וְכׇל־[דָּיְרֵ֤י] (דארי) אַרְעָא֙ כְּלָ֣ה חֲשִׁיבִ֔ין וּֽכְמִצְבְּיֵ֗הּ עָבֵד֙ בְּחֵ֣יל שְׁמַיָּ֔א (ודארי) [וְדָיְרֵ֖י] אַרְעָ֑א וְלָ֤א אִיתַי֙ דִּֽי־יְמַחֵ֣א בִידֵ֔הּ וְיֵ֥אמַר לֵ֖הּ מָ֥ה עֲבַֽדְתְּ׃
All the inhabitants of the earth are of no account.
He does as He wishes with the host of heaven,
And with the inhabitants of the earth.
There is none to stay His hand
Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
He does as He wishes with the host of heaven,
And with the inhabitants of the earth.
There is none to stay His hand
Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
קוֹצְרִים בֵּית הַשְּׁלָחִים שֶׁבָּעֲמָקִים, אֲבָל לֹא גוֹדְשִׁין. אַנְשֵׁי יְרִיחוֹ קוֹצְרִין בִּרְצוֹן חֲכָמִים, וְגוֹדְשִׁין שֶׁלֹּא בִרְצוֹן חֲכָמִים, וְלֹא מִחוּ בְיָדָם חֲכָמִים. קוֹצֵר לַשַּׁחַת, וּמַאֲכִיל לַבְּהֵמָה. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, אֵימָתַי, בִּזְמַן שֶׁהִתְחִיל עַד שֶׁלֹּא הֵבִיאָה שְׁלִישׁ. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, אַף יִקְצֹר וְיַאֲכִיל אַף מִשֶּׁהֵבִיאָה שְׁלִישׁ:
Even before the omer offering is brought, one may reap a crop that grows in an irrigated field in the valleys, but one may not arrange the reaped stalks in a pile. The residents of Jericho, whose fields were categorized as irrigated fields in a valley, reaped the crops with the approval of the Sages and arranged the crops in a pile without the approval of the Sages, but the Sages did not reprimand them. One may reap crops in any field for fodder and feed it to an animal. Rabbi Yehuda said: When may one do so? At a time when he begins reaping before the crop reaches one-third of its potential growth. Rabbi Shimon says: One may reap and feed the crops to animals even after they reached one-third of their potential growth.
שִׁשָּׁה דְבָרִים עָשׂוּ אַנְשֵׁי יְרִיחוֹ, עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה מִחוּ בְיָדָם, וְעַל שְׁלֹשָׁה לֹא מִחוּ בְיָדָם. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן שֶׁלֹּא מִחוּ בְיָדָם, מַרְכִּיבִין דְּקָלִים כָּל הַיּוֹם, וְכוֹרְכִין אֶת שְׁמַע, וְקוֹצְרִין וְגוֹדְשִׁין לִפְנֵי הָעֹמֶר, וְלֹא מִחוּ בְיָדָם. וְאֵלּוּ שֶׁמִּחוּ בְיָדָם, מַתִּירִין גִּמְזִיּוֹת שֶׁל הֶקְדֵּשׁ, וְאוֹכְלִין מִתַּחַת הַנְּשָׁרִים בְּשַׁבָּת, וְנוֹתְנִים פֵּאָה לַיָּרָק, וּמִחוּ בְיָדָם חֲכָמִים:
The mishna continues the discussion of the halakhot of Passover eve, along with other local customs. Six actions were performed by the Jewish residents of Jericho, contrary to common practice. With regard to three, the Sages reprimanded them, and with regard to three, the Sages did not reprimand them. And these are the ones with regard to which they did not reprimand them: The residents of Jericho would graft palm trees the entire day on the fourteenth of Nisan; and they would bundle Shema, as explained in the Gemara; and they would harvest and pile grain before the omer offering was brought. And these are the ones with regard to which the Sages reprimanded them: They would permit the use of consecrated branches of carob or sycamore trees. This refers to trees whose branches were cut and consecrated for Temple upkeep, which subsequently sprouted new branches; and they would eat fallen fruit from beneath palm trees that shed fruit that had fallen on Shabbat; and they would designate the produce in the corner for the poor in a field of vegetables, which is exempt from this obligation even by rabbinic law. And the Sages reprimanded the people of Jericho for doing these three things.
אֵין מְבִיאִין בִּכּוּרִים חוּץ מִשִּׁבְעַת הַמִּינִים. לֹא מִתְּמָרִים שֶׁבֶּהָרִים, וְלֹא מִפֵּרוֹת שֶׁבָּעֲמָקִים, וְלֹא מִזֵּיתֵי שֶׁמֶן שֶׁאֵינָם מִן הַמֻּבְחָר. אֵין מְבִיאִין בִּכּוּרִים קֹדֶם לָעֲצֶרֶת. אַנְשֵׁי הַר צְבוֹעִים הֵבִיאוּ בִכּוּרֵיהֶם קֹדֶם לָעֲצֶרֶת, וְלֹא קִבְּלוּ מֵהֶם, מִפְּנֵי הַכָּתוּב שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה (שמות כג) וְחַג הַקָּצִיר בִּכּוּרֵי מַעֲשֶׂיךָ אֲשֶׁר תִּזְרַע בַּשָּׂדֶה:
Bikkurim are brought only from the seven species. Not from dates grown on hills, nor from [the other species] grown in the valley, nor from olives that are not choice. Bikkurim are not to be brought before Shavuot. The people from Mt. Zevoim brought bikkurim prior to Atzeret (Shavuot), but they did not accept from them, on for it is written in the Torah: “And the festival of the harvest, the first-fruits of your labors, which you have sown in the field” (Exodus 23:16).
שׁוּב מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר שֶׁיָּרַד לִפְנֵי הַתֵּיבָה, וְאָמַר עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע בְּרָכוֹת וְלֹא נַעֲנָה. יָרַד רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אַחֲרָיו וְאָמַר: ״אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ אֵין לָנוּ מֶלֶךְ אֶלָּא אָתָּה. אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ, לְמַעַנְךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ״, וְיָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים. הֲווֹ מְרַנְּנִי רַבָּנַן, יָצְתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה: לֹא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁזֶּה גָּדוֹל מִזֶּה, אֶלָּא שֶׁזֶּה מַעֲבִיר עַל מִידּוֹתָיו, וְזֶה אֵינוֹ מַעֲבִיר עַל מִדּוֹתָיו.
There was another incident involving Rabbi Eliezer, who descended to serve as prayer leader before the ark on a fast day. And he recited twenty-four blessings, but he was not answered. Rabbi Akiva descended before the ark after him and said: Our Father, our King, we have no king other than You. Our Father, our King, for Your sake, have mercy on us. And rain immediately fell. The Sages were whispering among themselves that Rabbi Akiva was answered while his teacher, Rabbi Eliezer, was not. A Divine Voice emerged and said: It is not because this Sage, Rabbi Akiva, is greater than that one, Rabbi Eliezer, but that this one is forgiving, and that one is not forgiving. God responded to Rabbi Akiva’s forgiving nature in kind by sending rain.
וּכְשֶׁקִּידְּשׁוּ בֵּית דִּין אֶת הַשָּׁנָה בְּאוּשָׁא, יָרַד רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן בְּרוֹקָא לִפְנֵי רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, וְעָשָׂה כְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן נוּרִי. אָמַר לוֹ רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן: לֹא הָיוּ נוֹהֲגִין כֵּן בְּיַבְנֶה. לַיּוֹם הַשֵּׁנִי יָרַד רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בְּנוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי וְעָשָׂה כְּרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא. אָמַר רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל: כָּךְ הָיוּ נוֹהֲגִין בְּיַבְנֶה.
§ And the baraita relates that when the court sanctified the year in Usha, Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Beroka descended as the prayer leader in the presence of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, and he acted in accordance with the opinion of Rabban Yoḥanan ben Nuri by including the blessing of Kingship in the blessing of the Sanctification of God’s Name. Rabban Shimon said to him: They were not accustomed to act in this manner in Yavne. On the second day, Rabbi Ḥanina, son of Rabbi Yosei HaGelili, descended as the prayer leader, and he acted in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Akiva by including the blessing of Kingship in the blessing of the Sanctification of the Day. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: This is how they were accustomed to act in Yavne.
מקום שנהגו לומר כדברי ר' עקיבה אומר כדברי ר"ע כדברי ר' יוחנן בן נורי אומר [כדברי רבי יוחנן] רשב"ג אומר קדושת היום עם הזכרונות אמר רשב"ג מה מצינו בכל מקום אומרה [ברביעית] אף כאן אומרה [ברביעית] רבי אומר מה מצינו בכל מקום אומרה [עם אמצעית] אף כאן אומרה וכשקדשו את השנה באושא ביום הראשון עבר ר' יוחנן בן ברוקא ואמר כדברי רבי יוחנן בן נורי אמר רשב"ג לא היינו נוהגין כן ביבנה ביום השני עבר רבי [חנניה] בנו של רבי יוסי הגלילי ואמר כדברי רבי עקיבה ואמר רשב"ג כך היינו נוהגין ביבנה.
כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים תָּלוּ אוֹתָן בַּמֵּנְהָג. נַשְׁייָא דִנְהִיגִין דְּלָא לְמֵיעֲבַד עוֹבְדָא בָאֲפוּקֵי שׁוּבְתָא אֵינוֹ [מִנְהָג]. עַד יַפְנֵי סִדְרָא [מִנְהָג]. בַּתְּרִייָא וּבַחֲמִשְׁתָּא [אֵינוֹ מִנְהָ]ג. עַד יִתְפַּנֵּי תַעֲנִיתָא מִנְהָג. יוֹמָא דַעֲרוּבְתָא אֵינוֹ מִנְהָג. מִן מִנְחְתָא וּלְעֵיל מִנְהָג. יוֹמָא דְיַרְחָא מִנְהָג. אָמַר רִבִּי זְעוּרָה. נַשְׁייָא דִנְהִיגִין דְּלָא לְמִשְׁתַּייָא מִן דְּאָב עֲלִיל מִנְהָג. שֶׁבּוֹ פָּֽסְקָה אֶבֶן שְׁתִייָה. מַה טַעֲמָא כִּי־הַ֭שָּׁתוֹת יֵֽהָרֵס֑וּן.
Everything they made dependent on usage. If women use not to work after the end of the Sabbath, it is no [{legitimate} usage]; until the end of the seder it is [{legitimate} usage]. On Monday and Thursday, it is no [{legitimate} usage], to the end of the fast-day prayers it is [legitimate] usage. On the day of the willow twigs it is not {legitimate} usage, after afternoon prayers it is {legitimate} usage. On the day of the New Moon it is {legitimate} usage. Rebbi Zeˋira said, if women use not to weave from the start of Av it is {legitimate} usage, for the šetiah stone stopped to exist. What is the reason? For the woofs will be torn down.
כל הדברים. כלומר הרבה דברים תלויין במנהג:
נשייא וכו'. נשים שנהגו שלא לעשות מלאכה במוצאי שבת לאו מנהגא היא ומנהג בטעות הוא:
עד יפני סידרא. שלא לעשות מלאכה במוצאי שבת עד שיגמרו הקדושה בבית הכנסת מנהג טוב הוא:
כללו של דבר, שיזמין האדם תחלה בפיו לצדיקים הנזכרים, ואח"כ יתן חלקם להעניים היושבים סביב שלחנו. ואם אין לו סביב שלחנו, אזי ישלח לעניים לביתם כי זה חלקם הראוי להם. כתב הזוהר (ח"ג קג, ב) בעי בר נש למחדי בכל יומא ויומא באנפין נהירין באושפיזין אילין דשריין עמיה, עד כאן לשונו. הרי שאסור להיות לו פנים עצובות, וק"ו משהו מכעס חלילה:
צריך להוסיף, שגם מי שנותן צדקה לעניים לפני החג כפי הראוי לו, מקיים את המצווה, שכן הוא דואג לשתפם בשמחת החג, ואע"פ כן מצווה גדולה יותר לארח אותם בסוכה. ובדורנו יש להתחזק בזה יותר, מפני שכיום התמעטו הרעבים ללחם, אבל מאידך, התרבו העצובים והגלמודים, ומצווה גדולה לטרוח להזמינם להשתתף בשמחה.
We must add that if someone gives charity to the poor before the festival in accordance with his means, he is also fulfilling the mitzva by making sure that they are included in the festival joy. Nevertheless, hosting them in his sukka is a greater mitzva. Nowadays it is particularly important to make a point of inviting people, as there are very few people today who are actually starving, but there are many people who are sad and lonely. It is a great mitzva to make efforts to invite them to join in the celebration.
The tradition is “dead” serious that spirits gather with us at this time of year: "When a person sits in his Sukkah the Shekhinah spreads its wings over it from above and then Avraham together with the other five Tzadikim and King David dwell together with him” (Zohar, Emor).
How is this possible? Mystics believe it is because the Sukkah serves as a kind of liminal zone between the physical and spiritual realms. The sukkah occupies material and supernal space simultaneously. As one contemporary Chasidic master put it, Di suke iz iber undzere kep vi di Shkhine shvebt iber undz, vi a mame iber di kinderlekh...“ (Bobov)
A theme that appears across many religious & indigenous traditions during the days following the Autumnal Equinox is the gates between the worlds being open, or the “veil between the worlds” being thin. In particular, this appears in holidays where people honor their beloved dead. Two holidays like this that leap to mind are the Mexican Day of the Day, and the Celtic holiday of Samhain. Judaism also has its holiday where we honor our revered ancestors this time of year: Sukkot.
How is this possible? Mystics believe it is because the Sukkah serves as a kind of liminal zone between the physical and spiritual realms. The sukkah occupies material and supernal space simultaneously. As one contemporary Chasidic master put it, Di suke iz iber undzere kep vi di Shkhine shvebt iber undz, vi a mame iber di kinderlekh...“ (Bobov)
A theme that appears across many religious & indigenous traditions during the days following the Autumnal Equinox is the gates between the worlds being open, or the “veil between the worlds” being thin. In particular, this appears in holidays where people honor their beloved dead. Two holidays like this that leap to mind are the Mexican Day of the Day, and the Celtic holiday of Samhain. Judaism also has its holiday where we honor our revered ancestors this time of year: Sukkot.