Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this final aliyah of Parshas Sh'lach, the Torah teaches us the halachos of bringing a korban for an individual who sins unwittingly (b'shgogah), contrasting this with the severe spiritual consequence of kares for one who sins defiantly (b'yad ramah). We then learn the tragic account of the mekoshesh eitzim, the man who gathered wood on Shabbos in the midbar, and how the Sanhedrin dealt with his case under the guidance of Moshe Rabbeinu.

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

וְאִםAnd ifנֶפֶשׁa soulאַחַתoneתֶּחֱטָאshall sinבִשְׁגָגָהin errorוְהִקְרִיבָהthen she shall bringעֵזa she-goatבַּתdaughter ofשְׁנָתָהּits yearלְחַטָּאת׃for a sin-offering

רַשִׁ״י

תחטאsinsבשגגה.through errorבַּעֲ"זָ:in idolatry

רַשִׁ״י

עזa she-goatבתdaughter ofשנתה.its yearשְׁאָרthe rest ofעֲבֵרוֹתtransgressionsיָחִידan individualמֵבִיאbringsכִשְׂבָּהa she-lambאוֹorשְׂעִירָה,a she-goatוּבְזוֹand in thisקָבַעHe establishedלָהּfor itשְׂעִירָהa she-goatשםthere:

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וְכִפֶּרAnd shall atoneהַכֹּהֵןthe Kohenעַלforהַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulהַשֹּׁגֶגֶתthat errsבְּחֶטְאָהin sinningבִשְׁגָגָהunwittinglyלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהוָהHashemלְכַפֵּרto make atonementעָלָיוfor himוְנִסְלַחand it shall be forgivenלוֹ׃to him

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

הָאֶזְרָחFor the nativeבִּבְנֵיamong the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelוְלַגֵּרand for the strangerהַגָּרwho dwellsבְּתוֹכָםamong themתּוֹרָהlawאַחַתoneיִהְיֶהthere shall beלָכֶםfor youלָעֹשֶׂהfor the one who actsבִּשְׁגָגָה׃in error

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וְהַנֶּפֶשׁAnd the soulאֲשֶׁרthatתַּעֲשֶׂהwill actבְּיָדwith a handרָמָהhighמִןfromהָאֶזְרָחthe nativeוּמִןand fromהַגֵּרthe strangerאֶת—יְהוָהHashemהוּאheמְגַדֵּףblasphemesוְנִכְרְתָהand shall be cut offהַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulהַהִואthatמִקֶּרֶבfrom the midst ofעַמָּהּ׃its people

רַשִׁ״י

בידwith a handרמה.highבְמֵזִיד:with premeditation

רַשִׁ״י

מגדף.blasphemerמְחָרֵף,revilerכְּמוֹlike"וְהָיְתָהand it shall beחֶרְפָּהa reproachוּגְדוּפָה"and a revilingיחזקאלYechezkelה'chapter 5,"אֲשֶׁרwhomגִּדְּפוּhave reviledנַעֲרֵיthe servants ofמֶלֶךְthe king ofאַשּׁוּר"AshurישעיהוYeshayahuל"זchapter 37,וְעוֹדand furthermoreדָּרְשׁוּderivedרַבּוֹתֵינוּour Rabbisמִכָּאןfrom hereלַמְּבָרֵךְfor one who blessesאֶת—הַשֵּׁםthe Nameשֶׁהוּאthat he isבְכָרֵתliable to excisionכריתותKeritotז'7b:

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

כִּיBecauseדְבַרthe word ofיְהוָהHashemבָּזָהhe despisedוְאֶתand —מִצְוָתוֹHis commandmentהֵפַרhe violatedהִכָּרֵתsurelyתִּכָּרֵתshall be cut offהַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulהַהִואthatעֲוֺנָהits sinבָהּ׃is in it

רַשִׁ״י

דברThe word ofה'.Hashemאַזְהָרַתthe warning ofעֲ"זָidolatryמִפִּיfrom the mouth ofהַגְּבוּרָהthe Almightyוְהַשְּׁאָרand the restמִפִּיfrom the mouth ofמֹשֶׁהMosheסנהדריןSanhedrinצ"ט99:

רַשִׁ״י

עונהher iniquityבה.is in herבִּזְמַןat the timeשֶׁעֲוֹנָהּthat her iniquityבָּהּis in her—שֶׁלֹּאthat notעָשָׂהhe didתְשׁוּבָה:repentance

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וַיִּהְיוּAnd they wereבְנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessוַיִּמְצְאוּand they foundאִישׁa manמְקֹשֵׁשׁgatheringעֵצִיםwoodבְּיוֹםon the day ofהַשַּׁבָּת׃Shabbos

רַשִׁ״י

ויהיוAnd they were…במדברin the desertוימצאו.and they foundבִּגְנוּתָןto the disparagementשֶׁלofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelדִּבֵּרspokeהַכָּתוּב,the Scriptureשֶׁלֹאthat notשָׁמְרוּthey keptאֶלָּאexceptשַׁבָּתShabbosרִאשׁוֹנָה,the firstוּבַשְּׁנִיָּהand on the secondבָאcameזֶהthis oneוְחִלְּלָהּand desecrated itספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וַיַּקְרִיבוּAnd they broughtאֹתוֹhimהַמֹּצְאִיםthose who foundאֹתוֹhimמְקֹשֵׁשׁgatheringעֵצִיםwoodאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheוְאֶלand toאַהֲרֹןAharonוְאֶלand toכָּלall ofהָעֵדָה׃the congregation

רַשִׁ״י

המצאיםthose who foundאתוhimמקשש.gatheringשֶׁהִתְרוּthat they warnedבוֹhimוְלֹאand notהִנִּיחַdid he desistמִלְּקוֹשֵׁשׁ,from gatheringאַףevenמִשֶׁמְּצָאוּהוּafter they found himוְהִתְרוּand warnedבוֹhimשם;thereסנהדריןSanhedrinמ"א41a:

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וַיַּנִּיחוּAnd they placedאֹתוֹhimבַּמִּשְׁמָרin custodyכִּיbecauseלֹאnotפֹרַשׁit was specifiedמַהwhatיֵּעָשֶׂהshould be doneלוֹ׃to him

רַשִׁ״י

כיbecauseלאnotפרשit was explainedמהwhatיעשהshould be doneלו.to himבְּאֵיזוֹwith whichמִיתָהdeathיָמוּת,he shall dieאֲבָלbutיוֹדְעִיםknowingהָיוּthey wereשֶׁמְּחַלֵּלthat one who desecratesשַׁבָּתShabbosבְּמִיתָהis with deathשםthereע"חSanhedrin seventy-eight:

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd He saidיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheמוֹתsurelyיוּמַתshall be put to deathהָאִישׁthe manרָגוֹםpeltאֹתוֹhimבָאֲבָנִיםwith stonesכָּלall ofהָעֵדָהthe congregationמִחוּץoutsideלַמַּחֲנֶה׃to the camp

רַשִׁ״י

רגום.stoningעָשֹׂה,doingפשנ"ט,faisantוְכֵןand soהָלוֹךְgoingאלנ"ט,allantוְכֵןand so"זָכוֹר"rememberingשמותShemosכ,20ח8וְ"שָׁמוֹר"and keepingדבריםDevarimה,5יב12:

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַיֹּצִיאוּand they took outאֹתוֹhimכָּלall ofהָעֵדָהthe congregationאֶלtoמִחוּץoutsideלַמַּחֲנֶהto the campוַיִּרְגְּמוּand they stonedאֹתוֹhimבָּאֲבָנִיםwith stonesוַיָּמֹתand he diedכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוָּהcommandedיְהוָהHashemאֶת—מֹשֶׁה׃Moshe

רַשִׁ״י

ויציאוAnd they broughtאתו.— himמִכָּאןfrom hereשֶׁבֵּיתthat the placeהַסְּקִילָהof stoningחוּץwas outsideוְרָחוֹקand distantמִבֵּיתfrom the houseדִּיןof lawספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd He saidיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheלֵּאמֹר׃saying

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

דַּבֵּרSpeakאֶלtoבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelוְאָמַרְתָּand you shall sayאֲלֵהֶםto themוְעָשׂוּand they shall makeלָהֶםfor themselvesצִיצִתtzitzisעַלonכַּנְפֵיthe corners ofבִגְדֵיהֶםtheir garmentsלְדֹרֹתָםfor their generationsוְנָתְנוּand they shall placeעַלonצִיצִתthe tzitzis ofהַכָּנָףthe cornerפְּתִילa thread ofתְּכֵלֶת׃techeiles

רַשִׁ״י

ועשוand they shall makeלהםfor themselvesציצת.tzitzisעַלonשֵׁםthe name ofהַפְּתִילִיםthe threadsהַתְּלוּיִםthat hangבָּהּ,from itכְּמוֹlikeיחזקאלYechezkelח'chapter 8,"וַיִּקָּחֵנִיand he took meבְּצִיצִתby the lock ofרֹאשִׁי"my headמנחותMenachosמ"ב42.דָּ"אַ:another explanationציצתtzitzisעַלonשֵׁםthe name ofוּרְאִיתֶםand you shall seeאֹתוֹ,itכְּמוֹlike"מֵצִיץpeeringמִןfromהַחֲרַכִּים"the latticesשירSong ofהשיריםSongsב'chapter 2:

רַשִׁ״י

תכלת.Techeilesצֶבַעis a dyeיָרֹקof blue-greenשֶׁלofחִלָּזוֹן:the chilazon

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וְהָיָהAnd it shall beלָכֶםfor youלְצִיצִתfor tzitzisוּרְאִיתֶםand you shall seeאֹתוֹitוּזְכַרְתֶּםand you shall rememberאֶת—כָּלall ofמִצְוֺתthe mitzvos ofיְהוָהHashemוַעֲשִׂיתֶםand you shall doאֹתָםthemוְלֹאand you shall notתָתֻרוּexploreאַחֲרֵיafterלְבַבְכֶםyour heartוְאַחֲרֵיand afterעֵינֵיכֶםyour eyesאֲשֶׁרwhichאַתֶּםyouזֹנִיםgo astrayאַחֲרֵיהֶם׃after them

רַשִׁ״י

וזכרתםand you shall rememberאת—כלall ofמצותthe commandments ofה'.Hashemשֶׁמִּנְיַןfor the number ofגִּימַטְרִיָּאthe numerical valueשֶׁלofצִיצִיתtzitzisשֵׁשׁsixמֵאוֹת,hundredוּשְׁמוֹנָהand eightחוּטִיןthreadsוַחֲמִשָּׁהand fiveקְשָׁרִיםknotsהֲרֵיbeholdתרי"ג613תנחומאTanchuma:

רַשִׁ״י

ולאAnd you shall notתתורוexploreאחריafterלבבכם.your heartכְּמוֹlike"מִתּוּרfrom searchingהָאָרֶץ"the landבמדברBamidbarי"ג13;הַלֵּבThe heartוְהָעֵינַיִםand the eyesהֵםtheyמְרַגְּלִיםare spiesלַגּוּף,for the bodyמְסַרְסְרִיםthey brokerלוֹfor itאֶת—הָעֲבֵרוֹת,the transgressionsהָעַיִןthe eyeרוֹאָהseesוְהַלֵּבand the heartחוֹמֵדcovetsוְהַגּוּףand the bodyעוֹשֶׂהdoesאֶת—הָעֲבֵרָהthe transgressionתנחומאTanchuma:

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

לְמַעַןso thatתִּזְכְּרוּyou will rememberוַעֲשִׂיתֶםand you will performאֶת—כָּלall ofמִצְוֺתָיMy commandmentsוִהְיִיתֶםand you shall beקְדֹשִׁיםholyלֵאלֹהֵיכֶם׃to your God

