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No matter how intensely she searched, the Rebbitzin-the wife of the renowned Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Broide from Salant-could not find her treasured scarf, as if it had disappeared into thin air. This was an exceptional scarf-its masterfully created blend of rare and expensive silks gave it a special gentle radiance and an unparalleled beauty. There was another reason it was her prize possession-it was her inheritance from her mother.
After three days of exhausting, fruitless searching, the time came for suspicions. The main suspicion fell, naturally, on the impoverished maid employed in the Rabbi's home. The Rebbitzin, realizing that the maid was the only person in the world who knew where the scarf was hidden, began to badger her, demanding that she return it immediately. The latter's claims that she hadn't seen the scarf for many months, and that she had no part, G-d forbid, in any wrongdoing, were of no avail; the Rebbitzin only sharpened her verbal assaults against the unfortunate maid. The situation escalated to the point that the Rabbi himself heard his wife screaming at the maid. In answer to his query, the Rebbitzin detailed all of her claims against the maid who, in her opinion, was the thief. The Rabbi, who had listened to every word his wife had said, explained to her that she had two choices. Either prosecute the maid in the Beit Din (the Rabbinical Court), or, if the Rebbitzin didn't have enough evidence to sue her there, then neither did she have enough justification to scream at her, and she must stop doing that immediately. The Rebbitzin accepted the Rabbi's judgment, and despite the great difficulty, went back to treating the maid exactly as she had before the unfortunate incident.
A few months later, the Rebbitzin felt that by then she had accumulated enough evidence of the maid's guilt in the disappearance of the precious scarf, and decided to sue her in the city's Beit Din. On the day the Rebbitzin had arranged for the hearing, as she prepared to leave for the Rabbinical Court, she told the Rabbi she was going to sue the maid for the theft of the scarf. On hearing this, the Rabbi also began to prepare to go to the court. The Rebbitzin, somewhat offended, thought, "Doesn't he think I can contend with the maid by myself?" Besides, it seemed undignified to her that the great Rabbi should come to court to prosecute a poor maid. She shared her thoughts with her husband in order to discourage him from troubling himself to come to the Beit Din, since she was convinced that she would win the case without his help. The Rabbi smiled and agreed that his wife was probably right. However, he explained, when the maid would come to the court and hear her mistress the Rebbitzin confidently proclaiming her accusations against her, the pathetic defendant would be incapable of defending herself properly. The resulting verdict would not be true justice but perverted justice. "It is quite clear to me that you will succeed in stating your claims very well before the Beit Din," the Rabbi explained. "I, therefore, am coming to court in order to assist the maid to state her own case no less well than you."
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 2
The King of the Kazars, in his search for truth, starts by inviting the philosopher. This is a "crash-course" on Aristotelian philosophy and the reasons why the king is not convinced. Through this dialogue, R. Yehuda HaLevi already foreshadows some of his central ideas that will appear later.
Shavuot "Love of Torah = Love of Israel"- for Shavuot
People often identify Judaism as just a religion, but upon examination, we see, even halachically and explicitly in the siddur, that the Torah is dependent upon Am Yisrael, Jewish nationalism.
Ein Aya The Middle-Child & Anti-Tzni'ut Syndrome- Negative Attention
Although tzni'ut is for men just like women, Rav Kook deals here with the sources in Yishayahu and the Talmud which deals with the special problem of lack of tzni'ut in women's dress and actions, where it's not just a problem of midot and character traits, but also can include practical, social and national ramifications, as well, which caused the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and exile from Israel. The class continues the previous one (Ayn Aya Shabbat vi, 29), and is a must for all educators and parents of high-school aged and young adults.
P'ninat Mishpat P'NINAT MISHPAT: A Mess of Loans, Repayments and Grievances – part II
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts