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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ekev
Moshe appeals to three factors that can save the Jewish people from losing its presence in the Land of Israel. They are 1) historical experience, 2) common sense, and 3) obedience to God’s commandments. Historical experience abundantly shows the errors of following other value systems than the Torah. Paganism, Hellenism, the Sadducees, Jewish Christianity, Karaism, false messianism, uncontrolled mysticism, secularism, Enlightenment, Marxism, nationalism, assimilation, Reform, humanism, etc. have all had their moment on the Jewish stage and have disappeared or changed. Many Jews are now searching for the new idol that will bring us hope and salvation. They are doomed to disappointment. The brilliant and wise nation of Israel needs to use a little common sense sometimes. Following policies and ideas that have never yet worked for us should no longer be accepted and trumpeted as somehow being valid and useful. Common sense should teach us who are those that are for us and who are those that are against us, no matter their protestations of affection for us may be. Forsaking Jewish tradition, halachic observance and the Torah’s value system only brings us grief and angst. These factors that Moshe outlines for us themselves constitute the blueprint for Jewish survival in the Land of Israel and in the world generally. These are matters that are not to be taken lightly - stepped upon casually by the heel of our foot - but rather they are the key to our future and ultimate success.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part I
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Our King on Rosh Hashana, Our Father on Yom Kippur.
Based on Aroch Siach, p. 221 (Rav Shaul Yisraeli)
P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part II
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
Parashat Hashavua Happiness for the Right Reasons
[With painful longing, we share these divrei Torah from our co-Rosh Kollel for close to 40 years, Harav Moshe Ehrenreich zt”l.]
Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
