Always in your thoughts

 

SHIVTI WEEKLY UPDATE Shivti Fall/Winter 5782 - ויבינו במקרא This week, we begin a new segment of our  ויבינו במקרא series.  This week's sugya discusses the topic of Tefillin and Hesech Hadaas. This sugya is dedicated by Rabbi Abba Genack in honor of his wife Yael for her constant support and encouragement in all his Torah endeavors, including the weekly Shivti program. Dedication opportunities are available in honor of a simcha (bar mitzvah), yahrzeit, or any other momentous event. Call our office or email us for more information. היסח הדעת בתפילין This week's sugya will focus on the kedusha of Tefillin. While wearing Tefillin, one is required to remain cognizant of this fact and behave in an appropriate manner. This Halacha is derived from the pesukim discussing the Tzitz in next week's parsha (Tetzaveh). We discuss the essence of the term Hesech Hadaas (is it just an awareness or a real conscious thought?) and how this definition translates into Halacha L'maaseh. For example, what should one be concentrating on when reciting the Shema while wearing Tefillin - on the Tefillin or on the words of the Shema?  Also, if one does in fact lose focus of the fact that he is wearing his Tefillin, was he still mekayem the Mitzvah of Tefillin? This booklet is intended to be learned over a two-week period, and can easily be split accordingly. היסח הדעת בתפילין פרשת משפטים - צער בעלי חיים  This sugya discusses the topic of Tza'ar Ba'alei Chaim. This is derived from Parshas Mishpatim where the Torah discusses the halacha of perikah - the obligation to unload an animal of a heavy load and alleviate his pain. We discuss other sources for this prohibition, and if it is min hatorah or mid'rabanan. We also discuss animal suffering vs human need, medical experiments on animals, killing insects, and more. The booklet then goes on to discuss tza'ar baalei chaim of a human. This includes the modern day version of "perikah" - helping a stranded motorist with a disabled vehicle. In this situation, there's no suffering donkey or horse requiring assistance - but there is a human in distress. Another example is when a man doesn't return home immediately after davening (on Shabbos, Yom Tov, after a Taanis, etc), thus preventing his family members from making kiddush and eating. צער בעלי חיים

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