Page 93 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

ןנברמ אברוצ םיוגה תוקוח תוכלה · 91

The Sifra explains the essence of the prohibition:

h Sifra, Acharei Mot 8:13 גי:ח תומ ירחא | ארפס 8 .
Do not follow their statutes… what did the verse omit that has not חינה המ יכו ,וכלת אל םהיתוקחבו
already been mentioned, for it has already said (Devarim 18:10), רמאנ רבכ אלהו ,ורמא אלש בותכה
“there should not be found among you, one who passes his son or שאב ותבו ונב ריבעמ ךב אצמי אל
daughter through fire… and one who divines divinations, etc.”…what דומלת המו 'וגו רבח רבוחו רמוגו
did the verse mean by saying “do not follow their statutes”? That you וכלת אלש וכלת אל םהיתוקוחבו רמול
should not follow their traditions that are entrenched in law, such םהל ןיקוקחה םירבדב ןהלש תוסומינב
as [attending] theaters, circuses, and stadiums. Rabbi Meir says it
refers to the darkei ha’emori as enumerated by the Sages. ,תוירטסאהו תואסקרקו תוירטית ןוגכ
ונמש ירומאה יכרד ולא רמוא מ"ר
Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira says, this refers to “lo tinchor,” and not
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to grow one’s fringes, and not to have a haircut in the manner of the רמוא אריתב ןב הדוהי 'ר ,םימכח
“kumi.” Perhaps one might say that they have laws but we don’t? אלשו תיציצ לדגת אלשו רוחנת אלש
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[Therefore] the verse states: “Do My laws and guard My statutes to go םהל רמאת אמשו ,הפש ימוק רופסת
in their ways – I am the Lord your G-d.” Still, there is hope for the evil יטפשמ תא ל"ת םיקוח ןיא ונלו םיקוח
inclination to ponder that their laws are better than ours; [therefore] ורמשת ]יתוקוח[ )יתוצמ( תאו ושעת
the verse states (Devarim 4:6): “You shall guard and do it, for it is your שי ןיידע ,םכיהלא 'ה ינא םהב תכלל
wisdom and understanding.” םהלש רמולו רהרהל ערה רציל הוקת
םתרמשו רמול דומלת ונלשמ םיאנ
.םכתניבו םכתמכח איה יכ םתישעו

3. The usual meaning of nechira is to stab an animal without shechita. The Ra’avad had a version of the text reading “lo tinkor,” which he interpreted
to mean that the prohibition is to look in a mirror for the sake of beautifying oneself. He explains that this is practiced by the gentiles who make
themselves available for licentious behavior, and wish to draw the attention of women.
4. This refers to a practice of idol worshipers who used to shave the front half of their head and leave the back to grow long (Aruch). Another
explanation of the phrase “lesaper kumi” refers to speaking about secular wisdom in a praiseworthy manner.

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