Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, the Torah continues with various mitzvos that govern both our relationships with other nations and the high level of kedushah required of Klal Yisrael, especially when going out to war. We begin with the allowance of marrying descendants of Edom and Mitzrayim after three generations, recognizing our historical ties to them. From there, the Torah transitions to the spiritual and physical cleanliness of the military camp, reminding us that Hashem's Shechinah dwells in our midst and demands absolute purity.

Lichoira, the aliyah also brings down several crucial mitzvos regarding interpersonal sensitivity and financial integrity. We learn the prohibitions against returning a runaway slave, engaging in immoral relationships, and bringing forbidden earnings into the Beis HaMikdash. Finally, the Torah warns us against charging interest to our Jewish brothers and emphasizes the serious obligation of keeping our word when making a vow to Hashem.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

לֹאYou shall notתְתַעֵבabhorאֲדֹמִיan Edomiteכִּיforאָחִיךָyour brotherהוּאhe isלֹאyou shall notתְתַעֵבabhorמִצְרִיan Egyptianכִּיforגֵרa strangerהָיִיתָyou wereבְאַרְצוֹ׃in his land

רַשִׁ״י

לאDo notתתעבabhorאדמי.an Edomiteלְגַמְרֵי,completelyוְאַעַ"פִּand even thoughשֶׁרָאוּיthat it is properלְךָfor youלְתַעֲבוֹto abhor himשֶׁיָּצָאsince he went outבַּחֶרֶבwith the swordלִקְרָאתֶךָ:to meet you

רַשִׁ״י

לאDo notתתעבabhorמצרי.an Egyptianמִכֹּלat allוָכֹל,and allאַףevenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁזָּרְקוּthat they threwזְכוּרֵיכֶםyour malesלַיְאוֹר.into the riverמַהwhat isטַּעַם?the reasonשֶׁהָיוּbecause they wereלָכֶםto youאַכְסַנְיָאhostsבִּשְׁעַתin a time ofהַדְּחָק.the needלְפִיכָךְtherefore—

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

בָּנִיםChildrenאֲשֶׁרwhoיִוָּלְדוּare bornלָהֶםto themדּוֹרgenerationשְׁלִישִׁיthe thirdיָבֹאmay enterלָהֶםfor themבִּקְהַלinto the congregation ofיְהוָה׃Hashem

רַשִׁ״י

בניםChildrenאשרwhoיולדוare bornלהםto themדורgenerationשלישיthirdוגו'.etc.וּשְׁאָרand otherאֻמּוֹתnationsמֻתָּרִיםare permittedמִיָּד,immediatelyהָאthusלָמַדְתָּyou learnשֶׁהַמַּחֲטִיאthat he who causes to sinלָאָדָםa personקָשֶׁהis worseלוֹfor himמִןthanהַהוֹרְגוֹ,one who kills himשֶׁהַהוֹרְגוֹfor one who kills himהוֹרְגוֹkills himבָעוֹלָםin the worldהַזֶּהthisוְהַמַּחֲטִיאוֹbut he who causes him to sinמוֹצִיאוֹremoves himמִןfromהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַזֶּהthisוּמִןand fromהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּא,to comeלְפִיכָךְthereforeאֱדוֹםEdomשֶׁקִּדְּמָםwho met themבַּחֶרֶבwith the swordלֹאwas notנִתְעַב,utterly abhorredוְכֵןand likewiseמִצְרַיִםMitzrayimשֶׁטִּבְּעוּם,who drowned themוְאֵלּוּbut theseשֶׁהֶחֱטִיאוּםwho caused them to sinנִתְעֲבוּwere utterly abhorredספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

כִּיWhenתֵצֵאyou go outמַחֲנֶהas a campעַלagainstאֹיְבֶיךָyour enemiesוְנִשְׁמַרְתָּthen you shall guard yourselfמִכֹּלfrom everyדָּבָרthingרָע׃evil

רַשִׁ״י

כיWhenתצאyou go forthוגו'etc.…ונשמרת.then keep youשֶׁהַשָּׂטָןbecause the Satanמְקַטְרֵגprosecutesבִּשְׁעַתat the time ofהַסַּכָּנָהdangerתלמודTalmudירושלמיYerushalmiשבתShabbosב'2:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

כִּיIfיִהְיֶהthere will beבְךָamong youאִישׁa manאֲשֶׁרwhoלֹאnotיִהְיֶהwill beטָהוֹרpureמִקְּרֵהfrom an occurrence ofלָיְלָהnightוְיָצָאthen he shall go outאֶלtoמִחוּץoutside ofלַמַּחֲנֶהthe campלֹאhe shall notיָבֹאenterאֶלintoתּוֹךְthe midst ofהַמַּחֲנֶה׃the camp

רַשִׁ״י

מקרהan occurrence ofלילה.nightדִּבֵּרspokeהַכָּתוּבthe verseבַּהוֹוֶהof the usualספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

ויצאAnd he shall goאלtoמחוץoutsideלמחנה.of the campזוֹthisמִצְוַתis a commandment ofעֲשֵׂה:action

רַשִׁ״י

לאHe shall notיבאcomeאלintoתוךthe midst ofהמחנה.the campזוֹthisמִצְוַתis a commandment ofלֹאdoתַעֲשֶׂהnot doשםthere,וְאָסוּרand he is forbiddenלִכָּנֵסto enterלְמַחֲנֵהthe camp ofלְוִיָּה,the Levitesוְכָלand allשֶׁכֵּןthe more soלְמַחֲנֵהthe camp ofשְׁכִינָהthe Shechinahעי'seeפסחיםPesachimס"ח68:

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וְהָיָהand it shall beלִפְנוֹתtowards the turning ofעֶרֶבeveningיִרְחַץhe shall washבַּמָּיִםin the waterוּכְבֹאand as the coming ofהַשֶּׁמֶשׁthe sunיָבֹאhe may enterאֶלintoתּוֹךְthe midst ofהַמַּחֲנֶה׃the camp

רַשִׁ״י

והיהAnd it shall beלפנותat the turning ofערב.eveningסָמוּךְcloseלְהֶעֱרֵבto the setting ofשִׁמְשׁוֹhis sunיִטְבֹּל,he shall immerseשֶׁאֵינוֹfor he is notטָהוֹרcleanבְּלֹאwithoutהֶעֱרֵבthe setting ofהַשֶּׁמֶשׁthe sunעי'seeספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וְיָדAnd a placeתִּהְיֶהshall beלְךָfor youמִחוּץoutsideלַמַּחֲנֶהof the campוְיָצָאתָand you shall go outשָׁמָּהthereחוּץ׃outside

רַשִׁ״י

וידAnd a placeתהיהthere shall beלך.to youכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ,like its translationכְּמוֹlikeאִישׁeach manעַלatיָדוֹhis placeבמדברBamidbarב'chapter 2:

רַשִׁ״י

מחוץOutsideלמחנה.of the campחוּץoutsideלֶעָנָן:the cloud

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וְיָתֵדand a spadeתִּהְיֶהshall beלְךָto youעַלuponאֲזֵנֶךָyour weaponsוְהָיָהand it shall beבְּשִׁבְתְּךָwhen you sitחוּץoutsideוְחָפַרְתָּהand you shall digבָהּwith itוְשַׁבְתָּand you shall turn backוְכִסִּיתָand you shall coverאֶת—צֵאָתֶךָ׃your excrement

רַשִׁ״י

עלbesidesאזנך.your weaponלְבַדasideמִשְּׁאָרfrom the rest ofכְּלֵיthe vessels ofתַּשְׁמִישְׁךָ:your usage

רַשִׁ״י

אזנך.your weaponכְּמוֹis likeכְּלִיa vessel ofזַיִן:weaponry

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

כִּיBecauseיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godמִתְהַלֵּךְwalksבְּקֶרֶבin the midst ofמַחֲנֶךָyour campלְהַצִּילְךָto rescue youוְלָתֵתand to deliverאֹיְבֶיךָyour enemiesלְפָנֶיךָbefore youוְהָיָהand shall beמַחֲנֶיךָyour campקָדוֹשׁholyוְלֹאand notיִרְאֶהHe shall seeבְךָin youעֶרְוַתunseemliness ofדָּבָרa matterוְשָׁבand turn awayמֵאַחֲרֶיךָ׃from behind you

רַשִׁ״י

ולאand notיראהHe shall seeבך.in youהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heערותa nakedness ofדברanything:

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

לֹאYou shall notתַסְגִּירdeliver upעֶבֶדa slaveאֶלtoאֲדֹנָיוhis masterאֲשֶׁרwhoיִנָּצֵלseeks refugeאֵלֶיךָwith youמֵעִםfromאֲדֹנָיו׃his master

רַשִׁ״י

לאYou shall notתסגירdeliverעבד.a servantכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ;like its Targumדָּ"אַanother explanation—אֲפִלּוּevenעֶבֶדa servantכְּנַעֲנִיCanaaniteשֶׁלofיִשְׂרָאֵלan Israeliteשֶׁבָּרַחwho fledמִחוּצָהfrom outsideלָאָרֶץthe Landלְאֶרֶץto the Land ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelגיטיןGittinמ"הforty-five:

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

עִמְּךָWith youיֵשֵׁבhe shall dwellבְּקִרְבְּךָin your midstבַּמָּקוֹםin the placeאֲשֶׁרthatיִבְחַרhe will chooseבְּאַחַדin one ofשְׁעָרֶיךָyour citiesבַּטּוֹבin the bestלוֹfor himלֹאyou shall notתּוֹנֶנּוּ׃wrong him

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

לֹאThere shall notתִהְיֶהbeקְדֵשָׁהa harlotמִבְּנוֹתfrom the daughters ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelוְלֹאand there shall notיִהְיֶהbeקָדֵשׁa male prostituteמִבְּנֵיfrom the sons ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

לאThere shall notתהיהbeקדשה.a prostituteמֻפְקֶרֶתone abandonedמְקֻדֶּשֶׁתdesignatedוּמְזֻמֶּנֶתand preparedלִזְנוּת:for harlotry

רַשִׁ״י

ולאAnd there shall notיהיהbeקדש.a male prostituteמְזֻמָּןone preparedלְמִשְׁכַּבfor lyingזְכוּר;with a maleוְאֻנְקְלוֹסAnd Onkelosתִּרְגֵּםtranslated"לָאnotתְהֵאshall there beאִתְּתָאa womanמִבְּנָתfrom the daughters ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלִגְבַרto a manעָבֵד",who is a slaveשֶׁאַףfor evenזוֹthis oneמֻפְקֶרֶתis abandonedלִבְעִילַתto relations ofזְנוּתprostitutionהִיא,sheמֵאַחַרsinceשֶׁאֵיןthat there is noקִדּוּשִׁיןbetrothalתּוֹפְסִיןtaking effectלוֹfor himבָּהּ,with herשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdהֻקְּשׁוּthey are comparedלַחֲמוֹר,to a donkeyשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"שְׁבוּstayלָכֶםfor yourselvesפֹּהhereעִםwithהַחֲמוֹר"the donkey–עַםa nationהַדּוֹמֶהthat is similarלַחֲמוֹר,to a donkeyוְלָאand notיִסַּבshall marryגַּבְרָאa manמִבְּנֵיfrom the sons ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאִתְּתָאa womanאָמָה,who is a maidservantשֶׁאַףfor evenהוּאheנַעֲשֶׂהbecomesקָדֵשׁa male prostituteעַלbyיָדָהּ,her meansשֶׁכָּלsince all ofבְּעִילוֹתָיוhis relationsבְּעִילוֹתare relations ofזְנוּת,prostitutionשֶׁאֵיןsince there is noקִדּוּשִׁיןbetrothalתּוֹפְסִיןtaking effectלוֹfor himבָּהּwith herעי'seeקידושיןKiddushinס"ח68:

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

לֹאYou shall notתָבִיאbringאֶתְנַןthe hire ofזוֹנָהa harlotוּמְחִירor the price ofכֶּלֶבa dogבֵּיתinto the house ofיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godלְכָלfor anyנֶדֶרvowכִּיforתוֹעֲבַתan abomination ofיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godגַּםevenשְׁנֵיהֶם׃both of them

רַשִׁ״י

אתנןThe hire ofזונה.a prostituteנָתַןhe gaveלָהּto herטָלֶהa lambבְּאֶתְנַנָּהּfor her hireפָּסוּלis invalidלְהַקְרָבָה:for offering

רַשִׁ״י

ומחירand the price ofכלב.a dogהֶחֱלִיףhe exchangedשֶׂהa lambבְכֶלֶבfor a dogספרי;SifreiתמורהTemurahכ"ט29:

רַשִׁ״י

גםEvenשניהם.both of themלְרַבּוֹתto includeשִׁנּוּיֵיהֶם,their transformationsכְּגוֹןsuch asחִטִּיםwheatוַעֲשָׂאָןand he made themסֹלֶתfine flourשםthereל'in the Gemara:

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

לֹאYou shall notתַשִּׁיךְdeduct interestלְאָחִיךָto your brotherנֶשֶׁךְinterest ofכֶּסֶףmoneyנֶשֶׁךְinterest ofאֹכֶלfoodנֶשֶׁךְinterest ofכָּלanyדָּבָרthingאֲשֶׁרthatיִשָּׁךְ׃is lent on interest

רַשִׁ״י

לאDo notתשיך.cause to biteאַזְהָרָהa warningלַלֹּוֶהto the borrowerשֶׁלֹּאthat notיִתֵּןhe shall giveרִבִּיתinterestלַמַּלְוֶהto the lenderעי'seeספריSifreiוְאַחַרand afterכָּךְsoאַזְהָרָהa warningלַמַּלְוֶהto the lenderאֶת—כַּסְפְּךָyour moneyלֹאnotתִתֵּןshall you giveלוֹto himבְּנֶשֶׁךְwith interest:

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

לַנָּכְרִיTo the foreignerתַשִּׁיךְyou may biteוּלְאָחִיךָbut to your brotherלֹאyou shall notתַשִּׁיךְbiteלְמַעַןso thatיְבָרֶכְךָwill bless youיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godבְּכֹלin allמִשְׁלַחthe sending ofיָדֶךָyour handעַלuponהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרthatאַתָּהyouבָאare comingשָׁמָּהthereלְרִשְׁתָּהּ׃to possess it

רַשִׁ״י

לנכריTo a non-Jewתשיך.you may pay interestוְלֹאand notלְאָחִיךָ,to your brotherלָאוa negative commandmentהַבָּאthat comesמִכְּלַלfrom the implication ofעֲשֵׂה,a positive commandmentעֲשֵׂה,is a positive commandmentלַעֲבֹרto transgressעָלָיוagainst itבִּשְׁנֵיwith twoלָאויןnegative commandmentsוַעֲשֵׂה:and a positive commandment

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

כִּיWhenתִדֹּרyou makeנֶדֶרa vowלַיהוָהto Hashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godלֹאdo notתְאַחֵרdelayלְשַׁלְּמוֹto pay itכִּיforדָּרֹשׁsurelyיִדְרְשֶׁנּוּwill require itיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godמֵעִמָּךְfrom youוְהָיָהand there will beבְךָin youחֵטְא׃sin

רַשִׁ״י

לאnotתאחרshall you delayלשלמו.to pay itשְׁלוֹשָׁהthreeרְגָלִים,festivalsוּלְמָדוּהוּand they learned itרַבּוֹתֵינוּour Rabbisמִןfromהַמִּקְרָאthe verseראשRoshהשנהHashanahד'4b:

פָּסוּק טז

Pasuk 16

וְכִיAnd ifתֶחְדַּלyou refrainלִנְדֹּרfrom vowingלֹאnotיִהְיֶהthere will beבְךָin youחֵטְא׃sin

פָּסוּק יז

Pasuk 17

מוֹצָאThe utterance ofשְׂפָתֶיךָyour lipsתִּשְׁמֹרyou shall keepוְעָשִׂיתָand you shall doכַּאֲשֶׁרjust asנָדַרְתָּyou vowedלַיהוָהto Hashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godנְדָבָהa voluntary offeringאֲשֶׁרwhichדִּבַּרְתָּyou spokeבְּפִיךָ׃with your mouth

רַשִׁ״י

מוצאThe utterance ofשפתיךyour lipsתשמר.you shall keepלִתֵּןto giveעֲשֵׂהa positive commandmentעַלin addition toלֹאthe negativeתַעֲשֶׂהcommandmentשםthereו'and etcetera:

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah begins by permitting Edomite and Egyptian converts to enter the congregation in the third generation, followed by the strict requirements for maintaining a holy and clean camp during wartime, including the halachos of one who becomes tamei and the obligation to cover waste. We are then commanded not to hand over a runaway slave to his master, and we are warned against immoral practices and bringing the hire of a harlot or the price of a dog as an offering. The Torah concludes with the prohibition of charging interest to a fellow Jew, the permission to charge interest to a foreigner, and the strict warning not to delay the fulfillment of vows made to Hashem.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is teaching us a tremendous yesod in avodas Hashem from the parsha of the military camp. Lichoira, when a soldier is out on the battlefield, fighting for his life in the mud and the heat of war, we would think he is patur from the finer points of refinement. Yet, the Torah is davka mechadesh here that even in the middle of a war camp, a Yid must carry a shovel to cover his waste, because "Hashem your Elokim walks in the midst of your camp."

This is a powerful chiddush for our daily lives. We often find ourselves in our own personal "battlefields", whether we are overwhelmed with parnassah worries, dealing with a chaotic household, or running around in a hectic, noisy environment. The yetzer hara tries to convince us that in such stressful moments, we can let our guard down. We think, "Now is not the time for refinement, now I can be a bit sharp with my words, or lax with my speech and thoughts."

But the Torah tells us: "v'hayah machanecha kadosh", your camp must remain holy. Davka when you are in the thick of the battle, that is when you must ensure your surroundings and your mouth remain clean and pure. If we want Hashem's shechinah to stay with us and protect us in our times of struggle, we cannot abandon our refinement.

Today, when you find yourself in a stressful, chaotic, or rushed situation, pause for three seconds before you react. Keep your speech clean, gentle, and holy, remembering that Hashem is standing right there with you in the middle of the battle.