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“And the officers shall speak unto the people saying what man (is there) that has built a new house and has not dedicated it yet… and what man (is there) that has planted a vineyard and has not used the fruit thereof… and what man (is there) who has betrothed a lady and has not taken her…. what man (is there) that is fearful and fainthearted let him go and return to his house.” (20:5,6,7,8)

In these pasukim, the Torah describes Klal Yisrael’s procedure for entering into a milchemes reshus, voluntary war, a war for which the king needed the authorization of the Sanhedrin. We note here an interesting set of laws that were implemented as the men prepared to go into battle.  The Kohen Mashuach Milchamah, specially anointed for war, would address the assemblage of would-be soldiers and exhort them regarding the cruelties and dangers they could expect to face. Three groups of people were encouraged to leave, lest their concern regarding affairs unfinished at home pre-disposed them to be excluded from active participation…

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“You shall prepare the way and divide the border of your land into three parts… that every murderer may flee there.” (19:3)

In Makos 10b the Talmud states that each crossroads bore the sign “miklat,” refuge, in order to guide the murderer toward the right direction to reach the arai miklat, cities of refuge.  The Ponevezer Rav z.l.  expounded on this Chazal. Why were directional signs provided only for the rotzeach b’shogeg, unintentional murderer? Why weren’t signs likewise provided for the oleh regel, pilgrims who went up to Yerushalayim for Yom Tov?  There should have been signs at the crossroads directing all Jew to the Bais Ha’Mikdash. He responded in the following manner: Man, by nature, detests a murderer. One who has…

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“If there is a matter concealed from you in judgement between blood and blood, between decision and decision, and between plague and plague, (even) matters of controversy within your gates.” (17:8)

The pasuk encourages one to seek judgement by the higher courts in the event of doubt in various areas of Jewish law. Horav Meir Shapiro z.l. as well as many others have interpreted this pasuk homiletically in the following manner: If you are shocked and exasperated by the bein dam l’dam questions between the blood of nations, (i.e., when nations malign us with blood libels) even though our abhorrence of blood is apparent. If a Jew wishes to eat a piece of meat, he must soak and salt it to the point that no drop of blood remains. Why then are we so…

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