TODAY IN JUDAISM: Shabbat, May 27, 2017 - Chabad.org in New York, New York, United States - Today is Shabbat, Sivan 2, 5777 · May 26, 2017 - Omer: Day 46 - Netzach sheb'Malchut

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TODAY IN JUDAISM: Shabbat, May 27, 2017 - Chabad.org in New York, New York, United States - Today is Shabbat, Sivan 2, 5777 · May 26, 2017 - Omer: Day 46 - Netzach sheb'Malchut Torah Reading Bamidbar: Numbers 1:1 - 4:20 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. (ii) 20 The men twenty years old and over who were subject to military service were recorded by name, family and clan, starting with the descendants of Re’uven, Isra’el’s firstborn. Here are the totals: 21 Descendants of Re’uven 46,500 22-23 Descendants of Shim‘on 59,300 24-25 Descendants of Gad 45,650 26-27 Descendants of Y’hudah 74,600 28-29 Descendants of Yissakhar 54,400 30-31 Descendants of Z’vulun 57,400 32-33 Descendants of Efrayim 40,500 34-35 Descendants of M’nasheh 32,200 36-37 Descendants of Binyamin 35,400 38-39 Descendants of Dan 62,700 40-41 Descendants of Asher 41,500 42-43 Descendants of Naftali 53,400 44 Moshe, Aharon and the twelve leaders of Isra’el, each from a clan, 45 counted the people of Isra’el by their clans, those twenty years old and over, eligible for military service in Isra’el; 46 and the grand total came to 603,550. 47 But those who were L’vi’im, according to the clan of their fathers, were not counted in this census; 48 because Adonai had told Moshe, 49 “Do not include the clan of Levi when you take the census of the people of Isra’el. 50 Instead, give the L’vi’im charge over the tabernacle of the testimony, its equipment and everything else connected with it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its equipment, serve in it and set up their camp around it. 51 When the tabernacle is to be moved onward, it is the L’vi’im who are to take it down and set it up in the new location; anyone else who involves himself is to be put to death. 52 The rest of Isra’el are to set up camp, company by company, each man with his own banner. 53 But the L’vi’im are to camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that no anger will come upon the assembly of the people of Isra’el. The L’vi’im are to be in charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.” 54 This is what the people of Isra’el did — they did everything that Adonai had ordered Moshe. 2:1 (iii) Adonai said to Moshe and Aharon, 2 “The people of Isra’el are to set up camp by clans, each man with his own banner and under his clan’s symbol; they are to camp around the tent of meeting, but at a distance. 3-9 “Those camping on the east side toward the sunrise are to be under the banner of the camp of Y’hudah; they are to camp according to companies; by tribe and leader they are as follows: Tribe Chief Number Y’hudah Nachshon the son of ‘Amminadav 74,600 Yissakhar N’tan’el the son of Tzu‘ar 54,400 Z’vulun Eli’av the son of Helon 57,400 Total 186,400 “This group is to set out first. 10-16 “Those camping on the south are to be under the banner of the camp of Re’uven; they are to camp according to companies; by tribe and leader they are as follows: Tribe Chief Number Re’uven Elitzur the son of Sh’de’ur 46,500 Shim‘on Shlumi’el the son of Tzurishaddai 59,300 Gad Elyasaf the son of Re‘u’el 45,650 Total 151,450 “This group is to set out second. 17 “Then the tent of meeting, with the camp of the L’vi’im, will set out, with the other camps in front and behind. They will go in the same order as their camps are set up — each man will go forward in his position, under his banner. 18-24 “Those camping on the west are to be under the banner of the camp of Efrayim; they are to camp according to companies; by tribe and leader they are as follows: Tribe Chief Number Efrayim Elishama the son of ‘Ammihud 40,500 M’nasheh Gamli’el the son of P’dahtzur 32,200 Binyamin Avidan the son of Gid‘oni 35,400 Total 108,100 “This group is to set out third. 25-31 “Those camping on the north are to be under the banner of the camp of Dan; they are to camp according to companies; by tribe and leader they are as follows: Tribe Chief Number Dan Achi‘ezer the son of ‘Ammishaddai 62,700 Asher Pag‘i’el the son of ‘Okhran 41,500 Naftali Achira the son of ‘Enan 53,400 Total 157,600 “This group is to set out last with their banners.” 32 These are the ones counted from the people of Isra’el by clans; the total number recorded in the camps, company by company, was 603,550. 33 But, as Adonai ordered Moshe, the L’vi’im were not counted with the rest of Isra’el. 34 The people of Isra’el did everything Adonai had ordered Moshe: they set up camp under their banners, and they set out, each according to his family and clan. 3:1 (iv) These are the descendants of Aharon and Moshe as of the day when Adonai spoke with Moshe on Mount Sinai. 2 The names of the sons of Aharon are: Nadav the firstborn, Avihu, El‘azar and Itamar. 3 These were the names of the sons of Aharon the cohen, whom he anointed and ordained as cohanim. 4 But Nadav and Avihu died in the presence of Adonai when they offered unauthorized fire before Adonai in the Sinai Desert, and they had no children; El‘azar and Itamar served as cohanim in the presence of Aharon their father. 5 Adonai said to Moshe, 6 “Summon the tribe of Levi, and assign them to Aharon the cohen, so that they can help him. 7 They are to carry out his duties and the duties of the whole community before the tent of meeting in performing the service of the tabernacle. 8 They are to be in charge of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and to carry out all the duties of the people of Isra’el connected with the service of the tabernacle. 9 Assign the L’vi’im to Aharon and his sons; their one responsibility in regard to the people of Isra’el is to serve him. 10 You are to appoint Aharon and his sons to carry out the duties of cohanim; anyone else who involves himself is to be put to death.” 11 Adonai said to Moshe, 12 “I have taken the L’vi’im from among the people of Isra’el in lieu of every firstborn male that is first from the womb among the people of Isra’el; the L’vi’im are to be mine. 13 All the firstborn males belong to me, because on the day that I killed all the firstborn males in the land of Egypt, I separated for myself all the firstborn males in Isra’el, both human and animal. They are mine; I am Adonai.” (v) 14 Adonai said to Moshe in the Sinai Desert, 15 “Take a census of the tribe of Levi by clans and families. Count every male a month old or over.” 16 Moshe counted them in the manner Adonai had said, as he had been ordered. 17 The names of the sons of Levi were Gershon, K’hat and M’rari. 18 The names of the sons of Gershon were Livni and Shim‘i; they fathered their respective clans; 19 likewise the sons of K’hat — ‘Amram,Yitz’har, Hevron and ‘Uzi’el — 20 and the sons of M’rari — Machli and Mushi. These fathered the clans of the L’vi’im. 21 Gershon fathered the clans of Livni and Shim‘i; these were the Gershon clans. 22 Of them, 7,500 males a month old and over were counted. 23 The Gershon clans were to camp behind the tabernacle, toward the west. 24 The chief of the Gershon clan was Elyasaf, the son of La’el. 25 In connection with the tent of meeting, the descendants of Gershon were to be in charge of the following: the tabernacle itself, its inner and outer coverings, the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains surrounding the courtyard, the screen for the entrance of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and the altar, all the fixtures and ropes for these items, and their maintenance. 27 K’hat fathered the clans of ‘Amram, Yitz’har, Hevron and ‘Uzi’el; these were the K’hat clans. 28 Of them, 8,600 males a month old and over were counted; they were in charge of the Holy Place. 29 The K’hat clans were to camp next to the tabernacle, toward the south. 30 The chief of the K’hat clan was Elitzafan the son of ‘Uzi’el. 31 They were responsible for the ark, the table, the menorah, the altars, the utensils the cohanim use when they serve in the Holy Place, the curtain, and everything involved with the maintenance of these things. 32 El‘azar the son of Aharon the cohen was first among the chiefs of the L’vi’im and supervised those in charge of the Holy Place. 33 M’rari fathered the clans of Machli and Mushi; these were the M’rari clans. 34 Of them, 6,200 males a month old and over were counted. 35 The chief of the M’rari clan was Tzuri’el the son of Avichayil. They were to camp next to the tabernacle, toward the north. 36 The M’rari clans were assigned responsibility for the frames of the tabernacle, along with its crossbars, posts, sockets and fittings, together with their maintenance; 37 also the posts of the surrounding courtyard, with their sockets, pegs and ropes. 38 Those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the east, in front of the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moshe, Aharon and his sons who were in charge of the Holy Place. They carried out their responsibility on behalf of the people of Isra’el, and anyone else who involved himself was to be put to death. 39 The total number of L’vi’im whom Moshe and Aharon counted by their clans, all the males a month old and over, was 22,000. (vi) 40 Adonai said to Moshe, “Register all the firstborn males of the people of Isra’el a month old and over, and determine how many there are. 41 Then you are to take the L’vi’im for me, Adonai, in place of all the firstborn among the people of Isra’el, and the cattle of the L’vi’im in place of the firstborn of the cattle belonging to the people of Isra’el.” 42 Moshe counted, as Adonai had ordered him, all the firstborn among the people of Isra’el. 43 The total number of firstborn males registered, a month old and over, of those who were counted, was 22,273. 44 Adonai said to Moshe, 45 “Take the L’vi’im in place of all the firstborn among the people of Isra’el, and the cattle of the L’vi’im in place of their cattle; the L’vi’im are to belong to me, Adonai. 46 Since there were 273 more firstborn males from Isra’el than male L’vi’im, in order to redeem them, 47 you are to take five shekels [two ounces] for each of these (use the sanctuary shekel, which is equal to twenty gerahs). 48 Give the redemption money for these extra people to Aharon and his sons.” 49 Moshe took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the L’vi’im; 50 the amount of money he took from the firstborn of the people of Isra’el was 1,365 shekels, using the sanctuary shekel. 51 Moshe gave the redemption-money to Aharon and his sons, in keeping with what Adonai had said, as Adonai had ordered Moshe. 4:1 (vii) Adonai said to Moshe and Aharon, 2 “Take a census of the descendants of K’hat, who are among the descendants of Levi, by clans and families, 3 all those from thirty to fifty years old; these will enter the corps doing the work in the tent of meeting. 4 “Here is how the descendants of K’hat are to serve in the tent of meeting and deal with the especially holy things: 5 when the time comes to break camp, Aharon is to go in with his sons, take down the curtain which serves as a screen, and cover the ark of the testimony with it. 6 On that they are to place a covering of fine leather, and on top of that spread an all-blue cloth. Then they are to insert the carrying-poles. 7 On the table of showbread they are to spread a blue cloth and place on it the dishes, incense pans, offering bowls and pitchers. The perpetual bread is to remain on the table. 8 They are to spread on these things a scarlet cloth, cover them with a covering of fine leather and insert the poles. 9 They are to take a blue cloth and cover the menorah for the light, its lamps, its tongs, its trays and the jars used to add oil to it. 10 They are to wrap it and all its accessories in fine leather and place them on a carrying-frame. 11 On the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with a covering of fine leather and insert its carrying-poles. 12 They are to take all the utensils they use when serving in the sanctuary and put them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather and place them on a carrying-frame. 