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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ki Tetze
A primitive vessel is not significantly affected by a flaw in one of its sections. The more delicate and complex the utensil and its mechanism, the more significance each of its parts has. In fact sometimes the smallest parts have the greatest significance. We cannot measure the mitzvot and sins found in the Torah, yet we learn something about their value from their results. If the Torah commanded the whole nation to remember Miriam’s mistake, we could learn something about the severity of that type of speech.
Tzara’at comes as a result of lashon hara (Arachin 15b), and the remedy for the sin is, "In solitude he shall sit outside the encampment" (Vayikra 13:46). He who separates between people by telling venomous stories that arouse people’s jealousy and hatred deserves specifically to himself be separated from people.
There is also a special prohibition in regard to tzara’at: it is forbidden to cut off a tzara’at lesion (Devarim 24:9; Makkot 22a). Just as speech and thought can impact the body, so can sin find expression on the body. The impurity ruins the flow of the blood and causes damage to the skin. Yet the one who would cut off the tzara’at does not want to deal with the root cause and regret his actions. Instead of going into temporary solitude, he would try to run away from the consequences. How much damage does this type of person cause to those around him and actually to himself?! When the affliction is in the open it is easier to keep one’s distance from it, literally and figuratively. The way of dealing with it must be internal, as Judaism generally prescribes, not by artificially removing it or by covering it up.
[This derasha was given in 1938, apparently in response to some local issue that Rav Yisraeli took very seriously]. What is European culture? What is hiding under the overflowing cosmetics, impressive rhetoric, and artificially flashy intellectuality? It is an attempt to "purify the sheretz (impure animal) with 150 arguments." It is to cover up human flaws, primitive instincts, and base desires with fancy but hollow explanations. When you try to cover things up, they are liable to grow and expand until one finally cannot hide them anymore.
Sometimes we suffice by "putting up posters," posters that announce that we are good and thereby hide our shortcomings. We show off the poster of being religious laborers, and then we do not have to deal with our moral shortcomings. "One can see all flaws except for the flaws that afflict himself" (Negaim 2:5). Let us look at ourselves and check the "storage chambers" of our souls by the light of the Torah and mitzvot.
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.
