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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korcha said: why did the section of Shema precede V’haya Im Shamoa? It is so that one should accept upon himself the yoke of the Heavenly Kingdom and afterward accept the yoke of mitzvot.
Ein Ayah: The commentators already pointed out that there was no real reason to ask why Shema should precede V’haya Im Shamoa, as it precedes it in the Torah. The matter is that it seems, according to the natural order, that V’haya Im Shamoa should come first because the main idea of reciting Shema is to attain shleimut (completeness) in recognizing Hashem. It is clear that this cannot occur without one becoming accustomed first to mitzvot, which straighten a person’s path and purify his personal attributes and opinions. Therefore, Shema should have been after V’haya Im Shamoa. However, that is in regard to the shleimut of the recognition. Regarding the basic level, which applies to all, the main thing is the acceptance of the Heavenly Kingdom, in regard to belief and acceptance of the inheritance of the community of Yaakov. Therefore, Shema must precede the acceptance of the yoke of mitzvot.
What to Do With a Long Life
Gemara:
Sumchus says: Whoever elongates the word "echad" ("one," within Shema) has his days and his years lengthened.
Ein Ayah: Long life is appropriate for one who set out a lofty purpose for his life. Under those circumstances, the greater the value of the means that help bring one to the goal, the greater accomplishments he can reach in that area. Therefore, he needs a long life so that he can obtain things that will enable him to reach his goal. This is not the case for one who has no purpose in life. In such a case, every moment in his life is isolated and, as these are fleeting, it makes little difference how many and how long these moments are.
The gain of stretching out the word echad is to engrain in his spirit that, since Hashem is one, He rules in His world on His own. All that He created was created just for this one special and lofty goal. We have to follow Hashem to make the purpose of our own lives an uplifting goal. If we do this, then we will merit long days and years, so that we can accumulate many actions that help bring about these important attainments. The quantitative accumulation brings a grander attainment.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
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.
