Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 82/ספרי דברים פ״ב
א(דברים יג א) אֵת כָּל הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם, שֶׁתְּהֵא מִצְוָה קַלָּה חֲבִיבָה עָלֶיךָ כְּמִצְוָה חֲמוּרָה.
1Pisqa’ 821471. “Each word that I command you, be on guard to perform it” (Dt. 13:1)—so that the simplest commandmentshall be as dear to youas the most arduous commandment.148 79.2.
באֹתוֹ תִּשְׁמְרוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: לִתֵּן לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה עַל כָּל עֲשֵׂה הָאָמוּר בַּפָּרָשָׁה.
2“Be on guard to perform it” (Dt. 13:1).R. Eliezer b. Jacob says:you should find a proscription for each prescriptionmentioned in the Scriptural lection.
גלֹא תוֹסֵף עָלָיו וְלֹא תִגְרַע מִמֶּנּוּ, מִכָּן אָמְרוּ (זבחים פ״ח מ״י): הַנִּתָּנִים בְּמַתָּנָה אַחַת שֶׁנִּתְעָרְבוּ בַּנִּתָּנִים בְּמַתָּנָה אַחַת יִנָּתְנוּ בְּמַתָּנָה אַחַת.
3“Do not add to it and do not subtract from it” (Dt. 13:1).On this basis they taught:Sacrificial blood that is applied to the Altarin a single application,and it became mixed withother sacrificial blood that is applied to the Altarin a single application—the mixture shall be applied to the Altarin a single application.149{Sacrificial blood that is appliedin four applications,which became mixed with other blood appliedin a single application—the mixture shall be appliedin a single application.Said R. Eliezer:the mixed blood should be appliedin four applications.R. Joshua says:it should be appliedin a single application.R. Eliezer said:Look—[if he makes only a single application]he transgresses “do not subtract” (Dt. 13:1)!Said R. Joshua:Look—if he makes four applicationshe transgresses “do not add” (Dt. 13:1)}!150
דדָּבָר אַחֵר: לֹא תוֹסֵף עָלָיו, מִנַּיִן שֶׁאֵין מוֹסִיפִים עַל הַלּוּלָב וְעַל הַצִּיצִית? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תוֹסֵף עָלָיו. מִנַּיִן שֶׁאֵין פּוֹחֲתִים מֵהֶם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְלֹא תִגְרַע מִמֶּנּוּ.
42. Another word:“Do not add to it” (Dt. 13:1).How do I know thatwe do not add [a fifth species]to [the four comprising] the Palm-frond,151nor [a fifth fringe] to the four[that adorn cornered garments]?The Teaching states:“Do not add to it” (Dt. 13:1).How do I know thatwe do not diminish their minimum measures?152The Teaching states:“Do not subtract from it” (Dt. 13:1).
המִנַּיִן שֶׁאִם פָּתַח לְבָרֵךְ בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים, לֹא יֹאמַר הוֹאִיל וּפָתַחְתִּי לְבָרֵךְ אוֹמַר (דברים א יא) ״ה׳ אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם יוֹסֵף עֲלֵיכֶם״? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: הַדָּבָר – אֲפִלּוּ דָבָר לֹא תוֹסֵף עָלָיו.
5How do I know thatif [a Priest] began to pronounce the Priestly Blessing [at Nu. 6:24-26],he should not think:Since I’ve already begun the blessing,I’ll say [as well]: “May HASHEM, the God of your ancestors,increase your numbers a thousand-fold” (Dt. 1:11)!The Teaching states:“Each word” (Dt. 13:1)—do not add so much as a word to [the commandment]!