Today's Learning Nedarim 11:2-3 Sponsored by O.C. 209:1-3 the Meth family Sanhedrin 103 in honor of Leah Meth's Yerushalmi-- first birthday Ketubot 6 Hamaayan/The Torah Spring edited by Shlomo Katz Pinchas Vol. IX, No. 41 (425), 24 Tamuz 5755, July 22, 1995 With Parashat Pinchas, writes Rav Moshe Zvi Neriyah shlita, we feel a refreshing breeze blowing. Not only are all of the joyous holidays mentioned here, but we are introduced to the new generation, which will enter Eretz Yisrael. In the beginning of the parashah, writes Rav Neriyah, we meet Pinchas. He is a zealot on the outside, but he is blessed with the covenant of peace as well (see 25:12). In this parashah, continues Rav Neriyah, Yehoshua is named to succeed Moshe. Yehoshua never willingly left the tent where Moshe taught Torah, but he was nevertheless someone that Hashem and Moshe could trust to lead the Jews into war (see Sh'mot ch. 17). Chazal say that the elders of the generation never let go of Moshe and Aharon (see Bava Batra 75a), but the youth were inspired by Yehoshua and Pinchas. In this parashah we also meet the daughters of Tzelofchad, who not only demanded a share of Eretz Yisrael (because they had no brothers), they wanted their share to be on the holier west bank of the Jordan, not on the eastern side where much of their tribe (Menashe) settled. How appropriate, concludes Rav Neriyah, that Parashat Pinchas should come to encourage us during the Three Weeks. (Shabbat Be'shabbato No. 187) ************************************ "And he and his descendants forever will possess the covenant of priesthood because he was zealous for his G-d. . ." (25:13) Rashi explains that Pinchas was not previously a kohen because he was born before his father was anointed and he himself was not anointed. The Zohar (Pinchas 114a) offers a different interpretation of this verse: Pinchas was originally a kohen. However, a kohen who kills loses his status. (Rav Yehuda Ashlag zatz'l explains that the trait of kohanim is chessed--kindness, and killing is inimical to that trait.) Only because Pinchas killed while being "zealous for his G-d," this verse teaches, was Pinchas "re-appointed" as a kohen for a second time. The halachah is that a kohen who has murdered may not "duchen" (recite the birkat kohanim--priestly blessing). When Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita was rabbi of Johannesburg, he was asked whether a South African policeman who is a kohen may recite birkat kohanim after he has killed a black man in the line of duty. Rav Sternbuch responded that he may not. While soldiers who have killed may duchen because they were drafted and were merely fulfilling their obligations, this policeman likely was being overzealous in his duty when he killed. Once the policeman genuinely repents and recognizes the value of every human life, says Rav Sternbuch, then he may resume his duties as a kohen. (Teshuvot Ve'hanhagot Vol. II No. 105) ************************************ "The daughters of Tzelofchad approached; [they were] from the family of Menashe, the son of Yosef." (27:1) Rashi says that Yosef is mentioned here to teach us that just as Yosef loved Eretz Yisrael (and asked to be buried there), so his descendants loved Eretz Yisrael. Their request for a share of the land was not motivated by materialistic concerns. How can Yosef be compared to his great-granddaughters? They wished to enter Eretz Yisrael alive--to own the land and to work it. He only asked to be buried there! The Torah is teaching us, says Rav Chaim Yehuda Meir Hager zatz'l (not to be confused with his uncle quoted on the next page), that such a view is misguided. Our great love for Eretz Yisrael is nothing more than an inheritance from our ancestors who requested burial in the holy land. Although their love for the Land was only realized after their deaths, it is their merit which enables us to settle and strengthen the Land. (Zecher Chaim) ************************************ "On the holiday of bikkurim, when you bring a new gift to G-d in your weeks. . ." (28:26) This is a reference to the holiday of Shavuot. What is the meaning of "in your weeks"? Rav Chaim ben Attar explains that the Torah intends to refute those who believed that Shavuot must always fall on Sunday. The Torah is not interested in having us count seven calendar weeks. Rather, we should count "our own" weeks. (Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh; see also Rav Yechezkel Abramsky zatz'l, Chazon Yechezkel, Menachot 65a) ************************************ "And on the day of Shabbat. . ." (28:9) Rav Chaim Meir Hager (the previous "Vizhnitzer Rebbe") zatz'l recalled that his father could be heard all week repeating, "Shabbos kodesh, Shabbos kodesh." Said the Rebbe: My father's behavior is alluded to in Yishayah (58:13), "If you call the Shabbat a delight..." Calling out "Shabbos" is a delight. (quoted in Kedosh Yisrael p.129) ************************************ "Moshe spoke to Bnei Yisrael all that Hashem had commanded him." (30:1) Would we have thought otherwise? Rav Yosef Shani shlita explains as follows: Until now, Moshe's students were those who had left Egypt and witnessed the giving of the Torah. They were prophets, and they understood Moshe clearly. With this parashah, Moshe begins to interact with the younger generation, whose members either were born in the desert or left Egypt as children or teenagers. Their grasp of the Torah was not as quick. Therefore, "Moshe spoke to Bnei Yisrael all that Hashem had commanded him"--over and over, as many times as was necessary. (from his weekly parashah sheet) ************************************ Rav Yisrael Yehoshua Trunk zatz'l died 25 Tamuz 5653 (1893) Rav Yisrael Yehoshua was orphaned from his father at the age of 11, but by that time the elder Rav Trunk had taught his son a substantial part of the Talmud. Rav Yisrael Yehoshua was appointed to his first rabbinical post (in Shrensk) in 1840, and he established a yeshiva there. He held several other posts in the next decade, and in 1853 he became rabbi of Kutna, where he remained for 40 years and for which he is known today. By that time, he was recognized as one of the leading rabbis of Poland, and many halachic questions were directed to him. Ashkenazim and Sephardim alike recognized Rav Yisrael Yehoshua as a distinguished posek (halachic decisor). He was distinguished for his integrity as well. For example, when his son married and took a job in another city, Rav Yisrael Yehoshua suggested to the leaders of Kutna that he was no longer entitled to as large a salary. He was frequently called upon to mediate disputes in other communities. Rav Yisrael Yehoshua's son-in-law was Rav Chaim Eliezer Wachs, author of Nefesh Chayah. The two worked closely together to encourage settlement in Eretz Yisrael and to promote the use of etrogim from Eretz Yisrael. (In those days, most etrogim came from the Greek island of Corfu.) To this end, Rav Chaim Eliezer bought land near Teveryah (Tiberias) and planted etrog orchards. The two rabbis visited Eretz Yisrael in 1886 and were instrumental in talking the founders of Petach Tikvah out of abandoning their new village. Rav Yisrael Yehoshua was a supporter of the hetter (halachic permission) to sell the land of Eretz Yisrael for the duration of the shemitah. The only work which Rav Yisrael Yehoshua published in his lifetime was Yeshuot Yisrael on the Choshen Mishpat section of the Shulchan Aruch. His grandson published additional manuscripts by Rav Yisrael Yehoshua, of which the best known may be Yeshuot Malcho. ************************************ Donations to Hamaayan are tax-deductible.