחיו: זו נחלת חמשה. ואיני יודע מה היא. ונראה לי שארץ כנען שמעבר הירדן ואילך נקראת ארץ חמשה עממין, ושל סיחון ועוג, שני עממין אמורי וכנעני. ונחלת שאר לרבות קיני וקנזי וקדמוני. וכן דורש בפרשת מתנות שנאמרו לאהרן על כן לא היה ללוי וגו' (דברים י, ט) להזהיר על קיני וקנזי וקדמוני. שוב נמצא בדברי רבי קלונימוס הכי גרסינן בספרי
And he will have no inheritance: This refers to the “inheritance of the five.” ונחלה לא יהיה לו: אלו נחלת חמשה
among his brothers: This refers to the “inheritance of the seven.” [Rashi now explains this version of the Sifrei:] [The first reference is to] the inheritance of five [of the twelve] tribes [of Israel]. [The second, is to] the inheritance of [the remaining] seven tribes [of Israel]. Now Moses and Joshua apportioned inheritance only to five tribes: Moses, to Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh; Joshua, to Judah, Ephraim, and [the other] half of the tribe of Manasseh. The remaining seven tribes took their inheritance by themselves after Joshua’s demise. Thus, because of this [distinction between these five former tribes and the seven latter ones], the Sifrei mentions five and seven separately. בקרב אחיו: אלו נחלת שבעה. נחלת חמשה שבטים ונחלת שבעה שבטים. ומתוך שמשה ויהושע לא חלקו נחלה אלא לחמשה שבטים בלבד, שכן משה הנחיל לראובן וגד וחצי שבט מנשה, ויהושע הנחיל ליהודה ואפרים ולחצי שבט מנשה, ושבעה האחרים נטלו מאליהן אחרי מות יהושע, מתוך כך הזכיר חמשה לבד ושבעה לבד:
as He spoke to him: i.e., to Aaron [saying],“You shall not inherit in their land… I am your portion [and your inheritance, among the children of Israel].”- [Num. 18:20] כאשר דבר לו: [לאהרן] בארצם לא תנחל וגו' אני חלקך (במדבר יח כ):
3And this shall be the kohanim's due from the people, from those who perform a slaughter, be it an ox or a sheep, he shall give the kohen the foreleg, the jaws, and the maw. גוְזֶ֡ה יִֽהְיֶה֩ מִשְׁפַּ֨ט הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֜ים מֵאֵ֣ת הָעָ֗ם מֵאֵ֛ת זֹֽבְחֵ֥י הַזֶּ֖בַח אִם־שׁ֣וֹר אִם־שֶׂ֑ה וְנָתַן֙ לַכֹּהֵ֔ן הַזְּרֹ֥עַ וְהַלְּחָיַ֖יִם וְהַקֵּבָֽה:
from the people: But not from the kohanim [i.e., a kohen is exempt from these dues]. — [Sifrei , Chul. 132b] מאת העם: ולא מאת הכהנים:
be it an ox or a sheep: But not [from the category of] beast (חַיָּה) . אם שור אם שה: פרט לחיה:
the foreleg: from the carpus to the shoulder blade, called espaldun, espalde, or espaleron in Old French. — [Chul. 134b] הזרוע: מן הפרק של ארכובה עד כף של יד שקורין אשפלדו"ן [עצם השכם]:
the jaws: together with the tongue. Those who interpret the symbolism of Biblical verses say, the זְרוֹעַ [which is, in effect, the “hand” of the animal, became the due of the kohanim , as a reward] for the “hand” [which Phinehas, the kohen , raised against the sinners], as it is said, “and he took a spear in his hand” (Num. 25:7); the jaws [as a reward] for the prayer [he offered], as it is said,“Then Phinehas stood and prayed” (Ps. 106:30); and the maw (הַקֵּבָה) , as a reward [for his action against the sinning woman], as it said,“[And he stabbed both of them, the man of Israel] and the woman in her stomach (קֵבָתָהּ)” (Num. 25:8). - [Chul. 134b]. הלחיים: עם הלשון. דורשי רשומות היו אומרים, זרוע, תחת יד, שנאמר ויקח רומח בידו (במדבר כה ז). לחיים, תחת תפלה, שנאמר ויעמוד פינחס ויפלל (תהלים קו ל). והקבה, תחת האשה אל קבתה (במדבר כה ח):
4The first of your grain, your wine, and your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. דרֵאשִׁ֨ית דְּגָֽנְךָ֜ תִּירֽשְׁךָ֣ וְיִצְהָרֶ֗ךָ וְרֵאשִׁ֛ית גֵּ֥ז צֹֽאנְךָ֖ תִּתֶּן־לֽוֹ:
The first of your grain: This refers to terumah ; and although the verse does not state a required amount, our Rabbis set an amount for it [ranging from a sixtieth to a fortieth of the total produce as follows]: A generous [person] gives one fortieth of the crop, a miserly [person] one sixtieth, and [a person of] average generosity one fiftieth. They base [this ruling] that one should not give less than one sixtieth on what is said, “[This is the offering that you shall set apart: a sixth of an ephah from a homer of wheat,] and you shall separate a sixth of an ephah from a homer of barley” (Ezek. 45:13). [Since an ephah is equivalent to three se’ah ,] a sixth of an ephah is equivalent to half a se’ah . [Now the “homer” mentioned in the verse is the same as a kor .] When you give [one sixth of an ephah from a homer , which we now know to be] one half of a se’ah for a kor , this amounts to one sixtieth because a kor is thirty se’ah . — [Yerushalmi , Terumoth 4:3] ראשית דגנך: זו תרומה, ולא פירש בה שיעור, אבל רבותינו נתנו בה שיעור, עין יפה אחד מארבעים, עין רעה אחד מששים, בינונית אחד מחמשים. וסמכו על המקרא שלא לפחות מאחד מששים, שנאמר וששיתם האיפה מחומר השעורים (יחזקאל מה יג) ששית האיפה, חצי סאה. כשאתה נותן חצי סאה לכור, הרי אחד מששים, שהכור שלשים סאין:
and the first of the fleece of your sheep: When you shear your sheep each year, give the first of it [the wool] to the kohen . And [although the verse] does not mention a required amount, our Rabbis set an amount, namely, one sixtieth. And how many sheep [are the minimum to] be liable to the law of “the first of the fleece?” At least five sheep, as it is said, “[Then Abigail… took…] and five prepared (עֲשׂוּיוֹת) sheep” (I Sam. 25:18). [The עֲשׂוּיוֹת here, is interpreted as meaning that five sheep compel their owner and say to you, as it were,“Get up and fulfill the commandment of 'the first of the fleece.’”] Rabbi Akiva says: [that the minimum number of sheep liable to this commandment is derived from our verse here]: The phrase רֵאשִׁית גֵז denotes two sheep; צֹאנְךָ [an additional two, making] four, and תִּתֶּן-לוֹ denotes one more, which is a total of five sheep. - [Chul. 135a, 137a; Sifrei] וראשית גז צאנך: כשאתה גוזז צאנך בכל שנה תן ממנה ראשית לכהן. ולא פירש בה שיעור. ורבותינו נתנו בה שיעור אחד מששים. וכמה צאן חייבות בראשית הגז, חמש רחלות, שנאמר וחמש צאן עשויות (שמואל א' כה, יח). רבי עקיבא אומר ראשית גז שתים, גז צאנך ארבע, תתן לו הרי חמש:
5For the Lord, your God, has chosen him out of all your tribes, to stand and serve in the name of the Lord, he and his sons, all the days. הכִּ֣י ב֗וֹ בָּחַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ מִכָּל־שְׁבָטֶ֑יךָ לַֽעֲמֹ֨ד לְשָׁרֵ֧ת בְּשֵֽׁם־יְהֹוָ֛ה ה֥וּא וּבָנָ֖יו כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים:
to stand and serve: From here we learn that [the Temple] service is performed only when standing. — [Sifrei , Sotah 38a] לעמוד לשרת: מכאן שאין שירות אלא מעומד:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 18 - 22
• 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 18
If one merits a public miracle, he should offer a song to God, including in his song all the miracles that have occurred since the day the world was created, as well as the good that God wrought for Israel at the giving of the Torah. And he should say: "He Who has performed these miracles, may He do with me likewise."
1. For the Conductor. By the servant of the Lord, by David, who chanted the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2. He said, "I love You, Lord, my strength.
3. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my rescuer. My God is my strength in Whom I take shelter, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
4. With praises I call upon the Lord, and I am saved from my enemies.
5. For the pangs of death surrounded me, and torrents of evil people terrified me.
6. Pangs of the grave encompassed me; snares of death confronted me.
7. In my distress I called upon the Lord, I cried out to my God; and from His Sanctuary He heard my voice, and my supplication before Him reached His ears.
8. The earth trembled and quaked; the foundations of the mountains shook-they trembled when His wrath flared.
9. Smoke rose in His nostrils, devouring fire blazed from His mouth, and burning coals flamed forth from Him.
10. He inclined the heavens and descended, a thick cloud was beneath His feet.
11. He rode on a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
12. He made darkness His concealment, His surroundings His shelter-of the dense clouds with their dark waters.
13. Out of the brightness before Him, His clouds passed over, with hailstones and fiery coals.
14. The Lord thundered in heaven, the Most High gave forth His voice-hailstones and fiery coals.
15. He sent forth His arrows and scattered them; many lightnings, and confounded them.
16. The channels of water became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed-at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
17. He sent from heaven and took me; He brought me out of surging waters.
18. He rescued me from my fierce enemy, and from my foes when they had become too strong for me.
19. They confronted me on the day of my misfortune, but the Lord was my support.
20. He brought me into spaciousness; He delivered me because He desires me.
21. The Lord rewar-ded me in accordance with my righteousness; He repaid me according to the cleanliness of my hands.
22. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not transgressed against my God;
23. for all His laws are before me, I have not removed His statutes from me.
24. I was perfect with Him, and have guarded myself from sin.
25. The Lord repaid me in accordance with my righteousness, according to the cleanliness of my hands before His eyes.
26. With the kindhearted You act kindly, with the upright man You act uprightly.
27. With the pure You act purely, but with the crooked You act cun- ningly.
28. For the destitute nation You save, but haughty eyes You humble.
29. Indeed, You light my lamp; the Lord, my God, illuminates my darkness.
30. For with You I run against a troop; with my God I scale a wall.
31. The way of God is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
32. For who is God except the Lord, and who is a rock except our God!
33. The God Who girds me with strength, and makes my path perfect.
34. He makes my feet like deers', and stands me firmly on my high places.
35. He trains my hands for battle, my arms to bend a bow of bronze.
36. You have given me the shield of Your deliverance, Your right hand upheld me; Your humility made me great.
37. You have widened my steps beneath me, and my knees have not faltered.
38. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until I destroyed them.
39. I crushed them so that they were unable to rise; they are fallen beneath my feet.
40. You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued my adversaries beneath me.
41. You have made my enemies turn their backs to me, and my foes I cut down.
42. They cried out, but there was none to deliver them; to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
43. I ground them as the dust before the wind, I poured them out like the mud in the streets.
44. You have rescued me from the quarrelsome ones of the people, You have made me the head of nations; a nation I did not know became subservient to me.
45. As soon as they hear of me they obey me; strangers deny to me [their disloyalty].
46. Strangers wither away, they are terrified in their strongholds.
47. The Lord lives; blessed is my Rock; exalted is the God of my deliverance.
48. You are the God Who executes retribution for me, and subjugates nations under me.
49. Who rescues me from my enemies, Who exalts me above my adversaries, Who delivers me from the man of violence.
50. Therefore I will laud You, Lord, among the nations, and sing to Your Name.
51. He grants His king great salvations, and bestows kindness upon His anointed, to David and his descendants forever."
Chapter 19
To behold God's might one should look to the heavens, to the sun, and to the Torah, from which awesome miracles and wonders can be perceived--wonders that lead the creations to tell of God's glory.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. The heavens recount the glory of the Almighty; the sky proclaims His handiwork.
3. Day to day speech streams forth; night to night expresses knowledge.
4. There is no utterance, there are no words; their voice is inaudible.
5. Their arc extends throughout the world; their message to the end of the earth. He set in them [the heavens] a tent for the sun,
6. which is like a groom coming forth from his bridal canopy, like a strong man rejoicing to run the course.
