End of All Sickness
Parsha Pages | July 30, 2023
Print This Article
View Original PDF

End of All Sickness

Parsha Pages | December 31, 2025

דברים פרק ז טו וְהֵסִיר ה' מִמְךָ כָּל-חֹלִי וְכָּל-מַדְ וֵי מִצְרַיִם הָּרָּעִים אֲשֶר יָּדַעְתָּ לֹא יְשִ ימָּם בָּךְ וּנְתָּנָּם בְכָּל-שנְאֶיךָ :

The blessing of removal of all sickness from the Jews is a vital addition to the promises of material wealth previously indicated. We must remember that freedom from suffering is “if only (we) listen to these laws” (verse 12).

"Kol choli v'chol madvei" - All sickness and all afflictions:

What is the difference between these two words?

  1. "Choli" is sickness that comes from the outside, such as extreme cold, pollution, etc., and "madvei" is a sickness that comes from one's inners. (Rabbeinu Bachyei)
  2. "Choli" is a common sickness, while "madvei" is an unusual sickness. (Ibn Ezra)
  3. "Choli" is used when referring to most illnesses, while "madvei" is used when referring to a sickness that affects the heart. (Rabbeinu Myuchos)
  4. "Choli" means a general sickness that is not felt in any specific organ, while "madvei" means a sickness that is felt in a specific organ or organs. (GR"A)
  5. "Choli" means a sickness that comes upon a person because of his negligence, while "madvei" means a sickness that in spite of being careful, it is sent upon a person. (N'tzi"v)

Baba Metzia 107b:

Opinion #1 (Rav): "V'Hesir Hash-m Mimecha Kol Choli" refers to Ayin haRa.
This is like he said elsewhere. Rav went to a graveyard and somehow learned that 99 of every 100 died from Ayin ha'Ra'ah, and only one died normally. (Rashi - he whispered by the graves; Aruch - he asked in a dream, or planted trees and imposed an oath on them; R. Peretz - he just said this. He did not do any action to learn this.)

Opinion #2 (Shmuel): "Kol Choli" refers to wind.
This is like Shmuel holds, that that all sickness and death is due to wind (different winds to which people are susceptible at certain times, according to their nature).

Question: The kingdom beheads people. They do not die due to wind!
Answer: If not for wind, a potion could be used to reconnect their heads and heal them.

Opinion #3 (R. Chanina): "Kol Choli" refers to the cold (careless exposure).
(R. Chanina): "Tzinim Pachim... Shomer Nafsho Yirchak Mehem" - whatever befalls one is decreed by Heaven, except for chills and fevers (they are due to lack of caution).

Opinion #4 (R. Yosi b'Rebbi Chanina): "Kol Choli" refers to mucus and earwax;
A small amount of them is good. A large amount is harmful.

Opinion #5 (R. Elazar): "Kol Choli" refers to Marah (bile).
Support (Beraisa): "Machalah" refers to Marah;
It is called Machalah because it sickens the whole body (if produced in excess).
Also, it is called Machalah because it causes 83 sicknesses (the numerical value of Machalah);
Eating bread in the morning with salt and drinking water prevents all 83.

Baal Haturim כל חלי (Gematria 98) indicates that HaShem will remove all 98 curses.

END OF ALL SICKNESS

דברים פרק ז טו וְהֵסִיר ה' מִמְךָ כָּל-חֹלִי וְכָּל-מַדְ וֵי מִצְרַיִם הָּרָּעִים אֲשֶר יָּדַעְתָּ לֹא יְשִ ימָּם בָּךְ וּנְתָּנָּם בְכָּל-שנְאֶיךָ :

Maharsha explains that the different opinions reflect what each Amora considers to be the primary element of the four elements of the world:
Rav (Ayin HaRa) is the primary element of fire that burns up and extinguishes life.
Shmuel believes that wind is the primary element that changes a person’s environment subjecting them to illness.
R. Chanina believes cold causes the harmful effects to people from the primary element of water.
Rabbi Yosi holds the excess bodily excretions develop from the primary element of earth.
Rabbi Elazar holds that adverse effect from any of these elements causes an increase in bile which harms the body.

