Weekly Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 41

August 26, 2023; 9 Elul, 5783

Parsha his week’s Parsha discusses the concept of an Aishes Yefas To’ar – taking a captive woman. The Torah says, “…and you will take [her] for yourself as a wife.” (Devarim 21:11) Rashi explains that the Torah is addressing the Yetzer Hara. If the Torah did not provide a permissible manner of taking a captive woman, then some soldiers would take a captive woman in a manner that was not permissible. The bolded word “lecha” – for yourself, in the above referenced Posuk appears to be superfluous. Who else would one be taking a wife for if not for yourself? ....

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Weekly Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 40

August 19, 2023; 2 Elul, 5783

Parsha In this week’s Parsha, Rashi explains that the words, “Justice, justice you shall pursue…” (Devarim 16:20) is an admonition to the litigants of a court case to pursue a fitting and proper Beis Din - a “Bais Din Yafeh” – a beautiful court. This is also what is stated in the Sifrei on this verse, “Go after a good and proper Beis Din - pursue the court of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakhai and pursue the court of Rabbi Eliezer.”

It is clear from the unqualified language of the Sifrei, that in all cases, the litigants must pursue a Bais Din Yafeh. This would apparently include a scenario where the judges in the litigants’ city are scholars and righteous men. Even in this case, there is still a commandment incumbent upon the litigants to seek out a court of even greater scholars....

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Weekly Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 39

August 12, 2023; 25 Av, 5783

Parsha “In Parshas Re’eh, the Torah discusses the matter of a false prophet.

A) “If there will arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of a dream, and he gives you a sign or a wonder.

B) If the sign or the wonder of which he spoke to you comes to pass and he comes to say [לֵאמֹר], ‘Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us worship them.’

C) You shall not heed the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of a dream; for Hashem is testing you, to know whether you really love Hashem with all your heart and with all your soul...

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