Torah Reading
Behar: Leviticus 25:1-13
Leviticus 25:1 Adonai spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai; he said, 2 “Tell the people of Isra’el, ‘When you enter the land I am giving you, the land itself is to observe a Shabbat rest for Adonai. 3 Six years you will sow your field; six years you will prune your grapevines and gather their produce. 4 But in the seventh year is to be a Shabbat of complete rest for the land, a Shabbat for Adonai; you will neither sow your field nor prune your grapevines. 5 You are not to harvest what grows by itself from the seeds left by your previous harvest, and you are not to gather the grapes of your untended vine; it is to be a year of complete rest for the land. 6 But what the land produces during the year of Shabbat will be food for all of you — you, your servant, your maid, your employee, anyone living near you, 7 your livestock and the wild animals on your land; everything the land produces may be used for food.
8 “‘You are to count seven Shabbats of years, seven times seven years, that is, forty-nine years. 9 Then, on the tenth day of the seventh month, on Yom-Kippur, you are to sound a blast on the shofar; you are to sound the shofar all through your land; 10 and you are to consecrate the fiftieth year, proclaiming freedom throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It will be a yovel for you; you will return everyone to the land he owns, and everyone is to return to his family. 11 That fiftieth year will be a yovel for you; in that year you are not to sow, harvest what grows by itself or gather the grapes of untended vines; 12 because it is a yovel. It will be holy for you; whatever the fields produce will be food for all of you. 13 In this year of yovel, every one of you is to return to the land he owns.
Today's Laws & Customs
• Count "Thirty-Five Days to the Omer" Tonight
Tomorrow is the thirty-fifth 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 thirty-five days, which are five 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'Hod -- "Receptiveness in Humility"
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:
• Passing of Maharam of Rothenberg (1293)
Renowned Talmudist Rabbi Meir ("Maharam") of Rothenburg (1215?-1293) died in his cell in the Ensisheim fortress, where he had been imprisoned for ten years in an attempt to exact a huge ransom from the Jewish community. The money had been raised, but Rabbi Meir refused to have himself redeemed, lest this encourage the hostage taking of other Jewish leaders. (see "today in Jewish History" for Adar 4)
Links: A brief biography
• Goebbels Committed Suicide (1945)
Paul Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Propaganda Minister under Adolf Hitler, was known for his zealous anti-semitism. Following Hitler's death he served as Chancellor for one day. A day later, he approved the murder of his own six children and committed suicide.
Daily Quote:
"And to the Jews was light, happiness, joy and prestige" (Esther 8:16). "Light" is Torah, "happiness" are the festivals, "joy" is circumcision and "prestige" is tefillin.[Talmud, Megillah 16b]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Behar-Bechukotai, 2nd Portion Leviticus 25:19-25:28 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation | Video Class
Leviticus Chapter 2519And the land will then yield its fruit and you will eat to satiety, and live upon it securely. יט וְנָֽתְנָ֤ה הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ פִּרְיָ֔הּ וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּ֖ם לָשׂ֑בַע וִֽישַׁבְתֶּ֥ם לָבֶ֖טַח עָלֶֽיהָ:
And the land will then yield [its fruit…and you will…] live upon it securely: i.e., you will have no worry about a year of drought. ונתנה הארץ וגו' וישבתם לבטח עליה: שלא תדאגו משנת בצורת:
and you will eat to satiety: There will be a blessing in it even inside your innards. ואכלתם לשבע: אף בתוך המעים תהא בו ברכה:
20And if you should say, "What will we eat in the seventh year? We will not sow, and we will not gather in our produce!" כוְכִ֣י תֹֽאמְר֔וּ מַה־נֹּאכַ֖ל בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑ת הֵ֚ן לֹ֣א נִזְרָ֔ע וְלֹ֥א נֶֽאֱסֹ֖ף אֶת־תְּבֽוּאָתֵֽנוּ:
and will not gather in: to the house [for storage (Sefer Hazikkaron)]. ולא נאסף: אל הבית:
our produce: for example, wine and fruit of the trees and aftergrowth that grew spontaneously [and that, therefore, was not sown by you]. — [Pes. 51b] את תבואתנו: כגון יין ופירות האילן וספיחין הבאים מאליהם:
21[Know then, that] I will command My blessing for you in the sixth year, and it will yield produce for three years. כאוְצִוִּ֤יתִי אֶת־בִּרְכָתִי֙ לָכֶ֔ם בַּשָּׁנָ֖ה הַשִּׁשִּׁ֑ית וְעָשָׂת֙ אֶת־הַתְּבוּאָ֔ה לִשְׁל֖שׁ הַשָּׁנִֽים:
for three years: for part of the sixth year from Nissan [when the crop is reaped] until Rosh Hashanah, for the [entire] seventh [Shemittah] year, and for the eighth [year, namely,] for they will sow [a new crop] in Marcheshvan of the eighth year and reap [this new crop] in Nissan [while still eating of the sixth year’s crop]. לשלש השנים: למקצת הששית מניסן ועד ראש השנה, ולשביעית ולשמינית, שיזרעו בשמינית במרחשון ויקצרו בניסן:
22And you will sow in the eighth year, while [still] eating from the old crops until the ninth year; until the arrival of its crop, you will eat the old [crop]. כבוּזְרַעְתֶּ֗ם אֵ֚ת הַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁמִינִ֔ת וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּ֖ם מִן־הַתְּבוּאָ֣ה יָשָׁ֑ן עַ֣ד | הַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַתְּשִׁיעִ֗ת עַד־בּוֹא֙ תְּב֣וּאָתָ֔הּ תֹּֽאכְל֖וּ יָשָֽׁן:
until the ninth year: Until the Festival of Succoth in the ninth year, the time the crop of the eighth year is brought into the house, for throughout the summer season, it was kept in granaries in the field. In Tishrei-that is the time the crop is gathered into the house. Now, there were occasions when it would need to yield for four years, namely: in the sixth year preceding the seventh Shemittah, when they would refrain from doing work on the land for two consecutive years, the seventh year and the Jubilee year. Our verse, however, refers to all the other Shemittah years [i.e., the first through sixth cycles of Shemittah]. — [see Ned. 61a] עד השנה התשיעת: עד חג הסכות של תשיעית, שהיא עת בוא תבואתה של שמינית לתוך הבית, שכל ימות הקיץ היו בשדה בגרנות, ובתשרי הוא עת האסיף לבית. ופעמים שהיתה צריכה לעשות לארבע שנים, בששית שלפני השמטה השביעית, שהן בטלין מעבודת קרקע שתי שנים רצופות השביעית והיובל, ומקרא זה נאמר בשאר השמטות כולן:
23The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land belongs to Me, for you are strangers and [temporary] residents with Me. כגוְהָאָ֗רֶץ לֹ֤א תִמָּכֵר֙ לִצְמִתֻ֔ת כִּי־לִ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־גֵרִ֧ים וְתֽוֹשָׁבִ֛ים אַתֶּ֖ם עִמָּדִֽי:
The land shall not be sold [permanently]: [Although this is already understood from the earlier verses in our passage (10 and 13), it is stated here] to impose a negative commandment regarding the reversion of fields to their [original] owners in Jubilee, that the purchaser must not seize [the land] forcibly [in an effort to keep it as a “permanent” sale]. והארץ לא תמכר: ליתן לאו על חזרת שדות לבעלים ביובל, שלא יהא הלוקח כובשה:
permanently: לִצְמִתֻת, irreversibly. [Thus, the לֹא תִמָּכֵר לִצְמִתֻת, has the meaning of] a permanent, irreversible sale. לצמתת: לפסיקה, למכירה פסוקה עולמית:
for the land belongs to Me: [Says God:] Do not be selfish about the land [hesitating to return it to its rightful owner at Jubilee], because the land does not belong to you. - [Torath Kohanim 25:39] כי לי הארץ: אל תרע עינך בה שאינה שלך:
24Therefore, throughout the land of your possession, you shall give redemption for the land. כדוּבְכֹ֖ל אֶ֣רֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֑ם גְּאֻלָּ֖ה תִּתְּנ֥וּ לָאָֽרֶץ:
throughout the land of your possession: [The seemingly superfluous word here, “throughout,”] comes to include [the right of relatives to redeem] houses [of walled cities (Sifthei Chachamim , Rashi on Kid. 21a)] and a Hebrew slave. This matter is explained in the first chapter of Tractate Kid. (21a). And according to its simple meaning, [this] is connected to the passage that follows, that one who sells his property is permitted to redeem it after two years-either he or his relative, and that the purchaser cannot impede [this redemption]. ובכל ארץ אחזתכם: לרבות בתים ועבד עברי, ודבר זה מפורש בקידושין בפרק ראשון (דף כא א). ולפי פשוטו סמוך לפרשה שלאחריו, שהמוכר אחוזתו רשאי לגאלה לאחר שתי שנים או הוא או קרובו, ואין הלוקח יכול לעכב:
25If your brother becomes destitute and sells some of his inherited property, his redeemer who is related to him shall come forth and redeem his brother's sale. כהכִּֽי־יָמ֣וּךְ אָחִ֔יךָ וּמָכַ֖ר מֵֽאֲחֻזָּת֑וֹ וּבָ֤א גֹֽאֲלוֹ֙ הַקָּרֹ֣ב אֵלָ֔יו וְגָאַ֕ל אֵ֖ת מִמְכַּ֥ר אָחִֽיו:
If your brother becomes destitute and sells: [This] teaches [us] that a person may not sell his field except when under the pressure of poverty. - [Torath Kohanim 25:41] כי ימוך אחיך ומכר: מלמד שאין אדם רשאי למכור שדהו אלא מחמת דוחק עוני:
some of his inherited property: But not all of it. [Scripture] teaches [us] proper conduct, namely, that he should leave one field for himself. — [Torath Kohanim 25:41] מאחזתו: ולא כולה, למד דרך ארץ שישייר שדה לעצמו:
and redeem his brother’s sale: and the purchaser cannot impede [the redemption]. וגאל את ממכר אחיו: ואין הלוקח יכול לעכב:
26And if a man does not have a redeemer, but he gains enough means to afford its redemption, כווְאִ֕ישׁ כִּ֛י לֹ֥א יִֽהְיֶה־לּ֖וֹ גֹּאֵ֑ל וְהִשִּׂ֣יגָה יָד֔וֹ וּמָצָ֖א כְּדֵ֥י גְאֻלָּתֽוֹ:
And if a man does not have a redeemer: But is there a man in Israel who has no [relative] to redeem [his sale]? However, [Scripture means] a redeemer who is [financially] able to redeem his sale. — [Kid. 21a] ואיש כי לא יהיה לו גאל: וכי יש לך אדם בישראל שאין לו גואלים, אלא גואל שיוכל לגאול ממכרו:
27he shall calculate the years for which the land has been sold, and return the remainder to the man to whom he sold it, and [then] he may return to his inheritance. כזוְחִשַּׁב֙ אֶת־שְׁנֵ֣י מִמְכָּר֔וֹ וְהֵשִׁיב֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֹדֵ֔ף לָאִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מָֽכַר־ל֑וֹ וְשָׁ֖ב לַֽאֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ:
he shall calculate the years of his sale: [The original owner asks the purchaser:] “How many years were left until the [next] Jubilee?” [He answers:] “Such-and-such [a number of years].” [The owner continues:] “And how much did I sell it to you for?” [He answers:] “For such-and-such [an amount of money].” [Continues the original owner:] “You would have eventually had to return the field to me at Jubilee.” Hence, [rather than buying actual land,] in effect, you bought [from me] a number of produce yields, according to the total for every year [remaining until Jubilee]. Now, you have eaten from it for three or four years [or whatever the amount may be]. Therefore, subtract their value from the total [i.e., from the original sale price], and take the remainder [until Jubilee].“ And this is the meaning of ”and return the remainder" of the purchase price over the crops he had eaten, and he shall give it to the purchaser. וחשב את שני ממכרו: כמה שנים היו עד היובל, כך וכך. ובכמה מכרתיה לך בכך וכך. עתיד היית להחזירה ביובל, נמצאת קונה מספר התבואות כפי חשבון של כל שנה. אכלת אותה שלש שנים או ארבע הוצא את דמיהן מן החשבון וטול את השאר, וזהו והשיב את העדף - בדמי המקח על האכילה שאכלה, ויתנם ללוקח:
the man to whom he had sold [it]: [i.e., “the man to whom he-] this seller who is coming to redeem it- [had sold it.” If the first purchaser had sold it to another person for a higher price, the original owner makes the above calculation only with the first purchaser to whom he sold the field and not with the subsequent purchaser]. — [Arachin 30a; Mizrachi] לאיש אשר מכר לו: המוכר הזה שבא לגאלה:
28But if he cannot afford enough to repay him, his sale shall remain in the possession of the one who has purchased it, until the Jubilee year. And then, in the Jubilee year, it shall go out and revert to his inheritance. כחוְאִ֨ם לֹא־מָֽצְאָ֜ה יָד֗וֹ דֵּי֘ הָשִׁ֣יב לוֹ֒ וְהָיָ֣ה מִמְכָּר֗וֹ בְּיַד֙ הַקֹּנֶ֣ה אֹת֔וֹ עַ֖ד שְׁנַ֣ת הַיּוֹבֵ֑ל וְיָצָא֙ בַּיֹּבֵ֔ל וְשָׁ֖ב לַֽאֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ:
enough to repay him: From here, [we learn] that he cannot redeem part [of a field but either all or nothing]. — [Torath Kohanim 25:48, Arachin 30a, Kid. 20b; Sifthei Chachamim] די השיב לו: מכאן שאינו גואל לחצאין:
until the Jubilee year: [i.e., until, but not including the Jubilee year (Torath Kohanim 25:50; Mizrachi), and hence the purchaser] must not at all enter the Jubilee year [while in possession of the field,] because the Jubilee year releases [the field from his possession] at its very onset. — [Arachin 28b and Rashi there] עד שנת היובל: שלא יכנס לתוך אותה שנה כלום, שהיובל משמט בתחלתו:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 90 - 96
• Hebrew text
• English text
Chapter 90
David found this prayer in its present form-receiving a tradition attributing it to MosesThe Midrash attributes the next eleven psalms to Moses (Rashi).-and incorporated it into the Tehillim. It speaks of the brevity of human life, and inspires man to repent and avoid pride in this world.
1. A prayer by Moses, the man of God. My Lord, You have been a shelter for us in every generation.
2. Before the mountains came into being, before You created the earth and the world-for ever and ever You are Almighty God.
3. You diminish man until he is crushed, and You say, "Return, you children of man.”
4. Indeed, a thousand years are in Your eyes like yesterday that has passed, like a watch of the night.
5. The stream of their life is as but a slumber; in the morning they are like grass that sprouts anew.
6. In the morning it thrives and sprouts anew; in the evening it withers and dries.
7. For we are consumed by Your anger, and destroyed by Your wrath.
8. You have set our wrongdoings before You, our hidden sins before the light of Your countenance.
9. For all our days have vanished in Your wrath; we cause our years to pass like a fleeting sound.
10. The days of our lives number seventy years, and if in great vigor, eighty years; most of them are but travail and futility, passing quickly and flying away.
11. Who can know the intensity of Your anger? Your wrath is commensurate with one's fear of You.
12. Teach us, then, to reckon our days, that we may acquire a wise heart.
13. Relent, O Lord; how long [will Your anger last]? Have compassion upon Your servants.
14. Satiate us in the morning with Your kindness, then we shall sing and rejoice throughout our days.
15. Give us joy corresponding to the days You afflicted us, the years we have seen adversity.
16. Let Your work be revealed to Your servants, and Your splendor be upon their children.
17. May the pleasantness of the Lord our God be upon us; establish for us the work of our hands; establish the work of our hands.
Chapter 91
This psalm inspires the hearts of the people to seek shelter under the wings of the Divine Presence. It also speaks of the four seasons of the year, and their respective ministering powers, instructing those who safeguard their souls to avoid them.
1. You who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Omnipotent:
2. I say of the Lord who is my refuge and my stronghold, my God in whom I trust,
3. that He will save you from the ensnaring trap, from the destructive pestilence.
4. He will cover you with His pinions and you will find refuge under His wings; His truth is a shield and an armor.
5. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day;
6. the pestilence that prowls in the darkness, nor the destruction that ravages at noon.
7. A thousand may fall at your [left] side, and ten thousand at your right, but it shall not reach you.
8. You need only look with your eyes, and you will see the retribution of the wicked.
9. Because you [have said,] "The Lord is my shelter," and you have made the Most High your haven,
10. no evil will befall you, no plague will come near your tent.
11. For He will instruct His angels in your behalf, to guard you in all your ways.
12. They will carry you in their hands, lest you injure your foot upon a rock.
13. You will tread upon the lion and the viper; you will trample upon the young lion and the serpent.
14. Because he desires Me, I will deliver him; I will fortify him, for he knows My Name.
15. When he calls on Me, I will answer him; I am with him in distress. I will deliver him and honor him.
16. I will satiate him with long life, and show him My deliverance.
Chapter 92
Sung every Shabbat by the Levites in the Holy Temple, this psalm speaks of the World to Come, and comforts the hearts of those crushed by suffering.
1. A psalm, a song for the Shabbat day.
2. It is good to praise the Lord, and to sing to Your Name, O Most High;
3. to proclaim Your kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness in the nights,
4. with a ten-stringed instrument and lyre, to the melody of a harp.
5. For You, Lord, have gladdened me with Your deeds; I sing for joy at the works of Your hand.
6. How great are Your works, O Lord; how very profound Your thoughts!
7. A brutish man cannot know, a fool cannot comprehend this:
8. When the wicked thrive like grass, and all evildoers flourish-it is in order that they may be destroyed forever.
9. But You, Lord, are exalted forever.
10. Indeed, Your enemies, O Lord, indeed Your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered.
11. But You have increased my might like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with fresh oil.
12. My eyes have seen [the downfall of] my watchful enemies; my ears have heard [the doom of] the wicked who rise against me.
13. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon.
14. Planted in the House of the Lord, they shall blossom in the courtyards of our God.
15. They shall be fruitful even in old age; they shall be full of sap and freshness-
16. to declare that the Lord is just; He is my Strength, and there is no injustice in Him.
Chapter 93
This psalm speaks of the Messianic era, when God will don grandeur-allowing no room for man to boast before Him as did Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, and Sennacherib.
1. The Lord is King; He has garbed Himself with grandeur; the Lord has robed Himself, He has girded Himself with strength; He has also established the world firmly that it shall not falter.
2. Your throne stands firm from of old; You have existed forever.
3. The rivers have raised, O Lord, the rivers have raised their voice; the rivers raise their raging waves.
4. More than the sound of many waters, than the mighty breakers of the sea, is the Lord mighty on High.
5. Your testimonies are most trustworthy; Your House will be resplendent in holiness, O Lord, forever.
Chapter 94
An awe-inspiring and wondrous prayer with which every individual can pray for the redemption. It is also an important moral teaching.
1. The Lord is a God of retribution; O God of retribution, reveal Yourself!
2. Judge of the earth, arise; render to the arrogant their recompense.
3. How long shall the wicked, O Lord, how long shall the wicked exult?
4. They continuously speak insolently; all the evildoers act arrogantly.
5. They crush Your people, O Lord, and oppress Your heritage.
6. They kill the widow and the stranger, and murder the orphans.
7. And they say, "The Lord does not see, the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
8. Understand, you senseless among the people; you fools, when will you become wise?
9. Shall He who implants the ear not hear? Shall He who forms the eye not see?
10. Shall He who chastises nations not punish? Shall He who imparts knowledge to man [not know]?
11. The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are naught.
12. Fortunate is the man whom You chastise, O Lord, and instruct him in Your Torah,
13. bestowing upon him tranquillity in times of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked.
14. For the Lord will not abandon His people, nor forsake His heritage.
15. For judgment shall again be consonant with justice, and all the upright in heart will pursue it.
16. Who would rise up for me against the wicked ones; who would stand up for me against the evildoers?
17. Had the Lord not been a help to me, my soul would have soon dwelt in the silence [of the grave].
18. When I thought that my foot was slipping, Your kindness, O Lord, supported me.
19. When my [worrisome] thoughts multiply within me, Your consolation delights my soul.
20. Can one in the seat of evil, one who makes iniquity into law, consort with You?
21. They band together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.
22. The Lord has been my stronghold; my God, the strength of my refuge.
23. He will turn their violence against them and destroy them through their own wickedness; the Lord, our God, will destroy them.
Chapter 95
This psalm speaks of the future, when man will say to his fellow, "Come, let us sing and offer praise to God for the miracles He has performed for us!"
1. Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us raise our voices in jubilation to the Rock of our deliverance.
2. Let us approach Him with thanksgiving; let us raise our voices to Him in song.
3. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King over all supernal beings;
4. in His hands are the depths of the earth, and the heights of the mountains are His.
5. Indeed, the sea is His, for He made it; His hands formed the dry land.
6. Come, let us prostrate ourselves and bow down; let us bend the knee before the Lord, our Maker.
7. For He is our God, and we are the people that He tends, the flock under His [guiding] hand-even this very day, if you would but hearken to His voice!
