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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ki Tetze
Judaism does not mandate any action that justifies the breaking of boundaries of basic order. To the contrary, the more important a course of action is the more care must be taken to do it in a way that it is not dirtied or spoiled. If the enemy’s army camps are a place where anything goes and semblances of humanity disappear, the Torah way is that our camp must be a holy one. "A soldier" and "holy"? In today’s mind-set, the sound of the two together is strange. However, that is only because the general mind-set is so far from the concepts of the Torah.
The whole concept of war is a different one for us. For the nations, it is a time of wholesale murder, without rules or a search to justify one’s actions. An outburst of the animal within a person, of the basest instincts, is considered a good thing for them. That way the wild soldier can act with greater cruelty and less thought. Judaism does not allow murder. For us, war is designed to fight those who have already lost human dignity, so that their destruction is a removal of evil. This mitzva must be done in a way that uses no less holiness and purity than any other mitzva.
"He who is afraid and is of a soft heart," who is sent back from the camp (Devarim 20:8), is referring to one who is afraid due to sins of which he is guilty (Sota 8:5). It is possible that there is no such concept among the nations of the world. Perhaps it is to the contrary for them, one who breaks through boundaries may be stronger and braver than others. However, this is not the case for Israel. We are nourished by our connection to Hashem, and one who sins severs this connection, which causes him to be afraid. The apparent bravery that he might display comes from fear, and it can be the trigger to his subsequent fleeing from the battle. It is only the bravery of those who already have nothing to lose.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
