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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Sunday, Elul 5, 5777 · August 27, 2017Today'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 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15
Psalms Chapter 13:1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. How long, O Lord, will You forget me, forever? How long will You hide Your countenance from me?
3. How long must I seek counsel within my soul, [to escape] the grief in my heart all day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
4. Look! Answer me, O Lord, my God; give light to my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.
5. Lest my enemy say, "I have overcome him," [and] my oppressors rejoice when I falter.
6. I have placed my trust in Your kindness, my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord, for He has dealt kindly with me. Chapter 14:1. For the Conductor, by David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God!" [Man's] deeds have become corrupt and abominable, no one does good.
2. The Lord looked down from heaven upon mankind, to see if there was any wise man who searches for God.
3. They have all gone astray together, they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
4. Indeed, all the evildoers, who devour My people as they devour bread, who do not call upon the Lord, will [ultimately] come to know [the consequences of their actions].
5. There they will be seized with fright, for God is with the righteous generation.
6. You scorn the counsel of the lowly, that he puts his trust in the Lord.
7. O that out of Zion would come Israel's deliverance! When the Lord returns the captivity of His people, Jacob will exult, Israel will rejoice. Chapter 15:1. A psalm by David. Who may abide in Your tent, O Lord? Who may dwell on Your holy Mountain?
2. He who walks blamelessly, acts justly, and speaks truth in his heart;
3. who has no slander on his tongue, who has done his fellowman no evil, and who has brought no disgrace upon his relative;
4. in whose eyes a despicable person is abhorrent, but who honors those who are God-fearing; who does not change his oath even if it is to his own detriment;
5. who does not lend his money at interest, nor accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never falter.
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
Psalms 13:1 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David:
2 (1) How long, Adonai?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
3 (2) How long must I keep asking myself what to do,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long must my enemy dominate me?
4 (3) Look, and answer me, Adonai my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death.
5 (4) Then my enemy would say, “I was able to beat him”;
and my adversaries would rejoice at my downfall.
6 (5) But I trust in your grace,
my heart rejoices as you bring me to safety.
(6) I will sing to Adonai, because he gives me
even more than I need.
14:1 (0) For the leader. By David:
(1) Fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They deal corruptly, their deeds are vile,
not one does what is right.
2 From heaven Adonai observes humankind
to see if anyone has understanding,
if anyone seeks God.
3 But all turn aside, all alike are corrupt;
no one does what is right,
not a single one.
4 Don’t they ever learn,
all those evildoers,
who eat up my people as if eating bread
and never call on Adonai?
5 There they are, utterly terrified;
for God is with those who are righteous.
6 You may mock the plans of the poor,
but their refuge is Adonai.
7 How I wish Isra’el’s salvation
would come out of Tziyon!
When Adonai restores his people’s fortunes,
Ya‘akov will rejoice, Isra’el will be glad!
15:1 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai, who can rest in your tent?
Who can live on your holy mountain?
2 Those who live a blameless life,
who behave uprightly,
who speak truth from their hearts
3 and keep their tongues from slander;
who never do harm to others
or seek to discredit neighbors;
4 who look with scorn on the vile,
but honor those who fear Adonai;
who hold to an oath, no matter the cost;
5 who refuse usury when they lend money
and refuse a bribe to damage the innocent.
Those who do these things
never will be moved.
Today in Jewish History:
• First Chassidic Aliya (1777)
The first Chassidic aliyah ("ascent" - immigration to the Holy Land), led by Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, Rabbi Abraham of Kalisk and Rabbi Yisroel of Polotzk, reached the Holy Land on Elul 5 of the year 5537 from creation (1777 CE). They were all disciples of the 2nd leader of the Chassidic movement, Rabbi DovBer, the "Maggid of Mezeritch" (who had passed away five years earlier) and colleagues of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad. Initially, Rabbi Schneur Zalman was part of the group; but when the caravan reached the city of Moholiev on the Dnester River, Rabbi Menachem Mendel -- whom Rabbi Schneur Zalman regarded as his teacher and mentor after the Maggid's passing -- instructed him to remain behind to serve as the leader of the Chassidic community in White Russia and Lithuania. Rabbi Schneur Zalman retained close ties with the settlers in the Land of Israel and labored to raise funds for their support.
Daily Quote:
In a mature tree, a gash here or a torn branch there is of little or no consequence. But the smallest scratch in the seed, the slightest nick in the sapling, results in a flaw which the decades to come will deepen rather than erase... [The Lubavitcher Rebbe on education]
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Ki Teitzei, 1st Portion Deuteronomy 21:10-21:21 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Deuteronomy Chapter 21
10If you go out to war against your enemies, and the Lord, your God, will deliver him into your hands, and you take his captives, יכִּֽי־תֵצֵ֥א לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹֽיְבֶ֑יךָ וּנְתָנ֞וֹ יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ בְּיָדֶ֖ךָ וְשָׁבִ֥יתָ שִׁבְיֽוֹ:
If you go out to war: The verse here is referring to an optional war [i.e., non-obligatory] (Sifrei 21:1), since in reference to the [obligatory] war [to conquer] the land of Israel, it would be inappropriate to say “and you take his captives” because it has already been stated [regarding the seven nations of Canaan],“[from these peoples’ cities…] you shall not allow any soul to live.” (Deut. 20: 16).
כי תצא למלחמה: במלחמת הרשות הכתוב מדבר, שבמלחמת ארץ ישראל אין לומר ושבית שביו, שהרי כבר נאמר (לעיל כ טז) לא תחיה כל נשמה:
and you take his captives: Heb. וְשָׁבִיתָ שִׁבְיוֹ. [The double language here comes] to include Canaanites in their midst, even though they are from the seven nations. — [Sifrei 21:2; Sotah 35b]
ושבית שביו: לרבות כנענים שבתוכה ואף על פי שהם משבעה אומות:
11and you see among the captives a beautiful woman and you desire her, you may take [her] for yourself as a wife. יאוְרָאִ֨יתָ֙ בַּשִּׁבְיָ֔ה אֵ֖שֶׁת יְפַת־תֹּ֑אַר וְחָֽשַׁקְתָּ֣ בָ֔הּ וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֥ לְךָ֖ לְאִשָּֽׁה:
a…woman: Heb. אֵשֶׁת, even a married woman (אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ). - [Kid. 21b]
אשת: אפילו אשת איש:
[and you desire her,] you may take [her] for yourself as a wife: [Not that you are commanded to take this woman as a wife,] but Scripture [in permitting this marriage] is speaking only against the evil inclination [, which drives him to desire her]. For if the Holy One, blessed is He, would not permit her to him, he would take her illicitly. [The Torah teaches us, however, that] if he marries her, he will ultimately come to despise her, as it says after this, “If a man has [two wives-one beloved and the other despised]” (verse 15); [moreover] he will ultimately father through her a wayward and rebellious son (see verse 18). For this reason, these passages are juxtaposed. — [Tanchuma 1]
ולקחת לך לאשה: לא דברה תורה אלא כנגד יצר הרע. שאם אין הקב"ה מתירה ישאנה באיסור. אבל אם נשאה, סופו להיות שונאה, שנאמר אחריו (פסוק טו) כי תהיין לאיש וגו' וסופו להוליד ממנה בן סורר ומורה, לכך נסמכו פרשיות הללו:
12You shall bring her into your home, and she shall shave her head and let her nails grow. יבוַֽהֲבֵאתָ֖הּ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ וְגִלְּחָה֙ אֶת־רֹאשָׁ֔הּ וְעָֽשְׂתָ֖ה אֶת־צִפָּֽרְנֶֽיהָ:
and let her nails grow: Heb. וְעָשְׂתָה אֶת-צִפָּרְנֶיהָ. She must let them grow, so that she should becomes repulsive [to her captor, to induce him to change his mind about marrying her]. — [Sifrei 21:7, Yev. 48a]
ועשתה את צפרניה: תגדלם כדי שתתנוול:
13And she shall remove the garment of her captivity from upon herself, and stay in your house, and weep for her father and her mother for a full month. After that, you may be intimate with her and possess her, and she will be a wife for you. יגוְהֵסִ֩ירָה֩ אֶת־שִׂמְלַ֨ת שִׁבְיָ֜הּ מֵֽעָלֶ֗יהָ וְיָֽשְׁבָה֙ בְּבֵיתֶ֔ךָ וּבָֽכְתָ֛ה אֶת־אָבִ֥יהָ וְאֶת־אִמָּ֖הּ יֶ֣רַח יָמִ֑ים וְאַ֨חַר כֵּ֜ן תָּב֤וֹא אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ וּבְעַלְתָּ֔הּ וְהָֽיְתָ֥ה לְךָ֖ לְאִשָּֽׁה:
And she shall remove the garment of her captivity: [so that she should not be attractive to her captor,] for they are pretty [clothes], because gentile women adorn themselves during wartime, in order to seduce others [namely, the enemy] to have relations with them. — [Sifrei 21:8]
והסירה את שמלת שביה: לפי שהם נאים, שהגוים בנותיהם מתקשטות במלחמה בשביל להזנות אחרים עמהם:
and stay in your house: In the house he uses. Upon entering, he will stumble upon her, and upon leaving, he will stumble upon her, see her weeping and see her unsightly appearance-all this, so that she should become despicable to him. — [Sifrei 21: 9]
וישבה בביתך: בבית שמשתמש בו, נכנס ונתקל בה, יוצא ונתקל בה, רואה בבכייתה, רואה בנוולה, כדי שתתגנה עליו:
and weep for her father and her mother: Why is all this necessary? So that an Israelite woman [i.e., this man’s Jewish wife] should be happy, and this [gentile captive woman] should be grief-stricken, an Israelite woman should be dressed up, and this one should make herself repulsive. — [Sifrei 21:11]
ובכתה את אביה: כל כך למה, כדי שתהא בת ישראל שמחה וזו עצבה, בת ישראל מתקשטת וזו מתנוולת:
14And it will be, if you do not desire her, then you shall send her away wherever she wishes, but you shall not sell her for money. You shall not keep her as a servant, because you have afflicted her. ידוְהָיָ֞ה אִם־לֹ֧א חָפַ֣צְתָּ בָּ֗הּ וְשִׁלַּחְתָּהּ֙ לְנַפְשָׁ֔הּ וּמָכֹ֥ר לֹֽא־תִמְכְּרֶ֖נָּה בַּכָּ֑סֶף לֹֽא־תִתְעַמֵּ֣ר בָּ֔הּ תַּ֖חַת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עִנִּיתָֽהּ:
And it will be, if you do not desire her: Scripture informs you that eventually you will despise her. — [Sifrei 21:14.
