Jewish Perspectives on Belonging and Community

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים נַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֛ם בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ כִּדְמוּתֵ֑נוּ וְיִרְדּוּ֩ בִדְגַ֨ת הַיָּ֜ם וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּבְכׇל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וּבְכׇל־הָרֶ֖מֶשׂ הָֽרֹמֵ֥שׂ עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ וַיִּבְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אֶת־הָֽאָדָם֙ בְּצַלְמ֔וֹ בְּצֶ֥לֶם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בָּרָ֣א אֹת֑וֹ זָכָ֥ר וּנְקֵבָ֖ה בָּרָ֥א אֹתָֽם׃

And God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness. They shall rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the cattle, the whole earth, and all the creeping things that creep on earth.” And God created humankind in the divine image, creating it in the image of God— creating them male and female.

עֹשֶׂ֛ה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט יָת֖וֹם וְאַלְמָנָ֑ה וְאֹהֵ֣ב גֵּ֔ר לָ֥תֶת ל֖וֹ לֶ֥חֶם וְשִׂמְלָֽה׃ וַאֲהַבְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־הַגֵּ֑ר כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

but upholds the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and befriends the stranger, providing food and clothing.— You too must befriend the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר רוּת֙ אַל־תִּפְגְּעִי־בִ֔י לְעׇזְבֵ֖ךְ לָשׁ֣וּב מֵאַחֲרָ֑יִךְ כִּ֠י אֶל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֵּלְכִ֜י אֵלֵ֗ךְ וּבַאֲשֶׁ֤ר תָּלִ֙ינִי֙ אָלִ֔ין עַמֵּ֣ךְ עַמִּ֔י וֵאלֹהַ֖יִךְ אֱלֹהָֽי׃ בַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר תָּמ֙וּתִי֙ אָמ֔וּת וְשָׁ֖ם אֶקָּבֵ֑ר כֹּה֩ יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה יְהֹוָ֥ה לִי֙ וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֔יף כִּ֣י הַמָּ֔וֶת יַפְרִ֖יד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֵֽךְ׃

But Ruth replied, “Do not urge me to leave you, to turn back and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus and more may GOD do to me if anything but death parts me from you.”

כִּֽי־אָבִ֣י וְאִמִּ֣י עֲזָב֑וּנִי וַֽיהֹוָ֣ה יַאַסְפֵֽנִי׃

Though my father and mother abandon me, GOD will take me in.

כְּאֶזְרָ֣ח מִכֶּם֩ יִהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֜ם הַגֵּ֣ר ׀ הַגָּ֣ר אִתְּכֶ֗ם וְאָהַבְתָּ֥ לוֹ֙ כָּמ֔וֹךָ כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

The strangers who reside with you shall be to you as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I the ETERNAL am your God.

הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, אִם אֵין אֲנִי לִי, מִי לִי. וּכְשֶׁאֲנִי לְעַצְמִי, מָה אֲנִי.

He [also] used to say: If I am not for myself, who is for me? But if I am for my own self [only], what am I?

הִלֵּל אוֹמֵר, אַל תִּפְרֹשׁ מִן הַצִּבּוּר, וְאַל תַּאֲמִין בְּעַצְמְךָ עַד יוֹם מוֹתְךָ, וְאַל תָּדִין אֶת חֲבֵרְךָ עַד שֶׁתַּגִּיעַ לִמְקוֹמוֹ, וְאַל תֹּאמַר דָּבָר שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לִשְׁמֹעַ, שֶׁסּוֹפוֹ לְהִשָּׁמַע.

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא: זוֹכֶה לַבְּרָכוֹת הַלָּלוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לוּא הִקְשַׁבְתָּ לְמִצְוֹתָי וַיְהִי כַנָּהָר שְׁלוֹמֶךָ וְצִדְקָתְךָ כְּגַלֵּי הַיָּם. וַיְהִי כַחוֹל זַרְעֶךָ וְצֶאֱצָאֵי מֵעֶיךָ״ וְגוֹ׳. תַּנְיָא, אַבָּא בִּנְיָמִין אוֹמֵר: אֵין תְּפִלָּה שֶׁל אָדָם נִשְׁמַעַת אֶלָּא בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לִשְׁמֹעַ אֶל הָרִנָּה וְאֶל הַתְּפִלָּה״. בִּמְקוֹם רִנָּה — שָׁם תְּהֵא תְּפִלָּה. אָמַר רָבִין בַּר רַב אַדָּא, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: מִנַּיִן שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מָצוּי בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֱלֹהִים נִצָּב בַּעֲדַת אֵל״. וּמִנַּיִן לַעֲשָׂרָה שֶׁמִּתְפַּלְּלִין שֶׁשְּׁכִינָה עִמָּהֶם — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֱלֹהִים נִצָּב בַּעֲדַת אֵל״.

