Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: A Byte Of Torah I,XXXIX Shofetim
From: ToraByte <CFRQC@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Date: Thursday, 3 Sep 1992 01:04:56 EDT
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center

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                                     A                                   BS"D
   Volume I                       B Y T E     The Electronic
     Issue XXXIX                    O F          Torah Weekly
                                 T O R A H
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 ----                    Editor : Zev S. Itzkowitz                       ----
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                           Dvar Torah of the Week
                           ----------------------

"If it will be a wonderment for you to pass judgement between blood and blood,
between judgement and judgement, and between affliction and affliction, words
of strife within your gates, then you shall get up and rise to the place that
Hashem your G-d shall choose." (Deuteronomy 17:8)

 This verse is puzzling. What does the Bible mean by, "it will be a wonderment
for you to pass judgement"? This verse is referring to the courts that are set
up in the local cities and towns (see Deuteronomy 16:18). However, the judges
of these smaller locales were not always able to pass judgement on each case
(R. Aryeh Kaplan). Thus, the case was sent to "the place that Hashem shall
choose", i.e. Jerusalem. There the greatest scholars and judges were found,
as that was the home of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish legislative body and supreme
court.
 What does the Bible mean by passing "judgment between blood and blood"? It
can have two possible meanings. One, distinguishing between ritually-clean and
ritually-unclean blood (Rashi). Two, determining whether a "spilling of blood"
was murder or accidental (Rashbam, Ibn Ezra).
 What does the Bible mean by, "between judgement and judgement"? This too can
have two possible meanings. One, determining innocence and guilt (Rashi).
Two, litigating monetary matters (Rashbam).
 What does the Bible mean by, "between affliction and affliction"? This too
can have two possible meanings. One, determining whether a person was
afflicted with Tzara'as or not (Rashi). Two, deciding the amount of punitive
damage that is to be awarded (Ramban).
 What does the Bible mean by, "words of strife within your gates"? This is
referring to the Sotah, an alleged adulterous woman (Ramban). This case too,
was to be brought to Jerusalem and to the attention of a Priest.


                             Mussar of the Week
                             ------------------

"According to the words of the Torah, which they shall teach you, and
according to the judgement that they said, you shall do; do not deviate
from the thing that they shall tell you, to the right or to the
left." (Deuteronomy 17:11)

 This verse is mystifying. What does the Bible mean by "to the right or to
the left"? If the Sages say that right is left, or that left is right, then
one must still listen to them (Rashi). Why is this true? The Torah, the
Written Law, was given by Hashem in writing. However, when new situations
occur, not all concur on the way to proceed. Hence, in order to prevent a
split and rift in Judaism, Hashem commanded us to follow the Sages and the
Jewish supreme court, even if they appear to be incorrect (Ramban). It can be
said that helping to preserve the unity of Judaism will help to preserve the
unity of the Jewish people. May we always try to promote unity and harmony
among Jews, instead of divisiveness and strife.

Please direct any comments, questions, etc. back to me here at CFRQC@CUNYVM,
or on internet CFRQC@cunyvm.cuny.edu. Please pass it on to a friend. If you
want to subscribe, please send e-mail to listserv@israel.nysernet.org
with the msg: SUB bytetorah <first name> <last name>.  --Zev Itzkowitz
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Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish