YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- The Life of Tzaddikim
- Other Great Leaders
No matter how intensely she searched, the Rebbitzin-the wife of the renowned Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Broide from Salant-could not find her treasured scarf, as if it had disappeared into thin air. This was an exceptional scarf-its masterfully created blend of rare and expensive silks gave it a special gentle radiance and an unparalleled beauty. There was another reason it was her prize possession-it was her inheritance from her mother.
After three days of exhausting, fruitless searching, the time came for suspicions. The main suspicion fell, naturally, on the impoverished maid employed in the Rabbi's home. The Rebbitzin, realizing that the maid was the only person in the world who knew where the scarf was hidden, began to badger her, demanding that she return it immediately. The latter's claims that she hadn't seen the scarf for many months, and that she had no part, G-d forbid, in any wrongdoing, were of no avail; the Rebbitzin only sharpened her verbal assaults against the unfortunate maid. The situation escalated to the point that the Rabbi himself heard his wife screaming at the maid. In answer to his query, the Rebbitzin detailed all of her claims against the maid who, in her opinion, was the thief. The Rabbi, who had listened to every word his wife had said, explained to her that she had two choices. Either prosecute the maid in the Beit Din (the Rabbinical Court), or, if the Rebbitzin didn't have enough evidence to sue her there, then neither did she have enough justification to scream at her, and she must stop doing that immediately. The Rebbitzin accepted the Rabbi's judgment, and despite the great difficulty, went back to treating the maid exactly as she had before the unfortunate incident.
A few months later, the Rebbitzin felt that by then she had accumulated enough evidence of the maid's guilt in the disappearance of the precious scarf, and decided to sue her in the city's Beit Din. On the day the Rebbitzin had arranged for the hearing, as she prepared to leave for the Rabbinical Court, she told the Rabbi she was going to sue the maid for the theft of the scarf. On hearing this, the Rabbi also began to prepare to go to the court. The Rebbitzin, somewhat offended, thought, "Doesn't he think I can contend with the maid by myself?" Besides, it seemed undignified to her that the great Rabbi should come to court to prosecute a poor maid. She shared her thoughts with her husband in order to discourage him from troubling himself to come to the Beit Din, since she was convinced that she would win the case without his help. The Rabbi smiled and agreed that his wife was probably right. However, he explained, when the maid would come to the court and hear her mistress the Rebbitzin confidently proclaiming her accusations against her, the pathetic defendant would be incapable of defending herself properly. The resulting verdict would not be true justice but perverted justice. "It is quite clear to me that you will succeed in stating your claims very well before the Beit Din," the Rabbi explained. "I, therefore, am coming to court in order to assist the maid to state her own case no less well than you."
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
