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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Sunday, 1 Kislev, 5778 · November 19, 2017 - Rosh Chodesh KislevTorah Reading:
Rosh Chodesh: Numbers 28:1-3; Numbers 28:3-15Numbers 28: (v) Adonai said to Moshe, 2 “Give an order to the people of Isra’el. Tell them, ‘You are to take care to offer me at the proper time the food presented to me as offerings made by fire, providing a fragrant aroma for me.’ 3 Tell them, ‘This is the offering made by fire that you are to bring to Adonai: male lambs in their first year and without defect, two daily as a regular burnt offering.; Numbers 28:3 Tell them, ‘This is the offering made by fire that you are to bring to Adonai: male lambs in their first year and without defect, two daily as a regular burnt offering. 4 Offer the one lamb in the morning and the other lamb at dusk, 5 along with two quarts of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with one quart of oil from pressed olives. 6 It is the regular burnt offering, the same as was offered on Mount Sinai to give a fragrant aroma, an offering made by fire for Adonai. 7 Its drink offering is to be one-quarter hin for one lamb; in the Holy Place you are to pour out a drink offering of intoxicating liquor to Adonai. 8 The other lamb you are to present at dusk; present it with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering as in the morning; it is an offering made by fire, with a fragrant aroma for Adonai.
9 “‘On Shabbat offer two male lambs in their first year and without defect, with one gallon of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, and its drink offering. 10 This is the burnt offering for every Shabbat, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
11 “‘At each Rosh-Hodesh of yours, you are to present a burnt offering to Adonai consisting of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs in their first year and without defect; 12 with six quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for the one ram; 13 and two quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for each lamb. This will be the burnt offering giving a fragrant aroma, an offering made by fire for Adonai. 14 Their drink offerings will be two quarts of wine for a bull, one-and-one-third quarts for the ram, and one quart for each lamb. This is the burnt offering for every Rosh-Hodesh throughout the months of the year. 15 Also a male goat is to be offered as a sin offering to Adonai, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
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Today's Laws & Customs:
• Rosh Chodesh ObservancesToday is Rosh Chodesh ("Head of the Month") for the month of Kislev.
Special portions are added to the daily prayers: Hallel (Psalms 113-118) is recited -- in its "partial" form -- following the Shacharit morning prayer, and the Yaaleh V'yavoprayer is added to the Amidah and to Grace After Meals; the additional Musaf prayer is said (when Rosh Chodesh is Shabbat, special additions are made to the Shabbat Musaf). Tachnun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted.
Many have the custom to mark Rosh Chodesh with a festive meal and reduced work activity. The latter custom is prevalent amongst women, who have a special affinity with Rosh Chodesh -- the month being the feminine aspect of the Jewish Calendar.
Links: The 29th Day; The Lunar Files
Today in Jewish History:
• Winter
As per the Talmud, the month of Kislev marks the onset of the winter season in the Holy Land and is the third month of the "Season of the Rains."
Link: Winter
• Lubavitcher Rebbe Returns Home after Heart Attack (1977)For the first time since suffering a major heart attack five weeks earlier, on the eve of Shemini Atzeret, the Rebbe left his office in 770 Eastern Parkway and returned to his home, signaling his recovery. Chassidim all over rejoiced at the good news.
From that day on, the Rebbe redoubled his efforts on behalf of the Jewish nation and all of humanity, and for the dissemination of Torah and chassidism. From then on, the first of Kislev is celebrated as a day of thanksgiving and rejoicing.
Link: Illness and Challenge (from the timeline "biography of ideas" in Therebbe.org).
Daily Quote: I formed you, and I made you for a people's covenant, for a light to nations (Isaiah 42:6)
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Vayeitzei, 1st Portion Genesis 28:10-28:22 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Genesis Chapter 28
10And Jacob left Beer sheba, and he went to Haran. יוַיֵּצֵ֥א יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב מִבְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ חָרָֽנָה:
And Jacob left: Because, it was due to the fact that the daughters of Canaan were displeasing in the eyes of his father Isaac, that Esau went to Ishmael, Scripture interrupted the account dealing with Jacob and it is written (above verse 6): “When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed [Jacob], etc.” And as soon as Scripture finished [the account of Esau’s marriage], it returned to the previous topic.
ויצא יעקב: על ידי שבשביל שרעות בנות כנען בעיני יצחק אביו הלך עשו אל ישמעאל, הפסיק הענין בפרשתו של יעקב וכתיב (לעיל כח ו) וירא עשו כי ברך וגו', ומשגמר חזר לענין הראשון:
And Jacob left: Scripture had only to write: “And Jacob went to Haran.” Why did it mention his departure? But this tells [us] that the departure of a righteous man from a place makes an impression, for while the righteous man is in the city, he is its beauty, he is its splendor, he is its majesty. When he departs from there, its beauty has departed, its splendor has departed, its majesty has departed. And likewise (Ruth 1:7): “And she went forth from the place,” stated in reference to Naomi and Ruth. - [From Gen. Rabbah 68:6]
ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע: לא היה צריך לכתוב אלא וילך יעקב חרנה, ולמה הזכיר יציאתו, אלא מגיד שיציאת צדיק מן המקום עושה רושם, שבזמן שהצדיק בעיר הוא הודה הוא זיוה הוא הדרה, יצא משם פנה הודה פנה זיוה פנה הדרה וכן (רות א ז) ותצא מן המקום, האמור בנעמי ורות:
and he went to Haran: He left in order to go to Haran. — [From Gen. Rabbah 68:8,]
וילך חרנה: יצא ללכת לחרן:
11And he arrived at the place and lodged there because the sun had set, and he took some of the stones of the place and placed [them] at his head, and he lay down in that place. יאוַיִּפְגַּ֨ע בַּמָּק֜וֹם וַיָּ֤לֶן שָׁם֙ כִּי־בָ֣א הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ וַיִּקַּח֙ מֵֽאַבְנֵ֣י הַמָּק֔וֹם וַיָּ֖שֶׂם מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב בַּמָּק֥וֹם הַהֽוּא:
And he arrived at the place: Scripture does not mention which place, but [it means] the place mentioned elsewhere, which is Mount Moriah, concerning which it is said (Gen. 22:4):“And he saw the place from afar.” [From Pes. 88a]
ויפגע במקום: לא הזכיר הכתוב באיזה מקום אלא במקום הנזכר במקום אחר, הוא הר המוריה שנאמר בו (לעיל כב ד) וירא את המקום מרחוק:
And he arrived: Heb. וַיִפְגַע, as in (Josh. 16:7):“and it reached (וּפָגַע) Jericho” ; (ibid. 19: 11):“and it reached (וּפָגַע) Dabbesheth.” Our Rabbis (Gen. Rabbah 68:9, Ber. 26b) interpreted it [the word וַיִפְגַע] as an expression of prayer, as in (Jer. 7:16):“And do not entreat (תִּפְגַּע) me,” and this teaches us that he [Jacob] instituted the evening prayer. [Scripture] did not write וַיִתְפַּלֵּל, [the usual expression for prayer], to teach that the earth sprang toward him [i.e. the mountain moved toward him], as is explained in the chapter entitled גִיד הַנָּשֶׁה (Chullin 91b).
ויפגע: כמו (יהושע טז ז) ופגע ביריחו, (שם יט יא) ופגע בדבשת. ורבותינו פירשו לשון תפלה כמו (ירמיה ז טז) ואל תפגע בי, ולמדנו שתקן תפלת ערבית. ושנה הכתוב ולא כתב ויתפלל, ללמדך שקפצה לו הארץ, כמו שמפורש בפרק גיד הנשה (חולין צא ב):
because the sun had set: Heb. כִּי בָא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ [Scripture] should have written [in reverse order]:“And the sun set (וַיָּבֹא), and he stayed there overnight.” [The expression] כִּי בָא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ implies that the sun set suddenly for him, not at its usual time, so that he would have to stay there overnight. [From Gen. Rabbah 68:10, Chullin 91b]
כי בא השמש: היה לו לכתוב ויבא השמש וילן שם. כי בא השמש, משמע ששקעה לו חמה פתאום שלא בעונתה כדי שילין שם:
and placed [them] at his head: He arranged them in the form of a drainpipe around his head because he feared the wild beasts. They [the stones] started quarreling with one another. One said, “Let the righteous man lay his head on me,” and another one said, “Let him lay [his head] on me.” Immediately, the Holy One, blessed be He, made them into one stone. This is why it is stated (verse 18):“and he took the stone [in the singular] that he had placed at his head.” [From Chullin 91b]
וישם מראשותיו: עשאן כמין מרזב סביב לראשו שהיה ירא מפני חיות רעות. התחילו מריבות זו עם זו, זאת אומרת עלי יניח צדיק את ראשו, וזאת אומרת עלי יניח, מיד עשאן הקב"ה אבן אחת, וזהו שנאמר (פסוק יח) ויקח את האבן אשר שם מראשותיו:
and he lay down in that place: [The word הַהוּא] is a restrictive expression, meaning that [only] in that place did he lie down, but during the fourteen years that he served in the house of Eber, he did not lie down at night, because he was engaged in Torah study. [From Gen. Rabbah 68:11]
וישכב במקום ההוא: לשון מיעוט באותו מקום שכב, אבל ארבע עשרה שנים ששמש בבית עבר לא שכב בלילה, שהיה עוסק בתורה:
12And he dreamed, and behold! a ladder set up on the ground and its top reached to heaven; and behold, angels of God were ascending and descending upon it. יבוַיַּֽחֲלֹ֗ם וְהִנֵּ֤ה סֻלָּם֙ מֻצָּ֣ב אַ֔רְצָה וְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ מַגִּ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמָ֑יְמָה וְהִנֵּה֙ מַלְאֲכֵ֣י אֱלֹהִ֔ים עֹלִ֥ים וְיֹֽרְדִ֖ים בּֽוֹ:
ascending and descending: Ascending first and afterwards descending. The angels who escorted him in the [Holy] Land do not go outside the Land, and they ascended to heaven, and the angels of outside the Holy Land descended to escort him.[From Gen. Rabbah 68:12]
עולים ויורדים: עולים תחלה ואחר כך יורדים, מלאכים שליווהו בארץ אין יוצאים חוצה לארץ ועלו לרקיע, וירדו מלאכי חוצה לארץ ללותו:
13And behold, the Lord was standing over him, and He said, "I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac; the land upon which you are lying to you I will give it and to your seed. יגוְהִנֵּ֨ה יְהֹוָ֜ה נִצָּ֣ב עָלָיו֘ וַיֹּאמַר֒ אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה אֱלֹהֵי֙ אַבְרָהָ֣ם אָבִ֔יךָ וֵֽאלֹהֵ֖י יִצְחָ֑ק הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתָּה֙ שֹׁכֵ֣ב עָלֶ֔יהָ לְךָ֥ אֶתְּנֶ֖נָּה וּלְזַרְעֶֽךָ:
And behold, the Lord was standing over him: to guard him.
נצב עליו: לשמרו:
and the God of Isaac: Although we do not find in Scripture that the Holy One, blessed be He, associates His name with that of the righteous during their lifetimes by writing “the God of so-and-so,” for it is said (Job 15:15):“Lo! He does not believe in His holy ones,” [i.e., God does not consider even His holy ones as righteous until after their deaths, when they are no longer subject to the evil inclination,] nevertheless, here He associated His name with Isaac because his eyes had become dim, and he was confined in the house, and he was like a dead person, the evil inclination having ceased from him (Tanchuma Toledoth 7).
ואלהי יצחק: אף על פי שלא מצינו במקרא שייחד הקב"ה שמו על הצדיקים בחייהם לכתוב אלהי פלוני, משום שנאמר (איוב טו טו) הן בקדושיו לא יאמין, כאן ייחד שמו על יצחק לפי שכהו עיניו וכלוא היה בבית, והרי הוא כמת, ויצר הרע פסק ממנו:
upon which you are lying: (Chullin ad loc.) The Holy One, blessed be He, folded the entire Land of Israel under him. He hinted to him that it would be as easily conquered by his children (as four cubits, which represent the area a person takes up [when lying down]). [From Chullin 91b]
שכב עליה: קיפל הקב"ה כל ארץ ישראל תחתיו, רמז לו שתהא נוחה ליכבש לבניו:
14And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall gain strength westward and eastward and northward and southward; and through you shall be blessed all the families of the earth and through your seed. ידוְהָיָ֤ה זַרְעֲךָ֙ כַּֽעֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֔רֶץ וּפָֽרַצְתָּ֛ יָ֥מָּה וָקֵ֖דְמָה וְצָפֹ֣נָה וָנֶ֑גְבָּה וְנִבְרְכ֥וּ בְךָ֛ כָּל־מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה וּבְזַרְעֶֽךָ:
and you shall gain strength: Heb. וּפָרַצ ְתָּ, as in יִפְרֹץ וְכֵן,“and so did they gain strength” (Exod. 1:12). [after targumim]
ופרצת: וחזקת, כמו (שמות א יב) וכן יפרוץ:
15And behold, I am with you, and I will guard you wherever you go, and I will restore you to this land, for I will not forsake you until I have done what I have spoken concerning you." טווְהִנֵּ֨ה אָֽנֹכִ֜י עִמָּ֗ךְ וּשְׁמַרְתִּ֨יךָ֙ בְּכֹ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־תֵּלֵ֔ךְ וַֽהֲשִׁ֣בֹתִ֔יךָ אֶל־הָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את כִּ֚י לֹ֣א אֶֽעֱזָבְךָ֔ עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִם־עָשִׂ֔יתִי אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי לָֽךְ:
And behold, I am with you: [God promised Jacob this] because he was afraid of Esau and Laban.