13 After removing the greasy ashes from the altar, they are to spread a purple cloth over it 14 and place on it all the utensils required for their altar service — the fire pans, meat-hooks, shovels, basins and other utensils for the altar. Then they are to spread over it a fine leather covering and insert its carrying-poles. 15 When Aharon and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy utensils, when the camp is about to move forward, then the descendants of K’hat are to come and carry them. But they are not to touch the holy things, so that they won’t die. These things are the responsibility of the descendants of K’hat in the tent of meeting. 16 “El‘azar the son of Aharon the cohen is to be responsible for the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the continuing grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the sanctuary and its furnishings.” (Maftir) 17 Adonai said to Moshe and Aharon, 18 “Do not cut off the clan of K’hat from among the L’vi’im; 19 rather, do this for them, so that they will live and not die: when they approach the especially holy things, Aharon and his sons are to go in — and you are to assign each one his task; 20 but the descendants of K’hat are not to go in and look at the holy things as they are being covered; if they do, they will die.” Hosea 2:1-22 Hosea 2:1 (1:10) “Nevertheless, the people of Isra’el will number as many as the grains of sand by the sea, which cannot be measured or counted; so that the time will come when, instead of being told, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said to them, ‘You are the children of the living God.’ 2 (1:11) Then the people of Y’hudah and the people of Isra’el will be gathered together; they will appoint for themselves one leader; and they will go up out of the land; for that will be a great day, [the day] of Yizre‘el. 3 (1) “Say to your brothers, ‘Ammi [My People]!’ and to your sisters, ‘Ruchamah [Pitied]!’ 4 (2) Rebuke your mother, rebuke her; for she isn’t my wife, and I’m not her husband. She must remove her whoring from her face, and her adulteries from between her breasts. 5 (3) Otherwise, I will strip her naked and place her as she was the day she was born, make her like a desert, place her like a dry land and kill her with thirst. 6 (4) I will have no pity on her children, for they are children of whoring — 7 (5) their mother prostituted herself, she who conceived them behaved shamelessly; she said, ‘I will pursue my lovers, who give me my food and water, wool, flax, olive oil and wine.’ 8 (6) Therefore, I will block her way with thorns and put up a hedge so she can’t find her paths. 9 (7) She will pursue her lovers but not catch them. She will seek them but won’t find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband; because things were better for me then than they are now.’ 10 (8) For she doesn’t know it was I who gave her the grain, the wine and the oil; I who increased her silver and gold, which they used for Ba‘al. 11 (9) So I will take back my grain at harvest-time and my wine in its season; I will snatch away my wool and flax, given to cover her naked body. 12 (10) Now I will uncover her shame, while her lovers watch; and no one will save her from me. 13 (11) I will end her happiness, her festivals, Rosh-Hodesh, and shabbats, and all her designated times. 14 (12) I will ravage her vines and fig trees, of which she says, ‘These are my wages that my lovers have given me.’ But I will turn them into a forest, and wild animals will eat them. 15 (13) I will punish her for offering incense on the feast days of the ba‘alim, when she decked herself with her earrings and jewels, pursuing her lovers and forgetting me,” says Adonai. 16 (14) “But now I am going to woo her — I will bring her out to the desert and I will speak to her heart. 17 (15) I will give her her vineyards from there and the Akhor Valley as a gateway to hope. She will respond there as she did when young, as she did when she came up from Egypt. 18 (16) “On that day,” says Adonai “you will call me Ishi [My Husband]; you will no longer call me Ba‘ali [My Master]. 19 (17) For I will remove the names of the ba‘alim from her mouth; they will never again be mentioned by name. 20 (18) When that day comes, I will make a covenant for them with the wild animals, the birds in the air and the creeping things of the earth. I will break bow and sword, sweep battle from the land, and make them lie down securely. 21 (19) I will betroth you to me forever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, in grace and in compassion; 22 (20) I will betroth you to me in faithfulness, and you will know Adonai. Today's Laws & Customs: • Ethics of the Fathers: Chapter 6 In preparation for the festival of Shavuot, we study one of the six chapters of the Talmud's Ethics of the Fathers ("Avot") on the afternoon of each of the six Shabbatot between Passover and Shavuot; this Shabbat being the Shabbat before Shhavuot, we study Chapter Six. (In many communities -- and such is the Chabad custom -- the study cycle is repeated through the summer, until the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah.) Link: Ethics of the Fathers, Chapter 6 • Count "Forty-Seven Days to the Omer" Tonight Tomorrow is the forty-seventh 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-seven days, which are six weeks and five days, to the Omer." (If you miss the count tonight, you can count the omer all day tomorrow, but without the preceding blessing). The 49-day "Counting of the Omer" retraces our ancestors' seven-week spiritual journey from the Exodus to Sinai. Each evening we recite a special blessing and count the days and weeks that have passed since the Omer; the 50th day is Shavuot, the festival celebrating the Giving of the Torah at Sinai. Tonight's Sefirah: Hod sheb'Malchut -- "Humility in Receptiveness" The teachings of Kabbalah explain that there are seven "Divine Attributes" -- Sefirot -- that G-d assumes through which to relate to our existence: Chessed, Gevurah, Tifferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod and Malchut ("Love", "Strength", "Beauty", "Victory", "Splendor", "Foundation" and "Sovereignty"). In the human being, created in the "image of G-d," the seven sefirot are mirrored in the seven "emotional attributes" of the human soul: Kindness, Restraint, Harmony, Ambition, Humility, Connection and Receptiveness. Each of the seven attributes contain elements of all seven--i.e., "Kindness in Kindness", "Restraint in Kindness", "Harmony in Kindness", etc.--making for a total of forty-nine traits. The 49-day Omer Count is thus a 49-step process of self-refinement, with each day devoted to the "rectification" and perfection of one the forty-nine "sefirot." Links: How to count the Omer The deeper significance of the Omer Count Today in Jewish History: • Chosen People (1313 BCE) Sivan 2 is marked on the Jewish calendar as Yom HaMeyuchas ("Day of Distinction"); it was on this day that G-d told Moses -- when Moses ascended Mount Sinai for the first time -- to tell the people of Israel: "You shall be My chosen treasure from among all the nations, for all the earth is Mine. You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:4-6). Links: Who Are the Jews? On the Essence of Choice More on the "choseness" of the Jewish people • Israeli Defense Forces Capture Golan Heights (1967) Until the Six-Day War (see “Today in Jewish History” for Iyar 26), the Syrian army was deployed in strong fortifications on the Golan Heights, from which they repeatedly shelled the Israeli settlements below. On the fifth day of the war, the Israeli Army broke through the Syrian front. Facing very difficult topographical conditions, they scaled the steep and rugged heights. The Engineering Corps cleared the way of mines, followed by bulldozers which leveled a route for the tanks on the rocky face. After more than 24 hours of heavy fighting, the Syrian deployment collapsed and the Syrian forces fled in retreat. Links: More on the Six-Day War Daily Torah Study: Chumash: Bamidbar, 7th Portion Numbers 4:1-4:20 with Rashi • English / Hebrew Linear Translation • Video Class • Daily Wisdom (short insight) Video & Audio Classes Loading... Rabbi Yehoshua B. Gordon - Rabbi Gordon - Naso: 1st Portion (14:59) Watch Listen Download Numbers Chapter 4 1The Lord spoke to Moses saying: כאוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר: 22Take a census of the sons of Gershon, of them too, following their fathers' houses, according to their families. כבנָשׂ֗א אֶת־רֹ֛אשׁ בְּנֵ֥י גֵֽרְשׁ֖וֹן גַּם־הֵ֑ם לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָ֖ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם: Take a census of the sons of Gershon, of them too: As I commmanded you with regards to the children of Kohath, to see how many there are who have reached the category of [those fit for] service. את ראש בני גרשון גם הם: כמו שצויתיך על בני קהת לראות כמה יש שהגיעו לכלל עבודה: 23From the age of thirty years and upward, until the age of fifty years you shall count them, all who come to join the legion, to perform service in the Tent of Meeting. כגמִבֶּן֩ שְׁלשִׁ֨ים שָׁנָ֜ה וָמַ֗עְלָה עַ֛ד בֶּן־חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה תִּפְקֹ֣ד אוֹתָ֑ם כָּל־הַבָּא֨ לִצְבֹ֣א צָבָ֔א לַֽעֲבֹ֥ד עֲבֹדָ֖ה בְּאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד: 24This is the service of the Gershonite families to serve and to carry. כדזֹ֣את עֲבֹדַ֔ת מִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת הַגֵּֽרְשֻׁנִּ֑י לַֽעֲבֹ֖ד וּלְמַשָּֽׂא: 25They shall carry the curtains of the Mishkan and the Tent of Meeting, its covering and the tachash skin covering overlaid upon it, and the screen for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. כהוְנָ֨שְׂא֜וּ אֶת־יְרִיעֹ֤ת הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ וְאֶת־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד מִכְסֵ֕הוּ וּמִכְסֵ֛ה הַתַּ֥חַשׁ אֲשֶׁר־עָלָ֖יו מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְאֶ֨ת־מָסַ֔ךְ פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד: the curtains of the Mishkan: The ten lower ones. את יריעות המשכן: עשר תחתונות: and the Tent of Meeting: The curtains of goat hair made as a tent over it. ואת אהל מועד: יריעות עזים העשויות לאהל עליו: its covering: The ram skins dyed red. מכסהו: עורות אילים מאדמים: the screen for the entrance: The screen on the east side. מסך פתח: וילון המזרחי: 26The hangings of the courtyard, the screen at the entrance of the gate of the courtyard which is around the Mishkan and the altar, their ropes, all the work involved, and everything that is made for them, and thus shall they serve. כווְאֵת֩ קַלְעֵ֨י הֶֽחָצֵ֜ר וְאֶת־מָסַ֣ךְ | פֶּ֣תַח | שַׁ֣עַר הֶֽחָצֵ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֤ן וְעַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ סָבִ֔יב וְאֵת֨ מֵֽיתְרֵיהֶ֔ם וְאֶת־כָּל־כְּלֵ֖י עֲבֹֽדָתָ֑ם וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֧ר יֵֽעָשֶׂ֛ה לָהֶ֖ם וְעָבָֽדוּ: which are around the Mishkan: That is to say, the hangings and the screen of the courtyard, which shelter and protect the Mishkan and the copper altar all around. אשר על המשכן: כלומר הקלעים והמסך של חצר הסוככים ומגינים על המשכן ועל מזבח הנחשת סביב: and everything that is made for them: As the Targum [understands it]: everything that is given over to them, that is, to the sons of Gershon. ואת כל אשר יעשה להם: כתרגומו ית כל דיתמסר להון, לבני גרשון: 27All the service of the sons of Gershon shall be by the instruction of Aaron and his sons, regarding all their burden and all their service. You shall designate their entire burden as their charge. כזעַל־פִּ֩י אַֽהֲרֹ֨ן וּבָנָ֜יו תִּֽהְיֶ֗ה כָּל־עֲבֹדַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י הַגֵּֽרְשֻׁנִּ֔י לְכָ֨ל־מַשָּׂאָ֔ם וּלְכֹ֖ל עֲבֹֽדָתָ֑ם וּפְקַדְתֶּ֤ם עֲלֵהֶם֙ בְּמִשְׁמֶ֔רֶת אֵ֖ת כָּל־מַשָּׂאָֽם: by the instruction of Aaron and his sons: Which of the sons was appointed over them? [The answer is:] “under the supervision  על פי אהרן ובניו: ואיזה מהבנים ממונה עליהם, ביד איתמר בן אהרן הכהן: כחזֹ֣את עֲבֹדַ֗ת מִשְׁפְּחֹ֛ת בְּנֵ֥י הַגֵּֽרְשֻׁנִּ֖י בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וּמִ֨שְׁמַרְתָּ֔ם בְּיַד֙ אִֽיתָמָ֔ר בֶּן־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן הַכֹּהֵֽן: Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 10 - 17 • Hebrew text • English text Chapter 10 This psalm tells of the wicked one’s prosperity and his boasting of it, until he says: “There is neither law nor judge. God pays no attention to the actions of mere mortals.” 1. Why, O Lord, do You stand afar, do You hide Yourself in times of distress? 2. The wicked man in his arrogance pursues the poor; they are caught by the schemes they have contrived. 3. For the wicked man glories in the desire of his heart, and the robber boasts that he has scorned the Lord. 4. The wicked one in his insolence [thinks], “He does not avenge”; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” 5. His ways always succeed; Your retribution is far removed from before him; he puffs at all his foes. 6. He says in his heart, “I shall not falter; for all generations no evil will befall me.” 7. His mouth is full of oaths, deceit and malice; mischief and iniquity are under his tongue. 8. He sits in ambush near open cities; in hidden places he murders the innocent; his eyes stealthily watch for the helpless. 9. He lurks in hiding like a lion in his lair; he lurks to seize the poor, then seizes the poor when he draws his net. 10. He crouches and stoops, then the helpless fall prey to his might. 11. He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, He conceals His countenance, He will never see.” 12. Arise, O Lord! O God, lift Your hand! Do not forget the lowly. 13. Why does the wicked man scorn God? Because he says in his heart, “You do not avenge.” 14. Indeed, You do see! For You behold the mischief and vexation. To recompense is in Your power; the helpless place their trust in You; You have [always] helped the orphan. 15. Break the strength of the wicked; then search for the wickedness of the evil one and You will not find it. 16. The Lord reigns for all eternity; the nations have vanished from His land. 17. Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; direct their hearts, let Your ear listen, 18. to bring justice to the orphan and the downtrodden, so that [the wicked] shall no longer crush the frail of the earth. Chapter 11 This psalm declares that the suffering of the righteous one is for his own benefit, to cleanse him of his sins; whereas the wicked one is granted prosperity in this world-similar to the verse, "Wealth remains with its owner, to his detriment." 1. For the Conductor, by David. I have placed my trust in the Lord; [thus] how can you say of my soul, your mountain,1 that it flees like a bird?2 2. For behold, the wicked bend the bow, they have readied their arrow upon the bowstring, to shoot in darkness at the upright of heart. 3. They destroyed the foundations; 3 what [wrong] has the righteous man done? 4. The Lord is in His holy Sanctuary, the Lord's throne is in heaven, [yet] His eyes behold, His pupils probe [the deeds of] mankind. 5. The Lord tests the righteous, but He hates the wicked and the lover of violence. 6. He will rain down upon the wicked fiery coals and brimstone; a scorching wind will be their allotted portion. 7. For the Lord is righteous, He loves [the man of] righteous deeds; the upright will behold His countenance. Footnotes 1.Your king (Metzudot). 2.And will eventually be captured by Saul (Metzudot). 3.Reffering to the murder of the priests in the city of Nob. Chapter 12 This psalm admonishes informers, slanderers, and flatterers. 1. For the Conductor, upon the eight-stringed instrument, a psalm by David. 2. Help us, Lord, for the pious are no more; for the faithful have vanished from among men. 3. Men speak falsehood to one another; with flattering lips, with a duplicitous heart do they speak. 4. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaks boastfully- 5. those who have said, "With our tongues we shall prevail, our lips are with us, who is master over us!” 6. Because of the plundering of the poor, because of the moaning of the needy, the Lord says, "Now I will arise!" "I will grant deliverance," He says to him. 7. The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in the finest earthen crucible, purified seven times. 8. May You, O Lord, watch over them; may You forever guard them from this generation, 9. [in which] the wicked walk on every side; when they are exalted it is a disgrace to mankind. Chapter 13 A prayer for an end to the long exile. One in distress should offer this prayer for his troubles and for the length of the exile. 1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David. 2. How long, O Lord, will You forget me, forever? How long will You hide Your countenance from me? 3. How long must I seek counsel within my soul, [to escape] the grief in my heart all day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? 4. Look! Answer me, O Lord, my God; give light to my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. 5. Lest my enemy say, "I have overcome him," [and] my oppressors rejoice when I falter. 6. I have placed my trust in Your kindness, my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord, for He has dealt kindly with me. Chapter 14 This psalm speaks of the destruction of the two Holy Temples-the first by Nebuchadnezzar, and the second by Titus. 1. For the Conductor, by David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God!" [Man's] deeds have become corrupt and abominable, no one does good. 2. The Lord looked down from heaven upon mankind, to see if there was any wise man who searches for God. 3. They have all gone astray together, they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. 4. Indeed, all the evildoers, who devour My people as they devour bread, who do not call upon the Lord, will [ultimately] come to know [the consequences of their actions]. 5. There they will be seized with fright, for God is with the righteous generation. 6. You scorn the counsel of the lowly, that he puts his trust in the Lord. 7. O that out of Zion would come Israel's deliverance! When the Lord returns the captivity of His people, Jacob will exult, Israel will rejoice. Chapter 15 This psalm speaks of several virtues and attributes with which one should conduct oneself. He is then assured that his soul will rest in Gan Eden. 1. A psalm by David. Who may abide in Your tent, O Lord? Who may dwell on Your holy Mountain? 2. He who walks blamelessly, acts justly, and speaks truth in his heart; 3. who has no slander on his tongue, who has done his fellowman no evil, and who has brought no disgrace upon his relative; 4. in whose eyes a despicable person is abhorrent, but who honors those who are God-fearing; who does not change his oath even if it is to his own detriment; 5. who does not lend his money at interest, nor accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never falter. Chapter 16 When one is in need, he should not implore God in his own merit, for he must leave his merits for his children. 1. A michtam,1 by David. Watch over me, O God, for I have put my trust in You. 2. You, [my soul,] have said to God, "You are my Master; You are not obligated to benefit me.” 3. For the sake of the holy ones who lie in the earth, and for the mighty-all my desires are fulfilled in their merit. 4. Those who hasten after other [gods], their sorrows shall increase; I will not offer their libations of blood, nor take their names upon my lips. 5. The Lord is my allotted portion and my share; You guide my destiny. 6. Portions have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, a beautiful inheritance is mine. 7. I bless the Lord Who has advised me; even in the nights my intellect admonishes me.2 8. I have set the Lord before me at all times; because He is at my right hand, I shall not falter. 9. Therefore my heart rejoices and my soul exults; my flesh, too, rests secure. 10. For You will not abandon my soul to the grave, You will not allow Your pious one to see purgatory. 11. Make known to me the path of life, that I may be satiated with the joy of Your presence, with the bliss of Your right hand forever. Footnotes 1.A psalm that was especially precious to David 2.To fear and love God (Rashi) Chapter 17 A loftily person should not ask God to test him with some sinful matter, or other things. If one has sinned, he should see to reform himself, and to save many others from sin. 1. A prayer by David. Hear my sincere [plea], O Lord; listen to my cry; give ear to my prayer, expressed by guileless lips. 2. Let my verdict come forth from before You; let Your eyes behold uprightness. 3. You have probed my heart, examined it in the night, tested me and found nothing; no evil thought crossed my mind; as are my words so are my thoughts. 4. So that [my] human deeds conform with the words of Your lips, I guard myself from the paths of the lawbreakers. 5. Support my steps in Your paths, so that my feet shall not falter. 6. I have called upon You, for You, O Lord, will answer me; incline Your ear to me, hear what I say. 7. Withhold Your kindness-O You who delivers with Your right hand those who put their trust in You-from those who rise up against [You]. 8. Guard me like the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings 9. from the wicked who despoil me, [from] my mortal enemies who surround me. 10. Their fat has closed [their hearts]; their mouths speak arrogantly. 11. They encircle our footsteps; they set their eyes to make us stray from the earth. 12. His appearance is like a lion longing to devour, like a young lion lurking in hiding. 13. Arise, O Lord! Confront him, bring him to his knees; rescue my soul from the wicked [who serves as] Your sword. 14. Let me be among those whose death is by Your hand, O Lord, among those who die of old age, whose portion is eternal life and whose innards are filled with Your concealed goodness; who are sated with sons and leave their abundance to their offspring. 15. Because of my righteousness, I shall behold Your countenance; in the time of resurrection, I will be sated by Your image. Tanya: Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 53 • English Text (Lessons in Tanya) • Hebrew Text • Audio Class: Listen | Download • Video Class Shabbat, Sivan 2, 5777 · May 27, 2017 Today's Tanya Lesson Likutei Amarim, middle of Chapter 53 AUDIO & VIDEO CLASSES     • VIDEO CLASS: Rabbi Yehoshua B. Gordon   Watch • Listen   • AUDIO CLASS: Rabbi Manis Freidman   Listen • Download MP3 ובבית שני, שלא היה בו הארון והלוחות As for the Second Temple, in which the Ark and the Tablets did not repose, these being among the five things found in the First Temple and lacking in the Second, אמרו רז״ל שלא היתה שכינה שורה בו, פירוש: מדרגת שכינה שהיתה שורה בבית ראשון, שלא כדרך השתלשלות העולמות our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said1 that the Shechinah did not abide there. This means not that, G‑d forbid, the Shechinah did not abide there at all, rather it speaks of the category of the Shechinah which used to abide in the First Temple — which was not in the manner of the ordinary descent of the Worlds. It was this level of Shechinah that did not abide in the Second Temple, but only a far lesser level. אלא בבית שני היתה שורה כדרך השתלשלות והתלבשות: מלכות דאצילות במלכות דבריאה, ודבריאה במלכות דיצירה, ודיצירה בהיכל קדשי קדשים דעשיה But in the Second Temple it abided according to the order of gradual descent, of Malchut of Atzilut vested in Malchut of Beriah and the latter in Malchut of Yetzirah, and the latter in the shrine of the Holy of Holies of Asiyah, that shrine being ChaBaD of Asiyah. וקדשי קדשים דעשיה היה מתלבש בקדשי קדשים שבבית המקדש שלמטה, ושרתה בו השכינה: מלכות דיצירה, המלובשת בקדשי קדשים דעשיה And the Holy of Holies of Asiyah was clothed in the Holy of Holies of the Temple below. In it rested the Shechinah, i.e., Malchut of Yetzirah, which was clothed in the Holy of Holies of Asiyah. ולכן לא היה רשאי שום אדם ליכנס שם, לבד כהן גדול ביום הכפורים. ומשחרב בית המקדש Therefore, because the Shechinah resided in the Temple’s Holy of Holies, no man was permitted to enter there, except the High Priest on Yom Kippur. And since the destruction of the Temple, of which the Sanctuary was a part, G‑d resides in the shrine of Holy of Holies of Torah and the mitzvot, for as mentioned earlier, the Shechinah must reside in the Holy of Holies: אין לו להקב״ה בעולמו אלא ד׳ אמות של הלכה בלבד “HaKadosh