Shabbat Parashat Devarim 5786

Devarim | 26 Tammuz 5786 | 18/07/2026

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Shabbat Shalom!

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Parashat Hashavua: Where is Tofel?

Harav Yosef Carmel

The word Tofel is found in our sefer’s opening pasuk as a place where Bnei Yisrael spent time during their sojourns, but it is not mentioned anywhere else in Tanach. The root appears in a handful of places in Tanach, with the meaning of lacking taste or positive content.

Commentators saw the “place” as a reference to unreasonable complaints, negative events, or bad times. Some examples are: 1. Complaints about the manna (Avot D’Rabbi Natan I:34). 2. Foolish complaints against Hashem (Midrash Aggada here, referring to Bamidbar 11:1). 3. The episode with Korach (Pitron Torah p. 229). 4. The events of Taveira, the place they cried about the prohibition on incest (Aderet Eliyahu of the Gra). 5. It reminds us of the Three Weeks, as the previously mentioned Paran, was the place of the spies (on Tisha B’av) and Tofel refers to the idol worship (the Golden Calf) that occurred on 17 Tammuz. The Ramban and Abarbanel both say that these were places where Bnei Yisrael acted in a manner that warrants rebuke, without being specific about Tofel. These ideas do not focus on direct hints from the text of Tanach, which we will try our hand at.

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Ask the Rabbi: Sitting on the Floor on Tisha B’Av

Rav Daniel Mann

A major challenge for me on Tisha B’av is sitting very low. My back is chronically sensitive to this, but I have never experienced longer-term repercussions. I usually stand quite a bit during the long Kinnot I take part in. Would it be better to sit on a slightly low chair (I have been lazy about getting one)? What do I do if Kinnot finishes after chaztot, as I see some but not all people sitting normally then?  

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Moreshet Shaul: “Fathers for Their Children’s Sins”

Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 171 – Address from Siyum of Youngsters

Introductory Gemara – Miriam the daughter of Bilga, apostatized and married a Greek official… When the Greeks entered the Holy Temple, she kicked with her shoe on the altar, and said: “Lucas Lucas, how long will you use up the money of Israel and not stand up for them in their time of need?” When the Rabbis heard this, they sealed the ring and closed the window of the [kohen] group of Bilga [in the Temple]… Because of the daughter they penalized [the father]? Abaye said: Yes, as people say: A youngster’s speech in the marketplace is either from his father or his mother” (Sukka 56b).

The penalty on parents based on the daughter’s actions is surprising, as the gemara asks. The Torah indeed stresses: “Fathers will not be put to death due to sons” (Devarim 24:16). This is also very logical according to the Torah outlook of free choice and that every adult is fully responsible for his own actions. Why did the Rabbis hold the parents responsible for their daughter based on the assumption of poor education? Abaye’s explanation seems beside the point, as it refers to a child who is too young to understand and decide the matter himself, in which case the parents are responsible. How does that apply to a case where the daughter was an adult who acted on her own?

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P'ninat Mishpat:  Quitting after Preparing Incomplete Plans – part I

(based on ruling 86018 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)

The defendant (=def) hired the plaintiff (=pl) to emend an architect’s plans for expansion and serve as the job’s engineer for 10,000 NIS. After receiving a 1,500 NIS down payment, doing significant work, and paying a draftsman 1,800 NIS, it was discovered that a neighbor (=nghb) submitted expansion plans that def felt compromised his project. When he asked pl to help oppose nghb’s plan, pl realized that he was hired to do engineering work for nghb. Pl refused to oppose nghb’s plans, which he said were fine, and def delayed his project open-endedly, after grumbling about conflict of interest, until there was clarity about ngbh’s expansion. Pl asked for additional partial pay, and def was reluctant to pay a substantial sum, claiming that pl did next to nothing. Pl said that under the circumstances, he would not continue with def, and def said that if so, he will not pay anything.  

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