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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
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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.