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Why does the verb for making a bris mean "to cut"? The shiur develops a third approach where koret means cutting yourself away from the deal. Rather than exchanging mutual obligations, a bris creates an independent entity with its own charter that both parties then serve.
This shiur explores the apparent contradiction between the noun bris meaning "to join" while the verb koret bris means "to cut." After reviewing two previous approaches—Rashi (רש"י)'s view that cutting means excluding others from the covenant, and the idea that each party must recognize their incompleteness—Rabbi Zweig presents a third interpretation. The central thesis is that koret means cutting yourself away from the deal entirely. Unlike typical contracts where parties exchange mutual obligations and promises, a bris transcends personal relationships by creating an independent entity with its own charter and mission. Once this entity is established, neither party has claims against the other; instead, both have obligations to the entity itself.
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Parshas Lech Lecha - Bris Bein HaBetarim
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