Pisqa’ 3380H:62-63. JN1:91-92 1. “And may these words which I command you this day be upon your heart” (Dt.6:6). Rabbi says: Why is this said? Because it is also said: “And you shall love HASHEM, your God, with all your heart” (Dt.6:5) Now, I have no idea how one loves the All-Present! The Teaching therefore states: “And may these words . . . be upon your heart” (Dt.6:6). Take these words to heart, and as a result, you’ll come to acknowledge the One Who spoke the world into being, and you will cling to His ways.
2. “Which I command you this day” (Dt.6:6)— you should not regard these words as an out-dated imperial decree which attracts no interest. Rather, regard them] as a fresh decree, which all race to read.
“Upon your heart” (`al levavechah; Dt.6:6). On this basis would R. Josiah say: a person must impose an oath on his rebellious compulsion. For you find everywhere that the Righteous impose oaths on their compulsion.81Cf. Sifre Nu 88.
Of Abraham, He says: “I lift my hand before HASHEM, the High God . . . if I have taken anything of yours (Gn.14:22-23)! Of Boaz, He says: “I will redeem you myself, as HASHEM lives! Lay here till morning!”82= Sifre Nu 88.(Ruth 3:13). Of David, He says: “And David said: As HASHEM lives! Let HASHEM strike him down . . . but may HASHEM forbid that I should lay a hand on HASHEM’s anointed!” (1 Sam.26:10-11) Of Elisha, He says: “As HASHEM lives! . . . I will not accept anything!” (2 Ki.5:16).3. And just as the Righteous impose oaths on their compulsion, so as to discourage the [evil] deed, thus do the Wicked impose oaths on their compulsion, so as to encourage the [evil] deed.83Cf. Sifre Nu 88. For it is said of Gehazi: “As HASHEM lives! I will run after him and get something from him” (2 Ki.5:20).
(דברים ו ו) וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם עַל לְבָבֶךָ, רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ו ה): ״וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ״, אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ: כֵּיצַד אוֹהֲבִים אֶת הַמָּקוֹם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם עַל לְבָבֶךָ, תֵּן הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה עַל לִבְּךָ, שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ כָּךְ אַתָּה מַכִּיר אֶת מִי שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם וּמִדַּבֵּק בִּדְרָכָיו!
Pisqa’ 3380H:62-63. JN1:91-92
1. “And may these words which I command you this day be upon your heart” (Dt.6:6).
Rabbi says:
Why is this said?
Because it is also said:
“And you shall love HASHEM, your God, with all your heart” (Dt.6:5)
Now, I have no idea how one
loves the All-Present!
The Teaching therefore states:
“And may these words . . . be upon your heart” (Dt.6:6).
Take these words to heart,
and as a result, you’ll come to acknowledge
the One Who spoke the world into being,
and you will cling to His ways.
אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם – שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ בְעֵינֶיךָ כְּדִיוּטַגְמָא יְשָׁנָה, שֶׁאֵין אָדָם סוֹפְנָהּ, אֶלָּא כְּדִיוּטַגְמָא חֲדָשָׁה שֶׁהַכֹּל רָצִים לִקְרוֹתָהּ.
2. “Which I command you this day” (Dt.6:6)—
you should not regard these words
as an out-dated imperial decree
which attracts no interest.
Rather, regard them] as a fresh decree,
which all race to read.
עַל לְבָבֶךָ, מִכָּן הָיָה רַבִּי יֹאשִׁיָּה אוֹמֵר: צָרִיךְ אָדָם לְהַשְׁבִּיעַ אֶת יִצְרוֹ, שֶׁכֵּן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים מַשְׁבִּיעִים אֶת יִצְרָם.
“Upon your heart” (`al levavechah; Dt.6:6).
On this basis would R. Josiah say:
a person must impose an oath
on his rebellious compulsion.
For you find everywhere
that the Righteous impose oaths on their compulsion.81Cf. Sifre Nu 88.
בְּאַבְרָהָם הוּא אוֹמֵר (בראשית יד כב-כג): ״הֲרִימֹתִי יָדִי אֶל ה׳ אֵל עֶלְיוֹן קֹנֵה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ אִם מִחוּט עַד שְׂרוֹךְ נַעַל וְאִם אֶקַּח מִכָּל אֲשֶׁר לָךְ״. בְּבֹעַז הוּא אוֹמֵר (רות ג יג): ״וּגְאַלְתִּיךְ אָנֹכִי חַי ה׳ שִׁכְבִי עַד הַבֹּקֶר״. בְּדָוִד הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמואל א כו י): ״וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד חַי ה׳ כִּי אִם ה׳ יִגָּפֶנּוּ אוֹ יוֹמוֹ יָבוֹא וָמֵת אוֹ בַמִּלְחָמָה יֵרֵד וְנִסְפָּה״. בֶּאֱלִישָׁע הוּא אוֹמֵר (מלכים ב ה טז): ״חַי ה׳ אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתִּי לְפָנָיו אִם אֶקַּח״. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים מַשְׁבִּיעִים אֶת יִצְרָם שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת, כָּךְ הָרְשָׁעִים מַשְׁבִּיעִים אֶת יִצְרָם לַעֲשׂוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב ה כ): ״חַי ה׳ כִּי אִם רַצְתִּי אַחֲרָיו וְלָקַחְתִּי מֵאִתּוֹ מְאוּמָה״.
Of Abraham, He says:
“I lift my hand before HASHEM, the High God . . .
if I have taken anything of yours (Gn.14:22-23)!
Of Boaz, He says:
“I will redeem you myself, as HASHEM lives!
Lay here till morning!” 82= Sifre Nu 88. (Ruth 3:13).
Of David, He says:
“And David said: As HASHEM lives!
Let HASHEM strike him down . . .
but may HASHEM forbid that I should
lay a hand on HASHEM’s anointed!” (1 Sam.26:10-11)
Of Elisha, He says:
“As HASHEM lives! . . .
I will not accept anything!” (2 Ki.5:16).3. And just as the Righteous impose oaths
on their compulsion,
so as to discourage the [evil] deed,
thus do the Wicked impose oaths
on their compulsion,
so as to encourage the [evil] deed.83Cf. Sifre Nu 88.
For it is said of Gehazi:
“As HASHEM lives! I will run after him
and get something from him” (2 Ki.5:20).