אנכי עמך: לפי שהיה ירא מעשו ומלבן:
until I have done: אִם is used in the sense of כִּי, [meaning that].
עד אשר אם עשיתי: אם משמש בלשון כי:
I have spoken concerning you: Heb. לָ, for your benefit and concerning you. What I promised to Abraham concerning his seed, I promised in reference to you and not in reference to Esau, for I did not say to him, “for Isaac will be called your seed,” [which would signify that all of Isaac’s descendants would be regarded as Abraham’s] but“for in Isaac,” [meaning part of Isaac’s descendants] but not all [the descendants] of Isaac (Nedarim 31a). Likewise, wherever לִי, לוֹ, לָ and לָהֶם are used in conjunction with a form of the verb“speaking” (דִּבּוּר) they are used in the sense of “concerning.” This [verse] proves it, because heretofore, He had not spoken to Jacob.
דברתי לך: לצרכך ועליך, מה שהבטחתי לאברהם על זרעו, לך הבטחתיו ולא לעשו, שלא אמרתי לו כי יצחק יקרא לך זרע, אלא כי ביצחק, ולא כל יצחק. וכן כל לי ולך ולו ולהם הסמוכים אצל דיבור, משמשים לשון על, וזה יוכיח, שהרי עם יעקב לא דיבר קודם לכן:
16And Jacob awakened from his sleep, and he said, "Indeed, the Lord is in this place, and I did not know [it]." טזוַיִּיקַ֣ץ יַֽעֲקֹב֘ מִשְּׁנָתוֹ֒ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אָכֵן֙ יֵ֣שׁ יְהֹוָ֔ה בַּמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וְאָֽנֹכִ֖י לֹ֥א יָדָֽעְתִּי:
and I did not know [it]: For had I known, I would not have slept in such a holy place. [from Bereishith Rabbathi , attributed to Rabbi Moshe Hadarshan]
ואנכי לא ידעתי: שאילו ידעתי לא ישנתי במקום קדוש כזה:
17And he was frightened, and he said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." יזוַיִּירָא֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר מַה־נּוֹרָ֖א הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה אֵ֣ין זֶ֗ה כִּ֚י אִם־בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְזֶ֖ה שַׁ֥עַר הַשָּׁמָֽיִם:
than the house of God: Said Rabbi Eleazar in the name of Rabbi Jose ben Zimra: This ladder stood in Beer-sheba and the middle of its incline reached opposite the Temple, for Beer-sheba is situated in the south of Judah, and Jerusalem [is situated] in its north, on the boundary between Judah and Benjamin, and Beth-el was in the north of the territory of Benjamin, on the boundary between Benjamin and the sons of Joseph. Consequently, a ladder whose foot is in Beer-sheba and whose top is in Beth-el-the middle of its slant is opposite Jerusalem. This accords with what our Sages said, that the Holy One, blessed be He, said, “This righteous man has come to My lodging place [i.e., the Temple Mount]. Shall he leave without lodging?” And furthermore, they said: Jacob called Jerusalem Beth-el. But this place [which he called Beth-el] was Luz, and not Jerusalem. So, from where did they learn to say this? [i.e., that Luz was Jerusalem.] I believe that Mount Moriah was uprooted from its place, and it came here, [to Luz, i.e., at that time, Luz, Jerusalem and Beth-el were all in the same place], and this is the “springing of the earth” mentioned in Tractate Chullin, i.e., that the [site of the] Temple came towards him until Beth-el. This is the meaning of ויפגע במקום “And he met the place.” Now if you ask, “When Jacob passed by the Temple, why did He not detain him there?” [The answer is:] If he did not put his mind to pray in the place where his forefathers had prayed, should they detain him from heaven? He went as far as Haran, as it is stated in the chapter entitled, “Gid HaNasheh” (Hullin 91b), and the text, “and he went to Haran” (verse 10) supports this. When he arrived in Haran, he said, “Is it possible that I have passed the place where my forefathers prayed, and I did not pray there?” He decided to return, and he went back as far as Beth-El, and the earth “sprang toward him.” [This Beth-El is not the one near Ai, but the one near Jerusalem, and because it was the city of God, he called it Beth-El, the house of God, and that is Mount Moriah where Abraham prayed, and that is the field where Isaac prayed, and so did they say in Sotah (sic.) (Pes.88a) [concerning the verse] (Micah 4:2):“Come, let us go up to the Mount of the Lord, to the House of God of Jacob.” [It is] not [called] as did Abraham, who called it a mountain, and not as did Isaac, who called it a field, but as did Jacob, who called it the House of God. An exact edition of Rashi.
כי אם בית א-להים: אמר רבי אלעזר בשם רבי יוסי בן זמרא הסולם הזה עומד בבאר שבע ואמצע שיפועו מגיע כנגד בית המקדש, שבאר שבע עומד בדרומה של יהודה, וירושלים בצפונה בגבול שבין יהודה ובנימין, ובית אל היה בצפון של נחלת בנימין בגבול שבין בנימין ובין בני יוסף, נמצא סולם שרגליו בבאר שבע וראשו בבית אל מגיע אמצע שיפועו נגד ירושלים. וכלפי שאמרו רבותינו שאמר הקב"ה צדיק זה בא לבית מלוני ויפטר בלא לינה, ועוד אמרו יעקב קראה לירושלים בית אל וזו לוז היא ולא ירושלים ומהיכן למדו לומר כן. אומר אני שנעקר הר המוריה ובא לכאן, וזהו היא קפיצת הארץ האמורה בשחיטת חולין (חולין צא ב), שבא בית המקדש לקראתו עד בית אל, וזהו ויפגע במקום. [ואם תאמר וכשעבר יעקב על בית המקדש מדוע לא עכבו שם, איהו לא יהיב לביה להתפלל במקום שהתפללו אבותיו, ומן השמים יעכבוהו, איהו עד חרן אזל כדאמרינן בפרק גיד הנשה (חולין צא ב), וקרא מוכיח וילך חרנה, כי מטא לחרן אמר אפשר שעברתי על מקום שהתפללו אבותי ולא התפללתי בו, יהב דעתיה למהדר וחזר עד בית אל וקפצה לו הארץ]:
How awesome: The Targum renders: How awesome (דְּחִילוּ) is this place! דְּחִילוּ is a noun, as in (Targum Exodus 31:3):“understanding” סוּכְלָתָנוּ; (below verse 20):“a garment (וּכְסוּ) to wear.”
מה נורא: תרגום מה דחילו אתרא הדין. דחילו שם דבר הוא, כמו סוכלתנו, וכסו למלבש:
and this is the gate of heaven: A place of prayer, where their prayers ascend to heaven (Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer , ch. 35). And its midrashic interpretation is that the Heavenly Temple is directed exactly towards the earthly Temple. [From Gen. Rabbah 69:7]
וזה שער השמים: מקום תפלה לעלות תפלתם השמימה. ומדרשו שבית המקדש של מעלה מכוון כנגד בית המקדש של מטה:
18And Jacob arose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had placed at his head, and he set it up as a monument, and he poured oil on top of it. יחוַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם יַֽעֲקֹ֜ב בַּבֹּ֗קֶר וַיִּקַּ֤ח אֶת־הָאֶ֨בֶן֙ אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֔יו וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֹתָ֖הּ מַצֵּבָ֑ה וַיִּצֹ֥ק שֶׁ֖מֶן עַל־רֹאשָֽׁהּ:
19And he named the place Beth El, but Luz was orignally the name of the city. יטוַיִּקְרָ֛א אֶת־שֵֽׁם־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל וְאוּלָ֛ם ל֥וּז שֵֽׁם־הָעִ֖יר לָרִֽאשֹׁנָֽה:
20And Jacob uttered a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and He will guard me on this way, upon which I am going, and He will give me bread to eat and a garment to wear; כוַיִּדַּ֥ר יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב נֶ֣דֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־יִֽהְיֶ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים עִמָּדִ֗י וּשְׁמָרַ֨נִי֙ בַּדֶּ֤רֶךְ הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָֽנֹכִ֣י הוֹלֵ֔ךְ וְנָֽתַן־לִ֥י לֶ֛חֶם לֶֽאֱכֹ֖ל וּבֶ֥גֶד לִלְבֹּֽשׁ:
If God will be with me: If He keeps these promises that he promised me to be with me, as He said to me, “And behold, I am with you.” [from Gen. Rabbah 70:4]
אם יהיה א-להים עמדי: אם ישמור לי הבטחות הללו שהבטיחני להיות עמדי, כמו שאמר לי (פסוק טו) והנה אנכי עמך:
and He will guard me: As He said to me, “and I will guard you wherever you go.”
ושמרני: כמו שאמר לי (פסוק טו) ושמרתיך בכל אשר תלך:
and He will give me bread to eat: As He said, “for I will not forsake you,” for if one must seek bread, he is called “forsaken,” as it is said, (Ps. 37:25): “and I have not seen a righteous man forsaken and his seed seeking bread.” [from Gen. Rabbah 69:6]
ונתן לי לחם לאכול: כמו שאמר (פסוק טו) כי לא אעזבך, והמבקש לחם הוא קרוי נעזב, שנאמר (תהלים לז כה) ולא ראיתי צדיק נעזב וזרעו מבקש לחם:
21And if I return in peace to my father's house, and the Lord will be my God; כאוְשַׁבְתִּ֥י בְשָׁל֖וֹם אֶל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑י וְהָיָ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה לִ֖י לֵֽאלֹהִֽים:
And if I return: As He said to me, “and I will restore you to this land.”
ושבתי: כמו שאמר לי (פסוק טו) והשיבותיך אל האדמה:
in peace: Perfect from sin, that I will not learn from the ways of Laban.
בשלום: שלם מן החטא, שלא אלמד מדרכי לבן:
and the Lord will be my God: that His name will rest upon me from beginning to end, that no disqualification should be found among my seed, as it is written: “[I will do] that which I have spoken concerning you.” And this promise He promised to Abraham, as it is said (17: 7):“to be a God to you and to your seed after you.” (“Your seed” [means that they should be] of pure lineage, that no disqualification should be found in him.) [from Sifrei Va-etchanan 31]
והיה ה' לי לא-להים: שיחול שמו עלי מתחלה ועד סוף, שלא ימצא פסול בזרעי, כמו שנאמר (פסוק טו) אשר דברתי לך, והבטחה זו הבטיח לאברהם, שנאמר (שם יז ז) להיות לך לא-להים ולזרעך אחריך:
22Then this stone, which I have placed as a monument, shall be a house of God, and everything that You give me, I will surely tithe to You. כבוְהָאֶ֣בֶן הַזֹּ֗את אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֨מְתִּי֙ מַצֵּבָ֔ה יִֽהְיֶ֖ה בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתֶּן־לִ֔י עַשֵּׂ֖ר אֲעַשְּׂרֶ֥נּוּ לָֽךְ:
Then this stone: Heb. וְהָאֶבֶן הַזֹּאת, lit., and this stone. This“vav” of וְהָאֶבֶן is to be explained as follows: If You will do these things for me, I too will do this: “And this stone, which I have placed as a monument, etc.” As the Targum paraphrases: “I will worship upon it before the Lord.” And so he did when he returned from Padan-aram, when He said to him, (35:1): “Arise, go up to Beth-el.” What is stated there? (ibid. verse 14): “And Jacob erected a monument, etc., and he poured a libation upon it.” [from Mishnath Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 14]
והאבן הזאת: כך תפרש וי"ו זו של והאבן, אם תעשה לי את אלה, אף אני אעשה זאת:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 1 - 9
• Hebrew text
• English text
Chapter 1
This psalm inspires man to study Torah and avoid sin. One who follows this path is assured of success in all his deeds, whereas the plight of the wicked is the reverse.
1. Fortunate is the man that has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor stood in the path of sinners, nor sat in the company of scoffers.
2. Rather, his desire is in the Torah of the Lord, and in His Torah he meditates day and night.
3. He shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither; and all that he does shall prosper.
4. Not so the wicked; rather, they are like the chaff that the wind drives away.
5. Therefore the wicked will not endure in judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6. For the Lord minds the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Chapter 2
This psalm warns against trying to outwit the ways of God. It also instructs one who has reason to rejoice, to tremble—lest his sins cause his joy to be overturned.
1. Why do nations gather, and peoples speak futility?
2. The kings of the earth rise up, and rulers conspire together, against the Lord and against His anointed:
3. “Let us sever their cords, and cast their ropes from upon us!”
4. He Who sits in heaven laughs, my Master mocks them.
5. Then He speaks to them in His anger, and terrifies them in His wrath:
6. “It is I Who have anointed My king, upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
7. I am obliged to declare: The Lord said to me, “You are my son, I have this day begotten you.1
8. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, and the ends of the earth your possession.
