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Monday, November 20, 2017

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Chabad.org Calendar of New York, New York, United States - TODAY IN JUDAISM: 2 Kislev, 5778 - Monday, November 20, 2017 - -

- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Monday, 2 Kislev, 5778 · November 20, 2017
Torah Reading:
Vayeitzei: Genesis 28:10-22Genesis 28:10 Ya‘akov went out from Be’er-Sheva and traveled toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had set. He took a stone from the place, put it under his head and lay down there to sleep. 12 He dreamt that there before him was a ladder resting on the ground with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of Adonai were going up and down on it. 13 Then suddenly Adonai was standing there next to him; and he said, “I am Adonai, the God of Avraham your [grand]father and the God of Yitz’chak. The land on which you are lying I will give to you and to your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the grains of dust on the earth. You will expand to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. By you and your descendants all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15 Look, I am with you. I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back into this land, because I won’t leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16 Ya‘akov awoke from his sleep and said, “Truly, Adonai is in this place — and I didn’t know it!” 17 Then he became afraid and said, “This place is fearsome! This has to be the house of God! This is the gate of heaven!” 18 Ya‘akov got up early in the morning, took the stone he had put under his head, set it up as a standing-stone, poured olive oil on its top 19 and named the place Beit-El [house of God]; but the town had originally been called Luz.
20 Ya‘akov took this vow: “If God will be with me and will guard me on this road that I am traveling, giving me bread to eat and clothes to wear, 21 so that I return to my father’s house in peace, then Adonai will be my God; 22 and this stone, which I have set up as a standing-stone, will be God’s house; and of everything you give me, I will faithfully return one-tenth to you.”
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Daily Quote: When the people of Israel said, "All that G-d has spoken, we will do, and we will hear" (Exodus 24:7) -- giving precedence to "we will do" over "we will hear" -- a heavenly voice issued forth and exclaimed: "Who revealed to My children this secret, which is known only to the angels?" (Talmud, Shabbat 88a)
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Vayeitzei, 2nd Portion Genesis 29:1-29:17 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)

Genesis Chapter 29

1Now Jacob lifted his feet and went to the land of the people of the East. אוַיִּשָּׂ֥א יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב רַגְלָ֑יו וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ אַ֥רְצָה בְנֵי־קֶֽדֶם:

Now Jacob lifted his feet: As soon as he was given the good tidings that he was assured protection, his heart lifted his feet, and he became fleet-footed. So it is explained in Gen. Rabbah (70:8).

וישא יעקב רגליו: משנתבשר בשורה טובה שהובטח בשמירה, נשא לבו את רגליו ונעשה קל ללכת. כך מפורש בבראשית רבה (ע ח):

2And he looked, and behold! a well in the field, and behold! three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because from that well they would water the flocks, and a huge rock was upon the mouth of the well. בוַיַּ֞רְא וְהִנֵּ֧ה בְאֵ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּה־שָׁ֞ם שְׁלשָׁ֤ה עֶדְרֵי־צֹאן֙ רֹֽבְצִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֚י מִן־הַבְּאֵ֣ר הַהִ֔וא יַשְׁק֖וּ הָֽעֲדָרִ֑ים וְהָאֶ֥בֶן גְּדֹלָ֖ה עַל־פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵֽר:

they would water the flocks: The shepherds would water the flocks. The verse is elliptical.

ישקו העדרים: משקים הרועים את העדרים, והמקרא דבר בלשון קצרה:

3And all the flocks would gather there, and they would roll the rock off the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and [then] they would return the rock onto the mouth of the well, to its place. גוְנֶֽאֶסְפוּ־שָׁ֣מָּה כָל־הָֽעֲדָרִ֗ים וְגָֽלֲל֤וּ אֶת־הָאֶ֨בֶן֙ מֵעַל֙ פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וְהִשְׁק֖וּ אֶת־הַצֹּ֑אן וְהֵשִׁ֧יבוּ אֶת־הָאֶ֛בֶן עַל־פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵ֖ר לִמְקֹמָֽהּ:

would gather there: They were accustomed to gather because the rock was huge.

ונאספו: רגילים היו להאסף לפי שהיתה האבן גדולה:

and they would roll: Heb. וְגָלְלוּ [like] וְגוֹלְלִין. The Targum renders: וּמְגַנְדְרִין, and they would roll. Every present tense [i.e. every verb expressing continuous action] changes to speak [sometimes] in the future tense and [sometimes] in the past tense, because everything that occurs constantly has already transpired and is destined to transpire [again].

וגללו: וגוללין ותרגומו ומגנדרין, כל לשון הווה משתנה לדבר בלשון עתיד ובלשון עבר לפי שכל דבר ההוה תמיד כבר היה ועתיד להיות:

and [then] they would return: Heb. וְהֵשִׁיבוּ, which the Targum renders: וּמְתִיבִין, and they would return.

והשיבו: תרגומו ומתיבין:

4And Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" And they said, "We are from Haran." דוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב אַחַ֖י מֵאַ֣יִן אַתֶּ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵֽחָרָ֖ן אֲנָֽחְנוּ:

5And he said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?" And they said, "We know [him]." הוַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם הַיְדַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־לָבָ֣ן בֶּן־נָח֑וֹר וַיֹּֽאמְר֖וּ יָדָֽעְנוּ:

6And he said to them, "[Are things going] well with him?" And they said, "[Things are going] well, and behold, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep." ווַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָהֶ֖ם הֲשָׁל֣וֹם ל֑וֹ וַיֹּֽאמְר֣וּ שָׁל֔וֹם וְהִנֵּה֙ רָחֵ֣ל בִּתּ֔וֹ בָּאָ֖ה עִם־הַצֹּֽאן:

is coming with the sheep: Heb. בָּאָה. The accent is on the“aleph,” and the Targum renders אַתְיָא. [In verse 9,]“and Rachel came בָּאָה,” the accent is on the first syllable, on the “beth,” and the Targum renders. The former is in the present tense, whereas the latter is in the past tense.

באה עם הצאן: הטעם באל"ף, ותרגומו אתיא. (פסוק ט) ורחל באה, הטעם למעלה בבי"ת ותרגומו אתת. הראשון לשון עושה, והשני לשון עשתה:

7And he said, "The day is yet long; it is not the time to take in the livestock. Water the sheep and go, pasture." זוַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֵ֥ן עוֹד֙ הַיּ֣וֹם גָּד֔וֹל לֹא־עֵ֖ת הֵֽאָסֵ֣ף הַמִּקְנֶ֑ה הַשְׁק֥וּ הַצֹּ֖אן וּלְכ֥וּ רְעֽוּ:

The day is yet long: Since he saw them lying down, he thought that they wished to gather the livestock to return home and that they would no longer graze. So he said to them,“The day is yet long,” i.e., if you have been hired for the day, you have not completed the day’s work, and if the animals are yours, it is, nevertheless, not the time to take in the livestock, etc. (Gen. Rabbah 70:11).

הן עוד היום גדול: לפי שראה אותם רובצים, כסבור שרוצים לאסוף המקנה הביתה ולא ירעו עוד, אמר להם הן עוד היום גדול, כלומר אם שכירים אתם לא שלמתם פעולת היום, ואם הבהמות שלכם אף על פי כן לא עת האסף המקנה וגו':

8And they said, "We cannot [do that], until all the flocks are gathered together, and they will roll the rock off the mouth of the well, and we shall [then] water the sheep." חוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֘ לֹ֣א נוּכַל֒ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֲדָרִ֔ים וְגָֽלֲלוּ֙ אֶת־הָאֶ֔בֶן מֵעַ֖ל פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֑ר וְהִשְׁקִ֖ינוּ הַצֹּֽאן:

We cannot: water [them] because the stone is huge.

לא נוכל: להשקות, לפי שהאבן גדולה:

and they will roll: Heb. וְגָלְלוּ. This is translated וִיגַנְדְרוּן, and they will roll, because it is the future tense.

וגללו: זה מתורגם ויגנדרון, לפי שהוא לשון עתיד:

9While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. טעוֹדֶ֖נּוּ מְדַבֵּ֣ר עִמָּ֑ם וְרָחֵ֣ל | בָּ֗אָה עִם־הַצֹּאן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔יהָ כִּ֥י רֹעָ֖ה הִֽוא:

10And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, that Jacob drew near and rolled the rock off the mouth of the well, and he watered the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother. יוַיְהִ֡י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֩ רָאָ֨ה יַֽעֲקֹ֜ב אֶת־רָחֵ֗ל בַּת־לָבָן֙ אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֔וֹ וְאֶת־צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֣שׁ יַֽעֲקֹ֗ב וַיָּ֤גֶל אֶת־הָאֶ֨בֶן֙ מֵעַל֙ פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וַיַּ֕שְׁקְ אֶת־צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֥י אִמּֽוֹ:

that Jacob drew near and rolled: As one who removes the stopper from a bottle, to let you know that he possessed great strength (Gen. Rabbah 70:12).

ויגש יעקב ויגל: כזה שמעביר את הפקק מעל פי צלוחית, להודיעך שכחו גדול:

11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and he raised his voice and wept. יאוַיִּשַּׁ֥ק יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב לְרָחֵ֑ל וַיִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ:

and wept: Since he foresaw with the holy spirit that she (Rachel) would not enter the grave with him. Another explanation: Since he came empty-handed, he said, “Eliezer, my grandfather’s servant, had nose rings, and bracelets and sweet fruits in his possession, and I am coming with nothing in my hands. [He had nothing] because Eliphaz the son of Esau had pursued him to kill him at his father’s orders; he (Eliphaz) overtook him, but since he had grown up in Isaac’s lap, he held back his hand. He said to him (Jacob), ”What shall I do about my father’s orders?“ Jacob replied,”Take what I have, for a poor man is counted as dead." - [from Bereishit Rabbathi by Rabbi Moshe Hadarshan]

ויבך: לפי שצפה ברוח הקודש שאינה נכנסת עמו לקבורה. דבר אחר לפי שבא בידים ריקניות, אמר אליעזר עבד אבי אבא היו בידיו נזמים וצמידים ומגדנות, ואני אין בידי כלום. לפי שרדף אליפז בן עשו במצות אביו אחריו להורגו והשיגו, ולפי שגדל אליפז בחיקו של יצחק משך ידו. אמר לו מה אעשה לציווי של אבא, אמר לו יעקב טול מה שבידי, והעני חשוב כמת:

12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's kinsman and that he was Rebecca's son, and she ran and told her father. יבוַיַּגֵּ֨ד יַֽעֲקֹ֜ב לְרָחֵ֗ל כִּ֣י אֲחִ֤י אָבִ֨יהָ֙ ה֔וּא וְכִ֥י בֶן־רִבְקָ֖ה ה֑וּא וַתָּ֖רָץ וַתַּגֵּ֥ד לְאָבִֽיהָ:

that he was her father’s kinsman: Heb. אִחִי אָבִיהָ, lit., her father’s brother. Related to her father, as (above 13:8):“we are kinsmen (אַחִים)” (Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer , ch. 36). Its midrashic interpretation is: If he (Laban) comes to deceive me, I, too, am his brother in deception, and if he is an honest man, I, too, am the son of his honest sister Rebecca. [from Gen. Rabbah 70:13]

כי אחי אביה הוא: קרוב לאביה, כמו (לעיל יג ח) אנשים אחים אנחנו. ומדרשו אם לרמאות הוא בא גם אני אחיו ברמאות, ואם אדם כשר הוא, גם אני בן רבקה אחותו הכשרה:

and told her father: Since her mother was dead, she had no one to tell but him.[from Gen. Rabbah 70:13]

ותגד לאביה: לפי שאמה מתה לא היה לה להגיד אלא לו:

13Now it came to pass when Laban heard the report of Jacob, his sister's son, that he ran towards him, and he embraced him, and he kissed him, and he brought him into his house. He told Laban all these happenings. יגוַיְהִי֩ כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ לָבָ֜ן אֶת־שֵׁ֣מַע | יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב בֶּן־אֲחֹת֗וֹ וַיָּ֤רָץ לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ וַיְחַבֶּק־לוֹ֙ וַיְנַשֶּׁק־ל֔וֹ וַיְבִיאֵ֖הוּ אֶל־בֵּית֑וֹ וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר לְלָבָ֔ן אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה:

that he ran towards him: He thought that he (Jacob) was laden with money, for the servant of the household (Eliezer) had come here with ten laden camels.[from Gen. Rabbah 70:13]

