TODAY IN JUDAISM: Tammuz 25, 5777 - Wednesday, July 19, 2017 - Chabad.org in New York, New York United States - - ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Wednesday, Tammuz 25, 5777 · July 19, 2017

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Today in Judaism

TODAY IN JUDAISM: Tammuz 25, 5777 - Wednesday, July 19, 2017 - Chabad.org in New York, New York United States -  - ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Wednesday, Tammuz 25, 5777 · July 19, 2017
Today's Laws & Customs:
• "The Three Weeks"
During the Three Weeks, from 17th of Tamuz to the 9th of Av, we commemorate the conquest of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Holy Temple and the dispersion of the Jewish people.
Weddings and other joyful events are not held during this period; like mourners, we do not cut our hair, and various pleasurable activities are limited or proscribed. (The particular mourning customs vary from community to community, so consult a competent halachic authority for details.)
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:
The Three Weeks
Today in Jewish History:
• Passing of Rabbi Aharon Berachia of Modina (1639)
Rabbi Aharon Berachia ben Moshe of Modina (? - 1639) was an Italian Kabbalist and a student of Rabbi Menachem Azariah of Fano. At the request of the Burial Society at Mantua, he instituted rites for them. The author of many Kabbalistic works, he is perhaps best known for his work Ma'abar Yabbok, which contains mystical dissertations on purity and holiness. He also wrote additional prayers to be offered for the sick and the dead, as well as a code of conduct for their treatment. Many of the prayers recited at the gravesites of the deceased were composed by him.
Tradition has it that an angel called a "maggid" would come and study with him, similar to the angel that would visit Rabbi Yosef Caro.
Daily Quote:

And you shall rejoice in your festival --you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, who are within your cities [Deuteronomy 16:14]
Daily Torah Study:

Chumash: Matot-Massei, 4th Portion Numbers 32:20-33:49 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)

Numbers Chapter 32

20Moses said to them, "If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves for battle before the Lord, כוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ משֶׁ֔ה אִם־תַּֽעֲשׂ֖וּן אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה אִם־תֵּחָֽלְצ֛וּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָֽה:

21and your armed force crosses the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven out His enemies before Him, כאוְעָבַ֨ר לָכֶ֧ם כָּל־חָל֛וּץ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה עַ֧ד הֽוֹרִישׁ֛וֹ אֶת־אֹֽיְבָ֖יו מִפָּנָֽיו:

22and the Land will be conquered before the Lord, afterwards you may return, and you shall be freed [of your obligation] from the Lord and from Israel, and this land will become your heritage before the Lord. כבוְנִכְבְּשָׁ֨ה הָאָ֜רֶץ לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ וְאַחַ֣ר תָּשֻׁ֔בוּ וִֽהְיִיתֶ֧ם נְקִיִּ֛ם מֵֽיהֹוָ֖ה וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְ֠הָֽיְתָ֠ה הָאָ֨רֶץ הַזֹּ֥את לָכֶ֛ם לַֽאֲחֻזָּ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:

23But, if you do not do so, behold, you will have sinned against the Lord, and be aware of your sin which will find you. כגוְאִם־לֹ֤א תַֽעֲשׂוּן֙ כֵּ֔ן הִנֵּ֥ה חֲטָאתֶ֖ם לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וּדְעוּ֙ חַטַּאתְכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּמְצָ֖א אֶתְכֶֽם:

24So build yourselves cities for your children and enclosures for your sheep, and what has proceeded from your mouth you shall do." כדבְּנֽוּ־לָכֶ֤ם עָרִים֙ לְטַפְּכֶ֔ם וּגְדֵרֹ֖ת לְצֹנַֽאֲכֶ֑ם וְהַיֹּצֵ֥א מִפִּיכֶ֖ם תַּֽעֲשֽׂוּ:

for your sheep: Heb. לְצֹנַאֲכֶם. This word is cognate with,“Flocks (צֹנֶה) and cattle, all of them” (Ps. 8:8), in which there is no א separating the נ from the צ. The א that appears here after the נ [in the word לְצֹנַאֲכֶם is in place of the ה in the word צֹנֶה. I learned this from the commentary of R. Moshe Hadarshan [the preacher].

לצנאכם: תיבה זו מגזרת (תהלים ח, ח) צנה ואלפים כלם, שאין בו אל"ף מפסיק בין נו"ן לצד"י, ואל"ף שבא כאן אחר הנו"ן במקום ה"א של צנה הוא. מיסודו של ר' משה הדרשן למדתי כן:

and what has proceeded from your mouth you shall do: for the sake of the Most High [God], for you have undertaken to cross over for battle until [the completion of] conquest and the apportionment [of the Land]. Moses had asked of them only “and… will be conquered before the Lord, afterwards you may return,” (verse 22), but they undertook,“until… has taken possession” (verse 18). Thus, they added that they would remain seven years while it was divided, and indeed they did so (see Josh. 22).

והיצא מפיכם תעשו: לגבוה שקבלתם עליכם לעבור למלחמה עד כבוש וחלוק. שמשה לא בקש מהם אלא ונכבשה ואחר תשובו, והם קבלו עליהם עד התנחל, הרי הוסיפו להתעכב שבע שחלקו, וכן עשו:

25The descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, "Your servants will do as my master commands. כהוַיֹּ֤אמֶר בְּנֵי־גָד֙ וּבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֔ן אֶל־משֶׁ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ יַּֽעֲשׂ֔וּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲדֹנִ֖י מְצַוֶּֽה:

The descendants of Gad spoke: Heb. וַיֹּאמֶר [in the singular form, indicating that] they all [spoke] as one person. — [Jonathan ben Uzziel]

ויאמר בני גד: כולם כאיש אחד:

26Our children and our wives, our livestock and our cattle will remain there, in the cities of Gilead. כוטַפֵּ֣נוּ נָשֵׁ֔ינוּ מִקְנֵ֖נוּ וְכָל־בְּהֶמְתֵּ֑נוּ יִֽהְיוּ־שָׁ֖ם בְּעָרֵ֥י הַגִּלְעָֽד:

27But your servants will cross over all who are armed for combat before the Lord, for the battle, as my master has spoken." כזוַֽעֲבָדֶ֨יךָ יַֽעַבְר֜וּ כָּל־חֲל֥וּץ צָבָ֛א לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲדֹנִ֖י דֹּבֵֽר:

28Moses commanded Eleazar the kohen and Joshua the son of Nun and all the paternal heads of the tribes of the children of Israel concerning them. כחוַיְצַ֤ו לָהֶם֙ משֶׁ֔ה אֵ֚ת אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְאֵ֖ת יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֑וּן וְאֶת־רָאשֵׁ֛י אֲב֥וֹת הַמַּטּ֖וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:

commanded… concerning them: Heb. לָהֶם, like עִלֵיהֶם, concerning them, and concerning [the fulfillment of] their condition, he appointed Eleazar and Joshua, as in,“the Lord will fight for you (לָכֶם) ” (Exod. 14:14) [not “to you”].

ויצו להם: כמו עליהם, ועל תנאם מינה אלעזר ויהושע, כמו (שמות יד, יד) ה' ילחם לכם:

29Moses said to them, "If the descendants of Gad and Reuben cross the Jordan with you armed for battle before the Lord, and the Land is conquered before you, you shall give them the land of Gilead as a heritage. כטוַיֹּ֨אמֶר משֶׁ֜ה אֲלֵהֶ֗ם אִם־יַֽעַבְר֣וּ בְנֵי־גָ֣ד וּבְנֵֽי־רְאוּבֵ֣ן | אִ֠תְּכֶ֠ם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֞ן כָּל־חָל֤וּץ לַמִּלְחָמָה֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וְנִכְבְּשָׁ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ לִפְנֵיכֶ֑ם וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם לָהֶ֛ם אֶת־אֶ֥רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֖ד לַֽאֲחֻזָּֽה:

30But if they do not cross over with you armed [for battle], they shall receive a possession among you in the land of Canaan." לוְאִם־לֹ֧א יַֽעַבְר֛וּ חֲלוּצִ֖ים אִתְּכֶ֑ם וְנֹֽאחֲז֥וּ בְתֹֽכְכֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן:

31The descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben answered, saying, "We shall do as the Lord has spoken to your servants. לאוַיַּֽעֲנ֧וּ בְנֵי־גָ֛ד וּבְנֵ֥י רְאוּבֵ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ כֵּ֥ן נַֽעֲשֶֽׂה:

32We shall cross over in an armed force before the Lord to the land of Canaan, and then we shall have the possession of our inheritance on this side of the Jordan." לבנַ֣חְנוּ נַֽעֲבֹ֧ר חֲלוּצִ֛ים לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְאִתָּנוּ֨ אֲחֻזַּ֣ת נַֽחֲלָתֵ֔נוּ מֵעֵ֖בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּֽן:

and then we shall have the possession of our inheritance: That is to say, the possession of our inheritance on this side [of the Jordan] will be in our hands and under our ownership.

ואתנו אחזת נחלתנו: כלומר בידינו וברשותנו תהי אחוזת נחלתנו מעבר הזה:

33Moses gave the descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan the land together with its cities within borders, the cities of the surrounding territory. לגוַיִּתֵּ֣ן לָהֶ֣ם | משֶׁ֡ה לִבְנֵי־גָד֩ וְלִבְנֵ֨י רְאוּבֵ֜ן וְלַֽחֲצִ֣י | שֵׁ֣בֶט | מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה בֶן־יוֹסֵ֗ף אֶת־מַמְלֶ֨כֶת֙ סִיחֹן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י וְאֶ֨ת־מַמְלֶ֔כֶת ע֖וֹג מֶ֣לֶךְ הַבָּשָׁ֑ן הָאָ֗רֶץ לְעָרֶ֨יהָ֙ בִּגְבֻלֹ֔ת עָרֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ סָבִֽיב:

34The descendants of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, and Aroer. לדוַיִּבְנ֣וּ בְנֵי־גָ֔ד אֶת־דִּיבֹ֖ן וְאֶת־עֲטָרֹ֑ת וְאֵ֖ת עֲרֹעֵֽר:

35And Atroth Shophan, Jazer, and Jogbehah. להוְאֶת־עַטְרֹ֥ת שׁוֹפָ֛ן וְאֶת־יַעְזֵ֖ר וְיָגְבְּהָֽה:

36And Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran, fortified cities and sheepfolds. לווְאֶת־בֵּ֥ית נִמְרָ֖ה וְאֶת־בֵּ֣ית הָרָ֑ן עָרֵ֥י מִבְצָ֖ר וְגִדְרֹ֥ת צֹֽאן:

fortified cities and sheepfolds: This last part of the verse relates to the beginning of the passage, “The descendants of Gad built” these cities as fortified cities and sheepfolds.

ערי מבצר וגדרות צאן: זה סוף הפסוק מוסב על תחלת הענין, ויבנו בני גד את הערים הללו להיות ערי מבצר וגדרות צאן:

37The descendants of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, and Kirjathaim. לזוּבְנֵ֤י רְאוּבֵן֙ בָּנ֔וּ אֶת־חֶשְׁבּ֖וֹן וְאֶת־אֶלְעָלֵ֑א וְאֵ֖ת קִרְיָתָֽיִם:

38And Nebo and Baal Meon, their names having been changed, and Sibmah. And they were called with names of the names of the cities they built. לחוְאֶת־נְב֞וֹ וְאֶת־בַּ֧עַל מְע֛וֹן מֽוּסַבֹּ֥ת שֵׁ֖ם וְאֶת־שִׂבְמָ֑ה וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ בְשֵׁמֹ֔ת אֶת־שְׁמ֥וֹת הֶֽעָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנֽוּ:

Nebo and Baal-Meon, their names having been changed: Nebo and Baal Meon were names of pagan deities, and the Amorites named their towns after their deities, and the descendants of Reuben changed their names to other names. This is the meaning of“their names having been changed”-Nebo and Baal-Meon, changed to another name.

