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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Balak
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
While anti-Semitism is very old, it has different faces and tactics at different times in history. Its primitive form comes with murderous hands. This is the coarse, uncloaked version, which we found first when Amalek attacked. The more venomous and deeper form is "cultured anti-Semitism," whose weapon is not the "hands of Eisav" but the mouth. Instead of physical battle, there are proclamations and defamations, scorning and haughtiness. Who was more talented in this area than Bilam, who composed poetry and knew how to determine when Hashem became angry? He had a history of using his mouth to bite in a manner for which there was no remedy.
Hashem prevented Bilam from cursing as he desired, and the curses froze on his lips and churned out of his mouth as blessings. Instead of putting us down, he sang our praises: "From the head of cliffs I see them... they are a nation that lives in solitude and is not counted among the nations" (Bamidbar 23:21).
If only we could finish the story there; it actually ended quite badly. How strongly does the outcome pierce the heart! Specifically the pleasant tones of Bilam’s blessings, a result of his failed curses, ended up being most dangerous. The Torah conveys to us, in pieces, the plot Bilam taught Balak. "Israel camped in Shitim, and the nation began to be promiscuous with the daughters of Moav" (ibid. 25:1). The result: a plague in which 24,000 died (ibid. 9). As long as we are separate from the nations, as Balak praised us, we are able to block out their influence. However, he implied, once we become close with them, we became vulnerable, and Balak exploited the matter. They beckoned us: "We are not so distant, and we can come to an understanding, mutually beneficial relationship." They succeeded by sending their young women, who awoke interest first in them and then in their idols.
This phenomenon repeated itself in history in different forms. We always had more to fear from their blessings than from their curses. Hashem turned many attempts to undo our religion and label us with blood libels into a means of widening the gap between the nations and strengthening our resolve and belief in Hashem. However, their sweet overtures of friendship toward us caused the greatest dangers, making us think that we may blur our differences and try to be like other nations. This has been our greatest vulnerability. Who can count the number of people who have died in subsequent plagues, literal and figurative?
Let us learn from the navi in the haftara: "The remnant of Israel will be amongst the many nations as dew from Hashem, like rain upon grass, which will not hope for man and not wait for people" (Micha 5:6).
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.
