TODAY IN JUDAISM: Friday, May 26, 2017 - Chabad.org in New York, New York, United States - Today is Friday, Sivan 1, 5777 · May 26, 2017 - Rosh Chodesh Sivan • Omer: Day 45 - Tifferet sheb'Malchut - Candle Lighting - Light Candles before sunset ––:––
Torah Reading
• Rosh Chodesh Observances
Today isRosh Chodesh ("Head of the Month") for the month of Sivan.
Special portions are added to the daily prayers: Hallel (Psalms 113-118) is recited -- in its "partial" form -- following the Shacharit morning prayer, and the Yaaleh V'yavo prayer is added to the Amidah and to Grace After Meals; the additional Musaf prayer is said (when Rosh Chodesh is Shabbat, special additions are made to the Shabbat Musaf). Tachnun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted.
Many have the custom to mark Rosh Chodesh with a festive meal and reduced work activity. The latter custom is prevalent amongst women, who have a special affinity with Rosh Chodesh -- the month being the feminine aspect of the Jewish Calendar.
• Count "Forty-Six Days to the Omer" Tonight
Tomorrow is the forty-sixth day of the Omer Count. Since, on the Jewish calendar, the day begins at nightfall of the previous evening, we count the omer for tomorrow's date tonight, after nightfall: "Today is forty-six days, which are six weeks and four days, to the Omer." (If you miss the count tonight, you can count the omer all day tomorrow, but without the preceding blessing).
The 49-day "Counting of the Omer" retraces our ancestors' seven-week spiritual journey from the Exodus to Sinai. Each evening we recite a special blessing and count the days and weeks that have passed since the Omer; the 50th day is Shavuot, the festival celebrating the Giving of the Torah at Sinai.
Tonight's Sefirah: Netzach sheb'Malchut -- "Ambition in Receptiveness"
The teachings of Kabbalah explain that there are seven "Divine Attributes" -- Sefirot -- that G-d assumes through which to relate to our existence: Chessed, Gevurah, Tifferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod and Malchut ("Love", "Strength", "Beauty", "Victory", "Splendor", "Foundation" and "Sovereignty"). In the human being, created in the "image of G-d," the seven sefirot are mirrored in the seven "emotional attributes" of the human soul: Kindness, Restraint, Harmony, Ambition, Humility, Connection and Receptiveness. Each of the seven attributes contain elements of all seven--i.e., "Kindness in Kindness", "Restraint in Kindness", "Harmony in Kindness", etc.--making for a total of forty-nine traits. The 49-day Omer Count is thus a 49-step process of self-refinement, with each day devoted to the "rectification" and perfection of one the forty-nine "sefirot."
Today in Jewish History
• Flood Waters Recede (2105 BCE)
150 days after the rains stopped falling in the Great Flood, the raging waters which covered the face of the earth calmed and began to subside at the rate of one cubit every four days (Genesis 8:3; Rashi, ibid. See "Today in Jewish History" for Cheshvan 17.)
• Encampment at Sinai (1313 BCE)
On the 1st of Sivan of the year 2448 from creation (1313 BCE), six weeks after their exodus from Egypt, the Children of Israel arrived at Mount Sinai in the Sinai Desert and camped at the foot of the mountain "as one man, with one heart" in preparation for the receiving of the Torah from G-d. On this day, however "Moses did not say anything to them, because of their exhaustion from the journey."
• Korach Swallowed Up by the Earth (1312 BCE)
Korach, who led a rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron, met his end when, miraculously, "the ground split beneath them... And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained to Korach, and all their possessions" (Numbers 16:31-32).
• Worms Jews Massacred (1096)
At the end of a week in which a group Jews took refuge in a local castle in Worms, Germany, the crusaders massacred them during their morning prayers. (see "Today in Jewish History" for Iyar 8.)
Daily Quote:
The tunic [worn by the High Priest] atoned for bloodshed, the breeches atoned for lewdness, the turban made atonement for arrogance, the belt atoned for [impure] meditations of the heart, the breastplate atoned for neglect of civil laws, the apron atoned for idolatry, the cloak atoned for slander, and the crown, worn on the forehead, atoned for brazenness [Talmud, Zevachim 88b]
Daily Torah Study
Numbers Chapter 3
| 40The Lord said to Moses: Count every firstborn male aged one month and upward of the children of Israel, and take the number of their names. | | מוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָֹ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה פְּק֨וֹד כָּל־בְּכֹ֤ר זָכָר֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִבֶּן־חֹ֖דֶשׁ וָמָ֑עְלָה וְשָׂ֕א אֵ֖ת מִסְפַּ֥ר שְׁמֹתָֽם: |
| Count every firstborn male aged one month and upward: From the time he is no longer categorized as possibly a premature birth. | | פקד כל בכור זכר וגו' מבן חדש ומעלה: משיצא מכלל ספק נפלים: |
| 41And you shall take the Levites for Me I am the Lord instead of all firstborns among the children of Israel. And [take] the Levites' animals instead of all the firstborn animals of the children of Israel. | | מאוְלָֽקַחְתָּ֙ אֶת־הַֽלְוִיִּ֥ם לִי֙ אֲנִ֣י יְהוָֹ֔ה תַּ֥חַת כָּל־בְּכֹ֖ר בִּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְאֵת֙ בֶּֽהֱמַ֣ת הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם תַּ֣חַת כָּל־בְּכ֔וֹר בְּבֶֽהֱמַ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| 42So Moses counted every firstborn of Israel, as the Lord had commanded him. | | מבוַיִּפְקֹ֣ד משֶׁ֔ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָֹ֖ה אֹת֑וֹ אֶת־כָּל־בְּכ֖וֹר בִּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| 43The firstborn males aged one month and upward, according to the number of names, was twenty two thousand, two hundred and seventy three. | | מגוַיְהִי֩ כָל־בְּכ֨וֹר זָכָ֜ר בְּמִסְפַּ֥ר שֵׁמֹ֛ת מִבֶּן־חֹ֥דֶשׁ וָמַ֖עְלָה לִפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם שְׁנַ֤יִם וְעֶשְׂרִים֙ אֶ֔לֶף שְׁלשָׁ֥ה וְשִׁבְעִ֖ים וּמָאתָֽיִם: |
| 44The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: | | מדוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר: |
| 45Take the Levites instead of all the firstborns among the children of Israel and the Levites' animals instead of their animals, and the Levites shall be Mine I am the Lord. | | מהקַ֣ח אֶת־הַֽלְוִיִּ֗ם תַּ֤חַת כָּל־בְּכוֹר֙ בִּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־בֶּֽהֱמַ֥ת הַֽלְוִיִּ֖ם תַּ֣חַת בְּהֶמְתָּ֑ם וְהָֽיוּ־לִ֥י הַֽלְוִיִּ֖ם אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֹֽה: |
| and the Levites animals…: The Levites’ animals did not redeem the clean firstborn animals of the Israelites, but their firstborn donkeys. One lamb belonging to a Levite could exempt many firstborn donkeys of an Israelite. The proof is that [Scripture] counts the excess number of [firstborn] men, but not the extra animals. [Bech. 4b] | | ואת בהמת הלוים וגו': לא פדו בהמות הלוים את בכורי בהמה טהורה של ישראל, אלא את פטרי חמוריהם, ושה אחד של בן לוי פטר כמה פטרי חמורים של ישראל, תדע שהרי מנה העודפים באדם ולא מנה העודפים בבהמה: |
| 46As for the two hundred and seventy three of the children of Israel who required redemption, who are in excess of the Levites, | | מווְאֵת֙ פְּדוּיֵ֣י הַשְּׁלשָׁ֔ה וְהַשִּׁבְעִ֖ים וְהַמָּאתָ֑יִם הָעֹֽדְפִים֙ עַל־הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם מִבְּכ֖וֹר בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| As for the two hundred and seventy-three of the children of Israel who required redemption: The firstborn among them who require redemption-these are the two hundred and seventy-three in excess of the Levites; from them you shall take five shekels per head. Such was the sale [price] of Joseph, the firstborn of Rachel, [for the price was] twenty silver pieces [i.e., twenty dinarim, four of which equal a sela]. [Gen. Rabbah 84:18] | | ואת פדויי השלשה וגו': ואת הבכורות הצריכין להפדות בהם, אלו השלשה ושבעים ומאתים העודפים בהם, יתרים על הלוים, מהם תקח חמשת שקלים לגלגלת, כך היתה מכירתו של יוסף עשרים כסף, שהיה בכורה של רחל: |
| 47you shall take five shekels per head, according to the holy shekel, by which the shekel is twenty gerahs. | | מזוְלָֽקַחְתָּ֗ חֲמֵ֧שֶׁת חֲמֵ֛שֶׁת שְׁקָלִ֖ים לַגֻּלְגֹּ֑לֶת בְּשֶׁ֤קֶל הַקֹּ֨דֶשׁ֙ תִּקָּ֔ח עֶשְׂרִ֥ים גֵּרָ֖ה הַשָּֽׁקֶל: |
| 48You shall give the money to Aaron and his sons, in redemption for the firstborns who are in excess of them. | | מחוְנָֽתַתָּ֣ה הַכֶּ֔סֶף לְאַֽהֲרֹ֖ן וּלְבָנָ֑יו פְּדוּיֵ֕י הָעֹֽדְפִ֖ים בָּהֶֽם: |
| 49So Moses took the redemption money for those in excess of those redeemed by the Levites. | | מטוַיִּקַּ֣ח משֶׁ֔ה אֵ֖ת כֶּ֣סֶף הַפִּדְי֑וֹם מֵאֵת֙ הָעֹ֣דְפִ֔ים עַ֖ל פְּדוּיֵ֥י הַֽלְוִיִּֽם: |
| in excess of those redeemed by the Levites: Those remaining after the Levites had redeemed them with their very selves. | | העדפים על פדויי הלוים: על אותן שפדו הלוים בגופן: |
| 50He took the money from the firstborn of the children of Israel; one thousand, three hundred and sixty five of the holy shekels. | | נמֵאֵ֗ת בְּכ֛וֹר בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לָקַ֣ח אֶת־הַכָּ֑סֶף חֲמִשָּׁ֨ה וְשִׁשִּׁ֜ים וּשְׁל֥שׁ מֵא֛וֹת וָאֶ֖לֶף בְּשֶׁ֥קֶל הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ: |
| one thousand, three hundred and sixty-five: This is the sum total, at five shekels per head: for two hundred firstborn, a thousand shekels. For seventy firstborn, three hundred and fifty shekels; for three firstborn, fifteen shekels. He [Moses] said, “How shall I do it? If I tell a firstborn to give five shekels, he will tell me, 'I am one of those redeemed by the Levites.’” What did he do? He brought twenty-two thousand slips [of paper] and wrote on them, “Levite.” [Then] two hundred and seventy-three slips and wrote on them, “five shekels.” He jumbled them and put them into an urn and told them,“Come and take your slips according to lot.” [Sanh. 17a] | | חמשה וששים ושלש מאות ואלף: כך סכום החשבון חמשת שקלים לגלגלת. למאתים בכורות אלף שקל, לשבעים בכורות שלש מאות וחמשים שקל, לשלש בכורות חמשה עשר שקל. אמר כיצד אעשה, בכור שאומר לו תן חמשת שקלים, יאמר לי אני מפדויי הלוים. מה עשה, הביא שנים ועשרים אלף פתקין וכתב עליהן בן לוי, ומאתים ושבעים ושלשה פתקין כתב עליהן חמשה שקלים, בללן ונתנן בקלפי, אמר להם בואו וטלו פתקיכם לפי הגורל: |
| 51Then Moses gave the money of those redeemed to Aaron and his sons, in accordance with the word of the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. | | נאוַיִּתֵּ֨ן משֶׁ֜ה אֶת־כֶּ֧סֶף הַפְּדוּיִ֛ם לְאַֽהֲ֥רֹן וּלְבָנָי֖ו עַל־פִּ֣י יְהוָֹ֑ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה: |
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 1 - 9
• Hebrew text • English text
Chapter 1
This psalm inspires man to study Torah and avoid sin. One who follows this path is assured of success in all his deeds, whereas the plight of the wicked is the reverse.
1. Fortunate is the man that has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor stood in the path of sinners, nor sat in the company of scoffers.
2. Rather, his desire is in the Torah of the Lord, and in His Torah he meditates day and night.
3. He shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither; and all that he does shall prosper.
4. Not so the wicked; rather, they are like the chaff that the wind drives away.
5. Therefore the wicked will not endure in judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6. For the Lord minds the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Chapter 2
This psalm warns against trying to outwit the ways of God. It also instructs one who has reason to rejoice, to tremble—lest his sins cause his joy to be overturned.
1. Why do nations gather, and peoples speak futility?
2. The kings of the earth rise up, and rulers conspire together, against the Lord and against His anointed:
3. “Let us sever their cords, and cast their ropes from upon us!”
4. He Who sits in heaven laughs, my Master mocks them.
5. Then He speaks to them in His anger, and terrifies them in His wrath:
6. “It is I Who have anointed My king, upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
7. I am obliged to declare: The Lord said to me, “You are my son, I have this day begotten you.
8. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, and the ends of the earth your possession.
9. Smash them with a rod of iron, shatter them like a potter’s vessel.”
10. Now be wise, you kings; be disciplined, you rulers of the earth.
11. Serve the Lord with awe, and rejoice with trembling.
12. Yearn for purity—lest He become angry and your path be doomed, if his anger flares for even a moment. Fortunate are all who put their trust in Him
Chapter 3
When punishment befalls man, let him not be upset by his chastisement, for perhaps--considering his sins—he is deserving of worse, and God is in fact dealing kindly with him.
1. A psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
2. Lord, how numerous are my oppressors; many rise up against me!
3. Many say of my soul, “There is no salvation for him from God—ever!”
4. But You, Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, the One Who raises my head.
5. With my voice I call to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain, Selah.
6. I lie down and sleep; I awake, for the Lord sustains me.
7. I do not fear the myriads of people that have aligned themselves all around me.
8. Arise, O Lord, deliver me, my God. For You struck all my enemies on the cheek, You smashed the teeth of the wicked.
9. Deliverance is the Lord’s; may Your blessing be upon Your people forever
Chapter 4
This psalm exhorts man not to shame his fellow, and to neither speak nor listen to gossip and slander. Envy not the prosperity of the wicked in this world, rather rejoice and say: “If it is so for those who anger Him . . . [how much better it will be for those who serve Him!”]
1. For the Conductor, with instrumental music, a psalm by David.
2. Answer me when I call, O God [Who knows] my righteousness. You have relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
3. Sons of men, how long will you turn my honor to shame, will you love vanity, and endlessly seek falsehood?
4. Know that the Lord has set apart His devout one; the Lord will hear when I call to Him.
5. Tremble and do not sin; reflect in your hearts upon your beds, and be silent forever.
6. Offer sacrifices in righteousness, and trust in the Lord.
7. Many say: “Who will show us good?” Raise the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord.
8. You put joy in my heart, greater than [their joy] when their grain and wine abound.
9. In peace and harmony I will lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, will make me dwell alone, in security.
Chapter 5
A prayer for every individual, requesting that the wicked perish for their deeds, and the righteous rejoice for their good deeds.
1. For the Conductor, on the nechilot, a psalm by David.
2. Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my thoughts.
3. Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray.
4. Lord, hear my voice in the morning; in the morning I set [my prayers] before you and hope.
5. For You are not a God Who desires wickedness; evil does not abide with You.
6. The boastful cannot stand before Your eyes; You hate all evildoers.
7. You destroy the speakers of falsehood; the Lord despises the man of blood and deceit.
8. And I, through Your abundant kindness, come into Your house; I bow toward Your holy Sanctuary, in awe of You.
9. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness, because of my watchful enemies; straighten Your path before me.
10. For there is no sincerity in their mouths, their heart is treacherous; their throat is an open grave, [though] their tongue flatters.
11. Find them guilty, O God, let them fall by their schemes; banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against You.
12. But all who trust in You will rejoice, they will sing joyously forever; You will shelter them, and those who love Your Name will exult in You.
13. For You, Lord, will bless the righteous one; You will envelop him with favor as with a shield.
Chapter 6
This is an awe-inspiring prayer for one who is ill, to pray that God heal him, body and soul. An ailing person who offers this prayer devoutly and with a broken heart is assured that God will accept his prayer.
1. For the Conductor, with instrumental music for the eight-stringed harp, a psalm by David.
2. Lord, do not punish me in Your anger, nor chastise me in Your wrath.
3. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I languish away; heal me, O Lord, for my bones tremble in fear.
4. My soul is panic-stricken; and You, O Lord, how long [before You help]?
5. Relent, O Lord, deliver my soul; save me for the sake of Your kindness.
6. For there is no remembrance of You in death; who will praise You in the grave?
7. I am weary from sighing; each night I drench my bed, I melt my couch with my tears.
8. My eye has grown dim from vexation, worn out by all my oppressors.
9. Depart from me, all you evildoers, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
10. The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord accepts my prayer.
11. All my enemies will be shamed and utterly terrified; they will then repent and be shamed for a moment.
Chapter 7
Do not rejoice if God causes your enemy to suffer—just as the suffering of the righteous is not pleasant. David, therefore, defends himself intensely before God, maintaining that he did not actively harm Saul. In fact, Saul precipitated his own harm, while David’s intentions were only for the good.
1. A shigayon by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Kush the Benjaminite.
2. I put my trust in You, Lord, my God; deliver me from all my pursuers and save me.
3. Lest he tear my soul like a lion, crushing me with none to rescue.
4. Lord, my God, if I have done this, if there is wrongdoing in my hands;
5. if I have rewarded my friends with evil or oppressed those who hate me without reason—
6. then let the enemy pursue and overtake my soul, let him trample my life to the ground, and lay my glory in the dust forever.
7. Arise, O Lord, in Your anger, lift Yourself up in fury against my foes. Stir me [to mete out] the retribution which You commanded.
8. When the assembly of nations surrounds You, remove Yourself from it and return to the heavens.
9. The Lord will mete out retribution upon the nations; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity.
10. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous—O righteous God, Searcher of hearts and minds.
11. [I rely] on God to be my shield, He Who saves the upright of heart.
12. God is the righteous judge, and the Almighty is angered every day.
13. Because he does not repent, He sharpens His sword, bends His bow and makes it ready.
14. He has prepared instruments of death for him; His arrows will be used on the pursuers.
15. Indeed, he conceives iniquity, is pregnant with evil schemes, and gives birth to falsehood.
16. He digs a pit, digs it deep, only to fall into the trap he laid.
17. His mischief will return upon his own head, his violence will come down upon his own skull.
18. I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and sing to the Name of the Lord Most High
Chapter 8
This psalm is a glorious praise to God for His kindness to the lowly and mortal human in giving the Torah to the inhabitants of the lower worlds, arousing the envy of the celestial angels. This idea is expressed in the Yom Kippur prayer, “Though Your mighty strength is in the angels above, You desire praise from those formed of lowly matter.”
