Re'eh, Aliyah 2 ראה, שני

והיה המקום וגו'. בְּנוּ לָכֶם בֵּית הַבְּחִירָה בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר בְּדָוִד "וַיְהִי כִּי יָשַׁב הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּבֵיתוֹ וַה' הֵנִיחַ לוֹ מִסָּבִיב מִכָּל אוֹיְבָיו וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל נָתָן הַנָּבִיא רְאֵה אָנֹכִי יוֹשֵׁב בְּבֵית אֲרָזִים, וַאֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים יֹשֵׁב בְּתוֹךְ הַיְרִיעָה" (שמואל ב ז'):

Let it be that the place, etc. Build, for yourselves, the chosen Sanctuary in Jerusalem. This is as it is said concerning Dovid: “It was, when the king had settled in his palace, and Adonoy had granted him peace on every side, from all his enemies; then the king said to the prophet Noson, ‘Look here, I am settled in a palace of cedarwood, while the ark of God languishes amidst curtains.”’

שמה תביאו וגו'. לְמַעְלָה אָמוּר לְעִנְיַן שִׁילֹה וְכָאן אָמוּר לְעִנְיַן יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, וּלְכָךְ חִלְּקָם הַכָּתוּב לִתֵּן הֶתֵּר בֵּין זוֹ לְזוֹ, מִשֶּׁחָרְבָה שִׁילֹה וּבָאוּ לְנֹב וְחָרְבָה נֹב וּבָאוּ לְגִבְעוֹן הָיוּ הַבָּמוֹת מֻתָּרוֹת עַד שֶׁבָּאוּ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם (זבחים קיט):

It is there that you shall bring. The discussion above concerns Shiloh, while the discussion here concerns Jerusalem. This is why Scripture separates them, by granting permission between them. From the time that Shiloh was laid waste and they arrived at Nov, and Nov was laid waste and they arrived at Giveon, personal bamah-altars were permitted, until they arrived at Jerusalem.

מבחר נדריכם. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁיָּבִיא מִן הַמֻּבְחָר (ספרי):

Your choice promissory-offerings. This teaches that one must offer the choicest.

השמר לך. לִתֵּן לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה עַל הַדָּבָר:

Take heed. This places a negative commandment over the matter.

בכל מקום אשר תראה. אֲשֶׁר יַעֲלֶה בְּלִבְּךָ, אֲבָל אַתָּה מַקְרִיב עַ"פִּ נָבִיא, כְּגוֹן אֵלִיָּהוּ בְּהַר הַכַּרְמֶל (שם):

Anywhere you envision as proper. Which occurs to you. However, you may bring an offering by prophetic instruction, as with Eliyahu at Mount Carmel.

באחד שבטיך. בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל בִּנְיָמִין, וּלְמַעְלָה הוּא אוֹמֵר "מִכָּל שִׁבְטֵיכֶם", הָא כֵיצַד? כְּשֶׁקָּנָה דָּוִד אֶת הַגֹּרֶן מֵאֲרַוְנָה הַיְבוּסִי גָּבָה הַזָּהָב מִכָּל הַשְּׁבָטִים, וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם הַגֹּרֶן בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל בִּנְיָמִין הָיָה (שם):

Of one of your tribes. In Binyamin’s portion. Above, however, it is said, “of all your tribes.” How can this be? When Dovid purchased the threshing site from Aravna the Yevusite, he gathered the gold from all the tribes; still, the threshing site was in Binyamin’s territory.

רק בכל אות נפשך. בַּמֶּה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר? אִם בִּבְשַׂר תַּאֲוָה לְהַתִּירָהּ לָהֶם בְּלֹא הַקְרָבַת אֵמוּרִים הֲרֵי אָמוּר בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר (פסוק כ') "כִּי יַרְחִיב ה' אֶת גְּבוּלְךָ וְגוֹ' וְאָמַרְתָּ אֹכְלָה בָשָׂר וְגוֹ'", בַּמֶּה זֶה מְדַבֵּר? בְּקָדָשִׁים שֶׁנָּפַל בָּהֶם מוּם שֶׁיִּפָּדוּ וְיֵאָכְלוּ בְּכָל מָקוֹם, יָכוֹל יִפָּדוּ עַל מוּם עוֹבֵר? תַּ"לֹ "רַק" (ספרי):

Except, with the fullness of your appetite. What is Scripture’s subject? Is it “appetite meat,” permitting it to them without offering the sacrificial portions? But it is stated elsewhere, “When Adonoy, your God, expands your borders, etc., and you assert, ‘Let me eat meat, etc.”’ What, then, is the subject here? Sacred animals which were afflicted with a blemish which may be redeemed and eaten anywhere. Perhaps they may be redeemed even with a transient blemish? The Torah therefore teaches, “except.”

