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Shabbat Parashat Vayakhel Pekudei 5777

Vayakhel | 27 Adar 5777 | 25/03/2017

Parashat Hashavua: Melacha for the Mishkan on Shabbat?

Our parasha begins with the laws of Shabbat (Shmot 35:1-3) before beginning the description of the actual building of the Mishkan. We also find that in the previous parasha, Ki Tisa, there is mention of the mitzva of Shabbat. “Hashem said to Moshe, speak to Bnei Yisrael: You shall nevertheless keep my Shabbatot, for it is a sign between Me and you…” (Shemot 31:12-13).

Ask the Rabbi: Paying Earlier than the Payment Plan Prescribed

My company pays suppliers with payment plans we work out in advance with each one. Occasionally, a supplier calls with a request that we pay earlier than already agreed in exchange for a “cash” purchase discount we work out. (By “cash,” we include checks and debit cards – the point is that payment is not delayed). Is this like a regular permitted business discount, which is permitted, or is this discount a case of ribbit?

Ein Ayah: Inclination Toward Beautification – Positive and Negative

Ameimar, Mar Zutra and Rav Ashi were sitting together (on Shabbat). They brought in front of them barda (a mixture of herbs for washing themselves). Ameimar and Rav Ashi washed, but Mar Zutra did not. They said to Mar Zutra: Do you not accept what Rav Sheshet said, that barda is permitted? Rav Mordechai said to them: Do not learn from Mar Zutra in this matter, for he does not permit such washing even during the week. Indeed, Mar Zutra holds like the Tanna who permitted to remove dirt or scabs from one’s body only if he is uncomfortable but not to beautify himself. (Rashi – such female-like beautification is forbidden for men). Ameimar and Rav Ashi followed the Tanna who allowed a man to wash his face, hands, and feet every day in honor of his Creator, as the pasuk states, “All that Hashem made is for Him” (Mishlei 16:4).

P'ninat Mishpat: Who Is Responsible for Municipal Tax When? – part II

The plaintiff (=pl) is an organization that rented property from Aug. 2004, with renewed contracts, until July 2010. In July 2008, the defendant (=def), another organization, sublet the property until the end of pl’s contract in 2010. Subsequently, def rented the property from the owner independently without a contract. In July 2011, def signed a contract but the arnona (municipal tax) account was still in pl’s name until Jan. 2012. The entire time, arnona was not paid, which caused a huge debt (974,632 shekels from Jan. 2007-Jan. 2012) which included inflation adjustments and interest. The lawyer pl hired to negotiate a payment plan with reduced penalties and tax breaks for their being NPOs, lowered the debt to 700,000, and arnona going forward was lowered due to def’s NPO work. Pl and def, which both benefitted from his work, disagree how to split up his 60,000 shekel fee. Pl wants it and the balance of the arnona debt to be paid according to the amount of time each used the property, i.e., pl¬ – Jan. 2007-June 2008 (period A) = 30%; def – July 2008-Jan. 2012 = 70%.) They argue that the fact that def preferred to keep things in pl’s name (contract, arnona account) should not harm pl. Def is willing to pay in full from July 2010 to July 2011 (period C) because they were full renters at that point. However, regarding the time they were sub-letters (period B), they should pay only according to the rate they are paying now because it was pl’s obligation to transfer the account to def, who could have received a bargain price. So too, in period D, when there was a contract between def and the owners, pl could have removed themselves without def’s help and the fact that pl was charged at a high rate was their own problem

We daven for a complete and speedy refuah for:

Yehoshafat Yecheskel ben Milka

Ro'i Moshe Elchanan ben Gina Devra

Emanuel ben Rachel Tamar

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

whose yahrtzeit

is the 10^th of Iyar

Rav Reuven Aberman

z"l

who passed away

on 9 Tishrei, 5776

Mr. Shmuel Shemesh
who passed away on

Sivan 17, 5774

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

Mrs. Sara Wengrowsky

bat R’ Moshe Zev a”h.

who passed away on

10 Tamuz 5774

Rav Asher Wasserteil z"l

who passed away

Kislev 9, 5769

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

Gershon (George)

ben Chayim HaCohen

Kaplan o.b.m.

Rabbi Yosef

Mordechai Simcha

ben Bina Stern o.b.m

who passed away

21 Adar I, 5774

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).