תורה
יכוין בקריאת ארבע פסוקים אלו שהם כנגד דֲ דמילוי יו''ד דשם ב''ן להשאיר בו הארה מתוספת הרוח משבת שעברה:
טז (ז) וְלָקַ֖ח אֶת־שְׁנֵ֣י הַשְּׂעִירִ֑ם וְהֶעֱמִ֤יד אֹתָם֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃
וְיִסַּב יָת תְּרֵין צְפִירִין וִיקִים יָתְהוֹן קֳדָם יְיָ בִּתְרַע מַשְׁכַּן זִמְנָא:
(ח) וְנָתַ֧ן אַהֲרֹ֛ן עַל־שְׁנֵ֥י הַשְּׂעִירִ֖ם גֹּרָל֑וֹת גּוֹרָ֤ל אֶחָד֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה וְגוֹרָ֥ל אֶחָ֖ד לַעֲזָאזֵֽל׃
וְיִתֵּן אַהֲרֹן עַל תְּרֵין צְפִירִין עַדְבִין עַדְבָא חַד לִשְׁמָא דַיְיָ וְעַדְבָא חַד לַעֲזָאזֵל:
(ט) וְהִקְרִ֤יב אַהֲרֹן֙ אֶת־הַשָּׂעִ֔יר אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָלָ֥ה עָלָ֛יו הַגּוֹרָ֖ל לַיהֹוָ֑ה וְעָשָׂ֖הוּ חַטָּֽאת׃
וִיקָרֵב אַהֲרֹן יָת צְפִירָא דִּי סְלִיק עֲלוֹהִי עַדְבָא לִשְׁמָא דַיְיָ וְיַעְבִּדִנֵיהּ חַטָּאתָא:
(י) וְהַשָּׂעִ֗יר אֲשֶׁר֩ עָלָ֨ה עָלָ֤יו הַגּוֹרָל֙ לַעֲזָאזֵ֔ל יׇֽעֳמַד־חַ֛י לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לְכַפֵּ֣ר עָלָ֑יו לְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֹת֛וֹ לַעֲזָאזֵ֖ל הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃
וּצְפִירָא דִּי סְלִיק עֲלוֹהִי עַדְבָא לַעֲזָאזֵל יִתָּקַם כַּד חַי קֳדָם יְיָ לְכַפָּרָא עֲלוֹהִי לְשַׁלַּח יָתֵיהּ לַעֲזָאזֵל לְמַדְבְּרָא:
16 (7) And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
(8) And Aharon shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for ῾Azazel.
(9) And Aharon shall bring the goat upon which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer it for a sin offering.
(10) But the goat, on which the lot fell for ῾Azazel, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement over him, and to let him go to ῾Azazel into the wilderness.
נביאים
כב (ז) אָ֤ב וָאֵם֙ הֵקַ֣לּוּ בָ֔ךְ לַגֵּ֛ר עָשׂ֥וּ בַעֹ֖שֶׁק בְּתוֹכֵ֑ךְ יָת֥וֹם וְאַלְמָנָ֖ה ה֥וֹנוּ בָֽךְ׃
אַבָּא וְאִמָא אָקִילוּ בָךְ לְגִיוֹרָא אֲנִיסוּ אוֹנְסָא בְּגַוִיךְ יַתְמִין וְאַרְמְלָן אוֹנִיאוּ בִיךְ:
(ח) קׇדָשַׁ֖י בָּזִ֑ית וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י חִלָּֽלְתְּ׃
עַל קוּדְשֵׁי בִּסַרְתְּ וְיַת יוֹמֵי שַׁבַּיָא דִילִי אָחֵילְתְּ:
(ט) אַנְשֵׁ֥י רָכִ֛יל הָ֥יוּ בָ֖ךְ לְמַ֣עַן שְׁפׇךְ־דָּ֑ם וְאֶל־הֶֽהָרִים֙ אָ֣כְלוּ בָ֔ךְ זִמָּ֖ה עָשׂ֥וּ בְתוֹכֵֽךְ׃
גַבְרֵי אָכְלֵי קוּרְצָא הֲיוֹ בִיךְ בְּדִיל לְמִשְׁפַּךְ דַם זַכַּאי וּבְטוּרַיָא פְלָחוּ בִיךְ לְטַעֲוָתָא אֲרֵי עֵיצַת חֶטְאִין עֲבָדוּ בְגַוִיךְ:
(י) עֶרְוַת־אָ֖ב גִּלָּה־בָ֑ךְ טְמֵאַ֥ת הַנִּדָּ֖ה עִנּוּ־בָֽךְ׃
עֶרְיַת אַבָּא גַלִיאוּ בִּיךְ אִתָּא טוּמְאָה עֵנִיאוּ בִיךְ:
22 (7) Amongst thee, they have made light of father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee they have wronged the fatherless and the widow.
(8) Thou hast despised my holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.
(9) In thee are men that did carry slander to shed blood: and in thee they did eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they have committed lewdness.
(10) In thee they have uncovered their father’s nakedness: in thee they have abused her who is unclean of her menstrual flow.
כתובים
כה (כב) כִּ֤י גֶחָלִ֗ים אַ֭תָּה חֹתֶ֣ה עַל־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה יְשַׁלֶּם־לָֽךְ׃
מְטוּל דְגוּמְרֵי דְנוּרָא חָתֵי אַנְתְּ עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ וֶאֱלָהָא נְשַׁלְמֵיהּ לָךְ:
(כג) ר֣וּחַ צָ֭פוֹן תְּח֣וֹלֵֽל גָּ֑שֶׁם וּפָנִ֥ים נִ֝זְעָמִ֗ים לְשׁ֣וֹן סָֽתֶר׃
רוּחָא גַרְבִיתָא בָטְנָא מִטְרָא הֵיכְנָא אַפֵּי בְנִיסָתָא וְלִישָׁנָא מְטַשְׁיָא:
(כד) ט֗וֹב שֶׁ֥בֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּ֑ג מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת (מדונים) [מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים] וּבֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר׃
טָב לְמִיתַב עַל קַרְנָא דְאִגְרָא מִן דִלְמֶעְמַד עִם אִתְּתָא תִגְרָנִיתָא וּבֵיתָא טַרְקָא:
(כה) מַ֣יִם קָ֭רִים עַל־נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲיֵפָ֑ה וּשְׁמוּעָ֥ה ט֝וֹבָ֗ה מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מֶרְחָֽק׃
מַיָא קָרִירֵי עַל נַפְשָׁא מְשַׁלְהֲתָא הֵיכְנָא שְׁמוּעֲתָא טָבְתָא מִן אַרְעָא רְחִיקְתָּא:
25 (22) for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.
(23) The north wind brings in the rain: so does an angry countenance, a back biting tongue.
(24) It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a roomy house.
(25) As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
משנה
א. כֵּיצַד מְעַבְּרִין אֶת הֶעָרִים, בַּיִת נִכְנָס בַּיִת יוֹצֵא, פָּגוּם נִכְנָס פָּגוּם יוֹצֵא. הָיוּ שָׁם גְּדוּדִיּוֹת גְּבוֹהוֹת עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים, וּגְשָׁרִים וּנְפָשׁוֹת, שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶן בֵּית דִּירָה, מוֹצִיאִין אֶת הַמִּדָּה כְנֶגְדָּן, וְעוֹשִׂין אוֹתָהּ כְּמִין טַבְלָא מְרֻבַּעַת, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא נִשְׂכָּר אֶת הַזָּוִיּוֹת:
ב. נוֹתְנִין קַרְפֵּף לָעִיר, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, לֹא אָמְרוּ קַרְפֵּף אֶלָּא בֵין שְׁתֵּי עֲיָרוֹת, אִם יֵשׁ לָזוֹ שִׁבְעִים אַמָּה וְשִׁירַיִם, וְלָזוֹ שִׁבְעִים אַמָּה וְשִׁירַיִם, עוֹשֶׂה קַרְפֵּף לִשְׁתֵּיהֶן לִהְיוֹתָן כְּאֶחָת:
ג. וְכֵן שְׁלֹשָׁה כְפָרִים הַמְּשֻׁלָּשִׁין, אִם יֵשׁ בֵּין שְׁנַיִם הַחִיצוֹנִים מֵאָה וְאַרְבָּעִים וְאֶחָד וּשְׁלִישׁ, עָשָׂה אֶמְצָעִי אֶת שְׁלָשְׁתָּן לִהְיוֹתָן כְּאֶחָד:
ד. אֵין מוֹדְדִין אֶלָּא בְחֶבֶל שֶׁל חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה, לֹא פָחוֹת וְלֹא יוֹתֵר. וְלֹא יִמְדּוֹד אֶלָּא כְנֶגֶד לִבּוֹ. הָיָה מוֹדֵד וְהִגִּיעַ לְגַיְא אוֹ לְגָדֵר, מַבְלִיעוֹ וְחוֹזֵר לְמִדָּתוֹ. הִגִּיעַ לְהָר, מַבְלִיעוֹ וְחוֹזֵר לְמִדָּתוֹ, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יֵצֵא חוּץ לַתְּחוּם. אִם אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהַבְלִיעוֹ, בָּזוֹ אָמַר רַבִּי דוֹסְתַּאי בַּר רַבִּי יַנַּאי מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי מֵאִיר, שָׁמַעְתִּי שֶׁמְּקַדְּרִין בֶּהָרִים:
ה. אֵין מוֹדְדִין אֶלָּא מִן הַמֻּמְחֶה. רִבָּה לְמָקוֹם אֶחָד וּמִעֵט לְמָקוֹם אַחֵר, שׁוֹמְעִין לִמְקוֹם שֶׁרִבָּה. רִבָּה לְאֶחָד וּמִעֵט לְאַחֵר, שׁוֹמְעִין לַמְרֻבֶּה. אֲפִלּוּ עֶבֶד, אֲפִלּוּ שִׁפְחָה, נֶאֱמָנִין לוֹמַר, עַד כָּאן תְּחוּם שַׁבָּת, שֶׁלֹּא אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים אֶת הַדָּבָר לְהַחֲמִיר אֶלָּא לְהָקֵל:
ו. עִיר שֶׁל יָחִיד וְנַעֲשֵׂית שֶׁל רַבִּים, מְעָרְבִין אֶת כֻּלָּהּ. וְשֶׁל רַבִּים וְנַעֲשֵׂית שֶׁל יָחִיד, אֵין מְעָרְבִין אֶת כֻּלָּהּ, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן עָשָׂה חוּצָה לָהּ כְּעִיר חֲדָשָׁה שֶׁבִּיהוּדָה, שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ חֲמִשִּׁים דִּיוּרִים, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, שָׁלֹשׁ חֲצֵרוֹת שֶׁל שְׁנֵי בָתִּים:
ז. מִי שֶׁהָיָה בַמִּזְרָח וְאָמַר לִבְנוֹ, עָרֵב לִי בַמַּעֲרָב, בַּמַּעֲרָב וְאָמַר לִבְנוֹ, עָרֵב לִי בַמִּזְרָח, אִם יֵשׁ הֵימֶנּוּ וּלְבֵיתוֹ אַלְפַּיִם אַמּוֹת, וּלְעֵרוּבוֹ יוֹתֵר מִכָּאן, מֻתָּר לְבֵיתוֹ וְאָסוּר לְעֵרוּבוֹ. לְעֵרוּבוֹ אַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה, וּלְבֵיתוֹ יוֹתֵר מִכָּאן, אָסוּר לְבֵיתוֹ וּמֻתָּר לְעֵרוּבוֹ. הַנּוֹתֵן אֶת עֵרוּבוֹ בְעִבּוּרָהּ שֶׁל עִיר, לֹא עָשָׂה וְלֹא כְלוּם. נְתָנוֹ חוּץ לַתְּחוּם, אֲפִלּוּ אַמָּה אַחַת, מַה שֶׁנִּשְׂכָּר הוּא מַפְסִיד:
ח. אַנְשֵׁי עִיר גְּדוֹלָה מְהַלְּכִין אֶת כָּל עִיר קְטַנָּה, וְאֵין אַנְשֵׁי עִיר קְטַנָּה מְהַלְּכִין אֶת כָּל עִיר גְּדוֹלָה. כֵּיצַד. מִי שֶׁהָיָה בְעִיר גְּדוֹלָה וְנָתַן אֶת עֵרוּבוֹ בְעִיר קְטַנָּה, בְּעִיר קְטַנָּה וְנָתַן אֶת עֵרוּבוֹ בְעִיר גְּדוֹלָה, מְהַלֵּךְ אֶת כֻּלָּהּ וְחוּצָה לָהּ אַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה. וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר, אֵין לוֹ אֶלָּא מִמְּקוֹם עֵרוּבוֹ אַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה:
ט. אָמַר לָהֶן רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, אִי אַתֶּם מוֹדִים לִי בְנוֹתֵן עֵרוּבוֹ בִמְעָרָה, שֶׁאֵין לוֹ מִמְּקוֹם עֵרוּבוֹ אֶלָּא אַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה. אָמְרוּ לוֹ, אֵימָתַי, בִּזְמַן שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ דִּיוּרִין, אֲבָל יֶשׁ בָּהּ דִּיוּרִין, מְהַלֵּךְ אֶת כֻּלָּהּ וְחוּצָה לָהּ אַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה. נִמְצָא, קַל תּוֹכָהּ מֵעַל גַּבָּהּ. וְלַמּוֹדֵד שֶׁאָמְרוּ נוֹתְנִין לוֹ אַלְפַּיִם, שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ סוֹף מִדָּתוֹ כָּלֶה בִמְעָרָה:
1. How does one extend the boundaries of cities in order to ensure that all its protrusions are included within the borders of the city? He extends a straight line across the edge of the city, and if a house is recessed and another house protrudes, or a turret [pagum] is recessed and another turret protrudes from that line, and similarly, if there were remnants of walls ten handbreadths high, and bridges and monuments over graves in which there is a residence, one extends the measure of that side of the city as though there were other structures opposite them in the adjacent corner of the city. And prior to measuring the Shabbat limit, one renders the city like a square tablet so that it gains the corners, although there are actually no houses in those corners.