1. For the Conductor, on the gittit, a psalm by David.
2. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth, You Who has set Your majesty upon the heavens!
3. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have established might, to counter Your enemies, to silence foe and avenger.
4. When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have set in place—
5. what is man that You should remember him, son of man that You should be mindful of him?
6. Yet, You have made him but a little less than the angels, and crowned him with honor and glory.
7. You made him ruler over Your handiwork, You placed everything under his feet.
8. Sheep and cattle—all of them, also the beasts of the field;
9. the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea; all that traverses the paths of the seas.
10. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth.
Chapter 9
One should praise God for saving him from the hand of the enemy who stands over and agonizes him, and for His judging each person according to his deeds: the righteous according to their righteousness, and the wicked according to their wickedness.
1. For the Conductor, upon the death of Labben, a psalm by David.
2. I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will recount all Your wonders.
3. I will rejoice and exult in You; I will sing to Your Name, O Most High.
4. When my enemies retreat, they will stumble and perish from before You.
5. You have rendered my judgement and [defended] my cause; You sat on the throne, O righteous Judge.
6. You destroyed nations, doomed the wicked, erased their name for all eternity.
7. O enemy, your ruins are gone forever, and the cities you have uprooted—their very remembrance is lost.
8. But the Lord is enthroned forever, He established His throne for judgement.
9. And He will judge the world with justice, He will render judgement to the nations with righteousness.
10. The Lord will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
11. Those who know Your Name put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.
12. Sing to the Lord Who dwells in Zion, recount His deeds among the nations.
13. For the Avenger of bloodshed is mindful of them; He does not forget the cry of the downtrodden.
14. Be gracious to me, O Lord; behold my affliction at the hands of my enemies, You Who raises me from the gates of death,
15. so that I may relate all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, that I may exult in Your deliverance.
16. The nations sank into the pit that they made; in the net they concealed their foot was caught.
17. The Lord became known through the judgement He executed; the wicked one is snared in the work of his own hands; reflect on this always.
18. The wicked will return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.
19. For not for eternity will the needy be forgotten, nor will the hope of the poor perish forever.
20. Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence.
21. Set Your mastery over them, O Lord; let the nations know that they are but frail men, Selah.
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, beginning of Chapter 53
• English Text (Lessons in Tanya) • Hebrew Text • Audio Class: Listen | Download • Video Class
Friday, Sivan 1, 5777 · May 26, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Likutei Amarim, beginning of Chapter 53
The Alter Rebbe explained in the previous chapter that the light of the Shechinah, an illumination utterly transcending the realm of the world, must have a “garment” which enables it to radiate there. The “garment” of the Shechinah is Torah.
In every World there is found the “intelligence” of that particular World, namely, the Sefirot of Chochmah, Binah and Daat of that World. They constitute the shrine of the Holy of Holies in which the Shechinah resides. After the levels of ChaBaD (in which resides the Shechinah) descend into the level of Malchut of a particular World, the creatures of that World are then created.
By vesting itself in Malchut, moreover, the light of the Shechinah is then able to descend into the shrine of the Holy of Holies of the next lower World. The Alter Rebbe explained this process as it applies to all Worlds down to and including the spiritual World of Asiyah.
In ch. 53 he will go on to explain how the light of the Shechinah descends and illuminates this physical world. During the times of the First and Second Temple the Shechinah was housed in the Holy of Holies. Today it finds its abode in a Jew’s study of Torah and performance of the mitzvot.
He will also explain the difference between the level of the illumination of the Shechinah in the First and Second Beit HaMikdash on the one hand, and the level of Shechinah which is drawn down through the study of Torah and the performance of mitzvot, on the other.
והנה כשהיה בית ראשון קיים, שבו היה הארון והלוחות בבית קדשי קדשים, היתה שכינה, שהיא מלכות דאצילות, שהיא בחינת גילוי אור אין סוף ברוך הוא
At the time the First Temple stood, in which the Ark and the Tablets were housed in the Holy of Holies, the Shechinah — which is Malchut of Atzilut, that is, the revealed light of the Ein Sof, a light which intrinsically is infinite and transcends all Worlds, and which nevertheless was revealed in them —
שורה שם, ומלובשת בעשרת הדברות
dwelled there, and was clothed in the Ten Commandments which were engraved upon the Tablets found in the Ark in the Holy of Holies,
ביתר שאת ויתר עז, בגילוי רב ועצום יותר, מגילויה בהיכלות קדשי קדשים שלמעלה בעולמות עליונים
far more intensely, and with a greater and mightier revelation, than its revelation in the shrines of the Holy of Holies above in the upper Worlds.
This refers to the Worlds of Asiyah and Yetzirah.1 For even in the World of Yetzirah, the Shechinah illumines only insofar as it has previously clothed itself in the shrine of the Holy of Holies of the World of Beriah. The level of Shechinah manifest in the First Temple, however, though it too was manifest only through having first been enclothed in Malchut of Beriah, was less completely concealed. Even after this concealment, therefore, the illumination in the First Temple was still on the level of the World of Beriah, and not of Yetzirah.
The Alter Rebbe now answers the following question: Inasmuch as the Temple was located in this physical world, how was it possible for the Shechinah to be found there to a higher degree than in the upper Worlds? He answers:
כי עשרת הדברות הן כללות התורה כולה
For the Ten Commandments are the all-embracing principles of the whole Torah,
As explained in the Azharot of R. Saadya Gaon, the Ten Commandments incorporate all 613 mitzvot of the Torah. See also beginning of Tanya, ch. 20.
דנפקא מגו חכמה עילאה, דלעילא לעילא מעלמא דאתגליא
which derives from the level of Supernal Chochmah, i.e., Chochmah of Atzilut, that is far higher than the “world of manifestation.”
It is far higher than Malchut of Atzilut, which is called the “world of manifestation” because it reveals the light of Ein Sof to the Worlds.
As explained earlier, for this reason the Torah is able to act as a “garment” that does not become nullified in the light of the Shechinah which garbs itself in it — since its source is higher than the Shechinah. However, in order for Torah to act as a concealing “garment” it must descend lower than the level of the Shechinah, thereby enabling the light of the Shechinah to be received by created beings.
However, as Torah descended into the Ten Commandments engraved on the Tablets, it did not do so in a manner that would make it similar to other physical things. Rather, as will soon be explained, it remained on a level which is higher than the previously mentioned upper Worlds.
וכדי לחקקן בלוחות אבנים גשמיים, לא ירדה ממדרגה למדרגה כדרך השתלשלות העולמות עד עולם הזה הגשמי
In order to engrave them on material tablets of stone, it (Supernal Chochmah, which is Torah) did not descend degree by degree, parallel to the order of descent of the Worlds which descend by stages from a higher world to a lower world, until it reached this material world.
Generally, in order for a flow of Divine light to arrive at this physical world, it must first descend from World to World, coming down through the Worlds of Yetzirah and spiritual Asiyah, both of which are higher than its ultimate destination, this world. This, however, was not the case with the Tablets.
כי עולם הזה הגשמי מתנהג בהתלבשות הטבע הגשמי
For this material world functions through the garb of material nature,
והלוחות מעשה אלקים המה
while the Tablets are “the work of G‑d,”2 a Divine creation, in which G‑dliness — not nature — is revealed,
והמכתב מכתב אלקים הוא
“and the writing is the writing of G‑d,”3 writing in which G‑dliness is perceived,
שלמעלה מהטבע של עולם הזה הגשמי הנשפע מהארת השכינה שבהיכל קדשי קדשים דעשיה, שממנה נמשך אור וחיות לעולם העשיה, שגם עולם הזה בכללו
beyond the nature of this material world which is derived from the radiation of the Shechinah in the shrine of the Holy of Holies of Asiyah, from which light and vitality issue to the World of Asiyah, in which this physical world is also included.
The ray of the Shechinah which is in the shrine of the Holy of Holies of Asiyah, gives this physical world its vitality after first being garbed in Malchut of Asiyah, as explained earlier. This was not the case with the Tablets.
אלא בחינת חכמה עילאה דאצילות, שהיא כללות התורה שבי׳ הדברות, נתלבשה במלכות דאצילות ודבריאה לבדן
But the level of the Supernal Chochmah of Atzilut, consisting of the totality of the Torah as it is encapsulated in the Ten Commandments, clothed itself in Malchut of Atzilut and of Beriah alone, and did not clothe itself further in the lower Worlds,
והן לבדן המיוחדות באור אין סוף שבתוכן
and they alone (Chochmah of Atzilut as it is garbed in Malchut of Atzilut and Malchut of Beriah, without further vestment), united as they are with the [infinite] light of Ein Sof that is within them,
הן הנקראות בשם שכינה השורה בקדשי קדשים דבית ראשון, על ידי התלבשותה בי׳ הדברות, החקוקות בלוחות שבארון בנס
are referred to as the Shechinah which rested in the Holy of Holies of the First Temple, through its being vested in the Ten Commandments, which were engraved by miraculous means in the Tablets reposing in the Ark.
As the Sages tell us,4 the letters mem and samach, circular letters hewn through the entire thickness of the stone, stood in their place miraculously.
ומעשה אלקים חיים
Moreover, the Ten Commandments upon the Tablets were the work of the Living G‑d — Elokim Chayim,
הוא עלמא דאתכסיא המקנן בעולם הבריאה, כנודע ליודעי ח״ן
(5this being, in terms of the Sefirot, Binah of Atzilut, which is known as “the concealed world” which nests in the World of Beriah, as is known to those familiar with the Esoteric Discipline).