ואת נבו ואת בעל מעון מוסבת שם: נבו ובעל מעון שמות עבודה זרה הם, והיו האמוריים קורים עריהם על שם עבודה זרה שלהם, ובני ראובן הסבו את שמם לשמות אחרים, וזהו מוסבות שם, נבו ובעל מעון מוסבות לשם אחר:

and Sibmah: They built Sibmah, which is identical with Sebam mentioned earlier (verse 3).

ואת שבמה: בנו שבמה והיא שבם האמורה למעלה:

39The children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and conquered it, driving out the Amorites who were there. לטוַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ בְּנֵ֨י מָכִ֧יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֛ה גִּלְעָ֖דָה וַיִּלְכְּדֻ֑הָ וַיּ֖וֹרֶשׁ אֶת־הָֽאֱמֹרִ֥י אֲשֶׁר־בָּֽהּ:

driving out: As the Targum [Onkelos] renders, וְתָרִיךְ‏, and drove out, for the word רִישׁ can be used in two [different] ways, in the sense of יְרוּשָׁה, ‘inheritance,’ or in the sense of הוֹרָשָׁה ‘driving out,’ meaning to expel or oust. — [Machbereth Menachem p. 167]

ויורש: כתרגומו ותריך. שתיבת רי"ש משמשת שתי חלוקות לשון ירושה ולשון הורשה, שהוא טירוד ותירוך:

40Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh, and he settled in it. מוַיִּתֵּ֤ן משֶׁה֙ אֶת־הַגִּלְעָ֔ד לְמָכִ֖יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בָּֽהּ:

41Jair the son of Manasseh went and conquered their hamlets, and called them the hamlets of Jair. מאוְיָאִ֤יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁה֙ הָלַ֔ךְ וַיִּלְכֹּ֖ד אֶת־חַוֹּֽתֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶתְהֶ֖ן חַוֹּ֥ת יָאִֽיר:

their hamlets: Heb. חַוֹּתֵיהֶם, [Onkelos renders,] כַּפְרָנֵיהוֹן, their hamlets.

חותיהם: כפרניהון:

and called them the hamlets of Jair: Since he had no children, he named them after himself, as a memorial.

ויקרא אתהן חות יאיר: לפי שלא היו לו בנים קראם בשמו לזכרון:

42Nobah went and conquered Kenath and its surrounding villages, and called it Nobah, after his name. מבוְנֹ֣בַח הָלַ֔ךְ וַיִּלְכֹּ֥ד אֶת־קְנָ֖ת וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֶ֑יהָ וַיִּקְרָ֧א לָ֦ה נֹ֖בַח בִּשְׁמֽוֹ:

and called it Nobah: Heb. לָה. [The ‘hey’ in] לָה is not a ‘mappik’ [aspirate ‘hey’ since there is no dot in the] ה [thus indicating that it is silent, contrary to the general rule]. I saw in the commentary of R. Moshe Hadarshan [as follows]: Since this name did not remain permanently, it is [a] silent [letter], so that it [the word לָה] can be expounded as לֹא, ‘not.’ But I wonder how he would expound two words similar to this, namely,“Boaz said to her (לָה)” (Ruth 2:14);“to build her (לָה) a house” (Zech. 5:11).

ויקרא לה נבח: לה אינו מפיק ה"א. וראיתי ביסודו של רבי משה הדרשן לפי שלא נתקיים לה שם זה, לפיכך הוא רפה, שמשמע מדרשו כמו לא. ותמהני מה ידרוש בשתי תיבות הדומות לה (רות ב, יד) ויאמר לה בועז, (זכריה ה, יא) לבנות לה בית:

Numbers Chapter 33

1These are the journeys of the children of Israel who left the land of Egypt in their legions, under the charge of Moses and Aaron. אאֵ֜לֶּה מַסְעֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽצְא֛וּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם בְּיַד־משֶׁ֖ה וְאַֽהֲרֹֽן:

These are the journeys: Why were these journeys recorded? To inform us of the kind deeds of the Omnipresent, for although He issued a decree to move them around [from place to place] and make them wander in the desert, you should not say that they were moving about and wandering from station to station for all forty years, and they had no rest, because there are only forty-two stages. Deduct fourteen of them, for they all took place in the first year, before the decree, from when they journeyed from Rameses until they arrived in Rithmah, from where the spies were sent, as it says, “Then the people journeyed from Hazeroth [and camped in the desert of Paran].” (12:16); “Send out for yourself men…” (13:2), and here it says, “They journeyed from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah,” teaching us that it [Rithmah] was in the desert of Paran. Subtract a further eight stages which took place after Aaron’s death-from Mount Hor to the plains of Moab-during the fortieth year, and you will find that throughout the thirty-eight years they made only twenty journeys. I found this in the commentary of R. Moshe (Hadarshan) [the preacher] (Mid. Aggadah). R. Tanchuma expounds it in another way. It is analogous to a king whose son became sick, so he took him to a far away place to have him healed. On the way back, the father began citing all the stages of their journey, saying to him, “This is where we sat, here we were cold, here you had a headache etc.” - [Mid. Tanchuma Massei 3, Num. Rabbah 23:3]

אלה מסעי: למה נכתבו המסעות הללו, להודיע חסדיו של מקום, שאעפ"י שגזר עליהם לטלטלם ולהניעם במדבר, לא תאמר שהיו נעים ומטולטלים ממסע למסע כל ארבעים שנה ולא היתה להם מנוחה, שהרי אין כאן אלא ארבעים ושתים מסעות. צא מהם י"ד, שכולם היו בשנה ראשונה, קודם גזירה, משנסעו מרמעסס עד שבאו לרתמה. שמשם נשתלחו המרגלים, שנאמר (במדבר יב, טז) ואחר נסעו העם מחצרות וגו' (שם יג, ב) שלח לך אנשים וגו'. וכאן הוא אומר ויסעו מחצרות ויחנו ברתמה, למדת שהיא במדבר פארן. ועוד הוצא משם שמונה מסעות שהיו לאחר מיתת אהרן מהר ההר עד ערבות מואב בשנת הארבעים, נמצא שכל שמנה ושלשים שנה לא נסעו אלא עשרים מסעות. זה מיסודו של רבי משה הדרשן. ורבי תנחומא דרש בו דרשה אחרת משל למלך שהיה בנו חולה והוליכו למקום רחוק לרפאותו, כיון שהיו חוזרין התחיל אביו מונה כל המסעות. אמר לו כאן ישננו, כאן הוקרנו, כאן חששת את ראשך וכו':

2Moses recorded their starting points for their journeys according to the word of the Lord, and these were their journeys with their starting points. בוַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב משֶׁ֜ה אֶת־מוֹצָֽאֵיהֶ֛ם לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־פִּ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאֵ֥לֶּה מַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם לְמוֹצָֽאֵיהֶֽם:

3They journeyed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day following the Passover sacrifice, the children of Israel left triumphantly before the eyes of all the Egyptians. גוַיִּסְע֤וּ מֵֽרַעְמְסֵס֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן בַּֽחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר י֖וֹם לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽרִאשׁ֑וֹן מִמָּֽחֳרַ֣ת הַפֶּ֗סַח יָֽצְא֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּיָ֣ד רָמָ֔ה לְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־מִצְרָֽיִם:

4And the Egyptians were busy burying because the Lord had struck down their firstborn and had wrought vengeance against their deities. דוּמִצְרַ֣יִם מְקַבְּרִ֗ים אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִכָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה בָּהֶ֖ם כָּל־בְּכ֑וֹר וּבֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם עָשָׂ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה שְׁפָטִֽים:

And the Egyptians were busy burying: occupied with their mourning.

ומצרים מקברים: טרודים באבלם:

5The children of Israel journeyed from Rameses and camped in Succoth. הוַיִּסְע֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵֽרַעְמְסֵ֑ס וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּסֻכֹּֽת:

6They journeyed from Succoth and camped in Etham, at the edge of the desert. ווַיִּסְע֖וּ מִסֻּכֹּ֑ת וַיַּֽחֲנ֣וּ בְאֵתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּקְצֵ֥ה הַמִּדְבָּֽר:

7They journeyed from Etham and camped in Pi hahiroth, which faces Baal zephon; and they camped in front of Migdol. זוַיִּסְעוּ֙ מֵֽאֵתָ֔ם וַיָּ֨שָׁב֙ עַל־פִּ֣י הַֽחִירֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־פְּנֵ֖י בַּ֣עַל צְפ֑וֹן וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י מִגְדֹּֽל:

8They journeyed from Penei hahiroth and crossed in the midst of the sea to the desert. They walked for three days in the desert of Etham and camped in Marah. חוַיִּסְעוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י הַֽחִירֹ֔ת וַיַּֽעַבְר֥וּ בְתֽוֹךְ־הַיָּ֖ם הַמִּדְבָּ֑רָה וַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ דֶּ֣רֶךְ שְׁל֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ בְּמִדְבַּ֣ר אֵתָ֔ם וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּמָרָֽה:

9They journeyed from Marah and arrived in Elim, and in Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there. טוַיִּסְעוּ֙ מִמָּרָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אֵילִ֑מָה וּ֠בְאֵילִ֠ם שְׁתֵּ֨ים עֶשְׂרֵ֜ה עֵינֹ֥ת מַ֛יִם וְשִׁבְעִ֥ים תְּמָרִ֖ים וַיַּחֲנוּ־שָֽׁם:

10They journeyed from Elim and camped by the Red Sea. יוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽאֵילִ֑ם וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ עַל־יַם־סֽוּף:

11They journeyed from the Red Sea and camped in the desert of Sin. יאוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִיַּם־ס֑וּף וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּמִדְבַּר־סִֽין:

12They journeyed from the desert of Sin and camped in Dophkah. יבוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִמִּדְבַּר־סִ֑ין וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּדָפְקָֽה:

13They journeyed from Dophkah and camped in Alush. יגוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִדָּפְקָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּאָלֽוּשׁ:

14They journeyed from Alush and camped in Rephidim, but there there was no water for the people to drink. ידוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵאָל֑וּשׁ וַיַּֽחֲנוּ֙ בִּרְפִידִ֔ם וְלֹא־הָ֨יָה שָׁ֥ם מַ֛יִם לָעָ֖ם לִשְׁתּֽוֹת:

15They journeyed from Rephidim and camped in the Sinai desert. טווַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽרְפִידִ֑ם וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר סִינָֽי:

16They journeyed from the Sinai desert and camped in Kivroth hataavah. טזוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִמִּדְבַּ֣ר סִינָ֑י וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּקִבְרֹ֥ת הַתַּֽאֲוָֽה:

17They journeyed from Kivroth hataavah and camped in Hazeroth יזוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִקִּבְרֹ֣ת הַתַּֽאֲוָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בַּֽחֲצֵרֹֽת:

18They journeyed from Hazeroth and camped in Rithmah. יחוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽחֲצֵרֹ֑ת וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּרִתְמָֽה:

Rithmah: Heb. רִתְמָה, so named because of the slander of the spies, for it says,“What can He give you, and what can He add to you, you deceitful tongue? Sharpened arrows of a mighty man, with coals of brooms רְתָמִים” (Ps. 120:3-4). - [Mid. Aggadah]

ויחנו ברתמה: על שם לשון הרע של מרגלים, שנאמר (תהלים קכ, ג) מה יתן לך ומה יוסיף לך לשון רמיה חצי גבור שנונים עם גחלי רתמים:

19They journeyed from Rithmah and camped in Rimmon perez. יטוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽרִתְמָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּרִמֹּ֥ן פָּֽרֶץ:

20They journeyed from Rimmon perez and camped in Libnah. כוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵרִמֹּ֣ן פָּ֑רֶץ וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּלִבְנָֽה:

21They journeyed from Libnah and camped in Rissah. כאוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִלִּבְנָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּרִסָּֽה:

22They journeyed from Rissah and camped in Kehelathah. כבוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽרִסָּ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בִּקְהֵלָֽתָה:

23They journeyed from Kehelathah and camped in Mount Shepher. כגוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִקְּהֵלָ֑תָה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּהַר־שָֽׁפֶר:

24They journeyed from Mount Shepher and camped in Haradah. כדוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽהַר־שָׁ֑פֶר וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בַּֽחֲרָדָֽה:

25They journeyed from Haradah and camped in Makheloth. כהוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽחֲרָדָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּמַקְהֵלֹֽת:

26They journeyed from Makheloth and camped in Tahath. כווַיִּסְע֖וּ מִמַּקְהֵלֹ֑ת וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּתָֽחַת:

27They journeyed from Tahath and camped in Tarah. כזוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִתָּ֑חַת וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּתָֽרַח:

28They journeyed from Tarah and camped in Mithkah. כחוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִתָּ֑רַח וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּמִתְקָֽה:

29They journeyed from Mithkah and camped in Hashmonah. כטוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִמִּתְקָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּחַשְׁמֹנָֽה:

30They journeyed from Hashmonah and camped in Moseroth. לוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽחַשְׁמֹנָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּמֹֽסֵרֽוֹת:

31They journeyed from Moseroth and camped in Benei jaakan. לאוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִמֹּֽסֵר֑וֹת וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בִּבְנֵ֥י יַֽעֲקָֽן:

32They journeyed from Benei jaakan and camped in Hor hagidgad. לבוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִבְּנֵ֣י יַֽעֲקָ֑ן וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּחֹ֥ר הַגִּדְגָּֽד:

33They journeyed from Hor hagidgad and camped in Jotbathah. לגוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵחֹ֣ר הַגִּדְגָּ֑ד וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּיָטְבָֽתָה:

34They journeyed from Jotbathah and camped in Abronah. לדוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִיָּטְבָ֑תָה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּעַבְרֹנָֽה:

35They journeyed from Abronah and camped in Etzion geber. להוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽעַבְרֹנָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּעֶצְיֹ֥ן גָּֽבֶר:

36They journeyed from Ezion geber and camped in the desert of Zin, which is Kadesh. לווַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽעֶצְיֹ֣ן גָּ֑בֶר וַיַּֽחֲנ֥וּ בְּמִדְבַּר־צִ֖ן הִ֥וא קָדֵֽשׁ:

37They journeyed from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom. לזוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִקָּדֵ֑שׁ וַיַּֽחֲנוּ֙ בְּהֹ֣ר הָהָ֔ר בִּקְצֵ֖ה אֶ֥רֶץ אֱדֽוֹם:

38Aaron the kohen ascended Mount Hor at the Lord's bidding and died there, on the first day of the fifth month in the fortieth year of the children of Israel's exodus from Egypt. לחוַיַּ֩עַל֩ אַֽהֲרֹ֨ן הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶל־הֹ֥ר הָהָ֛ר עַל־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיָּ֣מָת שָׁ֑ם בִּשְׁנַ֣ת הָֽאַרְבָּעִ֗ים לְצֵ֤את בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַֽחֲמִישִׁ֖י בְּאֶחָ֥ד לַחֹֽדֶשׁ:

at the Lord’s bidding: [lit., by the mouth of the Lord.] This teaches us that he died by the [Divine] kiss. — [B.B. 17a]

על פי ה': מלמד שמת בנשיקה:

39Aaron was one hundred and twenty three years old when he died at Mount Hor. לטוְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ן בֶּן־שָׁל֧שׁ וְעֶשְׂרִ֛ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָ֑ה בְּמֹת֖וֹ בְּהֹ֥ר הָהָֽר:

40The Canaanite king of Arad, who dwelt in the south, in the land of Canaan, heard that the children of Israel had arrived. מוַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע הַכְּנַֽעֲנִי֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ עֲרָ֔ד וְהֽוּא־ישֵׁ֥ב בַּנֶּ֖גֶב בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן בְּבֹ֖א בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:

The Canaanite…heard: To teach you that it was the news of Aaron’s death that he heard, for the clouds of glory had withdrawn, and he thought that permission had been granted to wage war against Israel. This is why it [Scripture] repeats it [here]. — [R. H. 3a]

וישמע הכנעני: כאן למדך שמיתת אהרן היא השמועה, שנסתלקו ענני הכבוד וכסבור שנתנה רשות להלחם בישראל, לפיכך חזר וכתבה:

41They journeyed from Mount Hor and camped in Zalmonah. מאוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵהֹ֣ר הָהָ֑ר וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּצַלְמֹנָֽה:

42They journeyed from Zalmonah and camped in Punon. מבוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִצַּלְמֹנָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּפוּנֹֽן:

43They journeyed from Punon and camped in Oboth. מגוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִפּוּנֹ֑ן וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּאֹבֹֽת:

44They journeyed from Oboth and camped at the ruins of Abarim, on the Moabite boundary. מדוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽאֹבֹ֑ת וַיַּֽחֲנ֛וּ בְּעִיֵּ֥י הָֽעֲבָרִ֖ים בִּגְב֥וּל מוֹאָֽב:

the ruins of Abarim: Heb. עִיּי הָעֲבָרִים, an expression denoting waste and ruins, as“into a heap (לְעִי) in the field” (Micah 1:6);“they have turned Jerusalem into heaps (לְעִיִּים) ” (Ps. 79:1).

בעיי העברים: לשון חרבות וגלים, כמו (מיכה א, ו) לעי השדה, (תהלים עט, א) שמו את ירושלים לעיים:

45They journeyed from the ruins and camped in Dibon gad. מהוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽעִיִּ֑ים וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּדִיבֹ֥ן גָּֽד:

46They journeyed from Dibon gad and camped in Almon diblathaimah. מווַיִּסְע֖וּ מִדִּיבֹ֣ן גָּ֑ד וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּעַלְמֹ֥ן דִּבְלָתָֽיְמָה:

47They journeyed from Almon diblathaimah and camped in the mountains of Abarim, in front of Nebo. מזוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽעַלְמֹ֣ן דִּבְלָתָ֑יְמָה וַיַּֽחֲנ֛וּ בְּהָרֵ֥י הָֽעֲבָרִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י נְבֽוֹ:

48They journeyed from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. מחוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽהָרֵ֣י הָֽעֲבָרִ֑ים וַיַּֽחֲנוּ֙ בְּעַֽרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב עַ֖ל יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ:

49They camped along the Jordan from Beth jeshimoth to Abel shittim, in the plains of Moab. מטוַיַּֽחֲנ֤וּ עַל־הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ מִבֵּ֣ית הַיְשִׁמֹ֔ת עַ֖ד אָבֵ֣ל הַשִּׁטִּ֑ים בְּעַרְבֹ֖ת מוֹאָֽב:

from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim: This teaches you that the extent of Israel’s camp was twelve mil [a mil equaling approximately 3500 ft.] for Rabbah bar bar Channah said, “I myself saw that place [and it is three parasangs (12 mil) square].” - [Eruvin 55b]

מבית הישמת עד אבל השטים: כאן למדך שיעור מחנה ישראל י"ב מיל. דאמר רבה בר בר חנה לדידי חזי לי ההוא אתרא וכו' (ערובין נה ב):

Abel-shittim: The plain of Shittim was called Abel.

אבל השטים: מישור של שטים אבל שמו:

Tehillim: Psalm Chapter 119, Verses 1-96
• Hebrew text
• English text

Verses 1-96

David composed this prominent psalm in alphabetical sequence-eight verses for each letter. Every verse contains one of the following words (referring to different aspects of Torah): Way; Torah; Testimony; Precept; Commandment; Statement (translated here as Word or Promise); Word; Judgement (or Laws); Righteousness; Statute. Replete with morals and prayers, this psalm should be recited daily, as a powerful preparation for the service of God. (In verses beginning with one of the letters of the mnemonic PeReTZ BeN DaMaH, the word "עדותיך" is pronounced "eidvotecha.")

1. Fortunate are those whose way is artless, who walk with the Torah of the Lord.

2. Fortunate are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with all their hearts.

3. Indeed, they have not done iniquity; they walk in His ways.

4. You have commanded Your precepts to be observed diligently.

5. My wish is that my ways be directed to keep Your statutes.

6. Then I will not be ashamed, when I behold all Your commandments.

7. I will give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments.

8. I will keep Your statutes; do not utterly forsake me

9. How can a young man keep his way pure? By observing Your word.

10. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.

11. I have harbored Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

12. Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes.

13. With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.

14. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as I would with all riches.

15. I will speak of Your precepts, and gaze upon Your ways.

16. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

17. Deal kindly with Your servant, that I may live to keep Your word.

18. Unveil my eyes, that I may behold wonders from Your Torah.

19. I am a sojourner on earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.

20. My soul is crushed with a longing for Your judgments every moment.

21. You have rebuked the accursed scoffers, those who stray from Your commandments.

22. Remove insult and contempt from me, for I have kept Your testimonies.

23. Though princes sat and spoke against me, Your servant speaks of Your statutes.

24. Indeed, Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counsellors.

25. My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me in accordance with Your word.

26. I have spoken of my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes.

27. Make me understand the way of Your precepts, and I will speak of Your wonders.

28. My soul drips away out of grief; sustain me according to Your word.

29. Remove from me the way of falsehood, and graciously endow me with Your Torah.

30. I have chosen the way of faith; Your judgments have I laid before me.

31. I held fast to Your testimonies, O Lord; put me not to shame.

32. I will run on the path of Your commandments, for You will broaden my heart.

33. Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the last.

34. Grant me understanding and I will keep Your Torah; I will observe it with all my heart.

35. Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for that is my desire.

36. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to greed.

37. Avert my eyes from seeing vanity; by Your ways give me life.

38. Fulfill for Your servant Your promise, which brings to the fear of You.

39. Remove my shame which I fear, for Your judgments are good.

40. Behold, I have longed for Your precepts; give me life in Your righteousness.

41. And let Your kindness come to fruition for me, O Lord, Your salvation as You promised.

42. I will offer a retort to those who taunt me, for I trust in Your word.

43. Do not at all remove the word of truth from my mouth, for I hope [to fulfill] Your judgments.

44. I will keep Your Torah continually, for ever and ever.

45. And I will walk in spacious paths, for I seek Your precepts.

46. I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed.

47. And I will delight in Your commandments, which I love.

48. I will lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love, and I will speak of Your statutes.

49. Remember the word [promised] to Your servant, by which You gave me hope.

50. This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.

51. [Though] the wicked ridicule me severely, I have not strayed from Your Torah.

52. When I remember Your judgments of old, O Lord, I take comfort.

53. Trembling seized me because of the wicked, those who forsake Your Torah.

54. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my wanderings.