2. One allocates a karpef to every city, i.e., the measure of a karpef, which is slightly more than seventy cubits, is added to every city, and the two thousand cubits of the Shabbat limit are measured from there; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir. And the Rabbis say: They spoke of the addition of a karpef only with regard to the space between two adjacent cities. How so? If this city has seventy cubits and a remainder vacant on one side, and that city has seventy cubits and a remainder vacant on the adjacent side, and the two areas of seventy-plus cubits overlap, the karpef combines the two cities into one.
3. And likewise, in the case of three villages that are arranged as a triangle, if there are only 141⅓ cubits separating between the two outer villages, the middle village combines the three villages into one.
4. One may measure a Shabbat limit only with a rope fifty cubits long, no less and no more, as will be explained in the Gemara. And one may measure the limit only at the level of one’s heart, i.e., whoever comes to measure the limit must hold the rope next to his chest. If one was measuring the limit and he reached a canyon or a fence, the height of the fence and the depth of the canyon are not counted toward the two thousand cubits; rather, he spans it and then resumes his measurement. Two people hold the two ends of the rope straight across the canyon or the fence, and the distance is measured as though the area were completely flat. If one reached a hill, he does not measure its height; rather, he spans the hill as if it were not there and then resumes his measurement, provided he does not thereby go out beyond the city’s Shabbat limit, as those watching the surveyor might mistakenly think the limit extends to that point. If, due to the width of the canyon or hill, he cannot span it, with regard to this situation Rabbi Dostai bar Yannai said in the name of Rabbi Meir: I heard that one may pierce hills. In other words, one measures the distance as if there were a hole from one side of the hill to the other, so that in effect, he measures only the horizontal distance and ignores the differences in elevation.
5. One may measure the Shabbat limit only with an expert surveyor. If it is discovered that the surveyor extended the limit in one place and reduced it in another place, so that the line marking the Shabbat limit is not straight, one accepts the measurement of the place where he extended the limit and straightens the limit accordingly. Similarly, if the surveyor extended the limit for one and reduced it for another, one accepts the extended measurement. And furthermore, even a gentile slave and even a gentile maidservant, whose testimonies are generally considered unreliable, are trustworthy to say: The Shabbat limit extended until here; as the Sages did not state the matter, the laws of Shabbat limits, to be stringent, but rather to be lenient. The prohibition to walk more than two thousand cubits is rabbinic in origin and is therefore interpreted leniently.
6. Although this chapter as a whole deals with halakhot governing the joining of Shabbat boundaries, this mishna returns to the halakhot governing a joining of courtyards. If a private city, which does not have many residents, grows and becomes a heavily populated public city, one may establish a joining of the courtyards for all of it, as long as it does not include a public domain as defined by Torah law. And if a public city loses residents over time and becomes a private city, one may not establish an eiruv for all of it unless one maintains an area outside the eiruv that is like the size of the city of Ḥadasha in Judea, which has fifty residents. Carrying within the eiruv is permitted, but it remains prohibited to carry in the area excluded from the eiruv. The reason for this requirement is to ensure that the laws of eiruv will not be forgotten. This is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi Shimon says: The excluded area need not be so large; rather, it is sufficient to exclude three courtyards with two houses each.
7. One who was to the east of his home when Shabbat began, and he had said to his son before Shabbat: Establish an eiruv for me to the west; or, if he was to the west of his home and he had said to his son: Establish an eiruv for me to the east, the halakha is as follows: If there is a distance of two thousand cubits from his current location to his house, and the distance to his eiruv is greater than this, he is permitted to walk to his house, and from there he may walk two thousand cubits in every direction, but it is prohibited for him to walk to the spot where his son had deposited his eiruv. If the distance from one’s current location to his eiruv is two thousand cubits, and the distance to his house is greater than this, he is prohibited from walking to his house, and he is permitted to walk to the spot of his eiruv, and from there he may walk two thousand cubits in every direction. In other words, with regard to the Shabbat limit, one’s place of residence for Shabbat cannot be more than two thousand cubits from his physical location when Shabbat begins. One who places his eiruv in the outskirts of the city, i.e., within an area of slightly more than seventy cubits surrounding the city, it is as though he has not done anything. The two thousand cubits of one’s Shabbat limit are measured from the edge of the outskirts of the city even if there is no eiruv, and one therefore gains nothing from placing an eiruv within this area. If, however, he placed his eiruv outside the city’s boundary, even if he placed it only one cubit beyond the city, what he gains in distance through his eiruv on one side of the city he loses on the other side.
8. The residents of a large city may walk through an entire small city, and the residents of a small city may walk through an entire large city, even if part of it is located more than two thousand cubits from their city. How so? One who was in a large city and placed his eiruv in a small city, or one who was in a small city and placed his eiruv in a large city, may walk through the entire city in which he placed his eiruv and another two thousand cubits beyond it, as the entire city is considered as though it were only four cubits.
9. Rabbi Akiva says: He has only two thousand cubits from the place of his eiruv, as the actual area of the city is included in the calculation. Rabbi Akiva said to the Rabbis: Do you not concede to me that one who places his eiruv in a cave has only two thousand cubits from the place of his eiruv, and that consequently the entire cave is not considered as merely four cubits? The Rabbis said to him: When does this apply? When the cave has no residents. But if it has residents, it is considered as though it were only four cubits, and one may walk through all of it and another two thousand cubits beyond it. Consequently, the halakha with regard to an eiruv placed inside a cave is sometimes more lenient than the halakha governing an eiruv placed in the area above the cave. If one places his eiruv inside a cave that has residents, he has two thousand cubits beyond the cave; if he places it above the cave, where there are no residents, he has only two thousand cubits from the place of his eiruv. And as for one who is measuring his Shabbat limit, with regard to whom the Sages said that one gives him two thousand cubits, that measurement applies even if the end of his measurement terminates in the middle of a cave. He may not walk further into the cave, even if the cave is inhabited.
