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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Bereshit
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Amram son of Sultana
But problems arose. Adam abused his rights in the Garden of Eden and took more of the earth’s fruit than he was permitted. As a result, both mankind and the earth itself were punished (ibid. 3: 17-19). But the basic relationship was still intact. At the end of life, man would still be interred in the source of his life, "for you are earth, and to earth you shall return" (ibid.).
Then the problems became more severe. Cain, whose occupation was to work the land, first sinned by not using its bounty properly to show respect to his Maker. The situation deteriorated to the point that he killed his brother. In the process, a strange turn of events occured. Previously, Adam had opened his mouth to absorb a part of the earth’s fruit that was off limits to him. At this point, Hashem criticized the earth for opening up its "mouth" to absorb a part of man that should have been off limits to it. The ground should be the burial place of the deceased. But here, the earth covered up the blood of a mortally wounded, live person, thus serving as an accomplice to the crime (see 4:11 with Rashi). At this point, Cain is told that even with hard work, he would not succeed in working the land productively.
What does Cain do with the new circumstances? The Torah relates that he built a city and named it after his son, Chanoch (a name which hints at the concept of inauguration). Rav Hirsch notes that the Torah does not use past tense to tell that he built a city, but says that he became the builder of a city. In other words, he changed professions and initiated a direction for himself and his offspring afterward. That was to ignore, cover up, and build over the ground with the man-made, a city. He gave up finally, out of resignation, not necessity, on the former relationship between man and Mother Earth.
This approach was reversible. Noach developed agricultural tools to help deal with the curse of the ground (Rashi on 5:29). After his generation caused the destruction of the natural world as it was known, Noach came out of the ark and became a "man of the ground" (ibid. 9:20). From those times on, there has been tension between segments of society. Some have felt Mother Earth’s call and have embraced an agrarian lifestyle and value system. Others fit into the mold of city-builder (or, at least, city dweller), giving up on the dream of repairing the damaged relationship between man and the earth. Some live with internal conflict between the differing feelings.
In Eretz Yisrael, we have a special closeness to the Land, which impacts on its inhabitants. Here even city dwellers should find a way to connect to it.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.