Torah Reading
Acharei: Leviticus 16:1-17Leviticus 16:1 Adonai spoke with Moshe after the death of Aharon’s two sons, when they tried to sacrifice before Adonai and died; 2 Adonai said to Moshe, “Tell your brother Aharon not to come at just any time into the Holy Place beyond the curtain, in front of the ark-cover which is on the ark, so that he will not die; because I appear in the cloud over the ark-cover.
3 “Here is how Aharon is to enter the Holy Place: with a young bull as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering. 4 He is to put on the holy linen tunic, have the linen shorts next to his bare flesh, have the linen sash wrapped around him, and be wearing the linen turban — they are the holy garments. He is to bathe his body in water and put them on.
5 “He is to take from the community of the people of Isra’el two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. 6 Aharon is to present the bull for the sin offering which is for himself and make atonement for himself and his household. 7 He is to take the two goats and place them before Adonai at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 Then Aharon is to cast lots for the two goats, one lot for Adonai and the other for ‘Az’azel. 9 Aharon is to present the goat whose lot fell to Adonai and offer it as a sin offering. 10 But the goat whose lot fell to ‘Az’azel is to be presented alive to Adonai to be used for making atonement over it by sending it away into the desert for ‘Az’azel.
11 “Aharon is to present the bull of the sin offering for himself; he will make atonement for himself and his household; he is to slaughter the bull of the sin offering which is for himself. 12 He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before Adonai and, with his hands full of ground, fragrant incense, bring it inside the curtain. 13 He is to put the incense on the fire before Adonai, so that the cloud from the incense will cover the ark-cover which is over the testimony, in order that he not die. 14 He is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the ark-cover toward the east; and in front of the ark-cover he is to sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
15 “Next, he is to slaughter the goat of the sin offering which is for the people, bring its blood inside the curtain and do with its blood as he did with the bull’s blood, sprinkling it on the ark-cover and in front of the ark-cover. 16 He will make atonement for the Holy Place because of the uncleannesses of the people of Isra’el and because of their transgressions — all their sins; and he is to do the same for the tent of meeting which is there with them right in the middle of their uncleannesses. 17 No one is to be present in the tent of meeting from the time he enters the Holy Place to make atonement until the time he comes out, having made atonement for himself, for his household and for the entire community of Isra’el.
Today's Laws & Customs
• Preparation for Shavuot Begins
“The Sages of old instituted, yet in the times of the Holy Temple, that thirty days before the onset of a holiday the teachers should begin publicly instructing the masses regarding the laws of the holiday; e.g. from Purim and onwards to teach the laws of Passover, and from the 5th of Iyar and onwards to teach the laws of Shavuot” (Shulchan Aruch Harav 429:1).
• Count "Twenty-One Days to the Omer" Tonight
Tomorrow is the twenty-first 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 twenty-one days, which are three weeks, 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: Malchut sheb'Tifferet -- "Receptiveness in Harmony"
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."
Links:
How to count the Omer
The deeper significance of the Omer Count
Today in Jewish History
• State of Israel Proclaimed (1948)
The British mandate to govern the Holy Land expired on Friday, May 14, 1948. A United Nations resolution passed six months earlier endorsed the establishment of a Jewish state in the biblical homeland of the Jewish people. That afternoon, the state of Israel was proclaimed in Tel Aviv. The date -- Iyar 5 on the Jewish calendar -- is celebrated in Israel as the Israeli "Independence Day."
Daily Quote
I have learned much from my teachers; from my colleagues more than from my teachers; and from my students more than all.[Talmud, Taanit 7b]
Daily Study
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Acharei-Kedoshim, 2nd Portion Leviticus 16:25-17:7 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation | Video Class
Leviticus Chapter 1625And he shall cause the fat of the sin offering to go up in smoke upon the altar. כה וְאֵ֛ת חֵ֥לֶב הַֽחַטָּ֖את יַקְטִ֥יר הַמִּזְבֵּֽחָה:
the fat of the sin-offering: [This refers to] the sacrificial fats of the bull and the he-goat. ואת חלב החטאת: אימורי פר ושעיר:
And he shall cause [the fat of the sin-offering] to go up in smoke upon the altar: On the outer altar, for, concerning the inner altar, it is written: “You shall offer up on it no alien incense, burnt offering, or meal offering” (Exod. 30:9), [and likewise, no sin-offering shall be brought on the internal altar since “burnt offering” includes any sacrifice of which any part is burned]. יקטיר המזבחה: על מזבח החיצון, דאלו בפנימי כתיב (שמות ל ט) לא תעלו עליו קטרת זרה ועולה ומנחה:
26And the person who sent off the he goat to Azazel, shall immerse his garments and immerse his flesh in water. And after this, he may come into the camp. כווְהַֽמְשַׁלֵּ֤חַ אֶת־הַשָּׂעִיר֙ לַֽעֲזָאזֵ֔ל יְכַבֵּ֣ס בְּגָדָ֔יו וְרָחַ֥ץ אֶת־בְּשָׂר֖וֹ בַּמָּ֑יִם וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֖ן יָב֥וֹא אֶל־הַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה:
27And the sin offering bull and he goat of the sin offering, [both of] whose blood was brought to effect atonement in the Holy, he shall take outside the camp, and they shall burn in fire their hides, their flesh, and their waste. כזוְאֵת֩ פַּ֨ר הַֽחַטָּ֜את וְאֵ֣ת | שְׂעִ֣יר הַֽחַטָּ֗את אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוּבָ֤א אֶת־דָּמָם֙ לְכַפֵּ֣ר בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ יוֹצִ֖יא אֶל־מִח֣וּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶ֑ה וְשָֽׂרְפ֣וּ בָאֵ֔שׁ אֶת־עֹֽרֹתָ֥ם וְאֶת־בְּשָׂרָ֖ם וְאֶת־פִּרְשָֽׁם:
whose blood was brought: into the heichal and into the very interior. אשר הובא את דמם: להיכל ולפני ולפנים:
28And the person who burns them shall immerse his garments and immerse his flesh in water. And after this, he may come into the camp. כחוְהַשּׂרֵ֣ף אֹתָ֔ם יְכַבֵּ֣ס בְּגָדָ֔יו וְרָחַ֥ץ אֶת־בְּשָׂר֖וֹ בַּמָּ֑יִם וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֖ן יָב֥וֹא אֶל־הַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה:
29And [all this] shall be as an eternal statute for you; in the seventh month, on the tenth of the month, you shall afflict yourselves, and you shall not do any work neither the native nor the stranger who dwells among you. כטוְהָֽיְתָ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם לְחֻקַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַ֠שְּׁבִיעִ֠י בֶּֽעָשׂ֨וֹר לַחֹ֜דֶשׁ תְּעַנּ֣וּ אֶת־נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֗ם וְכָל־מְלָאכָה֙ לֹ֣א תַֽעֲשׂ֔וּ הָ֣אֶזְרָ֔ח וְהַגֵּ֖ר הַגָּ֥ר בְּתֽוֹכְכֶֽם:
30For on this day He shall effect atonement for you to cleanse you. Before the Lord, you shall be cleansed from all your sins. לכִּֽי־בַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֛ה יְכַפֵּ֥ר עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם לְטַהֵ֣ר אֶתְכֶ֑ם מִכֹּל֙ חַטֹּ֣אתֵיכֶ֔ם לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֹ֖ה תִּטְהָֽרוּ:
31It is a Sabbath of rest for you, and you shall afflict yourselves. It is an eternal statute. לאשַׁבַּ֨ת שַׁבָּת֥וֹן הִיא֙ לָכֶ֔ם וְעִנִּיתֶ֖ם אֶת־נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֑ם חֻקַּ֖ת עוֹלָֽם:
32And the Kohen who is anointed or who is invested to serve in his father's stead, shall effect [this] atonement, and he shall don the linen garments, the holy garments; לבוְכִפֶּ֨ר הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֲשֶׁר־יִמְשַׁ֣ח אֹת֗וֹ וַֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר יְמַלֵּא֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ לְכַהֵ֖ן תַּ֣חַת אָבִ֑יו וְלָבַ֛שׁ אֶת־בִּגְדֵ֥י הַבָּ֖ד בִּגְדֵ֥י הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ:
And the Kohen who is anointed: This atonement on Yom Kippur is valid only through a Kohen Gadol [since anointment in this context exclusively refers to that of a Kohen Gadol (see Lev. 21:10)].-[Yoma 32b] Since this entire passage is stated concerning Aaron, Scripture found it necessary to state that the Kohen Gadol who succeeds him is like him. -[Torath Kohanim 16:79] וכפר הכהן אשר ימשח וגו': כפרה זו של יום הכיפורים אינה כשרה אלא בכהן גדול, לפי שנאמרה כל הפרשה באהרן, הוצרך לומר בכהן גדול הבא אחריו שיהא כמוהו:
or who is invested: [Without this phrase,] we would know only that [the Kohen Gadol] anointed with the anointing oil (see Exod. 30:22-33) may perform the Yom Kippur service]. How would we know that [a Kohen Gadol who was invested only by] wearing the many garments [i.e., eight, as opposed to the four of an ordinary kohen, may also perform Yom Kippur service]? Scripture, therefore, says here, "or who is invested to serve [for their authorized wearing of the eight golden garments of a Kohen Gadol is their very investiture (see Rashi Exod. 29:9)]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:79] These [Kohanim Gedolim referred to here,] are all the Kohanim Gedolim who were appointed from the time of Josiah and onwards, for in the days [of Josiah], the jug of anointing oil was hidden away. — [see Yoma 52b] ואשר ימלא את ידו: אין לי אלא המשוח בשמן המשחה, מרובה בגדים מנין, תלמוד לומר ואשר ימלא את ידו וגו', והם כל הכהנים הגדולים שעמדו מיאשיהו ואילך, שבימיו נגנזה צלוחית של שמן המשחה:
to serve in his father’s stead: This teaches us that if his son can take his place [meaning that he is his equal], he takes precedence over everyone else. — [Torath Kohanim 16:80] לכהן תחת אביו: ללמד שאם בנו ממלא את מקומו הוא קודם לכל אדם:
33And he shall effect atonement upon the Holy of Holies, and he shall effect atonement upon the Tent of Meeting and upon the altar, and he shall effect atonement upon the kohanim and upon all the people of the congregation. לגוְכִפֶּר֙ אֶת־מִקְדַּ֣שׁ הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וְאֶת־אֹ֧הֶל מוֹעֵ֛ד וְאֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ יְכַפֵּ֑ר וְעַ֧ל הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֛ים וְעַל־כָּל־עַ֥ם הַקָּהָ֖ל יְכַפֵּֽר:
34[All] this shall be as an eternal statute for you, to effect atonement upon the children of Israel, for all their sins, once each year. And he did as the Lord had commanded Moses. לדוְהָֽיְתָה־זֹּ֨את לָכֶ֜ם לְחֻקַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֗ם לְכַפֵּ֞ר עַל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִכָּל־חַטֹּאתָ֔ם אַחַ֖ת בַּשָּׁנָ֑ה וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
And he did as the Lord had commanded [Moses]: [i.e.,] when Yom Kippur arrived, [Aaron] performed [the service] according to ths order, and [this verse is written] to tell Aaron’s praise, namely, that he did not don those [special garments of the Kohen Gadol] for his self-aggrandizement, but rather, as one who is fulfilling the King’s decree [thus, “he did as the Lord had commanded”]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:85] ויעש כאשר צוה ה' וגו': כשהגיע יום הכפורים עשה כסדר הזה, ולהגיד שבחו של אהרן שלא היה לובשן לגדולתו, אלא כמקיים גזירת המלך:
Leviticus Chapter 17
1And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2Speak to Aaron and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them: This is the thing the Lord has commanded, saying: בדַּבֵּ֨ר אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן וְאֶל־בָּנָ֗יו וְאֶל֙ כָּל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָֹ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר:
3Any man of the House of Israel, who slaughters an ox, a lamb, or a goat inside the camp, or who slaughters outside the camp, גאִ֥ישׁ אִישׁ֙ מִבֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁחַ֜ט שׁ֥וֹר אוֹ־כֶ֛שֶׂב אוֹ־עֵ֖ז בַּמַּֽחֲנֶ֑ה א֚וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִשְׁחָ֔ט מִח֖וּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה:
Who slaughters an ox, a lamb, [or a goat]: Scripture is speaking of [slaughtering] holy sacrifices [not of slaughtering ordinary animals], for Scripture continues, “to offer up as a sacrifice” (next verse). - [Torath Kohanim 17:91] אשר ישחט שור או כשב: במוקדשין הכתוב מדבר, שנאמר להקריב קרבן:
inside the camp: But outside the Courtyard. — [Torath Kohanim 17:89; Zev. 107b] במחנה: חוץ לעזרה:
4but does not bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to offer up as a sacrifice to the Lord before the Mishkan of the Lord, this [act] shall be counted for that man as blood he has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people; דוְאֶל־פֶּ֜תַח אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵד֘ לֹ֣א הֱבִיאוֹ֒ לְהַקְרִ֤יב קָרְבָּן֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהוָֹ֑ה דָּ֣ם יֵֽחָשֵׁ֞ב לָאִ֤ישׁ הַהוּא֙ דָּ֣ם שָׁפָ֔ךְ וְנִכְרַ֛ת הָאִ֥ישׁ הַה֖וּא מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמּֽוֹ:
shall be counted [for that man] as blood: As though he had shed human blood, for which one is liable to the death penalty. דם יחשב: כשופך דם האדם שמתחייב בנפשו:
He has shed blood: [This comes] to include one who dashes the blood [of a holy sacrifice] outside [the Temple Courtyard]. — [Zev. 107a] דם שפך: לרבות את הזורק דמים בחוץ:
5in order that the children of Israel should bring their offerings which they slaughter on the open field, and bring them to the Lord, to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, to the kohen, and slaughter them as peace offerings to the Lord. הלְמַ֩עַן֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָבִ֜יאוּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶת־זִבְחֵיהֶם֘ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֵ֣ם זֹֽבְחִים֘ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַשָּׂדֶה֒ וֶֽהֱבִיאֻ֣ם לַֽיהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־פֶּ֛תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְזָ֨בְח֜וּ זִבְחֵ֧י שְׁלָמִ֛ים לַֽיהוָֹ֖ה אוֹתָֽם:
which they slaughter: which they are accustomed to slaughter. אשר הם זבחים: אשר הם רגילים לזבוח:
6And the kohen shall dash the blood upon the altar of the Lord at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and he shall cause the fat to go up in smoke, as a pleasing fragrance to the Lord. ווְזָרַ֨ק הַכֹּהֵ֤ן אֶת־הַדָּם֙ עַל־מִזְבַּ֣ח יְהֹוָ֔ה פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְהִקְטִ֣יר הַחֵ֔לֶב לְרֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַֽיהוָֹֽה:
7And they shall no longer slaughter their sacrifices to the satyrs after which they stray. This shall be an eternal statute for them, for [all] their generations. זוְלֹֽא־יִזְבְּח֥וּ עוֹד֙ אֶת־זִבְחֵיהֶ֔ם לַשְּׂעִירִ֕ם אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥ם זֹנִ֖ים אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם חֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֛ם תִּֽהְיֶה־זֹּ֥את לָהֶ֖ם לְדֹֽרֹתָֽם:
to the satyrs: Heb. לַשְּׂעִירִים, to the demons, like, “and satyrs (וּשְּׂעִירִים) will dance there” (Isa. 13:21). - [Torath Kohanim 17:100] לשעירם: לשדים, כמו (ישעיה יג כא) ושעירים ירקדו שם:
Tehillim: Chapters 29 - 34
• Hebrew text
• English textChapter 29
The Name of God appears eighteen times in this psalm, corresponding to which our Sages established eighteen blessings-the Amidah. The entire psalm can be interpreted as referring to the giving of the Torah and the ingathering of the exiles.
1. A psalm by David. Render to the Lord, children of the mighty, render to the Lord honor and strength.
2. Render to the Lord the honor due to His Name; bow down to the Lord in resplendent holiness.
3. The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over mighty waters.
4. The voice of the Lord resounds with might; the voice of the Lord resounds with majesty.
5. The voice of the Lord breaks cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
6. He makes them leap like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7. The voice of the Lord strikes flames of fire.
8. The voice of the Lord makes the desert tremble; the Lord causes the desert of Kadesh to tremble.
9. The voice of the Lord causes the does to calve, and strips the forests bare; and in His Sanctuary all proclaim His glory.
10. The Lord sat [as King] at the Flood; the Lord will sit as King forever.
11. The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
Chapter 30
This psalm teaches one not to be distressed if God visits suffering upon him in this world, for only through suffering can one enter the World to Come. Even one of great spiritual stature should realize that his stability is not guaranteed, but that all is in the hands of God.
1. A psalm, a song of dedication of the House, by David.
2. I exalt You, Lord, for You have uplifted me, and did not allow my enemies to rejoice over me.
3. Lord, my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.
4. Lord, You have brought up my soul from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not descend to the pit.
5. Sing to the Lord, you His pious ones, and praise His holy Name.
6. For His wrath endures but for a moment, when He is conciliated there is [long] life; when one retires at night weeping, joy will come in the morning.
7. In my security I thought, "I shall never falter.”
8. Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; when You concealed Your countenance I was alarmed.
9. I called to You, O Lord, and I made supplication to my Lord:
10. What profit is there in my death, in my going down to the grave? Can dust praise You? Can it proclaim Your truth
11. Lord, hear and be gracious to me; Lord, be a help to me.
12. You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have undone my sackcloth and girded me with joy.
13. Therefore my soul shall sing to You, and not be silent; Lord my God, I will praise You forever.
Chapter 31
Composed by a destitute and oppressed David, running from Saul while placing his trust in God, this psalm instructs man to put his trust in God alone.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. In You I have taken shelter, O Lord, I shall never be shamed; rescue me in Your righteousness.
3. Turn Your ear to me, save me quickly; be to me a rock of refuge, a fortress to deliver me.
4. For You are my rock and my fortress; for the sake of Your Name, direct me and lead me.
5. Remove me from the net they planted for me, for You are my stronghold.
6. I entrust my spirit into Your hand; You will redeem me, Lord, God of truth.
7. I despise those who anticipate worthless vanities; but I trust in the Lord.
8. I will rejoice and delight in Your kindness, for You have seen my affliction; You know the troubles of my soul.
9. You have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet on spacious ground.
10. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from vexation-my soul and my stomach.
11. For my life is spent in sorrow, my years in sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are wasted away.
12. Because of my adversaries I have become a disgrace-exceedingly to my neighbors, and a dread to my friends; those who see me outside flee from me.
13. Like a dead man, I was forgotten from the heart; I became like a lost vessel.
14. For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, when they assembled together against me and plotted to take my life.
15. But I trusted in You, O Lord; I said, "You are my God.”
16. My times are in Your hand; save me from the hands of my enemies and pursuers.
17. Shine Your countenance upon Your servant; deliver me in Your kindness.
18. O Lord, let me not be ashamed, for I have called You; let the wicked be shamed, let them be silent to the grave.
19. Let the lips of falsehood-which speak insolently against the righteous, with arrogance and contempt-be struck dumb.
20. How abundant is Your good that You have hidden for those who fear You; in the presence of man, You have acted for those who take refuge in You.
21. Conceal them from the haughtiness of man, in the shelter of Your countenance; hide them in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
22. Blessed is the Lord, for He has been wondrous in His kindness to me in a besieged city.
23. I said in my panic, "I am cut off from before Your eyes!" But in truth, You heard the voice of my pleas when I cried to You.
24. Love the Lord, all His pious ones! The Lord preserves the faithful, and repays with exactness those who act haughtily.
25. Be strong and fortify your hearts, all who put their hope in the Lord!
Chapter 32
This psalm speaks of forgiveness of sin, and of the good fortune of one who repents and confesses to God wholeheartedly.
1. By David, a maskil.1Fortunate is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2. Fortunate is the man to whom the Lord does not reckon his sin, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3. When I was silent, my limbs wore away through my wailing all day long.
4. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my marrow became [dry] as the droughts of summer, Selah.
5. My sin I made known to You, my iniquity I did not cover. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and You have forgiven the iniquity of my transgression forever.
6. For this let every pious man pray to You, at a time when You may be found; indeed, the flood of many waters will not reach him.
7. You are a refuge to me; protect me from distress; surround me with songs of deliverance forever.
8. I will enlighten you and educate you in the path you should go; I will advise you with what I have seen.
9. Be not like a horse, like a mule, senseless, that must be muzzled with bit and bridle when being adorned, so that it not come near you.
10. Many are the agonies of the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord is surrounded by kindness.
11. Rejoice in the Lord and exult, you righteous ones! Sing joyously, all you upright of heart!
FOOTNOTES
1.A psalm intended to enlighten and impart knowledge(Metzudot).
Chapter 33
This psalm teaches the righteous and upright to praise God. For the more one knows of the Torah's wisdom, the more should he praise God, for he knows and understands His greatness.
1. Sing joyously to the Lord, you righteous ones; it is fitting for the upright to offer praise.
2. Extol the Lord with a harp; sing to Him with a ten-stringed lyre.
3. Sing to Him a new song; play well with sounds of jubilation.
4. For the word of the Lord is just; all His deeds are done in faithfulness.
5. He loves righteousness and justice; the kindness of the Lord fills the earth.
6. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their hosts.
7. He gathers the waters of the sea like a mound; He places the deep waters in vaults.
8. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world tremble before Him.
9. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it endured.
10. The Lord has annulled the counsel of nations; He has foiled the schemes of peoples.
11. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart throughout all generations.
12. Fortunate is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose as a heritage for Himself.
13. The Lord looks down from heaven; He beholds all mankind.
14. From His dwelling-place He looks intently upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15. It is He Who fashions the hearts of them all, Who perceives all their actions.
16. The king is not saved by a great army, nor a warrior rescued by great might.
17. The horse is a false guarantee for victory; with all its great strength it offers no escape.
18. But the eye of the Lord is directed toward those who fear Him, toward those who hope for His kindness,
19. to save their soul from death and to sustain them during famine.
20. Our soul yearns for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
21. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, for we have put our trust in His Holy Name.
22. May Your kindness, Lord, be upon us, as we have placed our hope in You.
Chapter 34
This psalm tells of when David was in grave danger while at the palace of Achish, brother of Goliath. David acted like a madman, letting spittle run down his beard, and writing on the doors: "Achish, king of Gath, owes me one hundred thousand gold coins," leading Achish to eject him from the palace. In his joy, David composed this psalm in alphabetical sequence.
1. By David, when he feigned insanity before Avimelech,1 who then drove him away, and he left.
2. I bless the Lord at all times; His praise is always in my mouth.
3. My soul glories in the Lord; let the humble hear it and rejoice.
4. Exalt the Lord with me, and let us extol His Name together.
5. I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
6. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never humiliated.
7. This poor man called, and the Lord heard; He delivered him from all his tribulations.
8. The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
9. Taste and see that the Lord is good; fortunate is the man who trusts in Him.
10. Fear the Lord, you His holy ones, for those who fear Him suffer no want.
11. Young lions may want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
12. Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
13. Who is the man who desires life, who loves long life wherein to see goodness?
14. Guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
15. Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.
16. The eyes of the Lord are directed toward the righteous, and His ears toward their cry.
17. The wrath of the Lord is upon the evildoers, to excise their memory from the earth.
18. But when they [repent and] cry out, the Lord hears, and saves them from all their troubles.
19. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, and saves those with a crushed spirit.
20. Many are the afflictions of a righteous person, but the Lord rescues him from them all.
21. He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.
22. Evil brings death upon the wicked, and the enemies of the righteous are condemned.
23. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants; all who take shelter in Him are not condemned.
FOOTNOTES
1.All Philistine kings are referred to by the name Avimelech (Rashi).
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 44
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A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 68
Sacrifice Brought by a Court that Erred
"And if the entire congregation of Israel commits an unintentional sin and [the truth] is hidden from the eyes of the assembly"—Leviticus 4:13.
A rabbinic court that erroneously issues an incorrect halachic verdict is required to bring a sacrifice.
Full text of this Mitzvah »Sacrifice Brought by a Court that Erred
Positive Commandment 68
Translated by Berel Bell
The 68th mitzvah is that the High Court is commanded to bring an offering if they inadvertently erred in a legal ruling.1
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "If the entire community of Israel commits an inadvertent violation as a result of [the truth] being hidden from the eyes of the congregation3 [....the congregation must bring a young bull as a sin-offering]."
The details and all the conditions governing this mitzvah are fully explained in tractate Horayos and in a number of passages in tractate Zevachim.4
FOOTNOTES
1.This applies only when their judgment dealt with a transgression for which an individual would have to bring a sin-offering, and they declared it permissible and people did the forbidden act based on their ruling.
2.Lev. 4:13-14.
3.I.e. the High Court.
4.90b. See Kapach, 5731, footnote 75.Positive Commandment 75
Offering of the Zavah
"But if she is cleansed from her discharge... on the eighth day, she shall take for herself two turtledoves..."—Leviticus 15:28-29.
A woman who is a zavah [one who experiences menses three consecutive days outside the normal menstrual period] must, after the disorder has been cured, bring an offering—two pigeons or two turtledoves.
Until she brings this offering, her purification process is not complete and she may not partake of sacrificial flesh.
Full text of this Mitzvah »Offering of the Zavah
Positive Commandment 75
Translated by Berel Bell
The 75th mitzvah is that any zavah1 must bring an offering after she is healed from her discharge.
This offering, which consists of two doves or two young pigeons, is known as a korban zavah, and her atonement is incomplete2 until these sacrifices are brought.
Perhaps one will ask the following question: since the offering of the zav and that of the zavah are identical, we should count only the offering as the mitzvah, and everyone who is required to bring it would be included. [Therefore it would count just as one mitzvah rather than two3.] This is how we treated the sin-offering, the guilt-offering, the asham talui, and the offering of adjustable value4 — where we ignored the number of transgressions covered by each offering,5 and counted just the offering itself as one mitzvah. So too here, we should ignore the number of people who are required to bring this bird offering [and count only the offering itself]!
The explanation is that the offering of the zav and that of the zavah are not for transgressions, but are brought only because of specific physical conditions [and these differ by a man and by a woman]. If the physical condition of the man and that of the woman were identical — as their names, zav and zavah, are identical — then their sacrifices would be counted together [as one mitzvah]. However, this is not the case, for a man must bring an offering because he has emitted semen;6 but if something similar would be emitted by a woman, she would not become a zavah. [Conversely] in a woman, it is the flow of blood which makes her a zavah, and if a man would emit blood, he would be exempt from bringing a sacrifice. [The similarity is only their names, zav and zavah,] and the word zivus is associated with "flowing" — and not every flow is the same.
Our Sages7 said explicitly [that the flow of a zav differs from that of a zavah]: "A man becomes tameh through a white emission, and a woman becomes tameh through a red emission."
There is a clear proof that the law of a zav and zavah is unlike that of a leprous man and a leprous woman [whose offerings count as only one mitzvah8]. This is the statement of our Sages in tractate Kerisus,9 "There are four categories of "those whose atonement is incomplete": zav, zavah, a woman who has just given birth, and a leper." One sees clearly that the zav and zavah are counted separately, whereas the leper — whether male or female — is counted only once. This is because the zivus (flow) of a man is different from that of a woman [whereas the leprosy is the same].10
The verses11 which speak of her offering state, "When the woman is rid of her discharge...on the eighth day, she shall take for herself two doves."
FOOTNOTES
1.A woman who experiences menstrual bleeding at an abnormal time. See P106.
2.Even though she has immersed and gone through the necessary waiting period, she still may not eat from any sacrifices before bringing her offering.
3.See P74.
4.P64, P65, P70, P72.
5.The offering of adjustable value, for example, is brought for any of four various transgressions.
6.A thin sort of seed as a result of an illness. See P104. Hilchos Mechusarei Kapparah 2:1.
7.Niddah 32b.
8.P77.
9.8b.
10.Therefore, since the condition of a zav and that of a zavah are different, their offerings cannot be counted together.
11.Lev. 15:28-29.Positive Commandment 76
Offering after Childbirth
"And when the days of her purification period are fulfilled, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring a sheep within its first year of age..."—Leviticus 12:6.
A woman who gives birth is required to bring an offering—a sheep for a Burnt Offering and a pigeon or turtledove as a Sin Offering. If she is of limited financial means, she may instead bring two pigeons or two turtledoves, one as a Burnt Offering and one as a Sin Offering.
Until she brings this offering, her purification process is not complete and she may not partake of sacrificial flesh.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Offering after Childbirth• English Text: Lessons in Tanya
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Today's Tanya Lesson
Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 44
As explained in the previous chapters, the love and fear that lead to performance of Torah and mitzvot elevate them to the Supernal Sefirot. If the love and fear are “natural” — i.e., they do not result from contemplating G‑d’s greatness, but from the soul’s natural resources — then the Torah and mitzvot are elevated only as far as the World of Yetzirah, the World of emotion. For since the level of “natural” love and fear of G‑d belongs in that World, it follows that the Torah and mitzvot performed as a result of that level, will be elevated there as well.
However, if the love and fear are “intellectual” — created by one’s reflection on G‑d’s greatness — then the Torah and mitzvot performed as a result of this contemplation will be elevated to the Sefirot of the World of Beriah, the World where the Sefirah of Binah (“understanding”) is preeminent.
