The Benoni

Shirei Mitzvos Part 7 Finale: Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz – A Song Of The Taryag Mitzvos

Readers are welcome to view/download Yom Sheini of Shirei Mitzvos from Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz. For more background see Shirei Mitzvos Introduction.

See below for the English version we have created to help the reader better understand some of the more difficult parts in Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz’s shir. Please understand that in order to keep it in a poem we have taken a great deal of artistic license to go astray from the original intent. All comments are welcome. Let us know what you think.

277.   Judge fairly and do not pity the poor
278.   Do not rule against a Rasha just because his aveiros you abhor
279.   Mete out punishment to the criminals do not be softened to tears
280.   Close your ears from hearing one litigant before the other one appears

281.   An orphan and convert judge fairly don’t consider what they’ve become
282.   Do not sentence a person with a majority of only one
283.   Think independently do not rely on your fellow judge
284.   Appoint only qualified judges from this policy do not budge

285.   Falsely do not testify if at lying you are adept
286.   Testimony from a Rasha do not accept
287.   A relative’s testimony is not admissible in court
288.   Do not issue judgement based on a witness without a cohort

289.   Do not murder the righteous and innocent who were not lying in wait
290.   Circumstantial evidence is not enough to determine a defendant’s fate
291.   The witnesses shall seal their mouths and not advocate
292.   A murderer is not put to death until the courts adjudicate

293.   Compassion cannot be shown to someone in hot pursuit of murder or rape
294.   Do not punish a girl involved in an illicit relationship if she tried to escape
295.   Ransom do not take from an accidental murderer to exempt him from exile
296.   Kill a murderer do not accept his ransom or his cunning and guile

297.   Save and rescue, do not stand idly by the blood of your friend
298.   Build a gate on your roof so that on your premises a life does not end
299.   Do not trip up your friend with some bad advice
300.   When Bais Din gives lashes do not give more than will suffice

301.   Your voice with gossip like a snake should not travel secrets don’t reveal
302.   The hatred of your brother in your heart you shall not conceal
303.   Do not whiten your friend’s face when you rebuke him for his sin
304.   When you chance upon a bird nest do not take the mother with its kin

305.   Do not take revenge on the misdeed of you friend, your anger suppress
306.   Even if you repay his evil with kindness, your grudge do not express
307.   In the place of an Egla Arufa do not allow agriculture to thrive
308.   Do not allow a witch or warlock to remain alive

309.   In a Metzora do not shave the hair
310.   Do not alter the way the tzora’as does appear
311.   The first year of marriage from the army we exempt the groom
312.   Do not move from the proclamation of the sages even if it leads to doom

313.   Upon the mitzvos of Hashem, new ones do not enact
314.   Remember the laws of Moshe, from them do not detract
315.   Be wary of a judge, him you shall not curse
316.   If their is malice in your heart against the Nasi your lips you must purse

317.   Do not widen your mouth to curse another Jew, they are blessed
318.   Your parents you shall not curse even after they are laid to rest
319.   Do not hit your parents, a bruise do not inflict
320.   Rest on Shabbos, your work you must restrict

321.   Beyond the boundaries of Shabbos do not stroll about
322.   Punishments of Bais Din, on Shabbos do not carry out
323.   On the first day of Pesach work do not perform
324.   Also on the last day when the Yam Suf in half was torn

325.   Do not do any work on the day of Bikurim the day of Shavuos
326.   Or on Rosh HaShana when we blow Tekios and Teruos
327.   On Yom Kippur we do not work, like Shabbos it should be treated
328.   The first day of Succos do not work, with happiness it should be greeted

329.   Do not work on the Shmini Atzeres a special day for a special nation
330.   With your mother you cannot have a spousal relation
331.   To the woman married to your father do not come near
332.   Also to your sister with whom a father you share

333.   Your mother’s daughter you cannot marry it is a sin
334.   Your cannot engage your daughter she is your own kin
335.   From your daughter’s daughter keep away
336.   With your son’s daughter you may not lay

