Foreign Worship and Customs of the Nations Chapter 2

עִקַּר הַצִּוּוּי בַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲבֹד אֶחָד מִכָּל הַבְּרוּאִים לֹא מַלְאָךְ וְלֹא גַּלְגַּל וְלֹא כּוֹכָב וְלֹא אֶחָד מֵאַרְבָּעָה הַיְסוֹדוֹת וְלֹא אֶחָד מִכָּל הַנִּבְרָאִים מֵהֶן. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָעוֹבֵד יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים וְהוּא עוֹבֵד הַנִּבְרָא הַזֶּה עַל דֶּרֶךְ שֶׁעָבַד אֱנוֹשׁ וְאַנְשֵׁי דּוֹרוֹ תְּחִלָּה הֲרֵי זֶה עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים. וְעִנְיָן זֶה הוּא שֶׁהִזְהִירָה תּוֹרָה עָלָיו וְאָמְרָה (דברים ד יט) "וּפֶן תִּשָּׂא עֵינֶיךָ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וְרָאִיתָ אֶת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ" וְגוֹ' (דברים ד יט) "אֲשֶׁר חָלַק ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֹתָם לְכָל הָעַמִּים". כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁמָּא תָּשׁוּט בְּעֵין לִבְּךָ וְתִרְאֶה שֶׁאֵלּוּ הֵן הַמַּנְהִיגִים אֶת הָעוֹלָם וְהֵם שֶׁחָלַק ה' אוֹתָם לְכָל הָעוֹלָם לִהְיוֹת חַיִּים וְהוֹוִים וְאֵינָם נִפְסָדִים כְּמִנְהָגוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם וְתֹאמַר שֶׁרָאוּי לְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת לָהֶם וּלְעָבְדָן. וּבָעִנְיָן הַזֶּה צִוָּה וְאָמַר (דברים יא טז) "הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם פֶּן יִפְתֶּה לְבַבְכֶם". כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁלֹּא תִּטְּעוּ בְּהִרְהוּר הַלֵּב לַעֲבֹד אֵלּוּ לִהְיוֹת סַרְסוּר בֵּינֵיכֶם וּבֵין הַבּוֹרֵא:

The essence of the commandment [forbidding] the worship of false gods is not to serve any of the creations, not an angel, a sphere, or a star, none of the four fundamental elements, nor any entity created from them. Even if the person worshiping knows that ‘ה is the [true] G-d and serves the creation in the manner in which Enosh and the people of his generation worshiped [the stars] originally, he is considered to be an idol worshiper. The Torah warns us about this, saying [Deuteronomy 4:19]: "Lest you lift your eyes heavenward and see the sun, the moon, and the stars... [and bow down and worship them], the entities which G-d apportioned to all the nations." This implies that you might inquire with "the eye of the heart" and it might appear to you that these entities control the world, having been apportioned by G-d to all the nations to be alive, to exist, and not to cease existence, as is the pattern of [the other creations with] the world. Therefore, you might say that it is worthy to bow down to them and worship them. For this reason, [Deuteronomy 11:16] commands: "Be very careful that your heart not be tempted [to go astray and worship other gods]." This implies that the thoughts of your heart should not lead you astray to worship these and make them an intermediary between you and the Creator.

סְפָרִים רַבִּים חִבְּרוּ עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים בַּעֲבוֹדָתָהּ הֵיאַךְ עִקַּר עֲבוֹדָתָהּ וּמַה מַּעֲשֶׂיהָ וּמִשְׁפָּטֶיהָ. צִוָּנוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁלֹּא לִקְרוֹת בְּאוֹתָן הַסְּפָרִים כְּלָל וְלֹא נְהַרְהֵר בָּהּ וְלֹא בְּדָבָר מִדְּבָרֶיהָ. וַאֲפִלּוּ לְהִסְתַּכֵּל בִּדְמוּת הַצּוּרָה אָסוּר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יט ד) "אַל תִּפְנוּ אֶל הָאֱלִילִים". וּבָעִנְיָן הַזֶּה נֶאֱמַר (דברים יב ל) "וּפֶן תִּדְרשׁ לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם לֵאמֹר אֵיכָה יַעַבְדוּ", שֶׁלֹּא תִּשְׁאַל עַל דֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתָהּ הֵיאַךְ הִיא אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה עוֹבְדָהּ, שֶׁדָּבָר זֶה גּוֹרֵם לְהִפָּנוֹת אַחֲרֶיהָ וְלַעֲשׂוֹת כְּמָה שֶׁהֵן עוֹשִׂין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְאֶעֱשֶׂה כֵּן גַּם אָנִי:

Idolaters wrote many books about its worship: how it's worshiped, its actions and rules. The Holy One, blessed be He commanded us not to read those books at all, and not to think about them or their words. And even to look upon the form of its image is forbidden, as it says "do not turn to the gods." And in this vein, it says (Deuteronomy 12:30) 'Lest you seek their gods saying 'how does one worship [them]" that one should not ask about the form of worship, even though you do not worship it, for such an act causes one to turn after it and to do like they do, as it says (ibid.) "I shall do so, as well"

וְכָל הַלָּאוִין הָאֵלּוּ בְּעִנְיָן אֶחָד הֵן וְהוּא שֶׁלֹּא יִפְנֶה אַחַר עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְכָל הַנִּפְנֶה אַחֲרֶיהָ בְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה בּוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה הֲרֵי זֶה לוֹקֶה. וְלֹא עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים בִּלְבַד הוּא שֶׁאָסוּר לְהִפָּנוֹת אַחֲרֶיהָ בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה אֶלָּא כָּל מַחֲשָׁבָה שֶׁהוּא גּוֹרֵם לוֹ לָאָדָם לַעֲקֹר עִקָּר מֵעִקְּרֵי הַתּוֹרָה מֻזְהָרִין אָנוּ שֶׁלֹּא לְהַעֲלוֹתָהּ עַל לִבֵּנוּ וְלֹא נַסִּיחַ דַּעְתֵּנוּ לְכָךְ וְנַחְשֹׁב וְנִמָּשֵׁךְ אַחַר הִרְהוּרֵי הַלֵּב. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁדַּעְתּוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם קְצָרָה וְלֹא כָּל הַדֵּעוֹת יְכוֹלִין לְהַשִּׂיג הָאֱמֶת עַל בֻּרְיוֹ. וְאִם יִמָּשֵׁךְ כָּל אָדָם אַחַר מַחְשְׁבוֹת לִבּוֹ נִמְצָא מַחֲרִיב אֶת הָעוֹלָם לְפִי קֹצֶר דַּעְתּוֹ. כֵּיצַד. פְּעָמִים יָתוּר אַחַר עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּפְעָמִים יַחְשֹׁב בְּיִחוּד הַבּוֹרֵא שֶׁמָּא הוּא שֶׁמָּא אֵינוֹ. מַה לְּמַעְלָה וּמַה לְּמַטָּה מַה לְּפָנִים וּמַה לְּאָחוֹר. וּפְעָמִים בַּנְּבוּאָה שֶׁמָּא הִיא אֱמֶת שֶׁמָּא הִיא אֵינָהּ. וּפְעָמִים בַּתּוֹרָה שֶׁמָּא הִיא מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם שֶׁמָּא אֵינָהּ. וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ הַמִּדּוֹת שֶׁיָּדִין בָּהֶן עַד שֶׁיֵּדַע הָאֱמֶת עַל בֻּרְיוֹ וְנִמְצָא יוֹצֵא לִידֵי מִינוּת. וְעַל עִנְיָן זֶה הִזְהִירָה תּוֹרָה וְנֶאֱמַר בָּהּ (במדבר טו לט) "וְלֹא תָתֻרוּ אַחֲרֵי לְבַבְכֶם וְאַחֲרֵי עֵינֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם זֹנִים". כְּלוֹמַר לֹא יִמָּשֵׁךְ כָּל אֶחָד מִכֶּם אַחַר דַּעְתּוֹ הַקְּצָרָה וִידַמֶּה שֶׁמַּחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ מַשֶּׂגֶת הָאֱמֶת. כָּךְ אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים (גמרא ברכות יב ב) "אַחֲרֵי לְבַבְכֶם זוֹ מִינוּת" וְאַחֲרֵי עֵינֵיכֶם זוֹ זְנוּת. וְלָאו זֶה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא גּוֹרֵם לָאָדָם לְטָרְדוֹ מִן הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא אֵין בּוֹ מַלְקוֹת:

