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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Monday, Av 1, 5777 · July 24, 2017 - Rosh Chodesh AvRosh Chodesh: Numbers 28:1-3; Numbers 28:3-15Numbers 28:1 (v) Adonai said to Moshe, 2 “Give an order to the people of Isra’el. Tell them, ‘You are to take care to offer me at the proper time the food presented to me as offerings made by fire, providing a fragrant aroma for me.’ 3 Tell them, ‘This is the offering made by fire that you are to bring to Adonai: male lambs in their first year and without defect, two daily as a regular burnt offering.; Numbers 28:3 Tell them, ‘This is the offering made by fire that you are to bring to Adonai: male lambs in their first year and without defect, two daily as a regular burnt offering. 4 Offer the one lamb in the morning and the other lamb at dusk, 5 along with two quarts of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with one quart of oil from pressed olives. 6 It is the regular burnt offering, the same as was offered on Mount Sinai to give a fragrant aroma, an offering mad
e by fire for Adonai. 7 Its drink offering is to be one-quarter hin for one lamb; in the Holy Place you are to pour out a drink offering of intoxicating liquor to Adonai. 8 The other lamb you are to present at dusk; present it with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering as in the morning; it is an offering made by fire, with a fragrant aroma for Adonai.
9 “‘On Shabbat offer two male lambs in their first year and without defect, with one gallon of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, and its drink offering. 10 This is the burnt offering for every Shabbat, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
11 “‘At each Rosh-Hodesh of yours, you are to present a burnt offering to Adonai consisting of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs in their first year and without defect; 12 with six quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for the one ram; 13 and two quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for each lamb. This will be the burnt offering giving a fragrant aroma, an offering made by fire for Adonai. 14 Their drink offerings will be two quarts of wine for a bull, one-and-one-third quarts for the ram, and one quart for each lamb. This is the burnt offering for every Rosh-Hodesh throughout the months of the year. 15 Also a male goat is to be offered as a sin offering to Adonai, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
Today's Laws & Customs:
• Rosh Chodesh Observances
Today is Rosh Chodesh--"Head of the Month"--for the Hebrew month of "Av" (also called "Menachem Av").
Special portions are added to the daily prayers: Hallel (Psalms 113-118) is recited -- in its "partial" form -- following the Shacharit morning prayer, and the Yaaleh V'yavoprayer is added to the Amidah and to Grace After Meals; the additional Musaf prayer is said (when Rosh Chodesh is Shabbat, special additions are made to the Shabbat Musaf). Tachnun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted.
Many have the custom to mark Rosh Chodesh with a festive meal and reduced work activity. The latter custom is prevalent amongst women, who have a special affinity with Rosh Chodesh -- the month being the feminine aspect of the Jewish Calendar.
Links: The 29th Day; The Lunar Files
• "Nine Days" Begin
"When Av begins, we diminish [our] rejoicing" (Talmud, Taanit 26b).
On the 1st of Av, "The Three Weeks" mourning period over the destruction of the Holy Temple--which began 13 days earlier on Tammuz 17--enters an intensified stage. During "The Nine Days" from Av 1st to the Ninth of Av, a heightened degree of mourning is observed, including abstention from meat and wine, music, bathing for pleasure, and other joyous and enjoyable activities. (The particular mourning customs vary from community to community, so consult a competent Halachic authority for details).
Consumption of meat and wine is permitted on Shabbat, or at a Seudat Mitzvah(obligatory festive meal celebrating the fulfillment of a mitzvah) such as a Bris (circumcision), or a "Siyum" celebrating the completion of a course of Torah study (i.e., a complete Talmudic tractate). The Lubavitcher Rebbe initiated the custom of conducting or participating in a Siyum on each of the Nine Days (even if one does not avail oneself of the dispensation to eat meat).
Citing the verse (Isaiah 1:27) "Zion shall be redeemed with mishpat [Torah] and its returnees with Tzedakah," the Rebbe urged that we increase in Torah study(particularly the study of the laws of the Holy Temple) and charity during this period.
Links:
When and (How) to be Sad
www.thethreeweeks.com
Today in Jewish History:
• Passing of Aaron (1274 BCE)
Aaron the first High Priest, brother of Moses and Miriam, passed away at age 123 on the 1st of Av of the year 2487 from creation (1274 BCE). This is the only yahrzeit (date of passing) explicitly mentioned in the Torah (Numbers 33:38).
Links:
A Midrashic description of Aaron's passing
More about Aaron
"Aaron" and "On the Essence of Circumstance" -- a spiritual profile based on the Lubavitcher Rebbe's talks
• Ezra and Followers Arrive in Israel (348 BCE)
Following their long journey from Babylon (see Jewish history for the 12th of Nissan), Ezra and his entourage arrived in the land of Israel to be near the newly built second Holy Temple in Jerusalem. A relatively small group came together with Ezra, the majority of Jews, including great Torah scholars, choosing to remain in Babylon due to the harsh conditions that were then prevailing in Israel.
Link: Ezra the Scribe
Daily Quote:
Everything that is for the sake of G-d should be of the best and most beautiful. When one builds a house of prayer, it should be more beautiful than one's own dwelling. When one feeds the hungry, one should feed them of the best and sweetest of one's table. When one clothes the naked, one should clothe them with the finest of one's clothes. Whenever one designates something for a holy purpose, one should sanctify the finest of one's possessions; as it is written (Leviticus 3:16), "All the fat is to G-d." [Maimonides]
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Devarim, 2nd Portion Deuteronomy 1:12-1:21 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Deuteronomy Chapter 1
12How can I bear your trouble, your burden, and your strife all by myself? יבאֵיכָ֥ה אֶשָּׂ֖א לְבַדִּ֑י טָרְחֲכֶ֥ם וּמַשַּֽׂאֲכֶ֖ם וְרִֽיבְכֶֽם:
How can I bear…all by myself?: [Even] if I were to say, “I will do so in order to receive a reward,” I cannot do so. This is what I have already said to you, “Not by my own decision do I tell you [that I am unable to bear your trouble], but by the command of the Holy One, blessed is He.”
איכה אשא לבדי: אם אומר לקבל שכר לא אוכל, זו היא שאמרתי לכם לא מעצמי אני אומר לכם, אלא מפי הקדוש ברוך הוא:
your trouble: This teaches us that the Israelites were troublesome [people]; if one saw his opponent in a lawsuit about to win, he would say, “I have [other] witnesses to bring, [more] evidence to introduce, I [will exercise my right to] add judges to you [in your tribunal]”.
טרחכם: מלמד שהיו ישראל טרחנין. היה אחד מהם רואה את בעל דינו נוצח בדין, אומר יש לי עדים להביא, יש לי ראיות להביא, מוסיף אני עליכם דיינין:
and your burden: This teaches that they [the Israelites] were heretics: If Moses was early leaving his tent they would say, “Why does the son of Amram leave so early? Perhaps he is not at ease inside his house?” If he left late, they would say, “Why does the son of Amram not leave? What do you think? He is [probably] sitting and devising evil schemes against you, and is thinking up plots against you. [Other editions of Rashi have”commandments and reckonings."]
ומשאכם: מלמד שהיו אפיקורסין. הקדים משה לצאת, אמרו, מה ראה בן עמרם לצאת, שמא אינו שפוי בתוך ביתו. איחר לצאת, אמרו, מה ראה בן עמרם שלא לצאת, מה אתם סבורים, יושב ויועץ עליכם עצות רעות וחושב עליכם מחשבות:
and your strife: This teaches that they [the Israelites] were contentious (Sifrei).
וריבכם: מלמד שהיו רוגנים:
13Prepare for yourselves wise and understanding men, known among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you. יגהָב֣וּ לָ֠כֶ֠ם אֲנָשִׁ֨ים חֲכָמִ֧ים וּנְבֹנִ֛ים וִֽידֻעִ֖ים לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶ֑ם וַֽאֲשִׂימֵ֖ם בְּרָֽאשֵׁיכֶֽם:
prepare for yourselves: Heb. לָכֶם הָבוּ. Prepare yourselves for this matter.
הבו לכם: הזמינו עצמכם לדבר:
men: Would it enter your mind [that] women [could be chosen]? What does [specifying] “men” teach us? [It signifies that they should pick] righteous men. (Sifrei).
אנשים: וכי תעלה על דעתך נשים, מה תלמוד לומר אנשים, צדיקים:
wise [men]: Desirable [men]. [According to the glosses of Rabbi Akiva Eiger on Sifrei, bashful men, men who are ashamed of doing anything wrong.] [According to Heidenheim, the word כְּסוּפִים is the definition of אֲנָשִׁים, not of חֲכָמִים According to him, the next heading reads:
חכמים: כסופים:
wise and understanding [men]: ]
נבונים: מבינים דבר מתוך דבר. זו היא ששאל אריוס את רבי יוסי, מה בין חכמים לנבונים. חכם דומה לשולחני עשיר, כשמביאין לו דינרין לראות רואה, וכשאין מביאין לו יושב ותוהא. נבון דומה לשולחני תגר, כשמביאין לו מעות לראות רואה, וכשאין מביאין לו מחזר ומביא משלו:
understanding [men]: [I.e., men] who understand [and derive] one thing from another. This is what Arius asked Rabbi Yose: “What is the difference between wise men and understanding men?” [Rabbi Yose said] "A wise man is like a rich money changer: When people bring him dinars to examine, he examines them. When they do not bring [money] to him, he sits doing nothing. An understanding man, however, is like a merchant money changer: When they bring him money to examine, he examines it, and when they do not bring it to him, he goes out and brings his own [money-i.e., he does not wait for people to come to him-he goes to them] (Sifrei)
וידועים לשבטיכם: שהם ניכרים לכם, שאם בא לפני מעוטף בטליתו איני יודע מי הוא ומאיזה שבט הוא ואם הגון הוא, אבל אתם מכירין בו, שאתם גידלתם אותו, לכך נאמר וידועים לשבטיכם:
well-known among your tribes: Men whom you recognize, for if one were to come before me wrapped in his tallith, I would not know who he is and of what tribe he is, and whether he is suitable. But you know him, for you have raised him. Therefore, it says,“well-known among your tribes.” (Sifrei)
בראשיכם: ראשים ומכובדים עליכם שתהיו נוהגין בהם כבוד ויראה:
and I will make them heads over you: As chiefs and respected persons over you, i.e., you should act towards them with respect and reverence.[The word] וַאֲשִׂמֵם lacks a י [after the שׂ; our editions, however, have it]: This teaches us that Israel’s transgressions (אָשָׁם) are hung over the heads of their judges, since they [the judges] should have prevented them [from sinning], and directed them along the right path (Sifrei).
ואשמם: חסר יו"ד, למד שאשמותיהם של ישראל תלויות בראשי דייניהם, שהיה להם למחות ולכוון אותם לדרך הישרה:
14And you answered me and said, 'The thing you have spoken is good for us to do.' ידוַתַּֽעֲנ֖וּ אֹתִ֑י וַתֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ טוֹב־הַדָּבָ֥ר אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ לַֽעֲשֽׂוֹת:
And you answered me: You decided the matter for your benefit. You should have replied, “Our teacher, Moses! From whom is it proper to learn, from you or from your disciple? Is it not [better to learn] from you, who have taken such pains about them?” However, I knew your thoughts; you were saying [to yourselves], “Many judges will now be appointed over us; if one does not know us, we shall bring him a gift, and he will show us favor.” (Sifrei)
ותענו אותי וגו': החלטתם את הדבר להנאתכם, היה לכם להשיב, רבינו משה ממי נאה ללמוד ממך או מתלמידך לא ממך שנצטערת עליה. אלא ידעתי מחשבותיכם. הייתם אומרים, עכשיו יתמנו עלינו דיינין הרבה, אם אין מכירנו אנו מביאין לו דורון והוא נושא לנו פנים:
to do: If I was sluggish, you said, “Act quickly.” (Sifrei)
לעשות: אם הייתי מתעצל, אתם אומרים עשה מהרה:
15So I took the heads of your tribes, men wise and well known, and I made them heads over you, leaders over thousands, leaders over hundreds, leaders over fifties, and leaders over tens, and officers, over your tribes. טווָֽאֶקַּ֞ח אֶת־רָאשֵׁ֣י שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֗ם אֲנָשִׁ֤ים חֲכָמִים֙ וִֽידֻעִ֔ים וָֽאֶתֵּ֥ן אוֹתָ֛ם רָאשִׁ֖ים עֲלֵיכֶ֑ם שָׂרֵ֨י אֲלָפִ֜ים וְשָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֗וֹת וְשָׂרֵ֤י חֲמִשִּׁים֙ וְשָׂרֵ֣י עֲשָׂרֹ֔ת וְשֹֽׁטְרִ֖ים לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶֽם:
So I took the heads of your tribes: I attracted them through [fine] words: “How fortunate you are! Over whom are you to be appointed? Over the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-over the children of people who are called brothers and friends, [God’s] portion and inheritance, and every term of endearment.” (Sifrei)
ואקח את ראשי שבטיכם: משכתים בדברים, אשריכם, על מי באתם להתמנות, על בני אברהם יצחק ויעקב, על בני אדם שנקראו אחים ורעים, חלק ונחלה וכל לשון חבה:
[So I took…] men wise and well-known: But understanding men I could not find (Ned. 20b.). This is one of the seven qualities which Jethro described to Moses (Exod.18:21), but Moses found only three [of them]-righteous, wise, and well-known [men]. (Sifrei).
אנשים חכמים וידועים: אבל נבונים לא מצאתי. זו אחת משבע מדות שאמר יתרו למשה ולא מצא אלא שלש, אנשים צדיקים, חכמים וידועים:
[And I made them] heads over you: You should respect them- [think of them as] chiefs in buying, chiefs in selling, chiefs in all business matters, last to enter(the synagogue from his home) and first to leave [so that everyone should stand up out of respect] (Sifrei).
ראשים עליכם: שתנהגו בהם כבוד. ראשים במקח, ראשים בממכר, ראשים במשא ומתן, נכנס (מביתו לב"ה) אחרון ויוצא ראשון:
leaders over thousands: one who is appointed over one thousand.
שרי אלפים: אחד ממונה על אלף:
leaders over hundreds: one who is appointed over one hundred.
שרי מאות: אחד ממונה על מאה:
and officers: I appointed [court officers] over you, for your tribe. These are the ones who bind and lash with a whip at the judges’ order (Sifrei).
ושטרים: מניתי עליכם לשבטיכם. אלו הכופתין והמכין ברצועה על פי הדיינין:
16And I commanded your judges at that time, saying, "Hear [disputes] between your brothers and judge justly between a man and his brother, and between his litigant. טזוָֽאֲצַוֶּה֙ אֶת־שֹׁ֣פְטֵיכֶ֔ם בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖וא לֵאמֹ֑ר שָׁמֹ֤עַ בֵּֽין־אֲחֵיכֶם֙ וּשְׁפַטְתֶּ֣ם צֶ֔דֶק בֵּֽין־אִ֥ישׁ וּבֵֽין־אָחִ֖יו וּבֵ֥ין גֵּרֽוֹ:
And I commanded your judges: I said to them: “Be patient in passing judgment. If a case comes before you once, twice, three times, do not say, ‘This [case] has already appeared before me several times,’ but debate it over again.’” (Sifrei)
ואצוה את שפטיכם: אמרתי להם הוו מתונים בדין, אם בא דין לפניך פעם אחת שתים ושלש אל תאמר כבר בא דין זה לפני פעמים הרבה אלא היו נושאים ונותנים בו:
[And I commanded your judges] at that time: When I appointed them, I said to them, “Now is not like the past. Previously, you were your own masters, now you are subservient to the community.”- [Sifrei]
בעת ההוא: משמניתים אמרתי להם, אין עכשיו כלשעבר, לשעבר הייתם ברשות עצמכם, עכשיו הרי אתם משועבדים לצבור:
Hear: Heb. שָׁמֹעַ Present tense: odant in Old French, [always be] hearing, as in זָכוֹר, remembering, and שָׁמוֹר, keeping.
שמוע: לשון הווה אודנ"ט בלע"ז [בהאזינכם] כמו (שמות כ, ז) זכור, (דברים ה, יא) שמור:
and between his litigant: Heb. גֵּרוֹ. This (גֵּרוֹ) is his opponent in the lawsuit who accumulates (אוֹגֵר) arguments against him. Another explanation: (וּבֵין גֵּרוֹ) : Even in undertakings concerning a residence [גּוּר meaning to dwell], in the division of [property between inheriting] brothers, even if it is a dispute about [such minor things as] an oven and a stove (Sifrei ; San. 7b).
ובין גרו: זה בעל דינו, שאוגר עליו דברים. דבר אחר ובין גרו, אף על עסקי דירה בין חלוקת אחים אפילו בין תנור לכירים:
17You shall not favor persons in judgment; [rather] you shall hear the small just as the great; you shall not fear any man, for the judgment is upon the Lord, and the case that is too difficult for you, bring to me, and I will hear it." יזלֹֽא־תַכִּ֨ירוּ פָנִ֜ים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט כַּקָּטֹ֤ן כַּגָּדֹל֙ תִּשְׁמָע֔וּן לֹ֤א תָג֨וּרוּ֙ מִפְּנֵי־אִ֔ישׁ כִּ֥י הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט לֵֽאלֹהִ֣ים ה֑וּא וְהַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִקְשֶׁ֣ה מִכֶּ֔ם תַּקְרִב֥וּן אֵלַ֖י וּשְׁמַעְתִּֽיו:
You shall not favor persons in judgment: This refers to the person who appoints judges, that he should not say, “So-and-so is handsome or strong; I will appoint him as a judge” [or] “So-and-so is my relative; I will appoint him as a judge in the city,” even if he is not expert in the laws, and consequently he condemns the innocent and acquits the guilty. [God says:] I will hold it against the one who appointed him [this judge] as though he [himself] had shown partiality in judgment (Sifrei).
לא תכירו פנים במשפט: זה הממונה להושיב הדיינין, שלא יאמר איש פלוני נאה או גבור, אושיבנו דיין, איש פלוני קרובי, אושיבנו דיין בעיר, והוא אינו בקי בדינין נמצא מחייב את הזכאי ומזכה את החייב. מעלה אני על מי שמנהו כאילו הכיר פנים בדין:
You shall hear the small just as the great: A case regarding a perutah [small coin] should be as important to you as [a case] regarding a hundred maneh [a large sum], so that if it [the former] is presented before you first, do not postpone it for last (San. 8a). Another explanation of “You shall hear the words of the small as you do those of the great,” as per the Targum [The words of the small you shall hear like the words of the great]: You shall not say: “This is a poor man, and his friend [opponent] is rich, and it is a mitzvah to support him [the poor man]. I will favor the poor man, and he will thus be supported respectably.” Another explanation: You shall not say,“How can I affront the honor of this rich man because of one dinar ? I will favor him now and when he goes outside [leaves the court] I will tell him, 'Give it to him [to the poor man], for you really owe it to him!’” (Sifrei)
כקטן כגדול תשמעון: שיהא חביב עליך דין של פרוטה כדין של מאה מנה, שאם קדם ובא לפניך לא תסלקנו לאחרון. דבר אחר כקטן כגדול תשמעון, כתרגומו, שלא תאמר, זה עני הוא וחבירו עשיר ומצוה לפרנסו אזכה את העני ונמצא מתפרנס בנקיות. דבר אחר שלא תאמר היאך אני פוגם כבודו של עשיר זה בשביל דינר, אזכנו עכשיו, וכשיצא לחוץ אומר אני לו, תן לו שאתה חייב לו:
You shall not fear any man: Heb. לֹא תָגוּרוּ, meaning you shall not fear. Another explanation: You shall not gather in [stifle] your words because of any man. As in (Prov. 10:5),“It gathers (אוֹגֵר) in summer.” (See Sifrei.)
לא תגורו מפני איש: לא תיראו. דבר אחר לא תגורו, לא תכניס דבריך מפני איש. לשון (משלי י, ה) אוגר בקיץ:
for the judgment is upon the Lord: Whatever you unjustly take from one, you will oblige Me to return to him. Consequently you have perverted a judgment against Me (San. 8a).
כי המשפט לאלהים הוא: מה שאתה נוטל מזה שלא כדין, אתה מזקיקני להחזיר לו, נמצא שהטית (על) [עלי] המשפט:
[And the case that is too difficult for you] bring to me: Because of this [presumptive] statement, Moses forgot the law regarding the daughters of Zelophchad [in Num. 27:1-5](San. 8a). Similarly, Samuel answered Saul and said (I Sam. 9:19),“I am the seer.” Whereupon, the Holy One, blessed is He, said to him, “By your life, I will let you know that you do not [always] see [with the holy spirit].” And when did He let him know [this]? When he came to anoint David, “And he saw Eliab [and] he said, ‘Surely, before the Lord is His anointed’ ” (I Sam. 16:6-7). The Holy One, blessed is He, said to him: “Did you not say, ‘I am the seer?’ Look not upon his appearance.” (Sifrei)
תקרבון אלי: על דבר זה נסתלק ממנו משפט בנות צלפחד, וכן שמואל אמר לשאול (שמואל א' ט, יט) אנכי הרואה, אמר לו הקב"ה, חייך שאני מודיעך שאין אתה רואה. ואימתי הודיעו, כשבא למשוח את דוד (שם טז, ו) וירא את אליאב ויאמר אך נגד ה' משיחו, אמר לו הקב"ה, ולא אמרת אנכי הרואה (שם טז, ז) אל תבט אל מראהו:
18And I commanded you at that time all the things you should do. יחוָֽאֲצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֑וא אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּֽעֲשֽׂוּן:
[And I commanded you…] all the things which you should do: These are the ten things that distinguish monetary cases from capital cases (Sifrei.).
את כל הדברים אשר תעשון: אלו עשרת הדברים שבין דיני ממונות לדיני נפשות:
19And we journeyed from Horeb and went through all that great and fearful desert, which you saw, by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the Lord, our God, commanded us; and we came up to Kadesh barnea. יטוַנִּסַּ֣ע מֵֽחֹרֵ֗ב וַנֵּ֡לֶךְ אֵ֣ת כָּל־הַמִּדְבָּ֣ר הַגָּדוֹל֩ וְהַנּוֹרָ֨א הַה֜וּא אֲשֶׁ֣ר רְאִיתֶ֗ם דֶּ֚רֶךְ הַ֣ר הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֛ה יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ אֹתָ֑נוּ וַנָּבֹ֕א עַ֖ד קָדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵֽעַ:
[that] great and fearful desert: [It is termed fearful] because in it were serpents as [thick as] beams and scorpions as [big as] bows (Sifrei).
המדבר הגדול והנורא: שהיו בו נחשים כקורות, ועקרבים כקשתות:
20And I said to you, "You have come to the mountain of the Amorites, which the Lord, our God, is giving us. כוָֽאֹמַ֖ר אֲלֵכֶ֑ם בָּאתֶם֙ עַד־הַ֣ר הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽנוּ:
21Behold, the Lord, your God, has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord, God of your fathers has spoken to you; you shall neither fear nor be dismayed." כארְאֵ֠ה נָתַ֨ן יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ לְפָנֶ֖יךָ אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ עֲלֵ֣ה רֵ֗שׁ כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֩ דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י אֲבֹתֶ֨יךָ֙ לָ֔ךְ אַל־תִּירָ֖א וְאַל־תֵּחָֽת:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 1 - 9
• Hebrew text
• English text
Chapter 1
This psalm inspires man to study Torah and avoid sin. One who follows this path is assured of success in all his deeds, whereas the plight of the wicked is the reverse.
1. Fortunate is the man that has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor stood in the path of sinners, nor sat in the company of scoffers.
2. Rather, his desire is in the Torah of the Lord, and in His Torah he meditates day and night.
3. He shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither; and all that he does shall prosper.
4. Not so the wicked; rather, they are like the chaff that the wind drives away.
5. Therefore the wicked will not endure in judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6. For the Lord minds the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Chapter 2
This psalm warns against trying to outwit the ways of God. It also instructs one who has reason to rejoice, to tremble—lest his sins cause his joy to be overturned.
1. Why do nations gather, and peoples speak futility?
2. The kings of the earth rise up, and rulers conspire together, against the Lord and against His anointed:
3. “Let us sever their cords, and cast their ropes from upon us!”
4. He Who sits in heaven laughs, my Master mocks them.
5. Then He speaks to them in His anger, and terrifies them in His wrath:
6. “It is I Who have anointed My king, upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
7. I am obliged to declare: The Lord said to me, “You are my son, I have this day begotten you.1
8. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, and the ends of the earth your possession.
9. Smash them with a rod of iron, shatter them like a potter’s vessel.”
10. Now be wise, you kings; be disciplined, you rulers of the earth.
11. Serve the Lord with awe, and rejoice with trembling.
12. Yearn for purity—lest He become angry and your path be doomed, if his anger flares for even a moment. Fortunate are all who put their trust in Him
FOOTNOTES
1.The day David was crowned. (Rashi)
Chapter 3
When punishment befalls man, let him not be upset by his chastisement, for perhaps--considering his sins—he is deserving of worse, and God is in fact dealing kindly with him.
1. A psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
2. Lord, how numerous are my oppressors; many rise up against me!
3. Many say of my soul, “There is no salvation for him from God—ever!”
4. But You, Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, the One Who raises my head.
5. With my voice I call to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain, Selah.
6. I lie down and sleep; I awake, for the Lord sustains me.
7. I do not fear the myriads of people that have aligned themselves all around me.
8. Arise, O Lord, deliver me, my God. For You struck all my enemies on the cheek, You smashed the teeth of the wicked.
9. Deliverance is the Lord’s; may Your blessing be upon Your people forever
Chapter 4
This psalm exhorts man not to shame his fellow, and to neither speak nor listen to gossip and slander. Envy not the prosperity of the wicked in this world, rather rejoice and say: “If it is so for those who anger Him . . . [how much better it will be for those who serve Him!”]
1. For the Conductor, with instrumental music, a psalm by David.
2. Answer me when I call, O God [Who knows] my righteousness. You have relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
3. Sons of men, how long will you turn my honor to shame, will you love vanity, and endlessly seek falsehood?
4. Know that the Lord has set apart His devout one; the Lord will hear when I call to Him.
5. Tremble and do not sin; reflect in your hearts upon your beds, and be silent forever.
6. Offer sacrifices in righteousness, and trust in the Lord.
7. Many say: “Who will show us good?” Raise the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord.
8. You put joy in my heart, greater than [their joy] when their grain and wine abound.
9. In peace and harmony I will lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, will make me dwell alone, in security.
Chapter 5
A prayer for every individual, requesting that the wicked perish for their deeds, and the righteous rejoice for their good deeds.
1. For the Conductor, on the nechilot,1 a psalm by David.
2. Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my thoughts.
3. Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray.
4. Lord, hear my voice in the morning; in the morning I set [my prayers] before you and hope.
5. For You are not a God Who desires wickedness; evil does not abide with You.
6. The boastful cannot stand before Your eyes; You hate all evildoers.
7. You destroy the speakers of falsehood; the Lord despises the man of blood and deceit.
8. And I, through Your abundant kindness, come into Your house; I bow toward Your holy Sanctuary, in awe of You.
9. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness, because of my watchful enemies; straighten Your path before me.
10. For there is no sincerity in their mouths, their heart is treacherous; their throat is an open grave, [though] their tongue flatters.
11. Find them guilty, O God, let them fall by their schemes; banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against You.
12. But all who trust in You will rejoice, they will sing joyously forever; You will shelter them, and those who love Your Name will exult in You.
13. For You, Lord, will bless the righteous one; You will envelop him with favor as with a shield.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument that sounded like the buzzing of bees (Metzudot).
Chapter 6
This is an awe-inspiring prayer for one who is ill, to pray that God heal him, body and soul. An ailing person who offers this prayer devoutly and with a broken heart is assured that God will accept his prayer.
1. For the Conductor, with instrumental music for the eight-stringed harp, a psalm by David.
2. Lord, do not punish me in Your anger, nor chastise me in Your wrath.
3. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I languish away; heal me, O Lord, for my bones tremble in fear.
4. My soul is panic-stricken; and You, O Lord, how long [before You help]?
5. Relent, O Lord, deliver my soul; save me for the sake of Your kindness.
6. For there is no remembrance of You in death; who will praise You in the grave?
7. I am weary from sighing; each night I drench my bed, I melt my couch with my tears.
8. My eye has grown dim from vexation, worn out by all my oppressors.
9. Depart from me, all you evildoers, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
10. The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord accepts my prayer.
11. All my enemies will be shamed and utterly terrified; they will then repent and be shamed for a moment.1
FOOTNOTES
1.Only for a moment will they be shamed, because I will forgive them and never again mention their deeds (Metzudot).
Chapter 7
Do not rejoice if God causes your enemy to suffer—just as the suffering of the righteous is not pleasant. David, therefore, defends himself intensely before God, maintaining that he did not actively harm Saul. In fact, Saul precipitated his own harm, while David’s intentions were only for the good.
1. A shigayon 1 by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Kush the Benjaminite.
2. I put my trust in You, Lord, my God; deliver me from all my pursuers and save me.
3. Lest he tear my soul like a lion, crushing me with none to rescue.
4. Lord, my God, if I have done this, if there is wrongdoing in my hands;
5. if I have rewarded my friends with evil or oppressed those who hate me without reason—
6. then let the enemy pursue and overtake my soul, let him trample my life to the ground, and lay my glory in the dust forever.
7. Arise, O Lord, in Your anger, lift Yourself up in fury against my foes. Stir me [to mete out] the retribution which You commanded.
8. When the assembly of nations surrounds You, remove Yourself from it and return to the heavens.
9. The Lord will mete out retribution upon the nations; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity.
10. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous—O righteous God, Searcher of hearts and minds.
11. [I rely] on God to be my shield, He Who saves the upright of heart.
12. God is the righteous judge, and the Almighty is angered every day.
13. Because he does not repent, He sharpens His sword, bends His bow and makes it ready.
14. He has prepared instruments of death for him; His arrows will be used on the pursuers.
15. Indeed, he conceives iniquity, is pregnant with evil schemes, and gives birth to falsehood.
16. He digs a pit, digs it deep, only to fall into the trap he laid.
17. His mischief will return upon his own head, his violence will come down upon his own skull.
18. I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and sing to the Name of the Lord Most High
FOOTNOTES
1.This refers either to a musical instrument, or to a mistake committed by David, in recognition of which this psalm was written (Rashi).
Chapter 8
This psalm is a glorious praise to God for His kindness to the lowly and mortal human in giving the Torah to the inhabitants of the lower worlds, arousing the envy of the celestial angels. This idea is expressed in the Yom Kippur prayer, “Though Your mighty strength is in the angels above, You desire praise from those formed of lowly matter.”
1. For the Conductor, on the gittit,1 a psalm by David.
2. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth, You Who has set Your majesty upon the heavens!
3. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have established might, to counter Your enemies, to silence foe and avenger.2
4. When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have set in place—
5. what is man that You should remember him, son of man that You should be mindful of him?
6. Yet, You have made him but a little less than the angels, and crowned him with honor and glory.
7. You made him ruler over Your handiwork, You placed everything under his feet.
8. Sheep and cattle—all of them, also the beasts of the field;
9. the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea; all that traverses the paths of the seas.
10. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument crafted in Gath (Metzudot).
2.The wonders of childbirth and nursing demonstrate God’s existence to non-believers (Metzudot).
Chapter 9
One should praise God for saving him from the hand of the enemy who stands over and agonizes him, and for His judging each person according to his deeds: the righteous according to their righteousness, and the wicked according to their wickedness.
1. For the Conductor, upon the death of Labben, a psalm by David.
2. I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will recount all Your wonders.
3. I will rejoice and exult in You; I will sing to Your Name, O Most High.
4. When my enemies retreat, they will stumble and perish from before You.
5. You have rendered my judgement and [defended] my cause; You sat on the throne, O righteous Judge.
6. You destroyed nations, doomed the wicked, erased their name for all eternity.
7. O enemy, your ruins are gone forever, and the cities you have uprooted—their very remembrance is lost.
8. But the Lord is enthroned forever, He established His throne for judgement.
9. And He will judge the world with justice, He will render judgement to the nations with righteousness.
10. The Lord will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
11. Those who know Your Name put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.
12. Sing to the Lord Who dwells in Zion, recount His deeds among the nations.
13. For the Avenger of bloodshed is mindful of them; He does not forget the cry of the downtrodden.
14. Be gracious to me, O Lord; behold my affliction at the hands of my enemies, You Who raises me from the gates of death,
15. so that I may relate all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, that I may exult in Your deliverance.
16. The nations sank into the pit that they made; in the net they concealed their foot was caught.
17. The Lord became known through the judgement He executed; the wicked one is snared in the work of his own hands; reflect on this always.
18. The wicked will return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.
19. For not for eternity will the needy be forgotten, nor will the hope of the poor perish forever.
20. Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence.
