Parshas Masei
Ramban: Why was Parshas Nedarim given over specifically to "Roshei haMatos?"
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!
Our parsha begins with Moshe Rabbenu telling the Jewish people 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..." Most of the Torah was
either told 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 told specifically to the Roshei haMatos [Heads of the tribes].
The early commentaries themselves were bothered by this question. The 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. [Matir, Mefir, and Hataras Nedarim are technical terms for
halachic devices that permit the "undoing" of vows.] 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 deserve.
Alternate Opinion of the Chasam Sofer on the same question:
The Chasam Sofer, however, offers a different answer to this question. The
Chasam Sofer suggests that the leaders of the nation had a special need to
be aware of these laws. The Chasam Sofer quotes the story of the Shofet
[Judge] 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. [Yiftach
was the leader of Israel during the time of Judges (Shoftim Chapter 11).]
The Medrash in Bereishis Rabba asks, Why didn't Yiftach go to Pinchas, the
grandson of Aharon HaKohen, 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 his
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 that perhaps this is 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, we see people do things because their Kavod [(personal)
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 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.
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:
Tape # 247 - Tisha B'Av Thoughts
Tape # 337 - Rebuilding the Bais Hamikdash
There are also two halachic tapes on the topic of Tisha B'Av:
Tape # 201 - Fasting on Tisha B'Av: Is It For Everyone?
Tape # 336 - Tisha B'Av on Motzoei Shabbos
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.
RavFrand, Copyright © 2007 by Rabbi Yissocher Frand and Torah.org.
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