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

אֲנִיI amיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֵיכֶםyour GodאֲשֶׁרWhoהוֹצֵאתִיbrought outאֶתְכֶםyouמֵאֶרֶץfrom the land ofמִצְרַיִםMitzrayimלִהְיוֹתto beלָכֶםto youלֵאלֹהִיםfor a GodאֲנִיI amיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃your God

רַשִׁ״י

אניI amה'.HashemנֶאֱמָןWho am faithfulלְשַׁלֵּםto payשָׂכָר:reward

רַשִׁ״י

אלהיכם.your GodנֶאֱמָןWho is trustworthyלִפָּרַע:to exact punishment

רַשִׁ״י

אשרWhoהוצאתיbrought outאתכם.youעַלonמְנָתconditionכֵּןof thisפָּדִיתִיI redeemedאֶתְכֶםyouשֶׁתְּקַבְּלוּthat you acceptעֲלֵיכֶםupon yourselvesגְּזֵרוֹתַי:My decrees

רַשִׁ״י

אניI amה'Hashemאלהיכם.your Godעוֹדagainלָמָּהwhyנֶאֱמַר?is it saidכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁלֹּאthat notיֹאמְרוּshould sayיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelמִפְּנֵיbecause ofמָהwhatאָמַרsaidהַמָּקוֹם?the Omnipresentלֹאis it notשֶׁנַּעֲשֶׂהthat we performוְנִטֹּלand receiveשָֹכָר?rewardאָנוּweלֹאnotעוֹשִׂיםperformוְלֹאand notנוֹטְלִיםreceivingשָׂכָרrewardעַלagainstכָּרְחֲכֶםyour willאֲנִיI amמַלְכְּכֶם,your Kingוְכֵןand soהוּאitאוֹמֵרsaysיחזקאלYechezkelכ'20,"אִםifלֹאnotבְּיָדwith a handחֲזָקָהstrong…אֶמְלוֹךְI will reignעֲלֵיכֶם"over youספריSifrei.דָּ"אַ,another explanationלָמָּהwhyנֶאֱמַרis it saidיְצִיאַתthe exodus ofמִצְרַיִם?MitzrayimאֲנִיIהוּאam HeשֶׁהִבְחַנְתִּיWho distinguishedבְמִצְרַיִםin Mitzrayimבֵּיןbetweenטִפָּהthe dropשֶׁלofבְּכוֹרa firstbornלְשֶׁאֵינָהּto that which is notשֶׁלofבְּכוֹר,a firstbornאֲנִיIהוּאam HeעָתִידWho is destinedלְהַבְחִיןto distinguishוְלִפָּרַעand to exact punishmentמִןfromהַתּוֹלֶהhim who hangsקָלָאindigo dyeאִילָן·בְּבִגְדּוֹon his garmentוְאוֹמֵרand saysתְּכֵלֶתtecheilesהִיא.it isוּמִיסוֹדוֹand from the foundationשֶׁלofרַבִּיRabbiמֹשֶׁהMosheהַדַּרְשָׁןthe Preacherהֶעְתַּקְתִּי:I copiedלָמָּהwhyנִסְמְכָהwas juxtaposedפָרָשַׁתthe section ofמְקוֹשֵׁשׁthe wood-gathererלְפָרָשַׁתto the section ofעֲ"זָ?idolatryלוֹמַרto sayשֶׁהַמְחַלֵּלthat he who desecratesאֶת—הַשַּׁבָּתthe Shabbosכְּעוֹבֵדis like a worshipper ofעֲ"זָ,idolatryשֶׁאַףfor evenהִיאitשְׁקוּלָהis equalכְּכָלto all ofהַמִּצְוֹת,the mitzvosוְכֵןand soהוּאitאוֹמֵרsaysבְּעֶזְרָאin EzraנחמיהNechemiaט׳:י״ד9"וְעַל14הַרand uponסִינַיMountיָרַדְתָּSinaiוַתִּתֵּןYou descendedלְעַמְּךָand You gaveתּוֹרָהto Your peopleוּמִצְוֹתTorahוְאֶתand mitzvosשַׁבַּתand —קָדְשְׁךָthe Shabbos ofהוֹדַעְתָYour holinessלָהֶם";You made knownוְאַףto themפָּרָשַׁתand evenצִיצִיתthe section ofלְכָךְtzitzisנִסְמְכָהfor thisלָאֵלּוּwas juxtaposedלְפִיto theseשֶׁאַףbecauseהִיאthat evenשְׁקוּלָהitכְנֶגֶדis equalכָּלagainstהַמִּצְוֹת,all ofשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthe mitzvosוַעֲשִׂיתֶםas it is saidאֶתand you shall doכָּל—מִצְוֹתָי:all of