Baruch Hu (the Holy One, blessed be He) has but the four cubits of Halachah alone.”2 Torah is the shrine of the Holy of Holies that connects G‑d with the world, so that HaKadosh (the illumination of the Shechinah, which is Kadosh, i.e., separated and apart from the world) should become Baruch (from the Hebrew root meaning “to draw down”) — drawn down into the world. ואפילו אחד שיושב ועוסק בתורה, שכינה עמו, כדאיתא בברכות, פרק קמא. פירוש שכינה עמו And even if one Jew sits and engages in Torah study, the Shechinah is with him, as is stated in the first chapter of Berachot.3 The phrase, “the Shechinah is with him” means that although he is a being of this material world, the Shechinah is nevertheless with him. The level of Shechinah that is with him is: כדרך השתלשלות והתלבשות מלכות דאצילות במלכות דבריאה ויצירה ועשיה in order of the gradual descent and investment of Malchut of Atzilut in Malchut of Beriah and Yetzirah and Asiyah. It is thus inferior even to the indwelling of the Shechinah in the Second Temple, an indwelling that did not require the vestment in Malchut of Asiyah. It differs from the drawing down of the Shechinah in the world in general, in which case the identical progressive descent occurs, in that the Shechinah which resides in the world passes through the additional “garment” of kelipat nogah, while Torah and the mitzvot do not. The reason that it must go through Malchut of Asiyah is that the overwhelming majority of the mitzvot of the Torah involve physical action. The Shechinah therefore descends into the level of action — Asiyah, as shall now be explained. כי תרי״ג מצות התורה רובן ככולן הן מצות מעשיות, וגם התלויות בדבור ומחשבה, כמו תלמוד תורה, ברכת המזון, קריאת שמע ותפלה For the 613 commandments of the Torah are by and large precepts which involve action, including even those mitzvot which are fulfilled by word and thought, such as Torah study, the Grace after Meals, the recital of the Shema, and prayer, This is so even though these mitzvot involve thought — seeking to grasp the concepts in one’s studies, and to experience the kavanot of the Shema and prayer — and as such they are not bound up with action, הא קיימא לן דהרהור לאו כדבור דמי, ואינו יוצא ידי חובתו בהרהור וכוונה לבד, עד שיוציא בשפתיו for it has been ruled that meditation has not the validity of speech, and one does not fulfill one’s obligation by meditation [in a manner of hirhur] and kavanah alone, even when his manner of meditation is close to speech, as is the case when one thinks about the way in which he will utter certain words, which is called hirhur, until he gives it utterance with his lips; וקיימא לן דעקימת שפתיו הוי מעשה moreover, it has been ruled that the motion of the lips while one is speaking is considered an “action” — in which case all these mitzvot involve a form of action. The Rebbe explains that the Alter Rebbe will now anticipate the following question: It still remains to be understood why specifically the four cubits of Halachah take the place of the Holy of Holies; why should this be not so when a Jew studies a subject in Torah which is not Halachah, for there too the Shechinah is with him? The Alter Rebbe therefore explains that Halachah possesses the especial merit of expressing the Divine Will (as explained at length in Iggeret HaKodesh, Epistle 29). ותרי״ג מצות התורה, עם שבע מצות דרבנן, בגימטריא כת״ר, שהוא רצון העליון ברוך הוא And the 613 commandments of the Torah, together with the seven commandments of our Rabbis, combine to total the numerical equivalent of Keter (“crown”), which is the Supernal Will, Will is called a crown, for like a crown it encompasses the head and brain; Iggeret HaKodesh, loc. cit., where this is discussed at length. המלובש בחכמתו יתברך which is clothed in His wisdom, Thus, in addition to the fact that Torah is G‑d’s wisdom, which in its descent in the downward progression of Worlds becomes the shrine of the Holy of Holies for the Shechinah, there is the additional quality of its being the Supernal Will, which is even loftier than wisdom. This is uniquely found in the Halachah and the mitzvot, as they are expressions of the Supernal Will. המיוחדות באור אין סוף ברוך הוא בתכלית היחוד and they (G‑d’s Will and wisdom) are united with the light of the Ein Sof in a perfect union. Further to an earlier statement that Torah derives from Supernal Wisdom, the Alter Rebbe will now say that the Oral Law also emanates from that source. וה׳ בחכמה יסד ארץ, היא תורה שבעל פה דנפקא מחכמה עילאה, כמו שכתוב בזהר, דאבא יסד ברתא “G‑d founded the earth with wisdom.”4 This refers to the Oral Law that is derived from Supernal Wisdom, as it is written in the Zohar, “The father (Chochmah) begat the daughter” (i.e., Malchut, the Oral Law; as it is written, “Malchut — the mouth, which we call the Oral Law”). * * * FOOTNOTES 1. Yoma 9b. 2. Berachot 8a. 3. Berachot 6a. 4. Mishlei 3:19. Rambam: • Sefer Hamitzvot: English Text | Hebrew Text Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class Sivan 2, 5777 · May 27, 2017 Today's Mitzvah A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot" AUDIO & VIDEO CLASSES     • VIDEO CLASS: Rabbi Mendel Kaplan   Watch • Listen   • AUDIO CLASS: Rabbi Berel Bell   Listen • MP3 Download Important Message Regarding This Lesson The Daily Mitzvah schedule runs parallel to the daily study of 3 chapters of Maimonides' 14-volume code. There are instances when the Mitzvah is repeated a few days consecutively while the exploration of the same Mitzvah continues in the in-depth track. Positive Commandment 104 Ritual Impurity of a Zav We are commanded regarding the ritual impurity of a zav [a man who suffers an abnormal seminal discharge. When contracted, one must follow all the laws associated with this impurity. E.g.,] how he contracts this ritual impurity and how, after he becomes a zav, he can pass on this impurity to others. Full text of this Mitzvah » Ritual Impurity of a Zav Ritual Impurity of a Zav Positive Commandment 104 Translated by Berel Bell The 104th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the tumah of a zav. This mitzvah includes the laws of how he becomes a zav1 and how he conveys tumah to others.2 Footnotes 1.See Hilchos Mechusarei Kapparah 2:1-2. 2.See Hilchos M'tamei Mishkav U'Moshav, Chapter 1. Positive Commandment 96 Ritual Impurity of an Animal Carcass We are commanded regarding the ritual impurity [contained in and emitted by] an animal carcass. [I.e., when contracted, one must follow all the laws associated with this impurity.] Full text of this Mitzvah » Ritual Impurity of an Animal Carcass Ritual Impurity of an Animal Carcass Positive Commandment 96 Translated by Berel Bell The 96th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the tumah of neveilah. This mitzvah includes tumas neveilah and all of its laws.1 I will now give an introduction you should remember all through the following discussion of the various types of tumah. When we count each category as a separate positive commandment, this does not mean that one is commanded to become tameh with this form of tumah; nor that one is forbidden from becoming tameh with it, as if it is a prohibition. Rather, the Torah's statement that anyone who touches a certain category is tameh, or that a certain category conveys tumah in a certain way to one who comes in contact with it — this itself is the positive commandment. This means that the law we are commanded to follow — that if one touches a certain object in a certain way he becomes tameh, but in another way, he does not — is itself the mitzvah. The actual decision to become tameh or not, however, is optional. If one wants, one is allowed to become tameh, and if one doesn't want, he doesn't have to. The Sifra says, "From the verse,2 'Do not touch their neveilah,' I might think that one who touches neveilah receives 40 lashes — the Torah therefore says,3 'To these you will become tameh.' I might think that if one sees neveilah he must go and become tameh from it — the Torah therefore says, 'Do not touch their neveilah.' How is this possible? It is optional." Therefore the mitzvah is the actual ruling regarding these laws, that we are commanded that anyone who touches a certain object becomes tameh and is bound by all the obligations of those who are tameh — to go outside the machaneh Shechinah, not to eat or touch sacrificial food, etc. This itself — that he becomes tameh through touching or some other connection4 — is the mitzvah. You should remember this principle throughout all the categories of tumah. Footnotes 1.See Hilchos Shaar Avos HaTuma'os, Chapters 1-3. 2.Lev. 11:8. 3.Ibid., 11:24. 4.Such as carrying it without touching, such as in the case of neveilah, or entering under the same roof, as with tumas meis. • 1 Chapter A Day: Malveh veLoveh Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 13 English Text | Hebrew Text Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 13 1 The following laws apply when a lender comes to expropriate property on the basis of a promissory note in his possession and the borrower is not present: If it is possible to send a messenger to the borrower and notify him so that he can confront the lender in judgment, we send a messenger and notify him. If it is impossible to notify the borrower speedily, we instruct the lender to take an oath, and then to expropriate property belonging to the borrower, either landed property or movable property. We do not consider the possibility that the borrower repaid the debt and the lender gave him a receipt. This law is an ordinance of the Sages, enacted so that people at large would not take money belonging to a colleague and go to dwell in another city. For this would hinder the possibilities of loans being granted in the futureאמלוה שבא להפרע בשטר שבידו שלא בפני לוה אם יכולין ב"ד לשלוח אליו ולהודיעו עד שיעמוד עמו בדין שולחין ומודיעין לו, ואם אי אפשר להודיעו במהרה אומרים למלוה שישבע ויטול מנכסיו בין מן הקרקע בין מן המטלטלים ואין חוששין לשובר, ודין זה תקנת חכמים הוא כדי שלא יהיה כל אחד ואחד נוטל מעותיו של חבירו והולך ויושב לו במדינה אחרת ונמצא נועל דלת בפני לוין. 2 The lender must bring proof of three matters to the court before he can expropriate property from the borrower outside his presence: a) he must verify the authenticity of the promissory note in his possession; b) he must prove that the debtor is in another city and is not present to defend himself in court; c) he must prove that the property that he wishes to expropriate belongs to so-and-so, the borrower.בשלש ראיות צריך להביא לב"ד ואחר כך יפרע שלא בפניו, ראיה ראשונה לקיים השטר שבידו ראיה שניה שבעל חובו במדינה אחרת ואינו מצוי בכאן לעמוד עמו בדין, ראיה שלישית שאלו נכסים של פלוני הלוה הם. 3 The following rules apply when a lender comes to the court, bringing security that is in his possession" and says: "This security belongs to so-and-so, and I desire to sell it to receive payment of the debt he owes me." The court does not take action and does not tell him: "Wait until the borrower comes and lodges his claim." The rationale is that had the lender desired to say that the security had been purchased his word would be accepted. The court advises him to sell the security in the presence of witnesses, so that the borrower will know for how much the security was sold. Similarly, when a person gives a loan to a colleague and receives security in return, and then both the borrower and the lender die - regardless of whether the borrower or the lender dies first the lender's heirs may take an oath and collect the debt. The lender's heir must take an oath holding a sacred object, before he takes payment from the security, as is done by all those who take an oath and collect their due. His word is accepted, because he is taking payment from property that is in his physical possession. Had he desired, he could have said that he had purchased the property. Why is the creditor not required only to take a sh'vuat hesset? Because he is not taking an oath that the security is his, but rather that the money is owed him. If he lodged a claim concerning the article itself, saying "You sold it to us," or "You gave it to us," he would be able to take a sh 'vuat hesset and be freed of responsibility. If, by contrast, there were witnesses who would testify that this article was given to the lender as security, but they did not know for what amount, he would be able to collect the money only after taking an oath. Since there are no witnesses, the lender would be able to claim: "It is mine." Therefore, we accept his word when he says: "So-and-so much money is owed to me and this is security for that debt," provided that he takes the same oath he would take if there were witnesses who would testify that the article was given as security. We do not free him of the responsibility of the oath, because we do not employ the principle of miggo to free a person of the responsibility to take an oath, but only to free him of financial responsibility - i.e., he is not required to return the security before he takes what he claim.