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Shabbat Parashat Shelah| 5767

Shelach | | 01/01/2006

Seventy Points of View

Our parasha contains two episodes that teach much about the personal life and leadership of Moshe Rabbeinu. The first deals with the imbuing of Moshe’s spiritual power and prophecy to 70 elders. The second deals with Aharon and Miriam’s criticism of Moshe in regard to his relationship with his wife, Tzippora. In both cases, Moshe’s personality emerges in its glorious heights, especially in the area of humility.

P'ninat Mishpat

Case: The plaintiff (=pl)runs a gemach (free loan association). Pl turned Reuven down for a loan because of a past failure to return a loan. Reuven used the defendant (=def), a well-respected man, to assure pl that this loan would be paid. Def reported that he knew unequivocally that Reuven would be getting money within 10 days, that the money would go through def, and that he would personally transfer the money to the plaintiff. However, def said that he would not be obligated as an arev (cosigner). The money never came in, and the loan was not returned. Pl claims that def must pay back the loan if Reuven does not.

Moreshet Shaul

The Rambam learned that both the buyer and the seller violate trying to sell a field in Eretz Yisrael permanently from the fact that the Torah used the passive voice. The Torah did the same regarding trying to redeem ma’aser beheima. However, that cannot be referring to a violation for two parties because the case discussed explicitly is redeeming, which is accomplished by one party alone. Therefore, the Rambam surmised that the passive voice is to indicate that the sale or redemption does not work if attempted.

Ask The Rabbi

Question: Is it permitted to learn Torah with your sefarim on the bimah, given that it is a place meant for a sefer Torah?

Shelah

This edition of Hemdat Yamim is dedicated to

Noam Mannon the occasion of his bar mitzvah.

May he continue to bring joy and nachas to all who know him.

Hemdat Yamim is also dedicated in memory of R' Meir ben Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld o.b.m.and 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).