Today in Judaism Monday, May 22, 2017 - 26 Iyar, 5777 - Chabad.org in New York, New York, United States - Omer: Day 41 - Yesod sheb'Yesod Tonight Count 42

Today in Judaism Monday, May 22, 2017 - 26 Iyar, 5777 - Chabad.org in New York, New York, United States - Omer: Day 41 - Yesod sheb'Yesod Tonight Count 42
Torah Reading
Bamidbar: Numbers 1:1-19
Numbers 1:1 Adonai spoke to Moshe in the Sinai Desert, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month of the second year after they had left the land of Egypt. He said, 2 “Take a census of the entire assembly of the people of Isra’el, by clans and families. Record the names of all the men 3 twenty years old and over who are subject to military service in Isra’el. You and Aharon are to enumerate them company by company.
4 Take with you from each tribe someone who is head of a clan. 5 These are the men to take with you:
From Re’uven, Elitzur the son of Sh’de’ur;
6 From Shim‘on, Shlumi’el the son of Tzurishaddai;
7 From Y’hudah, Nachshon the son of ‘Amminadav;
8 From Yissakhar, N’tan’el the son of Tzu‘ar;
9 From Z’vulun, Eli’av the son of Helon.
10 Of the children of Yosef:
From Efrayim, Elishama the son of ‘Ammihud;
From M’nasheh, Gamli’el the son of P’dahtzur.
11 From Binyamin, Avidan the son of Gid‘oni;
12 From Dan, Achi‘ezer the son of ‘Ammishaddai;
13 From Asher, Pag‘i’el the son of ‘Okhran;
14 From Gad, Elyasaf the son of De‘u’el;
15 From Naftali, Achira the son of ‘Enan.”
16 These were the ones called from the assembly, the chiefs of their fathers’ clans and heads of thousands in Isra’el. 17 So Moshe and Aharon took these men who had been designated by name; 18 and, on the first day of the second month, they gathered the whole assembly to state their genealogies by families and clans and recorded the names of all those twenty years old and over, as well as their total numbers. 19 Moshe counted them in the Sinai Desert, just as Adonai had ordered him.

Today's Laws and Customs
Count "Forty-Two Days to the Omer" TonightTomorrow is the forty-second day of the Omer Count. Since, on the Jewish calendar, the day begins at nightfall of the previous evening, we count the omer for tomorrow's date tonight, after nightfall: "Today is forty-two days, which are six 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'Yesod -- "Receptiveness in Connection"
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:
R. Saadia Gaon (942)
Iyar 26 is the yahrtzeit (anniversary of the passing) of Rabbi Saadia Gaon (892?-942), author of Emunot V'deot, one of the earliest works of Jewish philosophy. ("Gaon" was the title given to the leading Sages of Babylonia in the post-Talmudic period).
Links:More on R. Saadia
A story
Ramchal (1747)
Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato (known by the acronym "Ramchal"), philosopher, kabbalist and ethicist, was born in Padua, Italy, in 1707. At a very early age, he began to study Kabbalah under the tutelage of Rabbi Moshe Zacuto, one of the foremost Kabbalists of his generation. While still in his twenties, he authored numerous works of Torah scholarship, including Derech Hashem ("The way of G-d"), a systematic exposition of the fundamentals of Judaism.
In 1735, Luzzatto left his native Italy and, avoiding public life, set up shop as a gem cutter in Amsterdam. His fame nevertheless caught up with him, and in 1740, (at the turn of the Jewish century 5500), he published his most famous work, Mesilat Yesharim ("Path of the Just"). Like many other great men of his age, Luzzatto longed for the Holy Land, and in 1743 he settled in Acco. He was not to enjoy a long stay there, however, and on Iyar 26, 5507 (1747), at the age of 39, he and his entire family died in a plague. According to most traditions, he was buried in Tiberias, next to the tomb of Rabbi Akiva.
R. Eizik of Homel (1857)
Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik Epstein (1770-1857), who served as the rabbi of the town of Homel in White Russia for 58 years, was a leading figure in the first three generations of Chabad Chassidism. As a young man, he became attracted to the teachings of the first Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, and remained a devoted follower of the 2nd and 3rd Rebbes, Rabbi DovBer and Rabbi Menachem Mendel. He authored a number of Chassidic works, including Sh'tei HaMeorot and Chanah Ariel.
Link: One on One
Six-Day War (1967)
In the spring of 1967, the Arab capitals paraded their arms and openly spoke of overrunning the Land of Israel and casting its inhabitants into the sea. The international media was almost unanimous in its belief that the small Jewish state, outflanked and outgunned by its enemies, stood little chance of survival. It seemed that, for the second time in a generation, the world was going to stand by and allow the enemies of the Jewish people to slaughter them in the millions.
On Iyar 26 (June 5, 1967), Israel launched preemptive strikes on its southern and northern frontiers. In just six days, the Jewish army defeated five Arab armies on three fronts and liberated territories of its promised homeland amounting to an area greater than its own size, including the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount (see “Today in Jewish History” for Iyar 28).
The openly miraculous nature of Israel’s victory spawned a global awakening of the Jewish soul, fueling the already present and growing teshuvah movement of return to G‑d and Jewish traditions. The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, called it a moment of biblical proportions, an “opportunity the likes of which has not been granted for thousands of years.” Many thousands of Jews flocked to put on tefillin and pray at the newly liberated Western Wall of the Temple Mount.
Link: The Rebbe on the Six-Day War (video)
Daily Quote:
And the dove returned to him at eventide, and behold it had plucked an olive leaf in its mouth; so Noah knew that the water had abated from upon the earth.[Genesis 8:11]

Daily Study: Chumash Parshat Bamidbar, 2nd Portion (Numbers 1:20-1:54)