Those familiar with the Kabbalah know that Binah of Atzilut radiates into the World of Beriah, a world which still remains in the category of “a concealed world” — i.e., it is categorized as a World, but not a World whose independent being is revealed, in that the World of Beriah is aware of how it is wholly dependent on G‑d.
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
Sivan 1, 5777 · May 26, 2017
Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
We are commanded regarding the ritual impurity of a zav [a man who suffers an abnormal seminal discharge.
When contracted, one must follow all the laws associated with this impurity. E.g.,] how he contracts this ritual impurity and how, after he becomes a zav, he can pass on this impurity to others.
Ritual Impurity of a Zav
Ritual Impurity of a Zav
Positive Commandment 104
The 104th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the tumah of a zav. This mitzvah includes the laws of how he becomes a zav and how he conveys tumah to others.
Footnotes
• 1 Chapter A Day: Malveh veLoveh Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 12
Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 12
1 We do not expropriate payment from heirs unless they are past majority. When the heirs are below majority, by contrast, we do not collect a debt supported by a promissory note from them.אאין נפרעין מן היורשין אלא א"כ היו גדולים אבל יורשין קטנים אין נפרעין מהן ש"ח =שטר חוב=.
2 Even if the promissory note contains all the stipulations in the world, the creditor may not use it to collect the debt until the heirs attain majority, lest they have proof that would disavow the promissory note.בואפילו היה בו כל תנאי שבעולם לא יפרע בו המלוה כלום עד שיגדילו היתומים שמא יש להן ראיה ששוברין בו את השטר.
3 If the loan was a debt at interest owed to a gentile, we appoint a guardian, attach the property that the minor inherited, sell it, and pay the debt. The rationale is that the interest consumes the estate.
Similarly, if a woman demands payment of the money due her by virtue of her ketubah - whether she is the deceased's widow or divorcee - we appoint a guardian for the heirs and attach the deceased's property, so that the woman will gain favor in the eyes of others; i.e., so that she will have a minimum of property so that she will remarry. Hence, if the woman hurried and remarried and then came to demand payment of the money due her by virtue of her ketubah from the estate acquired by the heirs, we do not pay heed to her until the heirs come of age." The rationale is that she is no longer entitled to receive her sustenance from the estate of the deceased, and she has remarried.גהיתה המלוה רבית של עכו"ם שהרי הרבית אוכלת בנכסיהן מעמידין להם אפוטרופוס ונזקקין לנכסיהן ומוכרין ופורעין החוב, וכן אשה שתבעה כתובתה בין אלמנה בין גרושה מעמידים להם אפוטרופוס ונזקקין משום חן האשה כדי שיהיה לה כלום שתנשא בו האשה לאחר, לפיכך אם קפצה האשה ונשאת ואחר כך באת לתבוע כתובתה מנכסי יתומים אין נזקקין לה עד שיגדלו היתומים שהרי אין לה מזונות והרי נשאת.
4 Several of the Geonim have ruled that if the estate left to the heirs does not have more than the money due the woman because of her ketubah, or it contains less than that amount, we do not pay heed to her. For the heirs will have no benefit from paying the money due the woman because of her ketubah.
According to this opinion, our Sages said: "We attach the estate left to heirs to pay a woman the money due her by virtue of her ketubah from it," only so that the estate would not become devalued because of the need to pay for the widow's sustenance." And in this instance, since the woman takes everything, of what value is it to the heirs who are below majority that the property is attached? These views were not concerned with increasing the favor of the woman in the eyes of others.דהורו מקצת הגאונים שאם היו הנכסים כנגד הכתובה בלבד או פחותים ממנה אין נזקקין לה שהרי אין כאן זכות ליתומים שלא אמרו נזקקין לנכסי יתומים להפרע מהן הכתובה אלא כדי שלא יפחתו הנכסים מחמת המזונות וזאת הואיל והיא נוטלת הכל מה זכות יש ליתומים הקטנים בדבר זה עד שנזקקין להן ולא חשו לחן האשה.
5 If the testator gave a command, saying: "Give a maneh to so-and-so," we pay heed to the claim, after appointing a guardian for the heirs to advance arguments on behalf of the interests of the heirs. If the testator says: "Give this maneh to so-and-so" or "... this field to so-and-so," we make the endowment; there is no need to appoint a guardian for the heirs.הצוה המורישן ואמר תנו מנה לפלוני נזקקין אחר שמעמידין להן אפוטרופוס לטעון טענתם, אמר תנו מנה זה לפלוני או שדה זו לפלוני נותנין ואין צריכים להעמיד להן אפוטרופוס.
6 If it is discovered that land in the estate does not rightfully belong to the heirs, but instead, the plaintiff claims that the property was stolen by the person whose property they inherited, we pay heed to the claim and appoint a guardian to argue and enter into litigation on their behalf. If it is discovered that the property was in fact stolen, we return it to its owners.
Similarly, if a minor had his servants mount an attack and enter property belonging to a colleague and take control of it, we do not say that we will wait until he attains majority before the matter is adjudicated. Instead, we expropriate the property from him immediately. When he attains majority, if he has witnesses who support his claim, he should bring his witnesses.ונמצאת קרקע שאינה שלהן אלא טען הטוען שהיא גזל ביד מורישיו נזקקין להן ומעמידים להן אפוטרופוס לטעון ולדון, אם נמצאת גזולה מחזירים אותה לבעליה, וכן קטן שתקף בעבדיו וירד לתוך שדה חבירו וכבשה אין אומרין נמתין לו עד שיגדיל אלא מוציאין אותה מידו ולכשיגדיל אם יש לו עדים יביא עדיו.
7 When land is presumed to be the property of minors, the land is not expropriated from them until they attain majority even in the following situation. Another person comes and claims that he had purchased that land from the person from whom they inherited it, and the purchaser has witnesses who will testify that he established his possession of this land and benefited from it for three years in the lifetime of the deceased. The rationale is that we accept the testimony of witnesses only when delivered in the presence of the litigant against whom they are testifying. And the minor is considered as if he is not present.
If, however, the plaintiff produced a deed of sale that states that the field is property that he purchased, he must validate the authenticity of the deed of sale. Afterwards, he may expropriate the property from the heirs after a guardian is appointed for them.זקרקע שהיתה בחזקת קטנים ובא אחר וטען שהיא לקוחה ממורישן ויש לו עדים שהחזיק בה ואכלה שני חזקה בחיי אביהן אין מוציאין אותה מידן עד שיגדילו שאין מקבלין עדים שלא בפני בעל דין והקטן כאילו אינו עומד כאן הוא חשוב, אבל אם הוציא שטר שהיא לקוחה בידו הרי זה מקיים את השטר ומוציאין אותה מידן אחר שמעמידים להם אפוטרופוס.
8 When the court attaches property belonging to heirs for the purpose of selling it, they evaluate the property and then announce the sale for 30 consecutive days or on Mondays and Thursdays over the span of 60 consecutive days. Announcements are made in the morning and the evening, when workers enter the city, and when workers are sent out to their tasks. Whoever desires to purchase the property can bring his workers there to investigate it.
When an announcement is made, the borders of the field are clarified. They make known its yield, the evaluation given by the court and the reason it is being sold - to repay a creditor or to pay a woman the money due her by virtue of her ketubah. For there are some people who desire to repay a creditor and others who desire to pay a woman the money due her by virtue of her ketubah.חכשנזקקין ב"ד לנכסי יתומים למכור שמין את הקרקע ואח"כ מכריזין עליה שלשים יום רצופין או ששים יום שני וחמישי ומכריזים בבקר ובערב בשעת הכנסת פועלים ובשעת הוצאת פועלין וכל מי שרוצה לקנות יוליך הפועלין לבקר לו, ובשעה שמכריזין מסיימים את השדה במצריה ומודיעין כמה יפה ובכמה הוא שומה ומפני מה רוצים למכרה אם להגבות לב"ח או לכתובת אשה לפי שיש מי שרוצה ליתן לב"ח ויש מי שרוצה להגבות לאשה.
9 When an adrachta is written with regard to property belonging to heirs -whether they are above majority or below majority - the court must write: "And we identified the property as belonging to so-and-so, the deceased." If they did not write this, the adrachta is invalid, and a purchaser may not benefit from the proceeds of the property even though the announcements of the property's sale were completed.טוכשכותבין האדרכתא על נכסי יתומים בין גדולים בין קטנים כותבין בה והכרנו שהנכסים האלו הן של פלוני המת, ואם לא כתבו כך הרי אדרכתא זו פסולה ואין אוכלין בה פירות אפילו לאחר ששלמו ההכרזות.
10 When a court sells property without announcing its sale beforehand, it is considered as if they erred in a matter explicitly stated in the Mishnah. The sale is nullified, and the property is sold again after announcements are made.
When a court sells property, the financial responsibility for it is incumbent on the heirs.יבית דין שמכרו שלא בהכרזה נעשו כמי שטעו בדבר משנה וחוזרים ומוכרין בהכרזה, וב"ד שמכרו האחריות על היתומים.
11 When a court made announcements in the proper manner, investigated the matter thoroughly and carefully evaluated the property, their sale is binding even though they erred and sold property worth a maneh for 200, or property worth 200 for a maneh.
The following rules apply when, by contrast, the court was not careful in evaluating the property or did not compose a notice of evaluation, which details its assessment and the announcement of the sale of the property, and it erred in its appraisal. If they evaluated it at a sixth more than its value or at a sixth less than its value, the sale is nullified. If the error was less than a sixth, the sale is binding.
Similar concepts apply if a court sold landed property at a time when it was not necessary to announce its sale beforehand. If it erred and devalued the property by a sixth or overvalued it by a sixth, their sale is nullified. This applies even if it announced the sale beforehand. If their error was less than a sixth, its sale is binding even though it did not announce the sale. For an announcement was not necessary in these situations.
