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Beit Midrash
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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Chana bat Chaim
Our rabbis have often taught us that the bitter internal disputes that have plagued Jewish history over the ages and are all too present in our current society as well can all be traced to the genetic imprint created within us by the story of Yosef and his brothers. Yosef is insensitive to the feelings of his brothers, suspects them of deeds that they have never committed and slanders them to their father. They in turn see in this young teenage brother of theirs an existential threat to their very existence and to the ability of the house of Yaakov to survive and prosper. Out of these misunderstandings personal enmities now develop. The ten brothers cannot speak peacefully or civilly to Yosef, so deep is their antagonism to him. They hardened their hearts and stopped up their ears when he wept and pleaded with them when he was in the pit of snakes and scorpions and then finally sold as a slave into Egyptian bondage. This also allows them to fool their ancient father and to witness his grief of decades length without revealing to him their culpability in the disappearance of Yosef. Wrongdoing always leads to further wrongdoings and a lie must inevitability to a cover up of further numerous lies. And all this because of a family fight over misinterpretations and erroneous assumptions of the motives and behavior of others who were bound together by blood and family.
Eventually it will take years and very changed external circumstances in order to reconcile Yosef and his brothers and make the house of Yaakov whole again. Common existential dangers, the enemy from outside, usually have a sobering effect upon simmering internal disputes. Only diehard ideologues continue to whistle past the graveyard, oblivious to the real dangers that confront us. I remember that once I witnessed a traffic policeman here in Jerusalem writing out a summons to someone who had allegedly illegally parked near a synagogue. Their argument grew heated and I was afraid that they could come to blows. Suddenly someone emerged from the synagogue and shouted to them: "We need two more Jews to complete our minyan!" The policeman and the car owner dutifully trudged into the synagogue to help make up the prayer quorum. After the prayer service concluded the policeman and his victim returned outside and immediately resumed their heated discussion as to whether the person’s car was indeed wrongfully parked. The external emergency had ended – the minyan was completed - and now they could repair to their own disputation once more. To a certain extent that vignette is a microcosm of Jewish social and political life today. It seems that we need a discernible external and immediate threat to allow us to forget and forego our internal squabbles at least temporarily. Let us hope that we will find a wiser and better way to deal with our family fights.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