The Alter Rebbe now goes on to say that although the two above-mentioned loves (“My soul...” and “Like a son...”) are naturally found in a Jew’s soul, deriving as they do from the Patriarchs, still, when they are in a revealed state in one’s heart, they are able to elevate the Torah and mitzvot that result from them to the World of Beriah. Only when “natural” love remains concealed in the mind, is it restricted to elevating Torah and mitzvot no higher than Yetzirah. When, however, it is in a revealed state, they are elevated to the World of Beriah.
For while it is true that these loves are natural, yet in order for them to be revealed there must be profound contemplation on the theme of G‑d as our true Father and Source of life. Such contemplation gives this natural love the additional qualitative trait achieved by “intellectual” love, so that the Torah and mitzvot which result from this love are elevated to the World of Beriah, the World of knowledge. This is now going to be discussed:
והנה ב׳ בחינות אהבות אלו
The said two categories of love — that of “My soul...,” the love a Jew feels for G‑d upon realizing that He is his true life, and that which is “Like a son...,” loving G‑d as one’s true father —
אף שהן ירושה לנו מאבותינו, וכמו טבע בנפשותינו, וכן היראה הכלולה בהן, שהיא לירא מליפרד, חס ושלום, ממקור חיינו ואבינו האמיתי, ברוך הוא
though they are an inheritance unto us from our Patriarchs, and like a natural instinct in our souls (and so, too, as a natural instinct, is the fear that is comprised in them, namely the fear of being sundered, G‑d forbid, from the Source of our life and our true Father, blessed be He),
When one feels that G‑d is the true Source of his life he will fear to transgress, so as not to become separated from his source of life. The feeling of G‑d being one’s true father will likewise keep him from sinning, since he does not want to be torn away from his father.
Although both the above-mentioned degrees of love and fear are instinctively found within Jews,
אף על פי כן אינן נקראות בשם דחילו ורחימו טבעיים, אלא כשהן במוחו ומחשבתו לבד ותעלומות לבו, ואז מקומן בי׳ ספירות דיצירה, ולשם הן מעלות עמהן התורה והמצות הבאות מחמתן ובסיבתן
they are, nevertheless, not termed “natural” fear and love unless they be in the mind and thought alone and in the latency of the heart. Then their place is in the Ten Sefirot of Yetzirah, the place and level of the “natural” emotions, whither they raise up with them the Torah and mitzvot of which they have been the inspiration and cause.
These levels of love are the cause of the performance of one’s Torah and mitzvot, for they result from the portrayal of this love in his mind.
אבל כשהן בהתגלות לבו, נקראים רעותא דלבא בזהר
But when they (the two degrees of love) are in a manifest state in the heart, as a result of his contemplation, they are called in the Zohar, re‘uta delibba (“the heart’s desire” — a more exalted love than “natural” love),
ומקומן בי׳ ספירות דבריאה, ולשם הן מעלות עמהן התורה והמצות הבאות מחמתן
and their place is in the Ten Sefirot of Beriah, where they raise up with them the Torah and mitzvot of which they have been the cause, i.e., which have been performed with the ardor of this love.
The reason this is indeed so, notwithstanding the fact that they are “naturally” found with the soul of every Jew, is now given:
מפני שיציאתן מההעלם והסתר הלב אל בחינת גילוי היא על ידי הדעת, ותקיעת המחשבה בחוזק והתבוננות עצומה מעומקא דלבא יתיר ותדיר באין סוף ברוך הוא, איך הוא חיינו ממש ואבינו האמיתי, ברוך הוא
For their emergence from the latency and concealment of the heart into a state of revelation comes through the faculty of Daat, i.e., through a powerful fixation of the mind and an intense concentration — from the depths of the heart, powerfully and frequently — on the blessed Ein Sof, as to how He is our very life and our blessed true Father. And since his contemplation is so powerful and deep:
ומודעת זאת מה שכתוב בתיקונים כי בעולם הבריאה מקננא תמן אימא עילאה שהיא ההתבוננות באור אין סוף חיי החיים ברוך הוא, וכמאמר אליהו: בינה לבא, ובה הלב מבין
Moreover, what is written in the Tikkunim1 is well known, that “there, in the World of Beriah, nests the ‘Supernal Mother,’” i.e., the level of Binah of Atzilut, which in terms of man’s spiritual service, is the contemplation of the (infinite) light of the blessed Ein Sof, the Giver of life, blessed be He. And this is in accordance with the teaching of Elijah in Tikkunei Zohar,2 in the section beginning Patach Eliyahu: “Binah is the heart, and with it the heart understands.” This means to say that the meditation and understanding taking place in the mind illuminate the heart.
Since the contemplation of G‑dliness is related to the World of Beriah, the World which is illuminated by Binah of Atzilut, it follows that the various forms of love which are revealed through such contemplation have their place in that World as well, and it is there that they elevate one’s Torah and mitzvot.
The Alter Rebbe now goes on to say that the two kinds of love — “My soul...” and “Like a son...” — not only have the quality of love that results from contemplation, but they also have the quality of ahavah rabbah, the love that is granted from above. For they, too, are granted from above, inasmuch as Jews inherit them from the Patriarchs, as explained earlier.
Since these two kinds of love possess all these qualities, it would seem that they should suffice, and love born wholly of intellect is superfluous. Nevertheless, the Alter Rebbe concludes that a Jew should also strive to attain the love that results wholly from contemplating G‑d’s greatness, because of the reasons he will soon give.
ולא עוד, אלא שב׳ בחינות אהבות אלו הנזכרות למעלה הן כלולות מן בחינת אהבה רבה וגדולה ומעולה מדחילו ורחימו שכליים, אשר האהבה נקראת לעיל בשם אהבת עולם
Furthermore, these two categories of love that have been referred to above, the love of “My soul...” and the love of “Like a son...,” incorporate a quality of love which is greater and more sublime than intelligent fear and love, the kind that result from contemplating G‑d’s greatness, the love termed above ahavat olam; these two kinds of love also partake of the quality of ahavah rabbah, which is loftier than ahavat olam.
The Rebbe explains that ahavah rabbah is rooted in Atzilut, which is far superior to Beriah, where ahavat olam is rooted. The Alter Rebbe alludes to this by saying “Furthermore”: i.e., these loves not only have the qualities of “natural” love and “intellectual” love, found in the Worlds of Yetzirah and Beriah respectively, but they also have the quality of the love of ahavah rabbah found in the World of Atzilut. This tremendous quality notwithstanding, the Alter Rebbe concludes that it is necessary to achieve the love brought about wholly through contemplation, for this love is unique in its passion and yearning for G‑dliness.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Tikkun 6. |
| 2. | Introduction to Tikkunei Zohar, 17a. |
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
English Text | Hebrew Text |
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassToday's MitzvahA daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
Positive Commandment 68
Sacrifice Brought by a Court that Erred
"And if the entire congregation of Israel commits an unintentional sin and [the truth] is hidden from the eyes of the assembly"—Leviticus 4:13.
A rabbinic court that erroneously issues an incorrect halachic verdict is required to bring a sacrifice.
Full text of this Mitzvah »Sacrifice Brought by a Court that Erred
Positive Commandment 68
Translated by Berel Bell
The 68th mitzvah is that the High Court is commanded to bring an offering if they inadvertently erred in a legal ruling.1
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "If the entire community of Israel commits an inadvertent violation as a result of [the truth] being hidden from the eyes of the congregation3 [....the congregation must bring a young bull as a sin-offering]."
The details and all the conditions governing this mitzvah are fully explained in tractate Horayos and in a number of passages in tractate Zevachim.4
FOOTNOTES
1.This applies only when their judgment dealt with a transgression for which an individual would have to bring a sin-offering, and they declared it permissible and people did the forbidden act based on their ruling.
2.Lev. 4:13-14.
3.I.e. the High Court.
4.90b. See Kapach, 5731, footnote 75.Positive Commandment 75
Offering of the Zavah
"But if she is cleansed from her discharge... on the eighth day, she shall take for herself two turtledoves..."—Leviticus 15:28-29.
A woman who is a zavah [one who experiences menses three consecutive days outside the normal menstrual period] must, after the disorder has been cured, bring an offering—two pigeons or two turtledoves.
Until she brings this offering, her purification process is not complete and she may not partake of sacrificial flesh.
Full text of this Mitzvah »Offering of the Zavah
Positive Commandment 75
Translated by Berel Bell
The 75th mitzvah is that any zavah1 must bring an offering after she is healed from her discharge.
This offering, which consists of two doves or two young pigeons, is known as a korban zavah, and her atonement is incomplete2 until these sacrifices are brought.
Perhaps one will ask the following question: since the offering of the zav and that of the zavah are identical, we should count only the offering as the mitzvah, and everyone who is required to bring it would be included. [Therefore it would count just as one mitzvah rather than two3.] This is how we treated the sin-offering, the guilt-offering, the asham talui, and the offering of adjustable value4 — where we ignored the number of transgressions covered by each offering,5 and counted just the offering itself as one mitzvah. So too here, we should ignore the number of people who are required to bring this bird offering [and count only the offering itself]!
The explanation is that the offering of the zav and that of the zavah are not for transgressions, but are brought only because of specific physical conditions [and these differ by a man and by a woman]. If the physical condition of the man and that of the woman were identical — as their names, zav and zavah, are identical — then their sacrifices would be counted together [as one mitzvah]. However, this is not the case, for a man must bring an offering because he has emitted semen;6 but if something similar would be emitted by a woman, she would not become a zavah. [Conversely] in a woman, it is the flow of blood which makes her a zavah, and if a man would emit blood, he would be exempt from bringing a sacrifice. [The similarity is only their names, zav and zavah,] and the word zivus is associated with "flowing" — and not every flow is the same.
Our Sages7 said explicitly [that the flow of a zav differs from that of a zavah]: "A man becomes tameh through a white emission, and a woman becomes tameh through a red emission."
There is a clear proof that the law of a zav and zavah is unlike that of a leprous man and a leprous woman [whose offerings count as only one mitzvah8]. This is the statement of our Sages in tractate Kerisus,9 "There are four categories of "those whose atonement is incomplete": zav, zavah, a woman who has just given birth, and a leper." One sees clearly that the zav and zavah are counted separately, whereas the leper — whether male or female — is counted only once. This is because the zivus (flow) of a man is different from that of a woman [whereas the leprosy is the same].10
The verses11 which speak of her offering state, "When the woman is rid of her discharge...on the eighth day, she shall take for herself two doves."
FOOTNOTES
1.A woman who experiences menstrual bleeding at an abnormal time. See P106.
2.Even though she has immersed and gone through the necessary waiting period, she still may not eat from any sacrifices before bringing her offering.
3.See P74.
4.P64, P65, P70, P72.
5.The offering of adjustable value, for example, is brought for any of four various transgressions.
6.A thin sort of seed as a result of an illness. See P104. Hilchos Mechusarei Kapparah 2:1.
7.Niddah 32b.
8.P77.
9.8b.
10.Therefore, since the condition of a zav and that of a zavah are different, their offerings cannot be counted together.
11.Lev. 15:28-29.Positive Commandment 76
Offering after Childbirth
"And when the days of her purification period are fulfilled, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring a sheep within its first year of age..."—Leviticus 12:6.
A woman who gives birth is required to bring an offering—a sheep for a Burnt Offering and a pigeon or turtledove as a Sin Offering. If she is of limited financial means, she may instead bring two pigeons or two turtledoves, one as a Burnt Offering and one as a Sin Offering.
Until she brings this offering, her purification process is not complete and she may not partake of sacrificial flesh.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Positive Commandment 76
Translated by Berel Bell
The 76th mitzvah is that every woman who gives birth is required to bring an offering; a yearling sheep as a burnt-offering and a dove or young pigeon as a sin-offering. If she is poor, she brings two doves or two pigeons — one as a burnt-offering and one as a sin-offering.
Her atonement is also1 considered to be incomplete until she brings her offerings, as it is written,2 "When her purification period for a son or a daughter is complete, she shall bring a yearling sheep...[the kohen shall then make atonement for her and she shall be pure]."
FOOTNOTES
1.As with the zavah mentioned in the previous mitzvah.
2.Lev. 12:6,8.
• 1 Chapter: Sechirut Sechirut - Chapter 8
English Text | Hebrew Text | Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class
English Text | Hebrew Text |
Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class
Sechirut - Chapter 8
1
The same laws apply when a person rents a field from a colleague to sow, or a vineyard to benefit from its fruits and agrees to pay him money or agrees to pay him a fixed amount of produce - e.g., he rented a particular field for 20 kor of grain a year or a particular vineyard for 20 jugs of wine a year. A person who rents property and agrees to pay in produce is called a chocher.
א
אחד השוכר מחבירו שדה לזורעה או כרם לאכול פירותיו בדמים או ששכר ממנו בפירות קצובים כגון ששכר ממנו שדה זו בעשרים כור בשנה וכרם זה בעשרים כדי יין בכל שנה שניהן דין אחד יש להן והשוכר בפירות הוא הנקרא חוכר:
2
When a person takes a field or an orchard with the intent of working it, investing in it and giving the owner a third, a fourth or whatever other percentage of the harvest that they agree to, he is called a mekabel.
The following rules apply with regard to all the types of contracts mentioned above. Whenever an improvement is necessary for the sake of the land itself, it is the responsibility of the owner of the land to provide it. Whenever an improvement is an added measure of security, the renter is responsible for it.
The ax that is used to break up the land, the containers used to carry away earth, the bucket, the jug or the like that is used to draw water are the responsibility of the owner of the land. Digging the irrigation ditches, by contrast, is the responsibility of the renter.
ב
המקבל שדה או פרדס כדי לעבוד אותו ולהוציא עליו יציאות ויתן לבעל הקרקע שליש התבואות או רביע או מה שיתנו ביניהן והוא הנקרא מקבל כל דבר שהוא לסייג הארץ בעל הקרקע חייב בו וכל דבר שהוא שמירה יתירה החוכר או המקבל חייב בו הקרדום שחופרין בו הארץ והכלים שנושאין בהן העפר והדלי והכד וכיוצא בהן שדולין בהן המים על בעל הקרקע וחטיטת המקומות שמקבצין בהן המים על החוכר או על המקבל:
3
When a person rents or makes a sharecropping agreement with regard to a colleague's field for only a few years, he should not sow flax. If he rents it or enters a sharecropping agreement for seven years, he may sow flax for the first year." The Sabbatical year is not included in this reckoning. If he rents it or enters a sharecropping agreement for a seven-year period, the Sabbatical year is included in this reckoning.
ג
השוכר או המקבל שדה מחבירו לשנים מועטות לא יזרענה פשתן שכרה או קבלה ז' שנים זורעה שנה ראשונה פשתן ואין השביעית מן המניין שכרה או קבלה שבוע אחד שביעית מן המניין:
4
The following laws apply when a person rents or makes a sharecropping agreement with regard to a colleague's field that is parched and requires irrigation, and the spring used to irrigate the field dries up, but the larger river has not ceased to flow, and it is possible to carry water from it in a bucket. The renter may not reduce his payments. If this is a problem that affects the entire region - e.g., the river itself dried up - he may reduce his payments. Similar laws apply if one rents an orchard and the trees of the orchard are cut down.
Different rules apply when the owner was standing in his field and told the renter: "I am renting you this parched field," or "I am renting you this orchard." If the spring dries up or the tree is chopped down, he may reduce his payments. Since he was standing in the property when he made that statement, we assume that by saying: "this field" or "this orchard," his intent was: "I am renting it to you in its present condition."
Therefore, when the owner is not standing in his field and told the renter: "I am renting you this parched field," or "I am renting you this orchard." If the spring dries up or the tree is chopped down, he may not reduce his payments.
ד
החוכר או המקבל שדה מחבירו והיא בית השלחין או בית האילן ויבשה מעיין בית השלחין ולא פסק הנהר הגדול אלא אפשר להביא ממנו בדלי או שנקצץ האילן של בית האילנות אינו מנכה לו מחכירו ואם מכת מדינה היא כגון שיבש הנהר מנכה לו מחכירו היה עומד בתוך השדה ואמר לו בית השלחין הזה אני משכיר לך בית האילן זה אני משכיר יבש המעיין או נקצץ האילן מנכה מחכירו שהרי הוא עומד בתוכה ולא אמר לו הזה אלא כמי שאומר כמות שהיא עתה אני משכיר לפיכך אם לא היה עומד בתוכה ואמר לו בית השלחין אני משכיר לך או בית האילן ויבש המעיין או שנקצץ האילן אינו מנכה לו מחכירו:
5
The following rules apply when a person rents or makes a sharecropping agreement with regard to a colleague's field, and the crops are eaten by locusts or destroyed by drought. If this condition prevailed among the majority of the fields of that city, he may reduce his payments according to the extent of the loss that he suffered. If this blight did not prevail among the majority of the fields, he may not reduce his payments. This law applies even though all the fields belonging to this land owner were ravaged.
If all the fields of the renter or the sharecropper were ravaged, even though the blight also affected most of the other fields, he may not reduce his payment. For the loss is dependent on the renter's bad fortune, as evidenced by the fact that all his fields were ravaged.
If the owner stipulated that the renter should sow the field with wheat, and he sowed it with barley, did not sow it at all or sowed it and nothing grew, the renter may not reduce his payments even though locusts or a drought came and the majority of the fields were ravaged. Until when must he till it and sow it a second time if the first crop does not grow? Until the time when it is fit to sow in that place.
ה
השוכר או המקבל שדה מחבירו ואכלה חגב או נשתדפה אם אירע דבר זה לרוב השדות של אותה העיר מנכה לו מחכירו הכל לפי ההפסד שארעו ואם לא פשטה המכה ברוב השדות אינו מנכה לו מחכירו אע"פ שנשתדפו כל השדות של בעל הקרקע נשתדפו כל השדות של השוכר או המקבל אף על פי שפשטה המכה ברוב השדות אינו מנכה לו מחכירו שאין זה ההפסד תלוי אלא בשוכר שהרי כל שדותיו נשתדפו התנה עליו בעל הקרקע שיזרענה חטים וזרעה שעורים או שלא זרעה כלל או שזרעה ולא צמחה אע"פ שבא חגב או שדפון והוכתה רוב המדינה אינו מנכה לו מחכירו ועד מתי חייב להטפל ולזרוע פעם אחרת אם לא צמחה כל זמן שראוי לזריעה באותו מקום:
6
The following rules apply when a person rents or makes a sharecropping agreement with regard to a colleague's field. If it is customary in that locale to cut down the crops, the renter should cut them down. He is not permitted to uproot them. If it is customary to uproot the crops, the renter should uproot them. He is not permitted to cut them down. Either of them can prevent the custom from being changed.
In a locale where it is customary to plow after the harvesting, the renter should plow. In a locale where it is customary to rent trees together with land, they are considered to have been rented out. This applieseven though the owner rented the property for a price that is lower than usual. In a locale where it is not customary to rent trees together with land, they are not considered to have been rented out. This applieseven though the owner rented the property for a price that is higher than usual. Everything follows the local custom.
ו
השוכר או המקבל שדה מחבירו מקום שנהגו לקצור יקצור ואינו רשאי לעקור לעקור יעקור ואינו רשאי לקצור ושניהם מעכבין זה על זה ומקום שנהגו לחרוש אחריו יחרוש מקום שנהגו להשכיר אילנות על גב קרקע משכירין ואף על פי שהשכיר לו סתם בפחות מן הידוע ומקום שנהגו שלא להשכיר אילנות אין לו אילנות אע"פ ששכר ממנו ביתר על הידוע הכל כמנהג המדינה:
7
When a person rents a field from a colleague for ten kor of wheat and it suffered blight, he may pay the owner from the wheat of that field. Conversely, if it produces extremely high quality wheat, he should not tell the owner: "I will purchase wheat for you from the marketplace." Instead, he must give him the wheat from the field.
If a person rents a vineyard for ten baskets of grapes and they become sour after they were harvested, the renter may give the owner the grapes from the vineyard. A similar ruling applies to sheaves of grain that became ruined after they were harvested. If, however, a person rents a vineyard for ten jugs of wine, and the wine becomes sour, he is obligated to provide the owner with good wine.
The following rules apply when a person rented a field for 100 sheaves of cattle fodder, sowed another crop and then plowed the field and sowed it with cattle fodder. If it suffered blight, the renter may not give the owner the cattle fodder growing in it. Instead, he must give him high quality fodder, for he deviated from the terms of the initial agreement. Similar rules apply even if he sowed it with fodder at the outset, plowed it and then sowed it again and it suffered blight or in any other situation where the damage to the crops comes after the renter deviates from the initial agreement.
ז
החוכר שדה מחבירו בעשרה כור חטים ולקתה נותן לו מתוכה היו חטיה יפות לא יאמר לו הריני לוקח לך מן השוק אלא נותן לו מתוכה חכר ממנו כרם בעשרה סלי ענבים והקריסו אחר שנבצרו וכן עומרים שלקו אחר שנקצרו נותן לו מתוכן חכרו בעשרה כדי יין והחמיץ חייב ליתן לו יין טוב חכרה ממנו במאה עמרים של אספסתא וזרעה מין אחר ואח"כ חרשה וזרעה אספסתא ולקתה או שזרעה בתחלה אספסתא וחרשה ואח"כ זרעה פעם אחרת ולקתה אינו נותן לו מתוכה אלא נותן לו אספסתא טובה שהרי שינה וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
8
The following rules apply when a person rents a field from a colleague, but does not desire to weed it. Although the renter tells the owner: "What will you suffer? I will give you the amount stipulated regardless," his words are not heeded. For the owner may respond: "Ultimately, you will leave it, and it will grow weeds for me."
Even if the renter says: "At the end I will plow it," his words are not heeded.
ח
החוכר שדה מחבירו ולא רצה לנכש ואמר לו מה הפסד יש לך הריני נותן לך חכירך אין שומעין לו שהרי הוא אומר לו למחר אתה יוצא ממנה והיא מעלה עשבים ואפילו אמר לו באחרונה אני חורש אותה אין שומעין לו:
9
When a person rents a field with the stated intent of sowing barley, he should not sow wheat, because wheat saps the nutrients of the land more than barley. If he rented it with the intent of sowing wheat, he may sow barley.
If his original intent was to sow legumes, he may not sow grain. If his original intent was grain, he may sow legumes. In Babylon and lands of that nature, he should not sow legumes, for legumes sap the nutrients of the land.
ט
החוכר שדה מחבירו לזורעה שעורים לא יזרענה חטים מפני שהחטין מכחישות את הקרקע יתר מהשעורים שכרה לזרעה חטים יזרענה שעורים קטנית לא יזרענה תבואה תבואה יזרענה קטנית ובבבל וכיוצא בה לא יזרענה קטנית מפני שהקטנית שם מכחשת את הארץ:
10
When a person rents a field from a colleague for a few years according to a sharecropping agreement, the sharecropper does not receive a share of the wood that grows from the wild fig trees and the like, nor in the appreciation in the value of the field due to the trees growing in the field. We do, however, consider the place of the trees as if it were filled with the type of crop that was planted in the field. This applies provided the trees grew in a place that is fit to sow. If, however, they grow in a place that is not fit to sow, the sharecropper is not given any consideration. If the sharecropper rents the field for seven years or more, he is entitled to a share of the wood that grows from the wild fig trees and the like.
If at the time the sharecropper's lease runs out, there are plants in the field that have not reached the stage at which they are fit to be sold, or they have reached that stage, but the market day has not come yet, they should be evaluated and the sharecropper given his share by the owner of the land.
In the same manner as the sharecropper and the owner divide the grain; so, too, they should divide the straw and the stubble. In the same manner as they divide the wine; so, too, they should divide the twigs. Different rules apply with regard to the rods that are placed beneath the vine for support. If they were purchased in partnership, they should be divided in the same manner. If they were purchased by one party, they belong to the one who purchased them. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.
י
המקבל שדה מחבירו לשנים מועטות אין למקבל כלום בקורת השקמה וכיוצא בה ולא בשבח האילנות שיצאו מאליהן בשדה אבל מחשבין לו מקום האילנות כאילו היה בהן אותו זרע שזרע בכל השדה והוא שצמחו האילנות במקום הראוי לזריעה אבל אם יצאו במקום שאינו ראוי לזריעה אין מחשבין לו כלום ואם קיבלה שבע שנים או יתר יש לו בקורת השקמה וכיוצא בה הגיע זמנו להסתלק מן השדה והיו שם זרעים שעדיין לא הגיעו להמכר או שנגמרו ולא הגיע יום השוק למכרן שמין אותן ונוטל מבעל הקרקע כשם שחולקין המקבל ובעל הקרקע בתבואה כך חולקין בתבן ובקש כשם שחולקין ביין כך חולקין בזמירות אבל הקנים המעמידים תחת הגפנים אם קנו אותן בשותפות הרי אלו חולקין בהן ואם הן משל אחד מהן זה שקנה אותן הרי הן שלו וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
11
When a person rents a field from a colleague according to a sharecropping agreement in order to plant vines, the owner accepts the possibility that there will be ten non-productive vines in an area sufficient to grow a se'ah of grain. If there are more non-productive vines, the sharecropper must pay for the entire area as if all the vines were productive.
יא
המקבל שדה מחבירו ליטע מקבל עליו בעל השדה עשרה בוראות לסאה יתר על זה מגלגלין עליו את הכל:
12
The following rules apply when a person rents a field from a colleague under a sharecropping agreement and the field does not produce a significant yield. If its yield appears sufficient to produce at least two se'ah more than the investment made in it, the sharecropper is obligated to take care of it. For in the sharecropping agreement, he promises the owner of the land: "I will rise, plow the land, sow it, reap it, tie it in sheaves, thresh it and make a grain heap before you, and you will receive half - or whatever other portion they agreed upon - and I will receive the remainder as payment for my work and the expenses that I undertook."
יב
המקבל שדה מחבירו ולא עשתה אם יש בה כדי שתוציא סאתים יתר על ההוצאה חייב המקבל ליטפל בה שכך כותב לבעל הקרקע אנא איקום ואניר ואזרע ואקצור ואעמור ואדוש ואזרה ואעמיד כרי לפניך ותטול את חציו או מה שיתנו ואני אטול השאר בשכר עמלי ובמה שהוצאתי:
13
The following rule applies when a person rents a field from a colleague under a sharecropping agreement, and after taking possession of the field decides to leave it fallow. We evaluate the amount the field could be expected to produce and require the sharecropper to give the owner the portion agreed upon. For in the sharecropping agreement, he promises the owner of the land: "If I leave it fallow and do not till it, I will pay according to its best yield." The same rule applies if he left only a portion of it fallow.
Why is the renter obligated to pay? Because he did not stipulate that he would pay a fixed amount, in which instance we would say that it is an asmachta, but instead promised to pay the field's best yield."o Therefore, he made a binding commitment.
If, however, he stipulated: "If I leave it fallow, I will pay you 100 dinarim" this is considered an asmachta and he is not obligated to pay that amount. Instead, he should give the owner only his share of what the field would be expected to produce.
יג
המקבל שדה מחבירו ואחר שזכה בה הובירה שמין אותה כמה היא ראויה לעשות ונותן לו חלקו שהיה מגיע לו שכך כותב לבעל הקרקע אם אוביר ולא אעביד אשלם במיטבא והוא הדין אם הוביר מקצתה ומפני מה נתחייב לשלם מפני שלא פסק על עצמו דבר קצוב כדי שנאמר הרי היא כאסמכתא אלא התנה שישלם במיטבא ולפיכך גמר ושיעבד עצמו אבל אם אמר אם אוביר ולא אעביד אתן לך מאה דינרין הרי זה אסמכתא ואינו חייב לשלם אלא נותן כפי מה שראויה לעשות בלבד:
14
The following rule applies when a person rents a field from a colleague under a sharecropping agreement with the intent of sowing sesame seeds, but instead, sows wheat. If the field produces a crop of wheat that is worth the same as the yield of sesame seeds could have been expected to be worth, the owner may have no more than complaints against him.
If the field produces a crop of wheat that is worth less than the yield of sesame seeds could have been expected to be worth, the sharecropper must pay the amount the crop of sesame seeds could have expected to yield. If the field produces a crop of wheat that is worth more than the yield of sesame seeds could have been expected to be worth, they should divided the crop according to their original stipulation although the owner of the land profits.
יד
המקבל שדה לזורעה שומשמין וזרעה חטים ועשתה חטים ששוין כמה שהיא ראויה לעשות מן השומשמין אין לו עליו אלא תרעומת עשתה פחות ממה שהיא ראויה לעשות מן השומשמין משלם לו המקבל כפי מה שהיא ראויה לעשות מן השומשמין עשתה חטים יתר ממה שהיא ראויה לעשות מן השומשמין חולקין לפי התנאי שביניהן אף על פי שמשתכר בעל הקרקע:
• 3 Chapters: Shegagot Shegagot - Perek 15, Mechussarey Kapparah Mechussarey Kapparah - Perek 1, Mechussarey Kapparah Mechussarey Kapparah - Perek 2
English Text | Hebrew Text | Audio: Listen | Download
English Text | Hebrew Text |
Audio: Listen | Download
Shegagot - Perek 15
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class"Today's Day"
Monday Iyar 5, 20th day of the omer 5703Torah lessons: Chumash: Emor, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 29-34.
Tanya: Such is the (p. 241)...love of the king. (p. 241).