In which situations is it not necessary to make announcements before the sale of property? When land is sold to bury the deceased, for the sustenance of his wife and his daughters, or to pay the head-tax to the king, it is not necessary to announce the sale, because the matter is pressing.
Similar concepts apply if a court sold types of property whose sale need not be announced beforehand. If it erred and devalued the property by a sixth or overvalued it by a sixth, the sale is nullified. If the error was less than a sixth, the sale is binding.
These are the types of property whose sale need not be announced beforehand: servants, promissory notes and movable property; servants, because they may flee; promissory notes and movable property, because they may be stolen. Instead, these articles should be evaluated by the court and sold immediately. If the market place is close to the city, they should be taken to the market place and sold there.יאובית דין שהכריזו כראוי ובדקו יפה יפה ודקדקו בשומא אע"פ שטעו ומכרו שוה מנה במאתים או מאתים במנה הרי מכרן קיים, אבל אם לא בדקו בשומא ולא כתבו אגרת בקורת שהיא דקדוק השומא וההכרזה וטעו והותירו שתות או פחתו שתות מכרן בטל פחות משתות מכרן קיים, וכן אם מכרו קרקע בעת שאינן צריכין להכריז עליה וטעו שתות או הותירו שתות מכרן בטל אע"פ שהכריזו, פחות משתות מכרן קיים אע"פ שלא הכריזו שאינן צריכין הכרזה באותו העת, איזהו העת שאינן צריכין הכרזה בעת שימכרו קרקע לקבורה או למזון האשה והבנות או ליתן מנת המלך אין צריכין הכרזה לפי שהדבר נחוץ, וכן ב"ד שמכרו דברים שאינן טעונין הכרזה וטעו בשתות מכרן בטל פחות משתות מכרן קיים, ואלו הן הדברים שאין מכריזין עליהם העבדים והשטרות והמטלטלין, העבדים שמא ישמעו ויברחו, והשטרות והמטלטלין שמא יגנבו, לפיכך שמין אותן בבית דין ומוכרין אותן מיד, ואם השוק קרוב למדינה מוליכין אותן לשוק.
Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 10
1 An unlearned person, even though he is Jewish and observant of the Torah and its mitzvot, is assumed to be impure and his clothes are considered a midras if they come into contact with pure substances. If his clothes touch food or liquids, they are impure. If he touches an earthenware container from the inside, he imparts impurity to it. Terumah should be burnt if such a person touches it, even though his impurity is of doubtful status.
The word of such persons is not accepted regarding the status of pure articles, because they are not knowledgeable regarding the intricacies of the laws of purity and impurity. We continue to operate under this presumption and the person's word is not accepted until he resolves to accept the restrictions of a chavair. What is meant by the restrictions of a chavair that he must resolve to accept? That he be careful with regard to sources of impurity, not to contract impurity from them; that he be careful with regard to pure articles that he not impart impurity to them; that he be careful with regard to washing hands and maintaining their purity; that he not take moist foods from an unlearned person; that he not accept his hospitality; nor offer hospitality to him while the unlearned person is wearing his own garments.אעם הארץ אף על פי שהוא ישראל וישנו בתורה ובמצות הרי הוא בחזקת טמא ובגדיו מדרס לטהרות ואם נגעו בגדיו באוכלין ומשקין הרי הן טמאין ואם נגע בכלי חרס מאוירו טמאהו ושורפין את התרומה על מגען אע"פ שטומאתן בספק ואינן נאמנין על הטהרות לפי שאינן בקיאין בדקדוקי טהרות וטומאות ולעולם הוא בחזקה זו ואינו נאמן על הטהרות עד שיקבל עליו דברי חבירות ומה הן דברי חבירות שיקבל עליו שיהא נזהר בטומאות שלא יטמא בהן ובטהרות שלא יטמא אותם ויזהר בנטילת ידים ובטהרתן שלא יקח מע"ה דבר לח ולא יתארח אצלו ולא יארחו אצלו בכסותו:
2 When a person seeks to accept upon himself all the practices of a chavair except one, he is not accepted. If we see he carries out these practices privately in his own home, we accept him and then we teach him the concepts of impurity and purity. If we do not see him conducting himself in this manner privately at home, we teach him and then we accept him.
First, a person is accepted with regard to maintaining the purity of his hands. Afterwards, he is accepted with regard to dealing with pure objects. If he said: "I only accept upon myself, the purity of hands," he is accepted. If he sought to accept the restrictions regarding pure objects, but not those that apply to the purity of hands, we do not accept him, even for pure objects.
When he is accepted, we are cautious with regard to his conduct for 30 days until he learns the intricacies of the laws and is used to dealing with pure objects. Once 30 days have passed since he accepted the customs of a chavair, his clothes are considered as pure and all of his food and liquids are considered as pure. His word is accepted with regard to pure objects like all other chavairim even though he is not a Torah scholar.בהבא לקבל דברי חבירות חוץ מדבר אחד מהן אין מקבלין אותו ראינוהו שנוהג בצנעה בתוך ביתו מקבלין אותו ואחר כך מלמדין אותו עסקי טומאה וטהרה ואם לא ראינוהו שנוהג בצנעה בביתו מלמדין אותו ואחר כך מקבלין אותו ומקבלין אותו תחילה לטהרת הידים ואח"כ מקבלין אותו לטהרות ואם אמר איני מקבל אלא לטהרת הידים מקבלין אותו קיבל לטהרות ולא לידים אף לטהרות אין מקבלין אותו כשמקבלין אותו חוששין לו כל שלשים יום עד שילמד ויהיה רגיל בטהרות ואחר שלשים יום משיקבל דברי חבירות הרי בגדיו טהורין וכל אוכליו ומשקיו טהורין ונאמן על כל הטהרות כשאר כל החברים ואף על פי שאינו ת"ח:
3 Torah scholars are assumed to be chavairim. Their word is accepted regarding pure articles and they do not have to undertake a formal acceptance of the practices of chaveirim. Nevertheless, after the destruction of the Temple, the priests adopted an additional measure of stringency among themselves and they would not give pure objects to anyone, even Torah scholars, until they formally accepted the practices of chaveirim.גתלמידי חכמים הרי הן בחזקת טהרה נאמנין ואינן צריכין לקבל דברי חבירות אבל משחרב בית המקדש נהגו כהנים סלסול בעצמן שלא יהו מוסרין טהרות אפילו לתלמידי חכמים עד שיקבל עליו דברי חבירות:
4 An elder who is a member of a Talmudic academy does not need to formally accept these practices, for he already accepted them at the time he became a member of the academy.דזקן ויושב בישיבה א"צ לקבל שכבר קיבל בשעה שישב:
5 When a person seeks to accept the practices of a chavair, he must formalize this acceptance in the presence of three chaveirim. His sons and the members of his household need not formalize this acceptance in the presence of three chaveirim, because he will teach them and train them in the ways of purity. The wife of a chavair, his sons, the members of his household, and his servants are considered like a chavair. If a chavair dies, his wife, his sons, and the members of his household are considered as chavairim until their conduct arouses suspicion.ההמקבל דברי חבירות צריך לקבל בפני שלשה חברים ובניו ובני ביתו אינן צריכין לקבל בפני שלשה מפני שהוא מלמדן ומרגילן בדרך טהרה ואשת חבר ובניו ובני ביתו ועבדיו הרי הן כחבר וחבר שמת אשתו ובניו ובני ביתו בחזקת חברים עד שיחשדו:
6 When the widow of an unlearned person or the daughter of one marries a chavair or the servant of a such a person is sold to a chavair, the woman or the servant must accept the practices of a chavair as at the outset. When, by contrast, the widow of a chavair or his daughter marries an unlearned person or his servant is sold to an unlearned person, there is no need for them to accept the practices of a chavair as at the outset.ואשת ע"ה או בתו שנשאת לחבר וכן עבדו שנמכר לחבר הרי אלו צריכין לקבל עליהן דברי חבירות כבתחילה אבל אשת חבר או בתו שנשאת לע"ה וכן עבדו שנמכר לע"ה אין צריכין לקבל דברי חבירות כבתחילה:
7 When an unlearned person accepts the practices of a chavair, but had pure articles that remained from the time that he was unlearned, although he says: "I know with certainty that they did not contract impurity when others were involved with them," they are forbidden, as was their status initially. If he personally was involved with these pure articles before his status changed, the articles are permitted to him, but they are forbidden to all others.
