| |||||
- 
- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Friday, Elul 3, 5777 · August 25, 2017 - Candle Lighting - Light Candles before sunset ––:––Today's Laws & Customs:
• Elul Observances
As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is traditionaly a time of introspection and stocktaking -- a time to review one's deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming "Days of Awe" of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
As the month of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness (see "Today in Jewish History" for Elul 1) it is a most opportune time for teshuvah ("return" to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased Ahavat Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d. Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when "the king is in the field" and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, "everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all."
Specific Elul customs include the daily sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) as a call to repentance. The Baal Shem Tov instituted the custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms). Click below to view today's Psalms.
Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9
Psalms Chapter 7:1. A shigayon 1 by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Kush the Benjaminite.
2. I put my trust in You, Lord, my God; deliver me from all my pursuers and save me.
3. Lest he tear my soul like a lion, crushing me with none to rescue.
4. Lord, my God, if I have done this, if there is wrongdoing in my hands;
5. if I have rewarded my friends with evil or oppressed those who hate me without reason—
6. then let the enemy pursue and overtake my soul, let him trample my life to the ground, and lay my glory in the dust forever.
7. Arise, O Lord, in Your anger, lift Yourself up in fury against my foes. Stir me [to mete out] the retribution which You commanded.
8. When the assembly of nations surrounds You, remove Yourself from it and return to the heavens.
9. The Lord will mete out retribution upon the nations; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity.
10. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous—O righteous God, Searcher of hearts and minds.
11. [I rely] on God to be my shield, He Who saves the upright of heart.
12. God is the righteous judge, and the Almighty is angered every day.
13. Because he does not repent, He sharpens His sword, bends His bow and makes it ready.
14. He has prepared instruments of death for him; His arrows will be used on the pursuers.
15. Indeed, he conceives iniquity, is pregnant with evil schemes, and gives birth to falsehood.
16. He digs a pit, digs it deep, only to fall into the trap he laid.
17. His mischief will return upon his own head, his violence will come down upon his own skull.
18. I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and sing to the Name of the Lord Most High Chapter 8:1. For the Conductor, on the gittit,1 a psalm by David.
2. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth, You Who has set Your majesty upon the heavens!
3. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have established might, to counter Your enemies, to silence foe and avenger.2
4. When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have set in place—
5. what is man that You should remember him, son of man that You should be mindful of him?
6. Yet, You have made him but a little less than the angels, and crowned him with honor and glory.
7. You made him ruler over Your handiwork, You placed everything under his feet.
8. Sheep and cattle—all of them, also the beasts of the field;
9. the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea; all that traverses the paths of the seas.
10. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth. Chapter 9:1. For the Conductor, upon the death of Labben, a psalm by David.
2. I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will recount all Your wonders.
3. I will rejoice and exult in You; I will sing to Your Name, O Most High.
4. When my enemies retreat, they will stumble and perish from before You.
5. You have rendered my judgement and [defended] my cause; You sat on the throne, O righteous Judge.
6. You destroyed nations, doomed the wicked, erased their name for all eternity.
7. O enemy, your ruins are gone forever, and the cities you have uprooted—their very remembrance is lost.
8. But the Lord is enthroned forever, He established His throne for judgement.
9. And He will judge the world with justice, He will render judgement to the nations with righteousness.
10. The Lord will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
11. Those who know Your Name put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.
12. Sing to the Lord Who dwells in Zion, recount His deeds among the nations.
13. For the Avenger of bloodshed is mindful of them; He does not forget the cry of the downtrodden.
14. Be gracious to me, O Lord; behold my affliction at the hands of my enemies, You Who raises me from the gates of death,
15. so that I may relate all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, that I may exult in Your deliverance.
16. The nations sank into the pit that they made; in the net they concealed their foot was caught.
17. The Lord became known through the judgement He executed; the wicked one is snared in the work of his own hands; reflect on this always.
18. The wicked will return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.
19. For not for eternity will the needy be forgotten, nor will the hope of the poor perish forever.
20. Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence.
21. Set Your mastery over them, O Lord; let the nations know that they are but frail men, Selah.
Elul is also the time to have one's tefillin and mezuzot checked by an accredited scribe to ensure that they are in good condition and fit for use.
Links: More on Elul
Today in Jewish History:
• Passing of Rabbi A. I. Kook (1935)Elul 3 is the yahrtzeit of the first Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi (in modern times) of the Religious Zionist Jewish community in the Holy Land, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, who assumed his position upon the formation of the British Mandate in 1920. A leading philosopher and mystic, Rabbi Kook authored many books and letters, and is a founding father of the "Religious Zionist" movement.
Daily Quote:
When the righteous wish to settle in tranquility, G-d says: "Is it not enough for the righteous what is prepared for them in the World to Come, that they also ask for a tranquil life in this world?" [Rashi's commentary on Genesis 37:1]
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Shoftim, 6th Portion Deuteronomy 19:14-20:9 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Deuteronomy Chapter 19
14You shall not pull back your neighbor's landmark, which the earlier ones have set as borders in your inheritance, which you will inherit in the land that the Lord, your God gives you, to possess. ידלֹ֤א תַסִּיג֙ גְּב֣וּל רֵֽעֲךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר גָּֽבְל֖וּ רִֽאשֹׁנִ֑ים בְּנַֽחֲלָֽתְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּנְחַ֔ל בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:
You shall not pull back [your neighbor’s] landmark: Heb. לֹא תַסּיג, an expression similar to, “they shall turn back (נָסֹגוּ אָחוֹר)” (Isa. 42:17). [Here therefore, it means] that he moves the boundary-mark of the land backwards into his neighbor’s field, thereby enlarging his own [property]. But has it not already been stated, “You shall not rob” (Lev. 19:13) ? Why then, is it stated here: “You shall not pull back [the landmark]?” [The answer is that this verse] teaches that the person who removes his neighbor’s boundary mark transgresses two negative commandments, “You shall not rob (לֹא תִגְזֹל)” and “You shall not pull back [the landmark]” (לֹא תַסִּיג). Now I might think that [this applies] outside Eretz Israel as well. Therefore it says, “in your inheritance, which you will inherit [in the land],” [indicating that] in [only] Eretz Israel one transgresses two negative commandments, whereas outside Eretz Israel, one transgresses only the commandment of “you shall not rob.” - [Sifrei]
לא תסיג גבול: לשון נסוגו אחור (ישעיה מב יז), שמחזיר סימן חלוקת הקרקע לאחור לתוך שדה חבירו למען הרחיב את שלו. והלא כבר נאמר (ויקרא יט, יג) לא תגזול, מה תלמוד לומר לא תסיג, למד על העוקר תחום חבירו שעובר בשני לאוין. יכול אף בחוצה לארץ, תלמוד לומר בנחלתך אשר תנחל וגו', בארץ ישראל עובר בשני לאוין, בחוצה לארץ אינו עובר אלא משום לא תגזול:
15One witness shall not rise up against any person for any iniquity or for any sin, regarding any sin that he will sin. By the mouth of two witnesses, or by the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be confirmed. טולֹֽא־יָקוּם֩ עֵ֨ד אֶחָ֜ד בְּאִ֗ישׁ לְכָל־עָוֹן֙ וּלְכָל־חַטָּ֔את בְּכָל־חֵ֖טְא אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶֽחֱטָ֑א עַל־פִּ֣י | שְׁנֵ֣י עֵדִ֗ים א֛וֹ עַל־פִּ֥י שְׁלשָֽׁה־עֵדִ֖ים יָק֥וּם דָּבָֽר:
One witness [shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity]: This verse establishes a general principle [i.e., from here it is derived] that wherever the term“witness” (עֵד) appears in the Torah, it means two [witnesses], unless the Torah specifies [that] one witness is meant. — [San. 30a]
עד אחד: זה בנה אב כל עד שבתורה שנים, אלא אם כן פרט לך בו אחד:
for any iniquity, or for any sin: where his testimony would lead to the accused being punished, either with corporal punishment or with or monetary punishment. However, one [witness] may rise up to [compel his fellow to take] an oath, as follows: If one says to his fellow, “Give me the maneh [100 zuzim] that I lent you,” and his fellow replies, “I have nothing of yours,” and one witness testifies for him [the plaintiff] that he [the defendant] owes him [the money], [the defendant] is required to swear [that he did not borrow any money]. — [Shev. 40a]
לכל עון ולכל חטאת: להיות חבירו נענש על עדותו, לא עונש גוף ולא עונש ממון, אבל קם הוא לשבועה. אמר לחבירו תן לי מנה שהלויתיך אמר לו אין לך בידי כלום ועד אחד מעיד שיש לו, חייב להשבע לו:
By the mouth of two witnesses [… the matter will be established]: [The expression,“by the mouth” means here that only the direct, verbal testimony suffices,] but they should not write their testimony in a letter and send it to the court, or have an interpreter stand between the witnesses and the judges. - [Sifrei]
על פי שני עדים: ולא שיכתבו עדותם באגרת וישלחו לבית דין, ולא שיעמוד תורגמן בין העדים ובין הדיינים:
16If a false witness rises up against a man, to bear perverted testimony against him, טזכִּֽי־יָק֥וּם עֵֽד־חָמָ֖ס בְּאִ֑ישׁ לַֽעֲנ֥וֹת בּ֖וֹ סָרָֽה:
to bear perverted testimony against him: Heb. סָרָה [That is, he testifies about] a thing which is not so, that this witness is removed (הוּסַר) from the whole testimony [meaning that he could not possibly have been a witness,] such as if [a second set of witnesses] said [to the first set of witnesses], “But weren’t you with us on that day in such and such a place [and not with the defendant, as you claim to have been]?” - [Mak. 5a]
לענות בו סרה: דבר שאינו, שהוסר העד הזה מכל העדות הזאת, כגון, שאמרו להם והלא עמנו הייתם אותו היום במקום פלוני:
17Then the two men between whom the controversy exists shall stand before the Lord, before the kohanim and the judges who will be in those days. יזוְעָֽמְד֧וּ שְׁנֵי־הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־לָהֶ֥ם הָרִ֖יב לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה לִפְנֵ֤י הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַשֹּׁ֣פְטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽהְי֖וּ בַּיָּמִ֥ים הָהֵֽם:
Then the two men… shall stand: The text is referring to the witnesses, and it teaches us that there is no testimony by women. It also teaches us that witnesses must submit their testimony while standing. — [Shev. 30a]
ועמדו שני האנשים: בעדים הכתוב מדבר, ולמד שאין עדות בנשים, ולמד שצריכין להעיד עדותן מעומד:
between whom the controversy exists: These are the litigants.
אשר להם הריב: אלו בעלי הדין:
before the Lord: It should seem to them as though they are standing before the Omnipresent, as it says:“in the midst of the judges He will judge” (Ps. 82: 1). - [San. 6b]
לפני ה': יהי דומה להם כאילו עומדין לפני המקום, שנאמר בקרב אלהים ישפוט (תהלים פב, א):
who will be in those days: [Now could one stand in front of those who are not in his day? Rather, it means that] Jephthah [one of the less important judges] in his generation, is [to be considered] as Samuel [the greatest judge] in his generation; you must treat him with respect.
אשר יהיו בימים ההם: יפתח בדורו כשמואל בדורו, צריך אתה לנהוג בו כבוד:
18And the judges shall inquire thoroughly, and behold, the witness is a false witness; he has testified falsely against his brother; יחוְדָֽרְשׁ֥וּ הַשֹּֽׁפְטִ֖ים הֵיטֵ֑ב וְהִנֵּ֤ה עֵֽד־שֶׁ֨קֶר֙ הָעֵ֔ד שֶׁ֖קֶר עָנָ֥ה בְאָחִֽיו:
And the judges shall inquire thoroughly: By means of the testimony of [the new set of witnesses] who rebut them, that they investigate and examine those who come to prove that they [the first pair] are עֵדִים זוֹמְמִין,“plotting witnesses,” by diligent inquiry and examination.
