The Rambam · Sefer Madda
הלכות תשובה ג׳Repentance 3
Chapter 3 of 10 in Repentance — 14 halachot
Halacha 1א׳
כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִבְּנֵי הָאָדָם יֵשׁ לוֹ זְכֻיּוֹת וַעֲוֹנוֹת. מִי שֶׁזְּכֻיּוֹתָיו יְתֵרוֹת עַל עֲוֹנוֹתָיו צַדִּיק. וּמִי שֶׁעֲוֹנוֹתָיו יְתֵרוֹת עַל זְכֻיּוֹתָיו רָשָׁע. מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה בֵּינוֹנִי. וְכֵן הַמְּדִינָה אִם הָיוּ זְכֻיּוֹת כָּל יוֹשְׁבֶיהָ מְרֻבּוֹת עַל עֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶן הֲרֵי זוֹ צַדֶּקֶת. וְאִם הָיוּ עֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶם מְרֻבִּין הֲרֵי זוֹ רְשָׁעָה. וְכֵן כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ:
Each and every person has merits and sins. A person whose merits are greater than their sins is righteous; and a person whose sins are greater than their merits is wicked; half and half, in-between. And the same is true of a country, if the merits of all its citizens are greater than their sins, that nation is righteous, and if their sins are greater than their merits they are wicked; and also for the whole world.
Halacha 2ב׳
אָדָם שֶׁעֲוֹנוֹתָיו מְרֻבִּין עַל זְכֻיּוֹתָיו מִיָּד הוּא מֵת בְּרִשְׁעוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עַל רֹב עֲוֹנֵךְ. וְכֵן מְדִינָה שֶׁעֲוֹנוֹתֶיהָ מְרֻבִּין מִיָּד הִיא אוֹבֶדֶת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יח כ) "זַעֲקַת סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה כִּי רָבָּה" וְגוֹ'. וְכֵן כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ אִם הָיוּ עֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶם מְרֻבִּין מִזְּכֻיּוֹתֵיהֶן מִיָּד הֵן נִשְׁחָתִין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ו ה) "וַיַּרְא ה' כִּי רַבָּה רָעַת הָאָדָם". וְשִׁקּוּל זֶה אֵינוֹ לְפִי מִנְיַן הַזְּכֻיּוֹת וְהָעֲוֹנוֹת אֶלָּא לְפִי גָּדְלָם. יֵשׁ זְכוּת שֶׁהִיא כְּנֶגֶד כַּמָּה עֲוֹנוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א יד יג) "יַעַן נִמְצָא בוֹ דָּבָר טוֹב". וְיֵשׁ עָוֹן שֶׁהוּא כְּנֶגֶד כַּמָּה זְכֻיּוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (קהלת ט יח) "וְחוֹטֶא אֶחָד יְאַבֵּד טוֹבָה הַרְבֵּה". וְאֵין שׁוֹקְלִין אֶלָּא בְּדַעְתּוֹ שֶׁל אֵל דֵּעוֹת וְהוּא הַיּוֹדֵעַ הֵיאַךְ עוֹרְכִין הַזְּכֻיּוֹת כְּנֶגֶד הָעֲוֹנוֹת:
Regarding a man whose sins are greater than his merits, is immediately dead in his wicked state, as it says on many of your sins (Jeremiah 30:14, Jeremiah 30:15, Hosea 9:7). And so too a country whose sins are greater [than its merits], it is immediately a desolation, as it says The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great (Genesis 18:20). And so too the whole world, if its sins were greater than its merits, it would immediately be a desolation. As the verse says And God saw the great wickedness of man (Genesis 6:5). And this evaluation is not according to the number of merits and sins, but according to their magnitude. There could be a merit which is equivalent to several sins, as it says, because in him there is found a good thing (I Kings 14:13); and there could be a sin which is equivalent to several merits, as it says, one sinner destroys much good (Ecclesiastes 9:18). But such calculations only take place in the mind of the Divine Intellect, He who knows how to evaluate merits against sins.
