Daily Quote:
G-d wants the heart[Talmud, Sanhedrin 106b]
Today's Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Parshat Chayei Sarah, 3rd Portion (Genesis 24:10-24:26) with Rashi
• Genesis Chapter 24
10And the servant took ten camels of his master's camels, and he went, and all the best of his master was in his hand; and he arose, and he went to Aram naharaim, to the city of Nahor. יוַיִּקַּ֣ח הָ֠עֶ֠בֶד עֲשָׂרָ֨ה גְמַלִּ֜ים מִגְּמַלֵּ֤י אֲדֹנָיו֙ וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ וְכָל־ט֥וּב אֲדֹנָ֖יו בְּיָד֑וֹ וַיָּ֗קָם וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־אֲרַ֥ם נַֽהֲרַ֖יִם אֶל־עִ֥יר נָחֽוֹר:
of his master’s camels: (Gen. Rabbah 59:11). They were distinguishable from other camels by the fact that they would go out muzzled to prevent robbery, that they should not graze in strangers’ fields. מגמלי אדוניו: נכרין היו משאר גמלים, שהיו יוצאין זמומין מפני הגזל שלא ירעו בשדות אחרים:
all the best of his master was in his hand: (Gen. Rabbah ad loc.) He wrote a gift deed to Isaac for everything he owned, so that they would hasten [lit., jump] to send him their daughter. וכל טוב אדוניו בידו: שטר מתנה כתב ליצחק על כל אשר לו, כדי שיקפצו לשלוח לו בתם:
Aram-naharaim: [lit., Aram of the two rivers.] It is situated between two rivers. ארם נהרים: בין שתי נהרות יושבת:
11And he made the camels kneel outside the city beside the well of water, at eventide, at the time the maidens go out to draw water. יאוַיַּבְרֵ֧ךְ הַגְּמַלִּ֛ים מִח֥וּץ לָעִ֖יר אֶל־בְּאֵ֣ר הַמָּ֑יִם לְעֵ֣ת עֶ֔רֶב לְעֵ֖ת צֵ֥את הַשֹּֽׁאֲבֹֽת:
And he made the camels kneel: He made them lie down. — [Gen. Rabbah 59:11, Targum Jonathan] ויברך הגמלים: הרביצם:
12And he said, "O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please cause to happen to me today, and perform loving kindness with my master, Abraham. יבוַיֹּאמַר֓ | יְהֹוָ֗ה אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם הַקְרֵה־נָ֥א לְפָנַ֖י הַיּ֑וֹם וַֽעֲשֵׂה־חֶ֕סֶד עִ֖ם אֲדֹנִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם:
13Behold, I am standing by the water fountain, and the daughters of the people of the city are coming out to draw water. יגהִנֵּ֛ה אָֽנֹכִ֥י נִצָּ֖ב עַל־עֵ֣ין הַמָּ֑יִם וּבְנוֹת֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י הָעִ֔יר יֹֽצְאֹ֖ת לִשְׁאֹ֥ב מָֽיִם:
14And it will be, [that] the maiden to whom I will say, 'Lower your pitcher and I will drink,' and she will say, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels,' her have You designated for Your servant, for Isaac, and through her may I know that You have performed loving kindness with my master." ידוְהָיָ֣ה הַנַּֽעֲרָ֗ה (כתיב הנער) אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֹמַ֤ר אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ הַטִּי־נָ֤א כַדֵּךְ֙ וְאֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה וְאָֽמְרָ֣ה שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה אֹתָ֤הּ הֹכַ֨חְתָּ֙ לְעַבְדְּךָ֣ לְיִצְחָ֔ק וּבָ֣הּ אֵדַ֔ע כִּֽי־עָשִׂ֥יתָ חֶ֖סֶד עִם־אֲדֹנִֽי:
her have You designated: She is worthy of him, for she will perform acts of kindness, and she is fit to enter the house of Abraham; and the expression הֹכַחְתָּ means “You chose,” esprover in Old French. אותה הכחת: ראויה היא לו שתהא גומלת חסדים וכדאי ליכנס בביתו של אברהם. ולשון הוכחת ביררת, אפרוביש"ט בלע"ז [להראות בבירור]:
and through her may I know: An expression of supplication:“Let me know through her.” ובה אדע: לשון תחנה, הודע לי בה:
that You have performed loving-kindness: If she will be from his family and fit for him, I will know that You have performed loving-kindness. כי עשית חסד: אם תהיה ממשפחתו והוגנת לו, אדע כי עשית חסד:
15Now he had not yet finished speaking, and behold, Rebecca came out, who had been born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, and her pitcher was on her shoulder. טווַֽיְהִי־ה֗וּא טֶ֘רֶם֘ כִּלָּ֣ה לְדַבֵּר֒ וְהִנֵּ֧ה רִבְקָ֣ה יֹצֵ֗את אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֻלְּדָה֙ לִבְתוּאֵ֣ל בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֔ה אֵ֥שֶׁת נָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֑ם וְכַדָּ֖הּ עַל־שִׁכְמָֽהּ:
16Now the maiden was of very comely appearance, a virgin, and no man had been intimate with her, and she went down to the fountain, and she filled her pitcher and went up. טזוְהַנַּֽעֲרָ֗ה (כתיב והנער) טֹבַ֤ת מַרְאֶה֙ מְאֹ֔ד בְּתוּלָ֕ה וְאִ֖ישׁ לֹ֣א יְדָעָ֑הּ וַתֵּ֣רֶד הָעַ֔יְנָה וַתְּמַלֵּ֥א כַדָּ֖הּ וַתָּֽעַל:
a virgin: from the place of her virginity. — [Gen. Rabbah 60:5] בתולה: ממקום בתולים:
and no man had been intimate with her: in an unnatural way. Since the daughters of the gentiles would preserve their virginity but were promiscuous in unnatural ways, Scripture attests that she was completely innocent. — [Gen. Rabbah ad loc.] ואיש לא ידעה: שלא כדרכה, לפי שבנות הגוים היו משמרות מקום בתוליהן ומפקירות עצמן ממקום אחר, העיד על זו שנקיה מכל:
17And the servant ran toward her, and he said, "Please let me sip a little water from your pitcher." יזוַיָּ֥רָץ הָעֶ֖בֶד לִקְרָאתָ֑הּ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הַגְמִיאִ֥ינִי נָ֛א מְעַט־מַ֖יִם מִכַּדֵּֽךְ:
And the servant ran toward her: Because he saw that the water had risen toward her. — [Gen. Rabbah ad loc.] וירץ העבד לקראתה: לפי שראה שעלו המים לקראתה:
Please let me sip: An expression of swallowing, humer in Old French. הגמיאיני נא: לשון גמיעה, הומיי"ר בלע"ז [לגמוא]:
18And she said, "Drink, my lord." And she hastened and lowered her pitcher to her hand, and she gave him to drink. יחוַתֹּ֖אמֶר שְׁתֵ֣ה אֲדֹנִ֑י וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר וַתֹּ֧רֶד כַּדָּ֛הּ עַל־יָדָ֖הּ וַתַּשְׁקֵֽהוּ:
and lowered her pitcher: from her shoulder. ותורד כדה: מעל שכמה:
19And she finished giving him to drink, and she said, "I will also draw for your camels, until they will have finished drinking." יטוַתְּכַ֖ל לְהַשְׁקֹת֑וֹ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר גַּ֤ם לִגְמַלֶּ֨יךָ֙ אֶשְׁאָ֔ב עַ֥ד אִם־כִּלּ֖וּ לִשְׁתֹּֽת:
until they will have finished drinking: Here the word אִם is used in the sense of אִשֶׁר, that עד אם כלו: הרי אם משמש בלשון אשר, אם כלו, די ספקון, שזו היא גמר שתייתן כששתו די ספוקן:
they will have finished: Onkelos renders: until they have had enough, because that is the end of their drinking, when they have drunk their fill.
20And she hastened, and she emptied her pitcher into the trough, and she ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels. כוַתְּמַהֵ֗ר וַתְּעַ֤ר כַּדָּהּ֙ אֶל־הַשֹּׁ֔קֶת וַתָּ֥רָץ ע֛וֹד אֶל־הַבְּאֵ֖ר לִשְׁאֹ֑ב וַתִּשְׁאַ֖ב לְכָל־גְּמַלָּֽיו:
and she emptied: וַתְּעַר is an expression of emptying. There are many examples in the language of the Mishnah:“One who empties (הַמְעָרֵה) from one vessel to another.” It is also found in Scripture (Psalms 141:8):“Do not cast out (תְּעַר) my soul” ; (Isa. 53:12):“That he poured out (הֶעֱרָה) his soul to death.” ותער: לשון נפיצה, והרבה יש בלשון משנה (עבודה זרה ה ז) המערה מכלי אל כלי, ובמקרא יש לו דומה (תהלים קמא ח) אל תער נפשי, (ישעיה נג יב) אשר הערה למות נפשו:
the trough: A hollow stone from which the camels drink. השקת: אבן חלולה ששותים בה הגמלים:
21And the man was astonished at her, standing silent, [waiting] to know whether the Lord had caused his way to prosper or not. כאוְהָאִ֥ישׁ מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה לָ֑הּ מַֽחֲרִ֕ישׁ לָדַ֗עַת הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַ יְהֹוָ֛ה דַּרְכּ֖וֹ אִם־לֹֽא:
was astonished: Heb. מִשְׁתָּאֵה, an expression of desolation, as in (Isa. 6:11):“[until] the cities become desolate (שָׁאוּ) …and [the ground] lies waste (תִּשָׁאֶה) and desolate.” משתאה: לשון שאייה, כמו (ישעיה ו יא) שאו ערים, תשאה שממה:
was astonished: מִשְׁתָּאֵה [means that] he was astonished and startled because he saw his efforts on the verge of succeeding, but he did not yet know whether she was of Abraham’s family or not. Do not be surprised by the letter“tav” in the word מִשׁ ְתָּאֵה [since the root is שׁאה], because there is no word [verb] whose first root-letter is a “shin,” which is used in the reflexive [Hitpa’el] form, in which a“tav” does not separate the first two letters of the root, e.g. מִשְׁתָּאֵה [here]; or (Isa. 59:15) מִשְׁתּוֹלֵל which is from the same root as תּשׁוֹלָל or (ibid. 59:16) וַיִּשְׁתּוֹמֵם, from the same root as שְׁמָמָה or (Micah 6:16):“And the statutes of Omri shall be observed (וַיִּשְתַמֵּר),” from the same root as וַיִּשְׁמֹר. Here too, מִשְׁתָּאֵה is from the same root as תִּשָׁאֶה. And just as you find the expression מְשׁוֹמֵם used concerning a person who is astonished, dumbfounded, and engrossed in thought, as in (Job 18:20):“Those who come after shall be astonished (נָשַׁמּוּ) at his day” ; or (Jer. 2:12):“O heavens, be ye astonished (שׁוֹמּוּ)” ; or (Dan. 4: 16):“He was bewildered (אֶשְׁתּוֹמַם) for awhile”; so can you explain the expression שְׁאִיָה as referring to a person who is astonished and engrossed in thought. Onkelos, however, renders it as an expression of waiting (שְׁהִיָה) :“and the man waited (שָׁהֵי) ,” [meaning that] he waited and stood in one place to see“whether the Lord had made his way prosper.” However, we cannot translate מִשְׁתָּאֵה as meaning שָׁתֵי,“to drink,” because [the word מִשְׁתָּאֵה] does not mean drinking, for the “aleph” does not occur in the verb“to drink” (שְׁתִּיָה). משתאה: משתומם ומתבהל על שראה דברו קרוב להצליח. אבל אינו יודע אם ממשפחת אברהם היא אם לאו. ואל תתמה בתי"ו של משתאה שאין לך תיבה שתחלת יסודה שי"ן ומדברת בלשון מתפעל שאין תי"ו מפרידה בין שתי אותיות של עיקר היסוד כגון משתאה מגזרת שאה, (ישעיה נט טו) משתולל מגזרת שולל, (שם נט טז) וישתומם מגזרת שממה, (מיכה ו טז) וישתמר חקות עמרי מגזרת וישמר, אף כאן משתאה מגזרת תשאה, וכשם שאתה מוצא לשון משומם באדם נבהל ונאלם ובעל מחשבות, כמו (איוב יח כ) על יומו נשמו אחרונים, (ירמיה ב יב) שומו שמים, (דניאל ד טז) אשתומם כשעה חדא, כך תפרש לשון שאייה באדם בהול ובעל מחשבות. ואונקלוס תרגם לשון שהייה וגברא שהי, שוהא ועומד במקום אחד לראות ההצליח ה' דרכו. ואין לתרגם שתי, שהרי אינו לשון שתיה, שאין אל"ף נופלת בלשון שתיה:
