Sefer HaMiddot — Chasidut

Sefer HaMiddot

Sefer HaMiddot — Chasidut on Beth HaMidrash: the Hebrew text with its English translation, with Rashi and the major commentators. Free, online.

א. מִי שֶׁרוֹצֶה לְדַבֵּק אֶת עַצְמוֹ בְּהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, עַד שֶׁיֵּלֵךְ בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ מֵהֵיכָל אֶל הֵיכָל וְיִרְאֶה אֶת הַהֵיכָלוֹת בְּעֵינֵי הַשֵּׂכֶל, יִשְׁמר אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִלּוֹמַר שֶׁקֶר אֲפִלּוּ בְּטָעוּת.A person who wants to attach himself to the Holy One—so that his thoughts travel from one chamber to the next, seeing these chambers with his mind’s eye—should avoid speaking falsely, even accidentally.

ב. מֻתָּר לְשַׁנּוֹת בִּדְבַר הַשָּׁלוֹם.One is permitted to distort the truth in order to preserve peace.

ג. כַּת שַׁקָּרִים אֵינָם מְקַבְּלִים פְּנֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה.Those who tell lies are not worthy of receiving the Divine Presence.

ד. שָׁרֵי לְהוּ לְצַדִּיקַיָּא לִסְגוּאֵי בְּרַמָּאוּתָא עִם רַמָּאֵי.A Tzaddik is permitted to act deceitfully with one who deceives others.

ה. כָּל הַמּוֹסִיף גּוֹרֵעַ.All those who add, detract.

Sefer HaMiddot, Truth, Part I