7. Its rising is at one end of the heavens, and its orbit encompasses the other ends; nothing is hidden from its heat.
8. The Torah of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making wise the simpleton.
9. The precepts of the Lord are just, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes.
10. The fear of the Lord is pure, abiding forever; the judgments of the Lord are true, they are all righteous together.
11. They are more desirable than gold, than much fine gold; sweeter than honey or the drippings of honeycomb.
12. Indeed, Your servant is scrupulous with them; in observing them there is abundant reward.
13. Yet who can discern inadvertent wrongs? Purge me of hidden sins.
14. Also hold back Your servant from willful sins; let them not prevail over me; then I will be unblemished and keep myself clean of gross transgression.
15. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.
Chapter 20
If a loved one or relative is suffering-even in a distant place, where one is unable to help-offer this prayer on their behalf.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. May the Lord answer you on the day of distress; may the Name of the God of Jacob fortify you.
3. May He send your help from the Sanctuary, and support you from Zion.
4. May He remember all your offerings, and always accept favorably your sacrifices.
5. May He grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill your every counsel.
6. We will rejoice in your deliverance, and raise our banners in the name of our God; may the Lord fulfill all your wishes.
7. Now I know that the Lord has delivered His anointed one, answering him from His holy heavens with the mighty saving power of His right hand.
8. Some [rely] upon chariots and some upon horses, but we [rely upon and] invoke the Name of the Lord our God.
9. They bend and fall, but we rise and stand firm.
10. Lord, deliver us; may the King answer us on the day we call.
Chapter 21
One who is endowed with prosperity, and whose every desire is granted, ought not be ungrateful. He should praise and thank God, recognize Him as the cause of his prosperity, and trust in Him. For everything comes from the kindness of the One Above.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. The king rejoices in Your strength, Lord; how greatly he exults in Your deliverance!
3. You have given him his heart's desire, and You have never withheld the utterance of his lips.
4. You preceded him with blessings of good; You placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
5. He asked of You life, You gave it to him-long life, forever and ever.
6. His glory is great in Your deliverance; You have placed majesty and splendor upon him.
7. For You make him a blessing forever; You gladden him with the joy of Your countenance.
8. For the king trusts in the Lord, and in the kindness of the Most High-that he will not falter.
9. Your hand will suffice for all Your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You.
10. You will make them as a fiery furnace at the time of Your anger. May the Lord consume them in His wrath; let a fire devour them.
11. Destroy their offspring from the earth, their descendants from mankind.
12. For they intended evil against You, they devised evil plans which they cannot execute.
13. For You will set them as a portion apart; with Your bowstring You will aim at their faces.
14. Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and chant the praise of Your might.
Chapter 22
Every person should pray in agony over the length of the exile, and our fall from prestige to lowliness. One should also take vows (for self-improvement) in his distress.
1. For the Conductor, on the ayelet hashachar, a psalm by David.
2. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me! So far from saving me, from the words of my outcry?
3. My God, I call out by day, and You do not answer; at night-but there is no respite for me.
4. Yet You, Holy One, are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
5. In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You saved them.
6. They cried to You and were rescued; they trusted in You and were not shamed.
7. And I am a worm and not a man; scorn of men, contempt of nations.
8. All who see me mock me; they open their lips, they shake their heads.
9. But one that casts [his burden] upon the Lord-He will save him; He will rescue him, for He desires him.
10. For You took me out of the womb, and made me secure on my mother's breasts.
11. I have been thrown upon You from birth; from my mother's womb You have been my God.
12. Be not distant from me, for trouble is near, for there is none to help.
13. Many bulls surround me, the mighty bulls of Bashan encircle me.
14. They open their mouths against me, like a lion that ravages and roars.
15. I am poured out like water, all my bones are disjointed; my heart has become like wax, melted within my innards.
16. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my palate; You set me in the dust of death.
17. For dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers enclose me; my hands and feet are like a lion's prey.
18. I count all my limbs, while they watch and gloat over me.
19. They divide my garments amongst them; they cast lots upon my clothing.
20. But You, Lord, do not be distant; my Strength, hurry to my aid!
21. Save my life from the sword, my soul from the grip of dogs.
22. Save me from the lion's mouth, as You have answered me from the horns of wild beasts.
23. I will recount [the praises of] Your Name to my brothers; I will extol You amidst the congregation.
24. You that fear the Lord, praise Him! Glorify Him, all you progeny of Jacob! Stand in awe of Him, all you progeny of Israel!
25. For He has not despised nor abhorred the entreaty of the poor, nor has He concealed His face from him; rather He heard when he cried to Him.
26. My praise comes from You, in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before those that fear Him.
27. Let the humble eat and be satisfied; let those who seek the Lord praise Him-may your hearts live forever!
28. All the ends of the earth will remember and return to the Lord; all families of nations will bow down before You.
29. For sovereignty is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations.
30. All the fat ones of the earth will eat and bow down, all who descend to the dust shall kneel before Him, but He will not revive their soul.
31. The progeny of those who serve Him will tell of the Lord to the latter generations.
32. They will come and relate His righteousness-all that He has done-to a newborn nation.
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 7, 8 and 9.
Chapter 7
Do not rejoice if God causes your enemy to suffer—just as the suffering of the righteous is not pleasant. David, therefore, defends himself intensely before God, maintaining that he did not actively harm Saul. In fact, Saul precipitated his own harm, while David’s intentions were only for the good.
1. A shigayon 1 by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Kush the Benjaminite.
2. I put my trust in You, Lord, my God; deliver me from all my pursuers and save me.
3. Lest he tear my soul like a lion, crushing me with none to rescue.
4. Lord, my God, if I have done this, if there is wrongdoing in my hands;
5. if I have rewarded my friends with evil or oppressed those who hate me without reason—
6. then let the enemy pursue and overtake my soul, let him trample my life to the ground, and lay my glory in the dust forever.
7. Arise, O Lord, in Your anger, lift Yourself up in fury against my foes. Stir me [to mete out] the retribution which You commanded.
8. When the assembly of nations surrounds You, remove Yourself from it and return to the heavens.
9. The Lord will mete out retribution upon the nations; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity.
10. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous—O righteous God, Searcher of hearts and minds.
11. [I rely] on God to be my shield, He Who saves the upright of heart.
12. God is the righteous judge, and the Almighty is angered every day.
13. Because he does not repent, He sharpens His sword, bends His bow and makes it ready.
14. He has prepared instruments of death for him; His arrows will be used on the pursuers.
15. Indeed, he conceives iniquity, is pregnant with evil schemes, and gives birth to falsehood.
16. He digs a pit, digs it deep, only to fall into the trap he laid.
17. His mischief will return upon his own head, his violence will come down upon his own skull.
18. I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and sing to the Name of the Lord Most High
Chapter 8
This psalm is a glorious praise to God for His kindness to the lowly and mortal human in giving the Torah to the inhabitants of the lower worlds, arousing the envy of the celestial angels. This idea is expressed in the Yom Kippur prayer, “Though Your mighty strength is in the angels above, You desire praise from those formed of lowly matter.”
1. For the Conductor, on the gittit,1 a psalm by David.
2. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth, You Who has set Your majesty upon the heavens!
3. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have established might, to counter Your enemies, to silence foe and avenger.2
4. When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have set in place—
5. what is man that You should remember him, son of man that You should be mindful of him?
6. Yet, You have made him but a little less than the angels, and crowned him with honor and glory.
7. You made him ruler over Your handiwork, You placed everything under his feet.
8. Sheep and cattle—all of them, also the beasts of the field;
9. the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea; all that traverses the paths of the seas.
10. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth.
Chapter 9
One should praise God for saving him from the hand of the enemy who stands over and agonizes him, and for His judging each person according to his deeds: the righteous according to their righteousness, and the wicked according to their wickedness.
1. For the Conductor, upon the death of Labben, a psalm by David.
2. I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will recount all Your wonders.
3. I will rejoice and exult in You; I will sing to Your Name, O Most High.
4. When my enemies retreat, they will stumble and perish from before You.
5. You have rendered my judgement and [defended] my cause; You sat on the throne, O righteous Judge.
6. You destroyed nations, doomed the wicked, erased their name for all eternity.
7. O enemy, your ruins are gone forever, and the cities you have uprooted—their very remembrance is lost.
8. But the Lord is enthroned forever, He established His throne for judgement.
9. And He will judge the world with justice, He will render judgement to the nations with righteousness.
10. The Lord will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
11. Those who know Your Name put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.
12. Sing to the Lord Who dwells in Zion, recount His deeds among the nations.
13. For the Avenger of bloodshed is mindful of them; He does not forget the cry of the downtrodden.
14. Be gracious to me, O Lord; behold my affliction at the hands of my enemies, You Who raises me from the gates of death,
15. so that I may relate all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, that I may exult in Your deliverance.
16. The nations sank into the pit that they made; in the net they concealed their foot was caught.
17. The Lord became known through the judgement He executed; the wicked one is snared in the work of his own hands; reflect on this always.
18. The wicked will return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.
19. For not for eternity will the needy be forgotten, nor will the hope of the poor perish forever.
20. Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence.
21. Set Your mastery over them, O Lord; let the nations know that they are but frail men, Selah.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 10
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Tuesday, 3 Elul, 5776 · 6 September 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 10
• The Alter Rebbe now returns to the verse quoted at the outset of this Iggeret HaKodesh: חסדי ה׳ כי לא תמנו וגו׳ — “The kindnesses of G‑d have surely not ended....”
