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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Amram son of Sultana
Examining Noach’s history from its beginning, we see that his very name foretold that "he shall console us from our actions and the sorrowful state of our hands from the land that Hashem cursed." The Torah continues that Noach began his family at the age of 500. This was a very advanced age, even according to the long lives of those days. The Torah seems to leave Noach and go on to describe how the bnei elohim (the sons of the powerful) saw the girls of the land, and forcibly took for themselves whichever ones found favor in their eyes. If we take a look at the different elements that are before us, we receive the following picture.
While Noach did not immediately involve himself in procreation, the powerful people of the world did, but in a different manner, one which corrupted the world. Men at the top of the social structure abused their power by forcing themselves on young women (see Rambam, Melachim 4:4). This unacceptable tendency of man to try to satisfy all his base inclinations continued until people began taking married women and even "mating" with other men and animals (see Tanchuma, Bereishit 33). The midrash describes how, once the leaders allowed liberties for themselves and their families in these matters, all of society deteriorated to a point of "each man, as he sees fit in his eyes he does." Once man was sexually corrupt, even the animal kingdom followed suit and started interbreeding.
The world had felt a glimmer of hope of reverting to an almost Gan Eden state with the birth of the modest Noach, who was capable of restoring some harmony between mankind and the land. Yet, it deteriorated to the point that their behavior caused its destruction. The same two-letter root, nach, comes up several times in the story of Noach and Hashem’s decision to destroy civilization. It is used to describe Hashem’s "regret" at creating man and the prospect of wiping all flesh off the face of the earth. On the other hand, Noach was different, as he found favor (chen- using the same two letters) in the eyes of Hashem.
While the favor that Noach found in Hashem’s eyes removed him from the decree of destruction that befell the rest of mankind, he was no longer able to carry out the dream of returning the world to the situation of Gan Eden. That would have to wait for a chosen nation to take hold of the Land of Cana’an from the sons of Cham, the corrupt son of Noach. When that nation will act according to its potential for holiness, the words of Yechezkel will be fulfilled that "the desolate land will be cultivated … and it will be like Gan Eden" (36: 34-35).
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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.
