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Shabbat Parashat Nitzavim | 5768

Nitzavim | 27 Elul 5768 | 27/09/2008

The Blessing That Fits One’s Background

One of our parasha’s major themes is teshuva (repentance). It is of limited value to make improvements and soon thereafter revert to one’s old undesired ways. The Meshech Chochma has interesting, arguably counterintuitive, advice for the ba’al teshuva (one who repents).

Should an appropriate candidate be passed over when he able to blow only on the left side of his mouth

Should we pass over the seemingly most appropriate candidate for blowing shofar when he is able to blow only on the left side of his mouth?

Excerpts from the Introduction to Ein Ayah – part II

Rav Kook began his introduction to Ein Ayah with a presentation of two types of Torah commentary. One explains the direct intention of the text at hand. The other, which he called a bi’ur (hinting at a well) applies ideas that are related to the text to other areas. This is possible because Divine Providence saw to it that the texts could be used to expand the Torah.

A Beit Din’s Withdrawal from a Case Due to Bad Relations with Legal Counsel

A couple was involved in adjudication regarding questions of divorce and related monetary matters. One litigant hired a to’en rabbani (the equivalent of a lawyer for the rabbinical court system) to represent him. Within the framework of trying to promote his client’s legal prospects, the to’en rabbani was interviewed by a newspaper. The resulting article contained false information about the case and harsh criticism of the beit din. The to’en rabbani claimed in his interview that he had conformed to all of the requests with which beit din had presented him and that beit din was delaying the arrangement of the get in order to ruin his reputation. Beit din considered a few options. One was to disqualify the to’en rabbani from serving as legal counsel in this case. Another possibility was to recluse themselves from hearing the case and set a panel comprised of different dayanim who had a more positive relationship with this to’en rabbani.

Hemdat Yamim of this week
is dedicated in memory of a beloved friend of Eretz Hemdah

Doris (Doba) Moinester
whos Yahrtzeit is 23^rd of Elul

as well as

R ' Meir ben Yechezkel Shraga Brachfel

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).