Page 143 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

ןנברמ אברוצ םנועמו ,ףשכמ ,שחנמ תוכלה · 141

Rav Yaakov Moshe Hillel in his responsa Vayeshev Hayam explains that there are three types of lotteries.

p Responsa Vayashav Hayam 1:13 גי:א | םיה בשיו ת"וש . 21
What emerges from all that was said is that there are three types השלש םנשיש רומאה לכמ ונל אצויה
of lotteries: .תולרוג ינימ

1) A lottery to divide property between two partners where it חכב תישענש םיפתוש תקולחל לרוג )א
is done with the agreement of both parties to clarify their share. םג ד"מלו ,םקלח רוריבל םידדצה תמכסה
According to the opinion [that this is done] also for the sake of ,ונינמזב וליפא רומג רתיה והז ,ןינק םשל
acquisition, this is completely permitted even in our times; but זאו ,תועטו הלובחת אלב השעיש ךירצו
it has to be done without any tricks or mistakes and then Divine .רוריבה ןינעל הנוילעה החגשהה וב רבדי
providence will speak from it in order to clarify the situation.
השעש השעמ לע םדא בייחל לרוג )ב
2) A lottery in order to obligate someone regarding an action
that he committed and the like, similar to the cases of Achan and וניא ,ןתנוהידו ןכעד אדבועב ומכ ,המודכו
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Yonatan. This only takes effect if it is done through the power of .שדוקה חור חכב השענ ןכ םא אלא ליעומ
Ruach Hakodesh (divine inspiration). It is clear that wherever a וא הקולח השענש אכיה לכבש אטישפו
lottery or clarification is performed by order of the Torah or a וא הרותב 'ה יוויצ יפ לע לרוג ידי לע רוריב
prophet, the results are based on the ordinance of G-d and it is ,'ה יפ לע ויהי ויתואצותש ,איבנ רמאמב
forbidden to doubt them. .וירחא רהרהל רוסאו

3) A lottery performed to determine the future is prohibited as [a רוסא תודיתע תעדל השענה לרוג )ג
violation of] “walk faithfully [with your G-d],” as is cited by the קספנכו ירפסב ש"מכו ,היהת םימת ינפמ
Sifrei and codified by the Shulchan Aruch. .ל"נכו ,ע"שב

According to R. Hillel, only the third type of lottery is absolutely forbidden, while the Gemara in Bava Batra
refers to the first type, which is permitted. The second type is permitted when instructed by Hashem (such as
the lottery for the goats on Yom Kippur).

4. The book of Yehoshua (chapter 7) records that while conquering the Land of Israel, the Jews lost the battle at Ai because someone had benefited
from the property of the inhabitants of Yericho, which was subject to a cherem, a ban on plundering it. Hashem then commanded Yehoshua to cast
lots to determine who had disregarded the instructions, and it was discovered that Achan was the perpretrator. The story of Yonatan refers to the
continuation of the story discussed above in Shmuel I (chapter 14), where the Jews were battling the Pelishtim. Shaul had taken an oath against
eating anything until the war was won, but it was discovered that someone had violated the oath. Lots were then drawn to discover the identity of
the one who did so, which turned out to be Yonatan.

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