Torah Reading
Beshalach: Exodus 13:17 - 14:8
Exodus 13:17 After Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not guide them to the highway that goes through the land of the P’lishtim, because it was close by — God thought that the people, upon seeing war, might change their minds and return to Egypt. 18 Rather, God led the people by a roundabout route, through the desert by the Sea of Suf. The people of Isra’el went up from the land of Egypt fully armed.
19 Moshe took the bones of Yosef with him, for Yosef had made the people of Isra’el swear an oath when he said, “God will certainly remember you; and you are to carry my bones up with you, away from here.”
20 They traveled from Sukkot and set up camp in Etam, at the edge of the desert. 21 Adonai went ahead of them in a column of cloud during the daytime to lead them on their way, and at night in a column of fire to give them light; thus they could travel both by day and by night. 22 Neither the column of cloud by day nor the column of fire at night went away from in front of the people.
14:1 Adonai said to Moshe, 2 “Tell the people of Isra’el to turn around and set up camp in front of Pi-Hachirot, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Ba‘al-Tz’fon; camp opposite it, by the sea. 3 Then Pharaoh will say that the people of Isra’el are wandering aimlessly in the countryside, the desert has closed in on them. 4 I will make Pharaoh so hardhearted that he will pursue them; thus I will win glory for myself at the expense of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will realize at last that I am Adonai.” The people did as ordered.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people. They said, “What have we done, letting Isra’el stop being our slaves?” 6 So he prepared his chariots and took his people with him — 7 he took 600 first-quality chariots, as well as all the other chariots in Egypt, along with their commanders. 8 Adonai made Pharaoh hardhearted, and he pursued the people of Isra’el, as they left boldly.
Today in Jewish History:
• Passing of Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah Schneersohn (1942) Wife of the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneerson, and mother of the sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah (1860-1942) lived through the upheavals of the first half of the 20th century. She fled the advancing front of World War I from Lubavitch to Rostov, where her husband passed away in 1920 at age 59. In 1927, she witnessed the arrest of her son by Stalin's henchmen the night he was taken away and sentenced to death, G-d forbid, for his efforts to keep Judaism alive throughout the Soviet empire. After Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak's release, the family resettled in Latvia and later, Poland; in 1940, they survived the bombing of Warsaw, were rescued from Nazi-occupied city, and emigrated to the United States. Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah passed away in New York on the 13th of Shevat of 1942.
• Auschwitz Liberated (1945) On January 27, 1945, the Russian army arrived in Auschwitz, the most infamous of the Nazi death camps, and liberated some 7,000 survivors—those left behind as unfit to join the evacuation "Death March."
Link: AuschwitzDaily Quote:
And [Moses] took the book of the covenant and read it within the hearing of the people, and they said, “All that G‑d has spoken, we will do and we will hear.”[Exodus 24:7]
Today's Study:
Beshalach: Exodus 13:17 - 14:8
Exodus 13:17 After Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not guide them to the highway that goes through the land of the P’lishtim, because it was close by — God thought that the people, upon seeing war, might change their minds and return to Egypt. 18 Rather, God led the people by a roundabout route, through the desert by the Sea of Suf. The people of Isra’el went up from the land of Egypt fully armed.
19 Moshe took the bones of Yosef with him, for Yosef had made the people of Isra’el swear an oath when he said, “God will certainly remember you; and you are to carry my bones up with you, away from here.”
20 They traveled from Sukkot and set up camp in Etam, at the edge of the desert. 21 Adonai went ahead of them in a column of cloud during the daytime to lead them on their way, and at night in a column of fire to give them light; thus they could travel both by day and by night. 22 Neither the column of cloud by day nor the column of fire at night went away from in front of the people.
14:1 Adonai said to Moshe, 2 “Tell the people of Isra’el to turn around and set up camp in front of Pi-Hachirot, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Ba‘al-Tz’fon; camp opposite it, by the sea. 3 Then Pharaoh will say that the people of Isra’el are wandering aimlessly in the countryside, the desert has closed in on them. 4 I will make Pharaoh so hardhearted that he will pursue them; thus I will win glory for myself at the expense of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will realize at last that I am Adonai.” The people did as ordered.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people. They said, “What have we done, letting Isra’el stop being our slaves?” 6 So he prepared his chariots and took his people with him — 7 he took 600 first-quality chariots, as well as all the other chariots in Egypt, along with their commanders. 8 Adonai made Pharaoh hardhearted, and he pursued the people of Isra’el, as they left boldly.
Today in Jewish History:
• Passing of Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah Schneersohn (1942) Wife of the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneerson, and mother of the sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah (1860-1942) lived through the upheavals of the first half of the 20th century. She fled the advancing front of World War I from Lubavitch to Rostov, where her husband passed away in 1920 at age 59. In 1927, she witnessed the arrest of her son by Stalin's henchmen the night he was taken away and sentenced to death, G-d forbid, for his efforts to keep Judaism alive throughout the Soviet empire. After Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak's release, the family resettled in Latvia and later, Poland; in 1940, they survived the bombing of Warsaw, were rescued from Nazi-occupied city, and emigrated to the United States. Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah passed away in New York on the 13th of Shevat of 1942.
• Auschwitz Liberated (1945) On January 27, 1945, the Russian army arrived in Auschwitz, the most infamous of the Nazi death camps, and liberated some 7,000 survivors—those left behind as unfit to join the evacuation "Death March."
Link: AuschwitzDaily Quote:
And [Moses] took the book of the covenant and read it within the hearing of the people, and they said, “All that G‑d has spoken, we will do and we will hear.”[Exodus 24:7]
Today's Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Beshalach, 5th Portion Exodus 15:27-16:10 with Rashi
• Exodus Chapter 15
27They came to Elim, and there were twelve water fountains and seventy palms, and they encamped there by the water. כזוַיָּבֹ֣אוּ אֵילִ֔מָה וְשָׁ֗ם שְׁתֵּ֥ים עֶשְׂרֵ֛ה עֵינֹ֥ת מַ֖יִם וְשִׁבְעִ֣ים תְּמָרִ֑ים וַיַּֽחֲנוּ־שָׁ֖ם עַל־הַמָּֽיִם:
twelve water fountains: Corresponding to the twelve tribes, were prepared for them. — [from Mechilta] שתים עשרה עינות מים: כנגד י"ב שבטים נזדמנו להם:
and seventy palms: Corresponding to the seventy elders. — [from Mechilta, Jonathan] ושבעים תמרים: כנגד שבעים זקנים:
Exodus Chapter 16
1They journeyed from Elim, and the entire community of the children of Israel came to the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. אוַיִּסְעוּ֙ מֵֽאֵילִ֔ם וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ כָּל־עֲדַ֤ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־מִדְבַּר־סִ֔ין אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּֽין־אֵילִ֖ם וּבֵ֣ין סִינָ֑י בַּֽחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה עָשָׂ֥ר יוֹם֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י לְצֵאתָ֖ם מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
on the fifteenth day: The day of this encampment is stated because on that day the cakes that they had taken out of Egypt were depleted, and they needed manna. We learn [from this] that they ate of the remaining dough (or from the remaining matzoth) sixty- one meals. And the manna fell for them on the sixteenth of Iyar, which was a Sunday, as appears in tractate Shabbath (87b). — [from Mechilta] בחמשה עשר יום: נתפרש היום של חנייה זו, לפי שבו ביום כלתה החררה שהוציאו ממצרים והוצרכו למן, למדנו שאכלו משירי הבצק [משירי המצה] ששים ואחת סעודות, וירד להם מן בששה עשר באייר ויום ראשון בשבת היה, כדאיתא במסכת שבת (דף פז ב):
2The entire community of the children of Israel complained against Moses and against Aaron in the desert. בוַיִּלּ֜וֹנוּ (כתיב וילינו) כָּל־עֲדַ֧ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עַל־משֶׁ֥ה וְעַל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר:
complained: Because the bread [they had taken out of Egypt] was depleted. וילונו: לפי שכלה הלחם:
3The children of Israel said to them, If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat, when we ate bread to our fill! For you have brought us out into this desert, to starve this entire congregation to death גוַיֹּֽאמְר֨וּ אֲלֵהֶ֜ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל מִֽי־יִתֵּ֨ן מוּתֵ֤נוּ בְיַד־יְהֹוָה֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּשִׁבְתֵּ֨נוּ֙ עַל־סִ֣יר הַבָּשָׂ֔ר בְּאָכְלֵ֥נוּ לֶ֖חֶם לָשׂ֑בַע כִּי־הֽוֹצֵאתֶ֤ם אֹתָ֨נוּ֙ אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה לְהָמִ֛ית אֶת־כָּל־הַקָּהָ֥ל הַזֶּ֖ה בָּֽרָעָֽב:
If only we had died: Heb. מוּתֵנוּ, that we would have died, but it is not a noun like מוֹתֵנוּ, our death, but like עִשׂוֹתֵנוּ, חִנוֹתֵנוּ, שׁוּבֵנוּ, that we do, that we encamp, [that we return,] that we die. [Literally, this would be translated: Who would grant that we die.] Its targum [Onkelos, however,] is: לְוַי דְמִיתְנָא, like “If only we had died לוּ מָתְנוּ” (Num. 14:2), if only we would have died. מי יתן מותנו: שנמות, ואינו שם דבר כמו מותנו אלא כמו עשותנו, חנותנו, שובנו, לעשות אנחנו, לחנות אנחנו, למות אנחנו. ותרגומו לוי דמיתנא, כמו (במדבר יד ב) לו מתנו, הלואי והיינו מתים:
4So the Lord said to Moses, Behold! I am going to rain down for you bread from heaven, and the people shall go out and gather what is needed for the day, so that I can test them, whether or not they will follow My teaching. דוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה הִֽנְנִ֨י מַמְטִ֥יר לָכֶ֛ם לֶ֖חֶם מִן־הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְיָצָ֨א הָעָ֤ם וְלָֽקְטוּ֙ דְּבַר־י֣וֹם בְּיוֹמ֔וֹ לְמַ֧עַן אֲנַסֶּ֛נּוּ הֲיֵלֵ֥ךְ בְּתֽוֹרָתִ֖י אִם־לֹֽא:
what is needed for the day: Heb. דְבַר יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ, lit., the thing of a day in its day. What is needed for a day’s eating they will gather on its day, but they will not gather today for the needs of tomorrow. — [from Mechilta] דבר יום ביומו: צורך אכילת יום ילקטו ביומו, ולא ילקטו היום לצורך מחר:
so that I can test them, whether…they will follow My teaching: [Through giving the manna I will test] whether they will keep the commandments contingent upon it, [i.e.,] that they will not leave any of it over, and that they will not go out on the Sabbath to gather [the manna]. למען אנסנו הילך בתורתי: אם ישמרו מצות התלויות בו, שלא יותירו ממנו ולא יצאו בשבת ללקוט:
5And it shall be on the sixth day that when they prepare what they will bring, it will be double of what they gather every day הוְהָיָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔י וְהֵכִ֖ינוּ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־יָבִ֑יאוּ וְהָיָ֣ה מִשְׁנֶ֔ה עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יִלְקְט֖וּ י֥וֹם | יֽוֹם:
and it will be double: For that day and for the morrow. והיה משנה: ליום ולמחרת:
double: of what they were accustomed to gather each day of the rest of the days of the week. I believe that [the meaning of] “what they will bring, and it will be double” is that after they bring it [the manna], by measuring [it], they will find it [to be] double of what they gather and measure every day. That is [the meaning of] “they gathered a double portion of bread” (verse 22). Their gathering was found to be a double portion of bread. That is [the meaning of] “Therefore, on the sixth day, He gives you bread for two days” (verse 29). He gives you a blessing (foison [in French, meaning plenty, abundance]) in the house to fill the omer twice for two days of bread. משנה: על שהיו רגילים ללקוט יום יום של שאר ימות השבוע. ואומר אני אשר יביאו והיה משנה, לאחר שיביאו ימצאו משנה במדידה על אשר ילקטו וימודו יום יום וזהו (להלן פסוק כב) לקטו לחם משנה, בלקיטתו היה נמצא לחם משנה. וזהו (להלן פסוק כט) על כן הוא נותן לכם ביום הששי לחם יומים, נותן לכם ברכה פוישו"ן [שפע] בבית למלאות העומר פעמים ללחם יומים:
6[Thereupon,] Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, [In the] evening, you shall know that the Lord brought you out of the land of Egypt. ווַיֹּ֤אמֶר משֶׁה֙ וְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ן אֶל־כָּל־בְּנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עֶ֕רֶב וִֽידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה הוֹצִ֥יא אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
evening: Heb. עֶרֶב. Like בָּעֶרֶב, toward evening. [According to Sifthei Chachamim, the correct reading is בָּעֶרֶב, in the evening.] [from Onkelos and Jonathan] ערב: כמו לערב:
you shall know that the Lord brought you out of the land of Egypt: Since you [the people of Israel] said to us [Moses and Aaron], “For you have brought us out” (verse 3), you shall know that we are not the ones who brought [you] out, but [it was] the Lord [Who] brought you out, for He will cause the quail to fly to you.[See commentary on verse 13] וידעתם כי ה' הוציא אתכם מארץ מצרים: לפי שאמרתם לנו כי הוצאתם אותנו, תדעו כי לא אנחנו המוציאים אלא ה' הוציא אתכם, שיגיז לכם את השליו:
7And [in the] morning, you shall see the glory of the Lord when He hears your complaints against the Lord but [of] what [significance] are we, that you make [the people] complain against us? זוּבֹ֗קֶר וּרְאִיתֶם֙ אֶת־כְּב֣וֹד יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּשָׁמְע֥וֹ אֶת־תְּלֻנֹּֽתֵיכֶ֖ם עַל־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְנַ֣חְנוּ מָ֔ה כִּ֥י תַלִּ֖ינוּ (כתיב תלונו) עָלֵֽינוּ:
And [in the] morning, you shall see: This was not stated in reference to “and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud” (verse 10), but this is what he [Moses] said to them: In the evening you shall know that He has the ability to grant your desire, and He will give [you] meat; but He will not give it to you with a smiling countenance, because you requested it inappropriately and with a full stomach. As for the bread, which you requested out of necessity, however, when it comes down in the morning, you shall see the glory of the radiance of His countenance. For He will bring it down to you lovingly, in the morning, when there is time to prepare it, and with dew over it and dew under it as if it were lying in a box. — [from Mechilta Yoma 75a,b] ובקר וראיתם: לא על הכבוד שנאמר (להלן פסוק י) והנה כבוד ה' נראה בענן, נאמר, אלא כך אמר להם ערב וידעתם כי היכולת בידו ליתן תאותכם ובשר יתן, אך לא בפנים מאירות יתננה לכם, כי שלא כהוגן שאלתם אותו ומכרס מלאה, והלחם ששאלתם לצורך, בירידתו לבקר תראו את כבוד אור פניו שיורידהו לכם דרך חיבה בבקר, שיש שהות להכינו וטל מלמעלה וטל מלמטה כמונח בקופסא:
your complaints against the Lord: As [if it would say]: "your complaints, which are against the Lord." את תלנתיכם על ה': כמו אשר על ה':
but [of] what [significance] are we: Of what importance are we? -[from Jonathan Mechilta] ונחנו מה: מה אנחנו חשובין:
that you make [the people] complain: Heb. תַלִּינוּ, that you make everyone complain against us: your sons, your wives, your daughters, and the mixed multitude. Perforce, I must interpret תַלִּינוּ, in the sense of “you make do something,” [i.e., the hiph’il conjugation] because of its [the “lammed’s”] “dagesh” and the way it is read [i.e., the keri as opposed to the kethiv]; because if it were weak [i.e., not punctuated with a “dagesh”], I would interpret it as “you do something,” [i.e., in the kal conjugation,] like “and the people complained (וַיָלֶן) against Moses” (Exod. 17:3), or if it [the “lammed”] were punctuated with a “dagesh” and it did not have a “yud” [after it], and read תִלּוֹנוּ, [as it is written], I would explain it as meaning “you complain.” Now, however, it means: “you cause others to complain,” like [the verse written in reference to] the spies: “and they caused the entire congregation to complain (וַיַלִינוּ) against him” (Num. 14:36). כי תלינו עלינו: שתרעימו עלינו את הכל, את בניכם ונשיכם ובנותיכם וערב רב, ועל כרחי אני זקוק לפרש תלינו בלשון תפעילו מפני דגשותו וקרייתו, שאלו היה רפה הייתי מפרשו בלשון תפעלו, כמו (שמות יז ג) וילן העם על משה, או אם היה דגוש ואין בו יו"ד ונקרא תלונו, הייתי מפרשו לשון תתלוננו, עכשיו הוא משמע תלינו את אחרים, כמו במרגלים (במדבר יד לו) וילינו עליו את כל העדה:
8And Moses said, When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and bread in the morning [with which] to become sated, when the Lord hears your complaints, which you are making [the people] complain against Him, but [of] what [significance] are we? Not against us are your complaints, but against the Lord חוַיֹּ֣אמֶר משֶׁ֗ה בְּתֵ֣ת יְהֹוָה֩ לָכֶ֨ם בָּעֶ֜רֶב בָּשָׂ֣ר לֶֽאֱכֹ֗ל וְלֶ֤חֶם בַּבֹּ֨קֶר֙ לִשְׂבֹּ֔עַ בִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־תְּלֻנֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם מַלִּינִ֖ם עָלָ֑יו וְנַ֣חְנוּ מָ֔ה לֹֽא־עָלֵ֥ינוּ תְלֻנֹּֽתֵיכֶ֖ם כִּ֥י עַל־יְהֹוָֽה:
meat to eat: But not to be satiated. The Torah [here] teaches us a rule of behavior we should not eat meat to satiety. What did He see [what reason did He have] to bring down bread in the morning and meat in the evening? Because they requested bread appropriately, since it is impossible for a person to get along without bread, but they requested meat inappropriately, because they had many animals, and furthermore, it was possible for them to get along without meat. Therefore, He gave it to them at a time when it would be a burden for them to prepare it, [at an] inappropriate [time]. — [from Mechilta Yoma 75b] בשר לאכל: ולא לשובע, למדה תורה דרך ארץ שאין אוכלין בשר לשובע. ומה ראה להוריד לחם בבקר ובשר בערב, לפי שהלחם שאלו כהוגן, שאי אפשר לו לאדם בלא לחם, אבל בשר שאלו שלא כהוגן, שהרבה בהמות היו להם. ועוד, שהיה אפשר להם בלא בשר, לפיכך נתן להם בשעת טורח, שלא כהוגן:
which you are making [the people] complain against Him: [You are making] others who hear you complaining [complain]. אשר אתם מלינם עליו: את האחרים השומעים אתכם מתלוננים:
9And Moses said to Aaron, Say to the entire community of the children of Israel, Draw near before the Lord, for He has heard your complaints. טוַיֹּ֤אמֶר משֶׁה֙ אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן אֱמֹ֗ר אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל קִרְב֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֣י שָׁמַ֔ע אֵ֖ת תְּלֻנֹּֽתֵיכֶֽם:
Draw near: to the place where the cloud has descended. קרבו: למקום שהענן ירד:
10And it came to pass when Aaron spoke to the entire community of the children of Israel, that they turned toward the desert, and behold! the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. יוַיְהִ֗י כְּדַבֵּ֤ר אַֽהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּפְנ֖וּ אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְהִנֵּה֙ כְּב֣וֹד יְהֹוָ֔ה נִרְאָ֖ה בֶּֽעָנָֽן:
• Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 69 - 71
• Chapter 69
1. For the Conductor, on the shoshanim,1 by David.
2. Deliver me, O God, for the waters have reached until my soul!
3. I have sunk in muddy depths without foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the current sweeps me away.
4. I am wearied by my crying, my throat is parched; my eyes pined while waiting for my God.
5. More numerous than the hairs on my head are those who hate me without reason. Mighty are those who would cut me off, those who are my enemies without cause. What I have not stolen, I will then have to return.
6. O God, You know my folly, and my wrongs are not hidden from You.
7. Let not those who hope in You be shamed through me, O my Lord, God of Hosts; let not those who seek You be disgraced through me, O God of Israel,
8. because for Your sake I have borne humiliation, disgrace covers my face.
9. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons,
10. for the envy of Your House has consumed me, and the humiliations of those who scorn You have fallen upon me.
11. And I wept while my soul fasted, and it was a humiliation to me.
12. I made sackcloth my garment, and became a byword for them.
13. Those who sit by the gate speak of me, and [of me] are the songs of drunkards.
14. May my prayer to You, Lord, be at a gracious time; God, in Your abounding kindness, answer me with Your true deliverance.
15. Rescue me from the mire, so that I not sink; let me be saved from my enemies and from deep waters.
16. Let not the current of water sweep me away, nor the deep swallow me; and let not the pit close its mouth over me.
17. Answer me, Lord, for Your kindness is good; according to Your abundant mercies, turn to me.
18. Do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress-hurry to answer me.
19. Draw near to my soul and liberate it; redeem me, so that my enemies [not feel triumphant].
20. You know my humiliation, my shame, and my disgrace; all my tormentors are before You.
21. Humiliation has broken my heart, and I have become ill. I longed for comfort, but there was none; for consolers, but I did not find.
22. They put gall into my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
23. Let their table become a trap before them, and [their] serenity, a snare.
24. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and let their loins continually falter.
25. Pour Your wrath upon them, and let the fierceness of Your anger overtake them.
26. Let their palace be desolate, let there be no dweller in their tents,
27. for they persecute the one whom You struck, and tell of the pain of Your wounded ones.
28. Add iniquity to their iniquity, and let them not enter into Your righteousness.
29. May they be erased from the Book of Life, and let them not be inscribed with the righteous.
30. But I am poor and in pain; let Your deliverance, O God, streng-then me.
31. I will praise the Name of God with song, I will extol Him with thanksgiving!
32. And it will please the Lord more than [the sacrifice of] a mature bull with horns and hooves.
33. The humble will see it and rejoice; you seekers of God, [see] and your hearts will come alive.
34. For the Lord listens to the needy, and He does not despise His prisoners.
35. Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all that moves within them,
36. for God will deliver Zion and build the cities of Judah, and they will settle there and possess it;
37. and the seed of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His Name will dwell in it.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument shaped like a shoshana, a rose (Metzudot).
Chapter 70
David prays that his enemies be shamed and humiliated for their shaming him and reveling in his troubles. Then the righteous will rejoice, and chant songs and praises always.
1. For the Conductor, by David, to remind.
2. O God, [come] to rescue me; O Lord, hurry to my aid.
3. Let those who seek my life be shamed and disgraced; let those who wish me harm retreat and be humiliated.
4. Let those who say, "Aha! Aha!" be turned back in return for their shaming [me].
5. Let all who seek You rejoice and delight in You, and let those who love Your deliverance say always, "May God be exalted!”
6. But I am poor and needy; hurry to me, O God! You are my help and deliverer; O God, do not delay!
Chapter 71
In this awe-inspiring prayer, David speaks of his enemies' desire to kill him, declaring him deserving of death.
1. I have taken refuge in You, O Lord; I will never be shamed.
2. Rescue me and deliver me in Your righteousness; incline Your ear to me and save me.
3. Be for me a sheltering rock, to enter always. You have ordered my salvation, for You are my rock and my fortress.
4. O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked, from the palm of the scheming and violent.
5. For You are my hope, O my Lord, God, my security since my youth.
6. I have relied on You from the womb; You drew me from my mother's innards; my praise is of You always.
7. I became an example to the masses, yet You were my mighty refuge.
8. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise, all day long with Your glory.
9. Do not cast me aside in old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails;
10. for my enemies say of me, and those who watch my soul conspire together,
11. saying, "God has forsaken him. Give chase and catch him, for there is no rescuer.”
12. O God, do not distance Yourself from me; my God, hurry to my aid.
13. Let the adversaries of my soul be shamed and consumed; let those who seek my harm be enwrapped in disgrace and humiliation.
14. But as for me, I will always hope; I will add to all Your praises.
15. My mouth will tell of Your righteousness, all day long of Your deliverance, for I do not know their number.
16. I come with the strength of my Lord, God; I mention Your righteousness, Yours alone.
17. O God, You have taught me since my youth, and to this day I tell of Your wonders.
18. Even into old age and hoariness, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell of Your might to the generations, and of Your strength to all who are to come.
19. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens, for You do great things; O God, who is like You!
20. You, Who has shown me many and grievous troubles, You will revive me again; You will lift me again from the depths of the earth.
21. You will increase my greatness; You will turn and console me.
22. I too1 will thank You on the lyre for Your faithfulness, My God; I will sing to You on the harp, O Holy One of Israel.
23. My lips will rejoice when I sing to you, as well as my soul which You have redeemed.
24. My tongue will also utter Your righteousness all day, for those who seek my harm are shamed and disgraced.
FOOTNOTES
1.As you increase my greatness, so will I increase your praise (Metzudot).
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, end of Chapter 23
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Thursday, 13 Shevat, 5777 · 9 February 2017
• Likutei Amarim, end of Chapter 23
• ובזה יובן למה גדלה מאד מעלת העסק בתורה יותר מכל המצות, ואפילו מתפלה שהיא יחוד עולמות עליונים
• Rambam - Thursday, 13 Shevat, 5777 · 9 February 2017
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
• Important Message Regarding This Lesson
The Daily Mitzvah schedule runs parallel to the daily study of 3 chapters of Maimonides' 14-volume code. There are instances when the Mitzvah is repeated a few days consecutively while the exploration of the same Mitzvah continues in the in-depth track.
Positive Commandment 94
Fulfilling Verbal Obligations
"That which issues from your lips you shall keep and perform"—Deuteronomy 23:24.
We are commanded to carry through that which we pledge to do [or not to do].
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Fulfilling Verbal Obligations
Positive Commandment 94
Translated by Berel Bell
The 94th mitzvah is that we are commanded to fulfill every verbal obligation we have taken upon ourselves, whether an oath, a vow, a korban,1 etc.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,2 "You shall be careful to carry out whatever you say."
Although our Sages have split up this verse and explained each word separately as referring to something different, the general meaning of everything they say is: it is a positive commandment for a person to fulfill every verbal obligation he has taken upon himself, and a prohibition not to do so. This will be explained in our discussion of the prohibitions.3
The Sifri says, "The verse, 'Whatever you say,' constitutes a positive commandment." You find it obvious that the words, "whatever you say" by themselves have no meaning whatsoever. The intention [of the Sifri] is therefore as I explained above — that the plain meaning of the verse is that a person is obligated to carry out his verbal commitments.
This commandment is stated a second time in G‑d's statement,4 "A person must fulfill all he has verbally said."
The details of this mitzvah — i.e. how exactly the person must fulfill his obligation, and how he can be released [from his obligation] when in doubt regarding his statement — are explained in a number of passages in Sh'vuos, Nedarim, the end of Menachos, as well as in Kinim.
FOOTNOTES
1.Literally, a sacrifice. When a person says, "a sacrifice that I won't eat something of yours," he means to say that he considers that person's food to be forbidden for him to eat just as a sacrifice is forbidden to him. This constitutes a vow not to eat that person's food.
2.Deut. 23:24.
3.N157.
4.Num. 30:3.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Mechirah Mechirah - Chapter Two
• Mechirah - Chapter Two
• Nedarim - Chapter 4
• Thursday, 13 Shevat, 5777 · 9 February 2017
• "Today's Day"
• Tuesday, Sh'vat 13, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: B'shalach, Shlishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 69-71.
Tanya: But the ten (p. 85)...in the world. (p. 87).
Yahrzeit is observed on the anniversary of the day of death even the first year, and even if the day of burial was much later than the day of death.1
When my grandfather (R. Shmuel) was seven, his father (the Tzemach Tzedek) once answered him: The kindness and special quality in G-d's making man upright,2 to walk erectly, is that though he walks on the earth he sees the Heavens; not so with beasts that go on all fours; they see only the earth.
FOOTNOTES
1.Note: This day (Sh'vat 13) marks the Yahrzeit of Rebbetzin Shterna Sara in 5702 (1942). She was the mother of the Rebbe, R. Yosef Yitzchak.
2.Kohelet 7:29.
• Daily Thought:
Worldly Occupation
Why must we have jobs? Why can’t our bread fall from heaven?
It does. Our bread is manna from heaven. But it bursts forth from Above like a solar flare—a light far too intense for any world to contain.
So, in each world in the chain of spiritual worlds that extend from above to below until our earthly realm, the beings of that world must labor to absorb that light. Only then can the light descend to the world that follows theirs in the chain—and there yet another form of labor is required, according to the limitations of that world.
Until the light arrives at our world. And here we must do the work that our world requires so that it, too, may absorb the light.
And that is why we each have our worldly occupations.[Derech Mitzvosecha, Taglachat Metzora.]