21. Set Your mastery over them, O Lord; let the nations know that they are but frail men, Selah.
Tanya: Igeret HaTeshuva, end of Chapter 11
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Monday, Menachem Av 1, 5777 · July 24, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Igeret HaTeshuva , end of Chapter 11
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ומה שכתוב: וחטאתי נגדי תמיד
As to the verse that says,1 “My sin is always before me,”
אין המכוון להיות תמיד עצב נבזה, חס ושלום
this does not imply that one ought to be constantly melancholy and humiliated, G‑d forbid,
דהא כתיב בתריה: תשמיעני ששון ושמחה וגו'
for later verses declare, 2 “Let me hear gladness and joy….,”
ורוח נדיבה תסמכני וגו'
and3 “uphold me with a spirit of magnanimity….”;
ומשום שצריך להיות כל ימיו בתשובה עילאה, שהיא בשמחה רבה כנ"ל
moreover,4 “Throughout one's days one should experience teshuvah [ila'ah],” [a manner of repentance] that is marked by great joy, as noted above.
How, then, are we to understand that “my sin is always before me”?
אלא נגדי דייקא
Rather, [the term used for “before me” is] specifically negdi, which implies being opposite, but at a certain distance,
כמו: ואתה תתיצב מנגד, מנגד סביב לאהל מועד יחנו
as in the verse that says,5 “You shall stand at a distance (mineged)”; or:6 “at a distance (mineged) around the Tent of Assembly shall they camp.”
ופירש רש"י מרחוק
Rashi defines the above term lit., “opposite” as “at a distance.”
Thus, one should always retain an awareness of his having sinned — but “at a distance,” i.e., at the back of his mind.
והמכוון רק לבלתי רום לבבו
Hence, the intention [of our verse] is merely that one's heart should not grow haughty,
ולהיות שפל רוח בפני כל האדם
and that he be humble of spirit before all men,
כשהיה לזכרון בין עיניו שחטא נגד ה'
because there will be a remembrance between his eyes that he has sinned before G‑d.
Memories of past sin are thus not intended to engender despondency, G‑d forbid.
ואדרבה, לענין השמחה, יועיל זכרון החטא ביתר שאת
In fact, as far as joy is concerned, the remembrance of one's past sins will be especially effective
בכדי לקבל בשמחה כל המאורעות המתרגשות ובאות
in encouraging happiness in the face of whatever misfortunes threaten to overtake him,
בין מן השמים בין על ידי הבריות
whether from heaven or through the agency of man,
בדיבור או במעשה
whether in speech or in deed.
Any such physical or verbal offense will be accepted with equanimity when one recalls that he has sinned in the past, and that his present afflictions in fact assist in his atonement.
(וזו עצה טובה להנצל מכעס וכל מיני קפידא וכו')
(7This [humility on account of one's imperfect record] is good counsel that enables a man to be immune to becoming angry or taking offense in any way…..)
וכמאמר רז"ל: הנעלבים ואינן עולבין
As our Sages declare,8 “Those who are humiliated yet do not humiliate in turn,
שומעים חרפתם ואין משיבים
who hear their insult and do not retort,
עושים מאהבה ושמחים ביסורים וכו'
who perform out of love and are happy in affliction, [concerning them does Scripture say,9 `Those who love Him [shall be] like the sun rising in all its might'].”
Three distinct categories are mentioned here, in ascending order: “Those who are humiliated yet do not humiliate in turn” do respond to the insults of others, but do not retaliate in kind. Those of the second category “hear their insult and do not retort” at all. Those of the third category actually “are happy in affliction” — because they remember their past sins, and are glad to accept their present suffering as a means of penance.
וכל המעביר על מדותיו מעבירים לו על כל פשעיו
Moreover,10 “whoever passes over his feelings, all his sins are passed over.”
FOOTNOTES
1.Tehillim 51:5.
2.Loc. cit., v. 10.
3.Loc. cit., v. 14.
4.Cf. Shabbat 153a.
5.II Shmuel 18:13.
6.Bamidbar 2:2.
7.Parentheses are in the original text.
8.Shabbat 88b; Gittin 36b.
9.Shoftim 5:31.
10.Rosh HaShanah 17a.
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
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Menachem Av 1, 5777 · July 24, 2017
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
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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 245
Transactions
"And if you sell something to your neighbor..."—Leviticus 25:14.
We are commanded regarding the various methods that effect transactions, i.e., the ways to transfer property from one individual to another (or, in the case of a guardian of an object, the transfer of jurisdiction).
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Transactions
Positive Commandment 245
Translated by Berel Bell
The 245th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the laws of buying and selling, i.e. the ways in which purchases and sales between the buyers and the sellers become legally binding.
The Torah taught about one method in G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "When you sell something to your neighbor, [or buy something from your neighbor's hand...]" Our Sages said,2 "[The word 'hand' teaches that the sale] refers to something which can pass from one hand to another," i.e. meshichah [physically moving the object].
It is explained that in Biblical law, transfer of money is sufficient to complete the transaction, and meshichah is necessary only by Rabbinic decree, as is mesirah [giving the vehicle of control, e.g. the reins of a horse, to the buyer] and hagba'ah [lifting the object].
The Gemara3 explicitly says, "Just as our Sages enacted a requirement of meshichah in order for a sale to be valid, so too they required meshichah in order for a watchman relationship to become valid." It is therefore clear that the requirement of meshichah in buying and selling is of Rabbinic origin, as explained in the relevant place.
However, other methods of acquiring land, etc., i.e. by means of a document or chazakah4 are traced5 to Biblical verses [and are therefore of Biblical, not Rabbinic, origin].
The details of this mitzvah — i.e. the manners of finalizing a sale in each category — are explained in the 1st chapter of tractate Kiddushin, the 4th and 8th chapters of Bava Metzia, and the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Bava Basra.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 25:14.
2.Bava Metzia 47b.
3.Ibid., 99a.
4.Such as building something on the land.
5.See Kiddushin 26a.
Rambam:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Sanhedrin veha`Onashin haMesurin lahem Sanhedrin veha`Onashin haMesurin lahem - Chapter 17
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1
How are lashes administered to a person liable to receive them? According to his strength, as indicated by Deuteronomy 25:2: "According to his wickedness by number." The number 40 stated in the following verse is mentioned to teach that more than 40 lashes are never administered even if the person is as healthy and as strong as Samson. When, by contrast, a person is weak, the amount of lashes is reduced. For if a weak person is given many lashes, he will certainly die. Therefore our Sages said: that even a very healthy person is given only 39 lashes. For if accidentally an extra blow is administered, he will still not have been given more than the 40 which he was required to receive.
א
כיצד מלקין את המחוייב מלקות כפי כחו שנאמר כדי רשעתו במספר וזה שנאמר ארבעים שאין מוסיפין על הארבעים אפילו היה חזק ובריא כשמשון אבל פוחתין לחלש שאם יכה לחלש מכה רבה בודאי הוא מת לפיכך אמרו חכמים שאפילו הבריא ביותר מכין אותו שלשים ותשע שאם יוסיף לו אחת נמצאת שלא הכהו אלא ארבעים הראויות לו:
2
When the court estimates how many lashes the condemned is able to bear, the estimation is made in numbers that are divisible by three. If it was estimated that he could bear 20, we do not say that he should be given 21, so that the number of lashes will be divisible by three. Instead, he is given 18 lashes.
If the court estimated that he could bear 40 lashes, but when they began lashing him, they saw that he was weak and that he would not be able to bear more than the nine or twelve lashes that he already received, he is released. If they estimated that he could bear twelve and after he was lashed, they saw that he was strong and could bear more, he is released. He is not lashed more than the original estimate.
ב
כשאומדין את החוטא כמה הוא יכול לקבל אין אומדין אלא במכות הראויות להשתלש אמדוהו שיכול לקבל עשרים אין אומרין ילקה עשרים ואחת כדי שיהיו יכולין להשתלש אלא ילקה שמונה עשרה אמדוהו לקבל ארבעים ומשתחיל ללקות ראוהו חלש ואמרו אינו יכול לקבל יותר על אלו התשע או השתים עשרה שלקה הרי זה פטור אמדוהו לקבל שתים עשרה ואחר שלקה ראוהו חזק ויכול לקבל יותר הרי זה פטור ואינו לוקה יותר על האומד:
3
If, on a specific day, it was estimated that he could bear twelve lashes to be given on that day, but he was not lashed until the following day, and on the following day, he is able to bear eighteen, he receives only twelve.
If it was estimated on one day that if he was lashed on the following day, he could bear twelve and he was not lashed until the third day, at which time he was strong enough to bear eighteen, he should be given eighteen lashes. The rationale is that at the time the estimation was made, it was reckoned that he would not be lashed until a later date. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
ג
אמדוהו היום שילקה שתים עשרה ולא הלקוהו עד למחר והרי הוא למחר יכול לקבל שמונה עשרה אינו לוקה אלא שתים עשרה אמדוהו שילקה למחר שתים עשרה ולא לקה עד יום שלישי והרי הוא חזק לקבל שמונה עשרה לוקה שמונה עשרה שהרי בשעת האומד לא אמדוהו ללקות אלא לאחר זמן וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
4
The following rules apply when a person was obligated to receive several sets of lashes whether for the transgression of several sins, or he performed one deed that involved several transgressions and hence, caused him to be liable for several sets of lashes. Everything depends on the judges. If they made one estimation for both transgressions, he receives lashes and is absolved. If not, he is given lashes, given time to recuperate, and then given lashes again.
What is implied? He was held liable for two transgressions punishable by lashes. The court estimated that he could bear 45 lashes, once he receives these 45, he is absolved from further punishment. If, however, they estimated the amount of lashes he could bear for one transgression, and they gave him three, nine, or thirty lashes according to their estimation, we wait until he is healed, and estimate how many lashes he can bear for the second lashing until he is given all the lashings for which he is obligated.
ד
מי שנתחייב מלקיות הרבה בין על עבירות הרבה בין על מעשה אחד שחייבין עליו מלקיות הרבה אם אמדוהו אומד אחד לוקה ופטור ואם לאו לוקה ומתרפא וחוזר ולוקה כיצד נתחייב שתי מלקיות ואמדו שיכול הוא לקבל ארבעים וחמש כיון שלקה ארבעים וחמש נפטר אבל אם אמדוהו למלקות אחת והכהו שלש או תשע או שלשים כמו האומד הרי זה מתרפא וחוזרין ואומדין אותו למלקות שנייה עד שילקה לכל מלקיות שהוא חייב בהן:
5
When it was estimated that a person could bear a specific number of lashes, they began lashing him and he became discomfited because of the power of the blows and either defecated or urinated, he is not given any more lashes. This is derived from Deuteronomy 25:3: "and your brother will be degraded before your eyes." Since he was discomfited, he is absolved.
If, however, he became discomfited from fear before being beaten, even if he became discomfited when he was taken out from the court to be lashed, and even if he became discomfited on the previous evening, he is given all the lashes that it was estimated that he could bear.
If one estimation was made for two transgressions punishable by lashes, and he becomes discomfited, whether in the midst of the first set of 40 or the second set of 40, he is absolved. If the lash became severed in the midst of the second lashing, he is absolved. If it became severed in the midst of the first lashing, he is absolved from the first set of lashes, but is given the lashes of the second set.
