(26) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: (27) When an ox or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall stay seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as an offering by fire to the LORD. (28) However, no animal from the herd or from the flock shall be slaughtered on the same day with its young.
(1) כי יולד WHEN [ANY OX etc.] IS BORN… [FROM THE EIGHTH DAY, AND THENCEFORTH, IT SHALL BE FAVOURABLY ACCEPTED AS A FIRE OFFERING…] — The expression יולד “that is born” excludes the case of an animal delivered through the abdominal wall (i. e. by Caesarian section) (Chullin 38b).
The Torah and Kindness to Animals (Optional)
Our Daughters Ask: Why are we commanded not to kill a young animal until it’s eight days old? As it is written: “IT SHALL STAY SEVEN DAYS WITH ITS MOTHER” (22:27). What difference does that make to the dead animal or its mother?
The Rabbis Answer: Many of the Torah’s laws about the treatment of animals are ethical “object lessons” for us. Thus we are not to consume blood, so that we learn to sanctify life; we are not to eat certain animals that scavenge or kill for food, so that we shun such behavior; we are not to tear food from living animals, so that we avoid inflicting unnecessary pain; we are not to eat from food that has not been tithed or shared with the needy, so that we acknowledge the true Source of our sustenance and act justly. And in this parasha, we are commanded that ‘NO ANIMAL FROM THE HERD OR FROM THE FLOCK SHALL BE SLAUGHTERED ON THE SAME DAY WITH ITS YOUNG” (22:28).
Mother Rachel Adds: From the days of the Garden of Eden until Noah’s generation, human beings did not eat animal flesh, but after the Great Flood, our lust for meat grew so great that God permitted us to kill and eat other creatures, but only if we did so with mindfulness and discipline. Since animal mothers, like human ones, love their young, we should spare them unnecessary distress by taking away their young too soon after birth or by allowing the mothers to see them die. Two other laws – the prohibition against seething a kid in its mother’s milk and the commandment to send away a mother bird before taking her eggs – are likewise intended as models of compassionate behavior. –The Five Books of Miriam, Frankel
But didn’t we learn in a mishna (Ḥullin 83a): On four occasions during the year one who sells an animal to another is required to inform him: I sold the mother of this animal today for the buyer to slaughter it, or: I sold the daughter of this animal today for the buyer to slaughter it. This notification is necessary so that this buyer will not slaughter the animal on the same day that its mother or its young is slaughtered, thereby violating the prohibition: “You shall not kill it and its young both in one day” (Leviticus 22:28).
(29) When you sacrifice a thanksgiving offering to the LORD, sacrifice it so that it may be acceptable in your favor. (30) It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall not leave any of it until morning: I am the LORD. (31) You shall faithfully observe My commandments: I am the LORD. (32) You shall not profane My holy name, that I may be sanctified in the midst of the Israelite people—I the LORD who sanctify you, (33) I who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God, I the LORD.
(1) ושמרתם — This implies the study of the commandments, (2) ועשיתם, the doing of them (Sifra, Emor, Chapter 9 3).
1) ולא תחללו YE SHALL NOT PROFANE [MY HOLY NAME], by transgressing My commands willfully.
Having regard to what is implied in the statement: You shall not profane [My holy name] (viz., that it must be hallowed), what is the meaning of ונקדשתי? But, this implies a positive act of sanctification: Abandon yourself to martyrdom and hallow My name!
I might think that this command applies even to the Israelite when he is alone (i. e., when no other Israelites are present when the heathen bids him transgress a Divine command)! Scripture, however, states: בתוך בני ישראל [AND I SHALL BE SANCTIFIED] AMIDST THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. —
And when offering oneself to martyrdom, one should offer himself with the firm determination (lit., under the condition) to die if necessary, for he who abandons himself on condition (i. e. cherishing the hope) that God will not exact the sacrifice and that a miracle will happen to save him will have no miracle wrought for him; for thus we find in the case of Chananyah, Mishael and Azariah that they did not offer themselves for martyrdom expecting a miracle, as it is said (Daniel 3:17, 18) “[And God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and He will deliver us out of thy hand, O king]. But if not, be it known unto thee that we will not serve thy gods etc. — Whether He saves us or whether he does not save, “be it known unto thee etc.” (Sifra, Emor, Chapter 9 5)
(1) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: (2) Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: These are My fixed times, the fixed times of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as sacred occasions.
