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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Wednesday, Tammuz 11, 5777 · July 5, 2017Today in Jewish History:
• Purim Tammuz (Algiers) (1774)In 1774, the Spanish General O'Reilly attacked the city of Algiers and was successfully repulsed by the Dey of Algiers, Mohammed ibn Uman. Tradition has it that flames came out of the graves of the great Rabbis Isaac ben Sheshet and Solomon ben Simon Duran and contributed to the Spanish defeat. To celebrate the miracle of having escaped Spanish rule, the Jews of Algiers instituted a "Purim" on the 11th of Tammuz.
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Rabbi Isaac Bar Sheishes (Ribash)
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I heard from my masters, that if an angel were to stand in the presence of a gathering of ten Jews... such a boundless and infinite terror and dread would then befall him on account of the Divine Presence that abides over them, that he would become utterly nullified... [Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (Tanya IV:23)]
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Wednesday, Tammuz 11, 5777 · July 5, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Igeret HaTeshuva , middle of Chapter 3
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Today's Mitzvah
Wednesday, Tammuz 11, 5777 · July 5, 2017
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
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Positive Commandment 236
Personal Injury
"If men quarrel, and one strikes the other..."—Exodus 21:18.
The courts are commanded to adjudicate cases that involve personal injury cause by one person to another. [Monetary penalties are assessed to compensate for devaluation of the injured individual, pain sustained, medical bills, unemployment due to the injury, and shame incurred.]
Only an ordained court in the Land of Israel can adjudicate such cases [with the exception of medical bills and unemployment, that can be adjudicated by all rabbinical courts no matter the location].
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Numbers Chapter 22
39Balaam went with Balak, and they arrived at Kiryath Huzoth [a city of streets]. לט וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בִּלְעָ֖ם עִם־בָּלָ֑ק וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ קִרְיַ֥ת חֻצֽוֹת:
Kiryath Huzoth: A city full of markets, with men, women and children in its streets, as if to say, See, and have pity, so that all these people are not annihilated. — [Mid. Tanchuma Balak 11, Num. Rabbah 20:17]
קרית חצות: עיר מלאה שווקים אנשים ונשים וטף בחוצותיה, לומר ראה ורחם שלא יעקרו אלו:
40Balak slaughtered cattle and sheep and sent [some] to Balaam and to the dignitaries with him. מוַיִּזְבַּ֥ח בָּלָ֖ק בָּקָ֣ר וָצֹ֑אן וַיְשַׁלַּ֣ח לְבִלְעָ֔ם וְלַשָּׂרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ:
cattle and sheep: A small number, only one bull and one sheep. — [Mid. Tanchuma Balak 11, Num. Rabbah 20:17]
בקר וצאן: דבר מועט, בקר אחד וצאן אחד בלבד:
41And in the morning Balak took Balaam and led him up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he saw part of the people. מאוַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיִּקַּ֤ח בָּלָק֙ אֶת־בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיַּֽעֲלֵ֖הוּ בָּמ֣וֹת בָּ֑עַל וַיַּ֥רְא מִשָּׁ֖ם קְצֵ֥ה הָעָֽם:
Bamoth Baal: As the Targum [Onkelos] understands it:“to the heights of his deity,” [Baal being] the name of a deity.
במות בעל: כתרגומו לרמת דחלתיה, שם עבודה זרה:
Numbers Chapter 23
1Balaam said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams." אוַיֹּ֤אמֶר בִּלְעָם֙ אֶל־בָּלָ֔ק בְּנֵה־לִ֥י בָזֶ֖ה שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת וְהָכֵ֥ן לִי֙ בָּזֶ֔ה שִׁבְעָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֵילִֽים:
2Balak did as Balaam had requested, and Balak and Balaam offered up a bull and a ram on [each] altar. בוַיַּ֣עַשׂ בָּלָ֔ק כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֣ר בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיַּ֨עַל בָּלָ֧ק וּבִלְעָ֛ם פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ:
3Balaam said to Balak, "Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will happen to appear to me, and He will show me something that I can tell you," and he went alone. גוַיֹּ֨אמֶר בִּלְעָ֜ם לְבָלָ֗ק הִתְיַצֵּב֘ עַל־עֹֽלָתֶ֒ךָ֒ וְאֵֽלְכָ֗ה אוּלַ֞י יִקָּרֶ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לִקְרָאתִ֔י וּדְבַ֥ר מַה־יַּרְאֵ֖נִי וְהִגַּ֣דְתִּי לָ֑ךְ וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ שֶֽׁפִי:
Perhaps the Lord will happen to appear to me: He is not accustomed to speak to me by day.
אולי יקרה ה' לקראתי: אינו רגיל לדבר עמי ביום:
and he went alone: Heb. שֶׁפִי, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders:“alone.” The term denotes ease and quietness, that he was accompanied by nothing but silence.
וילך שפי: כתרגומו יחידי, לשון שופי ושקט, שאין עמו אלא שתיקה:
4God chanced upon Balaam, and he said to Him, "I have set up the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on [each] altar." דוַיִּקָּ֥ר אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו אֶת־שִׁבְעַ֤ת הַמִּזְבְּחֹת֙ עָרַ֔כְתִּי וָאַ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ:
[God] chanced upon: Heb. וַיִּקָּר, an expression denoting [a] casual [meeting or occurrence], and it denotes something shameful, an expression [used for] the uncleanness caused by seminal emission קֶרִי, as if to say, [God appeared to him] with reluctance and with contempt. He would never have appeared to him by day, but He wanted to show His love for Israel. — [Gen. Rabbah 52:5]
ויקר: לשון עראי, לשון גנאי, לשון טומאת קרי, כלומר בקושי ובבזיון, ולא היה נגלה עליו ביום אלא בשביל להראות חבתן של ישראל:
the seven altars: “I prepared seven altars” is not written here, but “ the seven altars.” He said to Him, “Their patriarchs built seven altars before You, and I have prepared [seven] corresponding to them all.” Abraham built four-“There he built an altar to the Lord Who appeared to him” (Gen. 12:7); “Abraham moved from there to the mountain… [and built an altar there]” (ibid. 8); “Abraham pitched his tent [and built an altar there]” (ibid. 13:18), and one on Mount Moriah (ibid. 22:9). Isaac built one-“He built an altar there” (ibid. 26:25), and Jacob built two-one in Shechem (ibid. 33:20) and one in Beth El (ibid. 35:7). - [See Mid. Tanchuma Balak 11, Tzav 1, Num. Rabbah 20:18]
את שבעת המזבחת: שבעה מזבחות ערכתי אין כתיב כאן, אלא את שבעת המזבחות, אמר לפניו אבותיהם של אלו בנו לפניך שבעה מזבחות, ואני ערכתי כנגד כולן. אברהם בנה ארבעה (בראשית יב, ז) ויבן שם מזבח לה' הנראה אליו, (שם יב, ח) ויעתק משם ההרה וגו', (שם יג, יח) ויאהל אברהם וגו' ואחד בהר המוריה. ויצחק בנה אחד (שם כו, כה) ויבן שם מזבח וגו'. ויעקב בנה שתים; אחד בשכם ואחד בבית אל:
and I offered up a bull and a ram on [each] altar: whereas Abraham offered up only a ram. - [See Mid. Tanchuma Balak 11, Tzav 1, Num. Rabbah 20:18]
ואעל פר ואיל במזבח: ואברהם לא העלה אלא איל אחד:
5The Lord placed something into Balaam's mouth, and He said, "Return to Balak and say as follows." הוַיָּ֧שֶׂם יְהֹוָ֛ה דָּבָ֖ר בְּפִ֣י בִלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֛אמֶר שׁ֥וּב אֶל־בָּלָ֖ק וְכֹ֥ה תְדַבֵּֽר:
6When he returned, Balak was standing next to his burnt offering, he and all the Moabite dignitaries. ווַיָּ֣שָׁב אֵלָ֔יו וְהִנֵּ֥ה נִצָּ֖ב עַל־עֹֽלָת֑וֹ ה֖וּא וְכָל־שָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָֽב:
7He took up his parable and said, "Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram, from the mountains of the east [saying], 'Come, curse Jacob for me and come invoke wrath against Israel.' זוַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר מִן־אֲ֠רָ֠ם יַנְחֵ֨נִי בָלָ֤ק מֶֽלֶךְ־מוֹאָב֙ מֵֽהַֽרְרֵי־קֶ֔דֶם לְכָה֙ אָֽרָה־לִּ֣י יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וּלְכָ֖ה זֹֽעֲמָ֥ה יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
Come, curse Jacob for me and come invoke wrath against Israel: He told him to curse them with [their] two names, for perhaps one of them was not [their] distinctive [one].
ארה לי יעקב ולכה זעמה ישראל: בשני שמותיהם אמר לו לקללם, שמא אחד מהם אינו מובהק:
8How can I curse whom God has not cursed, and how can I invoke wrath if the Lord has not been angered? חמָ֣ה אֶקֹּ֔ב לֹ֥א קַבֹּ֖ה אֵ֑ל וּמָ֣ה אֶזְעֹ֔ם לֹ֥א זָעַ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה:
How can I curse whom God has not cursed: Even when they deserved to be cursed, they were not cursed, [namely,] when their father [Jacob] recalled their iniquity, [by saying,] “for in their wrath they killed a man” (Gen. 49:6), he cursed only their wrath, as it says, “Cursed be their wrath” (ibid. 7). When their father [Jacob] came in deceit to his father [Isaac], he deserved to be cursed. But what does it say there? “He, too, shall be blessed” (ibid. 27:33). Regarding those who blessed, it says, “These shall stand to bless the people” (Deut. 27:12). However, regarding those who cursed, it does not say, “These shall stand to curse the people” but, “These shall stand for the curse” (ibid. 13), for He [God] did not want to mention the word ‘curse’ in reference to them [the people]. — [Mid. Tanchuma Balak 12, Num. Rabbah 20:19]
מה אקב לא קבה אל: כשהיו ראוים להתקלל לא נתקללו, כשהזכיר אביהם את עונם, כי באפם הרגו איש. לא קלל אלא אפם, שנאמר (בראשית מט, ז) ארור אפם. כשנכנס אביהם במרמה אצל אביו היה ראוי להתקלל, מה נאמר שם (שם כז, לג) גם ברוך יהיה. במברכים נאמר (דברים כז, יב) אלה יעמדו לברך את העם. במקללים לא נאמר ואלה יעמדו לקלל את העם, אלא על הקללה, לא רצה להזכיר עליהם שם קללה:
If the Lord has not been angered: I myself am powerless, except that I can determine the precise moment when God becomes angry, and He has not become angry all these days since I have come to you. This is the meaning of the statement, “O my people, remember now what he [Balak king of Moab] planned… and what Balaam… answered him… may you recognize the righteous deeds of the Lord” (Mic. 6:5). - [Ber. 7a, Sanh.. 105b, A.Z. 4b]
לא זעם ה': אני אין כחי אלא שאני יודע לכוין השעה שהקב"ה כועס בה, והוא לא כעס כל הימים הללו שבאתי אליך, וזהו שנאמר (מיכה ו, ה) עמי זכר נא מה יעץ וגו' ומה ענה אותו בלעם וגו' למען דעת צדקות ה':
9For from their beginning, I see them as mountain peaks, and I behold them as hills; it is a nation that will dwell alone, and will not be reckoned among the nations. טכִּֽי־מֵרֹ֤אשׁ צֻרִים֙ אֶרְאֶ֔נּוּ וּמִגְּבָע֖וֹת אֲשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ הֶן־עָם֙ לְבָדָ֣ד יִשְׁכֹּ֔ן וּבַגּוֹיִ֖ם לֹ֥א יִתְחַשָּֽׁב:
For from its beginning, I see them as mountain peaks: I look at their origins and the beginning of their roots, and I see them established and powerful, like these mountains and hills, because of their patriarchs and matriarchs. — [Mid. Tanchuma Balak 12, Num. Rabbah 20:19]
כי מראש צרים אראנו: אני מסתכל בראשיתם ובתחלת שרשיהם, ואני רואה אותם מיוסדים וחזקים כצורים וגבעות הללו ע"י אבות ואמהות:
It is a nation that will dwell alone: This is [the legacy] their forefathers gained for them-to dwell alone, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders it [it is a nation that is alone destined to inherit the world].
הן עם לבדד ישכון: הוא אשר זכו לו אבותיו לשכון בדד, כתרגומו:
and will not be reckoned among the nations: As Targum [Onkelos] paraphrases, they will not perish along with the other nations, for it says, “for I shall make an end of all the nations…” (Jer. 30:11); they will not be reckoned with the rest. Another interpretation: When they rejoice, no other nation rejoices with them, as it says, “God alone will guide them [to future happiness]” (Deut. 32:12). And when the nations prosper, they will receive a share with each one of them, but it will not be deducted from their account, and this is the meaning of, “and will not reckoned among the nations.” - [Mid. Tanchuma Balak 12, Num. Rabbah 20:19]
ובגוים לא יתחשב: כתרגומו, לא יהיו נעשין כלה עם שאר האומות, שנאמר (ירמיה ל, יא) כי אעשה כלה בכל הגוים וגו' אינן נמנין עם השאר. דבר אחר כשהן שמחין אין אומה שמחה עמהם, שנאמר (דברים לב, יב) ה' בדד ינחנו. וכשהאומות בטובה, הם אוכלין עם כל אחד ואחד ואין עולה להם מן החשבון, וזהו, ובגוים לא יתחשב:
10Who counted the dust of Jacob or the number of a fourth of [or, of the seed of] Israel? May my soul die the death of the upright and let my end be like his." ימִ֤י מָנָה֙ עֲפַ֣ר יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וּמִסְפָּ֖ר אֶת־רֹ֣בַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל תָּמֹ֤ת נַפְשִׁי֙ מ֣וֹת יְשָׁרִ֔ים וּתְהִ֥י אַֽחֲרִיתִ֖י כָּמֹֽהוּ:
Who can count the dust of Jacob: As the Targum [Onkelos] renders, “the children of the house of Jacob, [concerning whom it was stated, 'they shall be as many as the dust of the earth, or one] of the four camps” - [referring to] the four divisions. Another interpretation: The dust of Jacob-The number of mitzvoth they fulfill with dust are innumerable: “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey [together]” (Deut. 22:10);“You shall not sow your field with a mixture of seeds” (Lev. 19:19), the ashes of the red cow (19:19), the dust used for a woman suspected of infidelity, and others similar to these. — [Mid. Tanchuma Balak 12, Num. Rabbah 20:19]
מי מנה עפר יעקב וגו': כתרגומו, דעדקיא דבית יעקב וכו' מארבע משרייתא, מארבע דגלים. דבר אחר עפר יעקב אין חשבון במצות שהם מקיימין בעפר (דברים כב, י) לא תחרוש בשור ובחמור, (ויקרא יט, יט) לא תזרע כלאים, אפר פרה, ועפר סוטה וכיוצא בהם:
or the number of the seed of: [The word רֹבַע denotes] their copulations; the seed which issues from sexual intercourse. — [Mid. Tanchuma Balak 12, Num. Rabbah 20:19]
ומספר את רבע ישראל: רביעותיהן, זרע היוצא מן התשמיש שלהם:
May my soul die the death of the upright: Among them.
תמת נפשי מות ישרים: שבהם:
11Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them!" יאוַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם מֶ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתָ לִ֑י לָקֹ֤ב אֹֽיְבַי֙ לְקַחְתִּ֔יךָ וְהִנֵּ֖ה בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ בָרֵֽךְ:
12He answered, saying, "What the Lord puts into my mouth that I must take care to say." יבוַיַּ֖עַן וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הֲלֹ֗א אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׂ֤ים יְהֹוָה֙ בְּפִ֔י אֹת֥וֹ אֶשְׁמֹ֖ר לְדַבֵּֽר:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 60 - 65• Hebrew text
• English text
Chapter 60
This psalm tells of when Joab, David's general, came to Aram Naharayim for war and was asked by the people: "Are you not from the children of Jacob? What of the pact he made with Laban?" Not knowing what to answer, Joab asked the Sanhedrin. The psalm includes David's prayer for success in this war.
1. For the Conductor, on the shushan eidut. A michtam by David, to instruct,
2. when he battled with Aram Naharayim and Aram Tzovah, and Joab returned and smote Edom in the Valley of Salt, twelve thousand [men].
3. O God, You forsook us, You have breached us! You grew furious-restore us!
4. You made the earth quake, You split it apart-heal its fragments, for it totters!
5. You showed Your nation harshness, You gave us benumbing wine to drink.
6. [Now] give those who fear You a banner to raise themselves, for the sake of truth, Selah.
7. That Your beloved ones may be delivered, help with Your right hand and answer me.
8. God said with His Holy [Spirit] that I would exult; I would divide Shechem, and measure out the Valley of Succot.
9. Mine is Gilead, mine is Menasseh, and Ephraim is the stronghold of my head; Judah is my prince.
10. Moab is my washbasin, and upon Edom I will cast my shoe; for me, Philistia will sound a blast [of coronation].
11. Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who will lead me unto Edom?
12. Is it not You, God, Who has [until now] forsaken us, and did not go forth with our legions?
13. Grant us relief from the oppressor; futile is the salvation of man.
14. With God we will do valiantly, and He will trample our oppressors.
Chapter 61
David composed this prayer while fleeing from Saul. The object of all his thoughts and his entreaty is that God grant him long life-not for the sake of pursuing the pleasures of the world, but rather to serve God in awe, all of his days.
1. For the Conductor, on the neginat, by David.
2. Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer.
3. From the end of the earth I call to You, when my heart is faint [with trouble]: Lead me upon the rock that surpasses me!
4. For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength in the face of the enemy.
5. I will dwell in Your tent forever; I will take refuge in the shelter of Your wings, Selah.
6. For You, God, heard my vows; You granted the inheritance of those who fear Your Name.
7. Add days to the days of the king; may his years equal those of every generation.
8. May he sit always before God; appoint kindness and truth to preserve him.
9. Thus will I sing the praise of Your Name forever, as I fulfill my vows each day.
Chapter 62
David prays for the downfall of his enemies. He also exhorts his generation that their faith should not rest in riches, telling them that the accumulation of wealth is utter futility.
1. For the Conductor, on the yedutun,1 a psalm by David.
2. To God alone does my soul hope; my salvation is from Him.
3. He alone is my rock and salvation, my stronghold; I shall not falter greatly.
4. Until when will you plot disaster for man? May you all be killed-like a leaning wall, a toppled fence.
5. Out of their arrogance alone they scheme to topple me, they favor falsehood; with their mouths they bless, and in their hearts they curse, Selah.
6. To God alone does my soul hope, for my hope is from Him.
7. He alone is my rock and salvation, my stronghold; I shall not falter.
8. My salvation and honor is upon God; the rock of my strength-my refuge is in God.
9. Trust in Him at all times, O nation, pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuge for us forever.
10. Men are but vanity; people [but] transients. Were they to be raised upon the scale, they would be lighter than vanity.
11. Put not your trust in exploitation, nor place futile hope in robbery. If [corrupt] wealth flourishes, pay it no heed.
12. God spoke one thing, from which I perceived two: That strength belongs to God;
13. and that Yours, my Lord, is kindness. For You repay each man according to his deeds.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument (Metzudot).
Chapter 63
Hiding from Saul, and yearning to approach the place of the Holy Ark like one thirsting for water, David composed this prayer on his behalf and against his enemy.
1. A psalm by David, when he was in the Judean desert.
2. O God, You are my Almighty, I seek You! My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You; [like one] in a desolate and dry land, without water,
3. so [I thirst] to see You in the Sanctuary, to behold Your might and glory.
4. For Your kindness is better than life; my lips shall praise You.
5. Thus will I bless you all my life, in Your Name I will raise my hands [in prayer].
6. As with fat and abundance my soul is sated, when my mouth offers praise with expressions of joy.
7. Indeed, I remember You upon my bed; during the watches of the night I meditate upon You.
8. For You were a help for me; I sing in the shadow of Your wings.
9. My soul cleaved to You; Your right hand supported me.
10. But they seek desolation for my soul; they will enter the depths of the earth.
11. They will drag them by the sword; they will be the portion of foxes.
12. And the king will rejoice in God, and all who swear by Him will take pride, when the mouths of liars are blocked up.
Chapter 64
The masters of homiletics interpret this psalm as alluding to Daniel, who was thrown into the lion's den. With divine inspiration, David foresaw the event and prayed for him. Daniel was a descendant of David, as can be inferred from God's statement to Hezekiah (himself of Davidic lineage), "And from your children, who will issue forth from you, they will take, and they (referring to, amongst others, Daniel) will be ministers in the palace of the king of Babylon."
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. Hear my voice, O God, as I recount [my woes]; preserve my life from the terror of the enemy.
3. Shelter me from the schemes of the wicked, from the conspiracy of evildoers,
4. who have sharpened their tongue like the sword, aimed their arrow-a bitter word-
5. to shoot at the innocent from hidden places; suddenly they shoot at him, they are not afraid.
6. They encourage themselves in an evil thing, they speak of laying traps; they say: "Who will see them?”
7. They sought pretexts; [and when] they completed a diligent search, each man [kept the plot] inside, deep in the heart.
8. But God shot at them; [like] a sudden arrow were their blows.
9. Their own tongues caused them to stumble; all who see them shake their heads [derisively].
10. Then all men feared, and recounted the work of God; they perceived His deed.
11. Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him, and let them take pride-all upright of heart.
Chapter 65
This psalm contains awe-inspiring and glorious praises to God, as well as entreaties and prayers concerning our sins. It declares it impossible to recount God's greatness, for who can recount His mighty acts? Hence, silence is His praise.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David, a song.
2. Silence is praise for You, O God [Who dwells in] Zion; and to You vows will be paid.
3. O Heeder of prayer, to You does all flesh come.
4. Matters of sin overwhelm me; You will pardon our transgressions.
5. Fortunate is [the nation] whom You choose and draw near, to dwell in Your courtyards; may we be sated with the goodness of Your House, with the holiness of Your Sanctuary.
6. Answer us with awesome deeds as befits Your righteousness, O God of our salvation, the security of all [who inhabit] the ends of the earth and distant seas.
7. With His strength He prepares [rain for] the mountains; He is girded with might.
8. He quiets the roar of the seas, the roar of their waves and the tumult of nations.
9. Those who inhabit the ends [of the earth] fear [You] because of Your signs; the emergences of morning and evening cause [man] to sing praise.
10. You remember the earth and water it, you enrich it abundantly [from] God's stream filled with water. You prepare their grain, for so do You prepare it.
11. You saturate its furrows, gratifying its legions; with showers You soften it and bless its growth.
12. You crown the year of Your goodness [with rain], and Your clouds drip abundance.
13. They drip on pastures of wilderness, and the hills gird themselves with joy.
14. The meadows don sheep, and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; they sound blasts, indeed they sing.
Tanya: Igeret HaTeshuva , middle of Chapter 3• English Text (Lessons in Tanya)
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Wednesday, Tammuz 11, 5777 · July 5, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Igeret HaTeshuva , middle of Chapter 3
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אבל כל זה באדם חזק ובריא, שאין ריבוי הצומות מזיק לו כלל לבריאות גופו, וכמו בדורות הראשונים
However, all this1 applies to the strong and robust, whose physical health would not be harmed at all by repeated fasts, as in the generations of yore.
אבל מי שריבוי הצומות מזיק לו, שאפשר שיבוא לידי חולי או מיחוש, חס ושלום, כמו בדורותינו אלה
But whoever would be affected by many fasts, and might thereby suffer illness or pain, G‑d forbid, as in contemporary generations,
אסור לו להרבות בתעניות, אפילו על כריתות ומיתות בית דין, ומכל שכן על מצוות עשה ומצוות לא תעשה שאין בהן כרת
is forbidden to undertake numerous fasts, even for sins punishable by excision or execution, and certainly not for [violation of] the positive and prohibitive commands that do not involve excision.
אלא כפי אשר ישער בנפשו שבודאי לא יזיק לו כלל
Instead [the measure of fasting is] the personal estimate of what will not harm him at all.
כי אפילו בדורות הראשונים, בימי תנאים ואמוראים, לא היו מתענין בכהאי גוונא אלא הבריאים, דמצו לצעורי נפשייהו
For even in those early generations, in the times of the Tannaim and Amoraim, only the robust who could mortify themselves fasted so frequently.
ודלא מצי לצעורי נפשיה ומתענה, נקרא חוטא בגמרא, פרק קמא דתענית
But whoever cannot fast yet does so, is called a “sinner” in Tractate Taanit, ch. 1.2
ואפילו מתענה על עבירות שבידו, כדפירש רש״י שם
This applies even to one who fasts for specifically known sins, as Rashi explains there,
The very same author of the opinion that he who fasts frequently is considered “holy”, because (as Rashiexplains) his sins are thereby expunged, goes on to state that he is considered a sinner if he cannot fast yet does so.
וכדאיתא בגמרא, פרק קמא דזבחים, שאין לך אדם מישראל שאינו מחויב עשה וכו׳
and it is written in Tractate Zevachim, ch. 1,3 that “there is no one of Israel who is not guilty of [transgressing] a positive commandment…,”
Thus, though there are always sins for which one should fast, one should do so only if this will in no way impair his health; otherwise, he is considered a sinner,
ומכל שכן מי שהוא בעל תורה, שחוטא ונענש בכפליים
especially if he is a student of Torah, in which case he is doubly punished,
כי מחמת חלישות התענית, לא יוכל לעסוק בה כראוי
for the weakness resulting from his fast prevents him from studying Torah properly.
אלא מה תקנתיה
What, then, is his remedy?
I.e., what is such a person to do in order to be beloved by his Creator as he was before his sin?
כדכתיב: וחטאך בצדקה פרוק
He should comply with the verse that says,4 “Redeem your sin with charity.”
וכמו שכתבו הפוסקים, ליתן בעד כל יום תענית של תשובה ערך ח״י גדולים פוליש
And, indeed, the codifiers of Torah law specified that one should donate the equivalent of eighteen [large Polish] coins called “gedolim Polish” for each day of repentance.
והעשיר יוסיף לפי עשרו וכו׳
The wealthy should add to this amount for the redemption of each fast-day according to his means,
כמו שכתב המגן אברהם, הלכות תענית
as stated in Magen Avraham in the Laws of Fasts.5
* * *
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Note of the Rebbe: “Concerning all the laws about to be stated, see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 571 and its commentaries; Shulchan Aruch Admur HaZaken, Hilchot Nizkei Guf veNefesh, Sub-section 4.” |
| 2. | Note of the Rebbe: “End of p. 11a; see also Rambam, Hilchot Deot, beg. of ch. 3, and commentators ad loc.” |
| 3. | 7a, and see Rashi there. |
| 4. | Daniel 4:24. |
| 5. | Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 568:12, and commentaries. |
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
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Wednesday, Tammuz 11, 5777 · July 5, 2017
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
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Positive Commandment 236
Personal Injury
"If men quarrel, and one strikes the other..."—Exodus 21:18.
The courts are commanded to adjudicate cases that involve personal injury cause by one person to another. [Monetary penalties are assessed to compensate for devaluation of the injured individual, pain sustained, medical bills, unemployment due to the injury, and shame incurred.]
Only an ordained court in the Land of Israel can adjudicate such cases [with the exception of medical bills and unemployment, that can be adjudicated by all rabbinical courts no matter the location].
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Personal Injury
Positive Commandment 236
Translated by Berel Bell
The 236th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding someone who wounds another person.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "[This is the law] when two men fight, and one hits the other..." These laws are called dinei k'nasos ["the laws of fines"].
There is one general verse which includes all these laws, namely G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "[If one maims his neighbor,] whatever he did must be done to him in return." The Oral Tradition explains that [it does not mean that he is literally to be harmed in return, but that] he must pay the monetary equivalent of the damage he has caused to the other person. Even if he merely shamed him, he must pay appropriate damages.
You should be aware that all these laws involve damage that one person causes to another. They may be judged and determined only by a High Court which was ordained in Israel. The same applies for cases when an animal damages a person or another animal.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 8th chapter of tractate Bava Kama.
FOOTNOTES
1.Ex. 21:18.
2.Lev. 24:19.
• 1 Chapter A Day: Nachalot Nachalot - Chapter 9
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Nachalot - Chapter 9
1
When brothers have not yet divided the inheritance they received from their father, but instead all use the estate together, they are considered partners with regard to all matters. Similarly, all the other heirs are considered partners with regard to the estate of the person they inherited. Whenever any of them does business with the resources of this estate, the profits are split equally.
א
האחין שעדיין לא חלקו ירושת אביהן אלא כולן משתמשין ביחד במה שהניח להן הרי הן כשותפין לכל דבר, וכן בשאר היורשין הרי הן שותפין בנכסי מורישן וכל שנשא ונתן כל אחד מהן בממון זה השכר לאמצע.
2
When there were heirs above majority and others below majority, and those above majority improved the estate, the increment is split equally. If they said: "See the estate that our father left us. We will work it and benefit from the increase," the persons who brought about the increase are entitled to it. This applies provided the increase comes about because of the expenses undertaken by those persons. If the value of the estate increased on its own accord, that increase is shared equally.
ב
היו היורשין גדולים וקטנים והשביחו הגדולים את הנכסים השביחו לאמצע, אמרו ראו מה שהניח לנו אבא והרי אנו עושין ואוכלין השבח של משביח והוא שיהיה השבח מחמת הוצאה שהוציא המשביח, אבל שבחו נכסים מחמת עצמן השבח לאמצע. 1
3
Similar laws apply if the wife of the deceased was also his relative and had a right to inherit the estate together with her sisters or her cousins. If she increased the value of the estate, the increase is shared equally. If she said: "See the estate that my husband left me. I will work it and benefit from the increase," should she increase the value of the estate through investments she made, the increase belongs to her.
ג
וכן אם היתה אשתו של מת היא היורשת בכלל אחיותיה או בכלל בנות דודיה והשביחה הנכסים השבח לאמצע, ואם אמרה ראו מה שהניח לי בעלי והריני עושה ואוכלת השביח הנכסים מחמת הוצאה הרי השבח שלה.
4
The following rules apply when a person inherits his father's estate, improves its value by planting trees and building structures, and afterwards he discovers that he has brothers in another country. If they are minors, the increase in value is divided equally. If they are above majority, since he did not know that he had brothers, he is given a portion as if he was a sharecropper."
Similarly, if a brother took possession of property belonging to a minor and improved it, he is not given a portion as if he were a sharecropper. Instead, the increase of the entire estate is divided equally, because he did not have permission to make use of the property.
ד
מי שירש את אביו והשביח הנכסים ונטע ובנה ואחר כך נודע שיש לו אחין במדינה אחרת, אם קטנים הן השבח לאמצע ואם היו גדולים הואיל ולא נודע שיש לו אחין שמין לו כאריס, וכן אח שירד לנכסי קטן והשביח אין שמין לו כאריס, אלא השבח לאמצע שהרי לא ברשות ירד. 2
5
The following rule applies when one of the brothers took money from the inheritance and engaged in commerce with it. If he is a great Torah scholar who ordinarily does not abandon his Torah study for one moment, the profits are given to him. For he would not abandon his Torah studies to engage in commerce for the sake of his brothers.
ה
אחד מן האחין שלקח מעות ועשה בהן סחורה אם היה תלמיד חכם גדול שאינו מניח תורתו שעה אחת, הרי השכר שלו שאין זה מניח תורתו ומתעסק לצורך אחיו.
6
The following laws apply when a king appoints one of the brothers who share in the father's estate as a tax collector, an accountant who supervises the influx and efflux of the king's monies, or to another one of the positions in the king's service. If the son was appointed for his father's sake - i.e., his father was renowned for this skill, and the king said: "Let us appoint his son in his stead in order to act graciously to the orphans," the portion that the son who receives the appointment receives and any wages he earns in this task should be shared among all the brothers. This ruling applies even if that son is very wise and fit to be appointed on his own merit. If the king appointed him on his own merit, his wages are his alone.
ו
אחד מן האחין שמנהו המלך גבאי או סופר שמכניס ומוציא בממון המלך וכן כל כיוצא בזה מעבודת המלכים, אם מחמת אביהן מנהו כגון שהיה אביהן ידוע בדבר זה ואמר נעמיד תחתיו בנו כדי לעשות חסד עם היתומים, הפרס שיטול וכל השכר שישתכר בעבודה לכל האחין, ואפילו היה חכם ביותר וראוי למנותו, ואם מחמת עצמו מנוהו הרי זה לעצמו.
7
The following laws apply when one of the brothers was carrying out transactions on behalf of the household and purchased servants as his own individual property, or lent money to others and had the promissory note written to him alone. If he says: "The money that I lent or with which I purchased the servants is my own. It came to me as an inheritance from my maternal grandfather, 1 found an ownerless object, or a present was given to me," he is required to verify the authenticity of his statements.
Similar laws apply when a married woman was carrying out transactions on behalf of the household and deeds of purchase of servants and promissory notes were composed in her own name. If she says: "The money belonged to me. I received it as an inheritance from my father's family," she is required to verify the authenticity of her statements. Similar laws apply when a widow was carrying out transactions with funds belonging to orphans, and deeds of purchase and promissory notes were circulated in her personal name. If she claimed them as her own, saying: "It came to me as an inheritance, I found an ownerless object, or a present was given to me," she is required to verify the authenticity of her statements.
If she said: "I took them from the resources of my dowry," her word is accepted. If, however, she does not have a dowry, or in the situation described in the previous clauses, she did not bring proof of her statement, everything is assumed to be owned by the heirs.
ז
אחד מן האחין שהיה נושא ונותן בתוך הבית וקנה עבדים בשמו לבדו, הלוה לאחרים והיה שטר החוב בשמו לבדו, ואמר מעות אלו שהלויתי או שקניתי בהן עבדים אלו שלי לבדי הן שנפלו לי מבית אבי אמי, או מציאה מצאתי או מתנה ניתנה לי, עליו להביא ראיה שנפלה לו ירושה אחרת, או מצא מציאה, או זכה במתנה, וכן האשה שהיתה נושאת ונותנת בתוך הבית והיו אונות שהן שטרי ממכר עבדים ושטרי חובות יוצאות על שמה, ואמרה שלי הן שנפלו לי מבית אבותי עליה להביא ראיה שנפלו לה לירושה, וכן אלמנה שהיתה נושאת ונותנת בנכסי יתומים והיו אונות ושטרות יוצאות על שמה ואמרה מירושה נפלו לי או מציאה מצאתי או מתנה ניתנה לי עליה להביא ראיה, ואם יש לה נדוניא ואמרה מנדונייתי לקחתי נאמנת אבל אם אין לה נדוניא ולא הביאה ראיה הרי הכל בחזקת היורשין.
8
When does the above apply? When the brothers or the widow do not eat separately. When, however, they eat separately, we suspect that they saved from their food allowance. Hence, the other brothers must prove that the money was taken from the estate. Similarly, if the brother who was managing the funds died, the other brothers are required to bring proof that the money was taken from the estate, even though they did not eat separately.
ח
במה דברים אמורים באחים ובאלמנה שאין חלוקין בעיסתן, אבל אם היו חלוקין בעיסתן שמא מעיסתו קמץ ועל האחין להביא ראיה שהן משל אמצע, וכן אם מת זה הנותן והנושא בתוך הבית על האחין להביא ראיה אע"פ שלא היו חלוקין בעיסתן. 3
9
The following laws apply when one of the brothers is in possession of a promissory note owed to his father. He is obligated to bring proof that his father gave him the note, signing and transferring a document attesting to the fact that the note was given as a gift, or that, at the time of his death, the father commanded that it be given to that brother. If the brother in possession does not bring proof of this nature, the note must be shared equally as part of the estate.
ט
אחד מן האחין ששטר חוב יוצא מתחת ידו עליו להביא ראיה שאביו נתנו לו בכתיבה ומסירה, או שצוה לו בו כשהוא שכיב מרע ואם לא הביא ראיה הרי הוא לאמצע.
10
When does the above apply? With regard to brothers, because the prevailing assumption is that they take from each other. When, however, a promissory note is in the possession of another person who claims that the creditor gave it to him or that he purchased it from him, he may collect the debt. He is not required to bring proof of his claim.
י
במה דברים אמורים באחין מפני שחזקתן שומטין זה מזה, אבל אחר שטען שנתן לו או שקנהו מבעליו גובה בו ואינו צריך להביא ראיה.
11
If one of the brothers took 200 zuz from his share of the estate to study Torah or to study a profession, the other brothers may tell him: "If you do not live together with us, we will not give you a food allocation beyond what it would cost were you living with us." For the food expenses incurred by an individual living alone are much higher than they would be were he to live with others.
יא
אחד מן האחין שנטל מאתים זוז ללמוד תורה או ללמוד אומנות יכולין האחין לומר לו אם אין אתה אצלנו אין לך מזונות אלא לפי ברכת הבית, שאין הוצאת מזונות האחד לבדו כהוצאת מזונותיו בין רבים.
12
When a person died, leaving sons past majority and under majority, the older sons cannot be required to receive only what is allocated for the younger sons' living expenses. Nor may younger sons be required to receive only what is allocated for the older sons' food expenses. Instead, the estate should be divided equally.
If the older brothers married after their father's death using the funds of the estate, the younger brothers may marry using the funds of the estate, and then divide it. If the older brothers married during their father's lifetime, we do not heed the requests of the younger brothers who say: "Let us marry using the funds of the estate, as you married." Instead, whatever the father gave the older brothers is considered as a present.
יב
מי שמת והניח בנים גדולים וקטנים אין הגדולים מתפרנסים פרנסת הקטנים ולא הקטנים נזונים מזונות הגדולים אלא חולקים בשוה, נשאו גדולים לאחר מיתת אביהן ישאו הקטנים כן מכלל הנכסים ואחר כך יחלוקו, נשאו הגדולים בחיי אביהן ואמרו הקטנים לאחר מיתת אביהן הרי אנו נושאין כדרך שנשאתם אתם, אין שומעין להן אלא מה שנתן להם אביהם נתן.
13
The following laws apply when a father married off one of his sons and made a feast for him, paying for the expenses himself. If a wedding gift was sent to this son during the father's lifetime, should the wedding gift have to be repaid after the father's death, it should be repaid by the estate as a whole. If, however, the brother paid for the expenses of the wedding feast from his own resources, the brother who received the gift must repay it from his portion alone.
יג
השיא האב את בנו ועשה לו משתה והיתה ההוצאה משל אב ונשתלחה שושבינות לזה הבן בחיי האב, כשהיא חוזרת לאחר מיתת האב חוזרת לאמצע, אבל הוציא הבן במשתה משלו אינה חוזרת אלא מחלק הבן שנשתלחה לו בלבד. 4
14
When the father sent a wedding gift to a friend in the name of one of his sons, when that wedding gift is repaid to that son, it is his alone. If, however, the father sent the wedding gift in the name of his sons without making any specification, when it is repaid, it should be repaid to the estate as a whole.
The person to whom the wedding gift was sent is not required to return it unless all the brothers rejoice together with him, for they are all members of the wedding party and the gift was sent in all of their names. Therefore, if he rejoiced with only several of them, he need return only the portion appropriate for those with whom he rejoiced. The money he repays is shared by the estate as a whole.
יד
האב ששלח שושבינות בשם אחד מבניו כשתחזור השושבינות לאותו הבן הרי היא שלו, אבל אם שלחה האב בשם בניו סתם כשתחזור תחזור לאמצע, ואין זה שנשתלחה לו חייב להחזירה עד שישמחו עמו הבנים כולן, שהרי כולן שושבינין שבשם כולן נשתלחה, לפיכך אם שמח במקצתן מחזיר חלק זה ששמח עמו בלבד והרי הוא לאמצע.
15
When the oldest of the brothers dresses and garbs himself in fine raiment, he may purchase these garments from the funds of the estate if this brings his brothers benefit, i.e., because of his fine clothing, his words are heeded by other people.
טו
גדול האחין שהיה לובש ומתכסה מלבושין נאים אם יש לאחים הנאה ממנו כדי שיהיו דבריו נשמעין הרי זה לובש מתפיסת הבית.
FOOTNOTES
1.אמרו ראו מה שהניח וכו' עד השבח לאמצע. א"א אין זו הגירסא שלנו ולא של הרב ז"ל וזה שבוש הוא עכ"ל.
2.מי שירש את אביו וכו' עד שמין לו כאריס. א"א ואם ידע מה בכך הלא מורידין קרוב לנכסי שבוי קטן אא"כ יצא לדעת ולא צוה דהיינו רטושין עכ"ל.
3.בד"א באחים ובאלמנה וכו' עד ואין צריך להביא ראיה. א"א והיאך גובה בו והא קי"ל דבעינן כתיבה ומסירה, והנה הוא הולך על דרך פירוש רבו שמפרש אינו צריך ראיה דמצי למימר שטר היה לי ואבד והאי פירושא לא דייק מגופא דהא שמעתא ומשמעתא דסנהדרין במעשה דההיא סבתא דנפק שטרא מתותי ידה עכ"ל.
4.השיא האב את בנו וכו' עד והרי הוא לאמצע. א"א זה לא ידעתי מהו ולמה לאמצע והלא אינו מחזיר לו אלא חלקו וכשישאו האחרים נשים יחזיר להם חלקם עכ"ל.
Rambam:
• 3 Chapters A Day: Chovel uMazzik Chovel uMazzik - Chapter One, Chovel uMazzik Chovel uMazzik - Chapter Two, Chovel uMazzik Chovel uMazzik - Chapter Three
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English Text | Hebrew Text
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Chovel uMazzik - Chapter One
Introduction to Hilchos Chovel uMazzik
They contain one positive mitzvah: the law [requiring payment when] a person injures a colleague or damages his property.
This mitzvah is explained in the chapters [that follow].
הלכות חובל ומזיק - הקדמה
מצות עשה אחת. והוא דין חובל בחבירו או מזיק ממונו:
וביאור מצוה זו בפרקים אלו:
1
When a person injures a colleague, he is liable to compensate him in five ways: the damages, his pain, his medical treatment, his loss of employment and the embarrassment he suffered. All these five assessments must be paid from the highest quality of property that he owns, as is the law with regard to payment for damages.
א
החובל בחבירו חייב לשלם לו חמשה דברים ואלו הם. נזק וצער ורפוי ושבת ובושת. וחמשה דברים אלו כולן משתלמים מן היפה שבנכסיו כדין כל המזיקין:
2
What is meant by "the damages"? If a person cuts off the hand or the foot of a colleague, we theoretically consider the injured colleague as a servant being sold in the market place and evaluate his value before the injury and his value afterwards. The person who caused the injury must pay the depreciation in value.
This is alluded to in Exodus 21:24: "An eye for an eye." The oral tradition interprets תחת, translated as "for," as an indication that the verse requires financial recompense.
ב
נזק כיצד. שאם קטע יד חבירו או רגלו רואין אותו כאילו הוא עבד נמכר בשוק כמה היה יפה [אז] וכמה הוא יפה עתה ומשלם הפחת שהפחית מדמיו. שנאמר עין תחת עין. מפי השמועה למדו שזה שנאמר תחת לשלם ממון הוא:
3
The Torah's statement Leviticus 24:20: "Just as he caused an injury to his fellowman, so too, an injury should be caused to him," should not be interpreted in a literal sense. It does not mean that the person who caused the injury should actually be subjected to a similar physical punishment. Instead, the intent is that he deserves to lose a limb or to be injured in the same manner as his colleague was, and therefore he should make financial restitution to him.
This interpretation is supported by the verse, Numbers 35:31: "Do not accept a ransom for the soul of the murderer." Implied is that no ransom may be paid for a murderer alone, but a ransom may be paid for causing a loss of limb or other injuries.
ג
זה שנאמר בתורה כאשר יתן מום באדם כן ינתן בו אינו לחבול בזה כמו שחבל בחבירו אלא שהוא ראוי לחסרו אבר או לחבול בו כאשר עשה ולפיכך משלם נזקו. והרי הוא אומר ולא תקחו כופר לנפש רוצח לרוצח בלבד הוא שאין בו כופר אבל לחסרון איברים או לחבלות יש בו כופר:
4
Thus, the statement Deuteronomy 25:12 with regard to a person who injures a colleague and causes him damage, "Do not have compassion," means "Do not have compassion in evaluating the amount he is required to pay." You should not say, "He is poor and did not intentionally mean to injure him; therefore, I will have mercy upon him. For this reason, it is written: "Do not have compassion."
ד
וכן זה שנאמר בחובל בחבירו ומזיקו לא תחוס עינך שלא תחוס בתשלומין שמא תאמר עני הוא זה ושלא בכוונה חבל בו ארחמנו לכך נאמר לא תחוס עינך:
5
How do we know that the intent of the Torah's statement with regard to the loss of a limb, "An eye for an eye," is financial restitution? That same verse continues "a blow for a blow." And with regard to the penalty for a giving a colleague a blow, it is explicitly stated Exodus 21:18-19: "When a man strikes his colleague with a stone or a fist... he should pay for his being idled and for his medical expenses." Thus, we learn that the word תחת mentioned with regard to a blow indicates the necessity for financial restitution, and so one can conclude that the meaning of the same word with regard to an eye or another limb is also financial restitution.
ה
ומנין שזה שנאמר באיברים עין תחת עין תשלומין הוא. שנאמר בו חבורה תחת חבורה ובפירוש נאמר וכי יכה איש את רעהו באבן או באגרוף וגו' רק שבתו יתן ורפא ירפא. הא למדת שתחת שנאמר בחבורה תשלומין. והוא הדין לתחת האמור בעין ובשאר איברים:
6
Although these interpretations are obvious from the study of the Written Law, and they are explicitly mentioned in the Oral Tradition transmitted by Moses from Mount Sinai, they are all regarded as halachot from Moses. This is what our ancestors saw in the court of Joshua and in the court of Samuel of Ramah, and in every single Jewish court that has functioned from the days of Moses our teacher until the present age.
ו
ואע"פ שדברים אלו נראין מענין תורה שבכתב וכולן מפורשין הן מפי משה רבינו מהר סיני. כולן הלכה למשה* הן בידינו וכזה ראו אבותינו דנין בבית דינו של יהושע ובבית דינו של שמואל הרמתי ובכל בית דין ובית דין שעמדו מימות משה רבינו ועד עכשיו:
7
What is the source that teaches that a person who injures a colleague must pay independently for the pain that he caused? With regard to a maiden who has been raped Deuteronomy 22:29 states that payment is imposed: "because he oppressed her." the same law applies to anyone who causes a colleague bodily pain. He is required to give him financial recompense for the pain he caused.
ז
ומנין שמזיק בחבירו חייב בצער בפני עצמו [א] שהרי נאמר באונס תחת אשר ענה. והוא הדין לכל המצער את חבירו בגופו שהוא חייב לשלם דמי הצער:
8
What is the source that teaches that he is liable for the victim's unemployment expenses and medical expenses independently? It is written Exodus 21:19: "He should pay for his being idled and for his medical expenses."
ח
ומנין שהוא חייב בשבת בפני עצמו וריפוי בפני עצמו שנאמר רק שבתו יתן ורפא ירפא:
9
What is the source that teaches that he is liable for the embarrassment suffered by the victim independently? Deuteronomy 25:11-12 states: "... And she extends her hand, grabbing his private parts. You must cut off her hand." The same law applies to anyone who embarrasses another person.
ט
ומנין שהוא חייב בבושת בפני עצמו שהרי נאמר ושלחה ידה והחזיקה במבושיו וקצותה את כפה בכלל דין זה כל המבייש:
10
A person who causes embarrassment is not liable unless he acts intentionally, as implied by the phrase: "And she extends her hand." If, by contrast, a person embarrassed a colleague without intent, he is not liable. Therefore, if a person who was sleeping or the like embarrassed a colleague, he is not liable.
י
המבייש אינו חייב על הבושת עד שיהיה מתכוין שנאמר ושלחה ידה אבל המבייש חבירו בלא כוונה פטור. לפיכך ישן וכיוצא בו שבייש פטור:
11
A man is considered mu'ad at all times - whether acting intentionally or unintentionally, whether asleep or awake or intoxicated. If he injures a colleague or damages a colleague's property, he must always reimburse him from his choicest property.
When is a person who causes damage while asleep required to make restitution? When they both went to sleep at the same time, and one turned over and injured his colleague or tore his garment. If, however, a person was sleeping and a colleague came and lay down next to him, only the one who lay down afterwards is considered mu'ad. If the person sleeping injures the one who came afterwards, he is not liable.
Similarly, if a person places a utensil next to a person who is sleeping, and the one who is sleeping breaks it, he is not liable. For the one who placed the article down was the one who was mu'ad and who acted with negligence.
יא
אדם מועד לעולם בין שוגג [ב] בין מזיד בין ער בין ישן בין שכור אם חבל בחבירו או הזיק ממון חבירו משלם מן היפה שבנכסיו. במה דברים אמורים שהישן חייב לשלם בשנים שישנו כאחד ונתהפך אחד מהן והזיק את חבירו או קרע בגדו. א אבל אם היה אחד ישן ובא אחר ושכב בצדו. זה שבא באחרונה הוא המועד ואם הזיקו הישן פטור. וכן אם הניח כלי בצד הישן ושברו פטור שזה שהניחו הוא המועד שפשע:
12
If a person fell from a roof because of an ordinary wind and caused damage, he is liable for four assessments, but is not liable for the embarrassment he caused. If he fell because of an exceptional wind, he is liable only for the injury, but not for the other four assessments. If, however, he turned over so that he would fall on a person to soften the blow he would receive, he is liable even for the embarrassment he caused. For whenever a person intentionally causes injury, he is liable for the embarrassment he caused, even though he did not have the intent of embarrassing the other person.
יב
מי שנפל מן הגג ברוח מצויה והזיק חייב בארבעה דברים ופטור מן הבושת. נפל ברוח שאינה מצויה חייב בנזק בלבד ופטור מארבעה דברים. ואם נתהפך חייב בכל אף בבושת שכל המתכוין להזיק אע"פ שלא נתכוון לבייש חייב בבושת:
13
When two people injure another person at the same time, they are both liable and they divide the assessment between themselves. If one of them acted intentionally and the other acted unintentionally, the one who acted unintentionally is not liable for the embarrassment that was caused.
יג
שנים [ג] שחבלו באחד כאחד שניהם חייבין ומשלשין ביניהן. היה אחד מתכוין ואחד שאינו מתכוין זה שאינו מתכוין פטור מן הבושת:
14
If a person intended to embarrass a minor and instead embarrassed an adult, he is required to pay the adult what he would pay for embarrassing a minor.
If a person intended to embarrass a servant and instead embarrassed a free man, he is required to pay the free man what he would pay for embarrassing a servant.
יד
המתכוין לבייש את הקטן ובייש את הגדול נותן לגדול דמי בושתו של קטן. נתכוון לבייש העבד ובייש את בן חורין נותן לבן חורין דמי בושתו של עבד:
15
If a stone was placed in a person's bosom - regardless of whether he had never known about it, or he had known about it and forgotten it - and when he stood up, the stone fell and caused damage, he is liable only for the injury, but not for the other four assessments.
Similarly, if he intended to throw a stone two cubits, and he throw it four cubits and it caused an injury, or if he caused an injury while sleeping, he is liable only for the injury, but not for the other four assessments.
טו
היתה לו אבן מונחת בחיקו בין שלא הכיר בה מעולם בין שהכיר בה ושכחה ועמד ונפלה והזיקה חייב בנזק בלבד ופטור מארבעה דברים. א וכן אם נתכוון לזרוק שתים וזרק ארבעה והזיק או שהזיק כשהוא ישן חייב בנזק ופטור מארבעה דברים:
16
Whenever a person injures a colleague, he is liable for the five assessments. Even if a person enters a colleague's domain without permission and the owner injures him, the owner is liable. For he has permission to remove the intruder from his domain, but he does not have permission to injure him.
If, however, the person who entered bumps into the owner and is injured, the owner is not liable. If the owner bumps into him and is injured, the person who entered is liable, for he entered without permission.
If they both had permission to be in that domain, or neither had permission to be in that domain, and one bumps into the other and is injured, neither is liable.
טז
המזיק את חבירו בכוונה בכל מקום חייב בחמשה דברים. ואפילו נכנס לרשות חבירו שלא ברשות והזיקו בעל הבית חייב שיש לו רשות להוציאו ואין לו רשות להזיקו. אבל אם הוזק זה שנכנס בבעל הבית הרי בעל הבית פטור. ואם הוזק בו בעל הבית חייב מפני שנכנס שלא ברשות. היו שניהם ברשות או שניהם שלא ברשות והוזקו זה בזה שניהם פטורין:
17
In all of the situations to be described, the person who caused the injury is liable for four assessments, but not for the embarrassment he caused: He was chopping wood in the public domain, and a piece of wood took flight and caused injury in the private domain. He was chopping wood in a private domain and caused injury in a public domain. He was chopping wood in a private domain and caused injury in another private domain. A person entered a carpenter's store - whether with permission or without permission - and a block of wood was propelled and hit him in the face.
יז
המבקע עצים ברשות הרבים ופרח עץ מהן והזיק ברשות היחיד. או שבקע ברשות היחיד והזיק ברשות הרבים. או שבקע ברשות היחיד והזיק ברשות היחיד אחר. או שנכנס לחנותו של נגר בין ברשות בין שלא ברשות ונתזה בקעת וטפחה על פניו. בכל אלו חייב בארבעה דברים ופטור מן הבושת:
18
Just as an evaluation is made with regard to death, so too, an evaluation is made with regard to damages.
What is implied? If he strikes a colleague with a small stone that is not large enough to cause injury, or a small sliver of wood and causes an injury that this article is not ordinarily capable of causing, he is not liable. This concept is alluded to by Exodus 21:18, which speaks of "a man strik(ing) a colleague with a stone or a fist" - i.e., an entity that is capable of causing injury. He is, however, liable for the embarrassment that he caused. [For even if he merely spat on his colleague's person, he is liable for the embarrassment that he caused.
Accordingly, the witnesses have to know the article that caused the injury. This article should be brought to the court, and an evaluation is made concerning it, and a reckoning.
If the article that caused the injury was lost and the person who caused the injury claims: "It was not sufficient to cause the injury. The injury occurred because of forces beyond my control," and the person who was injured claims: "It was sufficient to cause the injury," the person who was injured should support his claim with an oath and collect his due, as will be explained.
יח
כשם שאומדין למיתה כך אומדין לנזקין. כיצד הרי שהכה חבירו בצרור קטן שאין בו כדי להזיק או בקיסם של עץ קטן וחבל בו חבלה שאין חפץ זה ראוי לעשותו הרי זה פטור. שנאמר באבן או באגרוף דבר הראוי להזיק. אבל חייב הוא בבושת בלבד אפילו רקק בגופו של חבירו חייב בבושת. לפיכך צריכין העדים לידע במה הזיק ומביאין החפץ שהזיק בו לבית דין עד שאומדין אותו ודנין עליו. א ואם אבד החפץ ואמר החובל לא היה בו כדי להזיק וכמו אנוס אני. והנחבל אומר היה בו כדי להזיק ישבע הנחבל ויטול כמו שיתבאר:
19
A metal object is never evaluated to see whether it can cause injury. Instead, we assume that it can, for even a small needle is capable of killing and surely of causing injury.
When a person throws a stone, and afterwards another person extends his head out from a window and is struck by it, the one who threw the stone is not liable at all. This is derived from Deuteronomy 19:5, which speaks of the head of an axe coming loose and "strik(ing) a colleague." This excludes one who causes himself to be stricken.
יט
הברזל אין לו אומד אפילו מחט קטנה ראויה היא להמית ואין צריך לומר להזיק. הזורק אבן ולאחר שיצא מתחת ידו הוציא הלה את ראשו מן החלון וקבלה פטור מכלום שנאמר ומצא את רעהו פרט לממציא את עצמו:
Chovel uMazzik - Chapter Two
1
When a person injures a colleague in a manner that warrants payment of all five assessments, he is required to pay all five. If he injures him in a manner that warrants the payment of only four, he is required to pay only four. If three, three; if two, two; and if one, one.
א
החובל ב בחבירו חבלה שהוא ראוי לשלם החמשה דברים כולם משלם חמשה. הזיקו נזק שאין בו אלא ארבעה משלם ארבעה. שלשה משלם שלשה. שנים משלם שנים. אחד משלם אחד:
2
What is implied? If a person cuts off a colleague's hand or foot, or a finger or a toe, he must pay all five assessments: the damages, his pain, his medical treatment, his loss of employment and the embarrassment he suffered.
If he struck him on his hand and it swelled, but it will ultimately return to size; on his eye and displaced it, but it will heal; he should pay four assessments: his pain, his medical treatment, his loss of employment and the embarrassment he suffered.
If he struck him on his head and it swelled, he should pay three assessments: his pain, his medical treatment and the embarrassment he suffered.
If he struck him on a place where the blow cannot be seen - e.g., he struck him on his knees or on his back - he should pay two assessments: his pain and his medical treatment.
If a person swats a colleague with a handkerchief he was holding, a document or the like, he should pay only one assessment: embarrassment.
ב
כיצד קטע ידו או רגלו או אצבע מהן או שסימא עינו משלם חמשה נזק וצער וריפוי ושבת ובושת. הכהו על ידו וצבתה וסופה לחזור. על עינו ומרדה וסופה לחיות. משלם ארבעה צער ורפוי ושבת ובושת. הכהו על ראשו וצבה משלם שלשה צער ורפוי ובושת. הכהו במקום שאינו נראה כגון שהכה על ברכיו או בגבו משלם שנים צער ורפוי. הכהו במטפחת שבידו או בשטר וכיוצא באלו נותן אחת והיא הבושת בלבד:
3
If a person burned a colleague with a spit or a nail on his fingernails - i.e., in a place where a wound is not made - and that does not prevent the person from working, he should pay only for pain.
If one causes a colleague to drink a drug or anoints him with a drug that changes the color of his skin, he is required to pay merely for the medical expenses necessary until his skin returns to its original color.
ג
כוואהו בשפוד או במסמר על צפורניו במקום שאינו עושה חבורה ולא מעכב מלאכה משלם הצער בלבד. השקהו סם או סכו סם ושינה מראה עורו משלם לו רפוי בלבד עד שיחזור מראהו כשהיה. אסרו בחדר נותן לו דמי שבת בלבד. וכן כל כיוצא באלו:
4
When a person shaves the head of a colleague, all that it is necessary for him to pay is for the embarrassment, for his hair will grow back. If he removes his hair with a potion or burns his head so that his hair will never grow back, he is liable for all five assessments: damages, pain and medical attention, because his head was heated by the burn or by the potion, and this will cause headaches. He must also pay him unemployment, because previously he was fit to dance and shake the locks of his hair, and he is thus prevented from performing this type of work. And he must be paid for embarrassment, because there is no greater embarrassment than this.
ד
המגלח שיער ראש חבירו נותן לו דמי בשתו בלבד מפני שסופו לחזור. גלחו בסם או שכוואהו עד שאין סוף השיער לחזור חייב בחמשה דברים. בנזק בצער ורפוי שהרי יתחמם ראשו מן הכויה או מן הסם ונמצא חש בראשו. ומשלם לו שבת שהרי הוא ראוי לרקד ולנדנד דלת ראשו בשעת רקוד ונמצא בטל ממלאכה זו. ובושת שאין לך בושת גדול מזה:
5
Thus, this indicates that whenever a person causes a colleague a loss of limb that will not grow back, he is liable for all five payments. Even if he knocked out a tooth, he is liable for all five payments. For it is impossible that he will not suffer pain in his mouth for a certain amount of time because of the loss. And although there is no medical treatment for the tooth itself, the gums require medical treatment.
ה
הא למדת שכל המחסר חבירו אבר שאינו חוזר חייב בכל החמשה דברים. אפילו הפיל שינו חייב בכל שאי אפשר שלא יחלה פיו שעה אחת. אע"פ שהשן אין לו רפואה בשר השינים צריך רפואה:
6
Even if he causes him to lose a piece of flesh merely the size of a barleycorn, he must pay all five assessments. He must pay for the permanent damage, because the skin will never return; instead, scar tissue will form. Thus, if a person injures a colleague, cuts his flesh and causes him to bleed, he is liable for all five assessments.
ו
אפילו חסרו כשערה מעור בשרו חייב בחמשה דברים. שהעור אינו חוזר אלא צלקת. לפיכך החובל בחבירו וקרע העור והוציא ממנו דם חייב בחמשה דברים:
7
A person who scares a colleague - even if the fright causes him to fall ill - is not liable according to the judgments of an earthly court; he does, however, have a moral and spiritual obligation to compensate him. This applies, however, only when he did not touch him, but merely shouted behind him, appeared before him in the darkness or the like.
