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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Jewish Holidays
- Simchat Torah and Shmini Atzeret
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Hana Bat Haim
Shemini Atzeret marks the last day of the "Yom Tov Season." While it is quite clear why we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, the reason why we celebrate one last holiday is not quite as obvious. Indeed, Rashi seems to indicate that there is no real reason for Shemini Atzeret. Rather, God says, as it were: "Please remain with Me just one more day, for your departure is difficult for Me to endure." The Ramban suggests that the eighth day of Sukkot alludes to the idea that the Jewish people are the partner to the seventh day - Shabbat - and thus it is observed as a holiday.
I would like to share a thought advanced by Rav Ben Tziyon Ferrer in his sefer "Le-Yom Chagenu." Targum Yonatan Ben Uziel in Parashat Pinchas explains the significance of Shmini Atzeret as follows: "On the eighth day you shall gather in joy as you leave your sukka and return to your home." There is certainly much joy when we enter the sukka and bask in the presence of the Shechina, but why should leaving the sukka be cause for celebration? Rav Ferrer explains that the sukkah represents God’s protection as we wandered in the desert for forty years; by living in a temporary dwelling, we reaffirm the fact that God always protects His nation. When were we able to leave the sukka, to build our permanent homes and lives? That occurred when we arrived in Eretz Israel. The joy of Shemini Atzeret is the joy of leaving our temporary dwelling and entering our final destination - the place where we can set up permanent shop together with the Shechina - in the Holy Land.
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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)
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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
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Parshat Eikev
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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)
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Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
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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.
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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.