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Shoftim, 3rd Portion Deuteronomy 18:1-18:5 with Rashi
• Deuteronomy Chapter 18
1The Levitic kohanim, the entire tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; the Lord's fire offerings and His inheritance they shall eat. אלֹא־יִֽ֠הְיֶ֠ה לַכֹּֽהֲנִ֨ים הַֽלְוִיִּ֜ם כָּל־שֵׁ֧בֶט לֵוִ֛י חֵ֥לֶק וְנַֽחֲלָ֖ה עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִשֵּׁ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה וְנַֽחֲלָת֖וֹ יֹֽאכֵלֽוּן:
the entire tribe of Levi: whether whole-bodied or blemished. — [Sifrei] כל שבט לוי: בין תמימין בין בעלי מומין:
no portion: i.e., in the spoils. חלק: בביזה:
or inheritance: in the land. — [Sifrei] ונחלה: בארץ:
the Lord’s fire-offerings: The holy sacrifices of the Temple. (Other editions: The holiest sacrifices.) אשי ה': קדשי המקדש [קדשי קדשים]:
and His portion: These are the holy things of the boundaries, [i.e. those eaten throughout the entire land, namely,] the terumoth and the tithes, but he shall have no absolute inheritance among his brothers. In Sifrei [18:41], our Rabbis expound as follows: ונחלתו: אלו קדשי הגבול תרומות ומעשרות. אבל נחלה גמורה לא יהיה לו בקרב אחיו. ובספרי דרשו,
2But he shall have no inheritance among his brothers; the Lord is his inheritance, as He spoke to him. בוְנַֽחֲלָ֥ה לֹא־יִֽהְיֶה־לּ֖וֹ בְּקֶ֣רֶב אֶחָ֑יו יְהֹוָה֙ ה֣וּא נַֽחֲלָת֔וֹ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּר־לֽוֹ:
But he shall have no inheritance: This refers to the “inheritance of the remainder.” ונחלה לא יהיה לו : זו נחלת שאר:
among his brothers: this refers to the “inheritance of the five.” I do not know what this means. It appears to me, however, that across the Jordan and onwards is called “the land of the five nations,” and that of Sihon and Og is called “the land of the two nations,” namely, the Amorites and the Canaanites. Now the expression, “inheritance of the remainder,” is meant to include the [remaining three nations of the ten whose land God promised to Abraham, namely] the Kenites, the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites (Gen. 15:19). The Sifrei in the section dealing with the [priestly] gifts specified for Aaron expounds this in a similar fashion, on the verse (Deut. 10:9), “Therefore, Levi has no portion or inheritance,” to admonish [the Levite to take no portion in] the inheritance of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites. It has since been found in the words of Rabbi Kalonymus that the proper version of this passage in Sifrei reads as follows: בקרב אחיו: זו נחלת חמשה. ואיני יודע מה היא. ונראה לי שארץ כנען שמעבר הירדן ואילך נקראת ארץ חמשה עממין, ושל סיחון ועוג, שני עממין אמורי וכנעני. ונחלת שאר לרבות קיני וקנזי וקדמוני. וכן דורש בפרשת מתנות שנאמרו לאהרן על כן לא היה ללוי וגו' (דברים י, ט) להזהיר על קיני וקנזי וקדמוני. שוב נמצא בדברי רבי קלונימוס הכי גרסינן בספרי
And he will have no inheritance: This refers to the “inheritance of the five.” ונחלה לא יהיה לו: אלו נחלת חמשה
among his brothers: This refers to the “inheritance of the seven.” [Rashi now explains this version of the Sifrei:] [The first reference is to] the inheritance of five [of the twelve] tribes [of Israel]. [The second, is to] the inheritance of [the remaining] seven tribes [of Israel]. Now Moses and Joshua apportioned inheritance only to five tribes: Moses, to Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh; Joshua, to Judah, Ephraim, and [the other] half of the tribe of Manasseh. The remaining seven tribes took their inheritance by themselves after Joshua’s demise. Thus, because of this [distinction between these five former tribes and the seven latter ones], the Sifrei mentions five and seven separately. בקרב אחיו: אלו נחלת שבעה. נחלת חמשה שבטים ונחלת שבעה שבטים. ומתוך שמשה ויהושע לא חלקו נחלה אלא לחמשה שבטים בלבד, שכן משה הנחיל לראובן וגד וחצי שבט מנשה, ויהושע הנחיל ליהודה ואפרים ולחצי שבט מנשה, ושבעה האחרים נטלו מאליהן אחרי מות יהושע, מתוך כך הזכיר חמשה לבד ושבעה לבד:
as He spoke to him: i.e., to Aaron [saying],“You shall not inherit in their land… I am your portion [and your inheritance, among the children of Israel].”- [Num. 18:20] כאשר דבר לו: [לאהרן] בארצם לא תנחל וגו' אני חלקך (במדבר יח כ):
3And this shall be the kohanim's due from the people, from those who perform a slaughter, be it an ox or a sheep, he shall give the kohen the foreleg, the jaws, and the maw. גוְזֶ֡ה יִֽהְיֶה֩ מִשְׁפַּ֨ט הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֜ים מֵאֵ֣ת הָעָ֗ם מֵאֵ֛ת זֹֽבְחֵ֥י הַזֶּ֖בַח אִם־שׁ֣וֹר אִם־שֶׂ֑ה וְנָתַן֙ לַכֹּהֵ֔ן הַזְּרֹ֥עַ וְהַלְּחָיַ֖יִם וְהַקֵּבָֽה:
from the people: But not from the kohanim [i.e., a kohen is exempt from these dues]. — [Sifrei , Chul. 132b] מאת העם: ולא מאת הכהנים:
be it an ox or a sheep: But not [from the category of] beast (חַיָּה) . אם שור אם שה: פרט לחיה:
the foreleg: from the carpus to the shoulder blade, called espaldun, espalde, or espaleron in Old French. — [Chul. 134b] הזרוע: מן הפרק של ארכובה עד כף של יד שקורין אשפלדו"ן [עצם השכם]:
the jaws: together with the tongue. Those who interpret the symbolism of Biblical verses say, the זְרוֹעַ [which is, in effect, the “hand” of the animal, became the due of the kohanim , as a reward] for the “hand” [which Phinehas, the kohen , raised against the sinners], as it is said, “and he took a spear in his hand” (Num. 25:7); the jaws [as a reward] for the prayer [he offered], as it is said,“Then Phinehas stood and prayed” (Ps. 106:30); and the maw (הַקֵּבָה) , as a reward [for his action against the sinning woman], as it said,“[And he stabbed both of them, the man of Israel] and the woman in her stomach (קֵבָתָהּ)” (Num. 25:8). - [Chul. 134b]. הלחיים: עם הלשון. דורשי רשומות היו אומרים, זרוע, תחת יד, שנאמר ויקח רומח בידו (במדבר כה ז). לחיים, תחת תפלה, שנאמר ויעמוד פינחס ויפלל (תהלים קו ל). והקבה, תחת האשה אל קבתה (במדבר כה ח):
4The first of your grain, your wine, and your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. דרֵאשִׁ֨ית דְּגָֽנְךָ֜ תִּירֽשְׁךָ֣ וְיִצְהָרֶ֗ךָ וְרֵאשִׁ֛ית גֵּ֥ז צֹֽאנְךָ֖ תִּתֶּן־לֽוֹ:
The first of your grain: This refers to terumah ; and although the verse does not state a required amount, our Rabbis set an amount for it [ranging from a sixtieth to a fortieth of the total produce as follows]: A generous [person] gives one fortieth of the crop, a miserly [person] one sixtieth, and [a person of] average generosity one fiftieth. They base [this ruling] that one should not give less than one sixtieth on what is said, “[This is the offering that you shall set apart: a sixth of an ephah from a homer of wheat,] and you shall separate a sixth of an ephah from a homer of barley” (Ezek. 45:13). [Since an ephah is equivalent to three se’ah ,] a sixth of an ephah is equivalent to half a se’ah . [Now the “homer” mentioned in the verse is the same as a kor .] When you give [one sixth of an ephah from a homer , which we now know to be] one half of a se’ah for a kor , this amounts to one sixtieth because a kor is thirty se’ah . — [Yerushalmi , Terumoth 4:3] ראשית דגנך: זו תרומה, ולא פירש בה שיעור, אבל רבותינו נתנו בה שיעור, עין יפה אחד מארבעים, עין רעה אחד מששים, בינונית אחד מחמשים. וסמכו על המקרא שלא לפחות מאחד מששים, שנאמר וששיתם האיפה מחומר השעורים (יחזקאל מה יג) ששית האיפה, חצי סאה. כשאתה נותן חצי סאה לכור, הרי אחד מששים, שהכור שלשים סאין:
and the first of the fleece of your sheep: When you shear your sheep each year, give the first of it [the wool] to the kohen . And [although the verse] does not mention a required amount, our Rabbis set an amount, namely, one sixtieth. And how many sheep [are the minimum to] be liable to the law of “the first of the fleece?” At least five sheep, as it is said, “[Then Abigail… took…] and five prepared (עֲשׂוּיוֹת) sheep” (I Sam. 25:18). [The עֲשׂוּיוֹת here, is interpreted as meaning that five sheep compel their owner and say to you, as it were,“Get up and fulfill the commandment of 'the first of the fleece.’”] Rabbi Akiva says: [that the minimum number of sheep liable to this commandment is derived from our verse here]: The phrase רֵאשִׁית גֵז denotes two sheep; צֹאנְךָ [an additional two, making] four, and תִּתֶּן-לוֹ denotes one more, which is a total of five sheep. - [Chul. 135a, 137a; Sifrei] וראשית גז צאנך: כשאתה גוזז צאנך בכל שנה תן ממנה ראשית לכהן. ולא פירש בה שיעור. ורבותינו נתנו בה שיעור אחד מששים. וכמה צאן חייבות בראשית הגז, חמש רחלות, שנאמר וחמש צאן עשויות (שמואל א' כה, יח). רבי עקיבא אומר ראשית גז שתים, גז צאנך ארבע, תתן לו הרי חמש:
5For the Lord, your God, has chosen him out of all your tribes, to stand and serve in the name of the Lord, he and his sons, all the days. הכִּ֣י ב֗וֹ בָּחַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ מִכָּל־שְׁבָטֶ֑יךָ לַֽעֲמֹ֨ד לְשָׁרֵ֧ת בְּשֵֽׁם־יְהֹוָ֛ה ה֥וּא וּבָנָ֖יו כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים:
to stand and serve: From here we learn that [the Temple] service is performed only when standing. — [Sifrei , Sotah 38a] לעמוד לשרת: מכאן שאין שירות אלא מעומד:
Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 18 - 22
• 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 18
If one merits a public miracle, he should offer a song to God, including in his song all the miracles that have occurred since the day the world was created, as well as the good that God wrought for Israel at the giving of the Torah. And he should say: "He Who has performed these miracles, may He do with me likewise."
1. For the Conductor. By the servant of the Lord, by David, who chanted the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2. He said, "I love You, Lord, my strength.
3. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my rescuer. My God is my strength in Whom I take shelter, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
4. With praises I call upon the Lord, and I am saved from my enemies.
5. For the pangs of death surrounded me, and torrents of evil people terrified me.
6. Pangs of the grave encompassed me; snares of death confronted me.
7. In my distress I called upon the Lord, I cried out to my God; and from His Sanctuary He heard my voice, and my supplication before Him reached His ears.
8. The earth trembled and quaked; the foundations of the mountains shook-they trembled when His wrath flared.
9. Smoke rose in His nostrils, devouring fire blazed from His mouth, and burning coals flamed forth from Him.
10. He inclined the heavens and descended, a thick cloud was beneath His feet.
11. He rode on a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
12. He made darkness His concealment, His surroundings His shelter-of the dense clouds with their dark waters.
13. Out of the brightness before Him, His clouds passed over, with hailstones and fiery coals.
14. The Lord thundered in heaven, the Most High gave forth His voice-hailstones and fiery coals.
15. He sent forth His arrows and scattered them; many lightnings, and confounded them.
16. The channels of water became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed-at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
17. He sent from heaven and took me; He brought me out of surging waters.
18. He rescued me from my fierce enemy, and from my foes when they had become too strong for me.
19. They confronted me on the day of my misfortune, but the Lord was my support.
20. He brought me into spaciousness; He delivered me because He desires me.
21. The Lord rewar-ded me in accordance with my righteousness; He repaid me according to the cleanliness of my hands.
22. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not transgressed against my God;
23. for all His laws are before me, I have not removed His statutes from me.
24. I was perfect with Him, and have guarded myself from sin.
25. The Lord repaid me in accordance with my righteousness, according to the cleanliness of my hands before His eyes.
26. With the kindhearted You act kindly, with the upright man You act uprightly.
27. With the pure You act purely, but with the crooked You act cun- ningly.
28. For the destitute nation You save, but haughty eyes You humble.
29. Indeed, You light my lamp; the Lord, my God, illuminates my darkness.
30. For with You I run against a troop; with my God I scale a wall.
31. The way of God is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
32. For who is God except the Lord, and who is a rock except our God!
33. The God Who girds me with strength, and makes my path perfect.
34. He makes my feet like deers', and stands me firmly on my high places.
35. He trains my hands for battle, my arms to bend a bow of bronze.
36. You have given me the shield of Your deliverance, Your right hand upheld me; Your humility made me great.
37. You have widened my steps beneath me, and my knees have not faltered.
38. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until I destroyed them.
39. I crushed them so that they were unable to rise; they are fallen beneath my feet.
40. You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued my adversaries beneath me.
41. You have made my enemies turn their backs to me, and my foes I cut down.
42. They cried out, but there was none to deliver them; to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
43. I ground them as the dust before the wind, I poured them out like the mud in the streets.
44. You have rescued me from the quarrelsome ones of the people, You have made me the head of nations; a nation I did not know became subservient to me.
45. As soon as they hear of me they obey me; strangers deny to me [their disloyalty].
46. Strangers wither away, they are terrified in their strongholds.
47. The Lord lives; blessed is my Rock; exalted is the God of my deliverance.
48. You are the God Who executes retribution for me, and subjugates nations under me.
49. Who rescues me from my enemies, Who exalts me above my adversaries, Who delivers me from the man of violence.
50. Therefore I will laud You, Lord, among the nations, and sing to Your Name.
51. He grants His king great salvations, and bestows kindness upon His anointed, to David and his descendants forever."
Chapter 19
To behold God's might one should look to the heavens, to the sun, and to the Torah, from which awesome miracles and wonders can be perceived--wonders that lead the creations to tell of God's glory.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. The heavens recount the glory of the Almighty; the sky proclaims His handiwork.
3. Day to day speech streams forth; night to night expresses knowledge.
4. There is no utterance, there are no words; their voice is inaudible.
5. Their arc extends throughout the world; their message to the end of the earth. He set in them [the heavens] a tent for the sun,
6. which is like a groom coming forth from his bridal canopy, like a strong man rejoicing to run the course.
7. Its rising is at one end of the heavens, and its orbit encompasses the other ends; nothing is hidden from its heat.
8. The Torah of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making wise the simpleton.
9. The precepts of the Lord are just, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes.
10. The fear of the Lord is pure, abiding forever; the judgments of the Lord are true, they are all righteous together.
11. They are more desirable than gold, than much fine gold; sweeter than honey or the drippings of honeycomb.
12. Indeed, Your servant is scrupulous with them; in observing them there is abundant reward.
13. Yet who can discern inadvertent wrongs? Purge me of hidden sins.
14. Also hold back Your servant from willful sins; let them not prevail over me; then I will be unblemished and keep myself clean of gross transgression.
15. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.
Chapter 20
If a loved one or relative is suffering-even in a distant place, where one is unable to help-offer this prayer on their behalf.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. May the Lord answer you on the day of distress; may the Name of the God of Jacob fortify you.
