Rambam - Sefer HaMitzvos: Positive Mitzvah 145;<br>Negative Mitzvah 110: Positive Mitzvah 145; Negative Mitzvah 110

Positive Mitzvah 145: Objects Vowed to be set aside for the Priests and the Sanctuary - "Cherem"
Leviticus 27:28 "Notwithstanding, a Cherem that a man shall vow to set aside for the L-rd..."

This Positive Mitzvah tells us that if a person declares an object or animal as Cherem, this means that he is vowing to set this object or animal aside for holy use.

That object must then be presented to the priest.

If the person says, "This object is Cherem to G-d" then the object must be given for use in the Beit HaMikdash.

Negative Mitzvah 110: We are forbidden to sell any objects or property which are designated as "Cherem"
Leviticus 27:28 "No taboo thing...shall be sold"

Any possession that a person declares to be "Cherem," is "taboo" and cannot be used by him anymore.

The objects or possessions considered "Cherem" are given to the priests and become theirs to use as they see fit (see Positive Mitzvah 145).

Once a person has declared his land or belongings as "Cherem," they fall into a special category.

This Negative Mitzvah forbids that person from selling them, even if he wishes to sell it to the treasury of the Beit HaMikdash.

You ask, "How can I be happy if I am not?" True, you can't control the way you feel, but you do have control over your conscious thought, speech and actions. Do something simple: Think good thoughts, speak good things, behave the way a joyful person behaves -- even if you don't fully feel it inside. Eventually, the inner joy of the soul will break through.

From: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman - tzvif@aol.com