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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Emor
Thus the special laws and standing applied to kohanim as described in this week’s parsha came to serve as a safeguard against their potential abuse and exploitation of power and position. The kohein was not to be the king, he owned no land by right of being one of the tribes of Israel and he was subject to special familial restrictions - all meant to enhance his position of a servant of God and of the people. In Tanach we read that in spite of all of these safeguards the kohanim in both the First and Second Temple period eras and many of them were eventually corrupted by power and avarice. The prophets became the true "priests" of Israel, the moral role models and spiritual leaders of the Jewish nation. The Hasmoneans who were kohanim, in spite of their initial great piety and heroism violated the rules of balance of power ordained by the Torah and usurped the monarchy for themselves in spite of being kohanim. Eventually this led to disastrous consequences for the Jews. The Second Temple saw great corruption in the ranks of the kohanim with the office of the Kohein Gadol being bought and bartered. Thus the rabbis of the Mishna and later the Talmud became the spiritual "priests" of Israel Yet the kohanim have retained their special identity and position within the Jewish world over these many millennia. They are to be respected and we are to be grateful to receive their blessings and services.
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.