Kos HaYeshous holds that each Amora stresses a different word in the cited verse.
Rav (Ayin HaRa) stresses the word חלי, singular, implying that all sickness come from one source.
Shmuel (wind) stresses the word כל all, implies source of all sicknesses (not just some like Ayin haRa).
R. Chanina (cold) stresses the word והסיר (that not written לא ישימם like at the end of the verse). This implies that the sickness if one that is not in the hands of Heaven, but after it occurs then only Heaven can remove.
Rabbi Yosi (bodily excretions) stresses כל and also והסיר that implies excretions which are the source of sicknesses.
Rabbi Elazar also stresses both words but implies bile which is the source of sicknesses.

Yerushalmi and the Sifrei have alternate versions of the five versions of Choli.
Yetzer HaRa, שריפה (burning), רעיון (foolish), צינה (cold), מרה (bile)

Chassidus explains Choli indicates a lacking in one’s spiritual “love” connect with HaShem:
Sickness of Yetzer HaRa: giving place to the Yetzer HaRa to operate and vex.
Sickness of Coldness: lacking of strength of will needed to overcome the Yetzer HaRa
Sickness of Heat: lacking of heat of conviction in which the heat becomes a “strange” fire
Sickness of Foolishness: over-thinking allows place for the desires of the heart to enter the mind
Sickness of Bile: not a complete rejection of excretions of life

“All is in the hands of Heaven expect for the fear of Heaven and for cold or heat”) Bava Metzia 107b)
Rashi – All from Heaven except cold or heat which can also come as result of the actions of people.
Tosfos – All comes from Heaven or results from people except for cold or heat which G-d gives the person wisdom to guard against the cold by choosing to wear warm clothing
Maharam Schif – Everything in the hands of Heaven concerns punishments that come from Heaven; but does not concern circumstances that involve people and animals.

דברים פרק ז טו וְהֵסִיר ה' מִמְךָ כָּל-חֹלִי וְכָּל-מַדְ וֵי מִצְרַיִם הָּרָּעִים אֲשֶר יָּדַעְתָּ לֹא יְשִ ימָּם בָּךְ וּנְתָּנָּם בְכָּל-שנְאֶיךָ :

The blessing of removal of all sickness from the Jews is a vital addition to the promises of material wealth previously indicated. We must remember that freedom from suffering is “if only (we) listen to these laws” (verse 12).

"Kol choli v'chol madvei" - All sickness and all afflictions:

What is the difference between these two words?

  1. "Choli" is sickness that comes from the outside, such as extreme cold, pollution, etc., and "madvei" is a sickness that comes from one's inners. (Rabbeinu Bachyei)
  2. "Choli" is a common sickness, while "madvei" is an unusual sickness. (Ibn Ezra)
  3. "Choli" is used when referring to most illnesses, while "madvei" is used when referring to a sickness that affects the heart. (Rabbeinu Myuchos)
  4. "Choli" means a general sickness that is not felt in any specific organ, while "madvei" means a sickness that is felt in a specific organ or organs. (GR"A)
  5. "Choli" means a sickness that comes upon a person because of his negligence, while "madvei" means a sickness that in spite of being careful, it is sent upon a person. (N'tzi"v)

Baba Metzia 107b:

Opinion #1 (Rav): "V'Hesir Hash-m Mimecha Kol Choli" refers to Ayin haRa.
This is like he said elsewhere. Rav went to a graveyard and somehow learned that 99 of every 100 died from Ayin ha'Ra'ah, and only one died normally. (Rashi - he whispered by the graves; Aruch - he asked in a dream, or planted trees and imposed an oath on them; R. Peretz - he just said this. He did not do any action to learn this.)

Opinion #2 (Shmuel): "Kol Choli" refers to wind.
This is like Shmuel holds, that that all sickness and death is due to wind (different winds to which people are susceptible at certain times, according to their nature).

Question: The kingdom beheads people. They do not die due to wind!
Answer: If not for wind, a potion could be used to reconnect their heads and heal them.

Opinion #3 (R. Chanina): "Kol Choli" refers to the cold (careless exposure).
(R. Chanina): "Tzinim Pachim... Shomer Nafsho Yirchak Mehem" - whatever befalls one is decreed by Heaven, except for chills and fevers (they are due to lack of caution).

Opinion #4 (R. Yosi b'Rebbi Chanina): "Kol Choli" refers to mucus and earwax;
A small amount of them is good. A large amount is harmful.

Opinion #5 (R. Elazar): "Kol Choli" refers to Marah (bile).
Support (Beraisa): "Machalah" refers to Marah;
It is called Machalah because it sickens the whole body (if produced in excess).
Also, it is called Machalah because it causes 83 sicknesses (the numerical value of Machalah);
Eating bread in the morning with salt and drinking water prevents all 83.

Baal Haturim כל חלי (Gematria 98) indicates that HaShem will remove all 98 curses.

END OF ALL SICKNESS

דברים פרק ז טו וְהֵסִיר ה' מִמְךָ כָּל-חֹלִי וְכָּל-מַדְ וֵי מִצְרַיִם הָּרָּעִים אֲשֶר יָּדַעְתָּ לֹא יְשִ ימָּם בָּךְ וּנְתָּנָּם בְכָּל-שנְאֶיךָ :

Maharsha explains that the different opinions reflect what each Amora considers to be the primary element of the four elements of the world:
Rav (Ayin HaRa) is the primary element of fire that burns up and extinguishes life.
Shmuel believes that wind is the primary element that changes a person’s environment subjecting them to illness.
R. Chanina believes cold causes the harmful effects to people from the primary element of water.
Rabbi Yosi holds the excess bodily excretions develop from the primary element of earth.
Rabbi Elazar holds that adverse effect from any of these elements causes an increase in bile which harms the body.

Kos HaYeshous holds that each Amora stresses a different word in the cited verse.
Rav (Ayin HaRa) stresses the word חלי, singular, implying that all sickness come from one source.
Shmuel (wind) stresses the word כל all, implies source of all sicknesses (not just some like Ayin haRa).
R. Chanina (cold) stresses the word והסיר (that not written לא ישימם like at the end of the verse). This implies that the sickness if one that is not in the hands of Heaven, but after it occurs then only Heaven can remove.
Rabbi Yosi (bodily excretions) stresses כל and also והסיר that implies excretions which are the source of sicknesses.
Rabbi Elazar also stresses both words but implies bile which is the source of sicknesses.

Yerushalmi and the Sifrei have alternate versions of the five versions of Choli.
Yetzer HaRa, שריפה (burning), רעיון (foolish), צינה (cold), מרה (bile)

Chassidus explains Choli indicates a lacking in one’s spiritual “love” connect with HaShem:
Sickness of Yetzer HaRa: giving place to the Yetzer HaRa to operate and vex.
Sickness of Coldness: lacking of strength of will needed to overcome the Yetzer HaRa
Sickness of Heat: lacking of heat of conviction in which the heat becomes a “strange” fire
Sickness of Foolishness: over-thinking allows place for the desires of the heart to enter the mind
Sickness of Bile: not a complete rejection of excretions of life

“All is in the hands of Heaven expect for the fear of Heaven and for cold or heat”) Bava Metzia 107b)
Rashi – All from Heaven except cold or heat which can also come as result of the actions of people.
Tosfos – All comes from Heaven or results from people except for cold or heat which G-d gives the person wisdom to guard against the cold by choosing to wear warm clothing
Maharam Schif – Everything in the hands of Heaven concerns punishments that come from Heaven; but does not concern circumstances that involve people and animals.

PDF Preview
View The Full Article (PDF)
Parsha Pages | July 30, 2023