ודרשו השופטים היטב: על פי המזימין אותם, שבודקים וחוקרים את הבאים להזימם בדרישה ובחקירה:
and behold, the witness is a false witness: Wherever עֵד, witness , is written, Scripture is speaking of two [witnesses]. — [San. 30a]
והנה עד שקר: כל מקום שנאמר עד, בשנים הכתוב מדבר:
19then you shall do to him as he plotted to do to his brother, and you shall [thus] abolish evil from among you. יטוַֽעֲשִׂ֣יתֶם ל֔וֹ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר זָמַ֖ם לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת לְאָחִ֑יו וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ:
as he plotted: But not as he did. From here [our Rabbis] said that if the first set of witnesses [before being proven false,] already killed the defendant [by their testimony], they are not to be put to death. — [Mak. 5b]
כאשר זמם: ולא כאשר עשה. מכאן אמרו, הרגו אין נהרגין:
to do to his brother: Why does Scripture state, “to his brother?” To teach, that in the case of witnesses who conspired against a married daughter of a kohen [by accusing her of adultery], that they are not executed with burning [the form of execution to which she would have been subjected], but rather, by strangulation, the form of execution of the adulterer. For it says [regarding such a woman] “she shall be burnt with fire” (Lev. 21:9) -“she,” but not her paramour [who is dispatched by strangulation]; therefore it says here, “to his brother”-“as he plotted to do to his brother,” but not as he plotted to do to his sister. With other crimes, however, Scripture regards women equally with men, and conspiring witnesses against a woman are executed in the same way as those who conspired against a man. For instance, if they testified that a women killed a person, or that she desecrated the Sabbath [and they are revealed to be false witnesses before she is executed], then they are executed in the form that they intended for her, for Scripture does not exclude his sister [by stating “brother”] except in a case where one may carry out the punishment of the conspiring witnesses by the form of execution of the adulterer [as opposed to the adulteress]. — [Sifrei and San. 90a]
לעשות לאחיו: מה תלמוד לומר לאחיו, למד על זוממי בת כהן נשואה שאינן בשריפה, אלא כמיתת הבועל שהוא בחנק, שנאמר היא באש תשרף (ויקרא כא, ט) היא ולא בועלה. לכך נאמר כאן לאחיו, כאשר זמם לעשות לאחיו, ולא כאשר זמם לעשות לאחותו. אבל בכל שאר מיתות השוה הכתוב אשה לאיש, וזוממי אשה נהרגין כזוממי איש. כגון שהעידוה שהרגה את הנפש, שחללה את השבת, נהרגין במיתתה. שלא מיעט כאן אחותו אלא במקום שיש לקיים בהן הזמה במיתת הבועל:
20And those who remain shall listen and fear, and they shall no longer continue to commit any such evil thing among you. כוְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים יִשְׁמְע֣וּ וְיִרָ֑אוּ וְלֹֽא־יֹסִ֨פוּ לַֽעֲשׂ֜וֹת ע֗וֹד כַּדָּבָ֥ר הָרָ֛ע הַזֶּ֖ה בְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ:
shall listen and fear: From here, [we derive the law] that a public announcement is required: “So-and-so and so-and-so are to be executed because they were proven by the court to be plotting witnesses.” - [San. 89a] [Note that Rashi on Mak. 5a and San. 89a writes that the proclamation is made after the perpetrators have been executed.]
ישמעו ויראו: מכאן שצריכין הכרזה, איש פלוני ופלוני נהרגין על שהוזמו בבית דין:
21You shall not have pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. כאוְלֹ֥א תָח֖וֹס עֵינֶ֑ךָ נֶ֣פֶשׁ בְּנֶ֗פֶשׁ עַ֤יִן בְּעַ֨יִן֙ שֵׁ֣ן בְּשֵׁ֔ן יָ֥ד בְּיָ֖ד רֶ֥גֶל בְּרָֽגֶל:
Eye for eye: i.e., financial compensation; and similarly, “tooth for tooth, etc.” - [Sifrei, B.K. 87a]
עין בעין: ממון, וכן שן בשן וגו':
Deuteronomy Chapter 20
1When you go out to war against your enemies, and you see horse and chariot, a people more numerous than you, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord, your God is with you Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. אכִּֽי־תֵצֵ֨א לַמִּלְחָמָ֜ה עַל־אֹֽיְבֶ֗ךָ וְרָאִ֜יתָ ס֤וּס וָרֶ֨כֶב֙ עַ֚ם רַ֣ב מִמְּךָ֔ לֹ֥א תִירָ֖א מֵהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ הַמַּֽעַלְךָ֖ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
When you go out to war: Scripture juxtaposes the departure for war alongside this [“eye for eye etc.”] to teach us that a person with a missing limb does not go out to war. - [Sifrei] Another explanation: It teaches that if you execute righteous judgment, you can be sure that when you depart for war you will be victorious. Similarly, David says, “I performed justice and righteousness; do not leave me to my oppressors” (Ps. 119: 121). - [Tanchuma]
כי תצא למלחמה: סמך הכתוב יציאת מלחמה לכאן, לומר לך, שאין מחוסר אבר יוצא למלחמה. דבר אחר לומר לך, אם עשית משפט צדק אתה מובטח שאם תצא למלחמה אתה נוצח. וכן דוד הוא אומר (תהלים קיט, קכא) עשיתי משפט וצדק בל תניחני לעושקי:
against your enemies: Let them be in your eyes as enemies; have no pity on them, for they will have no pity upon you.
על איבך: יהיו בעיניך כאויבים, אל תרחם עליהם כי לא ירחמו עליך:
horse and chariot: In My eyes, they are all like one horse. Similarly, it says, “and you shall strike Midian as one man.” (Jud. 6:16) And similarly, it says,, “When Pharaoh’s horse… came [into the sea]” (Exod. 15:19). - [Sifrei]
סוס ורכב: בעיני כולם כסוס אחד, וכן הוא אומר (שופטים ו, טז) והכית את מדין כאיש אחד. וכן הוא אומר (שמות טו, יט) כי בא סוס פרעה:
a people more numerous than you: In your eyes, they are numerous, but in My eyes, they are not numerous. — [Sifrei]
עם רב ממך: בעיניך הוא רב, אבל בעיני אינו רב:
2And it will be, when you approach the battle, that the kohen shall come near, and speak to the people. בוְהָיָ֕ה כְּקָֽרָבְכֶ֖ם אֶל־הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִגַּ֥שׁ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְדִבֶּ֥ר אֶל־הָעָֽם:
when you approach the battle: When you are on the point of leaving the border.
כקרבכם אל המלחמה: סמוך לצאתכם מן הספר מגבול ארצכם:
that the kohen shall come near: This refers to the kohen anointed for this purpose, and he is called “the one anointed for war.”
ונגש הכהן: המשוח לכך. והוא הנקרא משוח מלחמה:
and speak to the people: in the Holy Tongue. — [Sotah 42a]
ודבר אל העם: בלשון הקדש:
3And he shall say to them, "Hear, O Israel, today you are approaching the battle against your enemies. Let your hearts not be faint; you shall not be afraid, and you shall not be alarmed, and you shall not be terrified because of them. גוְאָמַ֤ר אֲלֵהֶם֙ שְׁמַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַתֶּ֨ם קְרֵבִ֥ים הַיּ֛וֹם לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֑ם אַל־יֵרַ֣ךְ לְבַבְכֶ֗ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֧וּ וְאַל־תַּחְפְּז֛וּ וְאַל־תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם:
“Hear, O Israel”: Even if you have no merit other than the reading of the Shema , you are worthy that He [God] save you. — [Sotah 42b]
שמע ישראל: אפילו אין בכם זכות אלא קריאת שמע בלבד, כדאי אתם שיושיע אתכם:
against your enemies: These are not your brothers, for if you fall into their hands, they will not have pity on you; this is not like the war of Judah with Israel, of which the verse states, “And the men, who were mentioned by name, rose up and took hold of the captives, and, and clothed all their nakedness from the spoils, and they dressed them and shod them, and fed them and gave them to drink, and anointed them, and led them on donkeys, every feeble one, and they brought them to Jericho, the city of the palms, beside their brothers, and they returned to Samaria” (II Chron. 28:15). You, however, are going against your enemies; therefore strengthen yourselves for battle. — [Sifrei ; Sotah 42a]
על איביכם: אין אלו אחיכם, שאם תפלו בידם אינם מרחמים עליכם, אין זו כמלחמת יהודה עם ישראל, שנאמר (דה"י ב' כח טו) ויקומו האנשים אשר נקבו בשמות ויחזיקו בשביה, וכל מערומיהם הלבישו מן השלל וילבישום וינעילום ויאכילום וישקום ויסוכום וינהלום בחמורים לכל כושל, ויביאום ירחו עיר התמרים אצל אחיהם, וישובו שומרון, אלא על אויביכם אתם הולכים, לפיכך התחזקו למלחמה:
Let your hearts not be faint; you shall not be afraid, you shall not be alarmed, and you shall not be terrified: Four warnings, corresponding to four practices in which the kings of the nations engage [during battle]: They hold their shields close together to strike them against one another, thereby producing a loud noise to alarm those confronting them, so that they should flee; they stamp [the ground heavily] with their horses and make them neigh, sounding the beating of their horses’ hoofs, and they shout loudly and blow horns and [other] kinds of noisy instruments.
אל ירך לבבכם אל תיראו ואל תחפזו ואל תערצו: ארבע אזהרות כנגד ארבעה דברים שמלכי האומות עושים. מגיפים בתריסיהם כדי להקישן זה לזה כדי להשמיע קול שיחפזו אלו שכנגדם וינוסו, ורומסים בסוסיהם ומצהילין אותם להשמיע קול שעטת פרסות סוסיהם, וצווחין בקולם ותוקעין בשופרות ומיני משמיעי קול:
Let your hearts not be faint: Because of the neighing of the horses;
אל ירך לבבכם: מצהלות סוסים:
you shall not be afraid: of the noise made by the fastening of the shields;
אל תיראו: מהגפת התריסין:
and you shall not be alarmed: At the sounds of the horns;
ואל תחפזו: מקול הקרנות:
and you shall not be terrified: By the noise of the shouting. — [Sifrei ; Sotah 42a]
ואל תערצו: מקול הצווחה:
4For the Lord, your God, is the One Who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. דכִּ֚י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם הַֽהֹלֵ֖ךְ עִמָּכֶ֑ם לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם לָכֶ֛ם עִם־אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֖ם לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ אֶתְכֶֽם:
For the Lord, your God…: They are coming with the victory of flesh and blood, whereas you approach with the victory of the Omnipresent. The Philistines came with the victory of Goliath-What was his end? He fell, and they fell with him.
כי ה' אלהיכם וגו': הם באים בנצחונו של בשר ודם ואתם באים בנצחונו של מקום. פלשתים באו בנצחונו של גלית, מה היה סופו, נפל ונפלו עמו:
Who goes with you: This refers to the camp of the ark. — [Sotah 42a]
ההלך עמכם: זה מחנה הארון:
5And the officers shall speak to the people, saying, What man is there who has built a new house and has not [yet] inaugurated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man inaugurate it. הוְדִבְּר֣וּ הַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֘ אֶל־הָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹר֒ מִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּנָ֤ה בַֽיִת־חָדָשׁ֙ וְלֹ֣א חֲנָכ֔וֹ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יַחְנְכֶֽנּוּ:
[What man is there who has built a new house] and has not [yet] inaugurated it: i.e., has not yet lived in it. The term חִנּוּךְ denotes beginning.
ולא חנכו: לא דר בו. חנוך לשון התחלה:
[Lest he die in the war,] and another man inaugurate it: This would be a source of great grief.
ואיש אחר יחנכנו: ודבר של עגמת נפש הוא זה:
6And what man is there who has planted a vineyard, and has not [yet] redeemed it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man redeem it. ווּמִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָטַ֥ע כֶּ֨רֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א חִלְּל֔וֹ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ:
[And what man is there that has planted a vineyard,] and has not [yet] redeemed it: Heb. וְלֹא חִלְּלוֹ. He has not redeemed the vineyard in the fourth year [of its growth], for the fruits [of the fourth year] have to be eaten in Jerusalem or redeemed [by exchanging them] for money, and to eat [food purchased with] the money in Jerusalem.
ולא חללו: לא פדאו בשנה הרביעית, שהפירות טעונין לאכלן בירושלים או לחללן בדמים ולאכול הדמים בירושלים:
7And what man is there who has betrothed a woman and has not [yet] taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man take her." זוּמִֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֵרַ֤שׂ אִשָּׁה֙ וְלֹ֣א לְקָחָ֔הּ יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ פֶּן־יָמוּת֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵ֖ר יִקָּחֶֽנָּה:
lest he die in the war: He should return lest he die, for if he does not obey the kohen , he deserves to die. — [Sifrei]
פן ימות במלחמה: ישוב פן ימות, שאם לא ישמע לדברי הכהן כדאי הוא שימות:
8And the officers shall continue to speak to the people and say, "What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, that he should not cause the heart of his brothers to melt, as his heart." חוְיָֽסְפ֣וּ הַשֹּֽׁטְרִים֘ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־הָעָם֒ וְאָֽמְר֗וּ מִֽי־הָאִ֤ישׁ הַיָּרֵא֙ וְרַ֣ךְ הַלֵּבָ֔ב יֵלֵ֖ךְ וְיָשֹׁ֣ב לְבֵית֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יִמַּ֛ס אֶת־לְבַ֥ב אֶחָ֖יו כִּלְבָבֽוֹ:
And the officers shall continue: Why does it say here: “shall continue” [lit. shall add]? They add this [statement] to the words of the kohen , for the kohen speaks and announces aloud to the people from “Hear, O Israel” (verse 3) until “to save you,” (end of verse 4) while “What man is there” (verse 5), and the second and third one [with the same beginning (verses 6 and 7)], the kohen speaks, and an officer announces aloud [to the people]. This verse, however, an officer speaks, and an officer announces aloud. - [Sotah 43a] According to several incunabula editions of Rashi , “a kohen announces aloud.” [See Yosef Hallel.]
ויספו השוטרים: למה נאמר כאן ויספו, מוסיפין זה על דברי הכהן, שהכהן מדבר ומשמיע מן (פסוק ג - ד) שמע ישראל עד להושיע אתכם, ומי האיש ושני ושלישי כהן מדבר ושוטר משמיע, וזה שוטר מדבר ושוטר משמיע:
[What man is there] who is fearful and fainthearted: Rabbi Akiva says: [This verse is to be understood] according to its apparent meaning, that he cannot stand in the closed ranks of battle and look upon a drawn sword. Rabbi Jose the Galilean says that [it means] one who is afraid of his sins [that they will cause him to fall in war, as he is unworthy], and therefore, the Torah gives him the excuse of attributing his return home because of a house, a vineyard, or a wife, to cover up for those who return because of their sins, so that people should not understand that they are sinners. [Consequently,] one who sees this person returning would say,“Perhaps he has built a house, or planted a vineyard, or betrothed a woman.” - [Sotah 44a]
הירא ורך הלבב: רבי עקיבא אומר כמשמעו, שאינו יכול לעמוד בקשרי המלחמה ולראות חרב שלופה. רבי יוסי הגלילי אומר הירא מעבירות שבידו, ולכך תלתה לו תורה לחזור על בית וכרם ואשה לכסות על החוזרים בשביל עבירות שבידם, שלא יבינו שהם בעלי עבירה, והרואהו חוזר אומר שמא בנה בית או נטע כרם או ארש אשה:
9And it shall be, that when the officials finish speaking to the people, they shall appoint officers of the legions at the edges of the people. טוְהָיָ֛ה כְּכַלֹּ֥ת הַשֹּֽׁטְרִ֖ים לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־הָעָ֑ם וּפָֽקְד֛וּ שָׂרֵ֥י צְבָא֖וֹת בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הָעָֽם:
[They shall appoint] officers of the legions: This means that they place (זַקָּפִין) guards in front of them and behind them, with iron arrows in their hands, and if anybody attempted to retreat, the guard had the authority to strike his legs. זַקָּפִין are people who stand at the edge of the battle array to pick up (לִזְקֹף) the fallen and to encourage them with words: “Return to the battle and do not flee, for flight is the beginning of defeat.” - [Sifrei , Sotah 44a]
שרי צבאות: שמעמידין זקפין, מלפניהם ומלאחריהם וכשילין של ברזל בידיהם וכל מי שרוצה לחזור הרשות בידו לקפח את שוקיו. זקפין, בני אדם עומדים בקצה המערכה לזקוף את הנופלים ולחזקם בדברים שובו אל המלחמה ולא תנוסו, שתחלת נפילה ניסה:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 18 - 22
• Hebrew text
• English text
Special Custom for the Month of Elul and High Holidays
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
See below for today's additional chapters.
Chapter 18
If one merits a public miracle, he should offer a song to God, including in his song all the miracles that have occurred since the day the world was created, as well as the good that God wrought for Israel at the giving of the Torah. And he should say: "He Who has performed these miracles, may He do with me likewise."
1. For the Conductor. By the servant of the Lord, by David, who chanted the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2. He said, "I love You, Lord, my strength.
3. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my rescuer. My God is my strength in Whom I take shelter, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
4. With praises I call upon the Lord, and I am saved from my enemies.
5. For the pangs of death surrounded me, and torrents of evil people terrified me.
6. Pangs of the grave encompassed me; snares of death confronted me.
7. In my distress I called upon the Lord, I cried out to my God; and from His Sanctuary He heard my voice, and my supplication before Him reached His ears.
8. The earth trembled and quaked; the foundations of the mountains shook-they trembled when His wrath flared.
9. Smoke rose in His nostrils, devouring fire blazed from His mouth, and burning coals flamed forth from Him.
10. He inclined the heavens and descended, a thick cloud was beneath His feet.
11. He rode on a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
12. He made darkness His concealment, His surroundings His shelter-of the dense clouds with their dark waters.
13. Out of the brightness before Him, His clouds passed over, with hailstones and fiery coals.
14. The Lord thundered in heaven, the Most High gave forth His voice-hailstones and fiery coals.
15. He sent forth His arrows and scattered them; many lightnings, and confounded them.
16. The channels of water became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed-at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
17. He sent from heaven and took me; He brought me out of surging waters.
18. He rescued me from my fierce enemy, and from my foes when they had become too strong for me.
19. They confronted me on the day of my misfortune, but the Lord was my support.
20. He brought me into spaciousness; He delivered me because He desires me.
21. The Lord rewar-ded me in accordance with my righteousness; He repaid me according to the cleanliness of my hands.
22. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not transgressed against my God;
23. for all His laws are before me, I have not removed His statutes from me.
24. I was perfect with Him, and have guarded myself from sin.
25. The Lord repaid me in accordance with my righteousness, according to the cleanliness of my hands before His eyes.
26. With the kindhearted You act kindly, with the upright man You act uprightly.
27. With the pure You act purely, but with the crooked You act cun- ningly.
28. For the destitute nation You save, but haughty eyes You humble.
29. Indeed, You light my lamp; the Lord, my God, illuminates my darkness.
30. For with You I run against a troop; with my God I scale a wall.
31. The way of God is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
32. For who is God except the Lord, and who is a rock except our God!
33. The God Who girds me with strength, and makes my path perfect.
34. He makes my feet like deers', and stands me firmly on my high places.
35. He trains my hands for battle, my arms to bend a bow of bronze.
36. You have given me the shield of Your deliverance, Your right hand upheld me; Your humility made me great.
37. You have widened my steps beneath me, and my knees have not faltered.
38. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until I destroyed them.
39. I crushed them so that they were unable to rise; they are fallen beneath my feet.
40. You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued my adversaries beneath me.
41. You have made my enemies turn their backs to me, and my foes I cut down.
42. They cried out, but there was none to deliver them; to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
43. I ground them as the dust before the wind, I poured them out like the mud in the streets.
44. You have rescued me from the quarrelsome ones of the people, You have made me the head of nations; a nation I did not know became subservient to me.
45. As soon as they hear of me they obey me; strangers deny to me [their disloyalty].
46. Strangers wither away, they are terrified in their strongholds.
47. The Lord lives; blessed is my Rock; exalted is the God of my deliverance.
48. You are the God Who executes retribution for me, and subjugates nations under me.
49. Who rescues me from my enemies, Who exalts me above my adversaries, Who delivers me from the man of violence.
50. Therefore I will laud You, Lord, among the nations, and sing to Your Name.
51. He grants His king great salvations, and bestows kindness upon His anointed, to David and his descendants forever."
Chapter 19
To behold God's might one should look to the heavens, to the sun, and to the Torah, from which awesome miracles and wonders can be perceived--wonders that lead the creations to tell of God's glory.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. The heavens recount the glory of the Almighty; the sky proclaims His handiwork.
3. Day to day speech streams forth; night to night expresses knowledge.
4. There is no utterance, there are no words; their voice is inaudible.
5. Their arc extends throughout the world; their message to the end of the earth. He set in them [the heavens] a tent for the sun,
6. which is like a groom coming forth from his bridal canopy, like a strong man rejoicing to run the course.
7. Its rising is at one end of the heavens, and its orbit encompasses the other ends; nothing is hidden from its heat.
8. The Torah of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making wise the simpleton.
9. The precepts of the Lord are just, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes.
10. The fear of the Lord is pure, abiding forever; the judgments of the Lord are true, they are all righteous together.
11. They are more desirable than gold, than much fine gold; sweeter than honey or the drippings of honeycomb.
12. Indeed, Your servant is scrupulous with them; in observing them there is abundant reward.
13. Yet who can discern inadvertent wrongs? Purge me of hidden sins.
14. Also hold back Your servant from willful sins; let them not prevail over me; then I will be unblemished and keep myself clean of gross transgression.
15. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.
Chapter 20
If a loved one or relative is suffering-even in a distant place, where one is unable to help-offer this prayer on their behalf.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. May the Lord answer you on the day of distress; may the Name of the God of Jacob fortify you.
3. May He send your help from the Sanctuary, and support you from Zion.
4. May He remember all your offerings, and always accept favorably your sacrifices.
5. May He grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill your every counsel.
6. We will rejoice in your deliverance, and raise our banners in the name of our God; may the Lord fulfill all your wishes.
7. Now I know that the Lord has delivered His anointed one, answering him from His holy heavens with the mighty saving power of His right hand.
8. Some [rely] upon chariots and some upon horses, but we [rely upon and] invoke the Name of the Lord our God.
9. They bend and fall, but we rise and stand firm.
10. Lord, deliver us; may the King answer us on the day we call.
One who is endowed with prosperity, and whose every desire is granted, ought not be ungrateful. He should praise and thank God, recognize Him as the cause of his prosperity, and trust in Him. For everything comes from the kindness of the One Above.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. The king rejoices in Your strength, Lord; how greatly he exults in Your deliverance!
3. You have given him his heart's desire, and You have never withheld the utterance of his lips.
4. You preceded him with blessings of good; You placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
5. He asked of You life, You gave it to him-long life, forever and ever.
6. His glory is great in Your deliverance; You have placed majesty and splendor upon him.
7. For You make him a blessing forever; You gladden him with the joy of Your countenance.
8. For the king trusts in the Lord, and in the kindness of the Most High-that he will not falter.
9. Your hand will suffice for all Your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You.
10. You will make them as a fiery furnace at the time of Your anger. May the Lord consume them in His wrath; let a fire devour them.
11. Destroy their offspring from the earth, their descendants from mankind.
12. For they intended evil against You, they devised evil plans which they cannot execute.
13. For You will set them as a portion apart; with Your bowstring You will aim at their faces.
14. Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and chant the praise of Your might.
Chapter 22
Every person should pray in agony over the length of the exile, and our fall from prestige to lowliness. One should also take vows (for self-improvement) in his distress.
1. For the Conductor, on the ayelet hashachar, a psalm by David.
2. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me! So far from saving me, from the words of my outcry?
3. My God, I call out by day, and You do not answer; at night-but there is no respite for me.
4. Yet You, Holy One, are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
5. In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You saved them.
6. They cried to You and were rescued; they trusted in You and were not shamed.
7. And I am a worm and not a man; scorn of men, contempt of nations.
8. All who see me mock me; they open their lips, they shake their heads.
9. But one that casts [his burden] upon the Lord-He will save him; He will rescue him, for He desires him.
10. For You took me out of the womb, and made me secure on my mother's breasts.
11. I have been thrown upon You from birth; from my mother's womb You have been my God.
12. Be not distant from me, for trouble is near, for there is none to help.
13. Many bulls surround me, the mighty bulls of Bashan encircle me.
14. They open their mouths against me, like a lion that ravages and roars.
15. I am poured out like water, all my bones are disjointed; my heart has become like wax, melted within my innards.
16. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my palate; You set me in the dust of death.
17. For dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers enclose me; my hands and feet are like a lion's prey.
18. I count all my limbs, while they watch and gloat over me.
19. They divide my garments amongst them; they cast lots upon my clothing.
20. But You, Lord, do not be distant; my Strength, hurry to my aid!
21. Save my life from the sword, my soul from the grip of dogs.
22. Save me from the lion's mouth, as You have answered me from the horns of wild beasts.
23. I will recount [the praises of] Your Name to my brothers; I will extol You amidst the congregation.
24. You that fear the Lord, praise Him! Glorify Him, all you progeny of Jacob! Stand in awe of Him, all you progeny of Israel!
25. For He has not despised nor abhorred the entreaty of the poor, nor has He concealed His face from him; rather He heard when he cried to Him.
26. My praise comes from You, in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before those that fear Him.
27. Let the humble eat and be satisfied; let those who seek the Lord praise Him-may your hearts live forever!
28. All the ends of the earth will remember and return to the Lord; all families of nations will bow down before You.
29. For sovereignty is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations.
30. All the fat ones of the earth will eat and bow down, all who descend to the dust shall kneel before Him, but He will not revive their soul.
31. The progeny of those who serve Him will tell of the Lord to the latter generations.
32. They will come and relate His righteousness-all that He has done-to a newborn nation.
Additional Three Chapters
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
Today's Chapters are 7, 8 and 9.
Chapter 7
Do not rejoice if God causes your enemy to suffer—just as the suffering of the righteous is not pleasant. David, therefore, defends himself intensely before God, maintaining that he did not actively harm Saul. In fact, Saul precipitated his own harm, while David’s intentions were only for the good.
1. A shigayon 1 by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Kush the Benjaminite.
2. I put my trust in You, Lord, my God; deliver me from all my pursuers and save me.
3. Lest he tear my soul like a lion, crushing me with none to rescue.
4. Lord, my God, if I have done this, if there is wrongdoing in my hands;
5. if I have rewarded my friends with evil or oppressed those who hate me without reason—
6. then let the enemy pursue and overtake my soul, let him trample my life to the ground, and lay my glory in the dust forever.
7. Arise, O Lord, in Your anger, lift Yourself up in fury against my foes. Stir me [to mete out] the retribution which You commanded.
8. When the assembly of nations surrounds You, remove Yourself from it and return to the heavens.
9. The Lord will mete out retribution upon the nations; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity.
10. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous—O righteous God, Searcher of hearts and minds.
11. [I rely] on God to be my shield, He Who saves the upright of heart.
12. God is the righteous judge, and the Almighty is angered every day.
13. Because he does not repent, He sharpens His sword, bends His bow and makes it ready.
14. He has prepared instruments of death for him; His arrows will be used on the pursuers.
15. Indeed, he conceives iniquity, is pregnant with evil schemes, and gives birth to falsehood.
16. He digs a pit, digs it deep, only to fall into the trap he laid.
17. His mischief will return upon his own head, his violence will come down upon his own skull.
18. I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and sing to the Name of the Lord Most High
Chapter 8
This psalm is a glorious praise to God for His kindness to the lowly and mortal human in giving the Torah to the inhabitants of the lower worlds, arousing the envy of the celestial angels. This idea is expressed in the Yom Kippur prayer, “Though Your mighty strength is in the angels above, You desire praise from those formed of lowly matter.”
1. For the Conductor, on the gittit,1 a psalm by David.
2. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth, You Who has set Your majesty upon the heavens!
3. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have established might, to counter Your enemies, to silence foe and avenger.2
4. When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have set in place—
5. what is man that You should remember him, son of man that You should be mindful of him?
6. Yet, You have made him but a little less than the angels, and crowned him with honor and glory.
7. You made him ruler over Your handiwork, You placed everything under his feet.
8. Sheep and cattle—all of them, also the beasts of the field;
9. the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea; all that traverses the paths of the seas.
10. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth.
Chapter 9
One should praise God for saving him from the hand of the enemy who stands over and agonizes him, and for His judging each person according to his deeds: the righteous according to their righteousness, and the wicked according to their wickedness.
1. For the Conductor, upon the death of Labben, a psalm by David.
2. I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will recount all Your wonders.
3. I will rejoice and exult in You; I will sing to Your Name, O Most High.
4. When my enemies retreat, they will stumble and perish from before You.
5. You have rendered my judgement and [defended] my cause; You sat on the throne, O righteous Judge.
6. You destroyed nations, doomed the wicked, erased their name for all eternity.
7. O enemy, your ruins are gone forever, and the cities you have uprooted—their very remembrance is lost.
8. But the Lord is enthroned forever, He established His throne for judgement.
9. And He will judge the world with justice, He will render judgement to the nations with righteousness.
10. The Lord will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
11. Those who know Your Name put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.
12. Sing to the Lord Who dwells in Zion, recount His deeds among the nations.
13. For the Avenger of bloodshed is mindful of them; He does not forget the cry of the downtrodden.
14. Be gracious to me, O Lord; behold my affliction at the hands of my enemies, You Who raises me from the gates of death,
15. so that I may relate all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, that I may exult in Your deliverance.
16. The nations sank into the pit that they made; in the net they concealed their foot was caught.
17. The Lord became known through the judgement He executed; the wicked one is snared in the work of his own hands; reflect on this always.
18. The wicked will return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.
19. For not for eternity will the needy be forgotten, nor will the hope of the poor perish forever.
20. Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence.
21. Set Your mastery over them, O Lord; let the nations know that they are but frail men, Selah.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 10
• English Text (Lessons in Tanya)
• Hebrew Text
• Audio Class: Listen | Download
• Video Class
Friday, Elul 3, 5777 · August 25, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 10
AUDIO & VIDEO CLASSES
• VIDEO CLASS: Rabbi Yehoshua B. Gordon Watch • Listen
• AUDIO CLASS: Rabbi Manis Freidman Listen • Download MP3
אך היינו דוקא לשומר התורה, ולא סר ממנה ימין ושמאל, אפילו כמלא נימא
However, this [limitation on charity] applies only to one who observes the Torah and does not depart from it to the right or left, even as much as a hair’s-breadth.
אבל מי שהעביר עליו הדרך, חס ושלום
But as to him who has strayed from the path, Heaven forfend,
מאחר שהעוה דרכו, לתת מגרעות בקדש העליון
inasmuch as he has distorted his course, thus di-minishing the Supreme Holiness,
A Jew draws down sanctity from the Supreme Holiness through his performance of the commandments; as we say in the blessings recited before their performance, “...Who has sanctified us with His commandments.” I.e., performing mitzvot elicits a downflow of Supreme Holiness, whereas non-performance depletes it.
שגרע ערכו בחינת המשכתו מה שהיה יכול להמשיך מבחינת אלקותו, והארת האור מאור אין סוף ברוך הוא, אילו היה שומר התורה ומקיימה כהלכתה
that is, he has diminished its value as regards the efflux he could have elicited from G‑d’s Divinity and the radiation [he could have elicited] from the [infinite] Ein Sof-light, had he observed the Torah and fulfilled it as required, —
מעוות זה לא יוכל לתקן כי אם בהמשכת האור העליון שלמעלה מהעולמות, ואינו מתלבש בהן
such distortion cannot be rectified except by an efflux of the Supreme light that transcends the worlds, without being vested in them.
הנקרא חסד עילאה ורב חסד
This is what is called Chesed ilaah (“superior kindness”) and rav Chesed (“abundant kindness”),
לפי שמאיר ומתפשט בבחינת אין סוף, בלי גבול ומדה
because it radiates and diffuses infinitely, without limit and measure,
מאחר שאיננו מצומצם תוך העולמות, אלא בבחינת מקיף עליהן מלמעלה
since it is not contracted within the worlds but encompasses them from above [in equal measure],
מריש כל דרגין עד סוף וכו׳
from the peak of all rungs to the end [of all rungs].
וכשהאדם ממשיכו למטה במעשיו ואתערותא דלתתא
Now, when man draws it downward by means of his deeds and by an arousal from below,
אזי אור עליון זה מאיר ומתפשט תוך העולמות, ומתקן כל מעוות וכל מגרעות שניתנו בקדש העליון
this Supreme light then radiates and extends within the worlds, rectifying all distortions and deficiencies caused in the Kodesh HaElyon,
ומחדש אורן וטובן ביתר שאת ויתר עז, בבחינת אור חדש ממש
and renewing their light and goodness with an intense elevation, on the level of a truly new light.
An act of penitence does not merely uncover a pre-existing light, but calls forth a new and infinite light which is loftier than all the worlds.
לכן אמרו: במקום שבעלי תשובה עומדין וכו׳
This is why the Sages taught that1 “In the place (i.e., at the level) where penitents stand, [even the perfectly righteous do not stand].”
The Rebbe notes that in various sources2 this is paraphrased as follows: “In the place where penitents stand even the truly righteous cannot stand.” I.e., the level at which penitents stand steadfastly cannot even be attained by the truly righteous, for the Divine radiance drawn down through repentance is of an utterly superior quality.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Berachot 34b. |
| 2. | Rambam, Hilchot Teshuvah 7:4, as distinct from the wording cited in Berachot, loc. cit.: ‘...do not stand.”’ |
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassToday's Mitzvah
Friday, Elul 3, 5777 · August 25, 2017
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
AUDIO & VIDEO CLASSES
• VIDEO CLASS: Rabbi Mendel Kaplan Watch • Listen
• AUDIO CLASS: Rabbi Berel Bell Listen • MP3 Download
Important Message Regarding This Lesson
The Daily Mitzvah schedule runs parallel to the daily study of 3 chapters of Maimonides' 14-volume code. There are instances when the Mitzvah is repeated a few days consecutively while the exploration of the same Mitzvah continues in the in-depth track.
Positive Commandment 246
Laws of Claims
"In every case of trespass...in which one can say: 'This is it'"—Exodus 22:8.
We are commanded to adjudicate monetary cases between litigants [according to the laws outlined in the Torah].
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Laws of Claims
Positive Commandment 246
Translated by Berel Bell
The 246th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding claims and counterclaims [in lawsuits.]
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "In every case of dishonesty... [and the watchman] said that this is it."
In the words of the Mechilta: "The phrase 'that this is it' refers to partial admission to the claim."2
This mitzvah includes anything that can arise from the claims people have against one another involving admission and denial.
The details of this commandment are explained in the 3rd chapter of Bava Kama, the beginning of Bava Metzia, and the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Shavuos. Many questions regarding this subject are spread throughout the Talmud.
FOOTNOTES
1.Ex. 22:8.
2.Since he has made a partial admission, he is required to take an oath regarding the rest of the claim.
Rambam:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Mamrim Mamrim - Chapter 1
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassMamrim - Chapter 1
Introduction to Hilchos Mamrim
They include nine mitzvot: three positive commandments and six negative commandments They are:
1. To follow the directives given by the Supreme Sanhedrin;
2. Not to deviate from their words;
3. Not to add to the Torah, neither to the mitzvot of the Written Law, nor to their explanation which was transmitted by the Oral Tradition;
4. Not to detract from the mitzvot;
5. Not to curse one's father or mother;
6. Not to strike one's father or mother;
7. To honor one's father and mother;
8. To fear one's father and mother;
9. For a son not to rebel against his father's and mother's instruction.
These mitzvot are explained in the coming chapters.