ה
מי שאמדוהו וכשהתחיל ללקות נתקלקל מכח ההכאה בין בריעי בין במימי רגלים אין מכין אותו יותר שנאמר ונקלה אחיך לעיניך כיון שנקלה פטור אבל אם נתקלקל מן הפחד מקודם ההכאה אפילו נתקלקל משיצא מבית דין ללקות ואפילו מבערב הרי זה לוקה כל האומד שאמדוהו אמדוהו לשתי מלקיות ולקה ונתקלקל בין בראשונה בין בשנייה פטור נפסקה הרצועה בשנייה פוטרין אותו נפסקה בראשונה נפטר ממלקות ראשונה ולוקה האומד השני:
6
If they bound him to the pillar to be lashed, and he severed the ties and fled, he is absolved. We do not force him to return.
ו
כפתוהו על העמוד ללקות וכרת את המיתרים וברח פטור ואין מחזירין אותו:
7
Whenever a person sins and is lashed, he returns to his original state of acceptability, as implied by the verse: "And your brother will be degraded before your eyes." Once he is lashed, he is "your brother."
9Similarly, all those obligated for kerait who received lashes are absolved for kerait.
ז
כל מי שחטא ולקה חוזר לכשרותו שנאמר ונקלה אחיך לעיניך כיון שלקה הרי הוא אחיך אף כל מחוייבי כרת שלקו נפטרו מידי כריתתן:
8
When a High Priest sins, he is lashed on the basis of the judgment of a court of three like people at large. Afterwards, he returns to his position of eminence.
ח
כהן גדול שחטא לוקה בשלשה כשאר כל העם וחוזר לגדולתו:
9
When, by contrast, the head of the academy transgresses, he is given lashes in the presence of a court of three, but does not return to his position of authority. He also is not reinstated as one of the other judges of the Sanhedrin. The rationale is that we ascend higher in matters of holiness, and do not descend.
ט
אבל ראש הישיבה שחטא מלקין אותו ואינו חוזר לשררותו גם אינו חוזר להיות כאחד משאר הסנהדרין שמעלין בקודש ולא מורידין:
Rambam:
• 3 Chapters A Day: Zechiyah uMattanah Zechiyah uMattanah - Chapter Seven, Zechiyah uMattanah Zechiyah uMattanah - Chapter Eight, Zechiyah uMattanah Zechiyah uMattanah - Chapter Nine
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassZechiyah uMattanah - Chapter Seven
1
It is a universally accepted custom in most countries that when a man marries, his friends and acquaintances send him money to support the expenses he must undertake on behalf of his wife. Then the friends and acquaintances who sent him this money come and eat and drink with the groom during all - or part - of the seven days of wedding celebration; everything should be done according to the accepted local custom.
The money that he is sent is called shushvinut, and the people who send the money and then come and eat and drink with the groom are called shushvinin.
א
מנהג פשוט ברוב המדינות שבזמן שישא אדם אשה משלחין לו ריעיו ומיודעיו מעות כדי שיתחזק בהן על ההוצאה שמוציא באשתו ובאים אותן הריעים והמיודעים ששלחו לו ואוכלין ושותין עם החתן בשבעת ימי המשתה או במקצתן הכל כמנהג המדינה ואלו המעות שמשלחין נקראין שושבינות ואותם ששלחו המעות ואוכלין ושותין עם החתן נקראים שושבינין:
2
Shushvinut is not an outright gift. For it is plainly obvious that a person did not send a colleague 10 dinarim with the intent that he eat and drink a zuz's worth. He sent him the money solely because his intent was that when he would marry, he would send him money as he has sent him.
Therefore, if the sender marries a woman, and the recipient does not return the shushvinut, the sender may lodge a legal claim against the recipient and expropriate the money from him.
ב
השושבינות אינה מתנה גמורה הדברים ידועים שלא שלח זה עשרה דינרין בשביל שיאכל וישתה בזה ולא שלח אלא מפני שבדעתו היה שאם ישא הוא אשה יחזור וישלח לו כמו ששלח לו לפיכך אם נשא זה אשה ולא החזיר לו השושבינות הרי זה תובעו בדין ומוציא ממנו:
3
He cannot lodge a claim against him unless he marries in the same way as he did.s
What is implied? If Reuven married a maiden and Shimon sent him shushvinut, and then Shimon married a widow, Shimon cannot demand that he return the shushvinut, for he will tell him: "I will return it to you only for a maiden, as you gave to me." Conversely, if the giver sent the recipient shushvinut for the marriage of a widow, he cannot demand that it be returned for the marriage of a maiden.
ג
ואין יכול לתבעו עד שישא כדרך שנשא הוא כיצד ראובן שנשא בתולה ושלח לו שמעון שושבינות ואחר כך נשא שמעון אלמנה אינו יכול לתבוע להחזיר לו השושבינות שהרי אומר לו איני מחזיר לך אלא בבתולה כמו שנתת לי וכן אם שלח לו בנשואי אלמנה אינו יכול לתובעו להחזיר לו בנשואי בתולה:
4
If Reuven made a large public reception, while Shimon made a modest private affair, or Reuven married modestly and Shimon made a public affair, he cannot lodge a claim against him. For he can tell him: "I will not do for you anything else than what you did for me."
ד
עשה ראובן משתה בגלוי ובפרהסיא ועשה שמעון בצנעה או שעשה ראובן בצנעה ושמעון בפרהסיא אינו יכול לתבעו שהרי אומר לו איני עושה עמך אלא כדרך שעשית עמי:
5
Reuven married a woman and Shimon sent him shushvinut, and came and ate and drank with him. Afterwards, Shimon married in precisely the same manner as Reuven did, and Reuven came and ate and drank with him, or Shimon called Reuven and he did not desire to come, or Reuven was in the city and heard the herald in a place where it is not customary to give private invitations, but rather everyone who hears the announcement comes, and Reuven heard the announcement and yet did not come, Reuven is obligated to return the entire amount of the shushvinut. For he knew about the wedding and did not come or was given a private invitation in a place where that is the custom, and yet he did not come.
ה
ראובן שנשא אשה ושלח לו שמעון שושבינות ואכל ושתה עמו ואח"כ נשא שמעון כנשואי ראובן עצמן ובא ראובן ואכל ושתה עמו או שקרא לו שמעון ולא רצה לבא או שהיה במדינה ושמע קול טבלא במקום שאין דרכן לקרות אחד אחד אלא כל השומע יבא ושמע ולא בא חייב להחזיר לו השושבינות כולה שהרי ידע ולא בא או קרא לו במקום שדרכן לקרות אחד אחד ולא בא:
6
If Reuven was not in the city when Shimon married, he may deduct the cost of the food that Shimon ate at his wedding feast, but must return to him the remainder of the shushvlnut. Similarly, if Reuven was in the city when Shimon married, and he did not invite him or notify him, he may make such a deduction. Moreover, he has a justified complaint, for he should have notified him.
ו
לא היה ראובן במדינה מנכין לו דמי מה שאכל ושתה שמעון אצלו ומחזיר לו שאר השושבינות וכן אם היה במדינה ולא קראהו או לא הודיעו מנכין לו ויש לו עליו תרעומת מפני שלא הודיעו:
7
How much should he deduct? These are the deductions customarily made. If Shimon sent him only a dinar, he need not return anything to him, for the dinar is the cost of what he ate. If Shimon sent him between a dinar and a sela half should be deducted.
ז
וכמה מנכין נהגו בנכוי אם דינר אחד שלח לו שמעון אינו מחזיר לו כלום שהרי זה דמי מה שאכל ואם יתר על הדינר עד סלע מנכה לו מחצה מסלע ולמעלה אומדין דעת המשלח:
8
If he gave more than a sela, we must assess the intent of the sender and the size of the shushvinut. If he is a prestigious person, half of what he gave is deducted." If he is tightfisted and keeps careful account of his expenditures, only what he ate and drank should be deducted, and he must pay him the remainder.
ח
ושיעור השושבינות אם אדם חשוב מנכה לו מחצה ואם צר עין ומדקדק בהוצאתו אינו מנכה לו אלא שיעור מה שאכל ושתה ומשלם לו השאר:
9
If Shimon dies before he marries, or he marries and dies in the midst of the wedding celebrations, Reuven is not required to give anything to his heirs. For he can tell the heirs: "Bring me my shushvinin; I will gladly celebrate with him and pay my due."
ט
מת שמעון קודם שישא אשה או שנשא ומת בתוך ימי המשתה אין ראובן חייב להחזיר ליורשי שמעון כלום שהרי אומר להם תנו לי שושביני ואשמח עמו:
10
Therefore, if Reuven rejoiced with Shimon and afterwards Shimon died, Shimon invited him to the wedding and he did not come, Reuven was not in the city at the time of Shimon's wedding, or he did not notify him, since Shimon died after the days of rejoicing were concluded, Reuven is obligated to return the shushvinut to Shimon's heirs - either in its entirety or after a deduction has been made - if he did not notify him or if he was not in the city.
י
לפיכך אם שמח עמו ואחר כך מת שמעון או קרא לו ולא בא או שלא היה במדינה או שלא הודיעו הואיל ושלמו ימי המשתה ואח"כ מת שמעון חייב ראובן להחזיר השושבינות ליורשיו או כולה או בנכוי אם לא הודיעו או לא היה עמו במדינה:
11
Different rules apply if Reuven died, and then Shimon married a woman and the days of rejoicing were concluded. If the local custom is to collect the shushvinut from the heirs, Reuven's heirs are compelled to return the shushvinut. In a place where this is not the local custom, Reuven's heirs are not obligated to pay anything.
יא
מת ראובן ואחר כך נשא שמעון אשה ושלמו ימי המשתה מקום שנהגו לגבות השושבינות מיורשין כופין יורשי ראובן להחזיר בנכוי ומקום שלא נהגו אין היורשין משלמין כלום:
12
If Reuven died after Shimon married a woman and the days of rejoicing were concluded, Reuven's heirs are compelled to pay the shushvinut regardless of the locale in which they live. For their testator was obligated to pay before his death. If he was required to pay the entire sum, they must pay that amount. If a deduction was made, that deduction also applies to them.
יב
מת ראובן אחר שנשא שמעון אשה ושלמו ימי המשתה כופין את יורשיו ומשלמין השושבינות בכ"מ שהרי נתחייב אביהן לשלם ואם כולה היה חייב לשלם משלמין כולה ואם בנכוי משלמין בנכוי:
13
Five statements were made concerning shushvinut:
a) It may be expropriated by a court of law, for it is only like a loan and not an outright gift;
b) It need be repaid only at the required time, when the marriage is held in the same manner as the first person's marriage; this is like a condition of the loan, although he did not explicitly state that he was giving the loan with this intent;
c) The prohibition against taking interest is not involved; even if a person sent his colleague a dinar and the colleague sent him ten, it is permissible; the rationale is that he did not send him with the intent that he add;
d) It is not nullified in the Sabbatical year;is the rationale is that the giver may not demand payment from the recipient until he marries in the same manner as he married;
e) The firstborn does not receive a double portion when the shushvinut is returned to the giver's heirs; the rationale is that at the time of the division of the estate, it is not an actual part of the estate, but rather ra'ui; and the firstborn does not receive a double portion of ra'ui, as will be explained with regard to that subject.