8. Do not harden your heart as at Merivah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9. where your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they had seen My deeds.
10. For forty years I quarreled with that generation; and I said, "They are a people of erring hearts, they do not know My ways.”
11. So I vowed in My anger that they would not enter My resting place.
Chapter 96
The time will yet come when man will say to his fellow: "Come, let us sing to God!"
1. Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2. Sing to the Lord, bless His Name; proclaim His deliverance from day to day.
3. Recount His glory among the nations, His wonders among all the peoples.
4. For the Lord is great and highly praised; He is awesome above all gods.
5. For all the gods of the nations are naught, but the Lord made the heavens.
6. Majesty and splendor are before Him, might and beauty in His Sanctuary.
7. Render to the Lord, O families of nations, render to the Lord honor and might.
8. Render to the Lord honor due to His Name; bring an offering and come to His courtyards.
9. Bow down to the Lord in resplendent holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.
10. Proclaim among the nations, "The Lord reigns"; indeed, the world is firmly established that it shall not falter; He will judge the peoples with righteousness.
11. The heavens will rejoice, the earth will exult; the sea and its fullness will roar.
12. The fields and everything therein will jubilate; then all the trees of the forest will sing.
Tomorrow is the thirty-fifth 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 thirty-five days, which are five 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'Hod -- "Receptiveness in Humility"
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:
• Passing of Maharam of Rothenberg (1293)
Renowned Talmudist Rabbi Meir ("Maharam") of Rothenburg (1215?-1293) died in his cell in the Ensisheim fortress, where he had been imprisoned for ten years in an attempt to exact a huge ransom from the Jewish community. The money had been raised, but Rabbi Meir refused to have himself redeemed, lest this encourage the hostage taking of other Jewish leaders. (see "today in Jewish History" for Adar 4)
Links: A brief biography
• Goebbels Committed Suicide (1945)
Paul Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Propaganda Minister under Adolf Hitler, was known for his zealous anti-semitism. Following Hitler's death he served as Chancellor for one day. A day later, he approved the murder of his own six children and committed suicide.
Daily Quote:
"And to the Jews was light, happiness, joy and prestige" (Esther 8:16). "Light" is Torah, "happiness" are the festivals, "joy" is circumcision and "prestige" is tefillin.[Talmud, Megillah 16b]
Daily Study:
Chitas and Rambam for today:
Chumash: Behar-Bechukotai, 2nd Portion Leviticus 25:19-25:28 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation | Video Class
Leviticus Chapter 2519And the land will then yield its fruit and you will eat to satiety, and live upon it securely. יט וְנָֽתְנָ֤ה הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ פִּרְיָ֔הּ וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּ֖ם לָשׂ֑בַע וִֽישַׁבְתֶּ֥ם לָבֶ֖טַח עָלֶֽיהָ:
And the land will then yield [its fruit…and you will…] live upon it securely: i.e., you will have no worry about a year of drought. ונתנה הארץ וגו' וישבתם לבטח עליה: שלא תדאגו משנת בצורת:
and you will eat to satiety: There will be a blessing in it even inside your innards. ואכלתם לשבע: אף בתוך המעים תהא בו ברכה:
20And if you should say, "What will we eat in the seventh year? We will not sow, and we will not gather in our produce!" כוְכִ֣י תֹֽאמְר֔וּ מַה־נֹּאכַ֖ל בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑ת הֵ֚ן לֹ֣א נִזְרָ֔ע וְלֹ֥א נֶֽאֱסֹ֖ף אֶת־תְּבֽוּאָתֵֽנוּ:
and will not gather in: to the house [for storage (Sefer Hazikkaron)]. ולא נאסף: אל הבית:
our produce: for example, wine and fruit of the trees and aftergrowth that grew spontaneously [and that, therefore, was not sown by you]. — [Pes. 51b] את תבואתנו: כגון יין ופירות האילן וספיחין הבאים מאליהם:
21[Know then, that] I will command My blessing for you in the sixth year, and it will yield produce for three years. כאוְצִוִּ֤יתִי אֶת־בִּרְכָתִי֙ לָכֶ֔ם בַּשָּׁנָ֖ה הַשִּׁשִּׁ֑ית וְעָשָׂת֙ אֶת־הַתְּבוּאָ֔ה לִשְׁל֖שׁ הַשָּׁנִֽים:
for three years: for part of the sixth year from Nissan [when the crop is reaped] until Rosh Hashanah, for the [entire] seventh [Shemittah] year, and for the eighth [year, namely,] for they will sow [a new crop] in Marcheshvan of the eighth year and reap [this new crop] in Nissan [while still eating of the sixth year’s crop]. לשלש השנים: למקצת הששית מניסן ועד ראש השנה, ולשביעית ולשמינית, שיזרעו בשמינית במרחשון ויקצרו בניסן:
22And you will sow in the eighth year, while [still] eating from the old crops until the ninth year; until the arrival of its crop, you will eat the old [crop]. כבוּזְרַעְתֶּ֗ם אֵ֚ת הַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁמִינִ֔ת וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּ֖ם מִן־הַתְּבוּאָ֣ה יָשָׁ֑ן עַ֣ד | הַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַתְּשִׁיעִ֗ת עַד־בּוֹא֙ תְּב֣וּאָתָ֔הּ תֹּֽאכְל֖וּ יָשָֽׁן:
until the ninth year: Until the Festival of Succoth in the ninth year, the time the crop of the eighth year is brought into the house, for throughout the summer season, it was kept in granaries in the field. In Tishrei-that is the time the crop is gathered into the house. Now, there were occasions when it would need to yield for four years, namely: in the sixth year preceding the seventh Shemittah, when they would refrain from doing work on the land for two consecutive years, the seventh year and the Jubilee year. Our verse, however, refers to all the other Shemittah years [i.e., the first through sixth cycles of Shemittah]. — [see Ned. 61a] עד השנה התשיעת: עד חג הסכות של תשיעית, שהיא עת בוא תבואתה של שמינית לתוך הבית, שכל ימות הקיץ היו בשדה בגרנות, ובתשרי הוא עת האסיף לבית. ופעמים שהיתה צריכה לעשות לארבע שנים, בששית שלפני השמטה השביעית, שהן בטלין מעבודת קרקע שתי שנים רצופות השביעית והיובל, ומקרא זה נאמר בשאר השמטות כולן:
23The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land belongs to Me, for you are strangers and [temporary] residents with Me. כגוְהָאָ֗רֶץ לֹ֤א תִמָּכֵר֙ לִצְמִתֻ֔ת כִּי־לִ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־גֵרִ֧ים וְתֽוֹשָׁבִ֛ים אַתֶּ֖ם עִמָּדִֽי:
The land shall not be sold [permanently]: [Although this is already understood from the earlier verses in our passage (10 and 13), it is stated here] to impose a negative commandment regarding the reversion of fields to their [original] owners in Jubilee, that the purchaser must not seize [the land] forcibly [in an effort to keep it as a “permanent” sale]. והארץ לא תמכר: ליתן לאו על חזרת שדות לבעלים ביובל, שלא יהא הלוקח כובשה:
permanently: לִצְמִתֻת, irreversibly. [Thus, the לֹא תִמָּכֵר לִצְמִתֻת, has the meaning of] a permanent, irreversible sale. לצמתת: לפסיקה, למכירה פסוקה עולמית:
for the land belongs to Me: [Says God:] Do not be selfish about the land [hesitating to return it to its rightful owner at Jubilee], because the land does not belong to you. - [Torath Kohanim 25:39] כי לי הארץ: אל תרע עינך בה שאינה שלך:
24Therefore, throughout the land of your possession, you shall give redemption for the land. כדוּבְכֹ֖ל אֶ֣רֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֑ם גְּאֻלָּ֖ה תִּתְּנ֥וּ לָאָֽרֶץ:
throughout the land of your possession: [The seemingly superfluous word here, “throughout,”] comes to include [the right of relatives to redeem] houses [of walled cities (Sifthei Chachamim , Rashi on Kid. 21a)] and a Hebrew slave. This matter is explained in the first chapter of Tractate Kid. (21a). And according to its simple meaning, [this] is connected to the passage that follows, that one who sells his property is permitted to redeem it after two years-either he or his relative, and that the purchaser cannot impede [this redemption]. ובכל ארץ אחזתכם: לרבות בתים ועבד עברי, ודבר זה מפורש בקידושין בפרק ראשון (דף כא א). ולפי פשוטו סמוך לפרשה שלאחריו, שהמוכר אחוזתו רשאי לגאלה לאחר שתי שנים או הוא או קרובו, ואין הלוקח יכול לעכב:
25If your brother becomes destitute and sells some of his inherited property, his redeemer who is related to him shall come forth and redeem his brother's sale. כהכִּֽי־יָמ֣וּךְ אָחִ֔יךָ וּמָכַ֖ר מֵֽאֲחֻזָּת֑וֹ וּבָ֤א גֹֽאֲלוֹ֙ הַקָּרֹ֣ב אֵלָ֔יו וְגָאַ֕ל אֵ֖ת מִמְכַּ֥ר אָחִֽיו:
If your brother becomes destitute and sells: [This] teaches [us] that a person may not sell his field except when under the pressure of poverty. - [Torath Kohanim 25:41] כי ימוך אחיך ומכר: מלמד שאין אדם רשאי למכור שדהו אלא מחמת דוחק עוני:
some of his inherited property: But not all of it. [Scripture] teaches [us] proper conduct, namely, that he should leave one field for himself. — [Torath Kohanim 25:41] מאחזתו: ולא כולה, למד דרך ארץ שישייר שדה לעצמו:
and redeem his brother’s sale: and the purchaser cannot impede [the redemption]. וגאל את ממכר אחיו: ואין הלוקח יכול לעכב:
26And if a man does not have a redeemer, but he gains enough means to afford its redemption, כווְאִ֕ישׁ כִּ֛י לֹ֥א יִֽהְיֶה־לּ֖וֹ גֹּאֵ֑ל וְהִשִּׂ֣יגָה יָד֔וֹ וּמָצָ֖א כְּדֵ֥י גְאֻלָּתֽוֹ:
And if a man does not have a redeemer: But is there a man in Israel who has no [relative] to redeem [his sale]? However, [Scripture means] a redeemer who is [financially] able to redeem his sale. — [Kid. 21a] ואיש כי לא יהיה לו גאל: וכי יש לך אדם בישראל שאין לו גואלים, אלא גואל שיוכל לגאול ממכרו:
27he shall calculate the years for which the land has been sold, and return the remainder to the man to whom he sold it, and [then] he may return to his inheritance. כזוְחִשַּׁב֙ אֶת־שְׁנֵ֣י מִמְכָּר֔וֹ וְהֵשִׁיב֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֹדֵ֔ף לָאִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מָֽכַר־ל֑וֹ וְשָׁ֖ב לַֽאֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ:
he shall calculate the years of his sale: [The original owner asks the purchaser:] “How many years were left until the [next] Jubilee?” [He answers:] “Such-and-such [a number of years].” [The owner continues:] “And how much did I sell it to you for?” [He answers:] “For such-and-such [an amount of money].” [Continues the original owner:] “You would have eventually had to return the field to me at Jubilee.” Hence, [rather than buying actual land,] in effect, you bought [from me] a number of produce yields, according to the total for every year [remaining until Jubilee]. Now, you have eaten from it for three or four years [or whatever the amount may be]. Therefore, subtract their value from the total [i.e., from the original sale price], and take the remainder [until Jubilee].“ And this is the meaning of ”and return the remainder" of the purchase price over the crops he had eaten, and he shall give it to the purchaser. וחשב את שני ממכרו: כמה שנים היו עד היובל, כך וכך. ובכמה מכרתיה לך בכך וכך. עתיד היית להחזירה ביובל, נמצאת קונה מספר התבואות כפי חשבון של כל שנה. אכלת אותה שלש שנים או ארבע הוצא את דמיהן מן החשבון וטול את השאר, וזהו והשיב את העדף - בדמי המקח על האכילה שאכלה, ויתנם ללוקח:
the man to whom he had sold [it]: [i.e., “the man to whom he-] this seller who is coming to redeem it- [had sold it.” If the first purchaser had sold it to another person for a higher price, the original owner makes the above calculation only with the first purchaser to whom he sold the field and not with the subsequent purchaser]. — [Arachin 30a; Mizrachi] לאיש אשר מכר לו: המוכר הזה שבא לגאלה:
28But if he cannot afford enough to repay him, his sale shall remain in the possession of the one who has purchased it, until the Jubilee year. And then, in the Jubilee year, it shall go out and revert to his inheritance. כחוְאִ֨ם לֹא־מָֽצְאָ֜ה יָד֗וֹ דֵּי֘ הָשִׁ֣יב לוֹ֒ וְהָיָ֣ה מִמְכָּר֗וֹ בְּיַד֙ הַקֹּנֶ֣ה אֹת֔וֹ עַ֖ד שְׁנַ֣ת הַיּוֹבֵ֑ל וְיָצָא֙ בַּיֹּבֵ֔ל וְשָׁ֖ב לַֽאֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ:
enough to repay him: From here, [we learn] that he cannot redeem part [of a field but either all or nothing]. — [Torath Kohanim 25:48, Arachin 30a, Kid. 20b; Sifthei Chachamim] די השיב לו: מכאן שאינו גואל לחצאין:
until the Jubilee year: [i.e., until, but not including the Jubilee year (Torath Kohanim 25:50; Mizrachi), and hence the purchaser] must not at all enter the Jubilee year [while in possession of the field,] because the Jubilee year releases [the field from his possession] at its very onset. — [Arachin 28b and Rashi there] עד שנת היובל: שלא יכנס לתוך אותה שנה כלום, שהיובל משמט בתחלתו:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 90 - 96
• Hebrew text
• English text
Chapter 90
David found this prayer in its present form-receiving a tradition attributing it to MosesThe Midrash attributes the next eleven psalms to Moses (Rashi).-and incorporated it into the Tehillim. It speaks of the brevity of human life, and inspires man to repent and avoid pride in this world.
1. A prayer by Moses, the man of God. My Lord, You have been a shelter for us in every generation.
2. Before the mountains came into being, before You created the earth and the world-for ever and ever You are Almighty God.
3. You diminish man until he is crushed, and You say, "Return, you children of man.”
4. Indeed, a thousand years are in Your eyes like yesterday that has passed, like a watch of the night.
5. The stream of their life is as but a slumber; in the morning they are like grass that sprouts anew.
6. In the morning it thrives and sprouts anew; in the evening it withers and dries.
7. For we are consumed by Your anger, and destroyed by Your wrath.
8. You have set our wrongdoings before You, our hidden sins before the light of Your countenance.
9. For all our days have vanished in Your wrath; we cause our years to pass like a fleeting sound.
10. The days of our lives number seventy years, and if in great vigor, eighty years; most of them are but travail and futility, passing quickly and flying away.
11. Who can know the intensity of Your anger? Your wrath is commensurate with one's fear of You.
12. Teach us, then, to reckon our days, that we may acquire a wise heart.
13. Relent, O Lord; how long [will Your anger last]? Have compassion upon Your servants.
14. Satiate us in the morning with Your kindness, then we shall sing and rejoice throughout our days.
15. Give us joy corresponding to the days You afflicted us, the years we have seen adversity.
16. Let Your work be revealed to Your servants, and Your splendor be upon their children.
17. May the pleasantness of the Lord our God be upon us; establish for us the work of our hands; establish the work of our hands.
Chapter 91
This psalm inspires the hearts of the people to seek shelter under the wings of the Divine Presence. It also speaks of the four seasons of the year, and their respective ministering powers, instructing those who safeguard their souls to avoid them.
1. You who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Omnipotent:
2. I say of the Lord who is my refuge and my stronghold, my God in whom I trust,
3. that He will save you from the ensnaring trap, from the destructive pestilence.
4. He will cover you with His pinions and you will find refuge under His wings; His truth is a shield and an armor.
5. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day;
6. the pestilence that prowls in the darkness, nor the destruction that ravages at noon.
7. A thousand may fall at your [left] side, and ten thousand at your right, but it shall not reach you.
8. You need only look with your eyes, and you will see the retribution of the wicked.
9. Because you [have said,] "The Lord is my shelter," and you have made the Most High your haven,
10. no evil will befall you, no plague will come near your tent.
11. For He will instruct His angels in your behalf, to guard you in all your ways.
12. They will carry you in their hands, lest you injure your foot upon a rock.
13. You will tread upon the lion and the viper; you will trample upon the young lion and the serpent.
14. Because he desires Me, I will deliver him; I will fortify him, for he knows My Name.
15. When he calls on Me, I will answer him; I am with him in distress. I will deliver him and honor him.
16. I will satiate him with long life, and show him My deliverance.
Chapter 92
Sung every Shabbat by the Levites in the Holy Temple, this psalm speaks of the World to Come, and comforts the hearts of those crushed by suffering.
1. A psalm, a song for the Shabbat day.
2. It is good to praise the Lord, and to sing to Your Name, O Most High;
3. to proclaim Your kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness in the nights,
4. with a ten-stringed instrument and lyre, to the melody of a harp.
5. For You, Lord, have gladdened me with Your deeds; I sing for joy at the works of Your hand.
6. How great are Your works, O Lord; how very profound Your thoughts!
7. A brutish man cannot know, a fool cannot comprehend this:
8. When the wicked thrive like grass, and all evildoers flourish-it is in order that they may be destroyed forever.
9. But You, Lord, are exalted forever.
10. Indeed, Your enemies, O Lord, indeed Your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered.
11. But You have increased my might like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with fresh oil.
12. My eyes have seen [the downfall of] my watchful enemies; my ears have heard [the doom of] the wicked who rise against me.
13. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon.
14. Planted in the House of the Lord, they shall blossom in the courtyards of our God.
15. They shall be fruitful even in old age; they shall be full of sap and freshness-
16. to declare that the Lord is just; He is my Strength, and there is no injustice in Him.
Chapter 93
This psalm speaks of the Messianic era, when God will don grandeur-allowing no room for man to boast before Him as did Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, and Sennacherib.
1. The Lord is King; He has garbed Himself with grandeur; the Lord has robed Himself, He has girded Himself with strength; He has also established the world firmly that it shall not falter.
2. Your throne stands firm from of old; You have existed forever.
3. The rivers have raised, O Lord, the rivers have raised their voice; the rivers raise their raging waves.
4. More than the sound of many waters, than the mighty breakers of the sea, is the Lord mighty on High.
5. Your testimonies are most trustworthy; Your House will be resplendent in holiness, O Lord, forever.
Chapter 94
An awe-inspiring and wondrous prayer with which every individual can pray for the redemption. It is also an important moral teaching.
1. The Lord is a God of retribution; O God of retribution, reveal Yourself!
2. Judge of the earth, arise; render to the arrogant their recompense.
3. How long shall the wicked, O Lord, how long shall the wicked exult?
4. They continuously speak insolently; all the evildoers act arrogantly.
5. They crush Your people, O Lord, and oppress Your heritage.
6. They kill the widow and the stranger, and murder the orphans.
7. And they say, "The Lord does not see, the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
8. Understand, you senseless among the people; you fools, when will you become wise?
9. Shall He who implants the ear not hear? Shall He who forms the eye not see?
10. Shall He who chastises nations not punish? Shall He who imparts knowledge to man [not know]?
11. The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are naught.
12. Fortunate is the man whom You chastise, O Lord, and instruct him in Your Torah,
13. bestowing upon him tranquillity in times of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked.
14. For the Lord will not abandon His people, nor forsake His heritage.
15. For judgment shall again be consonant with justice, and all the upright in heart will pursue it.
16. Who would rise up for me against the wicked ones; who would stand up for me against the evildoers?
17. Had the Lord not been a help to me, my soul would have soon dwelt in the silence [of the grave].
18. When I thought that my foot was slipping, Your kindness, O Lord, supported me.
19. When my [worrisome] thoughts multiply within me, Your consolation delights my soul.
20. Can one in the seat of evil, one who makes iniquity into law, consort with You?
21. They band together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.
22. The Lord has been my stronghold; my God, the strength of my refuge.
23. He will turn their violence against them and destroy them through their own wickedness; the Lord, our God, will destroy them.
Chapter 95
This psalm speaks of the future, when man will say to his fellow, "Come, let us sing and offer praise to God for the miracles He has performed for us!"
1. Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us raise our voices in jubilation to the Rock of our deliverance.
2. Let us approach Him with thanksgiving; let us raise our voices to Him in song.
3. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King over all supernal beings;
4. in His hands are the depths of the earth, and the heights of the mountains are His.
5. Indeed, the sea is His, for He made it; His hands formed the dry land.
6. Come, let us prostrate ourselves and bow down; let us bend the knee before the Lord, our Maker.
7. For He is our God, and we are the people that He tends, the flock under His [guiding] hand-even this very day, if you would but hearken to His voice!
8. Do not harden your heart as at Merivah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9. where your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they had seen My deeds.
10. For forty years I quarreled with that generation; and I said, "They are a people of erring hearts, they do not know My ways.”
