MISHPATIM
"But if it was an ox that gores habitually (3 gorings, Rashi)
from yesterday and the day before yesterday, and its owners have been warned but did not guard it..........."
(21:29)
If a person's ox gored 3 times, and the owner was warned with witnesses in court after each time, the cow is refered to as a Mued. The owner is thereby liable. Please refer to the verse and Rashi for further details. (It is beyond the scope of this page to disccuss the laws in detail.) In Chullin 7a, the following story is told about Rabbi Pinchus ben Yair's donkey as follows: Rabbi Pinchus Ben Yair was once on his way to redeem prisoners and stayed at an inn.The innkeeper gave the donkey barley, but the donkey refused to eat...................R.Pinchus Ben Yair asked the innkeeper, "Is it possible that you did not separate "Tithe" from the barley?" The innkeeper thereupon separated "tithe" and the animal then ate. (End of Quote) From this story we can learn that an animal is an extension of his master since R. Pinchus Ben Yair was a righteous man, his donkey would never cause R. Pinchus Ben Yair to sin in any fashion. A righteous man has "Siyata Deshimaya" which is devine protection from harm, or sin. However, when a person is lax
regarding his spirituality ,his animal which is an extension of himself can cause harm, or even cause his master to "sin"
vicariously. When a person has a cow which is a "Mued",its an indication from Heaven that all is not right
spiritually and change is required. Yet G-d gives this person three times to rectify his evil ways. Each time this person can delve deep into his actions to see where he has gone astray.Find the cause of the problem , and perhapes the problem will disappear.In essence, this is a great kindness that's happening to this person. He now as an opportunity to change.We often think that G-d is against us (Chas Veshaolm). Things don't often work out as planned. Maybe its time to find out why within ourselves. Have a good Shabbos
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