Halacha 3ג׳
כָּל מִי שֶׁנִּחַם עַל הַמִּצְוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה וְתָהָה עַל הַזְּכֻיּוֹת וְאָמַר בְּלִבּוֹ וּמַה הוֹעַלְתִּי בַּעֲשִׂיָּתָן הַלְוַאי לֹא עָשִׂיתִי אוֹתָן הֲרֵי זֶה אִבֵּד אֶת כֻּלָּן וְאֵין מַזְכִּירִים לוֹ שׁוּם זְכוּת בָּעוֹלָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל לג יב) "וְצִדְקַת הַצַּדִּיק לֹא תַצִּילֶנּוּ בְּיוֹם רִשְׁעוֹ", אֵין זֶה אֶלָּא בְּתוֹהֶה עַל הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁשּׁוֹקְלִין זְכֻיּוֹת אָדָם וַעֲוֹנוֹתָיו בִּשְׁעַת מִיתָתוֹ כָּךְ בְּכָל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה שׁוֹקְלִין עֲוֹנוֹת כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִבָּאֵי הָעוֹלָם עִם זְכֻיּוֹתָיו, בְּיוֹם טוֹב שֶׁל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה. מִי שֶׁנִּמְצָא צַדִּיק נֶחְתָּם לְחַיִּים. וּמִי שֶׁנִּמְצָא רָשָׁע נֶחְתָּם לְמִיתָה. וְהַבֵּינוֹנִי תּוֹלִין אוֹתוֹ עַד יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים אִם עָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה נֶחְתָּם לְחַיִּים וְאִם לָאו נֶחְתָּם לְמִיתָה:
Anyone that regrets the mitzvot that he did, and hedges on his merits, and says in his heart "And what value is in them being done? I wish I had not done them." Lo! He loses all of them and they are not mentioned on his behalf ever again, as it says, "The righteousness of the righteous [man] will not save him on the day of his wickedness" (Ezekiel 33:12). This [verse] refers only to the regret of previous actions. And just as a person's merits and sins are weighed at the moment of his death, so too each and every year, every person on earth, has his sins weighed against his merits on the holiday of Rosh HaShanah. A person who is found to be righteous is sealed for life, and a person who is found to be wicked is sealed for death. And an in-between person, his is suspended until Yom Kippur. If he does teshuvah, he is sealed for life; and if not, he is sealed for death.
Halacha 4ד׳
אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁתְּקִיעַת שׁוֹפָר בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה גְּזֵרַת הַכָּתוּב רֶמֶז יֵשׁ בּוֹ כְּלוֹמַר עוּרוּ יְשֵׁנִים מִשְּׁנַתְכֶם וְנִרְדָּמִים הָקִיצוּ מִתַּרְדֵּמַתְכֶם וְחַפְּשׂוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂיכֶם וְחִזְרוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה וְזִכְרוּ בּוֹרַאֲכֶם. אֵלּוּ הַשּׁוֹכְחִים אֶת הָאֱמֶת בְּהַבְלֵי הַזְּמַן וְשׁוֹגִים כָּל שְׁנָתָם בְּהֶבֶל וָרִיק אֲשֶׁר לֹא יוֹעִיל וְלֹא יַצִּיל, הַבִּיטוּ לְנַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם וְהֵיטִיבוּ דַּרְכֵיכֶם וּמַעַלְלֵיכֶם וְיַעֲזֹב כָּל אֶחָד מִכֶּם דַּרְכּוֹ הָרָעָה וּמַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר לֹא טוֹבָה. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ כָּל אָדָם שֶׁיִּרְאֶה עַצְמוֹ כָּל הַשָּׁנָה כֻּלָּהּ כְּאִלּוּ חֶצְיוֹ זַכַּאי וְחֶצְיוֹ חַיָּב. וְכֵן כָּל הָעוֹלָם חֶצְיוֹ זַכַּאי וְחֶצְיוֹ חַיָּב. חָטָא חֵטְא אֶחָד הֲרֵי הִכְרִיעַ אֶת עַצְמוֹ וְאֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ לְכַף חוֹבָה וְגָרַם לוֹ הַשְׁחָתָה. עָשָׂה מִצְוָה אַחַת הֲרֵי הִכְרִיעַ אֶת עַצְמוֹ וְאֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ לְכַף זְכוּת וְגָרַם לוֹ וְלָהֶם תְּשׁוּעָה וְהַצָּלָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי י כה) "וְצַדִּיק יְסוֹד עוֹלָם" זֶה שֶׁצָּדַק הִכְרִיעַ אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם לִזְכוּת וְהִצִּילוֹ. וּמִפְּנֵי עִנְיָן זֶה נָהֲגוּ כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהַרְבּוֹת בִּצְדָקָה וּבְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים וְלַעֲסֹק בְּמִצְוֹת מֵרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וְעַד יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים יֶתֶר מִכָּל הַשָּׁנָה. וְנָהֲגוּ כֻּלָּם לָקוּם בַּלַּיְלָה בַּעֲשָׂרָה יָמִים אֵלּוּ וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל בְּבָתֵּי כְּנֵסִיּוֹת בְּדִבְרֵי תַּחֲנוּנִים וּבְכִבּוּשִׁין עַד שֶׁיֵּאוֹר הַיּוֹם:
Even though the blowing of the shofar on Rosh HaShanah is a Biblical decree, it hints at something, i.e., “Wake up, sleepers, from your sleep! And slumberers, arise from your slumber! Search your ways and return in teshuvah and remember your Creator! Those who forget the Truth amidst the futility of the moment and are infatuated all their years with vanity and nothingness that will not help and will not save, examine your souls and improve your ways and your motivations! Let each of you abandon his wicked ways, and his thoughts which are no good." Therefore a person needs to see himself all year long as if he is half innocent and half guilty, and also [see] the whole world - half innocent and half guilty. If he sins one sin - he has tilted herself and the whole world to the side of guilt and caused its destruction. If he does one mitzvah - he has tilted herself and the whole world to the side of innocence and caused redemption and rescue, as it says, the righteous are the foundation of the world (Proverbs 10:25). This refers to a righteousness that has tilted the whole world to innocence and saved it. And for this reason the whole House of Israel has a custom to increase charity and good deeds, and to engage in mitzvot from Rosh HaShanah until Yom Kippur, more than the rest of the year. And everyone has the custom to wake up during the night on these ten days and to pray in the synagogue with words of pleading and words of surrender until daylight.
Halacha 5ה׳
בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁשּׁוֹקְלִין עֲוֹנוֹת אָדָם עִם זְכֻיּוֹתָיו אֵין מְחַשְּׁבִין עָלָיו עָוֹן שֶׁחָטָא בּוֹ תְּחִלָּה וְלֹא שֵׁנִי אֶלָּא מִשְּׁלִישִׁי וְאֵילָךְ. אִם נִמְצְאוּ עֲוֹנוֹתָיו מִשְּׁלִישִׁי וְאֵילָךְ מְרֻבִּין עַל זְכֻיּוֹתָיו אוֹתָם שְׁתֵּי עֲוֹנוֹת מִצְטָרְפִים וְדָנִין אוֹתוֹ עַל הַכּל. וְאִם נִמְצְאוּ זְכֻיּוֹתָיו כְּנֶגֶד עֲוֹנוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר מֵעָוֹן שְׁלִישִׁי וְאֵילָךְ מַעֲבִירִים כָּל עֲוֹנוֹתָיו רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן. לְפִי שֶׁהַשְּׁלִישִׁי נֶחְשָׁב רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁכְּבָר נִמְחֲלוּ הַשְּׁנַיִם. וְכֵן הָרְבִיעִי הֲרֵי הוּא רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁכְּבָר נִמְחַל הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וְכֵן עַד סוֹפָן. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּיָחִיד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב לג כט) "הֶן כָּל אֵלֶּה יִפְעַל אֵל פַּעֲמַיִם שָׁלוֹשׁ עִם גָּבֶר". אֲבָל הַצִּבּוּר תּוֹלִין לָהֶן עָוֹן רִאשׁוֹן שֵׁנִי וּשְׁלִישִׁי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עמוס ב ו) "עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה פִּשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל אַרְבָּעָה לֹא אֲשִׁיבֶנּוּ". וּכְשֶׁמְּחַשְּׁבִין לָהֶן עַל דֶּרֶךְ זֶה מְחַשְּׁבִין לָהֶן מֵרְבִיעִי וְאֵילָךְ. הַבֵּינוֹנִים אִם הָיָה בִּכְלַל מֶחֱצָה עֲוֹנוֹת שֶׁלָּהֶן שֶׁלֹּא הֵנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין מֵעוֹלָם דָּנִין אוֹתוֹ כְּפִי חֶטְאוֹ וְיֵשׁ לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. וְכֵן כָּל הָרְשָׁעִים שֶׁעֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶן מְרֻבִּים דָּנִין אוֹתָן כְּפִי חֲטָאֵיהֶם וְיֵשׁ לָהֶן חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא שֶׁכָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁחָטְאוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ס כא) "וְעַמֵּךְ כֻּלָּם צַדִּיקִים לְעוֹלָם יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ". אֶרֶץ זוֹ מָשָׁל כְּלוֹמַר אֶרֶץ הַחַיִּים וְהוּא הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. וְכֵן חֲסִידֵי אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם יֵשׁ לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא:
When a person weighs his sins against his merits, he should not calculate a sin sinned once, nor twice, but only [when sinned] thrice and on. If the sins done three times or more are found to be greater than his merits, then those sins [done once or twice] are added to it and he is judged on all of them. And if it turns out that his merits are equal to his sins that were transgressed from the third time onwards, all of his sins are forgiven one at a time, such that the third transgression is considered the first [to be up for forgiveness], since the [first] two were already forgiven. And so [too] the fourth, behold it is [now] the first [in line], since the third was forgiven. And so [on], until their end. To what does this refer? To an individual, as it says, Behold, all these things the Power does, twice, thrice, with a man (Job 33:29). But with the group, He suspends the first, second and third sin, as it says, For three transgressions, but for four I will not return it (Amos 2:6). And when it is calculated for them upon this way, it is calculated [only] from the fourth sin and onwards. [These] in-between people, if there was among the half of [their actions that were] sins [the sin] of not ever having put on tefillin (phylactaries), [that person] is judged according to his sin, but he has a share in the World to Come. And so [too], all of the evildoers whose sins are greater [than their merits], they are judged according to their sins, but they have a share in the World to Come; as all Jews have a share in the world to come, even though they have sinned, as it says, your people are all righteous, they will inherit the earth forever (Isaiah 60:21). This [use of the word,] earth, is a parable, which is to say, the land of the living, which is the World to Come. And so [too], the pious ones of the nations of the world, they have a share in the World to Come.
