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Beit Midrash
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- Sefirat Haomer
- The Meaning Sefirat Ha'omer
And the reason for this paradoxical situation is that history has intervened and altered our perception of these weeks. In a perfect world the Jewish people would never have suffered exile with all of its tragic traumas and murderous events. But in the real world terrible events have taken place during this period of time. Rabbi Akiva’s entire society of twenty-four thousand scholarly disciples died during this period of time. The rebellion of Bar Kochba against Roman tyranny failed during this period of time with enormous loss of Jewish lives. The ancient tri-city Jewish community of Speyers, Worms and Mainz in the Rhineland was destroyed by the Christian crusaders in 1096 during this Pesach to Shavuot weeks. Much of the atrocities committed against the Jewish communities in the Cossack/Ukrainian war against the authorities in 1648-9 also occurred mainly in the springtime, the period between Pesach and Shavuot. The Israeli War of Independence which cost over six thousand Jewish lives also began and much of it took place during the weeks between Pesach and Shavuot. In short, this period of time has over the past years of Jewish exile this period of time of the annual Jewish calendar has been anything but a happy and satisfactory period of time. To mark these sad events of Jewish history the days between Pesach and Shavuot have morphed into days of sad commemoration and very limited joy and satisfaction.
It is interesting to note how Jewish values and halacha itself accommodate itself to historic relevance, events and intervention. The Torah is the book of human life and its story. Therefore whatever happens in the human story is relevant to understanding and appreciating the Torah itself. Just as life intervenes with our plans and projects so too does the history of human events intervene in all of Jewish religious life. And by allowing the events of Jewish history to be commemorated within a halachic framework, even changing the original nature and mood of the mitzvah itself involved, Judaism allows the Torah to be truly the book of humankind. The abysmal lack of knowledge of Jewish history and its events is one of the major maladies that affects all of Jewish societies today. It is one of the failings that we have that prevents us from effectively presenting our just cause to the rest of the world convincingly. If we are unable to understand how our history has intervened and affected our current world we are simply helpless before the lies and hatred of our enemies. Without knowing the entire story of our past we are unable to put the events of the past century - the Holocaust and the independence of the State of Israel - into some sort of true historical perspective. History always intervenes and influences our lives, thoughts and attitudes. Without realizing this basic fact of human life we are certainly going to find it difficult to think and act wisely in our current situation.
Igrot Hare’aya Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part IV
Date and Place: 19 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
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)
