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Beit Midrash
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Since Chazal tell us that the Torah begins and ends with gemilut chasadim (doing acts of kindness), the antithesis of the Torah is lashon hara. In fact, the first sin in the world’s history was a result of the lashon hara that the snake spoke about Hashem. This destructive act is the father of all impurity in the world. Lashon hara is actually an expression of evil, as it starts with one who is not happy about the existence of something or someone that might threaten him. The person who is distraught over the prospect of competition is poisoned by venom that chases him away from what could be his personal Garden of Eden.
Adam had every pleasantry of nature to enjoy in the Garden of Eden. The snake came and hinted to him that the fact that one tree was withheld from him made all the difference. In fact, Hashem had created man so that he would have the status of: "You reduced him slightly from the Divine" (Tehillim 8:6), but the snake made Adam tormented by the fact that he was missing that something that made him less. This caused Adam to search for some excuse and rationale under which he could eat from the tree, a step that made him lose his Eden by his own doing. This is the power of the evil eye, to look negatively at anything above him and to cast aspersions on the Holy One.
The venom of anti-Semitism is also rooted in ayin ra’ah (looking at people with the hope they do not succeed) and lashon hara, as was epitomized by Haman. Here too the root of Haman’s "issue" was that "all of this is not worth it to me" as long as there is this one person who refuses to bow down to him. His riches, honor, and large family would not make up for the fact that someone refuses to bow down.
This week, during a trial over anti-Semitism, the accused got up and complained that it was a new and improper idea to curtail her freedom of speech, which should allow making hateful, dangerous accusations against Jews. Why should anyone care that what starts as the expression of an opinion critical of certain people ends off with satanic actions that cannot be restrained?
The Torah, whose content is to accept the yoke of Heaven, is all about putting a good eye into the human organism. As Chazal say, when Israel accepted the Torah, the filth that entered the world with the Original Sin ceased at Sinai (Shabbat 146a). The students of Rabbi Akiva died because they did not show respect one to the other (Yevamot 62b). When one does not recognize the good in his fellow man, it is because he does not see the good in Hashem. "One does not speak lashon hara until he denies Hashem" (Devarim Rabba 6:14). What people see as freedom can actually be rejection of the Heavenly yoke, and this brings death into the world because the connection between freedom and Torah is lost.
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.
