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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- The Four Parshiyot
- Zachor
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- The Four Parshiyot
- Sh'kalim
And we may add that the three aforementioned characteristics show us (by contrast) the proper attitude toward wealth, valor and wisdom: True wealth is being happy with one's portion and not envying the wealth of others. True valor is conquering one's evil inclination. And true wisdom is the willingness to learn from every person, without worrying about compromising one's pride. And wisdom leads to humility, as "the ultimate knowledge is that we will not know."
And in this spirit, the prophet Jeremiah (9:22) warns us: "Thus says G-d: let not the wise man glory in his wisdom; let not the valiant man glory in his strength and let not the rich man glory in his wealth. For only in this may one glory: in knowing and understanding Me, etc."
And this is the substance of the four Parshiot: Parshat Shequalim relates to wealth, with regard to which one understands that he must give to others. It is written, "The poor man who is with you" and the Ohr HaHaiim HaKadosh explains that G-d gave the money of the poor man to the rich man in order that he should return his deposit to him. And the half-shequel comes to remedy the envy of Joseph's brothers toward him: "You sold the son of Rachel for twenty pieces of silver, therefore each and every one of you will be obligated a bequa a head, (that is) half a shequel" (Midrash Tanhuma Ki - Tisa).
Parshat Zachor relates to valor, to overcome Amalek who is the "ferment in the dough." Our sages ask: Who is valorous? They provide the answer: he who conquers his evil inclination. When the children of Israel were in Refidim, their hands became limp regarding the Torah. Immediately, "And Amalek came" to attack them, and the remedy to that was to look at the hands of Moshe who brought the Torah, about which is said, "From His (G-d's) right hand, He gave them His fiery law," and then they prevailed over Amalek.
Parshat Parah relates to wisdom, as is said, "This is the decree of the Torah" and its secret was divulged only to Moshe Rabbenu, who had complete humility. The purification process which requires the red heifer hints at this, "and the Cohen shall take cedar wood and hyssop," if one raises himself like a cedar (out of arrogance) and as a result became impure, then he has to lower himself like a hyssop (a small plant).
As a cure to these three shells of impurity, comes the remedy of "For only in this may one glory: in knowing and understanding Me," that is, cleaving to the Torah and to the Giver of the Torah. By virtue of the half - shequel, one understands that he is only "half" and G-d completes him, and he realizes that his wealth was given him for the purpose of doing G-d's Mitzvot. Similarly, the Torah is the antidote for the evil inclination: if it is a stone, it melts; if it is metal it explodes as a result of the fiery power of the Torah. And when one nullifies himself to the Torah, he merits revealing new insights in Torah, in the spirit of "this month is to you," a mitzvah that teaches us about the power of Torah scholars to learn new things in the Torah, and all this is given to their discretion, as our sages explain regarding the new month, "to you, even if you are mistaken; to you even if you were wrong willfully."
The fourth expression of the redemption is the positive redemption, as is written, "and I will take you to be my nation," and this is implied by the verse, "in knowing and understanding Me...for these things I desire, says G-d." And by virtue of this, we will merit the complete redemption.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
