Daily lessons
Wednesday, 28 October 2026
17 Cheshvan 5787 י״ז חשון תשפ״ז
Parashat Vayera
Chumash חומש
Vayera, fourth aliyahוירא, רביעי
Genesis 19:21–21:4, with Rashi
The parasha in brief
God appears to Abraham, who welcomes three visitors, and they announce that Sarah will have a son within a year. Abraham pleads with God to spare Sodom for the sake of any righteous people there; the angels rescue Lot and his daughters, Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed, and Lot's wife becomes a pillar of salt. In Gerar, King Abimelech takes Sarah and returns her after God warns him in a dream. Isaac is born, Hagar and Ishmael are sent away and saved by an angel in the wilderness, and Abraham makes a treaty with Abimelech at Beersheba. God tests Abraham by commanding him to bring Isaac as an offering on Mount Moriah, and an angel stops him at the last moment, after which Abraham offers a ram in Isaac's place and God renews His blessing. The portion ends with news of the family of Abraham's brother Nahor, including the birth of Rebecca.
Draft summary
19:21 וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הִנֵּה נָשָׂאתִי פָנֶיךָ גַּם לַדָּבָר הַזֶּה לְבִלְתִּי הָפְכִּי אֶת־הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ׃
19:21 And he said unto him: ‘See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken.
19:22 מַהֵר הִמָּלֵט שָׁמָּה כִּי לֹא אוּכַל לַעֲשׂוֹת דָּבָר עַד־בֹּאֲךָ שָׁמָּה עַל־כֵּן קָרָא שֵׁם־הָעִיר צוֹעַר׃
19:22 Hasten thou, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither.’—Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.—
19:23 הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ יָצָא עַל־הָאָרֶץ וְלוֹט בָּא צֹעֲרָה׃
19:23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot came unto Zoar.
19:24 וַיהוָה הִמְטִיר עַל־סְדֹם וְעַל־עֲמֹרָה גָּפְרִית וָאֵשׁ מֵאֵת יְהוָה מִן־הַשָּׁמָיִם׃
19:24 Then the LORD caused to rain upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
19:25 וַיַּהֲפֹךְ אֶת־הֶעָרִים הָאֵל וְאֵת כָּל־הַכִּכָּר וְאֵת כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵי הֶעָרִים וְצֶמַח הָאֲדָמָה׃
19:25 and He overthrow those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
19:26 וַתַּבֵּט אִשְׁתּוֹ מֵאַחֲרָיו וַתְּהִי נְצִיב מֶלַח׃
19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
19:27 וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־עָמַד שָׁם אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה׃
19:27 And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD.
19:28 וַיַּשְׁקֵף עַל־פְּנֵי סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה וְעַל־כָּל־פְּנֵי אֶרֶץ הַכִּכָּר וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה עָלָה קִיטֹר הָאָרֶץ כְּקִיטֹר הַכִּבְשָׁן׃
19:28 And he looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the Plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace.
19:29 וַיְהִי בְּשַׁחֵת אֱלֹהִים אֶת־עָרֵי הַכִּכָּר וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת־אַבְרָהָם וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת־לוֹט מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה בַּהֲפֹךְ אֶת־הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר־יָשַׁב בָּהֵן לוֹט׃
19:29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.
19:30 וַיַּעַל לוֹט מִצּוֹעַר וַיֵּשֶׁב בָּהָר וּשְׁתֵּי בְנֹתָיו עִמּוֹ כִּי יָרֵא לָשֶׁבֶת בְּצוֹעַר וַיֵּשֶׁב בַּמְּעָרָה הוּא וּשְׁתֵּי בְנֹתָיו׃
19:30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar; and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.
The first 10 of 40 verses.
Read the full text of Chumash on Sefaria (opens in a new tab)On Chabad.org: Chumash for this day (opens in a new tab)
- Hebrew: Tanach with Nikkud (the Leningrad Codex, from tanach.us) (public domain).
- English: The Holy Scriptures, Jewish Publication Society, 1917 (public domain).
- Text from Sefaria.