The Alter Rebbe received the following teaching from the tzadik Reb Mordechai, who had heard it from the Baal Shem Tov: A soul may descend to this world and live seventy or eighty years,1 in order to do a Jew a material favor, and certainly a spiritual one.
FOOTNOTES
1. See Tehillim 90:10.
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Daily Thought
Keep the Windows Open
Our souls are the windows through which the world is filled with light, pores through which it breathes, channels to its supernal source.
There is no function more vital to our universe, nothing more essential to its fulfillment, since for this it was formed.
When we do good, speak words of kindness and teach wisdom, those windows open wide.
When we fail, they cloud over and shut tight.
Such a shame, this loss of light, this lost breath of fresh air! A stain can be washed away, but a moment of life, how can it be returned?[Iggeret HaTeshuva, chapter 1. V’Avraham Zaken, 5738.]
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TODAY IN JUDAISM: Sunday, April 30, 2017 - Chabad.org In New York, New York, United States - Today in Judaism - Today is: Sunday, Iyar 4, 5777 · April 30, 2017 - Omer: Day 19 - Hod sheb'Tifferet
Today's Laws & Customs
• Count "Twenty Days to the Omer" Tonight
Tomorrow is the twentieth 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 twenty days, which are two weeks and six 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: Yesod sheb'Tifferet -- "Connection in Harmony"
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."
Links:
How to count the Omer
The deeper significance of the Omer Count
Today in Jewish History
• Maimonides Saved (1165)
The 4th of Iyar was observed by Maimonides (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, 1135-1204) as a personal day of fasting and prayer. Maimonides recounts that when he and his family were fleeing Islamic persecution from Fez, Morocco to the Holy Land, their ship was caught in a fierce storm at sea. He cried out to G-d in prayer and vowed to fast each year on this date.
Daily Quote
Delve and delve into [the Torah], for all is in it; see with it; grow old and worn in it; do not budge from it, for there is nothing better[Ethics of the Fathers, 5:21]
Daily Study
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Acharei-Kedoshim, 1st Portion Leviticus 16:1-16:24 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation | Video ClassLeviticus Chapter 16
1And the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron's two sons, when they drew near before the Lord, and they died. אוַיְדַבֵּ֤ר יְהוָֹה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה אַֽחֲרֵ֣י מ֔וֹת שְׁנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י אַֽהֲרֹ֑ן בְּקָרְבָתָ֥ם לִפְנֵֽי־יְהוָֹ֖ה וַיָּמֻֽתוּ:
And the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron’s two sons: What does this teach us [when it specifies “after the death of Aaron’s two sons”]? Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah illustrated [the answer] with a parable of a patient, whom a physician came to visit. [The physician] said to him, “Do not eat cold foods, and do not lie down in a cold, damp place.” Then, another [physician] visited him, and advised him, “Do not eat cold foods or lie down in a cold, damp place, so that you will not die the way so-and-so died.” This one warned that patient more effectively than the former. Therefore, Scripture says, “after the death of Aaron’s two sons” [i.e., God effectively said to Aaron, “Do not enter the Holy in a prohibited manner, so that you will not die as your sons died”]- [Torath Kohanim 16:3] וידבר ה' אל משה אחרי מות שני בני אהרן וגו': מה תלמוד לומר, היה רבי אלעזר בן עזריה מושלו משל לחולה שנכנס אצלו רופא. אמר לו אל תאכל צונן ואל תשכב בטחב. בא אחר ואמר לו אל תאכל צונן ואל תשכב בטחב שלא תמות כדרך שמת פלוני. זה זרזו יותר מן הראשון, לכך נאמר אחרי מות שני בני אהרן:
2And the Lord said to Moses: Speak to your brother Aaron, that he should not come at all times into the Holy within the dividing curtain, in front of the cover that is upon the ark, so that he should not die, for I appear over the ark cover in a cloud. בוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה דַּבֵּר֘ אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֣ן אָחִ֒יךָ֒ וְאַל־יָבֹ֤א בְכָל־עֵת֙ אֶל־הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ מִבֵּ֖ית לַפָּרֹ֑כֶת אֶל־פְּנֵ֨י הַכַּפֹּ֜רֶת אֲשֶׁ֤ר עַל־הָֽאָרֹן֙ וְלֹ֣א יָמ֔וּת כִּ֚י בֶּֽעָנָ֔ן אֵֽרָאֶ֖ה עַל־הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת:
And the Lord said to Moses: Speak to your brother Aaron, that he should not come [at all times into the Holy]: so that he should not die the way his sons died. — [Torath Kohanim 16:3] ויאמר ה' אל משה דבר אל אהרן אחיך ואל יבא: שלא ימות כדרך שמתו בניו:
so that he should not die: for if he does enter, he will die. — [Torath Kohanim 16:3] ולא ימות: שאם בא הוא מת:
for I appear…in a cloud: “For I continuously appear there with My pillar of cloud, and therefore, since My Divine Presence is revealed there, he must be careful not to accustom himself to enter.” This is its simple meaning. Our Rabbis, however, interpreted [it as follows]: He shall not come except with the cloud of incense on Yom Kippur. - [Yoma 53a] כי בענן אראה: כי תמיד אני נראה שם עם עמוד ענני. ולפי שגלוי שכינתי שם, יזהר שלא ירגיל לבא, זהו פשוטו. ומדרשו לא יבא כי אם בענן הקטרת ביום הכיפורים:
3With this shall Aaron enter the Holy: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. גבְּזֹ֛את יָבֹ֥א אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן אֶל־הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ בְּפַ֧ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֛ר לְחַטָּ֖את וְאַ֥יִל לְעֹלָֽה:
with this: בְּזֹאת. Its gematria [numerical value] is 410, an allusion to [the number of years that] the first Temple [would stand when the kohanim were righteous like Aaron, and it was as if Aaron lived all these years and entered the Holy of Holies]. - [Vayikra Rabbah 21:9] בזאת: גימטריא שלו ארבע מאות ועשר, רמז לבית ראשון:
With this shall Aaron enter [the Holy]: And even [with] this, not at all times, but [only] on Yom Kippur, as is specified at the end of this section (verse 29 below),“in the seventh month, on the tenth of the month…” [i.e., the tenth of Tishri, namely, Yom Kippur]. בזאת יבא אהרן וגו': ואף זו לא בכל עת, כי אם ביום הכיפורים, כמו שמפורש בסוף הפרשה (פסוק כט) בחדש השביעי בעשור לחודש:
4He shall wear a holy linen shirt and linen pants shall be upon his flesh, and he shall gird himself with a linen sash and wear a linen cap these are holy garments, [and therefore,] he shall immerse himself in water and don them. דכְּתֹֽנֶת־בַּ֨ד קֹ֜דֶשׁ יִלְבָּ֗שׁ וּמִכְנְסֵי־בַד֘ יִֽהְי֣וּ עַל־בְּשָׂרוֹ֒ וּבְאַבְנֵ֥ט בַּד֙ יַחְגֹּ֔ר וּבְמִצְנֶ֥פֶת בַּ֖ד יִצְנֹ֑ף בִּגְדֵי־קֹ֣דֶשׁ הֵ֔ם וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֛יִם אֶת־בְּשָׂר֖וֹ וּלְבֵשָֽׁם:
[He shall wear a…] linen shirt…: [By enumerating only the four garments of an ordinary kohen, Scripture] informs [us] that [the Kohen Gadol] does not perform the service inside [i.e., in the Holy of Holies] wearing the eight garments with which he performs the service outside [the Holy of Holies (see Exod. Chap. 28)], for those [garments] contain gold, and a prosecutor cannot become a defender. [I.e., since the Kohen Gadol enters the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur to effect atonement for all Israel, he may not enter wearing gold, reminiscent of the golden calf]. Instead, [he wears] four garments, like an ordinary kohen, all of which are [made] of linen. — [R. H. 26a] כתנת בד וגו': מגיד שאינו משמש לפנים בשמונה בגדים שהוא משמש בהם בחוץ, שיש בהם זהב, לפי שאין קטיגור נעשה סניגור, אלא בארבעה, ככהן הדיוט, וכולן של בוץ:
He shall wear a holy [linen shirt…]: i.e., these garments shall be [purchased] from the Temple treasury. - [Torath Kohanim 16:13] קדש ילבש: שיהיו משל הקדש:
and wear: Heb. יִצְנֹף, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders it: יָחֵית בְּרֵישֵׁיהּ, he shall place on his head. This is similar to “So she placed (וַתַּנַּח) his garment” (Gen. 39:16), [which Onkelos renders:] וְאַחְתְתֵהּ. יצנף: כתרגומו יחית ברישיה, יניח בראשו, כמו (בראשית לט טז) ותנח בגדו ואחתתיה:
he shall immerse in water: On that day he was required to immerse himself every time he changed [his garments]. And [in total, the Kohen Gadol] changed his garments five times [when transferring] from the service inside [the Holy of Holies] to the service outside, and from outside to inside, changing from golden garments to white garments, and from white garments to golden garments. And at every change [of garments], he was required to immerse in a mikvah [once] and to sanctify his hands and feet twice [by washing his hands in the water] from the washstand [i.e., once when removing the garments he wore and a second time when he donned the next set of garments]. — [Yoma 32a] ורחץ במים: אותו היום טעון טבילה בכל חליפותיו. וחמש פעמים היה מחליף מעבודת פנים לעבודת חוץ ומחוץ לפנים, ומשנה מבגדי זהב לבגדי לבן ומבגדי לבן לבגדי זהב, ובכל חליפה טעון טבילה ושני קדושי ידים ורגלים מן הכיור:
5And from the community of the children of Israel, he shall take two he goats as a sin offering, and one ram as a burnt offering. הוּמֵאֵ֗ת עֲדַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יִקַּ֛ח שְׁנֵֽי־שְׂעִירֵ֥י עִזִּ֖ים לְחַטָּ֑את וְאַ֥יִל אֶחָ֖ד לְעֹלָֽה:
6And Aaron shall bring his sin offering bull, and initiate atonement for himself and for his household. ווְהִקְרִ֧יב אַֽהֲרֹ֛ן אֶת־פַּ֥ר הַֽחַטָּ֖את אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ וְכִפֶּ֥ר בַּֽעֲד֖וֹ וּבְעַ֥ד בֵּיתֽוֹ:
his sin-offering bull: That is the one mentioned above (verse 3). And [Scripture’s reference to “his”] teaches you here that [this bull] had to be [purchased] from Aaron’s own money, rather than from public funds. — [Torath Kohanim 16:19; Yoma 3b] את פר החטאת אשר לו: האמור למעלה. ולמדך כאן שמשלו הוא בא, ולא משל צבור:
and initiate atonement…for himself and for his household: [i.e., over this bull,] he confesses his own sins and those of his household. — [Torath Kohanim 16:20; Yoma 36b] וכפר בעדו ובעד ביתו: מתודה עליו עונותיו ועונות ביתו:
7And he shall take the two he goats, and place them before the Lord at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. זוְלָקַ֖ח אֶת־שְׁנֵ֣י הַשְּׂעִירִ֑ם וְהֶֽעֱמִ֤יד אֹתָם֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
8And Aaron shall place lots upon the two he goats: one lot "For the Lord," and the other lot, "For Azazel." חוְנָתַ֧ן אַֽהֲרֹ֛ן עַל־שְׁנֵ֥י הַשְּׂעִירִ֖ם גֹּֽרָל֑וֹת גּוֹרָ֤ל אֶחָד֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה וְגוֹרָ֥ל אֶחָ֖ד לַֽעֲזָאזֵֽל:
And Aaron shall place lots upon the two he-goats: He would place one [he-goat] on his right and one on his left. Then, he would insert both his hands into an urn [which contained two lots, one bearing the inscription “to the Lord” and the other “to Azazel.” These lots were mixed up, and Aaron, with both hands inside the urn] took one lot in his right hand and the other in his left hand, and he would place them upon them [the he-goats]: [The one] upon which [he placed the lot] with the inscription “to the Lord,” would be for God, while the one upon which [he placed the lot] with the inscription “to Azazel,” would be sent off to Azazel. — [Yoma 39a] ונתן אהרן על שני השעירים גרלות: מעמיד אחד לימין ואחד לשמאל, ונותן שתי ידיו בקלפי ונוטל גורל בימין וחברו בשמאל, ונותן עליהם, את שכתוב בו לשם הוא לשם, ואת שכתוב בו לעזאזל משתלח לעזאזל:
Azazel: This is a strong and hard mountain, [with] a high cliff, as the Scripture says [in describing Azazel] (verse 22 below),“a precipitous land (אֶרֶץ גְּזֵרָה),” meaning a cut-off land [i.e., a sheer drop]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:28; Yoma 67b] עזאזל: הוא הר עז וקשה, צוק גבוה, שנאמר (פסוק כב) ארץ גזרה, חתוכה:
9And Aaron shall bring the he goat upon which the lot, "For the Lord," came up, and designate it as a sin offering. טוְהִקְרִ֤יב אַֽהֲרֹן֙ אֶת־הַשָּׂעִ֔יר אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָלָ֥ה עָלָ֛יו הַגּוֹרָ֖ל לַֽיהוָֹ֑ה וְעָשָׂ֖הוּ חַטָּֽאת:
and designate it as a sin-offering: When he places the lot upon it, he designates it by calling it [a sin-offering], saying, “To the Lord-a sin-offering”. — [Yoma 39a] ועשהו חטאת: כשמניח הגורל עליו קורא לו שם ואומר לה' חטאת:
10And the he goat upon which the lot "For Azazel" came up, shall be placed while still alive, before the Lord, to [initiate] atonement upon it, and to send it away to Azazel, into the desert. יוְהַשָּׂעִ֗יר אֲשֶׁר֩ עָלָ֨ה עָלָ֤יו הַגּוֹרָל֙ לַֽעֲזָאזֵ֔ל יָֽעֳמַד־חַ֛י לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֹ֖ה לְכַפֵּ֣ר עָלָ֑יו לְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֹת֛וֹ לַֽעֲזָאזֵ֖ל הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה:
while still alive: [is to be understood] like יָעֳמַד חַי [i.e., the word יָעֳמַד is in the hof’al conjugation, which is a passive form, meaning that the goat] was “stood up by others.” [Thus,] the Targum translates it as, יִתָּקַם כַּד חַי, “shall be stood up while alive.” And what does the verse teach us when it says “alive?” Since it says: “to send it away to Azazel,” and we do not know whether it was to be sent away to be killed or to remain alive. Therefore, Scripture says, “shall be placed while still alive,” [meaning that] it is to be placed while still alive [and shall remain alive only] until it is sent away. From here, we learn that it was sent away to its death. — [Torath Kohanim 16:26] יעמד חי: כמו יעמד חי על ידי אחרים, ותרגומו יתקם כד חי. מה תלמוד לומר חי, לפי שנאמר לשלח אותו לעזאזל, ואיני יודע שילוחו אם למיתה אם לחיים, לכך נאמר יעמד חי, עמידתו חי עד שישתלח, מכאן ששילוחו למיתה:
to [initiate] atonement: [lit., “to effect atonement upon it,” here meaning] that he is to confess upon it, as Scripture says, “and confess upon it….” (verse 21 below). - [Torath Kohanim 16:27; Yoma 40b] לכפר עליו: שיתודה עליו, כדכתיב (פסוק כא) והתודה עליו וגו':
11And Aaron shall bring his sin offering bull, and shall [initiate] atonement for himself and for his household, and he shall [then] slaughter his sin offering bull. יאוְהִקְרִ֨יב אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־פַּ֤ר הַֽחַטָּאת֙ אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ וְכִפֶּ֥ר בַּֽעֲד֖וֹ וּבְעַ֣ד בֵּית֑וֹ וְשָׁחַ֛ט אֶת־פַּ֥ר הַֽחַטָּ֖את אֲשֶׁר־לֽוֹ:
…and shall [initiate] atonement for himself: This is a second confession [i. e., besides that stated in verse 6 above for himself and his household], and is for himself [again] and for his brothers, the kohanim, all of whom are called “his household,” as the verse says, “O house of Aaron, bless the Lord,” (Ps. 135:19). From here, we see that [all] the kohanim receive atonement through this [sin-offering bull of the Kohen Gadol] (Torath Kohanim 16:29; Shev. 13b) And all its atonement is exclusively for defiling the Sanctuary and its holy things, [e.g., if a kohen forgot that he was unclean and entered the Sanctuary or ate sacrifices], as the verse says, “And he shall effect atonement upon the Holy, from the defilements [of the children of Israel]” (verse 16 below). - [Shev. 14a] וכפר בעדו וגו': וידוי שני עליו ועל אחיו הכהנים, שהם כלם קרוים ביתו, שנאמר (תהלים קלה יט) בית אהרן ברכו את ה' וגו', מכאן שהכהנים מתכפרים בו, וכל כפרתן אינה אלא על טומאת מקדש וקדשיו, כמו שנאמר (פסוק טז) וכפר על הקדש מטומאות וגו':
12And he shall take a pan full of burning coals from upon the altar, from before the Lord, and both hands' full of fine incense, and bring [it] within the dividing curtain. יבוְלָקַ֣ח מְלֹֽא־הַ֠מַּחְתָּ֠ה גַּֽחֲלֵי־אֵ֞שׁ מֵעַ֤ל הַמִּזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וּמְלֹ֣א חָפְנָ֔יו קְטֹ֥רֶת סַמִּ֖ים דַּקָּ֑ה וְהֵבִ֖יא מִבֵּ֥ית לַפָּרֹֽכֶת:
from upon the altar: [referring to] the outside altar. — [Yoma 45b] מעל המזבח: החיצון:
from before the Lord: From the side [of the altar] that is before the entrance [to the Holy], namely, the western side [of the altar]. — [Yoma 45b] מלפני ה': מצד שלפני הפתח והוא צד מערבי:
fine: Heb. דַּקָּה. But what does Scripture teach us here, when it says [that the incense had to be] fine? Was not all incense fine, as Scripture says [regarding the spices], “And you shall crush some of it finely” (Exod. 30:36)? Rather, [Scripture is telling us here that this incense] was to be the finest of the fine, for on the eve of Yom Kippur, they would return [already crushed incense] to the mortar [in order to crush it even finer, for use on Yom Kippur]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:34; Keritot 6b] דקה: מה תלמוד לומר דקה, והלא כל הקטורת דקה היא, שנאמר (שמות ל לו) ושחקת ממנה הדק, אלא שתהא דקה מן הדקה, שמערב יום הכפורים היה מחזירה למכתשת:
13And he shall place the incense upon the fire, before the Lord, so that the cloud of the incense shall envelope the ark cover that is over the [tablets of] Testimony, so that he shall not die. יגוְנָתַ֧ן אֶת־הַקְּטֹ֛רֶת עַל־הָאֵ֖שׁ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְכִסָּ֣ה | עֲנַ֣ן הַקְּטֹ֗רֶת אֶת־הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־הָֽעֵד֖וּת וְלֹ֥א יָמֽוּת:
[And he shall place the incense] upon the fire: that is inside the pan. על האש: שבתוך המחתה:
so that he shall not die: Hence, if [the Kohen Gadol] did not make it according to its formula, he would be liable to death. — [Torath Kohanim 16:35; Yoma 53a] ולא ימות: הא אם לא עשאה כתקנה, חייב מיתה:
14And he shall take some of the bull's blood and sprinkle [it] with his index finger on top of the ark cover on the eastern side; and before the ark cover, he shall sprinkle seven times from the blood, with his index finger. ידוְלָקַח֙ מִדַּ֣ם הַפָּ֔ר וְהִזָּ֧ה בְאֶצְבָּע֛וֹ עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַכַּפֹּ֖רֶת קֵ֑דְמָה וְלִפְנֵ֣י הַכַּפֹּ֗רֶת יַזֶּ֧ה שֶֽׁבַע־פְּעָמִ֛ים מִן־הַדָּ֖ם בְּאֶצְבָּעֽוֹ:
and sprinkle [it] with his index finger: One sprinkling is meant. והזה באצבעו: הזאה אחת במשמע:
and before the [ark] cover, he shall sprinkle seven [times]: Thus, once above and seven times below. — [Torath Kohanim 16:41; Yoma 55a] ולפני הכפרת יזה שבע: הרי אחת למעלה ושבע למטה:
15He shall then slaughter the he goat of the people's sin offering and bring its blood within the dividing curtain, and he shall do with its blood as he had done with the bull's blood, and he shall sprinkle it upon the ark cover and before the ark cover. טווְשָׁחַ֞ט אֶת־שְׂעִ֤יר הַֽחַטָּאת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָעָ֔ם וְהֵבִיא֙ אֶת־דָּמ֔וֹ אֶל־מִבֵּ֖ית לַפָּרֹ֑כֶת וְעָשָׂ֣ה אֶת־דָּמ֗וֹ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשָׂה֙ לְדַ֣ם הַפָּ֔ר וְהִזָּ֥ה אֹת֛וֹ עַל־הַכַּפֹּ֖רֶת וְלִפְנֵ֥י הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת:
the people’s [sin-offering he-goat]: For what the bull atones for the kohanim [namely, defilements of the Sanctuary and its holy things], the he-goat atones for the Israelites, and this goat was the one upon which the lot “For the Lord” had fallen. - [Yoma 61a] אשר לעם: מה שהפר מכפר על הכהנים מכפר השעיר על ישראל, והוא השעיר שעלה עליו הגורל לשם:
as he had done with the bull’s blood: [namely, sprinkling it] once above and seven times below. — [Torath Kohanim 16:41; Yoma 55a] כאשר עשה לדם הפר: אחת למעלה ושבע למטה:
16And he shall effect atonement upon the Holy from the defilements of the children of Israel and from their rebellions and all their unintentional sins. He shall do likewise to the Tent of Meeting, which dwells with them amidst their defilements. טזוְכִפֶּ֣ר עַל־הַקֹּ֗דֶשׁ מִטֻּמְאֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמִפִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם לְכָל־חַטֹּאתָ֑ם וְכֵ֤ן יַֽעֲשֶׂה֙ לְאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד הַשֹּׁכֵ֣ן אִתָּ֔ם בְּת֖וֹךְ טֻמְאֹתָֽם:
from the defilements of the children of Israel-: [i.e., atoning] for those who, while in [a state of] uncleanness, had entered the Sanctuary, and it never became known to them [that they had been unclean], for it says: לְכָל חַטֹּאתָם, חַטָּאַת denotes an unintentional sin. — [Torath Kohanim 16:42; Shev. 17b] מטמאת בני ישראל: על הנכנסין למקדש בטומאה ולא נודע להם בסוף, שנאמר לכל חטאתם, וחטאת היא שוגג:
and from their rebellions: [i.e., atoning] also [for] those who, in a state of uncleanness, willfully entered [the Sanctuary, thereby defiling it]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:42; Shev. 17b] ומפשעיהם: אף הנכנסין מזיד בטומאה:
He shall do likewise to the Tent of Meeting: i.e., just as he had sprinkled from [the blood of] both [the bull and the he-goat] inside [the Holy of Holies, with] one sprinkling above and seven below, so shall he sprinkle from [the blood of] both [the bull and the he-goat] on the dividing curtain from the outside once above and seven times below. — [Torath Kohanim 16:43; Yoma 56b] וכן יעשה לאהל מועד: כשם שהזה משניהם בפנים אחת למעלה ושבע למטה, כך מזה על הפרוכת מבחוץ משניהם אחת למעלה ושבע למטה:
which dwells with them, [even] amidst their defilements: Although they are unclean, the Divine Presence is among them. — [Torath Kohanim 16:43; Yoma 56b] השכן אתם בתוך טמאתם: אף על פי שהם טמאים שכינה ביניהם:
17And no man shall be in the Tent of Meeting when he comes to effect atonement in the Holy, until he comes out. And he shall effect atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. יזוְכָל־אָדָ֞ם לֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה | בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֗ד בְּבֹא֛וֹ לְכַפֵּ֥ר בַּקֹּ֖דֶשׁ עַד־צֵאת֑וֹ וְכִפֶּ֤ר בַּֽעֲדוֹ֙ וּבְעַ֣ד בֵּית֔וֹ וּבְעַ֖ד כָּל־קְהַ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
18And he shall then go out to the altar that is before the Lord and effect atonement upon it: He shall take some of the bull's blood and some of the he goat's blood, and place it on the horns of the altar, around. יחוְיָצָ֗א אֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִפְנֵֽי־יְהוָֹ֖ה וְכִפֶּ֣ר עָלָ֑יו וְלָקַ֞ח מִדַּ֤ם הַפָּר֙ וּמִדַּ֣ם הַשָּׂעִ֔יר וְנָתַ֛ן עַל־קַרְנ֥וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ סָבִֽיב:
to the altar that is before the Lord: This is the golden altar, which is “before the Lord” in the heichal [i.e., in the Temple, it was in the heichal , was the equivalent of the Holy in the Mishkan]. And [since the Kohen Gadol was to remain inside the Holy for the next procedure,] what does Scripture mean when it says, “And he shall then go out?” Since he had just performed the blood sprinklings on the dividing curtain, standing on the inner side of the altar to sprinkle [i.e., between the altar and the dividing curtain], for the applications on the altar, [Scripture] required him to “go out” to the outer side of the altar and to begin with the north-eastern corner. — [Torath Kohanim 16:45; Yoma 58b. See Mizrachi , Gur Aryeh. Also Chavel, who asserts that, according to the Reggio edition of Rashi, the Kohen Gadol did not stand beyond the altar, but alongside it, from where he commenced to apply the blood from the north-eastern corner.] אל המזבח אשר לפני ה': זה מזבח הזהב שהוא לפני ה' בהיכל. ומה תלמוד לומר ויצא, לפי שהזה ההזאות על הפרוכת ועמד מן המזבח ולפנים והזה, ובמתנות המזבח הזקיקו לצאת מן המזבח ולחוץ, ויתחיל מקרן מזרחית צפונית:
and effect atonement upon it: And what is the [procedure that effects the] atonement? [As the verse continues:] “He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the he-goat’s blood,” one mingled with the other. — [Torath Kohanim 16:46; Yoma 57b] וכפר עליו: ומה היא כפרתו, ולקח מדם הפר ומדם השעיר, מעורבין זה לתוך זה:
19He shall then sprinkle some of the blood upon it with his index finger seven times, and he shall cleanse it and sanctify it of the defilements of the children of Israel. יטוְהִזָּ֨ה עָלָ֧יו מִן־הַדָּ֛ם בְּאֶצְבָּע֖וֹ שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֑ים וְטִֽהֲר֣וֹ וְקִדְּשׁ֔וֹ מִטֻּמְאֹ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
He shall then sprinkle some of the blood upon it: After he has applied the blood with his index finger on its horns, he shall then sprinkle seven sprinklings on its top. והזה עליו מן הדם: אחר שנתן מתנות באצבעו על קרנותיו, מזה שבע הזאות על גגו:
and he shall cleanse it: from any [defilements] that had occurred in the past, וטהרו: ממה שעבר:
and sanctify it: for the future. — [Torath Kohanim 16:48] [According to Mizrachi, this means that now that the altar had been purified from past defilements, care would be taken not to defile this now pure altar. Maskil LeDavid explains that, after the altar was cleansed of its previous defilements, it had to be resanctified for future use. This the Kohen Gadol would effect. Raavad explains that, by cleansing it of its defilements, he would sanctify it for future use.] וקדשו: לעתיד לבא:
20And he shall finish effecting atonement for the Holy, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, and then he shall bring the live he goat. כוְכִלָּה֙ מִכַּפֵּ֣ר אֶת־הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וְאֶת־אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד וְאֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וְהִקְרִ֖יב אֶת־הַשָּׂעִ֥יר הֶחָֽי:
21And Aaron shall lean both of his hands [forcefully] upon the live he goat's head and confess upon it all the willful transgressions of the children of Israel, all their rebellions, and all their unintentional sins, and he shall place them on the he goat's head, and send it off to the desert with a timely man. כאוְסָמַ֨ךְ אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֣י יָדָ֗יו (כתיב ידו) עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַשָּׂעִיר֘ הַחַי֒ וְהִתְוַדָּ֣ה עָלָ֗יו אֶת־כָּל־עֲוֹנֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־כָּל־פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם לְכָל־חַטֹּאתָ֑ם וְנָתַ֤ן אֹתָם֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַשָּׂעִ֔יר וְשִׁלַּ֛ח בְּיַד־אִ֥ישׁ עִתִּ֖י הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה:
with a timely man: Heb. אִישׁ עִתִּי, one who had been prepared for this from the day before. — [Torath Kohanim 16:60; Yoma 32a] איש עתי: המוכן לכך מיום אתמול:
22The he goat shall thus carry upon itself all their sins to a precipitous land, and he shall send off the he goat into the desert. כבוְנָשָׂ֨א הַשָּׂעִ֥יר עָלָ֛יו אֶת־כָּל־עֲוֹנֹתָ֖ם אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ גְּזֵרָ֑ה וְשִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־הַשָּׂעִ֖יר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר:
23And Aaron shall enter the Tent of Meeting and remove the linen garments that he had worn when he came into the Holy, and there, he shall store them away. כגוּבָ֤א אַֽהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וּפָשַׁט֙ אֶת־בִּגְדֵ֣י הַבָּ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָבַ֖שׁ בְּבֹא֣וֹ אֶל־הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וְהִנִּיחָ֖ם שָֽׁם:
And Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting: Our Rabbis stated (Torath Kohanim 16:60; Yoma 32a) that this is not the [correct chronological] place for this verse, and they gave a reason for this in Tractate Yoma (32a). And they said: “This whole passage is in correct chronological order, except for this entry, for this followed the performance of his burnt offering and the people’s burnt offering, and the burning of the sacrificial parts of the bull and the he-goat, which were performed outside [the Holy of Holies, with the Kohen Gadol attired] in golden garments. Then he would immerse himself, sanctify [his hands and feet with water from the washstand], remove them [his golden garments], don his white garments”- ובא אהרן אל אהל מועד: אמרו רבותינו, שאין זה מקומו של מקרא זה, ונתנו טעם לדבריהם במסכת יומא (דף לב א) ואמרו כל הפרשה כולה אמורה על הסדר, חוץ מביאה זו, שהיא אחר עשיית עולתו ועולת העם והקטרת אימורי פר ושעיר שנעשים בחוץ בבגדי זהב, וטובל ומקדש ופושטן ולובש בגדי לבן:
and…shall come into the Tent of Meeting: to take out the spoon and the pan, with which he had caused the incense to go up in smoke in the inner Holy. [Then,] ובא אל אהל מועד: להוציא את הכף ואת המחתה שהקטיר בה הקטרת לפני ולפנים:
[Aaron shall…] remove the linen garments: After he took them [the spoon and the pan] out, and then he would don his golden garments the afternoon תָּמִיד [i.e., the daily burnt offering sacrificed twice every day]. The following, [therefore,] is the order of the services: 1) The morning תָּמִיד in golden garments; 2) the service involving the bull and he-goat whose blood was sprinkled inside [the Holy] and the incense procedure [with the burning coals] in the pan, in white garments. 3) Then, his ram, the people’s ram and some of the additional sacrifices [of the day (see Num. 29:7-11)] in golden garments; 4) then, the removal of the spoon and the pan in white garments; 5) the remainder of the additional sacrifices, the afternoon תָּמִיד, and the incense procedure in the heichal upon the inner altar in golden garments. Hence, the [chronological] sequence of the verses, corresponding to [the chronological order of] the services is as follows: (Verse 22), “and he shall send off the he-goat into the desert”; then (verse 24),“And he shall immerse his flesh…He shall then go out and sacrifice his burnt offering…”; then (verse 25),“the fat of the sin-offering…”; then the remainder of this passage, up till (verse 26),“And after this, he may come into the camp”; only then [comes our verse 23 into the chronological sequence,] “And Aaron shall enter [the Tent of Meeting, and remove the linen garments],” ופשט את בגדי הבד: אחר שהוציאם ולובש בגדי זהב לתמיד של בין הערבים. וזהו סדר העבודות תמיד של שחר בבגדי זהב, ועבודת פר ושעיר הפנימים וקטרת של מחתה בבגדי לבן, ואילו ואיל העם ומקצת המוספין בבגדי זהב, והוצאת כף ומחתה בבגדי לבן, ושעירי [ושיירי] המוספין ותמיד של בין הערבים וקטורת ההיכל שעל מזבח הפנימי בבגדי זהב. וסדר המקראות לפי סדר העבודות כך הוא ושלח את השעיר במדבר, ורחץ את בשרו במים וגו' ויצא ועשה את עולתו וגו' ואת חלב החטאת וגו'. וכל הפרשה עד ואחרי כן יבא אל המחנה, ואחר כך ובא אהרן:
and there, he shall store them away: This teaches [us] that they require being stored away [forever], and he shall not use those four garments for any other Yom Kippur. — [Torath Kohanim 16:61; Yoma 12b] והניחם שם: מלמד שטעונין גניזה, ולא ישתמש באותן ארבעה בגדים ליום כפורים אחר:
24And he shall immerse his flesh in a holy place and don his garments. He shall then go out and sacrifice his burnt offering and the people's burnt offering, and he shall effect atonement for himself and for the people. כדוְרָחַ֨ץ אֶת־בְּשָׂר֤וֹ בַמַּ֨יִם֙ בְּמָק֣וֹם קָד֔וֹשׁ וְלָבַ֖שׁ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֑יו וְיָצָ֗א וְעָשָׂ֤ה אֶת־עֹֽלָתוֹ֙ וְאֶת־עֹלַ֣ת הָעָ֔ם וְכִפֶּ֥ר בַּֽעֲד֖וֹ וּבְעַ֥ד הָעָֽם:
And he shall immerse his flesh…: Above (see Rashi verse 4), we learned from “he shall immerse in water and then don them,” that when he changes from golden garments to white garments, he is required to immerse himself, for with that immersion, he removed the golden garments, with which he had performed the service of the morning תָּמִיד, and subsequently changed into white garments, to perform the service of the day (see verse 4). Here, we learn that when he changes from white garments to golden garments, he [also] is required to immerse [in a mikvah]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:60; Yoma 32a] ורחץ את בשרו וגו': למעלה למדנו מורחץ את בשרו ולבשם (פסוק ד), שכשהוא משנה מבגדי זהב לבגדי לבן טעון טבילה, שבאותה טבילה פשט בגדי זהב שעבד בהן עבודת תמיד של שחר ולבש בגדי לבן לעבודת היום, וכאן למדנו שכשהוא משנה מבגדי לבן לבגדי זהב טעון טבילה:
in a holy place: sanctified with the [degree of] holiness of the Courtyard [of the Holy Temple], and it was on the roof of [a chamber in the Holy Temple, called] Beth HaParvah. And so were [all] four immersions which were obligatory for the day, except for the very first immersion, which was performed in an unsanctified [place because this immersion, in preparation to sacrifice the morning תָּמִיד, took place every day and was not, therefore, specific to the Yom Kippur service]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:62; Yoma 30a] במקום קדוש: המקודש בקדושת עזרה והיא היתה בגג בית הפרוה, וכן ארבע טבילות הבאות חובה ליום, אבל הראשונה היתה בחול:
and don his garments: [meaning “his” regular] eight garments, in which he officiates all the days of the year. ולבש את בגדיו: שמנה בגדים שהוא עובד בהן כל ימות השנה:
He shall then go out: of the heichal, to the Courtyard in which the altar for burnt offerings was located. ויצא: מן ההיכל אל החצר שמזבח העולה שם:
and sacrifice his burnt offering: namely, the ram for a burnt offering, stated above (verse 3), [when Scripture says there,] “Aaron shall come with this…,” ועשה את עלתו: איל לעולה האמור למעלה (פסוק ג) בזאת יבא אהרון וגו':
and the people’s burnt offering: namely, “and one ram for a burnt offering,” stated above (verse 5), [when Scripture says,] “And from the community of the children of Israel….” ואת עלת העם: ואיל אחד לעולה האמור למעלה (פסוק ה) ומאת עדת בני ישראל וגו':Tehillim: Chapters 23 - 28
• Hebrew text
• English textChapter 23
When King David was in the forest of Cheret and nearly died of starvation, God provided nourishment for him with a taste of the World to Come. David then composed this psalm, describing the magnitude of his trust in God.
1. A psalm by David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing.
2. He lays me down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.
3. He revives my soul; He directs me in paths of righteousness for the sake of His Name.
4. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff-they will comfort me.
5. You will prepare a table for me before my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup is full.
6. Only goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord for many long years.
Chapter 24
If the fulfillment of one's prayer would result in the sanctification of God's Name, he should pray that God act for the sake of the holiness of His Name. One should also invoke the merit of his ancestors, for we know that "the righteous are greater in death than in life"
1. By David, a psalm. The earth and all therein is the Lord's; the world and its inhabitants.
2. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers.
3. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord, and who may stand in His holy place?
4. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not used My Name in vain or sworn falsely.
5. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and kindness from God, his deliverer.
6. Such is the generation of those who search for Him, [the children of] Jacob who seek Your countenance forever.
7. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, eternal doors, so the glorious King may enter.
8. Who is the glorious King? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, mighty in battle.
9. Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them up, eternal doors, so the glorious King may enter.
10. Who is the glorious King? The Lord of Hosts, He is the glorious King for all eternity.
Chapter 25
The verses in this psalm are arranged according to the alphabet, excluding the letters Bet, Vav, and Kuf, which together equal the numerical value of Gehenom (purgatory). One who recites this psalm daily will not see the face of purgatory.
1. By David. To You, Lord, I lift my soul.
2. My God, I have put my trust in You. May I not be put to shame; may my enemies not gloat over me.
3. Indeed, may all who hope in You not be put to shame; let those who act treacherously without reason be shamed.
4. O Lord, make Your ways known to me; teach me Your paths.
5. Train me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I yearn for You all day.
6. O Lord, remember Your mercies and Your kindnesses, for they have existed for all time.
7. Do not recall the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; remember me in accordance with Your kindness, because of Your goodness, O Lord.
8. Good and upright is the Lord, therefore He directs sinners along the way.
9. He guides the humble with justice, and teaches the humble His way.
10. All the paths of the Lord are kindness and truth for those who observe His covenant and testimonies.
11. For the sake of Your Name, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12. Whoever is a God-fearing man, him will He teach the path that he should choose.
13. His soul will abide in well-being, and his descendants will inherit the earth.
14. The secret of the Lord is to those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.
15. My eyes are always turned to the Lord, for He releases my feet from the snare.
16. Turn to me and be compassionate to me, for I am alone and afflicted.
17. The sufferings of my heart have increased; deliver me from my hardships.
18. Behold my affliction and suffering, and forgive all my sins.
19. See how numerous my enemies have become; they hate me with a violent hatred.
20. Guard my soul and deliver me; may I not be put to shame, for I place my trust in You.
21. Let integrity and uprightness guard me, for my hope is in You.
22. Redeem Israel, O God, from all its afflictions.
Chapter 26
In this psalm King David inundates God with prayers and acts of piety, because he envies those who are his spiritual superiors, saying, "If only I were on their level of piety and virtue!"
1. By David. Judge me, O Lord, for in my innocence I have walked, and in the Lord I have trusted-I shall not falter.
2. Try me, O Lord, and test me; refine my mind and heart.
3. For Your kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked constantly in Your truth.
4. I did not sit with men of falsehood, and with hypocrites I will not mingle.
5. I detested the company of evildoers, and with the wicked I will not sit.
6. I wash my hands in purity, and circle Your altar, O Lord,
7. to give voice to thanks, and to recount all Your wonders.
8. I love the shelter of Your House, O Lord, and the place where Your glory resides.
9. Gather not in my soul with sinners, nor my life with men of bloodshed,
10. In whose hands are schemes, and whose right hand is filled with bribes.
11. But I walk in my innocence; redeem me and show me favor.
12. My foot stands on level ground; in assemblies I will bless the Lord.
Chapter 27
King David acknowledges and praises God, placing his trust in Him because of his victories in war. "Nevertheless, it is not wars that I desire, for I cannot gain perfection with them. Only one thing do I ask: to abide day and night in the study hall studying Torah, to gain perfection so that my soul may merit the life of the World to Come."
1. By David. The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life-whom shall I dread?
2. When evildoers approached me to devour my flesh, my oppressors and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
3. If an army were to beleaguer me, my heart would not fear; if war were to arise against me, in this I trust1
4. One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I seek: that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the pleasantness of the Lord, and to visit His Sanctuary.
5. For He will hide me in His tabernacle on a day of adversity; He will conceal me in the hidden places of His tent; He will lift me upon a rock.
6. And then my head will be raised above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of jubilation; I will sing and chant to the Lord.
7. Lord, hear my voice as I call; be gracious to me and answer me.
8. In Your behalf my heart says, "Seek My countenance"; Your countenance, Lord, I seek.
9. Do not conceal Your countenance from me; do not cast aside Your servant in wrath. You have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, God of my deliverance.
10. Though my father and mother have forsaken me, the Lord has taken me in.
11. Lord, teach me Your way and lead me in the path of righteousness, because of my watchful enemies.
12. Do not give me over to the will of my oppressors, for there have risen against me false witnesses, and they speak evil.
13. [They would have crushed me] had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14. Hope in the Lord, be strong and let your heart be valiant, and hope in the Lord.
FOOTNOTES
1.I trust that “the lord is my light and salvation” etc. (Rashi)
Chapter 28
A prayer for every individual, entreating God to assist him in walking the good path, to prevent him from walking with the wicked doers of evil, and that He repay the wicked for their wickedness and the righteous for their righteousness.
1. By David. I call to You, O Lord; my Strength, do not be deaf to me; for should You be silent to me, I will be like those who descend to the pit.
2. Hear the sound of my pleas when I cry out to You, when I raise my hands toward Your holy Sanctuary.
3. Do not draw me along with the wicked, with evildoers who speak of peace with their companions, though evil is in their heart.
4. Give them according to their deeds, and the evil of their endeavors; give them according to their handiwork, render to them their just desserts.
5. For they pay no heed to the acts of the Lord, nor to the work of His hands; may He destroy them and not rebuild them.
6. Blessed is the Lord, for He has heard the voice of my pleas.
7. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusted and I was helped; my heart exulted, and with my song I praised Him.
8. The Lord is a strength to them; He is a stronghold of deliverance to His anointed.
9. Grant salvation to Your people and bless Your heritage; tend them and exalt them forever.
1
We have already explained that for every transgression for which an ordinary person must bring a ewe or a she-goat as a fixed sin-offering, a nasiwho violates it inadvertently must bring a he-goat. And if an anointed priest violates it inadvertently, he must bring a bull.
When does the statement that an anointed priest brings a bull because of his inadvertent transgression apply? When he errs in issuing a ruling and acts according to his ruling alone. And to be liable he must be a sage of distinction, as implied by Leviticus 4:3: "If the anointed priest will sin, bringing guilt to the nation," i.e., an equivalence is established between the anointed priest and the people as a whole. Just as the community, i.e., the court, are not obligated to bring a sacrifice unless the judges are sages fit to deliver rulings, they deliver an erroneous ruling, the transgressors err because of this ruling, and they ruled to nullify certain aspects of a prohibition and maintain others, so too, an anointed priest is not liable unless all these stipulations are met.
א
כבר ביארנו שכל שגגה שההדיוט מביא עליה חטאת הקבועה כשבה או שעירה אם שגג בה הנשיא מביא שעיר ואם שגג בה כהן משיח מביא פר בד"א שכהן משיח מביא פר על שגגתו כשטעה בהוראת עצמו ועשה מעשה בשגגת הוראתו לבדה והיא שיהיה חכם מופלא שנאמר אם הכהן המשיח יחטא לאשמת העם הרי משיח כצבור מה הצבור שהן בית דין אינן חייבין בקרבן עד שיהיו חכמים ראויין להוראה ויטעו בהוראה ויעשו העושים על פיהם ויורו לבטל מקצת ולקיים מקצת כך המשיח בכל הדרכים האלו:
2
What is implied? If the anointed priest ruled erroneously for himself and thought that it was permitted to throw an article from one domain to another on the Sabbath and acted in this manner, relying on his judgment, when he becomes aware of his transgression, he should bring a bull as a sin-offering. If, however, he did not rely on his ruling, but instead, acted inadvertently and threw an article, or he relied on his ruling, but was not a distinguished sage, or he nullified a prohibition in its entirety when ruling for himself, or he ruled erroneously to negate only a portion of the prohibition, but did not act while relying on his ruling, but instead, performed the transgression inadvertently for another reason, or he purposely delivered an erroneous ruling, but performed the transgression inadvertently, he is exempt from bringing a sacrifice entirely. For the laws that apply to an anointed priest's ruling for himself are identical to those applying to the congregation with regard to the ruling of the court in all regards.
If he delivered a ruling for himself and then forgot the rationale motivating the ruling and at the time he acted said: "I am acting on the basis of my previous ruling," he must bring a bull as a sin-offering.
ב
כיצד כהן משיח שטעה בהוראה לעצמו ודימה שהזורק מרשות לרשות בשבת מותר וזרק מרשות לרשות והוא תולה בהוראתו לעצמו כשיודע לו חטאו יביא פר לחטאת אבל אם לא תלה בהוראתו אלא שגג וזרק בשגגה או שתלה בהוראתו ולא היה חכם מופלא או שעקר כל הגוף בהוראתו לעצמו או ששגג בהוראתו לבטל מקצת ולא עשה והוא סומך על הוראתו אלא עשה בשגגה אחרת או שהיה מזיד בהוראה ושגג במעשה הרי זה פטור מקרבן כלל שדינו להוראת עצמו כדין הקהל להוראת בית דין לכל דבר הורה לעצמו ושכח מאי זה טעם הורה ובשעת מעשה אמר הריני עושה על דעת הוראתי הרי זה מביא פר חטאת:
3
If he delivered a ruling for himself to nullify certain aspects of the prohibition against the worship of false deities and maintain others and he acted according to his ruling, he brings a she-goat, as does an ordinary person, provided he erred in his ruling, as we explained. For the anointed priest is not obligated to bring a sacrifice unless he has a lapse of awareness while delivering a ruling and then acts inadvertently as is the law with regard to the community as a whole. If, however, he merely acted inadvertently without delivering a ruling, whether he violated the prohibition against the worship of false deities or other commandments, he does not bring a sacrifice at all.
ג
הורה לעצמו לבטל מקצת ולקיים מקצת בע"ז ועשה כפי הוראתו הרי זה מביא שעירה כהדיוט והוא שישגוג בהוראה כמו שביארנו שאין הכהן המשיח חייב קרבן אלא בהעלם דבר בהוראה עם שגגת המעשה בצבור אבל אם שגג במעשה בלבד בלא הוראה בין בע"ז בין בשאר מצות אינו מביא קרבן כלל:
4
When the anointed priest ruled together with the High Court and he and they both erred in their ruling, the anointed priest is exempt even though he acted according to the mistaken ruling that he issued. The rationale is that he did not rely only on his ruling alone, but his ruling together with that of the court. Hence it is not necessary for him to bring a sacrifice for atonement individually. Instead, if the court bring a sacrifice, he receives atonement together with the community at large. And if the transgressors bring a sacrifice, he does not bring a sacrifice, because he does not bring a sacrifice individually.
ד
הורה הכהן המשיח עם בית דין ושגג הוא והם בהוראה אע"פ שעשו על פי ההוראה הזאת שטעו בה הואיל ולא סמך בשעת מעשה על הוראתו לבדה אלא על הוראתו עם הוראת בית דין הרי זה פטור ואין צריך להביא כפרה בפני עצמו אלא אם היו בית דין מביאין קרבן מתכפר לו בכלל הצבור ואם היו העושים הם המביאים קרבן הוא אינו מביא קרבן שהרי אין צריך כפרה בפני עצמו:
5
If he together with the court ruled erroneously, they ruled concerning forbidden blood and he ruled concerning forbidden fats, he does not receive atonement together with the community. Instead, he brings a bull on his own accord.
ה
הורה עם בית דין בשגגה ושגגו הם בדם והוא בחלב אינו מתכפר לו עם הצבור אלא מביא פר לעצמו:
6
When an anointed priest is in doubt of whether or not he committed this type of advertent transgression - i.e., he ruled in error and acted accordingly - he does not bring a provisional guilt offering, for he is comparable to the community at large who do not bring a provisional guilt-offering. When, by contrast, a nasi is in doubt whether he transgressed or did not transgress, he should bring a provisional guilt-offering like other ordinary people, because his obligation for an inadvertent transgression is not dependent on his ruling.
What is the connotation of the term nasi used in the Torah? A king who is not under the jurisdiction of any other man in Israel. There is no one superior to him in his sovereignty except, God, his Lord. This applies whether he is of the Davidic dynasty or of other tribes. If there were several kings and one is not subject to the other, each one should bring a goat for his inadvertent transgression.
What is meant by the term "anointed priest"? This refers to a High Priest who was anointed with the oil of anointment, not one who was installed in his office through wearing the priestly garments.
ו
כהן משיח שנסתפק לו אם שגג שגגה זו שהיא שגגת הוראה עם המעשה או לא שגג אותה אינו מביא אשם תלוי מפני שהוא בה כצבור שאינן מביאין אשם תלוי על לא הודע של שגגת הוראה אבל הנשיא אם נסתפק לו אם חטא או לא חטא מביא אשם תלוי כשאר ההדיוטות מפני שאין שגגתו תלויה בהוראתו אי זהו נשיא האמור בתורה זה מלך שאין עליו רשות מאדם מישראל ואין למעלה ממנו במלכותו אלא ה' אלהיו בין שהיה מבית דוד או משאר שבטי ישראל ואם היו מלכים רבים ואין אחד מהן עובד את חבירו כל אחד ואחד מהן מביא שעיר עזים על שגגתו ואי זהו כהן משיח זה כהן גדול שנמשח בשמן המשחה לא המרובה בבגדים:
7
When a High Priest who had been anointed with the anointing oil, but was removed from his office, because of a physical blemish, old age, or the like and inadvertently violated a transgression in this manner, he must bring a bull for his inadvertent transgression. For there is no difference between an anointed priest who serves and one who was removed from his office except the bull offered on Yom Kippur and the tenth of an ephah offered each day. These are brought only by a High Priest who is serving in his office, but with regard to the bull brought for the inadvertent violation of all the mitzvot, the two are governed by the same laws.
ז
כהן גדול שנמשח בשמן המשחה ועבר מעבודתו מפני מום או זקנה וכיוצא בהן וחטא בשגגה זו מביא פר על שגגתו לפי שאין בין כהן משיח המשמש לכהן משיח שעבר אלא פר יוה"כ ועשירית האיפה של כל יום שאין מקריב אותן אלא כהן המשמש בכהונה גדולה אבל פר הבא על כל המצוות שוים הם בו:
8
When a nasi performs a transgression together with the community, because of a ruling of the court, he receives atonement together with the people at large. If the court were offering a sacrifice due to their error, the entire nation and the king are exempt from a sacrifice, as we explained. If those who transgressed due to the court's ruling were obligated to bring a sacrifice and the king was one of them who transgressed, he should bring a goat. For the goat brought by the nasi takes the place of a ewe or a she-goat that an ordinary person brings.
ח
נשיא שעשה עם הצבור בהוראת בית דין הרי זה מתכפר לו בכלל העם שאם היו בית דין הם שהקריבו על שגגתן כל העם והמלך פטורין מן הקרבן כמו שביארנו ואם היו העושים על פי בית דין הם שחייבין בקרבן והיה המלך מן העושים הרי זה מביא שעיר ששעיר נשיא במקום כשבה או שעירה של הדיוט הוא עומד:
9
When a nasi becomes afflicted by tzara'at and is removed from his office or he is removed from his office for other reasons, he is considered as an ordinary person. If a nasi transgressed while in office and then was removed, he must still bring a goat, as can be inferred from Leviticus 4:22: "because of his transgression that he violated," i.e., the sacrifice that he brings depends on his status at the time he transgresses.
ט
נשיא שנצטרע עבר מנשיאותו ונשיא שעבר מנשיאותו הרי הוא כהדיוט חטא כשהיה נשיא ועבר מגדולתו הרי זה מביא שעיר שנאמר על חטאתו אשר חטא כשעת חטאתו הוא מביא:
10
When an anointed priest or a king violate a transgression requiring a sacrifice before they are appointed to their office, they must bring a sacrifice like an ordinary person even if they become aware of it after they become appointed. This is derived from Leviticus 4:22: "When a nasi transgresses," and ibid.:3: "If the anointed priest will transgress...," i.e., these sacrifices are required only when he transgresses while a nasi or while anointed.
Accordingly, if a priest ate a piece of fat concerning which there was a question whether it was forbidden and he became aware of this question after he was appointed as a High Priest, he must bring a provisional guilt-offering.
If one ate half an olive-sized portion of forbidden fat while he was an ordinary person and another half after becoming a nasi in one lapse of awareness or he ate half an olive-sized portion while he was a nasi and half after leaving his office, they are not combined and he is exempt.
If one ate half an olive-sized portion when he was an ordinary person, he was appointed as a nasi and then was removed from his office, there is an unresolved doubt if the two times he ate are combined to make him liable or his service as a nasi creates a distinction between the two.
י
כהן משיח או מלך שחטאו עד שלא נתמנו אף על פי שלא נודע להם אלא אחר שנתמנו הרי אלו כהדיוט שנאמר אשר נשיא יחטא אם הכהן המשיח יחטא עד שיחטא כשהוא נשיא וכשהוא משיח לפיכך אם אכל ספק חלב כשהוא הדיוט ונודע לו על ספקו אחר שהתמנה להיות כהן גדול הרי זה מביא אשם תלוי אכל חצי זית חלב כשהוא הדיוט וחצי זית כשהוא נשיא בהעלם אחת או שאכל חצי זית כשהוא נשיא וחצי זית אחר שעבר אינו מצטרף ופטור אכל חצי זית כשהוא הדיוט ונתמנה ועבר ואכל חצי זית כשהוא הדיוט הרי זה ספק אם מצטרף או כבר הפסיקה הנשיאות:
Blessed be the Merciful One Who offers assistance.
סליקו להו הלכות שגגות בס"ד:
Mechussarey Kapparah - Perek 1
1
There are four individuals who are referred to as "requiring atonement": a zavah, a woman after childbirth, a zav, and a person afflicted by tzara'at.
Why are they referred to as "requiring atonement"? Because even after each one of them has become pure from the condition that caused his impurity, he has immersed in a mikveh, and the day of the immersion has passed, the person's status is still lacking. His attainment of purity is not complete to the extent that he may partake of sacrificial foods until he brings the sacrifice required of him. Before he brings this sacrifice, he is forbidden to partake of sacrificial food as explained in Hilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim.
א
ארבעה הן הנקראין מחוסרי כפרה: הזבה והיולדת והזב והמצורע ולמה נקראו מחוסרי כפרה שכל אחד מהן אע"פ שטהר מטומאתו וטבל והעריב שמשו עדיין הוא חסר ולא גמרה טהרתו כדי לאכול בקדשים עד שיביא קרבנו וקודם שיביא כפרתו אסור הוא לאכול בקדשים כמו שביארנו בפסולי המוקדשין:
2
When a convert becomes circumcised, but has not brought his sacrifice, although he is forbidden to partake of sacrificial food until he brings his sacrifice, he is not considered as one requiring in atonement. It is merely that failing to bring his sacrifice prevents him from being a complete convert and being from the full-fledged members of the Jewish people. Accordingly, he may not partake of sacrificial foods, because he has not become a full-fledged member of the Jewish people. Once he brings his sacrifice and becomes a full-fledged member of the Jewish people, he may partake of sacrificial foods in the evening.
If he brings one dove as a sacrifice in the morning, he may partake of sacrificial foods and bring the second dove at a later time. For the sacrifice of a convert is an animal brought as a burnt-offering or two young doves or two turtle doves both brought as burnt-offerings, as explained in Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot.
ב
גר שמל וטבל ועדיין לא הביא קרבנו אף על פי שהוא אסור לאכול בקדשים עד שיביא קרבנו אינו ממחוסרי כפרה שקרבנו עכבו להיות גר גמור ולהיות ככל כשרי ישראל ומפני זה אינו אוכל בקדשים שעדיין לא נעשה ככשרי ישראל וכיון שיביא קרבנו ויעשה ישראל כשר אוכל בקדשים הביא פרידה אחת בשחרית אוכל בקדשים לערב ויביא פרידה שנייה שקרבנו של גר עולת בהמה או שני בני יונה או שתי תורים ושניהן עולה כמו שביארנו במעשה הקרבנות:
3
The sacrifice brought by either a zav or a zavah is two turtle doves or two young doves, one brought as a burnt-offering and one brought as a sin-offering. The sacrifice of a woman after childbirth is a sheep as a burnt-offering and a young dove or turtle dove as a sin-offering. If she lacks the means for that offering, she must bring two turtle doves or two young doves, one as a burnt-offering and one as a sin-offering. The sacrifice of a person afflicted by tzara'at is three sheep, one as a burnt-offering, one as a guilt offering, and a ewe as a sin-offering. If he does not have the means, he may bring two doves, one as a burnt-offering and one as a sin-offering, and a sheep as a guilt-offering.
ג
הזב והזבה קרבן כל אחת מהן שתי תורים או שני בני יונה אחד עולה ואחד חטאת והיולדות קרבנה כבש עולה ובן יונה או תור חטאת ואם אין ידה משגת מביאה שתי תורים או שני בני יונה אחד עולה ואחד חטאת והמצורע קרבנו שלשה כבשים אחד עולה ואחד אשם וכשבה לחטאת ואם אין ידו משגת מביא קן אחד עולה ואחד חטאת וכבש לאשם:
4
Each of the three, a zav, a zavah, and a person afflicted by tzara'at, bring the sacrifices for their atonement on the eighth day after they become purified from their condition. For each one of them must count seven days of purity, immerse on the seventh day, wait until the conclusion of that day, and offer his sacrifices on the eighth day.
ד
הזב והזבה והמצורע מביא כל אחד משלשתן כפרתו ביום השמיני לטהרתו שכל אחד מהן סופר שבעה ימי טהרה וטובל ביום השביעי ומעריב שמשו ומקריב קרבנותיו ביום השמיני:
5
A woman does not bring her sacrifices on the fortieth day after the birth of a male or the eightieth day after the birth of a female. Instead, she waits until that day is completed and on the following day, the forty-first day after the birth of a male and the eighty-first day after the birth of a female. This is the day concerning which Leviticus 12:6 states: "And upon completion of her days of purity for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring...." If she brings the sacrifices in the midst of these days, she does not fulfill her obligation. Even if she brings these sacrifices for a previous birth in the midst of the days of purity for her present offspring, she does not fulfill her obligation.
