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Beit Midrash
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1. Why does the torah mention Ya'akov leaving Be'er Sheva and not simply tell us he headed for Haran?
2. What do we learn from the statement "וישכב במקום ההוא" "and he lay down in that place to sleep"?
3. Why did all the shepherds have to convene before they could give water to their sheep?
4. Why were Leah's eyes weak?
5. What do we learn from the statement "ויהי בבוקר והנה היא לאה" " And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah"?
6. "And Rachel envied her sister" what did she envy?
7. What was Rachel's punishment for giving Ya'akov away for the mandrakes?
8. Why did the birth of Yosef make Ya'akov want to return to Eretz Israel?
9. What is the blessing that came to Lavan because of Ya'akov?
10. Why did Rachel and Leah say that they were considered strangers to their father?
11. Why did Rachel steal Lavan's idols?
12. What do we learn from G-d telling Lavan not to speak to Ya'akov either good or bad?
13. "And now come, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee" who will be the witness?
14. Who were the angels who met Ya'akov at Machanayim?
Answers
1. To teach us that when a Tzadik is in the city he represents all that is good in the city, and when he leaves it is as if all the good in the city leaves with him.
2. We learn that in that place he lay down to sleep, however in the 14 years that he was at Ever's house he did not lay to sleep at night because he was learning Torah.
3. They had to wait for all the shepherds to help them remove the big rock that covered the well.
4. Because she thought she would marry Eisav as everyone said "Rivkah has two sons and Lavan has two daughters, the older to the older and the younger to the younger".
5. We learn that at night she was allegedly not Leah because Ya'akov gave Rachel signs to make sure that she won't be switched, however, when she saw that Leah was going to be embarrassed she gave her the signs.
6. Rachel envied Leah's good deeds and thought "she would not have received the blessing of children if it had not been for the fact that she was more righteous than I".
7. Her punishment was not to be buried with him.
8. Yosef is the adversary of Eisav and the one destined to destroy him and once he was born Ya'akov was ready to face Eisav again.
9. Before Ya'akov came Lavan did not have any sons as we see that he sent hi sheep with Rachel, his daughter, and now he had sons.
10. Usually when a man marries off his daughter he gives her away with a dowry however Lavan sold them for Ya'akov's labor.
11. She wanted to turn him away from idolatry.
12. We learn that even the good of the evil is bad to the righteous.
13. G-d will be the witness.
14. They were the angels of Eretz Israel coming towards him to accompany him to Eretz Israel.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
