One of the devices employed to make halachic determinations is the notion of “rov (majority),” whereby a matter of doubt can be resolved by considering and drawing from the majority of relevant cases. This idea can be illustrated by the classic Talmudic discussion (Chullin 11a), which seeks the source for this rule. It finds it from none other than the section of the parah adumah (red cow), featured in the beginning of this [...]
How long does an argument “last”? This matter is addressed by Chazal in a familiar teaching that compares and contrasts the disputes of some very different figures. A Tale of Two Disputes The Mishnah states (Avos 5:17): כָּל מַחֲלוֹקֶת שֶׁהִיא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם סוֹפָהּ לְהִתְקַיֵּם, וְשֶׁאֵינָהּ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם אֵין סוֹפָהּ לְהִתְקַיֵּם. אֵיזוֹ הִיא מַחֲלוֹקֶת שֶׁהִיא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, זוֹ מַחֲלוֹקֶת הִלֵּל וְשַׁמַּאי. וְשֶׁאֵינָהּ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, זוֹ מַחֲלוֹקֶת קֹרַח וְכָל [...]
In a landmark dissertation that opens the sefer Kovetz Ma’amarim, R’ Elchonon Wasserman expounds on some fundamental aspects of emunah (faith). Believing – with the Heart He begins with Chazal’s exposition on a passuk from the end of this week’s parshah, which states: “V’lo sasuru acharei levavchem – Do not go astray after your heart” (Bamidbar 15:39). The Gemara interprets this as an injunction against harboring heretical beliefs (Berachos 12b). At first glance, it seems [...]
Something changed at Har Sinai. Now, that is an understatement, of course. A lot of things changed at Har Sinai, most notably the fact that Klal Yisrael now received and became obligated in fulfilling the Torah. But Chazal tell us that there were a number of additional sweeping changes that came about in connection with the grand event of the Revelation at Sinai. Forfeiting the Gift Among [...]
One of the topics featured in this week’s parshah is that of nezirus, the body of law that pertains to the nazir – the individual who has taken the nazarite vow. This vow obligates him, among other things, to refrain from cutting his hair for the duration of his nezirus period. With the culmination of this period, he is obligated to shave off his head of hair. The Purest Nazir Now, the Gemara (Nedarim 9b) relates a [...]
Shavuos is familiar to us as the festival celebrating the giving of the Torah – “Zman Matan Toraseinu.” At the same time, however, there are certain aspects of this yom tov – many of them actually quite basic, it would seem – that may have escaped our consciousness. The Countdown One of these issues relates to the very title of this yom tov. Normally, and quite sensibly, the title that is [...]
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