(1) After dealing with the sacrifices, Scripture proceeds to mention the days on which the children of Israel will offer burnt-offerings, beginning with the Sabbath. these are My chosen times Scripture employs the plural because there are many Sabbaths in a year [cf . :4].
(1) 'דבר אל בני ישראל, מועדי ה SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [AND DECLARE UNTO THEM] THE APPOINTED FESTIVALS OF THE LORD — This means, Regulate the festive seasons in such a manner that all Israel should become practised in them (their observance).
Hence we derive the law that they (the Sanhedrin) proclaim a leap-year (i. e. intercalate a second Adar) for the sake of those living in the diaspora who have already left their homes in order to go up for the festival but have not yet arrived in Jerusalem (Sifra, Emor, Section 9 1; cf. Sanhedrin 11a).
(ה) בְּפֶסַח קוֹרִין בְּפָרָשַׁת מוֹעֲדוֹת שֶׁל תּוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים (ויקרא כב). בַּעֲצֶרֶת, שִׁבְעָה שָׁבֻעוֹת (דברים טז). בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ (ויקרא כג). בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, אַחֲרֵי מוֹת (שם טז). בְּיוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל חָג קוֹרִין בְּפָרָשַׁת מוֹעֲדוֹת שֶׁבְּתוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים (ויקרא כג), וּבִשְׁאָר כָּל יְמוֹת הֶחָג בְּקָרְבְּנוֹת הֶחָג (במדבר כט):
(5) On the first day of Passover, the congregation reads from the portion of the Festivals of Leviticus (Leviticus 22:26–23:44). On Shavuot they read the portion of “Seven weeks” (Deuteronomy 16:9–12). On Rosh HaShana they read the portion of “And on the seventh month on the first of the month” (Leviticus 23:23–25). On Yom Kippur they read the portion of “After the death” (Leviticus 16). On the first Festival day of Sukkot they read from the portion of the Festivals of Leviticus (Leviticus 22:26–23:44), and on the other days of Sukkot they read selections from the portion of the offerings of Sukkot (Numbers 29:12–39).
Sacred Times Call us to Meet God and Ourselves
The festivals, including the Sabbath, are referred to continuously as appointed times, because they are special days when Jews “meet,” as it were, with God. As R’ Hirsch (Horeb ch. 23) puts it: “Moadim, appointed seasons, summon us to submit ourselves entirely to the contemplation and inner realization of those ideals which lie at their foundation. Just as Moed in space refers to the locality which men have as their appointed place of assembly for an appointed purpose (such as the Ohel Moed, the Tent of Meeting), so Moed in time is a point in time which summons us communally to an appointed activity – in this case an inner activity. Thus Moadim are the days which stand out from the other days of the year. They summon us from our everyday life to halt and to dedicate all our spiritual activities to them. From this point of view, Sabbath and Yom Kippur are also Moadim. –Artscroll
- How do “set times” for prayer and celebration help us draw close to God?
- What do you do if you do not feel like praying?
- How do holidays help us affirm the way the flow of nature shapes our souls?
(3) On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a sabbath of complete rest, a sacred occasion. You shall do no work; it shall be a sabbath of the LORD throughout your settlements.
