Hebrew | Francais

Shabbat Parashat Emor| 5768

Emor | 5 Iyar 5768 | 10/05/2008

An Improper Chumra

Parashat Emor and its haftara deal, among other things, with the laws of kohanim. Kohanim observe halachot that are from the Torah, others that are from the Rabbis, and even matters that they accepted upon themselves as stringencies appropriate for their lofty station (see Kiddushin 78b).

Sharing Expenses on Property Dividers

Question:Someone bought the home next to mine and not only wants to build a stone wall between our yards but expects me to share the expenses. Is his claim that I am halachically required to do so correct?

The Torah and the Land – part I

A midrash says: “Had Moshe entered Eretz Yisrael (=EY), the Beit Hamikdash would not have been destroyed and no nation would have had dominion over Israel.”

Unintended Clause in a Contract

Case: The plaintiff (=pl) is a contractor who sold a two-story building to two families. The contract states that if the building will be expanded, it will be for both floors, and the owners will share the expenses equally. The defendant (=def) bought the bottom floor; pl gave his daughter the top floor. The bottom floor’s extension is only 60% of the top one. However, the contract’s language, which pl says was intentional, implies that def pay 50% of the expenses. Def says that he had not intended to pay half if he received less and that he trusted the lawyer who drew up the contract, who, it turns out, often worked for pl.

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.

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).