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Beit Midrash
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The second stage of redemption in Egypt lay in the realization amongst the Egyptians themselves that they would have no choice but to free the Jews from slavery. They said to Pharaoh: "Do you not realize that Egypt is lost? Send these people out already!" The time of Rivka was one of recognition by the world of the message of Yitzchak and Rivka. Abimelech journeys to make treaties with Yitzchak and begrudgingly accepts the fact that he and his family are beneficial to the Philistine country. However Rivka also is abducted into his palace where she also is miraculously saved from the king. Just as Pharaoh will not give in to the advice of his courtiers and free Israel from bondage so too Abimelech in spite of his peaceful protestations is not yet willing for Yitzchak and Rivka to live in peace and security in his country. Abimelech is not yet prepared to let go though overtly he does not pursue any hostile actions any longer against Yitzchak and Rivka. Pharaoh also is not yet prepared to let go though logic certainly dictates otherwise. He has not yet given up on the idea of slavery for the Jews in Egypt.
The third stage of redemption in Egypt was when the Jews were freed from any labor by the Egyptians. They were not free to leave the country but they no longer had any taskmasters over them. Leah represents this tension of being somewhat in limbo. The mother of six tribes of Israel, especially that of the priestly tribe and the royal house of Israel, she nevertheless is not considered the favorite wife though in death she alone will be joined to Yaakov in the Cave of Machpela. She is and she isn’t quite the heroine of the story, the mainstay of the house, the matriarch supreme. The final piece, the fourth stage of the redemption is finally the exodus from the country of Egypt itself. It is the self-confidence of being able to be free and feel free after so many centuries of exile and bondage. There is heartbreak involved nevertheless since not all of the Jews will leave Egypt and a substantial number of them will have died there. Rachel is the symbol of leaving exile, of escaping from Lavan and Eisav, of giving birth to Yosef who will save his family from death in the great famine and rise to great heights as the viceroy of Egypt, and the matriarch who stands guard on the road as her children Israel depart for exile and who welcomes them back home upon their eventual return. The four matriarchs predict the four stages of redemption of their descendants. We who are privileged to live in Israel have felt mother Rachel’s welcome first hand. May we also merit the final stage of our redemption as well.
Rabbis in Midrash
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D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
D'varim EXCUSES ARE RUNNING OUT
p. Dvarim, Shabbat Chazon, Tisha b'Av
p. Dvarim, Shabbat Chazon, Tisha b'Av
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
