The Jewish people are also held to a high moral standard. The Torah elaborates on the procedure of dealing with suspected adulterers. A mixture was given to the suspected woman to drink, and if she were guilty she would die. If she was indeed innocent, she would be blessed. G-d wrought miracles with this procedure just in order to restore mutual trust in an otherwise damaged relationship.
The Nazirite was a person who accepted a temporary oath of abstinence from wine, haircuts, and contact with a corpse. Although this is not the Torah’s norm, under certain circumstances it was necessary to abstain for therapeutic purposes. For this reason, although the Nazirite is referred to as a holy person, he must nonetheless bring a sin offering upon completion of his oath to atone for his abstinence.
At the dedication of the Tabernacle, each of the nesi’im, the princes of the tribes, brought gifts in honor of the dedication. These gifts were brought out of their own pockets, to make amends for their lack of participation in the actual construction of the Tabernacle.
Each prince brought the same gift, comprising of: a silver plate and silver bowl filled with flour and oil, a gold spoon filled with incense, and a variety of twenty one animals for different sacrifices. The Torah repeats the same six passages describing these gifts twelve times, once for each prince. The Midrash explains that although each prince brought the same gift, they were actually each motivated by different considerations. The same gift may have had a different representation to different people. The Torah therefore repeats all the details of the gifts for each prince, to emphasize that although the gifts were the same items, they were really different gifts.
Many mitzvos in the Torah seem to be so regimented, that they leave little room for creativity and self-expression. The reality however, is quite the opposite. The mitzvos were only meant to provide a framework of guidance, within which there is plenty of room for self-expression. The details can--and should--take on very different meanings to different people.
A merchant ordered a wagon to take him to the fair to buy merchandise. He told the driver that he must get to the fair on time, and the driver promised that he would him there. Unfortunately, the winter roads made it difficult to travel, and the man missed the fair.
The driver demanded payment, but the merchant refused to pay. They came to the rabbi to present their arguments and the rabbi sided with the merchant, since the driver had not fulfilled his promise. The driver questioned the rabbi’s decision. “How do you know that?”
“It says in the Torah that if a worker fails to deliver, he cannot claim his payment,” the rabbi replied.
“And when was the Torah given?” the driver challenged.
“On Shavuos, my son,” said the rabbi.
“Aha!” cried the driver. “The Torah was given in good weather! Of course they wouldn’t understand what it’s like driving on the winter roads!”
“G-d gave an eternal Torah to the Jewish people,” the rabbi said, “and it is foolish to claim that it no longer applies.”
Although it is permitted to transfer a fire on Yom Tov, one may not create a new flame. One may also not extinguish a flame on Yom Tov. The fire on a gas range may not be lit if it has an automatic electric ignition, since that creates a new flame. If there is no automatic ignition it would be permitted to light the fire with a transferred flame.
One may raise the flame on a gas stove to cook or heat food, and it may similarly be lowered to cook food without concern of burning, but it may not be lowered to save money or to reduce the heat in the kitchen. Electric appliances may not be adjusted at all.