was astonished at her: [לָהּ means] he was astonished about her, as in [above 20:13]:“Say about me (לִי) , ‘He is my brother’ ” ; and as in [26:7]:“The people of the place asked about his wife (לְאִשׁתּוֹ) .” משתאה לה: משתומם עליה כמו (לעיל כ יג) אמרי לי אחי הוא, וכמו (לקמן כו ז) וישאלו אנשי המקום לאשתו:
22Now it came about, when the camels had finished drinking, [that] the man took a golden nose ring, weighing half [a shekel], and two bracelets for her hands, weighing ten gold [shekels]. כבוַיְהִ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר כִּלּ֤וּ הַגְּמַלִּים֙ לִשְׁתּ֔וֹת וַיִּקַּ֤ח הָאִישׁ֙ נֶ֣זֶם זָהָ֔ב בֶּ֖קַע מִשְׁקָל֑וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֤י צְמִידִים֙ עַל־יָדֶ֔יהָ עֲשָׂרָ֥ה זָהָ֖ב מִשְׁקָלָֽם:
half [a shekel]: This alludes to the shekels of Israel, half a shekel per head. — [Targum Jonathan] בקע: רמז לשקלי ישראל בקע לגלגלת:
and two bracelets: An allusion to the two Tablets paired together. — [Gen. Rabbah (60:6), Targum Jonathan] ושני צמידים: רמז לשני לוחות מצומדות:
weighing ten gold [shekels]: An allusion to the Ten Commandments [inscribed] on them. — [Gen. Rabbah 60:6] עשרה זהב משקלם: רמז לעשרת הדברות שבהן:
23And he said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there place for us for lodging in your father's house?" כגוַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ בַּת־מִ֣י אַ֔תְּ הַגִּ֥ידִי נָ֖א לִ֑י הֲיֵ֧שׁ בֵּֽית־אָבִ֛יךְ מָק֥וֹם לָ֖נוּ לָלִֽין:
And he said,"Whose daughter are you?: He asked her this after giving her [the gifts] because he was confident that in the merit of Abraham, the Holy One, blessed be He, had caused his way to prosper. ויאמר בת מי את: לאחר שנתן לה שאלה, לפי שהיה בטוח בזכותו של אברהם שהצליח הקב"ה דרכו:
for lodging: לִין means one night’s lodging. - לִין is a noun. But she replied, לָלוּן, meaning many lodgings. — [Gen. Rabbah 60:6] [Since לָלוּן is a verb, it does not limit the number of lodgings.] ללין: לינה אחת. לין שם דבר והיא אמרה ללון כמה לינות:
24And she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor." כדוַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו בַּת־בְּתוּאֵ֖ל אָנֹ֑כִי בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽלְדָ֖ה לְנָחֽוֹר:
the daughter of Bethuel: She answered his first question first and his last question last. בת בתואל: השיבתו על ראשון ראשון ועל אחרון אחרון:
25And she said to him, "Both straw and fodder are plentiful with us; [there is] also a place to lodge." כהוַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו גַּם־תֶּ֥בֶן גַּם־מִסְפּ֖וֹא רַ֣ב עִמָּ֑נוּ גַּם־מָק֖וֹם לָלֽוּן:
fodder: All camel food is called מִסְפּוֹא, such as straw and barley. מספוא: כל מאכל הגמלים קרוי מספוא כגון תבן ושעורים:
26And the man kneeled and prostrated himself to the Lord. כווַיִּקֹּ֣ד הָאִ֔ישׁ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Parshat Chayei Sarah, 3rd Portion (Genesis 24:10-24:26) with Rashi
• Genesis Chapter 24
10And the servant took ten camels of his master's camels, and he went, and all the best of his master was in his hand; and he arose, and he went to Aram naharaim, to the city of Nahor. יוַיִּקַּ֣ח הָ֠עֶ֠בֶד עֲשָׂרָ֨ה גְמַלִּ֜ים מִגְּמַלֵּ֤י אֲדֹנָיו֙ וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ וְכָל־ט֥וּב אֲדֹנָ֖יו בְּיָד֑וֹ וַיָּ֗קָם וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־אֲרַ֥ם נַֽהֲרַ֖יִם אֶל־עִ֥יר נָחֽוֹר:
of his master’s camels: (Gen. Rabbah 59:11). They were distinguishable from other camels by the fact that they would go out muzzled to prevent robbery, that they should not graze in strangers’ fields. מגמלי אדוניו: נכרין היו משאר גמלים, שהיו יוצאין זמומין מפני הגזל שלא ירעו בשדות אחרים:
all the best of his master was in his hand: (Gen. Rabbah ad loc.) He wrote a gift deed to Isaac for everything he owned, so that they would hasten [lit., jump] to send him their daughter. וכל טוב אדוניו בידו: שטר מתנה כתב ליצחק על כל אשר לו, כדי שיקפצו לשלוח לו בתם:
Aram-naharaim: [lit., Aram of the two rivers.] It is situated between two rivers. ארם נהרים: בין שתי נהרות יושבת:
11And he made the camels kneel outside the city beside the well of water, at eventide, at the time the maidens go out to draw water. יאוַיַּבְרֵ֧ךְ הַגְּמַלִּ֛ים מִח֥וּץ לָעִ֖יר אֶל־בְּאֵ֣ר הַמָּ֑יִם לְעֵ֣ת עֶ֔רֶב לְעֵ֖ת צֵ֥את הַשֹּֽׁאֲבֹֽת:
And he made the camels kneel: He made them lie down. — [Gen. Rabbah 59:11, Targum Jonathan] ויברך הגמלים: הרביצם:
12And he said, "O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please cause to happen to me today, and perform loving kindness with my master, Abraham. יבוַיֹּאמַר֓ | יְהֹוָ֗ה אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם הַקְרֵה־נָ֥א לְפָנַ֖י הַיּ֑וֹם וַֽעֲשֵׂה־חֶ֕סֶד עִ֖ם אֲדֹנִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם:
13Behold, I am standing by the water fountain, and the daughters of the people of the city are coming out to draw water. יגהִנֵּ֛ה אָֽנֹכִ֥י נִצָּ֖ב עַל־עֵ֣ין הַמָּ֑יִם וּבְנוֹת֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י הָעִ֔יר יֹֽצְאֹ֖ת לִשְׁאֹ֥ב מָֽיִם:
14And it will be, [that] the maiden to whom I will say, 'Lower your pitcher and I will drink,' and she will say, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels,' her have You designated for Your servant, for Isaac, and through her may I know that You have performed loving kindness with my master." ידוְהָיָ֣ה הַנַּֽעֲרָ֗ה (כתיב הנער) אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֹמַ֤ר אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ הַטִּי־נָ֤א כַדֵּךְ֙ וְאֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה וְאָֽמְרָ֣ה שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה אֹתָ֤הּ הֹכַ֨חְתָּ֙ לְעַבְדְּךָ֣ לְיִצְחָ֔ק וּבָ֣הּ אֵדַ֔ע כִּֽי־עָשִׂ֥יתָ חֶ֖סֶד עִם־אֲדֹנִֽי:
her have You designated: She is worthy of him, for she will perform acts of kindness, and she is fit to enter the house of Abraham; and the expression הֹכַחְתָּ means “You chose,” esprover in Old French. אותה הכחת: ראויה היא לו שתהא גומלת חסדים וכדאי ליכנס בביתו של אברהם. ולשון הוכחת ביררת, אפרוביש"ט בלע"ז [להראות בבירור]:
and through her may I know: An expression of supplication:“Let me know through her.” ובה אדע: לשון תחנה, הודע לי בה:
that You have performed loving-kindness: If she will be from his family and fit for him, I will know that You have performed loving-kindness. כי עשית חסד: אם תהיה ממשפחתו והוגנת לו, אדע כי עשית חסד:
15Now he had not yet finished speaking, and behold, Rebecca came out, who had been born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, and her pitcher was on her shoulder. טווַֽיְהִי־ה֗וּא טֶ֘רֶם֘ כִּלָּ֣ה לְדַבֵּר֒ וְהִנֵּ֧ה רִבְקָ֣ה יֹצֵ֗את אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֻלְּדָה֙ לִבְתוּאֵ֣ל בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֔ה אֵ֥שֶׁת נָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֑ם וְכַדָּ֖הּ עַל־שִׁכְמָֽהּ:
16Now the maiden was of very comely appearance, a virgin, and no man had been intimate with her, and she went down to the fountain, and she filled her pitcher and went up. טזוְהַנַּֽעֲרָ֗ה (כתיב והנער) טֹבַ֤ת מַרְאֶה֙ מְאֹ֔ד בְּתוּלָ֕ה וְאִ֖ישׁ לֹ֣א יְדָעָ֑הּ וַתֵּ֣רֶד הָעַ֔יְנָה וַתְּמַלֵּ֥א כַדָּ֖הּ וַתָּֽעַל:
a virgin: from the place of her virginity. — [Gen. Rabbah 60:5] בתולה: ממקום בתולים:
and no man had been intimate with her: in an unnatural way. Since the daughters of the gentiles would preserve their virginity but were promiscuous in unnatural ways, Scripture attests that she was completely innocent. — [Gen. Rabbah ad loc.] ואיש לא ידעה: שלא כדרכה, לפי שבנות הגוים היו משמרות מקום בתוליהן ומפקירות עצמן ממקום אחר, העיד על זו שנקיה מכל:
17And the servant ran toward her, and he said, "Please let me sip a little water from your pitcher." יזוַיָּ֥רָץ הָעֶ֖בֶד לִקְרָאתָ֑הּ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הַגְמִיאִ֥ינִי נָ֛א מְעַט־מַ֖יִם מִכַּדֵּֽךְ:
And the servant ran toward her: Because he saw that the water had risen toward her. — [Gen. Rabbah ad loc.] וירץ העבד לקראתה: לפי שראה שעלו המים לקראתה:
Please let me sip: An expression of swallowing, humer in Old French. הגמיאיני נא: לשון גמיעה, הומיי"ר בלע"ז [לגמוא]:
18And she said, "Drink, my lord." And she hastened and lowered her pitcher to her hand, and she gave him to drink. יחוַתֹּ֖אמֶר שְׁתֵ֣ה אֲדֹנִ֑י וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר וַתֹּ֧רֶד כַּדָּ֛הּ עַל־יָדָ֖הּ וַתַּשְׁקֵֽהוּ:
and lowered her pitcher: from her shoulder. ותורד כדה: מעל שכמה:
19And she finished giving him to drink, and she said, "I will also draw for your camels, until they will have finished drinking." יטוַתְּכַ֖ל לְהַשְׁקֹת֑וֹ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר גַּ֤ם לִגְמַלֶּ֨יךָ֙ אֶשְׁאָ֔ב עַ֥ד אִם־כִּלּ֖וּ לִשְׁתֹּֽת:
until they will have finished drinking: Here the word אִם is used in the sense of אִשֶׁר, that עד אם כלו: הרי אם משמש בלשון אשר, אם כלו, די ספקון, שזו היא גמר שתייתן כששתו די ספוקן:
they will have finished: Onkelos renders: until they have had enough, because that is the end of their drinking, when they have drunk their fill.