תזבח ואכלת. אֵין לְךָ בָהֶם הֶתֵּר גִּזָּה וְחָלָב אֶלָּא אֲכִילָה עַל יְדֵי זְבִיחָה (בכ' ו'):

You may slaughter and eat. You are not permitted to shear or milk, but only to eat by slaughtering.

הטמא והטהר. לְפִי שֶׁבָּאוּ מִכֹּחַ קָדָשִׁים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶם "וְהַבָּשָׂר אֲשֶׁר יִגַּע בְּכָל טָמֵא לֹא יֵאָכֵל" (ויקרא ז'), הֻצְרַךְ לְהַתִּיר בּוֹ שֶׁטָּמֵא וְטָהוֹר אוֹכְלִים בִּקְעָרָה אַחַת:

The ritually unclean and the clean. Because this was converted from a sacred sacrifice, concerning which it is said, “Meat which came into contact with anything unclean may not be eaten,” it is necessary to permit the unclean and the clean to eat it in a single plate.

כצבי וכאיל. שֶׁאֵין קָרְבָּן בָּא מֵהֶם:

Like the deer and the gazelle which are not eligible as sacrifices.

כצבי וכאיל. לְפָטְרָן מִן הַזְּרוֹעַ וְהַלְּחָיַיִם וְהַקֵּבָה (ספרי):

Like the deer and the gazelle. This exempts them from the gifts of the foreleg, the jaw, and the maw.

רק הדם לא תאכלו. אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי שֶׁאֵין לְךָ בוֹ זְרִיקַת דָּם בַּמִּזְבֵּח, לֹא תֹּאכְלֶנּוּ:

However, you may not eat the blood. Although I have stated that its blood is not to be sprinkled on the altar, you may not eat it.

תשפכנו כמים. לוֹמַר לְךָ שֶׁאֵין צָרִיךְ כִּסּוּי (ספרי; חולין פ"ד). דָּ"אַ — הֲרֵי הוּא כַמַּיִם לְהַכְשִׁיר אֶת הַזְּרָעִים (שם ל"ה):

Spill it like water. This teaches you that it does not require covering. Another interpretation. It is like water with regard to the conditioning (hechsher) of edible seeds [for ritual contamination].

לא תוכל. בָּא הַכָּתוּב לִתֵּן לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה עַל הַדָּבָר:

You are not permitted. This passage places a negative commandment over the matter.

לא תוכל. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה אוֹמֵר יָכוֹל אַתָּה, אֲבָל אֵינְךָ רַשַּׁאי, כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ (יהושע ט"ו) "וְאֶת הַיְבוּסִי יוֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלַיִם לֹא יָכְלוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (יְהוּדָה) לְהוֹרִישָׁם", יְכוֹלִים הָיוּ, אֶלָּא שֶׁאֵינָן רַשָּׁאִין לְפִי שֶׁכָּרַת לָהֶם אַבְרָהָם בְּרִית כְּשֶׁלָּקַח מֵהֶם מְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה; וְלֹא יְבוּסִים הָיוּ, אֶלָּא חִתִּיִּים הָיוּ, אֶלָּא עַל שֵׁם הָעִיר שֶׁשְּׁמָהּ יְבוּס, כָּךְ מְפֹרָשׁ בְּפִרְקֵי דְּרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר (פ' ל"ו), וְהוּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כִּי אִם הֱסִירְךָ הָעִוְרִים וְהַפִּסְחִים" (שמואל ב ה') – צְלָמִים שֶׁכָּתְבוּ עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת הַשְּׁבוּעָה:

You are not permitted [lit. not able]. R’ Yehoshua ben Korchah said, ‘You are able, but are not permitted.” Similarly, “The Yevusites, who dwelt in Jerusalem, the sons of Yehudah were not permitted [lit. not able] to drive out.” They were able, but were not permitted, because Avrohom had made a covenant with them, when he bought the double tiered Machpelah-cave from them. They were not Yevusites, but Chitites, but, in recognition of the city entitled Yevus (they were called Yevusites). This is stated clearly in Pirkei dR’ Eliezer. This is why it is said, “...unless you cast aside the blind and the lame” — the statues on which the oath was inscribed.

ובכרת בקרך. אַזְהָרָה לַכֹּהֲנִים:

The first born of your cattle. This prohibition applies to the kohanim.

