Riddles of the Week
(For answers see inside)
- The Gemara in Shabbos (69b) records a dispute regarding a person in the desert who does not know what day of the week it is and is therefore unsure when he should observe Shabbos. One opinion maintains that he should observe the next day as Shabbos and then count an additional six days before again observing Shabbos, while the other opines that he should first count six days and only then observe Shabbos. In the event that a person finds himself in Eretz Yisroel and does not know when Shemittah is, would the same dispute apply as to how to proceed, and if not, what should one do if he finds himself in this situation?
- In which pasuk in Parshas Behar do six consecutive words all begin with the same letter?
- In this week’s parsha we learn about the prohibition to lend with ribbis: "אל תקח מאתו נשך ותרבית ויראת מאלהיך וחי אחיך עמך" – "You shall not take from your friend interest, you shall fear G-d, and you brother shall live with you."
The first Mishnah in Pe’ah teaches: "אלו דברים שאדם אוכל פירותיהן בעולם הזה והקרן קיימת לו לעולם הבא כיבוד אב ואם וגמילות חסדים והבאת שלום בין אדם לחבירו ותלמוד תורה כנגד כולם" – "These are the items where we benefit from its fruits in this world, and the capital (reward) remains for the world to come. The mitzvah of honoring one’s father and mother, the mitzvah of acting with kindness, bringing peace to man and friend – Torah is equal to all of them together".
The question is, Hashem keeps all the mitzvos that he commands Klal Yisroel (see Medrash, Vayikra Rabbah 35:3, and Yerushalmi, Rosh Hashanah 1:3) if so, how can Hashem pays us fruits in this world and the keren [capital] in the next world, surely doing so is ribbis, and Hashem himself warns us numerous times against lending with ribbis? - It is known that if one lends with ribbis he won’t merit techiyas hameisim [resurrection], what is the source for this? And why does such a person deserve such a severe punishment?
- Why do non-Jew’s like to call the Jew’s, “Dogs” (כלבים)?