Parashat HashavuaSeries'LibraryPiskei Din (Hebrew)Test YourselfAfter the sin of the golden calf, Moshe appeals to Hashem to spare the people and forgive them. Hashem Himself teaches Moshe a special prayer that appeals to G-d's attribute of mercy and can be invoked at times of crisis. This tefila, known as "the Attributes of Mercy," or "Yud-Gimel Midot," is familiar to us, because we say it extensively during the 10 Days of Repentance each year (it also is said each morning in nusach S'fard). The prayer utilizes different names for Hashem, each of which is a unique aspect of Hashem's "mode" of forgiveness. It describes G-d as One who forgives both before and after we sin; who helps us avoid temptation to sin; who is patient with our mistakes; who recognizes our weaknesses and takes them into account; who is quick and loyal to reward us when we do overcome sin; who forgives us when we let our angry overcome us, and even when we want to commit sins to anger G-d; who strikes our sins from the record after we repent. He also "saves" merits from our ancestors in previous generations and applies them to us when we need saving.
Since parshas Netzavim alludes to the agreed covenant of one Jew being responsible for others, it is an appropriate time to discuss the laws and rules of what we call areivus.
“My father’s yahrzeit falls during the week of sheva brachos for my grandson. May I attend the sheva brachos?”
"My yahrzeit falls on Shabbos this year. Do I fast on Friday or Sunday instead?"
"I usually fast on my father’s yahrzeit, but someone is honoring me with sandaka’us on that day. Do I fast, and do I need to be matir neder in the event that it is permitted to eat?"
A young engaged man and his fiancée naturally have very strong feelings for each other. It goes without saying that these will be expressed after the wedding, but what expression, if any, is permitted in the meantime? And while we're on the subject, is the attraction of men and women to each other really a good thing to begin with?
In the past few years, nations have come upon us and demanded that we relinquish portions of the Land of Israel to strangers. This is one of the calamities concerning which we are supposed to fast and cry out to God about.
Two Views, Avnei Nezer's Proof, How a Renter Today is an "Owner”, Another Angle, The Ohr Samayach-Shach "Right of Usage”, A House with No Door, Summary