Similarly, if a person shouted in a colleague's ear and caused him to become deaf, he is not liable according to the judgments of an earthly court; he does, however, have a moral and spiritual obligation to compensate him.
If, however, a person grasped hold of a colleague and blew a horn in his ear and caused him to become deaf, touched him and/or pushed him when he frightened him, took hold of his clothes or the like, he is obligated to pay compensation even according to an earthly court.
ז
המבעית חבירו אע"פ שחלה מן הפחד הרי זה פטור מדיני אדם וחייב בדיני שמים. והוא שלא נגע בו אלא כגון שצעק מאחוריו או שנתראה [לו] באפילה וכיוצא בזה. וכן אם צעק באזנו וחרשו פטור מדיני אדם וחייב בדיני שמים. אחזו ותקע באזנו וחרשו או שנגע בו ודחפו בעת שהבעיתו. או שאחז בבגדיו וכיוצא בדברים אלו חייב בתשלומין:
8
It appears to me that if the injured party claims to have been deafened or blinded and thus cannot see or hear, his claim is not accepted on faith, lest he attempt to deceive. For we have no evidence about the matter. Instead, he is not entitled to compensation unless he will be observed for an extended period of time, and it will be established that he lost his sight or his hearing. Only then, must the person who caused the damage pay.
ח
יראה לי שהנחבל שאמר נתחרשתי או נסמית עיני והרי איני רואה או איני שומע אינו נאמן. שהרי אין אנו מכירין הדבר שמא יערים. ואינו נוטל הנזק עד שיבדק זמן מרובה ויהיה מוחזק שאבד מאור עיניו או נתחרש ואח"כ ישלם זה:
9
What compensation must be paid for pain? It all depends on the nature of the injured party. There are certain people who are delicate, spoiled and wealthy, and would not bear even a slight amount of pain for a large amount of money. And there are people who are heavy laborers, strong and poor, and will bear much suffering for a single zuz. These are the factors that are taken into consideration when evaluating and determining the compensation for pain.
ט
כמה הוא הצער הכל הוא לפי הניזק. יש אדם שהוא רך וענוג מאד ובעל ממון ואילו נתנו לו ממון הרבה לא היה מצטער מעט. ויש אדם שהוא עמלן וחזק ועני ומפני זוז אחד מצטער צער הרבה. ועל פי הדברים האלה אומדין ופוסקין הצער:
10
How is the pain evaluated when there is a loss of limb?If a person cut off a colleague's hand or finger, we evaluate how much such a person would give to have this limb amputated with a potioninstead of having it cut of with a sword, if the king decreed that his hand or foot must be cut off. We evaluate the difference between the two, and the one who caused the injury is required to pay that amount.
י
כיצד משערין הצער במקום שחסרו אבר. הרי שקטע ידו או אצבעו אומדים כמה אדם כזה רוצה ליתן בין לקטוע לו אבר זה בסייף או לקטוע אותו בסם אם גזר עליו המלך לקטוע ידו או רגלו. ואומדין כמה יש בין זה לזה ומשלם המזיק:
11
How is the unemployment assessment evaluated? If he did not cause the person to lose a limb, but instead caused him to become sick and invalid, or his arm swelled but it will return to its original size, the person who caused the injury must pay the victim for his unemployment for each day, like an unemployed worker of the trade in which he is employed.
If he caused him to lose a limb or cut off his hand, he must pay him full compensation for his hand; this being "damages." In this instance, we judge him as if he were a guard at a patch of squash. We evaluate how much such a guard would earn each day and calculate the number of days he will be incapacitated. This is the amount the person who caused the injury must pay.
Similarly, if a person cut off a colleague's legs, we calculate a wage as if he were a door guard. If he blinded him, we calculate a wage as if he worked in a mill. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.
יא
כיצד משערין השבת. אם לא חסרו אבר אלא חלה ונפל למשכב או שצבתה ידו וסופה לחזור נותן לו דמי שבתו של כל יום ויום כפועל בטל של אותה מלאכה שבטל ממנו. ואם חסרו אבר או שקטע ידו נותן דמי ידו שהוא הנזק ושבת רואין אותו כאילו הוא שומר קישואים ורואין כמה הוא שכר שומר קישואין בכל יום ועושין חשבון כל ימי חליו של זה ונותן לו. וכן אם קטע רגלו רואין אותו כאילו הוא שומר על הפתח. סימא עינו רואין אותו כאילו הוא טוחן ברחיים וכן כל כיוצא בזה:
12
If a person hits a colleague on his ear or blows a horn into his ear and causes him to become deaf, he must pay his entire worth, for the victim is no longer fit to perform any work.
יב
הכה את חבירו על אזנו או אחזו ותקע באזנו וחרשו נותן לו דמי [א] כולו שהרי אינו ראוי למלאכה כלל:
13
The following law applies when a person blinded a colleague, and before the damages were evaluated cut off his hand, and before those damages were evaluated cut off his leg, and before those damages were evaluated caused him to become deaf. Since an evaluation was not made for each of the damages and ultimately, the person who caused the injury was required to pay the victim's entire worth, that is all that he is obligated to pay.
If an evaluation was made for each of the previous damages and then an evaluation was made for his entire worth, the court collects only the injured's entire worth from the person who inflicted the injury. If, however, the injured seizes payment for every injured limb and for his entire worth from the property of the person who inflicted the injury, it is not expropriated from him.
יג
סימא את עינו ולא אמדוהו קטע את ידו ולא אמדוהו וקטע את רגלו ולא אמדוהו ואחר כך חרשו הואיל ולא אמדוהו לכל נזק ונזק נותן לו דמי כולו. אמדוהו לכל נזק ונזק ואחר כך אמדוהו לכולו אין גובין ממנו אלא דמי כולו בלבד. ואם תפש הניזק נזק כל אבר ואבר ודמי כולו אין מוציאין מידו:
14
How is the assessment for medical bills evaluated? We estimate how many days this ailment will last and what will be required to treat it. The person who caused the injury is required to give this sum immediately. We do not require him to make payments day by day. This is an enactment in favor of the person who caused the injury.
יד
כיצד משערין הריפוי. אומדין כמה ימים יחיה זה מחולי זה וכמה הוא צריך ונותן לו מיד. ואין מחייבין אותו ליתן דבר יום ביומו. ודבר זה תקנה היא למזיק:
15
Similarly, the unemployment assessment is evaluated and must be paid immediately.
If the injured party's ailment develops complications and becomes extended beyond the amount originally estimated, the person who caused the injury is not required to pay him more. Conversely, if he becomes healed immediately, the assessment is not reduced.
טו
וכן השבת אומדין אותה ונותן הכל מיד. אם היה מתגלגל בחליו והולך וארך בו החולי יתר על מה שאמדוהו אינו מוסיף לו כלום. וכן אם הבריא מיד אין פוחתין לו ממה שאמדוהו:
16
When does the above apply? When the person who caused the injury agrees, for this enactment is to his benefit. If, however, the person who caused the injury says: "I do not desire that this enactment be followed; instead, I will pay his medical bills day by day" - he is given that prerogative.
טז
במה דברים אמורים בשרצה המזיק שזו תקנה היא לו. אבל אם אמר המזיק אין רצוני בתקנה זו אלא ארפאנו דבר יום ביומו שומעין לו:
17
If the person who suffered the injury says: "Assess my injury and give me the money. I will heal myself," his request is not accepted. For the person who caused the injury can say: "Perhaps you will not be successful in healing yourself, and I will be viewed as responsible for the injury." Instead, he must pay his medical expenses day by day, or pay an assessment for the entire amount and give the money for his medical expenses to the court on his behalf.
יז
אמר לו הניזק פסוק עמי ותן על ידי ואני ארפא את עצמי אין שומעין לו שהרי אומר לו שמא לא תרפא עצמך ואחזק אני כמזיק אלא נותן לו דבר יום ביומו. או פוסק על הכל ונותן דמי הריפוי על ידי בית דין:
18
If the person who caused the injury says: "I will heal you," or he says: "I have a physician who will heal you without charge," his words are not heeded. Instead, he is required to bring a professional physician who charges for healing him.
יח
אמר לו המזיק אני ארפא אותך או יש לי רופא שמרפא בחנם אין שומעין לו אלא מביא רופא אומן ומרפאהו בשכר:
19
If an assessment was not made at the outset, for the person who caused the injury chose to pay the medical bills day by day, if an infection arose because of the wound, or if the wound opened again after it began to heal, he is required to pay for the medical expenses and for unemployment.
If an infection arose that was not caused by the wound, he is obligated to pay for the medical expenses, but is not obligated to pay for unemployment.
If the person who was injured disobeyed the physician's instructions and the severity of the ailment increased, the person who caused the injury is not obligated to heal him.
יט
הרי שלא פסק עמו אלא היה מרפא יום ויום ועלו בו צמחים מחמת המכה. או נסתרה המכה אחר שחיתה חייב לרפאותו ולתת לו דמי שבתו. עלו בו צמחים שלא מחמת המכה חייב לרפאותו ואינו נותן לו דמי שבתו. עבר על דברי רופא והכביד עליו החולי אינו חייב לרפאותו:
20
When the court arrives at an assessment and obligates the person who caused the injury to pay, the entire amount is expropriated from him immediately. We do not grant him time to sell his property.
If he became obligated for embarrassment alone, we grant him time to sell his property, for he did not cause the victim a financial loss.
כ
כשפוסקין בית דין על המזיק ומחייבין אותו לשלם גובין ממנו הכל מיד ואין [ב] קובעין לו זמן כלל. ואם נתחייב בבושת בלבד קובעין לו זמן לשלם שהרי לא חסרו ממון:
Chovel uMazzik - Chapter Three
1
How is the assessment for embarrassment evaluated? Everything depends on the character of the person who causes the embarrassment and that of the one who is embarrassed. For the embarrassment caused by a child cannot be compared to the embarrassment caused by a respected adult, since the embarrassment caused by the ignoble one is greater.