If these days passed and the individuals mentioned above did not bring the sacrifices for their atonement, they should offer them afterwards. As long as they have not brought the sin-offering for which they are liable, they are forbidden to partake of sacrificial foods. Failure to bring their burnt-offering and guilt-offering does not hold them back.
We already explained in Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot that a sacrifice may not be brought on behalf of anyone obligated to bring it without their consent with the exception of the sacrifices of those requiring atonement. In this instance, the consent of the principals is not required, as evident from the fact that a person may bring sacrifices on behalf of his sons and daughters who are below majority if they require atonement and allow them to partake of sacrifices.
ה
היולדת אינה מביאה קרבנה ביום ארבעים לזכר או ביום שמונים לנקבה אלא מערבת שמשה ומביאה קרבנה למחר שהוא יום ארבעים ואחד לזכר ויום שמונים ואחד לנקבה והוא היום שנאמר בו ובמלאת ימי טהרה לבן או לבת תביא וגו' ואם הביאה קרבנה תוך ימי מלאת לא יצאת אפילו הביאה על ולדות הראשונים בתוך ימי מלאת של ולד זה לא יצאת עברו ימים אלו ולא הביאו כפרתן הרי אלו מקריבין כפרתן לאחר זמן וכל זמן שלא הקריבו חטאתם אסורים לאכול בקדשים אבל העולה (והאשם) אינן מעכבין כבר ביארנו במעשה הקרבנות שכל מחוייבי קרבן אין מקריבין על ידן אלא מדעתן חוץ ממחוסרי כפרה שאין צריכין דעת בעלים שהרי אדם מביא קרבן על בניו ובנותיו הקטנים אם היו מחוסרי כפרה ומאכילן בזבחים:
6
What is meant by a zavah? A woman who experienced uterine bleeding for three consecutive days at a time other than the days when she usually menstruates. She is considered a greater zavah and is required to count seven spotless days and bring a sacrifice. We have already explained with regard to the laws of nidah, when a woman will be considered as a zavah because of uterine bleeding that she discovers and when she will not be a zavah, but rather a nidah or ritually pure, and when there will be a question whether she is a zavah. In all situations that we said that she was a zavah and should count seven "spotless" days, she is obligated to bring a sacrifice and her sin-offering should be eaten. Whenever we said that there is a question of whether she was a zavah, she should bring a sacrifice, but her sacrifice is not eaten. We have already explained that a sin-offering of fowl brought because of a questionable situation should be burnt.
We have already explained what type of birth or miscarriage will cause a woman to contract impurity because of birth and which will not cause her to contract impurity. Whenever we stated that she contracts impurity because of birth, she must bring a sacrifice and her sacrifice is eaten. Whenever we stated that she is not impure because of birth, she is exempt from bringing a sacrifice.
ו
אי זו היא זבה זו שזב דמה שלשה ימים זה אחר זה בלא עת נדתה וזו היא זבה גדולה שצריכה ספירת שבעה וחייבת בקרבן וכבר ביארנו בענין הנדה אימתי תהיה האשה זבה בדמים שתראה ואימתי לא תהיה זבה אלא נדה או טהורה ומתי תהיה ספק זבה כל מקום שאמרנו שהיא זבה וסופרת שבעה הרי היא חייבת להביא קרבן וחטאתה נאכלת וכל מקום שאמרנו שהיא ספק זבה הרי זו מביאה קרבן ואין חטאתה נאכלת שכבר ביארנו שחטאת העוף הבאה על הספק תשרף ושם ביארנו מה תלד האשה או מה תפיל ותהיה טמאה לידה ומה תלד או תפיל ולא תהיה טמאה לידה וכל מקום שאמרנו שהיא טמאה לידה הרי זו מביאה קרבן וחטאתה נאכלת וכל מקום שאמרנו שאינה טמאה לידה הרי זו פטורה מן הקרבן:
7
When a woman was uncertain whether or not she was pregnant and then miscarried and she did not know the nature of the fetus that she miscarried, whether she was required to bring a sacrifice for it or not, she is considered as a woman in childbirth of doubtful status. She must bring a sacrifice, but her sin-offering is not eaten. Similarly, if two women both miscarried, the fetus that one had carried was mature enough to warrant a sacrifice, but the other fetus was not, and the women did not know which of them had carried which fetus, they should each bring a sacrifice because of the doubt, but neither of their sin-offerings are eaten. For a sin-offering of fowl that is brought because of an unresolved question is burnt, lest the woman bringing it not be liable. In such a situation, this sin-offering would be a non-consecrated animal slaughtered in the Temple Courtyard, from which it is forbidden to benefit, as explained in Hilchot Shechitah.
ז
האשה שלא הוחזקה עוברה והפילה ולא ידעה מה הפילה אם נפל שחייבת עליו קרבן או דבר שאינה חייבת עליו קרבן הרי זו ספק יולדת ומביאה קרבן ואין חטאתה נאכלת וכן שתי נשים שהפילו שני נפלים נפל אחד ראוי להקריב עליו והנפל האחר פטורה עליו ואין אחת מהן מכרת נפלה כל אחת משתיהן מביאה קרבן מספק ואין חטאת אחת משתיהן נאכלת שחטאת העוף הבאה על הספק נשרפת שמא אינה חייבת ונמצאת חטאת זו חולין שנשחטו בעזרה שהן אסורין בהנאה כמו שביארנו בהלכות שחיטה:
8
Whether a woman who gives birth or miscarries gives birth or miscarries to one offspring or many offspring, she may bring one sacrifice that includes all of them. This applies provided the births or the miscarriages take place within the days associated with the prior birth or miscarriage. If, however, they take place afterwards, a separate sacrifice must be brought for the second birth or miscarriage.
What is implied? When a woman gives birth to a girl, any miscarriages that occur from the day of that child's birth until the conclusion of the eightieth day are grouped together with the first child. It is as if she gave birth to twins, one after the other, and she is only required to bring one sacrifice. If she miscarried on the eighty-first day or from that date onward, should it be mature enough to require a sacrifice, she must bring a sacrifice for it independently.
Should she have given birth to a girl and after sixty or seventy days, miscarry a female fetus, she is exempt from bringing a sacrifice for any fetus she miscarries within the eighty days associated with this second female. Similarly, if she miscarries a third female after sixty or seventy days since the miscarriage of the second female, she is exempt from bringing a sacrifice for any fetus she miscarries within the eighty days associated with this third female. The rationale is that it is taken into account with the third miscarriage and the third birth is taken account with the second birth, because it is within the days associated with it. The second birth is taken into account with the first birth. Thus the woman is required to bring only one sacrifice for everything.
ח
אחת היולדת ואחת המפלת ולד אחד או ולדות הרבה הרי זו מביאה קרבן אחד לכולן והוא שתלד כולן בתוך ימי מלאת אבל אם הפילה אחר ימי מלאת מביאה אף על השני כיצד ילדה נקבה כל נפלים שתפיל מיום הלידה עד סוף יום שמונים הרי הן נחשבין עם הולד הראשון וכאילו ילדה תאומים זה אחר זה ואינה מביאה אלא קרבן אחד הפילה נפל ביום שמונים ואחד ומיום אחד ושמונים והלאה אם היא ראויה לקרבן הרי זו מביאה עליו בפני עצמו ילדה נקבה ולאחר ששים או שבעים יום הפילה נקבה שנייה כל נפל שתפיל בתוך שמונים של נקבה זו השנייה פטורה עליו וכן אם הפילה נקבה שלישית אחר ששים או שבעים יום של נקבה שנייה הרי כל נפל שתפיל בתוך שמונים של נקבה שלישית פטורה עליו מפני שהוא חשוב עם הנפל השלישי והנפל השלישי חשוב עם השני מפני שהוא בתוך ימי מלאת שלו והשני חשוב עם הראשונה ואינה מביאה אלא קרבן אחד על הכל:
9
When a woman gives birth to a tumtum or an androgynus, and then miscarries after forty days from the birth of the first child, she should bring a sacrifice for this miscarriage, for perhaps the first one was a male and thus the miscarriage took place after the days associated with its birth. Nevertheless, her sin-offering is not eaten, lest the first birth have been a female and thus the miscarriage took place in the days associated with its birth, in which instance, she is exempt from a second sacrifice.
ט
היולדת טומטום או אנדרוגינוס והפילה נפל אחר ארבעים מיום לידתו הרי זו מביאה קרבן על נפל זה שמא זכר הוא הראשון והרי הפילה אחר מלאת ואין חטאתה נאכלת שמא נקבה היא הראשונה ובתוך מלאת הפילה שהיא פטורה מקרבן שני:
10
When there are five births or miscarriages of questionable status for which a woman might be liable or five states of zivah of questionable status for which she might be liable, she may bring one set of sacrifices and partake of sacrificial food. The remainder are not considered as an obligation that she must requite. If she was obligated to bring sacrifices for five definite births or five definite zavah bleedings, she may bring one set of sacrifices and partake of sacrificial food. The remainder are considered as an obligation that she must requite. Similar concepts apply to a zav.
If a woman is liable for five definite births or miscarriages and five births or miscarriages of questionable status or five definite births or miscarriages and five zivah bleedings of questionable status, she must bring two sets of sacrifices. One is for the definite obligations. That sin-offering is eaten; the sacrifices for the other definite births remain an obligation for her. And she brings one set of sacrifices for the questionable situations. That sin-offering is not eaten; the sacrifices for the other questionable situations do not remain an obligation for her. She may then partake of sacrificial food.
י
האשה שיש עליה ספק חמש לידות או ספק חמש זיבות מביאה קרבן אחד ואוכלת בזבחים ואין השאר עליה חובה היו עליה חמש לידות ודאות וחמש זבות ודאות מביאה קרבן אחד ואוכלת בזבחים והשאר עליה חובה וכן הדין בזב היו עליה ה' לידות ודאות וחמש לידות ספק או חמש לידות ודאות וחמש זיבות ספק מביאה שני קרבנות אחד על הודאי ונאכל ושאר הודאות עליה חובה ואחד על הספק ואינו נאכל ואין השאר עליה חובה ואוכלת בזבחים:
11
When a woman converted and it was not known whether she gave birth before she converted or afterwards, because of the doubt, she must bring a sacrifice for the birth, but the sin-offering is not eaten.
In Hilchot Shegagot, we already explained that whenever there is an unresolved question whether or not a person requires atonement and Yom Kippur passes, they must bring the sacrifices after Yom Kippur, because it is these sacrifices which make them fit to partake of sacrificial food.
יא
האשה שנתגיירה ואין ידוע אם עד שלא נתגיירה ילדה או משנתגיירה ילדה הרי זו מביאה קרבן מספק ואין חטאתה נאכלת כבר ביארנו בהלכות שגגות שכל מחוסרי כפרה מספק שעבר עליהם [יום הכפורים] חייבין להביא אחר יוה"כ שקרבן זה מכשירן לאכול בקדשים:
12
When a woman is obligated to bring a sacrifice for a birth or a zivah, she should bring money for the set of doves and place it in the appropriate chest. She may then partake of sacrificial food in the evening, relying on the assumption that the court of priests will not depart from the Temple until all of the money in the chest is used and sets of doves are offered for it, as we explained in Hilchot Shekalim and in Hilchot K'lei HaMikdash VeHaOvdim Bo.
יב
האשה שיש עליה לידה או זיבה מביאה מעות הקינים ונותנת בשופר ואוכלת בקדשים לערב חזקה שאין בית דין של כהנים עומדין משם עד שיכלו כל המעות שבשופר ויקריבו כנגדן קינים כמו שביארנו בשקלים ובהלכות כלי המקדש והעובדין בו:
13
When a woman brought her sin-offering and then died, her heirs should bring her burnt-offering even if she did not separate it during her lifetime. The rationale is that a lien for the sacrifice was already established on her property and this lien has the power of Scriptural Law.
יג
האשה שהביאה חטאתה ומתה יביאו היורשים עולתה אע"פ שלא הפרישה אותה מחיים כבר נשתעבדו נכסיה לקרבן והשעבוד דין תורה הוא:
Mechussarey Kapparah - Perek 2
1
The term zav used by the Torah refers to a discharge of sperm that is released because of an internal sickness that effects the organs of the body in which it collects. When a zav emission is discharged, it is not released with an erection like semen and its release does not involve any desire or satisfaction. Instead, it is drawn out like a barley dough and is dark like the white of an unfertilized egg. In contrast, viable sperm is white and adhesive like the white of a fertilized egg.
א
הזב האמור בתורה הוא שכבת זרע הבא מחוליי החללים שהיא מתקבצת בהן וכשיוצא הזוב אינו יוצא בקושי כשכבת זרע ואין ביציאתו תאוה ולא הנאה אלא נגרר ויוצא כמו בצק של שעורים כהה כלובן ביצה המוזרת אבל שכבת זרע לבנה קשורה כלובן ביצה שאינה מוזרת:
2
If a person releases a discharge which would have caused him to be deemed a zav because of another sickness or because of factors beyond his control, he is not deemed a zav, as implied by Leviticus 15:2: "A man who will release discharges from his flesh." That phrase can be interpreted to mean: He will become impure "because of his flesh," and not due to any other factor.
On this basis, our Sages said: we check a zav with regard to seven factors: food, drink, burdens, jumping, infirmity, provocative sights, and thoughts.
What is implied? If a person overate or overdrank or he ate or drank foods or beverages that lead to the discharge of seed, he carried a heavy burden, he jumped from place to place, included in this category is also his being beaten on his back, he was sick, he saw a woman and desired intimacy with her, or he thought about sexual relations even if he did not think specifically about a particular woman whom he knew - if any of these factors preceded his discovery of a zav discharge, we account the discharge to it and it does not render him impure.
ב
הרואה ראיות הזוב הגורמות לו להיות זב מחמת חולי או אונס וכיוצא בהן אינו זב שנאמר זב מבשרו מחמת בשרו הוא שיהיה טמא לא מחמת דבר אחר מכאן אמרו בשבעה דרכים בודקין את הזב: במאכל ובמשתה במשא ובקפיצה בחולי ובמראה ובהרהור כיצד אכל אכילה גסה או שתה הרבה או שאכל או שתה אוכלין או משקין המביאין לידי שכבת זרע או שנשא משוי כבד או שקפץ ממקום למקום ובכלל דבר זה אם הוכה על גבו או שהיה חולה או שראה אשה והתאוה שכיבתה או שהרהר בעסקי בעילה אף על פי שלא הרהר בבעילת אשה שהוא מכירה אם קדם אחד מכל אלו וראה ראייה של זוב תולין בו ואינו מטמא:
3
When a person has a seminal emission, he is not rendered impure as a zav for an entire 24-hour period, for the zav comes as a result of the seminal emission. Similarly, we attribute a discharge to provocative sights and lustful thoughts for 24 hours afterwards. By contrast, with regard to food, drink, jumping, and a burden, we attribute a discharge to them only for as long as this factor causes discomfort.
ג
הרואה קרי אינו מתטמא בזוב מעת לעת שראייה זו של זוב מחמת שכבת זרע היא וכן למראה ולהרהור תולין בהן מעת לעת אבל למאכל ולמשתה ולקפיצה ולמשא תולין בהן כל זמן שמצטער:
4
When a man, whether a gentile or a Jew, becomes circumcised and then sees a discharge, we attribute it to the circumcision as long as he is suffering. When a gentile has a seminal discharge and converts afterwards, he can become impure because of zivah immediately. We do not attribute any discharges in a 24-hour period to the seminal emission.
When a minor has a discharge, we do not attribute it to provocative sights and lustful thoughts, for there are no provocative sights and lustful thoughts that will cause a minor to have a discharge. Therefore we check him only with regard to five factors.
ד
מי שמל ואח"כ ראה זוב בין עכו"ם בין ישראל תולין במילה כל זמן שמצטער עכו"ם שראה קרי ואחר כך נתגייר מטמא בזיבה מיד ואין תולין לו מעת לעת קטן אין תולין לו לא במראה ולא בהרהור שאין לקטן מראה והרהור המביא לידי זוב לפיכך בודקין אותו בחמשה דרכים בלבד:
5
Just as we attribute the discharges of a minor to his sickness, so too, we attribute his discharges to the sickness of his mother if he is nursing or in need of her care.
When does the statement that we check a zav with regard to these matters apply? With regard to his second discharge of zivah, for that characterizes him as a zav, as will be explained. If, however, he has one discharge due to factors beyond his control and one "because of his flesh," he is impure with the impurity of zivah. Nevertheless, he should also be checked initially, in order to count three discharges so that he will be liable for a sacrifice.
He is not checked for the third discharge. Instead, even if he experiences it due to factors beyond his control, since he was already categorized as impure - because the first two discharges that caused him to be characterized as a zav were "because of his flesh" - he is therefore obligated to bring a sacrifice.
ה
וכשם שתולין לקטן בחליו כך תולין לו בחולי אמו אם היה יונק ממנה או צריך לאמו במה דברים אמורים שבודקין את הזב בדרכים אלו בראייה שנייה של זוב שבה יעשה זוב כמו שיתבאר אבל ראייה ראשונה אפילו ראה אותה באונס וראייה שנייה מחמת בשרו הרי זה טמא טומאת זיבות ואע"פ כן בודקין אותו בראשונה כדי למנות בה שלש ראיות לחייבו קרבן ראייה שלישית אין בודקין אותו בה אלא אפילו ראה אותה מחמת אונס הואיל ונזקק לטומאה שהרי ראיות שנעשה בהן זב מחמת בשרו היה לפיכך יתחייב בקרבן:
6
When a person experiences one zav discharge, his status is equivalent to that of one who had a seminal emission. If he experiences two discharges, this is a zav condition. He must count seven clean days and immerse in "living water." He is not, however, obligated to bring a sacrifice.
If he experiences three discharges, he is a zav in the full sense of the term and is obligated to bring a sacrifice. There is no difference between a zav who experienced two discharges and one who experienced three except the obligation to bring a sacrifice. All of these matters are part of the Oral Tradition conveyed from Moses from Sinai.
ו
הרואה ראייה אחת של זוב הרי הוא כבעל קרי ראה שתים הרי זה זוב וצריך ספירת שבעה וביאת מים חיים ואינו חייב בקרבן ראה שלש ראיות הרי זה זב גמור וחייב בקרבן ואין בין זב שראה שתי ראיות לרואה שלש אלא קרבן בלבד ודברים אלו כולן דברי קבלה מפי משה רבינו מסיני:
7
Whether a person experiences two discharges or three in one hour one after the other or experienced one discharge a day for three consecutive days, he is categorized as a zav. For the Torah made the categorization of a zavah dependent on days, as Leviticus 15:25 states: "If she will experience a flow of blood for many days," It did not make the categorization of a zav dependent on days.
ז
אחד הרואה שתי ראיות או שלש בשעה אחת זו אחר זו או שראה ראייה בכל יום זה אחר זה הרי זה זב לפי שתלה הכתוב את הזבה בימים שנאמר כי יזוב זוב דמה ימים רבים והזב לא תלה אותו בימים:
8
If the zav experienced an interruption of an entire day between one discharge and another, they are not linked together.
What is implied? A man experienced a discharge on the Sabbath and a second discharge on Monday, they are not linked together and he is not categorized as a zav. Similarly, if he experienced a second discharge on Sunday ands experienced a third discharge on Tuesday, he is not obligated to bring a sacrifice, for it is not linked to the first two, for there was an interruption of a day between them. If, however, he experienced a discharge during the day and another, on the following night, they are linked together. Needless to say, if he experienced one discharge at night and the second, on the following day, that they are linked together. Similarly, if he experienced three discharges, one on each of three consecutive nights, they are linked together.
ח
ואם הפסיק הזב בין ראייה לראייה יום גמור אינן מצטרפות כיצד ראה ראייה בשבת וראייה שנייה בשני בשבת אינן מצטרפות ואינו זב וכן אם ראה ראייה שנייה באחד בשבת וראה ראייה שלישית בשלישי בשבת אינו חייב בקרבן שאין זו מצטרפת לשתים שהרי הפסיק ביניהן יום אחד אבל אם ראה אחת היום ואחת בלילה שלאחריו הרי אלו מצטרפות ואין צריך לומר שאם ראה אחת בלילה ושנייה ביום שהן מצטרפות וכן אם ראה שלש ראיות בשלשה לילות זה אחר זה הרי אלו מצטרפות:
9
There is no minimum measure for the discharge of a zav. Instead, even a discharge of the slightest size renders him impure, as Leviticus 15:3 states: "or whether it seals his flesh." Implied is any discharge that is apparent on his flesh renders him as ritually impure.
ט
ראיית הזב אין לה שיעור אלא הרואה כל שהוא טמא שנאמר החתים בשרו כל שהוא ניכר בבשרו מטמא:
10
The following rules apply when a zav discharge flowed without interruption for an extended time. If the time that elapsed from the beginning of the discharge until its end was as long as it takes to immerse oneself and dry or longer, it is considered as two discharges, because it takes as long a time as two would. If it did not take that long, even if it ceased in the middle, and he had a second discharge within that time period, it is considered as one discharge.
Similarly, if one discharge lasted the amount of time that three discharges would take - i.e., from its beginning to its end, there was enough time for a man to immerse himself and dry himself twice - it is considered as three discharges and he must bring a sacrifice.
י
היה הזוב נגרר ויוצא ולא פסק אם יש מתחלת הראייה עד סופה כדי טבילה וספוג או יתר הרי זו נחשבת כשתי ראיות הואיל והיא ארוכה כשתים ואם לא היתה ארוכה כשיעור הזה אפילו פסק הזוב בינתיים הרי זו ראייה אחת וכן אם היתה ראייה אחת ארוכה כשלש ראיות שנמצא מתחילתה ועד סופה כשתי טבילות ושני ספוגין הרי זו נחשבת כשלש ראיות ויביא קרבן:
11
If a person experienced a discharge during the day, it ceased for the amount of time it takes to immerse and dry oneself and afterwards, he experienced another two discharges or one discharge that lasts as long as two or if he experienced two discharges or one discharge that lasts as long as two, and then it ceased for the amount of time it takes to immerse and dry oneself and afterwards, he experienced another discharge, he is a zav in a full sense.
יא
ראה ראייה אחת ביום והפסיק כדי טבילה וספוג ואח"כ ראה שתים או אחת ארוכה כשתים או שראה שתים או אחת מרובה כשתים והפסיק כדי טבילה וספוג ואחר כך ראה ראייה אחת הרי זה זב גמור:
12
A discharge is considered as two discharges even though it did not last for the time two discharges last, if part of it was experienced at the end of the day and part at the beginning of the night. The rationale is that the change of dates divides the discharge as it were, and causes it to be considered as two.
Therefore if a man experiences a discharge bein hashamashamot concerning which there is an unresolved doubt whether it is considered as day or as night, there is an unresolved doubt whether he is impure.
יב
ראה ראייה אחת מקצתה בסוף היום ומקצתה בתחילת הלילה אף על פי שאינה ארוכה כשתים הרי אלו שתי ראיות שהימים מחלקין הראייה לפיכך הרואה ראייה אחת בין השמשות שהוא ספק מן היום ומן הלילה הרי זה ספק לטומאה:
13
If a man experiences one discharge during the day and another bein hashamashot, he has definitely contracted the impurity of a zav, but there is an unresolved doubt whether he must bring a sacrifice. He must bring a set of doves as sacrifices, but the sin-offering is not eaten.
יג
ראה ראייה אחת ביום ואחת בין השמשות הרי זה ודאי לטומאה וספק לקרבן ומביא קרבן ואינו נאכל:
14
If a person experienced a discharge during bein hashamashot on the night of the Sabbath and another discharge on the night following the Sabbaththere is an unresolved doubt whether he contracted zav impurity and there is an unresolved doubt whether he is obligated for a sacrifice.
There is an unresolved doubt whether he has contracted zav impurity, for perhaps the first discharged took place on Friday and the second on Saturday night. Thus the Sabbath intervened between them and there is no concept of zav impurity at all. And there is an unresolved doubt whether he is obligated to bring a sacrifice, for perhaps one of them took place, partially during the day and partially during the night, in which instance, it is considered as two. Thus he would have experienced three discharges and would be liable for a sacrifice. Therefore he brings a sacrifice, but it is not eaten.
יד
[ראה] ראייה אחת בין השמשות [של שבת] וראייה שנייה בין השמשות של מוצאי שבת הרי זה ספק לטומאה וספק לקרבן ספק לטומאה שמא ראייה ראשונה היתה בערב שבת ושנייה במוצאי שבת והרי הפסיק שבת ביניהן ואין כאן זיבות כלל והרי הוא ספק לקרבן שמא אחת מהן היתה מקצתה ביום ומקצתה בלילה שהיא חשובה כשתים והרי ראה שלש ראיות שהוא חייב בקרבן ולפיכך מביא קרבן ואינו נאכל:
• English Text | Video Class"Today's Day"
Monday Iyar 5, 20th day of the omer 5703Torah lessons: Chumash: Emor, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 29-34.
Tanya: Such is the (p. 241)...love of the king. (p. 241).
The Alter Rebbe received the following teaching from the tzadik Reb Mordechai, who had heard it from the Baal Shem Tov: A soul may descend to this world and live seventy or eighty years,1 in order to do a Jew a material favor, and certainly a spiritual one.
FOOTNOTES
1. See Tehillim 90:10.
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Daily Thought
Keep the Windows Open
Our souls are the windows through which the world is filled with light, pores through which it breathes, channels to its supernal source.
There is no function more vital to our universe, nothing more essential to its fulfillment, since for this it was formed.
When we do good, speak words of kindness and teach wisdom, those windows open wide.
When we fail, they cloud over and shut tight.
Such a shame, this loss of light, this lost breath of fresh air! A stain can be washed away, but a moment of life, how can it be returned?[Iggeret HaTeshuva, chapter 1. V’Avraham Zaken, 5738.]
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TODAY IN JUDAISM: Sunday, April 30, 2017 - Chabad.org In New York, New York, United States - Today in Judaism - Today is: Sunday, Iyar 4, 5777 · April 30, 2017 - Omer: Day 19 - Hod sheb'Tifferet
Today's Laws & Customs
• Count "Twenty Days to the Omer" Tonight
Tomorrow is the twentieth 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 twenty days, which are two weeks and six 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: Yesod sheb'Tifferet -- "Connection in Harmony"
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."
Links:
How to count the Omer
The deeper significance of the Omer Count
Today in Jewish History
• Maimonides Saved (1165)
The 4th of Iyar was observed by Maimonides (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, 1135-1204) as a personal day of fasting and prayer. Maimonides recounts that when he and his family were fleeing Islamic persecution from Fez, Morocco to the Holy Land, their ship was caught in a fierce storm at sea. He cried out to G-d in prayer and vowed to fast each year on this date.