יג
חמשה דברים נאמרו בשושבינות: נגבית בבית דין שאינה אלא כמו מלוה ואינה משתלמת אלא בעונתה כעין נשואי ראשון שזה כמו תנאי הוא אע"פ שלא פירש שעל דעת זה שלחה ואין בה משום ריבית אפילו שלח לו דינר והחזיר לו עשרה מותר שלא על מנת להוסיף לו שלח ואין השביעית משמטתה שאינו יכול לגוש אותו ולתובעו עד שישא כדרך שנשא הוא ואין הבכור נוטל בה פי שנים כשתחזור ליורשין מפני שהוא ראוי ואין הבכור נוטל בראוי כמו שיתבאר במקומו:
14
When a person offers a colleague money when the latter's financial status suffers, the intended recipient refuses to take it, and the giver takes an oath that he is unwilling that the recipient not accept it, and he presses the recipient until he accepts it, even though the giver did not say so explicitly, the money is considered to be a gift.
The same law applies when a person sends a gift of food to a colleague or offers other similar forms of generosity. The giver may not retract and demand repayment unless he explicitly states that he is making the gift as a loan.
יד
השולח תשורה לחבירו או שנתן לו מעות כשמטה ידו והוא ממאן ליקח וזה נשבע שאי אפשר שלא תקח והפציר בו עד שלקח וכן כל כיוצא בהן אף על פי שלא פירש הרי אלו מתנה ואינו יכול לחזור הוא ולתבוע עד שיפרש שהוא מלוה:
15
When a person sends jugs of wine or oil to a colleague at the time of his wedding, he may not demand repayment in court. These gifts are considered to be deeds of kindness; the laws of shushvinut apply only to money.
טו
וכן השולח לחבירו כדי יין וכדי שמן ופירות בעת הנשואין אין נגבין בבית דין מפני שהיא גמילות חסדים ולא נאמרו דיני שושבינות אלא במעות בלבד:
Zechiyah uMattanah - Chapter Eight
1
A blind, lame or handless person, and similarly, one who feels pain in his head, his eye, his hand, his foot or the like, is considered to be a healthy person with regard to all matters that concern his purchases, his sales or gifts that he gives.
א
הסומא או הפסח או הגדם או החושש בראשו או בעינו או בידו או ברגלו וכיוצא בהן הרי הוא כבריא לכל דבריו במקחו או בממכרו ומתנותיו:
2
However, when a person becomes ill to the extent that he feels weak throughout his entire body - indeed, because of his illness, his strength has dwindled to the extent that he cannot walk on his feet in the market place, and he is confined to his bed - he is referred to as a sh'chiv me'ra. The laws applying to his gifts differ from those applying to the gifts given by a healthy person.
What is implied? When a sh'chiv me'ra gives orders and says: "Give so and so such and such, and so and so such and such" the intended recipients acquire all the property apportioned to them when the sick person dies. This applies whether he issued his instructions during the week or on the Sabbath, and whether or not a written record was drawn up.
Nor must his instructions be confirmed by a kinyan for the statements of a sh'chiv me'ra are considered as if they have been written down, and transferred. This is a Rabbinic decree. Nevertheless, although it is only a Rabbinic decree, our Sages conveyed upon this convention the power of Scriptural Law, so that a dying person will not become exasperated, knowing that his words are of no consequence.
ב
אבל החולה שתשש כח כל הגוף וכשל כחו מחמת החולי עד שאינו יכול להלך על רגלו בשוק והרי הוא נופל על המטה הוא [הנקרא] שכיב מרע ומשפטי מתנותיו אינם כמתנת בריא כיצד שכיב מרע שצוה ואמר ליתן לפלוני כך וכך בין בחול בין בשבת בין כתב בין לא כתב זכו הכל כשימות בכל מה שנתן להם ואינו צריך קנין שדברי שכיב מרע ככתובין וכמסורין הן ודבר זה מדברי סופרים ואע"פ שאינו אלא מדבריהם עשו אותה כשל תורה כדי שלא תטרף דעתו עליו כשידע שאין דבריו קיימים:
3
Accordingly, if the dying man says: "Confirm my statements with a kinyan" we confirm his statements even on the Sabbath. For this kinyan is unnecessary.
ג
לפיכך אם אמר קנו ממני אפילו בשבת קונין ממנו שזה הקנין אינו צריך:
4
When apportioning his property, a sh'chiv me'ra does not have to say: "You are my witnesses." Instead, whoever hears his statements may serve as a witness. The rationale is that a person does not speak facetiously at the time of his death.
ד
ואין שכיב מרע צריך לומר אתם עדי אלא כל השומע את דבריו הרי זה עד שאין אדם משטה בשעת מיתה:
5
When a sh'chiv me'ra orders that a gift be given to a fetus in its mother's womb, the fetus acquires the property. The rationale is that a person has unique feelings of closeness toward his son, as we have explained.
ה
שכיב מרע שצוה לתת מתנה לעובר שבמעי אמו זכה העובר מפני שדעתו של אדם קרובה אצל בנו כמו שביארנו:
6
When a sh'chiv me'ra says: "If my wife gives birth to a boy he should receive a maneh, but if she gives birth to a girl she should receive 200 zuz," if she gives birth to a boy, he receives a maneh, and if she gives birth to a girl, she receives 200 zuz.
If she gives birth to both a boy and a girl, the boy receives a maneh, and the girl, 200 zuz. If she gives birth to a tumtum or an androgynous, that child should be given the lesser of the two amounts.
ו
אמר אם ילדה אשתי זכר יטול מנה ואם נקבה מאתים וילדה זכר נוטל מנה ילדה נקבה נוטלת מאתים ילדה זכר ונקבה הזכר נוטל מנה והנקבה מאתים ילדה טומטום ואנדרוגינוס נוטל כפחות שבשניהם:
7
The following rule applies when a sh'chiv me'ra is asked: "To whom should your property be given?" and he replies: "I thought that I had a son or that my wife is pregnant; now that I know that I do not have a son and my wife is not pregnant, my property should be given to so and so." If it is discovered that in fact he had a son or his wife was pregnant - even if afterwards the wife miscarried or the son died - the gift is not binding.
ז
שכיב מרע שאמרו לו נכסיו למי ואמר להם דומה שיש לו בן או שאשתו מעוברת עכשיו שאין לו בן או שאין אשתו מעוברת נכסיו לפלוני ונודע שיש לו בן או שהיתה אשתו מעוברת אף על פי שהפילה או מת הבן אח"כ אין מתנתו מתנה:
8
Ownership of a gift given by a sh'chiv me'ra is not transferred until after the death of the sh'chiv me'ra. No one acquires any of the landed property or movable property apportioned to him until after the death of the sh'chiv me'ra.
ח
מתנת שכיב מרע אינה קונה אלא לאחר מיתה ואין אחר זוכה בדבר שצוה לו בין במקרקע בין במטלטלי אלא לאחר מיתה:
9
For this reason, we expropriate money to pay the ketubah, and the living expenses for the deceased's wife and his daughters from the property that the sh'chiv me'ra apportioned to the intended recipients.
The rationale is that with his death, his estate became obligated to pay his wife the money due her by virtue of her ketubah and her living expenses, and the recipients of the gifts did not acquire what was given to them until after the death of the sh'chiv me'ra.
ט
לפיכך מוציאין לכתובת האשה ומזון האלמנה והבנות מיד אלו שצוה לתת להם שהרי במיתתו נתחייבו הנכסים בכתובה ובמזונות ואלו שנתן להם לא יקנו אלא לאחר מיתה:
10
When a document recording a gift given by a sh'chiv me'ra mentions a kinyan - whether it involves a portion of the deceased's estate or his entire estate - there are doubts about the matter. Perhaps he did not make up his mind to transfer ownership except via a legal document. In such an instance, the gift would not be effective. For a gift given by a sh'chiv me'ra takes effect only after the principal's death, and a legal document cannot transfer property after the principal's death.
י
מתנת שכיב מרע שכתוב בה קנין בין שהיתה במקצת נכסיו בין שהיתה בכל נכסיו חוששין לה שמא לא גמר להקנותו אלא בשטר והואיל ומתנה זו לא תקנה אלא לאחר מיתה אין שטר לאחר מיתה והרי המתנה בטילה:
11
If, however, the kinyan was made solely to augment the legal power of the recipient - e.g., it was written: "And a kinyan was performed to amplify this gift" - the gift is binding.
יא
ואם קנו ממנו כדי ליפות כח המקבל כגון שכתוב וקנינו ממנו מוסיף על מתנה זו הרי היא קיימת:
12
When a sh'chiv me'ra says: "Compose a record and give to so and so a maneh," but he dies before the record was composed and the gift was given to him, the record should not be composed, nor should the gift be given. We suspect that perhaps the sh'chiv me'ra made up his mind to transfer the gift to the recipient via a legal document, and a legal document cannot effect a transfer after the principal's death.
יב
שכיב מרע שאמר כתבו ותנו לפלוני מנה ומת קודם שיכתבו ויתנו לו אין כותבין ואין נותנין שמא לא גמר להקנותו אלא בשטר ואין שטר לאחר מיתה:
13
If, however, he said "Compose a record" solely to augment the legal power of the recipient - e.g., he said; "Give so and so a maneh" - and then he added, "and compose a record and give it to him" - a legal record should be composed, signed and given even after the death of the sh'chiv me'ra.
יג
ואם אמר כתבו כדי ליפות כח המקבל כגון שאמר תנו מנה לפלוני ואמר ואף כתבו ותנו לו הרי אלו כותבין וחותמין ונותנין לאחר מיתה:
14
The following rule applies when a sh'chiv me'ra apportions all his property unconditionally, without retaining anything for himself: If he recovers, the gift is retracted. This applies even if he confirmed his statements with a kinyan to augment the legal power of the recipient. Similarly, it applies whether he apportioned all his property to one individual or to two individuals.
The rationale is that we assume that he did not want to give all his property to that persons as a gift, and his intent was that the recipient should not acquire anything until after he died.
יד
שכיב מרע שכתב כל נכסיו מתנה סתם ולא שייר כלום אם עמד חוזר ואפילו קנו מידו כדי ליפות את כחו בין שהקנה כל נכסיו לאחד בין שכתבם לשנים שאומד דעת הוא שלא נתן זה הכל אלא שנתכוון שלא יקנו כלום אלא לאחר מותו:
15
If he retains anything for himself - either landed property or movable property - he has given only part of his property as a gift. If such a gift is given without an explicit statement of intent, it is considered to be a gift given by a healthy man, and it is effective from the time it was written. Therefore, it is not retracted upon the recovery of the sh'chiv me'ra. This applies provided he confirms the gift with a kinyan. For a gift given by a sh'chiv me'ra that transfers only part of his property requires a kinyan whether he recovers or does not recover.
טו
שייר כלום לעצמו בין קרקע בין מטלטלין הרי זו מתנה במקצת וסתמה כמתנת בריא שקונה מזמן הכתיבה לפיכך אינו חוזר והוא שקנו מידו שמתנת שכיב מרע במקצת צריכה קנין בין עמד בין לא עמד:
16
When does the above apply? When the person gave the gift without making any explicit statement. In such an instance, we assess his intent and presume that since he retained property, his intent was to transfer the property during his lifetime, like a gift given by a healthy man.
טז
במה דברים אמורים בשנתן סתם שהרי אנו אומדין דעתו ואומרין הואיל ושייר לא נתכוון אלא להקנות לו מחיים במתנת בריא:
17
If, however, the dying man explicitly states that he is giving the portion of estate as a gift of a sh'chiv me'ra, which takes effect only after his death, there is no need to confirm it with a kinyan, and if he recovers it is retracted. If, however, he does not recover, the intended recipient acquires that portion of the estate.
If such a gift was confirmed by a kinyan, the intended recipient does not acquire the property apportioned to him unless the kinyan was intended to amplify the legal power of the recipient, as explained above.
יז
אבל אם נתן לו המקצת בפירוש במתנת שכיב מרע שאינו אלא לאחר מיתה אינו צריך קנין ואם עמד חוזר ואם לא עמד קנה זה המקצת ואם היה בה קנין לא קנה אלא אם כן היה מיפה כחו כמו שביארנו:
18
Do not err: Should a dying man apportion all his property and state explicitly that he is giving everything from the present, and that his gift should take effect during his lifetime - such a gift is not governed by the laws pertaining to a gift of a sh'chiv me'ra. Instead, it is like any other gift given by a healthy person. If the legal document reaches the hand of the recipient, or the giver confirms the gift with a kinyan, the recipient acquires everything, and the giver cannot retract.
יח
אל תטעה בשכיב מרע שכתב כל נכסיו ופירש שנתן הכל מעכשיו והקנה מחיים שאין זה מתנת שכיב מרע אלא כשאר כל מתנות הבריאים שאם הגיע השטר ליד המקבל או שקנו מיד הנותן קנה הכל ואין יכול לחזור בו:
19
When a person on his deathbed gives a gift and, its legal record states: "In life and in death ..." or "From my life and in my death ...," it is considered to be a gift given by a sh'chiv me'ra, because it says "in death." This applies whether the dying man apportions all his property or only a portion of it.
The expression "in death" indicates that the intent is that the gift should take effect after the giver's death. It says "in life" only to settle the giver's mind and express a prayer that that he will survive this illness.
יט
הנותן מתנה כשהוא שכיב מרע וכתב בה בחיים ובמות או מחיים ובמות בין בכל בין במקצת הואיל וכתוב בו ובמות הרי זו מתנת שכיב מרע שזו שכתוב בה ובמות שלא יקנה אלא לאחר מיתה וזה שכתוב בה מחיים סימן ליישב את דעתו שיחיה מחולי זה:
20
Even though a person on his deathbed apportions all the property that he is known to possess, it is considered as if he apportioned only part of his estate. If the sh'chiv me'ra confirmed the gift with a kinyan and then recovered, the gift is not retracted. The rationale is that we suspect that he owns other property in a distant country.
This law applies unless the dying man says: "All my property that is these...," or unless it is the common assumption that the person owns only the property that he apportioned. In such instances, the gift is considered to apply to all his property.
כ
שכיב מרע שנתן הנכסים שהדבר גלוי שהן כל נכסים שיש לו הרי זה כמתנה במקצת ואם קנו מידו ועמד אינו חוזר חוששין אנו שמא נשארו לו נכסים אחרים במדינת הים עד שיאמר כל נכסי שהן אלו או שהיה מוחזק שאין לו נכסים אלא אלו ואחר כך תהיה המתנה בכל:
21
The following rules apply when a sh'chiv me'ra apportions all his property to other people. We see whether it appears that his intent was to divide his estate. If that is so, if he dies all the intended recipients acquire the property designated for them. If he recovers, all the gifts are retracted.
Different laws apply if, however, it appears that he was reconsidering the matter - e.g., after he made a gift with which he left over part of his property, he paused and then apportioned more, and then paused and then apportioned more and confirmed each of his gifts with a kinyan. If he dies, all the intended recipients acquire the property designated for them. If he recovers, only the final gift he designated is retracted. For this person alone was given all his remaining property.
כא
שכיב מרע שכתב כל נכסיו לאחרים רואין אם כמחלק כתבם מת קנו כלן עמד חוזר בכולן ואם כנמלך אחר ששייר חזר וכתב וקנו מידו על כל אחד ואחד מת קנו כולן עמד אינו חוזר אלא באחרון שהרי נתן לו כל הנכסים הנשארים:
22
When a sh'chiv me'ra signs over all his property to one of his servants and then recovers, the gift of the property is retracted. The gift of freedom to the slave, however, is not retracted, for he has already gained the reputation of being a free man.
כב
הכותב כל נכסיו לעבדו ועמד חוזר בנכסים ואינו חוזר בעבד שהרי יצא עליו שם בן חורין:
23
When a sh'chiv me'ra apportions his property because of his impending death - i.e., he thinks that he will die, and this is obvious from his words -even though a kinyan is made to confirm the gift of a portion of his estate - if he recovers, the gift is retracted.
כג
שכיב מרע שצוה מחמת מיתה כגון שהיתה דעתו נוטה שהוא מת ודאי וניכר דבר זה מכלל דבריו אע"פ שקנו מידו במקצת אם עמד חוזר:
24
When a person goes out to sea or on a caravan journey, is being transported in chains, or is dangerously ill, having fallen sick suddenly with a severe infirmity - any of these four individuals is considered to be a person who apportions his property because of his impending death. His statements are considered as if they are written down in a legal document and his property has already been apportioned. If these individuals die, their instructions are carried out.
If they are saved and recover, even though a kinyan had been made to confirm the gift of a portion of his estate, the gift is retracted, as is the law with regard to anyone who apportions his property because of his impending death.
כד
והמפרש בים והיוצא בשיירא והיוצא בקולר והמסוכן והוא שקפץ עליו החולי והכביד עליו חליו כל אחד מארבעתן כמצוה מחמת מיתה והרי דבריו ככתובין וכמסורין ומקיימין אותן אם מת ואם ניצל ועמד אפילו קנו מידו במקצת חוזר כדין כל מצוה מחמת מיתה:
25
The following laws apply when a sh'chiv me'ra passes from one sickness to another. If he does not recover and does not walk unsupported in the marketplace, the gift that he gave is binding.
כה
שכיב מרע שניתק מחולי לחולי אם לא עמד ולא הלך על משענתו בשוק מתנתו מתנה:
26
Different rules apply when the dying man stands and walks supported between the sickness in which he apportioned his property and the sickness from which he died. We have physicians assess whether or not he died from the first sickness that affected him. If this is so, the gift is binding. If not, the gift is not binding. If he walked in the marketplace without a support, no assessment is necessary, and the gifts that he originally gave are nullified.
כו
עמד בין החולי שצוה בו ובין החולי שמת ממנו והלך על משענתו אומדין אותו על פי רופאים אם מחמת חולי הראשון מת מתנתו קיימת ואם לאו אין מתנתו קיימת ואם הלך בשוק בלא משענת אינו צריך אומד אלא בטלו מתנותיו הראשונות:
27
When there is a record of an oral will made by a sh'chiv me'ra that does not say that he died because of the sickness during which he apportioned his property, and the witnesses are not present to corroborate this, the gift is nullified, despite the fact that he died. For his death is not proof that he did not recover. Perhaps he recovered from the sickness during which he apportioned his property and then contracted another sickness and then died.
Therefore, the property is presumed to belong to the legal heirs unless the recipients of the gift bring proof that he died because of the sickness during which he apportioned his property.
כז
מתנת שכיב מרע שאין כתוב בה שמתוך החולי הזה שצוה בו מת ואין העדים מצויין לשאול להם אף על פי שהרי זה המצוה מת הרי המתנה בטילה שאין מיתתו ראיה שמא מחולי שנתן בו המתנה נרפא ואח"כ חלה חולי אחר ומת לפיכך הנכסים בחזקת היורשין עד שיביא ראיה שמתוך החולי הזה שנתן בו מתנה זו מת:
Zechiyah uMattanah - Chapter Nine
1
When a sh'chiv me'ra instructs those listening to the apportionment of his property: "Do not reveal this gift and do not tell anyone about it until after my death," the gift is binding. It is not considered to be a hidden gift. For at the time when the transfer takes place - i.e., after the testator's death - the testator said: "Reveal the matter."
א
שכיב מרע שצוה ואמר לא תגלו מתנה זו ולא תודיעו בה אדם אלא לאחר מיתה הרי זו מתנה קיימת ואינה מתנה מסותרת שבעת שהקנה שהוא אחר מותו הרי אמר גלו אותה:
2
A person who apportions his property because of his impending death does not have to say: "Publicize the gift...." Even though it is written without any specific instructions, we do not assume that the intent was that it be hidden.
ב
מצוה מחמת מיתה אין צריך לומר גלו את המתנה אלא אע"פ שהיא כתובה סתם אין חוששין לה שמא מסותרת היא:
3
When a sh'chiv me'ra says: "Let so and so take all my property," or "...part of my property," or he uses the verb "take hold of," "acquire," "obtain" - they are all expressions connoting a gift. Similarly, if he says "inherit" or "receive as an inheritance," when the intended recipient is fit to inherit the property, the intended recipient acquires it.
ג
שכיב מרע שצוה ואמר יטול פלוני כל נכסי או מקצת נכסי או יחזיק או יזכה או יקנה כולן לשון מתנה היא וכן אם אמר יחסן או יירש על מי שראוי ליורשו הרי זה קנה:
4
If the sh'chiv me'ra said: "May so and so benefit from my property," "May he stand in it," or "May he be supported by it," the intended recipient does not acquire the property.
ד
אמר יהנה פלוני בהן יעמד בהן ישען בהן לא קנה:
5
The following rules apply when a sh'chiv me'ra apportions all his property to another person. If he is not fit to inherit the property, he is awarded it as a gift. If he is fit to inherit it, he is awarded it as an inheritance.
When does the above apply? When the intended recipient is one of the dying man's daughters, one of the members of his household, one of his brothers or one of his other heirs. If, however, the dying man gave his entire estate to one of his sons, we assume that he appointed him an executor, as explained above.
ה
שכיב מרע שכתב כל נכסיו לאחר אם אינו ראוי ליורשו נוטלן משום מתנה ואם ראוי ליורשו נוטלן משום ירושה בד"א בשהיה היורש הזה אחת מבנותיו או אחד מכלל בני בניו או אחד מכלל אחיו וכיוצא בהן משאר יורשין אבל אם כתבהו לאחד מבניו לא עשהו אלא אפוטרופוס כמו שביארנו:
6
If before a person's death, he was asked: "To whom should your property be given? Perhaps to so and so?", and the dying man answers, "To whom else?" that person is awarded the property. We see whether he is fit to inherit the property. If he is, he is awarded it as an inheritance. If not, he is awarded it as a gift.
ו
מי שאמרו לו בשעת מיתתו נכסיך למי הן שמא לפלוני ואמר להן אלא למי רואין אם ראוי ליורשו נוטלן משום ירושה ואם לאו נוטלן משום מתנה:
7
When a convert has a son who was not conceived in holiness, since the son is not considered an heir - as will be explained in the section dealing with this subject - the convert cannot give the son his entire estate as a gift given by a sh'chiv me'ra. This applies to his entire estate and to a portion of his estate.
The rationale is that when speaking about a potential heir, there is no difference whether one uses wording that connotes an inheritance, or wording that connotes a gift. Thus, if in the situation mentioned above one said that the convert's son should acquire the property, it would be as if he inherited his father's estate.
ז
גר שיש לו בן שאין הורתו בקדושה הואיל ואינו יורשו כמו שיתבאר במקומו כך אינו יכול ליתן לו כל נכסיו במתנת שכיב מרע לא כל נכסיו ולא מקצתן שלשון ירושה ומתנה לגבי יורש אחד הן ואם תאמר יקנה נמצא זה יורש את אביו:
8
Therefore, if the dying convert gave his estate as a gift to any other convert as a matnat sh'chiv me'ra, the gift is effective.
ח
לפיכך אם נתן לגר משאר הגרים מתנתו קיימת:
9
When a sh'chiv me'ra acknowledges that he owes a debt of a particular amount to a given person and asks that it be given to him from his estate, his acknowledgement is of consequence and his request is fulfilled. This principle also applies when he states that a given utensil is an entrusted object belonging to another person and should be returned to him, a particular courtyard belongs to another person, a debt that another person is reputed to owe him is in fact owed to another person, or in any analogous situation.
Even if a convert acknowledges an obligation to a son who was not conceived in holiness, his statements are binding. Indeed, even if a person acknowledged a debt owed to a gentile, the gentile should be repaid.
ט
שכיב מרע שהודה שיש לו לפלוני אצלי כך וכך תנוהו לו או שאמר כלי פלוני פקדון הוא בידי לפלוני תנוהו לו חצר פלונית של פלוני הוא חוב שיש לי ביד פלוני אינו שלי של פלוני הוא בכל אלו הדברים וכיוצא בהן הודאתו הודיה ואפילו הודה הגר לבנו שאין הורתו בקדושה דבריו קיימין אפילו הודה שכיב מרע לעכו"ם נותנין לו:
10
When, by contrast, a sh'chiv me'ra orders that a gift be given to a gentile from his estate, we do not heed his words, for it is as if he commanded that a transgression be performed with his property.
י
אבל שכיב מרע שצוה ליתן לעכו"ם מתנה אין שומעין לו שזה כמי שצוה לעבור עבירה מנכסיו:
11
If a dying man says: "My servant, so and so, make him a free man," "I made him a free man," or "Behold he is a free man," we compel the person's heirs to free the servant. The rationale is that a servant is obligated to perform certain mitzvot.
יא
אמר פלוני עבדי עשו אותו בן חורין או שאמר עשיתי אותו בן חורין או הרי הוא בן חורין כופין את היורשין ומשחררין אותו שעבד ישנו במקצת מצות:
12
If a dying man says: "Generate satisfaction for so and so, my maid-servant," satisfaction should be generated for her. She should be given only the type of work she desires out of all the types of work that are known to be performed by servants in that locale.
יב
אמר פלונית שפחתי עשו לה קורת רוח עושין לה קורת רוח ואינה עובדת אלא עבודה שהיא רוצה בה מכל העבודות הידועות לעבדים באותו מקום:
13
When a sh'chiv me'ra apportions all his property to a specific person, and that person says: "I do not desire it," he does not acquire it.
יג
שכיב מרע שכתב כל נכסיו לאחד ואמר הלה איני רוצה בהן לא קנה:
14
If the intended recipient remained silent, and then protests, he acquires the property. The rationale is that the words of a sh'chiv me'ra are considered as if they have been already recorded in a legal document and the property already transferred. Thus, once the recipient remains silent, he can no longer retract.
יד
שתק ואחר כך צוח קנה שדברי שכיב מרע ככתובין וכמסורין הן וכיון ששתק אינו יכול לחזור בהן:
15
When a sh'chiv me'ra apportions his property to one person and then changes his mind and apportions his property to another person, the latter person acquires it. For a sh'chiv me'ra has the right to retract until he dies.
The above applies whether he desires to retract the entire amount or only a portion of it, and whether he seeks to retain the property for himself or give it to another person.
Even if he apportioned the property to a person and had someone acquire the property on his behalf, and then apportioned it to another person and had someone acquire the property on his behalf, the latter person acquires it. The rationale is that even when a sh'chiv me'ra has someone acquire the property on the recipient's behalf, the transaction is still considered to be a gift given by a sh'chiv me'ra.
טו
שכיב מרע שכתב לזה וחזר וכתב לאחר האחרון קנה שיש לו לחזור עד שימות בין בכל בין במקצת בין לעצמו בין לאחר ואפילו כתב וזכה לראשון וכתב וזכה לאחרון האחרון קנה ששכיב מרע שזכה עדיין מתנת שכיב מרע היא:
16
If, however, a sh'chiv me'ra apportioned his property to a person, had someone acquire the property on the recipient's behalf and then confirmed the transfer with a kinyan, nothing can be done after the kinyan. He cannot retract - neither to give the property to another person nor to retain it for himself. This applies whether he gave his entire estate or only a portion of it.
טז
אבל שכיב מרע שכתב וזכה וקנו מידו אין לאחר קנין כלום ואינו יכול לחזור בו לא לאחר ולא לעצמו בין שנתן הכל בין שנתן מקצת:
17
When a sh'chiv me'ra retracts part of his apportionment of his estate, the entire apportionment is nullified.
What is implied? If he gave all his property to one person, and confirmed his gift with a kinyan to bolster the recipient's legal power, and then retracted and gave part of his property to another person and confirmed his gift with a kinyan to bolster the second recipient's legal power, the second person acquires the property he was given. The first person does not acquire anything. This applies whether the sh'chiv me'ra recovers or dies.
יז
שכיב מרע שחזר במקצת חזר בכל כיצד נתן כל נכסיו לראשון וקנו מידו כדי ליפות את כחו וחזר ונתן מקצתן לאחר וקנו מידו כדי ליפות את כחו השני קנה אבל הראשון לא קנה כלום בין שעמד בין שמת:
18
The following rules apply when a dying man gives a portion of his estate as a gift and confirms this with a kinyan, and then gives his entire estate to another person and confirms this gift with a kinyan to bolster the recipient's legal power. If the sh'chiv me'ra dies, the first recipient acquires the portion given to him, and the second recipient acquires the remainder. If the sh'chiv me'ra recovers, the first recipient acquires the portion given to him, and the second recipient does not acquire anything.
יח
נתן מקצת נכסיו וקנו מידו ואחר כך נתן כלן לאחר וקנו מידו כדי ליפות את כחו אם מת קנה הראשון המקצת וקנה השני את השאר ואם עמד ראשון קנה שני לא קנה:
19
When a sh'chiv me'ra consecrates all his property without retaining anything, declares his estate ownerless or divides his estate among the poor -if he recovers, he retracts everything.
יט
שכיב מרע שהקדיש כל נכסיו ולא שייר כלום או הפקיר או חלקן לעניים אם עמד חוזר בכל:
20
If a person conducts a sale while a sh'chiv me'ra, the sale is binding even if he recovers.
כ
מכר כשהוא שכיב מרע ממכרו קיים כבריא:
21
Different rules apply when by contrast, a dying man sells his entire estate. If the money itself that he received for the estate is still in his possession, he may retract if he recovers. If, however, he has spent the money, he cannot retract.
כא
מכר כל נכסיו אם המעות עצמן קיימות אם עמד חוזר ואם הוציא המעות אינו יכול לחזור:
22
The following laws apply when a legal document recording a gift is brought before us, and it does not explicitly state whether the giver was healthy when he gave it, or whether he was a sh'chiv me'ra; the giver claims that he was a sh'chiv me'ra, that he recovered and now desires to retract his gift; the recipient of the gift claims that the giver was healthy and therefore does not have the option of retracting. The recipient must bring proof that the giver was healthy. If he does not find proof, the giver must take a sh'vuat hesset supporting his claim. Afterwards, the landed property remains in the possession of the giver.
כב
מתנה שהיא סתם ולא נתפרש בה שהיה בריא כשנתן או שהיה שכיב מרע הוא אומר שכיב מרע היית והרי עמדתי ואחזור במתנתי ומקבל מתנה אומר בריא היה ואינו יכול לחזור על המקבל להביא ראיה שבריא היה לא מצא ראיה נשבע הנותן שבועת היסת ויפטר ותעמוד הקרקע בחזקת הנותן:
23
Different rules apply if, however, the gift involved movable property, and that movable property is now in the possession of the recipient. Since the recipient could claim: "The movable property is mine," he is allowed to retain possession of the movable property, provided he takes a sh'vuat hesset that the giver was healthy when he gave this gift.
כג
אבל אם היו מטלטלין ביד המקבל מתוך שיכול לומר שלי הן ישבע היסת שבריא היה כשנתן לו מתנה זו:
24
The following rule applies when a person dies, and a legal document recording a gift is discovered tied to his thigh. Even though the document is signed by witnesses and mentions that a klnyan was undertaken to bolster the legal power of the recipients, the document is of no consequence. We assume that after the sh'chiv me'ra had it written, he changed his mind and retracted his gift.
כד
מי שמת ונמצא מתנה קשורה על ירכו אף על פי שהיא בעדים וקנו מידו ליפות כח אלו שנתן להם הרי זו אינה כלום שאני אומר כתבה ונמלך:
25
If through the legal document the person transferred ownership over the property to another person, whether he is a legal heir or is not a legal heir, everything stated within takes effect, as is true with regard to all gifts given by a sh'chiv me'ra.
כה
ואם זכה בה לאחר בין מן היורשין בין שאינו מן היורשין כל הדברים שבה קיימין ככל מתנת שכיב מרע:
26
Similar laws apply when a sh'chiv me'ra has a promissory note composed stating that he owes money to a particular person - to one of his sons or to one of his other heirs - and he entrusts that document to a third party. If he tells that third party: "Hold this in your possession," but does not make any further statement, or tells him: "Leave this until I tell you what to do with it," and dies before making any further statements, the document is of no consequence.
כו
וכן מי שכתב שטר חוב על עצמו בשם אחר או בשם אחד מבניו [או] מן היורשין ונתן השטר עד יד שליש ואמר לו יהיה זה אצלך ולא פירש לו כלום או שאמר לו הנח עד שאומר לך מה תעשה ומת הרי זו אינה כלום:
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class
Monday, Menachem Av 1, 5777 · 24 July 2017
"Today's Day"
Monday Menachem Av 1, Rosh Chodesh 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Devarim, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 1-9.
Tanya: Ch. 10. This superior (p. 377) ...as is known. (p. 379).
The unique quality of Mashiach is that he will be humble. Though he will be the ultimate in greatness, for he will teach Torah to the Patriarchs and to Moshe Rabeinu (alav hashalom),1 still he will be the ultimate in humility and self-nullification, for he will also teach simple folk.
FOOTNOTES
1.Lit. "Peace upon him"; a term applied to the departed. When referring to Moshe, King David, etc., it is usually written as an Hebrew acronym combined with the initials of the name, e.g. M.R.A.H. Moshe Rabeinu Alav Hashalom.
Daily Thought:
Micro-Engineering Life
At every turn, He engineers yet another opportunity for you to heal His world, to bring out its beauty, to reveal His innermost wisdom hidden within.
To unveil, perhaps with just a single act, the world of His innermost desire. [Hayom Yom 21 Iyar.]
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