Answers to this Week’s Riddles
(For the riddles, please see back page)
1) The Pri Megodim maintains that non-Jews are commanded not to cause other people to sin. Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman (Ayalas HaShachar) suggests that even if they are not commanded, as it is not one of the seven mitzvos for non-Jews, they are still required to observe mitzvos that are straightforward and logical, such as this one, and for this reason the Gemara (Sanhedrin 29a) teaches that the serpent was held responsible for inciting Chava to sin even though animals are certainly exempt from mitzvos.
2) In the narrative of the daughters of Tzelafchad presenting their grievance regarding their father’s portion in Eretz Yisrael, the Torah (Bamidbar 27:1) gives their names as Machlah, Noah, Choglah, Milcah, and Tirtzah, and it identifies them as the daughters of Tzelafchad, the son of Chefer, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Menasheh, the son of Yosef, a total of 11 individuals mentioned by name in one pasuk. (Torah Teasers)
3) R’ Chaim Soloveitchik explained that the solution is simple. The man made it clear that he wanted any son he may have to receive two times the inheritance of his wife, while he also desired that his widow should inherit double the portion of any daughter she may bear. In light of this understanding, the estate should be divided into seven equal portions, with the son receiving four of them, the wife two, and the daughter one ... just as the man himself would have wanted it. Is this how you paskened?!
4) The Mordechai (Megillah, siman 808) writes in the name of the Ritzva, and is cited l’halachah in the Rema (135:1) that if there are two chasanim who are Yisraelim, a fourth aliyah may be added, since for them it’s a Yom Tov.
The Taz asks, that the reason we don’t add extra aliyas during the week is because of bitul melachah for the tzibbur, it takes away time from work, so what does it help if for the chosan it’s a Yom Tov, for everyone else it’s a regular working day? Therefore, he concludes that it’s best not to add.
How can we answer the Mordechai?
- i) Rashi learns that the reason not to add aliyas is because of bitul melachah, however, the Ran has a different reason. The Ran learns that we don’t want to make a regular weekday the same as Rosh Chodesh, and Rosh Chodesh like Yom Tov, therefore, on a regular weekday we have three aliyas, on Rosh Chodesh four and on Yom Tov five. Perhaps the Mordechai learns like the Ran and not Rashi, and since for the chosan it’s considered a Yom Tov, it’s okay to add, as to some extent it is considered a Yom Tov. (Shu”t Chasam Sofer, Orach Chaim, siman 170)
- ii) The halachah is that when a chosan is in shul we omit tachanun in honor of the chosan. During the time gained from missing out tachanun, there is extra time for another aliyah, therefore, there is no added bitul melachah. (Birkay Yosef, 135, s.k. 5)
- iii) The Chiddushei HaRim answers: מוכח מזה דהחתן מוכרח לראות שיהי' לכולם פרנסה – “It’s clear from here, that a chosan must ensure that everyone has parnosah.”
The Levush and Magen Avraham both write that the minhag is not to add on a second aliyah. The Aruch HaShulchan also writes that he has never heard anyone do this. Additionally, even on Yom Tov the minhag is not to add, therefore, certainly when it is Yom Tov for just two people we aren’t going to add.
5) The pasuk (Bamidbar 28:3) says by the korban tamid: תמימים שנ ים ל יום – “unblemished two every day.” The Chida (Nachal Kedumim) points out that the roshei teives of these words are תשל, which is the gematria of 730, which is 2 x 365, which totals the amount of times a korban tamid was brought every year.
6) The Chavatzeles HaSharon explains that there is only one Shabbos Bereishis, which repeats itself every seven days and whose name never changes. Similarly, there is only one Pesach, which we celebrate annually. In contrast, there are 12 separate Roshei Chodashim, each with a distinct name and focus. The Tur writes (Orach Chaim 417) that the 12 Roshei Chodashim correspond to the 12 tribes, each of which has its own unique personality and approach. Just as Yissochar is unlike Zevulun, our mood on Rosh Chodesh Av is also not the same as it is on Rosh Chodesh Adar, which in turn is quite different than our observance of Rosh Chodesh Elul. To allude to the individual nature of each Rosh Chodesh, the Torah refers to the new months in the plural.