Daily Quote
Delve and delve into [the Torah], for all is in it; see with it; grow old and worn in it; do not budge from it, for there is nothing better[Ethics of the Fathers, 5:21]
Daily Study
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Acharei-Kedoshim, 1st Portion Leviticus 16:1-16:24 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation | Video ClassLeviticus Chapter 16
1And the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron's two sons, when they drew near before the Lord, and they died. אוַיְדַבֵּ֤ר יְהוָֹה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה אַֽחֲרֵ֣י מ֔וֹת שְׁנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י אַֽהֲרֹ֑ן בְּקָרְבָתָ֥ם לִפְנֵֽי־יְהוָֹ֖ה וַיָּמֻֽתוּ:
And the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron’s two sons: What does this teach us [when it specifies “after the death of Aaron’s two sons”]? Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah illustrated [the answer] with a parable of a patient, whom a physician came to visit. [The physician] said to him, “Do not eat cold foods, and do not lie down in a cold, damp place.” Then, another [physician] visited him, and advised him, “Do not eat cold foods or lie down in a cold, damp place, so that you will not die the way so-and-so died.” This one warned that patient more effectively than the former. Therefore, Scripture says, “after the death of Aaron’s two sons” [i.e., God effectively said to Aaron, “Do not enter the Holy in a prohibited manner, so that you will not die as your sons died”]- [Torath Kohanim 16:3] וידבר ה' אל משה אחרי מות שני בני אהרן וגו': מה תלמוד לומר, היה רבי אלעזר בן עזריה מושלו משל לחולה שנכנס אצלו רופא. אמר לו אל תאכל צונן ואל תשכב בטחב. בא אחר ואמר לו אל תאכל צונן ואל תשכב בטחב שלא תמות כדרך שמת פלוני. זה זרזו יותר מן הראשון, לכך נאמר אחרי מות שני בני אהרן:
2And the Lord said to Moses: Speak to your brother Aaron, that he should not come at all times into the Holy within the dividing curtain, in front of the cover that is upon the ark, so that he should not die, for I appear over the ark cover in a cloud. בוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה דַּבֵּר֘ אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֣ן אָחִ֒יךָ֒ וְאַל־יָבֹ֤א בְכָל־עֵת֙ אֶל־הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ מִבֵּ֖ית לַפָּרֹ֑כֶת אֶל־פְּנֵ֨י הַכַּפֹּ֜רֶת אֲשֶׁ֤ר עַל־הָֽאָרֹן֙ וְלֹ֣א יָמ֔וּת כִּ֚י בֶּֽעָנָ֔ן אֵֽרָאֶ֖ה עַל־הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת:
And the Lord said to Moses: Speak to your brother Aaron, that he should not come [at all times into the Holy]: so that he should not die the way his sons died. — [Torath Kohanim 16:3] ויאמר ה' אל משה דבר אל אהרן אחיך ואל יבא: שלא ימות כדרך שמתו בניו:
so that he should not die: for if he does enter, he will die. — [Torath Kohanim 16:3] ולא ימות: שאם בא הוא מת:
for I appear…in a cloud: “For I continuously appear there with My pillar of cloud, and therefore, since My Divine Presence is revealed there, he must be careful not to accustom himself to enter.” This is its simple meaning. Our Rabbis, however, interpreted [it as follows]: He shall not come except with the cloud of incense on Yom Kippur. - [Yoma 53a] כי בענן אראה: כי תמיד אני נראה שם עם עמוד ענני. ולפי שגלוי שכינתי שם, יזהר שלא ירגיל לבא, זהו פשוטו. ומדרשו לא יבא כי אם בענן הקטרת ביום הכיפורים:
3With this shall Aaron enter the Holy: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. גבְּזֹ֛את יָבֹ֥א אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן אֶל־הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ בְּפַ֧ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֛ר לְחַטָּ֖את וְאַ֥יִל לְעֹלָֽה:
with this: בְּזֹאת. Its gematria [numerical value] is 410, an allusion to [the number of years that] the first Temple [would stand when the kohanim were righteous like Aaron, and it was as if Aaron lived all these years and entered the Holy of Holies]. - [Vayikra Rabbah 21:9] בזאת: גימטריא שלו ארבע מאות ועשר, רמז לבית ראשון:
With this shall Aaron enter [the Holy]: And even [with] this, not at all times, but [only] on Yom Kippur, as is specified at the end of this section (verse 29 below),“in the seventh month, on the tenth of the month…” [i.e., the tenth of Tishri, namely, Yom Kippur]. בזאת יבא אהרן וגו': ואף זו לא בכל עת, כי אם ביום הכיפורים, כמו שמפורש בסוף הפרשה (פסוק כט) בחדש השביעי בעשור לחודש:
4He shall wear a holy linen shirt and linen pants shall be upon his flesh, and he shall gird himself with a linen sash and wear a linen cap these are holy garments, [and therefore,] he shall immerse himself in water and don them. דכְּתֹֽנֶת־בַּ֨ד קֹ֜דֶשׁ יִלְבָּ֗שׁ וּמִכְנְסֵי־בַד֘ יִֽהְי֣וּ עַל־בְּשָׂרוֹ֒ וּבְאַבְנֵ֥ט בַּד֙ יַחְגֹּ֔ר וּבְמִצְנֶ֥פֶת בַּ֖ד יִצְנֹ֑ף בִּגְדֵי־קֹ֣דֶשׁ הֵ֔ם וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֛יִם אֶת־בְּשָׂר֖וֹ וּלְבֵשָֽׁם:
[He shall wear a…] linen shirt…: [By enumerating only the four garments of an ordinary kohen, Scripture] informs [us] that [the Kohen Gadol] does not perform the service inside [i.e., in the Holy of Holies] wearing the eight garments with which he performs the service outside [the Holy of Holies (see Exod. Chap. 28)], for those [garments] contain gold, and a prosecutor cannot become a defender. [I.e., since the Kohen Gadol enters the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur to effect atonement for all Israel, he may not enter wearing gold, reminiscent of the golden calf]. Instead, [he wears] four garments, like an ordinary kohen, all of which are [made] of linen. — [R. H. 26a] כתנת בד וגו': מגיד שאינו משמש לפנים בשמונה בגדים שהוא משמש בהם בחוץ, שיש בהם זהב, לפי שאין קטיגור נעשה סניגור, אלא בארבעה, ככהן הדיוט, וכולן של בוץ:
He shall wear a holy [linen shirt…]: i.e., these garments shall be [purchased] from the Temple treasury. - [Torath Kohanim 16:13] קדש ילבש: שיהיו משל הקדש:
and wear: Heb. יִצְנֹף, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders it: יָחֵית בְּרֵישֵׁיהּ, he shall place on his head. This is similar to “So she placed (וַתַּנַּח) his garment” (Gen. 39:16), [which Onkelos renders:] וְאַחְתְתֵהּ. יצנף: כתרגומו יחית ברישיה, יניח בראשו, כמו (בראשית לט טז) ותנח בגדו ואחתתיה:
he shall immerse in water: On that day he was required to immerse himself every time he changed [his garments]. And [in total, the Kohen Gadol] changed his garments five times [when transferring] from the service inside [the Holy of Holies] to the service outside, and from outside to inside, changing from golden garments to white garments, and from white garments to golden garments. And at every change [of garments], he was required to immerse in a mikvah [once] and to sanctify his hands and feet twice [by washing his hands in the water] from the washstand [i.e., once when removing the garments he wore and a second time when he donned the next set of garments]. — [Yoma 32a] ורחץ במים: אותו היום טעון טבילה בכל חליפותיו. וחמש פעמים היה מחליף מעבודת פנים לעבודת חוץ ומחוץ לפנים, ומשנה מבגדי זהב לבגדי לבן ומבגדי לבן לבגדי זהב, ובכל חליפה טעון טבילה ושני קדושי ידים ורגלים מן הכיור:
5And from the community of the children of Israel, he shall take two he goats as a sin offering, and one ram as a burnt offering. הוּמֵאֵ֗ת עֲדַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יִקַּ֛ח שְׁנֵֽי־שְׂעִירֵ֥י עִזִּ֖ים לְחַטָּ֑את וְאַ֥יִל אֶחָ֖ד לְעֹלָֽה:
6And Aaron shall bring his sin offering bull, and initiate atonement for himself and for his household. ווְהִקְרִ֧יב אַֽהֲרֹ֛ן אֶת־פַּ֥ר הַֽחַטָּ֖את אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ וְכִפֶּ֥ר בַּֽעֲד֖וֹ וּבְעַ֥ד בֵּיתֽוֹ:
his sin-offering bull: That is the one mentioned above (verse 3). And [Scripture’s reference to “his”] teaches you here that [this bull] had to be [purchased] from Aaron’s own money, rather than from public funds. — [Torath Kohanim 16:19; Yoma 3b] את פר החטאת אשר לו: האמור למעלה. ולמדך כאן שמשלו הוא בא, ולא משל צבור:
and initiate atonement…for himself and for his household: [i.e., over this bull,] he confesses his own sins and those of his household. — [Torath Kohanim 16:20; Yoma 36b] וכפר בעדו ובעד ביתו: מתודה עליו עונותיו ועונות ביתו:
7And he shall take the two he goats, and place them before the Lord at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. זוְלָקַ֖ח אֶת־שְׁנֵ֣י הַשְּׂעִירִ֑ם וְהֶֽעֱמִ֤יד אֹתָם֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
8And Aaron shall place lots upon the two he goats: one lot "For the Lord," and the other lot, "For Azazel." חוְנָתַ֧ן אַֽהֲרֹ֛ן עַל־שְׁנֵ֥י הַשְּׂעִירִ֖ם גֹּֽרָל֑וֹת גּוֹרָ֤ל אֶחָד֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה וְגוֹרָ֥ל אֶחָ֖ד לַֽעֲזָאזֵֽל:
And Aaron shall place lots upon the two he-goats: He would place one [he-goat] on his right and one on his left. Then, he would insert both his hands into an urn [which contained two lots, one bearing the inscription “to the Lord” and the other “to Azazel.” These lots were mixed up, and Aaron, with both hands inside the urn] took one lot in his right hand and the other in his left hand, and he would place them upon them [the he-goats]: [The one] upon which [he placed the lot] with the inscription “to the Lord,” would be for God, while the one upon which [he placed the lot] with the inscription “to Azazel,” would be sent off to Azazel. — [Yoma 39a] ונתן אהרן על שני השעירים גרלות: מעמיד אחד לימין ואחד לשמאל, ונותן שתי ידיו בקלפי ונוטל גורל בימין וחברו בשמאל, ונותן עליהם, את שכתוב בו לשם הוא לשם, ואת שכתוב בו לעזאזל משתלח לעזאזל:
Azazel: This is a strong and hard mountain, [with] a high cliff, as the Scripture says [in describing Azazel] (verse 22 below),“a precipitous land (אֶרֶץ גְּזֵרָה),” meaning a cut-off land [i.e., a sheer drop]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:28; Yoma 67b] עזאזל: הוא הר עז וקשה, צוק גבוה, שנאמר (פסוק כב) ארץ גזרה, חתוכה:
9And Aaron shall bring the he goat upon which the lot, "For the Lord," came up, and designate it as a sin offering. טוְהִקְרִ֤יב אַֽהֲרֹן֙ אֶת־הַשָּׂעִ֔יר אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָלָ֥ה עָלָ֛יו הַגּוֹרָ֖ל לַֽיהוָֹ֑ה וְעָשָׂ֖הוּ חַטָּֽאת:
and designate it as a sin-offering: When he places the lot upon it, he designates it by calling it [a sin-offering], saying, “To the Lord-a sin-offering”. — [Yoma 39a] ועשהו חטאת: כשמניח הגורל עליו קורא לו שם ואומר לה' חטאת:
10And the he goat upon which the lot "For Azazel" came up, shall be placed while still alive, before the Lord, to [initiate] atonement upon it, and to send it away to Azazel, into the desert. יוְהַשָּׂעִ֗יר אֲשֶׁר֩ עָלָ֨ה עָלָ֤יו הַגּוֹרָל֙ לַֽעֲזָאזֵ֔ל יָֽעֳמַד־חַ֛י לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֹ֖ה לְכַפֵּ֣ר עָלָ֑יו לְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֹת֛וֹ לַֽעֲזָאזֵ֖ל הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה:
while still alive: [is to be understood] like יָעֳמַד חַי [i.e., the word יָעֳמַד is in the hof’al conjugation, which is a passive form, meaning that the goat] was “stood up by others.” [Thus,] the Targum translates it as, יִתָּקַם כַּד חַי, “shall be stood up while alive.” And what does the verse teach us when it says “alive?” Since it says: “to send it away to Azazel,” and we do not know whether it was to be sent away to be killed or to remain alive. Therefore, Scripture says, “shall be placed while still alive,” [meaning that] it is to be placed while still alive [and shall remain alive only] until it is sent away. From here, we learn that it was sent away to its death. — [Torath Kohanim 16:26] יעמד חי: כמו יעמד חי על ידי אחרים, ותרגומו יתקם כד חי. מה תלמוד לומר חי, לפי שנאמר לשלח אותו לעזאזל, ואיני יודע שילוחו אם למיתה אם לחיים, לכך נאמר יעמד חי, עמידתו חי עד שישתלח, מכאן ששילוחו למיתה:
to [initiate] atonement: [lit., “to effect atonement upon it,” here meaning] that he is to confess upon it, as Scripture says, “and confess upon it….” (verse 21 below). - [Torath Kohanim 16:27; Yoma 40b] לכפר עליו: שיתודה עליו, כדכתיב (פסוק כא) והתודה עליו וגו':
11And Aaron shall bring his sin offering bull, and shall [initiate] atonement for himself and for his household, and he shall [then] slaughter his sin offering bull. יאוְהִקְרִ֨יב אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־פַּ֤ר הַֽחַטָּאת֙ אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ וְכִפֶּ֥ר בַּֽעֲד֖וֹ וּבְעַ֣ד בֵּית֑וֹ וְשָׁחַ֛ט אֶת־פַּ֥ר הַֽחַטָּ֖את אֲשֶׁר־לֽוֹ:
…and shall [initiate] atonement for himself: This is a second confession [i. e., besides that stated in verse 6 above for himself and his household], and is for himself [again] and for his brothers, the kohanim, all of whom are called “his household,” as the verse says, “O house of Aaron, bless the Lord,” (Ps. 135:19). From here, we see that [all] the kohanim receive atonement through this [sin-offering bull of the Kohen Gadol] (Torath Kohanim 16:29; Shev. 13b) And all its atonement is exclusively for defiling the Sanctuary and its holy things, [e.g., if a kohen forgot that he was unclean and entered the Sanctuary or ate sacrifices], as the verse says, “And he shall effect atonement upon the Holy, from the defilements [of the children of Israel]” (verse 16 below). - [Shev. 14a] וכפר בעדו וגו': וידוי שני עליו ועל אחיו הכהנים, שהם כלם קרוים ביתו, שנאמר (תהלים קלה יט) בית אהרן ברכו את ה' וגו', מכאן שהכהנים מתכפרים בו, וכל כפרתן אינה אלא על טומאת מקדש וקדשיו, כמו שנאמר (פסוק טז) וכפר על הקדש מטומאות וגו':
12And he shall take a pan full of burning coals from upon the altar, from before the Lord, and both hands' full of fine incense, and bring [it] within the dividing curtain. יבוְלָקַ֣ח מְלֹֽא־הַ֠מַּחְתָּ֠ה גַּֽחֲלֵי־אֵ֞שׁ מֵעַ֤ל הַמִּזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וּמְלֹ֣א חָפְנָ֔יו קְטֹ֥רֶת סַמִּ֖ים דַּקָּ֑ה וְהֵבִ֖יא מִבֵּ֥ית לַפָּרֹֽכֶת:
from upon the altar: [referring to] the outside altar. — [Yoma 45b] מעל המזבח: החיצון:
from before the Lord: From the side [of the altar] that is before the entrance [to the Holy], namely, the western side [of the altar]. — [Yoma 45b] מלפני ה': מצד שלפני הפתח והוא צד מערבי:
fine: Heb. דַּקָּה. But what does Scripture teach us here, when it says [that the incense had to be] fine? Was not all incense fine, as Scripture says [regarding the spices], “And you shall crush some of it finely” (Exod. 30:36)? Rather, [Scripture is telling us here that this incense] was to be the finest of the fine, for on the eve of Yom Kippur, they would return [already crushed incense] to the mortar [in order to crush it even finer, for use on Yom Kippur]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:34; Keritot 6b] דקה: מה תלמוד לומר דקה, והלא כל הקטורת דקה היא, שנאמר (שמות ל לו) ושחקת ממנה הדק, אלא שתהא דקה מן הדקה, שמערב יום הכפורים היה מחזירה למכתשת:
13And he shall place the incense upon the fire, before the Lord, so that the cloud of the incense shall envelope the ark cover that is over the [tablets of] Testimony, so that he shall not die. יגוְנָתַ֧ן אֶת־הַקְּטֹ֛רֶת עַל־הָאֵ֖שׁ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְכִסָּ֣ה | עֲנַ֣ן הַקְּטֹ֗רֶת אֶת־הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־הָֽעֵד֖וּת וְלֹ֥א יָמֽוּת:
[And he shall place the incense] upon the fire: that is inside the pan. על האש: שבתוך המחתה:
so that he shall not die: Hence, if [the Kohen Gadol] did not make it according to its formula, he would be liable to death. — [Torath Kohanim 16:35; Yoma 53a] ולא ימות: הא אם לא עשאה כתקנה, חייב מיתה:
14And he shall take some of the bull's blood and sprinkle [it] with his index finger on top of the ark cover on the eastern side; and before the ark cover, he shall sprinkle seven times from the blood, with his index finger. ידוְלָקַח֙ מִדַּ֣ם הַפָּ֔ר וְהִזָּ֧ה בְאֶצְבָּע֛וֹ עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַכַּפֹּ֖רֶת קֵ֑דְמָה וְלִפְנֵ֣י הַכַּפֹּ֗רֶת יַזֶּ֧ה שֶֽׁבַע־פְּעָמִ֛ים מִן־הַדָּ֖ם בְּאֶצְבָּעֽוֹ:
and sprinkle [it] with his index finger: One sprinkling is meant. והזה באצבעו: הזאה אחת במשמע:
and before the [ark] cover, he shall sprinkle seven [times]: Thus, once above and seven times below. — [Torath Kohanim 16:41; Yoma 55a] ולפני הכפרת יזה שבע: הרי אחת למעלה ושבע למטה:
15He shall then slaughter the he goat of the people's sin offering and bring its blood within the dividing curtain, and he shall do with its blood as he had done with the bull's blood, and he shall sprinkle it upon the ark cover and before the ark cover. טווְשָׁחַ֞ט אֶת־שְׂעִ֤יר הַֽחַטָּאת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָעָ֔ם וְהֵבִיא֙ אֶת־דָּמ֔וֹ אֶל־מִבֵּ֖ית לַפָּרֹ֑כֶת וְעָשָׂ֣ה אֶת־דָּמ֗וֹ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשָׂה֙ לְדַ֣ם הַפָּ֔ר וְהִזָּ֥ה אֹת֛וֹ עַל־הַכַּפֹּ֖רֶת וְלִפְנֵ֥י הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת:
the people’s [sin-offering he-goat]: For what the bull atones for the kohanim [namely, defilements of the Sanctuary and its holy things], the he-goat atones for the Israelites, and this goat was the one upon which the lot “For the Lord” had fallen. - [Yoma 61a] אשר לעם: מה שהפר מכפר על הכהנים מכפר השעיר על ישראל, והוא השעיר שעלה עליו הגורל לשם:
as he had done with the bull’s blood: [namely, sprinkling it] once above and seven times below. — [Torath Kohanim 16:41; Yoma 55a] כאשר עשה לדם הפר: אחת למעלה ושבע למטה:
16And he shall effect atonement upon the Holy from the defilements of the children of Israel and from their rebellions and all their unintentional sins. He shall do likewise to the Tent of Meeting, which dwells with them amidst their defilements. טזוְכִפֶּ֣ר עַל־הַקֹּ֗דֶשׁ מִטֻּמְאֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמִפִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם לְכָל־חַטֹּאתָ֑ם וְכֵ֤ן יַֽעֲשֶׂה֙ לְאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד הַשֹּׁכֵ֣ן אִתָּ֔ם בְּת֖וֹךְ טֻמְאֹתָֽם:
from the defilements of the children of Israel-: [i.e., atoning] for those who, while in [a state of] uncleanness, had entered the Sanctuary, and it never became known to them [that they had been unclean], for it says: לְכָל חַטֹּאתָם, חַטָּאַת denotes an unintentional sin. — [Torath Kohanim 16:42; Shev. 17b] מטמאת בני ישראל: על הנכנסין למקדש בטומאה ולא נודע להם בסוף, שנאמר לכל חטאתם, וחטאת היא שוגג:
and from their rebellions: [i.e., atoning] also [for] those who, in a state of uncleanness, willfully entered [the Sanctuary, thereby defiling it]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:42; Shev. 17b] ומפשעיהם: אף הנכנסין מזיד בטומאה:
He shall do likewise to the Tent of Meeting: i.e., just as he had sprinkled from [the blood of] both [the bull and the he-goat] inside [the Holy of Holies, with] one sprinkling above and seven below, so shall he sprinkle from [the blood of] both [the bull and the he-goat] on the dividing curtain from the outside once above and seven times below. — [Torath Kohanim 16:43; Yoma 56b] וכן יעשה לאהל מועד: כשם שהזה משניהם בפנים אחת למעלה ושבע למטה, כך מזה על הפרוכת מבחוץ משניהם אחת למעלה ושבע למטה:
which dwells with them, [even] amidst their defilements: Although they are unclean, the Divine Presence is among them. — [Torath Kohanim 16:43; Yoma 56b] השכן אתם בתוך טמאתם: אף על פי שהם טמאים שכינה ביניהם:
17And no man shall be in the Tent of Meeting when he comes to effect atonement in the Holy, until he comes out. And he shall effect atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. יזוְכָל־אָדָ֞ם לֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה | בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֗ד בְּבֹא֛וֹ לְכַפֵּ֥ר בַּקֹּ֖דֶשׁ עַד־צֵאת֑וֹ וְכִפֶּ֤ר בַּֽעֲדוֹ֙ וּבְעַ֣ד בֵּית֔וֹ וּבְעַ֖ד כָּל־קְהַ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
18And he shall then go out to the altar that is before the Lord and effect atonement upon it: He shall take some of the bull's blood and some of the he goat's blood, and place it on the horns of the altar, around. יחוְיָצָ֗א אֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִפְנֵֽי־יְהוָֹ֖ה וְכִפֶּ֣ר עָלָ֑יו וְלָקַ֞ח מִדַּ֤ם הַפָּר֙ וּמִדַּ֣ם הַשָּׂעִ֔יר וְנָתַ֛ן עַל־קַרְנ֥וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ סָבִֽיב:
to the altar that is before the Lord: This is the golden altar, which is “before the Lord” in the heichal [i.e., in the Temple, it was in the heichal , was the equivalent of the Holy in the Mishkan]. And [since the Kohen Gadol was to remain inside the Holy for the next procedure,] what does Scripture mean when it says, “And he shall then go out?” Since he had just performed the blood sprinklings on the dividing curtain, standing on the inner side of the altar to sprinkle [i.e., between the altar and the dividing curtain], for the applications on the altar, [Scripture] required him to “go out” to the outer side of the altar and to begin with the north-eastern corner. — [Torath Kohanim 16:45; Yoma 58b. See Mizrachi , Gur Aryeh. Also Chavel, who asserts that, according to the Reggio edition of Rashi, the Kohen Gadol did not stand beyond the altar, but alongside it, from where he commenced to apply the blood from the north-eastern corner.] אל המזבח אשר לפני ה': זה מזבח הזהב שהוא לפני ה' בהיכל. ומה תלמוד לומר ויצא, לפי שהזה ההזאות על הפרוכת ועמד מן המזבח ולפנים והזה, ובמתנות המזבח הזקיקו לצאת מן המזבח ולחוץ, ויתחיל מקרן מזרחית צפונית:
and effect atonement upon it: And what is the [procedure that effects the] atonement? [As the verse continues:] “He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the he-goat’s blood,” one mingled with the other. — [Torath Kohanim 16:46; Yoma 57b] וכפר עליו: ומה היא כפרתו, ולקח מדם הפר ומדם השעיר, מעורבין זה לתוך זה:
19He shall then sprinkle some of the blood upon it with his index finger seven times, and he shall cleanse it and sanctify it of the defilements of the children of Israel. יטוְהִזָּ֨ה עָלָ֧יו מִן־הַדָּ֛ם בְּאֶצְבָּע֖וֹ שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֑ים וְטִֽהֲר֣וֹ וְקִדְּשׁ֔וֹ מִטֻּמְאֹ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
He shall then sprinkle some of the blood upon it: After he has applied the blood with his index finger on its horns, he shall then sprinkle seven sprinklings on its top. והזה עליו מן הדם: אחר שנתן מתנות באצבעו על קרנותיו, מזה שבע הזאות על גגו:
and he shall cleanse it: from any [defilements] that had occurred in the past, וטהרו: ממה שעבר:
and sanctify it: for the future. — [Torath Kohanim 16:48] [According to Mizrachi, this means that now that the altar had been purified from past defilements, care would be taken not to defile this now pure altar. Maskil LeDavid explains that, after the altar was cleansed of its previous defilements, it had to be resanctified for future use. This the Kohen Gadol would effect. Raavad explains that, by cleansing it of its defilements, he would sanctify it for future use.] וקדשו: לעתיד לבא:
20And he shall finish effecting atonement for the Holy, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, and then he shall bring the live he goat. כוְכִלָּה֙ מִכַּפֵּ֣ר אֶת־הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וְאֶת־אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד וְאֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וְהִקְרִ֖יב אֶת־הַשָּׂעִ֥יר הֶחָֽי:
21And Aaron shall lean both of his hands [forcefully] upon the live he goat's head and confess upon it all the willful transgressions of the children of Israel, all their rebellions, and all their unintentional sins, and he shall place them on the he goat's head, and send it off to the desert with a timely man. כאוְסָמַ֨ךְ אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֣י יָדָ֗יו (כתיב ידו) עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַשָּׂעִיר֘ הַחַי֒ וְהִתְוַדָּ֣ה עָלָ֗יו אֶת־כָּל־עֲוֹנֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־כָּל־פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם לְכָל־חַטֹּאתָ֑ם וְנָתַ֤ן אֹתָם֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַשָּׂעִ֔יר וְשִׁלַּ֛ח בְּיַד־אִ֥ישׁ עִתִּ֖י הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה:
with a timely man: Heb. אִישׁ עִתִּי, one who had been prepared for this from the day before. — [Torath Kohanim 16:60; Yoma 32a] איש עתי: המוכן לכך מיום אתמול:
22The he goat shall thus carry upon itself all their sins to a precipitous land, and he shall send off the he goat into the desert. כבוְנָשָׂ֨א הַשָּׂעִ֥יר עָלָ֛יו אֶת־כָּל־עֲוֹנֹתָ֖ם אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ גְּזֵרָ֑ה וְשִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־הַשָּׂעִ֖יר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר:
23And Aaron shall enter the Tent of Meeting and remove the linen garments that he had worn when he came into the Holy, and there, he shall store them away. כגוּבָ֤א אַֽהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וּפָשַׁט֙ אֶת־בִּגְדֵ֣י הַבָּ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָבַ֖שׁ בְּבֹא֣וֹ אֶל־הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וְהִנִּיחָ֖ם שָֽׁם:
And Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting: Our Rabbis stated (Torath Kohanim 16:60; Yoma 32a) that this is not the [correct chronological] place for this verse, and they gave a reason for this in Tractate Yoma (32a). And they said: “This whole passage is in correct chronological order, except for this entry, for this followed the performance of his burnt offering and the people’s burnt offering, and the burning of the sacrificial parts of the bull and the he-goat, which were performed outside [the Holy of Holies, with the Kohen Gadol attired] in golden garments. Then he would immerse himself, sanctify [his hands and feet with water from the washstand], remove them [his golden garments], don his white garments”- ובא אהרן אל אהל מועד: אמרו רבותינו, שאין זה מקומו של מקרא זה, ונתנו טעם לדבריהם במסכת יומא (דף לב א) ואמרו כל הפרשה כולה אמורה על הסדר, חוץ מביאה זו, שהיא אחר עשיית עולתו ועולת העם והקטרת אימורי פר ושעיר שנעשים בחוץ בבגדי זהב, וטובל ומקדש ופושטן ולובש בגדי לבן:
and…shall come into the Tent of Meeting: to take out the spoon and the pan, with which he had caused the incense to go up in smoke in the inner Holy. [Then,] ובא אל אהל מועד: להוציא את הכף ואת המחתה שהקטיר בה הקטרת לפני ולפנים:
[Aaron shall…] remove the linen garments: After he took them [the spoon and the pan] out, and then he would don his golden garments the afternoon תָּמִיד [i.e., the daily burnt offering sacrificed twice every day]. The following, [therefore,] is the order of the services: 1) The morning תָּמִיד in golden garments; 2) the service involving the bull and he-goat whose blood was sprinkled inside [the Holy] and the incense procedure [with the burning coals] in the pan, in white garments. 3) Then, his ram, the people’s ram and some of the additional sacrifices [of the day (see Num. 29:7-11)] in golden garments; 4) then, the removal of the spoon and the pan in white garments; 5) the remainder of the additional sacrifices, the afternoon תָּמִיד, and the incense procedure in the heichal upon the inner altar in golden garments. Hence, the [chronological] sequence of the verses, corresponding to [the chronological order of] the services is as follows: (Verse 22), “and he shall send off the he-goat into the desert”; then (verse 24),“And he shall immerse his flesh…He shall then go out and sacrifice his burnt offering…”; then (verse 25),“the fat of the sin-offering…”; then the remainder of this passage, up till (verse 26),“And after this, he may come into the camp”; only then [comes our verse 23 into the chronological sequence,] “And Aaron shall enter [the Tent of Meeting, and remove the linen garments],” ופשט את בגדי הבד: אחר שהוציאם ולובש בגדי זהב לתמיד של בין הערבים. וזהו סדר העבודות תמיד של שחר בבגדי זהב, ועבודת פר ושעיר הפנימים וקטרת של מחתה בבגדי לבן, ואילו ואיל העם ומקצת המוספין בבגדי זהב, והוצאת כף ומחתה בבגדי לבן, ושעירי [ושיירי] המוספין ותמיד של בין הערבים וקטורת ההיכל שעל מזבח הפנימי בבגדי זהב. וסדר המקראות לפי סדר העבודות כך הוא ושלח את השעיר במדבר, ורחץ את בשרו במים וגו' ויצא ועשה את עולתו וגו' ואת חלב החטאת וגו'. וכל הפרשה עד ואחרי כן יבא אל המחנה, ואחר כך ובא אהרן:
and there, he shall store them away: This teaches [us] that they require being stored away [forever], and he shall not use those four garments for any other Yom Kippur. — [Torath Kohanim 16:61; Yoma 12b] והניחם שם: מלמד שטעונין גניזה, ולא ישתמש באותן ארבעה בגדים ליום כפורים אחר:
24And he shall immerse his flesh in a holy place and don his garments. He shall then go out and sacrifice his burnt offering and the people's burnt offering, and he shall effect atonement for himself and for the people. כדוְרָחַ֨ץ אֶת־בְּשָׂר֤וֹ בַמַּ֨יִם֙ בְּמָק֣וֹם קָד֔וֹשׁ וְלָבַ֖שׁ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֑יו וְיָצָ֗א וְעָשָׂ֤ה אֶת־עֹֽלָתוֹ֙ וְאֶת־עֹלַ֣ת הָעָ֔ם וְכִפֶּ֥ר בַּֽעֲד֖וֹ וּבְעַ֥ד הָעָֽם:
And he shall immerse his flesh…: Above (see Rashi verse 4), we learned from “he shall immerse in water and then don them,” that when he changes from golden garments to white garments, he is required to immerse himself, for with that immersion, he removed the golden garments, with which he had performed the service of the morning תָּמִיד, and subsequently changed into white garments, to perform the service of the day (see verse 4). Here, we learn that when he changes from white garments to golden garments, he [also] is required to immerse [in a mikvah]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:60; Yoma 32a] ורחץ את בשרו וגו': למעלה למדנו מורחץ את בשרו ולבשם (פסוק ד), שכשהוא משנה מבגדי זהב לבגדי לבן טעון טבילה, שבאותה טבילה פשט בגדי זהב שעבד בהן עבודת תמיד של שחר ולבש בגדי לבן לעבודת היום, וכאן למדנו שכשהוא משנה מבגדי לבן לבגדי זהב טעון טבילה:
in a holy place: sanctified with the [degree of] holiness of the Courtyard [of the Holy Temple], and it was on the roof of [a chamber in the Holy Temple, called] Beth HaParvah. And so were [all] four immersions which were obligatory for the day, except for the very first immersion, which was performed in an unsanctified [place because this immersion, in preparation to sacrifice the morning תָּמִיד, took place every day and was not, therefore, specific to the Yom Kippur service]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:62; Yoma 30a] במקום קדוש: המקודש בקדושת עזרה והיא היתה בגג בית הפרוה, וכן ארבע טבילות הבאות חובה ליום, אבל הראשונה היתה בחול:
and don his garments: [meaning “his” regular] eight garments, in which he officiates all the days of the year. ולבש את בגדיו: שמנה בגדים שהוא עובד בהן כל ימות השנה:
He shall then go out: of the heichal, to the Courtyard in which the altar for burnt offerings was located. ויצא: מן ההיכל אל החצר שמזבח העולה שם:
and sacrifice his burnt offering: namely, the ram for a burnt offering, stated above (verse 3), [when Scripture says there,] “Aaron shall come with this…,” ועשה את עלתו: איל לעולה האמור למעלה (פסוק ג) בזאת יבא אהרון וגו':
and the people’s burnt offering: namely, “and one ram for a burnt offering,” stated above (verse 5), [when Scripture says,] “And from the community of the children of Israel….” ואת עלת העם: ואיל אחד לעולה האמור למעלה (פסוק ה) ומאת עדת בני ישראל וגו':Tehillim: Chapters 23 - 28
• Hebrew text
• English textChapter 23
When King David was in the forest of Cheret and nearly died of starvation, God provided nourishment for him with a taste of the World to Come. David then composed this psalm, describing the magnitude of his trust in God.
