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Shabbat Parashat Metzora | 5768

Metzora | 7 Nisan 5768 | 12/04/2008

There is Judgment and a Judge

The haftara speaks about the great salvation to the city of Shomron that came about in the aftermath of Elisha’s prophecy. Due to the Aramite siege to the city, the starvation caused prices to soar to unsustainable levels. Elisha assured the king that the next day the prices would be back to normal “in the gate (b’sha’ar)” of Shomron, an idea that the shalish (king’s assistant) scoffed at. Elisha responded that the shalish would see it but would not eat from it (Melachim II, 7:1-2). As the story played out, much of the narrative repeats itself regarding the predictions and fulfillments of the prices in the gateway and the fact that the shalish was trampled in the gateway.

Cleaning for Chametz in Hard to Reach Places

Often during Pesach cleaning, I am aware of chametz that is in places where it is very hard to get to. Am I required to make every possible effort to get the chametz out?

Ownership on Foods That Are Assur B’hana’ah – part I (from Sha’arei Shaul, Pesachim 13)

The gemara (Pesachim 6b) cites R. Elazar’s statement that two things are not in a person’s reshut (possession), yet the Torah considered them as if they were: a pit [that he dug] in reshut harabbim and chametz on Pesach. Rashi says that when it says it is not in his possession, it actually means that it is not his (regarding ownership). The gemara later states that one who tries to marry a woman with chitei kord’naita is not married to her. Rashi explains that even though chitei kord’naita is only chametz on a rabbinic level, “whoever marries does so based on the intention of the Rabbis, and the hefker of beit din is hefker, and they were mafkir his money.” The Rashash explains that this works by the Rabbis creating an issur, as a result of which, the object is not worth a peruta, which is required for kiddushin.

Paying an Overdue Obligation With Linkage (based on Halacha Psuka, vol. 41, condensation of Mishpatecha L’Yaakov II, pp. 361-373)

The plaintiff (=pl) hired the defendant (=def) to cater with a fee quoted in dollars. Pl paid late; def sued in secular court, which forced pl to pay with linkage to the CPI (inflation rate). Pl sued in beit din to retrieve the interest payment, which he claims is ribbit (usury).

Mazal tov to Chaim Mann on the occasion of his bar-mitzvah.

May he continue to grow in Torah, yirat shamayim, and middot tovot.

This edition of Hemdat Yamim is dedicated in loving memory of

R ' Meir ben Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld

o.b.m

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.

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).