This statement emphasizes three norms of conduct basic to the observance of the Sabbath: (1) the prohibition of mela’khah, “work,” (2) the sanctity of the Sabbath, and (3) the requirement that the Sabbath be observed in all Israelite settlements. The formulation of verse 3, especially use of the passive verb te’aseh, “may be done,” closely resembles similar statements in Exodus 12:26; 31:5; and 35:2. The active formulation ta’aseh, “you shall do,” is more common. –JPS Torah Commentary, Levine
Holy Days and Devotion to God: Leviticus to Isaiah. It shall be a Sabbath of the LORD. The translation conveys the sense of prepositional lamed, which connotes possession: “a Sabbath belonging to the LORD.” The Sabbath belongs to God, just as festivals are said to be hag le-YHVH, “a pilgrimage festival belonging to the LORD.” On such occasions, one should not pursue his own affairs but should devote himself to spiritual matters. This is stated most clearly in Isaiah 58:13-14: “If you refrain from trampling the Sabbath,/ From pursuing your affairs on My holy day;/ If you call the Sabbath ‘delight,’ The LORD’s holy day ‘honored’;/ And if you honor it and go not your ways/ Nor look to your affairs, nor strike bargains--/ Then you can seek the favor of the LORD.” There is the subtle implication that on the Sabbath one is to worship God in special ways, though nothing in the way of special sacrificial rites is specifically ordained here. –Levine
- How do respond to the vision of a period of time, a day or a week, devoted to God?
- What would you do and what would this look like?
(ד) אֵ֚לֶּה מוֹעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה מִקְרָאֵ֖י קֹ֑דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־תִּקְרְא֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם בְּמוֹעֲדָֽם׃ (ה) בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן בְּאַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר לַחֹ֖דֶשׁ בֵּ֣ין הָעַרְבָּ֑יִם פֶּ֖סַח לַיהוָֽה׃ (ו) וּבַחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה עָשָׂ֥ר יוֹם֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֔ה חַ֥ג הַמַּצּ֖וֹת לַיהוָ֑ה שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים מַצּ֥וֹת תֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃ (ז) בַּיּוֹם֙ הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן מִקְרָא־קֹ֖דֶשׁ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֥א תַעֲשֽׂוּ׃ (ח) וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֥ם אִשֶּׁ֛ה לַיהוָ֖ה שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים בַּיּ֤וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי֙ מִקְרָא־קֹ֔דֶשׁ כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֥א תַעֲשֽׂוּ׃ (פ)
(4) These are the set times of the LORD, the sacred occasions, which you shall celebrate each at its appointed time: (5) In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, there shall be a passover offering to the LORD, (6) and on the fifteenth day of that month the LORD’s Feast of Unleavened Bread. You shall eat unleavened bread for seven days. (7) On the first day you shall celebrate a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations. (8) Seven days you shall make offerings by fire to the LORD. The seventh day shall be a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations.
The Meaning of Hag. Rather, “the Pilgrimage Feast of Unleavened Bread of the LORD.” The Hebrew term hag is crucial for a proper understanding of the biblical festivals and their development. Hag means “pilgrimage,” and wherever this term is used to characterize a festival, it refers to an actual pilgrimage, either to a nearby or to a faraway cult site.
The duty to undertake a pilgrimage is known in a number of other religions, most notably in Islam, where the Arabic term hajatun, cognate with Hebrew hag, designates a holy pilgrimage. This means that any festival called hag could not be fully celebrated at one’s home, but required one’s presence at a cult site. In earlier times, the pilgrimage might have brought a family to a nearby altar, but subsequently Deuteronomy ordained that all sacrificial offerings were to be brought to one, central Temple, which necessitated a much longer pilgrimage for most Israelites.
–Levine
*What are Jewish pilgrimages people take, i.e., Israel, Savannah, New York, Poland, Jewish
Roots tours to other countries?
*How does this shape a person’s identity?
