Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה
In this chapter, we delve into the very heart of the prohibition against avodah zarah, learning that Hashem forbade us from serving any created being whatsoever. Even if a person knows in his heart that Hashem is the true Elokim, bowing down to a star, an angel, or any of the elements as an intermediary—just as the generation of Enosh mistakenly did—is still considered actual idol worship. The Torah warns us to guard our thoughts with great yiras Shamayim, so that the "eye of the heart" does not lead us astray to view these creations as independent powers.
To protect our neshamos from the spiritual poison of heresy, the Torah also commands us to distance ourselves completely from the books and ideas of the idolaters. We are forbidden from reading their texts, contemplating their practices, or even looking at the images of their idols. The Rambam teaches us that we must not inquire about their rites even out of mere curiosity, as such thoughts can easily drag a person down and cause him to copy their ways, chas v'shalom.
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.
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הָאִסּוּר לַעֲבֹד לְכָל נִבְרָא וַאֲפִלּוּ כְּאֶמְצָעִיHalacha 1 · The Prohibition to Worship Any Creation Even as an Intermediary
עִקַּרThe essence ofהַצִּוּוּיthe commandmentבַּעֲבוֹדַתregarding worship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsשֶׁלֹּאis notלַעֲבֹדto serveאֶחָדoneמִכָּלof allהַבְּרוּאִיםthe creationsלֹאnotמַלְאָךְan angelוְלֹאand notגַּלְגַּלa sphereוְלֹאand notכּוֹכָבa starוְלֹאand notאֶחָדoneמֵאַרְבָּעָהof the fourהַיְסוֹדוֹתelementsוְלֹאand notאֶחָדoneמִכָּלof allהַנִּבְרָאִיםthe entities createdמֵהֶן.from themוְאַףand evenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁהָעוֹבֵדthe worshiperיוֹדֵעַknowsשֶׁה'that HashemהוּאHeהָאֱלֹהִיםis the Godוְהוּאand heעוֹבֵדservesהַנִּבְרָאthe creationהַזֶּהthisעַלinדֶּרֶךְthe mannerשֶׁעָבַדthat worshipedאֱנוֹשׁEnoshוְאַנְשֵׁיand the people ofדּוֹרוֹhis generationתְּחִלָּהoriginallyהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthisעוֹבֵדis a worshiper ofכּוֹכָבִים.starsוְעִנְיָןand the matter ofזֶהthisהוּאisשֶׁהִזְהִירָהwhat warnedתּוֹרָהthe Torahעָלָיוabout itוְאָמְרָהand saidדבריםDevarimד4יט19"וּפֶן"And lestתִּשָּׂאyou liftעֵינֶיךָyour eyesהַשָּׁמַיְמָהheavenwardוְרָאִיתָand you seeאֶת—הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ"the sun"וְגוֹ'etc.דבריםDevarimד4יט19"אֲשֶׁר"whichחָלַקapportionedה'Hashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godאֹתָםthemלְכָלto allהָעַמִּים".the nations"כְּלוֹמַרmeaning to sayשֶׁמָּאlestתָּשׁוּטyou wanderבְּעֵיןwith the eye ofלִבְּךָyour heartוְתִרְאֶהand you seeשֶׁאֵלּוּthat theseהֵןtheyהַמַּנְהִיגִיםare the leaders ofאֶת—הָעוֹלָםthe worldוְהֵםand theyשֶׁחָלַקare what apportionedה'Hashemאוֹתָםthemלְכָלto allהָעוֹלָםthe worldלִהְיוֹתto beחַיִּיםaliveוְהוֹוִיםand existingוְאֵינָםand notנִפְסָדִיםperishingכְּמִנְהָגוֹlike the customשֶׁלofעוֹלָםthe worldוְתֹאמַרand you will sayשֶׁרָאוּיthat it is worthyלְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹתto bow downלָהֶםto themוּלְעָבְדָן.and to serve themוּבָעִנְיָןand regarding the matterהַזֶּהthisצִוָּהHe commandedוְאָמַרand saidדבריםDevarimיא11טז16"הִשָּׁמְרוּ"Be carefulלָכֶםfor yourselvesפֶּןlestיִפְתֶּהwill be enticedלְבַבְכֶם".your heart"כְּלוֹמַרmeaning to sayשֶׁלֹּאthat notתִּטְּעוּyou errבְּהִרְהוּרin the thought ofהַלֵּבthe heartלַעֲבֹדto serveאֵלּוּtheseלִהְיוֹתto beסַרְסוּרan intermediaryבֵּינֵיכֶםbetween youוּבֵיןand betweenהַבּוֹרֵא:the Creator
The Rambam defines the core prohibition of idolatry as serving any created entity, even if one acknowledges Hashem as the supreme God and only intends to use the creation as an intermediary.