20And she hastened, and she emptied her pitcher into the trough, and she ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels. כוַתְּמַהֵ֗ר וַתְּעַ֤ר כַּדָּהּ֙ אֶל־הַשֹּׁ֔קֶת וַתָּ֥רָץ ע֛וֹד אֶל־הַבְּאֵ֖ר לִשְׁאֹ֑ב וַתִּשְׁאַ֖ב לְכָל־גְּמַלָּֽיו:
and she emptied: וַתְּעַר is an expression of emptying. There are many examples in the language of the Mishnah:“One who empties (הַמְעָרֵה) from one vessel to another.” It is also found in Scripture (Psalms 141:8):“Do not cast out (תְּעַר) my soul” ; (Isa. 53:12):“That he poured out (הֶעֱרָה) his soul to death.” ותער: לשון נפיצה, והרבה יש בלשון משנה (עבודה זרה ה ז) המערה מכלי אל כלי, ובמקרא יש לו דומה (תהלים קמא ח) אל תער נפשי, (ישעיה נג יב) אשר הערה למות נפשו:
the trough: A hollow stone from which the camels drink. השקת: אבן חלולה ששותים בה הגמלים:
21And the man was astonished at her, standing silent, [waiting] to know whether the Lord had caused his way to prosper or not. כאוְהָאִ֥ישׁ מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה לָ֑הּ מַֽחֲרִ֕ישׁ לָדַ֗עַת הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַ יְהֹוָ֛ה דַּרְכּ֖וֹ אִם־לֹֽא:
was astonished: Heb. מִשְׁתָּאֵה, an expression of desolation, as in (Isa. 6:11):“[until] the cities become desolate (שָׁאוּ) …and [the ground] lies waste (תִּשָׁאֶה) and desolate.” משתאה: לשון שאייה, כמו (ישעיה ו יא) שאו ערים, תשאה שממה:
was astonished: מִשְׁתָּאֵה [means that] he was astonished and startled because he saw his efforts on the verge of succeeding, but he did not yet know whether she was of Abraham’s family or not. Do not be surprised by the letter“tav” in the word מִשׁ ְתָּאֵה [since the root is שׁאה], because there is no word [verb] whose first root-letter is a “shin,” which is used in the reflexive [Hitpa’el] form, in which a“tav” does not separate the first two letters of the root, e.g. מִשְׁתָּאֵה [here]; or (Isa. 59:15) מִשְׁתּוֹלֵל which is from the same root as תּשׁוֹלָל or (ibid. 59:16) וַיִּשְׁתּוֹמֵם, from the same root as שְׁמָמָה or (Micah 6:16):“And the statutes of Omri shall be observed (וַיִּשְתַמֵּר),” from the same root as וַיִּשְׁמֹר. Here too, מִשְׁתָּאֵה is from the same root as תִּשָׁאֶה. And just as you find the expression מְשׁוֹמֵם used concerning a person who is astonished, dumbfounded, and engrossed in thought, as in (Job 18:20):“Those who come after shall be astonished (נָשַׁמּוּ) at his day” ; or (Jer. 2:12):“O heavens, be ye astonished (שׁוֹמּוּ)” ; or (Dan. 4: 16):“He was bewildered (אֶשְׁתּוֹמַם) for awhile”; so can you explain the expression שְׁאִיָה as referring to a person who is astonished and engrossed in thought. Onkelos, however, renders it as an expression of waiting (שְׁהִיָה) :“and the man waited (שָׁהֵי) ,” [meaning that] he waited and stood in one place to see“whether the Lord had made his way prosper.” However, we cannot translate מִשְׁתָּאֵה as meaning שָׁתֵי,“to drink,” because [the word מִשְׁתָּאֵה] does not mean drinking, for the “aleph” does not occur in the verb“to drink” (שְׁתִּיָה). משתאה: משתומם ומתבהל על שראה דברו קרוב להצליח. אבל אינו יודע אם ממשפחת אברהם היא אם לאו. ואל תתמה בתי"ו של משתאה שאין לך תיבה שתחלת יסודה שי"ן ומדברת בלשון מתפעל שאין תי"ו מפרידה בין שתי אותיות של עיקר היסוד כגון משתאה מגזרת שאה, (ישעיה נט טו) משתולל מגזרת שולל, (שם נט טז) וישתומם מגזרת שממה, (מיכה ו טז) וישתמר חקות עמרי מגזרת וישמר, אף כאן משתאה מגזרת תשאה, וכשם שאתה מוצא לשון משומם באדם נבהל ונאלם ובעל מחשבות, כמו (איוב יח כ) על יומו נשמו אחרונים, (ירמיה ב יב) שומו שמים, (דניאל ד טז) אשתומם כשעה חדא, כך תפרש לשון שאייה באדם בהול ובעל מחשבות. ואונקלוס תרגם לשון שהייה וגברא שהי, שוהא ועומד במקום אחד לראות ההצליח ה' דרכו. ואין לתרגם שתי, שהרי אינו לשון שתיה, שאין אל"ף נופלת בלשון שתיה:
was astonished at her: [לָהּ means] he was astonished about her, as in [above 20:13]:“Say about me (לִי) , ‘He is my brother’ ” ; and as in [26:7]:“The people of the place asked about his wife (לְאִשׁתּוֹ) .” משתאה לה: משתומם עליה כמו (לעיל כ יג) אמרי לי אחי הוא, וכמו (לקמן כו ז) וישאלו אנשי המקום לאשתו:
22Now it came about, when the camels had finished drinking, [that] the man took a golden nose ring, weighing half [a shekel], and two bracelets for her hands, weighing ten gold [shekels]. כבוַיְהִ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר כִּלּ֤וּ הַגְּמַלִּים֙ לִשְׁתּ֔וֹת וַיִּקַּ֤ח הָאִישׁ֙ נֶ֣זֶם זָהָ֔ב בֶּ֖קַע מִשְׁקָל֑וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֤י צְמִידִים֙ עַל־יָדֶ֔יהָ עֲשָׂרָ֥ה זָהָ֖ב מִשְׁקָלָֽם:
half [a shekel]: This alludes to the shekels of Israel, half a shekel per head. — [Targum Jonathan] בקע: רמז לשקלי ישראל בקע לגלגלת:
and two bracelets: An allusion to the two Tablets paired together. — [Gen. Rabbah (60:6), Targum Jonathan] ושני צמידים: רמז לשני לוחות מצומדות:
weighing ten gold [shekels]: An allusion to the Ten Commandments [inscribed] on them. — [Gen. Rabbah 60:6] עשרה זהב משקלם: רמז לעשרת הדברות שבהן:
23And he said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there place for us for lodging in your father's house?" כגוַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ בַּת־מִ֣י אַ֔תְּ הַגִּ֥ידִי נָ֖א לִ֑י הֲיֵ֧שׁ בֵּֽית־אָבִ֛יךְ מָק֥וֹם לָ֖נוּ לָלִֽין:
And he said,"Whose daughter are you?: He asked her this after giving her [the gifts] because he was confident that in the merit of Abraham, the Holy One, blessed be He, had caused his way to prosper. ויאמר בת מי את: לאחר שנתן לה שאלה, לפי שהיה בטוח בזכותו של אברהם שהצליח הקב"ה דרכו:
for lodging: לִין means one night’s lodging. - לִין is a noun. But she replied, לָלוּן, meaning many lodgings. — [Gen. Rabbah 60:6] [Since לָלוּן is a verb, it does not limit the number of lodgings.] ללין: לינה אחת. לין שם דבר והיא אמרה ללון כמה לינות:
24And she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor." כדוַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו בַּת־בְּתוּאֵ֖ל אָנֹ֑כִי בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽלְדָ֖ה לְנָחֽוֹר:
the daughter of Bethuel: She answered his first question first and his last question last. בת בתואל: השיבתו על ראשון ראשון ועל אחרון אחרון:
25And she said to him, "Both straw and fodder are plentiful with us; [there is] also a place to lodge." כהוַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו גַּם־תֶּ֥בֶן גַּם־מִסְפּ֖וֹא רַ֣ב עִמָּ֑נוּ גַּם־מָק֖וֹם לָלֽוּן:
fodder: All camel food is called מִסְפּוֹא, such as straw and barley. מספוא: כל מאכל הגמלים קרוי מספוא כגון תבן ושעורים:
26And the man kneeled and prostrated himself to the Lord. כווַיִּקֹּ֣ד הָאִ֔ישׁ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
• Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 104-105
• Chapter 104
This psalm tells of the beauty of creation, describing that which was created on each of the six days of creation. It proclaims the awesomeness of God Who sustains it all-from the horns of the wild ox to the eggs of the louse.
1. My soul, bless the Lord! Lord my God, You are greatly exalted; You have garbed Yourself with majesty and splendor.
2. You enwrap [Yourself] with light as with a garment; You spread the heavens as a curtain.
3. He roofs His heavens with water; He makes the clouds His chariot, He moves [them] on the wings of the wind.
4. He makes the winds His messengers, the blazing fire His servants.
5. He established the earth on its foundations, that it shall never falter.
6. The depths covered it as a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.
7. At Your exhortation they fled; at the sound of Your thunder they rushed away.
8. They ascended mountains, they flowed down valleys, to the place which You have assigned for them.
9. You set a boundary which they may not cross, so that they should not return to engulf the earth.
10. He sends forth springs into streams; they flow between the mountains.
11. They give drink to all the beasts of the field; the wild animals quench their thirst.
12. The birds of the heavens dwell beside them; they raise their voice from among the foliage.
13. He irrigates the mountains from His clouds above; the earth is satiated from the fruit of Your works.
14. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and vegetation requiring the labor of man to bring forth food from the earth;
15. and wine that gladdens man's heart, oil that makes the face shine, and bread that sustains man's heart.
16. The trees of the Lord drink their fill, the cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
17. wherein birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the cypress.
18. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rabbits.
19. He made the moon to calculate the festivals; the sun knows its time of setting.
20. You bring on darkness and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
21. The young lions roar for prey, and seek their food from God.
22. When the sun rises, they return and lie down in their dens.
23. Then man goes out to his work, to his labor until evening.
24. How manifold are Your works, O Lord! You have made them all with wisdom; the earth is full of Your possessions.
25. This sea, vast and wide, where there are countless creeping creatures, living things small and great;
26. there ships travel, there is the Leviathan that You created to frolic therein.
27. They all look expectantly to You to give them their food at the proper time.
28. When You give it to them, they gather it; when You open Your hand, they are satiated with goodness.
29. When You conceal Your countenance, they are terrified; when You take back their spirit, they perish and return to their dust.
30. When You will send forth Your spirit they will be created anew, and You will renew the face of the earth.
31. May the glory of the Lord be forever; may the Lord find delight in His works.
32. He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33. I will sing to the Lord with my soul; I will chant praise to my God with my [entire] being.
34. May my prayer be pleasant to Him; I will rejoice in the Lord.
35. May sinners cease from the earth, and the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!
Chapter 105
When David brought the Holy Ark up to the City of David, he composed this psalm and sang it before the Ark. He recounts all the miracles that God performed for the Jews in Egypt: sending before them Joseph, who was imprisoned, only to be liberated by God, eventually attaining the status of one who could imprison the princes of Egypt without consulting Pharaoh.
1. Offer praise to the Lord, proclaim His Name; make His deeds known among the nations.
2. Sing to Him, chant praises to Him, speak of all His wonders.
3. Glory in His holy Name; may the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4. Search for the Lord and His might; seek His countenance always.
5. Remember the wonders that He has wrought, His miracles, and the judgements of His mouth.
6. O descendants of Abraham His servant, children of Jacob, His chosen ones:
7. He is the Lord our God; His judgements extend over the entire earth.
8. He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He has commanded to a thousand generations;
9. the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac.
10. He established it for Jacob as a statute, for Israel as an everlasting covenant,
11. stating, "To you I shall give the land of Canaan"-the portion of your inheritance,
12. when they were but few, very few, and strangers in it.
13. They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
14. He permitted no one to wrong them, and admonished kings for their sake:
15. "Do not touch My anointed ones, and do not harm My prophets.”
16. He called for a famine upon the land; He broke every source of bread.
17. He sent a man before them; Joseph was sold as a slave.
18. They afflicted his foot with chains, his soul was put into iron;
19. until the time that His words came, the decree of the Lord purified him.
20. The king sent [word] and released him, the ruler of nations set him free.
21. He appointed him master of his house and ruler of all his possessions,
22. to imprison his princes at will, and to enlighten his elders.
23. Thus Israel came to Egypt, and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham (Egypt).
24. He multiplied His nation greatly, and made it mightier than its adversaries.
25. He turned their hearts to hate His nation, to conspire against His servants.
26. He sent Moses, His servant; Aaron, whom He had chosen.
27. They placed among them the words of His signs, miracles in the land of Ham.
28. He sent darkness and made it dark, and they did not defy His word.
29. He transformed their waters to blood, and killed their fish.
30. Their land swarmed with frogs in the chambers of their kings.
31. He spoke, and hordes of wild beasts came, and lice throughout their borders.
32. He turned their rains to hail, flaming fire in their land;
33. it struck their vine and fig tree, it broke the trees of their borders.
34. He spoke, and grasshoppers came, locusts without number;
35. and it consumed all grass in their land, it ate the fruit of their soil.
36. Then He smote every firstborn in their land, the first of all their potency.
37. And He took them out with silver and gold, and none among His tribes stumbled.
38. Egypt rejoiced at their leaving, for the fear [of Israel] had fallen upon them.
39. He spread out a cloud for shelter, and a fire to illuminate the night.
40. [Israel] asked, and He brought quail, and with the bread of heaven He satisfied them.
41. He opened a rock and waters flowed; they streamed through dry places like a river,
42. for He remembered His holy word to Abraham His servant.
43. And He brought out His nation with joy, His chosen ones with song.
44. He gave them the lands of nations, they inherited the toil of peoples,
45. so that they might keep His statutes and observe His laws. Praise the Lord!
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 29
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Tuesday, 21 Cheshvan, 5777 · 22 November 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 29
• Chapter 104
This psalm tells of the beauty of creation, describing that which was created on each of the six days of creation. It proclaims the awesomeness of God Who sustains it all-from the horns of the wild ox to the eggs of the louse.
1. My soul, bless the Lord! Lord my God, You are greatly exalted; You have garbed Yourself with majesty and splendor.
2. You enwrap [Yourself] with light as with a garment; You spread the heavens as a curtain.
3. He roofs His heavens with water; He makes the clouds His chariot, He moves [them] on the wings of the wind.
4. He makes the winds His messengers, the blazing fire His servants.
5. He established the earth on its foundations, that it shall never falter.
6. The depths covered it as a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.
7. At Your exhortation they fled; at the sound of Your thunder they rushed away.
8. They ascended mountains, they flowed down valleys, to the place which You have assigned for them.
9. You set a boundary which they may not cross, so that they should not return to engulf the earth.
10. He sends forth springs into streams; they flow between the mountains.
11. They give drink to all the beasts of the field; the wild animals quench their thirst.
12. The birds of the heavens dwell beside them; they raise their voice from among the foliage.
13. He irrigates the mountains from His clouds above; the earth is satiated from the fruit of Your works.
14. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and vegetation requiring the labor of man to bring forth food from the earth;
15. and wine that gladdens man's heart, oil that makes the face shine, and bread that sustains man's heart.
16. The trees of the Lord drink their fill, the cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
17. wherein birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the cypress.
18. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rabbits.
19. He made the moon to calculate the festivals; the sun knows its time of setting.
20. You bring on darkness and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
21. The young lions roar for prey, and seek their food from God.
22. When the sun rises, they return and lie down in their dens.
23. Then man goes out to his work, to his labor until evening.
24. How manifold are Your works, O Lord! You have made them all with wisdom; the earth is full of Your possessions.
25. This sea, vast and wide, where there are countless creeping creatures, living things small and great;
26. there ships travel, there is the Leviathan that You created to frolic therein.
27. They all look expectantly to You to give them their food at the proper time.
28. When You give it to them, they gather it; when You open Your hand, they are satiated with goodness.
29. When You conceal Your countenance, they are terrified; when You take back their spirit, they perish and return to their dust.