ותרומת ידך. אֵלּוּ הַבִּכּוּרִים (ספרי; מכות י"ז):

The terumah-separation of your hand. This refers to the first fruits.

לפני ה'. לִפְנִים מִן הַחוֹמָה:

Before Adonoy. Within the walls.

והלוי אשר בשעריך. אִם אֵין לְךָ לָתֵת לוֹ מֵחֶלְקוֹ, כְּגוֹן מַעֲשֵׂר רִאשׁוֹן, תֵּן לוֹ מַעְשַׂר עָנִי, אֵין לְךָ מַעְשַׂר עָנִי, הַזְמִינֵהוּ עַל שְׁלָמֶיךָ (ספרי):

And the Levite in your cities. If you do not have his portion for him — for example, the first tithe — give him the tithe of the indigent. If you do not have the tithe of the indigent, invite him to partake of your shelamim-offering.

השמר לך. לִתֵּן לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה עַל הַדָּבָר (ספרי):

Watch yourself. This places a negative commandment over the matter.

על אדמתך. אֲבָל בַּגּוֹלָה אֵינְךָ מֻזְהָר עָלָיו יוֹתֵר מֵעֲנִיֵּי יִשְׂרָאֵל (שם):

On your land. In the diaspora, however, you are not admonished to concern yourself with him more than with the indigent Israelites.

כי ירחיב וגו'. לִמְּדָה תוֹרָה דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ שֶׁלֹּא יִתְאַוֶּה אָדָם לֶאֱכֹל בָּשָׂר אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ רַחֲבַת יָדַיִם וְעֹשֶׁר (חולין פ"ד):

When . . . expands, etc. The Torah teaches proper behavior — a man should not crave eating meat unless he enjoys expansion and affluence.

כל אות נפשך וגו'. אֲבָל בַּמִּדְבָּר נֶאֱסַר לָהֶם בְּשַׂר חֻלִּין אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן מַקְדִּישָׁהּ וּמַקְרִיבָהּ שְׁלָמִים (שם ט"ז):

To the full extent of your appetite, etc. However, in the wilderness, non-sacrificial meat was forbidden to them, unless it was sanctified and brought as a shelamim-offering.

כי ירחק ממך המקום. וְלֹא תוּכַל לָבֹא וְלַעֲשׂוֹת שְׁלָמִים בְּכָל יוֹם כְּמוֹ עַכְשָׁו שֶׁהַמִּשְׁכָּן הוֹלֵךְ עִמָּכֶם:

When the place is distant from you. So that you are unable to come every day to offer the shelamim sacrifice, as you are now, when the Mishkan travels with you,

וזבחת … כאשר צויתך. לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ צִוּוּי בַּזְּבִיחָה הֵיאַךְ יִשְׁחֹט, וְהֵן הִלְכוֹת שְׁחִיטָה שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּ לְמֹשֶׁה בְּסִינַי (שם כ"ח):

you may slaughter, as I have commanded you. We learn that there is a command concerning the proper method of slaughtering. This refers to the slaughtering laws told to Moshe at Sinai.

אך כאשר יאכל את הצבי וגו'. אֵינְךָ מֻזְהָר לְאָכְלָן בְּטָהֳרָה, אִי מַה צְּבִי וְאַיָּל חֶלְבָּן מֻתָּר אַף חֻלִּין חֶלְבָּן מֻתָּר? תַּ"לֹ "אַךְ":

Only, as the deer, etc, may be eaten. You are not admonished to eat them in ritual purity. Perhaps, just as the fat of the deer and the gazelle are permitted, so is the fat of the non-sacrificial animal permitted? The Torah therefore teaches, “only.”

רק חזק לבלתי אכל הדם. מִמַּה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר חֲזַק אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁטוּפִים בַּדָּם לְאָכְלוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר חֲזַק דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, רַ' שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן עֲזַאי אוֹמֵר לֹא בָא הַכָּתוּב אֶלָּא לְהַזְהִירְךָ וּלְלַמֶּדְךָ עַד כַּמָּה אַתָּה צָרִיךְ לְהִתְחַזֵּק בַּמִּצְווֹת, אִם הַדָּם שֶׁהוּא קַל לְהִשָּׁמֵר מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁאֵין אָדָם מִתְאַוֶּה לוֹ, הֻצְרַךְ לְחַזֶּקְךָ בְאַזְהָרָתוֹ, קַ"וָ לִשְׁאָר מִצְווֹת (עי' ספרי):

Only exercise strength in not eating the blood. From the statement “exercise strength,” you learn that they wallowed in the eating of blood. It was therefore necessary to say “exercise strength.” This is R’ Yehudah’s opinion. R’ Shimon ben Azai said, Scripture merely admonishes and teaches you the extent to which you must exercise strength with mitzvos. If blood, which is easily avoided, as a man has no craving for it, yet it is necessary to strengthen you in admonishing against it; then certainly the other commandments.

ולא תאכל הנפש עם הבשר. אַזְהָרָה לְאֵבֶר מִן הַחַי (חולין ק"ב):

Do not eat the spirit with the meat. This prohibits the limb of a living animal.

לא תאכלנו. אַזְהָרָה לְדַם הַתַּמְצִית (כריתות ד'):

Do not eat it. This prohibits the dripping tamtzis blood.

לא תאכלנו. אַזְהָרָה לְדַם הָאֵבָרִים (שם):

Do not eat it. This prohibits the blood absorbed in the limbs.

למען ייטב לך וגו'. צֵא וּלְמַד מַתַּן שְׂכָרָן שֶׁל מִצְווֹת, אִם הַדָּם שֶׁנַּפְשׁוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם קָצָה מִמֶּנּוּ, הַפּוֹרֵשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ זוֹכֶה לוֹ וּלְבָנָיו אַחֲרָיו, קַל וָחֹמֶר לְגֶזֶל וַעֲרָיוֹת שֶׁנַּפְשׁוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם מִתְאַוָּה לָהֶם (מכות כ"ג):

So that you may enjoy beneficence, etc. Go forth, learn the reward for mitzvos. Take blood, which a man finds repugnant; yet, one who refrains from it gains merit for himself and his children after him. Certainly with larceny and promiscuousness, which a man craves.

רק קדשיך. אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁאַתָּה מֻתָּר לִשְׁחֹט חֻלִּין, לֹא הִתַּרְתִּי לְךָ לִשְׁחֹט אֶת הַקֳּדָשִׁים וּלְאָכְלָן בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ בְּלֹא הַקְרָבָה, אֶלָּא הֲבִיאֵם לְבֵית הַבְּחִירָה:

However, your sacred offerings. Although you may slaughter non-sacrificial animals, I did not permit you to slaughter sacrificial offerings and eat them in your cities without offering them up. Rather, bring them to the chosen Sanctuary.

ועשית עלתיך. אִם עוֹלוֹת הֵן, תֵּן הַבָּשָׂר וְהַדָּם עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּח, וְאִם זִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים הֵם, "דַּם זְבָחֶיךָ יִשָּׁפֵךְ" עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ תְּחִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ "וְהַבָּשָׂר תֹּאכֵל". וְעוֹד דָּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ, "רַק קָדָשֶׁיךָ" בָּא לְלַמֵּד עַל הַקֳּדָשִׁים שֶׁבְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ, וּלְלַמֵּד עַל הַתְּמוּרוֹת וְעַל וַלְדוֹת קָדָשִׁים שֶׁיִּקְרְבוּ (ספרי; בכורות י"ד):

Execute your burnt-offerings. If they are burnt-olah- offerings, place the flesh and the blood on the altar. If they are shelamim-peace-offerings, “the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured on the altar” first, and then “the flesh may be eaten.” The Rabbis expounded additionally. “However, your sacrificial-offerings . . .”: This teaches concerning sacrificial-offerings outside the land. And it teaches that exchange-offerings and the offspring of sacrifices must be offered up.

שמר. זוֹ מִשְׁנָה שֶׁאַתָּה צָרִיךְ לְשָׁמְרָהּ בְּבִטְנְךָ שֶׁלֹּא תִשְׁכַּח, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כ"ב) "כִּי נָעִים כִּי תִשְׁמְרֵם בְּבִטְנֶךָ", וְאִם שָׁנִיתָ אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁתִּשְׁמַע וּתְקַיֵּם, הָא כָל שֶׁאֵינוֹ בִּכְלַל מִשְׁנָה אֵינוֹ בִּכְלַל מַעֲשֶׂה (עי' ספרי):

Preserve. This refers to the study of the law, which must be preserved in one’s gut, not to be forgotten, as it is said, “It is pleasurable that you preserve them in your gut.” If you have studied the law, then it is possible for you to heed and to perform; but anyone who is not involved in study can not be involved in performance.

את כל הדברים. שֶׁתְּהֵא חֲבִיבָה עָלֶיךָ מִצְוָה קַלָּה כְּמִצְוָה חֲמוּרָה (שם):

All these words. A minor commandment should be as precious to you as one of great consequence.

הטוב. בְּעֵינֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם:

That which is good. In the eyes of Heaven.

והישר. בְּעֵינֵי אָדָם:

And that which is upright. In the eyes of mortals.