55. At night I remembered Your Name, O Lord, and I kept Your Torah.

56. All this came to me because I kept Your precepts.

57. The Lord is my portion; I pledged to keep Your words.

58. I pleaded before You with all my heart: have compassion upon me according to Your word.

59. I contemplated my ways, and returned my feet to Your testimonies.

60. I hurried and did not delay to keep Your commandments.

61. Bands of wicked men plundered me, [but] I did not forget Your Torah.

62. At midnight, I rise to thank You for Your righteous judgments.

63. I am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts.

64. Your kindness, O Lord, fills the earth; teach me Your statutes.

65. You have dealt goodness to Your servant, O Lord, in accord with Your promise.

66. Teach me the goodness and wisdom of the [Torah's] reasons, for I believe in Your commandments.

67. Before I afflicted myself, I would blunder; but now I observe Your word.

68. You are good and benevolent; teach me Your statutes.

69. The wicked have smeared me with lies, [when in truth] I keep Your precepts with all my heart.

70. Their hearts grew thick as fat; but as for me, Your Torah is my delight.

71. It is for my good that I was afflicted, so that I might learn Your statutes.

72. The Torah of Your mouth is better for me than thousands in gold and silver.

73. Your hands have made me and prepared me; grant me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.

74. Those who fear You will see me and rejoice, because I hoped in Your word.

75. I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are just; righteously have You afflicted me.

76. Let Your kindness be my comfort, as You promised to Your servant.

77. Let Your mercies come upon me, that I may live, for Your Torah is my delight.

78. Let the scoffers be shamed, for they have maligned me with falsehood; but I will meditate upon Your precepts.

79. May those who fear You return to me, and those who know Your testimonies.

80. May my heart be perfect in Your statutes, so that I not be shamed.

81. My soul longs for Your salvation; I hope for Your word.

82. My eyes long for Your promise, saying, "When will You comfort me?”

83. Though I became [dried out] like a wineskin in smoke, I did not forget Your statutes.

84. How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment upon my pursuers?

85. The wicked have dug pits for me, in violation of Your Torah.

86. All Your commandments teach truth, [yet] they pursue me with lies, help me!

87. They nearly consumed me upon the earth, but I did not forsake Your precepts.

88. As befits Your kindness, grant me life, and I will keep the testimony of Your mouth.

89. Forever, O Lord, Your word stands firm in the heavens.

90. Your faithfulness persists for all generations; You established the earth, and it stands.

91. They stand ready today [to execute] Your judgments, for all are Your servants.

92. Had Your Torah not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

93. Never will I forget Your precepts, for through them You have sustained me.

94. I am Yours; save me, for I have sought Your precepts.

95. The wicked hope to destroy me, but I meditate upon Your testimonies.

96. To every goal I have seen a limit, but Your commandment is immensely broad.

Tanya: Igeret HaTeshuva, Chapter 9
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Wednesday, Tammuz 25, 5777 · July 19, 2017

Igeret HaTeshuva, Chapter 9

The Alter Rebbe explained at the conclusion of the previous chapter that through teshuvah ila'ah, the higher level of repentance, the soul is totally cleansed and purified. It then ascends and cleaves to G-d with the same degree of unity that it enjoyed before it descended into the body. Furthermore, the Alter Rebbe quoted the Zohar to the effect that teshuvah ila'ah involves studying Torah with awe and love of G-d.

In the fourth chapter, however, he explained that teshuvah ila'ah involves reinstating the higher letter hei of the Tetragrammaton. What possible connection does this have with studying Torah out of love and fear of G-d, when these two spiritual emotions are related to the letter vav?

In order to resolve this seeming anomaly, the Alter Rebbe will now explain that the love and fear discussed in the present chapter are generated intellectually: they result from meditation upon G-d's greatness, and are thus the offspring of Binah. It is specifically this kind of love and fear that unites the hei and the vav — the intellect with the resulting emotions.

וביאור הענין, כמו שכתוב בזוהר הקדוש ותיקונים בכמה מקומות

The explanation of this subject — which levels of love and fear are related to the upper hei — is as discussed frequently in the Zohar and Tikunnim

דבינה איהי תשובה עילאה

that Binah is the higher level of teshuvah,

והאם רובצת על האפרוחים וכו'

“the mother crouching over the chicks….1”

I.e., Binah is the mother of her offspring — the love and fear of G-d.

דהיינו שעל ידי שמתבונן בגדולת ה' בהעמקת הדעת

One ought to meditate profoundly and with concentration on the greatness of G-d

ומוליד מרוח בינתו דחילו ורחימו שכליים

and through his comprehension arouse a sense of intellectual awe and love

ובטוב טעם ודעת

on rational grounds.

כענין שנאמר: לאהבה את ה' אלקיך משום כי הוא חייך וגו'

This love is that of the verse,2 “To love the L-rd your G-d…. because He is your life….” — a love based on a reason.

ולא די לו באהבה טבעית המסותרת לבד וכו'

He will not be content with the endowed, latent love alone….

This is concealed in the heart of every Jew and needs but to be revealed; such a worshipper, though, creates instead a love of G-d through his own intellectual endeavor.

וכן ביראה ופחד

So too with fear and terror of G-d

או בושה וכו' כנודע

or shame…. as is known.

This is a deeper form of awe in which one feels abashed in G-d's presence, hence fearing to rebel against Him by sinning.

When one's spiritual emotions of love and fear are born in the mind, then]:

אזי נקראת האם רובצת על האפרוחי' וכו'

this is termed “the mother crouching over the chicks….” Binah has given birth and hovers over her offspring — the love and fear of G-d.

והנה עיקר האהבה היא אתדבקות רוחא ברוחא

Ahavah, the love of G-d, is primarily the cleaving of spirit to Spirit,3

כמו שכתוב: ישקני מנשיקות פיהו וגו' כנודע

as the verse expresses it,4 “He kisses me with the kisses of his mouth….”

A physical kiss unites the inner breath or spirit of two individuals. Similarly, the internal aspects of the soul and G-dliness are united through the “breath” or speech of Torah, through good deeds, and more specifically through the concentrated study of Torah, as explained in Part I, Chapter 45.

ועל זה נאמר: ובכל נפשך

With regard to this [cleaving of spirit to Spirit] the verse says5 [that “you shall love the L-rd your G-d….] with all your soul,”

שהם הם כל חלקי הנפש, שכל ומדות ולבושיהם מחשבה דיבור ומעשה, לדבקה כולן בו יתברך

which means that the love is to be so intense that all aspects of the soul — intellect and emotions, and their garbs of thought, speech and deed — are to cleave to G-d.

דהיינו: המדות במדותיו יתברך מה הוא רחום וכו'

This means that man's emotive faculties are to be bound up with His6 — “As He is merciful [so should you be merciful]…”

Thus when a person acts kindly out of the attribute of compassion, for example. this emotive faculty of his is bound up with G-d's.

והשכל בשכלו וחכמתו יתברך

So, too, man's intellect adheres to G-d's intellect and wisdom;

הוא עיון התורה דאורייתא מחכמה נפקא

this refers to the concentrated study of Torah, for7 “the Torah issues from Wisdom.”

וכן המחשבה במחשבתו יתברך

So, too, is man's thought [to be united] with G-d's,

והדיבור בדבר ה' זו הלכה

and his speech [is to be unified with]8 “the word of G-d, which is the Halachah,”

וכמו שכתוב: ואשים דברי בפיך

as in the passages which speak of the Torah:9 “I have placed My word in your mouth,”

ודברי אשר שמתי בפיך

and10 “My words that I have placed in your mouth.”

והמעשה הוא מעשה הצדקה

Man's deeds [shall likewise be united with His deeds] through works of charity,

להחיות רוח שפלים

to revive the spirit of the crestfallen,

Acting thus unites man with His Maker, for He too provides life and “revives the spirit” of created beings",

כמו שכתוב: כי ששת ימים עשה ה' וגו' כנודע במקום אחר

as the verse states11 “For six days G-d wrought….,” as is explained elsewhere.

The expression used concerning G-d's activity during the Six Days of Creation — a verb expressing action and doing — indicates that the Divine powers had to descend even to the nethermost level of mere action, in order to create and vitalize the inconsequential beings of creation.

וזו היא אתדבקות דרוחא ברוחא, בתכלית הדביקות ויחוד, כשהיא מחמת אהבה וכו'

This is the cleaving of spirit to Spirit — the ultimate attachment and union that result from love….

Ultimate union with G-d through Torah study is attained only when it is the result of love. Thus, while it is true that when one studies Torah simply out of one's acceptance of the Yoke of Heaven he also achieves a measure of the cleaving of spirit of Spirit, this cannot compare to the degree of attachment that is attained when the same study is motivated by a love of G-d. Hence, since teshuvah ila'ah is a manifestation of the soul's ultimate attachment with G-d, it follows that “Teshuva ila'ah means engaging in the study of Torah in awe and love of the Holy One, blessed be He,” as the Zohar teaches.

ולפי שפגם הברית בהוצאת זרע לבטלה

Since the violation of the covenant through wasteful emission,

ואין צריך לומר בעריות, או שאר איסורי ביאה דאורייתא או דרבנן

to say nothing of incestuous relations, or other unions prohibited by the Torah or the Sages

(כי חמורים דברי סופרים וכו')

(12 for13 “the words i.e. the prohibitions of the Sages are more grave [than even the words i.e., the prohibitions of the Torah]”),

פוגם במוח

causes a blemish in the mind,

לכן תיקונו הוא, דיתעסק באורייתא דמחכמה נפקא

therefore his rectification is secured by engaging in the study of the Torah, which derives from Wisdom.

This explains why it was stated in Chapter 4 that only teshuvah ila'ah — “engaging in the study of the Torah in awe and love of the Holy One, blessed be He” — is effective in remedying this sin.

וזהו שכתוב בתנא דבי אליהו: אדם עבר עבירה ונתחייב מיתה למקום, מה יעשה ויחיה

We threfore find in Tana devei Eliyahu:14 "A man commits a sin and is liable to death before Al-mighty (for the above-mentioned sin carries with it the punishment of death by Divine agency); what shall he do and live?

אם היה רגיל לקרות דף אחד יקרא ב' דפים, לשנות פרק אחד ישנה ב' פרקים וכו'

If he was accustomed to studying one page [of Written Law], let him study two; if he was accustomed to studying one chapter [of the Oral Law], let his study two chapters…."

Why is sin punishable by death by Divine agency, such as the sin of wasteful emission, rectifiable by an increase in Torah study?

והיינו: כמשל חבל הנפסק וחוזר וקושרו

This resembles a rope that is severed and then reknotted:

שבמקום הקשר הוא כפול ומכופל

the site of the knot is twofold and fourfold thicker than the rest of the rope.

וככה הוא בחבל נחלתו וכו'

So it is with the “rope of [G-d's] heritage,” with the soul's bond with its Source.

If this relationship was severed by sin, then repentance must reknot the cord doubly and fourfold. And this is accomplished through the study of the Torah.

וזהו שאמר הכתוב: בחסד ואמת יכופר עון וכו'

Thus Scripture states,15 “Through kindness and truth is sin forgiven …..,”

ואין אמת אלא תורה

and16 “there is no truth but Torah….”

Thus it is through the study of Torah that sin is forgiven.

ועון בית עלי בזבח ומנחה הוא דאינו מתכפר, אבל מתכפר בתורה וגמילות חסדים

Similarly, on the statement in Scripture17 that “the sin of the house of Eli will not be atoned by sacrifices and offerings,” the Gemara comments: “By sacrifices and offerings will the sin of the House of Eli not be atoned, but it will be atoned through the study of Torah and through good deeds,”

כדאיתא בסוף פרק קמא דראש השנה

as explained at the end of the first chapter18 of Rosh HaShanah.

FOOTNOTES

1.Devarim 22:6.

2.Ibid. 30:20.

3.Note of the Rebbe: “There are many differences between the way in which the `cleaving of spirit to Spirit' is explained here, and earlier on in chapter 49 [of Part I].”

4.Shir HaShirim 1:2.

5.6:5.

6., Peah 1:1, et al.

7.I, 85a.

8.138b.

9.51:16.

10.. 59:12.

11.20:11.

12.are in the original text.

13.. Sanhedrin 88b.

14.. Vayikra Rabbah, beginning. of chapter 25.

15.16:6.

16.. Berachot 5b.

17.Shmuel 3:14.

18.his glosses on Tanya, the Rebbe notes that the Alter Rebbe's reference to “the end of the first chapter” is somewhat problematic, for this statement appears four pages before the end of that chapter, on page 18a.

Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
English Text | Hebrew Text
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Wednesday, Tammuz 25, 5777 · July 19, 2017

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.

Negative Commandment 253 (Digest)

Cheating a Convert

"Do not distress him"—Exodus 22:20.

It is forbidden cheat a convert in the course of commerce [by deceptively overcharging or underpaying for merchandise]. Though it is forbidden to cheat anyone, one who cheats a convert transgresses this additional prohibition, too.

The 253rd prohibition is that we are forbidden from causing financial damage to a convert.

The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement,1 "Do not oppress him."

In the words of the Mechilta: "The verse 'Do not oppress him' means to do so financially."

