Rabbi Frand on Parshas Matos
These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi
Yissocher
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?"
The beginning of Parshas Matos contains the laws of Nedarim [vows]. The
beginning of the parsha is unique in that it begins with the words "Speak
to the heads of the tribes saying..." When Moshe Rabbenu relayed most of
the Torah, he did so either directly to the children of Israel (Daber el
bnei Yisroel) or to the Kohanim (Emor el haKohanim). This is the only
parsha that was given over specifically to the Roshei haMatos [Heads of
the
Tribes]. Why was this parsha of Nedarim different?
The early commentaries themselves were bothered by this question. The
Ramban, in his commentary on Chumash, suggests that Nedarim should not be
said over to the masses. The concept of taking oaths and vows is very
serious, and when people will hear that you can be "matir" [release] a
neder or that a father or husband can be "mefir" [nullify] a neder, people
will come to take the matter lightly. Consequently, according to Ramban,
these laws were only given 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 deserved.
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 Yiftach the Shofet [leader of Israel
during the time of Judges (Shoftim Chapter 11)], who made a vow in haste
to
offer as a sacrifice 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 own daughter].
The Medrash in Bereishis Rabba asks why Yiftach didn't go to Pinchas [the
Kohen Gadol (High Priest) at that time] and have his vow "permitted"
through the vehicle of "Hataras Nedarim" [releasing a vow]? The Medrash
answers that Pinchas was waiting for Yiftach to come to him (Pinchas being
the leading scholar of the day) 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
daughter lived in solitude.
The Medrash says that both Yiftach and Pinchas were punished for this:
Yiftach lost his life to 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 [Divine
Inspiration]. The Chasam Sofer says this could be 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:
1. 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 [unimaginably
great
leaders (literally "greats of the world")].
2. Many times people do things because their Kavod [honor] 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 Rebbe (teacher), 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.
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. Other halachic portions for Parshas Matos / Masei
from the Commuter Chavrusah Series include:
Tape # 247 - Tisha B'Av Thoughts
Tape # 337 - Rebuilding the Bais Hamikdash
Tapes or a complete catalogue can be ordered from the
Yad Yechiel Institute, PO Box 511, Owings Mills MD 21117-0511.
Call (410) 358-0416 or e-mail tapes@yadyechiel.org
or visit http://www.yadyechiel.org/ for further information.
Text Copyright © 2005 by Rabbi Yissocher Frand and Torah.org.
Transcribed by David Twersky; Seattle, Washington.
Technical Assistance by Dovid Hoffman; Yerushalayim.
Rav Frand Books and Audio Tapes are now available for sale! Thanks to www.yadyechiel.org and Artscroll.com.
