Recently those learning Daf Yomi came upon the Mishna that states that there are ארבעה אבות נזיקין, four primary damagers. They are שור, בור, מבעה, הבער, ox, pit, Maveh and fire.
Here is another explanation, which connects to our parsha. These four damagers can also be referring to different events throughout history that have caused tremendous damage. The שור refers to the עגל, golden calf. The בור is a reference to Yosef who was catapulted into a pit and later sold.
The meaning of מבעה is either אדם, damage done by man, or שן, teeth (Machlokes in the Gemara). So, this refers to Adam and Chava who partook of the forbidden fruit of the Eitz Hadaas.
הבער, fire refers to the fire of Machlokes referring to the episode of Korach and his followers against Moshe. How did this incident end? With fire as it says ואש יצאה מאת ה'..., a fire came forth from Hashem and consumed the 250 men...
Rabbi Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander ztz”l for close to five years. He received semicha from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg ztz”l. Rabbi Alt has written on numerous topics for various websites and publications and is the author of six books including the recently released Dazzling Money Insights. His writings, some of which have been translated into Yiddish, Hebrew, German and French, inspire people across the spectrum of Jewish observance to live with the vibrancy and beauty of Torah. He lives with his wife and family in Kiryat Yearim (where the Aron was for 20 years [Shmuel 1, 7:1,2]) where he studies, writes and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.
