YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Chukat
Moshe was aware of the prophecy of Eldad and Meidad that Moshe would die in the desert and Yehoshua would lead the Jewish people into the Land of Israel. Yet somehow he thought that he could escape that fate. Rambam attributes Moshe’s shortcoming in this week’s parsha to his frustration and inner anger at the people who rebelled constantly against him and God. Moshe is disappointed in the people of Israel, a people that he loved with his heart and soul. Many times such a reaction and feeling is visible in the relationship of parents to their children - an unquenchable feeling of love tinged with a hue of some disappointment. But part of Moshe’s disappointment is in himself as well. He realizes that the people have not responded to his teachings of love of God and of the Land of Israel as he has. Moshe earlier said to God that You have told me to raise this people to greatness but You did not inform me as to how this was to be done. He is a victim of his generation’s stubbornness and hard-heartedness. And he therefore is disappointed that he was not able to break through that wall of rebellion and sometimes apathy. There are those that say that he purposely did not speak to the rock for then one could say that a rock listened to Moshe’s instructions while his beloved people of Israel did not. Even in his frustration and disappointment his love for his people never waned or weakened.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
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.