30. When You will send forth Your spirit they will be created anew, and You will renew the face of the earth.
31. May the glory of the Lord be forever; may the Lord find delight in His works.
32. He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33. I will sing to the Lord with my soul; I will chant praise to my God with my [entire] being.
34. May my prayer be pleasant to Him; I will rejoice in the Lord.
35. May sinners cease from the earth, and the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!
Chapter 105
When David brought the Holy Ark up to the City of David, he composed this psalm and sang it before the Ark. He recounts all the miracles that God performed for the Jews in Egypt: sending before them Joseph, who was imprisoned, only to be liberated by God, eventually attaining the status of one who could imprison the princes of Egypt without consulting Pharaoh.
1. Offer praise to the Lord, proclaim His Name; make His deeds known among the nations.
2. Sing to Him, chant praises to Him, speak of all His wonders.
3. Glory in His holy Name; may the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4. Search for the Lord and His might; seek His countenance always.
5. Remember the wonders that He has wrought, His miracles, and the judgements of His mouth.
6. O descendants of Abraham His servant, children of Jacob, His chosen ones:
7. He is the Lord our God; His judgements extend over the entire earth.
8. He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He has commanded to a thousand generations;
9. the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac.
10. He established it for Jacob as a statute, for Israel as an everlasting covenant,
11. stating, "To you I shall give the land of Canaan"-the portion of your inheritance,
12. when they were but few, very few, and strangers in it.
13. They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
14. He permitted no one to wrong them, and admonished kings for their sake:
15. "Do not touch My anointed ones, and do not harm My prophets.”
16. He called for a famine upon the land; He broke every source of bread.
17. He sent a man before them; Joseph was sold as a slave.
18. They afflicted his foot with chains, his soul was put into iron;
19. until the time that His words came, the decree of the Lord purified him.
20. The king sent [word] and released him, the ruler of nations set him free.
21. He appointed him master of his house and ruler of all his possessions,
22. to imprison his princes at will, and to enlighten his elders.
23. Thus Israel came to Egypt, and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham (Egypt).
24. He multiplied His nation greatly, and made it mightier than its adversaries.
25. He turned their hearts to hate His nation, to conspire against His servants.
26. He sent Moses, His servant; Aaron, whom He had chosen.
27. They placed among them the words of His signs, miracles in the land of Ham.
28. He sent darkness and made it dark, and they did not defy His word.
29. He transformed their waters to blood, and killed their fish.
30. Their land swarmed with frogs in the chambers of their kings.
31. He spoke, and hordes of wild beasts came, and lice throughout their borders.
32. He turned their rains to hail, flaming fire in their land;
33. it struck their vine and fig tree, it broke the trees of their borders.
34. He spoke, and grasshoppers came, locusts without number;
35. and it consumed all grass in their land, it ate the fruit of their soil.
36. Then He smote every firstborn in their land, the first of all their potency.
37. And He took them out with silver and gold, and none among His tribes stumbled.
38. Egypt rejoiced at their leaving, for the fear [of Israel] had fallen upon them.
39. He spread out a cloud for shelter, and a fire to illuminate the night.
40. [Israel] asked, and He brought quail, and with the bread of heaven He satisfied them.
41. He opened a rock and waters flowed; they streamed through dry places like a river,
42. for He remembered His holy word to Abraham His servant.
43. And He brought out His nation with joy, His chosen ones with song.
44. He gave them the lands of nations, they inherited the toil of peoples,
45. so that they might keep His statutes and observe His laws. Praise the Lord!
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 29
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Tuesday, 21 Cheshvan, 5777 · 22 November 2016
• Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 29
• וז"ש בזוה"ק פ' פקודי (דרכ"ט ע"ב) דאינון עובדין טבין דעביד בר נש משכי מנהורא דזיווא עילאה לבושא כו' וחמי כו' בנועם ה' וכו'
• Rambam: Sefer Hamitzvos:
This is the meaning of the statement in the sacred Zohar, Parshat Pekudei (p. 229b), that "the good deeds (i.e., the mitzvot) which man does, elicit a garment from the light of the Supernal Splendor... (i.e., from the level of Keter), and they behold ...the 'pleasantness of G-d...,"' and also, as the Zohar concludes, they experience the "pleasurable thirst" (i.e., the pnimiyut of Keter).
והגם דהתם מיירי בג"ע התחתון שהלבושים שם הם ממצות מעשיות ממש
Though there [the Zohar] speaks of the Lower Garden of Eden, where the garments derive from the truly practical commandments, so that they result not from the Supernal Will, as above, but from the merit of physical action,
אבל בג"ע העליון הלבושים הם מרעותא וכוונה דלבא באורייתא וצלותא כמ"ש בזהר שם (דר"י)
while in the Upper Garden of Eden the garments derive from the love and devotion of the heart with respect to Torah and prayer, as stated in the Zohar ad loc. (p. 210).
The Zohar states that once the soul possesses, while in the Lower Garden of Eden, the garments of the mitzvot that derive from physical actions, it then rises to the upper Garden of Eden.
הרי הכוונה היא כוונת עסקו בתורה לשמה מאהבת ה'
However, this devotion [from whence these garments derive] refers to the devotion of one's occupation with Torah for its own sake, out of one's love for G-d.
ומצות ת"ת היא ג"כ מכלל מצות מעשיות
The commandment to study Torah also belongs to the class of practical commandments,
דעקימת שפתיו הוי מעשה והרהור לאו כדבור דמי ואינו יוצא י"ח בהרהור לבדו
for1 "the movement of one's lips [in speech] is regarded as an act," and2 "meditation does not count as speech"; thus one does not discharge his duty by meditation alone.3
וכן בתפלה
The same applies to prayer4; here, too, one must actually articulate the words.
Since both Torah study and prayer require action, even the garments that are created by devout Torah and prayer are considered to be derived from the tangible and active aspect of mitzvot; they, too, are garments that derive from the light of Keter].
ומה גם כי מעלת הכוונה על הדבור ומעשה אינה מצד עצמה כו'
And certainly so, considering that the superiority of devotion (kavanah) over speech and action in as much as devotion can create garments for the soul in the Upper Garden of Eden] is not due to its own merits..., as in the loving service of G-d,
אלא מצד הארת רצון העליון כו'
but because of the radiation from the Supernal Will...,
When a mitzvah is performed, the radiation of the Supernal Willis more manifest in its more spiritual aspect - in its devout and loving intent - than in its tangible and physical aspect.
כמ"ש בלק"א ח"א פל"ח באריכות ע"ש
as explained at length in Likkutei Amarim, Part I, ch. 38; see there.
The Alter Rebbe explains there that the illumination from the Supernal Will that shines within the devotion that accompanies an action, is likened to a "soul", relative to the illumination that shines in the action itself, which is likened to a "body" or garment for the soul.
The difference is thus only in the degree of contraction or emanation of this radiation. From the above it is clear that even the garments for the soul that are created from the devotion and feeling that accompany Torah and prayer, also result only from the radiation of the Supernal Will, which is the Supernal Keter.
* * *
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Sanhedrin 65a. |
| 2. | Berachot 20b. |
| 3. | The Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch, Hilchot Talmud Torah 2:12; see also Eruvin 54b. |
| 4. | The Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch 62:3 and 185:3. |
• Tuesday, 21 Cheshvan, 5777 · 22 November 2016
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
• Positive Commandment 19
Grace after Meals
"And you will eat and be sated then you will bless G‑d"—Deuteronomy 8:10.
We are commanded to express gratitude to G‑d after every meal.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Grace after Meals
Positive Commandment 19
Translated by Berel Bell
The 19th mitzvah is that we are commanded to thank G‑d (exalted be He) after each time we eat.1
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,2 "When you have eaten and are satiated, You shall bless G‑d your L‑rd."
The Tosefta3 says, "Reciting the blessing after eating is a mitzvah of the Torah, as the verse says, 'When you have eaten and are satiated, you shall bless G‑d your L‑rd.' "
The details of this mitzvah are explained in many places in the tractate Berachos.4
FOOTNOTES
1.This speaks primarily of bread made from the five grains. After eating other types of food, one is required to recite a blessing by Rabbinic ordinance.
2.Deut. 8:10.
3.Berachos, beginning of Chapter 6.
4.The Rambam usually explains whether or not a particular mitzvah is obligatory on women. However, in Hilchos Berachos, Chapter 5, Halacha 1, he rules that it is halachically doubtful whether they are obligated by Torah or Rabbinic law.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day: Kelim Kelim - Chapter 24
• Kelim - Chapter 24
• Rambam - 3 Chapters a Day: Berachot Berachot - Chapter One, Berachot Berachot - Chapter Two, Berachot Berachot - Chapter Three
• Berachot - Chapter One
• Hayom Yom: Today's Hayom Yom
• Tuesday, 21 Cheshvan, 5777 · 22 November 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Friday, Cheshvan 21, 5704
Torah Lesson: Chumash: Chayei Sara, Shishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 104-105.
Tanya: This is the (p. 581) ...ch. 38, see there. (p. 583).
It is the avoda of davening which brings the comprehension of the brain into the emotional sensitivity of the heart - and (also brings) both of them together into the practical avoda of performing mitzvot with fear-of-Heaven and acquiring fine character-traits.
• Daily Thought:
Internal Terrorism
Each of us has a terrorist inside, a mad impulse to abandon that which is rightfully ours, to blow ourselves to smithereens.
You cannot outsmart it, for it has hijacked the mind that you use. It believes it is you; you believe you are it.
No peace can be made with it, no compromise—for compromise is the name of its game, step by step to your oblivion.
You cannot even recognize its existence—for that would be your admission that evil has a place in G‑d’s world.
There is only one solution:
If you know what is right, do that.
Do not stop to look backwards—certainly not to negotiate with a terrorist.[Tanya, chapter 28.]
-------
• Kelim - Chapter 24
1
These are the hides that can contract the impurity associated with the support of a zav (midras): a hide that one intended to use as a carpet, a hide placed on top of beds to sleep upon, a hide placed on a donkey under the burden it carries, a hide placed in a basinet under a baby, a hide used for a pillow, a hide used for a cushion, a hide placed beneath the table while eating so that crumbs will fall upon it; it is susceptible to impurity, because one leans his feet upon it, a hide worn by a potter, a hide worn by a flax-carder when he cards flax, a hide a porter places on his shoulders when he is carrying burdens, and a hide which a doctor places on his knees when he is puncturing boils. These hides are susceptible to impurity, because a person will sit upon them.
The hide placed over a child's heart upon which spittle descends so that his clothes will not be spoiled, a hide meant to place over a person's heart during the harvest, because of the heat, a hide wrapped around a garment, and a hide sewed into a chest in which clothes are placed are all susceptible to impurity. The rationale is that they are all turned upside down and used as supports.
א
אלו עורות מתטמאין במדרס: עור שחשב עליו לשטיחה ועור שמניחין על המטות מלמעלה לישן עליו ועור שמניחין על החמור תחת המשאוי ועור שמניחין בערס תחת הקטן ועור הכר ועור הכסת ועור שמניחין תחת השלחן בעת האכילה כדי שיפלו עליו הפירורין מפני שהוא נשען עליו ברגלו ועוד שחוגר נופץ הפשתן עליו בעת שנופץ ועור שחוגר החמר עליו ועור שמניח הסבל על כתיפו בעל שסובל ועור שמניח הרופא על ברכיו בעת שמפיס השחינין מפני שכל העורות האלו יושב עליהן ועור הלב של קטן שרירו יורד עליו כדי שלא יפסדו בגדיו ועור שעשאהו לנותנו על לבו בשעת הקציר מפני השרב ועור שלופפין הכסות בו ועור התפור בתיבה שמניחין בו הבגדים שכל אלו מתהפכין עליהן ונשענין עליהן:
2
All of the hides that are susceptible to midras impurity are not susceptible to that impurity unless they are of the minimum size: five handbreadths by five handbreadths.
The following hides are not susceptible to midras impurity: a hide a person who combs wool wears while combing, a hide wrapped around combed wool, a hide wrapped around fine purple cloth, and a carrying case for fine purple cloth sewn from leather. All of these hides are susceptible to other types of impurity.
ב
כל העורות המתטמאות במדרס אינן מתטמאין עד שיהיה בהן כשיעור חמשה טפחים על חמשה טפחים ואלו עורות שאין מתטמאין במדרס: עור שחוגר סורק הצמר בעת שסורק ועור שלופף בו הצמר הסרוק ועוד שלופף בו הארגמן ועור התופר שמניחין בו הארגמן וכולן מתטמאין בשאר טומאות:
3
When leather was made into a cover for a k'li, it is pure with regard to all types of impurity. If it was made as a cover for weights, it is susceptible to other types of impurity, because it was made to serve as a receptacle. It is not susceptible to midrasimpurity.
ג
עור שעשאו חיפוי לכלים טהור מכלום עשאו חיפוי למשקולת מקבל שאר טומאות שהרי נעשה לקבלה ואינו מתטמא במדרס:
4
If a hide made to protect one's heel and the sole of one's foot covers the greater portion of the foot, it is susceptible to impurity. If not, it is pure.
ד
עור שעשאהו לעקבו ולפרסתו אם חופה את רוב הרגל מתטמא ואם לאו טהור:
5
A shoe that is on the mold, even though it has not been worn by a person yet,is still susceptible to midras impurity, because the tasks associated with it have been completed.
ה
מנעל שעל האימום אע"פ שעדיין לא לבשו אדם ה"ז מתטמא במדרס שכבר נגמרה מלאכתו:
6
All hides that are fit to become susceptible to midras impurity and are not lacking the performance of any tasks to make them functional become susceptible to impurity through thought alone, i.e., if one intended to use it as a mat for a table or the like, it becomes susceptible to midras impurity. If the performance of a task is necessary to make them functional, one's intent does not change their status until that task is completed. There is an exception: a hide used to cover a saddle to guard it against dust. In this instance, the person's intent has an effect even though the deed necessary to make it functional has not been completed.
With regard to what does the above apply? To hides owned by a private person. Hides owned by a leather maker, by contrast, can be assumed to be set aside for sale. Hence, one's intent does not have an effect on their status unless one performs a deed with them preparing them to serve as a support.
ו
כל עור הראוי להתטמא במדרס ואינו חסר מלאכה המחשבה מטמאתו ואם חישב עליו להיות עור שלחן וכיוצא בו הרי זה מתטמא במדרס ואם חסר מלאכה אין המחשבה מועלת בו עד שתיגמר מלאכתו חוץ מן העור שמחפין בו המרכב מפני האבק שהמחשבה מועלת בו אף על פי שלא נגמרה מלאכתו בד"א בעורות בעל הבית אבל עורות העבדן שסתמן למכירה אין המחשבה מטמאתן עד שיעשה בהן מעשה ויכינם למדרס:
7
A person does not impart midras impurity to a surface on which one lies or sits unless it belongs to him, as indicated by Leviticus 15:5: "One who touches his couch...." If one obtained a surface on which one lies through robbery and used it as a support without touching it, it is pure. If the owner despaired of its recovery, it contracts impurity. If one stole a surface on which one lies and sat on it, it contracts impurity, for it can be presumed that the owner despaired of its recovery, because he does not know who stole it. If it is known that the owner has not despaired, the surface is pure. Therefore, if a thief stole a hide and intended to use it to lie on, his intent alone is sufficient to change its status and it can contract midras impurity from him. The intent of a robber, by contrast, does not change the status of an article unless the owner despairs of its return.
ז
אין אדם מטמא במדרס משכב או מרכב שאינן שלו שנאמר והנוגע במשכבו גזל משכב ודרס עליו בלא נגיעה טהור ואם נתייאשו הבעלי' טמא גנב משכב וישב עליו טמא שחזקתו שנתייאשו הבעלים שאינן יודעים מי גנבו ואם נודע שעדיין לא נתייאשו הבעלים טהור לפיכך גנב שגנב עור וחישב עליו לשכיבה מחשבה מועלת לו ומתטמא במדרס אבל הגזלן אין מחשבתו מועלת אלא אם כן נתייאשו הבעלים:
8
When a hide contracted midras impurity and the owner began tearing straps from it, it remains impure until its size was reduced to less than five handbreadths by five handbreadths.
ח
עור שנטמא במדרס והתחיל לקורעו רצועות הרי הוא בטומאתו עד שימעטנו פחות פחות מחמשה טפחים:
9
The following rules apply to all leather keilim that had contracted midras impurity from a zav and, afterwards, were fashioned into another type of k'li. If a leather article was changed from one flat implement to another such implement, it remains impure. If it was changed from a simple implement to a receptacle or from a receptacle to a simple implement, it is pure. And with regard to articles from cloth, everything is impure.
What is implied? If one made a leather drinking pouch into a rug or a rug into a leather drinking pouch, it is pure. If, however, a leather drinking pouch was made into a satchel or a satchel into a drinking pouch, they are considered as impure due to midras as they were before.
ט
כל כלי עור שנטמא במדרס הזב ושינהו לכלי אחר אם שינהו מפשוט לפשוט הרי הוא בטומאתו שינהו מפשוט למקבל וממקבל לפשוט טהור ובבגד הכל טמא כיצד חמת שעשאה שטיח ושטיח שעשאה חמת טהור אבל חמת שנטמאה מדרס ועשאה תורמיל או תורמיל שעשאהו חמת הרי הן מדרס כשהיו:
10
When a cloth pillow that had contracted midras impurity was made into a cloak, a cloak was made into a pillow, a cushion or a garment was made into a cover, or a cover was made into a cushion, they remain impure due to midras as they were before.
י
כר של בגד שנטמא במדרס ועשאהו סדין או סדין שעשאהו כר או כסת בגד שעשאהו מטפחת או מטפחת שעשאהו כסת הרי הן מדרס כשהיו:
11
The following laws apply to articles that are fundamentally made to function both as receptacles and surfaces on which one can sit or lie, for example, pillows, cushions, sacks, carrying bags. If they were damaged and unable to hold substances, even though they are pure with regard to susceptibility to the impurity associated with a human corpse and other impurities, because they are no longer fit to serve as receptacles, they are still susceptible to midras impurity, for they are still fit to serve as supports.
Different rules apply when, by contrast, keilim that are made primarily to serve as a receptacle, e.g., a drinking pouch or a satchel. If they are large enough that they are fit to sit upon, since they are sat upon due to their size, they are susceptible to midrasimpurity as long as they are intact. If they are damaged and unable to hold substances, even though it is still possible to sit upon them, they are not susceptible to midras impurity. The rationale is that they are made primarily to serve as receptacles. Since they become unfit to serve as receptacles, they became pure and are not susceptible to any type of impurity, neither midras, nor any other type.
What is the measure that makes these keilim subject to midrasimpurity? A drinking pouch, seven kabbin; a carrying case, five kabbin; a feeding bag in which barley is hung from the head of an animal, four; a leather sack with which water is poured, a se'ah. Anything less than these sizes is not fit to be used as a support and it is not common to be used for people to sit upon.
If they were damaged and one bound up the damaged portion, they are pure; it is as if the damaged portion was not tied closed. All of the drinking pouches that were damaged and bound closed are pure except those of Arabs, because it is always their practice to bind them closed. A bag pipe is not susceptible to midrasimpurity, because it is not common to use it as a support.
יא
כלים שעיקר עשייתן לקבלה ולמשכב כאחד כגון הכרים והכסתות והשקין והמרצופין אם נפחתו אע"פ שטהרו מלהתטמא במת ובשאר טומאות מפני שאינן יכולין לקבל הרי הן מתטמאין במדרס שעדיין הן ראויין למדרס אבל כלים שעיקר עשייתן לקבלה בלבד כגון החמת והתורמיל אם היו גדולים כדי שיהיו ראויין לישב עליהן הואיל ויושבין עליהן מפני גודלן הרי הן מתטמאין במדרס כל זמן שהן שלימין נפחתו אף על פי שאפשר עדיין לישב עליהן אין מתטמאין במדרס שעיקר עשייתן לקבלה בלבד הואיל ובטלו מלקבל טהרו מלהתטמא לא במדרס ולא בשאר טומאות וכמה הוא שיעורן ויהיו ראויין למדרס החמת שבעה קבין והילקוט חמשה והקלסתר שתולין בו השעורים בראש הבהמה ארבעה והכריתית שמערין בה המים סאה פחות משיעורין אלו אינן ראויין למדרס ואין דרך העם לישב עליהן נפחתו וצרר מקום הפחת הרי הן טהורין וכאילו לא קשר מקום הפחת וכל החמתות שנפחתו וצררן טהורות חוץ משל ערביים מפני שכך הוא דרכן תמיד לצררן וחמת חלילין אין מתטמא במדרס שהרי אינה ראויה למדרס:
• Berachot - Chapter One
Introduction to Hilchos Berachos
It contains one positive mitzvah: To bless [God's] great and holy name after eating [a meal].
This mitzvah is explained in the following chapters.
This mitzvah is explained in the following chapters.
1
It is a positive mitzvah from the Torah to bless [God] after eating satisfying food, as [Deuteronomy 8:10] states: "When you have eaten and are satiated, you shall bless God, your Lord."
The Torah itself requires a person to recite grace only when he eats to the point of satiation, as implied by the above verse, "When you have eaten and are satiated, you shall bless...." The Sages, however, ordained that one should recite grace after eating [an amount of bread equal] to the size of an olive.
א
מצות עשה מן התורה לברך אחר אכילת מזון שנאמר ואכלת ושבעת וברכת את יי' אלהיך ואינו חייב מן התורה אלא אם כן שבע שנאמר ואכלת ושבעת וברכת ומדברי סופרים אכל אפילו כזית מברך אחריו:
2
Similarly, the Rabbis ordained that we recite blessings before partaking of any food. Even when one wants to eat the slightest amount of food or drink, one should recite a blessing, and then derive benefit from it.
Similarly, when smelling a pleasant fragrance, one should recite a blessing and then smell. Anyone who derives benefit [from this world] without reciting a blessing is considered as if he misappropriated a sacred article.
The Rabbis also ordained that one should recite a blessing after eating or drinking, provided one drinks a revi'it and eats a k'zayit. A person who [merely] tastes food is not required to recite a blessing before partaking of it or afterwards unless he partakes of a revi'it.
ב
ומדברי סופרים לברך על כל מאכל תחלה ואחר כך יהנה ממנו ואפילו נתכוין לאכול או לשתות כל שהוא מברך ואח"כ יהנה וכן אם הריח ריח טוב מברך ואחר כך יהנה ממנו וכל הנהנה בלא ברכה מעל וכן מדברי סופרים לברך אחר כל מה שיאכל וכל מה שישתה והוא שישתה רביעית והוא שיאכל כזית ומטעמת אינה צריכה ברכה לא לפניה ולא לאחריה עד רביעית:
3
Just as we recite blessings for benefit which we derive from the world, we should also recite blessings for each mitzvah before we fulfill it.
Similarly, the Sages instituted many blessings as expressions of praise and thanks to God and as a means of petition, so that we will always remember the Creator, even though we have not received any benefit or performed a mitzvah.
ג
וכשם שמברכין על ההנייה כך מברכין על כל מצוה ומצוה ואח"כ יעשה אותה וברכות רבות תקנו חכמים דרך שבח והודיה ודרך בקשה כדי לזכור את הבורא תמיד אע"פ שלא נהנה ולא עשה מצוה:
4
Thus, all the blessings can be divided into three categories:
a) blessings over benefit;
b) blessings over mitzvot;
c) blessings recited as expressions of praise and thanks to God and as a means of petition, so that we will always remember the Creator and fear Him.
דa) blessings over benefit;
b) blessings over mitzvot;
c) blessings recited as expressions of praise and thanks to God and as a means of petition, so that we will always remember the Creator and fear Him.
נמצאו כל הברכות כולן שלשה מינים ברכות הנייה וברכות מצות וברכות הודאה שהן דרך שבח והודיה ובקשה כדי לזכור את הבורא תמיד וליראה ממנו:
5
The text of all the blessings was ordained by Ezra and his court. It is not fit to alter it, to add to it, or to detract from it. Whoever alters the text of a blessing from that ordained by the Sages is making an error.
A blessing that does not include the mention of God's name and His sovereignty [over the world] is not considered a blessing unless it is recited in proximity to a blessing [which meets these criteria].
ה
ונוסח כל הברכות עזרא ובית דינו תקנום ואין ראוי לשנותם ולא להוסיף על אחת מהם ולא לגרוע ממנה וכל המשנה ממטבע שטבעו חכמים בברכות אינו אלא טועה וכל ברכה שאין בה הזכרת השם ומלכות אינה ברכה אא"כ היתה סמוכה לחבירתה:
6
All the blessings may be recited in any language, provided one recites [a translation of] the text ordained by the Sages. [A person who] changes that text fulfills his obligation nonetheless - since he mentioned God's name, His sovereignty, and the subject of the blessing - although he did so in a ordinary language.
ו
וכל הברכות כולן נאמרין בכל לשון והוא שיאמר כעין שתקנו חכמים ואם שינה את המטבע הואיל והזכיר אזכרה ומלכות וענין הברכה אפילו בלשון חול יצא:
7
A person should recite all the blessings loud enough for him to hear what he is saying. Nevertheless, a person who does not recite a blessing out loud fulfills his obligation, whether he verbalizes the blessing or merely recites it in his heart.
ז
כל הברכות כולן צריך שישמיע לאזנו מה שהוא אומר ואם לא השמיע לאזנו יצא בין שהוציא בשפתיו בין שבירך בלבו:
8
Whenever one recites a blessing, one should not make an interruption between the blessing and the subject for which the blessing is recited. If one makes an interruption with other matters, one must recite the blessing again.
If, however, one makes an interruption which relates to the subject of the blessing, one does not have to repeat the blessing. What is implied? When a person recites a blessing over bread and before eating says, "Bring salt," "Bring food," "Give so-and-so to eat," "Bring food for the animal," or the like, he need not repeat the blessing.
ח
כל הברכות כולן לא יפסיק בין הברכה ובין הדבר שמברכין עליו בדברים אחרים ואם הפסיק צריך לחזור ולברך שנייה ואם הפסיק בדברים שהן מענין דברים שמברכין עליו אינו צריך לברך שנייה כיצד כגון שבירך על הפת וקודם שיאכל אמר הביאו מלח הביאו תבשיל תנו לפלוני לאכול תנו מאכל לבהמה וכיוצא באלו אינו צריך לברך שנית וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
9
A person who is ritually impure is permitted to recite all the blessings. This applies regardless of whether the impurity is of a type from which one can purify oneself on the same day or not.
A person who is naked should not recite a blessing until he covers his genitals. To whom does this apply? To men. Women may recite blessings [while naked], provided they sit with their genitals facing the ground.
ט
כל הברכות כולם מותר לטמא לברך אותן בין שהיה טמא טומאה שהוא יכול לעלות ממנה בו ביום בין טומאה שאינו יכול לעלות ממנה בו ביום ואסור למברך לברך כשהוא ערום עד שיכסה ערותו בד"א באיש אבל באשה יושבת ופניה טוחות בקרקע ומברכת:
10
[The following principle applies to] all blessings: Although a person has already recited them and fulfilled his own obligation, he may recite them again for others who have not fulfilled their obligation, so that they can fulfill their obligation.
There is, however, one exception: blessings over benefit which is not associated with a mitzvah. In this instance, one may not recite a blessing for others unless one enjoys benefit together with them. Nevertheless, one may recite blessings for benefit which is associated with a mitzvah - e.g., eating matzah on Pesach and reciting kiddush [on Sabbaths and festivals] - for others. They may then eat or drink, even though the one [who recites the blessing] does not eat or drink with them.
י
כל הברכות כולן אף ע"פ שבירך ויצא ידי חובתו מותר לו לברך לאחרים שלא יצאו ידי חובתן כדי להוציאן חוץ מברכת ההנייה שאין בה מצוה שאינו מברך לאחרים אלא אם כן נהנה עמהן אבל ברכת ההנייה שיש בה מצוה כגון אכילת מצה בלילי הפסחים וקידוש היום הרי זה מברך לאחרים ואוכלין ושותים אף על פי שאינו אוכל עמהן:
11
Whenever a person listens to the entire recitation of a blessing with the intention of fulfilling his obligation, he is considered to have fulfilled his obligation although he does not answer Amen. Whoever answers Amen to a blessing recited by another person is considered as if he recited the blessing himself, provided the person who recites the blessing is obligated to recite that blessing.
If the person who recites the blessing is obligated only because of a Rabbinic ordinance, while the person responding is obligated by Torah law, the listener cannot fulfill his obligation until he repeats in response [to the one reciting the blessings] or until he hears [the blessing recited] by someone who, like him, is obligated by Torah law.
יא
כל השומע ברכה מן הברכות מתחלתה ועד סופה ונתכוון לצאת בה ידי חובתו יצא ואף על פי שלא ענה אמן וכל העונה אמן אחר המברך הרי זה כמברך והוא שיהיה המברך חייב באותה ברכה היה המברך חייב מדברי סופרים והעונה חייב מן התורה לא יצא ידי חובתו עד שיענה או עד שישמע ממי שהוא חייב בה מן התורה כמוהו:
12
When many people gather together to eat [a meal with] bread or to drink wine, and one recites the blessing while the others respond Amen, they are [all] permitted to eat and drink. If, however, they did not intend to eat together, but rather they each came on their own initiative, although they all eat from a single loaf of bread, each one should recite the blessings [before eating] by himself.
When does the above apply? With regard to bread and wine. With regard to other foods, however, which do not require [premeditated intent] to be eaten together as a group, if one person recited a blessing and everyone answered Amen, they may eat and drink although they did not intend to gather together as a group.
יב
רבים שנתועדו לאכול פת או לשתות יין ובירך אחד מהן וענו כולם אמן הרי אלו מותרין לאכול ולשתות אבל אם לא נתכוונו לאכול כאחד אלא זה בא מעצמו וזה בא מעצמו אע"פ שהן אוכלין מככר אחד כל אחד ואחד מברך לעצמו במה דברים אמורים בפת ויין בלבד אבל שאר אוכלים ומשקין אינן צריכין הסיבה אלא אם בירך אחד מהן וענו כולן אמן הרי אלו אוכלים ושותין ואף ע"פ שלא נתכוונו להסב כאחד:
13
Whenever a person hears a Jew recite a blessing, he is obligated to respond Amen, although
a) he did not hear the blessing in its entirety,
b) he was not obligated to recite that blessing himself.
a) he did not hear the blessing in its entirety,
b) he was not obligated to recite that blessing himself.
One should not respond Amen if the person reciting the blessing is a gentile, an apostate, a Samaritan, a child in the midst of study, or an adult who altered the text of the blessing.
יג
כל השומע אחד מישראל מברך ברכה מכל הברכות כולן אף על פי שלא שמע הברכה כולה מתחלתה ועד סופה ואע"פ שאינו חייב באותה ברכה חייב לענות אמן ואם היה המברך (עכו"ם או) אפיקורוס או כותי או תינוק המתלמד או שהיה גדול ושינה ממטבע הברכה אין עונין אחריהן אמן:
14
Whenever responding Amen, one should not recite a rushed Amen, a cut off Amen, nor a short or a prolonged Amen, but rather an Amen of intermediate length.
One should not raise one's voice above that of the person reciting the blessing. Whoever did not hear a blessing that he is obligated to recite should not answer Amen together with the others.
יד
כל העונה אמן לא יענה לא אמן חטופה ולא אמן קטופה ולא אמן קצרה ולא ארוכה אלא אמן בינונית ולא יגביה קולו יותר מן המברך וכל מי שלא שמע את הברכה שהוא חייב בה לא יענה אמן בכלל העונים:
15
Whoever recites a blessing for which he is not obligated is considered as if he took God's name in vain. He is considered as one who took a false oath, and it is forbidden to answer Amen after his blessing.
We may teach children the blessings using the full text. Even though in this manner, they recite blessings in vain in the midst of their study, it is permissible. One should not recite Amen after their blessings. A person who answers Amen after their blessings does not fulfill his obligation.
טו
כל המברך ברכה שאינה צריכה הרי זה נושא שם שמים לשוא והרי הוא כנשבע לשוא ואסור לענות אחריו אמן התינוקות מלמדין אותן הברכות כתיקונן ואף על פי שהן מברכין לבטלה בשעת לימוד הרי זה מותר ואין עונין אחריהן אמן והעונה אחריהן אמן לא יצא ידי חובתו:
16
It is demeaning for a person to recite Amen after his own blessings. When, however, one concludes the last of a series of blessings, it is praiseworthy to answer Amen - e.g., after the blessing, Boneh Yerushalayim in grace, and after the final blessing [following] the recitation of the Shema in the evening service. Similarly, always, at the conclusion of the last of a series of blessings, one should recite Amen after one's own blessing.
טז
כל העונה אמן אחר ברכותיו הרי זה מגונה והעונה אחר ברכה שהיא סוף ברכות אחרונות הרי זה משובח כגון אחר בונה ירושלים בברכת המזון ואחר ברכה אחרונה של קריאת שמע של ערבית וכן בסוף כל ברכה שהיא סוף ברכות אחרונות עונה בה אמן אחר עצמו:
17
Why is Amen recited after the blessing Boneh Yerushalayim, although it is followed by the blessing Hatov v'hametiv? Because the latter blessing was ordained in the era of the Mishnah and is considered to be an addition. The conclusion of the essential blessings of grace is Boneh Yerushalayim.
Why is Amen not recited after the blessing Ahavat olam? Because it is the conclusion of the blessings recited before the Shema. Similarly, in other instances when [a series of] blessings are recited before a practice - e.g., the blessings recited before the reading of the Megillah or the kindling of the Chanukah lights - Amen [is not recited] lest it constitute an interruption between the blessings and [the fulfillment of] the performance over which they are being recited.
יז
ולמה יענה אמן אחר בונה ירושלים והרי אחריה ברכת הטוב והמטיב מפני שברכה זו בימי חכמי משנה תקנוה וכאלו היא תוספת אבל סוף עיקר הברכות של ברכת המזון היא בונה ירושלים ולמה לא יענה אמן אחר אהבת עולם מפני שהיא סוף ברכות ראשונות של קריאת שמע וכן כל כיוצא בה מברכות שמברכין אותן תחלה לדבר כגון ברכות שמברכין לפני קריאת מגילה והדלקת נר חנוכה למען לא יפסיק באמן בין ברכה ובין הדבר שבירך עליו:
18
Why is Amen not recited after the blessing over fruits and the like? Because it is only a single blessing, and Amen is recited only after a concluding blessing that follows another blessing or blessings - e.g., the blessings of the king or the blessings of the High Priest - to signify the conclusion of the blessings. Therefore, reciting Amen is appropriate.
יח
ולמה לא יענה אמן אחר ברכת הפירות וכיוצא בה מפני שהיא ברכה אחת ואין עונין אמן אלא אחר ברכה אחרונה שקדמה אותה ברכה אחרת או ברכות כגון ברכות המלך וברכות כהן גדול וכיוצא בהן להודיע שכבר השלים כל ברכותיו ולפיכך עונה אמן:
19
When a person eats a forbidden food - whether consciously or inadvertently - he should not recite a blessing beforehand or afterward.
What is implied? If one eats tevel - even food that is classified as tevel by Rabbinical decree, the first tithe from which terumah was not separated, or the second tithe or sanctified foods that were not redeemed in the proper manner, one should not recite a blessing. Needless to say, this applies if one ate meat from an animal that was not ritually slaughtered or was trefah or if one drank wine used as a libation for idol worship.
יטWhat is implied? If one eats tevel - even food that is classified as tevel by Rabbinical decree, the first tithe from which terumah was not separated, or the second tithe or sanctified foods that were not redeemed in the proper manner, one should not recite a blessing. Needless to say, this applies if one ate meat from an animal that was not ritually slaughtered or was trefah or if one drank wine used as a libation for idol worship.
כל האוכל דבר האסור בין בזדון בין בשגגה אינו מברך עליו לא בתחלה ולא בסוף כיצד הרי שאכל טבל של דבריהם או שאכל מעשר ראשון שלא נטלו תרומותיו או מעשר שני והקדש שלא נפדו כהלכתן אינו מברך ואין צריך לומר אם אכל נבלות וטרפות או שתה יין נסך וכיוצא בו:
20
If, however, a person ate d'mai, although it is fit only for the poor, the first tithe from which terumat ma'aser was separated, even though the proper amount for terumah was not separated because the tithe was taken while the grain was still in sheaves, or the second tithe or sanctified food that was redeemed, but an additional fifth was not added upon it, one should recite a blessing beforehand and afterwards. The same applies in other similar situations.
כ
אבל אם אכל דמאי אף על פי שאינו ראוי אלא לעניים או מעשר ראשון שנטלה תרומתו אע"פ שלא ניטל ממנו חשבון תרומה גדולה והוא שהקדימו בשבלין או מעשר שני והקדש שנפדו אף על פי שלא נתן את החומש הרי זה מברך תחלה וסוף וכן כל כיוצא בהן:
Berachot - Chapter Two
1
This is the order of the blessings of the grace after meals:
The first blessing [thanks God for providing our] sustenance;
The second blessing [thanks God for granting us] Eretz [Yisrael];
The third blessing [praises God as] "the builder of Jerusalem"; and
The fourth blessing [praises God as] "He who is good and does good."
The first blessing [thanks God for providing our] sustenance;
The second blessing [thanks God for granting us] Eretz [Yisrael];
The third blessing [praises God as] "the builder of Jerusalem"; and
The fourth blessing [praises God as] "He who is good and does good."
The first blessing was instituted by Moses, our teacher; the second blessing by Joshua; the third by King David and his son, Solomon; and the fourth by the Sages of the Megillah.
א
סדר ברכת המזון כך היא:
ראשונה ברכת הזן שנייה ברכת הארץ שלישית בונה ירושלים רביעית הטוב והמטיב ברכה ראשונה משה רבינו תקנה שנייה תיקן יהושע שלישית תיקן דוד ושלמה בנו רביעית חכמי משנה תקנוה:
2
When workers are employed by an employer and eat a meal of bread, they should not recite a blessing before eating. Similarly, they should recite only two blessings after eating so that they do not neglect their employer's work.
[In such an instance,] the complete text of the first blessing should be recited. In the second blessing, they should begin with the text of the blessing for Eretz Yisrael, include aspects of the blessing for the building of Jerusalem, and conclude using the standard conclusion of the second blessing.
If they do not receive a wage, but only meals in return for their services or if they eat together with their employer, they should recite the full text of the four blessings as others do.
ב
הפועלים שהיו עושין מלאכה אצל בעל הבית ואכלו פתן אין מברכין לפניה ומברכין לאחר סעודתן שתי ברכות בלבד כדי שלא יבטלו מלאכת בעל הבית ברכה ראשונה כתיקונה שנייה פותח בברכת הארץ וכולל בה בונה ירושלים וחותם בברכת הארץ ואם היו עושין בסעודתן בלבד או שהיה בעל הבית מיסב עמהן מברכין ד' ברכות כתיקונן כשאר כל אדם:
3
The blessing for Eretz Yisrael should include an acknowledgement of thanks [to God] at its beginning and at its conclusion. It should conclude: "[Blessed are You, God,] for the land and for the sustenance." Whoever does not include the phrase "a precious, good, and spacious land" in the blessing for Eretz Yisrael does not fulfill his obligation.
A person must mention the covenant [of circumcision] and the Torah [in this blessing], mentioning the covenant before the Torah. [The reason for this order is] that the covenant mentioned in the blessing for Eretz Yisrael refers to the covenant of circumcision, concerning which thirteen covenants [are mentioned in the Torah]. In contrast, [the Torah mentions only] three covenants with regard to the Torah, as [Deuteronomy 28:69] states: "These are the words of the covenant... in addition to the covenant He established with you at Chorev," and [Deuteronomy 29:9-11] states: "You are standing... to establish a covenant."