Tanya תניא
Iggeret HaKodesh, epistle 28אגרת הקודש, אגרת כח
17 Cheshvan in the yearly cycle
In brief
Epistle 28 is a letter of consolation to R. Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev on the passing of his son R. Meir. It cites the Sages' teaching that the death of Miriam is placed beside the red heifer to show that just as the heifer atones, so does the death of the righteous, and asks why the heifer, prepared outside the camps, was chosen rather than an altar sin-offering. Altar sacrifices elevate the animal soul of nogah and draw down influence from z'eyr anpin, while the red heifer's preparation, the "sanctification of the waters," draws from the supreme chochmah of arich anpin. That is why it can purify even from corpse impurity, which is far below nogah.
Draft summary
מַה שֶּׁכָּתַב לִמְחוּתָּנוֹ, הָרַב הַגָּאוֹן הַמְפוּרְסָם, אִישׁ אֱלֹקִים קְדוֹשׁ ה׳, נֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַמּוּד הַיְמָנִי, פַּטִּישׁ הֶחָזָק, מוֹרֵנוּ וְרַבֵּנוּ הָרַב לֵוִי יִצְחָק נִשְׁמָתוֹ עֵדֶן, אַב בֵּית־דִּין דִּקְהִלַּת קוֹדֶשׁ בַּארְדִּיטְשׁוֹב, לְנַחֲמוֹ עַל פְּטִירַת בְּנוֹ הָרַב הֶחָסִיד, מוֹרֵנוּ וְרַבֵּנוּ הָרַב מֵאִיר נִשְׁמָתוֹ עֵדֶן:
TWENTY-EIGHT. What he wrote to his relative by marriage, the Rabbi, famous Gaon, G–dly and holy man of the L–rd, “Lamp of Israel, pillar of the right hand, mighty hammer,” our master R. Levi Yitzchak, may his soul rest in Eden, head of the Bet Din of the holy community of Berdichev, to console him on the passing of his son, the pious rabbi, R. Meir, may his soul rest in Eden.
לָמָּה נִסְמְכָה פָּרָשַׁת מִרְיָם לְפָרָשַׁת פָּרָה, לוֹמַר לְךָ: מַה פָּרָה מְכַפֶּרֶת וְכוּ׳.
“Why was the section of Miriam adjoined to the section of the heifer? To teach you that just as the heifer effects atonement….”
וְצָרִיךְ לְהָבִין, לָמָּה נִסְמְכָה דַּוְקָא לְפָרָה אֲדוּמָּה הַנַּעֲשֶׂה חוּץ לְשָׁלֹשׁ מַחֲנוֹת, אֶלָּא דְּחַטָּאת קַרְיֵיהּ רַחֲמָנָא [בכתב יד הנוסחא: ׳הַנַּעֲשֶׂה בַּחוּץ׳. ומן תיבת ״לשלש״ עד תיבת ״רחמנא״ ליתא בכתב יד] וְלֹא נִסְמְכָה לְפָרָשַׁת חַטָּאת הַנַּעֲשֶׂה בִּפְנִים עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ – כַּפָּרָה מַמָּשׁ.
Now it needs to be understood why it was adjoined precisely to the “red heifer” (which was prepared outside the three camps; it is just that the Torah calls it a sin-offering), and it was not adjoined to the section of the sin-offering that was prepared within, on the actual altar of atonement.
אָמְנָם, נוֹדָע מִזּוֹהַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהָאֲרִיזַ״ל, סוֹד הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁעַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ – הֵן בְּחִינַת הַעֲלָאַת ״מַיִּין נוּקְבִין״ מִנֶּפֶשׁ הַבַּהֲמִית שֶׁבְּנוֹגַהּ, אֶל שָׁרְשָׁן וּמְקוֹרָן – הֵן בְּחִינוֹת ד׳ חַיּוֹת שֶׁבַּמֶּרְכָּבָה הַנּוֹשְׂאוֹת אֶת הַכִּסֵּא, פְּנֵי שׁוֹר וּפְנֵי נֶשֶׁר וְכוּ׳, וְעַל־יְדֵי זֶה נִמְשָׁכִים וְיוֹרְדִים ״מַיִּין דּוּכְרִין״ מִבְּחִינַת ״אָדָם״ שֶׁעַל הַכִּסֵּא, הַנִּקְרָא בְּשֵׁם ״מַלְכָּא״ וּ״זְעֵיר אַנְפִּין״.
However, it is known from the sacred Zohar, and from the Arizal, that the principium of the sacrifices brought on the altar is that they are an aspect of the elevation of mayin nukvin: from the animal soul, which is in (the class of) nogah, to their root and source, i.e., the forms of the four animals of the chariot bearing the throne: the face of the ox, and the face of the eagle…. Thereby the mayin duchrin are elicited and descend from the aspect of the “man upon the throne,” referred to as malka, and z’eyr anpin.