Numbers Chapter 120This was [the sum of] the children of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army. כוַיִּֽהְי֤וּ בְנֵֽי־רְאוּבֵן֙ בְּכֹ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֤ר שֵׁמוֹת֙ לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם כָּל־זָכָ֗ר מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
21Those counted from the tribe of Reuben [were] forty six thousand, five hundred. כאפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה רְאוּבֵ֑ן שִׁשָּׁ֧ה וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
22Of the tribe of Simeon, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; his tally, according to the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army. כבלִבְנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֔וֹן תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם פְּקֻדָ֗יו בְּמִסְפַּ֤ר שֵׁמוֹת֙ לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם כָּל־זָכָ֗ר מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
23Those counted from the tribe of Simeon: fifty nine thousand, three hundred. כגפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה שִׁמְע֑וֹן תִּשְׁעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁל֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
24Of the tribe of Gad, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army. כדלִבְנֵ֣י גָ֔ד תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמ֗וֹת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
25Those counted from the tribe of Gad: forty five thousand, six hundred and fifty. כהפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה גָ֑ד חֲמִשָּׁ֤ה וְאַרְבָּעִים֙ אֶ֔לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וַֽחֲמִשִּֽׁים:
26Of the tribe of Judah, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army. כולִבְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
27Those counted from the tribe of Judah: seventy four thousand, six hundred. כזפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה יְהוּדָ֑ה אַרְבָּעָ֧ה וְשִׁבְעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
28Of the tribe of Issachar, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army. כחלִבְנֵ֣י יִשָּׂשכָ֔ר תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
29Those counted from the tribe of Issachar: fifty four thousand, four hundred. כטפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה יִשָּׂשכָ֑ר אַרְבָּעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
30Of the tribe of Zebulun, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army. ללִבְנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֔ן תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
31Those counted from the tribe of Zebulun: fifty seven thousand, four hundred. לאפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה זְבוּלֻ֑ן שִׁבְעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
32Of the children of Yosef: of the tribe of Ephraim, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army. לבלִבְנֵ֤י יוֹסֵף֙ לִבְנֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
33Those counted from the tribe of Ephraim: forty thousand, five hundred. לגפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה אֶפְרָ֑יִם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
34Of the tribe of Manasseh, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army. לדלִבְנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמ֗וֹת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
35Those counted from the tribe of Manasseh: thirty two thousand, two hundred. להפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה שְׁנַ֧יִם וּשְׁלשִׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּמָאתָֽיִם:
36Of the tribe of Benjamin, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army. לולִבְנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
37Those counted from the tribe of Benjamin: thirty five thousand, four hundred. לזפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה בִנְיָמִ֑ן חֲמִשָּׁ֧ה וּשְׁלשִׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
38Of the tribe of Dan, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army. לחלִבְנֵ֣י דָ֔ן תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
39Those counted from the tribe of Dan: sixty two thousand, seven hundred. לטפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה דָ֑ן שְׁנַ֧יִם וְשִׁשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁבַ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
40Of the tribe of Asher, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army. מלִבְנֵ֣י אָשֵׁ֔ר תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
41Those counted from the tribe of Asher: forty one thousand, five hundred. מאפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה אָשֵׁ֑ר אֶחָ֧ד וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
42Of the tribe of Naphtali, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army. מבבְּנֵ֣י נַפְתָּלִ֔י תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
43Those counted from the tribe of Naphtali: fifty three thousand, four hundred. מגפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה נַפְתָּלִ֑י שְׁלשָׁ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
44These are the numbered ones, whom Moses and Aaron and the twelve princes of Israel counted each one [representing] his fathers' house. מדאֵ֣לֶּה הַפְּקֻדִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ פָּקַ֨ד משֶׁ֤ה וְאַֽהֲרֹן֙ וּנְשִׂיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר אִ֑ישׁ אִֽישׁ־אֶחָ֥ד לְבֵֽית־אֲבֹתָ֖יו הָיֽוּ:
45All the children of Israel were counted according to their fathers' houses, from twenty years and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army. מהוַיִּֽהְי֛וּ כָּל־פְּקוּדֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כָּל־יֹצֵ֥א צָבָ֖א בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
46The sum of all those who were counted: six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty. מווַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ כָּל־הַפְּקֻדִ֔ים שֵׁשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁל֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֑ים וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וַֽחֲמִשִּֽׁים:
47But the Levites, according to their father's tribe were not numbered among them. מזוְהַֽלְוִיִּ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה אֲבֹתָ֑ם לֹ֥א הָתְפָּֽקְד֖וּ בְּתוֹכָֽם:
48The Lord spoke to Moses saying: מחוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
49Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, and you shall not reckon their sum among the children of Israel. מטאַ֣ךְ אֶת־מַטֵּ֤ה לֵוִי֙ לֹ֣א תִפְקֹ֔ד וְאֶת־רֹאשָׁ֖ם לֹ֣א תִשָּׂ֑א בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number: The legion of the king deserves to be counted on its own (Tanchuma). Another explanation: The Holy One, Blessed Be He, foresaw that a decree was destined to be enacted against all those counted from twenty years and upward [condemning them] to die in the desert. He said,“Let these not be included, for they are Mine, since they did not err in [the sin of] the [golden] calf.” - [B.B. 121] אך את מטה לוי לא תפקד: כדאי הוא לגיון של מלך להיות נמנה לבדו. דבר אחר, צפה הקב"ה שעתידה לעמוד גזירה על כל הנמנין מבן עשרים שנה ומעלה שימותו במדבר, אמר אל יהיו אלו בכלל, לפי שהם שלי, שלא טעו בעגל:
50But you shall appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its vessels and over all that belong to it; they shall carry the Tabernacle and they shall minister to it, and they shall encamp around the Tabernacle. נוְאַתָּ֡ה הַפְקֵ֣ד אֶת־הַֽלְוִיִּם֩ עַל־מִשְׁכַּ֨ן הָֽעֵדֻ֜ת וְעַ֣ל כָּל־כֵּלָיו֘ וְעַ֣ל כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֒ הֵ֜מָּה יִשְׂא֤וּ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָ֔יו וְהֵ֖ם יְשָֽׁרְתֻ֑הוּ וְסָבִ֥יב לַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן יַֽחֲנֽוּ:
But you shall appoint the Levites: Heb. הַפְקֵד, as the Targum renders, מַנִי, appoint ; it is an expression of appointing to control the thing over which one is appointed, as it says,“Let the king appoint (וְיַפְקֵד) officers (פְקִידִים)” (Esther 2:3). ואתה הפקד את הלוים: כתרגומו מני, לשון מנוי שררה על דבר שהוא ממונה עליו, כמו (אסתר ב, ג) ויפקד המלך פקידים:
51When the Tabernacle is set to travel, the Levites shall dismantle it; and when the Tabernacle camps, the Levites shall erect it; any outsider [non Levite] who approaches shall be put to death. נאוּבִנְסֹ֣עַ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֗ן יוֹרִ֤ידוּ אֹתוֹ֙ הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם וּבַֽחֲנֹת֙ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן יָקִ֥ימוּ אֹת֖וֹ הַֽלְוִיִּ֑ם וְהַזָּ֥ר הַקָּרֵ֖ב יוּמָֽת:
shall dismantle it: Heb. יוֹרִידוּ, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders, “They shall take it apart.” Whenever they were about to set out on a journey in the desert from one station to another, they dismantled the structure and carried it to the place where the cloud would settle. They would encamp there and set it up. יורידו אתו: כתרגומו יפרקון, כשבאין ליסע במדבר ממסע למסע היו מפרקין אותו מהקמתו, ונושאין אותו עד מקום אשר ישכון שם הענן ויחנו שם ומקימין אותו:
any outsider who approaches: [to participate] in this work. והזר הקרב: לעבודתם זו:
shall be put to death: at the hands of heaven. יומת: בידי שמים:
52The children of Israel shall encamp, each man by his own camp and each man by his division. נבוְחָנ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִ֧ישׁ עַל־מַֽחֲנֵ֛הוּ וְאִ֥ישׁ עַל־דִּגְל֖וֹ לְצִבְאֹתָֽם:
and each man by his division: As the divisions are arranged in this Book [of Numbers], three tribes for every division. ואיש על דגלו: כמו שהדגלים סדורים בספר זה, שלשה שבטים לכל דגל:
53The Levites shall encamp around the Mishkan of the Testimony, so that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel and the Levites shall keep the charge of the Mishkan of the Testimony. נגוְהַֽלְוִיִּ֗ם יַֽחֲנ֤וּ סָבִיב֙ לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ן הָֽעֵדֻ֔ת וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה קֶ֔צֶף עַל־עֲדַ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשָֽׁמְרוּ֙ הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת מִשְׁכַּ֥ן הָֽעֵדֽוּת:
so that there be no wrath: If you act in accordance with My command, there will be no wrath, but if not, and outsiders take part in this service, there will be wrath, as we find with the incident with Korah [that is says,]“for the wrath has gone forth from the Lord” (Num. 17:11). ולא יהיה קצף: אם תעשה כמצותי לא יהיה קצף, ואם לאו שיכנסו זרים בעבודתם זו יהיה קצף, כמו שמצינו במעשה קרח (במדבר יז, יא) כי יצא הקצף וגו':
54And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses thus did they do. נדוַיַּֽעֲשׂ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהוָֹ֛ה אֶת־משֶׁ֖ה כֵּ֥ן עָשֽׂוּ:
Tehillim - Psalms Chapter 119, Verses 97-176

Verses 97-176

97. O how I love Your Torah! All day it is my discussion.

98. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.

99. From all my teachers I have gained wisdom, for Your testimonies are my discussion.

100. I will be more perceptive than elders, because I have guarded Your precepts.

101. I have restrained my feet from every evil path, that I might keep Your word.

102. I have not turned away from Your judgments, for You have instructed me.

103. How sweet are Your words to my palate, [sweeter] than honey to my mouth!

104. From Your precepts I gain understanding, therefore I hate every path of falsehood.

105. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

106. I have sworn-and I will fulfill it-to keep Your righteous judgments.

107. I am afflicted to the extreme; grant me life, O Lord, according to Your promise.

108. Accept with favor, O Lord, the offerings of my lips, and teach me Your laws.

109. My soul is in danger always, yet I have not forgotten Your Torah.

110. The wicked laid a snare for me, yet I have not strayed from Your precepts.

111. I have taken Your testimonies as an eternal heritage, for they are the joy of my heart.

112. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes, forever, to the last.

113. I despise vain thoughts, but I love Your Torah.

114. You are my refuge and my shield; I place hope in Your promise.

115. Turn away from me, you evildoers, and I will keep the commandments of my God.

116. Support me according to Your promise, and I will live; let me not be shamed because of my hope.

117. Sustain me, and I will be saved, and I will be engrossed in Your statutes always.

118. You trample all who stray from Your statutes, for their ploy is a lie.

119. You have purged all the wicked of the earth like dross, therefore I love Your testimonies.

120. My flesh bristles from fear of You, and I am in awe of Your judgments.

121. I practiced justice and righteousness; leave me not to my oppressors.

122. Guarantee Your servant goodness; let not the wicked exploit me.

123. My eyes long for Your salvation, and for the word of Your righteousness.

124. Treat Your servant according to Your kindness, and teach me Your statutes.

125. I am Your servant; grant me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.

126. It is time to act for the Lord; they have abrogated Your Torah.

127. Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even fine gold.

128. Therefore I affirmed all Your precepts; I have hated every path of falsehood.

129. Your testimonies are wondrous, therefore does my soul guard them.

130. Your opening words illuminate, enlightening the simple.

131. I opened my mouth and swallowed, because I craved Your commandments.

132. Turn to me and favor me, as is [Your] law for those who love Your Name.

133. Set my steps in Your word, and let no iniquity rule over me.

134. Deliver me from the oppression of man, and I will keep Your precepts.

135. Let Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.

136. My eyes shed streams of water, because they do not keep Your Torah.

137. Righteous are you, O Lord, and Your judgments are upright.

138. You commanded Your testimonies in righteousness and great faithfulness.

139. My zeal consumes me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words.

140. Your word is very pure, and Your servant cherishes it.

141. I am young and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts.

142. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Torah is truth.

143. Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me, yet Your commandments are my delight.

144. Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding, that I may live.

145. I call out with all my heart; answer me, O Lord; I will keep Your statutes.

146. I call out to You; save me, and I will observe Your testimonies.

147. I rose before dawn and cried out; my hope is in Your word.

148. My eyes preceded the night watches, that I may discuss Your word.

149. Hear my voice in keeping with Your kindness; O Lord, grant me life as is Your practice.

150. Those who pursue mischief draw near; they are far from Your Torah.

151. You are near, O Lord, and all Your commandments are truth.

152. From the beginning I discerned from Your testimonies that You had established them forever.

153. Behold my affliction and deliver me, for I have not forgotten Your Torah.

154. Wage my battle and redeem me; grant me life for the sake of Your word.

155. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they seek not Your statutes.

156. Your mercies are great, O Lord; grant me life as is Your practice.

157. My pursuers and my enemies are many, yet I did not turn away from Your testimonies.

158. I saw traitors and I quarreled with them, because they do not keep Your words.

159. Behold how I love Your precepts; grant me life, O Lord, according to Your kindness.

160. The beginning of Your word is truth, and forever are all Your righteous judgements.

161. Princes have pursued me without cause, but it is Your word my heart fears.

162. I rejoice at Your word, like one who finds abundant spoil.

163. I hate falsehood and abhor it, but Your Torah I love.

164. Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments.

