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Shabbat Parashat Nitzavim Vayeilech 5771

Nitzavim Vayeilech | 25 Elul 5771 | 24/09/2011

Parashat Hashavuah: How Does the Nation Become More Holy?

Last week we dealt with the pasuk “all of your nation are righteous, forever they will inherit the Land,” wondering if and how this could really be true and citing several diverse explanations. The final explanation we cited was that the collective is always viewed as on the level of tzaddikim, even when the sum of its parts is lacking. Therefore, the best and almost only way to come through the Days of Judgment successfully is to be closely connected to Klal Yisrael. In order to accomplish this, one needs to follow a path of partnership with all elements of the nation. Recognizing the national aspect of our people is a fundamental and necessary part of this process. Otherwise, the whole is indeed the sum of its parts, and we are asking for trouble when the necessary merits turn up short. We will continue along these lines this week.

Ask the Rabbi: Blowing Shofar After Shul

The 100 shofar blasts on Rosh Hashana are much more than the Torah requires. Yet, some people blow even more after shul. Isn't there a point where enough is enough?

Ein Ayah: Separating Oneself from the Group

How does one do a zimun? If there are three people including him, he says: “Let us bless….” If there are three plus him, he says: “You bless …” Shmuel said: One should never take himself out of the klal (group/collective).

P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about the Sale of a Hekdesh Property

A hekdesh (property set aside for philanthropic/religious use) was bought in Tel Aviv to be used for a shul for Iraqi Jews. The neighborhood turned into a commercial district, and the shul is used only for Yamim Noraim. Parts of the building have been rented out (proceeds paying the shul’s expenses) for a long time to businesses, including the plaintiff (=pl), which has “protected tenant” status. The hekdesh’s guardian died and beit din, which is entrusted with supervising hekdeshot, appointed a new one, who recommended selling the property on condition that a minyan will remain at the place during Yamim Noraim. Pl objects to the sale, questioning beit din’s authority to liquidate the hekdesh and claiming that, as an existing tenant, he should have been given first choice to buy the property. Although pl is offering less than the proposed buyer of the property, it claims that their bid is equivalent since pl will otherwise have to be compensated due to their protected tenant status.

Hemdat Yamim

is dedicated
to the memory of
R' Meir ben

Yechezkel Shraga

Brachfeld

o.b.m

Hemdat Yamim

is endowed by

Les & Ethel Sutker

of Chicago, Illinois
in loving memory of
Max and Mary Sutker
and

Louis and Lillian Klein, z”l

This edition of Hemdat Yamim

is dedicated to the memory of

Mr. Jay Pomrenze's father

Col. Seymour “Sholom”

Pomrenze z"l

who passed away
on Av 26, 5771

This edition of

Hemdat Yamim

is dedicated to the memory of

Rabbi Shlomo Merzel o.b.m,
who passed away
on the 10th of Iyar 5771

Hemdat Yamim is dedicated

to the memory of

the beloved friend of Eretz Hemdah

Doris (Doba) Moinester

whose Yahrtzeit is 23^rd of Elul

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).