In memory of Father, Yosef Ben Zelig.
March 25th 1911 - May 2nd 2008

In memory of Mother, Nechama Bas Tzvi Hirsh.
June 9th 1925 - April 16th 2003

In memory of Uncle, Moshe Binyamin Ben Tzvi Hirsh.
December 12 1929 - February 2nd 2010

In Loving Memory of Moreinu Horav Shmuel Yaacov Weinberg, Rosh HaYeshiva Ner Yisroel

Haazinu (Deuteronomy 32)

32:4 (He is) the Rock whose work is perfect for all His ways are judgment. G-D who is steadfast with no injustice, He is righteous and upright.

Both the Targum Yonasan Ben Uziel and the Yerushalmi preface their translations of this verse with the following.

Moshe the Prophet said, "When I ascended to the world above I saw that the Master of the world divides His daily schedule into four parts. He is engaged in Torah study for three hours and He is engaged in judgment for three hours. He provides nourishment to the world for three hours and for three hours He matches husbands with their wives."

The Talmud cites a similar tradition in the name of Rabbi Yehudah (Avodah Zarah 3b).

Rabbi Yehudah substitutes the matchmaking with "sporting together with the Leviathan." Perhaps one is an analogy for the other.

Rabbi Yehudah elaborates on the three hours of judgment. He says that G-D sits in judgment over the entire world. When He sees that the world will be sentenced for destruction He arises from the throne of strict judgment and sits on the throne of mercy.

Rashi notes that Rabbi Yehudah's teaching is consistent with the view of Rabbi Yossi who teaches that man is judged every day.

The Rinas Yitzchak commentary cites the above together with the following question that was posed by the Turei Even's commentary.

We recite the Hallel praises during our holiday prayers. However we do not recite Hallel during Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. The Talmud says that this is because G-D sits in judgment and the books of those who are living and the books of those who are no longer alive are opened up before Him (Rosh Hashana 32b).

However, we just said that G-D judges the world every day and we assume that this includes the holidays.

Passover, Shavuos, and Succos are holidays and we recite Hallel despite the fact that they are also days of judgment. How do we understand the Talmud's explanation for why we do not recite Hallel during Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur? What makes them different?

The Rinas Yitzchak answers that way we are judged during the High Holidays is what makes the difference.

The Talmud teaches that we are judged on these days both as individuals and as a whole (Rosh Hashana 18a). Some understand the latter to include the impact that each and every person has upon the community.

We can now propose that the judgment on the High Holidays is different than the daily judgment because the daily judgment is performed on the world as a whole and people are not usually singled out.

G-D's role is more than that of a Creator. He is also an Owner with an active interest in our actions and fate. He has goals and intentions and He periodically assesses where we are with respect to them.

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