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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Pinchas
The only person who seems to have been able to use Pinchas’ approach of zealotry is Eliyahu. This similarity may be behind the opinion among our Rabbis that Eliyahu and Pinchas are one and the same person (see Rashbam, Bava Batra 122b, among others). The Rabbis instituted this week’s haftara to be the one dealing with Hashem’s instructions to Eliyahu to give over the mantle of prophetic leadership to Elisha. (The parasha also discusses the mandate to pass leadership from Moshe to Yehoshua.) What is the idea behind the choice of this haftara?
The section begins with the apparent victory of Eliyahu. He proved to the people that "Hashem is the Lord," avenging the murder of true prophets by killing the prophets of the Ba’al, enabling Bnei Yisrael to regain the blessing of rain, and even restoring a degree of normalcy in his relationship with the king (see Melachim I, 18:46), but Queen Jezebel swore to kill him in revenge (ibid. 19:2). Eliyahu, on one hand, despaired and, on the other, referred to his eagerness to be brave and zealous in his service of Hashem.
Hashem gave Eliyahu three instructions to accomplish before completing his role as the generation’s prophet/ religious leader. One was to anoint Chazael as king over Aram; the second was to anoint Yehu ben Nimshi as king over Israel; and the third was to appoint Elisha ben Shafat as the next prophet. However, the prophecy continued that these three would have a joint role: to kill off hordes of people from the nation, so that after they were done, only 7,000 people would be left (ibid.:15-18). In other words, the nation as it was known would all but cease to exist, leaving only a cadre of especially righteous people.
Scripture does not state explicitly how Eliyahu reacted to these instructions. However, by seeing the aftermath, especially in regard to Elisha, and by using some common sense, we can figure out what happened. Hashem’s instructions shocked Eliyahu into a realization that zealotry could be extremely dangerous, as few people can live up fully to the moral challenges that are thrust upon them. As a result, Eliyahu regretted the extent to which he had embraced zealotry. His close disciple and spiritual inheritor, Elisha, showed that it was possible to bring the people to a significant level of repentance by employing a pleasant demeanor and uniting the hearts of the sons and their fathers. This may be symbolized by Elisha’s request, which concludes the haftara. Before accompanying Eliyahu, he asked permission to go kiss his mother and father. Indeed the approach of hugs and kisses was taking the place of zealotry. This is an important message to internalize in all generations.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.
