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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Thursday, Av 11, 5777 · August 3, 2017Torah Reading:
Va'etchanan: Deuteronomy 3:23 - 4:8
Deuteronomy 3:23 “Then I pleaded with Adonai, 24 ‘Adonai Elohim, you have begun to reveal your greatness to your servant, and your strong hand — for what other god is there in heaven or on earth that can do the works and mighty deeds that you do? 25 Please! Let me go across and see the good land on the other side of the Yarden, that wonderful hill-country and the L’vanon!’ 26 But Adonai was angry with me on account of you, and he didn’t listen to me. Adonai said to me, ‘Enough from you! Don’t say another word to me about this matter! 27 Climb up to the top of Pisgah and look out to the west, north, south and east. Look with your eyes — but you will not go across this Yarden. 28 However, commission Y’hoshua, encourage him and strengthen him; for he will lead this people across and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.’ 29 So we stayed in the valley across from Beit-P‘or.
4:1 “Now, Isra’el, listen to the laws and rulings I am teaching you, in order to follow them, so that you will live; then you will go in and take possession of the land that Adonai, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 In order to obey the mitzvot of Adonai your God which I am giving you, do not add to what I am saying, and do not subtract from it. 3 You saw with your own eyes what Adonai did at Ba‘al-P‘or, that Adonai destroyed from among you all the men who followed Ba‘al-P‘or; 4 but you who stuck with Adonai your God are still alive today, every one of you. (ii) 5 Look, I have taught you laws and rulings, just as Adonai my God ordered me, so that you can behave accordingly in the land where you are going in order to take possession of it. 6 Therefore, observe them; and follow them; for then all peoples will see you as having wisdom and understanding. When they hear of all these laws, they will say, ‘This great nation is surely a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has God as close to them as Adonai our God is, whenever we call on him? 8 What great nation is there that has laws and rulings as just as this entire Torah which I am setting before you today?
Daily Quote:
G-d treats a person the same way they treat their children [Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin]
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Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Va'etchanan, 5th Portion Deuteronomy 5:19-6:3 with Rashi
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• English Text (Lessons in Tanya)
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Thursday, Menachem Av 11, 5777 · August 3, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 4
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But it is well known that an arousal from above comes only in response to an arousal from below,
A man’s soul is stimulated from above only in response to the spiritual service that he initiates here below. Even an effusion of Divine benevolence that comes exclusively from above, and can neither be brought into being nor drawn down by man’s service alone, also awaits a previous arousal from below,
בבחינת העלאת מיין נוקבין
as an elevation of mayin nukvin; i.e., by an arousal of the “feminine waters” by which the recipient elicits the mayin dechurin — the downward flow (“masculine waters”) — emanating from the Giver.
כמו שאמרו רז״ל: אין טיפה יורדת מלמעלה כו׳
As our Sages, of blessed memory, said:1 “No drop [of rain] descends from above [without two corresponding drops first ascending from below].”
ולכן צריך האדם לעשות בעצמו תחלת מילה זו
A man must therefore perform the beginning of this milah by himself,
להסיר ערלת הלב וקליפה הגסה ודקה, המלבישות ומכסות על בחינת נקודת פנימית הלב
to remove the “foreskin” of the heart and the coarse and thin husks which clothe and cover its innermost point,
שהיא בחינת אהבת ה׳ בחינת למען חייך, שהיא בגלות בתאוות עולם הזה
this [innermost point being] a love of G‑d in the spirit of the phrase, “for the sake of your life” — i.e., a love that springs from an awareness that G‑dliness is the person’s entire life —[this love of G‑d being] in exile among the desires of this world.
שהם גם כן בבחינת למען חייך
These [physical desires] likewise exist in the spirit of the phrase, “for the sake of your life,”
בזה לעומת זה, כנ״ל
in [that aspect of the universe which is] the opposing counterpart [to holiness], as mentioned above.
It is thus possible for an individual to be so dedicated to his passions and desires that they are his entire life. For just as this state exists in holiness, it also has its counterpart in the opposite direction, whereby one is immersed in desires to the innermost core of his heart and being.
והיינו על ידי נתינת הצדקה לה׳ מממונו, שהוא חיותו
And this [removal of the spiritual foreskin] is achieved by giving charity to G‑d from one’s money, which is his vitality,
It has been noted earlier, in Part I, ch. 37, that since money enables a man to purchase life’s essentials, parting with it in favor of charitable ends is equated to giving his “very vitality” to G‑d,
ובפרט מי שמזונותיו מצומצמים, ודחיקא ליה שעתא טובא
especially with a person whose income is limited and who is very hard pressed at the time,
שנותן מחייו ממש
for — when he gives — he gives of his very life.
ובפרטות אם נהנה מיגיע כפיו
This is especially so if he supports himself by the toil of his hands.
שאי אפשר שלא עסק בהם פעמים רבות בבחינת נקודת פנימית הלב, מעומקא דלבא
For it is impossible that in his work he did not often involve “the innermost point of the heart,” the depth of his heart,
כמנהג העולם בעסקיהם במשא ומתן, וכהאי גוונא
as is the way of the world when people are occupied with business and the like.
והרי עתה הפעם כשמפזר מיגיעו
Thus, now that he disburses the fruits of his toil unstintingly, despite his circumstances,
ונותן לה׳ בשמחה ובטוב לבב
and gives unto G‑d with joy and with a gladsome heart,
הנה בזה פודה נפשו משחת
he thereby redeems his soul from the pit.2
דהיינו בחינת נקודת פנימית לבבו, שהיתה בבחינת גלות ושביה בתוך הקליפה גסה או דקה
That is, [he redeems] the innermost point of his heart which was in a state of exile and captivity within the coarse or thin kelipah.
כמו שכתוב: מכל משמר נצור לבך
For thus it is written:3 “Guard your heart with the greatest vigilance” (lit., “Guard your heart from every mishmar”),
משמר, פירוש: בית האסורים
“mishmar” meaning a prison.
The verse is thus exhorting us to “guard our hearts from being imprisoned and exiled in kelipotand desires.”
ועתה נפדה מהחיצונים בצדקה זו
Thus, through present charity, [the innermost point of the heart] is now redeemed from the forces of evil in which it had been imprisoned.
וזה גם כן לשון פריעה: ענין פריעת חוב, שנתחייב ונשתעבד לחיצונים שמשלו בו על נקודת פנימיות לבבו
This also explains the term periah, which suggests4 periat chov (“removing a debt”), for [the individual in question] had become indebted and subjected to the forces of evil that had ruled within him over the innermost point of his heart.
וזהו: ושביה בצדקה
Through this we can understand the meaning of [the above-quoted phrase], “and her (former spiritual) captives5 [shall be redeemed] through tzedakah.”
FOOTNOTES
1. Zohar III, 247b; cf. Taanit 25b.
2. Cf. Iyov 33:28.
3. Mishlei 4:23.
4. “See Tikkunei Zohar, Tikkun 37: ‘And the blood from the periah to provide nurture.’ Similarly at the conclusion of Tikkun 24. See also Sefer HaMitzvot by the Tzemach Tzedek, Mitzvat Eglah Arufah; Levush on Yoreh Deah 265:10.” ( — Note of the Rebbe.)
5. The Hebrew ושביה can mean either “her returning expatriates” or “her captives.”
Rambam:
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Today's Mitzvah
Thursday, Menachem Av 11, 5777 · August 3, 2017
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
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Positive Commandment 232
The Jewish Bondsman
"If you acquire a bondsman"—Exodus 21:2.
We are commanded [to follow the rules outlined in the Torah] regarding the Jewish bondsman.
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Selling a Jewish Bondsman in a Slavemarket
"They shall not be sold as slaves"—Leviticus 25:42.
It is forbidden to sell a Jewish bondsman as slaves are sold—on the auction block at a slavemarket. Rather, his services must be sold discreetly, in a respectful manner.
(This prohibition also includes kidnapping and selling, which is a capital offense.)
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"You shall not work him with rigor"—Leviticus 25:43.
It is forbidden to instruct a Jewish bondsman to perform a work that has no purpose. Even to order him to heat up a glass of water, if it isn't needed, is forbidden.
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Denigrating Treatment of a Jewish Bondsman
"You shall not work him as a slave"—Leviticus 25:39.
It is forbidden to order a Jewish bondsman to perform humiliating labors that are typically performed by slaves. Rather, he may be given only such jobs that an employed worker would agree to do.
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Allowing a Gentile Master to Order a Jewish Bondsman to do Unnecessary Work
"He shall not rule over him with rigor in your sight"—Leviticus 25:53.
We may not allow a non-Jew who lives under Jewish jurisdiction to order a Jewish bondsman in his service to do unnecessary work while we watch. We may not say, "Since this Jew willingly allowed himself to be sold to this gentile, it is not our concern what the gentile compels him to do," rather we must still prevent the gentile from overtly mistreating his Jewish worker. (We are not, however, required to inquire as to what occurs in the privacy of his home, where we cannot see what transpires.)
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Deuteronomy Chapter 5
19The Lord spoke these words to your entire assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the opaque darkness, with a great voice, which did not cease. And He inscribed them on two stone tablets and gave them to me. יטאֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה אֶל כָּל קְהַלְכֶם בָּהָר מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ הֶעָנָן וְהָעֲרָפֶל קוֹל גָּדוֹל וְלֹא יָסָף וַיִּכְתְּבֵם עַל שְׁנֵי לֻחֹת אֲבָנִים וַיִּתְּנֵם אֵלָי:
which did not cease: Heb. וְלֹא יָסָף, interpreted by the Targum [Onkelos]: וְלָא פְּסָק“and it did not cease.” [Because it is human nature that one is unable to utter all his words in one breath, but he must pause, whereas the characteristic of the Holy One, blessed is He, is not so. God did not pause, and since He did not pause, He did not have to resume,] for His voice is strong and exists continuously (San. 17a). Another explanation of וְלֹא יָסָף : He never again revealed Himself so publicly [as He did on Mount Sinai. Accordingly, we render: and He did not continue].