3. May He send your help from the Sanctuary, and support you from Zion.
4. May He remember all your offerings, and always accept favorably your sacrifices.
5. May He grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill your every counsel.
6. We will rejoice in your deliverance, and raise our banners in the name of our God; may the Lord fulfill all your wishes.
7. Now I know that the Lord has delivered His anointed one, answering him from His holy heavens with the mighty saving power of His right hand.
8. Some [rely] upon chariots and some upon horses, but we [rely upon and] invoke the Name of the Lord our God.
9. They bend and fall, but we rise and stand firm.
10. Lord, deliver us; may the King answer us on the day we call.
One who is endowed with prosperity, and whose every desire is granted, ought not be ungrateful. He should praise and thank God, recognize Him as the cause of his prosperity, and trust in Him. For everything comes from the kindness of the One Above.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. The king rejoices in Your strength, Lord; how greatly he exults in Your deliverance!
3. You have given him his heart's desire, and You have never withheld the utterance of his lips.
4. You preceded him with blessings of good; You placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
5. He asked of You life, You gave it to him-long life, forever and ever.
6. His glory is great in Your deliverance; You have placed majesty and splendor upon him.
7. For You make him a blessing forever; You gladden him with the joy of Your countenance.
8. For the king trusts in the Lord, and in the kindness of the Most High-that he will not falter.
9. Your hand will suffice for all Your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You.
10. You will make them as a fiery furnace at the time of Your anger. May the Lord consume them in His wrath; let a fire devour them.
11. Destroy their offspring from the earth, their descendants from mankind.
12. For they intended evil against You, they devised evil plans which they cannot execute.
13. For You will set them as a portion apart; with Your bowstring You will aim at their faces.
14. Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and chant the praise of Your might.
Chapter 22
Every person should pray in agony over the length of the exile, and our fall from prestige to lowliness. One should also take vows (for self-improvement) in his distress.
1. For the Conductor, on the ayelet hashachar, a psalm by David.
2. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me! So far from saving me, from the words of my outcry?
3. My God, I call out by day, and You do not answer; at night-but there is no respite for me.
4. Yet You, Holy One, are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
5. In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You saved them.
6. They cried to You and were rescued; they trusted in You and were not shamed.
7. And I am a worm and not a man; scorn of men, contempt of nations.
8. All who see me mock me; they open their lips, they shake their heads.
9. But one that casts [his burden] upon the Lord-He will save him; He will rescue him, for He desires him.
10. For You took me out of the womb, and made me secure on my mother's breasts.
11. I have been thrown upon You from birth; from my mother's womb You have been my God.
12. Be not distant from me, for trouble is near, for there is none to help.
13. Many bulls surround me, the mighty bulls of Bashan encircle me.
14. They open their mouths against me, like a lion that ravages and roars.
15. I am poured out like water, all my bones are disjointed; my heart has become like wax, melted within my innards.
16. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my palate; You set me in the dust of death.
17. For dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers enclose me; my hands and feet are like a lion's prey.
18. I count all my limbs, while they watch and gloat over me.
19. They divide my garments amongst them; they cast lots upon my clothing.
20. But You, Lord, do not be distant; my Strength, hurry to my aid!
21. Save my life from the sword, my soul from the grip of dogs.
22. Save me from the lion's mouth, as You have answered me from the horns of wild beasts.
23. I will recount [the praises of] Your Name to my brothers; I will extol You amidst the congregation.
24. You that fear the Lord, praise Him! Glorify Him, all you progeny of Jacob! Stand in awe of Him, all you progeny of Israel!
25. For He has not despised nor abhorred the entreaty of the poor, nor has He concealed His face from him; rather He heard when he cried to Him.
26. My praise comes from You, in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before those that fear Him.
27. Let the humble eat and be satisfied; let those who seek the Lord praise Him-may your hearts live forever!
28. All the ends of the earth will remember and return to the Lord; all families of nations will bow down before You.
29. For sovereignty is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations.
30. All the fat ones of the earth will eat and bow down, all who descend to the dust shall kneel before Him, but He will not revive their soul.
31. The progeny of those who serve Him will tell of the Lord to the latter generations.
32. They will come and relate His righteousness-all that He has done-to a newborn nation.
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 7, 8 and 9.
Chapter 7
Do not rejoice if God causes your enemy to suffer—just as the suffering of the righteous is not pleasant. David, therefore, defends himself intensely before God, maintaining that he did not actively harm Saul. In fact, Saul precipitated his own harm, while David’s intentions were only for the good.
1. A shigayon 1 by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Kush the Benjaminite.
2. I put my trust in You, Lord, my God; deliver me from all my pursuers and save me.
3. Lest he tear my soul like a lion, crushing me with none to rescue.
4. Lord, my God, if I have done this, if there is wrongdoing in my hands;
5. if I have rewarded my friends with evil or oppressed those who hate me without reason—
6. then let the enemy pursue and overtake my soul, let him trample my life to the ground, and lay my glory in the dust forever.
7. Arise, O Lord, in Your anger, lift Yourself up in fury against my foes. Stir me [to mete out] the retribution which You commanded.
8. When the assembly of nations surrounds You, remove Yourself from it and return to the heavens.
9. The Lord will mete out retribution upon the nations; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity.
10. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous—O righteous God, Searcher of hearts and minds.
11. [I rely] on God to be my shield, He Who saves the upright of heart.
12. God is the righteous judge, and the Almighty is angered every day.
13. Because he does not repent, He sharpens His sword, bends His bow and makes it ready.
14. He has prepared instruments of death for him; His arrows will be used on the pursuers.
15. Indeed, he conceives iniquity, is pregnant with evil schemes, and gives birth to falsehood.
16. He digs a pit, digs it deep, only to fall into the trap he laid.
17. His mischief will return upon his own head, his violence will come down upon his own skull.
18. I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and sing to the Name of the Lord Most High
Chapter 8
This psalm is a glorious praise to God for His kindness to the lowly and mortal human in giving the Torah to the inhabitants of the lower worlds, arousing the envy of the celestial angels. This idea is expressed in the Yom Kippur prayer, “Though Your mighty strength is in the angels above, You desire praise from those formed of lowly matter.”
1. For the Conductor, on the gittit,1 a psalm by David.
2. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth, You Who has set Your majesty upon the heavens!
3. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have established might, to counter Your enemies, to silence foe and avenger.2
4. When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have set in place—
5. what is man that You should remember him, son of man that You should be mindful of him?
6. Yet, You have made him but a little less than the angels, and crowned him with honor and glory.
7. You made him ruler over Your handiwork, You placed everything under his feet.
8. Sheep and cattle—all of them, also the beasts of the field;
9. the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea; all that traverses the paths of the seas.
10. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth.
Chapter 9
One should praise God for saving him from the hand of the enemy who stands over and agonizes him, and for His judging each person according to his deeds: the righteous according to their righteousness, and the wicked according to their wickedness.
1. For the Conductor, upon the death of Labben, a psalm by David.
2. I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will recount all Your wonders.
3. I will rejoice and exult in You; I will sing to Your Name, O Most High.
4. When my enemies retreat, they will stumble and perish from before You.
5. You have rendered my judgement and [defended] my cause; You sat on the throne, O righteous Judge.
6. You destroyed nations, doomed the wicked, erased their name for all eternity.
7. O enemy, your ruins are gone forever, and the cities you have uprooted—their very remembrance is lost.
8. But the Lord is enthroned forever, He established His throne for judgement.
9. And He will judge the world with justice, He will render judgement to the nations with righteousness.
10. The Lord will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
11. Those who know Your Name put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.
12. Sing to the Lord Who dwells in Zion, recount His deeds among the nations.
13. For the Avenger of bloodshed is mindful of them; He does not forget the cry of the downtrodden.
14. Be gracious to me, O Lord; behold my affliction at the hands of my enemies, You Who raises me from the gates of death,
15. so that I may relate all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, that I may exult in Your deliverance.
16. The nations sank into the pit that they made; in the net they concealed their foot was caught.
17. The Lord became known through the judgement He executed; the wicked one is snared in the work of his own hands; reflect on this always.
18. The wicked will return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.
19. For not for eternity will the needy be forgotten, nor will the hope of the poor perish forever.
20. Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence.
21. Set Your mastery over them, O Lord; let the nations know that they are but frail men, Selah.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 10
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Tuesday, 3 Elul, 5776 · 6 September 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 10
• The Alter Rebbe now returns to the verse quoted at the outset of this Iggeret HaKodesh: חסדי ה׳ כי לא תמנו וגו׳ — “The kindnesses of G‑d have surely not ended....”
There he had asked: If the verse refers only to G‑d’s kindness, why does it use the verb tamnu (in the first person plural), which would make the phrase mean, “we have not been brought to an end,” rather than tamu (in the third person plural), which would mean that “the kindnesses have not ended”?
He answers this by saying that חסדי ה׳ (“the kindnesses of G‑d”) refers also to the giving of tzedakah without limitation. Accordingly, the verse may be understood, as he now goes on to explain:
והנה מדת חסד זו, בלי גבול ומדה, נקראת על שמו של הקב״ה
Now, since this is G‑d’s manner of practicing benevolence, this mode of unlimited kindness is known by the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He, [viz.,]
חסדי ה׳
“The kindnesses of G‑d,”
כדכתיב: וחסד ה׳ מעולם ועד עולם כו׳
as it is written,1 “and G‑d’s Chesed is everlasting....”
כי הגם שכל ישראל הם רחמנים וגומלי חסדים
For though2 “All of Israel are compassionate and practice kindly deeds,”
ברם יש גבול ומדה לרחמי האדם
nevertheless there is a limit and measure to man’s compassion.
אבל הקב״ה נקרא אין סוף ברוך הוא
But the Holy One, blessed be He, is called the Ein Sof — “the Infinite One,”
ולמדותיו אין סוף
and His attributes (like Himself) have no end,
כדכתיב: כי לא כלו רחמיו
as it is written,3 “...for His mercies never cease.”
When a Jew echoes G‑d’s boundless kindness and compassion, his actions are thus termed “G‑d’s acts of kindness.”
וזהו שאמר הנביא אחר החורבן והגלות: חסדי ה׳, כי לא תמנו וגו'
And this is the meaning of the prophet’s words,4 after the Destruction and the exile: “The kindnesses of G‑d have surely not ended (ki lo tamnu).”
פירוש: לפי שלא תמנו, שאין אנו תמימים ושלמים, בלי שום חטא ופגם בנפש ובעולמות עליונים
That is: “Because we are not perfect,5 inasmuch as we are not perfect (temimim) and whole, without any sin or blemish in our soul nor in the higher worlds,
על כן צריכין אנו להתנהג בחסדי ה׳, שהם בלי גבול ותכלית
we therefore need to conduct ourselves in accordance with ‘G‑d’s kindnesses,’ that are without limit or end,
כדי לעורר עלינו רחמים וחסד עילאה, שהוא רב חסד ורחמים, בלי גבול ותכלית
in order to call down upon ourselves Supreme compassion, i.e., rav Chesed, and unlimited, infinite compassion,
כמו שכתוב: כי לא כלו רחמיו
as it is written, at the conclusion of this verse, ‘for His mercies never cease....’”
Since we are in need of drawing down this level of compassion, our own practice of kindness must echo “G‑d’s kindness.”
Thus the Prophet is telling the generations that follow the Destruction that they should practice unbounded kindness because they are not in a state of tamnu. Being imperfect, we need to arouse G‑d’s infinite kindness and compassion in order to rectify any sins and blemishes.
(Moreover, since these latter generations are too weak to engage in fasting and self-mortification, the only means now available to secure full atonement is throughtzedakah.6)
וזהו שאמרו רז״ל: אין ישראל נגאלין אלא בצדקה
And this is what our Sages, of blessed memory, meant by saying that7“Israel will be redeemed only through charity.”
שיעשו גם אם יהיו פטורים מדינא
[This refers to the charity] that they will perform even if they are legally not obligated,
כי אין בן דוד בא כו׳
for8 “[Mashiach] the son of David will not come [until the pocket will be empty of even the smallest coin].”
I.e., even if (Heaven forfend) there will not be a solitary coin left in one’s pocket,tzedakah will still be given. And it is this boundless level of tzedakah that secures a complete atonement for the sins of our people, after which9 “they will immediately be redeemed.”
The Rebbe explains that the Alter Rebbe does not conclude the above-mentioned quotation about the precondition for the coming of Mashiach because it is quite possible that he did not want to write out the last words (viz., “until the pocket will be empty of even the smallest coin”); and this precondition of the Sages can be fulfilled on the spiritual level, by conducting oneself with the humility of the destitute.