9. Smash them with a rod of iron, shatter them like a potter’s vessel.”
10. Now be wise, you kings; be disciplined, you rulers of the earth.
11. Serve the Lord with awe, and rejoice with trembling.
12. Yearn for purity—lest He become angry and your path be doomed, if his anger flares for even a moment. Fortunate are all who put their trust in Him
FOOTNOTES
1.The day David was crowned. (Rashi)
Chapter 3
When punishment befalls man, let him not be upset by his chastisement, for perhaps--considering his sins—he is deserving of worse, and God is in fact dealing kindly with him.
1. A psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
2. Lord, how numerous are my oppressors; many rise up against me!
3. Many say of my soul, “There is no salvation for him from God—ever!”
4. But You, Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, the One Who raises my head.
5. With my voice I call to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain, Selah.
6. I lie down and sleep; I awake, for the Lord sustains me.
7. I do not fear the myriads of people that have aligned themselves all around me.
8. Arise, O Lord, deliver me, my God. For You struck all my enemies on the cheek, You smashed the teeth of the wicked.
9. Deliverance is the Lord’s; may Your blessing be upon Your people forever
Chapter 4
This psalm exhorts man not to shame his fellow, and to neither speak nor listen to gossip and slander. Envy not the prosperity of the wicked in this world, rather rejoice and say: “If it is so for those who anger Him . . . [how much better it will be for those who serve Him!”]
1. For the Conductor, with instrumental music, a psalm by David.
2. Answer me when I call, O God [Who knows] my righteousness. You have relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
3. Sons of men, how long will you turn my honor to shame, will you love vanity, and endlessly seek falsehood?
4. Know that the Lord has set apart His devout one; the Lord will hear when I call to Him.
5. Tremble and do not sin; reflect in your hearts upon your beds, and be silent forever.
6. Offer sacrifices in righteousness, and trust in the Lord.
7. Many say: “Who will show us good?” Raise the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord.
8. You put joy in my heart, greater than [their joy] when their grain and wine abound.
9. In peace and harmony I will lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, will make me dwell alone, in security.
Chapter 5
A prayer for every individual, requesting that the wicked perish for their deeds, and the righteous rejoice for their good deeds.
1. For the Conductor, on the nechilot,1 a psalm by David.
2. Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my thoughts.
3. Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray.
4. Lord, hear my voice in the morning; in the morning I set [my prayers] before you and hope.
5. For You are not a God Who desires wickedness; evil does not abide with You.
6. The boastful cannot stand before Your eyes; You hate all evildoers.
7. You destroy the speakers of falsehood; the Lord despises the man of blood and deceit.
8. And I, through Your abundant kindness, come into Your house; I bow toward Your holy Sanctuary, in awe of You.
9. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness, because of my watchful enemies; straighten Your path before me.
10. For there is no sincerity in their mouths, their heart is treacherous; their throat is an open grave, [though] their tongue flatters.
11. Find them guilty, O God, let them fall by their schemes; banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against You.
12. But all who trust in You will rejoice, they will sing joyously forever; You will shelter them, and those who love Your Name will exult in You.
13. For You, Lord, will bless the righteous one; You will envelop him with favor as with a shield.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument that sounded like the buzzing of bees (Metzudot).
Chapter 6
This is an awe-inspiring prayer for one who is ill, to pray that God heal him, body and soul. An ailing person who offers this prayer devoutly and with a broken heart is assured that God will accept his prayer.
1. For the Conductor, with instrumental music for the eight-stringed harp, a psalm by David.
2. Lord, do not punish me in Your anger, nor chastise me in Your wrath.
3. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I languish away; heal me, O Lord, for my bones tremble in fear.
4. My soul is panic-stricken; and You, O Lord, how long [before You help]?
5. Relent, O Lord, deliver my soul; save me for the sake of Your kindness.
6. For there is no remembrance of You in death; who will praise You in the grave?
7. I am weary from sighing; each night I drench my bed, I melt my couch with my tears.
8. My eye has grown dim from vexation, worn out by all my oppressors.
9. Depart from me, all you evildoers, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
10. The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord accepts my prayer.
11. All my enemies will be shamed and utterly terrified; they will then repent and be shamed for a moment.1
FOOTNOTES
1.Only for a moment will they be shamed, because I will forgive them and never again mention their deeds (Metzudot).
Chapter 7
Do not rejoice if God causes your enemy to suffer—just as the suffering of the righteous is not pleasant. David, therefore, defends himself intensely before God, maintaining that he did not actively harm Saul. In fact, Saul precipitated his own harm, while David’s intentions were only for the good.
1. A shigayon 1 by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Kush the Benjaminite.
2. I put my trust in You, Lord, my God; deliver me from all my pursuers and save me.
3. Lest he tear my soul like a lion, crushing me with none to rescue.
4. Lord, my God, if I have done this, if there is wrongdoing in my hands;
5. if I have rewarded my friends with evil or oppressed those who hate me without reason—
6. then let the enemy pursue and overtake my soul, let him trample my life to the ground, and lay my glory in the dust forever.
7. Arise, O Lord, in Your anger, lift Yourself up in fury against my foes. Stir me [to mete out] the retribution which You commanded.
8. When the assembly of nations surrounds You, remove Yourself from it and return to the heavens.
9. The Lord will mete out retribution upon the nations; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity.
10. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous—O righteous God, Searcher of hearts and minds.
11. [I rely] on God to be my shield, He Who saves the upright of heart.
12. God is the righteous judge, and the Almighty is angered every day.
13. Because he does not repent, He sharpens His sword, bends His bow and makes it ready.
14. He has prepared instruments of death for him; His arrows will be used on the pursuers.
15. Indeed, he conceives iniquity, is pregnant with evil schemes, and gives birth to falsehood.
16. He digs a pit, digs it deep, only to fall into the trap he laid.
17. His mischief will return upon his own head, his violence will come down upon his own skull.
18. I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and sing to the Name of the Lord Most High
FOOTNOTES
1.This refers either to a musical instrument, or to a mistake committed by David, in recognition of which this psalm was written (Rashi).
Chapter 8
This psalm is a glorious praise to God for His kindness to the lowly and mortal human in giving the Torah to the inhabitants of the lower worlds, arousing the envy of the celestial angels. This idea is expressed in the Yom Kippur prayer, “Though Your mighty strength is in the angels above, You desire praise from those formed of lowly matter.”
1. For the Conductor, on the gittit,1 a psalm by David.
2. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth, You Who has set Your majesty upon the heavens!
3. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have established might, to counter Your enemies, to silence foe and avenger.2
4. When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have set in place—
5. what is man that You should remember him, son of man that You should be mindful of him?
6. Yet, You have made him but a little less than the angels, and crowned him with honor and glory.
7. You made him ruler over Your handiwork, You placed everything under his feet.
8. Sheep and cattle—all of them, also the beasts of the field;
9. the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea; all that traverses the paths of the seas.
10. Lord, our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth.
FOOTNOTES
1.A musical instrument crafted in Gath (Metzudot).
2.The wonders of childbirth and nursing demonstrate God’s existence to non-believers (Metzudot).
Chapter 9
One should praise God for saving him from the hand of the enemy who stands over and agonizes him, and for His judging each person according to his deeds: the righteous according to their righteousness, and the wicked according to their wickedness.
1. For the Conductor, upon the death of Labben, a psalm by David.
2. I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will recount all Your wonders.
3. I will rejoice and exult in You; I will sing to Your Name, O Most High.
4. When my enemies retreat, they will stumble and perish from before You.
5. You have rendered my judgement and [defended] my cause; You sat on the throne, O righteous Judge.
6. You destroyed nations, doomed the wicked, erased their name for all eternity.
7. O enemy, your ruins are gone forever, and the cities you have uprooted—their very remembrance is lost.
8. But the Lord is enthroned forever, He established His throne for judgement.
9. And He will judge the world with justice, He will render judgement to the nations with righteousness.
10. The Lord will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
11. Those who know Your Name put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.
12. Sing to the Lord Who dwells in Zion, recount His deeds among the nations.
13. For the Avenger of bloodshed is mindful of them; He does not forget the cry of the downtrodden.
14. Be gracious to me, O Lord; behold my affliction at the hands of my enemies, You Who raises me from the gates of death,
15. so that I may relate all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, that I may exult in Your deliverance.
16. The nations sank into the pit that they made; in the net they concealed their foot was caught.
17. The Lord became known through the judgement He executed; the wicked one is snared in the work of his own hands; reflect on this always.
18. The wicked will return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.
19. For not for eternity will the needy be forgotten, nor will the hope of the poor perish forever.
20. Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence.
21. Set Your mastery over them, O Lord; let the nations know that they are but frail men, Selah.
Tanya: Kuntres Acharon, end of Essay 3
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Sunday, Kislev 1, 5778 · November 19, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Kuntres Acharon, end of Essay 3
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ומה שכתוב בפרשת פקודי: גו רקיע תתאה
As to what is stated in [the Zohar,] Parshat Pekudei,1 [that prayer without proper intent is repelled] “into the lowest heaven,” indicating that it is allowed to rise at least to that point,
ובפרשת ויקהל משמע דדוקא אי איהי מלה כדקה יאות, סלקין עמה עד אוירא דרקיע דלעילא כו׳
whereas in [the Zohar,] Parshat Vayakhel,2 the implication is that “only if it is a seemly word, i.e., prompted by the proper intent, do [the appointed angels] ascend with it to the atmosphere of the heaven above...,”
How does this latter passage accord with the previously-quoted statement in Pekudei, that even when the prayer is without proper intent it still ascends, at least to the lowest firmament?
לא קשיא מידי
this [seeming contradiction] presents no problem.
דרקיע תתאה מאינון רקיעין דמדברי גו עלמא, שבפרשת פקודי, הן דמלכות דעשיה
For the expression in Pekudei, “the lowest heaven of the heavens that govern the world,” refers to Malchut of Asiyah,
ודפרשת ויקהל, הן דז״א דעשיה, כמו שכתוב בעץ חיים, שער השמות פרק ה׳, גבי ז״א דעשיה, עיין שם
whereas in Parshat Vayakhel, the reference is to Za of Asiyah, as is written in Etz Chayim, Shaar HaShemot, ch. 3, in reference to Za of Asiyah; see there.
It could be argued that the above question presupposed that the “lower heaven” of Pekudei was of the same level as the “heaven above” of Vayakhel, for the “lower heaven” too is “above the sun.”
By the same token, the answer refers to two distinct levels of “heaven”. Pekudei refers to Malchut of Asiyah, while Vayakhel refers to Za of Asiyah, to which prayers ascend when they are “seemly”. From this level they ascend yet further, to the G‑dliness of the Ten Sefirot of Yetzirah and Beriah. The main point here is, however, that when a prayer is not “seemly” it is not elevated even to Za of Asiyah, but merely to Malchut of Asiyah.
It could be explained that when prayer without proper intent is elevated to the “lower heaven,” its elevation does not bring about that which prayer should effect. For in order for a prayer to have its proper effect, such as the fulfillment of its requests, there must be drawn down into this world a degree of Divine influence that transcends the world, thereby healing the sick, or providing the year’s blessings, and so on. When, however, a prayer is repelled to Malchut of Asiyah, i.e., to that level from which all worldly things derive their life-force, then this level obviously cannot provide for whatever the world is lacking.
But when a properly-motivated prayer reaches up to Za of Asiyah, from there an efflux can be drawn down into the world to provide whatever the world lacks, thereby fulfilling the individual’s petitions.
והא דמשמע לכאורה, בפרשת פקודי, דגם תפלה פסולה עולה עד היכל הראשון, שממנו נדחית למטה, והוא בז״א דבריאה
As to the apparent implication in Parshat Pekudei that even invalid prayer — prayer whose intent is confused by alien thoughts — ascends to the First Chamber, whence it is hurled down, and this [Chamber] is in Za of Beriah,
It would thus seem that even an invalid prayer is at first elevated to Za of Beriah.
לא קשיא מידי, שהרי אפילו כל העוונות ממש, קלות וחמורות, עולות לשם, אפילו עד היכל הד׳, כמו שכתוב דף רנ״ב עמוד א׳
this presents no difficulty, for even palpable sins, minor and grave, ascend there, even as far as the Fourth Chamber, as is written [in the Zohar] on page 252a.
אלא ודאי שאין מהות העליות שוות, ואין ערוך ודמיון ביניהם, אלא בשיתוף השם בלבד, ודי למבין
It is thus certain that in essence the [above] ascensions are not identical, and there is no comparison or similarity between them except for the common name. This will suffice for the discerning.
The elevation of good actions means that they are actually uplifted to higher degrees of holiness, where they accomplish whatever they are intended to accomplish. With regard to sins, however, their “elevation” to the higher worlds brings about a blemish there. So, too, when we say that an “invalid prayer” ascends to the First Chamber, we are not at all speaking of the kind of elevation that takes place when a prayer is offered with the proper intent.