והיה אם לא חפצתה בה: הכתוב מבשרך שסופך לשנאותה:
You shall not keep her as a servant: Heb. לֹא-תִתְעַמֵּר בָּהּ. [This means:]“You must not use her [as a slave]” (Sifrei 21:16). In the Persian language, the term for slavery and servitude is עִימְרָאָה [the term used here]. I learned this from the Yesod of Rabbi Moses the Darshan.
לא תתעמר בה: לא תשתמש בה בלשון פרסי קורין לעבדות ושימוש, עימראה. מיסודו של רבי משה הדרשן למדתי כן:
15If a man has two wives-one beloved and the other despised-and they bear him sons, the beloved one and the despised one, and the firstborn son is from the despised one. טוכִּי־תִֽהְיֶ֨יןָ לְאִ֜ישׁ שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֗ים הָֽאַחַ֤ת אֲהוּבָה֙ וְהָֽאַחַ֣ת שְׂנוּאָ֔ה וְיָֽלְדוּ־ל֣וֹ בָנִ֔ים הָֽאֲהוּבָ֖ה וְהַשְּׂנוּאָ֑ה וְהָיָ֛ה הַבֵּ֥ן הַבְּכֹ֖ר לַשְּׂנִיאָֽה:
16Then it will be, on the day he [the husband] bequeaths his property to his sons, that he will not be able to give the son of the beloved [wife] birthright precedence over the son of the despised [wife]-the [real] firstborn son. טזוְהָיָ֗ה בְּיוֹם֙ הַנְחִיל֣וֹ אֶת־בָּנָ֔יו אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־יִֽהְיֶ֖ה ל֑וֹ לֹ֣א יוּכַ֗ל לְבַכֵּר֙ אֶת־בֶּן־הָ֣אֲהוּבָ֔ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י בֶן־הַשְּׂנוּאָ֖ה הַבְּכֹֽר:
17Rather, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the despised [wife] and give him a double share in all that he possesses, because he [this firstborn son] is the first of his strength, then he has the birthright entitlement. יזכִּי֩ אֶת־הַבְּכֹ֨ר בֶּן־הַשְּׂנוּאָ֜ה יַכִּ֗יר לָ֤תֶת לוֹ֙ פִּ֣י שְׁנַ֔יִם בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יִמָּצֵ֖א ל֑וֹ כִּי־הוּא֙ רֵאשִׁ֣ית אֹנ֔וֹ ל֖וֹ מִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַבְּכֹרָֽה:
a double share: [The firstborn son takes a share] equal to that of two brothers [together]. — [Sifrei 21:28]
פי שנים: כנגד שני אחים:
[and give him a double share] in all that he possesses: From here [we learn that] the firstborn son does not take [a double share] from that which [the father’s estate] is entitled to after the demise of the father, [e.g., from an uncollected debt,] as [he does] from what was in the father’s actual possession. — [Sifrei 21:29, Bech. 51b]
בכל אשר ימצא לו: מכאן שאין הבכור נוטל פי שנים בראוי לבא לאחר מיתת האב, כבמוחזק:
18If a man has a wayward and rebellious son, who does not obey his father or his mother, and they chasten him, and [he still] does not listen to them, יחכִּי־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לְאִ֗ישׁ בֵּ֚ן סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמוֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֣נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֔עַ בְּק֥וֹל אָבִ֖יו וּבְק֣וֹל אִמּ֑וֹ וְיִסְּר֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵיהֶֽם:
wayward: Heb. סוֹרֵר, deviating (סָר) from the [proper] path.
סורר: סר מן הדרך:
rebellious: Heb. מוֹרֶה, [meaning] one who disobeys the words of his father. [The word מוֹרֶה is] derived from [the same root as] the word מַמְרִים [meaning “to rebel”] (see Deut. 9:7).
ומורה: מסרב בדברי אביו, לשון ממרים:
they shall chasten him: They must warn him in the presence of three [people, not to steal, nor to eat a certain quantity of meat and drink a certain quantity of wine (see further in Rashi)], and then they must have him flogged [by the court] (San. 71a; see Sifrei). [The Talmud (San. 71a) emends this to read: They must warn him in the presence of two (witnesses) and have him flogged in the presence of three (judges).] The wayward and rebellious son incurs punishment only if he steals [money from his father], consumes [at one meal] a tartemar [a weight equal to half a maneh] of meat, and drinks [at the same meal] half a log of wine, as it is said [referring to him], “a glutton and a guzzler (זוֹלֵל וְסֹבֵא)” (verse 20), and [elsewhere] it says, “Do not be among wine-guzzlers (בְסֹבְאֵי-יָיִן), among gluttonous eaters of meat (בְּזֹלְלֵי-בָשָׂר)” (Prov. 23:20), [which indicates that the term “guzzler” refers to wine and “glutton” refers to meat] (San. 70a, Sifrei). The wayward and rebellious son is executed on account of [what he will become in] the end-the Torah penetrates to his ultimate intentions. Eventually, he will squander his father’s money, seek what he has become accustomed to, not find it, and stand at the crossroads and rob people [killing them, thereby incurring the death penalty. Says the Torah, “Let him die innocent [of such crimes], rather than have him die guilty [of such crimes].” - [San. 72b]
ויסרו אותו: מתרין בו בפני שלשה ומלקין אותו. בן סורר ומורה אינו חייב, עד שיגנוב ויאכל תרטימר בשר וישתה חצי לוג יין. שנאמר (פסוק כ) זולל וסובא, ונאמר (משלי כג, כ) אל תהי בסובאי יין בזוללי בשר למו. ובן סורר ומורה נהרג על שם סופו, הגיעה תורה לסוף דעתו, סוף שמכלה ממון אביו ומבקש לימודו ואינו מוצא, ועומד בפרשת דרכים ומלסטם את הבריות, אמרה תורה ימות זכאי ואל ימות חייב:
19his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, and to the gate of his place. יטוְתָ֥פְשׂוּ ב֖וֹ אָבִ֣יו וְאִמּ֑וֹ וְהוֹצִ֧יאוּ אֹת֛וֹ אֶל־זִקְנֵ֥י עִיר֖וֹ וְאֶל־שַׁ֥עַר מְקֹמֽוֹ:
20And they shall say to the elders of his city, "This son of ours is wayward and rebellious; he does not obey us; [he is] a glutton and a guzzler." כוְאָֽמְר֞וּ אֶל־זִקְנֵ֣י עִיר֗וֹ בְּנֵ֤נוּ זֶה֙ סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ בְּקֹלֵ֑נוּ זוֹלֵ֖ל וְסֹבֵֽא:
21And all the men of his city shall pelt him to death with stones, and he shall die. So shall you clear out the evil from among you, and all Israel will listen and fear. כאוּרְגָמֻ֠הוּ כָּל־אַנְשֵׁ֨י עִיר֤וֹ בָֽאֲבָנִים֙ וָמֵ֔ת וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָ וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִשְׁמְע֥וּ וְיִרָֽאוּ:
and all Israel will listen and fear: From here, [we learn that] the court must make a public proclamation, announcing: “So-and-so has been stoned because he was a wayward and rebellious son!” - [San. 89a]
וכל ישראל ישמעו ויראו: מכאן שצריך הכרזה בבית דין, פלוני נסקל על שהיה בן סורר ומורה:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 29 - 34
• 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 29
The Name of God appears eighteen times in this psalm, corresponding to which our Sages established eighteen blessings-the Amidah. The entire psalm can be interpreted as referring to the giving of the Torah and the ingathering of the exiles.
1. A psalm by David. Render to the Lord, children of the mighty, render to the Lord honor and strength.
2. Render to the Lord the honor due to His Name; bow down to the Lord in resplendent holiness.
3. The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over mighty waters.
4. The voice of the Lord resounds with might; the voice of the Lord resounds with majesty.
5. The voice of the Lord breaks cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
6. He makes them leap like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7. The voice of the Lord strikes flames of fire.
8. The voice of the Lord makes the desert tremble; the Lord causes the desert of Kadesh to tremble.
9. The voice of the Lord causes the does to calve, and strips the forests bare; and in His Sanctuary all proclaim His glory.
10. The Lord sat [as King] at the Flood; the Lord will sit as King forever.
11. The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
Chapter 30
This psalm teaches one not to be distressed if God visits suffering upon him in this world, for only through suffering can one enter the World to Come. Even one of great spiritual stature should realize that his stability is not guaranteed, but that all is in the hands of God.
1. A psalm, a song of dedication of the House, by David.
2. I exalt You, Lord, for You have uplifted me, and did not allow my enemies to rejoice over me.
3. Lord, my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.
4. Lord, You have brought up my soul from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not descend to the pit.
5. Sing to the Lord, you His pious ones, and praise His holy Name.
6. For His wrath endures but for a moment, when He is conciliated there is [long] life; when one retires at night weeping, joy will come in the morning.
7. In my security I thought, "I shall never falter.”
8. Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; when You concealed Your countenance I was alarmed.
9. I called to You, O Lord, and I made supplication to my Lord:
10. What profit is there in my death, in my going down to the grave? Can dust praise You? Can it proclaim Your truth
11. Lord, hear and be gracious to me; Lord, be a help to me.
12. You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have undone my sackcloth and girded me with joy.
13. Therefore my soul shall sing to You, and not be silent; Lord my God, I will praise You forever.
Chapter 31
Composed by a destitute and oppressed David, running from Saul while placing his trust in God, this psalm instructs man to put his trust in God alone.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. In You I have taken shelter, O Lord, I shall never be shamed; rescue me in Your righteousness.
3. Turn Your ear to me, save me quickly; be to me a rock of refuge, a fortress to deliver me.
4. For You are my rock and my fortress; for the sake of Your Name, direct me and lead me.
5. Remove me from the net they planted for me, for You are my stronghold.
6. I entrust my spirit into Your hand; You will redeem me, Lord, God of truth.
7. I despise those who anticipate worthless vanities; but I trust in the Lord.
8. I will rejoice and delight in Your kindness, for You have seen my affliction; You know the troubles of my soul.
9. You have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet on spacious ground.
10. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from vexation-my soul and my stomach.
11. For my life is spent in sorrow, my years in sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are wasted away.
12. Because of my adversaries I have become a disgrace-exceedingly to my neighbors, and a dread to my friends; those who see me outside flee from me.
13. Like a dead man, I was forgotten from the heart; I became like a lost vessel.
14. For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, when they assembled together against me and plotted to take my life.
15. But I trusted in You, O Lord; I said, "You are my God.”
16. My times are in Your hand; save me from the hands of my enemies and pursuers.
17. Shine Your countenance upon Your servant; deliver me in Your kindness.
18. O Lord, let me not be ashamed, for I have called You; let the wicked be shamed, let them be silent to the grave.
19. Let the lips of falsehood-which speak insolently against the righteous, with arrogance and contempt-be struck dumb.
20. How abundant is Your good that You have hidden for those who fear You; in the presence of man, You have acted for those who take refuge in You.
21. Conceal them from the haughtiness of man, in the shelter of Your countenance; hide them in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
22. Blessed is the Lord, for He has been wondrous in His kindness to me in a besieged city.
23. I said in my panic, "I am cut off from before Your eyes!" But in truth, You heard the voice of my pleas when I cried to You.
24. Love the Lord, all His pious ones! The Lord preserves the faithful, and repays with exactness those who act haughtily.
25. Be strong and fortify your hearts, all who put their hope in the Lord!
Chapter 32
This psalm speaks of forgiveness of sin, and of the good fortune of one who repents and confesses to God wholeheartedly.
1. By David, a maskil.1Fortunate is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2. Fortunate is the man to whom the Lord does not reckon his sin, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3. When I was silent, my limbs wore away through my wailing all day long.
4. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my marrow became [dry] as the droughts of summer, Selah.
5. My sin I made known to You, my iniquity I did not cover. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and You have forgiven the iniquity of my transgression forever.
6. For this let every pious man pray to You, at a time when You may be found; indeed, the flood of many waters will not reach him.
7. You are a refuge to me; protect me from distress; surround me with songs of deliverance forever.
8. I will enlighten you and educate you in the path you should go; I will advise you with what I have seen.
9. Be not like a horse, like a mule, senseless, that must be muzzled with bit and bridle when being adorned, so that it not come near you.
10. Many are the agonies of the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord is surrounded by kindness.
11. Rejoice in the Lord and exult, you righteous ones! Sing joyously, all you upright of heart!
FOOTNOTES
1.A psalm intended to enlighten and impart knowledge(Metzudot).
Chapter 33
This psalm teaches the righteous and upright to praise God. For the more one knows of the Torah's wisdom, the more should he praise God, for he knows and understands His greatness.
1. Sing joyously to the Lord, you righteous ones; it is fitting for the upright to offer praise.
2. Extol the Lord with a harp; sing to Him with a ten-stringed lyre.
3. Sing to Him a new song; play well with sounds of jubilation.
4. For the word of the Lord is just; all His deeds are done in faithfulness.
5. He loves righteousness and justice; the kindness of the Lord fills the earth.
6. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their hosts.
7. He gathers the waters of the sea like a mound; He places the deep waters in vaults.
8. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world tremble before Him.
9. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it endured.
10. The Lord has annulled the counsel of nations; He has foiled the schemes of peoples.
11. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart throughout all generations.
12. Fortunate is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose as a heritage for Himself.
13. The Lord looks down from heaven; He beholds all mankind.
14. From His dwelling-place He looks intently upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15. It is He Who fashions the hearts of them all, Who perceives all their actions.
16. The king is not saved by a great army, nor a warrior rescued by great might.
17. The horse is a false guarantee for victory; with all its great strength it offers no escape.
18. But the eye of the Lord is directed toward those who fear Him, toward those who hope for His kindness,
19. to save their soul from death and to sustain them during famine.
20. Our soul yearns for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
21. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, for we have put our trust in His Holy Name.
22. May Your kindness, Lord, be upon us, as we have placed our hope in You.
Chapter 34
This psalm tells of when David was in grave danger while at the palace of Achish, brother of Goliath. David acted like a madman, letting spittle run down his beard, and writing on the doors: "Achish, king of Gath, owes me one hundred thousand gold coins," leading Achish to eject him from the palace. In his joy, David composed this psalm in alphabetical sequence.
1. By David, when he feigned insanity before Avimelech,1 who then drove him away, and he left.
2. I bless the Lord at all times; His praise is always in my mouth.
3. My soul glories in the Lord; let the humble hear it and rejoice.
4. Exalt the Lord with me, and let us extol His Name together.
5. I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
6. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never humiliated.
7. This poor man called, and the Lord heard; He delivered him from all his tribulations.
8. The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
9. Taste and see that the Lord is good; fortunate is the man who trusts in Him.
10. Fear the Lord, you His holy ones, for those who fear Him suffer no want.
11. Young lions may want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
12. Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
13. Who is the man who desires life, who loves long life wherein to see goodness?
14. Guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
15. Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.
16. The eyes of the Lord are directed toward the righteous, and His ears toward their cry.
17. The wrath of the Lord is upon the evildoers, to excise their memory from the earth.
18. But when they [repent and] cry out, the Lord hears, and saves them from all their troubles.
19. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, and saves those with a crushed spirit.
20. Many are the afflictions of a righteous person, but the Lord rescues him from them all.
21. He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.
22. Evil brings death upon the wicked, and the enemies of the righteous are condemned.
23. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants; all who take shelter in Him are not condemned.
FOOTNOTES
1.All Philistine kings are referred to by the name Avimelech (Rashi).
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 13, 14 and 15.
Chapter 13
A prayer for an end to the long exile. One in distress should offer this prayer for his troubles and for the length of the exile.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. How long, O Lord, will You forget me, forever? How long will You hide Your countenance from me?
3. How long must I seek counsel within my soul, [to escape] the grief in my heart all day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
4. Look! Answer me, O Lord, my God; give light to my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.
5. Lest my enemy say, "I have overcome him," [and] my oppressors rejoice when I falter.
6. I have placed my trust in Your kindness, my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord, for He has dealt kindly with me.
Chapter 14
This psalm speaks of the destruction of the two Holy Temples-the first by Nebuchadnezzar, and the second by Titus.
1. For the Conductor, by David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God!" [Man's] deeds have become corrupt and abominable, no one does good.
2. The Lord looked down from heaven upon mankind, to see if there was any wise man who searches for God.
3. They have all gone astray together, they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
4. Indeed, all the evildoers, who devour My people as they devour bread, who do not call upon the Lord, will [ultimately] come to know [the consequences of their actions].
5. There they will be seized with fright, for God is with the righteous generation.
6. You scorn the counsel of the lowly, that he puts his trust in the Lord.
7. O that out of Zion would come Israel's deliverance! When the Lord returns the captivity of His people, Jacob will exult, Israel will rejoice.
Chapter 15
This psalm speaks of several virtues and attributes with which one should conduct oneself. He is then assured that his soul will rest in Gan Eden.
1. A psalm by David. Who may abide in Your tent, O Lord? Who may dwell on Your holy Mountain?
2. He who walks blamelessly, acts justly, and speaks truth in his heart;
3. who has no slander on his tongue, who has done his fellowman no evil, and who has brought no disgrace upon his relative;
4. in whose eyes a despicable person is abhorrent, but who honors those who are God-fearing; who does not change his oath even if it is to his own detriment;
5. who does not lend his money at interest, nor accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never falter.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 10
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Sunday, Elul 5, 5777 · August 27, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 10
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The Alter Rebbe now returns to the verse quoted at the outset of this Iggeret HaKodesh: חסדי ה׳ כי לא תמנו וגו׳ — “The kindnesses of G‑d have surely not ended....”
There he had asked: If the verse refers only to G‑d’s kindness, why does it use the verb tamnu (in the first person plural), which would make the phrase mean, “we have not been brought to an end,” rather than tamu (in the third person plural), which would mean that “the kindnesses have not ended”?
He answers this by saying that חסדי ה׳ (“the kindnesses of G‑d”) refers also to the giving of tzedakahwithout limitation. Accordingly, the verse may be understood, as he now goes on to explain:
והנה מדת חסד זו, בלי גבול ומדה, נקראת על שמו של הקב״ה
Now, since this is G‑d’s manner of practicing benevolence, this mode of unlimited kindness is known by the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He, [viz.,]
חסדי ה׳
“The kindnesses of G‑d,”
כדכתיב: וחסד ה׳ מעולם ועד עולם כו׳
as it is written,1 “and G‑d’s Chesed is everlasting....”
כי הגם שכל ישראל הם רחמנים וגומלי חסדים
For though2 “All of Israel are compassionate and practice kindly deeds,”
ברם יש גבול ומדה לרחמי האדם
nevertheless there is a limit and measure to man’s compassion.
אבל הקב״ה נקרא אין סוף ברוך הוא
But the Holy One, blessed be He, is called the Ein Sof — “the Infinite One,”
ולמדותיו אין סוף
and His attributes (like Himself) have no end,
כדכתיב: כי לא כלו רחמיו
as it is written,3 “...for His mercies never cease.”
When a Jew echoes G‑d’s boundless kindness and compassion, his actions are thus termed “G‑d’s acts of kindness.”
וזהו שאמר הנביא אחר החורבן והגלות: חסדי ה׳, כי לא תמנו
And this is the meaning of the prophet’s words,4 after the Destruction and the exile: “The kindnesses of G‑d have surely not ended (ki lo tamnu).”
פירוש: לפי שלא תמנו, שאין אנו תמימים ושלמים, בלי שום חטא ופגם בנפש ובעולמות עליונים
That is: “Because we are not perfect,5 inasmuch as we are not perfect (temimim) and whole, without any sin or blemish in our soul nor in the higher worlds,
על כן צריכין אנו להתנהג בחסדי ה׳, שהם בלי גבול ותכלית
we therefore need to conduct ourselves in accordance with ‘G‑d’s kindnesses,’ that are without limit or end,
כדי לעורר עלינו רחמים וחסד עילאה, שהוא רב חסד ורחמים, בלי גבול ותכלית
in order to call down upon ourselves Supreme compassion, i.e., rav Chesed, and unlimited, infinite compassion,
כמו שכתוב: כי לא כלו רחמיו
as it is written, at the conclusion of this verse, ‘for His mercies never cease....’”
