## Sifrei Devarim Paragraph 96

###### Sifrei Devarim 96:1
[Sifrei Devarim 96:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/96:1)

(דברים יג יז) **לֹא תִבָּנֶה עוֹד**, לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ אֲפִלּוּ גַּנּוֹת וּפַרְדֵּסִים, אֲפִלּוּ שׁוֹבַךְ יוֹנֵי הַרְדְּסָאוֹת, כְּדִבְרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָה.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**Pisqa’ 96**²⁰³
1. **“It shall never again be rebuilt” (Dt. 13:17)—**
**don’t even make it into a garden or an orchard.**
**nor even a coop for Herodian doves,**
**as in the words of R. Akiva.**²⁰⁴

footnotes:
²⁰³ H:143-145; JN1:252-254.
²⁰⁴ Cf. M. San.10:6; T. San.14:6.


###### Sifrei Devarim 96:2
[Sifrei Devarim 96:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/96:2)

(דברים יג יח) **וְלֹא יִדְבַּק בְּיָדְךָ מְאוּמָה מִן הַחֵרֶם**, מִכָּן אָמְרוּ (ע״ז ג ט): נָטַל מַקֵּל אוֹ מַלְגֵּז אוֹ כַּרְכַּר אוֹ שַׁרְבִיט – כֻּלָּם אֲסוּרִים בַּהֲנָיָה; נִתְעָרְבוּ בַאֲחֵרִים – כֻּלָּם אֲסוּרִים בַּהֲנָאָה. מַה יַּעֲשֶׂה לָהֶם? יוֹלִיךְ הֲנָיָה לְיָם הַמֶּלַח. כְּלָלוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר: כָּל הַנֶּהֱנֶה מֵעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה – יוֹלִיךְ הֲנָאָה לְיָם הַמֶּלַח.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“Let no trace of *the doomed property* remain in your hands” (Dt. 13:18).
On this basis they taught:
**If one took [from doomed property]**
**a staff, a pitch-fork, a spindle-whorl, or a rod—**
**benefit from any of them is forbidden.**
**If they are mixed up with other objects,**
**benefit from any of the [mixed] objects is forbidden.**
**What shall one do with them?**
**Let him bring their [monetary] benefit to the Salt Sea**
**[and throw the coins into the Sea**].
**The sum of the matter:**
**anyone who benefits from [an object serving] a foreign cult**
**shall bring its [monetary] benefit to the Salt Sea [for disposal].**²⁰⁵

footnotes:
²⁰⁵ //M. AZ.3:9.


###### Sifrei Devarim 96:3
[Sifrei Devarim 96:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/96:3)

**לְמַעַן יָשׁוּב ה׳ מֵחֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ**, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה בָּעוֹלָם – חֲרוֹן אַף בָּעוֹלָם, נִסְתַּלְּקָה עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מִן הָעוֹלָם – נִסְתַּלֵּק חֲרוֹן אַף מִן הָעוֹלָם.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
2. “So that HASHEM might turn from His *blazing anger*”(Dt. 13:18)—
as long as a foreign cult exists in the world
His blazing anger will exist in the world;
when a foreign cult is removed from the world,
His blazing anger will be removed from the world.


###### Sifrei Devarim 96:4
[Sifrei Devarim 96:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/96:4)

**וְנָתַן לְךָ רַחֲמִים וְרִחַמְךָ**, לְךָ רַחֲמִים וְלֹא לַאֲחֵרִים רַחֲמִים. מִכָּן הָיָה רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל בְּרַבִּי אוֹמֵר: כָּל זְמַן שֶׁאַתָּה מְרַחֵם עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת – מְרַחֲמִים עָלֶיךָ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם, אֵין אַתָּה מְרַחֵם עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת – אֵין מְרַחֲמִים עָלֶיךָ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם. **וְהִרְבֶּךָ** – כְּמָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כו ד): ״וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶת זַרְעֲךָ כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“And grant *you* mercy, and be merciful *to you*” (Dt. 13:18)—
*to you* is mercy granted,
but no mercy is granted to others!
On this basis would Rabban Gamliel, our Teacher, say:
**As long as you show mercy to people,**
**mercy is shown to you from Heaven;**
**but when you show no mercy to people,**
**Heaven shows you no mercy**.²⁰⁶
“And multiply you” (Dt. 13:18)—
just as it is said:
“And I will multiply your descendants like the stars in Heaven” (Gn 26:4).

footnotes:
²⁰⁶ //T. BQ.9:30.


###### Sifrei Devarim 96:5
[Sifrei Devarim 96:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/96:5)

**כַּאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ** – הַכֹּל בִּזְכוּת אֲבוֹתֶיךָ.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“As He swore to your ancestors” (Dt. 13:18)—
all this because of the merit of your ancestors!


###### Sifrei Devarim 96:6
[Sifrei Devarim 96:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/96:6)

(דברים יג יט) **כִּי תִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ**, מִכָּן אָמְרוּ: הִתְחִיל אָדָם לִשְׁמֹעַ קִמְעָה – סוֹפוֹ לִשְׁמֹעַ הַרְבֵּה.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
3. “For you will *hear* the voice of HASHEM your God” (Dt. 13:19).
On this basis they taught:
**If a person begins by hearing only a little [Torah],**
**he’ll eventually hear much**.²⁰⁷ 79.1

footnotes:
²⁰⁷ Cf. Pisqa’


###### Sifrei Devarim 96:7
[Sifrei Devarim 96:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/96:7)

**לִשְׁמֹר אֶת כָּל מִצְוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם**, שֶׁתְּהֵא מִצְוָה קַלָּה חֲבִיבָה עָלֶיךָ כְּמִצְוָה חֲמוּרָה.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“By observing *all* His commandments, which I am commanding you this day” (Dt. 13:18)—
**so that the simplest commandment**
**shall be as dear to you**
**as the most arduous commandment.**²⁰⁸ 79.3, 82.1.

footnotes:
²⁰⁸ Cf, M. Avot.2:1 and Pisqa’ot


###### Sifrei Devarim 96:8
[Sifrei Devarim 96:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/96:8)

**לַעֲשׂוֹת הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ**, זוֹ הִיא שֶׁרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: ״הַיָּשָׁר״ – בְּעֵינֵי שָׁמַיִם.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“To do what is virtuous in the eyes of HASHEM your God” (Dt. 13:18)—
this confirms what **R. Ishmael says:**
**“what is virtuous” (Dt. 13:18)—**
**in the sight of Heaven**.²⁰⁹ 79.2.

footnotes:
²⁰⁹ Cf. Pisqa’


###### Sifrei Devarim 96:9
[Sifrei Devarim 96:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/96:9)

(דברים יד א) **בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם**, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אִם נוֹהֲגִים אַתֶּם מִנְהַג בָּנִים – הֲרֵי אַתֶּם בָּנִים, וְאִם לָאו – אִי אַתֶּם בָּנִים! רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: בֵּין כָּךְ וּבֵין כָּךְ **בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם**, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (הושע ב א): ״וְהָיָה מִסְפַּר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״ וְגוֹ׳.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“You are the children of HASHEM your God” (Dt. 14:1)—
R. Judah says:
if you conduct yourselves as proper children,
you will indeed be [treated like proper] children;
but if not—
you will not be [treated like proper] children!
**R. Meir says:**
**Either way,**
**“You are the children of HASHEM your God” (Dt. 14:1).**
**And, similarly, He says:**
**“It shall be said of them: Children of the Living God!”** (Hos. 2:1).²¹⁰

footnotes:
²¹⁰ Cf. M. Avot 3:14.


###### Sifrei Devarim 96:10
[Sifrei Devarim 96:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/96:10)

**לֹא תִתְגֹּדְדוּ** – לֹא תֵעָשׂוּ אֲגֻדּוֹת, אֶלָּא הֱיוּ כֻּלְּכֶם אֲגֻדָּה אַחַת, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (עמוס ט ו): ״הַבּוֹנֶה בַשָּׁמַיִם מַעֲלוֹתָיו וַאֲגֻדָּתוֹ עַל אֶרֶץ יְסָדָהּ״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
4. **“Do not *cut into yourselves*” (*titgodedu;* Dt. 14:1)—**
**do not form factions *(‘agudot*].**²¹¹ and *(‘-g-d*) inspires this famous midrashic homily.
**Rather, you should all be a unified faction.**
**And, similarly, He says:**
**“He has grounded His faction (*‘agudato*) on the earth”** (Am. 9:6). ****²¹²

footnotes:
²¹¹ The assonance of words formed from different roots (g-w-d
²¹² Cf. M. Avot 3:9.


###### Sifrei Devarim 96:11
[Sifrei Devarim 96:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/96:11)

דָּבָר אַחֵר: **לֹא תִתְגֹּדְדוּ** – לֹא תִתְגֹּדְדוּ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֲחֵרִים מִתְגּוֹדְדִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א יח כח): ״וַיִּתְגֹּדְדוּ כְּמִשְׁפָּטָם״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
Another word:
“Do not *cut into yourselves*” (Dt. 14:1)—
do not *cut into yourselves*
according to the rites
of others who cut into themselves,
for it is said [of the prophets of Baal]:
“And they *cut into themselves* according to their custom” (1Ki. 18:28)


###### Sifrei Devarim 96:12
[Sifrei Devarim 96:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/96:12)

**וְלֹא תָשִׂימוּ קָרְחָה**, יָכוֹל לֹא יְהוּ חַיָּבִים אֶלָּא עַל **בֵּין עֵינֵיכֶם** בִּלְבַד? מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת כָּל הָרֹאשׁ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (ויקרא כא ה): ״בְּרֹאשָׁם״ – לְרַבּוֹת כָּל הָרֹאשׁ. יָכוֹל הַכֹּהֲנִים, שֶׁרִבָּה בָהֶם הַכָּתוּב מִצְווֹת יְתֵרוֹת, חַיָּבִים עַל כָּל קָרְחָה וְקָרְחָה וְחַיָּבִים עַל הָרֹאשׁ כְּבֵין הָעֵינַיִם, אֲבָל יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁלֹּא רִבָּה בָהֶם הַכָּתוּב מִצְווֹת יְתֵרוֹת, לֹא יְהוּ חַיָּבִים אֶלָּא אַחַת, וְלֹא יְהוּ חַיָּבִים אֶלָּא עַל בֵּין הָעֵינַיִם בִּלְבַד? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: קָרְחָה קָרְחָה, לִגְזֵרָה שָׁוָה! מַה קָרְחָה הָאֲמוּרָה בַּכֹּהֲנִים, חַיָּבִים עַל כָּל קָרְחָה וְקָרְחָה וְחַיָּבִים עַל הָרֹאשׁ כְּבֵין הָעֵינַיִם, אַף קָרְחָה הָאֲמוּרָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, חַיָּבִים עַל כָּל קָרְחָה וְקָרְחָה וְחַיָּבִים עַל הָרֹאשׁ כְּבֵין הָעֵינַיִם. מַה קָרְחָה הָאֲמוּרָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, אֵין חַיָּבִים אֶלָּא עַל הַמֵּת, אַף קָרְחָה הָאֲמוּרָה בַּכֹּהֲנִים, אֵין חַיָּבִים אֶלָּא עַל הַמֵּת!

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
5. **“And do not make a *bald-spot between your eyes* in *mourning* the dead” (Dt. 14:1).**
**Is it possible to say that**
**we are held liable only**
**[for a bald-spot made] *between the eyes*?**
**On what basis do we include**
**[shaving] the entire head [in this proscription]?**
**The Teaching states [regarding Priests]:**
**“They shall not make *a bald-spot* upon their head” (Lv. 21:5)—**
**this includes [shaving] the entire head.**
**Is it possible to say that the Priests—**
**for whom Scripture mandates**
**additional commandments—**
**shall be held liable**
**for each and every bald-spot,**
**and for [shaving] the entire head,**
**as well as between the eyes,**
**while [non-Priests among] Israel—**
**for whom Scripture does *not* mandate**
**additional commandments—**
**shall be held liable**
**only for one [bald-spot],**
**and shall be held liable**
**only for one between the eyes ?**
**The Teaching specifies:**
***bald-spot* [here (Dt. 14:1)]**
**and *bald-spot* [there (Lv. 21:5)],**
**[and thus] permits an analogical inference.**
**Just as the *bald-spot* mentioned for Priests**
**imposes liability for each and every bald-spot,**
**and [liability for shaving] the head,**
**as well as between the eyes,**
**so, too, the *bald-spot* mentioned for Israel,**
**should impose liability for each and every bald-spot,**
**and [liability for shaving]the head,**
**as well as between the eyes!**
**And just as the *bald-spot* mentioned for Israel,**
**imposes liability only [as part of a mourning rite] for the dead,**
**so, too, the *bald-spot* mentioned for Priests,**
**should impose liability only [as part of a mourning rite] for the dead.**²¹³ per. 1:1-3.

footnotes:
²¹³ Sifra, ‘emor,