ובזה יובן גם כן מה שכתוב שם, דף רמ״ז, שבהיכל הב׳ (אולי צריך להיות: אזדמן הממונה, ואולי צריך להיות: קיימין הלבושים ממונה על הלבושים) שמלבישים הנשמה ממעשה המצות
This will also enable us to grasp the statement [in the Zohar] on page 247, that in the Second Chamber [there is to be found] the one appointed over the garments that clothe the soul as a result of the performance of mitzvot,
The bracketed Hebrew text here offers several variations: [3 “Possibly the text should read, ‘there is found the one4 appointed’; or possibly it should read, ‘the garments are5 housed.’”6]
אף שהוא בגן עדן התחתון דעשיה, כמו שכתוב שם, דף ר״י
even though [the mitzvot performed], and by extension, the soul’s garments that are fashioned thereby,are in the Lower Gan Eden in [the World of] Asiyah, as stated there (in the Zohar) on page 210.
How, then, do we say that the one appointed over — or alternatively, the garments of — the performance of the mitzvot are to be found in the Second Chamber of the World of Beriah?
However, as explained earlier, the above elevations are essentially dissimilar. Thus, though the mitzvotperformed are located in the lower Garden of Eden of the World of Asiyah, the soul nevertheless ascends to the Second Chamber of Beriah and receives from there the garments that result from the performance of mitzvot. For the elevation of the soul to the level of Beriah in order to receive its garments is utterly different from the elevation of the mitzvot themselves to the lower Garden of Eden of the World of Asiyah.
והנה תפלה פסולה עדיפא מתורה שלא לשמה ממש
Now, invalid prayer is superior to Torah studied with a distinctly improper intention,
שהיא תחת השמש
for [the latter] is “under the sun,” since if it is undertaken for the purpose of self-aggrandizement it does not ascend at all,
והתפלה היא גו רקיע כו׳
while prayer — even “invalid prayer” — is “into the heaven,” albeit the lowest heaven.
אבל תורה סתם, שאינה שלא לשמה, רק מאהבה מסותרת טבעית
But the neutral study of Torah, that is without a negative intention, but is prompted merely by one’s latent, innate love,
For unconsciously, it is this love of G‑d that motivates even one’s merely habitual study of the Torah.
לא גרעא מהבל פיהן של תינוקות של בית רבן, דסליק לעילא מפני שהוא הבל שאין בו חטא
is not inferior to the “breath of the mouths of school children,” which ascends aloft because it is “breath untainted by sin.”7
וסליק לעילא, אף אם הוא שלא לשמה ממש, מיראת הרצועה שביד הסופר
This [breath] ascends aloft, even though it may be emphatically not altruistic, but only prompted by fear of punishment by the teacher.
In the same way, an adult whose study is of neutral intent is not tainted by sin (which it would be if he had studied for an ulterior motive). It therefore ascends heavenward.
ועיין שם, דף רנ״ה עמוד ב׳, שהמלאכים הם מעלים ההבל של תינוקות של בית רבן עד האצילות
See there on p. 255b, [where the Zohar states] that the angels elevate the breath of schoolchildren to Atzilut.
Addendum
In its primary meaning, the term “breath untainted by sin” signifies that the breath of the Torah study of schoolchildren is untainted because it proceeds from individuals who at this age are incapable of sin.
As the Gemara states in Shabbat,8 “Resh Lakish said in the name of R. Yehudah Nesiah, ‘The world exists solely by virtue of the breath of the mouths of schoolchildren [who study Torah].’ Said R. Papa to Abbaye: ‘And what of my Torah study and yours?’ He replied: ‘There is no comparison between breath that knows sin and breath that is free of sin.’” This means that children are not in the category of those who sin.
The Previous Rebbe once recalled9 that when his father, the Rebbe Rashab, taught him the above text, he first explained that the angels’ elevation of the Torah study of these children to Atzilut, as cited above from the Zoharby the Alter Rebbe, relates to the same rarefied level as the Supernal Unions that are accomplished by those who refine their bodies according to the secrets of the Kabbalah.
The Rebbe Rashab then added that the Alter Rebbe’s emphasis that this study comprised “breath untainted by sin” can be explained as follows: This is the breath of Torah words spoken by little children in artless simplicity. When they say, for example, “kametz alef: ah,” and they believe with a simple and ingrained faith that these and likewise all the other vowels and consonants of the Torah were transmitted to Moses on Sinai, then the very breath that emanates from their hearts is utterly pure, and untainted by sin.
(This commentary, continued the Rebbe Rashab, comes as an addition to the plain and primary meaning of “breath untainted by sin” — that these children are still pure from the taint of sin.)
Moreover, the above interpretation of breath being untainted by sin inasmuch as it emanates from uttering words of Torah with simple faith, applies not only to children, but to adults as well. They, too, can effect sublime Supernal Unions.
The Rebbe Rashab based this interpretation on a story he heard from the Baal Shem Tov when he visited his holy resting place at Mezhibuzh. At that time the Baal Shem Tov related that on his 16th birthday (18 Elul, 5474/1714) he had found himself in a small village. The local innkeeper was a very simple person who hardly knew how to read the prayers, let alone understand what they meant. He was, however, a very G‑d-fearing individual. On all matters and at all times he would quote the same phrase in the Holy Tongue, “Blessed be He; may He be blessed forever.” His wife too would always say in Yiddish, “Praised be His holy Name.”
That day, in accordance with the age-old custom of meditating in solitude for some time on one’s birthday, the Baal Shem Tov went off by himself to the fields. He recited chapters of Tehillim and engaged in unifying the Divine Names that emanate from its holy verses.
“As I was immersed in this,” the Baal Shem Tov related, “and unaware of my surroundings, I suddenly saw Elijah the Prophet. There was a smile on his lips. I was taken aback. For when I had been with the tzaddik R. Meir, and also when I had been in the company of the hidden tzaddikim, I had merited to see Elijah, but this was the first time that I had merited his appearance while all alone. I wondered about it. And besides, why was he smiling?
“Elijah said to me: ‘You are toiling so mightily to have the proper mystical intentions in bringing about the Supernal Unions of the Divine Names that emanate from the verses of Tehillim. And Aharon Shlomo the innkeeper and his wife Zlata Rivkah know nothing of the Unifications that result from his “Blessed be He; may He be blessed forever,” and from her “Praised be His holy Name.” Yet the Divine harmonies they create resonate in all the heavens more than all the Unifications of the Holy Name that are effected by the mystical intentions of the greatest tzaddikim.’
“Elijah described to me,” continued the Baal Shem Tov, “the great pleasure, as it were, that results in heaven from the words of praise and adoration uttered by men, women and children. Especially so, when they come from the mouths of simple folk. And most especially, when these praises are offered consistently, for then these people are constantly united with G‑d in pure faith and with an undivided heart.”
* * *
Having recounted this episode, the Rebbe Rashab added that it served as the basis for his additional interpretation of “breath untainted by sin” — that it applies not only to children but also to adults who act with pure faith and heartfelt simplicity, and who are thereby constantly united with G‑d, at all times and in all places.
* * *
The Rebbe stresses that this applies equally to adults only with respect to effecting Supernal Unions. With regard to maintaining the world’s existence, however, it is clear from the above-quoted teaching in Shabbat that this is accomplished only by the “breath of the mouths of schoolchildren,” for this breath possesses as well the first quality of “breath untainted by sin”: it proceeds from those for whom sin is a virtual impossibility.
With regard to the refinement of the world, this is accomplished by those adults to whom the second exposition of “breath untainted by sin” applies — that the breath itself is untainted. In a sense, indeed, their breath has an even greater effect than the “breath of the mouths of schoolchildren.” For as the Rebbe Rashab further explains, children do not relate to the corporeality of this world, but only to its atmosphere. Since adults have a relationship with the corporeality of this world as well, the Supernal Unions that they effect refine its very crassness and corporeality.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | P. 245b, quoted above. |
| 2. | P. 201b, quoted above. |
| 3. | Brackets are in the original text. |
| 4. | Note of the Rebbe: “Rather than ‘one’.” |
| 5. | Note of the Rebbe: “Rather than ‘appointed over the garments.”’ |
| 6. | Note of the Rebbe: “The expressions ‘is found’ and ‘are housed’ both relate [these garments] specifically to the Second Chamber. There is, however, some difficulty here, for it would seem that an even stronger statement is made there — that the garment is actually fashioned in this Chamber through the performance of the mitzvot.” |
| 7. | Shabbat 119b; see also the Addendum below. |
| 8. | Shabbat 119b; see also the Addendum below. |
| 9. | Sefer HaSichot 5703, p. 163ff. |
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
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Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
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Positive Commandment 156
Eliminating Chametz
"On the first day, you shall remove leaven from your houses"—Exodus 12:15.
We are commanded to eliminate all chametz (leavened foods) from our possession on the fourteenth of Nissan, the eve of Passover.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Eliminating Chametz
Positive Commandment 156
Translated by Berel Bell
The 156th mitzvah is that we are commanded to remove chometz [leaven] from our possession on the 14th of Nissan. This is the mitzvah of "removing the leaven."
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He),1 "On the day before [Pesach] you must remove the leaven from your homes."
Our Sages called this mitzvah, "biyur" ["clearing out"]; i.e. clearing out the chometz [from his possession.]
The Jerusalem Talmud, tractate Sanhedrin2 says, "For possessing chometz one violates both a positive and a negative commandment. The positive commandment is biyur, as the verse says, 'you must remove the leaven from your homes'; the negative commandment is, 'no leaven may be found in your homes.' "3
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the beginning of tractate Pesachim.
FOOTNOTES
1.Ex. 12:15. Here in Sefer Hamitzvos, as in early editions of Mishneh Torah, the Rambam rules that the Biblical commandment is the actual removal of the chometz. However, his conclusion in Hilchos Chometz U'matzah, 2:2, is that the Biblical commandment is fulfilled by verbal renunciation of ownership (bittul), and the actual removal is a Rabbinic command. See Kapach, 5731, note 75.
2.5:3.
3.Ex. 12:19.
Negative Commandment 197
Consuming Chametz on Passover
"No leavened bread shall be eaten"—Exodus 13:3.
It is forbidden to consume chametz (leavened foods) for the duration of Passover.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Consuming Chametz on Passover
Negative Commandment 197
Translated by Berel Bell
The 197th prohibition is that we are forbidden to eat chometz on Pesach.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,1 "No chometz may be eaten."
If chometz was eaten intentionally, the punishment is kores,2 as the verse3 states clearly, "Whoever eats chometz shall receive kores." If it was eaten unintentionally, the person must bring a sin-offering.4
The details of this commandment are explained in tractate Pesachim.
FOOTNOTES
1.Ex. 13:3.
2.See Principle 14, where the Rambam defines kores as losing one's portion in the World to Come (unless the person does teshuvah before he dies).
3.Ex. 12:15.
4.See P69.
Negative Commandment 198
Eating a Mixture Containing Chametz
"You shall eat nothing leavened"—Exodus 12:20.
We are forbidden to consume on Passover foods or beverages that contain any chametz (leavened) ingredients, such as beer.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Eating a Mixture Containing Chametz
Negative Commandment 198
Translated by Berel Bell
The 198th prohibition is that we are forbidden from eating anything with chometz [leaven] mixed into it, even if it is not bread; e.g. muryas,1 kutach,2 etc.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,3 "Do not eat anything leavened."
The Mechilta says, "The verse, 'Do not eat anything leavened,' comes to prohibit kutach from Babylon, beer from Medea, and vinegar from Edom. One might think that the punishment for eating them is kores; therefore the Torah says [in the verse6 which speaks of kores], 'chometz' — [one receives kores] only for that which is completely chometz, not for that which only has chometz mixed in. Why, then, are they mentioned at all? To teach us that one transgresses a negative commandment [by eating them]."4
It is explained in Pesachim5 that although one is forbidden from eating [anything with chometz mixed in], one does not receive lashes unless the mixture contained at least a k'zayis of chometz bich'dei achilas pras.6 If there was less chometz than this mixed in, one does not receive lashes for eating the mixture.
FOOTNOTES
1.A type of dip.
2.A dip containing whey, salt, and pieces of bread. See Pesachim 42a.
3.Ex. 12:20.
4.This passage proves that this commandment is distinct from N197, which has a different punishment.
5.43a.
6.I.e. if the mixture contained at least 1/6 chometz. Literally, "if one ate a pras" of the mixture, one would eat at least a k'zayis of chometz. Since there are approximately 6 zeisim in a pras (see Hilchos Chometz U'matzah, Ch.1, Hal.6), lashes are given only if the mixture was at least 1/6 chometz.
Rambam:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Teshuvah Teshuvah - Chapter Six
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Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassTeshuvah - Chapter Six
1
There are many verses in the Torah and the words of the prophets which appear to contradict this fundamental principle. [Thus,] the majorities of the people err because of them and think that the Holy One, blessed be He, does decree that a person commit evil or good and that a person's heart is not given over to him to direct it towards any path he desires.
Behold, I will explain a great and fundamental principle [of faith] on the basis of which the interpretation of those verses can be understood. [As a preface,] when an individual or the people of a country sin, the sinner consciously and willfully committing that sin, it is proper to exact retribution from him as explained. The Holy One, blessed be He, knows how to exact punishment: There are certain sins for which justice determines that retribution be exacted in this world; on the sinner's person, on his possessions, or on his small children.
[Retribution is exacted upon a person's] small children who do not possess intellectual maturity and have not reached the age where they are obligated to perform mitzvot [because these children] are considered as his property. [This concept is alluded to] by the verse [Deuteronomy 24:16]: "A man will die because of his own sins." [We may infer: This rule only applies] after one has become "a man."