(ט) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (י) דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־תָבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ נֹתֵ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם וּקְצַרְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־קְצִירָ֑הּ וַהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם אֶת־עֹ֛מֶר רֵאשִׁ֥ית קְצִירְכֶ֖ם אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ (יא) וְהֵנִ֧יף אֶת־הָעֹ֛מֶר לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לִֽרְצֹנְכֶ֑ם מִֽמָּחֳרַת֙ הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת יְנִיפֶ֖נּוּ הַכֹּהֵֽן׃
(יב) וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֕ם בְּי֥וֹם הֲנִֽיפְכֶ֖ם אֶת־הָעֹ֑מֶר כֶּ֣בֶשׂ תָּמִ֧ים בֶּן־שְׁנָת֛וֹ לְעֹלָ֖ה לַיהוָֽה׃ (יג) וּמִנְחָתוֹ֩ שְׁנֵ֨י עֶשְׂרֹנִ֜ים סֹ֣לֶת בְּלוּלָ֥ה בַשֶּׁ֛מֶן אִשֶּׁ֥ה לַיהוָ֖ה רֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֑חַ וְנִסְכֹּ֥ה יַ֖יִן רְבִיעִ֥ת הַהִֽין׃ (יד) וְלֶחֶם֩ וְקָלִ֨י וְכַרְמֶ֜ל לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְל֗וּ עַד־עֶ֙צֶם֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה עַ֚ד הֲבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם אֶת־קָרְבַּ֖ן אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם בְּכֹ֖ל מֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃ (ס)
(9) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: (10) Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving to you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest. (11) He shall elevate the sheaf before the LORD for acceptance in your behalf; the priest shall elevate it on the day after the sabbath.
(12) On the day that you elevate the sheaf, you shall offer as a burnt offering to the LORD a lamb of the first year without blemish. (13) The meal offering with it shall be two-tenths of a measure of choice flour with oil mixed in, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD; and the libation with it shall be of wine, a quarter of a hin. (14) Until that very day, until you have brought the offering of your God, you shall eat no bread or parched grain or fresh ears; it is a law for all time throughout the ages in all your settlements.
Offerings of the New Grain: The Meaning of an Omer
An Omer. Omer is the name of a dry measure, containing the volume of 43.2 average eggs. It is the amount of flour that must be brought, and is also the name by which the offering is known. –Artscroll
*****
In this section, two offerings taken from the new crop are prescribed: ‘omer and bikkurim. The first, ‘omer, is the offering of a “sheaf” of new barley. As originally intended, the priest was to offer it on the morrow of the first Sabbath subsequent to the seven-day festival. New grain could not be eaten until this offering was made. It constituted desacralization, a rite that gives to God the first of the new crop, thus releasing the rest of it for ordinary human use.
Beginning on the day of this offering, a period of counting is initiated. Seven full “Sabbaths,” or weeks, are counted off. On the fiftieth day, the second offering of meal of new wheat, baked into leavened loaves, is offered in the sanctuary as bikkurim, “first fruits.” It consists of grain furnished by the Israelite settlements. That day is a sacred assembly on which work is forbidden. Here, it is not designated hag, “pilgrimage,” as it is in Deuteronomy 16:10, a significant difference.
This section concludes with a paraphrase of 19:9-10, requiring Israelites to leave the edges of their fields and their gleanings from the grain harvests for the poor and the stranger. –Levine
