More Discussions for this daf
1. Nachum Ish "Gam-Zu" 2. Did Ilfa and Rav Yochanan forget about Yisachar and Zevulun? 3. Isn't a person judged in his present state?
4. Mesivta d'Rekia 5. אילפא תלא נפשיה
DAF DISCUSSIONS - TA'ANIS 21

alex lebovits asked:

Rashi Bereshis 21:17 DH "B'Asher Hu Sham" says in regard to Yishmael that although he will be different later, he must be judged according the way he is now.

(a) So why did R' Yochanan deserve to be saved for what he would be later if he is now deserving to die?

(b) Would a pregnant woman be patur from misa because she will have a child soon; do we even wait for the baby to be born?

Thank you for your time and knowledge.

Kol Tuv,

alex lebovits, toronto, canada

The Kollel replies:

The usage by Yishmael was only one aspect of the Midas ha'Rachamim. Rashi there does not use it "l'Chumra," but as a leniency that Hash-m used to tell the Malachim why Yishmael should be saved. It does not mean that one must be judged the way he is. This is apparent from Rashi's commentary later in Shemos (3:12, DH "va'Yomer"). Rashi states that when Moshe asked Hash-m what merit Bnei Yisrael had to be taken out of Mitzrayim, Hash-m answered that their merit is that they will accept the Torah after they will go out of Mitzrayim. Hash-m uses His Midas ha'Rachamim in many ways. On the other hand, Beis Din does not wait for a baby to be born before killing a pregnant woman who is Chayev Misa, as in a human Beis Din the Halachah must reign. There is no room for Midas ha'Rachamim (a somewhat similar understanding can be found in the end of Perashas Derachim Derush Chamishi).

All the best,

Yaakov Montrose