תורה
יכוין בקריאת ששה פסוקים אלו שהם כנגד וָ דמילוי וו דשם ב''ן לקנות הארת מתוספת נפש יתרה משבת הבאה:
יח (טז) כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֨ה לָהֶ֤ם דָּבָר֙ בָּ֣א אֵלַ֔י וְשָׁ֣פַטְתִּ֔י בֵּ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ וּבֵ֣ין רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְהוֹדַעְתִּ֛י אֶת־חֻקֵּ֥י הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים וְאֶת־תּוֹרֹתָֽיו׃
כַּד הֲוֵי לְהוֹן דִינָא אָתָן לְוָתִי וְדָאִינָא בֵּין גַבְרָא וּבֵין חַבְרֵהּ וּמְהוֹדַעְנָא לְהוֹן יָת קְיָמַיָא דַיְיָ וְיָת אוֹרָיָתֵהּ:
(יז) וַיֹּ֛אמֶר חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֵלָ֑יו לֹא־טוֹב֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֽׂה׃
וַאֲמַר חֲמוּהִי דְמשֶׁה לֵהּ לָא תַקִין פִּתְגָמָא דְאַתְּ עָבֵד:
(יח) נָבֹ֣ל תִּבֹּ֔ל גַּם־אַתָּ֕ה גַּם־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמָּ֑ךְ כִּֽי־כָבֵ֤ד מִמְּךָ֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר לֹא־תוּכַ֥ל עֲשֹׂ֖הוּ לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃
מִלְאָה תִלְאֶה אַף אַתְּ אַף עַמָא הָדֵין דִעִמָךְ אֲרֵי יַקִיר מִנָךְ פִּתְגָמָא לָא תִכּוֹל לְמֶעְבְּדֵהּ בִּלְחוֹדָךְ:
(יט) עַתָּ֞ה שְׁמַ֤ע בְּקֹלִי֙ אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ וִיהִ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים עִמָּ֑ךְ הֱיֵ֧ה אַתָּ֣ה לָעָ֗ם מ֚וּל הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ אַתָּ֛ה אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
כְּעַן קַבֵּל מִנִי אֲמַלְכִנָךְ וִיהֵי מֵימְרָא דַיְיָ בְּסַעְדָךְ הֱוֵי אַתְּ לְעַמָא (תְּבַע) אוּלְפַן מִן קֳדָם יְיָ וּתְהֵי מַיְתִי אַתְּ יָת פִּתְגָמַיָא לִקֳדָם יְיָ:
(כ) וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣ה אֶתְהֶ֔ם אֶת־הַחֻקִּ֖ים וְאֶת־הַתּוֹרֹ֑ת וְהוֹדַעְתָּ֣ לָהֶ֗ם אֶת־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔הּ וְאֶת־הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֽׂוּן׃
וְתַזְהַר יָתְהוֹן יָת קְיָמַיָא וְיָת אוֹרַיְתָא וּתְהוֹדַע לְהוֹן יָת אוֹרְחָא דִיְהָכוּן בַּהּ וְיָת עוֹבָדָא דִיַעְבְּדוּן:
(כא) וְאַתָּ֣ה תֶחֱזֶ֣ה מִכׇּל־הָ֠עָ֠ם אַנְשֵׁי־חַ֜יִל יִרְאֵ֧י אֱלֹהִ֛ים אַנְשֵׁ֥י אֱמֶ֖ת שֹׂ֣נְאֵי בָ֑צַע וְשַׂמְתָּ֣ עֲלֵהֶ֗ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃
וְאַתְּ תֶּחֶזֵי מִכָּל עַמָא גֻבְרִין דְחֵילָא דַחֲלַיָא דַיְיָ גֻבְרִין דִקְשׁוֹט דְסָנָן לְקַבָּלָא מָמוֹן וּתְמַנֵי עֲלֵיהוֹן רַבָּנֵי אַלְפִין רַבָּנֵי מָאוָתָא רַבָּנֵי חַמְשִׁין וְרַבָּנֵי עִשׂוֹרְיָתָא:
18 (16) When they have a matter, they come to me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God and his Torot.
(17) And Moshe’s father in law said to him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
(18) Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
(19) Hearken now to my voice, I will give thee counsel, and may God be with thee: Be thou the link between the people and God, that thou mayst bring the cases to God:
(20) and thou shalt teach them the ordinances and the Torot, and shalt show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.
(21) Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens;
נביאים
ז (ג) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָה֮ אֶֽל־יְשַֽׁעְיָ֒הוּ֒ צֵא־נָא֙ לִקְרַ֣את אָחָ֔ז אַתָּ֕ה וּשְׁאָ֖ר יָשׁ֣וּב בְּנֶ֑ךָ אֶל־קְצֵ֗ה תְּעָלַת֙ הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה הָעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה אֶל־מְסִלַּ֖ת שְׂדֵ֥ה כוֹבֵֽס׃
וַאֲמַר יְיָ לִישַׁעְיָה פּוּק כְּעַן לִקֳדָמוּת אָחָז אַתְּ וּשְׁאָר תַּלְמִידָךְ דְלָא חֲטוֹ וּדְתָבוּ מֵחֶטְאָה לִסְיָפֵי מְזִיקַת בְּרֵיכָתָא עִלֵיתָא דִי בְּכֵבַשׁ חֲקַל מַשְׁטַח קְצִירַיָא:
(ד) וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵ֠לָ֠יו הִשָּׁמֵ֨ר וְהַשְׁקֵ֜ט אַל־תִּירָ֗א וּלְבָֽבְךָ֙ אַל־יֵרַ֔ךְ מִשְּׁנֵ֨י זַנְב֧וֹת הָאוּדִ֛ים הָעֲשֵׁנִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה בׇּחֳרִי־אַ֛ף רְצִ֥ין וַאֲרָ֖ם וּבֶן־רְמַלְיָֽהוּ׃
וְתֵימַר לֵיהּ אִסְתַּמַר וְנוּחַ לָא תִדְחַל וְלִבָּךְ לָא יָזוּעַ מִן קֳדָם תְּרֵין רַבְרְבַיָא דְאִינוּן כְּאוּדַיָא מַתְנְנַיָא הָאִלֵין בִּתְקוֹף רְגַז רְצִין וַאֲרָם וּבַר רְמַלְיָהוּ:
(ה) יַ֗עַן כִּֽי־יָעַ֥ץ עָלֶ֛יךָ אֲרָ֖ם רָעָ֑ה אֶפְרַ֥יִם וּבֶן־רְמַלְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר׃
חֲלַף אֲרֵי מְלַךְ עֲלָךְ אֲרָם בִּישָׁא אֶפְרַיִם וּבַר רְמַלְיָהוּ לְמֵימָר:
(ו) נַעֲלֶ֤ה בִֽיהוּדָה֙ וּנְקִיצֶ֔נָּה וְנַבְקִעֶ֖נָּה אֵלֵ֑ינוּ וְנַמְלִ֥יךְ מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ אֵ֖ת בֶּן־טָֽבְאַֽל׃ {פ}
נִסַק בְּאַרְעָא דְבֵית יְהוּדָה וּנְחַבְּרִינוּן וּנְשַׁוִינוּן עִמָנָא וְנַמְלִיךְ מַלְכָּא בְּגַוָהּ יַת מַן דְכָשַׁר לָנָא:
(ז) כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה לֹ֥א תָק֖וּם וְלֹ֥א תִֽהְיֶֽה׃
כִּדְנַן אֲמַר יְיָ אֱלֹהִים לָא תְקוּם וְלָא תֶהֱוֵי:
(ח) כִּ֣י רֹ֤אשׁ אֲרָם֙ דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק וְרֹ֥אשׁ דַּמֶּ֖שֶׂק רְצִ֑ין וּבְע֗וֹד שִׁשִּׁ֤ים וְחָמֵשׁ֙ שָׁנָ֔ה יֵחַ֥ת אֶפְרַ֖יִם מֵעָֽם׃
אֲרֵי רֵישׁ אֲרָם דַמֶשֶׂק וְרֵישׁ דַמֶשֶׂק רְצִין וּבְסוֹף שִׁתִּין וַחֲמֵשׁ שְׁנִין יִבְטְלוּן בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמָלְכוּ:
7 (3) Then said the Lord to Yesha῾yahu, Go out now to meet Aĥaz, thou, and She᾽ar-yashuv thy son, at the end of the aqueduct of the upper pool in the highway of the washers’ field;
(4) and say to him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted on account of the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Reżin and Aram, and of the son of Remalyahu.