(טו) וּסְפַרְתֶּ֤ם לָכֶם֙ מִמָּחֳרַ֣ת הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת מִיּוֹם֙ הֲבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם אֶת־עֹ֖מֶר הַתְּנוּפָ֑ה שֶׁ֥בַע שַׁבָּת֖וֹת תְּמִימֹ֥ת תִּהְיֶֽינָה׃ (טז) עַ֣ד מִֽמָּחֳרַ֤ת הַשַּׁבָּת֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ת תִּסְפְּר֖וּ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים י֑וֹם וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֛ם מִנְחָ֥ה חֲדָשָׁ֖ה לַיהוָֽה׃ (יז) מִמּוֹשְׁבֹ֨תֵיכֶ֜ם תָּבִ֣יאּוּ ׀ לֶ֣חֶם תְּנוּפָ֗ה שְׁ֚תַּיִם שְׁנֵ֣י עֶשְׂרֹנִ֔ים סֹ֣לֶת תִּהְיֶ֔ינָה חָמֵ֖ץ תֵּאָפֶ֑ינָה בִּכּוּרִ֖ים לַֽיהוָֽה׃ (יח) וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֣ם עַל־הַלֶּ֗חֶם שִׁבְעַ֨ת כְּבָשִׂ֤ים תְּמִימִם֙ בְּנֵ֣י שָׁנָ֔ה וּפַ֧ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֛ר אֶחָ֖ד וְאֵילִ֣ם שְׁנָ֑יִם יִהְי֤וּ עֹלָה֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וּמִנְחָתָם֙ וְנִסְכֵּיהֶ֔ם אִשֵּׁ֥ה רֵֽיחַ־נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהוָֽה׃ (יט) וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֛ם שְׂעִיר־עִזִּ֥ים אֶחָ֖ד לְחַטָּ֑את וּשְׁנֵ֧י כְבָשִׂ֛ים בְּנֵ֥י שָׁנָ֖ה לְזֶ֥בַח שְׁלָמִֽים׃ (כ) וְהֵנִ֣יף הַכֹּהֵ֣ן ׀ אֹתָ֡ם עַל֩ לֶ֨חֶם הַבִּכּוּרִ֤ים תְּנוּפָה֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁנֵ֖י כְּבָשִׂ֑ים קֹ֛דֶשׁ יִהְי֥וּ לַיהוָ֖ה לַכֹּהֵֽן׃ (כא) וּקְרָאתֶ֞ם בְּעֶ֣צֶם ׀ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה מִֽקְרָא־קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֔ם כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֑וּ חֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֛ם בְּכָל־מוֹשְׁבֹ֥תֵיכֶ֖ם לְדֹרֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃
(כב) וּֽבְקֻצְרְכֶ֞ם אֶת־קְצִ֣יר אַרְצְכֶ֗ם לֹֽא־תְכַלֶּ֞ה פְּאַ֤ת שָֽׂדְךָ֙ בְּקֻצְרֶ֔ךָ וְלֶ֥קֶט קְצִירְךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְלַקֵּ֑ט לֶֽעָנִ֤י וְלַגֵּר֙ תַּעֲזֹ֣ב אֹתָ֔ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (ס)
(15) And from the day on which you bring the sheaf of elevation offering—the day after the sabbath—you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: (16) you must count until the day after the seventh week—fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the LORD. (17) You shall bring from your settlements two loaves of bread as an elevation offering; each shall be made of two-tenths of a measure of choice flour, baked after leavening, as first fruits to the LORD. (18) With the bread you shall present, as burnt offerings to the LORD, seven yearling lambs without blemish, one bull of the herd, and two rams, with their meal offerings and libations, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD. (19) You shall also offer one he-goat as a sin offering and two yearling lambs as a sacrifice of well-being. (20) The priest shall elevate these—the two lambs—together with the bread of first fruits as an elevation offering before the LORD; they shall be holy to the LORD, for the priest. (21) On that same day you shall hold a celebration; it shall be a sacred occasion for you; you shall not work at your occupations. This is a law for all time in all your settlements, throughout the ages.
(22) And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I the LORD am your God.
(1) ובקצרכם AND WHEN YE REAP [THE HARVEST OF YOUR LAND, THOU SHALT NOT MAKE CLEAR RIDDANCE OF THE CORNER OF THE FIELD] — Scripture repeats the prohibition here (although it has already been mentioned above, 19:9) in order to make one who transgresses this law infringe two negative commands. R. Abdima the son of R. Joseph said: What reason had Scripture to place it (the law concerning the corner of the field) amidst those regarding the festival-sacrifices — those of Passover and Pentecost on this side of it, and those of the New Year, Day of Atonement and “the Feast” (Tabernacles) following on that side of it?
To teach you that he who leaves the gleanings, the forgotten sheaf and the corner of the field to the poor as it ought to be, is regarded as though he had built the Temple and offered his sacrifices therein (cf. Sifra, Emor, Chapter 13 11).
(2) תעזב THOU SHALT LEAVE [THEM UNTO THE POOR] — leave these in front of them and they shall gather: you are not allowed to assist one of them to the injury of another poor man (Sifra, Kedoshim, Chapter 3 5; Mishnah Peah 5:6).