גמלוה שבא לב"ד והביא משכון בידו ואמר זה משכונו של פלוני הוא ואני רוצה למכרו ולהפרע חובי אין ב"ד נזקקין לומר לו המתן עד שיבא לוה ויטעון שאם רוצה לומר לקוח הוא בידי אומר ומשיאין לו עצה למכרו בפני עדים כדי שידע לוה בכמה נמכר, וכן המלוה את חבירו על המשכון ומת הלוה והמלוה בין שמת הלוה תחלה בין שמת מלוה תחלה הואיל והוא נפרע ממה שתחת ידו ואילו רצה לומר לקוח הוא בידי אומר ה"ז נשבע בנקיטת חפץ ונוטל כדרך כל הנשבעין ונוטלין, ומפני מה אינו נשבע היסת לפי שאינו נשבע על עצמו של משכון אלא על הממון שלוקח שאילו אמר על עצמו של חפץ זה אתה מכרתו לי אתה נתתו לי היה נשבע היסת ונפטר, אבל אם היו שם עדים שחפץ זה משכון בידו ולא ידעו על כמה וכמה אינו יכול ליטול אלא בשבועה והואיל ואין שם עדים ויכול לומר שלי הוא נאמן לומר יש לי עליו כך וכך בשבועה עצמה שהיה נשבע אם היו שם עדים שהוא משכון שאין אומרין מגו לפטרו משבועה אלא לפטרו מממון שלא יחזיר המשכון עד שיטול מה שטען. 1 4 The following rules apply when a person lends money to a colleague and receives security for the loan. Should the security be lost or stolen in a manner that is not beyond the lender's control, the lender is liable for the value of the security, as explained. If the lender says: "I lent you a sela for that security, but it was worth only two dinarim" and the borrower says: "You lent me a sela for that security, and it was worth a sela" the lender must first take the oath taken by watchmen that the article is not in his possession. The borrower then must take a sh'vuat hesset that the security was worth the amount of the debt, and he is freed of responsibility. If the lender says: "I lent you a sela for that security, but it was worth only two dinarim" and the borrower says: "You lent me a sela for that security, and it was worth three dinarim" the lender must first take an oath that the article is not in his possession. Afterwards, the borrower must take a Scriptural oath how much the article was worth; this is required because he acknowledged a portion of the plaintiff's claim.33 He then pays the dinar that he admits to owing. If the borrower says: "You lent me a sela for that security, and it was worth two sela'im" and the lender says: "I lent you a sela for that security, and it was worth a sela" the lender must take an oath that the article is not in his possessions and include in that oath that the security was worth only the amount of the debt. If the borrower says: "You lent me a sela for that security, and it was worth two sela'im," and lender says: "I lent you a sela for that security, and it was worth only five dinarim, the lender must take an oath that the article is not in his possession and include in that oath that the security was not worth more than five dinarim. He must then pay the dinar. If the lender says: "I lent you a sela for that security, but it was worth only two dinarim" and the borrower says: "I do not know how much it was worth," the lender must take an oath that the article is not in his possession and include in that oath that the security was worth only two dinarim. The borrower must then pay the remainder of the debt. The rationale is that he definitely knows that he is liable for the two dinarim and does not know whether or not he repaid the debt. If the borrower says: "You lent me a sela for that security, and it was worth two sela'im" and lender says: "I lent you a sela for that security, and I do not know how much it was worth," the lender must take an oath that the article is not in his possession and include in that oath that he does not know that the security was worth even a p'rutah more than the debt. He is then freed of responsibility, because he did not obligate himself at all. If, however, the lender said; "I know that the security was worth more than the loan, but I do not know how much more," he must pay everything that the borrower demands; the borrower is not even required to take an oath. This resembles an instance when a plaintiff lodges a claim for a 100 zuz, and the defendant responds: "I owe you 50, but I do not know whether or not I owe you the other 50." Such a person is obligated to take an oath, but cannot take the oath. Therefore, he must pay, as will be explained. He may, however, have a ban of ostracism issued against anyone who makes a false claim.דהמלוה את חבירו על המשכון ואבד או נגנב בלא אונס שהרי המלוה חייב בדמי המשכון כמו שביארנו, ואמר המלוה סלע הלויתיך עליו ושני דינרין היה שוה ולוה אומר סלע הלויתני עליו ושקל היה שוה, הרי המלוה נשבע תחלה שבועת השומרין שאינו ברשותו והלוה נשבע היסת שהיה שוה כנגד החוב ונפטר. אמר המלוה סלע הלויתיך עליו ושקל היה שוה והלוה אומר סלע הלויתני עליו ושלשה דינרין היה שוה ישבע המלוה תחלה שאינו ברשותו ואח"כ ישבע הלוה כמה היה שוה שהרי הודה במקצת וישלם הדינר, אמר הלוה סלע הלויתני עליו ושתים היה שוה והמלוה אומר סלע הלויתיך עליו וסלע היה שוה ישבע המלוה שאינו ברשותו וכולל בשבועתו שהיה המשכון כנגד החוב, אמר הלוה סלע הלויתני עליו ושתים היה שוה והמלוה אומר סלע הלויתיך עליו וחמשה דינרין היה שוה ישבע המלוה שאינו ברשותו ויכלול שלא היה שוה יתר על ה' דינרים וישלם הדינר, סלע הלויתיך עליו ושני דינרין היה שוה והלוה אומר איני יודע דמיו ישבע מלוה שאינו ברשותו וכולל בשבועתו ששני דינרין היה שוה וישלם הלוה שאר החוב שהרי הוא יודע בודאי שהוא חייב לו ואינו יודע אם פרעו אם לא פרעו, סלע הלויתני עליו ושתים היה שוה והמלוה אומר איני יודע דמיו ישבע המלוה שאינו ברשותו ויכלול שאינו יודע שדמיו יתר על החוב אפילו פרוטה אחת ויפטר שהרי לא חייב עצמו בכלום, אבל אם אמר המלוה אני יודע שהיה שוה יתר על החוב אבל איני יודע כמה ה"ז משלם כל מה שטען הלוה בלא שבועה כמי שאמר חמשים יש לך בידי וחמשים איני יודע שהוא מחוייב שבועה ואינו יכול להשבע כמו שיתבאר, ויש לו להחרים על מי שטוען שקר. 2 5 When a person lends money to a colleague and establishes a date when the loan must be repaid, even though he does not affirm the matter with a kinyan, he may not demand payment until the conclusion of that period of time. This applies regardless of whether the loan is supported merely by an oral commitment, by a promissory note, or by security, or whether the borrower or the lender dies. When no other term is mentioned, the term of a loan is 30 days. This applies regardless of whether the loan is supported merely by an oral commitment, by a promissory note or by security. If the lender stipulated that he could demand payment whenever he desires, he has the right to demand payment even on the day the loan was given. The rationale is that this is a stipulation involving monetary issues.ההמלוה את חבירו וקבע לו זמן לפרעו אע"פ שלא קנו מידו אינו יכול לתבעו עד סוף הזמן בין במלוה על פה בין במלוה בשטר בין שהלוהו על המשכון בין שמת לוה בין שמת מלוה, וסתם מלוה ל' יום בין בשטר בין על פה בין על המשכון, ואם התנה שיתבע בכל זמן שירצה יש לו לתבעו ביומו שתנאי ממון הוא. 6 If the lender claims: "Today is the conclusion of the term I established for the loan," and the borrower responds: "You granted me another ten days," the borrower must take a sh'vuat hesset to support his claim. If there is one witness who testifies that the loan was due that day, the borrower must take a Scriptural oath, as is the law with regard to other claims. If the lender claims: "There are only five days left before the loan is due," and the borrower responds: "There are ten days left," we tell the lender: "Wait until the end of the five days and then have the borrower take an oath that five days remain."וטען המלוה ואמר היום סוף הזמן שקבעתי והלוה אומר עד י' ימים קבעת הלוה נשבע היסת, ואם היה שם עד אחד שהיום סוף זמנו ה"ז נשבע שבועת התורה כשאר הטענות, זה אומר ה' ימים נשאר מן הזמן וזה אומר י' אומרים למלוה המתן עוד עד סוף החמשה וישבע היסת שנשאר עוד ה' ימים. 7 If the loan was supported by a promissory note and the borrower claims: "You established a time for me to pay the debt," it appears to me that the creditor should take a sh'vuat hesset that he did not place any time limit on the loan. He may then collect the loan immediately.זהיתה המלוה בשטר וטען הלוה שזמן קבעת לי, יראה לי שישבע בעל חוב היסת שלא קבע לו זמן ויטול המלוה מיד. 8 Payment for a loan may be demanded in any place. What is implied? When a person lends money to a colleague in a settled place and demands payment from him in a desert, the borrower may not postpone payment. Instead, he is obligated to pay him wherever he demands payment. If the borrower seeks to repay the loan in the desert, the lender is given the option. If he desires, he may accept payment. If he desires, he may tell him: "Pay me back only in a settled area, just as I gave you the money in a settled area." The money then remains the borrower's responsibility until he pays the lender in a settled area.חהמלוה נתנה ליתבע בכל מקום כיצד המלוה את חבירו בישוב ותבעו במדבר אינו יכול לדחותו אלא חייב לפרוע לו בכל מקום שיתבענו, בא הלוה לפרעו במדבר הרשות ביד המלוה אם רצה מקבל ואם רצה אומר לו איני נפרע אלא בישוב כדרך שנתתי לך בישוב והרי הן ברשותו עד שיפרענו בישוב. Footnotes 1. מלוה שבא לב"ד וכו' עד מה שטען. א"א יש כאן שבושין עכ"ל. 2. אבל אם אמר המלוה אני יודע וכו' עד על מי שטען שקר. א"א על שיטתו הוא הולך ואין אנו נסכמים עמו לפי שלא בא איני יודע של זה על ברי של זה שאינו אומר אתה יודע ששנים היה שוה אבל ודאי אם אמר לו כן הדין כדבריו עכ"ל • 3 Chapters A Day: Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 13, She'ar Avot haTum'ah She'ar Avot haTum'ah - Chapter 1, She'ar Avot haTum'ah She'ar Avot haTum'ah - Chapter 2 English Text | Hebrew Text Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class Metamme'ey Mishkav uMoshav - Chapter 13 1 When a priest purifies his keilim for the grape-pressing season and then sets them aside for the following grape-pressing season, it is assumed that their status remains unchanged, for unlearned people will not touch the keilim of a priest when they are in his winepress, because he partakes of pure food. If an Israelite puts away his keilim in a similar manner, by contrast, they are considered impure, unless he says: "Within my heart, there was a resolve to guard against an unlearned person entering the winepress and touching the keilim."אכהן שטיהר כליו לגת זו והניחן לגת הבאה הרי אלו בחזקתן שאין עמי הארץ נוגעין בכלים של כהן זה שהן בתוך גתו מפני שהוא אוכל טהרות אבל של ישראל טמאות עד שיאמר בלבי היה לשמור ע"ה שיכנס לגת שלא יגע בכלים: 2 When a person desires to make wine that is ritually pure while using workers who are unlearned, he must make sure that those who harvest the grapes immerse themselves in a mikveh. Similarly, if they were involved in producing oil, he should have those who work in the olive-press immerse themselves. He must stand over the workers and have them immerse themselves in his presence, for they are not familiar with the laws of immersion and intervening substances. If the workers left the entrance to the olive-press and went outside to defecate behind a fence and returned, they are still considered as ritually pure. How far may they go and still be considered as ritually pure? Until they are hidden from the chavair's sight. If, however, they go out of his sight, they return to a state of impurity until he has them immerse again and they wait until nightfall.בהרוצה לעשות יינו בטהרה באומנין עמי הארץ ה"ז מטביל את הבוצרים וכן אם היה עושה שמן מטביל את הבדדין וצריך לעמוד על האומנים עד שיטבלו בפניו שהרי אינן יודעים הלכות טבילה וחציצה יצאו חוץ לפתח בית הבד ונפנו אחורי הגדר וחזרו הרי אלו בטהרתן עד כמה ירחיקו והם טהורין עד כדי שלא יסתרו מעיניו אבל אם נסתרו מעיניו חזרו לטומאתם עד שיטבילם פעם אחרת ויעריב שמשן: 3 When a source of impurity was found in the presence of olive-press workers and grape harvesters, if they say, "We did not touch it," their word is accepted. This also applies if their children say: "We did not touch the wine or the oil."