A chavair may be asked about the state of his pure articles and he may rule in his own favor, that they are permitted. We do not harbor suspicions about him in this context.זע"ה שקיבל עליו דברי חבירות והיו לו טהרות כשהיה ע"ה ואמר אני יודע ודאי שלא נטמאו בזמן שנתעסקו בהן אחרים הרי הן אסורות כמקודם ואם הוא בעצמו נתעסק בהן הרי הן מותרות לו ואסורות לכל אדם ונשאל החבר על טהרותיו ומורה בהן טהרה לעצמו ואין חושדין אותו בכך:
8 When a chavair becomes a tax collector, a collector of customs duty, or the like, he is stripped of his status as a chavair. If he abandons his evil deeds, he is considered as every other person. He must accept the practices of a chavair as at the outset.חחבר שנעשה גבאי למלך או מוכסן וכיוצא בהן דוחין אותו מחברותו פירש ממעשיו הרעים הרי הוא ככל אדם וצריך לקבל דברי חבירות כבתחילה:
9 When an unlearned person accepted the practices of a chavair and then becomes suspect with regard to a particular matter, he is suspect only with regard to that particular matter. Nevertheless, one who became suspect with regard to a severe matter is suspect with regard to a slighter matter. If he becomes suspect for a slight matter, he is not considered suspect for a more severe matter.טע"ה שקיבל עליו דברי חבירות ונחשד לדבר אחד אינו חשוד אלא לאותו דבר וכל החשוד לחמור נחשד על הקל לקל לא נחשד לחמור:
10 When a chavair becomes suspect with regard to permissiveness in connection with ritually pure articles, e.g., he sold ritually impure foods with the presumption that they were pure, he is no longer considered as trustworthy until it becomes known that he repented completely.יחבר שנחשד על הטהרות כגון שמכר אוכלין טמאין בחזקת שהן טהורין הרי זה אינו נאמן לעולם עד שיוודע שחזר בתשובה גמורה:
11 When a person is suspect with regard to the violation of the laws regarding the Sabbatical year or with regard to selling terumah as ordinary produce, he is considered to be suspect with regard to violating the restrictions concerning ritual purity. For a person who is suspect with regard to a Scriptural prohibition is considered suspect with regard to Rabbinic safeguards. And impure foods impart impurity to other entities only by virtue of Rabbinic decree, as will be explained.
Any person who is suspect with regard to a particular matter is, nevertheless, permitted to deliver testimony regarding such a matter with regard to others and to serve as a judge with regard to others. The rationale is that we operate under the assumption that a person will not transgress so that others will benefit.יאהחשוד על השביעית או על התרומה שמכרן לשם חולין הרי זה חשוד על הטהרות שהחשוד על דבר של תורה הרי הוא חשוד על ד"ס והאוכלין הטמאין אין מטמאין אחרים אלא מדבריהן כמו שיתבאר וכל החשוד על דבר נאמן להעיד בו לאחרים ולדון בו לאחרים חזקה היא שאין אדם חוטא כדי שיהנו בו אחרים:
Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 11
1 We have already explained that the word of unlearned persons is accepted with regard to the purification process of the red heifer. Because of the severity involved, the matter is never treated lightly. Similarly, their word is accepted with regard to the wine and oil intended for the accompanying offerings of a sacrifice. If they say that they are pure, they are assumed to be pure. Because this is a very severe matter, they are mindful of it.
Similarly, their word is accepted with regard to the purity of terumah during the time when winepresses and olive vats are active, for all people purify themselves and their utensils to prepare their wine in a state of purity. When the time when winepresses and olive vats are active passes, their word is no longer accepted.אכבר ביארנו שעמי הארץ נאמנים הן על טהרת פרת החטאת מפני חומרתה אין מזלזלין בה וכן נאמנים הן על טהרת יין ושמן של נסכים אם אמר טהור הוא הרי זה בחזקת טהרה מפני חומרתו נזהרין בו וכן נאמנים הן על התרומה בשעת הגיתות והבדים מפני שכל העם מטהרין עצמן וכליהן כדי לעשות יינם ושמנם בטהרה עברו הגיתות והבדים אינן נאמנים:
2 When an unlearned person brings a priest a barrel of wine or oil that is terumah, he should not accept it from him, because it is assumed to be impure. If the unlearned person left it in his own possession until the next time of the winepresses and olive vats and brought it to the priest, he should accept it even though he knows it is from the previous year. For no impurity was decreed on unlearned people during the time when winepresses and olive vats are active.בכהן שהביא לו ע"ה חבית יין או שמן של תרומה לא יקבלנה ממנו מפני שהיא בחזקת טומאה הניחה ע"ה אצלו עד גת הבאה והביאה לו יקבלנה ממנו אע"פ שהוא יודע שהיא של אשתקד שלא גזרו עליהם טומאה בשעת הגיתות והבדים:
3 When an unlearned person locks his olive press or wine vat when the people completed pressing and brought the key to a priest, even though several days pass since the pressing season was completed, there is room for leniency. The priest may come, open the press or vat in the unlearned person's presence, have him immerse himself, press the olives or grapes and take terumah in a state of ritual purity.
If he did not do this, he should only take olives and grapes that were not made fit to contract impurity from an unlearned person, for they will not contract impurity.געם הארץ שנעל בית בדו או גיתו בשעה שגמרו העם לדרוך והוליך את המפתח מיד לכהן אף על פי ששהה כמה ימים אחר שעברו הגיתות הרי הכהן בא ופותח בפניו ומטבילו ודורך ונוטל תרומה בטהרה ואם לא עשה כן לא יטול תרומה מע"ה אלא זיתים וענבים שאינן מוכשרין שאינן מקבלין טומאה:
4 If an unlearned person brought a priest a barrel of terumah wine or oil during the remainder of the year and told him: "I have separated consecrated wine or oil from it," even if only a revi'it, since his word is accepted with regard to the purity of the consecrated wine or oil, his word is accepted with regard to the entire amount.
Even during the time when winepresses and olive vats are active and the word of unlearned people is accepted with regard to terumah, their word is not accepted with regard to the empty containers to say that they are pure and may be used for terumah. Similarly, their word is never accepted with regard to empty containers to say that they are pure and may be used for consecrated liquids.דהביא לו ע"ה חבית של תרומה בשאר ימות השנה ואמר הפרשתי בתוכה קדש אפילו רביעית מתוך שנאמן על טהרת הקדש נאמן על הכל אפילו בשעת הגיתות והבדים שעמי הארץ נאמנין על התרומה אינן נאמנין על הכלי הריקם לומר שהוא טהור לתרומה וכן אין נאמנין לעולם על כלי ריקם לומר שהוא טהור לקדש:
5 When there was a container of wine or oil and we saw an unlearned person waiting and protecting it so that he could take accompanying offerings from it, his word is accepted with regard to the purity of the container for even 70 days before the time when winepresses and olive vats are active. Before these 70 days, by contrast, their word is not accepted.
Where does the above apply? In the other portions of the land of Israel. In Jerusalem, by contrast, the word of unlearned people that empty earthenware containers are pure for consecrated articles is always accepted. This applies with regard to small utensils or large ones, whether they are full or empty. Implied is that the word of an unlearned person that a container is pure is accepted even though the liquids in the container are impure. Even if the garment of the unlearned person which is considered as impure due to midras enters the container, the container is assumed to be pure with regard to sacrificial foods. Why was such leniency shown? Because kilns for earthenware containers are not made in Jerusalem.הכלי שהיה בתוכו יין או שמן וראינו ע"ה יושב ומשמרו כדי להוציא ממנו נסכים הרי הוא נאמן על טהרת הכלי ואפילו קודם לגיתות ולבדים בשבעים יום אבל קודם לשבעים אינן נאמנים במה דברים אמורים בשאר א"י אבל בירושלים נאמנים על כלי חרס הריקם לומר שהוא טהור לקדש לעולם בין כלים דקים בין כלים גסים בין מליאין בין ריקנים הרי הוא נאמן על הכלי אף ע"פ שהמשקין שבתוכו טמאין אפילו היה בגדו שהוא מדרס בתוך הכלי הרי הכלי בחזקת טהרה לקודש ומפני מה הקלו בהם מפני שאין עושין כבשונות בירושלים:
6 From Modi'it and closer, the word of unlearned people is accepted with regard to earthenware containers. Outside that area, their word is not accepted. Modi'it itself is sometimes considered as within that area and sometimes as outside.
What is implied? If a chavair was entering that town and an unlearned person carrying an earthenware container was departing, his word - that the container is pure with regard to sacrificial food - is accepted in Modi'it. If they were both either entering or departing, the word of the unlearned person is not accepted unless he is closer to Jerusalem than Modi'it.ומן המודיעית ולפנים נאמנים על כלי חרס מן המודיעית ולחוץ אינן נאמנין והמודיעית עצמה פעמים כלחוץ ופעמים כלפנים כיצד היה חבר נכנס וע"ה יוצא וכלי חרס בידו הרי זה נאמן במודיעית לומר שהוא טהור לקדש היו שניהן נכנסין או שניהן יוצאין אינו נאמן עד שיהא לפנים מן המודיעית:
7 The following rules apply when a potter brings pots and places them down closer to Jerusalem than Modi'it. Potential customers come and he tells them that it is pure. If a chavair purchases a pot and brings it in, it is considered as pure with regard to sacrificial food, but not with regard to terumah, as we explained. If he purchased a pot and took it outside of Modi'it, it is impure, both for sacrificial foods and for terumah. This applies even though these are the same pots and the same potter. His word is accepted only within a radius beginning from Modi'it.זקדר שהביא קדרות והניחן לפנים מן המודיעית ובאו הלוקחין והוא אומר להן שטהורות הן לקח קדירה ונכנס בה הרי היא טהורה לקודש אבל לא לתרומה כמו שביארנו לקח קדירה ויצא בה חוץ למודיעית הרי זו טמאה בין לקדש בין לתרומה אע"פ שהן הם הקדירות והוא הקדר עצמו אינו נאמן אלא לפנים מן המודיעית:
8 When one takes earthenware containers from a kiln no matter where it is located, they are considered pure, both with regard to sacrificial foods and with regard to terumah. We do not suspect that perhaps an unlearned person touched them. Even if they were taken from the first row and even if the kiln was open and half of its contents were already taken, containers taken by a chavair are considered as pure. For a decree was not established concerning utensils in a kiln.חהלוקח כלי חרס מן הכבשן בכ"מ הרי אלו טהורין בין לקודש בין לתרומה ואין אומרים שמא נגע בהן ע"ה ואפילו לקח מן הסדר הראשון ואף על פי שהכבשן פתוח וכבר נלקח חציו שלא גזרו טומאה על כלים שבכבשן:
9 During the pilgrimage festivals, the impurity decreed upon the unlearned is suspended and they are considered as pure. For the entire Jewish people are considered as chavairim during the pilgrimage festivals. All of their utensils, their food, and their liquids are considered as pure during the festivals, for everyone purifies themselves and ascends to Jerusalem on the festivals. Therefore their word is accepted - whether with regard to sacrificial foods or with regard to terumah - throughout the festivals. After the festival passes, they are considered as impure again.טטומאת ע"ה ברגל כטהורה היא חשובה שכל ישראל חברים הן ברגלים וכליהם כולם ואוכליהם ומשקיהן טהורים ברגל מפני שהכל מטהרין עצמן ועולים לרגל לפיכך הן נאמנים כל ימות הרגל בין על הקודש בין על התרומה משעבר הרגל חוזרין לטומאתן:
10 When a person opened his barrel of wine or of oil or began selling his dough during the festival, once the festival passes, the remainder of the contents of the barrel and the remainder of the dough are assumed to be impure, for they were touched by an unlearned person. Although he touched them only during the time that he is considered as a chavair, they are only considered as pure during the days of the festival.יהפותח חביתו ברגל והמתחיל בעיסתו ועבר הרגל הרי שאר החבית ושאר העיסה בחזקת טומאה שהרי נגעו בו ע"ה ואע"פ שלא נגע בה אלא בזמן שהוא כחבר אינה טהורה אלא בימי הרגל בלבד:
11 After the festival, on the night following the festival, the priests would immerse all the utensils that were in the Temple in a mikveh, because the unlearned people had touched them during the festival. Therefore they would tell the people: "Do not touch the Golden Table," when they would show it to the festive pilgrims so that, after the festival, it would not be considered as impure because they touched it and thus would require immersion and waiting until nightfall before it would regain purity. This is undesirable, because with regard to the showbread, Exodus 25:30 states: "It should be before Me continuously."
