Nach Yomi by R' Yehuda Miller | Nechemia Perek 13 | Correcting Violations & Purifying Beis Hamikdash

Описание: Nechemia Perek 13 describes Nechemia’s return to Yerushalayim after time serving the Persian king. He discovers serious spiritual and communal decline: foreign influence in the Beis HaMikdash, neglect of the Leviim, widespread Shabbos desecration, and intermarriage. Nechemia responds with decisive leadership — removing corruption, restoring proper Temple service, enforcing Shabbos observance, and confronting assimilation. The perek concludes with Nechemia repeatedly asking Hashem to remember him for the good for his efforts to purify and strengthen Klal Yisrael.

🔥The Torah of Moshe is publicly read and it is found written that Amoni and Moavi may not enter the congregation forever (based on Devarim 23).
🔥The reason given: they did not greet Bnei Yisrael with bread and water and hired Bilam to curse them.
🔥Hashem turned Bilam’s curse into a blessing.
🔥Upon hearing the Torah, the people separate from all foreign admixture.
🔥Before this, Elyashiv the Kohen had given Toviah (the Ammonite official) a chamber in the Beis HaMikdash courtyard.
🔥Elyashiv was related to Toviah and acted improperly.
🔥Nechemia had returned to the king in Bavel during this time.
🔥Nechemia later requests leave and returns to Yerushalayim.
🔥He discovers the chamber prepared for Toviah inside the Temple complex.
🔥Nechemia is greatly distressed by this desecration.
🔥He throws all of Toviah’s household goods out of the chamber.
🔥He orders the chamber purified.
🔥The vessels of the Beis HaMikdash, the Mincha, and the Levonah are restored there.
🔥Nechemia learns that the portions for the Leviim had not been given.
🔥The Leviim and singers had fled to their fields due to lack of support.
🔥Nechemia rebukes the officials: “Why is the house of Hashem forsaken?”
🔥He gathers the Leviim back and reinstates them to their posts.
🔥Yehudah brings the Maaser (tithes) into the storehouses.
🔥Nechemia appoints trustworthy treasurers over the storehouses.
🔥The treasurers are described as reliable because they were considered faithful.
🔥Nechemia prays: “Remember me, my G-d, for this — do not erase my kindnesses.”
🔥Nechemia sees people in Yehudah treading winepresses on Shabbos.
🔥They were bringing grain, loading donkeys, and transporting produce into Yerushalayim on Shabbos.
🔥Tyrian merchants were selling fish and merchandise in Yerushalayim on Shabbos.
🔥Nechemia rebukes the nobles of Yehudah for profaning Shabbos.
🔥He warns that Shabbos desecration brought past destruction upon the city.
🔥He commands the gates of Yerushalayim to be shut before Shabbos and reopened after.
🔥He stations his own servants at the gates to prevent commerce on Shabbos.
🔥Merchants lodge outside the walls once or twice; Nechemia warns them not to return.
🔥From then on, they no longer come on Shabbos.
🔥Nechemia commands the Leviim to sanctify themselves and guard the gates to preserve Shabbos holiness.
🔥Nechemia discovers Jews had married Ashdodite, Ammonite, and Moabite women.
🔥Their children spoke the language of Ashdod and did not know how to speak Yehudit (Hebrew).
🔥Nechemia contends with them, curses them, strikes some, and pulls out their hair.
🔥He makes them swear not to give daughters to foreign nations nor take foreign daughters for their sons.
🔥He cites Shlomo HaMelech as proof that foreign wives caused even a great king to sin.
🔥A son of Yehoyada (grandson of Elyashiv the Kohen Gadol) had married Sanballat’s daughter.
🔥Nechemia drives him away.
🔥Nechemia prays again: “Remember them, my G-d, for defiling the priesthood.”
🔥He purifies them from foreign elements and establishes duties for Kohanim and Leviim.
🔥He reinstates the wood offering schedule and the Bikurim system.
🔥The perek concludes: “Remember me, my G-d, for good.”