337.   A man with a woman and her daughter is a forbidden group
338.   Marrying a woman and her granddaughter is too low to stoop
339.   To both a woman and her son’s daughter do not attach
340.   Your father’s sister and you are not an appropriate match

341.   From your mother’s sister you must turn aside
342.   The wife of your father’s brother can never be your bride
343.   Do not be intimate with your son’s wife
344.   Do not have relations with a woman during her menstrual strife

345.   Between you and your brother’s wife build a wall
346.   Relations with your wife’s sister, you should appall
347.   The wife of your friend do not live and expose her shame
348.   Do not lie with an animal, male or female wild or tame

349.   Before an animal a woman must not lie
350.   A man may not come on another, he must choose to die
351.   A son may not sleep with his father whom he holds dear
352.   Do not lie with your father’s brother or your punishment will be severe

353.   From all the forbidden women avoid intimacy of any kind
354.   A mamzer who wants to marry, with an ordinary woman may not bind
355.   Without a proper marriage a man and woman may not live
356.   Do not remarry your remarried former spouse after a divorce you did give

357.   Your deceased brother’s Yevama may not remarry without a proper release
358.   With the woman you forced a relationship you must forever live in peace
359.   You may not divorce your wife if with slander you abuse
360.   Do not live with your wife if your reproductive organs are ruined and of no use

361.   The reproductive organs of an animal do not destroy and render it sterile
362.   Do not crown for a King a foreigner or a Ger, you will put the kingdom in peril
363.   A king may not have too many horses in his stable
364.   Nor should he have too many wives around his table

365.   He should not amass gold, silver, more than the kingdom needs to run

These are the Mitzvos Lo Saaseh as many as the days of the sun
You must be careful to heed each and every one
Place you hope in Hashem and your reward will be a great sum

Shirei Mitzvos Part 6: Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz – A Song Of The Taryag Mitzvos

Readers are welcome to view/download Yom Sheini of Shirei Mitzvos from Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz. For more background see Shirei Mitzvos Introduction.

See below for the English version we have created to help the reader better understand some of the more difficult parts in Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz’s shir. Please understand that in order to keep it in a poem we have taken a great deal of artistic license to go astray from the original intent. All comments are welcome. Let us know what you think.

189.   Before the Korban Omer do not eat the new wheat
190.   Not even roasted as a tasty treat
191.   Similarly juicy kernels are forbidden before the korban is brought
192.   For three year the fruit of tree are forbidden even out of Eretz Yisroel like Moshe taught

193.   Destroy wheat that together with grapes was grown
194.   Wine that was offered to Avodah Zara do not own
195.   Don’t eat and drink like a glutton, like a wayward son
196.   On Yom Kippur fast and don’t eat until the day is done

197.   Seven days of Pesach avoid Chametz, Matza is the food of choice
198.   Even a food that has chametz in it like beer, do not drink and rejoice
199.   Stop eating Chametz on Erev Pesach when the sun is directly overhead
200.   On Pesach on your property there should not be leavened bread

201.   Chametz on Pesach you should not see within your property line
202.   A Nazir must not drink alcoholic beverages of wine
203.   He may also not eat grapes juicy and plump
204.   Nor may he eat even one raisin or a whole clump

205.   Muzzle the Nazir’s mouth from a grape’s peel
206.   Its seed is also forbidden to eat as a meal
207.   He must avoid becoming tamei when a family member dies
208.   He cannot go under the same roof as a dead person only the open skies

209.   A Nazir may not crop his hair until his days are complete
210.   From two grains that fall during harvest you must retreat
211.   Underdeveloped grapes leave on the vine
212.   Leave the fallen fruit for the poor, taking it is a crime

213.   Do not harvest the corners of your field
214.   Forgotten bundles are for the poor, ownership you do not wield
215.   Different varieties of seeds don’t plant in a group
216.   If you plant wheat in in a vineyard your investment you can’t recoup

217.   Your animals you may not mix you may not cross breed
218.   Don’t plow with a donkey and ox when your field its time to seed
219.   A muzzle you may not put on your animal as they thresh the wheat
220.   On Shmita don’t plant let the field lay abandoned and retreat