אָכֵן, בִּשְׂרֵפַת הַפָּרָה אֲדוּמָּה, הִנֵּה עַל־יְדֵי הַשְׁלָכַת עֵץ אֶרֶז וְאֵזוֹב וְכוּ׳ וּנְתִינַת מַיִם חַיִּים אֶל הָאֵפֶר – נִקְרָא בְּשֵׁם ״קִידּוּשׁ מֵי חַטָּאת״ בַּמִּשְׁנָה, וְהִיא בְּחִינַת ״קֹדֶשׁ הָעֶלְיוֹן״, הַנִּקְרָא בְּשֵׁם ״טַלָּא דִבְדוּלְחָא״, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּזּוֹהַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ, שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינַת ״חָכְמָה עִילָּאָה״ וּ״מוֹחָא סְתִימָאָה״ דַ״אֲרִיךְ אַנְפִּין״, וַעֲלָהּ אִיתְמַר בְּדוּכְתֵּי טוּבָא בַּזּוֹהַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ: ״בְּחָכְמָה אִתְבְּרִירוּ״, וְ״אִתְהַפְּכָא חֲשׁוֹכָא לִנְהוֹרָא״, דְּהַיְינוּ עוֹלַם הַתִּיקּוּן, שֶׁנִּתְבָּרֵר וְנִתְתַּקֵּן עַל־יְדֵי ״מוֹחָא סְתִימָאָה״ דַ״אֲרִיךְ אַנְפִּין״, מֵעוֹלַם הַתֹּהוּ וּשְׁבִירַת הַכֵּלִים, שֶׁנָּפְלוּ בִּבְרִיאָה־יְצִירָה־עֲשִׂיָּה וְכוּ׳, כַּנּוֹדָע. וְלָזֹאת – מְטַהֶרֶת טוּמְאַת הַמֵּת, אַף שֶׁהוּא אֲבִי אֲבוֹת וְכוּ׳, וּלְמַטָּה מַּטָּה מִנּוֹגַהּ:
As for the burning of the red heifer, however, by throwing in the cedarwood, and the hyssop…, and the placing of running waters into the ashes, the Mishnah refers to this as the sanctification (kiddush) of the waters of lustration. This is the aspect of kodesh ha’elyon, referred to as tala d’bedulcha, as mentioned in the sacred Zohar, the aspect of the supreme chochmah and the mocha stimaah of arich anpin. Of it is said in many places in the sacred Zohar that through chochmah they are disencumbered, and darkness is converted to light. That is, by means of the mocha stimaah of arich anpin, the world of Tikkun is disencumbered and corrected from the world of tohu and the breaking of the vessels that fell into Beriah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah…, as known. That is why (the red heifer) purifies from the defilement by a corpse, even though such is the highest degree of impurity, and much lower than nogah.
Read the full text of Tanya on Sefaria (opens in a new tab)On Chabad.org: Tanya for this day (opens in a new tab)
- Hebrew and English: Kehot Publication Society. Footnotes left out. Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
- Text from Sefaria.
Tehillim תהילים
Psalms 83–87תהלים פ״ג-פ״ז
Day 17 of the monthly cycle
Psalm 83
1 שִׁיר מִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף׃
1 A Song, a Psalm of Asaph.
2 אֱלֹהִים אַל־דֳּמִי־לָךְ אַל־תֶּחֱרַשׁ וְאַל־תִּשְׁקֹט אֵל׃
2 O God, keep not Thou silence; Hold not Thy peace, and be not still, O God.
3 כִּי־הִנֵּה אוֹיְבֶיךָ יֶהֱמָיוּן וּמְשַׂנְאֶיךָ נָשְׂאוּ רֹאשׁ׃
3 For, lo, Thine enemies are in an uproar; And they that hate Thee have lifted up the head.
4 עַל־עַמְּךָ יַעֲרִימוּ סוֹד וְיִתְיָעֲצוּ עַל־צְפוּנֶיךָ׃
4 They hold crafty converse against Thy people, And take counsel against Thy treasured ones.
5 אָמְרוּ לְכוּ וְנַכְחִידֵם מִגּוֹי וְלֹא־יִזָּכֵר שֵׁם־יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹד׃
