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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Chayei Sara
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Hana Bat Haim
The beginning of the haftara raises many questions. Clothes do not warm David, and so his servants search for the most beautiful young woman in the land (Avishag Hashunamit) and bring her to lie next to David to warm him. Immediately thereafter, the navi relates that Adoniyahu, David’s son, made public steps to secure succeeding David as king. At first glance, affairs in the palace of David, author of Tehillim and our guest in the sukka on Hoshana Rabba, seem reminiscent of Achashveirosh’s palace, where a national beauty contest was held on his behalf. We should also consider whether the servants’ plan to care for David is connected to Adoniyah’s actions, or are both just outgrowths of his infirmed state. Note also that we learn from the continuation of the perek that these servants were of the highest echelons of David’s hierarchy. Why would they get involved in such a plan?
It is possible that the following, complex situation was influencing events. David had sworn to Bat Sheva that her son, Shlomo, would rule after him (pasuk 17, 30). There were those, including the Sar Hatzava, Yoav ben Tzruya and the Kohen Gadol, Evyatar, who vehemently opposed Shlomo’s ascension to the throne, for good reason. It would eternalize the significance of David’s union with Bat Sheva, which certainly had negative connotations, no matter how one learns that painful episode. Furthermore, Adoniyah was a wonderful, alternative candidate. The p’sukim mention the following worthwhile qualities. 1) He was the oldest of the firstborn of the mothers; 2) His actions had been without reproach until this point; 3) He was a most handsome man (also often a hint at a similar internal beauty); 4) The other princes and the nation supported his candidacy.
Despite all of this, David realized that Shlomo’s kingdom would strengthen the concept of the power of chazara b’teshuva, the ability to repent and be atoned, which Chazal tell us was the lesson of the episode of David and Bat Sheva. David’s officers did not accept this and tried to set him up for a failure that would prove that it was unwise to trust his judgment on the matter. That is why the navi uses phrases in the story of Avishag that are tellingly reminiscent of the parable of kivsat harash (the poor man’s sheep), with which Natan rebuked David after the story of Bat Sheva. David did not fight the plan, because he was prepared to prove that this time he was ready for the moral challenge raised by Avishag. Indeed, the navi relates that he did not have relations with her despite her availability. For this reason the navi uses the phrase "zaken, ba bayamim" to describe David’s old age, to demonstrate that he was clean of sin, like Avraham.
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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.