(5) Because Aram, Efrayim, and the son of Remalyahu, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,
(6) Let us go up against Yehuda, and harass it, and let us make a breach in it for us, and set a king in the midst of it, namely the son of Tave᾽all:
(7) thus says the Lord God, It shall not stand; neither shall it come to pass.
(8) For the head of Aram is Dammeseq, and the head of Dammeseq is Reżin; and within sixty five years Efrayim shall be broken in pieces, and no more a people.
כתובים
טו (כה) בֵּ֣ית גֵּ֭אִים יִסַּ֥ח ׀ יְהֹוָ֑ה וְ֝יַצֵּ֗ב גְּב֣וּל אַלְמָנָֽה׃
בֵּיתָא דְגֵיוְתָנָא נְסַתֵּר אֱלָהָא וִיעַתַּד תְּחוּמָא דְאַרְמַלְתָּא:
(כו) תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הֹוָה מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת רָ֑ע וּ֝טְהֹרִ֗ים אִמְרֵי־נֹֽעַם׃
מְרַחַקְתֵּיהּ דֶאֱלָהָא מַחְשְׁבָתָא דְבִישְׁתָּא וְדַכְיָן מִלֵי בְסִימָתָא:
(כז) עֹכֵ֣ר בֵּ֭יתוֹ בּוֹצֵ֣עַ בָּ֑צַע וְשׂוֹנֵ֖א מַתָּנֹ֣ת יִחְיֶֽה׃
מוֹבִיד בֵּיתֵיהּ מְכַנֵשׁ מָמוֹן דִשְׁקַר וּדְסָנֵי מוֹהֲבִיָתָא דְמַגֵן יְחֵי:
(כח) לֵ֣ב צַ֭דִּיק יֶהְגֶּ֣ה לַעֲנ֑וֹת וּפִ֥י רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים יַבִּ֥יעַ רָעֽוֹת׃
לִבָּא דְצַדִיקָא רָנֵן בְּהֵימָנוּתָא וּפוּמְהוֹן דְרַשִׁיעֵי מַבִּיעַ בִּשְׁתָּא:
(כט) רָח֣וֹק יְ֭הֹוָה מֵרְשָׁעִ֑ים וּתְפִלַּ֖ת צַדִּיקִ֣ים יִשְׁמָֽע׃
רָחִיק הוּא אֱלָהָא מֵרַשִׁיעֵי וּצְלוֹתְהוֹן דְצַדִיקֵי יִשְׁמָע:
(ל) מְֽאוֹר־עֵ֭ינַיִם יְשַׂמַּֽח־לֵ֑ב שְׁמוּעָ֥ה ט֝וֹבָ֗ה תְּדַשֶּׁן־עָֽצֶם׃
נְהוֹרָא דְעַיְנֵי מַחֲרֵי לִבָּא שׁוּמְעֲתָא טָבָא מְדַהֲנָא גַרְמָא:
15 (25) The Lord will pluck up the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
(26) The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but pleasant words are pure.
(27) He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house; but he that hates gifts shall live.
(28) The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer: but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
(29) The Lord is far from the wicked: but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
(30) The light of the eyes rejoices the heart: and a good report makes the bones fat.
משנה
א. הַשּׂוֹכֵר אֶת הַפּוֹעֲלִים וְאָמַר לָהֶם לְהַשְׁכִּים וּלְהַעֲרִיב, מְקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ שֶׁלֹּא לְהַשְׁכִּים וְשֶׁלֹּא לְהַעֲרִיב, אֵינוֹ רַשַּׁאי לְכוֹפָן. מְקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ לָזוּן, יָזוּן. לְסַפֵּק בִּמְתִיקָה, יְסַפֵּק. הַכֹּל כְּמִנְהַג הַמְּדִינָה. מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן מַתְיָא שֶׁאָמַר לִבְנוֹ, צֵא שְׂכֹר לָנוּ פוֹעֲלִים. הָלַךְ וּפָסַק לָהֶם מְזוֹנוֹת. וּכְשֶׁבָּא אֵצֶל אָבִיו, אָמַר לוֹ, בְּנִי, אֲפִלּוּ אִם אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה לָהֶם כִּסְעֻדַּת שְׁלֹמֹה בִשְׁעָתוֹ, לֹא יָצָאתָ יְדֵי חוֹבָתְךָ עִמָּהֶן, שֶׁהֵן בְּנֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב. אֶלָּא עַד שֶׁלֹּא יַתְחִילוּ בַמְּלָאכָה צֵא וֶאֱמֹר לָהֶם, עַל מְנָת שֶׁאֵין לָכֶם עָלַי אֶלָּא פַת וְקִטְנִית בִּלְבַד. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר, לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר, הַכֹּל כְּמִנְהַג הַמְּדִינָה:
ב. וְאֵלּוּ אוֹכְלִין מִן הַתּוֹרָה. הָעוֹשֶׂה בִמְחֻבָּר לַקַּרְקַע, בִּשְׁעַת גְּמַר מְלָאכָה, וּבְתָלוּשׁ מִן הַקַּרְקַע, עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ, בְּדָבָר שֶׁגִּדּוּלוֹ מִן הָאָרֶץ. וְאֵלּוּ שֶׁאֵין אוֹכְלִין. הָעוֹשֶׂה בִמְחֻבָּר לַקַּרְקַע בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאֵין גְּמַר מְלָאכָה, וּבְתָלוּשׁ מִן הַקַּרְקַע מֵאַחַר שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ, וּבְדָבָר שֶׁאֵין גִּדּוּלוֹ מִן הָאָרֶץ:
ג. הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה בְיָדָיו אֲבָל לֹא בְרַגְלָיו, בְּרַגְלָיו אֲבָל לֹא בְיָדָיו, אֲפִלּוּ בִכְתֵפוֹ, הֲרֵי זֶה אוֹכֵל. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, עַד שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה בְיָדָיו וּבְרַגְלָיו:
ד. הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה בִתְאֵנִים, לֹא יֹאכַל בַּעֲנָבִים, בַּעֲנָבִים, לֹא יֹאכַל בִּתְאֵנִים. אֲבָל מוֹנֵעַ אֶת עַצְמוֹ עַד שֶׁמַּגִּיעַ לִמְקוֹם הַיָּפוֹת וְאוֹכֵל. וְכֻלָּן לֹא אָמְרוּ אֶלָּא בִשְׁעַת מְלָאכָה, אֲבָל מִשּׁוּם הָשֵׁב אֲבֵדָה לַבְּעָלִים אָמְרוּ, פּוֹעֲלִים אוֹכְלִין בַּהֲלִיכָתָן מֵאֻמָּן לְאֻמָּן, וּבַחֲזִירָתָן מִן הַגַּת, וּבַחֲמוֹר כְּשֶׁהִיא פוֹרָקֶת:
ה. אוֹכֵל פּוֹעֵל קִשּׁוּת אֲפִלּוּ בְדִינָר, וְכוֹתֶבֶת אֲפִלּוּ בְדִינָר. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר חִסְמָא אוֹמֵר, לֹא יֹאכַל פּוֹעֵל יָתֵר עַל שְׂכָרוֹ. וַחֲכָמִים מַתִּירִין, אֲבָל מְלַמְּדִין אֶת הָאָדָם שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא רַעַבְתָן וִיהֵא סוֹתֵם אֶת הַפֶּתַח בְּפָנָיו:
ו. קוֹצֵץ אָדָם עַל יְדֵי עַצְמוֹ, עַל יְדֵי בְנוֹ וּבִתּוֹ הַגְּדוֹלִים, עַל יְדֵי עַבְדּוֹ וְשִׁפְחָתוֹ הַגְּדוֹלִים, עַל יְדֵי אִשְׁתּוֹ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶן דָּעַת. אֲבָל אֵינוֹ קוֹצֵץ עַל יְדֵי בְנוֹ וּבִתּוֹ הַקְּטַנִּים, וְלֹא עַל יְדֵי עַבְדּוֹ וְשִׁפְחָתוֹ הַקְּטַנִּים, וְלֹא עַל יְדֵי בְהֶמְתּוֹ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶן דָּעַת:
ז. הַשּׂוֹכֵר אֶת הַפּוֹעֲלִים לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּנֶטַע רְבָעִי שֶׁלּוֹ, הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ לֹא יֹאכְלוּ. אִם לֹא הוֹדִיעָן, פּוֹדֶה וּמַאֲכִילָן. נִתְפָּרְסוּ עִגּוּלָיו, נִתְפַּתְּחוּ חָבִיּוֹתָיו, הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ לֹא יֹאכְלוּ. אִם לֹא הוֹדִיעָן, מְעַשֵּׂר וּמַאֲכִילָן:
ח. שׁוֹמְרֵי פֵרוֹת אוֹכְלִין מֵהִלְכוֹת מְדִינָה, אֲבָל לֹא מִן הַתּוֹרָה. אַרְבָּעָה שׁוֹמְרִין הֵן. שׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם, וְהַשּׁוֹאֵל, נוֹשֵׂא שָׂכָר, וְהַשּׂוֹכֵר. שׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם נִשְׁבָּע עַל הַכֹּל, וְהַשּׁוֹאֵל מְשַׁלֵּם אֶת הַכֹּל, וְנוֹשֵׂא שָׂכָר וְהַשּׂוֹכֵר נִשְׁבָּעִים עַל הַשְּׁבוּרָה וְעַל הַשְּׁבוּיָה וְעַל הַמֵּתָה, וּמְשַׁלְּמִין אֶת הָאֲבֵדָה וְאֶת הַגְּנֵבָה:
ט. זְאֵב אֶחָד, אֵינוֹ אֹנֶס, שְׁנֵי זְאֵבִים, אֹנֶס. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, בִּשְׁעַת מִשְׁלַחַת זְאֵבִים, אַף זְאֵב אֶחָד אֹנֶס. שְׁנֵי כְלָבִים, אֵינוֹ אֹנֶס. יַדּוּעַ הַבַּבְלִי אוֹמֵר מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי מֵאִיר, מֵרוּחַ אַחַת, אֵינוֹ אֹנֶס, מִשְּׁתֵּי רוּחוֹת, אֹנֶס. הַלִּסְטִים, הֲרֵי זֶה אֹנֶס. הָאֲרִי וְהַדֹּב וְהַנָּמֵר וְהַבַּרְדְּלָס וְהַנָּחָשׁ, הֲרֵי זֶה אֹנֶס. אֵימָתַי, בִּזְמַן שֶׁבָּאוּ מֵאֲלֵיהֶן, אֲבָל אִם הוֹלִיכָן לִמְקוֹם גְּדוּדֵי חַיָּה וְלִסְטִים, אֵינוֹ אֹנֶס:
י. מֵתָה כְדַרְכָּהּ, הֲרֵי זֶה אֹנֶס. סִגְּפָהּ וָמֵתָה, אֵינוֹ אֹנֶס. עָלְתָה לְרָאשֵׁי צוּקִין וְנָפְלָה וָמֵתָה, הֲרֵי זֶה אֹנֶס. הֶעֱלָהּ לְרָאשֵׁי צוּקִין וְנָפְלָה וָמֵתָה, אֵינוֹ אֹנֶס. מַתְנֶה שׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם לִהְיוֹת פָּטוּר מִשְּׁבוּעָה, וְהַשּׁוֹאֵל לִהְיוֹת פָּטוּר מִלְּשַׁלֵּם, נוֹשֵׂא שָׂכָר וְהַשּׂוֹכֵר לִהְיוֹת פְּטוּרִין מִשְּׁבוּעָה וּמִלְּשַׁלֵּם:
יא. כָּל הַמַּתְנֶה עַל מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה, תְּנָאוֹ בָטֵל. וְכָל תְּנַאי שֶׁיֵּשׁ מַעֲשֶׂה בִתְחִלָּתוֹ, תְּנָאוֹ בָטֵל. וְכָל שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר לוֹ לְקַיְּמוֹ בְסוֹפוֹ, וְהִתְנָה עָלָיו מִתְּחִלָּתוֹ, תְּנָאוֹ קַיָּם:
1. With regard to one who hires laborers and tells them to rise exceptionally early and to continue working until exceptionally late, if this is in a locale where laborers are not accustomed to rising so early or to continuing to work until so late, the employer is not permitted to compel them to do so. In a locale where employers are accustomed to feeding their laborers, the employer must feed them. If they are in a locale where an employer is accustomed to providing their laborers with sweet foods, he must provide such food. Everything is in accordance with the regional custom in these matters. There was an incident involving Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Matya, who said to his son: Go out and hire laborers for us. His son went, hired them, and pledged to provide sustenance for them as a term of their employment, without specifying the details. And when he came back to his father and reported what he had done, Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Matya said to him: My son, even if you were to prepare a feast for them like that of King Solomon in his time, you would not have fulfilled your obligation to them, as they are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Rather, before they begin engaging in their labor, go out and say to them: The stipulation that food will be provided is on the condition that you have the right to claim from me only a meal of bread and legumes, which is the typical meal given to laborers. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Matya’s son did not need to state this condition, as the principle is that everything is in accordance with the regional custom.