ובקוצרכם את קציר ארצכם, “when you reap the harvests of your land, etc.;” seeing that the principal period of harvesting commences around the time of Shavuot, the Torah chose to speak of this season first, when discussing special laws of benefit to the poor connected with the act of collecting the harvest. Examples are: leaving a corner of the field uncut for the poor to help themselves, and not gleaning anything the reapers had dropped by mistake. (B’chor shor) -Chizkuni
(יא) [יא] "וקראתם בעצם היום הזה מקרא קדש...ובקוצרכם את קציר ארצכם לא תכלה פאת שדך בקצרך ולקט קצירך לא תלקט"-- אמר ר' אוורדימס ברבי יוסי, וכי מה ראה הכתוב ליתנה באמצע הרגלים -- פסח ועצרת מכאן, וראש השנה ויום הכפורים מכאן? אלא ללמד שכל מי שהוא מוציא לקט שכחה ופאה ומעשר עני, מעלים עליו כאילו בית המקדש קיים והוא מקריב קרבנותיו לתוכו. וכל מי שאינו מוציא לקט שכחה ופאה ומעשר עני, מעלים עליו כאילו בית המקדש קיים ואינו מקריב קרבנותיו לתוכו.
(11) 11) (Vayikra 23:21-22) "And you shall call out on this self-same day a holy calling … And when you harvest the harvest of your land, do not end off the corner of your field in your reaping and the gleaning of your harvest you shall not gather." R. Avardimos b. R. Yossi said: Why did Scripture see fit to insert this (peah and leket) in the midst of the festivals — Pesach and Shavuoth on one side, and Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur on the other? To teach that one who gives leket, shikchah, peah, and the poor tithe — it is accounted to him as if the Temple existed and he offered up his sacrifices therein. And one who does not give it — it is accounted to him as if the Temple existed and he did not offer up his sacrifices therein.
(ג) להניח פאה בשדה לעניים, להניח לקט להניח עוללות, להניח פרט, שנאמר (ויקרא כג, כב-כג) ובקצרכם את קציר ארצכם לא תכלה פאת שדך לקצור, ולקט קצירך לא תלקט. וכרמך לא תעולל, ופרט כרמך לא תלקט. טעמי מצות אלו, לפני שהעני עיניו תלויה לשמים ומתקוטט עם בוראו, לכך באו ארבעה מצות הללו להטיל שלום בין העני לבוראו, משום דשייכי בפת ויין שהם עיקר מזונו של אדם, חייבתו התורה, לפי שעיני עני תמיד לקרא תגר על העשיר בדמע ונענש. ולפי שהאדם כשהולך לקצור שדהו ולבצור כרמו משתרר בנחלתו שהנחלה היא מטכסיסי המלוכה, ציונו באלו המצות להורות שעם היות שהנחלות שלו יש לו אדון ושולטן עליו:
(3) לא תכלה פאת שדך . The reason for the demand to leave a corner of one's field unharvested and to leave other parts of the harvest for the poor, (19,9) has to do with the poor man's quarreling with Heavenly Justice complaining about his underprivileged status.
The four kinds of harvest left-overs designated by the Torah for the poor are designed to restore peace and harmony between the poor and G–d. They are able to do this because they apply to bread and wine, the two major components in man's eating habits.
The poor derives some satisfaction when he observes that at the very time when the landowner has reason to be most smug and self-satisfied, i.e. when he brings in his harvest, he is reminded by this legislation that he himself is subservient to a Higher Authority, i.e. to G–d.
כג) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (כד) דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ יִהְיֶ֤ה לָכֶם֙ שַׁבָּת֔וֹן זִכְר֥וֹן תְּרוּעָ֖ה מִקְרָא־קֹֽדֶשׁ׃ (כה) כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֑וּ וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֥ם אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַיהוָֽה׃ (ס)
practice self denial. See at Numbers 30 for regulations about women who individually undertake vows of self-denial. -The Torah: A Women's Commentary
(39) Mark, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the yield of your land, you shall observe the festival of the LORD [to last] seven days: a complete rest on the first day, and a complete rest on the eighth day. (40) On the first day you shall take the product of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. (41) You shall observe it as a festival of the LORD for seven days in the year; you shall observe it in the seventh month as a law for all time, throughout the ages. (42) You shall live in booths seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths, (43) in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I the LORD your God. (44) So Moses declared to the Israelites the set times of the LORD.
