Shabbat Parashat Behaalotcha 5786

Beha'alotcha | 14 Sivan 5786 | 30/05/2026

Dear Friends,

Shavua Tov!

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Parashat Hashavua: Those Who Go Out to the Army

To be one who “goes out to the army” (yotzei tzava) in Israel is a clear obligation appearing without conditions in the beginning of Bamidbar. After the giving of the Torah, which is ideally fulfilled only Eretz Yisrael, the nation begins its journey toward it.

A necessary condition for going out to war is a census: “From twenty years old and up, all that go out to the army (tzava) in Israel; you and Aaron shall count them by their tzava” (Bamidbar 1:3). Notably, all censuses in Tanach relate to military service and preparation for war.

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Ask the Rabbi: Returning Unclaimed Items

Balls and other items land in our yard. I am happy to return them, but I do not know from which of five surrounding properties, from multiple buildings, each came. Sometimes objects remain in our yard for months, and get damaged by the elements. Am I responsible to track down the owner, some of whom I do not know? Does the fact that they do not care enough to retrieve their items absolve me of the responsibility to store them somewhere safe and proactively return them?

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Moreshet Shaul: Overview of the Rambam’s Approach

The defining characteristic of the Rambam was his extraordinary multi-faceted nature. As a commentator, we have his commentary on the mishnayot; as a decisor, the Mishneh Torah; as a philosopher, Moreh Nevuchim (Guide to the Perplexed); as a simple, believing Jew, Iggeret Teiman (Letter to the Yemenite community). What is the interrelationship of all of these facets of one such person? Was there a contradiction [between the philosopher and the possessor of simple faith]? Did he just alter his approach according to the audience? Or perhaps was this a rare mixture of Torah and general knowledge, of intellectuality and unquestioning faith, of belief and investigation?  

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P'ninat Mishpat:  A Mess of Loans, Repayments and Grievances – part III

The plaintiff (=pl), a lawyer, worked for and had intricate financial connections with the defendant (=def). There are two loans contracts of pl lending 250,000 NIS to def, which seem basically confirmed by bank transfers. Def made several significant payments to pl, but the sides dispute the nature of several of them, with possibilities including payment of salary. Def also has claims on rental fees at his offices from which pl continued to work after his employment ended, as well as deductions for various grievances about pl’s flawed work.
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