In terms of this reward, Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina said: One who waits in the synagogue for the other to finish his prayer merits the following blessings, as it is stated: “If only you had listened to My mitzvot then your peace would be as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea. Your seed would be as the sand, and the offspring of your body like the grains thereof; his name would be neither cut off nor destroyed from before Me” (Isaiah 48:18–19). The explanation of this passage is based on the etymological similarity between the word mitzva and the word tzevet, which means group. If he keeps the other person company and does not abandon him after his prayer, all of the blessings that appear later in the verse will be fulfilled in him (Talmidei Rabbeinu Yona). It was taught in a baraita that Abba Binyamin said: One’s prayer is only fully heard in a synagogue, as it is stated with regard to King Solomon’s prayer in the Temple: “Yet have You turned toward the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, Lord my God, to listen to the song and the prayer which Your servant prays before You on this day” (I Kings 8:28). The following verse concludes: “To hear the prayer Your servant directs toward this place” (I Kings 8:29). We see that one’s prayer is heard specifically in the Temple, of which the synagogue is a microcosm (Rav Yoshiyahu Pinto). It may be inferred that in a place of song, a synagogue where God’s praises are sung, there prayer should be. In explaining Abba Binyamin’s statement, Ravin bar Rav Adda said that Rabbi Yitzḥak said: From where is it derived that the Holy One, Blessed be He, is located in a synagogue? As it is stated: “God stands in the congregation of God; in the midst of the judges He judges” (Psalms 82:1). The congregation of God is the place where people congregate to sing God’s praises, and God is located among His congregation. And from where is it derived that ten people who pray, the Divine Presence is with them? As it is stated: “God stands in the congregation of God,” and the minimum number of people that constitute a congregation is a quorum of ten.

קִיבֵּל — מָלִין אוֹתוֹ מִיָּד. נִשְׁתַּיְּירוּ בּוֹ צִיצִין הַמְעַכְּבִין אֶת הַמִּילָה — חוֹזְרִים וּמָלִין אוֹתוֹ שְׁנִיָּה. נִתְרַפֵּא — מַטְבִּילִין אוֹתוֹ מִיָּד. וּשְׁנֵי תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים עוֹמְדִים עַל גַּבָּיו וּמוֹדִיעִין אוֹתוֹ מִקְצָת מִצְוֹת קַלּוֹת וּמִקְצָת מִצְוֹת חֲמוּרוֹת. טָבַל וְעָלָה — הֲרֵי הוּא כְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לְכׇל דְּבָרָיו. אָמַר מָר: גֵּר שֶׁבָּא לְהִתְגַּיֵּיר, אוֹמְרִים לוֹ: מָה רָאִיתָ שֶׁבָּאתָ לְהִתְגַּיֵּיר? וּמוֹדִיעִים אוֹתוֹ מִקְצָת מִצְוֹת קַלּוֹת וּמִקְצָת מִצְוֹת חֲמוּרוֹת. מַאי טַעְמָא? דְּאִי פָּרֵישׁ — נִפְרוֹשׁ. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ: קָשִׁים גֵּרִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּסַפַּחַת, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְנִלְוָה הַגֵּר עֲלֵיהֶם וְנִסְפְּחוּ עַל בֵּית יַעֲקֹב״. מִפַּקְדִינַן שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת וּשְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִצְוֹת — ״עַמֵּךְ עַמִּי״. אֲסִיר לַן עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה — ״וֵאלֹהַיִךְ אֱלֹהָי״. אַרְבַּע מִיתוֹת נִמְסְרוּ לְבֵית דִּין — ״בַּאֲשֶׁר תָּמוּתִי אָמוּת״. שְׁנֵי קְבָרִים נִמְסְרוּ לְבֵית דִּין — ״וְשָׁם אֶקָּבֵר״.

If he accepts upon himself all of these ramifications, then they circumcise him immediately. If there still remain on him shreds of flesh from the foreskin that invalidate the circumcision, they circumcise him again a second time to remove them. When he is healed from the circumcision, they immerse him immediately, and two Torah scholars stand over him at the time of his immersion and inform him of some of the lenient mitzvot and some of the stringent mitzvot. Once he has immersed and emerged, he is like a born Jew in every sense. The Gemara analyzes the baraita. The Master said in the baraita: With regard to a potential convert who comes to a court in order to convert, the judges of the court say to him: What did you see that motivated you to come to convert? And they inform him of some of the lenient mitzvot and some of the stringent mitzvot. The Gemara asks: What is the reason to say this to him? It is so that if he is going to withdraw from the conversion process, let him withdraw already at this stage. He should not be convinced to continue, as Rabbi Ḥelbo said: Converts are as harmful to the Jewish people as a leprous scab [sappaḥat] on the skin, as it is written: “And the convert shall join himself with them, and they shall cleave [venispeḥu] to the house of Jacob” (Isaiah 14:1). This alludes to the fact that the cleaving of the convert to the Jewish people is like a scab. Naomi said to her: We are commanded to observe six hundred and thirteen mitzvot. Ruth responded: “Your people are my people” (Ruth 1:16). Naomi said to her: Idolatrous worship is forbidden to us. Ruth responded: “Your God is my God” (Ruth 1:16). Naomi said to her: Four types of capital punishment were handed over to a court with which to punish those who transgress the mitzvot. Ruth responded: “Where you die, I shall die” (Ruth 1:17). Naomi said to her: Two burial grounds were handed over to the court, one for those executed for more severe crimes and another for those executed for less severe crimes. Ruth responded: “And there I shall be buried” (Ruth 1:17).

דָּרֵישׁ רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: אִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה זָכוּ — שְׁכִינָה בֵּינֵיהֶן. לֹא זָכוּ — אֵשׁ אוֹכַלְתָּן.

§ Rabbi Akiva taught: If a man [ish] and woman [isha] merit reward through a faithful marriage, the Divine Presence rests between them. The words ish and isha are almost identical; the difference between them is the middle letter yod in ish, and the final letter heh in isha. These two letters can be joined to form the name of God spelled yod, heh. But if due to licentiousness they do not merit reward, the Divine Presence departs, leaving in each word only the letters alef and shin, which spell esh, fire. Therefore, fire consumes them.