It has already been explained in tractate Bava Metzia2 that one who [verbally] causes distress to a convert transgresses the prohibitions "V'lo sonu one another"3 and "Do not wrong a convert."4 One who oppresses him [financially] transgresses the prohibition, "Do not oppress him," in addition to the general prohibition that includes all Jews, ona'as mamon.5

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

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

FOOTNOTES

1.Ex. 22:20.

2.59b.

3.N251.

4.N252.

5.N250.

Translation of (the unabridged text of) Sefer Hamitzvot by Rabbi Berel Bell, member of the Rabbinical Court of Montreal and director of Teacher Training for the Jewish Learning Institute.

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

Rambam:

• 1 Chapter A Day: Sanhedrin veha`Onashin haMesurin lahem Sanhedrin veha`Onashin haMesurin lahem - Chapter 12
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Sanhedrin veha`Onashin haMesurin lahem - Chapter 12

1

How are cases involving capital punishment judged? When the witnesses come to the court and say: "We saw this person violate such-and-such a transgression," the judges ask them: "Do you recognize him? Did you give him a warning?"

If they answer: "We do not recognize him," "We are unsure of his identity," or "We did not warn him," the defendant is exonerated.

א

כיצד דנין דיני נפשות כשיבואו עדים לבית דין ואומרים ראינו פלוני זה שעבר עבירה פלונית אומרין להן מכירין אתם אותו התריתם בו אם אמר אין אנו מכירין אותו או נסתפק לנו או שלא התרו בו הרי זה פטור:

2

Both a Torah scholar and a common person need a warning, for the obligation for a warning was instituted only to make a distinction between a person who transgresses inadvertently and one who transgresses intentionally, lest the person say: "I transgressed inadvertently."

How is a warning administered? We tell him: "Desist..." or "Do not do it. It is a transgression and you are liable to be executed by the court..." or "to receive lashes for it." If he ceases, he is not liable. Similarly, if he remains silent or nods his head, he is not liable for punishment. Even if he says: "I know," he is not liable for punishment until he accepts death upon himself, saying: "It is for this reason that I am doing this." In such a situation, he is executed.

He must commit the transgression directly after receiving the warning, within the time to offer a salutation. If he waits longer than that, a second warning is necessary.

The warning is acceptable whether it was administered by one of the witnesses or by another individual, even a woman or a servant. Even if the transgressor hears the voice of the person administering the warning, but does not see him, and even if he himself administers the warning, he should be executed.

ב

אחד תלמיד חכם ואחד עם הארץ צריך התראה שלא ניתנה התראה אלא להבחין בין שוגג למזיד שמא שוגג היה וכיצד מתרין בו אומרין לו פרוש או אל תעשה שזו עבירה היא וחייב אתה עליה מיתת בית דין או מלקות אם פירש פטור וכן אם שתק או הרכין בראשו פטור ואפילו אמר יודע אני פטור עד שיתיר עצמו למיתה יאמר על מנת כן אני עושה ואח"כ יהרג וצריך שיעבור ויעשה תיכף להתראה בתוך כדי דיבור אבל אחר כדי דבור צריך התראה אחרת ובין שהתרה בו אחד מן העדים ובין שהתרה בו אחר בפני עדים אפילו אשה או עבד אפילו שמע קול המתרה ולא ראהו ואפילו התרה בעצמו הרי זה נהרג:

3

If the witnesses say: "He was given a warning and we recognize him," the court intimidates them.

How do they intimidate them in cases involving capital punishment? They say: "Maybe you are speaking on the basis of supposition, or on the basis of hearsay, one witness from another witness, or maybe you heard from a trustworthy person?" "Maybe you do not know that ultimately we will subject you to questions and crossexamination?"

"Know that cases involving capital punishment do not resemble those involving financial matters. With regard to financial matters, if there is any deceit, a person can make financial restitution and receive atonement. With regard to capital punishment, the victim's blood and the blood of his unborn descendants are dependent on the murderer until eternity. As it is said with regard to Cain, 'The voice of the blood of your brother is crying out.' The Torah uses the plural form of the word blood, implying his blood and the blood of his descendants.

"For this reason, man was created alone in the world. This teaches us that a person who eliminates one soul from the world is considered as if he eliminated an entire world. Conversely, a person who saves one soul is considered as if he saved an entire world.

"All the inhabitants of the world are created in the image of Adam, the first man, and yet no one person's face resembles the face of his colleague. Therefore each person can say: 'The world was created for me.'

"If you might say: 'Why should we enter this difficulty?' It is written Leviticus 5:1: 'If he witnessed, observed, or knew....' If you will say: 'Why should we become responsible for shedding the defendant's blood? It is already said: 'At the destruction of the wicked, there is joy. '

If they stand by their word, the witness of the greater stature is brought into the court alone and he is questioned and cross-examined, as will be explained in Hilchot Edut. If his testimony appears to be factual, the second witness is brought into the court, and he is questioned as the first one was. Even if there are 100 witnesses, each one is questioned and cross-examined.

If the testimony of all the witnesses is accurate, we begin the judgment with a statement that tends to acquittal as stated. We tell him: "If you did not transgress, do not fear their words." Then we judge him. If grounds for acquittal are found, he is released. If they do not find grounds for acquittal, the defendant is imprisoned until the following day.

On that day, the Sanhedrin divides itself into pairs and they examine the judgment. They eat little and do not drink wine throughout that entire day. They debate the matter throughout the night, each one with his comrade or alone. On the morrow, they come to the court early. Each of those who voted for acquittal state: "I am the one who voted for acquittal yesterday, and I still favor that ruling." Each of those who voted for conviction state: "I am the one who voted for conviction yesterday, and I still favor that ruling," or "...I have changed my mind and I vote for acquittal." If they erred in that regard, or did not know who voted for conviction or who voted for acquittal on the basis of one rationale and hence are considered only as one, as we explained, the two scribes of the court remind them, for they write down the rationale given by each one of them.

We begin the judgment. If they find a rationale to acquit him, they acquit him. If it is necessary to add judges, they add. If there is a majority of judges who seek to convict him, and he is convicted, he is taken out to be executed immediately.

The place where the court conducts the execution is outside the court and removed from it, as implied by Leviticus 24:14: "Take the blasphemer outside the camp...." It appears to me that it should be approximately 6 mil , the distance between the court of Moses our teacher which was before the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and the extremities of the camp of the Jewish people.

ג

אמרו העדים היתה לו התראה ומכירין אנו אותו מאיימין בית דין עליהן וכיצד מאיימין על עסקי נפשות אומרים להן שמא תאמרו מאומד ומשמועה עד מפי עד מפי אדם נאמן שמעתם או שמא אין אתם יודעים שסופנו לבדוק אתכם בדרישה וחקירה הוו יודעים שלא כדיני ממונות דיני נפשות דיני ממונות אדם נותן ממונו ומתכפר לו דיני נפשות דמו ודם זרעו תלויין בו עד סוף כל העולם שהרי בקין נאמר קול דמי אחיך צועקים דמו ודם זרעו לפיכך נברא אדם יחידי בעולם ללמד שכל המאבד נפש אחת מן העולם מעלין עליו כאילו איבד עולם מלא וכל המקיים נפש אחת בעולם מעלין עליו כאילו קיים עולם מלא הרי כל באי עולם בצורת אדם הראשון הם נבראים ואין פני כל אחד מהן דומין לפני חבירו לפיכך כל אחד ואחד יכול לומר בשבילי נברא העולם שמא תאמרו מה לנו ולצרה זו הלא כבר נאמר והוא עד או ראה או ידע או שמא תאמרו מה לנו לחוב בדמו של זה והלא כבר נאמר ובאבוד רשעים רנה אם עמדו בדבריהן מכניסין את הגדול שבעדים ובודקים אותו בדרישה וחקירה כמו שיתבאר בהלכות עדות אם נמצאת עדותו מכוונת מכניסין את השני ובודקין אותו כראשון אפילו היו מאה עדים בודקין כל אחד ואחד בדרישה וחקירה:

נמצאו דברי כל העדים מכוונים פותחין לזכות כמו שביארנו ואומרים אם לא חטאת אל תירא מדבריהם ודנין אותו אם מצאו לו זכות פטרוהו ואם לא מצאו לו זכות אוסרין אותו עד למחר ובו ביום מזדווגין הסנהדרין זוגות זוגות לעיין בדינו וממעטין במאכל ואין שותין יין כל אותו היום ונושאין בדבר כל הלילה כל אחד ואחד עם זוג שלו או עם עצמו בביתו ולמחרת משכימין לבית דין המזכה אומר אני הוא המזכה ומזכה אני במקומי והמחייב אומר אני הוא המחייב ומחייב אני במקומי או חזרתי בי ואני מזכה ואם טעו בדבר ולא ידעו מי הם שחייבו או זיכו מטעם אחד שאינן נחשבין אלא כאחד כמו שביארנו הרי סופרי הדיינין מזכירין אותן שהרי כותבין טעם של כל אחד ואחד ומתחילין בדינו אם מצאו לו זכות פטרוהו ואם הוצרכו להוסיף מוסיפין רבו המחייבין ונתחייב מוציאין אותו להרגו ומקום שהורגין בו בית דין היה חוץ לבית דין ורחוק מבית דין שנאמר הוצא את המקלל אל מחוץ למחנה ויראה לי שיהיה רחוק כמו ששה מילין כמו שהיה בין בית דינו של משה רבינו שהיה לפני פתח אהל מועד ובין מחנה ישראל:

4

After a defendant has been convicted, we do not delay the matter, but instead execute him immediately. Even if a woman is pregnant, we do not wait until she gives birth. Instead, we give her a blow against the womb so that the fetus will die first. If, by contrast, she is already in the throes of labor, we wait until she gives birth.

Whenever a woman is executed, it is permitted to benefit from her hair.

ד

משנגמר דינו אין משהין אותו אלא יהרג ביומו אפילו היתה עוברה אין ממתינין לה עד שתלד ומכין אותה כנגד בית ההריון עד שימות הולד תחלה אבל אם ישבה על המשבר ממתינין לה עד שתלד וכל אשה שתהרג מותר ליהנות בשערה:

5

When a person is being taken out to be executed and a sacrifice of his has already been slaughtered, we do not execute him until the blood of his sin offering or guilt offering has been sprinkled on the altar for his sake. If, however, he was already convicted and the animal designated as a sacrifice has not been slaughtered already, we do not wait until the sacrifice is brought, for we do not prolong his judgment.

ה

מי שיצא ליהרג והיה זבחו זבוח אין הורגין אותו עד שמזין עליו מדם חטאתו ואשמו ואם נגמר דינו ועדיין לא נשחט הזבח אין ממתינין לו עד שיקריבו עליו קרבנו שאין מענין את דינו:

Rambam:

• 3 Chapters A Day: Mechirah Mechirah - Chapter Twenty Two, Mechirah Mechirah - Chapter Twenty Three, Mechirah Mechirah - Chapter Twenty Four
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Mechirah - Chapter Twenty Two

1

A person cannot transfer ownership over an article that has not yet come into existence. This applies with regard to a sale, with regard to a present or with regard to the disposition of an oral will.

What is implied? If a person states: "What my field will produce is sold to you," "What this tree will grow is given to you," "Give so and so the offspring that this animal bears," the recipient does not acquire anything. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.

א

אין אדם מקנה דבר שלא בא לעולם בין במכר בין במתנה בין במתנת שכיב מרע כיצד מה שתוציא שדה זו מכור לך מה שיוציא אילן זה נתון לך תנו מה שתלד בהמה זו לפלוני לא קנה כלום וכן כל כיוצא בזה:

2

When a person sells the fruit of a date palm to a colleague, he may retract even after the fruits of the date palm have already come into existence. If the purchaser harvests the fruits, they are not expropriated from him. If either of them retracts, he is not required to receive the adjuration mi shepara.