5 They have said: 'Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.'
6 כִּי נוֹעֲצוּ לֵב יַחְדָּו עָלֶיךָ בְּרִית יִכְרֹתוּ׃
6 For they have consulted together with one consent; Against Thee do they make a covenant;
7 אָהֳלֵי אֱדוֹם וְיִשְׁמְעֵאלִים מוֹאָב וְהַגְרִים׃
7 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites;
8 גְּבָל וְעַמּוֹן וַעֲמָלֵק פְּלֶשֶׁת עִם־יֹשְׁבֵי צוֹר׃
8 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
9 גַּם־אַשּׁוּר נִלְוָה עִמָּם הָיוּ זְרוֹעַ לִבְנֵי־לוֹט סֶלָה׃
9 Assyria also is joined with them; They have been an arm to the children of Lot. Selah
10 עֲשֵׂה־לָהֶם כְּמִדְיָן כְּסִיסְרָא כְיָבִין בְּנַחַל קִישׁוֹן׃
10 Do Thou unto them as unto Midian; As to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook Kishon;
11 נִשְׁמְדוּ בְעֵין־דֹּאר הָיוּ דֹּמֶן לָאֲדָמָה׃
11 Who were destroyed at En-dor; They became as dung for the earth.
12 שִׁיתֵמוֹ נְדִיבֵמוֹ כְּעֹרֵב וְכִזְאֵב וּכְזֶבַח וּכְצַלְמֻנָּע כָּל־נְסִיכֵמוֹ׃
12 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, And like Zebah and Zalmunna all their princes;
13 אֲשֶׁר אָמְרוּ נִירֲשָׁה לָּנוּ אֵת נְאוֹת אֱלֹהִים׃
13 Who said: 'Let us take to ourselves in possession The habitations of God.'
14 אֱלֹהַי שִׁיתֵמוֹ כַגַּלְגַּל כְּקַשׁ לִפְנֵי־רוּחַ׃
14 O my God, make them like the whirling dust; As stubble before the wind.
15 כְּאֵשׁ תִּבְעַר־יָעַר וּכְלֶהָבָה תְּלַהֵט הָרִים׃
15 As the fire that burneth the forest, And as the flame that setteth the mountains ablaze;
16 כֵּן תִּרְדְּפֵם בְּסַעֲרֶךָ וּבְסוּפָתְךָ תְבַהֲלֵם׃
16 So pursue them with Thy tempest, And affright them with Thy storm.
17 מַלֵּא פְנֵיהֶם קָלוֹן וִיבַקְשׁוּ שִׁמְךָ יְהוָה׃
17 Fill their faces with shame; That they may seek Thy name, O LORD.
18 יֵבֹשׁוּ וְיִבָּהֲלוּ עֲדֵי־עַד וְיַחְפְּרוּ וְיֹאבֵדוּ׃
18 Let them be ashamed and affrighted for ever; Yea, let them be abashed and perish;
19 וְיֵדְעוּ כִּי־אַתָּה שִׁמְךָ יְהוָה לְבַדֶּךָ עֶלְיוֹן עַל־כָּל־הָאָרֶץ׃
19 That they may know that it is Thou alone whose name is the LORD, The Most High over all the earth.
Psalm 84
1 לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל־הַגִּתִּית לִבְנֵי־קֹרַח מִזְמוֹר׃
1 For the Leader; upon the Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
2 מַה־יְּדִידוֹת מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֶיךָ יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת׃
2 How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
3 נִכְסְפָה וְגַם־כָּלְתָה נַפְשִׁי לְחַצְרוֹת יְהוָה לִבִּי וּבְשָׂרִי יְרַנְּנוּ אֶל אֵל־חָי׃
3 My soul yearneth, yea, even pineth for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy unto the living God.
4 גַּם־צִפּוֹר מָצְאָה בַיִת וּדְרוֹר קֵן לָהּ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁתָה אֶפְרֹחֶיהָ אֶת־מִזְבְּחוֹתֶיךָ יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת מַלְכִּי וֵאלֹהָי׃
4 Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young; Thine altars, O LORD of hosts, My King, and my God—
5 אַשְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵי בֵיתֶךָ עוֹד יְהַלְלוּךָ סֶּלָה׃
5 Happy are they that dwell in Thy house, they are ever praising Thee. Selah
6 אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם עוֹז־לוֹ בָךְ מְסִלּוֹת בִּלְבָבָם׃
6 Happy is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the highways.
7 עֹבְרֵי בְּעֵמֶק הַבָּכָא מַעְיָן יְשִׁיתוּהוּ גַּם־בְּרָכוֹת יַעְטֶה מוֹרֶה׃
7 Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; yea, the early rain clotheth it with blessings.