This could also explain why the Alter Rebbe does not say...כשיהיו (“when they are legally not obligated”), but rather...אם יהיו (“if they are legally not obligated”).
FOOTNOTES
1.
Tehillim 103:17.
2.
Yevamot 79a.
3.
Eichah 3:22.
4.
See above, footnote 3.
5.
Note of the Rebbe: “The proof being the Destruction and the exile.”
6.
This is explained at length in Iggeret HaTeshuvah, ch. 3 (in Vol. III of the present series).
7.
See above, Epistle 9, footnote 16.
8.
Sanhedrin 97a.
9.
Rambam, Hilchot Teshuvah 7:5.
• Rambam: Sefer Hamitzvos:
• Tuesday, 3 Elul, 5776 · 6 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 244
The Borrower
"And if a man borrows from his neighbor..."—Exodus 22:13.
We are commanded [to follow all the laws outlined in the Torah] regarding one who borrows an object from his fellow.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• The Borrower
Positive Commandment 244
Translated by Berel Bell
The 244th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the law of a borrower.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "If a person borrows something from another..."
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 8th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia and the 8th chapter of Shavuos.
FOOTNOTES
1.Ex. 22:13.
• Tuesday, 3 Elul, 5776 · 6 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 244
The Borrower
"And if a man borrows from his neighbor..."—Exodus 22:13.
We are commanded [to follow all the laws outlined in the Torah] regarding one who borrows an object from his fellow.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• The Borrower
Positive Commandment 244
Translated by Berel Bell
The 244th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the law of a borrower.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "If a person borrows something from another..."
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 8th chapter of tractate Bava Metzia and the 8th chapter of Shavuos.
FOOTNOTES
1.Ex. 22:13.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Tum'at Tsara`at Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 12
• Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 12
• Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 12
1
The minimum measure for a tzara'at affliction for garments is agris like an affliction for humans. An affliction smaller than agris is pure. There are three distinguishing marks for the afflictions of garments: intense green, intense red, and the spreading of the affliction. All three are explicitly mentioned in the Torah.
"Intense green" refers to a dark green hue, like the wings of a peacock or the leaves of a date palm. "Intense red" refers to a dark red hue, a deep red, like fine scarlet thread. These two signs can be combined with each other.
When an affliction is intense green or red, the garment is placed in isolation. If this sign remains for two consecutive weeks, the garment is deemed impure and burnt. Similarly, if the size of the affliction increases, the garment is deemed impure and burnt.
What is implied? When an intense green or an intense red affliction is visible on a garment, it should be isolated for seven days. On the seventh day, it should be inspected. If it expanded, it is deemed definitively impure and burnt. If its appearance remained unchanged, but it did not increase in size or it increased, but its color faded from the two colors because of which it was isolated, or its color became more intensely red or green, but it did not increase in size, the place of the blemish should be washed, and the garment isolated for a second seven day period. At the end of the second week, i.e., the thirteenth day, it should be assessed. If it turned to a third color, the garment should be washed and it is pure. If the color of the blemish changed from its original hue, i.e., initially, it was intense green, and it became intense red, or initially, it was intense red and then it became intense green, the place of the blemish should be ripped out and a patch sewn in the place that was ripped out. The remainder of the garment is released from the inspection process. It should be laundered a second time, immersed in the mikveh and then it is pure.
If, at the time of the second inspection, the blemish retained the appearance for which it was initially isolated, it should be deemed definitively impure and should be burnt in its entirety.
א
צרעת בגדים כגריס כצרעת אדם אבל פחות מכגריס טהור ושלשה סימני טומאה יש בהן ירקרק אדמדם והפשיון ושלשתן מפורשין בתורה ירקרק הוא הירוק שבירוקין שהוא ירוק הרבה ככנף הטווס וכהוצי הדקל ואדמדם הוא אדום שבאדומים שהוא אדום הרבה כזהורית יפה ושני מראות אלו מצטרפין זה עם זה במראה ירקרק או אדמדם מסגירין את הבגד ואם עמד במראה זה שני שבועות מחליטין ושורפין וכן אם פשה מחליטין ושורפין כיצד בגד שנראה בו נגע ירקרק או אדמדם מסגירו שבעת ימים ובשביעי רואה אם פשה מחליטו ושורף את כל הבגד ואם עמד במראהו ולא פשה או שפשה וכהה מב' המראות שהוסגר בהן או שהוסיף המראה להאדים ולהוריק ולא פשה יכבס מקום הנגע ויסגיר שבעת ימים שנית ובסוף שבוע שני שהוא יום י"ג רואה אם כהה למראה שלישית הרי זה טעון כיבוס וטהור ואם נשתנה הנגע ממה שהיה כגון שהיה ירקרק ונעשה אדמדם או אדמדם ונעשה ירקרק קורע מקום הנגע ושורף מה שקרע ותופר מטלית במקום שקרע ופוטר שאר הבגד ומכבסו כולו כיבוס שני ומטבילו וטהר ואם עמד במראה שהוסגר בו בתחלה יחליטו וישרוף את כולו:
2
When a blemish that was intense green increased in size, but the new portion was intense red, or it was intense red and increased, but the increase was green, it is considered as an increase.
ב
נגע שהיה ירקרק ופשה אדמדם או שהיה אדמדם ופשה ירקרק הרי זה פשיון:
3
When in the midst of a blemish, there was a portion of the garment that was unsoiled and unblemished and then the blemish spread into it, the blemish is not considered to have increased in size. It must increase outward. An increase within the blemish itself is not considered as an increase, not for a blemish on a person's body, nor for one on garments or on buildings.
ג
נגע שהיה באמצעו מקום נקי בלא נגע ופשה לו הנגע אינו פשיון עד שיפשה לחוץ שאין פשיון הנגע לתוכו פשיון בין באדם בין בבגדים ובתים:
4
If a blemish spreads to the place immediately adjacent to it, even the slightest spread is considered a sign of impurity. If a blemish appears on a distant place on the garment or one returns after the initial blemish disappeared or was removed, it must be agris in size.
What is implied? If a garment was isolated and then another blemish the size of a gris emerged some distance from the blemish for which it was isolated, it is considered to have spread and it is burned. If the second blemish is less than a gris, no attention is paid to it. Similarly, when a blemished portion was removed from a garment as explained and then a blemish the size of a grisreturned, it should be burnt. Similarly, if a blemish increased in size after the garment was released from the inspection process, the garment should be burnt.
ד
הפשיון הסמוך בבגדים כל שהוא והרחוק או החוזר כגריס כיצד בגד שהוסגר ונולד בו נגע אחר כגריס רחוק מן הנגע שהוסגר בו ה"ז פשיון וישרף ואם היה פחות מכגריס אין משגיחין בו וכן בגד שקרע ממנו הנגע בסוף שבוע ב' כמו שביארנו וחזר בו נגע כגריס ישרף וכן בגד שפשה בו הנגע אחר שנפטר ישרף:
5
When a person washes a blemish at the end of the first week as we explained, one should also wash part of the garment that is adjacent to it, as implied by Leviticus 13:54: "that on which the blemish is found." Whenever blemishes on a garment must be washed, we use the seven detergents that are used when checking a bloodstain, as explained with regard to nidah impurity.
ה
מי שמכבס את הנגע בשבוע ראשון כמו שביארנו צריך לכבס מעט מן הבגד שחוצה לו שנאמר את אשר בו הנגע וכל נגעי בגדים שמכבסין אותן מעבירין עליהן שבעה סממנין שמעבירין על הכתם כדרך שמעבירין על הכתמים כמו שביארנו בענין נדה:
6
The following laws apply when the blemished portion of a garment was torn out and a patch sewn in its place, as we explained. If a blemish the size of a gris returned to a different place on the garment, the patch may be removed and saved, while the remainder of the garment must be burnt. If the blemish returned and appeared on the patch, the entire garment must be burnt.
ו
בגד שקרע ממנו מקום הנגע ותפר מטלית כמו שביארנו וחזר נגע כגריס על הבגד מתיר את המטלית ומצילה ושורף שאר הבגד חזר הנגע על המטלית שורף את הכל:
7
The following rules apply when a person takes a patch of cloth from a garment that was isolated and sews it on a pure garment. If a blemish became manifest on the initial garment again, the patch should be burnt together with it. If the blemish appears again on the patch, the first garment must be burnt and the patch obligates the garment on which it is sewn to be assessed for signs of impurity. If the blemish remains unchanged for two weeks or increases in size, the entire second garment is burnt.
ז
הטולה מן המוסגר בטהור וחזר נגע על הבגד שורף את המטלית חזר על המטלית הבגד הראשון המוסגר ישרף והמטלית תשמש את הבגד שהיא תפורה בו בסימנין אם עמד בעיניו שני שבועות או פשה שורפין הכל:
8
When a garment comes initially entirely intense green or intense red, it should be isolated for one week after another. If the blemish remains unchanged for two weeks, the garment should be burnt. If, however, a garment was isolated because of a blemish and the blemish spread over the entire garment, causing it to become entirely intense green or intense red or the garment was released from the inspection process and after it was released, the blemish returned entirely intense green or intense red, it is pure.
If a blemish was washed and it spread, the garment should be burnt.
ח
בגד שבא כולו בתחילה ירקרק או אדמדם מסגירו שבוע אחר שבוע אם עמד בו שני שבועות ישרף אבל בגד שהסגירו ופשה הנגע בכולו ונעשה ירקרק או אדמדם או שפטרו ואחר שפטרו בא כולו ירקרק או אדמדם הרי זה טהור כבס ופשה ישרף:
9
When the loose strands of the fabric of a garment extend beyond the fabric of the weave, e.g., a coarse woolen blanket, and a blemish appears in those strands, the blanket is not impure unless the blemish appears in the fabric and the weave itself.
The terms used by Leviticus 13:55 with regard to garmentbikarachto and bigabachto mean the following: Karachto refers to worn out garments; gabachto, to new ones.
ט
בגד שמוכין יוצאין על פניו מן האריג כגון סגוס של צמר ונראה בו נגע אינו מתטמא עד שיראה הנגע במוכין ובאריג עצמו וזה שנאמר בבגדים בקרחתו או בגבחתו קרחתו אלו השחקי' גבחתו אלו החדשים:
10
Colored garments do not contract impurity due to blemishes of tzara'at. This applies whether they were dyed by human activity or naturally colored. To contract such impurity, they must be white. If the warp of a garment was colored and its woof, white, or if its woof was colored and its warp, white, everything follows its appearance.
When there is a knit that is less than three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths, it does not contract impurity due to blemishes oftzara'at.
י
הבגדים הצבועים אינן מטמאין בנגעים בין שצבועין בידי אדם בין שצבועין בידי שמים עד שיהו לבנים בגד ששתיו צבוע וערבו לבן ערבו צבוע ושתיו לבן הכל הולך אחר הנראה פחות משלש אצבעות על שלש אצבעות מן האריג אינו מטמא בנגעים:
11
When a cloth was woven less than three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths and a blemish was discovered on it and afterwards, one increased its size and made it more than three by three, it is pure.
יא
בגד שארג בו פחות משלש על שלש ונראה בו נגע ואח"כ השלימו לשלש על שלש טהור:
12
When a person sews patches together, each one being less than three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths, and makes a garment from them, it can contract impurity due to blemishes. The rationale is that sewing is like weaving and it is considered as one garment.
יב
התופר מטליות שאין בכל אחת מהן שלש על שלש ועשה מהן בגד הרי זה מטמא בנגעים שהתפור כארוג וכולו בגד אחד הוא:
13
If a garment was made from many patches, some colored and some, white, and a tzara'at blemish was discovered on a white patch, it should be isolated. If the blemish remains unchanged for two weeks, the entire garment is deemed impure and burnt. Similarly, if the blemish spreads to another white patch, the blemish is considered to have increased in size even though a colored patch intervenes between them.
If the garment was entirely colored except for one line, even if only a gris, it should be isolated if a blemish appears on it. For if it remains with the original color, without increasing its intensity or fading for two weeks, the garment should be burnt.