וירץ לקראתו: כסבור ממון הוא טעון, שהרי עבד הבית בא לכאן בעשרה גמלים טעונים:

and he embraced: When he (Laban) did not see anything with him (Jacob), he said, “Perhaps he has brought golden coins, and they are in his bosom.” [from Gen. Rabbah 70:13]

ויחבק: כשלא ראה עמו כלום אמר שמא זהובים הביא והנם בחיקו:

and he kissed him: He said,“Perhaps he has brought pearls, and they are in his mouth.” [from Gen. Rabbah 70:13]

וינשק לו: אמר שמא מרגליות הביא והם בפיו:

He told Laban: that he had come only because he was compelled to do so because of his brother (Esau), and that they had taken his money from him. — [from Gen. Rabbah 70:13]

ויספר ללבן: שלא בא אלא מתוך אונס אחיו, ושנטלו ממונו ממנו:

14And Laban said to him, "Indeed, you are my bone and my flesh." And so he stayed with him a full month. ידוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ לָבָ֔ן אַ֛ךְ עַצְמִ֥י וּבְשָׂרִ֖י אָ֑תָּה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב עִמּ֖וֹ חֹ֥דֶשׁ יָמִֽים:

Indeed, you are my bone and my flesh: “In view of this, I have no reason to take you into the house, because you have nothing. Because of kinship, however, I will put up with you for a month’s time.” And so he did, but this too was not gratis, for he (Jacob) pastured his sheep. — [from Gen. Rabbah 70:14]

אך עצמי ובשרי: מעתה אין לי לאספך הביתה הואיל ואין בידך כלום, אלא מפני קורבה אטפל בך חדש ימים, וכן עשה ואף זו לא לחנם שהיה רועה צאנו:

15And Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you work for me gratis? Tell me what your wages shall be." טווַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָבָן֙ לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב הֲכִֽי־אָחִ֣י אַ֔תָּה וַֽעֲבַדְתַּ֖נִי חִנָּ֑ם הַגִּ֥ידָה לִּ֖י מַה־מַּשְׂכֻּרְתֶּֽךָ:

Because you are my kinsman: Heb. הִכִי, an interrogative expression: Because you are my kinsman, should you work for me gratis?- [from Targum Onkelos]

הכי אחי אתה: לשון תימה, וכי בשביל שאחי אתה תעבדני חנם:

should you work for me: Heb. וַעִבַדְתַּנִי like וְתַעַבְדֵנִי, and likewise, any word that is in the past tense, [Scripture] prefixes to it a “vav,” which converts the word to the future tense.

ועבדתני: כמו ותעבדני, וכן כל תיבה שהיא לשון עבר הוסיף וי"ו בראשה היא הופכת התיבה להבא:

16Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. טזוּלְלָבָ֖ן שְׁתֵּ֣י בָנ֑וֹת שֵׁ֤ם הַגְּדֹלָה֙ לֵאָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַקְּטַנָּ֖ה רָחֵֽל:

17Leah's eyes were tender, but Rachel had beautiful features and a beautiful complexion. יזוְעֵינֵ֥י לֵאָ֖ה רַכּ֑וֹת וְרָחֵל֨ הָֽיְתָ֔ה יְפַת־תֹּ֖אַר וִיפַ֥ת מַרְאֶֽה:

tender: Because she expected to fall into Esau’s lot, and she wept, because everyone was saying,“Rebecca has two sons, and Laban has two daughters. The older [daughter] for the older [son], and the younger [daughter] for the younger [son]” (B.B. 123a).

ועיני לאה רכות: שהיתה סבורה לעלות בגורלו של עשו ובוכה שהיו הכל אומרים שני בנים לרבקה ושתי בנות ללבן, הגדולה לגדול והקטנה לקטן:

features: Heb. תֹּאַר. That is the form of the countenance, an expression similar to (Isa. 44: 13)“he fixes it (יְתָאִרֵהוּ) with planes (בַשֶׂרֶד) ,” conpas in Old French, outline, shape.

תאר: הוא צורת הפרצוף לשון (ישעיה מד יג) יתארהו בשרד, קונפ"ס בלע"ז [מחוגה]:

complexion: That is the shine of the countenance.

מראה: הוא זיו קלסתר:

Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 10 - 17
• Hebrew text
• English text

Chapter 10

This psalm tells of the wicked one’s prosperity and his boasting of it, until he says: “There is neither law nor judge. God pays no attention to the actions of mere mortals.”

1. Why, O Lord, do You stand afar, do You hide Yourself in times of distress?

2. The wicked man in his arrogance pursues the poor; they are caught by the schemes they have contrived.

3. For the wicked man glories in the desire of his heart, and the robber boasts that he has scorned the Lord.

4. The wicked one in his insolence [thinks], “He does not avenge”; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

5. His ways always succeed; Your retribution is far removed from before him; he puffs at all his foes.

6. He says in his heart, “I shall not falter; for all generations no evil will befall me.”

7. His mouth is full of oaths, deceit and malice; mischief and iniquity are under his tongue.

8. He sits in ambush near open cities; in hidden places he murders the innocent; his eyes stealthily watch for the helpless.

9. He lurks in hiding like a lion in his lair; he lurks to seize the poor, then seizes the poor when he draws his net.

10. He crouches and stoops, then the helpless fall prey to his might.

11. He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, He conceals His countenance, He will never see.”

12. Arise, O Lord! O God, lift Your hand! Do not forget the lowly.

13. Why does the wicked man scorn God? Because he says in his heart, “You do not avenge.”

14. Indeed, You do see! For You behold the mischief and vexation. To recompense is in Your power; the helpless place their trust in You; You have [always] helped the orphan.

15. Break the strength of the wicked; then search for the wickedness of the evil one and You will not find it.

16. The Lord reigns for all eternity; the nations have vanished from His land.

17. Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; direct their hearts, let Your ear listen,

18. to bring justice to the orphan and the downtrodden, so that [the wicked] shall no longer crush the frail of the earth.

Chapter 11

This psalm declares that the suffering of the righteous one is for his own benefit, to cleanse him of his sins; whereas the wicked one is granted prosperity in this world-similar to the verse, "Wealth remains with its owner, to his detriment."

1. For the Conductor, by David. I have placed my trust in the Lord; [thus] how can you say of my soul, your mountain,1 that it flees like a bird?2

2. For behold, the wicked bend the bow, they have readied their arrow upon the bowstring, to shoot in darkness at the upright of heart.

3. They destroyed the foundations; 3 what [wrong] has the righteous man done?

4. The Lord is in His holy Sanctuary, the Lord's throne is in heaven, [yet] His eyes behold, His pupils probe [the deeds of] mankind.

5. The Lord tests the righteous, but He hates the wicked and the lover of violence.

6. He will rain down upon the wicked fiery coals and brimstone; a scorching wind will be their allotted portion.

7. For the Lord is righteous, He loves [the man of] righteous deeds; the upright will behold His countenance.

FOOTNOTES

1.Your king (Metzudot).

2.And will eventually be captured by Saul (Metzudot).

3.Reffering to the murder of the priests in the city of Nob.

Chapter 12

This psalm admonishes informers, slanderers, and flatterers.

1. For the Conductor, upon the eight-stringed instrument, a psalm by David.

2. Help us, Lord, for the pious are no more; for the faithful have vanished from among men.

3. Men speak falsehood to one another; with flattering lips, with a duplicitous heart do they speak.

4. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaks boastfully-

5. those who have said, "With our tongues we shall prevail, our lips are with us, who is master over us!”

6. Because of the plundering of the poor, because of the moaning of the needy, the Lord says, "Now I will arise!" "I will grant deliverance," He says to him.

7. The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in the finest earthen crucible, purified seven times.

8. May You, O Lord, watch over them; may You forever guard them from this generation,

9. [in which] the wicked walk on every side; when they are exalted it is a disgrace to mankind.

Chapter 13

A prayer for an end to the long exile. One in distress should offer this prayer for his troubles and for the length of the exile.

1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.

2. How long, O Lord, will You forget me, forever? How long will You hide Your countenance from me?

3. How long must I seek counsel within my soul, [to escape] the grief in my heart all day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

4. Look! Answer me, O Lord, my God; give light to my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.

5. Lest my enemy say, "I have overcome him," [and] my oppressors rejoice when I falter.

6. I have placed my trust in Your kindness, my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord, for He has dealt kindly with me.

Chapter 14

This psalm speaks of the destruction of the two Holy Temples-the first by Nebuchadnezzar, and the second by Titus.

1. For the Conductor, by David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God!" [Man's] deeds have become corrupt and abominable, no one does good.

2. The Lord looked down from heaven upon mankind, to see if there was any wise man who searches for God.

3. They have all gone astray together, they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

4. Indeed, all the evildoers, who devour My people as they devour bread, who do not call upon the Lord, will [ultimately] come to know [the consequences of their actions].

5. There they will be seized with fright, for God is with the righteous generation.

6. You scorn the counsel of the lowly, that he puts his trust in the Lord.

7. O that out of Zion would come Israel's deliverance! When the Lord returns the captivity of His people, Jacob will exult, Israel will rejoice.

Chapter 15

This psalm speaks of several virtues and attributes with which one should conduct oneself. He is then assured that his soul will rest in Gan Eden.

1. A psalm by David. Who may abide in Your tent, O Lord? Who may dwell on Your holy Mountain?

2. He who walks blamelessly, acts justly, and speaks truth in his heart;

3. who has no slander on his tongue, who has done his fellowman no evil, and who has brought no disgrace upon his relative;

4. in whose eyes a despicable person is abhorrent, but who honors those who are God-fearing; who does not change his oath even if it is to his own detriment;

5. who does not lend his money at interest, nor accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never falter.

Chapter 16

When one is in need, he should not implore God in his own merit, for he must leave his merits for his children.

1. A michtam,1 by David. Watch over me, O God, for I have put my trust in You.

2. You, [my soul,] have said to God, "You are my Master; You are not obligated to benefit me.”

3. For the sake of the holy ones who lie in the earth, and for the mighty-all my desires are fulfilled in their merit.

4. Those who hasten after other [gods], their sorrows shall increase; I will not offer their libations of blood, nor take their names upon my lips.

5. The Lord is my allotted portion and my share; You guide my destiny.

6. Portions have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, a beautiful inheritance is mine.

7. I bless the Lord Who has advised me; even in the nights my intellect admonishes me.2

8. I have set the Lord before me at all times; because He is at my right hand, I shall not falter.

9. Therefore my heart rejoices and my soul exults; my flesh, too, rests secure.

10. For You will not abandon my soul to the grave, You will not allow Your pious one to see purgatory.

11. Make known to me the path of life, that I may be satiated with the joy of Your presence, with the bliss of Your right hand forever.

FOOTNOTES

1.A psalm that was especially precious to David

2.To fear and love God (Rashi)

Chapter 17

A loftily person should not ask God to test him with some sinful matter, or other things. If one has sinned, he should see to reform himself, and to save many others from sin.

1. A prayer by David. Hear my sincere [plea], O Lord; listen to my cry; give ear to my prayer, expressed by guileless lips.

2. Let my verdict come forth from before You; let Your eyes behold uprightness.

3. You have probed my heart, examined it in the night, tested me and found nothing; no evil thought crossed my mind; as are my words so are my thoughts.

4. So that [my] human deeds conform with the words of Your lips, I guard myself from the paths of the lawbreakers.

5. Support my steps in Your paths, so that my feet shall not falter.

6. I have called upon You, for You, O Lord, will answer me; incline Your ear to me, hear what I say.

7. Withhold Your kindness-O You who delivers with Your right hand those who put their trust in You-from those who rise up against [You].

8. Guard me like the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings

9. from the wicked who despoil me, [from] my mortal enemies who surround me.

10. Their fat has closed [their hearts]; their mouths speak arrogantly.

11. They encircle our footsteps; they set their eyes to make us stray from the earth.

12. His appearance is like a lion longing to devour, like a young lion lurking in hiding.

13. Arise, O Lord! Confront him, bring him to his knees; rescue my soul from the wicked [who serves as] Your sword.

14. Let me be among those whose death is by Your hand, O Lord, among those who die of old age, whose portion is eternal life and whose innards are filled with Your concealed goodness; who are sated with sons and leave their abundance to their offspring.

15. Because of my righteousness, I shall behold Your countenance; in the time of resurrection, I will be sated by Your image.