8 יֵלְכוּ מֵחַיִל אֶל־חָיִל יֵרָאֶה אֶל־אֱלֹהִים בְּצִיּוֹן׃
8 They go from strength to strength, every one of them appeareth before God in Zion.
9 יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים צְבָאוֹת שִׁמְעָה תְפִלָּתִי הַאֲזִינָה אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶלָה׃
9 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah
10 מָגִנֵּנוּ רְאֵה אֱלֹהִים וְהַבֵּט פְּנֵי מְשִׁיחֶךָ׃
10 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of Thine anointed.
11 כִּי טוֹב־יוֹם בַּחֲצֵרֶיךָ מֵאָלֶף בָּחַרְתִּי הִסְתּוֹפֵף בְּבֵית אֱלֹהַי מִדּוּר בְּאָהֳלֵי־רֶשַׁע׃
11 For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand; I had rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
12 כִּי שֶׁמֶשׁ וּמָגֵן יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים חֵן וְכָבוֹד יִתֵּן יְהוָה לֹא יִמְנַע־טוֹב לַהֹלְכִים בְּתָמִים׃
12 For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD giveth grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.
13 יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּטֵחַ בָּךְ׃
13 O LORD of hosts, happy is the man that trusteth in Thee.
Psalm 85
1 לַמְנַצֵּחַ לִבְנֵי־קֹרַח מִזְמוֹר׃
1 For the Leader. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
2 רָצִיתָ יְהוָה אַרְצֶךָ שַׁבְתָּ שבות [שְׁבִית] יַעֲקֹב׃
2 LORD, Thou hast been favourable unto Thy land, Thou hast turned the captivity of Jacob.
3 נָשָׂאתָ עֲוֺן עַמֶּךָ כִּסִּיתָ כָל־חַטָּאתָם סֶלָה׃
3 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people, Thou hast pardoned all their sin. Selah .
4 אָסַפְתָּ כָל־עֶבְרָתֶךָ הֱשִׁיבוֹתָ מֵחֲרוֹן אַפֶּךָ׃
4 Thou hast withdrawn all Thy wrath; Thou hast turned from the fierceness of Thine anger.
5 שׁוּבֵנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעֵנוּ וְהָפֵר כַּעַסְךָ עִמָּנוּ׃
5 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Thine indignation toward us to cease.
6 הַלְעוֹלָם תֶּאֱנַף־בָּנוּ תִּמְשֹׁךְ אַפְּךָ לְדֹר וָדֹר׃
6 Wilt Thou be angry with us for ever? Wilt Thou draw out Thine anger to all generations?
7 הֲלֹא־אַתָּה תָּשׁוּב תְּחַיֵּנוּ וְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂמְחוּ־בָךְ׃
7 Wilt Thou not quicken us again, That Thy people may rejoice in Thee?
8 הַרְאֵנוּ יְהוָה חַסְדֶּךָ וְיֶשְׁעֲךָ תִּתֶּן־לָנוּ׃
8 Show us Thy mercy, O LORD, And grant us Thy salvation.
9 אֶשְׁמְעָה מַה־יְדַבֵּר הָאֵל יְהוָה כִּי יְדַבֵּר שָׁלוֹם אֶל־עַמּוֹ וְאֶל־חֲסִידָיו וְאַל־יָשׁוּבוּ לְכִסְלָה׃
9 I will hear what God the LORD will speak; For He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly.
10 אַךְ קָרוֹב לִירֵאָיו יִשְׁעוֹ לִשְׁכֹּן כָּבוֹד בְּאַרְצֵנוּ׃
10 Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him; That glory may dwell in our land.
