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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
The navi speaks words of consolation: "Go and call out in the ears of Yerushalayim: ‘So says Hashem: I have recalled the kindness of your youth, the love of your time of marriage, when you went out to the desert, to a land not sewn’ " (Yirmiya 2:2). One can ask: did Yerushalayim go to the desert? The simple explanation is that the pasuk refers to Yerushalayim’s residents, whose forebears went out to the desert. Parenthetically, there are parallel p’sukim (31: 1-2) that talk about the early commitment of the nation and the love Hashem maintains for it. As a result, the navi promises liberation for the kingdom of Shomron and a return to Yerushalayim (ibid.:5).
Another explanation of Yerushalayim in the desert is brought in Kol Hator in the Gra’s name. The pasuk does refer to Bnei Yisrael’s following Hashem into the desert and Hashem’s remembering of them even as the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash grew near. However, Yerushalayim in the pasuk is the heavenly one (shel ma’ala). It is our job at this busy time in the Jewish calendar to turn everything into Yerushalayim shel ma’ala. The Gra informed us that "Yerushalayim shel ma’ala," "Knesset Yisrael," and "sefirat ha’omer" all have the same gematria (1071). We can elevate everything at matan Torah after the 49 days of sefirat ha’omer. Based on these connections it turns out that Yerushalayim shel ma’ala accompanied Bnei Yisrael in the times of their wandering already in the desert even though the earthly Yerushalayim was acquired only at the time of David.
David coined the phrase, "the rebuilt Yerushalayim, like a city that was connected together" (Tehillim 122:3). According to the Gra, this connection is between the heavenly and earthly elements of the city. As Midrash Tehillim says, Hashem said that He would not enter the upper Yerushalayim until He enters the lower one. The lower one took time, as Yehoshua conquered only part of it and it took time for David to determine that this was the "place that Hashem will choose from all of your tribes to place His Name there" (Devarim 12:5). It was David who dedicated his life to finding the permanent resting place for the Divine Presence (see the beautiful description in Tehillim 132) and united Yerushalayim shel ma’ala and Yerushalayim shel mata.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.