There are other sins for which justice determines that retribution be exacted in the world to come with no damages coming to the transgressor in this world. There are [other] sins for which retribution is taken in this world and in the world to come.
א
פסוקים הרבה יש בתורה ובדברי נביאים שהן נראין כסותרין עיקר זה ונכשלין בהן רוב האדם ויעלה על דעתן מהן שהקב"ה הוא גוזר על האדם לעשות רעה או טובה ושאין לבו של אדם מסור לו להטותו לכל אשר ירצה והרי אני מבאר עיקר גדול שממנו תדע פירוש כל אותן הפסוקים בזמן שאדם אחד או אנשי מדינה חוטאים ועושה החוטא חטא שעושה מדעתו וברצונו כמו שהודענו ראוי להפרע ממנו והקדוש ברוך הוא יודע איך יפרע יש חטא שהדין נותן שנפרעים ממנו על חטאו בעולם הזה בגופו או בממונו או בבניו הקטנים שבניו של אדם הקטנים שאין בהם דעת ולא הגיעו לכלל מצות כקניינו הן וכתיב איש בחטאו ימות עד שיעשה איש ויש חטא שהדין נותן שנפרעין ממנו לעולם הבא ואין לעובר עליו שום נזק בעולם הזה ויש חטא שנפרעין ממנו בעולם הזה ולעולם הבא:
2
When does the above apply? When [the transgressor] does not repent. However, if he repents, his Teshuvah is a shield against retribution. Just as a person may sin consciously and willfully, he may repent consciously and willfully.
ב
במה דברים אמורים בזמן שלא עשה תשובה אבל אם עשה תשובה התשובה כתריס לפני הפורענות וכשם שהאדם חוטא מדעתו וברצונו כך הוא עושה תשובה מדעתו וברצונו:
3
A person may commit a great sin or many sins causing the judgment rendered before the True Judge to be that the retribution [administered to] this transgressor for these sins which he willfully and consciously committed is that his Teshuvah will be held back. He will not be allowed the chance to repent from his wickedness so that he will die and be wiped out because of the sin he committed.
This is implied by the Holy One, blessed be He's statement [related] by Isaiah [6:10]: “Make the heart of this people fat [and make their ears heavy. Smear over their eyes, lest they see with their eyes... understand with their hearts, repent and be healed].”
Similarly, [II Chronicles 36:16] states “ They mocked the messengers of God, scorned His words, scoffed at His prophets until the anger of God mounted up against His people until there was no remedy.”
Implied [by these verses] is that they willingly sinned, multiplying their iniquity until it was obliged to hold back their Teshuvah, [which is referred to as] the "remedy."
For these reasons, it is written in the Torah [Exodus 14:4], "I will harden Pharaoh's heart." Since, he began to sin on his own initiative and caused hardships to the Israelites who dwelled in his land as [Exodus 1:10] states: "Come, let us deal wisely with them," judgment obligated that he be prevented from repenting so that he would suffer retribution. Therefore, The Holy One, blessed be He, hardened his heart.
Why did [God] send Moses to [Pharaoh], telling him: “Send [forth the people], repent”? The Holy One, blessed be He, had already told that he would not release [the people], as [Exodus 9:30] states: “I realize that you and your subjects [still do not fear God].”
[The reason is stated in Exodus 9:16:] “For this alone, I have preserved you… so that My name will be spoken about throughout the earth],” i.e., to make known to all the inhabitants of the world that when the Holy One, blessed be He, withholds repentance from a sinner, he cannot repent, but he will die in the wickedness that he initially committed willfully.
Similarly, Sichon was held liable for repentance to be withheld from him, because of the sins he committed, as [Deuteronomy 2:30] states: “God, your Lord, hardened his spirit and strengthened his heart.”
Also, the Canaanites held back from repenting, because of their abominable acts, so that they would wage war against Israel as [Joshua 11:20] states: "This was inspired by God, to harden their hearts so that they should come against Israel in battle in order to utterly destroy them."
Similarly, the Israelites during the era of Elijah committed many iniquities. Repentance was held back from those who committed these many sins, as [I Kings 18:37] states: "You have turned their heart backwards," i.e., held repentance back from them.
In conclusion, the Almighty did not decree that Pharaoh should harm the Israelites that Sichon should sin in his land, that the Canaanites should perform abominable acts, or that the Israelites should worship idols. They all sinned on their own initiative and they were obligated to have Teshuvah held back from them.
ג
ואפשר שיחטא אדם חטא גדול או חטאים רבים עד שיתן הדין לפני דיין האמת שיהא הפרעון מזה החוטא על חטאים אלו שעשה ברצונו ומדעתו שמונעין ממנו התשובה ואין מניחין לו רשות לשוב מרשעו כדי שימות ויאבד בחטאו שיעשה הוא שהקב"ה אמרע"יישעיהו השמן לב העם הזה וגו' וכן הוא אומר ויהיו מלעיבים במלאכי האלהים ובוזים דבריו ומתעתעים בנביאיו עד עלות חמת ה' בעמו עד לאין מרפא כלומר חטאו ברצונם והרבו לפשוע עד שנתחייבו למנוע מהן התשובה שהיא המרפא לפיכך כתוב בתורה ואני אחזק את לב פרעה לפי שחטא מעצמו תחלה והרע לישראל הגרים בארצו שנאמר הבה נתחכמה לו נתן הדין למנוע התשובה ממנו עד שנפרע ממנו לפיכך חזק הקדוש ברוך הוא את לבו ולמה היה שולח לו ביד משה ואומר שלח ועשה תשובה וכבר אמר לו הקב"ה אין אתה משלח שנאמר ואתה ועבדיך ידעתי וגו' ואולם בעבור זאת העמדתיך כדי להודיע לבאי העולם שבזמן שמונע הקדוש ברוך הוא התשובה לחוטא אינו יכול לשוב אלא ימות ברשעו שעשה בתחילה ברצונו וכן סיחון לפי עונות שהיו לו נתחייב למונעו מן התשובה שנאמר כי הקשה ה' אלהיך את רוחו ואמץ את לבבו וכן הכנענים לפי תועבותיהן מנע מהן התשובה עד שעשו מלחמה עם ישראל שנאמר כי מאת ה' היתה לחזק את לבם לקראת המלחמה עם ישראל למען החרימם וכן ישראל בימי אליהו לפי שהרבו לפשוע מנע מאותן המרבים לפשוע תשובה שנאמר ואתה הסבות את לבם אחורנית כלומר מנעת מהן התשובה:
נמצאת אומר שלא גזר האל על פרעה להרע לישראל ולא על סיחון לחטוא בארצו ולא על הכנענים להתעיב ולא על ישראל לעבוד עכו"ם אלא כולן חטאו מעצמן וכולן נתחייבו למנוע מהן התשובה:
4
This is what is implied in the requests of the righteous and the prophets in their prayers, [asking] God to help them on the path of truth, as David pleaded [Psalms 86:11]: "God, show me Your way that I may walk in Your truth;" i.e., do not let my sins prevent me from [reaching] the path of truth which will lead me to appreciate Your way and the oneness of Your name.
A similar intent [is conveyed] by the request [Psalms 51:14]: "Support me with a spirit of magnanimity;" i.e., let my spirit [be willing] to do Your will and do not cause my sins to prevent me from repenting. Rather, let the choice remain in my hand until I repent and comprehend and appreciate the path of truth. In a similar way, [one must interpret] all the [verses] which resemble these.
ד
וכענין זה שואלין הצדיקים והנביאים בתפלתם מאת ה' לעזרם על האמת כמו שאמר דוד הורני ה' דרכך כלומר אל ימנעוני חטאי דרך האמת שממנה אדע דרכך ויחוד שמך וכן זה שאמר ורוח נדיבה תסכמני כלומר תניח רוחי לעשות חפצך ואל יגרמו לי חטאי למונעני מתשובה אלא תהיה הרשות בידי עד שאחזור ואבין ואדע דרך האמת ועל דרך זו כל הדומה לפסוקים אלו:
5
What was implied by David's statement [Psalms 25:8-9]: "God is good and upright, therefore, he instructs sinners in the path. He guides the humble [in the path of justice and] teaches the humble His way]"? That He sends them prophets to inform them of the path of God and to encourage them to repent.
Furthermore, it implies that He granted them the power to learn and to understand. This attribute is present in all men: As long as a person follows the ways of wisdom and righteousness, he will desire them and pursue them. This [may be inferred from] the statement of our Sages of blessed memory: "One who comes to purify [himself] is helped;" i.e., he finds himself assisted in this matter.
[A question may still arise, for] behold, it is written in the Torah [Genesis 15:13]: "They shall enslave them and oppress them," [seemingly implying that] He decreed that the Egyptians would commit evil.
Similarly, it is written [Deuteronomy 31:16]: "And this nation will arise and stray after the alien gods of the land," [seemingly implying that] He decreed that Israel would serve idols. If so, why did He punish them?
Because He did not decree that a particular person would be the one who strayed. Rather, each and every one of those who strayed to idol-worship [could have chosen] not to serve idols if he did not desire to serve them. The Creator merely informed [Moses] of the pattern of the world.
To what can this be compared? To someone who says, there will be righteous and wicked people in this nation. [Thus,] a wicked person cannot say that because God told Moses that there will be wicked people in Israel, it is decreed that he will be wicked. A similar concept applies regarding the statement [Deuteronomy 15:11]: "The poor will never cease to exist in the land."
Similarly, in regard to the Egyptians, each and every one of the Egyptians who caused hardship and difficulty for Israel had the choice to refrain from harming them, if he so desired, for there was no decree on a particular person. Rather, [God merely] informed [Abraham] that, in the future, his descendants would be enslaved in a land which did not belong to them.
We have already explained that it is beyond the potential of man to know how God knows what will be in the future.
ה
ומהו זה שאמר דוד טוב וישר ה' על כן יורה חטאים בדרך ידרך ענוים וגו' זה ששלח נביאים להם מודיעים דרכי ה' ומחזירין אותן בתשובה ועוד שנתן בהם כח ללמוד ולהבין שמדה זו בכל אדם שכל זמן שהוא נמשך בדרכי החכמה והצדק מתאוה להן ורודף אותם והוא מה שאמרו רז"ל בא לטהר מסייעין אותו כלומר ימצא עצמו נעזר על הדבר והלא כתוב בתורה ועבדום וענו אותם הרי גזר על המצריים לעשות רע וכתיב וקם העם הזה וזנה אחרי אלהי נכר הארץ הרי גזר על ישראל לעבוד כו"ם ולמה נפרע מהן לפי שלא גזר על איש פלוני הידוע שיהיה הוא הזונה אלא כל אחד ואחד מאותן הזונים לעבוד כו"ם אילו לא רצה לעבוד לא היה עובד ולא הודיעו הבורא אלא מנהגו של עולם הא למה זה דומה לאומר העם הזה יהיה בהן צדיקים ורשעים לא מפני זה יאמר הרשע כבר נגזר עליו שיהיה רשע מפני שהודיע למשה שיהיו רשעים בישראל כענין שנאמר כי לא יחדל אביון מקרב הארץ וכן המצריים כל אחד ואחד מאותן המצירים והמריעים לישראל אילו לא רצה להרע להם הרשות בידו שלא גזר על איש ידוע אלא הודיעו שסוף זרעו עתיד להשתעבד בארץ לא להם וכבר אמרנו שאין כח באדם לידע היאך ידע הקב"ה דברים העתידין להיות:
Rambam:
• 3 Chapters A Day: Chametz U'Matzah Chametz U'Matzah - Chapter Two, Chametz U'Matzah Chametz U'Matzah - Chapter Three, Chametz U'Matzah Chametz U'Matzah - Chapter Four
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Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassChametz U'Matzah - Chapter Two
1
It is a positive commandment from the Torah to destroy chametz before the time it becomes forbidden to be eaten, as [Exodus 12:15] states: "On the first day, destroy leaven from your homes." On the basis of the oral tradition, it is derived that "the first day" refers to the day of the fourteenth.
Proof of this matter is the verse from the Torah [Exodus 34:25]: "Do not slaughter the blood of My sacrifice with chametz," i.e., Do not slaughter the Pesach sacrifice while chametz exists [in your possession]. The slaughter of the Pesach sacrifice was on the fourteenth after midday.
א
מצות עשה מן התורה להשבית החמץ קודם זמן איסור אכילתו שנאמר ביום הראשון תשביתו שאור מבתיכם. ומפי השמועה למדו שהראשון זה הוא יום ארבעה עשר. ראיה לדבר זה מה שכתוב בתורה לא תשחט על חמץ דם זבחי כלומר לא תשחט הפסח ועדיין החמץ קיים. ושחיטת הפסח הוא יום ארבעה עשר אחר חצות:
Commentary on Halachah 1
2
What is the destruction to which the Torah refers? to nullify chametz within his heart and to consider it as dust, and to resolve within his heart that he possesses no chametz at all: all the chametz in his possession being as dust and as a thing of no value whatsoever.