יג
בגד שהוא מטליות מטליות מהן צבועין ומהן לבנים ונראה נגע בלבן שבו מסגירין אותו אם עמד שני שבועות נטמא כולו וישרף וכן אם פשה הנגע במטלית לבנה אחרת הרי זה פשיון אף על פי שיש ביניהם צבוע היה כולו צבוע ובו פס אחד לבן אפילו כגריס ונראה בו נגע יסגיר שאם עמד בעיניו ולא הוסיף ולא כהה שני שבועות ישרף:
• Rambam - 3 Chapters: She'elah uFikkadon She'elah uFikkadon - Chapter 3, She'elah uFikkadon She'elah uFikkadon - Chapter 4, She'elah uFikkadon She'elah uFikkadon - Chapter 5
• She'elah uFikkadon - Chapter 3
• Hayom Yom: Today's Hayom Yom
• Tuesday, 3 Elul, 5776 · 6 September 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Friday, Elul 3, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Shoftim, Shishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 18-22. Also 7-9.
Tanya: Now, this type (p. 445) ...come until..." (p. 445).
Whoever has faith in individual Divine Providence knows that "Man's steps are established by G‑d,"1 that this particular soul must purify and improve something specific in a particular place. For centuries, or even since the world's creation, that which needs purification or improvement waits for this soul to come and purify or improve it. The soul too, has been waiting - ever since it came into being2 - for its time to descend, so that it can discharge the tasks of purification and improvement assigned to it.
Compiled and arranged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, in 5703 (1943) from the talks and letters of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory.
FOOTNOTES
1.Tehillim 37:23.
2.Lit. "...ever since its emanation and creation..." The highest of the four general planes of the spiritual cosmos are Atzilut, "Emanation," and B'ria, "creation." See Translator's Notes p. 121 in printed version.
• Daily Thought:
• She'elah uFikkadon - Chapter 3
1
When a person borrows a cow from a colleague and the colleague sends it to him with his own son, his agent or his servant, and it dies before it enters the borrower's domain, the borrower is not liable. This law applies even if the owner sends it with the son, the servant or the agent of the borrower.
If the borrower tells the owner: 'Send it to me with my son,' 'with my servant,' or 'with my agent,' or even 'with your Hebrew servant,' or 'with your agent,' the borrower is liable. This law also applies if the owner tells the borrower: 'I am sending it to you with your son,' 'with your servant,' 'with your agent,' 'with my son,' 'with my Hebrew servant,' or 'with my agent,' and the borrower agrees, the borrower is liable if he sends it and it dies on the way.
If the owner sends the cow with his own Canaanite servant, the borrower is not liable if the cow dies on the way after it is sent. This law applies even if the borrower consents. The rationale is that the servant is considered to be an extension of his master's physical person. Thus, the cow has never left its owner's domain.
א
השואל את הפרה מחבירו ושלחה לו המשאיל ביד בנו או ביד שלוחו או ביד עבדו אפילו שלחה לו ביד בנו או ביד עבדו או ביד שלוחו של שואל ומתה קודם שתכנס לרשות השואל ה"ז פטור ואם אמר לו השואל שלחה לי ביד בני ביד עבדי ביד שלוחי או ביד עבדך העברי או ביד שלוחך או שאמר לו המשאיל הריני משלחה ביד בנך ביד עבדך ביד שלוחך ביד בני ביד עבדי העברי ביד שלוחי ואמר לו השואל שלח ושלחה ומתה בדרך ה"ז חייב שלחה לו המשאיל ביד עבדו הכנעני אע"פ שאמר לו השואל שלח ומתה פטור מפני שידו כיד רבו ועדיין לא יצאה מרשות המשאיל:
2
The following rules apply when a person borrows a cow from a colleague, the borrower tells the owner: 'Switch it with a stick, and it will come on its own accord,' and the owner follows his instructions. The borrower is not liable until the cow enters his domain. If it dies on the way, he is not liable.
Similar laws apply when the borrower returns the animal to its owner. If he sends it with another person and it dies before it enters the owner's domain, he is not liable, because it is still the borrower's responsibility. If he returned it with another person with the consent of the owner and it died, he is not liable. If he returned it with his own Canaanite servant, and it died on the way, he is liable, even if the owner consented. The rationale is that the servant is considered an extension of his master's physical person. Thus, the cow has never left the borrower's domain.
When does the above apply? When the borrower returned the animal during the time for which it was lent out. If, however, he returns it after the end of the time for which it was lent out, he is not liable if it dies on the way. For once the time for which it was lent out has concluded, the laws of borrowing no longer apply, and the person who had borrowed the animal is considered a paid watchman. Therefore, if the animal is taken captive or dies after the period for which it was lent out has concluded, the person who had borrowed the animal is not liable. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ב
אמר לו השואל הכישה במקל והיא תבא מאליה ועשה המשאיל כך אין השואל חייב בה עד שתכנס לרשותו אבל מתה בדרך פטור וכן בשעה שמחזירה השואל לבעלים אם שלחה ביד אחר ומתה קודם שתגיע לרשות המשאיל ה"ז חייב שעדיין היא באחריות השואל ואם שלחה מדעת המשאיל ע"י אחר ומתה פטור שלחה ביד עבדו הכנעני אף על פי שאמר לו המשאיל שלח אם מתה בדרך חייב שיד העבד כיד רבו ועדיין לא יצאת מיד השואל בד"א בשהחזירה בתוך ימי שאלתה אבל אם החזירה אחר ימי שאלתה הרי זה פטור אם מתה בדרך שאחר ימי שאלתה יצאת מדין שאילה והרי הוא כשומר שכר לפיכך אם נשבית או מתה אחרי ימי שאילתה פטור וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
3
The following rules apply when a person borrows a cow from a colleague, the animal dies, and a dispute arises between the owner and the borrower concerning the circumstances of its death. For example, he borrowed it for half a day and rented it for half a day, borrowed it for one day and rented it for one day, or he borrowed one animal and rented another and one of the animals dies. The owner says: 'The borrowed animal died,' 'It died on the day it was borrowed,' or 'It died during the time it was borrowed,' and the borrower says: 'I don't know,' we follow the principle: When a person desires to expropriate property from a colleague, the burden of proof is on him. This principle also applies if the borrower says: 'The rented ox died,' 'It died on the day it was rented,' or 'It died during the time it was rented,' and the owner said: 'I don't know,' or they both said: 'I don't know.'
If the owner cannot bring proof that the borrowed ox died, the renter must take an oath that the rented ox died or that he does not know, and he is freed of liability.
If the owner claims that the borrowed ox died, and the the watchman claims that the rented ox died, the watchman must take an oath that the rented ox died in an ordinary manner as he claims. Because of the convention of gilgul sh'vuah, he must also include in his oath that it was the rented ox that died.
ג
השואל פרה מחבירו שאלה חצי היום ושכרה חצי היום שאלה היום ושכרה למחר שאל אחת ושכר אחת ומתה אחת מהן המשאיל אומר שאולה מתה ביום שהיתה שאולה מתה בשעה שהיתה שאולה מתה והשומר אומר איני יודע או שאמר השואל שכורה מתה ביום שהיתה שכורה מתה בשעה שהיתה שכורה מתה והמשאיל אומר איני יודע או שאמר זה איני יודע וזה אומר איני יודע המע"ה לא היתה שם ראיה ישבע השוכר על השכורה שמתה או שאינו יודע ויפטר זה אומר שאולה וזה אומר שכורה ישבע השומר על השכורה שמתה כדרכה כמו שטען ויגלגל עליו שהשכורה היא שמתה:
4
The following rules apply when a person borrows two cows from a colleague, borrowing them for half the day and renting them for half the day, and the cows die. If the owner claims 'They died during the time that they were borrowed,' and the watchman replies: 'One did die during the time it was borrowed, but I don't know about the other one," since the watchman is not able to take an oath that denies the owner's claim, he must make restitution for the two cows.
Similar rules apply if the owner gave the watchman three cows, two were borrowed and one was rented and two cows died. If the owner claims: 'It was the two borrowed cows that died,' and the watchman replies: 'Certainly, one of the borrowed cows died, but I do not know whether the second cow that died was the borrowed one or the rented one,' since the watchman cannot take an oath that denies the owner's claim - for he says that he does not know which one died - he must make restitution for the two cows.
In Hilchot To'en V'Nit'an, it is explained how and for which reasons a defendant is required to pay in this law and in all similar cases where a defendant is not able to take an oath.
ד
השאילו שתי פרות חצי היום בשאלה וחצי היום בשכירות המשאיל אומר בזמן השאלה מתה והלה אומר אחת מתה בזמן השאלה והאחרת איני יודע מתוך שאינו יכול לישבע ישלם השתים וכן אם מסר לו שלש פרות שתים שאולות ואחת שכורה המשאיל אומר שתים השאולות הן שמתו והשואל אומר אחת השאולה מתה ודאי אבל השניה שמתה איני יודע אם השאולה האחרת או השכורה מתוך שאינו יכול לישבע שהרי אומר איני יודע ישלם השתים ובהלכות טוען ונטען יתבאר דין זה וכיוצא בו מכל הטוענין שאינן יכולים להשבע וכיצד משלמין ומאי זה טעם הם משלמים:
She'elah uFikkadon - Chapter 4
1
The following law applies when a person entrusts an article to a colleague without charge, and it is lost or stolen. The watchman is required to take an oath that the entrusted article was lost or stolen. He is then freed of liability, as Exodus 22:6-7 states: 'If it is stolen from the person's house..., the owner of the house shall approach the court and take an oath that he did not extend his hands to his colleague's undertakings.'
When he takes that oath, based on the convention of gilgul sh'vuah,the watchman must also include in the oath:
a) that he was not negligent, but rather guarded the article in the ordinary manner watchmen do, and
b) that he did not use the article for his personal use before if it was stolen. For if the article was stolen after he used it for his own purposes, he is responsible for it.
א
המפקיד אצל חבירו בחנם ונגנב או אבד הרי זה נשבע ונפטר שנאמר וגונב מבית האיש וגו' ונקרב בעל הבית אל האלהים אם לא שלח ידו במלאכת רעהו ומגלגלין עליו בתוך השבועה שלא פשע אלא שמר כדרך השומרין ולא שלח בו יד ואחר נגנב שאם נגנב אחר ששלח יד בפקדון חייב באחריותו:
2
Since the Torah freed an unpaid watchman from responsibility when an article was stolen, we can certainly infer that he is freed of responsibility when the entrusted object is destroyed by major factors beyond the watchman's control; for example, an animal was injured, taken captive or died.
This leniency applies provided that the watchman does not misappropriate the entrusted article. If, however, he misappropriates the entrusted article, he is liable even though it is destroyed by forces beyond his control.
What is meant by 'in the ordinary manner watchmen do'? Everything depends on the entrusted article. There are certain entrusted articles that the manner in which they are watched is by placing them in a gatehouse - for example, beams and rocks. There are other entrusted articles that the manner in which they are watched is by placing them in a courtyard - for example, large packages of flax and the like. There are other entrusted articles that the manner in which they are watched is by placing them in a house - for example, dressings and garments. There are other entrusted articles that the manner in which they are watched is by placing them in a locked chest or a locked cabinet - e.g., silk clothes, silver objects, golden objects, and the like.
ב
הואיל ופטר הכתוב את שומר חנם מן הגניבה קל וחומר מן האונסין הגדולים כגון שבורה ושבויה ומתה והוא שלא שלח יד בפקדון אבל שלח יד בפקדון חייב באונסיו כיצד דרך השומרים הכל לפי הפקדון יש פקדון שדרך שמירתו להניחו בבית שער כגון הקורות והאבנים ויש פקדון שדרך שמירתו להניחו בחצר כגון חבילות פשתן הגדולות וכיוצא בהן ויש פקדון שדרך שמירתו להניחו בבית כגון שמלה וטלית ויש פקדון שדרך שמירתו להניחו בתיבה או במגדל ונועל עליו כגון בגדי משי וכלי כסף וכלי זהב וכיוצא בהן:
3
When a watchman placed an object in an inappropriate place and it was stolen from there or lost, he is considered negligent and is required to make restitution. This law applies even if it was destroyed by forces beyond the watchman's control - e.g., a fire broke out and consumed the entire house . It makes no difference whether the watchman placed the entrusted article together with his own property or not. If the place is fit for safekeeping, he is not liable. If it is not fit for safekeeping, he is liable. He may be careless with his own property. He does not have the right to treat another person's property in that manner.
ג
השומר שהניח הפקדון במקום שאינו ראוי לו ונגנב משם או אבד אפילו נאנס שם כגון שנפלה דליקה ושרף כל הבית הרי זה פושע וחייב לשלם ואע"פ שהניח הפקדון עם שלו אם ראוי לשמירה פטור ואם אין המקום ראוי לשמירה חייב בשלו הוא רשאי ואינו רשאי בשל אחרים:
4
The only appropriate way of guarding silver coins and dinarimof gold is to bury them in the ground, placing at least a handbreadth of earth over them, or to hide them in a wall within a handbreadth of the ceiling.
They should not be hidden in the midst of the wall, lest the thieves check thereand steal them. Even if a person locked them securely in a chest or hid them in a place where a person would not recognize or be aware of them, he is considered negligent and is liable to make restitution.
Several men of understanding have ruled that the same rules apply with regard to any object that is light and will not be destroyed speedily in the ground - e.g., slabs of silver. Needless to say, this applies to slabs of gold and to jewels. The only appropriate way of guarding such objects is in the ground. I tend to support this ruling.
ד
הכספים והדינרין אין להם שמירה אלא בקרקע ויתן עליהם טפח עפר או יטמנם בכותל בטפח הסמוך לקורה אבל לא באמצע הכותל שמא יחפרו הגנבים שם ויגנבו אפילו נעל עליהם כראוי בתיבה או החביא אותם במקום שאין אדם מכירו ולא מרגיש בו ה"ז פושע וחייב לשלם הורו מקצת המבינים שהוא הדין לכל דבר שמשאו קל ואין הקרקע מאבדת אותו במהרה כגון לשונות של כסף ואצ"ל לשונות של זהב ואבנים טובות שאין להם שמירה אלא בקרקע ולזה דעתי נוטה:
5
When a person entrusts money to a colleague on Friday afternoon between the setting of the sun and the appearance of the stars, the watchman is not obligated to undertake the difficulty of burying it until Saturday night. If, however, he delayed burying it on Saturday night and before he buried it that night, it was stolen or destroyed by factors beyond his control, he is liable. If he is a Torah scholar, the watchman is not liable if he waits until after havdalah to bury it.
ה
המפקיד אצל חבירו כספים ע"ש בין השמשות אינו חייב לטרוח ולקבור אותן עד מוצאי שבת ואם נתאחר למ"ש כדי לקברן ולא קברן ונגנבו או נאנסו חייב ואם ת"ח הוא אינו חייב עד שישהא אחר שיבדיל כדי לקברן:
6
When a person entrusts money to a colleague on a journey to bring to his home, or sends money with him from one place to another, the money must be bound in a packet and held in the watchman's hand or tied on his stomach opposite his faceand carried in this fashion until he reaches his home and buries it in the appropriate manner. If he did not tie it in this manner, even if the money was lost because of factors beyond the watchman's control, he is liable. The rationale is that at the outset, he was negligent.
An incident once occurred concerning a person who entrusted money to a colleague. The colleague placed the money in a partition made from reeds. The money was hidden in the midst of the partition and was stolen from there. When the matter was brought to the Sages, they said: Although this is an excellent manner of guarding to prevent theft,it is not a proper place to guard money in the event of fire. Since he did not bury it in the ground or the walls of a building, he is considered negligent. Whenever a person is negligent in his care for the article at the outset, even if it is ultimately destroyed by forces beyond his control, he is liable. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ו
הפקיד אצל חבירו כספים בדרך להוליכם לביתו או ששלח עמו מעות ממקום למקום צריכין שיהיו צרורים ומונחים בידו או קשורים כראוי על בטנו מכנגד פניו עד שיגיע לביתו ויקברם כראוי ואם קשרן בדרך הזאת אפילו נאנסו חייב לשלם שהרי תחלתו בפשיעה מעשה באחד שהפקיד מעות אצל חבירו והניחם במחיצה של קנים והיו טמונים בעובי המחיצה ונגנבו משם ואמרו חכמים אף על פי שזו שמירה מעולה לענין גניבה אינה שמירה כראוי לענין האש ומאחר שלא טמנו בקרקע או בכותל בניין פושע הוא וכל שתחלתו בפשיעה וסופו באונס חייב וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
7
The following law applies when a person entrusts either articles or money to a colleague. Should the owner demand of the watchman: 'Give me my entrusted article,' and the watchman tells him: 'I do not know where I placed the entrusted article,' or 'I do not know where I buried the money. Wait; I will look for it, find it and return it to you,' he is considered negligent and is required to make restitution immediately.
ז
המפקיד אצל חבירו בין כלים בין מעות ואמר לו תן לי פקדוני ואמר לו השומר איני יודע אנה הנחתי פקדון זה או באי זה מקום קברתי הכספים המתן לי עד שאבקש ואמצא ואחזיר לך הרי זה פושע וחייב לשלם מיד:
8
Whenever a person entrusts either articles or money to a colleague, he entrusts them with the understanding that they may be placed in the care of the person's wife, children or other members of his household who are above the age of majority. If, however, the watchman gave the entrusted article to his sons or the members of his household who are below majority, his servants - whether they are above or below majority - or one of his relatives who does not dwell in his home and is not dependent on his larder - needless, to say, this applies if he gives the article to a stranger - he is considered negligent and is required to make restitution, unless the second watchman brings proof that he was not negligent, as we have explained.
An incident occurred with regard to a person who entrusted money to a colleague. The watchman gave the money to his mother, who hid it but did not bury it. Our Sages ruled: The watchman is not liable to pay, because he gave the money to his mother, and whenever a person entrusts an article to a colleague, he entrusts it with the understanding that it may be placed in the care of his sons or the members of his household.
Even though the watchman did not tell his mother that the money was not his, but had been entrusted to him, he is not liable, for he could claim: 'Certainly, she would have cared for it more carefully if she thought it belonged to me.' Similarly, his mother is not liable, because he did not tell her that the money was entrusted to him.
Our Sages ruled: The watchman must take an oath that the money that was entrusted to him was the money that he gave his mother, and the mother must take an oath that she hid it and it was stolen. Afterwards, they are both absolved of liability. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ח
כל המפקיד אצל בעל הבית בין כלים בין מעות על דעת אשתו ובניו ובני ביתו הגדולים הוא מפקיד אבל אם מסרן לבניו ובני ביתו הקטנים או לעבדיו בין גדולים בין קטנים או לאחד מקרוביו שאינן שרויין עמו בבית ואין סומכין על שלחנו ואצ"ל אם מסרן לאחר הרי זה פושע וחייב לשלם אא"כ הביא השומר השני ראיה שלא פשע כמו שביארנו מעשה באחד שהפקיד מעות אצל חבירו ונתנם השומר לאמו והחביאה אותן ולא טמנה אותן ונגנבו ואמרו חכמים אין השומר חייב לשלם מפני שנתנם לאמו שכל המפקיד על דעת בניו ובני ביתו הוא מפקיד ואע"פ שלא אמר לה פקדון הם יש לו לטעון כל שכן שהיא נזהרת בהן אם היתה סבורה שהן שלי וכן אין אמו חייבת לשלם שהרי לא אמר לה שהן פקדון ואמרו חכמים ישבע השומר שאותן המעות עצמן הן שנתנן לאמו ותשבע האם שהחביאה אותן ונגנבו ויפטרו שניהם וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
9
From the above, one may conclude that should a watchman give an entrusted article to his wife or to the members of his household and inform them that it was an entrusted article, if they did not guard it in a manner appropriate for a watchman, they are liable to pay the owner, and the person originally appointed as a watchman is not liable. The rationale is that whenever a person entrusts either articles or money to a colleague, he entrusts them with the understanding that they may be placed in the care of the person's wife or children.
An incident occurred with regard to a person who entrusted hops to a colleague. That colleague had other hops in his possession. The colleague told his attendant: 'Place these hops into the beer.' The attendant erred and took the hops that had been entrusted instead.
The Sages ruled that the attendant is not liable, because the watchman did not tell him: 'Place these hops, and do not place those hops.' Therefore, the attendant thought that he was merely recommending one pile, but not insisting on it. The owner is also not liable, because he instructed him to take the hops from his own pile. He is required to make restitution only for the benefit he received. Therefore, if the beer becomes vinegar, he is not liable to pay anything. Regardless of the outcome, the watchman is required to take an oath that these in fact were the circumstances. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ט
מכאן אתה למד שהשומר שמסר הפקדון לאשתו ובני ביתו והודיען שהוא פקדון ולא שמרו כדרך השומרין שהן חייבין לשלם לבעל הפקדון ובעל הבית פטור שכל המפקיד על דעת אשתו ובניו הוא מפקיד מעשה באחד שהפקיד כשות אצל אחד והיה לו לשומר כשות אחרת ואמר לשמשו מזה הכשות תשליך לתוך השכר והלך השמש והשליך מכשות של פקדון אמרו חכמים שהשמש פטור שהרי לא אמר מזה השלך ומזה אל תשלך ודימה שהוא מראה מקום ואינו מקפיד ע"ז וכן בעה"ב פטור שהרי אמר לו מזה השלך ואינו משלם אלא דמי מה שנהנה בלבד לפיכך אם נעשה השכר חומץ פטור מלשלם ובין כך ובין כך חייב השומר שבועה שכך אירע וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
She'elah uFikkadon - Chapter 5
1
If money designated to be given to the poor or to be used for the redemption of captives was given to a person, he was negligent in guarding it and it was stolen, the watchman is not liable. This is derived from Exodus 22:6, which states: "If a man gives money or articles to his colleague to watch...." The wording implies that obligations determined by the verse apply when the money or the article was given to watch, but not when it was given to divide among the poor. This decision is rendered, because there is no one to claim the money as his own.
Even if the thieves attacked the person and he saved himself by giving them the money designated for the redemption of captives, he is not liable. There is no greater redemption of captives than this.
When does the above apply? When the money was not entrusted to him for the sake of the poor people of a particular place or a designated group of captives. If, however, the money was designated for a particular group of poor people or captives, and is thus set aside for them, it is considered to be money that people can claim. Therefore, the watchman must pay if he was negligent, or take an oath that he was not negligent, as is required of all watchmen.
א
מי שהפקידו אצלו מעות של עניים או של פדיון שבויים ופשע בהם ונגנבו פטור שנאמר לשמור ולא לחלק לעניים והרי הוא ממון שאין לו תובעים אפילו באו עליו גנבים וקדם והציל עצמו בממון שבויים פטור אין לך פדיון שבויים גדול מזה במה דברים אמורים בשאין זה הממון מופקד לעניי מקום זה או לשבויים [אלו] אבל אם היו לעניים אלו או לשבויים אלו והרי הוא קצוץ להן הרי זה הממון שיש לו תובעין וישלם אם פשע או ישבע שלא פשע כדרך כל השומרים:
2
The following rules apply when a person entrusts money or valuable articles to a colleague, thieves come and attack him and he gives them the entrusted article before offering any of his other property to save himself. If the person has the reputation of being wealthy, he is liable. The rationale is that we may presume that the thieves came because of the watchman. Thus, he is saving himself with money belonging to a colleague. If the watchman does not have the reputation of being wealthy, we presume that the thieves came only because of the entrusted article. Hence, the watchman is not liable. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ב
המפקיד אצל חבירו ממון או כלים חשובין ובאו עליו גנבים וקדם ונתן להם הפקדון להציל עצמו אם היה אמוד שהוא בעל ממון חייב שחזקתו שבגללו באו הגנבים ונמצא זה מציל עצמו בממון חבירו ואם אינו אמוד חזקתו שלא באו אלא לשם הפקדון ופטור וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
3
The following rules apply when a person entrusts articles or fruit to a colleague. If thieves come and steal the entrusted article in his presence and he remains silent, he may be held liable. If people would have come and rescued the entrusted article had he called out, he is considered negligent for remaining silent and he is obligated to make restitution. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ג
המפקיד אצל חבירו כלים או פירות ובאו גנבים וגנבום בפניו ואילו היה צווח היו באין בני אדם ומצילין אותן הואיל ולא צווח הרי זה פושע וחייב לשלם וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
4
The following laws apply when two people entrusted money to a colleague, one 100 zuz and the other 200 zuz, both claim to have entrusted the 200 zuz, and the watchman does not recall which one deposited 200, and which one 100. Each of the claimants must take an oath that he was the one who deposited the 200 zuz He may then collect the money he claims,14 as is the law with regard to any person who takes an oath and collects his due. The watchman must pay each claimant 200, losing 100 zuzfrom his own resources. The rationale is that he was negligent, for he should have written down the name of each person on the packet that he entrusted.
Therefore, if the two people together brought him the 300 zuz in a single packet, and afterwards each claims that the 200 belongs to him, the watchman is not considered negligent if he does not remember who brought the larger sum. He should give each one amaneh, and the balance should remain in the watchman's possession forever, or until one of them acknowledges the other's claim.21 The rationale is that the watchman can explain: "I saw that you two were not precise with each other, as indicated by the fact that you brought the money to me in a single packet. Therefore, I did not trouble myself to know and continuously remember who owned 100 and who owned 200."