גמרא
בְּרוּרְיָא אַשְׁכַּחְתֵּיהּ לְהַהוּא תַלְמִידָא דַהֲוָה קָא גָרִיס בִּלְחִישָׁא. בָּטְשָׁה בֵּיהּ. אָמְרָה לֵיהּ לֹא כָךְ כְּתִיב (ש''ב כג) עֲרוּכָה בַכֹּל וּשְׁמוּרָה אִם עֲרוּכָה בְּמָאתַיִם וְאַרְבָּעִים ושְׁמוֹנָה אֵבָרִים שֶׁל אָדָם מִשְׁתַּמֶּרֶת וְאִם לָאו אֵינָה מִשְׁתַּמֶּרֶת. תָּנָא תַּלְמִיד אֶחָד הָיָה לוֹ לְרִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר שֶׁהָיָה שׁוֹנֶה בְלַחַשׁ. לְאַחַר שָׁלש שָׁנִים שָׁכַח תַּלְמוּדוֹ. אָמַר לֵיהּ שְׁמוּאֵל לְרַב יְהוּדָה שִׁינְנָא פְּתַח פּוּמָךְ קְרֵי פְּתַח פּוּמָךְ תַּנֵי. כִּי הֵיכִי דְתִתְקַיֵּים בִּידָיִךָ וְתוֹרִיךְ חַיֵּי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ד) כִּי חַיִּים הֵם לְמוֹצְאֵיהֶם וּלְכָל בְּשָׂרוֹ מַרְפֵּא אַל תִּקְרֵי לְמוֹצְאֵיהֶם אֶלָּא לְמוֹצִיאֵיהֶם בְּפֶה. אָמַר רִבִּי אָמֵי מַאי דִּכְתִיב (שם כב) כִּי נָעִים כִּי תִשְׁמְרֵם בְּבִטְנֶךָ יִכּוֹנוּ יַחְדָּו עַל שְׂפָתֶיךָ אֵימָתַי דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה נְעִימִים בִּזְמַן שֶׁתִּשְׁמְרֵם בְּבִטְנֶךָ וְאֵימָתַי תִּשְׁמְרֵם בְּבִטְנֶךָ בִּזְמַן שֶׁיִּכּוֹנוּ יַחְדָּיו עַל שְׂפָתֶיךָ. רִבִּי זֵירָא אָמַר מֵהָכָא (שם טו) שִׂמְחָה לְאִישׁ בְּמַעֲנֶה פִּיו וְדָבָר בְּעִתּוֹ מַה טּוֹב אֵימָתַי שִׂמְחָה לְאִישׁ בִּזְמַן שֶׁמַּעֲנֶה בְּפִיו. לִישְׁנָא אַחֲרִינָא אֵימָתַי שִׂמְחָה לְאִישׁ בְּמַעֲנֶה פִיו בִּזְמַן שֶׁדָּבָר בְּעִתּוֹ מַה טּוֹב. רִבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר מֵהָכָא (דברים ל) כִּי קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ. אֵימָתַי קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ בִּזְמַן שֶׁבְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ. רָבָא אָמַר מֵהָכָא (תהלים כא) תַּאֲוַת לִבּוֹ נָתַתָּה לּוֹ וַאֲרֶשֶׁת שְׂפָתָיו בַּל מָנַעְתָּ סֶלָה. אֵימָתַי תַּאֲוַת לִבּוֹ נָתַתָּה לּוֹ בִּזְמַן שֶׁאֲרֶשֶׁת שְׂפָתָיו בַּל מָנַעְתָּ סֶלָה. אָמַר רִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר מַאי דִּכְתִיב (משלי א) וַעֲנָקִים לְגַרְגְּרֹתֶיךָ אִם מֵשִׂים אָדָם עַצְמוֹ כַּעֲנָק זֶה שֶׁרָף עַל הַצַוָּאר וְנִרְאֶה וְאֵינוֹ נִרְאֶה תַּלְמוּדוֹ מִתְקַיֵּים בְּיָדוֹ וְאִם לָאו אֵין תַּלְמוּדוֹ מִתְקַיֵּים בְּיָדוֹ. וְאָמַר רִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר מַאי דִּכְתִיב (שה''ש ה) לְחָיָיו כַּעֲרוּגַת הַבּוֹשֶׂם אִם מֵשִׂים אָדָם עַצְמוֹ כַּעֲרוּגָה זוּ שֶׁהַכֹּל דָּשִׁין בָּהּ וּכְבוֹשֶׂם זֶה שֶׁהַכֹּל מִתְבַּשְּׂמִין בָּהּ תַּלְמוּדוֹ מִתְקַיֵּים וְאִם לָאו אֵין תַּלְמוּדוֹ מִתְקַיֵּים. רָבָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב יוֹסֵף בַּר חָמָא הֲוָה לֵיהּ מִלְתָא לְרַב יוֹסֵף בַּהֲדֵיהּ. כִּי מָטָא מַעֲלֵי יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי אָמַר אֵיזִיל וַאֲפַיְיסֵהּ. אָזַל אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ לְשַׁמְעֵיהּ דְּקָא מָזִיג לֵיהּ כַּסָּא. אָמַר לֵיהּ הַב לִי וְאִימְזְגֵיהּ אֲנָא יָהַב לֵיהּ מַזְגֵיהּ. כַּדְטָעֲמֵיהּ אָמַר דָּמֵי הַאי מְזִיגָא לִמְזִיגָא דְרָבָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב יוֹסֵף בַּר חָמָא. אָמַר לֵיהּ אֲנָא הוּא. אָמַר לֵיהּ לֹא תֵתִיב אַכַּרְעִיךְ עַד דִּמְפַרְשַׁתְּ לִי הָנֵי קְרָאֵי מַאי דִּכְתִיב (במדבר כ''א) וּמִמִּדְבָּר מַתָּנָה וְגוֹמֵר אָמַר לֵיהּ אִם אָדָם מֵשִׂים עַצְמוֹ כַּמִּדְבָּר זֶה שֶׁהַכֹּל דָּשִׁין בּוֹ תּוֹרָה נִתְנָה לוֹ בְּמַתָּנָה וְכֵיוַן שֶׁנִּתְּנָה לוֹ בְמַתָּנָה נָחֲלוֹ אֵל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם) וּמִמַּתָּנָה נַחֲלִיאֵל וְכֵיוַן שֶׁנָּחֲלוֹ אֵל עוֹלֶה לִגְדוּלָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם) וּמִנַּחֲלִיאֵל בָּמוֹת וְאִם מֵגִיס לִבּוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַשְׁפִּילוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם) וּמִבָּמוֹת הַגַּיְא וְאִם חוֹזֵר בּוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַגְבִּיהוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעי' מ) כָּל גֶּיא יִנָּשֵׂא:
The Gemara relates more of Berurya’s wisdom: Berurya came across a certain student who was whispering his studies rather than raising his voice.