2. This mishna details the halakha that a laborer is permitted to eat from the produce with which he is working. And these laborers may eat by Torah law: A laborer who works with produce attached to the ground at the time of the completion of its work, e.g., harvesting produce; and a laborer who works with produce detached from the ground before the completion of its work, i.e., before it is sufficiently processed and thereby subject to tithes. And this is the halakha provided that they are working with an item whose growth is from the land. And these are laborers who may not eat: A laborer who works with produce attached to the ground not at the time of the completion of its work, i.e., while it is still growing; and a laborer who works with produce detached from the ground after the completion of its work, when it is sufficiently processed and therefore subject to tithes; and a laborer who works with an item whose growth is not from the land.
3. If a laborer was performing labor with his hands but not with his feet, or with his feet but not with his hands, e.g., pressing grapes, or even if he was performing labor only with his shoulder, this one may eat the produce of the field. Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, says: A laborer may not eat unless he performs labor with his hands and with his feet.
4. If a laborer was performing labor with figs he may not eat grapes; if he was performing labor with grapes he may not eat figs, as he may eat only the type of food with which he is working. This is the halakha even if he was employed to perform labor with both types of produce but is currently performing labor with only one of them. But he may hold himself back from eating until he reaches a place of good-quality grapes or figs and eat from these, as they are the same type of food. And with regard to all of these cases the Sages said that he may eat only at the time of work. But due to the obligation to restore lost property to its owners, i.e., so that workers would not neglect their task, they said that laborers may eat as they walk from one row of a vineyard or plantation to another row, and upon their return from the winepress. And with regard to a donkey, it is permitted to eat when it is being unloaded. This statement will be explained in the Gemara.
5. A laborer may eat cucumbers while he works, and this is the halakha even if the amount he eats is equal in value to a dinar; or he may eat dates, and this is the halakha even if the amount he eats is equal in value to a dinar. Rabbi Elazar Ḥisma says: A laborer may not eat more than the value of his wages, but the Rabbis permit it, according to the strict letter of the law. But one teaches a person not to be a glutton and thereby close the opening to other job offers in his face. When people hear of his greed they will be reluctant to hire him.
6. A man can stipulate on his own behalf that he receive a certain increase in his wages instead of eating the produce with which he works, and similarly, he can stipulate this on behalf of his adult son or daughter, on behalf of his adult Canaanite slave or Canaanite maidservant, or on behalf of his wife, with their agreement, because they have the basic level of mental competence, i.e., they are legally competent and can therefore waive their rights. But he cannot stipulate this on behalf of his minor son or daughter, nor on behalf of his minor Canaanite slave or Canaanite maidservant, nor on behalf of his animal, as they do not have the basic level of mental competence.
7. In the case of one who hires a laborer to perform labor with his fourth-year fruit, such laborers may not eat the fruit. And if he did not inform them beforehand that they were working with fourth-year fruit, he must redeem the fruit and feed them. If his fig cakes broke apart and crumbled, so that they must be preserved again, or if his barrels of wine opened and he hired workers to reseal them, these laborers may not eat, as the work of the figs or wine had already been completed with regard to tithes, from which point a laborer may not eat them. And if he did not inform them, he must tithe the food and feed them.
8. The mishna adds: Watchmen of produce may eat the produce of the field or vineyard by local regulations, i.e., in accordance with the ordinances accepted by the residents of that place, but not by Torah law. There are four types of bailees, to whom different halakhot apply. They are as follows: An unpaid bailee, who receives no compensation for safeguarding the item; and the borrower of an item for his own use; a paid bailee, who is provided with a salary for watching over an item; and a renter, i.e., a bailee who pays a fee for the use of a vessel or animal. If the item was stolen, lost, or broken, or if the animal died in any manner, their halakhot are as follows: An unpaid bailee takes an oath over every outcome; whether the item was lost, stolen, or broken, or if the animal died, the unpaid bailee must take an oath that it happened as he described, and he is then exempt from payment. The borrower does not take an oath, but pays for every outcome, even in a circumstance beyond his control. And the halakhot of a paid bailee and a renter are the same: They take an oath over an injured animal, over a captured animal, and over a dead animal, attesting that the mishaps were caused by circumstances beyond their control, and they are exempt, but they must pay for loss or theft.
9. One wolf that approaches a flock and attacks is not considered a circumstance beyond one’s control, as the shepherd can drive it away, but an attack by two wolves is considered a circumstance beyond one’s control. Rabbi Yehuda says: At a time of wolf attacks, when many wolves come out of hiding and pounce on animals at every corner, even an attack by one wolf is considered a circumstance beyond one’s control. An attack by two dogs is not considered a circumstance beyond one’s control. Yadua the Babylonian says in the name of Rabbi Meir: If the two dogs came and attacked from one direction it is not considered a circumstance beyond one’s control, but if they attacked from two directions, this is considered a circumstance beyond one’s control, as the shepherd cannot protect his flock from both of them at once. If bandits came, this is considered a circumstance beyond one’s control. Likewise, with regard to an attack by a lion, a bear, a leopard, a cheetah, and a snake, these are each considered a circumstance beyond one’s control. When is an attack by one of the above considered beyond his control, which means that a paid bailee is exempt? It is when the dangerous beasts or bandits came of their own accord to the usual grazing spot. But if the shepherd led his flock to a place of groups of beasts or bandits, this is not considered a circumstance beyond one’s control, as he is at fault.
10. If the animal died in its normal manner, this is considered a circumstance beyond one’s control; if he afflicted it by overworking it or by negligent treatment and it died, this is not considered a circumstance beyond one’s control. If the animal ascended to the top of a cliff and fell down and died, this is considered a circumstance beyond one’s control. If the shepherd himself brought it up to the top of a cliff and it fell down and died, this is not considered a circumstance beyond one’s control. The halakhot of bailees stated in the previous mishna apply to standard cases. The halakha is that in any case involving monetary matters the parties may agree to special terms. Therefore, an unpaid bailee may stipulate with the owner that he will be exempt from taking an oath if the item is lost, and similarly, a borrower may stipulate that he will be exempt from having to pay, and a paid bailee or a renter can stipulate that he will be exempt from taking an oath and from having to pay, as one can relinquish his monetary rights. With regard to matters that do not involve monetary claims, anyone who stipulates counter to that which is written in the Torah, his stipulation is void.
11. And any condition that is preceded by an action, i.e., the agreement is formulated with the promise of an action followed by a statement that this action will be carried out only under certain terms, the condition is void and the promise remains intact. The condition must be stated before the action. And with regard to any condition that one can ultimately fulfill, but he stipulated with him initially, i.e., in practice the action is performed first, followed by the fulfillment of the condition, nevertheless, because it was formulated in the proper manner, with the condition first, his condition is valid. If the condition cannot be fulfilled at all, once the action has been carried out the condition is void.