1. A psalm by David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing.
2. He lays me down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.
3. He revives my soul; He directs me in paths of righteousness for the sake of His Name.
4. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff-they will comfort me.
5. You will prepare a table for me before my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup is full.
6. Only goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord for many long years.
Chapter 24
If the fulfillment of one's prayer would result in the sanctification of God's Name, he should pray that God act for the sake of the holiness of His Name. One should also invoke the merit of his ancestors, for we know that "the righteous are greater in death than in life"
1. By David, a psalm. The earth and all therein is the Lord's; the world and its inhabitants.
2. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers.
3. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord, and who may stand in His holy place?
4. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not used My Name in vain or sworn falsely.
5. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and kindness from God, his deliverer.
6. Such is the generation of those who search for Him, [the children of] Jacob who seek Your countenance forever.
7. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, eternal doors, so the glorious King may enter.
8. Who is the glorious King? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, mighty in battle.
9. Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them up, eternal doors, so the glorious King may enter.
10. Who is the glorious King? The Lord of Hosts, He is the glorious King for all eternity.
Chapter 25
The verses in this psalm are arranged according to the alphabet, excluding the letters Bet, Vav, and Kuf, which together equal the numerical value of Gehenom (purgatory). One who recites this psalm daily will not see the face of purgatory.
1. By David. To You, Lord, I lift my soul.
2. My God, I have put my trust in You. May I not be put to shame; may my enemies not gloat over me.
3. Indeed, may all who hope in You not be put to shame; let those who act treacherously without reason be shamed.
4. O Lord, make Your ways known to me; teach me Your paths.
5. Train me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I yearn for You all day.
6. O Lord, remember Your mercies and Your kindnesses, for they have existed for all time.
7. Do not recall the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; remember me in accordance with Your kindness, because of Your goodness, O Lord.
8. Good and upright is the Lord, therefore He directs sinners along the way.
9. He guides the humble with justice, and teaches the humble His way.
10. All the paths of the Lord are kindness and truth for those who observe His covenant and testimonies.
11. For the sake of Your Name, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12. Whoever is a God-fearing man, him will He teach the path that he should choose.
13. His soul will abide in well-being, and his descendants will inherit the earth.
14. The secret of the Lord is to those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.
15. My eyes are always turned to the Lord, for He releases my feet from the snare.
16. Turn to me and be compassionate to me, for I am alone and afflicted.
17. The sufferings of my heart have increased; deliver me from my hardships.
18. Behold my affliction and suffering, and forgive all my sins.
19. See how numerous my enemies have become; they hate me with a violent hatred.
20. Guard my soul and deliver me; may I not be put to shame, for I place my trust in You.
21. Let integrity and uprightness guard me, for my hope is in You.
22. Redeem Israel, O God, from all its afflictions.
Chapter 26
In this psalm King David inundates God with prayers and acts of piety, because he envies those who are his spiritual superiors, saying, "If only I were on their level of piety and virtue!"
1. By David. Judge me, O Lord, for in my innocence I have walked, and in the Lord I have trusted-I shall not falter.
2. Try me, O Lord, and test me; refine my mind and heart.
3. For Your kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked constantly in Your truth.
4. I did not sit with men of falsehood, and with hypocrites I will not mingle.
5. I detested the company of evildoers, and with the wicked I will not sit.
6. I wash my hands in purity, and circle Your altar, O Lord,
7. to give voice to thanks, and to recount all Your wonders.
8. I love the shelter of Your House, O Lord, and the place where Your glory resides.
9. Gather not in my soul with sinners, nor my life with men of bloodshed,
10. In whose hands are schemes, and whose right hand is filled with bribes.
11. But I walk in my innocence; redeem me and show me favor.
12. My foot stands on level ground; in assemblies I will bless the Lord.
Chapter 27
King David acknowledges and praises God, placing his trust in Him because of his victories in war. "Nevertheless, it is not wars that I desire, for I cannot gain perfection with them. Only one thing do I ask: to abide day and night in the study hall studying Torah, to gain perfection so that my soul may merit the life of the World to Come."
1. By David. The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life-whom shall I dread?
2. When evildoers approached me to devour my flesh, my oppressors and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
3. If an army were to beleaguer me, my heart would not fear; if war were to arise against me, in this I trust1
4. One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I seek: that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the pleasantness of the Lord, and to visit His Sanctuary.
5. For He will hide me in His tabernacle on a day of adversity; He will conceal me in the hidden places of His tent; He will lift me upon a rock.
6. And then my head will be raised above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of jubilation; I will sing and chant to the Lord.
7. Lord, hear my voice as I call; be gracious to me and answer me.
8. In Your behalf my heart says, "Seek My countenance"; Your countenance, Lord, I seek.
9. Do not conceal Your countenance from me; do not cast aside Your servant in wrath. You have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, God of my deliverance.
10. Though my father and mother have forsaken me, the Lord has taken me in.
11. Lord, teach me Your way and lead me in the path of righteousness, because of my watchful enemies.
12. Do not give me over to the will of my oppressors, for there have risen against me false witnesses, and they speak evil.
13. [They would have crushed me] had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14. Hope in the Lord, be strong and let your heart be valiant, and hope in the Lord.
FOOTNOTES
1.I trust that “the lord is my light and salvation” etc. (Rashi)
Chapter 28
A prayer for every individual, entreating God to assist him in walking the good path, to prevent him from walking with the wicked doers of evil, and that He repay the wicked for their wickedness and the righteous for their righteousness.
1. By David. I call to You, O Lord; my Strength, do not be deaf to me; for should You be silent to me, I will be like those who descend to the pit.
2. Hear the sound of my pleas when I cry out to You, when I raise my hands toward Your holy Sanctuary.
3. Do not draw me along with the wicked, with evildoers who speak of peace with their companions, though evil is in their heart.
4. Give them according to their deeds, and the evil of their endeavors; give them according to their handiwork, render to them their just desserts.
5. For they pay no heed to the acts of the Lord, nor to the work of His hands; may He destroy them and not rebuild them.
6. Blessed is the Lord, for He has heard the voice of my pleas.
7. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusted and I was helped; my heart exulted, and with my song I praised Him.
8. The Lord is a strength to them; He is a stronghold of deliverance to His anointed.
9. Grant salvation to Your people and bless Your heritage; tend them and exalt them forever.
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 44
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Positive Commandment 72
The "Adjustable" Sin Offering
"And if a person sins... he shall bring his guilt offering... but if he cannot afford..."—Leviticus 5:1.
The following individuals have to bring an "Adjustable" Sin Offering (Korban Oleh V'yored) for their transgressions:
Full text of this Mitzvah »
The "Adjustable" Sin Offering• English Text: Lessons in Tanya
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Today's Tanya Lesson
Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 44
ואף אם נדמה לו לכאורה שהוא כח דמיוני
Even if it appears to him at first sight that this is an illusion, and that in truth he does not possess this love for G‑d, and thinking that he does is nothing less than deluding himself as to his true spiritual status,
לא יחוש, מאחר שהוא אמת לאמיתו מצד עצמו בבחינת אהבה מסותרת
he need not be concerned, because it is intrinsically the absolute truth even without his own spiritual service, by virtue of the “hidden love” which his soul possesses for G‑d.
רק שתועלת יציאתה אל הגילוי: כדי להביאה לידי מעשה
But the benefit derived from the spiritual service through which he effects its emergence into the open is that he should translate it into action, and when his love is in a state of concealment it cannot affect his actions.
שהוא עסק התורה והמצות שלומד ומקיים על ידי זה, כדי לעשות נחת רוח לפניו יתברך, כבן העובד את אביו
This means being occupied with the Torah and the mitzvot, which he studies and performs as a result of it,i.e., as a result of revealing this love, with the intention of causing gratification to G‑d, like a son serving his father, who does so in order to cause him gratification.
Since the revelation of this love leads in fact to increased performance, he should not be troubled by the fact that he may be deluding himself in thinking that he possesses this love when in actuality he does not — particularly since his soul does truly love G‑d.
ועל זה אמרו: מחשבה טובה, הקב״ה מצרפה למעשה, להיות גדפין לפרחא כנ״ל
Concerning this it was said that1 “a good thought is joined by the Holy One, blessed be He, to a deed,” providing it with the “wings” to soar upwards, as explained earlier, in ch. 16.
“A good thought is joined... to a deed” cannot simply mean that when one thinks about doing a good deed and then, through no fault of his own, he is unable to do it, G‑d considers it as if he had actually done it. For if this were so the expression should be, “A good thought is considered by G‑d as an actual deed.” Rather, the term “joined to” indicates that the deed was actually done, but that the thought and deed were unconnected. G‑d, in His goodness, therefore connects the thought and the deed.
When a love of G‑d is revealed within one’s heart, there is an actual connection between the thought and the deed, for the revealed love adds vitality to the performance of the deed.
However, when love of G‑d is not revealed in one’s heart and is limited to one’s mind, it is considered to be a “good thought” that is not connected to a deed. Thus when one understands that something ought to be done, but he has no love for it, then the deed will be performed without fervor.
It is therefore necessary for G‑d to connect the “good thought” with the deed, thereby ensuring that the “good thought” — the love and fear of G‑d in his mind — will elevate the Torah and mitzvot which result from it, to the world and level of the “good thought.”
והנחת רוח הוא כמשל שמחת המלך מבנו שבא אליו בצאתו מבית האסורים כנ״ל
The gratification he provides G‑d is akin, by way of the illustration used earlier,2 to the joy of a king whose son returns to him after liberation from captivity;
When the soul, G‑d’s child, is clothed in the body and animal soul, it is in a state of captivity. Through Torah and mitzvot it is liberated from this captivity and is joined with G‑d. This causes Him a joy similar to that experienced by the mortal king in the analogy.
או להיות לו דירה בתחתונים כנ״ל
or G‑d’s gratification may be from the fact that it has been made possible for Him to have a habitation among mortals, as already mentioned.
Thus, the love which is “like a son who strives for the sake of his father” can be revealed by habituating oneself (with his tongue and voice) to arouse the intention of heart and mind. The Alter Rebbe soon goes on to explain, that the love of “My soul, I desire You” may also be revealed and awakened through habitually speaking about it, when one does so in a manner where the heart will feel that G‑d is his true life, the “Life of life.”
והנה גם לבחינת נפשי אויתיך הנ״ל, קרוב הדבר מאד להוציאה מההעלם אל הגילוי על ידי ההרגל תמיד, בפיו ולבו שוין
Even in regard to the above-mentioned love, of the category of “My soul, I desire You,” it is readily possible to bring it out of its concealment into the open through constant practice, with mouth and heart in full accord, so that one’s heart should feel what his mouth utters, about G‑d’s being his true life.3
אך אם אינו יכול להוציאה אל הגילוי בלבו, אף על פי כן יכול לעסוק בתורה ומצות לשמן על ידי ציור ענין אהבה זו במחשבה שבמוחו, ומחשבה טובה, הקב״ה מצרפה כו׳
However, even if he cannot bring it (the love) into a revealed state in his heart, nevertheless he can occupy himself because of this love in the Torah and mitzvot “for their own sake” through portraying the idea of this love in his mind — and “a good thought is united by G‑d....”
It is therefore possible for his Torah and mitzvot to be elevated to the Supernal Sefirot just as if he had fulfilled them with a love revealed in his heart.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Kiddushin 40a. |
| 2. | Chs. 31, 41. |
| 3. | Earlier on, when the Alter Rebbe speaks of the two types of love — “My soul...” and “Like a son...” — he first explains the former love and then the latter. Here, however, when he speaks of the revelation of these kinds of love through “the voice rousing the devout concentration of the heart and mind,” he discusses them in opposite order. He begins by discussing at length that “it should be habitual with his tongue and voice...for He is literally our true Father.” Only later does he briefly state that “even in regard to the...love of...’My soul...,‘ it is readily possible to bring it out of its concealment... through constant practice, with mouth and heart in full accord.” Moreover, the Alter Rebbe immediately follows this with, “However, even if he cannot bring it into a revealed state in his heart....” All the above seems to indicate that the “voice rousing the devout concentration of the heart and mind” is more applicable to the love of “Like a son...” than “My soul....” The Rebbe explains why this is so. To quote: “[The love of ’Like a son...‘] necessitates that it become one’s nature to perceive that He is our Father — an intellectual and emotional concept, unconnected with physicality. It is therefore more readily understood that arousing the kavanah (through one’s voice) will be beneficial. [The love of ’My soul...,‘ by contrast,] necessitates that it become one’s nature to perceive that G‑dliness is his very life. It would seem that if his body fails to feel this (as he does feel the life of his soul — when exhausted, and so on), what benefit will be derived from the spiritual intention of the heart?” |
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Positive Commandment 72
The "Adjustable" Sin Offering
"And if a person sins... he shall bring his guilt offering... but if he cannot afford..."—Leviticus 5:1.
The following individuals have to bring an "Adjustable" Sin Offering (Korban Oleh V'yored) for their transgressions:
- One who contracted a cardinal ritual impurity and inadvertently entered the Holy Temple.
- One who contracted a cardinal ritual impurity and inadvertently consumed sacrificial flesh.
- One who swore to do, or not to do, a certain act, and inadvertently violated his vow.
- One who was called by his fellow to testify on his behalf and falsely swore that he had not what to testify.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Positive Commandment 72
Translated by Berel Bell
The 72nd mitzvah is that in the case of certain transgressions, we are commanded to bring an offering of adjustable value.
The transgressions which require one to bring such a sacrifice are: tumas mikdash, tumas kodshav, taking a false oath (sh'vuas bitui) and swearing falsely that one does not know any testimony (sh'vuas ha'eidus).
In a case of tumas mikdash, when one became tameh through a prime source of tumah (av hatumah) — as we explained in our introduction to SederTaharos,1 — and entered the Holy Temple unintentionally; or tumas kodshav, when one ate sacrificial meat unintentionally [when he was in a state of tumah]; or when one swore a sh'vuas bitui2 and unintentionally did not fulfill one's promise; or when one swore a false sh'vuas ha'eidus,3 whether unintentionally or on purpose — in any of these cases one must bring an offering of adjustable value.
This commandment derives from G‑d's statement4 (exalted be He), "If a person sins by hearing an oath [to testify, and he does not do so]...or a person who touches anything which is tameh [and then eats something sanctified or enters a sanctified area] not realizing...[and he later discovers that he has committed a violation]; or a person who makes a verbal oath...and then forgets about it...when he is guilty [in any of these cases]...he must bring his guilt-offering...and if he cannot afford [a sheep, he shall bring two birds]...and if he cannot afford [two birds, he shall bring a meal-offering]...."
This is why it is called [an offering of] adjustable value: because it doesn't have a designated species, but the offering is sometimes brought from one species and sometimes from another species — according to the financial ability of the one who transgressed and must bring the offering.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in tractate Kerisus5 and in tractate Shavuos.6
FOOTNOTES
1.In the Rambam's commentary to the Mishneh.
2.Such as, "I swear to eat meat tomorrow." If the person did not eat meat on that following day, his oath was not fulfilled.
3.Denying that he witnessed a certain event when, in fact, he did witness it.
4.Lev. 5:1-11.
5.10b.
6.7a.
• 1 Chapter: Sechirut Sechirut - Chapter 7
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1
Just as a person may make any stipulation that he desires with regard to a purchase or a sale; so, too, may he make any stipulation he desires with regard to a rental. For a rental is a sale for a limited amount of time.
Whenever a person's sale of his property is upheld, the rental of his property will also be upheld. Conversely, when a person is not granted power to sell his property, he may not rent out that property. The only exception is when all he owns is the right to the produce of the property. In such an instance, he may rent out the property, but he may not sell it.
א
כשם שמתנה אדם כל תנאי שירצה במקח וממכר כך מתנה בשכירות שהשכירות מכירה לזמן קצוב היא וכל שממכרו בנכסיו ממכר שוכר שכירותו שכירות וכל שאין לו למכור כך אין לו לשכור אלא א"כ יש לו פירות בלבד באותה הקרקע הרי זה שוכר ואינו מוכר:
2
When a person rents out a house to a colleague for a year, and a leap year
is declared, the extra month is granted to the tenant. If, by contrast, the agreement is made according to months, the extra month is granted to the owner.
If the rental agreement mentions both months and years, the extra month is granted to the owner. This applies regardless of whether the owner said: "A dinar every month, twelve dinarim a year," or "Twelve dinarim a year, a dinar every month." The rationale is that the land is in the possession of its owner and we may not expropriate anything from the owner of the land without a clear proof.
Similarly, when the owner of a home says: "I rented out the house for a specific time," and the tenant says: "I rented it without any specifics," or "for a longer period," the renter must prove his claim. If he does not prove his claim, the owner may support his claim with a sh'vuat hesset and have the tenant removed from the home.
ב
המשכיר בית לחבירו לשנה ונתעברה השנה נתעברה לשוכר השכיר לחדשים נתעברה למשכיר הזכיר לו חדשים ושנה בין שאמר לו דינר לחדש י"ב דינר בשנה בין שאמר לו שנים עשר דינר לשנה דינר בכל חדש הרי חדש העיבור של משכיר שהקרקע בחזקת בעלים ואין מוציאין דבר מיד בעל הקרקע אלא בראיה ברורה וכן בעה"ב שאמר לזמן זה השכרתי לך והשוכר אומר לא שכרתי אלא סתם או לזמן ארוך על השוכר להביא ראיה ואם לא הביא בעה"ב נשבע היסת ומוציאו מן הבית:
3
The following rules apply when the tenant claims: "I paid the rent that I was obligated for the house," and the owner claims: "I have yet to collect it." The same rules apply whether the agreement was recorded in a contract or observed by witnesses.
If the owner demands payment within 30 days of the beginning of the rental, the burden of proof is on the renter. Alternatively, he must pay. He may then have a ban of ostracism issued against anyone who took money from him. Or the tenant may lodge a suit against the owner for the money he originally gave him as a separate claim and require the owner to take a sh'vuat hesset.
If the owner demanded payment after 30 days passed or even on the thirtieth day, the owner must bring proof that he was not paid. Otherwise, the tenant may take an oath that he already paid him the rent and thus be released from any obligation.
Similarly, if when the tenant rented the property, he stipulated that he would pay him the rent annually - if the owner demands payment within the year, the tenant is obligated to bring proof that he already paid. If he demands payment after the year - even if he demands payment on the twenty-ninth day of Elul - the owner is obligated to bring proof that he was not paid.
ג
השוכר שאמר נתתי שכר הבית שנתחייבתי בו והמשכיר אומר עדיין לא נטלתי בין שהיתה בשטר בין שהיתה בעדים אם תבעו בתוך שלשים יום על השוכר להביא ראיה או יתן ויחרים על מי שלקח ממנו או יטעון עליו בדמים שנתן תחלה טענה בפני עצמה וישביעהו היסת תבעו המשכיר לאחר שלשים יום ואפילו ביום הל' על המשכיר להביא ראיה או ישבע השוכר שכבר נתן לו שכרו ויפטר וכן אם שכר ממנו ופירש שיתן לו השכר שנה בשנה ותבעו בתוך השנה על השוכר להביא ראיה תבעו לאחר השנה ואפילו ביום תשעה ועשרים באלול על המשכיר להביא ראייה:
4
The following rules apply when a person rents out a house to a colleague for ten years, has a rental contract composed, but does not date that contract. If the tenant claims: "Only one year passed from the time the document was composed," but the owner claims: "The entire period of the rental agreement has passed, and you have dwelled in the house for ten years," the tenant is required to bring proof to support his claim. If he does not do so, the owner may take a sh'vuat hesset and compel him to leave the dwelling.
ד
המשכיר בית לחבירו בשטר לעשר שנים ואין בו זמן השוכר אומר עדיין לא עבר מזמן השטר אלא שנה והמשכיר אומר כבר עברו ושלמו שני השכירות ושכנת עשר שנים על השוכר להביא ראיה ואם לא הביא ראיה ישבע המשכיר היסת ויוציאו:
5
The following rules apply when a person rents an orchard - or it was entrusted to him as security - for ten years and it dries up. The tenant should sell the trees, purchase land with the proceeds, and benefit from the produce of that land until the conclusion of the rental contract or the period for which the security was entrusted. As a safeguard against the violation of the prohibition against taking interest, both the owner of the orchard - the borrower and the creditor are prohibited against taking the trees themselves that became dried out or were cut down.
ה
השוכר פרדס או שהיה משכון בידו לי' שנים ויבש הפרדס בתוך הזמן ימכרו עציו וילקח בהן קרקע ויאכל פירותיו עד סוף זמן שכירותו או זמן המשכון וגוף האילנות שיבשו או נקצצו שניהן אסורין בהן משום רבית המלוה והלוה:
6
The following rules apply when a contract for rental or security mentions "years" without stating the number of years. If the tenant claims that the agreement was for three years, and the owner of the land claims that it was for two years, and the renter - or the creditor - came and made use of the produce of the third year, we assume that the produce belonged to the person who made use of it unless the owner of the land brings proof that this is not so.
A difficulty could arise if the tenant or the creditor derived benefit from the property for three years and the legal record became misplaced. If he said: "I am entitled to the produce for five years," and the owner of the land says, "The agreement was only for three," we tell the concerned parties: "Show the legal record."
If the owner says: "It was lost," the tenant's claim is accepted, for if he would have claimed that he had purchased it, his claim would also be accepted since he derived benefit from it for three years.
ו
שטר השכירות או שטר המשכון שכתוב בה שנים סתם בעל הפירות אומר ג' ובעל הקרקע אומר שנים וקדם זה השוכר או המלוה ואכל הפירות הרי הפירות בחזקת אוכליהן עד שיביא בעל הקרקע ראיה אכלה השוכר או הממשכן שלש שנים וכבש השטר ואמר לחמש שנים יש לי פירות ובעל הקרקע אומר שלש אמרו לו הבא שטרך ואמר אבד השוכר נאמן שאילו רצה אמר לקוחה היא בידי שהרי אכלה שלש שנים:
7
The following rules apply when a person brings his produce into his colleague's property without his consent or beguiled him into allowing him to bring in his produce and then left it and departed. The owner of the property may sell that produce in order to pay for workers to take it away and bring it to the market place.
It is pious conduct for the owner of the property to notify the court and rent a storage place with part of the funds in order to prevent the destruction of his colleague's property, even if that colleague acted in an improper manner.
ז
מי שהכניס פירותיו לבית חבירו שלא מדעתו או שהטעוהו עד שהכניס פירותיו והניחם והלך יש לבעל הבית למכור לו מאותן הפירות כדי ליתן שכר הפועלים שמוציאין אותן ומשליכין אותם לשוק ומדת חסידות הוא שיודיע לבית דין וישכירו ממקצת דמיהן מקום משום השב אבידה לבעלים אף על פי שלא עשה כהוגן:
8
The following rules apply when a person rents a mill from a colleague on the condition that the renter will grind 20 se'ah of grain for the owner every month as rent and afterwards, the owner of the mill became wealthy. Since he no longer needs to have his grain ground there he asks the renter to pay him the equivalent of the wage he would earn for grinding the 20 se'ah.
If the renter has wheat of his own or of others that he can grind instead, we compel him to pay the owner the wage he receives for grinding 20 se'ah. Not to pay him would be an expression of the qualities of Sodom. If the renter does not have wheat of his own or customers, he may tell the owner: "I don't have the funds. I am prepared to grind grain for you, as stated in the rental agreement. If you don't need this, sell the ground wheat to others." Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ח
השוכר ריחיים מחבירו שיטחון לו כ' סאה בכל חדש בשכרו והעשיר בעל הריחיים והרי אינו צריך לטחון שם אם יש לשוכר חטים שצריך לטחון לעצמו או לאחרים כופין אותו ליתן דמי טחינת כ' סאה שזו מדת סדום היא ואם אין לו יכול לומר אין לי דמים והריני טוחן לך כמו ששכרתי ואם אין אתה צריך מכור לאחרים וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
• 3 Chapters: Shegagot Shegagot - Perek 12, Shegagot Shegagot - Perek 13, Shegagot Shegagot - Perek 14
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Shegagot - Perek 12
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class"Today's Day"
Sunday Iyar 4, 19th day of the omer 5703Torah lessons: Chumash: Emor, first parsha with Rashi.
Tehillim: 23-28.
Tanya: Ch. 46. There is yet (p. 241)...love for him. (p. 241).
It is a Jewish custom not to shave or cut a baby boy's hair until his third birthday.
The first haircutting or opsherenish of a baby boy is a Jewish custom of great importance. The essence of the custom is the educational act of leaving (uncut) the peyot (sidelocks). From the day of the haircutting and leaving the peyot it is the custom to take particular care in accustoming the little boy to wear a tallit katan, to recite the early-morning b'rachot, the grace after meals (birkat hamazon p. 89) and the bedtime sh'ma (p. 118).
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Daily Thought
Fire Burning Fire
Life is fire. It can burn with the angst of survival in a hostile world. Or it can be harnessed to consume all fear.
Stop, contemplate, meditate and pray. Fan a fire of love and awe for the One that transcends this world.
One fire swallows another and you are set free. Liberated from your fears, you face the world no longer as its slave, but as its master.[Tanya, chapter 3. Bati Legani 5710:2.]
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1
The following rule applies with regard to every transgression for which an individual is obligated to bring a fixed sin-offering. If the High Court inadvertently erred in their ruling and ruled that a forbidden substance is permitted and as a result of their ruling, the people erred inadvertently and acted in transgression of the prohibition, while relying on the ruling of the court, and afterwards, the court discovered that they had erred, the court is obligated to bring a sin-offering for their erroneous ruling. Even if the judges themselves did not perform a deed in violation of the prohibition, they must bring this sacrifice. For we do not consider the deeds of the judges at all, what they did or did not do, only their ruling. The remainder of the people are exempt from bringing a sacrifice as individuals, even though they performed the transgression, because they relied on the court.
Which sacrifice do they bring for this erroneous ruling? If their erroneous ruling concerned the worship of false deities, they must bring a bull as a burnt-offering and a goat as a sin-offering from every tribe. This is the sacrifice referred to in Parshat Shelach Lecha, which states Numbers 15:24: "If due to the seers of the congregation, a transgression was erroneously violated...." According to the Oral Tradition, it was taught that this is referring to an erroneous ruling concerning the worship of false deities.
If they ruled erroneously with regard to other transgressions punishable by karet for which a fixed sin-offering is brought for their inadvertent violation, every tribe must bring a bull as a sin-offering. This sacrifice is mentioned in Parshat Vayikra which states Leviticus 4:3: "If the entire congregation of Israel shall inadvertently err...."