(א) פרי עץ הדר. עֵץ שֶׁטַּעַם עֵצוֹ וּפִרְיוֹ שָׁוֶה (סכה ל"ה):
(ב) הדר. הַדָּר בְּאִילָנוֹ מִשָּׁנָה לְשָׁנָה, וְזֶהוּ אֶתְרוֹג (שם):
(ג) כפת תמרים. חָסֵר וי"ו, לִמֵּד שֶׁאֵינָהּ אֶלָּא אַחַת:
(ד) וענף עץ עבת. שֶׁעֲנָפָיו קְלוּעִים כַּעֲבוֹתוֹת וְכַחֲבָלִים, וְזֶהוּ הֲדַס, הֶעָשׂוּי כְּמִין קְלִיעָה (שם ל"ב):
(1) פרי עץ הדר THE FRUIT OF THE TREE HADAR — a tree the wood of which (עץ) has the same taste as its fruit (פרי) (Sifra, Emor, Chapter 16 4; Sukkah 35a).
(2) הדר — It is called הדר because it is the tree whose fruit remains (הַדָּר) on the tree from one year to another (several years) — and this is the “Ethrog”.
(3) כפת תמרים A BRANCH OF PALM TREES — The word כפת is written defective (without ו, not כפות) to intimate that only one branch is intended (Sukkah 32a).
(4) וענף עץ עבת AND BOUGHS OF THE TREE עבת — i. e. of a tree whose boughs are, as it were, plaited (intertwined one with another) like ropes (עבתות) and cords; this is the myrtle plant which is indeed formed as a plait (three leaves issuing from one point of the branch and covering it) (Sukkah 32b).
Ushpizot
By By Rabbis Margot Stein and Yael Ridberg
We welcome you, Rebecca, who heard God's voice. From you we learn tenacity and faith, as you pursue God's will against the odds.
We welcome you, Rachel, beloved of Israel. When we turn to you in sorrow, you gently dry our tears.
We welcome you, Leah, womb of our people. In you we are nurtured and sustained.
We welcome you, Miriam, desert prophetess. From you we learn to offer leadership with joy.
We welcome you, Hannah, Poet of prayer. You teach us that great sacrifice can yield great reward.
We welcome you, Esther, radiant queen. You inspire us to remain true to the Jewish people even in galut (the Diaspora).
We now invite Jewish women from our personal or historical past.
https://www.ritualwell.org/ritual/ushpizot
that future generations may know. This commemorative explanation for the requirement to dwell in booths during the festival is unique to Leviticus in the Torah. Numbers 29: 12– 34 and Deuteronomy 16: 13– 15 also deal with Sukkot. -The Torah: A Women's Commentary
(1) כי בסכות הושבתי THAT I MADE [THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL] ABIDE IN BOOTHS — This does not mean literally “booths” but, “the clouds of Glory" by which they were sheltered (cf. Onkelos; Sifra, Emor, Chapter 17 11; Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 12:35:1; Sukkah 11b).
(א) הֲרֵינִי מוּכָן וּמְזוּמָן לְקַיֵּים מִצְוַת סֻכָּה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוַּנִי הַבּורֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמו בַּסֻּכּות תֵּשְׁבוּ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים כָּל הָאֶזְרָח בְּיִשרָאֵל יֵשְׁבוּ בַּסֻּכּות:
(ב) לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ דרתֵיכֶם כִּי בַסֻּכּות הושַׁבְתִּי אֶת בְּנֵי יִשרָאֵל בְּהוצִיאִי אותָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם:
(1) Behold, I am ready and prepared to fulfill the commandment of the sukkah (hut), as the Creator, may his Name be blessed, commanded me - as is is written (Leviticus 23:43-44), "You shall live in huts seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in huts.
(2) In order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in huts when I brought them out of the land of Egypt."