She kicked him and said to him: Isn’t it written as follows: “Ordered in all things and secure” (ii Samuel 23:5), which indicates that if the Torah is ordered in your 248 limbs, i.e., if you exert your entire body in studying it, it will be secure, and if not, it will not be secure. The Gemara relates that it was similarly taught in a baraita: Rabbi Eliezer had a student who would study quietly, and after three years he forgot his studies.
Incidental to the story cited above involving a student of Rabbi Eliezer, the Gemara cites the following episode: It was taught in a baraita: Rabbi Eliezer had a student who was liable for the punishment of death by burning, for his sins against God, but the Rabbis said: Let him alone and do not punish him as he deserves, because he served a great person.
The Gemara cites instructions issued by Shmuel that are similar to those of Berurya. Shmuel said to Rav Yehuda: Keen scholar [shinnana], open your mouth and read from the Torah, open your mouth and study the Talmud, in order that your studies should endure in you and that you should live a long life, as it is stated: “For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:22). Do not read: “To those who find them [lemotzeihem],” but rather “to those who express them [lemotzi’eihem],” with their mouth.
The Gemara cites additional instructions issued by Shmuel: Shmuel said to Rav Yehuda, his beloved student: Keen scholar, grab and eat, grab and drink, as the world from which we are departing is like a wedding feast, whose joy is only temporary, and one who does not take pleasure in it now will not be able to do so in the future.
Similarly, Rav said to Rav Hamnuna: My son, if you have money, do well for yourself. There is no point waiting, as there is no pleasure in the netherworld, and death does not tarry. And if you say: I will save up in order to leave for my children, who told you the law of the netherworld, i.e., how do you know which of you will die first (Arukh)? People are similar to grass of the field, in that these blossom, i.e., grow, and their actions are blessed, and these wither and die.
Having expounded the verse “For they are life to those who find them” as referring to the Torah, the Gemara cites another teaching related to this verse that praises the Torah. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: One who is walking along the way without a companion and is afraid should engage in Torah study, as it is stated with regard to the words of Torah: “For they shall be a graceful wreath [livyat ḥen] for your head, and chains about your neck” (Proverbs 1:9). The word livyat is understood here as a reference to levaya, accompaniment, so that the verse is interpreted to mean that Torah is a graceful accompaniment to one who is traveling.
One who feels pain in his head should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: “For they shall be a graceful wreath for your head.” One who feels pain in his throat should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: “And chains about your neck.” One who feels pain in his intestines should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: “It shall be health to your navel” (Proverbs 3:8). One who feels pain in his bones should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: “And marrow to your bones” (Proverbs 3:8). One who feels pain in his entire body should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: “And health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:22).
Rav Yehuda, son of Rabbi Ḥiyya, said: Come and see that the attribute of flesh and blood is unlike the attribute of the Holy One, Blessed be He. The attribute of flesh and blood is that when a person gives a drug to his fellow, it is good for this part of his body and it is harmful to that other part of his body. But the attribute of the Holy One, Blessed be He, is not so; He gave the Torah to the Jewish people, and it is a drug of life for one’s entire body, as it is stated: “And health to all their flesh.”
The Gemara continues with praise for Torah study and knowledge. Rav Ami said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; let them be firmly attached together to your lips” (Proverbs 22:18)? When are words of Torah pleasant? When you keep them within you and know them. And when will you keep them within you? When they will be attached together to your lips, i.e., when you articulate them audibly and expound them.
Rabbi Zeira said that this idea is derived from here: “A man has joy in the answer of his mouth; and a word in due season, how good it is” (Proverbs 15:23). When does a man have joy? When an answer related to Torah study is in his mouth. Another version: When does a man have joy in the answer of his mouth? When he experiences the fulfillment of: A word in due season, how good it is, i.e., when he knows when and how to address each issue.
Rabbi Yitzḥak said that this idea is derived from here: “But the matter is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it” (Deuteronomy 30:14). When is it very near to you? When it is in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it, i.e., when you articulate your Torah study.
Rava said that this idea is actually derived from here: “You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips, Selah” (Psalms 21:3). When have You given him his heart’s desire? When You have not withheld the request of his lips, Selah, i.e., when he converses in words of Torah.
Rava raised an internal contradiction in that very verse: In the beginning of the verse it is written: “You have given him his heart’s desire,” implying that it is enough for one to request in his heart, whereas in the end of the verse it is written: “And You have not withheld the request of his lips, Selah,” indicating that one must express his prayers verbally. Rava himself resolved the contradiction: If one is fortunate, “You have given him his heart’s desire,” even if he does not give verbal expression to his wants. But if he is not fortunate, at least “You have not withheld the request of his lips, Selah.”
With regard to the end of this verse, a Sage of the school of Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov taught the following baraita: Wherever it states netzaḥ, Selah, or va’ed, the matter will never cease. Netzaḥ, as it is written: “For I will not contend forever; neither will I be eternally [lanetzaḥ] angry” (Isaiah 57:16), which demonstrates that netzaḥ bears a similar meaning to forever.
Selah, as it is written: “As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of Hosts, in the city of our God; may God establish it forever, Selah” (Psalms 48:9), which demonstrates that Selah means forever. Va’ed, as it is written: “The Lord shall reign forever and ever [va’ed]” (Exodus 15:18).
In light of the previous discussion, the Gemara cites several expositions of verses proposed by Rabbi Eliezer, while first providing them with a mnemonic: Chains, cheeks, tablets, engraved. Rabbi Eliezer said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “And chains about your neck” (Proverbs 1:9)? If a person makes himself like a chain that hangs loosely on the neck, i.e., if a scholar is not pushy and disruptive to others, and he is also seen but not seen, i.e., just as a chain is covered by clothes and hair, so too, the scholar does not let himself be seen, his Torah study will endure. But if not, if he acts in a rude and arrogant manner, his Torah study will not endure.