Halacha 6ו׳
וְאֵלּוּ הֵן שֶׁאֵין לָהֶן חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא אֶלָּא נִכְרָתִים וְאוֹבְדִין וְנִדּוֹנִין עַל גֹּדֶל רִשְׁעָם וְחַטָּאתָם לְעוֹלָם וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עוֹלָמִים. הַמִּינִים. וְהָאֶפִּיקוֹרוֹסִין. וְהַכּוֹפְרִים בַּתּוֹרָה. וְהַכּוֹפְרִים בִּתְחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים וּבְבִיאַת הַגּוֹאֵל. הַמּוֹרְדִים. וּמַחֲטִיאֵי הָרַבִּים. וְהַפּוֹרְשִׁין מִדַּרְכֵי צִבּוּר. וְהָעוֹשֶׂה עֲבֵרוֹת בְּיָד רָמָה בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא כִּיהוֹיָקִים. וְהַמּוֹסְרִים. וּמַטִּילֵי אֵימָה עַל הַצִּבּוּר שֶׁלֹּא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם. וְשׁוֹפְכֵי דָּמִים. וּבַעֲלֵי לָשׁוֹן הָרַע. וְהַמּוֹשֵׁךְ עָרְלָתוֹ:
The following are the people who have no share in the World to Come, but are cut off and lost and judged for the magnitude of their wickedness and sins forever and ever: Sectarians; Heretics; Deniers of Torah; Deniers of Resurrection; [Deniers] of the coming of the Messiah; Apostates; those who lead the masses into sin; those who separate from the community; those who separate from the ways of the community; those who sin with a high hand in public like Jehoiakim; Collaborators [with the government]; those who bring fear upon the community but not for the sake of Heaven; Murderers; Gossipers; and those who reverse their circumcision.
Halacha 7ז׳
חֲמִשָּׁה הֵן הַנִּקְרָאִים מִינִים. הָאוֹמֵר שֶׁאֵין שָׁם אֱלוֹהַּ וְאֵין לָעוֹלָם מַנְהִיג. וְהָאוֹמֵר שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם מַנְהִיג אֲבָל הֵן שְׁנַיִם אוֹ יוֹתֵר. וְהָאוֹמֵר שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם רִבּוֹן אֶחָד אֲבָל שֶׁהוּא גּוּף וּבַעַל תְּמוּנָה. וְכֵן הָאוֹמֵר שֶׁאֵינוֹ לְבַדּוֹ הָרִאשׁוֹן וְצוּר לַכֹּל. וְכֵן הָעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָב אוֹ מַזָּל וְזוּלָתוֹ כְּדֵי לִהְיוֹת מֵלִיץ בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים. כָּל אֶחָד מֵחֲמִשָּׁה אֵלּוּ הוּא מִין:
There are five [types] who are called "sectrarians" (minnim): One who says that there is no god and no director of the world. One who says that there is a director, but there are two or more. One who says that there is one master but that he has a body and a being with a form. And similarly one who says that He is not the first alone and creator of all. And similarly one who worships a star or constellation, and similar things, in order to intercede between him and the Master of Worlds. Any one of these five is considered a "min" - sectarian.
Halacha 8ח׳
שְׁלֹשָׁה הֵן הַנִּקְרָאִים אֶפִּיקוֹרְסִין. הָאוֹמֵר שֶׁאֵין שָׁם נְבוּאָה כְּלָל וְאֵין שָׁם מַדָּע שֶׁמַּגִּיעַ מֵהַבּוֹרֵא לְלֵב בְּנֵי הָאָדָם. וְהַמַּכְחִישׁ נְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ. וְהָאוֹמֵר שֶׁאֵין הַבּוֹרֵא יוֹדֵעַ מַעֲשֵׂה בְּנֵי הָאָדָם. כָּל אֶחָד מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה אֵלּוּ הֵן אֶפִּיקוֹרוֹסִים. שְׁלֹשָׁה הֵן הַכּוֹפְרִים בַּתּוֹרָה. הָאוֹמֵר שֶׁאֵין הַתּוֹרָה מֵעִם ה' אֲפִלּוּ פָּסוּק אֶחָד אֲפִלּוּ תֵּבָה אַחַת אִם אָמַר משֶׁה אֲמָרוֹ מִפִּי עַצְמוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה כּוֹפֵר בַּתּוֹרָה. וְכֵן הַכּוֹפֵר בְּפֵרוּשָׁהּ וְהוּא תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה וְהַמַּכְחִישׁ מַגִּידֶיהָ כְּגוֹן צָדוֹק וּבַיְתּוֹס. וְהָאוֹמֵר שֶׁהַבּוֹרֵא הֶחֱלִיף מִצְוָה זוֹ בְּמִצְוָה אַחֶרֶת וּכְבָר בָּטְלָה תּוֹרָה זוֹ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִיא הָיְתָה מֵעִם ה' כְּגוֹן הָהַגְרִים. כָּל אֶחָד מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה אֵלּוּ כּוֹפֵר בַּתּוֹרָה:
There are three that are called "heretics" (apikorsin): One who says that there is no such thing as prophecy and there is no such thing as information that is passed from the Creator to the heart of man. And one who denies the prophecy of Moses, our teacher. And one who says that the Creator does not know man's actions. Any one of these is considered an "apikores" - heretic. Three are deniers of the Torah: One who say that the Torah is not from God, even one verse, even one letter, if he says that Moses said it on his own, that is denying the Torah. And similarly, one who denies the interpretation of the Torah, that is the Oral Torah, and denies its imparters, such as Tzaddok and Beothius. And one who says that the Creator switched this commandment for another one, and that the Torah has been voided, although it is from God, such as the Haggarites (Arabs). Any one of these is a denier of the Torah.
Halacha 9ט׳
שְׁנַיִם הֵם הַמּוּמָרִים מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל. הַמּוּמָר לַעֲבֵרָה אַחַת וְהַמּוּמָר לְכָל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ. מוּמָר לַעֲבֵרָה אַחַת זֶה שֶׁהֶחֱזִיק עַצְמוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת אוֹתָהּ עֲבֵרָה בְּזָדוֹן וְהֻרְגָּל וְנִתְפַּרְסֵם בָּהּ אֲפִלּוּ הָיְתָה מִן הַקַּלּוֹת כְּגוֹן שֶׁהֻחְזַק תָּמִיד לִלְבֹּשׁ שַׁעַטְנֵז אוֹ לְהַקִּיף פֵּאָה וְנִמְצָא כְּאִלּוּ בָּטְלָה מִצְוָה זוֹ מִן הָעוֹלָם אֶצְלוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה מוּמָר לְאוֹתוֹ דָּבָר וְהוּא שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה לְהַכְעִיס. מוּמָר לְכָל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ כְּגוֹן הַחוֹזְרִים לְדָתֵי הָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁגּוֹזְרִין גְּזֵרָה וְיִדְבַּק בָּהֶם וְיֹאמַר מַה בֶּצַע לִי לְהִדַּבֵּק בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהֵם שְׁפָלִים וְנִרְדָּפִים טוֹב לִי שֶׁאֶדַּבֵּק בְּאֵלּוּ שֶׁיָּדָם תַּקִּיפָה. הֲרֵי זֶה מוּמָר לְכָל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ:
There are two that are Jewish apostates: One who rebels against a single mitzvah, and one who rebels against the entire Torah. Someone who rebels against a single mitzvah – this is a person who accustoms himself to do a certain sin intentionally and becomes notorious for it, even if it were one of the minor sins, such as wearing sha’atnez or shaving the corners [of one’s beard], so that it is as if, for him, that mitzvah has been erased from the world. Such a person has rebelled against that particular thing, meaning that he does it spitefully. Someone who rebels against the entire Torah – such as those who return to the religion of idolaters during a time of oppression, and cling to them and say: How does it benefit me to cling to Israel who are lowly and pursued? It is better for me to cling to those whose hands are forceful. Such a person has rebelled against the entire Torah.
