Pisqa’ 137¹

1

“Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks ² 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,³

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). ⁴

1. H:178-179; JN1: 330.
2. Heb: khag hashavuot. Also known as `Atzeret (“Closing-festival”). See Pisqa’ 135.1.
3. Heb: yom tov; “a day of well-being.”
4. Cf. M. Men. 7:6, Pisqa’ 129.2 and H:447, Pisqa’ 137, n. 3 for a contrasting interpretation. I follow JN1:330.