And Rabbi Eliezer also said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “His cheeks are like a bed of spices” (Song of Songs 5:13)? If a person makes himself humble like this garden bed upon which everyone treads, and like this spice with which everyone perfumes himself, i.e., which benefits not only the one who wears it, his Torah study will endure. But if not, his Torah study will not endure.
And Rabbi Eliezer further said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Tablets [luḥot] of stone” (Exodus 31:18)? If a person makes his cheeks [leḥayav] like this stone that does not wear away, his Torah study will endure. But if not, i.e., if he is not diligent in his studies, his Torah study will not endure.
And, lastly, Rabbi Eliezer said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “And the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved upon the tablets” (Exodus 32:16)? This teaches that had the first tablets, the subject of this verse, not been broken, the Torah would never have been forgotten from the Jewish people, as the Torah would have been engraved upon their hearts.
Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov said: Had the tablets not been broken, no nation or tongue would ever have ruled over them, as it is stated: “Engraved”; do not read it engraved [ḥarut] but rather freedom [ḥeirut].
Similarly, Rav Mattana said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “The well that the princes dug out, that the nobles of the people delved, with the scepter, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah” (Numbers 21:18)? If a person makes himself humble like this wilderness, which is open to all and upon which everyone treads, his Torah study will endure and be given to him as a gift [mattana]. And if not, his Torah study will not endure.
The Gemara relates that Rav Yosef had a grievance against Rava, son of Rav Yosef bar Ḥama, who is usually referred to in the Gemara simply as Rava, and as a result of the grievance the two would never meet. When the eve of Yom Kippur arrived, Rava said: I will go and appease him. He went and found Rav Yosef’s attendant mixing him a cup of wine. He said to the attendant: Give it to me, and I will mix it. He gave it to Rava, and Rava mixed it. Rav Yosef was blind and could not see his visitor, but when he tasted the wine he said: This mixture is similar to the mixture of Rava, son of Rav Yosef bar Ḥama, who would add extra water to the wine. Rava said to him: It is I.
Rav Yosef said to him: Do not sit on your knees until you have explained these verses to me: What is the meaning of that which is written: “And from the wilderness to Mattanah; and from Mattanah to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel to Bamoth; and from Bamoth to the valley in the field of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looks out toward the desert” (Numbers 21:19–20)?
Rava said to him: If a person makes himself humble like this wilderness, which is open to all and upon which everyone treads, the Torah will be given to him as a gift [mattana]. And once it is given to him as a gift, he inherits it [neḥalo] and God [El] makes it His inheritance, as it is stated: “And from Mattanah to Nahaliel.” And once God has made it His inheritance, he rises to greatness, as it is stated: “And from Nahaliel to Bamoth,” which means heights.
And if he becomes haughty, the Holy One, Blessed be He, lowers him, as it is stated: “And from Bamoth to the valley.” And if he repents, the Holy One, Blessed be He, raises him back up, as it is stated: “Every valley shall be exalted” (Isaiah 40:4).
זוהר
וְהָיְתָה לָכֶם לְחֻקַּת עוֹלָם בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ תְּעַנּוּ אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם וְגוֹמֵר. רִבִּי חִיָּיא פָתַח (ישעיה כ''ו) נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַיְלָה אַף רוּחִי בְקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ וְגוֹמֵר. נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַלַּיְלָה. נַפְשִׁי אִוְתָךְ בַלַּיְלָה מִבְעֵי לֵיהּ. מָאי נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ. אַף רוּחִי בְקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ. יְשַׁחֲרֶךָ מִבְעֵי לֵיהּ. אֶלָּא הָכִי תָאנָא קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא רוּחָא וְנַפְשָׁא דְכֹלָּא וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אַמְרֵי נַפְשִׁי וְרוּחִי אַנְתְּ. בְּגִין כָּךְ אִוִּיתִיךָ לְאַדְבְּקָא בָךְ וַאֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ לְאַשְׁכְּחָא רְעוּתָךְ. רִבִּי יוֹסֵף אָמַר בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְבַר נַשׁ נָאִים בְּעַרְסֵיהּ נַפְקַת נַפְשֵׁיהּ וְסַלְקַת וְאַסְהִידַת בֵּיהּ בְּבַר נַשׁ עַל כָּל מַה דְעָבַד בְּכָל יוֹמָא. גּוּפָא אָמַר לְנַפְשָׁא נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַלַּיְלָה אַף רוּחִי בְקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ אָמְרָה כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל קָמֵי קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַּיְלָה בְּעוֹד דַּאֲנָא בְגָלוּתָא בֵינֵי עַמְּמַיָּיא וּמְנִיעָא נַפְשִׁי מִכָּל בִּישָׁתָא (נ''א וְרַוִּינָא נַפְשִׁי מִכָּל פִּיסָתָא) דְקִיטְרָא בֵינֵי עַמְּמַיָּיא נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בְּגִין לְאָתָבָא לְאַתְרֵי אַף רוּחִי בְקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ כְּלוֹמַר אַף עַל גָּב דְּאִינוּן מְשַׁעְבְּדִין לְבָנַי בְּכָל שִׁעְבּוּדָא. רוּחָא קַדִּישָׁא לָא אִתְעֲדֵי מִנָּאי בְּגִין לְמִשְׁחַר לָךְ וּלְמֶעְבַּד פִּקּוּדָךְ. רִבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר אַמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל קָמֵי קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּעוֹד דְּנַפְשִׁי בִי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַּיְלָה מָאי טַעְמָא בַלַּיְלָה אֶלָּא בְגִין דְּהָאי נֶפֶשׁ בְּהָאי שַׁעְתָּא אִצְטְרִיךְ לְחַמְדָא לָךְ אַף רוּחִי בְקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ. כַּד אַתְעַר בִּי רוּחָא קַדִּישָׁא אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ בְּאַתְעֲרוּתָא לְמֶעְבַּד רְעוּתָךְ כִּי כַאֲשֶׁר מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לָאָרֶץ. בְּזִמְנָא דְמִשְׁפָּט נָחְתָא בְּאַרְעָא לְבַסְמָא עָלְמָא. כְּדֵין צֶדֶק לָמְדוּ יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל. כְּלוֹמַר יַכְלִין לְמִסְבַּל דִּינָא דְצֶדֶק וְלָא יִשְׁתְּצֵי עָלְמָא מִנֵּיהּ. אֵימָתַי צֶדֶק לָמְדוּ יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל כַּאֲשֶׁר מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לָאָרֶץ. רִבִּי חִזְקִיָּה אָמַר נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַּיְלָה דָא כְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. אַף רוּחִי בְקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָ דָּא קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא:
וְהָיְתָה וְגוֹ' תְּעַנּוּ אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם: רַבִּי חִיָּא פָּתַח, נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךְ בַלַּיְלָה אַף רוּחִי בְקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךְ וְגוֹ'. שׁוֹאֵל, נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךְ בַּלַּיְלָה, נַפְשִׁי אִוְתָךְ בַּלַּיְלָה, צָרִיךְ לוֹמָר, מַהוּ נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךְ. וְכֵן, אַף רוּחִי בְּקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךְ, יְשַׁחֲרֶךְ הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמָר. וּמֵשִׁיב, אֶלָּא כָּךְ לָמַדְנוּ. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הוּא רוּחַ וָנֶפֶשׁ שֶׁל כֹּל, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים, נַפְשִׁי וְרוּחִי אָתָּה, מִשּׁוּם זֶה, אִוִּיתִיךְ לְהִתְדַבֵּק בְּךְ. וַאֲשַׁחֲרֶךְ, לִמְצֹא רְצוֹנֶךְ. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָדָם יָשֵׁן בְּמִטָּתוֹ, נַפְשׁוֹ יוֹצֵאת וְעוֹלָה וּמֵעִידָה עַל הָאָדָם, מַה שֶּׁעָשָׂה בְּכָל הַיּוֹם. עַל כֵּן הַגּוּף אוֹמֵר לַנֶּפֶשׁ, נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךְ בַּלַּיְלָה, דְּהַיְנוּ בַּשָּׁעָה שֶׁאַתְּ יוֹצֵאת מִמֶּנִּי, אַף רוּחִי בְּקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךְ. פֵּרוּשׁ אַחֵר, נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךְ. אָמְרָה כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךְ בַּלַּיְלָה. הַיְנוּ בְּעוֹד שֶׁאֲנִי בַּגָּלוּת בֵּין שְׁאָר הָעַמִּים, וּמָנַעְתִּי נַפְשִׁי מִכָּל הָרַע הַקָּשׁוּר בִּבְנֵי הָעַמִּים, נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךְ, כְּדֵי לַחֲזוֹר לִמְקוֹמִי. אַף רוּחִי בְּקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךְ, כְּלוֹמָר, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמְּשַׁעְבְּדִים אֶת בָּנַי בְּכָל שִׁעְבּוּד, הָרוּחַ הַקָּדוֹשׁ אֵינוֹ סָר מִמֶּנּוּ, כְּדֵי לְבַקֵּר אוֹתְךְ וְלַעֲשׂוֹת מִצְוֹתֶיךְ. רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר, אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, בְּעוֹד שֶׁנַּפְשִׁי בִּי אִוִּיתִיךְ בַּלַּיְלָה. מַהוּ הַטַּעַם, בַּלַּיְלָה. אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם שֶׁהַנֶּפֶשׁ בַּשָּׁעָה הַהִיא צְרִיכָה לַחֲמֹד אוֹתְךְ, אַף רוּחִי בְּקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךְ, הַיְנוּ, כְּשֶׁנִּתְעוֹרֵר בִּי הָרוּחַ הַקָּדוֹשׁ אֲשַׁחֲרֶךְ בְּהִתְעוֹרְרוּת לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךְ. כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר מִשְׁפָּטֶיךְ לָאָרֶץ. הַיְנוּ, בִּזְמָן שֶׁמִּשְׁפָּט, יוֹרֵד בָּאָרֶץ, לְבַשֵׂם הָעוֹלָם, אָז צֶדֶק לָמְדוּ יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֶל, כְּלוֹמָר שֶׁיְּכוֹלִים לִסְבֹּל הַדִּינִים דְּצֶדֶק, וְלֹא יִכְלוּ בְּנֵי הָעוֹלָם מִמֶּנּוּ. מָתַי, צֶדֶק לָמְדוּ יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵּבֶל, כַּאֲשֶׁר מִשְׁפָּטֶיךְ לָאָרֶץ. רַבִּי חִזְקִיָּה אָמַר, נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךְ בַלַּיְלָה. זוֹ הִיא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, אַף רוּחִי בְּקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךְ. זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא.
הלכה פסוקה
א. לֹא תִתְיַחֵד אִשָּׁה אַחַת אֲפִילוּ עִם אֲנָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה עַד שֶׁתִּהְיֶה אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל אֶחָד מֵהֶם שָׁם. וְכֵן לֹא יִתְיַיחֵד אִישׁ אֶחָד אֲפִילוּ עִם נָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה. נָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה עִם אֲנָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לְיִחוּד. הָיוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים מִבִּפְנִים וְהַנָּשִׁים מִבַּחוּץ וּפִירְשָׁה אִשָׁה אַחַת לְבֵין הָאֲנָשִׁים. אוֹ אִישׁ לְבֵין הַנָּשִׁים אֲסוּרִין מִשּׁוּם יִחוּד. אֲפִילוּ אִישׁ שֶׁעֲסָקוֹ וּמְלַאכְתּוֹ עִם הַנָּשִׁים אָסוּר לוֹ לְהִתְיַיחֵד עִם הַנָּשִׁים. כֵּיצַד יַעֲשֶׂה יִתְעַסֵּק עִמָּהֶן וְאִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּוֹ אוֹ יִפְנֶה לִמְלָאכָה אַחֲרֶת:
