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Shabbat Parashat Masei 5776

Masei | 2 Av 5776 | 06/08/2016

Parashat Hashavua: Quick Review, Long-Term Memories

Our parasha not only ends Sefer Bamidbar but also summarizes it. Close to 40 years in the desert, which were crucial in setting the nature of Am Yisrael from then and on, pass before us as if by a blink of the eye. “They travelled and they encamped …” over and over again. Hearing all the names of places read, the congregation is (almost) bored. In actuality, we are reviewing times that included highly important and prototypical events, from which we are to learn for generations. How appropriate are R. Tanchuma’s words (cited in Rashi, Bamdibar 33:1), comparing it to one who took his son on a trip to a distant doctor to heal him. When they came back after a successful treatment, they reminisced about the different stages they were at in different locations. Memories! Some happy and hopeful, some sad and depressing. However, they all are enriching in their own way in building a set of experiences with an eye toward the future.

Ask the Rabbi: Altering a Neder Made at a Time of Need

Your recent article about hatarat nedarim reminded me about my related question. I was recently in a dangerous situation involving an Arab mob. At the time, I decided that if we would make it through safely, I would stop situation X. [Ed. Note – we decided not to share with the public the specific matter.] Baruch Hashem, no one sustained worse than minor injury, and I am happy to show my thanks to Hashem. However, X contains three elements – A and B are harmless, positive, and important to me. It is C about which I have had misgivings for some time. Had I had more time to think clearly, I would have committed to refraining just from C, but under pressure, X in general came to mind. I am willing to live up to any obligation, but may I do hatarat nedarim or otherwise switch the neder to something more practical or just refrain from C?

Ein Ayah: The Deterioration of Society Away from Justice

Due to the sins of delaying justice, distorting justice, destroying justice, and wasting Torah opportunities, the sword, plunder, pestilence, and famine come, people eat and are not satiated, and they measure the bread they eat, as the Torah says: “I shall bring upon you a sword taking revenge due to the covenant …” (Vayikra 26:25-26) and “the covenant” refers to Torah as the pasuk says, “If not for My covenant day and night …” (Yirmiya 33:25) and it says: “For the very reason that they despised My justice” (Vayikra 26:43).

P'ninat Mishpat: A Loan or a Gift? – part III

A few years ago, Shimon wanted to buy a home and asked his brother, Levi, for help. Levi gave 60,000 shekels and then later another 100,000. Levi has put Shimon on notice that he wants Shimon to repay him the 100,000 shekels, which was a loan, when he has the ability. Shimon asked beit din to make a declaratory ruling that the money had been a gift. This, he says, is evidenced by the fact that there was no loan contract and is in line with the many gifts Levi had given Shimon over the years. Something had just caused Levi to “change his tune.” Levi says that originally Shimon had asked him for a loan for the entire cost of the home, but that he had agreed only to a more modest gift plus a loan. Levi described a discussion before the loan in which he had said that he was unable to give the 100,000 as a gift. Shimon says that occurred well after the money was given, and that, in any case, Levi had previously pledged the money as a present, without which Shimon would not have bought the home.

Refuah Sheleymah to

Elchanan ben Adina

Orit bat Miriam

Hemdat Yamim

is dedicated

to the memory of:

those who fell

in the war

for our homeland.

R' Eliyahu Carmel,

Rav Carmel's father,

who passed away on

8^th of Iyar 5776

Yechezkel Tzadik,

Yaffa's father,

who passed away on

11^th of Iyar 5776

Yitzchak Eizik

ben Yehuda Leib Usdan a"h,

whose Yahrtzeit

is the 29th of Av

Mrs. Sara Wengrowsky

bat R’ Moshe Zev a”h.

who passed away on

10 Tamuz, 5774

Rabbi Reuven Aberman

zt”l

Eretz Hemdah's

beloved friend and

Member of Eretz Hemdah's Amutah
who passed away

on 9 Tishrei, 5776

R' Meir
ben

Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld

o.b.m

R ' Yaakov ben Abraham & Aisha

and

Chana bat Yaish & Simcha

Sebbag, z"l

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

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).