221.   On Shmittah do not prune your orchards or your vineyard
222.   Wild growth in the field, as your own and do not guard
223.   Your own fruit trees on Shmita you can cut but not in a way that is extravagant
224.   On the fiftieth year which is Yovel you may not plant

225.   The produce that grows in the field on Yovel you may not harvest
226.   From picking fruit that grows on your tree in Yovel you must resist
227.   Your land in Eretz Yisroel for eternity you cannot sell
228.   Do not misappropriate the tract of land outside the cities where the Levi’im dwell

229.   Don’t abandon the Levi give him his due
230.   After Shmita do not collect the loans that are owed to you
231.   Open your hand and lend money even as Shmita comes near
232.   Don’t be cruel, feed the poor, starvation is cruel to bear

233.   When you free your Jewish slave bequeath him from your wealth abound
234.   Your debtors who who cannot pay do not hound
235.   Fear Hashem, your money with interest do not lend
236.   If it requires paying interest do not take money from your friend

237.   To an interest bearing loan do not be guarantor and don’t testify
238.   An employees wage must be paid on time, overnight the money should not lie
239.   When collecting collateral do not enter the debtors home outside you must wait
240.   The collateral of the debtor return at night if it is his blanket don’t come too late

241.   Do not take as security the utensils of a widow, her cries you must heed
242.   Do not take as collateral utensils that their hungry owner they help feed
243.   Another human you must never steal and sell as a slave
244.   Gold and other valuables do not rob even if you crave

245.   Stealing is forbidden even as a joke even if you plan to return it
246.   Your border with your neighbor don’t move even if no one will discern it
247.   What rightfully belongs to your friend do not withhold
248.   What is owed to your friend do not deny, be bold

249.   When you owe money, falsely do not swear
250.   When selling do not charges prices that are unfair
251.   Do not embarrass someone do not say a hurtful thing
252.   Do not curse a Convert, sharp words from a born Jew really sting

253.   When selling to a Convert be honest and do not cheat
254.   Do not return a fugitive slave if a path to Eretz Yisroel he beat
255.   An escaped slave with words do not taunt
256.   Speak nicely to widows and orphans their existence do not haunt

257.   If your slave is a Jew do not burden him with an unbearable strain
258.   Do not assign him with wasteful tasks from which you have no gain
259.   When selling a Jewish slave do not sell him in the market for all to see
260.   If a gentile owns a Jewish slave do not let him work him too cruelly

261.   Do not sell your Jewish maidservant she has faced enough strife
262.   If you marry your Jewish maidservant you must treat her like any other wife
263.   Do not sell a female prisoner of war with whom relations you engage
264.   If you do not want to mary her set her free do not sell her for a wage

265.   You friends possessions do not covet do not try to acquire
266.   Even in your heart another man’s possessions do not desire
267.   A laborer shall not outstretch his hand to eat the produce standing proud
268.   Placing into your utensils more than is needed for satisfaction is not allowed

269.   To the lost object of your brother a blind eye do not turn
270.   You friend’s sagging donkey help and do not spurn
271.   Do not pervert justice guard the interest of each side
272.   Bribery is forbidden to accept, your judgement it will misguide

273.   It is forbidden for you to keep in your possession a faulty weight
274.   When dividing a tract of land do it with instruments that are accurate
275.   When judging between two parties do not show favoritism to one side
276.   Do not be scared of a either party be strong show courage and pride

Shirei Mitzvos Part 5: Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz – A Song Of The Taryag Mitzvos

Readers are welcome to view/download Yom Sheini of Shirei Mitzvos from Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz. For more background see Shirei Mitzvos Introduction.

See below for the English version we have created to help the reader better understand some of the more difficult parts in Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz’s shir. Please understand that in order to keep it in a poem we have taken a great deal of artistic license to go astray from the original intent. All comments are welcome. Let us know what you think.

101.   An animal cannot be slaughtered in the same day as its kin
102.   Withhold oil from the Mincha brought for sin
103.   Leave out the incense from sinners Mincha it is not a present
104.   Also on the Mincha of a Sotah whose behavior is most unpleasant

105.   The mincha of a disgraced Sotah should not have oil
106.   Don’t exchange a Korban for another animal even a meek one for one more royal
107.   An animal do not switch from one Korban to another
108.   On the Mizbei’ach it must go, do not redeem a first born animal of its mother

109.   Do not sell at any price Ma’aser of your flock
110.   A field of Hekdesh shall remain such do not put it up for hoc
111.   Cheirem is for the Kohen do redeem do not extricate
112.   A bird brought for a Korban Chatos do not completely decapitate

113.   Animals of Kodesh do not work, no wear and tear
114.   Even though it won’t harm them their wool you may not shear
115.   Before you bring the Korban Pesach your Chametz you must dispose
116.   Bring the fat of the Korban Pesach on the Mizbei’ach don’t let it decompose

117.   The Korban Pesach cannot be left until the morning, eat it all with desire
118.   For the Chagiga of Pesach you have two days, eat it don’t let time expire
119.   The whole Pesach Sheini must be eaten at night don’t put it in the fridge
120.   Finish the Korban Todah that night its brought or Hashem will take umbrage

121.   When eating the Korban Pesach do not break any bone
122.   Also the bones of the Pesach Sheini must be left alone
123.   When eating the Korban Pesach remain with your group stay near
124.   The edible portion of a Mincha cannot be baked Chametz, beware

125.   With water don’t boil the Pesach or eat it rare
126.   A non Jewish resident can’t eat from it even if Hashem he does fear
127.   Even a Jew cannot eat the Pesach without a circumcision
128.   A Jew who leaves the fold can’t eat, as he treats Judaism with derision

129.   Someone who is Tamei may not eat Kodshim, his mouth is sealed
130.   Even if you are Tahor, don’t eat, when tumah in the Kodshim is revealed
131.   Close your mouth don’t eat expired Kodshim, it is for naught
132.   Avoid Kodshim when the Avodah was performed with an improper thought

133.   Truma cannot be eaten by anyone other than a Kohein
134.   A Kohein’s Jewish slave cannot eat Truma even though he is in his domain
135.   An uncircumcised Kohen cannot eat Truma until he has his Bris
136.   Nor can he eat Truma if his purity is amiss

137.   The daughter of a Kohein cannot eat kodshim if she has an illicit relations
138.   The Korban Mincha of a Kohein is for Hashem the Kohein gets no rations
139.   A Chatos is not eaten when its blood must be sprinkled on the Mizbei’ach of gold
140.   Do not eat a Bechor when its blemish is calculated and cold

141.   Take your grain of Ma’aser Sheini to Yerushalyim don’t eat it outside
142.   Also there you must drink your wine of Ma’aser Sheini there even if it is a long ride
143.   Your oil of Ma’aser Sheini belongs there as well
144.   Eat the meat of a sacrificed Bechor in Yerushalayim and not where you dwell

145.   Meat of a Korban, the courtyard of the Mikdash cannot leave
146.   An Olah goes completely to Hashem no portion does the Kohen receive
147.   The meat of a Korban do not eat until the blood has been thrown
148.   Only a Kohen eats Kodshei Kodshim even if the Korban is your own

149.   Do not eat outside Yerushalayim, Bikurim’s basket of fresh fruit
150.   If Ma’aser Sheini is tamei don’t eat it, its location is a point that’s moot
151.   Ma’aser Sheini can’t be eaten the day a close relative died
152.   Spend money of Ma’aser Sheini only on a food item, nutrition it will provide

153.   Don’t eat from your produce until you given the Kohen and Levi their presents
154.   Bikurim, Truma, Ma’aser the order counts its not up to your preference
155.   Before three Yomin Tovim pass, make sure your Korban you don’t delay
156.   Don’t come empty handed bring an Olah and Shlamim when on Shalosh Regalim to the Bais HaMikdash you make your way

157.   The uttering of your mouth you must hold sacred your vow do not forsake
158.   A Kohen should not marry the daughter of a Kohen whose marriage was a mistake
159.   A Kohen is holy, a harlot he must not marry
160.   A Kohen cannot take a women if a divorce she does carry

161.   The Kohen Gadol may not marry a widow, he is too holy
162.   He may not live with her without getting married this is very lowly
163.   A Kohen may not enter the Mikdash if monthly his hair is not groomed
164.   His clothing must not be torn or else he is doomed

165.   A Kohen may not leave the Mikdash until his avodah is completed there
166.   To a dead body unless it is his close relative he may not come near
167.   A Kohen Gadol to even a relative may not become Tamei
168.   He may not come close to the dead in any possible way

169.   Anyone from Shevet Levi may not take a portion of the holy land
170.   The bounty captured in war may not reach a Levi’s hand
171.   Do not rip out your hair in mourning for the dead
172.   Stay away from unkosher animals, find another way to stay well fed

173.   Without fins and scales you must avoid a fish
174.   Unkosher birds do not serve for a dish
175.   Do not eat bugs that fly
176.   Worms and creepy crawlers don’t fill a kosher pie

177.   Don’t eat bugs that from the air grow
178.   Also bugs that grow in fruit when the world they see and know
179.   Whether water, land, or air, every bug despise
180.   Even a Kosher animal is forbidden if without proper Shechita it dies

181.   A maimed animal don’t eat throw it to the dog out in the cold
182.   The Gid HaNasheh is forbidden since the days of old
183.   Meat is forbidden until the animal is alive no more
184.   Blood is not to be eaten pour it on the floor

185.   Even in a Kosher animal the fat do not eat
186.   Although permitted alone together don’t cook milk and meat
187.   If you eat them together another aveira you will collect
188.   An ox sentenced to death, as food you must reject

Shirei Mitzvos Part 4: Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz – A Song Of The Taryag Mitzvos

Readers are welcome to view/download Yom Sheini of Shirei Mitzvos from Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz. For more background see Shirei Mitzvos Introduction.

See below for the English version we have created to help the reader better understand some of the more difficult parts in Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz’s shir. Please understand that in order to keep it in a poem we have taken a great deal of artistic license to go astray from the original intent. All comments are welcome. Let us know what you think.

13.   In the Bais HaMikdash do not plant a tree
14.   The name of Avodah Zara when swearing, on your lips should not be
15.   Towards Aovdah Zara do not steer the people of your city
16.   Don’t seduce your brother’s to turn from Hashem, it would be a pity

17.   Do not withhold your anger, maintain your hatred, forgive him never
18.   Let your fury rage don’t love him or listen to him ever
19.   Don’t pity him or save him, watch him go to his grave
20.   Withhold you knowledge of his merits, do not attempt to save

21.   Do not withhold evidence of his dastardly deed
22.   Jewels and valuable of Avodah Zara avoid, curb your greed
23.   Never rebuild an Ir HaNidachas, ashes it shall forever remain
24.   Acquire not its bounty, from it you must refrain

25.   Avodah zara and other abominations in your home, will cause its demise
26.   In the name of other deities do not prophesize
27.   When saying Nevua in the name of Hashem speak truth and not lies
28.   A Navi in the name of Avoda Zara do not engage, just ostracize

29.   Slaughter a false Navi, him you must not fear
30.   Tamei is the way Goyim to their lifestyle do not adhere
31.   Inquiries to idols do not make to know what will soon occur
32.   To the signs of the stars and their predictions do not defer

33.   Ignore the folly of omens, to the truth it has no relation
34.   Avoid using sorcery like every other nation
35.   Chanting is a forbidden way to deal with snakes
36.   To inquire the future from a master of Ov is not a precaution you may take

37.   Do not seek out a practitioner of Yedoni, away he must be chased
38.   Communicating through dead bodies is a practice that must be erased
39.   As a way to mingle with women, a man must not dress in women’s attire
40.   Women cannot don men’s clothing no matter what the latest fashions inspire

41.   Jews do not have them, our flesh must be clean of any tattoo
42.   Clothing of wool and linen don’t go together it will always be taboo
43.   Sideburns do not shave, your head they must adorn
44.   With a razor your beard may not be shorn

45.   A lesion, wound or scratch do not make over a deceased
46.   To Mitzrayim do not go back, the place from where we were long ago released
47.   It is foolish and wrong to follow ideas that your heart may contrive
48.   Of the seven nations do not leave any remnants, no soul shall survive

49.   With the seven nations a treaty do not sign
50.   On their beauty do not comment for it is not divine
51.   Idol worshipers do not allow to dwell in your land
52.   With a Goy do not exchange vows and give a wedding band

53.   A male descendant of Amon and Moav is forever out of bounds
54.   On the shidduch circuit a Ger from Edom must be alllowed to make the rounds
55.   A Ger Mitzri must be held close, hostilities must cease
56.   When waging war on Amon and Moav we cannot not seek peace

57.   Do not destroy a fruit tree or any useful item
58.   The enemy we must not fear, when we go fight them
59.   The wickedness of our enemy Amalek do not forget
60.   Do not curse Hashem, it is an act you will regret

61.   When you swear you must not violate your word whether the future or the past
62.   Do not swear in vain, from it you must run far and run fast
63.   Rather than making a Chilul Hashem be prepared to give you life
64.   A true Navi support, don’t test him and cause him strife

65.   Do not destroy any holy article, to Hashem it is a disgrace
66.   A hung body must not linger on the tree, Hashem’s image is etched in his face
67.   The entire night the Bais HaMikdash must be guarded
68.   A Kohen only enters the Bais HaMikdash when Avodah must be started

69.   A Kohen with a blemish may not approach the Mizbei’ach and beyond
70.   He may not do the Avodah despite his priestly family bond
71.   Even if his blemish is temporary, in the Avodah he may not participate
72.   Kohanim and Levi’im must do only their own jobs and from others must abate

73.   One must not do Avodah or enter the Mikdash in a state of intoxication
74.   Only Aharon’s descendants may do the avodah, or else it is a desecration
75.   A Kohen in an unpure state in the Bais HaMikdash may not serve
76.   Even after purifying he must wait until the sun sets, over the horizon’s curve

77.   No one may enter the courtyard of the Bais HaMikdash unless he is spiritually clean
78.   After a nocturnal incident do not enter Machaneh Levi’a, the camp in between
79.   With cut stones do not build the Mizbei’ach, iron is for homocide
80.   Make a ramp and take small steps, up to the Mizbei’ach we do not stride

81.   The fire on the Mizbei’ach do not extinguish it must always burn
82.   On the golden Mizbei’ach do not offer any korban or ketores out of turn
83.   The formula of the Shemen HaMishcha do not recreate like the days of yore
84.   The authentic Shemen HaMishcha on a foreigner do not pour

85.   The holy incense with its spices do not make for your pleasure
86.   The poles of the Aron do not remove, leave them attached to our treasure
87.   The Choshen’s place is on the Eiphod it must always be near
88.   Be careful with the collar of the Me’il, make sure it doesn’t tear

89.   Kodshim do not offer outside the Bais HaMikdash on a fire
90.   The slaughter of Kodshim outside the Bais HaMikdash will raise Hashem’s ire
91.   Animals are unfit to be donated if they are blind or their limbs are broken
92.   Do not slaughter blemished animals for Hashem it is not a gift and not a token

93.   On the Mizbei’ach do not sprinkle a blemished animal’s blood
94.   Burning its fat is forbidden, the Korban is a dud
95.   Do not offer a wounded animal even if it will eventually heal
96.   Even if the Korban a sent by a Goy, a blemish is still a big deal

97.   A blemish do not cause in a sanctified animal it should not be neglected
98.   An offering of sourdough or honey is forbidden and not accepted
99.   Do not sacrifice any offering unless with salt it is topped
100.   A Korban obtained with a harlot’s fee or with a dog must be stopped