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The first pasuk of the Torah also alludes in a subtle manner to water. "In the beginning, Hashem created the shamayim (heavens) and the earth." Chazal pick up on the similarity between shamayim and mayim and say: "What does shamayim mean? Sham mayim (water is there)" (Chagiga 12a). Thus the first object in the Torah hints at the importance of water.
The next pasuk, which is difficult to put in proper context, discusses water explicitly: "The earth was in a state of void, and there was darkness on the face of the wellsprings, and the spirit of Hashem hovered over the water." The first half of the second pasuk expounds on the second part of the first pasuk (earth and its void) and the second half of the second pasuk expounds on the first part of the first pasuk (heavens, water, and the spirit of Hashem), using the style of A-B-B-A. According to this, Hashem created the heavens, in which the spirit of Hashem hovered over its water. We know of the existence of mayim in the heavens from a subsequent pasuk regarding the second day of creation, where the rakia (firmament) separated between the mayim above the rakia and the mayim beneath it.
Within the account of the flood, the word "earth" comes up at least nine times, along with several but fewer mentions of the heavens, water, and spirit. This overlapping of words, along with a mention of seven days (leading up to the flood), shows the connection between creation and the flood. However, the main focus in the flood is on the earth. The water that destroys the earth is not the mayim of the heavens, which is above the clouds. Actually the main destruction came from the water of the wellsprings.
The lesson from all the above is as follows. The earth refers to the physical world. The heavens refer to the spiritual world and its waters hint at the Torah, the spiritual blueprint of the world. Hashem created the heavens and the earth so that the earth would be a base for the world of spirituality as well. The proper desire to reach for the heavens (the people of Babel reached for the heavens in a distorted way) is a desire to taste of the waters of Torah. The generation of the flood strove to reach the depths of the earth’s water, i.e., the most spirituality bereft physicality. It is no surprise then that the water of the depths covered them up and killed them.
Let us hope that we will be inspired to follow the lead of the illustrious descendant of the survivors of the flood, Avraham, who trained his family to follow, not fight, the ways of Hashem.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Rabbis in Midrash
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
