Midrasch zu Sheviit 4:6
הַמְזַנֵּב בִּגְפָנִים וְהַקּוֹצֵץ קָנִים, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אוֹמֵר, יַרְחִיק טֶפַח. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר, קוֹצֵץ כְּדַרְכּוֹ, בַּקַּרְדֹּם אוֹ בַמַּגָּל, וּבַמְּגֵרָה, וּבְכָל מַה שֶׁיִּרְצֶה. אִילָן שֶׁנִּפְשַׁח, קוֹשְׁרִין אוֹתוֹ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית, לֹא שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה, אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא יוֹסִיף:
Einer, der Trauben beschneidet oder Schilf schneidet - Rabbi Yosi, der Galiläer, sagt, er sollte eine Handbreite vom Boden entfernen. Rabbi Akiva sagt, man kann auf normale Weise schneiden, indem man ein Beil, eine Sichel, eine Säge oder was auch immer man wünscht. Wenn sich ein Baum spaltet, kann man ihn während des Sabbatjahres binden; nicht um es wachsen zu lassen, sondern um die Spaltung nicht zu vergrößern.
Eikhah Rabbah
“He is like a bear in ambush to me, a lion in hiding” (Lamentations 3:10).
“He is like a bear in ambush to me” – this is Nebuchadnezzar. “A lion in hiding” – this is Nevuzaradan. Alternatively: “A bear in ambush” – this is Vespasian; “a lion in hiding” – this is Trajan.
“He has twisted my ways and mauled me; He rendered me desolate” (Lamentations 3:11).
“He has twisted my ways and mauled me [vaifashḥeni]” – split me, as we say: A tree that was split [nifshaḥ], one may tie it during the Sabbatical Year.19Mishna Sheviit 4:6.
“He drew His bow, and set me as the target for the arrow” (Lamentations 3:12).
“He drew His bow, and set me as the target for the arrow” – there were two amora’im; one said: Like a shield for arrows,20Although the shield blocks the arrows, the arrows pierce and damage the shield (Maharzu). and one said: Like a beam for arrows that everyone fires at it but it remains standing. Rabbi Yudan said: He fortified me to withstand them all. What do you find written after the ninety-eight rebukes in the book of Deuteronomy? “You are standing today, all of you” (Deuteronomy 29:9), and we translate it: “You exist this day, all of you,” mighty to withstand them all.
“He is like a bear in ambush to me” – this is Nebuchadnezzar. “A lion in hiding” – this is Nevuzaradan. Alternatively: “A bear in ambush” – this is Vespasian; “a lion in hiding” – this is Trajan.
“He has twisted my ways and mauled me; He rendered me desolate” (Lamentations 3:11).
“He has twisted my ways and mauled me [vaifashḥeni]” – split me, as we say: A tree that was split [nifshaḥ], one may tie it during the Sabbatical Year.19Mishna Sheviit 4:6.
“He drew His bow, and set me as the target for the arrow” (Lamentations 3:12).
“He drew His bow, and set me as the target for the arrow” – there were two amora’im; one said: Like a shield for arrows,20Although the shield blocks the arrows, the arrows pierce and damage the shield (Maharzu). and one said: Like a beam for arrows that everyone fires at it but it remains standing. Rabbi Yudan said: He fortified me to withstand them all. What do you find written after the ninety-eight rebukes in the book of Deuteronomy? “You are standing today, all of you” (Deuteronomy 29:9), and we translate it: “You exist this day, all of you,” mighty to withstand them all.
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