Since we are in need of drawing down this level of compassion, our own practice of kindness must echo “G‑d’s kindness.”
Thus the Prophet is telling the generations that follow the Destruction that they should practice unbounded kindness because they are not in a state of tamnu. Being imperfect, we need to arouse G‑d’s infinite kindness and compassion in order to rectify any sins and blemishes.
(Moreover, since these latter generations are too weak to engage in fasting and self-mortification, the only means now available to secure full atonement is through tzedakah.6)
וזהו שאמרו רז״ל: אין ישראל נגאלין אלא בצדקה
And this is what our Sages, of blessed memory, meant by saying that7 “Israel will be redeemed only through charity.”
שיעשו גם אם יהיו פטורים מדינא
[This refers to the charity] that they will perform even if they are legally not obligated,
כי אין בן דוד בא כו׳
for8 “[Mashiach] the son of David will not come [until the pocket will be empty of even the smallest coin].”
I.e., even if (Heaven forfend) there will not be a solitary coin left in one’s pocket, tzedakah will still be given. And it is this boundless level of tzedakah that secures a complete atonement for the sins of our people, after which9 “they will immediately be redeemed.”
The Rebbe explains that the Alter Rebbe does not conclude the above-mentioned quotation about the precondition for the coming of Mashiach because it is quite possible that he did not want to write out the last words (viz., “until the pocket will be empty of even the smallest coin”); and this precondition of the Sages can be fulfilled on the spiritual level, by conducting oneself with the humility of the destitute.
This could also explain why the Alter Rebbe does not say...כשיהיו (“when they are legally not obligated”), but rather...אם יהיו (“if they are legally not obligated”).
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Tehillim 103:17. |
| 2. | Yevamot 79a. |
| 3. | Eichah 3:22. |
| 4. | See above, footnote 3. |
| 5. | Note of the Rebbe: “The proof being the Destruction and the exile.” |
| 6. | This is explained at length in Iggeret HaTeshuvah, ch. 3 (in Vol. III of the present series). |
| 7. | See above, Epistle 9, footnote 16. |
| 8. | Sanhedrin 97a. |
| 9. | Rambam, Hilchot Teshuvah 7:5. |
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
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Sunday, Elul 5, 5777 · August 27, 2017
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
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Important Message Regarding This Lesson
The Daily Mitzvah schedule runs parallel to the daily study of 3 chapters of Maimonides' 14-volume code. There are instances when the Mitzvah is repeated a few days consecutively while the exploration of the same Mitzvah continues in the in-depth track.
Positive Commandment 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.
Positive Commandment 248
Laws of Inheritance
"If a man dies and he has no son..."—Numbers 27:8.
We are commanded regarding the laws of inheritance [to follow the inheritance laws detailed in the Torah]. Included in this mitzvah is that the firstborn receives a double portion from his father's estate.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Laws of Inheritance
Positive Commandment 248
Translated by Berel Bell
The 248th mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the laws of inheritance.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "If a man dies and has no son..."
This mitzvah undoubtedly includes the law that the firstborn son inherits a double portion,2 since this is part of the laws of inheritance.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the 8th and 9th chapters of tractate Bava Basra.
FOOTNOTES
1.Num. 27:8.
2.Deut. 21:17.
Rambam:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Mamrim Mamrim - Chapter 3
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1
A person who does not acknowledge validity of the Oral Law is not the rebellious elder mentioned in the Torah. Instead, he is one of the heretics and he should be put to death by any person.
א
מי שאינו מודה בתורה שבעל פה אינו זקן ממרא האמור בתורה אלא הרי זה בכלל האפיקורוסין [ומיתתו בכל אדם]:
2
Since it has become known that such a person denies the Oral Law, he may be pushed into a pit and may not be helped out. He is like all the rest of the heretics who say that the Torah is not Divine in origin, those who inform on their fellow Jews, and the apostates. All of these are not considered as members of the Jewish people. There is no need for witnesses, a warning, or judges for them to be executed. Instead, whoever kills them performs a great mitzvah and removes an obstacle from people at large.
ב
מאחר שנתפרסם שהוא כופר בתורה שבעל פה [מורידין אותו] ולא מעלין והרי הוא כשאר כל האפיקורוסין והאומרין אין תורה מן השמים והמוסרין והמומרין שכל אלו אינם בכלל ישראל ואין צריך לא לעדים ולא התראה ולא דיינים [אלא כל ההורג אחד מהן עשה מצוה גדולה והסיר המכשול]:
3
To whom does the above apply? To a person who denied the Oral Law consciously, according to his perception of things. He follows after his frivolous thoughts and his capricious heart and denies the Oral Law first, as did Tzadok and Beitus and those who erred in following them.
The children of these errant people and their grandchildren whose parents led them away and they were born among these Karaities and raised according to their conception, they are considered as a children captured and raised by them. Such a child may not be eager to follow the path of mitzvot, for it is as if he was compelled not to. Even if later, he hears that he is Jewish and saw Jews and their faith, he is still considered as one who was compelled against observance, for he was raised according to their mistaken path. This applies to those who we mentioned who follow the erroneous Karaite path of their ancestors. Therefore it is appropriate to motivate them to repent and draw them to the power of the Torah with words of peace.
ג
במה דברים אמורים באיש שכפר בתורה שבעל פה במחשבתו ובדברים שנראו לו והלך אחר דעתו הקלה ואחר שרירות לבו וכופר בתורה שבעל פה תחילה כצדוק ובייתוס וכן כל התועים אחריו אבל בני התועים האלה ובני בניהם שהדיחו אותם אבותם ונולדו בין הקראים וגדלו אותם על דעתם הרי הוא כתינוק שנשבה ביניהם וגדלוהו ואינו זריז לאחוז בדרכי המצות שהרי הוא כאנוס ואע"פ ששמע אח"כ [שהוא יהודי וראה היהודים ודתם הרי הוא כאנוס שהרי גדלוהו על טעותם] כך אלו שאמרנו האוחזים בדרכי אבותם הקראים שטעו לפיכך ראוי להחזירן בתשובה ולמשכם בדברי שלום עד שיחזרו לאיתן התורה:
4
The "rebellious elder" mentioned in the Torah, by contrast, is one of the sages of Israel who has received the tradition from previous sages and who analyzes and issues ruling with regard to the words of Torah as do all the sages of Israel. His rebellion involves an instance when he has a difference of opinion in one of the Torah's laws with the Supreme Sanhedrin and did not accept their views, but instead issued a ruling to act in a different manner. The Torah decreed that he should be executed. He should confess his sin before being executed so that he will be granted a portion in the world to come.
Even though he analyzes and they analyze; he received the tradition and they received the tradition, the Torah granted them deference. Even if the court desires to forgo their honor and allow him to live, they are not allowed so that differences of opinion will not arise within Israel.
ד
אבל זקן ממרא האמור בתורה הוא חכם אחד מחכמי ישראל שיש בידו קבלה ודן ומורה בדברי תורה כמו שידונו ויורו כל חכמי ישראל שבאת לו מחלוקת בדין מן הדינים עם בית דין הגדול ולא חזר לדבריהם אלא חלק עליהם והורה לעשות שלא כהוראתן גזרה עליו תורה מיתה ומתודה ויש לו חלק לעולם הבא אף על פי שהוא דן והן דנים הוא קבל והם קבלו הרי התורה חלקה להם כבוד ואם רצו בית דין למחול על כבודן ולהניחו אינן יכולין כדי שלא ירבו מחלוקת בישראל:
5
A "rebellious elder" is not liable for execution unless he is a sage, erudite enough to issue halachic judgments who has received semichah from the Sanhedrin and who differs with that court with regard to a matter whose willful violation is punishable by kerait and whose inadvertent violation requires a sin offering or with regard to tefillin. He must direct others to act according to his ruling or act according to his ruling himself, and differ with the Sanhedrin while they hold session in the Chamber of Hewn Stone.
When, by contrast, a student who has not attained a level of erudition that enables him to issue halachic rulings, but, nevertheless, issues a ruling, he is not liable. This is derived from Deuteronomy 17:8 which states: "If a matter of judgment exceeds your grasp...." Implied is that the passage concerns only a scholar who is unable to grasp something which is exceedingly difficult to comprehend.
ה
אין זקן ממרא חייב מיתה עד שיהא חכם שהגיע להוראה סמוך בסנהדרין ויחלוק על בית דין בדבר שזדונו כרת ושגגתו חטאת או בתפילין ויורה לעשות כהוראתו או יעשה הוא על פי הוראתו ויחלוק עליהן והן יושבין בלשכת הגזית אבל אם היה תלמיד שלא הגיע להוראה והורה לעשות פטור שנאמר כי יפלא ממך דבר למשפט מי שלא יפלא ממנו אלא דבר מופלא:
6
If a sage was an exceedingly great scholar and a member of a court and differed with [the Supreme Sanhedrin] and he returned home and taught others according to his [original] conception, but did not direct them to act accordingly, he is not liable.1 [This is derived from ibid.:12 which] states: “And the person who acts obstinately”; [i.e., the punishment is warranted] not for speaking obstinately, but for issuing a directive for action or for acting oneself.
ו
היה חכם מופלא של בית דין וחלק ושנה ולמד לאחרים כדבריו אבל לא הורה לעשות פטור שנאמר והאיש אשר יעשה בזדון לא שיאמר בזדון אלא יורה לעשות או יעשה הוא בעצמו:
7
If he found the Supreme Sanhedrin outside their place and rebelled against their ruling, he is not liable. This is derived from ibid.:8 which states: "And you shall arise and ascend to that place," implied is that the place is the cause for capital punishment.
All of the individuals mentioned above who are not executed and anyone who acts in a similar manner, although they are not liable for execution, the Supreme Sanhedrin should place them under a ban of ostracism, separate them from the community, subject them to corporal punishment, and prevent them from teaching their interpretation of the matter.
ז
מצאן חוץ למקומן והמרה עליהן פטור שנאמר וקמת ועלית אל המקום מלמד שהמקום גורם לו מיתה וכל אלו וכיוצא בהן שהן פטורין מן המיתה יש לבית דין הגדול לנדותם ולהפרישן ולהכותן ולמנען מללמד כפי מה שיראה להן שהדבר צריך לכך:
8
How is the law applying to a rebellious elder adjudicated? When a matter is undecided because of its difficulty and a sage who is erudite enough to issue rulings whether with regard to a matter which he arrived at through his own reasoning or which he received from his teachers. He and the sages who differ with him ascend to Jerusalem and come to the court which holds sessions at the entrance to the Temple Mount.