גהבדדין והבוצרים שנמצאת טומאה לפניהן נאמנין לומר לא נגענו וכן בתינוקות שלהם: 4 The following laws apply when a person purifies olive-press workers, brings them into the vat, and locks it. If there were keilim there that had contracted midras impurity, the entire olive-press is impure, for perhaps they touched those keilim. Even if the chavair saw them previously showing care not to touch those keilim, the olive-press is impure, for perhaps they moved them and thus contracted impurity and they think that a person who moves keilim with midras impurity is not impure. For unlearned people are not familiar with the impurity contracted by moving keilim.דהמטהר את הבדדין והכניסן לבית הבד ונעל עליהן אם היו שם כלים שנטמאו במדרס הרי בית הבד כולו טמא שמא נגעו באותן הכלים ואפילו ראה אותם מקודם נזהרין מאותם הכלים מפני טומאתן הרי בית הבד טמא שמא הסיטו והן מדמין שאין המסיט טמא שאין עמי הארץ בקיאין בטומאת היסט: 5 When a chavair's donkey-drivers and porters were loaded with pure foods and they were proceeding in front of him, even if they were more than a mil ahead of him, they are pure. The rationale is that they assume that he is watching them. Hence, they are afraid to allow others to touch impurity, for they will say: "He will come now, for he is following after us." If, however, he tells them: "Go and I will follow you," as soon as they proceed beyond his sight, the foods are impure.ההיו חמריו ופועליו טוענין טהרות ועוברין לפניו אף על פי שהפליגו יותר ממיל הרי אלו טהורות מפני שהן בחזקת שהוא שומרן והן מפחדין ליגע ואומרים עכשיו יבוא שהרי הוא יבוא אחרינו אבל אם אמר להם צאו ואני אבוא אחריכם כיון שנתכסו מעיניו הרי הן טמאות: 6 The following laws apply when a chavair was wearing a tunic and wrapped in a cloak while proceeding on his way. If he said: "In my heart, I intended to guard the tunic from contracting impurity and I was careful about it, but I diverted my attention from the cloak," the tunic remains pure, while the cloak is considered impure, because it is possible that an unlearned person touched it. If there was a basket on his shoulder with a pitchfork in the basket and he said: "In my heart, I intended to guard the basket and to guard the pitchfork from something that would make it a source of impurity, but not from something which disqualifies it," the basket is pure, the pitchfork is impure, and all the terumah in the basket is impure. The rationale is that the impure pitchfork disqualifies the food in the basket. If chavairim were using a barrel while in a state of purity under the assumption that its contents were ordinary food and it was discovered that they were terumah, even though it is pure, it is forbidden to be eaten, for perhaps it was touched by a person who had immersed in the mikveh that day. Such a person disqualifies terumah, even though ordinary food he touches is pure, as will be explained. Guarding terumah is not the same as guarding ordinary food. If, however, he states: "In my heart, I intended to guard it from even an entity that will disqualify it," it is permitted to be eaten. If a person's Sabbath garments become exchanged with his weekday garments and he wore his Sabbath garments on an ordinary weekday, they become impure, for one does not guard his weekday garments to the same degree as he guards his Sabbath garments. An incident occurred concerning the wives of two chavarim whose clothes became exchanged in the bathhouse. The matter was brought to the attention of the Sages and they ruled that the garments were impure. Even if one's scarf fell and he asked a chavair to give it to him and he gave it to him, it becomes impure. This is a decree, enacted lest an unlearned person give it to him or lest the chavair not guard it, for a person will not guard articles that do not belong to him like he guards his own articles unless the other person notifies him and relies on him.וחבר שהיה לבוש בחלוק ועטוף בטלית ומהלך ואמר בלבי היה לשמור את החלוק והייתי נזהר בו והסחתי דעתי מן הטלית הרי החלוק בטהרתו והטלית טמאה שמא נגע בה ע"ה היה סל על כתיפו ומגריפה בתוך הסל ואמר בלבי היה לשמור את הסל ולשמור את המגריפה מדבר המטמאה אבל לא מדבר הפוסלה הסל טהור והמגריפה טמאה וכל תרומה שבסל פסולה מפני המגריפה טמאה שפוסלת האוכלין שבסל היה משתמש מן החבית בטהרה בחזקת שהיא חולין ואחר כך נמצאת תרומה אע"פ שהיא טהורה הרי היא אסורה באכילה שמא נגע בה טבול יום שהוא פוסל בתרומה וטהור בחולין כמו שיתבאר ואינו דומה משמר תרומה למשמר חולין ואם אמר בלבי היה לשומרו אפילו מדבר הפוסלה הרי זו מותרת באכילה נתחלפו לו כלים של שבת בכלים של חול ולבשן נטמאו שאינו משמר כלים של חול ככלים של שבת מעשה בשתי נשים חבירות שנתחלפו להן כליהן בבית המרחץ ובא מעשה לפני חכמים וטמאו הכל אפילו נפלה מעפרתה ממנה ואמרה לחבר תנה לי ונתנה לה נטמאת גזירה שמא יתננה לה ע"ה או שלא יהיה החבר משמרה שאין אדם משמר כלים שאינן שלו ככליו אא"כ הודיע שסמך עליו: 7 When a chavair dies and leaves pure foods, they are considered as pure. When he leaves keilim, they are impure. The rationale is that we suspect that perhaps they became impure and he had the ashes of the red heifer sprinkled on them on the third day of their impurity, and not on the seventh day. Or perhaps he had the ashes sprinkled on them on the seventh day, but did not immerse them. Or perhaps he did not have the ashes sprinkled on them at all.זחבר שמת והניח טהרות הרי אלו טהורות הניח כלים הרי הן טמאים שאני אומר שמא נטמאו והזה עליהם בשלישי ולא הזה עליהן בשביעי או שמא הזה עליהם בשביעי ועדיין לא הטביל או שמא לא הזה עליהן בשביעי כל עיקר: 8 When one witness tells a person, "Your pure foods have contracted impurity," and the owner remains silent, his word is accepted and the foods are considered as impure. If he contradicts him and maintains that they did not contract impurity, it is assumed that their status has not changed unless two witnesses testify that they contracted impurity. If a person was working together with a colleague with pure foods or sacrificial offerings and after a while, the colleague found him and told him when he met him: "The pure foods with which I was working you became impure or the sacrificial offerings that I was offering with you became piggul, his word is accepted. If, however, he met him and did not say anything and afterwards met him a second time and he told him the above, his word is not accepted. Instead, his sacrifices are assumed to be acceptable and his pure foods are assumed to be pure. Blessed be the Merciful One Who offers assistance.חמי שאמר לו עד אחד נטמאו טהרותיך והלה שותק ה"ז נאמן והרי הן טמאות ואם הכחישו ואמר לא נטמאו הרי הן בחזקתן עד שיעידו שנים היה עושה עמו בטהרות או בזבחים ולאחר זמן מצאו ואמר לו בשעה שפגע בו טהרות שעשיתי עמך נטמאו וזבחים שעשיתי עמך נתפגלו הרי זה נאמן אבל אם פגע בו ולא אמר לו כלום ואח"כ פגע בו פעם שניה ואמר לו אינו נאמן אלא הרי זבחיו בחזקת כשירות וטהרותיו בחזקת טהרה: She'ar Avot haTum'ah - Chapter 1 Introduction to Hilchos She'ar Avot haTum'ah Included in this text are three positive commandments. They comprise the following: 1) the laws of the impurity of a dead animal; 2) the laws of the impurity of a dead crawling animal; 3) the laws of the impurity of semen. False deities impart impurity like a dead crawling animal. This impurity is a Rabbinic decree. These mitzvot are explained in the ensuing chapters. הלכות אבות הטומאות - הקדמה הלכות שאר אבות הטומאות יש בכללן שלש מצות עשה וזה הוא פרטן: (א) דין טומאת נבלה (ב) דין טומאת שרץ (ג) דין טומאת שכבת זרע וע"ז מטמאה כשרץ וטומאתה מדברי סופרים וביאור מצות אלו בפרקים אלו: 1 The carcass of a dead animal is a primary source of impurity. An olive-sized portion of its meat imparts impurity to a person and keilim when touched and to an earthenware container when it enters its inner space. And it imparts impurity to a person when being carried to the extent that his clothes become impure, as is the law regarding a surface on which one rides that contracted impurity from a zav. What is implied? When a person touches the carcass of a dead animal, he is considered as a primary derivative of impurity. If he touches keilim - even at the same time that he is touching the carcass - they are pure. Similarly, the clothes that he is wearing are pure, for he is a derivative of impurity and a derivative does not impart impurity to keilim. When, by contrast, one carries the carcass of a dead animal, he imparts impurity to keilim while he is carrying it, as Leviticus 11:28 states: "One who carries their carcasses must launder his garments." Those garments are considered as primary derivatives of impurity. He does not impart impurity to another person or to earthenware containers even when he is carrying the carcass, as we explained in Hilchot Metamei Mishkav UMoshav.אהנבילה אב מאבות הטומאות כזית מבשרה מטמא אדם וכלים במגע וכלי חרס באויר ומטמא את האדם במשא לטמא בגדים כמרכב הזב כיצד אדם שנגע בנבילה נטמא והרי הוא ראשון לטומאה ואם נגע בכלים אפילו בשעת מגעו בנבילה הרי הן טהורין וכן כלים שעליו טהורין לפי [שהוא] ולד ואין ולד מטמא כלים אבל הנושא את הנבילה מטמא כלים בשעת נשיאתו שנאמר והנושא את נבלתם יכבס בגדיו ואותן הבגדים ראשון לטומאה ואינו מטמא לא אדם ולא כלי חרס ואפילו בשעת נשיאתו כמו שביארנו במטמאי משכב ומושב: 2 These laws apply regarding both the carcasses of a domesticated animal and a wild animal, whether of a species permitted to be eaten or one forbidden to be eaten. If any of these types of animals die, an olive-sized portion of their meat imparts impurity. The ritual slaughter of a kosher domesticated animal or a kosher wild animal purifies it in all circumstances. Even if one slaughtered an ordinary animal in the Temple Courtyard or a consecrated animal outside the Temple Courtyard, they are pure. If a disqualifying factor occurs in the process of ritual slaughter, the carcass is considered like that of an animal that died. It imparts impurity when carried, as stated in Hilchot Shechitah.באחד בהמה וחיה בין המותרין באכילה בין האסורין אם מתו כולן בשרן מטמא בכזית ושחיטת בהמה טהורה וחיה טהורה מטהרתו בכ"מ ואפילו שחט חולין בעזרה וקדשים בחוץ הרי אלו טהורין ואם אירע פיסול בשחיטה הרי זו נבילה ומטמאה במשא כמו שביארנו בהלכות שחיטה: 3 Ritual slaughter has no effect on the status of a non-kosher domesticated animal or a non-kosher wild animal. Whether one slaughters such an animal, stabs it in the throat, strangles it, or it dies naturally, it is considered as an animal carcass. Flesh from all carcasses - both from kosher species and from non-kosher species can be combined to reach the minimum measure of an olive-sized portion that imparts ritual impurity.גבהמה טמאה וחיה טמאה אין השחיטה מועלת בה ואחד השוחטה או הנוחרה או החונקה או שמתה כדרכה הרי זו נבילה וכל הנבילות מצטרפות לעניין טומאה לכזית אחד טמאות ואחד טהורות: 4 The marrow of a bone is considered like flesh. The blood of an animal carcass does not impart impurity like an animal carcass. Instead, it is considered as an impure liquid which does not impart impurity to a person or to utensils according to Scriptural Law.דמוח הרי הוא כבשר ודם הנבילה אינו מטמא כנבילה אלא הרי הוא כמשקין טמאים שאינו מטמא לא אדם ולא כלים מן התורה: 5 The fat of a kosher animal that died without ritual slaughter is ritually pure, as implied by Leviticus 7:24: "The fat of a domesticated animal that died or the fat of a domesticated animal that was torn to death may be used for any purpose." The license granted by this verse applies to an entity forbidden only because the animal had died or was torn to death. If such fat was made fit to contract impurity due to contact with liquids that convey that status, it is considered as impure food and not as the meat of a dead animal. Nevertheless, when one touches the fat the surrounds the kidney of a kosher domesticated animal that died without ritual slaughter before it was separated from the kidney, he is impure like one who touches the kidney itself. The rationale is that several strands of flesh from the kidney itself extend into the fat. With regard to a non-kosher domesticated animal and a wild animal, whether kosher or non-kosher, the same laws apply to both its meat and its fat with regard to ritual impurity. An olive-sized portion imparts impurity to a person and to keilim like the meat of a dead animal.