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Shabbat Parashat Ki Tavo| 5767

Ki Tavo | | 01/01/2006

A Monument Transformed

There is a fair amount of confusion regarding the various sets of stones upon which words of the Torah were written at or around the time Bnei Yisrael crossed the Jordan to enter Eretz Yisrael. How many sets of stones were written? What exactly was written on each one? Where was each placed? We will not get into all the details. Instead we will concentrate on the Abarbanel’s simple question and novel answer. Let us start with an abridged look at the p’sukim (Devarim 27: 3-8) that he analyzes, translated as they are usually understood.

P'ninat Mishpat

Case: The plaintiff spent years on manuscripts of a Rishon’scommentary on Tanach. As he prepared to publish, he discovered that the defendant was also planning to publish a similar edition of that commentary. The plaintiff wants to prevent the defendant from publishing since it would cause him great losses. He notes that he publicized his intentions for the project some time before. The defendant responded that he was unaware that the plaintiff was working on the project, as it was not effectively publicized, and he is not willing to withhold the work that he too labored on.

Moreshet Shaul

In the declaration that one makes when bringing the first fruit (bikurim)to the Beit Hamikdash, one declares: “I am saying today to Hashem, your G-d, that I have come to the Land that Hashem swore to our fathers to give to us” (Devarim 26:3). The Ramban comments: “With this fruit that I have brought, I have declared and thanked Hashem that he brought me to the Land.” It is hard to understand the connection between the declaration and thanks and this simple fruit, as if it is the proof that Hashem brought him to the Land of Israel. Why do the thanks come at this time and not at another?

Ask The Rabbi

Question: What do I do if I eat a meal and am unsure if I bentched (recited Birkat Hamazone)?

Ki Tavo

This edition of Hemdat Yamim is dedicated to the memory of

The beloved friend of Eretz Hemdah

Doris (Doba) Moinester of blessed memory

and

R' Meir ben Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld o.b.m.

Hemdat Yamim is also dedicated by 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).