5. If the pregnant woman be affected by the odor, they give her food, till her strength return. To the sick person they give food by order from the physicians. If there be no physicians, they give him food at his own demand until he say, “it is enough.”

6. Him who is affected with blindness, they fed even with unclean things, till his eyes got the power of vision. Him who is bitten by a mad dog, they fed not with the caul of his liver. But R. Mathia Ben Charash said, “it is allowed”; and again said R. Mathia Ben Charash, “to him who had throat complaint they administered medicine in his mouth on the Sabbath day, since there is uncertainty of life, and all uncertainty of life abrogates the Sabbath.”

7. “On whomsoever an old ruin falls, if there be a doubt, whether one be under it or not; if there be doubt, whether he be alive or dead; if there be a doubt, whether he be a foreigner or an Israelite?” “They open over him the heap. If they find him alive, they open fully, but if dead, they leave him.”

8. The sin-offering, and the offering for known transgression make atonement. Death and the day of atonement with repentance make atonement. Repentance atones for light transgressions, for commands positive and negative. But grave offences are suspended, till the day of atonement come, and it will atone.

9. He who said, “I will sin and repent—I will sin and repent?” “They did not give him the opportunity of repentance.” “I will sin, and the day of atonement shall atone?” “The day of atonement makes no atonement.” Transgressions between man and The Place[243] the day of atonement expiates. [pg 123] Transgressions between man and his neighbor, the day of atonement does not expiate, until his companion be reconciled. This R. Eleazar Ben Azariah explained “From all thy sins before the LORD thou shalt be cleansed.” Transgressions between man and The Place, the day of atonement expiated. Transgressions between man and his companion, the day of atonement did not expiate, until his companion be reconciled. Said R. Akiba, “Happy are ye, Israel! before whom are ye to be pure? Who will purify you? Your Father in heaven, as is said, ‘I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean.’ ” Then said the Fountain of Israel, the LORD, “As the fountain purifies the defiled, so the Holy One, blessed be He, purifies Israel.”


On Tabernacles[244]

Size and Covering of Tabernacles—What Constitutes a Tabernacle—Exemptions—Palm Branches—Myrtle Boughs—Willows—Citrons—Reading and Blessing—Thrashing the Altar—Rejoicings—Pouring Out of the Water—The Lighting and Dancing—Singing and Music—Blowing the Trumpets—Offerings and Courses—The Course Bilgah.