Pisqa’ 44¹

1²

“Now, place these words of mine upon your heart” (Dt.11:18)—

this refers to Torah-study.

“And bind them as a sign upon your hand” (Dt.11:18)—

these are prayer-amulets.

I might infer that

only prayer-amulets and Torah-study

[are placed upon the heart]!

On what basis do I know

[that this applies] to other commandments as well?

Look, you can deduce this from

the family resemblance³ shared by the two!

There is no self-evident similarity between

wearing prayer-amulets and Torah-study,

or Torah-study and prayer-amulets!

But the family resemblance is that

they are both obligations involving the body

that do not depend upon [that body] being in the Land.

Rather, they are practiced both in the Land and beyond the Land.

Similarly, all commandments involving the body,

that do not depend upon [that body] being in the Land,

are practiced both in the Land and beyond the Land.

And those that depend upon being in the Land,

are practiced only in the Land—

except for prohibitions against

consecrated fruit⁴ (Lv.19:23) and mixed species⁵ (Lv.19:19)

[which are practiced both in and beyond the Land].⁶

R. Eliezer says:

also, the new harvest⁷ (Lv.23:11-14)

[prohibited until the Barley-Sheaf offering is made

on the second day of Passover].⁸

1. H:97; JN1:116
2. H:97; JN1:116
3. Heb: binyan av. This hermeneutical rule allows the meaning of a word in one verse to govern the meaning of a similar word in a separate context.
4. Heb: `orlah; literally,   “foreskin fruit;” that is, produce in its first three years of fruit-bearing, when it may not be eaten. In the fourth year the produce must be purchased outside Jerusalem and the food eaten in Jerusalem. In the fifth year and thereafter the owner may consume it as he wishes. See M. Orl. 1:6.7
5. Heb: kil’aim; “diverse kinds growing in a single field.” Certain species of plants are deemed incompatible w hen sown together in a single field. The resulting mixture of crops is “sanctified,” i.e., it may not be used for benefit, unless the species are replanted separately.M. Kil. 3:1-3.
6. Sifra. ‘emor, par. 10:11 and B. Qid. 38a. Cf. Pisqa’ 59.2.
7. Heb.: khadash.
8. =M. Qid.1:9. Cf. Pisqa’ 59.2