ולא יסף: מתרגמינן ולא פסק כי קולו חזק וקיים לעולם. דבר אחר ולא יסף לא הוסיף להראות באותו פומבי:
20And it was, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, and the mountain was burning with fire, that you approached me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders. כוַיְהִי כְּשָׁמְעֲכֶם אֶת הַקּוֹל מִתּוֹךְ הַחשֶׁךְ וְהָהָר בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ וַתִּקְרְבוּן אֵלַי כָּל רָאשֵׁי שִׁבְטֵיכֶם וְזִקְנֵיכֶם:
21And you said, "Behold, the Lord, our God, has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we saw this day that God speaks with man, yet [man] remains alive. כאוַתֹּאמְרוּ הֵן הֶרְאָנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶת כְּבֹדוֹ וְאֶת גָּדְלוֹ וְאֶת קֹלוֹ שָׁמַעְנוּ מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה רָאִינוּ כִּי יְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם וָחָי:
22So now, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we continue to hear the voice of the Lord, our God, anymore, we will die. כבוְעַתָּה לָמָּה נָמוּת כִּי תֹאכְלֵנוּ הָאֵשׁ הַגְּדֹלָה הַזֹּאת אִם יֹסְפִים | אֲנַחְנוּ לִשְׁמֹעַ אֶת קוֹל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ עוֹד וָמָתְנוּ:
23For who is there of all flesh, who heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? כגכִּי מִי כָל בָּשָׂר אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַע קוֹל אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים מְדַבֵּר מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ כָּמֹנוּ וַיֶּחִי:
24You approach, and hear all that the Lord, our God, will say, and you speak to us all that the Lord, our God, will speak to you, and we will hear and do. כדקְרַב אַתָּה וּשֲׁמָע אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וְאַתְּ | תְּדַבֵּר אֵלֵינוּ אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֵלֶיךָ וְשָׁמַעְנוּ וְעָשִׂינוּ:
And you speak to us: Heb. וְאַתְּ, a feminine form]-You weakened my strength as that of a female, for I was distressed regarding you, and you weakened me, since I saw that you were not anxious to approach God out of love. Would it not have been preferable for you to learn [directly] from the mouth of the Almighty God, rather than to learn from me?
ואת תדבר אלינו: התשתם את כחי כנקבה שנצטערתי עליכם ורפיתם את ידי כי ראיתי שאינכם חרדים להתקרב אליו מאהבה. וכי לא היה יפה לכם ללמוד מפי הגבורה ולא ללמוד ממני:
25And the Lord heard the sound of your words when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, "I have heard the sound of the words of this people that they have spoken to you; they have done well in all that they have spoken. כהוַיִּשְׁמַע יְהֹוָה אֶת קוֹל דִּבְרֵיכֶם בְּדַבֶּרְכֶם אֵלָי וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֵלַי שָׁמַעְתִּי אֶת קוֹל דִּבְרֵי הָעָם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר דִּבְּרוּ אֵלֶיךָ הֵיטִיבוּ כָּל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּרוּ:
26Would that their hearts be like this, to fear Me and to keep all My commandments all the days, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! כומִי יִתֵּן וְהָיָה לְבָבָם זֶה לָהֶם לְיִרְאָה אֹתִי וְלִשְׁמֹר אֶת כָּל מִצְוֹתַי כָּל הַיָּמִים לְמַעַן יִיטַב לָהֶם וְלִבְנֵיהֶם לְעֹלָם:
27Go say to them, 'Return to your tents.' כזלֵךְ אֱמֹר לָהֶם שׁוּבוּ לָכֶם לְאָהֳלֵיכֶם:
28But as for you, stand here with Me, and I will speak to you all the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances which you will teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess. כחוְאַתָּה פֹּה עֲמֹד עִמָּדִי וַאֲדַבְּרָה אֵלֶיךָ אֵת כָּל הַמִּצְוָה וְהַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר תְּלַמְּדֵם וְעָשׂוּ בָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לָהֶם לְרִשְׁתָּהּ:
29Keep them to perform [them] as the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside either to the right or to the left. כטוּשְׁמַרְתֶּם לַעֲשׂוֹת כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֶתְכֶם לֹא תָסֻרוּ יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל:
30In all the way which the Lord, your God, has commanded you, you shall go, in order that you may live and that it may be well with you, and so that you may prolong your days in the land you will possess. לבְּכָל הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֶתְכֶם תֵּלֵכוּ לְמַעַן תִּחְיוּן וְטוֹב לָכֶם וְהַאֲרַכְתֶּם יָמִים בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר תִּירָשׁוּן:
Deuteronomy Chapter 6
1This is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances that the Lord, your God, commanded to teach you, to perform in the land into which you are about to pass, to possess it. אוְזֹאת הַמִּצְוָה הַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם לְלַמֵּד אֶתְכֶם לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ:
2In order that you fear the Lord, your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments that I command you, you, your son, and your son's son, all the days of your life, and in order that your days may be lengthened. בלְמַעַן תִּירָא אֶת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לִשְׁמֹר אֶת כָּל חֻקֹּתָיו וּמִצְוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּךָ אַתָּה וּבִנְךָ וּבֶן בִּנְךָ כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ וּלְמַעַן יַאֲרִכֻן יָמֶיךָ:
3And you shall, [therefore,] hearken, O Israel, and be sure to perform, so that it will be good for you, and so that you may increase exceedingly, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, spoke to you, a land flowing with milk and honey. גוְשָׁמַעְתָּ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְשָׁמַרְתָּ לַעֲשׂוֹת אֲשֶׁר יִיטַב לְךָ וַאֲשֶׁר תִּרְבּוּן מְאֹד כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֶיךָ לָךְ אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 60 - 65• Hebrew text
• English text
Chapter 60
This psalm tells of when Joab, David's general, came to Aram Naharayim for war and was asked by the people: "Are you not from the children of Jacob? What of the pact he made with Laban?" Not knowing what to answer, Joab asked the Sanhedrin. The psalm includes David's prayer for success in this war.
1. For the Conductor, on the shushan eidut. A michtam by David, to instruct,
2. when he battled with Aram Naharayim and Aram Tzovah, and Joab returned and smote Edom in the Valley of Salt, twelve thousand [men].
3. O God, You forsook us, You have breached us! You grew furious-restore us!
4. You made the earth quake, You split it apart-heal its fragments, for it totters!
5. You showed Your nation harshness, You gave us benumbing wine to drink.
6. [Now] give those who fear You a banner to raise themselves, for the sake of truth, Selah.
7. That Your beloved ones may be delivered, help with Your right hand and answer me.
8. God said with His Holy [Spirit] that I would exult; I would divide Shechem, and measure out the Valley of Succot.
9. Mine is Gilead, mine is Menasseh, and Ephraim is the stronghold of my head; Judah is my prince.
10. Moab is my washbasin, and upon Edom I will cast my shoe; for me, Philistia will sound a blast [of coronation].
11. Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who will lead me unto Edom?
12. Is it not You, God, Who has [until now] forsaken us, and did not go forth with our legions?
13. Grant us relief from the oppressor; futile is the salvation of man.
14. With God we will do valiantly, and He will trample our oppressors.
Chapter 61
David composed this prayer while fleeing from Saul. The object of all his thoughts and his entreaty is that God grant him long life-not for the sake of pursuing the pleasures of the world, but rather to serve God in awe, all of his days.
1. For the Conductor, on the neginat, by David.
2. Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer.
3. From the end of the earth I call to You, when my heart is faint [with trouble]: Lead me upon the rock that surpasses me!
4. For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength in the face of the enemy.
5. I will dwell in Your tent forever; I will take refuge in the shelter of Your wings, Selah.
6. For You, God, heard my vows; You granted the inheritance of those who fear Your Name.
7. Add days to the days of the king; may his years equal those of every generation.
8. May he sit always before God; appoint kindness and truth to preserve him.
9. Thus will I sing the praise of Your Name forever, as I fulfill my vows each day.
Chapter 62
David prays for the downfall of his enemies. He also exhorts his generation that their faith should not rest in riches, telling them that the accumulation of wealth is utter futility.
1. For the Conductor, on the yedutun,1 a psalm by David.
2. To God alone does my soul hope; my salvation is from Him.
3. He alone is my rock and salvation, my stronghold; I shall not falter greatly.
4. Until when will you plot disaster for man? May you all be killed-like a leaning wall, a toppled fence.
5. Out of their arrogance alone they scheme to topple me, they favor falsehood; with their mouths they bless, and in their hearts they curse, Selah.
6. To God alone does my soul hope, for my hope is from Him.
7. He alone is my rock and salvation, my stronghold; I shall not falter.
8. My salvation and honor is upon God; the rock of my strength-my refuge is in God.
9. Trust in Him at all times, O nation, pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuge for us forever.
10. Men are but vanity; people [but] transients. Were they to be raised upon the scale, they would be lighter than vanity.
11. Put not your trust in exploitation, nor place futile hope in robbery. If [corrupt] wealth flourishes, pay it no heed.
12. God spoke one thing, from which I perceived two: That strength belongs to God;
13. and that Yours, my Lord, is kindness. For You repay each man according to his deeds.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument (Metzudot).
Chapter 63
Hiding from Saul, and yearning to approach the place of the Holy Ark like one thirsting for water, David composed this prayer on his behalf and against his enemy.
1. A psalm by David, when he was in the Judean desert.
2. O God, You are my Almighty, I seek You! My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You; [like one] in a desolate and dry land, without water,
3. so [I thirst] to see You in the Sanctuary, to behold Your might and glory.
4. For Your kindness is better than life; my lips shall praise You.
5. Thus will I bless you all my life, in Your Name I will raise my hands [in prayer].
6. As with fat and abundance my soul is sated, when my mouth offers praise with expressions of joy.
7. Indeed, I remember You upon my bed; during the watches of the night I meditate upon You.
8. For You were a help for me; I sing in the shadow of Your wings.
9. My soul cleaved to You; Your right hand supported me.
10. But they seek desolation for my soul; they will enter the depths of the earth.
11. They will drag them by the sword; they will be the portion of foxes.
12. And the king will rejoice in God, and all who swear by Him will take pride, when the mouths of liars are blocked up.
Chapter 64
The masters of homiletics interpret this psalm as alluding to Daniel, who was thrown into the lion's den. With divine inspiration, David foresaw the event and prayed for him. Daniel was a descendant of David, as can be inferred from God's statement to Hezekiah (himself of Davidic lineage), "And from your children, who will issue forth from you, they will take, and they (referring to, amongst others, Daniel) will be ministers in the palace of the king of Babylon."
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. Hear my voice, O God, as I recount [my woes]; preserve my life from the terror of the enemy.
3. Shelter me from the schemes of the wicked, from the conspiracy of evildoers,
4. who have sharpened their tongue like the sword, aimed their arrow-a bitter word-
5. to shoot at the innocent from hidden places; suddenly they shoot at him, they are not afraid.
6. They encourage themselves in an evil thing, they speak of laying traps; they say: "Who will see them?”
7. They sought pretexts; [and when] they completed a diligent search, each man [kept the plot] inside, deep in the heart.
8. But God shot at them; [like] a sudden arrow were their blows.
9. Their own tongues caused them to stumble; all who see them shake their heads [derisively].
10. Then all men feared, and recounted the work of God; they perceived His deed.
11. Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him, and let them take pride-all upright of heart.
Chapter 65
This psalm contains awe-inspiring and glorious praises to God, as well as entreaties and prayers concerning our sins. It declares it impossible to recount God's greatness, for who can recount His mighty acts? Hence, silence is His praise.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David, a song.
2. Silence is praise for You, O God [Who dwells in] Zion; and to You vows will be paid.
3. O Heeder of prayer, to You does all flesh come.
4. Matters of sin overwhelm me; You will pardon our transgressions.
5. Fortunate is [the nation] whom You choose and draw near, to dwell in Your courtyards; may we be sated with the goodness of Your House, with the holiness of Your Sanctuary.
6. Answer us with awesome deeds as befits Your righteousness, O God of our salvation, the security of all [who inhabit] the ends of the earth and distant seas.
7. With His strength He prepares [rain for] the mountains; He is girded with might.
8. He quiets the roar of the seas, the roar of their waves and the tumult of nations.
9. Those who inhabit the ends [of the earth] fear [You] because of Your signs; the emergences of morning and evening cause [man] to sing praise.
10. You remember the earth and water it, you enrich it abundantly [from] God's stream filled with water. You prepare their grain, for so do You prepare it.
11. You saturate its furrows, gratifying its legions; with showers You soften it and bless its growth.
12. You crown the year of Your goodness [with rain], and Your clouds drip abundance.
13. They drip on pastures of wilderness, and the hills gird themselves with joy.
14. The meadows don sheep, and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; they sound blasts, indeed they sing.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 4• English Text (Lessons in Tanya)
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Thursday, Menachem Av 11, 5777 · August 3, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, middle of Epistle 4
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• AUDIO CLASS: Rabbi Manis Freidman Listen • Download MP3אך מודעת זאת כי אתערותא דלעילא היא באתערותא דלתתא דוקא
But it is well known that an arousal from above comes only in response to an arousal from below,
A man’s soul is stimulated from above only in response to the spiritual service that he initiates here below. Even an effusion of Divine benevolence that comes exclusively from above, and can neither be brought into being nor drawn down by man’s service alone, also awaits a previous arousal from below,
בבחינת העלאת מיין נוקבין
as an elevation of mayin nukvin; i.e., by an arousal of the “feminine waters” by which the recipient elicits the mayin dechurin — the downward flow (“masculine waters”) — emanating from the Giver.
כמו שאמרו רז״ל: אין טיפה יורדת מלמעלה כו׳
As our Sages, of blessed memory, said:1 “No drop [of rain] descends from above [without two corresponding drops first ascending from below].”
ולכן צריך האדם לעשות בעצמו תחלת מילה זו
A man must therefore perform the beginning of this milah by himself,
להסיר ערלת הלב וקליפה הגסה ודקה, המלבישות ומכסות על בחינת נקודת פנימית הלב
to remove the “foreskin” of the heart and the coarse and thin husks which clothe and cover its innermost point,
שהיא בחינת אהבת ה׳ בחינת למען חייך, שהיא בגלות בתאוות עולם הזה
this [innermost point being] a love of G‑d in the spirit of the phrase, “for the sake of your life” — i.e., a love that springs from an awareness that G‑dliness is the person’s entire life —[this love of G‑d being] in exile among the desires of this world.
שהם גם כן בבחינת למען חייך
These [physical desires] likewise exist in the spirit of the phrase, “for the sake of your life,”
בזה לעומת זה, כנ״ל
in [that aspect of the universe which is] the opposing counterpart [to holiness], as mentioned above.
It is thus possible for an individual to be so dedicated to his passions and desires that they are his entire life. For just as this state exists in holiness, it also has its counterpart in the opposite direction, whereby one is immersed in desires to the innermost core of his heart and being.
והיינו על ידי נתינת הצדקה לה׳ מממונו, שהוא חיותו
And this [removal of the spiritual foreskin] is achieved by giving charity to G‑d from one’s money, which is his vitality,
It has been noted earlier, in Part I, ch. 37, that since money enables a man to purchase life’s essentials, parting with it in favor of charitable ends is equated to giving his “very vitality” to G‑d,
ובפרט מי שמזונותיו מצומצמים, ודחיקא ליה שעתא טובא
especially with a person whose income is limited and who is very hard pressed at the time,
שנותן מחייו ממש
for — when he gives — he gives of his very life.
ובפרטות אם נהנה מיגיע כפיו
This is especially so if he supports himself by the toil of his hands.
שאי אפשר שלא עסק בהם פעמים רבות בבחינת נקודת פנימית הלב, מעומקא דלבא
For it is impossible that in his work he did not often involve “the innermost point of the heart,” the depth of his heart,
כמנהג העולם בעסקיהם במשא ומתן, וכהאי גוונא
as is the way of the world when people are occupied with business and the like.
והרי עתה הפעם כשמפזר מיגיעו
Thus, now that he disburses the fruits of his toil unstintingly, despite his circumstances,
ונותן לה׳ בשמחה ובטוב לבב
and gives unto G‑d with joy and with a gladsome heart,
הנה בזה פודה נפשו משחת
he thereby redeems his soul from the pit.2
דהיינו בחינת נקודת פנימית לבבו, שהיתה בבחינת גלות ושביה בתוך הקליפה גסה או דקה
That is, [he redeems] the innermost point of his heart which was in a state of exile and captivity within the coarse or thin kelipah.
כמו שכתוב: מכל משמר נצור לבך
For thus it is written:3 “Guard your heart with the greatest vigilance” (lit., “Guard your heart from every mishmar”),
משמר, פירוש: בית האסורים
“mishmar” meaning a prison.
The verse is thus exhorting us to “guard our hearts from being imprisoned and exiled in kelipotand desires.”
ועתה נפדה מהחיצונים בצדקה זו
Thus, through present charity, [the innermost point of the heart] is now redeemed from the forces of evil in which it had been imprisoned.
וזה גם כן לשון פריעה: ענין פריעת חוב, שנתחייב ונשתעבד לחיצונים שמשלו בו על נקודת פנימיות לבבו
This also explains the term periah, which suggests4 periat chov (“removing a debt”), for [the individual in question] had become indebted and subjected to the forces of evil that had ruled within him over the innermost point of his heart.
וזהו: ושביה בצדקה
Through this we can understand the meaning of [the above-quoted phrase], “and her (former spiritual) captives5 [shall be redeemed] through tzedakah.”
FOOTNOTES
1. Zohar III, 247b; cf. Taanit 25b.
2. Cf. Iyov 33:28.
3. Mishlei 4:23.
4. “See Tikkunei Zohar, Tikkun 37: ‘And the blood from the periah to provide nurture.’ Similarly at the conclusion of Tikkun 24. See also Sefer HaMitzvot by the Tzemach Tzedek, Mitzvat Eglah Arufah; Levush on Yoreh Deah 265:10.” ( — Note of the Rebbe.)
5. The Hebrew ושביה can mean either “her returning expatriates” or “her captives.”
Rambam:
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
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Thursday, Menachem Av 11, 5777 · August 3, 2017
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
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Positive Commandment 232
The Jewish Bondsman
"If you acquire a bondsman"—Exodus 21:2.
We are commanded [to follow the rules outlined in the Torah] regarding the Jewish bondsman.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
The Jewish Bondsman
Positive Commandment 232
Translated by Berel Bell
The 232nd mitzvah is that we are commanded to follow the laws regarding a Jewish servant.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "If you buy a Jewish servant [he shall serve for six years...]."
The general laws of this mitzvah are discussed in the verses of the Torah2 itself, and the detailed laws are completely explained in the beginning of tractate Kiddushin.3
FOOTNOTES
1.Ex. 21:2.
2.Ex. ibid.; Lev. 25:39; Deut. 15:12.
3.14b ff.
Negative Commandment 258Selling a Jewish Bondsman in a Slavemarket
"They shall not be sold as slaves"—Leviticus 25:42.
It is forbidden to sell a Jewish bondsman as slaves are sold—on the auction block at a slavemarket. Rather, his services must be sold discreetly, in a respectful manner.
(This prohibition also includes kidnapping and selling, which is a capital offense.)
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Selling a Jewish Bondsman in a Slavemarket
Negative Commandment 258
Translated by Berel Bell
The 258th prohibition is that we are forbidden from selling a Jewish servant in the manner that non-Jewish servants are customarily sold, i.e. they are stood up in the place singled out for the sale of servants, their sale is publicly announced so that the buyers outbid one another, etc. This is totally forbidden; rather their sale must be done privately and in a refined manner.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "They shall not be sold as regular servants."
In the words of the Sifra: "The verse 'They shall not be sold as regular servants' prohibits setting up a stand and placing him on the auction stone."
This prohibition undoubtedly includes someone who kidnaps a Jew, since if he sells the kidnapped person, he is selling him in the same way a Canaanite servant is sold — thereby transgressing the prohibition, "They shall not be sold as regular servants." This has already been mentioned above.2 The Written Torah declares that the violator is executed.
The details of this mitzvah and the preceding one3 are explained in the first chapter of tractate Kiddushin.4
FOOTNOTES
1.Ibid., 25:42.
2.See N243.
3.N257.
4.20.
Negative Commandment 259
Ordering a Jewish Bondsman to do Unnecessary Work"You shall not work him with rigor"—Leviticus 25:43.
It is forbidden to instruct a Jewish bondsman to perform a work that has no purpose. Even to order him to heat up a glass of water, if it isn't needed, is forbidden.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Ordering a Jewish Bondsman to do Unnecessary Work
Negative Commandment 259
Translated by Berel Bell
The 259th prohibition is that we are forbidden from giving a Jewish servant unnecessary work. Such work is called avodas perech.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "Do not rule over him with unnecessary work."
Only when we need a certain job done may we give it to him. In the words of the Sifra: "The verse 'Do not rule over him with unnecessary work' means that you may not tell him to warm up a drink when you don't need it." The same applies to similar cases. Our Sages merely brought an example from one of the easiest and simplest types of work in order to teach you that even it is prohibited unless it is needed.
FOOTNOTES
1.Ibid., 25:43.
Negative Commandment 257Denigrating Treatment of a Jewish Bondsman
"You shall not work him as a slave"—Leviticus 25:39.
It is forbidden to order a Jewish bondsman to perform humiliating labors that are typically performed by slaves. Rather, he may be given only such jobs that an employed worker would agree to do.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Denigrating Treatment of a Jewish Bondsman
Negative Commandment 257
Translated by Berel Bell
The 257th prohibition is that we are forbidden from giving a Jewish servant degrading and humiliating work, as a Canaanite servant would do.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "Do not work him like a [Canaanite] servant."
In the words of the Sifra: "You shall not have him carry in a linta2 behind you, nor carry your things before you to the bathhouse." A linta is a small mat that one rests on after becoming tired from exercise. A servant customarily picks it up and carries it after his master. We are prohibited from giving any such jobs to a Jewish servant. He may be given only such jobs that an employed worker would agree to do. This is seen from G‑d's statement3 "He shall be with you just like an employee or a resident hand."
FOOTNOTES
1.Lev. 25:39.
2.As explained below, a mat. Servants would carry bath accessories in this mat. See Kapach, 5731, note 1, who explains that the proper name is linta, and the letter beis before it means "in a linta." Mosad Harav Kook, 5718, note 356, claims that it is called a blinta.
3.Ibid., 25:40.
Negative Commandment 260Allowing a Gentile Master to Order a Jewish Bondsman to do Unnecessary Work
"He shall not rule over him with rigor in your sight"—Leviticus 25:53.
We may not allow a non-Jew who lives under Jewish jurisdiction to order a Jewish bondsman in his service to do unnecessary work while we watch. We may not say, "Since this Jew willingly allowed himself to be sold to this gentile, it is not our concern what the gentile compels him to do," rather we must still prevent the gentile from overtly mistreating his Jewish worker. (We are not, however, required to inquire as to what occurs in the privacy of his home, where we cannot see what transpires.)
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Allowing a Gentile Master to Order a Jewish Bondsman to do Unnecessary Work
Negative Commandment 260
Translated by Berel Bell
The 260th prohibition is that we are forbidden from allowing a non-Jew who lives in our land to give unnecessary work to a Jewish servant who has sold himself [to the non-Jew.]
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "You may not [let his master] rule over him with unnecessary work in front of your eyes."
We may not think that since this servant sinned against himself and sold himself to a non-Jew, that we may let him suffer the consequences of his actions. Instead, we must watch over the non-Jew and prevent him from using the Jew for unnecessary work.
In the words of the Sifra: "The verse 'You may not [let his master] rule over him with unnecessary work in front of your eyes' means that the command2 applies only when it is 'in front of your eyes.' " This means that we are not obligated to watch in his house to see whether or not he is giving unnecessary work, but that whenever we see that he is doing so, we must prevent it.
FOOTNOTES
1.Ibid., 25:53.
2.From this expression we see that it counts as one of the commandments.
• 1 Chapter A Day: Edut Edut - Chapter 1
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Edut - Chapter 1
Introduction to Hilchos Edut
These laws contain 8 mitzvot: Three positive commandments and five negative commandments. They are:
1. For a person who knows testimony to testify in court,
2. To question and interrogate the witnesses,
3. For a witness who testified in a case involving capital punishment not to serve as a judge,
4. Not to carry out a judgment based on the testimony of one witness,
5. Not to accept a person who is a transgressor as a witness,
6. Not to accept a relative as a witness,
7. Not to testify falsely,
8. To punish an ed zomaim in the manner he wished to have the defendant punished,
The explanation of these mitzvot is found in the coming chapters.
הלכות עדות פרק ראשון - הקדמה
הלכות עדות יש בכללן שמונה מצות שלש מצות עשה וחמש מצות לא תעשה וזה הוא פרטן:
(א) להעיד לבית דין למי שיש לו עדות
(ב) לדרוש ולחקור העדים
(ג) שלא יורה העד בדין זה שהעיד עליו בדיני נפשות
(ד) שלא יקום דבר בעד אחד
(ה) שלא יעיד בעל עבירה
(ו) שלא יעיד קרוב
(ז) שלא להעיד בשקר
(ח) לעשות לעד זומם כאשר זמם
וביאור מצות אלו בפרקים אלו:
1
A witness is commanded to testify in court with regard to all pertinent testimony that he knows. This applies both to testimony that will cause his colleague to be held liable or testimony that will vindicate him. With regard to financial cases, this applies only when he is summoned to testify. The source for this commandment is Leviticus 5:1: "And should he witness, see, or know of the matter, if he does not testify, he will bear his sin."
א
העד מצווה להעיד בבית דין בכל עדות שיודע בין בעדות שיחייב בה את חבירו בין בעדות שיזכהו בו והוא שיתבענו להעיד בדיני ממונות שנאמר והוא עד או ראה או ידע אם לא יגיד ונשא עונו:
2
If the witness was a wise man of great stature and the judges of the court did not possess the same degree of wisdom, he may refrain from testifying. The rationale is that it is not becoming to his dignity for him to go to testify before them. Hence, the positive commandment of honoring the Torah takes precedence.
When does the above apply? With regard to testimony concerning financial matters. With regard to testimony that safeguards a person from a prohibition, by contrast, or testimony in cases involving capital punishment or lashes, he must go and testify. This is derived from Proverbs 21:30: "There is no wisdom or understanding... before God." Implied is that whenever the desecration of God's name is involved, honor is not granted to a master.
ב
היה העד חכם גדול והיה בבית דין פחות ממנו בחכמה הואיל ואין כבודו שילך לפניהם עשה של כבוד תורה עדיף ויש לו להמנע במה דברים אמורים בעדות ממון אבל בעדות שמפריש בה מן האיסור וכן בעדות נפשות או מכות הולך ומעיד שנאמר אין חכמה ואין תבונה לנגד ה' כל מקום שיש חילול השם אין חולקין כבוד לרב:
3
A High Priest is not obligated to testify. An exception is made only with regard to matters involving a king. In such an instance, he should go to the High Court and testify. With regard to other testimony, he is not obligated.
ג
כהן גדול אינו חייב להעיד אלא עדות שהיא למלך ישראל בלבד הולך לבית דין הגדול ומעיד בה אבל בשאר העדויות פטור:
4
It is a positive commandment to question the witness and to interrogate them, asking many questions and weighing their replies exactingly. They should divert their attention from one matter to another while questioning them, so that they will refrain from speaking or retract their testimony if there appear to be flaws in it, as Deuteronomy 13:15 states: "And you shall inquire and research thoroughly."
The judges must show extreme care when questioning the witnesses, lest from their questions the witnesses learn to lie. They ask them seven questions:
a) In which seven year cycle the event occurred?
b) In which year?
c) In which month?
d) On which day of the month?
e) On which day of the week?
f) At what time?
g) In which place?
Even if a witness says: "He killed him today," or "He killed him yesterday," we ask him all the above questions. In addition to these seven questions which are asked universally, the judges inquire into the fundamental issues involved. For example, if the witnesses testify that a person worshipped false deities, the judges ask them: "Which deity did he worship?" "What service did he perform?" If they testified that he desecrated the Sabbath, the judges ask them: "Which forbidden labor did he perform?" "How did he perform it?" If they testify that he ate on Yom Kippur, the judges ask them: "Which food did he eat?" "How much did he eat?" If they testified that he killed someone, the judges ask them: "With what did he kill him?" Inquiries of this type are considered as fundamental questions (chakirot).
ד
מצות עשה לדרוש את העדים ולחקרן ולהרבות בשאלתן ומדקדקין עליהן ומסיעין אותן מענין לענין בעת השאלה כדי שישתקו או יחזרו בהן אם יש בעדותן דופי שנאמר ודרשת וחקרת ושאלת היטב וצריכין הדיינים להזהר בעת חקירת העדים [שמא מתוכה ילמדו לשקר ובשבע חקירות בודקין אותם] באי זו שבוע באי זו שנה באי זו חדש בכמה בחדש באי זה יום מימי השבת ובכמה שעות ביום ובאי זה מקום אפילו אמר היום הרגו או אמש הרגו שואלין להן באי זה שבוע באי זו שנה באי זה חדש בכמה בחדש באי זה יום באי זו שעה ומכלל החקירות יתר על השבע השוות בכל שאם העידו עליו שעבד ע"ז שואלין להן את מה עבד ובאי זו עבודה עבד העידו שחילל את השבת שואלין אותן אי זו מלאכה עשה והיאך עשה העידו שאכל ביום הכפורים שואלין אותן אי זה מאכל אכל וכמה אכל העידו שהרג את הנפש שואלין אותן במה הרגו וכן כל כיוצא בזה הרי הוא מכלל החקירות:
5
The derishot and the chakirot involve the matters that constitute the essence of the testimony. On their basis, the person will either be held liable or released. They include defining the deed that was performed, the time when it was performed, and the place where it was performed. On these basis, the testify of the witnesses will or will not be refuted through hazamah. For we cannot refute the testimony of the witnesses unless they define the time and place of the deed involved.
ה
החקירות והדרישות הן הדברים שהן עיקר העדות ובהן יתחייב או יפטר והן כוונת המעשה שעשה וכיוון הזמן וכיוון המקום שבהן יזומו העדים או לא יזומו שאין אנו יכולים להזים העדים עד שיכוונו הזמן והמקום:
6
In addition, the judges question the witnesses exceedingly with regard to matters that do not involve the fundamental aspects of the testimony and their testimony is not dependent on them. These questions are called bedikot. The more a judge questions the witnesses with bedikot, the more praiseworthy it is.
What are examples of bedikot? Witnesses testified that a person killed a colleague. The witnesses were questioned with the seven chakirot which we mentioned which define the time and the place of the act. Similarly, they were interrogated with regard to the deed and they defined the deed and the murder weapon. The judges continue to interrogate them. They ask: What were the murderer and the victim wearing, white clothes or black clothes? Was the earth where he was killed white or red? These and similar questions are called bedikot.
An incident once occurred when witnesses stated that a murder took place under a fig tree. The judges questioned the witnesses: "Were the figs black or white?", "Were their stems long or short?" The more a judge questions the witnesses with bedikot like these, the more praiseworthy it is.
ו
ועוד מרבין לבדוק העדים בדברים שאינן עיקר בעדות ואינה תלויה בהם והם הנקראים בדיקות וכל המרבה בבדיקות הרי זה משובח כיצד הן הבדיקות הרי שהעידו עליו שהרג ונחקרו בשבע חקירות שמנינו שהן בכוונת הזמן וכוונת המקום ונדרשו בכוונת המעשה וכוונו המעשה וכוונו הכלי שהרגו בו בודקין אותן עוד ואומרים להן מה היה לבוש הנהרג או ההורג בגדים לבנים או שחורים עפר הארץ שנהרג עליה לבן או אדום אלו וכיוצא בהן הם הבדיקות מעשה שאמרו העדים הרגו במקום פלוני תחת התאנה ובדקו העדים ואמרו להם תאנים שלה שחורות היו או לבנות עוקצין של אותם התאנים ארוכות היו או קצרות וכל המרבה בבדיקות וכיוצא בהן הרי זה משובח:
Rambam:
• 3 Chapters A Day: Avadim Avadim - Chapter One, Avadim Avadim - Chapter Two, Avadim Avadim - Chapter Three
English Text | Hebrew Text
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English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video Class
Avadim - Chapter One
Introduction to Hilchos Avadim
They contain 13 mitzvot: five positive mitzvot and eight negative mitzvot. They are:
1) The laws governing the acquisition of a Hebrew servant;
2) Not to sell him in the manner that servants are usually sold;
3) Not to make him perform excruciating labor;
4) Not to make him perform servile tasks;
5) Not to allow a resident alien to make him perform excruciating labor;
6) To grant a Hebrew servant a severance gift when he attains his freedom;
7) Not to let him go free empty-handed;
8) To redeem a Hebrew maid-servant;
9) To designate her as a wife;
10) Not to sell her a second time
11) To have a Canaanite servant work forever, unless his master causes one of his primary limbs to fall;
12) Not to return to his master a servant who fled from the Diaspora to Eretz Yisrael;
13) Not to oppress this servant who has fled to us.
These mitzvot are explained in the chapters that follow.
הלכות עבדים - הקדמה
הלכות עבדים יש בכללן שלש עשרה מצות חמש מצות עשה ושמונה מצות לא תעשה וזהו פרטן:
(א) דין קניין עבד עברי.
(ב) שלא ימכר ממכרת עבד.
(ג) שלא יעבדנו בפרך.
(ד) שלא נעבוד בו עבודת עבד.
(ה) שלא נניח גר תושב לרדות בו בפרך.
(ו) להעניק לו בצאתו חפשי.
(ז) שלא יצא ריקם.
(ח) לפדות אמה העבריה.
(ט) ליעדה.
(י) שלא תמכר.
(יא) לעבוד בעבד כנעני לעולם אלא אם כן הפיל לו אדוניו אחד מראשי איבריו.
(יב) שלא להסגיר עבד שברח מחוצה לארץ לארץ ישראל.
(יג) שלא להונות עבד זה הניצל אלינו.
וביאור מצות אלו בפרקים אלו:
1
The term "Hebrew servant" used by the Torah refers to a Jew whom the court sells by compulsion, or a person who sells himself willingly.
What is implied? When a person steals and does not have the resources to repay the principal, the court sells him, as we have explained in Hilchot Geneivah.
No other Jewish person is sold by the court, except a thief. Concerning such a thief sold by the court Exodus 21:2 states: "When you acquire a Hebrew servant." And concerning this person, Deuteronomy 15:12 states: "When your Jewish brother will be sold to you."
To what does the term "a person who sells himself" refer? When a Jew becomes sorely impoverished, the Torah gives him permission to sell himself as a servant, as Leviticus 25:39 states: "When your brother will become impoverished and be sold to you."
A person is not allowed to sell himself as a servant and stash away the money, use it to buy merchandise or utensils, or give it to his creditor. He may sell himself only when he needs the money for his very livelihood. A person is not permitted to sell himself unless he has no property remaining at all - i.e., even his clothing no longer remains. Only in such a situation may he sell himself.
א
עבד עברי האמור בתורה זה ישראלי שמכרו אותו ב"ד על כרחו או המוכר עצמו לרצונו כיצד גנב ואין לו לשלם את הקרן ב"ד מוכרין אותו כמו שאמרנו בהלכות גניבה ואין לך איש בישראל שמוכרין אותו בית דין אלא הגנב בלבד ועל זה שמכרוהו ב"ד הוא אומר כי תקנה עבד עברי ועליו הוא אומר במשנה תורה כי ימכר לך אחיך העברי מוכר עצמו כיצד זה ישראל שהעני ביותר נתנה לו תורה רשות למכור את עצמו שנאמר כי ימוך אחיך עמך ונמכר לך ואינו רשאי למכור את עצמו ולהצניע את דמיו או לקנות בהם סחורה או כלים או ליתנם לבעל חוב אא"כ צריך לאכלן בלבד ואין אדם רשאי למכור את עצמו עד שלא ישאר לו כלום ואפילו כסות לא תשאר לו ואח"כ ימכור את עצמו:
2
We have already explained that a woman is never sold because of a theft. Similarly, she may not sell herself as a servant, nor may she purchase a Hebrew servant or a Canaanite slave, because of the suspicion of immoral behavior.
A convert may not sell himself as a servant. This is derived from Leviticus 25:41: "And he shall return to his family" - i.e., it is speaking about someone who has a family within the Jewish faith.
ב
כבר ביארנו שאין האשה נמכרת בגניבתה וכן אינה מוכרת את עצמה ואינה קונה לא עבד עברי ולא עבד כנעני מפני החשד ואין הגר נקנה בעבד עברי שנאמר ושב אל משפחתו מי שיש לו משפחה:
3
A Hebrew servant who is sold by the court is sold only to a native-born Israelite or to a convert to Judaism. Similarly, a person who sells himself as a servant is not permitted to sell himself to a gentile, not even to a resident alien. If he transgresses and sells himself, even to a gentile, even to the service of a false divinity itself, the sale is binding, as indicated by Leviticus 25:47, which speaks of a person's selling himself: "to what must be uprooted from a sojourner's family." "What must be uprooted" refers to a false divinity.
ג
עבד עברי שמכרוהו בית דין אין מוכרין אותו אלא לישראל או לגר צדק וכן המוכר עצמו אינו רשאי למכור עצמו לעכו"ם ואפילו לגר תושב ואם עבר ומכר עצמו אפילו לעכו"ם ואפילו לעבודת כוכבים עצמה ה"ז מכור שנאמר או לעקר משפחת גר לעקר זה הנמכר לעבודת כוכבים עצמה:
4
If a person says: "I am going to sell myself to a gentile," you are not obligated to do anything for him until he actually sells himself. Once he sells himself to a gentile, however, although he transgressed and acted improperly, it is a mitzvah to redeem him, so that he does not assimilate among them, as Leviticus 25:48 states: "After he is sold, redemption should be granted him."
ד
בא ואמר לך הריני מוכר עצמי לעכו"ם אין אתה זקוק לו עד שימכר אבל לאחר שנמכר לעכו"ם אע"פ שעבר ועשה שלא כהוגן מצוה לפדותו ולא יטמע בהם שנאמר אחרי נמכר גאולה תהיה לו:
5
Neither a person who sells himself, nor one who is sold by the court, should be sold in public on an auction block, nor in an alley, as slaves are sold, as Leviticus 25:42 states: "He shall not be sold as a slave is sold." Instead, he should be sold in a private and honorable manner.
ה
אחד המוכר את עצמו או שמכרוהו ב"ד אינו נמכר בפרהסיא על אבן המקח ולא בסימטא כדרך שהעבדים נמכרין שנאמר לא ימכרו ממכרת עבד אינו נמכר אלא בצנעה ודרך כבוד:
6
It is forbidden to make any Hebrew servant perform excruciating labor. What is excruciating labor? Labor that has no limit, or labor that is unnecessary and is asked of the servant with the intent to give him work so that he will not remain idle.
Based on the above, our Sages said that a master should not tell a Hebrew servant: "Hoe under the vines until I come," for he has not placed a limit on the work asked of him. Instead, he should tell him: "Hoe until this and this time," or "until you reach this and this place."
Similarly, he should not tell him "Dig in this place," if he has no need for that activity. Even telling him to warm a drink for him, or to cool one off for him, if he does not need it, is forbidden, and reflects the violation of a negative commandment, as Leviticus 25:43 states: "Do not impose excruciating work on him." Thus, a Hebrew servant may be compelled to perform only a limited and necessary task.
Similarly, if a Hebrew servant is sold to a gentile, who imposes excruciating labor upon him, the Jews are commanded to prevent him from doing so. If they allow him to continue, they transgress a negative commandment, as Ibid.:53: "He should not impose excruciating work upon him before your eyes." We are not, however, required to enter the gentile's domain and check to see that he is not imposing excruciating labor upon him. This is implied by the term: "before your eyes" - i.e., when you see.
ו
כל עבד עברי אסור לעבוד בו בפרך ואיזו היא עבודת פרך זו עבודה שאין לה קצבה ועבודה שאינו צריך לה אלא תהיה מחשבתו להעבידו בלבד שלא יבטל מכאן אמרו חכמים שלא יאמר לו עדור תחת הגפנים עד שאבא שהרי לא נתן לו קצבה אלא יאמר לו עדור עד שעה פלונית או עד מקום פלוני וכן לא יאמר לו חפור מקום זה והוא אינו צריך לו ואפילו להחם לו כוס של חמין או להצן ואינו צריך לו אסור ועובר עליו בלא תעשה שנאמר לא תרדה בו בפרך הא אינו עושה לו אלא דבר קצוב שהוא צריך לו וכן העכו"ם שנמכר לו אם רדה בו בפרך הרי ישראל מצווין למנעו ואם הניחוהו עוברים בלא תעשה שנאמר לא ירדנו בפרך לעיניך ואין אנו נזקקין לכנוס לרשותו של עכו"ם ולבדוק אחריו שלא יעבידנו בפרך שנאמר לעיניך בזמן שאתה רואה:
7
Whenever a Jew purchases a Hebrew servant, he may not make him perform debasing tasks that are relegated only for servants - e.g., to have him carry his clothes to the bathhouse or remove his shoes - as Leviticus 25:39 states: "Do not have him perform servile tasks." Instead, one should treat him as a hired laborer, as Ibid.:40 continues: "He shall be like a hired laborer or a resident among you."
It is, however, permitted to have the servant cut the master's hair, launder his clothes and bake his dough. He may not, however, make him the manager of a public bathhouse, a public barber or a public baker. If, however, this was his profession before he was sold, it is permitted. Indeed, at the outset, he should not teach him any profession at all. Instead, he should work at the profession at which he worked previously.
When does the above apply? To a Hebrew servant. For his self-image is depressed because of his being sold. When, however, a Jew has not been sold, he may be hired to perform servile tasks. For he is performing this work out of his own desire and his own consent.
ז
כל עבד עברי אסור לישראל שקנהו להעבידו בדברים בוזים שהם מיוחדים לעשות העבדים כגון שיוליך אחריו כליו לבית המרחץ או יחלוץ לו מנעליו שנאמר לא תעבוד בו עבודת עבד אינו נוהג בו אלא כשכיר שנאמר כשכיר כתושב יהיה עמך ומותר לספר לו שערו ולכבס לו כסותו ולאפות לו עיסתו אבל לא יעשה אותו בלן לרבים או ספר לרבים או נחתום לרבים ואם חיתה אומנותו זאת קודם שימכר הרי זה יעשה אבל לא ילמדנו בתחלה מלאכה כלל אלא אומנות שהיה בה היא שעושה כשהיה עושה מקודם במה דברים אמורים בעבד עברי מפני שנפשו שפלה במכירה אבל ישראל שלא נמכר מותר להשתמש בו כעבד שהרי אינו עושה מלאכה זו אלא ברצונו ומדעת עצמו:
8
When people do not conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, it is permissible to impose one's authority over them by force and subjugate them.
When a king decrees that anyone who does not pay the fixed head tax should be enslaved to the person who pays the head tax for him, a person who pays the head tax for someone may use that person for labor beyond the ordinary measure. He may not, however, use him as a Canaanite slave. If, however, that person does not conduct himself properly, he may use him as a slave.
ח
אנשים שאינן נוהגין כשורה מותר לרדותן בחזקה ולהשתעבד בהן מלך שגזר שכל מי שלא יתן המס הקצוב על כל איש ואיש ישתעבד לזה שנתן המס על ידו הרי זה מותר להשתמש בו יותר מדאי אבל לא כעבד ואם אינו נוהג כשורה מותר להשתמש בו כעבד:
9
A master is obligated to treat any Hebrew servant or maid servant as his equal with regard to food, drink, clothing and living quarters, as implied by Deuteronomy 15:16 "for it is good for him with you." The master should not eat bread made from fine flour while the servant eats bread from coarse flour. The master should not drink aged wine while the servant drinks fresh wine. The master should not sleep on cushions while the servant sleeps on straw. Nor should the master live in a walled city while the servant lives in a village, or the master live in a village while the servant lives in a walled city, as implied by Leviticus 25:41: "And he shall leave you."
On this basis, our Sages said: "Whoever purchases a Hebrew servant purchases a master for himself."
A master must treat his servant with brotherly love, as implied by Leviticus 25:46: "And with regard to your brothers, the children of Israel." Nevertheless, the servant himself must conduct himself as a servant with regard to those tasks he must perform.
ט
כל עבד עברי או אמה העבריה חייב האדון להשוותן לו במאכל ובמשקה בכסות ובמדור שנאמר כי טוב לו עמך שלא תהא אתה אוכל פת נקי והוא אוכל פת קיבר אתה שותה יין ישן והוא שותה יין חדש אתה ישן על גבי מוכין והוא ישן על גבי התבן אתה דר בכרך והוא דר בכפר או אתה דר בכפר והוא יושב בכרך שנאמר ויצא מעמך מכאן אמרו כל הקונה עבד עברי כקונה אדון לעצמו וחייב לנהוג בו מנהג אחוה שנאמר ובאחיכם בני ישראל ואף על פי כן צריך העבד לנהוג בעצמו מנהג עבדות באותן העבודות שהוא עושה לו:
10
The institution of a Hebrew maid-servant and that of a Hebrew servant is not practiced except in the time when the Jubilee year is observed. This applies both to a Hebrew servant who sells himself, and to one who is sold by the court. We have already explained when the observance of the Jubilee year was nullified.
י
אין אמה העבריה נוהגת ולא עבד עברי נוהג אלא בזמן שהיובל נוהג בין עבד עברי שמוכר עצמו בין זה שמכרוהו בית דין וכבר ביארנו מתי בטלו היובלות:
Avadim - Chapter Two
1
A Hebrew servant who is sold by the court {and one who sells himself} can be acquired through the transfer of money or articles worth money or the transfer of a deed of sale.
What is implied? The person selling himself writes on a paper or a shard: "I am sold to you," or "I have been acquired by you," and gives him the deed.
א
עבד עברי שמכרוהו ב"ד [והמוכר עצמו] נקנה בכסף ובשוה כסף ובשטר כיצד בשטר כותב לו על הנייר או על החרס הריני מכור לך הריני קנוי לך ונותן לו השטר:
2
A servant sold by the court must serve his master for six years from the day that he was sold. At the beginning of his seventh year, he is released as a free man. If the Sabbatical year falls within his six years of servitude, he must work during it. If, however, the Jubilee year falls during this time, even if he was sold only one year before the Jubilee, he should be granted his freedom, as Leviticus 25:40 states: "Until the Jubilee year, he shall work with you," and ibid.:13 states: "In this Jubilee year, each man shall return to his ancestral heritage."
ב
מכרוהו בית דין עובד שש שנים מיום מכירתו ובתחלת השנה השביעית שלו יצא בן חורין ואם פגעה בו שנת השמטה בכלל השש הרי זה עובד בה אבל אם פגעה בו שנת יובל אפילו נמכר שנה אחת לפני היובל הרי זה יצא לחירות שנאמר עד שנת היובל יעבוד עמך בשנת היובל הזאת וגו':
3
A person who sells himself into servitude may sell himself for more than six years. Nevertheless - even if he sold himself for ten years or twenty years - if the Jubilee falls a year after he sold himself, he is released in the Jubilee, as it is written: "Until the Jubilee year, he shall work with you."
ג
המוכר עצמו יש לו למכור עצמו ליתר על שש הרי שמכר עצמו לעשר שנים או לעשרים שנה ופגע בו יובל אפילו אחר שנה הרי זה יוצא ביובל שנאמר עד שנת היובל יעבוד עמך:
4
If either a servant who sold himself or who was sold by the court flees his master's domain, he is obligated to complete his six years of servitude. If, however, the Jubilee falls during this time, he is granted his freedom.
ד
אחד המוכר עצמו או שמכרוהו ב"ד וברח חייב להשלים שש ואם פגע בו יובל יוצא לחירות:
5
Should the servant become sick - whether he is sick year after year, or whether he becomes sick repeatedly for short periods - if the time during which he is sick is less than four years, it should be counted in the period of six years. If, however, he is sick for four years or more, he is required to complete work for all the days of his illness beyond the six years for which he was originally sold. This is implied by Leviticus 25:40: "He shall be like a hired laborer or a resident among you." If the Jubilee falls in the midst of the time he is compensating for the missed years, he should be released.
When do we calculate the days of sickness? When the sickness is severe and the servant is unable to work. If, however, his sickness is not very severe, and he can do needlework, the time is counted, even if he was sick for the entire six years.
ה
חלה בין שחלה שנה אחר שנה או שחלה חלאים מקוטעים אם הכל פחות מארבע שנים עולין למנין שש אבל אם חלה ארבע שנים חייב להשלים כל ימי החולי שנאמר כשכיר כתושב ואם פגע בו יובל יצא בד"א שמחשבין ימי החולי כשהיה חליו כבד שאינו יכול לעשות מלאכה אבל אם לא היה חליו כבד אלא יכול לעשות מעשה מחט אפילו חלה כל שש עולין לו:
6
When a person sells himself to a gentile, if he is not redeemed he is not released except in the Jubilee, as Leviticus 25:54 states: "If he is not redeemed by these, he shall be released in the Jubilee, he and his sons together with him."
ו
המוכר עצמו לעכו"ם אם לא נפדה אינו יוצא אלא ביובל שנאמר ואם לא יגאל באלה ויצא בשנת היובל הוא ובניו עמו:
7
When a person is sold to a gentile, if he cannot obtain the funds necessary to redeem himself, his relatives should redeem him. The closer the relatives, the greater the responsibility as implied by Leviticus 25:49: "His uncle or his uncle's son shall redeem him." The court compels the relatives to redeem him, so that he will not become assimilated among the gentiles.
If his relatives do not redeem him, and he does not attain the funds to redeem himself, it is a mitzvah for every Jew to redeem him. Whether he was redeemed by his relative, or by any other person, he is released and obtains his freedom.
The servant may borrow money to redeem himself from a gentile, and he may redeem himself partially. When, by contrast, a person is sold to a Jew, his relatives, may not redeem him, he may not borrow money to redeem himself, and he may not redeem himself partially.
What is the law that applies to him? If he obtains the funds to pay the amount due for the years that remain, he may pay that amount and be released. If he does not obtain the full amount, he is not released.
ז
הנמכר לעכו"ם אם לא השיגה ידו לגאול קרוביו פודין אותו וקרוב קרוב קודם שנאמר או דודו או בן דודו יגאלנו וב"ד כופין את קרוביו לפדותו שלא יטמע בעכו"ם לא פדאוהו קרוביו או שאין ידם משגת מצוה על כל אדם מישראל לפדותו ובין שפדאוהו קרובים בין שפדאהו שאר אדם יצא לחירות ויש לו ללוות ולגאול את עצמו מן העכו"ם וגואל לחצאין אבל הנמכר לישראל אין הקרובים פודין אותו ואין לוה וגואל ואינו גואל לחצאין אלא כיצד דינו אם השיגה ידו ליתן כפי השנים הנותרות נותן ויוצא ואם לאו לא יצא:
8
Whether a person sells himself to a Jew or a gentile, or whether he is sold by the court, he may deduct money from the price at which he was sold when redeeming himself and obtain his release.
What is implied? A servant was sold by the court for sixty dinarim and worked for four of the six years. He then obtained resources. He should pay 20 dinarim and be granted his freedom. Similarly, if he sold himself for 40 dinarim for ten years, he should deduct four dinarim for every year. He may give the remainder in money or in objects worth money and obtain his freedom.
Similarly, a servant sold to a gentile should calculate the number of years left until the Jubilee, as Leviticus 25:50 states: "And he shall calculate with his master the number of years from the year he was sold until the Jubilee year."
What is implied? If the servant sold himself for 100 dinarim and ten years remained until the Jubilee, he should calculate ten dinarim for each year that he worked, deduct this amount from the money that he was paid, give his owner the remainder in cash and then he is granted his freedom. He may not give his owner produce or utensils. This is implied by the above verse, which mentions: "the money of his purchase" - i.e., he is redeemed with money from a gentile, and not with articles that are worth money.
ח
אחד המוכר עצמו בין לישראל בין לעכו"ם ואחד שמכרוהו ב"ד הרי זה מגרע מפדיונו ויוצא כיצד הרי שמכרוהו בששים דינרים ועבד ארבע שנים ומצאה ידו הרי זה נותן עשרים דינרים ויצא לחירות וכן אם מכר עצמו בארבעים דינרין לעשר שנים הרי זה מגרע ארבעה דינרין לכל שנה שעבד ונותן הנשאר כסף או שוה כסף ויוצא וכן הנמכר לעכו"ם מחשב הדמים לפי השנים הנשארות עד שנת היובל שנאמר וחשב עם קונהו משנת המכרו לו עד שנת היובל כיצד מכר עצמו במאה ונשאר ליובל משנת מכירה עשר שנים מחשב עשרה לכל שנה שעבד וגורע הדמים ומשיב השאר כסף לא תבואה ולא כלים שנאמר כסף ממכרו בכסף הוא נגאל מיד העכו"ם ואינו נגאל בשוה כסף:
9
Whenever a Hebrew servant or maid-servant is redeemed by deducting from the price of the sale, the calculation is always made in his or her favor - whether his health improves and his value increases, or his health deteriorates and his value decreases.
What is implied? A servant was sold for 100 dinarim, but now he is worth 200. We calculate the value of the remaining years on the basis of 100. If he was sold for 200 and is now worth 100, we calculate the value of the remaining years on the basis of 100.
ט
כל עבד עברי או עבריה שיצא בגרעון כסף והבריא והוסיפו דמיו או נשחף ופחתו דמיו מחשבין לו להקל עליו כיצד הרי שנמכר במאה והרי הוא עתה שוה מאתים אינו מחשב עם אדוניו אלא לפי מאה נמכר במאתים והרי הוא שוה מאה מחשב עמו על פי השנים הנותרות לפי מאה:
10
When a person is sold to a gentile, he can redeem himself partially, as stated above. Sometimes this will work to his advantage, and sometimes it will work to his disadvantage.
How can it work to his advantage? His master purchased him for 200 zuz. His value decreased and he is now worth 100. The servant gives his master 50, half of his present worth. He then regains his health and is again worth 200. All he is required to pay is 100, the remaining half of his value. He is then released.
How can it work to his disadvantage? His master purchased him for 200 zuz. The servant gave his master half of his worth, 100 zuz. His value then decreased and he is now worth 100. To redeem himself, he must pay his master 50 zuz, half the remaining amount. Thus, he paid 150 zuz to redeem himself even though he is now worth only 100.
י
הנמכר לעכו"ם הואיל ויש לגאול עצמו לחצאין כמו שביארנו פעמים יהיה להקל ופעמים להחמיר כיצד להקל קנה אותו במאתים ונשחף והרי הוא עתה שוה מאה ונתן לו חמשים חצי דמיו והבריא והרי הוא שוה מאתים נותן לו מאה שהן חצי דמיו הנשאר ויצא כיצד להחמיר קנה אותו במאתים ונתן לו חצי דמיו שהן מאה ונשחף והרי עתה שוה מאה נותן לו חמשים שהן דמי חציו הנשאר ונמצא שנתן מאה וחמשים אע"פ שהוא עתה שוה מאה:
11
Although a master forgoes the remaining amount of money for which a servant is obligated to work, this obligation is not considered to be waived until the master writes a bill of release for the servant.
What is implied? His master purchased him for 60 zuz. The servant worked for a year or two and then his master told him: "I am willing to waive the work due for the remainder of the money. Go on your way." The servant is not released from his servitude until his master has a legal document composed.
יא
הרב שמחל לעבד על הכסף שנשאר לו לעבוד כנגדו אינו מחול לו עד שיכתוב לו שטר שחרור כיצד הרי שקנהו בששים ועבד שנה או שנתים ואמר לו שאר הדמים מחולין לך לך לדרכך לא נפטר משעבודו עד שיכתוב לו שטר:
12
The following rules apply when a servant's master dies. If the master is survived by a son, the servant must serve the son until the conclusion of the six years, until the conclusion of the years for which he sold himself, until the Jubilee year, or until he deducts the money for the years he worked and pays the remainder.
If, however, the master is not survived by a son, the servant is granted his freedom. He need not serve a surviving daughter or the deceased's brother. Needless to say, he need not serve other heirs. When a servant is sold to a convert or a gentile, he is not required to serve even his master's son. Instead, when his master dies, he attains his freedom.
Thus, a Hebrew servant can be acquired through the transfer of money or a bill of sale, and can acquire his freedom through one of five means:
a) the conclusion of his years of servitude,
b) the advent of the Jubilee year,
c) by paying money, an amount reduced in consideration of the years he worked,
d) through being given a bill of release, and
e) through the death of the master without a son, or if the master is a gentile or a convert, even if he is survived by a son.
It is a mitzvah to tell a servant: "Go out," at the time of his release. Nevertheless, even if his master does not tell him this, the servant attains his freedom without any cost. Nor is a bill of release required. Even if he had been sick and his master spent much on his medical expenses, the servant has no obligations to the master, as implied by Exodus 21:2: "He shall go free at no charge."
יב
אדון שמת אם הניח בן זכר הרי העבד עובד הבן עד סוף השש או עד סוף השנים שמכר עצמו להן או עד שיפגע בו יובל או עד שיגרע פדיונו ויתן השאר אבל אם לא הניח בן זכר הרי זה יצא לחירות ואינו עובד לא את הבת ולא את האח ואין צריך לומר שאינו עובד שאר היורשין והנמכר לגר צדק או לעכו"ם אפילו הבן אינו עובד אלא כיון שמת האדון יצא לחירות נמצאת אומר שעבד עברי נקנה בכסף או בשטר וקונה את עצמו בחמשה דברים בשנים או ביובל או בגרעון כסף או בשטר שחרור או במיתת אדון בלא בן ובעכו"ם או בגר אפילו הניח בן מצוה לומר לו צא בשעת יציאתו אף על פי שלא אמר לו הרי הוא יוצא בחנם ואינו צריך שטר אפילו חלה והוציא רבו עליו הוצאות הרבה אינו חייב לו כלום שנאמר יצא לחפשי חנם:
Avadim - Chapter Three
1
A master is obligated to provide sustenance for the wife of every Hebrew servant. This applies when their marriage has been consummated as nisuin, but not when she is merely an arusah, or if she is awaiting her yavam. And this applies only when she is permitted to her husband. If, however, she is forbidden to him by a Torah prohibition, or even if she is a sh'niyah, the master is not required to provide her with her sustenance. This is derived from Exodus 21:3: "His wife together with him" - i.e., a woman who is fit to live together with him. Similarly, the master is liable to provide the servant's sons and daughters with their sustenance.
These concepts are derived as follows: With regard to the release of a servant sold by the court, it is written ibid.: "If he is married to a woman, his wife will leave together with him." Would you think that because the master purchased the servant, the servant's wife would be placed in servitude? Instead, the verse is stated for the sole purpose of teaching that the master is obligated to provide the servant's wife with her sustenance.
With regard to the release of a servant who sells himself, Leviticus 25:41 states: "And he shall depart from you, he and his children with him." And with regard to the release of a servant sold to a gentile, it is written ibid.:54: "And he shall go out in the Jubilee year, he and his children with him."
This applies to a wife or children the servant had at the time he was sold, or a wife and children that he acquired after the sale, provided he married with the consent of his master. If, however, the servant married without the consent of his master, the master is not obligated to provide for her sustenance.
א
כל עבד עברי הרי האדון חייב במזונות אשתו הנשואה לו ולא ארוסה ושומרת יבם והוא שתהיה מותרת לו אבל אם היתה מאיסורי לאוין אפילו שנייה אינו חייב במזונותיה שנאמר אשתו עמו אשה הראויה לעמוד עמו וכן חייב במזונות בניו ובנותיו במכרוהו ב"ד נאמר אם בעל אשה הוא ויצאה אשתו עמו וכי תעלה על דעתך שכיון שנקנה זה נשתעבדה אשתו אבל לא בא ללמד אלא שהאדון חייב במזונותיה ובמוכר עצמו נאמר ויצא מעמך הוא ובניו עמו ובנמכר לעכו"ם נאמר ויצא בשנת היובל הוא ובניו עמו אחד אשה ובנים שהיו לו בשעת מכירה או אשה ובנים שהיו לו אחר מכירתו והוא שיקחנה מדעת האדון אבל אם לקחה שלא מדעת רבו אינו חייב במזונותיה:
2
Although a master is obligated to provide for the sustenance of a servant's wife and children, he is not entitled to the proceeds of their work at all. Instead, the proceeds of the work of the servant's wife and any ownerless objects she finds belong to her husband. Whatever rights the husband has in his relationship with his wife, he retains although he is a Hebrew servant.
ב
אע"פ שהאדון חייב במזונות אשתו ובניו אין לו במעשה ידיהם כלום אלא הרי מעשה האשה ומציאתה לבעלה וכל שזוכה הבעל באשתו זוכה זה אע"פשהוא עבד עברי:
3
When a servant is sold by the court, his master has the option of giving him a Canaanite maid-servant as a wife. This applies to the master who purchased him or the son who becomes his master if the master dies. He may give him a Canaanite maid-servant as a wife and compel him to engage in relations with her so that she gives birth to slaves that he conceived.
She is permitted to him throughout the period of his servitude, as implied by Exodus 21:4: "If his master will give him a wife." A person who sells himself as a servant is forbidden to marry a Canaanite slave, as are all other Jews.
ג
מי שמכרוהו בית דין יש לרבו ליתן לו שפחה כנענית בין האדון בין בנו של אדון אם מת אביו הרי זה נותן לו שפחה וכופהו על זה כדי שיוליד ממנה עבדים והרי היא מותרת לו כל ימי עבדותו שנאמר אם אדוניו יתן לו אשה וגו' והמוכר עצמו אסור בשפחה כנענית כשאר כל ישראל:
4
A Hebrew servant is not permitted to marry a Canaanite maid-servant unless he already has a Jewish wife and children. If, however, he does not have a Jewish wife and children, his master may not give him a Canaanite maid-servant against his will. This concept is part of the Oral Tradition.
Even if the man sold as a servant is a priest, he is permitted to marry a Canaanite maid-servant throughout the duration of his servitude.
ד
אין עבד עברי מותר בשפחה כנענית עד שתהיה לו אשה ישראלית ובנים אבל אם אין לו אשה ובנים אין רבו מוסר לו שפחה כנענית ודבר זה קבלה הוא אפי' היה הנמכר כהן ה"ז מותר בשפחה כנענית כל ימי עבדותו:
5
If a Hebrew servant has a wife and children, although his master may give him a Canaanite maid-servant as a wife, he may not separate the Hebrew servant from his Jewish wife and children. This is implied by the phrase "his wife together with him." He may not give him two maid-servants, nor may he give one maid-servant to two Hebrew servants, as he is allowed to do with regard to his Canaanite slaves,as implied by the phrase: "Give him a wife."
When a servant whose master gave him a Canaanite maid-servant and whose ear was pierced does not desire to leave his master's domain when the Jubilee year arrives, although his master urges him to depart, if his master injures him his master is not liable. He is permitted to strike him, because at that time, the servant becomes prohibited to have relations with a maid- servant.
ה
אם היו לו אשה ובנים אף על פי שמוסר לו רבו שפחה כנענית אינו יכול להפרישו מאשתו ובניו שנאמר אשתו עמו ואינו יכול ליתן לו שתי שפחות ולא ליתן שפחה אחת לשני עבדיו העברים כדרך שנותן לכנעניים שנאמר יתן לו אשה נרצע שמסר לו רבו שפחה כנענית והגיע יובל והיה רבו מסרב בו לצאת ואינו רוצה לצאת וחבל בו פטור שהרי נאסר בשפחה:
6
A person who sells himself may not prolong his servitude by having his ear pierced. If, however, a servant was sold by the court, worked for six years and does not desire to receive his freedom, he may have his ear pierced. In this instance, he must work until the Jubilee year, or until his master dies.
ו
המוכר עצמו אינו נרצע אבל מכרוהו ב"ד ועבד שש ולא רצה לצאת הרי זה נרצע ועובד עד שנת היובל או עד שימות האדון:
7
Even though the master leaves a son, the servant whose ear was pierced does not serve the son. This is derived from the exegesis of Exodus 21:6: "And he shall serve him forever." This is interpreted to mean: "And he shall serve him," and not his son; "forever," until the Jubilee year. We thus learn that a servant whose ear was pierced gains his freedom only at the Jubilee or with the death of his master.
ז
אף על פי שהניח בן אין הנרצע עובד את הבן מפי השמועה למדו ועבדו לו ולא לבנו לעולם לעולמו של יובל נמצאת למד שהנרצע אינו קונה את עצמו אלא ביובל ובמיתת האדון:
8
A Hebrew servant who is a priest may not have his ear pierced, because this gives him a physical blemish that disqualifies him from service in the Temple, and Leviticus 25:41 states: "And he shall return to his family," to the status that he enjoyed previously. He does not, however, return to the position of authority that he previously held.
ח
עבד עברי כהן אינו נרצע מפני שנעשה בעל מום והרי הוא אומר ושב אל משפחתו לחזקה שהיה בה ואינו שב לשררה שהיה בה:
9
How is the servant's ear pierced? His master brings him to a court of three judges and the servant makes his statements in their presence. At the conclusion of the six-year period, he brings him to the door or to the doorpost as they are standing affixed in the building. It could be done near the door or the doorpost of the master, or one belonging to any other person.
