“In the Land” (Dt.12:1)— is it possible to say that all the commandments in their entirety are observed even beyond the Land? [To preclude this conclusion,] the Teaching states: “By performing in the Land” (Dt.12:1)— Well, then, is it possible to say that all the commandments in their entirety are observed only in the Land? The Teaching states: “All the days in which you live on the soil” (Dt.12:1)— after speaking inclusively, the verse limits its own application,23This hermeneutical observation is not uncommon in SD, appearing as well at Pisqa’ot 77.3, 221.2, 249 [so that some commandments are performed on any “soil.”]2. Look—we learn as much from what is said in the same context! What is said in the same context? “You must utterly destroy all the places” (Dt.12:2)— just as the prohibition against serving a foreign cult is unique— as a commandment involving the body that does not depend upon being in the Land, yet which is practiced both in the Land and beyond the Land— similarly, all commandments involving the body, that do not depend upon [that body] being in the Land, are practiced both in the Land and beyond the Land. And those that depend upon being in the Land, are practiced only in the Land— except for prohibitions against consecrated fruit (Lv.19:23) and mixed species (Lv.19:19) [which are observed both in and beyond the Land]. R. Eliezer says: also, the prohibition of the new grain harvest (Lv.23:11-14) [until the Barley-Sheaf offering is made on the second day of Passover]24//M. Qid.1:9. The identical passage is cited at Pisqa’ 44.1 ad Dt.11:18. See the annotations there.
(דברים יב א) אֵלֶּה הַחֻקִּים – אֵלּוּ הַמִּדְרָשׁוֹת,
Pisqa’ 5921H:114-115; JN1:185-186.
1. “These are the laws” (Dt.12:1)—
rules derived from scriptural hermeneutics (midrashot).
וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים – אֵלּוּ הַדִּינִים,
“And the rulings” (Dt.12:1)—
the civil judgments (dinim).
אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְרוּן – זוֹ מִשְׁנָה,
“Which you are to preserve” (Dt.12:1)—
the oral-performative tradition (mishnah)
לַעֲשׂוֹת – זוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה,
“By performing” (Dt.12:1)—
the deeds that theTorah requires (ma`aseh).22See Pisqa’ 58.1.
בָּאָרֶץ, יָכוֹל כָּל הַמִּצְווֹת כֻּלָּם נוֹהֲגוֹת בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּאָרֶץ. יָכוֹל לֹא יְהוּ כָּל הַמִּצְווֹת כֻּלָּן נוֹהֲגוֹת אֶלָּא בָּאָרֶץ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר כָּל הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם חַיִּים עַל הָאֲדָמָה. אַחַר שֶׁרִבָּה הַכָּתוּב מִיעֵט, הֲרֵי אָנוּ לְמֵדִים אוֹתָן מִן הָאָמוּר בָּעִנְיָן. מָה אָמוּר בָּעִנְיָן? – (דברים יב ב) אַבֵּד תְּאַבְּדוּן אֶת כָּל הַמְּקוֹמוֹת. מָה עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְיֻחֶדֶת, שֶׁהִיא מִצְוַת הַגּוּף וְאֵינָהּ תְּלוּיָה בָּאָרֶץ – נוֹהֶגֶת בָּאָרֶץ וּבְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ, כָּךְ כָּל מִצְוַת הַגּוּף שֶׁאֵינָהּ תְּלוּיָה בָּאָרֶץ נוֹהֶגֶת בָּאָרֶץ וּבְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ, וְשֶׁתְּלוּיָה בָּאָרֶץ אֵינָהּ נוֹהֶגֶת אֶלָּא בָּאָרֶץ, חוּץ מִן הָעָרְלָה וְהַכִּלְאַיִם. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: אַף הֶחָדָשׁ.
“In the Land” (Dt.12:1)—
is it possible to say that
all the commandments in their entirety
are observed even beyond the Land?
[To preclude this conclusion,]
the Teaching states:
“By performing in the Land” (Dt.12:1)—
Well, then, is it possible to say that
all the commandments in their entirety
are observed only in the Land?
The Teaching states:
“All the days in which you live on the soil” (Dt.12:1)—
after speaking inclusively,
the verse limits its own application,23This hermeneutical observation is not uncommon in SD, appearing as well at Pisqa’ot 77.3, 221.2, 249
[so that some commandments
are performed on any “soil.”]2. Look—we learn as much from
what is said in the same context!
What is said in the same context?
“You must utterly destroy all the places” (Dt.12:2)—
just as the prohibition against
serving a foreign cult is unique—
as a commandment involving the body
that does not depend upon being in the Land,
yet which is practiced both in the Land and beyond the Land—
similarly, all commandments involving the body,
that do not depend upon [that body] being in the Land,
are practiced both in the Land and beyond the Land.
And those that depend upon being in the Land,
are practiced only in the Land—
except for prohibitions against
consecrated fruit (Lv.19:23) and mixed species (Lv.19:19)
[which are observed both in and beyond the Land].
R. Eliezer says:
also, the prohibition of the new grain harvest (Lv.23:11-14)
[until the Barley-Sheaf offering is made
on the second day of Passover]24//M. Qid.1:9. The identical passage is cited at Pisqa’ 44.1 ad Dt.11:18. See the annotations there.