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Shabbat Parashat Pekudei| 5771

Pekudei | 29 Adar 5771 | 05/03/2011

Parashat Hashavuah: “As Hashem Commanded Moshe” … What?

When we read Vayakhel and Pekudei together, we may point out how many times the Torah writes that matters of the Mishkan were done “as Hashem commanded Moshe.” However, with the parshiyot read separately, we may surprisingly note that in Vayakhel that phrase is not mentioned at all, while in Pekudei it is mentioned eighteen times. What is the reason for this imbalance?

Ask the Rabbi: Pidyon Haben Done as an Adult

I am my parents’ firstborn son, and my father recently told me that my planned pidyon haben (redeeming of the firstborn by a kohen) was delayed because of my illness and was never done. (My parents were not fully observant.) Is there something I should do now?

Ein Ayah: The Human Frailties that Emanated from the Tree of Knowledge

If one recited “Borei pri ha’etz” on something that requires “Borei pri ha’adama,” he does not fulfill his obligation. Isn’t that obvious? Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak said: It is needed according to Rabbi Yehuda who said that wheat is a type of tree, as the baraita says: The tree that Adam ate from was what? Rabbi Meir said that it was a grape vine, as nothing gives reason for a person to be upset like wine, as occurred to Noach (Bereishit 9:21). Rabbi Nechemia says that it was a fig tree, for they used the object which caused their troubles to rectify their situation, as it says: “They tied fig leaves together” (Bereishit 3:7). Rabbi Yehuda says that it was wheat, as a small child does not call “Mother, father” before he has tasted wheat [Rashi- that is why it is called the Tree of Knowledge.]

P'ninat Mishpat: Conditions on a Get After it Was Given to an Agent

It is commonplace for batei din to allow a man who is in the midst of divorce proceedings to leave the country only after he has a get written, appoints a shaliach (agent to give the get), and gives the get to beit din for safekeeping in case he should not come back. In one such a case, the husband spent a long time abroad and the wife wanted to have the get given. In the interim the husband called and told her: “I will not give the get now. Wait until I return and then I will give it under certain conditions.” What is the status of the get in the meantime? While it is possible to nullify the agency, can one not nullify but introduce new conditions?

Pekudei 5771
Microsoft Word Document

Pekudei 5771

Hemdat Yamim

is dedicated
to the memory of

Gershon (George)

ben Chayim HaCohen

Kaplan

o.b.m.

This edition of
Hemdat Yamim

is dedicated
to the 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).