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Shabbat Parashat Chayei Sarah | 5768

Chayei Sarah | 22 Cheshvan 5768 | 08/12/2007

The Flaws of Flawlessness

This week’s haftara deals with the inheritor of King David’s throne. In the past, we have dealt with the other contenders for that position from various perspectives. This time we will revisit that topic, putting specific stress on Avshalom’s personality.

P'ninat Mishpat

Case: Someone wrote a will that says as follows: “I, the undersigned, instruct that which will be with my property that remains after my death. All of my property should go after my death to Mr. X and Mr. Y.” The will was dated and signed by the man and two lawyers. Beit din was unsuccessful in determining who the halachic inheritors are.

Moreshet Shaul

Chazal tell us that when we say a Torah thought in the name of a deceased scholar, his lips “move in the grave” (Yevamot 97a). That is the purpose of memorial days. The gemara (Berachot 64a) also says that “the righteous do not have rest - not in this world and not in the one to come, as it says: ‘They will go from strength to strength’ (Tehillim 84:8).” There is a goal to come together with the tzaddik’s memory, to “make his lips move,” to hear what he would have said in order to know how to direct ourselves.

Ask the Rabbi

Question: It seems wrong that people decide not to wash (netillat yadayim) and eat bread at the beginning of a meal and thus not bentch (recite Birkat Hamazon). One who has a meal should bentch and if it takes eating a little bread, so be it. However, someone told me that if you eat only a little piece of bread, you have to make individual berachot throughout the meal. Is that so?

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