Siman - Shabbos Daf 139
- Troubles result from corrupt judges
It was taught in a Baraisa that Rebbe Yose ben Elisha said, אם ראית דור שצרות רבות באות עליו – If you see a generation upon which many troubles come upon it, צא ובדוק בדייני ישראל – go and examine the deeds of the Jewish judges, שכל פרענות שבאה לעולם - for all misfortune that comes to the world, לא באה אלא בשביל דייני ישראל – comes only on account of the Jewish judges.
The Baraisa continues and says ואין הקדוש ברוך הוא משרה שכינתו על ישראל – Hakadosh Baruch Hu will not rest His Divine Presence on the Jewish people עד שיכלו שופטים ושוטרים רעים מישראל – until their will cease to be corrupt judges and officers amongst them.
Ulla said: אין ירושלים נפדה אלא בצדקה – Yerushalayim will not be redeemed except through charity, as it says in the passuk ציון במשפט תפדה ושביה בצדקה – Tziyon shall be redeemed through justice, and her returnees through charity.
- Why Aharon was zocheh to the Choshen Mishpat
Rebbe Malai saidבשכר "וראך ושמח בלבו" - In the merit of that which Hashem testified concerning Aharon, “And he will see you and he will rejoice in his heart”, על לבו זכה לחשן משפט – Aharon merited to wear the Choshen Mishpat, which was worn upon his heart.
- Question regarding burial on yomtov
The people of Bashkar sent three shailos to Levi, but by the time they arrived Levi had passed away. Shmuel said to Rav Menashya, “if you are sufficiently wise and know the answers, send them to them”.
In each case he ruled stringently לפי שאינן בני תורה, - because they were not bnei Torah, and he was concerned that if they were given a lenient ruling, they would become even more lenient.
Their third question was, “What is the law for burying a corpse on Yom Tov?” He answered that neither Jews or non-Jews should be involved in the burial, neither on the first day or second day of Yom Tov. He answered them in a stringent way, but truly the halacha is that on the first day of Yom Tov, the corpse may be buried by a non-Jew, and on the second day of Yom Tov, it may be buried even by a Jew. The reason why a Jew is permitted to bury the corpse on the second day is that since after the calendar was fixed, the second day was only a d’Rabbonon, the Rabbonon allowed it for the needs of the meis.