דֶרֶךְ בְּרִיָּתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם לִהְיוֹת נִמְשָׁךְ בְּדֵעוֹתָיו וּבְמַעֲשָׂיו אַחַר רֵעָיו וַחֲבֵרָיו וְנוֹהֵג כְּמִנְהַג אַנְשֵׁי מְדִינָתוֹ. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִתְחַבֵּר לַצַּדִּיקִים וִלֵישֵׁב אֵצֵל הַחֲכָמִים תָּמִיד כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמַד מִמַּעֲשֵׂיהֶם.

אִישׁ יְהוּדִי. עַל שֶׁגָּלָה עִם גָּלוּת יְהוּדָה. כָּל אוֹתָן שֶׁגָּלוּ עִם מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה הָיוּ קְרוּיִים "יְהוּדִים" בֵּין הַגּוֹיִם, וַאֲפִילוּ מִשֵּׁבֶט אַחֵר הֵם:

There was a Yehudite man. Because he was exiled with the exile of Yehudah. All those who were exiled with the kings of Yehudah were called יְהוּדִים [Yehudites] among the nations, even if they were from another tribe.

מִצְוַת אַהֲבַת הַגֵּרִים – שֶׁנִּצְטַוִּינוּ לֶאֱהֹב הַגֵּרִים, כְּלוֹמַר, שֶׁנִּזָּהֵר שֶׁלֹּא לְצַעֵר אוֹתָם, בְּשׁוּם דָּבָר, אֲבָל נַעֲשֶׂה לָהֶם טוֹבָה וְנִגְמֹל אוֹתָם חֶסֶד כְּפִי הָרָאוּי וְהַיְּכֹלֶת. וְהַגֵּרִים הֵם, כָּל מִי שֶׁנִּתְחַבֵּר אֵלֵינוּ מִשְּׁאָר הָאֻמּוֹת שֶׁהִנִּיחַ דָּתוֹ וְנִכְנַס בְּדָתֵנוּ, וַעֲלֵיהֶם נֶאֱמַר (דברים י יט) וַאֲהַבְתֶּם אֶת הַגֵּר וְגוֹ'. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיִּכְלְלֵהוּ כְּמוֹ כֵן הַצִּוּוּי בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עָלָיו וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ (מצוה רמג), שֶׁהֲרֵי גֵּר צֶדֶק בִּכְלַל רֵעֲךָ הוּא, הוֹסִיף לָנוּ הַשֵּׁם בּוֹ מִצְוָה מְיֻחֶדֶת לוֹ בְּאַהֲבָתוֹ, וּכְמוֹ כֵן הַדָּבָר בַּמְּנִיעָה מִלְּרַמּוֹת אוֹתוֹ, שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָיָה בִּכְלַל וְלֹא תוֹנוּ אִישׁ אֶת עֲמִיתוֹ (מצוה שלח), הוֹסִיף לָנוּ הַכָּתוּב בּוֹ מְנִיעָה מְיֻחֶדֶת לוֹ, בְּאָמְרוֹ וְגֵר לֹא תוֹנֶה (מצוה סג). וְאָמְרוּ בַּגְּמָרָא (ב"מ נט, ב), שֶׁהַמְּאַנֶּה הַגֵּר עוֹבֵר מִשּׁוּם לֹא תוֹנוּ וְגוֹ', וּמִשּׁוּם וְגֵר לֹא תוֹנֶה, וּכְמוֹ כֵן מְבַטֵּל מִצְוַת וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ, וּמִצְוַת וַאֲהַבְתֶּם אֶת הַגֵּר. מִשָּׁרְשֵׁי הַמִּצְוָה. כִּי הַשֵּׁם בָּחַר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לִהְיוֹת לוֹ לְעַם קָדוֹשׁ וְרָצָה לְזַכּוֹתָם, וְלָכֵן הִדְרִיכָם וְצִוָּם עַל דַּרְכֵי הַחֲנִינָה וְהַחֶמְלָה, וְהִזְהִירָם לְהִתְעַטֵּר בְּכָל מִדָּה חֲמוּדָה וִיקָרָה לִמְצֹא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי כָּל רוֹאֵיהֶם, וְיֹאמְרוּ (יחזקאל לו כ) עַם יְיָ אֵלֶּה. וְכַמָּה הִיא דֶּרֶךְ נְעִימוּת וְחֶמְדָּה לְהִתְחַסֵּד וְלִגְמֹל טוֹבָה לַאֲשֶׁר הִנִּיחַ אֻמָּתוֹ וְכָל מִשְׁפַּחַת בֵּית אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ, וַיָּבוֹא לַחֲסוֹת תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי אֻמָּה אַחֶרֶת בְּאַהֲבָתוֹ אוֹתָהּ, וּבִבְחִירָתוֹ בָּאֱמֶת וְשִׂנְאַת הַשֶּׁקֶר. וּבִהְיוֹתֵנוּ זוֹכִים לְמִדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת הַלָּלוּ תָּחוּל טוֹבַת הָאֵל עָלֵינוּ וְתִדְבַּק בָּנוּ, וְשׁוּם דָּבָר לֹא תִּמְנָעֶנּוּ מִמֶּנּוּ, כִּי הַטּוֹבָה תִּתְפַּשֵּׁט בַּטּוֹבִים, וְהֶפְכָּהּ בָּרָעִים.

