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Beit Midrash
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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Rabbi Uzi Kalcheim, zt”l
The Talmud (Taanit 23a) tells us that on one occasion, when the world was in great need of rain, a delegation of sages was sent to Abba Chilkiya to ask him to petition God for rain.
When they reached his home, he was not present. They found him hoeing a field. They greeted him, but he did not reply. Towards evening, when he finished his work and was leaving for home, he placed a bundle of sticks and a hoe on one shoulder, and a shawl on the other. He held his shoes in his hand as he walked, and only put them on when he had to walk through a stream. When he walked through thorns, he lifted his robe.
Rain in Israel (17)
Rabbi Uzi Kalchaim zt"l
15 - Heavenly Bounty, Earthly Justice
16 - The Qualities Needed to Bring Rain
17 - Rainfall and the Power of Collective Kindness
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Before the sages could seat themselves, Abba Chilkiya whispered to his wife, "I know that the sages have come to ask me to pray for rain. Let us go quickly up to the roof and evoke God’s compassion before they ask. Perhaps He will answer our prayers and cause rain to fall, and the sages will not know that the rain has come because of us." So they went up on the roof; he prayed in one corner and she in another. And the rain clouds came from her side.
Then Abba Chilkiya and his wife went back downstairs to the sages and asked them what they had come for. The sages explained that they had come to ask Abba Chilkiya to pray for rain. To this Abba Chilkiya responded, "Thank God for not making you dependent upon Abba Chilkiya’s prayers."
The sages said, "We know that the rains have come because of you, but please explain to us all of the strange things we saw you do during the course of the day. Why when we greeted you in the field did you not respond? It is disrespectful to treat a delegation of rabbis in such a manner."
Abba Chilkiya responded, saying, "I was employed as a daily worker, and was not permitted to be idle for even a single moment."
Then they asked him, "Why did you put the sticks and hoe on one shoulder and the shawl on the other?" He answered, "The shawl is borrowed, and I borrowed it on the condition of wearing it, not placing sticks on it."
They asked him, "Why did you not wear your shoes as you walked along and only put them on when you reached water?" He answered, "As I walk through the water I cannot see where I am placing my feet. Because of the danger of being bitten by a fish or snake, I put on my shoes."
"Why did you lift up your garment when you reached the thorns?" He replied, "If one’s foot is wounded, it heals, but if clothing is torn, it does not heal." (From here we see how poverty-stricken Abba Chilkiya was.)
Then they asked him, "Why, when you reached the town, did your wife come out adorned in jewelry?" He answered, "So that I not gaze upon another woman."
"And why," they then asked, "did your wife enter the house before you?" "Because I do not know you, and though I respect you, I must be suspicious of you."
"And why," they continued, "did the rain clouds come from your wife’s side?" He answered, "My wife tends to the home. When the poor and needy come to beg, she gives them food, and this satisfies them immediately. I can only give the poor money, which is a less immediate form of charity."
From the above, we can see the sort of moral fiber a person must be made of in order to petition God for rain. Just witness Abba Chilkiya’s impeccable work ethic, his caution with the property of others, his modesty regarding his ability to bring rain. It is through the merit of such individuals that Israel is blessed with rain. This is the "blessing of rain" that depends upon the moral level present in the Land of Israel.
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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