Chumash: Beshalach, 5th Portion Exodus 15:27-16:10 with Rashi
• Exodus Chapter 15
27They came to Elim, and there were twelve water fountains and seventy palms, and they encamped there by the water. כזוַיָּבֹ֣אוּ אֵילִ֔מָה וְשָׁ֗ם שְׁתֵּ֥ים עֶשְׂרֵ֛ה עֵינֹ֥ת מַ֖יִם וְשִׁבְעִ֣ים תְּמָרִ֑ים וַיַּֽחֲנוּ־שָׁ֖ם עַל־הַמָּֽיִם:
twelve water fountains: Corresponding to the twelve tribes, were prepared for them. — [from Mechilta] שתים עשרה עינות מים: כנגד י"ב שבטים נזדמנו להם:
and seventy palms: Corresponding to the seventy elders. — [from Mechilta, Jonathan] ושבעים תמרים: כנגד שבעים זקנים:
Exodus Chapter 16
1They journeyed from Elim, and the entire community of the children of Israel came to the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. אוַיִּסְעוּ֙ מֵֽאֵילִ֔ם וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ כָּל־עֲדַ֤ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־מִדְבַּר־סִ֔ין אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּֽין־אֵילִ֖ם וּבֵ֣ין סִינָ֑י בַּֽחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה עָשָׂ֥ר יוֹם֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י לְצֵאתָ֖ם מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
on the fifteenth day: The day of this encampment is stated because on that day the cakes that they had taken out of Egypt were depleted, and they needed manna. We learn [from this] that they ate of the remaining dough (or from the remaining matzoth) sixty- one meals. And the manna fell for them on the sixteenth of Iyar, which was a Sunday, as appears in tractate Shabbath (87b). — [from Mechilta] בחמשה עשר יום: נתפרש היום של חנייה זו, לפי שבו ביום כלתה החררה שהוציאו ממצרים והוצרכו למן, למדנו שאכלו משירי הבצק [משירי המצה] ששים ואחת סעודות, וירד להם מן בששה עשר באייר ויום ראשון בשבת היה, כדאיתא במסכת שבת (דף פז ב):
2The entire community of the children of Israel complained against Moses and against Aaron in the desert. בוַיִּלּ֜וֹנוּ (כתיב וילינו) כָּל־עֲדַ֧ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עַל־משֶׁ֥ה וְעַל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר:
complained: Because the bread [they had taken out of Egypt] was depleted. וילונו: לפי שכלה הלחם:
3The children of Israel said to them, If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat, when we ate bread to our fill! For you have brought us out into this desert, to starve this entire congregation to death גוַיֹּֽאמְר֨וּ אֲלֵהֶ֜ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל מִֽי־יִתֵּ֨ן מוּתֵ֤נוּ בְיַד־יְהֹוָה֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּשִׁבְתֵּ֨נוּ֙ עַל־סִ֣יר הַבָּשָׂ֔ר בְּאָכְלֵ֥נוּ לֶ֖חֶם לָשׂ֑בַע כִּי־הֽוֹצֵאתֶ֤ם אֹתָ֨נוּ֙ אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה לְהָמִ֛ית אֶת־כָּל־הַקָּהָ֥ל הַזֶּ֖ה בָּֽרָעָֽב:
If only we had died: Heb. מוּתֵנוּ, that we would have died, but it is not a noun like מוֹתֵנוּ, our death, but like עִשׂוֹתֵנוּ, חִנוֹתֵנוּ, שׁוּבֵנוּ, that we do, that we encamp, [that we return,] that we die. [Literally, this would be translated: Who would grant that we die.] Its targum [Onkelos, however,] is: לְוַי דְמִיתְנָא, like “If only we had died לוּ מָתְנוּ” (Num. 14:2), if only we would have died. מי יתן מותנו: שנמות, ואינו שם דבר כמו מותנו אלא כמו עשותנו, חנותנו, שובנו, לעשות אנחנו, לחנות אנחנו, למות אנחנו. ותרגומו לוי דמיתנא, כמו (במדבר יד ב) לו מתנו, הלואי והיינו מתים:
4So the Lord said to Moses, Behold! I am going to rain down for you bread from heaven, and the people shall go out and gather what is needed for the day, so that I can test them, whether or not they will follow My teaching. דוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה הִֽנְנִ֨י מַמְטִ֥יר לָכֶ֛ם לֶ֖חֶם מִן־הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְיָצָ֨א הָעָ֤ם וְלָֽקְטוּ֙ דְּבַר־י֣וֹם בְּיוֹמ֔וֹ לְמַ֧עַן אֲנַסֶּ֛נּוּ הֲיֵלֵ֥ךְ בְּתֽוֹרָתִ֖י אִם־לֹֽא:
what is needed for the day: Heb. דְבַר יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ, lit., the thing of a day in its day. What is needed for a day’s eating they will gather on its day, but they will not gather today for the needs of tomorrow. — [from Mechilta] דבר יום ביומו: צורך אכילת יום ילקטו ביומו, ולא ילקטו היום לצורך מחר:
so that I can test them, whether…they will follow My teaching: [Through giving the manna I will test] whether they will keep the commandments contingent upon it, [i.e.,] that they will not leave any of it over, and that they will not go out on the Sabbath to gather [the manna]. למען אנסנו הילך בתורתי: אם ישמרו מצות התלויות בו, שלא יותירו ממנו ולא יצאו בשבת ללקוט:
5And it shall be on the sixth day that when they prepare what they will bring, it will be double of what they gather every day הוְהָיָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔י וְהֵכִ֖ינוּ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־יָבִ֑יאוּ וְהָיָ֣ה מִשְׁנֶ֔ה עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יִלְקְט֖וּ י֥וֹם | יֽוֹם:
and it will be double: For that day and for the morrow. והיה משנה: ליום ולמחרת:
double: of what they were accustomed to gather each day of the rest of the days of the week. I believe that [the meaning of] “what they will bring, and it will be double” is that after they bring it [the manna], by measuring [it], they will find it [to be] double of what they gather and measure every day. That is [the meaning of] “they gathered a double portion of bread” (verse 22). Their gathering was found to be a double portion of bread. That is [the meaning of] “Therefore, on the sixth day, He gives you bread for two days” (verse 29). He gives you a blessing (foison [in French, meaning plenty, abundance]) in the house to fill the omer twice for two days of bread. משנה: על שהיו רגילים ללקוט יום יום של שאר ימות השבוע. ואומר אני אשר יביאו והיה משנה, לאחר שיביאו ימצאו משנה במדידה על אשר ילקטו וימודו יום יום וזהו (להלן פסוק כב) לקטו לחם משנה, בלקיטתו היה נמצא לחם משנה. וזהו (להלן פסוק כט) על כן הוא נותן לכם ביום הששי לחם יומים, נותן לכם ברכה פוישו"ן [שפע] בבית למלאות העומר פעמים ללחם יומים:
6[Thereupon,] Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, [In the] evening, you shall know that the Lord brought you out of the land of Egypt. ווַיֹּ֤אמֶר משֶׁה֙ וְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ן אֶל־כָּל־בְּנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עֶ֕רֶב וִֽידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה הוֹצִ֥יא אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
evening: Heb. עֶרֶב. Like בָּעֶרֶב, toward evening. [According to Sifthei Chachamim, the correct reading is בָּעֶרֶב, in the evening.] [from Onkelos and Jonathan] ערב: כמו לערב:
you shall know that the Lord brought you out of the land of Egypt: Since you [the people of Israel] said to us [Moses and Aaron], “For you have brought us out” (verse 3), you shall know that we are not the ones who brought [you] out, but [it was] the Lord [Who] brought you out, for He will cause the quail to fly to you.[See commentary on verse 13] וידעתם כי ה' הוציא אתכם מארץ מצרים: לפי שאמרתם לנו כי הוצאתם אותנו, תדעו כי לא אנחנו המוציאים אלא ה' הוציא אתכם, שיגיז לכם את השליו:
7And [in the] morning, you shall see the glory of the Lord when He hears your complaints against the Lord but [of] what [significance] are we, that you make [the people] complain against us? זוּבֹ֗קֶר וּרְאִיתֶם֙ אֶת־כְּב֣וֹד יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּשָׁמְע֥וֹ אֶת־תְּלֻנֹּֽתֵיכֶ֖ם עַל־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְנַ֣חְנוּ מָ֔ה כִּ֥י תַלִּ֖ינוּ (כתיב תלונו) עָלֵֽינוּ:
And [in the] morning, you shall see: This was not stated in reference to “and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud” (verse 10), but this is what he [Moses] said to them: In the evening you shall know that He has the ability to grant your desire, and He will give [you] meat; but He will not give it to you with a smiling countenance, because you requested it inappropriately and with a full stomach. As for the bread, which you requested out of necessity, however, when it comes down in the morning, you shall see the glory of the radiance of His countenance. For He will bring it down to you lovingly, in the morning, when there is time to prepare it, and with dew over it and dew under it as if it were lying in a box. — [from Mechilta Yoma 75a,b] ובקר וראיתם: לא על הכבוד שנאמר (להלן פסוק י) והנה כבוד ה' נראה בענן, נאמר, אלא כך אמר להם ערב וידעתם כי היכולת בידו ליתן תאותכם ובשר יתן, אך לא בפנים מאירות יתננה לכם, כי שלא כהוגן שאלתם אותו ומכרס מלאה, והלחם ששאלתם לצורך, בירידתו לבקר תראו את כבוד אור פניו שיורידהו לכם דרך חיבה בבקר, שיש שהות להכינו וטל מלמעלה וטל מלמטה כמונח בקופסא:
your complaints against the Lord: As [if it would say]: "your complaints, which are against the Lord." את תלנתיכם על ה': כמו אשר על ה':
but [of] what [significance] are we: Of what importance are we? -[from Jonathan Mechilta] ונחנו מה: מה אנחנו חשובין:
that you make [the people] complain: Heb. תַלִּינוּ, that you make everyone complain against us: your sons, your wives, your daughters, and the mixed multitude. Perforce, I must interpret תַלִּינוּ, in the sense of “you make do something,” [i.e., the hiph’il conjugation] because of its [the “lammed’s”] “dagesh” and the way it is read [i.e., the keri as opposed to the kethiv]; because if it were weak [i.e., not punctuated with a “dagesh”], I would interpret it as “you do something,” [i.e., in the kal conjugation,] like “and the people complained (וַיָלֶן) against Moses” (Exod. 17:3), or if it [the “lammed”] were punctuated with a “dagesh” and it did not have a “yud” [after it], and read תִלּוֹנוּ, [as it is written], I would explain it as meaning “you complain.” Now, however, it means: “you cause others to complain,” like [the verse written in reference to] the spies: “and they caused the entire congregation to complain (וַיַלִינוּ) against him” (Num. 14:36). כי תלינו עלינו: שתרעימו עלינו את הכל, את בניכם ונשיכם ובנותיכם וערב רב, ועל כרחי אני זקוק לפרש תלינו בלשון תפעילו מפני דגשותו וקרייתו, שאלו היה רפה הייתי מפרשו בלשון תפעלו, כמו (שמות יז ג) וילן העם על משה, או אם היה דגוש ואין בו יו"ד ונקרא תלונו, הייתי מפרשו לשון תתלוננו, עכשיו הוא משמע תלינו את אחרים, כמו במרגלים (במדבר יד לו) וילינו עליו את כל העדה:
8And Moses said, When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and bread in the morning [with which] to become sated, when the Lord hears your complaints, which you are making [the people] complain against Him, but [of] what [significance] are we? Not against us are your complaints, but against the Lord חוַיֹּ֣אמֶר משֶׁ֗ה בְּתֵ֣ת יְהֹוָה֩ לָכֶ֨ם בָּעֶ֜רֶב בָּשָׂ֣ר לֶֽאֱכֹ֗ל וְלֶ֤חֶם בַּבֹּ֨קֶר֙ לִשְׂבֹּ֔עַ בִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־תְּלֻנֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם מַלִּינִ֖ם עָלָ֑יו וְנַ֣חְנוּ מָ֔ה לֹֽא־עָלֵ֥ינוּ תְלֻנֹּֽתֵיכֶ֖ם כִּ֥י עַל־יְהֹוָֽה:
meat to eat: But not to be satiated. The Torah [here] teaches us a rule of behavior we should not eat meat to satiety. What did He see [what reason did He have] to bring down bread in the morning and meat in the evening? Because they requested bread appropriately, since it is impossible for a person to get along without bread, but they requested meat inappropriately, because they had many animals, and furthermore, it was possible for them to get along without meat. Therefore, He gave it to them at a time when it would be a burden for them to prepare it, [at an] inappropriate [time]. — [from Mechilta Yoma 75b] בשר לאכל: ולא לשובע, למדה תורה דרך ארץ שאין אוכלין בשר לשובע. ומה ראה להוריד לחם בבקר ובשר בערב, לפי שהלחם שאלו כהוגן, שאי אפשר לו לאדם בלא לחם, אבל בשר שאלו שלא כהוגן, שהרבה בהמות היו להם. ועוד, שהיה אפשר להם בלא בשר, לפיכך נתן להם בשעת טורח, שלא כהוגן:
which you are making [the people] complain against Him: [You are making] others who hear you complaining [complain]. אשר אתם מלינם עליו: את האחרים השומעים אתכם מתלוננים:
9And Moses said to Aaron, Say to the entire community of the children of Israel, Draw near before the Lord, for He has heard your complaints. טוַיֹּ֤אמֶר משֶׁה֙ אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן אֱמֹ֗ר אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל קִרְב֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֣י שָׁמַ֔ע אֵ֖ת תְּלֻנֹּֽתֵיכֶֽם:
Draw near: to the place where the cloud has descended. קרבו: למקום שהענן ירד:
10And it came to pass when Aaron spoke to the entire community of the children of Israel, that they turned toward the desert, and behold! the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. יוַיְהִ֗י כְּדַבֵּ֤ר אַֽהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּפְנ֖וּ אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְהִנֵּה֙ כְּב֣וֹד יְהֹוָ֔ה נִרְאָ֖ה בֶּֽעָנָֽן:
• Daily Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 69 - 71
• Chapter 69
1. For the Conductor, on the shoshanim,1 by David.
2. Deliver me, O God, for the waters have reached until my soul!
3. I have sunk in muddy depths without foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the current sweeps me away.
4. I am wearied by my crying, my throat is parched; my eyes pined while waiting for my God.
5. More numerous than the hairs on my head are those who hate me without reason. Mighty are those who would cut me off, those who are my enemies without cause. What I have not stolen, I will then have to return.
6. O God, You know my folly, and my wrongs are not hidden from You.
7. Let not those who hope in You be shamed through me, O my Lord, God of Hosts; let not those who seek You be disgraced through me, O God of Israel,
8. because for Your sake I have borne humiliation, disgrace covers my face.
9. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons,
10. for the envy of Your House has consumed me, and the humiliations of those who scorn You have fallen upon me.
11. And I wept while my soul fasted, and it was a humiliation to me.
12. I made sackcloth my garment, and became a byword for them.
13. Those who sit by the gate speak of me, and [of me] are the songs of drunkards.
14. May my prayer to You, Lord, be at a gracious time; God, in Your abounding kindness, answer me with Your true deliverance.
15. Rescue me from the mire, so that I not sink; let me be saved from my enemies and from deep waters.
16. Let not the current of water sweep me away, nor the deep swallow me; and let not the pit close its mouth over me.
17. Answer me, Lord, for Your kindness is good; according to Your abundant mercies, turn to me.
18. Do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress-hurry to answer me.
19. Draw near to my soul and liberate it; redeem me, so that my enemies [not feel triumphant].
20. You know my humiliation, my shame, and my disgrace; all my tormentors are before You.
21. Humiliation has broken my heart, and I have become ill. I longed for comfort, but there was none; for consolers, but I did not find.
22. They put gall into my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
23. Let their table become a trap before them, and [their] serenity, a snare.
24. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and let their loins continually falter.
25. Pour Your wrath upon them, and let the fierceness of Your anger overtake them.
26. Let their palace be desolate, let there be no dweller in their tents,
27. for they persecute the one whom You struck, and tell of the pain of Your wounded ones.
28. Add iniquity to their iniquity, and let them not enter into Your righteousness.
29. May they be erased from the Book of Life, and let them not be inscribed with the righteous.
30. But I am poor and in pain; let Your deliverance, O God, streng-then me.
31. I will praise the Name of God with song, I will extol Him with thanksgiving!
32. And it will please the Lord more than [the sacrifice of] a mature bull with horns and hooves.
33. The humble will see it and rejoice; you seekers of God, [see] and your hearts will come alive.
34. For the Lord listens to the needy, and He does not despise His prisoners.
35. Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all that moves within them,
36. for God will deliver Zion and build the cities of Judah, and they will settle there and possess it;
37. and the seed of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His Name will dwell in it.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument shaped like a shoshana, a rose (Metzudot).
Chapter 70
David prays that his enemies be shamed and humiliated for their shaming him and reveling in his troubles. Then the righteous will rejoice, and chant songs and praises always.
1. For the Conductor, by David, to remind.
2. O God, [come] to rescue me; O Lord, hurry to my aid.
3. Let those who seek my life be shamed and disgraced; let those who wish me harm retreat and be humiliated.
4. Let those who say, "Aha! Aha!" be turned back in return for their shaming [me].
5. Let all who seek You rejoice and delight in You, and let those who love Your deliverance say always, "May God be exalted!”
6. But I am poor and needy; hurry to me, O God! You are my help and deliverer; O God, do not delay!
Chapter 71
In this awe-inspiring prayer, David speaks of his enemies' desire to kill him, declaring him deserving of death.
1. I have taken refuge in You, O Lord; I will never be shamed.
2. Rescue me and deliver me in Your righteousness; incline Your ear to me and save me.
3. Be for me a sheltering rock, to enter always. You have ordered my salvation, for You are my rock and my fortress.
4. O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked, from the palm of the scheming and violent.
5. For You are my hope, O my Lord, God, my security since my youth.
6. I have relied on You from the womb; You drew me from my mother's innards; my praise is of You always.
7. I became an example to the masses, yet You were my mighty refuge.
8. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise, all day long with Your glory.
9. Do not cast me aside in old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails;
10. for my enemies say of me, and those who watch my soul conspire together,
11. saying, "God has forsaken him. Give chase and catch him, for there is no rescuer.”
12. O God, do not distance Yourself from me; my God, hurry to my aid.
13. Let the adversaries of my soul be shamed and consumed; let those who seek my harm be enwrapped in disgrace and humiliation.
14. But as for me, I will always hope; I will add to all Your praises.
15. My mouth will tell of Your righteousness, all day long of Your deliverance, for I do not know their number.
16. I come with the strength of my Lord, God; I mention Your righteousness, Yours alone.
17. O God, You have taught me since my youth, and to this day I tell of Your wonders.
18. Even into old age and hoariness, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell of Your might to the generations, and of Your strength to all who are to come.
19. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens, for You do great things; O God, who is like You!
20. You, Who has shown me many and grievous troubles, You will revive me again; You will lift me again from the depths of the earth.
21. You will increase my greatness; You will turn and console me.
22. I too1 will thank You on the lyre for Your faithfulness, My God; I will sing to You on the harp, O Holy One of Israel.
23. My lips will rejoice when I sing to you, as well as my soul which You have redeemed.
24. My tongue will also utter Your righteousness all day, for those who seek my harm are shamed and disgraced.
FOOTNOTES
1.As you increase my greatness, so will I increase your praise (Metzudot).
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, end of Chapter 23
• Lessons in Tanya
• Today's Tanya Lesson
• Thursday, 13 Shevat, 5777 · 9 February 2017
• Likutei Amarim, end of Chapter 23
• ובזה יובן למה גדלה מאד מעלת העסק בתורה יותר מכל המצות, ואפילו מתפלה שהיא יחוד עולמות עליונים
This discussion of the exalted unity with G‑d attained through Torah study, which is even greater than that accomplished by performing the mitzvot, explains why Torah study is so much loftier than all the other commandments, including even prayer, which effects unity within the supernal worlds.
והא דמי שאין תורתו אומנתו צריך להפסיק, היינו מאחר דמפסיק ומבטל בלאו הכי
(1Although the law requires of anyone whose Torah study is not his entire occupation that he interrupt his study for prayer, 2 which would seem to indicate that prayer surpasses Torah study, this is so only because he would in any case pause and interrupt his studies.)
Thus it is not the law which causes him to interrupt. The law merely states that the interruption which he would have made regardless, be made at the time designated for prayer; and as soon as he interrupts his studies, he is automatically obliged to pray. 3
ומזה יוכל המשכיל להמשיך עליו יראה גדולה בעסקו בתורה
From this explanation of the lofty stature of Torah study the wise man will be able to draw upon himself a sense of great awe as he engages in the study of the Torah, 4
כשיתבונן איך שנפשו ולבושיה שבמוחו ובפיו הם מיוחדים ממש בתכלית היחוד ברצון העליון ואור אין סוף ברוך הוא ממש המתגלה בהם
when he considers how his soul and its “garments” of thought and speech that are found in his brain and mouth are truly fused in perfect unity with the Divine Will and the infinite light of Ein Sof that is manifest in them i.e., in the soul and its garments when he studies Torah.
מה שכל העולמות עליונים ותחתונים כלא חשיבי קמיה וכאין ואפס ממש, עד שאינו מתלבש בתוכם ממש, אלא סובב כל עלמין בבחינת מקיף להחיותם עיקר חיותם, רק איזו הארה מתלבשת בתוכם מה שיכולים לסבול שלא יתבטלו במציאות לגמרי
This infinite light manifest in one’s Torah study is of such a lofty level that all the upper and lower worlds are truly as naught in comparison with it; are in fact as absolutely nothing at all, so much so that they can only bear to have a minute glow of it clothed in them without their reverting to nothingness altogether. Their main life-force which they receive from it, however, is not clothed within them, but animates them from the outside, so to speak, in a transcendent, encompassing manner.
When he considers that the very same Divine light that is completely beyond the capacity of all the worlds manifests itself openly in his Torah study, the thinking man will naturally experience a sense of awe when he studies Torah.
וזהו שכתוב: ויצונו ה’ את כל החוקים האלה ליראה את ה‘ וגו’
This is the meaning of the verse, 5 “And G‑d commanded us [to fulfill] all these statutes, in order to fear G‑d.”
According to this verse, observing the mitzvot would appear to be the first step, and this leads to the fear of G‑d. Logically, however, the performance of G‑d’s commandments would seem to be a result of one’s fear of Him, and not vice versa. The Alter Rebbe therefore explains that the above verse speaks of a higher level of awe than that which is a prerequisite for performing the commandments. This level can only be attained as a result of one’s observance of the commandments.
Now if the commandments lead one to a higher level in the fear of G‑d, surely the study of the Torah leads one to a still higher level. This the Alter Rebbe now discusses.
ועל יראה גדולה זו אמרו: אם אין חכמה אין יראה, והתורה נקראת אצלה תרעא לדרתא, כמו שכתוב במקום אחר
(Regarding this great fear our Sages said, 6 “If there is no wisdom there is no fear.” In this context, “wisdom” represents Torah study, and “fear” — the higher level of the awe of G‑d which can be reached only by way of the Torah. By contrast, the statement, “If there is no fear, there is no wisdom,” refers to the lower level of fear which is a prerequisite for Torah study, as stated above. In relation to this level of fear, the Torah is called7 “a gateway to the dwelling,”i.e., the sole means of entering the dwelling, viz., the higher level of fear, as is explained elsewhere.)
אלא דלאו כל מוחא סביל דא יראה כזו. אך גם מאן דלא סביל מוחו כלל יראה זו, לא מינה ולא מקצתה, מפני פחיתות ערך נפשו בשרשה ומקורה במדרגות תחתונות דעשר ספירות דעשיה, אין יראה זו מעכבת בו למעשה, כמו שכתוב לקמן
Not every mind, however, can sustain such a fear. Yet even he whose mind cannot bear such a fear, nor even a minute part of it, because the root and source of his soul derives from an inferior level — the lower gradations of the Ten Sefirot of the World of Asiyah, — even he should not be deterred from the actual performance of the Torah and the mitzvot for want of this fear, as will be explained further. 8
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Parentheses are in the original text. |
| 2. | Shabbat 11a; Rambam, Hilchot Tefillah 6:8; R. Shneur Zalman, Shulchan Aruch 106:4. |
| 3. | This interpretation is based on a note by the Rebbe. |
| 4. | The point of the following discussion of the awe of G-d that Torah study engenders in the student, and its relevance here, are explained by the Rebbe as follows: The Alter Rebbe has pointed out that the level of union with G-d's Will found in the study of the Torah is greater than the union attained through other mitzvot. He now goes on to say that as a result of this superior quality, the study of the Torah is superior in yet another respect, viz., it creates in the student a greater awe of G-d than that which the mitzvot create in those who perform them. In fact, this latter quality is more important than the former. Since the goal of all the mitzvot (and their attendant union with G-d's Will) is to lead us to fear Him (as the Alter Rebbe will quote shortly), the superiority of Torah over mitzvot in the attainment of this goal is more important than its intrinsic superiority - in union with G-d's Will. The relevance of this subject here lies in the fact that the entire discussion of the qualities of Torah and mitzvot is intended to show how "it is very near to you .... in your mouth and heart ......" (see our introduction to chapter 18). Clearly, the greater one's awe of G-d, the more is it "very near to you." |
| 5. | Cf. Devarim 6:24. |
| 6. | Avot 3:17. |
| 7. | Shabbat 31b; Yoma 72b. |
| 8. | Ch. 41. |
• Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
• Important Message Regarding This Lesson
The Daily Mitzvah schedule runs parallel to the daily study of 3 chapters of Maimonides' 14-volume code. There are instances when the Mitzvah is repeated a few days consecutively while the exploration of the same Mitzvah continues in the in-depth track.
Positive Commandment 94
Fulfilling Verbal Obligations
"That which issues from your lips you shall keep and perform"—Deuteronomy 23:24.
We are commanded to carry through that which we pledge to do [or not to do].
Full text of this Mitzvah »
• Fulfilling Verbal Obligations
Positive Commandment 94
Translated by Berel Bell
The 94th mitzvah is that we are commanded to fulfill every verbal obligation we have taken upon ourselves, whether an oath, a vow, a korban,1 etc.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,2 "You shall be careful to carry out whatever you say."
Although our Sages have split up this verse and explained each word separately as referring to something different, the general meaning of everything they say is: it is a positive commandment for a person to fulfill every verbal obligation he has taken upon himself, and a prohibition not to do so. This will be explained in our discussion of the prohibitions.3
The Sifri says, "The verse, 'Whatever you say,' constitutes a positive commandment." You find it obvious that the words, "whatever you say" by themselves have no meaning whatsoever. The intention [of the Sifri] is therefore as I explained above — that the plain meaning of the verse is that a person is obligated to carry out his verbal commitments.
This commandment is stated a second time in G‑d's statement,4 "A person must fulfill all he has verbally said."
The details of this mitzvah — i.e. how exactly the person must fulfill his obligation, and how he can be released [from his obligation] when in doubt regarding his statement — are explained in a number of passages in Sh'vuos, Nedarim, the end of Menachos, as well as in Kinim.
FOOTNOTES
1.Literally, a sacrifice. When a person says, "a sacrifice that I won't eat something of yours," he means to say that he considers that person's food to be forbidden for him to eat just as a sacrifice is forbidden to him. This constitutes a vow not to eat that person's food.
2.Deut. 23:24.
3.N157.
4.Num. 30:3.
• Rambam - 1 Chapter: Mechirah Mechirah - Chapter Two
• Mechirah - Chapter Two
1
A Canaanite servant is considered as landed property with regard to the laws of acquisition, and can be acquired through the transfer of money and a deed of sale, or through chazakah.
א
עבד כנעני הרי הוא כקרקע לקנייה ונקנה בכסף ובשטר או בחזקה:
2
What manifestation of ownership is effective in acquiring a servant? Making use of him as one makes use of a servant in the presence of his previous master.
What is implied? If the servant unties his new master's shoe, puts on his shoe, carries his articles to the bathhouse, undresses him, anoints him, combs his skin, dresses him or lifts him up, the master acquires the servant.
Similarly, if the master lifts up the servant, he acquires him.
ב
ומה היא החזקה בקניין עבדים שישתמש בהן כדרך שמשתמשין בעבדים בפני רבו כיצד התיר לו מנעלו או שהנעיל לו מנעלו או שהוליך כליו לבית המרחץ או שהפשיטו או סכו או גרדו או הלבישו או הגביה את רבו קנה וכן אם הגביה הרב את העבד קנה:
3
If the new owner pushes the servant and brings him close to him, he acquires him, for a Canaanite servant can be acquired through meshichah in this manner. If, however, he called the servant and he came to him, or the servant's previous owner told him to go to the purchaser, and he followed those instructions, the new owner does not acquire himuntil he pushes him or until he makes use of him in the manner described above.
If the new owner manifests his ownership over the servant outside the presence of the previous owner, the previous owner must tell him: "Go, manifest your ownership and acquire him" for the kinyan to be effective.
ג
תקפו והביאו אצלו קנה שהעבדים נקנין במשיכה כזו אבל אם קרא לעבד ובא אצלו או שאמר לו רבו הראשון לך אצל הלוקח והלך אצלו לא קנה עד שימשכנו בתקיפה או שישתמש בו כמו שביארנו ואם החזיק בו שלא בפני הרב צריך שיאמר לו לך חזק וקנה:
4
A servant below the age of majority is considered like an animal and can be acquired through both the processes by which an animal is acquired and those by which servants are acquired. Therefore, he can be acquired by meshichah even though the new owner did not push him.
ד
עבד קטן הרי הוא כבהמה וקונין אותו בדברים שקונין בהן הבהמה ובדברים שקונין בהן העבדים לפיכך נקנה במשיכה אף על פי שלא תקפו:
5
Livestock, whether light or heavy, can be acquired through meshichah. When lifting an animal is possible, it need not be lifted, because it may receive a blow when placed back on the earth. If a person lifts it up, he acquires it.
Lifting up an object serves as a kinyan in all places, while meshichah is effective as a kinyan only in a corner off the public domain, or in a courtyard whose ownership the buyer and the seller both share. Meshichah is not effective as a kinyan in the public domain or in a courtyard whose ownership is not shared by both the seller and the purchaser.
ה
הבהמה בין דקה בין גסה נקנית במשיכה אע"פ שאפשר להגביה אותה לא הצריכוהו להגביה מפני שמתחבטת בארץ ואם הגביה קנה וההגבהה קונה בכל מקום אבל המשיכה אין קונין בה אלא בסימטא או בחצר של שניהם ואין קונין בה ברשות הרבים ולא בחצר שאינה של שניהם:
6
How is an animal acquired through meshichah? Needless to say, the transaction is completed if the purchaser pulls the animal and it walks after him, or he rides upon it and causes it to walk. The transaction is effective even if he calls it and it comes, or he swats it with a stick and causes it to run. When the animal lifts both a forefoot and a hind foot, the purchaser acquires it.
The above applies provided the purchaser performs meshichah in the presence of the previous owner. If he performs meshichah outside the presence of the previous owner, that person must tell the purchaser before he performs meshichah, "Go, perform meshichah and acquire it."
ו
כיצד קונין את הבהמה במשיכה אין צריך לומר אם משכה והלכה או שרכב עליה והלכה בו שקנה אלא אפילו קרא לה ובאה או שהכישה במקל ורצה בפניו כיון שעקרה יד ורגל קנאה והוא שימשוך בפני הבעלים אבל אם משך שלא בפני הבעלים צריך שיאמר לו קודם שימשוך לך משוך וקנה:
7
When a person sells a herd to a colleague or gives it to him as a gift, if he gives him the mashkuchit - i.e., the animal that leads the herd, that all the others follow - he does not have to tell him, "Perform meshichah and acquire it." For giving him this animal is tantamount to saying: "Go, perform meshichah and acquire it." Thus, once the purchaser or the recipient performs meshichah with the herd, he acquires it, even if he performs meshichah outside the presence of the previous owner.
ז
המוכר עדר לחבירו או שנתן לו במתנה כיון שמסר לו משכוכית היא הבהמה המהלכת בראש העדר והכל נמשכים אחריה אין צריך לומר לו משוך וקנה שמסירת בהמה זו כמי שאמר לו לך משוך וקנה וכיון שמשך לו העדר קנה ואף על פי שמשך שלא בפניו:
8
When a person tells a purchaser or a recipient of a gift: "Perform meshichah over an animal and then you will acquire it," or "Perform chazakah over property and then you will acquire it," he does not acquire it if he performs meshichah or chazakah. For the expression "you will acquire it" is in the future tense and implies that he has not transferred ownership to him yet.
Instead, the seller or the giver of the gift must say: "Go, perform chazakah and acquire it," "Go, perform meshichah and acquire it," or the like, using an expression that implies that he will acquire it at the time he performs meshichah or chazakah.
ח
האומר לחבירו משוך ותקנה או חזק ותקנה וכיוצא בדברים אלו והלך ומשך או שהחזיק לא קנה שמשמע תקנה להבא ועדיין לא הקנה לו אלא צריך המוכר או הנותן לומר לו לך חזק וקנה או משוך וקנה וכיוצא בדברים אלו שמשמען שיקנה עתה בעת שימשוך או יחזיק:
9
When a person tells a colleague: "Perform meshichah with an animal and you will acquire it after 30 days," and he performs meshichah, he does not acquire it.
If he told him "...acquire it now and after 30 days," he acquires it, even if it is standing in a swamp on the thirtieth day. For this resembles a situation in which an acquisition was made in the present, conditional on a stipulation, in which instance, when the stipulation is met, the transaction becomes effective.
Whenever a person uses the expression "with the intent that...," it is as if he said that the transaction would take effect from the present.
ט
האומר לחבירו משוך פרה זו ולא תקנה אלא לאחר שלשים יום ומשך לא קנה ואם אמר לו קנה מעכשיו ולאחר שלשים יום קנה ואפילו היתה עומדת באגם ביום שלשים שזה כמי שהקנה אותו מעתה על תנאי נעשה התנאי נתקיים הקניין וכל האומר על מנת כאומר מעכשיו דמי:
10
The following rules apply when a person sells an animal to a purchaser or gives it as a gift and tells the purchaser or the recipient: "Acquire it in the manner in which people normally acquire it." If he performs meshichah or hagbahah, he acquires it. If, however, he rides upon it a distinction is made: If this is done in the field, he acquires it. If it is done in the city, he does not acquire it, for it is not common for people to ride in a city.
For this reason, if the purchaser or recipient is an important person - who is accustomed to riding in a city, a very base person - who is not concerned about riding through the city, e.g., a person who raises animals or servants, or a woman, or if the animal is in the public domain where many walk, it can be acquired by riding, provided the rider causes the animal to proceed.
י
המוכר בהמה לחבירו או נתנה לו במתנה ואמר קנה אותה כדרך שבני אדם קונין אם משך או הגביהה קנה אבל אם רכב עליה אם בשדה קנה ואם בעיר לא קנה לפי שאין דרך בני אדם לרכוב בעיר לפיכך אם היה אדם חשוב שדרכו לרכוב בעיר או אדם מזולזל ביותר שאינו מקפיד על הילוכו בעיר רוכב כגון המטפלין בגידול הבהמות או העבדים או שהיתה אשה או שהיה ברשות הרבים שהרבים דורסין שם הרי זה קונה ברכיבה והוא שתהלך בו:
• Nedarim - Chapter 4
1
Vows taken because of coercion,1 vows taken unintentionally,2and vows involving exaggerations are permitted,3 as we explained with regard to oaths.4
If men of coercion or customs collectors made him take a vow, saying: "Take a vow to us that meat is forbidden to you if you possess something on which customs duty is due," should he take a vow and say: "Bread, meat, and wine are forbidden to me...", he is permitted [to partake of] all of them5 even though he added to what they asked him [to say].6 Similarly, if they asked him to take a vow [on the condition] that his wife not benefit and he took a vow [on the condition] that his wife, his children, and his brothers not benefit from him, they are all permitted. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
א
נדרי אונסין ונדרי שגגות ונדרי הבאי הרי אלו מותרים כדרך שבארנו בשבועות הרי שהדירוהו האנסין והמוכסין ואמרו לו נדור לנו שהבשר אסור עליך אם יש עמך דבר שחייב במכס ונדר ואמר הרי הפת והבשר והיין אסורין עלי הרי זה מותר בכל ואע"פשהוסיף על מה שבקשו ממנו וכן אם בקשו ממנו שידור שלא תהנה אשתו לו ונדר שלא תהנה לו אשתו ובניו ואחיו כולן מותרין וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
2
In all vows of this type, he must have the intent at heart for something that is permitted,7 for example, that they be forbidden for him for that day alone or for that hour alone or the like. He may rely on the intent in his heart, since he is being compelled by forces beyond his control.8 Thus at the time he is taking the vow for them, his mouth and his heart are not in concord. [This is required,] as we explained with regard to vows.9
ב
ובכל הנדרים האלו צריך שיתכוין בלבו לדבר המותר כגון שישים בלבו שיהיו אסורין עליו אותו היום בלבד או אותה שעה וכן כיוצא בזה וסומך על דברים שבלבו הואיל והוא אנוס ואינו יכול להוציא בשפתיו ונמצא בשעה שידור להן אין פיו ולבו שוין כמו שבארנו בשבועות:
3
Similarly, vows of encouragement are permitted.10 What does this imply? One administered a vow to a colleague to eat at his [home] and that colleague took a vow not to eat there, because he did not want to trouble him. Whether he eat or did not eat, they are both exempt.
Similarly, if a merchant took a vow that he would not sell an article for less than a sela and a purchaser took a vow that he would not buy it for more than a shekel,11 if they agree on three dinarim,12they are both exempt.13 Similar laws apply in all analogous situations. [The rationale is that] neither of them made a definite conclusion in his heart. He took the vow only to encourage his colleague without making a definite conclusion in his heart.14
ג
וכן נדרי זרוזין מותרין כיצד כגון שהדיר חבירו שיאכל אצלו ונדר זה שלא יאכל מפני שאינו רוצה להטריח עליו בין אכל בין לא אכל שניהן פטורין וכן המוכר שנדר שלא ימכור חפץ זה אלא בסלע והלוקח נדר שלא יקחנו אלא בשקל ורצו בשלשה דינרין שניהן פטורין וכן כל כיוצא בזה לפי שכל אחד מהם לא גמר בלבו ולא נדר אלא כדי לזרז את חבירו ולא גמר בלבו:
4
What is the source which teaches that it is forbidden for a person to take even these four types of vows which are permitted with the intent of nullifying them? It is written [Numbers 30:3): "He shall not desecrate his word," i.e., he should not make his word an inconsequential matter.
ד
ומנין שאפילו ארבעה מיני נדרים אלו שהן מותרים שאסור לו לאדם להיות נודר בהן על מנת לבטלן תלמוד לומר לא יחל דברו לא יעשה דבריו חולין:
5
When a person took a vow and then [changed his mind and] regretted his vow, he may approach a sage and ask for its release. The laws pertaining to the release of vows are the same as those applying to the release of oaths.15 A vow can be released only by a distinguished sage or by three ordinary men in a place where there are no sages.16 The same wording is used to release a vow as is used to release an oath.17 Similarly, all of the other concepts that we explained with regard to oaths apply to vows in the same way as they apply to oaths.
ה
מי שנדר וניחם על נדרו הרי זה נשאל לחכם ומתירו ודין היתר נדרים כדין היתר שבועות שאין מתיר אלא חכם מובהק או שלשה הדיוטות במקום שאין חכם ובלשון שמתירין השבועה מתירין הנדר וכן שאר הענינות שפירשנו בשבועות כולן בנדרים כדרך שהן בשבועות:
6
We do not release a vow until it takes effect, as is the law pertaining to an oath.18
ו
ואין מתירין הנדר עד שיחול כשבועה:
7
Just as we may ask for the release of vows involving prohibitions and they are repealed, so, too, may we ask for the release of vows involving consecrated property and they are repealed.19 This applies both to [articles] consecrated for the upkeep of the Temple and [animals] consecrated to [be sacrificed] on the altar. When the holiness of a sacrifice is transferred from one animal to another, that holiness cannot be released.20
ז
וכשם שנשאלים על נדרי האיסר ומתירין אותו כך נשאלים על נדרי הקדש ומתירין אותו בין נדרי קדשי בדק הבית בין קדשי מזבח ואין נשאלין על התמורה:
8
Just as a father or a husband can nullify [a woman's] vows involving prohibitions,21 so, too, they can nullify vows of consecration that resemble vows involving prohibitions.
ח
וכשם שהאב או הבעל מפר נדרי איסר כך מפר נדרי הקדשות הדומין לנדרי האיסר:
9
ט
מי שנדר ושמע חבירו ואמר ואני ושמע שלישי ואמר ואני ונשאל הראשון על נדרו והותר הותרו כולן נשאל האחרון והותר האחרון מותר וכולן אסורין נשאל השני והותר השני ושל אחריו מותרין והראשון אסור:
10
Similar principles apply when one has attached many entities to a single vow, e.g., he took a vow [forbidding] bread and extended it to meat,26 if he asks for release of [the prohibition against] bread and it is granted, the [prohibition against] meat is also released.27 If he asks for release of [the prohibition against] meat and it is granted, the [prohibition against] bread is not released.28
י
וכן המתפיס דברים הרבה בנדר כגון שנדר על הפת והתפיס הבשר ונשאל על הפת והותר בה הותר הבשר נשאל על הבשר והותר בו לא הותר הפת:
11
When a person takes an oath or a vow saying: "I will not benefit from any one of you," if he asks for the release of his vow or oath concerning one of them and the release was granted, they are all released. [The rationale is that] when a vow is released in part, all of its [particulars] are also released.29
When a person says: "I will not benefit from this person, and from this person, and from this person," if [the prohibition against] the first is released, [the prohibitions against] all of them are released.30 If the prohibition against the last is released, that prohibition is released, but the others remain binding. If he said: "I will not benefit from this one; nor from this one; nor from this one," he must ask for a release for each one indidivually.31 Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.32
יא
הנשבע או הנודר שאיני נהנה לכולכם ונשאל על נדרו או על שבועתו על אחד מהם והתירו הותרו כלם שהנדר שהותר מכללו הותר כולו אמר שאיני נהנה לזה ולזה ולזה הותר הראשון הותרו כולן הותר אחרון האחרון מותר וכולן אסורין שאיני נהנה לזה לזה לזה צריכין פתח לכל אחד ואחד וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
12
When a person took a nazirite vow, a vow to bring a sacrifice, and an oath [forbidding himself from partaking of something], or he took a vow, but does not know concerning which of these he took the vow, one request for release [can release] all of them.33
יב
נדר בנזיר ובקרבן ובשבועה או שנדר ואין ידוע באי זה מהן נדר פתח אחד לכולן:
13
יג
הנודר מאנשי העיר ונשאל לחכם שבעיר או שנדר מישראל והרי הוא נשאל לחכם שבישראל הרי נדרו מותר:
14
If one says: "This produce is forbidden to me today if I go to this-and-this place tomorrow," he is forbidden to partake of them that day. [This is a] decree lest he go that place tomorrow.36 If he transgressed and partook of it that day and then undertook the journey on the morrow, he is liable for lashes.37 If he did not go, he is not liable for lashes.38
יד
האומר פירות אלו אסורין עלי היום אם אלך למחר למקום פלוני הרי זה אסור לאכלם היום גזירה שמא ילך למחר לאותו מקום ואם עבר ואכלן היום והלך למחר לוקה ואם לא הלך אינו לוקה:
15
If one says: "This produce will be forbidden to me tomorrow if I go to this-and-this place today," he is permitted to go that place today and the produce will be forbidden for him tomorrow. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations. [The rationale is that] a person is careful about not violating a prohibition,39 but he is not careful in keeping a condition that will cause a permitted entity to become forbidden.40
טו
אמר הרי הן אסורין למחר אם אלך היום למקום פלוני הרי זה מותר לילך היום לאותו המקום ויאסרו עליו אותן הפירות למחר וכן כל כיוצא בזה מפני שאדם זהיר בדבר האסור שלא לעשותו ואינו זהיר בתנאי שגורם לאסור דבר המותר:
16
When a person takes a vow to fast for ten days,41whenever he desires and he was fasting one day and had [to interrupt the fast] for the sake of a mitzvah42 or to honor a person of stature, he may eat and repay [the fast] on another day. [The rationale is that] he did not specify the days [he would fast] when he took the vow initially.43
טז
הנודר לצום עשרה ימים באי זה יום שירצה והיה מתענה ביום אחד מהם והוצרך לדבר מצוה או מפני כבוד אדם גדול הרי זה אוכל ופורע יום אחר שהרי לא קבע הימים בתחלת הנדר נדר שיצום היום ושכח ואכל משלים לצום נדר שיצום יום אחד או שנים וכשהתחיל לצום שכח ואכל אבד תעניתו וחייב לצום יום אחר:
FOOTNOTES
1.
As explained immediately below.
2.
See Chapter 8, Halachah 3.
3.
Note, however, Halachah 4.
4.
Hilchot Sh'vuot 3:1, 5.
5.
Even though he possessed items for which customs duty was due. See Hilchot Sh'vuot 3:2.
6.
I.e., one might think that since he was not compelled to mention the other substances, the vow would take effect with regard to them. Hence, the Rambam explains that since he was compelled to take the vow, his additions do not change its status.
7.
See Hilchot Sh'vuot 3:3.
8.
The Rama (Yoreh De'ah 232:14) emphasizes that the statement he makes may not be a direct contradiction to the intent in his heart. He also emphasizes that the vow may not be broken in a way that the gentile who forced the vow to be taken will be become aware of its violation. For this would lead to the desecration of God's name.
9.
See Hilchot Sh'vuot 2:12.
10.
The laws of this halachah do not apply with regard to oaths. Since an oath involves the mention of God's name, taking an oath for this purpose would be taking God's name in vain. A vow does not require the mention of God's name. Hence, this is permitted (Radbaz).
11.
I.e., two dinarim which are half a sela.
12.
The Rama (Yoreh De'ah 232:2) quotes opinions that maintain that each one can fluctuate slightly past the midway point, but may not accept the other's position completely. He also quotes other more lenient views.
13.
For neither definitely meant what he said. Taking the vow was just a bargaining technique. See the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 232:2) which states that this applies when they continue negotiating after taking the vow. Then it is clear that they were merely bargaining. If, however, they broke off negotiations, the vow is considered binding.
14.
Thus it could be said that his heart and his mouth were not in concord (Radbaz).
15.
See Hilchot Sh'vuot 6:1.
16.
See Hilchot Sh'vuot 6:1.
17.
See Hilchot Sh'vuot 6:4.
18.
See Hilchot Sh'vuot 6:14.
19.
Nevertheless, it is undesirable to do so. One should seek their release only in a pressing situation. See Chapter 13, Halachah 25.
Since ultimately, the person did not desire to make the vow, it is as if the article were consecrated in error. In such an instance, the consecration is not effective (Radbaz, based on Ketubot 78a).
20.
The rationale is that the release of vows is based on the principle that after the person changes his mind and regrets having made the vow, it is as if the vow was made in error. Since the transfer of holiness from a sacrificial animal to another animal is binding even if it is done in error (Temurah 17a), there is no reason why a release is possible after such a transfer has been effected (Radbaz, Kessef Mishneh). Nevertheless, if one regrets the original consecration, that can be nullified and then, as a matter of course, the animal to which the holiness was transferred will also lose its status (see Mishneh LeMelech).
21.
See chs. 11-13.
22.
The latter two are bound by the vow taken by the first, as stated in Chapter 3, Halachah 3.
23.
For the vows of the latter individuals are dependent on the vow of the first. Once the first vow is nullified, they no longer have any basis on which they can stand.
24.
For their vows are not dependent on his.
25.
For his vow serves as the basis for theirs.
26.
See Chapter 3, Halachah 4.
27.
For it is dependent on the prohibition against bread.
28.
For it is not dependent on the prohibition against meat.
29.
I.e., at the outset, his intent was that the oath or vow include all the individuals in the group, once that intent is no longer valid, it is as if the entire vow or oath was taken in error. Hence, it is no longer binding. The Jerusalem Talmud (Nedarim 1:1) derives this concept from the exegesis of Numbers 30:3: "He should act according to everything that he uttered from his mouth." Since "everything" he uttered from his mouth need not be fulfilled, nothing must be fulfilled. If part of a vow is nullified, the entire vow is nullified.
30.
Since the person said "and" between each one, he made the latter individuals dependent on the first. Nevertheless, in contrast to the first clause, all of the individuals are not considered as being included in the same vow.
31.
Since he did not associate them by saying "and," it is considered as if he took a vow concerning each person individually. See also Hilchot Sh'vuot 7:10.
32.
See Chapter 8, Halachah 6.
33.
They are all considered as one vow. Hence, as in the previous halachah, once a portion of a vow is nullified, the entire vow is nullified. Even if he only has a reason to regret the last portion of the vow, the entire vow is nullified (Radbaz).
34.
As the Rambam states in Chapter 7, Halachah 9, initially, it is forbidden for the person to ask such a sage to release his vow, for in this way, he is benefiting from the people of the city. After the fact, however, the vow is released, because retroactively, it is as if the vow were never taken.
35.
In this instance, he may initially ask a Jewish sage to have his vow released, for he has no alternative. Only a Jewish sage can release a vow. In the previous instance, by contrast, he can ask a sage from another city to release the vow (Radbaz).
36.
And then the vow would take effect retroactively.
37.
As mentioned in the notes to Hilchot Sh'vuot 4:16, to be liable for lashes, one must be given a warning. This law indicates that even if the warning was delivered conditionally, the person can be held liable for lashes.
38.
Despite the fact that he violated the advice of our Sages, since he did not violate a Scriptural commandment, he is not liable for lashes.
39.
Hence, we do not fear that he will partake of the produce on the following day.
40.
Therefore, in the previous halachah, he is forbidden to partake of the produce at the outset.
41.
I.e., not consecutively.
42.
I.e., to participate in a feast celebrating the observance of a mitzvah, e.g., a circumcision or the completion of a Talmudic tractate (Mishnah Berurah 568:9).
43.
Since he did not stipulate the day on which he would fast, even though he began fasting on a particular day, he can change his mind and switch the fast to another day.
44.
Since he took a vow against eating that day, the fact that he broke his fast does not make it permissible for him to eat afterwards. This applies even if he is willing to fast another day instead. Compare to Hilchot Ta'aniot 1:14. the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 568:1) quotes the Rambam's ruling. The Rama adds that there are some who accept upon themselves to fast another day to compensate for the fast he did not keep.
45.
Nevertheless, since he did not specify a particular day at the time of his vow, once he ate, he may eat on the day he began fasting.
Nedarim - Chapter 5
1
When Reuven tells Shimon: "I [am forbidden] to you like a dedication offering"1 or "You are forbidden to benefit from me," it is forbidden for Shimon to benefit from Reuven.2 If he transgresses and benefits from him, he is not liable for lashes, because Shimon did not say anything.3 Reuven is permitted to derive benefit from Shimon, because he did not forbid this to himself.
א
ראובן שאמר לשמעון הריני עליך חרם או הרי אתה אסור בהנייתי נאסר על שמעון שיהנה בראובן ואם עבר ונהנה אינו לוקה שהרי לא אמר שמעון כלום ומותר לראובן ליהנות בשמעון שהרי לא אסר עצמו בהנייתו:
2
If he tells Shimon: "You [are forbidden] to me like a dedication offering" or "I am forbidden to benefit from you," Reuven is forbidden to benefit from Shimon. If he derives benefit, he is liable for lashes, because he desecrated his word. Shimon is permitted to benefit from Reuven.
If he tells him: "I [am forbidden] to you like a dedication offering and you are [forbidden] to me" or "I am forbidden to benefit from you and you are forbidden to benefit from me," they are both forbidden to benefit from each other. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ב
אמר לשמעון הרי אתה עלי חרם או הריני אסור בהנייתך הרי נאסר ראובן מליהנות בשמעון ואם נהנה לוקה שהרי חלל דברו ושמעון מותר בהניית ראובן אמר לו הריני עליך חרם ואתה עלי או הריני אסור בהנייתך ואתה אסור בהנייתי שניהם אסורין זה בזה וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
3
If Reuven tells Shimon: "So-and-so's produce is forbidden to you" or "You are forbidden to benefit from so-and-so," his words are of no consequence. For a person cannot cause his colleague to be prohibited with regard to a matter that is not his unless [that person] responds Amen, as we explained.4
ג
ראובן שאמר לשמעון הרי פירות פלוני אסורין עליך או הרי אתה אסור בהניית פלוני אין זה כלום שאין אדם אוסר חבירו בדבר שאינו שלו אא"כ ענה שמעון אמן כמו שבארנו:
4
When a person tells a colleague: "This loaf [of bread] mine is forbidden to you," it [remains] forbidden to him even if he gives it to him as a present.5 If he dies, and [the other person] inherits it or [it is acquired by a third party] who gives it to him as a present, he is permitted. For [the one taking the vow said] "My loaf," and now it is not his.6
ד
האומר לחבירו ככרי זו אסורה עליך אף על פי שנתנה לו במתנה הרי זו אסורה עליו מת ונפלה לו בירושה או שנתנה לו אחר במתנה הרי זו מותרת שלא אמר לו אלא ככרי והרי אינה עתה שלו:
5
If he tells him: "This produce is forbidden to you," but does not say: "My produce," even if he sold it or died and it became the property of another person,7 it [remains] forbidden to him. For when a person causes his property to be forbidden to a colleague, it remains forbidden unless he says: "my property," "my house," "my produce," or uses another similar term. For in those instances, he only forbade [using] the articles while they were in his possession.8
ה
אמר לו פירות אלו אסורין עליך ולא אמר לו פירותי אע"פשמכרן או שמת ונפלו לאחר הרי אלו אסורין עליו שהאוסר דבר שהוא שלו על חבירו אף על פי שיצא מרשותו הרי הוא באיסורו עומד אלא אם כן אמר נכסי או ביתי או פירותי וכיוצא בלשונות אלו שהרי לא אסרן אלא כל זמן שהן ברשותו:
6
When a person tells his son: "You are forbidden to benefit from me" or he takes and oath that his son is forbidden to benefit from him, when he dies, the son may inherit his property. For this is as if he says: "My property is forbidden to you." If he forbade [the son] from benefiting from him and specified: "During my lifetime and after my death," if he dies, [the son] should not inherit his [estate].9 For this is as if he said: "This property is forbidden to you."
ו
האומר לבנו הרי את אסור בהנייתי או שנשבע שלא יהנה בו אם מת יירשנו שזה כאומר נכסי עליך אסורין אסר עליו הנייתו ופירש בין בחיי בין במותי אם מת לא יירשנו שזה כמי שאמר לו נכסים אלו אסורין עליך:
7
When a person forbids his son from benefiting from him10 and says: "If this son's son will be a Torah scholar,11 this son will acquire this property to transfer it to his son,"12 this is permissible. The son is forbidden [to benefit] from his father's estate and the grandson is permitted to derive such benefit13 if he is a Torah scholar as was stipulated.
ז
אסר בנו בהנייתו ואמר אם יהיה בן בני זה תלמיד חכם יקנה בני זה נכסי כדי להקנותן לבנו הרי זה מותר ויהיה הבן אסור בנכסי האב ובן הבן מותר בהן אם יהיה תלמיד חכם כמו שהתנה:
8
If this son who is forbidden to benefit from his father's estate gives14 [the property] he inherits from his father to his brother or his sons, they are permitted to benefit from them.15 This also applies if he paid a debt with them or paid [the money due] his wife [by virtue of] her ketubah.16He must tell [the recipients] that [the payment they receive] is from the estate of his father which was forbidden to him. [The rationale for this leniency is that] when a person takes an oath that a colleague will not benefit from his property, he may pay that colleague's debt, as will be explained.17
ח
זה הבן האסור בירושת אביו אם נתן ירושת אביו לאחיו או לבניו הרי זה מותר וכן אם פרעם בחובו או בכתובת אשתו וצריך להודיען שאלו נכסי אבי שאסרן עלי שהנשבע שלא יהנה בו חבירו מותר לו לפרוע את חובו כמו שיתבאר:
9
When a person was forbidden - either through a vow or an oath - to partake of a type of food, he is permitted to partake of other types of food that were cooked or mixed together with [the forbidden] food, even though it has [acquired] the flavor of the forbidden food.18 If he was forbidden to partake of specific produce19 and that produce became mixed with others, if they have the flavor of the forbidden food, [the other food] is forbidden. If not,20 it is permitted.
ט
מי שנאסר עליו מין ממיני מאכל בין בנדר בין בשבועה ונתבשל עם מינים אחרים או נתערב עמהן הרי זה מותר במינים המותרים אף על פי שיש בהן טעם המין האסור ואם נאסר בפירות אלו ונתערבו באחרים אם יש בהן טעם דבר האסור אסורין ואם לאו מותרין:
10
What is implied? A person who is forbidden to partake of meat or wine may partake of soup or vegetables that were cooked with meat or wine. [This applies] even if they have the flavor of meat or wine. He is forbidden only to eat meat alone or drink wine alone.
י
כיצד נאסר בבשר או ביין הרי זה מותר לאכול מרק וירקות שנתבשלו עם הבשר ועם היין אע"פ שיש בהן טעם הבשר או טעם היין ואינו אסור אלא באכילת בשר בפני עצמו או לשתות יין בפני עצמו:
11
If, however, he forbade himself [to partake of] "this meat" or "this wine,"21 if the vegetables have the flavor of meat or wine, they are forbidden. If not, they are permitted. For this meat or this wine become considered like the meat of nevelot, teeming animals, or the like. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations. Therefore if one says: "This meat is forbidden for me," he is forbidden to partake of it, its sauce, and the spices [cooked] with it.22
יא
נאסר בבשר זה או ביין זה ונתבשל עם הירק אם יש בירקות טעם בשר או טעם היין אסורין ואם לאו מותרין שזה הבשר וזה היין נעשה כמו בשר נבלות ושקצים וכיוצא בהן וכן כל כיוצא בזה לפיכך האומר בשר זה אסור עלי הרי זה אסור בו ובמרק שבו ובתבלין שבו:
12
If the wine which he forbade himself23 became mixed with other wine,24 even one drop in an entire barrel, the entire quantity becomes forbidden. [The rationale is that] since he has the possibility to ask for the release of his vow, [the forbidden substance] is considered as an entity that can be permitted and hence, never becomes nullified in [a majority of permitted] substances of its own kind, as explained in Hilchot Ma'achalot Assurot.25
יב
נתערב יין זה שאסרו על עצמו ביין אחר אפילו טיפה בחבית נאסר הכל מפני שיש לו להשאל על נדרו נעשה כדבר שיש לו מתירין שאינו בטל במינו כמו שבארנו בהלכות מאכלות אסורות:
13
יג
האומר פירות האלו קרבן עלי או קרבן הן לפי או קרבן הן על פי הרי זה אסור בחילופיהן ובגדוליהם ואין צריך לומר במשקין היוצאין מהן:
14
[The following rules apply] if a person took a vow or an oath not to eat [produce] or not to taste it. If it is an entity whose seed decomposes when it is sown like wheat or barley, he is permitted [to partake of] the articles exchanged for it28 and the produce that grows from it.29 If it was an entity whose seed does not decompose in the earth when it is sown, like onions or garlic,30even the produce that grows from the produce that grows from it is forbidden.31 In all situations, there is a doubt [whether he is forbidden to drink] the juices they produce.32 Therefore, if he drinks them, he is not liable for lashes.
יד
נדר או נשבע שאיני אוכל אותם או שאיני טועם אותם אם היה דבר שזרעו כלה כשיזרע כגון חטה ושעורה הרי זה מותר בחילופיהן ובגדוליהן ואם היה הדבר שאין זרעו כלה בארץ כשיזרע כגון בצלים ושומין אפילו גדולי גדולין אסורין ובין כך ובין כך משקין היוצאין מהן ספק לפיכך אם שתה מהן אינו לוקה:
15
Similarly, if a person tells his wife: "The work produced by your hands33 is like a sacrifice to me," "...a sacrifice to my mouth," or "...a sacrifice because of my mouth," he is forbidden to partake of anything exchanged for [her earnings] or produce that grows from her work.34 If he says that he will not to eat [from the work of her hands], nor taste it, if the produce [that grew from] the work of her hands is an entity whose seed decomposes, he is permitted [to partake of] articles exchanged for it and the produce that grows from it. If it was an entity whose seed does not decompose, even the produce that grows from the produce that grows from them is forbidden.
Why do we not consider the original produce that is forbidden insignificant because of the [new] growth that is larger than it? Because the original produce is an entity whose prohibition can be released, which is not nullified [when mixed] with a majority [of permitted substances], as explained.35
טו
וכן האומר לאשתו מעשה ידיך עלי קרבן או קרבן הן לפי או קרבן הן על פי אסור בחלופיהן ובגדוליהן שאיני טועם שאיני אוכל אם היו פירות מעשה ידיה דבר שזרעו כלה מותר בחלופיהן ובגדוליהן ואם היה דבר שאין זרעו כלה אפילו גדולי גדולין אסורין ולמה לא יבטל העיקר האסור בגדולין שרבו עליו שהרי הן דבר שיש לו מתירין שאינו בטל ברוב כמו שבארנו:
16
When a person forbids his produce to a colleague, whether by vow or by an oath, there is an unresolved question if the produce that grows from it36 and articles exchanged for it [are permitted to the colleague].37 Therefore the produce that grows from it and articles exchanged for it are forbidden to his colleague. If he transgresses and benefits, he has benefited.38
טז
האוסר פירותיו על חבירו בין בנדר בין בשבועה הרי גדוליהן וחלופיהן ספק לפיכך חבירו אסור בגדולי פירות אלו ובחלופיהן ואם עבר ונהנה נהנה:
FOOTNOTES
1.
See Chapter 1, Halachah 14; Chapter 2, Halachah 8.
2.
It is as if Reuven designated his property as consecrated with regard to Shimon (Or Sameach).
3.
And the prohibition which Reuven established does not make Shimon liable. If, however, Shimon said Amen, he would be liable, as stated in Chapter 2, Halachah 1.
See Chapter 10, Halachah 12, from which it is apparent that if Reuven voluntarily allows Shimon to benefit from his property, Reuven is liable for lashes, for he is desecrating his own vow.
As indicated by Hilchot Meilah 4:9, even though the person is not liable for lashes, he is liable to bring a sacrifice for atonement, since with regard to him, it is as if he benefited from consecrated property.
4.
Chapter 2, Halachah 1.
5.
For there is no way that he can acquire it in a permitted manner.
6.
I.e., once he dies, the loaf no longer belongs to him.
7.
The Tur (Yoreh De'ah 216) states that this applies when the person taking the vow says: "During my lifetime and after my death." From the Rambam's words and a comparison to Halachah 6, it is apparent that he need not make such a specification. See Turei Zahav 216:10 which discusses these two perspectives.
8.
For that is the implication of the term "my." Compare to Chapter 8, Halachah 11.
9.
See Halachah 8 which explains that the estate does become the son's property and he may use it in certain ways.
10.
And specifies that this applies after his death as well, as in the previous halachah.
11.
This is speaking about a situation in which the grandson is not born yet or is still a minor in which instance, the grandfather cannot transfer the property to him directly Alternatively, he is not yet a Torah scholar (Radbaz).
12.
The Ra'avad and others question the Rambam's ruling, for seemingly, it does not involve any new concept. The son becomes the owner of the estate regardless. Although he is forbidden to benefit from it, he has the right to give it to his son whether he is a Torah scholar or not as stated in the following halachah. The Kessef Mishneh explains that ordinarily, the son may use the estate to pay a debt or to give it to his brother as a present. If, however, the grandson is a Torah scholar, this is forbidden and it is as if the estate was transferred to him directly and the father cannot use it for other purposes. The Radbaz explains that this is speaking about a situation where the father had two sons and if this son's son was not a Torah scholar, he would give his entire estate to the other son.
13.
The Kessef Mishneh interprets this as meaning that the estate will be given to the grandson. The Bayit Chadash (Yoreh De'ah 223) explains that implicit in the grandfather's statement is the stipulation that if the grandson is not a Torah scholar, he - like his father - will be forbidden to benefit from the estate. See Siftei Cohen 223:4.
14.
Rabbenu Nissim explains that the intent is not that he actually gives the money to the recipients, but he informs them of where it is and allows them to take it. See Siftei Cohen 223:3.
15.
Here also, the son must tell the recipients that they are receiving property that he is forbidden to benefit from. Implied is that the estate becomes the son's property. He is forbidden to benefit from it. Nevertheless, as indicated here, he may receive indirect benefit, for certainly the recipients of his gifts will be thankful to him and repay him in some way or other.
16.
For this also considered as another debt.
17.
Chapter 6, Halachah 4. The person is not considered to have received benefit from the payment of his debt, since holding back a creditor from pressing claim is not considered as benefit (Radbaz).
The Tur (Yoreh De'ah 223) questions the Rambam's ruling, explaining that although the father would have been permitted to pay the son's debt, for the son to pay his own debt with the estate's money is considered as benefiting from the estate. Nevertheless, the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 223:4) accepts the Rambam's ruling.
18.
For his vow involved only the food itself - i.e., something that people would have in mind when using that term - but not its flavor. It does not become like forbidden food, in which case, even the flavor is forbidden (Kessef Mishneh).
19.
That produce is considered as if it was inherently forbidden and hence, even its flavor is forbidden (Kessef Mishneh).
20.
I.e., a person who had not taken the vow tasted the food and said that the flavor of the forbidden food could not be detected. Alternatively, there was more than 60 times the amount of the forbidden food.
21.
I.e., designating a particular piece of meat or quantity of wine.
22.
For these other entities will derive the flavor of the meat.
23.
The Or Sameach emphasizes that the Rambam is speaking about a vow which a person made himself, for he can have such a vow released. If, however, he responds to another person, he cannot ask for the vow's release.
24.
If, however, the wine becomes mixed with a liquid of another type, its presence becomes nullified if its taste is no longer detectable (Turei Zahav 216:13).
25.
Chapter 15, Halachah 10. The rationale is that since the prohibition can be released, it is preferable to do that rather than have the prohibition nullified.
26.
I.e., just as he may not partake of a sacrifice with his mouth, he may not partake of this produce.
27.
I.e., if the produce forbidden because of the vow was sown and other produce grew from it, that produce is also forbidden.
Since the produce forbidden by the vow is equated to a sacrifice, like a sacrifice, it is forbidden to derive any benefit from it (Kessef Mishneh).
The Ra'avad (in his gloss to Halachah 16) asks: Why is the produce that grows from the forbidden produce prohibited. Seemingly, we should follow the principle: Zeh vizeh goraim mutar, when an entity is produced by two factors, one permitted and one forbidden, it is permitted. Here as well, since the second generation produce was produced by the forbidden produce and also by the earth, it should be permitted.
The Radbaz explains that since a vow is involved, we follow the principle mentioned in Halachah 12, that since the prohibition involved can be released entirely, we do not consider it nullified because another factor is also involved.
28.
For his vow specified only eating or tasting the produce, not benefiting from it. Nor is there any taste of the original produce in the produce that grows from its seeds.
29.
For the second generation produce is not the same substance concerning which the vow was taken.
30.
The onion or the garlic head is put in the ground and a new plant grows from it.
31.
For ultimately, even the third generation produce has the flavor of the first generation produce. As the Rambam explains at the conclusion of Halachah 15, we do not say that its flavor will be nullified because the greater portion of the substance of the new produce is permitted, because, as stated in Halachah 12, the forbidden fruit is an entity whose prohibition could be released.
32.
Nedarim 52b leaves unresolved the question whether in this context the juice produced from the fruit is considered as the fruit or not. Hence, because of the doubt, one is forbidden to partake of it, but cannot be held liable for punishment. This refers to fruits other than grapes or olives. In the latter instances, the liquid is considered as the fruit.
33.
The Siftei Cohen 216:8 states that we are referring to an instance that the husband uses wording similar to that suggested in Chapter 3, Halachah 11; alternatively, that he is referring to work which his wife already performed. Otherwise, there would be a difficulty because a vow is not effective unless the object concerned already exists.
34.
I.e., if she planted a tree, he is forbidden to partake of its fruit. The Rambam (based on Nedarim 57a) is restating the concepts mentioned in the previous halachah in a different context.
35.
See Halachah 12 which explains that he has the potential to have his vow released.
36.
The Ra'avad protests the Rambam's ruling, maintaining that based on Nedarim 47a, it appears that the produce grown from the fruits of his efforts is definitely forbidden. The Radbaz, however, explains that the Rambam has a different way of understanding that Talmudic passage.
37.
Nedarim, loc. cit., explains that the question is: Since these entities have not come into existence as of yet, can he cause them to be forbidden to his colleague.
38.
I.e., he is not liable. Firstly, lashes are not given when an unresolved question is involved. Also, as stated in Halachah 1, when a person becomes forbidden because of another person's vow, he is not liable for lashes unless he responds Amen.
Nedarim - Chapter 6
1
When a person tells a colleague: "Benefit that leads to your food is forbidden to me," or "Benefit that leads to my food is forbidden to you," the person who is forbidden should not borrow from the other person: a sifter, a strainer, a hand mill, an oven, or any other utensil used to prepare food. He may, however, borrow from him bracelets, rings, and other articles that are not used to produce food. He is forbidden to borrow from him a sack or a donkey to carry produce.1
א
האומר לחבירו הנאה המביאה לידי מאכלך אסורה עלי או הנאה המביאה לידי מאכלי אסורה עליך הרי זה הנאסר לא ישאל מן האסור לו נפה וכברה ורחיים ותנור וכל דבר שעושין בהן אוכל נפש אבל משאילו נזמים וטבעות וכלים שאין עושין בהן אוכל נפש ואסור לשאול ממנו שק להביא בו פירות וחמור להביא עליו פירות:
2
[In the above situation,] in a place where utensils are given out only for a fee, it is forbidden to borrow [without charge] even utensils that are not used to produce food.2If they were in a place where a fee is not charged and he borrowed from him utensils that are not used to produce food to look impressive to others because of them so that he will receive benefit from them3 or he sought to pass through his property so that he could reach a place where he would derive benefit,4 there is an unresolved question whether it is prohibited.5 Therefore, if he transgresses, he is not liable for lashes.
ב
מקום שדרכן שאין משאילין כלים אלא בשכר אסור לשאול ממנו אף כלים שאין עושין בהן אוכל נפש הרי שהיו במקום שאין נוטלין שכר ושאל ממנו כלים שאין עושין בהן אוכל נפש כדי להראות בהן בפני אחרים עד שיהנה מהם או שבקש לעבור בארצו כדי שילך במקום שיהנה בו הרי זה אסור מספק לפיכך אם עבר אינו לוקה:
3
There is no difference between one who takes a vow not to benefit from a colleague and one who takes a vow not to derive benefit that leads to food except [permission to] pass through [property]6 and borrowing utensils that are not used to produce food in a place where they are borrowed without charge.7
ג
אין בין מודר הנאה מחבירו למודר ממנו הניית מאכל אלא דריסת הרגל וכלים שאין עושין בהן אוכל נפש במקום שמשאילין אותם שם בחנם:
4
When Reuven was forbidden to benefit from Shimon, either through a vow or through an oath, Shimon may give the half-shekel which Reuven is obligated to give.8 Similarly, he may pay a debt that he owes. [The rationale is that] Reuven does not receive anything, all [Shimon does] is prevent a claim from being lodged against him. And preventing a claim from being lodged is not included in the prohibition against [giving] benefit.9
Therefore [Shimon] may provide food for [Reuven's] wife,10 his sons, and his servants, even his Canaanite servants,11 even though [Reuven] is obligated to provide for their sustenance. He may not, however, provide food for [Reuven's] animal, whether a kosher animal or a non-kosher one,12 for any increase in the animal's weight is benefit given to Reuven.
ד
ראובן שנאסרה עליו הניית שמעון בין בנדר בין בשבועה מותר לו שיתן שמעון על ידו מחצית השקל שראובן חייב בה וכן פורע חוב שעליו שהרי לא הגיע ליד ראובן כלום אלא מנע ממנו התביעה ומניעת התביעה אינה בכלל אסור הנייה לפיכך מותר לו לזון את אשתו ואת בניו ועבדיו אפילו הכנענים אף על פי שהוא חייב במזונותם אבל לא יזון את בהמתו בין טמאה בין טהורה שכל שמוסיף בבשרה היא הנייה שהגיע ליד ראובן:
5
If Shimon was a priest, he is permitted to offer sacrifices brought by Reuven. [The rationale is that] the priests are agents of God and not the agents of the person bringing the sacrifice.13
ה
היה שמעון כהן הרי הוא מותר להקריב קרבנות ראובן שהכהנים שלוחי שמים הם ואינם שלוחי בעל הקרבן ומשיא שמעון בתו הבוגרת לראובן מדעתה אבל אם היתה נערה שהרי עדיין היא ברשותו אסור שזה כמוסר לו שפחה לשמשו:
6
Shimon may separate terumah on behalf of Reuven and separate his tithes with his consent.17 What is meant by "with his consent"? For example, Reuven said: "Whoever desires to separate terumah [from my produce] may do so." He may not, however, tell Shimon to separate terumah on his behalf, for then he is making him his agent and this is [deriving] benefit from him.
ו
ותורם שמעון תרומת ראובן ומפריש לו מעשרותיו מדעתו כיצד מדעתו כגון שאמר ראובן כל הרוצה לתרום יבוא ויתרום אבל לא יאמר לשמעון לתרום לו שהרי עושה אותו שליח וזה הנייה לו:
7
[Shimon] may instruct [Reuven] in the Oral Law,18 for it is forbidden to charge a wage for teaching it.19 The Written Law, by contrast, may not be taught by him, because a wage can be charged for teaching it.20 If it is not customary [in that community] to charge for instruction in the Written Law, this is permitted. Regardless of [the local custom with regard to payment], [Shimon] may teach [Reuven's] son.21
ז
ומלמדו תורה שבעל פה שהרי אסור ליטול עליה שכר אבל לא תורה שבכתב שנוטלין עליה שכר ואם אין דרכן שם ליטול שכר על תורה שבכתב הרי זה מותר ובין כך ובין כך מותר ללמד את בנו:
8
ח
חלה ראובן נכנס שמעון לבקרו ובמקום שנוטל שכר מי שישב עם החולה לצוות לו לא ישב שמעון אלא מבקרו ועומד ומותר לו לרפאתו בידו שזו מצוה היא:
9
When an animal belonging to Reuven becomes ill,25 Shimon should not give it veterinary attention. He may, however, tell him: "Do such and such for it."26
[Shimon] may wash with Reuven in a large bath,27 but not in a small bath, because he gives him pleasure by raising the water over him.28 He may sleep in the same bed as him in the summer,29but not in the winter, because he warms him.30 He may sit on the same couch as him and eat at the same table,31but may not eat from the same plate or from the same food trough that is placed before workers. [The rationale is that we fear that] Shimon will leave a nice piece of meat and refrain from eating it so that Shimon will eat it or move it closer to him and in this way, bring him benefit.32 Similar concepts apply with regard to produce in a food trough. It is, however, permitted for Shimon to eat from a plate even though he knows that when he returns it to the host, the host will place it before Reuven. We do not fear that [Shimon] will leave a choice cut of meat for [Reuven].33
ט
חלתה בהמת ראובן לא ירפא אותה שמעון אבל אומר לו עשה לה כך וכך ורוחץ עמו באמבטי גדולה אבל לא בקטנה מפני שמהנהו בשעה שמגביה עליו המים וישן עמו במטה בימות החמה אבל לא בימות הגשמים מפני שמחממו ומסב עמו על המטה ואוכלין על שולחן אחד אבל לא מקערה אחת ולא מאבוס שלפני הפועלים שמא יניח שמעון חתיכה אחת טובה ולא יאכל אותה כדי שיאכל אותה ראובן או יקרב אותה לפניו ונמצא מהנהו וכן בפירות שבאבוס אבל אם אכל שמעון מקערה שהוא יודע שכשיחזירנה לבעה"ב יחזור בעה"ב ויניחנה לפני ראובן ה"ז מותר ואין חוששין שמא הניח נתח טוב בשבילו:
10
י
ומותר ראובן לשתות כוס של תנחומין מידו של שמעון משל ראובן וכן כוס של בית המרחץ שאין בזה הנייה:
11
Reuven is forbidden to use Shimon's coal, but he is permitted to use his flame.37
יא
ואסור ראובן בגחלתו של שמעון ומותר בשלהבת שלו:
12
[The following laws apply if] Shimon owned a bathhouse or an olive press that were hired out [to others] in the city. If Shimon retains a hold on them, e.g., he left a portion for himself and did not hire it out, it is forbidden for Reuven to enter that bathhouse or tread in that olive press.38 [This applies] even if he retains merely one tub in the bathhouse or one press39 in the olive press. If he did not retain anything for himself, but rather hired it out in its entirety, it is permitted [for Reuven to enter].40
יב
היה לשמעון מרחץ או בית הבד מושכרים בעיר אם היה לשמעון בהן תפיסת יד כגון שהניח מהן כל שהוא לעצמו ולא שכרו אפילו הניח במרחץ אמבטי אחת ובבית הבד עקל אחד אסור לראובן להכנס לאותה מרחץ ולדרוך בגת ואם לא הניח לעצמו כלום אלא שכר הכל הרי זה מותר:
13
It is forbidden for Reuven to partake of the produce of Shimon's field, even during the Sabbatical year when everything is ownerless, for he took the vow before the beginning of the Sabbatical year.41 If he took the vow in the Sabbatical year itself, [Reuven] may partake of the produce that hangs outside the field.42 He may not, however, enter the field even though the land is ownerless. [This is] a decree lest he remain there after he partook of [the produce],43 for the Torah declared [the land] ownerless only during the time the produce is found within it.
יג
ואסור לראובן לאכול מפירות שדה שמעון ואפילו בשביעית שהכל הפקר שהרי לפני שביעית נדר אבל אם נדר בשביעית אוכל מן הפירות הנוטות חוץ לשדה אבל לא יכנס לשדה אע"פ שהקרקע הפקר גזירה שמא ישהה שם אחר שיאכל ולא הפקירה אותה תורה אלא כל זמן שהפירות בתוכה:
14
When does the above apply? When he told him: "Benefit from this property is forbidden to you."44 If, however, [Shimon] told [Reuven]: "It is forbidden for you to benefit from my property,"45 or Reuven took an oath or a vow [prohibiting him from benefiting] from Shimon's property, when the Sabbatical year begins, he may partake of the produce of his field, for they have left Shimon's domain.46 He may not, however, enter his field for the reasons we explained [in the previous halachah].
יד
במה דברים אמורים כשאמר לו הניית הנכסים האלו אסורין עליך אבל אם אמר לו הניית נכסי אסורין עליך או שנשבע ראובן או שנדר מנכסי שמעון כיון שהגיעה שביעית אוכל מפירות שדהו שהרי יצאו מרשות שמעון אבל לא יכנס לשדהו מן הטעם שבארנו:
15
[Different laws apply if] only benefiting from Shimon's food was forbidden to Reuven,47 If, either because of a vow or an oath, the prohibition took effect before the Sabbatical year, he may enter his field,48 but may not eat his produce.49If the prohibition took effect in the Sabbatical year, he may enter his field and partake of his produce, for this produce does not belong to Shimon. Instead, it is ownerless.50
טו
נאסרה על ראובן הניית מאכל שמעון בלבד אם לפני שביעית נאסרה בין בנדר בין בשבועה הרי זה יורד לתוך שדהו אבל אינו אוכל מפירותיו ואם בשביעית נאסרה יורד ואוכל מפירותיו שאין פירות אלו של שמעון אלא של הפקר הן:
16
It is forbidden for Reuven to lend [articles] to Shimon. [This is] a decree, lest he borrow from him although it is forbidden for him to benefit from him. Similarly, it is forbidden for [Reuven] to give [Shimon] a loan. [This is] a decree, lest he borrow from him.51 Similarly, he may not sell something to him. [This is] a decree, lest he buy from him.52
טז
ואסור לראובן להשאיל לשמעון גזירה שמא ישאל ממנו והרי הוא אסור בהנאתו וכן אסור להלוותו גזירה שמא ילוה ממנו ולא ימכור לו גזירה שמא יקח ממנו:
17
If it happened that [Shimon] was working with [Reuven], e.g., they were harvesting together, he should work far from him. [This is] a decree, lest he help him.
When [a father] takes a vow, forbidding his son to benefit from him because the son does not occupy himself in Torah study, the father is permitted to fill up a jug of water [for his son], light a lamp [for him], or roast a small fish. For [the father's] intent was only to forbid [his son] from deriving significant pleasure and these matters are not considered important by the son.53
יז
נזדמנה לו מלאכה עמו כגון שהיו קוצרים כאחד עושה ברחוק ממנו גזירה שמא יסייענו המדיר את בנו מפני שאינו עוסק בתורה ונאסר בהניית אביו הרי האב מותר למלאות לו חבית של מים ולהדליק לו את הנר ולצלות לו דג קטן שאין כוונתו אלא להנאה גדולה ודברים אלו לגבי הבן אינן חשובין:
18
יח
מי שנשבע או נדר שלא ידבר עם חבירו הרי זה מותר לו לכתוב בכתב ולדבר עם אחר והוא שומע הענין שירצה להשמיעו וכזה הורו הגאונים:
FOOTNOTES
1.
For this also leads to him deriving pleasure from food.
2.
For the money that he saved by not paying the fee could be used to purchase food.
3.
E.g., he lent him attractive clothing which created a favorable impression on others who gave him gifts as a result.
4.
To attend a feast, but not when going to his business as stated in the notes to the following halachah.
5.
In both cases, he did not give him direct benefit, but he did enable him to receive benefit.
6.
I.e., to tend to his business. If he took a vow against benefiting from him, he may not pass through the property, for he is deriving some benefit. Nevertheless, that benefit does not lead to food. Hence, one who prohibits all benefit is forbidden, but one who forbids benefit that leads to food is permitted. If, however, he wishes to pass through his property to attend a feast, he is forbidden in all instances, as stated in the previous halachah (Radbaz).
7.
This is benefit, but not benefit that leads to food.
8.
I.e., the half-shekel which every Jew is obligated to pay to the Temple treasury as his share in the communal sacrifices. See Hilchot Shekalim 1:1.
9.
See Hilchot Malveh ViLoveh 26:6 where the Rambam states that if "a person pays a promissory note of a colleague without that colleague's knowledge, even if it is a debt for which security was given, the borrower is not required to pay him anything. The borrower may take his security.... The other person forfeits his money. [The rationale is that] perhaps the borrower would have been able to appease the lender and have him waive the debt." Thus by paying Reuven's debt, Shimon is not considered to have given him anything.
10.
See also Hilchot Ishut 12:19 which states that when a husband traveled to a distant country and left his wife without resources, if another person gives the woman money without clearly specifying that he is extending a loan to her, he forfeits his money. Even though the husband is obligated to pay for his wife's provisions, as long as a debt is not formally established, the person who pays the money has no claim upon him.
11.
The qualifier "even" is mentioned for the Canaanite servants, because it is not as great a mitzvah to sustain them as the others who are full-fledged members of the Jewish people.
12.
This applies even though the non-kosher animal may not be eaten by the Jew, he may sell it to a gentile and will receive a greater payment because of its increase in weight.
13.
And thus he is not considered as having performed a favor for the person bringing the sacrifice.
14.
For then, she is considered as having carried out the marriage. Her father is merely acting as her agent and thus is not considered as offering Reuven benefit.
15.
A girl between the ages of twelve and twelve and a half who has manifested signs of physical maturity (Hilchot Ishut 2:1-2). Needless to say, this applies if the girl is a minor, in which instance, her consecration is dependent entirely on her father.
16.
For at this age, she cannot marry without her father's consent, as stated in Hilchot Ishut 3:11.
17.
If, however, Reuven does not consent, the separation of the terumah is not effective (Bava Metzia 22a).
18.
Since Shimon is forbidden to receive a wage from teaching Reuven, he is not giving him tangible benefit. Although he is enabling him to observe a mitzvah, the mitzvot were not given for our satisfaction (Eruvin 31a).
19.
See Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:7, 3:10 where the Rambam issues such a ruling and explains that this is derived from Deuteronomy 4:5: "Behold, I [Moses] have taught you laws and statutes, as God commanded me." On this basis, Nedarim 37a teaches that Moses was implying: "Just as I learned at no cost, so, too, you have been instructed at no cost by me. And so, too, should you teach the coming generations at no cost."
In his Commentary to the Mishnah (Nedarim 4:3), the Rambam writes:
According to our Torah, there is no way that it is permitted to take a wage for teaching any of the Torah's professions....I am amazed at the men of stature who aroused by desire, denied the truth had wages designated for themselves for giving Torah rulings and instruction, citing flimsy support.
See also the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah Avot 4:7. It must, however, by noted that most authorities [see Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 246:5) allow a teacher to charge for the time he spends teaching Torah on the basis of the principle of sechar batalah, i.e., he could have spent the time he spends teaching working at another profession which would bring him an income. He is allowed to be reimbursed for the money he loses by choosing to teach Torah instead. For this reason, the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 221:2) does not accept the Rambam's ruling and forbids Shimon from teaching Reuven.
20.
Nedarim 37a gives two reasons why it is permitted for a teacher of young children to charge a wage for his services: a) he is not charging for teaching; he is charging for being a disciplinarian; b) he is not charging for teaching the wordings of Torah; he is charging for teaching the cantillation notes. (For at that time, there were no texts with vowels and the Written Law was studied by memorizing its chants.) The first rationale does not apply with regard to adults, but the second does.
21.
A father is obligated to teach his son the Torah. Hence, by instructing Reuven's son, Shimon is freeing him of an obligation. Nevertheless, this is not considered as providing him with benefit, for teaching his son is a mitzvah. And as stated above, the mitzvot were not given for our satisfaction. Moreover, it is possible that Reuven could find another person to teach his son without charge.
22.
For this is also a mitzvah. Even though the sick person derives benefit from the person's visit, the benefit is not granted him directly (see Nedarim 39a).
23.
I.e., pay a short visit and leave promptly. Since sitting with the sick person is worth money in that community, it is forbidden, by doing so, he will be providing the sick person with a tangible benefit. Payment is not given for visiting while standing. Therefore, there is no prohibition against doing so. See Siftei Cohen 221:19 who writes that if he charges for his time, he may sit and pay the sick person a longer visit.
24.
In his Commentary to the Mishnah (Nedarim 4:4), the Rambam states that it is a mitzvah of Scriptural origin for a doctor to heal a sick person.
The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 221:4) states that when medical attention is given without charge, he may treat him without charge. If, however, it is customary for a doctor to charge, he must also do so.
25.
In certain manuscripts and early printings of the Mishneh Torah, this clause is included as the conclusion of the previous halachah rather than at the beginning of this one.
26.
I.e., he may give him advice with regard to which treatments to employ, but may not treat the animal himself. The rationale is that treating a colleague's animal is not considered a mitzvah (Tosafot, Nedarim 41b). The Beit Yosef (Yoreh De'ah 221) explains that if there is no one else capable of treating the animal but Shimon, Shimon may do so, because the mitzvah of returning a lost object also includes doing what is necessary to save a colleague's livestock. The Radbaz also adds the rationale that Scriptural Law requires us to alleviate an animal's discomfort.
27.
For the entrance of one person into a large bath is not significant.
28.
And that is considered as pleasurable.
29.
Because the increase in warmth is not desirable.
30.
The more people under the same bed clothes, the greater the warmth produced. The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 221:5) states that this applies with regard to a small bed. If the bed is large, even in the winter, it is permitted.
31.
This alone is not enough to create suspicion that he will offer him food.
32.
The Meiri explains that even though the two are at odds - and for that reason one has taken a vow not to offer the other benefit - we fear that he might make such a gesture out of good manners.
33.
The custom was that before passing the tray to another person, the host would fill it up again. Hence there would be no need for Shimon to worry about leaving a piece for Reuven [Radbaz; Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 221:5)]. The Rama adds that if the serving plate contained a very large amount, there is no prohibition.
34.
It was customary to drink wine in the house of mourners to help him overcome his sorrow (see Ketubot 8b).
35.
A cup of hot water that was provided for bathers by the owner of the bathhouse (i.e., and not one belonging to Shimon).
Nedarim 38b states that Shimon may give Reuven "the cup of peace" and advances these two interpretations for the term. The Rambam does not consider the interpretations as mutually exclusive, for the same principle - that the satisfaction Shimon gives Reuven is minimal - applies in both instances (Kessef Mishneh).
36.
The Ra'avad offers a different interpretation than the Rambam, explaining that the "cup of the bathhouse" is given to save the person's life, lest he dehydrate. Moreover, he explains that since the cup belongs to Reuven, there is no difficulty. And he states that giving the cup of comfort is a mitzvah.
37.
For the coal is considered an entity of substance, while the flame is not (Siftei Cohen 221:57).
38.
Since Shimon retains a certain dimension of ownership, when Reuven makes use of it, he is still considered as benefiting from Shimon's property.
39.
In his Commentary to the Mishnah (Maaserot 1:7) the Rambam defines the term ekal as referring to a container made from ropes in which olives are placed and crushed.
40.
Provided Shimon did not specifically forbid Reuven from entering these structures, as indicated by Halachah 14.
41.
And once an entity has become forbidden because of a vow, it remains forbidden.
42.
For that is ownerless and is not affected by the vow.
43.
Although he is allowed to benefit from the produce, he is not allowed to set foot in Shimon's land, as stated in Halachah 3, and as the Rambam continues to explain.
44.
For then, benefit from that particular field itself becomes forbidden to Reuven forever. Compare to Chapter 5, Halachah 5.
45.
In which case, the prohibition involves only property actually owned by Shimon without applying to any particular property individually.
46.
For the entrance of the Sabbatical year causes them to be considered as ownerless. Shimon cannot cause the produce to be forbidden for Reuven, for a person cannot cause food that does not belong to him to be forbidden to a colleague (Nedarim 42b). And when Reuven takes an oath or a vow not to benefit from Shimon's property, the oath or the vow does not pertain to this produce, for it does not belong to Shimon.
47.
See Halachot 1 and 3.
48.
Because in such a situation, he is not forbidden to enter Shimon's property.
49.
Since the prohibition took effect before the Sabbatical year, it continues during the Sabbatical year, as stated in Halachah 13.
50.
Hence Shimon cannot cause it to be forbidden for Reuven, as above.
51.
Reuven is not receiving any benefit from lending out either his articles or his money. Nevertheless, he is forbidden lest Shimon reciprocate and that would involve receiving benefit.
52.
In a sale, even though the purchaser receives an article in return for his money, the seller is considered to have benefited. For if this was not so, he would not have sold the article.
53.
The Ra'avad differs with the Rambam, explaining the source for this law (Nedarim 38b) in another way. The Radbaz explains that halachically, both interpretations are acceptable. The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 223:1) quotes the Ra'avad's interpretation, but not of the Rambam. Accordingly, the Bayit Chadash maintains that according to the Shulchan Aruch, the Rambam's interpretation is not accepted. See also Turei Zahav 223:1 and Siftei Cohen 223:1.
54.
See Chapter 3, Halachot 10-11, for details on how a vow of this nature must be worded for it to be effective.
55.
The Baer HaGolah 221:65 rules that he may not write a note specifically for that person. Instead, he should write on the wall with the intent that the person see. Others, however, do not accept this stringency.
56.
He may not, however, speak to the wall, for in this instance, it is obvious that he is speaking to his colleague. The Beit Yosef (Yoreh De'ah 221) is even more stringent, stating that when it is obvious that he is intending for the person to whom he is forbidden to speak to hear, he may not speak even to another colleague.
• Thursday, 13 Shevat, 5777 · 9 February 2017
• "Today's Day"
• Tuesday, Sh'vat 13, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: B'shalach, Shlishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 69-71.
Tanya: But the ten (p. 85)...in the world. (p. 87).
Yahrzeit is observed on the anniversary of the day of death even the first year, and even if the day of burial was much later than the day of death.1
When my grandfather (R. Shmuel) was seven, his father (the Tzemach Tzedek) once answered him: The kindness and special quality in G-d's making man upright,2 to walk erectly, is that though he walks on the earth he sees the Heavens; not so with beasts that go on all fours; they see only the earth.
FOOTNOTES
1.Note: This day (Sh'vat 13) marks the Yahrzeit of Rebbetzin Shterna Sara in 5702 (1942). She was the mother of the Rebbe, R. Yosef Yitzchak.
2.Kohelet 7:29.
• Daily Thought:
Worldly Occupation
Why must we have jobs? Why can’t our bread fall from heaven?
It does. Our bread is manna from heaven. But it bursts forth from Above like a solar flare—a light far too intense for any world to contain.
So, in each world in the chain of spiritual worlds that extend from above to below until our earthly realm, the beings of that world must labor to absorb that light. Only then can the light descend to the world that follows theirs in the chain—and there yet another form of labor is required, according to the limitations of that world.
Until the light arrives at our world. And here we must do the work that our world requires so that it, too, may absorb the light.
And that is why we each have our worldly occupations.[Derech Mitzvosecha, Taglachat Metzora.]
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