The commandment of loving the strangers (converts): That we were commanded to love the converts, meaning to say that we be careful not to cause them pain in any thing, but [rather to] do them good and grant them kindness according to what is proper and is possible. And converts are anyone who connects with us from the other nations, that leaves his religion and enters into our religion. And about them is it stated (Deuteronomy 10:19), “And you shall love the stranger, etc.” And even though the commandment (Sefer HaChinukh 243) about the Israelite includes him, as it is stated about him (Leviticus 19:18), “and you shall love your neighbor as yourself” — since behold, a righteous convert is included in “your neighbor” — God added for us a specific commandment about his love. And so too is the thing in the prevention against cheating him. As even though he was included in “A man shall not mistreat his countryman” (Leviticus 25:17, Sefer HaChinukh 338), Scripture added a specific prevention about him in its stating, “You shall not wrong a stranger” (Exodus 22:20, Sefer HaChinukh 63). And they said in the Gemara (Bava Metzia 59b) that one who wrongs the convert transgresses because of “[A man] shall not mistreat” and because of “You shall not wrong a stranger.” And so too [with this], he nullifies the commandment of “and you shall love your neighbor” and the commandment of “And you shall love the stranger.” It is from the roots of the commandment that God chose Israel to be a holy nation and wanted to give them merit. And therefore He guided them and commanded them about the ways of grace and compassion and warned them to crown themselves with every beautiful and precious trait to find grace in the eyes of all who see them, [such] that they will say, “These are the people of the Lord” (Ezekiel 36:20). And it is so much the way of pleasantnesses and beauty to show kindness and to grant good to one who leaves his people and all the family of the house of his father and mother and comes to take shelter under the wings of a different nation in his love for it, and in his choosing of truth and his hatred for falsehood. And in our meriting these good traits, the goodness of God will rest upon us and cling to us, and nothing will prevent us from it; as the good will extend to the good ones and the opposite to the bad ones.

הערה הקשר ההדדי: האל עם האדם כשהוא עם האל 16 כבר הבהרתי לך (פסקה 13) שהשכל הזה ששפע עלינו ממנו יתעלה הוא הקשר אשר בינינו ובינו. והבחירה בידך: אם תחפוץ לחזק את הקשר הזה ולעבות אותו, תעשה כן; ואם תחפוץ להחליש אותו ולדקק אותו מעט מעט עד שתקטע אותו, תעשה כן. הקשר הזה יתחזק רק בהפעלתו באהבת ה' ובהתמסרות לכך כמו שביארנו; והקשר הזה יחלש ויידקק בהעסקת מחשבתך בזולתו. ודע שאפילו היית הגדול שבחכמי המדע האלוהי לאמיתתו, הרי כשאתה מפַנה את מחשבתך מן ה' ועוסק כולך באכילה הכרחית או בעיסוק הכרחי, אתה קוטע את אותו הקשר אשר בינך ובין ה', ואינך עמו באותה העת. וכן הוא אינו עמך, משום שאותו היחס שבינך ובינו נקטע בפועל באותה שעה. ולכן היו אנשי המעלה מקמצים בזמנים שהם עסקו בהם בדברים שאינם ה'. והזהירו (חז"ל) על כך ואמרו: "אַל תְּפַנּוּ אֵל מדעתכם" (בבלי שבת קמט,א). ואמר דוד: "שִׁוִּיתִי ה' לְנֶגְדִּי תָמִיד, כִּי מִימִינִי – בַּל אֶמּוֹט" (תהילים טז,ח), כלומר: איני מפנה את מחשבתי ממנו, וכאילו הוא ידי הימנית שאיני מסיח דעתי ממנה אף להרף עין, בשל מהירות תנועתה, ומשום כך לא אמוט, כלומר לא אפול. דרגת משה והאבות 19 דרגת משה) אבל שאדם יזכה להשיג את האמיתות ולשמוח במה שהשיג, בעודו מדבר עם בני אדם ועוסק בצרכי גופו כשכל שכלו מופנה אל ה' יתעלה; והוא לפניו יתעלה בלבו תמיד בעודו עם בני אדם בחיצוניותו, על דרך מה שנאמר במשלים השיריים שנאמרו על העניינים האלה: "אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה וְלִבִּי עֵר, קוֹל דּוֹדִי דוֹפֵק" (שיר השירים ה,ב) – על דרגה זו איני אומר שהיא דרגת כל הנביאים, אלא אני אומר שהיא דרגת משה רבינו, שנאמר עליו: "וְנִגַּשׁ מֹשֶׁה לְבַדּוֹ אֶל ה', וְהֵם לֹא יִגָּשׁוּ" (שמות כד,ב), ונאמר עליו "וַיְהִי שָׁם עִם ה' [אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה, לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַל וּמַיִם לֹא שָׁתָה]" (שם לד,כח), ונאמר לו: "וְאַתָּה פֹּה עֲמֹד עִמָּדִי" (דברים ה,כז), כמו שביארנו את משמעויות הפסוקים האלה (פסקה 10; א,יג; א,יח). דרגת האבות) וזוהי גם דרגת האבות, שמקרבתם אליו יתעלה הושג שנודע בהם שמו לָעולם: "אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב [שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם] זֶה שְּׁמִי לְעֹלָם [וְזֶה זִכְרִי לְדֹר דֹּר]" (שמות ג,טו), ומהתאחדות שכליהם בהשגתו הושג שנכרתה עם כל אחד מהם ברית נצחית, "וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקוֹב [וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי יִצְחָק וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי אַבְרָהָם אֶזְכֹּר וְהָאָרֶץ אֶזְכֹּר]" (ויקרא כו,מב). 20 ייחוד 1: השילוב) כי על ארבעה אלו, כלומר האבות ומשה רבינו, התבארה התאחדותם עם ה' שהעידו עליה הכתובים, כוונתי להשגתו ולאהבתו; וכן השגחת ה' עליהם ועל צאצאיהם אחריהם גדולה. ועם זאת הם היו עוסקים בהנהגת בני האדם וצבירת נכסים וההשתדלות בקניין. זו לדעתי ראיה שבעת אותם מעשים, הם היו עושים אותם באבריהם בלבד, בעוד שכלם לא סר מלפני ה' יתעלה. 21 ייחוד 2: ייסוד עם) כמו כן נראה לי שמה שחייב שאותם ארבעה נשארו בתכלית השלמות עם ה', כשהשגחתו עליהם התמידה, אף בעת התעסקותם בצבירת נכסים, כלומר בעת הרעייה ועבודת האדמה וניהול הבית, הוא שתכליתם בכל אותם מעשים היתה להתקרב אליו יתעלה. ומה רבה הקרבה! כי תכלית השתדלותם בחייהם היתה להביא למציאות אומה שתדע את ה' ותעבוד אותו, "כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה אֶת בָּנָיו וְאֶת בֵּיתוֹ אַחֲרָיו [וְשָׁמְרוּ דֶּרֶךְ ה' לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט]" (בראשית יח,יט). הרי התברר לך שתכלית כל השתדלותם היתה מופנית להפצת ייחוד השם בעולם והדרכת בני האדם לאהבתו יתעלה. ולכן עלתה בידם דרגה זו, כי אותן התעסקויות הן עבודה צרופה גדולה. 22 סיכום) אותה דרגה אינה כזו שאיש אשר כמוני יתיימר להדריך להשגתה. אך אל אותה דרגה שנזכרה לפניה ניתן לשאוף להגיע על ידי אותו אימון שהזכרנו. ואל ה' נישא תחינה להסיר את המכשולים המבדילים בינינו ובינו, אף על פי שרוב המכשולים הללו נובעים מאתנו, כמו שביארנו בפרקי החיבור הזה (ג,יא-יב), "עֲוֹנֹתֵיכֶם הָיוּ מַבְדִּלִים בֵּינֵכֶם לְבֵין אֱלֹהֵיכֶם" (ישעיהו נט,ב).

Note.—I have shown you that the intellect which emanates from God unto us is the link that joins us to God. You have it in your power to strengthen that bond, if you choose to do so, or to weaken it gradually, till it breaks if you prefer this. It will only become strong when you employ it in the love of God, and seek that love: it will be weakened when you direct your thoughts to other things. You must know that even if you were the wisest man in respect to the true knowledge of God, you break the bond between you and God whenever you turn entirely your thoughts to the necessary food or any necessary business; you are then not with God, and He is not with you: for that relation between you and Him is actually interrupted in those moments. The pious were therefore particular to restrict the time in which they could not meditate upon the name of God, and cautioned others about it, saying, “Let not your minds be vacant from reflections upon God.” In the same sense did David say, “I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Ps. 16:8); i.e., I do not turn my thoughts away from God; He is like my right hand, which I do not forget even for a moment on account of the ease of its motions, and therefore I shall not be moved, I shall not fail. When we have acquired a true knowledge of God, and rejoice in that knowledge in such a manner, that whilst speaking with others, or attending to our bodily wants, our mind is all that time with God; when we are with our heart constantly near God, even whilst our body is in the society of men; when we are in that state which the Song on the relation between God and man poetically describes in the following words: “I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh” (Song 5:2):—then we have attained not only the height of ordinary prophets, but of Moses, our Teacher, of whom Scripture relates: “And Moses alone shall come near before the Lord” (ibid. 34:28); “But as for thee, stand thou here by me” (Deut. 5:28). The meaning of these verses has been explained by us. The Patriarchs likewise attained this degree of perfection; they approached God in such a manner that with them the name of God became known in the world. Thus we read in Scripture: “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. . . . This is My name for ever” (Exod. 3:15). Their mind was so identified with the knowledge of God, that He made a lasting covenant with each of them: “Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob,” etc. (Lev. 26:42). For it is known from statements made in Scripture that these four, viz., the Patriarchs and Moses, had their minds exclusively filled with the name of God, that is, with His knowledge and love; and that in the same measure was Divine Providence attached to them and their descendants. When we therefore find them also, engaged in ruling others, in increasing their property, and endeavouring to obtain possession of wealth and honour, we see in this fact a proof that when they were occupied in these things, only their bodily limbs were at work, whilst their heart and mind never moved away from the name of God. I think these four reached that high degree of perfection in their relation to God, and enjoyed the continual presence of Divine Providence, even in their endeavours to increase their property, feeding the flock, toiling in the field, or managing the house, only because in all these things their end and aim was to approach God as much as possible. It was the chief aim of their whole life to create a people that should know and worship God. Comp. “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him” (Gen. 18:19). The object of all their labours was to publish the Unity of God in the world, and to induce people to love Him; and it was on this account that they succeeded in reaching that high degree; for even those [worldly] affairs were for them a perfect worship of God. But a person like myself must not imagine that he is able to lead men up to this degree of perfection It is only the next degree to it that can be attained by means of the above-mentioned training. And let us pray to God and beseech Him that He clear and remove from our way everything that forms an obstruction and a partition between us and Him, although most of these obstacles are our own creation, as has several times been shown in this treatise. Comp. “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God” (Isa. 59:2).