165. There is abundant peace for those who love Your Torah, and there is no stumbling for them.

166. I hoped for Your salvation, O Lord, and I performed Your commandments.

167. My soul has kept Your testimonies, and I love them intensely.

168. I have kept Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You

169. Let my prayer approach Your presence, O Lord; grant me understanding according to Your word.

170. Let my supplication come before You; save me according to Your promise.

171. My lips will utter praise, for You have taught me Your statutes.

172. My tongue will echo Your word, for all Your commandments are just.

173. Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.

174. I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your Torah is my delight.

175. Let my soul live, and it will praise You, and let Your judgment help me.

176. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.

Daily Tanya Likutei Amarim, beginning of Chapter 52

Monday, 26 Iyar 5777 / May 22, 2017

Likutei Amarim, beginning of Chapter 52

In the previous chapter the Alter Rebbe began to expound upon the theme of the indwelling of the Shechinah, which resided in the Holy of Holies and likewise in other places. He asked: “Is not the whole world filled with His glory?” Since there is no place void of Him, what do we mean when we say that G‑d chose a specific place for the Shechinah to rest?

He explained this according to the text: “From my flesh I see G‑d,” using the analogy of the soul, which pervades all the 248 organs of the body, yet its principal habitation is in the brain. This cannot be said to apply to the soul’s essence, for that is found equally in all 248 organs, from the highest, the brain, to the lowest in the feet. Rather this refers to the general flow of the soul’s vitality into the body and its revelation there, before it is diffused and drawn down into all the bodily organs, each according to its particular capacity.

Concerning this general aspect we say that its principal province and indwelling is in the brain; from there, a mere glimmer of this vitality is drawn down and revealed in the other bodily organs.

The same is true, the Alter Rebbe explains, in the analogue of G‑dliness and the world: The core and essence of the Ein Sof is the same in the higher and lower Worlds — He is concealed from them all equally, for even in the higher Worlds no thought can apprehend Him at all. At the same time He is equally to be found both in the higher and lower Worlds.

The difference between the higher and lower Worlds — as in the analogy of the bodily organs — subsists only with regard to the stream of vitality which flows and is revealed from the Ein Sof in order to create and vitalize the Worlds and their creatures. Concerning this level of revelation we say that in the higher Worlds G‑dliness is revealed to a greater degree, and in the lower Worlds, to a lesser degree.

In the present chapter the Alter Rebbe goes on to further explain how the analogue of G‑dliness and its place in the world relates to the analogy, in which the individual’s vitality in its undiffused state resides in the brain.

וכמו שבנשמת האדם עיקר גילוי כללות החיות הוא במוחין, וכל האברים מקבלים אור וכח לבד המאיר להם ממקור גילוי החיות שבמוחין

And just as in the human soul the principal manifestation of the undiffused vitality is in the brain, while all the organs receive merely a light and potency which radiates to them from the source of the manifestation of the said vitality in the brain,

ככה ממש, על דרך משל, עיקר גילוי כללות המשכת החיות, להחיות העולמות והברואים שבהם, הוא מלובש ונכלל ברצונו וחכמתו ובינתו ודעתו יתברך, הנקראים בשם מוחין

so indeed, figuratively speaking, is the essential manifestation of the general stream of vitality, animating the Worlds and the creatures therein, clothed and contained in His blessed Will, wisdom, understanding and knowledge, which are called the “intelligence”,

The Sefirot of Keter (Will), Chochmah, Binah and Daat as they exist Above are collectively called “intelligence”. Within them is enclothed the stream of undiffused vitality, which is the first revelation of the Ein Sof in the Worlds.

והן הן המלובשים בתורה ומצותיה

and these (Will, Chochmah, Binah and Daat) are clothed in the Torah and its mitzvot.

This is their abode, for Torah law and the mitzvot are themselves the Will of G‑d, desiring as He does that the law in a particular case should be specifically one way and not the other, and that a particular mitzvah be performed in a certain manner and not otherwise. Understanding the laws and knowing the reasons for the mitzvot, — this belongs to the divine levels of Chochmah and Binah. Thus, within Torah and the mitzvot is enclothed the “intelligence” of Above, and in it is to be found the undiffused stream of vitality that descends into the Worlds.

וגילוי כללות המשכה זו

The manifestation of this general flow of life, which is similar to the undiffused stream of vitality found in the brain, takes place — as the Alter Rebbe will soon say — when the flow from “intelligence” descends into the Sefirah of Malchut. This manifestation:

הוא מקור החיות אשר העולמות מקבלים, כל אחד בפרטות רק הארה מתפשטת ומאירה ממקור זה

is the source of the vitality which the Worlds receive, each one in particular receiving but a diffused glow that shines forth from this source,

This refers not to the general stream of vitality found in “intelligence”, but to its revelation. This revelation is the source of the vitality received by all Worlds and their creatures, each according to its particular level. The diffused glow that shines forth is:

כדמיון אור המתפשט מהשמש, על דרך משל, וכחות אברי הגוף מהמוח הנ״ל

in a similar manner to the light that radiates from the sun, by way of example, where the rays are but a diffused glimmer of the sun’s essence, or as the faculties of the organs of the body derive from the brain, as discussed above, in the previous chapter.

ומקור זה הוא הנקרא עלמא דאתגליא

It is this source (this source being a revelation from the general stream of vitality found within “intelligence”) which is called in the Kabbalah the “world of manifestation,” because — as the Alter Rebbe will soon say — it is here that G‑dliness first becomes manifest in the Worlds.

ומטרוניתא

and it is also called matrunita (Aramaic for “queen”), for the “queen” receives her vitality from Kudsha Brich Hu (Aramaic for “the Holy One, blessed be He”), the “king”,

ואימא תתאה

and it is also known as the “nether mother,” the lower level of “mother” — for Binah, too, is known as “mother” (as the verse says,1 “Allude to Binah as mother”). Binah, however, is the higher level of “mother”, while Malchut is the “nether mother,”

ושכינה, מלשון: ושכנתי בתוכם

and is called the Shechinah, from the Scriptural phrase,2 “...and I will dwell among them,” for its Hebrew root means: to dwell and be revealed.3

As the Rebbe explains, the Alter Rebbe now goes on to explain the meaning and character of each of the above-listed names, as well as their particular effect.

על שם שמקור זה הוא ראשית התגלות אור אין סוף

The above-mentioned source is called the “world of manifestation”: For this source is the beginning of the revelation of the light of Ein Sof, and since the source itself constitutes a revelation, it is itself known as the “world of manifestation” — because of its own nature, and not because it vitalizes the revealed Worlds.

אשר ממשיך ומאיר לעולמות בבחינת גילוי

It is called “queen” because it is this level which extends to and illumines the Worlds in a revealed manner — similar to a queen, for through her the wishes of the king are revealed.

Thus, the source of life, i.e., the first revelation of the light of Ein Sof, is first manifest in the “queen”.

וממקור זה נמשך לכל אחד האור וחיות פרטי הראוי לו

From this source there extends to each individual thing, World or creature, the particular light and vitality suitable for it, for which reason it is called the “nether mother,” for it is the “mother” and source of the particular form of vitality of each and every creature.

ושוכן ומתלבש בתוכם להחיותם

and it (the light) dwells and is clothed in them (in the Worlds and their respective creatures), thereby animating them.

Since it dwells, animates and is enclothed in every World and creature it is called Shechinah, which as previously explained means “indwelling”.

Until now the Alter Rebbe has clarified how the light is the source of the Worlds and creatures in general. He now goes on to explain how it is also the source of Jewish souls.

ולכן נקרא אם הבנים, על דרך משל, וכנסת ישראל, שממקור זה נאצלו נשמות דאצילות, ונבראו נשמות דבריאה וכו׳

Therefore it is figuratively called “mother of the children” i.e., of Jewish souls, and is also called “community of Israel,” for from this source the souls of Atzilut have emanated, these being “emanations” and not “creations”, and the souls of Beriah have been created, and so forth,

וכולן אינן רק מהתפשטות החיות והאור מהמקור הזה, הנקרא שכינה

all of them — all the Worlds, creatures and souls — being derived only from the extension of the vitality and light which extends and streams forth from this source which is called Shechinah,

כהתפשטות האור מהשמש

in a manner resembling the radiation of light from the sun, this radiation being but a ray from its source.

Footnotes

1.

See Mishlei 2:3; Berachot 57a (and Chiddushei Aggadot of Maharsha, ad loc.).

2.

Shmot 25:8.

3.

Note of the Rebbe: “In all the above no mention is made that this is the level of Malchut of Atzilut, and ‘Divine speech.’ Only later, as an introduction to the concept of ‘Holy of Holies’ and Torah, and the manner in which they descend from World to World, does the Alter Rebbe use the terms, ‘Malchut of Atzilut...,’ ‘Malchut of Beriah...,’ and so on. For inasmuch as he finds support for this in Etz Chayim he uses the terminology of Etz Chayim — Malchut (and not Shechinah, and the like). The Tanya itself, however, does not adopt the style of Kabbalistic writings.”

Rambam - Daily-Mitzvah
Daily-Mitzvah
Positive Commandment 102, 103

Positive Commandment 102 (Digest)
Tzaraat on Garments

We are commanded regarding the ritual impurity generated by tzaraat [various discolorations described in the Torah] of a garment. This mitzvah includes all the laws associated with clothing tzaraat: under what circumstances it becomes impure, and under what circumstances it can cause impurity [to humans or other objects]; under what circumstances does the garment require the tearing out [of the discolored area], burning, washing, immersion, etc.; all that is said in the Torah and all that is stated in this regard in the oral tradition.

