(כט) וְהָיְתָ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם לְחֻקַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַ֠שְּׁבִיעִי בֶּֽעָשׂ֨וֹר לַחֹ֜דֶשׁ תְּעַנּ֣וּ אֶת־נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֗ם וְכָל־מְלָאכָה֙ לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֔וּ הָֽאֶזְרָ֔ח וְהַגֵּ֖ר הַגָּ֥ר בְּתוֹכְכֶֽם׃
(29) And this shall be to you a law for all time: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall practice self-denial; and you shall do no manner of work, neither the citizen nor the alien who resides among you.
כִּֽי־בַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֛ה יְכַפֵּ֥ר עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם לְטַהֵ֣ר אֶתְכֶ֑ם מִכֹּל֙ חַטֹּ֣אתֵיכֶ֔ם לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה תִּטְהָֽרוּ׃
For on this day atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you of all your sins; you shall be clean before the LORD.
אַ֡ךְ בֶּעָשׂ֣וֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ֩ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֨י הַזֶּ֜ה י֧וֹם הַכִּפֻּרִ֣ים ה֗וּא מִֽקְרָא־קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֔ם וְעִנִּיתֶ֖ם אֶת־נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑ם וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֥ם אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַיהוָֽה׃
Mark, the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a sacred occasion for you: you shall practice self-denial, and you shall bring an offering by fire to the LORD;
וְכָל־מְלָאכָה֙ לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֔וּ בְּעֶ֖צֶם הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֣י י֤וֹם כִּפֻּרִים֙ ה֔וּא לְכַפֵּ֣ר עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם לִפְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
you shall do no work throughout that day. For it is a Day of Atonement, on which expiation is made on your behalf before the LORD your God.
TZEDAKAH
אָמַר מָר זוּטְרָא: אַגְרָא דְתַעֲנִיתָא — צִדְקְתָא.
Mar Zutra said: The primary reward for fasting is for the charity given to the poor on the fast day (see Isaiah 58).
אגרא דתעניתא צדקתא – שנותנין צדקה לערב לפרנסת העניים שהתענו היום:
ואגרא דתעניתא צדקתא כו'. עיין פירש"י ועוד יש טעם אחר כדי שלא יהא נהנה מתעניתו בממונו שיעור מה שלא אכל ושתה היום לכך יתן שיעור הממון זה שנהנה לצדקה וק"ל:
אמר מר זוטרא: אגרא דתעניתא [שכר התענית] — צדקתא [הצדקה], שעיקר השכר בתענית הוא בכך שנותנים אז צדקה לעניים (ועיין ישעיהו נח).
(ג) לָ֤מָּה צַּ֙מְנוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א רָאִ֔יתָ עִנִּ֥ינוּ נַפְשֵׁ֖נוּ וְלֹ֣א תֵדָ֑ע הֵ֣ן בְּי֤וֹם צֹֽמְכֶם֙ תִּמְצְאוּ־חֵ֔פֶץ וְכָל־עַצְּבֵיכֶ֖ם תִּנְגֹּֽשׂוּ׃ (ד) הֵ֣ן לְרִ֤יב וּמַצָּה֙ תָּצ֔וּמוּ וּלְהַכּ֖וֹת בְּאֶגְרֹ֣ף רֶ֑שַׁע לֹא־תָצ֣וּמוּ כַיּ֔וֹם לְהַשְׁמִ֥יעַ בַּמָּר֖וֹם קוֹלְכֶֽם׃ (ה) הֲכָזֶ֗ה יִֽהְיֶה֙ צ֣וֹם אֶבְחָרֵ֔הוּ י֛וֹם עַנּ֥וֹת אָדָ֖ם נַפְשׁ֑וֹ הֲלָכֹ֨ף כְּאַגְמֹ֜ן רֹאשׁ֗וֹ וְשַׂ֤ק וָאֵ֙פֶר֙ יַצִּ֔יעַ הֲלָזֶה֙ תִּקְרָא־צ֔וֹם וְי֥וֹם רָצ֖וֹן לַיהוָֽה׃
(3) “Why, when we fasted, did You not see? When we starved our bodies, did You pay no heed?” Because on your fast day You see to your business And oppress all your laborers! (4) Because you fast in strife and contention, And you strike with a wicked fist! Your fasting today is not such As to make your voice heard on high. (5) Is such the fast I desire, A day for men to starve their bodies? Is it bowing the head like a bulrush And lying in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call that a fast, A day when the LORD is favorable?