החלב בהמה טהורה שמתה טהור שנאמר וחלב נבילה וחלב טריפה יעשה לכל מלאכה ואכול לא תאכלוהו מי שאיסורו משום נבילה וטרפה ואם הוכשר במשקין המכשירין הרי הוא כאוכלין טמאין ואינו כבשר נבילה והנוגע בחלב החופה את הכוליא קודם הפרשה הרי זה טמא כנוגע בכוליא עצמה שהרי כמה חוטין נמשכין ממנה בחלב אבל בהמה טמאה והחיה בין טהורה בין טמאה אחד בשרה ואחד חלבה לטומאה ומטמא אדם וכלים בכזית כבשר הנבילה: 6 The fat of a ko'i imparts impurity like its meat does, but this impurity is of doubtful status. Therefore terumah and sacrificial foods are not burnt because of it, nor is one liable for karet for entering the Temple or partaking of sacrificial foods after touching it.והכוי חלבו מטמא כבשרו וטומאתו בספק לפיכך אין שורפין עליו תרומה וקדשים ואין חייבין כרת על טומאתו ועל ביאת המקדש או על אכילת קדשיו: 7 These are the parts of a carcass that do not impart impurity: the bones, the horns, and the hoofs; this includes even their soft portions that if cut off from a living animal would cause bleeding, the hide, even if has not been processed to use for other purposes, the pieces of flesh that remain attached to the hide when an animal is skinned, the sinews, sauce, and spices cooked with such meat. When does the above apply? When they were separated from an animal's carcass. If, however, one touches any of these entities while they are still attached to the meat of a carcass, he contracts impurity, provided there is an olive-sized portion of meat. For none of these can be included as part of that required olive-sized portion.זואלו דברים שאין מטמאין מן הנבילות העצמות והקרניים והטלפים אפי' עיקרן הרך שאם יחתך מן החי יוצא דם והעור אף על פי שאינו מעובד והאלל והגידים והמרק והתבלין שמתבשלין עמה במה דברים אמורים בזמן שפירשו מן הנבילה אבל הנוגע באחד מכל אלו כשהן מחוברין בבשר ה"ז טמא והוא שיהיה בבשר כזית שאין אחד מכל אלו מצטרף לכזית: 8 The pieces of flesh that remain attached to the hide when an animal is skinned whether separated by a wild beast or by a knife should not be considered as part of an olive-sized portion. If the different pieces of flesh were collected and they comprised an olive-sized portion, they impart impurity.חהאלל בין שפלטתו חיה בין שפלטתו סכין אינו מצטרף לכזית ואם כנסו והיה בו כזית מטמא: 9 These are the parts of animals for which the hide is considered as their meat: the hide of a domesticated pig, the soft hide of a camel hump, the skin of the genital area, the skin of a fetus, and the skin below the fat-tail. Such portions of an animal carcass impart impurity. If one processed them or trod upon them to the extent necessary to process them, they are pure. If one performed a deed that negated their use as meat, they are pure even though he did not trod upon them to the extent necessary to process them. What is implied? If one used the ear of a donkey as the handle for his basket, it is pure. For how long must one tread on a hide in order to process it? For as long as it takes to walk four millin. What is meant by a soft camel hump? One that was never used for a burden. If a camel reached the age when it was fit to carry burdens, but one did not use it for that purpose or one used it for that purpose before it reached the appropriate age, it is questionable whether its status changes.טואלו בהמות שעורותיהם כבשרם: עור חזיר של יישוב ועור חטוטרת הגמל הרכה ועור בית הבושת ועור השליל ועור שתחת האליה הרי אלו מטמאין מן הנבילה ואם עיבדן או הלך בהן כדי עבודה הרי אלו טהורים ואם עשה בהן מעשה שביטלן טהורין אע"פ שלא הלך בהן כדי עבודה כיצד אוזן חמור שטלאה לכפיפתו טהורה כמה הוא כדי עבודה ארבעה מילין ואי זו היא חטוטרת רכה כל זמן שלא טענה הגיע זמנה לטעון ולא טענה או שטענה קודם שיגיע זמנה הרי זה ספק: 10 The following laws apply when one skins the carcass of a domesticated or a wild animal, whether from a kosher species or a non-kosher one, whether it is a small animal or a large animal. If he skins it to use as a mat, as soon as he skins a portion of the hide sufficient to hold onto, i.e., two handbreadths, one who touches the hide that was skinned is pure. Before it is skinned two handbreadths, one who touches the hide is like one who touches meat. If one skins the animal in order to use its hide for a flask, the hide is considered as connected to the carcass until one skins the entire breast. If one skins an animal from its feet alone, the entire hide is considered as connected. One who touches the hide is like one who touches the meat until the hide is entirely separated from the meat. Similarly, when one skins the hide of crawling animals, the hide is considered as connected until it is skinned in its entirety. Similarly, the hide that is around an animal's neck is considered as connected until it is removed in its entirety. Any hide that is considered as connected with regard to imparting ritual impurity is also considered as connected with regard to contracting ritual impurity, i.e., if an animal was slaughtered and impurity touched this hide that was connected to the meat, the meat contracts impurity.יהמפשיט נבלת בהמה או חיה בין טמאה בין טהורה בין דקה בין גסה אם לשטיחה הפשיט כיון שהפשיט מן העור כדי אחיזה והוא שני טפחים הנוגע בעור זה שהופשט טהור ועד שלא הפשיט שני טפחים הנוגע בעור כנוגע בבשר הפשיטה כדי לעשות מן העור חמת הרי העור חיבור עד שיפשיט את כל החזה ואם הפשיטה מרגליה בלבד הרי העור כולו חיבור והנוגע בעור כנוגע בבשר עד שיפריש העור כולו מעל הבשר וכן המפשיט בשרצים חיבור עד שיפשיט כולו עור שעל הצואר חיבור עד שיפשיט כולו וכל עור שהוא חיבור לטמא כך הוא חיבור להתטמא שאם היתה שחוטה ונגעה טומאה בעור זה שהוא חיבור נטמא הבשר: 11 When there is a hide that has an olive-sized portion of meat from a carcass on it, if one touches a strand of the hide that extends outward from the meat or the hair on the other side of the hide that is opposite the meat, he contracts impurity. The rationale is that the hide and its hair are considered as "protecting" the meat. When does the above apply? When the meat was left over by an animal. When it was left over by a knife, it is considered insignificant with regard to the hide if it was thin.יאעור שיש עליו כזית נבילה הנוגע בציב היוצא ממנו ובשערו שכנגדו מאחורי העור נטמא מפני שהעור בשערו שומר לבשר בד"א שפלטתו חיה אבל פלטתו סכין אם היה מרודד בטל אגב העור: 12 When there are two pieces of meat, each half the size of an olive-sized portion on a hide, the hide causes them to be considered as insignificant. They do not impart impurity, neither when touched, nor when carried. The rationale is that any portion of a carcass that does not impart impurity when touched does not impart impurity when carried. If, however, one skewered two pieces, each half the size of an olive-sized portion, one who carries them is impure because he carried an olive-sized portion of meat from a carcass. One who touches them, by contrast, is pure, because something joined by man is not considered as joined. The liability for carrying the pieces of meat applies provided both pieces are flattened and stuck together so that they are picked up together. If, however, the two half olive-sized portion were separate entities, but held on the same skewer, the person is pure even if he carries them back and forth the entire day.יבעור שיש עליו כשני חצאי זיתים בשר נבילה העור מבטלן ואינן מטמאין לא במגע ולא במשא שכל שאינו מטמא מן הנבילה במגע אינו מטמא במשא אבל שני חצאי זיתים שתחבן בקיסם הנושאן טמא שהרי נשא כזית והנוגע טהור שאין חיבורי אדם חיבור והוא שיהיו שניהן מרודדין ודבוקין זה בזה עד שינטלו כאחד אבל אם היה חצי זית זה בפני עצמו וזה בפני עצמו בקיסם אחד אפילו הוליך והביא כל היום כולו טהור: 13 When the meat of a carcass decomposes, becomes spoiled, and is no longer fit for a dog to eat, it is pure. Accordingly, there is an unresolved doubt whether the netzal of an animal carcass imparts impurity or not. The following laws apply when the meat from a carcass dries out. If it would return to a moist state and be fit for a dog to eat when left to soak in lukewarm water for an entire day, it imparts impurity. If not, it is pure. It does not even impart impurity like impure foods do.יגבשר נבילה שנפסד והבאיש ונפסל מלאכול הכלב טהור לפיכך נצל הנבילה ספק אם מטמא בכזית אם לא בשר נבילה שיבש אם יכול לשרות בפושרין מעת לעת לחזור לח וראוי לכלב מטמא ואם לאו טהור ואפילו באוכלין טמאין אינו מטמא: 14 When the meat of an animal carcass was decomposed at the outset and was not fit for human consumption, it is pure, as can be inferred from Deuteronomy 14:21: "Give it to the stranger in your gate and he will eat it." At the outset, it must be fit for a stranger to eat.ידבשר נבילה שהיה סרוח מעיקרו ואינו ראוי למאכל אדם ה"ז טהור שנאמר לגר אשר בשעריך תתננה ואכלה עד שתהיה תחילתה ראויה לגר: 15 A placenta found in an animal carcass is considered as waste matter and feces. It does not impart impurity like a carcass. If the person had in mind to eat it, it is susceptible to the impurity associated with food. The dried milk in the stomach and the liquid milk in the stomach of a carcass are entirely pure.טושליא של נבילה הרי היא כפרש וכרעי ואינה מטמאה כנבילה ואם חשב עליה לאכילה מתטמא טומאת אוכלין הקיבה והחלב של נבילה טהורין מכלום: 16 When an animal discharges coagulated blood, even though such a discharge makes it exempt from the laws of the firstborn, it does not impart impurity, neither when touched, nor when carried unless there is the form of a fetus recognizable. The rationale is that it is nullified because there is a majority of other substances that are discharged with it. Therefore, it is pure even though it was initially fit for a stranger to eat together with its mother.טזבהמה ששפעה חררת דם אף על פי שנפטרה מן הבכורה אינה מטמאה לא במגע ולא במשא עד שיהיה בה צורת נפל לפי שהיא בטילה ברוב היוצא עמה לפיכך היא טהורה אע"פ שהיתה ראויה לגר אגב אמה: 17 The following laws apply when the carcass of an animal that was not slaughtered became intermingled with that of a slaughtered animal. If the majority of the meat is from the ritually slaughtered animal, the meat from the carcass is considered as insignificant and none of the mixture imparts impurity when touched. If, however, one carries the entire mixture, he contracts impurity. The reason why the meat of the carcass can be considered insignificant is that it is impossible for the ritually slaughtered meat to be considered as a carcass, but the carcass can become pure if it becomes putrefied. Therefore it can become nullified.יזנבילה שנתערבה בשחוטה אם רוב מן השחוטה בטלה הנבילה בשחוטה ואין הכל מטמא במגע אבל אם נשא הכל נטמא שאי אפשר לשחוטה שתחזור נבילה אבל הנבלה אפשר שתטהר כשתסרח לפיכך תבטל: She'ar Avot haTum'ah - Chapter 2 1 When a non-kosher domesticated animal or wild animal was slaughtered, it does not impart the impurity of a carcass as long as it is in its death-throes unless its head is cut off. Instead, it is considered as impure food. If it is killed by being stabbed in the throat and it is in its death throes, as long as it makes convulsive movements, it is not even considered as impure food. A limb that is separated from an animal that is making convulsive movements is forbidden to a Noachide, as if it were separated from a living animal. And meat that is separated from it is considered as having been separated from a living animal. Similarly, when a kosher animal is slaughtered in an unacceptable manner and it is still making convulsive movements or one of its signs or the majority of one was slit, it is not considered impure at all until it dies. If one divides an animal in half or one removes its thigh and its inner cavity, it is considered as a carcass and it imparts impurity when carried and when touched, even though it shows signs of life. Similarly, if it was ripped apart from its back or its back bone was broken and the majority of the meat around it severed, it is considered as a carcass in all contexts.אבהמה או חיה טמאה שנשחטה אינה מטמאה משום נבילה כל זמן שהיא מפרכסת עד שיתיז את ראשה והרי היא כאוכלין טמאין נחרה והרי היא מפרכסת אין בה אפילו טומאת אוכלין כל זמן שהיא מפרכסת ואבר הפורש מן המפרכסת אסור לבני נח כפורש מן החי ובשר הפורש ממנה כפורש מן החי וכן טהורה שנפסלה בשחיטתה ועדיין היא מפרכסת או שחט בה אחד או רוב אחד אין לה טומאה כלל עד שתמות חלק בהמה לשנים או שניטלה ירך וחלל שלה הרי זו נבילה ומטמאה במשא ובמגע אע"פ שהיא עדיין בחיים וכן אם קרעה מגבה או שנשברה מפרקת ורוב בשר עמה הרי זו כנבילה לכל דבר: 2 When the fetus of an animal dies within its womb and a shepherd inserts his hand and touches it - whether it is a non-kosher species or a kosher species - the shepherd who touches it is considered pure until he removes the stillborn animal from the womb.