Halacha 10י׳
מַחֲטִיאֵי הָרַבִּים כֵּיצַד. אֶחָד שֶׁהֶחְטִיא בְּדָבָר גָּדוֹל כְּגוֹן יָרָבְעָם וְצָדוֹק וּבַיְתּוֹס. וְאֶחָד שֶׁהֶחְטִיא בְּדָבָר קַל אֲפִלּוּ לְבַטֵּל מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה. וְאֶחָד הָאוֹנֵס אֲחֵרִים עַד שֶׁיֶּחְטְאוּ כִּמְנַשֶּׁה שֶׁהָיָה הוֹרֵג אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד שֶׁיַּעַבְדוּ עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, אוֹ שֶׁהִטְעָה אֲחֵרִים וְהִדִּיחָם כְּיֵשׁוּעַ:
Who are those who lead the masses into sin? Either someone who causes [the masses] to sin in a serious matter, such as Jeroboam and Tzadok and Boethius; or someone who causes [others] to sin in something minor, even to void a positive commandment; or someone who compels others to sin, like Menasheh who killed Israelites until they worshiped idolatry; or someone who misleads others and seduces them.
Halacha 11י״א
הַפּוֹרֵשׁ מִדַּרְכֵי צִבּוּר אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא עָבַר עֲבֵרוֹת אֶלָּא נִבְדָּל מֵעֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה מִצְוֹת בִּכְלָלָן וְלֹא נִכְנָס בְּצָרָתָן וְלֹא מִתְעַנֶּה בְּתַעֲנִיתָן אֶלָּא הוֹלֵךְ בְּדַרְכּוֹ כְּאֶחָד מִגּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ וּכְאִלּוּ אֵינוֹ מֵהֶן אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. הָעוֹשֶׂה עֲבֵרוֹת בְּיָד רָמָה כִּיהוֹיָקִים בֵּין שֶׁעָשָׂה קַלּוֹת בֵּין שֶׁעָשָׂה חֲמוּרוֹת אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. וְזֶהוּ הַנִּקְרָא מְגַלֶּה פָּנִים בַּתּוֹרָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵעֵז מִצְחוֹ וְגִלָּה פָּנָיו וְלֹא בּוֹשׁ מִדִּבְרֵי תּוֹרָה:
One who separates from the ways of the community – even though she has not committed sins but only broke away from the community of Israel and does not do mitzvot together with them, does not participate in their troubles, and does not fast on their fast days – but instead goes about her business like a member of the Nations of the Land, as if she was not one of them: she has no portion in the World to Come. One who sins with a high hand in public like Jehoiakim, whether he did minor or serious sins, has no portion in the World to Come; and such a person is called “Brazen in the Face of the Torah,” since he bared his forehead and raised his face [in arrogance], and had no shame before the words of Torah.
Halacha 12י״ב
שְׁנַיִם הֵם הַמּוֹסְרִין. הַמּוֹסֵר חֲבֵרוֹ בְּיַד עַכּוּ"ם לְהָרְגוֹ אוֹ לְהַכּוֹתוֹ. וְהַמּוֹסֵר מָמוֹן חֲבֵרוֹ בְּיַד עַכּוּ"ם אוֹ בְּיַד אַנָּס שֶׁהוּא כְּעַכּוּ"ם. וּשְׁנֵיהֶם אֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא:
There are two Collaborators: one who hands his fellow over to Idolaters to kill him or injure him; and one who hands his fellow’s money over to Idolaters or to a bandit who is the same as an Idolater. Both of them have no portion in the World to Come.
Halacha 13י״ג
מַטִּילֵי אֵימָה עַל הַצִּבּוּר שֶׁלֹּא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם זֶה הָרוֹדֶה צִבּוּר בְּחָזְקָה וְהֵם יְרֵאִים וּמְפַחֲדִים מִמֶּנּוּ וְכַוָּנָתוֹ לִכְבוֹד עַצְמוֹ וְכָל חֲפָצָיו שֶׁלֹּא לִכְבוֹד שָׁמַיִם כְּגוֹן מַלְכֵי הָעַכּוּ"ם:
One who brings anger upon the community not for the sake of Heaven, refers to a person who fiercely drives the community, who fear and revere him; but his intention is for his own honor, and none of his desire is for the sake of Heaven; like the kings of the Idolaters.