ב

המוכר פירות דקל לחבירו יכול לחזור בו אף לאחר שבאו הפירות לעולם ואם שמט הלוקח ואכל אין מוציאין מידו וכל החוזר בו משניהם אין חייב לקבל מי שפרע:

3

When, however, a person sells produce at the market price, although the seller was not in possession of the type of produce, the seller is obligated to purchase the amount of produce he pledged, and give it to the purchaser. If he retracts, he must receive the adjuration mi shepara.

ג

אבל הפוסק על שער שבשוק ולא היה אותו המין שפסק עליו ברשות מוכר חייב לקנות וליתן ללוקח מה שפסק ואם חזר מקבל מי שפרע:

4

The following rules apply when a person sells produce at the market price, promising to give four se'ah for a sela. Even if the grain was in stalks, the transaction is completed, and if he retracts, the seller is liable to receive the adjuration mi shepara, provided either of the following stipulations is met:"

a) the seller shows the purchaser that he possesses grain in his storehouse, or

b) the purchaser tells the seller in the market place: "I am relying on you." If the purchaser did not tell the seller: "I am relying on you," the seller does not consider this to be a firm agreement, and he is not required to receive the adjuration mi shepara if he retracts. For he says to himself: "Perhaps the purchaser also made such an agreement with another individual and he does not actually require this wheat."

ד

מי שפסק על שער שבשוק שיתן ארבע סאין בסלע אם היו שבלים הרי זה קנה לקבל מי שפרע והוא שיראה לו בגורן או שיאמר לו בשוק הריני סומך עליך אבל אם לא נראה בגורן ולא אמר לו הריני סומך עליך לא סמכה דעתו של מוכר ואינו מקבל מי שפרע שהרי הוא אומר שמא פסק עם אחר ואין צריך לחטים אלו:

5

An entity that is not in the possession of the seller cannot be acquired; it is like an entity that has not come into existence.

What is implied? When a seller says: "What I will inherit from my father is sold to you," "What my net will bring up from the sea is sold to you," or "When I purchase this field, it is sold to you," the purchaser does not acquire anything. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.

ה

דבר שאין ברשותו של מקנה אינו נקנה והרי הוא כדבר שלא בא לעולם כיצד מה שאירש מאבא מכור לך מה שתעלה מצודתי מן הים נתון לך שדה זו לכשאקחנה קנויה לך לא קנה כלום וכן כל כיוצא בזה:

6

When a person was on his deathbed and the heir desired to sell some of the dying person's property to spend the money for the sake of the burial, our Sages ordained that if the heir says: "What I will inherit from my father today is sold to you," the sale is binding. The rationale is that since the son is poor, if he is forced to wait until his father dies to sell the property, the corpse will remain unburied and be disgraced.

Similarly, provisions were made for a poor fisherman who has nothing to eat. If he says: "What my net brings in today from the sea is sold to you," the sale is binding. This was ordained to provide for his livelihood.

ו

מי שהיה מורישו גוסס ונטוי למות ורצה למכור מנכסיו מעט כדי להוציא הדמים בצרכי קבורה הואיל והבן עני ואם ימתין עד שימות וימכור ישתהא המת ויתבזה תקנו חכמים שאם מכר ואמר מה שאירש מאבי היום מכור לך ממכרו קיים וכן צייד עני שאין לו מה שיאכל שאמר מה שתעלה מן הים מצודתי היום מכור לך ממכרו קיים משום כדי חייו:

7

If a son sold property belonging to his father during his father's lifetime, but the son died in his father's lifetime, the son's son may expropriate the property from the purchasers. The rationale is that his father sold something that had not entered his domain. Thus, the property remained in the domain of the grand father, and the grandson inherited the estate of his grandfather. Similar principles apply in all analogous situations.

ז

הבן שמכר בנכסי אביו בחיי אביו ומת הבן בחיי האב ואח"כ מת האב בן הבן מוציא מיד הלקוחות שהרי אביו מכר דבר שלא בא עדיין לרשותו ונמצאו הנכסים ברשות האב וזה יורש אבי אביו וכן כל כיוצא בזה:

8

The following rules apply when a person gave a colleague landed property as a present, and together with it gave him 100 dinarim through a kinyan agav. If the dinarim existed in his domain at the time he gave the present, when the recipient acquired the field, he also acquired the dinarim. If. however, the giver does not have a dinar, we do not obligate the giver to give the recipient 100 dinarim until the recipient brings proof that the giver possessed dinarim at the time the recipient acquired the present.

The same principles apply to other movable property that a person desires to transfer together with landed property through a kinyan agav. If the movable property is not in the domain of the seller or the giver at the time the recipient acquires the present, he does not acquire it. For a person may not transfer ownership over an article that is not in his domain.

ח

מי שנתן קרקע מתנה לחבירו ונתן לו על גבה מאה דינרין אם היו הדינרין מצויין ברשותו כיון שזכה בשדה זכה בדינרין ואם אין לו דינר אין מחייבין את הנותן ליתן לו מאה דינרין עד שיביא הזוכה ראיה שהיה לזה דינרין בעת המתנה והוא הדין לשאר מטלטלין שמקנה אדם אותם על קרקע אם אינם ברשות המוכר או הנותן לא קנה שאין אדם מקנה דבר שאינו ברשותו:

9

When a person has entrusted an object to a colleague for safekeeping, he may transfer ownership over it, either through a sale or through a gift. The rationale is that an entrusted object is in the domain of its owner, and we operate under the presumption that the entrusted object continues to exists

If, however, the person to whom the article was entrusted denies receiving it, the owner may not transfer ownership of it. It is as if the article were lost; it is not in his domain.

Different rules apply with regard to a loan. Since a loan is given with the intent that it be spent, it cannot be transferred except through a ma'amad sh'loshtam, a convention that is not based on a motivating reason, as we have explained.

If the loan was supported by a promissory note, the creditor may transfer ownership of the promissory note with a written authorization and the transfer of the note, for there is an entity that can be transferred through which one can acquire the encumbrance it contains.

ט

מי שהיה לו פקדון ביד אחר הרי זה מקנהו בין במכר בין במתנה לפי שהפקדון ברשות בעליו הוא והרי הוא בחזקת שהוא קיים ואם כפר בו זה שהופקד אצלו אינו יכול להקנותו שזה כמי שאבד שאינו ברשותו אבל המלוה הואיל ולהוצאה ניתנה אינה בעולם ואין אדם יכול להקנותה אלא במעמד שלשתן והוא דבר שאין לו טעם כמו שביארנו ואם היתה מלוה בשטר מקנה את השטר בכתיבה ומסירה שהרי יש כאן דבר הנמסר לקנות שעבוד שבו:

10

Just as a person may not transfer ownership of an article that has not yet come into existence, so too, he may not transfer ownership of an article to someone who has not come into existence. Even a fetus is considered to be someone who has not come into existence, and thus, when a person wishes to endow a fetus with an article, the transaction is not binding.

If, however, the fetus is the person's son, the transaction is binding. The rationale is that a person feels great closeness to his son.

י

כשם שאין אדם מקנה דבר שלא בא לעולם כך אין אדם מקנה למי שלא בא לעולם ואפילו עובר הרי הוא כמי שלא בא לעולם והמזכה לעובר לא קנה ואם היה בנו הואיל ודעתו של אדם קרובה אצל בנו קנה:

11

When, however, a person tells his wife: "I will give my property to the children that you will bear," the children do not acquire anything. Since the woman was not pregnant at the time the present was given, the children had not yet reached a stage at which it could be said that a person feels great closeness for them.

יא

האומר לאשתו נכסי לבנים שתלדי ממני הרי אלו לא יקנו כלום שכיון שלא נתעברה בהן בשעת המתנה עדיין לא באו כדי להיות דעתו קרובה להם:

12

When a person desires to transfer ownership of property to an animal, the transfer is not effective at all. If a person attempted to transfer part of his property to an animal or to a person who did not exist, and afterwards told a colleague: "Acquire a share of my property as this animal does," or "... as this fetus does," [the colleague does not acquire anything.

If he tells him: "You and this animal shall acquire my property," or "You and this fetus ... ," the person acquires half of the property.

יב

המקנה למין ממיני חיה לא הקנה כלום הקנה קצת נכסיו לבהמה או למי שלא בא לעולם וחזר ואמר לחבירו קנה כבהמה זו או כעובר זה לא קנה כלום אמר לו קנה את ובהמה זו או את ועובר זה קנה מחצה:

13

A person cannot transfer ownership - neither through a sale nor through a present - over an object unless it has substance. If it has no substance, ownership of it cannot be transferred.

יג

אין אדם מקנה לא במכר ולא במתנה אלא דבר שיש בו ממש אבל דבר שאין בו ממש אינו נקנה:

14

What is implied? A person cannot transfer ownership over the fragrance of an apple, the taste of honey, the color of crystal or the like. Therefore, when a person desires to transfer ownership of the right to partake of the fruits of this date palm or to dwell in this home, the recipient does not acquire anything. For the transaction to be effective, the owner must transfer the house itself for the sake of dwelling in it, or the tree itself for the purpose of eating its fruit, as will be explained.

יד

כיצד אין אדם מקנה ריח התפוח הזה או טעם הדבש הזה או עין הבדולח הזה וכן כל כיוצא בזה לפיכך המקנה לחבירו אכילת פירות דקל זה או דירת בית זה לא קנה עד שיקנה לו גוף הבית לדור בו וגוף האילן לאכול פירותיו כמו שיתבאר:

15

The laws applying to transactions involving property consecrated to the Temple, the poor, and vows are not the same as those involving ordinary people. If a person says: "All the offspring of my animal will be consecrated to the Temple treasury," "... will be forbidden to me," or "... will be given to charity," although the offspring does not become consecrated - because it does not yet exist - the person making the statement is obligated to keep his word,, as Numbers 30:3 states: "He must act according to the statements that he utters."

טו

דין ההקדש ודין העניים ודין הנדרים אינו כדין ההדיוט בקנייתו שאילו אמר אדם כל מה שתלד בהמתי יהיה הקדש לבדק הבית או יהיה אסור עלי או אתננו לצדקה אע"פ שאינו מתקדש לפי שאינו בעולם הרי זה חייב לקיים דברו שנאמר ככל היוצא מפיו יעשה:

16

Since this is so, if a person on his death bed says: "Whatever this tree produces should be given to the poor," or "The rent from this house should be given to the poor," the poor acquire these objects.

טז

והואיל והדבר כן אם צוה אדם כשהוא שכיב מרע ואמר כל מה שיוציא אילן זה לעניים או כל שכר בית זה לעניים זכו בהן העניים:

17

There are Geonim who differ with this principle and hold that the poor acquire only in a similar matter to that of an ordinary person. Therefore, they do not acquire an entity that has not come into existence. I do not accept these principles. My rationale is that a person is not commanded to transfer ownership of property. He is, however, commanded to fulfill his pledges to charity or to consecrate property, as he is commanded to fulfill other vows, as we have explained in Hilchot Arachin.

יז

יש גאונים שחולקין על דבר זה ואומרים שאין העניים זוכין אלא בדברים שהדיוט קונה בהן ולפיכך לא יזכו בדבר שלא בא לעולם ואין דעתי נוטה לדברים אלו שאין אדם מצווה להקנות והוא מצווה לקיים דבריו בצדקה או בהקדש כמו שהוא מצווה לקיים הנדר כמו שביארנו בערכין:

Mechirah - Chapter Twenty Three

1

A person can transfer ownership over a property itself with regard to the produce it yields. This applies with regard to a sale, with regard to a present or with regard to an oral will. This is not considered to be transferring ownership of an entity that has not come into existence. For the article itself exists, and the person is transferring ownership over its produce. To what can the matter be compared? To a person who rents a house or a field to a colleague, in which instance he did not transfer ownership over the property in its entirety, but rather merely the right to derive benefit from it.

א

מקנה אדם הגוף לפירותיו בין במכר בין במתנה בין במתנת שכיב מרע ואין זה מקנה דבר שלא בא לעולם שהרי הגוף מצוי ומקנה לפירות הא למה זה דומה לשוכר בית או שדה לחבירו שלא הקנה לו הגוף אלא הנאת הגוף:

2

What is implied? A person sold or gave away a field with regard to its produce for a limited time, or for the entire lifetime of the seller or of the purchaser.