Unabridged English Text of this Mitzvah »

The 102th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the tumah of a garment which has a mark of tzora'as. The mitzvah includes all the laws of tzora'as begadim: how they become tameh and how they convey tumah; which need to be quarantined, torn, burned, or washed and purified; and everything else written in Scripture1 and handed down through the Oral Tradition.2

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.Lev. 13:47-59.

2.Negaim, Chapter 11.

Positive Commandment 103 (Digest)
Tzaraat on Houses

We are commanded regarding the ritual impurity generated by tzaraat [various discolorations described in the Torah] of a house. This mitzvah includes all the laws associated with tzaraat of the house: under what circumstances does the house require quarantine, razing part of its walls, or complete demolition; and under what circumstances it becomes impure, and under what circumstances it can cause impurity [to humans or objects].

Unabridged English Text of this Mitzvah »

The 103rd mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the tumah of a house which has a mark of tzora'as. The mitzvah includes all the laws of tzora'as batim: which need to be quarantined; which need to have part of the walls broken and which need the walls to be completely broken; how they become tameh and how they convey tumah.

Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day - Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 8

Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 8

1 It is forbidden to increase the price offered for merchandise in return for delayed payment. What is implied? A person sold landed property or movable property to his colleague and told him: "If you pay me now, the price is 100 zuzim. If you delay payment until this and this time, the price is 120." This is considered "the shade of interest," for it is as if he takes 20 zuz in return for giving him 100 to use until the time specified.
If the seller calls the purchaser to court, he is liable to pay only the 100 that it was worth at the time of the sale. Alternatively, if the article he purchased is intact, he may return it. Similarly, it is forbidden to sell movable property for 100 zuz with the stipulation that payment need not be made until a certain time, when it is worth 90 zuz in the marketplace, if payment is to be given immediately.אאסור להרבות על המכר, כיצד המוכר לחבירו קרקע או מטלטלין ואמר לו אם מעכשיו תתן לי הדמים הרי הן שלך במאה ואם עד זמן פלוני הרי הם שלך בעשרים ומאה, הרי זה אבק רבית שזה דומה כמי שנוטל עשרים בשביל שנתן לו מאה להשתמש בה עד זמן פלוני וכשיתבענו בדין אינו חייב ליתן אלא מה שהיה שוה בשעת המכר או יחזיר ממכרו מידו אם היה קיים, וכן אם מכר לו מטלטלין עד זמן פלוני במאה והיו שוין בשוק למי שקונה במעותיו מיד תשעים ה"ז אסור, ואינו נותן לו אלא תשעים או מחזיר מידו סחורתו אם היתה קיימת.

2 When, however, a person purchased an article for its fair market value on the condition that he may delay payment for twelve months, the seller may tell him: "Pay me a lesser amount now." There is no question of interest involved.בהלוקח מחבירו חפץ בשוהו על מנת שיתן לו מכאן ועד י"ב חדש, ה"ז רשאי לומר לו תן [לי] מיד בפחות ואינו חושש משום רבית.

3 It is permissible to sell a colleague a jug of wine that is worth a dinar for two dinarim on the condition that he does not pay until the summer," provided that he accepts the stipulation that if an accident occurs to it, the jug is the seller's responsibility until the purchaser sells it - i.e., if it is lost or broken, the purchaser does not have to pay anything. Moreover, if he cannot find anyone to purchase it at a profit, he may return it to the owner.
Similarly, it is permissible for a person to sell a colleague wine for two dinarim and tell him: "Anything more than two dinarim can be your profit, since you are involving yourself in its sale. And if you do not succeed in selling it at the price you desire, you can return it to me." In this situation, even if it is lost, stolen or becomes vinegar, it is the purchaser's responsibility.גחבית של יין שהיא שוה עתה דינר ומכרה לו בשנים עד הקיץ על מנת שאם תארע בה תקלה הרי היא ברשות המוכר עד שימכרנה הלוקח ה"ז מותר, שאם אבדה או נשברה אינו משלם כלום, ואם לא מצא למכרה ולהרויח בה היה לו להחזירה לבעלים, וכן אם מכרה לו בשנים ואמר לו היתר על שנים יהיה שכרך בשביל שאתה מטפל למכרה ואם לא תמצא למכרה כמו שתרצה החזירה לי ה"ז מותר, אע"פ שאם אבדה או נגנבה או החמיצה תהיה ברשות הלוקח.

4 The following rules apply when a person possesses produce that has a selling price of ten dinarim in the marketplace, but if the purchaser sought to purchase it, he would have to purchase it for twelve. It is permissible to sell the produce for twelve dinarim to be paid after a twelve-month period. The rationale is that even if the purchaser brought his money immediately, he would pay twelve dinarim for it. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.דהיו לו פירות שאם ירצה למכרן בשוק וליקח דמיהן מיד מוכרן בעשרה, ואם תבע אותן הלוקח לקנותן ויתן המעות מיד יקנה אותן בי"ב, ה"ז מותר למכרן בי"ב עד י"ב חדש, שאפי' הביא זה מעותיו עתה בי"ב היה קונה אותן וכן כל כיוצא בזה.

5 It is forbidden to purchase fruit from an orchard before its growth is completed and it becomes ripe. The rationale is that the seller will sell it for less - e.g., he will sell produce for ten now, even though it will be worth twenty when its growth is completed. Thus, the increase is being given for the delayed delivery.
It is permissible, however, if he purchases a calf for a low price on the condition that it remain in the previous owner's possession until it grows older. For if the calf dies or becomes weakened, it is in the owner's possession. And it is common and frequent that an animal will become weak or die.האסור לקנות פרי הפרדס קודם שיגמר ויתבשל, מפני שזה שמוכר בזול עתה בעשר הוא פרי ששוה עשרים כשיגמר נמצאת התוספת בשביל ההקפה, אבל אם קנה עגל בזול והיה אצל הבעלים עד שיגדיל ה"ז מותר שהרי אם מת או כחש ברשות הלוקח הוא והכחש והמיתה דבר מצוי תמיד. 1

6 The following rules apply when a person gives money to the owner of a vineyard for the twigs and branches that will eventually be cut off. When they are cut off, they will be expensive. At present, however, he purchases them at a low price because he must wait until they dry out and are cut off. He must till the land under the vines while they are still attached to the ground. Thus, he is buying a tree for its offshoots. If he does not till the land, the money he pays is like a loan. Since the branches are being purchased for a lower price because of the delayed delivery, it is forbidden.והנותן מעות לבעל הכרם על השריגים ועל הזמורות לכשיכרתו שהם ביוקר והוא קונה אותן בזול עד שיבשו ויכרתו ה"ז צריך להפך בהן כשהם מחוברים שנמצא כקונה אילן לזמורותיו, ואם לא הפך נמצאו המעות הלואה והן לוקחין בזול מפני ההקפה ואסור.

7 The following rules apply when watchmen in a field are given wheat from the grain heap as their wages at a price lower than its market value. When they go to the grain heap to collect their wages, they must perform work at the grainheap, so that they will be receiving the wheat at the conclusion of the time for which they were hired. If they do not do so, their wages will be considered as a loan extended to the employers, and the fact that they were given the wheat at a low price will be considered to be interest paid to them in return for the delay in paying their wages until the harvest reached the grain heap.זשומרי השדות שנותנין להם חטים בשכרן בזול מן הגורן, כשיבאו לגורן צריכין להתעסק עמהן במלאכה בגורן כדי שיהיו החטים האלו שנטלו בסוף זמן השכירות, ואם לא עשו כך נמצאת השכירות אצל הבעלים כמלוה וזה שלקחן בזול מפני שאחרו שכרן עד הגורן.

8 Generally, the owners of fields would require sharecroppers to leave a field in Nissan. The sharecroppers would give the owners four se'ah for every portion of the field large enough to sow a kor as rent. It is permissible for an owner to allow his sharecroppers to remain in his field until lyyar, but to take from them six se'ah. This does not involve interest.חאריסין שהיו בעלי השדות מסלקין אותן מן השדה בניסן ונותנין להם האריסין בכל זרע חומר ארבע סאין והניח זה אריסין בתוך שדהו עד אייר ונטל מהן שש סאין הרי זה מותר ואין שם רבית.

9 It is permissible for the seller to give a purchaser more than the measure originally stipulated when the purchaser does not collect payment until afterwards. For example, a person purchased four se'ah of wheat at a sela; this was the market price. He paid the money at that time, but did not come to collect the wheat until later. When he came, the seller increased the measure and gave him more. This is permitted, because he willingly gave him more. Had he not desired, he would not have given him more, because there was no stipulation to that effect.טהלוקח חטים ארבע סאין בסלע וכן השער ונתן לו את המעות וכשבא לגבות את החטים לאחר זמן הוסיף לו במדה ונתן לו יתר, ה"ז מותר שהרי ברצונו הוסיף לו ואילו רצה לא הוסיף שהרי לא היה שם תנאי.

10 When a person purchases a barrel of wine, it is permissible for him to pay the money to the seller and stipulate: "If it becomes vinegar from now until such and such a date, you are responsible. If, however, it increases or decreases in value, the barrel is mine." Since the purchaser also accepted the possibility of a depreciation in value, the transaction is considered as having the possibility of both gain and loss. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.
Similarly, it is permissible for a person to buy 100 jugs of wine in Tishrei for a dinar each, but not to collect them until Tevet. And when he collects them, he may check each one, returning those that have become vinegar and taking those that are good wine. For he purchased only good wine from him. Those jugs whose contents became vinegar were fit to sour at the outset; it is just that the matter did not become known until later.ימותר לאדם ליתן דמי חבית של יין לחבירו ולומר לו אם החמיצה מכאן עד יום פלוני ברשותך אבל אם הוזילה או הוקירה הרי היא שלי, שכיון שקיבל עליו הזול הרי זה קרוב לשכר ולהפסד וכן כל כיוצא בזה, וכן מותר לאדם לקנות מחבירו בתשרי מאה כדין של יין בדינר ואינו נוטלן עד טבת, וכשנוטלן בודק ומחזיר החומץ ולוקח היין הטוב שלא קנה ממנו אלא יין טוב ואלו שהחמיצו מתחלה היו ראויין להחמיץ אבל לא נודע הדבר עד אחר הזמן.

