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Beit Midrash
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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.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