11 חֶסֶד־וֶאֱמֶת נִפְגָּשׁוּ צֶדֶק וְשָׁלוֹם נָשָׁקוּ׃
11 Mercy and truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
12 אֱמֶת מֵאֶרֶץ תִּצְמָח וְצֶדֶק מִשָּׁמַיִם נִשְׁקָף׃
12 Truth springeth out of the earth; And righteousness hath looked down from heaven.
13 גַּם־יְהוָה יִתֵּן הַטּוֹב וְאַרְצֵנוּ תִּתֵּן יְבוּלָהּ׃
13 Yea, the LORD will give that which is good; And our land shall yield her produce.
14 צֶדֶק לְפָנָיו יְהַלֵּךְ וְיָשֵׂם לְדֶרֶךְ פְּעָמָיו׃
14 Righteousness shall go before Him, And shall make His footsteps a way.
Psalm 86
1 תְּפִלָּה לְדָוִד הַטֵּה־יְהוָה אָזְנְךָ עֲנֵנִי כִּי־עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן אָנִי׃
1 A Prayer of David. Incline Thine ear, O LORD, and answer me; For I am poor and needy.
2 שָׁמְרָה נַפְשִׁי כִּי־חָסִיד אָנִי הוֹשַׁע עַבְדְּךָ אַתָּה אֱלֹהַי הַבּוֹטֵחַ אֵלֶיךָ׃
2 Keep my soul, for I am godly; O Thou my God, save Thy servant that trusteth in Thee.
3 חָנֵּנִי אֲדֹנָי כִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֶקְרָא כָּל־הַיּוֹם׃
3 Be gracious unto me, O Lord; For unto Thee do I cry all the day.
4 שַׂמֵּחַ נֶפֶשׁ עַבְדֶּךָ כִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֲדֹנָי נַפְשִׁי אֶשָּׂא׃
4 Rejoice the soul of Thy servant; For unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 כִּי־אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי טוֹב וְסַלָּח וְרַב־חֶסֶד לְכָל־קֹרְאֶיךָ׃
5 For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to pardon, And plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.
6 הַאֲזִינָה יְהוָה תְּפִלָּתִי וְהַקְשִׁיבָה בְּקוֹל תַּחֲנוּנוֹתָי׃
6 Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; And attend unto the voice of my supplications.
7 בְּיוֹם צָרָתִי אֶקְרָאֶךָּ כִּי תַעֲנֵנִי׃
7 In the day of my trouble I call upon Thee; For Thou wilt answer me.
8 אֵין־כָּמוֹךָ בָאֱלֹהִים אֲדֹנָי וְאֵין כְּמַעֲשֶׂיךָ׃
8 There is none like unto Thee among the gods, O Lord, And there are no works like Thine.
9 כָּל־גּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ יָבוֹאוּ וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְפָנֶיךָ אֲדֹנָי וִיכַבְּדוּ לִשְׁמֶךָ׃
9 All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and prostrate themselves before Thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify Thy name.
10 כִּי־גָדוֹל אַתָּה וְעֹשֵׂה נִפְלָאוֹת אַתָּה אֱלֹהִים לְבַדֶּךָ׃
10 For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things; Thou art God alone.
11 הוֹרֵנִי יְהוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ אֲהַלֵּךְ בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ יַחֵד לְבָבִי לְיִרְאָה שְׁמֶךָ׃
11 Teach me, O LORD, Thy way, that I may walk in Thy truth; Make one my heart to fear Thy name. .
12 אוֹדְךָ אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהַי בְּכָל־לְבָבִי וַאֲכַבְּדָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם׃
12 I will thank Thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart; And I will glorify Thy name for evermore.
13 כִּי־חַסְדְּךָ גָּדוֹל עָלָי וְהִצַּלְתָּ נַפְשִׁי מִשְּׁאוֹל תַּחְתִּיָּה׃
13 For great is Thy mercy toward me; And Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest nether-world.
14 אֱלֹהִים זֵדִים קָמוּ־עָלַי וַעֲדַת עָרִיצִים בִּקְשׁוּ נַפְשִׁי וְלֹא שָׂמוּךָ לְנֶגְדָּם׃
14 O God, the proud are risen up against me, And the company of violent men have sought after my soul, And have not set Thee before them.
15 וְאַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֵל־רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב־חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת׃
15 But Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion and gracious, Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
16 פְּנֵה אֵלַי וְחָנֵּנִי תְּנָה־עֻזְּךָ לְעַבְדֶּךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעָה לְבֶן־אֲמָתֶךָ׃
16 O turn unto me, and be gracious unto me; Give Thy strength unto Thy servant, And save the son of Thy handmaid.
17 עֲשֵׂה־עִמִּי אוֹת לְטוֹבָה וְיִרְאוּ שֹׂנְאַי וְיֵבֹשׁוּ כִּי־אַתָּה יְהוָה עֲזַרְתַּנִי וְנִחַמְתָּנִי׃
17 Work in my behalf a sign for good; That they that hate me may see it, and be put to shame, Because Thou, LORD, hast helped me, and comforted me.
