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Why does the Rambam (רמב"ם) require birkas eirusin before the marriage ceremony but lechinso l'bris after the milah? The shiur develops a chiddush that these brachos serve different purposes - one on the ma'aseh hamitzvah itself, requiring beforehand timing, the other on becoming a baal bris, which can be made afterward.
The shiur addresses a fundamental question raised by the Ritva against the Rambam (רמב"ם) regarding the timing of brachos. The Ritva questions why the Rambam requires birkas eirusin to be made before the marriage ceremony, but birkas lechinso l'bris is made after the milah. According to the Ritva, if the reason for making lechinso after milah is that the mohel might change his mind, then by the same logic, birkas eirusin should also be delayed since the woman might refuse. Rabbi Zweig presents a fundamental reinterpretation of the Rambam's position. He argues that the Rambam distinguishes between different types of mitzvos and their corresponding brachos. The Rambam in Hilchos Milah establishes that every Jew has an obligation to ensure there are no arelim (uncircumcised) in Israel - this is a communal responsibility focused on removing the status of orlah. However, the father has an additional, unique mitzvah (מצוה): to bring his son into the bris Avrohom Avinu, making him a baal bris.
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Why does the Torah emphasize giving the korban tamid to "meshorsei Hashem" when this detail isn't mentioned for other korbanot? The shiur reveals that korban tamid is uniquely different—it's not about our relationship with Hashem but about providing His daily needs. The Minchas Chinuch shows that we're giving Him breakfast and supper through His servants, making the tamid's cessation on Shivah Asar B'Tammuz not just our loss but His.
Why are we obligated in challah when we begin kneading rather than when the bread is finished? The shiur develops that challah isn't about thanking God for bread, but for giving us the process to create our basic sustenance. This mitzvah teaches the fundamental life principle that independence and self-respect come from taking care of our own minimal needs.
Hilchos Milah 3:1-3, Hilchos Ishus
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