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Shabbat Parashat Behar Bechukotai 5781

Behar | 26 Iyar 5781 | 08/05/2021

Parashat Hashavua: Different Types of Respite

Sefer Vayikra was given during Bnei Yisrael’s period in the desert. It is therefore telling that the Torah already relates as a given fact the situation in which they are working the fields of Eretz Yisrael, suspending work during Shemitta and Yovel, and following the rules of transactions regarding real estate in the Land among other financial matters. There is already a description of an army that protects the nation’s borders, which can prevent foreign armies, even those not threatening the nation, from passing through.

Ask the Rabbi: Giving Ma’aser Years Later

Over the years, I have received cash gifts for birthdays, bar mitzva, etc. and never gave ma’aser kesafim (=mk) from them. I would like to do so now but do not remember the exact amounts I received. What should I do?

Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: Improving Education in Yafo

The general situation regarding education and especially that of religious studies teachers, requires fixing. There is a lot of work to be done, and there is a need for much good council and valor, with Hashem’s help. Therefore, I am very happy about the spirit of purity and grandeur that was awakened in the hearts of special individuals in the Holy Land, to call for a meeting of all the religious studies teachers of the holy city of Yafo and the surrounding agricultural settlements (of which Rav Kook was then the rabbi), may they be built firmly, to arrive at wise ideas to raise the situation of education and educators. I pray that Hashem will ensure that this meeting will be a good start in the effort to set proper systems and standards in the approach to education. This will give honor and a good reputation to Torah and Torah education in Israel. May Hashem give success to our actions with great power, to create a proper and honorable stature for the education of our children by teachers who fear Hashem and give proper regard to His Name. They should be fit to stand in the breaches and fix the fences in Yehuda (i.e., deal with religious challenges in society - see Yechezkel 13:5) to raise the status of fear of Hashem in the Holy Land. Therefore, I agree with all my might to take part in what the distinguished organizers want me to do, and I am prepared bli neder to take part in this distinguished meeting.

P'ninat Mishpat: Dispute on the Manner in which a Rental Ended

The plaintiff (=pl) rented out his apartment to the defendant (=def) during the course of three years based on a contract that was renewed orally. After def left the apartment, pl complained that he received it back in a condition that required a thorough cleaning (which cost 2,000 NIS in labor and materials) before it could be used. It also needed to be painted, and certain things needed fixing. Because of the deficiencies, the next planned renter, who had signed a contract, backed out, which caused a delay of a month until a new renter started paying, for which pl is suing for 3,500 NIS. Def responds that he gave back the apartment in a manner equivalent to how he received it, and thus he owes nothing. Also, def refused to return the key to the apartment, which pl claims required him to have a new cylinder installed at a cost of 450 NIS. Def counters that withholding the key was justified because pl owed him money, and that there was no need to change the cylinder because he is an upstanding person who would never break into an apartment to steal or damage.

Behar Bechukotai 5781
Microsoft Word Document

Behar Bechukotai 5781

We daven for a complete and speedy refuah for:

Nir Rephael ben Rachel Bracha
Yisrael ben Rivka

Rivka Reena bat Gruna Natna

Arye Yitzchak ben Geula Miriam

Neta bat Malka

Meira bat Esther

Together with all cholei Yisrael

Hemdat Yamim is dedicated

to the memory of:

Those who fell in wars

for our homeland

Eretz Hemdah's beloved friends

and Members of

Eretz Hemdah's Amutah

Rav Shlomo Merzel z”l
Iyar 10, 5771

Rav Reuven Aberman z"l

Tishrei 9 ,5776

Mr. Shmuel & Esther Shemesh z"l

Sivan 17 / Av 20

Mr. Moshe Wasserzug z"l

Tishrei 20 ,5781

R' Eliyahu Carmel z"l

Rav Carmel's father

Iyar 8 ,5776

Mrs. Sara Wengrowsky

bat R’ Moshe Zev a”h.

Tamuz 10 ,5774

Rav Asher & Susan Wasserteil z"l
Kislev 9 / Elul 5780

R' Meir ben

Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld z"l

Mrs. Sara Brachfeld z"l

Tevet 16 ,5780

R' Yaakov ben Abraham & Aisha

and

Chana bat Yaish & Simcha

Sebbag, z"l

Rav Yisrael Rozen z"l
Cheshvan 13, 5778

Rav Benzion Grossman z"l
Tamuz 23, 5777

Rav Moshe Zvi (Milton)

Polin z"l

Tamuz 19, 5778

R' Abraham Klein z"l

Iyar 18 ,5779

Mrs. Gita Klein z"l

Av 4

R' Yitzchak Zev Tarshansky z"l

Adar 28, 5781

Hemdat Yamim
is endowed by Les z"l & Ethel Sutker
of Chicago, Illinois
in loving memory of
Max and Mary Sutker

& 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).