ג
ברכת הארץ צריך לומר הודייה בתחלתה ובסופה וחותם בה על הארץ ועל המזון וכל שלא אמר ארץ חמדה טובה ורחבה בברכת הארץ לא יצא ידי חובתו וצריך להזכיר בה ברית ותורה ולהקדים ברית לתורה שהברית הזאת שאומרים בברכת הארץ היא ברית מילה שנכרתו עליה שלש עשרה בריתות והתורה כולה נכרתו עליה שלש בריתות שנאמר אלה דברי הברית וגו' מלבד הברית אשר כרת אתם בחרב אתם נצבים וגו' לעברך בברית וגו':
4
The third blessing begins as follows: "Have mercy on us, God, our Lord, and on Israel, Your people, on Jerusalem, Your city, and on Zion, the abode of Your glory..." Alternatively, it begins: "Comfort us, God, our Lord, with Jerusalem, Your city...."
One should conclude: "[Blessed are You, God,] who will build Jerusalem," or "...who will comfort His people Israel with the building of Jerusalem." For this reason, this blessing is referred to as "the blessing of comfort."
Whoever does not mention the kingdom of the House of David in this blessing does not fulfill his obligation, because it is an essential element of the blessing. There will be no complete comfort until the return of the sovereignty to the House of David.
ד
ברכה שלישית פותח בה רחם יי' אלהינו עלינו ועל ישראל עמך ועל ירושלים עירך ועל ציון משכן כבודך או נחמנו יי' אלהינו בירושלים עירך וחותם בה בונה ירושלים או מנחם עמו ישראל בבנין ירושלים ולפיכך נקראת ברכה זו נחמה וכל מי שלא אמר מלכות בית דוד בברכה זו לא יצא ידי חובתו מפני שהיא ענין הברכה שאין נחמה גמורה אלא בחזרת מלכות בית דוד:
5
On Sabbaths and on the festivals, one should begin with the concept of comfort and conclude with the concept of comfort and, in the midst of the blessing, mention the sacred quality of the day.
How should one begin? Either with, "Comfort us, God, our Lord, with Zion, Your city..." or "Have mercy on us, God, our Lord, and on Israel, Your people, on Jerusalem, Your city...." One should conclude with: "[Blessed are You, God,] who will comfort His people Israel with the building of Jerusalem" or "... who will build Jerusalem."
On the Sabbath, in the midst [of the blessing], one should say:
Our God, and God of our fathers, may it please You, God, our Lord, to strengthen us through Your mitzvot and through the mitzvah of this great and holy seventh day. For this day is great and holy before You for us to refrain from work and rest on it with love in accordance with the commandment of Your will. In Your good will, God, our Lord, grant us tranquility and prevent distress, evil, and sorrow on the day of our rest.
On the festivals, one should include the prayer Ya'aleh v'yavo in this blessing. Similarly, on Rosh Chodesh and on Chol HaMo’ed, one should include the prayer Ya'aleh v'yavo in the third blessing.
ה
בשבתות ובימים טובים מתחיל בנחמה ומסיים בנחמה ואומר קדושת היום באמצע כיצד מתחיל נחמנו יי' אלהינו בציון עירך או רחם יי' אלהינו על ישראל עמך ועל ירושלים עירך ומסיים מנחם עמו ישראל בבנין ירושלים או בונה ירושלים ואומר באמצע בשבת אלהינו ואלהי אבותינו רצה והחליצנו יי' אלהינו במצותיך ובמצות יום השביעי הגדול והקדוש הזה כי יום זה גדול וקדוש הוא מלפניך נשבות בו וננוח בו באהבה כמצות רצונך ברצונך הנח לנו יי' אלהינו ואל תהא עלינו צרה ורעה ויגון ואנחה ביום מנוחתנו ובימים טובים אומר יעלה ויבא וכן בראשי חדשים ובחולו של מועד מוסיף באמצע ברכה שלישית יעלה ויבא:
6
On Chanukah and Purim, one should add the prayer Al hanisim in the blessing for Eretz Yisrael, as one adds in the Shemoneh Esreh.
When a festival or Rosh Chodesh falls on the Sabbath, one recites R'tzey vahachalitzenu first, and then Ya'aleh v'yavo. Similarly, when Rosh Chodesh Tevet falls on the Sabbath, one recites Al hanisim in the blessing for Eretz Yisrael, and R'tzey vahachalitzenu and Ya'aleh v'yavo in the blessing of comfort.
ו
בחנוכה ובפורים מוסיף באמצע ברכת הארץ על הנסים כדרך שמוסיף בתפלה ויום טוב או ראש חדש שחל להיות בשבת מזכיר רצה והחליצנו תחילה ואחר כך יעלה ויבא וכן ראש חדש טבת שחל להיות בשבת מזכיר על הנסים בברכת הארץ ורצה והחליצנו ויעלה ויבא בנחמה:
7
In the fourth blessing, one must mention God's sovereignty three times.
When a guest recites grace in the home of his host, he should add a blessing for his host in this blessing. What should he say? "May it be Your will that [my] host not be disgraced in this world or shamed in the world to come." He may add to the blessing for [his] host and extend it [as he desires].
ז
ברכה רביעית צריך להזכיר בה שלש מלכיות וכשמברך האורח אצל בעל הבית מוסיף בה ברכה לבעל הבית כיצד אומר יהי רצון שלא יבוש בעל הבית בעולם הזה ולא יכלם לעולם הבא וכו' ויש לו רשות להוסיף בברכת בעל הבית ולהאריך בה:
8
When grace is being recited in the house of a mourner, the following addition should be made in the fourth blessing:
The Living King who is good and does good, the true God, the true Judge who judges justly, the absolute ruler of His world who may do as He chooses. We are His people and His servants and we are obligated to thank Him and bless Him for everything.
He should request mercy for the mourner to comfort him in the matters that he desires. [Afterwards,] he concludes, Harachaman....
ח
וכשמברכין בבית האבל אומר בברכה רביעית המלך החי הטוב והמטיב אל אמת דיין אמת שופט בצדק שליט בעולמו לעשות בו כרצונו שאנחנו עמו ועבדיו ובכל אנחנו חייבין להודות לו ולברכו ומבקש רחמים על האבל לנחמו כפי מה שירצה וגומר הרחמן כו':
9
The blessing for the bridegroom is recited after these four blessings at each meal eaten in the place of the wedding celebration. This blessing should not be recited by servants or by minors.
Until when is the blessing recited? When a widower marries a widow, it is recited only on the first day. When a groom who has never married before marries a widow or when a bride who has never married before marries a widower, it is recited during all the seven days of the marriage celebrations.
ט
בבית חתנים מברכין ברכת חתנים אחר ארבע ברכות אלו בכל סעודה וסעודה שאוכלים שם ואין מברכין ברכה זו לא עבדים ולא קטנים עד כמה מברכין ברכה זו אם היה אלמון שנשא אלמנה מברכין אותה ביום ראשון בלבד ואם בחור שנשא אלמנה או אלמון שנשא בתולה מברכין אותה כל שבעת ימי המשתה:
10
The blessing that is added at the place of the wedding celebration is the final blessing of the seven blessings recited at the wedding.
When does the above apply? When [all] the people who eat there were present [at the wedding] and heard the wedding blessings being recited. If, however, other people were present who had not heard the wedding blessings at the wedding, the seven wedding blessings are recited for them after grace, just as they are recited at the wedding itself.
The above applies when [a quorum of] ten are present. The groom can be counted as part of this quorum.
י
ברכה זו שמוסיפין בבית חתנים היא ברכה אחרונה משבע ברכות של נישואין במה דברים אמורים כשהיו האוכלין הם שעמדו בברכת נישואין ושמעו הברכות אבל אם היו האוכלין אחרים שלא שמעו ברכת נישואין בשעת נישואין מברכין בשבילם אחר ברכת מזון שבע ברכות כדרך שמברכין בשעת נישואין והוא שיהיו עשרה וחתנים מן המנין:
11
These are the seven blessings:
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, Creator of man.
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who created all things for His glory.
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who created man in His image, in an image reflecting His likeness, [He brought forth] his form and prepared for him from his own self a structure that will last for all time. Blessed are You, God, Creator of man.
May the barren one rejoice and exult as her children are gathered to her with joy. Blessed are You, God, who makes Zion rejoice in her children.
Grant joy to these loving companions as You granted joy to Your creation in the Garden of Eden long ago. Blessed are You, God, who grants joy to the groom and the bride.
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who created joy and happiness, bride and groom, gladness, song, cheer, and delight, love and harmony, peace and friendship. Soon, God, our Lord, may there be heard in the cities of Judah and the outskirts of Jerusalem, a voice of joy and a voice of happiness, a voice of a groom and a voice of a bride, a voice of grooms rejoicing from their wedding canopies and youths from their songfests. Blessed are You, God, who grants joy to the groom together with the bride.
יאBlessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who created all things for His glory.
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who created man in His image, in an image reflecting His likeness, [He brought forth] his form and prepared for him from his own self a structure that will last for all time. Blessed are You, God, Creator of man.
May the barren one rejoice and exult as her children are gathered to her with joy. Blessed are You, God, who makes Zion rejoice in her children.
Grant joy to these loving companions as You granted joy to Your creation in the Garden of Eden long ago. Blessed are You, God, who grants joy to the groom and the bride.
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who created joy and happiness, bride and groom, gladness, song, cheer, and delight, love and harmony, peace and friendship. Soon, God, our Lord, may there be heard in the cities of Judah and the outskirts of Jerusalem, a voice of joy and a voice of happiness, a voice of a groom and a voice of a bride, a voice of grooms rejoicing from their wedding canopies and youths from their songfests. Blessed are You, God, who grants joy to the groom together with the bride.
ואלו הן שבע ברכות:
ברוך אתה יי' אלהינו מלך העולם יוצר האדם ברוך אתה יי' אלהינו מלך העולם שהכל ברא לכבודו ברוך אתה יי' אלהינו מלך העולם אשר יצר את האדם בצלמו בצלם דמות תבניתו והתקין לו ממנו בנין עדי עד ברוך אתה יי' יוצר האדם שוש תשיש ותגל עקרה בקיבוץ בניה לתוכה בשמחה ברוך יי' משמח ציון בבניה שמח תשמח רעים ואהובים כשמחך יצירך בגן עדן מקדם ברוך אתה יי' משמח חתן וכלה ברוך אתה יי' אלהינו מלך העולם אשר ברא ששון ושמחה חתן וכלה גילה ורנה דיצה וחדוה אהבה אחוה שלום וריעות מהרה יי' אלהינו ישמע בערי יהודה ובחוצות ירושלים קול ששון וקול שמחה קול חתן וקול כלה קול מצהלות חתנים [מחופתם] ונערים מנגינתם ברוך אתה יי' משמח חתן עם הכלה:
12
[The following rules apply when a person who is reciting grace] on a Sabbath or a festival [concludes the third blessing and] forgets to mention the aspect of holiness connected with the day: If he remembers before he begins the fourth blessing, he should recite the following:
On the Sabbath: Blessed [are You, God...] who has granted rest to His people Israel as a sign and a holy covenant. Blessed are You, God, who sanctifies the Sabbath.
On the festivals: Blessed [are You, God...] who has granted festivals to His people Israel for rejoicing and for happiness. Blessed are You, God, who sanctifies Israel and the seasons.
On the Sabbath: Blessed [are You, God...] who has granted rest to His people Israel as a sign and a holy covenant. Blessed are You, God, who sanctifies the Sabbath.
On the festivals: Blessed [are You, God...] who has granted festivals to His people Israel for rejoicing and for happiness. Blessed are You, God, who sanctifies Israel and the seasons.
Afterwards, one should begin the fourth blessing and conclude grace. If he [does not] remember [the omission of the special passages until after] he begins the fourth blessing, he should cease [his prayers] and return to the beginning [of grace], the blessing for sustenance.
יב
שכח ולא הזכיר בשבת או ביום טוב קדושת היום אם נזכר קודם שיתחיל בברכה רביעית בשבת אומר ברוך יי' אשר נתן מנוחה לעמו ישראל לאות ולברית קדש ברוך אתה יי' מקדש השבת ביום טוב אומר ברוך אשר נתן ימים טובים לעמו ישראל לששון ולשמחה ברוך אתה יי' מקדש ישראל והזמנים ומתחיל בברכת רביעית וגומר ואם נזכר אחר שהתחיל בברכה רביעית פוסק וחוזר לראש שהוא ברכת הזן:
13
[The following rules apply when a person who is reciting grace] on Rosh Chodesh [concludes the third blessing and] forgets to recite Ya'aleh v'yavo:
If he remembers before he begins the fourth blessing, he should recite the following: "Blessed [are You, God...] who granted Rashei Chadashim to His people Israel as a remembrance." The blessing does not include a chatimah. Afterwards, he should begin the fourth blessing and conclude grace. If he remembers after beginning the fourth blessing, he should complete it [without making any additions]. He need not repeat [the entire grace]. The same rules apply on Chol HaMo’ed.
[When a person reciting grace] on Chanukah or on Purim forgets to mention the uniqueness of the day in grace, he need not repeat [the grace].