רַשִׁ״י

עלon theכנפיcorners ofבגדיהם.their garmentsכְּנֶגֶדcorresponding to"וָאֶשָּׂאand I boreאֶתְכֶםyouעַלonכַּנְפֵיwings ofנְשָׁרִים"eaglesשמותShemosיט,19ד4;עַלonאַרְבַּעfourכַּנְפוֹת,cornersוְלֹאand notבַעֲלַתone ofשָׁלֹשׁthreeוְלֹאand notבַעֲלַתone ofחָמֵשׁ,fiveכְּנֶגֶדcorresponding toאַרְבַּעfourלְשׁוֹנוֹתexpressionsשֶׁלofגְּאֻלָּהredemptionשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it saysבְּמִצְרַיִםin Mitzrayim"וְהוֹצֵאתִיand I will bring outוְהִצַּלְתִּיand I will deliverוְגָאַלְתִּיand I will redeemוְלָקַחְתִּי"and I will takeשמותShemosו'6:

רַשִׁ״י

פתילA thread ofתכלת.blue woolעַלonשֵׁםaccount ofשִׁכּוּלthe bereavement ofבְּכוֹרוֹתthe firstborn—תַּרְגּוּמוֹits translationשֶׁלofשִׁכּוּלbereavementתִּכְלָאis tichla—וּמַכָּתָםand their plagueהָיְתָהwasבַלַּיְלָה,at nightוְכֵןand soצֶבַעthe color ofהַתְּכֵלֶתthe blue woolדּוֹמֶהresemblesלָרָקִיעַthe skyהַמַּשְׁחִירwhich darkensלְעֵתat the time ofעֶרֶב;eveningוּשְׁמוֹנָהand the eightחוּטִיןthreadsשֶׁבָּהּthat are in itכְּנֶגֶדcorrespond toשְׁמוֹנָהeightיָמִיםdaysשֶׁשָּׁהוּthat tarriedיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelמִשֶּׁיָּצְאוּfrom when they went outמִמִּצְרַיִםfrom Mitzrayimעַדuntilשֶׁאָמְרוּthat they sangשִׁירָהthe Songעַלatהַיָּם:the Sea

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

Following the warning against defiant sins, the Torah records the episode of the mekoshesh eitzim, who was found gathering wood on Shabbos and was subsequently put to death by stoning outside the camp as Hashem commanded Moshe. The aliyah concludes with the beautiful and essential mitzvah of tzitzis, which Hashem gave us to look upon so that we remember all of His mitzvos, guard our hearts and eyes from straying, and remain holy to Hashem, Who redeemed us from Mitzrayim to be our Elokim.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah contrasts the tragic mistake of the mekoshesh eitzim, who desecrated the holy Shabbos, with the beautiful gift of the mitzvah of tzitzis. Hashem knows how easily we can get distracted in this world, how our eyes can wander and pull our hearts away from our true ratzon to do His will. To protect us, He gave us a physical anchor—the tzitzis on our garments—to look at and immediately remember who we are and what we are here for.

This is the secret of our avodah. We cannot rely on inspiration alone to keep us on the right path. We need physical, tangible reminders in our daily lives to stop us from drifting. Just as the tzitzis serve as a constant visual cue to keep our minds focused on the mitzvos, we must set up our own spiritual guardrails throughout the day to keep our thoughts and actions aligned with yiras Shamayim.

Today, when you put on your tzitzis in the morning, or whenever you look at them during the day, pause for three seconds to actually look at the strings and think: "I belong to Hashem, and every action I do today is an opportunity to connect to Him."