This week’s parshah devotes a substantial section to the laws pertaining to a rotzei’ach b’shogeg, an accidental murderer. City of Refuge Someone who accidentally murders his fellow is mandated to enter and remain with the confines of an ir miklat, a designated city of refuge. There is some discussion as to the underlying nature of this obligation. Does it carry a quality of punishment, as the murderer is sentenced to spend [...]
One of the mitzvos in this week’s parshah provides some insight into the proper (and improper) way to relate to the most unfortunate of circumstances. The passuk states: לֹא תִתְגֹּדְדוּ וְלֹא־תָשִֹימוּ קָרְחָה בֵּין עֵינֵיכֶם לָמֵת – “Do not lacerate yourselves, nor shall you set a bald spot (in your hair in the area) between your eyes on (the occasion of) death” (Devarim 14:1). This was the practice of the gentiles; upon losing a loved one, [...]
Torah literature is replete with exhortations to do teshuvah (repentance); and there are countless teachings of Chazal lauding this wondrous institution bequeathed to us from Hashem. One example out of many is the Medrash’s statement: “(Regarding) the gates of prayer – sometimes they are open, sometimes they are locked. But when it comes to the gates of repentance – these are always open” (Devarim Rabbah 2:12). Exceptions? However, it [...]
A famous anecdote involving R’ Moshe Feinstein contains much food for thought. As one of the foremost Torah sages in America, R’ Moshe was kept busy on a constant basis, answering queries and otherwise shouldering the affairs of Klal Yisrael. This left him little private time to engage in his most beloved pursuit – the study of Torah. To accommodate this need, then, he would awaken at [...]
( The following is based in large part on a dissertation of the Nesivos Shalom, contained in the volume on Sefer Bamidbar, p. 202.) In the event that Tisha B’Av falls out on Shabbos, the fast, as we know, is postponed until Shabbos departs. In its most simple form, the rationale behind this practice is the fact that the observance and enjoyment of Shabbos supersedes any displays of aveilus (mourning) [...]
There is a well-known Yiddish expression that provides a fairly accurate assessment: “S’felt nisht meshuga’im in de velt – There are no lack of crazies in the world.” Thus we find, for example, that there exists in the secular world a relatively popular movement featuring individuals who have foresworn childbearing. They may in fact have an inherent longing to bear children, but they also have concerns about the [...]
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From Rabbi Yissocher Frand
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