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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Why were ahalim [apparently to be read like ohalim (tents)] compared to streams (in Bamidbar 24:6)? It is to teach you that just as streams take a person from impurity to purity, so too tents [of Torah] bring a person up from a position of spiritual deficiency to a position of merit.
Ein Ayah: The fact that a person is purified from any type of impurity through the medium of water hints at a spiritual concept. The impurity of a person’s actions, attributes, and opinions all come from his failure to view himself, as an individual in the world, as a visitor and not a permanent dweller. As such, he should use things that he finds in the world only for the purpose of furthering himself in regard to his lofty, eternal goals.
This is why it is appropriate to envelop oneself in water, which shows a person that his position is to be seen as transient. After all, a person cannot remain permanently under water, but only for a short time and by means of some preparation. A person should use that realization to help him understand that also in regard to his stay on earth, which sits on top of water, he is just a visitor. He should yearn to make his main goal to obtain goodness, wisdom, justice, and straightness, which are everlasting.
This same idea applies to tents, which is a catchphrase that hints at a setting to absorb wisdom. This is a temporary structure, which brings one to lead his life in the most appropriate manner, enabling the coarse images of his permanence in this physical world to be removed. Only based on the study of Torah and the logic of wisdom will his view in this matter be perfected and will he go from a negative to a meritorious state by which he concentrates on everlasting things. In addition to the improvement of his attributes that come through study, when he uses his mind to determine what things are good for him to do, being set in "tents" brings upon whoever comes to enjoy its shade a holy natural emotion. As such, his feelings will go from being coarse to being elevated and holy, just as one who enters the water for immersion comes out pure, as the perfect Torah sets down for us as a holy rule.
Remembering the Value of Things One is Not Involved in
(based on Ein Ayah, Berachot 2:15)
Gemara:
Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Assi were tying together a wedding canopy for Rav Elazar. He said to them: "In the meantime, let me go and hear something in the beit midrash" ... He came back and told them [the halacha that he had learned]. They said to him: "Had we come only to hear that thing it would have sufficed for us."
Ein Ayah: From these complete words we learn the ways of righteousness in two elements. One is that even when one is preoccupied with the happiness of his heart, he should still look toward the Torah and consider even a little idea that he will be able to pick up as a great fortune. This we see from Rav Elazar’s desire to hear something and to share it with the others.
From the statement: "Had we come only to hear that thing it would have sufficed for us," we learn that even when one is busy with a good thing, even a big mitzva, it is still proper not to forget the dearness of valuable things that he cannot be involved in then and to appreciate them. For even when they were involved in the mitzva of helping others and preparing for the mitzva of a marriage, they expressed their excitement about a new Torah idea. This comes from a heart that is broad and full of the love of Hashem and His Torah. This is in contrast to "small people," who, when involved in a good deed and mitzva, say that there is no value to other things and do not recognize the good that extends over an endless expanse, for "your mitzva is very broad" (Tehillim 11:96).
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