Similar laws apply if two people entrusted one watchman with two utensils, one large and one small, each one claimed to be the owner of the larger utensil, and the watchman did not remember to whom it belonged. Each of the claimants must take an oath supporting his claim. The watchman must then give one of them the larger utensil, and the value of the larger one to the other. The smaller utensil remains his.If the two brought the two in a single container, he should give the smaller utensil to one and the worth of that utensil to the other. He may keep the remainder in his possession until one claimant acknowledges the other's claim or until eternity.
Similar laws apply if only one article was entrusted, and two people claim it as their own and the watchman says, "One of you is the owner, but I do not know which one." He must pay both of them. Similarly, when two people each entrust an animal to a shepherd, and one animal dies, if the watchman does not know whose animal died, he must make restitution to both of them. If they placed them in his herd without informing him, he may place one animal between them and depart. That animal shall remain until one acknowledges the other's claim or until they desire to divide it.
ד
שנים שהפקידו אצל אחד זה מאה וזה מאתים וכל אחד משניהם אומר אני הוא שהפקדתי המאתים והשומר אומר איני יודע ישבע כל אחד מהן שהפקיד מאתים ונוטל כדין כל נשבע ונוטל ויתן מאתים לזה ומאתים לזה ומפסיד מאה מביתו שהרי הוא פושע שהיה לו לכתוב שם כל אחד על כיס שלו לפיכך אם הביאו לו השנים כאחד שלש מאות בכרך אחד ובאו ותבעו וכל אחד אומר המאתים שלי נותן מנה לזה ומנה לזה והשאר יהיה מונח אצלו עד לעולם או עד שיודה האחד לחבירו שהרי הוא אומר להם כיון שראיתי שאין אתם מקפידין זה על זה והבאתם בכרך אחד לא הטרחתי עצמי לידע ולזכור תמיד מי בעל המאה ומי בעל המאתים וכן אם הפקידו אצלו שני כלים אחד גדול ואחד קטן וכל אחד ואחד אומר אני הוא בעל הגדול והשומר אומר איני יודע ישבעו שניהם ויתן הגדול לאחד מהם ודמי הגדול לשני וישאר לו הקטן ואם הביאום בכרך אחד כאחד נותן הקטן לאחד ודמי הקטן לשני והשאר יהיה מונח אצלו עד שיודה האחד לחבירו או עד לעולם וכן מי שתבעוהו שנים זה אומר אני הוא בעל הפקדון וזה אומר אני הוא והשומר אומר אחד מכם הוא ואיני יודע מי הוא ישלם לשניהם וכן שנים שהפקידו שתי בהמות אצל רועה ומתה אחת מהן ואינו יודע של מי היתה ישלם לשניהם ואם הפקידו בעדרו שלא מדעתו מניח הבהמה ביניהם ומסתלק ותהיה מונחת עד שיודה האחד לחבירו או עד שירצו לחלוק אותה:
5
When a person entrusts produce to a colleague, the watchman should not mix it together with his own produce. The following rules apply if the watchman transgressed and mixed the produce together. He should calculate the quantity of produce entrusted to him, see how much produce was lacking from the entire amount and estimate the amount of loss suffered by the entrusted produce. He should return this amount to the owner after he takes an oath.
If the watchman made use of the combined quantity of produce and did not know how much he used, he should subtract the standard norm before returning the produce. For example, for wheat and for shelled rice, he should subtract four and a halfkabbin for every kor; for barley and for millet, he should subtract nine kabbin for each kor; and for buckwheat, flax seeds in their stalks and unshelled rice, he should subtract three se'ah for eachkor.
When does the above apply? When the original measurement of the produce was made at harvest time, and it was returned during the harvest time. If, however, the watchman returns the produce in the rainy season, he should not make a deduction because of spoilage, for the produce swells.
Similarly, a watchman may deduct a sixth of a quantity of wine entrusted to him and three lugin for every 100 lugin of oil entrusted to him, one and half lugin for dregs and one and a half lugin for absorption. If the oil was refined, the watchman should not make a deduction for dregs. If the containers are old, he should not make a deduction for absorption.
ה
המפקיד פירות אצל חבירו ה"ז לא יערבם עם פירותיו עבר ועירב יחשוב כמה היה הפקדון ויראה כמה חסר הכל ויחשוב חסרון הפקדון ויתן לו אחר שישבע נסתפק מהן ולא ידע כמה נסתפק יוציא לו חסרונו לחטים ולאורז קלוף ארבעה קבין ומחצה לכל כור לשעורים ולדוחן תשעה קבין לכל כור לכוסמין ולזרע פשתן בגבעוליו ולאורז שאינו קלוף שלש סאין לכל כור וכמדה הזאת לכל שנה ושנה בד"א שמדד לו בימות הגורן והחזיר לו בימות הגורן אבל מדד בימות הגורן והחזיר לו בימות הגשמים אינו מוציא לו חסרונו מפני שהן מותירות וכן מוציא לו שתות ליין ושלשת לוגין שמן למאה לוגין לוג ומחצה שמרים ולוג ומחצה בלע אם היה מזוקק אינו מוציא לו שמרים ואם היו הקנקנים ישנים אינו מוציא לו בלע:
6
When a person entrusts produce that has not been measured to a watchman, and the watchman mixes it together with his own produce without measuring it, the watchman is considered negligent.
If the owner of the fruit says, "There was this and this amount of produce entrusted," and the watchman says, "I don't know how much there was," he is liable. For he is obligated to take an oath and yet cannot take the oath. My teachers, Rav Yosef HaLevi and his teacher, ruled in this manner.
Similarly, whenever a watchman is obligated to pay, but does not know how much he is obligated to pay, if the owners say: "It was worth such and such," they may collect this amount without taking an oath. This law applies provided the owner claims a sum or an object that he can be presumed to possess. The watchman may have a ban of ostracism issued against anyone who expropriates more than his due.
What is the rationale for this law? Consider: The owner entrusted a purse full of gold coins to the watchman, and the watchman was negligent. The owner says, "It contained 200 dinarim, and the watchman says, "It certainly contained dinarim, but I do not know how much it contained." Thus, a claim is being issued for 200. The watchman admits a portion of the claim, and does not know about the remainder of the claim. He is thus obligated to take an oath, but cannot. Hence, he is required to pay, as will be explained.
ו
הפקיד אצלו פירות שאינן מדודין ועירבן עם פירותיו ולא מדדן ה"ז פושע בעל הפקדון אומר כך וכך היו והשומר אומר איני יודע ישלם בלא שבועה שהרי חייב עצמו בתשלומין ואינו יודע כמה הוא חייב ונמצא חייב שבועה שאינו יכול להשבע וכזה הורו רבותי הרב ר' יוסף הלוי ורבו ז"ל וכן כל שומר שנתחייב לשלם ואמר איני יודע כמה דמים אני חייב לשלם והבעלים אומרים אנו יודעין וכך וכך היה שוה יטלו בלא שבועה והוא שיטענו דבר שהן אמודין בו ויש לשומר להחרים על מי שלקח ממנו יתר מן הראוי לו ומנין שהדין כך הוא הגע עצמך שהפקיד אצלו כיס מלא זהובים ופשע בו הבעלים אומרים מאתים דינר היו והשומר אומר ודאי שהיה בו דינרים אבל איני יודע כמה היו נמצא זה כטוען מאתים והודה לו במקצת ואמר השאר איני יודע שהוא מחוייב שבועה ואינו יכול לישבע ומשלם כמו שיתבאר:
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The following rules apply when a person's father died, leaving him a closed sack. The heir entrusted it to a colleague for safekeeping, the colleague was negligent in its care, and it was destroyed. The depositor says, "I don't know what it contained. Maybe it contained pearls." Similarly, the watchman states: "I don't know how much I am obligated to pay. Maybe it was filled with pieces of glass."
I maintain that the ruling in this instance is that, as our Sages required, the watchman should take an oath that the entrusted object is no longer in his domain. He should include in this oath that he does not know whether it was worth more than a specific amount. He must then pay the amount that he admits that it was worth. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
An incident occurred concerning a person who entrusted a closed sack to his colleague. The latter was negligent in its care, and it was lost. The owner said, "It contained gold jewelry, pearls and the like." The watchman replied: "I don't know. Perhaps all it contained were pieces of scrap metal or sand."
Our Sages ruled: "The owner of the entrusted article may take an oath supporting his claim, and then collect the sum he claims, provided he claims a sum that he could be presumed to have entrusted to him.
Why must the owner of the entrusted article take an oath in this instance?Because in this instance, the watchman is not obligated to take an oath. For even if the watchman were to admit and say: "I am definitely certain that it contained scrap metal," and the owner claimed: "It contained pearls," the watchman could take a sh'vuat hesset and be freed of obligation. This resembles a case where the plaintiff demands wheat and the defendant admits owing barley. The same laws apply in all analogous situations. The fundamental principles upon which these laws revolve will be explained inHilchot To'en V'Nit'an.
ז
מת אביו והניח לו שק צרור והפקידו אצלו חבירו ופשע בו המפקיד אומר איני יודע מה היו בו שמא מרגליות היו בו וכן השומר אומר איני יודע כמה אני חייב לשלם שמא זכוכית היה מלא שורת הדין שאני אומר בטענה זו שישבע השומר בתקנת חכמים שאינו ברשותו ויכלול בשבועתו שאינו יודע בודאי שהיה בו יתר על שוה כך וכך וישלם מה שהודה בו וכן כל כיוצא בזה מעשה באחד שהפקיד שק צרור אצל חבירו ופשע בו המפקיד אומר חלי זהב ומרגליות וכיוצא בהן היו בו והשומר אומר איני יודע שמא סיגים או חול היו בו ואמרו חכמים ישבע בעל הפקדון ויטול והוא שיטעון דבר שהוא אמוד בו או אמוד להפקידו אצלו ולמה נשבע כאן בעל הפקדון לפי שאין השומר מחוייב שבועה שאפילו הודה ואמר ברי לי שהיה מלא סיגים והמפקיד אומר מרגליות היו השומר נשבע היסת ונפטר כמו שטענו חטים והודה לו בשעורים וכן כל כיוצא בזה ובהלכות טוען ונטען יתבארו עיקרי הדברים:
• Tuesday, 3 Elul, 5776 · 6 September 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Friday, Elul 3, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Shoftim, Shishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 18-22. Also 7-9.
Tanya: Now, this type (p. 445) ...come until..." (p. 445).
Whoever has faith in individual Divine Providence knows that "Man's steps are established by G‑d,"1 that this particular soul must purify and improve something specific in a particular place. For centuries, or even since the world's creation, that which needs purification or improvement waits for this soul to come and purify or improve it. The soul too, has been waiting - ever since it came into being2 - for its time to descend, so that it can discharge the tasks of purification and improvement assigned to it.
Compiled and arranged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, in 5703 (1943) from the talks and letters of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory.
FOOTNOTES
1.Tehillim 37:23.
2.Lit. "...ever since its emanation and creation..." The highest of the four general planes of the spiritual cosmos are Atzilut, "Emanation," and B'ria, "creation." See Translator's Notes p. 121 in printed version.
• Daily Thought:
Imaginary Kindness
Most of the favors we do for others are things they do not need, things they only imagine they need, because they live in a world propelled by fantasies.
And most of the kindness we do is saturated with ulterior motives. We do kindness for those we love, those close to us, or those who make us feel good when they receive.
But this does not matter. They are acts of kindness, nonetheless, and G‑d desires to be found in acts of kindness. And where can kindness be performed? In a world of delusions, where people imagine all sorts of needs and each of us is dependent on the other.
The highest, indeed, is found in the lowest; the deepest truths are submerged in the muddiest pits of confusion.[Reshimat Nefesh Hashefalah, cited and elucidated in Likkutei Sichot, volume 16, pp. 41ff.]
Most of the favors we do for others are things they do not need, things they only imagine they need, because they live in a world propelled by fantasies.
And most of the kindness we do is saturated with ulterior motives. We do kindness for those we love, those close to us, or those who make us feel good when they receive.
But this does not matter. They are acts of kindness, nonetheless, and G‑d desires to be found in acts of kindness. And where can kindness be performed? In a world of delusions, where people imagine all sorts of needs and each of us is dependent on the other.
The highest, indeed, is found in the lowest; the deepest truths are submerged in the muddiest pits of confusion.[Reshimat Nefesh Hashefalah, cited and elucidated in Likkutei Sichot, volume 16, pp. 41ff.]
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