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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
[After bringing a source for Birkat Hamazon, the gemara looks for a source for Birkat Hatorah.] I only know about a beracha on food. How do I know about a beracha on Torah? Rabbi Yishmael said: It is learned from a kal vachomer: if one makes a beracha on that which gives him temporary life, is it not more clear that he makes on life in the World to Come?
Ein Ayah: It is fitting that the obligation of a beracha on Torah’s goodness is derived from the appreciation we show Hashem with Birkat Hamazon. A person is not able to recognize directly the essence of a matter of true, spiritual and eternal goodness. It is beyond his level, as his life and feelings are fleeting. They are directly related to his temporary, present life, which he knows through his natural side. Torah, with its greatness and its eternal nature, is beyond a person’s level, and its full value will only become clear to him in the future.
Therefore, the best approach is to make an unequal comparison between food and Torah and say that if he is grateful for a fleeting enjoyment in one’s temporary life, certainly he should be grateful to no end about that which brings him to the World to Come. If a person wants to be grateful for Torah without comparing it to worldly benefit, then although he knows that Torah has great value, he still will not have the same feelings of thanks that he could have. That is why we specifically learn the source of the beracha from this kal vachomer in order to involve also his physical side, extrapolating from the less important to the more important.
This furthers the connection between involvement in temporary life and eternal life. The greatest purpose of actions that give temporary life is to enable one to function so that he can acquire eternal life. Even one’s spiritual element, which elevates him to the point that he appreciates his Maker's gifts, including his physical world, is aligned with the "gateway" leading to the highest level of appreciation for eternal life. Along the same lines, the soul is sustained by the internal element of food, as the Arizal explains on the pasuk, "For man does not live on bread alone, but on all that which emerges from Hashem’s mouth man shall live" (Devarim 8:3).
Hashem’s Part in What Looks Bad
(condensed from Ein Ayah, Berachot 7:36)
Gemara:
From where [do we know] that as we bless Hashem for the good, we do so for the bad? For this the pasuk (in the context of Birkat Hamazon) says: "... that Hashem, your G-d, gave to you" (Devarim 8:10) - He is your judge with every judgment He makes, whether He uses the "good" approach or the harsh approach.
Ein Ayah: To fully appreciate Hashem’s manner of leading the world, one needs to know that Hashem has total power to act, in which case He could prevent any situation which we know as bad. Therefore, we know that everything we consider bad is and will eventually be recognized as totally good [according to its situation].
This is different than the philosophers’ approach that there is, by necessity, a physical element that cannot allow good things without bad ones. While they thereby "clear" Hashem of responsibility for the bad, according to them, one cannot bless Him for it either. However, the Torah approach posits that Hashem does all He desires, in which case, everything stems from a good and just judgment. In that way, He is referred to as our judge, who has the power to rule with straightness and wisdom. Therefore "bad" deserves a beracha just like "good" does.
This idea is written in the context of Birkat Hamazon because the need for food and connection to the material seems negative. However, this is what the entirely good Hashem decreed, and, therefore, all its elements must be good. We learn specifically from that point that everything that looks bad is actually part of a deep Divine plan.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
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)
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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)
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)
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
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