בבהמה שמת עוברה בתוך מעיה והושיט הרועה את ידו ונגע בו בין בבהמה טמאה בין בטהורה הרי זה הנוגע טהור עד שיצא הנפל לאויר העולם: 3 Meat that is separated from a domesticated or wild animal - whether from a kosher species or a non-kosher species - in their lifetime is ritually pure and does not impart impurity as a carcass does. When, however, an entire limb is separated from a living animal, it does impart impurity as a carcass does. This applies to a limb from a living animal itself or from a fetus in its womb. There is no minimum measure to the size of a limb. Even if it is the size of a barley-corn or smaller, it imparts impurity provided it was intact as when it came into being with flesh, sinews, and bones. It must have enough flesh to regenerate and return to a state of wholeness. If the limb did not have enough flesh to return to a state of wholeness or the bone was lacking, it is pure.גבשר הפורש מבהמה וחיה כשהן חיין בין טהורין בין טמאין טהור ואינו מטמא כנבילה אבל אבר מן החי הפורש מהן מטמא כנבלה אחד אבר מן החי הפורש מן הבהמה עצמה או אבר הפורש מן השליל שבבטנה והאיברים אין להן שיעור אפילו היה כשעורה או פחות מטמא והוא שיהיה האבר כברייתו בשר וגידין ועצמות ויהיה עליו בשר כדי להעלות ארוכה היה הבשר פחות מהעלות ארוכה בחי או חסר עצמו טהור: 4 A kidney, the tongue, the lips, and like - even though they are organs and will not regenerate - are considered as meat in this context, because they do not have bones.ד.הכוליא והלשון והשפה וכיוצא בהן אף על פי שהן איברים ואין עושין חליפין הואיל ואין בהם עצם הרי הן כבשר: 5 The flesh or a limb of a domesticated or wild animal that could not regain its vitality and reconnect with the remainder of the body does not impart impurity as a carcass does as long as the animal is alive. Instead, they are considered as like other edible substances. If they were made fit to contract impurity, they can contract impurity while attached to the animal. If the animal was slaughtered, the slaughter causes the flesh or the limb that had been maimed to be considered fit to contract impurity, but they do not impart impurity as a carcass does. For the slaughter of the animal does not cause them to be considered as if they were separated from the animal during its lifetime. If, by contrast, the animal died, the flesh that was hanging loosely from it during its lifetime must be made fit to contract ritual impurity and a limb that had been hanging loosely imparts impurity as a limb from a living animal and not as a limb from a carcass. What is the difference between a limb from a living animal and a limb from a carcass? Meat that was cut from a limb separated from a living animal is pure, while meat cut from a carcass imparts impurity when touched or carried if an olive-sized portion is present. The same measure applies in both instances.ההבשר או האבר המדולדלין בבהמה או חיה שאינן יכולין לחיות ולהדביק בשאר הגוף אינן מטמאין כנבילה כל זמן שהבהמה בחיים והרי הן כשאר אוכלין אם הוכשרו מקבלין טומאה במקומה נשחטה הבהמה הוכשרו בשחיטה ואינן מטמאין כנבילה שאין השחיטה עושה אותן כמו שפירשו מחיים אבל אם מתה הבהמה הבשר שהיה מדולדל בה צריך הכשר והאבר מטמא משום אבר מן החי ואינו מטמא משום אבר מן הנבילה ומה בין אבר מן החי לאבר מן הנבילה שהבשר הפורש מאבר מן החי טהור והבשר הפורש מאבר מן הנבילה מטמא בכזית במגע ובמשא וזה וזה שוין לשיעור: 6 When an animal that was tereifah was slaughtered in a proper manner, even though it is forbidden to be eaten, it is pure. Similarly, when a person slaughters an animal and discovers a dead fetus, the slaughter of its mother purifies it from imparting the impurity associated with a carcass. If one discovers a fetus that is in its eighth month and is alive, it is considered as a tereifah. Even if it is slaughtered after it was deemed tereifah, the slaughter does not prevent it from imparting the impurity associated with a carcass. The rationale is that there is no concept of ritual slaughter for an animal of this type. Based on this logic, when the offspring of an animal was not kept for seven full days before it was slaughtered, the slaughter does not prevent it from imparting the impurity associated with a carcass, because such an animal is considered like a non-viable offspring.וטריפה שנשחטה שחיטה כשירה אע"פ שהיא אסורה באכילה הרי היא טהורה וכן השוחט את הבהמה ומצא בה עובר מת שחיטת אמו מטהרתו מידי נבילה מצא בה בן שמונה חי נטרף אף על פי שנשחט אחר שנטרף אין שחיטתו מטהרתו מידי נבילה לפי שאין למינו שחיטה לפיכך ולד בהמה שלא שהה ז' ימים גמורין אם שחטו בתוך ז' אין שחיטתו מטהרתו מידי נבילה מפני שהוא כנפל: 7 As explained, when a person slaughters an animal and finds a living fetus that has been carried for nine months, ritual slaughter is not required before it steps on the ground, because the slaughter of its mother causes it to be considered as pure. Nevertheless, if its mother becomes impure before the fetus was removed, the fetus does not contract impurity. If the slaughter of its mother was not performed successfully and the mother became considered as a carcass, the living fetus remains pure. The rationale is that a living being does not contract impurity at all, not the impurity associated with foods, nor the impurity associated with a carcass, even though it is considered as one of the limbs of the mother. If it dies before it steps on the ground, it is pure, because the slaughter of its mother causes it to be deemed pure.זהשוחט את הבהמה ומצא בה בן ט' חי קודם שיהלך על הקרקע אע"פ שאין צריך שחיטה כמו שביארנו שהרי שחיטת אמו מטהרתו אם נטמאת אמו לא נטמא הוא ואם נתנבלה אמו הרי הוא טהור שאין החי מתטמא לא טומאת אוכלין ולא טומאת נבילות ואף על פי שהוא כאבר מאיבריה ואם מת קודם שיפריס על גבי קרקע הרי הוא טהור ששחיטת אמו טהרתו: 8 When an animal that is tereifah was slaughtered, even though its meat is pure according to Scriptural Law, if meat from a sacrificial animal touches it, the sacrificial meat contracts impurity according to Rabbinic Law. This is an added stringency applied with regard to consecrated foods.חטריפה שנשחטה אע"פ שהיא טהורה מן התורה אם נגע בה הקדש נטמא מדברי סופרים וזו מעלה יתירה שעשו בקודש: 9 The following laws apply when an animal had difficulty birthing its offspring. If, after the fetus stuck out its foot and it was cut off, the mother was then slaughtered, the limb that was cut off is considered as if it was from a carcass, but the remainder of the meat of the fetus is pure. If the mother was slaughtered and then the limb was cut off, the limb is considered as the meat of a tereifah animal that was slaughtered. The remainder of the meat of the fetus is considered as meat that touched a tereifah animal that was slaughtered which imparts impurity to consecrated foods, but not to terumah. If the fetus stuck out its foot between the slaughter of one sign and the other and it was cut off, the slitting of the second sign is joined to the slitting of the first to purify the limb from imparting impurity as a carcass does.טבהמה המקשה לילד והוציא העובר את ידו וחתכה ואח"כ שחט את אמו האבר שנחתך נבילה ושאר בשר העובר טהור שחט את אמו ואחר כך חתכה האבר כטריפה שנשחטה ושאר בשר העובר מגע טריפה שחוטה שהיא מטמאה את הקודש אבל לא את התרומה הוציא העובר את ידו בין שחיטת סימן לשחיטת סימן וחתכו מצטרף שחיטת סימן לסימן לטהר האבר מידי נבילה: 10 When a non-Jew slaughters an animal, it is considered as a carcass and imparts impurity when carried. This applies even when a Jew is supervising him and even if he slaughtered it properly with an acceptable knife. Whether the slaughterer is a gentile, a Samaritan, or a resident alien, his slaughter causes the animal to be considered as a carcass. According to my estimation, this is also a Rabbinical decree, for the impurity imparted by false deities and objects offered to them is a Rabbinical decree, as will be explained. And it is because of their worship of false deities that the Samaritans were distanced and their slaughter forbidden. If you will ask: According to Scriptural Law, it is forbidden to partake of an animal which they slaughtered? In resolution, it can be said that not everything that is forbidden to be eaten imparts impurity. For an animal that is tereifah, but which was slaughtered properly, is forbidden to be eaten, but is ritually pure. It is impossible to obligate a person for karet for such impurity for entering the Temple or for partaking of sacrificial foods unless one can clearly prove his assertion that he contracted impurity.ישחיטת עכו"ם נבילה ומטמאה במשא ואפילו ישראל עומד על גביו ואם שחט בסכין יפה שחיטה כראוי אחד העכו"ם ואחד הכותי או גר תושב שחיטתן נבילה וקרוב בעיני שאף זה מדברי סופרים שהרי טומאת ע"ז וטומאת תקרובתה מדבריהם כמו שיתבאר ובגלל ע"ז נתרחקו הכותים ונאסרה שחיטתן וא"ת והלא היא אסורה באכילה דין תורה לא כל האסור באכילה מטמא שהרי הטריפה אסורה וטהורה וא"א לחייב כרת על טומאה זו על ביאת מקדש ואכילת קדשיו אלא בראיה ברורה: 11 When a person touches or carries the thigh bone of a dead animal, he is pure. The rationale is that any portion of an animal's carcass that does not impart impurity when touched, does not impart impurity when carried. If, however, it was perforated to the slightest degree, one who touches it or carries it contracts impurity. When does the above apply? When the marrow in it rattles, for, in that state, it would not regenerate flesh were the animal to be alive. If, however, it is in its natural place and it has sufficient marrow that it could regenerate flesh on the outside of the bone, it imparts impurity when touched or carried like other limbs. We have already explained that a thigh-bone is closed on all sides.יאקוליית הנבילה הנוגע בה או נושאה טהור שכל דבר מן הנבילה שאינו מטמא במגע אינו מטמא במשא ניקבה כל שהוא הנוגע בה או נושאה טמא במה דברים אמורים כשהיה המוח שבה מתקשקש שהרי אינה מעלה ארוכה אבל אם היה עומד במקומו אם יש בו כדי להעלות ארוכה לעצם מבחוץ הרי זו מטמאה במגע ובמשא ככל האיברים וכבר פירשנו שהקולית היא העצם הסתום מכל צדדיו: 12 When a person thought of perforating a thigh bone, but had not done so as of yet, one who touches it contracts impurity of a doubtful status. For there is an unresolved question whether the fact that he has not perforated the bone as of yet is considered as not having carried out a significant deed or not.יבקולית שחישב עליה לנוקבה ועדיין לא ניקבה הרי הנוגע בה ספק טמא שהרי יש בדבר ספק אי מחוסר נקיבה Hayom Yom: • English Text | Video Class

"Today's Day"

Shabbat Sivan 2, 46th day of the omer 5703 Torah lessons: Chumash: Bamidbar, Shevi'i with Rashi. Tehillim: 10-17. Tanya: As (this wisdom) (p. 273)...is termed "Shechinah" (p. 277).

Ana B'choach at Kabalat Shabbat (p. 131) is said in an undertone.
Ufros aleinu... at Kabalat Shabbat (p. 138) is said standing.
In the year 5589 (1829) the Shabbat of Parshat Bamidbar was on 5 Sivan. Before the kindling of the Shabbat candles, the Tzemach Tzedek delivered the maamar, S'u et rosh...avotam.1 Following the commentary of Ibn Ezra, he interpreted the word S'u in the sense of elevation, as in "Ki tisa et rosh,"2 (lit. "When you take up the head.") The implication is that through avoda of the radiance of the soul within the body, an elevation is effected in the head (rosh) and essence of the soul as it is Above.3 In this vein he then explained a number of Torah-verses and statements in Zohar and Midrash.
At noon on Shabbat the Rebbe delivered the maamar V'eirastich and its elaboration as printed in Likutei Torah. The next day, the first day of Shavuot, he delivered the maamar Us'fartem and its elaboration as printed in Likutei Torah. During the festival meal of the second day of Shavuot, the Rebbe delivered the maamar V'hachachma mei'ayin timatzei which is the second elaboration on the subject of tisp'ru chamishim yom printed in Likutei Torah.

FOOTNOTES
1.	Bamidbar 1:2.
2.	Sh'mot 30:12.
3.	"Above" refers to the soul before its descent into the material world and the body, and to that element of the soul that always remains "Above," not descending into the body. In general "Above" refers to the planes "higher" than the physical universe.

Daily Thought:

Diamonds and Emeralds

One man carries rocks for a livelihood. Give him emeralds, and all he sees is more rocks.
Another carries diamonds with devotion and care. Give him the emeralds, and he exclaims, “What beauty is here!”
Only one who values his own heritage is able to appreciate the beauty that others hold.

from a letter to Rabbi Jonathan Sacks in his youth.

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