Similar rules apply to a person who sells or gives away a tree for its fruit, a sheep for its shearings, an animal or a maid-servant for her offspring or a servant for his work. In all such instances, the sale or the present is binding.

ב

כיצד כגון שמכר או שנתן שדה לפירותיה בין לזמן קצוב בין כל ימי חייו של מוכר או של לוקח והוא הדין למוכר ולנותן אילן לפירותיו או רחל לגיזתה או בהמה ושפחה לולדותיהם או עבד למעשה ידיו בכל ממכרו או מתנותיו קיימין:

3

There is an unresolved question if a sale is binding when a person sells his servant with regard to his fine - i.e., whether the fine which is imposed if the servant is gored by an ox and killed should be given to the purchaser or not. Therefore, the purchaser does not acquire the money; if he seizes it from the servant's owner, it is not expropriated from him.

ג

מכר עבדו לקנס שאם יונח וימות יהיה קנס של לוקח הרי זה ספק לפיכך לא קנה ואם תפש הקנס אין מוציאין מידו:

4

When a person sells a tree to one person and its fruit to another, when making the first sale he did not leave over the rights to the fruit. Therefore the second purchaser does not acquire anything.

If, however, a person sells a tree and leaves its fruit to himself, it is considered as if he retained the branches, the place where fruit grows, even if he did not explicitly say so. The rationale is that when a person retains property for himself, he acts generously.

ד

מכר אילן לזה ופירותיו לאחר לא שייר מקום הפירות ואין לאחר כלום אבל אם מכר אילן ושייר פירותיו לעצמו הרי שייר מקום הפירות אף על פי שלא פירש לגבי עצמו בעין יפה משייר:

5

When a person sells landed property for a specific time, the sale is binding. The purchaser may use the body of the land as he desires and derive benefit from it throughout the duration of the sale. At the end of the specified time period, the property returns to its original owner.

ה

המוכר גוף הקרקע לזמן קצוב הרי זה מכירה ומשתמש הלוקח בגוף כחפצו ואוכל הפירות כל זמן המכירה ובסוף תחזור לבעליה:

6

What is the difference between a person who sells landed property for a specific time and one who transfers ownership of it with regard to its produce? A person who purchases land with regard to its produce may not change the form of the land. He may not build, nor may he destroy. When, by contrast, a person purchases land for a specific time, he may build and destroy. During that specific time, he may act in the same manner as does one who purchases the land forever.

ו

ומה הפרש יש בין המוכר קרקע לזמן קצוב ובין המקנה אותה לפירותיה שהקונה לפירות אינו יכול לשנות צורת הקרקע ולא יבנה ולא יהרוס אבל הקונה לזמן קצוב הוא בונה והורס ועושה בכל זמנו הקצוב כמו שעושה הקונה קניין עולם לעולם:

7

What is the difference between a person who sells a field with regard to the produce it yields, and a person who sells a colleague the produce of a particular field?

When a person sells the produce of a particular field, the purchaser has no right to use this field at all. He is forbidden even to enter, except to take out his produce. The owner of the field, by contrast, may do whatever he desires within.

When, by contrast, a person sells a field with regard to the produce it yields, the owner of the field may not enter the field without the consent of the purchaser, and the purchaser may use the field as he desires.

זז

ומה הפרש יש בין המוכר שדה זו לפירותיה ובין המוכר פירות שדה זו לחבירו שהמוכר פירות השדה אין ללוקח להשתמש בשדה זו כלל אפילו להכנס אלא בשעת הוצאת הפירות ויש לבעל השדה להשתמש בה כחפצו אבל המוכר שדה לפירותיה אין בעל השדה יכול להכנס בה אלא מדעת הלוקח ויש ללוקח להשתמש בה כחפצו:

8

What is the difference between a person who purchases a field with regard to the produce it yields, and a person who rents a field from a colleague?

A person who purchases a field with regard to the produce it yields may plant trees or seeds within it whenever he desires or leave it fallow. A renter does not have this right, as will be explained with regard to rentals.

A renter does not have the right to sublet the property. One who buys the property may, however, sell the rights he purchased to another person.

ח

ומה הפרש יש בין הקונה שדה זו לפירותיה ובין השוכר שדה מחבירו שהקונה שדה לפירותיה יש לו לנטעה או לזרעה כל זמן שירצה או להובירה והשוכר אינן כן כמו שיתבאר בענין שכירות ואין השוכר רשאי להשכיר אבל הקונה מקנה לאחרים כל מה שקנה:

9

When a person sells the benefit to be obtained from a dovecote or the benefit to be obtained from a beehive to a colleague, the sale is binding. He is not considered to have sold an entity that has not come into existence. For he is not selling the doves that will be born or the honey that will be produced in the beehive. Instead, he is selling the dovecote with regard to the benefit it produces, and the beehive for its honey.

The seller can be compared to a person who rents a stream of water to a colleague, in which instance the renter may derive benefit from everything he catches within. Similarly, when a person sells a dovecote with regard to its benefit, it is as if he sells a tree with regard to its fruit. And the laws applying to both of them are like those applying to a person who rents a house, as we have explained in Halachah 1. Such a person may derive all the possible benefits from the property. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.

ט

המוכר פירות שובך ופירות כוורת לחבירו קנה ואין זה מוכר דבר שלא בא לעולם לפי שאינו מוכר יונים שיולדו או דבש שיבוא לכוורת אלא הוא מוכר שובך לפירותיו או כוורת לדבשה שהרי הוא כשוכר אמת המים לחבירו שהוא נהנה בכל מה שיצוד בה כך זה הקנה שובך זה לפירותיו כמו שמוכר אילן לפירותיו ודין כולם כדין השוכר בית מחבירו כמו שאמרנו שהוא נהנה בכל הניות שיש בו וכן כל כיוצא בזה:

10

The owner of the dovecote does not acquire the eggs and the fledgling sin the dovecote until they fly. This is a Rabbinic decree, enacted as a safeguard to the prohibition, Deuteronomy 22:6: "Do not take the mother with the young."

Therefore, if a person wants to transfer the ownership of these eggs or these fledglings to a colleague, he should rap on the dovecote so that the mothers will fly away, lifting themselves up from the ground. He should then transfer ownership of the dovecote to his colleague via a kinyan chalifin, by virtue of the transfer of landed property, or via another means of acquiring movable property.

י

הביצים והאפרוחין עצמן שיש בשובך לא קנה אותם בעל שובך כל זמן שלא פרחו ודבר זה גזרת חכמים היא ומשום לא תקח האם על הבנים נגעו בה לפיכך הרוצה להקנות אפרוחים וביצים אלו לחבירו מטפח על השובך שיפרחו האמהות ויגבהו מעל הארץ ואחר כך יקנה אותן לחבירו בקנין או על גבי קרקע או בשאר דברים שהמטלטלין נקנין בהן:

11

When a person purchases the benefit to be derived from a dovecote from a colleague, he is not entitled to take all the fledglings that will be born from the time of the purchase onward. If he did that, the mothers would fly away and he would destroy the dovecote entirely. Instead, he should leave enough of the fledglings so that the dovecote will remain populated.

יא

הלוקח פירות שובך מחבירו אינו יכול ליטול כל הגוזלות שיולדו בו מעתה מפני שהאמהות בורחות נמצא שהחריב כל השובך אלא מניח מהן כדי ליישב השובך:

12

How many of the fledglings must he leave? If there were mother doves and female fledglings at the time he sold the benefit from the dovecote, he should leave the first pair of offspring that the mothers will bear, so that the mothers will be able to establish rapport with the first pair and with the female fledglings that were with them from the time of the sale. He should also leave two pairs of fledglings from those that the daughters who were in the dovecote from the time of the sale bear, so that the daughters will be able to establish rapport with these two pair that they bore. Whatever offspring are born after the first two pair from the daughters and the first pair of the mother belong to the purchaser.

יב

וכמה מניח אם היו בו אמהות ובנות בעת מכירת הפירות מניח בריכה ראשונה שיולידו האמהות כדי שיצטוותו האמהות עם הבריכה הראשונה ועם הבנות שעמהם ומניח ממה שיולידו הבנות שתי בריכות כדי שיצטוותו הבנות עם שתי הבריכות שהולידו וכל הנולד מאחר שתי בריכות של בנות והבריכה הראשונה של אמהות הרי אלו שלו:

13

When a person purchases the benefit to be gained from a beehive from a colleague, he may take three swarms of bees - one after the other. After that, he should take a swarm and leave a swarm to populate the beehive.

יג

הלוקח פירות כוורת מחבירו נוטל שלשה נחילים זה אחר זה מכאן ואילך נוטל נחיל ומניח נחיל כדי ליישב את הכוורת:

14

When a person purchases blocks of a beehive from a colleague, he should leave at least two blocks in the beehive, so that the bees do not fly away and abandon the hive.

יד

הלוקח חלות דבש מחבירו מניח בכוורת שתי חלות כדי שלא יפרחו הדבורים וילכו להן:

15

When a person purchases olive trees from a colleague to cut down as lumber, he must leave two fistfuls of the tree above the ground before cutting. If he purchases a wild fig tree that was never cut down, he must leave three handbreadths before cutting. If he purchases a wild fig tree that was cut down previously, he must leave two handbreadths. For other trees, one handbreadth must be left before cutting.

For reeds and vines, he must leave the lowest knot above the ground. With regard to palm trees and cedar trees, the purchaser should dig out its roots, for it will not grow again.

טו

הלוקח זיתים מחבירו לקוץ מניח האילן סמוך לארץ שתי גרופיות וקוצץ לקח בתולת שקמה מגביה שלשה טפחים וקוצץ סדן של שקמה שני טפחים ובשאר אילנות טפח וקוצץ בקנים ובגפנים מן הפקק ולמעלה בדקלים וארזים חופר ומשרש לפי שאין גזעו מחליף:

Mechirah - Chapter Twenty Four

1

When a person sells three trees within his field, even three small newly planted trees, or three growths of one tree, the purchaser also acquires the land necessary to nurture them. Even if the trees dry up or are chopped down, he still owns the land necessary to nurture them. The purchaser also acquires all the other trees between them.

א

המוכר שלשה אילנות בתוך שדהו ואפילו היו שלש נטיעות קטנות או שלשה בדי אילן הרי יש ללוקח קרקע הראוי להם ואפילו יבשו האילנות או נקצצו יש לו קרקע הראוי להם וקנה כל האילנות שביניהם:

2

How much land is necessary to nurture them? The land beneath them, between them and beyond them, in which a person picking fruit can stand together with his basket.

This place - the place in which a person picking fruit can stand together with his basket - may not be sown by either the buyer or the seller unless the other agrees.

ב

וכמה היא הקרקע הראוי להם תחתיהם וביניהם וחוצה להם כמלא האורה וסלו וזה המקום שהוא מלא האורה וסלו אין אחד משניהם יכול לזרעו אלא מדעת חבירו:

3

When does the above apply? When the three trees that he purchases are positioned like the three feet of a range on which a pot is placed - i.e., two parallel to each other and the third equidistant between them, but not on the line connecting them. There must be at least four cubits between each tree, and no more than sixteen cubits.

ג

במה דברים אמורים כשהיו שלשה האילנות עומדין כמו שלשה פטפוטי כירה ששופתין עליהן את הקדרה שהרי הן שנים זה כנגד זה והשלישי מכוון ביניהן ומרוחק מהן והוא שיהיו בין כל אילן ואילן מארבע אמות ועד שש עשרה:

4

From where does one measure? From the wide portion of the trunk of the tree.

In the following situations, by contrast, the purchaser does not acquire land: the trees were not standing in such a position, they were closer together than four cubits or more distant than sixteen cubits; he purchased one after the other; he sold him two trees in the midst of his field and the third on the boundary line; the purchaser bought two trees in one person's field and one in a field belonging to a colleague; or a cistern, an irrigation ditch or the public domain was interposed between the purchaser's three trees.

Therefore, the purchaser does not acquire the trees between the trees he purchased. If his trees dry up or are cut down, he has no further rights.

ד

ומהיכן הוא מודד מן העיקר הרחב של אילנות אבל אם לא היו עומדין כצורה הזאת או שהיו מקורבים פחות מארבע אמות או מרוחקין יותר משש עשרה אמה או שלקחן זה אחר זה או שמכר לו שנים בתוך שדהו ואחד על המצר או שנים בתוך שלו ואחד בתוך של חבירו או שהפסיק בור או אמת המים או רשות הרבים ביניהם הרי זה אין לו קרקע לפיכך לא קנה האילנות שביניהם ואם יבש האילן או נקצץ ילך לו:

5

The following rules apply whenever a person purchases three trees and therefore acquires land: If the trees grow and a new branch emerges outward from the trunk, it should be cut off, so as not to limit the passage of the owner of the field.

All the twigs and small branches that emerge from the trees - even those that emerge from the roots - belong to the owner of the trees, for he has acquired the land.

ה

כל מי שקונה שלשה אילנות ויש לו קרקע אם הגדילו והוציאו חוטר יקוץ כדי שלא ימעט הדרך על בעל השדה וכל השריגין והאמירים היוצאים מהם ואפילו מן השרשים הרי הן של בעל האילנות שהרי יש לו קרקע:

6

When a person purchases two trees in a field belonging to a colleague, the purchaser does not acquire any land. Therefore, if one of his trees dies or is cut down, he has no further right to the land.

If his two trees grow and produce twigs and small branches, they should be cut off, lest they grow into the earth and appear as a third tree. Then the purchaser would tell the seller: "You sold me three trees and I have a right to the land."

ו

הקונה שני אילנות בתוך שדה חבירו אין לו קרקע לפיכך אם מת האילן או נקצץ אין לו כלום הגדילו שני אילנות והוציאו שריגים ואמירים יקוץ שמא יצמחו בארץ ויאמר למוכר שלשה אילנות מכרת לי ויש לי קרקע:

7

The following laws apply to all the branches that the owner of the trees trims from them. Any branches that grow from the portion of the trunk that sees the sun belong to the owner of the trees. The branches that grow from the roots and do not see the sun belong to the owner of the field. With regard to palm trees, the owner of the tree does not acquire any of the branches, for they do not grow from the trunk.

ז

כל העצים שקוצץ בעל שני האילנות מהן העולה מן הגזעים והוא הרואה פני החמה הרי הוא של בעל האילנות והעולה מן השרשים והוא שאינו רואה פני החמה הרי הוא של בעל השדה ובדקלים אין לבעל הדקל מן העולה כלום לפי שאין לו גזע:

8

When a person sells landed property but retains the rights to the trees, he also retains possession of half of the land. For if he did not retain possession of the land, the purchaser would tell him: "Uproot your trees."

Similarly, if he retains the rights to two trees, he also retains possession of the land appropriate for them. For if he did not retain possession of the land, the purchaser would tell him: "Uproot your trees."

ח

המוכר קרקע ושייר אילנות הרי יש לו חצי הקרקע כולה שאילו לא שייר בקרקע הרי אומר לו הלוקח עקור אילנך וכן אם שייר שני האילנות בלבד יש לו קרקע הראוי להם שאילו לא שייר הקרקע היה הלוקח אומר לו עקור אילנך ולך:

9

When a person sells trees, but retains possession of the land, the owner of the trees acquires possession of the land necessary for them, as we have explained.

If a person sold the land to one person and the trees to another, and the purchaser of the trees manifested his ownership over the trees, and the purchaser of the land manifested his ownership over the land, the purchaser of the trees acquires the trees and half the land, while the purchaser of the land acquires only half the land.

ט

המוכר את האילנות ושייר את הקרקע יש לבעל האילנות קרקע הראוי להם כמו שביארנו מכר את הקרקע לאחד ואת האילנות לאחר והחזיק זה באילנות והחזיק זה בקרקע זה קנה האילנות עם חצי הקרקע וזה שהחזיק בקרקע קנה חצי הקרקע בלבד:

10

When brothers divide an inheritance, one taking an orchard and one taking a field of grain, the owner of the orchard receives four cubits in the field of grain next to the orchard. He is granted this land because we assume that they divided the land with this stipulation in mind. It need not be stated explicitly, because it is something that is well known.

י

האחין שחלקו אחד נטל פרדס ואחד נטל שדה לבן יש לבעל הפרדס ארבע אמות בתוך שדה לבן סמוכות לסוף האילנות של פרדס שעל מנת כן חלקו ואין צריך לפרש דבר זה מפני שהוא דבר ידוע:

11

The following rules apply when a person sells a field containing date palms to a colleague and specifies that he is selling him the field with the exception of one specific tree. If it is a valuable and high-quality tree, we assume that he retained ownership of that one date palm alone; the remainder belong to the purchaser. If the date palm that he specified that he was retaining is inferior, we assume that he surely retained ownership over the others, and the purchaser does not acquire any of the date palms at all.

יא

המוכר שדה לחבירו והיו בה דקלים ואמר לו חוץ מדקל פלוני אם דקל טוב ומשובח הוא אותו הדקל לבדו הוא ששייר והשאר ללוקח ואם דקל רע הוא ששייר [כל שכן ששייר השאר] לא קנה מן הדקלים כלום:

12

The following rules apply when a person sells a field to a colleague and tells him that he is selling it to him with the exception of the trees. If it contains only date palms, the seller retains ownership over the date palms. If it contains only vines, the seller retains ownership over the vines. Similar rules apply if it contains only one other type of tree.

If the field contains vines and date palms, the seller retains ownership over the vines alone. If it contains other trees and vines, the seller retains ownership over the other trees alone. Similarly, if it contains other trees and date palms, he retains the other trees alone. The rationale is that whoever sells, sells generously,

If the seller retains ownership over date palms, he retains ownership over only those date palms that are tall and that one must ascend by means of a rope. The others belong to the purchaser. If he retains ownership over trees, he retains ownership over only those trees that will not be bent over by a yoke. Those that can be bent over by a yoke belong to the purchaser and are considered to be part of the field.

יב

מכר לו שדה ואמר לו חוץ מן האילנות אם יש בו דקלים בלבד שייר הדקלים ואם יש בו גפנים בלבד שייר הגפנים וכן שאר האילנות היו בה גפנים ודקלים לא שייר אלא הגפנים אילנות וגפנים לא שייר אלא אילנות וכן אילנות ודקלים שייר אילנות שהמוכר בעין יפה הוא מוכר ואם הדקלים שייר לא שייר אלא כל דקל גבוה שעולים לו בחבל והשאר הרי הוא של לוקח ואם שאר האילנות הוא ששייר לא שייר בהם אלא כל שאין העול כובשו וכל שהעול כובשו הרי הוא של לוקח ובכלל השדה נחשב:

13

The following rules apply when a person tells a colleague, "I am selling you land and date palms." Even if there are no date palms on the land that he was intending to sell, if he desires to transfer ownership of two other date palms, the transaction is binding. The purchaser does not have the option of saying: "I am purchasing only land that has date palms growing on it."

If, however, the seller tells him: "I am selling you land with date palms," the sale is binding only when there are at least two date palms on the land. If not, it is considered a transaction entered into under false premises, and it is nullified. If the seller tells the purchaser: "I am selling you land for date palms," it need not have date palms. This expression indicates merely that the land is fit to grow date palms.

יג

האומר לחבירו קרקע ודקלים אני מוכר לך אפילו לא היו לו דקלים אם רצה לקנות לו שני דקלים הרי זה נקנה המקח ואין הלוקח יכול לומר לו איני לוקח אלא קרקע שיש בו דקלים ואם אמר קרקע בדקלים אני מוכר לך אם היו בו שני דקלים קנה ואם לאו מקח טעות הוא וחוזר ואם אמר לו קרקע של דקלים אני מוכר לך אין לו דקלים שאין בלשון הזה אלא קרקע הראוי לדקלים:

14

When a person sells an orchard to a colleague, he must write: "Acquire the date palms, the dates and the palm branches." Although the purchaser acquires all of these entities even when they are not explicitly mentioned in the deed of sale, mentioning them makes the wording of the document articulate.

Similarly, when a person sells landed property to a colleague, he must write: "I have not retained ownership over anything in this sale," to prevent judgments and claims from arising.

יד

המוכר פרדס לחבירו צריך שיכתוב לו קנה לך דקלים ותמרים והוצין ואע"פ שקנה כל אלו אף על פי שלא פירש אותם נויי השטר הם וכן המוכר קרקע לחבירו צריך לכתוב לו ולא הנחתי לפני במכר זה כלום כדי להסתלק מן הדינין והטענות:

15

The following rules apply when a person sells a house to a colleague: Even though he writes in the deed of sale: "I have transferred ownership of its depths and its heights," he must write to him:"Acquire from the ground of the earth's depths to the heights of the sky." For the heights and the depths of the property are not transferred when no specification is made.

If he said that he was transferring ownership of the heights and the depths, the purchaser would acquire the height - i.e., the atmosphere alone- and the depths, what is under the ground. He does not acquire what is in their midst. When, however, he writes: "From the ground of the earth's depths to the heights of the sky," he acquires a water receptacle and a cistern that are in the midst of the earth and the pathways that are in between the ceiling and the top of the building.

טו

המוכר בית לחבירו אע"פשכתב לו והקניתי לך עמקו ורומו צריך לכתוב לו קנה לך מהקרקע התהום עד רום רקיע שהעומק והרום אינו נקנה בסתם וכיון שקנה העומק והרום קנה הרום שהוא האויר בלבד והעומק שהוא עובי הארץ אבל לא קנה הבינונית שבמעמקים ושבאויר וכיון שכתב לו מקרקע התהום עד רום הרקיע קנה הבור והדות שבעובי הקרקע והמעזיבות והמחילות שבין המעזיבות למעלה:

16

When a person sells a home on the condition that the upper storeyremains his, he retains possession of that portion of the building. If he desires to extend projections from it, he has the right. If it falls, he may rebuild it. And if there was a third storey built on top of the second and it fell, if he desires to rebuild it, he may build it as it was before it fell.

טז

המוכר בית לחבירו על מנת שדיוטא עליונה שלי הרי זו שלו ואם רצה להוציא בה זיזין מוציא ואם נפלה חוזר ובונה אותה ואם רצה לבנות על גבה בונה כשהיה מקודם:

17

Although a person sells his grave, the path to his grave, the place where the funeral procession stands in honor of the departed, or the place where eulogies are recited, the family may come and bury the deceased there or perform any of the other rites against the will of the purchaser.

This privilege was granted lest the failure to do so blemish the honor of the family. They must pay the purchaser for the grave in which the deceased was buried. This provision is granted even though it was not stated explicitly in the original deed of sale.

יז

המוכר קברו או דרך קברו או מקום מעמדו או בית הספדו באין בני משפחה וקוברים שם בעל כרחו משום פגם משפחה ונותנין דמי הקבר שקברו בו ללוקח אע"פ שלא פירש:

Hayom Yom:

• English Text | Video Class
Wednesday, Tammuz 25, 5777 · July 19, 2017

(a) A Jew recognizes G‑dliness and senses the supra-natural. He needs no proofs for these.

(b) A Jew neither wants nor is able to be sundered from G‑dliness.1

The truth is that these two expressions are one and the same: A Jew recognizes G‑dliness and senses the higher-than-natural, and that is why he neither wants nor can he be torn away from G‑dliness.

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

FOOTNOTES

1.See Sivan 21.

Daily Thought:
Representatives
We are representatives of the One Above. And as such, we live as two opposites at once:
We are not beings for ourselves. We are but agents of that which is beyond us.
Yet we must be freethinking, independent beings—because to represent the One Above, we must have our own will and our own sense of being as He does.
And if you should say, “But this is an impossibility! Two opposites in a single being!”
Yes, you are correct, it is an impossible paradox without resolution.
Which is why this renders us representatives of the Impossible One Above. [Chayei Sarah 5752.]
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