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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Lech Lecha
He did not build arks nor did he warn of impending disasters. His methodology for spreading monotheism and goodness in the world was by example, by being a powerfully good person. People respond to people.
All of us who have engaged in fundraising for worthwhile causes are aware that people give mainly because of the relationship of the individual representing the institution or cause than to the objective merit of the cause or institution itself. Again, people respond to people.
Avraham and Sarah were exemplary people and people listened to them and responded to their ideas and message. All great movements in Jewish history were created by people and became popular because of the people who founded and led them. For example, one need only look at the Chasidic movement of the eighteenth century and the Mussar movement of the nineteenth century. The ideas and goals of these movements were far reaching and appealing but their popularity was based solely on the relationship of its leading people to other people.
The Baal Shem Tov and his followers and Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin of Salant and his followers made those movements successful in their time because of their ability to relate to people, both one on one and generally as well.
Avraham had boundless faith in the innate ability of people to do good. Even in dealing with the wicked populations of Sodom and Amorah in next week’s parsha, he is convinced that there is a hard core of goodness even in that evil population. Maybe that is unrealistic on his part in practical result but that is his nature and inclination.
And, it is his natural ebullience and care for others that eventually causes even those lukewarm to his ideas to proclaim that "you are a prince of the Lord who lives in our midst." Avraham faced many disappointments and frustrations in his long life. Family problems abounded and wars and conflicts were his lot in his earthly existence. The rabbis taught us in Avot that Avraham was tested ten times. Nevertheless his faith and good nature, developed over his lifetime, carried him through all of those tests, severe as they may have been.
He was able to encompass in his thoughts and efforts all peoples and nations - and he became the father of a multitude of peoples and societies. Though the Jewish people are a particular and even parochial group of human individuals, our Torah demands of us a universal outlook as well. This is an inheritance from our father Avraham and reflects God’s concern, so to speak, for all of His creatures. That is why the Torah demands that we in our personal lives measure ourselves according to the yardstick established by Avraham and Sarah, the founders of our people.
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.