All of the sacred utensils require immersion and waiting until nightfall with the exception of the Golden Altar and the Copper Altar. They do not contract impurity, because their metal plating is considered as subsidiary to their inner material.יאאחר הרגל במוצאי י"ט היו מטבילין כל הכלים שהיו במקדש מפני שנגעו בהן עמי הארץ ברגל בשעת החג ולפיכך היו אומרים להן אל תגעו בשולחן בשעה שמראין אותו לעולי רגלים כדי שלא יהיה טמא במגעו אחר הרגל ונמצא צריך טבילה והערב שמש ונאמר בלחם הפנים לפני תמיד וכל הכלים היו טעונים טבילה והערב שמש חוץ ממזבח הזהב ומזבח הנחושת מפני שציפוייהן כבטלין לגביהן:
12 When an unlearned person says: "I have not contracted the impurity associated with a human corpse," or "This k'li has not contracted the impurity associated with a human corpse," his word is accepted. He or the k'li is immersed only because of the impurity associated with unlearned people and must wait until nightfall. There is, however, no need for the ashes of the red heifer to be sprinkled on him or it.
When does the above apply? When he is asked and he says that it is pure. When, however, a person takes a k'li from the domain of an unlearned person without clarification, it is suspected that it contracted the impurity associated with a human corpse and the ashes of the red heifer are sprinkled on it on the third and seventh days, as is the law regarding keilim that are found in any place outside of Jerusalem. As will be explained with regard to situations where impurity is questionable, a decree was not established with regard to the impurity of keilim found in Jerusalem.
Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 12
1 When a person entrusts keilim to an unlearned person or gives a k'li to an unlearned artisan to fix, they are considered to be impure because of the impurity associated with a human corpse and the impurity of midras. If the watchman is familiar with the owner of the keilim and knows that he is a priest who partakes of terumah, they are considered as pure with regard to the impurity associated with a corpse, but are considered to have contracted midras impurity. The rationale is that it is suspected that his wife sat on them while she was in the nidah state without his knowledge, since care is not taken with regard to ritual impurity in the homes of unlearned people.אהמפקיד כלים אצל ע"ה או שנתן כלי לאומן ע"ה הרי אלו טמאים טמא מת וטמאין מדרס ואם מכירו שהוא אוכל בתרומה טהורים מטמא מת אבל טמאים מדרס מפני שאשתו נדה יושבת עליהם שלא מדעתו שהרי אין נזהרין מן הטומאות בבתי ע"ה:
2 When a person places his keilim down before an unlearned person and tells him: "Watch these for me," they are considered to have contracted midras impurity, but not the impurity associated with a human corpse. If he placed them on the shoulder of the unlearned person, they are considered to have contracted both types of impurity.
If one left his keilim in a synagogue, they are considered as pure, for it is not entirely a domain of unlearned persons. If he left his keilim in a bathhouse and found them as he left them, they are pure, but he is taught not to do this in the future.
If one left his vat or his cistern unattended, even if he entered a city and returned and found an unlearned person next to the vat or the cistern, they are considered as pure, because the unlearned person does not have license to enter.בהמניח כליו בפני עם הארץ ואמר לו שמור לי את אלו הרי אלו טמאין מדרס וטהורין מטמא מת הניחן על כתיפו טמאין מדרס וטמא מת שכח כליו בבית הכנסת הרי הן טהורין שאינו רשות ע"ה גמורה הניח כליו במרחץ ובא ומצאן כמות שהן טהורין ומלמדין אותו שלא יעשה כן הניח גיתו ובורו אף על פי שנכנס לעיר ובא ומצא ע"ה בצידו טהורין מפני שאין לו רשות שיכנס:
3 When a person entrusts the key to his house to an unlearned person, everything in the house is considered as pure, for he entrusted only the key to him for safekeeping.גהמוסר מפתח ביתו לע"ה כל שבבית טהור שלא מסר לו אלא שמירת המפתח:
4 When a person places his keilim in the lockers of a bathhouse and locked them, the keilim are pure, even if he gave the key to an unlearned person. Similarly, if he sealed the locker or made a sign on it, his keilim are pure even if the seal has been broken.דהמניח כליו בחלונות של מרחץ ונעל עליהם אף ע"פ שנתן המפתח לע"ה כליו טהורין וכן אם חתם על החלון או עשה לו סימן אפילו מצא החותם מקולקל הרי כל אלו טהורין:
5 When a chavair leaves an unlearned person in his house to watch it and the owner sits a certain distance away, when he sees the people who enter and depart, all the foods, liquids, and earthenware containers that are not tightly sealed are impure. By contrast, surfaces on which one lies or rides and earthenware containers that are tightly sealed are pure. If the owner cannot see the people who enter or depart, everything in the house is impure. Even if the unlearned person he left in the home was bound or had his hands and feet cut off, everything is considered as impure, because it was in the domain of an unlearned person.ההמניח ע"ה בתוך ביתו לשומרו וישב הוא מרחוק בזמן שהוא רואה את הנכנסין ואת היוצאין הרי כל שבבית מן האוכלין והמשקין וכלי חרס שאינו מוקף צמיד פתיל טמאין אבל המשכבות והמרכבות וכלי חרס המוקף צמיד פתיל טהורין ואם אינו רואה לא את הנכנסין ולא את היוצאין כל שבבית טמא אפילו היה כפות או כרות ידים ורגלים הכל טמא מפני שהן ברשות ע"ה:
6 When a chavair slept in the home of an unlearned person and his clothes were folded and placed under his head and his sandal and his jug were placed before him, they are considered as pure, because they are assumed to be guarded by their owner. The unlearned person will not touch them for he will say to himself: "Now he will wake up and see me."וחבר שהיה ישן בביתו של ע"ה והיו כלים מקופלים ומונחין תחת ראשו וסנדלו וחביתו לפניו הרי אלו טהורין מפני שהן בחזקת שמירת בעליהן ולא יגע בהן ע"ה שהרי הוא אומר עתה יעור ויביט בי:
7 When an unlearned person borrows a bed from a chavair and sleeps on it in the house of the chavair, only that bed and the area which he can touch when extending his hand from the bed are impure.זע"ה ששאל מחבר מטה שישן עליה וישן עליה בתוך ביתו של חבר אין טמא אלא אותה המטה ועד מקום שהוא יכול לפשוט את ידו מאותה המטה וליגע:
8 When a chavair told an unlearned person: "Watch this cow for me so that it will not enter the house" or "...break these utensils," the house and the utensils are pure, for he charged him only with guarding the cow. If, however, he told him: "Watch this house for me so that the cow will not enter it" or "Watch these utensils so that it will not break them," the house and the utensils are impure.חחבר שאמר לע"ה שמור לי פרה זו שלא תכנס לבית או שלא תשבר את הכלים הרי הבית והכלים טהורים שלא מסר לו אלא שמירת הפרה אבל אם אמר לו שמור לי בית זה שלא תכנס בו הפרה וכלים אלו שלא תשברם הרי הן טמאין:
9 The following rules apply when one leaves an unlearned person lying down in his house and departs. Whether he left him awake and discovered him awake when he returned, he left him sleeping and found him sleeping, or left him awake and found him sleeping, everything in the house is pure. If he left him asleep and he found him awake, any place that is close to him to which he can extend his hand and touch is impure.
Similarly, if one leaves craftsmen in his house, only the places that they can reach when they extend their hands and touch are impure. We do not say that perhaps they climbed onto a chair or a ladder and touched a k'li or food that was hanging on a high place on the wall.טהמניח ע"ה בתוך ביתו ויצא הניחו ער ומצאו ער ישן ומצאו ישן או שהניחו ער ומצאו ישן כל שבבית טהור הניחו ישן ומצאו ער כ"מ הקרוב ממנו שהוא יכול לפשוט את ידו וליגע בו טמא וכן המניח אומנין בתוך ביתו אין טמא אלא עד מקום שיכולין לפשוט את ידיהן וליגע ואין אומרים שמא עלו על גבי כסא או על סולם ונגעו בכלי או באוכלין התלויין למעלה בכותל:
10 When the wife of a chavair leaves the wife of an unlearned person - or two such women - to grind flour in her home, only the places which the wife of the unlearned person can reach when she extends her hand and touch are impure. This applies even if the mill stops for a time. We do not say that while one was grinding, the other searched through everything in the house and maybe even suspended herself and ascended to high places.יאשת חבר שהניחה אשת ע"ה טוחנת בתוך ביתה אפילו פסקה הריחיים ואפילו היו שתים אין טמא אלא מקום שיכולין לפשוט את ידן וליגע ואין אומרין שמא האחת טוחנת והשניה בלשה כל שבבית ושמא ניתלת ועלתה במקומות הגבוהות:
11 When a woman standing at the entrance to her house went in to take out a loaf of bread for a poor man and when she came out, found him standing at the side of loaves of bread, they are pure - even if they are terumah. The rationale is that it can be assumed that he would not touch anything without permission. Similarly, if a woman departed and when she returned, found the wife of an unlearned person stirring the coals that are under her pot, the pot is pure.יאהאשה שנכנסה להוציא פת לעני יצאת ומצאתו עומד בצד ככרות אפילו תרומה הרי הן טהורות שאין חזקתו ליגע שלא ברשות וכן האשה שיצאה ומצאה אשת ע"ה חותה גחלים מתחת הקדירה הרי הקדירה טהורה:
12 When tax-collectors for the ruling kingdom entered a house to take security for money that is owed, everything in the house is impure. If they are accompanied by a gentile, their word is accepted if they say they did not touch something, because they are possessed by fear of the gentile.
When does the above apply? When there are witnesses that they entered or they have security which they took in their hands. If, however, they say on their own initiative: "We entered, but did not touch anything," their word is accepted. The rationale is: the same person whose words aroused our suspicion also allayed it.יבגבאי מלכות שנכנסו לתוך הבית למשכן כל שבבית טמא אם יש עמהם עכו"ם נאמנים לומר לא נגענו מפני שאימת העכו"ם עליהן במה דברים אמורים בזמן שיש שם עדים שנכנסו או שהיה המשכון בידם אבל אם אמרו הן מעצמן נכנסו אבל לא נגענו נאמנין שהפה שאסר הוא הפה שהתיר:
13 When thieves entered a house, only the path where the thieves walked is impure. The rationale is that they are afraid to search through the entire house. Instead, they take only what is at hand.
To what do they impart impurity on the path where they walk? To food, liquids, and open earthenware containers. Surfaces on which one lies or rides and earthenware containers that are sealed closed are pure. If there is a gentile or a woman among them, everything is impure.יגהגנבים שנכנסו לתוך הבית אין טמא אלא מקום רגלי הגנבים מפני שהן מפחדין מלבלוש אלא (דבר) שנוטלין במזומן ומה הן מטמאין במקום הליכתן האוכלין והמשקין וכלי חרס הפתוחים אבל המשכבות והמרכבות וכלי חרס המוקפין צמיד פתיל טהורין ואם יש עמהן עכו"ם או אשה הכל טמא:
14 When tax-collectors and thieves repent and return the articles they took on their own initiative, and not because of fear, and when doing so, say: "When we entered, we did not touch anything that was in the house except what we took," their word is accepted even with regard to articles that were in their path.ידהגבאים והגנבים שעשו תשובה והחזירו מעצמן לא מחמת יראה ואמרו לא נגענו בכל מה שהיה בבית כשנכנסו הרי אלו נאמנים ואפילו על מקום רגליהן:
15 When a person leaves his house open and finds it open or finds it locked - and even if he left it locked and found it open - and nothing was stolen from it, everything in the house is pure. We assume that thieves opened the door and then changed their minds and did not enter.טוהמניח את ביתו פתוח ומצאו פתוח או שמצאו נעול אפילו הניחו נעול ומצאו פתוח ולא נגנב ממנו כלום כל שבבית טהור שאני אומר הגנבים פתחוהו ונמלכו והלכו להם ולא נכנסו:
16 When a hatchet is lost in a house or left in one corner and found in another corner, all the contents of the house are impure, for we assume that an impure person entered the house and took it.טזקורדום שאבד בבית או שהניחו בזוית זו ובא ומצאו בזוית אחרת הבית טמא שאני אומר אדם טמא נכנס לשם ונטלו:
17 When a person lives together with an unlearned person and shares a common courtyard, if he forgot articles in the courtyard - even barrels that were sealed close or an oven that was sealed close - they are considered as impure. For them to be considered as pure, he must construct a barrier ten handbreadths high around the oven so that it will not be in the domain of an unlearned person.יזהדר עם ע"ה בחצר ושכח כלים בחצר אפילו חביות מוקפות צמיד פתיל או תנור מוקף צמיד פתיל הרי אלו טמאין עד שיעשה לתנור מחיצה גבוהה עשרה טפחים כדי שלא יהא ברשות ע"ה:
18 When a chavair has a partition or a hut before the entrance to an unlearned person's home or an unlearned person has a partition or a hut before the entrance to a chavair's home, keilim in the hut or in the partition are impure, because the unlearned person has the right to enter this hut or this partition.יחחבר שהיתה לו מחיצה או סוכה לפני פתחו של ע"ה או שהיתה מחיצה או סוכה של ע"ה לפני פתחו של חבר כלים שבתוכה או כלים שבמחיצה טמאים מפני שיש לעם הארץ בסוכה זו או במחיצה זו רשות:
19 When the roof of a chavair is above the roof of an unlearned person, thechavair may lay out utensils there and place pure foods there under the presumption that their status has not changed, even though the unlearned person could extend his hand and touch them. Similarly, if his neighbor is a gentile, he need not be concerned about impurity or wine used for libations to a false deity.
If the roofs were next to each other on the same level or the roof of the unlearned person was higher and the chavair laid out utensils or left pure foods on his roof, every place to which the unlearned person could extend his hand and touch is considered to be impure.יטחבר שהיה גגו למעלה מגגו של ע"ה ה"ז שוטח שם כלים ומניח טהרות והן בחזקתן אע"פ שע"ה יכול לפשוט ידו וליגע וכן בעכו"ם אינו חושש לא משום טומאה ולא משום יין נסך היו הגגות זה בצד זה או שהיה גגו של ע"ה למעלה ושטח החבר כלים או הניח טהרות בגגו הרי כ"מ שיכול ע"ה לפשוט את ידו וליגע בחזקת טומאה:
20 When there are two courtyards, one inside the other, the inner one belonging to a chavair and the outer one, belonging to an unlearned person, the chavair may place his utensils in his courtyard and spread out his produce there, even though the unlearned person's hand could reach there. There is no suspicion that the unlearned person would touch them, because he would be considered as a thief.כשתי חצרות זו לפנים מזו הפנימית של חבר והחיצונה של ע"ה חבר מניח שם כלים ושוטח שם פירות אף על פי שיד ע"ה מגעת לשם מפני שנתפש עליו כגנב:
21 When a courtyard is divided by a lattice-work barrier, with a chavair's domain on one side and an unlearned person's domain on the other side, the pure food belonging to the chavair is considered as pure, even though the unlearned person's hand could reach there. There is no suspicion that the unlearned person would touch it, because it is in the domain of the chavair.כאחצר החלוקה במסיפס וחבר בצד זה וע"ה בצד זה טהרותיו טהורות אע"פ שיד ע"ה מגעת מפני שהם ברשות החבר:
22 When the bucket of a chavair fell into the well of an unlearned person and the chavair went to get materials to lift it up, it is considered as impure. The rationale is that it was left unattended in the domain of an unlearned person for a given time.כבחבר שנפל דליו לתוך בורו של ע"ה והלך להביא במה יעלנו ה"ז טמא מפני שהונח ברשות ע"ה שעה אחת:
23 When the wife of an unlearned person enters the house of a chavair to take out the son or the daughter of the chavair or his animal, everything in the house is pure, because she entered without permission.
When a potter who is a chavair brings his pots to sell and he descends to a well to drink, those on the inner rows are pure, but those on the outer rows are impure. When does the above apply? When he placed them near the public domain, because the passersby will touch the outer ones as they walk by.
Different rules apply if they were placed down distant from the public domain. If he was carrying the tools of his trade in his hand, they are all impure, because his tools indicate that they were placed down to be sold and everyone will touch them. If he was not carrying the tools of his trade, they are all pure, for it can be assumed that no one touched them.
When a chavair places food or liquids down at the entrance to his store and enters, they are considered impure, for the passersby will touch them.כגאשת עם הארץ שנכנסה לתוך ביתו של חבר להוציא בנו או בתו או בהמתו של חבר כל שבבית טהור מפני שנכנסה שלא ברשות קדר חבר שהכניס קדירותיו למכור וירד לשתות הרי הפנימיות טהורות והחיצונות טמאות בד"א בשהניחן סמוך לרשות הרבים מפני שהעוברים והשבין נוגעים בחיצונות בשעת הליכה אבל היו רחוקות מרשות הרבים אם היו כלי אומנותו בידיו הכל טמאות מפני שכליו מוכיחין שהונחו למכור ויד הכל ממשמשות בהן אין כלי אומנותו בידו הכל טהורות חזקתן שלא נגע בהן אדם חבר שהניח אוכלין ומשקין על פתח חנותו ונכנס הרי אלו טמאים מפני שהעוברים והשבים ממשמשין
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