A Short Tribute

Beyond the prohibition on anger, which is a strict one at all times, one should take care not to be angry on Rosh Hashanah, for it is not a good omen. A wife must be quick to set the table, and cover it with an appealing tablecloth, before her husband returns from synagogue so that when he arrives he will find the table set, and this is a good omen. But should it happen that he arrive and does not find the table set, he should not quarrel with his wife and become angry, for anger is a very bad omen; he should tolerate it and not be harsh, not even in his heart.

There are those who say that the rule concerning a friend's wife on this issue is the same as for the friend, and one must stand up before her, and some who say that it is not imperative but that it should be done - out of piety. It is appropriate to rise in the first sense; it says in Sha'ar Hamiztvot that "you shall fear your God". Fear in the heart was said concerning women, and rising or praising is unnecessary. These words apply to aged women and to wise women, but it is obligatory to stand before the wife of a talmid hacham [Torah scholar] out of respect for her husband, since she is likened to his body and her case is considered as is standing before her husband. Know that even somebody who considers a friend's wife like his friend on this matter will admit that nobody they did not say that an elder's wife is like the elder, because the honor of the Torah is different, and this is as simple as it is clear.

Whoever lingers in keeping a short weight or measure in his home or shop transgresses, as it says: "You shall not have in your pouch alternate weights, larger and smaller". One is still transgressing even if one does not ever measure according to it, and this transgression remains in effect even during the Yom Kippur Ne'ilah prayer. This is the rule for similar cases – not to delay in getting rid of a paid bill. Nor should one delay with a silver-plated copper coin and the like.

One should hire a clever tutor who is familiar with the ways of teaching children according to their nature, and who will be very precise, for the version learned in childhood is not forgotten. He should also be faithful and not transform God's work into deceit, and should supervise the children and prevent them from any unsightly or forbidden acts, and watch them carefully when they go to the toilet, and assure that indecent individuals not associate with them, for children are easily tempted and cannot be relied upon… Also, should one realize that the tutor does not behave as he should or that his teaching is inadequate, one should withdraw one's child from his hold and place him with another tutor, and not take pity on the tutor because of his income, for in so doing one is being cruel to his child as well as sinning towards God. The tutor should be prompt in teaching the children a daily hour of halachot for proper behavior and ethics, "train up a child in the way he should go". He should clarify biblical texts in depth, in keeping with their abilities and understanding, so that Scripture not be learned like a mere song whose recitation they do not understand; when he translates Bible into the local language, he should take care to be precise in his language and to be exact in all instances, as required.

Concerning a person who vows to reside in the Land of Israel in our day... A vow is considered a commandment, and one is not permitted to annul it except under duress. This rule also applies to someone who vows to visit the Land of Israel, may it be rebuilt and established speedily in our day, Amen: The vow is considered as a commandment. If someone who vows to make a pilgrimage to the tombs of righteous people, this is considered a vow, and requires annulment.

It is forbidden for a person to impose heavily upon his children and to be overly stringent, so as not to lead them to error. A father who has forgiven disrespect still maintains his honor - even his honor! But his striking and insulting are not forgiven, and some say his sorrow is not forgiven either. Even if he has forgiven disrespect, his child remains liable at the heavenly reckoning, and this must therefore be repaired…One who has transgressed in honoring his father and mother should fast forty-five fasts, the [alphanumeric total] equivalent of mother and father. And it is fitting that every person do this mending following the deaths of his father and mother; one can do these fasts easily, and if one's strength wanes, one may redeem the days, one by one, and recite a plea for their [the parents'] spiritual redemption. This mending seems to me to be sufficient for them both.

The wording of the 'May it be Your will' prayer before Psalms reads: 'That we merit to live seventy years, or even by reasons of strength eighty years' and the wording is the same in several prayer books in the 'May it be Your will' recited upon the opening of the ark. What should an elder who is more than eighty recite? Moreover, even if one has not yet reached seventy, why ask for a limited term – when the Holy One, blessed be He, has perhaps accorded him a longer life? He should therefore not recite this version, but say: that we should merit a long and proper life. This version, certainly, holds mystical value, being the prayer recited by the Cohen Gadol at the end of Yom Kippur, upon his safely departing from the Sanctity.