Parashas Bechukosai

"That's a nice field that you have, Shimon."

"I'm selling it, Reuven. Are you interested?"

"How much are you asking for it?"

"Two thousand dollars."

"That's a very good price. Is there anything wrong with the field?"

"Not per se. However, I borrowed $2000 two months ago from Levi, and put up this field as a security on the loan. I intend to pay the loan back. If for some reason I don't, Levi will come and take this field."

"Do you guarantee to replace the field, Reuven?"

"No, I do not."

"Oh. I see why you are asking such a low price. There is a risk involved."

"Shimon, I intend to pay back the loan in full on time."

"Okay. It's a deal. Let's write a contract."

And so, Reuven sells his field to Shimon. Sure enough, he is not able to pay his loan back on time. Levi comes to Shimon and takes the field from him as payment for the loan. Shimon is out of luck. What does Reuven do? He makes a claim in Beis Din against Levi for the field. Levi had owed Reuven some money previously as payment on a different sale. He did not pay Reuven on time; therefore, Reuven claimed that he was withholding his loan payment to Levi in order to cover the previous sale. Levi must therefore return the field to Shimon. What was Levi's defense?

"You cannot claim against me on this field that I took as the loan payment from Shimon. It was his field. He is the only one who can open a claim against me on this field."

The question is:

Is Reuven justified in claiming against Levi? Or, is Levi correct in his statement that only the owner of the field can make a claim against him?

The answer is:

The Gemora discusses this case in three different places: Kesuvos (92b), Bava Kamma (8b), and Bava Metziah (14a). The conclusion is that Reuven can claim for Shimon's field against Levi, even though he sold it without a guarantee to replace it. Why? Because he does not want Shimon to have any hard feelings against him. He does not want Shimon to say, I lost money because of you." This is enough to give Reuven the right to make a case against Levi in Beis Din. The Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 226:1 rules like the Gemora.

This puzzle and answer is for learning and discussion purposes only. Do not rely upon it for psak halacha! Consult a Rav to determine the correct halachic ruling.

"Avi, are you coming with us to the Lag B'Omer bonfire?"

"I hope to, Chaim. Right now I am learning Torah."

"What a tsaddik! Everyone is out dancing around the bonfire and you are learning Torah. Kol ha'kovod (What an honorable deed)! What are you learning?"

"A Mishna that was taught by Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai. I thought that it would be appropriate to learn it on Lag B'Omer, his yahrtzeit. The zechus (merit) would bring an elevation to his neshama. Do you want to learn it with me, Chaim?"

"Well, I really wanted to go to the bonfire."

"There is plenty of time for that. Right now, we can help and honor Rebbe Shimon by learning his Torah."

"Okay, you convinced me Avi."

"Pirkei Avos chapter 6, Mishna 8. 'Beauty, strength, riches, honor, wisdom, old age, a white head, and children are beautiful for tsaddikim, and attractive for the world.'"

"How do we understand that, Avi?"

"The Medrash Shmuel explains that these are all gifts from Hashem. They can be used for good purposes - to perform mitzvos - or for selfish reasons - to gratify one's desires. Rebbe Shimon instructs us to use all the gifts that Hashem gave us for the good.""How?"

"The Medrash Shmuel elaborates. Beauty can bring a person to righteousness, as it did with Yosef HaTsaddik. He was very attractive. He had a strong yetzer hara to use his good looks for the wrong purposes. He conquered his yetzer and became Yosef HaTsaddik."

"That is so relevant to our days. There is a big yetzer hara to wear the wrong kind of clothes. They attract attention, instead of indicating the true beauty of a Jew - the neshama. We have to overcome that yetzer hara and become tsaddikim and tsidkanios."

"Excellent! Now, the next point of the Mishna. Strength can be used for the good - to learn Torah (which needs a lot of stamina) or for the bad - to lord over people. Similarly, wealth can be used for tsedaka and chessed. It can give the person the time to learn Torah without interruption. Unfortunately, money used improperly to fulfill ones desires can drag a person into all sorts of nonsense and sins, causing him to lose this world and the next."

"How true."

"Honor is good for tsaddikim. Their wise words will be heard because they are held in esteem. They will not become arrogant from the honor. However, an evil person will take the admiration to heart, and do as he pleases, for there is no one to challenge him and his pride. Similarly, wisdom can be learned in order to know and teach the correct path to serve The Creator. Or it can be used to subvert the truth chas v'shalom (Heaven forbid.)"

"Fascinating."

"Old age and a white head are both the 'crowns' of tsaddikim. They are the culmination of a life of righteousness, and bring honor to the tsaddik and Hashem. However, one who runs after his desires his entire life will continue into his old age. Fools will honor him for his 'achievements' in this area. Lastly, children are a person's legacy in this world. His righteous descendants earn him eternal reward. However, a wicked person uses his children to carry out his evil plans."

"That is wonderful. You have given me a completely new outlook on Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai and his teachings. Let's now go to the bonfire."

Avi and Chaim reach the bonfire. The heat is intense. The boys don't seem to mind. Everyone is dancing around and singing about Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai. Avi and Chaim sing and with intense happiness. They have been ignited with the "light" of Rebbe Shimon's teachings.

Kinderlach . . .

Lag B'Omer is much more than dancing around the bonfire. It is even more than traveling to Rebbe Shimon's kever in Meron. It is appreciating who Rebbe Shimon was. The Gemora is full of his teachings. Learn them this Lag B'Omer. Bask in the light of Rebbe Shimon's Torah. That is the real fire of Lag B'Omer.

Kinder Torah Copyright 2013 All rights reserved to the author Simcha Groffman

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