H J-Law Quiz 1

Why did Balak ask Bilam to curse Israel, and what did God tell Bilam?

Balak was afraid of the Israelites and wanted Bilam to curse them so Moab could defeat them. God told Bilam that Israel was blessed and that he could not curse them

What is the main lesson of the Bilam story?

Bilam could only say what God commanded, showing that God’s will cannot be overcome by Balak’s plans or Bilam’s abilities

What does the Mishnah prohibit in a shared courtyard?

A person may not create an entrance opposite another entrance or a window opposite another window, nor enlarge or add entrances in a way that harms a neighbor’s privacy

What is the main idea of the Mishnah?

Neighbors must protect each other’s privacy. The rules are stricter for a shared courtyard because people have a right to privacy in their homes

What did Bilam notice about the Israelites’ tents?

Their entrances did not face one another, so families could not easily see into each other’s homes. This showed respect for privacy

Why is Bilam’s observation important to the Gemara?

Bilam saw Israel’s respect for privacy and concluded that they were worthy of the Divine Presence. This teaches that protecting privacy is an important Jewish value

Why does the Ramban say looking into someone’s private space is harmful?

It can violate privacy and modesty and can cause other types of harm. Even if the person forgives the invasion, knowingly looking is still forbidden

What is the main lesson of the Ramban?

A person has a responsibility to avoid invading another person’s privacy, including by creating situations where they will constantly be tempted to look

What does the Aruch HaShulchan mean by “visual damage”?

Being watched can itself be considered damage because people need privacy to work, act, and live comfortably without feeling observed

What is the main lesson of the Aruch HaShulchan?

Damage does not have to be physical. Watching someone can interfere with their privacy and ability to use their property comfortably

What is the main lesson of the Shulchan Aruch HaRav?

A person should respect privacy and avoid both actually looking and behavior that makes others reasonably think they are being watched

Kavanah

intent, goal, or purpose that stands behind an act. It describes what a person is aiming to do or the target they are trying to reach

Story of Paradise (based off Vayikra Rabbah 4:6)

kingdom, boat, drill

Vayikra Rabbah 4:6

A parable about people who were sitting on a boat. One of them took a drill and started to drill under their seat. The others said: What are you doing? The person responded: What do you care? I am drilling a hole under my seat. They replied: When the water comes up, it will sink the entire boat and we will all drown!

Mashal/הַמָּשָׁל

The parable or story

Nimshal/הַנִּמְשָׁל

The meaning or life lesson explained by that story

Root

responsible for caring for another (legally) and/or mixed or bound up with someone or something (culturally, emotionally) 

Numbers 24:2&5

Bilam looked up
and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe,
and the spirit of God came upon him.
How fair are your tents, O Jacob,
Your dwellings, O Israel!

Numbers 24:2

Bilam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe,
and the spirit of God came upon him

Numbers 24:2 Rashi

He saw that the entrances of their tents were not lined up facing one another, so that no one could peer into another's tent (Bava Batra 60a)

Hezek Re'iyah

damage caused by looking

Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai said

The Holy Blessed One hates 4 things, and I do not love them. This first thing is one who enters his house suddenly, and needless to say one who suddenly enters the house of another

Rashi commentary on Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai

“And even his house” Perhaps they are doing something that should be hidden

Vayikra 19:14

Do not curse a person who is deaf, And before someone who is blind, do not place a stumbling block. You shall fear Your God, I am Hashem

1 Samuel 16:7

People look at appearances, but Hashem sees the heart