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Shabbat Shuva Parashat Ha’azinu | 5768

Ha'azinu | 3 Tishrei 5768 | 10/12/2007

The Power of Tefilla

Parashat Ha’azinu relates that Hashem told Moshe “b’etzem hayom hazeh” (in the midst of this day) to go to Har Nevo and die (Devarim 32:48). The Sifrei points out that this is one of three places that the Torah writes (in a narrative setting) b’etzem hayom hazeh. The others are Noach entering the ark and Bnei Yisrael leaving Egypt, both during the day. The message in all, according to Chazal, is that Hashem was demonstrating that He would make the history-altering event happen before the eyes of those who opposed it and show them that they were incapable of stopping it.

P'ninat Mishpat

Case: The plaintiff (=pl) has been requested to do chalitza for his sister-in-law (=def), after her husband died without children. Pl agrees to do chalitza only if def agrees to transfer to him property that is registered in her name in the Tabu (Land Registry). According to pl, his now deceased brother had requested that, in order to ensure def’s rights to the apartment that was part of an inheritance to the two brothers, pl should transfer his rights to it as registered in the Tabu to def. Pl says that he agreed on the condition that def not remarry, which she now wants to do. Therefore, he demands the property back. Def denies ever making a commitment not to remarry.

Moreshet Shaul

The sending of the sa’ir (goat) to Azazel (to be knocked off a cliff, representing casting off sins and relegating them to the forces of evil) was a unique service, very different from sacrificing to Hashem. What is the idea behind this service? Chazal explain that Hashem places Israel’s sins on Eisav (sa’ir hints at his nickname, Se’ir). However, why should Eisav suffer for our sins?

Ask the Rabbi

Question: I know that Havdala after Yom Kippur is different than it is on Motzaei Shabbat. How do we treat matters when Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat?

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