TESHUVAH
וְגַם־עַתָּה֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה שֻׁ֥בוּ עָדַ֖י בְּכָל־לְבַבְכֶ֑ם וּבְצ֥וֹם וּבְבְכִ֖י וּבְמִסְפֵּֽד׃
“Yet even now”—says the LORD— “Turn back to Me with all your hearts, And with fasting, weeping, and lamenting.”
וגם עתה, הגם שעתה כבר בא החיל, וכבר בא היום הגדול, אל תחשבו שאין תקנה כי גם עתה נאום ה' שובו עדי בכל לבבכם, ואמר שובו עדי הגם שאני עתה רחוק מכם (כמ"ש בהבדל בין שובו אלי ובין שובו עדי, הושע י"ד ב') רק שתהיה התשובה בכל לבבכם, לא בלב ולב, ושיהיה בצום ובבכי ומספד שהוא הוידוי ועזיבת החטא:
וּכְדֵי לְבַטֵּל הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת מֵאֵיזֶה בְּחִינָה שֶׁתִּהְיֶה וְלַעֲשׂוֹת שָׁלוֹם, עַל־זֶה צָרִיךְ תַּעֲנִית. וְזֶה מַה שֶּׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (אבות פ"ב): מַרְבֶּה צְדָקָה – מַרְבֶּה שָׁלוֹם. צְדָקָה הוּא בְּחִינַת תַּעֲנִית, כִּי עִקַּר הַתַּעֲנִית הוּא צְדָקָה, כְּמַאֲמַר חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ברכות ו): אַגְרָא דְּתַעֲנִיתָא צִדְקְתָא,
Now, in order to eliminate the strife, no matter what aspect it may be, and make peace—fasting is necessary. This is as our Sages teach: The more charity, the more peace (Avot 2:7). Charity is an aspect of fasting. For the essence of fasting is charity, as our Sages teach: The merit of fasting is charity (Berakhot 6b).
(ג) כִּי בְּחִינַת הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת הוּא רָצוֹן אַחֵר שֶׁעוֹמְדִים עָלָיו לְבַטֵּל רְצוֹנוֹ, וּסְגֻלַּת הַתַּעֲנִית אִיתָא בְּזֹהַר (אחרי סח), "בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה תְּעַנּוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם" – שֶׁמַּעֲלַת הַתַּעֲנִית לְאַכְנָעָא לִבָּא לְאַדְבְּקָא רְעוּתָא דְּלִבָּא לְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי הַתַּעֲנִית נִכְנָע וְנֶחֱלָשׁ הַלֵּב וְנִתְבַּטֵּל כָּל הָרְצוֹנוֹת הָאֲחֵרִים שֶׁלּוֹ מִפְּנֵי רְצוֹן הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, לְאַדְבְּקָא רְעוּתָא דְּלִבָּא וְכוּ'.
(ד) וְעַל־כֵּן עַל יְדֵי זֶה נִתְבַּטֵּל הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת רְצוֹנוֹת אֲחֵרִים שֶׁלֹּא כִּרְצוֹנוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (אבות פ"ב): בַּטֵּל רְצוֹנְךָ מִפְּנֵי רְצוֹנוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּבַטֵּל רְצוֹן אֲחֵרִים מִפְּנֵי רְצוֹנֶךָ; וְעַל־יְדֵי הַתַּעֲנִית כְּבָר נִתְבַּטֵּל רְצוֹנוֹ מִפְּנֵי רְצוֹן הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ כַּנַּ"ל, עַל כֵּן נִתְבַּטֵּל רְצוֹן אֲחֵרִים מִפְּנֵי רְצוֹנוֹ, וְנִתְבַּטֵּל הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת, וְנַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם, כַּנִּזְכַּר לְעֵיל: מַרְבֶּה צְדָקָה – מַרְבֶּה שָׁלוֹם.
(3) For the concept of strife involves a conflicting will; they stand up against him to negate his will. And the propitiousness of fasting is found in the Zohar (III, 68b): “On that very day you shall afflict your souls” (cf. Leviticus 16:29, 23:27)—the benefit of fasting is the humbling of the heart, to attach the will of the heart to the Holy One. Through fasting, the heart is subdued and weakened. All his other wills are negated in the face of the will of the Holy One—“to attach the will of the heart….”
(4) Therefore, by means of this [fasting], strife—the aspect of the will of others being unlike his will—is eliminated. As our Sages teach: Negate your will to His will so that the will of others will be negated to your will (Avot 2:4). Through fasting, one’s will is already negated to the will of God, as above, and so the will of others is negated to his will. Strife is thus eliminated and peace is made. As mentioned above: The more charity, the more peace.
וְזֶה נַעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי הַתַּעֲנִית, שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי הַתַּעֲנִית מַחֲלִישִׁין הָאַרְבַּע יְסוֹדוֹת, וְנִתְבַּטֵּל הַחֹמֶר, בְּחִינַת הַחֹמֶר, סִכְלוּת, חֹשֶׁךְ, שִׁכְחָה, בְּהֵמָה. וְנִתְגַּבֵּר וְנִתְעַלֶּה בְּחִינַת הַשֵּׂכֶל, וְהַצּוּרָה, הָאוֹר, וְהַזִּכָּרוֹן, אָדָם. וְזֶה שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ברכות ו:) אַגְרָא דְּתַעֲנִיתָא צִדְקָתָא, כִּי צְדָקָה רֶמֶז לְאוֹר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (מלאכי ג׳:כ׳): וְזָרְחָה לָכֶם יִרְאֵי שְׁמִי שֶׁמֶשׁ צְדָקָה;
This is accomplished by fasting. By fasting, we weaken the four elements. Thus the matter is nullified—the aspects of matter: foolishness, darkness, forgetfulness, animal—while the aspects of the intellect and the form—the light, memory, man—gain strength and ascend. This is as our Sages taught: The reward for fasting is charity (Berakhot 6b). For charity hints to light, as is written (Malachi 3:20), “But a benevolent sun will shine upon you who fear My name.”
ז וְדַע, שֶׁלְּבַטֵּל וּלְהַכְנִיעַ הָאוֹיְבִים דַּי הַצּוֹם אוֹ אֲכִילַת שַׁבָּת לְבַד, אֲבָל לְרֹב הַשָּׁלוֹם צָרִיךְ גַּם לְהַרְבּוֹת בִּצְדָקָה, כְּמַאֲמַר חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (אבות פ"ב): מַרְבֶּה צְדָקָה – מַרְבֶּה שָׁלוֹם. וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמְרוּ (ברכות ו:): אַגְרָא דְּתַעֲנִיתָא – צִדְקְתָא, וְאָמְרוּ (תענית ח:): שֶׁמֶשׁ בְּשַׁבָּת צְדָקָה לַעֲנִיִּים. שֶׁמֶשׁ, זֶה בְּחִינַת שָׁלוֹם, כְּמַאֲמַר חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (מכילתא ובספרי פ' תצא ובירושלמי כתובות פ"ד): וְזָרְחָה עָלָיו הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ – מַה שֶּׁמֶשׁ הוּא שָׁלוֹם לְכָל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם וְכוּ'. וְזֶהוּ שֶׁמֶשׁ, הַיְנוּ הַשָּׁלוֹם, אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי צְדָקָה לַעֲנִיִּים:
7. Know, too, that to eliminate and subdue the enemy, either fasting or Shabbat eating is enough on its own. But for an abundance of peace it is necessary to increase charity, as in the teaching of our Sages, of blessed memory: The more charity, the more peace (Avot 2:7). And this is what they said: The reward for fasting is charity (Berakhot 6b). And they said: Sun on Shabbat is charity for the poor (Taanit 8b). “Sun” is the aspect of peace, as in the teaching of our Sages: “the sun shone upon him” (Exodus 22:2)—just as the sun brings peace to all the world’s inhabitants… (Mekhilta, Mishpatim 6). This is: “Sun”—i.e., peace—is achieved only by means of “charity to the poor.”