The court tells them: "This is the law." If the elder listens and accepts the ruling, it is desirable. If not, they all go to the court which holds sessions at the entrance to the Temple Courtyard. They also say: "This is the law." If the elder listens and accepts the ruling, they go their ways. If not, they all go to the Supreme Sanhedrin in the Chamber of Hewn Stone from which the Torah emanates to the entire Jewish people, as Deuteronomy 17:10 states: "From that place which God has chosen." The Supreme Sanhedrin tell them: "This is the law" and the all depart.
If the elder returns to his city and continues to interpret the law as he did previously and teaches this interpretation to others, he is not liable. If he gave a directive for action or acted according to his conception himself, he is liable for execution. There is no need for a warning. Even if he offers a rationale to explain his conduct, we do not heed him. Instead, once witnesses come and testify that he acted according to his own directive or that he directed others to perform a deed, we sentence him to death in his local court. We take hold of him and bring him from that place to Jerusalem. For we do not execute him in the presence of his local court, nor in the presence of the Supreme Sanhedrin who left Jerusalem, but instead, bring him to the Supreme Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. Until the next pilgrimage festival, he is kept under watch. During the pilgrimage festival, he is executed by strangulation, as implied by ibid.:13: "And all Israel shall hear and become fearful." This indicates that his execution must be announced.
There are four transgressors whose execution must be announced publicly: a rebellious elder, lying witnesses, a person who entices others to worship idols, and a wayward and rebellious son. For with regard to all of them, the Torah states: "so that they will hear and become afraid."
ח
וכיצד דנין זקן ממרא בעת שיפלא דבר ויורה בו חכם המגיע להוראה בין בדבר שיראה בעיניו בין בדבר שקבל מרבותיו הרי הוא והחולקין עמו עולין לירושלים ובאין לבית דין שעל פתח הר הבית אומרים להן בית דין כך הוא הדין אם שמע וקבל מוטב ואם לאו באין כולן לבית דין שעל פתח העזרה ואומרים להם גם הם כך הוא הדין אם קבלו ילכו להן ואם לאו כולן באין לבית דין הגדול ללשכת הגזית שמשם תורה יוצאת לכל ישראל שנאמר מן המקום ההוא אשר יבחר ה' ובית דין אומר להם כך הוא הדין ויוצאין כולן חזר זה החכם לעירו ושנה ולמד כדרך שהוא למוד הרי זה פטור הורה לעשות או שעשה כהוראתו חייב מיתה ואינו צריך התראה אפילו נתן טעם לדבריו אין שומעין לו אלא כיון שבאו עדים שעשה כהוראתו או שהורה לאחרים לעשות גומרין דינו למיתה בבית דין שבעירו ותופסין אותו ומעלין אותו משם לירושלים ואין ממיתין אותו בבית דין שבעירו ולא בבית דין הגדול שיצא חוץ לירושלים אלא מעלין אותו לבית דין הגדול שבירושלים ועד הרגל משמרין אותו וחונקין אותו ברגל שנאמר וכל ישראל ישמעו וייראו מכלל שצריך הכרזה וארבעה צריכין הכרזה זקן ממרא ועדים זוממין והמסית ובן סורר ומורה שהרי בכולן נאמר ישמעו וייראו:
FOOTNOTES
1.The classic example of this principle is Akkavya ben Mahallel who received four teachings from his teachers which - though they represented the majority views at that time - were not accepted by the majority of the Sages in the following generation. Akkavya refused to change his conception of these laws, and yet, in deference to the majority, did not issue rulings for action according to his conception. Moreover, before his passing, he advised his son to accept the ruling of the majority (Ediot 5:6-7; Sanhedrin 88a)
Rambam:
• 3 Chapters A Day: To`en veNit`an To`en veNit`an - Chapter 16, Nachalot Nachalot - Chapter 1, Nachalot Nachalot - Chapter 2
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1
A person's protests are not accepted in the following situation. Reuven sold a field to Shimon, and Levi was one of the witnesses who signed the deed of sale. Afterwards, Levi came and protested Shimon's ownership of the field, claiming that Reuven stole it from him. We do not heed Levi's protest, nor do we pay attention to the proofs he brings concerning his ownership of that field. He has forfeited all of his rights to it. For we tell him: "How could you serve as a witness to the sale and then come and protest?"
Similar concepts apply if Levi gives testimony in a legal document that speaks of "the field belonging to Reuven on the east" or "... on the north." Since he referred to that field as an identification marker for the sake of another person and recorded this testimony in a legal document, he forfeited his right to it and cannot issue a protest concerning it. For we tell him: "How could you serve as a witness in this legal document that mentions this field being near another field and then issue a protest concerning it?"
א
ראובן שמכר לשמעון שדה והיה לוי מעדי השטר ובא לוי לערער על השדה ולטעון שראובן גזל אותה ממנו, אין שומעין לו ואין משגיחין על ראיות שיביא על אותה שדה והרי אבד כל זכותו שאומר לו היאך תעיד על המכר ותבא ותערער, וכן אם העיד לוי בשטר שכתוב בו השדה פלוני של ראובן מצד מזרח או מערב הואיל ועשה השדה סימן לאחר והעיד בשטר אבד את זכותו ואינו יכול לחזור ולערער שאומרים לו היאך תעיד בשטר זה שכתוב בו השדה הזאת מצד פלוני ותחזור ותערער עליה.
2
If, in the above situation, the witness claimed: "There is one row? that I designated as a sign, but not the entire field. That row that is next to the boundary of the field alone belongs to Reuven," this is a claim that is worthy of being heard. He may protest the ownership of the entire field, with the exception of that row.
All of the above concepts apply only with regard to one of the witnesses to the legal document who comes to protest. When, by contrast, a judge verified the authenticity of the signatures of the witnesses to a bill of sale, he may protest the ownership of a field even though it was mentioned in that bill of sale. The rationale is that he can claim: "I did not know what was written in the bill of sale." For a judge may verify the authenticity of the signatures of the witnesses to a legal document even though he did not read it. Witnesses, by contrast, may not sign a legal document unless they read it in its entirety and paid attention to its details.
ב
טען העד ואמר תלם אחד הוא שעשיתי סימן ולא כל השדה ואותו התלם הסמוך למצר בלבד הוא של ראובן הרי זה טענה הנשמעת ויש לו לערער על כל השדה חוץ מאותו התלם, ואין כל הדברים אמורים אלא באחד מעדי השטר שבא לערער, אבל הדיין שקיים השטר יש לו לערער מפני שיכול לטעון ולומר לא ידעתי מה היה כתוב בשטר מפני שיש לדיינין לקיים השטר אע"פ שלא קראוהו, אבל העדים אין חותמין על השטר אלא אם כן קראוהו כולו וידקדק בו.
3
The following rules apply when Shimon comes and consults Levi, telling him: "I am buying this-and-this field from Reuven. I will buy it with your advice." Even though Levi tells him: "Go and buy it. It is good," Levi has the right to protest Shimon's ownership. He does not forfeit this right, because he did not perform a deed. He can tell Shimon: "I desired that the field leave the hands of Reuven, for he is a man of force, so that I could lodge a claim in court and take possession of my field."
ג
בא שמעון ונמלך בלוי ואמר לו הריני קונה שדה פלונית מראובן ובעצתך אקנה אותה, אמר לו לוי לך וקנה אותה טובה היא, יש לו ללוי לערער עליה ולא איבד זכותו שהרי לא עשה מעשה ויש לו לומר רצוני היה שתצא מתחת יד ראובן שהוא אלם כדי שאתבענה בדין ואקח שדי.
4
The following rules apply when Reuven protests Shimon's ownership of a field, and Shimon tells him: "I don't know what you are talking about. I purchased this field from Levi. Here are witnesses who will testify that I benefited from it for the amount of time necessary to establish a claim of ownership."
Reuven responds to him: "I have witnesses who will testify that yesterday evening, you came to me and asked me to sell you this field." This is not proof of Reuven's ownership. For Shimon could say: "I desired to purchase it from you so that you would not protest and trouble me to enter legal proceedings, even though I do not know whether or not it is really yours." Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
If Shimon does not make such a claim, the court does not advance it on his behalf, n
ד
ראובן שערער על שמעון ושמעון אמר איני יודע מה אתה סח אלא שדה זו מלוי לקחתיה והרי עדים שאכלתיה שני חזקה, אמר לו ראובן והלא עדים יש לי שבערב באת אלי ואמרת לי מכור לי שדה זו אין זו ראיה, ויש לו לשמעון לומר רציתי לקנות ממך כדי שלא תערער ולא תטריחני בדין אע"פ שאיני יודע אם היה שלך או אינה, וכן כל כיוצא בזה, ואם לא טען שמעון טענה זו אין טוענין לו.
5
The following rules apply when Reuven protests and brings witnesses who testify that the field belongs to him, and Shimon who is in possession of it claims: "You sold it to me and I benefited from it for the amount of time necessary to establish a claim of ownership." Reuven responds: "You benefited from the field as a robber."
Whether there were no witnesses that he benefited from the field or whether there was only one witness who testified that he benefited for three years, the person in possession is not required to return the produce that he consumed. The rationale is that he is claiming: "I consumed my own produce," and there are no witnesses who are obligating him for the produce. On the contrary, he acknowledged it himself. And the witness who testified that he benefited from the property for three years is coming to reinforce the power of the person who benefited. Indeed, if there were another witness with him, the person in possession would be allowed to retain possession of the field.
Therefore, Reuven must take a sh'vu'at hesset that he did not sell the field, and then the field is returned to him. Shimon must take a sh'vu'at hesset that he does not owe Reuven anything because of the produce he consumed. He is then released of liability.
ה
ראובן שערער והביא עדים ששדה זו שלו ושמעון שבתוכה טוען אתה מכרתה לי ואכלתיה שני חזקה, וראובן אמר בגזל אכלת, בין שלא היו עדים שאכל כלל בין שהיה שם עד אחד שאכלה שלש שנים אינו חייב להחזיר הפירות שאכל שהרי הוא אומר שלי אכלתי ואין עליו עדים שמחייבין אותו בפירות שהרי מעצמו הודה, וזה העד שהעיד שאכלה שלש שנים ליפות כחו של אוכל הוא בא ואילו היה עמו אחר היתה השדה עומדת בידו, לפיכך ישבע ראובן היסת שלא מכר ותחזור לו השדה וישבע שמעון היסת שאינו חייב לו כלום בפירות שאכל ויפטר.
6
When there are two witnesses who testify that Shimon benefited from a field for less than the amount of time necessary to establish a claim of ownership, he must return all the produce he consumed. Even if there is only one witness, he is liable to return all the produce because of his testimony. The rationale is that he is not contradicting the testimony of the witness. Instead, he is saying: "He testified truthfully. I did consume the produce for two years, but I consumed what was mine." He is thus obligated to take an oath, but unable to do so. Hence, he must pay.
ו
היו שני עדים מעידים על שמעון שאכלה פחות משני חזקה יחזיר כל הפירות שאכל ואפילו היה עד אחד חייב להחזיר על פיו שהרי אינו מכחיש העד אלא אומר אמת העיד ואכלתי שתי שנים ושלי אכלתי, נמצא מחוייב שבועה ואינו יכול להשבע ומשלם.
7
The following principle applies whenever a person is obligated to return the produce he consumed, the extent of the benefit is unknown, and the court is unable to estimate - i.e., in contrast to houses and the like, which have a standard rate - the benefit he received from the produce of trees or the produce of the fields. Since the owner does not have a definite claim, he is required to pay only what he admits to have consumed. We issue a conditional ban of ostracism against anyone who consumed more produce and did not make restitution.
ז
כל המחוייב להחזיר הפירות אם לא היו ידועין ואין בית דין יכולין לשער אותן כשער הבתים וכיוצא בהן שהוא ידוע, אלא היו פירות אילן או פירות שדה שאינן ידועין הואיל ואין כאן טענה ודאית ישלם מה שיודה בו שאכלו, ומחרימין על מי שאכל יותר ולא ישלם.
8
The following laws apply whenever a person in possession of property is required to return it. If he rented the property to others while he was in possession of it, and the renters are accessible, we expropriate the rent from them a second time and give it to the owner of the land. They in turn should lodge a claim against a person who rented them land that he did not own.
ח
כל המחזיר קרקע מתחת ידו אם השכירה לאחרים כשהיה מחזיק בה והיו השוכרין קיימין מוציאין מהן השכר פעם שנייה ונותנין לבעל הקרקע וחוזרין ותובעין זה שהשכיר להם מקום שאינו שלו.
9
It is forbidden for a person to lodge a false claim to distort a judgment or prevent its execution. What is implied? If a person was owed a maneh by a colleague, he may not lodge a claim against him for 200 zuz, so that he will admit owing the maneh and be obligated to take an oath.
If a person owes a colleague a maneh, and the colleague claims 200 from him, he should not say: "I will deny the entire amount in court so that I will not be required to take an oath and acknowledge the debt of the maneh in private."
ט
אסור לאדם לטעון טענת שקר כדי לעות הדין או כדי לעכבו, כיצד היה נושה בחבירו מנה לא יטעננו מאתים כדי שיודה במנה ויתחייב שבועה, היה נושה מנה וטענו מאתים לא יאמר אכפור הכל בבית דין ואודה לו במנה ביני לבינו כדי שלא אתחייב לו שבועה.
10
When a person owes money to three people, and he denies owing a debt to one of them the three should not collaborate and perpetrate the following scheme. One person will claim the entire sum, and the others will falsely testify to his claim. When the money is expropriated from him, they will then divide it. With regard to things of this nature and the like, the Torah Exodus 23:7 warned us: "Keep a distance from words of falsehood."
This concludes the Laws Governing Disputes between Plaintiffs and Defendants, with God's help.
י
היו שלשה נושין מנה באחד וכפר בהן לא יהיה אחד תובע ושנים מעידים וכשיוציאו ממנו יחלוקו, ועל דברים אלו וכיוצא בהן הזהיר הכתוב ואמר מדבר שקר תרחק. סליקו להו הלכות טוען ונטען בס"ד.
Nachalot - Chapter 1
Introduction to Hilchos Nachalot
It contains one mitzvah: the laws of the order of inheritance. This mitzvah is explained in the following chapters.
רמב"ם הלכות נחלות - הקדמה
הלכות נחלות. מצות עשה אחת והיא דין סדר נחלות. וביאור מצוה זו בפרקים אלו.
1
This is the order of inheritance: When a person dies, his children inherit his estate. They receive priority over everyone else, and the sons receive priority over the daughters.
א
סדר נחלות כך היא, מי שמת יירשוהו בניו והם קודמין לכל, והזכרים קודמין לנקבות.
2
In every situation, a female does not inherit together with a male.
If a person does not have children, his father inherits his estate. A mother does not inherit her son's estate. This has been conveyed by the Oral Tradition.
ב
בכל מקום אין לנקבה עם הזכר ירושה, אם אין לו בנים יירשנו אביו, ואין האם יורשת את בניה ודבר זה מפי הקבלה.
3
With regard to every concept of precedence for an inheritance, a person's blood descendants receive precedence. Therefore, when a person - either a man or a woman - dies and he leaves a son, he inherits everything. If the son is no longer alive, we look to see if the son left descendants. If there are descendants of the son, whether male or female - even the daughter of the daughter of the son's daughter, and this chain can be continued endlessly -that descendant inherits everything.
If the son does not have descendants, we return to the deceased's daughter. If there are descendants of the daughter, whether male or female - and this chain can be continued endlessly - that descendant inherits everything.
If the son does not have descendants, the estate returns to the deceased's father. If the father is no longer alive, -we look to see if the father left descendants - i.e., the brothers of the deceased. If there is a brother of the deceased or the descendant of a brother, he inherits everything. If there are no brothers, we return and look to see if the deceased had a sister. If there is a sister or the descendant of a sister, that person inherits everything.
If there are no descendants of the deceased's brothers or sisters, since there are no descendants of the deceased's father, the estate returns to the deceased's paternal grandfather. If the paternal grandfather is no longer alive, we look to see if the paternal grandfather left descendants - i.e., the uncles or aunts of the deceased. The males receive precedence over the females, and even the descendants of the males receive precedence over the females, as is the law with regard to the descendants of the deceased himself.
If there are no uncles or none of their descendants, the estate returns to the deceased's paternal great-grandfather. Following this pattern, the chain of inheritance continues to extend until Reuven the son of Jacob. Thus the order of inheritance is as follows: A son takes precedence over a daughter. Similarly, all of the son's descendants take precedence over the daughter. The daughter takes precedence over her paternal grandfather, and similarly, all her descendants take precedence over her paternal grandfather.
The deceased's father takes precedence over the deceased's brothers, because they are the father's descendants. The deceased's brothers take precedence over his sisters. Similarly, all their descendants take precedence over the sister.
The deceased's sister takes precedence over her paternal grandfather, and similarly, all her descendants take precedence over her paternal grandfather.
The deceased's paternal grandfather takes precedence over the deceased's uncles. The uncles take precedence over the aunts. Indeed, all the uncles' descendants take precedence over the aunts. The aunts take precedence over the deceased's paternal great-grandfather. Indeed, all the aunts' descendants take precedence over the deceased's paternal great-grandfather. This pattern should be continued until the beginning of all generations. Thus, there is no Jew who does not have heirs.
ג
וכל הקודם בנחלה יוצאי ירכו קודמין, לפיכך מי שמת בין איש בין אשה אם הניח בן יורש הכל, לא נמצא לו בן לעולם מעיינין בזרעו של בן אם נמצא לבנו זרע בין זכרים בין נקבות אפילו בת בת בת בנו עד סוף העולם היא תירש את הכל, לא נמצא לו זרע בן חוזרין אצל הבת היתה לו בת תירש את הכל לא נמצאת לו בת בעולם מעיינין על זרע הבת, אם נמצא לה זרע בין זכרים בין נקבות עד סוף העולם הוא יורש הכל, לא נמצא לה זרע בת חוזר הירושה לאביו. לא היה אביו קיים מעיינין על זרע האב שהן אחי המת, נמצא לו אח או זרע אח יורש את הכל ואם לאו חוזרין אצל אחות, נמצאת לו אחות או זרעה יורש הכל, ואם לא נמצאת לו זרע אחים ולא זרע אחות הואיל ואין לאב זרע תחזור הירושה לאבי האב, לא היה אבי האב קיים מעיינין על זרע של אבי האב שהן אחי אביו של מת והזכרים קודמין לנקבות וזרען של זכרים קודמין לנקבות כמו שהיה הדין בזרעו של מת עצמו, לא נמצאו אחים לאביו לא הם ולא זרען תחזור הירושה לאבי האב, ועל הדרך הזאת נחלה ממשמשת והולכת עד ראובן, נמצאת אומר הבן קודם לבת וכל יוצאי ירכו של בן קודמין לבת והבת קודמת לאבי אביה וכל יוצאי ירכה קודמין לאבי אביה, ואבי המת קודם לאחי המת מפני שהם יוצאי ירכו והאח קודם לאחות, וכל יוצאי ירכו של אח קודמין לאחות, ואחות קודמת לאבי אביה, וכל יוצאי ירכה קודמין לאבי אביה, אבי האב קודם לאחי האב של מת ואחי אביו קודמין לאחות אביו וכל יוצאי ירכו של אחי אביו קודמין לאחות אביו ואחות אביו קודמת לאבי אבי אביו של מת, וכן כל יוצאי ירכה של אחות אביו קודמין לאבי אבי אביו, ועל דרך זו הולך ועולה עד ראש הדורות, לפיכך אין לך אדם מישראל שאין לו יורשין.
4
When a person dies and leaves a daughter and the daughter of a son - or even the daughter of the son's daughter and this chain can continue for several generations - the son's daughter takes precedence. She inherits everything; the deceased's daughter does not receive anything.
Similar laws applies when a person is survived by his brother's daughter and his sister, by his uncle's daughter and his aunt, or in all other analogous situations.
ד
מי שמת והניח בת ובת הבן ואפילו בת בת בת הבן עד סוף כמה דורות היא קודמת ותירש הכל ואין לבת כלום, והוא הדין לבת האח עם האחות ולבת בן אחי אביו עם אחות אביו וכן כל כיוצא בהן.