He should pierce his right ear, in the middle lobe of the ear, with a metal awl until it reaches the door, as Deuteronomy 15:17 states: "And you shall put it through his ear at the door." The doorpost is mentioned only to indicate that the servant may stand next to either the door or the doorpost. Just as the doorpost must be standing, so too, the door must be standing. But the piercing is done to the door.
The master himself pierces the servant's ear, as Exodus 21:6 states: "His master shall pierce" i.e., he, and not his son, his agent or an agent of the court. The ears of two servants should not be pierced at the same time, for mitzvot should not be performed in bundles.
ט
כיצד רוצעין מביאו לב"ד של שלשה ואומר דבריו לפניהם ומגישו לסוף שש אל הדלת או אל המזוזה כשהן עומדין בבניין בין דלת ומזוזה של אדון בין של כל אדם ונוקב את אזנו הימנית בגופה של אוזן במרצע של מתכת עד שיגיע לדלת שנאמר ונתת באזנו ובדלת ולא נאמר מזוזה אלא שיהיה עומד בין אצל דלת בין אצל מזוזה ומה מזוזה כשהיא עומדת אף דלת כשהיא עומדת אבל הרציעה בדלת אע"פ שאין שם מזוזה האדון הוא שרוצע בעצמו שנאמר ורצע אדוניו לא בנו ולא שלוחו ולא שליח ב"ד ואין רוצעין שני עבדים כאחד שאין עושין מצות חבילות חבילות:
10
More particulars can be derived from the exegesis of Exodus 25:5: "If the servant shall certainly say" - i.e., he must repeat his statement. "The servant" - he must make this statement as a servant - i.e., he must make and repeat his statement at the conclusion of the six years of servitude, at the beginning of the last p'rutah's worth of his servitude.
What is implied? That there remain from the final day at least a p'rutah's worth or slightly more of the servant's time. If, however, there remained less than a p'rutah's worth of time, it is as if he made the statements after the six years were concluded.
י
ואם אמר יאמר העבד עד שיאמר וישנה העבד עד שיאמר כשהוא עבד אבל אם אמר אחר שש אינו נרצע עד שיאמר וישנה בסוף שש בתחלת פרוטה אחרונה כיצד כגון שנשאר מן היום שוה פרוטה מדמי מכירתו או יתר מעט אבל אם נשאר פחות משוה פרוטה הרי זה כאומר אחר שש:
11
If the servant has a Canaanite maid-servant as a wife and children from her, and his master does not have a wife and children, his ear should not be pierced, as implied by Deuteronomy 15:16: "Because he loves you and your household."
If the master has a wife and children, and the servant does not have a wife and children, his ear should not be pierced, as implied by Exodus 21:5: "I love my master, my wife and my children." If the servant loves his master, but his master does not love him, his ear should not be pierced, as implied by Deuteronomy, op. cit.: "It is good for him with you." If the master loves the servant, but the servant does not love his master, his ear should not be pierced, as implied by Deuteronomy, op. cit.: "He loves you."
If the servant is sick, but his master is not sick, his ear should not be pierced, as implied by: "It is good for him with you." If the master is sick, but the servant is not sick, or they are both sick, his ear should not be pierced, as implied by: "It is good for him with you" - i.e., they both must share in goodness.
יא
היתה לעבד שפחה כנענית ולו ממנה בנים ולרבו אין אשה ובנים אינו נרצע שנאמר כי אהבך ואת ביתך לרבו אשה ובנים ולו אין אשה ובנים אינו נרצע שנאמר אהבתי את אדוני את אשתי ואת בני הוא אוהב את רבו ורבו אינו אוהבו אינו נרצע שנאמר כי טוב לו עמך רבו אוהבו והוא אינו אוהב את רבו אינו נרצע שנאמר כי אהבך הוא חולה ורבו אינו חולה אינו נרצע שנאמר כי טוב לו עמך רבו חולה והוא אינו חולה או שהיו שניהם חולים אינו נרצע שנאמר כי טוב לו עמך עד שיהיו שניהם בטובה:
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What are the differences between a servant who sells himself and a servant sold by the court? A servant who sells himself does not have his ear pierced, while a servant sold by the court has his ear pierced. A servant who sells himself is forbidden to marry a Canaanite maid-servant, while the master of a servant sold by the court may compel the servant to marry a Canaanite maid-servant.47
A servant who sells himself may be sold to a gentile, while a servant sold by the court may be sold only to a Jew, as Deuteronomy 15:12 states: "When your brother is sold to you" - i.e., the court sells him only to "you."
A servant who sells himself may be sold for six years or for more than six years, while a servant sold by the court may be sold for only six years. A servant who sells himself does not receive a severance gift, while a servant sold by the court does receive a severance gift.
יב
מה בין מוכר עצמו למכרוהו ב"ד מוכר עצמו אינו נרצע ומכרוהו בית דין נרצע מוכר עצמו אסור בשפחה כנענית ומכרוהו ב"ד רבו מוסר לו שפחה כנענית מוכר עצמו נמכר לעכו"ם ומכרוהו ב"ד אינו נמכר אלא לישראל שנאמר כי ימכר לך אחיך אין ב"ד מוכרין אותו אלא לך מוכר עצמו נמכר לשש ויתר על שש מכרוהו ב"ד אינו נמכר אלא לשש מוכר עצמו אין מעניקין לו מכרוהו ב"ד מעניקין לו:
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According to the Oral Tradition, we learned that a Hebrew maid-servant may not have her servitude prolonged by having her ear pierced. This appears to be reflected from the relevant verses. For with regard to the piercing of a servant's ear, Exodus 21:5 states: "I love my master, my wife and my children."
What then is implied by Deuteronomy 15:17: "Even to your maid-servant do this"? It teaches that just as it is a mitzvah to give a severance gift to a Hebrew servant, so too, it is a mitzvah to give a Hebrew maid-servant a severance gift.
מפי השמועה למדו שאין האשה נרצעת וכן יראה מענין הכתוב שהרי אומר בנרצע אהבתי את אדוני את אשתי ואת בני ומהו שנאמר ואף לאמתך תעשה כן להעניק שכשם שמצות עשה להעניק עבד עברי כך מעניק אמה העבריה:
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Whoever sends away his servant or maid-servant empty-handed transgresses a negative commandment, as Deuteronomy 15:13 states: "Do not send him away empty-handed." The verse also made provision for this to be remedied with a positive commandment, as Ibid.:14 states: "You shall certainly give him a severance gift."
This applies to a Hebrew servant who is released at the conclusion of his six years of servitude, at the advent of the Jubilee, or at the death of his master. Similarly, a severance gift is given to a Hebrew maid-servant who is released under these circumstances, or because she displays signs of physical maturity. When, however, a servant or a maid-servant purchases his freedom by paying the pro-rated portion of his purchase price, a severance gift need not be given, as implied by Ibid.:13 "When you send him away from you as a free man." A servant who redeems himself is not being sent away free. Instead, he pays the amount of money due for the time he was obligated to work and then departs.
.:14 states: "Give him a generous severance gift from your sheep, your threshing floor and your vat as God has blessed you." By mentioning sheep, a threshing floor and a vat, the verse indicates that the servant must be given objects that will naturally increase and generate blessing as a severance gift. He need not, however, be given money or garments.
much should he be given? He should not be given less than 30 selaim worth. This may be from one substance or from many substances. This figure parallels the 30 selaim paid as a fine for killing a servant, which Exodus 21:32 states: "Give to his master."
severance gift must be given whether the master's household was blessed because of the servant's presence or whether it was not blessed, as it is written: "Give him a generous severance gift" - i.e., in all situations. Why then does the verse say: "As God has blessed you"? To teach that you should give him according to the measure of blessing you have been granted.
יד
כל המשלח עבדו ואמתו ריקם עובר בלא תעשה שנאמר לא תשלחנו ריקם והרי הכתוב נתקו לעשה שנאמר העניק תעניק לו אחד היוצא בסוף שש או שיצא ביובל או במיתת האדון וכן האמה העבריה שיצאת באחד מכל אלו או בסימנין הרי אלו מעניקין להם אבל היוצא בגרעון כסף אין מעניקין להם שנאמר וכי תשלחנו חפשי מעמך וזה לא שלחו חפשי אלא העבד נתן שאר הדמים שנשאר לו לעבוד בהן ואח"כ יצא העניק תעניק לו מצאנך מגרנך ומיקבך בענין צאן גורן ויקב דברים שיש בהם ברכה מחמת עצמן הוא שחייב להעניק לו מהם אבל הכספים והבגדים אינו חייב ליתן לו מהם וכמה נותן לו אין פחות משוה שלשים סלע בין ממין אחד בין ממינין הרבה כשלשים של קנס העבד שנאמר בו יתן לאדוניו בין שנתברך הבית בגללו בין שלא נתברך שנאמר העניק תעניק לו מ"מ א"כ למה נאמר אשר ברכך הכל לפי הברכה תן לו:
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If the servant fled and the Jubilee fell and thus he attains his freedom, his master is not obligated to grant him a severance gift, as implied by the term "When you send him away."
The severance gift granted a Hebrew servant is his own; a creditor may not expropriate it. The severance gift granted a Hebrew maid-servant and any ownerless object she finds belong to her father. If her father dies before it reaches his possession, it belongs to her. He brothers have no right to it. For a person cannot transfer to his son as an inheritance a right that he possesses with regard to his daughter.
טו
אם ברח ופגע בו יובל כשהוא בורח ויצא לחירות אינו חייב להעניקו שנאמר וכי תשלחנו וגו' ענק עבד עברי לעצמו ואין בעל חוב גובה הימנו וענק אמה העבריה וכן מציאתה לאביה ואם מת אביה קודם שיבא לידו הרי הן של עצמה ואין לאחיה בהם כלום שאין אדם מוריש זכות שיש לו בבתו לבנו:
Hayom Yom:
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• English Text | Video Class
Thursday, Menachem Av 11, 5777 · 03 August 2017
"Today's Day"
Thursday, Menachem Av 11, 5703
Torah lessons: Chumash: Va'etchanan, Chamishi with Rashi.
Tehillim: 60-65.
Tanya: III. "And he garbed (p. 397) ...(Heaven Forfend). (p. 399).
The Alter Rebbe went to Mezritch with his brother, R. Yehuda Leib, in 5524 (1764). R. Yehuda Leib went without permission from his wife and therefore turned back. The Rebbe came to Mezritch and stayed there, that first time, until after Pesach 5525 (1765). For two weeks he was uncertain whether to remain there. The first maamar he heard was Nachamu nachamu. It is not clear, though, whether this was the first maamar after his arrival, or the first after the two weeks when he had decided to remain and had become bound (to the Maggid).
Daily Thought:
The Kosher Ego
Do good with all your ego.
Say, “I need to make this happen.”
Say, “I have to see this done.”
Not only is this “I” permissible, it is crucial to your mission in life.
So when does ego become evil?
When it believes the I is your mission in life. [Terumah 5734:2; Torat Menachem 5752, vol. 1, p. 241; Likkutei Sichot, vol. 33, p. 118.]
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