11 In a place where it is customary to rent out ships and receive payment for them, it is permissible to include a stipulation that if the ship is damaged, those damages will be assessed and reimbursement made over and above the fee charged. Similarly, it is permissible to hire out a pot of brass and the like and receive payment for it, and also to receive compensation if its weight decreased. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.יאמקום שנהגו לשכור הספינה וליטול שכרה ואם נשברה שמין לו מה שפחתה ומשלם יתר על שכרה הרי זה מותר, וכן מותר להשכיר סיר של נחשת וכיוצא בו ונוטל השכר ודמי מה שפחת ממשקלו וכן כל כיוצא בזה.

12 It is forbidden to accept tzon barzel from another Jew, because this is considered "the shade of interest"?
What is meant by the term tzon barzel? A person owned 100 sheep. A shepherd accepted the responsibility of caring for them on the condition that the shearing, the offspring and the milk would be split, either evenly, or one getting a third or a fourth for a year or two, as they stipulated. Included in the agreement is the condition that if the sheep die, the shepherd must make restitution for them.
This is forbidden, because the owner of the sheep is very likely to realize a profit, and highly unlikely to suffer a loss. Therefore, such an arrangement is permissible if the owner of the sheep accepts the condition that should the value of the sheep increase or decrease or should they be seized by predators, they are considered within his domain. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.יבאין מקבלין צאן ברזל מישראל מפני שהוא אבק רבית, וכיצד הן צאן ברזל הרי שהיה לו מאה צאן וקבלם ממנו להטפל בהן ויהיו הגזות והולדות והחלב לאמצע לשליש או לרביע עד שנה או עד שנתים כמו שהתנו ביניהם ואם מתו הצאן הרי המקבל משלם דמיהם ה"ז אסור שהרי בעל הצאן קרוב לשכר ורחוק להפסד, לפיכך אם קיבל עליו בעל הצאן שאם הוקרו או הוזלו או אם נטרפו הרי הן ברשותו ה"ז מותר וכן כל כיוצא בזה.

13 The following laws apply when a person appraises an animal he receives from a colleague and tells him: "If it dies, I accept responsibility for 30 dinarim, and I will pay you a sela a month as a fee." This is permitted, because he did not establish this as the animal's value when alive, but only after its death.יגהשם פרה מחבירו ואמר לו אם מתה הרי היא עתה עלי בשלשים דינרים ואני אעלה לך סלע בכל חדש מותר לפי שלא עשאה מחיים דמים אלא לאחר מיתה.

14 A woman may rent out a chicken to a friend so that it can sit on eggs until they hatch for two chicks. There is no question of interest involved.ידמשכרת אשה לחברתה תרנגולת לישב על הביצים בשני אפרוחים ואין חוששין משום רבית.

15 When a person owed a colleague four dinarim as interest and gave him an article worth five dinarim instead, when the interest is expropriated from him, five dinarim are taken. The rationale is that he received it as interest. Similarly, if the borrower gave the lender a garment or a utensil, that garment or that utensil itself should be returned to him. If, in lieu of the four dinarim he owed him, he rented him a property that was normally rented for three dinarim, four dinarim are expropriated from him, because he accepted the rental as being worth that price.טומי שהיה נושה בחבירו ד' דינרים של רבית ונתן לו בהן חפץ ששוה חמשה כשמוציאין ממנו מוציאין ממנו חמשה הואיל ובתורת רבית בא לידו, וכן אם נתן לו בהן כסות או כלי מוציאין ממנו את הכלי עצמו ואותו הכסות עצמו, השכיר לו בהן מקום ששוה שכרו ג' דינרין כשמוציאין ממנו מוציאין ממנו ארבעה שהרי בארבעה שכר ממנו מקום זה שקיבל עליו.

Rambam - 3 Chapters a Day
Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 14, Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 15, Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 16

Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 14

1 Houses with tzara'at blemishes are deemed impure when the blemishes are the length of two grisim. Thus the width of the blemish is approximately the size of a place where six hairs grow on the body and its length is a place for 12 hairs. It must be rectangular. Any blemish on a house smaller than this measure is pure. All of the measures are halachot transmitted to Moses at Sinai.אצרעת בתים כשני גריסין זה בצד זה נמצא רוחב הנגע כמו מקום צמיחת שש שערות בגוף ואורכו כשתים עשרה שערות בריבוע והפחות משיעור זה בבתים טהור וכל השיעורין הלכה למשה מסיני:

2 There are three distinguishing marks of impurity for tzara'at in houses: an intense green or intense red appearance and the spreading of the affliction. These are all explicitly mentioned in the Torah.
The two abnormal appearances can be combined with each other. If a blemish spreads to the place immediately adjacent to it, even the slightest spread is considered a sign of impurity. If it spreads to a distant place, the new blemish must be a gris. When a blemish returns after the house is plastered, it must be two grisim.בשלשה סימני טומאה יש בבתים מראה ירקרק ואדמדם והפשיון וכולן מפורשין בתורה ושני המראות מצטרפין זה עם זה ופשיון הסמוך כל שהוא והרחוק כגריס אבל החוזר אחר הטוח כשני גריסין:

3 Blemishes on buildings do not impart impurity until the abnormal appearance is seen below the surface of the wall, as implied by the term shika'rurot, interpreted as meaning "sunk in the walls," used by Leviticus 14:37. A blemish with either of these two appearances causes the building to be isolated or definitively deemed impure. If it increases in size, it should be torn down and if it spread after it was replastered, the entire house must be torn down, as will be explained.גאין נגעי בתים מטמאין עד שיהיה מראה הנגע שפל מן הקיר שנאמר שקערורות שיהיו שוקעין בקירות ובב' המראות מסגירין או מחליטין ובפשיון נותצין ואם פשה אחרי הטוח נותץ את כל הבית כמו שיתבאר:

4 When a blemish appears in a house, even a sage who knows that it is definitely a blemish should not definitively say: "A blemish appeared in my house." Instead, he should tell the priest, "It appears that a blemish appeared in my house. The priest will then issue an order to remove everything from the house, even bundles of wood and bundles of reeds. Afterwards, the priest will come and inspect the blemish.דכשיראה נגע בבית אפילו חכם שיודע ודאי שזה נגע לא יגזור ויאמר נגע נראה לי בבית אלא אומר לכהן כנגע נראה לי בבית וצוה הכהן ופינו את הבית אפילו חבילי עצים וחבילי קנים ואחר כך יבוא הכהן ויכנס ויראה הנגע:

5-6 We do not open windows in a closed house to inspect its blemishes. Instead, if a blemish is not visible in its present state, it is pure.
After a priest will inspect a blemish, he should depart and stand at the entrance to the house, near the lintel and either isolate, deem definitively impure, or release the house from the inspection process, as ibid.:38 states: "And the priest shall leave the house, going to its entrance... and he shall isolate the house." He should not isolate a house while he is in his own house, in the blemished house, or under its lintel. Instead, he should stand at the side of its entrance. If he stood under the lintel or went to his own house and isolated a house, it is isolated.
A house is not deemed impure because of a blemish unless it is four cubits by four cubits or more, it has four walls, and it is built on the earth with stones, earth, and wood, for Leviticus 14:45 mentions: "its stones, its wood, and its earth." If, however, it is less than four cubits by four cubits, it is round, triangular, or pentagonal, it was built on a ship or suspended on four beams, it is not susceptible to the impurity stemming from a blemish. If it was built on four pillars, it is susceptible to the impurity stemming from a blemish.הבית אפל אין פותחין בו חלונות לראות את נגעו אלא אם אין הנגע נראה בו טהור ואחר שיראה הכהן את הנגע יצא ויעמוד על פתח הבית בצד המשקוף ויסגיר או יחליט או יפטור שנאמר ויצא הכהן מן הבית והסגיר את הבית לא שיסגיר והוא בתוך ביתו או בתוך בית המנוגע או תחת המשקוף אלא בצד פתחו ואם עמד תחת המשקוף או שהלך לביתו והסגיר הרי זה מוסגר:

ואין הבית מטמא בנגעים עד שיהיה בו ארבע אמות על ארבע אמות או יתר ויהא לו ארבעה כותלים והוא בנוי בארץ באבנים ועפר ועצים שנאמר את אבניו ואת עציו ואת עפרו אבל אם היה בו פחות מארבע אמות על ארבע אמות או שהיה עגול או שהיה בעל שלשה כותלים או בעל חמשה או שהיה בנוי בספינה או תלוי על ארבע קורות אינו מטמא בנגעים היה בנוי על ארבעה עמודים מטמא בנגעים:

7 How many stones must be in a house? No less than eight, two stones on each wall so that every wall would be fit to have a blemish. For a house it is not susceptible to the impurity stemming from a blemish unless a blemish the size of two grisim appears on two stones, as indicated by Leviticus 14:40 which mentions: "the stones in which the blemish is located."
How many boards must it contain? Enough to place under the lintel. How much earth? Enough to place between one broken stone and another. If a house contained less than these measures, it is not susceptible to the impurity stemming from a blemish.זכמה אבנים יהיו בו אין פחות משמונה שתי אבנים בכל כותל כדי שיהיה כל כותל ראוי לנגע שאין הבית מטמא בנגעים עד שיראה בו כשני גריסין על שתי אבנים שנאמר את האבנים אשר בהן הנגע וכמה עצים יהיו בו כדי ליתן תחת המשקוף ועפר כדי לתת בין פצים לחבירו אבל אם היה בו פחות משיעורים אלו אינו מטמא בנגעים:

8 Neither bricks nor marble are considered as stones in this context. When there is a house that one of its walls is coated with marble, another is made from a boulder, the third, of stones, and the fourth, from earth, it is not susceptible to the impurity stemming from a blemish.חהלבנים והשיש אינן חשובין כאבנים בית שאחד מצדיו מחופה בשיש ואחד בסלע ואחד בלבנים ואחד בעפר אינו מטמא בנגעים:

9 When a house did not have the required measure of stone, wood, and earth and a tzara'at blemish was discovered in it and then additional stones, wood, and earth was brought for it, it is pure.טבית שלא היו בו אבנים ועצים כשיעור ונראה בו נגע ואח"כ הביא לו אבנים ועצים ועפר טהור:

10 When plants were used as the covering for a house, they are considered as a permanent part of it. Since they are serving the purpose of wood, they are considered as wood. If the house becomes impure, they contract the severe impurity associated with it, as will be explained.יבית שסככו בזרעים בטלן הואיל ומשמשין תשמיש עץ הרי הן כעץ ואם נטמא הבית נטמאו עמו טומאה חמורה כמו שיתבאר:

11 Houses located in Jerusalem and the Diaspora are not susceptible to the impurity stemming from blemishes, as implied by Leviticus 14:34: "in a house in the land of your ancestral heritage." Jerusalem is thus excluded, because it was not divided among the tribes. The houses of gentiles in Eretz Yisrael are not susceptible to the impurity stemming from blemishes.יאירושלים וחוצה לארץ אין מטמאין בנגעים שנאמר בבית ארץ אחוזתכם וירושלים לא נתחלקה לשבטים ובתי העכו"ם שבא"י אין מטמאין בנגעים:

12 When one purchases houses from gentiles, they should be given an initial inspection.יבהלוקח בתים מן העכו"ם יראה בתחלה:

13 When a gentile lives on one side of a house and a Jew on the other side or one side of a house was in Eretz Yisrael and the other in the Diaspora, it is not susceptible to the impurity stemming from blemishes. All other buildings in Eretz Yisrael are susceptible to the impurity stemming from blemishes. This applies regardless of whether they were colored naturally or colored because of human activity.יגבית שצדו אחד עכו"ם וצדו אחד ישראל צדו אחד בארץ וצדו אחד בחוצה לארץ אינו מטמא בנגעים ושאר כל הבתים שבא"י מטמאין בנגעים בין צבועים בידי אדם בין צבועים בידי שמים:

14 The house of a woman, a house belonging to partners, a synagogue or a house of study that has a dwelling for attendants or students is susceptible to the impurity stemming from blemishes.ידבית האשה בית השותפין בית הכנסת או בית המדרש שיש בהן דירה לחזנין או לתלמידים מטמאין בנגעים:

15 The walls of a feeding stall and the walls of a partition in a house are not susceptible to the impurity stemming from blemishes.טוקירות האבוס וקירות המחיצה שבבית אין מטמאין בנגעים:

Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 15

1 There is an isolation period of three weeks, i.e., nineteen days, for blemishes on houses. For the seventh day counts for the first and the second week and the thirteenth day counts for the second and the third week. Thus if three weeks are necessary, an inspection is made on the seventh day, the thirteenth day, and the nineteenth day. The isolation of a house for three weeks is not explicitly mentioned in the Torah. Similarly, most of the laws applying to blemishes on houses were conveyed by the Oral Tradition.אנגעי בתים יש בהן הסגר שלשה שבועות שהן תשעה עשר יום שיום שביעי עולה לכאן ולכאן ויום שלשה עשר עולה לכאן ולכאן נמצאת אתה למד שאם צריך לג' שבועות רואהו בשביעי וביום י"ג וביום תשעה עשר והסגר בתים ג' שבועות אינו מפורש בתורה וכן רוב דיני נגעי בתים דברי קבלה הן:

2 The explicit laws pertaining to them that are stated in the Torah and the Received Tradition are as follows: When a priest comes to see a intense green or intense red blemish that is sunk beneath the surface on the wall of a dwelling, as we explained, he should isolate the house for seven days. Even if at the outset, it was entirely intense green or intense red, he should isolate it. On the seventh day, he should inspect it. If the blemish faded or, needless to say, if it disappeared, he should scrape away the place of the blemish and the house is deemed pure.
If its color remained, but it did not spread, it should be isolated for another week and inspected on the thirteenth day. If it faded or, needless to say, if it disappeared, he should scrape away the place of the blemish and purify the house with fowl.
If, at the end of the second week, he discovered that the blemish had spread or retained its color, he should remove the stones on which the blemish had been manifest, scrape off the mortar that had supported them and deposit it outside the city. He should plaster the entire house and isolate it for a third week.
On the nineteenth day, he should inspect it. If the blemish returned and comprised two grisim, this is considered to be spreading after plastering and the entire house should be destroyed. If the blemish did not return, he should purify the house with fowl. If, however, at any time before it is purified with fowl, the blemish returns, the house should be destroyed. If another blemish appears in the house after it was purified, it should be inspected as if for the first time.
Similarly, if the blemish spread at the end of the first week, he should remove the stones on which the blemish had been manifest, scrape off the mortar that had supported them and deposit it outside the city. He should plaster the entire house and isolate it for a second week. Afterwards, he should inspect it. If the blemish returned and comprised two grisim, this is considered to be spreading after plastering and the entire house should be destroyed. If the blemish did not return, he should purify the house with fowl. If, however, at any time before it is purified with fowl, the blemish returns, the house should be destroyed. If another blemish appears in the house after it was purified, it should be inspected as if for the first time.בוכל הדינין המפורשין בהן בתורה ובדברי קבלה כך הם כשיבא הכהן ויראה הנגע שוקע ירקרק או אדמדם כמו שביארנו יסגיר שבעת ימים ואפילו מצאו כולו בתחילה ירקרק או אדמדם יסגיר ובשביעי רואהו אם כהה הנגע ואצ"ל אם הלך קולף מקום הנגע בלבד והבית טהור מצאו שעמד בעיניו ולא פשה מסגיר שבוע שני ורואהו ביום שלשה עשר אם כהה הנגע או הלך לו קולף מקום הנגע ומטהר את הבית בציפורים ואם מצא הנגע שפשה בסוף שבוע שני או שעמד בעינו חולץ את האבנים שבהן הנגע ומקצה העפר אל מחוץ לעיר וטח את כל הבית ומסגירו שבוע שלישי וביום תשעה עשר רואהו אם חזר בו נגע כשני גריסין הרי זה פשיון אחרי הטוח ונותץ את כל הבית ואם לא חזר בו נגע מטהרו בצפורים וכל זמן שיחזור בו הנגע קודם שיטהרו בציפורים הרי זה ינתץ ואם נראה בו נגע אחר שטהרו בציפורים יראה בתחילה וכן אם פשה הנגע בסוף שבוע ראשון חולץ את האבנים שבהן הנגע וקוצה העפר חוץ לעיר וטח את כל הבית ומסגירו שבוע שני ורואה אם מצא בו נגע כשני גריסין הרי זה פשיון אחרי הטוח ונותץ את כל הבית ואם לא חזר בו נגע מטהרו בציפורים וכל זמן שיראה בו נגע קודם טהרה בציפורין ינתץ ואם נראה בו אחר שטהרו בצפרים יראה בתחילה:

3 When the priest removes the stones on which the blemish was found, he should not remove less than two stones. He may not take stones from one side of the house and bring them to the other, for Leviticus 14:42 states: "And they shall take other stones." Similarly, he may not take mortar from one side of the house and bring it to the other, for that verse states: "And he shall take other mortar and plaster the house."
He may not plaster the house with lime, only with mortar, for the verse states: "And he shall take other mortar." He should not bring one larger stone in place of two that he removed or two smaller stones in place of one that he removed. Instead, he should bring two in place of two. He may, however, bring two in place of three.גכשהוא חולץ את האבנים שבהן הנגע אינו חולץ פחות משתי אבנים ואינו נוטל אבנים מצד זה ומביאן לצד זה שנאמר ולקחו אבנים אחרות ולא עפר מצד זה ומביא לצד זה שנאמר ועפר אחר יקח וטח את הבית ואינו טח בסיד אלא בעפר שנאמר ועפר אחר יקח וגו' אינו מביא אבן אחת תחת שתים שחלץ ולא שתי אבנים תחת אבן אחת חלוצה אלא מביא שתים תחת שתים ויש לו להביא שתים תחת שלש:

4 If there was a blemish on a wall between one person's house and another's, they both must remove the stones; they both must scrape away the mortar, and they both must bring other stones. The owner of the blemished house alone brings the new mortar, as implied by Leviticus 14:42 states: "And he shall take other mortar and plaster the house." From the use of a singular form, we learn that his neighbor does not join with him in the plastering.דהיה הכותל בינו לבין חבירו שניהן חולצין ושניהן קוצים את העפר ושניהם מביאין אבנים אחרות אבל בעל הבית מביא לבדו את העפר שנאמר ועפר אחר יקח וטח אין חבירו מטפל עמו בטיחה:

5 The following laws apply when there is a blemish on a stone in the corner of a house. When the owner removes the stone, he removes it entirely. If he must destroy the house, he must destroy only his own and leave his neighbor's. There is an unresolved question if the part of the stone that projects into his neighbor's house is considered as a handle to his stone and brings impurity to it.האבן שבזוית בזמן שהוא חולץ חולץ את כולה ובזמן שהוא נותץ נותץ את שלו ומניח את של חבירו ויש בדבר ספק אם תהיה זו של חבירו כמו יד לאבן שלו:

6 When a blemish was discovered in a house and there was a loft built over it, the beams of the ceiling should be left for the loft. If it was discovered in the loft, the beams should be left for the house. If there was no loft on top of it, all of its stones, wood, and mortar are destroyed with it. The partitions on the roof and the lattice of the windows may be saved.ובית שנראה בו נגע והיתה עלייה על גביו נותן את הקורות לעלייה נראה בעלייה נותן את הקורות לבית לא היתה עלייה על גביו אבניו ועציו ועפרו כולן ניתצין עמו ומציל את המלבנין ואת סריגי החלונות:

7 When a person takes stones from a house that had been isolated and builds them into a house that is pure, if the blemish returns to the house that had been isolated, he should remove those stones from the pure house. If the blemish appears on the stones that he added, the isolated house should be destroyed and the second house isolated, as is the law with regard to a house on which a blemish is first discovered.זהלוקח אבנים מבית מוסגר ובנאן בבית טהור חזר הנגע למוסגר חולץ את האבנים שבטהור נראה נגע על האבנים שבנה המוסגר ינתץ והבית השני מסגירין אותו בנגע זה כדין כל בית שנראה בו נגע בתחילה:

8 How is a house on which there was a blemish purified after the stones were removed and it was plastered? One should bring "living water" in an earthenware container, two fowl, a cedar branch, a hyssop, a crimson strand, like the purification of a man in every respect. The difference is in the purification process of a man, one sprinkles the blood seven times on the back of the hand of the afflicted person. And in the purification process of a house, one sprinkles the blood seven times on the lintel of the house from the outside. The remainder of the practices are the same.חכיצד מטהרין את הבית המנוגע אחר החליצה והטיחה מביא מים חיים בכלי חרס ושתי צפרים ועץ ארז ואזוב ושני תולעת כטהרת אדם שביארנו לכל דבר אלא שבאדם מזה שבע פעמים לאחר ידו של מצורע ובבית מזה שבע פעמים על המשקוף של בית מבחוץ ושאר כל מעשיהן שוין:

Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 16

1 A blemished house is a primary source of impurity. Anyone who touches it contracts impurity. Similarly, the stones that are removed from it after it was isolated or the stones, the wood, and the mortar of the house when it is destroyed are all considered as primary sources of impurity. An olive-sized portion of them imparts impurity to a person and to implements when touched or carried or when such a substance is brought into a house.
What is implied? If an olive-sized portion of such a substance is brought into a house, everything in the house - people and implements - contract impurity. For all these substances impart impurity when brought into a house like a person afflicted with tzara'at and it is forbidden to benefit from all of them. If one burns them and makes lime, it is forbidden to benefit from it, as implied by Leviticus 14:44: "accursed tzara'at," which can be interpreted as a command: "Consider it a curse and do not benefit from it." All these materials should be discarded outside the city even if it is not surrounded by a wall.אבית המנוגע אב מאבות הטומאות כל הנוגע בו נטמא וכן אבנים שחולצין ממנו אחר הסגר או אבנים ועצים ועפר של בית כשנותצין אותו כולן אבות טומאות וכל כזית מהם מטמא אדם וכלים במגע ובמשא ובביאה כיצד אם נכנס כזית מהן לבית טהור נטמא כל אשר בבית מאדם וכלים שכולן מטמאין בביאה כאדם מצורע וכולן אסורין בהנאה ואם שרפן ועשה מהן סיד הרי זה אסור בהנאה שנאמר צרעת ממארת תן בו מארה ואל תהנה בו וכולן משלחין אותן חוץ לעיר אע"פ שאינה מוקפת חומה:

2 A house that is isolated imparts impurity only from the inside, as Leviticus 14:46 states: "One who enters the house throughout the days of its isolation shall become impure until the evening." A house that has been deemed definitively impure, by contrast, imparts impurity from its inside and from its outside, i.e., one who touches its back contracts impurity, as implied by ibid.:44: "It is accursed tzara'at in the house; it is impure." Now was it pure beforehand? Rather, the intent is to increase its impurity over and above that which existed previously and have it deemed impure in its entirety. Hence, it imparts impurity even from the outside. Similarly, the stones on which the blemish is found in an isolated house impart impurity from their outside as well.בבית מוסגר אינו מטמא אלא מתוכו שנאמר והבא אל הבית כל ימי הסגיר אותו יטמא עד הערב אבל המוחלט מטמא מתוכו ומאחוריו שהנוגע בו מאחוריו טמא שנאמר צרעת ממארת בבית טמא הוא וכי טהור היה אלא להוסיף לו טומאה על טומאתו שיהיה כולו טמא ויטמא מאחוריו וכן אבנים שיש בהן הנגע במוסגר מטמאין מאחוריהן:

3 Both a house that is isolated and one that is deemed definitively impure impart impurity when they exist inside another structure.
What is implied? When there was a house built over a blemished house - whether one that was isolated or one that was deemed definitively impure - or there was a tree that stood over such a house, a person who stands under the tree or who enters the outer house is impure. The rationale is that he and the impure house are under one covering. Similarly, if a blemished stone was brought inside a structure and placed down there, everything in the house because impure. If such a stone was placed under a tree and pure person passed there, he becomes impure. If the pure person was standing under a tree and a person carrying a blemished stone passed by there, he does not contract impurity. If he placed it down there, he does contract impurity. The rationale is that the place of a blemished entity has the same status as he does. This applies to blemished persons, implements, stones, wood, and mortar.גאחד המוסגר והמוחלט מטמא בביאה כיצד בית שהיה מיסך על גבי בית מנוגע בין מוחלט בין מוסגר או אילן שהוא מיסך עליו העומד תחת האילן או הנכנס לבית החיצון טמא שהרי הוא והבית הטמא תחת אהל אחד וכן אבן מנוגעת הנכנסת לאהל והונחה שם נטמא כל אשר באהל היתה מונחת תחת האילן והטהור עובר נטמא היה הטהור עומד תחת האילן ועבר אדם באבן מנוגעת לא טמאהו ואם הניחה שם טמאהו שמושב המנוגע כמוהו בין אדם בין כלים בין אבנים ועציו ועפרו:

4 When a person holds his hand over a blemished stone or a blemished stone is held over him, he is pure unless he touches it.דהמאהיל בידו על אבן מנוגעת או שהאהילה עליו טהור עד שיגע:

5 When a ritually pure person enters an impure house backwards, even if his entire body enters aside from his nose, he remains pure. This is derived from Leviticus 14:46 which mentions: "The one who comes into the house." Implied is that the Torah prescribed impurity only when one enters in an ordinary manner.הטהור שנכנס לבית מנוגע דרך אחוריו אפילו נכנס כולו חוץ מחוטמו טהור שנאמר והבא אל הבית דרך ביאה טמאה תורה:

6 When a ritually pure person inserted his head and the majority of his body into an impure house, he contracts impurity. Similarly, when a portion of a ritually pure garment three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths is brought into an impure house, it becomes impure. And when any portion of the inner space of an earthenware container enters an impure house, it becomes impure. Other keilim, by contrast, do not contract impurity unless the majority of the k'li is brought in. Once the majority is brought in, it contracts impurity immediately.
When does the above apply? To garments that were taken into a house when no one was wearing them. If, however, a Jewish person entered a blemished house wearing his clothes, his shoes on his feet, and his rings on his hands, the person becomes impure immediately and his garments are pure until he remains there for the amount of time a person could sit there and eat three egg-sized portions of bread from wheat together with accompanying food, as implied by Leviticus 14:47: "One who lies in the house will launder his garments and one who eats in the house will launder his garments." Now would one think that a person's garments do not contract impurity until he eats in the blemished house? Instead, the intent of the verse mentioning eating is to establish an equation between eating and lying, to clarify that the measure of time necessary for one who lies there to contract impurity is the measure of time associated with eating. And the same laws apply to one who lies, one who sits, or one who stands. If he remains there for long enough to eat the above-mentioned measure of food, his garments contract impurity.וטהור שהכניס ראשו ורובו לבית טמא נטמא וכן טלית טהורה שהכניס ממנה שלש על שלש לבית טמא נטמאת וכן כלי חרס שהכניס אוירו לבית טמא נטמא אבל שאר כלים עד שיכניס רוב הכלים משיכניס רובו נטמא מיד בד"א בכלים שנכנסו חלוצין אבל אדם מישראל שנכנס לבית מנוגע והוא לבוש בבגדיו וסנדליו ברגליו וטבעותיו בידיו הרי האדם טמא מיד ובגדיו טהורים עד שישהה שם כדי שיסב אדם ויאכל כשלש ביצים פת חטים בלפתן שנאמר והשוכב בבית יכבס את בגדיו והאוכל בבית יכבס את בגדיו וכי תעלה על דעתך שאין בגדיו מתטמאין עד שיאכל שם אלא ליתן שיעור לשוכב כאוכל ואחד השוכב או היושב או העומד אם שהה כדי לאכול שיעור אכילה האמורה נטמאו בגדיו:

7 When a person entered an afflicted house carrying his garments on his shoulder, his shoe and his rings in his hands, he and they are impure immediately, for the only garments that are saved from becoming impure immediately are the garments that he is wearing. Similarly, when a gentile or an animal entered an afflicted house while wearing garments, the garments contract impurity immediately. The gentile, like the animal, does not contract impurity.זמי שנכנס לבית מנוגע וכליו על כתפיו וסנדלו וטבעתו בכפיו הוא והן טמאין מיד שאינו מציל מלטמא מיד אלא כלים שהוא לבוש בהן וכן העכו"ם והבהמה שהיו לבושין בכלים ונכנסו לבית המנוגע נטמאו הכלים מיד אבל העכו"ם אינו מקבל טומאה כבהמה:

8 When a person who was standing in a blemished house extended his hands outside the house while wearing his rings on his hands, the rings contract impurity even though they are outside the house if he remains there for the amount of time necessary to eat the measure of food mentioned.
Similarly, if a person is standing outside and he inserted his hands inside an afflicted house, his hands alone contract impurity. If he kept them there for the amount of time necessary to eat the measure of food mentioned, his rings contract impurity. If not, they are pure.חמי שהיה עומד בבית מנוגע ופשט ידיו חוץ לבית וטבעותיו בידיו אם שהה כדי אכילת השיעור נטמאו הטבעות אף על פי שהם בחוץ וכן העומד בחוץ ופשט ידו לבית מנוגע נטמאו ידיו בלבד מיד ואם נשתהו שם כדי אכילת השיעור נטמאו טבעותיו ואם לאו טהורות:

9 Whenever the contents of a container are saved from contracting impurity because of a sealed covering under a shelter where a corpse is found, they are saved from contracting impurity in an afflicted house, when the container is covered. Whenever the contents of a container are saved from contracting impurity because they are covered in a shelter where a corpse is found, they remain pure even if they are uncovered in an afflicted house.
What is implied? When there are earthenware, stone, or earthen containers or the like containing food, beverages, and implements and they were covered in an afflicted house, the containers and everything they contain remain pure even though they are not sealed close. When there is either a storage pit or a cistern in an afflicted house, the implements in them are pure, even though they are open.טכל המציל בצמיד פתיל באהל המת מציל מכוסה בבית מנוגע וכל המציל מכוסה באהל המת אפילו היה מגולה בבית המנוגע ה"ז טהור כיצד כלי חרס או כלי אבנים וכלי אדמה וכיוצא בהן שהיו אוכלין ומשקין וכלים בתוכן והיו מכוסין בבית המנוגע אע"פ שאינן מוקפין צמיד פתיל הן וכל מה שבתוכן טהור הבור והדות שבבית המנוגע אף על פי שהן מגולין כלים שבתוכן טהורין:

10 Tzara'at is a collective term including many afflictions that do not resemble each other. For the whitening of a person's skin is called tzara'at, as is the falling out of some of the hair of his head or beard, and the change of the color of clothes or houses.
This change that affects clothes and houses which the Torah described with the general term of tzara'at is not a natural occurrence. Instead it is a sign and a wonder prevalent among the Jewish people to warn them against lashon hora, "undesirable speech." When a person speaks lashon hora, the walls of his house change color. If he repents, the house will be purified. If, however, he persists in his wickedness until the house is destroyed, the leather implements in his house upon which he sits and lies change color. If he repents, they will be purified. If persists in his wickedness until they are burnt, the clothes he wears change color. If he repents, they will be purified. If he persists in his wickedness until they are burnt, his skin undergoes changes and he develops tzara'at. This causes him to be isolated and for it to be made known that he must remain alone so that he will not be involved in the talk of the wicked which is folly and lashon hora.
The Torah warns about this, stating Deuteronomy 24:8-9: "Take care with regard to a tzara'at blemish.... Remember what God your Lord did to Miriam." Now, this is what the Torah is implying: Contemplate what happened to the prophetess Miriam. She spoke against her brother. She was older than he was; she had raised him; and she had endangered herself to save him from the sea. She did not speak pejoratively of him; she merely erred in equating him with the other prophets. Moses did not object to any of this, as Numbers 12:3 relates: "And the man Moses was exceedingly humble." Nevertheless, she was immediately punished with tzara'at. Certainly, an inference can be made with regard to the wicked and foolish men who speak extensively about great and wondrous matters. Therefore a person who seeks to structure his course of conduct should distance himself from their gatherings and from speaking to them so that he will not become caught up in the web of their wickedness and foolishness.
This is the path followed by the gathering of wicked fools: In the beginning, they speak excessively about empty matters, as Ecclesiastes 5:2 states: "The talk of a fool is characterized by a multitude of words." As a result of this, they come to speak negatively of the righteous, as reflected by the verse Psalms 31:19: "May the lying lips be silenced; those which speak falsehood about a righteous man." As a consequence, they will become accustomed to speaking against the prophets and casting aspersions on their words, as reflected by the verse II Chronicles 36:16: "They would abuse the messengers of God, scorn His words, and mock His prophets." And this would lead them to deny God's existence entirely, as reflected in the verse II Kings 17:9: "And the children of Israel spoke in secret things that were not true against God, their Lord."
In this vein, Psalms 73:9 states: "They set their mouths against Heaven and their tongues strut on earth." What caused them to "set their mouths against Heaven"? Their tongues which previously were given free reign on earth. This is the speech of the wicked that is caused by loitering on the streetcorners, frequenting the assemblies of commoners, and spending time at the parties of drunkards.
In contrast, the speech of proper Jewish people only concerns words of Torah and wisdom. Therefore, the Holy One, blessed be He, assists them and grants them merit because of it, as Malachi 3:16 states: "Then those who fear God conversed, each person with his fellow and God listened and paid heed. And a book of remembrance was composed before Him for those who fear God and contemplate His name."יהצרעת הוא שם האמור בשותפות כולל עניינים הרבה שאין דומין זה לזה שהרי לובן עור האדם קרוי צרעת ונפילת קצת שיער הראש או הזקן קרוי צרעת ושינוי עין הבגדים או הבתים קרוי צרעת וזה השינוי האמור בבגדים ובבתים שקראתו תורה צרעת בשותפות השם אינו ממנהגו של עולם אלא אות ופלא היה בישראל כדי להזהירן מלשון הרע שהמספר בלשון הרע משתנות קירות ביתו אם חזר בו יטהר הבית אם עמד ברשעו עד שהותץ הבית משתנין כלי העור שבביתו שהוא יושב ושוכב עליהן אם חזר בו יטהרו ואם עמד ברשעו עד שישרפו משתנין הבגדים שעליו אם חזר בו יטהרו ואם עמד ברשעו עד שישרפו משתנה עורו ויצטרע ויהיה מובדל ומפורסם לבדו עד שלא יתעסק בשיחת הרשעים שהוא הליצנות ולשון הרע ועל עניין זה מזהיר בתורה ואומר השמר בנגע הצרעת זכור את אשר עשה י"י אלהיך למרים בדרך הרי הוא אומר התבוננו מה אירע למרים הנביאה שדיברה באחיה שהיתה גדולה ממנו בשנים וגידלתו על ברכיה וסכנה בעצמה להצילו מן הים והיא לא דברה בגנותו אלא טעתה שהשותו לשאר נביאים והוא לא הקפיד על כל הדברים האלו שנאמר והאיש משה ענו מאד ואע"פ כן מיד נענשה בצרעת קל וחומר לבני אדם הרשעים הטפשים שמרבים לדבר גדולות ונפלאות:
לפיכך ראוי למי שרוצה לכוין אורחותיו להתרחק מישיבתן ומלדבר עמהן כדי שלא יתפס אדם ברשת רשעים וסכלותם וזה דרך ישיבת הלצים הרשעים בתחילה מרבין בדברי הבאי כענין שנאמר וקול כסיל ברוב דברים ומתוך כך באין לספר בגנות הצדיקים כענין שנאמר תאלמנה שפתי שקר הדוברות על צדיק עתק ומתוך כך יהיה להן הרגל לדבר בנביאים ולתת דופי בדבריהם כענין שנאמר ויהיו מלעיבים במלאכי האלהים ובוזים דברים ומתעתעים בנביאיו ומתוך כך באין לדבר באלהים וכופרין בעיקר כענין שנאמר ויחפאו בני ישראל דברים אשר לא כן על י"י אלהיהם והרי הוא אומר שתו בשמים פיהם ולשונם תהלך בארץ מי גרם להם לשית בשמים פיהם לשונם שהלכה תחילה בארץ זו היא שיחת הרשעים שגורמת להן ישיבת קרנות וישיבת כנסיות של עמי הארץ וישיבת בתי משתאות עם שותי שכר אבל שיחת כשרי ישראל אינה אלא בדברי תורה וחכמה לפיכך הקדוש ברוך הוא עוזר על ידן ומזכה אותן בה שנאמר אז נדברו יראי י"י איש אל רעהו ויקשב י"י וישמע ויכתב ספר זכרון לפניו ליראי י"י ולחושבי שמו:

Blessed be the Merciful One Who grants assistance.סליקו להו הלכות טומאת צרעת:
Daily Study: Hayom Yom
Monday, 26 Iyar 5777 / May 22, 2017

Monday	Iyar 26, 41st day of the omer	5703
Torah lessons:	Chumash: Bamidbar, Sheini with Rashi.
	Tehillim: 119, 97 to end.
	Tanya: The difference between (p. 269)...to animate them. (p. 269).

The command "You shall rebuke"1 is preceded by the words "You shall not hate your brother," for this is a precondition for the rebuke. The Torah continues, "...and you shall not ascribe sin to him," for if the rebuke was ineffectual, you are certainly the one responsible, for yours were not words coming from the heart.

Compiled and arranged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, in 5703 (1943) from the talks and letters of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory.

Footnotes

1.

Vayikra 19:17.

Daily Thought:
Think His Thoughts
Science is the study of those things G‑d thinks about,
by one of His thoughts.
Torah is G‑d thinking.[Tanya, Chapter 5.]

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