גמרא
תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף (שמות כ''ב) אִם כֶּסֶף תַּלְוֶה אֶת עַמִּי אֶת הֶעָנִי עִמָּךְ עַמִּי וְנָכְרִי עַמִּי קוֹדֶם עָנִי וְעָשִׁיר עָנִי קוֹדֶם. עֲנִיֶּיךָ וַעֲנִיֵּי עִירָךְ עֲנִיֶּיךָ קוֹדְמִין. עֲנִיֵּי עִירָךְ וַעֲנִיֵּי עִיר אַחֶרֶת עֲנִיֵּי עִירָךְ קוֹדְמִין. אָמַר מָר עַמִּי וְנָכְרִי עַמִּי קוֹדֶם. פְּשִׁיטָא. אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר לִי הוּנָא לָא נִצְרְכָא דַאֲפִלּוּ לְנָכְרִי בְּרִבִּית וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחִנָם. תַּנְיָא אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי בֹּא וּרְאֵה כַּמָּה סְמִיּוּת עֵינֵיהֶם שֶׁל מַלְוֵי בְּרִבִּית אָדָם קוֹרֵא לַחֲבֵירוֹ רָשָׁע יוֹרֵד עִמּוֹ לְחַיָּיו וְהֵם מְבִיאִים עֵדִים וְלָבְלָר וְקוֹלְמוֹס וּדְיוֹ וְכוֹתְבִים וְחוֹתְמִים פְּלוֹנִי זֶה כָּפַר בֵּאלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. תַּנְיָא רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר כָּל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ מָעוֹת וּמַלְוֶה אוֹתָם שֶׁלֹּא בְרִבִּית עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר (תהלים ט''ו) כַּסְפּוֹ לֹא נָתַן בְּנֶשֶׁךְ וְשֹׁחַד עַל נָקִי לֹא לָקָח עוֹשֵׂה אֵלֶּה לֹא יִמּוֹט לְעוֹלָם הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁכָּל הַמַּלְוֶה בְּרִבִּית נְכָסָיו מִתְמוֹטְטִין וְהָא קָא חֲזֵינָן דְּלָא מוֹזְפֵי בְרִיבִּית וְקָא מִתְמוֹטְטִין. אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַלָּלוּ מִתְמוֹטְטִין וְעוֹלִין וְהַלָּלוּ מִתְמוֹטְטִין וְאֵינָן עוֹלִין. תָּנוּ רַבָּנָן (ויקרא כ''ה) אַל תִּקַּח מֵאִתּוֹ נֶשֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּית אֲבָל אַתָּה נַעֲשֶׂה לּוֹ עָרֵב. עָרֵב לְמָאן אִילֵימָא עָרֵב לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְהָתְּנַן אֵלּוּ עוֹבְרִים בְּלֹא תַעֲשֵׂה הַמַּלְוֶה וְהַלּוֶֹה הֶעָרֵב וְהָעֵדִים. אֶלָּא לְנָכְרִי. וְכִיוָן דְּדִינֵיהּ דְּנָכְרִי דְאָזִיל בָּתַר עָרֵב אִיהוּ נִיהוּ דְקָא שָׁקִיל מִינֵיהּ רִבִּיתָא. אָמַר רַב שֵׁשַׁת שֶׁקִּבֵּל עָלָיו לָדוּן בְּדִינֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. אִי קִבֵּל עָלָיו לָדוּן בְּדִינֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל רִבִּית נַמֵּי לָא לִשְׁקוֹל. אָמַר רַב שֵׁשֶׁת שֶׁקִּבֵּל עָלָיו לְזוֹ וְלֹא קִבֵּל עָלָיו לְזוֹ:
There are those who teach that which Rav Huna said in connection with that which Rav Yosef taught: The verse states: “If you lend money to any of My people, even to the poor person who is with you” (Exodus 22:24). The term “My people” teaches that if one of My people, i.e., a Jew, and a gentile both come to borrow money from you, My people take precedence. The term “the poor person” teaches that if a poor person and a rich person come to borrow money, the poor person takes precedence. And from the term: “Who is with you,” it is derived: If your poor person, meaning one of your relatives, and one of the poor of your city come to borrow money, your poor person takes precedence. If it is between one of the poor of your city and one of the poor of another city, the one of the poor of your city takes precedence.
The Master said above: If one of My people and a gentile come to you for a loan, My people take precedence. The Gemara asks: Isn’t this obvious? Is there any reason to think that a gentile would take precedence over a Jew? Rav Naḥman said that Rav Huna said to me: It is necessary only to teach that even if the choice is to lend money to a gentile with interest or to a Jew for free, without interest, one must still give preference to the Jew and lend the money to him, even though this will entail a lack of profit.
It is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Yosei says: Come and see the blindness in the eyes of those who lend money with interest. If a person calls another a wicked person in public, the other becomes insulted and he harasses him in all aspects of his life because he called him by this disgraceful name. But they who lend with interest bring witnesses and a scribe [velavlar] and a pen [vekulmos] and ink and write and sign a document that testifies: So-and-so denies the existence of the God of Israel, as the very fact that he lent with interest in defiance of the Torah is tantamount to a denial of the existence of God.
It is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says: Concerning anyone who has money and lends it without interest, the verse says about him: “He who has not given his money with interest and who has not taken a bribe against the innocent, he who does these shall never collapse” (Psalms 15:5). From this statement, the opposite can also be inferred: You learn from this that concerning anyone who lends his money to others with interest, his property, i.e., his financial standing, collapses. The Gemara asks: But we see people who do not lend money with interest and nevertheless their property collapses. Rabbi Elazar says: There is still a difference: Those who do not lend money with interest collapse but then ultimately rise, but these, who lend with interest, collapse and do not rise again.
Referring to the subject of honest people who collapse temporarily, it is said: “Why do You observe the treacherous, and remain silent while the wicked swallows the one who is more righteous than he?” (Habakkuk 1:13). Rav Huna says about this verse: One who is more righteous than he, he swallows for the moment, but he does not swallow a completely righteous person at all.
§ The Gemara returns to the clarification of the mishna, which mentioned the subject of a gentile who resides in Eretz Yisrael and observes the seven Noahide mitzvot [ger toshav]. It is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: With regard to the convert that is mentioned concerning the sale of a Hebrew slave and the ger toshav that is mentioned concerning interest, I do not know what the meaning of each of these references is.
The Gemara explains: The convert that is mentioned concerning the sale of a Hebrew slave is referring to the following, as it is written: “If your brother waxes poor with you and is sold unto you” (Leviticus 25:39), and it was expounded in a baraita: And not only will he be sold to you, a born Jew, but he will be sold even to a convert, as it is stated: “And sells himself to a stranger [leger]” (Leviticus 25:47).
And this sale to a ger is referring to a sale not only to a righteous convert [leger tzedek], but even to a ger toshav, as it is stated: “And sells himself to a stranger who is a settler [leger toshav]” (Leviticus 25:47). With regard to the continuation of the verse: “Or to an offshoot of a stranger’s family,” this is referring to a gentile, i.e., he will reach a state where he has no choice but to sell himself to a gentile. When it states: “Or to an offshoot of a stranger’s family,” this is referring to one sold for idol worship itself, i.e., he is forced to sell himself as a slave to work in a temple of idol worship.
The Gemara clarifies the baraita. The Master said: And not only will he be sold to you, a born Jew, but he will be sold even to a convert, as it is stated: “And sells himself to a stranger.” Is this to say that a convert may acquire a Hebrew slave? The Gemara raises a contradiction from a baraita: A convert cannot be acquired as a Hebrew slave, and a woman or a convert may not acquire a Hebrew slave.
The Gemara explains the baraita. A convert cannot be acquired as a Hebrew slave, as we require the fulfillment of the verse: “Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and shall return to his own family” (Leviticus 25:41), and a convert is not able to do this, since upon conversion the convert severs his relationship with his gentile family, and he therefore has no family. The baraita teaches: And a woman or a convert may not acquire a Hebrew slave. With regard to a woman, the reason is that it is not proper conduct, since people may say that she is purchasing him to engage in sexual intercourse with him. With regard to a convert as well, it is learned as a tradition: Only one who can be acquired as a Hebrew slave can acquire a Hebrew slave, and one who cannot be acquired as a Hebrew slave cannot acquire a Hebrew slave. Since a convert cannot be acquired as a Hebrew slave, he also cannot acquire one.
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi’s question was that since it has been established that a convert may not acquire a Hebrew slave, why was he mentioned in the verse? Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: He cannot acquire a Hebrew slave and have his halakha be like that of a Jew who owns a Hebrew slave, but he can acquire a Hebrew slave and have his halakha be like that of a gentile who owns a Hebrew slave.
This is as it is taught in a baraita: A Hebrew slave who had his ear pierced by his own request in order to remain a slave after his six-year period of servitude was over, and therefore is emancipated only during the Jubilee Year, and also a Hebrew slave who was sold to a gentile, does not serve his master’s son and does not serve his master’s daughter after his master’s death, but rather is emancipated. The same halakha would apply to a Hebrew slave sold to a convert, whose status in this respect is similar to that of a gentile.
The Master said above: And a woman or a convert may not acquire a Hebrew slave. The Gemara suggests: Let us say that this baraita is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel. As it is taught in a baraita: A woman may acquire maidservants but may not acquire male slaves, in order to preserve standards of modesty. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: She may also acquire male slaves. The Gemara rejects this suggestion: Even if you say that this baraita is in accordance with the opinion of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, it is not difficult. Here, where it is prohibited, the ruling is stated with regard to a Hebrew slave, and there, where Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel renders it permitted, the ruling is stated with regard to a Canaanite slave.
The Gemara explains the difference: A Hebrew slave is regarded as discreet in her eyes, and since she trusts that a Hebrew slave will not reveal their actions to others if they engage in sexual intercourse, it is prohibited for her to acquire a male Hebrew slave. By contrast, a Canaanite slave is regarded as indiscreet in her eyes, so she will be deterred from transgressing with him.
The Gemara asks: But this seems to contradict the baraita that Rav Yosef teaches: A widow may not raise a dog, due to suspicion that she may engage in bestiality, and she may not allow a student of Torah to dwell as a lodger in her home. Granted, it makes sense that it is prohibited for her to have a student of Torah lodging in her home, as he is regarded as discreet in her eyes. But concerning a dog, since it would follow her around afterward if she would engage in bestiality with it, she is afraid to sin with it. Therefore, it should be permitted for her to raise it. The Sages say in response: Since it will also follow her around if she throws it a piece of meat [umtza], people will say: It is following her due to the meat she threw to it, and they will not suspect her of sinning. Consequently, she will not be deterred from transgressing.
The Gemara discusses Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi’s second difficulty: The ger toshav that was mentioned concerning interest, what is it? What was Rabbi Yehuda’s difficulty? As it is written: “And if your brother waxes poor, and his means fail with you, then you shall strengthen him, as a stranger and a resident [ger vetoshav] shall he live with you. You may not take interest or increase from him, but fear your God, and your brother should live with you” (Leviticus 25:35–36). This indicates that interest may not be taken from a ger toshav. And the Gemara raises a contradiction from the mishna: One may borrow money from them, i.e., from gentiles, and lend money to them with interest, and similarly, one may borrow money from and lend money to a ger toshav with interest.
Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak says: Is it written: Do not take from them? No, it is written: “Do not take from him,” in the singular, and it means: Do not take interest from a Jew.
With regard to this verse the Sages taught: “You may not take interest or increase from him,” but you may become a guarantor for him for a transaction involving interest.
The Gemara asks: You may become a guarantor for whom? If we say it means a guarantor for a Jew who lends money to another Jew with interest, that is difficult. But this would be contradicted by that which the Sages taught in a mishna (75b): These are the ones who transgress a prohibition: The lender and the borrower, the guarantor and the witnesses. It is prohibited to serve as a guarantor for such a loan.
Rather, it must mean that one may serve as a guarantor for a gentile who lends to another Jew with interest. This is also difficult, since the law of the gentiles is that he goes after the guarantor to collect the money without trying to collect first from the borrower. Under gentile law, it is the responsibility of the guarantor to pay the lender and to then retrieve the money from the borrower. Consequently, when this occurs, the guarantor is considered to have borrowed money from the gentile and lent it himself to the Jew, with the result that the guarantor is the one who takes the interest from the borrower, which is prohibited.
Rav Sheshet said: The case is that the gentile accepted upon himself to have this transaction judged by the laws of the Jews, so that he may not claim repayment from the guarantor. The Gemara asks: If the gentile accepted upon himself to have this transaction judged by the laws of the Jews, he should also not take interest, since that is prohibited by Jewish law. In response, Rav Sheshet said: He accepted upon himself the laws of the Jews with regard to this, the procedural matter with regard to the method of collection, but he did not accept upon himself the laws of the Jews with regard to that, the prohibition against taking interest.