Halacha 14י״ד
כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אֲנָשִׁים אֵלּוּ שֶׁמָּנִינוּ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל אֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. וְיֵשׁ עֲבֵרוֹת קַלּוֹת מֵאֵלּוּ וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁהָרָגִיל בָּהֶן אֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא (וּכְדֵי) [וּכְדַאי] הֵן לְהִתְרַחֵק מֵהֶן וּלְהִזָּהֵר בָּהֶן. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן. הַמְכַנֶּה שֵׁם לַחֲבֵרוֹ. וְהַקּוֹרֵא לַחֲבֵרוֹ בְּכִנּוּיוֹ. וְהַמַּלְבִּין פְּנֵי חֲבֵרוֹ בָּרַבִּים. וְהַמִּתְכַּבֵּד בִּקְלוֹן חֲבֵרוֹ. וְהַמְבַזֶּה תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים. וְהַמְבַזֶּה רַבּוֹתָיו. וְהַמְבַזֶּה אֶת הַמּוֹעֲדוֹת. וְהַמְחַלֵּל אֶת הַקָּדָשִׁים. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד מֵאֵלּוּ אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא כְּשֶׁמֵּת בְּלֹא תְּשׁוּבָה אֲבָל אִם שָׁב מֵרִשְׁעוֹ וּמֵת וְהוּא בַּעַל תְּשׁוּבָה הֲרֵי זֶה מִבְּנֵי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא שֶׁאֵין לְךָ דָּבָר שֶׁעוֹמֵד בִּפְנֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה. אֲפִלּוּ כָּפַר בָּעִקָּר כָּל יָמָיו וּבָאַחֲרוֹנָה שָׁב יֵשׁ לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נז יט) "שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם לָרָחוֹק וְלַקָּרוֹב אָמַר ה' וּרְפָאתִיו". כָּל הָרְשָׁעִים וְהַמּוּמָרִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן שֶׁחָזְרוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה בֵּין בְּגָלוּי בֵּין בְּמַטְמוֹנִיּוֹת מְקַבְּלִין אוֹתָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה ג יד) "שׁוּבוּ בָּנִים שׁוֹבָבִים". אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן שׁוֹבָב הוּא שֶׁהֲרֵי בַּסֵּתֶר שָׁב וְלֹא בְּגָלוּי מְקַבְּלִין אוֹתוֹ בִּתְשׁוּבָה:
Each and every one of these twenty-four people that we have enumerated, even though they are Jewish, have no portion in the World to Come. Some of these sins are minor, nevertheless our Sages of Blessed Memory said that one who is accustomed to committing them has no portion in the World to Come, and it is worthwhile to distance oneself from them and be careful about them, and they are: someone who gives an [unflattering] nickname to his fellow; someone who calls his fellow by a nickname others have given him; someone who blanches his fellow’s face in public; someone who gains honor at his fellow’s expense; someone who dishonors Scholars; someone who dishonors his Rabbi; someone who dishonors the Festivals; and someone who defiles sacred property. What cases are we discussing, in which all of these people have no portion in the World to Come? When they die without doing teshuvah. But if one of them returned from his wickedness and died as a ba’al teshuvah, such a person belongs among those who have a share in the World to Come, since nothing stands up to teshuvah. Even if a person denied the essential teachings of Judaism all her days, but in the end repented – she has a portion in the World to Come, as it says, Peace, peace for him who is far off and for him who is near, says the LORD; and I will heal him (Isaiah 57:19). All the wicked and the apostates and those like them who returned in teshuvah, whether in public or privately – they are accepted, as it says, Return, you faithless children (Jeremiah 3:22); although he is still faithless, since he has repented privately but not publicly, his teshuvah is still accepted.
Mishneh Torah, Torat Emet 363 edition, via Sefaria — public domain
English: Sefaria Community Translation — CC0