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Shabbat Parashat Nitzavim 5778

Nitzavim | 28 Elul 5778 | 08/09/2018

Parashat Hashavua: A New Being

Our year begins with days of judgment and atonement, known as Yamim Nora’im (Days of Awe), which they are. They inspire fear because of their deep secrets, which, we sense, hold the key to the future for the year. We know important things are being decided, but we do not know if they are happy or sad. We are in grave suspense, both as individuals and as a nation. Who knows if we will not have a continuation of last year’s pogroms and of the lowly spiritual level in the Diaspora? Will our prayers for redemption be accepted? These are indeed days of trepidation!

Ask the Rabbi: Men Going to the Mikveh before Rosh Hashana

I was not brought up going to the mikveh before Rosh Hashana (only before Yom Kippur). Should I start doing so? What are the reasons and rules for this tevilla?

Ein Ayah: Confidence in the Water Supply

One who says: “I will drink and leave over” is in violation of the prohibition of following the ways of the Emorites.

P'ninat Mishpat: Muncipal Dues in a Yishuv

The plaintiff (=pl) is an aguda shitufit (i.e., joint community) and the defendants (=def) are residents of a new section of the yishuv. The aguda is supposed to provide its residents with support in various elements of communal and personal life and is recognized, along with its charter, as an organization by the relevant authorities. A year ago, pl informed members of the yishuv that they are required to pay 6,000 shekels per couple to renovate a public building. Def and a member of pl’s board reached a compromise proposal based on which they would contribute 9,000 shekels from their charity fund to be used for whatever purposes pl decided. Def gave the money; the full board did not accept the proposal. Some time later def reserved pl’s social hall for a simcha. Due to tension between the sides, it was unclear until soon before whether def would be allowed to use it. Pl claims that as members of the aguda, def is obligated to pay continual fees of 4,106 shekels, along with 6,000 shekels for the one-time expense. Def claim that the obligations are unfair because members of the kibbutz, which founded the yishuv, are preferred members of the aguda, who pay less than residents of the expanded areas. Pl responded that members of the kibbutz either paid for development over many years or paid extra money to join the kibbutz. In fact, this provision is part of the charter that was accepted by the Rasham Ha’amutot (NPO Registry). Def deny registering as members of the aguda, who need to pay, and argue that landowners in such places no longer are required to be members. They admit that in the past they were involved in pl because they thought they were members but have since learned that they are not. Def also argue that since they already paid 9,000 shekels based on a compromise understanding, it is unacceptable for pl to reject the compromise. They also say that although they lost 4,000 shekels in looking for alternatives for their simcha due to pl’s threat regarding the hall, they will accept an apology.

Nitzavim 5778
Microsoft Word Document

Nitzavim 5778

We daven for a complete and speedy refuah for:

Leah Rachel bat Chana

Meira bat Esther

Rivka Reena bat Gruna Natna

David Chaim ben Rassa

Lillian bat Fortune

Yafa bat Rachel Yente

Eliezer Yosef ben Chana Liba

Ro'i Moshe Elchanan ben Gina Devra

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
Iyar 10

Rav Reuven Aberman z"l

Tishrei 9 5776

Mr. Shmuel Shemesh z"l
Sivan 17 5774

R' Eliyahu Carmel z"l

Rav Carmel's father

Iyar 8 5776

Mrs. Sara Wengrowsky

bat R’ Moshe Zev a”h.

Tamuz 10 5774

Rav Asher Wasserteil z"l

Kislev 9 5769

R' Meir ben

Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld z"l

R' Yaakov ben Abraham & Aisha

and

Chana bat Yaish & Simcha

Sebbag, z"l

Rav Yisrael Rozen z"l
Cheshvan 13, 5778

Rav Benzion Grossman z"l
Tamuz 23 5777

Rav Moshe Zvi (Milton)

Polin z"l

Tammuz 19, 5778

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).