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PARASHAT SHELACH
by Rabbi David Silverberg (www.vbm-torah.com)
The Shulkhan Arukh rules (O.C. 339:4) that a Bet-Din (rabbinical court) may not convene to conduct proceed-
ings on Shabbat. The Rema adds that Jewish law-enforcers may not arrest a criminal on Shabbat. Presumably, a
criminal who endangers the general welfare of society may be incarcerated on Shabbat, and indeed this is the
ruling of Rav Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer, vol. 11, 33), based on the Mishna Berura's comments allowing the
capture on Shabbat of a recalcitrant husband who refuses to administer a religious divorce to his wife. The in-
stance of which the Rema spoke was when the Jewish community had the power of punishing Torah violators,
and would arrest those found transgressing the mitzvot. When the violators in question pose no apparent threat
to society, they may not be seized on Shabbat.
This ruling of the Rema sparked an interesting controversy among the Acharonim, which actually relates to
verses in our parasha. The "Shevut Yaakov" attempts to disprove the Rema's position based on the incident of
the "mekoshesh," the Shabbat violator who was found doing forbidden work in the field on Shabbat. The verses
indicate that he was brought to Moshe already on Shabbat. Does this not convincingly refute the Rema's view?
Of course, the simplest answer is that the Rema's prohibition applies only on the level of rabbinic enactment,
which seemingly did not apply during Benei Yisrael's sojourn in the wilderness. A more creative approach, how-
ever, is cited in the name of the "Kerem Shelomo." He claims that in truth the "mekoshesh" was not brought to
Moshe. Rather, he was placed under house arrest, or some equivalent thereof, until after Shabbat. Although this
may seem like a far-fetched interpretation of the verses, some later commentators have actually found some
support for this reading from the text itself. Generally, the verb used by Chumash for detaining one in prison is
the Hebrew verb "netina." (See, for example, the verse's description of Pharaoh's imprisonment of the baker
and wine-bearer - Bereishit 40:3). Here, however, the verse states, "vayanichu" (15:34), which evolves from the
Hebrew verb "hanacha." It may be, therefore, that this usage connotes figurative imprisonment, whereby the
individual is merely guarded so that he cannot escape, rather than actual incarceration.
Ner La’Maor
Lights Pat La’Orchim
Evelyn & David Hessing Challah rolls for Seudah Shlishit Kiddush Supplement
In Memory of their Grandmothers Betty & Irving Wizenfeld Rabbi Brahm & Elana Weinberg
Sarah Schwimmer Betty Wizenfeld in memory of her In honor of their parents
שרה רבקה בת חנוך היינך ודבורה Parents Tobias & Esther Spira Morrie & Lynn Weinberg
And טוביה בן צבי אלימלך Dr. Howard & Miriam Rosenblum
Chava Bat Bahiya אסתר בת דוד הכהן
חוה בת בהיה Irv Wizenfeld in memory of his father
Sam Wizenfeld Seudah Shlishit Supplement
Yayin l’ Kiddush Ve'Havdalah שמואל מאיר בן יצחק הכהן 12:14 קהלת
Wine for Kiddush & Havdallah ”סוף דבר הכל נשמע
Judy Leichtberg & Batsheva את האלקים ירא
Goldfischer in memory of their 5770 Candy Man: ואת מצותיו שמור
father and grandfather, Bernard Kesler “כי זה כל האדם
Israel Weiss in memory of his father Anonymous
ישראל בן דוד Sender ben Avraham Zelig
and their mother & grandmother סנדר בן אברהם זליג
Frida Weiss
טויבא פרידה בת עזרא
Ner La’Maor
Lights Pat La’Orchim
Evelyn & David Hessing Challah rolls for Seudah Shlishit Kiddush Supplement
In Memory of their Grandmothers Betty & Irving Wizenfeld Rabbi Brahm & Elana Weinberg
Sarah Schwimmer Betty Wizenfeld in memory of her In honor of their parents
שרה רבקה בת חנוך היינך ודבורה Parents Tobias & Esther Spira Morrie & Lynn Weinberg
And טוביה בן צבי אלימלך Dr. Howard & Miriam Rosenblum
Chava Bat Bahiya אסתר בת דוד הכהן
חוה בת בהיה Irv Wizenfeld in memory of his father
Sam Wizenfeld Seudah Shlishit Supplement
Yayin l’ Kiddush Ve'Havdalah שמואל מאיר בן יצחק הכהן 12:14 קהלת
Wine for Kiddush & Havdallah ”סוף דבר הכל נשמע
Judy Leichtberg & Batsheva את האלקים ירא
Goldfischer in memory of their 5770 Candy Man: ואת מצותיו שמור
father and grandfather, Bernard Kesler “כי זה כל האדם
Israel Weiss in memory of his father Anonymous
ישראל בן דוד Sender ben Avraham Zelig
and their mother & grandmother סנדר בן אברהם זליג
Frida Weiss
טויבא פרידה בת עזרא
Ner La’Maor
Lights Pat La’Orchim
Evelyn & David Hessing Challah rolls for Seudah Shlishit Kiddush Supplement
In Memory of their Grandmothers Betty & Irving Wizenfeld Rabbi Brahm & Elana Weinberg
Sarah Schwimmer Betty Wizenfeld in memory of her In honor of their parents
שרה רבקה בת חנוך היינך ודבורה Parents Tobias & Esther Spira Morrie & Lynn Weinberg
And טוביה בן צבי אלימלך Dr. Howard & Miriam Rosenblum
Chava Bat Bahiya אסתר בת דוד הכהן
חוה בת בהיה Irv Wizenfeld in memory of his father
Sam Wizenfeld Seudah Shlishit Supplement
Yayin l’ Kiddush Ve'Havdalah שמואל מאיר בן יצחק הכהן 12:14 קהלת
Wine for Kiddush & Havdallah ”סוף דבר הכל נשמע
Judy Leichtberg & Batsheva את האלקים ירא
Goldfischer in memory of their 5770 Candy Man: ואת מצותיו שמור
father and grandfather, Bernard Kesler “כי זה כל האדם
Israel Weiss in memory of his father Anonymous
ישראל בן דוד Sender ben Avraham Zelig
and their mother & grandmother סנדר בן אברהם זליג
Frida Weiss
טויבא פרידה בת עזרא
Ner La’Maor
Lights Pat La’Orchim
Evelyn & David Hessing Challah rolls for Seudah Shlishit Kiddush Supplement
In Memory of their Grandmothers Betty & Irving Wizenfeld Rabbi Brahm & Elana Weinberg
Sarah Schwimmer Betty Wizenfeld in memory of her In honor of their parents
שרה רבקה בת חנוך היינך ודבורה Parents Tobias & Esther Spira Morrie & Lynn Weinberg
And טוביה בן צבי אלימלך Dr. Howard & Miriam Rosenblum
Chava Bat Bahiya אסתר בת דוד הכהן
חוה בת בהיה Irv Wizenfeld in memory of his father
Sam Wizenfeld Seudah Shlishit Supplement
Yayin l’ Kiddush Ve'Havdalah שמואל מאיר בן יצחק הכהן 12:14 קהלת
Wine for Kiddush & Havdallah ”סוף דבר הכל נשמע
Judy Leichtberg & Batsheva את האלקים ירא
Goldfischer in memory of their 5770 Candy Man: ואת מצותיו שמור
father and grandfather, Bernard Kesler “כי זה כל האדם
Israel Weiss in memory of his father Anonymous
ישראל בן דוד Sender ben Avraham Zelig
and their mother & grandmother סנדר בן אברהם זליג
Frida Weiss
טויבא פרידה בת עזרא