5
A woman is, however, given full rights in the following situation. A person had two sons who died in his lifetime. One of the sons left three sons and the other left a daughter. Afterwards, the elder man died. The three grandsons inherit half of the inheritance and the granddaughter inherits the other half. For each inherits their father's portion. Similar laws apply with regard to the division of an estate among the children of the deceased's brothers, the children of his uncles, or the children of other relatives extending back until the beginning of all generations.
ה
מי שהיו לו שני בנים ומתו השני בנים בחייו והניח הבן האחד שלשה בנים והניח הבן השני בת אחת ואחר כך מת הזקן נמצאו שלשת בני בניו יורשין חצי הנחלה ובת בנו יורשת החצי שכל אחד ואחד מהן יורש חלק אביו ועל דרך זו חולקין בני האחים ובני אחי האב עד ראש הדורות.
6
With regard to the concept of inheritance, the family of a person's mother is not considered family. Inheritance is relevant only with regard to one's father's family. Therefore, maternal brothers do not inherit each other's estates, while paternal brothers do. This applies to brothers who share only a father or who share both a father and a mother.
ו
משפחת האם אינה קרויה משפחה ואין ירושה אלא למשפחת האב, לפיכך האחים מן האם אין יורשין זה את זה ואחין מן האב יורשין זה את זה, ואחד אחיו שהוא מאביו בלבד או אחיו מאביו ומאמו.
7
All relatives who were conceived through forbidden relations have equal inheritance rights to those who are conceived through permitted relations.
What is implied? When a person has a son or a brother who is a mamzer, he is treated like any of the other sons or any of the other brothers when it comes to the concept of inheritance. A person's son who is born by a maid-servant or a gentile woman is not considered his son at all, and has no right of inheritance whatsoever.
ז
כל הקרובין בעבירה יורשין בכשרים, כיצד כגון שהיה לו בן ממזר או אח ממזר הרי אלו כשאר בנים וכשאר אחים לנחלה, אבל בנו מן השפחה או מן הנכרית אינו בן לדבר מן הדברים ואינו יורש כלל.
8
A woman does not inherit her husband's estate at all.
A husband inherits all his wife's property, according to the words of our Sages. He takes precedence over all others with regard to inheriting her estate. This applies even if she is forbidden to him - e.g., a widow who was married to a High Priest, or a divorcee or a woman who had performed chalitzah who was married to an ordinary priest. Similarly, this applies even if the woman was below majority. Even though a husband is a deaf-mute, he inherits his wife's estate.
ח
האשה אינה יורשת בעלה כלל והבעל יורש את כל נכסי אשתו מדברי סופרים והוא קודם לכל בירושתה אע"פ שהיא אסורה עליו, כגון אלמנה לכהן גדול גרושה וחלוצה לכהן הדיוט ואע"פ שהיא קטנה ואע"פ שהבעל חרש הוא יורש את אשתו. 1
9
We have already explained in Hilchot Ishut that a husband does not inherit his wife's estate until she enters his domain, and that a man who is mentally aware does not inherit the estate of a woman whom he married as a deaf mute. This applies even if she later becomes fully mentally aware.
There we also explained that a husband inherits the property that enters his wife's domain and which she took possession of during her lifetime. This applies to the property she brought to his household as a dowry, and property that she did not bring to his household. When a husband attempted to divorce his wife, although there is a question about the validity of the divorce, her husband does not inherit her estate after her death.
ט
כבר ביארנו בהלכות אישות שאין הבעל יורש את אשתו עד שתכנס ברשותו ושאין הפקח יורש את החרשת שנשאת כשהיא חרשת אפילו נתפקחה, ושם בארנו שהוא יורש את נכסי אשתו שבאו לירושתה והוחזקו בין נכסים שהכניסה לו בנדונייתה בין נכסים שלא הכניסה לו, ומי שנתגרשה ספק גירושין ומתה אין הבעל יורשה. 2
10
When a man marries a young girl who does not need the right of
to nullify a marriage, he does not inherit her estate, because there is no marriage. Similarly, when a man who was mentally or emotionally unstable married a mentally aware woman, or a mentally aware man married a woman who was mentally or emotionally unstable, the husband does not inherit his wife's estate, for our Sages did not ordain marriage for such individuals.
י
בעל שנשא קטנה שאינה צריכה מיאון אינו יורשה שהרי אין כאן שום אישות, וכן שוטה שנשא פקחת או פקח שנשא שוטה אינו יורשה שהרי לא תקנו חכמים להן נשואין.
11
When a man's wife died, and afterwards her father, her brother, or any of the other individuals whose estate she may inherit dies, her husband does not inherit their estate. Instead, the estate should be inherited by her descendants, if she has descendants. If not, the right of inheritance should return to the family of her father's home. The rationale is that the husband does not inherit property that is fit to become hers afterwards, only property that she already inherited before she died.
יא
בעל שמתה אשתו ואחר כך מת אביה או אחיה או אחד מן המורישין אותה אין הבעל יורש אותן, אלא יורש אותן זרעה אם היה לה זרע או תחזור הירושה למשפחת בית אביה, שאין הבעל יורש נכסים הראויין לבא לאחר מכאן אלא לנכסים שכבר באו לירושה קודם שתמות.
12
Similarly, a husband does not inherit his wife's estate while he is in the grave as is the ordinary pattern of inheritance for members of his father's family.
What is implied? A man died, and afterwards his wife died. We do not say: Since the husband receives precedence over all others with regard to the inheritance, the husband's heirs should receive precedence over the woman's other heirs. Instead, the woman's heirs from her father's family inherit her estate if she dies after her husband.
יב
וכן אין הבעל יורש את אשתו והוא בקבר כשאר היורשין של משפחת האב, כיצד בעל שמת ואחר כך מתה אשתו אין אומרין הואיל והבעל היה קודם לכל אדם בירושתה כך יורשי הבעל יקדמו לשאר יורשי האשה אלא יורשי האשה ממשפחת בית אביה הם היורשים אותה אם מתה אחר בעלה.
13
Similarly, a son does not inherit his mother's estate while he is in the grave, so that the estate will be inherited by his paternal brothers.
What is implied? A person died, and afterwards his mother died. We do not say that if the son were alive, he would take precedence in the inheritance of her estate, and hence, the heirs of the son take precedence over the heirs of this woman. According to the latter conception, the son's paternal brothers would inherit the estate of his mother after her death. This view is not accepted. Instead, if the son has children, they should inherit his mother's estate. If he does not have children, the estate should return to her father's family.
If, however, the mother died first and then the son died, even if he was a newborn baby who was born prematurely, since he survived his mother and then died, he inherits his mother's estate and then transfers the rights to that estate to the family of his father.
יג
וכן אין הבן יורש את אמו בקבר כדי להנחיל לאחיו מאביו, כיצד מי שמת ואחר כך מתה אמו אין אומרין הואיל ואילו היה הבן קיים היה קודם אף יורשין של בן קודמין ליורשיה של אשה זו ונמצאו אחיו מאביו יורשין את אמו של זה אחר מותו של זה, אלא זרע בנה הוא שיירשנה אם היה לו זרע ואם אין לו זרע תחזור ירושתה למשפחת בית אביה, אבל אם מתה האם תחלה ואחר כך מת הבן אפילו היה קטן בן יומו ולא כלו לו חדשיו הואיל וחיה אחר אמו שעה אחת ומת הרי זה נוחל את אמו ומנחיל הנחלה ליורשיו ממשפחת אביו. 3
FOOTNOTES
1.האשה אינה יורשת וכו' עד הוא יורש את אשתו. א"א איני מודה בזה משמעתא בתרייתא דמי שמת ושאר הראיות המראות הפך זה אין להם עמידה עכ"ל.
2.כבר ביארנו בהלכות אישות וכו' עד אין הבעל יורשה. א"א מה שאמרו במס' גיטין בירושלמי נראה שהוא חולק עליו המגרש את אשתו ולנה עמו בפונדקי בה"א =בית הלל אומרים= צריכה ממנו גט שני לאידא מילתא אמר רבי אלעזר לירושה כלומר שהוא יורשה ומה התם בודאי גירשה וספק החזירה יורשה הכא דודאי אשתו היתה וספק גירשה לא כ"ש.
3.אבל אם וכו'. א"א אינו כן אלא בכלו לו חדשיו דאי לא ידעי הוה ליה איהו ספק והאחין ודאין ואין ספק מוציא מידי ודאי עכ"ל.
Nachalot - Chapter 2
1
A firstborn receives a double portion of his father's estate, as Deuteronomy 21:17 states: "To give him twice the portion."
What is implied? If a father left five sons, one the firstborn, the firstborn receives a third of the estate and each of the other four receives a sixth. If he left nine sons, the firstborn receives a fifth and each of the other eight receive a tenth. We follow this pattern in dividing the estate in all instances.
א
הבכור נוטל פי שנים בנכסי אביו שנאמר לתת לו פי שנים, כיצד הניח חמשה בנים ואחד מהן בכור הבכור נוטל שליש הממון וכל אחד מהארבעה פשוטים נוטל שתות, הניח תשעה בנים הרי (האחד) הבכור נוטל חמישית וכל אחד מן השמונה פשוטים נוטל עשירית וכן על החלוקה הזאת חולקין לעולם.
2
When a firstborn is born after his father's death, he does not receive a double portion. This is derived from ibid.: 16-17: "On the day when he transfers his inheritance to his sons... he shall recognize the firstborn, the son of the hated one." If his forehead emerged during the lifetime of his father, even though his entire head did not emerge until after his father's death, he receives a double portion.
ב
בכור שנולד אחר מיתת אביו אינו נוטל פי שנים, שנאמר והיה ביום הנחילו את בניו וגו' כי את הבכור בן השנואה יכיר, ואם יצאת פדחתו בחיי אביו אף על פי שלא יצא כל ראשו לאויר העולם אלא לאחר מיתת אביו הרי זה נוטל פי שנים.
3
When a firstborn was born with his genitals covered by flesh and afterwards, an operation was performed and it was discovered that he was male, he does not receive a double portion. Conversely, when an ordinary son was born with a similar condition and after the operation was performed, it was discovered that he was male, he does not reduce the firstborn's share. These concepts are derived from ibid.:15 "And she will bear him sons." Implied is that the sons must be sons from the moment of birth.
