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Shabbat Parashat Tetzaveh| 5766

Tetzaveh | | 01/01/2005

A Happy, Human Heart

One unusually special garment of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) was the choshen mishpat, containing the urim v’tumim, which had letters that lit up to convey Divine messages (Shemot 28: 29-30). The gemara (Shabbat 139a) derives that Aharon became the first Kohen Gadol and merited to wear it as a reward for his happiness upon greeting Bnei Yisrael’s new prophet, leader and savior, who assumed Aharon’s leadership role, his brother, Moshe (Shemot 4:14). In both cases, the Torah stresses the heart, where Aharon wore the choshen and felt the happiness.

P’ninat Mishpat

We will be taking a break from thenormal format of P’ninat Mishpat to discuss an important, related matter. Eretz Hemdah is an institution that is centered around a kollel for the study of Jewish civil and family law, enabling our graduates to serve as dayanim in the Rabbinical Court system. Years ago, our mentor, Hagaon Harav Shaul Yisraeli, z.t.l. asked the heads of the kollel to open a rabbinical court for monetary matters, connected to Eretz Hemdah.

Moreshet Shaul

There are two elements behind the sanctity of Eretz Yisrael and the special status it has within Jewish life- the revealed and the hidden. The revealed element of Eretz Yisrael’s special standing finds expression in halacha (the Land-linked mitzvot) within set, defined, practical rules. The sanctity that brings on these halachot can exist and cease to exist, depending on different factors (primarily, Jewish control).

Ask the Rabbi

Question: We hired a Philippine caregiver to live with my mother, who is barely mobile. Until now, others have cooked most of her food. Can the caregiver now cook or at least reheat the food?

This edition of
Hemdat Yamim is dedicated to the memory of
Yehoshua ben Yaakov z”l (Egon Mayer) by Ernest & Judith Gottdiener and
R’ Meir ben Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld o.b.m.
Hemdat Yamim is also dedicated by Les & Ethel Sutker of Chicago, Illinois
in loving memory of Max and Mary Sutker and Louis and Lillian Klein,z”l.
May their memory be a blessing!

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).