All these prohibitions have one common thrust: that one should not pay attention to idol worship. Whoever performs a deed that reflects his concern with [idol worship] receives lashes [as punishment]. The worship of false gods is not the only subject to which we are forbidden to pay attention; rather, we are warned not to consider any thought which will cause us to uproot one of the fundamentals of the Torah. We should not turn our minds to these matters, think about them, or be drawn after the thoughts of our hearts. In general, people have limited powers of understanding, and not all minds are capable of appreciating the truth in its fullness. [Accordingly,] were a person to follow the thoughts of his heart, it is possible that he would destroy the world because of his limited understanding. What is implied? There are times when a person will stray after star worship, and times when he will wonder about G-d's oneness: Perhaps He is one, perhaps He is not? [He might also wonder:] What exists above, [in the heavenly realms]? What exists below [them]? What was before time? What will be after time? Similarly, [one might wonder about] prophecy: Perhaps it is true, perhaps it is not? And [one may also wonder] about the Torah: Perhaps it emanates from G-d, perhaps it does not? Since he may not know the guidelines with which to evaluate [ideas that will lead him] to the truth in its fullness, he may come to heresy. The Torah has warned about this matter, saying [Numbers 15:39]: "Do not stray after your hearts and eyes, which have led you to immorality" - i.e., each one of you should not follow his limited powers of understanding and think that he has comprehended the truth. Our Sages [interpreted this warning]: "After your hearts," this refers to heresy; "after your eyes," this refers to immorality. This prohibition - though [severe,] causing a person to be prevented [from attaining a portion] in the world to come - is not punishable by lashes.

מִצְוַת עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים כְּנֶגֶד הַמִּצְוֹת כֻּלָּן הִיא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר טו כב) "וְכִי תִשְׁגּוּ וְלֹא תַעֲשׂוּ אֵת כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת" וְגוֹ' וּמִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ שֶׁבַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר. הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁכָּל הַמּוֹדֶה בַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים כּוֹפֵר בְּכָל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ וּבְכָל הַנְּבִיאִים וּבְכָל מַה שֶּׁנִּצְטַוּוּ הַנְּבִיאִים מֵאָדָם וְעַד סוֹף הָעוֹלָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר טו כג) "מִן הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה' וָהָלְאָה לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם". וְכָל הַכּוֹפֵר בַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים מוֹדֶה בְּכָל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ וּבְכָל הַנְּבִיאִים וּבְכָל מַה שֶּׁנִּצְטַוּוּ הַנְּבִיאִים מֵאָדָם וְעַד סוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְהוּא עִקַּר כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת כֻּלָּן:

The commandment [forbidding] the worship of false gods is equivalent to all the mitzvot, as [implied by Numbers 15:22]: "Lest you err and not perform all the mitzvot...." The oral tradition teaches that the verse refers to the worship of false gods. Thus, we learn that anyone who acknowledges a false god denies the entire Torah in its totality, all the works of the prophets, and everything that has been commanded to the prophets from Adam, [the first man,] until eternity, as [Numbers 15:23] continues: "...from the day G-d issued His commandments and afterwards, for your future generations." [Conversely,] anyone who denies the worship of false gods acknowledges the entire Torah in its totality, all the works of the prophets, and everything that has been commanded to the prophets from Adam, [the first man,] until eternity. [This acknowledgement] is fundamental to all of the mitzvot.

יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁעָבַד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הֲרֵי הוּא כְּעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים לְכָל דְּבָרָיו וְאֵינוֹ כְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁעוֹבֵר עֲבֵרָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ סְקִילָה. מוּמָר לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הֲרֵי הוּא מוּמָר לְכָל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ. וְכֵן הָאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל אֵינָן כְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לְדָבָר מִן הַדְּבָרִים וְאֵין מְקַבְּלִים אוֹתָם בִּתְשׁוּבָה לְעוֹלָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ב יט) "כָּל בָּאֶיהָ לֹא יְשׁוּבוּן וְלֹא יַשִּׂיגוּ אָרְחוֹת חַיִּים". וְהָאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים הֵם הַתָּרִים אַחַר מַחְשְׁבוֹת לִבָּם בְּסִכְלוּת דְּבָרִים שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ עַד שֶׁנִּמְצְאוּ עוֹבְרִים עַל גּוּפֵי תּוֹרָה לְהַכְעִיס בִּשְׁאָט נֶפֶשׁ בְּיָד רָמָה וְאוֹמְרִים שֶׁאֵין בָּזֶה עָוֹן. וְאָסוּר לְסַפֵּר עִמָּהֶן וּלְהָשִׁיב עֲלֵיהֶן תְּשׁוּבָה כְּלָל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ה ח) "וְאַל תִּקְרַב אֶל פֶּתַח בֵּיתָהּ". וּמַחֲשָׁבָה שֶׁל אֶפִּיקוֹרוֹס לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים:

A Jew who serves false gods, is like a gentile in all matters. And he is not like a Jew who violated another transgression punishable by being stoned to death. An apostate who worships false gods, is like an apostate to all matters in the Torah. And similarly Jewish minnim (heretics) are not considered like a Jew in any matter. And we never accept there repentance, because the verse states: "None that go to her repent, nor will they regain the paths of life" and minnim (heretics) are people who: go after there thoughts of there hearts, and foolish things which were said, until they ultimately transgress against the body of Torah arrogantly, with scorn, with the intent of provoking G-d's anger, and yet say that there is no sin involved. It is prohibited to speak to them or to respond to them at all as the verse states "Do not come close to her door." and we can assume that every though of a min is towards worshiping false idols.

