PINCHITU ITUREI HA-TORAH QUESTIONS PINCHAS BY RABBI CARL ASTOR 1. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Aong these sha!! the !and "e apportioned as shares#" $Nu% &'()*+ Iturei Ha-Torah( The Ho!y ,ne coanded the chi!dren o- Israe! to di.ide the !and aong the before entering the Land o- Israe!% /or, in genera!, at the tie o- di.ision, they 0ou!d ha.e arguents and disputes% 12d 0anted the to ha.e a!! their di.isions and disputes sett!ed outside the !and so that they cou!d enter in peace and "e uni-ied% (R. Yaakov Shimshon of Shpituvka) a% 3oes this strategy a!0ays 0ork4 Look at the re!igious disputes in Israe! today% "% Ho0 ight this 0isdo "e app!ied to other areas o- !i-e4 2. And Moses "rought their case "e-ore the Lord% $Nu% &5()+ Iturei Ha-Torah: 6hy didn7t Moses 8udge the case on his o0n4 9ecause 0oen ha.e a tendency to cry, and Moses 0as a-raid that their tears ight in-!uence hi% This 0ou!d "e a -or o- "ri"ery% There 0as once a case 0ith the sage o- :okchu., 0here a 0ido0 0as "rought "e-ore hi in a case, and she "urst out crying% He stood up and dis;ua!i-ied hise!- -ro the case saying, "I a un-it to hear this case, -or tears are a -or o- "ri"ery%" a% 6hy is it so iportant not to !et eotions in-!uence 8udgent4 "% Are there any cases 0here eotions shou!d "e considered4 Iturei Pinchas Astor & ANSWERS 1a% There 0ere agreeents ade in the ear!y days o- the :tate 0hich ight ha.e "een reasona"!e then, "ut need to "e changed no0% 1"% Certainty prenuptia! agreeents and partnership arrangeents shou!d "e 0orked out in ad.ance% &a% <ustice ust "e "!ind% I- eotions are a!!o0ed to "e o- concern, then 8ustice cannot "e -air% &"% Not in the aspect o- 8ustice, "ut 0hen it coes to sentencing, eotions can "e considered%