ג
בכור שנקרע ונמצא זכר אינו נוטל פי שנים ופשוט שנקרע ונמצא זכר אינו ממעט בחלק בכורה שנאמר וילדו לו בנים עד שיהיה בן משעת לידה.
4
What is meant by saying that such a son does not reduce the firstborn's share? A person had a firstborn, two ordinary sons, and this son whose genitals were covered by flesh and afterwards were revealed through an operation. The firstborn receives one fourth of the estate as his extra share as the firstborn, as if there were only two other sons. The remaining three fourths of the estate are divided equally among the two ordinary sons, the son who underwent the operation, and the firstborn.
ד
כיצד אינו ממעט בחלק בכורה, הרי שהיה לו בן בכור ושני פשוטים וזה הטומטום שנקרע ונמצא זכר, הבכור נוטל רביע הממון בחלק הבכורה וכאילו אין עמו אלא שני הפשוטים בלבד, וחצי ורביע הנשאר חולקין אותו שני הפשוטין עם הנקרע ועם הבכור בשוה.
5
A child who lived for only one day reduces the portion of the firstborn, but a fetus does not. Similarly, a son born after his father's death, does not reduce the portion of the firstborn.
ה
קטן בן יום אחד ממעט בחלק בכורה אבל לא העובר, ובן שנולד אחר מיתת אביו אינו ממעט בחלק בכורה.
6
When there is a question if a son is a firstborn or an ordinary son - e.g., the firstborn became mixed together with another - he does not receive a double portion.
What is done? If at first, the babies were distinct and then they became mixed together," they may compose a document granting power of attorney to each other, and on that basis take the portion of the firstborn with their brothers. If the identity of the firstborn was never known - e.g., the two wives gave birth in one hiding place, - they should not compose a document granting power of attorney to each other, for there is no extra portion for the firstborn.
ו
בן שנסתפק לנו אם הוא בכור או פשוט כגון שנתערב עם אחר אינו נוטל פי שנים, וכיצד עושין אם הוכרו ולבסוף נתערבו כותבין הרשאה זה לזה ונוטלין חלק בכורה עם אחיהם, ואם לא הוכרו כגון שילדו במחבואה אחת אין כותבין הרשאה ואין כאן חלק בכורה.
7
The following laws apply when a person had two sons - a firstborn and an ordinary son - and they both died in his lifetime, after fathering children. The firstborn left a daughter and the ordinary son left a son. The son of the ordinary son inherits one third of the estate of his grandfather - i.e., his father's portion. And the daughter of the firstborn inherits two thirds of that estate, her father's portion.
The same laws apply with regard to the sons of the deceased's brothers, or the sons of his uncles, or any other set of heirs. If the father of any of the heirs was a firstborn, the person who inherits his share of the estate also receives the firstborn's share.
ז
מי שהיו לו שני בנים בכור ופשוט ומתו שניהם בחייו והניחו בנים, הבכור הניח בת והפשוט הניח בן, הרי בן הפשוט יורש בנכסי הזקן שליש שהוא חלק אביו, ובת הבכור יורשת שני שלישים שהוא חלק אביה, וכן הדין בבני האחין ובני אחי האב ובכל היורשין אם היה אבי אחד מן היורשים בכור נוטל חלק בכורה שלו זה היורש מחמתו.
8
A firstborn does not receive a double portion of his mother's estate. What is implied? When a firstborn and an ordinary son inherit their mother's estate, they divide it equally. This applies with regard to a son who was the firstborn with regard to the laws of inheritance, and to one who "open his mother's womb."
ח
אין הבכור נוטל פי שנים בנכסי האם, כיצד בכור ופשוט שירשו אמן חולקין בשוה בין שהיה בכור לנחלה בין שהיה פטר רחם.
9
The firstborn with regard to the laws of inheritance is the first child born to the father, as ibid.:17 states: "Because he is the first manifestation of his strength." We do not pay attention to the child's status vis-a-vis his mother. o Even if she gave birth to several sons previously, since this was the first son born to the father, he receives a double portion of the inheritance.
ט
בכור לנחלה הוא הנולד לאב ראשון שנאמר כי הוא ראשית אונו, ואין משגיחין על האם אפילו ילדה כמה בנים הואיל וזה ראשון לאביו יורש פי שנים.
10
A son who is born after stillborn babies, even if the stillborn baby was alive when its head emerged from the womb, is considered the firstborn with regard to the laws of inheritance. Similarly, when a fetus was born after a full-term pregnancy, but was not alive when its head emerged, the son who follows is considered the firstborn with regard to the laws of inheritance.
The term "the first of his strength," Deuteronomy 21:17, used with regard to the firstborn implies that no child before him emerged alive into the world. Hence, when a fetus was alive after its head emerged after a full-term pregnancy, a son born afterwards in not a firstborn even the first baby died immediately thereafter.
י
הבא אחר נפלים אע"פ שיצא ראש הנפל כשהוא חי הבא אחריו בכור לנחלה, וכן בן תשעה שיצא ראשו מת הבא אחריו בכור לנחלה שזה שנאמר ראשית אונו הוא שלא נולד לו קודם לזה ולד שיצא חי לאויר העולם, לפיכך בן תשעה שהוציא רוב ראשו חי הבא אחריו אינו בכור.
11
Neither a son born by Cesarean section, nor the son born after him, is considered "the firstborn." The first son was never "born," and ibid.: 15 states "and she bore sons to him." And the second son is not given this privilege, for he was preceded by another.
יא
יוצא דופן והבא אחריו שניהן אינן בכורים, הראשון לפי שלא נולד ונאמר וילדו לו בנים והשני שהרי קדמו אחר.
12
When a person had sons as a gentile and then converted, he does not have a firstborn with regard to the rights of inheritance. If, however, a Jewish man fathered sons from a maid-servant or from a gentile woman, since they are not considered his sons, a son he fathers afterwards from a Jewish woman is considered his firstborn with regard to the laws of inheritance, and he receives a double portion of his father's estate.
יב
היו לו בנים כשהיה עכו"ם ונתגייר אין לו בכור לנחלה, אבל ישראל שהיה לו בן מן השפחה ומן העכו"ם הואיל ואינו קרוי בנו הבא לו אחריו מן הישראלית בכור לנחלה ונוטל פי שנים.
13
Even if the firstborn is a mamzer, he receives a double portion. This is reflected by Deuteronomy 21:16: "But rather he will recognize the firstborn, the son of the hated one." This refers to a woman whose marriage is "hated." Needless to say, this applies if the firstborn is the son of a divorcee or a woman who performed chalitzah.
יג
היה הבכור ממזר נוטל פי שנים שנאמר כי את הבכור בן השנואה יכיר זו ששנואה בנישואיה ואין צריך לומר אם היה בן גרושה או בן חלוצה.
14
There are three individuals whose word is accepted with regard to the designation of a firstborn: the midwife, the mother and the father.
The midwife's word is accepted only at the moment of birth. For example, a woman gave birth to twins; if the midwife said: "This one emerged first," her word is accepted.
His mother's word is accepted for the first seven days after birth, when she says: "This one is the firstborn."
His father's word is always accepted. Even if the father said that a person who was not known to be his son was his firstborn son, his word is accepted. Similarly, his word is accepted if he says that the person whom we consider to be his firstborn is not his firstborn.
יד
שלשה נאמנין על הבכור, חיה ואמו ואביו, חיה מיד שאם אמרה זה יצא ראשון נאמנת, אמו כל שבעת ימי הלידה נאמנת לומר זהו הבכור, אביו לעולם אפילו אמר האב על מי שלא הוחזק בנו כלל הוא בני ובכורי הוא נאמן, וכן אם אמר על המוחזק לנו שהוא בכורו אינו בכור נאמן.
15
When a father loses his ability to speak, we check the soundness of his intellect in the same way as is done with regard to a bill of divorce. If through his motions he indicates - or he writes - that this is his firstborn son, that son receives a double portion.
טו
האב שנשתתק בודקין אותו כדרך שבודקין לגיטין, אם רמז או כתב שזה בנו בכורו הרי זה נוטל פי שנים.
16
If witnesses testify that they heard a father make certain statements that clearly indicate that a child is his firstborn son, the son receives a double portion even though the father did not explicitly say: "This is my firstborn son."
טז
העידו עדים שהן שמעו אביו של זה אומר דברים כך וכך שהרי אותן הדברים יודע מכללן שזה בנו בכורו, הרי זה נוטל פי שנים אע"פ שלא אמר האב בפירוש זה בני בכורי.
17
If the father was heard saying: "This son of mine is a firstborn," the son does not necessarily receive a double portion of the estate because of this testimony. Perhaps the son was the mother's firstborn, and this was his father's intent. For the son to receive a double portion, the father must call him: "My son, my firstborn."
יז
שמעו מן האב שאמר זה בני בכור אינו נוטל פי שנים בעדות זו שמא בכור לאמו הוא ולזה נתכוון האב עד שיאמר בני בכורי.
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class
Sunday, Elul 5, 5777 · 27 August /2017
"Today's Day"
Sunday, Elul 5, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Teitsei, first parsha with Rashi.
Tehillim: 29-34. Also 13-15.
Tanya: XII. "And the act (p. 449) ...of separate attributes. (p. 449).
Our custom in donning the tallit gadol:1 Place the folded tallit on the right shoulder. Inspect the tzitzit while reciting borchi nafshi (p. 11). Remove the tallit from the shoulder and open it. Kiss the top border. Twirl the tallit away from in front of the face to a position behind you.
Begin the b'racha l'hitateif b'tzitzit. Complete the b'racha close to placing the two right corners (of the tallit) around the neck over the left shoulder.
(See Sh'eirit Yehuda, Orach Chayim, 1, and Divrei Nechemya, Orach Chayim, 9.)
FOOTNOTES
1."Large tallit," worn during prayer - as distinct from the tallit katan ("small tallit") worn constantly (beneath the outer garments).
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Daily Thought:
The Goal
Time began. So we are told in the first phrase of our Torah. Today, the hard data of astronomers and physicists concurs. As impossible as it is to imagine, all we know of—space, time, the very nature of things—all has a beginning.
And it has a goal, an ultimate state. Every era, every event, every moment through which time passes is a step closer to that goal. [Likkutei Sichot, vol. 3, pp. 976–977, fn. 19; Likkutei Sichot, vol. 5, pp. 62–63; Bati Legani 5731:5.]
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