신명기 14:1 할라카: Mishneh Torah, Tefillin, Mezuzah and the Torah Scroll, Mishneh Torah, Gifts to the Poor, Mishneh Torah, Foreign Worship and Customs & Mishneh Torah, Negative Mitzvot

Where is the phylactery of the head placed? It is placed on that part of the crown of the head, where the hair adjacent to the forehead ends, and this is the place where an infant's brain pulsates (the fontanelle). The phylactery needs to be adjusted so that it lies in the centre of the forehead, in a line with the point between the eyes. The knot should be at the top of the back of the neck, which is the end of the skull.

Never has anyone become poor by giving to tzedakah, nor has anything bad ever come of it, nor has any harm occurred because of tzedakah, as it is said, (Isaiah 32:17) The work of righteousness [tzedakah] is peace. Anyone who shows compassion, others will show compassion to him, as it is said, (Deut. 13:18) [May God] show you compassion, and let your compassion increase.¹⁷⁷This is a play on the text. The original reads, "and in His compassion increase you," that is, God will multiply your descendants. Here, the compassion itself increases. And if someone is cruel and without compassion, then his lineage is suspect, for cruelty is only found among the idolatrous nations, as it is said, (Jer. 50:42) They are cruel, they show no mercy.¹⁷⁸See Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 151b. All Israel and all who are associated with them are like brothers, as it is said, (Deut. 14:1) You are children of the LORD your God.¹⁷⁹See Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 10a and the Introduction. And if a brother does not show compassion for another brother, then who will have compassion for him? And to whom can the poor of Israel look? To the idolatrous nations that hate them and pursue them? They can only look to rely upon their brothers.

Cut-making and incision on one's flesh over the dead are identical idolatrous practices, for the idolaters, even as they made incisions on their flesh over the dead because of their sorrow so did they wound themselves in their frenzy for their dieties, as it said: "And cut themselves after their custom with knives and spears" (I. Kings, 18.28). Even this was forbidden by the Torah, for it is said: "Ye shall not cut yourselves" (Deut. 14.1), with this distinction, however, if it be over the dead there is no difference whether he made the incision by hand or by instrument he is striped, but if it be for idolatry, with an instrument he is guilty and is striped, but by hand he is not guilty.¹⁶Ibid. 21a. C.