Thus we have learned that if the High Court rules erroneously with regard to the worship of false deities, the entire congregation bring twelve bulls as burnt-offerings and twelve goats as sin-offerings. They are burnt, because their blood is taken into the inner chamber. They are called the goats offered because of the worship of false deities.
If they ruled erroneously with regard to other mitzvot, they bring twelve bulls as sin-offerings and they are burnt, because their blood is taken into the inner chamber. Each one of the bulls is called a bull brought due to a lapse of awareness by the congregation, as ibid.:14 states: "And the congregation shall offer...," i.e., every congregation. Every tribe is referred to as a congregation, as II Chronicles 20:5 states: "And Yehoshefat stood in the congregation of Judah."
A bull is brought for every tribe - and for the worship of false deities, a bull and a goat are brought for every tribe whether the entire Jewish people in Eretz Yisrael transgressed because of the ruling of the court, the majority of the Jewish people transgressed even though they comprised only a lesser portion of the tribes, or the majority of the tribes transgressed, even though they comprise a lesser portion of the entire Jewish people. Even those tribes who did not transgress bring because of the transgressors. Even if only one tribe transgressed, but it constituted the majority of the congregation, the entire congregation bring twelve bulls, and for the worship of false deities, twelve bulls and twelve goats.
א
כל דבר שחייבין על שגגתו חטאת קבועה אם שגגו בית דין הגדול בהוראה והורו להתירו ושגגו העם בהוראתן ועשו העם והם סומכין על הוראתן ואח"כ נודע לבית דין שטעו הרי בית דין חייבין להביא קרבן חטאת על שגגתן בהוראה ואף על פי שלא עשו הן בעצמן מעשה שאין משגיחין על עשיית בית דין כלל בין עשו בין לא עשו אלא על הוראתן בלבד ושאר העם פטורין מן הקרבן ואע"פ שהם העושין מפני שתלו בבית דין ומה הוא הקרבן שמביאין על שגגה זו אם בע"ז שגגו והורו מביאין פר לעולה ושעיר לחטאת מכל שבט ושבט וקרבן זה הוא האמור בפרשת שלח לך שנאמר והיה אם מעיני העדה נעשתה לשגגה מפי השמועה למדו שבשגגת ע"ז הוא מדבר ואם בשאר כריתות שחייבין על שגגתן חטאת קבועה שגגו והורו מביא כל שבט ושבט פר חטאת וזהו האמור בפרשת ויקרא שנאמר ואם כל עדת ישראל ישגו:
נמצאת למד שאם שגגו בית דין הגדול בהוראה בע"ז מביאין כל הקהל שנים עשר פרים עולות ושנים עשר שעירים חטאות והם נשרפות שהרי דמן נכנס לפנים והם הנקראין שעירי ע"ז ואם בשאר המצות שגגו מביאין שנים עשר פרים חטאות והן נשרפות מפני שדמם נכנס לפנים וכל פר מהן נקרא פר העלם דבר של צבור שנאמר והקריב הקהל כל קהל וקהל וכל שבט ושבט קרוי קהל שנאמר ויעמד יהושפט בקהל יהודה בין שעשו כל ישראל שבארץ ישראל על פי בית דין שהורו בין שעשו רוב ישראל אף על פי שהן מיעוט מנין השבטים בין שעשו רוב השבטים אע"פ שהן מיעוט כל ישראל מביאין כמנין כל השבטים פר לכל שבט ושבט ובע"ז פר ושעיר לכל שבט ושבט שאף אלו שלא חטאו מביאיןע"יהחוטאים אפילו עשה שבט אחד בלבד והוא רוב הקהל הרי כל הצבור מביאין שנים עשר פרים ובע"ז שנים עשר פרים ושנים עשר שעירים:
2
When the court is in doubt whether or not they ruled erroneously concerning a matter, they are not required to bring a provisional guilt-offering, as implied by Leviticus 4:14: "And the sin becomes known," i.e. only when the matter becomes known to them are they liable for a sacrifice, as will be explained.
When does the concept that the court is liable for a sacrifice and those who act upon their ruling are exempt apply? When the following conditions are met:
a) when those who deliver the ruling are the High Court of 71 judges;
b) when the head of the academy, participates in the ruling with them;
c) when they are all fit to deliver rulings;
d) when all - or the majority - of them err in the ruling they delivered;
e) that they rule explicitly and tell the people: "You are permitted to do this"; similarly those who heard from the court must have told others: "You are permitted to do this"; and the majority of the people or all of them must act because of their ruling;
f) those who commit the transgression must act in error because of them, thinking that the court ruled according to law;
g) they must rule to negate part of a commandment, but to preserve part of it, but not to displace the entire commandment; h) when they become aware of their error, they must know the precise matter concerning which they ruled erroneously.
When all of these conditions are met, the court is liable to bring a sacrifice and those who act upon their rulings are exempt. If, however, one of these conditions is not met, the court is exempt from the sacrifice and anyone who unknowingly performed a transgression must bring a fixed sin-offering for his inadvertent transgression.
ב
בית דין שנסתפק להן אם שגגו בהוראה או לא שגגו אינן חייבין באשם תלוי שנאמר ונודעה החטאת עד שתוודע ואחר כך יתחייבו בקרבן כמו שיתבאר במה דברים אמורים שבית דין חייבין ואלו העושים על פיהם פטורין מן הקרבן כשהיו המורים בית דין הגדול של שבעים ואחד ויהיה ראש ישיבה עמהן בהוראה ויהיו כולן ראויין להוראה ויטעו כולן או רובן בדבר זה שהורו בו ויורו בפירוש ויאמרו לעם מותרין אתם לעשות וכן אלו ששמעו מפי בית דין אם אמרו לאחרים מותרים אתם לעשות ויעשו כל הקהל או רובו על פיהם ויהיו העושים שוגגים על פיהם ומדמים שהדבר שהורו בו כדת הורו ויורו לבטל מקצת ולקיים מקצת לא שיעקרו כל הגוף וכשיודע להם ידעו גופו של דבר שהורו בו בשגגה בכל אלו המאורעים הוא שהיו בית דין חייבין בקרבן והעושה על פיהם פטור אבל אם חסר אחת מכל אלו הדרכים הרי בית דין פטורין מן הקרבן וכל מי ששגג ועשה מעשה מביא חטאת קבועה על שגגתו:
Shegagot - Perek 13
1
What is meant by the statement that if one of the conditions mentionedthe court will be exempt and the transgressors liable?
If the court of one of the tribes ruled that the fat of the stomach is permitted and the people of that locale ate it as a result of these statements, that court is exempt and all of those who partook of it must bring a fixed sin-offering for his inadvertent transgression.
Similarly, if the High Court ruled that the blood that collects in the heart is permitted, but the head of the academy was not with them one of them was not fit to be appointed to the Sanhedrin, e.g., he was a convert, a bastard, an old man, childless, or the like, and the people acted on their ruling and partook of the blood that collects in the heart, the court is exempt and all of those who partook of it must bring a fixed sin-offering for his inadvertent transgression.
What is the source that teaches that the verse is referring only to the High Court? Leviticus 4:13 states: "If the entire congregation of Israel shall inadvertently err...." What is the source that teaches that all must be fit to deliver rules? Numbers 15:40: "If the seers of the congregation....," i.e., you must regard them as seers, and Numbers 35:24 states:"And the congregation shall judge." Just as the term "congregation" used in reference to capital cases must be comprised entirely of judges fit to render judgment, so too, the term "congregation," used in reference to this inadvertent violation must be comprised only of judges fit to render judgment.
Similarly, if the court issued a ruling and one of them knew that they erred and protested: "You are making an error," but those who sought to permit the matter outnumbered him and permitted it, the court is exempt and all of those who acted on their ruling must bring a fixed sin-offering for his inadvertent transgression, as Leviticus, op. cit. states: "If the entire congregation of Israel shall inadvertently err...," i.e., the entire Sanhedrin.
If one or a lesser part of the Sanhedrin knew that those who sought to permit the matter erred, but he or they remained silent, since the ruling was issued, and there was no dissenting view, and the ruling was disseminated among the entire people, the court is liable and all of those who acted on their ruling are exempt. If those who remained silent act upon the court's ruling, they are liable for a sin-offering, because they did not rely on the court.
Similarly, if the court debated the issue and stated "This matter is permitted," but did not issue a ruling and did not explicitly tell them: "You are permitted to act in this manner," and a person heard their decision that the matter is permitted and went and acted according to what he heard, anyone who performs a transgression is liable for a fixed sin-offering, The court is exempt, for it did not issue a specific ruling to act.
Similarly, if they issued a ruling and the lesser portion of the congregation acted according to their ruling and the error became known, the court is exempt and the lesser portion of the people who acted upon their directive must bring a sin-offering.
א
כיצד אם חסר אחת מכל הדרכים שביארנו יפטרו בית דין ויתחייבו העושים הרי שהורו בית דין של אחד מן השבטים להם שחלב הקיבה מותר ואכלוהו אנשי מקומם על פיהם אותו בית דין פטורין וכל מי שאכל מביא חטאת קבועה על שגגתו וכן אם הורו בית דין הגדול שדם הלב מותר ולא היה ראש ישיבה עמהן או שהיה אחד מהן אינו ראוי להיות ממונה בסנהדרין כגון שהיה גר או ממזר או זקן או שלא ראה בנים וכיוצא בהן ועשו העם על פיהם ואכלו דם הלב הרי בית דין פטורין וכל מי שאכל מביא חטאת קבועה על שגגתו ומנין שאין הכתוב מדבר אלא בבית דין הגדול שנאמר ואם כל עדת ישראל ישגו וגו' ומנין שעד שיהיו כולן ראויין להוראה שנאמר ואם מעיני העדה עד שיהיו להם כעינים ולהלן הוא אומר ושפטו העדה מה העדה האמורה בדיני נפשות כולן ראויין להוראה אף עדה האמורה בשגגה זו עד שיהיו כולן ראויין להוראה וכן אם הורו וידע אחד מהן שטעו ואמר להם טועים אתם ורבו עליו המתירים והתירו הרי בית דין פטורין וכל מי שעשה על פיהם חייב להביא חטאת קבועה על שגגתו שנאמר ואם כל עדת ישראל ישגו עד שישגו כל הסנהדרין:
ידע אחד מן הסנהדרין או מיעוטן שטעו המתירין ושתקו הואיל והורו ולא היה שם חולק ופשטה ההוראה ברוב הקהל הרי בית דין חייבין בקרבן וכל שעשה על פיהם פטור ואלו ששתקו אם עשו על פי אלו שהורו הרי אלו חייבין מפני שלא תלו בבית דין וכן אם נשאו ונתנו בדבר ואמרו דבר זה מותר הוא ולא הורו לעם ולא אמרו להם מותרין אתם לעשות ושמע השומע מהן בעת שגמרו מותר והלך ועשה כפי מה ששמע הרי כל העושה חייב חטאת קבועה ובית דין פטורין שהרי לא הורו להם בפירוש לעשות וכן אם הורו ועשו מיעוט הקהל על פיהם ונודעה השגגה הרי בית דין פטורין ואלו המיעוט שעשו חייבין וכל אחד ואחד מביא חטאתו:
2
When the members of the Sanhedrin themselves act according to their ruling they are not counted when determining if a majority followed their ruling. Instead, the majority must be comprised of others aside from the members of the Sanhedrin.
If the majority of the inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael acted according to the erroneous ruling even if the transgressors were only from one tribe, and, similarly, if the majority of the tribes acted according to the erroneous ruling even if they are the lesser portion of the congregation, the court is liable for this sacrifice and the transgressors are exempt.
What is implied? There were 600,001 inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael. Those who acted according to the ruling of the court were 300,001 and they were all members of the tribe of Judah alone - or they were members of seven tribes even if they numbered only 100,000 the court is liable for this sacrifice and the transgressors are exempt.
We are not concerned with the inhabitants of the Diaspora, for the term kahal ("congregation") applies only to the inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael. The tribes of Efraim and Menashe are not considered as two tribes in this context. Instead, they are counted as one tribe.
ב
והסנהדרין עצמן שעשו בהוראתן אינן מצטרפין לרוב הקהל עד שיהיו הרוב שעשו חוץ מן הסנהדרין עשו רוב אנשי ארץ ישראל על פיהם אף על פי שאלו העושים שבט אחד וכן אם עשו רוב השבטים אע"פ שהן מיעוט הקהל בית דין חייבים והעושין פטורין כיצד היו יושבי ארץ ישראל שש מאות אלף ואחד והיו העושין בהוראת בית דין שלש מאות אלף ואחד והרי כולן בני יהודה בלבד או שהיו העושים בני שבעה שבטים כולן אף על פי שיש בהן מאה אלף הרי בית דין חייבין וכל העושים על פיהם פטורין ואין משגיחין על יושבי חוצה לארץ שאין קרוי קהל אלא בני ארץ ישראל ושבט מנשה ואפרים אינן חשובין כשני שבטים לענין הזה אלא שניהם שבט אחד:
3
If at the time the transgression was committed, the transgressors constituted the majority of the people, but at the time they became aware that a transgression had been committed, they were the lesser portion of the people, or they were the lesser portion at the time of the transgression, but the majority at the time they became aware, the ruling whether or not the court is required to bring a sacrifice depends on the proportion at the time of the transgression.
ג
היו העושים מרובין בשעת החטא ומועטין בשעת ידיעה או מועטין בשעת החטא ומרובין בשעת ידיעה הכל הולך אחר שעת המעשה:
4
The people at large are exempt in the following instance. The court issued a ruling that one of the types of forbidden fat was permitted and the lesser portion of the congregation partook of it because of their ruling. They became aware that they sinned and retracted the ruling. Afterwards, they ruled that a particular form of worship of false deities was permitted and a lesser portion of the congregation performed that form of worship because of their ruling. If a majority of the congregation would be reached when the number of those who partook of the forbidden fat were added to the number were added to those who worshiped the false deity, the two numbers are combined and the people exempted even though the court became aware of their first error in the interim.
When does the above apply? When it was one court that delivered the rulings. If, however, the members of the court that issued the ruling died and another court arose and issued the second ruling, the two groups of transgressors are not combined.
ד
הורו בית דין בחלב מן החלבים שהוא מותר ואכל מיעוט הקהל על פיהם ונודע להם שחטאו וחזרו בהן ואח"כ הורו שע"ז פלונית מותרת ועבד אותה ע"ז מיעוט אחר על פיהם וכשיצטרפו האוכלים לעובדים יהיו רוב הרי אלו מצטרפין אע"פ שהיתה להן ידיעה בינתיים במה דברים אמורים כשהיה המורה בית דין אחד אבל אם מת בית דין שהורה תחילה ועמד אחר והורו אין אלו מצטרפין לאלו:
5
Even if two courts issued rulings concerning one matter, e.g., concerning two types of forbidden fat or two types of blood and similarly, if the transgressors did not inadvertently sin because of the ruling, the court is exempt and all of the transgressors are liable.
What is implied? The court ruled that it is permissible to partake of that fat of the stomach in its entirety. One of the members of the congregation knew that the court erred and that the fat of the stomach is prohibited. He, nevertheless, partook of the forbidden fat, because he thought that it was a mitzvah to listen to the court even though they erred. This person who partook of the fat is liable to bring a fixed sin-offering for partaking of it. He is not included among the number of those who transgressed inadvertently because of their ruling.
When does the above apply? When the person who knew the error was a sage or a student who had attained the knowledge that enables him to issue a ruling. If, however, he is a common person, he is exempt, because his knowledge regarding the Torah's prohibitions is not definitive. He is thus included among those who transgressed inadvertently because of their ruling.
Similarly, if one did not know that the court erred and intended to eat permitted fat, but instead ate the fat of the stomach which they erroneously permitted, but he did not know that it was the fat of the stomach, that individual is liable for an individual sin-offering. The rationale is that his eating came as a result of his own inadvertent error, not because of their ruling. He is not included in the number of those who transgressed inadvertently because of their ruling. These concepts are alluded to by Numbers 15:26;: "For the entire nation has erred unknowingly." Implied is that the entire nation committed the same error.
Similarly, if the person acted on his own initiative and partook of the fat of the stomach that the court ruled was permitted, not because of their ruling, but because he considered it as permitted, he is obligated to bring a fixed sin-offering individually.
This is the general principle: Whenever one relies on the court, he is exempt, provided all of the conditions that were mentioned were fulfilled. Anyone who is individually liable is not included when calculating whether a majority transgressed inadvertently.
ה
אפילו הורו שני בתי הדינים בדבר אחד כגון חלב וחלב או דם ודם וכן אם לא היו העושים שוגגין על פי ההוראה הרי בית דין פטורין וכל העושים חייבין כיצד הורו בית דין לאכול חלב הקיבה כולו וידע אחד מן הקהל שטעו ושחלב הקיבה אסור ואכלו מפני הוראתן שהיה עולה על דעתן שמצוה לשמוע מבית דין אף על פי שהם טועים הרי זה האוכל חייב חטאת קבועה על אכילתו ואינו מצטרף למנין השוגגים על פיהם בד"א כשהיה זה שידע שטעו חכם או תלמיד שהגיע להוראה אבל אם היה עם הארץ הרי זה פטור שאין ידיעתו באיסורין ידיעה ודאית ומצטרף לכלל השוגגים על פיהם וכן אם לא ידע שטעו ונתכוון לאכול שומן וחלב ואכל חלב הקיבה שהתירוהו והוא לא ידע שהוא חלב קיבה הרי זה חייב מפני שאכילתו מפני שגגתו לא מפני ההוראה ואינו מצטרף למנין השוגגים על פיהם שנאמר לכל העם בשגגה עד שתהיה שגגה אחת לכל וכן אם תלה בעצמו ואכל חלב הקיבה שהורו להתירו לא מפני הוראתן אלא מפני שהוא מותר בדעתו הרי זה חייב חטאת קבועה בפני עצמו זה הכלל כל התולה בבית דין פטור והוא שיהיו שם כל הדרכים שמנינו וכל החייב בפני עצמו אינו מצטרף לרוב השוגגים:
6
When the court intentionally ruled incorrectly and permitted something that is forbidden and the congregation erroneously acted on their ruling, the court is exempt from bringing a sacrifice, because they acted intentionally. Each of the people who acted upon their ruling is obligated to bring a sin-offering individually, because he transgressed inadvertently.
If the court delivered an erroneously ruling unknowingly and the congregation knew that they erred and that it is not correct to accept their ruling, and yet they acted in accordance with it, both the people and the court are exempt from bringing a sacrifice. The court is exempt, because the congregation did not act according to their erroneous ruling. And all the transgressors are exempt, because they are considered as having acted willfully, because they knew that the court erred and that it was not correct to act according to their ruling.
ו
הורו בית דין להתיר דבר האסור בזדון ועשו הקהל על פיהם בשגגה בית דין פטורין מן הקרבן מפני שהן מזידין וכל אחד ואחד מן העושים על פיהם חייב קרבן בפני עצמו מפני שהוא שוגג הורו בית דין בשגגה וידעו הקהל שטעו ושאין ראוי לקבל מהן ואעפ"כ עשו הקהל על פיהם אלו ואלו פטורין מן הקרבן בית דין פטורין שהרי לא עשו הקהל מפני הוראתן שהטעתם וכל העושים פטורין מן הקרבן מפני שמזידין הם שהרי ידעו שטעו ושאין ראוי לעשות:
Shegagot - Perek 14
1
When the court inadvertently err and rule to eliminate one of the Torah's fundamental laws and the entire people acted according to their ruling, the court is exempt and each of the transgressors is obligated to bring a fixed sin-offering, as implied by Leviticus 4:13: "And a matter will lapse...," i.e., a matter, but not an entire fundamental law.
א
בית דין ששגגו והורו לעקור גוף מגופי תורה ועשו כל העם על פיהם בית דין פטורין וכל אחד ואחד מן העושים חייב חטאת קבועה שנאמר ונעלם דבר ולא כל הגוף:
2
The court is never liable for a sacrifice unless they issue a ruling, nullifying a certain aspect of a prohibition, but maintaining others regarding matters that are not explicitly stated and elaborated upon in the Torah. Only in such a situation will the court be obligated to bring a sacrifice and those who follow their ruling exempt.
What is implied? They erred and ruled that it is permitted to bow down to a false deity, that it is permitted to transfer an article from one domain to another on the Sabbath, or that it is permitted to be intimate with a woman who is watching day to day because of zivah bleeding. This is considered as one who stated that there is no prohibition in the Torah against performing labor on the Sabbath, worshiping false deities, or being intimate with a niddah, eliminating the entire prohibition. This is not considered as an erroneous ruling, but rather as forgetting the matter. Therefore the court is exempt from bringing a sacrifice and anyone who acted upon their ruling is liable for a sin-offering individually.
If, however, they erred and issued a ruling, saying that one who transfers an article from one domain to another is liable, as implied by Exodus 16:29: "A man should not depart from his place," but it is permitted for one to throw or pass an article from one domain to another - alternatively, they eliminated one of the primary categories of forbidden labor, ruling that it is not considered as forbidden labor - they are liable.
Similarly, they are liable if they erred and issued a ruling, saying that someone who prostrates himself, spreading out his hands and feet is liable, as ibid. 34:14 states: "Do not prostrate yourself to a foreign god," but it is permitted for one to kneel on the ground without spreading out his hands and feet.
Similarly, they are liable if they erred and issued a ruling, saying that one who is intimate with a woman who is watching day to day because of zivah bleeding, as implied by Leviticus 15:26 "all the days of her flow," but if she discovered bleeding at night, it is permitted to be intimate with her - alternatively, they issued a ruling, saying that one whose wife began to experience menstrual bleeding in the midst of intimacy is permitted to withdraw from her while erect.
Similarly, they are liable if they erred and stated that one is liable for partaking of blood which emerges from an animal at the time of ritual slaughter, but one who partakes of blood that collects in the heart is not liable. Similar laws apply with regard to all analogous errors. If they issued such rulings and the majority of the congregation acted because of their ruling, the people are exempt and the court must bring a sacrifice because of their error.
ב
לעולם אין בית דין חייבין עד שיורו לבטל מקצת ולקיים מקצת בדברים שאינן מפורשין בתורה ומבוארים ואחר כך יהיו בית דין חייבין בקרבן והעושים על פיהם פטורין כיצד שגגו והורו שמותר להשתחוות לעבודה זרה או שמותר להוציא מרשות לרשות בשבת או שמותר לבוא על שומרת יום כנגד יום הרי אלו כמי שאמרו אין שבת בתורה או אין ע"ז בתורה או אין נדה בתורה שעקרו כל הגוף ואין זו וכיוצא בזה שגגת הוראה אלא שכחה לפיכך פטורין מן הקרבן וכל העושה על פיהן חייב חטאת בפני עצמו אבל אם טעו והורו ואמרו המוציא מרשות לרשות הוא שחייב שנאמר אל יצא איש ממקומו אבל הזורק או המושיט מותר או שעקרו אב מאבות מלאכות והורו שאינה מלאכה הרי אלו חייבין וכן אם טעו ואמרו המשתחוה לעבודה זרה בפישוט ידים ורגלים הוא החייב שנאמר בו לא תשתחוה לאל אחר אבל הכורע על הארץ ולא פשט ידיו ורגליו הרי הוא מותר הרי אלו חייבין וכן אם טעו ואמרו הבא על שומרת יום כנגד יום שראתה דם ביום הוא חייב שנאמר כל ימי זובה אבל ראתה בלילה מותר לבוא עליה וכן אם הורו ואמרו שמי שפירשה אשתו נדה בשעת תשמיש מותר לפרוש ממנה כשהוא מתקשה הרי אלו חייבין וכן אם טעו ואמרו שהאוכל דם שיצא בשעת שחיטה הוא החייב אבל האוכל דם הלב מותר הרי אלו חייבים וכן כל כיוצא בטעיות אלו אם הורו בהן ועשו רוב הקהל על פיהן פטורין ובית דין מביאין קרבן על שגגתן:
3
If the court ruled that the Sabbath ended because the sun became covered with clouds and it appeared to have set, and then it shined forth again, this is not considered as a mistaken ruling, but as an error. Any individual who performed a forbidden labor as a result is obligated to bring a sin-offering, but the court is exempt.
Similarly, if the court granted a married woman license to remarry, because testimony was delivered in their presence that her husband had died and then her husband appeared this is not considered as a mistaken ruling, but as an error. The woman and her second husband are obligated to bring a sin-offering for their inadvertent transgression. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ג
הורו בית דין שיצא השבת לפי שנתכסית החמה ודימו ששקעה חמה ואח"כ זרחה אין זו הוראה אלא טעות וכל שעשה מלאכה חייב אבל בית דין פטורין וכן אם התירו בית דין אשת איש להנשא לפי שהעידו בפניהם שמת בעלה ואחר כך בא בעלה אין זו הוראה אלא טעות והאשה ובעלה האחרון חייבין חטאת על שגגתן וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
4
When a court delivers an erroneous ruling and then forgot the nature of the prohibition concerning which they ruled, they are exempt and those who transgressed as a result of their ruling are liable. This applies even if they have definite knowledge that they erroneously caused the violation of a prohibition and even when the people inform them about their ruling, telling them: "You ruled concerning this-and-this." This is derived from Leviticus 4:14: "And the transgression which they caused to be violated became known to them," i.e., they became aware of it on their own, rather than being informed about it by the transgressors.
What is implied? The court erred and ruled that the fat on the stomach was permitted and the majority of the people partook of it. Afterwards, they became aware that they issued an erroneous ruling and permitted an entity for which one would be liable for karet had one partaken of it willfully or a fixed sin-offering if one partook of it inadvertently. They were in doubt, however, if they ruled that some forbidden fat was permitted or that some forbidden blood was permitted. In such a situation, the court is exempt and all those who partook of the forbidden fat must bring a fixed sin-offering.
ד
בית דין שהורו בשגגה ושכחו עצמו של חטא שהורו בו אע"פ שהן יודעים בודאי שחטאו בשגגה ואף על פי שהעם מודיעין אותן ואומרים להן בכך וכך הוריתם לנו הם פטורין והעושים על פיהם חייבין בפני עצמן שנאמר ונודעה החטאת אשר חטאו עליה לא שיודיעו אותו החוטאים כיצד שגגו והתירו חלב שעל גבי הקיבה ואכלוהו רוב העם ואחר שידעו ששגו בהוראה ושהתירו דבר שחייבים על זדונו כרת ועל שגגתו חטאת קבועה נסתפק להם אם מקצת החלבים התירו או מקצת הדמים התירו הרי אלו פטורין וכל מי שאכל מביא חטאת קבועה:
5
The following rules apply when the court ruled erroneously and then became aware of their error. Whether they already brought a sacrifice as atonement or did not yet bring one, whenever one transgresses because of their erroneous ruling that was disseminated throughout the Jewish people after they became aware of their error, the transgressor must bring a provisional guilt-offering. The rationale is that since he should have continually inquired about the new developments in the court, but failed to do, he is considered like one who is in doubt whether he transgressed or not.
To whom does the above apply? To one who is in the same region as the court. If, however, one saw the initial, erroneous ruling and then journeyed to another region, he is exempt even if he transgressed after the court became aware of their error, because he relied upon them and cannot inquire about their rulings in his present place. Moreover, even if a person who is hurrying to depart, but has not yet set out on his journey, acts on their ruling after they became aware of their error, he is also exempt from bringing a provisional guilt-offering.
ה
בית דין שהורו בשגגה ונודעה להם שגגתן בין שהביאו כפרתן בין שלא הביאו כל העושה כפי הוראתן שפשטה ברוב הצבור מאחר שידעו הרי זה מביא אשם תלוי הואיל והיה לו לשאול בכל עת על דברים שנתחדשו בבית דין ולא שאל הרי זה כמי שנסתפק לו אם חטא או לא חטא במה דברים אמורים במי שהיה עם בית דין במדינה אבל מי שראה ההוראה והלך למדינה אחרת אע"פ שעשה אחר שידעו פטור מפני שתלה בהן והרי אי אפשר לו לשאול ולא עוד אלא הנבהל לצאת אף על פי שעדיין לא יצא לדרך ועשה על פיהם מאחר שידעו הרי זה פטור:
• English Text | Video Class"Today's Day"
Sunday Iyar 4, 19th day of the omer 5703Torah lessons: Chumash: Emor, first parsha with Rashi.
Tehillim: 23-28.
Tanya: Ch. 46. There is yet (p. 241)...love for him. (p. 241).
It is a Jewish custom not to shave or cut a baby boy's hair until his third birthday.
The first haircutting or opsherenish of a baby boy is a Jewish custom of great importance. The essence of the custom is the educational act of leaving (uncut) the peyot (sidelocks). From the day of the haircutting and leaving the peyot it is the custom to take particular care in accustoming the little boy to wear a tallit katan, to recite the early-morning b'rachot, the grace after meals (birkat hamazon p. 89) and the bedtime sh'ma (p. 118).
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Daily Thought
Fire Burning Fire
Life is fire. It can burn with the angst of survival in a hostile world. Or it can be harnessed to consume all fear.
Stop, contemplate, meditate and pray. Fan a fire of love and awe for the One that transcends this world.
One fire swallows another and you are set free. Liberated from your fears, you face the world no longer as its slave, but as its master.[Tanya, chapter 3. Bati Legani 5710:2.]
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