Makos 19b
Thanks to Eli Chitrik
- Our Gemora touched on the subject of a Be’chor- first born animal and the rules associated with it. Once a Be’chor develops a ‘blemish’ it loses its sanctity and can be consumed much like all other livestock. A blemish is defined as only such defects which are permanent – and cannot be healed.
An expert needs to certify whether or not the blemish is indeed a irreversible ‘Mum’- blemish.
We mentioned the story of why Reb Moshe Feinstein would involve himself in controversial topics. He replied with the following:
The Gemara in Sanhedrin (5b) tells the story of when Rav decided to leave Eretz Yisrael and go to Bavel he requested from Rebbi, [Reb Yehuda Hanosi] who was his teacher, to write him a letter of rabbinic certification.
Rebbi wrote on the Smicha the following:
“Rav is certified for Yoreh Yoreh (Yore Deah), Yodin Yodin (Choshen Mishpat) however he ‘does not have rabbinic permission to pasken in the Halchos of what is considered a Mum on an animal which is a Bechor’.
Why did he not give him permission to rule on this particular Halacha of what is a Mum?
The Gemora explains Rebbi knew that Rav spent 18 months (!) on a farm to study what type of Mum is permanent and thus became an expert regarding what exactly is a Mum which allows normal (non-Kedusha) consumption.
Therefore, Rebbi was concerned that Rav may come to a town that for many years the general consensuses was that a particular Mum was not permanent. Rav, being an expert, would proclaim that it is indeed a Mum. This would cause people to think and extrapolate, incorrectly, on other types of a Mum that eventually would self-heal.
Reb Moshe asked, why did Rebbi have to write on his Smicha that he should not Pasken in a certain area, he could have just told him privately “Listen, please don’t Pasken regarding Mummim so people won’t think you are being too lenient in Halacha”?
Reb Moshe answered, this shows that when a Rov is familiar with a particular topic and he is asked to rule on it he must rule! He cannot withhold his opinion.
Thus, Rav, could not have withheld his opinion about a Mum if he was asked to rule on it. The only way to avoid this is by Rebbi not giving him Semicha on this subject! By not having Semicha on the laws of a Mum he was not obligated to rule.
2. We mentioned the famous Reb Zvi Hirsch Kalischer who was an Orthodox German rabbi who viewed the importance of Jewish re-settlement of the Land of Israel movement from a religious perspective.
Bio.
See here for the Neturei Karta view on him. 
See here an article by Rabbi Pinto. (Not our dear Pinto!)
Another Rabbi Pinto
His most famous book he called Drishas Le’tzion see here.
One of the issues discussed by Reb Zvi Hirsch was the possibility to bring a Korban Pesach despite there being no Beis Hamikdash.
A few weeks ago (shiur) we mentioned the Jewish world traveler Reb Ishtori Ha’parchi who penned a very fascinating travelogue.
[He is the one that tells the story of meeting one of the Rambam’s grandchildren that related to him the custom of the Ramban to add after his signature ‘he who transgresses 3 prohibitions daily for living in Mitzrayim’.]
Anyway, another interesting story Reb Ishtori writes is that the famous Ba’al haTosfos, Reb Yechi’el of Paris, wanted to do exactly that!! Travel to Eretz Yisroel and bring a Korban Pesach.
This was the basis of Reb Tzvi Hirsh’s drive to bring about the sacrificing of the Korban Pesach.
Modern Samaritans preparing to sacrifice Paschal Lamb.
To accomplish that one of the many issues one would need to overcome is the lack of ‘certified Kohanim’ which is a must in any Korban.
We briefly touched upon this issue of the status of Kohanim in our times. More bl”n next week.
[Reb Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer. We mentioned that originally when he started giving out his pamphlets his teacher R’ Akivah Eiger was not very pleased that he was arguing with the Rambam who maintains that there is no such thing as a certified Cohen these days. As well as many other Rishonim etc.
It is said that after he published his book he explained that his teacher towards the end of his life retracted his criticism in a private letter to the author]
3. On the topic of whether there is such a thing as a true Kohen in our times we mentioned an interesting story that is brought in Sefer Chasidim see here. (Some dispute the validity of this story).
Someone once asked Eliyahu Hanavi when Moshiach will come, he replied when you surround Har Hazeisim with Kohanim.
Upon hearing this, the man took many Kohanim and surrounded Har Hazeisim, and as we know, sadly Moshiach did not come!
When Eliyahu met him he explained, that out of all the Kohanim that you took to surround Har Hazeisim only one of them was a real Kohen m’yuchas from Aharon Hakohen!
- Reb Zalman Duchman was once by Yechidus and tells the Rebbe that he heard a story and he would like the Rebbe to verify it if it is a true:
Being that these days we do not really know who is a Kohen or not, it is said that Reb Hilel Paritcher, every time he would meet a Kohen he would give him 5 Seloim to redeem himself for Pidyan Haben as he was a Bechor.
(This Minhag is known and was practiced by many. See here footnote 42)
The Rebbe went over to the book shelf and took down one of Reb Hillel Paritcher’s books and on the first page it said “Hillel Halevi” thus the story could not be true because a Levi does not need a Pidyon Haben.
We asked a simple question: The reason why he would give every Kohen he met the 5 coins is because we are not sure who is a Kohen. Surely we are not sure who is a Levi either.
Therefore, why can’t it be that R’ Hillel Paritcher was not sure if he was a Levi either and would give the 5 coins to a Kohen anyway….?
Some chevra suggested solid answers. To be continued….