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Beit Midrash
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What were the motives that drove the Pharaoh and Egypt to persecute the Jews? The Torah grants us some insights. Firstly, Joseph died. As long as he lived there was a sense of appreciation and even adoration for the man who saved Egypt from the destruction of the great famine and established it as the mightiest power of the time. But not only Joseph died, that whole generation, Jew and Egyptian also passed from the scene. In later generations no one remembered Joseph, no one remembered the famine, just as in our time few people now yet remember the Great Depression or even the horrors of World War II. Many Israeli students know nothing about the history of the creation of the State of Israel and thus have doubts about our legitimate claim to the Land of Israel. It is all now only dry facts in history books. And therefore it was almost natural that a Pharaoh would arise "who knew not Joseph." He did not realize how the Jewish people entered Egypt, of what benefit they were to Egypt and what their presence in the country represented in historical and spiritual terms. And new rulers always come to power with "new" agendas of their own to solve age old problems of human existence and social and national life. When their agendas come a cropper and all of the great theories are useless in the face of the harsh realities of society and governing it is natural to look for a scapegoat for that failure. The stranger, the Jew, has always provided that convenient scapegoat. The new rulers of the twentieth century, Stalin and Hitler exploited this to the fullest. The Moslem world till today explains all of its ills and shortcomings on the existence of Israel and the Jews. Thus many parts of the Exodus story repeat themselves today in our lives.
The Torah tells us that the Jews became numerous - a visible and sizeable and recognizable minority living in the midst of Egypt. People and states are intrinsically xenophobic; they do not tolerate minorities gracefully and well. Present day Israel is struggling with such problems and attitudes. So are most of the countries of Europe and the rest of the world. There were too many Jews around for Egyptian sensitivities. And "the land was full of them." They no longer lived in the ghetto of Goshen but moved everywhere in Egypt. Wherever one went one saw a Jew. Hitler’s complaint when living in Vienna was that he always saw Jews on the streets of that city. This sad story has been repeated in almost every country where Jews settled in the time of our exile. Many Jews in Egyptian society attempted to escape Egyptian persecution by assimilating into general Egyptian society. But Pharaoh like Hitler and the Moslem world made it a racial thing, a blemish that could not be erased by even four generations of assimilation. Midrash teaches us that most of those Jews died in Egypt without being part of the Exodus. That is also in my opinion a warning lesson for our times as well.
Ein Aya Uniting Intellect and Emotion in the Beit HaMikdash and Religious Zionism
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 40 (p1)
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