Tanya: Kuntres Acharon, beginning of Essay 4
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In the beginning, as the Midrash teaches,1 G‑d “created worlds and destroyed them.” The Kabbalah explains that this refers to spiritual worlds, Supernal Sefirot (“emanations”), that first existed in one state of being and then in another. The Sefirot in the former state of being — called the World of Tohu (lit., “Chaos”) — underwent a “breaking of the vessels.” The World of Tikkun (lit., “Order”) was then built.

The Sefirot comprise orot (“lights”) and kelim (“vessels”) that contain these lights. The crisis in the World of Tohu occurred because the orot were so intense that the kelim were incapable of containing them. As a result of this breakage, sparks of holiness descended within the kelipot. These sparks are to be found in the Worlds of Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah in general, but particularly within the physicality of our world. It is the task of the Jew to sift this materiality by using it properly, in order to extract and refine these sparks, thereby elevating them to their original source in the World of Tohu. This elevation in turn elicits a mighty downflow of Divine energy from Tohu, and from even higher than that level.

(Certain Divine Names, whose respective Kabbalistic meanings are signified by Hebrew letter-combinations, are related to this process of beirurim, the extraction and refinement of the sparks of holiness. Thus the Name known as Ba’n (ב״ן) is the source of the fallen holy sparks; the Name Ma’h (מ״ה) is the power that extracts and elevates them; while the Name Sa’g (ס״ג) is the original source of the World of Tohu. When the extraction and elevation of the sparks deriving from the Name Ba’n is accomplished through the Name Ma’h, a lofty degree of Divine illumination is drawn down from the Name Sa’g, and is vested within the “capacious vessels” of the World of Tikkun.)

This extraction is for the most part accomplished through the performance of action-oriented mitzvotinvolving physical objects which derive their life-force from kelipat nogah, and which house the sparks of Tohu. Performing a mitzvah with such objects disencumbers the hidden sparks of their corporeal husk and elevates them.

The seeking out of sparks, however, can also be accomplished through the study of Torah, as well as through prayer.

In the present essay the Alter Rebbe will explain the statement of Pri Etz Chayim that nowadays this “extraction” is mainly effected through prayer. For prayer is uniquely able to draw down an infinite degree of G‑dliness; prayer alone can bring about changes within the world, healing the sick and causing rain to fall. In order for such a degree of G‑dliness to be called down, there must first be an arousal initiated from below, an expression of man’s ardent desire to be the recipient of Divine benefactions. And if these benefactions are to flow from an infinitely high source, the plea that requests them must surge from a correspondingly deep source — “with all one’s might,” from the infinite depths of one’s soul.

להבין מה שכתוב בפרי עץ חיים, דבזמן הזה עיקר הבירור על ידי התפלה דוקא

To understand the statement in Pri Etz Chayim,2 that in the contemporary period the refinement [of the sparks of Tohu] is primarily effected by prayer,

As explained above, the task of sifting the materiality of this world and salvaging its hidden holy sparks is the ongoing mission of Jews living as souls within bodies in this physical world.

This is accomplished either (a) through the performance of the action-oriented mitzvot which entail the use of physical objects whose life-force derives from kelipat nogah; (b) through the audibly-articulated study of Torah subjects that deal with physical matters; (c) through prayer, a form of spiritual service through which the Divine soul influences and refines the animal soul (whose life-force derives from kelipat nogah) to the point that it can attain a love of G‑d.

As stated above, Pri Etz Chayim teaches that in these latter generations the extraction and elevation of sparks is effected primarily through prayer.

אף שתלמוד תורה למעלה מהתפלה

even though Torah study is superior to prayer:

Torah study is3 “equivalent to them all,” to all the mitzvot, and higher even than4“concentration in prayer.” Why, then, is the extraction of the sparks of Tohu mainly accomplished in the present era through prayer?

הענין הוא, שעל ידי תורה ומצות מוסיפין אור באצילות כו׳

The explanation is, that through Torah and mitzvot additional light is drawn forth into Atzilut...

Divine light is drawn forth into the various worlds either in accordance with (a) Sod Shoresh (lit., “the principle of the root”), the degree of revelation originally apportioned, or in accordance with (b) Sod Tosefet (lit., “the principle of addition”), depending on the spiritual service of mortals. This additional measure of revelation is much greater than the base allocation.

Through Torah and mitzvot, as stated above, one draws down an additional measure of Divine illumination into the World of Atzilut.

פירוש: אור אין סוף ברוך הוא בכלים דאצילות, על ידי תלמוד תורה, בפנימית, דהיינו המשכות המוחין

This means that through Torah study the [infinite] Ein Sof-light [is drawn] into the inner aspect of the vessels of [the Sefirot of] Atzilut. This is a drawing down of the Divine Intellect.

Since Torah study involves mortal intellect, its heavenly echo calls forth a corresponding revelation of the Divine Intellect, which is the inward aspect of the Sefirot.

ובקיום המצות, בחיצונית הכלים, שהם בחינת נצח הוד יסוד שבי׳ ספירות ז״א שבאצילות

Through mitzvah observance [the light is drawn] into the external aspect of the vessels, meaning Netzach-Hod-Yesod of the Ten Sefirot of Za (the six emotive attributes) of Atzilut.

Za is a configuration (partzuf, lit., “countenance”) which comprises a full complement of Ten Sefirot. Into Netzach-Hod-Yesod, the lower Sefirot which are “outside of the torso”5 of Za and thus comprise its external aspect, the [infinite] Ein Sof-light is drawn down, by means of those mitzvot that are performed with man’s power of action. For this power is external to man’s essence, just as Netzach-Hod-Yesod are external to Za.

The infinite lights from Divine Intellect that are drawn down by Torah and mitzvot are thus invested primarily in Atzilut.6

רק שמתלבשים בבריאה יצירה עשיה, בתורה ומצות הגשמיים שבעולם הזה

They [later] only clothe themselves with diminished intensity in Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah, in the physical Torah and mitzvot in This World.

The Divine Intellect that is drawn down into Atzilut is ultimately vested within the Torah of this world, while the Divine light which is drawn into the externality of the vessels of Za of Atzilut is vested within the mitzvot of this world. The effect is thus strictly within the material aspect of the Torah and mitzvot of this world, but not within the materiality of the world itself.

אבל התפלה היא המשכת אור אין סוף ברוך הוא בבריאה יצירה עשיה דוקא, לא בדרך התלבשות בלבד

Prayer, however, calls forth the [infinite] Ein Sof-light into Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyahdirectly, and not by means of mere enclothement, as is the case with the study of Torah, where the Divine light is garbed in an entity which in turn is drawn down into this world.

רק האור ממש, לשנות הנבראים מכמות שהם

Rather, it is the actual light which modifies the state of created beings,

שיתרפא החולה, וירד הגשם משמים לארץ ויולידה ויצמיחה

so that (for example) the ill will be cured through the petition of “Heal us” in the Shemoneh Esreh, and the rain from heaven will fall to the earth so that it becomes fertile and yields vegetation,7 in response to the prayer of the “Blessing of the Years.”

These are changes effected within the actual physical world.

מה שאין כן בתורה ומצות, שאין שינוי בקלף התפילין על ידי הנחתן בראש ובזרוע

This is not the case with Torah and mitzvot: no modification in the parchment [on which are inscribed the Biblical passages] of the tefillin results from their being placed upon head and arm, notwithstanding the drawing down of Divine light and the subordination of mind and heart to the Divine Will.

וגם במצות שעשייתן הוא גמר מצותן

Even in the case of those mitzvot that are fulfilled through making [the object],

Examples would be the writing of a Torah scroll or making a sukkah (according to the opinions that the actual construction of a sukkah is a mitzvah8). Unlike tefillin, where the mitzvah is performed by wearing them and not by making them, these mitzvot are performed by modifying the relevant object. Nevertheless:

השינוי הוא על ידי אדם, ולא בידי שמים כבתפלה

the change within the object is effected by man, and not by Heaven, as is the case with prayer,

When an individual succeeds in bringing about a change in this world through prayer, e.g., the sick person becomes well, this change is ultimately brought about from above, not by the individual’s prayer,

ששהיא המשכת החיות מאין סוף ברוך הוא, שהוא לבדו כל יכול

for this calls forth the vivifying power from the Infinite One, blessed be He, Who alone is all-capable.

It is only G‑d who can effect a change such as this in our world, bringing about the cure or the productive rain.

והלכך, כדי להמשיך אור אין סוף ברוך הוא למטה, אי אפשר בלי העלאת מין נוקבין מלמטה דוקא

Therefore, calling forth the [infinite] Ein Sof-light into the lower world is impossible without the [prior] “elevation of mayin nukvin” specifically from below, whereby the mortal recipient initiates an anticipatory “arousal from below” through his spiritual service during prayer.

As the Alter Rebbe will soon explain, since this entails an infinite degree of service on the part of man it is able to draw down an infinite response from above, reciprocating each individual’s particular “arousal from below.”

מה שאין כן לתלמוד תורה, שבאצילות, המיוחדת בלאו הכי במאציל ברוך הוא

This is not the case with the study of Torah, which [affects] Atzilut, for [the Torah] is united in any case with the Emanator.

Since Torah study thus does not need to be drawn down below, there is no need for an “arousal from below.”

As the Rebbe notes, “The Alter Rebbe now goes on to explain how this may be considered mayin nukvin, and what is its connection to the infinite light.”

והעלאת מין נוקבין במוחו ולבו של אדם, היא בחינת רשפי אש בלי גבול

The “elevation of mayin nukvin” in the mind and heart of man is [the love of G‑d] in a state of boundless flames of fire, and being boundless it relates to the infinite light;

ונקרא מאדך

it is described as meodecha — loving G‑d “with all your might,”9 with each individual’s capacity for infinitude,

Though man is inherently limited, and though, moreover, all of one man’s might may be considered less than ultimate in another man, nevertheless, even this limited degree of “limitlessness” suffices:

כדי לעורר בחינת אין סוף

to arouse the [Divine] state of infinity.

For the “arousal from below” need but resemble the response from above that it seeks to elicit. If an “arousal from below” may truly be considered “infinite” relative to the particular individual’s capacities, it suffices to draw down the infinite light from above.

והיינו על ידי גבורות דס״ג, שהן הן הרפ״ח ניצוצין כו׳

This is effected through the Gevurot (the attributes of severity) of [the Divine Name] Sa’g, which constitute the 288 sparks....

The love and longing (ratzo) which a man experiences during prayer to the extent of meodecha (“with all your might”) are aroused by the Gevurot of Sa’g, the Divine Name that is the source of the 288 sparks of Tohu. These sparks derive from the vessels of Tohu, whose Sefirot were originally in a state of infinite longing to become wholly one with G‑d. This longing parallels the soul’s love and longing for G‑d to the point of meodecha.

ולכן נקראת התפלה חיי שעה, היא מלכות היורדת בבריאה יצירה עשיה

For this reason worship is called10 “life of the moment,” for it is Malchut descending into Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah.

As Rashi explains on the straightforward level of pshat, the Talmud calls prayer “life of the moment” (lit., “life of the hour”) because people pray for health, peace and a livelihood — temporal things that are subject to the limitations of the passing moment.

Here the Alter Rebbe speaks of how these matters exist in their source, in the Supernal Sefirot. In the worlds above, the Sefirah of Malchut is the source of time. For it is the Sefirah of Malchut (“sovereignty”) that reflects the relationship of the Infinite One to time — “He reigns, He reigned, He will reign,” in the present, past and future.

This relationship is particularly evident as Malchut descends to animate the Worlds of Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah, for these worlds all exist in the category of time.

And because prayer draws down Divine energy into Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah through their source, the time-related Sefirah of Malchut, prayer is called “life of the moment.”

ותורה חיי עולם, הוא ז״א

Torah [by contrast is called]11 “eternal life,” which (in terms of the Sefirot) is Za,12

כי רמ״ח פקודין הן מתחלקין בי׳ כלים דעשר ספירות דז״א כו׳

for the 248 commandments of the Torah divide into the ten vessels of the Ten Sefirot of Za....

For Za comprises Sefirot within the World of Atzilut, and as stated in Torah Or, at the end of Parshat Terumah, Za marks the conclusion of the infinite worlds, utterly transcending the Worlds of Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah.