יג
בראשי חדשים שכח ולא אמר יעלה ויבא אם נזכר קודם שיתחיל ברכה רביעית אומר ברוך אשר נתן ראשי חדשים לעמו ישראל לזכרון ואינו חותם בה ומתחיל בברכה רביעית וגומר ואם נזכר אחר שהתחיל בברכה רביעית גומר אותה ואינו חוזר וכן בחולו של מועד ובחנוכה ובפורים שכח ולא הזכיר הענין בברכת המזון אינו חוזר:
14
[The following rules apply to] a person who ate and forgot to recite grace: If he remembers before his food becomes digested, he should return and recite grace. If he remembers after his food becomes digested, he should not return and recite grace.
If a person forgets and is unsure whether he recited grace or not, he must return and recite grace, provided his food has not become digested.
יד
מי שאכל ושכח ולא בירך אם נזכר קודם שיתעכל המאכל שבמעיו חוזר ומברך נתעכל המזון שבמעיו אינו חוזר ומברך וכן אם נעלם ממנו ולא ידע אם בירך או לא בירך חוזר ומברך והוא שלא נתעכל המזון שבמעיו:
Berachot - Chapter Three
1
There are five species [of grain]: wheat, barley, rye, oats, and spelt. Rye is a sub-species of wheat, and oats and spelt are sub-species of barley.
When these five species are in their stalks, they are referred to as tevuah. After they have been threshed and winnowed, they are referred to as grain. When they have been milled and their flour kneaded and baked, they are referred to as bread. Bread made from these species is referred to as bread without any additional modifier.
א
חמשה מינין הן החיטין והשעורין והכוסמין ושבולת שועל ושיפון הכוסמין ממין החיטין ושבולת שועל ושיפון ממין השעורים וחמשה מינין האלו כשהן שבלים נקראים תבואה בכל מקום ואחר שדשין וזורין אותן נקראין דגן וכשטוחנין אותן ולשין את קמחן ואופין אותן נקראין פת והפת הנעשה מאחד מהן היא הנקראת פת בכ"מ בלא לווי:
2
Before eating bread, a person should recite the blessing, "Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth." Afterwards, he should recite the four blessings [of grace].
Before eating kernels of grain that have been cooked without being processed, a person should recite the blessing borey pri ha'adamah. Afterwards, he should recite the blessing borey nefashot rabbot. Before eating flour, a person should recite the blessing shehakol. Afterwards, he should recite the blessing borey nefashot rabbot.
ב
האוכל פת חייב לברך לפניה ברוך אתה יי' אלהינו מלך העולם המוציא לחם מן הארץ ולאחריה ארבע ברכות אכל דגן שלוק כמו שהוא מברך לפניו בורא פרי האדמה ולאחריו בורא נפשות רבות אכל קמח מברך לפניו שהכל ולאחריו בורא נפשות רבות:
3
[The following rules apply] when a person cooks flour from one of the five species of grain, which has been mixed with water or other liquids: If the mixture is thick, so that it is fit to be eaten and chewed, one should recite the blessing borey minei mezonotbeforehand and the blessing al hamichyah v'al hakalkalahafterward. If the mixture is thin, so that it is fit to be drunk, one should recite the blessing shehakol beforehand and the blessing borey nefashot rabbot afterward.
ג
קמח של אחד מחמשת המינין ששלקוהו וערבו במים או בשאר משקים אם היה עבה כדי שיהיה ראוי לאכילה וללעסו מברך עליו בתחלה בורא מיני מזונות ולבסוף על המחיה ועל הכלכלה ואם היה רך כדי שיהיה ראוי לשתייה מברך עליו בתחלה שהכל ולבסוף בורא נפשות רבות:
4
The blessing borey minei mezonot is recited before [partaking of any of the following foods]:
flour from one of the five species of grain that was cooked in a pot - whether alone or whether it was mixed together with other ingredients - e.g., dumplings or the like;
grain that was divided or crushed and cooked in a pot - e.g., groats or grits. These [two categories] are referred to as cooked dishes.
flour from one of the five species of grain that was cooked in a pot - whether alone or whether it was mixed together with other ingredients - e.g., dumplings or the like;
grain that was divided or crushed and cooked in a pot - e.g., groats or grits. These [two categories] are referred to as cooked dishes.
The same laws also apply to any dish in which flour or bread from the five species of grain was mixed.
ד
קמח של אחד מחמשת המינין שבשלו בקדרה בין לבדו בין שעירבו עם דברים אחרים כגון לביבות וכיוצא בהן וכן הדגן שחלקו או כתשו ובשלו בקדרה כגון הריפות וגרש הכרמל וכיוצא בהן וכל זה הוא הנקרא מעשה קדרה וכן כל תבשיל שערב בו מחמשת המינין בין קמח בין פת בתחלה מברך עליו בורא מיני מזונות:
5
When does the above apply? When the person considers the [flour or bread] from the five species of grain as the primary element [of the mixture] and not as a secondary element. If, however, the [flour or bread] from the five species of grain is a secondary element of a mixture, the person should recite the [appropriate] blessing over the primary food, and thus fulfill his obligation regarding the secondary food.
This is a major principle with regard to blessings: Whenever a food contains primary and secondary elements, a person should recite a blessing over the primary element, and thus fulfill his obligation regarding the secondary element. [This principle applies] regardless of whether the secondary element is mixed together with the primary element or not.
ה
בד"א כשהיה המין הזה חשוב אצלו ולא היה טפלה אבל אם היה אחד מחמשת המינין שעירב טפלה אינו מברך אלא על העיקר ופוטר את הטפלה וזה כלל בברכות כל שהוא עיקר ועמו טפלה מברך על העיקר ופוטר את הטפלה בין שהיתה הטפלה מעורבת עם העיקר בין שלא היתה מעורבת:
6
What is an example of a secondary food mixed together [with a primary food]? Cooked turnips or cabbage to which flour from one of the five species was added so that it would hold together. The blessing borey minei mezonot is not recited, because the turnips are of primary importance and the flour is secondary.
Similarly, whenever a substance is added to hold food together, to add fragrance, or to color a dish, it is considered secondary. If, however, it was added in order to add flavor to the food, it is considered of primary importance.
Accordingly, when sweets are made by cooking honey and mixing it with starch so that it will stick together, the blessing borey minei mezonot is not recited, because the honey is of primary importance.
ו
כיצד היא הטפלה המעורבת כגון לפת או כרוב שבשלו ועירב בו קמח של אחד מחמשת המינין כדי לדבקו אינו מברך עליו בורא מיני מזונות שהלפת הוא העיקר וקמחו טפלה שכל דבר שמערבין אותו לדבק או כדי ליתן ריח או כדי לצבוע את התבשיל הרי זו טפלה אבל אם עירב כדי ליתן טעם בתערובות הרי הוא עיקר לפיכך מיני דבש שמבשלין אותן ונותנין בהן חלב חטה כדי לדבק ועושין מהן מיני מתיקה אינו מברך עליו בורא מיני מזונות מפני שהדבש הוא העיקר:
7
What is an example of a secondary food which is not mixed together? A person who wants to eat salted fish and eats bread with it so that the heavy brine will not harm his throat or tongue. [In this instance,] he should recite a blessing on the salted fish, and by doing so fulfill his obligation regarding the bread, because the bread is secondary. The same principle applies in other similar situations.
ז
כיצד היא הטפלה שאינה מעורבת הרי שצריך לאכול דג מליח ואכל הפת עמו כדי שלא יזיק המלח גרונו ולשונו הרי זה מברך על המליח ופוטר את הפת מפני שהפת טפלה לו וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
8
[The following rules apply when] bread was broken into pieces and cooked in a pot or mixed into soup: If the pieces are the size of an olive or they can be recognized as bread and their appearance has not changed, the blessing hamotzi should be recited before partaking of them. If, however, they are not the size of an olive or they no longer resemble bread because of the cooking process, the blessing borey minei mezonot should be recited before partaking of them.
ח
הפת שפתת אותה פתים ובשלה בקדרה או לשה במרק אם יש בפתיתין כזית או שניכר שהן פת ולא נשתנה צורתה מברך עליה בתחלה המוציא ואם אין בהן כזית או שעברה צורת הפת בבישול מברך עליה בתחלה בורא מיני מזונות:
9
Before partaking of dough baked over the ground as is baked by the Arabs living in the desert, one should recite the blessing borey minei mezonot, because it does not have the appearance of bread. If, however, one uses it as the basis of a meal, one should recite the blessing hamotzi.
Similar [laws apply to] dough that was kneaded with honey, oil, or milk, or mixed together with different condiments and baked. It is referred to as pat haba'ah b'kisnin. Although it [resembles] bread, the blessing borey minei mezonot is recited over it. If, however, one uses it as the basis of a meal, one should recite the blessing hamotzi.
ט
עיסה שנאפת בקרקע כמו שהערביים שוכני המדברות אופים הואיל ואין עליה צורת פת מברך עליה בתחלה בורא מיני מזונות ואם קבע מזונו עליה מברך המוציא וכן עיסה שלשה בדבש או בשמן או בחלב או שעירב בה מיני תבלין ואפאה והיא הנקראת פת הבאה בכסנין אף על פי שהוא פת מברך עליה בורא מיני מזונות ואם קבע סעודתו עליה מברך המוציא:
10
Before eating rice that has been cooked or bread made from rice, one should recite the blessing borey minei mezonot. Afterwards, the blessing borey nefashot should be recited. This applies only when no other ingredients are combined together with the rice.
In contrast, before eating bread made from millet or other species of kitniyot, one should recite the blessing shehakol. Afterwards, the blessing borey nefashot should be recited.
י
אורז שבישלו או שעשה ממנו פת בתחלה מברך עליו בורא מיני מזונות ולבסוף בורא נפשות ובלבד שלא יהא מעורב עם דבר אחר אלא אורז לבדו אבל פת דוחן או פת של שאר מיני קטנית בתחלה מברך שהכל ולבסוף בורא נפשות רבות:
11
Whenever the blessing hamotzi is recited before [partaking of a food], the four blessings of grace are recited afterwards in their proper order. Whenever the blessing borey minei mezonot is recited before [partaking of a food], a single blessing, which includes the three [blessings of grace], is recited afterward, except when one eats rice.
יא
כל שמברכין עליו בתחלה המוציא מברכין לאחריו בסוף ברכת המזון כסדרה ארבע ברכות וכל שמברכין עליו בתחלה בורא מיני מזונות מברכין בסוף לאחריו ברכה אחת מעין שלש חוץ מן האורז:
12
When does the above apply? When a person ate more than the size of an olive [from these foods]. If, however, he ate less than the size of an olive, whether from bread or from other food, or drank less than a revi'it, whether from wine or from other beverages, he should recite the appropriate blessing before partaking of the food or drink, but should not recite any blessing at all afterward.
יב
במה דברים אמורים שאכל מכזית ולמעלה אבל אכל פחות מכזית בין מן הפת בין משאר אוכלין והשותה פחות מרביעית בין מן היין בין משאר משקין מברך בתחלה ברכה הראויה לאותו המין ולבסוף אינו מברך כלל:
13
This is [the text of] the single blessing that includes the three blessings of grace:
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, for the life- giving and the sustaining [food], for the precious, good, and spacious land which You have graciously given as a heritage to our ancestors. Have mercy, God, our Lord, on us, and on all Israel, Your people, and on Jerusalem, Your city, and on Zion, the abode of Your glory. And may You cause us to ascend to it and let us rejoice in its rebuilding and we will bless You in holiness and in purity. Blessed are You, God, for the land and for the sustenance.
On Sabbaths and festivals, one should include in this blessing a condensed reference to the sanctity of the day as one does in grace.
יג
וזו היא ברכה אחת מעין שלש:
ברוך אתה יי' אלהינו מלך העולם על המחיה ועל הכלכלה ועל ארץ חמדה טובה ורחבה שרצית ושהנחלת את אבותינו רחם יי' אלהינו עלינו ועל ישראל עמך ועל ירושלים עירך ועל ציון משכן כבודך והעלנו לתוכה ושמחנו בבניינה ונברכך עליה בקדושה ובטהרה ברוך אתה יי' על הארץ ועל המחיה ובשבתות וימים טובים אומר בברכה זו בכללה מעין קדושת היום כדרך שמזכיר בברכת המזון:
• Tuesday, 21 Cheshvan, 5777 · 22 November 2016
• "Today's Day"
• Friday, Cheshvan 21, 5704
Torah Lesson: Chumash: Chayei Sara, Shishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 104-105.
Tanya: This is the (p. 581) ...ch. 38, see there. (p. 583).
It is the avoda of davening which brings the comprehension of the brain into the emotional sensitivity of the heart - and (also brings) both of them together into the practical avoda of performing mitzvot with fear-of-Heaven and acquiring fine character-traits.
• Daily Thought:
Internal Terrorism
Each of us has a terrorist inside, a mad impulse to abandon that which is rightfully ours, to blow ourselves to smithereens.
You cannot outsmart it, for it has hijacked the mind that you use. It believes it is you; you believe you are it.
No peace can be made with it, no compromise—for compromise is the name of its game, step by step to your oblivion.
You cannot even recognize its existence—for that would be your admission that evil has a place in G‑d’s world.
There is only one solution:
If you know what is right, do that.
Do not stop to look backwards—certainly not to negotiate with a terrorist.[Tanya, chapter 28.]
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