Female LessonParashat HashavuaSeries'LibraryPiskei Din (Hebrew)Test YourselfShorts AreaOur Sedra, like last week’s, discusses the issue of war & how we are to conduct ourselves in battle. But when is war allowed to be waged? The Halacha defines 3 categories of war: Milchemet Mitzva is an obligatory war, such as the war against the 7 nations that inhabited Israel; the war against Amalek; or any war that is defensive, when we are attacked. (The Yom Kippur War is one such example); just as we must defend ourselves personally, we must do so nationally. A king, or any leader of a sovereign Israel, may initiate these wars & all must join to save the nation. Milchemet R’Shut is an optional war, such as David HaMelech fought to expand the borders of Israel. This must be approved by the Sanhedrin. A 3rd type of war is when Israel either attacks to weaken an enemy, or "first-strike attacks" (the 6-Day War) when an attack upon us is imminent. The Rambam rules that this type of war is also obligatory & the nation may draft whatever personnel or supplies are needed.
Many have attempted to solve the question, what is THE difference which can find the common denominator between all 31 differences between the 2 versions of the Ten Commandment? This innovative article suggests that our sages already answered this with one sentence in a well-known Midrash, just most never noticed that seemingly innocent sentence. It deals with the basic difference between the masculine side of the Torah and the feminine.
Rav Kook makes some very interesting "diyukim" (deductions) from this passage in the Talmud about when to wash or moisterize (with oil) right before left, and regarding anointing one's entire body, and relates to small "timely" fixings, as opposed to general improvement.
"FREEDOM CAME WITH A FLAG”- The First Flag of Israel
The Ramban explains that the exodus from Egypt was led by the first flag of Israel. This short article brings many unknown historic and halachic proofs of the importance of the Israeli flag.
Rav Kook makes some very interesting "diyukim" (deductions) from this passage in the Talmud about when to wash or moisterize (with oil) right before left, and regarding anointing one's entire body, and relates to small "timely" fixings, as opposed to general improvement.