כָּל הַמּוֹדֶה בַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁהִיא אֱמֶת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא עֲבָדָהּ הֲרֵי זֶה מְחָרֵף וּמְגַדֵּף אֶת הַשֵּׁם הַנִּכְבָּד וְהַנּוֹרָא. וְאֶחָד הָעוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְאֶחָד הַמְגַדֵּף אֶת ה' שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר טו ל) "וְהַנֶּפֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה בְּיָד רָמָה מִן הָאֶזְרָח וּמִן הַגֵּר אֶת ה' הוּא מְגַדֵּף". לְפִיכָךְ תּוֹלִין עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים כְּמוֹ שֶׁתּוֹלִין אֶת הַמְגַדֵּף וּשְׁנֵיהֶם נִסְקָלִין. וּמִפְּנֵי זֶה כָּלַלְתִּי דִּין הַמְגַדֵּף בְּהִלְכוֹת עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶם כּוֹפְרִים בָּעִקָּר הֵם:

Whoever accepts a false god as true, even when he does not actually worship it, disgraces and blasphemes [G-d's] glorious and awesome name. This applies both to one who worships false gods and to one who curses G-d's name [as is obvious from Numbers 15:30]: "If a person commits [an act of idolatry] highhandedly, whether he be a native born [Jew] or a convert, he is blaspheming G-d." Therefore, a person who worships false gods is to be hanged, just as one who blasphemes against G-d is hanged. Both are executed by being stoned to death. Therefore, I have included the laws applying to a blasphemer in Hilchot Avodat Kochavim. Both deny the fundamental principle [of Jewish faith].

וְאֵלּוּ הֵן דִּינֵי הַמְגַדֵּף. אֵין הַמְגַדֵּף חַיָּב סְקִילָה עַד שֶׁיְּפָרֵשׁ אֶת הַשֵּׁם הַמְיֻחָד שֶׁל אַרְבַּע אוֹתִיּוֹת שֶׁהוּא אָלֶ"ף דָּלֶ"ת נוּ"ן יוּ"ד וִיבָרֵךְ אוֹתוֹ בְּשֵׁם מִן הַשֵּׁמוֹת שֶׁאֵינָם נִמְחָקִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כד טז) "וְנֹקֵב שֵׁם ה'", עַל הַשֵּׁם הַמְיֻחָד חַיָּב סְקִילָה וְעַל שְׁאָר הַכִּנּוּיִים בְּאַזְהָרָה. וְיֵשׁ מִי שֶׁמְּפָרֵשׁ שֶׁאֵינוֹ חַיָּב אֶלָּא עַל שֵׁם יוּ"ד הֵ"א וָא"ו הֵ"א וַאֲנִי אוֹמֵר שֶׁעַל שְׁנֵיהֶם הוּא נִסְקָל:

These are the laws which govern a blasphemer: A blasphemer is not liable to be stoned to death until he states G-d's unique name, which possesses four letters: א-ד-נ-י, and curses that name with one of the names of G-d which are forbidden to be erased, as [Leviticus 24:16] states: "One who blasphemes G-d's name...." One is obligated to be stoned to death for blaspheming G-d's unique name. [Should he blaspheme] the other names for G-d, he [transgresses] a prohibition. There are those who state that one is liable [for execution] only when one blasphemes the name י-ה-ו-ה. I, however, maintain that one should be stoned to death in both instances.

אַזְהָרָה שֶׁל מְגַדֵּף מִנַּיִן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כב כז) "אֱלֹהִים לֹא תְקַלֵּל". בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם בּוֹדְקִין אֶת הָעֵדִים בְּכִנּוּיִים יַכֶּה יוֹסִי אֶת יוֹסִי. נִגְמַר הַדִּין מוֹצִיאִין אֶת כָּל אָדָם לַחוּץ וְשׁוֹאֲלִים אֶת הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁבָּעֵדִים וְאוֹמְרִים לוֹ אֱמֹר מַה שֶּׁשָּׁמַעְתָּ בְּפֵרוּשׁ וְהוּא אוֹמֵר וְהַדַּיָּנִים עוֹמְדִים עַל רַגְלֵיהֶם וְקוֹרְעִין וְלֹא מְאַחִין. וְהָעֵד הַשֵּׁנִי אוֹמֵר אַף אֲנִי כְּמוֹתוֹ שָׁמַעְתִּי. וְאִם הָיוּ עֵדִים רַבִּים צָרִיךְ כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵהֶן לוֹמַר כָּזֶה שָׁמַעְתִּי:

Which verse serves as the warning prohibiting blasphemy? [Exodus 22:27]: "Do not curse G-d." [The procedure for the trial of a blasphemer is as follows:] Each day [when] the witnesses are questioned, [they use] other terms for G-d's name, [stating,] "May Yosse strike Yosse." At the conclusion of the judgment, all bystanders are removed [from the courtroom]. The judges question the witness of greatest stature and tell him, "Tell us what you heard explicitly." He relates [the curse]. The judges stand upright and rend their garments. They may not mend them [afterwards]. The second witness states: "I also heard as he did." If there are many witnesses, they must all say, "I heard the same."

מְגַדֵּף שֶׁחָזַר בּוֹ בְּתוֹךְ כְּדֵי דִּבּוּר אֵינוֹ כְּלוּם אֶלָּא כֵּיוָן שֶׁגִּדֵּף בְּעֵדִים נִסְקָל. מִי שֶׁגִּדֵּף אֶת הַשֵּׁם בְּשֵׁם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים קַנָּאִים פּוֹגְעִים בּוֹ וְהוֹרְגִים אוֹתוֹ. וְאִם לֹא הֲרָגוּהוּ קַנָּאִים וּבָא לְבֵית דִּין אֵינוֹ נִסְקָל עַד שֶׁיְּבָרֵךְ בְּשֵׁם מִן הַשֵּׁמוֹת הַמְיֻחָדִים:

[The fact that] a blasphemer retracts his statements in the midst of speaking is of no consequence. Rather, once he utters blasphemy in the presence of witnesses, he is [liable for execution by] stoning. Should a person curse G-d's name with the name of a false god, the zealous may strike him and slay him. If the zealous do not slay him and he is brought to court, he is not [condemned to] be stoned. [That punishment is administered] only when one curses G-d's name with another one of His unique names.

כָּל הַשּׁוֹמֵעַ בִּרְכַּת הַשֵּׁם חַיָּב לִקְרֹעַ וַאֲפִלּוּ עַל בִּרְכַּת הַכִּנּוּיִין חַיָּב לִקְרֹעַ וְהוּא שֶׁיִּשְׁמָעֶנָּה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל. אֶחָד הַשּׁוֹמֵעַ וְאֶחָד הַשּׁוֹמֵעַ מִפִּי הַשּׁוֹמֵעַ חַיָּב לִקְרֹעַ. אֲבָל הַשּׁוֹמֵעַ מִפִּי הָעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים אֵינוֹ חַיָּב לִקְרֹעַ. וְלֹא קָרְעוּ אֶלְיָקִים וְשֶׁבְנָא אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁרַבְשָׁקֵה הָיָה יִשְׂרָאֵל מוּמָר. כָּל הָעֵדִים וְהַדַּיָּנִים סוֹמְכִים אֶת יְדֵיהֶם אֶחָד אֶחָד עַל רֹאשׁ הַמְגַדֵּף וְאוֹמֵר לוֹ דָּמְךָ בְּרֹאשְׁךָ שֶׁאַתָּה גָּרַמְתָּ לְךָ. וְאֵין בְּכָל הֲרוּגֵי בֵּית דִּין מִי שֶׁסּוֹמְכִים עָלָיו אֶלָּא מְגַדֵּף בִּלְבַד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְסָמְכוּ כָל הַשֹּׁמְעִים אֶת יְדֵיהֶם:

Whoever hears the blasphemy of G-d's name is obligated to rend his garments. Even [when one hears] the blasphemy of other terms used to describe G-d, one is obligated to rend his garments. The above applies when one hears [the blasphemy] from a fellow Jew. [In that instance,] both one who hears the actual blasphemy and one who hears it from the witnesses is obligated to rend his garments. In contrast, one who hears a gentile [blaspheme G-d's name] is not obligated to rend his garments. Elyakim and Shevna rent their garments [as described in Isaiah 36:22] only because Ravshakeh was an apostate Jew. [Before his execution,] all the witnesses and the judges place their hands on the head of the blasphemer and tell him: "You are responsible for your death. You brought it upon yourself." Only a blasphemer - and none of the other offenders executed by the court - has [the judges and witnesses] place their hands upon his head, as [Leviticus 24:14] states: "And all those who hear shall place their hands on his head."