11. So I vowed in My anger that they would not enter My resting place.
Chapter 96
The time will yet come when man will say to his fellow: "Come, let us sing to God!"
1. Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2. Sing to the Lord, bless His Name; proclaim His deliverance from day to day.
3. Recount His glory among the nations, His wonders among all the peoples.
4. For the Lord is great and highly praised; He is awesome above all gods.
5. For all the gods of the nations are naught, but the Lord made the heavens.
6. Majesty and splendor are before Him, might and beauty in His Sanctuary.
7. Render to the Lord, O families of nations, render to the Lord honor and might.
8. Render to the Lord honor due to His Name; bring an offering and come to His courtyards.
9. Bow down to the Lord in resplendent holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.
10. Proclaim among the nations, "The Lord reigns"; indeed, the world is firmly established that it shall not falter; He will judge the peoples with righteousness.
11. The heavens will rejoice, the earth will exult; the sea and its fullness will roar.
12. The fields and everything therein will jubilate; then all the trees of the forest will sing.
13. Before the Lord [they shall rejoice], for He has come, for He has come to judge the earth; He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with His truth.
Tanya: Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 49
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Today's Tanya Lesson
Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 49ובזה יובן טוב טעם ודעת לתקנת חכמים, שתקנו ברכות קריאת שמע: שתים לפניה כו׳, דלכאורה אין להן שייכות כלל עם קריאת שמע, כמו שכתבו הרשב״א ושאר פוסקים
This will enable one to understand the eminently reasonable explanation of the Rabbinic enactment(Mishnah, Berachot 1:4) ordaining the recitation of the blessings of the Shema: two blessings preceding it, and so on.1 For at first glance it would appear that they have no connection whatever with the recital of the Shema, as Rashba2 and other halachic authorities have stated.
In this, they are unlike other Rabbinic blessings pronounced over mitzvot, where each such blessing refers explicitly to the mitzvah itself (as for example the blessing “...to put on the tefillin”).
ולמה קראו אותן ברכות קריאת שמע, ולמה תקנו אותן לפניה דווקא
Why, then, were they termed “Blessings of the Shema?” And why was it ordained that they be recited specifically before it when they are in no apparent way connected to it?
The Alter Rebbe explains that the purpose of these blessings is to serve as a preparation to the Shema. The main objective of the Shema is attaining a “love of G‑d with both one’s inclinations” — so that not only the divine soul, but the animal soul and Yetzer Hara also come to love G‑d. And for this one must first meditate on the contents of the blessings of the Shema, which describe the self-nullification of the angels and other creatures.
Thus, the blessings preceding the Shema are indeed similar to other blessings. Just as the Sages instituted blessings to be recited before performing any other particular mitzvah in order to make the person a fit receptacle for the beneficent flow he receives from its performance, so, too, did they institute the blessings preceding the Shema in order for one to properly perform that mitzvah.
אלא משום שעיקר קריאת שמע: לקיים בכל לבבך כו׳, בשני יצריך כו׳
But the reason is that the essence of the recital of the Shema is to fulfill the injunction, “with all your heart...,” that is,3 “with both inclinations...” — that a Jew should love G‑d with the whole of his heart, even with his animal soul and evil inclination,
דהיינו לעמוד נגד כל מונע מאהבת ה׳
that is to say, to withstand anything that hinders [him] from the love of G‑d.
ולבבך: הן האשה וילדיה, שלבבו של אדם קשורה בהן בטבעו, כמו שאמרו רז״ל על פסוק: הוא אמר ויהי, זו אשה, הוא צוה ויעמוד, אלו בנים
For “your heart” alludes to one’s wife and her children, to whom a man’s heart is, by his very nature, bound. So have the Sages, of blessed memory, commented4 on the verse:5 “For He spoke and it came to pass,” that this refers to one’s wife; “He commanded, and it stood fast,” that this refers to the children,
I.e., it is G‑d’s command that imbues a man’s nature with the bond to his wife and children. These are “your heart,” the things to which his heart is bound — and they are not to hinder his divine service.
ונפשך ומאדך: כמשמעו, חיי ומזוני
and by “your soul and might” is understood, literally, your life and sustenance; they, too, should not act as an impediment to spiritual service;
להפקיר הכל בשביל אהבת ה׳
all are renounced for the love of G‑d.
Thus, neither the things found “within” — the animal soul and evil inclination, nor those things “without” — one’s wife, children and sustenance, should hinder a person from those matters which lead to the love of G‑d.
ואיך יבא האדם החומרי למדה זו
But how can physical man attain this level? — of G‑dly love that nothing can obstruct.
לכך סידרו תחלה ברכת יוצר אור, ושם נאמר ונשנה באריכות ענין וסדר המלאכים העומדים ברום עולם
It is to this end, therefore, that the blessing of Yotzer Or was introduced to be recited first, for in this blessing there is stated and repeated at length — and this meditation must indeed be a lengthy one, taking into account all the specific details — the account and order of the angels “standing at the world’s summit,”
להודיע גדולתו של הקב״ה, איך שכולם בטלים לאורו יתברך, ומשמיעים ביראה כו׳ ומקדישים כו׳ ואומרים ביראה: קדוש כו׳, כלומר שהוא מובדל מהם ואינו מתלבש בהם בבחינת גילוי
in order to proclaim the greatness of the Holy One, blessed be He — how they are all nullified in His blessed light and “pronounce in fear...” “and sanctify...” G‑d’s Name, and “declare in fear, ‘Holy’,”... meaning6 by saying “Holy...” that He is apart from them, and does not clothe Himself in them in a revealed state,
אלא מלא כל הארץ כבודו, היא כנסת ישראל למעלה, וישראל למטה, כנ״ל
but where is G‑d revealed? — “The whole earth is full of His glory,” namely, the Community of Israel abovei.e., Malchut of Atzilut, the source of Jewish souls, which is called “earth”, and Israel on this earth below, wherein Jews perform Torah and mitzvot, for which reason specifically is this world filled with His glory: it is here that G‑d clothes and reveals Himself, as has been explained earlier.
All the above refers to the comprehension of the supernal angels, the serafim, who are able to comprehend how G‑d is apart from them and that only the earth is charged with His glory.
וכן האופנים וחיות הקודש ברעש גדול וכו׳: ברוך כבוד ה׳ ממקומו, לפי שאין יודעים ומשיגים מקומו
So, too, we find related in the7 blessing of Yotzer Or, regarding other categories of angels, whose place is in a lower world than the serafim, and who are therefore unable to comprehend how G‑dliness is separate and apart, that “the ofanim and the holy chayyot with a mighty sound” declare:8 ‘Blessed be the glory of the L‑rd and may it be drawn down from its place,’" for they neither know, nor do they apprehend His place — the place from which G‑dliness is revealed, for which reason they say ”from its place,“ wherever that place may be,
וכמו שכתוב: כי הוא לבדו מרום וקדוש
as we say a few lines later, “For He alone is exalted and holy.”
The various degrees of nullification of these angels are thus spoken of in the first of the two blessings preceding the Shema. When a person meditates on this matter he will begin to understand G‑d’s greatness, for all the lofty angels are nullified to Him.
ואחר כך ברכה שניה
Then follows the second blessing, which declares G‑d’s great love of the Jewish people.
Notwithstanding the lofty service and the subjugation of all the heavenly angels, G‑d saw fit to set them all aside, as it were, choosing instead to delight in the service of His people below. This blessing begins:
אהבת עולם אהבתנו ה׳ אלקינו, כלומר, שהניח כל צבא מעלה הקדושים
“L‑rd our G‑d, You have loved us with everlasting love.” That is to say, that He set aside all the supernal, holy hosts — the heavenly angels, for they are not the ultimate intent of creation,
והשרה שכינתו עלינו, להיות נקרא אלקינו, כמו: אלקי אברהם כו׳, כנ״ל
and caused His Shechinah to dwell upon us, the Jewish people, so that He be called “our G‑d” in the same sense that He is called9 “the G‑d of Abraham,...” as explained earlier.10
Abraham was completely nullified to G‑d. To the same degree that G‑d is called “the G‑d of Abraham,” He is also called “our G‑d.” This is accomplished, as explained earlier, through the performance of Torah and mitzvot.
והיינו כי אהבה דוחקת את הבשר
This is because “love impels the flesh.”
Love effects concealment and contraction. So, too, did G‑d’s love for His people bring about a certain contraction, in that He chose the service of Jewish souls in the state in which they are found here below — enclothed in physical bodies, and in the finite world.
ולכן נקראת אהבת עולם, שהיא בחינת צמצום אורו הגדול הבלתי תכלית, להתלבש בבחינת גבול הנקרא עולם
Therefore this love on G‑d’s part is called ahavat olam, literally, “a love of the world,” for it refers to the “contraction” of His great and infinite light, by assuming the garb of finitude, which is called olam (“world”) — the concept of “world” signifying the finitude of space and time. G‑d brought about this “contraction”:
בעבור אהבת עמו ישראל, כדי לקרבם אליו, ליכלל ביחודו ואחדותו יתברך
for the sake of His love for His people Israel, in order to bring them near to Him, that they might be absorbed into His blessed Unity and Oneness through Torah and mitzvot.
וזהו שכתוב: חמלה גדולה ויתירה
This is also the meaning of what we say a little later on in the same blessing of Ahavat Olam, and in connection thereto:“Exceedingly abounding compassion,” i.e., more than You have bestowed upon others, “have You bestowed upon us,”
פירוש: יתירה על קרבת אלקים שבכל צבא מעלה
namely, [a compassion] exceeding the nearness of G‑d toward all the hosts above.
G‑d’s nearness to them comes out of His sense of compassion for them. This can in no way compare to the compassion G‑d feels for us, for which reason He draws us closer to Him. The same blessing of Ahavat Olam then goes on to say:
ובנו בחרת מכל עם ולשון, הוא הגוף החומרי הנדמה בחומריותו לגופי אומות העולם
“And You have chosen us from among all nations and tongues”: this refers to the material body which, in its corporeal aspects, is similar to the bodies of the gentiles of the world.
True freedom of choice can only come about when one has two completely equal choices. When two things, however, are unequal, one does not freely choose one over the other — the qualities found in one and lacking in the other compel the choice.
It is therefore impossible to say that “You have chosen us” refers to Jewish souls, for there can be no comparison between Jewish and non-Jewish souls, inasmuch as a Jew’s soul11 “is truly part of G‑d Above.” Rather, “You have chosen us” refers to the Jew’s material body, which in its corporeality is similar to the bodies of non-Jews.
G‑d freely chose Jewish bodies to be the proper receptacle for Jewish souls, desiring that through the deeds performed by the body (for all physical mitzvot demand bodily participation) the Jew should become united with Him. This the Alter Rebbe now goes on to explain, first continuing to quote from Ahavat Olam:
וקרבתנו וכו׳ להודות וכו׳, ופירוש הודאה יתבאר במקום אחר, וליחדך כו׳, ליכלל ביחודו יתברך כנ״ל
“And you have brought us near...to give thanks...” (the interpretation of “thanks” will be given elsewhere,where the quality of abnegation found in thanksgiving will be explained), “...and proclaim your Oneness...,” which means to be absorbed in His blessed Unity, as has been explained above.
The Alter Rebbe will soon conclude that meditating on the concepts appearing in the blessings of the Shema leads a Jew to the proper realization of the Shema — attaining an ardent love for G‑d.
FOOTNOTES
1.Concerning the possibility that “and so on” alludes to the blessings which follow the Shema, the Rebbe notes:
“This is not [found] in Tanya. More important, the answer to this is not given. On the contrary, at the end of his question the Alter Rebbe explicitly says, ’specifically before it‘; he does not mention ’after it,‘ even by indicating this with ’and so on.‘ This is especially significant because there is a connection to ’after it,‘ for the latter blessings speak of accepting the Heavenly Yoke and the Exodus from Egypt (and these themes refer to the recitation of the Shema, as explained at the end of ch. 47).
”’And so on,‘ then, is intended either to include the recitation of the evening Shema, or it alludes to the conclusion of the above-quoted Rabbinic text: ’two before it... and in the evening.‘ Essentially both answers are the same. And although later on the Alter Rebbe specifies the morning blessings, the same can be understood from them regarding those in the evening.“
2. Quoted in Beit Yosef, Orach Chayim ch. 46.
3. Berachot 54a.
4. Shabbat 152a.
5. Tehillim 33:9.
6.The Rebbe comments: The Alter Rebbe adds the word ”meaning“ in order to tell us that the declaration ”Holy“ does not mean here, as it does in other places, that notice is being given that the one spoken of is holy, or the like. For to make it known that someone is holy implies that the speaker is aware of and grasps the other’s holiness. (Likewise, regarding the Shunamite woman who called Elisha holy, the Gemara asks: ”How did she know?“)
Here, however, when the angels proclaim ”Holy“ the intent is the very opposite: they do not know Him, for He is Holy — i.e., separate, and apart from them.
(This incidentally deflects another possible question: Since the angels are in a state of self-nullification, how is it conceivable that they ”proclaim and announce“? According to the above, however, this may be understood: They ”proclaim and announce“ that they are nullified to G‑d, that He is separate and apart from them, and that they have no conception of Him.)
7. In the passages preceding the Shema.
8. Yechezkel 3:12.
9. In the Shemoneh Esreh.
10. Chs. 46, 47.
11. Ch. 2, above.
Rambam:
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Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
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Positive Commandment 108
The Purifying Waters of the Red Heifer
We are commanded regarding the laws of the Mei Nidah [the waters in which the ashes of the Red Heifer have been mixed]; the conditions under which they purify [one who is ritually impure as a result of contact with a corpse] and the conditions under which they cause ritual impurity [to the one who handles them].
Full text of this Mitzvah »
The Purifying Waters of the Red Heifer
Positive Commandment 108
Translated by Berel Bell
The 108th mitzvah is that we are commanded to follow the laws regarding mei niddah:1 that in some cases it will make [something which was previously tameh] tahor, and in other cases make [something which was previously tahor] tameh, as explained in the section dealing with this mitzvah.2
You should be aware that the 13 forms of tumah listed above3 — namely, neveilah, sheratzim, foods, niddah, a woman who has given birth, a leprous person, a leprous garment, a leprous house, zav, zavah, semen, a deadly body, and mei niddah — as well as the purification procedure for each, are all explicitly stated in Scripture. Each mitzvah contains numerous verses, laws and conditions, as written in the Torah portions Vay'hi BaYom HaShemini,4 Ishah Ki Tazriah,5 Zos Tihiyeh,6 and Vayik'chu Eilechah Parah Adumah.7 These four Torah portions contain all the verses which speak of the forms of tumah.
However, the laws governing these forms of tumah in general, and the details regarding each one in particular are all found in Seder Taharos. Some categories are covered in particular tractates, such as tractate Taharos, Machshirim and Uktzin. These three tractates deal solely with, and were written to explain the tumah of foods. Any mention of other forms of tumah is incidental. Tractate Niddah includes the laws of tumas niddah, zavah, and a woman who has given birth. Tractate Kerisus also contains some laws of a woman who has given birth. Tractate Negaim contains the laws of leprous people, garments and houses. Tractate Zavim contains the laws regarding a zav, zavah and semen. Tractate Ohalos contains the laws of tumas meis. Tractate Parah contains the laws of mei niddah — when it conveys tumah and when taharah.
The tumah of neveilah and sheretz, however, are not limited to any particular tractates. Their laws are scattered throughout this Seder [i.e. Taharos], mostly and primarily in Keilim and Taharos. Tractate Ediyos also deals with many questions of this sort.
We have already written a commentary on this entire Sefer, i.e. Taharos,8that makes it unnecessary to consult any other book for anything related to tumah and taharah.
FOOTNOTES
1.Well water which has the ashes of the red heifer mixed in. See P113.
2.See Hilchos Parah Adumah, Ch. 15. In general, when sprinkled on a person who is tameh, it will make him tahor. If the person was tahor, and the water was not yet used, it will make him tameh.
3.In the order of Sefer HaMitzvos, this mitzvah is the last among the forms of tumah (P96 — P108). In general, the Rambam writes by each mitzvah where in the Mishneh or Gemara it is discussed. Here, the Rambam lists the sources for all 13 mitzvos together.
4.Lev. 11.
5.Ibid., 12-13.
6.Ibid., 14-15.
7.Num. 19.
8.I.e. the Rambam's commentary to the Mishneh.• 1 Chapter: Malveh veLoveh Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 1
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Monday, Iyar 19, 5777 · May 15, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 49ובזה יובן טוב טעם ודעת לתקנת חכמים, שתקנו ברכות קריאת שמע: שתים לפניה כו׳, דלכאורה אין להן שייכות כלל עם קריאת שמע, כמו שכתבו הרשב״א ושאר פוסקים
This will enable one to understand the eminently reasonable explanation of the Rabbinic enactment(Mishnah, Berachot 1:4) ordaining the recitation of the blessings of the Shema: two blessings preceding it, and so on.1 For at first glance it would appear that they have no connection whatever with the recital of the Shema, as Rashba2 and other halachic authorities have stated.
In this, they are unlike other Rabbinic blessings pronounced over mitzvot, where each such blessing refers explicitly to the mitzvah itself (as for example the blessing “...to put on the tefillin”).
ולמה קראו אותן ברכות קריאת שמע, ולמה תקנו אותן לפניה דווקא
Why, then, were they termed “Blessings of the Shema?” And why was it ordained that they be recited specifically before it when they are in no apparent way connected to it?
The Alter Rebbe explains that the purpose of these blessings is to serve as a preparation to the Shema. The main objective of the Shema is attaining a “love of G‑d with both one’s inclinations” — so that not only the divine soul, but the animal soul and Yetzer Hara also come to love G‑d. And for this one must first meditate on the contents of the blessings of the Shema, which describe the self-nullification of the angels and other creatures.
Thus, the blessings preceding the Shema are indeed similar to other blessings. Just as the Sages instituted blessings to be recited before performing any other particular mitzvah in order to make the person a fit receptacle for the beneficent flow he receives from its performance, so, too, did they institute the blessings preceding the Shema in order for one to properly perform that mitzvah.
אלא משום שעיקר קריאת שמע: לקיים בכל לבבך כו׳, בשני יצריך כו׳
But the reason is that the essence of the recital of the Shema is to fulfill the injunction, “with all your heart...,” that is,3 “with both inclinations...” — that a Jew should love G‑d with the whole of his heart, even with his animal soul and evil inclination,
דהיינו לעמוד נגד כל מונע מאהבת ה׳
that is to say, to withstand anything that hinders [him] from the love of G‑d.
ולבבך: הן האשה וילדיה, שלבבו של אדם קשורה בהן בטבעו, כמו שאמרו רז״ל על פסוק: הוא אמר ויהי, זו אשה, הוא צוה ויעמוד, אלו בנים
For “your heart” alludes to one’s wife and her children, to whom a man’s heart is, by his very nature, bound. So have the Sages, of blessed memory, commented4 on the verse:5 “For He spoke and it came to pass,” that this refers to one’s wife; “He commanded, and it stood fast,” that this refers to the children,
I.e., it is G‑d’s command that imbues a man’s nature with the bond to his wife and children. These are “your heart,” the things to which his heart is bound — and they are not to hinder his divine service.
ונפשך ומאדך: כמשמעו, חיי ומזוני
and by “your soul and might” is understood, literally, your life and sustenance; they, too, should not act as an impediment to spiritual service;
להפקיר הכל בשביל אהבת ה׳
all are renounced for the love of G‑d.
Thus, neither the things found “within” — the animal soul and evil inclination, nor those things “without” — one’s wife, children and sustenance, should hinder a person from those matters which lead to the love of G‑d.
ואיך יבא האדם החומרי למדה זו
But how can physical man attain this level? — of G‑dly love that nothing can obstruct.
לכך סידרו תחלה ברכת יוצר אור, ושם נאמר ונשנה באריכות ענין וסדר המלאכים העומדים ברום עולם
It is to this end, therefore, that the blessing of Yotzer Or was introduced to be recited first, for in this blessing there is stated and repeated at length — and this meditation must indeed be a lengthy one, taking into account all the specific details — the account and order of the angels “standing at the world’s summit,”
להודיע גדולתו של הקב״ה, איך שכולם בטלים לאורו יתברך, ומשמיעים ביראה כו׳ ומקדישים כו׳ ואומרים ביראה: קדוש כו׳, כלומר שהוא מובדל מהם ואינו מתלבש בהם בבחינת גילוי
in order to proclaim the greatness of the Holy One, blessed be He — how they are all nullified in His blessed light and “pronounce in fear...” “and sanctify...” G‑d’s Name, and “declare in fear, ‘Holy’,”... meaning6 by saying “Holy...” that He is apart from them, and does not clothe Himself in them in a revealed state,
אלא מלא כל הארץ כבודו, היא כנסת ישראל למעלה, וישראל למטה, כנ״ל
but where is G‑d revealed? — “The whole earth is full of His glory,” namely, the Community of Israel abovei.e., Malchut of Atzilut, the source of Jewish souls, which is called “earth”, and Israel on this earth below, wherein Jews perform Torah and mitzvot, for which reason specifically is this world filled with His glory: it is here that G‑d clothes and reveals Himself, as has been explained earlier.