* * *

FOOTNOTES
1.	Bereishit Rabbah 3:9.
2.	Note of the Rebbe: “Examine there, Shaar 1, ch. 7.”
3.	Peah 1:1.
4.	Peah 1:1.
5.	From the Introduction to Tikkunei Zohar which begins, Patach Eliyahu.
6.	Cf. Yeshayahu 55:10.
7.	Cf. Yeshayahu 55:10.
8.	The Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, beginning of sec. 641, and sources cited there.
9.	Devarim 6:5.
10.	Shabbat 10a.
11.	Shabbat 10a.
12.	Note of the Rebbe: “As above: through Torah and mitzvot one draws down the Divine Intellect (mochin) and so on, within the Ten Sefirot of Za.”

Rambam:
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Negative Commandment 200
Allowing Chametz to be Seen
"And there shall be no leavened bread seen in your possession, neither shall leaven be seen within all your property"—Exodus 13:7.
No chametz (leavened foods) may be seen in our possession for the duration of the holiday of Passover.
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Allowing Chametz to be Seen

Negative Commandment 200

Translated by Berel Bell

The 200th prohibition is that we are forbidden to have chometz seen in our dwellings all seven1 days [of Pesach].

The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,2 "None of your chometz may be seen, and none of your s'or3 may be seen in all your territories."

These [chometz and s'or] are not two separate prohibitions with separate content, but rather one and the same idea. The Sages said this explicitly:4 "The verse begins with chometz and ends with s'or. This teaches you that chometz and s'or are the same." The intention of this statement: there is no difference between the s'or itself and that which it made into chometz. [I.e. both are included in this one prohibition].

One who transgressed and left chometz in his possession is not punished by lashes,5 unless he bought chometz on Pesach and officially took possession of it. Then, he would have performed an action [and therefore receives lashes]. In the words of the Tosefta,6 "One who retains chometz on Pesach or who leaves kilayim7 [growing in] his vineyard does not receive lashes."

FOOTNOTES

1.Outside of Israel, this mitzvah is for eight days.

2.Ex. 13:7.

3.S'or is used for its leavening action, to turn other foods into chometz.

4.Beitzah 7b.

5.One receives lashes only when an action was performed, not in a case where the prohibition came about automatically. Here, the prohibition came about because the person neglected to do an action, i.e. dispose of the chometz.

6.Makkos 4:5.

7.A mixture of species, in this case grapevines together with vegetables or grain. See N216.

Negative Commandment 201
Owning Chametz
"Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses"—Exodus 12:19.
No chametz (leavened foods) may be in our possession on Passover, even if it is not visible, even if it belongs to another [Jew].
Full text of this Mitzvah »

Owning Chametz

Negative Commandment 201

Translated by Berel Bell

The 201st prohibition is that we are forbidden to have chometz found in our dwellings, even if it is not visible, or if it is left as a deposit.

The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,1 "For seven days, no chometz may be found in your homes."

As mentioned above2, one receives lashes for violating this prohibition only when an action was performed, in accordance with the principles explained in tractate Shavuos.3

Our Sages stated explicitly in a number of places, "One transgresses, 'It may not be seen,' and 'It may not be found.' "4

The laws of these two mitzvos are explained in the beginning of tractate Pesachim.5 There it is also explained which things are prohibited by the verse, "It may not be seen...in all your territories" [N200] and which are prohibited by the verse, "It may not be found in your homes" [N201].

There [in the beginning of Pesachim] it is explained that each of these two prohibitions derives something additional from the other6, and that one who keeps chometz on Pesach transgresses both, "It may not be seen" and "It may not be found."

FOOTNOTES

1.Ex. 12:19.

2.N200.

3.21a.

4.Therefore we see that N200 and N201 count as two separate mitzvos.

5.5b.

6.See Kessef Mishneh, Hilchos Chometz U'matzah, 1:3. Yad Halevi, N201.

Positive Commandment 158
Eating Matzah
"In the evening [of the fifteenth of Nissan] you shall eat unleavened bread"—Exodus 12:18.
We are commanded to eat matzah, unleavened bread, on the eve of the fifteenth of Nissan, the first night of Passover.
Full text of this Mitzvah »

Eating Matzah

Positive Commandment 158

Translated by Berel Bell

The 158th mitzvah is that we are commanded to eat matzah on the night of the 15th1 of Nissan. This mitzvah applies regardless of whether or not we have the Pesach sacrifice.2

The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,3 "In the evening [of the 15th of Nissan] you must eat matzos."

Our Sages explicitly stated,4 " 'In the evening you must eat matzos' — the Torah establishes it as a requirement." It is explained in Pesachim that eating matzah on the first night of Pesach is a requirement, while afterwards it is optional.5

The details of this mitzvah are explained in tractate Pesachim.

FOOTNOTES

1.Outside of Israel, this obligation applies on the 16th as well.

2.Since the verse, "Eat it (the Pesach sacrifice) with matzah and maror," (Ex. 12:8) connects the mitzvah of eating matzah with the consumption of the Pesach sacrifice, one might think that it is not a separate mitzvah. Therefore, the Rambam points out that they are independent mitzvos, and that there is another verse for the mitzvah of matzah. See P56.

3.Ex. 12:18.

4.Mechilta. Pesachim 28b. 120a.

5.Although one may not eat chometz, one may eat foods other than matzah, such as fruit, etc. See Hilchos Chometz U'matzah 6:1.

Rambam:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Teshuvah Teshuvah - Chapter Seven
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Teshuvah - Chapter Seven

Since free choice is granted to all men as explained, a person should always strive to do Teshuvah and to confess verbally for his sins, striving to cleanse his hands from sin in order that he may die as a Baal-Teshuvah and merit the life of the world to come.

הואיל ורשות כל אדם נתונה לו כמו שבארנו ישתדל אדם לעשות תשובה ולהתודות בפיו מחטאיו ולנעור כפיו מחטאיו כדי שימות והוא בעל תשובה ויזכה לחיי העולם הבא:

A person should always view himself as leaning towards death, with the possibility that he might die at any time. Thus, he may be found as a sinner.

Therefore, one should always repent from his sins immediately and should not say: "When I grow older, I will repent," for perhaps he will die before he grows older. This was implied by the wise counsel given by Solomon [Ecclesiastes 9:8]: "At all times, your clothes should be white."

לעולם יראה אדם עצמו כאילו הוא נוטה למות ושמא ימות בשעתו ונמצא עומד בחטאו לפיכך ישוב מחטאיו מיד ולא יאמר כשאזקין אשוב שמא ימות טרם שיזקין הוא ששלמה אמר בחכמתו בכל עת יהיו בגדיך לבנים:

A person should not think that repentance is only necessary for those sins that involve deed such as promiscuity, robbery, or theft. Rather, just as a person is obligated to repent from these, similarly, he must search after the evil character traits he has. He must repent from anger, hatred, envy, frivolity, the pursuit of money and honor, the pursuit of gluttony, and the like. He must repent for all [of the above].

These sins are more difficult than those that involve deed. If a person is attached to these, it is more difficult for him to separate himself. In this context, [Isaiah 55:7] exhorts: "May the wicked abandon his path and the crooked man, his designs."

אל תאמר שאין תשובה אלא מעבירות שיש בהן מעשה כגון זנות וגזל וגניבה אלא כשם שצריך אדם לשוב מאלו כך הוא צריך לחפש בדעות רעות שיש לו ולשוב מן הכעס ומן האיבה ומן הקנאה ומן ההתול ומרדיפת הממון והכבוד ומרדיפת המאכלות וכיוצא בהן מן הכל צריך לחזור בתשובה ואלו העונות קשים מאותן שיש בהן מעשה שבזמן שאדם נשקע באלו קשה הוא לפרוש מהם וכן הוא אומר יעזוב רשע וגו':

A Baal-Teshuvah should not consider himself distant from the level of the righteous because of the sins and transgressions that he committed. This is not true. He is beloved and desirable before the Creator as if he never sinned.

Furthermore, he has a great reward for he has tasted sin and yet, separated himself from it, conquering his [evil] inclination. Our Sages declared: "In the place where Baalei Teshuvah stand, even the completely righteous are not able to stand." The level of Baalei Teshuvah transcends the level of those who never sinned at all, for they overcome their [evil] inclination more.

ואל ידמה אדם בעל תשובה שהוא מרוחק ממעלת הצדיקים מפני העונות והחטאות שעשה אין הדבר כן אלא אהוב ונחמד הוא לפני הבורא כאילו לא חטא מעולם ולא עוד אלא ששכרו הרבה שהרי טעם טעם החטא ופירש ממנו וכבש יצרו אמרו חכמים מקום שבעלי תשובה עומדין אין צדיקים גמורין יכולין לעמוד בו כלומר מעלתן גדולה ממעלת אלו שלא חטאו מעולם מפני שהן כובשים יצרם יותר מהם:

All the prophets commanded [the people] to repent. Israel will only be redeemed through Teshuvah.

The Torah has already promised that, ultimately, Israel will repent towards the end of her exile and, immediately, she will be redeemed as [Deuteronomy 30:1-3] states: ”There shall come a time when [you will experience] all these things... and you will return to God, your Lord.... God, your Lord, will bring back your [captivity].”

כל הנביאים כולן צוו על התשובה ואין ישראל נגאלין אלא בתשובה וכבר הבטיחה תורה שסוף ישראל לעשות תשובה בסוף גלותן ומיד הן נגאלין שנאמר והיה כי יבאו עליך כל הדברים וגו' ושבת עד ה' אלהיך ושב ה' אלהיך וגו':

Teshuvah is great for it draws a man close to the Shechinah as [Hoshea 14:2] states: "Return, O Israel, to God, your Lord;" [Amos 4:6] states: "`You have not returned to Me,' declares God;" and [Jeremiah 4:1] states: "`If, you will return, 0 Israel,' declares God, `You will return to Me.'" Implied is that if you will return in Teshuvah, you will cling to Me.

Teshuvah brings near those who were far removed. Previously, this person was hated by God, disgusting, far removed, and abominable. Now, he is beloved and desirable, close, and dear.

Similarly, we find God employs the same expression with which He separates [Himself] from the sinners to draw close those who repent. [Hoshea 2:1] states: "Instead of saying to you: `You are not My nation,' He will tell you: `You are the children of the living God.'”

[Also, Jeremiah] speaks of Yecheniah while he was wicked [with the expression (22:30)]: "Write down this man as childless, a man who shall never prosper in his days," and [22:24]: "Would Cheniah, the son of Yehoyakim, king of Judah, be the signet ring on My right hand, I would tear him off." However, after he repented when in exile, [Chaggai 2:23] said concerning Zerubavel, his son: "'On that day,' declares the God of Hosts, `I will take you, Zerubavel, the son of Shaltiel, My servant,' declares God, `and I will place you as a signet ring.'"

גדולה תשובה שמקרבת את האדם לשכינה שנאמר שובה ישראל עד ה' אלהיך ונאמר ולא שבתם עדי נאם ה' ונאמר אם תשוב ישראל נאם ה' אלי תשוב כלומר אם תחזור בתשובה בי תדבק התשובה מקרבת את הרחוקים אמש היה זה שנאוי לפני המקום משוקץ ומרוחק ותועבה והיום הוא אהוב ונחמד קרוב וידיד וכן אתה מוצא שבלשון שהקדוש ברוך הוא מרחיק החוטאים בה מקרב את השבים בין יחיד בין רבים שנאמר והיה במקום אשר יאמר להם לא עמי אתם יאמר להם בני אל חי ונאמר ביכניהו ברשעתו כתוב את האיש הזה ערירי גבר לא יצלח בימיו אם יהיה כניהו בן יהויקים מלך יהודה חותם על יד ימיני וגו' וכיון ששב בגלותו נאמר בזרובבל בנו ביום ההוא נאם ה' צבאות אקחך זרובבל בן שאלתיאל עבדי נאם ה' ושמתיך כחותם :

How exalted is the level of Teshuvah! Previously, the [transgressor] was separate from God, the Lord of Israel, as [Isaiah 59:2] states: "Your sins separate between you and your God." He would call out [to God] without being answered as [Isaiah 1:15] states: "Even if you pray many times, I will not hear."

He would fulfill mitzvot, only to have them crushed before him as [Isaiah 1:12] states: "Who asked this from you, to trample in My courts," and [Malachi 1:10] states: "`O were there one among you who would shut the doors that you might not kindle fire on My altar for no reason! I have no pleasure in you,' says the God of Hosts, `nor will I accept an offering from your hand.'”

Now, he is clinging to the Shechinah as [Deuteronomy 4:4] states: "And you who cling to God, your Lord." He calls out [to God] and is answered immediately as [Isaiah 65:24] states: "Before, you will call out, I will answer." He fulfills mitzvot and they are accepted with pleasure and joy as [Ecclesiastes 9:7] states, "God has already accepted your works," and [Malachi 3:4] states: "Then, shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasing to God as in days of old and as in the former years."

כמה מעולה מעלת התשובה אמש היה זה מובדל מה' אלהי ישראל שנאמר עונותיכם היו מבדילים ביניכם לבין אלהיכם צועק ואינו נענה שנאמר כי תרבו תפלה וגו' ועושה מצות וטורפין אותן בפניו שנאמר מי בקש זאת מידכם רמוס חצרי מי גם בכם ויסגר דלתים וגו' והיום הוא מודבק בשכינה שנאמר ואתם הדבקים בה' אלהיכם צועק ונענה מיד שנאמר והיה טרם יקראו ואני אענה ועושה מצות ומקבלין אותן בנחת ושמחה שנאמר כי כבר רצה האלהים את מעשיך ולא עוד אלא שמתאוים להם שנאמר וערבה לה' מנחת יהודה וירושלם כימי עולם וכשנים קדמוניות:

The manner of Baalei Teshuvah is to be very humble and modest.

If fools shame them because of their previous deeds, saying to them: "Yesterday, you would commit such and such [sins]. Yesterday, you would commit these and these [transgressions]," they will pay no attention to them. On the contrary, they will hear [this abuse] and rejoice, knowing that it is a merit for them.

Whenever they are embarrassed for the deeds they committed and shamed because of them, their merit increases and their level is raised.

It is a utter sin to tell a Baal Teshuvah, "Remember your previous deeds," or to recall them in his presence to embarrass him or to mention the surrounding circumstances or other similar matters so that he will recall what he did. This is all forbidden. We are warned against it within the general category of verbal abuse which Torah has warned us against as [Leviticus 25:17] states: "A man should not mistreat his colleague."

בעלי תשובה דרכן להיות שפלים וענוים ביותר אם חרפו אותן הכסילים במעשיהם הראשונים ואמרו להן אמש היית עושה כך וכך ואמש היית אומר כך וכך אל ירגישו להן אלא שומעין ושמחים ויודעין שזו זכות להם שכל זמן שהם בושים ממעשיהם שעברו ונכלמים מהן זכותם מרובה ומעלתם מתגדלת וחטא גמור הוא לומר לבעל תשובה זכור מעשיך הראשונים או להזכירן לפניו כדי לביישו או להזכיר דברים וענינים הדומין להם כדי להזכירו מה עשה הכל אסור ומוזהר עליו בכלל הוניית דברים שהזהירה תורה עליה שנאמר ולא תונו איש את עמיתו:

Rambam:
• 3 Chapters A Day: Chametz U'Matzah Chametz U'Matzah - Chapter Five, Chametz U'Matzah Chametz U'Matzah - Chapter Six, Chametz U'Matzah Chametz U'Matzah - Chapter Seven
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Chametz U'Matzah - Chapter Five

The prohibition against chametz applies only to the five species of grain. They include two species of wheat: wheat and rye; and three species of barley: barley, oats, and spelt.

However, kitniyot - e.g., rice, millet, beans, lentils and the like - do not become leavened. Even if one kneads rice flour or the like with boiling water and covers it with fabric until it rises like dough that has become leavened, it is permitted to be eaten. This is not leavening, but rather the decay [of the flour].

אין אסור משום חמץ בפסח אלא חמשת מיני דגן בלבד. והם שני מיני חטים שהן החטה והכוסמת. ושלשה מיני השעורים שהן השעורה ושבולת שועל והשיפון. אבל הקטניות כגון אורז ודוחן ופולים ועדשים וכיוצא בהן אין בהן משום חמץ אלא אפילו לש קמח אורז וכיוצא בו ברותחין וכסהו בבגדים עד שנתפח כמו בצק שהחמיץ הרי זה מותר באכילה שאין זה חמוץ אלא סרחון:

Commentary on Halachah 1

With regard to these five species of grain: If [flour from these species] is kneaded with fruit juice alone without any water, it will never become leavened. Even if [flour] is placed in [these juices] the entire day until the dough rises, it is permitted to be eaten [on Pesach], for fruit juice does not cause [dough] to become leavened. It merely causes [the flour] to decay.

The following are [included in the category] of fruit juice: wine, milk, honey, olive oil, apple juice, pomegranate juice and all other similar wines, oils, and beverages.

This applies so long as no water whatsoever is mixed with them. If any water is mixed with them, they cause [the flour] to become leavened.

חמשת מיני דגן אלו אם לשן במי פירות בלבד בלא שום מים לעולם אין באין לידי חמוץ אלא אפילו הניחן כל היום עד שנתפח הבצק מותר באכילה). שאין מי פירות מחמיצין אלא מסריחין. ומי פירות הן כגון יין וחלב ודבש ושמן זית ומי תפוחים ומי רמונים וכל כיוצא בהן משאר יינות ושמנים ומשקין. והוא שלא יתערב בהן שום מים בעולם. ואם נתערב בהן מים כל שהוא הרי אלו מחמיצין:

Commentary on Halachah 2

[On Pesach,] we should not cook wheat in water - for example, cracked wheat - or flour [in water] - for example, dough balls. If one cooks [either of the above] - behold, it is absolutely chametz. This applies if [the kernels] crack open within the dish.

We may not fry dough in oil in a frying pan. However, we may cook a loaf [of matzah] or roasted flour. If one boiled a lot of water and, afterwards, placed flour into it - behold, it is permitted, because it is cooked immediately, before it could become leaven. [Nevertheless,] it is accepted custom in Babylonia, Spain, and the entire western [diaspora] to forbid this practice. This has been decreed lest one not boil the water well enough.

אין מבשלין חטים במים כגון ריפות ולא קמח כגון לביבות. ואם בישל הרי זה חמץ גמור והוא שיתבקעו בתבשיל. אין קולין את הבצק בשמן על המחבת. אבל מבשלין את הפת ואת הקמח הקלוי. ואם הרתיח המים הרבה ואחר כך השליך לתוכן הקמח הרי זה מותר מפני שהוא מתבשל מיד קודם שיחמיץ. וכבר נהגו בשנער ובספרד ובכל המערב לאסור דבר זה גזרה שמא לא ירתיח המים יפה יפה:

Commentary on Halachah 3

It is permissible to cook grain or flour in fruit juice. Thus, dough which was kneaded with fruit juice, cooked with fruit juice, or fried with oil in a frying pan is permitted, for fruit juice does not cause leavening.

מותר לבשל הדגן או הקמח במי פירות. וכן בצק שלשו במי פירות אם בשלו במי פירות או קלהו על המחבת בשמן הרי זה מותר שמי פירות אינן מחמיצין:

Commentary on Halachah 4

Roasted grain which is singed in fire and then ground [into flour]: That flour should not be cooked with water, lest it has not been roasted well in the fire, and thus will become leavened when cooked.

Similarly, when preparing new pots, we should not cook in them anything other than matzah that was baked and then ground into flour. It is forbidden to do so with roasted flour, for perhaps it will not be roasted well, and thus may become leaven.

כרמל שמהבהבין אותו באור וטוחנין אותו אין מבשלין את הקמח שלו במים שמא לא נקלה באור יפה ונמצא מחמיץ כשמבשלין אותו. וכן כשמוללין הקדרות החדשות אין מבשלין בהן אלא מצה אפויה שחזרו וטחנו אותה אבל קמח קלי אסור שמא לא קלהו יפה ויבוא לידי חמוץ:

Commentary on Halachah 5

We do not stir barley in water on Pesach [to remove its husks], because [the kernels] are soft and become leavened rapidly. If one did stir [barley] in water and [the kernels] softened to the point that if they were placed at the opening to a roasting pan upon which loaves were usually baked, they would burst open - behold, they are forbidden. If they have not reached this degree of softness, they are permitted.

אין בוללין את השעורין במים בפסח מפני שהן רפין ומחמיצין במהרה. ואם בלל אם רפו כדי שאם הניחן על פי הביב שאופין עליו החלות יתבקעו הרי אלו אסורין. ואם לא הגיעו לרפיון זה הרי אלו מותרין:

Commentary on Halachah 6

It is permissible to stir wheat [kernels] in water to remove the bran, and then immediately grind them, as is done when grinding fine flour. [Nevertheless,] all Jews in Babylonia, Eretz Yisrael, Spain, and the cities of the western [diaspora] have accepted the custom of not stirring wheat in water. This decree [was instituted] lest [the kernels] be left aside and become leavened.

החטים מותר לבלול אותן במים כדי להסיר סובן וטוחנין אותם מיד כדרך שטוחנין הסולת. וכבר נהגו כל ישראל בשנער ובארץ הצבי ובספרד ובערי המערב שלא יבללו החטים במים גזירה שמא ישהו ויחמיצו:

Commentary on Halachah 7

A dish that was cooked, and barley or wheat was discovered inside it: If the grains have cracked open, the entire dish is forbidden, for chametz has become mixed together with it. If they have not cracked open, they must be removed and burned, but the remainder of the dish may be eaten. [This ruling was given] because grain that has been stirred in water without cracking open is not actual leaven as forbidden by the Torah. It is only a Rabbinic [ordinance].

תבשיל שנתבשל ונמצאו בו שעורים או חטים אם נתבקעו הרי כל התבשיל אסור שהרי נתערב בו החמץ. ואם לא נתבקעו מוציאין אותן ושורפין ואוכלין שאר התבשיל. שאין הדגן שנבלל ולא נתבקע חמץ גמור של תורה. ואינו אלא מדברי סופרים:

Commentary on Halachah 8

[Exodus 12:17] states: "Keep watch over the matzot" - i.e., be careful of the matzot and protect them from any possibility of becoming chametz. Therefore, our Sages declared: A person must be careful regarding the grain which he eats on Pesach and [make sure] that no water has come in contact with it after it has been harvested, so that it will not have become chametz at all.

Grain which sunk in a river or came in contact with water, just as it is forbidden to eat from it [on Pesach], it is forbidden to keep [possession of] it. Rather, he should sell it to a Jew [before it becomes prohibited] and inform him [about its nature], so that he can eat it before Pesach. If he sells it to a gentile before Pesach, he should sell a small amount to a number of individuals, so that it will be finished before Pesach, lest the gentile go and sell it to [another] Jew.

משום שנאמר ושמרתם את המצות כלומר הזהרו במצה ושמרו אותה מכל צד חמוץ. לפיכך אמרו חכמים צריך אדם ליזהר בדגן שאוכל ממנו בפסח שלא יבוא עליו מים אחר שנקצר עד שלא יהיה בו שום חמוץ. דגן שנטבע בנהר או שנפל עליו מים כשם שאסור לאוכלו כך אסור לקיימו אלא מוכרו לישראל ומודיעו כדי שיאכלנו קודם הפסח. ואם מוכרו לנכרי קודם הפסח מוכר מעט לכל אחד ואחד כדי שיכלה קודם הפסח שמא יחזור הנכרי וימכרנו לישראל:

Commentary on Halachah 9

Grain upon which [water] leaking [from the roof] has fallen: As long as [the leak] continues, drop after drop, it will not become chametz even if [the leak continues] the entire day. However, if [the leak] stops, if it remains [untouched] for the standard measure [of time] - behold, it becomes chametz.

דגן שנפל עליו דלף כל זמן שהוא טורד טיפה אחר טיפה אפילו כל היום כולו אינו בא לידי חמוץ. אבל כשיפסק אם נשתהה כשיעור הרי זה אסור:

Commentary on Halachah 10

We do not knead a large dough on Pesach, lest it become chametz. Rather, [the size of the dough] is confined to the measure for which one is obligated to separate Challah.

We do not knead with hot water, with water heated in the sun, or with water that was drawn on the present day, only with water that has rested for a day. A person who violates [this requirement] and kneads using one of the above - behold, the [baked] loaf becomes forbidden.

יא

אין לשין בפסח עיסה גדולה שמא תחמיץ אלא כשיעור חלה בלבד. ואין לשין לא בחמין ולא בחמי חמה. ולא במים שנשאבו בו ביום אלא במים שלנו. ואם עבר ולש באחד מכל אלו הרי הפת אסורה:

Commentary on Halachah 11

A woman should not sit in the sun and knead, nor [should she knead] under the open sky on a cloudy day, even in a place where the sun is not shining. [She should not] leave the dough and become involved in another matter. If she both kneads and bakes, she must have two containers of water, one to smooth [the matzot] and one to cool off her hands.

If she violated [these instructions] and kneaded dough in the sun, or did not cool off her hands, or made a dough larger than the measure for which one is obligated to separate Challah, the loaf is permitted. What is the measure for which one is obligated to separate Challah? Forty-three and a fifth eggs of average size - by volume and not by weight.

יב

לא תשב אשה תחת השמש ותלוש. ולא תחת הרקיע ביום העבים אפילו במקום שאין השמש זורחת בו. ולא תניח את העיסה ותתעסק בדבר אחר. ואם היתה לשה ואופה צריכה שני כלים של מים. אחד שמקטפת בו ואחד שמצננת בו ידיה. ואם עברה ולשה תחת השמש או שלא צננה ידיה או שעשתה עיסה יתר משיעור חלה הפת מותרת. וכמה שיעור חלה כמו שלש וארבעים ביצים וחומש ביצה כגוף הביצה הבינונית לא כמשקלה:

Commentary on Halachah 12

As long as a person is busy with the dough, even for the entire day, it will not become chametz. If he lifts up his hand and allows the dough to rest so that [it rises to the extent that] a noise will resound when a person claps it with his hand, it has already become chametz and must be burned immediately. If a noise does not resound and the dough has lain at rest for the time it takes a man to walk a mil, it has become chametz and must be burned immediately.

Similarly, if its surface has become wrinkled [to the extent that it resembles] a person whose hair stands [on end in fright] - behold, it is forbidden to eat from it, but one is not liable for כרת [for eating it].

יג

כל זמן שאדם עוסק בבצק אפילו כל היום כולו אינו בא לידי חמוץ. ואם הגביה ידו והניחו ושהה הבצק עד שהגיע להשמיע הקול בזמן שאדם מכה בידו עליו כבר החמיץ וישרף מיד. ואם אין קולו נשמע אם שהה כדי שיהלך אדם מיל כבר החמיץ וישרף מיד. וכן אם הכסיפו פניו כאדם שעמדו שערותיו הרי זה אסור לאוכלו ואין חייבין עליו כרת:

Commentary on Halachah 13

There were two doughs which people stopped kneading at the same time and left unattended. From one, a sound [resounded when clapped]. From the other, no sound [resounded]. Both of them should be burned - behold, they are absolutely chametz.

יד

היו שתי עיסות שהגביהו היד מהן נילושות בעת אחת ונשתהו. האחת מהן יש לה קול ואחרת אין לה קול שתיהן ישרפו והרי הן חמץ גמור:

Commentary on Halachah 14

We should not make thick loaves with designs on Pesach, because a woman takes time making them. Thus, [the dough] will become leavened during that time. Hence, professional bakers are allowed to make [such designs], because they are skilled in their craft and quick in its execution.

[In contrast,] a private person is forbidden to make such a design, even if he does so using a [pre-cut] form. [This stringency was instituted] lest others attempt to make [the designs] without using the forms, delay in their work, and cause [the dough] to become chametz.

טו

אין עושין סריקין המצויירין בפסח מפני שהאשה שוהה עליהן ומתחמצין בעת עשייתן. לפיכך הנחתומין מותרין לעשותם מפני שהן בקיאין באומנותן וממהרים לעשותם. אבל בעלי בתים אסורים ואפילו צרו אותן בדפוס. שמא יבואו אחרים לעשותן שלא בדפוס וישהו בעשייתן ויחמיצו:

Commentary on Halachah 15

The water used to wash one's hands and the kneading trough after the kneading [is completed] and, similarly, the water used when kneading - behold, it should be poured out in a place which slopes downward, so it will not collect in one place and become leavened.

טז

מים שרוחצין בהן הידים והעריבה אחר שלשין וכן מים שמשתמשין בהן בשעת לישה הרי זה ישפוך אותן במקום מדרון כדי שלא יתקבצו במקום אחד ויחמיץ:

Commentary on Halachah 16

We should not soak bran in water and leave it in front of chickens, lest it become chametz. However, we can boil bran for them, and then place it before them. Nevertheless, the majority of people have already adopted the custom of not boiling [grain products], lest the water not be boiled thoroughly.

יז

אין שורין את המורסן ומניחין לפני התרנגולין שמא יחמיץ. אבל חולטין להן המורסן ברותחין ומניחין לפניהן. וכבר נהגו רוב העולם שלא לחלוט גזרה שמא לא ירתיח המים יפה:

Commentary on Halachah 17

It is permitted to prepare bran or flour for chickens in water if they are fed immediately, or if one places [the feed] before them and stands over them to ensure that the food will not stand more than the time it takes a person to walk a mil.

As long as they peck at it or one turns it over by hand, it will not become leavened. Once they finish eating, one should wash out the utensil in water and pour it out in a place which slopes downward.

יח

ומותר ללוש לתרנגולין מורסן או קמח ומאכילן מיד או נותן לפניהן והוא עומד עליהן עד שלא ישהה לפניהן כדי הילוך מיל. וכל זמן שהן מנקרין בו או שהוא מהפך בידו אינו מחמיץ. וכשיפסקו מלאכול ישטוף הכלי במים וישפוך במקום מדרון:

Commentary on Halachah 18

A woman should not soak bran which she intends to take to the bathhouse in water [beforehand]. However, she may rub dry bran on her skin. A person should not chew wheat and then place it on his wound, for it will become chametz.

We should not place flour into charoset. If one did so, he should burn it immediately, because it will cause [the flour] to become leavened very fast. We should not place flour in mustard. If one did so, he should eat it immediately.

יט

לא תשרה אשה מורסן שתוליך בידה למרחץ. אבל שפה על בשרה יבש. ולא ילעוס אדם חיטין ויתן על מכתו מפני שהן מחמיצות. אין נותנין את הקמח לתוך החרוסת ואם נתן ישפך מיד מפני שהוא ממהר להחמיץ. ואין נותנין את הקמח לתוך החרדל ואם נתן יאכל מיד:

Commentary on Halachah 19

It is permissible to place spices, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and the like into dough. Similarly, it is permissible to knead the dough with water and oil, honey or milk, or to baste with them.

On the first day, it is forbidden to knead or baste [the matzot] with any other substance besides water; not because of the prohibition against chametz, but rather so [the matzah] will be "poor man's bread." It is only on the first day that the "poor man's bread" must be commemorated.

מותר ליתן התבלין והשומשמין והקצח וכיוצא בהן לתוך הבצק. וכן מותר ללוש העיסה במים ושמן או דבש וחלב או לקטף בהן. וביום הראשון אסור ללוש ולקטף אלא במים בלבד. לא משום חמץ אלא כדי שיהיה לחם עוני. וביום הראשון בלבד הוא שצריך להיות זכרון לחם עוני:

Commentary on Halachah 20

All earthenware vessels that were used for chametz while cold may be used for matzah while cold, except for the utensils in which yeast and charoset were placed, for their leavening effect is powerful. Similarly, a kneading trough in which chametz is kneaded and left to become leavened is considered as a place where yeast is soaked, and we do not use it on Pesach.

כא

כל כלי חרס שנשתמש בהן חמץ בצונן מותר להשתמש בהן מצה בצונן. חוץ מכלי שמניחין בו את השאור וכלי שמניחין בו חרוסת מפני שחימוצו קשה. וכן עריבות שלשין בהן החמץ ומניחין אותו שם עד שיחמיץ הרי הן כבית שאור ואין משתמשין בהן בפסח:

Commentary on Halachah 21

An earthenware roasting pan on which loaves of chametz are baked during the entire year should not be used to bake matzah on Pesach. If it was filled with coals and kindled on the place where chametz was cooked, matzah it is permitted to be cooked on it.

כב

ביב של חרס שאופין עליו חלות חמץ כל השנה כולה אין אופין עליו מצה בפסח. ואם מלאו גחלים והסיק מקום שהיה מבשל בו החמץ מותר לבשל עליו מצה:

Commentary on Halachah 22

Metal and stone utensils in which chametz was boiled in water as a כלי ראשון - e.g., pots and stew pots - should be placed inside a large utensil. They should be covered with water, and the water should be boiled with them inside until they release [what they absorbed]. Afterwards, they should be washed off with cold water, and [then] one may use them for matzah.

Similarly, [with regard to] knives, the blade and the handle should be boiled in a כלי ראשון. Afterwards, one may use them for matzah.

כג

כלי מתכות וכלי אבנים שנשתמש בהן חמץ ברותחין בכלי ראשון כגון קדרות ואלפסין. נותן אותן לתוך כלי גדול של מים וממלא עליהן מים ומרתיחן בתוכו עד שיפלטו ואחר כך שוטף אותן בצונן ומשתמש בהן במצה. וכן הסכינין מרתיח את הלהב ואת הנצב בכלי ראשון ואחר כך משתמש בהן במצה:

Commentary on Halachah 23

Utensils of metal, stone, and wood which were used for chametz as a כלי שני - e.g., bowls or cups - should be placed in a large utensil, and boiling water poured over them. They should be left in [the large utensil] until they release [the chametz they absorbed]. Afterwards, they should be washed off. [Then,] they may be used for matzah.

כד

כלי מתכות ואבנים וכלי עצים שנשתמש בהן חמץ בכלי שני כגון קערות וכוסות נותן אותן לתוך כלי גדול ונותן עליהן מים רותחין ומניחן בתוכו עד שיפלוטו ואחר כך שוטפן ומשתמש בהן במצה:

Commentary on Halachah 24

All earthenware utensils that were used for chametz in hot water, whether as a כלי ראשון - for example, pots - or as a

כלי שני - for example, bowls - whether they were glazed and coated with lead so that they became like glass, or they were of simple earthenware: we do not use them for matzah. Rather, we put them aside until after Pesach, and then we may cook with them.

כה

כל כלי חרש שנשתמש בהן חמץ בחמין בין כלי ראשון כגון קדרות. בין כלי שני כגון קערות. בין שהיו משוחין ושועין באבר שעושין אותן כעין זכוכית. בין שהיו חרס כמה שהן. אין משתמשין בהן במצה אלא מניחן לאחר הפסח ומבשל בהן:

Commentary on Halachah 25

[A person possesses a utensil which is] a כלי ראשון and desires to boil it [in order to prepare it for Passover use], however, he cannot find a larger utensil into which [to place it] to boil it: Behold, he may place a border of clay around its [top] edge from the outside and fill it with water until the water overflows its edge. [Then,] he may boil the water in it, and this is sufficient. Afterwards, he washes it off and may use it for matzah.

כו

כלי ראשון שרצה להרתיחו ולא מצא כלי גדול ממנו כדי להרתיחו בתוכו הרי זה מקיף לו שפה של טיט על שפתו מבחוץ וממלאהו מים עד שיגברו המים על שפתו ומרתיח המים בתוכו ודיו ואחר כך שוטף אותו ומשתמש בו במצה

Commentary on Halachah 26

Chametz U'Matzah - Chapter Six

It is a positive commandment of the Torah to eat matzah on the night of the fifteenth [of Nisan], as [Exodus 12:18] states: "In the evening, you shall eat matzot." This applies in every place and at every time. Eating [matzah] is not dependent on the Paschal sacrifice. Rather, it is a mitzvah in its own right. The mitzvah may be fulfilled throughout the entire night.

Throughout the other days of the festival, eating matzah is left to one's choice: If one desires, one may eat matzah. If one desires, one may eat rice, millet, roasted seeds, or fruit. Nevertheless, on the night of the fifteenth alone, [eating matzah] is an obligation. Once one eats the size of an olive, he has fulfilled his obligation.

מצות עשה מן התורה לאכול מצה בליל חמשה עשר שנאמר בערב תאכלו מצות. בכל מקום ובכל זמן. ולא תלה אכילה זו בקרבן הפסח אלא זו מצוה בפני עצמה ומצותה כל הלילה. אבל בשאר הרגל אכילת מצה רשות רצה אוכל מצה רצה אוכל אורז או דוחן או קליות או פירות. אבל בליל חמשה עשר בלבד חובה ומשאכל כזית יצא ידי חובתו:

Commentary on Halachah 1

A person who swallows matzah [without chewing it] fulfills his obligation. A person who swallows maror [without chewing it] does not fulfill his obligation. A person who swallows matzah and maror together fulfills the obligation of matzah, but not that of maror, for the maror is secondary to the matzah. If he wrapped them in fibers or the like and swallowed them, he does not even fulfill the obligation of matzah.

בלע מצה יצא. בלע מרור לא יצא. בלע מצה ומרור כאחד ידי מצה יצא ידי מרור לא יצא. שהמרור כטפילה למצה. כרכן בסיב וכיוצא בו ובלען אף ידי מצה לא יצא:

Commentary on Halachah 2

A person who eats matzah without the intention [to fulfill the mitzvah] - e.g., gentiles or thieves force him to eat - fulfills his obligation.

A person who ate a כזית matzah in delirium, while possessed by an epileptic fit, and afterwards recovered, is obligated to eat another [כזית]. The consumption of [the first כזית] took place while he was free from the obligation to perform any mitzvot.

אכל מצה בלא כונה כגון שאנסוהו עכו"ם או לסטין לאכול יצא ידי חובתו. אכל כזית מצה והוא נכפה בעת שטותו ואחר כך נתרפא חייב לאכול אחר שנתרפא. לפי שאותה אכילה היתה בשעה שהיה פטור מכל המצות:

Commentary on Halachah 3

A person does not fulfill the obligation of eating matzah unless he partakes [of matzah made] from one of the five species [of grain], as [Deuteronomy 16:3] states: "Do not eat chametz upon it... eat matzot for seven days."

[From the verse's association of chametz and matzah, we may derive:] substances which can become leavened may be eaten as matzah to fulfill one's obligation. In contrast, other substances - e.g., rice, millet, and kitniyot - cannot be used to fulfill the obligation of matzah, for they can never become leavened.

אין אדם יוצא ידי חובת אכילת מצה אלא אם כן אכלה מאחד מחמשת המינין שנאמר לא תאכל עליו חמץ שבעת ימים תאכל עליו מצות. דברים הבאים לידי חימוץ אם אכלן מצה יצא בהן ידי חובתו אבל שאר דברים כגון אורז ודוחן וקטניות אין יוצא בהן ידי מצה לפי שאין בהן חמץ:

Commentary on Halachah 4

A person who makes dough from wheat and rice: if it has the taste of grain, one may fulfill his obligation with it. Dough made as food for dogs: if the shepherds also eat from it, one may fulfill his obligation with it. If the shepherds do not eat from it, one cannot fulfill his obligation by eating it, for it is not watched for the sake of eating matzah.

Matzah that was kneaded with fruit juice, one may fulfill one's obligation with it on Pesach. However, [the dough] should not be kneaded with wine, oil, honey, or milk, because of the requirement for poor man's bread, as explained above. A person who kneaded [dough with one of these liquids] does not fulfill his obligation.

One cannot fulfill his obligation with matzah made from thin bran or coarse bran. However, one may knead flour together with its bran and make it into a loaf and fulfill one's obligation with it. Similarly, a loaf made with very fine flour is permitted, and a person may fulfill his obligation with it. We do not say: this is not poor man's bread.

העושה עיסה מן החטים ומן האורז אם יש בה טעם דגן יוצא בה ידי חובתו. עיסת הכלבים בזמן שהרועים אוכלין ממנה יוצא בה ידי חובתו. אין הרועים אוכלין ממנה אינו יוצא בה שאין זו משומרת לשם מצה. מצה שלשה במי פירות יוצאה בה ידי חובתו בפסח. אבל אין לשין אותה ביין או בשמן או חלב משום לחם עוני כמו שבארנו. ואם לש ואכל לא יצא ידי חובתו. אין יוצאין לא בפת מורסן ולא בפת סובין. אבל לש הוא את הקמח בסובין שלו ובמורסנו ועושהו פת ויוצא בה ידי חובתו. וכן פת סולת נקייה ביותר הרי זו מותרת ויוצא בה ידי חובתו בפסח ואין אומרין בה אין זה לחם עוני:

Commentary on Halachah 5

[One may fulfill his obligation] with matzah baked in either an oven or a roasting pot. This applies whether the dough was stuck to the roasting pot and then the [pot] was heated, or whether the [pot] was heated and then the [dough] stuck to it. Even if the dough was baked in the ground, one may fulfill his obligation with it.

Similarly, even if the matzah was not thoroughly baked, one may fulfill his obligation with it, provided strands of dough will not extend from it when broken. A person may fulfill his obligation with a cake [of matzah] soaked [in other substances], so long as it has not dissolved. However, a person cannot fulfill his obligation with matzah that has been cooked, for it does not have the taste of bread.

אחד מצה שנאפית בתנור או באילפס. בין שהדביק הבצק באילפס ואחר כך הרתיח בין שהרתיח ואחר כך הדביק אפילו אפאה בקרקע הרי זה יוצא בה ידי חובתו. וכן אם לא נאפית אפייה גמורה יוצאין בה. והוא שלא יהיו חוטין של בצק נמשכין ממנה בעת שפורסה. ויוצאין ברקיק השרוי והוא שלא נימוח. אבל מצה שבשלה אינו יוצא בה ידי חובתו באכילתה שהרי אין בה טעם פת:

Commentary on Halachah 6

A person cannot fulfill his obligation by eating matzah which is forbidden to him; for example, a person who ate [matzah made from] tevel, [matzah made from] the first tithe from which terumat [ma'aser] had not been separated, or [matzah] that was stolen.

This is the governing principle: All [matzah] upon which the grace after meals is recited may be used to fulfill one's obligation. If the grace after meals may not be recited upon it, it may not be used to fulfill one's obligation.

אין אדם יוצא ידי חובתו באכילת מצה שהיא אסורה לו כגון שאכל טבל או מעשר ראשון שלא נטלה תרומתו או שגזלה. זה הכלל כל שמברכין עליו ברכת המזון יוצא בו ידי חובתו וכל שאין מברכין עליו ברכת המזון אין יוצא בו ידי חובתו:

Commentary on Halachah 7

The priests may fulfill their obligation with [matzot made from] Challah or terumah even though it is matzah which is not suited to be eaten by all people. Similarly, a person may fulfill his obligation with matzah [made] from ma'aser sheni [if he is] in Jerusalem. However, one may not fulfill his obligation with matzah made from bikkurim even [if he is] in Jerusalem.

[The difference is] because there is no permissible way of eating bikkurim in all [Jewish] settlements. [In contrast,] ma'aser sheni can be redeemed and eaten in all [Jewish] settlements. [Our Sages interpreted Exodus 12:20,] which states: "Eat matzot in all of your settlements," [to imply that] only matzah that is fit to be eaten in all settlements may be used to fulfill one's obligation.

הכהנים יוצאין בחלה ובתרומה אף על פי שהיא מצה שאינה ראויה לכל אדם. וכן יוצאין במצה של מעשר שני בירושלים. אבל אין יוצאין במצה של בכורים אפילו בירושלים מפני שהבכורים אין להם היתר בכל המושבות. ומעשר שני אפשר שיפדה ויאכל בכל מקום. וכתוב בכל מושבותיכם תאכלו מצות מצה הראויה להאכל בכל המושבות הוא שיוצאין בה ידי חובה:

Commentary on Halachah 8

Loaves from the thanksgiving offering and cakes from the Nazirite offering, which an individual made for his personal use, may not be used to fulfill one's obligation, [as can be implied] from the statement [Exodus 12:17]: "And you shall watch the matzot." Matzah which is watched with the sole intention [that it be used to fulfill the mitzvah] of matzah may be used to fulfill one's obligation. However, this matzah is also watched with the intention of [being used for a] sacrifice. Those that were made to be sold in the marketplace, [the baker] has the intention that if they are not sold, he will eat them. Therefore, while he was making them he [also] watched for the sake of matzah.

חלות תודה ורקיקי נזיר שעשו אותן לעצמן אין יוצאין בהן שנאמר ושמרתם את המצות מצה המשתמרת לענין מצה בלבד הוא שיוצאין בה אבל זו משתמרת לענין הזבח. ואם עשאן למכור בשוק הרי זה יוצא בה ידי חובתו. שהעושה למכור בשוק דעתו שאם לא ימכרו יאכל אותן ונמצא בשעת עשייתן שמרן לשם מצה:

Commentary on Halachah 9

All are obligated to [fulfill the mitzvah to] eat matzah, even women and slaves. A minor [old enough to eat bread] should be trained in [the fulfillment of] mitzvot and be given an olive's size of matzah to eat. [For] a sick or elderly person who cannot eat, we can soak a cake [of matzah] in water and feed it to him, provided it does not dissolve.

הכל חייבין באכילת מצה אפילו נשים ועבדים. קטן שיכול לאכול פת מחנכין אותו במצות ומאכילין אותו כזית מצה. חולה או זקן שאינו יכול לאכול שורין לו רקיק במים ומאכילין אותו והוא שלא נימוח:

Commentary on Halachah 10

It is a Rabbinic ordinance that nothing at all is eaten after the matzah, not even roasted seeds, nuts, or the like. Rather, even though one ate matzah and afterwards, ate other foods, fruit, and the like, one returns and eats a second olive's size of matzah at the end [of the meal] and ceases [eating].

יא

מדברי סופרים שאין מפטירין אחר מצה כלום ואפילו קליות ואגוזים וכיוצא בהן. אלא אף על פי שאכל מצה ואכל אחריה מאכלות אחרות ופירות וכיוצא בהן חוזר ואוכל כזית מצה באחרונה ופוסק:

Commentary on Halachah 11

The Sages forbade a person from eating matzah on Pesach eve, in order for there to be a distinction between [partaking of it as food] and eating it on the evening [of the fifteen as a mitzvah.] Whoever eats matzah on Pesach eve is given "stripes for rebellion" until his soul expires.

Similarly, it is forbidden to eat on Pesach evening from slightly before the time of Minchah, in order that one will approach eating matzah with appetite. However, one may eat some fruit or vegetables, but should not fill up on them.

The Sages of the former generations would starve themselves on Pesach eve so that they would eat matzah with appetite, and thus hold the mitzvot as dear. In contrast, on the eve of Sabbaths or other festivals, one may continue eating until darkness.

יב

אסרו חכמים לאכול מצה בערב הפסח כדי שיהיה היכר לאכילתה בערב. ומי שאכל מצה בערב הפסח מכין אותו מכת מרדות עד שתצא נפשו. וכן אסור לאכול ערב הפסח מקודם המנחה כמעט. כדי שיכנס לאכילת מצה בתאוה. אבל אוכל הוא מעט פירות או ירקות ולא ימלא כריסו מהן. וחכמים הראשונים היו מרעיבין עצמן ערב הפסח כדי לאכול מצה בתאוה ויהיו מצות חביבות עליו. אבל בשאר ערבי שבתות או ערבי ימים טובים אוכל והולך עד שתחשך

Commentary on Halachah 12

Chametz U'Matzah - Chapter Seven

It is a positive commandment of the Torah to relate the miracles and wonders wrought for our ancestors in Egypt on the night of the fifteenth of Nisan, as [Exodus 13:3] states: "Remember this day, on which you left Egypt," just as [Exodus 20:8] states: "Remember the Sabbath day."

From where [is it derived that this mitzvah is to be fulfilled on] the night of the fifteenth? The Torah teaches [Exodus 13:8]: "And you shall tell your son on that day, saying: 'It is because of this...'"FS" [implying that the mitzvah is to be fulfilled] when matzah and maror are placed before you.

[The mitzvah applies] even though one does not have a son. Even great Sages are obligated to tell about the Exodus from Egypt. Whoever elaborates concerning the events which occurred and took place is worthy of praise.

מצות עשה של תורה לספר בנסים ונפלאות שנעשו לאבותינו במצרים בליל חמשה עשר בניסן שנאמר זכור את היום הזה אשר יצאתם ממצרים כמו שנאמר זכור את יום השבת. ומנין שבליל חמשה עשר תלמוד לומר והגדת לבנך ביום ההוא לאמר בעבור זה בשעה שיש מצה ומרור מונחים לפניך. ואף על פי שאין לו בן. אפילו חכמים גדולים חייבים לספר ביציאת מצרים וכל המאריך בדברים שאירעו ושהיו הרי זה משובח:

Commentary on Halachah 1

It is a mitzvah to inform one's sons even though they do not ask, as [Exodus 13:8] states: "You shall tell your son."

A father should teach his son according to the son's knowledge: How is this applied? If the son is young or foolish, he should tell him: "My son, in Egypt, we were all slaves like this maidservant or this slave. On this night, the Holy One, Blessed be He, redeemed us and took us out to freedom."

If the son is older and wise, he should inform him what happened to us in Egypt and the miracles wrought for us by Moses, our teacher; everything according to the son's knowledge.

מצוה להודיע לבנים ואפילו לא שאלו שנאמר והגדת לבנך. לפי דעתו של בן אביו מלמדו. כיצד אם היה קטן או טיפש אומר לו בני כולנו היינו עבדים כמו שפחה זו או כמו עבד זה במצרים ובלילה הזה פדה אותנו הקב"ה ויוציאנו לחירות. ואם היה הבן גדול וחכם מודיעו מה שאירע לנו במצרים ונסים שנעשו לנו ע"י משה רבינו הכל לפי דעתו של בן:

Commentary on Halachah 2

He should make changes on this night so that the children will see and will [be motivated to] ask: "Why is this night different from all other nights?" until he replies to them: "This and this occurred; this and this took place."

What changes should be made? He should give them roasted seeds and nuts; the table should be taken away before they eat; matzot should be snatched from each other and the like.

When a person does not have a son, his wife should ask him. If he does not have a wife, [he and a colleague] should ask each other: "Why is this night different?" This applies even if they are all wise. A person who is alone should ask himself: "Why is this night different?"

וצריך לעשות שינוי בלילה הזה כדי שיראו הבנים וישאלו ויאמרו מה נשתנה הלילה הזה מכל הלילות עד שישיב להם ויאמר להם כך וכך אירע כך וכך היה. וכיצד משנה מחלק להם קליות ואגוזים ועוקרים השולחן מלפניהם קודם שיאכלו וחוטפין מצה זה מיד זה וכיוצא בדברים האלו. אין לו בן אשתו שואלתו. אין לו אשה שואלין זה את זה מה נשתנה הלילה הזה. ואפילו היו כולן חכמים. היה לבדו שואל לעצמו מה נשתנה הלילה הזה:

Commentary on Halachah 3

One must begin [the narrative describing our ancestors'] base [roots] and conclude with [their] praise. What does this imply? One begins relating how originally, in the age of Terach, our ancestors denied [God's existence] and strayed after vanity, pursuing idol worship. One concludes with the true faith: how the Omnipresent has drawn us close to Him, separated us from the gentiles, and drawn us near to His Oneness.

Similarly, one begins by stating that we were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt and [describing] all the evil done to us, and concludes with the miracles and wonders that were wrought upon us, and our freedom.

This [implies] that one should extrapolate [the passage beginning] from [Deuteronomy 26:5]: "An Aramean sought to destroy my ancestor..." until one concludes the entire passage. Whoever adds and extends his extrapolation of this passage is praiseworthy.

וצריך להתחיל בגנות ולסיים בשבח. כיצד מתחיל ומספר שבתחלה היו אבותינו בימי תרח ומלפניו כופרים וטועין אחר ההבל ורודפין אחר עבודת אלילים. ומסיים בדת האמת שקרבנו המקום לו והבדילנו מהאומות וקרבנו ליחודו. וכן מתחיל ומודיע שעבדים היינו לפרעה במצרים וכל הרעה שגמלנו ומסיים בנסים ובנפלאות שנעשו לנו ובחירותנו. והוא שידרוש מארמי אובד אבי עד שיגמור כל הפרשה. וכל המוסיף ומאריך בדרש פרשה זו הרי זה משובח:

Commentary on Halachah 4

Whoever does not mention these three matters on the night of the fifteenth has not fulfilled his obligation. They are: the Paschal sacrifice, matzah, and maror.

The Paschal sacrifice: [It is eaten] because the Omnipresent passed over the houses of our ancestors in Egypt as [Exodus 12:27] states: "And you shall say: 'It is the Paschal sacrifice to God.'"FS"

The bitter herbs: [They are eaten] because the Egyptians embittered the lives of our ancestors in Egypt.

The matzah: [It is eaten] because of the redemption. These statements are all referred to as the Haggadah.

כל מי שלא אמר שלשה דברים אלו בליל חמשה עשר לא יצא ידי חובתו ואלו הן. פסח מצה ומרור. פסח על שום שפסח המקום על בתי אבותינו במצרים שנאמר ואמרתם זבח פסח הוא לה' וגו'. מרור על שום שמררו המצריים את חיי אבותינו במצרים. מצה על שם שנגאלו. ודברים האלו כולן נקראין הגדה:

Commentary on Halachah 5

In each and every generation, a person must present himself as if he, himself, has now left the slavery of Egypt, as [Deuteronomy 6:23] states: "He took us out from there." Regarding this manner, God commanded in the Torah: "Remember that you were a slave [Deuteronomy 5:15]" - i.e., as if you, yourself, were a slave and went out to freedom and were redeemed.

בכל דור ודור חייב אדם להראות את עצמו כאילו הוא בעצמו יצא עתה משעבוד מצרים שנאמר ואותנו הוציא משם וגו'. ועל דבר זה צוה הקב"ה בתורה וזכרת כי עבד היית כלומר כאילו אתה בעצמך היית עבד ויצאת לחירות ונפדית:

Commentary on Halachah 6

Therefore, when a person feasts on this night, he must eat and drink while he is reclining in the manner of free men. Each and every one, both men and women, must drink four cups of wine on this night. [This number] should not be reduced. Even a poor person who is sustained by charity should not have fewer than four cups. The size of each of these cups should be a quarter [of a log].

לפיכך כשסועד אדם בלילה הזה צריך לאכול ולשתות והוא מיסב דרך חירות. וכל אחד ואחד בין אנשים בין נשים חייב לשתות בלילה הזה ארבעה כוסות של יין. אין פוחתין לו מהם. ואפילו עני המתפרנס מן הצדקה לא יפחתו לו מארבעה כוסות. שיעור כל כוס מהן רביעית:

Commentary on Halachah 7

Even one of Israel's poor should not eat until he [can] recline. A woman need not recline. If she is an important woman, she must recline. [Even] a son in the presence of his father or an attendant in the presence of his master must recline. However, a student before his teacher should not recline unless his teacher grants him permission.

Reclining on one's right side is not considered reclining. Neither is reclining on one's back or forwards.

When must one recline? when eating the כזית of matzah and when drinking these four cups of wine. While eating and drinking at other times: if one reclines, it is praiseworthy; if not, there is no requirement.

אפילו עני שבישראל לא יאכל עד שיסב. אשה אינה צריכה הסיבה. ואם אשה חשובה היא צריכה הסיבה. ובן אצל אביו והשמש בפני רבו צריכין הסיבה. אבל תלמיד בפני רבו אינו מיסב אלא אם כן נתן לו רבו רשות. והסיבת ימין אינה הסיבה. וכן המיסב על ערפו או על פניו אין זו הסיבה. ואימתי צריכין הסיבה בשעת אכילת כזית מצה ובשתיית ארבעה כוסות האלו. ושאר אכילתו ושתייתו אם היסב הרי זה משובח ואם לאו אינו צריך:

Commentary on Halachah 8

These four cups [of wine] should be mixed with water so that drinking them will be pleasant. [The degree to which they are mixed] all depends on the wine and the preference of the person drinking. [Together,] these four [cups] should contain at least a quarter [of a log] of pure wine.

A person who drank these four cups from wine which was not mixed [with water] has fulfilled the obligation to drink four cups of wine, but has not fulfilled the obligation to do so in a manner expressive of freedom.

A person who drank these four cups of wine mixed [with water] at one time has fulfilled the obligation to drink wine in a manner expressive of freedom, but has not fulfilled the obligation of four cups of wine.

A person who drank the majority [of the cup] from each of these [four] cups has fulfilled his obligation.

ארבעה כוסות האלו צריך למזוג אותן כדי שתהיה שתיה עריבה הכל לפי היין ולפי דעת השותה. ולא יפחות בארבעתן מרביעית יין חי. שתה ארבעה כוסות אלו מיין שאינו מזוג יצא ידי ארבעה כוסות ולא יצא ידי חירות. שתה ארבעה כוסות מזוגין בבת אחת ידי חירות יצא ידי ארבעה כוסות לא יצא. ואם שתה מכל כוס מהן רובו יצא:

Commentary on Halachah 9

On each of these four cups, one recites a blessing of its own. In addition:

On the first cup, one recites the kiddush pertaining to the day;

On the second cup, one reads the Haggadah;

On the third cup, one recites the grace after meals;

On the fourth cup, one concludes the Hallel and recites the blessing for songs [of praise].

Between these cups, should one desire to drink, one may. Between the third and the fourth cup, one should not drink.

כל כוס וכוס מארבעה כוסות הללו מברך עליו ברכה בפני עצמה. וכוס ראשון אומר עליו קדוש היום. כוס שני קורא עליו את ההגדה. כוס שלישי מברך עליו ברכת המזון. כוס רביעי גומר עליו את ההלל ומברך עליו ברכת השיר. ובין הכוסות האלו אם רצה לשתות שותה בין שלישי לרביעי אינו שותה:

Commentary on Halachah 10

The charoset is a mitzvah ordained by the words of the Sages, to commemorate the clay with which [our forefathers] worked in Egypt. How is it made?

We take dates, dried figs, or raisins and the like, and crush them, add vinegar to them, and mix them with spices, as clay is mixed into straw. This is placed on the table on [the first two] nights of Pesach.

יא

החרוסת מצוה מדברי סופרים זכר לטיט שהיו עובדין בו במצרים. וכיצד עושין אותה לוקחין תמרים או גרוגרות או צמוקין וכיוצא בהן ודורסין אותן ונותנין לתוכן חומץ ומתבלין אותן בתבלין כמו טיט בתבן ומביאין אותה על השלחן בלילי הפסח:

Commentary on Halachah 11

According to the Torah, the eating of bitter herbs is not a mitzvah in its own right, but rather is dependent on the consumption of the Paschal sacrifice. It is one positive commandment to eat the meat of the Paschal sacrifice together with matzah and bitter herbs. According to the words of the Sages, [it is a mitzvah] to eat the bitter herbs alone on this night even if there is no Paschal sacrifice.

יב

אכילת מרור אינה מצוה מן התורה בפני עצמה אלא תלויה היא באכילת הפסח. שמצות עשה אחת לאכול בשר הפסח על מצה ומרורים. ומדברי סופרים לאכול המרור לבדו בליל זה אפילו אין שם קרבן פסח:

Commentary on Halachah 12

The bitter herbs referred to by the Torah are Romaine lettuce, endives, horseradish, date ivy, wormwood. All of these five species of vegetable are called maror. If a person ate a כזית of any one of these [species] or of all five [species] combined, he has fulfilled his obligation.

This applies while they are still moist. One may fulfill one's obligation with their stem even if it is dry. One cannot fulfill one's obligation if they are boiled, pickled, or cooked.

יג

מרורים האמורים בתורה הן החזרת והעולשין והתמכא והחרחבינא והמרור. כל אחד מחמשת מיני ירק אלו נקרא מרור. ואם אכל מאחד מהן או מחמשתן כזית יצא והוא שיהו לחין. ויוצאין בקלח שלהן אפילו יבש. ואם שלקן או כבשן או בשלן אין יוצאין בהן

Commentary on Halachah 13

Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video ClassMonday, Kislev 2, 5778 · 20 November 2017
"Today's Day"
Monday, Kislev 2*, 5704
Torah lessons: Chumash: Chumash: Vayeitsei, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 10-17.
Tanya: Now, in one (p. 603)...Yetzirah and Asiyah. (p. 603).
My grandfather once explained in a maamar the statement, R. Elazar first gave a coin to a pauper and then davened1: "Davening must be with life. By giving, before davening, charity to a pauper - thereby giving him life - one's davening is suffused with a great increase of 'aliveness'." So saying he motioned with his hand in an upwards gesture to indicate that the increase is beyond imagination. Indeed my father would often seek out a pauper before davening to give him food.
FOOTNOTES
*.This day is the crowning culmination of the didan natzach victory, marking the actual return, in 5748 (1987) of the s'farim and k'tavim of the Rebbe'im to their rightful place in the library of Agudas Chasidei Chabad. This was the "...pidyon sh'vuyim ('release of the captives') of the s'farim, which were returned to their places in actual fact, on Monday of the Torah-portion 'I shall return in peace to my father's house,' on the second of Kislev." Sicha, Tevet 5, 5748, fn. 11. (The event coincided - in time and location - with the First International Convention of the shluchim, emissaries of the Rebbe of righteous memory.
1.Baba Batra 10a.
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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Missionary Renegade

Monday, November 20, 2017

Chabad.org Calendar of New York, New York, United States - TODAY IN JUDAISM: 2 Kislev, 5778 - Monday, November 20, 2017 - - - ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Monday, 2 Kislev, 5778 · November 20, 2017

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