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Shabbat Parashat Noach 5772

Noach | 1 Cheshvan 5772 | 29/10/2011

Parashat Hashavuah: Seeing the Bow

In the aftermath of the great flood, Hashem informed Noach of a covenant (brit) with the world in which He promised no more floods of this scope. He also told Noach about a sign of the covenant, the rainbow, which, according to the simple reading of the p’sukim, Hashem is supposed to see and be reminded to keep His promise (Bereishit 9: 8-17). The simple reading raises many questions, of which we will focus on a few. A rainbow is a natural phenomenon that occurs when water particles refract rays of light. Since this phenomenon presumably existed before the flood (see Ramban’s commentary), what is its point? Why does Hashem need a reminder? Why does the Torah stress (twice) seeing the rainbow?

Ask the Rabbi: Taking Bottles from Recycling Receptacles

I am a preschool teacher who wants to do a project for the children, using a few dozen large (no deposit), empty soda bottles. May I take bottles from the recycling “cages” we have in Yerushalayim and “recycle them” in that way?

Ein Ayah: Proper Level of Respect of Food

Ameimar, Mar Zutra, and Rav Ashi had a meal together. They brought before them dates and pomegranates. Mar Zutra took a serving and threw it before Rav Ashi. They said to him: “Don’t you agree with what it says in a baraita that one does not throw food?” He answered: “That is talking about bread.” They asked him: “But there is another baraita that says that just as we do not throw bread, we do not throw foods.” He answered: “It depends if it is a food that will get spoiled or a food that will not get spoiled.”

P'ninat Mishpat: Rejection of a Late Request for Appeal

An appeal to a previous ruling was presented to the Supreme Religious Court on a regional court ruling more than thirty days after the ruling was rendered. The Regulations on Adjudication state that appeals must be made within thirty days of the rendering of the ruling to be appealed. If the sides were not informed in advance of the date the ruling would be handed down, then the sides have thirty days from the time they were informed that the ruling was given.

This edition of
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

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

This edition of

Hemdat Yamim

is dedicated

to the memory of

George Weinstein,

Gershon ben

Yehudah Mayer,

a lover of the Jewish Nation Torah and Land.

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).