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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayeshev
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Jacob ben Bechora
This perhaps explains the reaction of the brothers to the favoritism exhibited by Yaakov towards Yosef. The brothers were apprehensive that the mission of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov would again be entrusted to only an individual – only to one of them – and the other members of the family would again be historically discarded. And that chosen brother, judging by their father’s favoritism to him, would be Yosef. And they felt that Yosef was the incorrect choice for solely carrying on the heritage and mission that began with their grandfather Avraham. What they failed to grasp was that Yaakov and his family now marked the great transition from Judaism being the faith and belief of individuals to now being the religion that would be embodied in a people, a society, a national entity. And since no two individuals are alike in physical, mental, emotional and character makeup the people that would emanate from Yaakov and his family would be made up of diverse individuals and ideas. But the cement and glue that would bind them all together would be the vision and faith of Judaism that was their common heritage and would be their common destiny as well. It is much more difficult for a large group of people to retain a special identity and sense of mission than it is for an individual alone. The story of Yosef and the brothers that marks the concluding sections of the book of Bereshith is the supreme illustration of the challenge of molding individuals who are inherently different into a common and effective nation. This challenge still remains with us millennia later.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part II
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
Parashat Hashavua Happiness for the Right Reasons
[With painful longing, we share these divrei Torah from our co-Rosh Kollel for close to 40 years, Harav Moshe Ehrenreich zt”l.]
Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
