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Beit Midrash
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- Davening in a Minyan
"Iriya – City Hall" the mechanical sounding voice announced. As soon as the double doors opened, David raced off the train, and headed off in the direction of the Wall. As he stood before the awesome stones, he surveyed the situation. All the groups that had formed to make a minyan were well into mincha, and there was no way he could join them. Overcoming his natural reticence, he walked through the crowd of men, calling out to them that he urgently needed to form a minyan. Finally, he had ten men assembled.
David was about to begin leading the prayers, when one of the other nine men walked toward the front of the group. "Obviously, given that today is my mother’s yahrtzeit, I will be the one to lead the prayers."
David’s jaw dropped. Here, he had put so much effort into gathering together a minyan, so that he could lead the prayers. "I understand that you have a yahrtzeit today, but I assembled this minyan specifically so that I would be able to lead the prayers, because I’m a mourner, still within the year of my father’s death."
"Thank you for organizing the minyan, but the fact of the matter is that Jewish law states that someone who has yahrtzeit takes precedence over someone who is in the first year of mourning, when it comes to leading the prayers," the man countered.
Who is right? Should David lead the prayers, because he organized the minyan, or does the other man take precedence, because he is observing a yahrtzeit?
Answer of the Aderet, zt"l (Rabbi Eliyahu David Rabinovich Te’umim, father-in-law of Rabbi Kook):
The one who organized the minyan gets priority.
A similar concept is found in Rashi, based on the midrash. Moshe Rabeinu requested that his sons be allowed to lead the Jewish people, following Moshe’s death. G-d responded that Yehoshua was more fitting to be the leader, because he had remained devotedly next to Moshe, throughout the Jewish people’s forty year trek in the desert. (See Rashi to Bamidbar 27:16)
Similarly, in our case, because David exerted himself to form a minyan, he takes priority.
Answer of Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl, shlita:
The man who has a yahrtzeit takes priority, even though he did not organize the minyan. However, if it will cause an argument, it is preferable for him to forgo the opportunity to lead the prayers, and allow David to do so.
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
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)
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)
Rabbis in Midrash
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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)
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)
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
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
