- what scriptures says on abstinence The explanation of what is written in the holy books and the words of our Sages regarding abstinence from the world.
Among them, what Yaakov said: "[and Yaakov vowed saying:] If G-d will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and a garment to wear" (Bereishis 28:20).
Among them, the fasting of Moshe for 40 days and nights three times. Likewise, Eliyahu for 40 days, as written: "And he arose and ate and drank, and he went on with only this meal for forty days and forty nights up to the mountain of G-d" (Melachim 19:8).
Among them what was said of the Nazir, which G-d calls him "holy", as written: "All the days of his abstinence he is holy to G-d" (Bamidbar 6:8). Because he abstained from the fruits of the vine and allowed his hair to grow [long]. All the more so for one who abstains from all physical pleasures that he has greater reward and recompense.
Among them, what was said to Aharon (Vayikra 10:9): "do not drink wine or beer", and then "to separate between holy and mundane", and to teach the Jewish people. That through this, G-d exhorted everyone who is engaged in religious service, to not occupy himself with anything that would distract him from completely doing the service (with devotion) to G-d, as our Sages said: "one who drank a reviit (about half cup) of wine is forbidden to teach, if he drank a chamisheit (a bit more) should not pray" (Eruvin 64a).
Among them: The matter of the sons of Yonadav ben Rechav whose father commanded them to never drink wine, nor sow, nor plant a vineyard, nor build a house, that they dwell in tents, outside settled places. This is the custom of those who separate themselves from the world. The Creator praised them for this as written: "Therefore Yonadav the son of Rechab shall not lack a man [descendant] to stand before Me forever" (Yirmiya 35:19).
Among them, the story of Elisha when Eliyahu passed by him, as written: "And he went from there and he found Elisha, the son of Shafat, as he was plowing; twelve yoke were before him and he was with the twelfth. And Eliyahu passed over unto him, and cast his mantle upon him" (Melachim 19:19), and Elisha dropped everything and followed Eliyahu as written: "And he left the oxen and ran after Eliyahu and said: 'Let me, please, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you'..." (Melachim 19:20). Likewise, this was the practice of the disciples of the prophets in that generation and in previous ones, that they renounced occupying themselves with affairs of this world and neglected their physical well-being by going out to deserts in order to devote their souls and minds to G-d.
Among them, what the torah has commanded us to fast during the season of repentance and seeking forgiveness, in order to curb our lusts for all the pleasures, which are the greatest causes of sin as written: "According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten Me" (Hoshea 13:6), and it says regarding the opposite: "in their trouble they will seek Me" (Hoshea 5:15).
Among them: what is written "neither shall they wear a robe of coarse hair to deceive" (Zechariah 13:4), and this teaches that it was the attire of the early pious ones, and some of the other [non-pious] men of that generation would wear it to appear pious.
And what David said: "Before I was afflicted, I did err" (Tehilim 119:67), and also: "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, in order that I might learn Your statutes" (Tehilim 119:71), and also: "The torah of Your mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver pieces" (Tehilim 119:72).
Among them the practice of Iyov (Job) who described of himself how he scorned this world and its material wealth, curbed his senses, bound his hands and his tongue from all that may lead to rebelling against G-d, chose the truth, saved the oppressed, provided for the poor and lost - like the practices of those who separate themselves from the world.
Among them, what Daniel did in praying to G-d on the lengthiness of the first exile, and his mourning on it, that he said: "I ate no decent bread, neither came meat nor wine in my mouth"(Daniel 10:3), and the angel said to him: "from the first day that you did set your heart to understand, and to chasten yourself before G-d, your words were heard" (Daniel 10:12), and the rest of the matter. This is the best of all the practices of separation.
Among them, that which the people of Nineveh did, when they heard what the Creator decreed on them, as written: "So the people of Nineveh believed in G-d, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them" (Yona 3:5), and similarly what our fathers did in the days of Haman, as written: "And in every province, where the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes" (Esther 4:3), and many like this in our books, when you investigate it, you will find it scattered frequently in the words of our ancestors.
Among them what Shlomo said: "Be not among wine-bibbers; among gluttonous eaters of flesh" (Mishlei 23:20), and "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie" (Mishlei 6:10), and what the mother of Lemuel said: "Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to the pleasures of kings; It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, neither is strong drink for rulers; Lest he drink and forget what was decreed" (Mishlei 31:3-5).
Among them what is written: "For to the man that is good in His sight He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy [but to the sinner He has given an occupation to gather and to accumulate]"(Koheles 2:26), and it says: "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking" (Koheles 7:4). "It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: [for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to heart]" (Koheles 7:2), and it says: "The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, [whether he eats little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep]" (Koheles 5:11), and "for childhood and youth are vanity" (Koheles 11:10), and "The end of the matter, all having been heard: fear G-d, and keep His commandments; for this is all of man" (Koheles 12:13).
Regarding what our Sages said in the mishna and talmud. These are too numerous for this book, and most of it is found in the tractate Avot. Our Sages said: "this is the way of the torah - eat bread with salt, drink water in measure, sleep on the ground..." (Beraitha in Avot 6:4), and that which is near their words: "the torah is acquired in 48 ways (ibid 6:6): (minimal business, minimal pleasures, minimal sleep, minimal speech, minimal laughter...)". And in the chapter of the pious in tractate Taanit, many things teaches on their great separation from this world. He who investigates this matter, will find it in scripture, reason, and in the oral tradition.
Put your heart to it, reflect on it in your inner being, you will reach it with G-d's help, as written: "If you seek it as silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures; Then shall you understand the fear of the L-ord, and find the knowledge of G-d" (Mishlei 2:4).
אֲבָל בֵּאוּר מָה שֶׁבָּא בְּסִפְרֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְדִבְרֵי רַזַ״ל מֵעִנְיַן הַפְּרִישׁוּת מִן הָעוֹלָם.
- what scriptures says on abstinence
The explanation of what is written in the holy books and the words of our Sages regarding abstinence from the world.
מֵהֶם מָה שֶׁאָמַר יַעֲקֹב (בראשית כח) וְנָתַן לִי לֶחֶם לֶאֱכֹל וּבֶגֶד לִלְבֹּשׁ.
Among them, what Yaakov said: "[and Yaakov vowed saying:] If G-d will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and a garment to wear" (Bereishis 28:20).
וּמֵהֶם צוֹם מֹשֶׁה אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְלֵילוֹתָם ג׳ פְּעָמִים. וְכֵן אֵלִיָּהוּ אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם כמ״ש (מלכים א יט) וַיֵּלֶךְ בְּכֹחַ הָאֲכִילָה הַהִיא אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם.
Among them, the fasting of Moshe for 40 days and nights three times. Likewise, Eliyahu for 40 days, as written: "And he arose and ate and drank, and he went on with only this meal for forty days and forty nights up to the mountain of G-d" (Melachim 19:8).
וּמֵהֶם מָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּנָּזִיר שֶׁקְּרָאוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים קָדוֹשׁ כמ״ש (במדבר ז) כֹּל יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ קָדֹשׁ הוּא לַה׳ בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁפָּסַק מִפְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן וְגִדֵּל שְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ בִּלְבַד כ״ש מִי שֶׁפָּסְקָה תַּאֲוָתוֹ מִכָּל הַתַּעֲנוּגִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ שָׂכָר וּגְמוּל יוֹתֵר.
Among them what was said of the Nazir, which G-d calls him "holy", as written: "All the days of his abstinence he is holy to G-d" (Bamidbar 6:8). Because he abstained from the fruits of the vine and allowed his hair to grow [long]. All the more so for one who abstains from all physical pleasures that he has greater reward and recompense.
וּמֵהֶם מָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לְאַהֲרֹן (ויקרא י) יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר אַל תֵּשְׁתְּ וְגוֹ׳ וּלְהַבְדִּיל וְגוֹ׳ וּלְהוֹרוֹת וְגוֹ׳ הִזְהִיר כָּל הָעוֹסֵק בְּמַעֲשֵׂה הָעֲבוֹדָה שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲסֹק בְּכָל מָה שֶׁיַּטְרִידֵהוּ מֵהַשְׁלָמַת הָעֲבוֹדָה לֵאלֹהִים כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זַ״ל שָׁתָה רְבִיעִית יַיִן אַל יוֹרֶה שָׁתָה רְבִיעִית אַל יִתְפַּלֵּל.
Among them, what was said to Aharon (Vayikra 10:9): "do not drink wine or beer", and then "to separate between holy and mundane", and to teach the Jewish people. That through this, G-d exhorted everyone who is engaged in religious service, to not occupy himself with anything that would distract him from completely doing the service (with devotion) to G-d, as our Sages said: "one who drank a reviit (about half cup) of wine is forbidden to teach, if he drank a chamisheit (a bit more) should not pray" (Eruvin 64a).
וּמֵהֶם עִנְיַן בְּנֵי יוֹנָדָב בֶּן רֵכָב אֲשֶׁר צִוָּם אֲבִיהֶם שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁתּוּ יַיִן וְלֹא יִזְרְעוּ וְלֹא יִטְּעוּ כֶּרֶם וְלֹא יִבְנוּ בַּיִת וְיֵשְׁבוּ בְּאֹהָלִים חוּץ לַיִּשּׁוּב וְזֶה מִנְהַג הַפּוֹרְשִׁים מִן הָעוֹלָם וְשִׁבַּח לָהֶם הַבּוֹרֵא זֶה כמ״ש (ירמיה לה) לֹא יִכָּרֵת אִישׁ לְיוֹנָדָב בֶּן רֵכָב.
Among them: The matter of the sons of Yonadav ben Rechav whose father commanded them to never drink wine, nor sow, nor plant a vineyard, nor build a house, that they dwell in tents, outside settled places. This is the custom of those who separate themselves from the world. The Creator praised them for this as written: "Therefore Yonadav the son of Rechab shall not lack a man [descendant] to stand before Me forever" (Yirmiya 35:19).
וּמֵהֶם מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלִישָׁע כְּשֶׁעָבַר עָלָיו אֵלִיָּהוּ כמ״ש (מלכים א יט) שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר צְמָדִים לְפָנָיו וְהִנִּיחַ יָדוֹ מִן הַכֹּל וְהָלַךְ אַחֲרָיו כמ״ש (שם) אֶשְּׁקָה נָּא לְאָבִי וּלְאִמִּי וְגוֹ׳ וַיֵּלֶךְ אַחֲרֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ וַיְשָׁרְתֵהוּ. וְכֵן הָיָה מִנְהַג בְּנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים בַּדּוֹר הַהוּא וַאֲשֶׁר לְפָנָיו שֶׁהִנִּיחוּ הָעֵסֶק בְּיִשּׁוּב הָעוֹלָם וְהַהַשְׁגָּחָה בְּעִנְיְנֵי הַגּוּפוֹת וְיָצְאוּ לַמִּדְבָּרוֹת כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּתְיַחֵד נַפְשָׁם וּמַחְשַׁבְתָּם לֵאלֹהִים.
Among them, the story of Elisha when Eliyahu passed by him, as written: "And he went from there and he found Elisha, the son of Shafat, as he was plowing; twelve yoke were before him and he was with the twelfth. And Eliyahu passed over unto him, and cast his mantle upon him" (Melachim 19:19), and Elisha dropped everything and followed Eliyahu as written: "And he left the oxen and ran after Eliyahu and said: 'Let me, please, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you'..." (Melachim 19:20). Likewise, this was the practice of the disciples of the prophets in that generation and in previous ones, that they renounced occupying themselves with affairs of this world and neglected their physical well-being by going out to deserts in order to devote their souls and minds to G-d.
וּמֵהֶם מָה שֶׁצִּוְּתָה אוֹתָנוּ הַתּוֹרָה בַּתַּעֲנִית בְּעֵת הַתְּשׁוּבָה וּבַקָּשַׁת הַכַּפָּרָה כְּדֵי שֶׁנַּחְסֹם תַּאֲוָתֵנוּ מִכָּל הַתַּעֲנוּגִים שֶׁהֵם הַחֲזָקִים שֶׁבְּסִבּוֹת הָעֲבֵרוֹת כמ״ש (הושע יג) כְּמַרְעִיתָם וַיִּשְׂבָּעוּ וְאָמַר בְּהֶפְכּוֹ (שם ה) בַּצַּר לָהֶם יְשַׁחֲרֻנְנִי.
Among them, what the torah has commanded us to fast during the season of repentance and seeking forgiveness, in order to curb our lusts for all the pleasures, which are the greatest causes of sin as written: "According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten Me" (Hoshea 13:6), and it says regarding the opposite: "in their trouble they will seek Me" (Hoshea 5:15).
וּמֵהֶם מ״ש (זכריה יג) וְלֹא יִלְבְּשׁוּ אַדֶּרֶת שֵׂעָר לְמַעַן כַּחֵשׁ וְזֶה מוֹרֶה כִּי הוּא הָיָה לְבוּשׁ הַחֲסִידִים מִקֹּדֶם וְהָיוּ לוֹבְשִׁים אוֹתוֹ אַנְשֵׁי הַדּוֹר הַהוּא לְהַחֲנִיף.
Among them: what is written "neither shall they wear a robe of coarse hair to deceive" (Zechariah 13:4), and this teaches that it was the attire of the early pious ones, and some of the other [non-pious] men of that generation would wear it to appear pious.
וּמִזֶּה מ״ש דָּוִד (תהלים קיט) טֶרֶם אֶעֱנֶה אֲנִי שֹׁגֵג וְאָמַר (שם) טוֹב לִי כִי עֻנֵּיתִי וְאָמַר (שם) טוֹב לִי תוֹרַת פִּיךָ וְגוֹ׳.
And what David said: "Before I was afflicted, I did err" (Tehilim 119:67), and also: "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, in order that I might learn Your statutes" (Tehilim 119:71), and also: "The torah of Your mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver pieces" (Tehilim 119:72).
וּמֵהֶם מִנְהַג אִיּוֹב אֲשֶׁר סִפֵּר עַל עַצְמוֹ מִבְּזוֹתוֹ הָעוֹלָם וְהוֹנוֹ וְקָשְׁרוֹ חוּשָׁיו וְאָסְרוֹ יָדָיו וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ מִכָּל מָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ הַמְרוֹת הַבּוֹרֵא וּבָחֳרוֹ בָּאֱמֶת וְהַצִּילוֹ הָעֲשׁוּקִים וַהֲטָבָתוֹ לַדַּלִּים וְלָאוֹבְדִים כְּמִנְהֲגֵי הַפּוֹרְשִׁים מִן הָעוֹלָם.
Among them the practice of Iyov (Job) who described of himself how he scorned this world and its material wealth, curbed his senses, bound his hands and his tongue from all that may lead to rebelling against G-d, chose the truth, saved the oppressed, provided for the poor and lost - like the practices of those who separate themselves from the world.
וּמֵהֶם מָה שֶׁעָשָׂה דָּנִיֵּאל בְּהִתְפַּלְלוֹ אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים בַּעֲבוּר אֹרֶךְ הַגָּלוּת הָרִאשׁוֹן וְהִתְאַבְּלוֹ עָלָיו שֶׁאָמַר (דניאל י) לֶחֶם חֲמֻדוֹת לֹא אָכַלְתִּי וְאָמַר לוֹ הַמַּלְאָךְ (שם) מִן הַיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּ אֶת לִבְּךָ לְהָבִין וּלְהִתְעַנּוֹת וּשְׁאָר הָעִנְיָן וְזֶה הוּא הַטּוֹב שֶׁבְּמִנְהֲגֵי הַפְּרִישׁוּת.
Among them, what Daniel did in praying to G-d on the lengthiness of the first exile, and his mourning on it, that he said: "I ate no decent bread, neither came meat nor wine in my mouth"(Daniel 10:3), and the angel said to him: "from the first day that you did set your heart to understand, and to chasten yourself before G-d, your words were heard" (Daniel 10:12), and the rest of the matter. This is the best of all the practices of separation.
וּמֵהֶם מָה שֶׁעָשׂוּ אַנְשֵׁי נִינְוֵה כְּשֶׁשָּׁמְעוּ מָה שֶׁגָּזַר עֲלֵיהֶם הַבּוֹרֵא כמ״ש (יונה ג׳:ה׳) וַיַּאֲמִינוּ אַנְשֵׁי נִינְוֵה בֵּאלֹהִים וּבְכָמוֹהוּ מָה שֶׁעָשׂוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בִּימֵי הָמָן כַּכָּתוּב (אסתר ד) מְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ וְדָתוֹ מַגִּיעַ אֵבֶל גָּדוֹל וְגוֹ׳ וְהַרְבֵּה כָּזֶה בִּסְפָרֵינוּ כְּשֶׁתַּחְקֹר עָלָיו תִּמְצָאֶנּוּ מְפֻזָּר בְּדִבְרֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ הַרְבֵּה.
Among them, that which the people of Nineveh did, when they heard what the Creator decreed on them, as written: "So the people of Nineveh believed in G-d, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them" (Yona 3:5), and similarly what our fathers did in the days of Haman, as written: "And in every province, where the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes" (Esther 4:3), and many like this in our books, when you investigate it, you will find it scattered frequently in the words of our ancestors.
וּמֵהֶם מָה שֶׁאָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה (משלי כג) אַל תְּהִי בְסֹבְאֵי יָיִן וְגוֹ׳ (שם ו) מְעַט שֵׁנוֹת מְעַט תְּנוּמוֹת וְגוֹ׳ וּמָה שֶׁאָמְרָה אֵם לְמוּאֵל (שם לא) אַל תִּתֵּן לַנָּשִׁים חֵילֶךָ וְגוֹ׳ אַל לַמְלָכִים לְמוֹאֵל וְגוֹ׳ פֶּן יִשְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּח מְחֻקָּק.
Among them what Shlomo said: "Be not among wine-bibbers; among gluttonous eaters of flesh" (Mishlei 23:20), and "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie" (Mishlei 6:10), and what the mother of Lemuel said: "Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to the pleasures of kings; It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, neither is strong drink for rulers; Lest he drink and forget what was decreed" (Mishlei 31:3-5).
וּמֵהֶם מָה שֶׁאָמַר (קהלת ב׳:כ״ו) כִּי לְאָדָם שֶׁטּוֹב לְפָנָיו וְגוֹ׳ וְאָמַר (שם ז) לֵב חֲכָמִים בְּבֵית אֵבֶל (שם) טוֹב לָלֶכֶת אֶל בֵּית אֵבֶל וְאָמַר (שם ה) מְתוּקָה שְׁנַת הָעוֹבֵד וְאָמַר (שם יא) כִּי הַיַּלְדוּת וְהַשַּׁחֲרוּת הָבֶל וְאָמַר (שם יב) סוֹף דָּבָר הַכֹּל נִשְׁמָע וְגוֹ׳.
Among them what is written: "For to the man that is good in His sight He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy [but to the sinner He has given an occupation to gather and to accumulate]"(Koheles 2:26), and it says: "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking" (Koheles 7:4).
"It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: [for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to heart]" (Koheles 7:2), and it says: "The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, [whether he eats little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep]" (Koheles 5:11), and "for childhood and youth are vanity" (Koheles 11:10), and "The end of the matter, all having been heard: fear G-d, and keep His commandments; for this is all of man" (Koheles 12:13).
אֲבָל מָה שֶׁאָמְרוּ רז״ל בַּמִּשְׁנָה וּבַתַּלְמוּד, רַב מֵחַבְּרוֹ בַּסֵּפֶר הַזֶּה, וְרֻבּוֹ נִמְצָא בְּמַסֶּכֶת אָבוֹת וְעוֹד אָמְרוּ כָּךְ הִיא דַּרְכָּהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה פַּת בְּמֶלַח תֹּאכֵל וּמַיִם בִּמְשׂוּרָה תִּשְׁתֶּה וְעַל הָאָרֶץ תִּישַׁן וְכוּ׳ וּמָה שֶׁסָּמוּךְ לָזֶה מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם הַתּוֹרָה נִקְנֵית בְּאַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה דְּרָכִים וּבְפִרְקָא דַּחֲסִידֵי בְּמַסֶּכֶת תַּעֲנִית מָה שֶׁיּוֹרֶה עַל פְּרִישׁוּתָם וּמִי שֶׁיַּחְקֹר עַל הָעִנְיָן הַזֶּה יִמְצָאֶנּוּ כָּתוּב וּמִן הַשֵּׂכֶל וּמִן הַקַּבָּלָה.
Regarding what our Sages said in the mishna and talmud. These are too numerous for this book, and most of it is found in the tractate Avot. Our Sages said: "this is the way of the torah - eat bread with salt, drink water in measure, sleep on the ground..." (Beraitha in Avot 6:4), and that which is near their words: "the torah is acquired in 48 ways (ibid 6:6): (minimal business, minimal pleasures, minimal sleep, minimal speech, minimal laughter...)". And in the chapter of the pious in tractate Taanit, many things teaches on their great separation from this world. He who investigates this matter, will find it in scripture, reason, and in the oral tradition.
תֵּן לִבְּךָ בּוֹ וַחֲשֹׁב עָלָיו בְּמַצְפּוּנְךָ תַּשִּׂיגֵהוּ בְּעֶזְרַת הַשֵּׁם כמ״ש (משלי ב) אִם תְּבַקְשֶׁנָּה כַּכָּסֶף וְגוֹ׳ אָז תָּבִין יִרְאַת ה׳ וְגוֹ׳:
Put your heart to it, reflect on it in your inner being, you will reach it with G-d's help, as written: "If you seek it as silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures; Then shall you understand the fear of the L-ord, and find the knowledge of G-d" (Mishlei 2:4).