All the above refers to the comprehension of the supernal angels, the serafim, who are able to comprehend how G‑d is apart from them and that only the earth is charged with His glory.
וכן האופנים וחיות הקודש ברעש גדול וכו׳: ברוך כבוד ה׳ ממקומו, לפי שאין יודעים ומשיגים מקומו
So, too, we find related in the7 blessing of Yotzer Or, regarding other categories of angels, whose place is in a lower world than the serafim, and who are therefore unable to comprehend how G‑dliness is separate and apart, that “the ofanim and the holy chayyot with a mighty sound” declare:8 ‘Blessed be the glory of the L‑rd and may it be drawn down from its place,’" for they neither know, nor do they apprehend His place — the place from which G‑dliness is revealed, for which reason they say ”from its place,“ wherever that place may be,
וכמו שכתוב: כי הוא לבדו מרום וקדוש
as we say a few lines later, “For He alone is exalted and holy.”
The various degrees of nullification of these angels are thus spoken of in the first of the two blessings preceding the Shema. When a person meditates on this matter he will begin to understand G‑d’s greatness, for all the lofty angels are nullified to Him.
ואחר כך ברכה שניה
Then follows the second blessing, which declares G‑d’s great love of the Jewish people.
Notwithstanding the lofty service and the subjugation of all the heavenly angels, G‑d saw fit to set them all aside, as it were, choosing instead to delight in the service of His people below. This blessing begins:
אהבת עולם אהבתנו ה׳ אלקינו, כלומר, שהניח כל צבא מעלה הקדושים
“L‑rd our G‑d, You have loved us with everlasting love.” That is to say, that He set aside all the supernal, holy hosts — the heavenly angels, for they are not the ultimate intent of creation,
והשרה שכינתו עלינו, להיות נקרא אלקינו, כמו: אלקי אברהם כו׳, כנ״ל
and caused His Shechinah to dwell upon us, the Jewish people, so that He be called “our G‑d” in the same sense that He is called9 “the G‑d of Abraham,...” as explained earlier.10
Abraham was completely nullified to G‑d. To the same degree that G‑d is called “the G‑d of Abraham,” He is also called “our G‑d.” This is accomplished, as explained earlier, through the performance of Torah and mitzvot.
והיינו כי אהבה דוחקת את הבשר
This is because “love impels the flesh.”
Love effects concealment and contraction. So, too, did G‑d’s love for His people bring about a certain contraction, in that He chose the service of Jewish souls in the state in which they are found here below — enclothed in physical bodies, and in the finite world.
ולכן נקראת אהבת עולם, שהיא בחינת צמצום אורו הגדול הבלתי תכלית, להתלבש בבחינת גבול הנקרא עולם
Therefore this love on G‑d’s part is called ahavat olam, literally, “a love of the world,” for it refers to the “contraction” of His great and infinite light, by assuming the garb of finitude, which is called olam (“world”) — the concept of “world” signifying the finitude of space and time. G‑d brought about this “contraction”:
בעבור אהבת עמו ישראל, כדי לקרבם אליו, ליכלל ביחודו ואחדותו יתברך
for the sake of His love for His people Israel, in order to bring them near to Him, that they might be absorbed into His blessed Unity and Oneness through Torah and mitzvot.
וזהו שכתוב: חמלה גדולה ויתירה
This is also the meaning of what we say a little later on in the same blessing of Ahavat Olam, and in connection thereto:“Exceedingly abounding compassion,” i.e., more than You have bestowed upon others, “have You bestowed upon us,”
פירוש: יתירה על קרבת אלקים שבכל צבא מעלה
namely, [a compassion] exceeding the nearness of G‑d toward all the hosts above.
G‑d’s nearness to them comes out of His sense of compassion for them. This can in no way compare to the compassion G‑d feels for us, for which reason He draws us closer to Him. The same blessing of Ahavat Olam then goes on to say:
ובנו בחרת מכל עם ולשון, הוא הגוף החומרי הנדמה בחומריותו לגופי אומות העולם
“And You have chosen us from among all nations and tongues”: this refers to the material body which, in its corporeal aspects, is similar to the bodies of the gentiles of the world.
True freedom of choice can only come about when one has two completely equal choices. When two things, however, are unequal, one does not freely choose one over the other — the qualities found in one and lacking in the other compel the choice.
It is therefore impossible to say that “You have chosen us” refers to Jewish souls, for there can be no comparison between Jewish and non-Jewish souls, inasmuch as a Jew’s soul11 “is truly part of G‑d Above.” Rather, “You have chosen us” refers to the Jew’s material body, which in its corporeality is similar to the bodies of non-Jews.
G‑d freely chose Jewish bodies to be the proper receptacle for Jewish souls, desiring that through the deeds performed by the body (for all physical mitzvot demand bodily participation) the Jew should become united with Him. This the Alter Rebbe now goes on to explain, first continuing to quote from Ahavat Olam:
וקרבתנו וכו׳ להודות וכו׳, ופירוש הודאה יתבאר במקום אחר, וליחדך כו׳, ליכלל ביחודו יתברך כנ״ל
“And you have brought us near...to give thanks...” (the interpretation of “thanks” will be given elsewhere,where the quality of abnegation found in thanksgiving will be explained), “...and proclaim your Oneness...,” which means to be absorbed in His blessed Unity, as has been explained above.
The Alter Rebbe will soon conclude that meditating on the concepts appearing in the blessings of the Shema leads a Jew to the proper realization of the Shema — attaining an ardent love for G‑d.
FOOTNOTES
1.Concerning the possibility that “and so on” alludes to the blessings which follow the Shema, the Rebbe notes:
“This is not [found] in Tanya. More important, the answer to this is not given. On the contrary, at the end of his question the Alter Rebbe explicitly says, ’specifically before it‘; he does not mention ’after it,‘ even by indicating this with ’and so on.‘ This is especially significant because there is a connection to ’after it,‘ for the latter blessings speak of accepting the Heavenly Yoke and the Exodus from Egypt (and these themes refer to the recitation of the Shema, as explained at the end of ch. 47).
”’And so on,‘ then, is intended either to include the recitation of the evening Shema, or it alludes to the conclusion of the above-quoted Rabbinic text: ’two before it... and in the evening.‘ Essentially both answers are the same. And although later on the Alter Rebbe specifies the morning blessings, the same can be understood from them regarding those in the evening.“
2. Quoted in Beit Yosef, Orach Chayim ch. 46.
3. Berachot 54a.
4. Shabbat 152a.
5. Tehillim 33:9.
6.The Rebbe comments: The Alter Rebbe adds the word ”meaning“ in order to tell us that the declaration ”Holy“ does not mean here, as it does in other places, that notice is being given that the one spoken of is holy, or the like. For to make it known that someone is holy implies that the speaker is aware of and grasps the other’s holiness. (Likewise, regarding the Shunamite woman who called Elisha holy, the Gemara asks: ”How did she know?“)
Here, however, when the angels proclaim ”Holy“ the intent is the very opposite: they do not know Him, for He is Holy — i.e., separate, and apart from them.
(This incidentally deflects another possible question: Since the angels are in a state of self-nullification, how is it conceivable that they ”proclaim and announce“? According to the above, however, this may be understood: They ”proclaim and announce“ that they are nullified to G‑d, that He is separate and apart from them, and that they have no conception of Him.)
7. In the passages preceding the Shema.
8. Yechezkel 3:12.
9. In the Shemoneh Esreh.
10. Chs. 46, 47.
11. Ch. 2, above.
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvos:
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Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
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Positive Commandment 108
The Purifying Waters of the Red Heifer
We are commanded regarding the laws of the Mei Nidah [the waters in which the ashes of the Red Heifer have been mixed]; the conditions under which they purify [one who is ritually impure as a result of contact with a corpse] and the conditions under which they cause ritual impurity [to the one who handles them].
Full text of this Mitzvah »
The Purifying Waters of the Red Heifer
Positive Commandment 108
Translated by Berel Bell
The 108th mitzvah is that we are commanded to follow the laws regarding mei niddah:1 that in some cases it will make [something which was previously tameh] tahor, and in other cases make [something which was previously tahor] tameh, as explained in the section dealing with this mitzvah.2
You should be aware that the 13 forms of tumah listed above3 — namely, neveilah, sheratzim, foods, niddah, a woman who has given birth, a leprous person, a leprous garment, a leprous house, zav, zavah, semen, a deadly body, and mei niddah — as well as the purification procedure for each, are all explicitly stated in Scripture. Each mitzvah contains numerous verses, laws and conditions, as written in the Torah portions Vay'hi BaYom HaShemini,4 Ishah Ki Tazriah,5 Zos Tihiyeh,6 and Vayik'chu Eilechah Parah Adumah.7 These four Torah portions contain all the verses which speak of the forms of tumah.
However, the laws governing these forms of tumah in general, and the details regarding each one in particular are all found in Seder Taharos. Some categories are covered in particular tractates, such as tractate Taharos, Machshirim and Uktzin. These three tractates deal solely with, and were written to explain the tumah of foods. Any mention of other forms of tumah is incidental. Tractate Niddah includes the laws of tumas niddah, zavah, and a woman who has given birth. Tractate Kerisus also contains some laws of a woman who has given birth. Tractate Negaim contains the laws of leprous people, garments and houses. Tractate Zavim contains the laws regarding a zav, zavah and semen. Tractate Ohalos contains the laws of tumas meis. Tractate Parah contains the laws of mei niddah — when it conveys tumah and when taharah.
The tumah of neveilah and sheretz, however, are not limited to any particular tractates. Their laws are scattered throughout this Seder [i.e. Taharos], mostly and primarily in Keilim and Taharos. Tractate Ediyos also deals with many questions of this sort.
We have already written a commentary on this entire Sefer, i.e. Taharos,8that makes it unnecessary to consult any other book for anything related to tumah and taharah.
FOOTNOTES
1.Well water which has the ashes of the red heifer mixed in. See P113.
2.See Hilchos Parah Adumah, Ch. 15. In general, when sprinkled on a person who is tameh, it will make him tahor. If the person was tahor, and the water was not yet used, it will make him tameh.
3.In the order of Sefer HaMitzvos, this mitzvah is the last among the forms of tumah (P96 — P108). In general, the Rambam writes by each mitzvah where in the Mishneh or Gemara it is discussed. Here, the Rambam lists the sources for all 13 mitzvos together.
4.Lev. 11.
5.Ibid., 12-13.
6.Ibid., 14-15.
7.Num. 19.
8.I.e. the Rambam's commentary to the Mishneh.• 1 Chapter: Malveh veLoveh Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 1
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Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 1
Introduction to Hilchos Malveh veLoveh
They contain twelve mitzvot: four positive commandments and eight negative commandments. They are:
1) to lend to a poor and destitute person;
2) not to press him for collection;
3) to press a gentile for collection of a debt he owes;
4) not to forcibly take collateral from a borrower;
5) to return collateral to its owner when he requires it;
6) not to delay giving the collateral to the poor man who owns it when he requires it;
7) not to take collateral from a widow;
8) not to take utensils used to prepare food as collateral;
9) that a lender should not loan at interest;
10) that a borrower should not take a loan given at interest;
11) that no one should be involved with the lender and the borrower of a loan given at interest - not to serve as a witness between them, not to draw up a promissory note, nor to serve as a guarantor;
12) to borrow and lend money to a gentile at interest.
These mitzvot are explained in the following chapters.
רמב"ם הלכות מלוה ולוה - הקדמה
הלכות מלוה ולוה. יש בכללן י"ב מצות, ארבע מצות עשה, ושמונה מצות לא תעשה, וזהו פרטן:
(א) להלוות לעני ומך.
(ב) שלא יגוש אותו.
(ג) ליגוש את העכו"ם.
(ד) שלא ימשכן בעל חוב בזרוע.
(ה) להחזיר המשכון לבעליו בזמן שהוא צריך לו.
(ו) שלא יאחר המשכון מבעליו העני בעת שהוא צריך לו.
(ז) שלא יחבול אלמנה.
(ח) שלא יחבול כלים שעושין בהן אוכל נפש.
(ט) שלא יתן המלוה בריבית.
(י) שלא ילוה הלוה בריבית.
(יא) שלא יתעסק אדם בין מלוה ולוה בריבית שלא יעיד ביניהן ולא יכתוב שטר ולא יערוב.
(יב) ללוות מן עכו"ם ולהלוות לו בריבית.
וביאור מצות אלו בפרקים אלו.
1
It is a positive commandment to lend money to the poor among Israel, as Exodus 23:24 states: "If you will lend money to My nation, to the poor among you." Lest one think that this is a matter left to the person's choice, it is also stated Deuteronomy 15:8: "You shall certainly loan to him."
This mitzvah surpasses the mitzvah of charity given to a poor person who asks for alms. For the latter person had already been compelled to ask, and this one has not yet sunk that low. Indeed, the Torah is very severe with regard to a person who does not lend money to a poor person, stating Ibid.:9: "Beware lest there be a defiant thought in your heart... and you look badly upon your poor brother and you not give him."א
מצות עשה להלוות לעניי ישראל שנאמר אם כסף תלוה את עמי את העני עמך, יכול רשות תלמוד לומר העבט תעביטנו וגו' ומצוה זו גדולה מן הצדקה אל העני השואל שזה כבר נצרך לשאול וזה עדיין לא הגיע למדה זו, והתורה הקפידה על מי שימנע מלהלוות לעני שנאמר ורעה עינך באחיך האביון וגו'.
2
Whenever a person presses a poor person for payment when he knows that he does not have the means to repay the debt, he transgresses a negative commandment, as Exodus 22:24 states: "Do not act as a creditor toward him." It is, by contrast, a positive mitzvah to press a gentile for payment and to cause him exasperation, as Deuteronomy 15:3 states: "Press a gentile for payment." According to the Oral Tradition, we have learned that this is a positive commandment.ב
כל הנוגש העני והוא יודע שאין לו מה יחזיר לו עובר בלא תעשה שנאמר לא תהיה לו כנושה, ומצות עשה לנגוש את העכו"ם ולהצר לו שנאמר לנכרי תגוש מפי השמועה למדו שזו מצות עשה.
3
It is forbidden for one to appear before a person who owes him money when he knows that the debtor does not have the means to repay the debt. It is even forbidden to pass before him, lest one frighten him or embarrass him, even though one does not demand payment. Needless to say, this applies if he demands payment.
Just as it is forbidden for a creditor to demand payment; so, too, it is forbidden for a lender to withhold money that he possesses due a colleague, telling him: "Go and return," as Proverbs 3:28 states: "Do not tell your colleague: 'Go and return.'"
Similarly, it is forbidden for a lender to take a loan and use it when it is unnecessary and lose it, leaving his creditor without a source to collect the debt. This applies even if the owner is very wealthy. A person who acts in this way is wicked, as Psalms 37:21 states: "A wicked man borrows and does not pay." Our Sages commanded: "Treat money belonging to your colleague as dearly as your own."ג
אסור לאדם להראות עצמו לבעל חובו בזמן שיודע שאין לו אפילו לעבור לפניו שלא יפחידו או יכלימו אע"פ שאינו תובעו ואין צריך לומר אם תבעו, וכשם שאסור לזה לתבוע כך אסור ללוה לכבוש ממון חבירו שבידו ולומר לו לך ושוב והוא שיש לו שנאמר אל תאמר לרעך לך ושוב, וכן אסור ללוה ליקח הלואה ולהוציאה שלא לצורך ולאבדה עד שלא ימצא בעל חוב מאין יגבה אע"פ שהמלוה עשיר גדול ועושה זה רשע הוא שנאמר לוה רשע ולא ישלם וצוו חכמים יהי ממון חברך חביב עליך כשלך.
4
When a lender demands payment of a loan - even if he is wealthy and the borrower is in a pressing situation and struggles to support his family - we are not merciful in judgment. Instead, we expropriate all the movable property" that the person owns to pay the last penny of the debt. If the movable property he owns is not sufficient, we expropriate the landed property after issuing a ban of ostracism against any person who possesses movable property or knows of movable property he possesses and does not bring it to court.
We expropriate all the landed property the borrower possesses, even if it is on lien to the ketubah of the borrower's wife or to another creditor with a prior lien. We expropriate it for this creditor. If ultimately, the person with the prior lien will come to claim the property, he may expropriate it from the creditor to whom it was given.
If the lender claims that the movable property in his domain does not belong to him, but instead was entrusted to him, rented by him, or lent to him, we do not heed his words. He must prove his statements or the property will be expropriated by the creditor.ד
כשיתבע המלוה הלואתו אע"פ שהוא עשיר והלוה דחוק וטרוד במזונות אין מרחמין בדין אלא גובין לו חובו עד פרוטה אחרונה מכל מטלטלין שימצאו לו, ואם לא הספיקו המטלטלין גובין לו מן הקרקע אחר שמחרימין על מי שיש לו מטלטלין או מי שידע לו מטלטלין ולא יביאם לב"ד, וגובין מכל קרקע שיש לו אע"פ שהיא משועבדת לכתובת אשתו או לבעל חובו שקדם גובין לזה ואם יבא הראשון ויטרוף יטרוף, טען הלוה שמטלטלין אלו שבידי אינן שלי אלא פקדון הם בידי או שכורין או שאולין אין שומעין לו או יביא ראיה או יגבה מהן בעל חובו.
5
A creditor may not collect his due by expropriating the wardrobe of the debtor's wife or his sons, not from colored garments that were dyed for them even though they have not worn them yet, nor from new sandals that were purchased for them. These belong to the wife and the children themselves. When does the above apply? With regard to their weekday garments. The creditor may, by contrast, expropriate their Sabbath and festival garments. Needless to say, if they own rings or golden or silver ornaments, they must all be given to the creditor.ה
אין בעל חוב גובה לא מכסות אשתו ובניו של לוה ולא מבגדים צבועים שצבען לשמן אף על פי שעדיין לא לבשו אותן ולא מסנדלים חדשים שלקחן לשמן אלא הרי אלו שלהן, בד"א בכלי החול אבל בגדי שבת והמועד גובה אותן בעל חוב ואין צריך לומר אם היו בהן טבעות וכלי זהב או כסף שהכל לבעל חובו.
6
The following rules apply when a borrower owned movable property or landed property, but also had outstanding promissory notes owed to gentiles. If he says: "All of my property is on lien to gentiles; if Jews take the property as payment for their debts, the gentiles will imprison me because of the debts I owe them, and I will be in captivity," my teachers have ruled that his words are not heeded, and the Jews are granted the right to expropriate his property. If the gentiles come and imprison him, all of Israel is commanded to redeem him.ו
היו לו מטלטלין או קרקע והרי עליו שטר חובות לעכו"ם ואמר הרי כל נכסי משועבדין לעכו"ם ואם יטלו אותן הישראלים בחובם יאסרו אותי העכו"ם בחובן ואהיה בשביה, הורו רבותי שאין שומעין לו ויגבו הישראלים, וכשיבאו העכו"ם ויאסרוהו הרי כל ישראל מצווין לפדותו.
7
We allow a debtor consideration in the same manner that consideration is granted to a person who makes a pledge to the Temple treasury and is unable to pay it.
What is implied? The court tells the borrower: "Bring all the movable property that you own; don't leave anything, not even a needle."
After he brings his possessions, we give him from everything that he has brought:
a) food for 30 days;
b) clothing for 12 months that is appropriate for him - he should not wear silk clothes or a hat crowned with gold; instead, such garments are taken away from him and he is given appropriate garments for 12 months;
c) a couch to sit on and a bed and a mattress to sleep on; if he is a poor man, he is given a bed and a straw mattress to sleep on. These articles are not given to his wife or to his children, despite the fact that he is obligated to provide them with sustenance.
The borrower is also given his sandals and his tefillin. If he is a craftsman, he is given two of the tools of his craft of every type necessary. For example, if he is a carpenter, he is given two awls and two planes. If he has many types of one utensil and only one of another, he is granted two of the utensil of which he possesses many, and all that he owns of that he possesses one. We do not purchase other tools for him from the sale of those many tools.
Although the borrower is a farmer or a donkey driver, we do not grant him his team of oxen or his donkey. Similarly, if he is a sailor, we do not give him his ship, even though these are his only sources of livelihood. The rationale is that these articles are not considered utensils, but rather property. They should be sold with the other movable property in court and the proceeds given to the creditor.ז
מסדרין לבעל חוב כדרך שמסדרין בערכין, כיצד אומר ללוה הבא כל המטלטין שיש לך ולא תניח אפילו מחט אחת ונותנין לו מן הכל מזון [ל'] יום וכסות י"ב חדש מכסות הראויה לו, ולא שילבש בגדי משי או מצנפת זהובה אלא מעבירין אותה ממנו ונותנין לו כסות הראויה לו לי"ב חדש, ומטה לישב עליה ומטה ומצע הראויין לו לישן עליהם, ואם היה עני מטה ומפץ לישן עליו, ואין נותנין כלים כאלו לאשתו ובניו אע"פ שהוא חייב במזונותיהם, ונותנין לו סנדליו ותפליו, היה אומן נותנין לו שני כלי אומנות מכל מין ומין כגון שהיה חרש נותנין לו שני מעצדין ושתי מגרות, היה לו מין אחד מרובה ומן אחד מועט נותנין לו שנים מן המרובה וכל שיש לו מן המועט, ואין לוקחין לו כלים מדמי המרובה, היה אכר או חמר אין נותנין לו לא צמדו ולא חמורו, וכן אם היה ספן אין נותנין לו ספינתו אע"פ שאין לו מזונות אלא מאלו אין אלו כלים אלא נכסים וימכרו עם שאר המטלטלין בבית דין וינתנו לבעל חובו.
8
The following law applies when a creditor comes to expropriate payment outside the presence of the borrower - e.g., the borrower journeyed to a distant country. If the borrower's wife seized possession of movable property belonging to her husband to sell so that she could derive her livelihood from it, it is expropriated from her and given to the creditor. The rationale is that even if her husband were present, he would not be entitled to provide for the sustenance of his wife and sons until he paid his debt in its entirety.ח
מלוה שבא להפרע שלא בפני הלוה כגון שהיה הלוה במדינה רחוקה ותפסה האשה מטלטלין מנכסי הבעל כדי שתזון מהן מוציאין אותן מידה ונותנין לבעל חוב שאפילו היה בעלה עמה לא היה יכול לזון את אשתו ובניו עד שיפרע לו כל חובו.
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassMalveh veLoveh - Chapter 1
Introduction to Hilchos Malveh veLoveh
They contain twelve mitzvot: four positive commandments and eight negative commandments. They are:
1) to lend to a poor and destitute person;
2) not to press him for collection;
3) to press a gentile for collection of a debt he owes;
4) not to forcibly take collateral from a borrower;
5) to return collateral to its owner when he requires it;
6) not to delay giving the collateral to the poor man who owns it when he requires it;
7) not to take collateral from a widow;
8) not to take utensils used to prepare food as collateral;
9) that a lender should not loan at interest;
10) that a borrower should not take a loan given at interest;
11) that no one should be involved with the lender and the borrower of a loan given at interest - not to serve as a witness between them, not to draw up a promissory note, nor to serve as a guarantor;
12) to borrow and lend money to a gentile at interest.
These mitzvot are explained in the following chapters.
רמב"ם הלכות מלוה ולוה - הקדמה
הלכות מלוה ולוה. יש בכללן י"ב מצות, ארבע מצות עשה, ושמונה מצות לא תעשה, וזהו פרטן:
(א) להלוות לעני ומך.
(ב) שלא יגוש אותו.
(ג) ליגוש את העכו"ם.
(ד) שלא ימשכן בעל חוב בזרוע.
(ה) להחזיר המשכון לבעליו בזמן שהוא צריך לו.
(ו) שלא יאחר המשכון מבעליו העני בעת שהוא צריך לו.
(ז) שלא יחבול אלמנה.
(ח) שלא יחבול כלים שעושין בהן אוכל נפש.
(ט) שלא יתן המלוה בריבית.
(י) שלא ילוה הלוה בריבית.
(יא) שלא יתעסק אדם בין מלוה ולוה בריבית שלא יעיד ביניהן ולא יכתוב שטר ולא יערוב.
(יב) ללוות מן עכו"ם ולהלוות לו בריבית.
וביאור מצות אלו בפרקים אלו.
1
It is a positive commandment to lend money to the poor among Israel, as Exodus 23:24 states: "If you will lend money to My nation, to the poor among you." Lest one think that this is a matter left to the person's choice, it is also stated Deuteronomy 15:8: "You shall certainly loan to him."
This mitzvah surpasses the mitzvah of charity given to a poor person who asks for alms. For the latter person had already been compelled to ask, and this one has not yet sunk that low. Indeed, the Torah is very severe with regard to a person who does not lend money to a poor person, stating Ibid.:9: "Beware lest there be a defiant thought in your heart... and you look badly upon your poor brother and you not give him."א
מצות עשה להלוות לעניי ישראל שנאמר אם כסף תלוה את עמי את העני עמך, יכול רשות תלמוד לומר העבט תעביטנו וגו' ומצוה זו גדולה מן הצדקה אל העני השואל שזה כבר נצרך לשאול וזה עדיין לא הגיע למדה זו, והתורה הקפידה על מי שימנע מלהלוות לעני שנאמר ורעה עינך באחיך האביון וגו'.
2
Whenever a person presses a poor person for payment when he knows that he does not have the means to repay the debt, he transgresses a negative commandment, as Exodus 22:24 states: "Do not act as a creditor toward him." It is, by contrast, a positive mitzvah to press a gentile for payment and to cause him exasperation, as Deuteronomy 15:3 states: "Press a gentile for payment." According to the Oral Tradition, we have learned that this is a positive commandment.ב
כל הנוגש העני והוא יודע שאין לו מה יחזיר לו עובר בלא תעשה שנאמר לא תהיה לו כנושה, ומצות עשה לנגוש את העכו"ם ולהצר לו שנאמר לנכרי תגוש מפי השמועה למדו שזו מצות עשה.
3
It is forbidden for one to appear before a person who owes him money when he knows that the debtor does not have the means to repay the debt. It is even forbidden to pass before him, lest one frighten him or embarrass him, even though one does not demand payment. Needless to say, this applies if he demands payment.
Just as it is forbidden for a creditor to demand payment; so, too, it is forbidden for a lender to withhold money that he possesses due a colleague, telling him: "Go and return," as Proverbs 3:28 states: "Do not tell your colleague: 'Go and return.'"
Similarly, it is forbidden for a lender to take a loan and use it when it is unnecessary and lose it, leaving his creditor without a source to collect the debt. This applies even if the owner is very wealthy. A person who acts in this way is wicked, as Psalms 37:21 states: "A wicked man borrows and does not pay." Our Sages commanded: "Treat money belonging to your colleague as dearly as your own."ג
אסור לאדם להראות עצמו לבעל חובו בזמן שיודע שאין לו אפילו לעבור לפניו שלא יפחידו או יכלימו אע"פ שאינו תובעו ואין צריך לומר אם תבעו, וכשם שאסור לזה לתבוע כך אסור ללוה לכבוש ממון חבירו שבידו ולומר לו לך ושוב והוא שיש לו שנאמר אל תאמר לרעך לך ושוב, וכן אסור ללוה ליקח הלואה ולהוציאה שלא לצורך ולאבדה עד שלא ימצא בעל חוב מאין יגבה אע"פ שהמלוה עשיר גדול ועושה זה רשע הוא שנאמר לוה רשע ולא ישלם וצוו חכמים יהי ממון חברך חביב עליך כשלך.
4
When a lender demands payment of a loan - even if he is wealthy and the borrower is in a pressing situation and struggles to support his family - we are not merciful in judgment. Instead, we expropriate all the movable property" that the person owns to pay the last penny of the debt. If the movable property he owns is not sufficient, we expropriate the landed property after issuing a ban of ostracism against any person who possesses movable property or knows of movable property he possesses and does not bring it to court.
We expropriate all the landed property the borrower possesses, even if it is on lien to the ketubah of the borrower's wife or to another creditor with a prior lien. We expropriate it for this creditor. If ultimately, the person with the prior lien will come to claim the property, he may expropriate it from the creditor to whom it was given.
If the lender claims that the movable property in his domain does not belong to him, but instead was entrusted to him, rented by him, or lent to him, we do not heed his words. He must prove his statements or the property will be expropriated by the creditor.ד
כשיתבע המלוה הלואתו אע"פ שהוא עשיר והלוה דחוק וטרוד במזונות אין מרחמין בדין אלא גובין לו חובו עד פרוטה אחרונה מכל מטלטלין שימצאו לו, ואם לא הספיקו המטלטלין גובין לו מן הקרקע אחר שמחרימין על מי שיש לו מטלטלין או מי שידע לו מטלטלין ולא יביאם לב"ד, וגובין מכל קרקע שיש לו אע"פ שהיא משועבדת לכתובת אשתו או לבעל חובו שקדם גובין לזה ואם יבא הראשון ויטרוף יטרוף, טען הלוה שמטלטלין אלו שבידי אינן שלי אלא פקדון הם בידי או שכורין או שאולין אין שומעין לו או יביא ראיה או יגבה מהן בעל חובו.
5
A creditor may not collect his due by expropriating the wardrobe of the debtor's wife or his sons, not from colored garments that were dyed for them even though they have not worn them yet, nor from new sandals that were purchased for them. These belong to the wife and the children themselves. When does the above apply? With regard to their weekday garments. The creditor may, by contrast, expropriate their Sabbath and festival garments. Needless to say, if they own rings or golden or silver ornaments, they must all be given to the creditor.ה
אין בעל חוב גובה לא מכסות אשתו ובניו של לוה ולא מבגדים צבועים שצבען לשמן אף על פי שעדיין לא לבשו אותן ולא מסנדלים חדשים שלקחן לשמן אלא הרי אלו שלהן, בד"א בכלי החול אבל בגדי שבת והמועד גובה אותן בעל חוב ואין צריך לומר אם היו בהן טבעות וכלי זהב או כסף שהכל לבעל חובו.
6
The following rules apply when a borrower owned movable property or landed property, but also had outstanding promissory notes owed to gentiles. If he says: "All of my property is on lien to gentiles; if Jews take the property as payment for their debts, the gentiles will imprison me because of the debts I owe them, and I will be in captivity," my teachers have ruled that his words are not heeded, and the Jews are granted the right to expropriate his property. If the gentiles come and imprison him, all of Israel is commanded to redeem him.ו
היו לו מטלטלין או קרקע והרי עליו שטר חובות לעכו"ם ואמר הרי כל נכסי משועבדין לעכו"ם ואם יטלו אותן הישראלים בחובם יאסרו אותי העכו"ם בחובן ואהיה בשביה, הורו רבותי שאין שומעין לו ויגבו הישראלים, וכשיבאו העכו"ם ויאסרוהו הרי כל ישראל מצווין לפדותו.
7
We allow a debtor consideration in the same manner that consideration is granted to a person who makes a pledge to the Temple treasury and is unable to pay it.
What is implied? The court tells the borrower: "Bring all the movable property that you own; don't leave anything, not even a needle."
After he brings his possessions, we give him from everything that he has brought:
a) food for 30 days;
b) clothing for 12 months that is appropriate for him - he should not wear silk clothes or a hat crowned with gold; instead, such garments are taken away from him and he is given appropriate garments for 12 months;
c) a couch to sit on and a bed and a mattress to sleep on; if he is a poor man, he is given a bed and a straw mattress to sleep on. These articles are not given to his wife or to his children, despite the fact that he is obligated to provide them with sustenance.
The borrower is also given his sandals and his tefillin. If he is a craftsman, he is given two of the tools of his craft of every type necessary. For example, if he is a carpenter, he is given two awls and two planes. If he has many types of one utensil and only one of another, he is granted two of the utensil of which he possesses many, and all that he owns of that he possesses one. We do not purchase other tools for him from the sale of those many tools.
Although the borrower is a farmer or a donkey driver, we do not grant him his team of oxen or his donkey. Similarly, if he is a sailor, we do not give him his ship, even though these are his only sources of livelihood. The rationale is that these articles are not considered utensils, but rather property. They should be sold with the other movable property in court and the proceeds given to the creditor.ז
מסדרין לבעל חוב כדרך שמסדרין בערכין, כיצד אומר ללוה הבא כל המטלטין שיש לך ולא תניח אפילו מחט אחת ונותנין לו מן הכל מזון [ל'] יום וכסות י"ב חדש מכסות הראויה לו, ולא שילבש בגדי משי או מצנפת זהובה אלא מעבירין אותה ממנו ונותנין לו כסות הראויה לו לי"ב חדש, ומטה לישב עליה ומטה ומצע הראויין לו לישן עליהם, ואם היה עני מטה ומפץ לישן עליו, ואין נותנין כלים כאלו לאשתו ובניו אע"פ שהוא חייב במזונותיהם, ונותנין לו סנדליו ותפליו, היה אומן נותנין לו שני כלי אומנות מכל מין ומין כגון שהיה חרש נותנין לו שני מעצדין ושתי מגרות, היה לו מין אחד מרובה ומן אחד מועט נותנין לו שנים מן המרובה וכל שיש לו מן המועט, ואין לוקחין לו כלים מדמי המרובה, היה אכר או חמר אין נותנין לו לא צמדו ולא חמורו, וכן אם היה ספן אין נותנין לו ספינתו אע"פ שאין לו מזונות אלא מאלו אין אלו כלים אלא נכסים וימכרו עם שאר המטלטלין בבית דין וינתנו לבעל חובו.
8
The following law applies when a creditor comes to expropriate payment outside the presence of the borrower - e.g., the borrower journeyed to a distant country. If the borrower's wife seized possession of movable property belonging to her husband to sell so that she could derive her livelihood from it, it is expropriated from her and given to the creditor. The rationale is that even if her husband were present, he would not be entitled to provide for the sustenance of his wife and sons until he paid his debt in its entirety.ח
מלוה שבא להפרע שלא בפני הלוה כגון שהיה הלוה במדינה רחוקה ותפסה האשה מטלטלין מנכסי הבעל כדי שתזון מהן מוציאין אותן מידה ונותנין לבעל חוב שאפילו היה בעלה עמה לא היה יכול לזון את אשתו ובניו עד שיפרע לו כל חובו.
• 3 Chapters: Parah Adummah Parah Adummah - Chapter 8, Parah Adummah Parah Adummah - Chapter 9, Parah Adummah Parah Adummah - Chapter 10
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Parah Adummah - Chapter 8
1
When a person was carrying water for the ashes of the red heifer on his shoulders and he stood and delivered a halachic ruling for others, rendered a judgment, a woman performed chalitzah in his presence, a girl performed mi'un in his presence, he gave directions to others, killed a snake or scorpion that did not present a threat to him, or took food from the market to set aside, the water is disqualified. The rationale is that he occupied himself with another activity before placing the ashes on the water.
If, however, he took food in order to eat and ate while he was proceeding on his way or killed a snake or scorpion that was preventing his progress, the water is acceptable, for these activities are necessary to carry the water. This is the general principle: Any activity that is considered as work which was performed before placing the ashes on the water, whether he stood still or not, disqualifies the water. When he performs an activity that is not considered as work, if he does not stand still, the water is acceptable. If he stands still, it is disqualified.
If he was walking while carrying such water and, while he was walking, he made an opening to walk through, the water he is carrying is acceptable, even though he made the opening with the intent of closing it afterwards. If he closes it before placing the ashes on the water, the water is disqualified. Similarly, if he dries fruit to eat, even if later he intends to dry the remainder, the water is acceptable. If he dries the remaining fruit before placing the ashes on the water, it is disqualified.א
מי שהיו מימיו על כתפו ועמד והורה הוראה לאחרים או שדן דין או שחלצה בפניו או מיאנה או שהראה לאחרים את הדרך או שהרג את נחש או עקרב או נטל אוכלין מן השוק להצניעם הרי המים פסולין שהרי נתעסק בדבר אחר קודם שיתן האפר על המים אבל אם נטל האוכלין לאכלן ואכלן כשהוא מהלך או שהרג נחש או עקרב המעכבין אותו הרי המים כשרים שזה מצורך הולכת המים זה הכלל כל דבר שהוא משום מלאכה שעשהו קודם מתן האפר בין עמד בין לא עמד פסל ודבר שאינו משום מלאכה אם לא עמד כשרים ואם עמד פסל היה מהלך במים ופרץ בשעת הילוכו מקום שילך בו אף ע"פ שפרץ ע"מ לגדור כשרים ואם גדר קודם שיתן האפר פסולין וכן אם קצה פירות לאכול אף על פי שכוונתו להקצות את השאר כשרין ואם הקצה קודם מתן האפר פסול:
2
The following laws apply if one was eating while carrying such water; he left over some food and cast the leftovers under a fig tree or under a net used to dry figs. If his intent was to prevent the food from perishing, the water is disqualified, because he performed work. If he cast it away because he no longer needs it, the water is acceptable.
When a person drew water to sanctify it and entrusted it to a watchman to oversee, the water is not disqualified if the owner performed work, because he entrusted it to a watchman. If the watchman performs work, he disqualifies it, because the water is in his domain and he takes the place of the owner.
If two people are watching such water and one performs work, the water is acceptable, because the other is watching. If the first returned to his watch and the second stood up and performed work, the water is acceptable. The water's status is maintained unless all of the watchmen perform work at the same time.ב
היה אוכל בשעת הולכת המים והותיר וזרק מה שהותיר לתחת התאנה או לתחת המוקצה אם נתכוון שלא יאבדו הפירות הרי המים פסולין שהרי עשה מלאכה ואם זרקן לפי שאין לו צורך בהן הרי המים כשרין הממלא מים לקדשן ומסרן לאחר לשמרן ועשו הבעלים מלאכה לא נפסלו המים שהרי מסרן לשומר ואם עשה השומר מלאכה פסלן שהרי הן ברשותו והוא נכנס תחת הבעלים היו שנים שומרין את המים ועשה אחד מהן מלאכה המים כשירים שהרי השני משמר חזר הראשון לשמור ועמד השני ועשה מלאכה המים כשרים עד שיעשו כל השומרין מלאכה כאחת:
3
The following rules apply when a person sanctifies water with one hand and performs work with another. If he sanctifies the water for himself, he disqualifies it, because he performed work before casting the ashes on the water. If he sanctified water for his colleague, the water is acceptable, because a person does not disqualify a colleague's water with the performance of such work. For the performance of work does not disqualify the act of sanctification; it disqualifies only the water, and that, only when the one performing the work is a watchman or the owner.ג
המקדש באחת ידו ועשה מלאכה בשניה אם לעצמו קידש פסל שהרי עשה מלאכה קודם מתן אפר במים ואם לחבירו קידש המים כשרים שאין זה פוסל מימיו של חבירו במלאכה שעשה שאין המלאכה פוסלת בקידוש אלא במים והוא שיהיה העושה השומר או הבעלים:
4
When a person sanctifies water for himself and a colleague at the same time, his water is disqualified because of the activity he performed in sanctifying his colleague's water. If, however, he sanctifies water belonging to two other people at the same time, they are both acceptable, because the performance of work does not disqualify water belonging to others.ד
המקדש לעצמו ולאחר כאחת שלו פסול שהרי נפסלו המים של עצמו בעסק שנתעסק בקידוש חבירו אבל אם קידש לשנים כאחת שניהם כשירין שאין מלאכתו פוסלת מי אחרים:
5
When a person fills two buckets with his two hands for himself and sanctifies them at once, they are disqualified. If he sanctifies them individually, they are acceptable. If he sanctifies water for himself with both hands at the same time in one sanctification, it is acceptable. If he sanctified two buckets at the same time, they are both disqualified. If, with his two hands, he filled one bucket of water and sanctified another existing bucket for himself, they are both disqualified.
If he filled two buckets with his two hands for another person at the same time, when they are sanctified at once, they are both acceptable. If they were sanctified individually, they are disqualified. If he sanctifies water for another person with both hands at the same time as one sanctification it is acceptable. If, with his two hands, he filled one bucket of water and sanctified another existing bucket for another person, the bucket he filled is disqualified, but the bucket he sanctified is acceptable.
This is the general principle: Whenever work was performed when water was drawn, whether one drew the water for himself or for another person, it is disqualified, Whenever water was drawn according to law and then one performed work before placing the ashes upon it, if the water belonged to him, it is disqualified. If it belongs to someone else, it is acceptable.
In any situation when the water is in his hand and he performs work, whether there is a watchman who does not perform work or whether there is no watchman, the water is disqualified. When the water is not in his hand and he performed work, if there is a watchman, it is not disqualified. If there is no watchman, it is disqualified.ה
הממלא לעצמו בשתי ידיו כאחת בקידוש אחד פסול בשני קידושים כשר קידש לעצמו בשתי ידיו כאחת בקידוש אחד כשרים בשני קידושין פסולין מילא וקידש בשתי ידיו כאחת לעצמו שניהן פסולין מילא לאחר בשתי ידיו כאחת בקידוש אחד כשר בשני קידושין פסולין קידש לאחר בשתי ידיו כאחת בין בקידוש אחד בין בשני קידושין שניהן כשירים מילא וקידש בשתי ידיו כאחת לאחר המילוי פסול והקידוש כשר זה הכלל כל מילוי שעשה עמו מלאכה בין שמילא לעצמו בין שמילא לאחר פסול וכל מים שנתמלאו כהלכתן ועשה מלאכה קודם שיתן את האפר אם היו המים שלו הרי הן פסולין ואם היו של אחר כשירין וכל דבר שבידו ועשה מלאכה בין שיש שם שומר שאינו עושה מלאכה בין שאין [שם] שומר פסול ודבר שאינו בידו ועשה מלאכה אם יש [שם] שומר לא פסל אם אין שם שומר פסל:
6
When a person tells a colleague: "Sanctify water for me and I will sanctify water for you," and they sanctified water for each other, the first is acceptable and the second is disqualified, because he received a wage for sanctifying.
If one tells the other: "Draw water for me and I will draw water for you," and they drew water for each other, the first is unacceptable. The rationale is that since his intent was that his colleague should draw water for him in exchange, it is considered as if he drew water for himself and another person at the same time, in which instance, the water is disqualified. The second bucket is acceptable, because it is permitted to receive payment for drawing water and he did not perform work after drawing the water, nor did have an intent regarding another drawing of water.ו
האומר לחבירו קדש לי ואקדש לך וקידשו זה לזה הראשון כשר והשני פסול שהרי קידש בשכר אמר לו מלא לי ואמלא לך ומלאו זה לזה הראשון פסול הואיל וכוונתו שימלא לו חבירו חלף מילוי זה הרי זה כממלא לו ולאחר שהן פסולין והשני כשר שהמילוי בשכר מותר והרי לא עשה מלאכה אחר שמילא ואין בכוונתו מילוי אחר:
7
When a person tells a friend: "Sanctify water for me and I will draw water for you," they are both acceptable. The rationale is that work does not disqualify sanctification and it permitted to receive a wage for drawing water.
If one tells the other: "Draw water for me and I will sanctify water for you," they are both disqualified. The water drawn originally is disqualified, because it is considered as if he drew water and sanctified it at the same time and thus caused the water he drew to be disqualified because of the performance of work. And the water sanctified afterwards is disqualified, because it is as if he sanctified water for a wage, because it is as if he was repaying a debt for which he was liable.ז
האומר לחבירו קדש לי ואמלא לך שניהן כשרין שהמלאכה אינה פוסלת הקידוש והמילוי בשכר מותר מלא לי ואקדש לך שניהן פסולין זה שמילא בתחלה פסול שהרי הוא כממלא ומקדש כאחת ופסל המים במלאכה וזה שקידש באחרונה פסול שהרי קידש בשכר וכאילו החזיר חוב שעליו:
8
When a person goes to sanctify water for the ashes of the red heifer, he may take the key to the closet where the ashes are kept and open it to take out the ashes. If it is necessary to dig out the ashes, he may take a hatchet. He may take a ladder and carry it from place to place to bring the ashes. In all these circumstances, the water and the ashes remain acceptable. If after taking the ashes for the sanctification, he covered the container in which the ashes were held, locked the door of the closet, or stood the container where the ashes were held upright on the ground before casting the ashes on the water, the water is disqualified, but the ashes are acceptable to sanctify other water.
If, by contrast, he stood the container in which the ashes were held upright in his hand so that the remaining ashes would not be scattered, it is acceptable, because it is impossible to do otherwise. If he places it down on the ground, the water is disqualified and if he covers it, the water is disqualified.
If he took ashes and saw that the amount was excessive and returned some, it is acceptable. If he cast the ashes on the water and then returned some, the water is acceptable. If he cast the ashes on the water and saw that the amount was excessive and took some to sanctify other water, it is acceptable.
If he trimmed an olive leaf to use to cast the ashes, the ruling depends on his intent. If his intent was so that the leaf would not hold much ashes, the water is disqualified. If his intent was to direct the flow of the ashes so that they would enter the container holding the water, the water is acceptable.ח
ההולך לקדש הרי זה נוטל את המפתח ופותח להוציא האפר ונוטל קרדום אם צריך לחפור בו אפר הפרה ונוטל סולם ומוליך ממקום למקום להביא האפר וכשר ואם משנטל האפר לקדש בו כסה הכלי שהיה בו האפר או שהגיף את הדלת או שזקף את הכלי בארץ קודם שישליך האפר למים פסל המים אבל האפר כשר לקדש בו מים אחרים זקף את הכלי שיש בו האפר בידו כדי שלא יתפזר כשירים מפני שא"א שהרי אם הניחו בארץ פסל ואם כיסהו פסל נטל את האפר וראה שהוא מרובה והחזיר ממנו כשר נתן האפר על המים וראה שהוא מרובה ונטל ממנו לקדש מים אחרים כשר קרסם עלה זית לחתות בו האפר אם בשביל שלא יחזיק אפר הרבה פסל ואם בשביל שיכנס האפר בכלי כשר:
Parah Adummah - Chapter 9
1
How is the water sanctified with the ashes of the red heifer? One should place the water that was drawn for this purpose in a container and then place ashes on the water so that they will be seen on the surface of the water. This is sufficient even though it is a large barrel filled with water. He should then mix the entire contents. If he placed the ashes in the container first and then placed the water upon them, it is disqualified.
What then is meant by the Torah's statement Numbers 19:17: "And he shall place living water upon it"? That the ash should be mixed with the water.א
כיצד מקדשין את המים באפר הפרה נותן את המים שנתמלאו לשם מי חטאת בכלי ונותן אפר על פני המים כדי שיראה על פני המים אע"פ שהיא חבית גדולה מלאה מים ומערב הכל ואם נתן האפר תחילה ואח"כ נתן עליו המים פסל ומהו זה שנאמר בתורה ונתן עליו מים חיים כדי לערב את האפר במים:
2
A person sanctifying must focus his concentration. He must cast the ashes on the water by hand. These concepts are implied by the phrase ibid.: "And he shall take for the impure person...." The latter words indicate that he must have a specific intent while sanctifying, drawing, and sprinkling.
Thus if the ashes of the red heifer fell from the container holding them into the water, he took the ashes with his hand, but then a friend or the wind thrust him and the ashes fell from his hand onto the water, or the ashes fell from his hand onto the side of the container or onto his hand and then onto the water, the water is disqualified,ב
המקדש צריך שיתכוין ויתן האפר בידו על המים שנאמר ולקחו לטמא עד שיהיה מתכוין לקידוש ולמילוי ולהזייה אבל אם נפל האפר מן הכלי שיש בו האפר לתוך המים או שנטל האפר בידו ודחפו חבירו או הרוח ונפל האפר מידו על המים או שנפל האפר מידו על צד הכלי או על ידו ואחר כך נפל למים ה"ז פסול:
3
If one sanctified an amount of water insufficient for sprinkling in one container and sanctified another amount of water insufficient for sprinkling in another container, they are not sanctified. If the ashes were floating on the surface of the water and one gathered some from above and sanctified other water with it, it is sanctified. By contrast, any ashes that touched the water may not be used to sanctify water again even if they were dried. Indeed, even if ashes were blown onto water by the wind they may not be dried and used to sanctify other water.ג
קידש פחות מכדי הזאה בכלי זה ופחות מכדי הזאה בכלי אחר לא נתקדשו היה האפר צף על פני המים וכנס ממנו מלמעלה וקידש בו מים אחרים הרי אלו מקודשין וכל שנגע במים אין מקדשין בו פעם שנייה ואף על פי שניגבו ואפילו נשבה הרוח ונתנה את האפר על גבי המים אינו מנגבו ומקדש בו:
4
The following rules apply when there was a small container placed inside a large container, they were both filled with water drawn for the ashes of the red heifer, and their waters were intermingled. When one placed ashes on the water in the large container, all of the water in the small container became sanctified even though its opening is very narrow and no ashes entered there. The rationale is that the waters were intermingled.ד
כלי קטן שהיה בתוך כלי גדול והן מלאין מים והמים מעורבין כיון שנתן האפר במים שבכלי הגדול נתקדשו כל המים שבתוך הכלי הקטן ואע"פ שהיה פיו צר ביותר ולא נכנס לו אפר שהרי המים כולן מעורבין:
5
When there was a sponge in the water at the time one placed the ashes upon it, the water in the sponge is disqualified because it is not in a container.
What should the person do to remove the water? He should pour off all the water until he reaches the sponge, but should not touch the sponge. If he touches the sponge, no matter how much water is above it, all of the water is disqualified, because the water in the sponge is released and mixes with the acceptable water.
If a sponge falls into sanctified water, one should take it and squeeze it outside the container and the water in the container remains acceptable.ה
היה ספוג בתוך המים בעת שנתן האפר הרי המים שבספוג פסולין מפני שאינן בכלי כיצד יעשה זולף את כל המים עד שמגיע לספוג ולא יגע בספוג ואם נגע בספוג אף ע"פ שהמים צפין על גביו כל שהן פסולין מפני שהמים שבספוג יוצאין ומתערבין במים הכשירין נפל ספוג לתוך המים המקודשין נוטלו וסוחטו חוץ לכלי והמים שבכלי כשרין:
6
When there are two adjacent troughs in one stone and ashes were placed into one of them, the water in the other is not sanctified. When there was a hole the size of a mouthpiece of a leather drinking pouch connecting the two or there was a layer of water even as thin as a garlic peel connecting them from above, if one placed the ashes into one, the water in the second is sanctified.ו
שתי שוקתות שבאבן אחת שנתן את האפר לתוך אחת מהן אין המים שבשניה מקודשין ואם היו נקובות זו לזו כשפופרת הנוד או שהיו המים צפין על גביהן אפילו כקליפת השום ונתן אפר לאחת מהן הרי המים שבשניה מקודשין:
7
When two stones are placed together to form a trough, two kneading troughs are placed together, or a stone trough was divided and then the two portions held together, were the ashes of the red heifer to be placed in one, the water between them is not sanctified. If the two entities were connected with lime or with plaster and they could be carried as one, the water between them is sanctified.ז
שתי אבנים שהקיפן זו לזו ועשאן שוקת וכן שתי עריבות וכן שוקת שנחלקה ונתן אפר בחלק אחד מהן המים שביניהן אינן מקודשין ואם חיברן בסיד או בגפסיס והם יכולות להנטל כאחת המים שביניהן מקודשין:
8
When even the smallest amount of other water - even water that was drawn for the sake of the ashes of the red heifer - becomes mixed with sanctified water, it is disqualified. Similarly, if dew descends into such water, it is disqualified. If other liquids or fruit juices fall into it, the entire quantity should be poured out. The container must be dried; only afterwards can other sanctified water be placed in it.
If ink, black earth, or dark earth, or any entity that leaves a mark falls into such water, it must be poured out, but there is no need to dry the container. The rationale is that if any portion of the entity that leaves a mark will remain, it will be apparent.ח
מים מקודשין שנתערבו בהן מים אחרים כל שהוא אפילו מים שנתמלאו לקידוש הרי אלו פסולין וכן אם ירד לתוכן טל הרי אלו פסולין נפל לתוכן משקין ומי פירות יערה הכל וצריך לנגב הכלי ואחר כן יתן לתוכו מים מקודשין אחרים נפל לתוכן דיו קומוס וקנקנתום וכל דבר שהוא רושם יערה וא"צ לנגב שאם ישאר שם דבר הרושם הרי הוא נראה:
9
When a person immerses a container for water for the ashes of the red heifer in water that is not fit to be sanctified, he must dry it before he sanctifies other water in it. If he immersed it in water that is fit to be sanctified, he does not have to dry out the container. If, however, he immersed it with the intent of using it to hold sanctified water, he must dry it in any case.ט
המטביל כלי לחטאת במים שאינן ראויין לקדש צריך לנגב ואח"כ יקדש בו הטבילו במים הראויין לקדש אינו צריך לנגב ואם הטבילו לאסוף בו מים מקודשין בין כך ובין כך צריך לנגב:
10
When a gourd was immersed in water that was fit to be sanctified, one may sanctify water in it. But one may not collect water that has already been sanctified with the ashes in it. The rationale is that the water in which it was immersed becomes absorbed in its substance; afterwards, it emerges, becomes mixed with the sanctified water, and disqualifies it.
If it became impure, even if it was immersed, we do not sanctify water in it. The rationale is that impure water is absorbed in its substance. It will flow out and become mixed with the water that is being sanctified in it.י
קרוייה שהטבילה במים הראויין לקדש מקדשין בה אבל אין אוספין לתוכה מי חטאת מפני שהמים שהוטבלה בהן נבלעים בתוכה ויוצאין ומתערבין במי חטאת ופוסלין אותן נטמאת והטבילוה אין מקדשין בה שהמשקין הטמאין הנבלעין בגופה יצאו ויתערבו במים שמקדשין אותן בתוכה:
11
When crawling animals or teeming animals fell into water that was sanctified and broke open or caused its color to change, the water is disqualified. This applies even if they were very dry like an ant, moth, or louse that is found in grain. If he placed beetles in such water, it is disqualified even if they did not break open or cause the color of the water to change. The rationale is that they are like tubes and the water enters their body and departs from it, mixed with their body fluids.יא
מים מקודשין שנפל לתוכן שקצים ורמשים ונתבקעו או שנשתנו מראיהן פסולין אפילו היו יבישים ביותר כגון הנמלה והרירה והכינה שבתבואה נתן לתוכה חפושין אף על פי שלא נתבקעו ולא נשתנו מראיהן הרי המים פסולין מפני שהיא כשפופרת והמים נכנסין בתוכה ויוצאין מתוכה עם הליחה שבה:
12
When a domesticated or wild animal drinks from sanctified water, the water is disqualified. Similarly, all birds disqualify it with the exception of a dove, because it sucks water and saliva does not flow from its mouth and become mixed in the water. Similarly, if any of the crawling animals drink from sanctified water, they do not disqualify it with the exception of the mole. It licks the water with its tongue and thus moisture will be released from its mouth into the water.יב
מים מקודשין ששתה מהן בהמה או חיה פסולין וכן כל העופות פסולין חוץ מן היונה מפני שהיא מוצצת ואין ריר יוצא מפיה ומתערב במים וכן כל השרצים ששתו אינן פוסלין חוץ מן החולדה מפני שהיא מלקקת בלשונה ונמצאת הליחה יוצאה מפיה למים:
13
When the appearance of water sanctified with the ashes of the red heifer changes without any external cause, it is acceptable. If it changes color because of smoke, it is disqualified. If it froze and then melted, it is acceptable, even if it melted in the sun. If, however, it was melted by fire, it is disqualified.יג
מי חטאת שנשתנו מראיהן מחמת עצמן כשירים נשתנו מחמת עשן פסולין הגלידו וחזרו ונימוחו כשירים אפילו נימוחו בחמה אבל אם המחן באור פסולין:
14
When the appearance of the ashes of the red heifer changed without any external cause or because of smoke, they are acceptable. If their appearance changed because of dust, because lime or gypsum fell into them, or because even the slightest amount of oven ash fell into them, they are disqualified.יד
אפר חטאת שנשתנו מראיו מחמת עצמו או מחמת עשן כשר נשתנו מחמת אבק או שנפל לתוכו סיד או גפסיס או שנתערב בו אפר מקלה כל שהוא הרי זה פסול:
15
When a person thinks about drinking water sanctified with the ashes of the red heifer, he does not disqualify it until he actually drinks from it. If he poured from the container directly to his throat without his lips touching the water in the container, he does not disqualify it.טו
החושב על מי חטאת לשתותן לא פסלן עד שישתה מהן ואם שפך מן הכלי לתוך גרונו ולא נגעה שפתו במים שבכלי לא פסל:
16
When a container in which the water for the ashes of the red heifer had been placed was left open and then one discovered it closed, the water is disqualified. We suspect that maybe a person who had not purified himself for dealing with the water for the ashes of the red heifer touched it, for it is certain that a person covered it.
The following rules apply if one left it covered and found it open. If a mole could have drunk from it or dew could have descended upon it at night, it is disqualified. If not, it is acceptable. The rationale is that two undeterminable factors are involved. It is unknown whether it was uncovered by a person or a domesticated animal, wild animal, or crawling animal. And if you would say that it was uncovered by a person, it is unknown whether he was pure with regard to the water of the ashes of the red heifer.טז
כלי שיש בו מים מקודשין שהניחו מגולה ובא ומצאו מכוסה הרי אלו פסולין שמא אדם שאינו טהור לחטאת נגע בהן שהרי אדם כיסהו בודאי הניחו מכוסה ובא ומצאו מגולה אם יכולה החולדה לשתות ממנו או שירד לו טל בלילה פסולין ואם לאו כשרין מפני שיש כאן שתי ספיקות ספק אדם גילה או בהמה חיה ורמש ואם ת"ל אדם גילהו שמא היה טהור לחטאת או לא:
17
When a person transfers sanctified water or water that was drawn to be sanctified to an impure person to watch, the water is disqualified.יז
המוסר מים מקודשין או מים שנתמלאו לקידוש לטמא לשומרן הרי אלו פסולין:
18
When two people are watching water and one becomes impure, the water is still acceptable, because it is in the domain of the other watchman. If the first purified himself and the other watchman became impure, it is acceptable because the water is in the domain of the first.יח
שנים שהיו שומרין את המים ונטמא אחד מהן כשרים מפני שהן ברשותו של שני טהר וחזר לשמור ונטמא השני כשרים מפני שהן ברשותו של ראשון נטמאו שניהן כאחת המים פסולין:
Parah Adummah - Chapter 10
1
When a person draws water to be sanctified, he does not have to be the person who sanctified and sprinkles the water on an impure person. Instead, another person may sanctify it and another may sprinkle it. Similarly, a person may draw water with one container and pour it from container to container. And he may sanctify it in a different container, pour the sanctified water from one container to another, and sprinkle it from a different container.א
הממלא מים לקידוש אינו צריך שיהיה הוא עצמו המקדש והמזה אלא מקדש אחד ומזה אחד וכן ממלא אדם בכלי ומערה מכלי לכלי ומקדש בכלי אחר ומערה המים המקודשין מכלי לכלי ומזה מכלי אחר:
2
A person may draw water for the ashes of the red heifer and keep it in his possession without sanctifying it for as long as he desires. There is no difficulty in this. He may transport it from place to place and from city to city and then place ashes upon it and sanctify it whenever he desires.
Similarly, a person may keep sanctified water in his possession for many days or years and sprinkle from it on any day that he needs to until it is used up. He may transport it from place to place and from city to city. Similarly, a person may keep the ashes of the red heifer in his possession and transport it from place to place and from city to city. Once a container in which the ashes of the red heifer were held was transported in a ship on the Jordan River and an olive-sized portion of a corpse was discovered on the bottom of the ship, making the water impure. At that time, the High Court decreed that the water for the ashes of the red heifer and the ashes themselves should not be transported on a river, nor on a ship. Similarly, one should not float them on water, nor should a person stand on one side of a river and throw them to the other. A person may, however, pass through water until it reaches his neck while holding the ashes of the red heifer or sanctified water.
Similarly, a person and empty containers that were purified for the ashes of the red heifer and water that was drawn for the sake of the ashes of the red heifer that was not sanctified may be transported on a river and on a ship.ב
ממלא אדם מים ומניחן אצלו בלא קידוש כל זמן שירצה ואין בכך כלום ומוליכן ממקום למקום ומעיר לעיר ונותן עליהן אפר ומקדשן בכל עת שירצה וכן המים המקודשין מניחן אדם אצלו ימים ושנים ומזה מהן בכל יום שהוא צריך עד שיתמו ומוליכן ממקום למקום ומעיר לעיר ומשמר אדם אפר פרה אצלו ומוליכה ממקום למקום ומעיר לעיר פעם אחת הוליכו כלי שהיה בו מי חטאת בספינה בירדן ונמצא כזית מן המת בקרקע הספינה ונטמאו המים באותה שעה גזרו ב"ד הגדול שאין מעבירין מי חטאת ולא אפר חטאת בנהר ובספינה ולא ישיטם על פני המים ולא יעמוד בצד הנהר מכאן ויזרקם לצד השני אבל עובר הוא אדם במים עד צוארו ובידו אפר פרה או מים מקודשין וכן אדם וכלים הריקנים שהן טהורין לחטאת ומים שנתמלאו לחטאת ועדיין לא נתקדשו מעבירין אותם בנהר בספינה:
3
Sanctified water may be transported on the Mediterranean Sea and it may be floated on such water. The decree encompassed only sanctified water and ashes on a river.ג
מעבירין מים מקודשין בספינה בים הגדול ושטין [בהם] על פני המים שלא גזרו אלא על המים המקודשין ועל האפר בנהר:
4
When a person is transporting water to be sanctified - and, needless to say, water that has been sanctified - he should not sling the container over his back, but instead, should carry it in front of him, as implied by Numbers 19:9: "as safekeeping, as water for sprinkling." One can infer when it is watched, it may be used as water for sprinkling. If not, it is disqualified. If one filled two jugs, he should carry one in front of him and one behind him, because it is impossible to do otherwise.ד
המוליך מים לקדשן ואין צריך לומר מים שנתקדשו לא יפשיל הכלי לאחוריו אלא לפניו שנאמר למשמרת למי נדה בזמן שהן שמורין הן מי נדה ואם לאו פסולין מילא שתי חביות נותן אחת לפניו ואחת לאחוריו מפני שאי אפשר:
5
When water for the ashes of the red heifer was weighed on a scale, it is disqualified if one diverted his attention from it. If not, it is acceptable. If, however, one weighed other entities with water for the ashes of the red heifer, it is disqualified. The rationale is that since one used it as a weight, it is not considered as having been "watched."
All of the pure individuals who draw water, sanctify it, and sprinkle it and, similarly, all of the utensils used for drawing water, sanctifying it, and sprinkling it are acceptable if they were immersed on that day even though night has not fallen upon them. For all of the activities involving the red heifer, drawing the water, and sprinkling it are acceptable when performed by individuals who had immersed that day, as we explained.
Because of the Sadducees, all of the utensils that can be purified are made impure, immersed, and then used for the water for the ashes of the red heifer.ה
מי חטאת ששקלן במשקל אם הסיח דעתו פסולין ואם לאו כשרין אבל אם שקל דברים אחרים במי חטאת הואיל ועשאן משקולת פסלן שאין זו משמרת כל אלו הטהורים שממלאין או שמקדשין או שמזין וכן כל הכלים שממלאין ומקדשין מהם ושמזין מהן אם היו טבולי יום אע"פ שלא העריב שמשן הרי אלו כשרים שכל מעשה הפרה והמילוי והקידוש וההזייה כשר בטבול יום כמו שביארנו ומפני הצדוקין מטמאין את כל כלי שטף ומטבילין אותן ואחר כך משתמשין בהן במי חטאת:
6
Everyone is acceptable to sprinkle the water with the ashes of the red heifer with the exception of a woman, a tumtum, an androgynus, a deafmute, an intellectually and/or emotionally compromised person, and a minor who is not intellectually mature. Similarly,] an uncircumcised person is acceptable, for an uncircumcised person is not impure.
When an intellectually mature minor sprinkles such water and a woman helps him, she holds the water in her hand, his sprinkling is acceptable provided she does not hold his hand while he is sprinkling. If she held his hand while he is sprinkling, the sprinkling is unacceptable.ו
הכל כשירין להזות חוץ מאשה וטומטום ואנדרוגינוס [וח"ש] וקטן שאין בו דעת אבל קטן שיש בו דעת כשר להזות והערל כשר להזות שאין הערל טמא קטן שיש בו דעת שהזה והאשה מסעדתו כגון שאחזה לו המים בידו הזאתו כשירה ובלבד שלא תאחוז בידו בשעת הזאה ואם אחזה בידו בשעת הזייתו פסולה:
7
The person sprinkling the water must have the intent to sprinkle on the impure person to purify him. If he sprinkled without such an intent, the sprinkling is invalid. The person upon whom the water is sprinkled, by contrast, does not need to have any intent. Instead, water may be sprinkled on a person with his knowledge or without his knowledge.
When a person has the intent to sprinkle such water in front of himself and he sprinkles behind himself, or he had the intent of sprinkling water behind himself and he sprinkled in front of himself, his sprinkling is invalid. If he had the intent to sprinkle such water in front of himself and he sprinkled in front, but to the sides, his sprinkling is acceptable.ז
המזה צריך לכוין ולהזות על הטמא לטהרו ואם הזה שלא בכוונה הזאתו פסולה אבל זה שמזין עליו אינו צריך כוונה אלא מזין על האדם לדעתו ושלא לדעתו המתכוין להזות לפניו והזה לאחוריו לאחוריו והזה לפניו הזייתו פסולה נתכוון להזות לפניו והזה לצדדין של פניו הזייתו כשירה:
8
The person sprinkling the water need not dip the hyssop in the water for every sprinkling. Instead, he may dip the hyssop and sprinkle once and again until the water was completed. He may sprinkle on many people or many utensils - even 100 - at a time. Anyone who was touched by even the slightest amount of the water is pure, provided the one sprinkling had the intent of sprinkling on him.
If one dipped the hyssop with the intent of sprinkling on an entity that is susceptible to ritual impurity or on a person and, instead, sprinkled the water on an entity that was not susceptible to ritually impurity or on an animal, he need not dip the hyssop again if water remained on it. Instead, he may sprinkle the remainder on an impure person or utensil. The rationale is that, at the outset, he dipped it in the water in an acceptable manner. If, by contrast, he dipped the hyssop in the water in order to sprinkle it on an entity that is not susceptible to ritual impurity or on an animal, and sprinkled it on an impure man or utensil, the sprinkling is invalid until he dips the hyssop in the water a second time, while having the intent to sprinkle on a person or on an entity that is susceptible to ritual impurity.ח
המזה אינו צריך טבילה לכל הזייה אלא טובל את האזוב ומזה הזייה אחר הזייה עד שיגמרו המים ומזה הזייה אחת על כמה בני אדם או על כמה כלים כאחת אפילו מאה כל שנגע בו מן המים כל שהוא טהור והוא שיתכוין המזה להזות עליו טבל את האזוב ונתכוון להזות על דבר שמקבל טומאה או על האדם והזה מאותה טבילה על דבר שאינו מקבל טומאה או על הבהמה אם נשארו מים באזוב אינו צריך לחזור ולהטביל אלא מזה מן השאר על האדם או על הכלים הטמאים שהרי תחילת טבילתו כשירה היתה אבל אם טבל את האזוב להזות על דבר שאינו מקבל טומאה או על הבהמה והזה על האדם או על הכלי הטמא הזייתו פסולה עד שיחזור ויטבול פעם שנייה ויתכוין להזות על האדם או על דבר המקבל טומאה:
9
If he dipped the hyssop in the water with the intent of sprinkling on an entity that is not susceptible to ritual impurity, the water that drips from the hyssop are still acceptable. Therefore if it drips into a container and one dips the hyssop in it with the intent of sprinkling it on an entity that is susceptible to ritual impurity, the sprinkling is acceptable.ט
הטביל את האזוב ונתכוון להזות על דבר שאינו מקבל טומאה המים המנטפים כשירין לפיכך אם נטפו בכלי וחזר והטביל בהן את האזוב בכוונה להזות על דבר המקבל טומאה הזייתו כשירה:
10
Although the volume of the water of the ashes of the red heifer has been reduced, one may dip even the tips of the hyssop stalks and sprinkle, provided one does not use it like a sponge. When a flask has a thin opening, he may dip and withdraw the hyssop in the ordinary manner and then sprinkle with it. He need not be careful that it does not touch the sides of the container a second time.י
מי חטאת שנתמעטו טובל בהן אפילו ראשי גבעולין ומזה ובלבד שלא יספג צלוחית שפיה צר טובל ומעלה כדרכו ומזה ואינו צריך להזהר שמא יגע בצידי הכלי בפעם שנייה:
English Text | Hebrew Text |
Audio: Listen | DownloadParah Adummah - Chapter 8
1
When a person was carrying water for the ashes of the red heifer on his shoulders and he stood and delivered a halachic ruling for others, rendered a judgment, a woman performed chalitzah in his presence, a girl performed mi'un in his presence, he gave directions to others, killed a snake or scorpion that did not present a threat to him, or took food from the market to set aside, the water is disqualified. The rationale is that he occupied himself with another activity before placing the ashes on the water.
If, however, he took food in order to eat and ate while he was proceeding on his way or killed a snake or scorpion that was preventing his progress, the water is acceptable, for these activities are necessary to carry the water. This is the general principle: Any activity that is considered as work which was performed before placing the ashes on the water, whether he stood still or not, disqualifies the water. When he performs an activity that is not considered as work, if he does not stand still, the water is acceptable. If he stands still, it is disqualified.
If he was walking while carrying such water and, while he was walking, he made an opening to walk through, the water he is carrying is acceptable, even though he made the opening with the intent of closing it afterwards. If he closes it before placing the ashes on the water, the water is disqualified. Similarly, if he dries fruit to eat, even if later he intends to dry the remainder, the water is acceptable. If he dries the remaining fruit before placing the ashes on the water, it is disqualified.א
מי שהיו מימיו על כתפו ועמד והורה הוראה לאחרים או שדן דין או שחלצה בפניו או מיאנה או שהראה לאחרים את הדרך או שהרג את נחש או עקרב או נטל אוכלין מן השוק להצניעם הרי המים פסולין שהרי נתעסק בדבר אחר קודם שיתן האפר על המים אבל אם נטל האוכלין לאכלן ואכלן כשהוא מהלך או שהרג נחש או עקרב המעכבין אותו הרי המים כשרים שזה מצורך הולכת המים זה הכלל כל דבר שהוא משום מלאכה שעשהו קודם מתן האפר בין עמד בין לא עמד פסל ודבר שאינו משום מלאכה אם לא עמד כשרים ואם עמד פסל היה מהלך במים ופרץ בשעת הילוכו מקום שילך בו אף ע"פ שפרץ ע"מ לגדור כשרים ואם גדר קודם שיתן האפר פסולין וכן אם קצה פירות לאכול אף על פי שכוונתו להקצות את השאר כשרין ואם הקצה קודם מתן האפר פסול:
2
The following laws apply if one was eating while carrying such water; he left over some food and cast the leftovers under a fig tree or under a net used to dry figs. If his intent was to prevent the food from perishing, the water is disqualified, because he performed work. If he cast it away because he no longer needs it, the water is acceptable.
When a person drew water to sanctify it and entrusted it to a watchman to oversee, the water is not disqualified if the owner performed work, because he entrusted it to a watchman. If the watchman performs work, he disqualifies it, because the water is in his domain and he takes the place of the owner.
If two people are watching such water and one performs work, the water is acceptable, because the other is watching. If the first returned to his watch and the second stood up and performed work, the water is acceptable. The water's status is maintained unless all of the watchmen perform work at the same time.ב
היה אוכל בשעת הולכת המים והותיר וזרק מה שהותיר לתחת התאנה או לתחת המוקצה אם נתכוון שלא יאבדו הפירות הרי המים פסולין שהרי עשה מלאכה ואם זרקן לפי שאין לו צורך בהן הרי המים כשרין הממלא מים לקדשן ומסרן לאחר לשמרן ועשו הבעלים מלאכה לא נפסלו המים שהרי מסרן לשומר ואם עשה השומר מלאכה פסלן שהרי הן ברשותו והוא נכנס תחת הבעלים היו שנים שומרין את המים ועשה אחד מהן מלאכה המים כשירים שהרי השני משמר חזר הראשון לשמור ועמד השני ועשה מלאכה המים כשרים עד שיעשו כל השומרין מלאכה כאחת:
3
The following rules apply when a person sanctifies water with one hand and performs work with another. If he sanctifies the water for himself, he disqualifies it, because he performed work before casting the ashes on the water. If he sanctified water for his colleague, the water is acceptable, because a person does not disqualify a colleague's water with the performance of such work. For the performance of work does not disqualify the act of sanctification; it disqualifies only the water, and that, only when the one performing the work is a watchman or the owner.ג
המקדש באחת ידו ועשה מלאכה בשניה אם לעצמו קידש פסל שהרי עשה מלאכה קודם מתן אפר במים ואם לחבירו קידש המים כשרים שאין זה פוסל מימיו של חבירו במלאכה שעשה שאין המלאכה פוסלת בקידוש אלא במים והוא שיהיה העושה השומר או הבעלים:
4
When a person sanctifies water for himself and a colleague at the same time, his water is disqualified because of the activity he performed in sanctifying his colleague's water. If, however, he sanctifies water belonging to two other people at the same time, they are both acceptable, because the performance of work does not disqualify water belonging to others.ד
המקדש לעצמו ולאחר כאחת שלו פסול שהרי נפסלו המים של עצמו בעסק שנתעסק בקידוש חבירו אבל אם קידש לשנים כאחת שניהם כשירין שאין מלאכתו פוסלת מי אחרים:
5
When a person fills two buckets with his two hands for himself and sanctifies them at once, they are disqualified. If he sanctifies them individually, they are acceptable. If he sanctifies water for himself with both hands at the same time in one sanctification, it is acceptable. If he sanctified two buckets at the same time, they are both disqualified. If, with his two hands, he filled one bucket of water and sanctified another existing bucket for himself, they are both disqualified.
If he filled two buckets with his two hands for another person at the same time, when they are sanctified at once, they are both acceptable. If they were sanctified individually, they are disqualified. If he sanctifies water for another person with both hands at the same time as one sanctification it is acceptable. If, with his two hands, he filled one bucket of water and sanctified another existing bucket for another person, the bucket he filled is disqualified, but the bucket he sanctified is acceptable.
This is the general principle: Whenever work was performed when water was drawn, whether one drew the water for himself or for another person, it is disqualified, Whenever water was drawn according to law and then one performed work before placing the ashes upon it, if the water belonged to him, it is disqualified. If it belongs to someone else, it is acceptable.
In any situation when the water is in his hand and he performs work, whether there is a watchman who does not perform work or whether there is no watchman, the water is disqualified. When the water is not in his hand and he performed work, if there is a watchman, it is not disqualified. If there is no watchman, it is disqualified.ה
הממלא לעצמו בשתי ידיו כאחת בקידוש אחד פסול בשני קידושים כשר קידש לעצמו בשתי ידיו כאחת בקידוש אחד כשרים בשני קידושין פסולין מילא וקידש בשתי ידיו כאחת לעצמו שניהן פסולין מילא לאחר בשתי ידיו כאחת בקידוש אחד כשר בשני קידושין פסולין קידש לאחר בשתי ידיו כאחת בין בקידוש אחד בין בשני קידושין שניהן כשירים מילא וקידש בשתי ידיו כאחת לאחר המילוי פסול והקידוש כשר זה הכלל כל מילוי שעשה עמו מלאכה בין שמילא לעצמו בין שמילא לאחר פסול וכל מים שנתמלאו כהלכתן ועשה מלאכה קודם שיתן את האפר אם היו המים שלו הרי הן פסולין ואם היו של אחר כשירין וכל דבר שבידו ועשה מלאכה בין שיש שם שומר שאינו עושה מלאכה בין שאין [שם] שומר פסול ודבר שאינו בידו ועשה מלאכה אם יש [שם] שומר לא פסל אם אין שם שומר פסל:
6
When a person tells a colleague: "Sanctify water for me and I will sanctify water for you," and they sanctified water for each other, the first is acceptable and the second is disqualified, because he received a wage for sanctifying.
If one tells the other: "Draw water for me and I will draw water for you," and they drew water for each other, the first is unacceptable. The rationale is that since his intent was that his colleague should draw water for him in exchange, it is considered as if he drew water for himself and another person at the same time, in which instance, the water is disqualified. The second bucket is acceptable, because it is permitted to receive payment for drawing water and he did not perform work after drawing the water, nor did have an intent regarding another drawing of water.ו
האומר לחבירו קדש לי ואקדש לך וקידשו זה לזה הראשון כשר והשני פסול שהרי קידש בשכר אמר לו מלא לי ואמלא לך ומלאו זה לזה הראשון פסול הואיל וכוונתו שימלא לו חבירו חלף מילוי זה הרי זה כממלא לו ולאחר שהן פסולין והשני כשר שהמילוי בשכר מותר והרי לא עשה מלאכה אחר שמילא ואין בכוונתו מילוי אחר:
7
When a person tells a friend: "Sanctify water for me and I will draw water for you," they are both acceptable. The rationale is that work does not disqualify sanctification and it permitted to receive a wage for drawing water.
If one tells the other: "Draw water for me and I will sanctify water for you," they are both disqualified. The water drawn originally is disqualified, because it is considered as if he drew water and sanctified it at the same time and thus caused the water he drew to be disqualified because of the performance of work. And the water sanctified afterwards is disqualified, because it is as if he sanctified water for a wage, because it is as if he was repaying a debt for which he was liable.ז
האומר לחבירו קדש לי ואמלא לך שניהן כשרין שהמלאכה אינה פוסלת הקידוש והמילוי בשכר מותר מלא לי ואקדש לך שניהן פסולין זה שמילא בתחלה פסול שהרי הוא כממלא ומקדש כאחת ופסל המים במלאכה וזה שקידש באחרונה פסול שהרי קידש בשכר וכאילו החזיר חוב שעליו:
8
When a person goes to sanctify water for the ashes of the red heifer, he may take the key to the closet where the ashes are kept and open it to take out the ashes. If it is necessary to dig out the ashes, he may take a hatchet. He may take a ladder and carry it from place to place to bring the ashes. In all these circumstances, the water and the ashes remain acceptable. If after taking the ashes for the sanctification, he covered the container in which the ashes were held, locked the door of the closet, or stood the container where the ashes were held upright on the ground before casting the ashes on the water, the water is disqualified, but the ashes are acceptable to sanctify other water.
If, by contrast, he stood the container in which the ashes were held upright in his hand so that the remaining ashes would not be scattered, it is acceptable, because it is impossible to do otherwise. If he places it down on the ground, the water is disqualified and if he covers it, the water is disqualified.
If he took ashes and saw that the amount was excessive and returned some, it is acceptable. If he cast the ashes on the water and then returned some, the water is acceptable. If he cast the ashes on the water and saw that the amount was excessive and took some to sanctify other water, it is acceptable.
If he trimmed an olive leaf to use to cast the ashes, the ruling depends on his intent. If his intent was so that the leaf would not hold much ashes, the water is disqualified. If his intent was to direct the flow of the ashes so that they would enter the container holding the water, the water is acceptable.ח
ההולך לקדש הרי זה נוטל את המפתח ופותח להוציא האפר ונוטל קרדום אם צריך לחפור בו אפר הפרה ונוטל סולם ומוליך ממקום למקום להביא האפר וכשר ואם משנטל האפר לקדש בו כסה הכלי שהיה בו האפר או שהגיף את הדלת או שזקף את הכלי בארץ קודם שישליך האפר למים פסל המים אבל האפר כשר לקדש בו מים אחרים זקף את הכלי שיש בו האפר בידו כדי שלא יתפזר כשירים מפני שא"א שהרי אם הניחו בארץ פסל ואם כיסהו פסל נטל את האפר וראה שהוא מרובה והחזיר ממנו כשר נתן האפר על המים וראה שהוא מרובה ונטל ממנו לקדש מים אחרים כשר קרסם עלה זית לחתות בו האפר אם בשביל שלא יחזיק אפר הרבה פסל ואם בשביל שיכנס האפר בכלי כשר:
Parah Adummah - Chapter 9
1
How is the water sanctified with the ashes of the red heifer? One should place the water that was drawn for this purpose in a container and then place ashes on the water so that they will be seen on the surface of the water. This is sufficient even though it is a large barrel filled with water. He should then mix the entire contents. If he placed the ashes in the container first and then placed the water upon them, it is disqualified.
What then is meant by the Torah's statement Numbers 19:17: "And he shall place living water upon it"? That the ash should be mixed with the water.א
כיצד מקדשין את המים באפר הפרה נותן את המים שנתמלאו לשם מי חטאת בכלי ונותן אפר על פני המים כדי שיראה על פני המים אע"פ שהיא חבית גדולה מלאה מים ומערב הכל ואם נתן האפר תחילה ואח"כ נתן עליו המים פסל ומהו זה שנאמר בתורה ונתן עליו מים חיים כדי לערב את האפר במים:
2
A person sanctifying must focus his concentration. He must cast the ashes on the water by hand. These concepts are implied by the phrase ibid.: "And he shall take for the impure person...." The latter words indicate that he must have a specific intent while sanctifying, drawing, and sprinkling.
Thus if the ashes of the red heifer fell from the container holding them into the water, he took the ashes with his hand, but then a friend or the wind thrust him and the ashes fell from his hand onto the water, or the ashes fell from his hand onto the side of the container or onto his hand and then onto the water, the water is disqualified,ב
המקדש צריך שיתכוין ויתן האפר בידו על המים שנאמר ולקחו לטמא עד שיהיה מתכוין לקידוש ולמילוי ולהזייה אבל אם נפל האפר מן הכלי שיש בו האפר לתוך המים או שנטל האפר בידו ודחפו חבירו או הרוח ונפל האפר מידו על המים או שנפל האפר מידו על צד הכלי או על ידו ואחר כך נפל למים ה"ז פסול:
3
If one sanctified an amount of water insufficient for sprinkling in one container and sanctified another amount of water insufficient for sprinkling in another container, they are not sanctified. If the ashes were floating on the surface of the water and one gathered some from above and sanctified other water with it, it is sanctified. By contrast, any ashes that touched the water may not be used to sanctify water again even if they were dried. Indeed, even if ashes were blown onto water by the wind they may not be dried and used to sanctify other water.ג
קידש פחות מכדי הזאה בכלי זה ופחות מכדי הזאה בכלי אחר לא נתקדשו היה האפר צף על פני המים וכנס ממנו מלמעלה וקידש בו מים אחרים הרי אלו מקודשין וכל שנגע במים אין מקדשין בו פעם שנייה ואף על פי שניגבו ואפילו נשבה הרוח ונתנה את האפר על גבי המים אינו מנגבו ומקדש בו:
4
The following rules apply when there was a small container placed inside a large container, they were both filled with water drawn for the ashes of the red heifer, and their waters were intermingled. When one placed ashes on the water in the large container, all of the water in the small container became sanctified even though its opening is very narrow and no ashes entered there. The rationale is that the waters were intermingled.ד
כלי קטן שהיה בתוך כלי גדול והן מלאין מים והמים מעורבין כיון שנתן האפר במים שבכלי הגדול נתקדשו כל המים שבתוך הכלי הקטן ואע"פ שהיה פיו צר ביותר ולא נכנס לו אפר שהרי המים כולן מעורבין:
5
When there was a sponge in the water at the time one placed the ashes upon it, the water in the sponge is disqualified because it is not in a container.
What should the person do to remove the water? He should pour off all the water until he reaches the sponge, but should not touch the sponge. If he touches the sponge, no matter how much water is above it, all of the water is disqualified, because the water in the sponge is released and mixes with the acceptable water.
If a sponge falls into sanctified water, one should take it and squeeze it outside the container and the water in the container remains acceptable.ה
היה ספוג בתוך המים בעת שנתן האפר הרי המים שבספוג פסולין מפני שאינן בכלי כיצד יעשה זולף את כל המים עד שמגיע לספוג ולא יגע בספוג ואם נגע בספוג אף ע"פ שהמים צפין על גביו כל שהן פסולין מפני שהמים שבספוג יוצאין ומתערבין במים הכשירין נפל ספוג לתוך המים המקודשין נוטלו וסוחטו חוץ לכלי והמים שבכלי כשרין:
6
When there are two adjacent troughs in one stone and ashes were placed into one of them, the water in the other is not sanctified. When there was a hole the size of a mouthpiece of a leather drinking pouch connecting the two or there was a layer of water even as thin as a garlic peel connecting them from above, if one placed the ashes into one, the water in the second is sanctified.ו
שתי שוקתות שבאבן אחת שנתן את האפר לתוך אחת מהן אין המים שבשניה מקודשין ואם היו נקובות זו לזו כשפופרת הנוד או שהיו המים צפין על גביהן אפילו כקליפת השום ונתן אפר לאחת מהן הרי המים שבשניה מקודשין:
7
When two stones are placed together to form a trough, two kneading troughs are placed together, or a stone trough was divided and then the two portions held together, were the ashes of the red heifer to be placed in one, the water between them is not sanctified. If the two entities were connected with lime or with plaster and they could be carried as one, the water between them is sanctified.ז
שתי אבנים שהקיפן זו לזו ועשאן שוקת וכן שתי עריבות וכן שוקת שנחלקה ונתן אפר בחלק אחד מהן המים שביניהן אינן מקודשין ואם חיברן בסיד או בגפסיס והם יכולות להנטל כאחת המים שביניהן מקודשין:
8
When even the smallest amount of other water - even water that was drawn for the sake of the ashes of the red heifer - becomes mixed with sanctified water, it is disqualified. Similarly, if dew descends into such water, it is disqualified. If other liquids or fruit juices fall into it, the entire quantity should be poured out. The container must be dried; only afterwards can other sanctified water be placed in it.
If ink, black earth, or dark earth, or any entity that leaves a mark falls into such water, it must be poured out, but there is no need to dry the container. The rationale is that if any portion of the entity that leaves a mark will remain, it will be apparent.ח
מים מקודשין שנתערבו בהן מים אחרים כל שהוא אפילו מים שנתמלאו לקידוש הרי אלו פסולין וכן אם ירד לתוכן טל הרי אלו פסולין נפל לתוכן משקין ומי פירות יערה הכל וצריך לנגב הכלי ואחר כן יתן לתוכו מים מקודשין אחרים נפל לתוכן דיו קומוס וקנקנתום וכל דבר שהוא רושם יערה וא"צ לנגב שאם ישאר שם דבר הרושם הרי הוא נראה:
9
When a person immerses a container for water for the ashes of the red heifer in water that is not fit to be sanctified, he must dry it before he sanctifies other water in it. If he immersed it in water that is fit to be sanctified, he does not have to dry out the container. If, however, he immersed it with the intent of using it to hold sanctified water, he must dry it in any case.ט
המטביל כלי לחטאת במים שאינן ראויין לקדש צריך לנגב ואח"כ יקדש בו הטבילו במים הראויין לקדש אינו צריך לנגב ואם הטבילו לאסוף בו מים מקודשין בין כך ובין כך צריך לנגב:
10
When a gourd was immersed in water that was fit to be sanctified, one may sanctify water in it. But one may not collect water that has already been sanctified with the ashes in it. The rationale is that the water in which it was immersed becomes absorbed in its substance; afterwards, it emerges, becomes mixed with the sanctified water, and disqualifies it.
If it became impure, even if it was immersed, we do not sanctify water in it. The rationale is that impure water is absorbed in its substance. It will flow out and become mixed with the water that is being sanctified in it.י
קרוייה שהטבילה במים הראויין לקדש מקדשין בה אבל אין אוספין לתוכה מי חטאת מפני שהמים שהוטבלה בהן נבלעים בתוכה ויוצאין ומתערבין במי חטאת ופוסלין אותן נטמאת והטבילוה אין מקדשין בה שהמשקין הטמאין הנבלעין בגופה יצאו ויתערבו במים שמקדשין אותן בתוכה:
11
When crawling animals or teeming animals fell into water that was sanctified and broke open or caused its color to change, the water is disqualified. This applies even if they were very dry like an ant, moth, or louse that is found in grain. If he placed beetles in such water, it is disqualified even if they did not break open or cause the color of the water to change. The rationale is that they are like tubes and the water enters their body and departs from it, mixed with their body fluids.יא
מים מקודשין שנפל לתוכן שקצים ורמשים ונתבקעו או שנשתנו מראיהן פסולין אפילו היו יבישים ביותר כגון הנמלה והרירה והכינה שבתבואה נתן לתוכה חפושין אף על פי שלא נתבקעו ולא נשתנו מראיהן הרי המים פסולין מפני שהיא כשפופרת והמים נכנסין בתוכה ויוצאין מתוכה עם הליחה שבה:
12
When a domesticated or wild animal drinks from sanctified water, the water is disqualified. Similarly, all birds disqualify it with the exception of a dove, because it sucks water and saliva does not flow from its mouth and become mixed in the water. Similarly, if any of the crawling animals drink from sanctified water, they do not disqualify it with the exception of the mole. It licks the water with its tongue and thus moisture will be released from its mouth into the water.יב
מים מקודשין ששתה מהן בהמה או חיה פסולין וכן כל העופות פסולין חוץ מן היונה מפני שהיא מוצצת ואין ריר יוצא מפיה ומתערב במים וכן כל השרצים ששתו אינן פוסלין חוץ מן החולדה מפני שהיא מלקקת בלשונה ונמצאת הליחה יוצאה מפיה למים:
13
When the appearance of water sanctified with the ashes of the red heifer changes without any external cause, it is acceptable. If it changes color because of smoke, it is disqualified. If it froze and then melted, it is acceptable, even if it melted in the sun. If, however, it was melted by fire, it is disqualified.יג
מי חטאת שנשתנו מראיהן מחמת עצמן כשירים נשתנו מחמת עשן פסולין הגלידו וחזרו ונימוחו כשירים אפילו נימוחו בחמה אבל אם המחן באור פסולין:
14
When the appearance of the ashes of the red heifer changed without any external cause or because of smoke, they are acceptable. If their appearance changed because of dust, because lime or gypsum fell into them, or because even the slightest amount of oven ash fell into them, they are disqualified.יד
אפר חטאת שנשתנו מראיו מחמת עצמו או מחמת עשן כשר נשתנו מחמת אבק או שנפל לתוכו סיד או גפסיס או שנתערב בו אפר מקלה כל שהוא הרי זה פסול:
15
When a person thinks about drinking water sanctified with the ashes of the red heifer, he does not disqualify it until he actually drinks from it. If he poured from the container directly to his throat without his lips touching the water in the container, he does not disqualify it.טו
החושב על מי חטאת לשתותן לא פסלן עד שישתה מהן ואם שפך מן הכלי לתוך גרונו ולא נגעה שפתו במים שבכלי לא פסל:
16
When a container in which the water for the ashes of the red heifer had been placed was left open and then one discovered it closed, the water is disqualified. We suspect that maybe a person who had not purified himself for dealing with the water for the ashes of the red heifer touched it, for it is certain that a person covered it.
The following rules apply if one left it covered and found it open. If a mole could have drunk from it or dew could have descended upon it at night, it is disqualified. If not, it is acceptable. The rationale is that two undeterminable factors are involved. It is unknown whether it was uncovered by a person or a domesticated animal, wild animal, or crawling animal. And if you would say that it was uncovered by a person, it is unknown whether he was pure with regard to the water of the ashes of the red heifer.טז
כלי שיש בו מים מקודשין שהניחו מגולה ובא ומצאו מכוסה הרי אלו פסולין שמא אדם שאינו טהור לחטאת נגע בהן שהרי אדם כיסהו בודאי הניחו מכוסה ובא ומצאו מגולה אם יכולה החולדה לשתות ממנו או שירד לו טל בלילה פסולין ואם לאו כשרין מפני שיש כאן שתי ספיקות ספק אדם גילה או בהמה חיה ורמש ואם ת"ל אדם גילהו שמא היה טהור לחטאת או לא:
17
When a person transfers sanctified water or water that was drawn to be sanctified to an impure person to watch, the water is disqualified.יז
המוסר מים מקודשין או מים שנתמלאו לקידוש לטמא לשומרן הרי אלו פסולין:
18
When two people are watching water and one becomes impure, the water is still acceptable, because it is in the domain of the other watchman. If the first purified himself and the other watchman became impure, it is acceptable because the water is in the domain of the first.יח
שנים שהיו שומרין את המים ונטמא אחד מהן כשרים מפני שהן ברשותו של שני טהר וחזר לשמור ונטמא השני כשרים מפני שהן ברשותו של ראשון נטמאו שניהן כאחת המים פסולין:
Parah Adummah - Chapter 10
1
When a person draws water to be sanctified, he does not have to be the person who sanctified and sprinkles the water on an impure person. Instead, another person may sanctify it and another may sprinkle it. Similarly, a person may draw water with one container and pour it from container to container. And he may sanctify it in a different container, pour the sanctified water from one container to another, and sprinkle it from a different container.א
הממלא מים לקידוש אינו צריך שיהיה הוא עצמו המקדש והמזה אלא מקדש אחד ומזה אחד וכן ממלא אדם בכלי ומערה מכלי לכלי ומקדש בכלי אחר ומערה המים המקודשין מכלי לכלי ומזה מכלי אחר:
2
A person may draw water for the ashes of the red heifer and keep it in his possession without sanctifying it for as long as he desires. There is no difficulty in this. He may transport it from place to place and from city to city and then place ashes upon it and sanctify it whenever he desires.
Similarly, a person may keep sanctified water in his possession for many days or years and sprinkle from it on any day that he needs to until it is used up. He may transport it from place to place and from city to city. Similarly, a person may keep the ashes of the red heifer in his possession and transport it from place to place and from city to city. Once a container in which the ashes of the red heifer were held was transported in a ship on the Jordan River and an olive-sized portion of a corpse was discovered on the bottom of the ship, making the water impure. At that time, the High Court decreed that the water for the ashes of the red heifer and the ashes themselves should not be transported on a river, nor on a ship. Similarly, one should not float them on water, nor should a person stand on one side of a river and throw them to the other. A person may, however, pass through water until it reaches his neck while holding the ashes of the red heifer or sanctified water.
Similarly, a person and empty containers that were purified for the ashes of the red heifer and water that was drawn for the sake of the ashes of the red heifer that was not sanctified may be transported on a river and on a ship.ב
ממלא אדם מים ומניחן אצלו בלא קידוש כל זמן שירצה ואין בכך כלום ומוליכן ממקום למקום ומעיר לעיר ונותן עליהן אפר ומקדשן בכל עת שירצה וכן המים המקודשין מניחן אדם אצלו ימים ושנים ומזה מהן בכל יום שהוא צריך עד שיתמו ומוליכן ממקום למקום ומעיר לעיר ומשמר אדם אפר פרה אצלו ומוליכה ממקום למקום ומעיר לעיר פעם אחת הוליכו כלי שהיה בו מי חטאת בספינה בירדן ונמצא כזית מן המת בקרקע הספינה ונטמאו המים באותה שעה גזרו ב"ד הגדול שאין מעבירין מי חטאת ולא אפר חטאת בנהר ובספינה ולא ישיטם על פני המים ולא יעמוד בצד הנהר מכאן ויזרקם לצד השני אבל עובר הוא אדם במים עד צוארו ובידו אפר פרה או מים מקודשין וכן אדם וכלים הריקנים שהן טהורין לחטאת ומים שנתמלאו לחטאת ועדיין לא נתקדשו מעבירין אותם בנהר בספינה:
3
Sanctified water may be transported on the Mediterranean Sea and it may be floated on such water. The decree encompassed only sanctified water and ashes on a river.ג
מעבירין מים מקודשין בספינה בים הגדול ושטין [בהם] על פני המים שלא גזרו אלא על המים המקודשין ועל האפר בנהר:
4
When a person is transporting water to be sanctified - and, needless to say, water that has been sanctified - he should not sling the container over his back, but instead, should carry it in front of him, as implied by Numbers 19:9: "as safekeeping, as water for sprinkling." One can infer when it is watched, it may be used as water for sprinkling. If not, it is disqualified. If one filled two jugs, he should carry one in front of him and one behind him, because it is impossible to do otherwise.ד
המוליך מים לקדשן ואין צריך לומר מים שנתקדשו לא יפשיל הכלי לאחוריו אלא לפניו שנאמר למשמרת למי נדה בזמן שהן שמורין הן מי נדה ואם לאו פסולין מילא שתי חביות נותן אחת לפניו ואחת לאחוריו מפני שאי אפשר:
5
When water for the ashes of the red heifer was weighed on a scale, it is disqualified if one diverted his attention from it. If not, it is acceptable. If, however, one weighed other entities with water for the ashes of the red heifer, it is disqualified. The rationale is that since one used it as a weight, it is not considered as having been "watched."
All of the pure individuals who draw water, sanctify it, and sprinkle it and, similarly, all of the utensils used for drawing water, sanctifying it, and sprinkling it are acceptable if they were immersed on that day even though night has not fallen upon them. For all of the activities involving the red heifer, drawing the water, and sprinkling it are acceptable when performed by individuals who had immersed that day, as we explained.
Because of the Sadducees, all of the utensils that can be purified are made impure, immersed, and then used for the water for the ashes of the red heifer.ה
מי חטאת ששקלן במשקל אם הסיח דעתו פסולין ואם לאו כשרין אבל אם שקל דברים אחרים במי חטאת הואיל ועשאן משקולת פסלן שאין זו משמרת כל אלו הטהורים שממלאין או שמקדשין או שמזין וכן כל הכלים שממלאין ומקדשין מהם ושמזין מהן אם היו טבולי יום אע"פ שלא העריב שמשן הרי אלו כשרים שכל מעשה הפרה והמילוי והקידוש וההזייה כשר בטבול יום כמו שביארנו ומפני הצדוקין מטמאין את כל כלי שטף ומטבילין אותן ואחר כך משתמשין בהן במי חטאת:
6
Everyone is acceptable to sprinkle the water with the ashes of the red heifer with the exception of a woman, a tumtum, an androgynus, a deafmute, an intellectually and/or emotionally compromised person, and a minor who is not intellectually mature. Similarly,] an uncircumcised person is acceptable, for an uncircumcised person is not impure.
When an intellectually mature minor sprinkles such water and a woman helps him, she holds the water in her hand, his sprinkling is acceptable provided she does not hold his hand while he is sprinkling. If she held his hand while he is sprinkling, the sprinkling is unacceptable.ו
הכל כשירין להזות חוץ מאשה וטומטום ואנדרוגינוס [וח"ש] וקטן שאין בו דעת אבל קטן שיש בו דעת כשר להזות והערל כשר להזות שאין הערל טמא קטן שיש בו דעת שהזה והאשה מסעדתו כגון שאחזה לו המים בידו הזאתו כשירה ובלבד שלא תאחוז בידו בשעת הזאה ואם אחזה בידו בשעת הזייתו פסולה:
7
The person sprinkling the water must have the intent to sprinkle on the impure person to purify him. If he sprinkled without such an intent, the sprinkling is invalid. The person upon whom the water is sprinkled, by contrast, does not need to have any intent. Instead, water may be sprinkled on a person with his knowledge or without his knowledge.
When a person has the intent to sprinkle such water in front of himself and he sprinkles behind himself, or he had the intent of sprinkling water behind himself and he sprinkled in front of himself, his sprinkling is invalid. If he had the intent to sprinkle such water in front of himself and he sprinkled in front, but to the sides, his sprinkling is acceptable.ז
המזה צריך לכוין ולהזות על הטמא לטהרו ואם הזה שלא בכוונה הזאתו פסולה אבל זה שמזין עליו אינו צריך כוונה אלא מזין על האדם לדעתו ושלא לדעתו המתכוין להזות לפניו והזה לאחוריו לאחוריו והזה לפניו הזייתו פסולה נתכוון להזות לפניו והזה לצדדין של פניו הזייתו כשירה:
8
The person sprinkling the water need not dip the hyssop in the water for every sprinkling. Instead, he may dip the hyssop and sprinkle once and again until the water was completed. He may sprinkle on many people or many utensils - even 100 - at a time. Anyone who was touched by even the slightest amount of the water is pure, provided the one sprinkling had the intent of sprinkling on him.
If one dipped the hyssop with the intent of sprinkling on an entity that is susceptible to ritual impurity or on a person and, instead, sprinkled the water on an entity that was not susceptible to ritually impurity or on an animal, he need not dip the hyssop again if water remained on it. Instead, he may sprinkle the remainder on an impure person or utensil. The rationale is that, at the outset, he dipped it in the water in an acceptable manner. If, by contrast, he dipped the hyssop in the water in order to sprinkle it on an entity that is not susceptible to ritual impurity or on an animal, and sprinkled it on an impure man or utensil, the sprinkling is invalid until he dips the hyssop in the water a second time, while having the intent to sprinkle on a person or on an entity that is susceptible to ritual impurity.ח
המזה אינו צריך טבילה לכל הזייה אלא טובל את האזוב ומזה הזייה אחר הזייה עד שיגמרו המים ומזה הזייה אחת על כמה בני אדם או על כמה כלים כאחת אפילו מאה כל שנגע בו מן המים כל שהוא טהור והוא שיתכוין המזה להזות עליו טבל את האזוב ונתכוון להזות על דבר שמקבל טומאה או על האדם והזה מאותה טבילה על דבר שאינו מקבל טומאה או על הבהמה אם נשארו מים באזוב אינו צריך לחזור ולהטביל אלא מזה מן השאר על האדם או על הכלים הטמאים שהרי תחילת טבילתו כשירה היתה אבל אם טבל את האזוב להזות על דבר שאינו מקבל טומאה או על הבהמה והזה על האדם או על הכלי הטמא הזייתו פסולה עד שיחזור ויטבול פעם שנייה ויתכוין להזות על האדם או על דבר המקבל טומאה:
9
If he dipped the hyssop in the water with the intent of sprinkling on an entity that is not susceptible to ritual impurity, the water that drips from the hyssop are still acceptable. Therefore if it drips into a container and one dips the hyssop in it with the intent of sprinkling it on an entity that is susceptible to ritual impurity, the sprinkling is acceptable.ט
הטביל את האזוב ונתכוון להזות על דבר שאינו מקבל טומאה המים המנטפים כשירין לפיכך אם נטפו בכלי וחזר והטביל בהן את האזוב בכוונה להזות על דבר המקבל טומאה הזייתו כשירה:
10
Although the volume of the water of the ashes of the red heifer has been reduced, one may dip even the tips of the hyssop stalks and sprinkle, provided one does not use it like a sponge. When a flask has a thin opening, he may dip and withdraw the hyssop in the ordinary manner and then sprinkle with it. He need not be careful that it does not touch the sides of the container a second time.י
מי חטאת שנתמעטו טובל בהן אפילו ראשי גבעולין ומזה ובלבד שלא יספג צלוחית שפיה צר טובל ומעלה כדרכו ומזה ואינו צריך להזהר שמא יגע בצידי הכלי בפעם שנייה:
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class
Monday, Iyar 19, 5777 · 15 May 2017
Iyar 19, 34th day of the omer
Monday, Iyar 19, 34th day of the omer 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: B'chukotai, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 90-96.
Tanya: Then follows the (p. 259)...has been explained above. (p.261).
Chassidus is Divine intelligence, an understanding which shows man how small he is, and how great he can become.
Daily Thought:
Beauty & Beauty
There are two kinds of beauty, one called tiferet, the other called hod:
Tiferet refers to beauty that we understand.
Hod refers to beauty that inspires awe, because understanding escapes us.
This itself is something of amazing beauty: That an idea can reach down and touch a mind that cannot understand it.
How is this possible? Because at the essence of all thought lies beauty and delight. Sometimes we grasp the beauty that we can understand. Sometimes we grasp the essence that cannot be understood.[Igrot Kodesh, vol. 2, p. 301.]
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• English Text | Video Class
Monday, Iyar 19, 5777 · 15 May 2017
Iyar 19, 34th day of the omer
Monday, Iyar 19, 34th day of the omer 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: B'chukotai, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 90-96.
Tanya: Then follows the (p. 259)...has been explained above. (p.261).
Chassidus is Divine intelligence, an understanding which shows man how small he is, and how great he can become.
Daily Thought:
Beauty & Beauty
There are two kinds of beauty, one called tiferet, the other called hod:
Tiferet refers to beauty that we understand.
Hod refers to beauty that inspires awe, because understanding escapes us.
This itself is something of amazing beauty: That an idea can reach down and touch a mind that cannot understand it.
How is this possible? Because at the essence of all thought lies beauty and delight. Sometimes we grasp the beauty that we can understand. Sometimes we grasp the essence that cannot be understood.[Igrot Kodesh, vol. 2, p. 301.]
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