ב
ומה היא השבתה זו האמורה בתורה היא שיבטלו בלבו ויחשוב אותו כעפר וישים בלבו שאין ברשותו חמץ כלל. ושכל חמץ שברשותו הרי הוא כעפר וכדבר שאין בו צורך כלל:
Commentary on Halachah 2
3
According to the Sages' decree, [the mitzvah involves] searching for chametz in hidden places and in any holes [within one's house], seeking it and removing it from all of one's domain.
Similarly, according to the Sages' decree, we must search [with the intent to] destroy chametz by candlelight, at night, at the beginning of the night of the fourteenth [of Nisan]. [They instituted the search at that time] because all people are at home at night, and the light of the candle is good for searching.
A study session should not be fixed for the end of the thirteenth of Nisan. Similarly, a wise man should not begin to study at this time, lest he become involved, and thus be prevented from searching for chametz at the beginning of the time.
ג
ומדברי סופרים לחפש אחר החמץ במחבואות ובחורים ולבדוק ולהוציאו מכל גבולו. וכן מדברי סופרים שבודקין ומשביתין החמץ בלילה מתחלת ליל ארבעה עשר לאור הנר. מפני שבלילה כל העם מצויין בבתים ואור הנר יפה לבדיקה. ואין קובעין מדרש בסוף יום שלשה עשר. וכן החכם לא יתחיל לקרות בעת זו שמא ימשך וימנע מבדיקת חמץ בתחלת זמנה:
Commentary on Halachah 3
4
We do not search [for chametz] by the light of the moon, the light of the sun, or the light of a torch; only by the light of a candle. To what does this apply? to the holes and hidden places. However, for a porch which has much light, searching it by the light of the sun is sufficient.
The middle of a courtyard does not need to be searched, because birds are found there, and they eat all the chametz which falls there.
ד
אין בודקין לא לאור הלבנה ולא לאור החמה ולא לאור האבוקה אלא לאור הנר. במה דברים אמורים בחורים ובמחבואות אבל אכסדרה שאורה רב אם בדקה לאור החמה דיו. ואמצע החצר אינו צריך בדיקה מפני שהעופות מצויים שם והן אוכלין כל חמץ שיפול שם:
Commentary on Halachah 4
5
A hole in the middle of [the wall of] the house between a person and his colleague [should be searched by both individuals], each searching to the extent his hand reaches. [Afterwards,] each must nullify in his heart [any chametz in] the remaining portion.
[This applies to a hole in a wall separating two Jewish homes.] However, a hole between [the home of] a Jew and a gentile should not be searched at all, lest the gentile fear that the Jew is casting spells against him. All that is necessary for him to do is to nullify it within his heart.
Any place where chametz is not brought in does not need to be searched.
ה
חור שבאמצע הבית שבין אדם לחבירו זה בודק עד מקום שידו מגעת וזה בודק עד מקום שידו מגעת והשאר מבטלו בלבו. אבל חור שבין ישראל לעכו"ם אינו בודק כלל שמא יאמר העכו"ם כשפים הוא עושה לי אלא מבטלו בלבו ודיו. וכל מקום שאין מכניסין בו חמץ אינו צריך בדיקה:
Commentary on Halachah 5
6
The upper and lower holes [in the wall] of a house, the roof of a balcony, a cow stall, chicken coop, hayloft, wine cellars or storage rooms for oil when supplies are not taken from them [in the midst of a meal], and storage rooms for large fish, need not be searched unless one brought chametz into them.
In contrast, storage rooms for beer, storage rooms for wine from which supplies are taken [in the midst of a meal], storage rooms for salt, candles, small fish, wood, and brine, the middle holes in a wall, and all similar places must be searched, for chametz is usually brought into them. However, if a person knows that he did not bring chametz into these places, they do not have to be searched.
When searching a wine cellar, [all that is necessary to] search are the two outer rows--i.e., the highest row and the one below it.
ו
חורי הבית התחתונים והעליונים וגג היציע ורפת בקר ולולין ומתבן ואוצרות יין ואוצרות שמן שאינו מסתפק מהן ובית דגים גדולים אינן צריכין בדיקה אלא אם כן הכניס להן חמץ. אבל אוצרות שכר ואוצרות יין שמסתפק ממנו ובית דגים קטנים ובית העצים ובית המורייס וחורי הבית האמצעים וכיוצא באלו צריכין בדיקה שסתמן שמכניסין להן חמץ. ואם ידע בודאי שלא הכניס שם חמץ אינו צריך בדיקה. וכשבודק המרתף בודק ממנו שתי שורות החיצונות שהן העליונה ושלמטה ממנה:
Commentary on Halachah 6
7
We do not suspect that a weasel dragged chametz into a place where it is not usually brought. Were we to suspect [that chametz would be taken] from house to house, we would also have to suspect [that chametz might be taken] from city to city. There is no end to the matter.
A person who checked on the night of the fourteenth and placed ten loaves of chametz [on the side] and [later] found [only] nine must suspect [that chametz is present in his home,] and [hence], must search a second time, for definitely it was taken by a weasel or mouse.
ז
אין חוששין שמא גררה חולדה חמץ למקום שאין מכניסין בו חמץ שאם נחוש מבית לבית נחוש מעיר לעיר ואין לדבר סוף. בדק ליל ארבעה עשר והניח עשר חלות ומצא תשע הרי זה חושש וצריך לבדוק פעם שניה שהרי גררה חולדה או עכבר בודאי:
Commentary on Halachah 7
8
Similarly, a person who saw a mouse enter the house with chametz in its mouth after he searched [for chametz] must search a second time. [This applies] even if he found crumbs in the middle of the house; we do not necessarily presume that it already ate the bread in this place and that these are its crumbs. Rather, we suspect that it left the bread in a hole or window, and that these crumbs were [originally] located there. Hence, he must search again.
If he does not find anything, he must search through the entire house. If he found the bread that the mouse took when he entered, he need not search [further].
ח
וכן אם ראה עכבר שנכנס לבית וחמץ בפיו אחר בדיקה צריך לבדוק פעם שניה אע"פ שמצא פירורין באמצע הבית אין אומרין כבר אכל אותה הפת במקום זה והרי הפירורין אלא חוששין שמא הניחה בחור או בחלון ואלו הפירורין שם היו. ולפיכך חוזר ובודק. אם לא מצא כלום הרי זה בודק כל הבית ואם מצא אותה הפת שנטלה העכבר ונכנס אין צריך בדיקה:
Commentary on Halachah 8
9
[A person who] saw an infant enter an already checked house with bread in his hand, followed him inside and discovered crumbs, need not search [again]. We may confidently assume that he ate the bread and that these crumbs fell from him while eating. Infants generally crumble food while eating, though mice do not.
If he does not find any crumbs, he must check [again].
ט
ראה תינוק שנכנס לבית בדוק ובידו ככר ונכנס אחריו ומצא פירורין אינו צריך בדיקה שחזקתו שאכלו ואלו הפירורין שנפלה ממנו בשעת אכילה שדרך התינוק לפרר בעת אכילתו ואין דרך עכבר לפרר. ואם לא מצא פירורין כלל צריך לבדוק:
Commentary on Halachah 9
10
Nine piles of matzah and one of chametz were placed [aside]. A mouse came and took [something from one of the piles] and entered a house that had been checked. If we do not know whether it took either chametz or matzah, the house must be checked [again], for every instance where [a doubt arises and the presence of both the permitted and forbidden substances] is fixed, [is judged] as if they were present in equal amounts.
י
הניח תשעה צבורין של מצה ואחד של חמץ ובא עכבר ונטל ולא ידענו אם חמץ אם מצה נטל ונכנס לבית בדוק צריך לבדוק שכל הקבוע כמחצה על מחצה:
Commentary on Halachah 10
11
There were two piles: one of chametz and one of matzah, and two houses: one that had been searched and one that had not been searched. Two mice came; one took chametz and one took matzah [and they entered the houses] without our knowing which house the mouse holding the chametz entered...
Similarly, there were two houses which had been checked, with one pile of chametz before them. A mouse took [from the pile and entered a house]. However, we do not know which house he entered...
or we saw which one he entered, a person followed him, checked [for chametz], and did not find anything...
or he checked and found bread...
Similarly, when there were nine piles of matzah and one of chametz, and a loaf became separated from the piles, and we do not know whether it was chametz or matzah: If a mouse took the loaf that became separated and entered the house that had been checked:
In all of these cases, there is no need to check a second time, because the presence of the forbidden substance is not fixed.
יא
שני צבורין אחד של חמץ ואחד של מצה ושני בתים אחד בדוק ואחד שאינו בדוק ובאו שני עכברים זה נטל חמץ וזה נטל מצה ואין ידוע לאי זה בית נכנס זה שנטל החמץ וכן שני בתים בדוקין וצבור אחד של חמץ ובא עכבר ונטל ואין ידוע לאי זה בית נכנס. או שידע שנכנס לאחד מהן ונכנס אחריו ובדק ולא מצא כלום או שבדק ומצא ככר. או שהיו תשעה צבורין של מצה ואחד של חמץ ופירש ככר מהן ואין ידוע אם חמץ או מצה ובא עכבר ונטל הככר שפירש ונכנס לבית בדוק בכל אלו אינו צריך לבדוק פעם שניה שאין כאן קבוע:
Commentary on Halachah 11
12
A person who placed chametz in one corner and discovered it in another...
or who put aside nine loaves and found ten...
or a mouse came and took the chametz, and there is a doubt whether he entered this house or not...
In all these cases, he must search [the house again].
יב
הניח החמץ בזוית זו ומצאו בזוית אחר או שהניח תשע חלות ומצא עשר. או שבא עכבר ונטל החמץ וספק נכנס לבית זה או לא נכנס. בכל אלו צריך לבדוק:
Commentary on Halachah 12
13
A mouse entered a house with a loaf in its mouth. Afterwards, a mouse left there with a loaf in its mouth; we presume that the same mouse who entered originally was the one which ultimately left, and [the owner] need not search [again]. If the first mouse which entered was black and the one which left was white, he must search [again].
If a mouse entered with a loaf in its mouth and a weasel left there with a loaf in its mouth, he must search [again]. If a weasel left there with a mouse and a loaf in its mouth, he does not have to search [again]. [We may presume] that this is the loaf which was in the mouse's mouth.
If a snake enters a hole with a loaf in its mouth, there is no obligation to bring a snakecharmer to remove it.
יג
נכנס עכבר לבית וככר בפיו ויצא עכבר משם וככר בפיו אומרים הוא הראשון שנכנס הוא האחרון שיצא ואינו צריך לבדוק. היה הראשון שנכנס שחור וזה שיצא לבן צריך לבדוק. נכנס עכבר וככר בפיו ויצאתה משם חולדה וככר בפיה צריך לבדוק. יצאת משם חולדה ועכבר וככר בפיה אינו צריך לבדוק שזה הככר הוא שהיה בפי העכבר. נחש שנכנס לחור ופת בפיו אין חייב להביא חבר להוציאו:
Commentary on Halachah 13
14
When chametz is [discovered] on a very high beam, [the owner] is obligated to bring a ladder and remove it, for it might fall from the beam. If chametz is in a pit, [the owner] is not obligated to bring it up. All that is necessary is for him to nullify [ownership over it] in his heart.
יד
כזית חמץ בשמי קורה מחייבין אותו להביא סולם להורידו שפעמים יפול משמי קורה. היה חמץ בבור אין מחייבין אותו להעלותו אלא מבטלו בלבו ודיו:
Commentary on Halachah 14
15
A block of yeast which was designated to be used as a seat: If its surface was coated with mortar, it is [considered as] destroyed and we are permitted to keep it [on Pesach].
The dough in the cracks of a kneading trough: If a size of an olive [of dough] exists in one place, one is obligated to destroy [the dough under all circumstances]. Should there be less than that amount: If it serves to reinforce the broken pieces of the kneading trough or to plug a hole, it is [considered] negligible because of its minimal size. If not, one is obligated to destroy it.
Two [quantities of dough, each] half the size of an olive were found in separate places, and a string of dough connects them: We check whether the [pieces of] dough themselves are lifted up when the string of dough is picked up. If they are, one is obligated to destroy [them]. If not, one is not obligated to destroy [them].
טו
כיפת שאור שייחדה לישיבה אם טח פניה בטיט הרי זו בטלה ומותר לקיימה. בצק שבסדקי העריבה אם יש כזית במקום אחד חייב לבער. ואם לאו אם היה עשוי לחזק בו שברי העריבה או לסתום בו נקב בטל במיעוטו ואם לאו חייב לבער. היו בו שני חצאי זיתים בשני מקומות וחוט של בצק ביניהם רואין כל שאילו ינטל החוט ניטלין עמו חייב לבער ואם לאו אינו צריך לבער:
Commentary on Halachah 15
16
To what does the above apply? to [pieces of dough stuck to] a kneading trough. However, [if a similar situation is discovered] within a house, one is obligated to destroy [the dough] even if, when the [connecting] thread [of dough] is lifted up, the pieces of dough are not raised up with it. [This stringency was instituted] because the [smaller portions] may sometimes be brought together.
If half of an olive size [of dough] was found in a house and another half in the second storey;
or if half of the size of an olive was found in a house and another half in [the adjoining] porch;
or if half of the size of an olive was found in a room and another half in an inner room;
Since these portions of dough which are less than the size of an olive are found stuck to the walls, beams, or floors [of the house], one is not obligated to destroy them. All that is necessary is to nullify them in one's heart.
טז
במה דברים אמורים בעריבה אבל בבית אף על פי שאם ינטל החוט אין ניטלין עמו חייב לבער מפני שפעמים מקבץ אותן. היה חצי זית בבית וחצי זית בעליה. חצי זית בבית וחצי זית באכסדרה. חצי זית בבית זה וחצי זית בבית שלפנים ממנו. הואיל ואלו החצאי זיתים דבוקין בכתלים או בקורות או בקרקעות אינו חייב לבער אלא מבטל בלבו ודיו:
Commentary on Halachah 16
17
A person who rents out a house on the fourteenth [of Nisan]: Behold, [the tenant may operate] under the presumption that it has been searched and he need not search.
[Furthermore,] even if we must assume that the person who rented out the house did not search [it], should a woman or a minor say: "We have searched it," they are believed, for everyone's statements are accepted with regard to the destruction of chametz.
Everyone is acceptable to search [for chametz], even women, slaves, and minors. The latter applies only when the minor has sufficient understanding to search.
יז
המשכיר בית סתם בארבעה עשר הרי זה בחזקת בדוק ואינו צריך לבדוק. ואם הוחזק זה המשכיר שלא בדק ואמרו אשה או קטן אנו בדקנוהו הרי אלו נאמנין שהכל נאמנים על ביעור חמץ. והכל כשרין לבדיקה ואפילו נשים ועבדים וקטנים והוא שיהיה קטן שיהיה בו דעת לבדוק:
Commentary on Halachah 17
18
A person who rents a house to a colleague: If the fourteenth [of Nisan] falls before [the landlord] gave the keys to [the tenant], the landlord is responsible for searching. If the fourteenth falls after the keys have been transferred, the tenant is responsible for checking.
When a person rents out a house under the presumption that it has been searched and [later, the tenant] discovers that it has not been searched, [the tenant] is responsible for searching it and [cannot nullify the transaction by claiming that it was carried out] under false premises. This applies even when it is customary to hire people to search, since, behold, he is performing a mitzvah.
יח
המשכיר בית לחבירו אם עד שלא מסר לו המפתח חל ארבעה עשר על המשכיר לבדוק. ואם משמסר המפתח חל ארבעה עשר על השוכר לבדוק. המשכיר בית בחזקת שהוא בדוק ונמצא שאינו בדוק על השוכר לבדוק ואינו מקח טעות. ואפילו במקום שבודקים בשכר שהרי מצוה הוא עושה:
Commentary on Halachah 18
19
A person who sets out to sea or one who leaves in a caravan within thirty days [of Pesach] is obligated to search [for chametz]. [If he leaves] before thirty days [prior to Pesach], he is not obligated to search. However, if he intends to return before Pesach, he must search before departing, lest he [be delayed and] return Pesach eve at nightfall, when he will have no opportunity to destroy [the chametz]. However, if he does not intend to return, he does not have to search.
Similarly, a person who makes his house a storage room: If he does so within thirty days [of Pesach], he is required to search and then bring in the goods he wants to store. Over thirty days before Pesach: If he intends to remove the goods before Pesach, he is required to search and then bring in the goods he wants to store; if he does not intend to remove the goods before Pesach, he does not have to search.
יטי
המפרש בים והיוצא בשיירא תוך שלשים יום זקוק לבדוק. קודם שלשים יום אינו צריך לבדוק. ואם דעתו לחזור קודם הפסח צריך לבדוק ואחר כך יצא שמא יחזור ערב הפסח בין השמשות ולא יהיה לו פנאי לבער. ואם אין דעתו לחזור אין צריך לבדוק. וכן העושה ביתו אוצר. תוך שלשים יום זקוק לבדוק ואחר כך כונס אוצרו לתוכו. קודם שלשים יום אם דעתו לפנותו קודם הפסח צריך לבדוק ואחר כך עושהו אוצר. ואם אין דעתו לפנותו קודם הפסח אינו צריך לבדוק
Commentary on Halachah 19
Chametz U'Matzah - Chapter Three
1
When a person checks and searches on the night of the fourteenth [of Nisan], he should remove [all] chametz from holes, hidden places, and corners, and gather the entire amount together, putting it in one place until the beginning of the sixth hour and [then,] destroy it. If he desires to destroy it on the night of the fourteenth, he may.
א
כשבודק אדם ומחפש בלילי ארבעה עשר מוציא את החמץ מן החורים ומן המחבואות ומן הזויות ומקבץ הכל ומניחו במקום אחד עד תחלת שעה ששית ביום ומבערו. ואם רצה לבערו בלילי ארבעה עשר מבערו
Commentary on Halachah 1
2
The chametz which was put aside on the night of the fourteenth, so that it can be eaten on the next day until [the end of] the fourth hour, should not be spread out and scattered in every place. Rather, it should be put away in a utensil or in a known corner, and care should be taken concerning it. Otherwise, should some be found lacking, he would have to search for it and check [the house] a second time, for mice might have dragged it away.
ב
החמץ שמניח בלילי ארבעה עשר כדי שיאכל ממנו למחר עד ארבע שעות אינו מניחו מפוזר ומפורד בכל מקום אלא מצניעו בכלי או בזוית ידוע ויזהר בו. שאם לא נזהר בו ומצאו חסר צריך לחפש אחריו ולבדוק פעם אחרת שמא גררוהו העכברים:
Commentary on Halachah 2
3
When the fourteenth falls on the Sabbath, we search for chametz on the night before Sabbath eve, the night of the thirteenth. We set aside [enough] chametz to eat until [the end of] the fourth hour on the Sabbath day. The remainder should be destroyed before the Sabbath.
If some of the chametz remains on the Sabbath day after the fourth hour, he should nullify it and cover it with a utensil until the conclusion of the first day of the festival, and then destroy it.
ג
חל ארבעה עשר להיות בשבת בודקין את החמץ בלילי ערב שבת שהוא ליל שלשה עשר ומניח מן החמץ כדי לאכול ממנו עד ארבע שעות ביום השבת. ומניחו במקום מוצנע והשאר מבערו מלפני השבת. ואם נשאר מן החמץ ביום השבת אחר ארבע שעות מבטלו וכופה עליו כלי עד מוצאי יום טוב הראשון ומבערו:
Commentary on Halachah 3
4
A person who has many loaves of bread that were Terumah and must burn them on the Sabbath eve; he should not mix the pure loaves together with the impure loaves and burn them. Rather, he should burn the pure loaves alone, the impure ones alone, and the ones [whose status is] left pending alone.
He should leave a sufficient quantity, but no more than necessary, of the pure loaves to eat until [the conclusion of] the fourth hour on the Sabbath day.
ד
היו לו ככרות רבות של תרומה וצריך לשורפה ערב שבת לא יערב הטהורה עם הטמאה וישרוף אלא שורף טמאה לעצמה וטהורה לעצמה ותלויה לעצמה. ומניח מן הטהורה כדי לאכול עד ארבע שעות ביום השבת בלבד:
Commentary on Halachah 4
5
A person who either inadvertently or intentionally did not search on the night of the fourteenth should search on the fourteenth in the morning. If he did not search on the fourteenth in the morning, he should search at the time for destroying [the chametz]. If he did not search at the time for destroying the chametz, he should search in the midst of the festival. If the festival passed without his having searched, he should search after the festival to destroy whatever chametz he might find which [he possessed] during Pesach, since we are prohibited against benefiting [from such chametz].
ה
מי ששכח או הזיד ולא בדק בליל ארבעה עשר בודק ארבעה עשר בשחרית. לא בדק בשחרית בודק בשעת הביעור. לא בדק בשעת הביעור בודק בתוך החג. עבר הרגל ולא בדק בודק אחר הרגל כדי שיבער מה שימצא מחמץ שעבר עליו הפסח מפני שהוא אסור בהנייה:
Commentary on Halachah 5
6
When a person checks for chametz on the night of the fourteenth, on the day of the fourteenth, and during the festival, he should recite the [following] blessing before he begins to search:
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the destruction of chametz.
He must check and search in all the places where chametz is brought in, as was explained. If he searches after the holiday, he does not recite a blessing.
ו
כשבודק החמץ בלילי ארבעה עשר או ביום ארבעה עשר או בתוך הרגל מברך קודם שיתחיל לבדוק ברוך אתה ה' אלהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו על ביעור חמץ. ובודק ומחפש בכל המקומות שמכניסין להם חמץ כמו שבארנו. ואם בדק לאחר הרגל אינו מברך:
Commentary on Halachah 6
7
When he concludes searching, if he searched on the fourteenth at night, or on the fourteenth during the day before the sixth hour, he should nullify all the chametz that remains in his possession that he does not see.
He should say: "All chametz which is in my possession that I have not seen, behold, it is nullified and must be considered as dust."
However, if he searched after the beginning of the sixth hour and onward, he can no longer nullify it, for it is not in his possession, since benefiting from it is forbidden.
ז
וכשגומר לבדוק אם בדק בליל ארבעה עשר או ביום ארבעה עשר קודם שש שעות צריך לבטל כל חמץ שנשאר ברשותו ואינו רואהו. ויאמר כל חמץ שיש ברשותי שלא ראיתיו הרי הוא בטל והרי הוא כעפר. אבל אם בדק מתחלת שעה ששית ולמעלה אינו יכול לבטל שהרי אינו ברשותו שכבר נאסר בהנייה:
Commentary on Halachah 7
8
Thus, a person who does not nullify [his chametz] before the sixth hour and discovers chametz which he:
considered important and [valued] in his heart,
then forgot at the time of the destruction of chametz,
and hence did not destroy,
transgresses [the prohibitions]: "[leaven] shall not be seen" and "[leaven] shall not be found."
Behold, he has neither destroyed nor nullified [his chametz], and nullification at this time would not be effective, for [the chametz] is no longer in his possession. Even so, the Torah considers it as if it were in his possession, to obligate him for [transgression of the commandments:] "[leaven] shall not be seen" and "[leaven] shall not be found."
[Therefore,] he is obligated to destroy it whenever he finds it. If he finds it on the day of a festival, he should cover it with a utensil until the evening, and then destroy it. [If the chametz] was consecrated property, there is no need to cover it with a utensil, for regardless, everyone shies away from its use.
ח
לפיכך אם לא בטל קודם שש ומשש שעות ולמעלה מצא חמץ שהיה דעתו עליו והיה בלבו ושכחו בשעת הביעור ולא בערו הרי זה עבר על לא יראה ולא ימצא שהרי לא ביער ולא בטל. ואין הבטול עתה מועיל לו כלום לפי שאינו ברשותו והכתוב עשהו כאילו הוא ברשותו לחייבו משום לא יראה ולא ימצא. וחייב לבערו בכל עת שימצאנו. ואם מצאו ביום טוב כופה עליו כלי עד לערב ומבערו. ואם של הקדש הוא אינו צריך לכפות עליו כלי שהכל פורשין ממנו:
Commentary on Halachah 8
9
A person who left his house before the time for destroying chametz in order to fulfill a mitzvah or in order to partake of a feast associated with a mitzvah - e.g., a feast associated with betrothal or marriage - and recalls that he possesses chametz at home. If it is possible for him to go back, destroy it, and then return to the fulfillment of the mitzvah, he should return. If not, he should nullify [ownership over the chametz] in his heart.
Should he go out to save from a troop of attackers, from a [flooding] river, from a fire, from [being buried] under fallen objects, all that is necessary is for him to nullify it in his heart. Should he go out for his own purposes and remember that he possesses chametz at home, he must return immediately.
How much [chametz] must be present [to require] him to return? the size of an egg. If there is less than the size of an egg, it is sufficient for him to nullify it in his heart.
ט
מי שיצא מביתו קודם שעת הביעור לעשות מצוה או לאכול סעודה של מצוה כגון סעודת ארוסין ונשואין ונזכר שיש לו חמץ בתוך ביתו. אם יכול לחזור ולבער ולחזור למצותו יחזור ואם לאו יבטל בלבו. יצא להציל מיד הגייס מן הנהר מן הדליקה ומן המפולת יבטל בלבו ודיו. יצא לצורך עצמו ונזכר שיש לו חמץ בתוך ביתו יחזור מיד. ועד כמה הוא חוזר עד כביצה היה פחות מכביצה מבטלו בלבו ודיו:
Commentary on Halachah 9
10
A person who put aside a rolled dough at home, [forgot about it,] went out and remembered after he had left [home]: Should he be sitting before his teacher and fear that the dough will become leavened before he can come [home], behold, he may nullify [ownership over the dough] in his heart before it becomes leaven.
However, if [the dough] has already become leavened, his nullification is not at all effective, for he has already violated [the prohibitions]: "[leaven] shall not be seen" and "[leaven] shall not be found." He must destroy it immediately when he returns home.
י
מי שהניח עיסה מגולגלת בתוך ביתו ויצא ונזכר אחר שיצא והוא יושב לפני רבו והיה ירא שמא תחמיץ קודם שיבא הרי זה מבטלו בלבו קודם שתחמיץ. אבל אם החמיצה אין הביטול מועיל כלום אלא כבר עבר על לא יראה ולא ימצא וחייב לבער מיד כשיחזור לביתו:
Commentary on Halachah 10
11
How must chametz be destroyed? It may be burned; crumbled and tossed to the wind; or thrown into the sea. If the chametz is hard and the sea will not cause it to dissolve speedily, one should crumble it and then throw it into the sea.
If other substances fell upon chametz and it was covered by three handbreadths or more of earth, it is considered as having been destroyed. [Nevertheless,] one must nullify [ownership over] it in one's heart if the sixth hour has not arrived.
A person who gave it to a gentile before the sixth hour need not destroy it.
If one burns it before the sixth hour, he is permitted to benefit from the charcoal that remains during Pesach. However, if he burns it from [the beginning of] the sixth hour and onward, since benefit may not be derived from it, it should not be used as fuel for an oven or range. One may not bake or cook with it.
If one did bake or cook [using the chametz as fuel], it is forbidden to derive benefit from that loaf or that dish. Similarly, it is forbidden to derive benefit from the charcoal that remains from it, because it was burned after benefit from it became forbidden.
יא
כיצד ביעור חמץ שורפו או פורר וזורה לרוח או זורקו לים. ואם היה החמץ קשה ואין הים מחתכו במהרה הרי זה מפררו ואחר כך זורקו לים. חמץ שנפלה עליו מפולת ונמצא עליו עפר שלשה טפחים או יותר הרי הוא כמבוער וצריך לבטל בלבו אם עדיין לא נכנסה שעה ששית. נתנו לעכו"ם קודם שעה ששית אינו צריך לבער. ואם שרפו קודם שעה ששית הרי זה מותר ליהנות בפחמין שלו בתוך הפסח. אבל אם שרפו משעה ששית ולמעלה הואיל והוא אסור בהנייה הרי זה לא יסיק בו תנור וכירים ולא יאפה בו ולא יבשל. ואם בשל או אפה אותה הפת ואותו התבשיל אסור בהנייה. וכן הפחמין שלו אסורין בהנייה הואיל ושורפו אחר שנאסר בהנייה
Commentary on Halachah 11
Chametz U'Matzah - Chapter Four
1
The Torah (Exodus 13:7) states: "No chametz shall be seen for you." Perhaps, if it were buried or entrusted to a gentile, he would not transgress the commandment? The Torah (Exodus 12:19) states: "leaven should not be found in your homes," [implying] even if it is buried or entrusted.
Perhaps he would only transgress [the commandment] when chametz is [found] in his house, but if it were outside his house, in a field or in another city, he would not violate [the commandment]? The Torah states (Exodus 13:7): "[No leaven shall be seen for you] in all your territory" - i.e., in all your possessions.
Perhaps a person will be obligated to remove from his property chametz that belongs to a gentile or that was consecrated? The Torah states (ibid.): "No [leaven] shall be seen for you." [We may infer]: You may not see your own [leaven]. However, you may see [leaven] belonging to others or which was consecrated.
א
כתוב בתורה לא יראה לך חמץ יכול אם טמן אותו או הפקיד אותו ביד עכו"ם לא יהיה עובר תלמוד לומר שאור לא ימצא בבתיכם אפילו הפקידו או הטמינו. יכול לא יהיה עובר אלא אם כן היה החמץ בביתו אבל אם היה רחוק מביתו בשדה או בעיר אחרת לא יהיה עובר תלמוד לומר בכל גבולך בכל רשותך. יכול יהא חייב לבער מרשותו חמץ של עכו"ם או של הקדש תלמוד לומר לא יראה לך שלך אי אתה רואה אבל אתה רואה של אחרים או של גבוה:
Commentary on Halachah 1
2
[From the above,] you can learn that chametz belonging to a Jew which was left in his possession, even though it is buried, is located in another city, or is entrusted to a gentile, causes him to violate [the commandments]: "[leaven] shall not be seen" and "[leaven] shall not be found."
Chametz that either was consecrated or belongs to a gentile, and is located within a Jew's property, even if it was with him at home--behold, this is permitted, for [the chametz] is not his. Even if it belonged to a resident alien under the authority of the Jewish people, we need not force him to remove the chametz from his property on Pesach.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to construct a partition at least ten handbreadths high in front of chametz belonging to a gentile, lest one come to use it. [With regard to chametz] that has been consecrated, this is unnecessary; everyone shies away from consecrated property, lest they infringe on [the prohibition of] מעילה.
ב
הא למדת שהחמץ של ישראל אם הניחו ברשותו אפילו טמון ואפילו בעיר אחרת ואפילו מופקד ביד עכו"ם הרי זה עובר משום לא יראה ולא ימצא. חמץ של הקדש או של עכו"ם שהיה אצל ישראל אפילו היה עמו בבית הרי זה מותר מפני שאינו שלו. ואפילו היה של גר תושב שיד ישראל שולטת עליו אין כופין אותו להוציא החמץ מרשותו בפסח. אבל צריך לעשות מחיצה גבוהה עשרה טפחים בפני חמצו של עכו"ם שמא יבוא להסתפק ממנו. אבל של הקדש אינו צריך מפני שהכל פורשין מן ההקדש כדי שלא יבואו לידי מעילה:
Commentary on Halachah 2
3
A gentile who entrusted his chametz to a Jew: Should the Jew accept the responsibility of paying for the worth of the chametz if it is lost or stolen--behold, he is obligated to destroy it. Since he accepted responsibility for it, it is considered as though it were his.
If he did not accept responsibility for it, he may keep it in his domain and may eat from it after Pesach, for it was in the gentile's possession.
ג
עכו"ם שהפקיד חמצו אצל ישראל אם קבל עליו ישראל אחריות שאם אבד או נגנב ישלם לו דמיו הרי זה חייב לבערו הואיל וקבל עליו אחריות נעשה כשלו. ואם לא קיבל עליו אחריות מותר לקיימו אצלו ומותר לאכול ממנו אחר הפסח שברשות העכו"ם הוא:
Commentary on Halachah 3
4
Should a gentile who forces his way upon people entrust his chametz to a Jew: If the Jew knows that if it is lost or stolen, [the gentile] will obligate him to pay for it--forcing and compelling him to pay even though he did not accept responsibility--he is obligated qo destroy it. It is considered as though it were his, for the gentile holds him responsible for it.
ד
עכו"ם אנס שהפקיד חמצו אצל ישראל אם יודע הישראל שאם אבד או נגנב מחייבו לשלמו וכופהו ואונסו לשלם אע"פ שלא קבל אחריות הרי זה חייב לבערו. שהרי נחשב כאילו הוא שלו מפני שמחייבו האנס באחריותו:
Commentary on Halachah 4
5
A Jew who gives his chametz to a gentile as security for a loan and tells him: "If I do not bring the money between today and such and such a date, you acquire the chametz [retroactively] from the present moment," the chametz is considered as in the gentile's possession and is permitted to be used after Pesach. This applies if the date specified was before Pesach.
However, if he did not tell him: "you acquire the chametz [retroactively] from the present moment," that chametz is considered as an article entrusted to the gentile, and it is forbidden to benefit from it after Pesach.
ה
ישראל שהרהין חמצו אצל העכו"ם אם אמר לו אם לא הבאתי לך מעות מכאן ועד יום פלוני קנה חמץ זה מעכשיו הרי זה ברשות העכו"ם ואותו החמץ מותר לאחר הפסח. והוא שיהיה אותו זמן שקבע לו קודם הפסח. ואם לא אמר לו קנה מעכשיו נמצא אותו החמץ כאילו הוא פקדון אצל העכו"ם ואסור בהנייה לאחר הפסח:
Commentary on Halachah 5
6
A Jew and a gentile are traveling together in a ship, and the Jew possesses chametz. When the fifth hour [on the fourteenth of Nisan] arrives--behold, he should sell it to the gentile or give it to him as a present. He may return and buy it back from him after Pesach, as long as he gives it to him as an outright present.
ו
ישראל ועכו"ם שהיו באין בספינה והיה חמץ ביד ישראל והגיעה שעה חמישית הרי זה מוכרו לעכו"ם או נותנו לו במתנה וחוזר ולוקחו ממנו אחר הפסח. ובלבד שיתננו לו מתנה גמורה:
Commentary on Halachah 6
7
The Jew may tell the gentile: "Rather than buy a manah's worth [of chametz], come and buy two hundred [dinars'] worth [of chametz]... Rather than buy from a gentile, come and buy from a Jew. Perhaps I will need [chametz] and will buy from you after Pesach."
However, he cannot sell or give [chametz] to him on condition. If he does so--behold, he transgresses [the prohibitions]: "[leaven] shall not be seen" and "[leaven] shall not be found."
ז
אומר ישראל לעכו"ם עד שאתה לוקח במנה בוא וקח במאתים. עד שאתה לוקח מעכו"ם בוא וקח מישראל שמא אצטרך ואקח ממך אחר הפסח. אבל לא ימכור ולא יתן לו על תנאי. ואם עשה כן הרי זה עובר על בל יראה ובל ימצא:
Commentary on Halachah 7
8
[A person] who possesses a mixture of chametz transgresses [the prohibitions]: "[leaven] shall not be seen" and "[leaven] shall not be found" because of it; for example: pickle-brine, Babylonian kotach, and Median beer, which are made from flour.
[The same applies] to other similar substances which are eaten. However, a substance which contains a mixture of chametz, but is not fit to be eaten, may be kept on Pesach.
ח
תערובת חמץ עוברין עליה משום בל יראה ובל ימצא. כגון המורייס וכותח הבבלי ושכר המדי שעושין אותו מן הקמח. וכל כיוצא באלו מדברים הנאכלים. אבל דבר שיש בו תערובת חמץ ואינו ראוי לאכילה הרי זה מותר לקיימו בפסח:
Commentary on Halachah 8
9
How is [the latter principle] applied? A tanner's trough into which one placed flour and animal hides: Even if this was done one hour before [the time chametz must be] destroyed, one may keep it. If one placed flour [in the trough] without animal hides three days before [the time chametz must be] destroyed, one may keep it, for the [chametz] has surely become spoiled and rotten. Within three days, one is obligated to destroy it.
ט
כיצד עריבת העבדנין שנתן לתוכן קמח ועורות אפילו נתנו שעה אחת קודם הביעור הרי זה מותר לקיימו. ואם לא נתן העורות ונתן הקמח קודם שלשה ימים לשעת הביעור מותר לקיימו שהרי נפסד והבאיש. תוך שלשה ימים חייב לבער:
Commentary on Halachah 9
10
Similarly, an eye salve, a compress, a plaster, or Tiriac into which chametz was placed may be kept on Pesach, for the nature of the chametz is spoiled.
י
וכן הקילור והרטיה והאספלנית והתריא"ק שנתן לתוכן חמץ מותר לקיימן בפסח שהרי נפסדה צורת החמץ:
Commentary on Halachah 10
11
Bread itself which has become moldy and is no longer fit for consumption by a dog, or a compress that has become spoiled, need not be destroyed.
Clothes which were washed with starch and, similarly, papers which were stuck together with chametz, and other like cases, may be kept on Pesach. Their [possession] does not constitute a [violation of the prohibitions]: "[leaven] shall not be seen" and "[leaven] shall not be found," for they no longer have the form of chametz.
יא
הפת עצמה שעפשה ונפסלה מלאכול הכלב ומלוגמא שנסרחה אינו צריך לבער. בגדים שכבסו אותן בחלב חטה וכן ניירות שדבקו אותן בחמץ וכל כיוצא בזה מותר לקיימן בפסח ואין בהן משום לא יראה ולא ימצא שאין צורת החמץ עומדת:
Commentary on Halachah 11
12
A substance which is not eaten by people, or one which is generally not eaten by people, with which chametz has become mixed-- e.g., Tiriac and the like, though one may keep it [during Pesach], eating it is prohibited until after Pesach. Even though it contains only the smallest amount of chametz, eating it is forbidden.
יב
דבר שנתערב בו חמץ ואינו מאכל לאדם כלל. או שאינו מאכל כל אדם כגון התריא"ק וכיוצא בו אע"פ שמותר לקיימו אסור לאכלו עד אחר הפסח. ואע"פ שאין בו מן החמץ אלא כל שהוא הרי זה אסור לאכלו
Commentary on Halachah 12
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class
Sunday, Kislev 1, Rosh Chodesh*, 5704
Torah lessons: Chumash: Vayeitsei, first parsha with Rashi.
Tehillim: 1-9.
Tanya: To understand the (p. 601)...the Minor Visage...(p. 603).
There were periods of time when R. Yekusiel Liepler, a chassid of the Alter Rebbe, davened Shacharit, Mincha and Maariv one right after the other; there was no time for intervals.
FOOTNOTES
*.This day is celebrated by chassidim as marking the good health, in 5738 (1977), of the Rebbe of righteous memory.
Daily Thought:
Mirror
A mirror is simple. It has no shape or image of its own. If it did, it would not be able to reflect the image of other things. Simplicity is what makes a mirror a mirror.
The Infinite Light from which our world emerges is also a mirror—because it is simple. Relative to our world it is a formless nothingness. So simple and void, it feels to us as though we have no source at all.
So formless, it is able to reflect whatever form we choose to show it from below.
Try it. Celebrate and the heavens will celebrate with you. Look up with a smile and He will smile back at you.
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