ואח״כ חֲשׁוֹב בְּמִדַּת הַבֹּשֶׁת אֲשֶׁר יִחֵד בָּהּ הָאָדָם מָה גָּדְלָה מַעֲלָתָהּ וְרַבָּה תּוֹעַלְתָּהּ וְתַקָּנָתָהּ וְלוּלֵא הִיא לֹא הָיוּ מְאַכְסְנִים אַכְסְנַאי וְלֹא מְקַיְּמִים דָּבָר וְלֹא מְמַלְּאִים מִשְׁאָל וְלֹא גּוֹמְלִים חֶסֶד וּמִתְרַחֲקִים מִן הָרַע בְּשׁוּם דָּבָר עַד כִּי דְּבָרִים רַבִּים מִדִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה עוֹשִׂים בַּעֲבוּר הַבֹּשֶׁת כִּי רֹב מִבְּנֵי אָדָם לֹא הָיוּ מְכַבְּדִים אֶת אֲבוֹתָם לוּלֵא הַבֹּשֶׁת כ״ש זוּלָתָם וְלֹא הָיוּ מְשִׁיבִין אֲבֵדָה וְלֹא נִמְנָעִין מֵעֲבֵרָה כִּי כָּל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה מִכֹּל אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים הַמְגֻנִּים שֶׁזָּכַרְנוּ אֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָם אֶלָּא לְאַחַר שֶׁיִּפְשֹׁט כְּסוּת הַבֹּשֶׁת מֵעָלָיו כמ״ש הַכָּתוּב (ירמיה ו) גַּם בּוֹשׁ לֹא יֵבוֹשׁוּ גַּם הַכְלִים לֹא יָדָעוּ וְאוֹמֵר (צפניה ג׳:ה׳) וְלֹא יוֹדֵעַ עַוָּל בֹּשֶׁת. וּמִן הַתֵּמַהּ הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁהֻטְבַּע הָאָדָם עַל הַבֹּשֶׁת מִבְּנֵי אָדָם בַּעֲבוּר מָה שֶׁזָּכַרְנוּ מִתּוֹעֲלוֹתָיו בָּהּ וְיוֹתֵר מִמָּה שֶׁזָּכַרְנוּ וְלֹא הֻטְבַּע עַל הַבֹּשֶׁת מִבּוֹרְאוֹ הַמַּשְׁקִיף עָלָיו תָּמִיד כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה מֻכְרָח עַל עֲבוֹדָתוֹ אוֹתוֹ וְיֶחֱלָשׁ חִיּוּב תַּגְמוּלוֹ עָלֶיהָ אֲבָל אֲנַחְנוּ חַיָּבִין לְהִתְבּוֹשֵׁשׁ מִן הַבּוֹרֵא מִדֶּרֶךְ הַבְּחִינָה וּבִידִיעַת מָה שֶׁאָנוּ חַיָּבִין מֵעֲבוֹדָתוֹ וְדַעְתֵּנוּ הַשְׁקָפָתוֹ עַל נִגְלוֹתֵינוּ וְנִסְתְּרוֹתֵינוּ כמ״ש הַכָּתוּב (יחזקאל לו) בּוֹשׁוּ וְהִכָּלְמוּ מִדַּרְכֵיכֶם בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל.

Afterwards, reflect on the feeling of shame with which man alone has been endowed. How high is its value! How numerous are its uses and advantages. Were it not for this feeling, men would not show hospitality to strangers. They would not keep their promises, grant favors, show kindness, nor abstain from evil in any way. Many precepts of the Torah are fulfilled only out of shame. A large number of people would not honor their parent if it were not for shame, and certainly would fail to show courtesy to others. They would not restore a lost article to its owner, nor refrain from any transgression. For whoever commits any of the disgraceful acts which we have mentioned, does so only when he has cast off the garment of shame. As Scripture said: "Yea they are not at all ashamed, neither know they how to blush" (Yirmiyahu 6:15), and "The sinner knows no shame" (Tzefania 3:5). It is a great amazement that G-d has implanted man with shame in the presence of other human beings due to the advantages we mentioned and others we did not mention, and yet G-d did not implant man with shame in the presence of his Creator who observes him continually. The reason for this is so that a human being would not be forced in the service of G-d whereby its reward would not be deserved. It is, however, our duty to feel shame in the presence of the Creator, as a result of reflection, realization of the service we owe to Him, and our consciousness that He observes every thing that we do openly or secretly; as Scripture said "Be ashamed and humiliated of your ways, O House of Israel" (Yechezkel 36:32).

הד' - לשארית נחלתו - הִנֵּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְנַהֵג עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּדֶרֶךְ זֶה לוֹמַר מַה אֶעֱשֶׂה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְהֵם קְרוֹבָי שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר יֵשׁ לִי עִמָּהֶם שֶׁהֵם בַּת זוּג לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְקוֹרֵא לָהּ בִּתִּי, אֲחוֹתִי, אִמִּי. כְּדְפֵרְשׁוּ ז"ל וּכְתִיב יִשְׂרָאֵל עַם קְרוֹבוֹ מַמָּשׁ קֻרְבָה יֵשׁ לוֹ עִמָּהֶם וּבָנָיו הֵם. וְהַיְנוּ לִשְׁאֵרִית נַחֲלָתוֹ לָשׁוֹן שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר וְסוֹף סוֹף הֵם נַחֲלָתוֹ. וּמַה אֹמַר, אִם אַעֲנִישֵׁם הֲרֵי הַכְּאֵב עָלַי כְּדִכְתִיב (יְשַׁעְיָה סג, ט) בְּכָל צָרָתָם לוֹ צָר. כְּתִיב בְּ'אַלֶף' לוֹמַר שֶׁצַּעֲרָם מַגִּיעַ לְפֶלֶא הָעֶלְיוֹן וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן לְדוּ פַּרְצוּפִין שֶׁבָּהֶן עִיקָר הַהַנְהָגָה וְקָרֵינַן בְּ'וָאו' לוֹ צָר. וּכְתִיב (שֹׁפְטִים, ז) וַתִּקְצַר נַפְשִׁי בַּעֲמַל יִשְׂרָאֵל לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ סוֹבֵל צַעֲרָם וּקְלוֹנָם מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵם שְׁאֵרִית נַחֲלָתוֹ. כָּךְ הָאָדָם עִם חֲבֵרוֹ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵם שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר אֵלּוּ עִם אֵלּוּ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמוֹת כְּלוּלוֹת יַחַד יֵשׁ בָּזֶה חֵלֶק זֶה וּבָזֶה חֵלֶק זֶה, וּלְכָךְ אֵינוֹ דּוֹמֶה מְרֻבִּים הָעוֹשִׂים אֶת הַמִּצְוֹת וְכ"ז מִפְּנֵי כְּלָלוּתָם, וּלְכָךְ פֵּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה עַל הַנִּמְנֶה מֵעֲשָׂרָה רִאשׁוֹנִים בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת אֲפִלּוּ מֵאָה בָּאִים אַחֲרָיו מְקַבֵּל שָׂכָר כְּנֶגֶד כֻּלָּם, מֵאָה מַמָּשׁ כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָעֲשָׂרָה הֵם כְּלוּלִים אֵלּוּ בְּאֵלּוּ הֲרֵי הֵם עֲשָׂרָה פְּעָמִים עֲשָׂרָה מֵאָה וְכָל אֶחָד מֵהֶם כָּלוּל מִמֵּאָה אִם כֵּן אֲפִלּוּ יָבוֹאוּ מֵאָה הוּא יֵשׁ לוֹ שְׂכַר מֵאָה, וְכֵן מִטַּעַם זֶה יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲרֵבִים זֶה לָזֶה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמַּמָּשׁ יֵשׁ בְּכָל אֶחָד חֵלֶק אֶחָד מֵחֲבֵרוֹ וּכְשֶׁחוֹטֵא הָאֶחָד פּוֹגֵם אֶת עַצְמוֹ וּפוֹגֵם חֵלֶק אֲשֶׁר לַחֲבֵרוֹ בּוֹ, נִמְצָא מִצַּד הַחֵלֶק הַהוּא חֲבֵרוֹ עָרֵב עָלָיו. אִם כֵּן הֵם שְׁאֵר זֶה עִם זֶה וּלְכָךְ רָאוּי לְאָדָם לִהְיוֹתוֹ חָפֵץ בְּטוֹבָתוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ וְעֵינוֹ טוֹבָה עַל טוֹבַת חֲבֵרוֹ וּכְבוֹדוֹ יִהְיֶה חָבִיב עָלָיו כְּשֶׁלּוֹ שֶׁהֲרֵי הוּא הוּא מַמָּשׁ, וּמִטַּעַם זֶה נִצְטַוִּינוּ (וַיִּקְרָא, יט) וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ וְרָאוּי שֶׁיִּרְצֶה בְּכַשְׁרוּת חֲבֵרוֹ וְלֹא יְדַבֵּר בִּגְנוּתוֹ כְּלָל וְלֹא יִרְצֶה בוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא רוֹצֶה בִּגְנוּתֵנוּ וְלֹא בְּצַעַרֵנוּ מִטַּעַם הַקֻּרְבָה, אַף הוּא לֹא יִרְצֶה בִּגְנוּת חֲבֵרוֹ וְלֹא בְּצַעֲרוֹ וְלֹא בְּקִלְקוּלוֹ וְיֵרַע לוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא מַמָּשׁ הָיָה שָׁרוּי בְּאוֹתוֹ צַעַר אוֹ בְּאוֹתוֹ טוֹבָה:

The fourth - "To the remnant of His inheritance" - behold, the Holy One, blessed be He, acts with His people in this way, to say, "What can I do with Israel, [as] they are My relatives - relation of flesh do I have with them." As they are the spouse to the Holy One, blessed be He; and He calls them, "My daughter" and "My sister," "My Mother" - as they, may their memory be blessed, explained (Shir HaShirim Rabbah 3:11:2). And it is written (Psalms 148:14), "Israel, His close (kerovo) nation" - He has actual closeness (kurvah) with them, and they are His children. And that is [the meaning of] the remnant of (she'erit) His inheritance" - it is an expression of relation (she'er) of flesh; and in the end, they are His (literal) inheritance. "And what shall I say? If I punish them, behold the pain is upon Me; as it is written (Isaiah 63:9), 'In all their distress, the distress (tsar) was to Him.'" And [to Him (lo)] is written with a [letter,] alef, to say that their pain reached the Highest Wonder (Wonder, peleh, being composed of the same letters as the spelling of alef, and representing Keter) - and all the more so, the two Faces through which is the central running [of the world] - but it is written with a [letter,] vav, [to mean that] the distress is to Him. And it is written (Judges 10:16), "and His soul could not bear the travail of Israel" - as He does not bear their pain and their disgrace, because they are "the she'erit [of] His inheritance." So is it [regarding] a man with his fellow: All Israel are relations of flesh, these with those. Since all of their souls are bound together, this one has a share in that and that one has a share in this. And hence it is not similar when the many do the commandments [to when they are only done by individuals]. And all of this is because of their being bound together. And our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, thus explained (Berakhot 47b) about the one who is counted from the first ten in the synagogue - [that] even if a hundred come after him, he recieves the reward that corresponds to all of them. It is actually a hundred, as per its understanding. Since the ten are included - these in those - behold, they are ten times ten, one hundred. And [so] each one of them is composed of a hundred [parts]. If so, even if one hundred come [afterwards], he has the reward of a hundred. As so from this reason, Israel are guarantors for each other. Since each one actually has a part of his fellow - when the one sins, he damages himself and he damages the part that his fellow has in him. It comes out from the side of that part that his fellow is his guarantor. If so, they are the relation, one of the other. And hence it is fitting that a person be desiring of the good of his fellow and his eye be good towards the good of his fellow, and that his honor should be as beloved to him as his [own] - as he is literally him[self]. And from this reason were we commanded (Leviticus 19:18), "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." And it is fitting that he desire the propriety of his fellow and not speak about his disgrace at all. And he [should] not want it, in the way that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not want our disgrace nor our pain - from the reason of relation. So too [should] he not want the disgrace of his fellow nor his pain, nor his corruption. And it [should] be bad for him on account of [his fellow], as if he was actually experiencing that pain, or [good for him from] that good [that he experiences].

כִּי מֵאַחַר שֶׁגּוּפוֹ נִמְאָס וּמְתוֹעָב אֶצְלוֹ, וְהַנֶּפֶשׁ וְהָרוּחַ מִי יוֹדֵעַ גְּדוּלָּתָן וּמַעֲלָתָן בְּשָׁרְשָׁן וּמְקוֹרָן בֵּאלֹקִים חַיִּים. בְּשֶׁגַּם שֶׁכּוּלָּן מַתְאִימוֹת, וְאָב אֶחָד לְכוּלָּנָה, וְלָכֵן נִקְרְאוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל ״אַחִים״ מַמָּשׁ, מִצַּד שׁוֹרֶשׁ נַפְשָׁם בַּה׳ אֶחָד רַק שֶׁהַגּוּפִים מְחוּלָּקִים. וְלָכֵן, הָעוֹשִׂים גּוּפָם עִיקָּר וְנַפְשָׁם טְפֵלָה – אִי אֶפְשָׁר לִהְיוֹת אַהֲבָה וְאַחֲוָה אֲמִיתִּית בֵּינֵיהֶם, אֶלָּא הַתְּלוּיָה בְדָבָר לְבַדָּהּ. וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר הִלֵּל הַזָּקֵן עַל קִיּוּם מִצְוָה זוֹ: ״זֶהוּ כָּל הַתּוֹרָה כוּלָּהּ, וְאִידָךְ פֵּירוּשָׁא הוּא כוּ׳״. כִּי יְסוֹד וְשׁוֹרֶשׁ כָּל הַתּוֹרָה – הוּא לְהַגְבִּיהַּ וּלְהַעֲלוֹת הַנֶּפֶשׁ עַל הַגּוּף מַעְלָה מַּעְלָה עַד עִיקָּרָא וְשָׁרְשָׁא דְּכָל עָלְמִין וְגַם, לְהַמְשִׁיךְ אוֹר־אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא בִּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר לְקַמָּן, דְּהַיְינוּ, בִּמְקוֹר נִשְׁמוֹת כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְמֶהֱוֵי אֶחָד בְּאֶחָד דַּוְקָא, וְלֹא כְּשֶׁיֵּשׁ פֵּירוּד חַס וְשָׁלוֹם בַּנְּשָׁמוֹת, דְּ״קוּדְשָׁא־בְּרִיךְ־הוּא לָא שַׁרְיָא בַּאֲתַר פְּגִים״, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאוֹמְרִים: ״בָּרְכֵנוּ אָבִינוּ כּוּלָּנוּ כְּאֶחָד בְּאוֹר פָּנֶיךָ״, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר בַּאֲרִיכוּת:

For, whereas one despises and loathes one’s body, while as for the soul and spirit, who can know their greatness and excellence in their root and source in the living G–d? Being, moreover, all of a kind and all having one Father—therefore, all Israelites are called real brothers by virtue of the source of their souls in the One G–d; only the bodies are separated. Hence in the case of those who give major consideration to their bodies while regarding their souls as of secondary importance, there can be no true love and brotherhood among them, but only [a love] which is dependent on a [transitory] thing. This is what Hillel the Elder meant when he said in regard to the fulfillment of this commandment, “This is the whole Torah, while the rest is but commentary,” and so on. For the basis and root of the entire Torah are to raise and exalt the soul high above the body, reaching to the Source and Root of all the worlds, and also to bring down the Light of the En Sof, blessed is He, upon the community of Israel, as will be explained later, i.e., into the fountainhead of the souls of all Israel, to become “One into One.” This is impossible if there is, G–d forbid, disunity among the souls, for the Holy One, blessed is He, does not dwell in an imperfect place, as we pray, “Bless us, our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Your Countenance,” as has been explained at great length elsewhere.