רמב"ם הלכות ממרים – הקדמה
הלכות ממרים. יש בכללן תשע מצות, שלש מצות עשה, ושש מצות לא תעשה. וזה הוא פרטן:
(א) לעשות על פי התורה שאמרו לנו בית דין הגדול.
(ב) שלא לסור מדבריהם.
(ג) שלא להוסיף על התורה לא במצות שבכתב ולא בפירושן שלמדנו מפי השמועה.
(ד) שלא לגרוע מן הכל.
(ה) שלא לקלל אב ואם.
(ו) שלא להכותם.
(ז) לכבדם.
(ח) ליראם.
(ט) שלא יהיה הבן סורר ומורה על קול אביו ואמו.
וביאור מצות אלו בפרקים אלו.
1
The Supreme Sanhedrin in Jerusalem are the essence of the Oral Law. They are the pillars of instruction from whom statutes and judgments issue forth for the entire Jewish people. Concerning them, the Torah promises Deuteronomy 17:11: "You shall do according to the laws which they shall instruct you...." This is a positive commandment.
Whoever believes in Moses and in his Torah is obligated to make all of his religious acts dependent on this court and to rely on them.
א
בית דין הגדול שבירושלים הם עיקר תורה שבעל פה והם עמודי ההוראה ומהם חק ומשפט יוצא לכל ישראל ועליהן הבטיחה תורה שנאמר על פי התורה אשר יורוך זו מצות עשה וכל המאמין במשה רבינו ובתורתו חייב לסמוך מעשה הדת עליהן ולישען עליהן:
2
Any person who does not carry out their directives transgresses a negative commandment, as Ibid. continues: "Do not deviate from any of the statements they relate to you, neither right nor left."
Lashes are not given for the violation of this prohibition, because it also serves as a warning for a transgression punishable by execution by the court. For when a sage rebels against the words of the court, he should be executed by strangulation, as the following verse states: "A person who will act deliberately...."
We are obligated to heed their words whether they:
a) learned them from the Oral Tradition, i.e., the Oral Law,
b) derived them on the basis of their own knowledge through one of the attributes of Biblical exegesis and it appeared to them that this is the correct interpretation of the matter,
c) instituted the matter as a safeguard for the Torah, as was necessary at a specific time. These are the decrees, edicts, and customs instituted by the Sages.
It is a positive commandment to heed the court with regard to each of these three matters. A person who transgresses any of these types of directives transgresses a negative commandment. This is derived from the continuation of the above verse in the following manner: "According to the laws which they shall instruct you" - this refers to the edicts, decrees, and customs which they instruct people at large to observe to strengthen the faith and perfect the world. "According to the judgment which they relate" - this refers to the matters which they derive through logical analysis employing one of the methods of Biblical exegesis. "From all things that they will tell you" - This refers to the tradition which they received one person from another.
ב
כל מי שאינו עושה כהוראתן עובר בלא תעשה שנאמר לא תסור מכל הדבר אשר יגידו לך ימין ושמאל ואין לוקין על לאו זה מפני שניתן לאזהרת מיתת בית דין שכל חכם שמורה על דבריהם מיתתו בחנק שנאמר והאיש אשר יעשה בזדון וגו' אחד דברים שלמדו אותן מפי השמועה והם תורה שבעל פה ואחד דברים שלמדום מפי דעתם באחת מן המדות שהתורה נדרשת בהן ונראה בעיניהם שדבר זה כך הוא ואחד דברים שעשאום סייג לתורה ולפי מה שהשעה צריכה והן הגזרות והתקנות והמנהגות כל אחד ואחד מאלו השלשה דברים מצות עשה לשמוע להן והעובר על כל אחד מהן עובר בלא תעשה הרי הוא אומר על פי התורה אשר יורוך אלו התקנות והגזירות והמנהגות שיורו בהם לרבים כדי לחזק הדת ולתקן העולם ועל המשפט אשר יאמרו אלו דברים שילמדו אותן מן הדין באחת מן המדות שהתורה נדרשת בהן מכל הדבר אשר יגידו לך זו הקבלה שקבלו איש מפי איש:
3
There can never be any difference of opinion with regard to matters received through the Oral Tradition. Whenever there arises a difference of opinion with regard to a matter that shows that it was not received in the tradition from Moses our teacher.
The following principles apply with regard to matters derived through logical analysis. If the entire body of the Supreme Sanhedrin agrees with regard to them, their consent is binding. If there is a difference of opinion, we follow the majority and decide the matter according to the majority. Similarly, with regard to the decrees, edicts, and customs, if a portion of the judges perceived that it was necessary to issue a decree, institute an edict, or establish a custom for the people, and a portion perceived that it is not appropriate to issue this decree, institute this edict, or establish this custom, the judges should debate the matter back and forth. Afterwards, a vote is called, and we follow the majority and execute the matter according to the decision of the majority.
ג
דברי קבלה אין בהן מחלוקת לעולם וכל דבר שתמצא בו מחלוקת בידוע שאינו קבלה ממשה רבינו ודברים שלמדין מן הדין אם הסכימו עליהן בית דין הגדול כולן הרי הסכימו ואם נחלקו בהן הולכין אחר הרוב ומוציאין הדין אחר הרבים וכן הגזרות והתקנות והמנהגות אם ראו מקצתן שראוי לגזור גזירה או לתקן תקנה או שיניחו העם המנהג הזה וראו מקצתן שאין ראוי לגזור גזרה זו ולא לתקן תקנה זו ולא להניח מנהג זה נושאין ונותנין אלו כנגד אלו והולכין אחר רובן ומוציאין הדבר אחר הרבים:
4
When the Supreme Sanhedrin was in session, there was never any prolonged differences of opinion among the Jewish people. Instead, if a doubt arose in a Jew's mind over any law, he would inquire of the court in his city. If not, the questioner and that court - or its agents - ascend to Jerusalem and ask the court which holds sessions on the Temple Mount. If they know, they will reply to him, if they do not know, everyone comes to the court that holds sessions at the entrance to the Temple Courtyard. If they know, they will reply to him, if they do not know, everyone comes to the Chamber of Hewn Stone, to the Supreme Sanhedrin, and presents the question. If the matter that was unresolved by all the others was known to the Supreme Sanhedrin - either as part of the Oral Tradition or because of its derivation through the principles of exegesis - they relate the decision immediately. If, however, the decision was unclear to the Supreme Sanhedrin, they deliberate about the matter at that time and debate it back and forth until they reach a uniform decision, or until a vote is taken. In such a situation, they follow the majority and then tell all the questioners: "This is the halachah." The questioners then all depart.
After the Supreme Sanhedrin was nullified, differences of opinion multiplied among the Jewish people. One would rule an article is impure and support his ruling with a rationale and another would rule that it is pure and support his ruling with a rationale. This one would rule an article is forbidden and this would rule that it is permitted.
ד
כשהיה בית דין הגדול קיים לא היתה מחלוקת בישראל אלא כל דין שנולד בו ספק לאחד מישראל שואל לבית דין שבעירו אם ידעו אמרו לו אם לאו הרי השואל עם אותו בית דין או עם שלוחיו עולין לירושלים ושואלין לבית דין שבהר הבית אם ידעו אמרו לו אם לאו הכל באין לבית דין שעל פתח העזרה אם ידעו אמרו להן ואם לאו הכל באין ללשכת הגזית לבית דין הגדול ושואלין אם היה הדבר שנולד בו הספק לכל ידוע אצל בית דין הגדול בין מפי הקבלה בין מפי המדה שדנו בה אומרים מיד אם לא היה הדבר ברור אצל בית דין הגדול דנין בו בשעתן ונושאין ונותנין בדבר עד שיסכימו כולן או יעמדו למנין וילכו אחר הרוב ויאמרו לכל השואלים כך הלכה והולכין להן משבטל בית דין הגדול רבתה מחלוקת בישראל זה מטמא ונותן טעם לדבריו וזה מטהר ונותן טעם לדבריו זה אוסר וזה מתיר:
5
The following rules apply when there are two sages or two courts that have differing opinions in an age when there was no Supreme Sanhedrin or during the time when the Supreme Sanhedrin was still undecided concerning the matter - whether in one age or in two different ages - one rules that an article is pure and one rules that it is impure, one forbids an article's use and one permits it. If one does not know in which direction the law tends, should the matter involve a question of Scriptural Law, follow the more severe opinion. If it involve a question of Rabbinic Law, follow the more lenient opinion.
ה
שני חכמים או שני בתי דינין שנחלקו שלא בזמן הסנהדרין או עד שלא היה הדבר ברור להן בין בזמן אחד בין בזה אחר זה אחד מטהר ואחד מטמא אחד אוסר ואחד מתיר אם אינך יודע להיכן הדין נוטה בשל תורה הלך אחר המחמיר בשל סופרים הלך אחר המיקל:
Rambam:
• 3 Chapters A Day: To`en veNit`an To`en veNit`an - Chapter 10, To`en veNit`an To`en veNit`an - Chapter 11, To`en veNit`an To`en veNit`an - Chapter 12
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassTo`en veNit`an - Chapter 10
1
We do not presume that an animal or a beast that is not kept in an enclosed place, but instead roams freely and pastures everywhere, belongs to the person who seizes it if the animal is known to have a prior owner.
What is implied? When a plaintiff brings witnesses who testify that a certain animal is known to belong to him, and the person maintaining possession of the animal claims: "You gave it to me" or "You sold it to me," the defendant's word is not accepted. The fact that the animal is in his possession is not considered proof of ownership, because it is possible that it roamed and entered his domain by itself. Therefore, if the defendant does not bring proof of his acquisition of the animal, it should be returned to its owner. The owner must, however, reinforce his claim by taking an oath.
א
בהמה או חיה שאינה שמורה אלא מהלכת בכל מקום ורועה, אינה בחזקת זה שתפסה מאחר שהיא ידועה לבעלים, כיצד הביא התובע עדים שהבהמה הזאת ידועה לו וזה התופס טוען אתה נתתה לי אתה מכרתה לי אינו נאמן, שאין היותה תחת ידו ראיה שהרי היא הלכה מעצמה ונכנסה ברשותו, לפיכך אם לא הביא ראיה תחזור הבהמה לבעליה וישבע היסת על טענה זו.
2
If it was usual for an animal to be kept in an enclosed place or entrusted to a shepherd, we assume that it belongs to the person in whose possession it is found. This applies even if the plaintiff brings witnesses who testify that it belonged to him. Thus, if the person who holds the animal in his possession claims: "You sold it to me" or "You gave it to me," he is required to take a sh'vu'at hesset that it belongs to him, and then he is released of all obligations.
ב
היתה הבהמה שמורה או מסורה לרועה אף על פי שהביא זה עדים שהיא שלו הרי היא בחזקת זה שהיא תחת ידו ואם טען אתה מכרתה או נתתה לי ישבע התופס היסת שהיא שלו ויפטר.
3
Therefore, the following rules are applied when a person seizes possession of an animal belonging to a colleague that had been kept in an enclosed place or entrusted to a shepherd. If the owner claims: "The animal went out and came to you on its own initiative," "It was entrusted to you for safekeeping," or "It was lent to you," and the person who seized it agrees, saying: "It is not mine, but you owe me this-and-this much," "You gave it to me as security for this-and-this much," or "You owe me such-and-such for damages that you caused my property," his word is accepted if he claims the value of the animal or less. The rationale is that since he could claim that he purchased it, his word is accepted if he lodges another plausible claim. He must, however, take an oath holding a sacred article. Then he may collect his claim.
ג
לפיכך מי שתפס בהמת חבירו שהיתה שמורה או ביד רועה, והבעלים טוענין היא יצאת מעצמה ובאה אצלך או פקדון היא בידך או שאולה היא לך, והתופס אומר כן הוא אינה שלי אבל אתה חייב לי כך וכך או אתה משכנתה בידי על כך וכך או הזקת אותי נזק שאתה חייב לשלם כך וכך יכול לטעון עד כדי דמיה מתוך שיכול לומר לקוחה היא בידי וישבע בנקיטת חפץ ויטול.
