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The mishna (Sanhedrin 1:5) says: Only a court of 71 can judge a tribe, a false prophet, or the Kohen Gadol. The gemara (ibid. 16a) derives it from the words "the big matters" – it refers to "the matters of the big (gadol)," i.e., prominent. In other words, when the judged person has a special public status, and certainly if the judged is a whole tribe, it requires the Sanhedrin, the largest court (parallel to the court of Moshe).
The Ramban explains that Sanhedrin represents all of the elements and approaches (there are 70 facets to the Torah) in society. This is the proper way to deal with every matter that affects the public. I might have thought that Moshe would hear the cases involving large sums of money, but the gemara (Sanhedrin 8a) learns from the pasuk "Do not show favor in judgment; you shall hear alike the small and the large" (Devarim ibid.) that not only should the judge put in the same effort for large amounts and small amounts of money, but the size of the monetary dispute does not even impact the order in which cases are heard.
Regarding the "hard (kasheh) matter," the author of the Tur explains that it refers to cases that include difficult, powerful people. The Torah commands the judge not to be afraid of the litigants, and that Moshe would be the one to deal with those who might be intimidating. This is an important demand of the judges, but it also obligates society to protect the judges and not allow them to be dependent on individual powerful people.
There is an opinion in the gemara (ibid.) that Moshe was punished for saying that the things that were too difficult for others should come before him, and Rashi explains that he was seizing too much power. The "punishment" was that when questions of inheritance (with the daughters of Tzlofchad) arose, Moshe was forced to admit that he did not know the answer and had to wait for Hashem to inform him.
From this statement of Chazal we learn another critical characteristic: humility is particularly important for a judge. Moshe had earned the right to be confident in his ability to solve legal matters, and still he was taken to task for not being careful enough in expressing it.
Next week, we will deal with the idea of the Malbim and the Seforno, that Torah portions teach us the concept of an appeals court.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.