אמר שמואל כל היושב בתענית נקרא חוטא סבר כי האי תנא דתניא ר' אלעזר הקפר ברבי אומר מה תלמוד לומר (במדבר ו, יא) וכפר עליו מאשר חטא על הנפש וכי באיזה נפש חטא זה אלא שציער עצמו מן היין והלא דברים קל וחומר ומה זה שלא ציער עצמו אלא מן היין נקרא חוטא המצער עצמו מכל דבר ודבר על אחת כמה וכמה ר' אלעזר אומר נקרא קדוש שנאמר (במדבר ו, ה) קדוש יהיה גדל פרע שער ראשו ומה זה שלא ציער עצמו אלא מדבר אחד נקרא קדוש המצער עצמו מכל דבר על אחת כמה וכמה ולשמואל הא איקרי קדוש ההוא אגידול פרע קאי ולר' אלעזר הא נקרא חוטא ההוא דסאיב נפשיה ומי אמר רבי אלעזר הכי והאמר ר' אלעזר לעולם ימוד אדם עצמו כאילו קדוש שרוי בתוך מעיו שנאמר (הושע יא, ט) בקרבך קדוש ולא אבוא בעיר לא קשיא הא דמצי לצעורי נפשיה הא דלא מצי לצעורי נפשיה ר"ל אמר נקרא חסיד שנאמר (משלי יא, יז) גומל נפשו איש (חסיד) [צ"ל חסד] ועוכר שארו וגו' אמר רב ששת האי בר בי רב דיתיב בתעניתא ליכול כלבא לשירותיה אמר רבי ירמיה בר אבא אין תענית צבור בבבל אלא תשעה באב בלבד (אמר) ר' ירמיה בר אבא אמר ריש לקיש אין תלמיד חכם רשאי לישב בתענית מפני שממעט במלאכת שמים:
§ The Gemara returns to the primary topic of the tractate, the issue of fasts. Shmuel said: Whoever sits in observance of a fast is called a sinner, as it is inappropriate to take unnecessary suffering upon oneself. The Gemara comments: Shmuel holds in accordance with the opinion of the following tanna, as it is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Elazar HaKappar the Great says: What is the meaning when the verse states, with regard to a nazirite: “And he will atone for him for that he sinned by the soul [nefesh]” (Numbers 6:11). But with what soul did this nazirite sin? Rather, the nazirite sinned by the distress he caused himself when he abstained from wine, in accordance with the terms of his vow. And are these matters not inferred a fortiori? And if this nazirite, who distressed himself by abstaining only from wine, is nevertheless called a sinner and requires atonement, then with regard to one who distresses himself by abstaining from each and every matter of food and drink when he fasts, all the more so should he be considered a sinner. Conversely, Rabbi Elazar says: One who accepts a fast upon himself is called sacred, as it is stated with regard to the nazirite: “He shall be sacred, he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow long” (Numbers 6:5). Here too, one can apply an a fortiori inference: And if this nazirite, who distressed himself by abstaining from only one matter, wine, is nevertheless called sacred, then with regard to one who distresses himself by abstaining from every matter, all the more so should he be considered sacred. The Gemara asks: And according to the opinion of Shmuel, the nazirite is indeed called sacred, as stated by Rabbi Elazar. The Gemara answers: That verse is referring to the sanctity of the growth of the locks, as the nazirite’s hair does possess an element of sanctity, but it does not refer to the nazirite himself. The Gemara reverses the question: And according to the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, the nazirite is called a sinner. The Gemara answers: That verse refers specifically to a nazirite who rendered himself ritually impure by coming into contact with a dead body, an act that is prohibited for him. This particular nazirite must bring an offering to atone “for that he sinned by the soul.” The Gemara asks: And did Rabbi Elazar actually say this, that fasting is a virtuous act? But didn’t Rabbi Elazar say: A person should always consider himself as though a sacred object is immersed in his bowels, which he may not damage, as it is stated: “The sacred is in your midst; and I will not come into the city” (Hosea 11:9). This statement indicates that it is prohibited to take a fast upon oneself. The Gemara answers: This is not difficult. This first ruling, that one who fasts is sacred, is referring to a case where he is able to distress himself without causing bodily harm. That second ruling, that one may not overly burden his body, deals with a situation when he is unable to distress himself while avoiding all harm, and he proceeds to fast nevertheless. Reish Lakish said: One who fasts is called pious, as it is stated: “The pious man does good [gomel] to his own soul; but he who troubles his own flesh is cruel” (Proverbs 11:17). The verb gomel can also mean weaning, or abstaining from unnecessary pleasure. Accordingly, Reish Lakish derives from this verse that one who abstains from food is called pious. Similarly, Rav Sheshet said: This student of a Torah academy who sits in observance of a fast has let a dog eat his portion. Since his fast weakens him and prevents him from studying Torah, it is considered as though a dog ate his meal, as the student derived no benefit from it. Rav Yirmeya bar Abba said: There is no completely stringent communal fast in Babylonia, except for the Ninth of Av alone. All other fasts, even those which are fixed and routine for the community, are treated as individual fasts, with regard to both the customs of the fast itself and the halakhot of who is obligated to fast. Rav Yirmeya bar Abba said that Reish Lakish said: A Torah scholar is not permitted to sit in observance of a fast, due to the fact that his fasting reduces his strength for the heavenly service of Torah study and mitzvot.
כדר' אלעזר אמר ר' יצחק דא"ר אלעזר אמר רבי יצחק כל תענית שמלינין בו את הצדקה כאילו שופך דמים שנאמר מלאתי משפט צדק וגו' וה"מ בריפתא ותמרי אבל בזוזי חיטי ושערי לית לן בה:
The Gemara answers: Rava interprets it in accordance with the statement that Rabbi Elazar says that Rabbi Yitzḥak says, as Rabbi Elazar says that Rabbi Yitzḥak says: Every fast day on which the distribution of charity [tzedaka] is left overnight, this is considered as if one spilled the blood of the poor people, as they fasted all day in the expectation that they would receive charity before the day was over in order to purchase food with which to break their fasts. As it is stated: “She that was full of justice [tzedek], righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.” The Gemara clarifies: And this statement applies with regard to the delaying of the distribution of bread and dates, which are ready to be consumed; but with regard to the delaying of the distribution of money, wheat, and barley, we have no problem with it.
Yoma 4b:1-14
The verse [Exodus 24:18] comes only to accord deference to Moses, as the entire nation heard God address him. Rabbi Natan says: Moses was in fact called to enter the cloud; however, his entrance was not for the purpose of sequestering and purifying him, rather, the verse comes only to cleanse the food and drink that was in his intestines, to render him like the ministering angels who require neither food nor drink.
The verse [Exodus 24:18] comes only to accord deference to Moses, as the entire nation heard God address him. Rabbi Natan says: Moses was in fact called to enter the cloud; however, his entrance was not for the purpose of sequestering and purifying him, rather, the verse comes only to cleanse the food and drink that was in his intestines, to render him like the ministering angels who require neither food nor drink.
(ב) יַֽעַנְךָ֣ יְ֭הוָה בְּי֣וֹם צָרָ֑ה יְ֝שַׂגֶּבְךָ֗ שֵׁ֤ם ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֬י יַעֲקֹֽב׃
(2) May the LORD answer you in time of trouble, the name of Jacob’s God keep you safe.