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Shabbat Parashat Emor 5781

Emor | 19 Iyar 5781 | 01/05/2021

Parashat Hashavua: “Zichron Teruah” – On Judgment and Mercy

The term “zichron teruah (Vayikra 23:24),” in describing Rosh Hashana among the holidays in our parasha, is a special term, which very likely refers to shofar blowing. But zichron, meaning remembrance, does not, at first glance, have a clear meaning. A famous interpretation of this pasuk deals with the fact that elsewhere it is called a “day of teruah.” The gemara (Rosh Hashana 29b) says that when Rosh Hashana falls during the week, it is a day of blowing the shofar, and when it falls on Shabbat, it is a day of only remembering the blowing. This is difficult on the level of p’shat (simple/literal reading of the pasuk) because the fact that we do not blow shofar on Shabbat is a Rabbinic institution, lest someone carry the shofar in a public domain while preparing to fulfill the mitzva. If it is Rabbinic, then the pasuk cannot be talking about it! Therefore, Rashi takes another approach. Zichron refers to the p’sukim of Zichronot, which mention the word zikaron in the context of Hashem’s relationship with mankind, and the p’sukim of Shofarot, dealing with the shofar and Hashem. This includes remembering akeidet Yitzchak, in which Avraham offered a ram as a sacrifice in place of Yitzchak. The Ramban has two objections to Rashi’s approach. 1. Why doesn’t Rashi mention the p’sukim of Malchuyot (about Hashem’s kingdom) as remembrances? Also, reciting the p’sukim of Zichronot and Shofarot is also only Rabbinic, which again makes it inappropriate for the p’shat of “zichron teruah.”

Ask the Rabbi: “Hineni Muchan U’mezuman” before Sefirat Ha’omer

I am not consistent about saying “Hineni muchan u’mezuman” (=hmum) before sefirat ha’omer. Should I decide one way or the other, and which way is better?

Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: The Limits of Free Thought

There must be a limit to the propriety of free thought because it affects one’s actions and thus also his surroundings. The “location” of the “boundary” depends on the nature of different nations. For Israel, whose task it is to inform the world about Hashem, this requires stricter adherence to philosophical truths. Yet, at times, Hashem is not interested in us being able to carry out our task easily, and we are unable to keep discipline within the nation.

P'ninat Mishpat: Responsibility for High-Voltage Damage

The plaintiffs (=pl) paid the defendant (=def), a contractor, to build their apartment. Two of pl’s appliances were damaged, and a technician determined that the apartment’s voltage, which was too high, caused it. The technician estimated the value of the ruined washing machine as 4,000 NIS and the dryer as 2,000 NIS, so pl are suing for 6,000 NIS.

Emor 5781

Emor 5781

We daven for a complete and speedy refuah for:

Nir Rephael ben Rachel Bracha
Yisrael ben Rivka

Rivka Reena bat Gruna Natna

Arye Yitzchak ben Geula Miriam

Neta bat Malka

Meira bat Esther

Together with all cholei Yisrael

Hemdat Yamim is dedicated

to the memory of:

Those who fell in wars

for our homeland

Eretz Hemdah's beloved friends

and Members of

Eretz Hemdah's Amutah

Rav Shlomo Merzel z”l
Iyar 10, 5771

Rav Reuven Aberman z"l

Tishrei 9 ,5776

Mr. Shmuel & Esther Shemesh z"l

Sivan 17 / Av 20

Mr. Moshe Wasserzug z"l

Tishrei 20 ,5781

R' Eliyahu Carmel z"l

Rav Carmel's father

Iyar 8 ,5776

Mrs. Sara Wengrowsky

bat R’ Moshe Zev a”h.

Tamuz 10 ,5774

Rav Asher & Susan Wasserteil z"l
Kislev 9 / Elul 5780

R' Meir ben

Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld z"l

Mrs. Sara Brachfeld z"l

Tevet 16 ,5780

R' Yaakov ben Abraham & Aisha

and

Chana bat Yaish & Simcha

Sebbag, z"l

Rav Yisrael Rozen z"l
Cheshvan 13, 5778

Rav Benzion Grossman z"l
Tamuz 23, 5777

Rav Moshe Zvi (Milton)

Polin z"l

Tamuz 19, 5778

R' Abraham Klein z"l

Iyar 18 ,5779

Mrs. Gita Klein z"l

Av 4

R' Yitzchak Zev Tarshansky z"l

Adar 28, 5781

R' Leiser Presser

ben R' Aharon Yitzhak and Bracha z"l

24 Iyar

and members of his family who perished

in the shoah Al Kiddush Hashem.

Hemdat Yamim
is endowed by Les z"l & Ethel Sutker
of Chicago, Illinois
in loving memory of
Max and Mary Sutker

& Louis and Lillian Klein z”l

A weekly divrei Torah leaflet: A Glimpse at the Parasha, Ask the Rabbi, From the writings of Harav Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook, zt”l, Pninat Mishpat (Jewish Monetary Law).