4
Similar laws apply with regard to servants. Since they can walk independently, the fact that they are in the physical possession of a person is not presumed to be a sign of ownership. Instead, if the plaintiff brings witnesses who testify that it is known that this servant belonged to the plaintiff, the defendant's word is not accepted if he claims: "You sold him to me" or "You gave him to me as a present." Instead, the servant should be returned to its owner. He must, however, take an oath that he did not sell the servant or give him away as a present.
Different rules apply if the defendant who was asserted to have seized possession of the servant brought witnesses who testified that the servant was in his possession, day after day, for three consecutive years, and that the defendant would have him serve him as servants serve their masters. Since the original owner did not raise objections throughout all these years, the defendant's word is accepted. We allow him to maintain possession after he takes a sh'vu'at hesset that he purchased the servant from the original owner or the owner gave the servant to him as a present.
These rules do not apply to a servant who is a young child and cannot walk on his legs because of his youth. He is considered as other types of movable property. We presume that he is owned by the person in whose domain he is located, and we follow the principle: When a person seeks to expropriate property from a colleague, the burden of proof is upon him.
ד
וכן העבדים שיכולין להלך אינן בחזקת זה שהן תחת ידו אלא כיון שהביא הטוען עדים שזה ידוע שהוא עבדו והלה טוען אתה מכרתו לי אתה נתתו לי במתנה אינו נאמן ויחזור העבד לבעליו וישבע הטוען שלא מכר ולא נתן, הביא זה הנטען שתפס העבד עדים שיש לזה העבד אצלו שלש שנים רצופות מיום ליום והוא משתמש בו כדרך שהעבדים משמשין את רבן הואיל ולא מיחה בו בכל אלו השנים הרי זה נאמן ומעמידין אותו בידו אחר שישבע היסת שלקחו ממנו או נתנו לו במתנה, אבל עבד קטן שאינו יכול להלך על רגליו מפני קטנותו הרי הוא כשאר המטלטלין וכל מי שיהיה ברשותו הרי הוא בחזקתו והמוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה.
5
As we explained, a plaintiff can alter his statements and offer another claim if it is plausible. To apply that concept to the issues at hand: A person issued a claim against a colleague, stating: "This garment...", "This animal...", or "This servant that is in your possession belongs to me. It was lent to you," "... it is stolen," "... I entrusted it to you," or "... I rented it to you."
The defendant claimed, "No. It is my money. I inherited it." The plaintiff then brought witnesses who testified that they know that this article, servant, or animal is known to belong to the plaintiff. The defendant then countered and replied: "Yes. It was yours, but you gave it to me..." or "... you sold it to me. I said: 'I inherited it,' not because I inherited it from my father, but that my ownership is so strong that it is as if I inherited it." The defendant's claim is accepted provided that he supports it by taking a sh'vu'at hesset.
ה
הטוען את חבירו ואמר בגד או בהמה או עבד זה שבידך שלי הוא או שאול או גזול או הפקדתיו אצלך או שכור לך, והנטען אמר לא כי אלא זה ממוני וירושתי והביא הטוען עדים שהעידו שהן יודעין שזה החפץ או העבד או הבהמה ידועה שהיא היתה לזה, חזר הנטען ואמר כן היה שלך אבל אתה נתתו לי או מכרתו לי וזה שאמרתי ירושתי לא שירשתיו מאבותי אלא שהיא שלי כאילו ירשתיו הרי זה נאמן ונשבע היסת שכבר ביארנו שיש לטוען לחזור לטעון דבר הנשמע.
6
The following laws apply when two people are contending with regard to a boat or the like, each claiming: "It belongs entirely to me." If they come to the court and one asks the court: "Take possession of it until I bring witnesses to support my claim," the court should not take possession of it.
If the court took possession of it, that person went and did not find witnesses, and returned and asked: "Leave it for us as before, and whoever will overcome the other will acquire it, as was the law before," it does not heed the request. Instead, the court does not release it from its possession until a claimant brings witnesses who support his claim, one acknowledges the truth of the other's claim, or they willingly agree to divide it after taking an oath, as we have explained.
ו
ספינה וכיוצא בה שהיו שנים נחלקין עליה זה אומר כולה שלי וזה אומר כולה שלי ובאו לבית דין ואמר אחד תפסוה עד שאביא עדים אין תופסין אותה, ואם תפסוה בית דין והלך ולא מצא עדים ואמר הניחוה בינינו וכל המתגבר יטול כשהיה דינה מקדם אין שומעין להן ואין מוציאין אותה בית דין מידן עד שיביאו עדים או עד שיודו זה לזה או יחלקו ברצונם ובשבועה כמו שביארנו.
To`en veNit`an - Chapter 11
1
Whenever landed property is known to have belonged to a person, we presume that he is the owner even though the property is now in the possession of another person.
What is implied? Reuven was using a courtyard as a person would commonly use his own property, living in it, renting it to others, building and tearing down structures. After a while, Shimon came and lodged a claim against him, saying: "The courtyard that is in your possession belongs to me. I rented it to you," or "... I lent it to you."
Reuven replied: "It was yours, but you sold it to me," or "You gave it to me as a present."
If Shimon does not bring witnesses who testify that it was known to belong to him, Reuven is required to take a sh'vu'at hesset, and he is allowed to retain possession of the courtyard. If, however, Shimon brings witnesses who testify that this field belonged to him, our presumption is that Shimon is the owner. We tell Reuven: "Bring proof that he sold it to you or gave it to you." If he does not bring proof, we force him to leave and establish Shimon as the owner. This law applies even when Reuven does not admit that the field ever belonged to Shimon, because there are witnesses who support Shimon's claim.
א
כל הקרקעות הידועות לבעליהן אע"פ שהן עתה תחת יד אחרים הרי הן בחזקת בעליהן, כיצד ראובן שהיה משתמש בחצר כדרך שהעם משתמשין בחצרותיהן, דר בה ומשכירה לאחרים ובונה וסותר, ואחר זמן בא שמעון וטען עליו ואמר לו חצר זו שתחת ידך שלי היא ושכורה היא בידך או שאולה, והשיבו ראובן שלך היתה ואתה מכרתה לי או נתתה לי במתנה, אם אין עדים לשמעון שהיתה ידועה לו נשבע ראובן היסת ויעמוד במקומו, אבל אם הביא שמעון עדים שחצר זו שלו היתה הרי היא בחזקת שמעון ואומרין לראובן הבא ראיה שמכרה לך או נתנה לך, ואם לא הביא ראיה מסלקין אותו ממנה ומחזיקין אותה לשמעון אע"פ שאין ראובן מודה לשמעון שהיא היתה שלו שהרי יש עדים לשמעון.
2
When do we require Reuven to bring proof that he acquired the field or to depart? When he did not use the property for an extended time. If, however, Reuven brings witnesses who testify that he partook of the produce of this field for three consecutive years and benefited from it in its entirety in the manner in which any person would benefit from that field, we allow Reuven to maintain possession. This applies provided that it was possible for the original owners to know that this person had taken possession of the field, and they did not lodge a protest against him. Reuven must take a sh'vu'at hesset that Shimon sold him the field or gave it to him, and then he is released of all obligation.
The rationale for this decision is that we tell Shimon: "If your claim that you did not sell or give him the property is true, why is this person using your land year after year, when you do not have a legal document stating that it was rented to him or given to him as security for a loan, and yet you have not lodged a protest against him?"
If the plaintiff responds to this by claiming that the news that the other person was using his property did not reach him because he was in a distant country, we tell him: "It is impossible that the information did not reach you in three years. And when the information reached you, you should have lodged a protest in the presence of witnesses, telling them that 'So-and-so stole property from me, and in the future I will lodge a claim against him in court.' Since you did not issue a protest, you caused yourself a loss."
Therefore, if there was a war or a disruption of travel routes between the place where Reuven was located and the place where Shimon was located, we expropriate the property from Reuven even if he benefited from its produce for ten years. We return it to Shimon, because he could say: "I did not know that this person was using my property."
ב
במה דברים אמורים שמצריכין ראובן להביא ראיה או יסתלק בשלא נשתמש בה זמן מרובה, אבל אם הביא עדים שאכל פירות קרקע שלש שנים רצופות ונהנה בכולה כדרך שנהנין כל אדם באותה קרקע, והוא שיהיה אפשר לבעלים הראשונים שידעו בזה שהחזיק ולא מיחו בו, מעמידין אותה ביד ראובן וישבע ראובן היסת שמכרה לו שמעון או נתנה לו ויפטר, מפני שאומרים לו לשמעון אם אמת אתה טוען שלא מכרת ולא נתת למה היה זה משתמש שנה אחר שנה בקרקעך ואין לך עליו לא שטר שכירות ולא שטר משכונה ולא מחית בו, טען ואמר מפני שלא הגיע אלי הדבר שהרי הייתי במדינה רחוקה אומרים אי אפשר שלא יגיע לידך הדבר בשלש שנים וכיון שהגיע לך היה לך למחות בפני עדים ותודיע אותם שפלוני גזל אותי למחר אתבענו בדין הואיל ולא מחית אתה הפסדת על עצמך, לפיכך אם היתה מלחמה ושבוש דרכים בין המקום שהיה בו ראובן ובין המקום שהיה בו שמעון אפילו אכלה ראובן עשר שנים מוציאין אותה תחת ידו וחוזרת לשמעון מפני שיכול לומר לא ידעתי שזה משתמש בקרקעי.
3
Even in a situation where there was a war and a breakdown in communication, if Reuven brought witnesses who testify that each year Shimon came and stayed in this place" for 30 days or less, we tell Shimon: "Why didn't you protest when you came? You have lost your rights."
If Shimon claims: "I was very much occupied at the business fair and I did not know that so-and-so was in my courtyard," his claim is respected. For it is possible that a person will be occupied at a business fair for 30 days. If he stayed for more than 30 days and did not protest, he loses his rights.
It appears to me that this law applies only in the villages, for the people there are very much occupied with their business fairs.
ג
הביא ראובן עדים שהיה שמעון בא בכל שנה ועומד במקום זה שלשים יום או פחות, אומרים לשמעון מפני מה לא מחית כשבאת אבדת זכותך, טען שמעון ואמר טרוד הייתי בשוק ולא ידעתי שזה בתוך חצרי הרי זו טענה, שכל שלשים יום יהיה אדם טרוד בשוק, ואם עמד יותר משלשים יום ולא מיחה אבד את זכותו, ויראה לי שהדין זה אינו אלא בכפרים שהעם טרודין בשווקים שלהן.
4
Why do we not tell Reuven: "If it is true that he sold the property to you or gave it to you as a present, why did you not take care of your deed of acquisition?" Because a person does not take care of his legal documents for his entire life, and it is an established presumption that a person will not take care of a legal document for more than three years. If by that time, he sees that no one is protesting his ownership, he will not take care of it any longer.
ד
ומפני מה אין אומרין לראובן אם אמת הדבר שמכר לך או נתן לך במתנה למה לא נזהרת בשטר שלך, מפני שאין אדם נזהר בשטרו והולך כל ימיו וחזקה שאין אדם נזהר בשטר אלא עד שלש שנים, וכיון שרואה שאין אדם ממחה בו שוב אינו נזהר.
5
If Shimon issued a protest in a distant country, why can Reuven not claim: "I did not hear that he lodged a protest against me so that I felt it necessary to safeguard my deed of acquisition"?
Because we tell him: "Your friend has a friend, and his friend has a friend. And it is an established presumption that word of the protest reached you. Hence, since you know that he lodged a protest against you within the three years, if it is true that you had a deed of acquisition and you did not safeguard it, you caused yourself a loss."
ה
הרי שמיחה שמעון במדינה רחוקה מפני מה לא יטעון ראובן ויאמר לא שמעתי שמיחה בי כדי שאזהר בשטר, מפני שאומר לו חברך יש לו חבר וחבירו יש לו חבר וחזקה שהגיע אליך הדבר וכיון שידעת שמיחה בך בתוך שלש שנים באמת היה לך שטר ולא נזהרת בו אתה הפסדת על עצמך.
6
Therefore, if Shimon lodged a protest in the presence of witnesses, but told them: "Do not utter a word about this protest," the protest is of no consequence. If, however, the witnesses said on their own volition: "We will not utter a word about this," the protest is significant. For a person will ultimately speak of a matter that he was not charged to keep private.
Similarly, if the original owner told the witnesses: "Don't tell the person who took possession of the property about my protest," or the witnesses said on their own volition: "We will not notify him," the protest is of consequence. For even though they will not notify him, they will notify others, and ultimately the information will reach him.
ו
לפיכך אם מיחה שמעון בפני עדים ואמר להם אל תוציאו דבר זה מפיכם אין זה מחאה, אבל אם אמרו העדים מעצמן אין דבר זה יוצא מפינו הרי גם זו מחאה, שהדבר שאין אדם מצווה עליו אומרו שלא בכוונה, וכן אם צוה לעדים ואמר להם אל תודיעוהו או שאמרו הן מעצמן אין אנו מודיעין אותו גם זו מחאה היא, אע"פ שאינן מודיעין אותו מודיעין הם לאחרים ודבר זה יגיע אליו.
7
What constitutes a protest? That the owner says in the presence of two witnesses: "So-and-so who is using my field is a robber. In the future, I will call him to court." Similarly, if he says: "The property is rented out to him or it was given to him as security for a loan. If he claims that I sold it to him or gave it to him as a present, I will lodge a claim against him in court." Similarly, if he makes other analogous statements, the protest is of consequence even though he did not issue it in the country where the person in possession of the land is located.
If, however, he told them merely: "So-and-so who is using my field is a robber," that is not a valid protest, for Reuven will say: "When I heard this, I said to myself: 'Maybe he was merely slandering me.' Therefore, I was not careful about keeping my deed of acquisition."
ז
כיצד המחאה אומר בפני שנים פלוני שהוא משתמש בחצרי או בשדי גזלן הוא ולעתיד אני תובע אותו בדין, וכן אם אמר להם שכורה היא בידו או משכונה, ואם יטעון עלי שמכרתי או נתתי אני תובע אותו בדין וכן כל כיוצא בזה הרי זו מחאה, אע"פ שלא מיחה במדינה זו שהחזיק בה זה, אבל אם אמר להן פלוני שמשתמש בחצרי גזלן הוא אין זו מחאה, שהרי ראובן אומר כששמעתי אמרתי שמא חרף אותי בלבד ולפיכך לא נזהרתי בשטרי.
8
A protest made in the presence of two witnesses is of consequence. They may compose a legal record of it, even if the owner does not tell them to compose it.
Once the owner issued a protest in the first year, he does not have to issue another protest each year. There must not, however, be three full years between each protest. He must, therefore, issue a protest at the end of each three-year period. If he protested, delayed for three full years and protested afterwards, the protest is of no consequence.
ח
מחאה בפני שנים מחאה וכותבין אע"פ שלא אמר להם כתובו, וכיון שמיחה בשנה ראשונה אינו צריך לחזור ולמחות בכל שנה ושנה, אבל צריך שלא יהיה בין מחאה למחאה שלש שנים גמורות, לפיכך צריך למחות בסוף כל שלש שנים, ואם מיחה ועמד שלש שנים גמורות ואחר כך מיחה אינה מחאה.
9
If Reuven brought witnesses who testify that Shimon, the owner of the field, gathered the produce of the field together and gave it to Reuven, he is allowed to retain possession of the field. This applies even if Reuven claims that Shimon sold him or gave him the field that day. The rationale is that if he did not give him or sell him the field, he would not have helped Reuven in the field and given him its produce.
ט
הביא ראובן עדים שזה שמעון בעל השדה קבץ פירות שדה זו ונתנם לי תעמוד השדה ביד ראובן ואפילו טען ששמעון מכרה לו או נתן לו היום שאילו לא מכר או נתן לא היה משמש את ראובן בשדה זו ונותן לו פירותיה.
10
If Shimon responds, claiming: "It's true; that event transpired. I sold him the rights to the field's produce and it belonged to him, but I never sold him the field itself," his word is accepted and the field should be returned to Shimon. There is, however, an exception: when Reuven partook of the produce for three years with Shimon's knowledge and Shimon did not protest against him, as explained.
י
טען שמעון ואמר אמת היה הדבר ולפירות הורדתיו ושלו היו הפירות אבל הגוף לא מכרתי נאמן וחוזר לשמעון אלא אם כן אכלה ראובן בפניו שלש שנים ולא מיחה בו כמו שביארנו.
To`en veNit`an - Chapter 12
1
The three years mentioned in the previous chapter must be from day to day. Even if one day was lacking, a claim of ownership is not established and the person in possession of the property is removed from it.
When does the above apply? With regard to landed property that produces benefit at all times - e.g., houses, courtyards, cisterns, pits, storage cavities, stores, inns, bathhouses, dovecotes, olive presses, fields that are continually irrigated and hence can be used for sowing and for planting, gardens, and orchards, and also servants who go on their own initiative, as we have explained.
Different rules apply with regard to a field that is watered only from rain and a grove of trees. The "threes years" are not calculated from day to day.
Instead, after the person in possession partakes of three harvests from one type of produce, it is considered as if three years have passed.
What is implied? There was a date grove and the person in possession harvested it three times, a grape orchard and he harvested it three times, or an olive grove and he harvested it three times, he is considered to have established a claim of ownership. This applies even if the trees were planted one after the other, and there was not enough space left between them. Although ultimately, they will dry and have to be uprooted, since the person derived benefit from them for three harvests, he has established a claim of ownership.
א
שלש שנים שאמרנו מיום ליום אפילו היו חסרים יום אחד לא החזיק ומסלקין אותו ממנה, במה דברים אמורים בקרקעות שהן עושין פירות תמיד כגון הבתים והחצרות והבורות והשיחין והמערות והחנויות והפונדקות והמרחצאות והשובכות ובתי הבדין ושדה בית השלחין שמשקין אותם תמיד וזורעין בה ונוטעין והגנות והפרדסין, וכן עבדים המהלכין כמו שבארנו, אבל שדה הבעל שהיא שותה ממי גשמים בלבד ושדה אילן אינה מיום ליום אלא כיון שאכלו שלש תבואות ממין אחד הרי אלו כשלש שנים, כיצד היתה שדה תמרים וגדר שלש גדרות או שדה ענבים ובצר שלש בצירות או שדה זיתים ומסק שלש מסיקות הרי אלו כשלש שנים והחזיק, ואפילו היו האילנות רצופין ולא היה ביניהן הרחקה כראוי שהרי סופן ליבש הואיל ואוכלן שלש תבואות החזיק.
2
If a person brings witnesses who testify that he dwelled in this courtyard for three years or rented it out to a tenant for three years, he establishes a claim of ownership.
If the owner of the courtyard claims: "Maybe you - or your tenant - did not dwell there during the day and during the night," his claim is valid. We tell the person in possession: "Bring witnesses that throughout these years, you dwelled there during the day and during the night, or depart."
Even when witnesses come and testify, saying: "The person in possession rented the field to us, and we dwelled there during the day and during the night," if the owner of the field demands: "Let them bring witnesses that they dwelled there during the day and during the night," these tenants must bring proof that they dwelled there at all times. The rationale is that the matter is dependent on them and is not dependent on the claim of the person in possession of the property that they should testify on his behalf.
ב
הביא עדים שהיה דר בחצר זו שלש שנים או ששכרה שלש שנים הרי זו חזקה, טען בעל החצר ואמר שמא לא שכן בה ביום ובלילה או שמא אלו שהשכירו להם לא שכנו בה ביום ובלילה הרי זו טענה, אומרים למחזיק או תביא עדים ששנים אלו גמורות ביום ובלילה או הסתלק, אפילו באו עדים ואמרו לנו השכיר ואנו דרנו בה ביום ובלילה וטען בעל השדה ואמר יביאו עדים שדרו בה ביום ובלילה, צריכין אלו השוכרין להביא ראיה שדרו בה תמיד, שזה הדבר תלוי בהן ואין תלוי בטענת המחזיק כדי שיעידו לו. 1
3
Different laws apply if the person in possession of the property or the witnesses were traveling salesmen who journey from village to village or the like. In such a situation, the court makes a claim on behalf of the owner at the outset. When he brings witnesses to try to substantiate his claim of ownership, the court tells him: "Bring witnesses who will testify that you manifested possession during the day and the night."
When does the above apply? With regard to courtyards, houses, and the like, in which people live during the day and the night. Different laws apply with regard to stores operated by merchants and the like, in which people dwell only during the day. In such a situation, if a person dwelled in the store for three years during the day, he establishes a claim of ownership.
ג
היה זה המחזיק או העדים שדרו בה מן הרוכלין המחזרין בעיירות וכיוצא בהן, טוענין אותו לכתחלה וכשיביא עדי חזקה אומר לו הבא עדים שהיית מחזיק בה ביום ובלילה, במה דברים אמורים בחצרות ובתים וכיוצא בהן שהן עשויות לדור בתוכן ביום ובלילה, אבל החנויות של תגרים וכיוצא כהן /בהן/ שאין דרין בהן אלא ביום כיון שדר בה שלש שנים ביום הרי זה חזקה. 2
4
The three years mentioned must be consecutive, one following the other. If a person in possession of a field sowed it one year and left it fallow the next year, and then sowed it one year and left it fallow the next year, he does not establish a claim of ownership. This applies even if he followed this pattern for many years.
If the custom of the farmers of that area was to leave fields fallow, the person is considered to have established a claim of ownership. This applies even if some of the local farmers sow their fields year after year, and some sow their fields for one year and leave them fallow the next. For the person in possession may claim: "I left it fallow only so that it will produce more in the year that I sow it."
ד
שלש שנים שאמרנו צריך שיהיו רצופות זו אחר זו, הרי שהחזיק בשדה וזרעה שנה והובירה שנה וזרעה שנה והובירה שנה, אפילו עשה כן כמה שנים לא החזיק, היה דרכן של בני אותו המקום להוביר אע"פ שמקצתן זורעין שנה אחר שנה ומקצתן זורעין שנה ומובירין שנה הרי זה החזיק שהרי הוא אומר לא הוברתי אותה אלא כדי שתעשה הרבה בשנת הזריעה.
5
When two partners maintained possession of a field for six years, one partaking of the produce in the first, third and fifth years, and the other partaking of the produce in the second, fourth and sixth years, neither is considered to have established a claim of ownership. The rationale is that the owner of the field can say: "Since I neither saw nor heard of one person maintaining possession year after year, I did not protest."
Accordingly, if these partners composed a legal document attesting to their partnership and stating that they should each utilize the field in successive years, if three years pass in which they use it, they establish a claim of ownership. The rationale is that a legal document becomes public knowledge. Hence, if the owner did not protest, he forfeited his right.
Similar laws apply if two people maintain possession of a servant and use his services year after year. Ordinarily, they do not establish a claim of ownership. If they compose a legal document concerning the servant, they do.
ה
שני שותפין שהחזיקו בשדה שש שנים האחד אכלה ראשונה ושלישית וחמישית, והשני אכלה שניה ורביעית וששית לא עלתה חזקה לאחד מהם, שהרי בעל הקרקע אומר כיון שלא ראיתי ולא שמעתי שהחזיק בה אדם אחד שנה אחר שנה מפני זה לא מחיתי, לפיכך אם כתבו אלו השותפין שטר ביניהן שישתמשו בה שנה אחר שנה כיון שעבר שלש שנים עלתה להן חזקה, שהשטר יש לו קול והואיל ולא מיחה אבד זכותו, והוא הדין לעבד שהחזיקו בו שנים ונשתמשו בו שנה אחר שנה אם כתבו שטר ביניהן הרי החזיקו.
6
The following rules apply when a person who took possession of a property derived benefit from its produce for one year and then sold it, the purchaser derived benefit from its produce for one year and then sold it, and the second purchaser derived benefit from its produce for a year. If they sold it to each other with a deed of sale, the activities of the three are combined and a claim of ownership is established, because the previous owner did not protest.
If they did not record the transaction in a deed of sale, a claim of ownership is not established, because the original owners can say: "Since one person did not maintain a presence within it for three years, there was no necessity to issue a protest."
ו
אכלה שנה זה המחזיק ומכרה ואכלה הלוקח שנה ומכר ללוקח שני ואכלה שנה, אם מכרו זה לזה בשטר שלשתן מצטרפין והרי זו חזקה מפני שלא מיחה, ואם מכרו שלא בשטר אינה חזקה שהבעלים הראשונים אומרים כיון שלא עמד בה איש אחד שלש שנים לא הוצרכתי למחות.
7
When a father derived benefit from a property for one year, and his son derived benefit for two years, or the father derived benefit for two years, and his son derived benefit for one year, a claim of ownership is established.
The same law applies if the father derived benefit for a year, the son derived benefit for a year, and the person who purchased it derived benefit for a year, provided that he purchased it with a deed of sale.
ז
אכלה האב שנה והבן שתים האב שתים והבן שנה האב שנה והבן שנה והלוקח מן הבן שנה הרי זו חזקה והוא שלקח בשטר.
8
When a person seeking to establish a claim of ownership partakes of produce from a field for one year in the presence of the father who was the owner, and two years in the presence of his son, or two years in the presence of the father and one year in the presence of the son, a claim of ownership is established.
Similarly, a claim of ownership is established when the person in possession of the field partakes of its produce for one year in the presence of the father, one year in the presence of the son, and one year in the presence of a person who purchased the field from the son. This law applies when the son sold the field together with all his fields. In such an instance, the person in possession of the field will not appreciate that it was sold, and hence will not necessarily be careful to maintain possession of his deed of acquisition beyond the three-year period. If, however, the son sold the field as a discrete entity the property is expropriated and given to the purchaser. For there can be no greater protest against the squatter's possession than this.
ח
אכלה בפני האב שהיה בעל השדה שנה ובפני בנו שתים, או בפני האב שתים ובפני הבן שנה, או בפני האב שנה ובפני בנו שנה ובפני לוקח מן הבן שנה, הרי זו חזקה, והוא שמכר הבן זו השדה בכלל שדותיו שהרי לא הכיר המחזיק שנמכרה ולפיכך לא נזהר בשטרו, אבל אם מכר הבן שדה זו בפני עצמה אין לך מחאה גדולה מזו.
9
If the person in possession left the field fallow year after year - even for many years - since he did not derive any benefit from it, he does not establish a claim of ownership.
Similarly, if he irrigated it or even irrigated it and did no more than break up large clumps of earth, since he did not benefit from its produce, he does not establish a claim of ownership.
ט
נרה שנה אחר שנה אפילו כמה שנים הואיל ולא נהנה בה אינה חזקה, וכן אם פתח בה שבילי המים ופתח ושדד בלבד הואיל ולא אכל פירות אינה חזקה.
10
If the person in possession sowed it, but did not make any profit - i.e., he sowed a kor and reaped a kor - he does not establish a claim of ownership, since he did not derive any benefit from it.
י
זרעה ולא הרויח כלום אלא זרע כור ואסף כור לא החזיק שהרי לא נהנה.
11
If he harvests the field as straw, he does not establish a claim of ownership. If in that region it was common to sow to harvest straw because straw is very expensive, he does establish a claim of ownership.
יא
אכלה שחת לא החזיק, ואם היה המקום דרכן לזרוע לשחת מפני שדמיו יקרין הרי זו חזקה.
12
If the person in possession partook of produce of a field that was orlah, grew during the Sabbatical year, or contained mixed species, he establishes a claim of ownership despite the fact that he derived benefit through transgression.
יב
אכלה ערלה שביעית וכלאים אף על פי שנהנה בעבירה הרי זו חזקה. 3
13
If the property in question was a stone or a rocky area unfit to be sown, the person in possession must benefit from the land in an appropriate manner - e.g., use it to spread out fruits to dry, as a place for an animal to pasture, or the like. If he does not derive benefit throughout all these three years in an appropriate manner, he does not establish a claim of ownership.
יג
היה המקום שהחזיק בו סלע או חלמיש שאינו ראוי לזריעה צריך ליהנות בו בדבר הראוי לה כגון שישטח בו הפירות או יעמיד בו בהמה וכיוצא בזה, ואם לא נהנה בו בכל אותן השלש שנים בדבר הראוי לו לא החזיק.
14
The following rules apply when a person would tie his animal in a specific place in a courtyard belonging to a colleague, he would raise chickens there, he would place an oven, a range or a mill there, or he would place his fertilizer there. Whether or not he erects a barrier there, if he uses the property for these purposes during the day and the night and claims that the owner of the courtyard sold or gave him that place, he establishes a claim of ownership.
יד
היה מעמיד בהמה במקום מסויים מחצר חבירו או שהיה מגדל שם תרנגולין או מעמיד שם תנור וכירים וריחים, או שנתן שם זבלו, בין שהעמיד שם מחיצה בין שלא העמיד, אם נשתמש בדברים אלו וכיוצא בהן שלש שנים ביום ובלילה וטען על בעל החצר ואמר אתה נתת לי מקום זה או מכרתו לי הרי זו חזקה.
15
The following rules apply when a field is surrounded by a fence and a person took possession of it and sowed crops outside the fence, deriving benefit from the portion that is not protected. Even though he derives benefit year after year, he does not establish a claim of ownership. The rationale is that the owner can claim: "Since we saw that he was sowing crops in a place that was unprotected, we said: 'Whatever he sowed, the beasts of the field will eat. Therefore, we did not protest.'" This law also applies to anyone who sows crops in a place that is not protected and the crops are accessible to animals and other people.
טו
שדה שהיא מוקפת גדר ובא זה שהחזיק בה וזרע חוץ לגדר ונהנה בכל מקום שאינו שמור, אע"פ שאכלו שנה אחר שנה לא עלתה לו חזקה, שהבעלים טוענין ואומרין כיון שראינו שזורע במקום מופקר אמרנו כל מה שזרע חית השדה תאכלנו ולפיכך לא מחיתי, והוא הדין לכל הזורע מקום שאינו שמור אלא רגל חיה ויד כל אדם מצויין בו.
16
When the person in possession derives benefit from the entire property with the exception of one portion fit to sow a quarter of a kav of grain, he establishes a claim of ownership over the entire field, with the exception of the portion from which he did not benefit. Even if that was a rocky portion in the midst of the field, since he did not use it in a way appropriate for it, he does not establish a claim of ownership over it.
טז
אכלה כולה חוץ מבית רובע החזיק בכולה חוץ מאותו בית רובע שלא נהנה בו, אפילו היה חלמיש בתוך השדה הואיל ולא נשתמש בו כראוי לו אין לזה בו חזקה.
17
The following rules apply when one person took possession of trees and derived benefit from their produce, and another took possession of the land, sowed crops there, and derived benefit from them, and each of them claims that the entire property belongs to him, because he purchased it from the owner. The person in possession of the trees is given the trees and the land necessary to tend to them - i.e., the space in which a person picking fruit can stand together with his basket for each tree. The person in possession of the land receives the remainder of the land.
יז
החזיק אחד באילנות ואכל פירותיהן ואחד החזיק בקרקע וזרעה ואכל פירותיה וכל אחד משניהם טוען שהכל שלי ואני לקחתיו, זה שהחזיק באילנות ואכלן שלש שנים יש לו האילנות וקרקע שצריכין לו והוא כמלא האורה וסלו חוצה לכל אילן ואילן, וזה שהחזיק בקרקע יש לו שאר הקרקע.
18
Similarly, when a person benefits from all the produce of a tree for three years and then issues a claim against the owner of the tree: "You sold me this tree and its land," he is granted an amount of land equivalent to the thickness of the tree until the depths of the earth.
יח
וכן האוכל כל פירות אילן שלש שנים וטען על בעל האילן אתה מכרת לי אילן זה וקרקעו הרי זה יש לו קרקע כעובי האילן עד התהום.
19
The following laws apply when there are 30 trees within a tree grove large enough to sow three se'ah of grain. If a person in possession benefited from ten trees in the first year, ten in the second year, and ten in the third, he establishes his possession over the entire grove.
The above applies when the ten trees from which he benefited were spread through the entire area of the field, and the other trees did not produce any fruit. If, however, the other trees produced fruit and he did not partake of it, he establishes a claim of ownership only on the produce from which he partook.
יט
שדה אילן שהיו בו שלשים אילנות בתוך בית שלש סאין ואכל עשרה בשנה ראשונה ועשרה בשנה שניה ועשרה בשנה שלישית הוחזק בכל, והוא שהיו עשרה שאכל מפוזרות בכל בית השלש סאין ולא הוציאו שאר האילנות פירות, אבל אם הוציאו שאר האילנות פירות ולא אכלן לא הוחזק אלא במה שאכל.
20
When does the above apply? When he benefited from some of the fruit and the people reaped the remainder of the fruit. If, however, he left the fruit on the trees and benefited from the fruit from several portions throughout the entire grove, he establishes a claim of ownership concerning the entire field, even though he did not collect all its produce.
כ
במה דברים אמורים בשאכל הוא מקצת הפירות ובזזו העם שאר הפירות, אבל אם מניח פירותיהן עליהן הואיל ואכל אילן מכאן ואילן מכאן מכל השדה החזיק בכל השדה אע"פ שלא אסף כל פירותיה. 4
FOOTNOTES
1.אפילו באו עדים וכו' עד כדי שיעידו לו. א"א ונתננו לו השכר עכ"ל.
2.בד"א בחצרות וכו' עד הרי זה חזקה. א"א אין דרך הגמרא כן דלרבויי מפוזרות קאמר ולא לרבויי מקוטעות עכ"ל.
3.אכלה ערלה שביעית וכו' עד הרי זו חזקה. א"א שבוש הוא ולא אמרו אלא שאכילת עצים שמה אכילה הואיל וליכא פירי אחריני עכ"ל.
4.בד"א בשאכל וכו' עד אע"פ שלא אסף כל פירותיה. א"א דעת אחרת היה לו כי ראה בגמ' והוא דבזו בזויי וסבר כי הוא לשון בזה ושלל וטעה כי הוא כמו בזעיה בזועי והוא לשון פזור שאכל שלשה מכאן ושלשה מכאן ומכאן הוציאו המפרשים זה הפזור שכתב הוא עכ"ל.
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class
Friday, Elul 3, 5777 · 25 August 2017
"Today's Day"
Friday, Elul 3, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Shoftim, Shishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 18-22. Also 7-9.
Tanya: Now, this type (p. 445) ...come until..." (p. 445).
Whoever has faith in individual Divine Providence knows that "Man's steps are established by G-d,"1 that this particular soul must purify and improve something specific in a particular place. For centuries, or even since the world's creation, that which needs purification or improvement waits for this soul to come and purify or improve it. The soul too, has been waiting - ever since it came into being2 - for its time to descend, so that it can discharge the tasks of purification and improvement assigned to it.
FOOTNOTES
1.Tehillim 37:23.
2.Lit. "...ever since its emanation and creation..." The highest of the four general planes of the spiritual cosmos are Atzilut, "Emanation," and B'ria, "creation." See Translator's Notes p. 121 in printed version.
-------
Daily Thought:Light Forever
At the threshold of liberation, darkness filled the land of Egypt. Yet in the homes of those to be liberated, there was only light.
Light is our true place and light is our destiny. As dawn approaches, darkness shakes heaven and earth in the final throes of its demise. But those who belong to light and cleave to it with all their hearts have nothing to fear.
For darkness is created to vanish, but light is forever. [Torat Menachem 5742, vol. 2, p. 758; 10 Shevat 5741:6]
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment