Parsha Points To Ponder

QUESTIONS
1)What is the connection between the command to appoint local judges and policemen at the beginning of this Parsha with the laws of the festivals which were taught at the end of last week’s Parsha?

2)Why is the Kohein’s portion of the sacrifices specifically the arm, the jaw, and the stomach? (18:3)

3)Why does the Torah teach the laws of not breaching into someone else’s land amidst the laws of murder? (19:14)

ANSWERS

1)The Ohr HaChayim answers that when people would travel to Jerusalem for the festivals they would see and possibly even experience the High Court which sat near the Temple. This could lead people to determine that there was no need for local jurisprudence. Thus, the Torah immediately addresses that and commands the establishing of local judges and courts as well.

2)The Kli Yakar teaches that the Kohein receives the arm in the merit of his raising his arms to bless the people, the jaw in the merit of his articulating the blessings to the people, and the stomach because in the merit of the kohein’s blessings, the people are blessed to be satisfied without having to eat too much food.

3)The Ibn Ezra explains that people might not realize how serious an offense breaching someone else’s property is and might not foresee the consequences of such an act. The interplay of the laws of killing and breaching property subtly teach that this act will lead to disputes and, ultimately, to murder.

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