ב. מֻתָּר לְהִתְיַיחֵד עִם שְׁתֵּי יְבָמוֹת אוֹ עִם שְׁתֵּי צָרוֹת. אוֹ עִם אִשָּׁה וַחֲמוֹתָהּ. אוֹ עִם אִשָּׁה וּבַת בַּעְלָהּ. אוֹ עִם אִשָּׁה וּבַת חֲמוֹתָהּ. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁשּׂוֹנְאוֹת זוֹ אֶת זוֹ וְאֵין מְחַפּוֹת זוֹ עַל זוֹ. וְכֵן מֻתָּר לְהִתְיַיחֵד עִם אִשָּׁה שֶׁיֵּשׁ עִמָּהּ תִּינוֹקֶת קְטַנָּה שֶׁיּוֹדַעַת טַעַם בִּיאָה וְאֵינָה מוֹסֶרֶת עַצְמָהּ לְבִיאָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ מְזַנָּה בְּפָנֶיהָ שֶׁהֲרֵי זוֹ מְגַלָּה אֶת סוֹדָהּ:
מוסר
הַגַּאֲוָה מְסַבֶּבֶת כַּמָּה עֲבֵירוֹת וּמַגְבֶּרֶת יֵצֶר לֵב הָאָדָם עָלָיו. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ח) וְרָם לְבָבֶךָ וְשָׁכַחְתָּ אֶת ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ. וְנֶאֱמַר (משלי כא) רוּם עֵינַיִם וּרְחַב לֵב נִיר רְשָׁעִים חַטָּאת פֵּירוּשׁ הַגַּאֲוָה נִיר הָרְשָׁעִים כִּי מִמֶּנָּה יִפְרוּ הַחֲטָאִים כַּאֲשֶׁר נֶאֱמַר וְרָם לְבָבֶךָ וְשָׁכַחְתָּ. וְנֶאֱמַר (תהלים י) בְּגַאֲוַת רָשָׁע יִדְלַק עָנִי. וְנֶאֱמַר (שם) הַדּוֹבְרוֹת עַל צַדִּיק עָתָק בְּגַאֲוָה. וְנֶאֱמַר (יחזקאל לב) אֲשֶׁר נָתְנוּ חִתִּיתָם בְּאֶרֶץ חַיִּים. וּכְמוֹ שֶׁעוֹשִׂים בְּנֵי אָדָם נִיר בַּשָּׂדֶה כְּדֵי לִפְרוֹת בּוֹ הַזֶּרַע. וְלֶאֱסוֹף רַב תְּבוּאוֹת. כֵּן עוֹשִׂין הָרְשָׁעִים אֶת הַגַּאֲוָה נִיר בִּלְבָבָם. וְזוֹרְעִים בּוֹ הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת הָרָעוֹת לְהוֹלִיד וּלְהַצְמִיחַ הָעֲבֵירוֹת שֶׁהֵם פְּרִי מַחְשְׁבוֹתָם. וְעַל דֶּרֶךְ הַמָּשָׁל שֶׁאָמַר הַנָּבִיא (הושע י) וּפָרַח כָּרֹאשׁ מִשְׁפָּט וְגוֹ'. וּמַה שֶׁאָמַר נִיר רְשָׁעִים. פֵּירוּשׁ נִיר חַטָּאת וְכוֹלֵל חֲטָאִים רַבִּים כְּמוֹ (ירמי' יז) חַטַּאת יְהוּדָה. אוֹ יִהְיֶה פֵּירוּשׁוֹ וְחַטַּאת בְּחִסָּרוֹן ו' כְּמוֹ (חבקוק ג) שֶׁמֶשׁ יָרֵחַ וְהַטַעַם מִלְּבַד כִּי הַגַּאֲוָה גוֹרֶמֶת הַחֲטָאִים הַמִּדָה עַצְמָהּ חַטָּאת. כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי טז) תּוֹעֲבַת ה' כָּל גְבַהּ לֵב. וּבַעַל הַגַּאֲוָה נִמְסַר בְיַד יִצְרוֹ. כִּי אֵין עֵזֶר הַשֵּׁם עִמּוֹ אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר הוּא תוֹעֲבַת ה'. וְעוֹד חַיָּיב בַּעַל הַתְּשׁוּבָה לְהִכָּנַע וּלְקַיֵּים עָלָיו לְהִתְנַהֵג. כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה וֶהֱוֵי שְׁפַל רוּחַ בִּפְנֵי כָל אָדָם. וְיַשִּׂיג מִזֶה שֶׁלֹּא יִכְעוֹס וְלֹא יַקְפִּיד עַל חֲבֵירָיו. וְגַם לְכָל הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמַע אַל יִתֵּן לִבּוֹ וְיַעֲבִיר עַל מִדוֹתָיו וְזֶה יוֹעִיל לְכַפֵּר עַל עֲוֹנוֹתָיו כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה הַמַּעֲבִיר עַל מִדּוֹתָיו מַעֲבִירִים לוֹ עַל כָּל פְּשָׁעָיו מִדָה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה. וְזֶה פֶתַח תִּקְוָה נִכְבָּד מְאֹד. וְנֶאֱמַר (איכה ג) יִתֵּן בֶּעָפָר פִּיהוּ אוּלַי יֵשׁ תִּקְוָה. יִתֵּן לְמַכֵּהוּ לֶחִי יִשְׂבַּע בְּחֶרְפָּה:
And pride causes several transgressions and amplifies the impulse of a man's heart against him, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 8:14), "And your heart grow haughty and you forget the Lord your God." And it is [also] stated (Proverbs 21:4), "Haughty looks, a proud heart - the tillage of the evildoers' sin." Its explanation is: Pride is the tillage of evildoers, for the sins grow from it; as it was stated, "And your heart grow haughty and you forget." And it is [also] stated (Psalms 10:2), "The wicked in his arrogance hounds the lowly." And it is [further] stated (Psalms 31:19), "that speak haughtily against the righteous with arrogance." And it is [also] stated (Ezekiel 32:24), "who struck terror in the land of the living." And just like people make a tillage in the field in order to plant seeds and to harvest much produce, so do the evildoers make pride into a tillage in their hearts, and seed it with their evil thoughts to produce and to grow sins. Metaphorically speaking, these are the fruit of their thoughts - like the prophet stated (Hosea 10:4), "this judgment springs up like poison weeds, etc." And the explanation of "sin" (above in Proverbs 21:4) is, the tillage of the evildoers is the tillage of sin. And all [mention of] sin is [actually] plural, like (in Jeremiah 17:1), "The sin of Judah." Or (alternatively), its explanation is "and sin," like in (Habakkuk 3:11), "Sun, moon" (which means, sun and moon). And the understanding is - beyond [the fact] that pride causes sins, the trait itself is a sin, as it is stated (Proverbs 16:5), "Every haughty person is an abomination to the Lord." And a proud person will be given over to his impulse; for God does not help him, since he is "an abomination to the Lord."
And the penitent is also obligated to be submissive and to fulfill and follow the path about which our Rabbis, may there memory be blessed, said (Avot 4:10), "Be of humble spirit before all men." And from this, he will acquire that he will not get angry at - or be exacting with - his fellows; and he will also not pay attention to everything that he hears and will forego his reckonings. And from this, all of his sins will be [forewent to be] atoned, as our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, said (Rosh Hashanah 17a), "Whoever forgoes his reckonings [with others, the heavenly court, in turn,] forgoes all his sins" - measure for measure. And this is a very glorious opening for hope. And it is stated (Lamentations 3:29-30), "Let him put his mouth to the dust - there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to the smiter; let him be surfeited with mockery."