Psalm 87
1 לִבְנֵי־קֹרַח מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר יְסוּדָתוֹ בְּהַרְרֵי־קֹדֶשׁ׃
1 A Psalm of the sons of Korah; a Song. His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2 אֹהֵב יְהוָה שַׁעֲרֵי צִיּוֹן מִכֹּל מִשְׁכְּנוֹת יַעֲקֹב׃
2 The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3 נִכְבָּדוֹת מְדֻבָּר בָּךְ עִיר הָאֱלֹהִים סֶלָה׃
3 Glorious things are spoken of Thee, O city of God. Selah
4 אַזְכִּיר רַהַב וּבָבֶל לְיֹדְעָי הִנֵּה פְלֶשֶׁת וְצוֹר עִם־כּוּשׁ זֶה יֻלַּד־שָׁם׃
4 'I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon as among them that know Me; behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this one was born there.'
5 וּלֲצִיּוֹן יֵאָמַר אִישׁ וְאִישׁ יֻלַּד־בָּהּ וְהוּא יְכוֹנְנֶהָ עֶלְיוֹן׃
5 But of Zion it shall be said: 'This man and that was born in her; And the Most High Himself doth establish her.'
6 יְהוָה יִסְפֹּר בִּכְתוֹב עַמִּים זֶה יֻלַּד־שָׁם סֶלָה׃
6 The LORD shall count in the register of the peoples: 'This one was born there.' Selah
7 וְשָׁרִים כְּחֹלְלִים כָּל־מַעְיָנַי בָּךְ׃
7 And whether they sing or dance, all my thoughts are in Thee.
Read the full text of Tehillim on Sefaria (opens in a new tab)On Chabad.org: Tehillim for this day (opens in a new tab)
- Hebrew: Tanach with Nikkud (the Leningrad Codex, from tanach.us) (public domain).
- English: The Holy Scriptures, Jewish Publication Society, 1917 (public domain).
- Text from Sefaria.
Daf Yomi דף יומי
Bechorot 40בכורות דף מ׳
בשושן הבירה אחת על קרן מזרחית צפונית ואחת על קרן מזרחית דרומית שעל קרן מזרחית צפונית היתה יתירה על של משה חצי אצבע ושעל קרן מזרחית דרומית היתה יתירה עליה חצי אצבע נמצאת יתירה על של משה אצבע
in the chamber of Shushan the capital, which was located above the eastern gate of the Temple Mount, one in the northeast corner and one in the southeast corner. The one that was in the northeast corner was longer than the cubit used by Moses in the building of the Tabernacle, which was six handbreadths, by half a fingerbreadth, and the one that was in the southeast corner was longer than the other one by another half a fingerbreadth. One therefore finds it longer than Moses’ cubit by a full fingerbreadth.
ולמה היו אחת גדולה ואחת קטנה כשהיו אומנין נוטלין בקטנה ומחזירין בגדולה שלא יבואו לידי מעילה
The mishna continues: And why did the Sages say that there should be two measures of a cubit, one large and one small? It was so that the artisans who were working in the Temple would take payment according the amount of work they did, as measured by the small cubit, and return it to the Temple through their work, as measured by the large cubit, so they would not come to misuse consecrated property. If they would accept any payment that they did not deserve, they would be misusing consecrated property. It was with regard to the fingerbreadth mentioned in this mishna that the baraita cited above teaches that it is one-fourth of a handbreadth of any average person.
The opening of the daf.
Read the full text of Daf Yomi on Sefaria (opens in a new tab)
- Aramaic and English from The William Davidson digital edition of the Koren Noé Talmud, with commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz (Koren Publishers Jerusalem). The opening lines only. Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
- Text from Sefaria.
Hayom Yom for this day on Chabad.org (opens in a new tab)
Worked out each day from the date, the way Chabad’s daily study cycles set it out. Chumash follows the diaspora reading of the coming Shabbat; Tehillim follows the day of the Hebrew month. A summary marked “Draft summary” has not yet been reviewed by the rabbi.