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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 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.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
