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Beit Midrash
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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.
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
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.