א
כיצד משערין הבושת. הכל לפי המבייש והמתבייש. אינו דומה מתבייש מן הקטן למתבייש מאדם גדול ומכובד שזה שביישו זה הקל בשתו מרובה:
2
A person who embarrasses someone who is naked, or who is in the bathhouse is not liable. If the wind blew and raised a person's clothes up against his face, revealing his nakedness, and then another person removed more of his garments, the latter is liable for causing embarrassment. Nevertheless, the embarrassment caused to this person whose nakedness was revealed cannot be compared to the embarrassment of a person who was not naked at all.
Similarly, if a person lifted up his clothes to go down to a river or to ascend from a river, and another person embarrassed him, that person is liable. Nevertheless, the embarrassment caused to this person cannot be compared to the embarrassment of a person who was fully clothed.
ב
המבייש את הערום או מי שהוא במרחץ [א] פטור. נשבה הרוח והפכה שוליו על פניו והרי הוא ערום והוסיף זה בהפשטתו חייב בבושת ואינו דומה מבייש את זה שנעשה ערום למבייש את שאינו ערום. וכן אם הגביה בגדיו לירד לנהר או שעלה מן הנהר וביישו חייב. ואינו דומה מבייש זה למבייש את המכוסה בבגדיו:
3
When a person embarrasses a colleague who is sleeping, he is liable for the embarrassment he caused. If the person died in his sleep and never became aware that this person had embarrassed him, the assessment for embarrassment should not be expropriated from the person who caused the embarrassment. If, however, the embarrassed person's heirs seized this amount from the property of the person who caused the embarrassment, it is not expropriated from them.
ג
המבייש את הישן חייב בבושת. ואם מת בתוך שנתו ולא הקיץ ולא הרגיש בזה שביישו אין גובין בושת זה מן המבייש. ואם תפשו היורשין אין מוציאין מידן:
4
A person who embarrasses a mentally incompetent person is not liable. A person who embarrasses a deaf mute is liable.
A person who embarrasses a convert or a servant is liable. The following rules apply when a person embarrasses a minor: If the minor becomes embarrassed when he is shamed, the person is liable. If the minor does not feel the shame, the other person is not liable.
Even when he is liable, the liability for embarrassing a minor cannot be compared to the liability for embarrassing an adult, nor can that required for embarrassing a servant be compared to that required for embarrassing a free man, nor can that required for embarrassing a deaf mute be compared to that required for embarrassing a mentally competent person.
ד
המבייש את השוטה פטור. והמבייש את החרש חייב. המבייש את הגר או את העבד חייב. המבייש את הקטן אם כשמכלימין אותו נכלם חייב ואם לאו פטור. ומכל מקום אינו דומה המבייש את הקטן למבייש את הגדול. ולא ב המבייש את העבד למבייש את בן חורין. ולא מבייש חרש למבייש פקח:
5
When a person embarrasses a colleague with words, or he spits on his clothing, he is not liable for a financial penalty. The court should, however, impose appropriate restraints concerning such matters in every place and time.
If a person embarrasses a Torah scholar, he is liable to pay him for the full measure of embarrassment, even though he embarrassed him only by verbal abuse. The rule has already been ordained that anyone who embarrasses a Torah scholar, even with mere verbal abuse, is penalized and is required to pay 35 gold dinarim - i.e., the weight of 8 and 3/4 sela'im. It is an accepted tradition, that this penalty is exacted in all places, in Eretz Yisrael and in the diaspora.
ה
המבייש את חבירו בדברים או שרקק על בגדיו פטור מן התשלומין. ויש לבית דין לגדור בדבר בכל מקום ובכל זמן כפי שיראו. ואם בייש תלמיד חכם חייב לשלם לו בושת שלימה אע"פ שלא ביישו אלא בדברים [ב] כבר נפסק הדין ג שכל המבייש תלמיד חכם אפילו בדברים קונסין אותו וגובין ממנו [ג] משקל שלשים וחמשה דינר מן הזהב שהוא משקל תשע סלעים פחות רביע וקבלה היא בידינו שגובין קנס זה בכל מקום בין בארץ בין בחוצה לארץ:
6
There have continually been instances of this in our community in Spain. There are some scholars who have waived this payment, and this is praiseworthy of them. There are those who demand payment and reach a compromise. The judges, however, tell the person who caused the embarrassment: "You are obligated to pay him a pound of gold."
ו
מעשים היו אצלנו תמיד בכך בספרד ויש תלמידי חכמים שהיו מוחלין על זה וכך נאה להם. ויש שתובע ועושין פשרה ביניהן. אבל הדיינים היו אומרין למבייש חייב אתה ליתן לו ליטרא זהב:
7
Although a person who embarrasses someone else verbally is not liable for a financial payment, it is a grave sin. Only a wicked and foolish person abuses and insults people. The Sages of the earlier generations said: "Whoever embarrasses a proper Jewish person in public with words does not have a share in the world to come."
ז
אע"פ שהמבייש שאר העם בדברים פטור מן התשלומין עון גדול הוא. ואינו מחרף ומגדף לעם אלא רשע שוטה. ואמרו חכמים הראשונים שכל המלבין פני אדם כשר מישראל בדברים אין לו חלק לעולם הבא:
8
There are many types of blows that involve embarrassment and a small amount of pain, but no permanent damage. Our Sages have already ordained specific payments for these types of blows. Whoever strikes a colleague with one of these blows must pay this specified amount. These are all considered k'nasot.
The specific amount that the person must pay is the assessment for pain, embarrassment, medical attention and unemployment. Whether or not the injured requires medical attention and loses employment, this is the amount that must be paid.
ח
יש הכאות רבות שיש בהן ביזוי וצער מעט ואין בהן נזק. וכבר פסקו להם חכמים דמים קצובים. וכל המכה לחבירו הכאה מהן משלם אותו הממון [ד] הקצוב וכולן קנסות הן. ואותו הממון הקצוב הוא דמי הצער והבושת והריפוי והשבת. בין צריך לרפואה ושבת בין לא צריך כזה הוא [ה] משלם:
9
How much must be paid? A person who kicks a colleague with his foot must pay five sela'im. If he butts him with his knee, he must pay three sela'im. If he hits him with a fist, he must pay thirteen sela'im. If he slams his colleague with his palm, he must pay a sela. If he slaps him in the face, he must pay fifty sela'im. If he slaps him in the face with the back of his hand, he must pay 100 sela'im.
Similarly, if he twists his ear, pulls his hair, spits at him and the spittle touches his body, removes a man's garment or a woman's head covering, he must pay 100 sela'im.
He must pay this amount for every blow he gives. What is implied? If he kicks his colleague four times - even if he kicks him in immediate succession, he must pay him twenty sela'im. If he slaps him in the face twice, he must pay him 100 sela'im. The same rule applies with regard to the other payments.
ט
וכמה הוא משלם. א הבועט בחבירו ברגלו משלם חמש סלעים. הכהו בארכובתו משלם שלש סלעים. קבץ אצבעותיו כמו אוגד אגודה [ו] והכהו בידו כשהיא אגודה משלם שלש עשרה סלעים. [ז] תקע את חבירו בכפו משלם [ח] סלע. סטרו על פניו משלם חמשים סלעים. סטרו מאחורי ידו משלם מאה סלע. וכן אם צירם באזנו או תלש בשערו או שרקק והגיעו [הרוק בבשרו או העביר טלית מעליו ופרע ראש האשה] משלם מאה סלע. וכזה הוא משלם על כל מעשה ומעשה. כיצד כגון שבעט בחבירו ארבע בעיטות אפילו זו אחר זו משלם עשרים סלעים. סטרו על פניו שתי סטירות משלם מאה סלע וכן בשאר:
10
All the sela'im mentioned in this context refer to the silver coins used in Eretz Yisrael at that time. Every sela was composed of half a dinar of pure silver and three and a half dinarim of copper. Therefore, if a person became liable to pay a colleague 100 sela'im because of such blows, he is liable to pay him twelve and a half sela'im of pure silver.
י
כל אלו הסלעים הם מכסף ארץ ישראל באותו הזמן. שהיה בכל סלע [ט] חצי דינר כסף ושלשה דינרין ומחצה נחשת. לפיכך מי שנתחייב בהכאות אלו לשלם מאה סלע הרי זה משלם שתים עשרה סלע ומחצה כסף נקי:
11
When are these assessments imposed? When a distinguished person is involved. If, however, an ignoble person is involved - one who is not particular about these things or the like - he receives only the amount of money that is appropriate for him, as assessed by the judges.
For there are base people who are not concerned with being shamed and will demean themselves in any humiliating manner for foolishness and frivolity, or to receive a p'rutah from the fools who jest with them.
יא
במה דברים אמורים במכובד אבל אדם שהוא מבוזה ואינו מקפיד בכל אלו הדברים וכיוצא בהן אינו נוטל אלא לפי מה שראוי לו וכמו שיראו הדיינים שהוא ראוי [י] ליטול. לפי שיש בני אדם כעורין שאין מקפידין על בושתם וכל היום מבזים עצמן בכל מיני ביזוי דרך שחוק וקלות ראש או כדי ליטול פרוטה אחת מן הלצים המשחקים עמהם:
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class
Daily Thought:
Community and Individual
A community that builds itself by quashing the individual is not a community.
True unity and harmony is only achieved when each individual plays his or her unique part, meshing and interlocking together as a single, organic whole.[From a letter to a kibbutz member. See also 11 Shvat 5731, sicha 3. Likutei Sichot, vol. 18 pg. 115.[
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• English Text | Video Class
Wednesday, Tammuz 11, 5777 · 05 July 2017
"Today's Day"
Wednesday Tamuz 11 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Balak, Revi'i with Rashi.
Tehillim: 60-65.
Tanya: IGERES HATESHUVAH. Ch. 1. Tanya (p. 343) ... Thus far the Beraita, (p. 345).
In the Tanya edition published in Zolkvi in the year m'vasseir tov ("Herald of Good," numerically equivalent to 5559, or 1799), the first version of Igeret Hateshuva was printed. It was not divided into chapters and there are variances (from the present text) in content.
-------Daily Thought:
Community and Individual
A community that builds itself by quashing the individual is not a community.
True unity and harmony is only achieved when each individual plays his or her unique part, meshing and interlocking together as a single, organic whole.[From a letter to a kibbutz member. See also 11 Shvat 5731, sicha 3. Likutei Sichot, vol. 18 pg. 115.[
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