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אִסּוּר קְרִיאָה בְּסִפְרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וַחֲקִירַת עֲבוֹדָתָהּHalacha 2 · The Prohibition of Reading Books of Idol Worship and Inquiring into Its Rites
סְפָרִיםBooksרַבִּיםmanyחִבְּרוּcomposedעוֹבְדֵיthe worshipers ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsבַּעֲבוֹדָתָהּconcerning its serviceהֵיאַךְhowעִקַּרthe essence ofעֲבוֹדָתָהּits serviceוּמַהand whatמַּעֲשֶׂיהָits practicesוּמִשְׁפָּטֶיהָ.and its statutesצִוָּנוּcommanded usהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy Oneבָּרוּךְblessedהוּאis Heשֶׁלֹּאnotלִקְרוֹתto readבְּאוֹתָןin thoseהַסְּפָרִיםbooksכְּלָלat allוְלֹאand notנְהַרְהֵרto thinkבָּהּabout itוְלֹאand notבְּדָבָרabout a matterמִדְּבָרֶיהָ.of its mattersוַאֲפִלּוּand evenלְהִסְתַּכֵּלto lookבִּדְמוּתat the likeness ofהַצּוּרָהthe imageאָסוּרis forbiddenשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidויקראVayikraיט19ד4"אַלDo notתִּפְנוּturnאֶלtoהָאֱלִילִים".the idolsוּבָעִנְיָןand in thisהַזֶּהmatterנֶאֱמַרit is saidדבריםDevarimיב12ל30"וּפֶןand lestתִּדְרשׁyou seekלֵאלֹהֵיהֶםconcerning their godsלֵאמֹרsayingאֵיכָהhowיַעַבְדוּ",did they serveשֶׁלֹּאthat notתִּשְׁאַלyou shall inquireעַלaboutדֶּרֶךְthe way ofעֲבוֹדָתָהּits serviceהֵיאַךְhowהִיאitאַףevenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁאֵיןthat notאַתָּהyouעוֹבְדָהּ,serve itשֶׁדָּבָרfor thisזֶהmatterגּוֹרֵםcausesלְהִפָּנוֹתturningאַחֲרֶיהָafter itוְלַעֲשׂוֹתand to doכְּמָהlike whatשֶׁהֵןthat theyעוֹשִׂיןdoשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidוְאֶעֱשֶׂהand I will doכֵּןsoגַּםalsoאָנִי:I
This halacha prohibits reading books about idol worship, contemplating its practices, or even looking at idolatrous images, lest it lead to practicing idolatry.
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הָאִסּוּר לָתוּר אַחַר מַחְשְׁבוֹת הַלֵּב וּמִינוּתHalacha 3 · The Prohibition Against Straying After Heartfelt Thoughts and Heresy
וְכָלAnd allהַלָּאוִיןthe prohibitionsהָאֵלּוּtheseבְּעִנְיָןin conceptאֶחָדoneהֵןareוְהוּאand itשֶׁלֹּאis that notיִפְנֶהone should turnאַחַרafterעֲבוֹדַתworship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsוְכָלand anyoneהַנִּפְנֶהwho turnsאַחֲרֶיהָafter itבְּדֶרֶךְin a wayשֶׁהוּאthat heעוֹשֶׂהdoesבּוֹin itמַעֲשֶׂהan actionהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthis oneלוֹקֶה.receives lashesוְלֹאAnd notעֲבוֹדַתworship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsבִּלְבַדaloneהוּאitשֶׁאָסוּרis that is forbiddenלְהִפָּנוֹתto turnאַחֲרֶיהָafter itבְּמַחֲשָׁבָהin thoughtאֶלָּאratherכָּלanyמַחֲשָׁבָהthoughtשֶׁהוּאthat itגּוֹרֵםcausesלוֹto himלָאָדָםto a personלַעֲקֹרto uprootעִקָּרa principleמֵעִקְּרֵיfrom the principles ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahמֻזְהָרִיןwarnedאָנוּare weשֶׁלֹּאnotלְהַעֲלוֹתָהּto bring it upעַלuponלִבֵּנוּour heartוְלֹאand notנַסִּיחַwe shall divertדַּעְתֵּנוּour mindלְכָךְto thisוְנַחְשֹׁבand thinkוְנִמָּשֵׁךְand be drawnאַחַרafterהִרְהוּרֵיthe thoughts ofהַלֵּב.the heartמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁדַּעְתּוֹthat his mindשֶׁלofאָדָםmanקְצָרָהis limitedוְלֹאand notכָּלallהַדֵּעוֹתthe mindsיְכוֹלִיןare ableלְהַשִּׂיגto comprehendהָאֱמֶתthe truthעַלuponבֻּרְיוֹ.its clarityוְאִםand ifיִמָּשֵׁךְwill be drawnכָּלeveryאָדָםmanאַחַרafterמַחְשְׁבוֹתthe thoughts ofלִבּוֹhis heartנִמְצָאhe is foundמַחֲרִיבdestroyingאֶת—הָעוֹלָםthe worldלְפִיaccording toקֹצֶרthe limitation ofדַּעְתּוֹ.his mindכֵּיצַד.How soפְּעָמִיםsometimesיָתוּרhe will strayאַחַרafterעֲבוֹדַתworship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsוּפְעָמִיםand sometimesיַחְשֹׁבhe will thinkבְּיִחוּדabout the oneness ofהַבּוֹרֵאthe CreatorשֶׁמָּאperhapsהוּאHeשֶׁמָּאperhapsאֵינוֹ.He is notמַהwhatלְּמַעְלָהis aboveוּמַהand whatלְּמַטָּהis belowמַהwhatלְּפָנִיםis beforeוּמַהand whatלְּאָחוֹר.is behindוּפְעָמִיםand sometimesבַּנְּבוּאָהin prophecyשֶׁמָּאperhapsהִיאitאֱמֶתis truthשֶׁמָּאperhapsהִיאitאֵינָהּ.is notוּפְעָמִיםand sometimesבַּתּוֹרָהin the Torahשֶׁמָּאperhapsהִיאitמִןis fromהַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavenשֶׁמָּאperhapsאֵינָהּ.it is notוְאֵינוֹand he is notיוֹדֵעַknowingהַמִּדּוֹתthe measuresשֶׁיָּדִיןthat he should judgeבָּהֶןwith themעַדuntilשֶׁיֵּדַעthat he will knowהָאֱמֶתthe truthעַלuponבֻּרְיוֹits clarityוְנִמְצָאand he is foundיוֹצֵאgoing outלִידֵיto the hands ofמִינוּת.heresyוְעַלAnd uponעִנְיָןmatterזֶהthisהִזְהִירָהwarnedתּוֹרָהthe Torahוְנֶאֱמַרand it is saidבָּהּin itבמדברNumbersטו15לט39"וְלֹאand do notתָתֻרוּstrayאַחֲרֵיafterלְבַבְכֶםyour heartוְאַחֲרֵיand afterעֵינֵיכֶםyour eyesאֲשֶׁרwhichאַתֶּםyouזֹנִים".go astrayכְּלוֹמַרmeaningלֹאnotיִמָּשֵׁךְshall be drawnכָּלeachאֶחָדoneמִכֶּםof youאַחַרafterדַּעְתּוֹhis mindהַקְּצָרָהthe limitedוִידַמֶּהand imagineשֶׁמַּחֲשַׁבְתּוֹthat his thoughtמַשֶּׂגֶתcomprehendsהָאֱמֶת.the truthכָּךְThusאָמְרוּsaidחֲכָמִיםthe SagesגמראGemaraברכותBerachotיב12בb"אַחֲרֵיafterלְבַבְכֶםyour heartזוֹthisמִינוּת"is heresyוְאַחֲרֵיand afterעֵינֵיכֶםyour eyesזוֹthisזְנוּת.is immoralityוְלָאוAnd prohibitionזֶהthisאַףevenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁהוּאthat itגּוֹרֵםcausesלָאָדָםto a personלְטָרְדוֹto banish himמִןfromהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּאthe comingאֵיןthere is notבּוֹin itמַלְקוֹת:lashes
This halacha explains that the prohibition of straying after one's heart forbids entertaining thoughts that undermine the foundations of the Torah, such as doubting God's oneness, prophecy, or the divine origin of the Torah.
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חֲמוּרַת עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים כְּנֶגֶד כָּל הַתּוֹרָהHalacha 4 · The Severity of Idol Worship as Equivalent to the Entire Torah
מִצְוַתThe commandment ofעֲבוֹדַתworship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsכְּנֶגֶדis equivalent toהַמִּצְוֹתthe commandmentsכֻּלָּןall of themהִיאitשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidבמדברNumbersטו15כב22"וְכִיAnd ifתִשְׁגּוּyou errוְלֹאand notתַעֲשׂוּperformאֵת—כָּלall ofהַמִּצְוֹת"the commandmentsוְגוֹ'etc.וּמִפִּיAnd from the mouth ofהַשְּׁמוּעָהthe traditionלָמְדוּthey learnedשֶׁבַּעֲבוֹדַתthat regarding worship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsהַכָּתוּבthe verseמְדַבֵּר.speaksהָאBeholdלָמַדְתָּyou have learnedשֶׁכָּלthat anyoneהַמּוֹדֶהwho acknowledgesבַּעֲבוֹדַתworship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsכּוֹפֵרdeniesבְּכָלall ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahכֻּלָּהּentirelyוּבְכָלand all ofהַנְּבִיאִיםthe prophetsוּבְכָלand all ofמַהwhatשֶּׁנִּצְטַוּוּthat were commandedהַנְּבִיאִיםthe prophetsמֵאָדָםfrom Adamוְעַדand untilסוֹףthe end ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidבמדברNumbersטו15כג23"מִןfromהַיּוֹםthe dayאֲשֶׁרwhichצִוָּהcommandedה'Hashemוָהָלְאָהand onwardלְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם".for your generationsוְכָלAnd anyoneהַכּוֹפֵרwho deniesבַּעֲבוֹדַתworship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsמוֹדֶהacknowledgesבְּכָלall ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahכֻּלָּהּentirelyוּבְכָלand all ofהַנְּבִיאִיםthe prophetsוּבְכָלand all ofמַהwhatשֶּׁנִּצְטַוּוּthat were commandedהַנְּבִיאִיםthe prophetsמֵאָדָםfrom Adamוְעַדand untilסוֹףthe end ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldוְהוּאand itעִקַּרis the root ofכָּלall ofהַמִּצְוֹתthe commandmentsכֻּלָּן:all of them
This halacha establishes that denying idolatry is equivalent to accepting the entire Torah, while practicing it is a denial of all commandments and prophets.
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הַדִּין שֶׁל עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְאֶפִּיקוֹרוֹס מִיִּשְׂרָאֵלHalacha 5 · The Halachic Status of a Jewish Idolater and a Heretic
יִשְׂרָאֵלA Jewשֶׁעָבַדwho servedעֲבוֹדַתworship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsהֲרֵיbeholdהוּאheכְּעוֹבֵדis like a worshiper ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsלְכָלfor allדְּבָרָיוhis mattersוְאֵינוֹand he is notכְּיִשְׂרָאֵלlike a Jewשֶׁעוֹבֵרwho transgressesעֲבֵרָהa transgressionשֶׁיֵּשׁthat hasבָּהּin itסְקִילָה.stoningמוּמָרAn apostateלַעֲבוֹדַתto worship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsהֲרֵיbeholdהוּאheמוּמָרis an apostateלְכָלfor all ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahכֻּלָּהּ.entirelyוְכֵןAnd likewiseהָאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִיםthe hereticsמִיִּשְׂרָאֵלfrom Israelאֵינָןare notכְּיִשְׂרָאֵלlike a Jewלְדָבָרfor any matterמִןofהַדְּבָרִיםthe mattersוְאֵיןand we do notמְקַבְּלִיםacceptאוֹתָםthemבִּתְשׁוּבָהin repentanceלְעוֹלָםeverשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidמשליProverbsב2יט19"כָּלallבָּאֶיהָwho come to herלֹאwill notיְשׁוּבוּןreturnוְלֹאand they will notיַשִּׂיגוּattainאָרְחוֹתthe paths ofחַיִּים".lifeוְהָאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִיםAnd the hereticsהֵםtheyהַתָּרִיםare those who strayאַחַרafterמַחְשְׁבוֹתthe thoughts ofלִבָּםtheir heartבְּסִכְלוּתin the foolishness ofדְּבָרִיםmattersשֶׁאָמַרְנוּthat we saidעַדuntilשֶׁנִּמְצְאוּthey are foundעוֹבְרִיםtransgressingעַלagainstגּוּפֵיthe bodies ofתּוֹרָהTorahלְהַכְעִיסto angerבִּשְׁאָטwith contempt ofנֶפֶשׁsoulבְּיָדwith a handרָמָהhighוְאוֹמְרִיםand they sayשֶׁאֵיןthat there is notבָּזֶהin thisעָוֹן.sinוְאָסוּרAnd it is forbiddenלְסַפֵּרto speakעִמָּהֶןwith themוּלְהָשִׁיבand to returnעֲלֵיהֶןto themתְּשׁוּבָהan answerכְּלָלat allשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidמשליProverbsה5ח8"וְאַלand do notתִּקְרַבdraw nearאֶלtoפֶּתַחthe entrance ofבֵּיתָהּ".her houseוּמַחֲשָׁבָהAnd the thoughtשֶׁלofאֶפִּיקוֹרוֹסa hereticלַעֲבוֹדַתis for worship ofכּוֹכָבִים:stars
This halacha defines the status of a Jewish idol worshiper and a heretic, explaining that they are excluded from the Jewish community and their repentance is not accepted.
הל׳ ו
הַמּוֹדֶה בַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְדִין הַמְגַדֵּףHalacha 6 · One Who Acknowledges Idolatry and the Law of the Blasphemer
כָּלAnyהַמּוֹדֶהwho acknowledgesבַּעֲבוֹדַתthe worship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsשֶׁהִיאthat it isאֱמֶתtruthאַףevenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁלֹּאthat notעֲבָדָהּhe worshipped itהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthis oneמְחָרֵףdisgracesוּמְגַדֵּףand blasphemesאֶת—הַשֵּׁםthe Nameהַנִּכְבָּדthe gloriousוְהַנּוֹרָא.and the awesomeוְאֶחָדand bothהָעוֹבֵדthe one who worshipsעֲבוֹדַתthe worship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsוְאֶחָדand bothהַמְגַדֵּףthe one who blasphemesאֶת—ה'Hashemשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidבמדברBamidbarטו15ל30"וְהַנֶּפֶשׁand the soulאֲשֶׁרthatתַּעֲשֶׂהactsבְּיָדwith a handרָמָהhighמִןfromהָאֶזְרָחthe nativeוּמִןand fromהַגֵּרthe convertאֶת—ה'Hashemהוּאheמְגַדֵּף".blasphemesלְפִיכָךְthereforeתּוֹלִיןwe hangעוֹבֵדa worshipper ofעֲבוֹדַתthe worship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁתּוֹלִיןwe hangאֶת—הַמְגַדֵּףthe blasphemerוּשְׁנֵיהֶםand both of themנִסְקָלִין.are stonedוּמִפְּנֵיand because ofזֶהthisכָּלַלְתִּיI includedדִּיןthe law ofהַמְגַדֵּףthe blasphemerבְּהִלְכוֹתin the Laws ofעֲבוֹדַתthe worship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsשֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶםsince both of themכּוֹפְרִיםdenyבָּעִקָּרthe fundamental principleהֵם:they are
This halacha equates one who accepts idolatry as true with a blasphemer, as both deny the fundamental principle of faith and are executed by stoning and hanging.
הל׳ ז
דִּינֵי הַמְגַדֵּף וְהַשֵּׁמוֹת שֶׁחַיָּב עֲלֵיהֶם סְקִילָהHalacha 7 · The Laws of a Blasphemer and the Divine Names for Which One is Stoned
וְאֵלּוּAnd theseהֵןareדִּינֵיthe laws ofהַמְגַדֵּף.the blasphemerאֵיןnotהַמְגַדֵּףis the blasphemerחַיָּבliable toסְקִילָהstoningעַדuntilשֶׁיְּפָרֵשׁthat he pronouncesאֶת—הַשֵּׁםthe Nameהַמְיֻחָדthe Uniqueשֶׁלofאַרְבַּעfourאוֹתִיּוֹתlettersשֶׁהוּאwhich isאָלֶ"ףAlephדָּלֶ"תDaletנוּ"ןNunיוּ"דYodוִיבָרֵךְand cursesאוֹתוֹitבְּשֵׁםwith a Nameמִןfromהַשֵּׁמוֹתthe Namesשֶׁאֵינָםthat are notנִמְחָקִיםerasedשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidויקראVayikraכד24טז16"וְנֹקֵבand he who blasphemesשֵׁםthe Name ofה'",Hashemעַלforהַשֵּׁםthe Nameהַמְיֻחָדthe Uniqueחַיָּבhe is liable toסְקִילָהstoningוְעַלand forשְׁאָרthe rest ofהַכִּנּוּיִיםthe appellationsבְּאַזְהָרָה.with a prohibitionוְיֵשׁand there isמִיoneשֶׁמְּפָרֵשׁwho explainsשֶׁאֵינוֹthat he is notחַיָּבliableאֶלָּאexceptעַלforשֵׁםthe Nameיוּ"דYodהֵ"אHehוָא"וVavהֵ"אHehוַאֲנִיand Iאוֹמֵרsayשֶׁעַלthat forשְׁנֵיהֶםboth of themהוּאhe isנִסְקָל:stoned
This halacha defines the specific Divine Names that a blasphemer must utter and curse to incur the death penalty of stoning.
הל׳ ח
סֵדֶר חֲקִירַת עֵדֵי הַמְגַדֵּף וּקְרִיעַת בִּגְדֵי הַדַּיָּנִיםHalacha 8 · The Warning Against Blasphemy and the Procedure for Examining the Witnesses
אַזְהָרָהThe warningשֶׁלofמְגַדֵּףa blasphemerמִנַּיִןfrom whereשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidשמותShemosכב22כז27"אֱלֹהִיםGodלֹאnotתְקַלֵּל".shall you curseבְּכָלOn everyיוֹםdayוָיוֹםand dayבּוֹדְקִיןthey examineאֶת—הָעֵדִיםthe witnessesבְּכִנּוּיִיםwith nicknamesיַכֶּהMay strikeיוֹסִיYosseאֶת—יוֹסִי.YosseנִגְמַרFinished isהַדִּיןthe judgmentמוֹצִיאִיןthey removeאֶת—כָּלeveryאָדָםpersonלַחוּץoutsideוְשׁוֹאֲלִיםand they askאֶת—הַגָּדוֹלthe greatestשֶׁבָּעֵדִיםwho is among the witnessesוְאוֹמְרִיםand they sayלוֹto himאֱמֹרSayמַהwhatשֶּׁשָּׁמַעְתָּthat you heardבְּפֵרוּשׁexplicitlyוְהוּאand heאוֹמֵרsaysוְהַדַּיָּנִיםand the judgesעוֹמְדִיםstandעַלonרַגְלֵיהֶםtheir feetוְקוֹרְעִיןand rendוְלֹאand do notמְאַחִין.mendוְהָעֵדAnd the witnessהַשֵּׁנִיthe secondאוֹמֵרsaysאַףEvenאֲנִיIכְּמוֹתוֹlike himשָׁמַעְתִּי.heardוְאִםAnd ifהָיוּthere wereעֵדִיםwitnessesרַבִּיםmanyצָרִיךְneedsכָּלeveryאֶחָדoneוְאֶחָדand oneמֵהֶןof themלוֹמַרto sayכָּזֶהlike thisשָׁמַעְתִּי:I heard
This halacha outlines the biblical source prohibiting blasphemy and details the courtroom procedure for examining the witnesses without repeating the actual curse until the final verdict.
הל׳ ט
דִּין מְגַדֵּף שֶׁחָזַר בּוֹ וְהַמְגַדֵּף בְּשֵׁם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִיםHalacha 9 · The Law of a Blasphemer Who Retracts and One Who Blasphemes with an Idol's Name
מְגַדֵּףA blasphemerשֶׁחָזַרwho retractedבּוֹ·בְּתוֹךְwithinכְּדֵיthe time ofדִּבּוּרspeakingאֵינוֹis notכְּלוּםanythingאֶלָּאratherכֵּיוָןonceשֶׁגִּדֵּףhe blasphemedבְּעֵדִיםwith witnessesנִסְקָל.he is stonedמִיOneשֶׁגִּדֵּףwho blasphemedאֶת—הַשֵּׁםthe Nameבְּשֵׁםwith the name ofעֲבוֹדַתworship ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsקַנָּאִיםzealotsפּוֹגְעִיםstrikeבּוֹhimוְהוֹרְגִיםand killאוֹתוֹ.himוְאִםand ifלֹאnotהֲרָגוּהוּdid they kill himקַנָּאִיםzealotsוּבָאand he cameלְבֵיתto the house ofדִּיןjudgmentאֵינוֹhe is notנִסְקָלstonedעַדuntilשֶׁיְּבָרֵךְhe blessesבְּשֵׁםwith a nameמִןfromהַשֵּׁמוֹתthe Namesהַמְיֻחָדִים:that are unique
This halacha teaches that a blasphemer cannot escape punishment by retracting mid-speech, and details the law of one who curses God using an idol's name.
הל׳ י
דִּין קְרִיעָה עַל בִּרְכַּת הַשֵּׁם וּסְמִיכַת יְדֵי הָעֵדִיםHalacha 10 · The Obligation to Rend Garments for Blasphemy and Placing Hands on the Condemned
כָּלAnyהַשּׁוֹמֵעַwho hearsבִּרְכַּתblasphemy ofהַשֵּׁםthe Nameחַיָּבis obligatedלִקְרֹעַto rendוַאֲפִלּוּand evenעַלuponבִּרְכַּתblasphemy ofהַכִּנּוּיִיןthe descriptive termsחַיָּבis obligatedלִקְרֹעַto rendוְהוּאand thisשֶׁיִּשְׁמָעֶנָּהis when he hears itמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל.from a Jewאֶחָדwhetherהַשּׁוֹמֵעַthe one who hearsוְאֶחָדorהַשּׁוֹמֵעַthe one who hearsמִפִּיfrom the mouth ofהַשּׁוֹמֵעַthe hearerחַיָּבis obligatedלִקְרֹעַ.to rendאֲבָלbutהַשּׁוֹמֵעַone who hearsמִפִּיfrom the mouth ofהָעוֹבֵדthe worshiper ofכּוֹכָבִיםstarsאֵינוֹis notחַיָּבobligatedלִקְרֹעַ.to rendוְלֹאand notקָרְעוּdid rendאֶלְיָקִיםElyakimוְשֶׁבְנָאand Shevnaאֶלָּאexceptמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁרַבְשָׁקֵהthat Ravshakehהָיָהwasיִשְׂרָאֵלa Jewמוּמָר.apostateכָּלAllהָעֵדִיםthe witnessesוְהַדַּיָּנִיםand the judgesסוֹמְכִיםplaceאֶת—יְדֵיהֶםtheir handsאֶחָדoneאֶחָדby oneעַלuponרֹאשׁthe head ofהַמְגַדֵּףthe blasphemerוְאוֹמֵרand sayלוֹto himדָּמְךָyour blood isבְּרֹאשְׁךָon your headשֶׁאַתָּהfor youגָּרַמְתָּcaused itלְךָ.to yourselfוְאֵיןand there is notבְּכָלamong allהֲרוּגֵיthose executed byבֵּיתhouse ofדִּיןlawמִיanyoneשֶׁסּוֹמְכִיםthat they place handsעָלָיוupon himאֶלָּאexceptמְגַדֵּףthe blasphemerבִּלְבַדaloneשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidוְסָמְכוּand shall placeכָלallהַשֹּׁמְעִיםthe hearersאֶת—יְדֵיהֶם:their hands
This halacha details the requirement to rend one's garments upon hearing blasphemy and the unique procedure of placing hands on the head of the condemned blasphemer before execution.
Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם
The chapter outlines the strict prohibitions against engaging with avodah zarah in thought, speech, or deed. We learn that any action showing interest in these false beliefs is forbidden, and one who performs an action reflecting this concern receives lashes. Ultimately, the Torah warns us to guard our minds from any thoughts or philosophical inquiries that could uproot the fundamental principles of our holy faith, ensuring our hearts remain entirely pure and devoted to Hashem alone.
לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home
The core of the prohibition against avodah zarah is not just about bowing to a physical statue; it is about the subtle temptation to look for intermediaries. The Torah warns us, 'Be very careful that your heart not be tempted,' which Chazal explain as a warning not to let our thoughts wander after our own limited understanding. When we look at the natural systems of the world, our careers, our doctors, our financial efforts, or even spiritual forces, and treat them as independent powers that we must appease, we are falling into the very trap that Enosh and his generation fell into. We must remember that every single force in creation is merely an axe in the hand of the hewer, completely subservient to Hashem.
Furthermore, the Rambam teaches us a profound rule about the human mind: 'the mind of man is short.' We are forbidden from filling our heads with foreign philosophies, secular skepticism, or looking at things that pull our hearts away from pure emunah. The yetzer hara tries to convince us that we can explore every doubt and read every cynical book without being affected. But the Torah knows our nature. If you let your mind wander into places of doubt, wondering 'maybe it is true, maybe it is not', you will eventually be drawn after the desires of your heart and damage your yiras Shamayim. Guarding our thoughts is the ultimate boundary that keeps our relationship with Hashem pure.
To live this today, choose one area where you feel anxious or dependent on a human intermediary, whether it is a business partner, a medical treatment, or a personal connection, and consciously declare: 'This is only a vessel. Hashem alone is the source of my blessing, and I trust in Him directly without any intermediaries.'