זוהר
כֹּה אָמַר ה' לַסָרִיסִים. מָאן סָרִיסִים אִלֵּין אִינוּן חַבְרַיָּיא דְּמִשְׁתַּדְלֵי בְאוֹרַיְיתָא וּמְסָרְסֵי גַרְמַיְיהוּ כָּל שִׁתָּא יוֹמִין דְּשַׁבַּתָּא וְלָעָאן בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא וּבְלֵילְיָא דְשַׁבַּתָּא מְזָרְזֵי גַרְמַיְיהוּ בְּזִוּוּגָא דִילְהוֹן מִשּׁוּם דְּיַדְעֵי רָזָא עִלָּאָה בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְמַטְרוֹנִיתָא אִזְדַוְוגַת בְּמַלְכָּא. וְאִינוּן חַבְרַיָּיא דְּיַדְעִין רָזָא דָא מְכַוְּונִין לִבַּיְיהוּ לִמְהֵימְנוּתָא דְמָארֵיהוֹן וּמִתְבָּרְכָאן בְּאִבָּא דְמֵעֵיהוֹן בְּהַהוּא לֵילְיָא וְדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמְרוּ כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר וְאָבִיו שָׁמַר אֶת הַדָּבָר. וְאִקְרוּן סָרִיסִים וַדַּאי בְּגִין לְחַכָּאָה לְשַׁבַּתָּא לְאַשְׁכָּחָא רַעֲוָא דְמָארֵיהוֹן דִּכְתִיב וּבָחֲרוּ בַּאֲשֶׁר חָפַצְתִּי. מָאי בַּאֲשֶׁר חָפַצְתִּי דָּא זִוּוּגָא דְמַטְרוֹנִיתָא וּמַחֲזִיקִים בִּבְרִיתִי כֹּלָּא חָד בִּבְרִיתִי סְתָם. זַכָּאָה חוּלְקֵיהּ דְּמָאן דְּאִתְקַדַּשׁ בִּקְדוּשָׁה דָא וְיֵדַע רָזָא דָא. תָּא חֲזֵי כְּתִיב שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבֹד וְעָשִׂיתָ כָּל מְלַאכְתֶּךָ וְיוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שַׁבָּת לַה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ וגו' כָּל מְלַאכְתֶּךָ בְּאִינוּן שִׁתָּא יוֹמֵי עֲבִידְתַּיְיהוּ דִבְנֵי נְשָׁא. וּבְגִין הָאי מִלָּה לָא מִזְדַוְּוגֵי חַבְרַיָּיא בַּר בְּזִמְנָא דְלָא יִשְׁתַּכַּח מֵעֲבִידְתַּיְיהוּ דִבְנֵי נְשָׁא אֶלָּא עֲבִידְתֵּיה דְּקב''ה. וּמָאי עֲבִידְתֵּיהּ זִוּוּגָא דְמַטְרוֹנִיתָא לְאַפָּקָא נִשְׁמָתִין קַדִּישִׁין לְעָלְמָא וּבְגִין כָּךְ בְּהָאי לֵילְיָא חַבְרַיָּיא מִתְקַדְּשֵׁי בִקְדוּשָׁה דְמָארֵיהוֹן וּמְכַוְונֵי לִבַּיְיהוּ וְנַפְקֵי בָּנֵי מַעֲלֵי בְּנִין קַדִּישִׁין דְּלָא סָאטָן לִימִינָא וְלִשְׂמָאלָא בְּנִין דְּמַלְכָּא וּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא. וְעַל אִלֵּין כְּתִיב בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. לַה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וַדַּאי. בְּגִין דְּאִלֵּין אִקְרוּן בְּנִין דִּילֵיהּ בְּנִין לְמַלְכָּא וּלְמַטְרוֹנִיתָא וְהָא דַעְתַּיְיהוּ דְחַבְרַיָּיא דְּיַדְעִין רָזָא דָא בְדָא מִתְדַבְּקָן. וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִקְרוּן בְּנִין לְקוּדְשָׁא בְרִיךְ הוּא. וְהַנֵּי אִינוּן דְּעָלְמָא מִתְקַיְימָא בְגִינַיְיהוּ. וְכַד סָלִיק עָלְמָא בְדִינָא אִסְתַּכַּל קב''ה בְּאִינוּן בְּנוֹי וּמְרַחֵם עַל עָלְמָא. וְעַל דָּא כְתִיב כֻּלֹה זֶרַע אֱמֶת. זֶרַע אֱמֶת וַדַּאי:
כֹּה אָמַר ה' לַסָּרִיסִים. מִי הֵם סָרִיסִים, אֵלּוּ הֵם הַחֲבֵרִים הָעוֹסְקִים בַּתּוֹרָה וּמְסָרְסִים עַצְמָם כָּל שֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַשַּׁבָּת וְעוֹסְקִים בַּתּוֹרָה, וּבְלֵיל שַׁבָּת מְזָרְזִים עַצְמָם בַּזִּוּוּג שֶׁלָּהֶם, מִשּׁוּם שֶׁיּוֹדְעִים סוֹד הָעֶלְיוֹן, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַמַּטְרוּנִיתָא מִתְחַבֶּרֶת בַּמֶּלֶךְ. וְאֵלּוּ הַחֲבֵרִים הַיּוֹדְעִים סוֹד הַזֶּה, מְכַוְּנִים אֶת לִבָּם לֶאֱמוּנַת אֲדוֹנָם, וּמִתְבָּרְכִים בִּפְרִי בִּטְנָם בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא. וְזֶהוּ שֶׁכָּתוּב, אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמְרוּ, כְּדִכְתִיב, וְאָבִיו שָׁמַר אֶת הַדָּבָר. וְנִקְרָאִים וַדַּאי סָרִיסִים, מִשּׁוּם שֶׁמְּחַכִּים עַד הַשַּׁבָּת לִמְצֹא רָצוֹן שֶׁל אֲדוֹנָם, שֶׁכָּתוּב, וּבָחֲרוּ בַּאֲשֶׁר חָפָצְתִּי. מַהוּ בַּאֲשֶׁר חָפָצְתִּי. זֶהוּ הַזִּוּוּג שֶׁל מַטְרוּנִיתָא. וּמַחֲזִיקִים בִּבְרִיתִי, הַכֹּל אֶחָד, בִּבְרִיתִי סְתָם, אַשְׁרֵי חֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל מִי שֶׁמִּתְקַדֵּשׁ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה זוֹ, וְיוֹדֵעַ סוֹד הַזֶּה. בֹּא וּרְאֵה, כָּתוּב, שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבוֹד וְעָשִׂיתָ כָל מְלַאכְתֶּךְ וְיוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שַׁבָּת לַה' אֱלֹקֶיךְ וְגוֹ'. כָּל מְלַאכְתֶּךְ, שֶׁבְּאֵלּוּ שִׁשָּׁה יָמִים מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם שֶׁל בְּנֵי אָדָם, וּבִשְׁבִיל דָּבָר זֶה אֵינָם מִזְדַוְּגִים הַחֲבֵרִים רַק בַּזְּמָן שֶׁלֹּא נִמְצָא מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם שֶׁל בְּנֵי אָדָם אֶלָּא מַעֲשָׂיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. דְּהַיְנוּ בַּשַּׁבָּת, וּמַהוּ מַעֲשָׂיו, הוּא הַזִּוּוּג עִם מַטְרוּנִיתָא, לְהוֹצִיא נְשָׁמוֹת קְדוֹשׁוֹת לְעוֹלָם. וּמִשּׁוּם זֶה בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה, הַחֲבֵרִים מִתְקַדְּשִׁים בִּקְדֻשַּׁת אֲדוֹנָם, וּמְכַוְּנִים לִבָּם, וְיוֹצְאִים בָּנִים טוֹבִים בָּנִים קְדוֹשִׁים שֶׁאֵינָם סָרִים יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל, בָּנִים שֶׁל הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהַמַּטְרוּנִיתָא. וְעַל אֵלּוּ כָּתוּב, בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם. לה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם וַדַּאי, מִשּׁוּם שֶׁאֵלּוּ נִקְרָאִים בָּנִים שֶׁלּוֹ, בָּנִים שֶׁל הַמֶּלֶךְ וּמַטְרוּנִיתָא. וַהֲרֵי דַּעַת הַחֲבֵרִים הַיּוֹדְעִים סוֹד הַזֶּה, מִתְדַבְּקִים בָּזֶה, וּמִשּׁוּם זֶה נִקְרָאִים בָּנִים לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. וְאֵלּוּ הֵם שֶׁהָעוֹלָם מִתְקַיֵּם בִּשְׁבִילָם. וּכְשֶׁהָעוֹלָם עוֹלֶה בַּדִּין, מִסְתַּכֵּל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּבָנָיו אֵלּוּ, וּמְרַחֵם עַל הָעוֹלָם. וְעַל זֶה כָּתוּב, כֻּלּוֹ זֶרַע אֱמֶת, זֶרַע אֱמֶת וַדַּאי.
הלכה פסוקה
א. בְּרָכוֹת אֵלּוּ עִם שְׁאָר כָּל הַבְּרָכוֹת הָעֲרוּכוֹת בְּפִי כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֶזְרָא הַסוֹפֵר וּבֵית דִּינוֹ תִּקְנוּם וְאֵין אָדָם רַשָּׁאי לִפְחוֹת מֵהֶם וְלֹא לְהוֹסִיף עֲלֵיהֶם. מָקוֹם שֶׁהִתְקִינוּ לַחֲתוֹם בְּבָרוּךְ אֵינוֹ רַשָּׁאי שֶׁלֹּא לַחֲתוֹם וּמָקוֹם שֶׁהִתְקִינוּ שֶׁלֹּא לַחֲתוֹם אֵינוֹ רַשָּׁאי לַחֲתוֹם. מָקוֹם שֶׁהִתְקִינוּ שֶׁלֹּא לִפְתּוֹחַ בְּבָרוּךְ אֵינוֹ רַשָּׁאי לִפְתּוֹחַ מָקוֹם שֶׁהִתְקִינוּ לִפְתּוֹחַ אֵינוֹ רַשָּׁאי שֶׁלֹּא לִפְתּוֹחַ כְּלָלוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר כָּל הַמְּשַׁנֶּה מִמַּטְבֵּעַ שֶׁטָּבְעוּ חֲכָמִים בִּבְרָכוֹת הֲרֵי זֶה טוֹעֶה וְחוֹזֵר וּמְבָרֵךְ כַּמַּטְבֵּעַ. וְכָל שֶׁאֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר אֱמֶת וְיַצִיב בְשַׁחֲרִית וֶאֱמֶת וֶאֱמוּנָה בַּעֲרָבִית לֹא יָצָא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ:
ב. הִקְדִּים בְּרָכָה שְׁנִיָּה לִבְרָכָה רִאשׁוֹנָה בֵּין בַּיּוֹם בֵּין בַּלַּיְלָה בֵּין לְפָנֶיהָ בֵּין לְאַחֲרֶיהָ יָצָא לְפִי שֶׁאֵין סֵדֶר בִּבְרָכוֹת. בְּשַׁחֲרִית פָּתַח יוֹצֵא אוֹר וְסִיֵּים מַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים לֹא יָצָא פָּתַח בְּמַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים וְסִיֵּים בְּיוֹצֵר אוֹר יָצָא וּבָעֶרֶב פָּתַח בְּמַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים וְסִיֵּים בְּיוֹצֵר אוֹר לֹא יָצָא פָּתַח בְּיוֹצֵר אוֹר וְסִיֵּים בְּמַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים יָצָא שֶׁכָּל הַבְּרָכוֹת הוֹלְכוֹת אַחַר חֲתִימָתָן:
The first of the blessings recited before the Shema, whether by day or at night, is introduced with the formula, "Blessed [art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe]" and concludes with the formula, "Blessed [art Thou, O Lord]." Of the other blessings, each concludes with the formula, "Blessed [art Thou, O Lord]" but are not introduced with the formula, "Blessed art Thou …" These blessings as well as all the other blessings with which all Israel are familiar were instituted by Ezra and his court and no one is permitted to take aught away from the wording or add to it. The blessings which they (Ezra and his colleagues) ordained to conclude with the formula, "Blessed [art Thou etc.]" may not be recited without this formula. Those which they ordained should conclude without this formula may not be recited with it. Those which they ordained not to begin with a benedictory formula, may not be begun with it. Those which they ordained should begin with it may not be begun without it. In short, whoever alters the form the Sages gave to the blessings commits an error and must recite the blessing again according to its prescribed form. Whoever does not recite the blessing beginning, "True and firm" in the morning, and that beginning, "True and trustworthy" in the evening has not fulfilled his duty.
If one has recited the second blessing before the first, either in the Morning or in the Evening Service, and whether the blessings thus transposed are those recited before or after the Shema, he has fulfilled his duty; for no order has been statutorily fixed for the blessings. If, in the morning service, one began the first blessing with the formula, "Who createst light" and concluded it with the formula, "Who bringest on the evening twilight," he has not fulfilled his duty. But if one began with the formula, "who bringest on the evening twilight" and concluded with the formula, "who createst light" he has fulfilled his duty. Thus too, in the evening service, if one began with the formula, "who bringest on the evening twilight" and concluded with the formula, "who createst light" he has not fulfilled his duty; but if one began with the formula, "who createst light" and concluded with the formula, "who bringest on the evening twilight" he has fulfilled his duty; for the essential element in all Blessings is the Conclusion.
מוסר
מלוקט
תְּנַן אַל תַּרְבֶּה שִׂיחָה עִם הָאִשָּׁה בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ אָמְרוּ קַל וָחֹמֶר עִם אֵשֶׁת חֲבֵירוֹ מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים כָּל הַמַּרְבֶּה שִׂיחָה עִם הָאִשָּׁה גּוֹרֵם רָעָה לְעַצְמוֹ וּבוֹטֵל מִדִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה וְסוֹפוֹ יוֹרֵשׁ גֵּיהִנָּם. הוֹי פְּתָאִים וּסְכָלִים אֲשֶׁר קוֹרִין אוֹ שׁוֹמְעִים הַמִּשְׁנָה הַזּוּ בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת וְאֵינָם שָׂמִים עַל לֵב וּבְיוֹתֵר שֶׁהִזְהִירוּ חֲכָמִים הֵם נְסוֹגִים אָחוֹר. הֲרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים אוֹמְרִים שֶׁגּוֹרֵם רָעָה לְעַצְמוֹ שֶׁהַסִּטְרָא אַחֲרָא הַנִקְרֵאת רָעָה נִדְבֶּקֶת בּוֹ. וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה בָּטֵל מִדִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר בִּטּוּל תּוֹרָה חָמוּר מֵעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים. וְסוֹפוֹ יוֹרֵשׁ גֵּיהִנָּם. דִּקְדְּקוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה הַקְּדוֹשִׁים לוֹמַר וְסוֹפוֹ כִּי בְּעֵת פְּטִירָתוֹ יֵלֵךְ מִדֶּחִי אֶל דֶּחִי בְּיַד מַלְאֲכֵי חַבָּלָה אַכְזָרִים וְלֹא יִתְּנוּ לוֹ מְנוּחָה כְּלָל וְאַחַר כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה שָׁנִים יוֹלִיכוּהוּ לָקַחַת יְרוּשָׁתוֹ שֶׁיִּירַשׁ בְּגֵיהִנָּם חֵלֶק חֲבֵירוֹ וּבֶאֱמֶת יִשְׁתּוֹמֵם הָאָדָם עַד כַּמָּה גָבְרָה עִוָּרוֹן עֵינֵי הַפְּתָאִים שֶׁמַּעֲלִימִים עַיִן מִדִּבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים וְאִם תִּשְׁאֲלֵם אִם מַאֲמִינִים בְּדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה יָשִׁיבוּ דְוַדַּאי הֵם מַאֲמִינִים. אֲבָל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם לְהֶפֶךְ אוֹ שֶׁבְּעַזוּתָם אֵינָם חָשִׁים לְכָל הָעוֹנְשִׁים רַחֲמָנָא לִיצְלָן: