Pisqa’ 137464H:178-179; JN1: 330. 1. “Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks 465Heb: khag hashavuot. Also known as `Atzeret (“Closing-festival”). See Pisqa’ 135.1. for HASHEM your God” (Dt.16:10). Inferring from what is stated: “The harvest festival, the first fruits of your labor” (Ex.23:16)— is it possible to say that if you have a harvest, you should celebrate a Feast Day,466Heb: yom tov; “a day of well-being.” but if not, you needn’t celebrate a Feast Day? The Teaching states: “Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks for HASHEM your God” (Dt.16:10)— whether you have a harvest or not, you should celebrate the Feast Day.
2. “You should give generously according to the capacity of your hand” (Dt.16:10)— this teaches that a person brings his obligatory offering from an unconsecrated animal.
On what basis do we know that if he wishes to bring the offering from the Cattle-tithe, he may do so? The Teaching states: “As HASHEM your God has blessed you” (Dt.16:10). 467Cf. M. Men. 7:6, Pisqa’ 129.2 and H:447, Pisqa’ 137, n. 3 for a contrasting interpretation. I follow JN1:330.
(דברים טז י) וְעָשִׂיתָ חַג שָׁבֻעוֹת לַה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ, מִכְּלָל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כג טז) ״וְחַג הַקָּצִיר בִּכּוּרֵי מַעֲשֶׂיךָ״ יָכוֹל אִם יֵשׁ לְךָ קָצִיר אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה יוֹם טוֹב, וְאִם לָאו אִי אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה יוֹם טוֹב? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְעָשִׂיתָ חַג שָׁבֻעוֹת לַה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בֵּין שֶׁיֵּשׁ לְךָ קָצִיר וּבֵין שֶׁאֵין לְךָ קָצִיר אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה יוֹם טוֹב.
Pisqa’ 137464H:178-179; JN1: 330.
1. “Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks 465Heb: khag hashavuot. Also known as `Atzeret (“Closing-festival”). See Pisqa’ 135.1. for HASHEM your God” (Dt.16:10).
Inferring from what is stated:
“The harvest festival, the first fruits of your labor” (Ex.23:16)—
is it possible to say that
if you have a harvest,
you should celebrate a Feast Day,466Heb: yom tov; “a day of well-being.”
but if not, you needn’t celebrate a Feast Day?
The Teaching states:
“Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks for HASHEM your God” (Dt.16:10)—
whether you have a harvest or not,
you should celebrate the Feast Day.
מִסַּת נִדְבַת יָדְךָ אֲשֶׁר תִּתֵּן, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאָדָם מֵבִיא חוֹבָתוֹ מִן הַחֻלִּין.
2. “You should give generously according to the capacity of your hand” (Dt.16:10)—
this teaches that
a person brings his obligatory offering
from an unconsecrated animal.
מִנַּיִן שֶׁאִם רָצָה לְהָבִיא מִמַּעֲשֵׂר יָבִיא? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: כַּאֲשֶׁר יְבָרֶכְךָ ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ.
On what basis do we know that
if he wishes to bring the offering
from the Cattle-tithe, he may do so?
The Teaching states:
“As HASHEM your God has blessed you” (Dt.16:10). 467Cf. M. Men. 7:6, Pisqa’ 129.2 and H:447, Pisqa’ 137, n. 3 for a contrasting interpretation. I follow JN1:330.