The Halachic Discussion Regarding the Act of Nakdimon ben Gurion • The Daily Lesson from Rabbi Berland shlit"a

Presented before you is a summary of the topics from the daily lesson as delivered by our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a – following the Maariv (evening) prayer on Thursday night, the eve of the 10th of Adar 5786, Parshas Tetzaveh:

1. Everyone should study Likutey Halachos, Hilchos Milah (Laws of Circumcision) 4, Section 24.
2. The word "Kad" (pitcher/jar - numerical value 24) in its expanded form (milui) corresponds to the phrase in the Gemara (Talmudic text), "Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuso" (Blessed be the Name of His glorious Kingdom).
3. This is the secret of the pitcher (kad) of Rivka (Rebecca); Rivka saw more than Yitzchak (Isaac) did. This is because only a woman has the unique ability to discern. Hashem (God) told Avraham (Abraham), "Listen to her voice."
4. Avraham said, "If only Ishmael might live before You." Rabbi Shimon [bar Yochai] wept because of these four words; we suffer to this very day because the Ishmaelites (Arabs) kill us.
5. Every woman can be like Queen Esther. She can be like Kimchis, who merited to have seven sons serve as Kohanim Gedolim (High Priests).
6. Nakdimon ben Gurion requested a loan from the Hegemon (Roman official), committing to refill the pits with water by sunset, or else he would fill all the pits with silver coins. When the time approached just before sunset, he decided to go down to the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple) to pray. On the way, he saw the Hegemon heading to the bathhouse with a wide smile—on his way to collect the money. Nakdimon ben Gurion prayed and recited seven Tikkun HaKlalis (The General Rectification prayers), and then the skies darkened and rain fell, filling the pits even more than they had been before. As he returned from the Beis HaMikdash, he met the Hegemon, who told him that although the pits were full, it was already after sunset. Then Nakdimon returned to the Beis HaMikdash and recited one more Tikkun HaKlali, and the sun shone once again.
7. There is a halachic (legal) discussion whether the sun shining again is considered a new day, and it was ruled in Halacha (Jewish Law) that it is not a new day.