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Shabbat Parashat Lech Lecha 5773

Lech Lecha | 11 Cheshvan 5773 | 27/10/2012

Parashat Hashavua: If and How to Go Out to a Dangerous Battle

The first case of pidyon shvuyim (freeing captives) in our national history is Avraham’s extrication of Lot from the Four Kings. Avraham did so with a quick and daring military operation with the help of 318 underlings. The Torah describes the way he enlisted them for the task with the unusual word “vayarek” (Bereishit 14:14). What does this mean? Rashi, based on Unkelus’ translation, says that it means that he encouraged them to be diligent in the matter. He did not do this just with words but stood at the front of the unit. The midrash (Bereishit Rabba 43) cites several approaches which help us analyze what the proper solution to the situation is, what the price was, and what factors played a role in the decision.

Ask the Rabbi: How to Name the Child of a Gentile Father

As a mohel, I sometimes perform a brit for a baby whose mother is Jewish but whose father is not Jewish. When giving the baby’s name, what should be said as his being son of (ben …)?

Ein Ayah: The Proper Focus of a Vibrant Life

One is required to bless Hashem for the bad just as be blesses for the good, as we derive from “You shall love Hashem your G-d, with all your heart(s)” – with your two inclinations, the good inclination and the evil inclination – “and with all your soul” – even if He takes your soul – “and with all your means (meodecha)” – with all your money; another approach is: with every measure (mida) that he measures out for you, thank him (modeh) very very much (m’od m’od).

P'ninat Mishpat: Payment for Court Expenses –part I

The plaintiff (=pl) had given the defendant (=def) a check in relation to a now disputed stock deal. An arbitrator ruled that def must return the check, but he instead cashed it with the help of hotza’ah l’poal (the arm of the court that enforces debt payments). Pl demands not only return of the value of the check but also that def pay their legal expenses.

Lech Lecha 5773
Microsoft Word Document

Lech Lecha 5773

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

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).