Rabbi Frand on Parshas Matos / Masei
These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi
Yissochar Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tapes on the weekly Torah
portion: Tape # 108, Toiveling Dishes. Good Shabbos!
Ramban:
Why was Parshas Nedarim given over specifically to "Roshei haMatos?"
Our parsha begins with Moshe Rabbenu telling the Jewish people the laws of
Nedarim. The beginning of the parsha is unique in that it begins with the
words "Speak to the heads of the tribes saying...". Most of the Torah was
either said directly to the children of Israel (Daber el bnei Yisroel) or
it was said to the Kohanim (Emor el haKohanim). We do not have any other
portion that was given over specifically to the heads of the nation (Roshei
haMatos).
The early commentaries themselves were bothered by this question. Ramban
in his Chumash commentary suggests that Parshas Nedarim is something that
should not be said over to the masses. The concept of taking oaths and
vows is very stringent; and when people will hear that you can be "matir" a
neder or a father or husband can be "mefir" a neder, they will come to take
these matters lightly. Consequently, according to Ramban, these laws were
given only to the Roshei HaMatos, the leaders of the nation, who could be
trusted to deal with these concepts with the level of sophistication and
reverence that they deserve.
Alternate Opinion of the Chasam Sofer on the same question:
The Chasam Sofer, however, offers a different answer to this question. He
suggests that the leaders of the nation had a special need to be aware of
these laws. He quotes the story of the Shofet Yiftach who in haste made a
vow to offer as a Korban to G-d the first thing that came to greet him when
he returned victoriously from battle. The first thing that came to greet
him was his daughter.
The Medrash in Bereishis Rabba asks, Why didn't Yiftach go to Pinchas and
have his vow "permitted" through the vehicle of "Hataras Nedarim"? The
Medrash answers that Pinchas was waiting for Yiftach to come to him (he
being the "Gadol haDor") and Yiftach was waiting for Pinchas to come to him
(he being the chief political and military officer in the country). While
each was trying to protect the honor of their own position, the life of the
daughter was lost.
The Medrash says that both Yiftach and Pinchas were punished for this:
Yiftach lost his life in a terrible disease where limbs started falling off
one by one (as it says "he was buried in the cities (plural) of Gilead")
and Pinchas lost his ability to receive Ruach HaKodesh. The Chasam Sofer
says this is perhaps why the Torah was particularly concerned that the
leaders be extremely careful and well-versed in the laws of Nedarim.
Two observations are to be made on this teaching:
- We cannot project our own petty midos on people of the stature of
Pinchas and Yiftach. Although the Medrash does say that in this situation
they were punished for their actions, we must never confuse our own petty
shortcomings with those of people who were Gedolei Olam.
- Many times we see people do things because their Kavod was slighted.
They do these things even though doing so is clearly to the detriment of
both them and their own families. It is not unheard of for a person to
sacrifice his own welfare or the welfare of his children on the altar of
his ego. When a person's Kavod is affected, he can literally let his own
children die.
We as human beings have a passion for kavod. The older we get the more we
have a tendency to be particular about our honor. A person needs an
independent opinion to turn to -- be it his Rebbi, his Rav, his Rosh
Yeshiva, or his good friend -- who can open his eyes to his own blindness
regarding matters of Kavod. Only an independent opinion can help prevent a
person from leading himself to self-destructive action or inaction.
Glossary
Roshei HaMatos -- Heads of the tribes
Nedarim -- vows
Matir; Mefir; Hataras Nedarim -- technical terms for halachic devices which
permit the "undoing" of vows
Shofet -- Judge
Kavod -- (personal) honor
Gedolei Olam -- Unimaginably great leaders
(literally "greats of the world")
Personalities & Sources:
Yiftach -- Leader of Israel during the time of Judges (Shoftim
Chapter 11). Talmud says "Yiftach in his generation was like
Samuel in his generation"
Pinchas -- grandson of High Priest Aharon; received priesthood after
killing Zimri (Bamidbar Chapter 25); was himself the High Priest
after death of his father, Elazar.
Ramban -- R. Moshe ben Nachman (1194-1270), one of leading Torah Scholars
in the Middle Ages; Spain, Jerusalem.
Chasam Sofer -- Title of many of works of R. Moshe Sofer (1762-1839) of
Pressburg, acknowledged leader of Hungarian Jewry.
This week's write-up is adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi
Yissochar Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tapes on the weekly Torah
portion (#108). The corresponding halachic portion for this tape is: # 108 is:
Toiveling Dishes. The other halachic portions for Parshas Matos / Masei from the Commuter Chavrusah Series are:
Also Available: Mesorah / Artscroll has published a collection
of Rabbi Frand's essays. The book is entitled:
and is available through Project Genesis On-Line Bookstore:
http://books.torah.org/
