YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Beshalach
The fragile and vulnerable mettle of the people of Israel that we first meet in B'shalach was such that the Lord felt it necessary to choose for them a meandering path in the desert rather than the logical route. The logical route was the direct and short caravan route, but its choosing would have resulted in the callow nation turning on its heels back to Egypt at its first encounter with the hostile Philistines.
Later, at the shores of Yam Suf we find a people panicked and nearly hysterical with fear crying out to Moshe that their backs are to the sea as the menacing Egyptian horde approaches. Moshe responds: "Stand still and witness the salvation of the Lord!" But the Almighty's plans deviate from what Moshe has in mind. "Why do you cry out to me?!" He asks Moshe. "Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward!" And the Midrash amplifies this idea. Nachshon son of Aminadav of the tribe of Judah plunged into the waters and the Yam Suf split open. (Mechilta)
The bravery, initiative and sacrifice demonstrated by Nachshon and those who followed him were but the first steps in developing the mentality of a free people ho could dedicate themselves to conquering Eretz Yisrael and living up to the responsibilities of the Lord's Torah within that land. Indeed the transformation of the slave-mentality to the independence of spirit necessary to fight a war of conquest could not possibly occur overnight. It would, in fact, take forty years of tough wilderness conditions
to harden them and teach them the requisite endurance and courage. (Rambam, Moreh Nevuchim)
In the modern period of Return from the galut a similar process has had to transpire.
Rav Meir Simcha of D'vinsk (known for his commentary Meshech Chochmah) is quoted as having said that after the Balfour Declaration and after the San Remo Convention "the fear of the Oaths has disappeared". Without elaborating here on the Oaths (Ketubot 111a), it is clear that his intention was to highlight that in the modern period a new spirit had taken hold within the Jewish people - a willingness to initiate,
to struggle physically for the Land, to fight for it, if necessary even to die for it, but,
hopefully to live, to work and to thrive in it. That spirit inheres in the type of Jew who constantly labors to achieve and to maintain the delicate but tensile balance between self-reliance and faith, between "taking the plunge" and trust in Hashem,
between acceptance of responsibility and awareness of our dependence on the Almighty.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
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.
